Author's Note: I'm addressing a problem that came up during writing this story that I didn't think about. A lot of you won't like how I handle it, but meh, I like it so I'm rolling with it. Enjoy the show.

Also to BlazerRaylock who suggested a 3-some between Kira, Lacus and Fumina, haha we all have nosebleeds -_-

Phase 10

ガンダム

Yamato - Class Battleship (Black Pearl)

"Alright, everyone, I want the Murasame's loaded into the Mobile Armor hangar to save room for more machines." Marika said as the crew moved about and got the machines stowed away, "Akihiro, would you please put the Sinanju into the cargo bay? There should be ample room for it."

"Okay, Mom," Akihiro shouted down from his machine as he moved the Stein into the cargo area.

Marika looked toward the two Calamity type Gundams, "Norba, are you seriously painting that thing pink?" She asked as she looked up at the Norba and Ride painting the GAT - X131.

Norba looked down at her with his large grin, "Aw, c'mon, it's my favorite color, and I think it looks cool as hell!"

Ride smirked at him, "Yeah, and the fact that Mai has pink hair has nothing to do with it?"

Norba blushed shamelessly.

Marika couldn't help but smile. The two new additions to the crew had been from Kusuha's universe, and one of them had caught the young Gundam pilot's attention right away. Her name was Mai Kobayashi, a shy and quiet young lady that Marika herself had taken a liking to as well. Her hair, as Ride had mentioned, was a dark pink in color, and the girl had lovely violet eyes.

Once everything had been explained, Marika offered to let her pilot one of the GINNs, but the girl refused to pilot. Instead she volunteered to take on kitchen duties, something that Marika was extremely grateful for since she had been the one doing all the cooking for a ship full of young men that had bottomless pits for stomachs.

The other girl had been assigned to the bridge crew, and she couldn't have been more different from Mai even if she tried. The best way to describe Ryune Zoldark was a loud, blonde tomboy that liked to show off. She had arrived in a ratty white tank top, and torn up jeans that had many of the boys drooling. Then she'd opened her mouth, and frightened them all off.

The only one that could put up with her now was Eugene, who was her lieutenant commander on the bridge. The Murasames' normal red and white frames had been altered as well to black and white since the nanolamenant paint had been applied to all the machines. Ride was able to do quite a bit with the six barrels he now had. Her BP was still sitting at 3045, but she wanted to save that total up to something she could make use of, or if a particularly good Cosmic Era Gundam came up for sale. More Murasame's would have been good, but right now she still needed the crew to pilot them, and maintain them.

The Haro System that she had could only do so much in repairs when they were needed.

"Mom," Eugene said over the PA system, "We've got two more Laurasia - Class ships on radar."

She went to a nearby wall panel, "How close?"

"We're gonna be in firing range pretty soon," Eugene said, "And Dante says he's picking up chatter from their communications. Sounds like they're onto us, and calling for back up. I've got another ship of the same type coming at us from the rear, fast."

Yuri came over to her, "That doesn't sound good." He frowned, "You want a suggestion from an old hand?"

"Go for it," Marika nodded.

"Let me take a few Cosmos and maybe the Stein out," he jerked his thumb up at Akihiro, "Those armaments it's got are more than enough to take down a ship, maybe even three or four." He said, "We'll take the rear, take out the ship on our keel, and the rest of the boys take on the two ships out in front. Simple."

Marika shook her head, "Yuri, a Laurasia - Class can carry six Mobile Suits, which means you'll be fighting outnumbered." She said, "At least take more than just the Stein for your Mobile Suit. One of the GINNs is still free. You can pilot one of those easily."

Yuri shook his head this time, "You can have Lafter come out after us in her GINN, but I'm still piloting the Cosmo. Danji and Masahiro can hold their own thanks to the simulation training, but I need more time in them if I'm gonna try piloting a GINN. Now let's get going before they decide to start shooting."

{Quest Alert.} Marika yelped at the hologram popped up in front of her, {You are about to enter a large scale battle against ZAFT forces. Chance of successfully completing mission with current crew and equipment, 25%.}

The captain scowled, "Oh, you're very helpful, you know that?" She asked sarcastically, "Very helpful, indeed!"

{Thank you very much.} The hologram bowed, {This Quest will count as a rare Large Scale Gold - Class Quest. Completing this mission will greatly benefit your crew.}

Yuri frowned as the system shut down, "Maybe we can teach it to recognize sarcasm?"

"Doubt it." Marika sighed as she turned to the commander, "Be careful out there, and watch out for my boys."

Yuri was about to salute when an idea struck him. He leaned over and kissed Marika on the cheek. The older woman blushed heavily, "Yuri!"

"Just a little incentive to come back," he grinned and floated off toward the hangar.

Marika frowned, "As if you didn't have enough incentive to come back already." She huffed, before returning to the bridge as the crew were busy at their work stations. "Eugene, power up the wave motion shields."

"Aye, aye, Captain."

"Dante," she said to the young red-head, "ready on the guns, have the bow Lohengrin charged and ready to fire the moment we have a lock on an enemy ship."

"Yes, Ma'am," Dante said.

"Chad, take us to level-1 battle stations, inform all crew members to put on a normal suit. And have all available pilots scramble, and mount their respective machines immediately. We commence battle in T-minus ten minutes."

"Yes, Ma'am," Chad said, opening up the channels throughout the ship, "Attention all hands, level-1 battle stations, repeat: level-1 battle stations. All crew is required to put on normal suits, and all combat pilots are to report to the Mobile Suits and Mobile Armors. Battle commencing in T-minus nine minutes, twenty-five seconds and counting!"

"This is Kellerne, Cosmograsper squad is ready to launch." Yuri called over the raido.

"This is Akihiro." The large teen said, "Mobile Suits are ready to launch."

"Murasame squad ready for launch," Kusuha said with steel in her usually calm voice.

Marika sighed, "During this battle, Commander Yuri Kellerne has authority as field commander." She said, "This is our first large battle boys and girls, so be sharp, be fast, but most importantly be safe!"

"Yes, Ma'am!"

"Enemy ships ahead are confirmed to be launching Mobile Suits, Mom," Eugene said, "Looks like they're GINNs."

"What about the one behind us?" Dante asked.

"It's still moving closer, but it looks like they're trying to get within firing range." Chad said, "She we send one of the squads after it?"

Marika nodded, "Yuri, that approaching ship is yours." She said, "Open rear launch deck, and have the Cosmograspers launch."

"Roger!"

"Target the approaching ships ahead of us with the Valiants," Marika ordered, "Dante, once we have a lock on the closest ship, take your shot with the Lohengrin." She said, "Open port and starboard side hangars and launch the Sinanju and Lafter's GINN. Raise the Murasames to the upper launch catapults!"

"Launching Cosmo squad," Chad said, "Moving Sinanju and GINN to port and starboard hangars. HUSH! Get your helmet on!" Chad roared.

"It pinches!"

"I don't care!" Chad snapped right back, "Either put it on, or you're sitting this one out!"

"Yes, Sir." Hush droned.

"Time to encounter with enemy Mobile Suits; two minutes." Eugene said. "Lead ship in range of bow cannon."

"I have the shot," Dante said.

Marika nodded, "Fire!"

The bow of the ship lit up with energy as the cannon fired a massive beam of energy toward the approaching ship. The Laurasia - Class ship must've seen the attack coming as they veered off target, but the beam still managed to damage the ship enough that it exploded.

"Engage all Mobile Suits!" Marika shouted, "This is it! Show this old lady what you're all made of!"

"You're not old, Mom," Ride piped up from the Sword Calamity.

Meanwhile, Yuri's squadron was buzzing toward the ship approaching from the rear, "Alright, kids, you heard the captain, so let's do this fast and furious." He said, "Ryune, Danji, you two form up on my wings, Masahiro, on my six. Break formation on my command."

"Yes, Sir."

Yuri felt an excited buzz starting in his chest, "And whatever you do," he told the three teens, "Don't you dare die before I do."

As they neared the Laurasia, the hangar opened and launched their Mobile Suits. Six standard GINNs came flying toward them. "Alright, here we go," Yuri said, "Stay in their blind spots, and don't risk yourselves." Yuri said, "Break off in five...four...three...two...one!" He fired a shot from his beam cannon, and took the head off an obviously surprised GINN. "BREAK OFF!"

Yuri fired his cannon again, and finished off the GINN with a shot to the cockpit. Ryune broke off from his left, and used her gatling gun on the GINN next in line. Danji barrel-rolled and got behind another to take a shot with the machine gun.

Yuri smiled proudly as Masahiro put a hole right through the cockpit of one of the GINNs. That was two - oops - three down as Ryune took down a third. [They're doing just fine.] He thought before saying, "Alright, I'm going after the Laurasia - Class," he said, "Ryune, Danji, radio the ship to bring out some Balls so we can get this scrap cleaned up!"

"Masahiro, finish up and help me out as soon as you can!" Yuri said to the boy.

"Yes, Commader!"

Yuri turned his Cosmo toward the approaching ship which was now priming its main guns to take them out. "Hehe, not today, boys." Yuri grinned and throttled the Cosmo's engine, "Here I come!"

The three remaining GINNs were putting up more of a fight now that they knew how strong the Mobile Armors were compared to a normal Moebius, and the entire battle had turned into a fire fight.

"Danji, watch your left!" Ryune snapped as the tomboy buzzed in and shot the rifle out of the GINN's grasp before Danji moved in to finish it. "Masahiro, we can finish up here, go help the commander!"

"Okay!" The Cosmograsper broke off from the battle and sped after their commanding unit. Yuri himself was buzzing around the ship like wasp, and destroying all the gun turrets he could get in his sights.

Seeing Masahiro approaching, the man grinned, "Good work out there, kid," he shouted, "Now, go in for the kill and take out the bridge!"

Masahiro nodded and locked onto the bridge before firing a shot from the beam cannon. The bridge exploded as the ship began to break down. Yuri cackled as he got a message from the Pearl, "Commander, we're receiving a surrender from the Laurasia you're up against, cease fire and return."

Meanwhile the Black Pearl had now engaged the other Laurasia - Classes in ship to ship combat.

"Starboard cannons fire! Eugene, keep those GINNs off of us with the Valiants!" Marika shouted over the roar of cannon fire, "Shino, Ride, you two get over here and take out some of these GINNs!"

"Hey, Kusuha, help Akihiro!" Chad shouted, "We've got a CGUE out their with a damned good pilot, and he's got him and Lafter on the ropes!"

"Tell Akihiro to ditch the rifle and use his beam axe," Dante shouted, "That CGUE's a close combat type!"

"I heard you!" Akihiro shouted, "Thanks for the advice!"

"You should've figured that out sooner, Musclehead!" Lafter shouted as the used the GINN's sword on one of the enemy units.

Marika frowned, "Dante, take aim with the positron cannons and take aim at the ship off the starboard."

"Rotating ninety degrees," Dante confirmed, "Firing in three...two...one!" He pulled the trigger on the firing mechanism, and fired a final blast of energy at the targeted ship. Without any time to move, the Laurasia was shot in half before exploding in a ball of fire. Meanwhile, the Cosmograspers had returned and were playing havoc with the remaining units before the Sword and Calamity units took care of the final GINN.

The CGUE was destroyed not long afterwards as Akihiro and Lafter ganged up on it, and hacked it to pieces. Marika sat back with a sigh of relief; the battle was over.

No soon had she started to relax, however...

{CONGRATULATIONS!} The system screamed jovially, spooking Marika and the bridge crew. {You have cleared a High Level Gold Class Quest!}

Eugene growled, "Lucky I didn't have my finger on the trigger!"

"I think I just had a heart attack," Chad sighed.

Dante groaned and slumped over his console, "No more surprises, please!"

{You have successfully defeated x3 ZAFT Laurasia - Class battleships while keeping damages below 50% while managing to destroy two ships, and capturing another. Rewards for High Level Gold - Class Quest 1) 5000 BP +25% boost of 1250 for destruction. 3000 BP +25% of 750 for capture of Laurasia - Class battleship. 2) x1 Laurasia - Class battleship (damaged) with partial crew included. 3) 2x UB-01 Universe Booster. For completing a High-Level Quest, you will now receive a Bonus Reward) 1x Musha Gundam Mk-II and 1x Knight Gundam. This concludes your rewards for completing the aforementioned Quest. Will you accept the Rewards?}

A person could have heard a pin drop on the bridge it was so quiet. Until...

"EEEEHHHH?!"

"We got a ship?!"

"And two Gundams?!"

"What the hell is a Universe Booster?"

Marika was more than a little shocked. "Er, I would like to accept all rewards accept for the second please?" She said a little uncertainly.

{Confirmed. Total amount of BP added to account will be 10,000. Your BP has increased to 13,045. Universe Booster x2 added to storage. Musha Gundam MK-II and Knight Gundam will now be added to hangar.}

Marika nodded, "Er, is there something else I can do with the second reward aside from accepting it?"

{Options: Option 1) Deny Reward, which will result in ZAFT forces increasing the bounty to a higher amount. Option 2) Sell both Ship and Crew to the Shop System. The amount of BP awarded for the trade will be 1500 BP for the damaged vessel, and 500 for surviving crew. Option 3) Trade both Ship and Crew to Trade System.}

Marika thought for a moment. "What are the prices on the Prototype Astrays?"

{BP cost of Gundam Astray Units may vary. Astray Unit - 02 through 05 are priced at 1000 each, while the Astray - 01 is 2000.}

Marika cursed. "Okay, it'll eat up quite a bit, but I at least need to put four of them back in the Heliopolis wreckage," she said, "System, can you place Units - 02 through 05 where they were supposed to be found in the Astray storyline?"

{Request acceptable. The amount of BP for this purchase will be 4000 BP, do you wish to make a purchase and send the items to aforementioned location?}

Marika nodded, "Yes, please." She said, "And please sell my second reward to the Store System both the ship and the crew are unneeded."

{Request accepted. Astray Units 02 through - 05 have been purchased and moved to the requested location. Laurasia - Class battleship, and crew have now been sold to the Store System. Transactions have now set your BP at 10,545.}

Marika sighed, "What is my Notoriety sitting at right now?"

{Your Notoriety has seen a significant increase and has been raised from 15 to 65 for the defeat of the 3x ZAFT ships in this area. A bounty has been added to the ship known as The Black Pearl. It is now ranked as a highly dangerous ship, and is to be avoided at all cost, unless sufficient forces are available to engage.}

Marika shook her head, "Thank you. You can shut down now."

Eugene looked back at her, "Uh, Mom, how come you bought those Mobile Suits and just sent them off like that?"

"Because, Eugene, in this universe, those Gundams have very important rolls to play." She sighed, "I understand that my daughter wanted to use them instead of letting them potentially be destroyed, but she never did read the Astray Novels." She shook her head, "To put it simply, if I didn't just do what I did, then Orb wouldn't be able to build their own forces up, and a few battles down on Earth would be far more difficult for the crew of the Archangel." She sighed, "The only thing I worry about is the pilot of the Gold Astray. He was supposed to be on Heliopolis, and to have escaped inside of the Gold Unit, but Fumina had already taken it...I have no idea where he might have gone."

ガンダム

Archangel - Class Battleship (Archangel)

Flay was glad to be reunited with Sai and his friends from Heliopolis. Seeing them after being rescued had been a great help to her mood after spending hours inside of the escape pod.

Kuzzey frowned from his spot on one of the bunks, "I really wish they'd let us know where we're going," he said, "I mean, the whole ship's been busy since we left Heliopolis so we haven't had a chance to explore."

Sai looked at his friend, "Well, we've recently changed course, so the captain is probably trying to avoid the ZAFT forces that were still chasing us after the battle," he sighed, "I wonder if they might still be after us?"

Tolle leaned back against the wall of his bunk with Miriallia napping beside him, "I bet they are," he frowned, "Not only did those guys steal the EAs Mobile Suits, but Kira got away with one, and Miss Fumina and her family managed to grab another five." He sighed as he looked at Miri's sleeping face, "I'm willing to bet that they're still after us."

Flay gasped, "Does that mean we're in more danger than if we were still in the life pod?!"

Tolle frowned at her, "Okay, let me put it this way," he said, "This ship is a moving fortress, while that life pod you were in was a soda can, which was leaking. If you'd stayed in that thing, you'd be dead by now."

Flay backed down right away after hearing that.

"Strange, though," Sai said, "I haven't seen Kira since the last battle happened?"

Kuzzey looked worried, "Rumor has it that Fumina was injured during the battle when that red suit tried to take the Kira's." He said, "The Gold Gundam looked really banged up, too."

It was then that Mu La Flaga poked his head into the room, "I wouldn't worry too much about them, kids," he said with his usual cheerfulness. "Fumina was more shaken up than she was anything else, and Kira's just being attentive." He chuckled, "Can't say as I blame him there, Fumina's a real nice little lady."

"Sir," Kuzzey spoke up to gain his attention, "Where is this ship heading?"

La Flaga nodded, "We're heading to Artemis, a Eurasian military base," he frowned then, "But we'll be lucky if those punks let us in without a fuss." He said before floating off down the hall.

"Wait a minute," Flay said, sounding startled, "What did you all mean about Kira being taken by one of those machines? Why in the world would - ?"

"Flay," Sai said, calming her down, "Kira's a pilot for one of those big Mobile Suits in the hangar."

Flay looked confused, "How is that possible? Only Coordinators can pilot those things."

"It's because Kira's a Coordinator," Kuzzey said sulkily.

"Kuzzey!" Tolle shouted, rousing Miriallia.

Sai frowned at his friend's bluntness, "Kira may be a Coordinator, but he's still one of us," he said to the frightened girl, "A cherished friend."

"I see," Flay said nervously, "But you mentioned someone else. Fumina? Is she a Coordinator, too?"

Tolle scratched his head, "You know, that's a good question." He said, "I know she and her brother and sister said that they were Naturals from a Junk Guild, but the way she pilots her machine is crazy! Not even Kira can make the Strike move like that!"

Sai shook his head, "Let's just assume that she's telling the truth, okay?" He pleaded, "She's been through enough as it is."

"But who is she?" Flay pressed.

Miriallia giggled as she finally came fully awake, "She's Kira's girlfriend."

ガンダム

"Captain Ramius," Rachel Ransom said as she entered the bridge, "I'm sorry to bother you, but I have a civilian that says he needs to see you immediately."

Murrue frowned as the girl floated toward her, "I don't mind, but what could be so important that they can't wait until I'm off duty?"

Rachel frowned, "Well, Ma'am, he dropped his name and everything..." she then leaned over and whispered into her ear.

Murrue's eyes went as wide as saucers, "WHAT?!"

A few minutes later...

"Lord Sahaku," Murrue found herself saying with a slight twitch in her brow, "You do realize that we need those machines at the moment. I can't just let you take off with what appears to be the most powerful one out of the lot."

"And I respect that need, Captain," said a man with long black hair, and red eyes, "But you must be aware that those machines are not the property of the Earth Alliance, but property of the Orb Union. As such, I am well within my rights to take the one that was specifically designed and built for myself to pilot."

"And as an Earth Alliance officer, I am well within my rights to requisition those machines," Murrue countered as the man's face formed a scowl, "I realize that those machines belong to Orb, which surprised me since I thought Orb was neutral in this war, but with the situation the way it is, if you took the Gold, or any other Unit, we'd be down in firepower, and more likely to be destroyed or captured."

"Which is the very reason I wish to vacate this ship, advanced as it is," he said, "You have children piloting those machines. Children that don't seem to know what they're doing. My personal machine was horribly damaged during the last battle, and I cannot stand for it to be done so unless I am the pilot. And two more of those machines were to go to different fronts in this war." Rondo said. "Orb may be neutral, madam, but those machines are Orb's own way of deterring either side from attacking us."

"As you know, we have only just finished the terraforming of Mars, and have only begun to transport work forces there to build our new nation." He continued, "The Astrays were meant to be the first of their kind. A multi-purpose Mobile Suit designed for either battle, or construction capabilities. Without those machines, Orb would have the short end of the stick. They are vital to producing more, and are needed quite quickly."

Before Murrue could go on, the speaker on the door crackled to life, "Captain, I've brought the pilot of the Gold Unit as you requested," Natarle said over the speaker.

"Come in, please," Murrue sighed, feeling an immense headache coming on.

The door opened and a very tired, and flustered Fumina Hoshino was marched in with the hard-nosed ensign right behind her. "What's got into you two?" Murrue found herself asking as she figured that the pair's mood was related somehow.

"I wanted to stay in bed." Fumina grumbled.

"I'm sure you did," Natarle frowned at her, "She was sleeping with the Yamato boy."

"Just sleeping!" Fumina snapped, "If you didn't notice, we still had all of our clothes on, you prude!"

"Prude!?"

"Enough!" Murrue shouted before it could go any further as the Orb noble just gestured toward the girl, as if proving his earlier statement. "Fumina, in the future, keep in mind that this is a military vessel and fraternizing is...frowned upon." She said, much to the girl's frustration.

Fumina just crossed her arms and huffed.

"As for the reason I called you here," Murrue went on with a groan, "I have here one of the civilians your siblings rescued from the two life pods. Lord Rondo Gina Sahaku. Lord Sahaku, this is acting Ensign Fumina Hoshino, pilot of the Gold Astray."

Fumina stiffened the moment she heard the man's name, "Sahaku? Of the Orb Nation nobility?"

"The same," Rondo said for himself as he rose from his seat, "So you're the pilot I have to thank for stealing my nation's machines." He said, his eyes traveling up and down the young woman's body in a way that made her skin crawl. "I cannot say that I'm not surprise that one so young was able to pull off such a feat. I could have you tried, and legally executed with all of the charges I could weigh against you and your little family. You realize this, don't you?"

Fumina's eyes narrowed, and she crossed her arms, "What is it you want from me?"

"Combat data from all of the machines," he said, "And the return of my Gold Astray as well as the Green and Violet units."

Fumina never changed her posture, "Have you considered the dangers you'd put this ship in if you took those machines," she asked coldly, "Or perhaps Orb is a nation that cares very little for the lives of others." Her tone surprised even the Sahaku heir, "But then again, it's the people like you that give Coordinators a bad name, am I right?"

Rondo's eyes narrowed, "I don't know what you're talking about, girl."

"I'm sure you don't," Fumina went on haughtily, "But would a friend of yours be very upset to find out that he's dealing with what he strives to destroy?" Fumina gained a small smirk. [See? I can play this game, too.] It seemed to say.

Rondo caught the hidden meaning, "I see," he sneered, "and what would you propose I do, young lady? Those machines are vital to Orb."

Fumina looked at the large monitor on her left, "Captain, can that screen be hooked up to this?" She pulled out her GP base.

Murrue looked a little confused, but nodded, "Well, yes, dear, it can be, but what -?"

In answer, the young woman walked over to the screen and pulled a cord from the base, hooking it to her little device, "You're right about me in a few ways," Fumina said, "I've made my living, and survived by stealing. I'm was a Junk Guild member, but that's only a polite way of saying that I'm a pirate." She said as the black screen flickered to life. "I've taken from Earth Alliance data bases when I've had the chance, and I've taken data from ZAFT. But that doesn't mean the the Guild only takes ideas from others."

The screen came alive, and showed the Orb noble, the captain, and the ensign something spectacular.

"That's..." Rondo breathed out.

"I'll give you the Gold Unit back," Fumina said, seeing that she'd screwed things up a little too much in taking the Astrays. "But in exchange for the remaining Gundams, I'll give you this." She smiled at the stunned look on Rondo's face, "Now see, this is where you're true nature shines through," she said, looking at the confused faces of Murrue and Natarle. "Captain Ramius and Ensign Badgiruel have no idea what this is, but you do, don't you, Rondo?"

Rondo nodded, no longer caring. "This...if I'm reading these schematics right, is a perpetual generator to be installed into a Mobile Suit!"

"It's too complicated for me to build on my own," Fumina admitted, "But that doesn't mean that it's not beneficial for Orb to take these designs. It's clean energy, and as you said, it's near limitless, which brings up several possibilities." She said, before moving the screen to something else, "And then there's these little beauties I found while shifting through the Eurasian data banks a few months ago."

"Eurasia," Murrue breathed out as she saw the new design.

Fumina nodded, "Eurasia is a greedy nation, and they found out long ago that the Atlantic Federation was trying to build their own Mobile Suits to match ZAFT, so they had to get in on the act. I don't know where they are, but I know for a fact that three of these already exist." She said, "They're how I found out about the units on Heliopolis. When the Earth militaries are in an arms race to build their own Mobile Suits, you would not believe how many leaks sprung up."

Murrue shook her head; she could definitely believe it.

"What you're showing him is treason, Miss Hoshino!" Natarle snapped.

"It would be," Fumina said, "But this series has been cancelled already due to the fact that data concerning the GAT-series is already being used to produce more units. All they're really waiting on is for Orb to produce a working OS." She looked at the Coordinator, "Well? Do we have a deal?"

Rondo smiled and turned to the girl with a smile, "If only you were a little older."

"I'm sorry, but you genuinely make my skin crawl," Fumina smiled right back, which made the man throw his head back and laugh. "But the schematics and the Gold are yours if you leave us the other units. I can pilot the Violet. It's not as versatile as the Gold, but I can make due." She held out her hand to the man, "Deal?"

"Deal." Rondo quickly took her hand to seal the contract. "I look forward to seeing what you become after this war is finally over."

Fumina gave a little smile, "We have to survive it first, don't we, Rondo Sahaku?"

ガンダム

Heero looked at his charge with a frown marring his face, as usual, "You let him have the Gundam?" He said in a slightly strained voice, "Are you insane, or perhaps infirm?"

"Neither," Fumina said, "We have a spare unit because of my quick dealing with him, and it's just as good as the others." She reminded him, "In fact, I think it might be better."

Allenby looked at her, "How? As far as I can see, it's got the same armaments as the others." She said, "And the Gold unit could use the Striker Packs. I'd say you got ripped off, Honey."

Fumina smirked, "The fifth unit has a Mirage Colloid system in place." She said, much to the others' confusion, "It can turn itself invisible, basically."

Heero gave a small nod, "Stealth based, huh? I won't say I don't approve, but there has to be a draw back."

"There is," Fumina shrugged, "As soon as I start shooting, I'm marked. And the system takes couple of minute to get back up and running after use." She said, "The Blitz has it, too, but on a much more powerful scale."

Kou frowned, "Okay, so it's got one use throughout a battle, but is that the only downside?"

"I think so," Fumina said, "I haven't been over the data all that much since I wasn't expecting the owner of the machines to just pop up out of one of the life pods you guys found."

Kou pouted, "Should've left him out there."

Fumina swatted his shoulder, "And leave all those people drifting through space? Kou, I'm shocked at you!"

"I can still blow him out of the airlock?" Heero suggested.

"Heero!" Fumina shouted.

"Well, I could."

Fumina groaned, "Just drop it, you guys, the deals done." She sighed, "If everything goes the way I think it will, Rondo will be killed off anyway...somehow." She sighed, [I should've read the tie in novels.]

ガンダム

Author's Note: So Marika has made sure that the Guilds will find the Astrays as planned, and Rondo Gina Sahaku (that prick) will be taking off with the Gold unit, along with plans for two more machines. What could they be?

Also, with Marika defeating ZAFT once again, she gains two new Gundams, the Musha MK-II (looks awesome) and the Knight Gundam (looks gaudy). Next time is the Phase Shift Down episode with a twist on it. Look forward to it, ya'll, and let me know what ya think of this chapter. Adios Amigos!