Lawrence H. Bain: As for pairings, I am very unsure of that. The problem is that Setsuna made Heero Yuy look like an expert when it comes to romance (Thus having jokes of Setsuna's only love being Gundam) The pairings would likely be the same as canon, though I would have to dig deep on their relationship so it wouldn't look forced but there will be new ones involving the likes of Regina, Lyle, Riika, and Nicol.
Redrat8: You're close there. As much as I love Yzak's character development, this was the stage that I hate him the most and I would make sure that he wouldn't get scotch free as he did in canon.
AccelBreaker: Thanks! Dunno bout pairings tho...
Chapter 15: Discussions
Silence engulfed the void of space as lights flashed like blinking strobes, coming from the remnants of the 6th Division, scouting the area in case of any pursuing Alliance vessels at their heels. Fortunately, none were in pursuit and they continued their journey back home.
However, even though out of reach of any danger, the sheer trauma from the battle against the 8th Fleet on Orbit, continued to haunt those fought in it first-hand.
It was supposedly an easy victory, especially due to the fact that although the fleet was outnumbered by the 8th Fleet, nine to thirty one, it had the mobile suit and technological advantage, being supported by the veteran 6th Division and they were close in destroying the fleet along with the legged-ship and its new mobile suit models.
And then, it appeared. A mobile suit unknown to many that had been a thorn to their side for far too long, evolved into a symbol of both dread and fear like never before. Like a spectre through the night, the Blue Flash, as the mobile suit was called, went through an entire fleet like a red blur, leaving a trail of destruction and death behind as it passed therough any opposing ship or mobile suit.
And it wasn't long before some frightened members of the crew began to refer the mobile suit as the Red Death, largely because of what he had done to decimate an entire fleet and because of it having a red aura. The mere memory of that mobile suit was enough to give them chills right up their spine, and none of them are willing to go after the legged-ship in the name of revenge, knowing what consequences it could bring if they do so.
However, another sight that Admiral Markhov and his crew would never forget is the magnificent mass of particles that shrouded majestically throughout the battlefield and the voice of a mysterious man coming from the machine. The divine sight caused members of Markhov's crew to have a sense of divinity towards the machine, due to its magnificence and the particles that were exposed to them, as if a god had taken form through the Blue Flash. Once they were out of the battlefield, Markhov received a message from Le Creuset to conduct a medical examination for the members of his crew.
Though skeptical and surprised of the request Rau had given him and of the crew of the Achilles, Markhov agreed and once all medical reports were submitted to him for inspection, on Rau's behest, he couldn't believe his eyes.
Members of his crew's genetic defects were either cured or significantly improved, especially to those who had been suffering from sterilization and to those who need prescribed drugs to alleviate their genetic code. Rau had also told him of members of his team having a similar phenomenon when the Blue Flash first appeared before them, leading Markhov and Rau to come up with a, though still unsure, conclusion.
Those particles emnitted from the Blue Flash are the key to the salvation and the survival of the Coordinator race.
Markhov knew it was too bizarre to come up with that but its functions and its overall abilities were revolutionary so to speak, something that Coordinators weren't able to produce as of yet. But what really made the Blue Flash so unique to all the mobile suits that it had fought against, was another phenomenon that it made.
Its ability to connect with people's minds when those particles massed through the battlefield. Everyone heard the thoughts of others as they fell back from the battlefield. Many were frightened and some even became hysterical, wondering if they had become insane on what they were hearing, but Markhov knew what he had heard, the voice of who appeared to be the pilot of the machine, coming back to them.
There would neither be a future, Coordinator and Natural alike, without change with understanding
Those words that came from the Blue Flash, echoed within his mind, wondering to how would that even be possible. The altered code between the two races is the root of the war, and as much as he wanted to believe in those words, he knew chances of that ever happening are slim, given to the fact that discrimination and resentment is still a rebundant issue due to the Naturals looking down at Coordinators due to their existence as an offense against nature, or Coordinators because of their superiority and arrogance. And this resentment turn to hate, in turn, escalated to war when the Alliance nuked Junius Seven, where he lost his wife and two sons along with close comrades he had worked closely with. And this caused radicals, such as Patrick Zala and Captain Shun Sato, to have a vengeful streak against Earth.
However, even after he and along with many others suffered the aftermath of the Bloody Valentine Tragedy, Markhov refused to have any grudges towards Naturals, seeing that revenge won't give him any solace or closure after all that has happened unlike many of his other colleagues. A moderate along with Siegel Clyne and Eileen Canaver, Markhov despised the idea of sending young men and women to the frontlines against a war that would only lead to further suffering. And he wanted the war to end, preferably through diplomacy than armed struggle.
However, as the memory of the Blue Flash and his words came back to him, a small flicker of hope ignited within, wether or not he is capable of fulfilling this.
"So, it seems that your own crew also had the same results?", Markhov inquired to the black uniform, Wilhelm Tirpitz, the Captain of the Achilles and only one left of the original five of the 6th Division as well as the brother of the late Hermann Tirpitz of the Galvani.
"I am able to confirm this, Genosse", Tirpitz said, looking over the papers that detailed the crew's medical examination reports with a wide-eyed expression. "It appears what Commander Le Creuset is trying to tell us, was true to the very least. Personel aboard the Achilles, primarily the second and third generations, defects decreased significantly, as if the presence of that machine and its strange particles were a blessing in diguise"
Markhov gave Tirpitz a blank look. "At the visage of nearly annihilating the fleet it seems. The crew is mostly quiet, otherwise too afraid to even speak up regarding the battle from earlier"
"Ja", Tirpitz agreed, glancing to find his own crew sharing the same aura of both dread and fear with the crew of the Ares. "The Alliance may have been hiding this machine until when something as important as the legged ship and their last G-Weapon was set to move out to Earth. While intercepting it is very dangerous, we have to do something to prevent it from being mass-produced"
Reluctantly nodding in agreement, Markhov continued, but with a change of subject this time. "How are the repairs to the Achilles? Shall I send some of my personel to assist in the efforts?"
Tirpitz waved his hand in dismissal. "We could manage this on our own, Admiral. The damage to my ship is not to be taken into too much consideration, but if there is anything we could fix, it would be the morale of our crews"
The elderly black uniform sighed dejectedly. "Hopefully we could. Otherwise the lack of resolve will only give dire results-"
A beep was heard from the left side of the bridge where the CO of the Ares turned towards the Admiral. "Sir, we are receiving an incoming transmission from the Vesalius. Commander Le Creuset is requesting a line with you"
Sighing, Markhov turned towards Tirpitz. "I'm afraid our discussion will have to wait. Give me an update whenever something comes out of the blue"
Saluting, Tirpitz complied. "Ja, Admiral". And the line went dead where the Markhov turned towards the bridge crew.
"What's our status?", Markhov somberly inquired to the officers on the bridge.
"No sign of enemy activity at the are. The Achilles and the Vesalius are all that remained", his CO reported, still frightened at what had happened to the once formidable 6th Division. Markhov took off his hat and rubbed his temples, mourning the loss of Captains Nikos, Vauban, and Reynolds to the so-called Blue Flash before he asked. "And our mobile suit teams?"
"30 GINNs are reported to be destroyed. Commander Le Creuset's CGUE was damaged but had managed to return to the Vesalius in time. The Buster has suffered significant damage while the Duel suffered very heavy damage, considering the amount inflicted by that unknown machine"
"And of Team Nova?", Markhov asked, praying that his mobile suit team was not among his victims.
"They had withdrawn to a safe distance. All personnel are accounted for", one of the operators answered before adding. "They had also taken in one of the Gamow's G-Weapons aboard. He appears to be a member of Le Creuset Team"
Sighing in relief, the mention of the Duel's pilot caused members of the crew aboard the Ares to scowl, speculating that the reason why the unknown machine had rampaged was because of him trying to shoot down a civillian shuttle but none could actually accuse him of such since they haven't the details yet.
"Open a channel to the Vesalius", Markhov ordered as his officer complied and the personnel of the Vesalius' bridge appeared before him. "Commander Le Creuset, what is your status, over?"
"All personel are accounted for aboard the crew while the others had made it to the ship prior to the rampage", Rau said to the elderly black uniform. "Have you seen the results I asked of you?"
"I do", Markhov confirmed, holding up one of the medical examination papers that contained the latest results from his crew. "Do you certainly believe that the unknown machine is the very reason for this development?"
Rau nodded, though he was inwardly grinning as he noticed his withdrawal symptoms had considerably decreased, which would mean less medication needed for his telomeres. "I'm afraid so, Admiral. As much as I would be reluctant to believe it either, that machine had a rather bizarre capabilities that dwarves all our existing mobile suits, even the G-Weapons. Whatever engine or power reactor that it operates is beyond to what our researchers could come up with, and if it could provide for the welfare for the PLANTs, wether it be militarily or for civillian use, the Supreme Council would take interest in this development"
"If they could move on from the fact that one mobile suit nearly decimated an entire fleet on his own", Markhov snidely said, frowning that Rau is much more concerned about the machine than the lives lost recently but he let it slide.
"That reminds me, is Yzak Joule aboard your ship, Admiral?", Rau inquired.
Sighing, Markhov closed his eyes for a moment before replying to the masked commander. "We managed to retrieve him just as the enemy fleet had left the area. Safe to say, Lieutenant Renew wasn't in good spirits at seeing him again..."
SLAP!
"Insubordination and endangering civillians. What were you thinking, Joule?!", Regina angrily scolded the silver-haired pilot. As soon as he was helped up by the Ares' crew when Courtney retrieved the Duel (Or whatever's left of it), the leader of Team Nova got out of her machine and approached Yzak where a harsh hand had landed on his cheek.
"I don't know how many times Le Creuset had to put up with you, but what you did was over the line!", she continued her rant, causing the rest of Team Nova who got out of their cockpits, to look at their leader in worry, seeing this as the first time she lost her usually calm aura whenever an operation had ended.
"I didn't know Lieutenant is that scary when she's angry...", Riika whispered to Courtney, who merely nodded in agreement.
"Least it's on Scarface", Mare pointed out, though he felt uneasy at the sight. "But yeah, I guess it does..."
"I thought they were soldiers...", Yzak lowly replied to the woman before another hand landed on his cheek once more.
"So even if they were defenseless retreating soldiers, you'd shoot them down for the sake of your vendetta?", she challenged him, but unsurprisingly for her, he remained silent. Breathing out her temper, she glared at the pilot. "Just remember this, Joule. The Council will hear of this, and your mother will be inclined to agree on what willl happen to you"
She then stormed off, heading towards the locker room while the rest of her team watched as their leader leave.
"I still can't believe an entire fleet was nearly wiped out by one mobile suit...", Riika shuddered, the final moments of those GINN pilots embedded on her mind. "Just what on earth did the Alliance create this time?"
"I don't know...", Mare answered, glancing down at the Duel's wreck where the mobile only had one of its limbs and the head was also gone. "But I'm not taking dibs at going against that guy anytime soon
The team went silent, watching as Yzak went on his way towards the waiting hall to be picked up by the Vesalius. Their silence was broken when Courtney spoke up. "Are we forgetting the fact that for a moment, we are all connected mentally?"
Mare shrugged. "Can't say I'm forgetting that very soon, especially when we all heard the pilot proclaiming change and whatnot", he said, crossing his arms and leaning against the wall.
"But isn't it possible?", Riika interjected, the words of the pilot apparently interested her. "That Naturals and Coordinators change to have a better future?"
The blond pilot lightly laughed sarcastically at that. "Try saying that to Blue Cosmos or to the guys at the PLANT Supreme Council. Maybe they'll listen..."
"Which is a very unlikely thing to happen, sad to say...", Courtney added, supporting Mare's point. "Unless moderates headed the two, we won't be seeing that anytime soon"
Sighing, Riika looked above the ceiling thoughtfully, remembering the majestic aura that the unknown machine possessed, as if it were a symbol of something else bigger than fear and despair as everyone else thought of it.
Siegel Clyne pinched his temples as heated arguments and debates hounded the meeting hall. The PLANT Supreme Council had erupted in chaos when Commander Le Creuset and Lieutenant Renew reported on what had happened back on Orbit, all of whom didn't take the news very well and were already calling for measures that are deemed...questionable
"This is a disaster!", Jeremy Maxwell of Quintilis City exclaimed in total outrage at hearing the report from Rau and Regina and the video on how the 00 Raiser decimated the fleet that pursued the legged-ship of the the Earth Alliance. "One mobile suit nearly wiped out an entire fleet?! What kind of monstrosity have those Naturals created?!"
"Order in court!", Siegel tried to alleviate the growing uproar at the chamber but his words fell on deaf ears, especially to those who were critical on what has happened. "Bickering will not help of the current situation that is now. For now, we have to be patient and tread carefully of what to do next"
"And allow those Naturals to wreak havoc on Earth?!", Patrick Zala added, his voice laced with malice towards the unknown machine. "Six ships, three belonging to the 6th Division, were sunk by one machine! And we just sit here and wait until we lost everything at Earth?! We must act now before it's too late!"
"And cost us more losses than gains? I think that would be a splendid idea!", Eileen Canaver of Clyne's Moderate Faction, sarcastically remarked, clearly not in favor of what they want to do next involving the unknown machine. "You saw what it could do. Acting rashly without any knowledge of the unknown machine will only add salt to the injury!"
"This is why we must act now and destroy that machine before the Earth Forces could mass produce it!", Patrick angrily insisted, slamming his fist onto his part of the desk. "If one could decimate an entire fleet, five or even a dozen of these monstrosities can destroy our livelihoods and everything that we stand for!"
"Order in court!", Siegel repeated in a higher tone, causing the rest of the Council members to temporarily withhold their anger and their shock before the Chairman turned towards the two officers present at the meeting. "Commander Le Creuset. Lieutenant Renew. According to your reports, this mobile suit saved a civilian shuttle just as Joule indiscriminately tried shooting it down when it stood in the way between him and the Strike"
Siegel, and members of the Moderate Faction gave a disapproving look at Ezalia who scowled at her son's actions. She may be against Naturals and all they are, but she was not above in favor of deliberate murder of civilians.
"As soon as it happened, the unknown machine tore apart the Duel before it activated a system that increased his speed and mobility into unprecedented levels. And then it turned towards the 6th Division where we ended up losing six out of nine ships originally", Regina gave her part of the report, while hiding the complete nature of the Trans-Am System.
This caused some members of the Council to whisper amongst themselves until Rau stepped in.
"However, there is an intruiging factor regarding the machine, sir", Rau calmly interjected, causing the rest of the Council members to raise an eyebrow towards the masked commander, with interest.
"And what would that be, Commander Le Creuset?", Siegel inquired.
Rau pulled up three envelopes before he placed them at the table of the PLANT Supreme Council, prompting the rest to distribute them among the members of the Council. "Those are the medical examination results from the crews of the Ares, Achilles and the Vesalius. I have my suspicions when three of our G-Weapon pilots fought against the Blue Flash, and it was their medical examinations after the battle that rooted my suspicions. And it was after the Battle at Orbit that solidified my theory further"
Ezalia Joule's eyes widened in shock as she saw her son's medical exam, as did Tad Elsman and Yuri Amalfi with theirs. "This is...!"
"Sterilization and genetic defects had been reduced significantly?", Yuri gasped, his reaction of both shock and awe shared by the rest of the Supreme Council as they continued to read over the papers Rau had distributed.
"How is this possible?", Patrick added, his angry aura replaced with shock as the rest of them. "No cure has been made by our scientists..."
"Commander Le Creuset, are you certain that this machine is to be held responsible about this phenomenon?", Siegel asked with a raised eyebrow.
The masked commander pulled out a remote and began to play the recording of the battle once more. This time fast-forwarding as the unknown machine dispersed massive amounts of colored particles from its wing binders that shrouded the entire battlefield just as the remains of the fleet retreated. "This is what I have suspected", Rau said, pointing at the GN Particles. "Those particles emitted from a unique type of engine or system enabled the machine to have an outmost performance and mobility that dwarfed our mobile suit models. As well as having its unique features, such as the ability to create a position-reflector like shield, but stronger. In addition, while its system are revolutionary to say the least, I believe that the particles, or at least the source that came from this machine, can turn out to be the tool needed for the survival of our race as a whole"
The whole Council whispered to one another, talking amongst themselves wether or not to be taken for granted. Siegel was hesitant to believe Rau in his words but the others began to see a possibility that this could be fact rather than faction
"Are you saying that this machine is our key to salvation?!", Tad Elsman spoke up, very intruiged at the aspect of the Coordinators being cured of the genetic defects that plagued them for so long. A believer in their superiority like is son, he had a distaste for Naturals and the thought that they needed to breed with them to ensure the survivability of their line is flat out disgusting.
And to have this machine at their hands would mean the cure and survival of their race without the need to breed to Naturals. In addition, it may be able to cure whatever genetic defects that plagued the later generation as time passed by, especially when scientists in PLANT tried (and failed) to find a cure for this.
Rau smiled, knowing he had them by his palm. "It would seem so, which is why I find this discovery to be noted among the military and of the head of the government. While the system that it had used against the fleet is still unknown, it is best that we all proceed with caution against this machine as a whole"
The Council engaged in murmurs as they talked amongst themselves. All of them thought of the possibilities should this new Earth Forces machine fall to their hands. If they were able to mass produce it and its capabilities, they could simply subjucate Earth quite easily, in addition of it being a revolutionary asset for the welfare for the people, as it could open a door for more opportunities to come.
Siegel, however, was still hesitant wether or not to approve of this choice. The representatives, particularly the radicals, all turned towards Siegel, clearly favoring the possible capture of the machine. His moderate faction seemed to have the same idea as them, but they prefer it to be used for civilian use.
Realizing their decision, Siegel caved in. "Very well", he said, to Rau's own delight and Regina's disapproval. "As such the PLANTs will provide the resources needed for the capture of the Blue Flash. If it is capable of repairing the defects that the current generation had been suffering because of the particles it had emmitted, then the capture of the unit will be a great asset to our cause"
"But who will lead the capture of the machine is what I am worried about", Ezalia spoke in concern. "Commander Le Creuset is en route to assist in Operation Spitbreak, and his team will be in pursuit of the legged ship and the capture of the X-105 Strike"
"I have people in mind for that", Rau assured them. "Which is why I am suggesting that Lieutenant Regina Renew and her team would lead the operation to capture the machine", Rau said, smirking while the lavender-haired woman gave him a shocked look of disbelief and outrage.
'What has gotten in to you, Rau?', she mentally cursed him.
"May we know why Lieutenant Renew should take the lead?", Maxwell inquired. "Not that we disregard her accomplishments at Yggdrassil and Nova, but why her of all people?"
"Based on how she managed to managed to hold her own against a machine that bested all four G-Weapons which were more advanced than the prototype GUAIZ unit that she was using", Rau reasoned out, pulling out a remote and the screen playing with the 00 Raiser fighting Regina's GUAIZ. They watched as Regina stood her ground against the unknown machine, and only pulled back when her unit was low on power. "Based on the background of her team as well, they had proven to be quite the candidates of prototype machines in development"
Regina was now silently fuming at Rau. He just have to involve her teammates just as they barely escaped with their lives from the Gundam.
"Very well", Siegel agreed, to Regina's plight. "Task Force Nova will be assigned along with Le Creuset Team in pursuit of the legged-ship. Do you have any objections, Lieutenant?"
Regina looked at the members of the Council and, seeing that refusing won't make a difference, shook her head. "No, sir"
Siegel continued. "Send a message to all commanders present at Earth to be on high alert. But keep in mind, that we have to tread carefully on what to do next. However, due to the actions of Yzak Joule, we will have to conduct a tribunal regarding his penalties from the reports given.With that, this meeting is adjourned."
"HARO! HARO!"
Setsuna groggily opened his eyes, waking up at hearing the familiar voice of the Gundam's support robot. Recalling that he was at atmospheric landing, he turned to the robot.
"Have we landed past the atmosphere?", he asked.
"Landed. We landed!", the robot confirmed, causing Setsuna to sigh in relief, before he heard a voice outside his Gundam.
"You found him floating at the middle of the ocean?", a man with dark long hair inquired to a brown-haired teenager who were a black shirt, yellow vest, trousers and a headband.
"Well yeah", the teen replied, scratching the back of his head. "Could belong to either ZAFT or the Earth Forces, but who knows?"
The two were startled as the machine's cockpit opening where it revealed a man wearing a blue pilot suit. Taking off his helmet, Setsuna looked around, observing his surroundings just as Haro bounced behind him.He turned to the teenager and asked. "Where am I?"
The brown haired teen blinked a few times before answering back, unsure. "East Asia, Japan to be exact. Right now, you're at the Junk Guild outpost at Osaka", he replied before taking a look at the 00 Raiser, where he was clearly fascinated at the aestethics and overall design.
The boy widened his eyes as he turned back to the Gundam Meister. "Sorry about that", the boy apologized as he scratched his head sheepishly before he extended his arm to reveal a free hand. "Lowe Guele, Junk Guild mechanic. This is Liam Garfield, also from Junk Guild", he said, introducing himself and to the man behind him.
The raven-haired pilot looked at him cautiously at first, but shook his hand. "Setsuna F. Seiei, mobile suit pilot"
AN: Welp, we're in for quite a canon divergence with Setsuna landing at East Asia. BUT that doesn't mean the Desert Tiger Arc won't happen, but rather it would be much later on. I kinda wanted to explore Eurasia and East Asia, and I have some characters from Astray MSV to appear her other than Junk Guild.