MS Gundam Wing: Revolution
Book Three: Part Seven
In the meeting room, Juri was trying to explain the weirdness that went on in Ohtori Academy, and how it related to Utena and Anthy. It wasn't going all that well.
"So... there were magic duelists and a contest, sword fights and flying castles?" Duo asked skeptically. "You're pulling my leg."
"It IS entirely possible they were drugging the water," Juri said dryly as she met his glance. She seemed surprisingly unbothered by the comments.
Trowa looked amused, Wu Fei grunted and Duo grinned. The other senior members of the colony leadership looked pained.
"But we all know Akio Ohtori is real. And that he supported OZ and their allies until he could seize Libra for himself. So...," Juri shrugged.
"It ultimately doesn't matter where Akio came from," Hilde pointed out reasonably, "he is clearly our enemy. And the enemy of our enemy is, at least, a possibly ally."
Releena smiled slightly, glad she hadn't had to suggest that. "Not that we should instantly accept them," she cautioned, "but I don't see how it helps us to incarcerate them."
"Also, consider who turned them in to us," Quatre noted flatly. He REALLY did not like Dorothy at all...
Everyone just kind of ignored the nasal wheese. At least the huge bandage on his face was gone.
"Howard vouches for Utena, at least. Good tech, always on time, never caused any trouble," Duo added with mild amusement.
"I understand Anthy is refusing to discuss her brother?" Trowa asked.
"Yup," Duo nodded, "not that I can blame her, considering we're holding her captive. And it's not like we have any leverage."
"We could threaten Utena," Trowa said calmly.
Everyone just LOOKED at him. "Yeah, that'll make Anthy our best friend forever," Duo noted wryly.
"It's an option," Trowa shrugged.
Wu Fei sighed. "We need to let colony leadership make the decision, but I would suggest we urge them to let them go. I suspect we'll need them eventually," he said seriously.
"Agreed," Juri nodded.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
The Earth armies were mobilizing, but it was a annoyingly slow process. They had bowwored, rented and stollen all the lift capacity they could get, and hauled the mobile suits and carriers into orbit.
THEN they had to get everyone pointed in the right direction.
"How many different militaries are involved?" Noin asked as she and the colony delegation kept a eye on the chaos.
"There's OZ, the Specials, of which many usual troopers dislike. And Russia and the US have launched squads, whom don't get along well at all," Miliardo noted wryly.
"And Treize expects to get them all to get along and fight Libra?" Noin asked her ex wryly.
"Once Libra arrives I expect it to try to kill us all," Miliardo observed, "that tends to encorage cooperation."
"Ha." Noin smiled grimly.
It was moderately awkward working with your ex-boyfriend, even if he had kind of dumped you first. Especially since you were now dating a woman. Tho Miliardo had taken THAT remarkably well, as far as that went.
Who the hell congradulated their girlfriend on hooking up with a lady, anyway?!
"I recieved a private communication from Treize he asked to share with you. It concerns a old ally of ours," Miliardo noted.
"Oh?" Noin asked dubiously.
"It seems Colonel Une has completely disappeared," Miliardo said flatly.
"Colonel Une?" Noin echoed. "The same one who was piloting Epyon and blowing up colonies? THAT Colonel Une?"
"Indeed. I understand you don't personally care," Miliardo conceded, "but we should be worried what happened to Epyon."
Noin only took a moment to realize what he meant. "Akio?" she asked.
"If he has Epyon, he could successfully adapt it's technology to the Mobile Dolls," Miliardo said grimly.
Neither brought up what Akio might be doing to Une. The man had a reputation for decadence, and Miliardo at least was concerned for her.
"I'll pass it along to the colony leaders," Noin promised.
"Hay hello to my sister for me, as well," Miliardo added as he headed off to resume command of the White Fang.
Noin watched him go as she thought, 'Strange, STRANGE man...'
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Mobilizing the colony forces was nearly as chaotic as the Earth side. Part of the issue was getting the various colonies to admit they HAD the various military units. And, of course, putting aside various conflicts so they could get together reasonably peacefully.
Quatre, annoyingly, found most of those organizing details falling on him. "Why me...," he muttered tiredly.
"Quatre!" a happy sing song voice called.
"Hilde, don't tell me something else has happened?" he sighed.
Hilde laughed as she strode into his office. "But it's so fun seeing you like this," she shrugged.
"I hate you," Quatre sighed as she dropped more papers on his desk.
"I can live with that," Hilde noted cheerfully.
"So what is it NOW?" Quatre asked as he flipped through the latest updates.
"Dorothy wants permission to take her team out for training excercises before we engage Libra," Hilde smirked.
Quatre stopped and just looked at her a moment. "She DOES know there's a large number of colonist that want her dead, right?"
"Uh huh," Hilde nodded.
"I mean, NOIN has personally said she'd frag her given half a chance," Quatre sighed.
Hilde just shrugged.
Quatre ran a hand through his hair. "Well, we have a truce going and we're TECHNICALLY allies. We can't really say no," he admitted.
"So how do we avoid someone shooting her?" Hilde teased.
Quatre sighed. "Give her a big training area and forbid anyone else going there, I guess," he said wearilly.
"And hope no one snipes her," Hilde reminded him.
"Oh, THERE is a happy thought," he sighed.
"I like to serve," Hilde laughed.
"Let Dorothy know I'm making the arrangements. We'll TRY to have something ready for tomorrow," Quatre ordered.
AS Quatre returned to work he wondered if his sister has going to be training too. Hopefully she wouldn't show up and punch him again...
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
Releena lead the way into the brig, with Juri behind her. Utena and Anthy looked up, curious but wary.
"Ladies, you are free to go," Releena smiled as Juri unlocked the doors.
"Only two days. That was faster than I expected actually," Anthy admitted.
Juri wasn't sure if she was being sarcastic or not, so she just said, "Glad to help."
Utena gave Anthy a scolding look then smiled at the two women. "Thank you very much," she said firmly as they left the cell.
"You're welcome," Releena smiled warmly. As they walled out of the detention center she continued, "May I ask what your plans are?"
"Think we're just going to take off?" Utena asked wryly.
"We haven't treated you in the most friendly way, even if you did sneak aboard under assumed names," Releena conceded willingly.
"We intend to remain until Akio is dealt with," Anthy said firmly. "No promises after that, though," she cautioned.
"Fair enough," Juri conceded. She gave Releena a meaningful look.
Releena looked amused at her girlfriend passing the buck. "If you don't mind, several of the lead pilots wanted to discuss Akio with you," she admitted.
"We were expecting that," Utena shrugged casually.
"There's really not much we can tell you," Anthy added. "Akio has a ego, he's tired of the long life he's lived, and at this point he just wants to use Libra to burn it all down..."
To be continued...
Notes: I keep writing Heero in to chapters, then remembering I killed him off earlier. Ooops.
Nor have I said WHY Akio is doing all this. Well, here you go.