Ch.11
There was dead silence as a mixture of surprise, bewilderment, and rage crossed Seize's face. Finally, he gave a bitter smile, anger twisting his handsome features. "Ingenious, Brother. I am impressed." He pulled the gun slowly from his uniform and tossed it on the floor before raising his hands.
Anne was as surprised as Seize. "What-? How-?" Was all she managed to stutter.
"Quite simple my dear. I will explain everything later. I am sorry that I gave you such a scare, but I had no way of informing you beforehand of my plans. I was also afraid that you might give me away if you acted differently because of your knowledge."
"You have no confidence in me." Muttered Anne a bit angrily.
Treize smiled. "You can be angry at me later. But all that matters right now is that you are safe."
Anne was surprised by his words. But he had already turned away to talk to Trowa. "Is the other pilots here?" Trowa nodded without taking his eyes off Seize. There was a loud crash followed by a howl of pain. "Ow! Why is the stupid bucket here!" Trieze sighed. A few seconds later, Heero, Quatre, and Wufei walked in followed by Duo hopping on one leg.
"Mr. Maxwell, please keep quiet. We don't want the whole army running down here before we are ready." Heero emphasized Treize's statement by yanking on Duo's braid. "Okay, Okay. Sheesh, you guys are grumpy."
They proceeded to tie up the guards and relieve them of their weapons.
"Everything is ready. The security of the side door has been shutdown. I cut the circuits myself." Heero's eyes restlessly roamed the room. He had not lost his edge.
"Good." Treize looked down at his watch. "We can be expecting our backup soon. In the mean time, we can get to work breaking into the control system of the base. I don't think our friend here," he said, casting a meaningful look at Seize, "is going to tell us the security code. We have to do it quickly before they realize that their commander is missing."
Quatre looked at the various corridors leading from the room. "It's that way." He said pointing down one hallway. They walked with Seize down the hallway until they came to the correct room. It was locked. "Do you think we can break it?" Asked Duo.
Quatre studied the lock carefully. "This is a personal lock. It is designed to allow in only the people who have a specific set of fingerprints. Seize's will work."
Heero drew his gun and gave Seize a poke. Seize shrugged. He had recovered from his shock. His face is a bit paler than usual, but was as cool and calm as ever. He pressed his palm against the control pad and the door slid open with a click. The control room was impressive. It was clearly designed for large-scale military operations. 3 walls were covered with monitors both big and small. The control panels stretched all the way around the room. Various sized computers dotted the room. A command chair adorned the center of the room. Wufei was left to guard Seize while the rest of the pilots took seats in front of the control panels.
A few minutes later, Zechs and Noin arrived with Turner and a dozen troops. "Great job! We didn't have any trouble getting here." Commented Zechs. His eyes hardened when he saw Seize. "I thought you would have been dead by now."
"His fate will be decided by the ESUN council. Don't worry about him Zechs, we need your help with the system controls."
A screen flashed on with a faint blip. "Good. We have the radar system on now. Our mobile suit troops are close by. Excellent." One by one, all of the screens flashed to life. Suddenly, dots started flashing on the one of the screen "They have noticed the systems are being activated. They are on to us." Announced Duo. Treize nodded. "I knew this would happen. Close all the doors that lead to this room. Did you plant the explosive in the mobile suit hanger?"
"Only half of them." Replied Wufei. "There was more suits than we predicted and we didn't have enough time."
Treize looked a bit worried, but gave a shake of his head. "Don't worry about it. You did the best you could. Detonate the explosives." Heero pulled out a small switch and pressed the button. There was a muffled roar. Dozens of mobile suits were demolished instantly. Treize gave a small smile of satisfaction, but he knew this was just the beginning. Slowly, more and more mobile suits appeared on the radar screen. The battle has begun.
"Treize, You don't need us here any more. We would be more useful on the battlefield."
Treize turned to Wufei. "Do what you think is best."
Wufei nodded. "We won't be able to get out once the troops get to this room so we have to leave now."
"There is 5 Taurus suits in the forest. They have been upgraded, but their performance won't be nearly as good as the gundams or the tallgeeses. They are the best I can do in such a short time. Good luck to all of you."
Seize was left to Turner and a small group of soldiers to guard. The gundam pilots left, determined to accomplish their mission. Treize turned as Seize gave a bitter laugh. "Don't think you can crush me so easily. My soldiers will fight, with or without me. None of you will get out of here alive."
"We will see." Said Treize calmly.
"Sir, all the suits have engaged in combat. It's a very close battle with no obvious victor."
"Then we will tip the balance." Treize seated himself in the command chair and swiveled around to face Noin. "How much longer before we can access the weapon controls?"
"We have broken 4 of the 10 electronic locks. It should only take another 30 minutes or so."
Zechs looked at him curiously. "Do you know something we don't?"
"Every major base has missile defenses. Having control over them would turn the battle in our favor."
Zechs grinned. "You are still the strategist."
A soldier cut into their conversation. "Someone is contacting you, sir. Should I put him on?"
Treize nodded. A screen flickered on and revealed a very angry president. "What is the meaning of this Treize Kushrenada?!" He sputtered.
"Mr. President, I knew it would only be a matter of time before you noticed the battle. Even though I can't supply you with the details right now, I can assure you that I am only acting in the best of the ESUN's interests."
"How dare you use mobile suit units and the Preventers without consulting me or the counsel?"
"I have permission from the commanders of the Preventers herself."
Anne gave an apologetic smile. "I am only doing my duty sir."
"You are fir-"
"Mr. President," Treize interrupted smoothly, "we can settle things later. I would be grateful if you can send any old mobile suit units here. I wish you a good day."
"Stop this at on-!" Treize pressed a button on the control board that shut the monitor off. He noticed that everyone in the room was staring at him.
"Your orders, sir?" Ventured a soldier timidly.
"Order all of our Leo troops to retreat to the edge of the forest and surround the base. The Aries will cover them. Trap the enemy and shower them with gunfire."
"Yes, sir!"
"We must not give the enemy time to regroup and get into formations. Tell the gundam pilots to try and scatter the enemy."
The battle raged across the monitors with both sides losing troops quickly.
"The computer has almost decrypted the last code. Just 5 more minutes." Announced Noin. Everyone stared at the screens intensely.
Everyone was so preoccupied by the battle that Seize was forgotten. It happened in a split second. Seize dropped to one knee, his hand yanking out the gun concealed in his boot. He fired upon the startled soldiers, causing them jump aside. Turner gave a shout and fired at him as he ran towards one of the command computers. Seize swore as the gun was blasted from his hand. But the moment's distraction was enough. He pressed a red button at the far edge of the control board. "Activate the control room's automated defenses."
The computer beeped. "Voice confirmed. Lasers activated."
Everyone dove for cover as streaks of hot laser zapped across the room. "Watch out!" Exclaimed Turner, throwing Treize from the command chair. He gave a single cry as a brilliant beam pierced his back. Zechs hissed as a beam burned across his shoulder. Twisting around, he shot out the laser gun that struck him. Everyone around him was doing the same thing. After 10 minutes of chaos and confusion, the last laser was destroyed and the room lapsed into silence broken only by the groans of the wounded.
"Damn, Seize. He has disappeared." Growled Zechs as he got a bit shakily to his feet.
Treize was bent over Turner's body, his face contorted with grieve. At Zechs' words, he got to his feet, face the mask of leadership once again. "He won't get far, the entire base is surrounded." He turned to address the soldiers. "How much damage is there to the system?"
"We have lost some of the monitors and surveillance equipment, but the damage done by the lasers isn't too great."
"Is the missiles ready?"
"Yes, sir."
"Then lock onto the targets and fire."
The enemy suits were completely caught by surprise. They didn't expect to be fired upon by their own base. The missiles wiped out half of the suits. Treize's mobile suit troops moved in to destroy the rest. Zechs and Anne watched with grim satisfaction. The tension in the air disappeared. Comrades jumped up and clapped each other on the back over their success. "Seize's reign of power has ended. Congratulations Treize." Zechs turned around to compliment his friend. The command chair was empty. Treize was gone.
Seize heard his footstep long before he saw him. Seize chuckled slightly. I knew you would come. He was ready. There was a flash of metal as he drew his sword. Yes, very ready.
There was dead silence as a mixture of surprise, bewilderment, and rage crossed Seize's face. Finally, he gave a bitter smile, anger twisting his handsome features. "Ingenious, Brother. I am impressed." He pulled the gun slowly from his uniform and tossed it on the floor before raising his hands.
Anne was as surprised as Seize. "What-? How-?" Was all she managed to stutter.
"Quite simple my dear. I will explain everything later. I am sorry that I gave you such a scare, but I had no way of informing you beforehand of my plans. I was also afraid that you might give me away if you acted differently because of your knowledge."
"You have no confidence in me." Muttered Anne a bit angrily.
Treize smiled. "You can be angry at me later. But all that matters right now is that you are safe."
Anne was surprised by his words. But he had already turned away to talk to Trowa. "Is the other pilots here?" Trowa nodded without taking his eyes off Seize. There was a loud crash followed by a howl of pain. "Ow! Why is the stupid bucket here!" Trieze sighed. A few seconds later, Heero, Quatre, and Wufei walked in followed by Duo hopping on one leg.
"Mr. Maxwell, please keep quiet. We don't want the whole army running down here before we are ready." Heero emphasized Treize's statement by yanking on Duo's braid. "Okay, Okay. Sheesh, you guys are grumpy."
They proceeded to tie up the guards and relieve them of their weapons.
"Everything is ready. The security of the side door has been shutdown. I cut the circuits myself." Heero's eyes restlessly roamed the room. He had not lost his edge.
"Good." Treize looked down at his watch. "We can be expecting our backup soon. In the mean time, we can get to work breaking into the control system of the base. I don't think our friend here," he said, casting a meaningful look at Seize, "is going to tell us the security code. We have to do it quickly before they realize that their commander is missing."
Quatre looked at the various corridors leading from the room. "It's that way." He said pointing down one hallway. They walked with Seize down the hallway until they came to the correct room. It was locked. "Do you think we can break it?" Asked Duo.
Quatre studied the lock carefully. "This is a personal lock. It is designed to allow in only the people who have a specific set of fingerprints. Seize's will work."
Heero drew his gun and gave Seize a poke. Seize shrugged. He had recovered from his shock. His face is a bit paler than usual, but was as cool and calm as ever. He pressed his palm against the control pad and the door slid open with a click. The control room was impressive. It was clearly designed for large-scale military operations. 3 walls were covered with monitors both big and small. The control panels stretched all the way around the room. Various sized computers dotted the room. A command chair adorned the center of the room. Wufei was left to guard Seize while the rest of the pilots took seats in front of the control panels.
A few minutes later, Zechs and Noin arrived with Turner and a dozen troops. "Great job! We didn't have any trouble getting here." Commented Zechs. His eyes hardened when he saw Seize. "I thought you would have been dead by now."
"His fate will be decided by the ESUN council. Don't worry about him Zechs, we need your help with the system controls."
A screen flashed on with a faint blip. "Good. We have the radar system on now. Our mobile suit troops are close by. Excellent." One by one, all of the screens flashed to life. Suddenly, dots started flashing on the one of the screen "They have noticed the systems are being activated. They are on to us." Announced Duo. Treize nodded. "I knew this would happen. Close all the doors that lead to this room. Did you plant the explosive in the mobile suit hanger?"
"Only half of them." Replied Wufei. "There was more suits than we predicted and we didn't have enough time."
Treize looked a bit worried, but gave a shake of his head. "Don't worry about it. You did the best you could. Detonate the explosives." Heero pulled out a small switch and pressed the button. There was a muffled roar. Dozens of mobile suits were demolished instantly. Treize gave a small smile of satisfaction, but he knew this was just the beginning. Slowly, more and more mobile suits appeared on the radar screen. The battle has begun.
"Treize, You don't need us here any more. We would be more useful on the battlefield."
Treize turned to Wufei. "Do what you think is best."
Wufei nodded. "We won't be able to get out once the troops get to this room so we have to leave now."
"There is 5 Taurus suits in the forest. They have been upgraded, but their performance won't be nearly as good as the gundams or the tallgeeses. They are the best I can do in such a short time. Good luck to all of you."
Seize was left to Turner and a small group of soldiers to guard. The gundam pilots left, determined to accomplish their mission. Treize turned as Seize gave a bitter laugh. "Don't think you can crush me so easily. My soldiers will fight, with or without me. None of you will get out of here alive."
"We will see." Said Treize calmly.
"Sir, all the suits have engaged in combat. It's a very close battle with no obvious victor."
"Then we will tip the balance." Treize seated himself in the command chair and swiveled around to face Noin. "How much longer before we can access the weapon controls?"
"We have broken 4 of the 10 electronic locks. It should only take another 30 minutes or so."
Zechs looked at him curiously. "Do you know something we don't?"
"Every major base has missile defenses. Having control over them would turn the battle in our favor."
Zechs grinned. "You are still the strategist."
A soldier cut into their conversation. "Someone is contacting you, sir. Should I put him on?"
Treize nodded. A screen flickered on and revealed a very angry president. "What is the meaning of this Treize Kushrenada?!" He sputtered.
"Mr. President, I knew it would only be a matter of time before you noticed the battle. Even though I can't supply you with the details right now, I can assure you that I am only acting in the best of the ESUN's interests."
"How dare you use mobile suit units and the Preventers without consulting me or the counsel?"
"I have permission from the commanders of the Preventers herself."
Anne gave an apologetic smile. "I am only doing my duty sir."
"You are fir-"
"Mr. President," Treize interrupted smoothly, "we can settle things later. I would be grateful if you can send any old mobile suit units here. I wish you a good day."
"Stop this at on-!" Treize pressed a button on the control board that shut the monitor off. He noticed that everyone in the room was staring at him.
"Your orders, sir?" Ventured a soldier timidly.
"Order all of our Leo troops to retreat to the edge of the forest and surround the base. The Aries will cover them. Trap the enemy and shower them with gunfire."
"Yes, sir!"
"We must not give the enemy time to regroup and get into formations. Tell the gundam pilots to try and scatter the enemy."
The battle raged across the monitors with both sides losing troops quickly.
"The computer has almost decrypted the last code. Just 5 more minutes." Announced Noin. Everyone stared at the screens intensely.
Everyone was so preoccupied by the battle that Seize was forgotten. It happened in a split second. Seize dropped to one knee, his hand yanking out the gun concealed in his boot. He fired upon the startled soldiers, causing them jump aside. Turner gave a shout and fired at him as he ran towards one of the command computers. Seize swore as the gun was blasted from his hand. But the moment's distraction was enough. He pressed a red button at the far edge of the control board. "Activate the control room's automated defenses."
The computer beeped. "Voice confirmed. Lasers activated."
Everyone dove for cover as streaks of hot laser zapped across the room. "Watch out!" Exclaimed Turner, throwing Treize from the command chair. He gave a single cry as a brilliant beam pierced his back. Zechs hissed as a beam burned across his shoulder. Twisting around, he shot out the laser gun that struck him. Everyone around him was doing the same thing. After 10 minutes of chaos and confusion, the last laser was destroyed and the room lapsed into silence broken only by the groans of the wounded.
"Damn, Seize. He has disappeared." Growled Zechs as he got a bit shakily to his feet.
Treize was bent over Turner's body, his face contorted with grieve. At Zechs' words, he got to his feet, face the mask of leadership once again. "He won't get far, the entire base is surrounded." He turned to address the soldiers. "How much damage is there to the system?"
"We have lost some of the monitors and surveillance equipment, but the damage done by the lasers isn't too great."
"Is the missiles ready?"
"Yes, sir."
"Then lock onto the targets and fire."
The enemy suits were completely caught by surprise. They didn't expect to be fired upon by their own base. The missiles wiped out half of the suits. Treize's mobile suit troops moved in to destroy the rest. Zechs and Anne watched with grim satisfaction. The tension in the air disappeared. Comrades jumped up and clapped each other on the back over their success. "Seize's reign of power has ended. Congratulations Treize." Zechs turned around to compliment his friend. The command chair was empty. Treize was gone.
Seize heard his footstep long before he saw him. Seize chuckled slightly. I knew you would come. He was ready. There was a flash of metal as he drew his sword. Yes, very ready.