While Duo and Heero discussed the details of training three psychologically unstable teenagers, the others were busy repairing the damaged Fire-sword. Trowa, Zechs, Wufei, and Hilde were repairing the intricate network of graviton distortion crystals around the singularity core, while Relena, Quatre, Dorothy, and Sally where running diagnostics on the ship's Flight and FiCom systems. The massive size of the ship, however, was severely hindering any progress they might make, because, until the ship's auto-diagnostic mainframe could be brought back on line, they would have to go over every nook and cranny, by hand. To make matters worse, only Heero knew the Diagnostic's activation sequence. So here they were the bridge crew of the largest ship the earth sphere had ever produced reduced to crawling in and out of countless conduits and bulkheads like rats. Relena made a mental note to strangle her husband when he returned.

"Hey Dorothy can you run the maneuvering system again?" She asked

"Hai Relena-san here it is"

"Kuso! Still nothing…" Relena Flipped on her comm. unit, "Zechs any word from Heero?"

There was a slight pause and then after a short burst of static, "Aa, he called about two minutes ago, he's going to start up the diag. Mainframe via remote."

Relena sighed, *thank God* she told the others the good news, and waited for the telltale hum of the mainframes hard drives.

Outside in the barren Kamchatka wilderness, a large throng of scientists and news reporters had flocked to the now frozen lake. The news of the "feather rock" as the scientists called it (due to the lack of the suspected global winter) had attracted every one from religious loonies to the top US and Russian brass. At the moment a blonde reporter from America was giving an exclusive interview with one of the scientists.

"Mr. Yokua, tell us what you think this object was"

"Well… I would say it was some kind of previously unknown element that has an unfathomably light density, of maybe one mole per cubic kilometer."

As the Interview continued, the cameraman suddenly sees a large crack beginning to form on the ice

"Miss Jones look!"

"MY GOD ARE YOU GETTING IT"

With a blast like thunder steam began to spray out of the widening chasms.

I was once a prisoner, of the binding chains of sin

Sin is where it started; death is where it ends

I could hear the call of freedom,

but I just stood there at the wall,

praying somehow it would fall

Everywhere scientists and reporters where running around like chickens, as the ice sheet buckled and writhed. Then with an echoing Explosion of ice, steam, and water, the Firesword burst from its frozen tomb hovering menacingly over the crowd.

And then at last I found the doorway

And the hand that held the keys

And when those chains fell at my feet

For the first time I could say…

In a Flash of plasma fire the huge ship burst into orbit, leaving the stunned crowd in awe struck stupor

This is how it feels to be free

This is what it means to know that I am forgiven

This is how it feels to be free

To see that life can be more than I imagined

This is how it feels to be free…

This is how it feels to be free.

Back aboard the Fire-sword, Relena watched as the sky dropped away, and blue day was torn apart into black night. Ahead the silhouettes of Deathscythe and Zero could be seen approaching the carrier. Trowa gave orders to the flight deck crews to clear the landing areas.

Ten minutes later the nine members of the bridge crew were quickly discussing the Angel attacks in the flight deck.

"So, they have a text that gives them the times at which angels will attack, yet the do not take the offensive?" Trowa asked.

"Yes, but why they do not is unknown" Duo responded.

"Feh! Weaklings! They could have stopped half the previous attacks if they had taken the initiative!" Wufei scoffed.

Heero frowned, and instantly all eyes were on him "That's what has me worried, Why would they place lives on the line when they could have taken the fight to the enemy?"

"Perhaps they had something to gain by risking the people?" Dorothy said quietly, remembering the assault on the Sanc Kingdom.

"Doro-kun" Quatre gasped

"No, she's right" Hilde sighed

Heero nodded glumly "Well if they don't take the offensive, we will."

"WHAT?" was the mutual response.

"An Angel is going to attack Tokyo Three at four-thirty a.m." Heero stated.

"Let me guess… We are going to fight back," Zechs said with a small smirk

"Hai"

One by one the gundams lined up on the launch bay. First Zero, its massive satellite Cannons hanging down between its wings. Second Heavyarms, its new black armor and long Spiegel Blades gleaming menacingly in the dull light. Next Altron with its dragon wings spread wide for re-entry, then Sandrock, the twin shotals and a massive sized Galil hanging prominently from the equipment rack. Fifth Wraith, Relena's suit its high power radar and radio equipment set to pierce Deathscythe's jammers. Deathscythe was last; its arm mounted heat whips hanging limply like the chains of some dark beast. Behind the gundams two Falcon support craft were being loaded with extra ammunition and supplies, these would be piloted by Dorothy and Noin.

And so in geo-synchronous orbit halfway between Russia and Japan, the storm was about to break, and it waited only for the coming of the dawn.