Phase 3: Tears in the Sea

"Wake up, wake up. Are you okay? Please answer me," the girl almost shrieked.

"He should be okay," said a doctor. "His vital signs are stable. But you'd be like that too if you suffered that severe a concussion."

After two hours Shin began stirring in his bed. In his mind he was struggling with his feelings and memories. His battle with them was fierce and never-ending. After reliving his memory of his sister's death, he awoke with a start. He let out an ear piercing scream. With tears in his eyes, he expressed his angst. The girl immediately ran into the medical bay.

"Are you okay?"

"Arrrrggggghhhhh, I can't take it anymore. Why can't I feel at peace? Why?"

The girl took his hand in hers and said, "Don't worry, I'm here for you."

She wrapped her arms around him and held him as he cried.

Shin later broke the embrace and asked, "Who are you?"

"My name is Mina. I'm a communications and tactical officer onboard the ZAFT submarine Leviathan. I'm also a nurse here in the medical bay. What's your name?"

"Sigh," Shin turned his back to her. He breathed heavily and finally said, "My name is Shin Asuka. I was a resident of Orb, until the Earth Alliance attacked. Now, Orb is no more."

"Why don't you join ZAFT? I mean you have to be a Coordinator if you can battle that well in an M1 Astray. Join your own people."

Shin laid back down on his bed. His head was gushing with thoughts. Shall he shed his anger and live a life of peace, or shall he join ZAFT and bring about the destruction of the Earth Alliance. "Let me think about it."

"Okay," Mina replied. "But in the meantime, let me take you on a tour of the submarine."

"Alright," Shin sighed. He slowly got up and Mina wrapped her arm around his. She then led him out of the medical bay and into the corridor.

As she was leading him through the hallway, she explained all about the specs of the submarine. "These are the quarters of the crew, and up ahead is the central elevator.

They walked into the elevator and she took him to the mobile suit hangar. As soon as Shin walked in, he was struck with awe. There were three amphibious mobile suits stored and three aerial mobile suits.

"The one with wings are AMF-1 Dinns. They have high maneuverability and are capable of aerial combat. The two amphibious mobile suits you see on the left are UMF-4A Goohns. They are capable of aquatic combat and have a swim mode for faster movements underwater."

"What about that one?" Shin asked as he pointed to the green amphibious mobile suit.

"That is the UMF-5 Zno, ZAFT's newest amphibious mobile suit. It is equipped for close combat in case the Earth Alliance developed aquatic mobile suits."

Well that's all for the mobile suit hangar tour, and now we'll continue to the main bridge. They went back to the elevator and rode up to the main bridge.

As soon as Shin walked in he was greeted warmly by the crew after Mina had introduced him.

"Hello, my name is Chard Morman," said the communications officer.

"Pleased to meet ya, Mr. Asuka, my name is Dirk Harrison," said the combat tactician as he shook Shin's hand.

"And I'm Ella Lania," said the cute navigation officer.

"Shin," said Mina as she pointed to a man sitting in a high char, "this is Captain Doran."

"I'm very impressed by you combat abilities," said Captain Doran. "We've been monitoring you for quite a while and I must say, your piloting skill rivals that of our ace pilots Rau LeCruset and Athrun Zala."

"Thank you sir," Shin replied.

"Now, I must ask you if you would consider joining ZAFT. We need pilots like you, especially for the oncoming assault on Panama."

Shin thought about it deeply. He wanted revenge and felt attracted to Mina. He wanted to protect her for she had cared so much for him. "Okay, I'll do it."

"Well, welcome aboard, Mr. Asuka. From this day forth you are a pilot for the Zodiac Alliance Freedom Treaty. I wish you the best of luck in combat." Captain Doran then gave a ZAFT salute.

"Mina," said Ella, "why don't you take our new pilot to the deck. We're surfaced now and he can get a good view of the ocean. Fresh air could do him some good after the injuries he sustained."

"Okay." Mina then took Shin's arm and led him to the deck. Ella was right, the fresh ocean breeze felt good on Shin's face. He was feeling better.

"Why did you join ZAFT?" Shin asked suddenly.

"Oh, I don't know. I just felt that my race was being oppressed by the Naturals. See, I lived down on Earth for a while. My father owned a successful business until the Blue Cosmos came knocking on our door. They...... They killed my father and torched our home. I escaped with my mother and little brother. We then took a shuttle to ZAFT."

Shin then saw the tears in her eyes. Retelling those memories must have upset her greatly. Shin felt very compassionate for her. "I'm sorry, Mina. Please forgive me."

"No, it's okay, Shin. I feel better now that I've told someone. Those feelings have been bottled up in my heart. You know, I feel very safe with you. Your presence is very comforting.

Shin immediately blushed. "Oh, thank you."

Mina came forth and embraced him. He stared deeply into her eyes. Their bodies were coming closer and closer. Their faces were just inches apart. Then all of a sudden a torpedo impacted into the submarine's side.

"All personnel prepare for combat. Retreat inside the submarine immediately. Prepare for dive."

Shin and Mina ran inside just as the submarine was beginning to submerge. They quickly made their way to the main deck.

"Morman, report," Captain Doran shouted.

"There is a Natural fleet approaching, sir. I'm reading four carriers, ten cruisers, and eight destroyers. There is also a squadron of Strike Daggers approaching. The squadron is led by...... What it can't be. The mobile suit has been identified as a GAT-706S Deep Forbidden.

"Alert the fleets. Have the Goohns launch and the Dinns take off. Alert the Arginusae to launch their CGUEs and Ginns. Shin, I want you to launch in the Zno."

"Me, sir," Shin said in shock, "but I've never had any experience with an aquatic mobile suit. I can't pilot that thing."

"I have perfect confidence in you, Shin. Your abilities might be the key to winning this battle. Now go."

Shin rushed down to the hangar and quickly climbed into the Zno unit. "Let's see here. The Zno seems to be equipped with sharp claws, two photon masers, and some torpedo launchers. What have you gotten yourself into, Shin? First day on the job and you're already involved in a large scale battle. Oh well, can't help that. Shin Asuka, Zno, launching."

His mobile suit catapulted out of the submarine. "Okay, thrusters seem to be okay. The depth pressure has been adjusted and the weight density has been set. Looks like I'm ready to go."

"Shin, can you hear me?"

"Mina?"

"That's right Shin, I'll be your technician and guide."

"Alright, that's fine by me." Shin transformed into swim mode and rushed off towards the Earth Alliance fleet. There were five Goohs around him since Captain Doran had ordered them to follow Shin's orders. All of a sudden, a photo maser shot forth and breached their formation. Up ahead was the Earth Alliance mobile suit the Deep Forbidden. It shot forward and grabbed a Goohn with its claws and stabbed it with its sharp point. The Goohn exploded and the impacted shocked Shin. The Deep Forbidden then turned its attention to Shin. It fired its torpedoes and lunged forth and stretched his arms extending its trident menacingly. Shin was in panic. He had no idea how to operate underwater. All the strength he displayed during his initial battle with the Earth Alliance seemed to be gone.

"Shin move there's five torpedoes heading straight towards you. Shin! Shin!"

Shin was frozen with fear. The torpedoes were approaching and he was just an easy target. This seemed like the end.