Chapter 7: Cornered

"Sir! You're not going to believe this! Two mobile suits, class unknown just launched from the meteor base!" One of the crew members on the ZAFT vessel said shocked.

"Class unknown? I thought the scouts had gathered all intelligence on this base and rendered it defenseless and useless." The Captain responded in what sounded to be amusement.

"Captain Jacobin. Chances are if we don't have intelligence on them having suits that means they haven't been tested. This will be a cake walk regardless." The first mate comment cockily.

"Never underestimate an untrained pilot. Sure they maybe a natural but just remember the name Yamato Kira..." Captain Jacobin replied in a grave tone. "Monitor the battle carefully and gather what information you can but the orders remain the same. Destroy everything.

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"Amura we have two options. You attack the mobile suits and I attack the battle ship or vice versa." Aiiko said over the intercom.

"You take the ship. I have a faster response time so I could handle two mobile suits better. Besides they probably have more waiting in the wings so you may only have to pick them off as they launch." He replied in a serious tone.

"Roger that see you in a bit." She shot off towards the battleship as the two Jins raced past her.

"Idiot. If she thinks she can take out the Napoleonus she's insane." One of the Jin pilots smirked. "Don't worry about that one."

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"Prepare to change course to the sister RPC colony! Cadet Shiro Kou report to the launch bay! Prepare for combat!" The RPC offensive force general barked from the RPC's main battleship Michael. "Looks like this ship's test flight is getting cut short!"

"Say Kou, you don't really think we're going to fight?" A boy no older than him wondered looking at him awkwardly.

"We're NCs Diaska that's what we were made for you know. To stop a war before it starts." Diaska nodded still full of uncertainty. "Look do you have a girl on Earth that you care about?" He nodded again. "Well do you want her to have to see a war? To see blood and death and destruction?"

"No I don't." Diaska answered sadly.

"Then suck it up and put your suit on." His voice was full of a sort of resentment like I was doing this more out of guilt than actual wanting to.

"You're right. This is for the best win or lose live or die right?" Diaska replied toughening up. His bright brown eyes shone against his pale skin. He ran a hand through his curly brown hair to get it out of his face. Kou just nodded.

"That's what we're supposed to think isn't it? Then why don't I see it that way? Still... Why am I here then?" He stared at a picture of his regular coordinator adoptive parents. "At least you were always honest with me." He thought then sighed as he pulled on his flight suit.

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"One of the mobile suits is going to try to attack the ship Sir!" One of the bridge hands reported. "It's approaching with amazing speed."

"Zargus and Nisokoff prepare to launch and intercept the enemy mobile suit." Captain Jacobin ordered. "Wait to launch until we can supply you with some preliminary data."

"As soon as the data become available I'll transfer it immediately Sir." Another bridge commented as he typed furiously at the keyboard in front of him.

"Good I'm glad to see we're on top of things." Jacobin replied with that same air of amusement.

"Preliminary analysis complete. Heh is this a joke?" He scoffed. "This mobile suit is no match for the Jins whatsoever. It's equipped with a small beam gun and a back up rifle that's it. As far as maneuverability goes it doesn't seem to have nearly the speed."

"Very well launch both of them anyways as a precaution." Jacobin replied with a certain contempt for his subordinates cockiness.

"Sir?" He asked confused.

"Never underestimate your opponent." The first mate replied.

"Exactly." Jacobin added.

"Yes Sir. Sorry Sir. Zargus and Nisokoff the data is being transmitted launch when ready."

"All systems green launch when ready." A computerized woman's voice chimed over the intercom.

"Roger. Zargus launching!" The intercom boomed with a young self-assured voice.

"Check. Nisokoff launching." A self than enthusiastic voice boomed.

"Cheer up Nisokoff! We're going into battle! A real battle!" Zargus beamed excitedly as they headed out side by side.

"Against an inferior opponent with no proposed skills. Where's the glory in that Zargus? Tell me that." Nisokoff sighed and switched the radio off.

"Inferior opponent? Heh. We'll see about that. No opponent is inferior when revenge is on the table. If you value your life then don't get in my way." Aiiko said with quite indifference. Something about her voice sent a shiver down Nisokoff's spine. He shook it off and started firing as Zargus did the same. To their surprise the enemy sped up and started dodging their shots. It shot right down the middle of them and before they could re-act the head of Zargus' mobile suit exploded off its base.

"Zargus what the Hell? Zargus are you ok?" Nisokoff shouted into the intercom.

"I'm fine the Reinforced Safety Zone held up. I can't see anything though she just took out my cameras." Nisokoff spun around in time to see a huge beam fly into the Napoleonus and explode.

"Looks like the preliminary data was wrong as usual." Nisokoff sighed aiming his rifle at Aiiko. "So long filthy Natural." He went on in his indifferent tone as he fired one well place shot towards the cockpit. At the last second it exploded in mid-air. When the light died down a beam saber stood in itself way.

"What are you two doing out there?! We're getting pounded in here!" A frantic voice came over the intercom.

"I'll take care of it..." Nisokoff lunged forward with his beam saber drawn.

"What's up with this guy?" One pilot attacking Amura wondered to the other as they fired desperately trying to hit him.

"I'm beginning to think he's not a Natural." The other replied. "His timing is way to fast."

"Why would a Coordinator be working for them?!" The other hissed contemptuously.

"Just shoot we'll figure it out later." About that time their rifles ran out of juice. "Shit. Come on close quarters combat."

"You know these models aren't built for that!" The other pilot protested.

"Do you have your portable cannon equipped?" The other asked irritated.

"Yes..."

"Then go for the meteor and stop whining!" He took off for the meteor but not before taking a few shoots from Amura. One directly to the back where the cannon was equipped.

"Having fun over there Akiko?" He wondered.

"Always." She replied with a hint of strain.

"I'll be over in just a minute." He hit the thrusters and jetted forward grabbing the enemy Jin and blasting it a couple times in the midsection. It started to crackle so he let go and blasted away just before it exploded.

"Heilman!" The other pilot screamed distraught. "Bastard!" He shot forward with the beam cannon equipped and ready to fire. He hit the switch but instead the damaged gun blew up taking half of the mobile suit with it.

"I'm on my way Akiko." Akiko spun around matching Nisokoff blow for blow.

"What are you?" Nisokoff wondered as he rocketed forward and his sword met Akiko's again.

"Good question." Was the only reply he got from her. "When I figure out you'll be the first to know." She drew the rifle and blew out his main camera.

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"Captain! All four mobile suits have been rendered useless. What are your orders?" The first mate wondered looking at him.

"Attack with the main cannons." He ordered just as a red alarm started blinking.

"Sir! Radar is picking up a massive heat source moving our way. It's a possible battleship."

"We don't have any friends in this region so we must assume it's a foe. We have a mission that we must fulfill. Destroy the meteor then prepare for retreat." Captain Jacobin ordered. "Make sure to take out the mobile suits in the process."

"Yes Sir."