Chapter 5: Orb, Wing Zero and the Freedom.

Murrue Ramius looked at the view port on the bridge of the Archangel, where the vision of the islands which made the Orb Union occupied the majority of the view "we finally made it" proclaimed a very tired Murrue Ramius still looking at the view port.

"Yeah, but our problems are only just beginning I'm afraid" commented commander Mu La Flaga, and immediately the atmosphere in the bridge of the Archangel became very heavy.

Sai Argille continued looking at his screen, and let out a breath he didn't know he was holding "we should at leas t be grateful, that at least in here we will be welcome" said Sai, but like the rest of the crew he wasn't completely sure about that.

"Receiving transmission form the incoming Orb fleet" said Kuzzey, from the communications station "patching it through", announced Kuzzey again, and soon they where greeted by colonel Kizaka.

"Attention Earth Alliance warship, you are trespassing Orb Union sovereign territory, I hereby order you to withdraw" announced Kizaka in a hard voice, but everyone in the bridge detected that he was only half meaning it.

Captain Ramius was a little surprised by the words of the colonel, but also knew that they where false threats, in their case, so she steeled herself for what she was going to do "This is captain Murrue Ramius of the warship Archangel, we are currently not part of the Earth Alliance, and hereby request asylum" finished captain Ramius, somewhat ashamed, but actually glad that she had just finished that.

Kizaka was only half prepared for this, he knew that the battle in Alaska had been very bad, and even expected something like this, but expecting this and actually experiencing it where completely different things. However his mind, and his orders told him only one course of action "very well, please allow us control of your navigation systems, we will lead you to port" and with that the comm-link was terminated.

"That went well" said captain Ramius very relieved for what was happening.

"Yes, what a fortune" said commander Mu La Flaga, and again he was the one setting the mood for the bridge.

The captain knew what the commander meant, but she needed all of the crew at top shape for what may happen, and soon she had a solution "I know that there are no good time ahead of us, but right now we will need everything we have to get through the difficult times" paused captain Ramius, caught her breath and resumed "for this reason I am granting a short leave for the entire crew, I suggest you take it, because things will not be so easy form now on". Immediately after she finished, the tension on the bridge relaxed considerably, but in her mind her words still sounded- Thing will not be so easy from now on, indeed- thought captain Ramius and soon the islands of the Orb Union looked the way they should a true refuge.

Soon the Archangel was docked inside the secret Hangar located in the Orb Union, but to Cagalli Yula Attha something else had arrived, however at that time she couldn't decide if it was for the better or for worse.

A short time later the Archangel was fully docked and Cagalli Run to met the crew and her friends, she had heard of everything that had occurred during the battles in Alaska, and wanted to know everything, she also knew that whatever was going to happen to Orb it would be directly linked to the events in Alaska. Upon reaching the hatch she bumped into someone she didn't know, it was young man some 20 years old, with dark brown hair, and matching brown eyes, but what struck Cagalli more than anything was that he showed absolutely no expression. The young man soon reached to help Cagalli up, but she rejected him immediately "who do you think you are?" asked Cagalli clearly irritated by this mans attitude, and the way he looked.

"Hmm" was Heero Yuys' only answer, and kept on looking at the feisty young girl showing no emotion.

"What is that supposed to mean?" asked Cagalli again, now even more irritated than before.

Heero Yuy looked the girl up and down, all of her body language spoke of someone who had great inner strength, and a fiery tempered, with great potential, but not yet under control. So Heero simply continued on his way, while Cagalli stood somewhat dumbstruck, and very angered at this mans temper.

"Wait, who do you think you are?" asked Cagalli as she followed the mysterious person.

She had touched to detain him, so he would look at her, but as soon as she touched him, he took her hand, twisted it to her back with him, and soon was over her in a very firm grip.

Cagalli was not only surprised by his strength, but she was also afraid of what this man could do to her, and struggled to get free from his grasp, but found that all her efforts where futile. Soon the footsteps of many soldiers where heard, and soon many weapons started blazing to the man who had taken the princess of Orb as a hostage.

Heero Yuy saw the incoming guards, and soon after they had started firing, he rolled to his front, and soon was on the land, with all of the soldiers in the area firing at him, being the perfect soldier that he was, Heero plunged the nearest group of soldiers, and in a swift motion all of them where on the ground unconscious. The battle raged all around Heero Yuy, and he did the only thing he knew how to do, from one of the guards he took one of the weapons, and quickly run towards some crates nearby. Form behind the crates, Heero Yuy quickly analyzed the situation, a load of soldiers where firing from above him, which was bad, because he was on the ground, in the background he could hear many more coming towards him, so he prepared for what was coming, and prepared to fire on the incoming soldier, but was suddenly stopped.

"Wait, stop, don't shoot, he is not the enemy" said a very agitated Kira Yamato, and soon all the gunfire stopped. Kira Yamato looked over at the field, where one man had done so much damage- how could only one man do so much in so little, thought Kira Yamato as he went to a nearby Cagalli who was on the floor just barely holding the tears back "Cagalli, what happened?" asked Kira Yamato, but Cagalli barely acknowledged him, and was soon hugging Kira Yamato with all her strength. "It was horrible, that man nearly killed me, and and….", but Cagalli couldn't go on, for the tears and the fears had consumed all of her will.

"Who nearly killed you Cagalli?' asked Kira Yamato very concerned for what had occurred.

"It was him" cried Cagalli, and pointed at Heero Yuy, who still held a gun, and was ready for another fight to start.

"Wait, what happened Cagalli?" asked Kira Yamato, and soon Cagalli told her all that had occurred, how she had bumped into him, how he didn't answer her questions, and how he so easily, had arm strung her. Kira heard it all, and looked at Heero first, and then at Cagalli "Don't worry Cagalli, it's going to be just fine" said Kira Yamato, but Cagalli had recovered enough of herself, and although she accepted his words of compassion, she was soon on her feet, and marched very quickly towards the man who had attacked her.

"Wait Cagalli, hold on" said Kira Yamato form behind her, as both of them moved towards Heero Yuy, and soon both found themselves in front of the man. Cagallis' first action when she was in front of the man was to hit him in the face as hard as she could, but her punch was easily caught in the mans firm grip, who showed absolutely no emotion.

"Who do you think you are?" asked Cagalli between clenched teeth, as he looked at the mans face, which as always was completely devoid of emotion.

Heero Yuy let go of Cagallis' hand, and took a step forward, which all the soldiers assumed was an indication, of the mans actions, and soon had their weapons trained on him, he looked at Cagalli, and soon was heading towards a nearby door. "Where do you think you are going?" asked Cagalli very irritated, and soon the soldiers where stopping him.

Heero Yuy looked back at Cagalli, and approached her with over two dozen soldiers ready to kill him in a second "I suggest you calm down, a princess should know how to behave herself" said Heero Yuy, and soon was gone, while Cagalli stood there completely silent of the mans manners.

Cagalli after a while looked at Kira "who is he?" asked Cagalli, almost begging for the answer.

"His name is Heero Yuy" said Kira as he looked at Cagalli, stopped for a moment and then continued "he is the pilot of a Mobile Suit which came to our aid, while we escaped from Alaska".

"Hmm, thank you Kira" said Cagalli, and then the two of them went to the Archangel.

Sometime later, the command crew, with Relenna as a companion, at her request, found themselves in the portentous receiving hall of the Attha manor, where soon the local regent Uzumi Nara Attha joined them, with a neutral yet somber look on his face "It is good to see you again" started the Chief Representative of Orb "however, the situation is not very welcoming".

"We understand that, and we thank you very much for your assistance" said captain Ramius, and kept on looking at the command crew, and didn't fail to notice the new arrival with them.

"Who might your companion be?" asked the chief representative very calmly.

Captain Ramius looked first at Relenna, and later at the Chief Representative "she is Relenna Darlian Yuy; she is a friend we came into contact with, shortly after the battle of Alaska. She is also the wife of the pilot of the new machine which came with us" finished the captain, but could feel that something had just changed because of that, but she couldn't put her finger on it.

Uzumi Nara Attha looked at Relenna, who looked back at him with calm yet strong eyes, which hid everything she was thinking, but didn't show any anger or fear, and at the same time showed great strength. "Very well, welcome to the Union of Orb, as I said before I would, have liked it to be under better circumstances".

"Do not worry about it" started Relenna, and soon she was showing a very warm smile that calmed everyone in the room. "In fact, I have to thank you just for letting me be here with you in such a time of need" said Relenna, and soon it was clear to everyone that this girl was something more than met the eye.

"Yes, in any case, I believe you must all know what the situation is right now" said Uzumi Nara Attha in all seriousness, and continued "after the loss of Panama, the Earth Alliance started pushing all the sovereign nations into the war against ZAFT, and they are using any means necessary to accomplish it" finished the Chief Representative.

"I see I am not surprised" said captain Ramius as she assumed a thinking posture.

"Tell me, Chief Representative, why don't you negotiate a truce, between Orb and the Earth Alliance, in which Orb will keep it's neutrality and at the same time help the Earth Alliance in a non-military oriented posture" mentioned Relenna Darlian, surprising everyone in the room.

"Hmm, that is a very interesting posture, however it will be extremely difficult to com to that point with the way relationships stand" thought Uzumi Nara Attha, still surprised by the commentary "but what you say has a lot of credit in any case"

"Chief Representative Attha, if my understanding of the situation is correct, the Earth Alliance wants the nation of Orb, because of its advanced military capacity, and its mass driver, am I correct" said Relenna.

"Yes, you are right about that, what are you getting at?" asked Uzumi Nara Attha, very intrigued by this young persons' knowledge, and way of thinking.

"The nation of Orb could try to negotiate a limited use of the Mass Driver, and of the Morgenroete facilities in which the Earth Alliance would be allowed to launch manpower, and materials of a non-military nature" said Relenna, and the whole audience was less than shocked by not only her logical proposition, but also the fact that it would be in accordance to Orbs' posture.

"What you say could be possible" said Uzumi Nara Attha, and kept on thinking, and as he looked for a moment, the rest of the audience was clearly thinking, but not capable of completely grasping the whole concept of what is really going on, and at the same time thought that this young girl, was not only clearly very informed, but also analyzed the whole situation, and knew what was at stake. "But it would require a very convincing argument to make the Earth Alliance leading members, to bow for that proposition" said the Chief Representative, and once again looked at Relenna.

"I am sure, that if we work together it will be possible to make them see our way of view, and at the same time agree with some of their needs" said Relenna again, and once again all eyes where on her.

"Excuse us, we will return to the Archangel now" said Murrue Ramius, and both she and commander La Flaga stood up, and went away.

"Yes, thank you for you time" said Chief Representative Attha, and after they left, he turned yet again to Relenna Darlian. "Now then, will you be so kind as to explain to me, how we should proceed with this plan of yours" said the Chief Representative, and saw the face of the young woman almost flare up at his mention of that.

"Of course Chief Representative" said Relenna, and soon both where in a heated discussion of politics.

Back at the Archangel, things had calmed down, and Cagalli had once again become a familiar sight in the hangar deck, where she spent most of her time, with Kira Yamato. "So, Kira, exactly how was it that you came to know that young man?" asked Cagalli, looking directly at Kira.

Kira Yamato started one of the screens of the Freedom, and started a sub screen, where he could see Heero Yuy working on his machine, the speed with which he typed surprising even the young coordinator "well, the truth is that, he came to our aid during Alaska" said Kira Yamato, still looking at Heero Yuy, with his work stopped at the moment, but soon continued.

Cagalli started to look in the direction of Heero Yuy, and could see clearly that he was working on his Mobile Suit, which to her looked very interesting. The truth is she wanted to know everything she could about that machine, especially who had built it. "So tell me, what you know about his machine?" asked Cagalli, still looking at Heero Yuys' machine.

Kira Yamato continued working on his machine, and at hearing the question of Cagalli, started thinking about what he had heard about the machine, especially of the Fusion reactor mounted on that machine. That reactor alone could change everything even beyond the Neutron Jammer Canceller; with that technology the Neutron Jammers would become obsolete. Kira soon snapped form his own trance "I can't tell you anything, if you want to know you will have to ask him" answered Kira as he continued to work on the Freedom.

"But the Freedom is stronger than that machine isn't it?" asked Cagalli, and he could see that Kira had stopped working, but he didn't say anything.

"I don't know Cagalli, sincerely, from what I know I can't tell you one way or the other" said Kira, but the question clearly was bugging him, and soon started rising the chair, and headed out.
"Wait Kira, where are you going?" said Cagalli, after Kira had left the Freedom, and started heading towards the Wing Zero.

Soon Kira had reached the feet of the Wing Zero, and he looked up. Cagalli was right behind, her, and was very interested in knowing exactly what was going to happen, and at the same time she was somewhat worried of what might happen.

Heero Yuy had seen both Kira Yamato and Cagalli approach the Wing Zero, but didn't move as they got closer "What can I help you with something Mr. Yamato?" asked Heero Yuy, still working on the Wing Zero.

Kira Yamato heard Heero Yuy, and was somewhat surprised at Heero Yuy comment, but only enough to make him waver "Mr. Yuy, I was wondering if you would like to help me with a small project id like to do?" was Kira Yamatos' answer.

Heero Yuy stopped working on his laptop, and soon was going down to the floor with the help of the lifter. After touching the ground Heero Yuy went to Kira Yamato, and stood in front of him "What is this project you have?" asked Heero, without any emotion, but clearly very interested.

Soon Kira Yamato, had told Heero Yuy of his idea of joining the 2 Gundams for a small sparring session, and Heero Yuy accepted, and soon the two of the found themselves setting the system up, and joining the 2 Gundams.

Four hours later, the 2 Gundams where set up, and both where ready to go. "Everything is ready here" said Kira Yamato form the cockpit of the Freedom. "Heero here all systems show green" answered Heero form the cockpit of the Wing Zero and continued "Very well, this will be a sparring match, but the mobile suit systems have been calibrated to move as if something had actually happened, based on the calculations of the 2 Mobile Suits". "Roger" said Kira form the cockpit of the Freedom and prepared for the simulation to begin.

Soon both Mobile suit systems started, and showed a space battlefield, in an asteroid belt. For a moment none of the 2 Mobile Suits started moving, but soon both of them started moving towards each other.

The Freedom appeared in the back of an asteroid, which had hindered his sensor capabilities, so Kira started moving around the battlefield "Where are you?" said Kira very low, but was soon interrupted, as a warning flared up on his screen indicating a high-powered energy beam was coming for him, soon he reacted, moving the Freedom away from the line of fire, but to his surprise the beam moved along his path, but soon stopped. The Freedom faced to see the Wing Zero, but although the visual sensors could see it, the radar could not locate it, and this made Kiras' job much harder, but he anyway went on, and started aiming all his weapons at the Wing Zero. The radar may not be able to pick it up, but the heat signature of the Wing Zero was to strong for the heat sensors to not pick it up, and soon the plasma guns, the rail guns, and the high energy beam rifle where all pointed in the Wing Zeros way, and started raining pure hell on the Wing Zero.

The Freedom was picked up by the Zero early in the engagement, and the Heero Yuy used this to try and finish the battle soon, and fired his twin buster rifle at the Freedom, but it was easily dodged, and soon the papers where reversed, for the Wing Zero found itself at the receiving end of an unending hail of firepower, but the Wing Zero was responding very well, and was dodging all the shots, as it neared the Freedom at an amazing speed.

Both the Wing Zero and the Freedom soon found themselves within reach of their blades, and both pilots knew what it meant. Soon the two pilots got their energy swords out, and started battling with swords, the swords clashed against the others shields, and then retreated, but soon returned in the direction of the other, and again their swords where clashed, non of them giving any quarter.

"You are very good" said Kira Yamato through the intercom, and soon retreated, and started firing again at the Zero with his long range weaponry, only to see how the Wing Zero easily dodged his shots, and soon changing his angle and started again, as the Wing Zero got closer and closer.

"You are not bad yourself" answered Heero Yuy, as he continued to dodge the fire of the fire of the Freedom, and soon his sword found itself clashed with that of the Freedom.

Heero Yuy knowing that he needed to get some shots through, decided to fire his Vulcan guns, and soon the Wing Zero fired its shoulder Vulcan's, which impacted on the Freedom, but found itself under siege from the Vulcan's of the Freedom. The two Gundams separated, and flew at each others side. The Freedom went straight for the Zeros head with his beam, saber, but the Zero stopped it short, and aimed the Twin Buster rifles at the Freedoms torso, and fired, but the Freedom somersaulted out of the way, and hurled itself with the foot for the Wing Zero, but the Wing Zero avoided him, and simply stopped.

"Not bad Kira Yamato" said Heero Yuy in his monotone voice "but that was just practice, now let us start" said Heero Yuy, and he brought up the Wing Zero to its limits.

The Wing Zero flew at a speed which surprised the Freedom, and was tackled by the Wing Zero, before it could react.

"What the?" said Kira Yamato, as the systems came back on-line after the collision, but had very little time to study the situation, for immediately the alarm warned Kira of a massive energy wave coming at him, but with practiced ease moved the Freedom out of harms way, only to be surprised again by the speed of the Wing Zero, which came straight for him, with his beam saber drawn, and Kira was barely able to stop it with the Freedoms shield.

Outside of the two Gundams, a monitor had been placed, and a crowd had gathered to see the confrontation between the two machines. The monitor showed the two machines pitted against each other in a hand to hand confrontation, with the Wing Zero pressing its blade against the Freedoms shield.

"Wow, I never thought someone could really do something that fast" said one of the hangar crew on the Archangel.

"Yeah, I barely saw the Wing Zero" commented another one.

Cagalli was in a state of shock, at the beginning, the two Gundams had been fighting on almost even terms, and for a moment Cagalli saw how the Freedom got the upper hand, but now the wing Zero had started to battle in a way that was indescribable, but the worst part, was the speed at which it flew, it was hard to see it's movements, and she knew that Kira was in trouble "Oh Kira" said Cagalli, and kept on watching the monitor.

"Damn how did it get so fast" said Kira Yamato as the Wing Zero once again flew at the Freedom, and unleashed a barrage form his shoulder Vulcan's. The Freedom immediately retaliated with its Plasma guns, and unleashed a barrage, but the Wing Zero flew to the right, and started turning, as the Freedom moved to intercept it, but all was futile, the Wing Zero was too fast for the Freedom.

The Wing Zero in a fast maneuver, stood in the face of the Freedom, and for a second that to Kira looked like an eternity all was in slow motion, the Wing Zero was going to thrust its sword at the Freedom, and all would be finished. In the back of his consciousness Kira Yamato saw a small purple seed, which stopped in mid-air, and then exploded, and soon all was clear.

The Freedom quickly reacted to the Wing Zeros attack, and side stepped to the right, effectively evading the Wing Zeros attack, and soon had its own sword in hand, and was about to impale the Wing Zero, when the Zero used its shield to stop it. The Freedom quickly retreated, and soon was firing almost madly at the Wing Zero, which started evading the attacks of the Freedom, racing madly against the onslaught of weapons that the Freedom was pouring on the Zero.

"Hmm, his abilities have changed completely" said Heero Yuy in his monotone voice, and continued evading the weapons of the Freedom. Soon the Zero found that it had nowhere to go, an asteroid was in its path, and the Freedom on its back, and soon he would enter the weapons range of a mad firing Freedom. Heero Yuy thought of his options, the asteroid would hinder the Zeros maneuverability, and in his condition a frontal assault against the Freedom was impossible, but he still had one card to play.

Heero Yuy entered a code onto the Wing Zeros computer, and the screen read ZERO, and soon the whole cockpit was in engulfed in a yellow light. Soon the Wing Zero had changed into the Neo-bird mode, and it went in a straight line upwards, and just as fast changed back, and fired the twin busters in separate hands.

The Freedom saw the beams, and moved to avoid them, and as soon as he had moved into range retaliated with all of its weapons, but saw as the Wing Zero came straight for him, with the shield stopping most of the weapons fire. Soon both mobile suits stood face to face, and both started a fencing match, the swords clashed once and again, as the two combatants separated once, fired with their respective weapons, and evaded the fire from the other, only to return to battle each other in hand to hand combat once again.

On the screen Cagalli, and all who where watching where all completely mute, as they watched the battle unfold. The battle was so fierce, that blinking meant that they could miss the ultimate blow, the Mobile Suits moved as if in a dance, in which both dancer knew each others movements, and complemented the other.

Soon the battle had reached its summit, both Mobile Suits raced to face the other, in an ultimate confrontation. The Mobile Suits where near inches from each other, but all where interrupted, when Chief Murdock arrived on scene, and stopped the simulation "What is everyone doing her" said the chief very angry, as he saw how everyone stood there doing nothing, while the Archangel was still in a mess "go on, return to your duties" said the chief, and immediately all of the crew went to do their respective duties all muttering about how unfair chief Murdock was.

Soon the cockpit of the wing Zero had opened, and soon afterwards the chair of the Freedom emerged form the Freedoms chest. Both pilots stared hard at each other, but where soon interrupted "hey you two, stop playing, and get back to work, there is much that needs to be done" says Chief Murdock, and soon afterwards leaves the scene.

Heero Yuy descends from the Wing, Zero, and at the same time that Kira Yamato descends, the two of them stood in-front of the other, and each of them stared at one another.

Soon Kira Yamato changed his demeanor, and a large smiled was plastered on his face, and he stretched his hand at Heero Yuy "It was a good fight" said Kira Yamato, and soon Heero Yuy changed, for the first time, and simply smirked, and soon the two of them shacked hands "Yes, Mr. Yamato, a good fight indeed", the tension between the two had certainly diminished. "Nah, that's too formal, Mr. Yuy, please call me Kira", said Kira Yamato, still shaking hands with Heero Yuy, and Heero Yuy looked at Kira Yamato "Very well then, then please call me Heero", said Heero, and finished the hand shake, but kept looking at Kira Yamato for a small while "Very well" said Kira Yamato finally, and the two of them knew what had just happened, and simply returned to work on their Mobile Suits.

"Ms. Darlian, I am surprised at the logic of your proposition" said Chief Representative Attha, as he took a tea cup from the nearby table "I just hope that the Earth Alliance officials will see it the same way" finished Chief Representative Attha, and started to drink a little tea.

"I hope for the same" said Relenna Darlian, as she also took her cup of tea "unfortunately the political situation on this world is so entangled with personal agendas, and selfishness, that it is clear, that the governments are only working for themselves" finished Relenna Darlian, and also started drinking from her tea cup.

"Indeed" said finally Chief Representative Attha, and the two of them stood silent, just as the sun was setting on the Attha manor, both of them only hoping that the situation would not deteriorate, as they both thought it might.