Disclaimer: as a side note…who's the hottest Gundam girl?
Astral Age 139, the neutral colony of Heliopolis has seen its own demise from the attack of joint ZAFT and Principality of Zeon forces against the now teamed up Earth Federation and Alliance. The original objective of the ZAFT and Zeon was to capture or destroy the prototype Earth Gundam units – designed after those used by the Neo-Colony Fighters. With four of the five Alliance Gundams captured by ZAFT, and one by Zeon, this new age of war has taken a surprising turn. In the middle, young civilian teens have found themselves becoming the pilots of the remaining Gundam units, and fighting a war they never wished happened…
Amongst the floating devastated, twisted, and lifeless debris of the neutral colony Heliopolis, the Federation assault carrier White Base & the Alliance battle ship Archangel slowly maneuvered and hid away from the ZAFT and Principality of Zeon forces who also remained amongst the outside of the debris. The Vesalius was the closest to the Alliance & Federation vessels, while the ZAFT & Zeon backup ships trailed behind it, fearful of the floating debris.
"…so…it's come to this, has it?" Rau Le Creuset sighed as he stood with Ades looking out to the debris from the Vesalius bridge.
"It was a neutral colony, sir. But the colony fathers allowed the Alliance to build their new mobile suits within it," Ades lightly replied.
"…and this…was the punishment…" Rau stated as began to grin while observing the colony remnants.
Meanwhile, within the debris field, a space-Leo unit commandeered by Lucrezia Noin was slowly maneuvering through the many large and small chunks of metal. In the hands of her space-Leo, Noin was carrying one of Heliopolis's many escape pods towards the Archangel. Behind her units, was three more space-Leo's and one Dagger unit, all four assisting in carrying two more escape pods and clearing the debris for room to maneuver. As Noin was flying through the debris, she only took deep breaths and sighed at the sight of the destroyed space colony.
Inside the Archangel mobile suit bay, the Strike and Gundam were standing adjacent to one another on an individual rack. The large docking area was already air-locked and atmosphere was normal in the area. As the Strike leaned back and then locked into position, the Gundam piloted by Amuro, was having a difficult time adjusting the Alliance based docking system.
Once the Strike was finished fitting into place, Murrue opened the hatch and then immediately moved out of the cockpit and floated the deck. She stood for only a few seconds, looking back at Strike, when Natarle and the other bridge officers of the Archangel came to greet her. "Ensign Natarle…" Murrue started to speak.
"Ma'am!" Natarle came to the position of attention with the other officers and saluted Murrue.
Murrue returned the salute, and then nodded to Natarle in acknowledgement of her respect. "What's the current situation?" Murrue asked.
As Natarle started to explain what happened to Heliopolis, the Mu La Flaga's Moebius Zero docked into Archangel, with three people in space suits holding onto the large, orange colored mobile armor. Once the Moebius Zero was finally locked into place, Mu opened the hatch to the cockpit and hopped out to meet with the three people that he brought aboard. After exchanging a few quick introductions, the three floated to Murrue and Natarle's position.
"So, that is what the situation is this far?" Murrue responded to Natarle's report.
"Yes, ma'am. The captain…dead…we're all that's left of the Archangel's command structure," Natarle stated.
"So sorry to interrupt, Lieutenant Ramius…" Mu said as he landed next to Natarle and Murrue. "But, who's in charge here?" Mu asked.
Nartarle and Murrue just quickly exchanged glances. Natarle gave Murrue a nod, signifying her relinquished command to Murrue's higher rank. "…I guess I am. What do you need, Lieutenant Flaga?"
"Well…for starters I'd like to have my mobile armor fixed up, and a meal to go with a bed to sleep in..." Mu joked as he smiled at Murrue.
Murrue returned to him a grimmer look. What the hell is with you? she said to in her mind. "…Okay, we'll get started on that. PO Chandra, make the preparations for quartering. PO Murdoch, get started on his Moebius."
"Ma'am!" Petty Officer Chandra II saluted, then turned and walked away.
Murdoch simply called forth one of his engineers, and began to whisper his orders to him.
"Anyway…these are the surviving officers of the White Base," Mu turned to his side and pointed to the three that he brought aboard. "The acting-captain, Federation Ensign Bright Noa," Mu introduced lightly. "The other two, are veteran Federation pilots…Chief Petty Officer Ryu Jose…and Lt. Jr. Grade South Burning."
When Mu was done introducing the trio, they all saluted Murrue Ramius. Murrue then saluted back, and they came to at ease afterwards. "Glad to see the Federation has a sense of command," Murrue commented.
Bright stepped forward to better talk with Murrue and the others. "...Any word from either the Alliance or the Federation?" he began to ask, "we have so far received no communications, but that's probably interference from the debris."
"…Well, that's hard to say. I just arrived on the Archangel myself. But so far…Natarle?" Murru handed to conversation to Natarle.
"…So far, the whole colony of Heliopolis was destroyed because of a large explosion from the interior of the colony. Because of the battle that was ensuing with the ZAFT forces, the colony had already become unstable, the explosion only pushed it to collapse."
"…And any other Alliance or Federation survivors?" South spoke up.
"…no, none as of yet. But we have mobile suits deployed to gather any escape pods that didn't make it to safety," Natarle continued. "We'll need to make compensations with our lack of crew members."
"Same on the White Base," Bright pointed out.
As the group continued their introductory discussions, Noin's space-Leo floated into the large chamber carrying one of the Heliopolis escape pods. As she set the first one down, the next one floated in, and she manipulated her Leo to catch it, and then slowly set it next to the first pod. The third moved in with little difference to the previous two, and Noin did the same movements to place the third next the first two. Noin immediately opened her cockpit, and began to shout out orders. "I want these pods opened, now! Take the civilians to the mess decks, and get any military personnel to work!" she yelled out.
After Amuro finally got the Gundam to dock properly with the Alliance locks, he then opened the cockpit and was preparing to hop out. The escape pods opened up one after the other, and civilians began to move out of them one at a time. Amongst the many survivors, Garrod Ran was accompanying Flay Allster, Sai Argyle, and their other friends towards the exit.
Suddenly, out from the cockpit of the Strike, flew a small mechanical bird, Birdy. The little green robot stated its name as it began to circle around Flay. Intrigued, Flay looked to where Birdy came from, and saw the two Gundams side by side. "Flay, wait-" Sai said as Flay immediately pushed off to the Strike and Gundam. The others soon followed their crimson-haired friend as she landed in the front of the Strike.
The White Base and Archangel officers looked to Flay and her group of friends as the landed between them and the Gundams. "Hey, what do you think you're doing?" Natarle snapped at them.
"Hey lady, who's the new mobile suit pilot?" Garrod informally asked Natarle.
"Oh yea, I was wondering about that too. Who was piloting the two new suits? Federation or Alliance guys?" Mu asked.
"…Uhh…" Murrue tried to explain but was cut off as a new scene unfolded.
Kira Yamato took a step outside of the cockpit to reveal himself. He smiled down at his friends briefly as he pushed off Strike and floated in the low-gravity air. Flay, still intrigued by Birdy's never-ending circling of her, jumped up to meet him too. "Kira!" she shouted with a smile and arms open.
Kira had a surprised look on his face as Flay grabbed onto him, and gave him a tight hug. "Flay…uhh…hello…" Kira started to mutter slowly. Birdy didn't hesitate to continue to circle the couple as they held together.
"Did you really see what happened to our home? Are you alright? Is everything okay with you?" she questioned Kira. Worry and sorrow filled her eyes.
"Yes, I saw what happened and I am just fine. I was using this thing to save who I could," Kira said as he pointed out Strike to Flay.
"…that's…that's a mobile suit. You piloted a mobile suit and saved people?" she continued to interrogate.
"Uh…yea…to protect our home and all of you guys…" Kira further explained.
"…Kira…" Fllay sighed as she hugged Kira again and leaned her head into his chest. Kira could barely hold his complexion as he turned slightly red as Fllay held on. A squiggled smile grew across his face as he slowly returned the gesture.
Garrod, Sai, Sayla, Frau, Tolle, and Miriallia all stared in astonishment. The thought of Kira piloting a mobile suit ran through all of their minds. Each could hardly believe that Kira was capable of something like that; each began to exchange glances with one another, wondering how it was all possible. "Kira…a mobile suit pilot…?" Garrod quietly asked.
"But…he's like…just a teenager…" Sai added. "Kira! How the hell did you pilot this thing?!" Sai shouted out to Kira and Fllay.
Fllay opened her eyes and lifted her head; she then looked from Kira's face, down to Sai's, and she smiled at him. Kira only had a blank expression on his face, barely able to tell his friends what exactly happened; though slightly distracted by Birdy's constant flying.
"Hey everyone!" a voice came from behind Kira and Fllay. Kira and Fllay turned around in the air, and saw Amuro kneeling at the entrance of the Gundam's cockpit. Amuro nodded towards Kira and Kira returned the acknowledgement.
"Amuro!" Frau shouted when she saw Amuro. She almost swooned herself, but was able to keep herself up.
"What the? Amuro?! Amuro's piloting mobile suits too?!" Garrod exclaimed at the sight of Amuro. "What's going on here?!" Garrod pouted as he snapped his fingers as if saying "dammit."
Amuro then jumped down from the Gundam's cockpit, as Kira and Fllay also returned to the deck of the docking bay. They joined all of their friends once they touched the ground, and the noises of their meeting grabbed the attention of others civilians walking by. Three more young men, who were arriving from one of the evacuation pods, joined the group. "Amuro!" and "Kira!" could be deciphered as they ran and joined the little group.
"Kai! Hayato! You guys made it too?" Amuro asked.
"Kuzzey! You're alive too?!" Kira asked at about the same time Amuro asked his question.
As the growing group exchanged stories of what had just recently happened, more events were unfolding between the Federation and Alliance officers at the sight of the young pilots. "Let me get this straight…you let…kids assume command of these units?" Bright questioned Murrue.
"Well…I kind of had no other choice at the time. It was strange…" Murrue tried to explain. Natarle was silent with astonishment at her superior officer's actions.
"…They just piloted them so naturally. It was like they were just at the right place at the right time?" Mu added in the form of a question. He raised his eyebrow with intrigue to Kira and Amuro.
"Well…yes…" Murrue's tone died down. "I'd still have to say that thanks to their piloting in those two units, all of us here survived this recent engagement with ZAFT and Zeon."
"…but the tragedy doesn't end there…we still have to figure out what we're now gonna do," South Burning added.
"First, I'd like to talk to those two. Whatever they did with the new units, those two have proven themselves damn good at piloting," Mu stated.
"Just what are you saying?" Natarle began to question Mu's motives.
Mu La Flaga remained silent as he walked to the gathering of teenagers. Followed behind him were the other military officers, each exchanging looks with one another wondering constantly what was Mu talking about. Mu stopped in front of Kira and Amuro and stood smiling at the two teens. Kira and Amuro then turned around and began to exchange smiles with Mu. "So…you two are the one's who piloted the Alliance and Federation's Gundams, huh?"
Both Kira and Amuro sighed as they exchanged glances with each other. In those split-seconds before they could answer, Garrod leaned in front of Mu to interject his own answer in place of their own. "Sir, I'd like to point out that I too would've piloted one of the units if I were in the same situation as the other two," he said with a large smile a single finger extended up as if trying to make a specific point.
"I'm pretty sure that you would," Mu chuckled, "but I'm currently more concerned about these two…"
Garrod rolled his eyes as he pouted and leaned back out of Amuro and Kira's way. The two raised an eyebrow at Garrod as he straightened himself out; they then shifted their eyes back to Mu La Flaga.
"It takes a lot of skill to pilot a mobile suit, even I don't pilot them. But seeing you two do so for the very first time in your lives, is amazing, to me," Mu continued on.
"Well…that one there," Murrue pointed to Kira, "he had to complete the operating system of Strike so that it can actually move properly."
"Is that so?" Mu moved closer to Amuro. Something tingled in his mind about Amuro that he remembered when the two first met. Amuro too felt the same feeling in his mind when Mu got closer to him.
"Yes…sir?" Amuro quietly asked Mu. His eyebrows raised in minor surprise.
"You…are something like me. What's you're name?" Mu questioned.
Amuro only paused slightly before he gave an answer to his blonde interrogator. "Amruo…Ray, sir," he replied.
"You have that…feeling for piloting and combat. Perhaps…" Mu stated as he evaluated Amuro on the spot.
Amuro was left with more of a surprised smile on his face; his friends patted his shoulder and Amuro responded with a slight smile. "T-thanks…sir," Amuro replied.
Mu then moved from Amuro and stood in front of Kira. Fllay, Sai, and the others took a step away from Kira to give the evaluator room with the one he was evaluating. "You there on the other hand…what's you're name, kid?"
Kira barely hesitated with his response. He expected Mu to ask the same questions and give to same evaluation he gave Amuro to him. "Kira Yamato, sir."
"Alright, Kira," Mu continued with his interrogation of Kira. "As I was saying…you're something different from Amuro there. I don't get the same feeling from you as I get from him." Mu nodded for Kira to acknowledge what he said; and Kira nodded back. "However, fixing an impaired mobile suits operating system in minutes to get it to fully respond to your commands…is amazing in its own right." Mu started to wrap up is evaluation.
After Mu stated that fact, everyone gathered around them began to somewhat move in to find out more about what was transpiring. Their ears attuned to what was going to be said, and their eyes fixated on the two figures.
"So tell me…you're a Coordinator?" Mu La Flaga asked.
An utterly surprised, dumfounded, and somewhat frightened expressions glared on everyone's faces at the second Mu popped his question upon Kira. At that same time, a few Alliance soldiers armed with rifles standing near the Archangel crew overheard the question directed at Kira; they too looked to who Mu was asking the question, and then immediately pointed their rifles at Kira as a precaution. Seriousness grew on their faces as with most Alliance soldiers who hate Coordinator's so much that they could've joined the Blue Cosmos.
Kira inhaled slightly and raised his head up. "Yes."
The weapons pointed at Kira cocked and were loaded. The soldier's fingers, though extended, were barely touching the trigger.
As their weapons armed, Tolle and Amuro stepped in front of Kira; blocking any direct shot that could be taken. The two were determined to protect their friend.
Tolle…Armuro… Kira said whispered within his mind.
Kira…you're Coordinator? Fllay began to feel sensations of confusion and anger at the same time. The same feelings were true with the rest of Kira's friends.
"You have no right to shoot him. Kira just saved your most of your lives," Amuro stated to the armed soldiers.
"Amuro…they all deserve to know the truth," Kira lightly replied. "I'm only first-generation Coordinator, my parent's are Naturals."
Silence sustained for brief seconds at the statements made.
"Well, that's good enough for me. This kid is alright, by my judgment. His parents are Naturals, and he did save a lot of lives today," Mu pointed out.
"…Lt. Flaga, you can't be serious about this. He's a Coordinator, he could be sympathetic to ZAFT," Natarle said.
"Put your guns down," Murrue ordered the soldiers.
"Lt. Ramius…?" Natarle was now in serious doubt of what was just happening.
"We have no right killing any civilian, Coordinator or Natural. He's done enough to earn my trust in him," Murrue said while smiling to Natarle, then to Kira. "Now put your weapons down. That and order!"
The soldiers complied with their superior officer. They pointed their weapons away from Kira and towards the ground. Many of them exchanged looks of confusion and frustration.
"…then what is it you would have us do with him…and his friends?" Natarle asked Murrue.
"-well for starters, you should just put these kids with the other civilians in most of rooms aboard the Archangel, and then maybe also a few in the White Base to help save some space. Allow them to rest and recuperate from today. I myself am going to go for a nice meal and shower." Mu turned and walked away from the group to the exit, "I'll leave the rest of the details to you, Lt. Ramius."
Ramius only shared a confused expression on her face in exchange with Mu's quick-witted remark. "Huh? R-right."
Meanwhile, aboard the Vesalius, Athrun Zala was lying in the air, floating above his bed. He looked to the bed next to his, empty with a green ZAFT uniform folded on it. Athrun closed his eyes in pain and agony, and began breathing heavily.
Miguel…Kira… he mentioned in his mind. Athrun sighed and once again looked up to the ceiling of his room.
On the Vesalius' bridge, Rau and Ades were looking to a map of the area. Rau was analyzing possible Alliance or Federation bases that were close by; Ades was trying to raise communications with Char Aznable's and Johnny Ridden's units.
"There…those are the places that they could go to…" Rau grinned as he examined the points.
"Sir?" Ades asked.
"The possible places that they'll head to…are either the Alliance Artemis Base, Federation Luna II…and/or the incomplete Alliance fortress: Barge," Rau pointed out.
"Lt. Aznable and Ridden say that they're going wait for the enemy to move first. Then they'll attack them, sir."
"I see…then we'll do the same. Meanwhile, get the pilots on the bridge, Ades," Rau ordered.
"Yes, sir. Call them up," Ades relayed to a lower soldier on the bridge.
After a few minutes Yzak, Dearka, and Nicol arrived on the bridge. The trio stood around the map with Rau who floated over to join them. Yzak and Dearka each shared the similar expression of pride in their accomplishment of their mission. Nicol stood, and began to search around looking for Athrun.
"Where's Athrun?" Rau asked.
"Don't know, sir. He must be on his way," Yzak answered.
"I'm here, Commander," Athrun answered as he entered the bridge. His head was down while he wore a slight frown on his face.
"Alright, let's begin," Rau began to explain. "First off, a good job on the confiscation of the Alliance units. Now, we have their units and are awaiting our next move."
"Are we gonna search and destroy the enemy, sir?" Dearka smirked.
"No, we're not making the next move. Our group, along with Lt. Aznable and Ridden's units will be waiting for the enemy to move first. Then we'll pursue and attack them," Rau explained.
"I hate sitting and waiting, Commander. We should just go and take them out!" Yzak shouted.
"Calm down, Yzak," Ades ordered.
"Well, it's a much better plan than just sitting around waiting to launch," Dearka added.
"Still…if we move first, the enemy can launch a greater counterattack. Dearka," Nicol pointed out.
"Alright, alright. Hold a minute, everyone. Our plan will remain standing, and we'll be waiting for them to move first, understood?" Rau ordered.
"Yes, sir!" everyone said except for Athrun.
"…understood, sir…" Athrun muttered.
"What's wrong with you, Athrun?" Rau inquired.
"It's nothing sir…"
Rau raised an eyebrow at Athrun. "The rest of you get into your pilot suits and stand by. Athrun, come with me to my quarters," Rau gestured.
As the others saluted Rau and then left the bridge, Athrun followed Rau to his quarters. Nicol glanced back at Athrun before he turned and left his sight. Athrun continued to follow Rau with his head down and his eyes fixated on something beyond just the ground.
When they entered Rau's quarters, Rau Le Creuset sat at his small desk. Athrun just stood in front of the desk, his posture and gestures hadn't changed yet. "What's really wrong with you now?"
"Sir…it's…" Athrun bit his tongue to hold it in.
"It has to do with the recent mission isn't it? The mobile suits that killed Miguel?" Rau asked.
"Yes, sir…it's the pilot of one of the units, sir." Athrun sighed.
"Oh…what about them?" Rau continued to ask.
"I know who one of the pilots are…sir…" Athrun now looked up, to Rau's mask.
"You do? Interesting…who is it?" Rau was now intrigued at the new information.
"…his name is Kira Yamato. He's piloting the Strike unit, and…" Athrun broke off his sentence.
"…well?" Rau was now really curious.
"…and…he's a Coordinator sir. First generation coordinator. Kira and I were once friends long ago...and now-"
"-Now he's fighting on the side of the Alliance and/or Federation?" Rau interrupted.
"Yes, sir. Why...I don't know...this has been the reason as to why I've been down about this mission..." Athrun started to sigh.
"This has become a very interesting turn of events. A Coordinator, fighting for the Earth? Very interesting..." Rau began to think off about other things. he be..." Rau slightly whispered.
"Sir?" Athrun asked.
"Oh! Nothing, forget that last part. But now, what are you going to do about it?" Rau questioned.
Athrun only remained silent. His eyes wandered away from Rau's mask and began to search the floor again.
"Has he betrayed you?"
Athrun now looked back to Rau. His face scarred with questions and despair.
"Or has be betrayed the Coordinators?" Rau grinned. "Your father wouldn't look very lightly to this kind of situation. You know what his answer would be, wouldn't you?"
Athrun took less than a second to find the answer. He knew his father's ways and ideals; after all, it was his father that had Athrun join the ZAFT forces and become an elite. It was his father, and his mother's death that drove Athrun to become the soldier that stood in Rau's office. But now Athrun was thinking about Kira...and old friend that he would always remember. Athrun barely wondered if Kira had betrayed him, and sought to find what Kira was doing. In his mind, Athrun had to choose between his friendship with Kira, or his father's will.
"Well, what are you going to do about Kira?" Rau asked.
"If I can't get him to join ZAFT...I'll kill him, Commander!" Athrun shouted in sorrow.
"Then if that's your decision to do so, make sure you either capture or destroy the Strike unit. Failure is not an option, Athrun Zala," Rau ordered. "Now go and stand by with the others."
"Sir!" Athrun saluted and walked out of Rau Le Creuset's office. His fists were clenched, and he face was solid with seriousness.
On board the Archangel, the vast numbers of civilians were being hearded into the various empty quarters while the group of teens that were just interrogated had settled into their own room. Kira lay in one of the bunk-beds as Amuro was leaning on it as well. Fllay sat with Sai on another bed keeping a distance from Kira, with Sayla and Frau next to them. Garrod stood in the doorway with Kai and Hayato, while Kuzzey leaned next to the bed that Miriallia and Tolle were sitting on. The room was silent, but interrupted with the hustle and bustle of civilians going to their assigned rooms.
"Dude, how is that Kira can actually sleep through all of this?" Kuzzey said breaking the silence.
"Just think of the stuff that he just went through...that we all just went through," Miriallia answered back.
"I'm almost falling alseep myself..." Amuro replied.
"Kuzzey, is it that hard to comprehend that Kira is human too?" Garrod interrogated.
"Okay, okay. He's human...but Kira's a Coordinator too. He's agenetically enhanced human being, far greater than all of us now," Kuzzey stated.
Fllay looked up at his statement. Sai and Sayla did the same when Amuro also stated "But being geneticall enhanced to have the potential to be greater than the rest of us."
"I'm just saying, that he's a coordinator and that it's wierd that he's actually sleeping now. Plus, with all he's done...I mean, look at what he did. He was able to modify that one mobile suit's Operating System to make it work and then was able to kill some people," Kuzzey added on.
"What is wrong with you? Do you hate Kira now that he's a coordinator or something?!" Sayla scolded Kuzzey.
Kuzzey only sighed and bowed his head down. His eyes barely closed breaking eye contact with everyone else.
"You shouldn't hate someone just because he's different..." Amuro added.
Kuzzey sighed once again, and didn't even look up. Fllay didn't know what to think about what had just happened. A tear grew in her eye, but she looked down, closing her eyes in order to cover it up.
Meanwhile on the Archangel bridge, Murrue, Natarle, Mu, and Bright were discussing the various situations transpiring. Before them was a large map, displaying various flight paths of both the Archangel and the White Base.
"So, there it is. We have to decide to go the Artemis or Barge - for the Archangel," Natarle pointed out.
"Or head to Luna II for the White Base," Bright added.
"Simply put, we'll have to separate eventually," Mu replied. "We should try heading out at full speed in order to get as far away from the debris field as possible. We could loose some of the enemy in the debris when we escape."
"But you do know that there is a Nazca class out there. She could easily outrun the Archangel and White Base," Murrue pointed out.
"Oh yes...the Vesalius..." Mu's voice died down. "So then what are we going to do when they attack with mobile suits?"
"We do have our own mobile suit forces on the Archangel, but very limited," Natarle replied.
"How many do we have here?" Mu asked.
"We have the Strike unit, four space-Leo's and one Dagger. Plus your Moebius Zero, Mu," Natarle answered.
"What about on the White Base, Bright?" Mu redirected his question.
"Well...as far as I know we have several incomplete mobile suit parts. However we do have the Gundam which is here, one or two GMs, and a prototype Guncannon and Guntank," Bright answered.
"Prototype units? I thought that Guncannons and Guntanks were already mass-produced," Natarle asked in response.
"When Side 7 was assaulted, the Federation forces there basically called for us to dump everything we could into the White Base and go," Bright replied.
"So...what are we going to do about the Gundams?" Mu bluntly asked.
"What do you mean?" Murrue asked.
"For one thing, who's gonna pilot those two units?" Mu asked again.
"Wouldn't you and Lt. Jr. Grade Burning pilot them?" Murrue responded.
"Me?! Oh hell no! I'm a fighter pilot, not a mobile suit pilot."
Murrue was immediately reminded how much she disliked the many cocky pilots in the Alliance. "Then who?"
Mu only took a few seconds to think about it. "Why don't we just get Kira and Amuro to do it? After all, Kira did modify the Strike's operating system and Amuro has proven to be an exceptional pilot."
"Well...I don't know about that," Murrue slowly broke off her sentence.
"Just ask them and find out."
On board the Vesalius, Rau Le Creuset rejoined Ades on the bridge to analyze their next moves.
"Sir, Lt. Aznable has ordered the support units to break away and return to ZAFT and Zeon space, sir," Ades explained.
"Ah...he's setting them to be the decoys?" Rau asked.
"It would seem so, sir. The enemy will think that we've left when most our support forces depart, sir."
"An excellent plan, Red Comet. Excellent plan."
Back on the seemingly overcrowding Archangel, the teens were still contemplating the transpiring events. Kira awoke to the arguments to see his new and old friends taking sides of his hidden past.
"Just admit it, Kuzzey!" Garrod shouted.
"Okay! I don't like coordinator's! You happy?!" Kuzzey shouted back. "How can we expect the Earth to win against humans who are genetically modified?! Huh?"
Fllay was just about to say something when suddenly "where does that leave me, Kuzzey?" Kira interrupted.
"Kira..." Kuzzey's voice died down. The arguing had ceased for a few seconds.
"You don't like me either, despite what friendship we had?" Kira questioned. "Have you any idea what it's like to have a friend that's now your enemy?" Kira climbed out of his bunk and stood next to Amuro.
Kuzzey remained silent, while the rest were looking to one another to find an answer to what Kira meant. They remembered what Kuzzey was saying about coordinators, and when Kira admited to being one. They also were hung up when Kira mentioned having a friend as an enemy.
"Kira, Amuro, do you two have a minute?" Murrue interrupted. "We need you two to do something for us again."
"Are you asking for us to kill again?" Amuro snapped.
"It's just...we would like for you two to be the pilots of the Gundams until we get to an Alliance or Federation base," Murrue explained. She didn't know what else to say to Kira and Amuro other than the truth.
"What's wrong with you? We lived on neutral colonies! Heliopolis-" Kira stated.
"-Side 7, we're all neutral, get it," Amuro added.
"We don't want anything to do with your war!" Kira snapped to Murrue.
"Either way, your staying on this vessel, and now you're a part of this battle," Murrue explained. She started feel bad, regretting dragging the two youth into the batle.
A voice came from behind Murrue, it was Mu La Flaga's voice, "Let me talk to them. You should return to the bridge as acting captain, Murrue."
"...okay...sure..." Murrue said. She turned, looking at Kira and Amuro with apologies in her eyes. She then left them with Mu.
"Look, Kira...I know that is hard for you, and Amuro too. But Murdoch told me to tell you to take care of his machine. Same to you Amuro regarding Gundam," Mu said.
"Is that how it is now? That Strike is mine?" Kira asked in response.
"That's how it's going to be for now until later. And you, Amuro, will have the Gundam to yourself should you really choose to." Mu explained. "You have the talents, so use it."
"...what is it that you really need us to do? Kill again? My answer is no, I can't be asked to do such things," Amuro replied.
"Look you two. Both of you are truly amazing pilots, this is just the point where you two are cast as both protectors and conquerors. This is the time to choose which role to truly play; ever pilot including myself has made that decision," Mu said stepping back. His slight gesture meant he was awaiting Kira and Amuro's "yes" response.
Kira only grunted as he dashed away. He didn't look back to his friends as he left the room and headed straight for the mobile suit docks. Amuro was confused and quickly chased after him to find out what was wrong. After those two had left, the others will now in shock and what Mu and Murrue were asking of their friends. The group of teens exchanged looks of grief and unknown while trying to find an answer.
"You know...supposing that they will make the right decision, the rest of you can help them too. I know that the Archangel and White Base need some crewmembers on the bridges, should you talented kids want to fill the positions. Of course that's voluntary," Mu pointed out. "I won't force you into this war any further without your consent." Mu then turned and left to a different room on the Archangel.
At the mobile suit deck on the Archangel, Kira stood looking at - what is now - his gray Strike Gundam. Amuro walked up and joined him. The two gazed at their weapons, realizing what it is that they are being called to do. "Why are they asking us to do this?" Kira muttered.
"I suppose that it's because they need us now. We've lived dependant on the government to help us, when now they need us to help them."Amuro sighed in response.
"Everything that's now happened...everything that has taken place," Kira wandered off in his thoughts.
The two remembered what Mu La Flaga told them:
"You two have the talents, so use it."
Kira continued to gaze at the Strike Gundam. Birdy hopped out of Kira's shirt, and perched itself on his shoulder. Kira thought an answer to Mu's statements. "That doesn't mean I can truly fight in battle."
The two also remembered the other things that Mu said to them:
"...you two are cast as both protectors and conquerors. This is the time to choose which role to truly play..."
"I'm not sure of which role we are now. We conquered men in order to protect ourselves and our friends. And they're asking us to do it again," Amuro stated.
"If it means protecting my friends, I'll do what they ask..." Kira sighed.
"Really? I guess I'd have the same reason to do so as well..." Amuro agreed. The two shook hands once again, and then walked back to the quarters of the Archangel to give Mu their answer.
While going through the corridors of the Archangel, Kira and Amuro ran into Sai, Kuzzey, Tolle, and Miriallia dressed in Alliance uniforms; and also Frau, Sayla, Hayato, Kai, and Garrod in Federation uniforms. The teen all greeted Kira and Amuro with smiles and gestures of hapiness feeling that they made the right choice. "What-what's all this, guys?" Kira and Amuro asked.
"Well," Tolle stepped forward to explain it all, "we knew you two would make a good decision. So we all decided to help out in any way that we can."
"You two aren't the only one's in this war now," Miriallia added.
"Alright, alright. You guys need to go to the bridge, and you guys need to get ready to transfer to the White Base," Jackie Tonomura directed them. They began tofloat away, "you two should head down the hall to get suited for battle. Lt. Flaga's waiting for you there!"
Amuro and Kira gave Tonomura a gesture of acknowledgement and continued down the hallway. When they arrived at the locker-styled looking room, Mu La Flaga was waiting with two different pilots suits folded next to him. Mu himself was already dressed in his signature purple and black suit. He smiled with feeling that the two had truly made the right choice.
"Here," he gestured for Kira, "this is a 'cosmos' Alliance pilot suit for you Kira." Mu handed the blue and white suit to Kira. He then picked up another suit that was mostly white, obviously gesturing towards Amuro. "This is something South gave to me for you. It's a standard federation space-pilot suit," Mu handed the suit to Kira.
"Thanks," the two gestured as they started to try on their new uniforms. Each one trying not to take too much time in doing so.
"So, how does it feel?" Mu asked when the two teens were finished donning their suits.
Kira finished closing the neck piece of his suit, "it's just a little tight, but feels flexible."
"That's how it's supposed to be fitted. What about you, Amuro?" Mu asked.
"Kinda the same. Just a little tight," Amuro responded while trying to pull out the creases in his outfit.
"Well..." Mu examined the two teens quickly, "you two look great, young soldiers your about to become you know..."
Amuro and Kira nodded and agreed. The three then took to flight and left the changing room for the mobile suit deck of the Archangel.
On the Vesalius mobile suit deck, the four remaining elites: Athrun, Yzak, Dearka, and Nicol had already fitted into their red pilot suits, and awaited to move out. Rau came from behind them without his flight suit, but just in his standard white commander's outfit.
"I'm gonna change things up a bit here, boys," Rau said.
The four elites looked to Rau with questionable judgement. Each was trying to figure out what he meant by "change things up a bit."
"Since you really have no mobile suits of your own left," Rau started to point out, "use the Gundam suits that you had stolen."
Yzak and Dearka smirked and grinned at Rau. They had feelings of excitement and gratitude towards Rau's decision. Nicol was only slightly surprised at his commander's decision, and only raised an eyebrow to it. Athrun on the other hand, was not surprised at all; he instead looked to it as a better reason to try and take Kira back to his side.
"Now move it!" Rau ordered with a single salute. His young coordinators saluted back and then took off to the individual units that they had stolen. Once inside, the four awaited preparations to launch in the black of space and battle the Alliance & Federation forces.
Inside the Archangel mobile suit deck, Mu La Flaga was followed by Amuro and Kira to his Moebius Zero. Mu had prepared to go into his cockpit before pointing out to Kira and Amuro where their mobile suits were. "In all your challenges in life, this will be the biggest. Which role did you choose?" Mu stated when he jumped into his mobile armor and closed the hatch.
Kira and Amuro moved to their mobile suits by themselves, and then they too sat into their own individual units, each strapping in to fight. Amuro waited in his unit, and through his view screen watched as Mu launched in his Moebius Zero into space. After the mobile armor cleared, Amuro could barely see the front of the White Base, and saw a small pod - with his friends inside - moving to the Federation ship. Now it was his turn to launch, and Amuro moved Gundam into position on the main launch pad. The lights readying his launch were all red, until the first one shown up on the monitor, clear; the next one: clear; and the last one: clear; finally the word launch displayed, and Amuro manipulated the controls to get the Gundam to launch. "Amuro and Gundam; let's do it!" he yelled as he traveled down the path of the Archangel and out into space; the force of the movement only startled him for that small bit of seconds.
Now Kira's turn had awaited. His mobile suit was now moving into position under large doors above it and to it's side. Murdoch's voice could be heard screaming out "arm the Aile Striker!" and Kira analyzed on his computer what the Aile Strike unit was. He sat and waited for the pack to be put on. As the back wings and booster units attached themselves to Strike, Kira remembered everything he and Mu La Flaga were talking about.
In all your challenges in life, this will be the biggest. Which role did you choose?
He remembered Mu saying to Kira before they started; the beam rifle and shield were now placed onto Strike's arms, and the Aile Strike unit was fully ready to launch. Which role did I choose? I'm the protector! he said to himself. The same countdown sequence arose infront of Strike and readied the Gundam to launch.
Out in space, the launching of the Gundam had already been detected by the Vesalius, and the Duel, Buster, Blitz, and Aegis units had all launched. They followed different flight patterns to hopefully attack the Archangel and White Base at different yet effective times.
Kira was ready to go, "Kira Yamato! Strike Gundam! Heading out!" he shouted as the Aile Strike unit launched into space.
Ah, there you go everyone! I've finally updated the story, and because this is a drama, I had to put something like this in the story sooner or later. Enjoy this story and the holidays, thanks again for all the support!