Disclaimer: I do not own either Zone of the Enders or Gundam SEED Destiny. They belong to Konami and Bandai respectively.

ZONE OF DESTINY

Prologue: Disappearance/Arrival

June 8 2175

UNSF spaceship Atlantis

The sounds of sirens echoed in the command centre of the ship, panic was spreading among the crewmembers that are currently stationed during the final testing phase of the mobile Urenbeck catapult. Unfortunately, something has gone wrong at the most critical moment of the test. A tall woman with short blonde hair was looking worried at this moment.

"Higgins, give me a status report!"

A young woman with green hair was frantic at her control console as she carried out her superior's orders. "Captain Weinberg, there appears to be fluxuations in the subspace compression readings. It appears that space is expanding rather than compressing"

Another woman with long red hair continued the report "Captain, I'm detecting some unusual energy readings. It appears that it is the cause of the disruption but I'm not –"

"Elena, I'm loosing the readings on the pilot!" This attracted her attention to the young man who shouted this information. Rushing over to him, she was able to see that not only was the readings on the pilot dropping, but also the status on the Orbital Frame that was given to him for the test. Picking up the communicator, she attempted to contact the young pilot.

"Ultis, this is Captain Weinberg, can you read me?" she asked but the only reply she got was static. "Rick, can you read me?"

"Th . . . . . nant Ric . . . . . . ease respo . . . yone!"

"Rick, what's happening at your end, answer me please!"

"Un . . . . I can . . .the experi –" ZSSSSSK

"We have lost contact with the pilot"

Elena was now getting really worried. "Leo, what about the Orbital Frame?"

Leo began to analyse the data in front of him. "Elena, these readings are going off the scales here. However, whatever is causing this, I don't think that the OF has anything to do with it." He turned round to face his superior "I believe that the best course of action would be to stop the experiment".

Elena, accepting defeat, agreed that this was the only thing that they could do now. Returning to her post, she entered the command code for the emergency shut down only to be shocked that she couldn't stop the experiment.

"Captain, I am getting readings that there is someone or something else is causing the disruption in the experiment".

"CAPTAIN, THE DISTORTION IN SPACE IS EXPANDING BEYOND ACCEPTABLE PARAMETERS, IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING –" screamed Higgins.

"Elena, I'm losing readings on the OF! In just a few more seconds, we will lose contact completely"

"Confirmed, we will lose contact with the OF in five . . four . . three . . two . . one . . We have lost contact the OF and Lieutenant Richard Ultis. The disruption that has caused this . . . that is also gone."

Elena turned round "Gone? Are you sure Tavana?" Looking at her own readings, she realised that their worst fears have come true. Slowly standing up, she picked up her communicator and pressed a few buttons in order to deliver the news to the entire crew of the ship.

"Attention, attention, the is Captain Elena Weinberg speaking. It is with great regret that I have to inform you that the "Thunderbolt" experiment was a failure and . . ." she was beginning to cry but was able to control her emotions " . . . and to inform you that Lieutenant Richard Ultis is now . . . MIA." Putting the communicator down, she fell back into her seat and covered her face with her hands. "I'm sorry Rick, I promised that nothing would go wrong".

Other members of the bridge were also in shock. Leo Stenbuck was sad to lose a good friend, even though he has only known him for about six months. Meryl Tavana was upset because she couldn't do anything to help Rick. But the one that took it hard the most was Jessica Higgins. She had known Rick since they were children. Having been brought up in the same orphanage together, they had each other when they had no one else. They had done everything together, having joined the UNSF shortly after the Antilia raid three years ago. To her, Rick was her best friend, brother and lover.

"Rick . . . Rick! RICK!"

36 Hours ago

"Test pilot, me?" spluttered Rick "No offence Cap' but wouldn't Leo be a better choice for this? I mean he's a better pilot than I will ever be!"

Elena turned round to face the young pilot. He was around 5'6 in height, had short dark red hair and green eyes. "Well, I would have sent out Leo but he has his own reasons for not doing it and has recommended you in his place"

Rick was surprised that Leo recommended him for the test but he still had his doubts. "OK, I understand that, but how do you suppose that I do this? I don't think my Fatima can handle such a task. Will I be using the Vic Viper?"

"Unfortunately the Vic Viper is going under some repairs at the moment so you won't be using that. However . . ." Elena had gotten out a file which had all the information on Project "Thunderbolt". " . . . We have managed to obtain something new just for you." A holographic image was brought up showing what looked like an LEV.

"Hold on a moment, isn't that an Orbital Frame? I thought that OF research and development was stopped after the last Great War?"

Elena looked at the same hologram "Officially that is true but there is still tension between Earth and Mars. This has led to OF development being done in secrete on both sides."

"Both sides? Since when did Earth ever care about OF development?"

"Actually, Earth had been working on their own OF projects for several years but it wasn't until after the Aumaan incident that they realised what they could do. The OF that we will be receiving was given to us by Mars and has been designated "Horus"". There was a small hint of anger in her voice when she said its name. "Any questions?"

Rick was still trying to take it all in "When will we be receiving Horus?"

"Horus is due to arrive here in twelve hours. Until then, I want you to get some rest. Dismissed"

Outside the Captain's office, Jessica was waiting on Rick for dinner. When she finally saw him he had an odd look on his face, which to her looked like he had been given a promotion for no reason at all.

"So what did Elena want with you? Did she give you a promotion or something?"

Rick, who has been caught up in his thoughts up until now was startled "Huh, oh hi Jess, what's up?"

"What's up? You had a very important meeting with Elena and all you can say is "What's up"? Jeez, I can't believe you." Jess shouted. "Next thing you'll tell me that what she said in there is classified information!"

"I never said that it was classified information. But it's strange. First she decides that I'm the best test Runner for the Thunderbolt project and then –"

"Wait, did you just say "runner"? I though you need to have an Orbital Frame in order to be a Frame Runner".

"I was getting to that point. Apparently Mars is "Donating" an OF to us. And not some mass production model either, this is one of their newer models"

"New models, but-

"I know what you are thinking but if you ask me, I'd say that they just don't want to give up Jehuty". By "they", Rick had meant Dingo Egret, the Frame Runner who was considered to be the "Hero" of the Aumaan incident. It was also a well-known fact that Elena had held a grudge against Dingo ever since he refused to hand it over. Personally Rick liked Dingo, having been trained by him personally on how to pilot a LEV without any AI assistance. "Come to think of it, Leo once told me that Jehuty would be the only OF that he would ever pilot. I wonder if that's the reason he recommended me in the first place."

"I see, so that means that you be doing the experiment the experiment then?" she asked.

"Yeah". Looking at her face, Rick could tell that she was actually worried. "Hey, once this is all over, how about I take you out for dinner? Taper told me about this great restaurant in Paris, so what do you say, deal?"

With the worrying look replaced with a smile, she gave him is answer "Deal"

24 hours ago

Taper was waiting in the cargo bay, waiting for the cargo to be delivered. He was also getting nervous because if there is anything that he hates more than anything, it's Orbital Frames.

"Man, they're late, what's taking them so long" he muttered to himself. It was at that point the cargo bay doors opened, revealing a large container that floated to it's designated location. As far as Taper is concerned, the sooner this was done, the sooner he would be able to get out of there. As the cargo bay doors closed, one of the deliverymen came up to Taper.

"Hey you, are you the guy in charge around here?" Taper turned round to face him "Could you sign here please?" Taper gave a nervous smile and signed the documents that the cargo had been delivered. He had barely given it back when he heard Rick's voice.

"Finally, let's see what this thing looks like. Hey Taper, you want to open this thing for me? Elena wants me to get used to using the OF controls before the experiment!" Taper was about to curse the boy, but he realised that it was Elena's orders for him to become acquainted with the OF as soon as it arrived. Reaching for the lock, Taper entered the key code, releasing the doors.

Inside stood a shinning gold Orbital Frame. The head was shaped similar to an eagle with two blue eyes. The arms both had Metatron blades, which could be extended at times of need. The wings were lower down on the body than they expected, being only above the waist. The entrance to the cockpit was noticeable due the blue "cover" that makes it different from the rest of the frame. Everyone who was in the cargo bay was impressed by just the look of it.

"Right then, I think it's time that started this thing up, don't you think? Taper, go and tell Elena that I'm going to initiate the start-up sequence." Taper, being thankful for this opportunity to leave left Rick to his own devices. Floating to the cockpit, he hit the open button and jumped in, before placing his hands on the Metatron control pods. It was then that Horus's battle computer greeted him.

"Good afternoon, registering cellular DNA – Complete. Please state you Name."

Thinking to himself before answering, Rick made sure that he knew what was he was going to say. "Lieutenant Richard Ultis of the United Nations Space Force".

"Name confirmed. Welcome aboard Lieutenant. This is the detached backup battle unit ELDA of the Orbital Frame Horus". Rick was amazed at what he was seeing. Having decided on what he wanted to do, he gave ELDA his first set of orders.

"OK ELDA, my first order is for you to call me Rick from now on, is that understood?"

"Understood"

"Now, I would like you to begin simulations so that I could get the hang of the controls"

"Is this your first time in an Orbital Frame?"

"Yeah. As a matter of fact I am quite nervous, seeing as this is my first time using one and all"

"Would you like me to change me environmental controls?"

"No thanks, I'm fine, now can we please begin the training"

"Roger Rick"

4 hours ago

"All preparations are complete, ready for launch."

"Hey Elena, are you sure this is safe?"

"Why wouldn't it be? After all, it's really just a mobile Urenbeck catapult like the one found on Deimos. Look, I promised you that nothing will go wrong, so don't worry about it OK?"

"Yeah, yeah, I hear you."

Jess then made a quick transmission "Now don't forget, you promised to take me out for dinner once this was over so you better hope nothing happens, otherwise I'll be coming to Hell to kick your ass, you hear me!"

"I got you Jess, loud and clear"

"OK . . . Please be careful"

Rick smiled at her and gave her the thumbs up before she went away. Elena reappeared in front of Rick.

"Are you ready Rick?"

"As ready as I'll ever be!"

"We are launching in five . . four . . three . . two . . one . . LAUNCH!"

At that moment, the familiar feeling of going into compressed space overcame Rick as Horus was launched towards Earth.

For most of the Journey, it had been a pleasant ride. However, Rick was starting to have a bad feeling that something was about to happen.

"ELDA, how long is it until our arrival at Earth.

"We will arrive in the Earth Sphere in approximately 13 minutes"

This seemed to calmed Rick down, but suddenly there was something happening.

"Hey, ELDA, what's happening?"

"It appears that the space in front of us is being altered. Rather than being compressed, it is beginning to expand"

"Expand? What the heck is that supposed to mean?"

"Apologies, but "What the heck is that supposed to mean?" does not compute".

"Arg . . . Open a channel to Atlantis"

"Yes, I will connect you now".

"Atlantis, this is Rick, respond". However, the only sound he received was the sound of static. "This Lieutenant Richard Ultis, please respond, anyone!" At that moment he managed to get though to Elena

"Ri . . . at's happe . . . at yo . . ., answ . . . ase!"

"Unknown. I can't complete the experiment due to space being altered beyond my control, I need help".

"We have lost contact with Atlantis".

Looking ahead, Rick could see that some king of corridor was beginning to form.

"ELDA, what is that up ahead?"

It appears to be a quantum corridor of some sort. It could take us to anyplace or any time but it is unknown".

"Can we avoid it?"

"Impossible, we are already being pulled though in five . . four . . three . . two . . one . ."

At that moment a bright light overcame Rick. He couldn't see where he was going. The shift came as such as shock to Rick that he fell unconscious.

Zack Algrave was a solder of ZAFT. The current situation between the Naturals on Earth and the Coordinators in space was so fragile that war could break out any day. Hence Zack and a few friends were out on a training exercise, testing their new Mobile Suits, the ZGMF-1000 ZAKU Warrior.

"Hey Zack, lets see you try and hit these targets".

Zack turned round and laughed at his friends' poor attempt to give him a challenge. Using his beam rifle he managed to shoot all the targets with little difficulty. "Come on, is that all you guys got?"

"Heh, actually we're just getting started."

A short distance away from the space training ground, Horus had arrived. Having been unconscious, Rick had just woken up.

"Man, my head hurts . . . ELDA, give me a status report"

"We have arrived at the Earth Sphere as planned, however, there appears to be several unidentified structures." As ELDA stated this, an image of an hourglass shaped structure appeared. "Two possibilities could have occurred due to the quantum corridor. One: We could have gone forward in time. Two: We have gone into an alternate universe. Both of these theories can explain these structures."

Wondering about the structure in front of him, Rick started to analyse. "ELDA, can you determine how many people are living in this thing?"

The battle computer began to scan for life forms

"So what do we do now? Head straight to Earth, or do we visit the Hourglass?"

"Due to the unidentified nature of these structures, recommend that you head straight for Earth"

"Good call". As Horus began to move to Earth, the Orbital Frame attracted the attention of the ZAFT solders.

"Zack, look at that over there"

Zack turned around and saw the yellow mobile suit. Whoever they are, they couldn't have been able to get this far without being seen. "We should go after it, after all we don't know what they were doing here, or who they are."

"Roger that"

"Good idea"

As they began chasing their new target, ELDA had picked them up on her scanners.

"It appears we are being followed by 3 unknown LEVs. They appear to be armed."

"ELDA, what sub weapons do you have"

"Current installed sub weapons include Halberd; Floating Mine; Geyser; Wisps:"

"Switch to Wisps. I think I'll have a little chat with these people."

The three ZAKUS managed to catch up to the unknown MS. Zack, seeing that he was in charge of the three solders, decided to try and communicate with the MS. But before he had a chance to say anything, he had now had a close look at the MS. To him, it was like nothing he had ever seen in his entire life. Of course the shape of the MS was unusual but that wasn't the most unusual thing about it. It was the green energy lines that pulsed all over the body. Raising his beam rifle, he began to hail the pilot.

"This is Sergeant Zack Algrave of the Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty. You have entered ZAFT territory. Identify yourself or we will shoot". He waited for a moment when he got a reply

"I am Lieutenant Richard Ultis of the UNSF, currently experiencing technical difficulties". The UNSF? Who does this joker think he is? "I don't suppose you guys can answer few of my questions now, eh?"

"Now you listen!" Zack shouted, "You are in ZAFT territory and I demand that you surrender!" At that moment, a light was emitted from the unknown MS as if it was scanning his ZAKU. Another reply came from the target.

"Oh please, you guys are using batteries to power your LEVs? What chance do you think you have against me?" Zack realised that this MS must have some new technology to power his mobile suit. LEV? Is that he called his ZAKU? Just who is this guy.

"Listen, you can surrender peacefully or we cant take you by –" before he had even finished saying, several laser blasts had already been fired by the unknown MS taken out one of his companion's MS. His other companion started firing on the unknown target but it simply avoided his fire with near impossible manoeuvring. Moving at high speed, the target quickly moves into close combat, revealing what looked like two glowing blades before proceeding to cut off the ZAKU's arms and legs before turning round to face him. Raising his beam rifle, he fired several shots at the target before he realised that it had raised some sort of barrier to block the beams. Without giving him a chance to think what to do next, it had fired a projectile onto his ZAKU before being pulled towards his attacker. Once he was caught, Zack realised that his energy supply was being drained until there was no more power. "What kind of mobile suit is that?"

"This is no mobile suit you hear, it's an Orbital Frame!"

Rick was now in complete control of the situation, seeing as all of the enemy "Mobile Suits" were now disabled, he was ready to ask the questions.

"Alright then, now I have some questions I'd to ask you. First of all I want to know what year this is. Next you are going to tell me what's going on around here, do you understand!"

The first question had caught Zack off guard "What year?" but the sight of the blades close to his cockpit made him think that it would be a better idea to just answer the questions. "Alright, the year is 73 CE. As for what is going on here, there is currently a peace treaty between ZAFT and the EA but with things the way they are, you would expect the war start again any day now."

Rick thought about this for a moment before deciding that he really shouldn't get involved. Horus was far too powerful here and if any side were to obtain it, the war would quickly become a massacre. "I understand. Now tell me, have you ever heard of a military organisation called BAHRAM?"

"BAHRAM? I've never heard of them, how? Are they your enemy?"

"Not really, they were disbanded after . . . never mind. I have only one more question. How many moons does Mars have?"

"Mars has two moons, Deimos and Phobos. What sort of question is that? Who the heck are you?" Zack shouted, "Are you a Natural or a Coordinator?"

Rick turned to leave, having got the information that he required, answered back "What does it matter, as far as I'm concerned, we are all humans, aren't we?" Taking off, Horus flew towards the Earth.

Zack couldn't believe it, his small unit was taken out by whatever that thing was in less that a minute. And from the sound of things, he was natural. Zack was full with shock and anger at what just happened. "Damn you, Ultis! You will pay for what you have done to me, you hear me! You haven't heard the last of Zack Algrave!"

As Rick headed towards Earth, he began to wonder how everyone is coping back from where he came from when ELDA interrupted his thoughts.

"Rick, according to what that solder said I have come to the conclusion that we are no longer in our own Universe".

"Yeah, I realise that ELDA. Have you got any ideas on how we can get back home, or ever just try and communicate with everyone?" he asked

"Unfortunately, there is no way we can communicate with the Atlantis. I would suggest heading towards Earth and try to keep a low profile while we try to figure out what our next move should be."

"I agree, set a course for Earth. It looks like this is just the beginning of our story."

"Yes Rick, proceeding to plot a course. May I ask a question?"

Rick was surprised by this statement, since when did computers ever ask questions he thought to himself, "Huh, wha- yeah, go ahead!"

"I was wondering why did you attack those three units? They were nowhere near the potential of Horus in tears of combat or manoeuvrability."

Rick though about this for a moment, wondering why he did attack those three mobile suits. "To tell the truth, I don't they would have just answered my questions if I had just asked them. From the looks of things, I'd say that they thought I was some sort of spy sent to investigate me. It's a good thing that I didn't kill any of them, I don't want to attract attention."

She responded, "On the contrary, this could end up being a bad situation. Due to the fact that the enemy survived our attack, there is a high probability that they will return to the battlefield and pursue us. I would recommend that you try and not make any more enemies while we are here."

"Alright, alright I get the message. There is one problem though, how do you suppose that we hide in this universe? I mean you saw how those guys back there reacted when they saw us; it was as if they have never seen an Orbital Frame before. The chances of the military on Earth not knowing anything about OFs is pretty much zero. If they get a hold of us, we'll be in for a pretty rough ride."

"Until such circumstances occur that would allow us to return to our own dimension appear I recommend that we remain hidden. A vector trap will be used to conceal Horus, but you will have to find a way to get buy on your own." A small compartment opened up, revealing what looked like a digital watch. However on closer inspection, Rick could see that it had an image of the control panel. "This is Horus's communicator. Use this whenever you wish to contact me."

Rick put his new communicator onto his left arm. "Thanks ELDA, I'll keep it in mind whenever I need your help."

As Horus flew down towards Earth, a satellite picked up its signature. The information that was obtained was then sent to a secret location in Southern America. In the control centre, the commander was quite pleased to see what was coming down.

"Well, well, it looks like the cargo has finally arrived!" he whispered, "From here on, things are going to become interesting". A young red haired woman was sitting next to him started to smile.

"Does that mean I can get to have some real fun? None of the militaries around here have any challenge."

"Patience Amante, we must allow him to come to us. Once that has happened, you can have your fun. As for now, I'm leaving you in charge here." As he left the control room, he began to laugh quietly.

OK, this is chapter one. It is mostly Zone of the Enders at the moment, but the next couple of chapters should introduce the majority of the SEED Destiny characters and focus more on Zack for the time being. Please Read and Review.