Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
The guards that always stood at the door during a ZAFT Council meeting shuffled around nervously despite their usual stone-like complexion. Their 48 hours were up and Gold Cosmos forces had began to gather near the moon close to the lunar base that was destroyed by Genesis. A few thousand mobile suits were reported to have already reached their rendezvous point.
The doors of the dark meeting room closed after the arrival of Andrew Bartfeldt. He sat down beside Murrue, yawning. "Geez, I finally get to visit the PLANTs for one week and they pick this time to mess around. I was having a nice vacation too."
Murrue chuckled, "Well, nothing we can do now." They fell silent as Yzak started the meeting by turning on the computer hologram program. A map appeared suspended in midair in the middle of the representatives. It was filled with crisscrossing lines and dots signifying where the ships were, the enemy in red and their own in blue.
"As you can see, Gold Cosmos has chosen the old lunar base as their starting point. It seems that we have missed a lot in their development," Yzak said. He pressed another button and an additional hologram showed in front of the map. It was a picture taken of the actual gathering area. Everyone present either gasped or widened their eyes in astonishment as the picture came into focus. Painted on at least 20 of the larger ships was the familiar symbol for nukes.
"They're planning to use nuclear weaponry again? Didn't the Earth Alliance agree to not produce any more of them?" Kira asked.
"Apparently, Gold Cosmos got their hands on the data," Athrun grumbled through clenched teeth.
"If this is the case, then we have no choice but to fight back. We have to destroy the nukes before they come within firing distance of the PLANTs," Lacus said. The room nodded in silent agreement. "Now that we know what to do, how do you all plan on carrying it out?"
Yzak changed the screen back to the map, getting rid of the picture of nukes. "They would probably head straight for the PLANTs in about six hours. That would give us enough time to set up a line of defense." Everyone started talking at once about possible courses of action.
"Sir, I would like to offer a strategy," Yzak said to the Head Chairman who nodded a "yes." He magnified an area not far from their intended defense, showing a place marked by debris. "These are the remains of Genesis and Jachin Due. If we can maneuver some of our fleet through this, then we can have them surrounded. The ArchAngel and the Gundams should stay in the front line of defense because those are the part of our forces that Gold Cosmos are aware about. If they see them missing, then they would suspect something."
The Head Chairman, who was listening intently, stood up and announced, "Your plan is the best we can get in such a short term basis. I give you permission to use whatever forces necessary to carry it out!"
"Thank you sir!" Yzak said, saluting. The meeting was adjourned.
…
At the hidden Gold Cosmos headquarters, three of the soldiers watched Kogane Azrael board a shuttle for space. "That man knows what he's doing," one of them muttered.
"Why do you say that?" another asked.
"He's going on the last shuttle heading for space. Why do you think we're not allowed to go? All the leading officers in Gold Cosmos already left."
"I still don't know what you're getting at."
"The reason why we're still here is because he doesn't trust us. He doesn't want any followers who even have a slight doubt about Coordinators being monsters." Azrael turned to look at the base and smirked right before he entered the shuttle.
"I have a very bad feeling about this, we should leave," the third said.
As the shuttle left the mass driver, Azrael flicked open a case revealing a switch, which he pressed. The base below him exploded in a great display of fire and smoke. "And that takes care of any spies," he said as he leaned back in his seat as his shuttle headed for the command ship, the Lunarian.
…
Miriallia caught up with Dearka after the meeting. "You're going to fight in the Buster aren't you?" she said accusingly.
"Is there something wrong with that?" Dearka asked, astonished at her sudden appearance.
She looked away. "No, not really. I just thought that being that guy's guard meant that you would be inside a battleship instead of a mobile suit." Dearka looked at her, not knowing how to respond. She saw his expression and retorted. "Don't get me wrong, I don't care. I just… care a little. Oh, what am I saying?"
Dearka smiled in relief because it wasn't him that really got her mad. Instead he said, "You're saying what you're trying to say."
"That doesn't make sense."
"Hey, I don't what to say. Let's go for a walk before everyone decides to blow each other up."
"That's not funny." They headed for exit facing the closest park. Yzak watched them leave from behind, smiling before he turned the other way to take care of his duties with the preparation of the defense.
As he entered the radio room, he ordered the soldiers to work on deciding on whom to send to where. The force going through Jachin Due had to be discreet and experienced since they had a lot of debris in their route. They can't risk any explosions that would alert the enemy. After about an hour, the coordinators were able to organize mostly everything. Another soldier came into the room. "Commander Jule, a few of the others requests a brief conference with you in the other room."
"Thanks, I'll be right there." Yzak entered the room to find Andy, Lacus, Kira, Athrun, Murrue, and Cagalli waiting for him.
"Something came up?" he asked them.
Andy spoke, "I looked up your supply of weapons in the past hour. It seems that the Eternal has been kept in one of the inaccessible hangars for a while. Any chance of getting it out?"
"The Eternal was stolen by you guys in the earlier war. We kept it as a reminder of how ZAFT got so easily corrupted and in a hard to exit hangar so it won't get stolen again. What do you plan to do with it?"
"I was thinking of taking it through the debris field with the others since the ArchAngel can't go."
Yzak thought for a moment. "That is a pretty good idea. We'll be able to get it out. At least you won't accidentally hit something like the others might do." Everyone broke out in a small laugh. "I give you, Andrew Bartfeldt command of the Eternal!"
"Thank you, Commander Jule."
Yzak nodded, "Sorry, but I have to get back to my duties now." They all saluted as he left.
