Mwu la Flaga sat in his office at the Norman Air Base in Sacramento, California. Since the Battle of Alaska had concluded a month ago, Mwu had been stuck here training morons how to fly mobile armors and skygraspers. In his mind, these idiots he was training didn't even belong inside these types of machines.

On his desk sat what few personal belongings he had managed to bring off the Archangel when he had departed the ship just before the battle. When he heard the news of the attack, he feared everyone aboard the ship had been killed, including Murrue.

Murrue...

Ever since he had come aboard the ship, he had been infatuated with the beautiful, young captain, Murrue Ramius. They had become good friends and along with Natarle Badgiruel, the ship's first mate, and had survived every battle they had fought together.

He looked to the end of the desk he now sat at. On it was the picture that had been taken just minutes before he departed the Archangel. In it were himself, Murrue, and Natarle on the ship's bridge. Mwu couldn't help but laugh because it had been practically the only time he had seen Natarle smile. When he said goodbye to the both of them, he had noticed that Murrue was extremely close to tears, but he didn't mention it for fear it would anger her. He also noticed that Natarle wasn't extremely happy to see him leave either.

Mwu rubbed his hand over his chin. In the month since he had come here, he'd allowed his beard to grow out. Natarle had been very strict about facial hair on the Archangel, but now that he wasn't aboard her anymore, he felt their was no problem with growing it out again. His beard his blonde hair in color and had grown enough so that he looked much older than he already was which was 28.

He remembered the last time he had a beard. It was back when he trained at the Academy at Sheldon Air Force Base in San Diego. Oh those were fun times. He and his childhood friend Hugh Swanson had been roommates at the academy. He had been friends with Hugh every since they grew up a few houses away from each other in Philadelphia when they were children. Now Hugh was out aboard another ship somewhere in space, under the same title as Mwu was.

The two of them, along with their other friend Frank, had always been trying to prank their head instructor, the 'Thunderbird' himself, John Namora. Namora had been the one who taught Mwu how to fly and everything else he had learned at the academy. Now Namora had given up teaching when the Alliance inner circle had asked him to enter the military three years earlier. Now a Colonel in the Alliance Navy, Namora was commander of a whole Mobile Armor squadron in Florida. Mwu could have sworn Namora could learn to fly anything if you had given him a few days to understand how it worked.

God if they had been there, when we fought le Creuset...

Mwu also remembered how Hugh had tried to teach him swordsmanship. Since Hugh's parents were English, he was required by them to learn how to handle a sword. He actually proved very good at handling one of them. There was nobody Mwu knew who could handle a sword better than Hugh Swanson.

God, I can't do this anymore.

Mwu was certain this was not what he wanted to do. The morons could learn from someone else, but as far as he was concern-

"Lieutenant, you have a message" It was Mwu's secretary Miranda with an envelope in her hand.

"Thank you Miranda"

It was just a simple brown envelope. But what caught Mwu's eyes was the writing on the back. TOP SECRET. Mwu opened the envelope not knowing what would be inside.

The message read

Lt. Mwu la Flaga,

You have been selected to participate in a top secret mission for the Alliance military. Should you accept to take part, report to the Sheldon Air Force Base in San Diego on Thursday May 17. Remember, this is TOP SECRET. Tell no one.

Sincerely,

Colonel John Namora

Mwu instantly knew he would agree to participate. Come on, why wouldn't he want to see his old teacher again. And it would also allow him to get out of this stupid place.

"Miranda I'm taking a temporary leave. If anyone asks, tell them I'm in San Diego."

"Yes Lieutenant"

As Mwu left the base, he thought; this is sure to be one hell of a ride.

Some 750 miles away above the Pacific Ocean, the Archangel was making her usual run across the ocean ferrying supplies and troops to the Asian countries. Kira Yamato sat in the cockpit of the Freedom Gundam which he had 'relieved' the ZAFT forces of several weeks earlier. He was still trying to figure out the O.S. on the thing when he heard a voice below him.

"Hey Kira! You ever going to come down from there and eat dinner?"

"I'll be there in a second Athrun."

Athrun Zala had been aboard the Archangel for a little less than two weeks. Ever since Athrun had discovered his father's intentions for the war, Athrun had come to Kira to seek refuge from his father. In escaping, Athrun had stolen the Freedom's twin, the Justice Gundam, which sat a few meters away in the hanger.

Kira climbed down from the Gundam's high perch and walked beside Athrun toward the mess hall.

"Athrun are you sure you'll be able to fight against ZAFT after everything that's happened?"

"Of course I'm sure. Why? Don't tell me you don't trust me either."

"No, no. It's just that I thought you still may be mad because I killed Nicol. After all you did kill Tolle afterwards and you almost killed me."

"Kira...wouldn't you have done the same thing being in my situation. I was angry. Not only at the Alliance, but at myself. I promised myself I wasn't going to let any of my friends die. When Nicol died, something inside of me just snapped. I couldn't think straight. I had turned into the one thing I vowed never to become."

"It's all right man. Just as long as we're not fighting each other anymore."

Soon they passed the room where Dearka Elsman was being confined. Dearka had not come aboard peacefully, but rather as a POW. Since that time, he'd been allowed to access certain areas of the ship, but still wasn't allowed anywhere near the hangers.

"How long do you think they're going to keep Dearka like this?" Athrun asked.

"As long as they sit fit to do so."

"I mean come on, it's not like he was dangerous when he surrendered. Frankly I think he was more dangerous to himself than anyone else."

"I HEARD THAT!"

Kira and Athrun started laughing, but stopped when an officer appeared in front of them. The expression on his face said he was in no mood for laughter.

"Ensigns Kira Yamato, Athrun Zala?"

"Yes, sir" they both said in unison.

"You're both going stateside. Report to Sheldon Air Base by Thursday. There's a transport waiting for you that will an hour from now. Please be on it."

He saluted and left the two friends standing in the hallway holding envelopes with TOP SECRET on the back. When Kira opened his, this is what it said.

Ensign Kira Yamato,

You have been selected to participate in a top secret mission for the Alliance military. Should you choose to take part, report to the Sheldon Air Force Base in San Diego on Thursday May 17. Remember, this is TOP SECRET. Tell no one.

Sincerely,

Colonel John Namora

Wow Kira thought. The 'Thunderbird' wants me to fly a mission with him.

"Kira"

I've read about him. He's supposed to be the best Natural pilot there ever was.

"Kira..."

Kira's mind then thought darkly, But...why am I being sent somewhere else now? For what reason? It says top secret...does that mean that it will involve hurting innocents? Does it mean that I'll never see this ship and my friends again? What's all this mean? I mean...I'm delighted to be allowed to meet some new people that may share the same views that I do...but...what does all this-?

"KIRA!"

"What?"

"You spaced out there for a second. Thought you were riddled with shock."

"Well I sort of am an-"

"So you two got the top secret letters too I see."

Kira turned to see Dearka standing behind them holding the same envelope they had received. Kira was surprised to see Dearka holding one since he had never officially joined the Alliance military. As the three packed their few belongings for the transport, Kira was also shocked to learn that his friend Sai Argyle had also received a TOP SECRET message. Kira and Sai still weren't on the best of terms since Kira started seeing Sai's fiancé Flay Allster. Since then, Kira and Flay had broken up, but Kira and Sai still weren't speaking to each other.

Sai believed this was his only chance to do something helpful. "Seems to be the only way I can actually do anything to help the Alliance. Otherwise, I'll just be sitting around here causing trouble."

As the transport carrying them left an hour later, Kira wondered what they were getting themselves into. None of them knew it at the time, but they were walking right into the Alliance Inner Circle's trap.