Mendel, October 8, C.E. 71, 0900.
"Come on, hurry it up! We can't afford to leave any of it behind!" Nathan Kellhorn's voice rang through the huge capacity of the Kusanagi's hangar. Crews rushed passed him carrying equipment and parts into the ship's massive holds. Patrolling M1's returned into the hangars of the Peleuia and Capricorn, moored next to the larger ship. Kellhorn pulled a crewman away from his work and shouted, "Get word to the engine room. Tell 'em to check the system backup and the rotator on the manipulator to make sure it doesn't jam again. We're gonna have to get out of here fast!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Are you kidding? It was a trap!" Asagi struggled to get her flight suit on as she berated Juri and Mayura for more information.
"Believe it, Asagi," Juri responded. "Captain Jackson's got us leaving right now."
"Admiral Cantarii's mobilizing everyone, I think," Mayura added. "It looks bad."
"Come on girls," Asagi said, grabbing her helmet in her outstretched hand. "Our machines are waiting." The trio of pilots rushed out of the dressing room and headed towards their awaiting M1's in the hangar.
Wayne, Orel, and Mitch were already there. "All the machines ready to go?" Wayne asked.
"Smith's machine still got a fluctuating nerve linkage, so he won't be able to go. But otherwise, everyone's okay," Orel responded.
"That's thirteen of us, Lieutenant," Mitch added.
"You sure your group is okay down a man, Orel?" Wayne asked, coming up towards the cockpit of his M1.
"We'll be able to handle ourselves," Orel said as Wayne swung into the cockpit. "Just make sure your out there backing us up!"
"Count on it," Wayne answered. Orel and Mitch saluted and headed off towards their own machines.
The bridge was just as chaotic. "Message from Eternal, Admiral. 'We are preparing to pull out of this area and support the Archangel. Requesting further instructions.'"
"Tell 'em to get there as quick as they can," Cantarii ordered. "We won't get there in time to be much help so it'll be mostly up to them to get 'em out. Have them do whatever they can until we rendezvous with them and then we'll re-examine our options."
"Yes, Admiral!"
"I'm afraid it isn't ready yet." Erica tried to keep her voice calm enough not to sound too irrational, but it sure wasn't easy. "We've got all the spare parts, but it won't be fully assembled for at least another two days. And that's if we start now."
"But you guys have already built something like that," Cagalli responded sternly. "Doing it twice can't take as long as the first time."
"You forget that we had over two months to complete it the first time," Erica pointed out. Cagalli groaned heavily and ground her teeth. "Morgenrate may be the best ship building corporation out there, but we aren't superheroes. We still have our limitations, Miss Cagalli, and especially with machines such as the Strike Rouge, we can't be too carefree with it."
Cagalli sighed. "I understand," she said. "But my friends are still out there. I just want to be able to help them in case they're in danger. I can't just sit around here doing nothing while they risk their lives out there!"
"I know," the older woman responded. Erica turned towards the front viewport and added, "You have my assurance that we'll start work on it as soon as possible, Miss Cagalli. I promise."
"Thank you," Cagalli added quietly, with a bit of harshness.
"Mrs. Simmons," a member of the crew called.
"Coming," Erica responded, kicking off the deck and floating towards the girl's console. Cagalli turned around and came up beside her father, who was standing behind Jackson and Manchisco.
"At top speed, the Kusanagi won't reach L3 for another five days, Lord Uzumi," Jackson said dryly. "And it's more than likely that the Archangel won't be there when we arrive."
"If your suspicions are correct, Lord Uzumi, then the Earth Forces are more than likely active in that area," Josh put in. "Which would explain the recent ship movements we picked up on this week. At the most they've got ten vessels out there, but at this point, we're not making assumptions."
"Which means we'll be outnumbered two to one at least," Cagalli said. "And that's if we bring all of our forces out there."
"The Kusanagi and her sister ships will more than likely be the only ones that can withstand a true fight against either the Earth Forces or ZAFT," Uzumi said. "The Vasconi isn't designed for heavy combat, am I wrong?"
"It's purely an intelligence vessels, yes," Jackson confirmed. "Admiral Cantarii's leaving her here as a precaution, my Lord. So if anything suspicious happens while we're away, you and your daughter will have some means of escape."
"That's not necessary, really Captain," Uzumi said calmly. "You people are going to be the ones fighting. Cagalli and I will only be here as witnesses to all that's going on. If the Vasconi will add to the likely success of this mission, then by all means take her with you." Uzumi smiled and tousled Cagalli's blonde hair with his palm. "I think Cagalli and I can handle ourselves fairly well," he chuckled. Cagalli smiled.
"We're just about done with preparations, Admiral," a crewman said.
"Prepare for launch of Kusanagi," Cantarii ordered. "All Mendel personnel are to leave the launch area immediately and retreat back inside the facility."
"We shall take our leave then," Uzumi said, turning to leave.
"I'd prefer to stay here, father." Uzumi turned his shoulders to face his daughter. "That is, if you would allow me to."
"Preferring to fight again, Cagalli?" Uzumi said. He sighed. "When will your mind let it sink in that fighting is not the answer." Uzumi turned his tall form towards the exit and added, "Never forget that fighting only breads hatred and more violence. That is the only thing, fighting creates. Never mind the fact that it helps to end conflicts. In the aftermath, there are no real victors in war. Just losers, and people who come home with dreadful memories of the fighting and death they have witnessed. Why can you not understand that?"
"Father..." Cagalli's voice tapered off. There was no comeback she could force upon her father at this moment. Reluctantly, she followed him out of the bridge.
Outside of the secret base, beyond the watchful eyes of the forces inside Mendel, there was more trouble brewing. For behind one of the abandoned colonies that dotted L4, lurked the Earth Forces ships, Valiant and Intrepid.
"Four warship silhouettes detected inside the Mendel colony harbor, Captain."
Seymour turned to Bradford and said, "That's two less than what they had at Jachin Due, General."
"Yes, I know," Bradford responded in a bit of a husky voice. "Have you identified them yet, Ensign?"
"Checking ship library now, sir," Tomer reported from in front of them. "Three Orb Izumo-class ships and one unknown. No sign of the Archangel or the other vessel, General."
"Anything outside of the colony or in the surrounding areas?" Seymour asked.
"Nothing, Captain."
"Four against two," Seymour said. "That's two to one odds, sir. Added to that it's likely that they don't we're here, that may give us an extra advantage."
"Captain Norris," Bradford said. "What's the Intrepid's status?"
"We're good, sir," Norris responded via the radio. "Strike Daggers are waiting on the catapult for your command, sir."
"Lieutenant Mitchell?" Seymour asked.
"We're set, Captain," Jessie answered from the cockpit of her Strike Dagger.
"General, sir," Seymour said. Bradford looked to his subordinate who added, "What do you want to do, sir? It's now or never if you ask me."
Bradford paused and retreated into his mind. He stared long and hard at the Mendel colony in front of the Valiant. The enemies of the Earth Alliance were inside it. The Orb Forces. Enemies...Bradford still had his doubts about this entire thing. Orb had not declared war on the Alliance. Rather, the Alliance had declared war on it, and killed its citizens ruthlessly. That was the one element that would never change about war, and Bradford knew it. No matter how hard you tried, innocents would perish in between the fire of the opposing sides. It had happened too many times already in this war. Orb had been no different than Junius Seven or Panama.
But still. Bradford took a deep breath. His mind thought of each soul inside the two warships that served under his command. These people were his responsibility. And he was damned if he was going to let them go home in disgrace, let alone himself. "Fire main engines, Captain McKinley," Bradford ordered. "Captain Norris. As soon as the ships clear the debris, launch your mobile suits. Mobile units. Proceed directly to orange delta, charlie fifty-eight, and wait there. Meanwhile, the Valiant and the Intrepid will leave the sanctity of the debris and change course to beta, red thirteen and start things off. Captain Norris?"
"Sir!"
"You know what to do."
"Yes, sir!" Norris saluted.
"Captain McKinley."
"Load missile tubes one through six with Korinthos, set target destination for indigo mark sixty-one, and set computer logistics to automatic. Set firing angles at five points apart! Open the main hatch and launch mobile units! Power up the main cannons and Valient guns!"
"Fire main engines!" Norris commanded. "Prepare main cannons!"
White flames cascaded from the large holes in the stern of the ships and they raced out of their hiding spots into open space. Their white hulls gleamed against the sparkling stars in the darkness beyond. The front portion of the Valiant's spike shaped bow swung open, while the hangar doors on the top of the Intrepid opened as well.
Jessie powered up her Strike Daggers systems and activated its engines. "All wings, report," she ordered.
"Husky Two, right behind Jess," Keryuoko radioed behind her.
"Rainbow Two, all green."
"Rainbow Leader, standing by."
"Rainbow Four, ready to go."
"Rainbow Three, standing by and ready."
"All units reported, Captain," Jessie reported.
"Go ahead and launch, Jessie," Seymour ordered.
"Jessie Mitchell, Husky Leader, taking off," Jessie called, as the catapult engaged and sent the Strike Dagger flying out of the opening at the front of the ship.
"Husky Two, takin' off!" Keryuoko sounded right behind her.
"Bravo Leader, take off!" The lead Strike Dagger jumped out of the open doors of the Intrepid's hull and joined the Valiant's units. A total of seven Strike Daggers flowed out of the Intrepid's hangar, joining the two Daggers and four Moebieus units from the Valiant. They soared away from their mother ships, as the large cages of destruction soared onwards towards the target in front of them.
"Korinthos...fire!" Seymour shouted. Missiles raced out of the launch tubes located on the port underside of the Valiant's hull, simultaneously joined by those of the Intrepid.
Sirens began blaring throughout the Mendel colony, startling many of its workers. Uzumi and Cagalli stopped dead in their tracks and looked back up at the sirens blaring all around them. The console at the rear of the Kusanagi's bridge gave out a long, shriek of a wail. Jackson, Manchisco, and Cantarii all swung quickly to face it, and heard the crewman manning it say something absolutely dreadful. "Large heat sources detected at mark delta, bravo eighteen, green charlie! Look like warships!"
"Out here?" Cantarii gasped.
"They found us," Jackson added. "Can you identify?"
"Checking library," the man continued. "Identified as two Jani-class heavy assault ships, Captain! Multiple heat sources confirmed launching from the warships!"
"Mobile suits, Captain!" another crewman added.
"Damn," Cantarii swore. "Why now of all times?"
"Admiral?" Jackson asked.
"Signal the others, Captain Jackson. All ships are to sortie and leave the harbor as soon as their checklists have been completed."
"Yes, sir," Jackson said. "Lieutenant Manchisco. Get Lieutenant Lapina's M1 teams ready!"
"Understood, Captain," Manchisco replied.
Valiant and Intrepid raced at top speed towards Mendel, like two needles churning through the thin fabric of space towards their intended target away in the distance. "Main cannons!" Norris shouted. "Fire!"
"Fire!" Seymour commanded.
Rays of energy streaked from the cannons on both ships. The beams struck Mendel just on the outside portion of the harbor entrance, causing it to shake violently. Crews were tousled about as they struggled to maintain their footing as the colony rocked from the impacts.
Cantarii held tight to his chair and gritted his teeth. "Get the Kusanagi moving, Captain Jackson."
"Admiral," came a voice.
"What's the Peleuia's status, Captain?" Cantarii asked.
"We're good."
"Capricorn's all ready as well, Admiral," came another voice.
"We're still making final adjustments to the Vasconi, sir."
"Take as much time as you need, but please hurry," Cantarii answered. "We'll deal with them. It's better if you just remain inside the colony for now."
"Yes, sir!"
"Fire main engines and activate all weapons systems!" Jackson ordered.
"Open the front hatch and have the M1s take off as soon as we clear the harbor exit, Lieutenant Lapina," Manchisco said, now manning his post in the CIC.
"Roger, that," Wayne transmitted back.
Kusanagi's engines fired in a great burst of fire and the majestic ship slowly made its way out of the Mendel colony's harbor and into the great blackness of space beyond. Its sister ships, Peleuia and Capricorn, followed in its wake, like three monsters coming out to meet their prey.
The two Earth Forces ships lay in the distance, their guns firing bursts of energy at the new combatants. Cantarii stared long and hard at the two enemies in front of him. One of them was definitely a Jani, with its spiked bow and giant main cannons in front of the towering bridge. The other one was...
Cantarii's eyes widened and his lips parted ever so slightly, enough so nobody but him noticed, at the sight of the second ship, traveling just ahead of the other. It looked like another Jani, with its spiked bow. But there were notable difference. Instead of the hatch being at the top of the hull, it was at the front of the ship, located at the tip of the spike. And in the place of the two giant guns beneath the bridge, there were six, identical guns spread across the top of the hull, each much smaller than those of a Jani. Cantarii watched this ship come closer. Recognized it. Knew it. And worst of all...he knew who was in charge of it.
"M1 team, take off!"
"Wayne Lapina, taking off!" His M1 surged out of the hangar and through the hatch of the Kusanagi, heading into battle. The remaining six M1s in his flight followed immediately after him. Orel's six M1s were next, heading directly after Wayne's. Peleuia and Capricorn each launched their ten M1s simultaneously.
Seymour saw the incoming mobile suits, all painted red and white, coming straight for the Valiant. The Strike Daggers and Moebieus' had all gone on their instructed courses, and at the moment, there was nothing sitting between the M1s and the two ships.
"Don't worry, Captain," Bradford said. "They won't touch us."
"Order the M1s to head back here!" Cantarii shouted.
"What?" Jackson gasped.
Suddenly, beams of green energy zoomed in on the M1s from above, which made them sitting ducks. The pilots jerked at the controls of their machines, and many of them were able to escape unharmed. The Strike Daggers broke free from their positions next to one of the destroyed colonies and headed into the battle. M1s scattered like wasps in a bright light, going in every direction that was possible. However, this made them sitting ducks once again, for as they leaped for cover behind the destroyed colony, the pre-fired missiles from the Valiant and the Intrepid activated. White streaks trailed in the missiles' path as they churned towards their targets. One M1 was struck multiple times in the torso, reducing it to smoking debris in seconds. Other M1s were scraped by the missiles that detonated near them.
"Let's go, Keryuoko!" Jessie called, pushing down on the thruster controls of her Strike Dagger and heading towards the M1s below her. Keryuoko followed in her wake.
"Watch out!" Asagi called, seeing the Daggers descending upon them. The lead Dagger withdrew its beam saber and chopped at her, missing by inches. Asagi withdrew her own weapon and swung at Jessie's mobile suits, their blades connecting in a shower of sparks. Both women strained against the force of the impacts and pulled back from the point of contact, choosing instead to use their beam weapons to target each other at long range.
Mitch drove his M1 at another Dagger unit, catching it square with a shoulder block. Keryuoko back-flipped his Dagger and fired his beam rifle. Mitch dodged it and fired back with his. "Persistent, son of a bitch," Mitch said to himself.
"Let's go, bastard," Keryuoko called, charging at the M1 with his beam saber drawn.
"How many do you count, Orel?" Wayne radioed to his fellow commander.
"Nine mobile suits and four mobile armors," Orel responded quickly, executing a cork-screw somersault in order to dodge a line of fire from an incoming mobile armor.
"Keep your eyes open people!" Wayne ordered to everyone. "We don't know how many of them there actually are."
"Roger, that!" a number of M1 pilots returned.
"Total of thirteen mobile units, Admiral," Josh said from the CIC. "We've got the advantage in numbers."
"Engines at eighty percent capacity, Captain," Sera said from the front of the bridge.
"Prepare main cannons!" Jackson ordered. "Activate Igelstellungs! Load all aft missile tubes!"
"Incoming enemy ships, Admiral!" Cantarii didn't respond. Frankly, he didn't want to.
Bradford watched the three Orb vessels approach. "From my own intuition I'd like to be able to resolve this without having to fight very much. Don't you agree, Captain?"
"Couldn't agree more, General," Seymour responded. "But the fighting's already started. Our mobile suits are already engaging the enemy, and we've already taken some of their lives. It's not going to be easy."
"No one said war was easy, Captain," Bradford responded, reaching for the phone in his chair's armrest. "But that doesn't mean we shouldn't try. Open an all points channel, Captain."
"Yes, General."
Bradford switched on the radio, and brought the phone to his face. "This is the Earth Forces Heavy Assault Ship, Valiant."
Jackson and Manchisco stared up at the intercom on the bridge in confusion. Cantarii did as well, but with a sinking feeling in his heart. "This is a warning to all Orb forces in the vicinity of the colony of Mendel. You are now operating in the L4 colony group, which is currently under the control of the Earth Alliance. That is a violation of military standards and unless you cease your attacks, you will leave us no choice but to open fire on you and deal with you with force. We therefore ask for your immediate surrender."
"Woodrow..." Cantarii mumbled, recognizing the voice of his old comrade.
Jackson turned his chair sideways to face Cantarii and said, "Admiral?"
"I repeat," Bradford's voice sounded again. "Cease your hostilities at once. If you do not meet these demands, you will leave us no choice but to exercise our rights to defend our territory and we will open fire on you. We ask for your immediate surrender and withdrawal from this area."
"It's coming from the lead ship, Admiral."
"I know," Cantarii responded. The two ships were now coming closer to his forces, their guns seeming to grow even more deadly, the further they closed in. "Open a channel, Captain Jackson."
"Yes, sir," Jackson answered.
Lester's console beeped. "Channel's been opened on the other end, General Bradford."
Bradford sat back and listened to the response. "This is Admiral Fernando Cantarii of the Orb Union 1st Orbital Fleet. I apologize General," said a thick accented voice. "I am unable to meet your request at this time."
Bradford's eyes snapped open and his body went rigid. Seymour looked over at his stiffening form and said, "General?"
"Fernando..." Woodrow murmured.
"The Orb Union First Orbital Fleet has no intention of surrendering at this time, General Bradford," Cantarii continued. Just then, Cantarii's gray haired image appeared on the front view screen of the Valiant's bridge. "I'm sorry, Woodrow."
Bradford stared back at the image of his old friend, from Eurasia, and later the Earth Forces. He couldn't find the words to respond. He had never anticipated this. How could this have happened? He chuckled in his mind. He should have known. A man of Cantarii's military genius wouldn't find himself unemployed for long while a war was going on.
"Admiral Cantarii..." Bradford stuttered. Static started to come across the screen.
"Sir...I...su...you..." Bradford's image disappeared from the Kusanagi's view screen.
Cantarii scrunched his eyebrows in confusion. "What happened?" he demanded.
"I don't know, sir," a crewman responded. "The signal just went dead."
"Radar's being jammed as well, Captain Jackson!"
"What?"
The same technical difficulties were happening aboard the Valiant. "What the hell happened?" Bradford shouted.
"Radio and radar wave interference, General," Tomer responded. "N-Jammer levels rising!" Seymour's eyes widened in shock.
In the fracas of mobile suits, all their radios and radar screens went dead. Jessie, Keryuoko, Wayne, Orel, Asagi, Juri, Mayura, Mitch, and all the other pilots stopped in their tracks.
"Silhouettes detected at alpha omega, twenty-six charlie!" Lester shouted.
"Three contacts, Admiral!" Erica Simmons reported. "Three Nazca-class ships at alpha omega, twenty-six charlie."
"ZAFT..." Cantarii mumbled.
"Now there's no chance for a peaceful resolution," Bradford said, reluctantly putting the phone back in its place.
A short distance away, the blue silhouettes of the three Nazca-class ships, the Relentless, Hellderton, and Hoisingert, journeyed into the battle.
"Looks like this party has already begun," Slythr commented on the bridge of the Relentless.
"Five ships, Commander," the ship's Captain confirmed. "Earth Forces and Orb."
"The Earth Forces beat us here. No matter, then," Slythr said, standing up from his chair. "We'll be joining the battle, Captain. Have our mobile suits deployed at once. Is my GuAIZ finished yet, Chief?"
"Not yet, Commander," came the response. "We've still got to work on it."
"Take your time then." He smiled. "This party is just beginning."
Dominion , 0925.
The Dominion's shuttle was parked in the middle of the hangar, a safe distance away from the three multi-colored mobile suits off to its right. Shani, Orga, and Clotho watched from their cockpits as Azrael and Richards walked across the deck towards the shuttle's access ramp.
"This should be interesting, Sergeant," Azrael commented. "We'll each be reuniting with old friends of ours. I'm very eager to discover how this will turn up." He smiled. "Though I already know how it will."
"Yes, Mr. Azrael," Richards responded.
"Where's he going now?" Clotho wondered out loud.
"Who cares?" Shani answered. "That guy's an ass as it is."
"I thought we'd be coming out here to kill some people," Orga added. "But this is ridiculous. We've been sitting here for twenty minutes!"
"Save your breath, dumb-ass," Clotho retorted. "You're more likely to kill yourself than someone else is."
"Same goes for you, dumb-ass!" Orga shouted back.
"Guys," Shani said calmly. "SHUT UP!"
The trio of pilots were not the only ones watching Azrael and Richards as they boarded the shuttle. Azrael began to climb up the stairs towards the door to the shuttle when he noticed someone saluting at him below. The person wore an Earth Forces uniform, all white jacket and pants, and was saluting smartly. Azrael smiled and returned. "Now there's a soldier for you," he commented. "Always shows respect and does what he's told to do."
As soon as Azrael and Richards boarded the shuttle, the figure below quickly retracted his right arm and walked silently towards another part of the shuttle. Moving his hand along the metallic underbelly of the craft, he located a circular frame that served as a cargo hatch for the shuttle. He twisted the handle on the hatch slowly, trying to not have it squeak, which would give him away. Sneaking aboard an Earth Alliance shuttle was not something he really wanted to do, but in reality, he had no choice in the matter. Finally, the metallic hatch opened, swinging downwards towards him. He reached behind him and took hold of the long, slender, brown case and pushed it into the cargo hold. He pushed himself into the hold and quickly shut the hatch behind him, just as the shuttle's engines started. The man took the case in his arms and huddled against one of the cramped cargo hold's walls, which shook from the turbulence as the shuttle lifted off the deck.
Above him in the passenger compartment, Azrael hummed to himself as the craft left the Dominion's hangar and headed towards its destination. Richards was silent next to him, as were the several Earth Forces soldiers acting as their escorts. "I've never been aboard the Archangel before," the man heard Azrael say to no one in particular. "I shall be delighted to see the indestructible ship up close and personal."
A smile spread across the man's face. He opened the latches on the slender case and pulled out the object inside. His reflection gleamed back at him in the silver coating of the deadly blade. His hair was bright blonde and messy, just as he liked it. His face was back to its dark complection, completely scarless. His back didn't hurt anymore when he moved it. His injuries had healed. His eyes still burned with the passion they had when he had last saw them in this manner. His long journey was almost at an end. His final destination was almost upon him. He'd worked so hard these past few months to get to this moment, and he wasn't going to let it slip through his grasp. He'd vowed to return to the Archangel after his plane had lifted off its deck the last time, on its way to Cuba. He'd vowed revenge against the Earth Forces for what they had done to him and the people he cared about. He'd vowed to come back to his friends and let them know he was alright. And now, that was about to happen. He beared his teeth and the sparkly whites gleamed back at him in the blade's silver coating. Hugh Nicol was gone. Dearka Elsman was back!
Eternal, 0925.
Kira brought the Freedom to the catapult at the front portion of the Eternal's hangar and powered its systems up. He heard the N-Jammer Canceller whine to life, providing the life source for the Freedom. A quick press of a button, and the phase shift armor activated turning the mobile suit white and blue. "Kira here," he said into the radio. "Athrun, are you ready?"
"Right behind you, Kira," Athrun transmitted back.
"You'll get there quicker if you use the METEORs, you two," Lacus said. "They should cut the time it takes to get to the Archangel's coordinates in half."
"Right, thanks," Kira sent back. Then he added, "But what if we have to go inside the debris belt?"
"Yeah. The METEORs aren't that maneuverable in tight conditions," Athrun put in. "We'll operate better in that area without them. At least that's what I think."
"That's okay," Andy said. "Just use 'em to get you there and then leave them at a safe distance from the debris. We'll pick them up when we get there."
"Roger, that," Kira said, closing the visor to his helmet.
The hatch in front of them swung open to reveal the black space beyond. Kira took a deep breath and retreated into his own mind for relaxing thoughts. However, everything came right back to this time and place. And how they'd gotten here. He thought of Lacus. Cagalli. Murrue. Mwu. Sai. Miriallia. Flay. His parents. All those aboard the Archangel he'd protected.
"I'd much rather...not have to fight...if it can be helped..." Those words he had proclaimed just days ago, felt like years now. "For some reason...I think I should be with them...to protect them..."
Why are we even here...? Kira asked himself.
"You're worried about the Archangel, aren't you...You're friends that are aboard her." He heard Lacus' calm voice, full of serenity. "They'll be fine, Kira. They're all brave people. I'm positive they'll make it back alright."
"Something about this entire voyage just doesn't feel right..." Kira sighed. Sure as hell, he'd been right.
"But...we do have to concern ourselves with our new allies. Otherwise, we may lose their support. And that's something we can't afford to do right now. Your friends knew that...so did everyone else...and we did as well. That's why we're going out."
Kira opened his eyes and focused his mind on the task at hand. "Kira?" Athrun's voice came through the radio. "You okay?"
"Why do people have to do this to one another?" Kira said.
"Huh?"
"Kill each other just because they don't share the same thoughts and ideas," Kira added. "All that does is spread anger and distrust. It's nothing but damn racism. And I thought we'd already gone beyond that," he added quietly. "People are different because they need to be different. We can't all be the same. That's not how it works. Life isn't like that at all."
Lacus heard Kira's words on the bridge, and she sighed in sadness. Kira's words were true. This war had come about because Naturals and Coordinators would not accept each other's differences, and became determined to have the other serve as lesser human beings. When in reality, Naturals and Coordinators...really weren't that different...after all.
"It's time to go, Athrun," Kira said.
"Yeah..." Athrun added quietly.
"Please be careful, you two," Lacus said.
"We'll be fine, Lacus," Kira said cheerfully, trying to cheer her up.
"We're not gonna die today, if we can help it," Athrun remarked. "Right, Kira," he said to his friend.
Kira smiled. "It's not our time to die. Not yet."
Athrun reached up to his neck and felt for something under his pilot's suit. He found it. The amulet Cagalli had given him before he'd gone back to ZAFT. And his father...
"You have a way of getting into trouble," Cagalli had told him as she placed it around his neck. "It'll protect you."
"I'll remember that," Athrun said to himself.
The Freedom connected to the catapult and stood ready to spring into space. "Kira Yamato! Freedom, let's do it!" Kira was thrown back into the seat as the Freedom rocketed down the catapult and into space, its fins spreading majestically.
"Athrun Zala! Justice launching!" The scarlet red mobile suit followed the Freedom out of the hangar and into the blackness beyond.
"METEORs, lift off!" Lacus commanded.
The support units dislodged themselves from the pink ship and quickly docked with the Freedom and Justice, surrounding the mobile suits in white fury.
"Hang on Archangel," Kira said. The METEORs' powerful engines kicked in. "We're coming for you!" With a giant roar, the Freedom and Justice soared into space, disappearing from the Eternal's view in seconds.
Archangel, 0925.
The table top closed fast, the hard surface stinging like crazy when his face made contact with it. His head throbbed in pain, and his nose crunched. "I am growing tired of this, old man," the man who had once been his friend berated, as he walked around the table in order to face him face to face. "You still hold your tongue, even though you realize that you are alone. There's no one coming to save you now. All your friends are gone. You have nothing to hold back."
Mwu smashed his lips together in a straight line and didn't respond. Instead, he tried to get his mind to stop thinking about the pain running through his head. It felt like a two-ton boulder had come crashing down on him, only it had bounced off of his head and rolled on, leaving the rest of his body unharmed.
The man called Mel looked to one of his comrades, who was standing guard by the door to the interim interrogation facility, which once had been the ship's medical facility. "Tyree. Be a dear and go fetch some of my tools. I think this one's going to need a little more affirmative action in order to get answers from his empty head."
As his comrade left, leaving two other individuals in the room besides himself, Mel slowly stalked towards his prisoner. It had been so easy to gain his trust. One of the easiest tasks Mel had ever taken on as a matter of fact. "They told me, it would be difficult to get on your good side, old man," he said, coming behind Mwu again. "In reality." His fist enclosed around Mwu's chin and yanked his head to face him. "It was the easiest mission I've ever taken on."
Mwu didn't even bother to respond. He just glared back at the individual who had betrayed him. The others as well, who had their guns at their sides. "Now. I will ask you one more time," Mel said. He squeezed Mwu's chin hard. "Where...are the machines called the Freedom and the Justice?"
Mwu scrunched his eyebrows and replied hoarsely, "Bite me!"
Mel's expression turned angry. "Fine then." Once again, Mwu's face was introduced to the table-top, this time, a small trickle of blood escaped from his nose, to go along with the long red track dripping from his cut lip. "We have ways of making you talk, old man. And if you still feel the need to keep silent...then you'll force me to use extreme measures."
The door behind Mel opened, and he heard someone walk in. "And believe me. When I'm done using those...you'll find yourself missing some body parts...namely...the more important parts of your anatomy." Mwu felt himself hurt just from the words. "Tyree," he said to the individual behind him. "Be a dear and show the old man here, what kind of tools you specialize in."
"As you wish," came the reply.
The two other men in the room were thrown back against the bulkhead with holes in their chests, red stains seeping down their white shirts, their guns clattering to the floor with loud noises. Mel whirled around just in time to catch a right hand to the face, knocking him backwards, onto the table, just barely missing Mwu's form, and over the other side, toppling to the deck with a great crash.
Mwu slowly raised his head, not knowing what had just happened. His head turned slowly around and a smile appeared on his face. "About time you showed up."
"Sorry about the delay, buddy," Frank said, dropping the magazine from his Walther and reloading with startling quickness. "Had a little difficulty at the shooting range earlier."
"Ugh...what happened?" Mwu said, slowly getting to his feet. "You get ambushed too?"
"Something like that," Frank responded, moving over towards the now unconscious form of Mel on the other side of the table. "Ended up blowing the range all to shit, but otherwise I'm okay. This guy ain't waking up anytime soon, I can tell you that."
"Yeah, you hit him pretty hard, buddy," Mwu commented, shaking the cobwebs out of his head and finally feeling the pain begin to dull away. "But that's expected, given you got a wrecking ball for a hand."
"Nice. Come on, help me hide these bastards so nobody finds 'em. We're alive right now, and they probably don't know we're loose. We've gotta move quick."
"Right." Moments later, the lifeless bodies of Mel and his fellow traitors were packed into a closet with other medical supplies, the door closed in their faces. "So what do we do now?" Mwu asked.
"We go kill some bastards," Frank responded quickly, moving towards the door.
"Easier said than done, buddy," Mwu responded. "We're only two guys with one gun, against probably fifty or sixty of those bastards all over the ship. Plus whatever reinforcements they've got in the area. What are we going to do?"
"We'll think of something." The door opened slowly and Frank peered his head out into the corridor. Nothing in sight. "All clear. Let's go."
Just as he entered the corridor, another figure appeared just ahead, a pistol in its hand. Frank saw it quick enough and drew his gun, aiming it at the figure, his hand on the trigger. The figure cried out and threw his hands up. Frank recognized the voice. "Geez, Stevy, you scared the hell out of me."
"Look who's talking, genius," Stevy responded, "You're the one with the deadly aim."
Mwu entered the corridor slowly behind Frank and saw his other friend just ahead. "Stevy. They didn't get you either?"
"I was asleep when it started," Stevy said. "They did try to get me, but you now how it usually ends up when someone tries to do that to me, I end up kicking their asses."
"You got anybody else with you?" Mwu asked.
"Yeah, come on," Stevy said quickly, taking off down another corridor. Mwu and Frank followed in his wake, prisoners inside their own ship.
The small shuttle from the Dominion could be seen just coming into view on the bridge. Murrue saw the tiny speck on the horizon, slowly approaching the Archangel, which once again appeared to be in the possession of the Earth Forces. She always had the feeling that this would somehow happen. That the Earth Forces would somehow hunt them down. She just never imagined it would happen like this. She hoped Mwu was alright. And Frank... Mist welled up in her brown eyes, but she didn't cry. She couldn't afford to look weak now. Hell, she already looked weak and stupid as it was, with the gun still pointed directly at her face.
Bennett slowly approached her side and folded his arms. "That would our boss, boys," he said. "I told you Azrael wouldn't let us down."
Oh, God...Murrue thought sickly. Azrael...I knew that bastard was behind this.
Oh, great! Natarle thought to herself as she stood next to her Captain, another man pressing a gun to her back. Now I have to deal with that idiot. As if I don't already have this pervert licking his chops at me already. I hope Frank kicks your ass every day you burn in hell, you ass-hole! She cursed herself for thinking about him. This wasn't the time. She had to think of a way to get out of this. If Frank was here... Stop it! Natarle scolded herself. Stop thinking about him. He's dead! Face it. He's gone and he's never...coming back... It was as if she was crying on the inside, thinking about her dead friend. How she wanted to just fall down and cry now, just let all of her emotion run free. But she couldn't do that. Not now. She needed to be strong and have her mind unclouded. In order for them to get out of this, she needed a plan. She couldn't afford to think about him now. It was too late for that. Too late...? Natarle was shocked at her own thoughts. Her heart felt as if it was coming apart at the scenes. I waited too long, she cursed herself. Too long...to tell him...that I...
"It's funny isn't it, Fuller," Bennett commented, turning to glance at Murrue. "We haven't had any women prisoners before. And yet today, we have two on the same mission."
"Two for one special," Fuller responded, jamming his gun into Natarle's back again, causing her to tense up.
Bennett moved closer to Murrue. She didn't look at him. She kept her glance trained forward, trying to focus on the incoming shuttle, that was now preparing to enter the open hatch of the Archangel's starboard leg. She felt Bennett's stubby fingers touch a lock of her autumn-colored hair and draw it behind her ear, his fingers touching her cheek along the way. "Fascinating creatures you women are," he said, next to her ear. "You can blind us with your incredible beauty," he whispered in her ear, "and yet you're stupid enough to trust a man like me. You should know better. I imagine the others aboard the ship knew that. They wouldn't have left us aboard. But you...you had to let your good natured feelings get in front of your judgment. Ah well." His stubby finger traced her cheekbone as it moved about her face.
Murrue wanted to shout at him. Hit him hard enough to kill him. How dare you touch me! she shouted in her mind. You bastard! I'll kill you if I get the chance. And then I'll kill you again! And again! And again! And again...!
"To the victor go the spoils, Bennett," Fuller said, bringing his gun up under Natarle's chin and raising her face to his level. "We've earned some rich rewards today."
Natarle clenched her fist in anger. If should could have, she would have beaten the crap out of him now.
"Knock it off, Fuller," Bennett said, moving away from his captives towards the front view screen. "Our boss has arrived it seems. I'm eager to see what his actions are once he sets foot on the indestructible Archangel. Once again property of the Earth Forces."
Archangel, 0935.
"So you knocked out the two guys and met up with Stevy?" Mwu asked Sai.
"Not exactly," Sai responded. "We knocked them down, but they would have killed us had Stevy not shot them before then."
"Good work anyway, kid," Mwu complimented, knocking Sai gently in the shoulder.
He, Frank, and Stevy had journeyed to the now deserted mess hall of the Archangel, where they found Sai, Miriallia, and Coop waiting. That made the group now six people. Six people that the traitors didn't know were loose in the ship. Six people that could single handedly take this ship back from the bastards that had betrayed it.
"It's eerie to see the mess hall this deserted in the middle of the morning," Miriallia said quietly. "Usually it's filled with crew stuffing their faces."
"Where'd they take everyone?" Coop wondered out loud, coming out of the bar next door. "The bar's empty too."
"May have taken everyone that wasn't on the bridge down to the hangar," Stevy suggested. "I saw a lot of the crew huddled up down there when I was scouting the premises."
"Murrue, Natarle, and everyone else are still on the bridge, at least that's what I think," Frank said. "Based on how quickly these guys got control of the ship, I'd say that was one of their first targets."
"That and the hangar," Mwu added. "They wanted the Freedom and Justice. Lucky for us Kira and Athrun got off back at Mendel."
"So what do we do now?" Coop asked. "I mean, we can't just sit here and do nothing while the guys that took control of the ship are hurting our friends."
"What can we do?" Sai answered. "We're only six people. The only weapons we have are Commander Barkhesh's Walther and Stevy's 7 millimeter. That's not enough to get all of them."
"We need more weapons," Stevy confirmed.
Weapons...weapons... Mwu thought. They probably already got the store rooms guarded and the shooting range is blown all to hell. So...where are we gonna get some guns...? Then it hit him.
"Wait a minute, wait a minute," he said. "I remember your sister telling me that the original Captain for this ship had a secret stash of weapons somewhere on board here, that no one else knew about."
"Did she tell you where it was?" Frank asked.
"She couldn't," Mwu answered. "It was a secret the Captain told only to her and a few other guys. The other guys died at Heliopolis, so she's only one who knows where it is. She didn't tell anyone else where it is, either. Damn it...she told me it was somewhere I'd always be and I'd be able to get to them easy if I needed them."
"Somewhere you'd always be," Frank mumbled, thinking hard.
Everyone thought for a while, but could come up with nothing. "Damn it, I got nothing," Frank said.
"Yeah, I could use a beer right now," Mwu commented. "To jump-start my thinking."
"Beer helps you think?" Miriallia asked.
"Wait, that's it," Stevy interrupted. He quickly walked away from the group and into the adjacent bar. Mwu and Frank looked at each other, each with confused looks on their faces, and followed him. Stevy walked behind the bar and stood in front of the beer taps on the back of the bar.
"What are doing, Stevy?" Mwu asked.
Stevy moved his hand across the surface behind the tap handles and tapped his fingers against it several times. It was the sound he'd been looking for.
"There's nothing back there but alcohol, Stevy. What are you gonna find-?" Coop's speech was cut off abruptly as Stevy banged his fist into the surface, his hand going completely through the weak material.
"Found it," he said quickly, removing his hand from the hole he'd created. As the others approached, Stevy pried away more of the counter-top, revealing an assortment of guns and other high tech weapons within the hollow counter.
"Will you ever cease to amaze me, Stevy?" Mwu asked casually.
"No."
"Whoa, look at all this loot," Frank exclaimed, reaching for a few of the weapons lined up along the edges of the disguised storage bin.
"Take your pick, guys," Mwu said. "Get as much ammo as you can carry without slowing down. It's gonna be a hell of a fight from now on."
Stevy withdrew a small hand-gun and pushed it towards Miriallia. "Know how to use one of these Miri?"
She quickly took the gun in her hand and shoved a magazine into the butt. She cocked the gun and raised her eyebrows. "Yes."
"Cool," Stevy responded. "Dig in here and get some more ammo then."
"You know how to use a gun, Mir?" Sai said, incredulous.
"I've spent my fair share of time in the shooting range these past few months, Sai," Miriallia responded casually. She withdrew several magazines and another hand gun. She deposited the magazines into her pink jacket's pocket and hung the second hand gun on her skirt's belt. "Had to find some way to pass the time."
As she walked away, Sai looked to Coop, who was standing next to him. Coop had the same expression he did. "That was hot," Coop commented. Sai nodded in agreement.
Soon, all six of them were ready to go. "You gonna be able to handle that rifle, Sai?" Frank asked. "It's vintage sniper rifle. That thing kicks back like hell."
"I'll manage," Sai responded, cocking the rifle, which was almost as long as his entire body was wide.
"If you're taking that sniper rifle then, why don't you come with us, kid," Mwu responded. "Where do we go, Frank?"
"Hangar if you ask me," Frank answered. "We're not going to be able to do this alone. We need help and that's where it is."
"Fine. Sai, you come with me and Frank. We'll head up to the observation platforms overlooking the hangar. Stevy, you and these two head down to the main deck. We'll keep in touch over the comm, okay?"
"Got it," Stevy responded.
"Remember guys, and Miriallia," Mwu stuttered. "Don't start shooting unless the situation calls for it. We don't want to stir up a hornet's nest again. Right now we've got the advantage because they think we're all dead or somewhere else. We've got to take advantage of this opportunity. Don't get killed yet."
Vesalius, 0940.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here?" Rau said, viewing the images being forwarded to his office from the bridge.
"The Earth Forces vessels we tracked earlier, Commander," Ades responded through the intercom. "Plus the legged ship. We didn't know what to think."
"Hmm." Rau reached down and opened a drawer in his desk, retrieving the disk from it. He held it between his fingers as he stared at it through the eyes of his mask. Behind the disk, he could see the girl watching him from the other side of his desk. Her expression was one of wonder and maybe even a little surprise. "You say that the new Earth Forces vessel is there as well, Ades?"
"Yes, sir."
Rau smiled ever so slightly. "The final door is upon us," he said quietly. Flay came closer to him as he added, "Ades. What would you say to an attack at this time?"
"There's no sign of activity among the ships at this moment, Commander," Ades responded. "It also doesn't appear that they've seen us."
"Have our mobile suits deploy then," Rau ordered.
"Yes, sir," Ades responded.
"Have my CGUE prepped as well Ades. I'll be going out as well."
"You're going yourself Commander?"
"I'd like to have the opportunity to test the new ship's capabilities," Rau answered. "It's a perfect time Ades. Keep the Vesalius beyond the debris belt and out of danger for now. We don't want to take unnecessary risks. Forward the orders to Stone as well."
"Yes, sir."
Rau switched off the radio. He leaned back in his chair and stared at the disk again. He turned his head to glance at Flay, her blue eyes large and soft when they stared back at him. He smiled. "Everything will be alright, my dear. We'll be fine. However, I'm afraid I must go someplace else at this time."
Flay was surprised when he placed the disk in her hands. "I'm very tired now. So please, deliver this key to the final door for me." She looked up at him. "If it reaches the Earth Forces, this war will come to an end."
Flay didn't know what to say. She stared at his masked face for the longest time. Finally, she nodded slowly. Rau escorted her out of his office and into the adjacent corridor. "I must go about my duties now. The personnel in the hangar will be waiting for you. I wish you the best of luck, Flay."
"Thank you..." Flay said cautiously, not meeting his eye contact. Rau turned away from her and headed off down the corridor. When he was safely out of sight, he barred his teeth and smiled evilly.
The final door is about to open. And it appears I have an audience here to witness it. If the Archangel is here, he thought as he headed into the elevator and ascended towards the bridge, then it's likely he's here as well. I'll look forward to meeting you again, Mwu la Flaga. The rest of his thoughts were drowned out by Rau's own harsh laughter.
Archangel, 0940.
Its small, grey framework now coming ever closer, the shuttle's landing jacks deployed underneath it as it settled down onto the deck of the hangar. At the other end, protected by the magnetic field which allowed breathing possible, were many of the newly captured traitors to the Earth Forces, including their so-called leader, the Thunderbird himself, John Namora.
John watched the shuttle come into contact with the ground just in front of him. He had two guards flanking him, their guns pointed directly at his back, where his arms were folded. John glanced behind him at one of his captors and said, "Is it really necessary to have the guns, boys? You've already seen I'm not armed."
"Shut up," the man replied.
John sighed. "Yes, sir," he replied dryly.
The other captives were surrounded by approximately twelve guards, each with sub-machine guns, and down on their knees with their hands behind their heads. "Wonder who this is?" Donnie wondered out loud.
"It's bastard Azrael," Niada responded quietly. "Who else do you think would want us all captured, so badly?"
"We should be considered lucky if he's the one coming. I'dve thought he would've killed us all already," Jay added. "Niada, where's Stevy, by the way?"
"He was sleeping last time I checked," Niada said. "He may still be running loose, he may already be dead, I'm not really sure. But no matter what he's a lucky son of a bitch again," he added, just as the door to the shuttle opened. "He doesn't have to look at this jack-ass' face again."
A figure appeared at the top of the steps. Azrael's blonde hair gleamed in the lights of the hangar, and it was almost as bright as his mood at this time. From where he stood atop the stairs, he could see just how well this plan had gone. Namora, his old teacher, was standing at the foot of the stairs, his face seemingly pale and white, to go along with his graying hair. Niada Barrington was crouched in a circle with other traitors, along with Jay Haas, the two that had tormented him all those years at the academy. The hangar of the Archangel was as fabulous as he had read it was. Strike and Buster were set up along the bulkheads. His prototype bombers were off to the side of the hangar, their white hulls sparkling.
But something was missing. Where was Mwu la Flaga? Frank Barkhesh? Stevy Barrington? Those others he hated intensely. Ah, well, they're probably off being tortured right now like he wanted them to be. Better stick to what you have for now.
As Azrael's form descended towards him, John saw another person from his past follow right behind him. Jack Richards. His old friend of twenty years, who had flown so many missions with him, and who had betrayed him during the botched Cuba mission three months earlier. He still had his old pretty-boy face with his crue-cut hair and dark eyes, but there was a certain cockiness about him now. An undeniable swagger in his walk as he touched down on the deck. It made John sick.
"Colonel Namora, sir," Azrael beamed, as he approached his old mentor. "What an honor it is to see you again. Though I must say, I have seen you looking better."
"Hip replacement surgery," John responded quickly.
"Oh really," Azrael said. "Well I guess it was about time for an old, frail body like yours to begin to break down. Though I didn't anticipate it this soon, however."
"You never change do you, Murata," John said, emphasizing Azrael's first name that he knew Azrael hated. "Same old spoiled son of a bitch you were when I taught you."
"And your still the same old, weak-minded, simpleton you were when I left the academy all those years ago. Best decision I ever made, if I may say," Azrael answered.
"By the way, you and Sergeant Richards here are old friends, are you not?" Behind the line of traitorous 'Guardsmen', who's eyes were transfixed on the arrival of their superior, a trio of figures slithered into the hangar's confines and quickly scrambled behind a line of crates and boxes, stacked up in piles of five or six. Stevy pressed his back against the farthest box, with Miriallia behind him, and Coop at the other end.
"Were old friends," John answered. "And I emphasize, were, Jack." John shook his head and sighed. "You haven't changed either Jack. You stayed in my shadow for twenty years and fed off my reputation to make yourself look better. Then when I became useless, you go and find someone stronger to hide behind, and you stick to him like the leech you are."
"Tell the bastard, John," Stevy whispered. At the other end of the pile of crates, Coop scanned the observation platforms above them, looking for the others. He finally spotted two figures hiding in the darkness of the corridor beyond. He signaled a thumbs up to them and received a circle formed with a thumb and index finger in return.
"Oh my, Colonel. It seems to me that you aren't in any positions to make jokes at this time," Azrael put in, more harshly this time. "You seem to forget that you are now surrounded by the finest special forces agents the Earth Alliance has to offer, each capable of killing every last person on this ship by themselves. So if I were you, I'd keep my mouth shut."
Out of the shuttle's cargo hold, Dearka dropped onto the deck of the Archangel softly, crouching down on his haunches in order to view what was happening. He could see people he knew. Colonel Namora. Niada. Jay. But where were Kira and Athrun?
"Yes, I'm fully aware of that fact, Azrael," John responded. "That's why I've got a proposal for you." Azrael's eyebrows rose. Richards looked at John suspiciously. "I'll go with you peacefully. You can have me. But let everyone else on this ship go."
"Really?" Azrael inquired. "And what makes you think I would take you over this ship and its crew of traitors, sir?"
"Because you know you can't resist the reaction when the news comes out that you beat the Thunderbird and captured him alive," John responded calmly. Above them on the observation platform, Mwu and Frank hid behind the walls of the ending corridor and listened, guns in their hands.
Across from them, Sai held the sniper's rifle close to his body as he knelt on his knees and watched. "That you beat the most talented pilot the Natural world has ever known. That you beat him truthfully and completely. That you embarrassed him and humiliated him in front of the entire world. You know you can't resist that exposure to the world, Azrael. You can't pass it up. Or are you still the dumb-ass kid I knew back at the academy?" he added menacingly.
"Man, he's going after him," Niada whispered. "He's got the bastard on the ropes and only way to get out."
Azrael's devilish eyes interacted with Namora's as they just looked at each other with hate boiling through them. This lasted for several more minutes, with neither of them even trying to move.
Finally, a strong hand took John by the shoulder. "Be quiet and move," ordered one of the guards that had been flanking him.
He shoved John forward, past Azrael and Richards. John turned his head to look back at his captors and added, "I'm waiting for your decision Azrael. Let me know when your black heart makes a decision."
"I certainly will," Azrael responded quietly.
John turned towards the shuttle and began limping towards it, his replaced hip grinding inside of him. People began to settle down a bit after that heated conversation, thinking that the worst was over...not a chance!
The sound rang out suddenly, a sharp crackle against the quiet that had enveloped the Archangel. Mwu and Frank felt boulder's smash into their chests and they stopped breathing. Stevy exhaled sharply and his eyes snapped wide enough to encompass everything in sight. Murrue gasped on the bridge, her breath leaving her all at once. Natarle's mouth went aghast and she stiffened. Dearka saw it happen right in front of him, and his stomach turned and crashed into a million pieces. Sai hands trembled while they held the rifle. Niada, Jay, and the rest of the captives in the circle gasped in shock and pain. Miriallia felt her eyes watering as she struggled to breath.
With a loud crash, John's body fell to the deck, blood seeping out of the bullet hole in the back of his head. He was dead before he hit the ground.
Smoke spilled from the pistol Azrael held in his hand and had withdrawn from his jacket's pocket. He smiled his devilish smile. "I made my decision Colonel. You were right...I couldn't resist the chance to have you under my control. But in my opinion, you're more valuable to me dead...than alive. And now the Archangel is mine you old fool."
Silence gripped the ship by the throat. No one spoke. No one wanted to. John Namora, the Thunderbird, the most celebrated Natural pilot in the history of the Earth, was gone.