Still being revised
"We tried to hail them, numerous times actually. Both had disappeared and we were fighting a losing battle." Rau le Creuset sighed, steeping his fingers absently. "I felt a loss for having to leave them in an unknown condition. But there was no way to contact them. I had to think of everyone else aboard the Vesalius and the Gamow." His face again tilted towards his pilot on screen, mouth turned down in a slight frown.
"I know commander, but it just feels wrong. We didn't even look for them-" Yzak was stopped mid-sentence once again by a wave of Creuset's hand. "We lingered in the upper atmosphere for so long as to let our presence be forgotten, and now that we've returned to earth our reports confirm that the Archangel has moved from the area. So now we will return to search for your companions." The youth was not satisfied by his answer. "But commander, it has been three days. They will surely-"
"Yzak, I am the commander and my decisions are final. Do not show such impudence again." The detached contemplative façade dropped in a moment of agitation. Revealing, if only for a fleeting moment, a hidden doubt. He took a deep breath, trying to ignore his pilot's stung expression. "We are setting our coordinates now. We will get them back- all of them. If that is all you came to speak of, I believe that you are dismissed." Creuset turned in his chair, steeping his fingers and slipping into thought as the video link dissolved. Yzak stiffened, giving a final salute before turning on his heel and walking out of the bridge for the second time with no results.
Aboard the Archangel, several figures were going over footage from the previous battle. "Miriallia, I still can't make it out." Complained someone from their spot on the bridge, their tone borderline on begging. "Be quiet Kuzzey. It is something. Something important…" A teenage girl nearly shouted, turning away from the screen to stare at her friend. "Calm down Miriallia. We'll find Kira and Tolle soon." Soothed another EA soldier that had slipped onto the bridge during the argument. "Sai, what did Captain Ramius say about the prisoners?" She asked the newcomer as he sat down in a nearby chair. Kuzzey rolled his eyes and jumped from his perch. "I'll see you guys in the mess hall." He waved halfheartedly and exited the bridge.
Moments after he left, several more figures emerged from the doors. Miriallia and Sai looked up as the captain and lieutenant walked in, seemingly in a heated discussion. Both officers blinked. Lieutenant Flaga laughed nervously and ran a hand through his hair. "I guess we'll continue this later Captain Ramius." He quickly turned on his heel and exited, leaving the Captain alone with Miriallia and Sai. "Captain." Sai ventured cautiously. "Have either of the prisoners said anything yet?" He motioned for Miriallia, who walked over sullenly.
"No. Have you given up on that video yet? The feed was distorted by the explosion and we were so far away, that any details were blurred." The captain sighed, putting a hand to her forehead. "The idea that it could be Kira seems too far fetched. It was probably just some debris. No one blames you for being idealistic, losing someone you care about is never easy, but-" "How can you say that! There is no proof that they're both gone! They're coming back! They have to come back!" Miriallia shouted, narrowing her eyes and biting back the tears that threatened to break free. "We have to find them…" she whispered helplessly. Her pleading eyes darted from Sai to the captain before pushing past them and running out of the bridge. Sai exhaled wearily as Miriallia disappear behind the sliding doors. "She was close to both of them." He muttered, more to himself than a quiet Murrue Ramius.
"Commander-" a crewman aboard the Vesalius looked up at Creuset, holding the com to his ear. "One of the recon teams found someone." Creuset nodded, motioning for the man to continue. "But sir- it is not one of our own. Judging from the flight suit, it's EA. They want to know if they should bring it in." A ghost of a smile passed over Rau's lips. "Yes. We might be able to persuade some information from it." "Yessir." The crewman nodded and turned back to his station.
An Earth Alliance soldier was hauled rather unceremoniously to the infirmary on the Vesalius. He was looked over hurriedly by the medic, lying unconscious as his wounds were dressed and the bones in his arm were set.
Once in a stable condition, the medic left his side and walked over to his desk where his commander was waiting patiently. "I don't understand it." The medic rested his forehead on his hand, falling into is chair and glancing up at Creuset. "Every test shows him to be a coordinator. And yet it is obvious that he fights for the Earth Alliance."
"War can force one to do strange things."
"Commander, what should we do with him? Though he fights for our enemy, he is a fellow coordinator."
"Let us decide that when he wakes." Rau's voice dropped to a whisper as the pilot shifted in his sleep. "Inform me when he regains consciousness." His back to the medic, Creuset let a small smile curl the corner of his lips as he walked into the hallway.
"It should be daylight by now." Someone commented from a nearby cell. "I wonder when they'll let us out."
"Dearka?" A young face was quickly pressed against the bars. "Are you in here too?"
An arm was quickly thrust through the bars, waving in the coordinator's general direction. "Right over here, Nicol. I don't see why they put us so far apart. It's not like we could do anything from separate cells." The pilot of the Buster- Dearka, muttered as he rested his forehead against the bars. "And don't sound so freaked out. They'll probably let us go soon anyway." Even though his voice betrayed his hopeful words, Dearka managed a slight smile. "Fifteen and already a prisoner of war, I think you've set a record Nicol." He teased lightly.His companion could only return his empty grin. A thread of hope remained. Holding back the crushing darknessof fear.
Chapter 4 Teaser
Maius City. Home of PLANT Supreme Council member Yuri Amalfi, and Maius Military Industries. But also, there lives the mastermind behind the GAT weapons. But why would a coordinator build such powerful machines for the Earth Alliance? And more important yet, are the five known GAT models, the only ones created... and if not... where are the others?