Previously:

Kyo and Miho had a surprise as they were saved from a firey death by a Gundam that had been piloted by

none other then Ryder! Who was promptly attacked by a mysterious and almost ghost like mech. Meanwhile,

Avi found herself in deep trouble when a Nexis soldier tracked her down in hopes of discovering the secret

behind the pesky kids that had managed to slip through their grasp previosly.

Episode Seven: A Ghost Emerges

''Look!''

Kyo pointed to the sky-there were two small specs flying at each other with clashes of light and loud thundering

claps. It was obvious that one of the two battling specs was Ryder in his newly found Gundam and other was

the strange ghost Gundam. Moments later Ryder's Gundam was thrown to the ground below, making the earth

tremble violently as it made contact. Both Kyo and Miho began to cough as they had inhaled the dirt and smoke

caused from the crash landing-Miho began to sneeze sounding like she might pass out after a while.

'Ryder isn't having much luck...In fact he's having his ass down right handed to him...'

Kyo promptly felt a sharp jab in the ribs as Miho growled at her friend for being so dark about this battle.

'You'd be just as bad if you were thrown into a battle for your life in a machine you still don't know how to pilot

properly. I wouldn't expect Ryder to know all the controls right off the bat, after all none of us has ever been in

a mech of this calibur. Just think of how advanced the systems in that Gundam must be and poor Ryder...'

Kyo just fell silent and stared blankly at Miho as she ranted out something that actually made sense in the current

situation, making it appear as if Miho knew exactly what she was talking about. But he had to agree with her now, he would be no better off if he were in Ryder's shoes and returned to watching the battle with hopes that the pilot of the other mech would have mercy on him.

The Gundam was speeding towards the downed Ryder, bringing its scythe around to make the finishing blow in this battle. With lightning fast reflexes, the Gundam at Ryder's control raised a sheild from it's hip and was forced back several yards as the other Gundam was met with the surprise. Using the moment, Ryder pushed foreward and felt that the other Gundam was giving way-his knuckles were white and he had long since lost all feeling in his fingers as he shoved the ghost Gundam back. With one final thrust, he managed to force the ghost far back for him to get back to his feet and come up with a counter attack, knowing that the other pilot would be still stunned at this. Always quick on his feet,Ryder pulled his shield up to cover any blind spots he may have-he was having trouble moving the mech as he had yet to memorize all the controls, but he had memorize quite a few. The thing he hated was knowing that the other pilot knew that he was at the disadvantage, breathing heavily and ignoring his body's screams, he decided that his best bet was to disarm the ghost Gundam-The scythe being the biggest threat by far as it would force the other pilot to use other tatics and he was pretty confident that they wouldn't be expecting that. Glancing at the screen, Ryder paused for a moment, the ghost Gundam hadn't moved from the position it had fallen into when it was shoved away.

'This' bad...'

he thought bitterly as he didn't trust that the other Gundam was defeated, the pilot was up to something and Ryder had to make his move now or never. Flipping several leavers and pressing a button or two, he felt his mech make a strange noise-he wasn't entirely sure what he was doing still, but hoped that it wouldn't end up screwing him over. Looking down at the statis of his Gundam, a small screen caught his eye and he saw that what he had done was active the missile launchers which sat idle on each shoulder-with enough emmo to destroy several city blocks. However, he didn't have time to marvel at the destructiveness of his mech, as he heard a slight beep from the main screen and saw that the ghost Gundam just vanished. Rubbing his eyes, he had to make sure that he wasn't passing out,but it was true-the gundam had just disappeared and didn't even read on any of the screens.

'Impossible...'

He breathed, now feeling even more on edge, knowing that the ghost was still there but now could strike him from any direction as virtually undetectable. Just then he was thrown foreward as was his Gundam as something slammed into the back of him. Stumbling foreward, he quickly caught his footing and spun around but nothing was there.

'There's no way Ryder can fight something he can't see!'

Kyo yelled no longer caring if he received a jab or a lecture from Miho-it was looking bleak for their friend and there was nothing all the support in the world could do to help. Miho ignored everything as she jumped over the brick wall that she and Kyo had taken shelter behind and began to dash towards the two fighting giants.

'MIHO! Get Back Here!'

Hiss Kyo as he found himself leaping out of safty and following after the half crazy Miho-He had to stop her before she did something stupid and got her self hurt or worse.

Ryder was not one for patience and this ghost pilot had worn thin what little of it he had-it didn't help that he felt extremely light headed as the pain from his gun wound was beginning to cloud his reaction time and senses. The controls were seeming to become heavy and sluggish as he moved about preparring for the next invisible attack, but he was not about to give in to the pain, not yet anyways. Closing his eyes and shutting out the pain, Ryder allowed to let his mind slip into silence-he could see it as if his eyes were open. Ryder could see the scythe coming for him from the back-that's were the ghost pilot was hiding. Spinning around suddenly, he grabbed the sword from his waste and ducking just slightly managed to evoid the scythe as he lunged foreward to plunge the sword into the body of the ghost Gundam. Sparks engolfed his screens as a high pitched noise filled the air-moments later Ryder could tell he had hit the ghost-turning he could see that the invisiblity cloak had fallen the moment he had hit the Gundam. Spewing sparks was not only the scythe but the arm of the ghost gundam-Ryder had made a very critical blow to the ghost and he felt good about it. Turning to fully face the injured gundam, he pressed two buttons and the missles from his shoulder launchers were sent howling towards his target. Explosions errupted,sending a large cloud of smoke into the air as they missiles hit their marks. Still on edge, Ryder held the sword in one hand and the sheild in the other, ready to strike again incase the Gundam had survived. As the moments passed and the smoke cleared, it became apparent that the ghost had survived the missile attack and had actually retreated along with it's arm, back to where ever it had come from. Safe-for now, Ryder shuddered as he knew that he could no longer fight off the enedible-he forced the gundam down to one knee and opened the cockpit. Making no effort to get out at first, then slowly undoing his restraints he stumbled towards the blissfully cool air-Ryder's eyes shut and he fell foreword off of the cockpit door.

Seeing Ryder falling, Miho let out a small squeel and dove to catch him, with no regard to her well being. skidding along the ground she managed to reach him in time-feeling all the air being forced out of her lunges as his weight falls on her.

'Is...Is he...Is he dead?'

Kyo asked, looking down at the two with concern in his eyes and receiving a dark glare from Miho in return.

Siro and Caldin were playing cards as they had just come back from their mission-it was one of the few free moments they ever got before being sent out again on another mission.

'I sense something bad's gonna happen.'

Caldin said suddenly,placing down two cards on a pile in the center of the table between him and Siro.

'Will you stoping being so melodramatic.'

Growled Siro as he frowned and cussed under his breath before tossing one card into the pile and signally for Caldin to start his turn.

'I'm not...It's just that things have been way too laid back...Straight.'

'Damn. That beats me.'

Siro tossed the rest of the cards on the table and leaned back in his seat with a drawn out sigh, bringing his hands behind his head as if thinking.

'laid back? Where do you get that? we've hardly been laid back-running around on fools missions. doing this or that of the other. We've hardly had two minutes to ourselves cause we've been the lap dogs for those...'

Siro was cut off by the sudden entrance of Jack-the room instantly fell silent and the tension between the three could easily be felt by anyone. Jack sneered at them as he walked towards them, he thought of them as dirt and they didn't care much of him either-making crude jokes about him behind his back all the time.

'Either of you seen Commander Verstas?'

'Have you tried using your eyes while looking for him.'

Snarled Siro as Caldin remained silent-they hadn't seen any one from their own fleet let alone any one from the Mandible's fleet. Jack stared at the two with true loathing in his eyes before turning on his heal and marching back out of the room-knowing it wasn't worth his time to stoop to their level. Once Jack had left, Caldin stuck his tounge out and pulled his lower eye lid down at the closed door-Siro just chuckled and shook his head in amusement. At that exact moment,however, Lieutenant Zash walked into the room and stopped dead in his tracks, a slight smirk played on the corner of his mouth as he enjoyed the shocked expressions on the lower officer's faces.

'I hope that you weren't making those face's at me.'

he said lightly but had a serious under tone and the two glanced at each other nervously.

'N-No...S-Sir!'

'We...We were just goofing around at officer Jack's expense...'

The two stummered as they stood to their feet to show their respect to their superiors.

'At ease boys-I'm not here to patronize you about what you do in your spare time. I'm here to tell you to suit up as you'll be escorting the Lunar One to the Orion base.'

Zash informed Siro and Caldin as he picked up a plastic fruit and inspected it as if he might try taking a bite out of it.

'It should be mr. Jack going but Captain Jindros decided you two would better fit the assignment instead-concidering if anything were to go wrong...'

he continued, turning the fruit over in his hands while watching the other two at the corner of his eyes, his smirk widening slightly as he noted that neither one had sat back down.

'But sir...If I may be permitted to say...'

'Permission granted.'

Zash replied airly, wanting more to hear what Caldin had to say then all the formalities.

'Thank you-Is not the Lunar One the project of the crew of the Mandible? Then wouldn't it make more sense for one of their officers to take charge of the transport?'

Zash stopped turning the fruit over and frowned slightly at hearing Caldin's question, he then let the plastic fruit drop back into the bowl in which he had found it.

'That is true, However...I don't trust the members of the Mandible and frankly neither does the Captain.'

silence filled the room as Siro and Caldin let what their superior said to them sink it, and it began to make some sense.

'Now...I believe you both have a mission to attend to.'

'Yes Sir!'

The two saluted Zash before grabbing their jackets and leaving the room quickly, they would have to change into their flight suits for this mission. Waiting a few minutes, Zash then too left the room and made his way down the cold corridor to the captain's lounge to report that the escorts would be ready momentarily.

'Excellent Lieutenant-I would have perferred you or Lieutentant Zetsume to over see the transport but both of you seem indisposed the moment.'

Jindros sighed as he stood infront of a window that over looked the launch site, many people were racing around to ensure that the launch goes off without any inciddents.

'Indeed, but I have full confidence in Siro and Caldin's abilities.'

replied Zash, watching as Jindros moved away from the window and over to a display case holding various medals and trophies.

'Don't get me wrong, I don't doubt them for a moment. Not only are they excellent soldiers, but they command powerful Gundams. However, You and miss Zetsume are more experienced and would have been the ideal occompiants...'

The two men fell silent at this. moments later the silence is broken by the sound of someone paging Zash, who bowed before stepping out of the captian's room and back into the hall.

'Lieutenant Zash-Private Astera of the Mandible fleet here. I require your assisstance.'

'Is something the matter?'

Zash was half paying attention to where he walked as he spoke into his com-link, he really didn't have the time to go and see Astera every time she paged him. Waiting for her to respond, Zash found himself near the hangers and could hear several men yelling to each other-no doubtedly helping with reattaching the arm to Taka's gundam.

'What have you gotten yourself into this time?'

he thought amusedly, intending on going in to check up on the progress of the repairs-having not seen Taka since he heard she returned with some sufficent injuries.

'Lieutenant...please meet me at my quarters, It's worth your time-I promise.'

surpressing the urge to groan, Zash really didn't like putting himself in situations where he could be liable for some scandalized situation-especially when it came to the secretive members of the mandible. Turning away from the hangers, he knew he had a few minutes to spare and decided that it really might be worth his time-Astera seemed to be geniunly sincere about meeting him.

'Very well.'

he replied before terminating the conversation and making his way towards the cement stairs that led down to the visiting officer's quarters.

With a sigh, Taka wipped the hair from her eyes, holding a heavy wrench in hand. She was taking a small break, but was admiring how far even if it was minimal she had come since she started with repairing her Gundam. At least she knew that her mech wouldn't fall apart if she had to go into battle with it in this condition-she had fixed up the small leaks and lose ends.

'Not bad...'

she thought before collapsing to her knees-she didn't realize how exhausted she was until now. from the moment she arrived on Earth she had been constantly doing something and that last battle she had had taken a lot out of her, damning the pilot of that new mobile suit she swore that the next time she ran into it that she would destroy it and it's pilot.

'ALL HANDS TO THEIR POSTS-ALL HANDS TO THEIR POSTS! AIRIAL ENEMY ASSAULT AT HAND!'

came the womanized robotic voice as warning lights flashed red, the message repeated several times before turning off. Glancing over the cat ramp, Taka saw many soldiers jumping into their suits;obviously the enemy was attacking them knowing that the Lunar One was about to launch. Shoving the wrench aside,Taka leapt back to her feet and dove into the cockpit of her Gundam, she was the only one around who would be able to hold off the Earth force's long enough for the launch to go through.

'This' Taka Zetsume...Prepare for Launch!'

Next Episode:

The Earth Forces have made their move to try and stop the Lunar One from leaving Earth to its designated destination where it would be of most danger. The heavily damaged Black Death and exhausted Taka fight to keep the surprise attack from hindering the launch-however there is more then one surprise waiting for her in the battle field. Avi finds herself in a strange place all alone with the only sound being shouts and screams. Trying her best to get off of the ship before it's too late, Avi finds that it's easier said then done.

Episode 8: Assault on LoLo base...