Disclaimer: Again, I don't own Gundam SEED, Zeta Gundam, Mobile Suit Gundam, or Gundam 0083, so don't sue.
A/N: I'd like to thank all of the people who took time to review my story! Please keep em' coming!
- Chapter II: Soldiers of Sorrow -
Universal Century 0079, September 30… Principality of Zeon's Axis Asteroid Base, Asteroid Belt…
"So cold… How long must we wait like this…" Haman said to herself.
A woman with purple-reddish hair looked on outside at the cold black sea of stars known as outer space. She put her hand to the window, and as she thought previously, icy cold. She sighed as her eyes narrowed in determination as she just learned of Gihren Zabi's death. She now led a demoralized bunch of Zeon soldiers on an abandoned asteroid base. It was a heavy burden to her, but it was one she was willing to take. After all, the renegade Zeons developed mobile suits of their own as Axis quickly sped towards the Earth's Sphere. She wished the trip went faster than just two and a half months, but she knew the nuclear pulse thrusters were at their maximum output rate. She wanted just like everyone else at Axis to reclaim their homeland and destroy the PLANTs for revenge against destroying Side 3 and killing their leader Zeon Daikun in the process. But Haman wanted to return faster for another reason, Casval Daikun. The boy who she had been friends with since their childhood and secretly loved and had a deep crush on, bordering on the obsessive. But Lacus Clyne had gotten in the way of that since Char instead poured his feelings and his heart onto the songstress.
"That filthy coordinator slut… She doesn't deserve him… What does she have that I don't!" yelled Haman as she threw yet another fit. "I swear to you Casval, you belong to Zeon, and most importantly, you belong to ME."
And with that Haman walked out towards a corridor were Anavel Gato was waiting. He smirked at her as he leaned against the wall.
"Thinking about Casval again eh Haman?" remarked Anavel. "We'll get their soon enough, and when we do, we'll retrieve Casval so you two can rule Zeon together."
"Thanks for the sentiment Gato, but I'm fine. Come on, we have to go address the citizens, Gihren Zabi did die after all… His own ignorant arrogance got him killed. That fool…" said Haman.
As soon as Haman wearing her usual black robe outfit with her Zeon Princess crown on her head approached the main ceremony hall, the soldiers all stood at attention and cheered and saluted.
"SIEG ZEON! SIEG ZEON! SIEG ZEON!" yelled the Zeon soldiers.
Haman smirked at the crowd as she signaled for them to calm down as she began to speak.
"It has been ten years since the day we were forced to migrate to this asteroid that we know call home. Ten years my loyal Zeon soldiers, since our homes were destroyed by those vile PLANTs, those disgusting coordinators! They tore open our colonies, gassed our own citizens to death with G3 poison gas, and killed our president, Zeon Zum Daikun in the process. Despite his peaceful demands to avoid war with the coordinator scum, they carried out an unprovoked attack on the Republic of Zeon, killing thousands of Zeon innocents! I ask you all, what did the nations of the Earth Federation and its puppet state, the Orb Union do to try to assist Zeon? I tell you people, NOTHING! It has become clear that Zeon must defend itself and reclaim its glory without assistance! With our newly developed mobile suits, we will destroy those hourglass colonies like they did to our colonies! And together, all Zeons shall unite and destroy this blasphemy known as coordinators and bring about the age of the newtype!" yelled Haman. "VICTORY FOR ZEON!"
"VICTORY FOR ZEON!" chanted the soldiers as they saluted Haman Karn, the new leader of Axis.
Universal Century 0079, October 2… African Continent…
The White Base had just recently completed re-entry and was in the process of being re-supplied by a remote Medea Squadron deployed from Jaburo HQ directly. They began the extensive overhaul of repairs, re-supplying food, ammunition, and maintenance of the Gundam and the Saberfish fighters.
"Jaburo has sent us to also take the refugees with us, along with the combat data of the Gundam Unit 1 and Char Aznable's Saberfish. The Federation is facing some tough times, so re-supplying will be even harder in the future. I hope you all understand that there are people at Jaburo that care about this ship and its crew." Said a red-haired woman wearing a tan Federal Forces uniform for officers.
"Yes ma'am, Lieutenant Matilda." Said Murrue as she saluted.
Meanwhile, elsewhere on the ship Kira was trying to repair an old green Haro robot which looked a lot like Lacus' pink one except for its color. He then pulled out a few wires and replaced a few burnt out chips.
"Hello Amuro!" stated the Green Haro.
"Who's Amuro?" asked Kira curiously.
"I'm surprised you don't know who he is Kira. Amuro Ray is the man that designed the Gundams and is the CEO of Anaheim Electronics. I know him personally since Amuro and I went to the same prep school together back on Side 3." Replied Char. "He also invented the Haro toy robot. The one that Lacus has is a special model."
"Kira! Kira! Kira!" said Haro as it jumped up and down, flapping its ears. But just then it turned to Char. "Casval! Hello! You look well Casval Daikun!"
Char looked on at the Haro incredulously. How did the toy know his name without even saying it before? He stared long and hard as he suddenly remembered having a green Haro that Amuro gave him as a birthday present.
"Kira, where did you get this Haro from?" asked Char.
"I found it with a bunch of old space debris from Side 3 while I still lived on Side 7… I meant to fix it before but I never really got around to it until now." Replied Kira.
"This Haro belongs to me. Amuro gave this to me as a present when we were friends in prep school. I was about 9 around then." Said Char. "That's why it knows my name. I thought it was lost with Side 3…"
Just then an explosion rocked the White Base and it turned out to be Athrun Zala and the Gundam Unit 2. The White Base fired it's mega particle cannons at Unit 2 along with its array of anti-air guns as Char, Sleggar, and Kira launched in their Saberfishes and the Gundam to counter Athrun.
"Gundam Unit 1! Kira! I'll kill you!" yelled Athrun as he fired his vulcans at Kira while pulling out his beam saber preparing for a slash attack.
"Athrun!" Kira yelled back as he dodged and pulled out his own beam saber as the two sabers met, sparks flying all over the place.
"Kira! Sleggar! Listen to me, this is a good opportunity to disarm Unit 2's nuclear warhead and destroy that atomic bazooka! Chances are the pilot of that machine isn't too used to combat under gravity so we can use that to our advantage. Sleggar and I will close in on Unit 2 from different directions! Kira, close in on Unit 2 from behind and destroy that atomic bazooka so ZAFT won't be able to use it against us!"
"Yes sir!" both chimed in as Sleggar and Char went opposite directions but then turned back around firing missiles and their beam vulcans at Athrun. So far their plan was working as Athrun was very confused and stood still trying to dodge the shots from Sleggar's blue Saberfish and Char's red one using its massive shield. Meanwhile Kira closed in on Unit 2 from behind as planned as he readied his beam saber and forced Unit 1 to jump high into the air.
"Athrun! You won't hurt anymore innocents you hear me!" yelled Kira as he slashed the atomic bazooka in two, watching the weapon fall to the ground but the warhead still in the air. Quickly Kira used the beam rifle and locked on and fired at the warhead, watching a brilliant explosion high in the air.
"Good work Kira! We've successfully destroyed the atomic bazooka and the warhead! Let's retreat back to the White Base before anymore reinforcements arrive." Ordered Char as Sleggar and Kira followed suit.
"Yes sir, thank you Lieutenant…" said Kira, very exhausted from all of the battles he had to fight up to that point. Finally they had all landed back into the White Base's mobile suit hangar. Char and Sleggar got out from their cockpits of their Saberfish fighters, but Kira had yet to come out of his cockpit of the Gundam. Murrue approached the hangar and took a lift so she could access the cockpit door, and opened it to see a sleeping Kira and giggled.
"Don't worry you guys, Kira just has some new recruit burn out, he'll be just fine." Said Murrue. She looked on at Kira and suddenly remembered how cute he looked when they first met on Side 7 during the ZAFT attack. Looking at him reminded Murrue of her former boyfriend, a fighter pilot, who had died at the start of the war. She sighed but then suddenly blushed as she found herself in awe of Kira's well-built body. Kira was 17, and she was 20, Murrue figured this was normal. She smiled and leaned in closer to give the sleeping Kira a gentle kiss on his forehead as she inhaled the lilac-shampoo scent of Kira's hair. And with that, she took Kira into her arms and took the lift back down.
"Ensign Natarle, you're in charge of the ship for a while." Ordered Murrue.
"Yes Lieutenant." Replied Natarle as she made her way back to the bridge.
Murrue continued on her way down towards Kira's quarters and walked into the room as the door opened. She gently placed Kira onto the bed, placing the covers over his body as she joined Kira in the bed as well, wrapping her arms around Kira, holding him even closer to her body.
"Oh Kira…" said Murrue as she sighed and slowly felt her eyelids close.
Elsewhere Char and Sleggar were conversing about old times and the Battle of Luom on the bridge. Ensign Natarle sat at the captain's seat as she leaned on her right arm as she stared off into space while Oscar and Marker were busy at trying to detect enemies. Just then alarms began to sound as Oscar scrambled.
"Ma'am, I'm detecting a Lesseps-class land battleship heading towards our right flank, I'm also picking up another battleship, but it's not in the database. Hold on! I'm also picking up 4 mobile suits, 3 GINN OCHER's and 1 BuCUE!" yelled Oscar.
"Sorry I'm late!" said Murrue as she ran in somewhat flustered and took over the bridge. "Have Kira and Char launch! Have Sleggar on standby!"
Immediately Kira, Char, and Sleggar ran down the halls and towards the hangar to their respective machines.
"Char, Kira! Fend off the enemy units! They're 5 of them! Be careful Kira…" said Murrue.
With that, Kira and Char launched in the Gundam and red Saberfish. The Gundam's eyes lit up bright neon green as the Gundam landed onto the ground and saw 5 figures on the hot desert sand of the African Sahara while Char's Saberfish soared high above in the air.
"Kira! I'll take on the four-legged mobile suit, take care of the rest!" ordered Char.
"Got ya Lieutenant!" replied Kira as he aimed his beam rifle at one of the brownish-desert colored GINN OCHER's and watched it explode, kicking up sand in the battle zone. Meanwhile Char's Saberfish dove in and shot a volley of missiles and beam vulcans at the BuCUE but just watched it quickly evade backwards.
"For a four-legged mobile suit, that thing is pretty damn fast… But this Saberfish is faster!" yelled Char as he did a u-turn and fired another volley of missiles while evading the BuCUE's dual beam cannons. Kira quickly finished off another GINN OCHER using the head vulcans while slashing another in half using the beam saber.
"Incredible! That new Feddie mobile suit just destroyed 3 GINN OCHER's! I wonder if it's the mobile suit's ability… or is it really the talent of the pilot… It looks like a White Demon to me…" said Andrew Waltfeld, commander of the ZAFT African Front. "Damn, I also have to deal with the Red Comet too!"
"That four-legged mobile suit might be fast, but I won't let it get away!" screamed Kira as he fired his beam rifle but missed each time as Waltfeld dodged each shot and fired back with a volley of his own as he pulled out the BuCUE's beam saber and charged in for a melee attack. Kira in quick response pulled his back out as well but flinched at the speed of Waltfeld's piloting.
"Got you right where I want you!" yelled Char as he fired his beam vulcans, disabling the dual beam cannons of the BuCUE but the engines of Char's Saberfish were soon hit by Waltfeld's beam saber. "How could I! I've been hit!"
"So much for the Red Comet, but I better retreat for now!" said Waltfeld as he retreated from battle.
"LIEUTENANT CHAR! NO!" yelled Kira as he watched Char's Saberfish go up in flames and quickly plummet to the ground in another explosion. "Char…"
Kira's sadness suddenly overtook his mind as he cried and sobbed, tears streaming down like a waterfall. But then Kira felt his rage greatly increase within him and consumed him like no other as he fired the beam rifle repeatedly towards where Waltfeld's BuCUE had fled. "MURDERER! I'LL KILL YOU! I SWEAR I'LL KILL YOU!"
"Kira! Get back aboard the White Base immediately! There's a sand storm up ahead!" ordered Murrue over the comm. link.
"But the Lieutenant… We can't just leave him here!" yelled Kira as he cried.
"We have no choice but to look for him later, if he's alive, he'll survive." Said Murrue.
"Yes ma'am…" said Kira as the Gundam flew back up into the sky and back onto the hangar bay of the White Base.
As the White Base passed the wreckage of Char's Saberfish, the entire crew saluted as Kira and Sleggar sobbed in the mobile suit hangar with flowers adorning where Char's fighter usually was. All the while news reports were all around the world that Char had been shot down by Andrew Waltfeld. For ZAFT, it was an important political victory, for the Earth Federation, it was a loss of an ace pilot. But for the crew of the White Base, Char was simply missing, and would soon be found, alive…
"To the White Base crew, though Char is not with us right now, he is alive. We must have faith until the day we find him alive in this desert. We will not allow ZAFT to get away with this act! We will avenge the Red Comet!" yelled Murrue over the speaker. "As a result, Char Aznable has now been promoted to full Lieutenant, and all the other pilots have been promoted one rank."
But for a certain pink-haired songtress, this meant the collapse of her own world with the loss of the one who she held so dear to herself. Lacus could not help but sob and wail out crying in sadness as she saw the news report.
"No! It can't be! Not Casval! Not my Casval!" she yelled out as she cried banging against the wall, her Haro floating about silently. Just as Char's green Haro floated around asking for its owner.
All the while in the hot, sandy desert in the middle of a storm, Char was buried under his parachute as he tried to escape the tangled mess. After some tries, he eventually did and looked at his wreckage of what used to be his Saberfish in complete flames.
"Damn it… What a mess…" remarked Char. "I was really careless that time…"
He sighed as he put his sunglasses back on and continued to walk in the hot sand in the storm. He then spotted what looked like another land battleship, not the Lesseps, but another one, but it didn't look like it belonged to ZAFT. Neither did the mobile suits, tanks, or the soldiers guarding it. One of the mobile suits were green, another was completely dark blue with an antennae on its head, and it was carrying a whip, a large heat saber, and a mounted shield on its arm. Another 2 mobile suits were purplish in color and looked very large and heavily armored, armed with a giant bazooka and a heat saber. Char was then stopped by 4 soldiers dressed in brownish-green uniforms with green helmets. The insignia adorned on their uniform looked familiar to Casval.
"Halt! Identify yourself!" yelled one of the soldiers.
"Lieutenant Junior Grade Char Aznable of the Earth Federal Forces. I come bearing no harm to you. I just wish to know where I am." Said Char.
"Char Aznable? The Red Comet?" one of the soldiers asked.
"Yes." Replied Char. "I know who you people are, you're soldiers of the Republic of Zeon. You're simply an advance guerilla taskforce sent here by Axis to fight ZAFT."
"But… how did you know?" asked one of the soldiers as he pointed his gun away from Char.
"Because I am also someone else you might know very well… Here's a hint, Zeon Daikun…" said Char as he pulled off his shades and revealed his blue eyes.
"Casval Daikun! You're Zeon's son! But what are you doing here!" asked the Zeon soldier incredulously.
"I joined the Federal Forces after the destruction of our homeland at Side 3… I got shot down earlier by a four-legged mobile suit, BuCUE." Said Char. "Is there a way I can contact my ship, the White Base?"
"Just follow us back to the Gallop. Commander Ramba Ral will be able to better help you out. And welcome back to Zeon, your excellency. Your presence is truly an honor Casval." Said the soldier as Char nodded back at him and followed him all the way to the Gallop, all of the sudden a slightly portly, but active old man walked out from the battleship and spotted Casval.
"Well I'll be damned! It's little Casval! The one who I used to play with and babysit while your father was away on business on Side 3! Heh!" yelled out Ramba Ral as he hugged Char.
"It's been a long time Ramba Ral." Replied Char as he hugged his old friend back. "So, did that old Desert Fox Andrew Waltfeld get the better of ya? You're in the Federal Forces right, Char Aznable?"
"Yes to both… I needed the disguise to keep my true identity under wraps." Replied Char. "It seems you all re doing well."
"Yea, Axis sends supplies every once in a while so we can continue fighting. Just recently did Zeon develop mobile suits. That green one there is called a Zaku II F2 Type. That purple one is called a Rick-Dom II, and the blue one over there is mine, called a Gouf. It seems we have three pilots, but 4 mobile suits…"
"You suppose I could pilot that other Dom?" asked Char.
"Sure, I don't see why not." Remarked Ramba Ral.
"You paint that Dom Tropen red and black, and let me contact my ship, the White Base, you got a deal." Replied Char.
"Okay. I don't see why not, we're neutral with the Federation, so they won't harm us." Replied Ramba Ral.
"Thanks." Said Char.
"Don't mention it Casval. It's my duty to assist you as a Zeon." Replied Ramba Ral. "I have a spare bed inside, you can rest in there if you'd like until dinner is ready."
Char nodded and walked inside. He attempted to contact the White Base but couldn't since the ZAFT forces spread their N-Jammers all over the area to block communications. He sat down on the bed and immediately saw a technical manual on a disc on something called: "Minovsky Physics." He read on and saw that a Minovsky Particle could potentially cancel out N-Jammer frequencies and render all electronically-guided weapons completely useless as well as any communications if the Minovsky Particle density was too thick. Char quickly put this disc into his pocket and laid back down.
"So this is what Axis has been up to all of these years, building up it's own mobile suit forces… Haman… you deluded fool…" said Char as he rolled off to sleep as he heard the radio play one of Lacus Clyne's songs, "Lacus…"
The night is wavering in the water
The greening shore is so still and silent
That it is painful
Char began to have a dream about a flashback to the past when he and Lacus were playing with each other when Char had visited Lacus's homeland back on the PLANTs. The PLANTs in Casval's opinion, were more beautiful at night than at Side 3 since Side 3 was a closed-type Island 3 colony, so they didn't get to see the night sky from there. But at the PLANTs, the stars shined ever so brightly, twinkling colors of blue and white.
If only I could wait
For a beautiful dawn
With a pure heart...
Casval looked into Lacus's lovely blue eyes that seemed to shine along with the stares as she smiled back at Casval, stroking his gentle blonde hair. Slowly but surely, their lips moved closer together as they joined for a deep, passionate, kiss.
Who told me that
There is a land without any conflicts
Beyond the dark seas and skies?
No one can reach that land,
Or perhaps it only exists in someone's heart
A melody that can quench the thirst
Of the land that calms the waters' flow
Even if it does not exist anywhere right now,
I will come to possess it
Always, someday, for sure
As they both pulled from the kiss for the lack of oxygen intake, both Casval and Lacus blushed as they looked away but grinned as Casval tackled Lacus softly and made a noise that resembled a tiger or a lion. Lacus giggled at Casval and poked his nose and Casval pinned Lacus to the ground as his fingers were intertwined with Lacus's as they joined for another kiss…
Let the token of water be in my hands
Even after engulfing all the flames,
It still continues to flow, gently and broadly
I will reach its tranquility
Always, someday, for sure
With your hand in mine...
With that, he's dream was soon interrupted by a loud yelling from the radio. Char was slightly startled and disoriented until he figured out it was a young woman giving a speech to all of the remaining Zeon at Axis and on Earth. He sighed and then frowned as his eyes rolled. He knew Haman Karn well since his father and her father, Admiral Maharaja Karn were good friends. Char was friends with Haman as well, to a certain extent… He saw both her and her father has power hungry people, and indeed, they were, even Char's father knew that as he tried to appease there desires. Char also knew one other thing, that Haman secretly loved Char and wanted him. But since Lacus got in the way, Haman couldn't. He also knew that Haman probably wanted to kill Lacus, but Char vowed that no harm would befall his pink-haired songstress, regardless of her marrying the son of his enemy… Especially not from Haman Karn… His eyes rolled towards the radio as Haman said these following words…
"Loyal soldiers of Neo Zeon! Our triumphant return draws nearer! We will retake our rightful glory and create a new homeland! We will smash those hourglasses and kill all the coordinators in their own cold blood! Those dirty scum who destroyed our homes and forced us into this cold rock! In honor of Zeon Daikun! SIEG ZEON!" yelled Haman.
"Don't delude yourself Haman, my father would never preach the blasphemies coming from your mouth…" said Char as his eyes began to close. He then saw Ramba Ral come inside.
"Hey Casval, dinner is ready. I see you heard Haman's speech… Yea, I don't like her too much either… She has no right to be using your father's name like that…" said Ramba Ral.
"That's life I suppose…" said Char as he got up from the bed and followed Ramba Ral to the mess area as they all sat down to eat. But all of the sudden, Char saw a familiar face. "Roberto!"
"Char!" yelled Roberto as he ran up and tackled him.
"Where have you been all this time!" asked Char.
"Places…" said Roberto as he snickered and laughed.
Char and Roberto laughed as they both got up and got back on the dinner table and began eating their semi-acceptable dinner. It was pile of beef-potato stew along with a bread roll and a cup of water.
"How's life been treating you?"
"You should know…" Said Char.
"It could always be worse!" said Roberto and Char as they laughed.
"So how's Apolly doing?" asked Roberto.
Char sighed and picked up another spoonful of the stew as he closed his eyes. Roberto looked at him in disbelief…
"No, Char… no… Is he…" said Roberto as Char nodded.
"When Apolly joined the White Base, he died protecting the Gundam pilot during re-entry… He was killed by Rau Le Crueset…" said Char as he poked around at his stew.
"Damn…" said Roberto as he put his spoon down.
"It wasn't Kira's fault either, there was nothing we could have done…" said Char.
"I know…" said Roberto as he got up and sat down on a box as the night sky began to appear as Char went over to him.
"I'm sorry… He was a good friend to us all… His death affected me greatly as well, but this is what war is like… Filled with nothing but grief, sorrow, and hatred…" replied Char as he looked over to his new Rick-Dom II being painted in his red and black colors…
Meanwhile the White Base had touched down near a secluded location the Sahara Desert to be re-supplied by the Medea Squadron. Along with their much-needed supplies, the White Base crew also received another Saberfish fighter. During this time, Cagalli also began training to become a pilot aboard the White Base and as a result was taken under Sleggar's wing, which he was more than happy to oblige.
"Hey Cagalli, we better get going. We've been sent out to find Char out there… Let's hope we're not too late…" said Kira as Cagalli nodded and quickly followed Kira into the buddy as they drove off into the desert sand. Many hours passed as they continued to search for their fallen Lieutenant until finally they came upon the ruins of Char's Saberfish fighter in the sand, however some parts were still in flames.
"Oh no… Char… he really is dead…" said Cagalli as she looked away.
"No, wait… Char is alive, he has to be! The seat of the Saberfish is missing, and the canopy was opened! Look!" exclaimed Kira. "But wherever he went, any guess would be as good as mine. The desert storm must have covered Char's tracks."
"You've got a point there Kira. But we're almost out of fuel, I think we should stop and rest in that town over there." Said Cagalli. "Good thing we're in civilian clothing."
With that Kira nodded as the buggy speed off towards a nearby town. As they re-fueled the car, Kira and Cagalli came across a restaurant, and seeing as how they've been searching for hours, they decided to stop in and get something to eat. But they were about to get a lot more than just some food as they saw an entire group of ZAFT troops, and their commander Andrew Waltfeld. To Waltfeld's left, was his lover, Aisha, who was wearing a beautiful white and blue dress and had long, bluish-black hair. Cagalli soon cued Kira for both to leave until Andrew smiled and laughed at them both.
"Do we intimidate you all? That wasn't my intention. Heh. The name is Andrew Waltfeld, what's yours kid?" asked Waltfeld.
"Kira Yamato, sir." Replied Kira.
"Cagalli Yula Atha…" replied Cagalli.
"Sit down with us, the meal is on me." Said Andrew as he smiled as Kira and Cagalli sat down as the waiter brought out a platter of sauces and a plate full of meat kabobs.
"Thanks, Mr. Waltfeld." Said Kira as he grabbed one of the kabobs and stared at the many sauces that were available.
"Try the chili sauce Kira!" suggested Cagalli.
"Try the yogurt sauce kid, it's so much more better." Suggested Waltfeld as they both began to eat.
"Hey, you were right, haha." Replied Cagalli and Kira, but right when Kira was about to go for his fourth, five gunmen entered the restaurant and began firing at the ZAFT soldiers and immediately the ZAFT soldiers fired back as Andy kicked the table over to take cover and save Kira and Cagalli.
"Kill all coordinators for the preservation of our blue and pure world!" shouted one of the gunmen as he fired his rifle.
Immediately Kira pulled out his Federal Forces issued pistol and fired back at the gunman that spoke and shot him to death as Andy shot two others. The remaining gunmen fled the restaurant as Cagalli tried to brush off the mess that was on her clothes.
"Thanks for saving us Mr. Waltfeld, but we should really get going." Said Kira.
"But at least let me give your dear friend a change of clothing." Said Aisha as she smiled.
"Thanks but I'm okay." Said Cagalli as she smiled back nervously.
"But I insist, it's not far from here." Replied Aisha.
"Okay…" replied Cagalli.
After about 20 minutes, they finally arrived at Andrew Waltfeld's desert base. Cagalli followed Aisha into a lavish building, while Kira followed Andy.
"Who were those men that fired at us Mr. Waltfeld?" asked Kira.
"Those terrorists were a part of Blue Cosmos, that anti-coordinator group. If not for them, this war would have never started. It's only because the Earth Federation's corruption that Blue Cosmos controls them and make this dreadful war go on." Said Andy.
"In a way, I can sort of agree with that." Said Kira. "But I think it's simply misunderstanding and misplaced hatred on both sides… It's really stupid when you think about it."
"Heh, that's awful smart talk coming from a Federation Forces officer. And from what I can tell, you're a coordinator." Said Andy.
"But how did you know!" asked a shocked Kira.
"Your pistol that you used during that gunfight, that's a standard Federal Forces pistol issued to all soldiers." Replied Andy as he chuckled. "Don't worry, I won't hold you or your friend hostage, but just remember, the next time we meet, it'll be as enemies."
"I understand…" said Kira as he saw Cagalli in a beautiful new white dress, which she looked quite uncomfortable in. Kira turned to Waltfeld and saluted him and jumped onto the buggy with Cagalli following close behind.
"So long Kira Yamato!" yelled Andrew as Kira and Cagalli drove off.
"They were soldiers of the Federation, which means the Trojan Horse is to our north." Said Waltfeld. "Prepare to attack, alert our units!"
"Yes sir!" exclaimed Martin, Waltfeld's trusted officer.
Meanwhile, Ramba Ral's Zeon Guerilla Unit was on the move as well, tracking Andy Waltfeld's every move.
"So it seems he's moving in to attack… Let's mirror him!" ordered Ramba Ral as the Gallop, two Cui tanks, 3 Magella Tanks began to follow Waltfeld's forces. Ramba Ral did well to keep out of sight but he ended up spotting the White Base above.
"This is Char Aznable to the White Base, over." Said Char over the comm link.
"Char! Is that you Lieutenant!" yelled Murrue. "Are you alright! Where have you been!"
"I'm quite alright, the Zeon remnants saved me.
"This is Captain Ramba Ral of the Zeon African Liberation Front contacting the Earth Federal Forces ship, the White Base. We wish forge an alliance with you all and fight ZAFT together! This is just as much as our fight as it is yours!" yelled Ramba Ral. "Don't forget that they destroyed our homeland!"
"We accept your wish for an alliance. The enemy is right up ahead, one Lesseps-class and two Petrie-class land battleships. 10 GINN OCHER's, 4 ZuOOT's, and 1 LaGOWE mobile suit." Informed Murrue.
With that Ramba Ral gave a grunt and a salute and walked towards the mobile suit hangar of the Gallop as he entered his blue Gouf mobile suit while Roberto entered his Zaku and Char in his red Rick-Dom II.
"Alright boys, do our fellow citizens proud! Victory for Zeon!" yelled Ramba Ral as he launched with Char and Roberto following close.
"Victory for Zeon!" chanted both Roberto and Char as they landed onto the sand with the Gallop firing at the right flank of the Lesseps. The White Base opened its main gun and its mega-particle cannons and opened fire at one of the Petrie-class land battleships and completely destroyed it.
"You ZAFT scum! You'll pay for killing all of those innocents at Side 3!" yelled Ramba Ral as he sliced right through one of the GINN OCHER's with the Gouf's heat saber and completely fried a ZuOOT with his heat rod.
"Heh! Gotcha ya coordinator!" yelled Roberto as he caught two GINN OCHER's with his missile pod. Meanwhile Char began to target two ZuOOT's who were closely bunched up and fired his powerful 880mm Raketen Bazooka and watched both of them explode on impact. He then concentrated fire and a group of three GINN OCHER's and destroyed them as well, slicing through another GINN OCHER. The White Base had also launched their forces as well, with Sleggar and Cagalli in Saberfish fighters. Kira then spotted the LaGOWE and suddenly realized who he was fighting as he dodged the shots of its beam cannons which ended up destroying two of the magella attack tanks.
"It's Andy and Aisha, it's gotta be!" yelled Kira as he tried to fire his beam rifle but missed completely.
Ramba Ral quickly made quick work of another GINN OCHER that had destroyed the remaining Magella attack tank and quickly ordered the Cui's to ram into the Lesseps, but only one of them managed to slightly hit it before getting destroyed, the other was destroyed by Waltfeld. Just then the Gallop did a suicide charge towards the Lesseps and fired all of its weapons at it but the Lesseps fired right back and the Gallop went in flames and crashed right into the battleship as both of them exploded. Ramba Ral then turned towards the LaGOWE and fired the Gouf's 75mm finger machine guns but missed, and was shoot hit by the beam cannons and saw the Gouf's left arm was taken off that held that heat rod. Realizing this, Ramba Ral quickly activated the heat saber and charged towards Waltfeld in a suicidal charge…
"GLORY TO THE REPUBLIC OF ZEON YOU ZAFT PIG!" yelled Ramba Ral as he attempted to slash the LaGOWE but Waltfeld got him first with the beam cannons as the Gouf exploded.
"Captain Ramba Ral!" yelled Roberto.
"Ramba…" said Char as he saw another comrade die in front of his eyes. "No…"
"Mr. Waltfeld! Stop this right now! I don't want to fight you!" yelled Kira as stepped in front of the LaGOWE.
"Save your words Kira! I'll fight until one of us dies!" yelled Waltfeld as Aisha fired the beam cannons and swiftly charged at Kira as the Gundam dodged the LaGOWE's dual beam saber attack.
"Stop it! Don't you see it doesn't have to end this way!" yelled Kira as he fired the beam rifle at the dual beam cannon's, disabling them. "Don't do this!"
"Kid, this is war…" yelled Andy as he charged at Kira with the LaGOWE with the dual beam saber once more until Kira slashed the LaGOWE in half with Gundam Zephyranthes' beam saber. "Remember this kid… I have no regrets!"
Soon afterwards, the LaGOWE exploded as Kira cried and sobbed loudly while he banged his fists against the controls. Char came up next to Kira in his Rick-Dom and placed a hand on the shoulder of the Gundam.
"War is a trying thing on any man's soul… This sort of sadness is inevitable, and will only get worse if humanity does not change…" said Char.
"Why must all people be so ignorant and blind Char…" said Kira.
"Because there are those whose souls… are weighed down by the gravity of earth…" said Char. "Come on Kira, let's get you back on the White Base. Roberto, are you coming?"
"My duty is to you, Char." Said Roberto.
"Alright then, lets get back to the White Base. All mobile suit forces, don't fall behind!" ordered Char as they all landed back into the hangar of the White Base. Char immediately came back to a warm welcome by all of the crew that thought he was dead and immediately was tackled by Sleggar.
"The Red Comet is back, heh!" exclaimed Sleggar. "No one can kill us…"
"Because we're the Immortal 4th Team!" Char and Sleggar said in unison as they laughed. Roberto however, was slow to get out of his Zaku II as he peered he stared on at the curious White Base crew. He then saw Murrue who looked up at him, and immediately Roberto saluted.
"I am Ensign Roberto of the Republic of Zeon. I desire to defect to the Earth Federal Forces." Stated Roberto.
"I am Lieutenant Murrue Ramius, captain of this ship, the White Base." Said Murrue as she saluted.
"I am Ensign Natarle, but before we grant your defection, we must ask you several questions, follow me." Said Natarle as Roberto followed close behind.
"Lieutenant!" yelled Kira as he tackled Char. "You're alright!"
"Yes, I'm okay… So don't make a big deal out of it." Said Char as he closed his eyes.
Within days, news traveled out that the Red Comet was indeed alive and not shot down and Kira's reputation as a Federation ace mobile suit pilot went up as the news covered how Kira shot down the "Desert Tiger" Andy Waltfeld. Lacus watched intently as she breathed a heavy sigh of relief after hearing Char had survived. She turned off the TV and began to cry tears, after hearing Char being alive. She had decided that then and there, she would vow to protect her Red Comet, her Casval Daikun. And the only way to do that was to end the war quickly. She then quickly ran down a few stairs and whispered something into a loyal aide's ear and they both quickly approached Siegel Clyne if they could make a trip to Earthside for a fictitious concert on Earth. And Chairman Clyne allowed her daughter to leave on a shuttle bound for Earth…
"My goal… is to steal ZAFT's new prototype Gundam, the Freedom Gundam… I must give that to Char and his friends so this dreadful war will finally come to an end!" said Lacus. "And when the war ends, Char will be safe and sound with me…"
The White Base had finally touched down near the Black Sea so that they could be re-supplied in time for Operation Odessa, the Federation's huge counteroffensive against ZAFT. The Medea squadron ended up taking back Gundam Unit 1, but in return gave the White Base and Kira a new prototype, the RX-178 Gundam Mark II. As the Gundam Mark II and all of its components were being loaded onto the White Base, Kira was already busy at work, studying the manual for the new Gundam as Char watched another supply ship land near the White Base, only this ship belonged to Anaheim Electronics. Char stared on as a somewhat tall man with curly brown hair came out who looked to be around his early-20's. That man, was Amuro Ray, the CEO of Anaheim Electronics, and a personal friend of Casval. The two shook hands as they embraced one another.
"It's been a while Casval, or should I say Char?" asked Amuro.
"Haha, Char is preferred now. So, did you get the data I sent you regarding the Rick-Dom II and the Zaku II?" asked Char.
"Yes, as a matter of fact, I did. You helped complete a new mobile suit that Anaheim has been trying to build for a while now. My company hired a whole lot of Zeon refugee engineers, and up until now, they have been working on this new mobile suit design, called the Rick-Dias. It's based off of Zeon's Rick-Dom and Gelgoog series, but we cobbled the two together to form this one. But we still needed the Rick-Dom II's data on the engine output. Hope you don't mind my company taking these mobile suits back to Von Braun City on the moon." Said Amuro.
"But I still need something to pilot, so does Roberto…" replied Char.
"We've got you covered. In that supply plane are three new Rick-Dias mobile suits, one of them painted in your colors Char. Heh." Said Amuro.
"Impressive as always Amuro." Replied Char as he laughed as his green Haro recognized Amuro.
"I gave that Haro to you for your 11th birthday, I remember. Back when we could go about our lives without a care, or fear of war… Sad times, it has become…" said Amuro as he sighed. "There's something I need to ask you though…"
"What?" asked Char.
"Why didn't you go back to Axis with Gato and the others?" asked Amuro. "It always baffled me as to why you stayed in Earth's Sphere."
"I can't do anything from a cold and far-away rock, Amuro… You should probably take Cagalli with you and get going." Said Char.
"Oh, right… Her father is the leader of the Orb Union. She didn't specify the reason why she needed to go, she just didn't want to talk about it."
"Hm, yes… But she'll be better off at home than here." Replied Char.
"Have you noticed the corruption within the Earth Federation?" asked Amuro.
"It's been corrupt since day one Amuro, you and I know that." Char said.
"I've been thinking about creating a resistance group both against the Earth Federation and ZAFT…" said Amuro. "You know it to be true in your heart Char, neither can continue on their current paths…"
"Yes… I am very well aware of that…" said Char as he turned away. "I'll talk to you again soon Amuro, get going before we get attacked again."
"See you around Char." Replied Amuro as the two went their separate ways. Cagalli followed Amuro in the Anaheim Electronics shuttle, but then turned back around at Kira and some of the crew as they waved back at her.
"Bye, Kira…" said Cagalli as she entered the shuttle.
UC 0079, November 7… Operation Odessa
With that, the White Base's engines flared up and made its way towards the 5th battle line near wear the Federal Forces in Europe were gathering to attack ZAFT's Odessa mining base, a key base for ZAFT for Operation Odessa. General Revil, leader of the Federal Forces, was planning the Federation's counterattack in a Big Tray-class land battleship with many type-61 tanks and FF-6 TIN Cod's following. The White Base, being used a rear line distraction was near the Black Sea drawing away as much of the ZAFT mobile suit forces away from Odessa. In doing so, the White Base attracted the attention of an old foe, Athrun Zala and his team of two other ace pilots, Nicol Amalfi and Yzak Joule. Within minutes, Athrun's Justice Gundam and Nicol and Yzak's DINN mobile suits were closing in on the White Base.
"Ma'am, there appears to be three enemy units approaching from 70 degrees at 1:30. Two DINN's and one new unknown model. There also appears to be a Medea transport in the area" Said Oscar as he began scanning the area and broadcasting the Minovsky particles.
"Send out Char and Kira. Keep Sleggar and Roberto on standby." Ordered Murrue.
Meanwhile back at the hangar, both Char and Kira were in the red Rick-Dias and the Gundam Mark II preparing for the launch. Char then cut in on the comm. link and contacted Kira.
"Kira, stay on your toes. The enemy we're up against is very skilled." Said Char. "Char Aznable, in Rick-Dias! Launching!"
"Got it Char. Kira Yamato in the Gundam Mark II, away!" yelled Kira as the Mark II launched with the Rick-Dias as they began to intercept Athrun's team.
"The Earth Forces have new mobile suits?" remarked Athrun as he fired his beam rifle at Kira as both of them evaded with Char targeting Nicol's DINN with the Rick-Dias's clay bazooka but missed.
"These mobile suits are fast! Damn!" yelled Char as Athrun's team flanked behind him and Kira and went in single file for a jet stream attack against Kira's Mark II. "Kira! Heads up!"
Kira at first was taken on by surprised but then suddenly knew what Athrun was trying to do as he pulled out the beam saber as he jumped over Athrun's Justice Gundam and used Yzak's DINN as a springboard to jump higher. Nicol's DINN attempted fire a missile at the Mark II but the Mark II quickly ducked and slashed Nicol's DINN in half as it exploded in midair.
"Nicol!" yelled Athrun in rage. "That pilot killed him! Is that you Kira! DID YOU DO THAT!"
"You'll pay for killing Nicol!" yelled Yzak as he attempted to ram into the Mark II but Char fired the Rick-Dias's clay bazooka as an explosive shell tore off the DINN's arm. Char quickly pulled out a beam pistol and fired at the head of the DINN, watching the rest of the mobile suit explode. Athrun fired his beam rifle at Char but the Red Comet quickly dodged as he fired his beam pistol right back at him, Athrun of course dodging but going straight towards Kira, who still had his beam saber out, tearing off a part of the shoulder armor of the Justice Gundam.
"DAMN YOU KIRA!" yelled Athrun as he targeted his beam rifle again and shot off the Mark II's leg but was quickly chased off by Char's Rick-Dias and forced into retreat.
"I will get you for this Kira! You WILL pay!" yelled Athrun as the Justice used its verniers. Char's Rick-Dias landed next to the damaged Mark II.
"Kira! Kira! Kira answer me! Are you alright!" asked Char.
"Yes... Lieutenant…" replied Kira.
"You did a good job fighting, but you let your guard down for a minute, you do that, and you'll be killed in an instant!" lectured Char as they both headed back to the White Base.
Soon after that battle, the Federal Forces engaged ZAFT forces and began the attack on Odessa. A brutal week-long battle ensued, each side suffering heavy losses, but Revil's forces won out in the end with ZAFT making full-fledged retreats on all fronts on the Earth. With the fall of Odessa, the Federal Forces re-took the Australian continent, and the key Torrington Base near Sydney, where the colony drop occurred earlier in the war. Pretty soon, ZAFT only held onto the African Front and western North America where the California Base was located. Pretty soon with these recent losses for ZAFT, Patrick Zala was facing scrutiny back at the PLANTs, especially from Chairman Clyne, who denounced his methods. In a desperate last ditch attempt to keep ZAFT's forces on Earth, Operation Splitbreak, the plan to attack and invade Jaburo HQ of the Federal Forces in South America, was implemented. Leading this operation was Commander Rau Le Crueset, another one of the White Base's key foes from earlier. Within days with their last battle with Athrun at Odessa, now a huge Federal Forces victory, landed at the spaceship dock at Jaburo. They had finally made it and everything seemed to be going smoothly, or so they thought…
"So this is Jaburo?" asked Kira.
"Yes, this is the headquarters of the entire Earth Federation military. This is where they developed Gundam Unit 1." Said Murrue as she looked on at a pink Brazilian flamingo.
"This is where me, Apolly, Sleggar, and Lieutenant South Burning were stationed after we all graduated from the Federation Officer Academy at Nijenmen. I wonder if old Burning is still kicking it here… heh." Said Char.
All of the sudden Char had a flashback to when he was about 17. After he had been rescued by the Earth Federation, he was placed under the care of South Burning.
"I'm going to be 18 soon… I want to join the Federation… I want to… I have to!" yelled Char. "ZAFT and the Federation are going to war aren't they! Then I kill all of those ZAFT scum!"
"Now take it easy Char. You may be a young adult, but you still think like a kid. You haven't matured completely yet." Said Burning.
"Patrick Zala killed my father! Destroyed my home! You can't possibly ask me to not join in on this war!" yelled Char.
"That's not my point Char, and you know it. My point is that you're getting a little in over your head. Calm down and think about what you are doing before you enlist. Now I know I can't stop you, but think before you do anything. You're like a son to me, and I don't think I could stand to see you get hurt Char." Said Burning.
Char snapped out of his flashback and sighed as he removed his sunglasses as maintenance officers from Jaburo commenced an overhaul of the White Base and latched the ship down. Pretty soon the entire crew of the White Base left the ship and were directed towards the medical facilities where each of the crew underwent a thorough medical examination. Kira and Char however received a different sort of examination…
"Hey Kira! How did yours go?" asked Sleggar. "Seemed more like a regular physical to me…"
"Not really… the took a lot of x-rays and scanned my brainwaves a lot… weird stuff…" said Kira. "What about you Lieutenant?"
"Same as yours, they were weirding me out too… And that doctor seemed a little too friendly… I mean he IS a guy…" said Char.
"Haha, Char got molested by a gay doctor, heh." Said Roberto.
"Cut it out Roberto…" said Char as he put his sunglasses back on as he saw someone from the corner of his eyes. "Lieutenant Burning!"
"Char? Char it is you!" exclaimed Burning in his usual blue uniform as he and Char embraced. "Sleggar! You're here too! Wow! Holy shit you guys!"
"Heh, good to see you again Lieutenant Burning."
"Hey! Is Apolly here too!" asked Burning.
"No… He's not… He's…" said Char as he trailed off.
"No… He's dead… isn't he…" said Burning as Char nodded in response. "I see…"
"How have you been you old geezer? Heh." Said Char as he snickered.
"Hey, age is only a matter of the mind you know… Heh." Replied Burning as they continued to crack age-related jokes at one another all of the sudden a Federal Forces officer with a pink envelope approached Char.
"Mail for Lieutenant Char Aznable." Said the officer.
"Who's it from?" asked Char.
"Beats me, there's no name on it or a return address." Said the officer as he shrugged and walked off. Char took the envelope to his nose and sniffed it, Helen-Helen perfume. A very expensive one at that; only available at the PLANTs.
"Is that a love letter!" asked Roberto as he tried to hold his snickers in.
"Ohh! The Red Comet's got a girlfriend!" said Sleggar as he whistled as Burning and Kira laughed at Char's expense.
"Cut it out you guys…" said Char rolled his eyes and opened the piece of mail. He unfolded the letter and saw a backstage pass to Lacus's concert in California. He then read the letter…
"To Casval Rem Daikun,
I am overly excited as I write this letter to you, Casval, my love. I have broken up with Athrun, I've made up my mind Casval, I want to be with you… But at the same time I know there's a war going on. I want to marry you, and I swear that I will protect you and see that this awful war ends quickly as it can. Come to my concert Casval, and come backstage and wait for me. I need to give you something that will help you and your friends out greatly. We'll see each other soon… Please be careful, my Red Comet…
Love, Lacus Clyne."
Char smiled and grinned slightly as he tucked the letter away in his front pocket.
"Hey Char! What was in that thing?" asked Roberto.
"Lemme guess, Lacus, right?" asked Kira.
"That's for me to know, and you to never find out Kira. Heh." Said Char as he went to a video comm-link in a separate room. He then got into contact with Anaheim Electronics' Front Desk.
"Hello, this is Anaheim Electronics, how may we assist you today?" asked a blonde woman who turned out to be the front desk manager.
"My name is Lieutenant Char Aznable of the Federal Forces. I need to speak with Amuro Ray. Tell him it's an emergency." Said Char.
"Yes sir. Lieutenant Aznable, I will patch you through to Amuro momentarily." Said the woman as Amuro's face appeared.
"Hey Char. Didn't expect to hear back from you so soon." Said Amuro. "What's up?"
"Lacus is holding a concert in California in North America. I need you to take me there in an Anaheim Electronics transport with a disguise ready. It's very urgent." Said Char.
"I understand, I'll pick you up in my personal transport tomorrow first thing. Oh, another thing Char, I have a new mobile suit for you. It's based off the design you sent in. You mentioned how using the Gundarium armor of the Rick-Dias and combining that with the movable frame of the Gundam Mark II would make a perfect mobile suit. We've made you a transformable mobile suit called the Zeta Gundam. I'll give you the details of that later. You'll see it all tomorrow." Said Amuro.
"Thank you very much Amuro. I don't know what I'd do without you. Heh." Said Char as he and Amuro laughed.
"Hey, you and me are like brothers practically. I'll help you out in any way I can. I best get going. See you tomorrow." Said Amuro.
"As will I." said Char as he nodded as the screen went blank. All of the sudden an explosion rocked Char and the others onto the floor.
As that explosion took place, Lieutenant Commander Murrue was in the briefing room being interrogated by some top Federal Forces brass. Hurdles of questions were thrown at Murrue as to her actions of picking up Lacus Clyne in space, Char's mysterious disappearance, and working with a rebel group, the Zeon's African Liberation Front.
"Which side are you on exactly Lieutenant Commander! Because quite frankly we can't tell!" yelled a top Federation general. "You ALLOWED an ENEMY to live! What the blue hell were you thinking! THIS IS A WAR!"
"Is it always necessary to take lives in cold blood! Lacus Clyne was of no threat or harm to us General, with all due respect!" retorted Murrue.
"Not only that but you picked up a ZEON RENEGADE and allowed him onto the ship and potentially revealed Federation secrets! This kind of serious violation of protocol leads to court marshaling of the entire crew!"
Out of nowhere a menacing laugh could be heard from a darkened part of the brass' table. A tall man wearing a light blue suit with blonde hair stood up and began to speak. He pounded his fists onto the table as he quietly cleared his throat.
"What does it matter? This war is nearly over. The Earth Federation and naturals alike will win this war against ZAFT and the coordinator scum. It's only a matter of time. Our fleet has been rebuilt and refit completely, all we need to do is two things: force the Orb Union to cooperate with the Earth Federation, and take Jachin Due asteroid base from ZAFT and invade their homeland."
"But Mr. Azrael, the Orb Union has stressed its position of neutrality in this war." Said Captain Bright.
"Shut up! Being neutral in this war is considered a luxury. If they refuse to cooperate, we will simply invade and destroy the Orb Union." Replied Muruta Azrael rather curtly.
"You can't honestly be serious about that! The Orb Union is a sovereign nation! We'd be no different than ZAFT, the same enemy that poison gassed all of Side 3 colonies! I don't know how you insane fanatics in Blue Cosmos run things, but here in the Earth Federation is much different and I dare say more in touch with the Earth Sphere." Replied Bright Noa.
"Quiet Captain Bright! You're in contempt! I agree with Chairman Azrael. In fact, I'm putting all of the Earth Federation's fleets under his control. From this day on, the Earth Federation Space Force will be under the control of the Federal Force's elite taskforce, the Titans, under the supervision of Chairman Azrael." Said General William Sutherland.
"I am honored that you put the Titans in such high esteem, General." Said a tall man wearing a white uniform who had slightly purple hair.
"The time to take over the Earth Sphere and put it under control of naturals is now, Paptimus Scirocco. Although I am quite surprised you signed that loyalty oath and sealed it with your own blood." Said Azrael.
"Dear Chairman, an oath is nothing without blood…" said Scirocco as he laughed softly.
"What do they want with this man from Jupiter! The Federation must be getting desperate…" thought Bright.
"I don't believe that they're actually going to attack Orb… The Federation has gone too far this time…" thought Murrue as she clinched her fists. With that, both Bright and Murrue left the hearing room in absolute disgust.
"I can't believe those people! They gave into Blue Cosmos and the Titans just like that!" yelled Bright as he started his buggy.
"And I still can't believe they're going to attack a neutral nation…" said Murrue. "Hold, wait a minute, your Captain Bright Noa. You're the one that saved us during re-entry!"
"Glad to see you're still alive Lieutenant Commander. My ship and my crew were not as lucky. Rau Le Crueset was just too much for us." Said Bright.
"I'm sorry to hear that. You're pretty much out of the Federation Forces, as am I. Do you have a wife to go back to?" asked Murrue.
"Yes, I do. Her name is Mirai, and I even have two kids, Hathaway and Cheimin. But if I go back now, I could them in danger since the Federation will follow my every move if this war is still going on…" said Bright. "How about you? A husband or a boyfriend perhaps?"
"No… Not quite… I did have a boyfriend at the start of the war… He was a Saberfish pilot, but he got killed." Said Murrue as Kira listened in from behind another building close by. He sighed to himself and closed his eyes. He then pounded his fist hard into the wall and ran off enough for both Bright and Murrue to hear.
"But now I have someone—Kira! Hold on! Don't go!" yelled Murrue as she tried to chase after him.
"I'll give you a lift." Said Bright as Murrue hopped into the buggy and drove off to catch up to Kira.
Finally the chase had stopped as Kira ran into a mobile suit factory and sat down on a platform and sighed as Murrue finally caught up with him.
"I-…" said Murrue.
"Just save your excuse…" said Kira.
"It was a long time ago Kira… but now things are different…" she said as she placed her hand on Kira's cheek as she hugged onto Kira as he hugged onto her back. But then an explosion rocked them both onto the ground. Back one the White Base, Char, Roberto, Sleggar, and Burning ran to the mobile suit deck. Kira was too far away from the White Base to get into his Mark II so he opted for a GM II mobile suit, a mass-production mobile suit based off the Gundam Mark II. Burning took out the Mark II while Char, Sleggar, and Roberto took off in their Rick-Dias mobile suits. As it turned out, ZAFT had already commenced Operation Splitbreak in order to invade Jaburo. Athrun had already landed near Jaburo in his Justice Gundam along with Rau Le Crueset in his new GuAIZ mobile suit along with an entire troop of mobile suits, GINN's, ZuOOT's, GOOhn's, and a few ZnO's. GM II mobile suits and FF-6 TIN Cod fighters began to scramble and intercept the ZAFT forces already in Jaburo and those that already infiltrated the underground base through the spaceship dock.
"Lieutenant Burning, Sleggar, you're with me. Roberto! Stay inside of the base and help Kira out." Ordered Char as they all split off into battle. Char immediately got his first kill firing a bazooka shell at the enemy, immediately destroying 2 GINN mobile suits and another as he fired his beam pistol at an on-coming GOOhn's head. Sleggar was busy as well as he slashed off the head of a GINN with the Rick-Dias's beam saber. Burning was holding his own in the Gundam Mark II, but began to feel somewhat disoriented as he tried to keep up with the fast-paced ZAFT mobile suits. He fired 3 shots at an oncoming ZuOOT and destroyed it as Burning began to breathe somewhat heavily. Out of nowhere both Athrun and Rau Le Crueset attacked the trio. Quickly Char's newtype precognition senses went off and charged right at Le Crueset's GuAIZ with a beam saber, with him dodging of course.
"RAU LE CRUESET!" yelled Char as he slashes away at Rau's mobile suit, but each time countering.
Meanwhile Sleggar tried to keep Athrun at bay with a constant volley of bazooka shots by the kept on getting closer and closer until finally Athrun had Sleggar on the ropes, charging at him. Until Burning intervened and managed to get Athrun's Justice to lose balance for a little bit.
"Sleggar! Are you alright! Do you read me!" yelled Burning.
"Lieutenant Burning! Watch out!" yelled Sleggar as Athrun fired the beam rifle of the Justice Gundam directly at the cockpit of the Gundam Mark II and watched his old mentor die in front of him. Suddenly Char kicked Le Crueset's GuAIZ into a river and felt a sick sensation.
"Oh no… LIEUTENANT BURNING!" yelled Char as he hurried back to Sleggar's position and saw the Mark II explode with Burning's bloodied body falling towards the hard jungle ground, dead and lifeless. "ATHRUN ZALA YOU SON OF A BITCH! YOU KILLED MY FATHER AND NOW YOU KILL MY MENTOR! HOW DARE YOU! YOU MURDERER!"
Char in a frenzy of pure, his newtype berseker abilities kicked in as he threw the bazooka at the Justice, breaking off the shield. Quickly Char charged at Athrun and fired his beam pistol as he gave chase to Athrun. Char then pulled out the Rick-Dias's beam saber and completely slashed off an arm of the Justice knocking Athrun into freefall into the Amazon River.
"Oh no… I sense sadness and much anger… So much grief… Char…" said Kira as he quickly jumped out of the spacegate's window and onto the outside surface of the forest. He quickly found Char's Rick-Dias and fired a shot into the river right where Athrun was about to jump back out, completely taking off the Justice's right leg off.
"STAY AWAY KIRA! THIS BASTARD IS MINE TO KILL!" yelled Char as he attempted to charge back into the river but was immediately held back by Kira.
"Lieutenant! You're shaken up, I know you are. In the state you're in right now, you're going to get yourself killed. Let's get back to Area 1, Lieutenant Comamnder Murrue wants us to meet there instead of the White Base." Said Kira as Athrun and Rau Le Crueset made their escape…
As it turned out, Operation Splitbreak was a major failure for the ZAFT forces and a gamble that would cost them dearly as their forces began to retreat back out into space. Roberto, Sleggar, Kira, and Char would head back to Area 1, away from the prying eyes of Jaburo. There they saw a new class of ship, one that looked much like the White Base, yet, so much more different. It had the same color scheme, but the design was much different. The mobile suit catapults were more exposed but there was much more fire power on this ship than the White Base. Char looked down and saw his friend Amuro Ray down below along with most of the crew of the White Base.
"Welcome to your new ship, the Argama!" exclaimed Amuro. "Is this everyone Miss Ramius?"
"Yes, only 11 crew members decided to stay behind. Including Natarle and Flay…" said Murrue.
"But still, it's amazing how most of them stayed loyal." Said Amuro. "We need to hurry and get to North America and meet up with the Clyne Faction, Captain Bright."
"Right. Torres! Saegusa! Have those mobile suits loaded onto the Argama at once!" ordered Bright. "Lieutenant Commander Murrue, you will resume control of this ship once we arrive at the Orb Union."
"Yes sir." Replied Murrue as she saluted and helped with loading the mobile suits onto the ship. Char then walked over towards Amuro and shaked his hand.
"I can't thank you enough for all that you are doing for us Amuro." Said Char.
"I'm only doing what I believe in Char. I believe the Titans need to be stopped, and that goes double for Patrick Zala and ZAFT. And we need to be ready to fight the Axis Zeon. From what I hear, their strength is equal to that of the Earth Federation. That's very bad." Said Amuro.
"That Haman Karn…." Said Char.
"Who's Haman Karn?" asked Kira.
"No one… just someone we'll have to deal with later… that's all." Said Char as he boarded the Argama with Amuro and Kira.
Soon the Argama began to lift off into the sky and made its way past the Amazon jungle of Jaburo and headed towards North America. The journey only took less than a few days as Roberto, Sleggar, Char, and Kira played a few rounds of poker here and there to kill time. Murrue sat on the bridge drawing a few things in her sketch pad, utterly bored. Until of course Sleggar accused Roberto of cheating since he seemed to be getting the better of the hands.
"Come on Sleggar, was it YOU that suggested we play poker to kill time?" inquired Kira who rolled his eyes.
"Roberto is cheating! I know he is!" yelled Sleggar as he lost yet another hand along with two of his favorite porn magazines.
"Won that fair and square and you know it." Said Roberto as he snickered at Sleggar's 3 and 4 of spades.
"Shouldn't have gone all in Sleggar, heh." Remarked Char as he folded his hand.
"Ahh, what do you know…" said Sleggar as he slammed his cards down in slight anger.
Finally the Argama touched down in a desert area in California, the site of where a colony had fallen. Colony ruins were everywhere and nothing else could be seen besides dust. But there was already a small shuttle nearby the Argama. It belonged to Anaheim Electronics.
Immediately Char informed Murrue that he, Amuro, and Kira were going. Murrue nodded and permitted them to leave on the shuttle. All three of them entered the shuttle and it took off towards a ZAFT base. Pretty soon Kira and Quattro were dressed in ZAFT officer uniforms as their disguises as the shuttle landed near a large concert hall building. The three stepped out as they could see a crowd already forming inside of the building. From the distance, Char could see Lacus getting ready on the stage whilst everyone else was cheering her on.
"WOOO! YEAH BABY! LACUS YOU ARE HOT!" yelled one ZAFT soldier.
"I LOVE YOU LACUS! MARRY ME!" yelled another.
Char sighed and shook his in slight disgust and looked towards Kira.
"Kira, I need you to stay out here, if anything goes wrong, just leave with Amuro, got it?"
"Alright. I understand Lieutenant Char." replied Kira as he tood near the building watching Char go to the backstage door, where he sat down on a few boxes and waited for Lacus's concert to finish. After two hours, the concert was finally about to end before Lacus was about to sing her finale song.
"This last song, I want to dedicate to someone special. Someone I've known since I was little girl, someone, I love deeply… If you're listening, this song is for you…" said Lacus as she whispered softly the next word. "Casval…"
Beneath a veil so cold,
You deeply sleep, all alone
The melody of prayer; on the lonely fields,
a little light shined
I watched as you dreamed
You laughed like a child
So dear, and yet so far-
That is the promise of our future
Char looked on at Lacus and smiled slightly as he heard he beautiful voice that sounded like that of an angel's. Char couldn't believe it at all, Lacus had broken up with Athrun and was now asking Char to marry her. It all felt like a dream, only thing is, it was no dream, it was Char's reality as he knew it.
That one day, on a green morning,
One day, we will make it there
Because in this wintered sky
We still believe
Fields of Hope
On the day we were born, we were embraced
And now we search for those gentle hands again
The melody of prayer; one vanishes,
And all begins again; a powerless, painful continuation
Char began to have a flashback right before his eyes, all of those times he spent with Lacus back on Side 3. All those memories of his home, his father, his family, and Lacus all came back at him like a wave as the face of someone who had been thought dead for a long time finally awoke, that face, was the true face of Casval Daikun as he shed tears.
One day, to that green morning,
We'll cross through all these nights
Because that is the place each one of us searches for
Now, within my own heart,
I want to keep you warm
So dear, and yet so far -
In the name of peace
Fields of Hope
Char pulled off his sunglasses and began to wipe his tears off with his hands as he smiled on at Lacus as she got to the last verse of the song.
So dear, and yet so far -
The fields of promise
Fields of Hope
Fields of Hope
The crowd of ZAFT soldiers and officers stood on their feet giving Lacus a standing ovation. Lacus bowed and smiled back at the crowd.
"Thank you all for coming!" said Lacus as she bowed once more and left the stage and headed towards backstage. She looked around and couldn't find Char anywhere until she found him wearing a green ZAFT uniform in his usual sunglasses. She ran up to him and wrapped her arms around him as tightly as she could. "Casval… I…"
"Oh Lacus… I love you… You don't know how long I've been waiting for this moment to happen…" said Char as he and Lacus leaned in closer and closer until their lips finally met and the two embraced in a passionate kiss, their tongues encircling each other. They both pulled away reluctantly for the sake of oxygen.
"I love you too Casval…" Lacus replied as she smiled at her lover and hugged onto Char tightly. "Casval, we need to get moving before ZAFT finds out why we're truly here. This base… holds ZAFT's newest prototype Gundam, the Freedom."
"I see, and our goal is to steal it. Right?" asked Char.
"Yes, exactly." Said Lacus. "Come on, let's get going!"
With that Lacus and Char ran out back towards where Amuro and Kira were.
"Kira! You're with me, Amuro stay here!" ordered Char as he, Kira, and Lacus ran towards another building, which was top secret and off limits. Lacus pulled out a key and opened the door to get inside, and just as Lacus thought, the Freedom Gundam sitting there waiting for maintenance. Kira then opened up the hatch and activated the Freedom Gundam's systems as the eyes glowed bright neon green and the Freedom Gundam began to move.
"Hey Lieutenant! I got it! Let's get out of here!" yelled Kira as both Lacus and Char jumped onto the hand of the Freedom, with Lacus holding onto Char.
"Hey! You in the Gundam! STOP RIGHT NOW!" yelled a ZAFT soldier as he fired his machine gun at the cockpit of the Freedom, but of course, had no effect as the Freedom mowed right through the building.
"Murrue! We've successfully stolen ZAFT's Freedom Gundam! We're heading back to the Argama right now!" yelled Kira.
"Hurry back Kira! Be careful!" she replied.
Char and Lacus held on tight as the Freedom flew through the air with Amuro's shuttle following close by, all of them heading to the Argama. After a few minutes, they made it back and the Freedom landed into the hangar of the Argama next to the Zeta Gundam and the two red Rick-Dias.
"Captain Bright! The Freedom is now aboard the Argama!" said Oscar.
"Good! Get the Argama moving! Torres! What's our status?" asked Bright.
"The engines are at critical, lifting off now. Setting course heading for the Orb Union." Said Torres.
Meanwhile back at the hangar, Lacus prepared to get into an escape shuttle as Char and Kira saw her off.
"I need to go back to the PLANTs and take care of a few more things. I will come back to you Casval, but please, stay alive for me." Said Lacus as she gave Char one more kiss and entered the shuttle. Soon the shuttle launched straight up into space with Amuro's shuttle taking an opposite route up towards the Moon.
"Hey Kira… you alright?" asked Char who looked over at Kira who looked pretty exhausted.
"Yea… I suppose…" replied Kira as he closed his eyes. "We've been through so much, so many deaths of our friends, and yet… this war is so far from over…"
Kira breathed in and out heavily as he sighed and rubbed his forehead with his hand. He then stumbled to his knees and sat the foot of the Freedom Gundam as Roberto and Sleggar were about to approach until Char motioned for them not to.
"Kira… You must pull yourself together. We have many more battles to fight and so much more to do… Those whose souls are weighed down by gravity must be guided towards a better future, a future that has everyone living out in outer space. It is the only way Kira, the only way to save humanity. That is why we must continue to fight." Said Char.
"You're right… But at the cost how many lives? Both on the battlefield and innocents?" asked Kira.
"Peace and a better future never came at a small price Kira. This war, will determine whether or not coordinators, newtypes, and naturals can live in peace, together in harmony. Just as my father had imagined." Said Char. "I originally joined the Earth Federation to get revenge against ZAFT for killing my father. But now… after seeing Lacus again, I realize that now the best way to avenge my father's legacy is to spread the ideals of the AEUG."
"AEUG?" asked Kira.
"The Anti-Earth Union Group. It's funded by Amuro Ray, and was created by dissident Federation officers, and just now, Lacus Clyne and her followers joined the AEUG. We're a part of the AEUG too." Said Char.
"I see…" said Kira as he sighed. "We outta be arriving at orb in about a week right sir?"
"Yea… A week." Said Char as he finished up maintenance for the Zeta Gundam.
A few more days passed until finally the Argama had entered Orb airspace but then was immediately fired upon by Aegis-class ships.
"Why are they firing at us!" inquired Bright. "Attention forces of the Orb Union! This is the AEUG Pegasus III Class ship, Argama. We come in peace and offer no harm! We ask that you cease fire upon our ship!"
"The AEUG? Very well… you're permitted to land." Replied an officer from the Orb ship.
"Mr. Uzumi Athha! Sir! The Argama has landed. It belongs to the AEUG, and not the Federal Forces are previously thought." Said an officer.
"I see. The AEUG, that group fight both ZAFT and the Earth Federation… Have we heard from the Earth Federation yet with their reply to our plea?" asked Uzumi.
"No sir. The Earth Federation looks like they will continue with their attack on our nation." Replied the officer.
"Keep contacting them and stress the Orb Union's position of neutrality." Uzumi ordered as he sighed. "Ever since the Titans gained control over the Federation… Things have gotten a lot harder…"
As he began contemplating to himself, Cagalli looked out the window and saw the Zeta and the Freedom Gundams covering the Argama from any potential enemy units. She looked over at her father who was in deep thought and she sighed as well. She knew that the Federal Forces were going to invade in order to gain the Orb Union's mass driver and territory to gain full control over the Earth. And soon, Murrue, Bright, Char, and Kira entered the room and saluted Uzumi.
"I am Lieutenant Commander Ramius, now currently the captain of the AEUG flagship, Argama. We come to the Orb Union to defect news of a Federal Forces invasion." Said Murrue.
"Welcome to Orb, Miss Ramius. We welcome all of the AEUG members. We already know of the unfortunate news you bear us… The Earth Federation plans on attacking in less than two hours. I recommend that you escape to space along with the other AEUG members that have fled here, along with an escort spaceship, the Kusanagi." Said Uzumi. "We appreciate the sentiment, so therefore the Orb Union will join the AEUG."
"Thank you for your support Mr. Attha." Said Char as he shook his hand. "As co-founder of the AEUG, along with Lacus Clyne, the other co-founder, our chief representative, Amuro Ray from Anaheim Electronics wishes you well."
Uzumi simply nodded and motioned at a group of dissident Federation officers.
"If I may direct your attention to these men, they are AEUG members that fled here to Orb."
"Captain Henken Bekkner, formerly captain of the Salamis-Kai class cruiser, Suruga." Said Captain Henken as he saluted.
"Ensign Jack Bayard, mobile suit pilot aboard the Suruga, leader of the 'Jack the Holloween' Team."
"Sergeant Kingnan, formerly an operator aboard the Gallop, Axis Advance Force turned AEUG."
"Captain Bright, you will be in charge of the Kusanagi, with Captain Henken in second in command who will be in charge of all matters dealing with mobile suits. You two are legends in the Federation Forces, so are you Miss Ramius." Said Uzumi.
"Thank you sir." All three replied.
Uzumi then looked to Kira as Cagalli yelled out his named and gave Kira a hug. "So you must be the gundam pilot we've been hearing so much about from Cagalli and the news."
"Yes sir." Said Kira. "But all I'm doing is fighting to protect my friends. I'm not anything special."
"That in itself, is something very special." Replied Uzumi.
All of the sudden an explosion rocked all of them to the ground. The Earth Federation had finally begun its attack on the Orb Union. The Dogosse Gier, the Titans newest flagship, was at the front leading the invasion with many Garuda-class airships launching their GM II mobile suits. Scirocco sat at the bridge as Murata stood nearby smirking. Next to Scirocco was his new protégé, Flay Allster.
"Now to see if your new toys work, Paptimus Scirocco…" said Murata as he laughed somewhat maniacally as Titan ace pilot, Yazan Gable launched in his new transformable mobile suit made by Scirocco himself, the Messala. The Messala was light lbue in color with some accents of dark blue.
"YAZAN TEAM! LAUNCHING!" yelled Yazan as he smirked sadistically as he launched from the Dogosse Gier's hangar and into the battlefield. He fired his beam cannons of the Messala and took out a group of M1 Astray mobile suits along with an Aegis class ship. "Insects like yourselves deserve to die!"
Meanwhile the other GM II's landed on Orb for the attack, swiftly making their way deeper. Murata watched with a certain satisfaction as now he controlled the Earth Federation.
"The whole war is wiping out the coordinators and putting us, the naturals of Earth back on top and in charge. The coordinators are like wild animals, who at the very least should be caged or put on a leash… because us naturals are the weaker beings…" said Murata as he tried to push a flashback of his friends trying to fight with two children who were coordinators, but failed miserably. He could remember crying to his mom about why she didn't let the doctors make him into a coordinator too, but her mother slapped him and told her that coordinators were filthy. Murata's smirk soon returned as he could see Yazan do exceptionally well on the battlefield.
"Please! You all must leave! They will take this place over soon…" said Uzumi as he watched his own daughter cry. "You must leave as well Cagalli."
"But father! I'm not leaving you here!" yelled Cagalli as she tried to cling to her father, but all he did was hand Cagalli a photo of two infant children, one brunette, the other blonde in the arms of a brunette woman. "Go to space, and you will be with your brother."
Cagalli looked behind it and gasped as she was dragged onto the Kusanagi by Orb soldiers. Murrue faced Uzumi and saluted along with the rest of the AEUG members.
"We will keep the light of hope and peace alive that you and the Orb Union have lit, no matter how dim." Said Murrue as Uzumi nodded.
"Now get going!" ordered Uzumi as the rest of the AEUG retreated onto the Argama and the Kusanagi. An extra Rick-Dias and a new model, a rather golden-bright Hyaku Shiki was loaded onto the Argama as well. The Argama prepared for take off and heading to outer space, but Kira and Char got into the Freedom and the Zeta to cover the Kusanagi's launch on the mass-driver.
"This is Kira Yamato in the Freedom! Launching!" yelled Kira as the Freedom launched from the Argama.
"Char Aznable, Zeta Gundam, away!" yelled Char as the Zeta transformed into it's waverider mobile armor form and shot down a line of GM II's as Kira fired his beam rifle and destroyed 2 GM II's. "Don't let the Federation Forces get too close to the mass driver or else this will have all been for nothing Kira!"
"Got ya Lieutenant!" said Kira. "Damn! There's a new model!"
"Not so fast you AEUG insects!" yelled Yazan sadistically as he fired his beam cannons and a volley of missiles from the Messala. Char launched a heat-seeking grenade from the Zeta's right arm but Yazan dodged it quickly, but only to be hit by Kira's beam rifle shot as he got knocked back.
"Kira! We have to latch onto that last component for the Kusanagi or we'll be stuck on Earth!" said Char as the Zeta Gundam transformed back into the waverider form and retreated back to the mass driver as Kira already clutched onto a part of the Kusanagi.
"You're not going anywhere!" yelled Yazan as he fired at Char from behind, but Char continuously dodging.
"Kira! I'm not going to make it! Go on without me!" yelled Char.
"No way in hell Char!" yelled Kira as he fired at Yazan again, this time knocking the Messala into the water as the Freedom's hand extended out its furthest to grasp the hands of the Zeta Gundam. "Come on Lieutenant, you have to make it! You can do it Char!"
Char grunted as the Zeta pushed its thrust level to the max as finally the Zeta grabbed hold of the Freedom as Char and Kira smiled in relief. The Kusanagi's parts along with Char and Kira all made it out into space with the Argama in the lead. It was now quite evident; the final battles of this war would be decided out in outer space, where the fate of the space colonies, the Earth, and everyone living in it would hang in the balance with four warring factions battling for ultimate control over the Earth Sphere…
With Char's full newtype potential developing and Kira's abilities as a coordinator blossoming, who will survive?
To be continued, please review! Thanks a lot:)
Next chapter: Chapter 3: Encounters In Space