Kido Senshi Gundam SEED Judgement
Episode 4: Freedom and the Sky
In space the Minerva flies back towards Armory One. The crew of the Minerva works on repairing the ship and Cagalli meets with Chairman Dullindal on the Bridge.
"Chairman, why are you here?"
"I could ask you the same thing Princess. I was evacuated here during the confusion. I assume that Athrun brought you here."
Athrun steps forward.
"Yes sir I did. We were caught in the middle of the battle and I had no other choice but to bring her here."
"I see. It was the only thing you could do at the moment. We should return her safely to ORB as soon as we can."
Cagalli steps in front of Athrun.
"The Archangel should still be at Copernicus right now. I told them I would rendezvous with them after my meeting with you."
The Captain is surprised and a bitterness enters her voice when she hears of the Archangel.
"The Archangel."
"Is something wrong Talia?"
"No, its nothing."
"Alright then Princess, the Minerva shall escort you to the moon. Are there any ships near us at the moment?"
Meyrin, the CIC works the console.
"Yes sir the Voltaire is the closest ship they will meet us in lunar orbit."
"I shall go back to PLANT on the Voltaire. Talia, I want the Minerva to escort the Archangel back to Earth."
As the Minerva makes its way towards Copernicus, the Captain goes back to her quarters followed by Dullindal.
"Talia, I know you well enough to know when something is wrong."
"I lost something very dear to me because of that ship."
"Oh, I'm sorry."
Dullindal grabs and hugs Talia. Then he kisses her, but Talia pushes him away.
"Gil, I can't. Not after everything before. I could never love you again."
"Sure you can."
A few hours later, the Minerva reaches Copernicus. The Captain gets out of her bed with Dullindal beside her covered with a sheet.
"This is Copernicus control. ZAFT vessel Minerva, you are clear for docking."
The Minerva docks in port right next to the Archangel. Murrue and Kira look out at the Minerva as it comes to a stop in the port.
"So this is ZAFT's latest battleship the Minerva."
"It does look impressive though Kira."
Kira looks at the Minerva with a sour expression.
"Maybe."
Cagalli disembarks the Minerva followed by Athrun and Captain Gladys. Kira and Murrue meet them at the Archangel's airlock.
"Cagalli, are you alright."
"Yeah, I'm fine thanks to Athrun."
Athrun floats up behind Cagalli.
"It's been awhile Kira."
"Yeah, it has."
Kira and Athrun sit and talk inside one of the crew quarters.
"What happened at Armory One Athrun?"
"Three new Gundams attacked the base while Cagalli was meeting with the Chairman. We think they maybe from the Earth Alliance."
"Or they could be Blue Cosmos."
"Blue Cosmos?"
"On our way to the moon, we were attacked by a Blue Cosmos group."
"So did you?"
"Yes, I got back in a mobile suit. I had to defend the Archangel and Lacus."
"Where is Lacus?"
"She said that she shouldn't let anyone from ZAFT know she's here."
"I think I know why. Chairman Dullindal has been searching for her. He wants her to return to PLANT. I won't tell the Chairman she was here."
"Thanks Athrun. Why don't you come back to ORB with us?"
"Like I told Cagalli, I won't come back until I know that PLANT is safe. Right now it isn't because of this latest attack. I promised Cagalli that someday I will return to ORB."
In the Captain's office, Murrue and Talia talk while having coffee.
"That new ship of yours is impressive. Being the Captain of ZAFT's flagship must put you under a lot of pressure."
Talia looks depressed into her coffee mug.
"This ship gave ZAFT a lot of trouble during the war."
"Is something wrong Captain Gladys?"
"I won't lie to you or make excuses. During the war, this ship destroyed my husband's ship at Yachin Due."
Murrue drops her mug on the floor.
"I, I don't know what to say."
"You don't have to say anything. We were at war and that's how things go during a war."
"We all have things that we regret doing during that time. I was originally an engineer until ZAFT attacked Heliopolis. We never know what the future may hold for any of us. All of us who fought in the last war have made people cry. I will never forget that and I hope you don't either."
A look of guilt crosses Talia's face.
"I'm sorry Captain Ramius for bringing my personal grief aboard your ship. I must be leaving now. Also, the Chairman wanted us to escort you back to Earth incase there are difficulties on the way."
Talia gets up and walks towards the door.
"I hope we get talk again someday."
Both the Archangel and the Minerva depart from the moon while Djibril sits in a huge room filled with monitors. Djibril pours himself a drink and the Earth Alliance council appears on the monitors.
"Lord Djibril, your Phantom Pain has failed to destroy Armory One like you promised."
"There were complications but we inflicted considerable damage to their forces with only three mobile suits! You can't simply dismiss that fact!"
"PLANT has been accusing us of the attack. It won't be long until they mobilize their forces against us. We do not have the strength to effectively fight against ZAFT."
"The supporters of Blue Cosmos have been producing new ships and mobile suits since the war ended. Our surplus will be at your disposal. We cannot allow those Coordinator mutants to have power. If we don't, than another Patrick Zala will rise and destroy us all! I have sent my Phantom Pain to sink the Minerva."
The Minerva and the Archangel approaches the Earth's orbit while the Girty Lue, cloaked in its mirage colloid, tails them. Neo walks down to the mobile suit deck to meet with the pilots. Stellar sees Neo enter and runs up to hug him.
"Neo!"
"Stellar, Auel, Sting, don't go overboard. I want you all to come back if it gets to dangerous."
Auel let's out a laugh.
"We're the ones who are dangerous! I'm going to kill that blue and white guy!"
Auel, Sting and Stellar board their Gundams and prepare to launch as Neo returns to the bridge.
"Target the Gottfreits and Corinthos on the Minerva. Remember that the Minerva is our target so ignore the Archangel. Launch mobile suits after we fire."
The Girty Lue fires on the Minerva and hits the back of the ship.
"Damage to engines one and two! Damage control teams are being deployed."
"Where did that come from?"
"It's the same ship that attacked Armory One. Three mobile suits have launched from the ship."
"Aim Tristans and Isolde! Launch all mobile suits immediately!"
"Shinn Asuka, Core Splendor launching!"
The Core Splendor and the other modules launch then join to together to form the Force Impulse Gundam.
"Athrun Zala, Saviour launching!"
"Rey Za Burrel, ZAKU launching!"
The Archangel turns around and fires their Gottfreits.
"We need to support the Minerva!"
Captain Gladys contacts the Archangel.
"Captain Ramius, their target is us and not the Archangel. You need to get the Representative back to Earth safely."
"Thank you Captain Gladys but I can't just leave it at that!"
Kira runs towards the exit.
"I'm going out!"
Kira runs down to the hangar and gets into his Murasame.
"Kira Yamato, Murasame, let's do it!"
Kira launches and flies up beside the Saviour.
"Is that you Kira?"
"Yeah, I can't let you fight alone."
Shinn scuffs at the sight of Kira.
"Can he really keep up in this fight with that piece of crap?"
The Gaia, Abyss and Chaos fire at the mobile suits as the Archangel enters into the atmosphere. The Saviour fights with the Chaos as the Force Impulse fights off the Abyss.
"Kira, you don't have very long until you need to come back."
"Just go, don't worry about me!
The Gaia flies around and chops off the Murasame's arm.
"No! I won't let you win!"
Suddenly a huge carrier ship appears. The Minerva notices it and heads in its direction.
"The Gondwana! What's it doing here!"
Chairman Dullindal appears on the Kira's view screen.
"Greetings, Kira Yamato, I am Chairman Dullindal. It is not your time to die yet. Please meet me aboard the Gondwana. I have something to show you."
"Are you insane! I'm in the middle of a battle!"
The Archangel contacts Kira.
"Kira, you have to come back now! You're out of time."
Kira is silent for a couple of seconds while he makes up his mind.
"Miss Murrue, don't worry about me. Get Cagalli back to ORB safely."
Athrun flies in front of Kira.
"Kira, go! You need to see what the Chairman has for you!"
"Alright."
The Murasame flies towards the huge carrier and Kira meets Dullindal on the bridge.
"Chairman, what's so important in a time like this."
"Come with me."
The Chairman leads Kira down to a dark hangar. When they enter, the lights switch on and Gundam appears before them. Kira is surprised as he recognizes the familiar sight.
"Freedom!"
5 - The False Songstress