Chapter 8: The Battle of Victoria

A/N: Archangel flight is Freedom, Strike Rouge and Murasame. Please continue to R and R this. Things are definitely hotting up both in the action stakes and the romance stakes.

Thanks to everyone who has reviewed this!

Asga

LodisLord

chaosdragon

Angel Of Dreams

The beams from Archangel's Gottfried cannons sliced through another two Earth Alliance warships, destroying them. They began to return fire, as the Archangel dodged to port, the return fire missing them.

Kira, Cagalli and Andy piloted their three Gundams towards the nearest cluster of mobile suits. They swooped in, firing green laser cannons, destroying the enemy as they sped through the enemy formation, their superior piloting allowing them to come through unscathed. The enemy, now oriented to the approach of the Archangel forces returned fire. Kira, Cagalli and Andy were forced to block the shots.

"We're going to have to change tactics," Andy's spoke through the comm. to Kira and Cagalli, "I'll change mine into plane mode and lead them for you to destroy." Andy's gold Murasame transformed itself into a plane as it sped up ahead of the other two Gundams, his enemies close behind him entered into Kira and Cagalli's firing zone. They fired their laser cannons destroying the Windams which had followed Andy. As Andy's enemies were destroyed he looped around in a narrow arc coming back towards Kira and Cagalli, laser bursts firing from his Murasame, as he hit the enemies behind Kira and Cagalli as well as mopping up the rest of his.

More Windams and Daggers came at them as the Earth Alliance forces turned their attention towards the new battleship that appeared on the side of the local resistance, the Alliance commanders were worried as intelligence had said that the ZAFT's Minerva was at the battle of Scandinavia, there was no way that the Minerva could be in Africa at the same time. Nor did intelligence indicate that the Archangel was anywhere near this area. But one of those ships was here now, and they had to deal with that as well as any ZAFT troops on the way.

The Minerva had refuelled and reloaded at Mahamul, and was rushing on its way down to Victoria base where the Earth Alliance had just launched a major attack. At Gibraltar they had picked up three more pilots. The remaining members of the Jule squadron had been assigned to the Minerva, bringing its mobile suit complement up to six.

Yzak had been surprised to see Athrun back in ZAFT uniform, Dearka had seemed nonchalant but he had asked if Athrun had seen Milliaria in Orb. "Lacus is not engaged to you again, is she, Athrun, she's with Kira. I don't belive that you would try to steal your best friend's girl, especially when you were deeply in love with his sister. This 'Lacus' that Dullindal is parading around isn't the real one is she?" Dearka asked Athrun as they sat in the pilots lounge on the Minerva, the view outside the window of the sea passing by as the Minerva sped down towards Victoria.

"She is the real Lacus," Athrun replied in a soft voice, not his usual, feeling rotten for lying to his friend, but Dullindal wouldn't want anyone finding out his secret.

Dearka read Athrun's expression rather than listened to his words, and his expression said it all, the 'Lacus' that he was engaged to was not the real 'Lacus', when he had seen the charity concert that 'Lacus' had given, he had had a suspicion that she was fake, and Yzak had agreed. Dullindal's plan most likely and people do listen to Lacus. Yzak had told him. "It's something you can't talk about is it, Athrun?" Dearka phrased his words carefully, not wanting to get Athrun in trouble if Dullindal found out that he had leaked information.

"That's something that I can't talk about, Dearka, and I haven't seen Cagalli since I went back to PLANT, last I heard she was onboard the Archangel with Kira. Sometimes I wish that I could just leave and find them, but there's something wrong here and I need to know what," Athrun said, "even though the Archangel is rumoured to have been around in battlefield, I can't just leave to find her."

Dearka knew that Athrun was talking about Cagalli when he had mentioned finding her. "I know, I sometimes wish I could just leave to find Milliaria, this time I don't want to let her go, maybe when this whole sordid thing is over, we can settle down. But with the war and everything…I don't know when I'll see her again." He looked slightly downcast, as he thought of Milliaria little knowing that she was back on the Archangel.

"You'll see her soon, I hope, just like I think that I'll see Cagalli again soon," Athrun replied. As he was talking he saw that Rey and Lunamaria had walked in, "Rey, Lunamaria come over here," he said, gesturing for his pilots to come over and take a seat, "come and meet my good friend, Dearka," Athrun introduced Rey and Lunamaria in a less formal manner than at Gibraltar base. Lunamaria was fascinated with meeting more veterans from Jachin Due.

"Lunamaria, Dearka here is an expert at ranged combat in a ZAKU," Athrun said.

"No expert here, ignore him, he's just joking with you," Dearka interjected, chuckling "it is nice to meet you two, my condolences for your friend Shinn."

"Thank You," Rey replied, "he was a very close friend, we worked together since we graduated." Rey had taken the news that Shinn had been declared missing, presumed dead harder than the others. He had been Shinn's best friend through the past few years, they had shared confidences.

Yzak and Shiho were kissing in Yzak's room. They had been going out for almost a year now, their romance had started with her crush on him and it had been a while before he had developed some feelings for her, but they were now definitely together for the long run. As soon as the war was over, they decided that Shiho at least would try to find some less dangerous employment, lest they both die and leave their kids orphaned when they had children. Her lips met his and they embraced their tongue's entwining, enjoying, savouring every moment they had together.

Back in Africa, the battle of Victoria was now in earnest, the battle raged on as Earth Alliance forces pushed forward on the right front. ZAFT forces fought bravely and died bravely, the attack of the Earth Alliance fleets was starting to overwhelm the ZAFT defenders, until Freedom, Strike Rouge and Murasame came roaring through cutting swathes through the Earth Alliance mobile suit corps. Having forced a partial victory on the left front, the flight from the Archangel had taken some time to help the beleaguered right. ZAFT pilots took advantage of the distraction from the Archangel's flight of Gundams, firing at their opponent's destroying many of them.

The Archangel continued to engage the Earth Alliance carriers in battle, "Fire," Murrue's voice rang through the comm. as the Archangel unleashed another barrage of Igellstung missiles and Gottfried cannons. "What is the status of our pilots and the right front," Murrue asked.

"They are at the right front helping the defenders, Earth Alliance suits are falling," Lacus replied, "the numbers are starting to even up, and we should press on for victory on our front."

"Give them another five minutes, and then recall them to the left," Murrue ordered. Milliaria relayed the order to the pilots through the comm. and received acknowledgements from the pilots.

Archangel flight continued to trade blows with the Earth Alliance fleet. "Kira, Cagalli same gambit again as last time," Andy commanded, as his golden Murasame transformed into its jet mode, streaking ahead, leading the Earth Alliance pilots into a trap. This time some of the pilots avoided the trap being clever enough to realise that they would be cannon fodder for the Freedom and the Strike Rouge if they had mirrored the Murasame's change in speed. Kira and Cagalli dispensed with the enemy pilots that had fallen into the trap, while dodging their own enemies. Andy's Murasame raced back through towards Kira and Cagalli firing at the enemy taking out a few more enemy mobile suits, making them explode in fireballs of red, spraying debris around.

Now that ZAFT forces were at least on an even battle field, the Archangel flight withdrew back to the left front, to force hopefully force a victory there, when they returned they saw the first elements of a new Earth Alliance attack batter the local resistance. The Archangel flight charged in ambushing the attackers unleashing a swathe of destruction in its path, resulting in disabled enemy suits, destroyed enemy suits and battleships. The Archangel lead the vanguard which pressed its way forward seeking to engulf the Earth Alliance's forces.

Meanwhile, the JP Jones had proceeded to its destination and began to load the new Destiny Gundam. Neo watched as the predominantly white mobile suit was loaded onto the hangar of the JP Jones. Finally, soon the war can be over and the world can be at peace. One of the officers came through the intercom, "Colonel Lorrnoke, you have a private communication in your office, top priority." Neo cursed as he didn't have time to now test out his new Gundam.

Shinn and Stellar had grown closer, she visited him everyday since he had been captured and the two now shared a semi-close relationship, "Stellar, if we could leave here, then we could be safe forever, wouldn't you like that," Shinn asked, knowing that his feelings for her were now as deep as her feelings for him.

"But I can't leave Neo, he makes me feel safe," Stellar said, "I can't leave."

"He puts you in danger every time he sends you out to battle, you could you know…in the battle, as I'm sure that ZAFT thinks that I am," Shinn replied, arguing now with calm logic, "you could end up like my little sister who owned the phone, caught up, unable to do anything, if we escape then we can go somewhere else."

The stateroom door closed automatically behind him as he entered, but Neo didn't notice that the door had jammed itself leaving a narrow gap into the corridor. Lord Jibril was on the other end of the line, "you are to proceed to Victoria in all haste, we have met unexpected resistance by local forces. Your Gundams are needed. I trust you received my present, here's a chance for you to test it out."

Tears started to fill Stellar's eyes, part of her wanted to go, part of her wanted to stay, she didn't know what to say. Shinn was really nice and she didn't doubt the sincerity of his promise that he would keep her safe, he was a good enough pilot to fend of any attack. She was just very confused.

"We'll leave together, I won't let anything happen to you, I promise." Shinn said, as he finaly convinced Stellar who then went outside, surprised the guard and knocked him out, opened Shinn's cell and beckoned for him to follow her. They snuck out into the passageway, towards the hangar where they could escape.

Shinn and Stellar crept past the door of Neo's stateroom. Through the slightly ajar door he could see a mirror and then he saw a face in the mirror, the face behind the mask of Neo. Shinn committed the face to his memory, knowing that as soon as he got back to safety he could do something about it. But now, he had to escape. Stellar came back from scouting the next corridor and quickly beckoned him to follow. They took the long careful route to the hangar, carefully avoiding any of the guards. The mechanics were working in the hangar as Stellar passed them, on the way to the Gaia.

The Destiny stood unattended at the back of the hangar, Stellar deftly distracted all the Earth Alliance mechanics and Shinn was able to sneak his way to the Gundam. Even when Stellar jumped into the cockpit of the Gaia, the mechanics thought that nothing was wrong, they had long learned to ignore the wanderings of the human CPUs. It was not until the Gaia powered up and started to move inside the hangar creating carnage that they hit the distress button.

While Stellar powered up the Gaia, Shinn sat down in the cockpit of the Destiny, powering it on, rapidly typing, and adjusting the Operating System so that it suited him. Gaia blew open a hole in the ship so that they could escape. The Gaia changed into quadruped form and bounded out the hole onto the sea, making for the nearest stretch of land. The Destiny followed behind, its engines thrusting as it flew up and away from the JP Jones, escaping.

Neo was lying down in his stateroom, unmasked as the alarm rang through the whole ship. Putting on his mask he flicked on the intercom. "Report the status," he barked through the intercom.

"Gaia, Destiny have been hijacked, your pilot took the prisoner with him and they have escaped," the panicked voice over the intercom replied. Shit! What the hell was Stellar doing allowing the prisoner to escape and to let him take my Destiny with him. She betrayed us, we will have to catch up with them. I can't let them escape. "Launch all the mobile suits, we're close enough to the left front on Victoria to battle, prepare my Windam," Neo ordered, even though he was rather more concerned with recovering his Gundam as he ran to the hangar, little knowing that he would recover something else more precious.

While Shinn and Stellar had been escaping the JP Jones, the Minerva had arrived at the left front, where the Archangel and its flight of Gundams had been trying to force a victory.

The Minerva saw the Archangel fire at the Earth Alliance fleet. On the bridge of the Minerva, Arthur asked, surprised as he had thought that they would have been decommissioned, "what is the Archangel doing here? And the Freedom and Strike Rouge and an unknown suit?"

"It is helping us out by taking out the Earth Alliance forces, launch our mobile suits tell them not to engage the Archangel, Meyrin as soon as Saviour is launched open a private line to Commander Zala," Talia ordered.

"Condition Red, Condition Red. All pilots report to the hangar," Meyrin's voice rang out. The six pilots from the Minerva reported to the hangar ready for launch.

"Athrun Zala, Saviour, launching," Athrun said, as the Saviour was catapulted out of Minerva's hold. A private line message from Captain Gladys appeared on Athrun's monitor, "The Freedom and the Archangel are here, contact them if you can." Athrun acknowledged the order and quickly changed over to Orb frequency and scrambling, "Athrun Zala, pilot of the Saviour calling battleship Archangel and Freedom,"

Lacus spoke, as the Archangel detected the oncoming Minerva, "Captain Ramius," the Minerva is approaching, detecting mobile suit launches from the ship, "what should we do?"

Before Murrue had time to answer a Milli spoke, "Message from the Saviour, Athrun?"

"Put it up on the big screen, Lacus take over combat operations" Murrue asked, "Athrun, what are you doing here?"

"Captain Ramius, the Minerva is on its way to help ZAFT forces in the defence of Victoria, Captain Gladys of the Minerva wishes to speak face-to-face, here's the comm. frequency. Send IFF information that we are friendly. Athrun Zala, out," Athrun said, and then he closed the connection.

"Ensign Haww, open communications on the channel provided by Athrun, this is Captain Ramius of the Archangel wishing to parlay with Captain Gladys," Murrue said.

On the Minerva a video communications came up, as the Minerva launched its other five units. "Captain Gladys speaking," Talia said. She saw the face on the screen and then she remembered the woman on the other side from Morgenraete, she had identified herself as Maria Belmes at the time, but Talia understood that it was just an alias, after all Athrun had used one too to hide his identity after Jachin Due. "I would like to propose an alliance between the Minerva and the Archangel in the defence of Victoria, and I think that Athrun wants to see a certain someone again, so perhaps we can meet after the battle."

"I agree, to the alliance and Athrun is free to fly over after the battle to discuss a more permanent arrangement," Murrue replied, "But now we have a battle to win, we'll discuss some more later."

The Archangel's flight of Gundams received word of Athrun's return and the alliance with the Minerva. Cagalli, in Strike Rouge was particularly happy; soon she would get to see Athrun again. The Minerva's mobile suits rose to join the Archangel flight in battle. Athrun saw the Freedom, Strike Rouge and a new suit, the Murasame duke it out with the Earth Alliance suits ripping their forces to shreds with superior flying and tactics.

The mobile suit pilots from the Minerva charged towards the closest enemy mobile suits and ships and began firing as fast as their lasers could cycle.

A/N: So Shinn and Stellar have escaped, but they are near Victoria, so will they run into trouble there? What will happen on the left front as both the Minerva and the Archangel press the attack against the Earth Alliance? What will happen after when Athrun returns to Cagalli when he is 'engaged' to 'Lacus'? Read the next Chapter: Freedom and Destiny.