Chapter 12: Exodus
A/N: Enjoy the twist last chapter, well you're in for more...Enjoy this chapter and R and R. Prometheus is the name of the new lunar base controlled by the Earth Alliancethat replaced the lunar base, Ptolemaeus.
WereBear: Unfortunatly I'm not on Cable Internet yet (though I should get it soon)...and thanks for your review
Lady Une-chan a.k.a. Mirai: Thanks for the review...I hope you enjoy the rest of the story...keep reviewing
AngelofDreams, asga, lodislord: Thanks for the continuing reviews, it inspires me to write onwards
New orders came over the communications channel, 'Proceed back to space for the attack on Prometheus, any non-ZAFT ships you meet on the way, destroy them.' Arthur and Talia were in her office, where they had just received the latest orders from Dullindal. They had heard about Lacus Clyne's death, and the declaration of the highest state of war between PLANT and the Earth Alliance.
"Captain Gladys we have to destroy the Archangel, it is in our orders," Arthur said.
"But we are their allies, honour dictates that we should tell them and then leave and the next time we meet, we meet as enemies. ZAFT should not be known as dishonourable," Talia replied, "You also forgot that one of our soldiers is on board the Archangel. And how do you think Commander Zala would react. You have forgotten that he has very close friends on the Archangel." With that she shut out Arthur's protests.
"Ask for Commander Zala and escort him to my stateroom, Arthur," Talia ordered. Arthur saluted and left to fetch Athrun.
The door closed behind him as Athrun entered into Talia's stateroom. "We have new orders that you won't like. You have to face a decision, Athrun," Talia said after he sat down opposite her. She handed him the new orders from Dullindal, he looked at them and then stared up shocked, "even if they aren't Earth Alliance ships, we have to destroy them?" he asked.
"Yes, and that places us in a very precarious situation, as a member of FAITH you negotiated an alliance which we now have to renege on, so you will have to inform them. And you yourself have to make a choice, to go or to stay. With Lacus dead there is nothing keeping you here anymore," Talia replied.
"I'm going then, my commission is done, I returned to see what was wrong in PLANT, and now I know, the leadership is corrupt and self-serving. Dullindal is the enemy of peace, despite all his public actions to the contrary, he has been playing it behind the scenes, he tried to have Lacus killed more than once and succeeded in driving co-ordinators to his banners of war, he is no better than my father and La Crueset," Athrun said, "you should leave ZAFT and join the Archangel and those who truly desire peace for everyone. He knows that I know too much and at any time can become a liability that needs to be taken care of. I'd rather face him in open battle than look over my shoulder at PLANT all the time."
Lord Jibril sat on the Girty Lue now headed for the Prometheus base on the moon to personally handle the final stages of Project Exodus. With him on the bridge were Captain Lee and his two remaining Gundam pilots, Sting and Auel. Once Project Exodus is finished then the world can start afresh. The chances would have even been better if I hadn't lost Gaia and Destiny and their pilots. No matter, Exodus will solve everything.
"I'm staying Yzak, I'll resign my commission again if I have to and if you were smart you would come with me," Dearka almost shouted through the comm. from the Archangel to Yzak on the Minerva. "It is alright for you when your girlfriend is part of ZAFT as well, but mine isn't. I couldn't try to kill her. I would rather be known as a traitor to ZAFT than have to kill the person I love. If you were in my position what do you think that you would do? I only returned with you last time because you dragged me back. This time I'm leaving for good." He was conflicted, having just been told that the Archangel was now declared an enemy, he didn't want to leave, he had sacrificed his love once already for the sake of ZAFT, he wouldn't do it again.
Yzak did not know what to say, part of him knew what Dearka said was right. That part of him warred with the part of him who said that duty was duty even at the cost of love. I suppose luckily for me, my love is on the same side so I don't have to face that choice. But I do sort of understand how Dearka must feel.
Chairman Dullindal sat in his office as reports from successful FAITH agents filtered in through the private channels. As more LOGOS members died, the more power concentrated to him as one of the remaining members. It was his plan to become the sole member of LOGOS to control the world's weapon production, to destroy the Blue Cosmos and the Earth Alliance and then to disband LOGOS to achieve peace, but his peace. In short, LOGOS would become the scapegoat for all that was bad and when he and FAITH moved in to disband LOGOS, he would be hailed as a hero and have control over the world, to remake it the way he wanted.
The Minerva and the Archangel went their separate ways, the Minerva back to Victoria and then to space, the Archangel to the rendezvous point. Shinn and Stellar sat in the officer's lounge, looking out at the sea, through the small windows, lost in their thoughts. Neither of them knew what to do about the new orders, the Archangel had helped them in Victoria and were dedicated to peace, now the next time they met, they would be deadly enemies. And now, Athrun and Dearka had elected to go over to the Archangel…to be with their loved ones, to watch over them and defend them like he now did with his. He moved next to Stellar and put his arm around her waist, embracing her in a hug. She tilted her head to the side and looked into his eyes, silent thoughts shared.
Part of him knew that the Archangel would be dangerous, the next time they met on the battlefield. Carrying many of the veterans of Jachin Due made the ship dangerous, and their complement of Mobile Suits bettered Minerva's with more Gundams and more experienced pilots. Rumours still abounded many of the leaders of the Clyne faction that hadn't returned to PLANT at the end of the last war had resided in Orb, most likely connected to the Archangel. But he had to focus on Stellar and his mission, when they met the Archangel again then he would decide what to do. For all he had really longed for was peace and safety for those he loved.
Stellar felt Shinn's warm embrace reassure her, it had been a hard time to readjust to the different environment of the ZAFT life. She knew that it was because of Shinn that she was allowed to stay and that the crew had welcomed her, but in Shinn's arms she felt safety, more than she had known. Her thoughts turned towards her old life and Neo, who had turned out not to be Neo…he seemed more friendly than before, more relaxed but she knew that they would not be anything more than friends. It was obvious to her that they wouldn't be anything more than friends now, she had Shinn and he had the Captain Ramius of the Archangel. She knew that the Archangel and the Minerva had split up, she felt sad that the next time they met they would be enemies and there would be nothing but death and suffering. She didn't want to hurt her friends, it was that simple. That's why she hoped that they wouldn't meet the Archangel again.
Kira and Lacus similarly stood in the lounge onboard the Archangel, with his arms wrapped around her waist. Kira and Lacus looked out, they saw the blue sea go by. Both of them strived for peace, and a good life without war. Kira's suspicions about ZAFT had been confirmed by Athrun, indeed they both knew that Dullindal had more up his sleeve, and that he was not inclined to have a democratic peace.
The Minerva loaded itself on the mass-driver at Victoria which had been recently fixed. Captain Gladys looked back reluctantly at the Earth as the Minerva shot out from the end of the mass driver and pushed up into the atmosphere. The rest of the bridge crew were also braced in their seats, as the Minerva pushed up past the atmosphere towards space and their next mission, the assault on Prometheus base.
Athrun and Cagalli were in the pilot's quarters trying to discuss politics in between making out. Cagalli hadn't heard anything from Orb for a while, she looked forward to the debriefing she would receive from Morgenraete agents when they reached the rendezvous point. Athrun worried that PLANT would continue its own path down towards destruction, helped along by Blue Cosmos and the Earth Alliance. But both of their hearts weren't really into discussion, they needed to fulfil their more carnal desires especially after such a long absence.
Milliaria and Dearka sat in another part of the ship, continuing their relationship. They fell into talking about his decision to leave ZAFT again, and this time there would be no going back. At least that is what they told themselves, that they would not let anyone or anything else intervene between them ever again.
ZAFT forces prepared at Armoury One for the assault on Prometheus base on the moon. With Lacus Clyne's death, anti-natural sentiment in PLANT had boiled over, many citizens now demanded that at the very least, naturals be interdicted on Earth and that they shouldn't be allowed into space. Dullindal, to be seen as wanting a peaceful solution decided for the less drastic course of action of interdiction rather than genocide. Genocide would be left to LOGOS. The fleet of Nazca-class cruisers, some with neutron stampeders attached to them merely awaited for the Minerva's arrival before launching towards Prometheus. They would be supported by Gouf and Zaku type mobile suits and the Gundams off the Minerva. Dullindal held his new Gundam in reserve it wasn't the time to reveal all his cards yet.
The Archangel surfaced at the rendezvous point to find the Morgenraete delivery ship there waiting. Colonel Kisaka hailed the Archangel over the comm. with a report of the situation in Orb and also specifications on the three brand new Gundam units. He only expressed regret at not being able to find suitable pilots for these machines as all available pilots had been requisitioned by Yuuna for the Earth Alliance, especially after the loss of trust in Yuuna and his father, by Jibril of Blue Cosmos. There were rumours of some big secret mission floating around the highest echelons of Orb's government but Kisaka had not been privy to those secrets. The crew of the Archangel knew that this would lead to an explosion in the intensity in which the war would be fought.
The crew of the Archangel gratefully accepted the 3 new Gundams that had been delivered by Colonel Kisaka who would return to Orb to keep the information flowing where it needed. Murrue said that the Archangel would just have to find its own pilots when it could for the new unit. Murrue and Andy assured the Colonel that they would find the pilots they needed but not many around the world could be trusted. The Archangel slid underwater again coming to rest at the bottom while the command decided where to go and what to do next.
The crew of the Archangel held a quick meeting within the officer's lounge after the delivery of their new Gundams. With the three new units, it was pilots they were short on. Naturally, Mu would pilot one of the new units, and it was quickly decided that Dearka's Gunner Zaku Warrior would be put into deep storage, and that he would pilot the second. They surveyed the three new units designated 'Morgenraete Inc. Gundam X1', 'MIG X2' and 'MIG X3'.
The diagnostics on the three new MIG units came up on the screen as the crew sat down to analyse the new units. Words appeared on the screen accompanied by a picture, the words said MIG X1: a special close combat Gundam, designed especially for anti-mobile suit combat. It carries the 'Trikeros' system off the Blitz Gundam on its right arm but this can be unattached and replaced with an 'Excalibur' anti-ship sword. On the left arm there is a normal mobile shield overlayed with a prototype beam/energy shield based off the Artemis Umbrella allowing Unit X1 to absorb a lot more damage than other suits. Because of the high power drain of this and the Phase Shift Armour, Unit X1 is powered by a nuclear fission reactor equipped with n-jammer cancellers. Even though this is against the treaty, with PLANT being declared a rogue state, the treaty is obviously null and void. Unit X1 also has 2 beam boomerangs and features the CIWS system adulterated from Duel and a 5 barrel missile pod system mounted on its left shoulder. Untit X1 is designated Slayer.
MIG X2: this Gundam is designed for assassination and is used in long-range combat and stealth missions. This unit features the Mirage Colloid system and possesses Phase Shift Armour. Again this is powered by a nuclear fission reactor with n-jammer cancellers. In terms of armament Unit X2 carries a 350mm gun launcher and 94mm high-energy rifle, which can be used independently or combined to form a more penetrating and powerful rifle used for sniping. For closer combat, Unit X2 is also armed with two beam cannons mounted on its shoulders and a CIWS system which features Igellstung machine guns. Unit X2 is recommended for reconnaissance and stealth missions primarily and in open melee as a secondary function. Unit X2 is designated Assassin.
Unit X3's is a multi-purpose combat Gundam, it can fight both ranged and melee. Featuring two M16M-D4 Gunbarrel mobile weapons pods driven by the DRAGOON system, this is designed for the expert pilot. Besides the mobile weapons pods Unit X3 features a smaller version of the 'Judicium' class rifle as well as a laser saber. For protection it has a standard mobile shield. It features both the Baleena beam cannons which swing up from the back to be mounted onto the shoulders when the pods are launched and Rail Rifles which unfold from the hips. As with the other models in this series, Unit X3 features Phase Shift Armour and is powered by a nuclear fission reactor equipped with n-jammer cancellers. Unit X3 is designed to fulfill a wide range of mission parameters. Unit X3 is designated Endymion.
Naturally, Mu took Unit X3 the aptly named Endymion, having many years of experience with mobile armour would allow him to make full use of the mobile weapons pods on the Endymion. The Assassin was assigned to Dearka, having similar performance to the Buster and the Gunner Zaku Warrior, the Assassin would not involve much of a change in Dearka's combat tactics, it would only mean a better machine. Kira and Murdoch would supervise the tinkering of the new OS and give the machines a last check-over before their next mission. The Slayer was moved into deep storage, when they found more pilots, if at all possible, they would pilot the unused machines.
The Minerva headed into space towards the Prometheus base, as soon as they joined; ZAFT commanders ordered the beginning of the attack. Zakus and Goufs and GINNs were launched from the fleet meeting the oncoming Daggers and Murasames and Windams. The two forces encountered each other in a colossal battle, mobile suits being destroyed left and right, the explosions filling space with bright fireworks. Onboard the Minerva, pilots rushed towards the hangar as Meyrin voice came over the comm. relaying the launch orders.
"Shinn Asuka, Destiny launch," Shinn's unit came out of the right hangar, catapulted into space. He began to fire at the oncoming enemy.
"Yzak Jule, Zaku, away," out of the left bay, Yzak's blue custom Zaku launched out of Minerva's hangar.
"Rey Za Burrel, Zaku, go" Rey's white Blaze Zaku Phantom came out of the Minerva to join the battle.
"Shiho Hahnenfuss, Cgue, launching," Shiho's Cgue unit came out of the left docking bay, joining her boyfriend Yzak in battle, as they worked in tandem to destroy Earth Alliance mobile suits.
"Stellar Loussier, Gaia, away" Stellar launched out of the Minerva to join Shinn. He hadn't wanted her to battle, because he argued that she wouldn't be safe, but Stellar felt that she had to join Shinn, to keep him safe and he had conceded that she was right. The Gaia rose to join the Destiny in battle.
"Lunamaria Hawke, Zaku, launching," Lunamaria's custom red Gunner Zaku warrior rose to join the other mobile suits off the Minerva as they lead the assault through the centre of the Earth Alliance formation.
"Captain, Chaos, Abyss, detected here," Arthur informed Talia, pointing to the extreme left of the battlefield, "should we relay to our mobile suit pilots to break off and pursue them?"
Meanwhile deep within the Prometheus Base, Lord Jibril sat looking at the monitor screen showing ZAFT and Earth Alliance forces fighting, as soon as the ZAFT was fully committed the destruction would begin. "Sir, ZAFT is activating their neutron stampeders, they will be ready to fire and in range in within 5 minutes."
"Good, ready the Exodus Cannon, target the Nazca-class ships equipped with neutron stampeders." Deep within the Prometheus base, the results of Project Exodus were finally coming to fruition, the Exodus Cannon was being raised from the depths of the base, as soon as it reached the surface it would fire a superlaser which would obliterate anything in its way. Jibril congratulated himself for his brilliant plan, once the ZAFT fleet was out of the way, the rest of the plan would fall into place, whatever was left of humanity after the whole plan would fall under his rule.
Onboard the ZAFT Nazca class ships, their captains prepared to fire neutron stampeders at Prometheus base, "one minute to full charge," the voice of the ensign at the weapons console informed his captain, "thirty seconds…twenty…ten, nine, eight…"
The Exodus cannon emerged right in the middle of the Prometheus base and fired its superlaser at the ZAFT fleet of neutron stampeder ships. Bright green beams were focused on a reflective dish, increasing the power of the resultant beam many times. The Exodus Cannon took aim and fired, a green beam straight at the Nazca class ships as they reached full power. The garland of explosions ripped through the ZAFT fleet, as the combined explosive power of the fully charged neutron stampeders and the beam of the Exodus cannon obliterated everything in its path. Debris shot out in all directions, hitting mobile suits both on the Earth Alliance and ZAFT sides. Luckily, the Minerva was not hurt but they had to change tactics and order an all out assault before the Exodus Cannon could fire again.
Yzak and Shinn lead the Minerva's mobile suits towards the Prometheus base, clearing the enemy mobile suits out of the way as they lead the charge on the Exodus Cannon. Suddenly, the sensor board on Destiny beeped, Chaos and Abyss were leading more mobile suits to stop the attack on the Exodus Cannon. Shinn steeled himself as he brought Destiny around to engage the enemy.
A/N: What do you guys think of the new Gundams made by Morgenraete (MIGs)? Anyway, the next Chapter The battle of Prometheus
