Chapter 04: Blast!
Three Days Later, Artemis Junk Guild Headquarters
Garret walked through Artemis towards the upper body of the Wraith, its weapons and wings have already been moved to a Shuttle much bigger than the one he came in. One person that had yet to leave his side was the Max android the Professor created. "I hear that Lowe is checking out the Double Gerbera now." Max told him, "With this we can go to ORB by the end of today." Max informed him.
"Yes, you are quite right Max, I'm going to go see him now." Garret told her as he looked at the Wraith. In said a small thing in Russian as his third language, what it translated to was. "May your soul rest in peace Tolle." Then he turned with Max not to far behind him. He came up to where Lowe was checking on the Double Blade Gerbera. "So what do you think Lowe?" Garret asked the orangish red haired man with a blue bandana black shirt and yellow vest.
"I like your Idea, even though I am to use to the single blade now I can't change it to give myself one of these." Lowe told him walking to Garret. "I say it is my best work yet, well besides my 150 meter Gerbera of course." Lowe told him as Garret nodded.
"Oh yes, how is the Red Frame doing these days?" Garret asked.
"Oh, Powered Red, its still doing good, and I'm sorta glad that treaty is allowing us to do whatever we want as long as we don't attack." Lowe said with a smile as Kisata came up to them. "Oh hey Kisata!" Lowe called as she just blushed at the man she cared for so much.
"Hey Lowe, Mr. Nexus your ship is ready as soon as we load the double Gerbera, you will be able to leave at anytime." Kisato told him as Garret nodded.
"Thank you." He then turned to Max, "Go and prep the shuttle would you, I'll go get my pilot that I came with." Garret told her as she nodded and went to the shuttle. "Lowe, mind using Red to take the Gerbera to the shuttle faster?" Garret asked as he nodded and went to get Red. Garret went to get his pilot which took about a half an hour. When the two got to the ship everyone wished him luck and goodbye. With that his shuttle left the Artemis base and went back to Earth and ORB.
Meanwhile Lacus, Kira, Athrun, Cagalli, and Kevin all walked the peaceful little town. They saw children playing and many other things, just haveing plain fun. "Its so peaceful here." Lacus said seeing the children play.
"Its the best we can do." Came the voice of Chris behind them. Kevin eyed Chris because he has yet to give Chris such trust Lacus already has done. "These people are victims of war, so we use the ones that hurt them the most to pay for there survival, thats why we attack alliance ships." Chris told them. "The Earth Forces hurt these people much, but the others and I wish to protect the innocent." Chris said to them, as Lacus looked happily at Chris.
"This place is so peaceful, do you really expect the Earth Forces to take this lying down?" Athrun asked Chris as he shook his head no.
"Of course not, we have white VTOL planes covering the skys, and we have already began having families moving possessions onto the Raptor, as well as all of your things are on the Raptor until your ship is complete." Chris told them. "Every building you see around here, has a tunnel that leads to the ship hangar, and our machines are ready to fight when the time they are needed." Chris told them.
Lacus looked at the happy children of both coordinators and Naturals play in peace. "Sir Nexus, It is good to see so many children playing and having fun." Lacus said with a smile.
"Indeed, if only piece like this and back at ORB could last so well." Kira said in a sad voice.
"No matter where one goes, they will be touched by war." Kevin noted as Chris nodded.
"True enough, and according to Nicola, life is nothing but a Spiral of Death, and with war, death becomes more frequent." Chris told them as he looked at the kids throwing snowballs at each other. "That gives me an Idea." Chris said as he kneeled down as Kira and the others looked at him funny. "Unknown to the children they are playing war." Chris said as in a few seconds he held a snowball and threw it at Lacus which it hit her in the side as she shielded herself with her arm.
Athrun then followed suit as he threw a snowball at Cagalli, and Lacus threw one at Kira, then finally Cagalli threw one at Kevin who just stood there. "Come on stuck up, have some fun, when everyone still has a chance." Cagalli said as Kevin just smiled and made two snowballs and threw one at Cagalli and the other at his sister. For nearly an hour the group threw snowballs at each other in this time of peace.
But unknown to them, a force of Earth Forces new Hannibal class land battleships were moving over the Snow. They've pinpointed one town near each of the attacks. And leading one of these ships was Captain Sullio. Who was determined to redeem himself for what happened days ago. "Sir, we are close to our destination." A soldier called.
"Ok, good, send out VTOL's to scan the area and if they can, get into the town and assasinate any military Personel." Sullio ordered as the total of Hannibal ships were a total of four, all on treads. A total of twenty VTOL planes took off from the ships to take a look around.
Back in the town's airspace, Legends Rising's own VTOL's were designed for harsh winter conditions and painted white for visual means. One plane found a VTOL plane that was looking around. It never saw the VTOL of LR's but continued to the town anyways. "Plane 13 to base, come in" The pilot called.
"This is base what is it?" A voice answered back.
"I have just found an Earth Forces cruiser, heading to the town, should I engage?" He asked.
"Could you (Static) over?" Just then, behind the white VTOL, a beam rifle blast appeared behind him, as it opened fire sending the plane into oblivion onto the mountain side in flames. That was when a Mobile suit dropped from Mirage Colloid. The Machine was Jet black and had white area's throughout the body, but it mostly was black. It stood on a purple subflight lifter, and on its right shoulder, it showed a red tiger.
It then went under mirage colloid once again and went towards the town.
Meanwhile at the town, Chris had invited, Kira, Lacus, Athrun, Cagalli, and Kevin to his place, where Nicola was already at. When they arrived, Chris and Nicola went and got some dry clothing for the group of teens. "Here, I hope most of you can fit in these clothes." Chris told them as he was a bit bigger than the guys, but Nicola was also a bit smaller in curves with Cagalli.
"They should do just fine till our own clothing dries." Athrun said as he and the guys went one way as the girls went the otherway. As they got changed, in the base, Aelan, Andy, and Mina chatted about the installation as they each have been there the same amount of time. Even as the last of the equipment of the base was being moved into the Raptor.
"This is an impressive installation." Andrew said out loud as he looked at the people loading in cranes into the ship, and then finally crates upon crates of food. "They are very organized." He said as Meryl walked over to them.
"Something doesn't feel right Andy." Meryl said as Andrew looked at her.
"What is it?" Andy asked as Aelan looked at her.
"One of Chris' VTOL's signals was just lost fifteen minutes ago. Its last known location was about seventeen miles from here, just outside sensor range of this base." Meryl reported as Andrew nodded.
"Earth Forces I bet." Mina said as Andy nodded.
"Have they sent word to Nicola or Chris yet?" Andy asked as Meryl nodded.
"Yes, they have already activated the evacuation watches." Meryl told him.
She said so as just outside, unknown to people who were calmly going home, three soldiers of the Earth Forces Special Ops, began to take aim for anyone. Kevin felt something was wrong within the house as he looked outside. Cagalli looked at Kevin and new what he was thinking, as did Kira. "Theres something going on isn't their Snake?" Kira asked as Kevin nodded.
"Something is not right." Kevin told him as Chris' watch began to beep.
"Everyone get to the tunnels, and go to the Raptor." Chris told them calmly as everyone looked at him. "The Dominion doesn't stand a chance in its condition, so we ask you this commander Walker." Chris said turning to him. "We wish to use your ship as a decoy to destroy the invaders as we escape." Chris told him as Kevin looked at him in shock.
Kevin then got serious and smirked. "What do you have in mind?" Kevin asked, but then a shot was heard as a bullet went through the window, and hit Kevin which knocked him off balance. Allowing him to fall to the ground on his arm.
"Kevin!" Cagalli and Kira called, Chris went to the window and looked outside. Just then to the left of his house, at another Window, as Nicola rushed out of the room she was in. Another shot was heard as Chris saw Nicola had her arm get hit. Chris left the window he was at and immediately jumped to where Nicola was as she landed in his arms from the shots impact.
"Nicola" Lacus said concerned as Chris began to move Nicola towards the grandfather clock. He moved the time to three thirty seven as the clock moved away.
"Everyone this way." Chris called almost angry. Kevin stood up and had everyone go to the clock. "Here, Kira take Nicola with you." Chris told him as Kira nodded and put Nicola's non injured arm over his shoulders.
"What about you Chris?" Athrun asked.
"Don't worry about me, just tell the others to take my Machine out of the Raptor, and for them to launch immediately." Chris told them as he turned to leave. Kevin grabbed Chris shoulder.
"And where do you think your going." Kevin asked as Nicola answered for Chris.
"Its because, if anyone hurts me. Chris will not stand by and let him gloat about it." Nicola said as Chris broke Kevin's Grip and began to leave.
"Ok then I'm going to." Kevin told them as Chris nodded, as Kevin looked at Chris hand it was of a grayish blue fir. "So you are a Zoanthrope." Kevin said confirming what he thought. But Chris didn't answer as he was already gone from the building. Chris jumped up to the roof where the one that Shot Nicola. Chris landed in the spot and saw the snowy footprints, and followed them instantly. As he followed he saw the man that did hit her, and was taking aim at a child. Chris sneaked towards the unknowing man and grabbed his neck with both hands. Before the man knew Chris had already broken his neck.
Kevin on the otherhand found another Earth Forces officer, the soldier tried to hit snake with the but of his rifle, but Kevin grabbed it, took his otherhand disarmed him of a combat knife, and stabbed him in the neck. Kevin took the knife for himself, as he does not want to bring his full Destroyer Capabilities to the field of battle, just yet anyways. (If I was facing Aelan, this would be s different story.) He thought to himself as he then saw Chris, throwing the dead body of the one that Shot Nicola off of a building. Kevin noted that Chris has only partially transformed, and was heading to the main Area's entrance.
Inside, Aelan had already gotten to the bridge, as did Alexis, Alexis immediately jumped into the captains chair. Aelan looked at her as Alexis did so as well. "I'm sorry Aelan, but for now, I'm in command because everyone else knows me." Aelxis told her as Aelan nodded understanding what she meant and went to the hangar to get the Red Queen ready for combat. As this happened Kira got Nicola to the infirmary so her arm could be worked on.
"Excuse me Kira" Nicola said as he turned to her. "I want you to use, I want you to use the Crimson blade." Nicola told him.
"Are you sure?" Kira asked her as she nodded.
"Of course, because of my arm, I wont be able to pilot it for a bit, and we may be needing it."
As this happened on the bridge Alexis barked out orders. "Ok prepare Avalanche charges!" She called. "Well burry them in Snow first, then make our escape, just like we planned!" She called as the crewmen nodded. "Ok, start up the ships main systems, charge the Lohengrin's and the other positron cannons. Load Missile Launchers, and ready CIW's." Alexis ordered. "Asriel O'Neil, you have the bridge, prep my GuAIZ for combat!" Alexis ordered leaving the bridge. Chris and Kevin both arrived into the hangar, as the both of them then jumped into the black lightnings cockpit, as it was big enough to hold two people. Kevin never took any of its systems, but looked at its activation code, or what the GUNDAM stood for in this machine. The words General Un-subdued Nexus Drive Assault Module, appeared on the screen. He then took in mental pictures as he saw a picture by one of the screens. It had Chris, Nicola, and Aelan in it, along with a third female with black hair, and he didn't recognize her. Chris machine rose at its full hight, "Ok, activate the Charges!" Asriel said on the bridge.
Outside, where the Hannibals were driving towards the village. They have gotten word that there were no one in the village at the moment. "Captain Sullio, explosives have been detected going off, up on the peeks!" A soldier called as Sullio looked outside to see Snow rolling down the cliff.
"Damn, Target all weapons at the Snow!" Sullio ordered, "and move us away from the area." He ordered, as the Hannibal cruisers moved away. One of them were not lucky enough to escape as it was burried in the Snow. Chris Machine flew into the Raptor letting Kevin off, so Chris can completely concentrate on the battle ahead.
Kevin saw, both the Red Queen, and the Gold Frame ready to launch, as the Black Lightning was also heading to one of the catapults. "Hey could someone tell me where, the Sturm is?" Kevin asked as Aelan opened her cockpit.
"Over there" Aelan pointed with the Red Queen's hand, "But it will be equipped with normal beam rifles rather than the Buster Rifles!" Aelan told him. Kevin knew why so he went to his suit. Just as he saw Kira going up the zip line in the Crimson Blade.
(Hey Kira, why are you going in that machine?) Kevin asked through their link they have developed.
(Nicola has allowed me to do so) Kira told him. Then Chris came onto the radio of each machine, just as Kira saw the pic of Nicola, Aelan, Chris, and Meer, but he didn't know Meer. "Must be there little group." Kira thought as Chris began to speak.
"Ok we have a small battalion to fight, it is unknown to what type of land cruiser that is, but according to the ships library, its a ship easily defeated by this ship." Chris told them. Chris then loaded himself onto the catapult, as Nicola emerged onto the bridge with her arm in a sling.
"Asriel, what is the situation?" Nicola asked standing behind him.
"Avalanche has taken place, one ship burried, we are waiting till Checkpoint two before we open fire." Asriel reported to her.
"Sir, The first land ship just passed the Checkpoint!" The woman from the radar station called.
On the screen an ordinary Chris showed up on the screen. "Prepare the Raptor, for its trip to ORB, and its breakthrough against these Earth Forces." Chris told them. "The Mobile Suit Team, will take on theirs as the Raptor will go right through them if need be. Once we are far away enough, the Dominion will self destruct, wiping out our last base and the home, that is why we have moved our possessions into the Raptor!" Chris told everyone as his voice went over the PA system. "During these times, everyone has their own job to do, Now, its the time, for us to show these Earth Forces our group will not take things Lying down!" Chris said, as at that very moment, the engines of the Raptor roared to life.
"Alright, as the Captain says its now time. FIre Lohengrins!" Asriel called as the bow of the ship, the two areas of the Catapult opened up, along with one that was on the bottom of the ship. All three Cannon's opened fire, blowing open the door, and through the front Hannibal Cruiser. That Hannibal ship fell apart as it was going towards the ground. "Aingeal, Launch Mobile suits now!" Asriel ordered as Aingeal a orange haired coordinator girl nodded.
"Black Lightning, and Red Queen, to Catapults." Aingeal said into the Intercom. "Systems are go, and you two are clear for launch." She said, as inside the mobile suits, Aelan wore her mask, along with helmet.
"Aelan Strato's, Red Queen, time to pay the Earth Forces back!" She called as the Catapult opened and her mobile suit launched into the sky.
"Chris Nexus, for the glory of freedom!" Chris called as the Black Lightning kneeled and blasted off into the sky.
"Crimson Blade, Sturmfalke, you two are clear for launch." Aingeal told them as Kevin nodded and charged the Stormfalke for battle, even though it didn't have its regular weaponry. In the other catapult, the Crimson Blade piloted by Kira got ready for Launch. Kira has asked for a Beam Rifle, do to his Inexperience for pure Melee.
"Kira Yamato, Crimson Blade Launching!" Kira called as his Mobile suit blasted off, just as the Black Lightning in Jet Mode came underneath and caught the mobile suit, and became its support unit.
"Kevin Walker, Sturmfalke, Launching, but only for my tovarisch. And that I hate the Earth Forces." Kevin said as his mobile suit launched.
Behind them, the GuAIZ and the Goldframe stood at attention. "GuAIZ and Gold Frame to the Catapults" Aingeal called as the machines got ready. "You both are clear for Launch"
"Alexis here, GuAIZ launching!"
"Rondo Mina Sahaku, Launching" Mina called as the machines all took off, the GuAIZ landing on the ground, as did the Gold Frame while the rest took flight.
"Sir, we are detecting multiple machines!" Sophia, the one at their electronic Warfare Identification area. "Multiple machines of their new projects, the we got GAT-O2L2 Dagger L's!" She called.
"Dagger L's the newer of the machine's?" Chris radioed to them.
"Yes, and they seem to have some of their own Strker Packs, From their first cruiser, that has been configures as a Hannibal has the E-A4E1 Jet Dagger L's, and the other one is sending out E-X03 Launcher Dagger L's, they are equipped with "Agni" Launchers." She relayed.
"Becareful, I know that those are powerful! I used them before with the Strike" Kira called as Chris nodded.
"Alright lets go!" Kevin called as his machine changed from mobile suit to plane mode. Then started to fire its CIWs at the Jet Daggers blowing them out of the sky as Chris did the same with his beam rifle while Kira fired his beam rifle from on Chris' machine's back.
As this happened, Mina and Alexis took to the deck of the ship to stop any incoming Missiles from the Launcher Daggers. They also took note of the smoke dispensers by the Hannibals. "Ok remember, we are to break through and to the Pacific ocean!" Nicola called on the bridge as their helmsman did just that.
"Fire Large Missiles, target the Laucher Dagger's, prepare to fire the Lohengrins again!" Asriel called as the weapons system personel nodded. As he barked the orders, everyone were slicing, shooting, or tackling Daggers all to nothing.
Athrun was on the bridge with Cagalli as the ship rattled from being hit in one of its four back fins. "Damage Report!"
"Lower Port side wing has been taken out!" The Damage notifier called.
"How bad is that?" Lacus asked as she was a bit shaken from the wings lost shockwave.
"We are still able to stay airborne, but if another wing goes were crashing!" Psymone (Pronounced Simone) called back to her.
"Damn" Chris said as he fired his Apocalypse cannon destroying seven of the Dagger L's. "Asriel, is there any way that you can increase the Raptors Thrust?" Chris asked.
"Get on that now damage control, search the ships system to find out!" Asriel ordered, "Psymone, Keep this ship up and moving in the right direction!" he ordered.
Away from the battle however was a cloaked machine, it was far away enough not to spark certain people senses. Inside the Machine, as a sandy blonde hair man, with jade green eyes. He wore a custom Black pilot suit, and a black helmet, and the helmet had crimson stripes. The Mobile suit belonged to the Crimson Tiger Jack Carter. Aka Kevin Walkers infamous clone. He looked to be the age of twenty six now, do to not haveing the full advantages of a Destroyer or, that he is a Clone. "So Walker has decided to fight the Earth Forces has he." Carter said to himself as his machine hovered in the air. "And that wench Aelan is here as well, interesting." He said as at that moment, the Red Queen had landed on the ground and pulled out a beam sabre then sliced away seven Machines through the Torso. On the back of the Black Lightning, Kira was making shots none of the others cared to do, as he disabled the machines. The Crimson Blade wasn't like the Freedom, but he did the best he could do. "Well, I think its time for them to know where the Justice went huh Twisted Justice." Carter told himself as his machine known as the Twisted Justice launched right at the group.
As Carter Approached, Kevin had changed into mobile suit mode, and fired all his weapons, the Plasma Cannons which could be found on the Freedom and his two beam Rifles. "Hmm not as good as the Buster Rifles but will do." Kevin said, but then he had what was like a Newtype flash. ( A/N: If this was on T.V. the Flash like what was for Mwu and Rau, it be a black spark instead. And yes that is what the Spatial Awareness is called, as Seed did not determine what it was truly called.) "He's here." Kevin said to himself as he broke off from the main battle.
To Aelan she sliced another Dagger apart, and had a Flash as well, but hers was Red, which was then sensed to both Chris and Nicola. "Chris, Nicola! we have company, I'm going to handle it, Chris you continue on clearing a path for the Raptor." Aelan told him.
"Right." Chris nodded as he and Kira both faught the Earth Forces.
(Whats going on Kevin, what are they talking about?) Kira asked as he blasted the head off of another Jet Dagger.
(Its him, Carter is around.) Kevin answered as he flew into a blank sky where no battle was going on. But then he caught a Silhouette of something moving in the air. "There!" Kevin called as he fired his rifle at the area.
"Hmhmhmhmhmhm" Came a small laugh over the Radio. "I see you have learned how to tell where a invisible suit moves eh Walker?" Carter said to him.
"Carter, quit using that coward tactic and show yourself!" Kevin yelled as a shot was fired from Kevin's right as he made the Sturmfalke lift. Kevin immediately retaliated by firing his own blast from a Plasma cannon in that direction. On the Raptor, Athrun had asked the crew to put up Kevin's little battle on screen.
"You want me to appear eh Walker well." Carter said as right infront of the Sturmfalke was a black Justice Gundam. "Here I am!" Carter called.
Athrun immediately gasped as his old machine was there fighting Kevin and its color changed. The Twisted Justice Gundam drew a double bladed beam sabre which Athrun was fond of when he had it. In one second, he used the beam sabres to slice one of the beam rifles into three pieces. Which made Walker back away and open fire with his Plasma Cannons. Which would of worked but they were reflected away from the Twisted Justice. "What the?" Kevin asked.
"Easy the latest in Defensive Technology, the Positron Deflector, a type of Defence that does not use Colloid particles something the boys at the lab made." Carter answered, as his positron deflector reflected beam blasts from Aelan's Red Queen unit. "So the Red Queen has come to Play, can't kill the original so you have to try for a Fake huh Aelan?" Carter asked and mocked.
"Oh I can kill him whenever I wish, its just that your more annoying!" Aelan said as her machine sliced at him, but he parried the blow with his beam sabre.
Carter then thought this. (Hmm, my deflector my stop ranged attacks, but its useless in Melee.) Carter told himself as his machine backed off and fired its hip mounted Multi phase beam cannon at the Red Queen. Aelan dodged the attack and activated its Wings of Light. Carter Fired again, which scored a direct hit on the Machine.
"Got her!" Carter called, but saw that the Red Queen did not blow up.
"Oh no you didn't!" Kevin and Aelan called, as each of them wielded beam sabres, Kevin went for the Legs as Aelan came and sliced off its beam sabre arm after appearing from nowhere,
Carter thought (Damn, thats new, got to get out of here now!) He called as his machine fell, but its subflight unit reattached to his machines back and had the one armed Twisted Justice Gundam flee.
"Pfft, such an idiot faceing the Guardian Project and Omega Project in mobile suit combat." Aelan told herself as she turned to the Hannibals. "Enough of this shit, what do you say Kevin, blowing them into nothing?" Aelan asked.
"Well, when your right Aelan your right." Kevin said as the both of them charged their weaponry. Aelan charged her Schlag Cannons, connected her Buster Rifles to her machines hips, which now acted as rail cannons, and her Scylla multi Phase Cannon. Kevin on the other hand used his Plasma Cannons and his Beam Rifle. Multiple beams of different colors, and sizes fired from the Red Queen and Sturmfalke, which hit multiple Daggers and Destroyed one of the Hannibals.
That was when the Raptor signaled a Retreat with a Flare. With that Aelan was gone and the Raptor had two Satellite dishes emerge from the back of it. "What in the world?" Kevin asked himself as he changed to Plane mode and went for the Raptor. Chris and Kira had already returned.
As the Engines charged Chris and the others emerged onto the bridge. "What the heck are those?" Kevin called.
"Satellite engines. They serve two purposes, chargeing the Lohengrin's power and to increase the ships speed. And with the Lohengrin's Positronic Interference, this ship can move incredibly fast." The tech at the damage report station called.
"Hey isn't that what the Archangel used to fly from Onogoro Island?" Athrun asked as Kira nodded.
"Of course, and this is a very nice little system then, this would allow this ship to leave Earth without a Mass Driver." Kevin said as Chris nodded.
"Indeed, now lets get out of here, start the timer on the Dominions Self Destruct Sequence." Chris ordered as Kevin nodded and flipped a switch on his belt.
"Good by tovarisch." Kevin said to himself as he hit the switch which started a plastique Explosive within the Dominions Engine's reactor. The Ship then began to pick up speed as it flew over the last remaining Hannibal land ship.
"Alright, Everyone hold on to something bolted down!" Asriel radioed throughout the ship, as Everyone grabbed onto something. "Fire Lohengrin's!" Asriel ordered as the three Positron Blasters fired creating the Positronic Interference, which just Eradicated the Earths Atmosphere infront of the ship increasing the air velocity and getting rid of the air resistance making the ship move fast, and when fast it means unbeleiveable speeds. Kevin had felt this only when Sturmfalke moved so fast itself. Do to not being on the Archangel when it pulled this Stunt.
As the Ship left, the Dominion exploded, taking the Village, and creating an avalanche burying all the Launcher Daggers and the Hannibal ships, along with destroying any Evidence of the base of Legends Rising. Seconds later, the Raptor slowed down to over the Pacific Ocean. "Wow." Was all that Nicola said as the ship lowered itself into the water as it was now a floating fortress. "Now that was Fast." She said.
"Indeed, much faster than I'm use to." Aelan said as she stood up from not properly prepareing herself for such speeds.
"Psymone, set course for ORB." Chris ordered as he nodded. "We have some guests to drop off back at ORB." Chris told him turning to Mina, Lacus, Kira, Athrun, Cagalli, Andrew who remained Silent the whole time learning the ship, and Kevin who all nodded in agreement.
A/N: Wow, finally done of Chapter with a number of new characters of the Raptors crew. Next chapter, will have nothing but time at ORB and a bit on the Raptor, and the announcement, of what Legends Rising is going to be.