Chapter 09: The Phantom Pain
Shinn wielded the double bladed anti ship sword with ease as he charged at the Gaia Gundam swinging the massive blade. "AHH!" Stellar yelled as she dodged the attack and opened fire on the machine with her head vulcans doing nothing do to the phase shift capability. Shinn then used one hand to hold his sword and fired his beam rifle with the other one. Aeul and Sting were clueless at the new machine.
"What the hell is this, the commander didn't tell us of any other machines!" Aeul yelled.
"No matter then, Destroy it!" Sting yelled as he fired missiles from his gun pods at the Impulse Gundam. Shinn detached the two swords and turned off the beams.
"Remember Shinn we have to retrieve those machines in one piece." Radioed the second in command of the ship Minerva Arthur Trine.
"How were these machines taken so easily in the first place?" Shinn asked as he dodges the Gaia as it turned into its Quadrouped mode again with Shinn dodgeing its Griffon 2 beam sabres.
"Shinn do not ask those kind of questions in battle" Called Commander Talia Gladys as Shinn dodged right of an attack from Aeul's Beam Javelin. Just as he missed Aeul opened the right shield and fired its three smaller beams at Shinn. Then a beam of white light negated the beams as Aeul looked in the direction it came from. As did Shinn as he saw the SAHAWKU heading to the Abyss' way. The machine landed as it rammed its shoulder shield into the Abyss Gundam.
"Back OFF!" Kevin Walker yelled as he piloted the machine. "Alex, get her out of here now!" Kevin ordered to Athrun as he nodded.
Outside, Neo Lorrnoke looked at Ian Lee. "Drop the Mirage Colloid and ready the attack before they run out of power." Neo told Ian as he nodded.
"Drop the colloid, target Nazca on the Port Side with Gottfried one and two, and the other one with Missile Tubes!" Ian yelled. "FIRE!" He ordered as the Girty Lue lowered its stealth capability as it fired its weapons at two Nazca's. Each ship being destroyed by the attacks.
"Launch the Dopplehorns!" Neo ordered, which as the Dagger L's began to launch firing at the ships, and going into the space port of Armory one. Two of them shot up the engines and the bridges of two Lauraisias as the two ships crashed into each other and into the Armory. Inside the Armory, Aeul dodges an attack of Kevin's SAHAWKU as he turned in the air and fired destroying three DINNs coming their way.
"Hey Sting! That explosing is the signal!" Aeul told the green haired youth as Sting nodded. Kevin felt the shutter of the explosion through the ground.
"No, not again, this is like Heliopolis!" Kevin roared as he was suddenly tackled by the Gaia's Quadrouped mode. With this, Shinn attacks her with his swords then comes under attack by both the Abyss and the Chaos Gundams. He dodges the attacks as Stellar did to him what she did to Kevin knocking him to the ground.
"Your mine!" Aeul yelled as his shields opened up ready to fire at the downed Impulse Gundam.
"You would like to think so!" Kevin called as he rammed with his shoulder Shield into the Torso of the Abyss.
"Argh, Damn you!" Aeul yelled as Kevin threw his beam axe at Stellar destroying her beam rifle. "Take this!" Aeul yelled firing his Scylla mult phase cannon from his machines chest. Kevin didn't dodge completely as his SAHAWKU lost its right arm in the beam.
Nearby, Lunamaria, and Rey continued to get the hatches to reveal so they could get in their machines. Rey's was first as he got the white ZAKU phantom to stand up with its single eye glowing purple. He used it to get Lunamaria's machine free as the two got ready for combat. "Alright, lets go help Shinn." Rey told her as Luna nodded inside her machine.
"Right lets go, and show them what we are made of!" Luna said as the two machines thrusted up and went to the battle.
Shinn grabs one of his beam boomerangs as he threw it at Stellar as he also blocks an attack from Aeul. Just then support fire came as Lunamaria's Red ZAKU warrior wielded a its beam assault rifle firing at the Chaos Gundam, as a ZAKU Phantom was doing the same to the Abyss. "What the?" Kevin asked himself as he felt something, like when he knew a person nearby. "Who are these people?" He wondered as he used his remaining Buster Rifle and fired it at Aeul who dodged the attack.
"Stellar! Its time to pull back!" Sting yells to her as she just ignored him.
"No I got this one!" She called back.
"Alright Stupid, then you can just die!" he called to her, that was when Stellar's eyes looked a bit weird. Then out of nowhere, she began fireing her Vulcan's like crazy. Which with a lucky shot, destroyed Kevin's remaining buster rifle.
"Damn." He said as the ZAKU Phantom, Warrior and the Impulse gave chase as the three stolen suits retreated, with Stellar in the lead, as Sting and Aeul behind her.
"Damn, Shinn Rey, you have to go on without me, my thrusters are damaged from the attack on the hangar." Luna told them.
"Ok Luna, retreat back to the Minerva!" Rey told her as she nodded. "Come on Shinn, lets show them why we are the best." Rey told him as the two machines gave chase to the three fleeing ones. As this happens the two damaged machines piloted by Athrun and Kevin landed where Medical teams were gathering as the began to tend the wounded.
"Come on Alex, I hate to say this but most likley the safest place to go would be the Minerva." Kevin called as Cagalli nodded.
"Good call Kevin" Athrun told him as he activated the thrusters as the ZAKU warrior, and the SAHAWKU took flight. "Follow the red machine, it was told to retreat to that ship." Kevin told them as his and Athrun's machines followed the red one, even though it was considerably ahead of them.
Meanwhile, out in space on the Girty Lue. "Hmm, I wonder why the Revolution G-Weapon pilots are not back yet?" Neo wondered as Ian had no Idea. "Mr. Lee you have the ship, I'm going to take my Exass to buy them some time." Neo told him as he floated to the hatch which would take him to the hangar. He didn't bother putting a flight suit on as he went into his machine. "This is Neo, I'm heading out." Neo called as his Exass Mobile Armor launched from the ship.
Meanwhile the Sword Impulse and the ZAKU Phantom continued on their pursuit of the Gaia, Abyss and Chaos, and it seemed the Gaia lost all reason to battle as it fled not turning back. Shinn dodges an attack by the Chaos as he questions the fighting ability of these pilots. "How in the world are these pilots so good, in units they just stole?" Shinn asked.
"I don't know Shinn, but I do know one thing, we have to capture those units before the Flee the PLANT!" Rey called as he fired a beam shot. The Chaos blocks the hit with its shield and fired back with its own shot, but Rey dodges the attack.
Onboard the Minerva, Meyrin Hawke, the younger red headed sister of Lunamaria, as she wore the common soldier uniform of ZAFT monitored the battery of the Impulse Gundam. "Commander, Evacuation Orders were just given, do to the release of poisonous gas!" Meyrin told her commander as Talia nodded.
"Prep the ship for launch!" She ordered, "Keep the ship's door open for any evacuates require to come aboard!" Talia ordered.
"But Captain, wouldn't that mean the gass will get in?" Arthur asked.
"Indeed, but they will be closed before the gass becomes to much." Talia told him. "Yarbirds, be ready to launch when the order is given!" Talia ordered the helm officer.
In space, Neo shoots a GINN with his beam rail cannon, as it went through its remains. With that he unleashed all four of his gunbarrels, each one destroying a GINN or CGUE, with that he felt a strange yet familiar sensation. Inside the PLANT, Rey feels the same sensation, "What is this feeling?" Rey wonders. As a bit farther away in space, the ship known as the Avalon with its Satellite engines returning to normal.
On the ship, "We are in range of Armory one, Several space vessels in the vicinity!" Sophia called from her station.
"Report then." Asriel ordered her.
"I am detecting three Nazcas, one Laurraisa and . . ." She finished not believeing her eyes at what the other ship is.
"Well what is it?" Psymone asked from the helm.
"Avalon's sister ship! the Girty Lue is out there!" Sophia told them.
"Roger that, arm missile tubes with sledge hammers, charge up Gottfrieds and Lohengrins!" Asriel ordered. "Target the Girty Lue and its mobile suits, its obviously the Earth Forces are attacking the PLANT!" Asriel told them. "Also switch to level one battlestations!" Asriel barked.
"Alright guys!" Aingeal began as in the mobile suit hangar Chris began to begin his machine's configurations again as the Black Lightning was being loaded onto the catapult.
"Chris, Aelan, Nicola, Alexis out there are several GINNs, CGUE's out there, which are friendlies, other than that, the Dagger L's and the new mobile armor the TS-MA4F is your enemy." Sophia informed them.
"Hmm, mobile armor interesting." Aelan said as he machine was loaded on the other Catapult. "When do we launch?" She asked.
"When I give the order." Asriel replied, as back inside the PLANT, Lunamaria's damaged ZAKU Warrior landed in the mobile suit hangar of the Minerva.
"Mam, Luna's ZAKU has just boarded, as did Chairman Dullindal!" Meyrin told her.
"The chairman?" She asked as behind her the doors opened up which Dullindal came through along with three ZAFT personnel.
Out in the battle, Shinn grabs his two folding flash edges at the Gaia "Oh no you don't!" Aeul called. Before they hit however, Aeul opens his shields up into its HIMAT form and opened fire with the cannons within it. The beams hit and destroy both of the beam boomerangs.
"Minerva, send out the Force Silhouette!" Shinn called as Talia turned to Meyrin nodding to do so.
"Alright Shinn, sending the pack now!" She called as the SAHAWKU, and another ZAKU warrior were coming in to land, which they met the Unmanned flyer with the Force Sil on it.
"Whoa, that looked like an Aile Skygrasper!" Kevin said amazed as he remembered flying the mobile armor before. And at the moment the two landed in the hangar of the ship. Back at the battle, Sting unleashed his two wired Gunbarrels.
"Take this!" He called as they fired two beams both hitting the the Excalibur Anti ship swords destroying the both of them.
"Shinn, Force coming in!" Rey called as Shinn saw it, the Flyer detached the Force Silhouette, along with Shinn dropping the now useless sword pack, and its Phase Shift armor. The force pack attached to the grey machine, as then the Phase Shift activated again, this time rather than being red and white, it was now Red White and blue.
"What the, it changed in mid flight!" Aeul called as the now Force Impulse Gundam flew towards both mobile suits. Shinn drew his Vajra beam sabre and came slicing at the Chaos Gundam, which dodges the attacks, but Shinn used his machines foot, to catapulting the Impulse towards the Abyss where Shinn used his shield to ram into the Abyss Gundam. This forced the Abyss back a bit, "You bastard!" Aeul yelled as he fired his multi phase cannon at the Impulse. Shinn dodges the attack, but the cannon damaged the wall of the PLANT. "Thats our way out!" Aeul yelled as he had the Abyss leave the PLANT Through the whole, as Sting and Stellar followed.
"Damn! get back here!" Rey yelled as both his ZAKU and Shinn's Impulse followed the three fleeing machines.
Onboard the Minerva, Meyrin saw the countdown of Shinn's Impulse. "Mam, Shinn only has three hundred seconds of energy left!" Meyrin franticly called.
"Ok, Launch the ship, were taking her into battle!" She ordered as Athrun and Cagalli get to the floor after leaving their damage ZAKU Warrior. Not far however, Lunamaria grabs a sub machine gun from a weapons rack and levels it at Cagalli and Athrun, which caused Athrun to get protectively infront of Cagalli.
"Who are you?" Luna asked them with her gun pointing at them, then all of a sudden a flash of a black trenchcoat landed infront of the two teens, as the shadowed trenchcoat produced a pair of revolvers. "Put your weapons away! and tell me who you are?" Lunamaria ordered.
"Easy miss, I'm someone that doesn't like a gun pointed at his friends." Kevin coldly told her as he looked her over a bit seeing how much of a rookie she was with a gun. He saw the surprise in Luna's eyes, which made him think of where he saw those eyes before.
Luna's face then became serious. "I told you to lower your weapon now!" She ordered as Kevin could not stop feeling inside his gut he seen this person before. Or someone like her.
"No," Kevin smiled, the same smile he gave Murrue Ramius two years ago before the collapse of Heliopolis, when he was in a situation just like this. "Are you even sure you can shoot me, rookie?" Kevin asked her.
"I am no rookie, I am an ZAFT elite!" She told him. "Just like my what my sister was before she died!" She told him, as then it hit him, he knew someone that looked like her, back at Abaddon. The person he thought of was Erica Hawke.
"Tell me your name rookie." Kevin demanded.
"My name is Lunamaria Hawke, Elite pilot aboard the ZAFT Battle ship Minerva." She told him as Cagalli saw the unbeleiveable with Kevin, as his hand began to tremble at the words.
"No," Kevin said as he tried to keep his hands steady. With that, his head filled with images of a woman with the same color hair as Lunamaria flash throughout his mind as he remembered Erica Hawke a comrade of his back in Abaddon.
Athrun went and lowered Kevin's hands before something became a bit bloody within the ship. "Listen Lunamaria, this is ORB representative Cagalli Athha, we were meeting with Chairman Dullindal and would like to meet with him." Athrun told her.
Then an announcement came over the Minerva's PA system, "All hands to battle stations, the Minerva is taking off!" Talia's voice echoed throughout the ship.
"Athrun, Kevin" Cagalli said as she suddenly put her hand over her mouth as Luna looked at her hearing the names of Cagalli's companions.
"As long as your friend there." Luna said still holding the gun on Kevin as he still had the look of shock in his eyes. "Puts away his weapons, or allows us to confiscate them." She told them as Athrun looked at Kevin.
"Do it Kevin." Cagalli told him as he nodded giving his revolvers to two ZAFT personnel.
"You'll get them back later, now follow me." Luna told them as she began to lead them to the bridge, as the Ship began to ascend down into the hangar for its launch a day early and into its first battle. Outside, Neo lays in wait as he saw the three Gundams he was waiting for leave the PLANT.
That was when he saw the Impulse, "SHINN!" Rey called. "Watch out!" Rey told him, as just in time Shinn dodges an attack from Neo's hidden Exass Mobile armor.
"I missed?" He asked himself as his Exass blasted off from its hidden place as a 101 rule of sneak attacks, never stay in once place. "Hmm whats this, a ship escaped the Daggers?" Neo questioned as he saw the Minerva emerge from the PLANT as it spread its wings. "So ZAFTs new mobile assault ship emerges." Neo told himself as he unleashed all four of his Gunbarrels as they go around the Impulse fireing their beam weaponry at the Gundam. Shinn dodges the attacks, but for not haveing hightened Spatial awareness he is unable to fire back.
"DAMN!" Shinn called as he dodged the attacks.
"SHINN MOVE!" Rey called as he dodged one Gunbarrel and shot it with his beam rifle.
"Hmm they're good." Neo told himself as he saw some Dagger L's emerging from the other hangars then all of a sudden they vanished in a light of positron energy. The Minerva, Girty Lue's crews, Shinn, and Rey all looked to see where the blast came from.
And where it come from was a Lohengrin Cannon from the Avalon. "What the hell!" Shinn asked. "Thats not ours!" Shinn radioed.
Ian was also wondering then he figured it out. "Its the rogue ship Raptor!" Ian called which went to Neo.
"So the Raptor, it is space worthy." Neo said to himself.
Inside the Minerva, they searched the databanks on such a ship. "Commander, the ship is hailing us!" Meyrin told Talia as Talia picked up the phone communicator.
"This is Commanding officer Talia Glady's." She said standing up, as Asriel appeared on the screen.
"This is Asriel Alberts, captain of the mercenary ship Avalon, we are under contract of Lacus Clyne to protect the chairman." Asriel ordered as Dullindal appeared surprise.
(So, Meer sent these people, but how would she have a contact with a Mercenary group?) Dullindal wondered. "I am Chairman Gilbert Dullindal" Giblert said standing up as Talia looked at him. "Tell me Asriel, is one of your members go by the name of Aelan Strato's?" Gilbert asked.
Then the screen changed from Asriel to Aelan wearing her red mask. "Well hello there Chairman." She said as they could tell she was in the cockpit of a mobile suit. "Its been a while, and you to miss Gladys" Aelan said as Talia knew who it was, meeting her weeks ago when she met with the Chairman.
"Its you!" Talia said as Aelan nodded in the screen.
"Yes it is, for the time being make this ship as a friendly to you, as this ship will be escorting yours do to that man behind you." Aelan pointed. "Now, Aingeal, prepare Launch now!" Aelan called as her screen blanked out.
"Who was that commander?" Meyrin asked.
"That Miss Hawke is Aelan Stratos, aka ZAFTs former Red Queen" Dullindal told her for Talia. "Now do as they say, they speak the truth." He ordered. "Talia, take command." He ordered still being the Chairman after all.
Outside, the Avalon closed its Lohengrin, as they were replaced by the Catapults. "Black Lightning, Red Queen your clear for launch." Aingeal told them.
"Red Queen heading out!" Aelan called as the Linear catapult sent them to space.
"First Mission, initiate!" Chris called as the Black Lightning emerged, changeing into mobile armor mode. Behind him, the Crimson blade landed on the catapult. The machine kneeled down as the ship began its work. One of the features added to the ship during the time of the Avian Gundams Creation, two large turbine engines came close to the machine as the two anti ship swords were taking off. With that the turbines were connected to the back of the machine. Then two seperate arm armaments were equipped to the machines arms, with the looks of the Crimson blade now, just made it look like it had huge engines on the back, and two long new arms. While in reality, the Turbines housed some anti ship missiles, as the two arms housed two things in each. The first thing is a 120 cm high energy beam cannon, and a MA-X200 beam sword.
"M unit attached, Crimson you are clear for launch." Aingeal told them.
Nicola looked straight ahead with her green eyes as this be her first time flying with this new armament. "Nicola Stratos, Crimson Meteor Blade heading out!" She called as she was launched into space, which then had the turbines activate. Then finally the Avian Gundam landed on the Catapult with its Nidhoggr heavy scythe was equipped.
"You are clear for launch." Aingeal told her.
"Roger that, Alexis Alexander, Avian Launching!" Alexis called as her machine blasted off into space. The four machines blasted towards the Girty Lue, with Nicola in the lead do to her engines giving her more speed than the others.
On the Minerva. "Mam, four machines just launched from the ship, one confirmed to be the Red Queen G-Weapon!" Meyrin called behind her. "Another one, is equipped with what looks to be a support unit of the METEOR weapon variation." She told the others.
"Gotcha, prepare weapons, designate the target ship as Bogey one! Whats the status of our machines?" She asked.
"The both of them are fighting a mobile armor, can't reach them do to radio interference!" Meyrin answered.
"Alright, lower the bridge to battle position and be ready to pursue enemy ship!" Talia ordered as the Minerva's bridge began to move on the ship.
"Do you plan on retrieveing the G-Weapons from them?
"This doesn't look good." Neo said as another one of his Gunbarrels were destroyed by Rey, leaving only two left. "Ian, drop the main propellent tanks from the ship, and detonate them when I get inside!" Neo ordered as he gave up his fight. He fleed but stopped suddenly when the Red Machine of the Red Queen appeared infront of him.
"Take this!" Aelan called as she fired her Scylla cannon which almost missed the Exass, but managed to destroy one of the remaining Gunbarrels.
"I have no time to play missy." He said as he moved the Exass to underneath the machine and kicked in the after burner thrusters sending his ship underneath the mobile suit and going for the Girty Lue. Chris machine landed on the ship, that was when he felt the pressence of a Zoanthrope, as did the zoantrhope inside felt his presence.
"Cagalli, its them there here." Kevin said as Cagalli and Luna looked at him. Luna got on the intercom.
"Commander, I have three civilians here wishing to speak with the Chairman!" Luna reported to the bridge. "Two arrived in a damaged ZAKU warrior, and another one arrived in the damaged SAHAWKU." Luna reported as Kevin sat there eyes closed trying to picture the battle outside, and if the presence he sensed is Chris. That was when outside, both the Red Queen, and Crimson Meteor blade went infront of the ship, fireing their weapons at the Girty Lue which it dodged. That was when Kevin felt it, he began to feel the presence of the Red Queen.
"It is them, Legends Rising, there here, and I think they are helping the Minerva." Kevin said as Cagalli looked at him funny.
"Are you sure?" Athrun asked.
"Yes Alex, I know its them, and they know at least I'm here." Kevin told them.
"Ok, who are you talking about?" Luna asked.
"Some old friends, if we could call them that." Cagalli told her. "Mercenary's, I wonder whos orders there following?" Cagalli wondered.
"No Idea." Athrun said.
Outside, Nicola and her machines beam sword slashed through the cockpit of a machine as her machine was severely faster than any other out there, she was even faster than the ships. "Sophia, how many daggers are left out here?" Nicola asked through the radio.
"You have three more Daggers left, each of them are dealing with GINNs however, and are winning." Sophia told her. "Sending coordinates now!" Sophia told her as Nicola got them.
"Gottem!" She said as her Meteors targeting system activated, targeting the three Daggers, she unleashed the missiles inside her turbines, as the missiles destroyed each of the daggers. Chris and Aelan on the other hand fired on the Girty Lue, as they destroyed two of the four Gottfrieds, as the ship banked from receiving serious damage. That was when the Girty Lue detached the two Propellent tanks as it was banking away.
That was when the Girty Lue fired a volley of vultures towards the Minerva and Avalon which had begun to hover above the Minerva. "Oh no you don't!" Both Alexis and Nicola called as they fired their own, Nicola's coming from her Meteor unit, where Alexis had mini Missiles emergeing from her machines chest cavity. All the Missiles Detonated which led to leaving the Propellent tanks getting close to the ship as both Rey and Shinn dock into the ship, or risk running out of power.
"FIRE!" Ian called in the Girty Lue as another volley of Missiles fire hitting the tanks, which at the same time, begin to cover themselves in Mirage Colloid Particles. The explosion rocked both the Avalon and Minerva as the mobile suits outside, were undamaged do to the Phase Shift armor, but were shaken more than the others.
"Damn, Damage report!" Chris called as the explosion settled with the Girty Lue MIA.
"I'm fine," Nicola called as he machine hovered beside his with Avian and Red Queen did the same.
"Were ok to." Alexis said speaking for herself and Aelan.
"Chris, Nicola do you feel what I feel?" Aelan asked as Chris nodded in his machine.
"Yes, your rival is here, and I think he's in the ship there." Chris told her as he felt both the senses to detect Destroyers, and that of detecting a Zoanthrope. "Come on, Aelan, Alexis come with me as we can greet our job, and get a briefing, Nicola, go back to the ship." Chris commanded as his machine turned to the Minerva.
Onboard the ship. "Bring up the damage report, if there is any fix it!" Talia ordered as the bridge crew began their after battle jobs.
"Mam, Luna has been trying to reach us throughout the battle, mind if I put her on again." Meyrin asked.
"Yes go ahead." Talia told her, as a video of Lunamaria came up. "What is it?" Talia asked.
"Commander, I have three civilians here in the Infirmary, they are wishing to speak with the Chairman." Luna told her.
Dullindal stood up, "Of course take them to my office Miss." Dullindal said getting up to leave. With that Luna signed off.
"Commander, I'm also receiving a transmission from the three mobile suits outside." Meyrin called. "Particularly the Black one."
"Patch it through." Talia told her. Meyrin did as she was commanded to when Chris in a black flight suit appeared on the screen. "This is Commander Talia Gladys of the ZAFT battle ship Minerva, for whom am I speaking with?" She asked.
"This is the leader of the Mercenary Group, Legends Rising Chris Nexus I am under contract of Lacus Clyne to protect the Chairman, I would like permission to come aboard your ship with my two associates." Chris told her.
"Let them aboard, and get Rey to take them to my office, and have them wait so I can talk to the other three first." Dullindal said leaving the bridge.
"You heard him, let the aboard." Arthur told the crew as Chris' face vanished off the screen.
Meanwhile, Luna escorted the three late teens to the office of Dullindal's, with two armed escorts behind them. Kevin could not help but feel the presence of both Chris and Aelan aboard the ship now, or boarding more like it. And also the hidden memory's of his unlocked by Lunamaria's name. (Is it at all possible that, Erica was the only one that actually still had family besides Aelan to have Family during the project?) Kevin wondered to himself as he walked behind Lunamaria. "Miss Hawke, how long have you been with the ZAFT military?" Kevin asked her.
"I joined the military about a year and a half ago, along side Shinn, Rey, and my sister we all joined at the same time." Luna told them as she continued to walk infront of the three. "Our scores are among the highest of them, which led us to have the units we use. Well for Shinn, Rey, and I anyways, my sister became a member of the bridge." Luna told them as Kevin continued to wonder. "If you wish to know, I flew the Red ZAKU out there, as Rey flew the white Commander unit, and Shinn with the Impulse." Luna told them as they apparoached the office door. Athrun thought of the Red ZAKU that helped Kevin and Shinn in the battle.
Meanwhile Neo sat in his commanders chair wondering. "Sir, do you think those ships will pursue us?" Ian asked as Neo shrugged at the thought.
"Most likley they will, we did just steal three top of the line mobile suits, and that other ship that was captured when Sullio failed at his mission." Neo began as he looked back the way they came from. "If they are told to they will come after us." Neo told him.
"Ok, and what of the status of our three remaining pilots?" Ian asked.
"They are currently in their regeneration chambers, nothing wrong with them besides Stellar, as Aeul used her block word." Neo told him. "Other than that, i say the Extendeds are a great success." Neo told him, "What of the machines repairs?" He asked.
"Well, Neo, they came out of the battle with nothing more than a scratch, the only problem were the condition of Stellar though." Ian told him as back on the Minerva.
The three entered Dullindal's office as he stood behind his desk, with Talia beside him. "Before we begin, I am deeply sorry for involving the three of you in this scenario." Dullindal told the the three of them.
"Sugar coated words." Kevin told him. "This is nothing, but it will lead to you know what." Kevin told him as Dullindal nodded.
"Yes I agree, but as we are already on pursuit, along with the ship known as Avalon is also helping us get those machines back, or will be." Dullindal told him.
"Avalon?" Cagalli looked with a questionable look. "Last time I knew they had the ship known as the Raptor." Cagalli told him.
"Hmm most likely they changed the ships name during the past week." Athrun mentioned.
"Well, after I speak with the three reps that came aboard, I'll get them to speak with you." Dullindal told the three of them.
"Well, besides that, do you have any information on the attackers?" Cagalli asked.
"Good question?" Kevin asked.
Talia stepped in, "If I may sir, as far as we could tell, the attackers were someone that do use the Dagger L units." Talia told him, "So speculation are of the Earth Forces."
Kevin then thought of one possible reason of why such an attack, "Could it of been Chris and them's attacks on the Earth Forces?" Kevin asked.
"Chris, do you mean Chris Nexus?" Dullindal asked.
"Yeah thats him, for the last while Chris and his group were ambushing Earth Forces transports, now that ship they have is the last thing they took before decimating the group that went to get them." Kevin told him.
"Which they deserve." A voice came from behind them, as Chris, Alexis, and Aelan stood in the doorway with Rey to their side. "After everything those people did to the people of the PLANTs, that was just a light punishment for what they deserve." Chris told them as he stood looking at the Chairman. As did Alexis, but not for a second Aelan moved her attention from Kevin, no matter that they fought together many times, she still had the hatred deep inside.
"Ahh, Sir Nexus, its an honor that we meet at last." The chairman said as he shook hands with the man. "Please, take a seat, I will get to you three in a minute." Gilbert told them as Alexis and Chris nodded taking a seat. Aelan chose to stand and lean against the wall.
"Well back to our discussion, that was beside the point, the Earth Alliance just stole three prototype machines, we have to get ontop of the situation and get them back." Gilbert told the three. "Meanwhile as this ship pursues the ship." He says looking at Talia, "Captain, would it be alright if these three are given a tour of the ship?" he asked.
"Chairman, is it wise to give Civilians a tour of the ship?" Talia asked.
"Yes it would be wise, and it would give me time for the well these people that I would say drove off the enemy soldiers." Dullindal told her. "Now, please leave me and our guests for a minute ok, I'll join you for the tour." Gilbert told them as Kevin stood up and looked at Aelan who he saw flexing her fingers.
"Watch your back Kevin." Aelan whispered even though it was loud enough for Kevin to hear her. With that Cagalli and Athrun left behind Kevin.
Talia turned to Rey who Kevin just kept having this odd feeling around for some reason. Even in the room and since she came on the ship, she also has had a strange feeling around Rey. "Oh Rey, what are you doing here?" Talia asked.
He saluted her as she returned it out of a sign of respect. "Mam, I was told to wait here so I have, any reason why?" He asked.
"No, just going to wait here a bit to give our guests a tour of the ship when he is done of his meeting with the other three." She told him.
Inside the office, The Chairman was standing infront of the three. "So Aelan, I see you have found your family." Dullindal said as she nodded. "Not only that, Meer sent you here to protect me?" he asked.
"Yes she did, and that is why we are here." Chris said standing up. "The Names Christopher Nexus, Commander of the Mercenary Group Legends Rising." Chris said as Gilbert shook his hand. "Of course you know Aelan, but do you know Alexis Alexander?" Chris asked as he looked at her for a second.
"Yes I do believe we have met before." He said as Alexis nodded.
"Yes of course, you were once with Miss Carver at a Council Meeting where you gave Jason Hibiki the order of the Nebula on orders from Chairman Clyne." Alexis told him. As he nodded remember seeing her in a Zaft Elite Pilot uniform.
"Yes, Lacy Scythe correct, you rathered your GINN to be equipped with a scythe rather than a heavy sword." Gilbert said as she nodded. "Well well, then you might want to know, your old comrades are still in the ZAFT military, mainly working under Commander John Tyler." Giblert told her as Aelan perked up in interest, as she knew the name was Invictus' alias.
"Well that is good to hear, and sometime in the future I'm going to look foreward to working with the three of them again sometime." She told him as he nodded.
"Well, I'm glad you are all here, because I would like to hire you and your crew." He told them. "And as a matter of payment, what would you like?" He asked then he came up with his own Idea. "Oh I know, I have a project thats being worked on, how about the final result would be lets see, your payment." He told them as they wondered what he meant.
"What do you mean Chairman?" Chris asked as hes attention was perked.
"Easy, the pay will be four prototype machines, along with a ship to go with them." Gilbert told them as Chris smirked.
"Ok you got a deal, now what is the mission?" Chris asked as Aelan was also perked interest.
"For now, I wish for you all to help the Minerva recapture the stolen units." He said going to his desk and grabbing a computer disk and gave it to them. "This is the data on the three stolen units, I would like the returned not destroyed." He told them as Chris nodded.
"Ok, we may be new to the Merc Business, but we know how to fight." Chris told him as Aelan nodded.
"Oh Aelan, I'm just wondering, does this mean you are no longer a part of ZAFT?" Gilbert asked her.
"Yeah, it does, you know the way I am, I have to be with my friends and family, so here." She said passing him her FAITH badge.
"No keep it, it could come in handy for you Aelan." Dullindal told her as she attached it over her right breast. "Well I suspect the three of you are going back to your ship?" Dullindal asked them as Aelan shook her head no. "Oh, why is that Aelan?" He asked.
"I don't know why, just some feelings I have about this ship, I just have to check it out if you don't mind sir, and if the captain doesn't mind either." Dullindal told her as he left the room.
"What feeling were you talking about Aelan?" Chris asked as she looked at him through her mask.
"Well, its not Kevin if that who your thinking, no just a feeling from three individuals on this ship other than Walkers Group." Aelan told him as Chris nodded.
"Would you like one of us to stay onboard as well?" Chris asked her as she looked at him for a second.
"No, there is no need, if Walker gives me trouble, I am more than an even match for him. And not to mention normal infantry is nothing to me." She told him as Chris nodded.
"Alright, Alexis and I will head to the ship now, I hope your search goes well." Chris told her as the two emerged from the office, seeing that Dullindal, Talia and The group of three already gone, unknown to them, went to the hangar. Aelan went one way as Chris and Alexis went the other.
Lunamaria, and Shinn were talking in the Hangar by the Core Splendor of the Impulse. "What your telling me, someone just well freaked out by hearing your name?" Shinn asked her as she nodded.
"Yeah, that guy with the ORB rep, seemed to know how to handle a gun, but once I mentioned my name, he went well worst than me." Luna told him as Shinn took a drink from his container.
"Just as most of the ORB idiots, they are all big in talk, while in reality they are just scared little kittens." He told her making her laugh a bit do to the little joke. "Those are certainly interesting machines those other three brought in." Shinn said looking up at the Avian, Black Lightning, and the Red Queen. Even though he's only known of the Red Queen before, and even saw it. Back when his sister and parents were still alive he saw that machine going after the Calamity after it blasted off away from them.
"I suspect the Alex fellow is actually Athrun Zala, as I heard the ORB rep call him Athrun." Luna told him as that was when up at the Catwalks a group of people emerged.
Rey, now accompanying Dullindal along with Athrun, Kevin and Cagalli walked onto the catwalk within the hangar. They saw the SAHAWKU nearly fully repaired, a GuAIZ R, 2 Zaku Warriors, one was Red For Lunamaria, another was a ZAKU Phantom, and finally the Impulse, which were all in their stations. Standing in the middle of the hangar were however the "not allowed to be touched" machines.
"So, that is the new machine that Alexis Flys." Kevin told himself noting the Scythe in its hand and the single barrel buster rifle on its right hip.
"So, Chairman Dullindal, do you still think it is a good idea to "Having Power is Necessary to have power?" Cagalli asked. "Why build new mobile suits when both sides were aiming towards peace?" She asked as Rey eyed her.
"Before you talk about ZAFT in that sense Miss Athha, look into your own borders, is it true that ORB has been building a new mass produced machine itself?" Rey asked her.
"Those . . ." Cagalli began.
"Are there to protect ORB." Shinn came up saying what she would say in a sarcastic way. "You people of the Athha family always liked to sugar coat your words." He told them as Kevin notice the stare the teen looked at the group with.
Meanwhile Aelan had found her way to the bridge, as she came on Arthur looked over to her. "Sorry mam, but you are not suppose to be in here." Arthur told her.
Aelan came in anyways as Talia looked at Arthur. "Arthur, there is no need, she is the Legendary Red Queen after all." Talia told him as he looked surprised. "What do we owe for the visit Aelan?" Talia asked as out of the entire Crew, she knew her the longest, even though that was only for a minute.
"Mam, Avalon's Hailing us, There saying they picked up the bogey one ship and . . ." Meyrin began.
"Mam, we just picked it up on our scanners!" The radar officer called as Aelan left before saying a thing. Inside the hangar the announcement ot go to battle stations rang throughout the ship, as did on the Avalon, as Nicola's Crimson Blade was being equipped with its Meteor back pack. Inside the Minerva, the elevator door opened with both Chris and Alexis was heading to their machines.
Chris looked at Rey and Shinn, "Well is anyone heading to their machines, your about to go into battle." Chris called as both Shinn took off towards there machines as Luna already was in hers.
Rey turned to the group and said, "I'm sorry for my and Shinns burst outs, I will talk with Shinn later about this." Rey said as he took off as well.
"Please come with me you three." Dullindal told them as Aelan passed by them when they got to the hallway, as she was heading to the Red Queen. Within moments, the Black Lightning and Avian were on the Catapults.
"Avian, Black Lightning you two are clear for launch." Meyrin called as Chris and Alexis launched into space.
Next up Lunamaria and Rey both loaded on as Luna was equipped with the Warrior Wizard back and Rey with the Blaze, for their own purposes. Shinn then in his Core Splendor went to its personal catapult which in the end the Red Queen went to the other. The Mobile Suits all launched as on the bridge, the Chairman, Athrun, Cagalli, and Kevin sat in some of the seats.
"One wonders what the true name of that ship is." Dullindal began as Shinn combined his Gundam into the Blast Impulse for high fire power (A/N: Sorry, but I had it as Force before). Kevin was wondering what the man was getting at. Outside the Girty Lue Launches whats left of its Dagger L's and the three stolen units. Unknown to them however, if Chris, Aelan, or Nicola heard what he is about to say would make them greatly angry. "What is a name?" Dullindal asked as Talia and the rest of the bridge crew talked. "A name determines the existance of something, and if something goes by a fake name, it doesn't exist correct." he said looking at Kevin and Athrun.
(He knows!) Kevin said to himself as his eyes widened.
"Isn't that Right, Athrun Zala, and you as Well Kevin Walker aka Hydra." Dullindal said as the entire crew gasped, mostly Meyrin, who knew what Hydra was, the very man that Killed her sister.
A/N: Thats enough for now, Review and ask questions and give me you good or bad feed back about this chapter. About Dullindal Revealing who Kevin is, I have no Idea how I'm going to follow up on it for Meyrin. I'll think of something however.