Phase 15:

Chapter 21: Return to the Battlefield

Deep within the ocean, the Archangel resides, as Cagalli, now in her rear admiral uniform, rather than her wedding dress. The entire group were within the bridge of the ship as it layed dormant in the water. "What is the meaning of this foolishness?" Cagalli yelled, at both Kevin and Kira. She then turned to Murrue, Lacus, and Andrew. "Even you three!" and everyone could tell the woman was pissed. "Why?" she asked them. "Kidnapping the head of a nation during her wedding would make you an international criminal!" she said turning to Kevin. "And now your repitation is even more on the edge of the line!" She told Kevin.

"Cagalli!" Kevin roared, as Cagalli looked shocked. As Kevin has never raised his voice at her like that.

"Cagalli." Lacus said with concern in her voice.

"Well yeah,. . . We know of this Cagalli." Andrew told her.

"But it couldn't be helped." Kevin told her with his arms crossed.

"In the current situation, the world will be beyond help if even you did something stupid, Cagalli." Kira told her, with Lacus standing right behind him. With that, Cagalli, had a sneer on her face.

"Something stupid!" She yelled nearly furious, despite Kevin's voice earlier.

"Kira" Lacus began, holding onto his arm.

"It's okay, Lacus." Kira told her, as Cagalli, was still in her angry mood.

"What. . .What are you saying is stupid?" Cagalli asked him. "I'm the Representative of Orb!" She told them. "I carefully thought, and anguished over everything. . .!" she yelled.

"And yet. . ." Kevin began, still with his arms crossed, as he peered at Cagalli with his head down, yet his eyes looking at her. "You decided to ally with the Atlantic Federation, and Marry Yuuna?" Kevin asked her. "Do you seriously think, that will help Orb, Cagalli? Or did Yuuna successfully brainwashed you?"

"What?" Cagalli asked him. "I only had Orb in mind when I went to marry that guy!" Cagalli told him.

"No, he brainwashed you Cagalli!" Kevin scoldered her. "He turned you against us, and the PLANTs, just to side with a group he thinks is stronger!" Kevin told her.

"But its like what they did say!" Cagalli told him, "Or would you rather your homeland burn again!" Cagalli yelled.

"I would never wish that!" Kevin raised his voice. "Orb is to important to me, to let be burned again!" Kevin told her.

"Well, is this Kidnapping the only path we can take to prevent that?" Cagalli asked him.

"So, are you okay with whatever happens to the other countries, as long as Orb is fine?" Kira asked her in a calm voice. With this, it gave Cagalli a great surprise. "Would it be okay if Orb ends up buring PLANT or some other country someday?" he asked her again.

"No. That's. . . but. . .!" she tried to come back.

"Don't you remember what your father said?" Kevin asked her.

"But!" Cagalli called.

"We understand that things were very hard upon you Cagalli." Kira began.

"We are sorry that we were not able to help you before." Kevin finished for him. "But, we still have time to make changes." he told her.

"We currently don't understand a lot of things, either." Kira told her. "But I like to think, we still have time," he told her digging into his pocket, as he took his sisters hand giving her, the ring that was enclosed of her letter. "We're all the same." He told her. "If you choose the wrong path, you won't be able to reach your desired destination." And with that, she remembered when Athrun slipped the ring that is now in her hand, upon her finger.

She cupped her hands around it, holding it closer to her heart. "So come with us, tovarisch" Kevin told her.

"Kevin. . ., Kira. . ." Cagalli began as tears began to roll down her cheeks. She then went down to her knees, with tears rolling down her face. With that, Kira and Kevin kneeled down to her.

"Listen Cagalli, we will all find the right answer this time, for sure." Kevin told her.

Kira rubbed his sisters hair, letting her cry in his arms. "Please don't run away from that." Kira calmly told her, as Lacus watched the two siblings together.

One Week after the Archangel has disappeared, the Saviour Gundam flew in its plane mode towards ORB, as Athrun Zala was within its cockpit, coming to return to the Minerva, which he did no know, had already left ORB, a while back. As at ORB, Aelan finally got the mobile suit signature from the Saviour upon her machines scanners. "So, he has finally arrived." Aelan told herself, as her machine took off to the air, to go make sure Athrun lives do to what has happened back when the Minerva left Orb.

Athrun tuned into the Orb military frequencie. "Calling Orb Control." Athrun radioed. "This is a ZAFT mobile suit, that is currently approaching your nation. I wish to enter your country in order to rendezvous with the ZAFT battleship Minerva that is currently docked there." Athrun informed the New Earth Forces country. "Please grant me permission to enter." He told them.

Orb Naval base:

Garret, and Max rush to the Avalanche Gundam, as at the Orb Military base two Murasames, in their plane mode get ready to take off, to meet up with their mission commander the Avalanche, as the three machines would head out to meet the Saviour Gundam. "What's going on at a time like this?" Garret asked Max, as the two climbed into the extracted cockpit of the Avalanche, as it began to retract back into the machine.

"ZAFT unit detected heading to ORB." Max informed him, receiving the current orders in her internal systems.

"Is it a ZAFT attack?" Garret asked her.

"Negative, its only one machine, they have to send more machines against my brother here." Max told him, refereing to the Avalanche as her brother.

"Alright, Avalanche Gundam, Taking off!" Garret called, as he took off with the hyper Jammer wings spread out, with Max connecting to the Avalanches systems, and powerplant. The once gray machine, turned into a brilliant silver, as it held the double bladed Gerbera Straight in its left hand. The machine then took off into the air, weapons at the ready, as Max went into the air, as it joined with two normal colored Murasame mobile suits.

"Forming on your wing commander." One of the pilots radioed.

"Alright, stay with me, and follow my orders when required." Garret told them. As with that, he sped across the sky with the two transformed jet mobile suits.

As back with Athrun, he had yet to detect the three machines heading his way. "Orb Control!" he called. "Calling Orb Control!" he continued. "Can you hear me, Orb Control?" he asked. That was when his systems began to detect the Orb Murasames, and an unknown machine, which he figured would be the Avalanche Gundam, of Garret Nexus who he knew was apart of the Orb Military. "The Avalanche, and the Murasames!" Athrun called. With that, he is now able to see them, and the alarm went off. "They are all targeting me?" Athrun wondered.

"Garret!" Athrun called, as the two Murasames opened fire.

"Hold your fire!" Garret ordered as the three machines floated infront of Athrun in suit mode, with Athrun also changing into it. "Alex Dino?" Garret wondered as his machine floated infront of Athrun's as Max confirmed identification.

"Alex Dino, Cagalli Yula Athha's bodyguard confirmed." Max said confirming his alias Identity.

"Garret what is the meaning of this?" Athrun wondered. "Why do you show hostility to me, when I have no intention of attack the Orb Nation!" Athrun told him. "So what is going on?" Athrun asked him.

"Stop taking nonsense!" One of the Orb pilots told him.

"Now that Orb has joined the earth Forces, PLANT is an enemy nation." another soldier called.

"Garret is this true?" Athrun wondered.

"Yes, you should go, before we have to take you down." Garret told him as the PS Disruptor extruded from above the cockpit in the chest of the machine.

"Targeting wing mounted beam turrets" Max informed everyone, as Athrun could detect the energy in the Avalanche charge up.

"Even if our forces have yet to engage ZAFT in battle, there is no way we can allow even you Alex to enter our nation." Garret told him, gripping his controls in anger.

"Why have you signed a treaty with the Earth Forces?" Athrun asked them. "No way, Kevin and Cagalli wasn't able to sway the parliament?" Athrun asked himself. "Garret! Put me through to the Athha, or the Walker house, Identification number 2500474C." Athrun ordered him.

"Invalid command " Max told him, as Athrun was surprised.

"Commander, quit the conversation, otherwise the Earth Forces will take everything going on now the wrong way!" A soldier called.

"Right I understand." Garret replied, as he looked at Athrun. "Athrun, I'm sorry." Garret told him, as he looked back to Max.

"Starting battle program!" Max informed him. And with that, the Murasames transformed into their plane modes and opened fire with Missiles, and machine gun fire.

"We don't know your plan, but it's far too foolish of you to use the Minerva as your reason when it's no longer here." A soldier of one of the two Murasames told him. Athrun was surprised to hear this, "Don't take the Orb Military Lightly!" The soldier told him, opeing fire with the attacks, as Garret's and Max's machine stood back, not wanting to fight an old comrade.

"The Minerva is gone. . .?" Athrun asked, as the Saviour began to detect another mobile suit coming in, as did Garret. And it was far closer than what their furthest range. "What now?" Athrun wondered, as all of a sudden, he got what it was, it was the ZGMF-X21A Red Queen, barely coming out of its Mirage Colloid. "Aelan!" Athrun said surprised, as Garret turned around, meeting with the beam sabre of the Red Queens weapons, slicing off the right hand and right wing of his machine. Causing the Avalanche to drop towards the ocean.

"Ahhh!" Garret called, as he didn't expect the Red Queen to show up. "What the hell?" Garret asked.

"He's not going down today!" Aelan called, as she target her two Schlag cannons at the Murasames, as she fired, destroying one of their wings. "Athrun!" Aelan radioed to him.

As in his machine he was surprised to see the Red Queen, now with its full shield up, blocking the projectiles, of the remaining Murasame, as it transformed fireing its beam, seeing if that weapon can do something about it. "Aelan?" Athrun wondered.

"The Minerva left Orb a few weeks ago, they went to Carpentaria, go there, I will cover you!" She told him, as with that Athrun nodded, and changed direction towards the Australian ZAFT base along the Carpentaria coast. She then dropped her shield, as the wings of her machine began to glow, showing the thrust of her machine, as it began to leave after images.

"What the?" The pilot of the Murasame wondered, as he kept on firing at the mobile suit, as the next thing he knew, the Red Queen had sliced off the rifles hand, and the wing of the machine.

"Go Home!" Aelan told him, kicking him to the ocean. When that was done, she changed direction and went the same way as Athrun.

Athrun, thought on what has just happened, as he was just rescued by the Red Queen and Aelan. "Aelan, what are you doing here?" Athrun asked her, as the Red Queen came to his wing, going to normal thrust.

"I'm doing the mission that you have asked, and that of Meer's request." Aelan told him, as Athrun wondered what she meant. "After you left, the PLANTs, Meer told us, and we informed her that the Minerva had already left, and with that, Chris, Nicola, and I all decided to send me to ORB." Aelan told him.

"I see, the two of us already became friends, and she is already treating me like the rest of you." Athrun told her as Aelan smiled.

"She takes after Chris, which is what I like about him, even without come people knowing it, his influence rubs on them, that is why he is our leader." Aelan informed Athrun.

"I see, so thats it." Athrun spoke as Aelan got a questionable look. "So, what was that all about?" Athrun asked her.

"Want the long or short stories?" Aelan asked him.

"Give me the report that I hired you for." Athrun told her as Aelan nodded.

"Ok, from the day you ordered that request. Orb offered the Minerva as a bargaining chip, after all this happened, it seemed that the Walker Mansion was attacked." Aelan told him.

"Attacked?" Athrun called.

"Yes attacked, I was there to stop it, but we have no idea who attacked them." Aelan continued, "Then a week ago, Yuuna and Cagalli had a wedding." She told him, as Athrun had the look of utter shock upon those words. "However, the wedding was crashed by the Freedom, and the Sturmfalke." she told him.

"The Freedom, but Kira swore never to pilot that again." Athrun informed her.

"Well he did, and that wasn't the first time, back during the attack he used it to protect everyone, and now the Archangel, and those two machines are AWOL, and no one has any Idea where they have gone." Aelan finished.

"So, Cagalli and everyone are missing, and now Orb is part of the Earth Forces, this is getting ridiculous" Athrun yelled.

"Your telling me, now lets concentrate at getting to Carpentaria, we'll talk later about these events." Aelan told him, going on ahead towards the Carepentaria base.

4 Days Later, The Carpentaria base, had both the Avalon, and Minerva docked, repairing both ships, and giving supplies to the Avalon. The two ships both arrived, nearly six days ago. As out in the town of the base, Lunamaria, Meyrin, and even Nicola were buying woman supplies for the next time they head out to sea, as earlier, Talia hired the Avalon to escort them and help them throughout the rest of the war. "Will the repairs to the Minerva be completed soon?" Meyrin asked her older sister.

"Well yeah." Luna told her, as Nicola grabbed a few boxes of tampons. As for the last while, the three of them have been having a conversation, of how much they should get, of their woman items.

"That means we have no idea when we will be setting sail again." Nicola told them.

"We should definitely stock up while we can." Meyrin told them, as Lunamaria looked upon each of their baskets, as Meyrin packed a bunch, while Nicola pretty much had double even of that.

"I see. . ." Lunamaria said rolling her eyes at both girls. "I don't understand why you two need so much." She said sarcasticly as Nicola smirked.

"Well, I am buying for three of us." Nicola told her. "Alexis, Aelan and I are the people who I am buying for." she mentioned.

"Well, I'm sorry. . ." Meyrin told them, as Nicola giggled at the two sisters, wishing that she and Aelan had more of a normal childhood, like these two girls have.

Carpentaria food Court:

Alexis has a small meal of her own, as she took a bite of a taco with many toppings on it. "Wow," Vino said in surprise. "So you are truly Lady Scythe of the Stronghold?" he asked her as Alexis shrugged.

"I use to be." She told him. "It all ended, during the final battle, where the new squad I was assigned to, attacked me, I was just lucky both Chris and Nicola were there to help me out of the Jam." She told them taking a bite of her taco.

"So are we returning to space?" Youlant asked.

"Probably." Vino replied. "The Minerva is a space ship after all." he told him, as he turned to Alexis. "The Avalon, which kind of ship is it?" Vino asked.

"To be honest boys, Its a trans ship, it works rather well, both in atmosphere, and Space, and doesn't need the use of a Mass Driver as well." She told them. "But when we do, it hurts the Planet." She told them.

"I see, hey Tala!" Youlant called, seeing the head mechanic of the Avalon enter the area.

"Hey boys, he Alexis whats going on?" She asked, sitting beside her ship mate.

"Not much." Alexis told her.

"I wonder whats going on in the PLANTs." Youlant wondered.

"What do you mean?" Tala asked.

"Well, they were attacked by Nuclear weapons. If it wasn't for your group Alexis, all the PLANTs would be gone right now." Youlant told Alexis as she smiled.

"Yeah, just like them, defending the PLANTs till they are shot down themselves." She told him.

"Well, what I'm truly worried about are my mom, and the others." He told the three of them.

"What about your girlfriend?" Vino asked him, with a smirk on his face.

"Idiot I don't have one!" He answered Vino which cause both Alexis, and Tala to burst out laughing. "Why do you always talk about things like that?" he asked him.

On the Minerva, Chris and Talia sat in her office, discussing current events, and what headquarters has planned for the space battleship. "We have yet to receive word of what is to happen." Talia told him, as Chris kept his arms crossed.

"I wonder, if he will bring them." Chris wondered out loud.

"Who?" she asked. As outside, Shinn walked the military base, looking upon the new transformable ZAFT mass produced machine the AMA-953 BABI.

"Commander!" The voice of Sophia came over Chris' personel radio.

"Excuse me Captain" Chris told her, as he hit the receiver with two of his fingers. "What is it Sophia?" Chris asked.

"Detecting two mobile suits, one of them are confirmed to be Aelan's Red Queen unit, along side a machine not in the databanks." Sophia told him. "They are both on course to the Minerva." She told him.

"Alright, Nexus out." Chris told her. "It seems, that, that person has just arrived." Chris told her, as Talia looked shocked. "I'm heading to the hangar now, to greet our new guests. I will tell the pilot of the mobile suit, I don't know about to meet you here." Chris told her, as he left the room.

"So, who could this person be?" Talia wondered. Within moments, the mobile suit form of the Saviour, and the Red Queen, both land within the hangar of the Minerva. Both machines were then place with the Red Queen infront of the Saviour, as this would now be the Saviours new post.

Down below, Lunamaria, Meyrin, Nicola, and many other personel watched as the machine arrived. "Whats that new model? and Who in the world is piloting it?" Lunamaria wondered, as the Red Queens pilot jumped from the cockpit to the floor. "Aelan whats going on?" Lunamaria asked.

"Easy, a new member of your ship my friend." Aelan told her. That was when the Saviours cockpit opened, as Athrun Zala, in his new blueish purple uniform lowered him to the ground with the Zipline. With a brief case in his hand, and the FAITH emblem upon his chest. He then took off his helmet, revealing exactly who the newcomer was.

Meyrin and Lunamaria looked on in shock, as Nicola, and Aelan smirked, as Chris just entered the hangar through the elevator. "Athrun!" Lunamaria called in shock.

Athrun then began to tell them his Id number. "Identification number, 285002" He told them. "Athrun Zala, belonging to the special Task Force FAITH, requesting permission to come aboard." He told them.

"Hey that thing earlier!" Came the voice of Shinn from behind the group, as Chris also came in with a calm voice. Shinn looked at Athrun, with shock upon his face. "You are. . .!" Shinn called. "What the heck is that?" he asked. "What is the meaning of this?" Shinn asked.

"Shinn calm down!" Lunamaria told him with a nudge. "He belongs to FAITH." She told him. With that, Shinn looked at the Emblem upon Athrun's flight suit. Before Shinn knew it, everyone in the hangar, besides him, Chris who put his arm around Nicola, as she and Aelan as well did not give him a salute.

"Why are you. . .?" Shinn asked him.

"Shinn!" Luna scolded at him, as Athrun returned the Salute to the ZAFT members. As he also nodded to Chris, and Nicola. Shinn then got the idea as he looked at his hands which were full of a drink and a bag. With quick thinking, he handed them to Meyrin, the gave a salute to Athrun. After, he done up his loose collar. Athrun nodded at them.

"Is the Captain on the bridge?" Athrun asked the group, as Chris stepped foreward.

"No she is not at the moment, she is in her office, if you'll follow me." Chris told him, as Athrun nodded, and followed the leader of Legends Rising. Chris then turned to Aelan, "Please Aelan, come with us and give your report." Chris told her, as she looked at Nicola. "Please Nicola, could you take the Red Queen back to the ship?" Chris asked her as Nicola nodded.

"Yes of course." Nicola told him.

"We will brief you when we return to the ship." Chris told her as she nodded heading to the zip line of her sisters machine.

"Mind if. . ." Meyrin began.

"Mind if I come along sirs?" Lunamaria asked them, as Athrun nodded.

"Alright, and thank you Chris." Athrun told them, as the four of them walk to the elevator.

"Have you returned to ZAFT?" Shinn asked him.

Athrun turned to him, and gave a simple answer. Well more complicated than simple, "More or less." Athrun told him.

"Why?" Shinn asked him. Athrun never gave an answer, as he followed Lunamaria, Aelan, and Chris into the Elevator. After Athrun changed to a top flight uniform, and Aelan to her normal clothes, the four of them head up to the main hall of the ship.

"Why did you re-enlist?" Lunamaria asked. Athrun looked at her questionably. "Is what I really want to ask you right now." She told him, smiling at the son of a past chairman. "Well?" She asked, as Chris chuckled at such a request.

"Well, it's not that I Re-enlisted. It's just that, I went to the PLANTs, and met with the Chairman, and well" Athrun answered her, as he looked at her and Aelan. "Aelan has told me that the Minerva left Orb, but when was that?" he asked. "The only things I know right now, is what Aelan has informed me." he told the three of them.

"You went to Orb?" Lunamaria asked in shock as Aelan nodded.

"Yes he did, I was there to make sure nothing happened to him." Aelan told her.

"But, why?" she asked.

"A request from a mutual friend." Chris answered for her.

"Its good to see you two are ok." Luna thankfully told them. "Well, I think I somewhat understand why Shinn gets so angry." Luna told them, as Chris nodded.

"Indeed, I can see why he does as well." Chris told her.

"Exactly, that country is terrible!" Lunamaria told them, expressing her opinion. "What kind of trouble do you think we went through when we left?" She asked him.

"Aelan told me, that you fought the Earth Forces as soon as you left their waters." Athrun answered her.

"Yeah, even with their help." Lunamaria said motioning towards Chris and Aelan. "We still almost died!" She told him. "If it wasn't for Shinn, we would have definitely of been sunk!" She told him.

"But why would Cagalli do something like this?" Athrun wondered.

"Indeed, I also admired Miss Athha in the past. . . but I'm a little disappointed." she told him. "She allies with the Atlantic Federation, and marries some weird guy. . ." she told him.

"Yuuna Roma Seylan." Aelan informed her.

"Yes, I've heard of that." Athrun told her, setting his briefcase on the floor.

That was when the door opened, as Chris and Aelan left the elevator. "Come Athrun." he told him, as Athrun grabbed his case.

As Athrun began to leave, Luna grabbed him by the shoulder. "Well. . ., she was Kidnapped during or after the wedding, and is currently missing." she told them, as Chris turned to the two. "I'm I'm sorry for bringing this up." She told him.

"Do not worry." Athrun told her. As with that, he followed both Chris and Aelan to the Captains office. "Captain Talia" Athrun said out loud as he arrived in her office. Athrun decided to stand, as Chris and Aelan sat on one of the leisure couches that were within the office. As Arthur Trine was also in the room who stood to Talia's right.

"Athrun!" both Talia and Arthur said in shock. "So this is who you meant Chris." Talia mentioned as Chris nodded.

"I have the next orders, and other matters that concern you Captain." Athrun told her, as she nodded taking the papers Athrun had just presented her. With that, it took her a few moments to go over the papers.

After a few moments, she put the papers aside, and looked upon, a small white box that Athrun put upon her desk. "So, he's assigning you to FAITH." she calmly obliged. "Giving you our newest mobile suit, then sending you our way. And also assigning me to FAITH as well?" she asked. "I wonder, what exactly is the Chairman thinking?" Talia wondered. "He is not the only one I wonder about." she began as she looked at Athrun. "I wonder about you as well." she told him.

"I apologize." was all Athrun said in response.

"There is nothing to apologize for." Talia told him, "And are any of you aware of the details of this order?" Talia asked everyone that was present, as Chris and Aelan just shook their heads no.

"No we do not, that is why we are here, so we can tell our own crew." Chris told her, as Talia nodded, picking up the papers once again.

"I see." Talia told them. "What about you Athrun?" she asked.

"No, I haven't been told about it." he answered her.

"I see, well, it is indeed interesting." she began, as Chris had his full attention on her voice. "The Minerva is to head to Gibraltar as soon as repairs are complete, and is to support, the forces that are stationed for the assault on the Suez." She informed the four of them.

"We're to support our forces at Suez?" Arthur questioned.

"With the strife in the Western Euraisa, it's the most volatile area right now." Talia reponsed. With that, she activated a holographic map of the world infront of her, as both Aelan and Chris flipped the map the correct way for them within their minds. "Whilte it's true that the Earth Alliance stronghold on Suez is a problem for Gibraltar, I wouldn't think it should be necessary for us to be sent all the way there to help, even with the Avalon beside us." She told the people within her office.

"You're right. After all, the Minerva isn't a ground vessel." Arthur mentioned.

"True, but back at Orb, this wasn't such a vessel either, but held off a rather large size of Earth Alliance ships, even before we arrived." Chris told them. "I'm thinking that is what your headquarters is talking about." he informed the three of them.

"I actually agree with you on that Nexus." Talia told them, as Athrun looked at the Captain.

"What do you mean, when you said "the strife in Western Euraisa"?" Athrun wondered. She looked at him, a bit confused herself, "I'm sorry. There's still a lot I don't understand." Athrun apologized.

"Well, one region of Eurasia which has always allied with the Atlantic Federation, or rather, has always been bossed around by them, called for spearation and independence and started fighting." With this, Talia was showing various pictures, of the Earth Forces soldiers bossing around Civilians at Gunpoint, which was Making Aelan clench her fists. "It's a recent event. It's no surprise that you don't know about it." Talia told him.

"Its been going on since this war started, right?" Arthur asked his commander.

"Yes." Talia answered.

"Although" Athrun began getting everyones attention. "There always were incendiary elements there. . ." Athrun told them.

"A small spark can turn to a Blaze when a War happens." Chris told them, as they all looked at him. "During the time of war, slaves are forced to work, so this buisness went ablaze when this war began." he told them, walking up to the desk.

"Exactly, they're sick of being conscripted, or being thrown in concentration camps." Talia took from Chris, and told them in her own words. "Well, that's what people are saying in the region that's resisting." She told him. "The Earth Alliance on the other hand, is trying to quell them with force, and because of this, it's turned into quite a mess." Aelan stared at the pictures with anguish and anger, do to her feelings towards Civilians. "He must want us to go there." Talia told each of them.

Chris, nodded his head in agreement. "Good, even if he did not, our ship will not stand for this from the Earth Forces." Chris told them.

""Our battls are only an aggressive assertion of our right to self defence"" Talia quoted what the Chairman said a while ago. "and ZAFT has no ambitions of expanding its territories."she also mentioned. "However, because of that, we won't be able to enter the fighting that easily." she informed them again.

"However, a place we need to go, are places like that." Chris told them.

"On top of that, we two need to go there as members of FAITH." Talia told Athrun. "Please remember that Athrun." she told him.

"Yes'mam" Arthur told her with a salute, as Chris nodded in agreement.

"Yes." Athrun told her. Athrun began to leave as well. However, he stopped, and turned to the recent edition to FAITH. "B-by the way," he began getting the attention of Talia. "Are you aware of what happened in Orb, Captain?" Athrun asked, Talia and Arthur drew blanks of what he was asking. "Since I only know some things that I am aware of it. . ." he told her.

"Oh yes, that event is certainly causing quite an uproar." Chris told them, as he turned to Aelan. "Mind filling us in on this?" Chris asked her.

"Right, after you all left, during the wedding of Athha, and Saylan, both the Sturmfalke, and Freedom, came in and took the Representative, and took her to the Archangel, after that, there has been no word of where she is." She told them.

"Indeed, even though the Orb Goverment are trying to cover up that it was those machines that took her." Talia told them.

"But why would. . .?" Athrun asked himself.

"We are the ones, who want to ask what's exactly is going on." Talia told him, as Chris nodded.

"Aelan, you have any idea?" Chris asked her, as she just shook her head no. "I see," he reluctantly said. With that, Athrun left the room. "Captain Talia, Aelan and I will be heading back to our ship, so we can inform everyone of our next destination." Chris told her, as she nodded. A few hours later, Vino, and Youlant, were having a conversation with Meyrin.

"What? For Real?" Youlant asked her as she nodded. "Did the Captain seriously become a member of FAITH as well?" he asked her.

"Yeah, the Vice Captain was saying very happily that he'll eventually officially announe it to the rest of the ship." Meyrin answered him.

"So, the Vice Captain didn't get the promotion as well?" Vino asked.

"What? The Vice Captain isn't a member of FAITH?" Youlant asked. "Huh? Then what about us?" he asked.

"It doesn't concern us." Vino told him. "You see, individuals are appointed to FAITH." Vino explained to his friend. Youlant looked upon Vino with a clueless lool. "What? Why don't you know about it?" he asked this time. With this, Meyrin let out a sigh of annoyance. "Only those recognized by the High Council and the Chairman, as possessing outstanding military achievements, and the appropriate character are able to join." Vino explained. "Their Authority secedes that of even the run of the military Commanders, and with that, even during a battle, they can even create and order their own strategies into action."

"Wow. . ." was all Youlant could say.

"They're the top elites of ZAFT who report directly to the council." Vino continued. "Why would it concern you?" he asked his friend.

"The same goes for you, Vino" Youlant countered.

"Top Elites" Meyrin whispered to herself.

As down in the hangar, Athrun was about to go work over his machine, as Lunamaria has been trying to get his attention. "Hey, don't ignore me!" She called to him, as she jumped onto the lift, that was to take Athrun to the cockpit of the Saviour. This surprised Athrun.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to." he told her. "A lot has happened, so I was just little out of it." Athrun explained to her. And with that, he jumped into the open cockpit of the Saviour to turn on its equipment.

"Was miss Athha's marriage really that shocking?" Lunamaria asked him, as she was at the hatch of the cockpit.

This took Athrun by surprise. "Well. . .Umm. . . That's. . ." Athrun began.

"But it was a political marriage." she told him. "Even though, it can't be helped, I personally would never agree to something like that." she told him.

"Oh by the way, who are you and what do you want anyway?" Athrun asked her, as she just looked shocked an angry.

"I'm Lunamaria. Lunamaria Hawke. I'm the pilot of the ZAKU Warrior." she told him. Athrun just nodded, as she poked her head further into the machines cockpit. "What about this unit? It's a new model isn't it?" she asked him. "I hear that it's a transformable unit." She told him.

"Yeah" he answered her.

"Wow, this is really different than that of a ZAKU!" she told him. "It's more like the Impulse. No, is it the same as Chaos and the others?" She asked him.

"I don't know, but would you like to take a seat?" he asked her.

"Really, Can I?" she shouted.

"Yeah sure. But don't touch anything, we don't want it to blow a hole into the Minerva now do we?" Athrun asked her as she nodded. With that, Athrun left the cockpit as Lunamaria sat in the Pilots seat.

"I know I know." She told him. "Wow, the panel for the mode seletor is different!" she told him. Athrun noticed Shinn stair at them, as when he did notice Shinn left. "Hey isn't this a new plugin?" she asked.

"uhh, yeah. . ." Athrun answered.

Over in the Avalon, Chris, and Aelan finished telling the highest members of the Crew of the current situation, and where they will be heading next when it is time to leave the Port. "So, Asriel, Tala are the repairs to the ship complete?" Chris asked them.

"Yes, everything is up and running." Tala told him.

"Good, what of our supplies?" Chris asked.

"We have a good two months worth of both food and water." The cook answered, as he was in charge of food and water supplies.

"Good, now you can all get some R and R until its time for us to move out." Chris told everyone as each of them went back to their stations. "So Athrun has returned to ZAFT." Chris pondered.

"I wonder how Walker, and Kira will act when they find this out." Aelan brought up, as Nicola giggled at the comment.

"Yeah, I can picture it all now. "What, what do you mean?" hahahaha." she said laughing.

"Yeah, well no matter, I should get back to my quarters, I've been sleeping in trees and my mobile suits seat for so long, I'm good for a bed today." Aelan told them as Chris nodded.

"Yes, go Aelan, we'll take care of everything." Chris told her. With that, Aelan left them, as Nicola stretched a bit. "I guess, we can go to the lounge, to have something to eat and drink." Chris told her, as she nodded, with the two heading to the lounge.

3 Hours later, Chris, and Nicola were called to bridge, as Talia was currently communicating with their ship from her own captains chair. "So, we are to leave in the moring." Chris told her, as Talia nodded.

"Yes, an order arrived at Carpentaria from headquarters as well." Talia told them. "They are also giving us a Bozgorov class submersible as an escort." Talia told him.

"I see, the more the better chance of succeeding" Chris replied. "Ok, we will be ready, Avalon out." Chris told her.

As with this, Talia turned to Arthur. "Make an announcement to the rest of the ship. Come on, start getting ready." She told him, as at Meyrins station, Meyrin was looking up any information on two personel, Athrun, and Aelan. Right now, Athrun's information was on the screen, as it showed his Biography, and a photo, of him, Rusty Mackenzie, Miguel Aiman, Dearka Elsman, Yzak Joule, Nicol Amalfi, and Aelan wearing a red mask among them. As it was shown as the Le Creuset team.

"Y-Yes ma'am!" Arthur called with a salute as he went to announce the situation.

Earth Alliance Fleet Flag Ship, John Paul Jones, Indian Ocean.

Upon the deck of the ship. Stellar Loussier sat watching the ocean. A pair of soldiers came onto the deck to get some fresh air. "But still! Theres now way!. . ." one soldier said as he caught sight of Stellar.

"Whats with this girl?" The other soldier asked. The other soldier smirked as he went up to Stellar. "H-Hey cut it out." he called to him.

"Hey, what are you doing in a place like this?" the first soldier asked her, trying a cheesy pick up line.

"The Ocean. . ." was his reply from her. "I'm looking at it." she told him. "Because I like to. . ." She answered as the officer just looked to the ocean, wondering why.

"Hey man, leave her alone." The other soldier told him. With that, Aeul who just came on deck saw them with Stellar, who he treated like a little sister, with sarcasm.

"You sure are weird." The soldier beside Stellar told her. "Oh well. . . Hey, come with us for a bit." he told her. With that, he put his hands under her arms, about to raise her up. However, Aeul ran towards the soldiers. He did a leapfrog over the closest one, and jumped towards the one with Stellar. Once he landed, his left arm, went around the soldiers neck, as his right hand grabbed the pistol from the mans belt, and aimed it right under his chin.

"You'd better cut it out." Aeul told him. "We are from the 81st Independent Mobile Battalion." Aeul informed the soldier. "She seems out of it, but she's really scary when she snaps." he continued.

"P-Phantom Pain!" the soldier muffled. Aeul let him go, as the two soldiers ran away with their tails between their legs.

"Pathetic." Aeul whipsered as he turned to Stellar, who did not even move during the commotion. "Are you staying here?" he asked. "We are to meet Neo in the briefing room." He told her. With that, Stellar looked at him happily as she got up and began to follow Aeul. "This must mean, that we'll be fighting a war again." he told her. "No matter, that is our job after all." He told her.

"Yeah." Stellar told him.

"I wonder how many I'll be able to shoot down this time. . ." Aeul wondered.

The next morning, the Avalon, Minerva, and the ZAFT underwater vessel took off from their docked areas, heading towards their next destination. "The Minerva is Launching!" The announcement called throughout the ZAFT battleship. As in the pilots ready room, both Shinn and Athrun wait within it, as Shinn reads a magazine with High and Mighty Color on the cover.

Athrun walked up to the viewport to the hangar, as he thought of the Archangel. 'If Kira and Kevin are with her, she will be fine." He told himself. "Either way, it's not like I can go back to Orb." He told himself, as the submarine dived under water, with the Minerva floating within it, as the Avalon flew over the ocean. As each vessel go towards their tomorrow.

That was when on the John Paul Jones, Neo watches from the bridge, as they detected the three ships on their long range scanners. "We finally meet again. . ." Neo told himself. "I found you, my Peche."

AN: Well now, another chapter done, and much faster than the last one. Well because of that, that last one I had writers block. But this one I changed that.

Ok, I know a lot of you are wondering why Neo called the Minerva Peche, is because the Translation I have he said "Kitten" which just sounded weird, so I took Xenosaga's Albedo's little name for Momo, which I found more appropriate than Kitten.

Well no matter, please read and review, as the battle in the Indian Ocean is next.