Disclaimer: I do not own either Gundam, talk to Bandai for the rights, because I don't have them.
Brief Summary: Things have been reorganized back at the PLANTS and with-in ZAFT. On the Earth Forces end of things, fewer and fewer troops are believing in what they are fighting for. For now they fight to live and fight for the guy next to him. As for the Archangel, she is to sail into North Africa and deplete the military strength of the ZAFT in the Mediterranean Area.
"Kira's Last Act"
Chapter 3: "Tears of Space"
On the flagship of the 8th Lunar Fleet of the ONMI Enforcer, the AFS Meneloas, the commander of the 8th Fleet, (Upper Half) Lewis Halberton, examines the reports filed by former ZAFT mobile suit pilots Athrun Zala and Nicol Amafli. He read why they decided to defect. Now as the time between then and now has become long, he wondered and asked the question.
"ZAFT has been slightly reorganized and Commander Zala received very little actual punishment, but all ZAFT covert and overt operations in anyone else's neutral territory must gain the Council's permission first, even if it's on the fly. Chairman Clyne has decided to continue the war, most likely to appease the radicals for the time."
Both boys just stood at attention then Athrun spoke.
"We can't go back, even if we wanted to. We killed ZAFT personnel while wearing OMNI Enforcer uniforms and operating under the control of an Earth officer. We can't go back and don't want too. I'm not sure about Nicol, but I want to protect Kira's ship to my dieing breath."
"Where Athrun goes, I go. He helped me out in the academy and I feel just as responsible for Heliopolis," Nicol said.
"Very well Ensigns Zala and Amafli. All yours Mr. Repensenitive," the admiral said.
Four people walked in, all in military uniforms, three from the Archangel, but one from the Atlantic Federation Army? What was he doing aboard a Navy ship?
"My name is LTC. Jon C. Rhiner. I am here representing certain elements in the Alliance. We want you to deplete the ZAFT forces in North Africa and force reserves to be sent from Europe and Asia to bolster them. Also, we want you to support the Desert Dawn group in its bid for independence. This will add many an unknown factor onto the war and in theory, end it sooner. We are pressuring Orb in sending military aide to Desert Dawn. We are also pressuring the Kingdom of Scandinavia into sending aide as well. Once Desert Dawn achieves independence in their area, we can begin a full scale peace initiative to end the war NOW," the man said, emphasizing now.
"So you want the Archangel to launch a counteroffensive?" Acting Captain Murrue Ramius asked.
"No, not really, actually, ZAFT, or rather Patrick Zala, is planning some operation called Operation Split Break, whatever it is, though we believe it to be a planned surprise attack on Joshua," Rhiner said.
"So you want us to delay and disrupt enemy force deployment and deplete their reserves," stated LT. Mu La Flaga.
"Yes, we do, the reason is this," Rhiner pause to take a breath, and then continue, "the Atlantic Federation is about to commit its last regular military reserves and then start unilateral drafting of boys and girls down to the age of at least 12 years of age and up to old men and women of at least 50 years of age to refill the ranks, but ZAFT is already started training in that same area for "emergency reserves," but Zala hasn't even told the council how depleted ZAFT is, nor has own on leadership told our own of how dire the war has become. The running joke among all who favor peace is 'Welcome to Verdun!'"
"Verdun?" asked Ensign Natarle Badgirul.
"Being a Naval officer I'm not surprised, but Verdun is a city in France that saw the most horrific fighting during the first half of World War One. Estimates vary, but the opinion is that the equalivalent of three French armies had been wiped out trying to retake the French forts surrounding the city from the Germans. That's roughly 900,000 men killed and in less than a year, not even 10 months had passed. Dumont being the worst killing field, though no surprise, I haven't really had time to study up on the area, but I heard that at least two 420mm artillery pieces had been stationed there."
"That's a lot of firepower," La Flaga said.
"With 15 ft thick reinforced earthen-cement walls, need I say more," he simply stated as everyone didn't need to think about it.
"So you want us to fight the Desert Tiger?" asked Nicol.
"Just keep him busy, if you win, that's great too, but completely unnecessary, but you probably will considering his head is thicker than Dumont, but that's his stubbornness, he's a genius, don't forget that."
"Level One General Quarters! Level One General Quarters! ZAFT fleet approaching and in fleet strength! Admiral Halberton to the bridge! I repeat, Level One General Quarters! This is not a Drill!"
"I'll be leaving now with the civilians Admiral Halberton, god speed and may you always win your battles," Rhiner saluted and quickly left.
"Jump Infantry, eh, not many left of them," the admiral said. "Back to your ship, our pickets won't last long."
The five saluted and left the admiral's office, not knowing that would be the last time they would seem him, for a very long time.
The mood on the ZAFT ships was as varied as the stars. The morale of the ZAFT troops was still low, but even lower on others that knew that the Serpent Tail was with the 8th Fleet. No one in ZAFT ever wanted to fight against them, not because they were high level Coordinators, but because they were near invincible on the battlefield. Then there was the Junk Guild ship in the area, morale was seriously low.
Yet, some ships had high morale, mostly those carrying replacements, fresh from the academy or boot, no one really cared. Most would probably be dead before the battle ended.
"The young die and the old are left," one captain had muttered to his veterans who shared his exact feelings.
Still the ZAFT fleet of 62 vessels carrying their limit of number of mobile suits, 6 suits for the Laurasia-Class and 8 for the Nazca-Class ships, prepared to meet the 139 ship 8th Fleet. The 8th Fleet pickets had chosen to fire and run. They fired a salvo of missiles and then fell back. When ZAFT mobile suits or ships, or even both, got with-in gun range, the pickets fired their guns in burst barrages, effectively keeping the ZAFT advance slow and in check. The multi-purpose Drakes were proving their worth. Not even agile mobile suits could take on or keep up with such a prepared force. The ZAFT fleet lost 6 ships and 31 mobile suits in their encounters with the pickets. The pickets suffered one ship badly damaged, that it was forced to launch its mobile armor early, but well with-in support range, albeit the very limit of support range, artillery and missiles from the main body. The ship fought on until it was destroyed by three ZAFT ships. The Armstrong took one, no three, ZAFT ships and seven, no nine, mobile suits with her with her last and dying breath. ZAFT had lost a sixth of their fleet to the pickets and 42 mobile suits for one ship and no mobile armor, but they advance.
The pickets and the launched mobile armor rejoined the fleet and the fleet reorganized to care for the loss of the Armstrong. Then the heavy fighting began. The two fleets closed together and the mobile suits and mobile armor clashed together. The central line of resistance for the ZAFT fleet was weak, but their flanks were strong. They attempted a repeat of the Battle of Marathon, were a small Greek, mostly Athenian, army defeated a larger Persian army ending one Persian attempt to seize Greece. This time however, the move did not work and a stalemate occurred.
During this time, the Archangel re-supplied and reinforced with some fresh Marines, Naval, and Army troops began their descent into the Earth's atmosphere. The civilians had already been sent Earthward thanks to the time brought by the pickets. Among them, LTC. Rhiner went secure in the knowledge that help would arrive in time and deal with the "dark ones." Yet, what are the "dark ones?" Only he and a select few know and that's what helped the peace movement Earth side really get off the ground.
The Franklin Team spotted the Archangel and made the call, "the Legged-Ship is entering the atmosphere, all units abort and retreat back to ZAFT territory! Repeat, the Legged-Ship got away, DAMN!"
The battle was too far joined to allow anyone to disengage. The battle continued, with the near annihilation of the 8th Fleet and the ZAFT force. While the Archangel began its safe descent to North Africa were it landed safely, but not without trouble and two sets of watchful eyes.