Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Seed. The company Bandai is the legal owner. I also don't claim originality with this story; Solid Shark is the owner of the idea. If he does not approve of my use of his idea, he can let me know and I'll pull the story once I have gotten his message.
Claimer: However I do declare ownership of the Crimson Eagle, the Dark Side Bear, and the Lunar Cherry Blossom. I also declare ownership of the twist I'm putting in.
"The Endymion Ghosts"
Chapter Seven: "Songstress of the Enemy Forces"
AFS Archangel on route to Ptolemaeus Lunar Base
As the Archangel sailed quietly through the vastness of space, its companion, the Junk Guild ship H.O.M.E. sailed alongside. In the mobile suit hanger, Lowe Gear and Chief Mechanic Kojiro Murdoch and his mechanics worked on the damaged GAT-X105 Strike. The mobile suit was off line and so the Phase Shift Armor was off and the coloring had reverted back to its normal grey coloring of the metal armor itself. The mechanics were attempting to repair the damage done not by enemy fire, but by the pilot himself. Kira Yamato, a blue uniform volunteer, had stressed and overheated the engines. The results were that not only did the back of the mobile suit need work, but also some major components from with-in the mobile suit needed replacing. Then there was the melted, slagged, and warped Aile Striker Pack that needed work. Everyone agreed to crack the kid over the head with a wench when they next saw him, but that was cooled because the damage taken had been to save a young girl's life. Which speaking of the two kids, Kira was getting…
"KIRA YAMATO! You nearly destroyed the Strike! What do you have to say for yourself?" Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Sara James yelled her brown eyes felled with disbelief and her short brown hair floating just a little in the 0-gee.
"A life was at stake! Do you think I wouldn't have tried anything!" yelled the brown haired violet eyed young male First Generation Coordinator.
"Calm down the both of you!" Crim Eagleton had had it with their two hour long shouting match.
"I agree, what's done is done, but a life was indeed saved and not just any life, the daughter of Sigel Clyne, Chairman of the Supreme Council of the PLANTS," Captain (Acting) Murrue Ramius said.
"I agree, with her on board…" Ensign Natarle Badgiruel was interrupted.
"We will not be using her as a hostage," Captain Ramius was dead serious.
"Then we let her die with us Captain," Crim spoke up, horrifying even his three closes companions aboard the ship.
"Its actually quite simple when you look at it. If ZAFT troops do attack, they put her in harms way, in fact we've already seen that some ZAFT units have absolutely no responsibility to preserving life. That life pod had PLANTS written all over it. Yet, we saw it destroyed without a second look. This will help clean up the ranks a little by showing which ZAFT soldier is a real ZAFT soldier and not a trained vigilante who wants to avenge Junius Seven."
"That is true, plus she is Athrun Zala's fiancée, so not even Patrick Zala would make a move," Lina Joule said figuring out a hidden goal of Crim's.
"I get it, you want to make Defense Chairman Zala squirm since he won't let us sail by," Sakura Ryosouke said.
"That and I know Lewis Halberton, a good man and high level strategist. Knowing him, he knows that the Archangel is hurt and on the run from ZAFT. I expect he will meet us half way and re-supply the ship for a re-entry for Joshua," Crim said.
"Meet us half way?" asked a clearly confused Ens. Badgiruel.
"Yes, why waste time and resources by having us go all the way to Ptolemaeus. When he could simply re-supply us and send us on our way to Joshua. Don't tell me you only thought the Archangel was good for space combat?" he didn't like the looks the female officers were giving him.
"The Archangel is designed to act as an aerial and a submersible assault carrier. Why else would it have been equipped with re-entry equipment and… well not that it matters. That equipment was destroyed or we have to few personnel to do anything except act like a wet orair ship," Lina Joule looked sadly around, she had been one of the biggest members of the design staff, now to see her baby wounded and undermanned was disheartening.
"Well we need to debrief the Pink Princess, so let's do that instead," Crim said and left the bridge, followed by the rest of the officers and the Lunar Cherry Blossom.
Kira, Volunteer Tolle Koenig, Volunteer Sai Argyle, Petty Officer 2nd Class Jackie Tonomaru, and PO2 Dalida Lolaha Chandra II all left the bridge a few moments later. Chief Petty Officer Arnold Neumann shakes his head and turns to the remaining two on the bridge, Crewman 2nd Class Flay Allster and PO2 Romero Pal. The two look back at him with a look that says, 'Ensign Badgiruel is going to cook their gooses.' The three share a quiet laugh about it. Then PO2 Pal says it.
"Do you think we're meet the Eighth Fleet before Lunar HQ?"
"Crim seems to think so, but I wonder, just who he is and why he has a Federal Forces uniform in his closet?" then C2 Allster covers her mouth, not meaning to say that aloud.
"You were in his room. Man you must be mad…. Wait, a Federal Forces uniform, you mean an Atlantic Federation Federal Forces uniform, before the State and Federal troops were consolidated into a single military force and then made part of the Alliance?" PO2 Pal was surprised; CPO Neumann was intrigued.
"What color was it?" he inquired.
"A dark green, very dark, I also found a journal belonging to a guy, a Career Master Sergeant of a combat infantry battalion of Federal Army," C2 Allster responded.
"What unit?" asked PO2 Pal.
"I think 608… I can't remember, but it was someone named O'Brien or was O'Hare, no O'Ryan! Yeah O'Ryan!" she said excitedly.
"That isn't much, but now we have something that links what he said earlier after Heliopolis. We had thought he was delusional, but now I believe he was recalling a past event that was horror itself. Several Federal Army units had rebelled against the formation of the Alliance, word had it that one unit had been destroyed, because there was no one in that wanted to be part of the Alliance, but that was before the rebellion they say. Only a few know the whole story, but I do recall one of the names was a Sergeant O'Ryan, but whether or not they're the same, only Commander Eagleton can tell us that," CPO Neumann didn't like where this was going.
"Now armed with that bit of information and the deafening silence, we forget about it until we have more evidence to support any theory," PO2 Pal was understandably nervous.
"Agreed, so no more raids into his quarters Crewman Allster, or I'll have to put you on report," CPO Neumann said warningly; she nodded.
Grave of Lenora Zala, Junius Seven Memorial, Junius Six, PLANTS
Athrun Zala stood at the headstone that marked where his mother had died. He longed to believe otherwise. He always had the feeling that she had not died and that this was really not his war. He couldn't figure it out for the life of him. He decided to place the bouquet of white flowers that he had bought. He knew he had to be back soon. The Vesalius was going off to search for Lacus Clyne, his fiancée. He wondered, as most soldiers do, if he was really doing the right thing. He then left meeting up with other ZAFT soldiers heading back to their bases or ships to search for Lacus Clyne, the Pink Princess.
Starboard Dormitory for Pilots, AFS Archangel
Inside a room meant to house pilots for the mobile complement, Lacus Clyne looked at the gathered officers, most of whom were female with two males, one blonde with blue eyes and the other with jet black hair and mountain green eyes. There were also two people she knew, but were wearing Alliance Volunteer blue and hot pink.
"Well, we already know your name and about your father. We also have a good guess as to why you were in the Debris Belt, but as to why you were in a life pod, we do not know," the Captain spoke.
"Junius Seven was why, eh, my princess," Crim spoke; Lacus giggled, he always called her 'my princess' to go along with her title.
"Yes, I was asked to be a Representative for the memorial delegation. I had heard that they originally wanted you Commander Eagleton for the loss of your daughter and grandson, but as I was one of the few you talked with, I know it was more," Lacus responded.
"Yes, as you know my wife and son were also lost and I commanded the forces stationed there, but my grandson has survived. We just found survivors before you Lacus, including my grandson and Athrun's mother, Lenora," Crim said and the look on Lacus' face as she heard that there had been survivors found including Athrun's mother and Crim's grandson, was that of pure relief and joy.
"I'm certain the Joule family will be excited to hear that Little Yzak has survived and I know that Athrun will be beside himself with happiness. He had spent a couple of nights at my family's mansion and we heard him cry in his sleep for his mother. Do you think I can see her?" Lacus had a look of hope on her face.
"I was actually hoping to have a little celebration if the Captain would permit for the survivors. I know it will do a world of good if you were to sing for them Lacus," Crim's idea had merit and the look on a few of the officers had already made for supporting the idea.
It was then that Ens. Badgiruel moved towards the door and opened. Four young men nearly fell into the room. They shot to attention, a bit flustered at having been caught. Ens. Badgiruel ordered them to go and get back to their tasks. Lacus spotted Kira and waved and he returned it, but was about to leave when he saw Ens. Badgiruel looking at him from the corner of her eye, but Crim called for him, he entered the room.
"Captain I propose we assign Volunteers Yamato, Haw, and Koenig as Ms. Clyne's guards during the duration of her stay. I would also like to inform you I will be moving Mrs. Zala in with Ms. Lina Joule, Commander Sakura Ryosouke, and myself, Commander Crim Eagleton for the duration of her stay," Crim left no room for argument and Captain Ramius also agreed completely, to be on the safe side.
"Very well, and bring plans for your party to my office later, but we must…" the captain stopped and looked at the pink ball in that was now in her lap.
"Stupid little, I'm going to break Athrun's hands if he keeps making these annoying things. Haro, return to Lacus," Crim growled out while Lacus pouted.
"I happened to like them, especially Mr. Pink," the ball returned to Lacus' hands.
"Allow me to introduce Mister Pink Haro, only one of the most annoying, I mean, lovable little AI mechanical balls in the universe. He is only one of many that the talented Athrun Zala has created, which is why I said I was posting a three-person guard. Mister Pink comes fully equipped to get Lacus out any prison cell, locked room, etc. while also boasting an internal tracking computer… Basically put, a jail breaker's best friend, because he has everything one needs for escapes," Crim wasn't too please with the little ball for very good reasons.
"I see, well that can't be helped then, Volunteer Yamato, once we are finished talking, please escort Ms. Clyne to the Mess Hall, until then find Volunteers Haw and Koenig and inform them of their new added duties, dismissed," Kira left with just a nod after the Captain had finished speaking.
"Now as to why you were in that pod?" Lieutenant Mu La Flaga asked, at which time Sakura spoke up.
"We know someone used the Silverwind's hull for target practice, Ms. Clyne. So tell us what happened?"
"I do not know why, but we had encountered an Earth Forces vessel, the AFS Solomon, the soldiers from the ship seemed to be looking for something and asked us to allow them to board, so since I had seen nothing wrong I had permitted it. They then made inquiries as to why we were here and when we told them, they seemed to get upset. Then there…" Crim held up his hand to stop her.
"I now know that it was your ship. A red mobile suit came to your aid correct?" he asked.
"Yes! How did you know?" she was curious, as was everyone else in the room.
"I talked to Lowe, he was the pilot of the Red Frame. It was, up until the Le Creuset Team destroyed Heliopolis, an Orb Military Mobile Suit, now it's the pride and joy of Lowe Gear, Ace Junk Guild Mechanic," he said.
"I see… I had heard on the Silverwind that Heliopolis had been destroyed, but we had no idea that ZAFT had been involved, that might explain why…" Crim interrupted.
"I've actually been hunting the AFS Solomon. A crew entirely loyal to Blue Cosmos operates that ship. I found an information broker, a rather shady character, I can only guess he had a hand behind the destruction of the Silverwind, because he does more than just information brokering," Crim was in deep thought, his news not sitting well with any of the present.
"I shall inform Admiral Halberton at once about the Solomon when we arrive at Lunar HQ," Captain Ramius was one of the many who would throw out the Blue Cosmos members of the Alliance faster than lightening.
"You mean when we see him, because I'll bet the price tag of a PLANT that he is already sailing to meet us, but I doubt the Solomon will live long. I personally intend to sink that ship, it blocked me from stopping the…" Crim stopped and shook his head and at that moment the door opened to reveal the three volunteers.
"Ah, good you have arrived and I'm certain we're done, we have all the answers we need. Volunteers, please pass word we will be having a celebration to celebrate the discovery of the survivors of Junius Seven," Ensign Loretta Red-Rains said hurriedly to help changed the mood, no one tried to stop her and the four youngsters left in high spirits.
"Crim, there is more about Junius Seven, isn't there?" asked Captain Ramius.
"That trust has yet to be gained, so just be patient, I'll tell you when," Crim left and the others sharing some looks, left as well.
Crim walked towards the hanger, thinking. The captain was wrong, it wasn't J7 that was bothering him, it was… He shook his head again. He hated being the only man left from his very first command. He would often hear tales of how the great hero would go out for revenge with no thought of surviving, just as long as they took the bad guy or the evil organization with them. He on the other hand had no thought of calling it quits until he was old and grey and even then the Pale Rider would find he would put up quite a fight before he died, not quitting one step of the way.
As Crim stepped into the hanger, his mind had already shifted from the past to the future. He knew that the mess hall would be too small for the party. On the other hand, the hanger was too big and lacked gravity, but he remembered some of the games the Eagleton Team used to play in 0-gee. He knew that there would be some up skirt peeping, but he knew of a couple techniques to prevent skirts from revealing too much. He had, after all, nothing better to do for periods of time here and there on patrol. Plus he had a few female red coats in his old ranks. To get a female red coat, your unit had to be something, to have eleven like his unit had showed a unit of elite status unparalleled in the annals of ZAFT or any military, or so was said, but he and his team was never one of those saying it.
"Unfounded arrogance leads to an early demise," Crim said as he sensed several people behind him.
"Wow! You actually noticed us," Tolle was impressed.
"One of my many skills. Believe it or not, long before I joined ZAFT I had been fighting Blue Cosmos and the OMNI Enforcer. It has been too long for my tastes, but I will not stop until the PLANTS are safe and freedom is guaranteed everywhere Tolle. I swore on too many headstones, too many unmarked graves, too many fallen friends and allies," Crim shook his head to clear his thoughts again and then turned to Lacus.
"Big enough space?" he jerked his thumb over his shoulder.
"Hmm… Why not somewhere with gravity?" she asked, but he knew that she knew what he meant.
"Not enough room," he stated plainly, reaching into pocket for something, before quickly withdrawing it.
"I thought you didn't smoke?" she said with a pouty face, he smiled.
"Old habit from my childhood. I used to keep gum in my pockets, but not anymore," he said.
"ALL OFFICERS, BOTH REGULAR AND VOLUNTEER TO THE BRIDGE! REPEAT ALL OFFICERS, BOTH REGULAR AND VOLUNTEER TO THE BRIDGE!"
"Playing my number, I'll tell the Captain and don't worry I have a few tricks up my sleeve when it comes to having a lot of time, a team that is nearly fifty percent female, and a lot of parties, who doesn't have a few tricks."
The Bridge of the Archangel
"You know, I had to cancel a dinner date with my main man and his girl to come up here."
The bridge crew and the assembled officers look at Crim as he enters last.
"I told Kira that he and Lacus can't be together without an adult around to prevent them from skipping dinner and going right to bed," he had a grin on his face.
"If you are trying to raise morale, don't stop your piloting, but I don't think you need to worry long," Ens. Badgiruel had a slight smile on her face.
"What's the good news then? Not like the radicals have blown each other up on both sides of the line and left the rest of humanity alone to have peace," he stated stopping next to the group.
"We received a transmission from the Montgomery Advance Force," Captain Ramius smiled a relieved smile.
"Don't relax yet," Crim, said, suddenly serious.
All looked at him, they at least thought he would relax a little… more, but he was appeared to be deadly serious. Something was wrong that they forgot to take account for.
"Something wrong Commander Eagleton?" Ens. Badgiruel asked.
"Have you forgotten that the Montgomery may be making a rendezvous with us, but it could be sunk between now and then or worse just before we link up," he was, indeed, deadly serious, killing the mood.
"Crim! You're no fun! We are…"
"But we're not, are we," Crim interrupted Sakura and pointing out a very important fact.
"Commander Eagleton, I would like to know why you're so upset?" Captain Ramius' tone was harsh.
"Simple, one Lacus Clyne and one David Blight," he responded.
"What about them?" the Captain wasn't following his point.
"Half of ZAFT is going to be in this area looking for her and on the alert for us and any possible force sent to link up with us," he was dead right, that much is basic strategy.
"Yeah, but its…"
"I've seen too many die on 'buts.' Let's not forget that three mobile armor are supposed to be lost for every mobile suit, BUT the fourth mobile armor will get that mobile suit," he had killed the mood with reality after interrupting the Hawk of Endymion.
"I see, very well, we shall advance with caution and warn the Montgomery and when we get close, go to yellow alert, but I still intend to hold your party, but I'm afraid…" the Captain trailed off.
"Let them know, but we, the officers and regulars need to keep ourselves on alert, otherwise, we are as good as sunk like Georgetown was at the First Battle of Jachin Due," Crim knew that everyone aboard had heard what happened to the AFS Georgetown.
Yet despite all of his attempts, Crim knew that the crew of the Archangel was going to relax and try to breath easier. He also knew that by the time they arrived, there would be high chance that the Advance Force would already be dead to last man. He knew he had his work cut out for him if this ship would be a part of his plans to stop Blue Cosmos and the Zala Faction.
As he left and headed down back down to get something to eat to calm himself, he heard one thing that had been on his mind, Flay Allster yelling at Lacus Clyne. He was swift and found her alone without her escort. Crewman Second Class Allster was screaming into the face of Lacus Clyne. He knew what he had to do and knew he wouldn't hear the end of it. Yet, as long as he was aboard the Archangel and in charge of the volunteers, a task that had been surprisingly easy for him to get, he was an officer of the ship and as such he went right into officer mode, except he over did it and went back to his officer self from a time long ago.
"Crewman Allster what is the meaning of this!" he roared and she tried to hide herself behind Lacus.
"I gave an order for an explanation or do you want to spend time in the brig?" he was being sarcastic and venomous.
"I… uh… found Ms. Clyne unescorted and looking into there," she pointed.
"The mess hall full of civilians and other personnel?" he said as C2 Allster visibly paled.
"You two," he pointed at two mechanics and they stood at once, "escort the Crewman Allster to the brig, she is under arrest until the Captain has had a chance to review this incident."
The two men saluted and began to take Crewman Allster away. She began to try to get out of it and Lacus also tried to stop it. To her it was unfair and wrong. It was just that she may have caught the redhead at a bad time and voiced it. He countered as to why she was alone.
"I went to lay down for a while and after a bit, Mr. Pink decided he wanted to walk around and I was lonely," she said, but his response was cruel like that of a hard bit officer of a regular army.
"No excuse to leave you alone. I thought I had made it clear to the three that you were to be watched at ALL times for your safety. Also, you shouldn't be wandering around on your own. I will have to take that Haro for the time being until we have had a chance to do something about the doors. Last thing I want is that little thing to depressurize the whole ship," he then extended his arm, picking up the ball, and catching sight of the three guards.
"What in the Sam Hill are you three doing leaving Ms. Clyne without an escort?" he demanded and the three came to a sudden stop.
"She went to lay down and we went to…" Tolle stopped seeing the look in Crim's eyes.
"That is no way to speak to a superior officer, do I make myself clear," Crim knew he did.
"YES SIR!" the three were nervous as all get out.
"For this breach of orders, consider yourselves on probation and on full guard duty. When Ms. Clyne leaves her quarters you will be beside her. When she goes to the head, you two will stand guard outside and you will be just outside the door. When she goes to bed, you will stand watch in shifts. You are to stay near her at all times, unless there is a battle or you are instructed otherwise! Do I make myself clear! DO I!" he shouted into their faces.
"SIR YES SIR!" the three were panicky.
"Dismissed and escort Ms. Clyne back to her quarters for the time being, I must consult the Captain and other officers," he turned and left, forgetting about his empty stomach.
On the Bridge of the Vesalius
"Enemy ships?" inquired Rau Le Creuset.
"Just three and they appear to have not noticed us either," Captain Ades said off handedly.
"Still why would three Earth Forces ships… I see, they're here for that," Commander Le Creuset said as he began to smile.
"What are they here for sir?" the ship captain asked his superior.
"They're here for the 'Legged-Ship,'" Le Creuset's voice sounded like he was cooing.
"Then what shall we do? We are committed to the search…"
"No, we will take all nearby teams and move for an intercept. We mustn't let them re-enforce the 'Legged-Ship.' This may help get Councilman Zala out of some hot water. We need to capture that ship or sink it at the very least, but above all capturing the Strike pilot and the two traitors," the superior interrupted his subordinate.
"But sir!"
"Relax, we will go back to searching for Ms. Clyne afterwards. I would hate to be laughed at by future historians for missing this chance. After all this is more important than to look for one girl," Le Creuset elicited a lot of hateful looks from his bridge crew that he noticed and didn't care about.
"Very well change course to intercept and prepare for battle!" Ades didn't like it, but he had his job to do.
On the Bridge of the Archangel
Crim was listening to Ensign Badgiruel chew him out for over stepping his bounds of authority. He wasn't actually listening, but was still planning in his head the party among other things, including how to find the best way to shut her up for good without killing her or making her unfit for duty. He not only outranked her in ZAFT, but… He gave a very violent shake of the head and smacked his forehead with his fist. To say that stunned the officers and anyone else was an understatement.
"Ouch," was all he said.
"Commander Eagleton, why did you just… um…" Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Sara James was at a lost of words.
"Sorry, a bad memory came back from the last person to talk to me like that and why. To put it simply, when we came to blows, he not lost favor with his troops, but with even Patrick Zala. The man was just mad; he wanted to rack up kills no matter what happened to his own men and women. They guy even kept a few female Naturals as slaves, until I found out and stuck a sword into him. Fool forgot I was better at CQC," Crim brushed it off.
Now Captain Ramius or any other officer knew that CQC stood for Close Quarters Combat, but something else bothered her. He brushed it off like a man from her past and yet again, he reminded her of him.
Ensign Justin Glick also noticed the brushing off, but knew from the way that it was similar to annoyed infantryman. He remembered his sergeant doing the same; as did all the other battle harden officers and Non-Commissioned Officers as well as the Enlisted Men. Also, the way he did it reminded Ensign Glick of an officer he met a long time back. He had been young for his rank, but he was an exceptional officer. No one doubted his capabilities because his father was an officer. His name had been Lewis Halberton the Second, a Major in the Atlantic Federal Army and the son of the commander of the old Atlantic Federal Space Forces' 4th Fleet. Something about 'Louie' as he was known and Crim Eagleton just screamed the same, but what, Eagleton had to be at least three years older and married not to mention a Coordinator.
The man in questioned sneezed suddenly and he grumbled about making Crewman Allster do the toilets and the dishes and the floors just to shut her up or make her complain about something else. He thought she was a little too much like her father and cursed the man silently.
Brig, Archangel
As Crewman 2nd Class Flay Allster sat on the hard bench, she was cursing out Crim with a very colorful array of words and phrases. She didn't know that he knew that was what she was doing. She continued on before she sneezed putting a stop to her complaining.
Bridge of the Montgomery
Vice Foreign Minister George Allster sneezed real hard that it launched him out of his seat. Just moments away from making contact with the Archangel and he sneezes so hard to launch him out of his seat. The bridge crew got a good laugh out it and so did Captain Koopman. An aide that had been reading the names of military personnel aboard the Archangel shook his head and his eyes widened when he saw one name on the list when he looked back to it.
"Crewman Second Class Flay Allster, AFS Archangel," the man said, edging away from the politician.
The inevitable happened when the aide had put some distance between him and the Vice Foreign Minister. Captain Koopman and the rest of the crew were the same, putting distance between the surprised and shocked politician and themselves.
"GET. ME. THE. ARCHANGEL. NOW!" he said through clenched teeth, as he was not about to let his daughter be involved in the war.
A little more mystery to whet your appetites ladies and gentlemen. Also, what happened to the AFS Georgetown at the First Battle of Jachin Due? Why is the Crimson Eagle fixated on sinking the Solomon? What other tragedy before Eagleton before Junius Seven? And how long has he been fighting against Blue Cosmos and the Alliance? These questions and many more will be answered as the story progresses. So stick around and you will find out.
Also, will Crim's worries come true? Will ZAFT find and sink the Advance Force? We all know the answer, but will the crew still trust a man that keeps secrets from even his own allies? Will Flay hate the man even more? What about the suspicious Captain and pilot? Geez, I've got a lot of mystery that I could rewrite the book on paranoia for the Soviets, but wait! They're gone! Oh happy days!
Next Chapter: "The Fading Light"
Never Give Up and Fire Gundam!