From his own customized GINN, Elijah Kiel watched as Gai Murakumo, his leader, piloting the recently acquired Astray Blue Frame, fought against the Eurasian Federation's prototype. Elijah looked at the time. The final training session would end shortly, and with that, the first part of Serpent Tail's mission.
Elijah had qualm against accepting the mission since it might be a trap set out by Artemis' base commander to forcefully get the Astray Blue Frame, as was Loretta. Reed didn't really care, but then again, the man only cared for his alcohol; even then he's not the discerning type, only caring whether it goes into his belly or not. Gerard Garcia, the base commander wasn't known for dealing straight and the man would be extremely interested in getting his crummy hands on the Blue Frame.
Surprisingly, Elijah was to be disappointed, in a good way. Gerard did show a little interest but that was all. Instead, the man was talking about optimizing the response of something called the Hyperions and getting Gai to help by fighting a few mock battles with them.
Gai finally managed to move to the side of his opponent and aimed one of Blue Frame's bazooka. His opponent tried to move away but he kept the weapon trained at the other mobile suit. After being still in place for two seconds, he lowered the bazooka. It was counted as a hit. The exercise has concluded. Elijah was sure that the other mobile suit was still hiding its capability, only using the beam machinegun, but Gai Blue Frame's only used bazooka and beam rifle so it was somewhat fair.
"Okay, we're done here," Gai announced as he returned to land on the Laurasia-class frigate the group was operating. Elijah waited, still expecting the betrayal that would never come. Eventually, he received the instruction to follow suit.
As the ship began leaving the orbit of Artemis, the second half of the mission began, which was to send their 'guest' to PLANT home. While he was branded as a traitor to ZAFT, Elijah couldn't help himself meeting the so-called guest.
Amarfi was a respectable family, known for its contributions to engineering and mechanics. But Nicol was, if Elijah was to describe him honestly, an artistic person, having the fingers more suited to holding paintbrushes or sculpting. "Nicol Amarfi?"
"None of what you do will faze me!" Nicol blurted out, defiant. "You dare desecrate the Bechstein Sphinx!"
"I don't know what you're talking about," Elijah said as he gave a look at his colleague, Loretta Aja standing next to him. The former Earth Alliance member shrugged while shaking her head. "Maybe you can explain what we did,"
"Your bald officer dare put a hot coffee mug on the legendary piano…," Nicol cocked his head as he noticed Elijah's clothing. "You're not part of the Eurasian?"
"No," Elijah said he tried to recall any bald officer on Artemis beside Gerard. None came to mind.
"You're part of ZAFT?"
"I was," Elijah said, not wanting to explain further.
"So, you're the 'people mover' Gerard was talking about,"
The bald man was indeed Gerard, Elijah surmised. "We are," he admitted.
"You scum! This is what Gerard threaten me with if I don't cooperate," Nicol spat. "I'm not scared. ZAFT will never tolerate human traffickers like you!"
Once again, Elijah turned toward Loretta, this time for an explanation.
The woman pulled him away from the ZAFT pilot. "Gerard's clearly had been having fun at this guy… this boy's expense by having him misunderstand," Loretta said.
"Obviously," The Serpent Tail was harboring and transporting the young pilot for the sole purpose of profit. As for the legality of its action, no one was sure, and no one cared. So, technically, it could be argued that Serpent Tail was involved in human trafficking. On that note, it could be argued that the mercenary group was a pirate outfit since it was involved in piracy; Serpent Tail had hijacked ships and mobile suits. While Elijah wasn't one to care about such frivolous facts, he was a bit annoyed that his group was being disparaged by Gerard of all people.
"Gerard told me that you are pedophiles!" Nicol said, thinking that their discussion away from him was an admission of guilt.
Elijah whirled toward him. "Wait a minute! Now that's…"
"True. We're pedophiles," Loretta interrupted
Elijah scrunched his face. "We are?"
Hands on her hips, Loretta closed the distance between her and Nicol. "What's the problem with that?"
"It's… wrong!" Nicol managed to blurt out, unnerved by her action.
Loretta grinned mischievously. "So, me liking my own daughter is a crime?"
Nicol blinked at her words. Elijah shook his head, wondering how such a person could be a skilled soldier but naïve at the same time. Despite the negative connotation, pedophile meant 'one who like children' and Loretta loved her daughter Kazahana. Elijah also liked the young girl, so he is, arguably, a pedophile. That realization left him a bit conflicted.
Loretta put a finger on Nicol's chest. "Do you want me to like you instead? Nicol-phile is it, hm?"
"No, that's not what I meant,"
"You don't want me?" the woman said, feigning hurt. "I'm not attractive enough?"
"No… You're beautiful but..." Nicol sputtered.
"Alright, Loretta, stop teasing our guest," Gai called out as he entered the room.
"Spoilsport," the woman said, pouting as she retreated.
"You must excuse her," he said to Nicol while extending a hand. "Name's Gai and in case they didn't introduce themselves before trying to give you a panic attack, Loretta and Elijah,"
Cautiously, Nicol took the offered hand, "Nicol Amarfi,"
"Okay, Nicol. Gerard wants you out of his hair," Nicol couldn't help smiling at the joke, "so we're sending you to your father,"
"Just like that?" Nicol asked incredulously.
"Just like that. I know that's a hard thing believe but that's how it is," Gai said while gesturing to Loretta, "Bring him to cafeteria to eat,"
"Let's go, Cutie-boy," Loretta said while gesturing flirtatiously. Despite blushing furiously, Nicol followed her out of the room.
"What's that all about?" Gai asked when he and Elijah were finally alone.
Elijah told him about what happened.
Gai scratched his head, "I hope he doesn't crush on her like the rest. Hard to explain the situation to his father."
The statement reminded Elijah of something else, "About that, are we supposed to keep secret the thing that we'll deliver to his father?"
"Yeah,"
It was as Elijah predicted. "So, how was the Eurasian's prototype?"
"Looks like Tranche 1 going to be ready soon, I guess around the same time of Atlantic's Block 1A,"
"Even though latter lost the special types?"
"The special types are testbeds, just like my Blue Frame, but the basics will be what they will be churning out in greater numbers. And you know what they say, the beauties get all the glamor, but beasts win the war,"
"Flay, we must talk,"
Kira pressed his back against the wall, willing himself not to be seen. A few minutes prior, he was searching for the redhead to apologize and just and when he had finally found her, Sai appeared. The two of them didn't seem to see him, which is why he tried to remain hidden.
Flay stopped moving. "Very well, talk,"
"I would like to apologize for what Kira did,"
The redhead stared at him as if he sprouted an additional head. "Why are you apologizing for him?"
"As expected," Sai said. "You still have that tell when you're deflecting an issue. You've always like that. After what you did at the bridge, I've decided to do the same thing and come up with my own explanation. You don't want to get back with me because you're already smitten with him all this while, do you?"
"All this while?"
"Again, your eyes move away from me twice,"
Flay didn't respond.
Sai took her silence as an affirmation of his accusation. "When I found out you're registered at the college, I did some digging of my own, and guess what I found out?"
"Do tell,"
"You were at Copernicus a few times three years ago. You probably met Kira at that time. That's why when I made that mistake, you decide to break up with me, didn't you?"
That revelation was a major shock to Kira. He very clearly recalled the first time he met her. It was around July, few months after his enrolment. He was returning from the laboratory, finishing yet another one of Kato's extra tasks, when he found an attractive redhead looking at a campus signboard and then at the terminal she was holding. He must have stopped walking and stared at her for a long time that eventually she noticed him and sought help getting to the female dormitory.
Kira was physically and mentally exhausted at that time, but he somehow volunteered to show her the way while carrying her bags. He was so tired mentally that he and Flay talked all the way to her dormitory; normally he would be tongue tied around unfamiliar people. That were case in their later interactions as he would smile and nod his head, saying few words before feeling self-aware and excusing himself.
Sai's statement implied that she already knew him even before that. Taking that conclusion to another level, her being at that signboard was a planned encounter.
"I was there on business trips,"
"You lie,"
"Did you listen to yourself just now? You're implying that I saw Kira in one of those trips, get interested in him without even knowing his background, move to Heliopolis to stalk him, get you to leak the universal kernel development to Morgenroete so that it can take over the company, and then break off with you for a chance to be with him? How delusional can you be? I could just approach him at those points of time without going through all that!"
"Still, you're clearly using Kira to make a point to me. This is your revenge on me, isn't it?"
"Revenge?" Flay repeated the word. "Revenge," she tested the word on her mouth again before chuckling. "Ah, revenge. Recently I've realized that hate is not the opposite of love but instead two sides of the same coin," She shook her head. "In this case, it wouldn't happen. I'll make sure of that. The best revenge is to do nothing,"
"Flay..."
The redhead sighed exaggeratedly as her body posture deflated. "Even if I want to do this 'revenge' thing, I have too many things on my plate, no thanks to you,"
"You're still working on that other thing, aren't you?"
"I learned my lesson, Sai. I'm not going to say anything about what I do to you,"
"I noticed, you never once referred to the two as such."
"I'm not admitting or denying anything,"
"You already answered my question with that," Sai pointed out.
"Why do you try so hard to provoke me when I'm trying not to have anything to do with you?"
"I want us to be together, like before,"
"Too late,"
"My father approached your father to get him involved. My father really treasured his friendship with yours, even more than their partnership. With the project being taken over by Morgenroete, " Sai bit his lips a bit, "we would have time together. I was thinking of asking my parents to arrange for our engagement,"
That was something new to Kira. Flay and Sai wasn't engaged even though he assumed he was. But he was sure that she mentioned about dissolution... was it about their parents' partnership?
"I told you before and I'm telling you for the last time. I worked on it not because my father told me to. I was the one who asked my father to let me do it,"
"But you were so focused that it's affecting your health! Our relationship!"
"I had no choice. At that time, that's the only thing I can think of, since everyone else have their own strengths, even you, no, especially you. I never had other people's courage and determination; I'm just a coward contend to hide behind everyone else when push comes to shove. That project is the only way I know how!"
"What are you talking about? I accept you as you were," Sai insisted.
"You were trying to change me by sabotaging it. Is that accepting me as I am? But I'm thankful since what you did force me to face my problems."
"Then..."
"No. Never. Never, never, never, will I reconcile with you. I don't need to hate you, but I'm not obligated to befriend you again. But perhaps, I owe you some closure, to be fair,"
"Closure?"
"As I told you before, there was no one. You were going to be my raison d'etre, not Kira, not anyone else," Flay said softly.
Kira felt a stab to his heart at that admission even though he knew that they had a history together.
"Easy for you to say such words now, even though you never told me you love me before," Sai said with an edge in his voice.
"I didn't, I admit. But I told you about what I was working on because I was resolute. I didn't admit my love, you say, but I gave you something more important, my trust. Why can't we be together, you asked?" Flay continued, "Because that strong trust and respect I have for you is no longer there. I forgive you, because Mir tells me that I need to let go for my own sake, but I cannot forget," she said before starting moving away, signaling the end of the conversation.
Sai lowered his head in disappointment. "I guess I can count myself lucky that I'm your first love,"
Flay stopped and turned her head a bit. "I'm sorry, but no, you're not," she said before restarting her movement.
"Not even that," Sai said as he watched her get further and further. "At the very least, I wanted to be the one who you'll compare everyone else to, even in a bad way,"
Before Kira could say decide on his on course of action, Mirriallia's voice echoed through the corridor. "ALL PILOTS TO THE BRIEFING ROOM. I REPEAT, ALL PILOTS TO THE BRIEFING ROOM,"
"Before we start," Mu said turning toward Flay, nodding, "I would like to apologize for the earlier incident. I was being an asshole and there's no excusing that."
"Apology accepted but in return, no calling me 'Capsule' anymore,"
"You accept it just like that?"
"Recently, someone had reminded me that it's useless trying to run away from a problem onboard this ship so I'm trying to reduce my problems,"
"Hm… I don't really understand but I'll take what I can. No hard feelings?" Mu said as he offered his hand which Flay took.
Kira noticed that Flay shook the man's hand once which if he recalled correctly, meant that she's willing to work with the man on a professional level.
"Okay, that's that," Mu said before giving Kira a signal with his eyes and gesturing towards the redhead with a slight turn of his head. I have settled my problem. Now it's your turn.
Kira felt a twinge of annoyance at the man's insinuation. He had supported Mu's action to find out what Flay was hiding from them but when it came to making an apology, the former simply went and do it without him.
Mu tapped on the electronic board on the wall displaying a blue triangle marked 'Archangel'. "Anyway, your friend Koenig has detected two Laurasia-class visually by accident. One o'clock from us," Two red triangles appeared on the screen. "And judging by them coming towards us at full speed, they saw us too."
"ZAFT?" Kira asked.
"Guess again,"
"Space robbers?" Kira tried again. He had seen news reports about such cases back at the Heliopolis.
"Space pirates, not robbers. Don't go misquoting that during mission, since it will be recorded into the mission log, but yeah, that's what we're thinking,"
To Kira, they sounded the same and he couldn't really understand the differences.
"Robberies are crimes that take place within borders, and thus subject to that nation's law. Piracies are those outside them." Flay explained.
"Oh, sounds like you've met them before, Do… Missy?"
"Few times. Had to run away. Persistent bunch, keep telling me to introduce them to my father,"
"They want to go out with you?" Kira asked, seriously wondering why such shady people would pursue Flay. It made sense because she has the looks and good family background.
Flay put a hand over her mouth and looked away but she still let out a muffled laugh. Despite what he did to her, it seemed that she wasn't angry enough to not laugh at his expense. That meant he still had the chance to apologize.
Mu looked at her and then at him in disbelief. "She was joking about them wanting to take her as a hostage and then demanding ransom from her father."
Kira felt his face reddened.
Thankfully, Mu didn't want to prolong his embarrassment as the man brought their attention back to the board, pointing at a position between Archangel and the suspected pirates. "We will stop them here. Mission package and loadouts for interdiction. Any question?"
"I have one," Kira said.
"Shoot..." Mu coughed, "Sorry, bad form. Ask ahead."
"Do we have to really, you know, kill them?" Kira gulped, "I mean, can't we show some mercy?"
"Clemency?" Mu said while crossing his arms. "Hm, sure, if you're capable enough, why not? How about you, Allster?"
"You know that I'm not skilled enough."
"Okay, I'm going to leave it to your individual judgment. Suit up and prep for launch"
Armed with Aile Striker pack, Strike moved toward the linear catapult and waited until the signal was given. "Kira Yamato, Strike, Launching!"
He engaged the launched button and instantly felt the force of 3G pressing on his body as Strike began building up speed until it exited the ship at the speed of excess 400 kilometers per hour. Once Strike cleared the launch area, he moved to join the formation consisting of Mobius Zero and Aegis.
"Aegis, datalink status?"
"Signal strength at minus 88.2 milliwatts. Estimated degradation at 79.6 percent. Very low bandwidth and high latency communication with Archangel," Flay answered as Aegis, in its mobile armor cruise mode, flew into view on Kira's left.
"I guess that's Dolfin-talk for bad radio signal. Okay, people, we're on our own,"
"Why didn't we use that constellation system?"
"Takes time to deploy and recover," Mu answered, pausing a moment before continuing, "We're going to field test encrypted communication since now this is as good as time as any,"
"I will send a message to Archangel. Commander, Kira, switch transmitter and transceiver to encryption key foxtrot-romeo-three-echo-delta-zero-mike. Commander, you provide the timing,"
"Huh, aren't you quick on the uptake? Well, good to know. Alright You heard the lady, Kira. In ten,"
Kira switched communication as instructed after ten seconds has lapsed.
The communication unit crackled to life once more. "This is Aegis, COM CHECK," Flay said as her face reappeared.
"Strike, loud and clear." Kira answered.
"Moebius Zero, Roger,"
"IFF handshake and challenge tests completed,"
A quick glance on Strike's radar showed that three triangles which recently turned from green to blue, turned green once more. The Identification Friend or Foe system was functioning, which was a good thing.
"Alright, stick to the engagement plan."
"Roger," Flay said.
"Roger," Kira parroted.
Soon the ships came into radar range, as well as seven GINNs of differing loadouts. Kira noted that one of the mobile suits had an arm missing while another didn't have its left leg. Another thing that he noticed was that the GINNs' weapon looked like they had seen better days.
"Transmitting warning," Mu said, "To unidentified Laurasia-class and unidentified mobile suits traveling on vector Zulu-Alpha-Charlie Seven Two. Your current vector in on a collision course with our ship and is considered a hostile action. Please change your vector away from our ship or we will be forced to defend ourselves," He then repeated the warning two times.
"They're not responding, Commander," Kira commented, seeing that they're maintaining their course.
"I'm firing warning shots," Mu announced as Moebius Zero let loose a few shots aimed away from the mobile suits and the ships.
However, they kept moving, and one of the GINNs even fired a few shots at them.
"Boogeys confirmed as hostiles! I repeat, boogeys confirmed as hostiles,"
"Roger. Redesignating all unknown units as hostiles. Laurasia class, Tango One, Two. Mobile Suits, Three to Nine,"
Kira watched as his heads-up-display changed to show the updated information.
"Weapons Free," Mu said. "I repeat, Weapons Free. Aegis, engage Tango One and Two. Strike, Tango Tree, Fife, Niner. I'll handle the rest,"
The three units that Mu told him to fight were clustered located close to each other, which was the reason for the man's decision. "Roger,"
Aegis reconfigured into its mobile armor attack mode and broke formation. "Roger,"
Before Kira could do anything, Strike's cockpit shook as a shell landed on it, taking a small chunk of the mobile suit's energy. He turned his attention toward the offender, a GINN equipped with the recoilless rifle. Another one fired its machinegun at him. While the bullets bounced harmlessly off Strike's Phase Shift Armor, it sapped more of Strike's energy while disrupting Kira's focus.
Strike fired a few shots at his three opponents, but they seemed unfazed by the obvious warning he gave. Instead, they coordinated to attack from multiple vectors alternately, causing Kira to keep changing his attention all the time. Despite the questionable condition of the GINNs, their pilots were capable enough, Kira admitted to himself.
"Tango Six down" Mu coolly said over the radio as his Moebius Zero destroyed one of the GINNs he was facing.
"Tango One, down," Flay announced a few seconds later.
Despite being busy with his own fight, Kira managed to glance at the radar and then the direction of Tango 1. The said ship exploded, with Aegis right behind it. Flay must have maneuvered behind it despite intense counterattacks by both Laurasia-class ships and destroyed it using Aegis' Scylla cannon; the cannon shot would have gone through the whole ship like hot knife through butter.
Kira pressed the left feet pedal and Strike swerved to the left, evading a shot that was aimed at its torso. It seemed that he was getting more comfortable in piloting Strike. It would have been better if he could target them all simultaneously, but Strike's own system is nothing short of remarkable, especially since he had put in the effort to improve it. The warning system made a beeping sound and Strike raised its shield to block another shot by the one holding the recoilless rifle.
Kira placed Strike's beam rifle behind it and engaged the thrusters to chase after the said GINN. The GINN fired two more shots, but Kira deftly evaded. When Strike got close, it held the shield in front of it, hiding its action of pulling a beam saber with its right hand. Strike rammed into the GINN and as the mobile suit was forced backward, Strike slashed its right shoulder. Taking advantage of his opponent's surprise, he continued hacking away until the GINN became headless and limbless.
With the first opponent out of commission, he chased after the second one.
"Tango Eight, down," Mu announced.
The second GINN Kira was facing took a more cautious and tried to put as much distance between them as possible while firing its machine gun. The bullets bounced off Strike harmlessly, but the pilot persisted, firing it until the magazine was empty. Seemingly frustrated, the GINN threw the machine gun at Strike which easily evaded it.
"Tango Four, down"
Kira tried to slash the second GINN's head, but it brought out its MA-M3 Heavy Blade which was stored on the left side skirt armor to block the attack. While the blade managed to stop the beam saber's movement', the later began to slowly cut into the blade. Realizing that the blade wouldn't be of any use, the enemy pilot released it while simultaneously kicking Strike away.
"Tango Two, down,"
However, Kira deactivated Strike's beam saber. As the GINN was pushing against the beam saber, the sudden move caused it to jerk to the Strike's right, resulting in the kick barely missing it. Kira then smashed Strike's shield over the GINN's head, flattening it, and then destroyed its main thrusters.
"Tango Seven, down,"
All the while Kira was disabling the second mobile, the third one fired its machinegun at Strike but to no avail, just like before. Realizing that it was futile to fight, the final GINN jettisoned all its external weapons and was about to run away when a long-range shot penetrated its chest, causing it to explode.
Kira turned toward the direction where the shot came from. Aegis was in its mobile suit mode with its beam rifle drawn. "Tango Three, down" The red mobile suit then changed its aim and fired again. "Tango Five, down,"
Mu's Moebius Zero fired multiple linear cannons at the remaining GINN. "Tango Niner, down, and that's the final one. All units, return to ship,"
Aegis reconfigured into its mobile armor mode and flew away. Kira looked the remains of their battle with heavy heart for one final time before following suit.
The debriefing process consisted of the team, with Mu as the team leader and Kira and Flay as its members, being placed in the middle of the room, facing the mission map. Natarle, the only person besides Mu who was experienced in debriefing, was assigned as the debriefer, standing to the team's left. Murrue and Dalida who came as observers, sat behind the team but still had access to the map.
If Kira was to describe it, the debriefing was like an interview, where Natarle asked open ended questions about the mission, such as how each one of the team members select their loadout and what were their thought processes while fighting against their enemies. They also talked about how they can improve themselves as well avoid making mistakes in the future.
"I have a question for the team, Ma'am," Murrue asked while raising her hand. According to what Mu had told he and Flay prior to the session, observers were not allowed to address the team directly and must pose the question to the debriefer who will decide whether the question should be answered or not; only then the debriefer will ask the team.
"Go ahead,"
"Why didn't we try to arrest them?"
"Commander? Or would you like me to answer?
"Legally, we can't arrest them since only clearly marked and formal military ships can do it,"
Murrue's eyes widened. "That convention again," she remarked.
"But it's alright to destroy them?" Kira asked.
"Yes, I believe that the ROE is satisfied, and self-defense is of proportional force," Mu replied, referring to the rules of engagement that one had to follow while engaging enemy forces."
Natarle asked, "How about you, Allster?"
"I concur with the team leader's assessment. Besides compliance to the rules of law, capturing them poses the risks to this ship should the pilots decide to engage the self-destruct modules. At the same time, we cannot let them go because of two reasons. One, they may be rescued by their own reinforcements, or other hostile forces," Flay responded with what seemed to be a practiced answer.
"Why is that undesirable?" Natarle asked for clarification.
"Details such as the number and types of mobile suits and mobile armor we used, as well as our vector, will be known."
"The second reason?"
"Disabling and letting them off for a very small slim chance of rescue is, in my opinion, crueler than killing them outright."
"How about you, Yamato. Do you have any reservations about the conduct of the mission?"
Kira thought about Mu and Flay's answers and slowly shook his head. "No, Ma'am,"
To be honest, he still had a lot of unanswered questions, but he felt that the current time was not the best time to raise them.
1
A/N
1. Happy New Year. Another two years, and we'll probably have Gundam Seed Remake, updated to reflect the current geopolitical change (Afghanistan and South China Sea). If that's the case, I wonder what's Orb defence posture will be since Orb of 2004 is different compared to Orb of 2022.
2. I recall GSD was being told from Athrun's perspective. Since he didn't have a positive view of AF, that's the reason its soldiers were shown as trigger happy with nuclear weapons, firing the missiles with manic grin on their faces like they high on drugs.
3. Despite Point No. 2, since Cosmic Era is subjectively the closest era to the real world, I believe that all forces, be it ZAFT, ORB, OMNI and other nations would follow a similar code on conduct when dealing with robbers and pirates. In the real world, we have the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) which guides interaction on sea. I think for Cosmic Era, there should be one, but for space.