Thanks for making it to chapter 3. Also, another story, New Mobile Suit: Project Gundam Hina Eternity: Angel Advent is going to be released in the Mahou Sensei Negima section. It's about the personal experiences of the Angels of the war, Naru, Mitsune, Makie, Chao, Mana, Asuna, Kaede, Ku Fei, Setsuna, and Mei in the one year leading up to the events in this story. Please take a peek when it comes out. It'll give you a good insight into the motives of each pilot for entering the battlefield.
Also, new updates are out for Love Hina Alternative and Soul Requiem! Don't forget to check them out. Love Hina Children of the Exodus and Final Hina Fantasy are going to be re-written over the summer holidays, so stay tuned for more new releases from Beyond the Bounds!
Also, notice to everyone here. Some gundams here haven't even been released yet. Check Wikipedia or any gundam mecha sites for some of the gundams featuring here for more information, such as the Gundam regenerate, Astray out frame, hyperion, dreadnought, etc.
Now, to reply to reviews!
Frogger54: Thanks for the review. Yeah, I seriously need ideas for more gundams to add. I'm going through my gundam profiles, and I'm even looking into all the new Gundam Seed gundams. Thanks for the positive comments and hope you enjoy this chapter.
Slimjim27: Yeah, definitely. You'll find a few more Gundam characters in this very chapter. Almost the entire Gundam Seed cast will be starring and part of the Gundam Seed cast, definitely...don't know about the characters from other series yet. Thanks for the review and hope you enjoy this chapter!
Hirrayami Otoni: Hmm...I've actually heard of that game but I haven't actually seen it. I heard it's pretty good. I know for a fact that a game called ACE (another century's episode) was just published recently, and it has most of the recent mechas in it. Unfortunately the US version hasn't been released yet, at least not where I am. Thanks for the heads up, I'll try and look for that game. Thanks for the review and hope you enjoy the chapter.
Desolatedking: Haha, caught me out, huh? Yes, I pulled ADA out of ZOE. But the ADA here in this story, as you might have already noticed, has a lot more character. She's also slightly more peppy and active than the original ADA and I thought it would match the pilot's, Rayce Farelle's, character. Yeah, the game certainly rocks. Who knows, I might just pull Jehuty and Anubis in as well, as well as Leo Stenbuck's orbital frame (can't remember the name right now) and all those other cool orbital frames. We'll see. Anyway, thanks for the review and please enjoy the chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own Love Hina, Negima, or the Gundam series. Sorry.
Chapter 3: Innocence in the Battlefield
Brig, on board the ZEON flagship, Halcrest, a few hundred kilometers outside the UHR territorial space of ZO-1. 13.30 GMT
"So…that's how it is?" Amala asked.
"Yep…just when things were finally gonna look up for us…whooomph…fzzzt… another nation wants my brains…" Suu sighed. "It's not easy being a genius…"
"I guess…we'll just have to wait it out, Suu-chan…" Amala sighed, crossing her legs. "We still can't let our parents' wishes die out. If the G-project can still somehow bring peace back, then it's our last bet."
"But…in the hands of ZEON…the G-project will…" Suu looked down.
"Don't worry, Suu-chan. As far as we know, every faction has stolen at least a few G-project samples, am I right? Every single one of those units symbolize true peace and freedom…every one of the pilots chosen by those units will somehow see its true purpose…every one of them will blaze a path towards true peace." Amala said, closing her eyes. "The wishes of humanity are embedded in every one of your and our parents' creations, Suu-chan…none of it will go to waste."
"I hope…" Suu said.
"As soon as you find the opportunity, Suu-chan, you must escape." Amala whispered.
"No, I can't…not without you, sis…" Suu sighed. "You know I can't…"
"It's no longer about me or you…Suu-chan…it's about the balance of power within the earth sphere. ZEON is trying to lead the colonies towards independence but what it really wants is to replace the power of the Earth Alliance and rule the colonies…to that end, they must keep the colonies united, and to do that they need a common enemy." Amala explained, looking straight at Suu.
"Ok, ok…whatever. Anyway, do you have any spare bananas? These people here only have canned food…" Suu asked.
MS Hangar, on board the ZEON flagship, Halcrest, a few hundred kilometers outside the UHR territorial space of ZO-1. 13.45 GMT
"The Phase shift…Trans-Phase Armour…SOU-system…Psycom system…Bio-sensor system…DRAGOON system…Pi-x system…VSBR…Active Spirit Amplifier…the ZERO…microwave launcher system…G-unit system…amazing Suu-chan, you've certainly been busy…" An old man with bionic goggles and a bionic arm remarked, walking beside Suu. An assortment of eccentric-looking men in lab coats was trailing behind him. They were all in the Halcrest's hangar. On one side stood the Heavy Arms. On another side stood the Sandrock. Both were undergoing major repairs. Beside the Heavy Arms stood three other MSs. One had a huge backpack with 4 finger-like projections. The other had two large wing-like flight stabilizers. Another looked like a standard GUNDAM MS.
"How'd you people get caught? I thought you ran away with the initial Wing Zero plans as well as a few other MS plans shortly after the UHR agreed to build MSs for the EAF and found out about the ZERO project." Suu asked.
"Shortly after your parents…er…passed away…" A man with a fake red nose on his face said. "Following Doctor J's advice…" The man gestured at the old man with a bionic arm, "We did escape from the UHR…we went into separate hiding places in each of the 5 colony clusters…then we got involved in local underground rebellion organzations…."
"Yes, as Doctor S mentioned, we went underground." Continued another round faced man with a jovial smile. "But then ZEON rallied together the rebel organizations… unfortunately we got pulled in as well."
"Yes, yes…and now…we're building weapons for the principality of ZEON." A man with an umbrella-like hairstyle sighed, nodding. "Though I do believe we still have a chance, Suu-chan…"
"Yes, as professor G said, we might still have a chance." Doctor S said. "Part of our new MSs, all of which were based on the Wing Zero plans and other plans we took from the UHR, are almost done. We could still wage a war for independence on behalf of the natural colonies…the natural colonies are against the EAF-ZAFT war, and further more, there are those who don't agree with the principality of ZEON either…"
"Master O here…" Professor G gestured at a tall, dark-skinned man, "has already finished his MS….the MS Master…Doctor J has just finished his MS Wing. I myself have just finished the MS Regenerate. As for instructor H…" he gestured at the round-faced man. "and Doctor S, they have yet to start contruction of their MSs.
"Which is why we're going to need to borrow the MS Heavy Arms and MS Sandrock…we've selected our five pilots to represent the five colony clusters, but we're two MSs short." Doctor S explained. "We were caught too soon…if only we could finish those projects…"
"And…you guys want my MSs? To fight a war for the independence of the colonies?" Suu asked, swinging up onto a tall platform beside the MS Heavy Arms.
"Yes, think about it. With the Colonies independent, they'd be able to decide for themselves whether or not they want to support the EAF and whether or not they want a war with ZAFT. Millions of colonists die each day, Suu-chan, from fighting this foolish war with ZAFT for the ignorant EAF…what have they done for the colonies? Nothing but exploit every single one." Doctor J said, looking up at Suu. "Don't you know why your parents named those machines GUNDAMs?"
"It stands for General Unilateral Neural-link Dispersive Autonomic Maneuver, whatever that is…." Suu said, typing into a console on the platform. "Whatever that means…"
"That's what they tried to make up…what it really means is 'freedom'." Doctor J said. Suu suddenly looked down at him with a bewildered expression. "That's what your parents decided…Gundam is mol-molian for 'freedom'."
"…well…" Suu looked up at the Heavy Arms, then at the Sandrock. "Does ZEON know about this?"
"As far as they know, we're going to use these MSs in an operation called operation Meteor…to drop a whole colony on Earth and attack with the MSs in the ensuing chaos." Doctor S explained. "That's the last thing we want…that's why we're going to get those 5 chosen pilots to steal the gundams and wage a solo war."
"A solo war? Those things aren't exactly independent." Suu said, leaping back down. "They can't function without a back-up ship of some sort. They'd run out of batteries on the trip to earth, for one thing." Suu explained. "Imagine running out of batteries in space without a support ship."
"That's why we're going to install ultra-compact fusion generators onboard." Instructor H said.
"Fusion generators?" Suu suddenly laughed. "Have you forgotten about the ZAFT n-jammers? No nuclear device could operate within the Earth sphere as long as the n-jammers are active."
"Have you forgotten about your own creation…the n-jammer canceller?" Professor G asked. Suu looked around in shock.
"That was encrypted data…how'd you…!" Suu asked, wide-eyed.
"that encryption code was a game we played with your parents and the other first generation MS designers." Instructor H reminisced. "Hiding it onboard the Heavy Arms wasn't a wise choice…though at least you separated the blueprints for the other gundams amongst the computers of the other MSs…now that was wise."
"The neutron-jammer canceller, that's…it can't fall into the EAF, OZ, or ZEON's hands…it would be a catastrophe if something like that happened!" Suu shouted.
"No worries…it's safe with us. Don't worry Suu-chan…we'll continue your parents' wishes and end this war…" Doctor J said, slapping her on the back. "Leave it to us and the gundams."
On the other side of the MS hangar, on board the ZEON flagship, Halcrest, a few hundred kilometers outside the UHR territorial space of ZO-1. 13.45 GMT
"So, you're telling me she's the one we're looking for?" A man in a uniform that seriously boasted his rank said, gesturing at a little girl who was being held by two ZEON soldiers. Behind them was an open shelter escape pod bearing the UHR emblem. The other evacuees were being led away by other soldiers.
"Yes, sir, she's the new prototype new-type coordinator. Supposedly the most efficient pilot ever created." A man in a labcoat answered beside him.
"Unhand me, you bakas!" The little girl shouted. She stomped on the foot of one of the soldiers holding her on her left, causing him to release her arm as he hopped on one foot in pain. She whirled around and kicked the other soldier in the stomach with her left knee. As he doubled up in pain, she raised both arms and knocked him down to the ground. Panting, she made a run for it.
"Ah…stop where you are…Sarah…" The commanding officer said. Sarah looked around and gasped.
"Sarah…no…RUN!" The soldiers beside the commanding officer were holding a bespectacled man in a white labcoat.
"Papa!" Sarah shouted, stunned. Two other soldiers came up from behind her and took hold of her. "Damn!"
"I'm sure you've seen this in the movies, Sarah…you know how it works. You cooperate, your daddy's kept safe. You disobey, your daddy dies." The commander said in a 'point-of-fact' sort of tone. "You, see, Mr. Noriyasu Seta, the power of love at work…"
"Sarah…" Seta started, before the soldier beside him hit him in the ribs with the butt of his rifle, blowing the wind out of him.
"Papa! If you do that again, I swear I'll…." Sarah shouted.
"Sarah…." The commander waved one finger in the air. "ah…ah…ah…naughty girl…"
"Grr…" Sarah gritted her teeth. "What do you want from me?"
"I want you…to pilot that…" The commander pointed up at a nearby MS, the one in varying hues of white and blue. "The MS Hyperion…"
"Huh! What!" Sarah shouted, a hint of incredulity in her voice. "You gotta be kidding me! How am I supposed to know how…"
"It'll come naturally, I assure you…it seems your daddy has never told you anything…but we'll give all our support, and by the end of today, you'll be flying it like a pro." The commander smiled. "chop chop, get to it then. I'm just going to have a little chat with your daddy over some tea and biscuits now, all right? Be a good girl, Sarah." The commander said sweetly, gesturing at the soldiers to take Sarah away.
"PAPA!" Sarah cried out.
"Sarah…" Seta whispered, as he was led away.
"Papa…" Sarah whispered, as she watched her father disappear behind the metal sliding doors leading off the hangar.
Hangar, on board the EAF Arch-class flagship, the Arch-Hinata, inside ZO-1, UHR territory, 13.55 GMT
"That's it then…all three MSs all safe and secured." Motoko said, watching the technicians secure all three MSs. "Task complete."
"So, this is all we got? Just three? Of the 20 that were supposed to have been completed?" A black haired woman in a high-ranking official's uniform came in to the hangar.
"Ah, yes, greetings, Major Haruka…unfortunately the other 17 were stolen by either ZAFT, OZ, or ZEON." Motoko stood to attention and saluted.
"At ease, Lieutenant." Haruka said. "Well, I must at least commend you for bringing in at least three of them. Now we could leave it all to the ship's executive officer…"
"Major Haruka, urgent message from central!" A corporal ran up to Haruka, carrying a letter.
"Hmmm?"
Hangar, on board the EAF Arch-class flagship, the Arch-Hinata, inside ZO-1, UHR territory, 13.55 GMT
"So…that's it then, it's all over. They should let us go soon, I guess." Keitarou said.
"Hopefully…" Rayce said, looking up at the Deathscythe. "Pity…I was starting to like that MS…". He walked away down the hangar. "Man, I gotta go reply to the call of nature…please tell me I don't have to walk to the end of the hangar…"
"Shinobu?" Keitarou whirled around and found Shinobu standing quietly by the MS Hinata. She seemed to be staring at the MS. Suddenly she collapsed onto her knees. "SHINOBU!" Keitarou cried, running over and crouching by her, holding her shoulders. "Shinobu, you ok?"
"I'm…just tired…Keitarou-sempai…" Shinobu said in a tiny voice, before suddenly sobbing. "Suu-chan…Suu-chan…Huuuuuuuuuu…." She sobbed into Keitarou's shirt.
"Shinobu-chan…it's ok, it's all over now…we're going home, ok? You're going back to the UHR, we all are…" Keitarou looked down at her, thinking it was only fatigue after the battle.
"Suu-chan…" Shinobu looked up at Keitarou. "She died, Keitarou-sempai…Suu-chan was killed…she was p…piloting that MS….then another MS came….then it shot…then…then…" Shinobu's sobs were going out of control, to the point of gasping.
"Shush…I understand, Shinobu-chan. Suu-chan was probably trying her best to save the colony too…just like you and me…and probably Rayce, though I sometimes question his motives…" Keitarou held Shinobu close. "Suu-chan…" He whispered. "Suu-chan…" he closed his eyes, trying to hold back his tears. "Suu-chan…"
Pilot Briefing Room, on board the ZAFT Nazca-class ship, Mycelwen, a few hundred kilometers outside the UHR territorial space of ZO-1. 14.00 GMT
"All right, good show pilots. Now, do you feel comfortable with your new MSs?" Commander Raw La Klueze asked.
"That EAF model isn't that bad, actually." Makie remarked. "In fact it's capabilities seem beyond that of our Ginns, with all due respect off course."
"No, seriously, those four MSs we got are far better than any Ginn unit we've ever piloted." Chao said.
"Hand it over to Chao. She knows her MSs better than anyone." Mitsune said, sitting back on the lounge sofa and stretching.
"…" Naru remained quiet.
"What about you, Lieutenant Narusegawa? What do you think?" Commander Klueze asked.
"Oh, sorry sir. I believe the new EAF MSs are fit for combat duty. I haven't actually engaged any enemy units in that MS, but there's nothing about it that would cause me to doubt…" Naru reported, before Klueze interrupted.
"Is something troubling you, lieutenant?" He asked.
"N…no, sir." Naru replied, rather shocked.
"Very well, you should report to the infirmary if you're not feeling well." Klueze said. "Rustal's death was unfortunate, but he died serving the ideals of ZAFT and PLANT, and no ZAFT soldier or any advocate of our proud ideals could deserve a better death. He has been given a promotion to Major, post-mortem. His parents have been notified. It is of no use to dwell on the past…rather, we must continue the fight to honour his memory."
"Yes…sir…" Naru answered.
"All right, the EAF's new flagship, the Arch-Hinata, is now inside the colony itself. Now is the best time to take it down, right before it leaves the colony. Evacuation should be complete by now, so civilian casualties should be minimal." Klueze said. "Chao, Makie, Mitsune, I know you're tired after that mission but the time to strike is now. You three will pilot those three new MSs we've just obtained and destroy the Arch-Hinata or at least render it immobile."
"S…Sir, I…" Naru got up, noticing that her name wasn't mentioned.
"You, lieutenant Narusegawa, are to stay here. I'm a bit concerned with you right now." Klueze said. "All right, pilots, to your stations."
"Yes, sir!" The three of them saluted. Klueze saluted back and left the room.
"Well…so we've got new MSs…" Makie sighed, sitting back down.
"Hmmm…" Chao seemed to be deep in thought.
"Hey, Naru, what's wrong with you, girl? Don't tell me you had the hots for Rusty." Mitsune sat down and looked up at Naru.
"No, Mitsune…" Naru smiled up at her friend. "It's just that…"
"Oneechan!" Naru suddenly had the wind knocked out of her as a small figure rammed into her side.
"Oooof….Mei-chan…" Naru gasped.
"You're safe…" Mei buried her face into Naru.
"Mei…that wasn't the first mission I ever did, calm down." Naru looked down at her sister. "No need to worry over things like that." Naru pushed Mei away slightly by the shoulders and looked at her face. "You should have more faith in your sister."
"Oneechan…I'm just so glad you're back." Mei said.
"Yeah, you should've seen her. We had to escort her all the way back out cause she was day-dreaming the whole way back." Chao laughed. "I mean, she was practically a sitting duck if I ever saw one."
"Oneechan!" Mei shouted. "You can't be careless like that!"
"Don't worry, we've got each other's backs." Makie said, happily as usual.
"Yeah, and she got excused from the next mission too." Mitsune said. "Lucky girl. Well, we'll see you after. I've got a few bottles of sake…"
"Mitsune-sempai!" Makie shouted.
"Okay…okay, chill…sheesh, I know the rules about you underaged…" Mitsune said, raising both hands.
"We're in the military, Mitsune-sempai…at least try not to get in trouble. I wouldn't want to see you get thrown in detention." Makie said.
"Heh, don't worry about me, Makie-chan, I'm full-proof!" Mitsune laughed. "Let's go kick some EAF ass!"
Ship Infirmary, on board the OZ flagship, Grand Shario, a few hundred kilometers outside the UHR territorial space of ZO-1. 14.05 GMT
"So, is she ok?" Lee asked.
"Yes, she's resting in the infirmary now. Her condition's stabilized but she'll have to remain in our care for a few weeks." The ship doctor explained. "It's not her I'm worried about, it's that kid."
"Huh? What's wrong with Negi?" Lee asked.
"It seems…" The doctor looked down at his clipboard. "It seems he went through a serious trauma…now he's semi-conscious but it seems as if he's hallucinating." He replied.
"Hallucinating?" Kotarou asked. "What caused that?"
"Well…I don't know exactly…we think it was just that attack…but then again, you told us he has no piloting experience whatsoever. Which makes us wonder…how could he pilot that MS so skillfully. We got some technicians to check that MS…strangely the systems in the cockpit won't shut down, and it's continually transmitting signals…" The doctor replied.
"Signals? Where?" Lee asked.
"That's the strange thing…the signals only reach as far as the cockpit seat. The technicians got a headache after sitting in there for some time." The doctor said. "I don't know much about MSs, but as far as I know, no MS sends out headache-causing signals. I might just be speculating here, but I believe the kid's trauma was caused by that MS's operating system."
"What kind of system would do that…" Lee asked, mostly to himself.
"Wow, a mystery MS…I think I should investi…" Kotarou started.
"No, don't try anything. We don't know for sure what the EAF or UHR placed in that thing. As far as we know, it's potentially harmful. We should first report to commander Takamichi." Lee said.
"Oh sure, tell the big man." Kotarou said. "Well, you do that. I wanna see the kid. You told me he's my age, right?"
"Yeah, he sure is." Lee said. "I'll go check up on him as well."
MS Hangar, on board the Mercenary Ship, Galeniev Altus, a few hundred kilometers outside the UHR territorial space of ZO-1. 14.12 GMT
"So…what do we do now?" Asuna asked, floating upside down above the five seized MSs.
"We hand them over to ZEON…that's what we're paid to do." Mana said, leaping down from the Physallis' cockpit.
"But, Captain…knowing the kind of fire-power that thing packs, we can't hand these over to ZEON…or any faction for that matter…that's for sure." Setsuna said.
"Setsuna…we are mercenaries…as long as they don't tell us to kill civilians, we do it." Mana said, emphasizing the word 'mercenary'. "We work for the money, nothing more, nothing less. There is no place on the battlefield for innocence…no petty ideals would survive even a minute out in that harsh reality out there." Everyone looked at one another before lowering their heads in contemplation.
"A live nuclear warhead on an MS…but wouldn't the n-jammer render it useless?" Kaede asked.
"That's the thing…the Physallis' nuclear warhead is equipped with something called an n-jammer canceller…it cancels out the n-jammer signals and allows nuclear reactions to occur." Mana said, looking up at the Physallis.
"hmmm…definitely not, especially not to a faction as ambitious as ZEON." Setsuna said, hands crossed and eyes closed in thought. "No, we can't hand it over…Captain, please reconsider."
"What…and give up the pay?" Mana said, looking at Setsuna.
"It's not about the pay…this single warhead could wipe out a whole battalion…I don't think I want that on my conscience." Asuna said, floating down. "And imagine if another faction is able to replicate the n-jammer canceller technology…it'll be Junius Seven all over again."
Everyone went silent as they looked back into their respective pasts…then everyone looked up at one another and nodded. There must not be another Junius Seven, another Bloody Valentine…everyone with the exception of Mana.
"Petty ideals don't get us anywhere…" Mana said, with a final tone. "We need to survive, and to survive we must work…this is our job, people. Patch up your bleeding hearts…it doesn't suit mercenaries." Mana said, turning around.
"Captain!" Asuna and Setsuna shouted.
"Yes, I am the captain…I make the decisions here." Mana said, turning her head sideways to look at them. "Does anyone have a problem? Insubordination is not tolerated…not above this ship…" Mana looked down. "Damn…why do things like this always happen to me…" Mana sighed under her breath.
"Well…the captain has spoken…it's her call, not ours, Aru." Ku Fei sighed. "We wouldn't be here today if it weren't for Captain Mana…so let's just trust in her decision."
"Very well, de gozaru. We do need the money too…we just lost our MSs…" Kaede said, looking up at the stolen MSs. "I liked those customs, de gozaru…what a pity de gozaru."
"But…such a weapon…in the hands of ZEON…" Asuna cried. "There's no knowing what they'd do. They're naturals too! After they finish off the EAF with that thing, they'll turn their sights in PLANT's direction…."
"Another Junius Seven…" Setsuna sighed. "Well…that is the worst case scenario…we don't have to worry that much…right now, anyway…" All four of them looked up at the five MSs lined in their hangar, every single one of them demanding a firm decision.
"That's it…there goes humanity and their follies…" Setsuna sighed, turning around. "Come, we must rest."
Hangar, on board the EAF Arch-class flagship, the Arch-Hinata, inside ZO-1, UHR territory, 14.15 GMT
"So…Lieuetenant Aoyama, you've been promoted to Major, congratulations." Haruka said, folding the letter. "And as of now, you are assigned to this ship."
"Thank you, Major Haruka…but why this ship? I thought it already had a crew…" Motoko asked.
"You shall address me as Captain Haruka as of now…no, we're now this ship's crew. The original crew were killed during the assault on ZO-1. I hope you don't mind serving under me, as I'm your new commanding officer." Haruka said.
"Th…Thank you, Captain…that would be an honour." Motoko bowed.
"No need to be that formal. Now…" Haruka scanned down the letter.
"Hey, can I please see the commanding officer on board this ship? I'm Major Mwu La Fllaga of the EAFS Mjolnir's Hammer." A tall, blonde haired man came up to them and saluted. "My MA (mobile armor) ran out of energy while fighting off the invaders around the colony and I had no choice but to land here."
"Right on time, Major Fllaga, I've been expecting you." Haruka said, saluting. "I'm captain Haruka, this ship's XO (executive officer) and you have been assigned, as of now, to this ship. Here's the official command from HQ." Haruka handed the surprised Mwu the letter.
"Oh…ah…pleasure to meet you, then, Captain Haruka." Mwu said. "Me and my MA are at your service."
"Very good, now…" She looked over as another corporal ran over to her. "What is it, corporal?" She asked the panting corporal.
"It's ZAFT and ZEON, captain! We've detected ZAFT and ZEON MSs approaching!" the corporal panted. "ETA, 20 minutes!"
"What are you waiting for! Sound the alarm! Get our pilots scrambled…we do have pilots, don't we?" Haruka asked.
"No, ma'am. And even if we did, we have no MAs to send out." The corporal said.
"I'll go prep my MA. Captain, with your permission!" Mwu shouted.
"Granted Major Fllaga. What about those new MSs, is there anyone here who could pilot those? Maybe you, Major Aoyama? You did get those things here, didn't you?" Haruka asked, as Mwu ran away down the hangar.
"Well, captain…" Motoko hesitated. "I had those UHR civilians pilot them onboard…they were piloting them back during the assault…I presume to protect the other colonists…"
"Ah…let me meet them then." Haruka said. "You, get the personnel to their battle stations, on the double. I want all the ship's anti-MS systems activated!" Haruka shouted at the corporal, who immediately saluted and ran off. The alarm sounded not too long after.
"Here they are, ma'am…" Motoko gestured at the group of civilians who were running towards the door. "Those three were the pilots." She gestured at Keitarou, Rayce, and Shinobu.
"Greetings. I'm the ship's commanding officer, Haruka Sakurazaka. Welcome aboard the Arch-Hinata." Haruka said, halting the group.
"Thank you, ma'am. Are we under attack?" Maxton asked.
"Well, yes, actually. Which was why I wanted to ask you three, would you pilot those MSs again? To protect this ship and the other evacuees we have taken aboard?" Haruka asked. "Unfortunately, this ship has just been commissioned, and we have no pilots or mobile weapons onboard yet."
"I…" Keitarou looked down. "no…I'm sorry, I can't." Keitarou replied.
"I understand." Haruka said.
"…for everyone…" Shinobu murmured. "Anou…Y…Yes, I'll pilot it." Shinobu said, closing her eyes with determination.
"I'm sorry?" Haruka asked. "You're not one of the three pilots Major Aoyama just told me about, are you?" Haruka asked. Shinobu looked up at her in surprise. "The three pilots were you, you, and you, right?" Haruka gestured at Keitarou, Rayce, and Shirai.
"M…me?" Shirai asked. Rayce bumped into him, seemingly by accident. Shirai suddenly understood the message and said, "Y…yes, I'm…"
"No…that girl was the one who piloted the Hinata." Motoko said. "She destroyed two pirate Zakus and, according to her accounts, engaged the MS Wing Exodus, which was piloted by an OZ Ace, and survived."
"Ah…very well…" Haruka nodded. Rayce slapped one hand to his face and shook his head. "So…I assume…you three are coordinators, then?" Haruka said. The EAF soldiers around them immediately raised their rifles and aimed them at Rayce, Keitarou, and Shinobu.
"Hey, get back!" Shirai shouted, standing in front of the three.
"Yeah, they may be coordinators, but that doesn't make them enemies!" Ssigh shouted, following Shirai's lead. Nodoka, Yue, and Maxton followed suit.
"I wasn't implying that they are enemies. Stand down men." Haruka gestured at the soldiers to lower their guns. "But to pilot these MSs, you must be coordinators, very skilled ones at that. None of us naturals are capable of piloting that thing, as you know..." Haruka said. "Are any more of you coordinators? We could certainly use your help."
"No, everyone else here are naturals." Maxton said, looking down. "I guess it would be pointless to try and deny that these three are coordinators at this point."
"Quite so, but I know they aren't enemies. I shall treat them as UHR evacuees, you have my word. But now…" Haruka sighed, "We might not even make it to earth… no, I cannot let you pilot that MS." Haruka said to Shinobu. "You're way too young…and don't get me wrong…" Haruka said as Shinobu opened her mouth to protest, "I'm not saying that because you're a girl. I'm saying that because you're too young to enter the battlefield…"
Shinobu's face fell. Keitarou patted her on the shoulder. "I'll go." He said.
"You would?" Haruka asked. "Please…this is a very serious decision… I wouldn't…"
"No, I'm doing this for my friends and fellow colonists…I'm not fighting for the EAF." Keitaoru said, defiantly. "If you accept that, and allow me to fight without being an EAF soldier, then I will fight." He looked down at Shinobu. "Don't worry Shinobu, I'll protect everyone in your stead."
"Granted." Haruka said.
"Right behind you pal." Rayce said, patting Keitarou and Shinobu on the shoulder. "Hey, count me in, boss. That MS is mine anyway."
"Very well, the two of you will pilot those MSs and help us securely deliver these evacuees to safety." Haruka said. "How are the repairs and preparations going?" She asked a nearby technician.
"There is no significant damage on the Strike…it's all charged up and ready to go at your command. The Deathscythe, meanwhile…it's outer armor is heavily damaged, and we're currently replacing the external armor plates. It will take a bit more time. The Hinata's in prime condition" The technician reported.
"Very well then, prep the Strike for launch. And you two…I haven't gotten your names…" Haruka asked.
"Keitarou Urashima." Keitarou answered.
"Name's Rayce Farelle." Rayce anwered.
"Right, you two get ready. The Strike is to launch immediately, the Deathscythe will launch as soon as repairs are complete. Or, rather, Rayce Farelle, could you pilot the Hinata?"
"I feel more comfortable with the Deathscythe, thank you." Rayce said. "So if you don't mind…"
"Very well. Good luck to you two." Haruka turned around and walked away, followed closely by Major Aoyama and the other soldiers.
"Well…now we're pilots…" Rayce said, looking up at the Deathsycthe.
"…" Keitarou just remained silent.
"Good luck, fellas…" Shirai said.
"Sorry guys, there's nothing we could do for you, but at least we could wish you guys the best of luck out there." Ssigh said.
"Make it back safely, ok. We're counting on you, yes, but if it gets too tough, leave it to the EAF to sort out." Maxton said.
"…Please take care out there…" Nadako cried out.
"Don't die…" Yue said, which was the Yue Ayase way of encouragement.
Onboard the GAT X-105 Strike, Arch-Hinata's linear launch catapult, EAF Arch class ship, Arch Hinata, inside the ZO-1 colony, UHR territory, 14.25 GMT
"Ok…this is seriously weird…" Keitarou muttered.
"Hey, how's the pilot's suit suiting ya?" Rayce asked, his face flashing onto the HUD.
"It's…too military." Keitarou sighed.
"You'll get used to it. They said the Deathscythe's repairs will be done in the next 10 minutes…hold on out there until I get there, ok?" Rayce said. "Good luck, and God Speed."
"Thanks." Keitarou nodded.
"Hey, kid, my name's Mwu La Flagga, call me Mwu. I'm your…well… I suppose I'm your wingman out there." Another face flashed onto the HUD.
"Oh, ah, nice to meet you." Keitarou nodded to him. "I'm Keitarou Urashima."
"Yeah, already heard. The Ace who destroyed those two Ginns. It was your first time piloting an MS too, wasn't it?" Mwu asked.
"Uhh…yeah…" Keitarou said.
"Ok, I'll watch your back, so you can sit back and concentrate on the ones in front of you, ok?" Mwu said, putting on his helmet. "Let's get them, Ace!"
"Yes, sir." Keitarou said, flipping on a few switches.
"Are you ready, Urashima?" Motoko asked, her face flashing onto the HUD.
"Yes." Keitarou answered, sliding the visor on his helmet down.
"Good, you're good for launch anytime. We don't have a mobile weapons support operator yet, so I'll have to operate your MS's support functions…sigh…oh well…. You know about the Striker packs?" Motoko asked, looking down at a clipboard.
"Yes, more or less…" Keitarou answered.
"Right, the one we're about to load on is the Aile-Striker pack…" Motoko said. Two sliding panels on either side of the Strike opened up, revealing a shield and a rifle. Two mechanical arms extended and handed over the shield and rifle to the Strike. A large sliding panel above the Strike opened up and a large stabilizer backpack lowered into position behind the Strike.
"It's a standard mid-range and close-combat Striker pack. It's supposed to allow rapid maneuvers and high speed movement in space and in the atmosphere…well, we'll just have to see how good this UHR stuff is." Motoko said. "Get ready to launch…and you'd better not kill us all…"
"Ulp, yeah…" Keitarou said. "Aile Strike, Keitarou Urashima, Launching!" he shouted, as the large status screen above the linear launch catapult showed all green for launch. The MS sped down the linear launch catapult, accelerated by the magnetic mass drivers around it. The umbilical cable snapped off halfway down the catapult as the MS's phase shift armor activated, turning the MS blue and white.
"Hey, there's an MS launching from that EAF battlecruiser…" Makie said, looking up at her HUD. "It's the GAT X-105 Strike…"
"Who cares…what can a single MS do against us 3? Makie, long range support! Blast the living crap out of that battlecruiser! Chao, support Makie! I'll engage that MS." Mitsune shouted, turning her thrusters to full throttle and going straight for the Strike. "And will someone please smush that bug of an MA…"
MS Hangar, on board the ZEON flagship, Halcrest, A few hundred kilometers outside ZO-1 UHR territory, 14.30 GMT
"So who're you, midget?" Suu asked Sarah, looking inside the MS Hyperion's cockpit.
"Who you calling a midget!" Sarah cried indignantly. "You lookin' for trouble jungle girl!" She was seated in the pilot's seat with a 'piloting MSs for Idiots' guide. "And what's with this book!"
"She's the best there is…but you might get along better with our enemies." Haitani sighed watching Sarah get used to the controls.
"Major Haitani, you've got an immediate order for launch. Briefing will be done onboard the MSs. It's regarding the MS with the neutron-jammer canceller. You are to lead those two pilots there and execute the mission." A lieutenant said, reading out a command.
"Thank you, lieutenant. Girls! In your pilot seats! We've got a mission!" Haitani shouted.
"You're not worried I might shoot you in the back?" Sarah said, maliciously.
"Let's try and get along out there." Haitani sighed. "I'm the only back-up you've got out there, after all."
Bridge, on board the EAF Arch-class flagship, the Arch-Hinata, inside ZO-1, UHR territory, 14.33 GMT
"Prepare for immediate launch!" Haruka shouted. "We've got to clear this colony, ASAP! Move it people!"
"Yes, ma'am!" The corporals shouted. The Arch-Hinata's engines roared to life, spewing blazing hot plasma out into a bluish white stream.
"Prepare to counter! Aim the Igelstellung AA guns and the Gottfried beam cannons, aim straight for that support artillery MS!" Haruka shouted. "Is there anyone capable of piloting the Hinata!"
"No, captain, only coordinators can pilot it, as far as we know. The only coordinators onboard are civilian evacuees with no combat experience whatsoever, with the exception of that girl." A corporal said.
"Damn…we can't send her out…" Haruka muttered. "Where's a cigarette when I need one?"
Linear Launch Catapult, on board the ZEON flagship, Halcrest, a few hundred kilometers outside the UHR territorial space of ZO-1. 14.36 GMT
"Right…people, you know what we're going to do, right?" Haitani asked over the com.
"Yeah, yeah, sure. Pilot this crap out to meet the enemy and attack, right?" Sarah said, unenthusiastically.
"Hey, you'd better make sure you know how to use those striker packs. They're not easy to make, you know…" Suu said.
"Yes, yes, Suu-chan, I've read your MS manual twice, all right? We've got to hurry. The Zaku wing sent ahead of us have probably arrived by now. All systems are green…all right! Astray Aile Out Frame, Haitani, launching!" His MS accelerated down the catapult before plunging out into the abyss of space.
"Hyperion, Sarah McDouggal, Taking off!" Sarah shouted, as her MS was cleared for launch. As the umbilical chord snapped off her MS's phase shift armor took on the black and grey colour she chose. "Damn…how do you fly this thiiiiiiiiiiiiiing!" she cried as her MS spiraled off into the abyss.
"H…hey! They told me you'd be a complete natural at flying MSs!" Haitani shouted.
"Dreadnought, Kaolla Suu, blast off!" Suu shouted, as the catapult fired her MS out to meet the others.
"Stay behind me folks!" Haitani shouted, as the Hyperion regained stability and took its place in formation behind Haitani. The Dreadnought made a few loops before falling into formation as well. "Our destination's the Arch-Hinata…"
Inside ZO-1, UHR territory, 14.43 GMT
"Surrender, weakling!" Mitsune shouted, as she fired her trikeros beam rifle at the Strike while rapidly boosting sideways. The Strike outmaneuvered the beam shots and fired back with its own beam rifle. Meanwhile, Makie's MS Buster was pounding hell into the Arch-Hinata using its beam rifle-gun launcher combo artillery gun while strafing around it.
"Damn…fire the CIWS missiles!" Haruka shouted.
"Firing CIWS!" a corporal announced. The Arch-Hinata's missile ports opened up and unleashed a barrage of missiles in the direction of the Buster and the Duel.
"Hmmm?" Makie noticed a huge number of blips show up on her screen.
"Missiles!" Chao shouted, priming her targeting system. The target cursor on her HUD quickly surrounded all the incoming missiles. "Makie! Use the Igelstellungs!" The Igelstellung Vulcan cannons mounted on the Duel's head started pounding tracers at the volley of missiles.
"Right!" Makie shouted, firing her Vulcans as well. All the missiles lit up before them, turning the sky a bright orange. A few more missiles flew out of the smoke and circled around towards the two MSs. "Hey! There's more!" Makie shouted, as she maneuvered the Buster backwards while firing at the missiles. "Chao…CHAO! What're you doing!"
The Duel was rapidly diving towards the Arch-Hinata with a volley of missiles following closely behind. As she got close to the Arch-Hinata she discharged a load of chaff towards the Arch-Hinata before making a sharp turn towards the skies. The missiles struck the chaff and exploded, blasting the Arch-Hinata's outer armor as it did so.
"Damn…we're seriously getting pounded…" Haruka gritted her teeth as the Arch-Hinata's bridge shook with the impact.
"Incoming ZEON Zakus! They've got Zaku bazookas aimed straight at us!" Motoko shouted.
"Deploy counter measures! All ahead full, we're blasting out of this colony!" Haruka shouted.
Pilot Briefing Room, on board the ZAFT Nazca-class ship, Mycelwen, a few hundred kilometers outside the UHR territorial space of ZO-1. 14.44 GMT
"Keitarou…" Naru sighed, looking down at her knees. She was still dressed in her pilot suit. She got up and looked out at the colony. Then she turned around and ran.
Bridge, on board the ZEON flagship, Halcrest, a few hundred kilometers outside UHR territory, 14.48 GMT
"Sir! We've got a launch request from the Aegis…what should we do?" A corporal asked Raww. "She's demanding it sir."
"Sis! What are you doing!" Mei shouted from the other side of the bridge.
"Give her permission." Raww said, with satisfaction. "It would be interesting to watch."
"But…sir!" Mei looked up at her XO.
"Have more faith in your sister, Mei." Raww said, looking back at Mei. "Also, you must learn to trust your XO's decisions more."
"Yes, sir!" Mei said, looking back at her console. "Aegis…permission to launch granted…be careful out there…"
Mess Hall, on board the EAF Arch-class flagship, the Arch-Hinata, inside ZO-1, UHR territory, 14.50 GMT
"It's shaking…looks like we're being attacked…" Nodoka whispered. Around her a few other evacuees had gathered in the mess hall, all huddled together. A few children were crying while their mothers tried to comfort them with pacifying words of comfort.
"Don't worry, Rayce and Keitarou are out there…" Ssigh tried to reassure her.
"I heard we're outnumbered, 5 to 1…" Yue said, sipping on her juice.
"Hey, be more optimistic, I'm sure we'll be all right!" Shirai laughed.
"…" Shinobu remained quiet as another explosion somewhere shook the ship. The children cried even louder as a few people screamed in fright.
"Please…please…don't let them touch my baby…" a lone mother pleaded, holding her child close. Shinobu looked up at her, before wincing from another explosion. She closed her eyes.
"There is no room on the battlefield for innocence…" she murmured, before opening her eyes and looking up.
Mana's cabin, on board the Mercenary Ship, Galeniev Altus, a few hundred kilometers outside the UHR territorial space of ZO-1. 14.46 GMT
"…" Mana was lying on her bed in her cabin, looking straight up at the ceiling. Then she turned over and lay silent for a while. She looked at her bedside table where a photograph was standing. She looked at it for a moment, before sitting up on the bed. "…Damn…"
Inside ZO-1, UHR territory, 14.47 GMT
The Strike turned around and boosted straight for the Buster. Chao noticed his approach and quickly raised her MS's beam rifle towards the Strike. "You're not getting any closer…" she said as the target lock tone filled her cockpit. The Duel fired a volley of beam shots straight at the Strike.
"Damn…" Keitarou pulled up on his controls and spun around the beam shots while still speeding towards his target. He pulled out his beam saber and raised it. Suddenly a volley of missiles flew at him from his left, coming from the Blitz. He spun around just in time to evade it, and had to pull out of his charge as the missiles spun back and flew right at him. Mwu's Mobius Zero suddenly swooped down from the air and shot a barrage of beam shots at the Blitz, causing Mitsune to take evasive action.
"Why do things like this always happen to me…" Keitarou muttered, maneuvering the Strike backwards while shooting down the missiles. "These guys are relentless…"
"He fell for the trap! Get him Makie! Chao!" Mitsune shouted, while trying to out-maneuver the Mobius Zero's four detached independent beam gun barrels.
"Ok!" Both Makie and Chao shouted, raising their beam rifles and aiming it at the cornered Strike. Suddenly, something fast slashed through both their beam rifles, slicing them both clean in two. They both caught a glimpse of something spinning rapidly before turning back towards the source…a dark figure standing on top of the Arch-Hinata.
"Well…well….well…" The thrusters fired up, sending the pitch black MS into the sky. "Now it's the ZAFT Aces, eh?" A malevolent sounding voice asked.
"Targets locked…requesting orders…" a female voice said.
"Slice and dice, ADA…and probably a Julienne to follow…" the voice said, smirking, as the MS boosted towards the two stunned MS.
"It's the XXXG-01D Deathscythe…" Makie remarked, firing up her veneers while taking out her gun launcher.
"Close combat type, eh?" Chao asked, flipping a few switches. "be careful Makie, it's a stealth MS. I'm not registering any radar readings."
"Right…" Makie shot a volley of beam shots at the Deathscythe which quickly weaved in and out of the shots, moving almost instantaneously from point to point.
"Rayce, about time you got here!" Keitarou shouted over the com, having shot down the missiles.
"Sorry man, road-side repairs takes more time than I thought." Rayce laughed. "And we've got more company!" He remarked as three new readings came up on the radar. The Duel had taken out its beam saber and was trying to hold off the deathscythe's onslaught.
"Damn, this guy's good…" She gritted her teeth as she held the controls tightly.
"Chao, Mitsune, incoming!" Makie shouted as the Hyperion, Dreadnought, and Astray Out Frame approached.
"We're seriously outnumbered!" Keitarou shouted, as he tried to hold back the Blitz. "Rayce, watch out! They're gonna attack the Arch-Hinata!"
The Astray Out Frame, Hyperion, and Dreadnought opened fire on the Arch-Hinata. The Hyperion's Forfanterie beam cannons mounted on its backpack stabilizers folded over its shoulders and fired two well aimed beam shots at the Arch-Hinata's Gottfried cannons. The Dreadnought's GDU-X7 Dragoon cannons on its backpack folded forwards and fired. The Astray OF meanwhile fired its beam rifle at the Igelstellung cannons.
"Hyperion, Dreadnought, and Astray Out Frame have just appeared. They're firing at us!" a corporal shouted.
"Deploy countermeasures! Keep them off! Damn…we're seriously outnumbered!" Haruka banged her fist on her armrests, as another impact caused the bridge to shake.
"Captain! There's an MS on the linear launch catapult! The pilot's asking for launch clearance!" A corporal reported.
"What!" Haruka shouted, standing up. "Who is it! Put it on screen!" The huge screen in the centre of the bridge lit up.
"Please, let me launch!" Shinobu pleaded. She was still in her Cabot 13 Routine anorak.
"I told you, I can't send you out! You're too young to enter the battlefield!" Haruka shouted. "Can't you understand that!"
"But we're outnumbered. If they destroy this ship, so many innocent people will die!" Shinobu shouted. "There is no place for innocence on the battlefield, I understand that!" Shinobu shouted, shutting her eyes. "But for those people, I must fight…only I can pilot this thing…as long as I have the means to save them, I'll do it!"
"Captain! We're running out of countermeasures!" A corporal reported.
"We've got incoming! Brace for impact!" Another corporal shouted as another explosion shook the ship.
"Sigh…very well…" Haruka sighed. "Launch permission granted…please, lend us your strength, err…." Haruka faltered, realizing she hadn't asked for her name.
"I'm Shinobu Maehara, ZO-1 colonist." Shinobu said, taking hold of her controls and taking a deep breath. The status board above turned green, giving her the go for launch. "Hinata, Shinobu Maehara, Launch!" Shinobu shouted, as her MS sped down the accelerator and out into the light. As the umbilical chord got detached, her MS turned a mixture of light and dark blue as her phase shift turned on.
"Hey…that's…" Rayce looked up a the screen, having seen a new blip show up on his radar. "The Hinata?" The Deathscythe was slicing through half a dozen Zakus in one fast charge, picking up two heavy beam machine guns from the last two crippled Zakus and aiming it at two other Zakus.
"…it can't be…" Keitarou switched COM frequencies while maneuvering the Strike in between a volley of beam shots. "Shinobu-chan?" He fired a few more shots at the Buster and Duel.
"You shouldn't be out here!" Rayce shouted, as two more Zakus fell prey to his Deathscythe. "Damn, we've got Ginns coming in too!"
"I've got to protect my friends…and the colonists…" Shinobu said, in a determined voice. She raised both VSBRs and aimed it at the incoming wave of Ginns. She lowered the VSBR speed to increase the beam width before firing a sweeping shot at the Ginns. 5 fireballs lit up as the VSBRs did their work, while at least another dozen Ginns evaded to either side. Shinobu placed both VSBRs back in their recharge racks in her backpack and took out her two beam sabers. Her thrusters fired up as she charged towards another group of Ginns, beam sabers raised.
"Shinobu-chan!" Keitarou shouted again, before his attention was taken up by a group of Zakus coming his way. "Damn….Rayce!"
"I'm too busy man!" Rayce shouted, fending off a barrage of missiles from the Arch-Hinata.
"Shinobu-chan! Retreat now!" Keitarou shouted.
"Give it up, man, you know she won't listen." Rayce sighed, throwing his beam blade out at a number of Zakus.
"Getting used to controls yet, Sarah!" Suu shouted.
"Pretty much! But who on earth are we fighting, exactly! The EAF or ZAFT?" Sarah shouted back as the Hyperion blasted another barrage of missiles with its beam machine gun.
"Who knows! Just blast everything!" Suu shouted back, laughing wildly. The Dreadnought weaved through a storm of missiles while firing its huge backpack cannons at the Arch-Hinata.
"Take this!" Haitani shouted, aiming his beam rifle at the Strike. Suddenly he noticed a beam shot blast towards him. "Huh!" He looked at the source of the beam shot. It was a dark and light blue MS, it's plasma thrusters blazing a bright whitish blue as it sped towards him, two strange looking rifles in both hands. Behind it were the falling burning remains of four ZEON Zakus.
"You won't get any further!" Shinobu shouted, locking on the Astray OT, Hyperion, and Dreadnought at the same time. She lowered the VSBR's beam speed, increasing the width of the beam and rotated her thumb around the fire button as she waited for all three targeting cursors to lock on. As the tone filled her ears, she increased the pressure on the button.
"Shinobu-chan!" Suu shouted, recognizing the MS Hinata. She immediately changed com frequencies. "Shinobu-chan! Is that you!"
"Suu-chan!" Shinobu shouted, as Suu's face showed up on screen. She lifted her finger off the fire buttons out of reflex.
"Shinobu-chan! Why are…!" Suu shouted. "Why are you piloting that thing!"
"What on earth are you doing!" Sarah shouted, switching onto the same frequency.
"Anou…you're that girl from the laboratories…" Shinobu said. "Why are you two here!"
"Eh, I was worried about you! And now you're here fighting?" Sarah said, recognizing Shinobu as the girl who had helped her find a shelter.
"What on earth are you two doing!" Haitani shouted, zooming towards the Hinata, beam rifle raised. "Blast that MS out of the sky! Huh…Shinobu-chan!" He gasped, as Shinobu's face flashed onto his screen as the COM frequencies locked.
"Haitani-sempai!" Shinobu shouted. "Not you too!"
"I'm sorry, Shinobu-chan…they've got my sister…I have no choice…" Suu said, looking down.
"And they're holding my father captive…" Sarah whispered. "If I don't fight…" She looked up at Shinobu's face. "They'll kill him!" Sarah raised her beam machine gun towards the Hinata. The Dreadnought also raised its beam cannons.
"Then…" Shinobu's hands shook. "I…I must fight you too…I have to protect my friends…and the innocent lives onboard that ship…" She looked down. These pilots…these enemies before me…they are my friends…those MSs I shot down…they had pilots too…living breathing pilots with their own friends and family…did they die?…There is no place for innocence on the battlefield…
The Astray OT fired at the Hinata. Shinobu snapped out of her reverie and deployed her beam shield, deflecting the shot, before ramming the Hinata into the Astray with her beam shield.
"Damn it!" Haitani shouted. The Dreadnought and Hyperion charged forwards. The Hinata took out a VSBR with its other hand and fired a wide sweeping shot, forcing the Dreadnought and Hyperion to move off. The Hinata threw the Astray OT aside with a fling of its beam shield, before, with one quick maneuver, slashed it with a beam saber, slicing the head clean off
"Why!" Haitani shouted, looking up at the Hinata. A few sparks flew in his cockpit. The Hinata swung around and opened up its chest mounted machine cannons. It hammered tracers in the direction of the Hyperion and Dreadnought, causing them to scatter. It replaced its beam saber in its storage rack and took out another VSBR.
"I won't let anyone harm the colonists!" Shinobu shouted, before zooming off.
"Major, retreat, now!" The face of his commander flashed on the screen.
"Sir?" Haitani asked.
"We're going to destroy that colony, along with all the EAF garbage inside." The commander said. Haitani suddenly caught something on his long range scanners.
"Sir…this is…" Haitani asked, looking disbelievingly at his scanners. "This…it's gigantic…"
"Move it, Major. Get your men out of there too. The operation begins in 30 minutes." The commander's face disappeared.
"Move it! Retreat!" Haitani shouted. His thrusters lit up as he blasted away towards the colony entrance, followed closely by the Dreadnought and Hyperion.
"There's another one…" Keitarou was breathing fast as he looked down at the new blip on his radar. "The…Aegis?" He looked up at the screen. The Aegis was coming straight at him.
"Keitarou!" Naru shouted, showing up on Keitarou's HUD. "Why are you piloting that thing!"
"Naru!" Keitarou fired up his veneers and steered away.
"Naru!" Mitsune shouted. "What're you doing!"
"She's…gone berserk…" Chao whispered as she shot another barrage of beam shots at the Deathscythe.
"You! You said you didn't want to see fighting!" Naru shouted. "You said you wanted to seek peace! Why are you here!"
"That's my question…" Keitarou said, evading Naru's charges, yet neither were firing at one another.
"Keitarou! You're a coordinator! Why're you helping the naturals!" Naru shouted, raising her beam rifle and aiming it at Keitarou. "TELL ME!"
"I'm not fighting…for the naturals of the EAF…I'm fighting for my friends…" Keitarou shouted. "Everyone else's onboard that ship! I can't let them die!" Keitarou shouted.
"You BAKA!" Naru shouted.
"Answer me! Why'd you join ZAFT! I thought you hated violence!" Keitarou shouted as the two MSs started zooming around the colony's central support pillar.
"I…I…" Naru stammered. "My mother died on Junius Seven!"
"…Naru…you never believed in revenge…why…?" Keitarou maneuvered the Strike through the support cables.
"I…shut up! You don't know anything!" Naru shouted. "I'll destroy the EAF….I'll destroy them! For taking away everything from me! Mother! Father! My freedom!"
"Naru! Watch out!" Makie shouted, as she fired a beam shot at the Strike. The Strike whirled out of the way. An explosion ensued as the beam shot struck the support pillar.
"The support pillar's going down! The whole colony'll collapse!" Shinobu shouted, zooming towards the Buster. "Why'd you do that!" She shouted. She fired her VSBRs at the Buster. The Buster retaliated as it whirled out of the way of the beam shots, firing a barrage of beam shots back at the Hinata.
"Keitarou! Leave that MS or I'll have to fight you!" Naru shouted. "Please! Please…listen to me! I don't…I don't want to lose…I don't want to lose anyone else precious to me…" tears welled up in Naru's eyes.
"…I'm sorry…Naru…" Keitarou sighed. "I can't abandon my friends…both ZEON and ZAFT want to take down that ship…I can't let my friends and those colonists die…not here…not now…" Keitarou raised his beam rifle at Naru. "Even if I have to fight you…Naru…"
"Keitarou! Look at your scanners!" Rayce shouted.
"It's…huge…what is it!" Shinobu shouted.
"Whatever it is, it's headed straight for us…" Mwu said, as his Mobius Zero weaved through a storm of beam shots from the Duel while firing back.
Outside the Mercenary Ship, Galeniev Altus, a few hundred kilometers outside the UHR territorial space of ZO-1. 15.03 GMT
"I'm…sorry…" Mana whispered. The Physallis was floating alone in the vacuum of space. The self destruct console was open by her arms. She closed her helmet's visor and prepared the ejection button.
"Captain!" Setsuna shouted, as the MS Astray came close.
"What're you doing!" Asuna shouted. The MS X also drew closer. "We found the linear catapult active and the Physallis missing. What happened?"
"Stand back, guys." Mana said. "I'm destroying this atrocity."
"…Captain…be careful…" Setsuna said.
"Hey, there's something big showing up on the scanners!" Asuna shouted.
"What…is that…? No…it can't be…" Setsuna looked around and saw it.
"They can't be serious…" Mana whispered.
"Captain Aru! A whole mining-colony's hurtling towards ZO-1 Aru!" Ku Fei shouted over the com.
"…" Mana watched as the gigantic asteroid mining colony slowly spun beside them, heading straight towards ZO-1.
"The evacuation isn't complete yet…there'd be a large number of colonist shelters in the way…de gozaru" Kaede said over the com.
"What's the status on that mining colony?" Mana asked, closing the self-destruct console.
"It's abandoned, captain!" Asuna shouted.
"Then there might still be some use for this MS…" Mana said. "Kaede! Ku Fei! Prepare the Galeniev's main cannon and every bit of heavy caliber weaponry we've got! I want that thing turned to space dust!"
MS Hangar, on board the OZ flagship, Grand Shario, a few hundred kilometers outside the UHR territorial space of ZO-1. 14.05 GMT
"Damn ZEON…what the hell are they thinking!" Lee shouted, shutting the visor on his helmet as he closed his MS's cockpit hatch.
"Whatever it is, it means more work for me…" Kotarou sighed, closing his hatch. "Fuuka, Fumika, permission to launch…" The ship suddenly shook. "Damn…ZEON's not gonna let us stand in their way…"
"Maybe placing our ship straight in front of them wasn't exactly a good idea." Lee said as the Wing Exodus took its position on the catapult.
"Permission to launch granted, Wing Exodus, Geminass, you're good to go. Good luck out there." Operator Fuuka said over the com, her face flashing onto the HUD.
"Linear Catapult 1 ready. All systems are go. Preparing for catapult launch…Please protect those evacuees…Good luck!" Operator Fumika said, her face flashing onto the HUD right beside Fuuka's.
"Thanks. Lee Davis, Wing Exodus, Launch!" The Wing Exodus blasted down the catapult, straight out into the darkness.
"Kotarou, Geminass, Fire up!" Kotarou shouted as the Geminass trailed right behind the Wing Exodus.
"Please allow me to launch as well…" Negi said, looking up at the twin's faces. He was sitting inside the Epyon's cockpit.
"Springfield, you're still recovering. You should be resting in the infirmary." A tall man with a stubble in an officer's uniform showed up on the HUD.
"Commander Takamichi!" Fumika saluted.
"But sir, I must fight." Negi said. "Even if you won't let me help you, I must at least protect this ship as long as my sister is in it."
"That MS is dangerous. We have no idea how it operates." Takamichi said.
"I can handle it, sir." Negi said. "I think I'm capable."
"…Very well…" Takamichi sighed. "We need all the help we can get. If it gets too dangerous, return immediately."
"Yes sir!" Negi said.
"It is all right to let him go out sir?" Fumika asked, looking up at her XO.
"It's all right…so far he's the only one who could pilot that thing successfully. All the test pilots we put in that cockpit immediately got sick and vomited all over the place…it seems he can tolerate the effects of whatever that system is pretty well." Takamichi said.
"Commander Takamichi! You were explicitly ordered to stand down and back out!" A masked man's face showed up on the screen in the middle of the bridge.
"I'm sorry, Commander Zechs Merquisse…I'm in charge out here and I'm acting as I see fit…ZEON assaulted us by flinging a colony towards us…I must retaliate." Takamichi said calmly.
"Hmmm…very well then…you've always been like that, Takamichi. I'll report back to General Treize and tell him what you said." The masked man smiled, before his face disappeared.
"Thank you…Zechs…" Takamich closed his eyes. "Grand Shario! Prepare to protect the ZO-1 colonists!"
"Negi Springfield, Epyon, Taking off!" Negi shouted, as the catapult flung the Epyon out into the abyss. "Don't worry, sis, I'll protect you."
Right in front of him was a gigantic mining colony, hurtling straight at him and his home colony behind him. He took a deep breath and took off straight at the ZEON ships escorting the asteroid colony. "Please…don't let me down…Epyon…"
To be continued….