John Rowe – Chapter 4
"Contact"
"ZGMF-1017 GINN, Azrael…. Launch!". The Linear catapult activated and sent Azrael hurtling into space, after a moment's surprise he wrenched his suit back into control, stopping to survey the area for a moment before darting over to the rest of the squadron. His communication module snapped on and his monitor filled with the image of one of the Reprisal's bridge crew,
"It appears that our target the 'Legged Ship' is attempting to break through to earth, our orders are clear and this cannot be allowed. The cowardly naturals are hiding amongst the Earth Alliances 8th Armada, who will be acting as a screen whilst our target escapes. The Reprisal will be engaging with a united ZAFT force, its GINN's will be under the command of 'Major Magnus Highwind'. Follow his lead and may god speed you in the coming battle, For ZAFT!"
The cry went up amidst the ZAFT forces and the warships engaged their engines, Squadron upon squadron of GINN's shot to the front of the formation, weapons held in readiness…ready to die for PLANT and its inhabitants. "8th ARMARDA IN RANGE!",
Captain Zandarr Sebastian narrowed his eyes, "Aim the particle cannons, target the closest enemy and prepare for anti-beam and anti-mobile armor battle." The crew snapped into action and the image of a Support cruiser was highlighted on his display, In the distance he could see the fabled 'Legged Ship' falling into the Earth formation. "PARTICLE BEAMS….FIRE!" Twin emerald darts soared forth from the Reprisal, Impaling the Natural cruiser just behind the bridge, crimson flames exploded from the huge holes in it's flanks and charred bodies of maintenance crews were sucked into deep space, the explosion continued to spread and the whole ship was consumed in fire as the beams pierced it's engines. The Captain missed all of this, his attention already on the next target…he chuckled to himself, there were more then enough for the ZAFT forces this day.
Mobile armor spilled forth from the Earth formation like a tidal wave, hundreds of units, each containing a pilot who wants nothing more then to kill me. Azrael beat down the sense of panic threatening to overwhelm him and let his training take over, A image of Magnus Highwind appeared above him "Reprisal's GINN's, we are now designated Gray Squadron, form up on me and create a screen for Reprisal, Deflect the first wave then we will go hunting amongst those wallowing beasts the humans call Battleships!". A series of affirmatives followed and Azrael took a deep breath, releasing it he signaled his readiness. Within moments the first of the Mobile Armor was upon them, Azrael sent his GINN corkscrewing into the enemy formation, blazing away with his machine gun at the same time, he confirmed at least one kill and smiled briefly before looping and drawing his sword, the space around him was filled with metal and fire, screams and oaths filled his com. Instincts took over and he dodged back as a laser sliced through the space before him, the armor roared past in it's wake and he managed to snatch it out of it's path before driving his sword home into the fighters belly. Swinging the GINN's sword Azrael flung the gutted fighter into the path of another, causing an explosion as their missiles collided.
"DIE YOU NATURAL BASTARDS!" Glancing at the unfolding battle Azrael noted Vega's GINN in the most furious part of the conflict, Mobile armor wreckage thick in the space around him "WHY DO YOU INSIST ON LIVING!", his sword struck out and another earth alliance pilot cried out for his mother or sweetheart. Again and again Vega struck and more pilots joined the first, Azrael kicked in his boosters and hurled towards his friends location, letting loose a steady stream of machine gun fire at any opponents who presented themselves, he watched in deadly silence as Vega's voice took on a near-fanatical tone, his GINN taking more and more damage as striking out less as it was overwhelmed. Just a little longer Azrael leant forward in his pilot's seat, rocking back and forth as if to somehow draw more speed out of the mobile suit from sheer willpower. "Get out of my way!" he slashed outwards with his sword, catching a fighter with its blade and separating it cleanly in half.
He roared in on Vega's unit, delivering a crushing kick to the cockpit of an attacking mobile armor, glass shattered and a broken helmet drifted past his view as he spun let loose with Machine Gun fire, his GINN coming to rest behind Vega's facing in the opposite direction, both of them firing wildly at the mobile armor surrounding them, explosions tore space and wreckage crashed against Azrael's GINN, causing his system to stutter and sparks to erupt from his monitor, abandoning his overheated machine gun Azrael let forth with a staggering punch at the next strafing fighter, crushing the nose of the armor back into it's engines, the resulting explosion pushed him back and blinded him for a few seconds. When he regained his vision he saw a lack of Mobile armor in the space around him, his com let loose more sparks before an image of a much sweatier Magnus Highwind appeared. "That's the first wave gone, let's leave the mop up to the other squadrons…Gray Squadron, form on me and attack the 8th Armada's main fleet!...FOR PLANT AND FOR ZAFT!"
The Reprisal's GINN's rocketed forward, some showing damage. The Earth fleet loomed up on them and a solid wall of machine gun and beam fire enveloped the squadron as they dove into it's midst. Azrael face was a mask of concentration as he picked his way through the tangle of lasers and metal, his eyes firmly latched upon his target, this was a 130 meter Earth Alliance cruiser, the 75mm Vulcan cannons that were placed at various intervals along it's hull swiveled and targeted the ZAFT pilot but could not depress fast enough to keep up with the much swifter mobile suit. Reaching for his sword Azrael spun and boosted down towards the ship, connecting hard with the top of the cruiser only meters away from the ships command deck….he could clearly see the shock and surprise on the captains face as he plunged the huge sword through the bridge, triggering a explosion just as he leapt free, letting the explosion propel him towards his next target.
Captain Zandarr Sebastian once again shouted out a call to fire, "DO NOT LET THAT SHIP ESCAPE", he checked his tactical readout and nearly swore…though the ZAFT forces were winning it was coming at a great cost. One of the bridge crew, drenched in sweat spoke aloud "Enemy cruiser has targeting lock on us sir" the captain glanced up and saw that two EAF cruisers had broken away from the main formation, angling in towards the Reprisal, "You will not have my ship you bastards!...FIRE ANTI-BEAM MISSLES, EVADE, Depress nose 20 Degrees" the crewman shouted out in panic "ENEMY CRUISERS, FIRING", The small anti-beam missiles swarmed from the sides of the Nazca class cruiser, exploding in multiple spheres around it, successfully absorbing most of the blast. An evil grin spread across the captain's face as the ship cruised under the blast and into clear view of the EAF Ships. "Target Cruiser 1...Fire Hell Blazers 1-60!", torpedo's churned out of the ships launchers…colliding with the EAF cruiser before it had a chance to react, the resulting explosion tore the small warship asunder, spilling crew into space before finally consuming itself, the Captain regarded the other ship "Target Cruiser 2!...Aim the Armageddon!" The Reprisal's massive particle cannon slid into position and locked, energy buildup momentarily blinded the crew as they prepared to fire the massive weapon…"FIRE!"…pure energy spilled forth from the ZAFT ship, crackles of lightning accompanying the white lance of light as it impaled the Earth cruiser it was aimed at…bodies swelled and exploded under the force of the blast and the whole ship seemed to crumple in on itself like so many pieces of trash paper.
Captain Zandarr Sebastian let out the breath he had been holding and turned to the tactical display in front of him "It seems the back of the 8th armada has been broken…the few remaining units are arrayed before the 'Legged Ship' in a pitiful attempt to delay us further, Set engine power to full and recall all GINN's once we reach 2000 Alpha Yellow…We shall taste the sweet taste of victory this day, and that dammed 'Legged Ship will feel our guns someday…for now she is out of our reach."
Ben Fitzpatrick – Chapter 4
"Contact"
Vega laughed out in a maddened frenzy; "Eat shit you fucking scum!" His right hand was grasped firmly onto the joystick controller, and his left was constantly hitting keys upon the mechanics in front of him.. a slight trickle of blood seeped down the control stick, his trigger finger under a lot of strain under Vega's now berserker state. His GINN skillfully weaved it's way through the gunfire that was adamant on taking his life, strafing to the right he quickly fired several miniature rockets from his leg units, hitting one of the enemy ship's engine section, the goliath in front of him was soon invoked in flames, shattering debris into the mobile armor's surrounding it.
Off in the distance he spotted it; "That's it!" he said to himself in amazement as he gazed at the 'legged ship', it's hydrokinetics starting to kick in, he knew that their time was almost over. Dashing towards the ship, two other suits also made their presence.. "... Gundam!" Vega spoke out in amazement, he slowed down his pace as he approached the two, one unit was painted sky blue, it was the Duel gundam that he had heard stories about, and the other... the Strike. A face soon appeared on Vega's monitor, it was that of a blue haired young man, with bandages over his right eye. "Stay the hell away! This is my fight! THAT'S AN ORDER!" he shouted over and over, not allowing Vega time to reply, his monitor soon became blank once again. Pausing, he let go of the controls of his GINN, the conflict in front of him playing out as if a ancient masterpiece had came to him.. he wanted to fight, but witnessing the skill of the pilots, and the power of the Gundam's which complemented these two men... he felt drained of his will. Their battle raged on and on, They came so close to each other, that without warning, the Strike kicked Duel's cockpit area, forcing him back, and down towards Earth's atmosphere... Duel's rifle was then thrusted forward to aim for Strike... when all of a sudden an earth civilian ship obstructed their view... passing through unscathed, Duel began firing onto Strike, missing horribly however, the Duel then aimed his rife at the civ ship, one pull of the trigger, and the naturals were destroyed... A malicious grin appeared on Vega's face as he watched the travesty unfold.. he laughed, and continued to do so until the Gundam's and the 'legged ship' faded into the planet. "Vega De'Storrania, you are to return to the Reprisal immediately!" was the only thing he could remember hearing, his pupils wore a dull maroon, and breathing heavily, he spun the GINN around and headed back for the Reprisal.