Disclaimer: see Chapter 1.
Fated Shift: Rearmed
By Centurious the Azure and Storm Wolf77415
Battle of Tears
The Duel skirted around the battlefield. Yzak was looking for someone very specific. He didn't have to wait long before finding his target. That strange-looking Gundam with the arm-mounted blade. "So there you are!" He made a beeline for Yukimasa, beam saber in hand, and ignited. "You're going to pay for what you did!"
Yukimasa had been looking for the Duel himself. As such he wasn't surprised to see the stolen Gundam barrels right at him. "Getting right to business are we?!" The arm blade flipped out, meeting the blue and gray Gundam's glowing weapon. Yzak's assault was direct and relentless, but the young Sahaku was in control the whole time, the saber strikes bouncing off his machine's shield.
The blade flipped back, firing a few emerald beams, but Yzak was quick to evade it. Yukimasa let loose another salvo before going back in for close-quarters combat, the blade swinging inward. The white-haired redcoat jerked backward, the glowing tip coming within inches of the Duel.
"I'm going to get you!" The white-haired pilot raged. Yukimasa didn't care, just parrying the blade before swinging his own, while bringing up his right wrist vulcan, launching a barrage of small green energy bursts which harmlessly splashed off the Duel's anti-beam shield, but a few did pepper the legs. The two backed off. Both firing their beam rifles, the Masamune getting clipped on the right knee while the Duel bit it in the left shoulder.
"And here I just waxed this thing!" Yukimasa said, eschewing the arm blade for a beam saber. It bounced off the Duel's shield. CIWS and wrist vulcans spooled up, both machines getting pelted with 75mm shells and small energy bursts. Not doing much damage, but enough to keep both combatants from being too aggressive, lest it would give the other an opening for a lethal blow. Although both soldiers weren't about to let themselves be taken out so easily.
The Duel and Masamune circled in their continuing spiral of death. Yzak continued pressing the assault, hurling another grenade from its beam rifle. A spray from the beam vulcans destroyed it. Although the pilot of the Duel used the explosion to his advantage, managing to get behind Yukimasa, firing a pair of beam rounds. Yukimasa whipped around, managing to split the first beam burst, but the second still managed to catch the Masamune in the torso.
"Damn it!" Yukimasa cursed, noting the damage indicators light up on his screens, showing the places he had been hit. He madly began flipping switches to try and clear the system. Yzak took that moment to slash downwards, but Yukimasa was faster. The arm blade knocked the beam saber away. He switched to his beam rifle, firing at point-blank range, melting off the Duel's right shoulder armor, carving a nasty gash out of the left hip.
(Open Space)
Athrun was looking for the Strike. He wanted to speak to Kira again and try and get him to see reason about the foolishness of fighting for the Earth Forces. His radar began blaring as he deftly evaded to the right in order to avoid being impaled by emerald lances and a grenade that went off just inches from him.
"Who did that?" He looked around frantically and grimaced as the menacing form of the Gravesend hurtled toward him. He had taken the time to review some of the combat footage from the Duel, Buster, and Blitz's cameras. The brutality had made the Red Knight's stomach turn, when the oversized mace slammed into Michael's GINN and then impaled Burnie's machine, making it look nearly effortless.
The Gravesend had received a few new additions since being transferred over to the Archangel. Having left the giant mace on the Kagutsuchi. As a replacement, he had procured one of the Strike's spare anti-ship swords not to mention an extra beam rifle belonging to the Duel, if the underslung grenade launcher was any indicator.
It was clear to Athrun that he would have to face this challenge before he could face Kira. He ignited a golden blade and readied himself for combat. Kuro took this as a challenge, drawing the anti-ship sword. "Let's see what this thing can do!" He said, the beam edge coming to life, locking up with the Aegis, sparks dancing from where the two glowing blades met. Athrun was pushed back, raising his beam rifle to fire on his opponent again.
It neatly creased off the Gravesend's right shoulder cauldron, leaving a deep orange glow. The white and blue Gundam twisted the giant blade into a backhand strike, Athrun parrying with the shield. The heat of the beam edge slowly making its way into the anti-beam coating. "So you're Athrun Zala." The redcoat's green eyes widened in shock as Kuro spoke to him. "I've heard things about you, how you're one of ZAFT's new golden boys. Although I tend not to fully believe in the hype. That way you're not let down."
"How can Orb side with the Earth Forces? You know how they treat Coordinators!" Athrun's rant didn't get any further as the Gravesend brought the giant blade downward, nearly bisecting the Aegis. It was only through training and reflexes that let him get out of the way, although the very tip of the red Gundam's horn was cleaved off. The anti-ship sword came to rest on the Gravesend's shoulder.
"Why don't you quit bitching and focus on the fight? You don't want to die before confronting Kira, right? If you die now, how else are you going to save your best friend? If he does need it." Kuro sarcastically spoke the last part. He smirked when he heard the low growl over his speaker. "Did I touch a nerve there? The one being stupid is you."
"How do you know that name?" Athrun snarled, having ignited a second golden beam.
Kuro just smirked, recalling hear a muffled conversation behind a closed door in the quarters Kira and Yui shared. "I have my ways. Besides I've got someone to protect on that ship. I can't let them down…not like last time. If you want to get to him. You have to go through me first! Give me a good fight. If your heart's not in it, then all you'll get is a quick death!" He pushed his onslaught as Athrun struggled to keep up.
(Open Space)
Kira felt a new sense of dread when he saw the mobile suit approaching him. It wasn't the red form of the Aegis, but rather, a white CGUE. Even he knew who the pilot of that mobile suit was. Rau Le Creuset had come out in person. The White Meteor had also tricked out his machine, taking one of the spare NOL-Y941 Heavy Laser Swords developed for Shiho's CGUE Deep Arms. The student turned soldier tried to keep it out of his head, raising his beam rifle, squeezing off a few rounds. Rau simply evaded right, firing his machine gun.
"So this is the Strike. Doesn't seem all that impressive." Rau mused to no one in particular. He raised his CGUE's shield gatling, sending a barrage of 28mm shells downrange. Even if the Phase Shift Armor blocked all kinetic weapons, at least it would keep his opponent busy while he continued to feel the Strike out and uncover its weakness. He fired his machine gun again, the rounds simply pinging off the Phase-Shift. Kira fired the CIWS, hoping it would be enough to keep him away.
However, this just emboldened Rau. The CGUE reared up, kicking the Strike upside the head. He brought out the laser sword, swinging the massive blade at the Strike's head. Kira ducked underneath it while squeezing off another salvo from the rifle, but Rau easily avoided it. It was clear the Gundam was a far superior machine, but the White Meteor was a better pilot and Kira's inexperience was showing.
As for Kira himself, he was doing all possible to survive one of ZAFT's top commanders. It was one thing to face Athrun, but Rau was more than keeping up in a simple CGUE. The laser sword came back around, and Kira needed no prompting to go for one of the beam sabers situated on the Aile pack. The two were now mirroring Yukimasa and Yzak in their battle, with blades flashing and slamming against each other.
The student turned soldier wasn't going to lose here. He had too much to lose. Kira grunted as he parried another of Rau's sword blows. He slammed the shield into the CGUE, a barrage of 27mm shells denting up the anti-beam shield. Kira paid it no mind, bringing the beam saber back around, scoring his first hit against the White Meteor with a blow across the CGUE's right shoulder, leaving a nasty burn scar.
Even then, Rau almost seemed bored with the fight. He followed up a quick barrage from his shield gatling with a big strike from his laser sword. Kira tried a backhanded strike with his beam saber, but the CGUE was just a touch faster. It vaulted over the Strike, the laser sword carving a huge gash out of the Aile pack, sparks occasionally flew out.
"Yes, show me what you're capable of!" Rau exclaimed, bringing the sword around in a sweeping horizontal arc. Only for it brush off the red shield. The Strike's saber met the glowing edge of the laser sword. The CGUE whipped around, firing another barrage from his machine gun. "It's been a while since I've had any kind of entertainment, and I can't let my subordinates have all the fun now, can I?"
(Open Space)
Ezra relished in the mild vibration that ran through him as his machine thrummed with power. Despite being a century old, the Thunderbolt far outstripped the GINN trainer he flew at the Academy. "Stay close to me, Felecia. If these Gundams are truly as powerful as everyone says they are, we could be in for a rough time."
"I got your back!" Felecia was confident in her skill. Yet she knew that even with her GINN HM, it would be suicide to try and take on one of the Gundams by herself. So she would settle for offering fire support while Ezra did the heavy lifting. She made sure her 27mm rifle was cocked and loaded. "So what's our first target then?" She asked.
The young redcoat wasn't sure himself. He was looking around and then he saw it. The Gravesend duking it out with the Aegis. His stomach turned at how Athrun was doing all he could to avoid being flattened like the Storm Wolves were earlier. Even if the Aegis Gundam was top of the line. The blue-haired soldier still wasn't entirely comfortable with it. And Kuro hit with a ferocious onslaught that even Athrun wouldn't last long against. "Let's go and give some aid to the Aegis, Fi."
"I'm right there with you, Ezra!" Felecia said, hanging back a bit. A part of her wondered if she could get some better firepower besides just the normal rifle. But for right now she'd have to work with what she had. "Eat this!" She cried, letting loose a salvo of 27mm shells flew through space, splitting apart the Aegis and Gravesend.
Kuro looked to see the new arrival, only to find the hulking form of a Gundam looming right in his face. He swung the Schwert Gewehr, only for it to be caught on the shield. Ezra batted it away, pointing the rifle square in the Gravesend's face. "That mobile suit, could it be…the Thunderbolt?" He remembered hearing old stories of the mobile suit from the Reconstruction War, made for heavy assault much like Shino's Firestorm, but on an even greater level. A part of him couldn't help but be impressed.
Athrun for one was silently grateful for Ezra's timely arrival. It had become clear from the start that Kuro was just toying with him. He could have ended the young redcoat's life in a single instant. Not to mention his words still echoed in his head. "What are you doing, Lieutenant Kanitz?"
"I can handle this guy, Athrun. Go on ahead and face the Strike." He could almost hear the smirk in Ezra's tone. "I know I can be kind of an asshole at times, but I look after my friends. Go and seek him out. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Stay committed to your promises and bring it down!"
Deciding to take the opening he had been given. Athrun gave Ezra the obligatory double click before taking off to find the Strike. Leaving the Gravesend and Thunderbolt alone to face each other. Kuro decided it was time to get intel. "So, where did you dig out that relic? I didn't think ZAFT had anything like that laying around."
"As a matter of fact, we did," Ezra replied. "It's a bit old, then again so is that crate you're flying around in. The MSX-FA08 Gravesend Gundam. Not to mention the MSX=FA11 Gunshot Gundam, and the MSX-FA64 Firestorm Gundam. It's rather unprecedented to think that four Reconstruction War mobile suits managed to survive as long as they have. You've kept your machines in good shape all these years."
"Aw, you going to give us a medal?" Kuro wasn't impressed, brandishing the anti-ship sword. "Why don't we skip the banter and just get to the fight?" The double-barreled railgun rifle coming up was all the answer he needed. "Now that's more like it!" Ezra got off the first shot, a pair of rounds that got slashed in half by the anti-ship sword. Ezra reached for his melee weapon, a heavy-looking double-edged broadsword that looked like the standard GINN heavy sword but with a more Gothic design, made of rare dark metal.
"Let's see how you deal with this!" Ezra said. This was a recent addition to Thunderbolt's arsenal, a gift from a friend of his at MMI. And now it was time to check out the quality of his handiwork!
(Kagutsuchi, Bridge)
The battle was turning into a full-on mess, and Tatsuo wasn't liking it. He watched as the Bernard quickly crumbled under the full might of the Gamow's weapons array. The Montgomery was quick to avenge their fallen comrades, letting loose a barrage of missiles, only for most of them to be shot down by the ZAFT ship's CIWS. "Give me a status report!" He barked to Mori.
"A third of the mobile armors have already been destroyed. The Law has taken heavy damage, it's barely hanging in there." Mori said, noting with dismay as another Mobius was blown to pieces. "It appears that my brother is engaging the Duel as always. Kuro is engaging what appears to be." He paused for a minute. "Another Gundam! Captain, I believe ZAFT found the Thunderbolt!" Tatsuo just grunted as Mori continued. "The Strike has…oh my. Captain, the Strike is engaging The White Meteor himself!"
Tatsuo exploded out of his seat. "The kid is facing Rau?" His face became very serious, putting away the cigarillo he was about to light up. "Mori, is the Green Frame ready for deployment?"
"Are you going out there, Captain?" Mori asked. He had only heard his commanding officer talk that way once, and when he was done, all that remained was the wreckage of numerous mobile suits.
The older man just nodded. "Even with that fancy mobile suit, Rau could still fly circles around that Kira kid. It would just be a matter of time before he was worn down. I better go out there and bail him out."
Mori smirked. "So the Dragon's Claw will be showing the true extent of his flames? It's been a while since you burned everyone to ash, hasn't it, sir?" Tatsuo just gave his smug little grin before departing the bridge. The eldest Sahaku sibling just went back to monitoring the battle. "I do so love this job."
(Open Space)
Yukimasa was fast becoming tired of this whole little contest. All he wanted to do was spend some time with Flay. However, Yzak was cockblocking him at every step. He quickly jerked the controls, sending the Masamune flying to the left to avoid being hit by another grenade from the Duel's beam rifle. He sent a few more rounds back at his opponent but were met by the gray and blue anti-beam shield.
"Why won't you fall?" Yzak raged, blasting at the Masamune with his CIWS and firing another salvo from his rifle. It just seemed like no matter how hard he pressed this bastard wouldn't roll over and die. Letting out another wordless cry of rage, he fired at the bladed Gundam. He brought out a beam saber, slashing upwards, only for it to be parried by the giant play.
"Did anyone ever tell you about your colossal anger management issues?!" Yzak nearly froze when Yukimasa's voice came in over his speakers. He wasn't able to dodge in time, as the Masamune's blade dug a huge gash out of the Duel's upper torso. "I'm serious bro. Controlling your emotions in combat is something they should have covered in basic training on day one, or at least day two! You can't tell me you weren't there for that lesson!"
"So you have the gall to talk down to me, Natural scum!" Yzak raged, his beam saber melting away a chunk of the Masamune's left shoulder armor. He brought the flaming blade up, only for it to bounce off the Masamune's shield. The wrist-mounted CIWS digging small burn marks into the Duel's upper torso.
"Okay, so you clearly weren't there on the day they passed out brains. Let me fact check you, pal. I'm not a Natural. And I never was!"
This just incited further rage in Yzak. His lips twisted into a contemptuous sneer as his assault intensified. "So you're a traitor on top of it?" He fired the largest barrage of emerald lances yet, followed up by two grenades. "You would dare turn your back on your fellow Coordinators! How can you fight for the Earth Forces when all they've done is oppress our kind?"
The Masamune gracefully weaved in and out, destroying one grenade with a single swing of its arm blade and the other with wrist CIWS. "How you survived beyond the hospital room with that veil of naivety is beyond me. I suppose some formal introductions are in order." The blade slashed upwards at a diagonal angle, taking a hefty chunk out of the Duel's blade. "Yukimasa Ikari Sahaku, from the United Emirates of Orb, and another place where Coordinators are born you dumbass!"
Yzak was stunned by this revelation. He was throwing down with a member of one of the Five Great Houses of Orb. His sneer came back. "So much for your vaunted neutrality then!" The beam saber ignited once more. "I suppose Uzumi Nara Attha's words are nothing but empty platitudes!"
"Don't think everyone worships at the shrine of Uzumi!" Yukimasa prayed Cagalli never heard this as he fired a few more rounds at the Duel. "Someone of us are willing to do whatever it takes to defend our homeland." He broke the blade lock with the Duel, not blinking at the glowing tip of the beam saber carving a hunk out of the Masamune's right hip. "Unfortunately it does put us in a rather awkward position!"
The white-haired Duel pilot had heard enough. He would put this traitor down once and for all. The blazing column of fire came straight down on the Masamune's head. But Yukimasa's reflexes were faster and he had the added bonus of having a level head. He didn't deploy the arm blade, instead going for one of his hip-mounted beam sabers. It came to life, extending to a third of the length of the Duel's weapon. "Ha, like that's going to save your worthless ass!" Yzak was confident in his weapon's longer reach.
Yukimasa just smirked. The blade extending to its full length. The Duel's saber was knocked aside, and the Maasamune's blade slashed upwards, taking a large chunk out of the blue and gray Gundam's face. "You really need more time in the simulators pal. Otherwise at this length. I'm going to take you apart piece by piece!"
(Open Space)
Kira could only grimace as Rau's laser sword tore another big chunk out of the Gundam's right leg just above the joint. Although the white CGUE had taken its share of damage. The shield containing the gatling cannon bearing a couple of large burn marks from the Strike's beam rifle, along with a long scar down the left side of the torso near the cockpit. He swept his beam saber to block the laser sword, but he was struggling to keep it away. "I don't know if I can keep going like this much longer!" His eyes fell on the battery counter and it was dropping fast. But then his eyes fell on a picture of Yui. "No, I can't think this way. Not when she needs me!"
As for the White Meteor himself. He was beginning to get an understanding of how the Strike worked, realizing the backpack unit gave it greater maneuverability, not to mention the beam sabers. And unlike the main unit, the pack did not have Phase Shift protecting it. Rau paid little mind to the emerald lance burning through the fins on the CGUE's right shoulder. He fired his machine gun one more time, a few rounds embedded itself into the Aile pack.
The Strike's master alarm went off, indicating that the battery was compromised and in danger of exploding. The young student ejected the now useless pack, where it exploded. "This is getting old!" Kira yelled, starting to get tired of this fight. He kicked Strike's regular s engines, rushing at the CGUE, pointing the beam rifle at point-blank range, melting off the CGUE's head crest. He went for one of the Armor Schneiders.
"Do you think that's going to do any good against this?" Rau asked, bringing the laser sword around. Only for his warning alarm to kick on. "What the?" He turned and yanked back on the controls. Forcing him away as a massive jet of flame slashed through space. Approaching them was the Green Frame.
Kira looked to see the new arrival. "You all right, kid?" His eyes widened as he recognized Tatsuo's voice. "You leave ol' Metal Mask to me. Go and get your machine fixed up and get some new armaments." He needed no further prompting. The Strike turned and made for the Archangel to recharge and rearm. This left the Green Frame facing off against the white CGUE. "Hey Rau, long time no speak huh? I guess you're still trying to start a fashion trend with that thing covering your face?"
Rau's usual calm faded some. "Tatsuo Mishima. I see you decided to crawl out of the hole you were hiding in. It was always such a pity. You had such promise, such potential. And yet you gave it all up." He brandished the laser sword. "Let see if being away for this long has dulled your claws any!"
Tatsuo just sneered at the White Meteor. "Oh I can assure you my claws are still razor sharp." The arms of the Green Frame began telescoping out, the hands flipping out. "And the fires within me are as blazing hot as ever!" Twin jets of flame arced out from the flamethrowers installed in the hands. The CGUE leapt to the side out of the line of fire. "Let's see just how long you last against the Green Frame!"
A slightly evil laugh was Rau's response. "Very well then, Dragon's Claw. Let our battle commence!"
(Open Space)
Athrun was scouring the battlefield for the Strike, all the while dispatching any Mobiuses unfortunate enough to get in his way. The battle was beginning to go badly for the other side. The Law had absorbed a heavy side of the fire while trying to protect the Montgomery from a railgun barrage courtesy of the Gamow. The entire bow of the ship was awash in flames.
He shifted the Aegis to mobile armor mode, priming the Scylla. The massive beam cannon lanced out, hitting the stricken frigate just aft of the conning tower, causing it to explode. He paid little mind to ever-growing fireball. The blue-haired redcoat didn't revel in the deaths in the same way he had seen many of his comrades do. However, Athrun wasn't shedding any tears for them either. Right now his only focus was finding Kira.
If he could just find him, let Kira see how wrong he was in fighting for the Earth Alliance. They could return the PLANTs and have all five of the prototypes in ZAFT's possession. He continued fending off any mobile armors that got into his way. "Come on, Kira. Where are you?" He looked around, before setting sights on the Archangel itself.
A small glint of light could be seen launching from the majestic looking vessel. The Strike had quickly rearmed, this time equipped with the Sword pack. "Kira!" Athrun kicked on the Aegis's engines, making straight for his old friend. The Strike growing ever more in his viewscreen.
As for Kira himself, he saw the Aegis fast approaching. "Athrun." He whispered, going for the anti-ship sword, the glowing edge coming to life. He didn't want to fight his best friend, but at the same time, he knew there were others counting on him. His eyes went to the picture of Yui again. He brought the massive blade upward.
The Aegis ignited a beam saber, crossing blades with the Strike. "Kira please stop!" Athrun's voice came over the radio. "I don't want to fight you, man! Can't you see the Earth Forces are just using you?" He pleaded as the anti-ship sword was parried away. The Aegis's CIWS launched a salvo at the Strike, but they were quickly evaded. "The Naturals will just use you until they decide you're a liability and put a bullet in your head. That ship isn't safe for you, Kira!"
"And how do you know that, Athrun?" He shot back, firing off the Panzer Eizen rocket anchor, only for the Aegis to dodge to the side. "You always thought you have all the answers, even since we were kids! I just had to go along with it, because you said so!" He reached for the shoulder where the beam boomerang was mounted. A single swing and the Strike took first blood, a large rent in the Aegis's left side. The boomerang flew back. The Strike brought the sword up. The two blades met again. "Let me tell you right now, it always burned me up to hear my parents say I should be more like you, but I'm not!"
It was a surprise to Athrun that Kira found such strong resolve. As such it caught him off guard when Kira took the anti-ship sword, managing to sheer off a chunk of the Aegis's right shoulder armor, not fazed as the Aegis's saber took away a generous piece of the Strike's torso. "I can't fight for the same reasons you do, Athrun. I don't need you to like it. But you had at least understand it!"
"I have to understand what, exactly?" Athrun was starting to get very irritated at his friend's stubbornness. Couldn't Kira see he was trying to save him from a gruesome fate? He became more intense in his attacks. He tried to push back the anti-ship sword, but it wasn't budging. "It was Naturals who killed my mother! Naturals destroyed Junius Seven! They've always oppressed us!"
Kira wanted to feel sad, but all he could muster was disappointment as he fired the Panzer Eisen once again, avoiding being hit by the Aegis's beam rifle. "It's for those very reasons I can't join you, Athrun. You're motivated by revenge, and all that exists in your heart is anger." He looked to Yui's picture, taking in every detail of her. Her chocolate brown locks, those lovely purple eyes, and most of all, the way those delicate pink lips turned upward into a dazzling smile that made all his worries subside. His face became hard once again, firing the CIWS while hurling the beam boomerang.
"I'll level with you, right now. The reason I'm fighting is that my girlfriend is on the Archangel, and furthermore, she's a Natural!" Anti-ship sword met beam saber once again. The two Gundams illuminated by the sparks dancing off their weapons. "Yui is her name, and she's been an absolute godsend to me. She showed me that you can't divide people into categories, her and all my other Natural friends. That is not how this world works!" A determined look fell on his face. As he swung again, cleaving off the top of the Aegis's antenna. "If there's no place for Yui there, then I want nothing to do with you or ZAFT!"
Athrun couldn't believe his ears. "Y-you have a girlfriend?"
"That much of a shocker to you, Athrun?" Kira stated, sending the Aegis back with a swing of the anti-ship sword. "I told you before if there is anyone who wants to do any harm to Yui. Then I will stop it. Even if that means you!"
(Archangel, Bridge)
Murrue said nothing, even with all the chaos unfolding around her. The fight had been brutal to this point. Already nearly all of the Mobiuses had been destroyed. Both of the frigates were gone. But the Montgomery was still hanging in there, albeit just barely. However, Captain Koopman's vessel had also managed to score a strong hit on the Galvani with its beam cannons. While a couple of the remaining mobile armors swooped in, launching their missiles and pumped a couple linear rounds into the backside, slagging the starboard engine.
"The left ZAFT vessel has taken heavy damage!" Natarle barked out. She saw a chance and she would grab it. By doing this, it would mean ZAFT wouldn't be unbloodied in this fight.
Murrue was thinking the exact same thing. "Arm Gottfrieds and aim at that vessel! Prepare a spread of Sledgehammers and wait for my signal!" The bridge crew scrambled to carry out their captain's orders.
"We have target lock on the enemy ship!" Sai reported, even another Mobius exploded right in front of the bridge windows.
"Fire missiles!" Sai launched the Sledgehammers even before Murrue's order was fully out of her mouth. The explosive projectiles arched through the air toward the stricken Galvani. While the Laurasia-class frigate's 58mm CIWS managed to destroy a good number of the missiles. A few managed to get through, hitting the Galvani amidships, causing a huge explosion, fire, and smoke rolling out of the hull.
"Gottfrieds fire!" The massive beam cannons hurled the emerald lances. The Galvani took them square on. The ship sparked and numerous explosions racked it. The reactor went critical and there was one less ZAFT ship to plague them. Murrue looked down to the CIC as Natarle smirked back up at her.
The Hawk of Endymion was having a grand old time, swooping in and out through the various engagements, making full use of his craft's weapons. He detached the wired gun barrels, catching one GINN in a crippling crossfire, finishing it off with a linear cannon shot. He saw another approaching from behind. "Too slow pal!" He spun the vessel 180 degrees. The poor ZAFT greencoat pilot found himself staring right down the Zero's barrel. "You lose!" Mu opened fire, claiming another kill.
The Kagutsuchi and its mobile suits were proving to be a huge difference-maker. A GINN that had gotten close to the Archangel wielding a Cattus recoilless rifle was ready to shoot out the engines. Only to be repelled by a barrage of Igelstellung rounds. Thus leaving it open to be skewered by a railgun round from the Gunshot Rebake. The Firestorm, in turn, slung a pair of railgun rounds at the Vesalius.
"How are you holding up, Captain?" Mori seemed so nonchalant, to him this was just asking about the weather.
"We're hanging in there, Commander Sahaku." Murrue ignored the explosion of a missile just off her ship's starboard bow. "Where's Captain Mishima?"
It was proof Murrue had become used to the Kagutsuchi's crew when she didn't find Mori's sharklike grin unsettling. "I'm afraid the good Captain has an old score to settle. Rest assured, he will be just fine."
"Murrue, we're being hailed by the Montgomery. It's Minister Allster." Sharon's words cut right to Murrue's bone. She already knew what the man wanted. "He's asking for his daughter, and he won't take no for an answer." Murrue just made a slight nod to her friend. The pinkette bolted from her seat for the elevator to find Flay.
(Open Space)
The battle between the Masamune and the Duel was starting to grind down both of their respective masters. The latter becoming more and more pissed off while the former was just plain getting bored. "I suppose I really should just finish this here and now. It would be nice to reclaim the Duel, but if ZAFT can't use it either, that works too." A part of him didn't want to destroy the blue and gray mobile suit, but for all his bluster. Yzak was a redcoat of ZAFT for a reason.
The white-haired pilot swung his beam saber, cleaving off the tip of the Masamune's arm-mounted blade. "Ha, not so tough now are ya?" Yzak sneered. Finally, he had gotten a decisive blow on his hated rival! An almost euphoric feeling swept over him. "I finally did it!" If he wasn't so caught up in it. He would have realized that Yukimasa wasn't so easily deterred. A beam saber in hand, Yukimasa lopped off the top eight of the Duel's beam shield.
Yukimasa was stone-faced. "I hope you're ready to pay for the repair costs to my machine, you asshole!" He thundered as he slashed upwards, taking another chunk out of the Duel's anti-beam shield. "You made him less of a mobile suit! So I'm taking it out of your ass!" The flaming weapon swung again, digging another large gash out of the mobile suit's had.
"Crap!" Yzak panicked, desperately trying to evade the angry barrage of strikes. A couple of nasty gouges taking pieces out of the left shoulder and right hip. He started getting numerous alert warnings. The Masamune flipped its beam saber into a backhanded grip, plunging it into the Duel's torso.
"How do you like it?" Yukimasa sneered, pulling the saber out. He fired a few rounds at the Duel, melting off some of the left shoulder armor, and taking a large gash out of the foot. He took a moment to look at the now busted arm blade. It wouldn't be that hard to repair, but it still pissed him off. A part of him was glad that Flay wasn't there to see him act like this.
(Open Space)
Everyone was giving Gravesend and Thunderbolt a very wide berth. It wasn't hard to see why. The two relics of the Reconstruction War meeting in a titanic clash. The glowing edge of Kuro's borrowed anti-ship sword clashing with the dark metal blade of Ezra's custom heavy sword.
Kuro had thought he would be able to cleave it in half with an energy weapon, so it was an absolute shock to see Thunderbolt's blade not only catching it but pushing him back. He barely had time to avoid being hit by the double-barreled railgun. But that wasn't the only weapon he had to worry about. The large beam cannon mounted on the right shoulder was making him a little nervous.
Not to mention he also had to contend with the dark blue GINN High Maneuver constantly flitting about on the periphery of the battle. Felecia knew her place in the fight. She would leap in and out, firing quick bursts of 27mm fire. Not much of a threat to the Gravesend, but enough to keep Kuro's full attention from being on Ezra. He dodged another salvo when his alarm starting blaring.
He saw the beam cannon's tip begin turning a familiar shade of green. "Fuck!" Kuro yanked the control yokes back hard enough to rip them out of the console. But he just barely avoided getting skewered by Ezra's attack. The sized of the beam fired easily a match for a beam cannon off one of the ships. "Okay, I need to try knocking that thing out before it gets another chance to dust me!"
The anti-ship sword spun once in the Gravesend's hand. "Unless the ZAFT techs worked on it. The cannons' recharge time shouldn't be that fast." Kuro primed the engines. "I'll only have one shot at this!" He hit the accelerator. Quickly rushing at the Thunderbolt. the massive blade held high overhead. The GINN HM tried to get in between him and the Thunderbolt. "You that desperate to die? Fine by me!" The anti-ship sword came down, ready to cleave the GINN in half.
Felecia's eyes widened in horror, realizing that maybe her action wasn't that smart, but she was trying to protect Ezra. That sword was coming down fast and she wouldn't be able to get out of the way in time.
"Felecia!" Ezra yelled. The Thunderbolt raised its massive sword up to parry its opponent's equally giant weapon out of the way. In two swings the Gravesend was knocked back. Ezra primed the beam cannon, but that was exactly what Kuro was waiting for. A big horizontal swing and the beam cannon was cleaved from the Thunderbolt's structure. "Aw shit!"
Kuro sneered, satisfied he had removed a major piece of his foe's arsenal. The Gravesend then found Felecia's GINN HM right in its face. The heavy sword kept on the machine gun as a bayonet detached. "Take this!" The swimmer cried, swinging the blade downward across the Gravesend's torso. It wasn't able to penetrate the old Gundam's thick armor, but it did leave a sizable dent.
"You're going to pay for that!" Kuro snarled, ready to cleave the offending mobile suit in half once again. Only for the bulky form of the Thunderbolt to slide in. The onyx hued blade knocking the Schwert Gewehr away. The dual railgun rifle aimed right at the Gravesend's head.
"I don't think so." Ezra's voice was cold and focused. "You want to hurt the girl? You have to endure pain!" Kuro said nothing, merely bringing the anti-ship sword up to a guarding position. He knew the old relic wouldn't be an easy mark, and now he had just pissed off its pilot. Which was just another day at the office for Kuro.
(Archangel, Bridge)
Flay nervously filed onto the bridge behind Sharon, Lacus on her heels. "Captain, what's going on here?" She asked nervously. The girls had been having a quiet little chat when the busty pinkette came in, looking all business. Murrue turned to face her. Immediately the redhead felt a sense of dread at the grim expression the good captain wore. It then occurred to both girls of the battle raging in front of them.
"Your father wishes to speak with you. I suggest you don't waste time." Murrue did her best to keep the commander's mask on, but it was flimsy at best. Flay just slid into the communications station, while Lacus stood at her side for moral support. The songstress just gave a silent nod to the redhead as she put the headset on.
"Daddy?" Flay asked, the screen switched an image of her father on the bridge of the Montgomery. Her heart wrenched to see the flames in the background as Captain Koopman barked out orders. Lacus put a hand on Flay's shoulder. "Daddy, is everything okay over there?"
"I'm afraid not. We've lost most of the mobile armors and the two escort frigates as well." George was absolutely terrified, but trying to put on a brave face for his daughter. The screen flickered as static danced around the edges of the screen. "Flay, I know I've been distant as of late. But you're still my baby girl. I love you more than anything in the entire world. The last thing I would want is for you to be harmed." Tears were beginning to form in her eyes as she ran her fingers along the screen.
"I'm sorry about earlier, Daddy." Flay whimpered.
He just shook his head. "You don't have anything to feel sorry about, dear. I'm the one who's at fault here." George became thoughtful. "I should let you know, that Miles is with the Eighth Fleet. He wanted to accompany me, but he was out on assignment and didn't make it back in time. I'm sure once he's there you don't have anything to worry about."
"Oh, it's great to hear that," Flay said, plastering on a fake smile. Lacus just gave a sympathetic nod, remembering their earlier conversation.
The elder Allster squared his jaw, obviously trying to be strong in front of his daughter. "Sweetie, listen. I don't have a lot of time, but I need to make a confession to you. A dark secret I've kept for a very long time. You have an older sister, Flay." Static continued to fill the screen. "Her name is Maria, and not only that, she's a Coordinator. She's currently with…" The screen went dead.
"Daddy? Daddy!" Flay became more panicked by the minute. "I lost him, Sharon! What happened?"
Sharon pushed Flay out of the communications station, her fingers rapidly flying over the control board. "The N-Jammer interference has been ramped up a hundredfold. Communications is breaking down. Hang on, I'll try to get him back!" Flay and Lacus continued holding hands. The girls could only look on in muted fascination as the battle raged.
(Open Space)
Unlike the fight with the Strike. Rau was having a much more difficult time with Tatsuo, who not only had a superior mobile suit, but actually knew how to use it properly. Twin jets of incendiary death lanced out of the Green Frame's arms. The CGUE was able to avoid the worst of it, but the deep orange flames still left much of the command mobile suit's structure with deep scorch marks. The White Meteor gritted his teeth, opening fire with his machine gun, a couple rounds managing to penetrate through the Astray. "I see your machine doesn't have Phase Shift Armor like the other ones! It leaves you rather vulnerable, doesn't it?"
"Like it bothers me!" Tatsuo shot back, launching one of the dragon fangs out, aiming to puncture the CGUE through the torso, only to pull back when Rau's laser sword nearly sliced the head off. He instead went for a beam saber, locking up against the laser sword. "You should be more worried about yourself, Mr. Mask, because I will burn you to ash!"
Rau said nothing, settling for firing the shield gatling, but the Green Frame easily managed to evade it, sending another jet of flames outward. The White Meteor looked to his battery meter. "I'm running low on power. I probably should return to the Vesalius." He grimaced as he dodged another stream of fire. "But I doubt he's going to let me that easily."
"Yet, that machine must have some kind of weakness. I just have to find it!" Rau hadn't gotten to be renowned as ZAFT's best space commander by just utilizing brute force. He fired a quick 27mm salvo to give him some breathing room. One of Rau's eyes never deviating from his target. Tatsuo let the dragon fangs fly once again. Rau primed the engines, noting with a smirk when the fangs quit stretching. "At least I know the maximum range of those contraptions, but still I have to worry about the flames."
Tatsuo's eyes narrowed. "What are you up to, Mask Boy?" He muttered, dodging a barrage from the CGUE's machine gun. "You're almost out of juice from your earlier battle with the kid. We both know it. You're a smart enough guy to know when to fold them." A stream of 75mm shells from the Green Frame impacted on the CGUE's right-wing. "So why are you still hanging around with the likes of me?"
The laser sword came out, beam edge flashing ominously. Tatsuo readied a dragon fang, only for the CGUE to fling the weapon at the Green Frame. "What the?" Tatsuo gaped. The moment of hesitation left the Green Frame open wide enough for Rau to open fire with both machine gun and shield gatling, getting the Astray prototype in the right shoulder and head. "Oh fuck me!" Tatsuo snapped, struggling to keep track of Rau. He primed the flamethrowers, only for the CGUE, laser sword in hand, to lash out, hacking off the right arm.
Tatsuo went for a beam saber, barely able to hold Rau back even as the White Meteor taunted him. "Tell me, how does it feel to be a colossal failure? Let's face it, we both know why you left ZAFT. You do rather excel at it, old friend. I mean, it wasn't enough you didn't notice the Roosevelt's true intentions when it sent out the squadron with the nuclear missile. Even more so, you couldn't even protect your daughter from Yukari's insane experiments!"
In another time, if he had been a younger man. Tatsuo would've snapped into a mad rage and begin tearing Rau apart. But all the former Dragon's Claw did was narrow his eyes. "Nice try on that front, asshole. But you won't get under my skin that easily! Besides, you have bigger problems to worry about!"
Rau's master alarm started blaring. He realized someone had a target lock on him. He saw the Gunshot Rebake hovering over him, rifle-armed and ready. He made to get out of the way when it fired. The 110mm shell hitting the laser sword. Rau had no choice but to abandon it. The experimental weapon exploded. It was then the Hawk of Endymion decided to get in on the action, a single shot from the Zero's linear gun hit the dead center of the CGUE's shield square on.
The White Meteor then went for his machine gun, only for both the Firestorm and Zero to let loose the full might of their respective arsenal. It was only due to Rau's sheer skill and experience he survived. The Gunshot and Firestorm were quick to put themselves between him and their captain. The Zero circling about menacingly. "You still want to fight, you jackal? Because there won't be anything left when we're done with you!" Mu was loving the whole thing, his old rival totally outgunned.
The ZAFT commander just let out a resigned chortle. "It seems you've won this round today, Tatsuo Mishima, but rest assured. You won't be so lucky next time!" The CGUE turned and made for its mothership.
"You okay Boss Man? The dude almost got you!" Shino said.
"Yeah, if Lieutenant La Flaga hadn't come by, we wouldn't have been aware," Akihiro added.
"I'll live. But something tells me I'm going to be benched for a while." Tatsuo sighed, cutting the link. He was grateful his boys would always look out for him. But he didn't want them to know about this. Tatsuo reached into his pocket, pulling out a worn photo of him, a young girl of about eight sitting on his lap. "Oh, Kelly." He whispered.
(Vesalius, Bridge)
"Are you all right, Commander?" Ades asked as Le Creuset swept onto the bridge.
"I'm fine Ades." Even though The White Meteor seemed the picture of calm, Ades couldn't help but see a small bit of tension in the way his mouth pulled downwards. "Tell me, what's the status of the Earth Alliance's ships?"
"We've destroyed nearly all the mobile armors and the two Drakes. The Nelson has taken heavy damage, but still has some fight left in it." Ades said as Rau took his seat in the command chair. "As for the legged ship it's been protected by the unknown vessel and two of those relic Gundams. We've lost three GINNs to them already, and we can't afford to lose many more!"
"They are proving to be quite a bother," Rau said, steepling his fingers as he surveyed the battlefield. "It also doesn't help the unknown ship is commanded by Tatsuo Mishima."
Ades froze with those words. He was quite familiar with Tatsuo and his fearsome reputation. "The Dragon's Claw is on the Legged Ship's side?" He repeated. "And he has three Reconstruction War-era Gundams at his command? Forgive me for being a pessimist right now, Commander, but how can we possibly hope to beat them?"
"We can manage it, it just might take a little more time is all," Rau smirked as his gaze fell on the stricken Montgomery. "Although we can at least destroy that Nelson-class. It would mean denying the legged ship what little support the Earth Forces can send them at this time."
"That's not a bad idea, Commander." He turned to his communications officer, who wore a slightly disturbing grin. "I've been monitoring the enemy's radio traffic. Vice Foreign Minister George Allster is currently on board that ship! It might make a few people back home happy if we took out a high ranking Atlantic Federation official who's known to have heavy anti-Coordinator sentiments."
Rau considered this for a few seconds. A part of him couldn't fathom why a glorified bureaucrat would dare impinge on this battlefield, any battlefield for that matter. However, he was on an Earth Alliance naval vessel, and it was a legitimate military target. Minister Allster would, unfortunately, be a casualty of war. "Very well then, I suppose it was Mr. Allster's fault for coming out here in the first place. Target that ship, and destroy it!"
(Open Space)
Yukimasa let out a pained cry as the Masamune was sent tumbling back. The battle had taken a rather nasty turn for him. Yzak's berserker rage had given him a temporary edge over his rival, and he was now paying the price. The veins in the white-haired redcoat's ice blue eyes bulged out. "How does it feel now you little shit?!" He raged firing multiple salvos from his rifle.
"Ugh, damn it. I guess I riled him up a little too much!" Yukimasa grunted, alternating between using Masamune's superior speed and his shield to defend himself from the Duel's onslaught. A task that was slightly hampered by his shortened blade. The wrist-mounted CIWS was getting a workout, but it barely registered on Yzak's radar. The grenade he launched exploded, shredding a good part of the Masamune's right flank. "I could really use some help right now!"
"Not so great when you're on the receiving end is it?" Yzak sneered, feeling so happy at being able to finally claim a V over this monstrosity of a mobile suit and its smartass pilot. He stowed the beam saber and began punching the sleek mobile suit repeatedly with large metallic fists. "You understand now? Let me spell it out. I'm! Superior! To! You!" He punctuated with each strike.
The young Sahaku was buffeted in his seat, the four-point harness the only thing keeping him from smashing his head into the bulkhead and getting a potential head concussion. It was then a sharp, stabbing pain ripped through his body. "Oh, of all times for this to kick in!" Yukimasa cursed himself, realizing he had once again not taken his medicine before taking off.
The pain continued to intensify, between that and the constant ping-ponging, it was enough for Yukimasa to finally blackout. Yzak could smell the blood in the water and knew it was time to end this for good.
"Even if you are a fellow Coordinator, I am a redcoat of the Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty! You will never be like me!" Yzak lunged forward, beam saber in hand, he was going to end this in one fell stroke. With this, his shame and dishonor would be expunged. "Now die!" He let out a mighty cry, ready to bisect the offending mobile suit in half.
It was all a blurry haze to Yukimasa, but as his vision cleared, his eye came on the picture of Flay. Even now her smile was the most gratifying sight his eyes would ever come upon. He then saw the Duel about ready to kill him. "Flay." He croaked, reaching out for the photo, and then he noticed his screen blinking with a simple message in deep red text. "Minus System Online, Activate?" He knew exactly what to do, and pushed the button.
The beam saber came down as Yzak was ready to let out a cry of victory. Only for the Masamune's green eyes turn sinister red. The battered arm blade snapped up, knocking the flaming blade out of the Duel's hand. "What in the hell is this?" He gaped in disbelief, about ready to throw a tantrum that would make entitled children the world over weep. This fight was over! He had won!
"Is that a fact?" Yukimasa rasped, his vision clear now. The entire cockpit now illuminated in deep red. "Just because you have some fancy uniform it makes you better than anyone else?" He found a bit of his fire returning. He knocked the Duel's beam saber away, before delivering a powerful kick off the blue and gray Gundam's shield, firing a couple of rounds from his beam rifle. "I know a few people would argue against that notion."
Another howl of rage erupted from Yzak's lips as he emptied all his firepower at Yukimasa. The Masamune moved with a fluid grace it hadn't possessed before. It easily weaved in and out of the Duel's attacks. "Do me a favor." the blade extended out, the edge gleaming. "And get lost so I can go back to my girlfriend!" A single mighty slash ripped through the front of the Duel's torso, causing a small explosion in the cockpit. Shrapnel tore through Yzak's faceplate, blood filling his vision.
The Sahaku scion looked on impassively, contemplating whether or not to just finish the job and put the little punk out of his misery. But when he avoided a couple beam rounds from the fast-approaching Buster, he decided it was time to leave and flew off. The battle was done, and the victor decided. If Joule wanted a rematch, he'd happily finish what he started.
"Yzak, Yzak are you okay?" Dearka asked, having seen the Duel get thrashed.
"It burns! It burns! It burns!" Yzak cried like a petulant child. He wouldn't forget this, not by far. It was then the two redcoats noticed the Vesalius's beam cannons suddenly fire on one of the enemy ships as it exploded.
Yukimasa saw it too, he also heard Flay's anguished cry after the fact. His eyes narrowed. "Hang on, Flay. I'm coming!" He opened up the throttle to full speed, making for the Archangel.
(Archangel, Bridge)
"Daddy! Daddy!" Flay desperately tried to reach the Montgomery. "Damn it, come on!" She pleaded, a second away from smacking the console in anger and frustration. Luckily the static cleared and George's face reappeared. "Oh Daddy, I'm so scared!" She was on the brink of tears, wanting so badly for Yukimasa to be there by her side. Lacus put her hand on Flay's shoulder.
"I know sweetie." George seemed remarkably composed for the situation. Lacus could recognize it, and her heart ached. She didn't have the heart to tell Flay that her father may not be long for this world. "Listen, you need to be strong for me, dear. I'm, really not sure how this whole thing is going to end up."
"Don't say that, Daddy! We're all going to survive and then we can go home together." Her voice cracked as she said this, tears forming in her eyes by the minute.
George smiled, the pride in his daughter very evident on his face. "Oh Flay, my beautiful rose. You look so much like your mother. I'd give nothing more than to be holding you in my arms right now." He struggled to hold his composure. I love you so much!"
"I love you too, Daddy!" Flay sobbed. Lacus put her arms around the redhead, gently patting her on the back.
"Captain, the lead ZAFT ship is firing!" Kuzzey's frantic words were a case of too little, too late. The girls could only watch in horror as the Vesalius's main beam cannons opened fire, punching straight through the Montgomery's bow. It was a perfect shot, the fireball already expanding out as the Montgomery became the funeral pyre for Vice Foreign Minister George Allster, Captain Augustus Koopman, and the rest of the proud vessel'screw.
"DADDY!" Flay screamed, Tears flying from her eyes as Lacus clutched onto her arm. She sank to her knees, wailing in agony as the fireball that was once the ship containing her father continued expanding.
(Open Space)
The Gravesend's anti-ship sword knocked away Thunderbolt's giant black steel heavy sword once again. Their battle had taken on an extra edge of ferocity when Kuro almost killed Felecia, and Ezra was quick to show his great disproval. The Gravesend had a couple of new dents that would need to be hammered out.
"Ezra, please be careful!" Felecia screamed as she hung back, firing a few rounds where she could, although she was keeping her distance as much as possible. Her close brush with dead making her more cautious. Ezra had made it a point to always keep her GINN behind the Thunderbolt whenever Kuro came too close. The two blades slammed against each other once again.
"You're really telling me that now, Fi?" Ezra grunted, raising the double-barreled linear rifle to try and fire at Kuro. But the Gravesend was much faster than his machine. The blade came in from the side. All Ezra had to do was block with the shield mounted on the side. "Given how crazy this guy is, I doubt careful is really on the cards!" The young redcoat jerked the yokes, and the Thunderbolt avoided being cleaved in twain yet again.
"I hope you have a plan, Ezra. We can't keep this up for much longer!" Felecia checked her ammo counter. "I'm nearly down to my last magazine here."
"What can I hit this asshole with?" Ezra started scrolling through the list of Thunderbolt's armaments. It wasn't like he was short on options either." He growled slightly at the darkened indicator for his beam cannon. "I can't believe he did that! Hopefully, the guys can come up with some kind of replacement for it." He alternated between linear rounds, blocking and parrying with his shield, and blocking and parrying with his sword.
Kuro was continuing his fast-paced offense on the Thunderbolt. He was starting to get tired from being on the move constantly. "That thing's armor is way thicker than I anticipated. I need to end this and fast!" The anti-ship sword was raised for a single power move. The Gravesend's engines flared to life. Kuro let out a wordless cry, rushing at the Thunderbolt. The blazing edge of the Schwert Gehwr ready to strike down its opponent.
But the redcoat was ready. The shield on the double-barreled railgun came up, parrying the sword away. Kuro tried for another swing, only for the heavy sword to come back, cleaving the anti-ship sword on the opposite side of the beam edge. The weight and sheer kinetic force snapped the first third of it off, the beam flickering before going out entirely. "Right where I want you!" Ezra smirked, numerous hatches and compartments opening on the Thunderbolt, revealing a series of micro missile launchers. At that range, Kuro was vulnerable.
"Oh, crap." was all Kuroto Takeshi Sahaku could say, certain his number had come up. He was so fixated on the missiles, ready to accept this fate, he didn't notice the blur quickly rushing in front of him. The missiles all exploded, but he wasn't dead.
"Hey, what the fuck is wrong with you?" The last voice Kuro expected brought him out of his stupor. He found the Hyperion in front of him, and both machines were surrounded by a very familiar-looking barrier. Keijiro's face appeared on his monitor. "Damn bro, were you trying to eat missiles? I seriously doubt explosive fire and shrapnel is a part of your daily nutritional intake man!"
Kuro panted, finally realizing what had just happened, and who had saved his life. "Keijiro, I know we've never gotten along, but I guarantee when we get back to Orb, I will get you the highest quality marijuana I can find! Top grade man!"
The stoner just cracked a grin. It was going to be a good day after all. Too bad it wasn't going to last. "DADDY!" A feminine cry of purest anguish reverberated over the main comm line. The two boys looked just in time to see the expanding fireball that was once the EAS Montgomery. The cries of a devastated young girl were all that could be heard.
"Oh shit, that's Flay!" Keijiro said once he realized who the owner of that voice was. "Kuro, her old man just got whacked!"
(Open Space)
The battle between the Strike and Aegis had taken a new level of intensity. Kira's desire to protect Yui was pushing him to be a bit more aggressive than normal against Athrun. It was something the young redcoat wasn't expecting from his old-time friend. The Aegis was driven back by a long swing from the Strike's anti-ship sword, blades of frozen fire and synthetic lightning intersected. "I guess having a girlfriend has made you determined at least!" He remarked.
"I told you that I'd do whatever it took to protect her!" Kira's voice was calm, his mind running on all cylinders. "I really wish it didn't have to come to this, Athrun. But I'm not going to just let you tell me what kind of people I can associate with." He struggled to keep the tears out of his eyes. This was the last thing he had ever wanted, his best friend on opposite sides. But his vision fell on the picture of Yui and he knew what was important. "The officers on the Archangel are all decent people, and I've come to respect them. I won't let any harm come to anyone on my watch."
Athrun said nothing, shifting the Aegis to mobile armor mode and firing the Scylla beam cannon. The massive beam lanced across space, and the Strike leapt to the right, firing the Panzer Einzen rocket anchor. The hook managed to snag onto the red mobile suit's shoulder, and the white and blue Gundam vaulted over its brother unit, letting loose a spray of 75mm bullets from the CIWS. Athrun brought up the beam rifle to open fire, but Kira was quicker, a single swing from the anti-ship sword cleaved the weapon in half.
If the two boys could see each others' faces in that moment, Athrun would have flinched slightly at the stern resolve in Kira's violet eyes. Even if The Red Knight did have an edge in formal military training, The White Knight had proven just how equally important determination and willpower were as well. "I guess you are serious about this." He finally remarked. Athrun couldn't help but be a little impressed with his friend.
"Yeah, I am." Was Kira's simple reply. "I said it before, and I'll say it again. If ZAFT has no place for Naturals in this world. If there's no place for Yui in this world." He pointed the blade at the Aegis. "Then I don't want any part of it. You may be my best friend, Athrun, but Yui is the girl I love."
Athrun struggled to find something, anything to convince Kira to come back with him, only for both of them to catch sight of the Montgomery's explosion and Flay's subsequent cry of anguish. It was then Lacus came on the main comms channel, her voice full of commanding authority that brokered no argument. "This is Lacus Clyne speaking on behalf of my father, Supreme Chairman Siegel Clyne. I wish to speak with Commander Rau Le Creuset immediately!"
"Wait, Lacus is on board your ship?" Athrun asked, his fury rising. "Kira, if any harm has come to her!"
"Of course not! Captain Ramius made it clear she was to be treated like a VIP. One of our crewmates is a total Lacus fanboy. No way he would have let anyone harm her." Kira retorted, knowing Keijiro would happily stick a knife in anyone stupid enough to harm his precious Lacus. He could also sense his old friend was holding something back. "How do you know her?"
Athrun hesitated a little. "She's my fiancé. We were engaged to be married about a year ago."
(Archangel, Bridge)
Lacus had taken charge in an instant, picking up the headset, and switching it to the main ZAFT channel. Her face not hiding the great anger and disdain at what had just happened. The monitor came on letting many on the bridge get their first glance of the White Meteor. "Ah, good to see you alive and well, Miss Clyne." Rau's voice was deceptively smooth, wanting to stay on the good side of his boss's daughter. "When we heard about the Silverwind, we feared the worst. Did the enemy harm you in any way?"
The pink-haired Songstress just shook her head, not buying into his honeyed words. "No, as you can see I am quite alive and well, Commander Le Creuset. The crew of the Archangel has treated me with all the respect I deserve. I am ordering you to cease and desist at once. This battle is over." Her voice carried a firm edge that would have put almost anyone in their place at once, but Rau Le Creuset was not so easily cowed.
The white-uniformed commander just squared his shoulders. "With all due respect, Madam. My orders come straight from the Supreme Council itself. Those orders are very clear, that ship and the mobile suits it contains cannot be allowed to reach Earth Alliance Headquarters, and I am to keep that from happening at all costs, up to and including its destruction, even if it means you go along with it."
"Excuse me a minute, sir," Ades spoke up. "But searching for Miss Clyne was a part of our mission profile as well. I can't imagine Chairman Clyne being too pleased that you were willing to kill his only daughter just to keep the Earth Alliance from gaining access to the Legged Ship and its prototypes." He then looked at Murure. "I can sense this young lady would be more than willing to release the Chairman's daughter back to us as a sign of good faith. We can at least let them go for now so we can return her home to the PLANTs."
"Thank you for understanding my point, Captain Ades." Lacus put on a sweet smile.
The White Meteor gritted his teeth at the Pink Songstress, before finally relenting. "Very well then, Miss Clyne. The Legged Ship will gain a brief reprieve." Rau then focused his gaze squarely on the Murrue. "You're the commander of this vessel?"
"Captain Murrue Ramius, commanding the EAS Archangel." She made herself sound as authoritative as possible. "Yes, we are willing to return Miss Clyne to you. We will have her ready in the hangar so one of your pilots can pick her up, and then you can be on our way."
Rau folded his arms. "Very well then, Captain Ramius. I will have Lieutenant Zala come aboard and retrieve her immediately but rest assured that I have my cannons aimed right at your bridge. If you so much as even twitch in the wrong way." His voice became very sinister. "You'll be dead before you know it."
"There's no need to make threats, Commander Le Creuset, they will honor their end of the deal," Lacus said, turning to face Murrue and Natarle who had come out of the CIC. She offered a formal bow to them. "Thank you very much for your hospitality, Captain Ramius. You've shown me there are good people on both sides of the conflict. I wish I could say ZAFT won't bother you anymore, but I'm afraid we both know that won't be the case. All I can say is, I hope you and your crew manage to come through this alive."
"Any break we can get is welcome at this point. We owe you a great debt, Miss Clyne." Murrue said, having gained a new respect for the young woman in front of her. Managing to talk down one of ZAFT's most dangerous men, it was clear just how much political influence Lacus held, and how she was not afraid to use it. "I trust you have no objections, Ensign?"
"None at all, Captain." Having come from a family with a long tradition of military and political service, Natarle had been quite impressed with how Lacus took charge of the situation. As such, she had also come to respect the daughter of the Supreme Chairman. She snapped to attention, offering her best salute. "I wish you a safe journey, fair wind and following seas, Miss Clyne."
Lacus, in turn, saluted the two officers. "Same to you." She reached into her pocket, pulling out a small scrap of paper, putting it into Murrue's hand. "Once she's gotten over her shock. Please give that to Miss Allster. It's my e-mail address. Tell her if she ever wants someone to talk to, I'm just a few button presses away." A final nod of her head and Lacus swept off the bridge.
(Archangel, Hangar)
The tension was thick as both the Strike and the Aegis entered the hangar bay. Kira and Athrun emerged from their machines at roughly the same time. Both of the boys touched down on the hangar floor, eyeing each other warily. The other personnel was also giving Athrun a slightly evil eye. "Just take it easy. " Kira tried to reassure Athrun there would be no duplicity. "I can assure you no harm has come to Lacus, Athun. Captain Ramius wouldn't have allowed it."
Even still, Athrun kept his hand on his holstered sidearm. The door slid open, admitting a stunning young woman with Asian features, long brown hair, and brilliant purple eyes. She looked very relieved to see Kira, hurrying up to him before throwing her arms around his neck. "I can assume this must be Yui then?" The Red Knight asked as Yui looked at him with a questioning eye.
Kira just nodded. "Yui Takamura, meet Athrun Zala. An old friend of mine from my Copernicus days, and the current pilot of the Aegis." Her delicate eyebrows slanted inward, the beginnings of a frown forming on her face. "He's just here to pick up Lacus. After that, they're going to leave." Yui said nothing, just moving off to begin working on the Strike. "You'll have to excuse her, Yui's got a good heart, but she can be pretty frosty to others she's not a fan of, and considering you guys stole the prototypes, she's not going to be very talkative."
"I heard that," Yui said without turning to look at them. The hangar doors opened again, admitting Lacus. Her eyes lit up at the sight of Athrun. It was his turn to embrace the girl of his heart.
"Hello again, Athrun. I'm so glad to know you're okay." Lacus said, her voice muffled due to the fact of her face still buried into his shoulder. She looked so serene in his arms. Athrun himself seemed relieved, gently stroking her long pink hair. She looked at Kira. "It was nice meeting you and the rest of your friends, Kira. I do hope you come through this in one piece. I know Athrun feels that way, right dear?"
Athrun wasn't sure what to say. But he soon found his voice. "Kira, I will say thank you for taking such good care of Lacus. However, I hope you understand the next time we meet. I will have no choice but to shoot you down." Kira said nothing, just giving a sober nod. Lacus frowned sadly before tugging on his arm. A light kick off the deck and the two floated up to the Aegis's cockpit. The two friends exchanged a final glance before disappearing inside.
The hatch closed up and the red Phase-Shift came to life. Everyone watched as the Gundam made its way to the linear catapult. The doors finally snapping shut. Kira sighed, desperately wanting to take a seat somewhere. Yui rested a delicate hand on his shoulder. "So that was the man who's like a brother to you?" She said softly. "I guess that's not exactly the first meeting you wanted us to have, is it?"
"Not really," Kira said, pulling Yui close to him. "He wanted me to come back to the PLANTs with him, but I told him no way. If there wasn't room for you there, then I didn't want any part of it." His shoulders drooped. Yui then planted a light kiss on his cheek.
"You'll get us through, Kira, and I will be with you every step of the way. And who knows?" She then rested her head on his shoulder. "When this war is over. You'll be able to introduce me to Athrun properly. I'd love to chat with him." Yui giggled. "I'm sure he has all kinds of embarrassing stories about you!"
"I'll be sure to bring up some of his greatest hits as well." Kira chortled. He held Yui close to him. "Thanks, I needed this." Even if he was on the other side from Athrun. Kira knew where his loyalties lie. He would keep the Archangel safe, he would keep his friends safe, and he would keep Yui safe. That much he could do.
(Infirmary)
Yukimasa sighed as he stared down at Flay's still form on the bed. Sharon had been waiting for him the minute the Masamune entered the Archangel's hangar. The usually joviality the busty officer carried totally vacant. He really only half-listened as Sharon filled him in. The anguished cry still echoing in his mind.
Flay looked deceptively peaceful as lay in one of the beds. He reached out to caress her porcelain cheek. The redhead's skin was extremely soft. "She was in absolute shock when Lieutenant Heim brought her in." The aged voice of Doctor Chris Michaels, the Archangel's Chief Medical Officer, finally spoke. "We laid her down in bed and she went right to sleep." He shook his head. "Poor child, having to see her father die right in front of her. No one should see that happen."
It was the last thing Yukimasa wanted to hear. "I should have been keeping a closer eye on the Montgomery. One of us should have been protecting it." His mind racing with all kinds of horrific thoughts. "She was making such great progress in being accepting of Coordinators, and now her father is dead." He clenched his teeth, just picturing Flay rejecting him, denouncing him. "Flay will never be able to forgive me for this."
Kuro quickly brought his brother's rant to an end by clasping a hand on his shoulder. "You stop saying that right now! I was pretty skeptical when you first told me you were dating George Allster's daughter. I thought you were mental. However, since I've seen the two of you together. I can tell there's a special connection between the two of you. I see it very clearly." He pointed to her sleeping figure. "This is what you need to protect right now. She needs you, just as much as you need her. So don't say she won't forgive you. She might be pissed off at first, but she won't reject you outright." Kuro patted Yukimasa on the shoulder.
"If you're looking for a job as a motivational speaker, Kuro." He smirked. "You might want to look elsewhere." The Sahaku brothers laughed, and Yukimasa patted Kuro on the back. "Either way, thanks for the pep talk. If you'll excuse me, I just want some time alone with her." Kuro nodded and quietly left the room. Yukimasa pulled up a stool, setting it aside Flay's bed. "Don't worry, honey. I'm right here with you. We'll get through this together." He held her delicate hand to his forehead. "You can count on it!"
(Open Space)
Unknown to either group of combatants, a third party had been observing the battle. A lone Nazca-class destroyer sat at the very maximum range of its sensors. This particular ship was different from its sisters, in that it was painted a stark white, and contained what appeared to be emitters for a lightwave barrier. This was the PSV Blood Fang, the third vessel that was part of Storm Wolves.
Captain David Victor Russo stared intently at the distant shapes of the Archangel and Kagutsuchi, even with the ultra high definition cameras, they were still blurry. "Send a message to Commander Connor on a secure frequency, let him know that nearly all of the Earth Alliance task force was wiped out, except for the mercenary ship. It appears that the Le Creuset Team is backing off for now, but it should only be a matter of time before they resume their pursuit course. Request further orders."
"Understand Captain." the communications officer replied. David tapped his fingers on the arm of his command chair, waiting to get a response. "Commander Connor acknowledges. He wants us to continue shadowing both ships, but he doesn't want us to engage them at this time."
"Given what they're capable of, I don't blame him one bit." David had been briefed on the Storm Wolves's last encounter with the Archangel. "I guess we'll just have to settle for watching them. Helm, prepare for full speed, and make to follow the legged ship and her escort."
The Blood Fang's crew went to work as David just sat back, eyes on the viewscreen where the two ships could still barely be made out. "I'm not sure what you intend to do with them, Pup. But if you're anything like your brother. I'm sure it will be something to give Rau a true headache!"