When a good man goes to war
*please excuse the lack of dates and places. This all takes place in the cosmic era. Also excuse any spots that contradict where characters should be, this chapter is a work in progress but for the most part it's here, just maybe a bit shuffled.
Hope you enjoy
Nina and cagalli were panting as they ran through the complex. They had both just watched the archangel coming into its secret dock and had their own respective reasons for wanting to meet it. Of course the three earth alliance vessels and zaft submarine carrier had found docks in morgenroete's private port and would take turns in dry dock.
They both also had heard about Alaska and who all had come back and had to see for themselves just who was back from the dead. So as the gangplank linked with the ship both girls were there the moment the door opened and let them in.
Nina was following the blonde princess as she was new to the ship but they both had to nearly dive out of the way of a medical crew who were bringing patients off the ship for treatment but the moment they could they entered the elevator and began heading for what she assumed was the crew quarters.
Cagalli was clearly a woman with a mission and as they rounded a corner she took off and Nina slowed down, looking to see why. What she saw made her heart skip a beat as she heard cagalli shout, "you idiot!" before tackling a young brown haired boy to the ground.
She smiled though seeing who had been surrounding him. To his right had been the man she was here for and who she was slowly approaching. To his left was the green haired coordinator she read up as being Nicol Amalfi. Trailing them was another man who brown hair. She was unsure who he was.
Finally, Noah turned to see her and as he opened his mouth to say hi...or so she assumed she slapped him. When he brought his hand up to hold his cheek with a confused look on his face she sucker punched him in the gut and when he began to clutch his gut and double over she caught him and pressed her lips to his.
By the time she finished and pulled back cagalli had hit Kira on the chest and asked how he could do that to her. Meanwhile her eyes said the same thing to Noah. "The slap was for making me fall for you however that happened, the punch was for letting me kill you and the kiss was for somehow coming back in one piece. You're an asshole and I don't know or care how you are back but I'm pretty sure the world is better off for It." she stated before kissing him again.
Everyone seemed quite stunned by the display, Noah included as he blinked and fish mouthed for a moment. Finally, cagalli let Kira up and everyone once again began moving, cagalli and Nina just following the boys.
When a good man goes to war
a little over a half hour later cagalli and Kira were on the gangplank by the freedom talking while Noah explained to Nicol how to maintain his "gunpla" after revealing to them all just what he meant by the blitz could now be shrunk down to model size. From what Nina understood it sounded like unless this model was hit with a tight, coordinated barrage the metal it turned into was damn near indestructible to anything except for beams and even then it's core was protected by an anti-beam coated...coat...thing. When it was closed anyways.
She was astounded Noah could make such a device but after her and cagalli were read into his TRUE origins as well as Lukes she understood...kinda. She watched as Noah showed Nicol how to apply the paint that was basically the only maintenance it'd require. She also watched as Luke helped, she blushed to think about it but her future daughter repair Noah's Gabriel gundam with spare parts he made in advance.
They had spoken without worry in front of everyone about their relationship and he confirmed, proposal or not after the war she'd be Mrs. Carson...if they survived. It was shortly after that she met Alice, a girl he rescued from something called a "salvager group" a dirty, underhanded gunpla society that took advantage of prodigy builders who were young and naive and not exactly skilled fighters, wagering gunpla on rigged fights...rigged via hustling.
She was somewhat inspired by it and it reinforced her desire to be with him, to know he hustled a hustler but offered her a way out. She wanted to ask if he had a gunpla for her but she was confident he'd let her have EX-caliber once he found out it was repaired.
Walking over to Alice and Luke she looked at the complex design of the Gabriel and was astounded Noah could handle such a machine. She turned though when more people entered the hangar. It was three more people holding models...just how many people did he bring with him.
"Ah the baker team...good to see you guys came. I wasn't sure if it'd have to give another course on gunpla maintenance with you guys." said Noah as the group set their models down on the crates turned modeling benches.
One older gentlemen chuckled. "Well we got pretty familiar with them like you said, broke them down as carefully as we could and reassembled them. But we decided we don't really want to know how to maintain them." he said in a polite tone even if the comment was worded in a rude way.
Noah nodded and shrugged. "Fine. It makes sense. After all, once the second battle ends any of you that survive. Which I have full confidence you all will, you`ll need new machines that are designed for space which I plan to give you command level suits. Still mass produced but if you can survive till the end of the war you`ll have earned the title of gundam meister and will be given the option to make your own custom suits...within reason." he stated as he shook the man's hand.
Nina tapped Noah's shoulder and just smiled when he looked to her. "Oh right. Nina, this is the baker team. I'm sure you heard about the ships that defected to join celestial being? These three were dinn pilots who agreed to join us off the submarine carrier the St. Helens." he stated to which Nina nodded and reached out to each pilot to shake their hand.
The older gentlemen Noah had been speaking to spoke up. "My names Cecil baker. I'm the team leader." he sounded almost excited to say that.
The next male of the team simply nodded to her. "Alfred Larkin. Heard a bit about your bouts with our new boss. Can't wait to work with you." he stated before walking over to look at nicol's blitz jaeger. His accent made it clear to Nina he was of English decent.
The last member of the team, a young girl shook Nina's hand with a smile. "Valeria galkina. I think I'm the team's sniper at this point. I'll be backing you up on the field probably." she stated before seeming to shy away from the snow haired coordinator and follow her teammate's decision to observe the modelers working.
Cecil meanwhile turned back to Noah. "So in other words we are kind of earning our place here?" he asked as him and Noah walked off to the side and Nina turned to look over the freedom. She guessed if zaft had had time to study EX-caliber it wouldn't be nuclear powered but instead would be GN drive powered.
When a good man goes to war
It was a few hours later and Noah sat, once more bored out of his skull but this time listening as he was invited to a meeting with the lion of orb. They had just gotten done discussing the cyclops system, Noah pitching in and teasing them about Azrael's inside source to zafts plans.
He had to admit it was nice when the lion complimented him for having used his "quantum EMP" system to disable the cyclops bomb and save so many innocent lives. But sadly that was where he could see murrue and cagalli nearly lose their lunch when informed that zaft had lacked mercy with those left behind.
They also heard about the attack on panama and how zafts own EMP had destroyed the alliances mass driver. It was then he turned on the news and they got to hear the alliance's spin on what happened, claiming they fought to the last man and how horrible zaft and all coordinators were. Though celestial being was oddly left out he knew the alliance was fuming over his intervention.
"And now the alliance has begun insisting I assist them in resuming their supply lines to their space forces. While I am sympathetic to the soldiers left up there it would still look like we are siding with the earth forces to zaft and we would no longer be considered neutral." stated uzumi.
Noah nodded. "And I'm sure you left the archangel and all the defectors presence out even if they know you're harboring them. Though because of that they also know I am here and while I doubt it would deter him I can tell you now muruta azreal has no qualms attacking you. I'd suggest evacuating but I don't want there to be some mass panic especially with how many new fighters we will have to help defend orb." he stated as he leaned back in his chair.
Mu nodded. "Yeah. You knowing what's gonna happen helps but your right. If you start evacuating to early muruta might not attack since all the coordinators will be gone. As the leader of blue cosmos, mass driver or not that`s his true goal."
Uzumi nodded and sighed. "Yes...and to go along with their increased anti-coordinator rhetoric they are putting pressure on all the neutral nations to assist them out of loyalty to earth. Orb of course is not exception as our mass driver is the last one capable of moving the amount of cargo they would need in space." he stated with sorrow in his tone.
"We are being told if we don't join the alliance they will consider us traitors, enemies of the state and allies to zaft. I would sooner sign some form of protection agreement with celestial being then join them." he said angrily as his hands balled up into fists.
Noah nodded. "Sadly nothing like that is possible. There is one silver lining to their attack though. You have done nothing to incite violence or war. Because of this celestial being's code dictates we perform an armed intervention against the earth alliance if they attack under the fact there are inciting conflict and promoting war. In the first season of gundam 00 a nation uses that fact supposedly to their advantage to get celestial being to weaken their enemy states...but it backfires as they see through it and they attack the nation that was defecting because their defection was done to invoke conflict and war" he said. It was still something new to everyone, hearing about these other universes though cagalli was happy to know Kira and her father weren't the only ones in any universe to see such a war as pointless and... Well like Noah said in space, as a pissing match between adults who want ultimate power.
The lion of orb turned to Noah. "So then you`ll be defending orb not out of your own personal beliefs or outlook on this war but because of your organizations own creed?" he asked to which Noah shook his head.
"No I'd back your guy's either way but officially that is why we are attacking azreal." he stated.
Uzumi nodded. "And I thank you for that. With your organizations power you could easily take on both super powers and ignore us completely. But to know you would defend us in our time of need even without your creed makes me believe you and your group are exactly what this war needs."
With that everyone excused themselves from the office as they all had things to do to prepare for the coming attack.
When a good man goes to war
Athrun couldn't believe what he saw as he landed the justice at the josh-a base. Intact mobile suits of all types. Perfectly pristine tanks sitting where they had shut down. And as he walked the mobile suit through the battlefield he saw what looked like a massacre.
Corpses everywhere, the shell casings from GINN rifles accompanying them. His father really had given the order for no prisoners. What was worse...he could hear the laughter and cries of victory from the zaft soldiers. The screams of the naturals as they were gunned down. Hell he wasn't ignorant to what else the soldiers likely did before killing them. There was always that small percentage of soldiers who were sick and twisted.
As he traveled further into the complex he saw less and less destruction and more of what seemed like time had completely stopped.
Finally, he stopped the nuclear powered machine and opened his cockpit, stepping out just onto the platform to get a view not filtered through his cameras. When he did so something astounded him. He could see the GN particles hanging in the air. Not 48 hours since the attack and he could see the base was still flooded with them. The walls sparkled with them, the disabled machines shined with them.
Noah had clearly filled the base with the enigmatic particles.
Climbing back into the cockpit he took a deep breath as he sat down and contemplated his next move.
Kira was the freedom's new pilot. Noah was back and clearly more powerful than ever. If he found them would they attack on sight? Would Kira even try to talk to him? And Nicol...he heard he survived the fight. Would Nicol trust him?
Athrun sighed and began the journey out of the base, deciding to walk the suit out despite its speed. He needed time to think...
When a good man goes to war
Azreal could only grin as he listened to the reports from the earth alliance politicians. They were so scared of the fact they didn't have a mass driver. This was of no concern to him. Yes, it meant they would finally have a reason to act. Yes, they were finally pressuring neutral nations such as orb to join them...
But what made him giddy was the fact orb was being as stubborn as ever. He could only think of the three...no four prototypes they had designed, the fourth a modified version of the calamity to counter EX-caliber. The fact was once orb turned them down enough he'd get to unleash the biological CPU's he had made on Noah Carson and celestial being ad they were there.
He planned to capture that suit...that or capture one if it's special GN drives. With that they could jump their mobile suit technology ahead by decades! But first he had to get the politicians to stop pussyfooting around the issue.
Finally, he heard them mention the lion of orb and he had had enough. "Oh really? Are they stating they are neutral? Are they hiding behind the fact they are a sovereign nation?" he said before chuckling. "I don't understand how you can allow them to do that. While we worry about our troops they sit back and harbor mankind's enemy AND traitors AND the earth alliances biggest threat... or is that what you're afraid of? Does celestial being make you all piss your pants?" he asked
The men around him growled. "Before I even touch the remark about celestial being would you not refer to the coordinators in such an extremist way...we are not blue cosmos. And furthermore the fact celestial being is there and the archangel as well as the defectors makes no difference. Even if we told them to hand them over or we attack they could just kick them out and we would have to deal with Noah Carson either way." stated one man.
"And that makes a difference how? While admittedly it certainly isn't super original or well thought out as a way to handle Noah, did we not develop a mobile suit to counter him? I mean why make a weapon and then not use it?" he asked as he used his desks computer to show what footage they got of Noah's new machine.
This clearly irritated the man who accused him of being an extremist. "Maybe you are so blinded with arrogance you're not seeing WHY we even used the calamity as a base for that prototype." He stated, pointing to the screen as it replayed a clip of Noah firing his "hyper discharge" blast though they did not know its name at the time.
Azreal just shrugged. "I don't see anything wrong with a field test. I mean at this point in the war we can't ignore the fact with a nation like orb getting the luxury of being neutral we are basically fighting with one hand tied behind our back. Yes, they helped us design and build the original gat series but look at what we have since discovered they were building at the same time." He stated, bringing up images of a series of mobile suits their forces had come across. If Noah were there he could have informed them of the junk guild and the astray line of mobile suits.
"Our intelligence sources state they were found in the wreckage of Heliopolis…they built these right under our noses just like celestial being." He stated which got the other men whispering amongst themselves.
"So they were working on their own line of mobile suits? What does this change except they were preparing to defend themselves against zaft or now our own mobile suits? Not once has the lion made any moves towards potentially joining this war and I doubt he would have even if these managed to reach them." stated one man
Azreal nodded and shrugged again. "This may be true but still it is a sign they are willing to try and challenge us if needed. As I said being neutral is a luxury at this point in the war and if they won't help us then with these having been built under our noses how do we know they didn't help zaft or won't in the future?" he said, trying to anger the group. If they didn't see things his way, he knew they would give him what he wanted just to get him to shut up.
"Just what would you suggest we do? Orb is a sovereign nation, we can't just send a fleet to their doorstep and insist they help us."
The blonde haired extremist smirked. "Allow me to handle the negotiations. You`ll all be busy planning the raid on Victoria so why not take the issue of orb off your shoulders and let me deal with them." He stated.
"Deal with them? Just what do you have in mind azreal?"
"Why simple, if orb won't join us or at least hand over celestial being and the defectors then I'll just try out our new toys on them. After all, why just acquire one mass driver when two would speed things along quite nicely?" he asked as he stood up.
A vote was cast as he left and he heard them all agree. Good…. he had an invasion to plan…
When a good man goes to war
Cagalli looked around as she rode in the jeep. A small team of loggers and engineers along with herself, Nina and Erica were riding in a caravan following Noah and Kira in their mobile suits
In preparation of the invasion they were on a small mission to set up a sniper's perch for one of Noah's many "gunpla". It intrigued her just how much Noah both knew about her, knew about their world, and even more so watching him "scan in" his mobile suit apparently called the "GM commando" had certainly been interesting.
When he had explained his plan to her and Erica it seemed he had certainly planned quite the resistance effort. A sniper to start, then he had shown them a few he'd scan in on the move, and one they currently were evacuating one of the largest office buildings in orb to essentially destroy.
The two mobile suits were sure to duck and walk around and not just knock over every tree on the way to a small open space on the cliffs he planned to set up in. it was just big enough for the two mobile suits to stand in while the loggers and engineers would cut down trees and clear an area facing the bay for him to snipe from. Kira was here to use the freedom to help move the logs and its powerful thrusters to stir up the area once Noah was in position. Natural camouflage Noah called it. He already had his machine painted to fit in here, the dust and leaves and such that would coat him would help him blend in.
The active camouflage cloak he planned to have Kira lay over him also helped.
Finally, they reached the area. As the two mobile suits came to a stop, Noah's taking a knee and setting it's folded up mobile suit sized anti-material rifle down before she saw its green plate of a face power down.
He had explained just what he made the machine of. Apparently it was based on a "master grade GM sniper" with the torso of a gundam known as the "EZ8". From there he modified it to have a scaled up and modified version of the armor plating from a model someone else made known as the "GM sniper K9". The last major modifications were merging the EZ8's sensor suite on the right side of its head with the GM sniper's head.
Apparently for the gunpla battles him and Luke fought in it had some kinda of system that would launch four cases out into the arena, each with a random weapon in it. Since he couldn't do that here he put container on its back which once they were done setting up he would remove what he placed in it and then have Kira carry it back to the ship.
He had then proceeded to paint it obviously in the camo pattern it was now colored in. he then added two different sets of pistols to it, one a pair of revolvers, the other a pair of what looked like military side arms. After that he added blade after blade till it had a combat knife on its torso, a small knife on its right shoulder, a machete at his hip and he apparently replaced the beam sabers it held in compartments on its legs with throwing knives.
The machine was designed to devastate at long range but also be a one two punch in close quarters. Its last armament was a claw shield that he had not brought with him as he didn't want too much to have to hide. Instead he'd use another machine later to hide it in the city to grab after he was found.
Cagalli got out of the jeep she was in and watched the loggers get to work on the side of the clearing that face the bay. There wasn't much. After talking to Noah before even coming up here they had told him it would take just a few hours thanks to Kira moving the logs.
"I can't believe he came up with all this off an anime and some maps he picked up while he was here." Stated Erica as she watched Noah climb out of the top of his mobile suits torso and ride the lift down.
"I can. If he couldn't come up with this, he wouldn't have been creative enough or smart enough to make EX-caliber. Plus…" stated Nina as she watched her lover meet with Kira at the freedoms feet and start discussing where he'd move the logs too. "I wouldn't have fallen for him like I have. Hell…" she seemed to get slightly saddened as she voiced her thoughts. "I wouldn't be alive…wouldn't exist because he wouldn't have made the zero system." She stated as she took a breath and turned to the other two women.
Erica smiled and looked between the two younger women. "so…when should we tell them about the surprise we built?" she asked as she leaned back on the jeeps hood and looked to the engineers who were starting to work out a grid of the area Noah asked for so he could tell them where to place the sandbags that would help support his rifle as well as dig holes for the round armor plates on his mobile suits knees to rest in.
Nina smiled. "Let me tell Noah about EX-caliber. He already knows about the build strike but I doubt he realizes we rebuilt the original strike as well. Besides doesn't the build strike still have a few tweaks left to make before we can show mu?" she asked as the trio watched everything. Erica was here to help the engineers, cagalli just came to watch and Nina…well she wasn't planning to leave Noah's side anytime soon.
"Speaking of the zero system what if Noah made all these plans and it decides to change something and orb falls anyway?" asked cagalli.
Erica bit her lip. "Noah…plans to let orb fall anyways. He is just doing this so that more of orbs military forces can hopefully survive. He told me he knows the earth alliance won't quit till they have our mass driver…so he plans to destroy it once the archangel and his people leave. I guess his Gabriel gundam can break atmosphere on its own." Stated the brunette engineer.
Cagalli was taken back. He planned to let orb fall? "But with his forces we could push them back, keep orb safe…" she started but Nina held her hand up.
"Think cagalli, How much of the island will be destroyed? How many lives lost, innocent lives, civilian and soldier alike before the alliance gives up? Why not sacrifice the mass driver and leave the island as intact as possible for after the war rather than leave so many people homeless when they return, or even jobless?" she asked and cagalli realized she was asking for another Heliopolis.
"your right…after how angry I got at Nicol in Africa for zaft attacking Heliopolis…. how can I ask them to risk so much just so my people can come back to the same level of devastation…or worse be slaughtered because we failed and blue cosmos leads the military?" she asked.
Erica nodded. "Your father is already assembling a "mock" evacuation of the island. It will take time but since we know what will happen so far in advance we can make sure to keep the people as calm and unaware as possible. But again it will be slow going…." she said solemnly, knowing it won't be finished in time for the attack most likely but still more lives will be saved then lost.
"Well I guess back to the question of what if the zero system rears its head and brings in something that tips the battle in the earth alliances favor?" asked cagalli.
Nina and Erica shrugged. "Then we adapt. Noah has friends I guess with a way here without physically coming here but if things go south then they are waiting to help with their own models." Stated Nina.
Cagalli nodded and they all went silent, watching the first tree fall. This war had taken so much from so many people…she hated knowing it would still take more from her people. But at least Noah had a plan. That she was thankful for.
When a good man goes to war
Erica smiled as she looked at the faces of her audience. Noah, Kira, mu, cagalli and murrue were all standing in the same hangar the strike occupied during their first stay in orb. Except in front of them stood…well the strike, a different style strike, and something Noah never expected to ever see. And everyone except cagalli and Noah had various expressions of shock on their face.
"You all know the GAT-X105 strike. We found quite a few intact remains when we went looking for you Kira. We hauled them back here and decided with Noah and you gone we would try to expand the OS you developed with Nicol to the strike and if worst came to worst we would have cagalli pilot it. "Stated Erica as she turned to look to the gray colored, deactivated strike.
"Now for the unveiling of Noah's suggested creation and a gift for you mu…he seemed to figure you all would come here. You are looking at the GAT-X105/FP build strike full package 2.0. Noah if you want to explain it to him?" she asked as mu took a step towards the machine.
Noah cleared his throat and smiled. "Based on the original gundam my mentor's husband designed, the build strike full package is obviously a custom strike gundam. Sporting four CIWS in its head these are also slightly stronger, upgraded to more of an anti-personnel weapon they can easily shoot down small jets and destroy tanks and such but they also are capable of causing a small amount of damage to a mobile suit, even damaging joints and easily piercing and breaking targeting cameras such as the eyes in a mobile suit or on a weapon." He stated before taking a breath to continue.
"Next for weapons on the basic machine it has a pair of beam sabers at its hip. Sei Lori, the original designer felt the armor Schneider knives wouldn't fit the agile machine. Mounted on rotating mounts, like any beam saber the hilt is facing out for the machine to grab but in an up close and personal fight the mounting can rotate so the beam saber faces forward, allowing it to be activated on its mount in a surprise attack before being removed and used as intended."
"Now then onto the full machine. On its left arm is the chobam shield, designed with a small blaster in it, the shield is made up of layer upon layer of, in this case, phase shift armor. In gunpla form it is rated as having enough power to block what basically equals to a blast from the archangels gottfrieds or a couple shots from the strikes Agni cannon. But I'm not sure if that's the case here given the phase shift armor actually being weak to beam weaponry." Noah took another breath as he explained the new machine to the mobile armor pilot.
"In its right hand is just simply known as a variable beam rifle. With two barrels it can either fire a medium power shot from one barrel, low power repeater style fire from both barrels, and you can charge up a shot and fire a beam that would rival the Agni cannon." Stated Noah. The rifle clearly caught mu's attention as he spun around.
"How? With a rifle like that and all those thrusters…. I doubt its battery would last long." He said, concerned the machine was clearly not modified with "real world" physics in mind.
"I managed to work out the formula for gundanium alloy. Basically phase shift armor that doesn't need power. After a small incursion here after I got the zero system recoded to let me back in and my simulation cockpit fixed, in a test of my hyper leap system I went into the series gundam wing and brought the pilot known as duo here and his gundam deathscythe. The gundam is nuclear powered and I wanted to see if it would shut right down due to the N-jammers. Instead we deduced I was right to give her the formula to make just enough to make a casing for a nuclear reactor. It's why the build strike is bigger than the actual strike." He said and mu seemed to get concerned.
"Nuclear powered? Seriously? Don't we have enough of those in this universe? What if zaft or the earth forces got that formula?" he asked angrily.
"Don't worry, I destroyed all traces of the formula once we made enough to build the casing. No one will ever know how to make it without figuring it out on their own which I doubt they will." Stated Erica.
Mu nodded and then sighed, motioning for Noah to continue.
"As I was saying. It isn't powered by the reactor. The reactor is simply constantly feeding a battery system with power. The battery is strong enough to handle to power needed to fire everything at once if needed…but only once. After that it's like my trans-am system, you`ll be a bit sluggish while the battery recharges." Stated Noah before pointing to the blue wings.
"Unlike the strike, the full package set up includes a "core fighter" called the build booster. Now my design is unique. The cockpit and the fighter are integrated. A gimmick Sei had put in incase the build strike was destroyed was the fact the fighter could eject and continue fighting on its own. To keep that gimmick I made the cockpit of the fighter also the gundams cockpit. If the strike is to be destroyed or is damaged to the point you can't fight you can eject and use the build booster like a fighter. It can even land in the case the strike is destroyed." Said Noah. Mu seemed impressed but realized something.
"What if the fighter is compromised? If it goes so does the cockpit at that point." He stated.
Noah nodded. "I thought of that and added a back-up eject system. In the case that happens there is a "reverse eject button in which a small explosive in the hinges of the cockpit system will go off and will safely detach the fighter. Now the armaments of the fighter are simple. A pair of "large beam cannons" what can I say Sei didn't give those designations or anything. Anyways the other main difference is the fact he added a few thrusters and upgraded the main ones in the back. And lastly in the event you lose the booster you can still equip strike packages." He stated and finally stayed quiet to let me ask any questions.
"I only have one question…" he said as he turned to face Noah. "When can I start trying to pilot it? I assume it has a modified OS from those astrays or else I couldn't pilot it." He said with a smile.
"As soon as the commando is set in place you can start training with Kira. The freedom will be a better sparring partner for you then my Gabriel gundam." he stated.
Nina meanwhile came up and wrapped her arms around Noah's waist. "And I managed to recuse ex-caliber from zaft. Mind if we talk about it in private?" she asked quietly. Noah nodded and they began to leave while the rest of them began examining the three machines.
When a good man goes to war
Murrue sighed as she sat in the hangar of the archangel. She was doing so to think while looking at the blitz jaeger. Noah's Gabriel gundam was still in repairs supposedly in the mess hall. She had been confused when she was told that till she went to see what Murdoch meant.
She looked down at her hand. She had gotten to hold the Gabriel gundam in her hand. It was in worse shape than EX-caliber in Africa but to watch Alice, Noah's new adopted daughter, apply a fresh coat of something call "decal setter" to what she now knew was the celestial being emblem on part of Noah's spare parts it somehow brought back memories of her first time piloting the strike…her only time piloting it actually. What if Noah's story had been true? What if this haptic cockpit he had had been in the strike? Would she have needed Kira to pilot the gundam? Would she have become its pilot instead of the captain of the ship?
She smiled and looked back to Nicol's new gundam. No…she liked how things played out. They had had a rough go of it…but even zaft stealing the prototypes…she'd endure it all again so long as Noah came back as well.
She felt a hand be placed on her shoulder and looked up to see mu la flaga standing there, that stupid grin on his face. She felt her heart flutter for a moment. Was she falling in love?
The mobile armor pilot sat on a crate next to her and looked to the white mobile suit. "nuclear powered…made of a metal that is four times stronger than titanium yet lighter over-all and impervious to ballistic damage short of a sustained, pinpoint barrage. And resistant to beams to boot but not impervious." He said casually before looking to her. "I have to admit…I'm a bit jealous. I got to see it in action. I guess Luke was piloting it to clear the hangar I was in. guy stood in front of a CGUE and 3 DINNS, all firing at him like crazy. Bullets bounced off him like it was nothing." He said before taking a breath.
"He then proceeded to trash all four machines like they were nothing and even kicked the remains out of my flight path." He stated.
Murrue nodded. "Sounds like we are lucky it's on our side." She said with a smile before mu patted her back.
"So…we are no longer in the military so the regs about fraternization no longer apply. And with that in mind I want to invite YOU out to lunch at this nice burger joint I found last time I was here. And if you say no it's gonna break my heart." He said, acting like she already had said no and clutching his chest in fake agony.
She giggled at that. "You are correct that the regulations don't apply anymore but that doesn't guarantee I want to date a fighter pilot or a mobile armor ace or whatever you are now." She said, not hiding a playful tone as he frowned. As she saw him frown she jumped to her feet and smiled. "I'd love to grab a burger with you mister la flaga. But know I am not one to be flattered into anything on the first date." She stated which made him jump to his feet in joy.
When she made the comment about being flattered into anything he gasped jokingly. "Flatter you into anything on the first date? Miss Ramius how can you think I'd be so crude as to do such a thing. I`d wait at least till the second date before I got you all liquored up and started trying that." He said jokingly before she punched him in the arm.
"Just for that you're buying desert afterwards too. And second date? Please I'm a third date kind of girl…if there's even a second date." She said before walking off, mu happily following with a chuckle.
"I am a gentleman for your information. I wait for the fourth date for any of that." He continued to play.
"Not even a kiss?" she asked.
He smirked. "Well…maybe date number 2 for that." And with that they left the hangar to go enjoy the afternoon together.
When a good man goes to war
Azreal was practically jumping for joy at what he was watching. He was on the deck of the carrier he would be setting up on and watching as the biological CPU's were escorted onboard and their machines loaded into the first retrofitted carrier to hold mobile suits along with its company of strike daggers.
He couldn't wait till his fleet was ready to make the trip to orbs territorial waters. He wanted to see how celestial being, no... How Noah Carson would react to their presence.
"Noah Carson…you may have the most powerful mobile suit in the cosmic era…but soon it will be mine." He said with a cruel smirk. Those filthy creatures wouldn't know what hit them once he had that machine.
Soon…soon…
When a good man goes to war
After a lunch break, and the visit to morgenroete, Noah finally got the call that the location for the GM commando was ready to be set up. So as Kira moved the last few logs to a nearby pile he had built Noah wiped his forehead of sweat and looked at his machine. Still kneeling near the tree line it looked to be surveying the scene.
Noah had decided to help pile the sandbags up after him and the engineers did the math to know just where he would put everything to be perfectly positioned to snipe the earth alliance fleet.
After about another hour work the sun began to set and they were finally done. Cagalli had returned and watched as Noah got back into his machine and stood it up. An engineer guided him into position and he slowly and carefully took a knee once more, the holes lining up perfectly with his knee as Kira came back and landed behind him.
It was amazing for the fiery princess to watch Kira remove the large white pack of the GM commando's pack. The freedom walked around to the front of Noah's machine and set the pack down for Noah to open.
Her eyes went wide as he opened it and pulled out multiple items. She expected a weapon broken down into pieces. Instead Noah pulled out two cases of what looked like stacks of mines, along with two large cylinders, a couple of large, narrow boxes that were clearly magazines for one of his weapons and then a large box that looked like a container of ammo.
One he placed it all in the spots he marked he closed the container and she watched the strike lift it and move it aside.
"Everyone brace yourself for this. The ground may shake a little." Called out Noah from his machines speakers.
The gundam reached out and grabbed his folded up sniper rifle. Setting the weapon in its designated spot he pulled the lever and cagalli's eyes went wide as she watched the main rifle and the long barrel fell like a tree to the ground, the bi-pod and piles of sand bags catching it as it hit the ground.
Cagalli hadn't braced herself and found herself falling to her knee. Slowly she stood back up and watched as Noah opened the freight container sized box and pulled the slide of the rifle back and locked it into place. The mobile suit then began hand loading in train engine sized bullet after bullet, the built in magazine extending till it had filled and he carefully locked the slide back into place, closed the ammo container and moved it out of the way.
Once that was done Noah maneuvered the machine to lay down beside the rifle, lining it up the other knee sunk down into the holes for its reactive armor and the head was able to look into the scope of the rifle, syncing its visuals to account for the zoom of the scope.
Once that was done she had to cover her face with her arms as the wind picked up, saw dust, leaves, even small branches beginning to scatter everywhere as the freedom's wings opened up, it's thrusters slowly picking up as it bent down. Then with a jump the freedom took off and flew away, Noah's container in hand.
As she lowered her arms she smiled. Just as Noah wanted the GM commando was covered in debris, it almost looked like it had been laying there for ages…not moments. She watched Noah get out of his machine and walk over to her.
"Well tomorrow we can get the active camouflage cover over it and then I can start working on the rest of my plans." He stated before getting in the jeep. Cagalli got in with him and smiled. "Noah I want to thank you again. You're doing so much and this isn't even your home." She stated to which Noah shook his head.
"No. while I may be from another…dimension or universe or whatever…I consider orb my home…mainly because after this war everyone settles here obviously. I want to marry Nina after the war, settle down here, and open a plastic model store and a laboratory. Have kids…enjoy the 2-year reprieve considering I'll have enough pilots I won't have to lead from the front lines till gundam seed destiny. Just promise me this. I will store the Gabriel gundam here as a model obviously…but I want to be orbs first line of defense. All my models will be at my disposal so I want you to promise me autonomy to act as I wish and not get chewed out by someone anytime I launch before anyone else." Stated Noah.
"Agreed. Just promise to keep any fighting away from the cities and from the general population." Said cagalli with a smile. Noah nodded happily.
When a good man goes to war
Unlike the month Noah thought they had, almost as if they knew he had finished setting things up and that the main city's evacuation was underway the alliance sent the message he dreaded. The demands that would prelude their attack.
The room was tense as uzumi read off the alliances demands to the council or senate or whatever they were. Noah didn't know or care. All he wanted to know was what changes were made given celestial being was here with the archangel.
"And lastly, orb will surrender both the zaft vessel in their harbor and celestial being to the approaching Atlantic federation fleet. Should these demands not be met within 48 hours we will have no choice but to assume you are a supporter of zaft and will confront your nation with force." Stated uzumi before he growled. "Those dogs. Are they so desperate for war that they would show their true colors to us with such abandon?" he asked rhetorically.
"We have reports of other neutral nations giving in and joining them. A fleet is already on its way here. At this point no one is willing to challenge the Atlantic federation. I supposed it was only a matter of time till they ran down their list to us one last time." Stated one of uzumi's cabinet members.
"It's just as you said it would be. I am thankful for your warnings." Stated uzumi as he turned to Noah who simply nodded.
"Lord Uzumi we also have word that zafts Victoria base has caught wind of what is happening and wants to have a meeting with you." Said another cabinet member.
"The world is being divided into two armed camps because of the Atlantic federation. Damn them." Shouted uzumi before he slammed his fist onto the table.
"Lord Uzumi. My people are currently preparing our ship so we will be ready to leave if needed. In the meantime, please allow me us to help." Said Noah. He had captain Rozene and Mathew behind him. Mathew stepped forward though and saluted.
Noah blinked and raised an eyebrow at him. "What's up cap?" he asked casually as Mathew remembered they were quite informal and relaxed.
"Sir with all due respect I spoke with the other former earth alliance captains. While we are honored you decided to help us escape the monsters that now rule our military…we are just humble sailors. We would like to offer to join orbs fleet in the defense operation instead of abandoning our posts and getting in your ship or the archangel. There's just not enough room for us all and to be honest…we'd rather die defending orb from those monsters then in space onboard any zaft vessels you may hijack as per your plan. Please allow us to help." He stated.
Noah sighed. "Three more ships won't make much difference…but I understand where you're coming from. Permission granted. Go inform the others and coordinate with the orb navy." He stated before Captain Mathew nodded and left. "Captain Rozene go inform your crew they will be taking over as the crew of the purgatory." He stated. The coordinator naval captain nodded and left as well.
"With that out of the way lord uzumi I do not wish for you to think we are tucking our tail between our legs and running. Given my technology my people still need to learn how to operate it and get it running. This is why I am having them prepare the ship now. My pilots though are at your disposal." Said Noah as he tried to remember just how the first battle went to know where to position everyone.
The lion of orb placed his hand on Noah's shoulder and smiled. "Thank you for your support. But I'll let you handle what your people do. All those in favor of following the plan previously brought forward by Noah say I!" called our uzumi. The vote was unanimous. "Go get everything ready. I`ll handle things on orbs end. You just make sure to protect as many lives as possible." Said the lion of orb and Noah nodded before leaving. Uzumi turned back to his cabinet and sighed as everyone stood up. "We all know what we must do…get Erica on the phone…I have on last request for her." He requested of his secretary.
When a good man goes to war
Athrun landed the justice once more on the small island where the world seemed to end for so many people.
He walked through what ruins remained. Not much was left, the aegis' head, the duels main frame and a leg, the foot and shoulder of the aegis.
He thought back to that day. All the fighting. He thought back to his brawl with Kira and how he seemed to lose control when he watched the duel explode on his monitor. He remembered yzak crying out when Nicol destroyed his girlfriend.
He remembered Nina and how she reacted to Noah's destruction.
As he surveyed it all he contemplated on what would have happened if this whole fight had ended in a stalemate. If like always everyone just went back to their ships to lick their wounds. What would he be doing now if he had killed Kira? How would he feel?
He found his hand resting on his sidearm and it was all the more reason he was glad Kira survived. By whatever miracle or god that helped him he survived. But still he was surprised not to find much wreckage of the strike. Had orb claimed it and rebuilt it?
Deciding he needed to think he walked over to where the aegis head had landed and sat down cross legged, closing his eyes to think on it all, try and make sense of where his heart was trying to take him.
When a good man goes to war
Murrue sighed as she looked at her crew as well as Noah's crew aka the crew of the St. Helens. They were all so young and had seen so much. She hoped this would help them find peace…no matter what they chose.
"The earth alliance has sent a fleet out towards orb, under the guise of a demand that if they do not surrender us and themselves or the earth alliance and side with them in this war…. they will attack. Thanks to Noah we are certain no matter what diplomatic offers orb made or tried there will not be any scenario where this ends peacefully. A man named muruta azreal leads blue cosmos and this fleet. His true agenda will be three fold, capture a celestial being mobile suit, capture Kira and the freedom, or at the very least eliminate as much of the coordinator population as possible." Stated murrue, letting it all sink in.
"That's impossible. Orb is a neutral, sovereign nation. They can't just make demands like that." Shouted a crewman.
"While normally this is true we are dealing with an extremist. He doesn't care what happens so long as his ideals are fulfilled. Orb has ordered an evacuation of the island in case of a worst case scenario. Because of this I would like to offer you all a choice. While it's true no matter what happens you will all be deemed deserters. There's no getting around that. But while you may not agree with our governments views at the moment or maybe you do…or maybe you would prefer celestial being's outlook on the situation…I cannot force you to stay aboard this ship if you do not wish to. We will be aiding in orbs defense, putting out lives on the line once more. But because we are no longer in the military I am offering you the choice. You are free to leave if you wish and evacuate with the rest of the civilians. I will not hold it against you nor will anyone here. But if you choose to stay and help us you will have my deepest thanks and I will do everything I can to make sure everyone gets out of this alive." Stated murrue before turning to Noah.
"While you all signed contracts and such with celestial being the same goes for you. The former earth alliance naval crews have all decided to help defend orb. The purgatory will need a crew. If you choose to stay you will be serving aboard it once we have it up and running. So while unlike the archangel's crew you will not be in immediate danger…if they discover where the ship is dry docked you will all be rather easy targets unless we can get the ships defenses up and running. Because of this I offer you the same option. I won't ask you to risk certain death if they find you just to keep the ship fully staffed." Stated Noah as both him and murrue waited to see what everyone would do.
The hangar filled with whispering as everyone decided what they would do. Murrue and Noah could only wait and see who stayed and who left.
When a good man goes to war
Nicol rapped on the bars of dearka's cell. The tan coordinator looked up and groaned. "What now? Here to try and recruit me again. It may have been a while since last time but my mind hasn't changed." Stated Dearka.
Nicol shook his head and reached into his pocket, setting down a bleach white device with a blue transparent disk onto, a device like the one he had heard about Noah Carson having, and a large black box.
"I'm not going to try and recruit you…but Noah seems certain you`ll join either us or the archangel. He claims you and miriallia are quite the couple in the coming months. So he told me to bring you these. It's a GP base with your new machines OS coded into it, a portable scanner, standard issue now for all celestial being gundam meisters, and the box contains your gunpla known as the "buster panzer" and the uniform he had made on my recommendations for sizes. He had it made, I just guess what size you`d be so I hope it fits." Stated Nicol as he took a step back.
"And what if I take all this back to zaft? I`d be considered a hero for getting all this tech to them." He stated, confused as to why he was being given these things.
Nicol shrugged. "I guess we will see. I mean Noah built it…so I guess he can easily destroy it? Anyways just…think about it. He said you`d try to go get the buster…it's being loaded onto the purgatory. Our new ship. If you choose to join us just put the model on the scanning device then pressed the blue button at the bottom of the screen on the GP-base, it`ll scan the buster and load it in…" he said, getting a confused look from Dearka.
"Just trust me you`ll understand if you do it. Anyways once you get to the cockpit a stand will pop up in the center. Place the GP base on it, get used to the controls, and then join us." He said before leaving, not giving Dearka enough time to ask any questions as he got up and walked to his cell bars.
Just as he did so miriallia walked in and blinked. "I guess Nicol came and spoke to you. Move back for a second." She demanded and Dearka did as she asked.
"What's going on? Transfer or questioning?" he asked, concerned Nicol had just been some kind of pillow for bad news.
The brunette shook her head as she opened his cell and walked in. "the ship is about to go into battle. We are no longer part of the military so you're no longer a POW. You're free to go." She said, tossing him his old flight suit.
"Where? I mean I know all about your ship…you're not afraid I'll go back to zaft?" he asked.
She glared at him. "I personally don't care. Orb is evacuating for the battle against the earth alliance. Join them and flee or go take a row boat out into the ocean…" she said, coldly, turning to look to Nicol's gift. "Or join celestial being. I. DON'T. CARE. Just go." she said before leaving, his cell door wide open.
The blonde teen sighed and glanced to the "recruitment package" his former teammate left him. Did she really want him gone? Did she hate him? Or did his comment about going back to zaft upset her? Either way he walked out of his cell, grabbing the items left for him and deciding to find his way off this ship for now.
When a good man goes to war
"Your demands are unjust and for this reason orb cannot agree to your terms of surrender nor shall we abandon our principles or our rights as a neutral and sovereign nation." Read azreal with a chuckle. "You know I was worried for a second there he might actually give in. I mean if he had we wouldn't get to perform out little test. But leave it to uzumi nara atha to never betray my expectations of him." Stated the blonde brat as he wadded up the sheet of paper and took his seat overlooking the intended battlefield.
"Let's just hope they don't give up till the bitter end." He said, malice in his tone as the captain of his carrier walked up.
"Lord Azreal…we have Noah Carson on the line asking for you specifically." Stated the captain.
"Put him through. I want to hear his likely speech about how horrible this will end for us." He chuckled. Oh how this would be entertaining.
When a good man goes to war
Noah flexed his hands as he once again sat in the seat of his GM commando's cockpit. Resting his hands on the controls he opened an open communication line with azreals ship or the one he assumed was his.
As he fired up his targeting protocols he switched to the camera he had planted outside to make sure his camo blanket was working. Sure enough all the camera saw was a pile of sticks, branches, twigs and leaves where his gundam should be.
His brilliance was rewarded with muruta azreals face filling his screen. "Muruta azreal, Leader of blue cosmos and negotiator for this assault. Nice to finally meet you." He said politely as his scope began to zoom in setting by setting on another monitor.
"To what do I owe the honor of speaking with the head of celestial being? Here to tell me how horrible a person I am? How you`ll fight till your dying breath to see me dead and see blue cosmos' smoldering g ashes?"
Noah shook his head. "While yes you are a racist, narcissistic asshat of a man and deserve to burn in the deepest pits of hell I thought I'd inform you that if you continue to follow your course of action celestial being will have no choice but to perform an armed intervention." Stated Noah as finally he got what he wanted.
In the center of his scope sat muruta azreal. Calm, confident, not any bit aware he was being watched. Perfect.
"Oh? And what course of action are we taking that would cause you to do such a thing?" he asked innocently
Noah smirked. "Orb is a neutral nation as had done nothing to incite this attack." Stated Noah but before he could finish muruta decided to interrupt him.
"Not true. We gave them fair warning this would happen if they did not join us. They are a nation of earth and should be supporting our cause. Being neutral is simply a luxury that can no longer be tolerated." He stated, arms raised like he had no clue why Noah was so upset.
"Bullshit. You knew this would happen. You knew they would defend their beliefs to the very end. By giving them such an ultimatum you are inciting conflict and performing an act of aggression. Turn the ships around now or celestial being will begin an armed intervention." Stated Noah. As he did so his team comm channel opened up and he heard the baker team announce they were in position.
"And what about orb? Their guns are already drawn…"
"In defense. I will only ask one. More. Time. Turn the ships around or we will make you turn them around. You have been warned." Stated Noah as he took a breath and shifted his aim to the carrier next to azreal, feeling somewhat sorry for the captain as he could already be seen barking orders.
"I think not. Give us your best shot "angel of death" or whatever you want to call yourself." He stated with a smirk.
"Fine…I did warn you. Oh and azreal…nice tie." said Noah before he pulled the trigger.
And with that the first shot was fired….
When a good man goes to war
Muruta was jumping for joy internally. He was being threatened by Noah Carson. Oh how much more perfect could this get? It was exactly like he hoped it would be…. till Noah said he had a nice tie.
A moment later the bridge was frantically looking around as a loud, thunderous bang was heard before the carrier windows shattered from something passing them.
Looking around azreal knew exactly what just happened. "Ha! You missed!" he exclaimed in a petty, childish tone.
"Did I?" asked Noah before the communication was cut off.
"LORD AZREAL! THE JOHN PAUL JONES!" shouted a crewman and the blonde racist shot out of his chair, running to the shattered window to find the carrier next to his…had no bridge and was slowly sinking.
There was no wreckage, no signs of an explosion…just a clean, curved cut where the control tower had been.
"Dear lord…just what has Noah Carson made now?" asked the captain of his own vessel and he began to grind his teeth.
"God damn it Noah! Launch all daggers and fighters! I want that mass driver now! And find me Noah Carson!" shouted muruta and all hell broke loose on the ship as when the first jet began to take off it exploded on the runway.
"Sniper!" shouted another crewman as the radio-man began to announce a fleet wide launch.
The battle had finally begun and celestial being had already gotten two…no…how many had been aboard that carrier? Muruta azreal was far too unhappy to do the math as to how many were already dead or on lifeboats already with just the opening shots of the battle.
When a good man goes to war
Ok…so sorry for the long, long, LONG absence. I really am. Some shit went down and for the people who have come to me about the chapter…my computer didn't die. I can't say much but suffice to say I have no clue when I will get my computer back. Anyways I've also had so much going through my head with this story in terms of where to go with it, how to do this chapter, how to break my streak of following each episode so strictly though I'm getting better at that.
Anyways right now I'm borrowing a laptop to write this while I save up to replace my computer instead of just waiting to get that crap piece of tech back. It was dying anyways and I want to upgrade to a top of the line gaming computer that will last mew a few years with proper care and such.
So finally got it done…kinda of. I`ve been reading over some other stories, reading over mine. And while I shall continue writing to continue it you may want to re-read it now and then as I may make some changes here and there a lot with fixing grammar and such. It'd mostly be adding scene or just better detail. I know I'm not the best writer in the world but after reading these other stories I feel I can do better.
Anyways tell me what you think. I feel like it's kind of rushed so this may go through some revisions. I could have made it longer but felt ending it with the opening shots of the battle of orb would make it easier to jump into writing the next chapter.
Also for those of you waiting on another chapter of "tempering a blazing soul" I will be putting that story on hiatus. I had a chapter 90% complete on my computer and I just can't bring myself to try and re-write it because of how well it was going. So till I get my rig back I will be putting that story on hold.
I wanted to get this chapter up ASAP because I was really starting to feel bad about not getting it done so expect the next chapter to either take a couple days or couple weeks and if it's weeks expect a revision or two of this chapter with added content.
Anyways as always please review and let me know your thoughts.
Oh and one update I will certainly make is adding why exactly that building I mentioned specifically was the first place evacuated. Let's just say I had a sweet idea and I'm hoping when I write it it will come out as I plan.