Some of the characters in Samurai Seed are using the characters from Astray and the Seed MSV. And then there are also Characters which use reference from Naruto and other anime. I tried my best to stay true to the character but if any of you feel it occ, my bad.

Kage is Kira

NOTE:

"Doryaaaaaaaaaa!": normal talking

"Charge!": special case

'Darn!': thoughts

GWA HA HA HA! : Giant creature speech

DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING!

Please… read and review

Chapter 12:

Seven Days of Flame

Kojiro Murdoch, age: 55.

Position: 9th Squad Lieutenant. Unofficially, the chief technician of fixing anything that is destroyed (most often by his own Captain).

Hobby: Drinking rum

Officially a member of ASS (Association of Sober Sailor-since the day he befriended Ichiraku-the head of ASS)

An odd position, considering the kind of person his young Captain, Mwu la Flagga the Eagle, is: a battle daredevil who fights at the front whilst his lieutenant stay behind, and at times, fixing the damage of whatever his reckless captain has caused. Yes, we somehow can see a synergy here. Mwu will break things, and Murdoch will fix it. This distinct difference of personality brought about a separation inside the ninth squad division structure itself. The 9th division was soon know to have two unofficial subdivision: The Frontline Intelligence division led by Mwu, and the Maintenance division led by Murdoch.

This kind of contradiction works pretty well. But when comparing the vast difference of age between those two, some people question how come Murdoch can put up with Mwu's rash behavior. What's more, when he fixed something, Murdoch take great pride in his work, and he often threaten to toss anyone who blemish it off the walls of Archangel. The list of accidents of which Mwu crashes his work was long enough to be made a book. But that is a story of another day.

For now, let's look at this one event that forever put an irremovable black mark in the history of the Ninth Division.

A day after the first trading ship led by Ichiraku arrived…

Day 1: The Burning Beginning

Kojiro Murdoch is really happy. Or at least, he should've. Just yesterday he received a supply of rum. But the problem is, he couldn't enjoy it. At least, not yet. He had much work to do. The pride and glory of the Archangel fortress, the Lohengrin cannon is still in sorry state and require a serious repair. What's with the trademark angel statue was destroyed. The targeting axis of the Lohengrin cannon lies inside the angel statue, and it's broken.

Murdoch, Neuman, Jacky and Fuji looked at the broken statue. Fuji was holding what remained of the angel's bust that he used to smash Zaft soldiers a few days back. Murdoch checked the damage level on the bases of the wall. "No can do. It's beyond salvage. We have to replace the whole thing."

"Can we not just reattach the whole thing?" Fuji showed the angel statue in his arms.

"No. Lohengrin is pretty unforgiving cannon. A single fault in any connection and the whole thing will fall apart. The cannon don't have to be fixed per se, but, the targeting axis is just busted."

"I'm sorry." Fuji bent down his head.

"Maa, don't worry. The hardest part of fixing Lohengrin is because the spare parts are so fraging big. But for you, it should look like normal spare parts. You wanna help? Well, you just follow my instructions when I put them together, kay?"

Glad he can be of help, Fuji nodded.

"Neuman, Jacky. Get the others here. We're gonna fix this right now, and by tomorrow everything should be operational again. Get the boys to work on the angel statue after they get the spare parts for the axis here. Fuji we'll take care the assembly."

"Yes sir…" The two soldiers answered rather halfheartedly. This earned a glare from Murdoch.

"Ah… no… errh, we don't mind doing it. But no matter how hard we work, I don't think they'll have it done until tomorrow evening." Jacky looked at Neuman for confirmation. The man nodded.

"Tomorrow evening? The enemy can come at any time! What, you guys have problem with all nighters?"

"We're fine with that but…" Jacky looked at the ninth squad Maintenance Division. "Truthfully is, in the last few days, many of us has been pulling up all-out all-nighters non stop for some time. What's with the tension of attack after attack… so we kind of hoping we can send at least half on rest."

Murdoch observed his men and had to agree. Many had black eye bags under their eyes and a few were half asleep while standing. "Well… this is the kind of job there is. You never know when the enemy is going to attack." He turned to Neuman. "You're from the Frontline Intelligence, can your men help?"

"Our units specialized in battle… so I don't really know if we can be of any help. Plus, we're running short on men in keeping this base in check."

"I don't wanna say this chief… but our men are beat. You saw some of us seemingly sleep on the job right? It's all we can do to get a few winks of rest. At this rate, I think we're looking at an accident in the making."

Murdoch thought up for a moment. He and his aides then went to the sleeping ward and saw piles and piles of his maintenance crew along with some other soldiers from other division all sleeping soundly on top of each other. The chief mechanic sighed. Maybe he was being too hard on them. A lot had happened recently and they barely had the chance to fix things up.

"…Neuman, Jacky, tell Fuji to clean things up on the front wall. We'll start to work on it tomorrow morning."

The two soldiers smiled gratefully. "Yes sir."

The chief mechanic moved the blanket on one of his man to properly cover the sleeping soldiers. Just then, something caught the corner of his eye. "Hm?" He took it… and found a book. "Four Season Paradise: Ecchi-ecchi lovers, adult only… heh?"

"GA-HO!?" Neuman and Jacky jaw dropped.

He opened the book and read a few sentences. "Please do it! Cum in my cxxx! I want you baby." Murdoch read them calmly. He threw the book away and it accidentally rips through a wall. The chief mechanic blinked. He then noticed that the 'wall' is a big sheet of paper used to cover the wall behind it. He removed the paper and lo and behold, dozens of pornographic arts were drawn/carved to the wall. He stared at it for a few seconds. Kira, who were just passing by while carrying a bowl full of broth stopped and jaw dropped.

Murdoch administered the image for a few more seconds before he exploded with a voice that can be heard even OUTSIDE the fortress:

"ALL HANDS, UP AND AT EM!"

Dozens of half dressed soldiers lined up at the front as Murdoch, with the reluctant help of Neuman and Jacky, commence his purge of all pornographic items. Dozens of books were found on the ceiling, the floors and even inside the tatami. Among the find, the chief mechanic even found some used condom. No doubt for mxstxrbxtxxn. At the end of it all, a mountain of porn books, calligraphy and even a section of the wall were gathered at the center of the fortress. Neumann and Jackie pour some oil on top of them all, and then, witnessed by the helpless soldier with tearfully eyes, burned everything to ashes.

Everyone from other division was also watching including a sweatdropping Kira, a bewildered Mwu, a confused Murrue, the stern Natarle, a gulping Fuji, and a blinking Prayer.

And so, this became the burning beginning of the legendary seven days of fire.

A few minutes later, in the dock hangar, the 9th squad soldier, particularly those belong to the Maintenance Division, were all lined up as Jackie, a representative of the Maintenance division read the scroll with list of, well…

"The recent lack of discipline of 9th division stems from distraction. Therefore, it is decided that Maintenance Division rules is hereby established with extreme discipline to increase the efficiency! First!..."

And the contents were terrible to say the least. Bringing personal item such as porn books, and even non maintenance items are forbidden. Eating, sleeping, answering nature's call (whatever in Hell that means), personal conversation outside the allocated time were prohibited. Dangerous physical activity such as jankenpon (wait, what?), horseback riding, wrestling are all forbidden. Carrying personal writing equipments and papers are banned as well to prevent the mechanics from drawing things. Other productive activity such fishing for Goby fish in the Archangel bay to be cooked into dried fish is restricted. To make it worse, various horrendous and vicious punishments such as being hanged upside down, 1000 times push up, a week of toilet duty, and worse, tossed into the sea as well as shoot on sight were attached to those rules.

"That is all!" Jackie finished reading the announcement.

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?"

"What's with dried fishes being banned!?"

"We're humans! Where's our human rights!?"

"NOBODY ASKED YOUR OPINION YOU IDIOTS!" Murdoch roared. "Listen! This DOCK is not a place for your wild sex fantasies! It's a place where our skills as a mechanic are put to the test! Lecherous crap like that has NO PLACE in this sacred ground, you DUMB BASTARDS!"

"But Chief, don't you think this is a bit too much?" Jackie gulped. "They do their best… in their own way."

"SHUT UP YOU RETARDS! It's because you're too soft on them that these idiots never amount to anything!" Murdoch's roar shut them all up. "When I was young, do you know where I slept? On STEEL plates! STEEL PLATES, BOLTS AND ALL!! AND I WAS blablabla and then washwishwushweshwosh…-"

And so on and so on and so forth and so forth. This military sermon which is best described as a nightmare that refused to end, continued on and on from 5 pm… to 5 am in the morning. God knows how on earth Chief Murdoch, after that much screaming, still has enough lung strength to continue yelling his boys the morning after. Regardless, it is worth noting that this sermon marked the official beginning of the Seven Days of Flame.

Needless to say, that day pass without a single drop of rum entering Kojiro Murdoch's system.

Day 2

Shanghai Betrayal

However, this kind of new no-tolerance no-question asked policy from chief Murdoch prove no more different than an iron hand regime and quickly turn back the clock. While indeed the new policy quickly showed apparent results. Jobs were done faster, and no one seemingly fell asleep on the job. Chief Kojiro's new policy may seem to be an unmitigated success. But nothing is what it seems. As we all know, the more you try to grasp a handful of sand tightly, the easier it gets to slip through your fingers. It is a historical inevitability that the desires of the young mechanics would quickly need an outlet and so they quickly sublimate into guerilla action. Black market and smuggling of snacks, porn books and other simple pleasantries flourished.

Barely a few minutes after the opening of Murdoch's new regime of terror, already the members found a loophole in his rules: apparently they 'only' apply to maintenance members of the 9th division. Thusly, secret fishing of Goby fish and the making a dried fish was done by the frontline division.

Given their ability in intelligence gathering and infiltration makes them an invaluable asset to pass through the patrols. This found a healthy market not only amongst the 9th division Maintenance team members whose diet had included dried fish, but also other divisions. However, this led a severe economical problem to those who are addicted to the menu and had long been part of their diet. Most of the addicted however, had no choice but to grudgingly accept the Frontline's excruciatingly high price.

In training grounds…

Kage got thrown for the umpteenth time now as Prayer watched from a distance. He dragged himself up and charged at Harlbarton again. Starting with three quick consecutive slashes, all which are blocked. Much to Harlbarton surprise, Kage quickly closed the distance and launched his fist instead. This unexpected fist attack amidst sword attacks caught the captain by surprise and he had no choice but to dodge that attack. Using the chance, Kage stab shiki to the captain's chest. Harlbarton managed, albeit barely, to knock the blade away and then jump up. Knowing what's coming, Kage waited to see where the attack will land. A decision that earn a satisfied smile from Harlbarton's part. The captain smashed is entire weight on the blade, generating a crater around where his blade landed. Kage jumped backwards just a few moments before the attack landed before he jumped back in and close the distance with a flying kick. Though he managed to barely block the kick, the force was enough to send him backward a few centimeters.

"Excellent! You're getting better and better, Kage-san. Now I won't be able to just stand in one place when dealing with you."

Prayer clapped the two fighters for the incredible performance.

"Let's take a breather shall we?"

Kage nodded. The two combatants sit down with Prayer sitting right next to Kage.

"I see… so my brother's story that you are a super ninja is…"

"Not exactly the truth." Kage nodded. Mwu finally admit he made it all up. Even Harlbarton, Murrue and Prayer berated him for a few hours. So the story goes now that Kage was no longer a super ninja, but his actions already proved that he was a powerful one nonetheless.

"Well, don't worry Kage-san. Mwu was right about one thing. At this rate, you're making your way of becoming a real super ninja." Harlbarton smiled.

"But I'd rather not talk about that. Let's skip to another topic, don't you guys feel the atmosphere is a little weird?"

"If you're referring to that accident in the docks, Prayer had informed me." Harlbarton chuckled. "Kojiro Murdoch is a man of temper. And I can understand how he feels… but I had a feeling he had overdone it."

"I… personally agree with him." Prayer stated. "We're soldiers! I mean what the hell is that mountain of porn books!? Of course Murdoch-san will get angry!"

"Considering your big-bro's behavior, I'm surprised you never saw your brother read one." Kage sighed.

"I know. My brother had a collection, a whole shrine of them in his office, filled with them porn books. But he only carries say 3-4 books to the field. These people, they got over a few hundred! A FEW HUNDREDS!"

"Well, I've had my share of porn books." Kage calmly stated, earning a glare from Prayer. "Though, I will have none of those porn things while I'm eating. Nosireeno. I lost appetite when someone speaks about the birds and the bees."

"…Kage-san… ecchi."

"Oi, oi! Don't go around judging me now. Personally I think the idea of a girl showed adultery approaches in the open for everyone to see is kind of… I don't know, not exactly revolting… but improper nonetheless."

"Ano, Kage-san… you're not a G-"

"I'M NOT ATTRACTED TO THE SAME SEX, if that's what you're trying to say! I just… haven't found any interest to the opposite sex yet… Haven't got the time to care. Call me old fashioned or workaholic, I don't care. In any case, what should we do with this situation?"

"Nah, they still get their job done. Let the Maintenance division solve their own problem."

"I heard rumors that the Frontlines Division soldiers are opening a black market for those in need of the banned items in maintenance division." Prayer further added.

Kage sighed. "Well, soldiers are human too. We get tired, we get hungry, and yes sometimes we wanna get off the reality once in a while to enjoy some porn. When somebody tried to hold all that in, what we get is aggressive destructive tendencies. Believe me, I've found out about this a hard way."

"Well, I'll count on that experience. Then, Prayer-kun, how's it going to be?"

"Jackie-san as the representative of the Maintenance team will talk about it, in private with Murdoch to see if he can alleviate some of the rules."

"In private? Where exactly is that, in this fortress?"

"The Chief Mechanic's office."

"That's private?"

"It is, if you ignore at least 40 pairs of ears eavesdropping."

Later that night…

Jackie and Murdoch having their dinner (soldier ration) and having their talk, drinking tea.

"You know, Jackie-kun, seeing you like this right now, reminds me when you first came, 5 years ago."

"Ah, please, Murdoch-dono. It's embarrassing."

"You were a cocky little brat at the time."

"I was sent here by other members just because I knew a few tricks. I didn't realize then, they were just trying to get rid of me. I even bullshitted in front you and said-"

"Hey old man, your age is over, hurry up get out and tend to your kittens!" Murdoch mock copy a young man speaking. "I still remember a few cadets fainted when you said that right in front of my face."

"I really want to dig a hole to crawl in and die…" Jackie blushed. "Anoo… speaking of cadets…"

"Jackie… you remember that little accident with the Lohengrin cannon, the first few weeks when you work in my division?"

"I… was trying to improve the fire power by putting three times more gunpowder for an explosive propelling of the bullet. It worked like wonders but… melted a couple of exhaust vents on the first shot. The second shot literally broke it apart."

"Luckily, it was just a field test, and no one was injured. But it took a few weeks to get it right. Harlbarton's lieutenant nearly cut your head off didn't he?"

"That Canard Pars guy is one scary dude." Jackie suddenly humbled himself. "But then you bail me out of trouble."

"People entrust their lives at our work. In wartimes, we, like medics, used our skills to keep people alive."

"When you teach me that, I realized you'll be my lifelong teacher."

"Yes well. I want other kids to understand this too. But when words don't get through, you have to pound it into them. This is why I've done what I did. When you're in my position, you'll understand that too."

"Me?"

"Yep. I'm over 50 and counting, one day I won't be able to keep this up. So you'll take my place later on. I've taught you all I know, what you lack is… experience. That's not something I can teach you."

"Murdoch-danna…" Jackie saw his chief in a new light.

Murdoch smiled lightly and raise his cup. "Cheers."

"C…Cheers!"

After this event, Jackie Tonomura's 180 degree change of heart will resentfully known by the entire maintenance division as "The Shanghai Betrayal". This became the center of the entire conflict, right to the very end.

To set up his example, also note Murdoch didn't had a single drop of rum entering his system.

Day 3:

The Untouchables

The next day, Jackie gathered a couple of like minded (and some were bribed) crew and formed the Maintenance Disciplinary Enforcer team. Armed with axes and harisen, he set out on a purge of blood, ironically claimed that they are unblemished by economical bribes, they call themselves the untouchables.

In the secret dried fish production spot…

"Hey, did you hear?"

"What? The Shanghai Betrayal thingy?"

"Ah, that Jackie guy… I think he went all dressed up like… Oniwabanshu style like… wearing hanya masks…"

"Yuck… even the image make me sick…"

And then suddenly something crashed through the secret wall. A bunch of guys wearing Hanya masks and carrying large caliber harisens and an axe came crashing in.

"Untouchable!" One of the Hanya with Jackie's voice flowing out roared.

The startled fishmakers had no chance to defend themselves.

"TENCHUUUU! (Heaven's retribution!)"

The untouchables proceed to slaughter everyone with slaps of harisens. In the afternoon, the vindicated were hanged upside down, naked, with a plaque written: 'example for future traitors'.

These tragedies were added with the omnipresent spy snitch, double spy, unmasking spies. But history teaches as, when a policy is enforced by a iron hand reign of terror, it calls for an act of counter terrorism to deal with. And in the case of counter terrorizing from the terror of those with power, the answer is with another form of terrorism acts. However, the maintenance squad feels not yet need to take such action. At least, till the afternoon where the impact of the new enforcement unit were brought to light to their economical predicament.

"NANNI!!??"

"Yeah, that's what they said."

"DON'T JOKE AROUND! The dried fish's price were already high enough and now they gonna what? Double it?"

"They said it's because of the all raids done by those Untouchables."

"WHAAAT!!? B… But I thought they were on our side!"

"They're on that Jackie's side. Ever since he became their head honcho, that guy has been having some of his screw loose."

"Well that's certainly won't do! As if it weren't bad enough those Frontline Division bleed us dry with those outrageous rate for dried fish and porn books… now THIS!? No… that's out of question!"

And so it was. In Jackie's hand, Murdoch's iron grip regime turned into a reign of terror. Terror begets terror. Terrorist cells began to grow within the ranks. Factions were created: one side, the Disciplinary Committee, led by Jackie Tonomura, who seek to enforce the law and order to other opposing parties; the Resistance, led democratically, the worker division whose economy has been ruined by the frontline division profiteering and also suffer from the Enforcer's regime of terror; and finally, the Frontline, who suffers over the tyranny of the disciplinary force, and seek to re-establish their economical dominance over their porn and snack market. This party was led by Arnold Neumann. He was once Jackie's friend. The Shanghai Betrayal event shook their friendship to its very foundation. They are now Blood enemies.

"I SWEAR ON MY NAME ARNOLD NEUMANN, JACKIE TONOMURA'S REIGN OF TERROR WILL HAVE NO PLACE IN THIS EARTH!"

Despite the imminent terrorist breakouts, there's an unspoken agreement: no form of aggression of any kind will be directed to the holder of the highest supreme power: the Captains and Chief Kojiro Murdoch himself. With no other targets, the remaining two factions directed their object of aggression to one person: Jackie Tonomura, the head of the Disciplinary force.

Jackie was having fun in the public bath, along with some of his Untouchables, when suddenly, a dozen guys with harisen, and white headband with a standard of Vengeance written on them charged in.

"TRAITOOOR!!"

"TENCHU! JINCHU! TENCHUUU!"

"W… Wait! I can explain!" the head of the Disciplinary force tried to explain.

"THIS ISN'T OPEN FOR DEBATE!"

"BUKOROSE!!"

All of them charged at the bath and cry havoc. The first target was Jackie. His head get slapped several times before his Untouchables intervene. But, naked and unarmed as they are, they can only rely on their muscle. Worse, they're outnumbered.

"GAAAAAAH! YOU CANNIBAL! WHO BIT MY LEG!?"

"ERGH? CHIEF JACKIE!? THAT'S YOU?"

"BAKAAA"

"TENCHUUU!"

And then just then, another bunch of guys carrying a battle standard brandishing the word Tenchu, stared at the battle in the bath before they too joined the fray. Again, the targets were also Jackie and his Untouchables.

This incident later were explained in that, both Frontline and the Resistance had planned the terror assault on Jackie individually by each faction. They just happened to plan to do so on a similar time. Heavenly Punishment indeed. Regardless, history teaches us that armed aggression by the resisting force against those in power will often brought about harsher judgment by those in power.

Day 4:

Three Letters, Three Terror pranks, and The Last Leaf fall

Now that the lines had been drawn clear of who fights in which side, it is still clear that none has the edge over another. All of them require a leverage to fight the other faction. The captains are out of question. They need an unofficial form of power. A symbol that will instill fear in the hearts of others, and inspiration in the hearts of its comrades. Unsurprisingly, the three factions came to the same conclusion:

"We must recruit Kage to our cause."

However, Kage is all but a mystery except to a certain few. And thus, any act of Terrorism such blackmail, extortion, bribery or any kind, can only be done through the one known source of contact: Kira Yamato, the 'alleged' (this fact is disputable) brother of the living urban legend. The three factions will eternally regret this though.

"Anoo, Kira-san?"

"No extra!"

"No, no, no. it's not that. I'm wondering if you can contact Kage?"

"And why would I want to do that?"

"ano nee… erh… do you collect these book-"

"I'm a straight guy, and I'm not interested in porn books… or any kind." The chef refused flat out.

"Ah… well… is just… please! We're desperate! The resistance struggle for the freedom to express our humanly rights against the oppression of the Disciplinary force! And then there' the Frontline force who bleed us dry with their profiteering over our suffering! We need Kage's strength!"

"Your porn books, your problem."

And so Kira refused the Resistance flat out.

A few hours later… Kage was training with Harlbarton.

"A ninja understand that invisibility is a matter of patience and agility." Harlbarton taught the young genin on how to run up the walls. "You use your chakra and made it as if they were nails. You put them on your feet and then when the chakra touches, say the wall, you have to maintain it in there."

Bruised and dusty, Kage glared at the old captain who was standing upright, at the wall, a few meters above him. He took a deep breath and starts a vertical sprint, halfway through the wall he starts falling down. In an instant, he was on his way to the floor. Given the current height, he would've had a few concussion and some broken bones. That is, if only several soldiers who 'happens' to be all from the Frontline Division and 'happens' to be there at that exact time hadn't caught him.

"…thank you."

"Pleasure!" A pathetic attempt to create a sincere smile. "Is there anything else we can do for you? Massage your back, personal chauffeur…"

"If you're here to recruit me to your stupid cause, the answer's no. A porn or two is fine but hundreds of them? You even carved it on the wall, all the good it'll make when the enemy came. No wonder Murdoch was pissed. What's more, you use the Maintenance's team misery for your profit making. You can forget the idea of me joining you. Now get off the training premises."

The emissaries of the frontline division bowed down in defeat and walk away.

"… it looks kinda serious… this is… civil war?"

"Bloody fantastic. With this kind of attitude how exactly did you guys ever managed to make a stand against Zaft?"

"God knows."

"Well… that's twice they tried to bribe me. Two factions tried that. Now, there's only one faction and I hope they're smart enough not to try to get on my good side too."

"Careful what you wish for, young lad."

That evening, a huge uproar resounded in the docks of Archangel. Kage, the living legend himself declared openly to side with the disciplinary force. A headband with the kanji of Discipline replaced his usual leaf headband. If there's one thing that is weird is that, the ninja… was wearing glasses.

"I'll say it again! Discipline has been lacking so much in this fortress, I feel compelled to do something about! That is why, I, Kage, the legendary ninja, will side with Jackie Tonomura's disciplinary enforcer squad to uphold justice, fight terror against the honest-"

"Jackie-san… What are you doing?"

The impostor Kage speech was cut short when the REAL Kage dropped down on his back to commit his usual inspection of the merchant ships.

"Eh… aah… anoo… erh…" Jackie suddenly fully understood why their Captain, the brave Mwu la Flagga, can be reduced to a whimpering chicken under the ninja's gaze.

"Answer me. What's… with the getup?" The ninja cracked his knuckles, for intimidation effect.

"G… GOMENNNASAAAAI!" Without further ado, pissing his pants to boot, the impostor ran off only to bump to a bunch of angry, duped resistance force.

"Hallo, 'Kage'!"

"IIIYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!"

That evening, the resistance force, under the eyes of everyone, strip Jackie Tonomura, the head of the Disciplinary force, beat him to a bloody pulp before they tossed him off to the sea.

That night, almost dinner time…

"Ah, Murdoch-san? What is it?" Kira was preparing to cook a ramen in the kitchen when Murdoch suddenly appeared on his doorstep.

"Iyaa… Ano… I've seen my boys around you lately… did they try anything…?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well… you do know in the last few days, I've been trying to stop those kids from porn books and stuff. Ermm… I'm more than aware that those kids can be a little bit… off the hook… have they… errhh… perform… you know stuff like that."

Kira almost dropped the bowl when he caught Murdoch meaning. "STOP! Right there. I'd kill them before they do that! I mean… Yes, they're stressed out, but they are nowhere as desperate as to do something like THAT to me! I mean… why ME!?"

"Wow… c… calm down. S… sorry lad. Just a bit… paranoia. Don't you feel the atmosphere has been rather… tense, as of late?"

"…and whose fault was that really?" Kira mumbled.

"What?"

"Nothing. Nothing." Kira sighed. "It's just that… well… soldier's, mechanic… they're humans too. When you try to deny them simple pleasures in life, they'll pent up all their stress inside, and it may led into unnatural aggressive acts."

"Unnatural?" Murdoch chuckled a bit. "What are you, a psychologist?"

Just then, out of nowhere a bunch of dull edged arrow hit him on the head. A small letter tied to the arrow. Kira grabbed it and read the letter. The content is simple:

Join Us.

Long Live Resistance.

"Like I said. Unnatural aggressive acts pent inside seeking release." Kira tossed the toy arrows away and showed Murdoch the letter. Kira turned and opened a cabinet to grab some spice when an enormous amount of papers flooded him. All the papers are filled with the same words over and over:

The Frontline will Prevail!

Join us! It's your destiny.

"What's with these jokers?"

"It's not me they wanted. It's Kage. Perhaps they send these letters in hope at least one of them get to him through me."

"I've been told about this civil war but… they can't be serious."

"But it happened, Murdoch-san. They're seeking release, and in the end, it all comes down to this. I tell you at this rate, it'll take one fell swoop for a big explosion." Kira turn the fire and when he began blowing the wood to burn faster, he smelled something else. "This smell… black powder… fish OIL!? Oh no! BACK OFF!" Just as soon as the boy said that, the stove, the bowl and all exploded on his face with a burst of fire.

Murdoch jumped back just in time to saw the whole thing exploded. Kira stood there with steaming burning ingredients and noodles splattered allover his blackened face. A paper suddenly flew and landed on his face. A letter:

A sneak preview of what we can do. If you don't want this to happen every day at an escalated rate, you will join us.

Discipline must be straightened!

"…that's…" Kira was trembling in anger now. "The last… leaf!"

Dinner time.

Kira stomped his way to the dining table carrying the exploded bowl and slammed it right in front of the bewildered captain's table, specifically, right in front of Mwu. "Ano… Kira boy… errhh aren't we supposed to have your oh-God-so-bloody-delicious ramen for dinner?"

"THIS… is what's left of your oh-God-so-bloody-delicious dinner, when people from YOUR division blow it on my face."

"Eh? E… well… can't you make another?"

"SO THEY'LL BLOW IT AGAIN? NO. I've had enough. First they try to bribe me, and then they try to terrorize me. This is your squad, and YOU are the Captain. Be a little responsible and put some restraint on your MEN!"

"Ahh… well… of course… I'll see to it immediately… but before that can you please make another…?"

"NO CAN DO. Murdoch-san and I had one thing in common: we're proud of our work and we dislike seeing it blemished. So here's my demand: as long as this RIDICULOUS civil war still go on, THERE WILL BE NO MORE KIRA-MADE RAMEN FOR ANYONE!"

Someone just dropped lightning on Mwu's head. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Meanwhile, Murdoch just realized how far gone his boys had been. He was so shocked; he passed the day without drinking his rum either.

Day 5:

Explosive Armed Ramen Begins the Armed Intervention to End the Armed Conflict

They say a starving soldier fights the fiercest.

Though we all know that a desperate man would do anything to get what he desire, what Kira Yamato didn't know when he sounded that fateful Ultimatum was how far people (as in the case of Mwu) would do for a spoonful of his noodle.

"IN SHORT LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE SITUATION IS SUCH WE NO LONGER IN POSITION TO JUST SIT BACK AND WATCH! FOR THE SAKE OF PEACE, FOR THE SAKE OF HARMONY, FOR THE SAKE OF SAFETY, and most importantly, FOR THE SAKE OF CONTINOUS SUPPLY OF KIRA'S RAMEN!! MY BROTHERS, WE MUST TAKE ARMS!!"

"OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOGH!"

"If Gods stand in your way, CUT THEM! If Demons stand in your way, CUT THEM! BUT IF THOSE PERVERTED RAMEN DESTROYERS STAND IN YOUR WAY, EXTERMINATE THEM! WE ARE INCARNATIONS OF HEAVENLY RETRIBUTION!"

Kira's ramen, which quickly became the favorite of the soldiers in Archangel, had secretly amassed a reasonable number of devotees, led by the overzealous main eater, Mwu La Flagga. Kira's ultimatum is the order from Heaven for them to perform an armed intervention to end the war.

And they do so with extreme prejudice and measure.

A bunch of workers just finished rigging the bathhouse when suddenly a ball landed and instantly exploded on their faces. Four men dressed in black chargedat them, harisen in hand ready to slap them all silly.

Jackie woke up from his sleep at 1 am only to find him locked in a chest. 6 hours later his subordinate finally got him out… only to find his ass glued to the bottom of the chest.

At least a dozen members of the Frontier had to spend their nights in medical ward when their lunch soup exploded on their face, bleaching their face green.

Three terror acts, and no one taking responsibility of these attacks.

Tensions run high. The three factions blamed each other and scheduled for an open armed intervention that afternoon. No questions asked, the three factions charged at each other and beat each other. It was then Mwu spring his trap: a large scale orbital barrage (basically, a bunch of paint bombs loaded Gottfrieds, shot from the rooftops of the surrounding building) that massacred (bleach) most of the remaining combatant. Following, the entire military might of the Order of Ramen charged down to finish the job.

Mwu sliced three harisen all at once before he proceeded and slammed all their heads with a harisen as big as a full grown man. Three resistance soldiers attempt to get him when suddenly a bunch of arrows nailed them on the wall. Three more soldiers of The Order of Ramen, carrying black harisen charge in and slap them silly. And then suddenly, reinforcements arrive in every direction from the Resistance, the Untouchables and the Frontlines.

Mwu roared an order. "Soldiers of the Frontline Division! This is an order from your Captain: cease all conflict and drop down your weapons!"

"B… But… Taichou!"

"THIS IS AN ORDER! You're either with us or against us!"

"Captain…" Neumann gritted his teeth. "I'm sorry. You leave me no choice. CHAAARGE!"

Mwu's authoritarian armed intervention quickly took the battle to an escalated level. Sabotage, terror pranks, ambush and assassination (thrown off the sea, hanged upside down for all day, dipped into manure, etc) became an hourly event.

However, men always chose the lesser of two evils. So when a great evil in the name of Mwu's Order of Ramen, or Ramen Tenchu as they became to be known, bear its fangs, a ceasefire truce were made between the Resistance and the Frontline. The Disciplinary force were not included as it was indeed the enemy of all parties. All things considered however, it is apparent that the Untouchables were at a great disadvantage. Realizing he was in a pinch, Jackie utilizes guerilla tactics but mostly kept silent.

Thinking that the disciplinary force has been silenced, the 9th squad Alliance is quick to turn their attention to their captain. Quickly turning the offensive, the Order of Ramen was quickly overwhelmed by the 9th Squad Alliance which obviously greater in number. That fateful afternoon, the only bastion of defense of the Order of Ramen was quickly attacked. In a single afternoon of retribution, the Order was reduced to just a few men, Mwu La Flagga and a couple of loyalist to the ramen cause. However, it was during this time, the Untouchables decided to attack the already exhausted fighters of the three factions. Copying Mwu's massacre, the Untouchable utilize the Orbital Barrage with increased cruelty by authorizing the use of bio weapon (dung and manure bombs instead of paint bomb).

Mwu La lagga and the rest of his men were quickly captured, though the Captain managed to escape that very same afternoon. The rest of his men were executed mercilessly and without trial (thrown off the sea, hanged upside down for all day, dipped into manure, etc). This shocking even of blatant brutality and barbarism will became known as The Ramen of Slaughter.

So brutal was this incident that even the members of the Untouchables began to question the righteousness (and by quite a few, sanity) of their leader.

Murdoch seeing everything decided to think things through and withdraw for the first time from his quarter… thinking how he can salvage the situation. He thinks so hard; he forgot his rum altogether now.

Day 6:

Civil War-Just What the Hell is Going On?

The unbelievable fact that happened throughout this entire civil war, is that despite the fact they're fighting all the time, these people somehow still managed to get their job done.

Although the Order of Ramen was short-lived, their impact lingers still to the end of the war. With Mwu still at large (basically, he's hiding in Harlbarton's quarter), the order of Ramen still stands; although at the present it's military strength is extremely weak (only one person).

As the factions continue to battle each other, problems that initially were suppressed in the deepest core of the soldiers were finally brought to light. People began to see in a longer term point of view and began to question amongst themselves on if they won this war, how should they treat the currently standing policy of Chief Murdoch. While initially they were merely at odds, this quickly escalated into an armed conflict within the group. An unusual situation occurred where in the three major factions exist 11 subdivision existing simultaneously.

The subdivision of the Resistance named themselves the Democratization of the Maintenance team which is critical of Chief Murdoch's way of doing things, expelled the Disciplinary force and demanded democratization from Murdoch. Then, the Revolutionary Communiqué. A subdivision of the Infiltration squad which is well known for their use of rat messenger. The revolutionary communiqué had been trying to communicate with other division to garner their support. In their direct opposition is the Purist Owl faction from the Resistance who resisted the Revolutionary by employing trained owls to capture their rat messengers. Justice Force corps are soldiers from the Untouchables who can no longer accept Jackie's regime of terror and seek to enforce discipline. Also there's the Death to Jackie Tonomura corps-basically, this splinter faction is simply a bunch of guys who had intense hatred to the Untouchable chief. And then there's also the Free Awadachi corps which stated their pacifism by start singing and garnered a few supporters. And then there's also the Wrench Templars. A unified Resistance and the Frontier who continued their battle against the oppression of the Untouchables.

A group of the Wrench Templars axed a door down to attack the Justice Force when suddenly the Revolutionary Communiqué attacked from behind. Before the battle was over the Purist Owl faction joined the fray, thinking them to be the Democratization of the Maintenace Team group who stole their ration for that day.

Simply put, no one understood which side they're on either (or what exactly is going on altogether). Even during this mobilization, the numbers of their group members continue to dwindle, and in the end, no group number had ever reached two digits, and no single group ever reached hegemony. The once unified factions are now battling each other. Not understanding who stand on whose side, the battle degenerated into last man standing style. Everyone is an enemy.

Murdoch sits on his office with Harlbarton in front of him.

"…it has gone that bad huh?"

"That bad. Yes. They need your leadership, and you're very good at that. I'll vouch for you. But being a leader sometimes mean understanding and compromise."

"This comes from you? Who is so strict to your men?"

"Hey, I compromised Mwu's antics. Now look where that brought him."

"Into this division where I fix all the things he broke."

"Why don't you try to befriend them a little bit. I did that to my men, learning from Mwu."

"I suppose we had to end this somehow… I also haven't drink a rum this week… It's been a few months straight now… let's get this over with tomorrow I guess…"

"Whoa… that's a personal new record eh?"

"I'm at… my… limits though…" Indeed, Murdoch look a bit pale… now, it's an understatement: he's ghastly pale and his supposedly firm hands trembling.

Day 7:

WHEN I WAS YOUNG I…

It was afternoon time and everyone was having lunch, safe for a guy who was hanged upside down because he was caught carrying porn pictures… and another man who pasting posters in the wall.

"O… Oi! Put me down please?"

"No can do. You're from the Wrench Templars aren't you? We're enemies!"

"Oh… Ah…"

A frying pan landed on the poster guy's head. Lo and behold, the disciplinary team approached him with blatant malice.

"BUCHIYAMA!! You know the rules!" Jackie Tonomura mummified after the latest skirmish which involve a dozen harisen, a pile of dung, and a salmon fish (Eh?).

Buchiyama whined in terror.

"PREPARE TO MAKE YOUR PEACE!!"

"Hoo… nice picture. Who is she?" Murdoch commented.

"REALLY!?" Buchiyama was glad beyond belief when he saw the chief of the Maintenance team commented.

"C…Chief?"

"This style of painting… I had to hand it, it's detailed. Her hair is pink… who's she?"

"Ahh… I don't know either. I bought it from one of the merchant and we've made copies of her and we were planning to use an altered picture of her as a symbol for the Democratization of the Maintenance team… do you mind?"

Murdoch turned towards them and his light smile disappeared. "OF COURSE I MIND YOU FUCKING IDIOT! DEMOCRATIZATION MY ASS! IF YOU GOT TIME TO SPOUT ALL THOSE FUCKTARD NONSENSE YOU'VE GOT TIME TO CLEAN ALL THIS MESS!"

"UNDERSTAND THAT YOU FUCKING IDIOT!?" Jackie roared to Buchiyama.

"YOU'RE THE FUCKING IDIOT, YOU FUCKING IDIOT!" Murdoch roared again, harder. "WHAT THE HELL IS THAT DRESS AND THAT LOOK? WHAT ARE YOU, YAKUZA STOOGES!?"

"W… b… but… w…"

"SHUT UP! WHERE THE FUCKING HELL DO YOU THINK WE ARE!? EVERYONE ON CLEANING DETAIL! AND IF ANYBODY ASLEEP ASS KICK THEM UP! AND SOMEONE BRING THAT IDIOT DOWN! ANYBODY GOOFING OFF I'LL SHIT KICK THEIR ASSES TO THE SEA!" Murdoch jerked his thumb to the poor hanging men on the ceiling. He looked around for a moment and roared again. "Where's Sugita and Sagasano?"

"Yessir!Sugitaandsagasanowereinjuredwhentheywereassaultedbybondassociationwhichisasubdivisionofthewrenchtemplarwhichwerehiredbythejusticeforceandthedeathtojackietonomuracorpstheytookabeatingbutitwasagoodfightandnowtheyreasleepinthequarter…"

"WHAT!? PEOPLE WERE INJURED!? WHO TOLD YOU COULD GET HURT AS YOU PLEASE!?"

"B…But I thought…"

"YOUR THOUGHTS DOESN'T MATTER! YOU DON'T HAVE PERSONAL LIFE HERE! THAT ALSO MEANS YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO GET SICK OR HURT! SHIT KICK THEM UP!"

"That's overkill chief!"

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN A FUCKING OVERKILL!? WHEN I WAS YOUNG I…blablablablawashwishwushweshwosh…"

As sudden as it began, so sudden was its ended. The seven days of flame ended that day after a brief (5am to 5pm) sermon…

The next day…

Epilogue:

Kira closed his diary and thought up the events that had transpired in the last eight days. He looked again at the half conscious soldiers and decided to add another last line to end the story:

"The morale of this story is: don't bother thinking of trying to change the way people at the top thinks. Sometimes they're just as messed up as we are."

0000000back to real story00000000

"…that's a bit overkill, don't you think!?"

"Well… considering we're nearing the final phase of the plan, I think we need an edge. You've heard how Kage easily snuff out our spies. He seem had a good understanding of the lay of the land and the trade routes, so why bother being inconspicuous?"

"Open assault is suicide!"

"That's not what Mikhail suggesting." Veia responded. Raww remained silent, not sure what to say in regards to Veia's proposal.

"…it's just… inhuman… using 'him' of all people!?"

"…I'd guessed you'd say that. But… if… what one of my men told me was true… that man will be the only one, regardless of his mental state, who can put up a fight with Kage. And then there's your idea of burning things… it fits." Veia explained.

"…what's the point of asking my opinion… if you already set forth to do it anyway?"

"HARO!"

The three soldiers were startled by the appearance of a semi transparent pink ball creature like… something.

"…Haro?"

"Ararara… Mr. Pink!" a serene childlike voice called the Haro. A cloaked figure popped her head from the corner.

"Lacus! Haro! Lacus!" The pink haro bounced back to its mistress.

Lacus cupped the Haro in her arms. "Gomenne."

Veia and Raww sighed. That's the sign that their meeting is well over. As a final parting words. "Rest assured. This is the only modification I will do to your plan. The rest… I will make sure it is performed flawlessly."

"…" Athrun didn't answer but nodded anyway.

The two warlords left the knight alone. As they walk out the two saluted the hooded lady as they leave. "Lacus-dono, you bring cheer to the grimmest of places." Raww bowed once.

"Konichiwa-desu!" The lady gave them a bow as she went to his fiancée. "Konichiwa, Athrun!"

"Your Japanese are getting a little bit better."

Lacus smiled under her hood. "I still don't get about the honorifics though…"

"You'll get it someday. I'm not that good myself, I can't teach you."

"Arara? But you speak Japanese very fluently."

"A friend taught me when I was a kid… and I was 4 at the time, so I don't remember much. Just some bits and and I'm still using some hand gestures. Anyway… why are you here?"

Lacus chuckled. "Can't I see my own fiancée because he's in prison?"

"I thought it was cancelled. Officially, I was executed. Can't marry a dead man, can you?"

Lacus chuckled. "No. Actually… I… came here to say goodbye."

"Huh?"

"I'm… going to Junius."

At this remark, it was as if a lightning just fell on Athrun's head. "You do no such thing!" He quickly reasserted himself and retorted.

"Athrun!"

"That's the land of the living dead!"

"That's the grave of our brethren!"

"There are plenty ways to offer condolences to the fallen. SUICIDE is NOT one of them!"

"ATHRUN ZALA! That's your mother's GRAVE!" Lacus half shrieked.

The fallen knight fell silent at this.

"…you talked to me so often about how you missed your mother… but never for once you go to at least visit your mother's REAL grave."

"…so you do it… in my stead?"

"No. It just so happen that our destination and reason collide. I do it for my own reasons."

"…please… reconsider what you-"

Lacus chuckled bitterly. "My sister told me that dozens of times."

"And your sister is RIGHT!"

Lacus huffed. "I just thought, this is the only thing I can do. Especially in such times."

"Lacus…"

"Daijobu. Not only my sister; her royal knights, some escorts… and Andrew Waltfield; they will all accompany me there."

"Sabaku no Tora!?"

"Ara? Who?"

"T… The Desert Tiger, Andrew Waltfield! He's coming too!?"

"Hai. Well… before he became one of the Hakutenkun, together with reverend Malchio he was my father's royal knight."

"That's very true…"

"Maa. That is all I guess. If fate beckons, I hope we meet again. Ja ne."

"Lacus…" Athrun sat back to his cell, not knowing what to do… but hope for the best.

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"ITAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAI!"

"As expected."

If he weren't seeing for himself, he'll say the old man was just trying to torture him. But there he is. Lo and behold, Harlbarton was standing… on top of the scorching hot bath water. "No worry. Everybody fail the first time. You have to take your weight into consideration. You managed to latched on walls by 'hooking' your chakra… now you have to keep it constantly flowing to support your weight."

"I get the theory…it all seems so easy but…" Kira pull himself out of the bath. "Now the question is, which will happen first? I will manage to stand on water or getting boiled first."

"Hahaha… come now. Is not that hot."

"No… but if you got flash boiled…"

"Hahahaha."

"By the way… it's been… a week."

"…do you still think… about that crazy plan prediction of yours?"

"Ah. It does sound crazy isn't it?"

"You've… seen it in action?"

"Not in actual war. In chess. A long time ago."

"The game of chess originated from actual war."

"But I sincerely hope I was just being paranoid." Kira sighed. 'Because if it was… then… there's no mistaking it… it's him…'

Just then, someone knocked on the door to the bathhouse.

"What is it?" Harlbarton answered while Kira quickly covered his face with his mask.

"Anoo… I'm looking for Kage."

"What is it?"

"There's an unknown ship. They're not on the list of the usual merchants you gave us."

"Did you let him in?"

"Of course not. We're awaiting Kage's approval, so."

Kage looked at Harlbarton, who nodded. "Show me."

Outside, a ship of somewhat peculiar design was waiting outside the wall. The ship has a pair of sails and it was situated on both sides and it looked like dragon's wing. The soldier's looked at the ships with great suspicion.

Just then, Kage appeared right behind them with shunshin. In the one week, he managed to somewhat improved his techniques. "What is it?"

"That ship. It looked… weird…"

Kage looked below. "…now that's a rare sight… a Zaft-made ship."

"ZAFT ship!? Battleship!?"

"Baka! A battleship would shoot you from the distance. That one is a merchant ship. Okay. I'll check it out." Kage took a step, fell off the edge, and then start walking vertically on the wall, terrifying the soldier's and the ZAFT merchant ship crews to no end.

He hopped into the ship. "Which one of you that you name as Captain!?"

"That would be me." A man with silver hair responded.

"…" Kage eyed the man carefully. He could've sworn he saw that man somewhere. "Have I seen you before?"

"I…wouldn't know… but I would remember a man with a mask who can walk on walls."

Kage sighed. "This is Zaft-made merchant ships and you don't get something like this on the fly… you're advanced?"

"Yes. We are. And before you say anything, yes, we are aware that this is Archangel, and it's filled to the brim with Natural soldiers, and we might get killed on sight."

"Either that makes you very brave… or very stupid… you'll risk your life for some scrape of profit?"

"These… are troubled times. Economy is in a very bad shape, even in our own home country. Price skyrocketed and people simply buy less."

"…where are you from?"

"…Augustus."

"Augustus?"

"Yes."

"…Augustus… wasn't that a mining city?"

The merchant inwardly groaned. 'You can't fool this guy… not only Orb trade cities… he even know Zaft's too!' "Yes. But… recently, several mines had been dug out. The government felt the need to quickly find a replacement for provision source… to replace Junius, that is. So several depleted mines had been repurposed for farming. The provision for war."

"They're late."

"I beg your pardon?"

"They're 72 years late! Junius was decimated 72 years ago, why would they choose now?"

"Wh… well… the mines weren't depleted 72 years ago, were they not? A change in priority, that's why."

"You risk much coming to us. Not from us, but from your own country. If they finds out you've been selling provision meant for war… they'll hang you on sight."

"W… well… a man's gotta do what he had to eat."

"Can I see?"

"Oh, suresuresure… please. By all means."

Kage was brought to a very cold room. Incantations and special mechanic design had allowed Zaft-made ship, especially merchant ship to carry cold storage room on board. He looked down and saw blocks of ice. Inside the blocks of ice were slabs of meat and some vegetables. The ice was to preserve the goods inside.

"…I see… I had to thaw some of this… if you don't mind?"

"As long as you pay."

Kage had expected something like this and gave the merchant the money given by Harlbarton.

"Oh! Domo. Someone… get some torch down here…"

"No need."

"Eh?"

In a sequence of few seconds, Kage finished a seal, and then blow a fresh fire on one of the ice blocks. The ice melted almost instantly. He sliced a bit of the meat and then use a small hole on his mask, tasted the meat. He chewed it several times… "…no problem on the meat." The ninja melted random iceblocks, one by one, tasting each and every product. When all was done, none of them were poisoned or whatsoever. Kage turned to the Captain and asked several questions.

"…how long have you been doing this?"

"I'm new."

"What?"

"You sirs, will be my very first customers."

"First?"

"Yes. I'm new to this thing… so, to speak."

"…why us?"

"You just mentioned the reason yourself sir. The goods we offer will never make it past the Zaft coast guards. They'll hang us on sight if they find out we've been selling war provision. Of course… we're willing to adjust our prices to ensure your cooperation for our mutual benefit."

Kage sighed. "Sorry. We can't let you in. BUT, you're free to trade things with us."

"How exactly we'll do that… with our potential customers 10 stories above?"

Kage whistled. "Murdoch-san! Does it work!?"

"Of course it works!" Came the chief mechanic's reply. A wooden platform slowly dropped from the top of the wall. Halfway, though, it suddenly drop down at an accelerated speed. Almost hitting Kage, who's honed quick reflexes immediately shunshined him away from oblivion. The sight of a man disappearing to a puff of smoke and then reappearing somewhere else startled some of the crew.

On the top, Murdoch was screaming fire and insults at one of his careless subordinates. "YOU FUCKING RETARD! YOU ALMOST KILLED HIM YOU BLITHERING GOOD FOR NOTHING OF A-" Murdoch turned below. "KAGE! DAIJOBBU-KA!?"

"Daijobbu. Daijobbu-desu." Kage sighed. "Anyway. I'll be taking their orders; and then you'll load the goods through this gadget. I'm sorry. We had a boogie once and it almost got us. Can't risk that."

"I understand." The captain nodded understandingly. And then, as he saw Kage on the platform as it was being pulled up, he commented.

"Did you see that move? Nichol?"

"Yes. Mwu La Flagga's infamous teleporatation technique. He used it during our last bout. I see he had improved it as well."

Mikhail Coast frowned. "This guy… he's one tough antibody. I'm beginning to see why Veia-sama gave him so much credit… and that physique… no matter how you see it… that person is probably at your age, Nichol."

"Yes. But he's definitely more powerful than me by a long shot. It's quite a miracle I survived his onslaught with just a few fractures…"

"Well… with this man in charge of the security… and these countermeasures… I'm not that surprised that he managed to snuff you out. We were right to leave 'him' behind."

"I… personally do not agree that we used him like he was some sort of…"

"I can heal wounds on other human limbs… but the brain… now that's a territory we doctors rather not cross."

"…" Nichol sighed sadly. "I dearly hoped we don't have to resort to that…"

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Zaft Carpentaria naval warbase…

About 200 ships, big and small, sailed from the massive docks of Zaft Carpentaria base.

In Zaft mainland… November…

6 large battleships, bigger than that of the Zaft's average ships escorted by dozens of smaller ships sailed out of the docks… and then another one. One huge star shaped battleship with rows and rows of cannon adorned each of its edge, five times bigger than the battleships around it and three times taller, sailed out very slowly out of the docks of Gamoff.

On the bridge…of the Mobile Aquatic Heavy Assault Battleship Aquarius…

"It's finally finished. And preparations are complete as well… 6000 Bladebanes, 6 heavy assault warships, and my flagship… Let's go, Aquarius! Fortress Archangel, Let's see you survive this." Veia stood proudly over his prized Bladebane fleet.

Deep within the confines of Aquarius, a cage was set up.

In the dark shadowy cages, a single mad red eye of the roaring Miguel Aiman can be seen.

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Okay… it's done. All goes well… the next few chapter, HOPEFULLY, we'll be very interesting… I hope.

If the writer's block didn't get to me first