Hello! and sorry I'm late!
Due to my current work schedule, it's been hard for me to make any progress on the story. so I apologize in advance if this chapter feels a little short, and...sloppy.
Now, as I'm already late, I won't delay you any further. ON WITH THE SHOW!
Speech:
Talking: "Engage!"
Whispering/muttering: "Damn!"
Thought: 'Engage!'
Comms: "Engage!"
I do not own either Gundam SEED or Gundam 00.
Copyright: Sunrise inc.
Gundam SEED: 2002, 2013
Gundam 00: 2007
Chapter 8.1
[The Angel's second advent]
HRL Territory
HRL tower "Heaven's Pillar"
ESF military housing district, Smirnov residence
"The Federation Government, in an attempt to eliminate the threat of the Anti-Federation Forces, officially announces the formation of an Autonomous Peacekeeping Unit, which will be reporting directly to the Federation Government. The Autonomous unit will work in conjunction with the Federal Security Agency, which will allow them to effectively…"
"Just now, Headquarters informed me that a transfer request from the Autonomous Peacekeeping Forces just arrived for me."
"You plan on going?" Colonel Sergei Smirnov asked his college, Colonel Kati Mannequin, through the phone.
Ever since the joint operation four years ago, and after the formation of the Earth Sphere Federation and its army, they have been close friends, mostly out of respect of their abilities and records.
"It's the rumored A-LAWS, I figured it was the best way to keep an eye on them."
"That group has far too many secrets. I would appreciate it if you could keep me informed of their activities."
"Naturally, I intend to. Later, then."
"Yeah." With that reply, he ended the call, and put the phone away.
As he leaned back into his chair , Soma Pieries, who had walked in earlier during the call, served him a cup of coffee, while she had a cup of tea for herself.
"Was that Colonel Mannequin just now?" Pieries asked, as she sat down on the couch.
"Hmm? Oh, yeah, it was."
"What was it about?"
'Best not to get her involved for now.' "Speaking of which, have you given any thoughts to the matter we discussed?"
Pieries jerked a little at that sentence, caught off guard by the older man's question. "N-not yet…"
'How innocent.' Sergei thought to himself, happy to see that the once stoic girl has changed so much over the last four years. "Well, there's no rush. Take your time and think it over."
All Pieries could do was take a sip of her own tea, troubled by the Colonel's question about said matter.
His offer to adopt her as his daughter.
Lagrange 4
Colony Proud
It has been a little over six months since Saji began working at Proud. It took a little getting using to working in low gravity condition for long hours, but he soon got the hang of it.
They are already at the stage of assembling the last layers of the outer walls, and it was soon coming to the end of his shift.
Fortunately, the next shift arrived early, and he left with his work site senior, Eddie Miyasaka.
Soon, they reached the air lock connected to the lockers. Saji couldn't wait to get back to his bunk. He's been checking every day after his shift, but he still hadn't got any new messages from Louise.
It's been two years since she stopped responding to his mails, and frankly, it's been worrying him.
But he believed that as long as he kept to their promise, they'll eventually meet again in space.
As he's deep in thought, the pressurization cycle finished, and the inner door opened. The beep from air lock's buzzer snapped him out of his daze, and he moved inward, detaching his helmet.
"You've gotten better, rookie!" His senior, Mr Miyasaka, said to him, as they approached the row where their lockers were.
Even though there were new workers arriving every other month, Mr Miyasaka was the only person still calling him "Rookie". He understood the man was probably just teasing him, and held no ill will towards him. But it's still a little annoying, to still be addressed like he's only been here for a couple of weeks.
"I've already been here for half a year." Saji retorted, as usual. "My name's not "rookie", it's Saji crossroad-"
But before he could finish, something caught his attention; two armed officers coming in from the other end, as if looking for someone.
"Eddie Miyasaka?"
It has been a surprise to see the agents of the bureau entering the locker room. He was sure that he kept his communications with Katharon private, and made sure to have made the calls through encrypted channels. Were they here for him? Or was there someone else here in contact with Katharon too?
But when the armed agent spoke, his suspicions were confirmed.
"Eddie Miyasaka? On suspicion of conspiring with Katharon, we're placing you-"
'Shit! They know!?' Realizing that he's been found out, he knew he needed to get away. But the only other way out of here was through the two of them. So, he threw his helmet at them, and pushed himself to the side, trying to get around them.
Predictably, the first agent knocked the helmet aside, while the other moved towards him. But since the locker room was a zero-g environment, he pushed himself off the the opposite lockers, and shoved the other agent aside, giving him a clear route to the exit.
But he didn't count on the second agent pulling his gun out.
"Gah! You bastard!" The agent shouted, as he fired off two shots at the Eddie, landing both shots right into his left shoulder.
"Argh! Damn it…" that was all Eddie could utter, before the agent that shot him moved to suppress him.
"Mr. Miyasaka!" Saji could only exclaim in shock.
The officer who was shoved aside just fired at the man without warning. He couldn't understand what was going on. Mr. Miyasaka was conspiring with an anti-Federation organization? Even if it was true, that didn't mean that they could just open fire on someone!
Confused, Saji turned to face the other guard.
"What on earth do you think you're doing?!"
Instead of an answer, the officer just reached out and grabbed his hand.
"We're taking you in too!"
"Eh? Why me?!"
As the other officer went to restrain his injured colleague, the officer grabbing Saji's hand spin his arm to his back, and held him in an arm lock.
"Please let me go! What have I done wrong? Please stop!"
Even as he pleaded with the man standing behind him, he knew that they didn't care, and would show no pity.
'What the hell is going on?!' Was all Saji could think, as he was cuffed and shoved out of the lockers, and into the halls.
Lagrange 2
Deep space exploration vessel, Celestial Being
"I see that you've gotten some interesting information, Ribbons."
Regenne Regetta spoke, as he walked down the curved stairs into the main hall, addressing the self-appointed leader of their little group.
"Indeed. It's interesting seeing the foolish humans trying to struggle against a higher power." replied the said "leader", Ribbons Almark.
"As expected of you, Ribbons." Regenne replied, as if admitting defeat. "But still, was it really necessary to involve that boy?"
"Now, whatever are you talking about?" Ribbons shot back, with a smirk on his face.
"Saji Crossroad."
That got his attention.
"Don't play coy. I was the one you sent to take in Louise Halevy two years ago, remember? Anyway, why implicate him with Katharon? It's not as if you had nothing better to do than frame the boy for treason."
"I have plans for Miss Halevy. And for it to succeed, I need to remove any potential…"distractions"."
"And that means getting rid of the boy?"
"He's been trying to contact Miss Halevy for the last two years. But right now, all he's doing is becoming a constant annoyance. He'll only serve to distract Miss Halevy from her current duties."
"Hmph. You really ARE quite the sadist, aren't you, Ribbons?" Regenne finished off, as he headed back up the stairs, and left the room.
"Oh Regenne. I'm just being pragmatic."
"But you will never understand, I suppose."
Lagrange 4 vicinity
Ptolemaios II, Catapult 2 Stand-by room.
"Mr. Tieria, do you have a moment?"
"What is it, Kira Yamato?"
It has been a couple of days since they had received information from their agent about possible movements of Katharon, and that the Federation had caught wind of their plans. On the off chance that their old comrade might be investing the Anti-Federation group, they headed out towards the colony, on the hope that he'll be there.
"I wanted to ask, what was he, Mr. Setsuna, like?"
"Hmph. He was always quite the lone wolf, following the mission plan to the letter, yet always reckless. I remember that there was that time where he nearly jeopardized an entire operation when he opened his Gundam's cockpit in the middle of a battlefield, and in front of an enemy, no less."
"I see…"
"He even said that he wanted to become a Gundam himself."
"Eh? What do you mean, Mr. Erde?"
"You see, to that person, the Gundams represent an ideal. To him, the Gundams are an absolute existence."
"I…see…"
Kira could only ponder about his own situation, back when he first encountered the Strike. From what he's been told by Tieria and the others, this Setsuna didn't so much as sympathize with Celestial Being's ideals, but straight up idolized the Gundams, as if they were messengers of god.
Before Kira could continue, a call window popped up on the window screen.
"Mr. Erde, we've received information that one of the Federation's new space cruiser has begun moving Lagrange 4." Miliena reported from the bridge, just as Ian came up behind her
"Exactly as the report from Wang Liu Mei stated. It's most likely…"
"I'll launch in the Seravee."
Ian was caught off guard by Tieria's quick respond, but he recovered quickly. "Roger that. You heard him, Feldt." Just as he finished addressing Feldt, the pop up closed. Soon, the hatch leading down to the hanger opened up, and the Seravee was moved up to the catapult deck.
"Looks like we will be making our return known soon. I think it's best that you head back up to the bridge now, Kira Yamato."
"G-got it." Kira replied with a small stutter, as he stood up and headed for the door leading to the internal corridor. But as he reached the door, he turned around, wanting to ask Tieria one last question.
"Mr. Tieria, just one last question."
"What is it?"
"How are you so sure that Mr. Setsuna will be there?"
"Oh, he'll come."
"If he's alive, then he'll definitely be coming here."
And... That's it for this chapter.
Now, if it feels like the chapter is being split in half(as if the numbering didn't already give it away...), then you are correct!
As I'm still working on the other half, I've decided to split this chapter in two. The reason being mostly due to my schedule being essentially: work, work, work, work, work, errands, repeat.
So once again, sorry for the sloppiness, and if you spot any error, please feel free to point it out in the reviews.
Once again, goodbye, and see you next chapter!
Also:
Farewell, Heisei(平成)! Welcome, Reiwa(令和)!