Mobile Suit Gundam/Kido Senshi Gundam: Peacekeepers
By: Ominae
Rating: T
NOTE:
All characters and machines of the various Gundam eras belong to Yoshiyuki Tomino, Hajime Yatate, Fumihiko Takayama, Takeyuki Kanda, Umanosuke Iida, Mitsuko Kase, Takashi Imanishi, Masashi Mukaeda, Mitsuo Fukuda, Seiji Mizushima, Susumu Yamaguchi, Satoshi Konno, Junichi Kamino, Bandai, Level 5 and Sunrise. I only own Mark Liu for now.
I'm not sure if it's alright to own mobile suits/mobile suit technology based on existing canon stuff, but I'll say it for now since the one Mu will use later on doesn't exist in any Gundam material (anime/manga/novel/video games).
Summary:
Natarle and the surviving OMNI personnel launch out onto Heliopolis airspace on the new prototype warship Archangel. Meanwhile, Rau and Mu duke it out in the interiors of Heliopolis before they too arrive in the colony's airspace? Will their actions contribute to the further destruction of Orb's only space colony? Stay tune to this chapter to find out.
Chapter 3: Interventions
Bridge, OMNIS Archangel, somewhere in Heliopolis
"We've broken through Morgenroete's harbor and we're inside the colony."
Arnold reported after he was able to see Heliopolis' interior.
"Morgenroete's been destroyed by GINNs. And the Strike's been activated already." Jackie further reported from the co-pilot seat.
"Oh great." Natarle gritted her teeth after hearing what Arnold and Jackie had mentioned. Times like this, maybe I wish the Titans were here to give us a hand...
"Take evasion action! Starboard!" The black-haired woman gave her orders when the CGUE fired its machine gun at it, watching as the ship moved to the right to dodge incoming machine gun bullets.
"ZAFT mobile suit heading towards the Strike." Jackie reported after the Archangel was able to evade the bullets. He and the others watched the CGUE reload its assault rifle before it charged back towards the kneeling Strike.
Cockpit, ZGMF-515 CGUE, somewhere in Heliopolis
"Let's see how you can handle this."
Le Creuset grinned while he took aim at the kneeling Strike with the machine gun after the console told him that it was loaded with APSV bullets already, going for another attack being forced to break off from the initial attack. The masked ZAFT White officer fired the weapon at the Strike and saw it kneel to protect Murrue and the other Heliopolis college students on the grounds.
"Not even enhanced APSV." Le Creuset frowned when he saw that the Strike was not damaged in any way. "This'll be difficult, but at least we'll have to consider more powerful weapons to take out their Phase Shift Armor once in combat."
A few seconds later, Le Creuset noted that he had received a lock-on from the Archangel.
"I'd like to see them try."
Bridge, OMNIS Archangel, somewhere in Heliopolis
"Ready aft missile tubes 7 to 10 and stand by to fire on my command." Natarle ordered from her command chair. "Target, ZAFT CGUE mobile suit."
"Laser designator." Natarle turned around to eye Romero, who had gotten the laser designator ready at Natarle's instructions. "Listen, you're not to hit the shaft or ground. That's an order!"
Maybe if I had Coordinator DNA, that'll be easy to avoid.
Romero thought grimly before he executed Natarle's instructions and kept the laser designator on Le Creuset's CGUE, firing the Wombat missiles after Natarle told him to fire.
Cockpit, ZGMF-515 CGUE, somewhere in Heliopolis
"All too easy..."
Le Creuset grinned as he maneuvered the CGUE to make two of the Wombats detonate at the shaft, using them to hide himself from the missiles when they exploded on impact. As for the other two missiles, the CGUE maneuvered further towards the colony's walls where he dodged the incoming Wombats as the remaining two detonated after they hit the walls after the mobile suit avoided the missiles at the last minute.
"It seems this legged ship may get me on the run sooner than later." Le Creuset grinned after he watched the Wombat tear down a part of the colony wall.
"Are you alright, Commander?" Le Creuset received a transmission from Ades at the Vesalius.
"I'm fine. And it seems I'm being cornered. Do me a favor and have the Vesalius fire the beam cannon. I'm done looking around here..."
"All right. I'll get the crew to do so at once."
As expected, the hole caused by the Wombats grew bigger after the Vesalius fired its beam cannon to help evacuate Le Creuset out of Heliopolis. But it didn't help that the Strike took aim at the CGUE with the "Agni" 320mm Hyper Impulse Beam Cannon.
"Thank you, Ades. I'm..." Le Creuset was alerted by an incoming beam shot coming from the ground. The masked man was able to dodge it at the cost of his right arm destroyed alongside the machine gun he had used. The beam went through the hole and into space.
"Dammit..." Le Creuset cursed as he decided to evacuate Heliopolis and back to the Vesalius before he was shot down permanently.
"What the hell? A mobile suit with that much firepower. It could make things a bit complicated."
He saw the Agni had been fired at him, giving Le Creuset more reason why he should leave at once.
Bench, Abandoned Park, somewhere in Heliopolis
If that lone Moebius Zero is used by Mu La Flaga, then the CGUE he faced must be from Rau Le Creuset, ZAFT White and veteran of the One Year Bloody War alongside Char Aznable...
Mark ran back from the alley towards the park to see Sai and company after he heard booming sounds from fighting with the Moebius Zero, the CGUE and with Kira's Strike and the Archangel.
"I just hope the others are alright." murmured Mark as he as fast as he could. It didn't help that he was carrying his tac vest right now, which had most of his operational gear.
"Mark!" Mir called out for him after he arrived in the park.
"You all right?" Mark went to see Mir, eying the Strike when it lowered the Agni a while ago. "What happened?"
"There was combat up in the colony's internal airspace." Sai told the auxiliary officer. "But we should be fine."
"So what now?"
"So you're the auxiliary officer that Mir talked about a while ago, yes?" Mark eyed Murrue carefully when she asked him. "I'm Murrue Ramius of OMNI."
"Yes, ma'am. Mark Liu of the Orb Metropolitan Auxiliary Police Force, Heliopolis Detachment. This month was suppose to be my first month on the job after being transferred from the mainland." Mark saluted Murrue afterwards.
"Well it seems that this'll be your last job with Heliopolis." Murrue told the auxiliary officer. "At this rate, the colony might be destroyed in case ZAFT forces decide to come back and stage another raid. It'll be in your best interest if you come with me and your friends."
"Understood, Ms. Ramius."
Mobile Weapons Hangar, ZMS Vesalius, somewhere near Heliopolis airspace, Space
As ZAFT maintenance crew were kept busy servicing the remaining GINNs and the captured G mobile suits like Athrun's Aegis in their spacesuits with helmets on due to the open hangar door to space, an announcement was played in an intercom throughout the place.
"All unauthorized personnel are restricted from access to areas designated for captured mobile suits. Security clearance is in effect for all maintenance crew until such time as it is determined that captured mobile suits pose no immediate danger. Failure to comply with result in disciplinary action."
Kira. What were you doing there? And my god, I shot you. Athrun sighed as he typed down commands to get the Aegis' OS running. Why did you defend that woman? She was with OMNI.
"Hey." One of the maintenance crewmen noted that something was wrong.
"Sorry." Athrun told the crewman. "Must've somehow worked on yours by mistake."
"It's all right. Nothing to worry about." The other crewman told Athrun. "We've now completed external inspection and recharging. What about you?"
"I'm finished here." Athrun told him as he got the keyboard to retract away from his lap. "How do they manage with this OS? Granted that it's nothing like the RX-78 Gundam used in the OYBW..."
"Commander Le Creuset is returning. Damage sustained from a direct hit."
A direct hit? Athrun watched as Le Creuset's CGUE arrived from the ship's only catapult deck before it was secured by a wire rope net before it was cooled down by cooling sprays. I wonder what mobile suit was responsible for hitting the commander's mobile suit like that?
The young man then frowned.
Could it have been done by him?
Cockpit, GAT-X105 Strike, somewhere in Heliopolis
Mark told Murrue that he'll get inside the cockpit and ride the Strike with Kira while he'll get the mobile suit's hands to scoop up Murrue and the others to make their journey towards the incoming Archangel.
"I trust that you're able to handle the Strike, Kira?" Mark asked Kira as he began to pilot the Strike to the Archangel.
"Indeed, I was." Kira said before he frowned. "Though I had to modify the OS to make it work. It was moving so slow and clunky."
"That shows you that OMNI's still trying to get around with a working OS. They were lucky with the original Gundam and the GMs they're using as they didn't need that much work." Mark noted that Kira's bag and the ZAFT submachine gun was on the side of the cockpit.
"I agree with you." Kira told Mark. "I almost thought that the top brass would launch an attack against this facility, but ZAFT seemed to have the initiative. Almost reminds me of what happened in Side 7."
"Aye. But it seemed the top brass and Veda agreed that we'll need to secure one mobile suit to see its fighting capabilities."
"Can't wait to get back to my mobile suit. Soon enough, you and me will have to get rid of our legends should things come from bad to worst alongside the other two."
"Right."
Kira noted that they had arrived at the Archangel's starboard catapult deck. The young man made the Strike kneel down and placed its metal hands on the ground to allow Murrue and the others to step on the deck floor.
"Good work." Mark grinned as he patted Kira's left shoulder. "How's your right shoulder?"
"It's fine." Kira told him. "Not the best since I was shot, but it'll do unless the doctor checks on it."
Mark nodded, eying the screens to see Murrue meet with OMNI personnel, among them Natarle.
"Hey..." Mark whispered. "I've seen that lady before. She was hanging around Morgenroete talking to Professor Kato and all..."
"That woman was placed as a person of interest by Veda if I recall." Kira told Mark, watching Murrue and Natarle talk to each other. "Correction, make that two of them."
"They're the persons of interest marked by Veda for their role in the G Project." Mark added before he asked Kira. "Was the Hawk of Endymion out there?"
"Yeah." Kira replied. "I spotted his Moebius Zero battle a CGUE earlier without the gunbarrels."
"Then it's probable that we're facing against Rau Le Creuset. We'll need to warn Miss Sumeragi ASAP on this as soon as we can get out of ZAFT jamming range around here."
"Looks like things are starting to pick up." Kira pointed to one of the mechanics looking at the kneeling Strike with much apprehension written all over his face like he had heard something weird from someone crazy.
"What now? You go out first?" Mark suggested. "I can say here and watch the show before I get out in case things get a bit complicated."
Kira thought about it before he shrugged. "Yeah. Sure, why not?"
"Good luck out there." Mark patted Kira on the left shoulder again, who grinned and gave a thumbs up in response before he got the submachine gun slinged on his right shoulder. Kira then proceeded to use the cable to go down from the cockpit to the ground. At least on the Archangel.
Cockpit, TS-MA2mod.00 Moebius Zero, somewhere in Heliopolis
"A new warship?"
Mu had murmured from his cockpit seat after Le Creuset had sliced off the linear cannon. "Odd. I don't recall hearing about that in the OMNI debriefing reports." He frowned. "Unless the top brass had kept it secret or someone from within the brass wanted to keep it secret."
He proceeded to fly his gunbarrel-less Moebius Zero towards the Archangel anyway.
"It's either Blue Cosmos or the Titans. Or maybe both." The Hawk of Endymion. "Can't work on that now. Better meet the captain to see if he can allow me access on board the warship anyway."
Starboard Catapult Deck, OMNIS Archangel, somewhere in Heliopolis
"Come on. Would someone tell me what's going on here? He's just a kid. Just learned to shave and he's piloting that thing?"
That voice belonged to Kojiro Murdoch, standing near the other OMNI NCOs when they were on the starboard catapult deck.
That's Kojiro Murdoch. Another person of interest based on Ms. Sumeragi's intel. Seems to be the chief mechanic in charge of the Archangel's engineers. Kira eyed the man as he went down on the cable.
"Not only that, but he's got a weapon too!" Kojiro shouted, pointing to an armed Kira after he touched down on the metal ground.
"Hey, the kid's got a wound on his right shoulder." An armed OMNI soldier disguised as a Morgenroete employee with kevlar vest watched Kira carefully, ready to use his weapon should the need arise with his comrades. At least five of them were present.
Mir and the others went to see Kira, congratulating him for saving their lives and all.
"Lieutenant Ramius, what's going on?" Natarle asked Murrue after Kira was surrounded by his friends.
"Wow, what a surprise."
Mu appeared on the catapult deck, looking at the kneeling Strike before he introduced himself.
"I'm Mu La Flaga of the 7th Orbital Fleet at your service." The blond man told Murrue and the other OMNI staff. "It's an honor."
Murrue took the lead and saluted Mu in return when he saluted her. "Lieutenant Murrue Ramius of Sector 2, Fifth Special Division. I'm a crewman of this ship."
"Ensign Natarle Badgiruel, also of the Fifth Special Division."
Mu nodded before he asked, lowering his right hand. "I'd like to ask permission to come abroad this vessel. May I ask who's in command around here?"
Natarle sighed, remembering the time the officers were killed in the bombing attack. "A ZAFT commando team took out most of the officers in a bombing attack..." She stared at Murrue. "I believe that Lieutenant Ramius is next in the chain of command."
"What?" Murrue was startled as she expected them to have at least one survivor. "It can't be right..."
"Only a dozen of us have survived, mostly non-commissioned officers. Fortunately, I was in the shaft at the time and avoided being killed."
"Oh man, oh man." Mu sighed. This won't be good. "What an unmitigated disaster. In any case, please grant me permission Lieutenant Ramius. The ship I was assigned to was downed after engaging the enemy."
"Oh, um sure. Permission granted." Murrue told Mu, being hesitant to lead the OMNI NCOs as she felt that she lack experience aside from what the woman had learned in the military academy.
"And who's he?" Mu asked, eying Kira. Kira glared at Mu, his hand at the submachine gun's sling. That's issued to ZAFT commandos. Where did he...
"He's a teenaged civilian." Murrue explained to Mu. "For some reason, he was in the factory with an Orb auxiliary police officer during the attack. I let him get onboard the G-Weapon after he saved me from being shot by a ZAFT Red." She sighed before she told Mu of his name. "His name's Kira Yamato."
Mu grinned when he looked at Kira. Quite the story. Looks like I can have some story material later.
"Thanks to him, we were able to defeat a ZAFT GINN and secure this last G-Weapon."
"What?" Natarle was confused after hearing Murrue's story. "Fought off a GINN?" She looked at Kira. "That kid actually did it?" And the fact that he's got a shoulder wound and a submachine gun, I have a feeling that something's not right here. The black-haired woman was not the only one confused as the other NCOs and armed soldiers were confused as to how Kira got the Strike up and running.
"I came to this place as an escort to the young officers specially trained to pilot it." Mu told Murrue before he asked her. "Where can I find them?"
"The bombs detonated near the control booth where the captain was about to welcome them." Natarle explained, looking sad.
"Yes, I see." Mu sighed. Dammit, is there anything ZAFT didn't do to make thing worse?
Kira became confused when Mu was now approaching him, followed by Murrue and Natarle. A few of the NCOs did so as well.
I'm not liking this one bit.
Cockpit, GAT-X105 Strike, somewhere in Heliopolis
When the cockpit hatch was opened, Mark watched the conversation go on between Mu and the OMNI officers.
"Looks like things may be a bit complicated." Mark frowned. "Or not. We'll need to see."
He then eyed Mu walking towards Kira, followed by Murrue and Natarle.
"What's this now?" Mark noted Kira's hesitation when Mu was now beginning to talk to Kira.
"If things come to worse, then I better get ready."
The auxiliary officer slinged his compact assault rifle and instead, got out his pistol and removed the safety.
I just don't want to shoot them. Ms. Sumeragi said that they're only persons of interests, even the Hawk of Endymion himself.
Starboard Catapult Deck, OMNIS Archangel, somewhere in Heliopolis
"Did I do something wrong?"
Kira asked, keeping his hand on the submachine gun's sling.
"Not really." Mu grinned while shaking his hand. "I just want to ask if you're a Coordinator. Word out there is that you were able to get the Strike up and running without any problem."
The teenager eyed the armed soldiers nearby, tensing if Kira was a Coordinator. He had no doubt that if he revealed his true heritage, they would shoot him down. I don't blame them thanks to the OYBW.
"I'm a Coordinator."
This caused the five armed OMNI soldiers to take aim at Kira. Least they have some justification to do so since he's got a weapon in addition to being a Coordinator, the enemy of OMNI aside from pro-Principality of Zeon forces.
"I never expected OMNI to stoop this low since he's a Coordinator!"
Mark lowered himself down with the retracted cable from the cockpit, aiming his pistol at the armed soldiers.
"And I'm not a bad shot, just in case you soldiers decide to go trigger happy on him while I have any of you surviving lot arrested for killing Coordinators in accordance with Orb law. Seems you're thinking of the war as if it's like a two-way street."
Sai, Tolle and Kuzzey moved up in front of Kira, serving as his shields should some soldier decide to become trigger happy.
"Who the heck's this guy?" Mu asked when Mark arrived on the floor of the hangar.
"Allow me to introduce myself." Mark said after he got on the hangar floor while keeping his aim on the armed soldiers. "Mark Liu, Orb Metropolitan Auxiliary Police Force of the Heliopolis Detachment."
Mu checked out the beret emblem of the auxiliary police worn over Mark's head, which consisted of a gray shield with a star encircled by a wreath.
"You seem to be legit and all," Mu said after he told the auxiliary officer. "but do you have some stuff to prove that you're really what you say?"
"That kind huh?" Mark raised an eyebrow. "Don't blame ya for that since we got reports of people acting as Orb officers." Still aiming his pistol at the armed soldiers, Mark reached into his tac vest and took out his warrant card and showed the OMNI officers his picture, name, rank, badge number and a statement written on the card that states his official position with the force.
"Okay, he's really legit now. I'm not going to ask anymore on that." Mu said after he was able to look at the warrant card with Murrue and Natarle.
"Put your weapons down." Murrue instructed the soldiers, satisfied with Natarle on proof of his identification. Following her as she was the highest-ranking officer on the Archangel, the soldiers complied and lowered their weapons. Seeing that the soldiers followed her instructions, Mark holstered his sidearm on his right leg.
"Lieutenant..." Natarle told Murrue. "I think there should be an explanation..."
"It's not hard to think about really. And Officer Liu is right after all, Ensign Badgiruel." Murrue told Natarle. "Heliopolis is controlled by Orb after all, one of the many neutral nations. It would make sense for Coordinators, Newtypes or their sympathizers to live there so that they won't be involved with the tensions between Earth with the Republic of Zeon and the PLANTs."
Kira stared at Murrue when she asked, "Am I wrong?"
"You're not." Kira replied. "All I do know is that I'm a first-generation Coordinator."
"Which means you parents are Naturals." Mu concluded. "Sorry to make a fuss, Kira. Didn't mean to do that." He then stared at the Strike. "As I made my way here, I watch the guys who were suppose to pilot these have a hard time moving them via simulators." He sighed and walked towards the Archangel.
"So what do we do now?" Natarled asked Mu, his back facing her.
"You need to ask that?" Mu replied. "I've just been shot down and the Le Creuset team is waiting for us outside the colony." This earned shocks from Murrue and Natarle.
"I can tell you that he's a persistent fellow." Mu told the two women. "If you're going to ask me, I don't think we can afford to waste any time standing around here."
"Jackie, Dalida." Murrue told the two men her orders. "Can you see to it that the students are sent to the enlisted quarters for the meantime?"
"Understood!" The two men replied in unison.
"This way guys." Jackie told the students, leading them to the enlisted quarters.
"Thanks." Kira thanked Mark for his help.
"Don't mention it." Mark replied, smiling at Kira. "For now, we'll need to hang on tight 'til we're out of here."
"We'll need to do something about them, Lieutenant." Natarle told Murrue, pointing out to Kira and Mark as they were armed. "Like confiscate their weapons."
"I understand, Ensign." Murrue shared Natarle's concern. "But they're on our side. And one of them's an Orb police officer. For now, we can keep an eye on Kira. He helped protect me from being killed out there. For that, I owe him my life."
As the two made their way inside the hangar, Murrue rubbed her right arm and sighed.
Kira Yamato. It's like I've seen him before. But where?
Bridge, ZMS Vesalius, somewhere near Heliopolis airspace, Space
Le Creuset had gathered all of the active ZAFT Greens and Athrun on the Vesalius's bridge as Dearka, Yzak and Nicol were on the Gamow, being near the digital map table as Rau presented the video feed of the Strike from the perspective of Miguel's regular GINN. Ades too attended the debriefing on the bridge as well.
"You really saved my hide by bringing this video, Miguel." Le Creuset told the blond man as the masked man began his debriefing. "I would have been the laughing stock back at the PLANTs for allowing my unit to get damaged in battle against a mobile suit of the Earth Forces. No one would have believed that it was possible."
Observing those present for any signs of reaction, Le Creuset smirked to himself before he continued. "I believe all of you are aware of the incomplete status of the machine's original OS. With that in mind, I have no idea why this lone unit maneuvered so well."
Athrun nodded after hearing what Le Creuset said. Kira.
"But I want to make one thing perfectly clear. We cannot afford to turn a blind eye and allow them to have possession of it. If we cannot capture it, we shall destroy it with that new warship." Le Creuset saluted the Greens and Athrun. "So don't underestimate it."
The Greens and Athrun saluted back, not caring about the smirk on Rau's face.
"Miguel, Olor." Ades spoke up next after Le Creuset was done. "Prepare to launch at once. You've been authorized to use weapons configuration D. This time, let's see you put an end to all this."
"Sir!" Miguel and Olor replied before saluting Ades and leaving the bridge.
"Captain Ades." Athrun asked the ZAFT Black officer. "Please grant me permission to sortie as well."
Odd. It's not like him. Ades raised an eyebrow before he told the ZAFT Red. "I don't think that can be possible, Athrun."
"Besides, you have no mobile suit." Le Creuset added. "And you've already accomplished the extremely crucial job of capturing one of those G mobile suits back in Heliopolis."
"But, sir..." Athrun was trying to argue against Le Creuset.
Ades frowned and told Athrun. "Let the others go this time, Athrun. Miguel and Olor have more to prove given the humiliation they suffered out there."
Locker Room, ZMS Gamow, somewhere near Heliopolis airspace, Space
Nicol, Yzak and Dearka were in the locker room of the Gamow, watching the GINNs being mobilized with heavy missiles from the hangar.
"I heard that Commander Le Creuset authorized D-type weapons." Nicol told the other two, frowning.
"Heh." Dearka grinned, floating around the locker room. "That oughta teach Orb a lesson for helping OMNI."
"Of course, Dearka." Yzak agreed as well. "Now it's going to bring a lot of trouble for the Orban government over this."
"But Heliopolis is a part of neutral territory." Nicol tried to reason with the two. "We'll be in big trouble once this goes all over the news."
"Look Nicol." Yzak sighed. "I understand that we shouldn't be in neutral territory, but ZAFT got intelligence that Heliopolis was being used as a test bed for OMNI mobile suits. It's just like Side 7, which experienced the same thing."
"Except that it was destroyed because a Zeon soldier disobeyed orders regarding the rules of engagement." Nicol told the gray-haired ZAFT Red.
"I don't like it as the next person does, Nicol." Dearka spoke to the green-haired ZAFT Red. "Really I do, but since OMNI forces in Heliopolis disregarded ROE rules in attacking us, we only defended ourselves."
"I agree with Dearka, Nicol."
Nicol sighed, seeing that the two can't agree with his views.
I just hope the people in Heliopolis are able to escape before ZAFT's name is tarnished.
Mobile Weapons Hangar, OMNIS Archangel, somewhere in Heliopolis
Mu had been called in Kojiro to the mobile weapons hangar, changing to his all-white OMNI uniform once the Archangel maintenance crew began to scavenge for supplies from the damaged Morgenrote factory as they were taking everything including fresh water and... perhaps the kitchen sink.
"Hey Murdoch." Mu greeted the mechanic. "I heard that you needed to call me."
"Yeah I do." The two men walked past by the Strike and the Moebius Zero as they were being placed under maintenance, the latter having to replace the linear cannon and secure new gunbarrels for the space-based mobile armor. "I found something that could be of interest of you."
"Really?" Mu raised an eyebrow after hearing what Kojiro told him. "You don't say, Murdoch."
"You think I'm kidding around during this time." Kojiro smirked and raised an eyebrow at Mu, showing him an upright SVMS-01 Union Flag with four gunbarrels mounted at the back.
"You're kidding me?" Mu was surprised to see the Union Flag with the gunbarrels. "A Union Flag with gunbarrels? I thought it wasn't feasible."
"Don't know the full details myself." Kojiro told Mu, surprised. "But I got some of the guys to make a full check on the weapons and all. It looks good, but I thought that you might want to check it out yourself."
"Sure. If it'll give me a potentially better edge against the GINNs and whatnot. I remember that Aker's got a unit for himself back in the AF."
"Indeed he does." Kojiro led Mu towards the Union Flag. "Officially, it's suppose to be known as the SVMS-01GB. Kinda like how they had the SVMS-01E designation for Aker's Flag."
"Well thanks for the history lesson." Mu smirked at Kojiro. "Just lead me to the cockpit and I'll take care of this guy. Hopefully it can be ready in case Le Creuset decides to have another swing at us."
Enlisted Quarters Section, OMNIS Archangel, somewhere in Heliopolis
The Heliopolis college students and Mark were told to stay in the Enlisted Quarters section of the Archangel since it was obvious that the officer's section was now meant for Murrue, Mu and Natarle.
Mark eyed Kira, who was now sleeping at the bunks while leaning on the wall as he kept his eye on the students.
"Hey, how are you holding up?" Kuzzey asked Mark while Sai and Tolle were talking with Mir.
"Fine really." Mark sighed. "Least we'll be safe in here."
"You sure?" Kuzzey stared at the sleeping Kira.
"Got some reservations?"
Kuzzey shook his head. "No. Not really. I trust Kira with my life should things come to worst."
"That's my boy." Mark patted Kuzzey on the head. "Least you know what you're talking about. And I thought you're harboring anti-Coordinator stuff..."
"NO NO NO!" Kuzzey insisted, waving his hands. "Speaking of which, is ZAFT still out there?"
"Afraid so. Can't raise the radio with the other auxiliaries nor can I use mobiles."
"Dammit. I was so afraid of that. It seems that Kira's able to rewrite the OS of that Gundam during the fight against that GINN."
"I know how you feel, Kuzzey. Really I do."
"Hey..." Sai greeted Kuzzey and Mark. "So who do you think is responsible for collaborating with OMNI in the first place?"
"I have some guesses." Mark shrugged. "Maybe someone among Orb's five noble families."
"Can't be Attha for obvious reasons." Sai told Mark. "While I have a gut feeling that Seiran may have something to do with this, I doubt that they'll just allow OMNI to collaborate with Morgenrote, so it's got to be the Sahakus."
"You sure?" Mark asked Sai. "What about the other two families?"
"Can't be right." Kuzzey told Mark. "I remember reading the papers recently about the Sahakus wanting to assist in ruling the entire Earth."
"Which is a bunch of hogwash to me for obvious reasons." Sai told Kuzzey. "But still Kuzzey, you got a point. They could have initially approached OMNI to collaborate with them."
"I doubt they'll stand by like that since Orban forces don't have much mobile suits despite the neutral nations trying to offer mobile suits as a gesture. I think they only accepted the Human Reform League's offer for Tierens..."
And then there's still that thing on the Astray project. We weren't able to take the said mobile suits into custody, so it probably means that the Orban Army's going to destroy them ASAP to cover their tracks.
"What are they doing?"
Mir asked Tolle, seated on one of the beds as they saw Sai, Kuzzey and Mark talk to each other.
"Don't worry Mir." Tolle reassured his girlfriend. "They'll be fine. I heard Mark's a military freak, so he's probably sharing some information with Kuzzey and Sai."
Mir nodded. "But I can't seem to wonder who in Orb would work with OMNI to create mobile suits of their own?"
"I know." Tolle told Mir, sighing. "Even if we know someone in the government was helping them, what can we do from there?"
"I agree. But I hope that we can survive this so that we can go home."
"We'll be fine." Tolle hugged Mir, who gladly returned the hug back to Tolle. "We'll be just fine, Mir. I mean we got Kira on our side."
Bridge, OMNIS Archangel, somewhere in Heliopolis
Murrue and Natarle were on the Archangel's bridge, the former now in OMNI uniform, after she replaced the handset back on the command chair's right armrest.
"Seems that Lieutenant La Flaga's down in the hangar making checks on a Union Flag modified with gunbarrels." Murrue told Natarle. "That ought to give us some advantage in addition to the Strike to help us escape Lagrange 3 and bring the civilians back to Orb." And I still need to figure out Kira, especially since he's good with firearms. Where did he learn that?
"I surely hope so." Natarle said, leaning on the controls of the Archangel. "Even with those two mobile suits, they got most of the stolen G Weapons to their advantage. But I'll admit that it's a first that a Union Flag has gunbarrels on the back. We may have an advantage in keeping them away from us for the time being."
"And I thought that they weren't suppose to be in service." Murrue sighed. "I wish Lieutenant Aker was here on hand to give us some backup since I heard his piloting was quite good. Last I heard, he's with the AF Army's MSWAD division."
"So did I. As far as I heard, he's still detailed on Earth to conduct anti-Gundam investigations on the M organization which had Gundam-like mobile suits."
"Sorry I'm late." Mu said, grinning after he got inside the almost empty bridge. "Murdoch had me check out the Flag in the hangar after I got here from my Moebius Zero."
"I got bad news to share with all of you." Murrue told Mu and Natarle. "I was told by the Orb Police's Heliopolis detachment that the colony's almost evacuated to a hundred percent. The problem is the hazard level is increased to level 9."
"Guess we can't look for a shelter to place them into." Mu sighed, shrugging his shoulders. "Considering our current conditions."
"Lieutenant Ramius had placed those students and the auxiliary officer under her custody since they had possibly seen top secret hardware, considering the Strike." Natarle told Mu, emphasizing their position.
"So what, we're going to bring them with us?" Mu raised an eyebrow. "Once we leave Heliopolis, we're going to be involved in some major fighting out there with the Le Creuset team."
"It seems we'll have to rely on the Strike and the Union Flag if we're to escape successfully." Murrue told the two. "With most of the G Weapons in the hands of the Le Creuset team, I don't think one mobile suit should be able to ward them off."
"You're going to ask Kira?" Mu asked Murrue, wondering if he'll take the offer.
"I'm afraid so." Murrue sighed. "I'll go see him in a few minutes."
"But what happens if he refuses to do it?"
"Why don't you pilot the Strike as well as with the Flag, Lieutenant La Flaga?"
"That has got to be the craziest joke I ever heard, Ensign Badgiruel." Mu said to Natarle, shocked. "If you checked the Strike's OS, it's only meant for pilots of Coordinator origin. People like you and me can't pilot it anymore."
"Then tell Kira to change it..." Natarle told Mu before she stopped, realizing that it wouldn't work anyway. Never mind. "Still it's inappropriate to let a civilian pilot the Strike, even if he's from one of the OMNI member states."
Murrue frowned while she listened in to Natarle's explanation that Kira shouldn't be allowed to be near the Strike.
I heard that name before. Really I do. Was it before I enlisted in the AF Army and my transfer to OMNI?
"I guess you won't mind if we're going to be easy targets for Le Creuset, hmmm?" Mu threw a smirk at Natarle. However, the black-haired woman didn't take the smirk so kindly.
"I'll go see Kira now, so you two hold the fort here if you don't mind." Murrue told the two before she exited the bridge.
"Guess we'll have to wait and see if the Lieutenant can convince Kira to give me a hand later on." Mu said as he relaxed on the helmsman's chair.
Bridge, Unknown Ship, somewhere near Heliopolis, Space
"Miss Sumeragi, I've spotted some GINNs emerging from the Vesalius with M66 missile launchers!"
Sumeragi Lee Noriega went over to see the console of Christina Sierra, spotting dots that indicated GINNs from the Vesalius. It was a good thing that they hid behind a huge and long asteroid in order to conceal their ship from ZAFT radar and visual detection.
"Shit! They really are desperate to secure the last G Weapon!" Lichtendahl "Lichty" Tsery, one of the ship's helmsmen, groaned after he heard what Christina.
"I know, man." Lasse Aeon, the ship's other helmsman and gunner groaned as well. "You think that they'll just step back and think about the ramifications of their actions just for one second?"
"Well it seems ZAFT's intending to capture the last G Weapon and the new warship or destroy them both." Sumeragi told the two helmsmen. "Feldt, tell Setsuna and the others to immediately mobilize. I fear that Mark and the others are in danger."
"Yes, Miss Sumeragi. I'm on it." Feldt Grace went to work on contacting Setsuna and the other three mobile suit pilots of M.
"Let's just hope that Mark and the others are safe before Heliopolis is destroyed." Sumeragi whispered.
"I'm not liking this one bit." Lasse murmured.
"Speaking of which," Lichty asked Lasse. "how's the ZAFT Red guy Mark had secured in Heliopolis?"
"Dr. Moreno's treating him as we speak. Good thing our guys came in as Morgenrote employees with OMNI gear too to make the infiltration less suspicious."
"Right. I hope Miss Sumeragi's plan to evacuate Mark, Kira and the others later on will work without any interruption."
Near Enlisted Quarters Section, OMNIS Archangel, somewhere in Heliopolis
Mark had just left the Enlisted Quarters section to use the toilet when he saw Murrue approach Kira, asking him before he refused instantly.
"What happened?" He had Tolle and the others as he watched Kira and Murrue.
"The Lieutenant's asking Kira to pilot the mobile suit with Lieutenant La Flaga. He's saying no."
"Look, Kira..." Murrue frowned after hearing Kira say no to her offer.
"Look we all know that there are hostile tensions between OMNI with the Republic of Zeon against the PLANTs, but not everyone supports either position!" Kira yelled at Murrue, clenching his fists. "That's why we decide to take refuge in neutral nations like Orb to stay out of them permanently. So that we don't take part in it more than we are."
Kira frowned and looked down. Tolle and the others looked at Kira with sympathetic eyes.
Heh. If the others aside from us in the four-man group know, Kira won't hesitate to kick butt to help people like us. Mark smirked to himself as he watched while keeping a neutral expression.
"Lieutenant Ramius! Lieutenant Ramius!" Murrue heard the PA system page for her. She immediately went to the nearest intercom and pushed the button.
"Yes, what is it?"
"You need to get up here and assume command of the Archangel's bridge since you're the captain. We got incoming mobile suits. And they're heavily armed to the teeth." Murrue was shocked to hear what Mu had told her.
"Me? The captain?" Murrue told Mu, confused.
"I'm sorry, Lieutenant. I have seniority, but I wasn't told much on how this ship operates." Mu replied, insisting to the brown-haired woman. "Only except with how the bridge works from what Ensign Badgiruel told me a few seconds ago."
"Are you ready to mobilize with the Flag?"
"I am. Just give the word."
"All right. Just be sure to be on standby, Lieutenant La Flaga. And tell everyone on the bridge to start the alert to be on Level 1 battlestations and start getting the Archangel for takeoff."
"Understood, Lieutenant Ramius. Just to warn you as well, jamming levels are rising too so I won't be surprised if they start attacking the colony as well."
Mark raised an eyebrow when she mentioned the world Flag. A Flag huh? Didn't know that the intel on the G Project included a Flag. Last I heard, the MSWAD's 8th Independent Tactical Fighter Squadron had a few of those in limited service.
"Well you heard the Lieutenant." Murrue told Tolle and the others. "With that and the hazard levels in Heliopolis placed in Level 9, I can't let you all go and risk your lives. Your best option is to stay here and escape with us until I can find a way to get all of you guys back to Orban territory."
"Tolle..." Mir was scared as she hugged Tolle. Kuzzey muttered "Shit" to himself while Sai said that their problems are getting worse.
"You're not being fair to us..." Kira was going to yell at Murrue when Mark decided to step in.
"Kira." Mark spoke to the teenager while he patted his left shoulder. "As much as I'd like to help disagree with the Lieutenant here and perhaps take your place since I had some mobile suit experience from National Service with the Tierens, I don't think Lieutenant La Flaga can handle things by himself when he's going to be out there. Besides, what if Commander Le Creuset decides to send out his forces to finish us off in order to wipe out any traces of the warship and the mobile suit you secured?"
Mark's right. The L.T. would need some help. I'll just keep up my pro-pacifist legend for a little bit longer with the other guys before we need to evacuate the Archangel. But something's nagging me about this woman... I get this weird feeling that I've met her somewhere before.
"Mark's right." Kira sighed after hearing his "explanation". "I will fight with Lieutenant La Flaga. But I'll just fight to make sure I can get my friends evacuated to safety."
"Thank you, Kira." Murrue sighed when she heard the answer. "And one more thing, Kira?"
"Yes?" Kira said, wondering what the officer had wanted to ask him about.
"Can I ask you something in private?"
"Oh, sure."
Murrue and Kira walked away from the Enlisted Quarters section while Mark told the others that they needed to stick around the area for now and listen to what the brown-haired woman had told them to do.
Bridge, Unknown Ship, somewhere near Heliopolis, Space
"Exia and Dynames have been deployed." Feldt told Sumeragi. "Preparing to launch Kyrios out of the catapult with Virtue following behind."
"Remember Setsuna, Allelujah, you'll need to fight off the GINNs before they can launch the M66s from their missile launchers onto Heliopolis or onto the Archangel. We need to make sure it's still functioning to secure them before we extract our colleagues from that ship. Lockon and Tieria should provide backup."
"Roger." The monotone voice of Setsuna F. Seiei replied from the Exia's radio.
"Will do." Lockon Stratos' Irish accent came through as well. "I'll make sure that I can shoot the GINNs down."
"Kyrios, I have control!" Allelujah Haptism came through Feldt after being told that Kyrios was on the catapult and was cleared for launch. "Allelujah Haptism! Kyrios, moving out!"
"Now it's a race against time." Lasse sighed. "And I don't like this one bit."
"I agree with you, Lasse." Lichty told Lasse.
"Kyrios has now launched. Proceeding to place Virtue on the catapult deck." Feldt said before she told Tieria. "Virtue, you are now cleared for launch."
"Tieria Erde! Virtue, moving out!" Tieria's voice was heard from Feldt's console as he moved out, following close behind Kyrios.
Corridor, en route to Mobile Weapons Hangar, OMNIS Archangel, somewhere in Heliopolis
Murrue walked beside Kira as they made their way towards the mobile weapons hangar, the latter now wearing a blue, black and white OMNI pilot suit with the helmet clutched on his left hand.
"Kira, there is something personal that I need to ask from you. Do you mind?"
Kira heard Murrue's question and replied right away. "I guess it's fine. Feel free to ask."
Murrue frowned a bit before she raised her question to Kira. "Did you get the feeling that we've met somewhere before?"
Kira was a bit stunned when he heard the question, but kept his neutral expression on. "I think so. I can't remember where though Lieutenant. I'm sorry, but it's a blank."
Murrue shook her head. "It's quite all right." The two were approaching the door to the bridge. "Maybe we can talk about it later, okay?" She then saw Kira nod. "I'll need to get back to the bridge, so I'll see you later."
"All right."
"And one more thing..."
"Yes?"
The woman stared at Kira's right shoulder, remembering the time that he took the bullet for her.
"I want to thank you for what you did back there when you took the bullet for me back in the factory." Murrue told Kira, smiling at him.
"Y-you're welcome." Kira told the woman, almost feeling his cheeks go red.
"How's your wound?"
"F-fine. My friends managed to patch this up and I'm fine, but I'll go see the doctor later to change the dressing."
"Well I'm glad to hear that Kira." Murrue kept her smile up. "I'll see you later."
Kira felt his hearbeat go fast before Murrue went back to the bridge.
Not now Kira. Kira wore the pilot helmet as he walked to the hangar. Not now.
"Let's get this show on the road."
Cockpit, GN-002 Gundam Dynames, approaching Heliopolis, Space
"All right guys." Lockon told Setsuna, Allelujah and Tieria on their encrypted frequency after launching from their ship. "Once we get near or inside Heliopolis, Setsuna and Allelujah should start taking down the GINNs that have ZAFT D-Type Equipment. I'll hang back and snipe them with Tieria assisting me here."
"Roger that." Setsuna replied.
"Got it." Allelujah replied after Setsuna.
"Understood." Tieria replied calmly.
"Well then, let's go and intervene while saving our comrades in the Archangel!"
Lockon then led the three other Gundam-type mobile suits towards Heliopolis, flying faster than the GINNs thanks to their GN Drives.
"Enemy mobile suits! Enemy mobile suits!" The haro placed on the console served to assist Lockon in spotting mobile weapons deemed to be the enemy.
"Well, looks like they're about to arrive." Lockon said as he and the other three got in the colony via the hole Rau had made to escape from the initial battle against the Archangel and the Strike. "Time to get this thing started."
Bridge, OMNIS Archangel, somewhere in Heliopolis
Murrue now took her seat on the bridge's main command chair after seeing Natarle and Jackie were in the CIC while Romero, Dalida and Arnold stayed by their original positions.
"Our top priority is to escape from Heliopolis." Murrue told the bridge crew. "Be careful not to damage the colony during battle."
"I don't think that's possible." Jackie murmured before he noted that heat signatures were detected flying in the colony. "I'm getting thermal signatures of four mobile suits. They're not with OMNI, the Titans, ZAFT or Zeon."
"This may bring us to a worse situation." Murrue sighed.
"Hold on!" Jackie shouted as he checked his console. "I'm getting thermal patterns of GINNs! And they're heavily armed!"
I hope two mobile suits can hold them off, though I'm not sure on what those unknown mobile suits are doing. Are they from M?
"Another group's coming from the Tannenbaum District. Also heavily armed."
"Now they're getting serious." Natarle murmured before she went to her headset's mic. "Get the Strike and the Flag Gunbarrel Custom deployed at once."
"Yes, ma'am!"
"Keep an eye out on those unknowns, everyone!" Murrue told the crew.
Cockpit, GAT-X105+AQM/E-X02 Sword Strike, somewhere in Heliopolis
"Looks like this configuration can work." Kira muttered as he observed that the Strike's designation was now known as the GAT-X105+AQM/E-X02 Sword Strike on his console. He had already gotten his seatbelt on the moment the cockpit hatch was sealed. "And power is at 100 percent capacity."
Kira eyed the radio, seeing that it was still under a "JAMMED" status. "Better try if I can contact Miss Sumeragi in case we can get ZAFT off our backs later."
"You're cleared to be deployed, Strike."
Kira looked at the console and saw that it was Natarle from the CIC seat in the Archangel's bridge.
"Understood."
"Keep an eye out for the four mobile suits that entered Heliopolis. We're not sure if they're allies or enemies."
"Yes. Um, understood ma'am!"
"Here goes." Kira sighed and got the helmet visor down in front of his face before he shouted, "Kira Yamato! Strike Gundam, heading out!"
A few seconds later, the Sword Strike Gundam was catapulted out of the Archangel's right catapult into Heliopolis airspace as he was facing the four "unknown" mobile suits and the incoming GINNs.
Bridge, OMNIS Archangel, somewhere in Heliopolis
Jackie reported back to Murrue on a new incoming mobile suit.
"Got another mobile suit coming. X-303..." His eyes shot open when he saw who the mobile suit designation belonged to. "It's the Aegis."
"They're not hesitating to use it against us." Natarle gritted her teeth.
"Has Lieutenant La Flaga been deployed yet, Ensign Badgiruel?" Murrue urgently asked her, knowing that their situation was now becoming more and more urgent.
"His mobile suit's already in the launch catapult, Lieutenant Ramius."
"Then have him launch at once." So they're sending it back into battle to us without hesitating? Until the Aegis' pilot can be driven off, it looks like we'll never make it out safely...
Cockpit, SVMS-01GB Union Flag Gunbarrel Custom, somewhere in Heliopolis
"Nifty mobile suit here." Mu got the helmet visor down after getting the seatbelt on and turning on the mobile suit's power to get it running. "But let's see how this work in an actual combat."
"You're now cleared to be deployed, Flag."
Mu saw that Natarle was in the CIC on his console.
"Understood. There anything I should know about?"
"Four unknown mobile suits came into the colony, so we're not sure if they're friend or foe. Also the Aegis came in with the GINNs."
"I knew it, Le Creuset isn't just to sit back and let us escape. All right, I'll take care of things from here."
"Here goes." Mu gave a deep breath before he shouted, "Mu La Flaga! Flag Gunbarrel Custom, heading out!"
The Union Flag Gunbarrel Custom was catapulted out of the Archangel, following Kira's Sword Strike into battle.
Try to stay in one piece Kira. The Archangel'll need all the help it can get.
Bridge, Unknown Ship, somewhere near Heliopolis, Space
"All of the mobile suits are about to engage the ZAFT GINNs with the Aegis."
Feldt reported back to Sumeragi a few minutes after Tieria had launched.
"Good work. Now it's up to Lockon and the others to secure the Archangel and fight the GINNs."
Cockpit, ZGMF-1017 GINN, somewhere in Heliopolis
"Where did those mobile suits come from?"
Miguel's regular GINN came into the damaged Heliopolis armed with the M69 "Barrus" Heavy Ion Cannon while most of the other GINNs that came along with him were armed with the M66 "Canus" Short-range Guided Missile Launcher.
"Hey Miguel. Seems that those four mobile suits are coming to get us. What do we do?"
Miguel heard a transmission from Olor Koudenberg, who came along with Miguel with a M66.
"Dammit." The blond man gritted his teeth after he heard what Olor told him. "We'll need to divide our forces to take on those mobile suits. Hey Athrun, I want to see the same spirit that you had when you defied orders from the commander."
"I can take care of that, Olor." Olor told Miguel. "You get whoever's available to take on the legged ship, including the Aegis."
"Roger, Miguel."
Miguel noted that comms were now slowly being jammed after his last transmission to Olor. The strange thing is that all ZAFT-made mobile weapons are N-Jammer-proof.
So that means the unknown mobile suits are responsible for the jamming. The ZAFT ace noted the particles emitting from the Exia, Dynames, Kyrios and Virtue alike.
Chapter 3 END
PS - Now I do wish to introduce Gundam Wing characters/mobile suits/maybe a faction or two, but given the setting I propped up, I'll need a little more work on how to get them in the current war between OMNI/Titans and ZAFT/possible anti-Zeon Republic forces. I find Lady Une quite interesting especially her personality problem. :p
As always, reviews are appreciated with suggestions also. Same goes with if you think something's not right and deserved to be "taken care of", let me know ASAP. For details on the timeline of the Universal Era, check chapter 2.
One more thing, no Turn A also aside from G Gundam and Gundam X since they won't make sense in the UE universe. Sorry. That and I haven't seen them yet though I'm familiar with the characters and the mobile weapons.
Notice that I didn't follow the usual conversation route with Sai and Kuzzey (and maybe Tolle and Mir) after they were in the Archangel's Enlisted Quarters. You'll know why later on in future chapters. As for Kira, well his initial pacifist self based on the show's a legend since he's an agent of M, which will also be explained later on. Any questions aside from this, let me know as well.