Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Seed

This is another chapter that turned out longer than I thought it would.

Gundam Seed Purpose Renew

Chapter 15: Their Decisions

I 'abandoned' the Archangel to protect it. But honestly there are a few other reasons I left too. Rear Admiral Duane Halberton, Commander of the Eighth fleet, primary supporter of the G-Project. He's a man of honour, idiots might say 'one of the few in the Earth Alliance' but that isn't true. I've met good commanders and bad commanders, many of them had honour. Halberton is a 'coordinator sympathiser' though really that's just how people who need labels refer to someone who doesn't give a shit if you're a coordinator or not. That's not to say that there won't be problems when the ship reaches the Eighth fleet, oh yeah there will be safety.

But I'm betting right about now Natarle's talking to Murrue about getting Kira to join the military.

Natarle and Murrue both were in the lift, leaving the bridge to go to one of the lower decks.

"We need to talk about Kira Yamato," Natarle said.

"Talk Ensign Badgiruel?" Murrue raised her eyebrows in confusion.

"All of the students from Heliopolis were exposed to the Strike, they also witnessed firsthand the emergence of the Massacre, we created the Massacre from research stolen from Sensou, including that element," Natarle explained.

"The secret is out Natarle, besides, neither ZAFT nor those children have any idea what the Massacre really is, and from what Gekido said everyone at the Sensou facility was killed," Murrue explained.

"I doubt Gekido Jaeger truly knows the research behind the Purpose or the link with the Massacre," Natarle said.

Natarle, honestly I know she underestimates me and I'm okay with that. I've got her worked out to a T, career military woman, military brat obviously trying to live up to expectations from a more famous relative. So everything she does, whether it's by the book or not, is for the military. If it was up to her, she would forcibly conscript Kira.

"He has piloted the Strike, whatever his reason before, he's proven himself to be a talented pilot and a great asset to the military, we cannot allow him to leave," Natarle explained.

"I understand what you're saying, but he only piloted the Strike to protect his friends and the refugees aboard the ship," Murrue said. "But with them now safe, he has no need to stay on the Archangel, and he is a citizen of Orb."

"But his parents are in the custody of the Earth Alliance government, as opposed to deporting them..."

"You sound like you're suggesting kidnapping Natarle," a voice spoke round the corner.

Kai, the chef of the Archangel, a great guy. He's seen the frontline, he understands how tough life can be on it. Wanting to escape that life for the luxury (by comparison to the frontline) life of a warship is understandable.

"Then again," Kai paused, leaning his head out and smirking. "I suppose if it's the government doing it, it isn't legally kidnapping right?" he winked and Natarle frowned at him. "I'm going to oversee resupply of water and food ma'am," he saluted Murrue, whom nodded.

"Kira Yamato is a citizen of Orb, I wish he would stay to, but we have no right to hold him no matter how valuable he is to the military," Murrue said to Natarle, expecting that to be it.

Murrue Ramias, she's a great woman, I saw her discipline at Heliopolis. She was new to that type of command, but she had a talent for it. As stupid as the whole situation was, she needed help from the Heliopolis guys, including Kisagi and Tachi. I hated her for pointing a gun at them, but respected her position. Still do actually, I wouldn't be surprised if Halberton gives her the Archangel as her continued command.

The Archangel crew, including the Heliopolis refugees and the volunteers stood watching a shuttle dock. Out of that shuttle came Admiral Halberton, the officers immediately saluted and a warm smile crossed the Admiral's face. At his gesture for them to stand easy he floated towards Murrue, taking her hands tenderly like a father holding his daughter.

"When we heard reports of Heliopolis's fate we immediately thought the worst, thank goodness you all made it," Halberton said.

"There came times we thought we wouldn't make it, even times we faced unexpected opposition," Murrue said.

"Yes, Artemis, tensions have grown because of that, the Eurasian Federation kept the details of their own mobile suit development project from us. Let me see your crew, and congratulate them," he stepped past Murrue, looking at the main bridge crew, Murdoch and Mu included amongst them. "At ease, at ease," he laughed as they saluted. "Well done to each and every one of you, La Flaga, I understand you weren't supposed to be on the Archangel, but thank you for your support."

"It wasn't a place I expected to be on either Admiral, but acting Captain Ramias has excelled, as has the rest of the Archangel's crew, none of us were alone in protecting the ship," Mu explained.

"I've heard other things, are those the volunteers from Heliopolis?" Halberton asked.

He approached the Heliopolis students, Kira's friends.

"I thank you all for your support of the Archangel, I've made some calls and I can assure you, your families are all safe," Halberton said.

There were smiles and cheers amongst the refugees. Sai patted Kuzzey's pat and Miriallia and Tolle hugged. Kira himself smiled, though it seemed half hearted. Flay wasn't even smiling, too caught up in her own grief to even be happy for her friends.

"After my other duties are complete, I'd like to sit down and speak with each of you concerning what happens next," Halberton said.

Smooth Admiral Halberton, 'I'd like to chat with each of you about the future.' Translation: How much did you see at Heliopolis? Or 'have you considered your future career?' 'You can make a difference, we could really use soldiers like you.' His intentions though good, are the same as any other manipulator, telling half truths to get you to do what they want. That's how it's always been, for everyone of us mercenaries, a bright and charming smile hides a darker intent.

The Sensou-Merc approached the Nazca class carrier, a standard blue/green ship, though there was a red X on the left 'wing'. Two Long Range Ginns flanked the ship, aiming their rifles at the Merc, which raised its hands, its camera blinking rapidly. Inside the bridge three pilots in purple and black uniforms stood together. One was blue haired and had a braid running down his back, next to him was a man with a dark skin tone, a scar running through his mouth and the third was a bone like man with glasses on.

Jacob Ferris, M'Kabo Fareed and Deacon Lordes, the three of them are the 'dark stars' of the Xanatos team. They didn't quite make it to Tri-star, but they work well together and are the only notable pilots of the Xanatos team besides Xanatos himself.

A huff escaped the lips of the man sitting on the chair behind them. He wore white gloves and had his white jacket draped over his shoulders. With a medium build he stood, as tall as any other man on the bridge but more respected. The mess of spiky blonde hair had one streak of red on it, a streak that hung over his nose. He also had a scar on his eyebrow. The blue eyed man grinned, holding between the fingers of his left hand a type of pipe. Lifting it to his mouth, he took a drag and chuckled.

"It looks like not everything is good in heaven," he said.

Lance Xanatos, a distant cousin of Dagger Thanos. Inherited a sizable fortune from his father, one of the founding billionaires behind the initial Plants project. After that, Lance turned mercenary before finally settling into ZAFT's military. As charismatic a leader as his cousin, he is a capable mid range to close range fighter.

Xanatos and his trio of pilots floated to the hanger, where, Bentos Hagan climbed out of his machine, grinning from ear to ear.

Bentos Hagan is a man with a code, but don't expect him to take some moral high ground. I knew he was one of the men who fired the nukes at Junius Seven. He's no saint, he'd be the first to admit it. He's not out to make or break the world either, he accepts that soldiers will have little control compared to the politicians over how the war ends. Sure he'd do a favour for a friend, if he didn't already have a greater offer.

Halberton had made Murrue's office his own, he sat more comfortably on the chair than Murrue did. She stood more confidently too, as just an officer seeing her superior, alongside Mu and Natarle. They had been discussing the war effort and the G-weapon's project. As well as some of the events that had taken place.

"I can't say I'm displeased by this Gekido Jaeger taking the Clyne girl off your hands, or his abandonment of the Archangel altogether," he said.

"You didn't approve him being part of the crew?" Murrue asked.

"Mercenaries are a troublesome lot, I understood the need for them with our current rate of power, private corporations had their own mobile suit development projects, some mercenaries were even former ZAFT operatives disillusioned with their side, able to take their mobile suits with them. Some mercenaries have even come from the far colonies such as Jupiter. Though we can't confirm it, this 'Vanishing trooper' you encountered was part of Beowulf company, officially the company is busy settling border disputes between the split Jupiter government," Halberton explained.

"So Earth and ZAFT aren't the only factions at war?" Mu asked.

"Technically everyone's at war with one another, the Earth Alliance is at war with ZAFT and that war is fought with ships and mobile suits, the Atlantic and Eurasian Federations are at war with one another and they fight that war with subterfuge and politics, their end goal control. And the mercenary companies are at war with one another, the deciding factors of this war is the contracts and money they gain. For too long we've allowed mercenaries to have their way, but, if we were to finish our own mobile suit development project, what do you think would happen then?"

"The services mercenary companies offer would be obsolete," Murrue said.

"Yes, I have nothing against these individuals, I respect them as warriors but I am already fighting the pencil pushers in Alaska, they must come to see Project G as a better alternative, otherwise the war will continue to go on, the Earth's economy will eventually be drained on mercenaries with no interest in the war ending. Those politicians on Alaska also waste time on concessions and negotiations, but at this point a cease fire would only leave the Earth Alliance with nothing but a drained economy and energy crisis," Halberton explained.

"What can we do Admiral?" Murrue asked.

"The Archangel must reach Alaska, it must return to Alliance HQ on Earth, once people see the Archangel and the Strike, then they will see the value of continuing Project G and with the data stored aboard the Archangel they will be able to complete our mobile suit development project," Halberton stated.

As I said, only interested in his own agenda, no matter how noble it may seem. Some people ask, isn't it better for a war to end? 'There shouldn't be a war', 'nothing is gained from a war'. Partly true, the only thing governments care about, is which of the sides comes off better off. When it comes to the lives lost everyone is a loser, but the economy? Trade? The balance of power, these things are all decided by the events of war, there is only one winner in these things. It isn't just politicians who are interested in it, you ask any soldier, hell any regular civilian and I guarantee you the average Joe, though tearful over the dead will be glad that their side is not the loser.

Wes Mercis looked through the window of the shuttle. He and the remainder of the advanced fleet's mobile armour pilots were being sent to a new ship. The boy looked between the Archangel and the ZAFT fleet.

"They're like hunters aren't they?" the man next to him asked.

"More like we're the lambs waiting for slaughter," said another pilot.

"You know I heard that if you go into a fight accepting that you could lose, you are going to lose," Wes said. "Still, I don't know why we aren't staying on the Archangel, I mean, they need a bigger crew don't they?"

"I for one am glad to be staying in space, adapting to gravity can be a nightmare."

"I'm glad to avoid all the diseases they've got on Earth," another pilot behind Wes said.

"Diseases, were you born in the colonies?" Wes asked.

"Yeah!"

"Don't fall for every horror story they tell you about Earth, although, I suppose it depends on where you live," Wes said.

"Oh yeah, Mercis here is Earth born, educate them Mercis," a brown haired man said, he was at the front of the shuttle, sitting on an aisle seat.

Jean-Paul Delacroix, the best pilot in France, broke flight records for speed and endurance under heavy G's. Deployed as escort at Junius Seven, didn't fire any nukes but survived the 'revenge assault' made by Dagger Thanos. Later on survived another battle with Dagger Thanos. As for the whole 'Earth diseases' thing, well residents of space invent stories about the Earth. Some view it as paradise, themselves exiled from it. Others view it as hell, a place humanity needs to get away from.

"Like I said," Wes began, noticing quite a few of his fellow pilots were looking at him. "It generally depends on where you live. The N-Jammers left quite a few cities without power, but even before that there were places on Earth where poverty and starvation were common things. Earth is overpopulated, but there are some places empty, other places you can't go more than five steps without bumping into someone," he explained.

"How was it for you?"

"I spent a few years in Orb, my grandpa lives there, the cities are pretty crowded but we made our home in the countryside. Orb didn't get hit by the energy crisis, which is why it can afford to stay neutral," Wes said.

"Why the hell weren't they hit by the N-Jammers?"

"Geothermal power, they draw their energy from volcanoes. Anyway after I hit ten mom did most of her business when on the road, she got promoted and that required her to travel a lot, across different parts of Earth and even the Plants at one point," Wes explained.

"You've been to the Plants? Coordinator central," one pilot sneered.

"I've got relatives in the Plants so watch your fucking mouths all right," Jean-Paul said.

"You have relatives there commander?" Wes asked.

"Yeah, coordinators aren't some alien species, they're humans, whom had natural parents that made a choice to alter their genetics. Whether they're first gen or second, none of them have a choice in what they are, any more than a person's race or gender," Jean-Paul explained.

"Or sexuality," Wes added, looking out of the window again and pushing his arm between the arm rest and his cheek. "Even if someone's been born male, their gender isn't really their choice. Humans can't help being who they are," he muttered.

"Damn right, so Wes, did you make any friends in the Plants?" a pilot asked.

"Not really...well," Wes raised his head for a moment. "I suppose there was one person."

The shuttle docked with the ship, and there and then the mobile armour pilots were ordered to their new machines. Wes put on his brown flight suit and looked up at the row of new Moebius units built.

War leads to developments in weapons, evolution in tactics and equipment has to continue to be carried out. In order to match the manoeuvrability of the Ginns, the Earth Alliance added manipulator arms to their mobile armours. Some with added rockets for more speed, or shields for added protection. Though the G-Weapons couldn't be mass produced, their anti-beam shields could, why waste a perfectly good shield?

Wes ran his hand across the white and blue paint, shaking his head at it. His own mobile armour had manipulator arms with shields on them, and an 180mm cannon attached to it. Suddenly he felt a little more confident in the fight.

Development, an edge, evolution, change, people are always looking for it. I know the Earth Alliance will be looking for any edge they can get, sometimes no matter what the cost to others may be.

"Sir, if I may, it concerns the Strike and Kira Yamato," Natarle began, taking a step ahead of Murrue and Mu.

"I wish to say something regarding Kira Yamato too admiral, Kira only piloted the Strike so that he could protect his friends, he's a sweet, kind boy, who doesn't want to have any part of this war," Murrue explained.

"I suspected as much, your thoughts Badgiruel?" Halberton looked to Natarle.

"Kira Yamato knows too much about the G-Weapons project, he's see too much as well and it isn't overstating things to say that if we didn't have Kira piloting the Strike we never would have gotten here. His talent as a pilot is something we can't afford to part with," Natarle explained.

"I know he was valuable, but he's made it clear hasn't he that he has no desire to serve as even a military contractor," Halberton said.

"I know sir, but it isn't just Kira's skill as a pilot, but also his potential to assist the development project itself, he wrote an OS for the Strike, in the middle of a battle. From what I understand most pilots outside of ZAFT don't write OS's to assist them, they develop their control of their machines like one would a muscle. Kira's programming skills would eliminate the need for pilots to adjust to their machines."

Basically, Kira's cheating, he's good because he's got the computer. Now before you flame, I'm not saying he isn't good. But come on, without auto-target he'd have trouble. Hell I bet if he could he'd spam the beam weapons...that feels like a premonition.

"Kira Yamato's parents I understand were picked up by the Alliance, if we were to take them into custody then..."

"YOU ARE SPOUTING NONSENSE!" Halberton yelled, slamming his fist into the desk. "What use would such a soldier be to us," he saw through Natarle's plans, the moral disaster it could be for the Alliance.

"Yes sir, I'm sorry," Natarle stepped back in line.

"It burns me, it burns me that those in Alaska waste time on talks of concessions and negotiations, that they only see the figures on paper and not the soldiers beneath those figures. We must get Project G back on track, and getting the Archangel to Alaska is the key. You three have served as the foundations of the Archangel crew, I need you all to continue to lead the Archangel's current crew. I can cover your escape to Alaska, but the rest is up to you," Halberton explained.

"Yes sir," the three officers saluted the admiral.

Halberton, he could make people fly into hell. The fleet is basically done for, and the Archangel, they'll be left to continue with their miniscule crew and a small refill of supplies. The expectation being of course that they'll have an easy path to Alaska headquarters, but since when does everything go according to plan?

Gekido looked up at the Purpose as the drones continued to make adjustments to his rocket boosters. He then looked to the platform above him, seeing Vincent floating towards his machine.

"Good luck," he told the pilot.

Vincent nodded in appreciation. A few engineers were waiting at the cockpit of the Proto-Dagger.

"The mobile suit lacks the protection the Ginn has against G-Forces, and you'll have a lot hitting you with the rocket boosters we installed, to reach the battlefield before the fleet is decimated, you'll need to move faster than the human body can, which is why we're putting these layers of insulation on your suit," one of the engineers explained.

They began putting pieces of armour and insulation on Vincent's suit. By the time they were finished, he nearly fell back under the extra weight. They had to place him inside the cockpit.

"Damn it, I can barely move my arms, isn't there a way to purge it after I've cleared the distance to the fleet, I won't be able to fight with this thing on," Vincent said.

"It's the best defence you have against being crushed, we can't afford to give you a more advanced flight suit."

Vincent grit his teeth together, closing the hatch for the Proto-Dagger and began running through the activation sequence. He checked over the rocket boosters attached to the mobile armour bottom half of the suit, the fuel canisters were connected and the connection with the boosters was stable. Then came armaments, the head Vulcans had full clips, and the missiles were fully armed. That was his main concern, the prototype Agni cannon was a last resort weapon and he wasn't sure yet about the anti-ship sword and beam sabre, both of which had to be connected via wire to the main battery. His eyes were drawn to the specs of two experimental weapons an MA-X100 beam sword. The blonde haired pilot took a deep breath and then slid the visor of his helmet over his eyes. He felt the suit get pushed out of dock, he activated the back thrusters, pushing the Proto-dagger further from port.

"Keep up slow poke," a voice spoke over the radio.

He looked to his left, seeing the Dokuganryu and the red machine on their booster packs. Seeing how easily they flew their machines out of port reduced his confidence and he stopped, almost froze. All he could hear was his own breathing, heavy, panicked. He saw the flare of Sakon and Casvall's engines and watched them fly away.

"No fear, no fear," he whispered.

His expression hardened and he pushed on his controls.

"Vincent Rach, Proto-Dagger, taking off!"

The suit's visor gleamed as its boosters flared and it flew off. Gekido saw the launch and smirked.

Vincent Rach, there's a man I think I'll keep my eye on.

He turned to the cockpit of his Gundam, but froze. His eyebrows twitched and he sighed. Standing there, in her pink uniform was Kettei.

"Hey Geki," she said.

Great, the old friend who starts to grate on you after a while. It's been a few seconds and already she's grating on me, must have been the more stable personalities I met on the Archangel. Those normal guys, Miriallia, Tolle, Sai and Kira, well him and Flay are going downhill. Was there someone else amongst that group...I could have sworn there was another guy, what was his name? Meh, probably not that important.

"I heard you had gotten a new machine, impressive," she commented, looking up at the Purpose.

"You can't have it," Gekido said.

"But I want it," Kettei giggled.

She floated towards the Purpose's hatch, giggling again as Gekido floated towards her.

"I'm presuming that pink mobile armour is yours right?" he asked.

"Yeah, support craft Delta-Mac, though I wanted to call it Phoenix, or Franx," she grinned.

"No, don't call it that," Gekido groaned.

Kettei smiled and took Gekido's hand, causing him to raise his eyebrows in confusion. She leant back, pulling Gekido with her into the Purpose.

Wait a minute, oh no, no, don't you say it Kettei!

"Let me get a taste of you, you are now, my darling!"

Don't you do it.

She crashed her lips into his, her extended canines scratching his mouth.

"Damn it, you realise that whole piloting system in that series is a metaphor of sex right?" Gekido asked.

"That's why it's awesome, you know I'm a fan of that part of anime, I'm guessing this Gundam of yours has a secret power right...I suppose those series are all right, oooh I know, you could Super Robot Wars it, you need to start coming up with attack names!" Kettei explained.

"No," Gekido threw Kettei out of the machine, causing her to yelp.

"HARO!" the round machine jumped in after Kettei left, only to be thrown into the back of her head.

"Geki, you're abusive!" she rubbed the back of her head, mock tears gushing from her eyes.

"SO WHAT!" Gekido yelled.

She is my friend, and I am glad to see her. But I'm kind of missing those guys from the Archangel. The Archangel, strange how I'd be drawn to that ship. Or maybe it is the people on it, not just my adopted family, but those others guys too.

Flay stood behind her friends, though truthfully she didn't know if she could say that about them anymore. None of them looked at her, her father's death seemed like such a distant thing to them. At the moment she understood they had no reason to focus on her. Natarle and another Earth Alliance empire had come down to their quarters, gathered them up away from the other refugees and began to hand out forms.

"Conscription is illegal under Alliance law, you were each given access equivalent to an ensign and as such were exposed to military intelligence not given to civilians," Natarle explained.

"But we volunteered to help," Miriallia said.

"And we're grateful for that, but there are still laws we have to follow, these forms are nondisclosure agreements and voluntary service forms, stating that you volunteered under your own volition," the officer explained.

"Why weren't we given something like this before hand?" Sai asked, reading over the forms.

"In short we didn't have the time, but by signing these forms, we all avoid any reprisals," Natarle said.

"I suppose that makes sense Kuzzey said.

"Where is Kira Yamato?" Natarle asked.

"Last I heard he was in the hanger," Tolle said.

"Please, give these forms to him as well," Natarle gave them to Sai.

"Excuse me," Flay spoke up, causing the others to turn to her.

"You didn't participate in any battles, you won't have to sign these forms," Natarle said.

"No that's not what I wanted to ask," Flay took a few steps forward, walking amongst those she once called friends.

Sai and Mir looked at her in surprise, seeing a determination in her eyes they had not seen before.

"I'd like to join the military," her words made the others gasp.

Flay Alster, a soldier, don't scoff there's more than one way to serve. And there's more than one way to be dangerous.

"Flay," Sai muttered.

"Do you realise what you're saying?" Natarle asked.

"I'm not saying this just for the fun of it," Flay said. "I spent some time thinking after my father was killed."

"Then you're the daughter of vice minister Alster," the officer said, shocked.

"Yes, I'm Flay Alster," she lowered her head as she spoke. "I was in shock before, but afterwards, all I could think about was how I couldn't stand what had happened and how I didn't want to be where I was," she explained, drawing looks of sympathy from the others from Heliopolis. "But when we joined the fleet, and I realised we could finally land on Earth, I felt uneasy about something."

"Uneasy?" Natarle looked at her curiously.

"Should we be feeling safe? Will we now live in peace?" Flay had put her hands together, making it look as if she was praying, the emotions pouring from her voice. "No, not at all," she shook her head.

As she spoke even then, refugees on the Archangel were waiting to board a shuttle. Holding their bags, their possessions, the hands of their loves ones, or just grateful that they had made it off. Kira stood hesitant, thinking of the conversations he had with Murrue and with Halberton himself. A girl handed him a paper flower and thanked him for protecting them.

"The world continues to fight a war," Flay continued. "I just never noticed it while living in a neutral nation," her words invoked remembrance from the others.

They remembered the Massacre and how it rose from Heliopolis, appearing like a demon from hell. Then they remembered the subsequent destruction of the colony and every battle they had fought. Flay herself, focused on the death of her father, the round from Thanos's rifle ripping through his shuttle.

"My father worked desperately to end this war. If true peace and security can be protected only by fighting," she lowered her head and allowed her tears to fall. "Then I wish to inherit my father's will and fight."

Flay was shaking, putting her hands over her eyes to wipe them. Sai rubbed her shoulders soothingly, though he still felt useless trying to offer comfort.

"Even though my abilities may not be of any use to the military," she said, finally resting her head against Sai's chest.

Flay Alster, out of everyone on the Archangel, she was the only one who made me cautious. Canard was a soldier, and he possessed an anger I could understand. He was a kindred spirit, but Flay, her anger was different. It was the kind brought on by loss, and she wasn't, and probably won't aim that anger properly. She suffered the loss of the only family she had left, the only person whom loved her without condition. At this point in her life, she can't understand that there's more than your parents. But, she's old enough to understand that she is her father's daughter, that she's inherited a gift for the silver tongue. Maybe some part of her actually believes what she says, maybe some part of her does truly want the war to end. But that is not her primary motivation.

How do I know this? I know anger, come on, do I really need to explain myself?

The thing about being able to sound right, about having a silver tongue, is that you can convince others that you're right. Those kids on the Archangel, Kira's friends, they're the kind of people that passionate words and half truths would effect.

Sai watched Natarle take Flay away, no doubt to talk her through the application process. He turned to the members of the group.

"As she says, the world continues to fight a war," he said.

Sai Argyle, he'll be the first to willingly sign up. To choose not to escape, and it's not just for Flay. True, he's a bit of a puppy, lost in love and looking to follow Flay. But it's also true that he isn't the kind of person who can turn his back to this war, not when he's seen so much of it. None of them can.

To their shock, Sai ripped his forms in half.

"What Flay said was actually how I felt as well," he said. "Besides I can't leave her behind."

Then Tolle Koenig, arguably Kira's best friend on the ship. He always had Kira's side, his back, before Sai he was the one to go to his defence, to stand in the way of guards that wanted to point their guns at Kira. He's got that talent for piloting too, not mobile suits, but being a helmsman in general. Like Neumann he has that expression when he's flying, that focus, that determination. He's come to respect everyone of the Archangel crew members, just as his friends have.

"The Archangel is short staffed, I'd feel responsible if it got shot down later," Tolle said after ripping his forms apart.

Of course after him will be Miriallia Haw, cause she loves him. But also because as communications officer, she's heard every soldier on the battlefield. She was our closest link to the ship, and as close to the battlefield the others in CIC could get. After hearing a soldier's last moments, after hearing their panic and their rage, she can't help but continue to listen. More than that Miriallia has that compassion that allows her to listen, to care about the soldiers she's communicating with.

Mir ripped her forms apart, much to Tolle's shock.

"If you're staying then so am I," she said, drawing a smile from him.

Am I forgetting someone? Was there another one in that group? Hmmm, oh yeah that other guy. Buzzey Kuskirk wasn't it...well of course he's going to stay because...fuck it, everyone else is staying.

"If you're all leaving, how do you expect me to stay?" Kuzzey asked.

They stood in silence, the torn pieces of paper in their hands.

"You're an idiot," Tolle said to Sai.

"So are you," he retorted.

"You're the idiot," Kuzzey said.

"Maybe you're right," Sai relented.

The four of them began to laugh, that was until Tolle looked at the forms on Kira's bed.

"But he'll disembark won't he?" he asked.

Honestly, I liked those four, cause unlike everyone else I had met, they were normal. They're friends who laugh, make jokes about seemingly meaningless stuff, they mess around and they stand by one another. Those guys I think if they survive can go back to living normal lives, that is if they don't get killed and if they can survive the loss of their...innocence. I don't want them to change, I want them to grow from this war, to be better people because of it. But that hate that Flay is feeling, I don't want it to pass onto them and I don't want it to destroy her either. Strange, to actually care about others, even a bitch like Flay. But, that one, Kira, I don't want her rage to destroy him. Because he's like his friends, he can't stand by and watch either.

Beams and missiles flew between the ZAFT and Earth Alliance ships, signalling the beginning of the battle for the Archangel and the Strike. Upgraded Moebius's and mercenary jets were launched against ZAFT and mercenary mobile suits. The Wild Arms flew, firing several shots that destroyed some of the mobile armours. Zack swerved to the left, avoiding the beam cannon from a Drake class ship. He looked to his right, seeing the Ginns of Lucas Giles and Cairo Niwa. Lucas's was black with green highlights, a cannon was attached to his left shoulder and he raised an axe over his head. Crashing the axe through two Moebius's, Lucas then fired his machine gun, destroying several missiles before they could hit Cairo. The giant's Ginn was bulkier than the other Ginn's, having thicker legs and shoulders to support the heavy cannons on them. In both arms of the Ginn were long barrelled heavy cannons, ones that Cairo fired with maximum accuracy, ripping through several Moebius's before slamming against a Drake class ship. Lucas was the ultimate defence for Cairo, shooting and crushing anyone who tried to attack him. Zack saw explosions actually shake the Drake class ship.

Next he saw the machines of Jessica Millenia and Michelle Witter. Jessica's was black with pink highlights, her Ginn's legs were thin and the boots were made to look like high heels, bladed heels as Zack watched in shock as Jessica slashed through a mobile armour with a kick. Her recoilless rifle also had a grenade launcher attached to it. Michelle had a simple green Ginn, but when Zack flew closer he saw that there was a black lightning bolt on the Ginn's shoulder. Her ion cannon also had some upgrades to it. Firing the beam weapon alongside Jessica's machine gun, they took out waves of Moebius's. Her fifth shot hit the damaged Drake class, destroying one of its main beam batteries.

"The way is open Marcus," she said over the radio.

"Oh love, I think we both know that man would have gone for it anyway," Jessica chuckled.

There was a loud ringing noise in Zack's mind, and he turned his head, just as an object dashed past his Gundam. He followed the object, realising it was a Ginn. It was scarred, having several patches of reinforced armour on the vital areas. But, the machine was going so fast that its back thrusters were rattling, and the long handled lance it held outwards was glowing red. The machine of Marcus Loussier took machine gun rounds to its torso and head, its knee was actually blow off but it kept going. The crew of the Drake class ship's bridge screamed before the lance crashed through the glass. Marcus ripped through the bridge, blunting his lance, but then using it as a hammer to quickly attack mobile armours that got too close. Once the lance broke apart, he grabbed a Mobile armour.

"Oh god, oh god, get away, GET AWAY YOU SPACE MONSTER!" the pilot screamed, before the Ginn ripped it apart.

"This is, the strength of the True Storm unit, incredible," Zack whispered. "Sumika, old man, you guys were right, these people aren't warriors, they're demons."

Again he heard the chime, and he looked up. Floating above him was what he guessed to be the personal Cgue of Dagger Thanos. It was black, but had layers of grey armour on its knees and chest. The horn had a jagged edge to it and in place of a shield was some kind of metallic shroud on the mobile suit's right shoulder. This shroud turned into a third wing as the Cgue raised its arm, revealing a javelin with a beam edge on it.

"He made a beam weapon," Zack gasped.

Much like Marcus before him, Thanos flew past Zack before he realised the man was flying. The Cgue moved left to right, dodging beams fired by an Agamemnon class ship. First, Thanos dragged his beam javelin across the side of the ship, then cut two mobile armours apart, before following through with his swing and slicing through the bridge of the ship.

"If they're the demons, then he's the king of hell. This is it, the real battles they prepared me for," Zack muttered.

He squeezed the controls of his suit, first in fear, then in anticipation.

"I need to step up then, I'll show you all the power of Beowulf, I'll fight!" determination crossed his face and he flew, launching himself like a missile towards his target, the Archangel.

Just as he approached Halberton's ship however, he stopped. Someone was in his way, a mobile suit. A Gundam type judging from the head and the V-fin. The armour was a mix of white with blue on the arms and the V-fin, its chest area was mostly black. Looking at the suit, Zack could see that the Gundam was lightly armoured, but on its legs were missile launchers. It also had a bazooka and missile launcher attached to its back. The Gundam held an additional bazooka, had a rifle on its hip and a shield in its other arm.

"Well, looks like I have a little competition," Zack muttered.

Inside the Archangel, Yamato smirked.

"Gundam Astray Blue Frame, let's see if you're worth the money, Gai Murakamo," he said.

Everyone's gathered, for what'll be the biggest fight of the war so far. Kira, I know what choice you will make, but I wonder, is it going to be because it's the right thing to do, or because of what you hear Flay say? Damn it, why am I giving that girl so much credit? Why am I giving you so much less? You whine, you cry, and the whole coordinator/natural thing seems to actually be a problem to you, 'fellow coordinators' what crap is that? But deep down inside, despite the trouble I give you, I think you're a strong person than that. You're not gonna fight for love. You damn well better not Kira Yamato!

Gekido closed his book, putting it in a utility pocket on his harness. He had changed his flight suit colour from orange to grey. Kettei and Mujihi stood behind him, the former in a pink version of Gekido's suit, and the latter in a purple version. Mujihi had a wolfish grin on his face, and Kettei was blushing. Beneath them, Keegan stood with a few other Sensou pilots, their standard issue normal suits were white with blue stripes running down the arms and legs. The run of the mill soldiers had yellow on their collars and chests, and the visors of their helmets were also white and yellow. They had flight masks to cover their mouths, with the additions of blue visors to seal around them. Keegan though had the latest helmet design, it and the blue visor would cover his entire face. Unlike his subordinates the yellow of his suit was blue.

"Sir, why are we beneath them, aren't you higher in rank?" one of his soldiers asked.

"You don't know do you, why soldiers like Gekido and those other two, wear those flight suits do you?" Keegan asked and the young man shook his head. "The company puts all their resources into them, because they're the best fighters, but it also separates them from us because they're the most monstrous," he explained.

"What?"

"Berserker, war addict, psychopath, demon, there are many terms, those three and others of their kind, they're not laughing at one another's jokes, they're smiling because they can't wait to get into the battle. That's why they're launching first, they can cause maximum damage because like monsters, they don't care who gets caught in the crossfire of their battles," Keegan explained, looking up at the pilots with a glare.

The three machines were launched from the station, attached to their booster packs. Slowly, a grin crossed Gekido's face.

Time for me to join the fun!

Next Chapter 16: Battle in orbit

Hope everyone enjoyed the chapter, next time the battle truly gets started.