Chapter 12 is now up. This chap will easily make up for lack of action in last chapter, well hopefully. Enjoy!
The four stolen G-weapons on the Guuls charged towards the Archangel for another attempt of ridding ZAFT of it. On the legged ship the Astray and Strike prepared to go up on deck as the Skygrasper's launched first.
"Hey Ryan, Tolle said you allowed him to pilot the second Skygrasper, is that true?" Mwu asked appearing on one of the smaller screens of the Astray, giving a slightly serious face
"Yeah that's right, you have no idea how whiny he was about piloting it." Ryan said jokingly at the last part.
"Alright then I'm heading out." Mwu said as his Skygrasper launched losing the serious expression, followed by Tolle's aircraft.
"Ryan the enemies are the Blitz, Buster, Duel and Aegis, good luck out there." Mir informed as usual.
"Alright, Mir don't worry I'll make sure Tolle gets back." Ryan said reassuringly, receiving a smile from Mir as the Astray made it's way onto the deck unable to fly in the Earth's atmosphere, followed by the Strike using the launcher pack. The Archangel released smokescreen as the four Gundamsneared the ship, making the four stop in their tracks, the Skygrasper's flying above.
"Kira, Ryan I'm sending you the co-ordinates of the enemy." Tolle said as the Strike and Astray positioned themselves to fire.
"Ok then, Kira don't forget we're to capture the ones Athrun and Nicol are piloting." Ryan told Kira as the Astray's beam rifle and the Strike's Agni cannon fired, all shots narrowly missing the unsuspecting mobile suits.
"Ryan, which one does Nicol pilot?" Kira asked
"The Blitz." Ryan replied as the four suits quickly spilt up, the Strike switched to the Aile pack as it and the Astray took off, the Buster fired it's beam cannons at the Strike, it quickly dodged and tackled the Buster off it's Guul and landed on it using it as it's own, the Astray fired beam shots at the Blitz forcing it to block, when it let it's guard down the Astray was looming over it and kicked it in the chin knocking it off it's Guul the Orb suit then landed on it and started exchanging shots with the Duel, after several shot's were fired and dodged the blue gundam moved in to attack with it's beam sabre, the Astray did the same bringing one out from the hip and clashed with the Duel, neither giving ground to the other.
"Who is this guy?" Yzak asked in frustration at the new suit and it's pilot. Close by the Strike and Aegis continually circled each other, whilst firing their beam rifles at each other none scoring a hit, until one of the Strikes shot's pierced the Aegis's Guul causing it to explode, the Strike then jumped off it's Guul and kicked the red gundam in the chest sending it hurtling downwards to an island below, the Strike moved back to land on the ship's deck. The Duel and Astray broke from the clash, the Astray reacted first and lunged off it's Guul and rammed into the Duel then quickly kicked it off it's Guul and plunging towards the sea, the Duel quickly fired missiles and caused the Guul to blow up and forced the Astray to fall back and land on an island, the same one as the Aegis both near the edge. The Aegis stood back up and looked over to see the Astray a few feet away it's beam sabre in hand.
"Ryan is that you in there?" Athrun asked as the Aegis prepared itself, both wrist beam sabres activated.
"Yeah it's me." Ryan answered bluntly
"Why didn't you stay in Orb with Arli?" Athrun asked slightly angry.
"That's none of business right now." Ryan snapped back, the Astray ran towards the Aegis and swung it's sabre, the Aegis blocked with one of it's wrist sabres and struck back with the other, the Orb suit moved out of the way in time, the Strike landed in between them, now using the Sword striker pack.
"Athrun give up you've lost." Kira stated the Strike preparing to attack
"Did you forget our promise Kira! That you would destroy me!" Athurn shouted back the Aegis preparing itself.
"You promised to destroy each other, your both idiots." Ryan said agitated, the Astray moving to stand beside the Strike. The Aegis rushed towards both of them, Astray moved ahead of the Strike and stopped it's attack. "Athrun do you really want to kill your best friend?" Ryan asked, throwing Athrun off guard at the question. The Astray broke the clash and kicked the Aegis away, making it stumble.
"Kira is the enemy!" Athrun shouted in response. "He chose to join the Earth Forces!" Athrun continued shouting the Aegis thrusting forward and knocking away the Astray as it charged for the Strike, as it neared it swung it's wrist sabre at the strike, the white gundam blocked with it's anti ship sword before breaking off and punching the Aegis in the head making the gundam fall to the floor, the phase shift deactivating, losing it's red colour and replaced with a dull grey both suits neared the fallen enemy.
"Athrun get out of there!" Nicol shouted as the Blitz phased in, running towards the two with it's beam sabre drawn.
"Nicol stop!" Ryan shouted at him, causing the Blitz to stop before it lunged at the Strike.
"Ryan?" Nicol asked to turn to the Astray, which had ran towards the Blitz and kicked it sending it hurtling backwards towards the sea, before it crashed in to the water it launched it's gleipnir claw and grabbed the Astray's arm dragging the Orb suit with it both plunging in the water as the Duel and Buster landed either side of the fallen Aegis.
"Athrun where's Nicol?" Yzak demanded as the Duel and Buster fired shots at the Strike causing it to block and move back. Athrun didn't respond but stared at where the Blitz and Astray had fallen. "Athrun answer me!" Yzakshouted at him, as if in response a tower of water rose high abovethe island, the attack halting to look, the Archangel, flying above the battle fired at the enemy Gundams below as the water fell back down, nothing emerging from it.
"We have to get out of here." Dearka said with authority as the Buster moved away from the ship's attack, the Duel doing the same. "Athrun come on, we need to get out of here." Dearka said to Athrun, who was staring wide eyed at where the water had risen before reluctantly retreating with the other two.
"Athrun where's Nicol?" Yzak asked as the three mobile suits were out of range of fire.
"Nicol's…dead that new machine of their's got it." Athrun managed to say, holding back his tears, the other two had a look of disbelief on their faces, but didn't question any further.
"Ensign Yamato get back to the ship." Natarle ordered "Where's Lieutenant Ryan?"
"I don't know." Kira muttered, watching the spot where he saw the Astray fall. The Strike turned to head back to the ship when a noise was heard from behind, the Gundam turned back round to see the Astray flying out of the sea, carrying the Blitz with it.
"You weren't going to leave me now were you?" Ryan asked humorously as the Astray landed on the island, the Orb suit had lost it's top right and top left wings and had lost it's right arm. The Blitz was worse off, having lost both it's legs and half of it's left arm, there was also slight damage to the torso, the phase-shift had lost it's power.
"Ryan what happened?" Kira asked in shock at the battered mobile suits.
"He can explain when your both on the ship, both of you return now." Natarle ordered again. "And bring the Blitz with you." She added, both mobile suit's flew into the air into the hangar of the Archangel, the Strike helping to carry the Blitz, both Skygraspers had already returned, the Blitz, was set on the hangar floor before the two suits went to their positions in the hangar. Ryan opened the cockpit and quickly made his way to the Blitz, opening it's cockpit from the side, some of the crew including Mwu and Tolle, watched at how eager Ryan was to get to the stolen Gundam. When the cockpit hatch opened Nicol was slumped to one side, unconscious.
"Is he okay?" Kira asked walking towards Ryan.
"I think he's just unconscious, probably from the explosions being close ranged, better get the doctor to make sure he isn't injured." Ryan answered, turning his head to face Kira.
"What happened?" Kira asked looking over the Blitz again.
"Well, once Nicol dragged me down under the sea's surface he started firing at me, I countered by slicing the Blitz's legs off, at the same time, he quickly shot the Astray's arm which obviously caused explosions, luckily neither of the mobile suit's main were badly damaged or destroyed so once I recovered from the shock I resurfaced dragging the Blitz with me." Ryan explained.
"So the pilot of the Blitz, you know him?" Mwu asked walking over to the two.
"Yeah, we're friends." Ryan answered bluntly, Mwu didn't look fazed by the answer, but simply nodded, they heard a groaning sound and turned to see Nicol starting to regain conscious, several soldiers came into the hangar armed with guns and made their way over to the Blitz. "That won't be necessary." Ryan said to them, making the soldiers stop, Ryan pulled out one of his own guns as Nicol looked up to see Ryan looking back at him.
"Where am I?" Nicol asked sounding weary, to no one in particular.
"Well your not dead." Ryan answered "You're on the Archangel, so that makes you a prisoner for the time being." Ryan continued, motioning for Nicol to get out of the cockpit, when he did Nicol looked around , leaving his helmet in the cockpit. "Are you injured anywhere?" Ryan asked, Nicol shook his head.
"So you were the pilot of that suit, I thought it was a trick when you attacked me." Nicol said looking at the Astray.
"Yeah sure was, I just wanted to attack first before Kira did when you stopped." Ryan explained.
"Kira?" Nicol asked facing Ryan.
"He's the pilot of the Strike." Ryan answered pointing towards Kira. "Now I have to get you to the holding area, since you are a prisoner." Ryan continued, starting to walk with Nicol in front.
"Isn't Kira that guy who was on the other side of that fence in Orb?" Nicol asked as they walked through the corridors.
"That's right and the owner of that robotic bird." Ryan answered, his gun by his side. "And he's a co-ordinator."
"He is, guess that's why he's so good." Nicol said slightly surprised at first. "Where's that other suit you were using?"
"Hydra, I left it at Orb so it could get upgraded." Ryan answered as they arrived at the prisoner hold.
"Upgraded?" Nicol asked confused as to what it meant.
"You'll see, depending on how it goes at Alaska." Ryan said as Nicol walked into a cell nearest to the door. "Well I better get going and try to fix my mobile suit, I'll talk to you later." Ryan said as he walked back out and headed for the hangar, putting his gun back. Once there he saw most of the mechanics had already begun repairing the damaged Astray, the Blitz had been left where it was.
"How soon will you be able to fix it Chief Murdoch?" Ryan asked as he stood next to the Chief mechanic overseeing the repairs.
"Not sure, it shouldn't take too long to replace the arm thanks to the spare parts, but it might take a while to fix the wings and all the other structural damage." Murdoch answered.
"Well just try to get all the major repairs done, I just need it to move to fight the next battle." Ryan stated
"You think they'll attack soon?" Murdoch asked
"They probably think that Nicol, the pilot of the Blitz is dead, so it wouldn't surprise me if they attack again soon, to get revenge." Ryan answered folding his arms. "What are you going to do with the Blitz?" Ryan asked looking over at Nicol's Gundam.
"Well be able to repair what's left of it, even that could take a while so we're better off leaving it for the time being." Murdoch responded after barking orders at the other mechanics.
"Any way I can help?" Ryan asked, making Murdoch chuckle slightly.
"No, we'll take care of it, if they'll attack again as quick as you say you better get some rest at the very least get some food." Murdoch said smirking, Ryan returned the smirk before walking out to the cafeteria, when he got there and got his tray he noticed one extra then normal.
"Hey why is there another tray?" Ryan asked the chef
"That's for the prisoner but no one's taken it to him yet." The chef responded stopping from cooking for a second.
"Ok, guess I'll take it to Nicol." Ryan said before grabbing the tray and going to the prison hold. When he entered he saw Nicol sitting on the bed staring at the wall, Ryan placed the tray on the floor and slid it on the gap between the bars, which caught Nicolsattention, who looked at the tray then looked up to Ryan.
"Better then having no food." Ryan said taking a bite from his own food.
"Thanks, how the repairs on your mobile suit going?" Nicol asked after picking the tray up and starting to eat the food.
"Hopefully it'll be fixed before your friends attack us again." Ryan answered simply "They'll be looking for revenge." Ryan continued Nicol looking at him questionably. "They most likely think your dead." Ryan stated matter of fact tone.
"Yeah I figured that seeing as how I haven't returned ." Nicol said solemnly "Which means they'll probably all go for you at once." Nicol stated watching Ryan's expression
"Hey I'm not that good of a pilot." Ryan said jokingly. "I'm pretty sure Kira and Commander La Flaga will back me up." Ryan continued sounding confident
"Commander La Flaga?" Nicol asked
"He's the pilot of the Skygrasper, also known as the hawk of Endymion." Ryan answered, now leaning on the wall having finished his tray of food.
"I've heard of him but never actually known what his real name was, but who was piloting the second one then?" Nicol asked, interested
"Tolle piloted it but he's just a rookie pilot, I just hope he doesn't go into the next battle." Ryan answered looking down on the floor
"Why not?" Nicol asked curiously
"Because I promised Mir our CIC and Tolle's girlfriend that I'd make sure he didn't get shot down but I don't think I can if Athrun and the others are going to do anything to avenge your apparent death and take down the Archangel." Ryan explained
"Good point." Nicol admitted sighing. The silence was interrupted by the sound of the sirens. "Don't get killed out there." Nicol said encouragingly as Ryan made to run out.
"Me, get killed not likely, it's the others I worry about." Ryan said smirking as he ran out and down the corridor, leaving Nicol to finish what was left of his food. Ryan ran past Kira and Flay not taking notice of what they were talking about and into the hangar and saw that his Astray now had two arms again.
"I hope your not thinking of going out there?" Murdoch said to Ryan form a few feet away.
"Why not?" Ryan asked a confused look on his face.
"We may have replaced the arm and the wings but it isn't totally repaired." Murdoch explained, frowning
"It can still fight which is good enough for me." Ryan stated heading over to the cockpit and getting in, Murdoch sighing in defeat. Ryan switched on the main power and put his helmet on, then opened up communications with the Strike. "Hey Kira what were you and Flay talking about?" Ryan asked Kira who was in the cockpit and hade a blank expression on his face.
"What? It was nothing." Kira stammered.
"Did you dump here or something?" Ryan asked his mouth twitching.
"How did you find out?" Kira asked surprised but slightly miserable too.
"Because I guessed and you just practically told me." Ryan answered trying his hardest not to smile or laugh. "So why did you then?" Ryan asked curiously however Kira didn't answer so he didn't ask anymore about it.
"Ryan are we still trying to capture the Aegis?" Kira asked as the Strike made it's way to the catapult.
"Sure are, but let's try to capture the other two as well." Ryan answered
"Why?"
"Well they're friends of Nicol and he'd hate me if they got killed." Ryan answered simply, the Strike launching as he finished his sentence.
"Ryan the enemies are the Buster Duel and Aegis." Mir informed even though it was unnecessary.
"That was obvious, where's Tolle?" Ryan asked as the Astray prepared to launch
"He's here on the bridge, why?" Mir responded
"No reason just hoping he won't be in this battle. Ryan, Astray launching!" Ryan said as the Astray launched and hovered in the air before landing on the deck with the Strike. "Hey Commander try to disable the mobile suits if you can so we can capture them." Ryan requested to Mwu as the Skygrasper, using the launcher pack launched.
"That's pretty tough but I'll try." Mwu answered as the three stolen Gundams started firing at them. The Strike and Astray blocked with their shields while the Skygrasper barrel rolled and fired the Agni at the Buster forcing it to move out of the way, then countered with shots from it's beam cannons, the aircraft able to dodge each one. The Strike flew upwards and fired beam shots at the Duel causing it to move back, the Astray quickly flew upwards and attempted to slash the duel with it's beam sabre, but the Duel moved out of the way and fired it's missiles at the Astray, the Orb suit pulled back to avoid the missiles and landed on the Archangels deck. The Aegis avoid the shots fired from the Strike and jumped off it's Guul and fired the syclla cannon down at the ship, which veered to the right avoiding a direct hit but the shot still made contact and several weapons were destroyed. The Aegis landed on it's Guul as the Astray took off again and fired it's beam rifle at the enemy suit but the Aegis dodged it and fired back with it's beam rifle.
"Nicol was your friend Ryan and you killed him, why?!" Athrun shouted at Ryan as the Astray avoided the beam shots.
"You idiot Nicol isn't dead!" Ryan shouted back
"You're lying!" Athurn shouted not willing to hear as the Aegis continued to fire at the Astray forcing it to block with it's shield, the Duel came up from behind the falling mobile suit and fired it's beam rifle and missiles at it.
"What?!" Ryan shouted in surprise as he barely manoevured the Astray out of the way, the Duel flew off it's Guul and kicked the Astray.
"You're going to pay for what you did to Nicol you bastard!" Yzak shouted at him, the duel landing on it's Guul, the Strike came up and started firing at the Aegis, the red gundam moved out of the way of each one before both Gundams drew their beam sabres and clashed together. The Astray once again landed on the Archangel, the ship falling towards an island, and was going to crash land. The Duel continued to fire on the Astray forcing it to block, the Sky grasper streaked between the two as it continued to trade fire with the Buster, neither scoring a hit. The Duel turned to fire at the Skygrasper, the Astray quickly moved as the ship crash landed and fired several beam shots at the blue Gundam one hit and destroyed it's Guul another took out half of it's left leg, the Duel began to fall towards the island but fired another volley of misslies as it fell, Astray dodged most of them but one hit it's beam rifle, destroying while two were able to hit it's left arm destroying it as well. The Skygrasper fired the Agni and hit the Buster's Guul destroying it and forcing it into a free fall with the Duel nearby, the Buster combined it's beam cannons into the shot gun form and fired one last shot as did the Skygrasper with the Agni, the shot hit the Buster in the right arm, taking off half of it, one of the Buster's many shots collided with the left side of the fighter plane damaging it and forcing Mwu to crash on the sea before stopping at the shore, near the Archangel. The Astray flew above the Buster and kicked it downwards, causing it to crash onto the island, almost immediately joined by the Duel, crashing next to it on the right, the Astray landed in front of the warship. As Yzak tried to get his mobile suit to move he saw Dearka get out of the Buster, arms held up, and his helmet had been removed
"Dearka, you coward!" Yzak shouted at him, but saw momentarily why, the Duel and Buster were both in the line of fire of the Gottfried currently aimed at them, cursing and growling Yzak also got out of his mobile suit's cockpit, removing his helmet and walked out hands raised.
"Took your time getting out didn't you Yzak?" Dearka asked smirking in spite of their situation.
"Shut up Dearka!" Yzak shouted back in rage which only Dearkas' smirk grow into a smile the two continuing to bicker. Ryan watched at their argument briefly before contacting the ship.
"Mir where's Kira?" Ryan asked as he searched on his scanners for the Strike.
"He's north of here by our scanners, Tolle has launched in the Skygrasper and is heading over there." Mir answered concern rising in her voice as she spoke.
"Tolle launched?! Damn it, I'll head there now and I'll make him return, don't worry he won't get shot down." Ryan reassuringly as the Astray flew upwards and went towards where the Strike was. As the Orb suit approached the battle between the Strike and Aegis, both Athrun and Ryan noticed the Skygrasper approaching the two, the Aegis broke from it's clash with the Strike and fired several beam shots at the aircraft, the Astray intercepted and block the shots with it's shield. "Tolle get back to the ship now!" Ryan shouted at Tolle as the Skygrasper turned to fire at the Aegis.
"Ryan I can't abandon you two I have to do something to help." Tolle protested back, the Astray moving in and rammed the Aegis with it's shield
"Tolle this is an order from your superior officer get back to the ship NOW!" Ryan shouted again at Tolle making him flinch.
"Ok returning to the ship." Tolle answered reluctantly as the Skygrasper veered off back towards the ship. The astray discarded it's shield and brought out it's beam sabre and clashed with the Aegis then quickly split apart, the Strike took the chance to swipe at the Aegis, but it quickly moved out of the way and landed on the ground the other two side by side as the Aegis prepared to attack again. "Ryan doesn't think I have what it takes, I'll show him." Tolle said to himself as he disobeyed orders and turned back to the battle in an attempt to show he can take the Aegis. As the Skygrasper made it's way to the battle the Aegis fired it's beam rifle at the two mobile suits, both able to dodge it's attack, the Strike lunged forward and sliced the Aegis's beam rifle in half, the Aegis moved back to avoid being hit and took to the skies, the Astray followed it and clashed beam sabres again.
"I will make you pay for what you did to Nicol!" Athurn said darkly as both suits held the clash, sparks flying everywhere.
"Athrun I already told you Nicol isn't dead!" Ryan shouted back. I don't think he's ready to listen he's too enraged.
"Stop lying!" Athrun snapped back, the Aegis broke the clash and threw it shield at the Astray, the Orb suit attempted to block with it's arm but failed as the shield hit it's chest throwing it back. In to the Skygrasper, Tolle moved out of the way to the right but the Astray's beam sabre sliced off it's left wing, the aircraft fell downward and crashed onto the island and exploded, Ryan watched and did not see Tolle eject to safety, the Astray recovered and landed near the wreckage. He searched for Tolle, as the Strike who saw the Skygrasper crash continued to battle the Aegis, Ryan saw no sign of Tolle anywhere, when he moved closer to the wreckage he saw Tolle, or rather what was left. Ryan looked back to the Aegis with a look of rage and sped towards it, the Aegis having lost arm by the Strike, the Astray joined the fight kicking the Aegis in the back making it topple to the ground.
"Ryan…is Tolle dead?" Kira asked, his eyes having changed to the pupil smaller the size and the iris larger. Ryan reluctantly nodded, though not seeing a reaction from Kira.
"Athrun!" Kira suddenly shouted, the Strike rushed foward and slashing the Aegis, the opposing Gundam dodged it in time.
"Kira, Ryan, I'll kill you both!" Athrun shouted , a seed shattered as Athrun's pupil's decreased and the iris grew. The Aegis brought out it's wrist beam sabre and swung at the Strike, the white gundam did the same and both clashed, the Astray moved and kicked the Aegis away and stood between them.
"Do you really want to kill each other?!" Ryan shouted at the both of them.
"If Kira gets in my way then I have no choice!" Athurn shouted, the Aegis rushed towards them, the Astray tried to kick it away but the Aegis mirrored the move and brought out the beam sabre attached to it's foot, the attacks collided for a second the beam sabre slicing through half of the Astray's right leg, the orb suit fell to the floor, the Strike quickly came in and tackled the Aegis away before it finsished it's downed opponent. The Strike then quickly moved and beheaded the Aegis with it's beam sabre, the red gundam responded by slicing it's left arm off with it's wrist sabre and quickly spun kicked it in the chest creating a gash across the torso, the Strike staggered back, the Aegis charged to finish it, the Astray picked itself up using it's thrusters and ramming the Strike out of the way before blocking the other Gundams attack with it's beam sabre, with it's remaining leg the Astray kicked the Aegis away, it recovered and prepared to attack as it did the phase shift went down. The Aegis quickly backed away as the Strike tried to slash it then turned into it's mobile armour form and rammed the Strike into the battered Astray, the white gundam crashing behind it, as the strike stood back up the Aegis rushed fowards and attempted to latch onto both of them, the Astray quickly took to the skies but the remaining leg was caught between the Strike and the Aegis. He can't fire the cannon what's the point unless...
"Kira get out of the Strike now!" Ryan warned Kira whilst trying to get his mobile suit free, noticing Athurn abandon hte Aegis. This isn't going to turn out well, I hope Kira got out. Ryan thought as the Aegis self detonated completely engulfing all three mobile suit's in the explosion.
I won't be able update for a while now as holidays are ending and I've got a load of stuff to do. Hope you enjoyed please Review.