"ND-001 Mobile Battleship Nadesico, one of the most advanced ship ever built in our times. It's powered by nuclear pulse engines and phase transition engines, giving the ability to travel great distances. The engines also power its main armament, the Gravity Blast Cannon which has the ability to penetrate any defensive shields and destroy multiple ships within a certain radius. While Nadesico has an impressive attack, it also has an impressive defense: the Distortion Field that has the ability to deflect beam attacks from any possible angle." Inez said to the briefing room, pointing out the ship's schematics. "Use our ship in what you deem fit for this operation."

Fllaga whistled. Nadesico seemed to be indeed the first of its kind. No wonder the Federation was so hung up on it. The Archangel had nothing to be sneered at, though, considering its own tough armor and impressive weapons like the Lohengrin. Though La Kairam seems to be the most outdated of the three ships, having Bright Noah as captain with seasoned veterans in charge of his bridge and crew guarantees its ability to stand strong in the middle of the fight.

"Our objective is to reclaim all nuclear missiles that are currently being smuggled in the Afghanistan territory." Murrue said, clearly fighting her nervousness, while Bright and Yurika were studying the terrain, both deep in thought. "Sources say that the Tiger of the Desert will personally oversee its route. Since he is also in command of this area under ZAFT control, we are also given orders to shoot him in sight, insuring freedom for the people."

"Question!" Yurika said, raising her right hand. "Considering we would be fighting near the vicinity of nuclear bombs, shouldn't it be more feasible to find a way to move ZAFT away from them first?"

"Yes…" Murrue said, obviously picking her words. "This is why another team will be formed, to serve as distraction. ZAFT wouldn't want to fire near nuclear missiles too, I'd wager."

"But guards will still be left behind to guard said missiles," Bajarle pointed out. "So another squad must be formed to disable them as soon as the main force moves away."

"Better make it the ones who are fast and self-sufficient." Bright said. "So Mobile Suits should be the ones sent out. I'll have Quattro and Noin form the squad for that mission." A murmur of approval from the rest of the briefing room.

"The three scouts should confirm the Desert Tiger's present activities," Yurika said. "We've just received word that they're in now the perfect position to collect valuable data."

"Nadesico and La Kairam will be the flagships that will lead the dummy attack," Bright said, pointing the map, "While the Archangel will be the one that will secure the nuclear missiles. Timing is of the essence here, everyone. Remember that."

Murrue seemed to brace herself. "Meeting adjourned." she replied simply. As everyone saluted and began to exit the room Bright extended his hand. "I'm glad to have the opportunity to work with you, Captain."

"Y… yes."

"I'm sure it's tough on you right now. But hang in there, and try not to be so nervous."

Murrue inwardly flinched, "Yes, sir."

Fllaga, who was the only one left in the room with Bajarle intercepted on her behalf. "But I'm confident to say that she's doing well so far."

Bajarle shook her head, "Captain Bright is correct. You shouldn't show too much hesitation in front of the fighter pilots. It could only undermine their morale." She had always been Murrue's biggest critic ever since she got the role as Archangel's captain, and she was not afraid to voice it. Bright was wryly reminded of Mirai all of the sudden, always chiding him when he was getting carried away by the pressures of running the ship. But her gentle shoves were integral to his road to be the man in command he was now, and he will never forget that.

Though Natarle was definitely not Mirai, he could see her own concerns, albeit not very delicate.

He really missed his wife.

Chidori stared at the desert from her window in the cafeteria, sighing for the umpteenth time even as there was a lively chatter in her table regarding the fact that the Nadesico, La Kairam and the Archangel being together, and some of the ship enthusiasts were even starting a friendly debate on which one was the coolest looking. Noin had just assigned Jed and Camille with Quattro as squad leader to be the independent squad to attack the ZAFT guards.

"We really should call this mission Operation Triple Ship Alliance." Jed was saying.

Kenichi frowned in obvious disapproval, "Sounds bad… not to mention infringement…."

"Hey," Megumi Oka said, looking at Chidori, noticing she was looking distant. "You doing OK?"

"Oh, yes!" Chidori said, raising both palms and smiling widely. "Don't mind me."

"Don't worry about Sousuke. I heard the other two people with him right now are excellent officers. As long as Sousuke keeps his head, he'll be doing fine." Megumi said, not fooled by her display at all.

That apparently fired her up. Chidori grabbed a fork, stabbed her food as if it was alive and chewed her food. "D…don't be ridiculous!" she almost shouted, stopping the boys' conversation doing so. "I'm not thinking about him!"

Megumi smiled, as she concentrated on her own food. "Whatever you say."

Athrun looked at the Zala squad, clearly silently asking them if there was anything they'd need for any clarification.

Dearkka raised a hand. "So the Commander left us to guard some missiles? BORING."

"That's the short of it." Athrun said, "The Commander is personally handling the Blue Cosmos who managed to form a group near the area." He didn't add that the fact Andy gave up the position to oversee it because he was personally asked by his father to let Athrun handle the operation.

In his case, Athrun was torn by two emotions: his annoyance towards his father for his constant intervening for his behalf and daunted at the task that was literally being forced to him.

Yzak noticed that too gradually as he watched the younger Zala struggle with his new responsibilities, which is why he never made any nasty snide comments towards Athrun's direction recently. And was actually studying the map in concentration and absorbing the information their leader was giving. Nichol, for his part, was very happy that a grudging understanding was being formed in their group. It made them feel united.

Athrun looked at the desert. They had much to do, preparations to be made… but he was still not looking forward to this mission.

"I thought…" Kira said slowly, trying to get stock on what they were doing, "We're supposed to be scouting?"

"I thought so too…" Ryoko said. "Why the heck are we dressed like this!" she said as all three of them were decked in long robes, wearing goggles over their eyes and they all held firearms in which the end of the barrels were covered with a clean condom. Talk about Freudian symbolism. Ryoko noticed that Kira was blushing like mad, and it was not from the heat. "We look like guerillas."

"It's to prevent having sunstroke in the middle of the day." Sousuke explained gravely. "The goggles keeps the sand from entering the eyes and the condom is doing the same thing by protecting your weapon as well, it wouldn't do if your gun is filled with sand and thwart it to function properly when it needed to be fired."

Ryoko stared at him. Realizing he was serious she rubbed her temple with a sigh. And here she thought most of the crazy people were in Nadesico.

"We also have a dangerous mission as well." Sousuke continued. "Andy Waltfield is a renowned fighter in this area. Both as a pilot for the Mobile Suit as well as a brilliant strategist."

"Well, I know he's dangerous." Ryoko said, taken aback. "But what are the chances of meeting the man here?"

Sousuke looked pensive. "You meet a lot of people in the desert." He corrected her, recalling his own treks as a guerilla fighter so long ago.

"But this isn't THE FRIGGIN' DESERT!" she shouted, and the rest of the people who were strolling nearby their vicinity immediately turned around and went to the other direction. The three of them were at the edge of a town called Rashim, a rather huge and lively place, considering the occupation. Shops and small restaurants were still open, and the people wander in the streets with a certain indifference on what was happening so far… a rather perfect place to find the black market in the area.

"I'm not sure about you, but this thing is starting to itch, and we've been doing this since morning!" Ryoko said, sighing silently to herself and wonder what Yurika was drinking when she plotted this scouting route. "I'm having lunch, are you coming with me?"

Kira also removed his cloak and gratefully dropped his gun. Sousuke held his ground.

"Sir, I am aware that you are my commanding officer for this mission." Sousuke said, "Requesting permission to remain and overlook the surrounding terrain."

Ryoko frowned. "You don't wanna eat?"

"I still have rations. That will suffice."

"You don't want us to bring something for you?"

"No, sir."

Ryoko shrugged. "Your loss. We won't be gone for long, though. We'll meet again after an hour."

"Roger."

"So that's what being a soldier all is about?" Kira wondered aloud, watching Sousuke continuing his vigil on that sandy dune.

"What you said?" Ryoko asked, looking at him.

"Nothing, nothing…"

They decided to have kebab for lunch. Kira insisted to pay for the meal but Ryoko insisted that as the eldest she should have the honor. They ended up struggling for the register when Kira's wallet fell to the floor, and in a reflexes that betray her as a fighter pilot, Ryoko swooped it up before Kira could register the thought he dropped it.

Ryoko briefly saw a photo of a young female redhead, clinging on Kira's arm. Both of them smiling happily to the photographer. "Girlfriend?" she asked him.

"Former…" Kira said as he took out the necessary bills and gave them to the shop owner, and stuffing the wallet in his back pocket. "We broke up when my parents decided to live in Heliopolis. It's hard to keep a long distance relationship like that."

"I guess it is." Ryoko agreed, they were now seated at the table, she was unscrewing her bottle containing chili sauce for her food. "Does she know what you're doing now?"

"Captain Ramias told me the army should have send word to my parents by now. I wouldn't be surprised if she knew." He was surprised he was telling such personal statements to a woman whom he barely met. But Ryoko seemed so disarming and natural that he couldn't really help himself. "How about you? Any family and friends who were worried about your situation?"

Ryoko was about to answer him when a man in his thirties wearing a rather loud colored Hawaiian shirt ambled in towards their table, holding a container of mayonnaise with his right hand. "Hey!" he said, noticing their food, "You two seem to be having a feast! How about some mayonnaise for it?" he offered.

Ryoko looked at him in disgust. "You always rudely butt in other people's conversation like that to add that lard in our food?"

The man actually looked hurt behind his comical looking spectacles as he pointed at his bottle. "This isn't lard! I'll let you know that this is the best thing that ever came since sliced bread and coffee beans! And besides…"

Then Kira heard it, a faint click of a firearm being cocked in a distance… he looked at Ryoko to shout a warning just as Andy grasped her arm and dragged her under the table with just as the bullets went flying. Tipping the table on the side to at least provide an impromptu shield.

"Sorry I got you involved!" the man belatedly apologized. "But your table was the closest shelter I can find under this circumstance."

"The hell!" Ryoko cursed.

Kira heard another shot... but this time from another distance that seemed to be far removed from the other attacker. There was a yell, and one of the men toppled from the roof of the building where the café was facing. Dimly he wondered if it was Sousuke sniping from the distance, he looked around, but could not find any sight of him. He wondered if the camouflage he was still wearing when they left him had something to do with it. Another yell, and another man fell on the pavement, which confirmed it was indeed the MITHRIL soldier.

Ryoko grabbed her extra gun she kept in her pants and threw it to Kira when she saw their attackers, despite Sousuke's support fire, was closing on them. Kira grabbed the gun in his hand easily, stared at Ryoko in surprise, before he threw the weapon at the other man's head, knocking him out immediately.

Kira looked at his companion's stunned look, before he winced as she screeched at the top of her lungs. "YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO SHOOT WITH THAT GUN, DAMN YOU!"

The man in the Hawaiian shirt also grimaced with obvious sympathy. But he seemed to take keen interest on how Kira threw that gun so accurately.

And suddenly the battle was over, when the attackers were then under fire by another batch of gunmen, but this time both Ryoko and Kira can see that these new group were apparently not affiliated with the other shooters by their uniforms.

Green uniforms all holding the military markings of ZAFT.

And even as Ryoko was about to turn her gun to the obvious threat they overlook, she saw herself staring at the stranger's own gun pointing at her head. Even as Kira was about to stand up to attack him, the man said calmly, "I know you can move faster than her… but not than me, I'd wager. You shouldn't have thrown your gun." He reminded him.

"…" Really out of other options, Kira held up his hands in surrender, as Ryoko grudgingly gave the man her gun.

One of the ZAFT soldiers ran to the man, "Sir? Are you alright?"

"Could have been worse." The man said easily as he removed his sun glasses, revealing the eyes of a man who obviously been in many battles and in command of this group.

A woman wearing a tight fitting blue jumper approached him, she was smiling, though her voice sounded grim when she said, "That's a rather reckless way to get their attention, Andy." She admonished him.

Andy shrugged, "Well, it worked, didn't it? Told you I can handle it, Aisha."

Aisha continued shaking her head in disbelief as the man called Andy turned his attention towards Ryoko and Kira, both staring at each other in shock, realizing that the eccentric man was the commander they were looking for.

Odd, Ryoko wondered, then who's the guy in charge of the missile transportation?

"If you don't mind..." Andy said, his tone of voice and expression on his face turning serious. "I would like the third person who's with you to show himself."

"Keep the enemy away." Athrun said as the La Kairam came into view. The first hour of securing the route for the transport went off without a hitch. And then their good luck ran out. The Federation's battleship was inching dangerously close

He also identified the second ship that they'd encounter in Earth's atmosphere. And a familiar red Aestivalis.

Akito Tenkawa glared at the Aegis Gundam, willing his hatred to flow out to strike his enemy down without remorse. Gai was dead, because of them, "Damn you, ZAFT!" he shouted, spraying his bullets from his rifle, while Athrun managed to evade it. "My enemy! You are my enemy!"

Meanwhile, the La Kairam and the Nadesico were at the edge of the battlefield offering support fire, Ruri could not identify it, but she felt something was amiss beneath the cool hard surface of her control panel. Out of concern, she did a private scanning on the ship's internal systems, but everything seems to be in order. She mentally linked her mind to Omoikane, the Nadesico's main computer… and found only void. "What's the matter?" she asked in concern, before the ship suddenly thrummed violently as it literally open all missile compartments and opened fire.

"Damage report!" Bright snapped, as the La Kairam shuddered from the missile explosions that it received.

"We got significant damage at the residential part of our ship." The operator shouted.

"Move back!" he snapped at the helmsman ,"And contact the Captain of the Nadesico!" Bright shouted. He didn't need to know from whose unit that attacked them, he just saw the other ship continuing its assaults on them.

"Negative. We can't get through them!"

"Nadesico is rebelling…" a dazed voice interrupted them as Bright looked over his shoulder and saw Chidori at the door, looking at the other ship, "It saw both of us as its enemy."

"The ship is responsible!" Bright looked at the Nadesico.

"We must dismantle one of its engines to force itself to concentrate more on keeping itself afloat, instead of battling us." Chidori then stumbled forward, and one of the bridge members grabbed her before she could fall on the floor.

"Who's the nearest unit we can spare!"

"Daimos and the Galvar, sir. But the Aestivalis units are attacking them as well!"

Akito felt his eyes bulging when the rapid rifle shifted directions, and aimed it at Daimos.

Kazuya was not pleased. "Hey! What the hell are you doing!" he shouted.

Akito shouted as he let go of his controls, and shocked to see them moving on their own. "I lost control of the Aestivalis!" Even as Hikaru and Izumi's own machines opened fire at both enemy and ally forces.

These people are nuts! Yzak thought as he tried to back away, but having difficulties finding balance for the Duel in the shifting sands.

"What the!" Kenichi shouted as Voltes V was struck by a missile from behind, forcing it to lurch forward onto the ground, and saving itself from being hit by ten other missiles heading towards their direction. The GINNs that were in front of Voltes exploded when the said missiles struck them instead.

"Where did those come from!" he asked, fearing enemy reinforcements.

He could not believe his ears when Megumi immediately answered. "It came from the Nadesico!"

Ippei muttered a curse. "What's going on?"

"Hey!" Yurika protested, as she watched in horror as she witnessed the ally forces being attacked on by their own ship. "Our enemy is that way! Why is it attacking Lond Bell?"

Minato raised both hands waving it, deeply aggravated. "It's not me! I swear it!"

"Omoikane is doing this on its own." Ruri spoke out.

"Eeeeeeh!" Yurika shouted.

"Can't you do something?" Megumi asked.

"I'll… try…" Ruri gritted her teeth. Mentally willing Omoikane to stop. But the computer remained obstinate and continue firing its weapons.

Outside, Daimos, with Galvar FX supporting nearby, had managed to bypass both enemy and "friendly" fire as they got the ideal position beneath the rebelling ship, just as Bright had instructed them to.

Daimos willed outs its Five Shooters and threw it at the ship's engine, hoping that he wouldn't hurt the ship that much, and that the people inside brace themselves. Yurika barely managed to grab on her board, as the rest of her crew shouted out in surprise.

But the tactic work, and Omoikane decided that staying afloat and strengthening its defense takes priority than getting both sides to attack it.

As for the rogue Aestivalis, it was decided among the Lond Bell corps that they would herd it away from their mother ship, preventing them from getting the necessary energy to continue their attacks. But at the same time, they will also be protecting them from ZAFT enemy forces, who would take advantage of this situation.

Buster Gundam's target on Izumi's Aestivalis was thwarted when Voltes V stood in it's way, using its whip to wrap itself on the enemy's weapon. Dearkka forced to let go of his rifle when Mwu's Skygrasper, recently been online from Jabrow's next line of small support ships, used its missiles to deter him away from the robot.

For Athrun, regardless of the Nadesico's sudden attacks on its own friendly forces, was worried when he couldn't get word from the guards they left behind near the missiles. And a gut feeling told him this was not boding well at all.

The GINN managed to extend its arm in its death throes, as Hayaku Shiki eased its beam saber off its cockpit. No matter what happens, one of his team's objective was to prevent any enemy units to explode near the vicinity of their dangerous cargo. It was a terrible way to die, he silently admitted, but it needs to be done.

"All's clear here!" Jed said from his side, Zeta and Methass were following Sentinel behind.

Camille frowned as he turned his attention to the direction of the battle. "Camille?" Fa asked.

If Quattro felt an inkling of disturbance that Camille did, or any worries from the lack of an update from the La Kairam, he never mentioned anything as he gave the orders that they secure the missiles.

"I don't understand what you're getting at." She answered back smoothly.

"You have a third member giving you support cover." Andy continued, seeing through Ryoko's lie. "And I suggest you order him to surrender himself."

"And if I refuse?" Ryoko asked him in seriousness as Kira looked on in shock, as if she was goading the ZAFT commander to do something drastic.

"I don't think you're in the position to even suggest that." Andy said, pointing his gun to prove his point. The three of them were so immersed in that conversation that Aisha merely gasp in surprise when one of the ZAFT soldiers behind her grabbed her shoulder, nearly broke her wrist and felt a sharp knife pressed against her neck. The movement was so sudden it knocked the soldier's helmet off, revealing Sousuke's grim expression.

Andy was surprised to see their third friend who shot the Blue Cosmos people with such amazing accuracy was as young as the rogue Coordinator. Ryoko was shocked to see Sousuke here, in all places, wearing a ZAFT uniform, while Kira was also just as surprised how efficient and ruthless Sousuke moved to trap his female hostage.

Normally, Sousuke wouldn't even consider manhandling the opposite gender. But old scars from previous battles had taught him never to underestimate Coordinators.

"Impressive," Andy said, looking at Sousuke evenly on the face, as he gestured to his men not to raise their weapons. But his gun, still pointing at the other two.

"Set them free and grant us safe passage," Sousuke said, "And I'll let her go."

Aisha, despite being held at knifepoint, frowned. "You're asking too much."

Andy surprised her by saying. "Very well. But let me say something more for a few moments." He looked at Kira… "I know you're a Coordinator as well." The young man's face show a slight wince on the word, surprising Ryoko by the knowledge. "And I don't what these people did or say to make you fight your own kind. But considering you are a soldier of their cause, how do you think this war will end?"

"…" Kira could not find the words to reply. That was the same question that was nagging him in his mind ever since he sat in Strike's cockpit.

"How do you suppose this fighting will end? There is one way… when one side has been utterly destroyed. Regardless of your own philosophy on what is 'right' and 'wrong', it doesn't matter if the enemy who opposes you is annihilated. That is how we will meet in the battlefield boy, I will not hold back when I will fight you."

"Your philosophy on wiping your enemy includes using of nuclear weapons?" Sousuke asked him.

Andy turn his attention to the MITHRIL soldier. "The Earth used potent weapons as well against us."

"True. But that doesn't mean you have to go down their level."

Andy nodded, conceding to that argument. "I'm not a big fan of that myself. But orders are orders."

"Orders." Kira echoed.

"Yes. You'll face difficult choices on that as well. Where you will surrender your will on your superior's stand in this war. And as long as you stand by their side, you will be my enemy. And I will fight you until one of us dies. That is the way of the world."

"Not necessarily through death." Sousuke replied.

Andy looked at him again. "So how will the fighting end?"

Without battling an eyelash Sousuke answered, "Until one gives way."

Andy stared at him for a full minute, before he surprised everyone by laughing out loud. "True…" he admitted, calming himself. "That is another way of doing it. But stubborn wills do not choose a peaceful path." Then he lowered his gun, and without looking at Ryoko and Kira's stunned faces he replied. "You're free to go."

"But sir!" One of the ZAFT soldiers protested.

"We'll fight them in the proper venue in another time." Andy said. "There's no rush."

Sousuke immediately released Aisha, as per their silent agreement. And so Ryoko, Kira and Sousuke left the premises, with Andy not allowing his soldiers to follow or attack them.

Aisha immediately picked up his mood. "You liked them a lot, haven't you?" she asked him.

Andy grunted despite of his stern expression. "And that really sucked." He grudgingly agreed.

And so by the time Athrun got wind that ZAFT has lost its missiles, he urged his remaining forces to break off from their attack. Even Yzak didn't seem to put up much resistance upon the order, and even supported Nicole when his Gundam was showing difficulty walking at their escape route.

Normally, Lond Bell would have given chase, but their immediate concern was their Nadesico allies. Yurika had managed to take away the master key, stopping the ship's functions temporarily.

Akito sighed in regret and annoyance. He never got his revenge after all.

"That should do it." Uribitake said as he finished reprogramming Omoikane with Ruri's help and guidance. Apparently, the self-learning system part of the computer had somehow deduced that the Lond Bell, when they were being chased at the time, was an enemy that needed to keep away at bay. To prevent the ship from doing it again, it was decided by all three captains that that part of its memories be removed permanently.

Ruri was the one most upset by this decision, but made no protest on the whole business. "Forgetting things because it causes inconvenience… adults always do things like that." She sighed under her breath as she continued her duties.

Still she wished Omoikane the best of luck.

Kira found Sousuke polishing his bazooka that Jed up to that point had no idea where he kept it in his person at the "safety" of his room. Though Kira had found the MITHRIL soldier eccentric, he couldn't help but feel a slight admiration for this Natural.

"What?" Sousuke asked him, sensing his presence.

"I was told by Ryoko that we need to attend the briefing room and give our reports to Captain Bright."

A pause, "I understand."

Clearly his way to mean that their conversation is over but Kira continued. "Do you really believe…" here Sousuke looked at him with a raised eyebrow. "That there is another way to settle differences."

Sousuke continued his task. "Of course. Or else humanity would have died out altogether already."

"I see." Kira nodded, it had indeed sounded sensible. "Then perhaps I don't have to kill Andy after all."

Here, the MITHRIL soldier stopped. "Perhaps."

Asuka and Shinji certainly didn't hit off very well in the start. It didn't help that Shinji had himself beaten up by a student, angry at his performance in his EVA in the last battle. But when an Angel appears that causes trouble in Tokyo-3, the two pilots must learn to settle their differences and actually work together.

Author's Notes: For Lloyd, here's a very VERY late Valentine's gift…

Super Robot Wars Alpha 3, the last installation, is said to be released by July this year. Ugh, how does Banpresto writers make their story so fast? Regardless, I will persevere! In more ways than once! XD