(AN): I want to thank all who reviewed.

A few things to quickly explain, I never said this was going to be a Kira-Lacus romantic story, yes it is in the Kira Lacus category and that is simply because they are the main characters. Kira for Zaft, Lacus for Earth. That is not to say that they couldn't end up together, it is possible but it is also possible they will not. There was no trickery, I set it up like this to keep people guessing if they will or won't throughout the story, I probably should have explained this earlier but this story has gone already longer then I thought it would.

Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Seed or Destiny.

Chapter Thirty Eight

Aftershock

Doomsday

Kira waited as the sun reached over the horizon, he knew Orb ships had to spot him by now, "True judgment is now passed," Kira said pressing the final button.

The ship rattled as a massive shot was released.

Bridge

With the ships rattling the crew knew that Kira fired the shot, as the cannon built up power soon a massive light was seen as the gamma beam was fired.

Control Room

Sarah also knew what was going on as it sickened her to make her son watch this, what was worse was he was completely interested in it.

Orb Capitol

With the morning crowd about to go their daily business, people leaving for work, school, etc… they had absolutely know clue what was about to happen. With the Seirans in charge of defenses they didn't evacuate the city and didn't warn a soul about the possibility of an attack, all they were worried about was their own safety so unlike Uzumi who evacuated the cities with the war to the alliance, the city was full of people.

The morning crew suddenly saw a large light and it was only natural to stop and try to adjust what it was. It kept getting closer and brighter until it was far too late.

The beam hit the shore line first vaporizing anything it came into contact with, next it reached buildings and causing explosions and destruction, people had no chance as their was nothing left. The beam connected with the center of the city as a massive explosion was seen as everything was being drawn in to it.

Orb Waters

All Orb ships were completely stunned, the beam struck the city and started to spread, but what was worse was it wasn't headed for Onogoro; they spent all this time defending something that wasn't the target.

The waters were getting a little rough, but as soon as the beam hit the center of the city the massive light blinded some of them.

"We failed you Lady Cagalli," Todaka said clearly.

All their spirits had dropped, this wasn't a blow to take their power, this was a blow straight to their hearts.

"…How?" was what many had said.

"This attack was only a distraction, and now our people are gone," Todaka said clearly.

Hurt, anger and rage was building with the Orb civilians.

They now watched the fallout, but there was one good thing about this.

Orb Capitol

With the blast spreading its range it left the city and was approaching the edge of the island, trees and even rock was being vaporized.

However one good thing for Orb was the blast wasn't as powerful as it would have been in space; it didn't spread off the main island and kept away from Onogoro.

With the dust clearing all you could see was a giant hole, with very little debris, the island once rich with vegetation was now just a big hole and rock.

Doomsday

Observatory

Kira watched the spread, "Boom," was all he said.

Kuzzy was about ready to fall apart, his parents and all people he knew were completely destroyed.

As it spread however Kira grew a little angry, "The aftermath didn't spread as much as I calculated."

Bridge

After the shot was fired the Willard went to work, "Status?"

"Core temperature is a little higher then expected sir, we only got eighty percent of what we expected," the tactical officer replied.

"Damage report?" Willard asked.

"The cannon is powering down and has entered emergency cooling sir, we need a few hours to begin repairs," the tactical officer replied again.

"The price we pay for being on earth, our other weapons?" Willard asked.

"Operational sir," the officer said again.

"What is the status?" a voice which belonged to Kira appeared over the com.

Willard explained the situation.

"The blast wasn't as destructive as I thought, but no matter, it will serve its' purpose," Kira added.

"What now commander?" Willard asked.

"Now we wait until they arrive…I can feel it already from the Orb fleet, their anger is boiling…I want…" Kira said but a priority channel contacted him.

"What is it?" Kira asked as it was sent to the bridge.

"It's the chairman sir…we is contacting you on the private channel," Willard replied.

"I will take it here, begin preparations as Orb will soon arrive," Kira said signing off.

Control Room

Seeing the destruction was something she never wanted to bring people, she saw her observant son flail his arms almost excitedly. As she saw that she realized she was not going to have another Kira around.

"Can I leave yet?" she asked the soldiers.

The guards stepped out of her way as she made her way back to the private floor, one thing she did realize after watching her son was she had to see just what Kira was making him watch, she had to know why his behavior was like this, he wasn't that old he shouldn't be taking in things like this.

Observatory

Kira nodded as the two guards dragged Kuzzy out of the room so he could take this call.

Kira then answered it as he saw Ryu.

Orb Waters

"Captain, we have found that massive ship," one officer rushing up to Todaka said.

"Location?" Todaka asked.

"Their in section two sir," the officer replied.

Todaka looked at the map; Zaft did a chore to make it that far without them noticing.

"Gather all ships, we are going after it," Todaka asked.

"What about headquarters sir?" the officer said.

Todaka was angry, "I will not defend those worthless Seirans anymore, we move out immediately."

The other soldiers liked that idea, sticking it to the Seirans, but other then that this was very personal; they would bring that ship down no matter the cost.

Todaka looked once again at the island where the capitol was, that large island would be unlivable for years, practically Orb was all but destroyed, they had to get rescue in there but it was to dangerous now, and their was little chance that anything survived that blast.

Headquarters Bunker

Unato had seen the images, this was very tragic.

"Did you see that? That could have been us? At least we are safe," Yunna said not really caring what just happened to his own nation.

"You idiot, we will lose support because of this, the capitol is completely gone!" Unato was losing it.

Yunna didn't like his fathers tone and backed away, but as he looked around the soldiers inside were giving him a bad feeling as well.

Aprilious One

Ryu's Office

Watching the entire event Ryu was beyond pleased, as the destruction from the blast spread he saw just how they suffered, he watched many not even know what was going on and many who did cry out. He watched as the blast radius, wiped the large island completely of life. The blast wasn't as big as he would have liked but this was only the beginning of their mission.

With a satisfying smile and light laugh, Ryu set himself up to contact Kira, the new information he had would deliver a greater blow to the alliance. When the shot was being carried out Ryu had everything confirmed with Satellite.

With the signal going threw Kira eventually answered it.

"Well done commander, well done," Ryu said sternly.

Kira on the other end, Ryu studied him clearly.

"The world now knows your power sir," Kira replied.

"You don't yet seem satisfied," Ryu said as he looked at Kira's hand, when he placed it to his face, it was shaking.

Kira looked at his hand, he didn't even realize it, "They are on their way now sir, then it will end," Kira said going straight to his pills.

"I know you are aching to attack them, but it will have to wait commander," Ryu said.

Kira quickly looked at him, "Sir?"

"I have discovered information from one of our captured bases, we have found Jibril," Ryu stated.

Kira wasn't very happy about that, "Can it not wait sir?"

Ryu stared at him, "It will wait Kira, they will still be here sorting through the destruction you caused, but if we miss this chance he could leave and go into hiding again, you will take the Doomsday and destroy their hidden base immediately."

Kira knew he was so close, his head was killing him and what he believed would cure it was only hours away.

"Very well sir…" Kira finally responded.

"I am sending you images, of the area already, it will not take you long, and you will be back in no time, remember Kira taking out Jibril will cripple the Atlantic Federations control and I suspect a power struggle will follow, leave immediately," Ryu ordered.

"I am leaving now sir," Kira said as he signed off, but not before he got one last bit of information from Ryu and Kira was a little glad for that, as he would take care of that little matter as well.

Ryu finished as he looked at the screen for an extra minute, then went back to work, "I will have to accelerate my trip to earth," Ryu told himself as he went back to work.

With the data to heavens base, Jibril would stand no chance, with Kira acting the way he did this shouldn't take long.

Switching to other communications around earth the news was spreading, Ryu made sure to transfer the information to earth media stations but no where else. Everything around Orb was distorted by the cannons blast so he himself had to spread the news and for one simple reason he did as earth people were now uniting, naturals would start hating more and nothing now could truly stop this war. Of course the people in Plant knew nothing about this, all communication to the surface was cut off, all media people were under Ryu's control, and critics were more and more disappearing, Ryu would continue to have full support and power as long as Kira kept winning.

Orb Ships

All three ships heading back to Orb, were immediately cut from any short range communications to Orb. They expected by now they would hear something but still nothing. That was until Neo's contact got a hold of him.

John Paul Jones

"Are you sure?" Neo asked.

"Yes sir, there is no mistake as Zaft is bragging about it, the Orb capitol was completely wiped out," the contact said.

"There military power?" Neo asked.

"Unknown sir," the contact replied.

"What about the other matter?" Neo asked.

"It took the bait just like you wanted sir, if everything goes your way he should move out soon," the contact said.

"Good, keep me updated," Neo replied as he hung up the phone.

"Commander?" his captain asked.

"Orb is destroyed, at least with what I set up we may be able to salvage time," Neo said hoping this plan would work.

"Patch me through to the other ships," Neo said as now he had to break the other news.

Eternal

Lacus didn't know why but right after sun rise she had an awful pain in her heart, it was like something bad had happened, this wasn't a feeling like Kira, Ryu and Neo would get this was just intuition Lacus was feeling, she was having a very bad feeling about all of this.

It was then she got a signal from Neo.

Archangel

It was the same mood here as on the eternal, all were worried and that bad feeling Lacus had was just about to be confirmed.

Heavens Base

The news was heading in here as well.

Jibril was once again in meeting.

"Orb has been wiped cleaned Jibril, the island was destroyed and highly contaminated," one member said.

"You must send in the federation, Zaft is gaining more and more ground and that equals more resources, that ship is…" another tried saying.

"We will not move yet…" "I need more time to…" Jibril said as their meeting was interrupted.

"What is the meaning of this?" another member asked.

"Forgive me sir, but you have an important call," the man said.

Outside the briefing room

Jibril took it as he walked out of the room.

"You are sure?" Jibril said.

"Correct sir, he has betrayed you," the man said.

"Distance?" Jibril asked.

"From what we have it is heading straight for your location," the man said again.

"Curse him," Jibril replied.

"You have to leave sir, you should be taking to alliance headquarters in Washington," the man said.

"Very well," Jibril said hanging up.

Heading back into the briefing room Jibril told all of them they had to leave and leave now.

"What is…" one asked.

"No time, my commander has betrayed us, that ship is heading this way," Jibril said quickly.

This council may have been old, but you had never seen them move so fast as the base was now being abandoned.

Minerva

For some strange reason the journey back they way they came was going a little to easy for them, Talia expected some orders or for them to have known what she had done but nothing, they were given clearance and nothing was said.

That lasted throughout their journey back into Africa, the Indian Ocean and even southern Asia, as that area was now captured so they saved some time that way.

On the way there Talia explained the situation to her crew, she told them all were just sacrificial pawns and that doing what she was about to do would get them all destroyed, she also told them the truth about what she learned from Lacus and the others.

Talia being the captain she was told them her plan and that if any wanted off she would leave them with a Zaft patrol and they would likely be given leniency and such. She said any that wanted to should report to the hanger and when the time came she was shocked to find not a single member was abandoning her.

She and Arthur had discussed what to do about Kira's team, Rey was with them, Luna was on the fence, and Shinn didn't like Kira at all but he hated Orb seemingly more. Talia and the rest decided it was best to leave him out of the matter, as he was very silent when he learned the truth.

Talia still had her Zaft channels and she had just learned what had taken place in Orb, and it was highly tragic.

Bridge

"Are you sure that is the best place ma'am?" Arthur asked.

Talia nodded her head, "It will work."

"For what it is worth ma'am, it was great serving with you," Arthur said with a salute.

Talia smiled, "Don't talk as if it is over yet."

Hanger

The news spread in the hanger and all Shinn could picture was his families death, sure he hated Orb, but he had no quarrel with its people.

Heine was briefing them on the new plan and Shinn decided to listen in.

All was being down pretty fast as time was running out.

Orb ships

Neo got a line to all of them as all listened from the Eternal to the Archangel.

"I just received a report," Neo said.

All were listening.

"What is going on at Orb?" Cagalli asked.

Neo knew he better get what he was planning out first.

"I will explain that but first, when we crossed Panama I transmitted a signal to one of the bases that was about to be captured," Neo told them.

"What does this have to do with Orb?" Cagalli asked.

"Orb is under attack isn't it?" Lacus added.

"Yes it is, led by that ship and your brother," Neo said quickly.

"How are they fairing? What about?" Cagalli was asking quickly.

"Let me get this out first, I assure you that it will give us an advantage," Neo said again.

Athrun immediately calmed her down.

"The information I transmitted will immediately drive that ship away from Orb," Neo said.

"How is that?" Murrue asked.

Neo stared at her, "I gave them Jibril's location."

All were stunned at that.

"Why would you do such a thing?" Andrew asked.

"Jibril once saved my life, however…if he continues to lead we will be destroyed, even now the most powerful force on earth the federation is sitting by while Zaft gains more ground and resources, it had to come to an end," Neo told them.

"You expect Zaft to immediately drop what they are doing and head to that secret Logos base you guys have?" Andrew asked again.

"I don't expect them to head to the base, that base is still useful…however Jibril has eyes and ears all over the place, when I made the transmission I am positive a few have reported to him what I am doing," Neo said.

"That would make you a traitor, and he would immediately leave the base," Cagalli said trying to make sense of this.

"That is what I want them to do, Heavens base is a good stronghold, all I did was give a location that was on route, Jibril will think I gave the base up and likely head to the federation headquarter…Zaft uses satellite images, they will spot Jibril leaving the area and with the location I leaked that ship will run straight into him…they will take Jibril out and give us time to enter Orb," Neo added.

"You are doing this because…something happened in Orb didn't it?" Lacus finally asked.

Cagalli and the rest looked on in interest and worry.

Neo knew now to drop the bomb, "All we received was the cannon from that ship was fired at some point in Orb."

Cagalli immediately placed her hands to her head as she felt her knees weaken, Athrun had to support her up, she worked so hard for that country only to see something like this.

"What is the damage?" Lacus asked for her, she was shaken as well.

"Unknown…but with what I did it will give us time to survey the area and such, you have my deepest remorse for this attack, but that is all I know," Neo said as he finished.

"How long?" Murrue asked.

"At least a couple days, the route I gave the Zaft ships along with Jibril's escape route will by us the time we need," Neo said again.

Cagalli couldn't believe it and for really the first time she felt hatred for her brother, a very deep hatred, she doesn't even know the damage yet but to use a weapon like that is the work of nothing but a monster.

Lacus could stop her hands from shaking a little, she knew the hurt the crew was going through, she was as well, Orb was also her home and if worst case scenario and she left her children behind no telling what could have happened to them.

The Orb ships were getting closer to Orb, and all feared for the worst because that is what they are going in.

Doomsday

With Kira

After Kira finished the call he left the room as he told a few things to the guards holding Kuzzy and they left. Kira knew he had to return to the bridge really quick but first he made a short stop.

With Sarah

As soon as they let her out, Sarah wanted to return her son to his floor but first she wanted to check on the nurse she had helped. Heading to the room she opened the door only to find disaster, she quickly shielded her son's eyes as the nurse laid with gun fire that was apparent.

Sarah backed out of the room, and as soon as she turned around she was startled to see Kira standing there with his hands behind his back, looking in.

"Such tragedy, don't you agree?" Kira asked acting normal.

She backed away a little, "What…what did…"

"She was apparently suicidal, such tragedy," Kira said turning to her, "Take him back to his room, we are leaving again," Kira said walking away.

Sarah watched as he left, their was no way this nurse committed suicide, she did as Kira said but now she had to advise a strategy to get her children away from him, this was enough, saying it would be far easier then actually doing it though, that was the hard part for her.

Bridge

Kira quickly headed up to the bridge as Willard gave him the report.

"Commander, the Orb fleet has found us," Willard reported, "Should we prepare for battle?"

"Negative on that, set a course north, we are going after Jibril," Kira said sternly.

"We found him?" Willard asked.

"His Excellency wants us to deal personally with him, I want it done swift and fast, I was to close to finishing what had to be done here, now lets go," Kira said turning around and leaving.

Willard gave the orders as they were out of here. The ship turned north as Kira predicted this should take no more then a week, then he could come back and finish the job. It was a shame he couldn't see the looks on their faces but he had a feeling they would still be there when he returned.

Lower Deck

Kira had one last stop and that was to one of the lower decks.

Once he arrived he saw the two guards still had Kuzzy.

"It has been an eventful morning don't you agree?" Kira asked.

"You destroyed Orb, sent Sai to that cannons mercy and now…" Kuzzy said.

Kira walked towards a door and opened it, Kuzzy watched as the door led outside, as the ship was very high off the ground and in motion.

The guards held him as he struggled, "What are you doing?" Kuzzy asked.

"This is where you get off," Kira said taking hold of him.

Kuzzy couldn't compete with Kira's strength; Kira tossed him out easily removing one of his guns.

As Kuzzy was falling Kira pulled the trigger and saw that he moved no more as he nailed the water down below, it was a clean shot and one that wouldn't let him survive.

The guards shut the door as Kira returned to the bridge.

Once on the bridge Kira took his seat as now there was the matter of what Ryu told him would be soon arriving.

Doomsday's Journey

The next day, they were off the coast of Asia when Kira got a long range alert.

"Sir, its' the…" Willard said as Kira finished it for him.

"The Minerva correct?" Kira asked, "We finish this quickly," Kira said as he was looking for anything to shorten these orders, and a part of him was even thinking of sending the Doomsday ahead to deal with Jibril while he personally went back to finish the job at Orb, he would decided after the Minerva arrived as this was no social visit.

Orb Fleet

A few hours after Neo dropped his plan to them, they finally arrived at Orb.

John Paul Jones

"This is worst then I thought," Neo said looking around.

Archangel

Murrue saw when they arrived that Onogoro was still standing, their radar detected the aftermath of the blast, however they soon found its target.

Orb ships were approaching but they were too focused on what they had seen.

Grief overtook a lot of them as the capitol city and the big island itself was just a pile of dust and with some burning rubble.

Eternal

Lacus placed her hand to her heart, if she had left her children they would be dead, but the capitol was, Orb had lost its people, and not one military target was hit or attacked.

This was by far the darkest day in the history of the cosmic era.

To be continued…

(A\N): The next chapter is the battle with the Minerva as Orb comes up with a strategy to deal with Kira. See you later.