Disclaimer: I do not own either…you know what. Just read the disclaimer from before and you'll get the idea.

Chap. 22

OZ HQ

"I commend you on your situation with the Space Knights. You handled it well."

Lady Une smiled at Trieze's commendation, "Thank you, sir."

"You still need to loosen yourself up, but that's the attitude I want you to present in space. But before you do, I want you to go into Moscow." He turned to look out the window. "Since the colonies distrust anything military, the people there will be of some help if you announce your arrival there."

She saluted, "Yes, sir."

_________

Space Knight HQ

"Hey Natasha, this came in for you."

Natasha looked at the package Goliate had and opened it. Inside was a small letter. It was an invitation to a party in one of the palaces of Moscow. Natasha frowned slightly before ripping the invitation in half.

"What was it?"

"It's nothing."

However, that didn't stop Goliate from picking up the pieces and examining them. "Hey, this is a..."

Natasha cut him off, "I know what it is. Not interested."

"But why?"

"I don't need their pity." With that, she walked out.

___________

Moscow...

A limo rolled up and parked in front of a large palace. As the attendant opened the door, Relena stepped out and looked up at the large building. She then strode toward the entrance where she could see a large party taking place. Another attendant held a hand out before her.

"Excuse me miss, but do you have an invitation?"

"No." she said simply.

"I'm sorry, but this is a reception for specially invited guests. I'm afraid I can't let you enter."

"Catherina...?"

The voice came from an elderly man who had walked by the exit. He turned around and quickly came toward Relena, a smile clear on his face.

"It is you." Relena smiled at him as he warmly held her hands, "I'm glad that you could make it."

The attendant was dumbfounded, "You know the host?" Turning to the elder, "Oh, I apologize, Mr. Marqius. I didn't know she was a guest."

The man simply held a hand up, "It's quite alright. A beautiful young lady would seem strange in a party of elderly people such as myself. Although, I invited another. But it seems that she will not be arriving."

With that said, both Relena and the man known as Weridge Marquis entered the ballroom.

__________

Nearby OZ base

"Col. Zechs. There is a spatial anomaly forming in the RSS point of the Asia area. We believe it may be Radham."

Zechs ordered through the intercom, "Signal the nearest unit of that area. I want..."

"Col. Zechs. We've received a coded transmission addressed to you. PCFT."

Zechs blinked. PCFT. It must be...

"Transmit it here."

_________

Relena and Weridge spent the time dancing and talking about old times. When they had finished dancing, Weridge led Relena to a seat and then sat down himself.

"You would fit in well as a Peacecraft."

"You know the Peacecrafts?" Relena asked.

Weridge nodded sadly, "Long ago. They were the ruling family of the Cinq Kingdom and very good friends as well. But some years ago, the Kingdom was destroyed."

"What ever happened to the Peacecrafts?"

"Most unfortunate. There are always those who wish nothing but peace, and those who wish to gain everything from war. The House of Peacecraft was the former, and the Alliance was the latter. They said it was a Radham invasion, but I know otherwise. The Kingdom was long destroyed before they arrived there."

"The dove was killed because it disagreed with the hawk..." Relena hesitated, "And then it was left to the vultures."

"Nowadays, people try to settle thing with warfare. Which reminds me, where is that OZ representative?"

"OZ?"

"Yes. I wanted to speak with their leader Trieze, but instead he is sending me a representative. I believe that's her now."

Lady Une entered the ballroom, accompanied by several other OZ soldiers. At this, everyone froze up and the music stopped. However, Une simply turned to the crowd.

"Please continue. I was invited here."

Slowly, the music continued and everyone did as they were before, only more cautiously.

Weridge whispered, "Roses don't go with military suits. It's the kind of flower for a sweet lady like you, Relena."

Lady Une looked around the crowds briefly before her gaze fell upon Weridge, who had stood up from his seat along with Relena. "Marquis Weridge. I am his Excellency Trieze's representative. My name is Lady Une." She held her hand out to a nearby seat, "May we chat for a while?"

"Of course, but before we do, I would like my granddaughter to wear that rose you are wearing."

"Of..." Lady Une was suddenly shocked at seeing Relena once again. "You?"

"I'm sorry grandfather, but that rose wouldn't look good on me either. What would be good is the red of OZ's blood."

Suddenly without warning, Relena pulls out a handgun and points it at Une.

"For my father!"

Relena fired a shot, hitting Une's ornament rose and shattering it to pieces. Without wasting another second, Relena turned around and ran out of the exit.

"After her!" She is about to give chase, but Weridge steps right in front of her, standing in her way.

"Marquis! What are you doing?"

"The only thing I can do. Which is far little compared that girl's courage."

While he was yet speaking, others joined with him, creating an effective blockade

"What?"

"It would seem that they agree."

Before Lady Une could do anything else, another soldier came in from behind her.

"Lady Une. A Radham force has entered the city and heading in your direction."

Une gritted her teeth, "Damn it. You three go around after her. The rest of you will come with me."

Marquis watched as they left off. 'That courage... That's what's needed in this time of chaos. She taught me a good lesson tonight.'

_______

Zechs had strode onto the command room of the base and asked the nearby soldier.

"What city is the anomaly forming?"

The soldier replied, "I believe it's the Moscow area."

"Moscow." Oh no. "Send out a unit for Moscow. We need to get there as soon as possible. I will lead myself."

"Yes sir."

Zechs then turned his attention to another soldier, "Is Lt. Noin in the area?"

"Yes. She's currently leading an Ares squad to the location."

Zechs turned and began to walk out, "Patch through to her and channel it to the Tallgeese."

"Roger."

__________

"There she is!"

The two soldiers had managed to catch up to Relena and grab hold of her. Relena tried to escape their hold, but they held on to her tightly.

"Give up!"

Relena continued to struggle and managed to hit one of them in the shin, but not hard enough for him to let her go.

"You little brat!"

"Let go of me!" Relena screamed.

The soldier raised his rifle, ready to knock her out with the butt of the gun when a low humming sound echoed throughout the street.

"What was that?"

Looking to the sky, they saw an object flying straight at them rapidly. The soldiers where able to recognize it immediately.

"Radham!"

Relena manages to break the hold and run while the soldiers panicky raised their rifles and fired. The bullets did absolutely nothing as the creature charged and brought its lancer down in the two victims. It began to look around for its third prey when a sound rumbled from above. Looking up, it saw a white object fall out of a carrier plane and come at it. Locked on its new target, the alien tekkaman swooped at him, only to have its arm blasted off by a high level quantum rifle. Tallgeese swooped in on it and rammed it backward, knocking it off of its carrier and pushing it into the concrete. The creature snarled and let loose a Voltekka, but Tallgeese was much too fast and dodged it without a problem. The Radham picked up its lancer and flew up while Tallgeese pulled out his own. They clashed in the air and struggled. However, Zechs was far from finished.

"You won't beat me. Not if that's all you got."

Tallgeese fell back a bit and then in one shove, he pushed it away. While the Radham was still dazed, Tallgeese stabbed him in the midsection. The creature gargled and Tallgeese pulled back, ripping it up further. Tallgeese watched as the alien monster fell to the Earth.

'I hope she got to her before they did.'

Unfortunately, this prevented him from noticing another come up from behind him. A lancer slashed across the back of Tallgeese, damaging it. Zechs growled. 'How could I have been so careless? I'll not make that mistake again.' Tallgeese powered up and flew straight at it, but a beam of light halted his advances. A blade had ripped through the creature and it fell in half. Standing behind the split carcass was a white and pink tekkaman; Tekkaman Vesna.

"A Space Knight? What are you doing here?"

"My job." Vesna shot back and took off. Zechs watched her go. I see. Well if that's how it is, I won't get in your way. With that, Tallgesse shot of to find prey of his own.

Meanwhile, Relena had run around the corner and into the next street, but was stopped when a gloved hand came out, grabbed her and pulled her back. Relena was about to struggle, but the hand let her go just as suddenly. Just then, another Radham tekkaman flew down the very street Relena was about to enter. Relena looked at her savior, a dark haired woman wearing a white cloak around her left shoulder.

"That was careless of you. Must be a family trait."

Relena examined her uniform, "You're with OZ?"

Before the woman could respond, Relena raises the gun once again. Noin merely stares into the barrel.

"Don't worry. I'm not here to harm you. In fact, I came to protect you, Ms. Relena Peacecraft."

"Protect me? Why should I believe that? Who are you?"

"My name is Lucreiza Noin. I was sent...by your brother."

Relena lowered the gun, "My...brother?"

"Yes. Like you, he had been in hiding and living with another identity, Zechs Marquise. But he is really Millardo Peacecraft, you older brother. I work with him. He's up there right now fighting the Radham."

Relena stared upward to see a sole white Sol-Tekka dashing through the Radham.

"My brother." she whispered.

Noin stepped up to her, "Come on. We have much to discuss."

________

While Relena is safe and in the custody of Noin, plans for OZ to move into space begins. Aki, Dead and Natasha visit the Space Ring when they run into an old ally, the god of death himself. However another battle between the Radham and OZ causes them to fight together once more. Next on Gundam Tekkaman:  The Space Ring Crossfire.