Gundam SEED: Arbiter Forces
By: Shadow Chaser
An Alternate Universe to Entropy Rising
Story:
Phase Ten – Interlude
Kanoko had to wonder how did she find herself back in this predicament again, but she already knew answer. It was for her son's sake. She sat one of the two communications consoles on board the Babylon, near Ledonil who was in the captain's chair, reading something with the utmost of concentration. Next to the Babylon was the Archangel, and both ships were making good speed back to Colony Mendel.
She didn't want to see that horrid place again, but she knew she had no choice. She had to protect Kira and Cagalli's secret from prying eyes, even from the eyes of the Archangel's Captain Ramius. Word could not get out of the events that happened at Mendel. Nothing. All they had worked for would be for naught if the secret was out. Orb would be destroyed by the secret and then peace would evaporate. The Clyne faction and Lacus' power would cease to exist and everything they had worked so hard for would be destroyed in an instant.
"The Genesis is pretty big, so finding it shouldn't be a problem," Ledonil suddenly spoke from his seat and Kanoko glanced at him to see concern written in his eyes. The former security guard for Dr. Hibiki was quite good at his job and at reading people. She saw the unspoken words in his eyes; Genesis is big enough that any ground teams sent will be able to bypass what's inside. They will not find the secrets.
She nodded and turned back to her station, still lost in her own thoughts. She briefly wondered how her husband was doing. She didn't want to see Keiji hold a gun again and having him join the infiltration team back on Mendel weeks ago was almost enough to make her cry in anguish. Why did this have to happen? The Talon had been defeated, the colony was supposed to be erased from existence. But now Kira was in Zala's clutches and everything was spiraling out of control.
She knew she had to do something or else she was going to go stir crazy knowing her son was in danger. Did she regret taking Dr. Hibiki's offer all those years ago to work for him, no, she didn't. She had taken the job and had never looked back once. Even now, in the middle of this fiasco, she still didn't look back with regrets.
"Sir, multiple contacts reported!" the sonar officer suddenly shouted from his position.
"Show me," Kisaka commanded and a giant radar screen appeared in front of them and Kanoko was surprised to see so many ZAFT ships at the Colony. How did they get there in such a short time? And worst, did they know of Mendel's secrets! A small ball of ice began to form in her stomach as she stared at the ships.
"Why didn't we get them the last time?" Kisaka wondered out loud.
"Sir, radar indications show that the ZAFT ships only arrived a few hours before us. They're probably here to protect the Genesis System," the sonar officer replied.
"We'll have to take them out," Kanoko heard Kisaka mutter before he brought up a comm. screen to the Archangel, "Captain Ramius, we'll have to take out the ships before we can send teams in to find Genesis."
"I know," Murrue replied over the comm., her face was etched with concern, "we'll have to take out the ships fast. We don't know when Zala will fire Genesis again."
"Roger that Captain," Kisaka closed the comm. screen and turned to her. "Sound the alarm. High alert one."
Kanoko nodded as she pressed a button on her station to blare out the general alarm, "High alert one, all personnel to their stations. Repeat, this is a high alert one. All pilots to their mobile suits."
As the alarm continued to blare, she stared out at the colony and little dots that represented the ZAFT ships guarding the colony. She sent up a quick prayer for Keiji and Kira's safety before turning back to her station and concentration on the battle at hand. She knew she wasn't cut out to be in the military, but who else could protect the secrets of Mendel at the moment?
"The Liberation Forces are handling the Genesis Crisis. What we need to do now is to find out who is the real cause behind all of this!" Cagalli nearly shouted as she slammed a hand on the podium of the Senate Hall, still in the midst of being rebuilt from the deadly bombing, but it was useable and everyone had agreed to keep their meetings here.
"What about the assassinations!" a senator shouted from the middle of the room and murmurings of agreement joined him.
"What of them?" Cagalli replied in a firm tone. She hadn't voiced the knowledge that Patrick Zala was most likely planning the assassinations in case it did start a panic among both the PLANT representatives and Earth Senate.
"Perhaps I can help answer the senator's question, Representative Attha," Yuri Amalfi's calming voice rose above the din and Cagalli stepped back, with a grateful nod. Though there was still an investigation into Amalfi's whereabouts, he had been declared an innocent man by the joint team both PLANT and Earth had put together for the bombing incident.
"We are still compiling information from witnesses who saw Supreme Chairwoman Eileen Canaver moments before her death, but we believe with the evidence so far that the Earth is not responsible for her death," Amalfi started in an even tone. There were slight murmurings of assent but the green-haired man cut them off with his next words, "however, that does not mean the assassin was of Earth origin. We are considering both ZAFT and OMNI to be potential suspects."
"That's preposterous!" one senator suddenly stood up and shouted, "you dare accuse OMNI of actually infiltrating and assassinating your leader!"
"If you'll notice, "Amalfi said in a quiet voice, "I also mentioned ZAFT."
"No doubt you'll look closer into OMNI's secrets than your own militia," the same senator groused and Cagalli imperceptibly shook her head. The Earth senator was almost like Senator Ingriss, who was the most vocal opponent against the PLANTs before her untimely death in the bombing. Cagalli knew that Senator Sacha Padorin was a heavy supporter of Ingriss' policies, but she had hope for Amalfi. After all, it was one bull-headed Russian against another. She had rarely seen Amalfi back down; the only time the Russian Coordinator had backed down was when he was accused of bombing the Senate Hall.
She had to admire his bull-headed spirit, and hoped for the best.
"Senator," Amalfi kept the same quiet tone, but this time there were hints of edginess in it, "may I point out to the records that were given out at the start of this session that more ZAFT officers were arrested in possible connection to Supreme Councilor Canaver's death than OMNI officials?
"We believe that the assassin came from our ranks. I mean no offense with my next words, but there has never been a Natural who has seen the inside of the Council building on Aprilius One. If you care to doubt what I say, Representative Attha here can testify that we have also suspected her people too. After all, she is the epitome of how Coordinators and Naturals can live together."
Cagalli kept her face blank as she noticed a majority of the people in the room stared at her. Amalfi was correct. Before Ledonil had left on the Babylon, he had given over a lot of the criminal files who might have connections to PLANT and to the Supreme Council to the investigative team who had traveled to Earth.
Padorin grumbled something under his breath before sitting back down next to the Earth Senate Majority Leader Ivensten. Cagalli watched as Amalfi waited a few more seconds before continuing on.
"We believe the Genesis Crisis and the assassinations are linked together so that either someone or a political faction is attempting to create such chaos as this. They are trying to disrupt the peace between us with these bombings, very much like the Talon did. They want us to go to war with each other again, can't you see that? Do you really want a repeat of failed histories and of bloodshed? We may not like each other," Amalfi said in a pointed tone, "we may even distrust each other, but our intentions are the same, to keep the peace."
"Then are the Talon truly eliminated, Senator or are they still working from behind the scenes?" Senator Gabriel of the PLANTs asked and a few other senators, both Earth and PLANTs vocalized their agreement with his question.
Amalfi turned to her and Cagalli stood up, taking over the podium. "I believe I'm better qualified to answer that question, Senator. My colleague may not know all the answers, but I can say that the Talon leader, Sven Anderson has been killed. Captain Murrue Ramius, the commanding officer of all LF ships reports directly to me and she told me Anderson was shot by one of the LF's own. If the Senators of this body would like to receive copies of her report, my staff would be happy to send copies to each one of you."
Cagalli kept a half-smile on her face. Sometimes she hated talking like a politician, but in the short time she had been on the political scene, she knew what words would calm the people down. There were two different copies of Murrue's report, the official version and the unofficial version which would never see the light of day.
"Even with the elimination of the leader of the Talon," Ivensten stood up from his seat, "could the Talon be related to the Genesis incident and the assassination of Supreme Councilor. It seems to me that terrorist cells don't go down easily. There is the saying that one man's terrorist is another's freedom fighter."
There was a time where Cagalli would have shot her mouth off with a statement like that, but she held her tongue, marveling at her own ability to do so. She had a few choice words for the senator. The Talon were terrorists, no matter what others thought. They had bombed the Senate Hall, they had nearly killed her, and they had nearly destroyed her and Kira's life. No way on her list were they freedom fighters of any sorts.
"I believe in this case, both in your opinion and mine, that the Talon are currently listed as terrorists," she said in a quiet voice that instantly silenced the whole room. Even the press that were covering the meeting with their twenty-four hour cameras had gone silent. "If you look around the room, you might be reminded of what just happened weeks ago. If the Talon are considered at the moment to be freedom fighters, then for whose freedom are they fighting for? They most certainly have Coordinators and Naturals working in their ranks, but the apathy they unleash upon civilians; should that be considered living together in peace? Should Coordinators join forces and attack the Earth, PLANT, and Orb when we are trying to make the peace? Is that what freedom fighting is? Or is it considered terrorism?
"There have been many reports that the Liberation Forces should have prevented Genesis on Junius Seven from firing its weapon. To those who doubt the LF, then let them doubt. However, we will continue to keep the peace here. The LF will do their job."
Cagalli stared at everyone in the room for a second before walking off the podium and out of the door, leaving a stunned and silent Senate Hall before a sudden explosion of words rose in her departure. She heard the pounding footsteps of her aides and probably Ellie following after her, but she didn't care. She hated politics.
"Princess! Princess!" Ellie jogged up to her, "Princess, please don't do that again!"
Cagalli curled a hand into a fist and suddenly spun on her heel, nearly having her bodyguard crash into her. "Why not Ellie! Those senators back there," she jabbed a finger back at the door, "are nothing but sniveling idiots! I can't take it anymore!"
"I meant," Ellie smirked a little, "please don't leave that fast again. You nearly had your aides tripping over each other on the way out. I know those are sniveling bastards, Princess, but when you leave, please don't sit your aides so close to the door."
Cagalli blinked at her bodyguard's attempt at humor before she lost her angry expression and a tired smile appeared on her face.
"Fallen flat on their faces?" she shook her head, "thanks Ellie."
"You're welcome, Princess," Ellie replied, "so what now?"
"Now I'm headed to Morganroete, alone."
"Alone! But Princess-"
"Ellie, remember what Ledonil's orders were? That I needed some private time to myself?"
"Yes, Princess," Ellie looked a bit ashamed, "apologies."
"Forgiven," Cagalli smiled at her, "now, I need you to go over with my aides a press statement for my departure back there in case the press come looking for me."
"I'll get right on it. See you later Princess," Ellie said as Cagalli stepped into her car and told the driver to head to Morganroete.
As the car pulled away, she shrugged off her suit jacket and loosened the collar on her shirt before grabbing her own personal data pad that was kept in her car and typing a few passwords into it. Files came up, all of the files that Kanoko had copied for her about Dr. Hibiki's research into the Ultimate Coordinator.
Athrun had forwarded copies of what he had inherited from his father relating to Genesis and she had been appalled and horrified at what she saw. Experimenting hadn't even begun to cover the extensive research used to create Coordinators and especially the Ultimate Coordinator. With every line she read of the horrific research she got angrier and angrier at Patrick Zala and at Dr. Ulen Hibiki. She had also begun to resent her biological mother, Katherine, for taking so long to do anything.
She also felt some anger at her adoptive father, Uzumi, for not telling her about all of this, but a rational part of her realized that he was trying to protect her. But there was still a part of her that wished she had never known of any of this information. Life would have been much simpler. She could have lived like the people of Orb did, in peace and stability. But no, she had to be a leader for her people, and she had to be strong.
Kira, Athrun, and even Lacus had told her to be strong, to have the will to fight and the will to lead. The four of them would support each other if the other faltered. And it was now Kira who was faltering – she couldn't fall to pieces, she had to go on.
"Princess Cagalli, there is a phone call for you," her driver suddenly spoke up and Cagalli picked up the phone on her side of the car.
"Cagalli here," she said in a calm and authoritative voice. Politicians and advisors called her constantly so she couldn't show a softer side on the phone.
"Good to hear your voice, Cagalli," Athrun's slightly distorted voice came back and Cagalli felt her spirits brighten up.
"Athrun!" she grinned, knowing full well that he couldn't see her, "are you all right?"
"Yes," Athrun replied, "I'm on Aprilius One at the moment."
"Wait," Cagalli decided to tease him a bit, "you're not billing me for this call are you?"
"No," he laughed lightly before his tone turned serious, "Lacus is."
Cagalli's smile drooped slightly as she heard the concern in his voice, "What's wrong? Something happen to Lacus?"
"Sort of," he replied, "she was the assassin's next target."
She gasped at his statement before a million thoughts rushed through her head. If Lacus had been killed…or even injured… "Is she all right?"
"Lacus is fine," Athrun reassured her, "we've also caught the assassin." She sensed his hesitation at his next words, but stayed quiet, as she knew that he would tell her in due time. "Cagalli, it's Griever."
As soon as he had said his name, images flashed in her head. She had seen the assassin codenamed Griever. A boy who looked exactly like Kira except for a wicked looking scar running down the left side of his face, and was in a twisted way, her brother. But she had thought he died on Mendel. Athrun had told her that he had shot him during the confusion in which Kira had killed Sven Anderson. That was not possible.
She didn't realize she had spoken her last thoughts out loud until Athrun replied in her ear, "Apparently, he told us that he had a clone body like Rau Le Creuset and transferred his essence into it after he was shot. Either that false memories were uploaded into his mind. But his DNA match is one-hundred percent Griever."
"H-How did…" Cagalli couldn't even finish as she thought of the horror of Griever still alive, if not in another form. If Griever was there, then what about Kira? Kira had explained to her that he felt a spiking pain in his head each time Griever was near…so then did Griever know where Kira was?
"Lacus stopped him," Athrun said in a quiet voice.
"Lacus!" her eyes widened in surprise.
"She has seed-mode," he whispered, "but it's different."
"Oh," Cagalli was quiet for a second before a thought occurred to her, "Can Griever sense where Kira is?"
"That's what I'm going to ask him. I just wanted to call you to tell you that we've got the assassin so you can tell this to the Senate."
"All right," Cagalli let a small smile form on her lips, "be careful Athrun. I love you."
"I love you too Cagalli," he replied before a click told her that he hung up the phone.
"Be strong Athrun," she whispered, even though he couldn't hear her as she placed the phone back in the receiver. She knocked on the glass separating her compartment and the driver's side. "Tetu, change of plans. Please take me to my office and alert Ellie and my aides."
"As you wish Princess," her driver replied before turning to head to her office, leaving Morganroete behind. The research would have to continue later. She had to report this to the Senate and rally them to face against whatever Patrick Zala was going to throw their way.
Author's Notes:
A short chapter and it is an interlude before we get back into the swing of things. Sorry for the lack of updates, but working two jobs and having karate class at night makes me have a lot less time to write than I normally would. Thanks for reading and reviewing this fic!