Kira's eyes widened at the number of missiles being displayed at the radar heading toward his way. Despite the number being remarkably smaller than the one he had faced, it was no reason for him to be complacent and calm. He wasn't sure what had happened at that particular time but he was quite sure that he wasn't having the same experience at that present time.

"Kira, I'm transferring the flight and gunnery control to you."

"Huh? Why? How about you?"

"I'll be doing the computation."

"Computation?"

However, Flay didn't answer his question. Kira tried to look back to see her but the alarm blared and he had to turn back to face the threats.

"Change of mode Ranged Engagement to either Defensive or Atmospheric mode suggested."

"Which one should we choose, Flay?"

Flay still didn't answer him.

"Threat of destruction imminent. Change of mode Ranged Engagement to either

Defensive or Atmospheric mode suggested."

"Flay!"

"Warning, 15 seconds before destruction. Change of mode Ranged Engagement to either Defensive or Atmospheric mode or emergency pilot ejection suggested."

The missiles were already visible in the display and closing fast.

"Cover! Cover!."

"Option not recognized."

"Damn it! Defensive! Defensive full power!"

Athrun stared at his screen as numerous missiles met their target and multiple explosions blotted out the sky. According to his calculation, the destruction force of at least five of the missiles would be more than enough to damage even a Phase Shift armored mobile suit so the chance of Kira escaping destruction when hit with at least twelve of those was abysmally small.

However, when the explosions had abated, everyone including he were shocked when Prometheus appeared undamaged at all as a spherical energy barrier surrounding it.

"What the hell?" Yzak uttered.

"Meyrin!" Athrun called, "Do you have any information on the system? Is it Armure Lumiere?"

"I'm working on it,"Meyrin answered distractedly.

"Do you think it's Armure Lumiere?" Nicol asked.

"If that's the case then we're in deep trouble," Athrun answered. The so-called barrier system was installed on Earth Alliance's CAT1-X Hyperion and could block both physical and energy weapons but at the same time allowed the mobile suit counterattack through the barrier while using its specialized beam weapons. However, being installed on a battery operated mobile suit, its main limitation was the high energy requirement, capping the total operation to only five minutes. If Spectrum also mounted the same unit, then it could keep the barrier up for a long, long time.

"Energy analysis indicates that the system is probably a multi-phase beam emitter, designed to counteract beam weaponry aside and triggering premature explosions in reactive ordnances."

"Even I understand that," Yzak said, "That means the mobile suit is not using Armure Lumiere. If that's the case, then it would be easier," he said as Duel closed in while activating its beam saber. "If you can't penetrate the barrier with a beam rifle, maybe you can pierce it with a more focused weapon."

Kira's eyes widened as he watched Duel stabbed its beam weapon through Spectrum's barrier. The barrier was holding up but he could see that the beam saber's tip was slowly penetrating through the barrier.

"The barrier isn't really designed for mobile suit attack," Flay said calmly, as if answering his unasked question.

"Then what should I do?" Kira asked, not sure whether he really want to know the reason why Flay was quiet when the two of them were facing those barrage of missiles.

However, before he got the answer, he already pressed the thrusters.

Spectrum moved away as multiple kinetic penetrators passed through the position where it was standing a moment ago. The mobile suit named Blitz had tried to take advantage of him being distracted to sneak an attack and unlike the missiles, the kinetic penetrators wouldn't be set off by barrier.

Kira raised Spectrum's rifle to shoot at Duel but to his surprise the pressing of the trigger didn't do anything except causing a wisp of light to appear at barrel for a split second. "What happened?"

"Defensive mode will reroute a large portion of the energy to the beam barrier generator." Flay answered as Spectrum continued to evade Duel's attack. "However, your instruction caused Spectrum to reroute all of the energy save for the propulsion. So, there's not enough left for the rifle."

"Huh? why didn't you tell me about that?"

"It's rather obvious, with the amount of energy we're using."

"All units," Athrun called out, "Commence attack! Take down Prometheus!" The order was a bit late since Yzak and Nicol had already engaged the said mobile suit. Athrun knew that very well and the reason why he hesitated. Still it was very hard for him to issue the order.

"FAUST, deployed," Rey commanded. Five units of Fast Aerial Unmanned Strike Terminator launched from their station on board the Guul accompanying his DINN. Even thought it was hastily developed in response to the gunbarrel technology utilised by Alliance, FAUST had improved upon its counterpart, such as carrying beam machine guns, wireless control and as well as able to fly under Earth's gravity pull.

What remained of the strike force commenced their synchronized attack against Prometheus. Yzak was already going through another attack while Nicol was providing fire support with Blitz's "Trikeros" integrated 50mm high-energy beam rifle. From his vector, Athrun observed that even as Prometheus evaded the attacks, its green trimmings slowly changed into blue color. To his puzzlement, he noticed that it became faster as the trimming became fully blue in color.

Yzak attacked again and this time, Prometheus raised its beam saber to block it while at the same time aimed its beam rifle at a FAUST unit that was approaching from another side.

As Athrun watched the destruction of the remote unit, the realization that the information Rey had provided about Prometheus was sketchy at best hit him. It seemed that the mobile suit's two operators weren't to allow Naturals to pilot the mobile suit. The real reason seemed to allow the mobile suit to be piloted by two Coordinators or at the very least talented Naturals; while it was possible for someone to dual wield two very different weapons, doing so using a mobile suit to do so was simply... unthinkable.

And Prometheus was using that factor as advantage to to fight against his team.

"Yzak, fall back!" Athrun commanded.

"What the hell you're talking about?" Yzak replied. "I've got the advantage here! Can't you see that I'm pushing it?"

"You're not." Nichol clarified. "Prometheus is using you as a shield to prevent us attacking."

"What?"

Athrun didn't want to reveal the reason but it is as Nicol surmised. Prometheus looked as it was being pressured by Duel by moving away but the truth was that Duel was being manipulated to prevent Athrun, Nicol and Rey to get a clear shot at Prometheus. He saw that Rey had the mobile suit targeted few times but had to break off when Duel ended up in the reticle.

"Yzak, fall back! That's an order!" Athrun commanded again, this time with more force.

Instinctively Yzak reacted as ordered as all of his battle training took over his personal want.

"Rey, FAUST 1 attack from vector 32-67-12, FAUST 3 from vector 65-21-89." Athrun ordered. He watched as Prometheus evaded the attacks. FAUST 2, vector 23-12-52. Nicol, moved to 44-12-76 and fire after three seconds. Yzak, piercing attack from your position."

Kira pressed the pedal and pushed the thrusters in reaction to the incoming stab from Duel. Spectrum moved to the side while turning simultaneously. It then elbowed the ZAFT mobile suit's main camera unit, knocking it off balance. Before Spectrum could aim at it with its beam rifle, a remote controlled drone moved in to attack, forcing Kira to abort his intention.

"It looks like their cooperation is getting better," Flay observed calmly.

"I don't think we should be praising them," Kira responded.

"True, but still, their tactic is effectively sealing our movements. It's a good thing we damaged Buster and that other DINN or else we'll be in trouble."

"We are in trouble,"

"No we're not. We have succeeded in our first task."

The play for time has succeeded and the cavalry had arrived in the form of a Skygrasper and a Spitfire.

"Sorry for waiting, kid," Mwu greeted. It took a while for Shawn and I to take off."

"Shinn! Shinn Asuka!" the pilot of the Spitfire insisted. "Why can't you get it right?"

"Eh, you said something, Shawn?"

"Damn you!"

"Mwu, Shinn, are we glad to see you," Kira said, conveniently disregarding their little banter. "A little help here?"

"Sure!" Mwu said as he moved in to attack the DINN that was controlling the remote unit. "Oh, before I forget, we'll have to make do with our current number, as Mir's Spitfire was in the middle of system maintenance when the virus struck and so couldn't be prepped in time."

"Mwu, I've come up with the tactic to defend Archangel," Flay said. "But the tactic will put the two of you in a pinch."

"Is that so? Shawn, what do you think?"

"I don't really care about that, any way is fine," Shinn replied, "And about you calling me Shawn, you know what, I'm not going to care about what you call me,"

"It's as Otaku-boy said, Allster. We'll go along with whatever you cook up."

"Okay, since you're in the whole thing, then we're leaving the four of them in your hands. Bye!"

Flay took over the controls and Spectrum retreated a bit before reconfiguring into its pre-transformation mode.

"What the hell?" Yzak uttered dumbly as the opponent he was fighting against few seconds prior left the area. "The pilot is running away? Maybe he realized that the precarious state he's in."

"But to completely run away?" Nicol asked incredelously.

"Maybe the pilot is involved in the current conflict by mistake," Athrun remarked. His suspicion that it was Kira who was piloting Prometheus had risen considerably given the rather erratic behavior the mobile suit was displaying. The mobile suit didn't kill Dearka and Lunamaria outright, countered the missiles barrage with what seemed to be a defensive barrier and then fighting Duel only to stall for time.

"It's rather strange," Rey admitted as one of his FAUSTs almost hit the Skygrasper he was fighting against. "And judging from the airwaves between the two remaining units, I think they were surprised as well."

"What should we do after we get right of these two?" Yzak asked as Duel evaded the beam saber stab by the Spitfire he was fighting against.

Athrun could see that there were two options, which was to chase of Prometheus or to destroy Archangel. Logically speaking, it would be prudent to pursue the latter. Yet, it would be best to leave the decision to Captain Talia. "I will contact Minerva."

"Captain," Meyrin announced. "Athrun reported that Prometheus has fled. Request course of action."

"Proceed with the current plan: damage or destroy Archangel. We will pursue Prometheus later after it is isolated."

"Yes, ma'am," Meyrin replied as she relayed the order to Athrun. Even as she did it, she couldn't help feeling that something was off. If Prometheus' pilot didn't want to fight, why didn't he run away in the first place? Plus, according to the data Athrun had provided, its flight was parallel to the path between Minerva and Archangel; there were a lot more vectors more suitable for running away. Also, why did the movement seemed rather familiar to her?

"Meyrin, status report of our cyber attack on Archangel."

"I've encountered fierce resistance so there's a chance that the estimate has to be revised."

"What seems to be the problem?"

"Whoever the programmer is, I believe that he is writing countermeasures even as he is inoculating the damage we've inflicted."

"Can't you reroute the attack."

"Sure, I'll try to do th… oh my god!" Meyrin gasped in horror. "It's Bakhtiar's RoFA!"

Everyone inside the bridge turned toward her. "ROFA? Explain," Talia commanded.

"Please recall Aegis back to Minerva first!" the SCCS operator pleaded.

Talia narrowed her eyes. "Very well. But I want a proper explanation for this."

"There is," Meyrin sent a brief message telling Athrun to return to the ship as fast as possible. After the transmission had been concluded, she continued working on her computer console while beginning her explanation. The test pilot for Strike Rouge, Elaine Bakhtiar had also written on mobile suits tactics. One of tactics that had been covered was Rook Flank Attack or simply referred to as RoFA. The tactic involved purposely showing confusion among ones' own force in order to convince the enemy that the force was in disarray. Of course, any commander will then seek to capitalize on the advantage and would press forward. However, that's where the trap would be sprung.

As Meyrin went through her explanation, Talia found herself having epiphany about her knowledge on mobile suit era warfare; a good portion of her knowledge in warfare was obsolete. When the war broke out, she was among the many ZAFT military officers who were concerned with the fact that the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty the PLANTs political leaders had signed would have put them at the disadvantage since Earth Alliance had a large ratio of mobile armors compared to ZAFT's mobile suits. However, the first massive engagement between ZAFT's mobile suits and Earth Alliance's mobile armors had showed them the treaty had inadvertently benefitted them. Yet, she, among others had chalked it up to the ZAFT's mobile suits being technologically superior than the Allaince mobile armors.

There were others who felt otherwise, one of them would eventually test pilot Strike Rouge: Elaine Bakhtiar.

Of course, Talia had heard about the person before. In fact, she had read the treatise written by the person explaining that ZAFT was not properly exploiting Boulding's Loss of Strength Gradient theory in order to defend against Alliance' invasion force. Kenneth Boulding, a prominent economist and system theory in the previous AD era, had argued that geographic distance between the attacking nation and the defending nation would reduce the ability of the attacker to project its strength due logistical factors such as the need to maintain supply line.

In the current war, each military space ship battleship, regardless of whether it belonged to ZAFT or Earth Alliance, was designed to be totally independent and self-sufficient attacking force and could operate independently despite being part of the fleet; it was its own gunboat, its own carrier and even its own supply ship. This contrasted with a naval military ship on Earth where it could serve a specialist role in the fleet.

This difference made it a logical consideration for mobile units to provide protection to their originating carrier though this clashed with the requirement to mount any offensive operation far from the ship; not few pilots returning from a successful operation only to discover that their carrier was destroyed and they themselves would die due to dwindling oxygen as well as energy supply. Even if there was a friendly ship nearby, there was still the risk that the ship wouldn't be able to take them. When a ship sank in the middle of an ocean, a friendly ship could take them in. However, that decision may cause danger for the ship's crew in outer space due factors such as oxygen usage. So, unless it was a suicide mission, mobile units rarely operated far away from their carrier because of their need to provide protection or, as some tactics suggested, splitting the force into two parts: one to stage the attack and the other to depend the ship.

It went without saying that use of nuclear powered mobile units would have reduced the need for a carrier ship to carry them. Earth Alliance could directly attack PLANTs from its bases using its mobile armors without the need to have carrier ships. Also, since there was almost no need for energy-efficient propulsion system, it could have developed very high speed mobile armors that would have been hard to aim and shoot down. However, ZAFT would also be able to do the same thing as well.

It was a good thing that the treaty had been ratified by everyone.

Elaine had felt that while making the military space ship totally independent was probably unavoidable, she had expressed her dissatisfaction in the manner it was carried out. Due to ZAFT's military structure, its soldiers would have an almost fanatical loyalty to the ship they were based on and that was strengthened by the way ZAFT organized its military around 'group' which have a particular ship captain being responsible for his or her own ship and was given the power to act accordingly. While this was good in a way as they could easily be nimble and react to the battle, ZAFT's groups were, on a whole, less coordinated than their Alliance counterpart. Also, she had proposed that any successful attack by Alliance on ZAFT's carriers would demoralize the latter's soldiers more compared to when the situation is reversed.

"So, if you what you're saying is true, then Prometheus will launch a direct attack on Minerva, hoping to destroy us first?" Talia asked.

"Yes," Meyrin confirmed, not even looking back as she was busy conducting the cyber warfare against Archangel's defender, whoever that person was

It was rather frightening that how the enemy seemed to use one of the tactics ZAFT had developed against itself. Talia admitted to herself; she had made a very bad tactical mistake, a similar one to what Marco had made. A self-contained fighting force consisting of a single ship may be effective both in space and on Earth. Despite that, she should have adapted naval strategy and tactics rather than using the same ones she used while in space. Despite that, she had no time to be kicking herself in the back. She had to rectify her mistake and hoped that it wouldn't cost everyone their life. "Arthur, condition red. Prepare for mobile suit combat."

"Condition Red!" her XO acknowledged. "Prepare for Mobile suit combat!"

As the bridge began to lower, she continued. "Chen, load Dispars into the missile tubes. Meyrin, launch our interceptor drones."

"But ma'am, that would require significant processing power to be diverted away from our cyber attack."

"I know, but if what you're saying is correct, we have no choice. Just set the current attack to automatic because I need you to concentrate on delaying Prometheus as long as possible."

"Understood."

Few seconds later, the first interceptor drone took off from the middle linear catapult.

"Why aren't they retreating?" Kira asked. "Don't tell me they haven't realized what we're going to do?"

"Don't tell me…" Flay trailed.

"Flay?"

The redhead didn't answer it immediately. "No, they know it all right. After all it is an obvious ploy."

"Then why aren't they returning home?"

"Because they double dare us to continue our attack. They know for certain that only few of their mobile suits could return back to defend Minerva, so they probably send one or two. The rest would continue to try to break through our defense. From their action, they're telling us that they're willing to take the risk in order to destroy us. Even if we retreat right now, it would only spur them to continue their fight against us."

Kira gulped. It seemed that the ruse they carried out against Minerva had failed. "So will we be facing against the two ZAFT mobile suits?"

"Probably not. From our speed and angle of approach, we wouldn't meet them unless the fight drags on. But as for the red one… We'll figure that out later,"

In reference to his question, a screen showed yet another barrage of multiple missiles coming their way. It was followed by another screen showing few drones armed with few interceptors. Kira's grip on the control tightened. That wasn't what expected.

"Our missiles are being shot down," Chen reported.

"Meyrin!" Talia asked. She had begun to suspect that whatever defensive ability that Prometheus displayed when it engaged Minerva's mobile suits earlier on wasn't turned on all the time, unlike Phase Shift armor or else there would have been no need to shoot down the missiles.

Meyrin, who had donned a helmet display as well put on a pair of gloves. "Unmanned interceptor group is approaching engagement area in t-minus one minute. Permission to shift 54.21 percent of Minerva's processing power to the control."

Basic life support would require 23.90 percent of processing power while 39.05 percent was required normal combat status which include space vernier control, full radar and countermeasures suite, normal weapon fire control as well as CIWS. Diverting the amount of processing power requested by Meyrin would leave the ship unable to maintain flight on Earth due to its massive aerodynamically unstable design. Of course, firing Tanhausser was definitely out of picture because the very high calculation required for the firing solution as well as generate the directing the flow of the antimatter, especially on Earth.

"Approved." It was not like Minerva could hope to outrun Prometheus. "Bart! Where is Athrun?"

"ETA fifteen minute."

What normally considered a short time to wait seemed to stretch into infinity, in Talia's opinion

"Interceptor group engaging target," Meyrin reported from her console as her hands began to move around, as if holding moving something.

"They're completely different compared to the one we fought," Kira said as Spectrum put the distance between it and the drones attacking it. Spectrum had shifted to its Aerial mode to maneuver against the drones.

"The movement is faster. Could it be…" Flay trailed. "Kira, transfer the control to me."

"How do I do that?"

"Don't talk. Just roll your tongue and clenched your mouth."

"And then?"

"Don't open your mouth! Just grunt an answer. Do you understand?"

"Hngh."

"Whatever it is, focus on staying awake. Can you do that?"

"Hmm!"

"I take it you understand. Well then, please focus."

Kira was about to answer in affirmative when he felt as if he was rammed by a rampaging herd of elephants and then being stepped on by the said herd. It took him all of his efforts to remain conscious.

With Spectrum in her control, Flay continued to evade the attacks and then fired twice above Spectrum and then fired another two shots below it.

Meyrin froze in her seat. From what the enemy was doing, it was if the pilot was… it was impossible! She tried to prevent it from making another move but it was too late. Prometheus shot to its left, to its right and repeated the attacks, finishing it with frontal shots with its left hand and right hands.

"No…" she trailed.

"Our drones are being disabled!" Chen reported.

"They were destroyed?" Talia asked.

"No! It's just like they're flying around aimlessly."

"Meyrin! What happened to the drones?"

"Impossible…" the SCCS operator muttered. "To know the backdoor of the system. There's no one else that should have known about that…"

Flay put a palm on her faceplate and shook her head. She didn't need to look her back to find out that Kira had already passed out, causing Spectrum to revert to its initial phase once more. It was to be expected as she also passed out when had been subjected to PANDORA system the first time. Also, unlike him it was intended for her to play the augmenting role or rather the biological CPU part of the mobile suit. Well, in a way it was fortunate that he had passed out since he wouldn't find out what she would be doing.

"To think that it will turn out like this," she said as she removed her helmet.

Spectrum then sped toward Minerva.

Everyone inside the bridge could only stare at the Prometheus' beam rifles being trained at them. The surprising part was that they were aimed at bunker where the bridge had relocated to. Even though the bunker could probably withstand a direct beam weapon impact, the reality that the pilot knew exactly where to aim didn't bode well for them.

"Prometheus is trying to establish contact…" Meyrin said with tremor with her voice, "using ZAFT channel."

Talia stood up halfway. "ZAFT channel?"

"We have connection."

A video feed showing a redhead wearing flight suit appeared on the screen. "I really don't have time to waste so I will go straight to the point. Recall all of your mobile suits right now or prepare to be destroyed."

"We don't deal with terrorists," Talia answered. "After all, we have the advantage here."

The pilot sighed. "You haven't understood the situation, do you? Even as we speak, Archangel should be regaining most of its disabled functions, as your hacker can attest to that."

"We got our radar back," Romario Pal announced. "CIWS is starting up."

"Helms online." Neumann said.

Murrue wiped off the sweat from her eyebrows. Lacus had succeeded in inoculating the virus that had infected Archangel's main computer. "Load Korinthos into the missile tubes. Recall Mwu and Asuka so that they can be within our missile screen."

"Roger," Abby acknowledged, having retaken her seat.

Murrue turned toward Lacus. "Thank you and sorry for making you work for us."

"It's all right," Lacus replied. "Well then, now that my work had been completed, I have to excuse myself."

"Please." Murrue knew that Lacus was feeling a bit conflicted as what she did was tantamount to betrayal to ZAFT. However, it had to be done.

"Also, Aegis is still too far away to prevent us from destroying you. You already realized that if Minerva is destroyed right now, the remaining four prototypes will be destroyed as well."

"So? We're not afraid of your threat."

"Either you call them back or I would do it for you, through ZAFT channel."

"You're not able to do that."

"You know that I'm not lying, especially since this is a ZAFT mobile suit and we're communicating through ZAFT channel. If you don't want believe me then it's all right. But I will tell them to retreat and if they don't comply I will destroy Minerva and the mobile suits while simultaneously broadcasting it to the world.

Talia's eyes widened as she finally realized the implication of statement. If such thing happened, it would demoralize PLANTs and ZAFT as well as embolden Alliance to attack. But that would only happen if the enemy managed to defeat everyone.

"You should have practiced your poker face," the pilot said with a smirk on her face. Then the expression paved way to a more serious one. "Call them back."

Talia lowered her face. However, it was visible that her body was very tense while her fists tightened so hard that the nails cut into her finger. Finally she calmed down and let out a long breath. "Meyrin. Send the signal to retreat." She then raised her head back to look at the pilot in the eye. "Is this satisfactory?"

"Good." Prometheus lowered its beam rifles but remained in its place. "It wouldn't do for Minerva to play the role of a small fry after all."

"What do you mean?"

"Have you ever thought that even though Archangel and Spectrum are so dangerous, the High Command is allowing you to act independently?"

It was a rather obvious question with the obvious answer. Everyone had underestimated the danger Archangel and Prometheus or as refered to as Spectrum posed.

"Whatever answer that you're thinking of right now, it's not the correct one."

"Who the hell are you?"

"Obelix-16. Is that you?" Meyrin suddenly blurted. "It is you, isn't it? You're the one who embedded the Konami code into the logic board used in the drones. Besides, even though the eyes have changed a bit I still recognize you!"

"ChipWitch. I suspected as much," the woman answered. "After all, you're the one wrote the networked algorithm for the drones. Plus, only a person of your caliber would be able to mount such an attack."

"Do you know this person, Meyrin?"

"Yes. We… communicated through online when I was younger, at least until the an accident supposedly claimed her life." Meyrin answered before turning her attention back to the pilot. "How could you betray us? You're one of us but yet you're with the enemy!"

"Well, it's rather a long story but to make it short, one day I wake up and realized that ZAFT is my enemy."

"What are you talking about? Are you forgetting that you're a Coordinator, a great one at that?"

Prometheus's shot rocked the bridge slightly. "Sigh. Must we talk about this again? I thought I told you through our chat that I never was, never am and never will be a Coordinator, literally or physically. In fact, I hate, no, I despise that term."

"How could you say that, Elaine?"

Talia raised her eyebrows. The person's name was Elaine?

"Because I'm not one of you in the first place. And by the way, the name's Flay so refrain from calling me with that. Well, it's been great to see that you have become someone great but I have to go now. And before you forget…"

The white mobile suit executed a reverse back flip and launched an axe kick on Aegis which tried to sneak on it. Even though the Phase Shift armor protected the latter from any physical damage, the force behind the attack caused it to fall from its Guul platform.

"… I was the one who wrote the article proposing that ZAFT do away with aerial mobile suits and field a normal fighter until the battery efficiency is overcome."

As Aegis steadied itself and remained afloat using its modified Striker pack, Prometheus stood and did nothing. "But, great work on the mobile suit's modification. It's a shame you only thought about doing this now. If you have done it earlier, you would have won."

The mobile suit then left the area at high speed, ramming into Buster and Lunamaria's DINN which were sharing the same Guul unit, causing Buster to nearly fall off the unit if not for its companion catching hold of it.

Everyone inside Minerva's bridge starred at their enemy leaving the area. Finally, Talia broke the silence. "Is she…"

"She was Elaine Bakhtiar, Strike Rouge's test pilot," Meyrin said as a tear rolled down her cheek. "Now… she's our enemy."

"Huh? What happened?" Kira asked as he regain consciousness.

"You're knocked out by Spectrum's PANDORA system just now."

Remembering what they were doing before he passed out, Kira anxiously searched the radar screen. "What happen? Where's Athrun? How about Archangel?"

"I think Archangel is fine. It seemed that the ZAFT mothership suddenly decided to call off the attack, so right now we're on our way back."

"So, we don't have to destroy Minerva?"

"At least for today."

Kira let out a relieved breath. "Thank goodness."

"Kira… do you like Lacus?"

"Huh… what are you talking… about? She and I were… childhood friends… um… that's all for now."

"For now?" There was no mistaking the edge inside the question.

"Um… Can we go home first."

"I'm not letting you off until you answer the question. Also, took over Spectrum's control."

"Okay

Flay released the control and let her sink into her chair, closing her eyes. She had no supply of the pills to check the progression of 'that'; even if she had them, it wouldn't do any good. With every passing day, the mission looked more and more impossible. More and more enemy will appear, seeking for their blood. She also had cast away one of her few friends.

Yet, Flay let a soft smile on her lips. Even though the storm was coming, she felt contented sitting back to back with him.

At the moment, she would simply enjoy being herself, being Flay Allster.

1

Author's note (10th March 2011)

1. Ah, I've finally managed to write this far. Kudos to anyone who managed to guess the link between 'Elaine Bakhtiar' and Flay. In GS, it was proposed by the director that Flay would pilot Strike Rouge but was turned down by Sunrise executives. So, this chapter and the previous one can be considered as a nod to that little fact. There are a lot of the characters back story that would unravel throughout the story.

2. It may be me, but I received a quite a number of request suggesting KxF with a few not minding KxL and KxF. As it is, the branching point will come soon so it will be at that time I will decide whether to fork the story or just concentrate on KxF arc.

3. Compared to Fallen Angel and Soaring Above, more attention is given to tactics and strategies, including psychological ones compared to a straight out fight. Yes, Spectrum Prometheus can kick ass if needed, but in this chapter, Minerva was defeated by not mere firepower but reverse psychological warfare.