Disclaimer – Don't ask cause I don't own it.
A/N after actually looking at the Olympus her design didn't really invoke the name so I did a full redesign of the ship from bow to stern. All of the Mobile Suits also got a revamp as shown in the last chapter. And in case you're wondering why I call every MS and ship "She" or "her" it's because all vessels are referred to as female.
Mobile Suit Gundam Seed
Starlight
Chapter 2
Princess Pilot
Jan 25 CE 71
Debris Field
Destroyed Orb Colony Heliopolis
Nemesis, with Richard at the controls and minus its shield, launched from Catapult One. He moved his machine back toward the rear of the ship where he could see the damaged life pod floating just off of the stern. The Olympus herself resembled an Earth Alliance Drake class in her center section with Mobile Suit launchers and engines on the port and starboard sides. She carried a "Minos" duel barrel beam cannons one on top of each MS Launcher and one on the bow, 2 forward facing "Siris" positron cannons, 4 "Kraus" missile batteries, and primary and secondary anti-air systems. On her stern, on the engine section, she mounted a large set of retractable wings to assist with atmospheric flight. Though she held a rough appearance she was 478 meters in length compared to the 300 meters of the Alliance's most powerful warship the Agamemnon Class. The added surface area of the wings also gave her the appearance of a ship twice as wide though the actual deference was far less.
Once he was next to it Richard located one of the life pods mooring latches and grabbed onto it with the Nemesis' free hand. He then gently nudged his thrusters, maneuvering the pod back toward the ship where he set it down on the floor of the launch bay. Once the bay doors were sealed and atmosphere pumped back in he moved the Nemesis back to its holding rack, removed his helmet, and popped the cockpit hatch. He then powered the suit down and floated down to give the mechanics a hand with the pod.
It was almost a god send now that the Olympus had only a skeleton crew; the 100 refugees that they had picked up needed a place to sleep until they could get them repatriated back to Orb. At first the presence of the 4 mobile suits had made the civilians wonder weather or not they were on a Zaft ship. But after getting a look for themselves at the mixed Natural and Coordinator crew many were satisfied. There was also another oddity. Laura, Richard and Kale, all 3 Orb nationals, had immediately picked out that one of the Life pods occupants was Orb princess Cagalli Yula Athha.
Needing to speak with her Richard managed to catch her in the mess hall before the crew meeting to determine their next move. She was sitting alone at one of the tables, which was desirable considering she had gone out of her way to avoid anyone of the survivors knowing who she was. He picket up a drink packet, orange soda, and approached her.
"Is this seat taken?"
Cagalli looked up at him. At first she had accused him of being a kid she had met in the factory block near the Morgenroete facility, but that thought was dismissed when he mentioned he and his friends were with his father inside the colony's asteroid facility during the attack. It had piqued Richards's interest that this kid she identified as Kira was not only the same age, but looked EXACTLY like him. He had to wonder if this was his missing brother. Cagalli shook her head.
"No not at all, so you're the pilot of one of the Mobile Suits"
Richard nodded as she sat down.
"Yeah, the RGX-X078 Nemesis"
"The one that picked up our life pod"
He nodded again.
"Yeah that the one, we named her for the Greek Goddess for Vengeance"
Cagalli took a sip of her drink.
"Why"
Richard gave a small chuckle.
"What better name for a machine designed to destroy groups like Blue Cosmos?"
"So that's why you people built all this"
Cagalli waved her finger around to intricate the whole room. Richard nodded.
"That's right, Lady Athha"
Cagalli was a bit taken back; Richard shook his head and smiled at her reaction.
"Don't be so surprised, Laura, Kale, and I are Orb Nationals, we recognized you as soon as we saw you"
Cagalli sighed.
"I see, could you please keep this to yourselves. If people knew I was here I would be swarmed. And could you not call me princess, I hate that"
That comment earned a laugh from Richard.
"Sure, listen were going to have a meeting of the senior staff in a bit why don't you join us. Afterward maybe you can tell me more about this Kira kid you saw at Morgenroete"
"Ok…but why"
Richard tossed his empty drink away and floated over to the door; he stopped and looked back a Cagalli.
"Cause if he's who I'm hoping, he may well be my missing brother"
Richard moved off to the bridge, a slightly stunned and curious Cagalli following behind.
"Hey wait up"
The main bridge crew had assembled as had the ships chief mechanic and the 3 pilots along with Cagalli. After introductions were given, and the crew swore not to tell anyone she was onboard, they began their meeting. Laura sat back in the captain's chair with the pilots and other crew in a semi circle around her and the bridge crew at their stations.
"We really have only one objective for now, we need to get both these civilians and the Princess back to Orb"
Cagalli winced at being called princess, but let it pass. Richard nodded in agreement.
"The problem is that the Le Creuset team is in the area. They have the earth forces X207 Blitz so they have a working Mirage Colloid system. It's only a matter of time before they figure out how to detect it, if they haven't already"
Everyone nodded, their Mirage Colloid worked but they were at a disadvantage if Zaft figured out its weaknesses. Sure they were evenly matched with the Le Creuset team's G-Weapons but Rau Le Creuset was a far superior commander, even Laura had to admit that. They were also at a disadvantage in terms of experience. The pilots of the X207 Blitz, X303 Aegis, X102 Duel and X103 Buster were experienced combat veterans, and Red Coats to boot, graduates from the Zaft pilot academy. Only Richard or Kale were up to par. The ships Combat Coordinator, Soran Zarath, sat forward in his seat, his grayish ear length hair falling into his brown eyes a bit.
"Maybe there's another way. The Earth Alliance ship Archangel, we know she's on her way to earth anyway. Maybe we could join up with them, safety in numbers"
Chief Mechanic Juna Seth, a young Natural of 23, shook his head.
"There's a chance there are Blue Cosmos members in command"
"Doubtful"
Everyone looked over at the source of the whispered reply, the ships Sensor operator, a shy 14 year old Coordinator named Max Clark, everyone called him "Maximus". He held a shy disposition so he immediately blushed when he noticed all the attention is comment had grabbed.
"I grabbed some data before the colony collapsed. With her command crew dead in the first attack her listed acting captain is Lt Murrue Ramius"
Laura gave a relieved sigh.
"Admiral Lewis Halberton's student, so linking up with Archangel should be safe. Anything else anyone?"
Richard nodded.
"Soran what's the status of the Mobile Suits?"
Soran consulted his interments.
"All 4 are ready but were down a pilot, we never picked a pilot for the Astraea"
The captain nodded and Richard shook his head.
"That can wait till were in Orb and relatively safe, so we link up with Archangel and head on to earth. Did the earth forces manage to keep hold of any of their Mobile Suits, Max?"
The young Coordinator nodded.
"Just one, the GAT-X105 Strike, your machine is partially designed from it and it looks like they got all of its equipment but the Lightning Striker Pack for it. Its listed pilot is Kira Yamato"
Richards's eyes widened a bit.
"Are you sure"
Max nodded.
"Yes"
Richard looked back to where Cagalli was standing.
"Was that his full name?"
Cagalli nodded.
"Yeah, I heard one of his friends, some girl; yell his name when he chased after me. Like I said I mistook you for him because you both look identical"
Laura looked over at Richard.
"You don't think…"
"He may be, I may have found my brother, after all this time, he was so close"
Laura looked to the other crew members. Each met her gaze with a nod. Everyone knew that Dr Arin, Richards's adoptive father and their group founder, had spent the past 9 years trying to help his son find his lost 2 siblings. To have one so close but loose him now just wouldn't do.
"Their only an hour ahead, we can catch up to them if we hurry"
No one said a word but immediately took their stations. The ship immediately changed course and flared its engines to full, they would take 2 hours to catch up with Archangel. Hopefully before Zaft inflicted any more damage. Richard headed off to the Mobile Suit bay with Cagalli following close behind.
Cagalli caught up with Richard as he reached his Mobile Suit. As he slid into the cockpit and began to run the Ram-up programs one of the mechanics floated up to the hatch. He was an older man of 34, a Natural, with an affinity for robotics.
"Hey Richard, just wanted to let you know we have the Nemesis OS Back-ups ready to roll. Next time you sortie it's ready"
"Thanks DJ"
The mechanic nodded and floated off. Cagalli looked around as the mechanics floated around getting ready should they encounter the enemy. She noticed that only three of the machines were being serviced. She pointed over to the machine standing next to the Ares.
"Why aren't they working on that one?"
Richard looked at his activated side monitor. The cockpits of their 4 machines were the same as the Earth Alliance's G-Weapons.
"That's the Astraea, like we said before we never picked a pilot"
Cagalli looked over at the Mobile Suit. Richard noticed a strange look in her eyes, longing.
"You wana use it?"
She looked back at the pilot, rather surprised he would even suggest such a thing.
"Well I…."
Richard climbed out of the Nemesis, grabbed hold of her hand, and pulled her over to the empty Mobile Suit. He opened the hatch motioned for her to sit and strap in, which she did. He then leaned in and pulled over the cockpit keyboard and began to run the Ram-up program.
"What are you doing?"
Richard paused and looked up at her.
"It's a basic simulation to get you use to the controls, we used the same thing to get use to it. You won't be ready for this battle, but it's a Natural adapted OC so give it a few days and you should be good enough for point defense at least"
Cagalli nodded nervously. She always had wanted to hit Zaft back somehow, now here it was in the form of a Mobile Suit. Richard replaced the keyboard to its place next to the seat.
"I'll go talk to Laura, and then I have a few things to do to the Nemesis. Just run through the simulations the computer gives you. Then go find Sara and she'll get you fitted for a normal suit"
Richard floated back and closed the hatch, leaving Cagalli in darkness. The screens lit up blue and then faded to the inside of a large gray room. On the secondary monitor on the main consol in front of her appeared the words.
General
Unilateral
Neuro-Link
Dispersive
Automatic
Maneuver
GUNDAM MOS
Quickly followed by the words
Now starting simulation 01, basic movement.
She sank back into the seat and laid her hands on the controls for the first time. She would soon go where only a handful of Naturals had gone before, to the ranks of Mobile Suit pilot. She was determined to learn how to use this thing. The crew of this ship did have a good, if insane, goal. Blue Cosmos and its Zaft counterparts were a danger to everyone and needed to be stopped by any cost.
And she knew good and well her homeland had started developing its own Mobile Suits as a deterrent to Zaft and the Earth Alliance forces. She may need this knowledge again someday because even if she hated the though, Richard and the other pilots and crew were right, the war would come to Orb.
And by god she would be ready.
A/N wasn't much to do to this one either. And so the crew of Olympus sets off to intercept the Archangel. See ya at Ch 3