Disclaimer – Don't ask cause I don't own it.
A/N NOTE re-uploaded with minor corrections due to an unrealized at the time Dues Ex Machina moment that would have come in chapter 9. See CH 9 AN for more details.
Mobile Suit Gundam Seed
Starlight
Chapter 7
Coordinator Shuffle
CE 71
Archangel
Debris Belt
It had taken a while for the Olympus crew to convince the Archangel to alter their course. Of course the promise of re-supply without the need to scavenge water from Junius 7 had helped that somewhat.
Following Lacus' memorial to the fallen the two ships set course a bit deeper into the Debris Belt with Archangel following the Olympus. Richard stood on the Archangel's bridge with Cagalli, Lacus, Kira, and of all people Flay. Lacus stood in front of Richard leaning back against him with his arms wrapped around her. Next to the pair floated both Lacus' pink Haro and the green one which Richard had recovered from his storage locker onboard Olympus. Richard, while on Archangel, had left off his uniform jacket. This broke up the uniform enough that no one really recognized it. Mu was also present as were the usual bridge officers such as Natarle Badgiruel who occupied her CIC post. Neither Murrue nor Mu had informed Natarle of exactly who Richard was. And thought it prudent not to at the current time.
Athrun had stayed on the Olympus, he didn't exactly feel comfortable walking onto the ship which only a little over a week before he had been trying to destroy. Sai and Miriallia were on duty as the two ships approached their destination. Richard turned to Murrue who sat in her usual captain's seat.
"You're probably going to pick up indications of gamma radiation, ignore it, their drones we placed to keep out prying eyes"
Ensign Badgiruel checked the instruments; they were indeed starting to pick up a radiation field.
"Clever, make it look like a contamination zone and no one will enter"
Richard nodded.
"That's the idea, the field generators are small enough to look like debris but powerful enough to cover the area. We should be passing through it now"
As they passed the field Lacus, Richard, Kira and Cagalli shuttered. Cagalli looked over to her sibling who still had his fiancé in his arms.
"What the hell was that?"
As Richard was about to answer he noticed Kira with his hand on Flay's shoulder.
"What's wrong Flay?"
She answered after a moment.
"Nothing…that was so weird"
Flay was rubbing her arms with her hands. It looked like she was shaking for only a second or so. Richard let go of Lacus and floated over to where the red head stood next to his brother. His green Haro floating after him.
"Flay did you feel that just now?"
Flay nodded after a moments hesitation.
"Yeah, I felt so weird, almost like….."
"…a thousand spiders just below your skin"
Flay looked up at Kira's brother and nodded. Richards's expression turned serious as he motioned Cagalli and Lacus over.
"You guys take Flay to the cafeteria and get her something to drink. Then go on to the ships infirmary, I'll join you there"
Richard could see Flay growing a bit frightened. Kira looked over at his brother, as did Cagalli and Lacus.
"There's nothing wrong with her is there?"
Richard shook his head.
"No Kira, these fields have no lasting side effects. But there is something we need to check if she felt it. Nothing to be worried over though"
Richard followed the group to the door and gave Lacus a quick kiss as they headed for the cafeteria. Once they had left and the door closed behind them Mu floated up to Richard.
"Now mind telling us what that was about?"
Richard turned and looked at the Archangel Bridge crew who were all looking his way.
"Normal only Coordinators can feel sub-particular fields like that"
Sai spoke up from his seat above and behind Murrue.
"But Flay's not a Coordinator"
Richard moved to the door and stopped after opening it.
"Are you sure?"
Richard left with out another word though he did hear Murrue and Ensign Badgiruel telling Sai to stay at his post.
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Richard headed strait for the infirmary and informed the ships surgeon of what had transpired on the bridge. Thankfully he was aware of Coordinators hyper sensitivity to such things as this. Richard sat in the chair in front of the ships doctor's desk.
"So can you do this test with out her knowing right away, at least till you have the results"
The ship surgeon nodded.
"I'm aware that Ms Allster is not exactly comfortable about Coordinators, I can see the logic in waiting. It will be hard for her to accept if it's a positive result so best not to frighten her any more than necessary. I'll wait till after"
"Thank you"
Just then the door to the office opened. Flay entered with Kira, Lacus and Cagalli. Richard stood and the ship doctor motioned for Flay to sit.
"Richard has informed me of what transpired on the bridge. If you'll have a seat please Ms Allster, this test is very simple. It won't take long I assure you"
Flay sat down and everyone else stood nearby except Kira who knelt next to her seat and held onto her hand as the doctor took a quick blood sample. Once that was done and a small bandage placed on Flay's arm he turned to the assembled group.
"I'll process this and be right back, and then I'll have to ask you all to step back into the reception area. I have things I have to ask Ms Allster that are of a private nature"
Everyone stood waiting as the doctor headed into the lab section of the infirmary. Kira stayed at Flay's side holding her hand, doing his best to just be at her side. Flay closed her eyes and rested her head against Kira's shoulder, viably relaxing with Kira next to her. Richard quietly sliped his hand into Lacus' own. Both could see the pair were falling for each other. Cagalli, who stood behind Flay's seat near Richard and Lacus, gave her brother and Flay an unseen smile.
The Doctor returned a few moments later and handed 2 pieces of paper to Richard.
"Here are your test results from the other day, now if you will please step out for a moment. I'll send Ms Allster out once were done"
The group headed out and sat in the waiting area, with Lacus and Richard on one side and Kira and Cagalli on the other. Kira's eyes never left the door, still concerned for Flay. Richard began looking through the papers. He sat back as he read the results.
"Ah crap"
Kira, Cagalli and Lacus looked over at him.
"What?"
Richard looked to his two siblings and girlfriend.
"We're all going to need to be here with Flay for a while"
Richard showed the results to Lacus, who was actually quite surprised, and then passed the papers to Kira and Cagalli. Kira immediately noticed Flay's name at the top of the forms.
"Should we even be looking at this?"
Cagalli however had a different reaction to what she read.
"Does this mean what I think it does?"
Richard nodded.
"It looks that way. You see Kira, only Coordinators and very few Naturals can feel those kinds of fields the way we did on the bridge. Coordinators get the same kinds of reactions from actual radiation, so we designed the fields to replicate that"
It was about that point Kira put two and two together.
"Wait, if only Coordinators can feel those like that…and Flay did, then wouldn't that…"
Kira didn't get to finish his sentence as the door to the doctor's office flew open and Flay bolted out into and down the hall in tears. Kira immediately went after her. Richard rubbed his temples as Cagalli got up to follow. The Archangel's doctor appeared at the door pinching the bridge of his nose.
"That could have gone better"
Richard nodded and turned to the pink haired young woman sitting next to him, looking out the door with a worried expression.
"Would you go and help them please Lacus, they'll need me on the bridge and Flay is going to need as many friendly faces as she can get. I'll see if I can't get captain Ramius to let Miriallia off duty early"
Lacus nodded as the pair stood and moved to the door.
"Of course"
The pair floated into the hall and parted with a kiss, Richard to help guide the 2 ships into Hellespont and Lacus to go and help with Flay. Lacus, of course, had the harder job. Having to help a girl who has never seen Coordinators in a positive light, cope with the fact, that she was one.
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Olympus
Debris Belt
Approaching Hellespont Station
Aboard Olympus the bridge crew prepared for their rendezvous with Hellespont station. Archangel was following roughly one ship length behind them, allowing Olympus to guide them. The ships helm officer, Hikari Saran, continued to guide the ship through the small channel dug out of the debris. The ships sensor and communications officer Max "Maximus" Clark turned in his seat.
"Captain, Hellespont control on the line for you"
"Patch them through Max"
The small screen above the main view port flickered to life. On the screen was Rachel Thrist, chief of operations on Hellespont.
"Glad to see Olympus made it Laura, we were getting worried"
Rachel Thrist was 21 years old; she had short light brown hair and piercing green eyes. And while not a Coordinator herself her half brother, who also work for their organization, was. Laura chuckled; she had known Rachel for quite some time.
"We didn't have much in the way of trouble, nothing we couldn't handle anyway"
Rachel nodded with a small smile and checked her instruments.
"You know you're being followed by an Atlantic Federation warship right?"
"The Archangel, yes we know. They made their escape from Heliopolis at the same time we did. We hooked up with them about half way here. If you would be so kind as to inform Jonas were going to have friendly company"
"Sure, did the earth forces retain any of their Mobile Suits?"
"Just the GAT-X105 Strike, but we managed to capture the X303 and its pilot. We'll need to get him repatriated as soon as we can"
"Understood Olympus, your now in range for docking, please lock your computers we'll take it from here"
Laura looked over to the helm station.
"Lock on Hikari"
The young woman nodded and input the appropriate commands into her console. The lights on the bridge switched from their normal to a faint blue.
"Systems locked captain"
Laura nodded and turned back to the display.
"Hellespont you have control, you'll probably just need to unlock one of the births for Archangel"
"Affirmative Olympus, enjoy the ride, and welcome home"
Hellespont itself was nothing more that 2 discarded resource satellites moved into the debris belt to prevent them from becoming a navigation hazard. Of course the pair hollowed out, made an excellent base.
Inside of the smaller of the 2 was completely hollowed out and designed as a docking facility. There were mooring spires for several ships spaced every so often, enough room for 10 Olympus sized ships total. Two births were occupied by Olympus and Archangel; the others were taken up by normal cargo ships. Their moorings were connected to opposite sides of the same spire, so for the first time the 2 crews would meet face to face.
As the Archangel crew disembarked Richard caught up with Kira, Cagalli, Lacus and Flay. Sai was hovering around the group like a bee while Cagalli did her best to keep him from pestering Flay. Richard walked up to the group, brushing past Sai, and placed his hand on Flay's shoulder.
"You alright Flay?"
The red head nodded. Her hollow expression said more than her words.
"I guess"
Flay was lead on by Cagalli and Kira while Lacus stopped with Richard. Richard reached over and took Lacus' hand into his own and the pair followed slowly. After a few meters Richard turned to his pink haired fiancé.
"I have a feeling something else happened while I was gone didn't it"
Lacus nodded.
"She and Mr. Argyle got into an argument. She broke up with him and he's been hovering around her ever since. Would you talk to him, I know he cares for Flay but its not helping"
Richard nodded and handed Lacus a small plastic card.
"I want you three to take Flay out and have some fun today; I'll grab Sai and talk to him. Then I'll catch up after I finish checking up on Starlight. There should be more than enough on there for whatever you need"
Richard gave her a quick kiss and left, Lacus couldn't help but wonder what "Starlight" was.
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The conversation between Richard and Sai wasn't so much one as Richard talking to Sai, then Sai blowing up and taking a swing at him and missing. Unfortunately for Sai a couple of security officers saw this and tackled him before he could try again. They held him in detention till one of the Archangel Officers could retrieve him.
Richard stepped into the Hellespont CIC. He knew that was there he would find his former XO, Jonas Renard, The Lunar Hawk. The young man in question was no older than Richard and, like all former team members, wore his ZAFT uniform which bore the colors of the Black Knights, Black trimmed in gold with slate gray boots and belt with a long sword hanging from his side. Richard pushed off of the door frame and floated over to Jonas.
"You're an idiot"
Jonas looked over at his former commander.
"Oh, how so"
Richard narrowed his eyes.
"Dad told you not to build Starlight for a reason, if either side gets hold of it…"
Jonas shook his head.
"But they won't. Besides theres another issue with the design we need to talk about. Things are going to get worse before they get better so you're going to need something better than Nemesis"
Richard stood silently looking out the main view port at the harbor beyond. Watching as a number of ships laden with personnel and equipment departed for the new location. Jonas knew he had made his point; things would only get worse before they got better of that he was certain, or certainly more interesting at least. Finally Richard turned to his old XO.
"I guess your right on that count, so where is it?"
Jonas grinned moved off to the lift near the rear of the CIC and Richard followed. He had seen some specs for his father's ultimate design, but this would be new seeing it in person.
The RGX-00X0 Starlight.
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Deep inside the outer wall of the docking cluster sat a simple facility designed to house and repair the Stations complement of ZAFT machines, the 15 personal machines of the Black Knights. Jonas and Richard stood at the far end of the facility looking over the still under construction Mobile Suit. It stood as noting more than an exposed MS frame with a cored out spot in the chest where the batteries would normally be. What was supposed to go in that slot was mounted behind the machine. It was shaped like a simple cylinder with slits in the top and bottom where it would lock into the body. This was the Haydron Engine created by Dr Arin. Around the machine on various mounts inside of its holding rack were the armor components, waiting to be installed.
The machine was of the same style as the other G-Weapon or Gundam class suits. On its shoulders, still unattached but completed, sat a pair of binders which would increase the already impressive maneuverability two fold by aiding its AMBAC (Active Mass Balance Control) system. The binders were composed of a combo system of shield and detachable beam rifle. Jonas glanced over at his old CO and noticed the perturbed expression.
"Now do you see what I meant about problems?"
Richard glanced back at his old comrade.
"I thought you said it was done?"
"That's the issue. We brought in the best engineers we had, and as you know we've got the best. Designing a suit to carry the engine, that was transformable, had remote weapons, and all the other features was simply too much for what can be done right now. So with the limits we have we split the data into 3 separate machines. This one, Starlight Alpha, will carry the engine and be a transformable type. It will have all of the bells and whistles we can. All three of these will have the capability to not only operate using the engine but be able to use an interchangeable battery system. That's the prototype lying there next to the suit. We still have a LOT of bugs in the system so were moving the Alpha out in the morning with the last of the supplies. The second suit the guys are calling the Loki for all the problems the OS is giving us. Loki has other parts of the original Starlight design. Namely the Beam Defense System, we had to build the suit with that in mind so we used an X200 series frame for it. The interchangeable battery system for Loki was also a headache so we settled for attaching the battery to the backpack and just building two packs for hot swaping. Also Loki has a binder system as part of its pack that allows for interatmospheric flight. Not at high altitudes, but flight capability at under 500 meters. The final unit was the simplest to get right. RGX-X91 Prometheus. It's an X100 frame and while it has the same performance specs as Loki in space, it doesn't carry the beam system. Rather the wired remote weapons. It can't fly like Loki because the backpack carries the remotes but it can hover up to 5 meters off the groud for extended periods. The Haydron Engine is already installed and were loading it on Olympus tonight."
Richard, while impressed by the new suit capabilities was also a bit concerned.
"So its engine is operating fine?"
"Yeah your old man's Haydron Engine works pretty well. Though without him it will take us a while to replicate them, if we can at all"
Richard nodded.
"Infinite power, atmospheric flight up to 10 kilometers in altitude, and a way around the N-Jammers without nuclear fission, that's what Starlight should have had as a base performance. How many prototypes did he have built?"
"Other than the original in this thing and the one powering the main facility, 2, were keeping 1 for technical and the Director has plans for the other, why?"
Richard thought for a moment.
"Just wondering, what's the status of resupply parts for Nemesis, Astraea, Ares and Hermes?"
Jonas shrugged.
"All new equipment should be loaded by morning. As should the parts you requested for the Strike. There's been some update equipment developed for the original 4 from the data you sent us. By the way, I noticed you had some company with you. Where did you meet up with Lacus?"
The pair turned away from the Starlight and began to walk though the Mobile Suit holding bay.
"Kale found her in a life pod in the debris belt; an Earth Forces unit totaled the Silverwind"
"Ouch, want me to launch out a message to PLANT letting Chairman Cline know she's alright"
Richard nodded.
"If you would once were all out of here"
As the pair walked Richard continued.
"What's this I've been hearing today about John Savior and his team being on the station?"
Jonas grinned.
"Figured you would hear about that eventually. Once the director gave us the go ahead to split the Starlight data we knew we would need more expertise than we had. So she placed the call to Savior's design team and they flew out week before last. There also the ones who threw together the updates for the other units. Their not pretty but they work"
Richard nodded.
"Plus the fact that his ship "Concord" is docked in the ship enclosure."
"That it is. There heading out with the last ship in the morning. We gave Savior Team access to the G-Weapon data and we thing he's cooking something up from it. Should be interesting to see once it's done."
John Savior's design team was legendary among the Mobile Suit design community, both armature and professional. They had been responsible for transforming the schematics of the original GINN, and through a series of tweaks and at times all out redesigns, created the Mobile Suit that had come to be called the CGUE. Rumor had it his team had just completed with a totally new Suit for ZAFT called GuIAZ.
"So it was the director that approved the Starlight's construction. Why didn't you tell me that in your message?"
Jonas shrugged.
"Didn't want the EAF or ZAFT to overhear. The less they know about Peacemaker's structuring the better"
Richard nodded at that. ZAFT and the Earth Forces would likely both be after them before it was all over. They couldn't exactly go after someone they didn't know about now could they.
"True, just so you know my brother and sister are here as well"
Jonas smiled. He knew of his old COs attempts to locate his siblings and had personally made attempts to locate them himself.
"Score, you'll have to introduce me tomorrow"
"Will do"
Richard nodded as Jonas stretched a bit.
"Well I have some work to do, see ya later"
"Yeah later"
As he was leaving Richard spared one more look back at the incomplete Starlight. He then headed back to the lift, passing his old GINN on the way, a High Maneuver Type set to be moved with the rest. He had promised he'd spend time with Lacus today and he wanted to know how Flay was doing.
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While the Hellespont Chief of Operations, Rachel Thrist, and Laura gave the Archangel Officers a quick tour of the station Kira, Cagalli and Lacus had taken Flay into the civilian sector. The larger of the 2 asteroids was connected to the other by a shaft and allowed to spin. It was hollowed out and everything built onto the outer wall which, thanks to the spin, offered rotational gravity. They all sat at the only café still operational on the station. Everyone was steadily evacuating to another location Richard had only named once asSylias Station.
They had all taken a bit of a shopping trip, which Kira knew would cheer Flay up a bit as it was a favorite pastime of hers back on Heliopolis, even if she rarely bought anything. Unsurprisingly the short trip had worked even if it was to a small degree. They had run into Miriallia who had also dragged her boyfriend Tolle out for a bit of shopping as well. The pair had headed of into another section as the group had sat down to eat. They held onto simple conversation for a while until a voice interrupted.
"Is this seat taken?"
The group looked up to see Athrun Zala standing at their table holding a food tray wearing civilian cloths. Lacus was the first to speak.
"Of course not Athrun, please sit down"
Athrun placed his tray on the table and sat down across from Kira with Lacus and Cagalli on either side of him and Flay next to Kira.
"Was I interrupting anything?"
Kira shook his head.
"No, Flay was just asking us some questions, that's all"
Athrun nodded.
"I heard about what happened, I'm sure this isn't exactly easy for you"
Flay sighed and nodded. After the last time they had met she had asked Kira more about his friend and despite the fact he was in ZAFT she found that she generally like him.
"Its tough, but I'll get through it. I'm sure almost everyone knows by now"
Cagalli placed one of her hands over Flays.
"This isn't very easy for me either, I just found out I was a Coordinator too. But like I said, if you need anything just tell one of us alright"
Flay smiled and nodded.
"Thank you Cagalli"
It hadn't escaped Cagalli's notice that since they left Archangel, Kira hadn't let go of Flay's right hand, which reminded her.
"I'm surprised Richard isn't here"
It was Lacus that answered.
"Richard is checking on something called the Starlight. I don't know much about it but when he mentioned it to me he seemed…nervous"
Athrun nodded. Seeing no reason not to, Lacus had told him the truth about the exchange program before they docked. He wasn't sure how to take the fact that James Conrad was simply an alias given to Richard Arin by the Supreme Council, or the fact that Lacus had always know about it and played along. The group then fell into lighter conversation. It would take at least a day and a half to two days to re-supply both ships with the necessities so they had some time. No need to rush things
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Zaft Le Creuset Taskforce
Debris Belt
Outside, just beyond the Debris Belt the Nazca class Vesalius had just meet up with the Laurasia class Gamow carrying VIP passengers. Onboard were Defense Committee Chairman Zala and his wife as well as Chairman Cline. While he was sure his daughter was alive and in good company, he wanted to make contact to confirm it. Tomorrow they would launch a sortie to try and locate the "Gray ship" and the "Legged Ship" and then attempt to make contact. Not only to confirm Lacus was indeed alive but to begin negotiations for Athrun's release.
Everyone aboard both ships wondered what the next day would bring. But Commander Rau Le Creuset was certain it would be very interesting. Rau was brought from his musings at his desk by a pair of shuffling feet behind him. He turned his seat to see a young boy, about 7 or 8, with blond hair dressed in a pair of off blue pajamas shuffling sleepily to him.
"You should be in bed"
The boy nodded.
"I know, couldn't sleep"
Rau chuckled.
"Well come here then"
The boy climbed into the seat and got as comfortable as he could in Rau's lap. Rau just smiled and put his free arm around him as he continued to type up a report. After a time, once Rau was certain he was asleep; he gently lifted the boy and moved him back to his bed. He stirred a bit, but no sooner had Rau pulled up the covers than the boy settled back down to sleep again. Rau's smile didn't fade as he moved back to his desk, sparing a quick look back to the bed.
"Goodnight Prayer"
Prayer Reeve was as close to a son as Rau would ever get. He turned back to his computer and continued his work. In the bed behind him slept his reason for living, his sanity. Everything he did was to make the world a little better for Prayer, though he and Prayer were more akin to siblings than father and son.
Prayer was a second attempt by Al De Flaga at the procedure that had created Rau, only this time without Ullen Hibiki in charge. This time the process worked as it should have and Al De Flaga had named the then infant Prayer as his beneficiary, dieing only days later. With Prayer as an example his own treatments had been enhanced and he was now on a path to normalcy. By name or choice, it didn't mater to him, Prayer Reeve was his son. And he would raze the entire universe to protect him.
A/N ok that chapter is complete bet you didn't expect Prayer now did you. NOTE re-uploaded with minor corrections due to an unrealized at the time Dues Ex Machina moment that would have come in chapter 9. See CH 9 AN for more details.