Ok, first off, wanted to thank everyone who has read and reviewed my story, appreciate the positive feedback.
Also, I wanted to thank Akatsuki Leader13 for letting me use small parts from his Gundam Seed Destiny: A Retelling. Much appreciated, and I hope I'll be able to do it justice.
Now, I've noticed a small handful of mistakes on my part, so I'll fix those as soon as possible.
Discalimer: I do not own Gundam Seed Destiny or any of the attached units. I am however, the owner of the Resonance, the Eulogy, the Burnham Sniper Dagger Custom, the Kriegsherr, the Zaitsev, the Eulogy Demon-Shroud, and the Ascension. I also own Israfil S. Suvorov, Gwen Afon, Neil Valder, Ian Burnham, and any other future characters.
Now, on with the show! Hope everyone enjoys it!
Neil Valder stared at the new, white machine, surprised. He checked the Eulogy's database, and found nothing. He laughed. Intel had dropped the ball.
"Why is this happening? Are you trying to start another one? Another War?!" The pilot of the white machine roared, and Neil laughed at him, mocking his outrage. Another war! That would be almost too good to hope for.
The Eulogy holstered the pistols and pulled out a small handle. It extended out, becoming a large staff. The blade flared, releasing a red beam with an elegant curve to it. Neil took a second to admire it, before pushing the Eulogy forward, towards the white machine.
The white machine pulled the swords apart and brought them up in an X, blocking Neil's overhead slice. The Eulogy drew back and spun, whipping the Naginata across, scoring a minor hit on the shoulder. The white machine swung its huge swords forward, pushing the Eulogy back, and fired up its thrusters, pursuing him.
Suddenly, the Gaia rammed into its side, throwing it to the ground. The white machine landed in a crouch, its feet tearing gouges in the ground. It hacked at the Gaia with one of its swords, dropping the other for a beam rifle on its skirt armor. It fired once, and then twice, forcing the Gaia to dodge back.
Neil closed in again and the white machine had only a brief second to scoop up its other sword, and present a quick defense, the force of the Naginata blow forcing it to stumble away. The Abyss closed, swinging its spear at the white machine's head, and it had to drop to its knees, narrowly avoiding the blow. The Gaia slammed into again, and this time the white machine rolled with the blow, slamming into the ground hard.
It stood again, slashing the air around it with its swords, forcing them back. It got to its feet and snapped its shield up, blocking a flurry of beams from the Chaos. It moved back, trying to get space and Neil pushed after it.
"Surround him! Don't let him rest!" he shouted, breaking into a great laugh. He was enjoying this!
Suddenly, he took multiple hits on his unit, not powerful, but there were so damn many of them! The Eulogy shot back, and another mobile suit landed, this one black and white, with specks of silver and a dark, shiny blue trim. A large set of wings were folded on its back, and one arm had a small hand shield mounted on it. The new machine holstered what must have been a beam submachine gun and drew a beam saber with the right arm, the hand shield flipping and snapping into place like a medieval buckler. Neil checked the data and found a codename but nothing else. The Resonance. Neil grinned. This would be interesting.
-Ascension-
Israfil S. Suvorov assessed the situation. Odds, two on four. Not impossible, but tough.
"How are you Shinn?" he asked, staring at the other machines, which hadn't reacted yet, taking in this new threat.
"Ok." There was a minor pause. "A little damage on the shoulder but ok." He wouldn't say thank you, and Israfil didn't expect him to, time for all that later.
"Shinn, take on the Gaia and the Chaos. I'll take the Eulogy and the Abyss. Don't let them overwhelm you." Israfil ordered, and pushed on the controls, not waiting for a response.
The wings snapped into place and the Resonance shot forward, fast, and The Eulogy reacted as quickly as possible, snapped up one arm and activated the beam katar, the blade flaring to life, red and angry. The two machines clashed, the Resonance driving back the Eulogy, the beams locked together.
Israfil pushed off, and shot towards the Abyss, and brought the leg up in a vicious kick to the midsection, doubling it over. He brought the saber up, preparing to strike, when the Eulogy slammed into him, driving the Resonance to the ground.
The Eulogy swung its Naginata down, and Israfil brought the shield up, the beam leaving an ugly gouge across its surface. The Resonance responded, using its thrusters to bring it up quickly, and slashed again, the blade connecting solidly with the Eulogy's Naginata at the handle, the anti-beam coating preventing real damage. Israfil lashed out with the other arm, punching with the shield, slamming the Eulogy back. Israfil shot forward, shoulder rushing the other black machine, driving it backwards.
His alarm sounded and he spun in time to catch the Abyss's spear on his blade, the beam flaring white hot, stopping the spear tip just in front of the head unit. Israfil dropped the shield, hating to do it, and drew the other beam saber, slicing as he did, the blade cutting a line across the Abyss's torso, forcing it back but doing no real damage.
Israfil fired a burst from the CIWS guns and spun back to lock blades with the Eulogy, the two machines straining against each other.
"Yes, this is it! This is what I've been waiting for! Have at it Patchworker, meet me!" the pilot of the Eulogy shouted manically, laughing as he did. Israfil pushed back hard, and followed closely, the Resonance attacking hard.
"I'll cut you down for what you've done here!" Israfil promised. "I'll make you pay for every death!" he pressed forward, his attacks increasing in tempo. The Eulogy matched him for every strike, laughing all the while.
-Ascension-
Shinn struggled, forced backwards by a strong attack by the Chaos. He had to continually react to the Gaia too, the black machine launching lightning fast attacks on his flanks. Shinn worked the two swords as best he could, slicing and blocking, letting the armor take minor hits, hoping to open up a gap in his opponents' defenses. His only reprieve was the distraction value of the older machines still arriving.
He sforced the Chaos back and spun suddenly, throwing one of the Excaliber swords at the Gaia, the blade knocking it back suddenly.
"You bastard!" shouted the pilot.
Shinn didn't have time to really notice the female voice, had to turn back and defend himself from the Chaos. The Impulse slashed in front of it, the remaining sword easier to use. The Chaos moved back, and Shinn opened fire with his beam rifle, narrowly missing the green mobile suit. He holstered the rifle, and drew the first of his boomerangs, hurling it at the Chaos before suddenly charging the Gaia.
The two machines clashed, rocking the ground beneath them. The Gaia pushed hard, reckless, and Shinn had to admit he was unnerved by the sheer ferocity of the attack. He pushed back and quickly attacked, a stab that scored a minor hit on the Gaia. The pilot of the Gaia moved back and charged again, furiously.
It was all Shinn could do to hold on, and it got worse when the Chaos came in again.
-Ascension-
"Israfil, Shinn, your orders are to capture them," questioned Arthur Trine, the Minerva's Deputy Captain. "You understand that, right?"
"I know that!" said Shinn "I don't know if I can take them though! How the hell did this happen in the first place?"
Israfil cut in "Another time Shinn." They could hear the frustration in his voice. "Captain, this isn't as easy as it might sound. These pilots are damn good, the best I've seen, and you know the capabilities of those machines. Shinn and I are going to use up our power before they do. Do we have any support?"
"We're working on it," replied Talia Gladys, the Minerva's captain. "In the meantime, focus on keeping those machines in place. Focus on the battles.
"Yes ma'am."
"Roger."
Talia picked up the phone on her chair's arm. "If this is a capture operati…" she trailed off, realizing there was no sound from harbor control. They had already been attacked. She set down the phone and shook her head. What a disaster.
-Ascension-
Gwen Afon watched impatiently as the last of the debris was cleared from her charcoal gray ZAKU Warrior. The soldier who had taken charge of freeing the machine waved her over, and she leapt into the cockpit, pushing the buttons, a soft prayer, no damage, please no damage. The mono-eye flared to life and she brought the ZAKU to its feet.
Rey's ZAKU Phantom stood at the same time, and cleared the rubble off of Luna's machine. The trio armed themselves and took off.
"Attention, Rey, Luna, and Gwen" this was Arthur. "Move to reinforce the Resonance and the Impulse." He rattled off a location, and they diverted, heading towards the combat zone. Gwen could see the flames, the flashes of swinging sabers and swords, and couldn't help but imagine what was going on right over there.
-Ascension-
Shinn threw the Impulse backwards, avoiding an attack by the Chaos and its foot mounted blades. The green machine landed and opened fire. Shinn took the hits on his shield, and suddenly there was an alarm, he spun again and dodged as the Gaia sliced down with its saber.
Shinn took the hit, trying to get into position when he realized the Gaia was swinging again, and raised his shield, the blade flaring across the metal. The blow threw him off, and he realized he didn't have the balance, bad footing, and the Impulse slammed into the ground, tossing Shinn around.
Athrun gasped as he saw the Impulse fall. Cagalli tightened her grip on his shoulder.
"Help him!"
Athrun tightened his grip on the controls. "Hold on to something!" He pushed the ZAKU forward, slamming into the Chaos, and spun almost perfectly, flinging the tomahawk at the Gaia, the blade sticking into the shield. His intervention was brief, but it gave the Impulse vital time.
"Bastard!" Sting roared as he fired with both pods into the ZAKU. The blow rocked Athrun inside the ZAKU, but he was kept safe by the webbing of the pilot's seat.
Cagalli wasn't so lucky.
She slammed her head against a part of the cockpit and collapsed. Athrun felt her head and realized she was bleeding. Athrun quickly took the ZAKU into the air, retreating. Cagalli took precedence.
-Ascension-
The report came to Talia quickly. "Chairman Durandel is now onboard."
"Thank you." She set down the phone and exhaled. Thank God. The Chairman is safe."
-Ascension-
The Resonance had sheathed its two sabers and switched to the Harbinger, the massive blade driving back the Abyss and the Eulogy, which made due by switching to its right hand katar and one of the pistols. Israfil danced his machine back, dodging a burst of beam pistol fire, scooping up his shield and locking it back onto the arm so he wouldn't have only one hand to work with, and returned fire with the CIWS guns.
Suddenly, a volley of beam shots drove the Eulogy back, and Israfil glanced back, saw a ZAKU Phantom, and two ZAKU warriors, one a dark gray and one red.
"You bastards." Luna growled, "How dare you try and trick us."
The four stolen machines opened fire on the ZAKUs, and they darted out of the way, scattering. Suddenly, the four machines flew into the sky. Israfil was surprised, but quickly realized what must be happening. "They've got to be running low on power. Now's our chance!" The Resonance shot into the air, pursuing them.
The ZAKUs followed, still firing. Suddenly one of the thrusters on Luna's ZAKU exploded and lost altitude, trailing smoke.
"Lunamaria! Are you alright?" Rey called out.
"I'm fine. But I can't maintain this altitude."
"There's nothing you can do. Fall back to the Minerva"
Israfil could hear the frustrated growl. "Right."
Gwen, you go with her, in case it gets worse" Rey ordered.
"Very well. Happy hunting!"
The two ZAKUs fell out, heading towards the docked warship.
"Meyrin, launch the Force silhouette." Shinn ordered.
"Roger." Meyrin replied. "Force Silhouette launching now."
-Ascension-
Neil Valder traded shots with the white ZAKU and the black and white Gundam, the Resonance, and was doing ok, the dual pistols putting up an impressive wall of fire. He was distracted by that white machine, the unknown factor, as it ejected its back pack and had a new one mounted, suddenly equipped with wings and beam sabers, the shield larger.
He would have grinned, but now simply wasn't the time for fun. He fired a burst at the Impulse, keeping it back, when he saw the Gaia, Stella moving back to engage it.
"Stella, pullback, now!" he shouted, angry and slightly worried.
"No! I can beat him! I will beat him!"
"Fine then. I guess you'll just have to stay here and die!" Auel said.
Stella froze, his eyes suddenly wide and fearful. "Die…am I going to die…? NO! I don't want to die!" she screamed and flew towards the wall, all semblance of self control gone.
"You idiot!" shouted Sting. Neil could only concur. "Why did you use her block word?!"
"Hey, it got her moving, didn't it?" replied Auel in his own defense, a bit of pride still in his voice.
The Gaia reached the colony wall and began to fire, desperate to break through, to escape death. The Resonance expanded its wings and shot after it, only to be stopped by the Eulogy and a flurry of pistol shots.
"You won't stop us, Patchworker! Try and get through me!" He challenged, buying precious time.
The colony wall began to glow red. They were close, so damn close.
-Ascension-
Ian Burnham sighted the glowing part of the wall, and reported the coordinates to Captain Roanoke, who had launched in his Exus.
"Help them out Lieutenant." Neo calmly ordered, and Ian responded by sighting the target, and pulling the trigger, the rifle flashing, the beam tearing into the wall at the perfect point. The hole tore open.
-Ascension-
Israfil watched in horror as the hole opened, pulling the Gaia out into space, and then the Chaos and the Abyss. The Eulogy disengaged, the pilot throwing a mocking salute his way.
"Damn them!" shouted Shinn, and he kicked the Impulse forward, in a reckless pursuit.
"Shinn!" Israfil shouted, and deployed the wings, chasing after him.
-Ascension-
"Captain! They're heading out on their own!" said Arthur. "And the enemy is still out there!"
"The Impulse's power is critically low, the Resonance too!" Meyrin reported, "Three hundred at best!"
"No!" this came from Mark Child, the leading engineer and expert on the Resonance, who had joined them on the deck to see how his pride and joy would perform. Now he was faced with the very real possibility of someone stealing it. Talia gritted her teeth and stood.
"It would be a catastrophe to lose both of the machines as well." Said Talia. "It's time, launch the Minerva."
Her orders caught the bridge crew off guard, but Durandel nodded. "Very well."
-Ascension-
Athrun landed the heavily damaged ZAKU in the Minerva's hanger, the machine landing indelicately. Cagalli had awakened, but was clearly in a daze, and needed attention. He opened the cockpit and held Cagalli as they rode the cable down.
"Hold it you two!" came a voice to the side, a violet haired ZAFT red coat, wearing a skirt, and another pilot, this one with longer, more wild black hair with red streaks and a more standard, but better…tailored uniform. Both were armed, and a number of soldiers had gathered around them.
Athrun positioned himself in front of Cagalli. The ship's PA suddenly announced, "This ship is about to take off! All hands to battle stations! I repeat, all hands to battle stations!"
Luna raised the gun again. "Well? You're not military. What were you doing in that machine? Identify yourselves!"
"I'm Alex Dino, Princess Cagalli's bodyguard. I demand that she be taken to this ship's doctor immediately!" Athrun replied.
"Princess?" Gwen said, surprised.
"Cagalli Yula Attha, the Chief Representative of the Orb Union."
Gwen suddenly lowered her weapon and said, "Please, follow me!"
-Ascension-
The Impulse flew into the dark void of space, followed by the Resonance, and then the ZAKU Phantom.
"Damn it, where are they?" Shinn asked, angry.
"Shinn, we should pull back, now. We're in a bad position out here." Israfil replied, ignoring the question.
None of them noticed a small, sleek object on the side of the colony.
"Now I see. The unforeseen problems. Two new machines." Neo shook his head. "I should have foreseen this. Ian?"
"Yes sir?"
"Cover me. Try not to damage the two new machines too badly."
"Roger that. Targeted and firing."
-Ascension-
"I'm not dead…I'm not dead…" Stella sobbed as she dropped out of the Gaia's cockpit. Neil watched her, felt a small wave of relief. She would be fine. Now all they could do was rest, and prepare. In his mind, he saw that black and white Resonance again, felt again the thrill of crossing blades with it again, and grinned. He looked forward to the next meeting.
-Ascension-
The Exus detached from the side of Armory One, roaring towards the three machines, the pods detaching as it went. Elsewhere, Ian Burnham opened fire, the beam narrowly missing Rey's ZAKU, a pure fluke, a last minute move on Rey's part, like he had reacted to some feeling.
Israfil was aware of the attack when a flurry of beams shot in front of him, and he had to dodge out of the way. He fired a burst from his submachine gun, trying to hit the pods. The others reacted similarly, moving quickly and returning fire, utterly unsuccessful. The Resonance shook as one beam cut across the right bicep.
However, to him, the biggest concern was the sniper that had to be out there. He kicked the Resonance into full drive, leaving Shinn and Rey to deal with the funnels.
The sniper locked on him and fired, the next shot tearing into and gutting the left arm. He was at a huge disadvantage now.
And suddenly, there was the Minerva, setting out from the colony, majestic and huge, the wings spreading. Israfil looked at with relief. The tide had turned.
Alright! Phase 2 is now complete. Please read and respond, tell me what you think.