Last Impression
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A/N:
Well, it's another long episode for this story… whew! Anyways, I'd like to tell the following people this:
Thomas Drovin: How are you faring? As to the Pokemon story you mentioned to me about and asking for a review of it, I have to tell you, that Pokemon isn't around one of my favorite anime (must be the age or genre). So I had to steer clear from reading a Pokemon story, so that's why I couldn't give a review, so, my apologies.
bigbabidi: Hmm, your pen name sounds off a little from the Lord of the Rings, or it's just that pronunciation? I'll keep up the good work as always, but the updates will be late, I'm afraid.
Warp Ligia Obscura: Sorry I didn't have time to concentrate on other particular characters in the story, for I seemed to have a case of Writer's Block in fixing some loose threads on whether or not I'd include them later or sooner in the story. I was thinking much later, so you might get to see the actions of the other notable characters such as Vann, Lloyd, etc.
Ominae: 'Shame! I wanted Kenji to know about his secret heritage. But I guess it can't be helped, can it?' Uh, that comment seems confusing to me, for I had Kenji know about his origins in Epi.28. As to heritage, I'm not too sure about that.
mechapunk87: I decided to spare Nicol from his timely demise. You'll find out know how in the next set of episodes.
Cici Linne: Thanks for taking time to read the story! Are you a girl by any chance? Oh no, I don't mean anything rude, but I like also for girls to also enjoy this story as well (and if they're also fans of the GUNDAM SEED series)!
With that said, on with the story! Readers, reviewers, much thanks for your support and time in reading this story! I'll have you know that I have a GUNDAM SEED DESTINY sequel story in works, based on the success of this story first.
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Episode 29: Wedged Fate
Legend
Word denotes character thought
-Word- denotes sound effect in character thought
Word denotes setting, time
-Word- denotes sound effect
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Timeline: C.E. 71, April 15; +1000 hours
Location: Earth --- Orb Union; Onogoro Military Base
Inside the base's briefing room, a meeting was held with Murrue, Natarle, Arnold, and Kisaka inside. Cagalli's bodyguard, docked in an Orb military uniform instead of his Desert Dawn attire, began the briefing, motioning everyone in the room to gather around an overhead projector displaying a map of Southeast Asia. The map was then zoomed in further on the Orb kingdom's location, before zooming back out and marking the Orb kingdom with a bright red X. Next, a blue-dotted line trail was instantly created, beginning north from the Orb kingdom and deviating to Alaska.
"ZAFT's Carpentaria Base is busy preparing for a rumored assault on Panama, where the Earth Alliance's remaining mass driver is residing. Since ZAFT took the EA's Victoria Base last month, where its second mass driver was available, it seems prudent for the EA to protect its only remaining mass driver," Kisaka started, then walking up to projected map and guiding his right hand at the blue-dotted line trail. He glanced back at the Archangel called crew members standing before him, "Because of this situation, it's the best chance for the Archangel to escape and head for Alaska, since ZAFT will focus its attention on Panama for the time being."
Natarle pursed her lips before coming up with a related question, "Is the rumor about Lord Uzumi not knowing about the G-Project true?"
"Yes, it is," Kisaka replied with an earnest face, "Several of Orb's council members forced the decision to develop mobile suits with the Earth Alliance without Lord Uzumi's consent. However, Lord Uzumi is taking steps to prevent the Heliopolis situation from occurring again."
"Hmm… that would answer why Morgenroete was involved in the G-Project. What did Professor Kato say about this?" Murrue asked, folding her arms.
Kisaka shook his head in reply, shrugging his shoulders.
"He didn't agree to head the project at first, but it took some… persuasion… from some heads of the EA and the Orb council members to get him to agree. At least, that's what I heard."
"I can't imagine a renowned scientist like him to be pushed into doing something he doesn't originally consent on doing," Arnold commented with a doubtful look on his face.
Murrue turned to the Archangel driver with a wry grin.
"That's not how Professor Kato wouldn't be perceived at first. Admiral Halberton once told me that."
"Oh… er, I apologize if my remark was rude," Arnold stated embarrassingly, realizing he touched on a delicate subject relating to his ship's captain standing before him.
"-Giggle- No, I wasn't offended by it, Ensign Neumann, so don't fret," Murrue waved off his intended apology with her right hand.
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Timeline: C.E. 71, April 15; +1200 hours
Location: Earth --- Orb Union; territorial ocean boundary
On the outskirts of the Orb kingdom's territorial ocean boundary, a ZAFT Vosgulov-class submarine, the Cousteau, was surfaced in view. Inside, it carried the Zala team currently on standby, based on Eiji's confident assumption that the Archangel would leave Orb soon and head north of the neutral country, resuming its original course to Alaska.
Inside one of the officers' small cabins, Yzak fidgeted about on his bed, with his movements betraying his growing anxiety on facing his intended foes, the Strike and the Seraph, in battle once again. After conversing with Nicol and Athrun on the Isadora's deck, Dearka stepped inside to find the silver-haired Duel pilot in his distressed state. Amused by the sight in front of him, he couldn't help but smirk and place both his hands on his hips.
Feeling someone's gaze boring down on him from behind, Yzak turned around to find the Buster pilot smirking at him, prompting himself to sit up on his bed and add an annoyed scowl at him.
"My, are we feeling fidgety today?" Dearka jested.
"Humph… spare your smart-ass remarks, Dearka," Yzak snapped with his usual temper before sighing resignedly, "We've spent the past few days doing nothing on Eiji's hunch that the legged ship will leave soon and head north."
The Buster pilot shrugged his shoulders with a wry smile.
"Maybe you should confront Eiji and start a coup d'etat. That'd be a welcoming start."
The Duel pilot looked appalled by the remark, raising both eyebrows at his best friend standing before him.
"Tch… I'm not that unreasonable! That blasted Walters is really beginning to rub off of you. I don't even know who I consider to be most infuriating --- you or him."
"Whatever, man… jeez, you need to lighten up some more, you know?" Dearka suggested, shaking his head in dismay and already used to Yzak's rants.
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On the Cousteau's deck, Nicol and Athrun stood by, enjoying the quiet, inspiring ocean view. The former grinned cheerfully upon seeing a flock of seagulls flying high past by, making him strike a conversation with his teammate standing aside him after noticing his quiet, pondering mood.
"Say, Athrun, have you ever seen some flying fish around these parts? They're quite a sight to behold. So… are you nervous about the mission?" he asked.
Athrun's train of thought was broken by Nicol's abrupt start of conversation, making him glance at his teammate with an inquisitive expression on his face.
"Not really… um, I wanted to ask you this… why did you join the military?"
Nicol turned his attention back at the ocean scenery in front of him.
"Well… I had to fight, after the 'Bloody Valentine' incident at Junius-Seven. I felt compelled to at least serve my country and do it a good favor, especially along with my parents."
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Parked next to the Cousteau was another surfaced ZAFT Vosgulov-class submarine, the Isadora, where the Shinonome team was also on standby, also given the same order as the Zala team by Eiji. The team members tried their best to kill time waiting for the Archangel's expected departure by doing different things.
For Ryu and Lisa, they were in their cabin simply playing cards. Ryu did his best to keep both he and Lisa occupied with cards by coming up with different card games for themselves to play. And so, they played their fifth game of Blackjack with no gambling involved, but just simply for fun.
"So… do you want to hit or stay?" Ryu inquired, slyly eyeing his teammate seated before him, who pursed her lips in uncertainty as she glanced at her two cards, a black King of spades and a black Queen of diamonds, adding up to a sum total of 20. Confident on her hand, Lisa smirked at him.
"I'll stay. That's my final decision," she stated.
"Hmm… ok, I'll hit this time," Ryu informed, taking a face-down card from the deck which revealed a black Ace of spades as he secretly flipped it over facing him after adding it to his hand, which held a black Jack of spades and a red Queen of hearts, adding up to a sum total of 21. He then eyed Lisa for a few seconds, making her feel wary of his passive gaze.
There's no way in hell he'll win this one. I've got a 20 in my hand, she thought confidently.
Truth behold Ryu won the first four games, having an unstoppable winning streak, and more surprisingly, exactly 21 (blackjack) in all of them to boot. By the fifth game, Lisa's competitive spirit reached an all-time high, and she felt the growing need to actually beat her teammate just once.
"It's time to show our hands then," Ryu concluded, prompting him and Lisa to lay down their cards face-up after they agreed to show their hands. Lisa stared surprisingly at his hand with widened eyes, before eyeing back at him.
"How the hell… 21 again?" she bellowed at her teammate, who simply shrugged his shoulders with a wry smile.
"What can I say? It's just a case of dumb luck," he humbly replied.
"Ok, that's it… I'm shuffling the deck in this next game! You're on!" Lisa exclaimed enthusiastically with a clenched right fist at her teammate.
Ryu couldn't help but sigh tiredly, shaking his head dismayed, but deep down he was impressed by his teammate's competitive spirit.
Ever since I beaten her on that fateful day, she always possessed that competitive spirit… maybe she's like that when it comes to me? Hmm… nah… it couldn't be so… can it?
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As to Barry and Miho, they decided to work on their GINN High-Maneuver Types' diagnostic checks in the Isadora's compact MS hangar bay, making sure their MS was functioning properly without bugs and other errors. Half past 12, however, Barry decided to take a short nap, before switching off his GINN High-Maneuver Type's OS.
"-Yawn- Time for a well deserved nap…" he sleepily said to himself before dozing off, placing his hands behind his head while resting his legs up on the keyboard interface, trying to get on a sleeping position.
Ten minutes after finishing her GINN High-Maneuver Type's diagnostic check and switching off its OS, Miho peeked out from her MS's opened cockpit to slightly spot Barry in slumber. She shook her head with an expectant sigh at the sight of her sleeping teammate.
"Easygoing as always," she stated, and couldn't help but smile wistfully after.
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Meanwhile Eiji remained in the Isadora's bridge, where he stood by a small, rectangular map projector displaying Southeast Asia and currently zoomed in on the Orb kingdom. He stood about in that position with his hands behind his back, as he patiently tapped his right foot, quietly doing so as to not disturb the other crew members working in their posts. His eyes narrowed warily down at the map projector.
Tch… maybe my hunch about the legged ship leaving Orb today is wrong. But still… my gut feeling is telling me it might be true after all. If I hadn't put up with Waltfeld-sensei's lectures during my academy days, I'd certainly not planned for this waiting game at the very first thing.
Eiji's face then etched in a reminiscing frown at the mention of the late 'Desert Tiger'.
Kenji… you and that pilot of the Strike will pay dearly for Waltfeld-sensei's defeat, as well as mine.
The Spawn pilot turned to the Isadora's vice-captain, who was standing behind the radar/sonar operator, expectant to receive new findings.
"Any movement detected from the military base?" he inquired, referring to Orb's Onogoro Military Base.
"Negative, sir… there's no activity detected so far," the vice-captain replied, shaking his head at his superior officer, after checking up with the radar operator for confirmation.
Eiji turned his attention back at the map projector with a disappointed frown on his face.
"Just a little longer…" he quietly stated to himself.
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Timeline: C.E. 71, April 15; +1000 hours
Location: Earth --- Orb Union; Onogoro Military Base
As the Archangel underwent its last set of extensive repairs in the dry dock, inside Natarle's quarters, the ship's second-in-command was writing up a detailed report on her small desk about the Archangel, recalling related important events starting from its abrupt launch in Heliopolis and presently ongoing in its repairs in the Orb kingdom, as per agreement between the ship's high-ranking trio and Lord Uzumi. Given she had plenty of free time (aside from systematically checking up on the Archangel's diagnostics) she intended to finalize the report for the EA central military council.
After finishing writing up the current report on the Archangel's repairs in the Orb kingdom, Natarle laid down her black, fountain pen before resting her hands on her small desk and closing her eyes briefly to attain some sense of relief from the detailed, current account of her report she devoted her energies to accomplish. She rubbed the temples of her forehead with her right hand, sighing tiredly before opening her eyes.
"Now what am I to do? I can hardly find anything else worthwhile to do around here. I've already overhauled the Archangel's systems with help from Arnold and the others. I already went over the supply checklist with Chief Murdoch. And, I went over for the small briefing held by Colonel Kisaka," she finished reminding herself a checklist of previous accomplished tasks for today.
As Natarle leaned back on her chair, her thoughts were then on Kenji, picturing his face staring back at her from her quarter's ceiling.
Kenji… hmm… maybe, he could give me some advice on this unresolved matter between Captain Ramius and I regarding proper running of the Archangel.
She then stood up from her seat, exiting her quarters to look for the Seraph pilot.
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In the Archangel's hangar bay, Murdoch couldn't help but be amused upon seeing Kenji constantly working on routine checkups of the Seraph's OS in its opened cockpit. Both the Strike and the Seraph were immediately taken back aboard in the Archangel, after both underwent complete repairs and diagnostic checks.
That kid… he'll really overwork himself to death if he keeps that up. At least Kira has something to keep him occupied… his girlfriend that is. What about Kenji? He should be doing something other than working in the Seraph for the umpteenth time.
Deep down, the gruff head mechanic/engineer slowly considered Kenji a son like Kira. Despite feeling a fatherly pride for both the Gundam pilots, he had trouble expressing it to them, opting for the non-trivial, short conversations he'd come up upon bumping into either of them. Most of those conversations were about the Strike's and the Seraph's mechanics and their entire systems, which dealt with mechanical engineering, an aspect he could relay to both Gundam pilots.
Shaking off his thoughtfulness from his mind, Murdoch went over to the Seraph via the catwalks and approaching its opened cockpit.
"Hey Kenji, take a break for once, yeah? Being cooped up in this machine all day doesn't do you any good, you know!" he stated, popping his face in view for Kenji to notice.
"Oh, Chief Murdoch," Kenji glanced up at the head mechanic/engineer, before typing a last set of commands to finalize the routine system check-up of the Seraph's OS, "Don't worry, I'm already done here. I couldn't find anything else to do in my spare time, so I opted to run another routine system checkup of the Seraph's OS."
"You must be quite a workaholic, Kenji," a feminine voice spoke out, getting Kenji's and Murdoch's attention. They turned to find Natarle standing before them with a small grin on her face. The rare sight of her now raised the Seraph pilot's right eyebrow in wonder, while Murdoch promptly saluted Natarle, ever reminded of her superior rank. The Archangel second-in-command didn't bother saluting back to him, but rather focused her attention on the Seraph pilot.
"That word hardly befits me. What's brings you here, ma'am?" Kenji asked courteously with a wry grin, setting aside the keyboard interface after deactivating the Seraph's OS, giving him space to move freely about.
Natarle scratched her right cheek with her right forefinger in reluctance before replying, feeling a bit giddy standing before the object of her growing affections, "I was just passing by when I saw you working in your MS. May I interest you over a cup of coffee? I'd like to have a chat with you, if that's no problem."
Murdoch couldn't help but look curiously at the Archangel second-in-command with raised eyebrows, and opted not to butt in the conversation for fear of a harsh rebuke from Natarle. Feeling out of place, he resigned himself to abruptly cough and state some excuse to leave. His retreating form didn't go unnoticed by Kenji, who glanced at him for a second or two before directing his attention to Natarle.
"I'll take you up on your offer," he casually replied with a smile.
Natarle couldn't help but smile back in return.
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"I'd prefer to have a private talk with you over coffee in my quarters rather than the mess hall, if you don't mind," Natarle stated, motioning Kenji to step in her quarters with two cups of coffee in hand, prepared courtesy of Chef Carte from the Archangel's mess hall. After setting down their coffee, Kenji sat himself down on a spare seat offered by his host, as she sat on her small bed facing him and received her cup of coffee after.
"Thank you. You see…" Natarle trailed off, with her mind racking up the appropriate topic of discussion as mixed plausible ones came into her mind, ranging from her attraction to the Seraph pilot to the constant conflicts with Murrue during past battles. She opted to pick the latter instead, as she hesitantly glanced up at Kenji.
"Go on, I'm listening," he spoke, motioning his host to resume on. After drinking a quarter of his coffee, he set it down on Natarle's small desk provided while keeping his attention to her.
"I feel somewhat out of place in this ship, despite my position as second-in-command. I don't mean to sound arrogant, but, I feel I'm more capable to lead the ship than Captain Ramius. Her methods in running the ship come across as questionable… she sometimes bends the rules to cater preferred individuals such as you or Kira Yamato, since especially you're both the only Coordinators aboard," Natarle started with a straight face.
Kenji pursed his lips, seemingly taken aback by her statement. He folded his arms, assuming an inquiring face directed at his host.
"Well… you sure go straight to the point, ma'am."
Natarle shook her head, disapproving of being addressed courteously.
"Please, you can call me Natarle when we're off-duty."
"Ahem… ma'am, uh, I mean… Natarle, so you aren't content with Captain Ramius's way of running the ship. But I believe she's done an admirable job in running the Archangel so far. Why is it that the ship managed to escape capture from ZAFT so far? That's certainly proof of her ability to assume the role as the Archangel's captain," Kenji replied.
"Yes... I think she also did a good job in her role. But, she's too open-minded and doesn't enforce discipline in this ship, which is lacking here."
"That's a harsh judgment of her, Natarle. Tell me, you'd rather run this ship instead? The last thing I'd see you do is to throw a mutiny."
Natarle looked slightly appalled by the remark.
"…No, it would go against good judgment for me to do that… but, once the Archangel manages to arrive at JOSHUA… what will the higher-ups think of all this? I'll be presenting them a detailed report listing all the events involving this ship up until present."
Kenji placed a reassuring right hand on Natarle's left shoulder.
"Frankly, I wouldn't give a damn as to what the higher-ups in the EA Alaska Base would comment. Look, all what we should focus on now is to get this ship there in that base. We can deal with whatever judicial committee is sent to examine the Archangel's case. As to your conflicts with Captain Ramius, give yourself some time to adjust to her methods. In my POV (Point of View) she's doing a great job as the ship's captain."
"…You think so?" Natarle asked, glancing doubtfully at the Seraph pilot.
"There's nothing much for me to say on this matter. Remember, do what you think is right for the Archangel and its crew. Don't blame yourself if you find that you couldn't contribute much effort to everyone aboard; it counts. And one more thing, lighten up once a while, yeah? Be friendlier to everyone, and treat them with respect. You'd be surprised you'd also be respected back that way."
"…I see. Well… sure. I'll try to follow your advice."
Pleased by her remark, Kenji smiled before retracting his right hand back in place and drinking the remainder of his coffee. He crossed his legs while taking a mental note on his host's newfound attitude.
Hmm… now that I think about it now, she doesn't seem bad at all in the first place. She strikes me as the serious type. Asking her to loosen up would do her some good in gaining respect from everyone in the Archangel.
Natarle calmly sipped her coffee, feeling unable to look directly at Kenji. Her cheeks felt a bit flushed with embarrassment as her pent-up feelings for the Seraph pilot instantly surfaced about in her mind, making her slowly anxious.
We're finally alone together. I think my problem with Murrue can no longer affect me in my duty anymore, now that I talked it over with Kenji.
But why am I like this when he's around? If I don't attempt this, my mind won't be finally made up. Should I?
She then placed her coffee on her desk and slowly faced the Seraph pilot with a fast-beating heart. Noticing the peculiar way she was staring at him, Kenji scratched his right cheek with his right forefinger, wondering at her behavior.
"Is something the matter?"
He was then taken in surprise as he found his lips instantly sealed with Natarle's, and feeling her tongue probing inside, tempting his. Next, he found the Archangel second-in-command suddenly straddling him. Feeling his natural instincts taking over him, Kenji temporarily pushed aside his shock in his mind and slowly kissed back, as he felt Natarle's hands holding around his head and pulling him near her to intensify the kiss.
"Mmm… -Chap- mmm…" Natarle moaned as she felt Kenji's hands slowly wrapping around her waist. She couldn't help but feel a little impish on guessing his reaction.
-Giggle- It must be his first time kissing a woman.
Contrary to her thought, Kenji did have experience kissing a girl, as proof of his late first love. He was more shocked in seeing an older woman kissing him of all people!
Holy mother of… I'm actually kissing a woman older than me. What the hell is going on?
I can't seem… to stop kissing her… wow… she's good.
Shit… this isn't right!
With a last amount of willpower, Kenji slowly broke off the kiss, softly pushing Natarle away from him to collect his breath. She looked alarmed by his action, fearing the worst.
"Kenji… I…"
"...-Gulp- Natarle… what was that for?"
The Archangel second-in-command looked away from him with embarrassed, flushed cheeks, as she then got off him. Her eyes started to shimmer with mixed emotions.
"I'm sorry… there's another thing that I wanted to do… confess to you. You see, ever since you first came onboard the Archangel, I kind of felt this… attraction to you. It slowly grew when you rescued Lacus Clyne and brought her aboard. I don't why, but I felt… jealous… seeing you spend a lot of time with her. God, you must think of me as a fool, hearing me confess a schoolgirl crush on a Coordinator, of all people!"
Feeling her emotions taking over, she instantly broke down in tears, bringing her hands to cover her crying as she sat down on her bed. Seeing her distressed state alarmed Kenji, prompting him to seat beside her and gently embraced her, bringing her face to cry on his chest instead.
"Shh… it's ok… you don't have to be ashamed of yourself. I was just… surprised," he cooed, rubbing his host's back up and down with his right hand.
"-Sob- -Sob- Spare your apology! You must think of me as a foolish woman… -Sob- I shouldn't have said this to you."
"Natarle… I'm not angry at you. This seems, um, new. There's no problem for a Natural falling in love with a Coordinator. They're all considered human beings to me."
"-Hic- Do you… really think so?"
Kenji briefly smiled at Natarle's teary-eyed face peering at him for approval.
"Yes, I do."
Hearing those words made Natarle's heart soar as she abruptly knocked the Seraph pilot down on her bed.
"-Hic- Kenji, thank you. -Hic- I'm happy… to hear that."
Kenji wiped off tears of happiness and joy from his host's eyes with his left hand as he brought himself to gaze directly at her eyes, then realizing how beautiful she looked. He ran his left hand through her short, black hair, feeling his heart slowly growing fond of the Archangel second-in-command.
"Natarle… -Chuckle- I think… I'm starting to like you."
For once, Natarle felt glad to be herself.
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"Can I help you, Vice-Minister?" a male mechanic/engineer asked as he noticed George standing before the parked Seraph in the hangar bay. Along with the Strike, the Seraph was placed back in the Archangel's hangar bay
"Oh…? No, no… I was just admiring this machine standing before me," the Atlantic Federation Vice-Minister fibbed with a wry grin. In truth, he was looking for a way to obtain the Seraph's blueprint containing its overall specs.
"Is that so? Hmm… ok, but please stay aside for the meantime, for some supplies from Orb will be transported here via trailers. It's for your safety, sir," the mechanic/engineer cautioned, scratching his head with his left hand in wonder.
"I understand your warning, for I won't take long here."
The mechanic nodded affirmatively to George, who nodded back, before joining a group of his fellow mechanics/engineers resuming their assigned task in helping out ferry supplies aboard the Archangel. George looked back at the deactivated Seraph with narrowed eyes.
How do I get my hands on your data, Seraph?
From a distance, Murdoch, discussing supply transportation with an Orb technician, couldn't help but notice George's presence and starting intently at the Seraph from the corner of his right eye.
What's the Vice-Minister doing over there? He doesn't seem to fit in the scene here. Bah, well, it's not my business to meddle in his affairs… but then again, he seems a little suspicious though.
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Activity was kept to a minimum for the Archangel's crew, while they finalized the ship's diagnostics and other related internal/external systems in preparation for its expected departure today. Having loaded the last set of supplies into the ship with the help of Morgenroete engineers and technicians, Murdoch's personal crew were rewarded with a well-deserved, one hour break, given by their head himself, crediting their daily efforts with a hearty praise.
For the bridge crew, most of them took turns maintaining their posts by exchanging hour shifts, as promptly overseen by Murrue. As she glanced back at Natarle's empty seat in the CIC area, her mind wondered about the Archangel's second-in-command.
I suppose she's taking a break in her quarters. She's probably exhausted from checking up on the Archangel's internal systems.
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Timeline: C.E. 71, April 15; +1200 hours
Location: ZAFT-PLANTs; Aprilius-One colony, ZAFT Central HQ
"So, you called for me, Vann?" Professor Asimalov asked as soon as he stepped inside Vann's office and closing the door behind him. Regarded as a notable MS researcher, suffice to say, he was the least annoyed for having been summoned by Vann, and forcibly put his current research on the next line of mass-produced MS succeeding the GINN variants on hold.
"Please, take a seat, professor," the said masked ZAFT commander motioned his guest. After seeing him taking an offered chair facing him, he continued, "How's the prototype MS you asked me to test run? Has it been finally completed?"
"Ah, that… well, the YFX-200bp CGUE DEEP Arms w Booster Pack is readily constructed. Why do you ask about it?" Professor Asimalov inquired, crossing his legs gentleman-style and trying to be comfortable in his seat.
"I'll get straight to the point. I need to be in Orb ASAP, for I have an urgent matter to attend to. And for this to happen, I'll… have to borrow that prototype MS to do so."
"Pshaw, you don't have to borrow it, for it's actually yours to begin with! But, traveling to Earth normally takes a few days via a shuttle. Well, since you asked for the YFX-200bp CGUE DEEP Arms w Booster Pack, it'll need to be retrofitted with extra rocket boosters. Once they're installed, the trip to Earth would now be in a matter of hours."
"I see. I'm sorry to have disturbed you over such a simple request."
"Oh, there's no need for apologies! Besides, a friend of former Chairman Clyne is a friend of mine as well."
Vann's demeanor clouded seriously as he adjusted his mask with his right hand.
"Well, with the new Chairman, Patrick Zala, elected 14 days ago by the Supreme Council, Master Clyne has reason to worry about his future plans, one of which is Operation Spitbreak. I've heard that operation is planned to intensify Operation Uroboros to a certain extent."
Professor Asimalov rubbed underneath his chin with his right hand, contemplating on the remarks.
"Yes… but, I fear there is worse to come from this."
Both men took a moment of silence staring at each other and contemplating on the current situation in ZAFT. Vann then spoke up once again with a small smile, while standing up from his chair, prompting his guest to do the same.
"Thank you for your time, professor."
"…And I thought I've been called for an important matter. Well, I'll return back to my research as usual."
Both men shook hands and parted their ways. After watching the professor's form exiting his office and closing the door behind him with a rueful shaking of his head, Vann barely sat back down on his chair as he then heard the ringing of an incoming call from the intercom latched on his desk, prompting him to answer it. The intercom's small screen displayed the image of Siegel Clyne docked in house clothes and seated behind his office desk, with the office background in his residence apparent.
"Master Clyne, is something amiss?" Vann inquired attentively at the sight of his employer, ready to fulfill an assigned task given by him.
Siegel merely waved his right hand in reply, dismissing the seriousness of the question directed to him, while slightly smiling in amusement at his trusted subordinate's behavior.
"No, no, there's no trouble. I was just calling by to check up on our special guest's well-being from you."
"Oh that… I've decided to stop by the safehouse and check up on her now. I need to use the prototype MS Professor Asimalov humbly gave me to do so, before I can proceed finalizing the necessary arrangements for my departure."
"Hmm… that's good, please do so. I've been routinely worried about our special guest. With the official approval of Operation Spitbreak, it'll be in effect by next month, and I fear there might be secret elements from the EA to continue searching for her by that time, since she apparently carried a top-secret document belonging to theirs. Speaking of which, how's the decryption of the mentioned document so far?"
"It's only 10 percent decrypted so far. But the project name 'Apocalypse Project' perturbs me just by mentioning it. It seems she was unknowingly carrying a more dangerous item, making her a prioritized target."
An earnest frown etched on Siegel's face as he stroked his mustache with his right hand in thought.
"It wouldn't do any good to let herself be known alive, especially to Patrick Zala. But, if that happened, she could possibly influence him to reconsider a military offensive against the Naturals at this moment. Have you figured out the assailants' identities? From what I've heard from you, they've been recently persistent."
Vann rested his arms on his office desk.
"-Sigh- Unfortunately, the most I can come up with is that they're Special Forces, expertly-trained down to the core. Five times they've managed to locate our special guest, and also the same number of times I managed to dispatch them. Because of this, I've had to relocate our special guest to five different safehouses, one after the other. She's currently nestled safe in another safehouse near Orb, and that place is naturally camouflaged with small neighboring islands, so she should be securely safe there. "
"…Very well, I trust your judgment in securing her safety. Please make haste to check up on her."
"But sir, my duty is also to protect you as well. Are you sure you want me to leave you be for the meantime?"
"…Don't worry about me, I can manage. And to calm down your fears, I have several able bodyguards in my residence as we speak and another entourage during my trips to the Supreme Council. Report back to me on her current condition, and see if she can tell us more about the 'Apocalypse Project'. If I'm not in my residence by the time you're back here, you can call me up on my emergency line."
Vann respectfully saluted his employer with his right hand.
"…Yes sir, I'll be on my way then."
Siegel shook his head with a wry grin at the given salute directed to him.
"You don't have to always salute me, you know. I'm not the military."
With that said, he ended the transmission, leaving Vann looking concerned at the intercom's now blank screen, before standing up from his seat to leave his office. In the next room, he went over to his female secretary, who was sorting out filed documents and noticed his approaching presence.
"Commander Falken? Is there something you need?" she sat up in attention, ready to accept a task from her employer.
"Postpone all appointments and calls for me this week. I'll be leaving for the Carpentaria Base, starting today, for an important task. If there are any mails for me, have soft copies of them encrypted and sent to my residence instead. Understand?"
"As you wish, sir, I'll do as you instructed."
Vann then left his secretary, heading for the military base's hangar bay in haste.
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Timeline: C.E. 71, April 15; +1300 hours
Location: Earth --- Orb Union; Onogoro Military Base
As soon as the Archangel's repairs were finished and finalized, preparations were underway for its immediate departure. The dry dock was then slowly flooded with water, allowing the Archangel to sail out, as it was lowered on the water by several, large robotic arms that were holding it above momentarily.
Inside the ship, a quick head count took place in the hangar bay, to see if all crew members were present. All available crew members (including the Allsters and the Hynes) gathered in one line and stood in attention, as the ship's high-ranking trio painstakingly checked off each crew member to ascertain his attendance. Having done the task within five minutes, Murrue dismissed everyone, prompting them to return to their posts and tasks.
"Well, it looks like everyone's accounted for, captain," Mwu stated with his cheery mood, as the Archangel high-ranking trio watched everyone break off and scramble like working bees.
"That's a good start, to say the least. We'll begin preparations for the ship's departure then. Natarle, come with me. Lieutenant La Flaga, you're on standby here," Murrue said, nodding to the Moebius Zero pilot and the second-in-command, before motioning the latter to follow after her on the way to the bridge via the ship elevator.
As she and Murrue passed by the parked Strike and Seraph Gundams, Natarle took a second or two to steal a gaze at Kenji, who was gathered near Skygrasper-1 with Kira and Murdoch.
Kenji…
As if hearing her thought, the said Seraph pilot glanced around to meet Natarle's eyes with his and simply smiled at her, making her feel a little happy at receiving his brief gaze as she smiled back.
After watching the retreating forms of Murrue and Natarle, Mwu noticed Tolle sitting down inside the parked Skygrasper-1's cockpit, along with Kenji, Kira, and Murdoch gathered around. Curious at the sight, he went over to them.
"So, what are you doing up there?" he asked Tolle, glancing up at him.
"Lieutenant La Flaga, I was just getting the feel of being inside the cockpit of this Skygrasper. After doing several sessions in the simulation, I think I can pilot this thing for real," Miriallia's boyfriend beamed confidently.
"-Sigh- Kids these days… I don't know what to do with them. You better not tinker around with the controls of that Skygrasper, you hear? Or otherwise I'll have you fix it by yourself," Murdoch sternly warned with a wagging right forefinger, before turning around and leaving to inspect Skygrasper-2.
"Jeez… as if I'm going to take this for a joyride! What a grouch," Tolle commented with a frown and folding his arms while looking at Murdoch's retreating form.
Mwu chuckled amusedly at the remark, shrugging his shoulders with a wry grin.
"Hey, it's his job to make sure all the machines we use for battle are in one piece and operational, so you can't blame him for his caution."
Kira looked worriedly at Tolle, feeling concerned for his life, and knowing well the close bond he and Miriallia have on-going.
She'd be devastated if something happened to Tolle. But… he just simply wants to lend a hand in the fighting though.
Kenji eyed the candidate Skygrasper pilot in front of him with folded arms.
"Hmm… you seem ready to pilot this Skygrasper, for it'd be a learning experience for you, Tolle. Just don't get cocky, ok? I'm sure you've grasped the basics of piloting a fighter aircraft from the simulations I've seen you undertaking recently."
"Heh, you bet I'm ready, Kenji! I'll show you guys I'll be useful in the battlefield!" Tolle exclaimed with a confident right-thumbs up given to the Seraph pilot, who just shook his head with a contented smile.
-Sigh- I just hope he doesn't go over his head… Miriallia will kill me if she found out I was the one who encouraged him to train himself to pilot during the trip in the Red Sea.
"I'll head back to my quarters for the time being. I don't think I'm needed here for now," he spoke to Kira, Mwu, and Tolle, before waving goodbye to them and leaving at once for his quarters.
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Timeline: C.E. 71, April 15; +1315 hours
Location: Earth --- Orb Union; Attha Residence
Inside her room, Cagalli packed the last bundle of her clothes in a medium-sized backpack lain on her bed, as she intended to catch up with the Archangel and leave her country once again. Behind her, her door opened, allowing her prominent father and Orb leader stepping inside to find her packing for a getaway trip. With a heavy heart, he slowly walked up to her.
"Do you intend to leave with the Archangel then? Is that what you want, to fight?" he asked.
Sensing a serious talk happening before her now, Cagalli momentarily stopped packing, then looking back at her father from the corner of her right eye.
"I only want to help end this war, father."
"Will your fighting end the war then?"
Those words made Cagalli remember a particular remark from her encounter with the 'Desert Tiger' back in Banadiya, Africa.
"Should a war end by killing all enemies? I've yet to test that question."
Lord Uzumi placed both his hands on his daughter's shoulders and gently turned her around facing him with a sagely look on his face.
"…If you kill someone, that person's family will hate you. If someone killed you, I will hate them as well. Such a chain reaction like this goes on and on, and it doesn't end a war."
Having glanced up at her father's knowing eyes, Cagalli felt helpless to respond, and looked down at the carpeted floor of her room, pondering on the lesson implied in her father's statement.
…But… isn't there a way to end a war?
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Timeline: C.E. 71, April 15; +1345 hours
Location: Earth --- Orb Union; Onogoro Military Base
Meanwhile, several escort battleships of the Orb Union's naval fleet begun to set sail ahead the port of the country's military base in Onogoro Island, helping to conceal the Archangel's expected departure.
Inside the now filled dry dock of the military base, the Archangel was set for departure. Outside its left port-side deck, which was adjoined by a nearby dock, Cagalli was on a mad dash to catch up with Kenji and Kira, after noticing their figures making their return inside the Archangel. The two Gundam pilots turned facing around hearing her loud cry, then seeing her dressed in respectable military attire.
"Wait!" the Orb princess exclaimed, then stopping in front of them and catching her breath, placing her hands on her knees while bending slightly down.
"What are you doing here? We're about to leave!" Kira stated, surprised to see her. Standing next him, Kenji folded his arms and watched on with interest.
"Kira, Kenji… you both are idiots! You were going to leave without saying a goodbye to me at least?" Cagalli annoyingly retorted.
Both the Gundam pilots flinched a bit at the impact of her remark.
"Should we have?" Kenji asked with a mischievous smile.
"You're cruel! Well… anyway, did you guys see your parents here in Orb? Kira, yours are already up there in the observation building watching you," Cagalli pointed out with her right hand at the top of the said nearby building, where the figures of the Yamatos and Lord Uzumi were currently watching the three teens below.
Following her pointed hand, Kira and Kenji looked up to find the Yamatos with mixed emotions at seeing their son in person after a long time since Heliopolis. They found Caridad crying and wiping her tears off with a handkerchief, while Haruma waved at them. Noticing his parents for a brief second or two, Kira felt his eyes shimmering with sadness before glancing back at Cagalli.
Mom, Dad…
The Strike pilot placed his right hand on Cagalli's left shoulder, looking assertively at her with shimmering eyes.
"Please tell my parents that I'm sorry for not seeing them."
Before he could retract his right hand back in place, he found himself engulfed in a sudden hug by Cagalli, who was saddened to watch him leave. As she broke off the hug after a few seconds, she looked up at the Strike pilot, feeling some sort of a personal connection with him deep down.
"Don't die on me, you hear? I won't forgive you if that happens…"
Kira sadly smiled at her concern, before turning around walking past Kenji and returning inside the Archangel through its left port-side deck door. Looking at the Strike pilot's retreating form disappearing after the Archangel's left port-side deck door closed after him, the Seraph pilot turned facing back at Cagalli, staring at her thoughtfully and trying to place her image on his mind.
"What…? Don't stare at me like that," the Orb princess spoke, feeling suddenly bashful under his gaze. She was then caught off-guard as she felt being embraced gently by the Seraph pilot and was surprised by the action. She couldn't help but embrace slowly back, and nestled her chin on his right shoulder to stifle a sudden tear from her right eye. She blinked her right eye quickly to wipe off the tear away as she broke off from the hug after several seconds.
"It was nice knowing you, Cagalli. You take care of yourself now," Kenji softly stated with a smile.
"Kenji… I…" Cagalli trailed off, looking up at the gentle side of the Seraph pilot in awe. She felt her cheeks flush slightly under his gaze as she felt a sudden feeling of attraction needed to be confirmed and wanting for the person standing in front of her. Without thinking, she took an impulse to surprisingly capture his lips with hers while wrapping her arms around his head, pulling him close to her as she closed her eyes.
"Mumph…!" Kenji said, startled by the action. Sensing it'd be rude to break off the kiss hastily, he decided to slowly return the favor, closing his eyes as well.
Up in the nearby observation building, the Yamatos and Lord Uzumi stared bug-eyed at the sight of the two teens engaged in a lip-lock. Caridad placed her left hand over her agape mouth in shock, while Haruma felt his jaw drop open for a long time. Lord Uzumi, however, regained composure from the slight shock, and shook his head with a worried sigh while placing his hands behind his back.
"To think the siblings have this close bond with each other…" he quietly commented.
After a minute or two of lip-locking, Cagalli and Kenji broke off, gasping for air and staring at each other with flushed cheeks.
"W-W-What… was that for?" the Seraph pilot stammered, while beating himself up deep down for acting weird from his remark.
"I… I'll miss you, Kenji. Please, look after Kira, and also… don't die as well," the Orb princess reluctantly replied, looking down at the port floor embarrassed.
Kenji took a second or two looking back up at the nearby observation building, then noticing the shocked expressions on the Yamatos and Lord Uzumi, before glancing back at Cagalli. He placed his left hand on his heart, feeling an awkward moment passing through him.
I… just passionately kissed my supposed sister, and in front of Kira's parents and Lord Uzumi to boot!
Pushing aside the surprising thought from his mind, Kenji felt a close bond starting to form for the Orb princess standing before him. With his right hand, he gently brought her face glancing up at him, as she awaited him to speak up to break the awkwardness shared between them.
"And also… my parents… they died a long time ago. But, I have my uncle with me in the Archangel. Cagalli, cherish the moments with your father, and love him with all your heart," the Seraph pilot spoke half-truthfully with a heavy heart.
With that said he turned around and walked away from Cagalli, entering inside the Archangel through its left port-side deck door.
"Kenji…" she quietly mouthed, placing her right hand over her heart as she watched the Seraph pilot disappear. Seeing no need to stay further, she sighed wistfully, stepping back to watch the Archangel slowly leaving the dry dock.
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After leaving the military base, the Archangel slowly followed the escort battleships of Orb's naval fleet to the edge of Orb's ocean territorial boundary. As the group neared the edge of the ocean territorial boundary, the escort battleships then pulled back, allowing the Archangel to cross and officially leave the boundary. Inside the EA legged-warship's main bridge, the bridge crew relayed necessary reports of the take-off procedure.
"Main thrusters are online and activating within… 5… 4… 3… 2… 1…" Dalida reported from his post in the CIC area.
The Archangel's main thrusters opened, propelling the EA legged-warship forward constantly.
"Take-off procedures initiated. Climbing to pitch angle of 90 degrees," Arnold reported while driving the Archangel to climb up to its standard flight level with the steering wheel tightly.
Within minutes, the EA legged-warship was finally on flight.
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Inside the Archangel's hangar bay, Murdoch was surprised to find Kira and Kenji getting inside the cockpits of the Strike and Seraph Gundams as he was checking up on the current conditions of the battle-ready machines from several of his mechanic/engineer crew. The gruff head mechanic/engineer made his way up to the said Gundams' cockpits via the catwalks.
"Hey you guys! Why are you both inside your MS?" he asked as he piped his head to find Kira seated inside the Strike's cockpit and activating its OS.
"ZAFT will attack us as soon as we leave Orb… I just feel it," Kira stated while continuing typing on the Strike's keyboard interface to run a diagnostic check in its systems.
Murdoch pursed his lips and scratched his head with his left hand in wonder, then turned around to face Kenji standing before him with a knowing serious look on his face.
"I feel the same as Kira, Chief Murdoch. That particular ZAFT unit that's been chasing us since space will show their faces soon," he stated with an affirmative nod.
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Nearby, the two ZAFT Vosgulov-class submarines, the Cousteau and the Isadora, lurked about to await the Archangel's expected departure. Both submarines' radar crews spotted the EA legged-warship by heat and sonar tracking. Inside the Isadora's bridge, activity was suddenly revived by the latest report from the radar crew.
"Detecting movement from one heat source… it's the EA legged-warship!" one of the radar operators confirmed from his post, getting everyone's attention in the room.
Eiji looked over at the said radar operator with attention and hands behind his back, after waiting patiently standing near the small, rectangular map projector.
About time… looks like it was worth waiting after all.
"What's the legged-warship's course?" he inquired.
"It's turning around, heading north of Orb. It appears to continue its route to Alaska!" the same radar operator replied, after checking up the bearings of his radar.
"Sound battle stations immediately! We must intercept the legged-warship at once! Inform the Crusader Squad and tell them to deploy in their MS immediately. Contact the Cousteau and inform the Zala team to prepare for battle stations and deploy their MS at once! I'll head out in my MS right now!" Eiji exclaimed in succession. He turned to the Isadora's vice-commander, "The Cousteau and the Isadora are to chase after the legged warship. Look after things while I'm gone!"
"Sir!" the vice-commander saluted in reply, then watching his superior's retreating form leaving the bridge to head for the hangar bay.
Inside the Cousteau, sirens of battle-stations sounded aloud throughout the ZAFT Vosgulov-class submarine. In its hangar bay, the Zala team assembled quickly in the Aegis, Blitz, Buster, and Duel Gundams.
"So… Eiji was right about the legged-warship leaving north of Orb," Athrun commented to himself inside the Aegis's cockpit as he activated the MS. He contacted the Cousteau's bridge via com-link and found the vice-commander's image displayed on the small screen atop of the Aegis's right CIS.
"Relay any new orders given by either Commander Shinonome or the Isadora to me at once. The Cousteau must pursue the legged-warship as well, and the MS team might have to return back here for quick repairs," he ordered.
"Understood, sir," the vice-commander nodded in reply, before his image flickered off the Aegis's com-link.
Within minutes both the Cousteau and the Isadora begun movement, and launched their MS consisting of the Zala and Shinonome teams on the double. All eight MS involved (the GINN High-Maneuver Types, the Aegis, Blitz, Buster, Duel, and Spawn Gundams) were also retrofitted with Guul support aircrafts from their assigned submarine carriers.
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Back inside the Archangel's main bridge, the CIC crew detected 8 incoming heat signatures by radar heading directly towards the ship.
"The sensors are picking up 8 heat signatures heading directly towards us! Running their ID signatures through the ship's database… confirmed as 4 GINN High-Maneuver Types and the Aegis, Blitz, Buster, and Duel!" Jackie reported from his post as his radar displayed the revealed ID signatures of the said MS.
Everyone in the room tensed up at the mention of his report. Wasting no time, Murrue and Natarle leapt into action, with the former cutting the air with an outstretched right hand after looking back at Jackie from her seat.
"All hands, level-two battle stations!" she ordered.
"Prepare for anti MS combat! Deploy anti-beam depth charges to make a smoke screen! Ready "Igelstellungs"! Load "Korinthos", "Wombats", and "Sledgehammers" as well!" Natarle exclaimed to her CIC crew from her seat. Next, she glanced at Miriallia"Contact all the pilots to deploy in their respective machines immediately!"
"Yes ma'am! Pilots Kira Yamato, Kenji Hyne, Mwu La Flaga, and Tolle Koenig, please deploy in your respective machines at once! We're entering battle shortly!" the said MS/MA female teen operator announced to the said pilots via broadcast throughout the ship.
Natarle did a double-take at the last pilot mentioned by Miriallia.
"Tolle Koenig…? Is he a capable pilot already?" she asked, surprised to hear a fourth pilot mentioned.
"Um… yes, ma'am, he underwent simulator training a few weeks ago. Lieutenant La Flaga has already vouched for him; he confirms he's ready to pilot," Miriallia replied with an embarrassed blush. Deep down, she couldn't help but worry for her boyfriend's life, knowing well he was now fighting out there in the battlefield.
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Inside the Archangel's hangar bay, Murdoch's crew had their hands full starting up the necessary launch procedures for the combat-ready machines available --- the two Skygraspers and the Strike and Seraph Gundams.
Seated inside Skygrasper-1 and suited up, Mwu started up his assigned aircraft fighter's systems as it was being automatically ferried to the second linear catapult by robotic arms. Next, Skygrasper-1 was retrofitted by the same robotic arms with the Aile parts of the Strike. After the catapult's inner door closed after Skygrasper-1, the launch sequence window appeared from above. Having finished the necessary checks in his aircraft fighter, Mwu closed his pilot helmet's glass visor with a press of a button on the helmet's right side. The catapult's outer door then opened for launch.
LINEAR CATAPULT LAUNCH SYSTEM
FX-550 SKYGRASPER-1
…3
…2
…1
LAUNCH!
"Mwu La Flaga… Skygrasper-1, launching!" he exclaimed, as his aircraft fighter was shot off to the outside ocean background.
The second linear catapult's inner door opened again, allowing Skygrasper-2 to be set in place. The aircraft fighter was then retrofitted with the Sword parts of the Strike by the same robotic arms. After the catapult's inner door closed after Skygrasper-2, the launch sequence window appeared from above. Finishing last checks inside his assigned aircraft's cockpit, Tolle closed his pilot helmet's glass visor with a press of a button on the helmet's right side. The catapult's outer door then opened for launch.
LINEAR CATAPULT LAUNCH SYSTEM
FX-550 SKYGRASPER-2
…3
…2
…1
LAUNCH!
"Tolle Koenig… Skygrasper-2, taking off! Woah…!" Tolle lurched into his seat, as his aircraft fighter launched right away to the outside.
The second linear catapult outer door then closed after, with the first linear catapult opening next, allowing the quick launch of the Strike and Seraph Gundams as they stayed behind on the Archangel's outer deck. The Strike was outfitted with its remaining Launcher parts, while the Seraph was immediately cloaked invisible with its Mirage Colloid feature.
"Kira, you better remain on the ship for this battle. It won't do any good to wander off, so just stick here and swat off the enemy with artillery fire," Kenji contacted the Launcher Strike pilot via the Seraph's com-link inside his MS.
"But what about you…?" Kira asked, with his image appearing on the Seraph's com-link.
"I'll hang around the ship invisible and strike the enemy with the element of surprise."
"Ok… be careful."
"Same to you…"
The cloaked Seraph hovered from behind the Archangel, protecting its rear flank, while the Launcher Strike protected the front end, standing on the ship's central area near its bridge. Inside the Launcher Strike's cockpit, Kira detected 8 incoming heat sources in his radar. He widened his eyes alarmingly after attaining their ID signatures shortly after.
"Those guys again… they sure don't quit it," he remarked to himself.
The Launcher Strike's com-link received a transmission from Tolle, with his image appearing onscreen and getting Kira's attention.
"Hey…! It looks like I get to fight alongside you this time. I hope I can be of much help. I'll try to relay the enemy's coordinates to you and Kenji, so as to give you both time to attack them early."
"Tolle…"
"Relax, I won't crash, I've trained for this moment!"
"Ok… but, be careful! You don't want to worry Miriallia a lot, you know."
Tolle gave a hearty right thumbs-up and wink at the worried Launcher Strike pilot before his image flickered off the Launcher Strike's com-link.
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"What the… woah!" Barry exclaimed surprised as he naturally brought Crusader-02 to strafe aside incoming, accurate cannon shots coming from the Launcher Strike, as they were heading towards the ZAFT Zala and Shinonome MS teams, who did his same action.
"Break off and surround the legged ship! Watch out for artillery coming from it and the Strike!" Athrun warned, contacting the rest of the ZAFT teams via the Aegis's com-link.
"Where's the other MS deployed, the Seraph?" Ryu wondered, checking Crusader-01's radar as he brought his MS to circle around the Archangel along with the rest of the Crusader Squad.
"Going for the element of surprise, eh, Kenji?" Eiji commented delightedly to himself as he surmised his intended rival's action to render the Seraph invisible using its 'Mirage Colloid' feature for the start of the battle. He switched on the Spawn's com-link to the rest of his teammates, "Athrun, take your squad to deal with the Strike! Ryu, take yours to deal with the legged ship! I'll take care of the Seraph myself!"
Then, another set of cannon fire from the Launcher Strike headed towards the ZAFT Zala and Shinonome teams, prompting them to evade fast.
"Alright, my squad will engage the Strike, then! Be careful!" Athrun replied via the Aegis's com-link, before motioning his team to switch focus on the Launcher Strike as their primary target.
"We'll do our part then. I trust your good judgment, Eiji!" Ryu replied via Crusader-01's com-link, before motioning the Crusader Squad to prioritize attack on the Archangel instead.
"So it begins… time to reveal your hiding spot, Kenji," Eiji stated confidently, bringing the Spawn to fire both of its "Angelus" beam rifles at the Archangel's back main thrusters. He smiled triumphantly at seeing through the Spawn's CIS his beam shots being deflected within inches from their targets by an unknown source, which instantly de-cloaked itself in view as the Seraph.
"A forcible way to say hello, Eiji," Kenji contacted his best friend via the Seraph's com-link with a passive look on his face.
"I just simply wanted to see you. Let's spare the theatrics and get down to it!" Eiji exclaimed via the Spawn's com-link, as he then brought the Spawn to suddenly charge straight towards the Seraph and unearthing both of its "Swallow Edge" from its "Angelus" before activating them.
"Bring it on, anytime!" Kenji exclaimed back via the Seraph's com-link, before doing Eiji's same action.
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Timeline: C.E. 71, April 15; +1410 hours
Location: Earth orbit, space
Meanwhile, the streaking form of a MS speeded by like a blazing comet towards Earth. Upon closer look, it showed to be the YFX-200bp CGUE DEEP Arms w Booster Pack with four attached external space rockets modified for high space flight. Inside its cockpit, Vann made necessary adjustments for attempting an atmospheric re-entry by typing on his CGUE's keyboard interface before setting it aside and resuming control of his MS's flight.
Who'd have thought it'd took just around two hours to get here from Aprilius-One by Professor Asimalov's set-up, the masked ZAFT commander thought to himself with a disbelieved smile at the mention of the said prominent Coordinator MS researcher. He immediately felt his body tensed and lurched deep into his seat as he felt his CGUE's cockpit starting to rumble as the MS steadily approached the Earth's atmosphere.
"Time to initiate re-entry procedures," Vann stated as he saw the image of Earth displayed on his CGUE's CIS. As the CGUE DEEP Arms w Booster Pack neared Earth's atmosphere, it ejected its four attached external space rockets, before assuming a skydiver's free-fall position. A faint reddish glow enveloped around the CGUE DEEP Arms w Booster Pack within the next few seconds, indicating the activation of its specialized heat shields, before the eminent, bright red-orange glow of intense heat from the Earth's atmosphere took over after.
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Timeline: C.E. 71, April 15; +1420 hours
Location: Earth --- Marshall Islands
The escalating battle with the ZAFT Zala and Shinonome teams forced the Archangel off-course yet again, this time on a set of small islands located just above the Tropic of Cancer and north of the Orb Union.
"Guys, watch out!" Athrun warned his teammates via the Aegis's com-link as another barrage of cannon fire from the Launcher Strike streaked towards them.
"Woah, that was close!" Nicol stated relieved to himself as he brought the Blitz to balance after narrowly strafing a cannon shot.
"Damn it… how the hell did the Strike pilot get so accurate?" Yzak cursed annoyingly at the Launcher Strike's image displayed on the Duel Assault Shroud's CIS, after barely avoiding a hit.
"Hmm… I got to admit, he's getting better each time we meet him," Dearka commented to himself inside the Buster's cockpit, as he brought his MS circling back and preparing retaliatory fire back at the Launcher Strike with its gun-launcher and beam rifle.
Perched outside on the Archangel's central area, the Launcher Strike fired off a volley of machine-gun fire from its combo weapons pod while steadying its "Agni" held by both hands for another round. Inside its cockpit, Kira quickly lined his sights on the approaching Buster with the aid of the computer targeting system before pressing the triggers of both control sticks in certainty.
"What the…! Damn, I'm hit!" Dearka exclaimed in disbelief as he felt the Buster's cockpit rumble from the explosion of its destroyed Guul, which took an accurate cannon shot from the Launcher Strike. With its Guul destroyed, the Buster was sent off-balance and in a speedy descent into the ocean below.
Back in the Launcher Strike's cockpit, Kira took notice of his MS's current energy level drained to now 30 percent, after repeated use of the "Agni".
"No good… I'll run out of energy at this rate," he commented warily to himself.
By good fortune, Skygrasper-1 flew by over the Launcher Strike, before its pilot contacted Kira via com-link.
"Hey, kid, use the Aile pack so you can fly! It's no good just holed up there and shooting down the enemy that way!" Mwu exclaimed.
"Ok, give it to me, Lieutenant La Flaga!" Kira nodded in reply.
Looking up at the passing Skygrasper-1, the Launcher Strike then ejected its combo weapons pod and threw aside its "Agni", before making a sudden upward boost jump to approach Skygrasper-1 in mid-air. Following cue, Skygrasper-1 then ejected the attached Aile pack as it flew past by the Launcher Strike after making a lazy turnaround back. At the same time, the Aile pack was then latched onto the Strike after nearing contact, forming the Aile Strike and refilling its depleted energy battery to the max.
"What the…? He can do that?" Nicol wondered surprised at the sight in the Blitz's CIS.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
"Hey, hey, that's a cool docking sequence!" Barry commented lightly in Crusader-02's cockpit, as it and Crusader-04 circled warily around the Archangel, and not wanting to attract attention from the Aile Strike.
"We don't have time to admire the Strike, Barry! We'll let Athrun's team deal with it. We should focus back on attacking the legged ship!" Miho reminded her teammate via Crusader-04's com-link.
"Lisa, come with me, we'll aid Eiji to fight against the Seraph! Barry, Miho, I'll leave you two to deal with the legged ship!" Ryu ordered via Crusader-01's com-link, and motioned Crusader-03 to follow after, leaving Crusader-02 and Crusader-04 to deal with the Archangel.
"Aw man… why do I get the tougher jobs?" Barry complained inside Crusader-02's cockpit, before motioning Crusader-04 to follow suit as they began attack on the Archangel's left port-side with their experimental armor assault rifles.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
"It's now or never!" Nicol stated with finality as he brought the Blitz to fly straight towards the Aile pack with full speed and activating the Blitz's beam saber attached on its "Trikeros".
"The Blitz…!" Kira exclaimed inside the Aile Strike's cockpit as he noticed the oncoming Blitz on the Aile Strike's CIS, before bringing his MS turning around facing the charging Blitz. With a surge of its backpack thrusters, the Aile Strike took out its right beam saber and activated it before it and the Blitz neared contact.
-SWHAK-
Amidst the beam saber slash, the Blitz suddenly found its right arm sliced off, before receiving a hard left kick on the chest by the Aile Strike and knocked off its Guul, from which the Aile Strike then retained using.
"Ugh…!" Nicol exclaimed in pain as the Blitz plunged down to the ocean water below, but had its landing softened by the Aegis and its Guul as they made it in time, sharing space for the Blitz to stand on.
"Nicol…! You bastard…!" Yzak cried out furiously as he jolted the control sticks hard forward inside the Duel Assault Shroud's cockpit, charging his MS at its high speed toward the Aile Strike.
Noticing the Duel Assault Shroud's furious charge, the Aile Strike took aim at its Guul with its beam rifle and fired off a shot, damaging the support aircraft and causing the Duel Assault Shroud to crash in the ocean water below.
"DAMN YOU---!" Yzak exclaimed frustratingly, pressing the triggers of the control sticks inside his MS's cockpit like a madman in a feeble attempt to fire off its "Shiva" rail-gun and land a hit on his hated foe.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Meanwhile, the Seraph and the Spawn exchanged quick blows with each other with their "Swallow Edge", as they engaged in deadly close combat.
-SLICE- -SLICE-
-WHAM- -SLICE-
-SLICE- -SLICE-
-WHAM- -SLICE-
However, after a few minutes, it seemed neither of them had advantage over the other, forcing them to break off another deadlock.
As Kenji was catching his breath, warning alarms buzzed inside the Seraph's cockpit, informing him of incoming enemy fire from behind. He brought the control sticks to fly around high, avoiding machine-gun fire from Crusader-01 and Crusader-03, who arrived in the scene and hurried to the Spawn's aid.
White GINN High-Maneuver Types… the Crusader Squad… Ryu, Kenji thought, feeling a sense of reminiscence upon realizing Crusader-01's pilot.
The Seraph… Kenji Hyne, Ryu thought the same thing inside his MS's cockpit as he saw the Seraph displayed in the CIS.
"Why did you bother to aid me? Your assistance isn't needed!" Eiji stated annoyingly to Crusader-01 and Crusader-03 via the Spawn's com-link.
"I want to settle a score with the Seraph, so that's why I brought Lisa with me to aid you in this fight," Ryu replied with his MS's com-link.
"Tch… do what you want then!" Eiji stated, then jolting the control sticks forward to move the Spawn charging towards the Seraph.
"Lisa, follow my lead!" Ryu motioned his said female teammate via his MS's com-link, before following after the Spawn with a boost of its thrusters.
"Just what I wanted to hear from you, captain," Lisa replied excitedly via her MS's com-link, before following suit after her teammate.
"If it's a fight you want, then that's what you get!" Kenji retorted with fierce determination at seeing the Spawn and Crusader-01 and 03 charging at him in the Seraph's CIS.
As the Spawn neared contact with its counterpart for another deadlock with its "Swallow Edge", behind it, Crusader-01 and Crusader-03 brought up their experimental armor assault rifles, pumping bullets at the Seraph in a desperate attempt to start things off, before circling around the Seraph like hawks to their prey.
-BA-DA-DA-DA-DA-
-BA-DA-DA-DA-DA-
Parrying one or two beam slashes from the Spawn, the Seraph fired off the attached beam rifle of both its "Angelus" at Crusader-01 and Crusader-03, forcing them to separate avoiding enemy fire. Behind it, the Spawn threw both its "Swallow Edge" separately to Crusader-01 and Crusader-03, surprising both their pilots and gesturing them to receive them.
"Take them! They're beam sabers, and they should work well against the Seraph!" Eiji notified Ryu and Lisa via the Spawn's com-link.
"Are you sure about this?" Ryu wondered in reply.
"Yes, I'm sure! Go for close combat instead to distract the Seraph, while I try to take him out from long-range!"
"Come on, captain!" Lisa motioned her teammate to follow closing on the Seraph from both sides with their new beam sabers.
"Is that a new strategy? Clever, Eiji… I've got to hand it to you," Kenji commented to himself before bracing himself for another round of close combat.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Despite the opening given to them by their teammates, Crusader-02 and Crusader-04 found it hard to concentrate fire on the Archangel's port sides, as demonstrated by the oncoming machine-gun fire and missile barrage of the EA legged warship's "Igelstellungs", "Wombats", and "Korinthos".
Inside the Archangel's main bridge, the CIC crew furrowed their eyebrows in concentration as they complied with incoming new orders given by Natarle from her seat.
"Target the enemy MS with the "Igelstellungs"! Then, use "Wombats" and "Korinthos" for maximum accuracy!" she bellowed earnestly.
Another rumble from several small explosions shook everyone in the main bridge, prompting them to hold onto their seats for dear life.
"Fire has spread in port-side decks 2 through 5!" Romero reported from his post after running a quick damage report in his terminal.
"Igelstellungs" 1, 3, and 4 are destroyed by enemy fire!" Sai reported from his post as he surveyed the current status of the Archangel's weapons systems in his terminal.
"Driver, take us to those nearby islands over there! We'll use them as extra cover against the enemy fire!" Murrue exclaimed from her seat, after seeing several small islands displayed on the ship's main screen.
"Yes ma'am!" Arnold complied, turning the ship's steering wheel hard and around to the direction of the said islands.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
"Ah, damn, this isn't working! At this rate…" Barry cursed to himself as he brought Crusader-02 to shot down another missile barrage from the Archangel headed towards him and Miho, who did the same action.
"We must keep trying! Even if we can at least stall the legged ship from moving any further!" she contacted her teammate via com-link, as if hearing his remark.
"Even if we took down those annoying gun turrets, we still have to deal with those pesky missiles as well... woah!
Suddenly beam fire rained down on Crusader-02 and Crusader-04 from above, forcing them to take evasive maneuvers. They glanced up to see Skygrasper-1 and Skygrasper-2 sweeping down on them.
"Take this!" Mwu and Tolle uttered a battle-cry, pressing their control sticks' triggers to fire off their aircraft fighter's beam cannons and machine-guns.
-BLI- -BLI- -BLI- -BLI-
-BA-DA-DA-DA-DA- -BA-DA-DA-DA-DA-
"Damn it, fighter planes… we didn't know about them! Miho, we got no choice but to withdraw… ugh!" Barry exclaimed as Crusader-02 had its left arm unknowingly blown off by machine-gun fire from the Archangel while it was busy avoiding fire along with Crusader-04 from the two Skygraspers. Next to follow was its experimental armor assault rifle, which was taken out by a stray beam shot from Skygrasper-02. The damaged Crusader-02 was then held on from behind by Crusader-04, which discarded its experimental armor assault rifle after emptying its last magazine.
"-Sigh- You're right… we'll have to pull out," Miho stated resignedly, before taking her teammate's damaged MS along to pull out from the battlefield.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
Meanwhile the Aegis and the damaged Blitz continued harassing the Aile Strike, trying to entrap it from both sides as it did its best to stay near the Archangel. With a surge of its backpack thrusters, it purposely led the pursuing Aegis and Blitz into the range of the Archangel's "Gottfried Mk.71" dual beam cannons.
-BLII- -BLII-
"Pull back, pull back!" Athrun warned his remaining teammate via the Aegis's com-link. No sooner had the Aegis and the Blitz narrowly dashed back to avoid beam fire from the Archangel. At that exact second, the Aile Strike fired off a quick shot from its beam rifle at the Aegis's Guul, damaging it, but the Aegis then jumped off from its damaged Guul and kicked it towards the Aile Strike's Guul, crashing into it.
-WHAM- -BOOM-
Knocked far by the explosion's impact, the Aegis barely managed to land on a nearby small island below, then crashing onto a beach shore on its behind. Inside its cockpit, Athrun monitored his MS's current energy levels, which was down to just 5 percent.
"Damn it… I'm almost out of power…" he commented to himself in earnest.
Back up in the air, the Aile Strike knocked down again the Blitz with a combo attack of its shield and a solid right hook, sending it down to the ocean water below. The Aile Strike turned around facing the remaining enemy on the beach shore of a small, nearby island below, and started heading towards it.
Skygrasper-2 then flew by in view, with its pilot contacting Kira via com-link.
"Kira, here's the Sword parts!" Tolle exclaimed, then prompting his aircraft fighter to eject the Sword pack and sending it down below to the Strike, who then ejected its Aile pack to receive its new incoming pack.
"Thanks, Tolle!" Kira replied via com-link, before the Sword Strike landed on the beach shore to meet the battered Aegis.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
"Ha----------!" Eiji cried out as he pulled the triggers of the control sticks to have the Spawn fire off its "Agni" at the Seraph, while it was busy dealing with Crusader-01 and Crusader-03.
-PHOOSH- -PHOOSH- PHOOSH-
The Seraph narrowly dodged the incoming cannon shots, thanks to quick dashes from left to right. Inside its cockpit, Kenji gritted his teeth feeling pressured as he had his hands full to deal with three opponents not giving him time to counterattack.
Tch… at this rate… I've got to do something!
Noticing the slightly sluggish reaction time of the Seraph in his MS's CIS, Ryu felt his confidence soar up to an all-time high as he continued pressing his attacks, coordinating with Lisa.
Good… we're really wearing him down now… if we can just keep this up…
An incoming transmission from Miho then caught his attention, with her image displayed on the com-link screen.
"Captain… Barry's MS is damaged, and we're out of attacking options. We've exhausted our assault rifle ammo damaging the legged ship to a small extent. We had to pull out from the battlefield."
"You're kidding… damn… you and Barry head back to the Cousteau for repairs immediately!"
"But what about you and Commander Shinonome…? We also haven't heard word from Athrun's team yet."
"Let me worry about that for now! You have my orders! Go!"
Watching Miho's transmission end, Ryu contacted Lisa and Eiji.
"Lisa, Eiji, we've got to pull back! The legged ship seems too much for us to handle! At this rate, we'll be finished!"
"What… no way… already?" Lisa stammered in disbelief.
"…No… not after all this! I'll not back down from this fight! You and officer Sanada get back to the Cousteau immediately!" Eiji exclaimed in reply.
"But…!"
"That's an order from your team leader! Don't make me have to shoot you to prove my point!"
Realizing the seriousness in the Spawn pilot's statement, Ryu knew it wasn't best to argue, then deciding to reluctantly comply. Beating up on himself deep down, he then motioned Lisa to follow after him, much to her chagrin, as they began their retreat back to the Cousteau.
Watching Crusader-01 and Crusader-03 retreat, Kenji turned around to find the Spawn holstering its "Agni", then taking out its "Hell Fang" heat rod. Its eyes radiated a menacing yellow glow, emphasizing its pilot's inside intent.
"This is it… this will be my final attack!" Eiji exclaimed resolutely, before taking the control sticks jolting forward hard, prompting the Spawn to charge again at its counterpart with a strong surge of its thrusters.
Taking out its "Swallow Edge", the Seraph held its ground and met a fierce impact from its counterpart, as it crossed both its "Angelus" to shield itself from the charge before unfolding them to slash with its right "Swallow Edge" at the Spawn, which parried the attack with its left "Angelus" and then left-kneed the Seraph on the gut and socked it down with a stunning right elbow. Not giving it time to counter, the Spawn then whipped out its "Hell Fang" wrapped around its counterpart's main thrusters, managing to damage one of them.
-BOOM-
"Argh…!" Kenji exclaimed as he lurched about inside the Seraph's cockpit from the explosion while warning sirens buzzed aloud inside. He took a quick glance back at his MS's damage systems.
One of the main thrusters is blown off! I'm slowing losing stability.
"That's nothing, you fool!" he retorted with gritted teeth, resuming control of his MS with the control sticks. Using its remaining thruster, the Seraph managed to turned facing around at its counterpart and fired off the attached beam rifle of its left "Angelus", prompting it to deflect the beam shot with its right "Angelus" instead.
"Ha…! You missed!" Eiji taunted. He widened his eyes in surprise as then saw multiple beam shots coming from the Seraph's Gunbarrel pods, forcing him to defend. Before he could bring up both the Spawn's "Angelus" to defend, two beam shots made their mark near the Spawn's cockpit, rumbling it greatly and lurching its pilot about.
"Fuck… I'm hit… what the…"
Suddenly, without delay, a small section of the Spawn's cockpit blew up from the inflicted damage before, and shrapnel pierced through Eiji's pilot helmet glass visor and in his right eye, inflicting him pain. He wallowed out in pain as he brought both his hands cradling over his injured eye.
"AH-----------! My eye…! Fucking hell...! The pain…!"
Despite the intense pain he was currently at, Eiji shoved enough willpower in him to bring his left hand to pilot the Spawn, then shakily making a forced retreat.
Watching the Spawn's damaged, retreating form in the Seraph's CIS, Kenji couldn't help but feel little sorry for his best friend.
Eiji…
Suddenly, his mind then remembered the Strike and the Archangel.
"Kira…!" he exclaimed, then moving back into action, forcing his damaged MS to fly back looking for the Sword Strike.
0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0-0
An unsettling expression etched on Kira's face as he eyed the sit-up Aegis on the Sword Strike's CIS.
"Athrun… I don't want to fight you anymore, please stop it!" he contacted his best friend via com-link in an effort to convince him to cease hostilities.
"…Kira… just shoot me already to finish this!" Athrun replied earnestly, feeling fed up of having trouble fighting his childhood best friend standing before him. Then suddenly, the Aegis's PS Armor was instantly deactivated, having exhausted its remaining power, rendering its entire into a dull gray. Noticing the change, Athrun braced for the inevitable.
I… I've lost…
"Athrun…!" a cry belonging to Nicol sounded in the Aegis's com-link, startling him.
At the next moment, a de-cloaked Blitz carrying one of its "Trikeros" lancer darts with its left arm appeared in view, catching Athrun and Kira's attention.
"What the…" the Sword Strike pilot stammered, surprised to see the damaged Blitz heading for him. Seeing it was about to make a last desperate charge at him, Kira was about to retaliate with a swing of the Sword Strike's "Schwert Gewehr" when a cannon shot abruptly came from above and hit the ground between the Sword Strike and the Blitz, engulfing the area with heavy smoke and having Athrun and Kira shield their eyes from the bright explosion happening before them.
-BOOM-
Waiting several seconds for the smoke to clear away, Athrun and Kira turned to find a vague silhouette of the Blitz among the background, along with a cackling sound of damage nearby. As the smoke finally receded, the whole picture was now clear to them, which invoked shocked gasps from both the Aegis and the Sword Strike pilots.
Aside from its right arm sliced off, the Blitz had its cockpit lodged through by one of the Seraph's "Swallow Edge" and seemed to be cut slightly open. Electricity cackled from the damaged area as the Blitz let down its remaining arm to its side before it slumped down on its right knee. Facing the Blitz, the Seraph stood tall, taking a few steps away from it before it instantly exploded in a ball of flames.
"…NICOLLLLLLLLLL…!" Athrun screamed at the sight of his fallen comrade.