Disclaimer: Before I continue, have in mind that Gundam Seed, Gundam Seed Destiny and all their characters and mecha are not my properties... but I'll kill to have a Flay, Lacus, Lunamaria, Meyrin...
Since the end of the Battle of Messiah, the PLANTS were the headquarters for almost all Confed activities, as the Earth was still rebuilding what LOGOS and Blue Cosmos destroyed – almost all the alliance – and there was anxiety all over the planet as raiders started to loot what the weakened EAF had left. At the central station in Aprilius, while the Archangel was being refitted, Kira had a little chat with Lacus about the founded facility, but the former songstress wasn't making things easy…
"What do you mean with 'can't send the fleet'?"
"While Athrun was right by putting the fleet on alert, even with what you found on that lab is not enough to send everybody on a wild goose chase. Not while we still got to take care of the remnants of Blue Cosmos and Dullindal's group."
"We're talking about Dullindal's and Creuset's legacy, Lacus. You know that we cannot take that lightly."
"I know, but I can't dispatch the whole fleet just for that. That's why I need you to take care of a little assignment that just came across now regarding the standard issues." Even if Kira acknowledge the necessity of gaining the people's real trust by stopping raiders and remnants, this was way too bigger for placing it aside, and it was starting to get on his nerves.
"There has been a series of attacks on some independent settlements and transports ships in one of the secondary trading routes."
"I see. Hunting down rouges again with newbies…" Now, this was a no gaining situation for Kira, as he has been doing this for the last months before starting training Shinn and Luna.
"The problem here is that the attackers were dispatched by someone"
"Wha…?" Ok, now there was something here that was not right.
"Most of the transports reported a mysterious and unknown ship appearing from nowhere and taking down all raiders. Most strange is the fact that there hasn't been any radio communication with that ship, only light signals."
"Jamming?"
"Not reported. Alongside with that ship, there also some Murasames, all painted in black… and a Mobile Suit with a V fin on the head."
"It can't be…"
"Sounds like your wild goose chase had a lead on. As I said before, I can't send a task force, but a small strike wing can investigate the source." Being in politics for some time now has make Lacus more clever, and also gave her a mischievous smile.
"Meaning…?" More than a question, that was Kira in a 'I-know-what-that-means-so-I'll-do-it right-away' situation.
"I'm placing you in direct charge of this task. You can pick your own personnel."
"You really enjoy this kind of thing, isn't it?"
"The benefit of being the main figure in Confed." Lacus's smile was perfect for a Master Card CM… priceless.
"Just like that… Lacus really scare me sometimes." Athurn was kind of relieved by getting out of his office. Thanks to the recent incident, that was getting more and more frequently.
"Maybe that's the problem right now."
"Pardon me?"
"We've been with so much work that we hardly talk about things that are not related to job."
"Worried that what happen between me and Cagalli repeat with you?"
"Can't say... really"
"Well, back to the main issue, what's gonna be?
"We'll use the Archangel, since it's being re-supplied. Besides, this issue is directly related to the ship and it's main crew." The fact that Flay was on the experiments list was enough to make it personal for all the veterans of the now legendary ship.
"Another thing: I'm getting you out of that desk and back into the I-Justice as a permanent assignment."
"Who else will be with us?"
"For starters, Shinn and Lunamaria. Both need field experience with Confed personnel. And since the Archangel's catapults have been fitted for the Impulse, there will be no problem. Meyrin will be also with us, since she can crack almost every existing computer and we need our most trusted people on the CIC:"
"Should I say 'thank you' for that?" Athrun know that it was awkward talking about this issue with Kira, specially since his relation with Cagalli ended and the little red head was gaining more than just Athrun's trust.
"I'm not doing this for you if that's what you are thinking. What happened between Cagalli and you is your own affair."
"Ok, I'll give that to you. Anything else?"
"Since we already got help from the Alliance's tech staff, I need you to handle the rest of the ZAFT personnel. Lacus sent most of the newbies to the Eternal, so we need MS pilots."
"I can think on three of them that can be perfect for the job. But I need to handle one of them."
"Oh no, not him…"
"Yes… him."
Having served only in the ill fated Minerva, Shinn was amazed with the Archangel. The whole ship was amazing, even if was already an older ship. After receiving his orders, both Lunamaria and him were waiting in the hangar, just as the Destiny and the Impulse were getting loaded.
"Is still strange that we're here, standing in the hangar of the same ship we were shooting at months ago."
"That's why you need to learn some rules for us… kid!" Kojiro Murdock, chief engineer of the Archangel's MS hangar, was going to make "the lecturing" to him.
"Chief Murdock. What rules are you talking abut?" Luna was still a little confused, but she could read the expression of the chief, and took a couple steps back. She knew when to let Shinn take all the heat.
"You may have more rank than me as Confed MS pilots, and also the ones that blast the enemy MS outside, but here, inside this hangar, I'm God for you, and that means that if you trash your MS and give my crew overtime work, I'll dump you on the brig… if I'm in a good mood. Specially you, kid"
"Eh… ok." Being owned constantly by Kira and Athrun teach Shinn that he needed to gain the trust of everybody on the Archangel, so his attitude has been tamed. Lunamaria also help in that department, luckily for him.
"Ok, since you understand that, let's talk about the rules."
Looking Luna for any help, Shinn was asking himself were in the Earth Sphere has he been dumped on!
"You must be kidding me!" Yzak love giving orders, not being ordered to.
"I'm not kidding. Those orders give me clearance to commission any personnel I ask."
"Me, serving on the Legged Ship! Must be the end of the world!"
"It's 'Pegasus'" After the war, the Archangel was 'retagged' as Pegasus for the ZAFT Forces, as the ship owned them twice in a row, ending both wars, and claiming a great deal of respect on both ZAFT and the EAF.
"Whatever it is! There's no way I'm going to accept this!"
"Dearka and Shiho have already signed the transfer papers and join the squad." Point for Athrun. Yzak knew that even if he refused the order, losing Dearka, and specially Shiho would weaken his command.
"That's blackmailing, you damn cheater!"
"The orders came directly by Lacus and General Yamato…" Double 'ouch'. Yzak may be a blockhead, but refusing orders for Chairwoman Clyne and the acclaimed war hero of the Confederation were very bad news right now.
"That's double cheap, you bastard, and you know it!"
"That's why I'm the one asking you. Besides, that will give you the chance to bash Dearka more deeply, and more time to relax without having to wait for orders from central command. Tempting, isn't it?"
"You weren't this open… Something has changed, you know? Or I should say 'someone' changed you?" Strike for Yzak. He knew how to corner Athrun: talking about personal issues with someone as introverted as him. The Sword of Justice needed a way out of that, and fast.
"That's not the point here. So, you're on? Or you'll try to appeal before Lacus?"
"… I hate when you do that!" Busted! Yzak knew when to give up…
At the bridge of the Archangel, Kira was updating the news to the central command of the ship, and, also requesting an extra help for his special friends.
"That's the whole picture. You can decline the offer, since the training sortie was officially your last assignment on the military forces." 2 wars and having found, lost and found again their paths, were enough for Murrue Ramius and Mwu La Flaga. Kira knew that he can't impose the mission to them, but he needed to ask, as a friend, for their guide and assistance.
"You shouldn't be asking that if you already know the answer, kid. We're on!"
"Although I think that enough was enough, Flay was part of this ship. She was family, and if someone wants to tarnish that feeling, will have to answer to all of us."
"As for me, the training mission was the last for the Colonel Neo Lorrnoke. As to now, officially I'm back to be Mwu La Flaga, of the Archangel."
"Mwu-san, Murrue-san…"
"The same goes for us, Kira!" Miriallia Haw, Arnold Neumann and Dalida Rolhala Chandra III were also the kind of people that would help a friend in need.
"Thank you… to all of you." As if on cue, Meyrin entered the bridge.
"Excuse me, General. This is the personnel issue orders sent by Colonel Zala." In spite her heroics stunts by helping Athrun in the previous war, Meyrin was still a little shy when comes to Kira, still calling him "General Yamato" instead of only "Kira-san"
"Thanks, Meyrin. Tell Athrun that we'll be waiting for him in the briefing room for any final orders."
"Yes, Sir" As Meyrin went her way, Kira skipped the papers handed to see the ZAFT personnel and his main strike force assigned.
Yzak Joule: Slash ZAKU Phantom
Dearka Elsman: Gunner ZAKU Warrior
Shiho Hahnnenfuss: Prototype GOUF Ignited DEEP ARMS
Alongside with a couple of rookie Red Coats in the now aging GuAIZ-R for main ship defense, Kira was lost in his thought when a distant echo in his mind make him turn around, and look the space…
Far away from Kira and his friends, a battle has just ended. The wreckage shows a couple of Daggers and old GINN's and a battleship of some kind. From the smoke of a last explosion, an unknown red, gray and black Mobile Suit, obviously a Gundam type thanks to the double V fin on its head, saw the scenario as its mother ship, which looks like a highly modified Nelson class with gigantic side-pods and a more bulky main body, starts to retreat. On the bridge, it's Captain, a stunning brunette, was reviewing the engagement with her crew.
"Last raider, shoot down. Only one of our Musasames was lightly damaged and the attacked cargo ship is retreating." The CIC operator, a petite glass girl ended the report.
"Any sign of our pursuers?"
"None."
"Two weeks and nothing… I smell a rat here. Alright. Launch flares, bring our MS home. Mr. Harper, any luck with the long range radio?"
"If you expect a miracle, Captain, you're asking the wrong person. We cannot even send a text message. The only thing that works is the direct link with missy's MS."
"So, we're still on this silent run until reaching the atmosphere. Contact her at once."
"Roger"
Inside the mysterious Gundam, the lone figure receives the transmission, used only by the ship and her MS.
"Seems that you live by your abilities."
"Seems so… even If I don't even remember my own name."
"Whatever it is, I request your full help for now on. You know that you can refuse."
"I'll help. Somehow, I think that I can find and answer with you." Then, she started to sense a certain feeling. Something… warm… and longing.
"You ok?" The Captain saw the sudden change on the girl features.
"Yeah, that's nothing…" After a couple of seconds, she straightened herself.
"Razgriz, Omega returning home."
Ok, before you ask about Kira and company being some OCC, I'm taking into account what Kira said to Dullindal in GSD, the "I'm prepared to take that path". That's the same for everyone on the Archangel.
As for the unknown ship, I had the image of a somewhat Battlestar Galactica for this one, both for practice uses and part of what's next, and the Nelson class is bulky enough to do that. I already have a name for that ship, just wait.
About our mysterious Gundam, the Omega… I'll tell you later about it. At lest I let you know that it's main color scheme is grey, with black and red on the joints and sides, and it has the only weapon I know that can be more than a match for any kind of shielding or armor in CE.