Being a leader is somewhat a challenge, especially for someone that is not issue to give orders. Kira Yamato has been struggling with that since he was applied as General of the Orb Forces during the last part of the Break the World War. Now, as the Archangel and their escort vessels (the Laurassia-Class carrier Mythos and the EAF Drake-class escort ship Paris) are heading towards the coordinates signaled by the transports when they encountered the mysterious ship, Kira is yet learning about that, and being helped by Colonel Ramius and Athrun at the general mission briefing with the whole MS pilot roster helps a lot.

"Basically, we'll be following the trail of this 'ghost ship' for the time being. As Kira stated, is not the full operation that he wanted at first, but a chase."

"As for the MS squads and their leaders, Athrun will have the authority to choose. Athrun."

"We'll use 3 squads. Yzak, Dearka and Shiho will be our scouts, as well as our main alert squad. Yzak will lead."

"You're damn right!"

"In short, we're the ship's cannon fodders, isn't it?"

"Keep this in mind, Dearka. You will have plenty of action when the time comes. That's acceptable, isn't that right Yzak?"

"Yeah, especially when he needs to talk with the CIC…"

"Why you…"

"Men…" Even with her almighty patience, Shiho still manage to mutter with a deep sigh.

"Colonel Flaga will lead the defenders of the Archangel. Most of the rookies in the GuAIZ-R and the Windams will take position alongside with the ship. We don't want to make another Minerva." Athrun knew very well that one of the most important things in combat is to preserve your home base. Within space, the Akatsuki could shield the whole ship, and the rookies could have a better chance of survival if they encountered combat.

"As for the main attackers, Shinn and Lunamaria will take the lead, with Kira and me as backups."

"I'm flattered to be given some command, but would you mind explain why this?"

"You still need experience as a combat leader. Until now, you have been a forward soldier, but you must know when to give the right orders, especially when we crossed with allied forces."

"Most of us eventually will retire, and you and the new generation must be ready to handle the heat of the moment." By now, Shinn was really impressed with the whole crew of this ship. He already knew that most of them fight alongside, but this kind of trust and hope exceeded anything else.

"I don't really expect heavy fight, but I don't want to take risks. Ah, one more thing before I forget…" With that, Kira gave each one of the pilots a patch. With the symbol of a sword crossing a V fin and the words 'Justice and Freedom for All Mankind', like the air squadrons of old age, the Archangel MS pilots now are a true squad.

"Ok, that will be all for now. You're dismissed." As everyone came out of the briefing room, Mwu catch up with Kira.

"You've been a little lost for the last days. A dime for your thoughts?"

"I've been sensing something, even before we came out of Aprilius. I don't know what it is exactly… just..."

"Just?"

"Is a feeling… just like we sensed Creuset or Rey Za Burrel before, but without that dark aura."

"Another Newtype?" Just like the acronyms of the SEED, the idea of people with extended senses and spatial direction was called 'Newtype' now. Only Kira, Mwu and EAF ace pilot Morgan Chevalier were true recognized Newtypes for the moment.

"That's what I don't know"

Approaching the area close to Earth atmosphere, the motive of the Archangel's mission prepares for what seems to be an eventless descent to the planet. The crew of this unknown ship was wearing what seems to be the uniform of the United Emirates Orb, but in a dark black color scheme. On the ship's bridge, Captain Rosario Vasquez is still searching for and answer about everything that's happened in between.

"Ok, if I recall correctly, we found that lab, we suddenly engage in combat, lose our old ship, manage to find this one, the Omega and that girl we now called Razgriz, that I understand. What is still far from my comprehension is where in the hell those guys we fought came from!"

"More than the fact that they called themselves the Heirs of the Stars, they use MS that make the standard ZAFT MS look like cheap trash, and that they may be a whole army of Extended assassins or worse… not enough." 2nd LT Galen March, formerly of the EAF and second in command, stated the facts that the whole crew knew.

"I know… Hell, it was a lot easier back home, when we gained our independence. We knew the whole facts, and we knew all of our allies." Rosario was a former veteran of the Equatorial Union, having fought in the battle for the independence of the United States of South America alongside with the now legendary Ed "The Ripper" Harrelson.

"At least, this baby is well armed, and the fact that we escaped from the Heirs' pursuit, proves that."

"Alright, bonus point for the Lorelei for now." As Rosario stated, after a certain incident and seeing the power of the Omega and its pilot, the ship was named as Lorelei, just as the pilot of the Omega was nicknamed 'Razgriz'. "By the way, status report?"

"The ship is in perfect shape. We got two Murasames damaged, and the Omega is being checked in the central hangar. The alert Murasames are waiting in the side pod hangars."

"Right now, our priority is to descend to Earth, get the ship in real battle shape, and report directly to HQ."

"There's no enemy heat signature nearby, captain." Mai Sugou, CIC operator, as always, paying close attention to the radar.

"I only wish that we can get into the orbital window without having to engage in an orbital interception, that the only thing that I'm afraid."

"For all we know, this ship can withstand the entry…"

"I'm not talking about that. I've got a bad feeling about this…"

Lorelei's central hangar, even if now only had the Omega, was big enough to hold at least a whole wing of MS. After the last engagement, the Omega, now all grey colored with its Variable Phase Shift turned off, was having a little overhauling, since most of its standard parts for the joints seem to have been "test only". Alongside with the techs, a beautiful red headed girl in a grey and red flight suit checks the OS of the MS.

"You know, I've seen many MS before, but nothing like this one, especially those beam cannons that carries." Tech Chief Brian Logan makes an understatement. For all motives, the Omega looked a little bit like the old Strike Gundam, but refined in some ways. The major differences are a couple of beam weapons attached on the back of the MS and its apparently lack of Striker Packs.

"Why is that?"

"I mean, these babies tore a beam shield like it was nothing! It packs a helluva punch this… what's the name? Variable… something…?"

"Variable Speed Beam Rifle. Just call it Whisper, ok? Make it simple."

"You're no fun. Enjoy life a little bit and let yourself loose for a while."

"I may do that eventually… if I can remember something about me, that is…"

"Any progress?"

"Not much. Even if I remembered the basics, there are some other little things, but all of them blurred in my mind. Nothing that may be a real lead."

"Well, for what doc said, you're neither an Extended nor a Coordinator. But for a Natural to have such piloting abilities, you're awesome!" Having seen her in combat, most of the pilots of the ship stated that she could be a class-A Coordinator, but the fact that the girl they called Razgriz was a Natural, was as shocking as the way she handled the Omega.

"I still got problems with that difference between people. I don't care if they are that so-called "Naturals" or "Coordinators". People are people and that's all."

"Friggin' politics, isn't it?"

"You've said so."

"Still, I've only known a couple of guys who can fly likewise. Morgan Chevalier of the EAF, and the legendary Mwu La Flaga."

"La Flaga…? That name rings some bells…"

"It would. The man is a living legend, being one of the aces of the Archangel."

"Archangel…" By now, Razgiriz was confused, as her scattered thoughts show her some flashes that she couldn't understand. Flashes of a white ship, some people that she didn't recognize and the figure of a faceless boy in a blue uniform. Logan saw that the girl was having what seems to be an Olympic headache.

"You ok? Want to go to the infirmary?"

"I'm fine… I think."

At the Archangel's bridge, Meyrin was still getting used to being second in command, and since the briefing has taken more than a few moments, the experience was becoming very valuable, thanks to the guide of Miriallia, Chandra and Neumann.

"XO, the Mythos informs that they had a small failure in their internal systems. They will slow down, but follow our route."

"Hail on the Mythos. Tell them that we'll send at least a couple of MS for cover."

"Roger."

"You're getting used to this, Meyrin-chan."

"Believe me, I really don't feel like someone who can give orders, even less command a ship."

"That's strange… I once knew someone that said the same thing to you." Having ended the briefing, Murrue entered the bridge, hearing the conversation.

"You do Captain?"

"There she goes, Neuman."

"You said so…" With Miri jiggling and the rest of the bridge bunnies knowing what was going on, Meyrin and Murrue continue their chat.

"Well, yes. She tough that she was not suited for command, even if the circumstances required her to do so. She was insecure, but with a little help of her friends, she managed to pull up the whole thing."

"What was of her?"

"She became a Colonel of Confed, one that's grateful that her XO is very much like her." By now, the whole bridge crew was just moving their heads in disbelief. Meyrin think it over for a while before realizing the joke.

"Captain, that was rude of you!"

"Sorry. But, in the past, you have distinguished yourself with quick decisions and understanding the real facts of the situation. First by helping Athrun, and then, serving with all of us during the last part of the previous war. That's why you're now appointed as the Archangel XO, even if you don't have the experience of the veterans of the Valentine War."

"I don't know if I can be worthy of wearing this uniform." As the treaty between Earth and the PLANTS went on, Confed formal uniforms were a combination of ZAFT, Orb and the OMNI Enforcers uniforms. Its standard color was mostly dessert. The upper part was the same as the EAF. The ZAFT belt was issued for the central part, and the use of pants or skirts was optional, depending of the users.

"For all I know, Athrun trust that you will do just fine." Murrue doesn't know how much that means for Meyrin – pretty much by the way – but at least, she knows that the petite red head will try her best.

Appreciating the little break of the journey until the arrival on the established coordinates, Lunamaria take her time to enjoy the thermal baths inside the ship. Alongside with her, Shiho manage to relax for a while, trying to avoid excessive work with the GOUF Deep Arms OS.

"I'm in heaven…"

"Yeah… Now, this is an assignment that I'm starting to enjoy. Being one of the few women in the frontlines can be truly stressing" Both Shiho and Lunamaria had enough experience to shadowed most of the male pilots of ZAFT. Serving with legends and surviving a couple of wars gave her both respect and a huge fan club in both the PLANTS and the Earth.

"Say… have you and Shinn… well…"

"Eh?"

"You know…"

"Ah… no, not yet. We still need time… for many things. Especially for me to grab that damn cell phone and toss it into an airlock" Even though Luna knew that Shinn's cell phone is the last memento of his family, the way he looks at it was starting to become real annoying for Luna, especially if she's trying to get him to get the message to be more intimate with her.

"I see…" The sudden silence was starting to become unbearable.

"Commander Youle and…"

"No, no luck in that. Yzak is still looking at me as his right hand, but not as a woman he can bed." Shiho's problem was that Yzak was a blockhead in personal relationships. Have all the former members of the Creuset Team have the same problem? That's a thought that still wanders on her mind.

"Ouch…"

"Yeah… We have it difficult, isn't it?"

"Yeah… real hard…" As both women sank more deeply into the bath, the alarms suddenly went on.

As if on cue, the Lorelei was having the same situation.

"Sit rep?"

"Massive heat signatures detected! Three carriers in front! One on our backs! They appeared from nowhere!"

"Damn! Mirage Colloid! And we can't change course…"

"Multiple heat signatures from the back carrier. Confirmed as MS!" Mai confirmed what Rosario feared. There was no way out but one…

"All hands, battle stations!"

On the Archangel side, a sudden burst startled everyone, as the Paris receive an energy blast on it's port side.

"Where the hell that come from!"

"An unknown heat signature from the side! Is a heavy ship, like a carrier!"

"We have no data of it on the library!" Now the problem was big. In a scenario when you're attacked by unknown forces, is like fighting blind, and Murrue don't want to take any chances.

"All hands, Alert Class-1! Prepare for combat!"

I could have ended this chapter earlier, but work, a sudden personal problem and politics have taken me down a little. The last part was a little bit rushed, but I want a full combat chapter. The names stated before have a logical explanation, but that's for another chapter.