Disclaimer: RANMA ½, TENCHI MUYO, ROBOTECH, BABYLON 5, STAR TREK, MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM, GUNDAM SEED, I Don't own them so please don't Sue me if I mess around with them.
Chapter 2
"Turmoil"
ORB
The Minerva has been staying on ORB Drydock for a week, as her repairs have been quite extensive, and during which, Judah have been treated as a guest on the ship, or so he thought.
Later on, he was questioned by two leaders of two countries, Chairman Gilbert Dullindal of the PLANTs and Rep. Cagalli Yula Attha of ORB.
Their question is simple and straightforward enough
Who are you?
Where did you come from?
And whom do you work for?
Judah answers them as much as he could without revealing much about him or the REF.
Before he answered their questions, he remembers his talk to his godfather about these people, and warns him to move among them in caution if ever he finds himself in their company. He soon understood him, that these people or some of them are Hell bent on killing each other. It was quite an education for him, when he encountered those GINN pilots, and their radiating hatred untoward Natural born humans.
'Judah Ashta, be careful' he said to himself.
He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly to relax himself before he answered them
"Chairman Dullindal, Representative Attha" he said to them
"I am very sorry, but I cannot tell you much other than my name and rank and serial number" the way he said that, he thinks that he's a POW
"Please don't misunderstand Lt. Ashta you are a guest, not a prisoner" Dullindal cleared and then Cagalli said
"All we ask is some answers about this organization called UN Spacy and this Robotech Defense Force which is obviously a military organization of some sort"
Judah was not at all surprised about that first line of questioning. His flightsuit and a few of his belongings were examined and afterwards returned to him, except for his gun and a photo, as well as a necklace of bottled sand was missing.
'So far they have no real information about the REF,' he thought 'so let's plays a bit of a charade and see how they will react'
"I find it strange that you believe something on face value," he said
"What if this is some sort of elaborate trick? A Hoax of some kind"
Dullindal nodded, agreeing with him on that, however, there were some things in Judah Ashta possession that he believes its real
"It could be some sort of trick, but your flightsuit tells a different story Lt. Ashta" Dullindal showed him an analysis report
"A very strange material, and there seems to be a network of sensors all embedded inside the suit that is connected to a computer interface behind it along with the life support systems"
Judah flightsuit computer was burned out when they attempted to tamper with it, he was not at all happy about that, yet it was expected that they would do something like that.
Ashta stiffens a little, though there was nothing they could use other than the unknown material, he finds something strange that he did not even mention about his necklace or the photo. He continue to play along and told them
"It's a Life Support Monitoring System," he told them which was partly true, but he withheld the other half of it's function, and that is the classified expanded Man and Machine Interface.
"It's a necessity for pilots whose plane can reach Mach 4 at 30,000 feet"
"Mach 4 at 30,000 feet, that's very fast Mobile Suit you've been piloting," Dullindal said then suddenly Judah snaps at him for that remark
"I never said I was a Mobile Suit pilot Chairman Dullindal, I said 'whose plane can reach Mach 4' Sir," he corrected though his tone was a bit of venom of anger
"And furthermore, I have never even piloted a Mobile Suit in my entire life," he sounded quite upset
Dullindal leans back on his chair and thought, of his reaction of being called a Mobile Suit pilot and took it out of offense.
'Could I have been wrong?'
Truthfully, Judah and every pilot of the RDF would never consider their Veritech a Mobile Suit or them as Mobile Suit pilot. It never seems to sit well with them about that, for VF pilots traditionally prided themselves as Aviators, especially a Naval Aviator, even though their fighters turns into Mechas.
"I am sorry If I offended you" Gilbert apologizes.
"I'm sorry as well sir for snapping at you like that, sorry sir," he calms down
"Look, Chairman Dullindal, I appreciated your hospitality for treating me as your guest, if I am your guest" he said with suspicion, Gilbert look to Cagalli for a moment before he answer
"Of Course, you are a guest what made you think that your not?"
'Gotcha'
"Then may I have your permission to disembark from the Minerva then?" he requested, Dullindal was caught off guard this time, though he had request it before, but only this time at the presence of the ORB Representative.
There was a 15 seconds wait for him to answer, if Judah is not a prisoner, he will allow him to leave, and if he doesn't…
Dullindal have kept Judah on board for 7 days, most of them in the Infirmary where he undergone Medical test and given the run around of the ship, occupying his time and making up security excuses as not to let him leave the ship for his safety sake.
But for Judah, he wanted them the benefit of the doubt of letting him off the ship, but it seems that they did not intend to do so.
Cagalli can see that there was a problem between them, she watches Dullindal just smile at him and that seems to irritates Judah lot, because everytime he sees that, it gave the feeling of this man is up to something.
'God I hate it when this guy smile at me like that' he thought 'this guy is definitely a snake in human clothing because no one smile too much like he does' and as Dullindal gave the first two word of the sentence.
"Unfortunately I,"
Those two words were the first line of a sentence Judah has heard before, and that snaps Judah patience to the limit.
Before Dullindal could say anymore, Judah turns towards Cagalli
"Rep. Attha, I request Asylum in ORB"
"What" that caught her off guard on his request, as did Dullindal, as his smile disappeared from his face.
"I, I mean yes of course" her reply was out of reflex, which pretty much brought two leaders at odds with each other
"Just a minute Princess," Dullindal protested as two ZAFT soldiers' steps in and quickly stood beside Judah.
'I thought as much that he would do this' he thought as not surprising. Looking at Captain Gladys who seems silent all this time, she could not look at him straight in the eye.
When he talk to her a while ago she said, that the Chairman would not deny his request to disembark with the princess is present. She thought wrong.
"I am sorry about this, but there are question that needs to be answered," Gilbert then ordered the soldiers
"Take him to his room,"
Cagalli was protesting to him as Judah was led out of the room
"You can't do this Chairman!" she exclaimed, "He just made a request for an Asylum on Orb"
"But he's still on a ZAFT Ship, and this ship is PLANTs territory" he argued
"The man has Rights and your holding him against his will!" she said and Dullindal answered back
"Miss Cagalli, that pilot where I believe, has answers on what had happen in Junius 7 and I intend to find out,"
Later
Back in Judah's room, Judah sits on his bed as he tries to figure out what to do next, now that he believes that he's a prisoner of this ship than a guest.
While he's thinking a way to get off the ship, the TV was on, and it was on the news about the Atlantic Federation Senate in Turmoil.
Several days ago, a bill was brought to the senate to declare the PLANTs as a Rogue State and demands the handover and surrender of the PLANTs to Atlantic Federation control. The Bill was actually nothing more than a declaration of war as he sees it.
It did not pass though, as half the senate refused to signed it into law. For the second time, that the same bill was presented to the senate twice in a span of one week and voted it immediately, which was rather unusual and it seemed desperate that they wanted it ratified.
Soon afterwards, the Senators found themselves at each other's throat's, when certain documents concerning several members if not half of the senate are in the Payroll of the Military Industrial Complex, they called themselves LOGOS.
Judah was amused at the chaos that was happening on the Atlantic Federation Senate Hall (Senators exchanging punches from harsh languages, which end in a riot). He has been following the news all week, and it turns out that Logos have been bank rolling the bill that they tried to approve by bribing half of the Senate with secretive and legal means in order to get their way.
'Looks like the Admiral just declared War on LOGOS,' he thought 'IWD must be working overtime' he thought
'Yeah!' he cheered thoughtfully 'Go REF! Go!'
Before Logos first try to ratify the bill, the REF released very sensitive data to the public, thru the World Wide Web
The REF Information Warfare Division, A fancy name for spies, the division targeted the head of Logos by first wiretapping their communication web when the REF discovered them two years ago during the Cosmic War. Before they left, they gathered Intelligence about the group called Blue Cosmos, and what the REF have found further into their organization was disturbing, as they discovered who is financing them in secret.
Year 73 of the Cosmic Era, the REF is back, and is now backtracking Logos web of control to re-verify Logos influences from the Global Corporations to Governments officials in the Atlantic Federation, and within the Earth Alliance Forces itself.
REF discovered that Logos money helped Members of Blue Cosmos have almost full control over this Military Arm of the Atlantic Federation. It turns out that they have been influencing the promotions of Senior Military officers using their paid senators, thereby placing Blue Cosmos officers in key positions in the military.
To substantiated this, IWD went as far as breaking and entering in many of Logos member's homes and companies(Well, some of them are more like sending the VFs and ripping off their computers and database from their foundation, they disregarded being discreet in their operation sometimes) and accessing their computer data banks for more information at a sensitive level.
The List of Blue Cosmos backed EAF officers were released to the public, one day before the Atlantic Federation senate will vote for the bill for the second time. The voting day came with public protest, demanding the stop of the bill as well as the resignation of senators, government officials, and military officers mentioned on the list of names Identified as Blue Cosmos and Logos payrolled officials.
Despite the Evidence presented, some are claiming Innocence and dared those to prove it otherwise. To the REF, the turmoil it caused was enough to create public suspicion on the motives of their leaders, thereby crippling Logos intentions.
Along with the Evidence, the REF sent to the Internet the reason and why the Military Industrial Complex was trying to push this bill into law, as to clear things out.
It was a means to make money out of the sorrow of war, primarily to the sale of weapons, ships, ordinance and other supplies needed by the military.
Each member of Logos profited heavily in the last war, and if the ruins of Junius 7 have fallen on Earth, the bill could have easily been ratified out of public outcry for revenge. This was a means to make a profit in such an act that it was disgusting. However, Junius 7 was destroyed before any damage was inflicted on Earth, yet they still tried to use it as an excuse for war.
In the explanation the REF sent, the underlying reason for all of this is still their deep-seated hatred for Coordinators for reasons yet to be known.
The Logos back Blue Cosmos doesn't ran out of people that have the same views as they have with Coordinators, and more of their numbers keep adding up each day, caring less if Logos profits so long as they can kill those they hate the most.
The Newscaster showed the Website that exposed the Corruption first. The other than Judah, no one else knows whom this website belongs to and why. The REF uses every advertising method to tell the public about the new Website, and within 24 hours later, everyone on the planet is accessing one Website, the REF set up more as they gave the public more access to what Logos have been doing to their lives, everyone has access to a lot of classified materials from military contracts, bank accounts, money transfers, their plans and more, including criminal acts that are against the law, and also personal Journals from Djibril himself.
That blew a gasket when he found out about that, and made Logos lives a living hell.
Mars
Sara Base II
SDF-2 Prometheus
The next Day
Under the protection of an Optical Stealth Projection Field, the REF began the construction of the base as several ships opted for a planetary landing, while the rest began the construction of a shipyard on orbit at the farside of the planet.
At the Admiral's Mansion, in the Briefing Room
While the public is making Logos lives miserable, Ranma and his command staff is reviewing the list of Blue Cosmos Members in the Earth Alliance Forces, which they have taken from the Logos leader, own home computer.
What they can tell about the list, is that several Senior Officers from the Captains to the Admiral are Blue Cosmos members, disturbingly, those who have the deepest hatred are given so much power, and all of them are loyal to Logos, and not the president or the people they swore to protect.
"This is the most screwed up list of people I have ever seen in my entire life," Ranma declared
"Logos pay rolled Politicians and Blue Cosmos terrorist in EA uniforms" he felt disgusted of such corruption in such a powerful nation "It's no wonder that everyone is so weary with them, and if we had made contact with them early on, we'd probably be at War with them right now"
"Well IWD have given the public the inside dirt of what's going on in their government" Bernard said "That bill to declare War against the PLANTs was abandoned and reports of an Impeachment bill for their President and half the senate and government officials, who is secretly taking bribes from logos is on its way"
An Ensign came to give Bernard a message he read it and told Ranma "Admiral, the ZAFT ship Minerva is preparing to leave ORB and it seems that they just block Judah request for an Asylum on ORB"
"Is he alright?"
"He's fine for now, and according to the report, they doesn't seem to have the VF-17 in their hands"
Ranma rub his fingers on his chin and is thinking what Judah had done "If Judah followed standard procedures, its most likely he scuttled his fighter before they found him" Ranma felt relieve that his Godchild is Ok, and from that report, he's ready to come back home.
"Bernard, tell the Nevada to formulate a recovery mission for Judah," he ordered
"Yes Sir, Uh Sir, don't you mean rescue?" he said clearingly
"No, I mean recovery" he said and explained "Judah just gave them the benefit of the doubt in letting him leave with permission, so he's leaving that ship on his own without their permission,"
"And I think its time to contact Captain Sheridan"
Minerva
Captain Gladys and Meyrin Hawke are in the ships computer room analyzing the photo she took from Judah belongings. Meyrin is scanning the photo and analyzing the image. She wonders why they are doing this in secret though, Capt. Gladys answered only that she is curious. Meyrin was not all that surprised, since a lot of women on board has an eye on him lately.
When the analysis was finished, Meyrin found many things that were quite interestingly odd.
"Well the Photo is real enough, and I found no hint of being doctored nor it's CGI made, except that…"
"Except what Meyrin" Gladys ask
"Well, this is the Moon, and this is the Earth I think," she did not sounded sure
"You think? Meyrin please explain more clearly"
"Well, the moon, that's definitely it, but that planet look," she enhance the Image and transfer it to the main viewer
"Does that look like the Earth to you Captain?" on the big screen, it shows a planet that looks more like a desert than a blue sea Earth and visibly they see some craters.
"The Stars is also different," she added, "It doesn't match to any of the stars around the Earth and the computers is still searching for a match up until now,"
'Strange,' looking at the necklace she had analyze showed residue of radiation exposure that can only be caused by nuclear detonation and time dated about 20 or more years ago, yet there's no such thing happened at those times. It was strange
She wanted some answers but all she got was more questions instead.
Chairman Dullindal's Room
For Gilbert Dullindal, the interlopers who intervene on Junius 7 fall have disrupted his plans with those spectacular fireworks. The fall would have been the start of a dream he wish to fulfill, a Plan, a destiny to change humanity is ruined. He however, he has not abandon his dream, just the plan.
While Gilbert is looking thru several documents at his room, as duties of the PLANTs chairman needs to be done, then ships doctor came in with in hand, a test result from Judah medical and he does look quite excited.
"Chairman Dullindal, we've finished a preliminary test on Judah Ashta, and uhm, well you should see this yourself"
"What do you mean?" The doctor hands over the test result, and as Gilbert read the results, his eyes widened, the results that Judah Ashta went thru came back with a surprise.
Judah Ashta, age 16, black hair, blue eyes five foot five feet tall, well built, a Natural born child, but with the body that is physically strong and an I.Q. equal to an average Coordinator and more than that. Judah Ashta reflexes is very fast, his senses is very sharp from sight, smell, hearing, and touch which is much better than any Coordinator has.
He looks at the DNA test results and finds something as the Doctor explained the result.
"We tripled the test, and the result is the same," he said, "He is a Natural, but with a near physical characteristics that is equal or surpassing that of any Coordinator, this may just be a fluke or a random mutation," the doctor said probably, Gilbert shook his head he thought differently
"Mutations, is just another word for Evolution doctor" he said
"There is only just slightest differences in the DNA matrix of Judah and a current Natural, yet it seemed that it's enough for that evolutionary leap that keeps eluding us" he sigh and leans back. He laughs at the amusement of it all
"It would seems that, Mother Nature is still the greatest scientist in the Universe, and it seems that she just taught us a thing or two about evolution" he said
"We failed at what she succeeded," he told the doctor putting down the file on the table and sighs
"Do you know that ever since George Glenn, we have been continuously improving our technology in order to create the Ultimate Coordinator? We failed" though that is not exactly true for there is one that was successful. He just doesn't want to say it, and now this,
"A Natural, born to surpass a Coordinator" that Idea was a bit disturbing for him, and as a scientist in genetics, it was great discovery and of great concern.
"The Newtype Theory" he remarks
Could he be that?' he wonders
They have observed Judah for a whole week and have been testing his Skills, Strength, Stamina, Intelligence and others. They found him impressive for a Natural, and a few finds him a bit intimidating, mostly from the MS pilots, one in particular is the pilot of the Impulse, Shinn Asuka, and they don't like each other one bit.
Gilbert told the doctor the old hypothesis he once read but it was never proven to be true
"Do you know that years before George Glenn was born, it was theorized that mankind goes in a 'Great Leap of Evolution' once every thousand years. Whether it is Physical, Emotional and Mental and maybe even Spiritual, if just one is to strive to improve oneself, then you can evolve all of humanity to the next level, to become a Newtype"
"It was thought that thru genetically altering the human genome, that leap could be achieve, unfortunately, there are some setbacks for being a Coordinator" he referred to their declining birthrate problems and some symptoms not yet publicly known.
"According to the theory, Humanity is now 100 years overdue for another leap, and this pilot has all of the signs"
'Could he be just one, or are there any more of them out there being born? These Newtype of humans' Gilbert wonders
The 'Welcome Mat' in ORB will soon be pulled underneath them, when Judah requested Asylum in ORB and Cagalli welcomed it.
Then out of reflex, Gilbert detained him immediately, which was a big mistake on his part as he just put themselves at odds with ORB.
"I think it's time for us to leave," he said, "We will take him back to the PLANTs"
As the Minerva prepared for departure, a ZAFT Fleet of the Vosgulov submarines is kept stationed outside ORB border and nearby is EAF Naval Fleet. Both fleets watch each other closely and suspiciously.
Saran Mansion
Unato Roma Saran and his son Yuna, is talking to Logos head Djibril about Minerva guest, the suspected pilot of those Unknown Mobile Suit's that destroyed Junius 7 and the damage done to the Chaos Gundam.
Ever since the Minerva arrived on Orb, the Saran's have been channeling information about the ship and the pilot they rescued. This was an interest for Djibril, as he's getting a whole lot of trouble from an unknown force undermining Logos power, and when the Minerva was about to depart they told him when.
The Saran have always favored an Alliance with the Atlantic Federation, in particular Logos, as they have a more lucrative business with them than anyone else does in the world, and they are acting now as spies for them.
Unato was abit unsure about their association with Logos after a week of Turmoil in Atlantic Federation, Logos are not the most popular people today. Then after they told Djibril of what's going happen to the Minerva next, he talks to his son of his doubts with Logos
"I don't like this feeling right now" he said as he settled down on the sofa tiredly
"Relax father, and let Lord Djibril handle that ZAFT ship," he said so assuredly of himself
"Revealing that pilot in the hands of ZAFT, was that wise?"
"That pilot belongs to an unknown organization calling themselves UN Spacy father, and Lord Djibril believes that they are the ones causing all the chaos they are having right now," Yuna told him.
"Lord Djibril wants answers as do ZAFT, and I doubt ZAFT will hand him over that pilot without a fight," Unato said
Back at the Minerva, Cagalli needed to talk to Gilbert one more time before they leave and tries to convince him to hand over Judah to ORB in request of an Asylum, still he refused.
"I am sorry princess, I cannot hand him over to you," he told her
"His Request for Asylum was done on ZAFT territory so his request is invalid by international law or do you wish to contest this by holding this ship as a prisoner" Gilbert was adamant in keeping him, and Gilbert knows that Cagalli will not risk an Incident, or will she?
"Chairman Dullindal," she was about to speak back when Judah is brought to them by Captain Gladys
"Lady Cagalli!" Judah interjects "Please, That's enough"
"But"
"It's pointless to argue with him because he is determined to take me to the PLANTs, so therefore, I withdraw my Asylum request"
"What" Cagalli can see that he's really giving this up, he was willingly to go with ZAFT, as to stop them from fighting.
"Judah, are you sure?" Judah nodded. Understanding his situation right now, then gave a sharp glare at Dullindal before he told Cagalli his reason
"I'm very sorry, but I cannot allow myself to be the cause of incident between ORB and the PLANTs and what's been happening right now, you can't afford not to," he walks towards her, and bowed to her and apologized
"I am sorry I caused so much trouble for you, so please let them leave unhindered, but a word of advise Rep. Attha," he pointed at Dullindal
"Be cautious of him next time," he warned, and that made Gilbert Dullindal, Chairman of the PLANTs, a very questionable person.
Onogoro Island
Watching at a building as the Minerva leaves and escorted by the ORB Navy, a man in civilian clothes watches them leave.
Beecha Oleg, Special Agent of the REF IWD, have kept watch of the Minerva as they followed Judah's personal subspace tracking device embedded in one of Judah teeth and it seems that they have not found it yet.
Using portable scanner, Beecha made a passive scan on the Minerva. Using a device no bigger than a camera, it scans the ship and then downloads it to Laptop. The scan on their ship was easy enough to do, to track where Judah is located.
The Passive scan is then transmitted to the UNS Hawaii, a Gloria Class Battleship has a different operations. The Hawaii mission is acquiring samples of life near a vast coral reef bed, by two DSV Sea Quest Class Submarines they launched at sea, they also watch over the two fleets outside ORB territory under cloak.
The Nevada contacted the Hawaii and told them of the situation, and since they are the closest ship to ORB, they should watch for Judah's recovery signal.
Captain Fa Yuiry, who is about a few years older than Judah, Fa Yuiry who is Judah's senior in their Academy Days, and she is well aware of Judah's reputation of causing chaos (especially women) with people's emotions, which he seems to inherit it from his godfather of all people.
She watches an aerial view of ORB and the Minerva image on a tactical table. They waited to recover Judah in ZAFT hands as they were ordered to do, as the Admiral will expect Judah to escape on his own now, and all they have to do is wait for a signal.
Fas expanded the tactical display showing the EA and ZAFT forces, and when the Minerva is about join the ZAFT forces, things became quite lively.
"This doesn't look good" she said, "They are deploying"
The EA and ZAFT ships started launching their Mobile Suits, and are now a good 2 miles from each other, as the Minerva joins the ZAFT fleet. Yuiry can see that things may get ugly as the EA is approaching ZAFT and ZAFT is not moving from where they.
"We can't let them fight each other, not here" Fa put the Image on the main screen
"That's a coral reef preserve they will be fighting on top of, and if they fight there it will get badly damage." She looks towards her communications officer
"Is ZAFT making contact with them? As to warn them off," she ask and the comm. officer nodded his head and reply
"The ZAFT forces is warning them off Captain, but the EA forces is replying with a message, demanding the release the unknown pilot Judah Ashta to Earth Forces Authority or else"
"They are not even trying to be diplomatic," Fa knows the bad blood between the two armies, it was likely that the EAF will start the fight, since they are the antagonist of the story.
"We can't let them fight, not here and not now," she said
The REF primary mission is to get samples of life on Earth and bring it to Alpha Earth and to do that, C.E.Earth must remain intact, that means that they have to keep both EA and ZAFT from killing each other, which means that peace, must prevail at all cost.
Her first officer, Mondo Agake who is also Judah Academy Buddy waited for his Captains orders. Yuiry is thinking of a way to keep them from fighting one another, while keeping themselves hidden from them. Then she remembers her first officer's rather devious tactics he made at the academy.
"Mondo" she called him "Let's do a little 'Torpedo Persuasion' with the EA fleet, so contact the Neptune and the Poseidon on the plan" that surprise Mondo, he never thought that she'd pick that particular tactic which he made in the academy.
"Captain you don't mean that 'Torpedo Persuasion' you're referring to do you?" looking at her she was serious
"Of Course" she said
On the Minerva's Bridge
Gilbert brought Judah to the bridge to watch EA aggression in action, as to convince him that ZAFT is not an enemy. Still Judah looks at him suspiciously. He already made bad impression of himself to him and Cagalli, so he needed to earn his trust again, which will not be easy when it comes to Judah Ashta.
"Are you expecting them to do something harsh Chairman Dullindal?"
"That's all up to them Lt," he answered "We are not the aggressor here Lt. Ashta, the Earth Forces are" he seated himself
"ZAFT will fight only to protect ourselves, but I am hoping they will let us leave in peace without anyone getting hurt"
'Such soothing words from a snake in human clothing' Judah thought
Though it would be like the EA to attack first, as Judah hears their demands, the EAF did came here for him, and no one else. If he had been allowed to stay on ORB, then this would never have happen at all. The EAF will not try to commit hostilities with ORB and Dullindal knows that. However, against ZAFT would be a different story.
Just then, something was happening at the EAF fleet.
"Detecting smoke discharge all around the EAF naval Fleet," reported by Minerva's XO
"What's going on?" Captain Gladys ask
As the EAF, naval fleet is being engulf by smoke, a sudden loss of electronics, communication and radar had occurred from both fleets by a powerful ECM and ECCM, the ZAFT forces became very tense as agitated EA Mobile Suits keeps buzzing above their fleet trying to figure out what was happening. Then suddenly they can see them again by their radar, and are in contact with them again.
Several minutes later, the EAF fleet did something unexpected as the smoke clears, the forty ships recalled their Mobile Suits and then made an about face. ZAFT was confused as to what just happened, and the nearby ORB fleet who is watching at their borders, is confused as well.
Judah grinned then turns to a full fledge smile at the reversal of events that Dullindal thought it would happen, never happened. Dullindal however, was not exactly pleased. The provocation, to stir up events for his plans never occurred. Again
He also failed to convince a skeptical pilot of his sincerity, no thanks to an EAF fleet that did not do what it supposedly to do.
"Well now," Judah said looking amused "It seems that somebody decided to not to fight today"
At that moment, Judah senses Gilbert Dullindal radiating anger underneath that façade of calm exterior he keeps showing.
'Well you got what you wish for Dullindal' Judah thought 'Yet you should be relieved that no one fought today, which means no one died today, and yet you are mad as hell when the EAF aggression you said to me never happened' Judah can surely say he is, as he thought he is
'A Snake in human clothing'
The ZAFT fleet moves on towards Carpentaria, the EAF fleet went away as well. The Admiral of the fleet, a middle age man, is talking to someone on the communication systems, and he was looking abit concerned, as he just disobeyed a direct order from his superiors in order to save his fleet and its crew from harm.
"I've done what you've ask Captain," he said "I have kept my word, now will you please Captain Yuiry, release my ships if you don't mind"
The woman on their view screen bowed a little.
"I thank you for your cooperation Admiral," the female in a strange uniform replied
Underneath their ships are underwater torpedoes that magnetized itself on the hull of EA ships and now disengaged itself and move away from them harmlessly.
"Done"
Flashback
In the few minutes under the smokescreen, the two DSV fired 40 torpedoes from behind the EAF ships as an ECM field temporarily jams their radar and communications for a minute, as the torpedoes magnetized itself on their hull. Then the Hawaii made contact, and warned them not to attack ZAFT or face the consequences, and then they ask them to leave the area immediately without a fight.
The Admiral, a Career officers have never, disobeyed an order is now being forced to disobey those orders to save his people.
Then the person told him, "You should think about your crew Admiral," she said
This young lady, no more than twenty years old with black hair all the way to down to her shoulders, wearing an unknown uniform and insignia and an Aura of confidence coming from her.
"We have no intention of hurting anyone Admiral, but we cannot allow you to fight here, so I ask you to think about this seriously now, or it will get nasty" she told him
"Your President is nothing more than a pawn of Lord Djibril of Logos. And that man, is trying to start another War of Hate, and then Profit out of it by the blood of soldiers and people caught in the war you are about to start, and ZAFT, is most likely expects you to do it, so please don't let them have their way" she said pleading him to decide wisely
"I am a soldier young lady, and I have never disobeyed an order from my superiors who is the president," he told her
"I know you wouldn't Admiral," she said, as she understands him
"But Admiral, your orders came from the Leader of Logos himself and not the President, and have you noticed, your Atlantic Federation is in turmoil. You cannot afford to start a war with ZAFT at this time nor should you, for it will be a waste of resources and people, which is what Logos wants in order to profit in war"
The Admiral then asks her something "Tell me young lady, why are you so concern in the welfare of my people, or is this some trick to protect that person on Minerva" she nodded at the Admiral suspicion, and answered him
"I, and my organization has many concerns Admiral, one of which is to make sure you don't kill each other for such an obscene reason as profiting thru war by hatred, it would be disgraceful to soldiers everywhere, and that person, Judah Ashta" she pointed
"Well maybe I am protecting him, but I am also protecting you, your ship, and your crew, ZAFT, ORB, the Earth and the PLANTs from doing something stupid. We have no intention of fighting you, and we don't want to be enemies, but we will protect our own from harm, and you are about to harm one"
The Admiral started to like this young lady's attitude, for he himself don't like to send his soldiers to fight just to make some death merchant rich from the lives of his soldiers and he will protect them from such dishonor, even if it means dishonoring himself.
She sounded sincere to him and he doesn't seem to feel any deception from her for some strange reason.
"Tell me young lady, what is your name?" the Admiral asks her, she introduced herself
"I am Captain Fa Yuiry, of the UNS Hawaii, hello sir" and then he introduces himself.
"And I am Admiral Jonathan Kelly of the 11th Pacific Fleet, Earth Alliance Navy, nice to meet you" he stood up and respectfully saluted her
Soon afterwards, the EAF fleet pulled back 100 miles from their original position. After that, Yuiry disengaged the torpedoes from their ships,
Flashback ends
"Have a safe Journey home Admiral, oh by the way, the torpedoes were actually High EM Pulse torpedoes, and at that range your ships electronic circuits no matter how shielded they are, can't protect it from an EM surge at that close it will be rendered useless and it's crew unhurt."
Yuiry left with the Admiral laughing as he had suspected it, for they or whoever they are, they had no intention of hurting anyone, but they could have easily done so and yet they didn't.
'They did all of this to obviously protect this Judah Ashta person without hurting anyone,' he thought then it occurred to him
'They don't want the EAF to be their enemy, but Logos is their enemy'
"Whoever they are, I would like to meet these people someday," he said to his officers "Let's return to port,"
When the two fleet are gone from the area, Fa was relieved there was no fighting "Alright, now that's over and done with, let's continue the primary operations, Beecha"
"Yes, Captain"
"Call the St.Louis, and tell them that Judah is on its way to Carpentaria"
"Yes Captain,"
The ZAFT fleet was now only an hour away from Carpentaria, meanwhile Judah was on Minerva's shooting range, he was ask to demonstrate his Mars Gallant H-90 to a curious crowd as they watch an actual laser gun in action.
"You want me to show you how this works?" he holds the weapon on his hand with two guards behind him for security. Giving the gun a visual examination, it doesn't seem to have been tampered with, and if they had, his gun would have blown in their faces.
"My Tech have been trying to make it work but with no luck" Gilbert told him and ask him "We would like to see it work"
Judah discharge one of the energy caps and examined it,
"You bunch of Jerks" he remarks
He can see that the caps was tampered with, shaking his head at what they tried to do.
"You know, tampering a, 5 kilojoules fusion capacitor could have blown an entire section of the Minerva you know" he showed it
"There's warning labels here see," he pointed at the battery type-warning label
WARNING! 5 KILJOULES FUSION CAPACITOR, DO NOT TAMPER OR EXPOSED TO FIRE, IT MAY EXPLODE OR LEAK!
"Can't you people read? There's a warning label right here, Jeez Louis" he reexamined the other caps and then returned it to the gun.
The way Judah spoke to them, it was as if he was insulting their intelligence, but his somewhat speaking his mind out character, they can't be sure, yet they felt embarrass at his words though
"Alright then," he deactivated his security lock and the humming sound of says an energy build up was starting, and then he adjust it to an anti-personnel setting. The gun was active in his hands now, as he aimed his gun at the target.
ZAFT have tried for a week to get it to work but couldn't because of a personal security lock on it. Seeing it in action, the beam was blowing holes at the end of the firing lines padded wall and then putting holes on reinforced titanium underneath the padded wall.
The H-90 is a handheld Particle Beam Gun, something that small an energy weapon was not possible for ZAFT, EA and ORB current technology to manufacture, the smallest beam weapons they have are the size of cannons for Mobile Suits and Warships.
Gilbert and Gladys look at this weapon with amazement and great concern, for a good reason. A particle beam weapon this size and this powerful could damage or shoot down a mobile suit if conventional troops are armed with this kind of weapon.
'Studying that gun will give ZAFT an advantage to the EA' Gilbert thought
'Too bad we don't have his fighter' he thought then looks at the gun again and then thought
'I wonder if that gun take out a Mobile Suit?' was also the thought from everyone's mind.
Judah knows what they are thinking
"Now if you guys are wondering if this thing can take out a Mobile Suit well…" he adjusted the settings from AP to AAP
APAnti-Personnel, AAPAnti-Armor Piercing
"It can" and he pull the trigger
He fired one concentrated shot, and it blew a hole thru the wall, causing a lot of smoke. At the other side of the wall Judah blow up, is the Minerva's MS Hangar Bay. It caused quite a ruckus; and this gave Judah the opportunity to slip away.
An hour later, Gilbert examines the once reinforced titanium wall now with a big hole that opened to the MS Hangar bay as security came to report on their search for Judah but with no luck
"Sir, we are still searching the ship as we speak"
"Keep searching for him then, he can't just disappeared" he ordered them angrily "If you find him, approach him with caution, he still has that laser gun of his and who knows what damage he could do to the ship if he decided to shoot with it"
"Yes Sir" they replied
He reexamines the damage wall again, it's hollow design is over 5 inches thick, a sandwich type wall, two-one inch is made of reinforced titanium, and at the center is a 3-inch fireproof ceramic filling. Normally a wall like this could withstand an RPG, but that hand held laser gun made it look like it is made of paper.
Nighttime
Carpentaria
The Minerva was now on the docks and surrounded by Searchlights, Mobile Suits and ground troops as they search for Judah Ashta, everyone thought that with this kind of security, he could not get away, or so they thought.
Captain Gladys talks to Rey Za Burrel and Lunamaria Hawke on the search lack of progress.
"Have every crew search every nook and cranny of this ship he can't just disappear out of thin air"
"Yes Ma'am" the two then left to order the search again
Gladys entered her room exhausted and a bit dirty from that demonstration. Therefore, she decided to take a bath before joining the search for Judah Ashta.
'We've search everywhere and still we can't even find him like he's invisible or something, where is he?' she ask herself and she sigh at the most extraordinary day they have, and it seems that Gilbert did the wrong things to the wrong people today making him a bit agitated.
"Gilbert you're an Idiot" she remarks
She was taking off her uniform and t-shirt, with now only wearing an undergarment when suddenly, someone put a hand on her mouth and another holding her at the waist and bracing her to the body to the man behind her, a very strong man.
"Please don't do anything to attract attention Captain," he whispered to her Ear.
'Judah' she was surprised
"I won't hurt you Captain, all I want is my Necklace and the Photo that was part of my belongings that you did not return to me, do you understand me captain,"
She nodded and slowly pointed at her desk, and Judah let her go and then grip his Hal-90. Gladys walks towards her desk, pulled out the necklace and the photo from the drawer, and gave it to him. Judah was surprised that she was the one who has his belongings, he came to her just guessing that she has it
Gladys look at him, and that he's wearing a ZAFT green uniform and his hair dye blonde, probably try to blend in and slip away undetected.
"You did not leave," she said
"I could have left anytime I want to Captain, ever since you found me"
"Then why didn't you?" she ask
"Common courtesy, I won't disembark your ship without permission, and I also wanted to give you the benefit of the doubt that you would not keep me here against my will" he answered
"Chairman Dullindal, he disappointed me" he remark
"I'm sorry about that" she apologizes to him
"What's done is done," he said sadly then not realizing he was staring at her very thinly made upper undergarments
'Wow' was the only thoughts in his mind just now (Typical male response)
Judah blushed when he was staring at Captain Gladys half-naked body, admiring certain things a woman possesses. She blushed at his stare as she turned around and covered herself
"Uhm, Sorry" he apologize pinching his nose as not to drip blood on the floor
"Please, Just go and I promise I won't alert the others," she said embarrass at that awkward moment.
"Thank you captain, oh by the way," he gave her a message for the chairman
"Tell Chairman Dullindal, that if he makes ZAFT an enemy of the UN Spacy, then he is going to regret the day he was born" and then walks out, leaving a flushed captain of the Minerva.
He got out of the Minerva quite easily, though it's not like they can see him in his Umi-sen-ken technique, something that was quite handy sneaking around undetected, still half way he walks out of the base in a ZAFT uniform
Judah got as far away enough from their base and immediately activated a tracking device on his Hal-90, a few minutes later; a VF-17 arrived to pick him up.
On his way back, Judah communicated with Fa Yuiry and Captain Noa for a summary report on his stay at the Minerva.
"We can't trust this man, Chairman Gilbert Dullindal of the PLANTs," he told them
"In my own personal experience with that man, we should have nothing to do with him, for he wreaks deception behind that façade of his"
"You sounded like you don't like him Judah," Fa said
"Damn Straight Captain," he confirms, "That man is manipulative in using soothing words to swoon people for his own gains," Judah remembers Gilbert smile that he finds deceitful. His Instincts keeps screaming at him, telling him to be cautious of this man.
"Something tells me that there is more to this man than meets the eye, and he may think that no one notice him, but I do, something is not right"
"Judah, what are you saying?" Noa ask
"I don't know yet sir, I'm just guessing, but it feels like he set it up, he set Junius 7 to fall to Earth on purpose," he told them and it surprise the two captains
"That's a very serious accusation Judah," Fa said
"Indeed" Noa agrees
"I know Captain Yuiry, Captain Noa, but it's what my gut is telling me," he told them both and repeated what he said
"We cannot trust Chairman Gilbert Dullindal, of the PLANTs,"
TBC