Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FUTURE

Story:
Sequel to The New Coordinate. Twenty years later, a new force rised to threaten the peace forged over the years and intends to sent the whole world succumb to its knees. How will the children born in this era of peace cope with the chaos?

Notes:
Sorry for the late update. I know the sin is heavy and all but...CURSE THE WRITER'S BLOCK! And lack of motivation, yeah.

I don't own SEED, SEED DESTINY their characters or anything else aside from numerous OCs I created.

MBF-W12 SPLITTERSTERN

Model number: MBF-W12
Code name: Splitterstern Gundam
Unit type: prototype long range assault mobile suit
Manufacturer: Morgenroete Inc.
Operator: United Emirates of Orb
Pilot: Elena Elthmann
First deployment: C.E. 94
Accommodation: pilot only, in standard cockpit in torso
Dimensions: head height 15 meters
Weight: max gross weight 65.0 metric tons
Construction: unknown
Powerplant: compact Hyper-duetrion nuclear reactor
Equipment and design features: sensors, range unknown; Phase Shift (PS) Armor (red-white-blue), Mirage Colloid virus spreader
Fixed armaments:
XMI-GED78C 25mm CIWS x 2
MB-M586 "Stabber" beam dagger x 2
MB-S217 "Etranger" beam bow x 1
Optional armament: MB-S874 "Remover" sniper beam rifle, power rating unknown
Technical notes and history:
Splitterstern's earliest designs was made by Xander Darklighter who aimed for a more 'feminine' mobile suit. He eventually hit a block and couldn't continue the project. Rather than throwing the designs away, he handed it to Dearka Elthmann who improved it further by taking off many heavy armaments from Xander's design. To make up for it, Dearka installed the Mirage Colloid virus spreader similar to Shinn Asuka's Destiny Gundam and the earlier Blitz Gundam. But rather than generating after images of it or rendering it invisible, Splitterstern's virus simply infected any radar/sensory system from detecting it. Thus, making it ideal for sniping operation without the need to be invisible. The beam bow installed added further funcionality to this unit. The bow was entirely made of beam and other than Dearka, nobody knew how it functioned without the need of a beam generator like the normal beam saber. Up to six beam arrows can be fired at the same time if the pilot was skilled enough in using it.

Chapter 6: Moments

Onboard the ship Athena, Captain Taylor Gladys was overseeing the final preparations for the ship's launch after sending out a message to his adopted family, the Fllagas.

"Captain," one of the crew said, "Supreme Chairman Zala and Representative Jule is on board."

He smiled and got up from his seat. "Thank you. I'll go and meet them at the lounge."

Athrun and Yzak were escorted towards the bridge when a woman was waiting for them at lounge. She had grown her hair all these years but still retained that unusual calmness. Yzak winced.

"Ugh, Shiho..."

Shiho put up her index finger, signaling a 'no'. "Don't you start, Yzak. I won't leave this ship no matter what you are trying to say. Clear?"

Athrun chuckled upon his friend's sigh of resignation. Taylor then entered the scene and formally saluted both men.

"Greetings, Chairman Zala, Representative Jule. Welcome to the Athena."

The PLANT Supreme Chairman smiled. "Thank you for arranging us on board in such a short time."

"There is no need for that, sir. After all, you are the appointed leader of PLANT."

"Is everything ready?" Yzak asked. Taylor nodded.

"The mobile suits already been loaded. We are good to go."

Athrun nodded. "Very well. Lead us to the bridge, Captain."

Orb, the ship Seraphim

Kira and Shinn were ready to leave the ship. The two had been assigned to stay in Orb to defend it from any possible attacks that might happen.

"Laura, are you sure about this?" Kira asked his daughter about her decision to stay on board.

Laura nodded. "Yes, father. My friends are here, after all. And I have so many things to catch up with them."

"Okay, dear. Just be careful, okay?" Lacus said, holding Kira by the waist.

"I will, Mother."

Kira looked up and saw Canard tuning his Dreadnought. Remembering of what he did earlier, Kira let go of Lacus, causing her to blink in surprise.

"Kira, what's wrong?"

"I have to thank that guy for his help." he replied, pointing at Canard.

Canard looked up upon seeing Kira approached him. He jumped down from the cockpit of his unit.

"Yes?"

Kira extended his right hand. "I'd like to thank you for the help."

"Ah, there's no big deal in that." Both then shook hands.

Kira introduced himself. "Kira Yamato."

Canard nodded in acknowledgement. "Canard Pars. From the Junk Guild. A pleasure to meet you, General."

"Same here. We've met at Malchio's Orphanage twenty years ago, I believe."

"Yes, we indeed saw each other. We never get the chance to talk, though."

"I'm sure you have your reason of leaving when we saw each other..."

Canard nodded. "Yes, I did. But we'll touch that on our next meeting."

"I'll hold on to that."

As Kira boot up his Strike Freedom, Lacus looked up at him, puzzled.

"You met him before?"

"So you noticed. Yeah, but that was long ago. After the first war."

"I see."

"I felt something strange when we shook hands. Something...warmth, comfortable. Like we've met even before that."

"If you felt it that way, he can't be bad, right?"

"Heh. Probably."

In a room near the hangar, ANGEL was undergoing her first maintenance in years. Xander was doing some tweaking to her core programming and optimizing her combat capabilities should the need arise. Lunamaria entered the room moments later.

"Xan, I've heard that both Kira and Shinn were assigned to remain in Orb."

Xander glanced at his wife. "Make sense. What about us?"

"Let's see. Us, Dearka, Kei, Mai and the kids are to remain with us. This ship has been ordered to go into space, to pursue the enemy."

"I see. What about Junk Guild?"

"All three of them will return to their base after we entered space. The Out Frame suffered heavy damage and repairs can only be done there."

Xander stopped and looked outside. "I see."

"Xan?" Lunamaria asked, breaking the unusual silence between them.

"Why now, after all these years? I never want our children to experience war the way we did..."

Lunamaria then hugged him from behind. "Others felt the same way too, Xan."

"I know, Maria. But do you think they are prepared for this? I fear that they'll freak out on battlefield."

"You don't have to worry. Others already briefed their kids about it. They'll do just fine after some proper training."

"Ah, I hope so..."

"How's ANGEL?"

"Adjusted some of her modules so that she could act...in a more humanely way."

"Like, acting totally independantly?"

"More or less. But she still have to take orders from us. Who knows what will happen if she acts totally on her own. So, how about your sister?"

"Oh, Meyrin? She decided to go back to PLANT to do some scouting."

Xander raised his brows curiously. "Scouting on what? Our enemy or men?"

Zack was standing in front of Valiant, wondering what he should do. He then recalled the times when his parents told him and Sarina about both Bloody Valentine Wars. And he had grown to hate wars and anything to do with it. Including mobile suits.

"Zack?"

He turned around to see Laura beside him. "Laura. You're not going back with your parents?"

"No. My friends are all here and I want to be with them as long as possible."

"I see."

"I've been wanting to ask this for sometime. Do you mind?"

"Sure, I guess."

"Do you...have a girlfriend?"

Zack coughed and gagged and choked upon the question. "Wh...what's that question for? Of course I don't have any!"

"I...I'm sorry...I..."

Zack held her wrist. "It's alright, Laura. It was me who allowed you to ask that, right?"

Laura blushed upon the touch. "Y...yes. You're right..."

Sarina watched her twin brother and smiled in amusement upon his reaction to Laura's question. "Go for it, bro!"

"Hm? What are you watching, Rina?"

Sarina froze and turned around. It was Kei. The handsome pilot looked at the scene between Zack and Laura. "It's not nice peeping on them, you know..."

"Oh, just shut it, Kei."

"How about a date with me sometime?"

Sarina paused. The stared at him. "You haven't give up on me yet, do you?"

"I haven't and I won't." replied Kei, firmly. Sarina sighed.

"Oh well. I suppose we can have one before we're going to space."

Kei widened his eyes in disbelief. "Really? I mean...is it okay?"

Sarina narrowed her eyes at him. "You don't want me to repeat that, right?"

Shinn was ready to depart when Yvonne called him. She was followed by Adora.

"Are you planning to leave without telling us?" the ship captain asked, folding her arms.

"Eh, well...it's not like we'll never gonna see each other again, right?"

Yvonne turned away. "Hmph! I hate you."

Shinn shrugged. "Older women. I just don't get them..." he muttered to himself.

Yvonne raised a brow. "Oh? Who's old?"

"Eh? Umm...nothing! Really!"

"Hm? You sure?"

"Absolutely!"

"Heh. Good. Before you go..."

Shinn raised his brow. "Before I go..?"

Before he could finish, Yvonne pulled him close and their lips touched. She pulled away after a few moments, smiling. "Be careful, okay?"

Shinn smiled back and kissed her forehead. "Yeah, I will. And you should do the same too."

Yvonne nodded. "You don't need to remind me, silly." She then pinched her husband's cheek lightly. "After all, I have to take care of my crew. Not to mention our daughter."

Shinn nodded. "I know." He turned to Adora. "Come over here, Adora." His daughter obliged.

"Yes, Dad?"

Shinn hugged her. "Take care of your mother. At least until we are together again, okay?"

"I will, Dad."

Everyone on the bridge looked on as ANGEL interfaced directly with the ship's system. She then opened her eyes.

"All is done. If you wish Captain, I can navigate this ship."

Yvonne smiled from her seat. "That won't be necessary for now, ANGEL."

ANGEL nodded. "As you wish. I will take my leave now."

Along the countryside of Orb, Xander was driving his car wildly with Lunamaria shouting and screaming in delight.

"Hey, stop screaming, woman!"

"With you being this crazy, who wouldn't?"

They finally arrived at the cemetery. With both of them wearing black, they kneeled down and bowed in front of two graves that belongs to Xander's parents, Knuth and Christina Reinhardt. After a small prayer, Lunamaria stood up as she looked at her husband stared longingly at both graves.

"Mom, dad. Another war might broke out soon. And this time, my children might be involved. I know that how much protective Maria and I are, they will eventually be drawn into it. When that time comes, please watch over them..."

He then stood up and Lunamaria hugged him. "Xan..."

He smiled. "I'm fine now, Maria. Let's go back."

The wife grinned. "This time, I'll drive."

Regenerate just docked inside the mobile colony and the members of Verwustung were greeted by several member of the crew.

"Welcome back, Master Eckehart, Master Le Gard." one of the female crew said. She was wearing a grey uniform in reminiscent of ZAFT's Elite in terms of design. Her short, red hair stood out in the dimly lit hangar.

"Thanks, Callista." Valten replied as Roy simply nodded.

"Your outing at Orb was fruitful, I believe."

Valten nodded. "Very."

"How was the ASH Battle AI fared?"

"It was splendid. It have its flaws and all that but I don't want to see it too perfect. It is your best programming thus far, I'd say."

Callista slightly blushed upon the complement. "It...was nothing, sir. All I did was extracting Ash Gray's brain waves from the dead body. And I just simply designed the AI based on it."

Valten smiled and nodded. "Anyways, Callista. Please meet Anton Van der Wille, Irene Isolder and Maya Almonia. These three will be with us from now on. Everyone, this is Callista Reth, my trusted assistant."

Callista shook hands with the trio. "The pleasure is all mine. Every friend of Master Eckehart is an ally of mine."

"That's sound assuring..." Irene said.

"Yeah. Thank you, Miss Reth. I hope we can get on well." Maya cheerfully said.

"Me too. Being around pretty ladies sure lift my spirit up." Anton remarked with a grin. Irene managed a sigh.

Callista smiled. "Me too. Please. Call me Callista."

Xander and Lunamaria stopped by the military headquarters on their way back to Seraphim.

"Can you really cope without us, Chief?" Xander asked Cagalli with Kira and Shinn watched.

The Orb Representative nodded. "Of course we can. Plus, we still have the Archangel should the need arise."

Xander leaned back in his seat. "Guess that will be fine. With two great generals with you..." he grinned as he glanced at both Kira and Shinn.

Kira smiled. "Don't worry, Xander. We will defend Orb no matter what."

"But I'm in need of action here, dammit!" Shinn said, almost shouted.

The others laughed. "Hahaha. That's our Shinn alright." Xander remarked.

Cagalli returned her gaze at Xander. "There's a reason why I assigned you to Seraphim."

Xander raised his brows. "There is?"

"You are the most cool headed general among you three. I just want to ensure that the crew don't do anything reckless."

He scoffed. "Me? Cool headed? I don't think so but thanks for the compliment. And besides, Yvonne knew her responsibilities pretty well."

"Your task is to watch over them, Xander. Especially our children." Cagalli added further.

He sighed. "I knew it."

Shinn grinned while Kira surpressed his laughter.

"I have a handful just dealing with Rina alone, mind you. But with Maria and ANGEL on board, I suppose I'll manage."

Athrun and Yzak were sitting in their place just behind Taylor as the ship Athena made its way towards the coordianates where the mobile colony was last seen.

"What should we do once we reached there, Supreme Chairman?" the captain asked.

"Try not to get too near. We're not sure how big the colony is on up close." Athrun replied.

"Besides, Orb already sent out their ship to help. And the Earth Alliance will fortify their own defenses should something unexpected arise." Yzak added.

"Yzak, I already received confirmation from the Alliance regarding the mobile suits that caused havoc at Orb. Three of them were stolen from their factory."

Yzak leaned back in his seat and sighed. "I see. That make matters complicated. Guess us veterans have to partake in this, huh?"

Athrun shrugged. "If we have to."

"But do you really want your son to be involved in this? He's no soldier, that's for sure."

"I know that Yzak. But what will you do when your friends are in danger? And Ashton decided to fight. If Cagalli is okay with it, so be it."

Elena just completed her first mobile suit flight simulation and Dearka was reviewing the results. He grinned. "Well I'll be. You're better than I thought."

Elena laughed. "What do you expect? I'm your daughter, after all."

"Ah, so that's the reason..." her father couldn't finished the sentence as Mirialia smacked the back of his head.

"OW! What's that for, Mir?"

"You are not making our daughter involved in this war!" she berated, forcing Dearka to cower in fear.

"But honey..."

"No buts, Elthmann! Elena, surely you don't wanna get yourself in danger, right?"

Elena shook her head, much to the surprise of her mother. And the relief of her father.

"Elena..?"

"Mom, I've decided to fight. I just can't let Ashton and Sarina fight for our sake. It's...not fair on them..."

There was a pause. Then, the stern face of Mirialia changed into a smile. "I knew you would say that."

"Mom..."

She then hugged her daughter tight. "You have my blessing, dear."

"Thanks mom. You're the best."

Dearka suddenly interrupted. "Okay, all is fine and dandy. Am I off the hook now, honey?"

Mirialia narrowed her eyes and pointed her index finger at him. "You watch over her, Elthmann. Or you will have a lot to say if something bad happened to our precious."

"Okay, okay. Anything you say. No need to get all worked up. Sheez..."

Ashton was listening to an engineer on how to use the maintenance terminal when he felt Adora's presence not far from him.

"Yep?"

"So you made up your mind?"

"Pretty much, yeah."

"I wish I can fight with you..."

Ashton smiled. "You don't have to, Adora. Just seeing you with us is enough for me."

Adora turned red. "I...I'm thinking of being a mechanic of some sorts."

"Oh, are you sure about that?"

"Of course. I may not seem like it but father taught me a lot on fixing things."

"Heh. I bet he did. Okay then, do lend me your expertise should I need one, okay?"

Xander and Lunamaria were on their way back to Seraphim when they Kei's golden sports car sped past them. The couple saw Sarina in the front seat. The wife smiled.

"Kids these days..."

"Say, since when did both of them hooked up?"

Hearing this, Lunamaria poked her husband in the head repeatedly. "You've been busy with work, dear. Though the two don't look like a couple but there are some rumors..."

"Hey, stop with the poke of death there! You're driving for heaven's sake!"

They arrived at the hangar a while later to be greeted by ANGEL.

"Welcome back, Master."

"Thanks how are things around?"

"I have downloaded all the ship's data to my memory banks. I will have total control on the ship should the need arise."

Xander nodded. "Good work, ANGEL. Please go to the maintenance room for further instructions."

"Yes, Master."

With that, the android turned around and left. Xander looked at his watch. "We still have at least three hours before take off. How about we..."

He then pulled Lunamaria by the waist. She smiled. "Pervert."

"Hey, it isn't my fault you're still hot at the age of 40."

Lunamaria narrowed her eyes and pulled him by the collar. "I'm 37, mind you."

"Okay, okay. My bad. You're hot for a 37..."

Before he could finished, her lips touched his for a moment. "And you're still good-looking for an old man." She said with a smile.

"Heh. Damn woman."

To Be Continued...