Here is chapter two I will answer at least one of the questions I posted in the A/N at the end of chapter one.

Disclaimer: Standard Disclaimers apply

Chapter two:

Collapsing Land

Aboard the Archangels catapault:

Kira set the Strike down and let Lieutenant Ramius and the others off his hand as James set the Shadow down with Melee Assault Pack mounted and he climbed out of the cockpit and down to the ground. Suddenly the entire crew that was left on the Archangel cameup and a raven haired woman stepped forward. "Lt. Ramius its good to see your safe," said the woman. "You too Ensign Badgiruel," came the response to her. Suddenly she said, "Why is a kid in the Strike?" She turned to James and finished her sentence, "and you a mercenaryin the Shadow." James sighed and said, "I am doing my job Natarle. Where is the captain and the pilots?" She frowned and said, "The pilots are..." Just then a blonde haired man came walking onto the catapault and said, "What a surprise this is to see your alive after what happened to you almost a year ago. You said your name was James right? Thats quite a scar you got." The man nodded and said, "Yes James Black I work for Serpent's Tail." Mu laughed and said, "I mean no disrespect when I say I don't believe you." James looked at him confused and said, "Why is that sir?" Mu walked up to him and said, "Because you sound just like a friend's son of mine. His son was 'Killed' in a battle and my friend was killed at Endymion by Rau Le Creuset." James' eyes narrowed angrily, but he quickly shook it off before anyone noticed. Unfortunately Mu saw this and said, "Drop the act kid. I know who you are." Suddenly every armed soldier trained their weapons on James. He sighed and said, "Dammit Mu, why couldn't you let it sleep until we were alone? Fine, I am former Lieutenant Commander Ryan Ford of the Earth Forces. I am no longer with the EA as they couldn't stand having another Coordinator being an ace and a very good one at that. So they tried to kill me with a 'Stray' missile." He shook his head in anger at that and said, "Mu I'm sorry about my father's death I know you two were as close as brothers." Mu nodded and said, "I'm the one who should be sorry I failed to protect him." James held up his hand and said, "I hate pity." Murrue said, "So why are you here Ryan?" He said, "I told you I work for Serpent's Tail and Morgenroete needed a mercenary so I volunteered for the job." Looking up at the Shadow and said, "I took the job to get a hold of this baby which is now the property of Serpent's Tail and my personal machine. You try to touch it and look at OS and you will get nowhere. The security on this machine is so tight that you could spend the next hundred years trying to get through a small portion of the layers of security. I took this machine as payment for this and the other three scars on my body." He pointed to the scar on his face as he said that and added, "Also as payment for the attempt on my life. Try and take it back and I will kill you am I understood? Also until I tell you otherwise call me jamesam I understood?" Murrue and the others noted the poison in his voice and nodded she said, "Men lower your weapons and everyone leave the Shadow alone as we still need his help." They lowered their weapons and nodded.

Mu said, "Who is in charge here?" Natarle replied, "Most of the ships crew was killed in the blast so that would put Lt. Ramius in charge." Murrue gasped and said, "Me?" Natarle nodded and Mu sighed, "What a great mess this is. I would like to request permission to join this ship as the escort fleet has been wiped out." Murrue nodded "permission granted." He suddenly turned to Kira and said, "Your a coordinator arent you?" Kira nodded as several armed guards again raised their weapons. James growled and said, "Lower your weapons dammit. the enemy is out there not in here." They did so. James led the teens into the ship and to a special quarters and told them to stay here. He then left and went to the bridge. The others sat there and talked amongst themselves.

Vesalius:

Rau said, "Ades we have to continue pursuing this ship and take it and its mobile suits out. They could prove dangerous." Ades nodded and said, "Right. What do you want to do?" Rau told him his plan.

Hangar of the Vesalius:

Dearka said, "D equipment I hear." Yzak snorted, "Serves them right." Nicol sighed as Eric said, "Creuset wont get away with this if Heliopolis is destroyed." They all nodded even Yzak realizing the devastation that could happen. He sighed as he turned to sit down.

Archangel Bridge:

James sat in a seat looking at the three EA officers and said,"So what is the plan?" Murrue looked at Mu and then Natalre and said, "We were kind of hoping you had a plan." Black laughed and jokingly said, "I have a few, but none of the include this ship or me staying with it." Mu shook his head and said, "Same old person. You can change the look, but not the personality. This is serious." James narrowed his eyes and said, "I know which is why I was trying to lighten the mood. On a serious note. We can expect an attack and soon. We need to get away from the colony before we cause anymore damage." The other three nodded, "easier said than done," Natarle exclaimed. James laughed, "I know. What are we going to do about the Strike. I can't very well pilot two machines at once." Murrue's face hardened and said, "We will have to rely on Kira if we can." Mu shook his head, "You think he will go for it?" Black looked around the bridge. He closed his eyes in thought and said, "I doubt it. The only way to appeal to him, will be to make him see that all he is doing is protecting his friends. That is still a long shot though. The kid hates fighting a lot. I hope he can get over it and realize that fighting doesn't mean he has to kill." Murrue nodded and said, "I will go talk to him." She got up and left.

James turned to Mu and said, "So your Moebius is out for a while?" Mu nodded, "Damn Creuset. I can't top him." James laughed, "What do you expect he is in a Mobile Suit and your in a Mobile Armor. His machine is superior, but you have survived whichshows your skills Lieutenant." Mu nodded. Suddenly a black haired young lady walked up and said, "Ensign Badgiruel, I am sorry I am late reporting for duty, but I was knocked unconcious during the attack and came to recently and the doctor just cleared me to return to duty." Natarle looked up and said, "Who are you?" The green eyed girl looked at her apologetically, then snapped to attention and saluted, "Crewman Roxanne Smythe reporting for duty, I was the newest addition to the crew. I arrived two days ago. I am supposed to be the combat coordinator for the ships mobile suits and mobile armors." James whistled and said, "That's quite a knot you got there." Roxanne jumped and said, "is it that noticeable?" She tried to cover it up and Black laughed and replied, "I am sorry for pointing it out. No it's not. It's really not that bad and you still look pretty so it doesn't detract from that." After he said that he got up and walked off the bridge leaving her stuttering and blushing bright red. Natarle said, "Roxanne your post is over here." She led the still blushing girl to her seat. Mu shook his head and said, "Sorry about James, Roxanne. he is a mercenary and shouldn't be with the ship long." Roxanne nodded and said, "It's okay and can everyone please call me Roxy. I hate hearing my full name I feel like I am in trouble when I hear it." She took her seat and began going over everything she learned in training.

Crew Quarters:

Kira shouted, "No I won't do it. I didn't ask for this and I don't want it." His hands were balled into fists and shaking. Suddenly Mu's face appeared on the screen. "Lieutenant you are needed on the bridge. We have enemy suits coming in. You have to take command." Murrue looked at him in shock and said, "Me. Why me?" La Flaga said, "I have seniority, but I don't know the first thing about this ship." Murrue nodded and said, "Okay. is your Zero ready?" Mu shook his head, "No." She said, "Then please take CIC and have Black launch the Shadow." Mu nodded. Suddenly Kira said, "You people aren't being fair. This isn't our wa.. I will do it, but only to protect my friends." With that he took off for the hangar.

In the Hangar:

James stood there as the Melee Assault Pack was reattached to his machine and smiled at it. Just then Kira appeared next to him. "What are we dealing with R... Sorry James." James turned and shook his head. He replied, "I have no idea yet. Won't know until we go to launch." With that the twenty two year old climbed into his machine. "Mount up Kira, we have to launch real soon." Kira nodded and said, "Okay." He climbed into the Strike and waited for their order to launch. "James were you nervous your first battle?" James laughed and said, "Yeah, my father had to shake me out of my thoughts to get me to launch. Anybody who tells you otherwise is either lying or insane." Kira nodded and said, "Okay."

Outside:

Three GINNs two equipped with D equipment were making their way towards the Archangel followed by the Aegis and the Blitz. Athrun shook his head and said, "Nicol what are you doing?" Nicol said, "I am helping you Athrun. Besides we have to stop this ship. I don't know about the Strike, but the Shadow seems like it will be very dangerous for us if we let it survive." Athrun sighed, "Okay keep close to and protect those two GINNs." Nicol nodded. Miguel said, "Athrun show us what made you defy orders." Athrun nodded and said, "Right lets end this."

Archangel Hangar:

James sat in his cockpit awaiting orders. Suddenly Roxanne's face appeared on screen. "James you have the MAP pack attached so be careful." She turned red again thinking about what he said earlier. James said, "I will Roxanne. Oh don't look to deep into what I said earlier. I didn't mean anything by it and I wasn't trying to make you blush. I was simply stating a fact." Roxanne nodded and said, "Oh okay I won't then and please call me Roxy." He looked into her green eyes and nodded. The young lady said, "Black your clear for launch." James nodded. "James Black, Shadow Gundam heading into battle." With that the Shadow was launched from the ship. He stopped and began assessing the situation.

Kira was lost in thought when Roxy's face appeared and startled him. "Kira we equipped the Strike with the sword striker pack, which is a lot like the Shadow's Melee pack but you have a beam boomerang as well as the Schwert Gewehr. Where the Shadow has two beam beam boomerangs as well as an antiship sword and two extra beam sabers aside from the two that are standard equipment on it and a rocket anchor to pull it's enemies close to it. Your clear for launch." Kira nodded and said, "Kira Yamato Strike Launching" The Strike was launched off the ship and stopped by the Shadow.

Outside:

James took note of the situation. "Kira you take on the Aegis and that one GINN. I'll take the other two GINNs and the Blitz." Kira nodded and drew his Schwert Gewehr. He took off for the Aegis as James glided into the path of the three charging machines and drew a beam saber and one of his beam boomerangs, holding it like a dagger for now. Nicol sighed and thought, 'Does god hate me or something?' He tightened his grip on his machine's controls and stared at the Shadow. The two heavily armed GINNs kept on target and heading for the Archangel. James grit his teeth and said, "Kira be careful, this is going to get hairy." One of the GINNs fired off two of their large missiles and several smaller one's. James drew his beam rifle after tossing his boomerang at the GINN that fired. It easily dodged and James destroyed one of the larger missiles and the Archangel destroyed all the smaller one's, but had to evade the large one. It struck the central shaft and James grit his teeth and yelled, "Stop it dammit. Your going to destroy this place." He fired several bursts from his beam rifle, then put it away and caught the boomerang he threw earlier. He charged the GINN that just fired and swung his beam saber at it as he dodged a shot from the GINN. The GINN dodged and moved to the side. James grinned as he knew it was going to move that way as he would have done it. James boosted to the side and slashed through the cockpit and the GINN fired of it's remaining payload. The GINN then exploded and James took off after the missile, bu tthe Archangel had already destroyed them. James turned on the last oneas his alarms went off and barely raised his beam boomerang holding it as a dagger and stopped the Blitz's saber from striking him. "Dammit, boy get out of my way." Nicol laughed at that comment and swung again, but this time he had to stop his swing and dodge a kick aimed at his torso. James continued his assault as he swung his beam saber and threw his boomerang point blank. Nicol blocked the saber with his own and barely moved to the side as the boomerang scraped into the armor of his left arm. Nicol growled, "Your good, but not good enough." The Blitz disappeared from sight and backed away. James smirked and started looking around. "Hey boy, I knew about that do you forget I've been watching these machine get built." James suddenly put his saber away and drew his beam rifle. He fired many shots in a spread shot formation to cover where the Blitz could be.

With Kira:

Kira stopped in front of the GINN and looked at his as he took a deep breath. "Why are you doing this," He asked rhetorically. The GINN started firing its rifle at the Strike. Kira easily evaded the shot and fired his igelstellungs at the GINN who evaded. "Athrun get behind him, "Miguel said. Athrun moved the Aegis behind the Strike. Kira sighed and pulled his anit-ship sword out and stared at the GINN. Miguel began to charge at the Strike and pulled his sword out and Kira blocked it as the GINN backed off and charged again. The two kept delivering and parrying each others blows. Kira grit his teeth as the Aegis stayed out of it, but stayed where he was to keep Kira from retreating. He was gaining confidence with every swing. He suddenly pulled out and threw his boomerang at Miguel. Miguel easily dodged it and said, "You missed." The boomerang suddenly came back and took off theGINNs right leg. "What the," Miguel said in shock as the Strike charged and swung his sword at the GINN. Miguel raised his sword to block the attack, his sword snapped in half as the Schwert Gewehr was slowed enough to only dent the GINNs torso. Miguel grit his teeth and said, "I'm not going to lose to you, you natural." He pulled the rifle out as the Strike raised its sword getting ready to strike again. Miguel fired his rifle at the Strike as Kira kept charging remembering earlier that rounds did little to no damage and swung his sword at the cockpit. The GINN was destroyed as it was bisected a mere five inches under the cockpit. Athrun yelled, "Miguel noooooooooo!" The debris from the GINN struck the ground. That was another friend he had just lost. He fired at the Strike and said, "Kira, Kira Yamato is that you?" Kira gasped, "Athrun, Athrun Zala?" Athrun was shocked, "So it is you. Why are you in that machine?"

With James and Nicol:

Nicol grit his teeth and the Blitz reappeared with its shield raised blocking the shots. "The name is Nicol, Nicol Amalfi not boy." James laughed, "Sorry Nicol I meant no offense, I am James Black. I would say its an honor to meet you, but in present circumstances that would be a lie. It is however nice to meet you." Nicol laughed as the older man spoke the truth. "Yeah it would be an honor if it was off the battlefield," he said in agreement. The two charged each other and parried each other's strikes fromtheir beam sabers. Suddenly the other GINN was lanced in half by a shot from the Archangel, but the shot continued and destroyed the central shaft. Mu shouted, "Oh shit. that's not good." Heliopolis began to collapse and the vacuum that was formed pulled the Two machines apart. "Nooooooo," Yelled Nicol in surprise as he was forced away from the Shadow. James grunted as he was forced back into his seat and passed out from the sheer force of being pulled in the opposite direction he was just charging. Athrun and Kira were pulled back away from each other as well. Athrun yelled, "Kiraaaa!" Kira let out a gasp of shock as he was pulled back.

A little while later:

"X 10...ke...GAT...Dow...co..in.."Natarle said trying to reach both pilots. Kira shook his head and boosted slowly towards the Archangel and said, "Archangel this is the Strike." Natarle let out a sigh of relief and said, "Can you make it back?" Kira nodded and said, "Yes I am on my way." Kira proceeded to make his way to the Archangel. He got three quarters of the way there when he saw a flashing light. He went towards it and noticed a damaged lifeboat and brought it to the ship and said, "Archangel open up. I have a damaged lifeboat, im bringing it on. Natarle said, "What? Who gave you permission to do that." Kira was shocked, "What I am not going to leave it here. The people on board won't make it unless I do." Natarle went to retort and Murrue said, "Enough, bring it on. We don't have any time to waste. Continue trying to reach the Shadow." Kira brought it on board.

He parked the Strike in it's cradle. Then the crew opened the hatch to the lifeboat and outcame a red haired blue eyed girl in a pink dressed. "Kira your here? Where are we?" She looked around and said, "Are we on a ZAFT ship?" Kira said, "No this is an Earth Forces vessel and the Mobile Suit belongs to the Earth Alliance as well. Oh Sai is here too." Flay nodded and said, "He is? Can we go see him?" Kira nodded and led her off towards the quarters.

A/N: I know this is a little shorter but I was struck by an idea and decided to end it here so I can pick up the next chapter there. Mwahahahahahaha... cough... hackneed to work on my evil laugh. So what happened to the Shadow? Why hasn't it returned to the ship? Find out next time... Maybe.

I hope you liked the battle scenes and please review.