-1Chapter 6- the Rendezvous

A couple of days later, The GekkoState landed in Tresor to meet up with Jurgens to figure out a battle plan for the upcoming war. Dominic and Anemone were on board the ship also since they got called back due to the upcoming conflict. They stood in the back of the room with Renton and Eureka as the meeting started between Holland, Talho, and Jurgens.

"So, do we know what kind of forces we're fighting up against?" asked Holland.

"From what intelligence is telling us, we're looking at about 160,000 men on their side and slowly growing somewhat. We have about 180,000 right on our side and holding steady. It's still going to be one hell of an uphill battle though no matter how we look at it."

"I see." said Holland. "Do we know what kind of LFO's they're using?"

"Well," said Jurgens, "they have about 80,000 troops on LFO's. The units are the same but totally updated and harder to fight.. They are all like that except for five of them."

"All but five?" said Talho.

"Yes." said Jurgens. "There are five that are more advanced than anything we've ever seen before."

"Who pilots these units?" asked Holland.

"Do you remember those five little brats that I tried to take in after Dewey had them?"

"Yeah why?"

"Well, they defected over to the rebel side and they have been training on those five LFO's."

"Are they even capable of handling something like that?" asked Talho.

"They are now." Jurgens replied. "But they're not being trained for actual battle even though they are very capable of it."

"What are they being trained for then?" Replied Talho.

"To destroy all remaining scab corals and any coralian life forms."

"Does that mean what I think you're saying?" asked Holland..

"Yes." said Jurgens. "They're planning on going back to the Tension mountain range and finish what Dewey started once and for all.."

"Destroying another command cluster. Dammit just when I thought we were done with this whole thing." said Talho.

"At least this time Eureka won't be affected physically by it." Holland Replied.

"It's the emotional and mental effects that I'm worried about." said Talho.

"I'll be fine, don't worry." Eureka replied all of a sudden. "As long as I have Renton by my side, we can make it through anything."

"I hope so." said Holland. "We just worry about you after the last incident like this that's all."

"I understand." she replied. As they continued on with the meeting, Eureka suddenly got a weird feeling in her stomach, like something she ate that morning didn't agree with her. It was strange to her since she had never felt like this before. As Anemone stood next to her, she noticed a weird look on Eureka's face like something wasn't right, like she wasn't feeling well at all. For a moment she looked almost pale.

"You ok Eureka? You don't look well."

"I don't know Anemone." Eureka replied. "I just don't feel too good all of a sudden."

"Do you need me to take you to the bathroom at all?"

"That may be a good idea Anemone." Eureka replied. After she said that, Anemone led her out the door in a hurry to the bathroom.

"What's wrong with her?" asked Dominic.

"I don't know." Renton replied. "She was fine earlier this morning."

"Well I hope she's alright." said Dominic.

"Me too." Renton replied. "I need her to be well in order to help pilot the Nirvash."

"Yeah I understand that." Dominic replied. "If I remember correctly, it won't operate with just one pilot."

"That's right." said Renton. "It takes two to pilot it." It was then that Eureka and Anemone walked back into the room..

"Eureka, dear, are you ok?" asked Renton.

"Yeah I'm fine." she replied. "I think breakfast this morning didn't agree with me, that's all."

"Ok, if you say so." Renton replied. "But we'll keep an eye on you just to make sure ok?"

"Alright, that's fine." she replied softly. His response put a smile on her face knowing that Renton was trying to take care of her. They then stood there and watched as the meeting came to an end.

"So, do we know all the locations of their bases then?" Holland asked.

"About 80 percent of them." Jurgens replied. "They have some that are hidden that we are trying to locate. That's where Anemone and Dominic come in to play. Those two are the ones you should thank for getting all this info."

"It was nothing." said Dominic.

"Just part of the job." Anemone Replied.

"Thanks you two we owe you one." said Talho. Dominic and Anemone then nodded their heads yes in reply.

"So do we make the first move or do we wait for them?" asked Holland..

"We wait." replied Jurgens. "We don't make a move unless they do."

"Understood." said Talho. "At least we know where we stand."

"Yeah I guess." replied Holland. "All we can do now is sit still until something happens. Talho, I want you to put the crew on full alert mode and to have them get prepared for anything that happens."

"Roger that." Talho replied.

"Renton, Eureka, I want you two to stay on the Gekko and stay rested. You'll need all the rest you can get with all that's going to happen."

"Understood." Renton replied.

"Alright, lets get back to the Gekko and get ready to go." said Holland. "Jurgens, until we meet again."

"It won't be long enough." Jurgens replied jokingly. The Gekko crew then left the Izumo and boarded back onto their ship.

The next few days were real tense and long as the crew prepared for the upcoming battles. As all of this was going on, Renton got more and more worried about Eureka, who didn't seem to be getting any better since the meeting on the Izumo.. He tried everything he could to help her, but nothing seemed to work. He even tried to convince her to see Mischa because even the kids got worried about her, but she for some reason kept refusing. Renton finally had to give up and went to Talho for help.

"Talho, can we talk for a minute?" Renton asked nervously.

"Sure Renton." she replied. "Is everything ok?"

"Not really." said Renton.

"What's wrong?"

"It's Eureka." he replied. "She's been getting sicker and sicker since we left the Izumo and I've tried everything to help her and nothing has worked."

"Have you tried Mischa?"

"Yeah I tried that route, but she keeps refusing. So I thought maybe you could try talking to her, since she won't listen to me."

"Sure Renton. Thanks for letting me know. I'll go talk to her right now."

"Thanks Talho."

"No problem Renton, anytime. Where is she now?"

"In our room laying down, but she is awake."

"Alright, I'm on my way then." She then went from the cockpit of the ship and headed towards Renton and Eureka's Quarters.

When she arrived, Eureka was right where Renton said she would be. The poor girl looked pale and tired as she lay there on the bed. Talho could tell almost right away that she needed Mischa's care.

"Eureka, dear, can we talk?" said Talho.

"Sure." Eureka replied. She then slowly sat up on their bed. She had a worried look on her face because she knew what was going on.

"Eureka, your husband and kids are worried sick about you. Renton mentioned to me that you haven't been getting any better since the meeting on the Izumo. Why won't you go see Mischa?"

"Well, I just thought it would pass that's all." Eureka replied.

"But it hasn't, has it?" asked Talho.

"No, I'm afraid not."

"Well then Eureka, I'm not only giving you this order as co-captain of this ship, but as your mother as well. Go see Mischa right now. I'll page her now and let her know that you're on your way."

"Ok, Talho." Eureka replied. She didn't like the idea of seeing Mischa since that would mean more prodding and poking from all the tests she would run, but she couldn't argue against Talho. She then got up slowly and headed towards Mischa's office. When she got there, she noticed Mischa sitting there waiting for her.

"Welcome in dear. Have a seat on the examining table. We'll do a few basic tests to make sure it's nothing serious. Talho already gave me the details and I'm hoping it's only a minor flu bug. If it isn't, I'm going to run a few other tests on you, ok?"

"Ok." Eureka replied softly.

A little while after Mischa got done running her tests, she said "Well, I'm not getting anything definite right now, but I want you to try this flu medication to start. If you don't feel any different in the next two days, I want you to come see me right away ok?"

"That's fine." Eureka replied.

"Alright then, go get some rest and I'll see you in a couple of days, alright?"

"Ok." Eureka replied and she left the room. A couple of days later, Eureka went back to Mischa's office as she was told, still not really feeling that well at all let alone any better.

"Are you feeling any better at all?" asked Mischa.

"No." she replied. "It's just as bad as it was before."

"Strange." Mischa replied. "Just to be curious, when are your symptoms usually the worst?"

"In the mornings." Eureka replied.

"In the mornings?" Mischa replied. Eureka nodded her head yes in reply. "But when did you and Renton….?" Mischa stopped there as her eye's went wide.

"About a week ago." Eureka said. "Me and Renton have been married a little over a month and…." Mischa stopped her there.

"You don't have to explain it to me Eureka, I've been married before. But I'm going to run one more final test on you. If it comes out like I think it is, you and Renton are going to be in for one of the biggest surprises of your lives.