PHASE 07

BEST LAID PLANS

"I will be the first to admit the destruction of a Laurasia class cruiser is impressive," Admiral Sutherland sighed as he pinched the bridge of his nose on the comm. screen, "But if memory serves their orders were to disable the Archangel, not drive it away. These Extendeds are proving to be more trouble then their worth."

"I take it then neither you or the patrol fleets within the Belt were unable to locate our carrier?" Azrael clasped his hands behind his back as he looked out over the stars beyond the think paned window. "Perhaps you're right. It might have been better to have waited a few months to see how this next batch will turn out. Mind you," he turned to glance at the computer slyly, "If we'd never lost the Archangel or her prototypes in the first place, we might not have had to rush into all this."

"You can't blame me for something that was out of my hands!" Sutherland scowled darkly, "If it had been up to me we'd have constructed all machines here on Earth instead of contracting Orb to build the initial prototypes…"

"Well, what's past is past," the blond held up his hands in resignation, "Besides, we've completed the upgrades to the other three models and added the updates Mr. Guele…suggested we install into the OS, and the carrier will be underway shortly. I want you to bring the Extendeds back to Earth. If I'm right, we might be able to pincer the ship between us."

"Are you so sure they'll head for Earth? I still believe they might be trying to make a push towards the PLANTs…"

"Well that's the difference between you and me Admiral," Muruta smirked as he watched his new vessel slowly fly out of the blue world's shadow, "When it comes to Coordinators, I can read them like an open book!"

From space, the Earth looked more majestic then she could have ever imagined; a blue and green orb hanging in the black and starry void, clouds of white and grey staining its atmosphere to give it an almost weathered look, the lights of cities on her home's night side giving the planet two shades of beauty.

It was almost as though, for a moment, she could imagine the war was non-existent.

"Star gazing are we, Mudie?"

Sixteen year old Mudie Holcroft glanced back into the darkness of the observation deck as her fellow pilots emerged from the gloom.

"I was just admiring the Earth," she returned her gaze to the planet below, "It looks so…blue and pure from up here. It's almost like it isn't even tainted."

"But that's what we're here for right?" Shams Couza smirked as pushed his tinted glasses up his nose, "For the preservation of our blue and pure world? All we have to do is keep fighting, and with those new toys we've got down in the hanger, we'll be on even terms with the Coordinators. What do you think Sven?"

"I think you shouldn't be so cocky," the African-American eyed Sven Cal Payang with mild amusement as the grey-haired pilot folded his arms across his chest, "There's a big difference between simulation and actual combat. We're lucky Mr. Azrael chose us to become the new pilots. If we want to remain in good fortune, we should live up to his expectations…"

"Or get Mudie to sleep with him, that'll work too!" Shams laughed until his glasses were jarred from his face in the wake of a hard smack to the back of the head, "Hey!" she scowled at the scowling girl, "What was that for?"

Mudie continued to glare until he visibly winced, "I don't go for old geezers."

"Orb?" Mu La Flaga cocked an eyebrow at Commander Michaels through the Brig's bars as he lent against the opposite bulkhead, "Kind of a roundabout way of thinking you've got there Miss. You really think Orb is going to let you just waltz into their territory in a warship they helped build and get away with it?"

"They will when we inform them of the refugees we have on board," Sara smiled tightly at the pilot, "I don't doubt that the footage we have of the destruction of Heliopolis might be…persuasive," she paused, again taking a certain grim satisfaction at the uncomfortable air that suddenly fell across the Brig before continuing, "Orb values her citizens above all else, that's why they're neutral, and why we're banking on it when we reach orbit. As…payment for their safe passage, we'll request temporary asylum from the Earth Forces, and maybe some supplies at a stretch…"

"And you're telling us all this…" Natarle Badgiruel glanced at the white coat out of the corner of her eye from the bed, "Why?"

"Common courtesy," Sara smirked, "Even a gravity block doesn't create a perfect gee. It's my hope that we'll be on Earth before long. I just wanted to make sure you realised what the sudden change in gravity was."

"You seem very sure everything is going to go smoothly," Murrue Ramius frowned, "If you don't mind my asking…what are you going to do if Orb decides to attack you rather then help you?"

"ZAFT intel. indicates that Orb's space fleet, small as it is, is comprised of aging vessels from that both ZAFT and the Alliance no longer needed," Michaels smiled again, "You of all people should know this ship can hold more then its own against a Laurasia or a Nelson class…"

I cocked my head to one side as Sarah's jaw dropped to the vicinity of her ankles, "I don't know about you…but those don't really look like Laurasias…or Nelsons…"

Through the main window of the Bridge, two ships, both dwarfed by the larger Archangel at only two hundred and ninety metres apiece, slowly approached almost as though they outnumber us a hundred to one. Cast in metallic grey with sea green highlights, each ship seemed to be primarily built around a central catapult; mounted between long triangular protrusions above and below it that housed the large twin turrets that were currently deploying, gently sloping up to the all too familiar Bridge tower set between the large pillars that housed the massive engines and…

"Lohengrin," Canestro frowned as he indicated to the shallow sloped pillars, "Gottfried for main weaponry, and Igelstellungs for anti-air fire."

Dearka cocked an eyebrow at the engineer, "You can see all that from back here?"

"Enhanced eyesight," the green haired man tapped the side of his head with a smirk, "Always a crack shot back at the Academy. My instructor almost burst into tears when I told him I wanted to be an engineer…"

"So, once again, Intel. dropped the ball," Yzak sighed as he shook his head in disbelief, "If they start bleeding mobile suits across orbit, I think I'm going to have to shoot someone when we get back to the PLANTs."

"Yeah, but is this a case of Archangel being based on an Orb ship, or an Orb ship being based on stolen plans of the Archangel?" Sara frowned as she rubbed her chin thoughtfully, "Either way, We're still the bigger ship. If needs be we can outrun them…"

"You know…this might actually account for why Orb sided with the Earth Alliance," Athrun spoke up quietly as he folded his arms across his chest, "If they appeared to side with the Earth Forces to build these machines…they could steal the plans and build their own…"

"But that doesn't make any sense," I shook my head, "We're allies with the Orb Union. We accept their neutrality. If we sell them our old ships, surely they'd accept a few old mobile suits…"

"But that's just it," Athrun's face became grave, "they obviously don't want old suits and ships. They want new ones. And in order to stay true to their neutrality, they don't want to buy new ones…even if we'd let them have them…"

"They want to build their own," Sara's eyes widened, "Orb's population is still mainly comprised of Naturals. If the Alliance managed to build a suit that could be piloted by Naturals, it would serve as a greater advantage to Orb then it would be if they aided ZAFT in building new mobile suits and stealing our plans…"

"It still doesn't excuse them of what they did!" Yzak scowled darkly, "They betrayed our trust and broke our treaty with them. Remember that!"

A brief silence followed, before the console before Mira beeped in warning.

"I have the lead ship on the line Captain."

"Let's see it."

The screen above the main window flickered, before the imagine of a Orb Captain, middle aged with greying hair and a stern face, formed from amid the static.

"This is Captain Kazuya Todoka of the Orb Union warship Tsukyomi. You have entered Earth orbit over the Orb territories. Identify yourselves."

"I am Commander Sara Michaels," our Captain stepped forward as best she could in the zero gravity giving the Captain Todoka a formal salute, "Head of the Michaels Team, joint leader of the 603rd Technical Evaluation Unit and acting Captain of the captured Earth Alliance warship Archangel. We are currently on the run from the Earth Alliance Forces, and we request asylum."

The Captain frowned on the screen, his hands flexing uneasily on his Chair's armrests.

"I'm sorry Commander, but Orb cannot be allowed to take a side in this war. If we grant you asylum, the Earth Forces may take this as a sign we are siding with ZAFT, especially if, as you say, your vessel is one of their own vessels. You request for asylum is denied. Please alter your trajectory away from Orb territory…"

"I know the Union is still clinging to its neutrality in this conflict, but please listen to me," Sara slowly rose from her chair, "We are carrying refugees from the Orb colony of Heliopolis that we rescued from a malfunctioning lifeboat, as well as information pertaining to the cylinder's destruction. If you will not let us through as soldiers of ZAFT, then will you at least let us through as a refugee ship?"

Todoka frowned again, before settling back into his chair.

"I will contact my superiors to see what is the proper course of action here. You must understand however that I cannot just take your word that you are carrying survivors from Heliopolis. If we do let you through, we must be provided with proof first. Please remain here until I have contacted my superiors. Tsukyomi out."

"Well," I smiled wryly at our Commander, "That could have gone worse. At least they're not shooting at us."

"Actually, I was sort of hoping they would just let us in," Sara slumped back into the Command Chair, running a hand over her flame red hair, "I can see where he's coming from…but I just wish we didn't have all this red tape to contend with. Ah well. Westfield," she glanced at me through her long fingers, "Go down below and fetch a couple of refugees from the group, preferably someone as high up on the governmental food chain as we can get. With any luck, that will be all the proof Orb needs, so we can get these people home."

"Don't think we have much of a selection, but I'll certainly ask," I sighed with a weary smirk as I headed towards the elevator, "I have to agree though; just once I'd like things to be simple on this damn voyage."

"…With things as they are, the word of a ZAFT Commander is understandably not enough to prove we are carrying refugees," I sighed as I cast my green eyes across the assembled crowd of civilians before me for the second time in under a week, "In addition, sending over a list of names isn't proof you're actually aboard. I am therefore asking for two people to come with me to the Bridge for identification. Are there any persons aboard who were attached to Heliopolis Government? Maybe even a secretary or anything like that…?"

"Our shelter was located in the Shopping District son," an elderly man near the back of the common area smiled pityingly, "Don't think those Government types spend a lot of time with us underlings…"
I frowned uneasily as I the old man drifted off, his point made clear. To be truthful, any of the people before me would have been fine. A Government official might have made things progress more quickly however.

"My Daddy works for Mow-gan-rat!"

"Hush Elle!"

I blinked in surprise as the voice of a familiar little girl rose up out of the quiet, her mother, clearly embarrassed, keeping her eyes trained on the floor while Elle waved energetically.

"You husband works for Morgenroete?"

"Back in the Homeland, yes," Elle's mother shifted uncomfortably under my gaze, "I'm sorry, I didn't want to say anything about it. This ship, and your mobile suits…it's clear they were made by Morgenroete. I…I didn't want to say anything in case you thought he was a part of the Alliance's project."

"I see," I frowned uneasily, "Well…I don't think it will be much of a problem. We found you with the other survivors of the lifeboat, and we can't really hold you accountable for anything your husband does as a profession," I turned back to the crowd, "Is there anyone else willing to submit their Ids for identification? At this point anyone will do…"

It was then that I faded off as a hushed whisper of a familiar voice met my ears.

"Kira…what about those calculations from the Professor? Didn't Sai say they were from Morgenroete?"

"Miriallia Shh!"

"Morgenroete?" the brown haired teen froze as I turned to face him, my tone dangerous, "You…you're working for Morgenroete?"

"What? No!" Kira shook his head violently, "Professor Kana, he…it was just an analysis program for improving a Frame Setup Module we were working on…"

"Was Professor Kana working for Morgenroete?"

"S-sometimes…"

"These calculations and the analysis program, did you incorporate them into the Strike Gundam's OS when you reprogrammed it?"

He definitely flinched.

"…Yes…but I didn't realise what the calculations were until I incorporated them into the Operating System of the Gundam."

"You've lied to us…to Zala…once before. How do I know you're telling the truth now?"

"I didn't lie to Athrun…"

"You said you knew nothing about the Gundams!"

"I didn't know anything about the Gundams!" Kira glared angrily, "They were just simple calculations. They could have been for a dozen different machines…"

"And yet you figured out you could use those calculations to reprogram the OS?" I glowered angrily as I faced him down, "You should shut your trap quickly Yamato, your story's becoming more and more unbelievable by the second."

"I. didn't. know. Anything," each word was forced and harsh, "I didn't mention it to Athrun because I didn't think it was important,"

"Well, you thought wrong," I scowled darkly, "But right now Archangel is looking down four Gottfrieds separated between two Orb warships, so now really isn't the time to be arguing about this," I grabbed him roughly by the shoulder, "You'll do. Let's get this over with."

Never in my life had an elevator felt so small and constricting.

I wanted to pace. To vent my frustrations somehow. But all I could do was stand still in the three-man car; Elle and her mother on my left, and an uneasy Kira on my right, his hands clenching and unclenching in an effort to stay calm.

I wasn't irritated because Kira had lied to us. Right now, I wouldn't be surprised if we actually knew more about the Gundams then him, his friends and the Earth Alliance soldiers we had held down in the Brig put together. I just…felt betrayed. All five of the students had said they knew nothing of the Earth Force's G-Project. But if Kira had lied about the calculations, what if the others had lied about how much they had known?

After a moment's thought, I came to the conclusion I had been around Sara for far too long.

"Mr. Westfield? Are you okay?"

I glanced at Elle, currently held in her mother's arms, quietly out of the corner of my eye, before returning my gaze to the metal doors before me.

I calmed myself. Entering into a situation in the wrong mood was a dangerous move, and right now being angry definitely wasn't the right state mind right now. There was no point in worrying about the past. What happened, happened. I had little doubt in my mind that we now knew ever nut and bolt of the five Gundams in our procession and the carrier we called home. If Kira, Miriallia or any of their friends knew anything about the G-Project, chances were we knew more about it and then some.

So lost was I in these thoughts however, that I didn't notice a small hand bridge the gap between us until it quietly graced my cheek. Turning to regard the hand's owner in surprise, Elle smiled sweetly as she rubbed her small fingers against my pale skin.

"Mommy always tells me a warm touch is good for easing the tensions of the soul," the child cocked her head to one side, "Do you think it's true, Mr. Westfield?"

For a moment, I didn't reply. I stared at Elle, admiring the wonder of childhood innocence, and taking note of the small apologetic smile that graced her mother's features.

After a moment more, I allowed a small private smile myself, one of my larger hands coming up to hold her smaller one in my palm.

"Thank you, Miss Elle."

The little girl merely nodded as she removed her hand and settled back into her mother's arms, just in time for the elevator doors to open onto Archangel's Bridge, and the middle of a conversation.

"…A register doesn't prove you have refugees aboard," Captain Todoka frowned, "I must admit, I'm a little disappointed if you think we're so naive…

"Captain, I am both very tired and under a whole lot of stress at the moment," Sara scowled as I pushed off into the zero gravity, my companions not far behind, "I have a skeleton crew and Earth Alliance has been chasing our tails since we left Heliopolis. You can't blame me for wanting to just get this mission over with as soon…"

"Now isn't the time however to go into such debates," all eyes suddenly turned to me as I floated down to the Bridge's middle tier, Sara sending me a dirty look as I once again interrupted her, "Captain Todoka, as requested I have brought proof that Archangel is carrying refugees of Heliopolis,"

"As expected, my Superiors have requested proof. Chief Representative Athha has even taken special interest in these events," Todaka's eyes travelled to the small group of civilians behind me, "Are they the refugees?"

"Two of them yes," I held out a hand behind me, "This is Karen Bidan and her daughter Elle, as well as Kira Yamato," I paused, my eyes flitted towards Athrun, "Mrs. Bidan's husband is a shipbuilder for Morgenroete in the Orb Homeland. Mr. Yamato…is a technical student from Heliopolis," I ignored the bewildered stare Kira tried to burn into the back of my skull as I turned back to the screen, "They are willing to submit their Ids for identification. We'll send you the complete list if we haven't already, but for now this should at least allow us to remain in orbit."

"Right now, all I see is three human beings in civilian clothing," Todoka smirked slightly, "But I won't hold that against them. Transfer their data across to the Tsukyomi. I will forward it to my superiors. In the meantime, your request for orbit over Orb territory is granted. I'll let you know of the Council's decision as soon as possible. It might only be a few minutes. Tsukyomi out."

For a moment, a stunned silence fell over the Bridge as the channel terminated, several pairs of eyes falling on me as I cast my own to the metal deck.

Finally, Sara broke the silence.

"Mira…Take Yamato and the Bidans' ID data and send it to the Tsukyomi. Quickly, before Westfield takes my whitecoat off me."

"Yes…Yes Ma'am."

Kira Yamato.

His face stared up from the portable computer screen, calm blue eyes that seemed to stare almost accusingly at the elder man that read his details.

To Uzumi Nara Athha, the teen's image served only as a reminder of how much time had passed.

"Their Identification cards match up to three of the missing persons from the Heliopolis list," his younger brother Homura ran a hand across his face and through his short blown back hair, "In addition, Yamato's data indicates he had access to Morgenroete's facilities on the colony, as well as loose ties to the Earth Forces' G-Project through his Professor," he glanced at the Chief Representative, "Speaking of which. Say we approve their plea of asylum. Are we just going to let the sail away with the Archangel and the G-weapons in hand?"

"Would you rather we held them against their will?" Uzumi chuckled darkly as the other council members shared uneasy glances, "Orb will not attack another nation, will not allow another nation to attack them, and will not intervene in the conflicts of other nations. Archangel and the G-weapons currently belong to ZAFT. Even though we helped build them, is it really worth risking war with the PLANTs over one ship and five mobile suits? Holding the crew as prisoners might also appear as though we have officially sided with Earth Alliance. We've been lucky so far in that ZAFT has chosen not to use the evidence they gathered at Heliopolis as a reason to invade. We shouldn't push that luck to breaking point. Have the Archangel send the list of all Heliopolis colonists aboard to the Tsukyomi. Once we've verified whose on board, we'll begin preparations to bring her down to the surface. After that," Athha glanced at Kira's picture again, "Well…perhaps we can turn this event to our advantage."

The trip back to the refugee area was as silent as the trip to the Bridge. The quiet however seemed more…comfortable; Elle was nodding off quietly against her mother's shoulder while Kira kept his head bowed in thought as we made our way through the gravity block.

"How long do you think it will be before they let us land?" Karen Bidan finally spoke up.

"We have around two dozen survivors aboard, maybe more, and they want a list of them," I smiled gently over my shoulder as we approached the entrance to the refugee area, "It shouldn't take more then an hour or so. Because we've logged you, Elle and Yamato into the system, you'll be at the top of the list, so you won't have to wait in line," I turned to the face them at the entrance, "Thank you for your assistance," I reached out tentatively to pat the sleepy Elle's head fondly, "Both of you."

The small girl smiled hazily before smuggling deeper into her mother's shoulder, Karen merely nodding with a kind smile of her own as she moved off into the area.

"Mr. Westfield."

I turned towards Kira with a cocked eyebrow, confusion rising in my mind as I took in the conflicted look that crossed his face.

"You…you didn't mention…that is…me and Morgenroete…" he shifted uneasily under my gaze, "I just thought you might have mentioned it, so I was wondering…"

"I didn't want to upset Elle," If frowned as Kira looked up in surprise, "If I'd said anything in front of Commander Michaels, I have no doubt she would have blown up in my face about it. Besides, both myself, Nichol and Athrun all attested to the fact you and your friends knew nothing. The last thing I need right now is to have mine and their integrity to be put into question. Be glad I didn't mention it Mr. Yamato; chances would be Sara would throw you back into private quarters if she found out, the fact we probably know everything about the Gundams be damned."

The brown haired Coordinator frowned for a moment, before nodding slowly, stopping only to mutter a short "Thank you," as he followed Elle and her mother into the Refugee Area to where his friends awaited.

Along with Miriallia…

For a moment, I watched as she exclaimed her surprise with her companions at Kira's sudden return, their voices muted by distance and the sounds of general chatter from their fellow refugees.

Clearly they had thought their friend in a while heap of trouble, my outburst upon leaving no doubt fuelling such thoughts.

I sighed as I returned to the elevator. It didn't really matter if Kira had been working for Morgenroete, not now. Our engineers and technicians knew every nut bolt and wire of the Archangel and her mobile suits inside and out. The last thing I really wanted was Sara to go on a witch hunt for information we no doubt probably knew already.

"Let me through!"

"Now look, you know you're not allowed beyond this point Miss…"

"I don't care! He's just down the corridor. Call him back…"

I pushed the call button as Miriallia's voice carried through the gravity block. Perhaps Kira hadn't explained what I'd said to him as well as he should have. I felt my shoulders sag as I heard her arguing with the guard.

The adrenaline from before had all but evaporated. I felt completely drained, exhausted even.

…

What was taking this damn elevator so long?

"Marcus!"

"Hey wait!"

The doors groaned apart as I ignored the scuffle behind me, my feet taking me into the confined space beyond before they had even fully opened. I was feeling tired and every joint seemed to ache. I just wanted to flop on my bed and…

"Marcus!"

It was the sound of her voice, now louder and accompanied by the sound of running feet, made me turn round in curiosity…just in time to feel something warm and soft slam into me.

Sheer momentum caused the two of us to trip over our feet and into the open car, air forced from my lungs as I crashed into the rear wall, a flurry of orange appearing to bounce off me and into the control panel on the lift's side.

"Hey! Stop that el…"

I vaguely remember hearing the shout of the greencoat as the doors hissed closed, the elevator humming to life and moving off as I slid to the ground trying desperately to return the air to my lungs.

"…Ow…"

"Are you alright?"

I glanced blearily through watery eyes as the blurry form of Miriallia quickly came back into focus, a weak smile playing across her lips as she lent heavily against the side of the car.

"Oh yes," I pulled myself gingerly to my feet, steadying myself against the rail, "Peachy. Tell me, what was so important that you felt the need to try and plough me through a bulkhead?"

She blinked in surprise as I smiled wryly through hazy wheezing, before turning her dark blue eyes to her shoes.

"I just…" she fidgeted with the edge of her sleeve, "I just wanted to say…I'm sorry. I'm sorry for putting you in a spot like that. I wasn't thinking I…"

She trailed off lamely as she averted her eyes, letting the hum of the elevator become the only sound.

I stared at her quietly, slowly digesting what little she'd said and mentally making sure I'd heard her right.

Then…I laughed.

Muffled at first, my shoulders shaking as I tried to stifle it, before I gave into temptation and laughed aloud. I couldn't help it and the indignant look she gave me only made me laugh harder.

"What's so funny?"

"You…you…" my sides hurt from a combination of my laughter and the winding I had endured not moments ago, "You argued with the guard, broke out of the refugee area and ran me over…just to tell me you're sorry?" I tried and failed to smother my mouth down to a bare chuckle, "It couldn't have waited until my next visit? You…you don't think it's just a tad ridiculous?"

She scowled slightly as the laughter escaped my mouth again, before a small private smirk graced her features. Soon her own giggles mixed with mine and for a moment I felt like everything had changed. For a moment we weren't ZAFT redcoat Marcus Westfield and ORB refugee Miriallia Haw. There was no war within the confinement of the elevator car as it travelled to who knew where. For that briefest of moments, it didn't even matter that we were Coordinators and Naturals. We were just two teenagers, laughing at something we both perceived to be utterly random for no reason whatsoever.

It felt…normal.

Normal…the very thought caused something to catch in my throat, my amusement fading away moments later. When had I considered my work be abnormal? I was a ZAFT redcoat, an evaluation engineer and mobile suit pilot. There were many soldiers just like me, especially since Junius Seven. It was a profession just like any other, like a garage mechanic or a newsagent…

…

No, being a soldier wasn't a regular profession. A newsagent doesn't go out and kill his rivals unless he's completely lost it, neither does a garage mechanic maintain machine guns and mobile suits unless he's a civilian contractor. A soldiers' work is unlike any other. We only exist because there are others like us working of the enemy. We all kill in different ways, and not always with guns and knifes. A technician that maintains a GINN's assault rifle assists in every death that is caused by pulling its trigger. A General could potentially be held accountable for the deaths caused by his orders. How many casualties had been caused by the Technical Evaluation Units and their Evaluation Engineers with every advancement we had approved?

…

To take lives with guns and steel…it just wasn't natural, let alone normal.

"Hey, you okay?"

I was jerked roughly from my thoughts as I felt Miriallia's hand gently grab my shoulder, my green eyes slowly travelling up the connecting arm to lock with her bright blue orbs.

I smiled gently, albeit half heartedly.

"I'm fine. Sorry, I just spaced out for a moment there."

She frowned, her head cocked slightly to one side, before sighing with a shrug as the elevator moved out of the gravity block.

"That guard's going to be pretty mad when I get back," she let herself drift away from me in the diminishing gravity, "Why didn't you come back when I called you?"

"I was tired," I shrugged, my mind still reeling from recent ugly thoughts, "I'm sorry. I have a lot on my mind right now."

"It's fine…I guess," Miriallia smiled slightly, "It must be hard for you; on the run from the Earth Forces, protecting this ship…I can't imagine the stress you all must have been under,"

"Well, it'll be over soon," I smiled wearily, "Once we've sent the our list of refugees to Orb, I'm sure it'll be smooth sailing from there…"

And then, as though to prove me wrong…the lights flickered and dimmed as the Archangel shuddered from the first volley of enemy fire.

"What the Hell was that?" Sara staggered onto the Bridge as Archangel listed violently from it's recent assault, "Status report people!"

"Minor damage to starboard engines," Valdo, a greencoat seated at Fire Control, responded as she pushed off down to the Command Chair, "it was just a glancing shot, nothing major."

"It can't of come from the Orb ships then," the redhead scowled at the vessels above and below her ship, "There's no way they'd miss at this range,"

"Shots came from higher plane of orbit," Ryan glanced up from the CIC pit, "We have visual…looks like a fleet…an entire battle fleet!"

"Let me see it," Sara gripped the armrests tightly as she braced herself, "Maximum magnification. Let me see it!"

As the screen above the main window changed, something caught in her throat.

Drakes and Nelsons dominated the screen. At least two dozen of each vessel cruised steadily towards them, the hundreds of tiny Moebius mobile armours flying in tight formation around them giving the Commander a clear indication of what lay ahead. But what really made her heart clench was the vessel that led this fleet towards the Archangel; a double hulled vessel of black and grey, so familiar to her it was as though she was staring into a darkened mirror.

"No…No, no, no…"

"Attention Archangel, this is Admiral Lewis Halberton; Commander of the 8th Fleet and captain of the Earth Forces Carrier Dominion. Surrender peacefully and move away from the Orb vessels. If you attempt to escape you will be destroyed. This is your only warning. What is your reply?"

Sara's throat were dry as the stranger's voice seemed to echo around the Bridge, her knuckles white as her fingers remained clenched around the armrests. As she pulled the phone from the side of her chair however, her voice was strong and resolute, her eyes narrowed and hardened as she addressed her ship:

"All hands: Condition Red. Pilots to your mobile suits, double time!"

I'll admit this isn't one of the best chapters. It's really just setting the scene for the next one, which I feel is one of the best :). It also introduces more key elements, such as the Stargazer trio. I've always felt Stargazer would have made a great full fledged OVA at least. It had a great story that if fleshed out might have been better then both Seed and Destiny combined. They're appearance here will be explained later though, but I can't say much more without spoiling everything.
Long time readers might also notice I took down the KiraxLacus character listings. This is because I was getting a few complaints about the lack of either character, which I can understand. I formally apologise to anyone who was reading in the hopes of seeing this pairing.

Reviews and/or feedback is always appreciated. I hope your enjoying the story so far.

Dearing