Yo everybody. I'm back. First off, I wish to say to all my fans to check out Maileesaeya's story 'Mobile Suit Gundam SEED: The Myriad'. It's a rehash of my story with new characters. Maileesaeya used my first couple of chapters as the bulk of the first couple of chapters, but will go in directions different from mine. So if you like mine, check out Maileesaeya's.

"You guys aren't getting Orb without a fight!" Elizabeth Dante
Mobile Suit Serial Number: MBF-MX1 'Athena'
Unit Type: Prototype limited production general propose mobile suit
Powerplant: Ultracompact energy battery
Special Equipment: Phase Shift Armor, Striker Pack Hardpoints
Fixed Armaments: 2x "Igelstellung" 75mm multi-barrel CIWS, mounted in head, 2x 'Armor Schneider' combat knives, stored in hips\
Palace Striker Armaments: 2x anti-armor swords, stored on the back, 1x Type 71 beam rifle, 1x 'Guardian' shield weapon system with 50mm beam rifle, mounted on the left arm
Pilot: Elizabeth Dante
Color: Dark purple head, torso, shoulders, forearms and shins. White biceps, thighs. Gold trim, head crest spikes and V crest.
Info: A prototype for a limited production variant of the M1 Astray. Intended to serve as Orb's equivalent to ZAFT's CGUE mobile suit. A superior machine for aces and commanders. Faster and more maneuverable than the Strike and possess the hardpoints for mount Striker Packs. Though it can mount the original Striker Packs, Morgenroete had begun development on a series of Striker Packers specifically for the Athena. But by the time of the Battle of Orb, only two Packs were finished and combat ready. The close-range Palace Striker and the long range Heavy-Arms Striker.

"Alright. Let's see just what this thing can do!" John Alaric
Mobile Suit Serial Number: MBF-XX105 'Farsight II'
Unit Type: Prototype sniper/stealth mobile suit
Powerplant: Ultracompact energy battery
Special Equipment: Phase Shift Armor, Camo Shift Armor Stealth System, Aile Sniper Striker
Armament: 2x "Igelstellung" 75mm multi-barrel CIWS, mounted in head, 1x 60mm long range beam sniper rifle, 2x beam sabers, stored in the hips, 2x 'Armor Schneider' combat knives, stored in forearms, 1x beam pistol, held in left hand, stored on Aile Sniper Striker
Pilot: John Alaric
Appearance: Another Strike unit. It's Sniper Aile Pack is almost identical to the normal Aile Striker, save that it lacks the beam sabers. Instead, it holds the beam pistol where the left saber was, while the spot where the right one was is replaced with an improved sensor and targeting unit for the rifle. It's sniper rifle is similar to the sniper rifle of the Astray Blue Frame Second G.
Color: Black with white trim. Two white strips running down the arms and legs. A white hawk on the right shoulder.
Info: A variant of the GAT-X105 Strike, designed for sniper/commando operations. The main difference between the two MS, is the Camo Shift Armor Stealth System. The CS system is similar in function to the Mirage Colloid System. But unlike the MC system, this system can be used for as long as there is power for the Phase Shift, but as its name implies, it doesn't provide complete visual invisibility. The system adjusts the color of the Phase Shift to blend in with it's surroundings and makes it invisible to radar and sensors. When the suit is stationary and the system is activated, it's next to impossible to detect unless the enemy is right on top of it. And the defensive power of the Phase Shift Armor System remains active during this time, protecting it. It's an effective system for stealth and sniper units, however, movement does reduce the effectiveness of it as it can't adjust quickly to sudden changes in its surroundings. It's primary weapon is it's powerful beam sniper rifle. But it also comes with a beam pistol for mid range work, a pair beam sabers, stored where the Armor Schneider combat knives were stored in the original Strike, and a pair of Armor Schneider knives stored in the forearms, which can be extended out, functioning as arm blades.

"Wow. They really weren't kidding around when they said that this was more than just a rebuilt Blitz." Nicol Amalfi
Mobile Suit Serial Number: GAT-XX207 'Neo Blitz'
Unit Type: Prototype sniper/stealth mobile suit
Powerplant: Ultracompact energy battery
Special Equipment: Phase Shift Armor, Mirage Colloid, 'Junsai' beam defection system
Armament: 2x "Igelstellung" 75mm multi-barrel CIWS, mounted in head, 1x 'Trikeros II' shield system, mounted on right arm, featuring: 50mm high-energy beam rifle, beam saber, lancer darts, 'Junsai' beam defection system, 1x 'Tsume' pincer claw
Pilot: Nicol Amalfi
Color: Same as the original Blitz
Info: A mobile suit created from the remains of GAT-X207 Blitz. While the Blitz's salvaged right arm was used as part of Orb's Astray Gold Frame, the rest of it's surviving components were used as the base of a new mobile suit, the Neo Blitz. Using the technology obtained from Heliopolis and the wreckage of the Blitz itself, Morgenroete has improved a number of features of the original Blitz. A more powerful battery as well as a more energy efficient Mirage Colloid system. The Gleipnir rocket anchor was replaced with Tsume pincer claw, which features a small shield and powerful pincer claw. Though the Trikeros II doesn't feature any new or different weapons, it possess the Junsai beam defection system. A system, like the Forbidden's Geschmeidig Panzer system, that's based off of the Mirage Colloid system.
Author's Notes: Now, before someone complains about possible power problems, I should point out that the Blitz could use the MC system for a rather long period of time. And it's likely that when he used it at Artemis, he likely spent near a fair amount of time waiting between when he first launched and when he attacked. So the MC system doesn't seem to use a large amount of power.

In addition, the Raven, Buster and Surge have received upgrades from Morgenroete. Though the Raven did receive some specific upgrades, including the ability for it to fly in the atmosphere in mobile suit mode. This was due to the fact that Morgenroete was able to study the Raven during the Archangel's first visit and come up with some improvements for it. Most of these upgrades are mostly internal improvements. The biggest being that their old batteries have been replaced with newer and better batteries.

Phase Twenty-Four: Land of War

The Archangel's Brig

"So. You think we're ever gonna get out of here?" Saul asked.

Nicol shrugged. "Not sure. Actually, I've lost count of how long we've been in here."

"Same here." Saul replied. "What about you Dearka?"

"Hey don't look at me. I haven't been counting days at all."

The door at the end of the hall opened and a girl in an Earth Forces uniform and pushing a cart, entered. Saul glanced through the bars of his cell at the girl. "Uh oh... Dearka, it's that crazy knife girl." he said. "You better hide before she tries to cut you up again."

Miriallia ignored him as she walked to Dearka's cell. She entered the code and opened the cell. "So, questioning or a prison transfer?" Dearka asked.

"Neither." Miri quietly replied, grabbing Dearka's flightsuit from the cart and tossing it at him. "This ship is going into battle again because the Earth Forces are attacking Orb."

The ZAFT pilots were all surprised by this. Why would the Earth Forces attack a neutral nation like Orb? It didn't make any sense. She left his cell and unlocked Saul's and Nicol's cells, and returned their flightsuits. "The Captain said you're all free to go." she added before leaving.

The three ZAFT Red Coats stepped out of their cells, looked at each other for moment, and then rushed out after Miri. "Wait!" Dearka called out. "What did you mean by that?!"

But the girl didn't stop walking, so they followed after her. "Exactly what told you." Miri said.

Nicol shook his head in disbelief. "But that's crazy! Why would they invade Orb?"

"They want Orb's Mass Driver since they've lost Panama. And Orb has refused to join the Earth Alliance." Miri answered. "The Earth Forces will be attacking soon and the Archangel is staying to fight for Orb. When the fighting starts, things are going to get chaotic. So all of you better get off the island while you can."

"But how are we suppose to get off of Orb?" Saul asked.

"That's not my problem. Take one of the boats evacuating the civilians if you want."

"Hey! What about my Buster?" Dearka asked.

"And my Surge?"

"Those were ours to begin with. Morgenroete has them now." Miri answered.

"Aw man... And I liked that machine too. No way I'm going back to a GINN." Saul complained.

But Dearka ignored him. He reached out and grabbed the girl's arm, stopping her. "Are you going to be fighting as well?"

"I better be. I'm in charge of the Archangel's CIC." Miri shot back as she pulled out of his grip. "And besides, Orb is my homeland."

Orb Military Headquarters

An Hour Later

General Samuel Dante walked through the corridors of Orb's Military Headquarters, his mind focused on the battle to come. Lord Uzumi had appointed him in charge of Orb's defense. A task that he couldn't and wouldn't fail. Over the last several days, they had planned and prepared for the incoming invasion. Though in the end, he knew they could never hope to beat the Earth Forces' numbers. Truthfully, deep down, everyone knew they couldn't win. But beating the Alliance wasn't what he sought in this battle. What he sought, was to give the Earth Forces a mauling that they would never forget. They may conquer Orb, but every foot they claimed would cost them greatly. As he entered the command center, everyone inside stopped what they were doing and saluted him. Save for the only non-soldier present, Cagalli. "At ease." he said, returning the salute. "What's the status of our forces?"

"All defense forces are in position and awaiting orders sir." an officer answered.

"The civilian evacuation?"

"Approximately forty-four percent of civilian population has been evacuated sir. Another flotilla of ships will be leaving within the hour, with an additional twenty percent of the population. The rest of the population should be evacuated by dusk sir. Should we move a unit to provide cover for them sir?"

Samuel let out a quiet sigh as he leaned on the edge of the massive display table. Dusk was hours away. A third of Orb's population stuck on the island while a battle raged on... That did not sit well with him. "No. They'll be safer if we keep our units away from the civilian docks. Pass the order to our forces to stay away from the evacuation sites unless they come under attack." Samuel grimly replied, moving from the table. "Patch me through to all of Orb's defense forces."

"Yes sir." one of the comm officers said.

He picked up a headset. "This is General Samuel Dante to all Orb Defense Forces. As you know, an Earth Alliance fleet is approaching Orb. Their goal, to force us to submit to them, one way or another. The Orb government has refused to submit to them and they are coming to conquer Orb." Samuel said to the defenders. "I know many of you are wondering why we shouldn't just submit to the Earth Alliance and save ourselves from the approaching storm. But if we sided with the Earth Forces, than it would only be a matter of time before ZAFT attacked us. And if we joined ZAFT, the Earth Forces would attack us. Regardless of what we do, we will be attacked. The only difference is by whom we will be attacked by."

Kira sat in cockpit of the Freedom as it stood on the Archangel's port catapult as he listened to the broadcast. On the starboard catapult, the Raven stood. Behind them, the Strike, the Farsight II and the Athena stood. All of them were waiting for the order to launch. A part of Kira still found this whole situation a shock. Of all the places that he thought that could become a battlefield, Orb had to be at the bottom of the list. But then, so had Heliopolis

"Hard to believe that a few months ago, we were just students living in Heliopolis. It seems more like a lifetime ago." Chris commented. "Who could have guested that we would have ended up caught in the middle of this whole thing."

"Instead of submitting, we will declare in one loud voice; NO! We will not submit to those that wish to use us to fight their enemies and their battles! We will not abandon our ideals! We will not attack another nation! Will not allow another nation to attack us! And will not get involved in the conflicts of other nations! These beliefs are what Orb was founded on! To abandon those beliefs is to abandon Orb itself!"

Kira nodded. "Yeah. I never thought I'd ever pilot a mobile suit. And yet here I am, sitting in the cockpit of a mobile suit."

"The most powerful mobile suit out there." Chris added. "I sure don't envy you. You get shot down and it will pretty much take us all out. So be careful out there. I don't want to end up dead or glowing in the dark."

Kira chuckled at the comment. "Don't worry. I'll be careful out there."

"The Alliance thinks that they can bully a small nation like us into submission. And that even if we stand up to them, they can crush us beneath their boot heel. They do not know what they have awakened. We shall show them Orb's strength! We shall make them pay dearly for every inch of Orb soil! So much so, that when this battle is over, they won't forget what we did here! They won't forget the mauling they received from the small, neutral nation of Orb!"

"Alright everyone. This is going to be a long and difficult battle to say the least. Even for us." John sighed before adding. "What I wouldn't give to have my 11th Fleet here."

"Yeah. I wouldn't mind having their help out here either." Mu said. "Though I have have to wonder if they'd really make a difference here."

"Don't underestimate them. There presence on the field would have scared many of the Earth Forces pilots without having to fire off a shot." John replied. "And a panicking enemy is a careless enemy."

"It just means more work for us." Liz said, joining the conservation.

John nodded. "That's true. As I said before, this will be long and difficult. So be careful and stay focused out. And good luck out there."

"I will not lie to you. We are outnumbered. A hundred to one. Each of you will have to be an army in your own right if Orb is to survive. But never forget that you are all fighting for the safety and future of your families, and the future of Orb itself! May the blessing of Haumea be upon us all as we prepare to wage this terrible battle. For the future of Orb, it's ideals and it's people!!"

Cheers and shouts echoing his own words filled the comm channel. Samuel closed his eyes as he closed the comm line. A lot of people were going to die today. Hopefully, only the soldiers of Orb and the Alliance. But there still many, many civilians fleeing Orb. And as long as they were still on Onogoro, they were in danger. Samuel opened his eyes, his face locked in grim determination. "Have the First Defense Fleet engage the Earth Alliance Fleet at close range." he ordered, knowing that he just sent many of those men and women to their deaths.

But there was no other choice. They had to delay the Alliance Fleet from closing in on Onogoro for as long as possible. If they could force the advancing Earth Forces into a narrow funnel around the First Fleet for a while, they could thin out their numbers before they reached the mainland. And maybe they'd get lucky and manage to take out a carrier or two before they could deploy most of their mobile suit complement.

Samuel turned to one of the comm screens. "Keep the Archangel with the rest of the fleet within the harbor, Captain. It won't be long before the bulk of the Earth Force's fleet breaks through the fleet they're engaging and hit the harbor." he said.

Murrue nodded. "Yes sir."

"Lieutenant La Flaga, Mr. Alaric, Liz, I want you three to spread yourselves out amongst the Astrays and other ground units, providing whatever support you can. Kira, you're the most powerful weapon we have. I need you to stay on the move, shoring up areas that start to buckle under the strain of the Alliance's attack. Chris, stick to the air and provide air support for our forces and target any bombers and-"

"Sir! Incoming transport planes! They're dropping mobile suits!"

"Have all AA guns target the planes. You as well Chris." Samuel ordered. "We need to stop as many of them as possible from dropping their mobile suits."

"Sir! Earth Forces warships and mobile suits are slipping past the First Fleet!"

Samuel turned to the map display table. As expected, while a portion of the Earth Alliance flotilla were engaging the Orb Fleet several miles off Onogoro's shore, warships, carriers and mobile suits were maneuvering around the fleets and heading for the mainland. "The remaining vessels and coastal batteries are to focus on the advancing forces while the Astrays and remaining defenders are to focus on the mobile suits that reach the mainland."

Earth Alliance Spengler-Class Carrier, the Powell

The four Biological CPUs entered the hanger where their mobile suits and the doctors with their drugs were waiting. Each took their vial and downed the contents. Kevin put on his red and black helmet and entered the Massacre's cockpit, starting up the mobile suit as his 'teammates' did the same.

At that moment, Azrael's face appeared on their main screens. "Say boys..."

Orga looked up at his display screen. "What?"

"Now remember boys, don't destroy Morgenroete or the Mass Driver" Azrael ordered. "Understand?"

"But we can destroy anything else, right?" Shani asked.

Azrael simply nodded.

"Oh yeah!" a pleased Clotho said.

"Time for some fun." Kevin added, gripping the Massacre's controls as a grin spread across his lips.

"Why don't you guys shut up." Orga said as the Powell's mobile suit hold doors opened. The Forbidden and the Massacre launched first, heading for Onogoro. The Raider followed, transforming into it's mobile armor mode. Then the Calamity launched, quickly landing on the Raider. Using it as a flight platform. The four machines streaked towards Onogoro.

Unlike the Strike Daggers, which were maneuvering around the battling naval fleets, the four Biological CPUs tore right through them. The Forbidden's scythe sliced through the bridge of an Orb battleship. The Massacre's beam Gatling guns and head mounted beam cannon tore through another Orb warship, igniting it's forward ammo magazine. The vessel exploded in a great ball of fire.

"Well what do we have here?" Orga said, aiming at the Archangel.

"Incoming mobile suits!" Chandra shouted.

"Evade them!" Murrue ordered.

Orga fired the Calamity's Schlag cannons and Todesblock bazooka at the white battleship. But the Archangel managed to move out of the beams' path. "Figures. You missed." Clotho said, flipping the Raider. "Now get off so I can show you how it's done!"

The Calamity fell off the Raider, landing on, and crushing, the bridge of an Orb battleship. Clotho transformed the Raider back into it's mobile suit mode and landed in front of the Archangel's bridge. He raised the Raider's Mjolnir hammer, to drive it into the bridge. But just before it could hit it, the Freedom slammed into the Raider, knocking it into the sea.

At that very moment, the Forbidden appeared, firing it's railguns at the Freedom. Kira evaded the shots and fired back with his beam rifle. But to his surprise, the Forbidden's Geschmeidig Panzer pack dropped down. The beam harmless bounced off the shields. Shani snickered as the pack returned to it's original position and he lunged forward. Swinging his scythe at the Freedom. Kira managed to pulled the Freedom back just in time, the scythe missing him by a few feet. 'These guys aren't ordinary pilots.' Kira thought as he dodged more wild scythe swings. 'Definitely aces. And in new machines. I've got to careful with them.'

Kira fired again on the Forbidden. But again, Shani managed to deflect them with his Geschmeidig Panzer system and fired off his plasma induction cannon. Kira banked to the right. Only to see the beam curve towards him. Kira cursed as the Freedom shot up, avoiding the beam.

'A curving beam. A energy deflection system. And this is just one of those four new machines!' he thought. 'If the other three are anything like this one, then we're all trouble.'

The Raven's railgun fired, tearing through a transport plane, destroying it and it's complement of Strike Daggers. "Another plane down." Chris grimly said as the plane's fiery remains fell to earth.

For every plane he or the Orb defenders shot down, another managed to drop at least half of it's payload. Which meant dozens of Strike Daggers were already on Orb soil. And more were arriving every minute.

He glanced at the Freedom. Kira appeared to be having problems with a strange green mobile suit armed with a scythe. It seemed that every time Kira fired at the green mobile suit, it either dodged the shot or deflected the beams somehow with it's shields. He better help him out. Chris sped off towards the Freedom. Only to come face to face with a mobile suit emerging from the sea, that was virtually identical to his. Both the Raven and the Raider stopped dead in their tracks. "What the hell..." both Chris and Clotho said simultaneously as they stared at the other's mobile suit.

"Damn copycat!" Clotho yelled a moment later. "Who the hell do you think are, copying my mobile suit!"

"Copycat! I'm not the copy! I'm the original!" Chris shouted back. "You're the copy!"

"No I'm not!"

"Yes you are!"

Clotho growled. "Then I'll just kill you and become the original!" he shouted, firing his railguns.

The Raven dodged the Raider's shots and fired back. "That's not how it works! I'll always be the original and you'll always be the copy!" Chris shouted at the Raven's copy.

The two mobile suits continued their deadly dance. Neither able to gain the upper hand over the other. "Just die already!" a frustrated Clotho shouted, firing off the Zorn cannon.

Chris narrowly managed to avoid the beam. "Whoa...A beam cannon in the mobile suit's head. That's new. Clearly, you have more weapons than I do. But which one of us is faster, I wonder?"

Chris transformed the Raven and blew past the Raider. "Come on! Catch me if you can copycat!"

"You bastard! You're terminated!!" Clotho growled as the Radier transformed and chased after the Raven.

Chris smirked as they raced across the skies above Onogoro. The Raider fired off it's machineguns and Zorn cannon at him, but Chris was able dodged the shots. 'That's it. Use up all your power trying to chase after me. Your weapons will be useless if you don't have any power.'

"Come on! Lets show these fools the might of the Alliance!" a Strike Dagger lieutenant shouted, leading six other Daggers towards a pair of Astrays and a group of tanks.

However, they didn't get very far when a beam pierced the cockpit of the lieutenant's Dagger. The remaining Daggers abruptly stopped, only to be gunned down by more well aimed shots. The first four were all hit in the chest and exploded. The fifth lost it's head from one beam and was destroyed by the second. A shot narrowly missed the final machine. The second shot severed it's left ankle and it fell to the ground.

Standing on a ridge, over a mile away, the Farsight lowered it's beam sniper rifle. "Damn. I shouldn't have needed more then seven shots. Guess I still haven't completely adjusted to this new rifle." John said, taking aim at more distant targets.

A Strike Dagger lunged forward, it's beam saber slicing through an Astray's chest. "Ha! These guys aren't so tough!" the Dagger pilot said, laughing as the Astray exploded.

Another Strike Dagger was saber dueling a second Astray when a third Dagger ambushed the Astray. Stabbing it in the back with it's beam saber. The third Dagger pilot nodded his head. "Yeah! These idiots think they can mess with the Earth Alliance and get away with it. But they're-"

Whatever he was going to say, was cut off when a trio of beams tore through the Dagger's body and a split-second later, the mobile suit exploded.

The two remain Daggers turned to their new attacker. Before them, stood the MBF-MX1 Athena, his beam rifle trained on them. "Bastard!" the first pilot shouted as both Daggers charged towards the mobile suit. "You're dead!!"

Liz quickly discarded her rifle, switching it for the heavy swords. Both Dagger pilots smirked. This lone mobile suit didn't stand a change against them. "Normal swords against beam sabers! Don't make me la-"

Suddenly, the Athena rushed towards them, catching them off guard with it's superior speed. Liz struck. Slicing through the waists of both machines as she rushed past them. "GAAAAAAH!!!" one of the Alliance pilots screamed just before his Dagger exploded along with it's teammate.

But Liz didn't have any to celebrate her victory as more and more Strike Daggers appeared, firing their rifles at her. Liz pulled the Athena back, avoiding their shots as she raised her machine's left arm. Revealing it's concealed beam rifle. She fired, shredding the right arm off one machine and taking out two others. But there were too many for her to handle by herself. Still, there wasn't much of a choice here. She sheath her right sword and recovered her beam rifle. "Come on!" she shouted at the advancing Daggers. "You guys aren't getting Orb without a fight!"

At that very moment, beams rained down on the Daggers from afar. Most of the Daggers exploded or found heads and limbs blown off. 'Guess I owe John for that.' Liz thought as she opened fired on the survivors that were still determined to fight.

"This is bad." Nicol said as they watched the battle play out before them from the ridge they were standing on. "We have to do something."

"Like what?" Saul asked. "Your Blitz is gone. And the Surge and the Buster are in one of dozens of Orb hangers."

"And this doesn't involve us." Dearka added. "This is between Orb and the Earth Forces."

Suddenly, the Raven, followed by the Raider, soared closely overhead, forcing the three teens to duck as the mobile suits pasted.

"Dearka, Saul, you both can't believe that we should just sit back when all this is happening, can you? This is wrong and you both know it." the green haired pilot exclaimed once the mobile suits passed.

Both pilots hesitated. Nicol was right, but they couldn't do anything, even if they wanted to, without their mobile suits. And if they did get involved there was the possibility that they'd be labeled traitors and deserters by ZAFT. But still...

"Hey!" a female voice called out.

The three of them turned around. A woman, sitting in jeep, had appeared behind them some time while they were talking. "I've been looking all over for you guys. I'm Johanna Dante. You guys wanna help out?"

"I'll help." Nicol said, stepping towards the jeep. He stopped after a couple of steps and turned to Saul and Dearka. "Dearka, Saul, are you guys coming?"

Saul scratched the back of his head. "Jeez...It figures. The first time I actually feel like being a soldier and it's when I'm not fighting for ZAFT. If only my family could see me now..." Saul said, shaking his head. "Ah well. I'm in."

"We may not be fighting for ZAFT, but we'd still be fighting the Earth Forces. So they can't really call us traitors." Dearka added. "I'll fight too."

Johanna smiled. "Good. Get in."

A squad of Orb Astrays fired on the Earth Alliance's Strike Daggers as they advanced into the city. The Daggers were numerous, but some how, the defenders managed to push them back. Barely. However, things were about to change. A crimson mobile suit suddenly landed before the Orb squadron.

"Captain! What is that?!" a nervous Orb pilot asked.

"Some new Earth Forces machine." the Captain answered. "Destroy it!"

"DIE!!!" Kevin howled, firing his beam Gatling guns at the Astrays.

The barrage mercilessly tore through many of the Astrays before they manage any kind of defense. The surviving Astrays backed away, moving behind buildings and trying to regroup from the assault. But Kevin didn't give them a chance to. The Massacre's chest plate opened as did it's missile pods as well. The remaining Astrays in the area fell quickly fell before this second barrage. Beams tore through buildings and the mobile suits standing behind them. A cluster of missiles impacted a trio of Astrays standing together, destroying them.

Suddenly, the Massacre jumped to the left, barely dodging a beam. Kevin growled as the Farsight's Camo Shift Armor deactivated. "Not bad." John commented. "But that's not going to be good enough."

Kevin roared, firing all of his Gatling guns at the Farsight. John pulled the Farsight into the air, evading the Massacre's shots and fired his rifle. The beam hit the Massacre's left twin Gatling gun. Kevin threw the weapon away just before it exploded. "Damn you!" he shouted, firing back at the Farsight with his remaining Gatling guns.

John sidestepped behind a row of buildings. The guns tore through the building... Only to hit nothing. The Massacre's head turned back and forth, searching for the Farsight. Kevin growled in frustration. "Dammit! Where are you?! Come and fight me coward!"

There was no response.

"Come on! Fight!!"

Again, nothing.

"That's it!! I'm gonna level this whole damn city!!!"

At that moment, the Farsight emerged from some buildings on the Massacre's left. It's rifle gone and in it's place, a beam saber. John raised the saber up as he raced towards the mobile. But before it could strike, the Massacre drew one of it's larger Garm beam sabers with it's free hand and blocked the blade. Both pilots suddenly raised their other weapons. The Farsight's beam pistol was inches from the Massacre's chest, while the twin barrels of the Massacre's Fenrir Gatling gun were inches from the Farsight's. The two mobile suits stayed there for a moment, locked in that position. Neither seemed willing to risk moving. "I must admit," John said. "You're much better then most pilots, even if you as wild as they get."

"You're dead!!" Kevin shouted back.

The Massacre pushed the Farsight back and swung it's saber down. However, the Farsight was a faster machine than it's opponent. Especially in John's hands. He quickly sidestepped the blow. "Too slow." John commented, swinging his own saber down.

But the Massacre managed to raise it's saber back up, blocking the blow. Then Kevin followed up with a kick to the Farsight's chest, sending the mobile suit stumbling back. Kevin raised the Massacre's Fenrir Galting gun, aiming directly at the Farsight's cockpit...

But just before Kevin could squeeze the trigger, a barrage of bullets impacted the Massacre's side. Kevin turned to his attacker. The Raven continued to fire on the Massacre as it down towards the two mobile suits. The Raider still chasing after it. Kevin fired all of his remaining Gatling guns at the annoying airborne pests. Both mobile suits managed to swerve and transform back to mobile suit mode, avoiding the incoming fire.

"What the hell?! You almost hit me you nutjob!!" Clotho shouted.

"Get out of my way or I'll kill you too!" Kevin roared back, still firing on the Raven and the Raider.

Clotho growled and fired his railgun at the Massacre. "Eat this you crazy bastard!"

The Massacre jumped back, evading the rounds and ceasing it's barrage. "Damn. These guys are nuts!" Chris said to himself as he watched the two new Earth Forces mobile suits.

Then to his surprise, both Clotho and Kevin stopped their attacks and turned to him. "Oh crap..." he whispered just before the two fired on him.

Chris desperately pulled the Raven upwards as fast as he could. Just barely evading their attacks. "Guess even these lunatics have enough sense to focus on their actual enemies and not each other."

The Massacre's missile pods opened and fired the remaining missiles at Raven. Chris fired his railgun and Igelstellungs, destroying the missiles. The Raider's hammer came flying at the Raven. Chris pulled up the shield part of his railgun. The hammer slammed into the shield, pushing the Raven back. Chris reached out and grabbed the hammer's cable and pulled. Clotho was caught off guard and the Raider was pulled forward. "Bastard! Annihilate!!" Clotho roared, firing his railgun at the Raven.

Needing to dodge the shots, Chris let go of the cable, allowing the Raider to reclaim his weapon. "Not bad copycat. But you're still just a cheap imitation." he said, heading higher into the air.

"Come back here!" Clotho shouted, chasing after the Raven.

Kevin turned back to where the Farsight had been standing. Only to find it missing. "Where are you, coward?! Don't tell me you've run away!" he shouted, searching for the missing machine.

"If you want to fight me, you'll have to find me first."

Kevin let out a frustrated roar. "Forget you coward! If you won't fight me face to face, then you can go to hell!!!"

He took off, heading after the Raven and the Raider. If that coward wasn't going to fight him, then he'd find some brave enough to actually fight him.

John watched as the Massacre flew off. Normally, he wasn't the kind to hide from a fight. But he had underestimated the Massacre. He thought that he could have taken it out quickly and return to his role as sniper. But both the mobile suit and it's pilot were too formidable for a quick victory. And at the moment, the Orb defenders needed his sniper abilities to help hold back the tide. Hopefully, Kira and Chris would be able to deal with those machines.

Aboard the Cousteau

Outside Orb Territorial Waters

Yzak watched as the screens displaying the battling Earth Alliance and Orb forces. He was particularly focused on the screens displaying the stolen Freedom and the Raven. Freedom was fighting one of the new Earth Forces mobile suits while the Raven was apparently being chased by another mobile suit that was almost identical to it.

But he wasn't the only one watching. Commander Creuset, Saya, Zane and virtually the entire bridge crew were watching the battle play out. Yzak had to admit, it was pretty brave of a small nation like Orb to stand up to the much, much larger forces of the Earth Alliance. They were doomed of course. The only way Orb could have won, was if they had accepted ZAFT's offer of assistance. Regardless of their decision, Orb was still putting up one hell of a fight. And there were even brief moments were Yzak thought that perhaps Orb could actually beat back the invaders.

"Make sure to record everything you can about those new machines." Commander Creuset ordered. "We'll likely have to face them in the future, so any information we can gain from this battle on them will be helpful."

The Freedom fired it's Balaena plasma cannons at the new Earth mobile suit. Only to have the beams deflected by the mobile suit's strange backpack mounted shields. Then it fired back with it's powerful cannon. The Freedom sidestepped as beam shot out and then curved towards the Freedom. The white mobile suit barely managed to dive down under the beam. "It's seems the Earth Forces have come up some interesting new technology." Zane commented. "Especially considering that it's going up against a machine like the Freedom."

At that moment, the Raven and it's black copycat appeared. The Raven fired on the green mobile suit. It's shields came down again. But the deflecting capabilities of those shields did nothing to the bullets of the Raven's guns. Both machines then fired their railguns. But the two pilots managed to dodge the others shots, thought the Raven was forced to transform back to it's mobile suit mode to evade the high velocity rounds. Suddenly, the black mobile, in it's mobile suit mode, launched it's spherical breaker at the Raven, hitting it in the back. Yzak heard a gasp coming from behind him as the Raven fell.

Yzak glanced over his shoulder. It was the Commander's new red haired assistant. Her eyes were locked on the screens and clutching something in her hand. A necklace or perhaps a set of dog tags, based on the small chain sticking out the bottom of her fist. Yzak didn't know a lot about her. He wasn't even sure when she had come on board. The first time he had actually seen her was after Panama. But he heard from some of the crew, that she had been on board since JOSH-A. In fact, some of those people claimed they saw her in an Earth Forces uniform. And of course, that led to rumors going around the ship about her. Some claimed that she was one of their spies, that the Commander had recovered from JOSH-A during the attack. Which did make sense since the Commander did disappear for awhile during the battle. But Yzak didn't buy that. Her demeanor and expression weren't that of a normal soldier. Rather, she seemed to constantly on edge and extremely nervous, almost afraid, to be here. It seemed more likely that she was a captured soldier. But then why didn't the Commander lock her up? And if it was true, then why was he passing her off as his assistant?

This of course led to the darker rumors that were never uttered in the Commander's presence. That the girl wasn't his assistant but rather his lover. A few even suggested that she actually be a captured Earth Forces soldier that the Commander captured and has taken as his lover.

But Yzak brushed those rumors off as bad gossip and nothing more. Whatever the reason for her being here was, he was sure that it was good one. He turned back to the screens. The Raven had managed to stop it's freefall and was firing back at both the black machine and the red one that had just arrived. If he had been paying more attention to her, Yzak may have noticed that her eyes weren't locked on all of the screens, but rather the one showing the Raven.

"Incoming missiles!" Sai shouted as wing of Spearhead fighters fired off their missiles.

"Evade!" Murrue ordered.

"There's no time!"

Suddenly, yellow beams tore through the path of the missiles, destroying them. Everyone on the Archangel's bridge looked out the side windows. Standing nearby them was Buster. "Archangel, I got your back." Dearka said, firing on the fighters.

"Go! Go! Go!" an Earth Alliance Lieutenant shouted, leading a squad of Strike Daggers towards a group of Orb Astrays and tanks.

Just after they past a pair of damaged buildings, a black mobile suit appeared out of no where. The Neo Blitz fired it's beam rifle at the advancing mobile suits, quickly gunning down two of machines. The remaining Daggers in the rear of the group stopped, turned around and fired back. The Neo Blitz pulled out it's shield out in front of it. To the surprise of the Alliance pilots, the beam were deflected by the shield.

"What?! Impossible!" one pilot shouted.

"Wow. They really weren't kidding around when they said that this was more than just a rebuilt Blitz." Nicol said as he blocked more beams.

At that very moment, the Surge appeared on the left side of Daggers, heading towards them at great speed. Both of it's katanas drawn. Some of the Dagger pilots saw the Surge coming and turned to face it. But they weren't fast enough. The Surge sliced through many of mobile suits as it past through the group. Those that he missed were so stunned by this sudden attack, that they stopped firing. Allowing Nicol to finish them off.

"Damn...I should have gotten all of those. Someone's been screwing around with my Surge. It doesn't handle right." Saul complained as he adjusted the machine's OS.

"I don't know. The Neo Blitz handles just like the Blitz." Nicol said. "Are you sure that you aren't just a little rusty?"

"Hey! There's no way my skills have dulled!"

"That's not what it looks like to me."

Two mobile suits suddenly dove for cover as a barrage was fired in their direction. "Come on boys! Let's take those punks down!" an Earth Forces pilot said as more Daggers advanced on the pair.

"Jeez... Don't you guys give up?" Saul asked as he and Nicol fired back with their rifles.

Orga effortlessly destroyed a group of Atrays with the Calamity's overwhelming fire power. They were all pathetically ease to destroy. Orga looked up. All three of his teammates were up in the air, fighting that funny white mobile suit and the Raider copy. And they seemed to be holding their own against his teammates. That just wouldn't do. The Calamity jumped into the air, it's thrusters pushing it towards the group. "Mind if I join in?" he said, firing into the heart of the group.

All five mobile suits scattered, trying to avoid the incoming fire. "Orga! You bastard!" an irate Clotho shouted. "What the hell do you think you're doing?!"

Orga laughed. "Making sure you guys don't hog all the fun!"

Unbeknownst to fighters, a tragedy was about to happen. A family of four ran through the woods, trying to reach the boats that were evacuating the civilians of Orb. Shinn Asuka looked up at the mobile suits fighting above them. The white one and dark blue one were shrugging against the other four. Shinn really wasn't sure which ones were fighting for Orb and which ones were with the Earth Forces.

Suddenly, the dark blue one and the black one, both of which had transformed into a bird-like mode, raced dangerously close overhead. Forcing Shinn and his family to brace themselves as a strong gust of wind slammed into them.

"My phone!" Mayu cried out as her phone flew out of her pocket and fell down the side of the hit.

Mayu headed for her cell phone, but their mother grabbed her arm. "Forget about it. We have to go Mayu."

"But my phone!"

"Don't worry. I'll get it." Shinn said, running down the side of the hill.

The Calamity landed on the ground, targeting the Freedom. The Freedom entered HiMAT mode as it aimed at the Calamity. The Freedom and the Calamity both fired at the other. While both pilots missed their targets, they had inadvertently hit something else.

Shinn had found Mayu's phone and picked it up when he felt the massive wave of heat and air slam into him, tossing him down the rest of the hill. By some small miracle, the only injuries he had sustain were some scraps and bruises, and having the wind knocked out of him. He slowly got to his feet, still clutching Mayu's cell phone. "Mom! Dad! Where are you?! Mayu!" Shinn called out, as started to search for his family. "Mom! Dad! Ma-"

It didn't take him long to find them. The path they had been running across, had collapsed. And lying there, among the rubble, was Mayu. She was lying on her back, maybe eight feet from him. Mayu looked like she could have been sleeping. If it wasn't for the fact that were a number of cuts and bruises on her skin. Including a nasty cut on her forehead. Lying a few feet from Mayu, was his mother. Lying in a pool of her own blood and her body twisted in an unnatural angle. Then he noticed his father, crushed between a boulder and a fallen tree.

Shinn screamed to the heavens as he fell to his knees. His cry a mixture of pain and sorrow. Tears began to pour down his face. Why had they been killed? They weren't soldiers. They didn't deserve to be murdered like that! So then why? Why had this happened?

Suddenly, a pair of hands grabbed him. "Come on! There's nothing you can do for them." a voice said as the hands lifted Shinn to his feet.

The voice belonged to an Orb officer. But Shinn didn't care. Nothing mattered anymore. He just wanted to lay down and die alongside his family. Seeing the state he was in, the Orb officer shook him, trying to shake him out of his stupor. "Your family would have wanted you to survive. Come on. The boat will be leaving soon." he said, half dragging Shinn to the boat.

As they left for the boat, something happened that no one noticed. Mayu's hand twitched.

All across Orb, the battles raged. The Buster and the Archangel let loose a furious barrage on the advancing invaders. Cutting down dozens of mobile suits and fighters. The Neo Blitz and the Surge tore Strike Daggers in the close-quarters of the city blocks. Using their superior abilities to overwhelm the Daggers. Mu, in the Strike, was leading a squad of Astrays. Together, they were managing to push back the advancing Daggers. Elsewhere, John had resumed his role as sniper. Gunning down Alliance forces all over Onogoro. Even hitting some of their closer naval vessels. Like Nicol and Saul, Liz had taken to fighting the enemy mobile suits at close range, where the Athena's swords could make easy work of the mass production mobile suits.

But even with the aid of the Archangel and Gundams, was only just barely holding back the tide of the Earth Alliance forces. For every Strike Dagger that fell, there were two more to take it's place. While for Orb Astray lost, cut the defenders' strength. And even though the Earth Forces' second generation Gundam were being distracted by the Freedom and Raven, the sheer numbers of Daggers were enough to cut through parts of the defenders' lines.

A squad of Strike Daggers gunned down a group of defending Astrays and tanks. A wing of bombers dropped their deadly payload upon a cluster of artillery guns. An Orb Aegis-class battleship was hit by a pair of Fraser-class vessels and started sinking.

Samuel watched these scenes and many more like them play out with an emotionless expression on his face. Unlike Cagalli, who was wearing her emotions quite clearly. There was no point in getting emotional or dwelling on all the deaths at the moment. It would only serve to distract him. He had learned long ago to seal up his emotions during battle.

The battle was not going well for Orb. Or at least not as well as he had hoped. He had miscalculated. Not on the number of the invaders. He had actually predicted a much larger force than this. No. It was those four new mobile suits they had developed. He knew they would have built successors to the G-Units from Heliopolis. But he hadn't expected them to be so formidable. While Kira and Chris were distracting them, limiting the damage they could do. It was at the same time, robbing them of their strongest weapon, the Freedom. He had predicted that with the Freedom fighting in the frontline, it would have bought them hours, possibly an extra day, before Orb was overrun. But now... Now things weren't looking so good for them.

In the skies above Orb, things were not going well for both Kira and Chris either. The new mobile suits of the Alliance, were all technologically superior to everything they had faced before. Added to this, the pilots themselves were as skilled as anyone they had fought before. Kira was managing to hold his own against them, using a combination of his skill as pilot and the power of the Freedom. But Chris found himself relying more on his skill as a pilot than the abilities of his aging Raven. Even with the upgrades the Raven received from Morgenroete, it was becoming clear to Chris that his trusted mobile suit was becoming old and obsolete in the face of these newer and more powerful Gundams. The Massacre fired off it's Ragnorak beam cannon at Chris. The Raven flew up, avoiding the beam. "Come on Raven, let's show them that you're not obsolete yet!" he said, firing at the Massacre.

One of his shots hit it's target, shredding the mobile suit's head fin and the beam cannon with it. Needless to say, Kevin was less then happy to see his beam cannon destroyed. The Massacre lunged forward, reigniting it's beam saber. "I'll tear you apart!! RAAAAAGH!!!"

Chris swore as he pulled back, trying to avoid the Massacre's charge as he drew his own sabers. Kevin swung his saber down as Chris crossed his in front of him, blocking the attack. Suddenly, the Massacre's leg came up, kicking the Raven.

As if things couldn't get any worse for the pair, a warning light went off in the Raven's cockpit. Chris swore as he glanced at his power meter. "Dammit. I'm getting low on power. I'm gonna have to resupply soon."

Kira nodded, firing at the Massacre. "Go. I'll cover you."

"Right." Chris said, pulling the Raven away from the battle with the Earth Forces' new Gundams.

'Dammit. All four are still fighting.' Chris thought as he withdrew. 'What kinda of batteries do those things have?! A normal battery should have run low by now. But these guys are still going strong. How is that possible?'

"What's this? Running away copycat?" Clotho said, taking aim at the Raven's back. "I don't think so!"

But before he could fire, Kira fired at the Raider. Forcing Clotho to move out of the way of the beams. However, Clotho was still not willing to let the 'copycat' go and started firing at the fleeing Raven. Chris evaded shots as Kira continued to fire at the Raider. Shani, seeing that Kira was distracted, fired it's plasma induction cannon at the Freedom. Kira caught the incoming plasma beam in the corner of his eye and dodged the shot. However at that moment, Clotho decided to focus on the Freedom. "Game over." Clotho said, just before he fired his Zorn cannon at the Freedom's back.

Kira spun around to face the beam. But he had no time to mount any kind of defense. His life flashed before his eyes as the beam drew towards the Freedom.

But it wasn't his time yet...

At that very moment, a red Gundam appeared in front of the Freedom, blocking the beam with it's shield. The battle between the mobile suits stopped as everyone stared at the newcomer, unsure of what to make of him. The new mobile suit and trained it's beam rifle on the new Earth Forces mobile suits. "Are you alright Kira?" Athrun asked.

Kira's eyes widened in shock. "Athrun?"

Yes, Mayu survived. I have two things to say about her, and that's all I'm going to say about her. First, she won't appear in Destiny until later. (Aside from flashbacks) So don't expect her to show up in the first chapter with Shinn as ZAFT pilot or something like that. Personally, I don't like that about Destiny stories where she's alive and is a pilot for the Minerva. As Shinn is sixteen in the beginning of Destiny, so the oldest she could be is fifteen. To young for a normal, peacetime soldier. The second thing is, Shinn won't know she's alive until she returns in Destiny. And that's all I'm going to say about her.

As always, please review! Especially, all you people that have recently been putting my story in their favorites without reviewing it.