Yo everybody! I would have had this chapter up last night, but it kept on growing and growing. Last night, I was nearly done with it at thirteen and half pages. But I kept on writing and it grew to eighteen pages. But here it is.
Name Contest Results (so far):
Virgil: 2
Nero: 2
Alexander: 1
Everybody else: 0
The poll is still open and going, so vote if you haven't. Remember to stop possible cheating, I will not accept anonymous reviews.
Exia00: I will use your OC. But there are some changes and things I need to do to him. And sadly, I can't reveal them to you unless you create a FanFiction profile. Otherwise, you'll just have to wait like most of my other fans.
Finally, before I begin, my good friend Maileesaeya has remade her rewrite of my story. Her new one is called Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Dauntless. I urge you all to check it out. It is far better than mine. At least, the early chapters when I first started writing.
"Do you really think that you can beat this mobile suit with that toy?" Zane Scirocco
Mobile Suit Serial Number: ZGMF-X14A 'Retribution'
Unit Type: Prototype assault mobile suit
Powerplant: Ultracompact nuclear fission reactor
Special Equipment: Phase Shift Armor, Neutron Jammer Canceler
Armament: 2x 'Devastator' 125mm high-energy long range cannon, mounted backpack, positioned over shoulders, 2x 'Punishment' 320mm multi-phase energy cannons, with mounted beam bayonet, hand carried, attached to the underside of each arm, 4x MMI-GAU2 'Picus' 76mm CIWS, two mounted in head, two mounted in chest, 2x 'Executioner' beam sabers, stored on hips
Pilot: Zane Scirocco
Appearance: Basically, the Providence without the DRAGOON backpack and the funnels on the hips. The backpack is replaced with a backpack with energy cannons like the Calamity and a longer skirt, reaching down to the shins.
Color: Black torso and pack with red trim. Dark red arms, legs, and cannons. Head is dark gray with red trim.
Info: The latest ZAFT nuclear mobile suit. Designed as powerful long range artillery mobile suit, the Retribution can deliver a tremendous amount of firepower from long range before it's enemies can reach it. And unlike other artillery units, the Retribution is just as formidable as at close-range as it as at long-range. Capable of switching to it's bayonets and sabers with ease.
Phase Thirty-Three: The Nightmare Reborn
Ptolemaeus Lunar Base
Azrael entered the conference room. There was a table lined with chairs in the center of the room and a large screen on the far wall. He sat down, facing the screen. He pushed the call button on the phone sitting on the table. "I'm ready."
A moment later, the screen turned on. The leaders of Earth Alliance appeared on the screen.
"Ah. Gentlemen, I trust you've gotten the data I've obtained. As well as my proposal."
"Yes. It's quite a coup you've managed Azrael, obtaining the data on the N-Jammer Canceler. However, we're not sure about your idea of an all out nuclear attack."
"Indeed. The energy crisis here on Earth has reached critical levels. We should focus on that first."
That would not do. They needed to deal with the Coordinators first. They were, after all, the biggest threat to humanity. "How can you say that? Especially at a time like this!" Azrael said, slamming his on the table. "If we don't attack now, we're not going to win this war! Once we've dealt with the Coordinators, we'll be able to devote all of our time and resources to solving the energy crisis. Besides, we've used nuclear warheads in the past. So why hesitate now?"
"You did that on your own."
Azrael shrugged. "Nuclear weapons aren't something you just collect. They're powerful weapons. We must use them. After all, we spent good making them so that we could use them. Let's hurry up and fire them. And then this war will all be over. So what will it be gentlemen?"
Several Weeks Later
Natarle and her newest communications officer, Flay, watched as the spaceport was filled with activity. Crews were rushing supplies, mobile suits and mobile armors onto the various warships. At the far end of the hanger, Natarle could see special cargo containers being loaded onto the Doolittle and three other Agamemnon-class ships. As Captain of the Dominion, she had been briefed on the full details of Operation Peacemaker. While the main assault force distracted the Boaz defense forces, the Dominion and the Peacemaker Force slip through and attack Boaz with nuclear warheads.
She didn't like the plan. But she was a soldier. She had her orders and her duty to carry them out. Even if she didn't like them.
"The Sixth and Seventh Orbital Fleets will leave orbit and commence a direct assault on the defense satellite Boaz at 1200 hours tomorrow." a voice said over the intercom.
Soon it would begin. The question now was, how would it end?
ZAFT Space Fortress Boaz
The Next Day
"Come on! Let's push this Natural scum back to the Moon!" a GINN pilot shouted as he lead his comrades towards the approaching Earth Alliance forces.
Moebius mobile armors and Strike Daggers battled GINNs, CGUEs and GuAIZs. The mobile armors were little more than cannon fodder. But their numbers distracted the ZAFT machines, allowing the Strike Dagger to easily catch many of them off guard. The older GINNs and GuAIZs found themselves being overpowered by the newer Strike Daggers. Only the more experienced pilots could match the newer Daggers. While the GuAIZs were the superior mobile suits on the field. But their limited numbers weren't enough to turn the tide of the battle in ZAFT's favor.
It was a bloody stalemate. A GINN effortlessly gunned down three Moebius mobile armors, only to the be picked off by a Strike Dagger. A Nazca-class fired it's cannon, hitting and sinking a Nelson-class ship. A pair of Agamemnon-class warships fired their main cannons at the Nazca-class. The beams tore through the ship, gutting it. A GuAIZ fired off it's arrestors at a Dagger, tearing the mobile suit apart. But as the cables retracted, another Dagger fired, avenging his fallen comrade. Only for a CGUE to shot that Dagger from behind.
Jachin Due
Yzak, Shiho and Saya entered the briefing room. Due to the lack of experienced pilots, the three of them had been transferred to their own larger team with Yzak in command. Unfortunately, the rest of their team was rookie Greens fresh from the academy. As a result, the second they opened the door, they were flocked by a number of overeager rookies. "Commander Joule! Is it true? Is Boaz under attack?" one of the pilots asked.
"Those damn Naturals!"
"Do we have any information on the enemy's strength and the situation?"
"Do we have orders for launch?"
"Are we going-"
"Enough!!" Yzak shouted, silencing the rookies.
"The attacking forces have been estimated at being two large fleets. As well as a large number of their new mobile suit." Yzak explain. "Admiral Kessel is ordering all available forces be deployed to reinforce Boaz. That includes us. We're going to board the Noin and head out there as soon as possible. So get to you mobile suits. Now!"
There was a chorus of "Sir, yes sir!" from the pilots before they rushed out to the hanger. "Wow. They're...really eager." Saya commented.
"I recall that you the same way when you first joined the team." Yzak said as the three of them headed for the hanger as well.
Saya stopped. "I wasn't that bad!"
Yzak glanced back. "Yeah you were."
Patrick Zala's Office
Aprilius One
Rau Le Creuset, Ezalia Joule and a number of ZAFT officers and officials were watching the battle of Boaz play out when the doors opened and Patrick Zala and his entourage entered the room. Everyone immediately turned to the Chairman. Ezalia was the first to speak. "Your Excellency, the-"
"There's no reason to panic." Patrick said, interrupting her. "An attack on Boaz by their Lunar fleet isn't an unexpected action."
He turned to several of his aides. "Have we gotten in touch with all branches of the armed forces?"
"Yes sir."
"Media censorship?"
"Done sir."
Patrick nodded and turned to the military officers. "I want a full status report now."
"Yes sir."
The Dominion
As the battle raged, second, smaller Alliance force approached Boaz, away from the main battle raging on. It was the Dominion and four Agamemnon-class warships. The Dominion's catapults opened. The Calamity and the Forbidden were launched, followed by the Raider and the Massacre. The mobile suits took the lead as the group continued for Boaz.
Aprilius One
"The Naturals are fools for thinking they can take Boaz." a smug Ezalia commented.
An aide approached Patrick. "Sir, Admiral Kessel has been organizing the force at Jachin Due to reinforce the garrison at Boaz and drive the Earth Forces back."
Zala smirked, not caring who was organizing such a force. "Yes...Let's crush that pitiful force at Boaz. Have all nearby forces move to reinforce Boaz. We're going to destroy every last one of them."
Rau found this all so amusing. Azrael and Zala had been so easy to manipulate. It was always those who believed themselves impossible to manipulate that were the easiest to manipulate. They believed themselves to be controlling their side and this war like a chess player. In reality, he was the player and they were nothing more than his lowly pawns.
Perhaps it was time to stoke the fires one last time before Azrael unleashed the Alliance's surprise. "Chairman Zala..."
Zala glanced over his shoulder. "Yes. What is it Le Creuset?"
"I'm sure the Earth Forces are well aware of the strength of Boaz's forces and that defeating them would be no easy task. But I can't imagine they'd attack it if they didn't have something up their sleeve."
Patrick raised an eyebrow in a questioning manner. "What are you getting at?"
Boaz Command Center
"Sir. Unknown machines detected at Indigo 13, Mark 66, Bravo. They're mobile suits. Four of them."
Commander Brom, the commander of Boaz turned to the controller. "What? Only four?"
"Sir. Just confirmed. They're the same ones reported by the Le Creuset Team. Behind them are one Archangel-class and four Agamemnon-class vessels, distance 500."
"Have Rearguard Teams Three through Six move to intercept." Brom ordered. "If they think that will be enough to take Boaz, they're sorely mistaken."
"Look at all those guys." Orga said as ZAFT forces moved to intercept them.
"You know what I see?" Clotho asked. "Targets!!"
Shani snickered as a wild grin spread across Kevin's face as the four pilots raced towards their approaching enemies. "There's so many. I don't which one should be first." Orga said, taking aim at a number of ZAFT mobile suits. "I know! All of you!!"
Orga fired all of the Calamity's guns at once. Destroying five ZAFT mobile suits. A GuAIZ fired it's beam rifle at the Forbidden. But the beam harmlessly bounced off the machine's beam deflection shields, surprising the GuAIZ pilot. "No one takes a shot at me and gets away with it!" Shani shouted, bringing his scythe through the machine's torso.
Kevin fired his Ragnorak beam cannon at GINN, but the pilot managed to evade his shots. "Eat this!" he shouted, switching to his Gatling guns.
The pilot tried to evade the beams and bullets, but there was too many shots being fired. The GINN was pierced numerous times by the Massacre's weapons. The GINN didn't explode, rather it virtually disintegrated under the barrage.
Nearby, a CGUE aimed it's beam rifle at the Massacre's back. But before it could fire, the Raider's hammer slammed into it's side, practically splitting the mobile suit in two. "Ha ha ha...These guys are pathetic!" Clotho said as he fired on more ZAFT mobile suits.
Aprilius One
The report of the small Alliance strike group had reached the group gathered in Patrick Zala's office. But none of them were alarmed by this. "They're only regular mobile suits and a few new models. They're kidding themselves if they think that will be enough to take Boaz." Ezalia said, brushing off Rau's concerns.
"Let's just hope that's the case." Rau replied.
Patrick wasn't quite as convinced as Ezalia was. Especially if it was coming from Rau. "What are you trying to say, Le Creuset?"
"It's difficult for me to say, but as you know, there are a number of wild cards in play. Like the Freedom, the Justice and Lacus Clyne."
Patrick's face turned into an angry scowl. "Are you trying to say that they may have once again acquired their nuclear capabilities?"
"I know. It doesn't seem possible. Yet..."
The Clyne Faction Fleet
The six warships of the Clyne Faction were hiding in a small debris field, somewhere in between both the PLANTs and the Alliance's lunar headquarters. If anything happened in space, they would be ready to intercept it.
...But not at the moment. At the moment, they were being resupplied by the ReHOME and a small group of other Junk Guild ships. Leaving them unable to do anything until they were done.
"Do you think the Earth Alliance will be able to take Boaz?" Murrue asked her fellow ship commanders.
"Probably. They wouldn't have attacked ZAFT's second strongest base unless they thought they could do it." John replied.
"Then the Alliance will have a clear path to Jachin Due and the PLANTs themselves." Andrew added.
"But the Alliance will not have an easy time of it." Kisaka pointed out. "Boaz's forces will be able to hold them back for quite a while."
John scratched his chin. "Yes...That is something that's bugging me. The Alliance has been building up their forces at the Moon for weeks now. Yet they only sent two fleets to attack Boaz. While it would be enough to conquer the Boaz, the battle will be needlessly long, drawn out and bloody."
Andy nodded. "I known. I can't figure that out either. I would have thought the Alliance would have tried to quickly take Boaz with overwhelming numbers before pushing on through to Jachin Due."
"Yeah. It's like they don't care about own their attack. Which can only me they have something else planned. As there been any movement from the Moon?"
Murrue shook her head. "No. Nothing has left the Moon since the Alliance battlegroup left."
"Then I can't help but wonder what they have under their sleeve for this attack."
The Archangel's Hanger
"The Alliance is attacking Boaz. What's the status of the Raven?" Chris asked his aunt. "Have you got it fixed up?"
Johanna grinned. "Of course it's repaired. Who do you take me for?"
Chris simply shrugged.
"You know, you two match now." she added.
Chris absently traced the horizontal scar just under his left eye. He shrugged again. "I guess so." he said. "It amazes me that this is the first time I was ever really hurt piloting the Raven."
"What can I say? We built these machines to be tough. Look at their track record. The Aegis and the Blitz were destroyed, yet their pilots survived. The Strike was nearly destroyed, yet Kira survived. If you get shot down in one of these machines, it's likely that you'll survive even if the machine doesn't."
Chris chuckled. "It certainly looks that way."
The Dominion
Azrael smirked as they watched the Calamity, the Forbidden, the Massacre, and the Raider tear through the ZAFT forces with ease. "I like what I see. I've heard only complaints about them since their first battle. But they've really improved since Orb."
At that moment, Captain Sutherland contacted the ship. "It's time. We're deploying the Peacemaker Force." he said.
The four Agamemnon-class warships opened their hangers, launching scores of Moebius mobile armors, armed with a single, large missile. A nuclear missile.
The force of mobile armors headed for the Boaz. "Okay boys. Protect the Peacemaker Force." Azrael ordered.
The four Biological CPUs immediately turned towards the strike force, cutting through any ZAFT forces that got in their way. "You heard him. Let's tear through these guys!" Orga said, firing at a GuAIZ and some GINNs.
A GuAIZ, having seen the mobile armors, moved to intercept them. Only to be shot in the back by the Raider. "Oh no. You're not done playing until I say you are." Clotho said.
"Die!" yelled Shani as he fired his plasma cannon.
The curving beam caught several ZAFT mobile suits, destroying them.
Kevin laughed as he rained destruction upon the ZAFT forces that tried to stop them. "Ha ha ha ha ha! Die insects!!"
It didn't take long for the four of them to clear out a path for the Peacemaker Force. Soon the mobile armors were in firing range. "Say your prayers, space monsters!" one pilot said, locking onto Boaz.
"For the preservation of our blue and pure world!" another added.
The pilots fired off their missiles. The nuclear missile streaked towards Boaz. No one could stop them. The missiles hit Boaz. The nuclear explosion quickly spread across Boaz's exterior and interior. Consuming everything in a nuclear firestorm. The battle outside Boaz stopped as everyone watched the destruction of Boaz.
"Whoa..." Orga said in awe.
"Awesome!" Clotho added.
"Pretty..." Shani whispered, staring at the nuclear explosion in a trance.
Kevin, on the other hand, was torn between awe and disappointment. "It's over? I wanted to fight some more."
Jachin Due Command and Control Room
"What's our status? How teams are ready to deploy for Boaz?" Admiral Rebbecca Kessel asked.
She wasn't the base commander, she just happened to outrank him. Under her authority, teams were being scrambled from Jachin Due to reinforce Boaz. She did not want to take any chances. Boaz was the first line of defense for the PLANTs. Any lunar based fleet would have to come through Boaz before they could attack the PLANTs. If Boaz fell, all that remained to protect the PLANTs was Jachin Due.
"The Joule Team, the Yazan Team, the Gato Team and the Scirocco Team are ready to go. The Ashta Team, the Evin Team and the Cehack Team will be ready in ten minutes Admiral."
"Send the Teams that are ready to go. We cannot lose Boaz."
"Admiral! A massive energy and radiation surge detected at Boaz!"
"What?! Identify!"
"It's...No..."
"What is it?" Rebbecca demanded.
But the officer was frozen from shock. She moved over to his console and saw with her own eyes what had happened.
"Cancel that last order! All nearby ZAFT forces are to return to homeland at once!!" she ordered, struggling to keep her own fear out of her voice. "The Earth Alliance just nuked Boaz and their forces heading for Jachin Due and the PLANTs!! All surviving Boaz forces are to make for Jachin Due as quickly as possible! All ZAFT forces are to reinforce Jachin Due immediately!!"
Some officers rushed to carry out her orders. But others were too stunned by the news of the nuclear attack on Boaz. Rebbecca slammed her fist on the console. The sound echoed through the large chamber. "What are you waiting for?! We can't afford to wait!! That fleet will becoming here next!! And the only thing that stands between them and our homeland is us!! The forces here at Jachin Due!! We cannot afford to be sitting around!! Get to work!!"
The remaining officers immediately resumed working rather than risk incurring her wrath.
The Dominion
"Even ZAFT's space fortress are no match for nuclear warheads." Azrael said with a smirk.
Natarle turned to him. "Director Azrael. They may be our enemies but don't you feel any remorse for using nuclear weapons against them?"
"I never expected to hear that from a professional soldier." he replied, that smirk never leaving his face. "Compared to someone like you, I'm practically a saint. There are plenty of commanders out there who willing send out their soldiers to die in a battle they knew they couldn't win."
Azrael stood up from his chair. "Now. Set course to the PLANTs. After we're done there, this war will finally come to an end."
Flay could only watch on in silent horror at what she had inadvertently caused by delivering Rau's disk. Had she truly known what was on that disk, she would have destroyed it rather than had it over. But she didn't. And because of that, all of those people had died. Because of her...
Aprilius One
Just about everyone was stunned by what they had just seen. "Those damn Naturals!!!" a furious Patrick Zala shouted as they watched Boaz become consumed by nuclear fire.
Ezalia took a step towards him. "Your Excellency-"
"Hurry and put up a defense line at Jachin Due!" Patrick ordered, cutting her off. "Le Creuset."
"Yes Chairman Zala."
"I'm going to Jachin Due. We'll counter with GENESIS."
Rau suppressed his smirk. "Yes sir." Rau paused for a moment. "Sir, may I request that my protégé be assigned the Retribution? I can think of no one more capable to fly that machine than him."
Patrick nodded. "Do it."
An officer approached the pair. "Your Excellency, Admiral Kessel is already mounting a defensive line at Jachin Due."
"Inform her that I am relieving her of command. I will command our forces personally. This is too important to trust to anyone else."
The Eternal
Kira and Athrun entered the Eternal's bridge as the engines of the six warships started up. "Lacus. Is it true? The lunar fleet is attacking Boaz?" Kira asked.
"No. Things have moved beyond that. ...And in the worst possible direction." Lacus replied, her tone worried and sad."
"According to the information received from our sources, Boaz has already been destroyed. With nuclear weapons." Waltfeld added.
Both teens were stunned by the announcement. Lord Uzumi's words echoed in their minds.
"The Earth Forces' present actions are being guided by the leader of Blue Cosmos, Muruta Azrael. To make matters worse, the PLANTs are led by someone who believes Coordinators are a new species, for Patrick Zala rules them now. The way things are developing, the world will soon be trapped between two forces who refuse to accept each others' existence."
His words rang true. Because of men like Muruta Azrael, the Earth Alliance was ready to wipe the PLANTs and the millions of innocent lives living there. And now, no doubt, ZAFT would respond in kind.
"The Earth Alliance fleet is heading to Jachin Due." Andrew said. "But they'll likely stop to resupply and prepare for the attack. And we're heading to Jachin Due as well."
The Dominion
A Few Hours Later
Natarle stared out at the fleet being resupplied. They were within striking range of Jachin Due and the PLANTs. Tomorrow, they would attack the ZAFT homeland itself.
Natarle's mind was drawn back to Murrue's words and Azrael's words.
"This isn't only about what happened at Alaska, or even what happened to Orb. We have serious doubts of the entire Earth Alliance as a whole. Therefore, there will be no surrender and no return to the military."
"You may be the captain assigned to command this ship. But there are people higher up that have to look at the larger picture here."
The Earth Alliance military was becoming less and less like the military she knew. The
At that moment, Flay floated into the observation room.
"You would have been better off if you had remained on the Lunar Base. Just because you decided to stay on board, doesn't mean that you'll meet up with the Archangel again."
"I need to see him again..."
"Who?"
"Chris." Flay answered. "I need to see him again. To thank him for everything he's done for me. I was a different person when I first met him. Spoiled. Stuck up. I really only cared about myself. But then I met him, and eyes started to open. Then my father died and he helped me deal with all of my grief and anger."
Natarle sighed. "Well, from this point on, the war is only going to get worse. We'll see a lot more of what happened earlier. Are you prepared for that?"
Flay's eyes started to water. Her mind on what happened at Boaz and all the lives lost. All because she listened to him. She scowled. "That man...He said that if I gave the Earth Forces that disk, the war would end!"
Natarle hung her head. "The war will end. When every enemy has been destroyed." she said in a tired, bitter tone.
Jachin Due
The Next Day
ZAFT had gathered every mobile suit and pilot they could muster. Even trainee pilots that had small amount of actual flight experience, were given GINNs and added to the defense forces. Numerous Nazca-class and Laurasia-class vessel formed a defensive line around Jachin Due and the PLANTs.
Near Jachin Due, another massive force had assembled. The Earth Alliance fleet stood ready. With Agamemnon-class and Nelson-class battleships surrounded by the more numerous Drake-class escort ships. Amid the fleet, was a lone Archangel-class assault ship. The Dominion.
Suddenly, the engines of the Earth ships powered up. The fleet started it's advance toward Jachin Due, launching countless mobile suits and mobile armors. The ZAFT forces instantly scrambled to engage the invaders. Their own warships advancing as they launched their mobile suits.
The second battle of Jachin Due had begun.
"After the Bloody Valentine, we refrained from retaliating against the Naturals with nuclear weapons! Instead, we took the humane path! We removed the ability to use nuclear weapons! We had hoped and prayed that they would never be used again! But once again, the Naturals have shattered our hopes and prayers! We will never let those barbaric Naturals drop a single nuclear weapon on us again!"
Yzak powered up his Duel as his mother's words were broadcasted across the entire defense force. Behind him, his team was doing the same. "Hell yeah! Let's waste those Natural animals!" one of his pilots shouted.
"Cut the chatter." Yzak ordered. "Now is not the time for that garbage."
Yzak could remember a time, months ago, when he would have been the one saying something like that. But now, that kind of talk just irritated him. It just didn't seem to matter anymore. Naturals and Coordinators. Coordinators were just as capable of committing atrocities in war. So why were the Naturals always called barbaric and animals when they had done things like the massacre at Panama?
Yzak shook his head. Now wasn't the time for that either. They had to protect the PLANTs from the Alliance and their nuclear weapons. If even one missile hit, it would be the Bloody Valentine all over again.
"My courageous ZAFT soldiers! Show them our true strength! Show them that we're not to be trifled with! Show them who the new leaders of this world are!"
The hanger doors opened. "Joule Team, launching!" Yzak said before he and his team took off into space.
The Calamity, the Forbidden, the Massacre, and the Raider soared towards the ZAFT forces. "Wow...I think there's even more than last time." Shani said, a grin on his face.
"Although it's hardly any fun fighting against the weak ones." Orga commented.
"Who cares? If they want us to attack them, I'm not complaining." Clotho replied.
"Yeah." Kevin added. "I just hope these insects last longer than last time."
The Doolittle
"Peacemaker Force, commence launch." Captain Sutherland ordered.
The Doolittle and it's three sister ships opened their catapults. Dozens of mobile armors armed with nuclear missiles took off. Following the path made by the four Biological CPUs.
The Clyne Faction Fleet
"We mustn't allow a single nuclear missile to hit the PLANTs. If the blade of light stab through the innocent, then it will only lead to endless tears and more hatred." Lacus said to the entire fleet as they readied for battle.
The Eternal mobile suit catapult opened up as the Freedom was loaded onto it. "Kira Yamato. Freedom Gundam taking off." Kira said launching from the Eternal.
The second the Freedom cleared the catapult, the Justice was loaded onto it. "Athrun Zala. Justice launching."
The Archangel's catapults also opened up as the Strike and the Raven were loaded onto them.
"Mu La Flaga. Strike launching."
"Chris Dante. Raven Gundam launching."
The two machines took off, their phase shift activating. The next two machines were loaded onto the catapults.
"Saul Kessel. Surge takin' off."
"Dearka Elsman. Buster launching."
They cleared the catapults and the final two machines were loaded.
"Liz Dante. Athena launching."
"Nicol Amalfi. Neo Blitz taking off."
The Kusanagi's catapult opened, the Kusanagi's Astrays started launching from the ship. Meanwhile, the hanger doors of the Odin, the Valkyire, and the Einherjar, opened. "John Alaric. Farsight II launching."
The Farsight took off, followed by the rest of the 11th Fleet's mobile suits.
"Deploying METEORs." Andrew said as the Eternal released it's two weapon platforms.
Kira and Athrun quickly docked with the platforms, adding to their mobile suit's already impressive firepower.
"The choice we're making maybe one of evil as well." Lacus prayed as their forces headed for the battle. "For we call for peace, but with weapons in our hands. Nevertheless, allow us to break this chain of endless conflict. Give us strength to end this war."
A Secured Hanger
Jachin Due
Zane, clad in his flightsuit with his helmet under his arm, and a technician entered the dimly lit hanger. They stopped in front of a mobile suit, obscured in darkness. Suddenly, the hanger lits came on, revealing the mobile suit.
"So this is the Retribution." Zane said, admiring his new machine.
"Yes sir. By orders of Chairman Zala, the ZGMF-X14A Retribution been assigned to you."
He nodded and headed for the cockpit. "It's a shame that he's still in that weaker machine." Zane said to himself. "Now he doesn't stand a chance against me."
Zane entered the cockpit and began to power up the Retribution. It's phase-shift activated, turning the from dull gray to a sinister black and red. "It's time for this all to end." he said, taking off.
Yzak shot down a pair of Strike Daggers, when something caught his eye. He turned to it. A cluster of lights heading towards the PLANTs. The Duel's camera's zoomed it. It was a group of Moebius mobile armors armed with...
"Nuclear missiles!" Yzak shouted in horror. "They've deployed their nuclear missiles!!"
Saya and the other nearby ZAFT pilots turned to him. "What?!"
"Come on! We have to shoot them down!!" Yzak yelled, heading to cut off the mobile armors before it was too late.
The nearby GINNs and GuAIZs sped off as well, towards the nuclear weapons. All of them praying they stop the nukes in time.
A trio of ZAFT mobile suits were suddenly gunned down from behind. "Sorry. But these aren't for you guys." Orga taunted, firing at the ZAFT forces.
Two GuAIZs were almost in firing range when a curving tore through one then the other. "No way. You're not stopping them. They're too pretty." Shani said, slicing through a GINN with his scythe.
Yzak swore. It was the new Earth machine he had seen at Orb and Mendel. They didn't have time to deal with these punks.
"Hey look! That one's different." Clotho said, firing his railgun at the Duel. "I wonder if it's like those other ones."
Yzak dodged the shot and fired off a barrage of beams and missiles. But Clotho spun his spherical breaker out in front of him. Shielding him from Yzak's attack. "DIE....!!" Kevin roared, firing his Gatling guns at the Duel and several other nearby ZAFT machines.
Yzak swore as he dodged the shots. The other ZAFT pilots weren't as lucky or skilled and were killed by the Massacre's guns. He couldn't stay and fight these guys. He had to stop those mobile armors. He was so caught up in the mobile armors and their lethal payload, that he didn't notice Clotho moving behind him. "Finishing move!" Clotho screamed, firing his beam cannon.
He caught Yzak off guard, leaving him unable to defend himself in time. Suddenly, a purple GuAIZ moved between him and the beam. It raised it's shield, blocking the beam. "You alright sir?" Saya asked.
"What are you doing?! You should be going after those mobile armors! Not helping me!"
At that moment, the Peacemaker Force had reached firing range and fired off their missiles. "NO!" Yzak screamed. "Someone! Anyone! Shoot down those missiles!!!"
However, no one was in range to shoot down any of the missiles in time. It was all over...
But then at that moment, a miracle happened. The Freedom and the Justice appeared. Kira and Athrun quickly targeted the missiles and fired every weapon their mobile suits and METEORs had. Numerous beams and missiles struck the nuclear missiles. Many of the missiles exploded, taking those they missed in the ensuing explosions.
Not a single nuclear warhead hit it's target.
All of the nearby ZAFT and Earth Alliance pilots were stunned. None of them could believe that two mobile suits could destroy all those nukes. But their surprise only increased, as the Archangel, the Eternal, the Kusanagi and the warships of the 11th Fleet entered the battlefield.
"Soldiers of the Earth Forces! Stop your attack at once!" Lacus called out. "Are you really aware of the consequences of what you're about to do?"
The Dominion
The bridge crew of the Dominion were just as stunned as the pilots were. Azrael couldn't believe that the entire first wave of nukes had been destroyed before any of them could reach their target. It just didn't seem possible. But he wasn't too upset. They had another wave of missiles that had yet to be fired and even more nukes on the Doolittle and the other ships.
The Clyne Faction fleet appeared on the main screen as a girl's voice filled the comm channels. "Soldiers of the Earth Forces! Stop your attack at once! Are you really aware of the consequences of what you're about to do? I repeat..."
"Who is that girl?" he asked.
"Lacus Clyne." Natarle replied.
Azrael shrugged. "Well, anyone trying to get in our way is an enemy." he said. "They've been giving us problems anyway. This is perfect. We can get rid of them here too."
The second wave of the Peacemaker Force fired their nukes. But this time, several pilots were in position to take them out. John took aim with his sniper rifle and fired. A nuke exploded, taking another with it. Yzak, Dearka, Saul and Nicol fired everything they had at group of missiles, destroying them. Mu and Liz fired shots from their beam rifles, taking out several more. Chris fired his railgun. One round struck the nose of a missile while the other hit another missile nearby the first. Both exploded. Very quickly, the entire second wave had been wiped out. The PLANTs had been saved from nuclear annihilation. For now...
"The Freedom and the Justice. So, you've managed to stop the nukes." Zane said, the Retribution approaching the area.
Both Kira and Athrun turned to the approaching mobile suit. Ready for him to attack them. But Zane didn't make any move to attack. "Sorry. But neither of you are the ones I want." he said, flying past them.
Kira and Athrun momentarily stopped as the Retribution passed them. Surprised that he hadn't actually tried to attack them. They would have chased after it, but as soon as Zane passed them, the Extended pilots attacked.
"It's payback time!" Orga shouted, firing on both machines.
Athrun flew up while Kira flew down, dodging his shots. The Forbidden lunged at the Freedom with it's scythe. "DIE!!" Shani screamed, swinging his weapon down.
Kira sidestepped the attack, drawing a beam saber. He quickly swung the saber down, slicing the head of the scythe off. But before Kira could capitalize, Kevin fired on them with his beam Gatling guns. Kira barely managed to get out of the way while Shani lowered his Geschmeidig Panzer system, deflecting the beams.
Clotho threw his hammer at the Justice but Athrun hit it aside with his shield. Athrun then launched his Fatum-00 pack at the Raider, knocking the black mobile suit away. Suddenly, more beams from the Calamity streaked out towards him. Athrun dodged and fired back with his beam rifle. Both pilots missed. The Fatum-00 pack docked with the Justice as Athrun and Orga continued to exchange fire. But so did the Raider, firing it's railgun at the Justice.
Zane scanned the area, searching for the Raven. "Where are you? Where are you hiding?" he said to himself.
Suddenly, he turned to the left. "There!"
Zane fired the Retribution's cannons.
Chris had only just caught the new mobile suit on his sensors when he saw the beams streaking towards him. He pulled to the left, evading the beams. "Zane." he said, heading for the machine.
"Chris." he replied, continuing for the Raven.
"You won't defeat me. Even with that new machine." Chris said.
Zane laughed. "Do you really think that you can beat this mobile suit with that toy?" he asked. "This is the Retribution. I have more power in one cannon than you have in your entire machine! You can't beat me!"
Zane fired his multi-phase beam cannons at the Raven, but Chris dodged them, drew a beam saber and charged at the Retribution. But before the energy blade could touch the Retribution, two energy blades shot up out of no where, blocking his strike. Chris looked down. A pair of smaller arms, armed with beam sabers, had folded out from the skirt. "As you can see, this mobile suit has a few surprises in it."
Zane pushed the Raven back, activating the bayonets in his cannon. He swung one then the other at the Raven. Chris sidestepped the first blade and blocked the second with his own saber. "A superior mobile suit does not ensure victory!" Chris shot back. "You can't beat me!"
Zane laughed again as the Retribution started to overpower the Raven. "You're a fool. The Raven is becoming an obsolete machine. It's nothing but an old toy compared to this mobile suit!"
Jachin Due
"How very cute." Patrick commended as they watched the actions of Lacus Clyne's forces. "Have our forces leave them alone. Those traitors and pests are nothing compared to Naturals. They can't stop us. Our preparations are already complete."
"GENESIS is entering it's final stages." an officer said over the comm. "All vessels, retreat from the zone of emission."
"Have our troops clear out of GENESIS's path, Ezalia." Patrick ordered. "Now we'll show them our true power."
Outside Jachin Due
A massive device suddenly appeared behind Jachin Due. GENESIS. The massive cannon started to moved from behind Jachin Due, it's phase shift armor activating as it took it's firing position. The first external alignment mirror was moved into position.
While most of the mobile suit pilots were too busy in their battles to notice the appearance of the super weapon, the crews of the surviving warship were a different matter. The bridge crews of the Earth Alliance and Clyne Faction ships all stared at GENESIS, unsure of what it was. But they weren't the only ones. The vast majority of ZAFT forces were just as confused by this weapon. They had no idea what this mammoth device was either as GENESIS started to power up.
Suddenly, appeared on the Duel's display. Along with a set of coordinates.
/// Urgent Warning //
//// Priority 1 ////
Evacuate all units from zone of emission
/// Caution ///
GENESIS activated
Yzak had no idea what GENESIS was. But what ever it was, it was about to be fired in their direction. "Athrun! Dearka! Saul! Nicol! Everyone! Get out of here!! They're firing GENESIS!" he shouted, trying to warn his former teammates.
Athrun towards the approaching Duel. "What? GENESIS?"
"Yes! We have to get out of here now!!"
Jachin Due Command and Control Room
"All you Naturals, mark this moment well. Let this light usher in the creation of the Coordinators' world!" Patrick said as Rau watched on with an insane smirk. "Fire!"
GENESIS fired...
The end game has begun. Three more chapters and the epilogue until SEED is done.
As always, review!