Finally, this chapter is done. I'm sorry it took so very long. But after I finished the Chris/Zane battle, it was like I hit a wall and the rest of the chapter was a pain to get done. Probably because I've been in a Warhammer 40k mood lately, and have thought up a bunch of fanfic and crossover ideas for it.
Oh and Digital Darkness, greatest review ever. lol.
Phase Thirty-Four: Day of Wrath
"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...And hell was unleashed upon the Earth Alliance fleet.
The beam tore through the fleet. Nothing could stop it. Nothing could withstand it. The hulls of even the mightiest ships in Alliance fleet nothing compared to GENESIS's firepower. Dozens of Agamemnon, Nelson, and Drake-class ships were destroyed in an instant, alongside countless Moebius mobile armors and Strike Dagger mobile suits. Their armor of their hulls and machines might as well be made of paper against the powerful beam of GENESIS. In a matter of seconds, one half of the Alliance fleet was gone.
Just about everyone watching was stunned and horrified. The surviving Earth Alliance forces, the Clyne Faction forces and even the ZAFT forces could only stare at the detestation brought upon the Alliance forces.
Jachin Due Command and Control Room
"GENESIS fired at 60 percent maximum output." a technician reported
"Estimated fifty percent of enemy forces destroyed." another added. "The enemy forces are retreating."
"Commence cool-down. Remove reflector mirror one and move mirror two into position."
Up on the command platform, Patrick Zala and Rau Le Creuset grinned at what they had wrought. "Your Excellency, I am astonished to see how incredible GENESIS truly is." Rau commented.
"There is no point in fighting a war unless you have the means to end it with victory." Patrick replied.
The Dominion
"Our CSS is destroyed. Requesting permission to return to the ship at once."
"God...How could they do that..."
"Captain! Come in Captain! Do you read me?!"
"Where's the Alexander? Has anyone seen the Alexander?!"
Everyone one was stunned and horrified at just what had happened. The entire fleet was in disarray. Even Natarle was speechless. But she knew that if their surviving forces were to recover, someone needed to take the lead. "Get a hold of yourselves and find out what ships we have left!" Natarle said over the comm, trying to reestablish order amongst the forces of the Alliance. "What's the status of our flagship, the Hood?"
"The Hood's identification code has completely disappeared." the radar operator replied.
"No response from the Cook or the Grant either." Flay added.
With the Hood, the Grant and the Cook gone, the Dominion was now the flagship of the fleet. She glanced at Azrael. The man seemed paralyzed with terror and rage. He wasn't going to be giving any orders any time soon. "Fire the signal flares. All remaining ships are to withdraw immediately." she ordered.
The Archangel
Though the forces of the Clyne Faction had been out of the field of fire, sparing them from the wrath of the massive beam, they were just as stunned and horrified as the Earth Forces.
"The Earth Forces are withdrawing from the area." Sai reported.
"Captain Ramius, we should also retreat for now." Andrew Waltfeld added.
Murrue nodded. "Yes...Recall all mobile suits."
Jachin Due
Patrick Zala stood up from his chair. "Courageous soldiers of ZAFT! We can no longer tolerate the aggression of the arrogant Naturals! Once again, the PLANTs have come under nuclear attack! This is no longer a war! It is a campaign of extermination!!!" he shouted. "We can no longer forgive the Naturals who commit these atrocities without remorse!"
"Our new future! For the light of creation is with us! This is a day of history! Making the advent of a bright new world of Coordinators! The new Mankind!!"
The control room filled with cheers and chants of 'Victory'.
The surviving Alliance forces were in full retreat. However, a number of ZAFT forces were less than willing to let them leave. GINNs and GuAIZs chased after retreating Strike Daggers as ZAFT warships fired on the fleeing Earth warships.
"Stop it!" Kira shouted, firing on a pair of GINNs. "Stop firing on those that aren't fighting back!"
His beams destroyed the rifles and heads of the GINNs, forcing them to retreat and allowing the surviving Strike Daggers to reach the safety of the Alliance fleet. With his job done, he regrouped with Athrun and the two headed back for their fleet.
"This is madness." Chris said as the Raven pulled alongside the two. "As if nukes weren't bad enough, ZAFT creates a...I don't know...a massive death ray!" He let out a sigh before continuing. "The nukes were one thing. We could intercept those. But that thing... How do we stop that thing?"
"I don't know. I honestly don't know." Kira answered.
Athrun could only shake his head and wonder why his father would build such a weapon, much less use it.
The Dominion
Several Hours Later
Natarle sighed as she studied the causality list. That new weapon of ZAFT had been devastating. Approximately half the fleet had been wiped out by that one attack. In addition, was the losses they had incurred in the battle prior to the attack and during their retreat. The fleet was a mess. At the moment, they were all struggling just to deal with the damage they had sustained.
"That's right! I'm dead serious! This is a result of the negligence shown by you guys at the top by letting this war drag on!" Azrael ranted on the comm to Fleet Command.
Suddenly, his rant was interrupted. "Captain! The Churchill is emitting a distress signal!"
The Fleet had suffered enough losses already. They had to help them out before they lost more good men and women. "Tell them that we'll move to assist them immediately." Natarle ordered.
"Don't be an idiot!" Azrael shouted. "They want backup?! Why should this ship have to help them?!"
"Director Azrael. We have to-"
"All surviving ships are to prepare to resume the attack immediately!" he said, countermanding her order. "We need to concentrate on resupplying and maintenance!"
But that's insane!!" she argued. "You know very well the damage our forces have sustained!"
"Reinforcements and supplies will be arriving from Lunar HQ in no time!" he countered as he moved back to his seat. "You're the one who doesn't understand the situation! Take a look! We cannot afford to leave that thing out there! What do they mean 'the Naturals' barbaric nuclear weapons'?! They can destroy the Earth from there. That device of theirs' is by far the more barbaric weapon. And we have no idea when they'll point that thing at Earth. If we sit back and wait, they'll fire that thing again and it will be all over."
At that moment, their was a flash of light from a nearby explosion. Natarle didn't need confirmation to know what happened. The Churchill had exploded. Natarle scowled but didn't say anything. As much as he hated this man, he was her superior and she had no choice but to follow his orders.
"It's all because you military types gave them all the time in the world to build that monstrosity!" Azrael said. "Maybe it's crazy, but we have to destroy that thing. And the PLANTs. Before they destroy Earth!"
The Eternal
"They fired a gamma ray beam. The rays were generated by a nuclear explosion at the source and immediately focused into a coherent beam." Erica explained. "Think of it as a giant gamma ray laser. If it was fired at Earth, the extreme radiation would burn the entire planet to a crisp. All life on Earth would be wiped out."
Lacus, Kira, Athrun, Chris, Cagalli, Murrue, John and Andy all quietly listened to her report on this new super weapon of ZAFT. "Do you think they'll fire it again...At Earth?" Murrue asked, worried about this latest development.
"Essentially, the purpose of a weapon of mass destruction is as a deterrent." Andy answered. "However, in this case, they've already been used. Both nukes and that thing. At this point, neither side will hesitate to use them again." He paused for a moment. "The first time I shot someone, it turned my stomach. But after a time, I grew use to it."
"You're saying it's the same with that weapon and nuclear weapons?"
"Isn't it? People have the ability to adapt to anything. Even with battles and killing."
"Is it weapons that give birth to battles? Or is it the human soul?"
"Whether it's nuclear weapons or that weapon, we can't let them fire those things at each other again." Kira said. "If that happens, it will be too late for anything."
Athrun nodded his head. "Yeah."
"Well...I can't think of a more impossible task we've set for ourselves." Chris said, rubbing the back of his neck. "But we seem to have a habit of making the impossible possible. So how are we going to do this?"
"Well, the only thing in our favor is the fact that is cannot fire consecutive shots. My guess is that they need to change the mirrors every time it's fired. But the main section is made of phase shift armor and we have to get through Jachin Due to get to it. And their defenses are quite formidable." Andy commented, studying the layout of the ZAFT forces around Jachin Due.
"Don't worry about that." John said. "The 11th Fleet clear the path for the Archangel, the Eternal and the Kusanagi. But I recommend that we wait until after the Earth Forces start their attack. That way, they'll draw much of Jachin Due's forces away and make things easier for us."
"You realize that you and your guys will be facing down a lot of mobile suits and warships. You realize what that means."
"Don't worry about us, Andy. We'll take anything they can throw at us." the Black Hawk replied. "Regardless of what happens to us, you guys will be in position to attack that monstrosity."
"What about the nukes?" Chris asked. "This will all be for nothing if we take out ZAFT's weapon only to have the PLANTs destroyed by nukes."
"The Freedom and the Justice, as well as some of the mobile suits on board the Archangel, can form a hunter-kill team to intercept the nukes and take out their carriers." John answered. "Once the nukes are dealt with, they can join up with the rest of us."
"How much time until they replace the mirror?" Murrue asked.
Andy scratched his chin. "I doubt it will be much longer. The real question is, will they target the Alliance's main lunar base, or will they target..."
"The Earth Forces will attack nuclear weapons again, won't they?" Kira said.
"Without a doubt." John replied, staring at the map. "No doubt, they're terrified of that weapon. I know I am. They have no choice but to use nukes now to destroy that thing."
"Sirs!" Martin shouted, interrupting the meeting. "The Alliance fleet is on the move! They're resuming their attack!"
"Speak of the devil." John said, already heading for the elevator. "Everybody better get ready. Things are about to get chaotic again."
Andy moved towards his command chair as Athrun, Chris, Cagalli, and Murrue headed for the elevator. Kira followed, but stopped when Lacus called out to him as she headed for him. "Kira."
"Lacus." Kira said, catching the floating girl.
He glanced at everyone in the elevator, they all just smiled and John pushed a button, closing the elevator doors. A moment later, the empty elevator came back and the two teens entered it. As the elevator traveled, Lacus pulled something out of her pocket. A silver ring. "Kira, there's something I want you to have."
"Thanks." he said, accepting her gift.
Lacus stared into his eyes. "Please come back to me, okay?" she softly said.
Kira smiled and nodded. Then he kissed her cheek. "You be careful too, Lacus."
Cagalli stared at Athrun as the two headed on their own to the hanger. Athrun glanced at her. "What is it?"
"Nothing." she replied, turning away. "It's just that this time, I can go out too."
"They were finally able to assemble the Strike Rouge that they brought from Morgenroete. Good luck out there." she said.
Athrun stopped and grabbed her hand. "Wait Cagalli. You're going out?"
"What's the matter?" Cagalli asked, annoyed at his tone. "I've received sufficient pilot training for this. And I'm a lot better than the Astray pilots!"
"Yeah...But..."
"The things we can do, the things we want to do and the things we should do, are the same for all of us, right? For you, for Kira, for Lacus and for me."
"Cagalli..."
"Sure, there are times when it's useless to go out to the battlefield and fight. But right now, it's necessary."
Athrun could only stare at her in surprise.
"Don't look at me like that. You take a lot more risks out there than I do." a very determined Cagalli said. "I won't let you die out there."
"Cagalli..."
"I won't let that guy who could be my little brother die either."
Athrun raised an eyebrow. "Little brother? Not your big brother?"
"Of course not! He's the younger one!" Cagalli practically shouted at him.
Athrun smiled. "You're right." he said before embracing her in a hug.
Cagalli could only blush as the two stood there for moment. "I'm lucky to have met you." Athrun added before breaking the hug. "I'll protect you."
The two then kissed.
The Archangel's Hanger
A Short While Later
Mu sat in the Strike's cockpit, waiting for the order to launch, when there was a knock on the hatch. He turned on a camera to see who it was. It was Murrue. Mu opened the hatch and stepped out, pulling off his helmet as left the Strike.
"I thought I wouldn't make it in time." Murrue said to him.
Mu chuckled. "Wouldn't make it to what?"
He then noticed the floating necklace around her neck. "He was a mobile armor pilot, wasn't he?"
"Yes." Murrue answered, her tone soft and quiet.
"Don't worry. I'll be coming back. I promise." Mu said before pulling her into a kiss.
By the time the Clyne Faction forces reached the Jachin Due area, the battle was already in full swing. They quickly started deploying all of their mobile suits. The Eternal's 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."
Once they had launched, the METEORs were released and mounted onto the two mobile suits.
At the same time, 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. "Cagalli Yula Athha. Strike Rouge launching."
The Strike Rouge took off, followed by the Astrays. 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.
"Alright, listen up boys and girls." John said to his pilots. "This is it. ZAFT and the Alliance are set to wipe each other out. Unless we can stop them. And it falls to us, the men and women of the 11th Fleet, to clear the path for the rest of our forces. That means we can't stop for anything. We must break through the ZAFT lines to reach that weapon. Which means we must fight and even kill our former comrades. Normally, I would ask you all to aim your shots carefully, but we don't have the time for that. For the sake of everyone within the PLANTs and on Earth, nothing can be allowed to stop us. 11th Fleet, move out!"
The warships and mobile suits of the 11th Fleet took off, heading for Jachin Due as the rest of the Clyne Faction prepared to follow after them. "Good luck out there everyone." John added.
Jachin Due
"So it begins." Zane said, powering up the Retribution. "The end of this wretched, accursed world. But it can't end yet. Not until I finish one thing first."
The hanger doors opened. "Retribution launching." Zane said, taking off.
Jachin Due Control Room
"Second mirror block is almost in place." an operator reported.
"Input the target data. Lunar surface, the Earth Forces' Ptolemaeus Crater Base." Patrick ordered.
Officers rushed to input the targeting data. "Where is the location of the Earth Forces' reinforcements?" he asked.
"At Green Alpha 5, Mark 3."
Patrick smirked. 'Perfect. We win, Naturals.'
"Sir! Earth Forces are breaking through Area Seven!"
"We're almost ready. Tell our forces to hold on for a bit longer." Patrick said to the man.
"Then shall I go as well?" Rau asked.
"Yes."
Rau nodded and started to walk away when Patrick stopped him. "Le Creuset. I won't forgive any more of your blunders. The least you could do for failing to destroy the Eternal, is stop them from attacking the PLANTs with it."
"Even if that means killing Athrun?" Rau asked, not actually caring for his answer.
Patrick scowled, barely containing his rage. "Of course!
Rau saluted. "Understood sir." he said before continuing to hanger.
The Archangel
"Captain! There's an unknown mobile suit approaching at Blue 12, Mark 4. Distance 600 and closing.
Chris knew who it was. "I'll deal with him. You guys continue on ahead." he said, heading for the approaching enemy.
"But..." Murrue started.
"Don't worry about me." Chris replied cutting her off. "Like John said, we can't stop for anything. I'll hold him off by myself."
"Very well then. But be careful."
The Raven continued on, heading to intercept the approaching mobile suit. When he could see the mobile suit with his own eyes, it only confirmed what he already knew. It was the Retribution.
"It's time to end this once and for all." Zane said as the two approached each other. "And what better place than where all of humanity will end."
"It doesn't have to be this way Zane." Chris said. "When the Bloody Valentine happened, I became like you, angry and hateful at the world for what happened. Blue Cosmos for doing such a thing. The Earth Alliance for letting Blue Cosmos to do such a thing. ZAFT for not being able to protect our home. Even myself for not being there and dying with them. But I accepted those feelings and moved on."
Zane fired on him, but Chris dodged the shots. "And that is why you and I are different. You have forgotten them. All of them. Jenn. Sara. Kai. Micheal. Johnny. Gabriel. My parents. Your parents. All of them died that day." he replied. "I haven't forgotten them!"
"Nor have I!" Chris shot back, firing his railgun. "Everyday I remember them! I remember their faces! I remember their voices! I remember their smiles! I remember all the good times we had! I will never forget them! I'm just not fixating on their deaths! Nor am I trying to avenge their deaths by destroying everything!"
Zane sidestepped the shots, firing his right Punishment cannon at him. "You think I'm doing this for them?" he asked as Chris evaded the shot. "I'm doing this because this is what humanity deserves! After the Bloody Valentine, when Rau Le Creuset found me, I was broken. Pathetic. But he showed me the truth of humanity! We mistrust each other. We're intolerant of each other. We hate each other. And we kill each other! That's all we know how to do! That's all we ever do! Look at them! ZAFT and the Earth Alliance are about to wipe each other out for reason beyond their own hatred!"
The two continued to exchange fire, but neither seemed to be able to be able to best the other. The Retribution had the superior firepower, but the Raven was faster and more maneuverable, allowing it to evade the fire of the Retribution. "Naturals were envious of Coordinators. Coordinators looked down on Naturals. That's how it started. Then the Naturals grew to fear and hate the Coordinators for their enhanced abilities. While the Coordinators began to believe that because of their enhanced genes, they were the next, superior breed of human and grew to despise the 'inferior' Naturals whom they believed were holding them back." Zane said as they battled. "Then men like Patrick Zala and Muruta Azrael, men that couldn't tolerate the existence of the other race, emerged and the Coordinators and Naturals willingly lined up behind those men. Why? Because they appealed to the true hearts and desires of people!"
"You're wrong!" Chris shouted, dodging Zane's firing. He transformed the Raven to it's mobile armor mode and charging at the Retribution. "Coordinators. Naturals. We're all people. Flawed, but decent people. All of us have the same dream. To live a decent life. The petty hatred between Coordinators and Naturals must end. It brings nothing but suffering to everyone." he said, igniting the Raven's beam weapons. "Those were your own words! And you were right! That's all people want! To live a decent life in safety and security! But men like Azrael and Zala play on people's fears and problems! Blaming the other and getting their people to fear and hate them!"
A seed shattered in Chris's mind as the Retribution's bayonets activated. Zane thrust the beams forward, intending to impale the Raven with them. But Chris was faster. He turned the Raven on it's right side and deactivated his left beam saber. The Raven flew dangerously close to the Raven, it's single beam blade cutting through the Retribution's left multi-phase cannon. Zane quickly discarded the cannon just before it exploded. The Retribution then spun around and fired it's remaining cannons at the back of the Raven, but Chris managed to dodged the shots. "Looks like the Raven is at least as strong as one of your cannons." Chris said, turning back towards the Retribution.
Zane growled. "You got lucky. But no more! I'll crush you with this mobile suit! Even if it's the last thing I do!!" he yelled as his own seed shattered.
The Retribution's cannons let loose a furious barrage. Chris dodged most of the shots. But one found it's mark, hitting the tip of Raven's left wing. The Raven shook violently as it's wing was hit. Chris quickly transformed it back into it's mobile suit mode and fired it's railgun. One of the shots hit it's target. The Retribution's remaining Punishment multi-phase cannon. The cannon exploded. "Gah! I'm not beaten that easily." Zane said, drawing his beam sabers.
Chris drew his own sabers and the charged forward, their blades clashing. The Raven was strong, but the Retribution's power was far greater. The Retribution overpowered the midnight blue machine, pushing it back before bringing down his sabers. Chris sidestepped to the left. But didn't quite make it. The Retribution's sabers sliced through the barrels of the Raven's railgun and right wing. Chris took that moment to thrust his left saber at the Retribution, but one of it's sub arms rose up and blocked the saber with it's own. Zane laughed as he kicked the Raven back. "Your luck has run out. You don't stand a chance against the Retribution in that piece of junk."
The Raven flew back from the kick but it quickly righted itself. "It doesn't matter." Chris said. "I don't care how superior your machine is to the Raven! I will not lose! I will not let your insane dream happen!! Even if I die here, I won't let you win!!!"
Suddenly, something happened...Something unexpected...
The Strike fired it's rifle, destroying a Strike Dagger. He fired at another when he felt it. It was like the feeling he felt whenever Rau was near. But it was noticeably different from that feeling. He turned to the source of the feeling. "What is that?"
Chris found his awareness of the world around him expanding to levels he had never experienced before. It was indescribable. Zane fired his beam cannons at the Raven. But to Chris, he instinctively knew where the shots were going to hit, allowing him to avoid the shots and before Zane could react, sliced the tips of the cannons off. "Impossible..." a stunned Zane whispered.
"I told you, I won't let you win." Chris replied. "That's four cannons down. It looks like the power of your cannons aren't as great as the Raven's."
The Retribution's remaining sub arm unfolded. "Fine then." Zane said with all four of the Retribution's sabers casting a crimson glow on the mobile suit. "We'll settle this with swords. Something that I have a distinct advantage in."
"We'll see." Chris replied.
Both pilot roared, charging forward.
Jachin Due
"Mirror block in place. N-Jammer Canceller activated. Connecting to nuclear cartridge. All systems connected. All clear to fire." an operator reported.
"Fire!" Patrick ordered, unleashing GENESIS upon the Earth Forces again.
Alright. It's nearly done. Two more chapters and it's all over. Obviously, the Chris/Zane will end in an upcoming chapter. Though I've already written the entire fight and it's ending and personally, I love the ending I've got for it, but that all I'm saying about that.
As always, review!!