"People of Earth, we see our cities scarred once more by the barbaric forces of the Coordinators who seek to shatter the peace I wish to bring to this world. This time it was Australia, but who knows where the Coordinators will strike next. Asia? America? Africa? How are we to know; how are we to feel safe in our own homes, knowing those merciless monsters stalk our night skies and seek our destruction. What reason do they have to attack us in such an uncivilized and inhuman form? I cannot help but notice, the Earth Alliance Forces, who once sought to protect humanity and rid space of those Coordinator monsters now sit idly by and let them do as they please. I see no attempts by them to come to your need when your land is ravaged by those space-dwellers; I see them making no attempt to send aid to those suffering in the battle's aftermath. I cannot help but conclude that these people once called humanity's protectors are now in league with the Coordinators. They will lend no assistance to those who suffer here on Earth from the attacks we have witnessed across Australia, but Purity will. We will not stand by and let the Coordinators do as they please; we will stand and will fight for you, the people of this blue Earth, its true children" Alastair spoke, his voice carrying across the courtyard he stood before. He slammed his hands down on the podium before him and gazed out at the sea of people.
"I ask each and every citizen of this Earth, rise with me now. Let us make our stand for independence, let us show that we are not the inferior species here, that we, the true people of this Earth will not sit by and let the Coordinators take what is rightfully ours. Even if not on the battlefield, stand with me and fight in any way you can. Each one of you has a rightful place on this Earth, our Earth. It is time to reach out and claim that place with your own two hands!" the Purity leader called to the people, summoning a resounding cheer in response.
"I'll give him points, he knows how to get the crowd on his side" Marcel commented darkly, watching the speech.
"It almost makes you wanna drop your weapon and stop fighting" Garret said, causing the others to all look at him. "Once you know that soon the battlefield is just going to be filled with innocent people being manipulated by him, it almost takes away your will to fight" he continued, staring down at the table.
"We can't stop fighting. All he's doing is leading hundreds or thousands of innocent people to their deaths. We can't stop fighting until we stop him" Marcel said, placing his hand on Garret's shoulder.
"I know" Garret said in reply before getting to his feet. "Hey Victoria, come for a walk" the blonde pilot said, leaving the cafeteria. Victoria got to her feet and followed close behind her friend.
"Is he ok?" Hilde asked, looking to Marcel.
"Garret hates war. From what I hear his father and older brother died in the last war. I'm pretty sure they were deceived by ex-chairman Durandal's speeches and they ended up dying in that final battle around the Requiem. What Alastair is doing reminds him of that I think; that's why he fights, to stop people sacrificing themselves because of people like Durandal and Alastair" Marcel explained, looking up at the still cheering crowd on the TV.
Garret and Victoria stepped out onto the deck of the Ceres and Garret went and leant on the railings, unbuttoning his red jacket so it fluttered freely in the wind. Victoria slowly approached him and gently placed her hand on his back and watched him with a sad expression. "Are you ok?" she asked quietly.
"Yes. I'm alright" he replied, staring out at the desert sand. "I just… I can't stand people like him. How can anyone sacrifice so many innocent people like that with no feelings of remorse, let alone call it right?" the young soldier asked.
"Garret… don't let him get to you. We're going to stop them. That's why we're going to Orb, we're going to defeat Purity and stop Alastair" Victoria said, looking into the sad eyes of her friend.
"I know… I just… I don't want to kill those people, knowing that they're just being deceived by that man and his fancy words" Garret said, tightening his grip on the railing.
"That's all he's trying to do to us, he's just making it that much harder to pull the trigger" Victoria said sadly.
"I know there's no use giving up now because of this, if we don't stop him its going to be a lot more than the ones we cut down who lose their lives because him. I won't stop, not until I personally pull the trigger on that bastard" Garret said, the resolve clear in his eyes as he watched the sand fly past. "For Cecil and for everyone else that man is going to sacrifice for whatever reason he's using, I'm going to stop him" he continued, looking to Victoria.
"I'll be right by your side the whole time" she said, leaning in and kissing her friend. "Come on, let's get back inside, it's getting cold out here" Victoria said a little more cheerfully, leaving a blushing Garret behind her. The blonde young man smiled and followed after her.
Back in the cafeteria, Marcel and Hilde sat in silence as they ate and waited for their two comrades to return. "Sorry about that" Garret said as they reentered the cafeteria and sat down with meals of their own.
"You good now man?" Marcel asked, looking up at Garret. The silver eyed young man nodded and took his seat.
"So, what do you think the strategy will be if we have to fight while out on the ocean?" Hilde asked, looking between the other pilots.
"I'd say everyone will still be able to fight. Everyone's Gundams except for mine and the Commander's can fly in the atmosphere and we have a few Guuls on board that the Duel and Calamity can use" Garret explained in reply. "But let's hope we don't have to fight out there" he continued.
"I can pretty much guarantee we'll have to. They're not gonna just let us get away with five of their Gundams. They'll send a group after us" the purple haired pilot explained. "So I'd recommend that we get prepared for that" she said.
"Well I dunno about anyone else, but I'm gonna go get some sleep. I'm stuffed" Marcel said with a groan as he got to his feet. He put his tray near the kitchen and left the cafeteria. The other three pilots finished their meals and returned to their rooms.
"I don't know how much longer I can take this constant fighting" Garret sighed as he kicked off his boots and fell forwards onto his bed. He rolled onto his back and stretched his body out before closing his eyes.
The next few days aboard the Ceres passed uneventfully with the ship passing into the ocean and making good time towards Orb. Aston sat on the bridge with Captain Phillips, watching the massive expanse of water as the ship tore through it like a knife to butter. "One thing I do love about Earth is the ocean, it's so peaceful" the red haired Commander commented.
"Isn't a little strange that Purity hasn't attacked us though? I figured they would have sent some sort of attack force after us to either take back or destroy the machines we stole from them" Captain Phillips said. "I think it might be wise the mobile suits prepped and ready to go whenever we need them" he continued.
"Already been taken care of. I had that done yesterday. We can't afford to be caught off-guard out here so I've already come up with a battle plan with the others. We'll all be ready to go on a moment's notice" Aston explained.
"I knew there was a reason I kept you on this ship" Richard said with a grin.
"Ha, I thought it was my good looks" the Commander said as he rose to his feet.
"Captain! Heat sources detected behind us; four of them!" Wallace called across the bridge.
"Looks like we jinxed it Aston" Richard said grimly. "What are they?" he called down to Wallace.
"Two Forbiddens and… two Abysses!" the soldier called in response.
"Four Gundams, they're getting serious" Aston said, looking to the Captain. "I'll launch immediately with the others" he said more seriously, running from the bridge.
"Lower the bridge! Ready all torpedo launchers with Wolframs and ready the Isoldes. Load missile tubes with Dispars and ready the Tristans for any of them that decide to pop their pretty little heads out of the water!" Richard called, watching his crew expertly perform the tasks.
Garret and Marcel ran down the corridor as they heard the order to go to level one battle stations. "I guess Hilde was right" Marcel said as they turned into the locker rooms where Aston was pulling on his white pilot suit.
"Four aquatic Gundams, hit them with physical weapons while they're underwater. The second they come out, hammer them with beams" Aston said as he pulled his helmet on and left the room.
"Four Gundams… I guess they aren't screwing around with us anymore" Marcel said as he changed. Garret remained silent as he pulled on his flight suit and headed down into the hangar. He saw Hilde's Saviour already being loaded onto the catapult and climbed into the cockpit of the Duel as she launched. He watched as Aston and a Guul were launched next and then it was his turn.
"Garret Kross, soar!" he said as he shot forward and was flung into the air above the ocean. A Guul quickly followed and he landed on it, the Duel's feet being locked into place. Marcel followed the Guul and quickly transformed into his mobile armour form like Hilde and Victoria followed in the Aile Strike.