Disclaimer: I hate to disappoint Phantom Knight but Shawn's Gundam won't be equipped with a charged particle cannon but Wing-Zero will be and unfortunately I can't tell you anything about it until we get to the battle of Jachin Due and Genesis where Zero will reveal its other secret weapon, yes I said it one of the two secret weapons Zero has is a charged particle cannon. Also in the chapter I'm introducing Shawn and the Gundam he will be piloting which has an integrated Zero System. And I know some of you are angry with me for ending the last chapter where I did but there needs to be a cliff-hanger every once and a while. And now here's chapter 16.
"Speech"
'Thought,'
"Communications"
Freedom, Justice and Wing-Zero.
Previously.
"This is the commander of the Earth Forces Lunar base, we will not allow this formula to be used by the coordinators. Your threats are meaningless, one suit couldn't possibly destroy all our ships. Surrender yourself and Wing-Zero and I'll consider sparing your life,"
"Then I guess we do this the hard way," I said uploading the virus on a timer program and transforming Zero into its Mobilesuit mode. "Say goodbye to one of your warships,"
And now the continuation.
Splitting the buster rifle apart I aimed at the centre of the warship orbiting right above and fired, the blast piercing the plasma reactor destroying the ship in seconds. Another display showed me the virus would be released in 30 seconds which would not only erase everything concerning Gundanium alloy but also render their defence systems inactive and keep the base on quarantine procedures as long as Zero was tapped into their main computer. The other ships were spreading themselves out as to avoid the debris while taking up a defensive posture, but I wasn't here to destroy warships. More ships were being sent out to guard the Lunar base in case of a secondary assault from orbit which would have worked if there were any other ships or Mobilesuit nearby.
"Commander you're wasting your time I'm the only one out here. All you've done is make sure I can pick your ships off one by one if I wanted to so I think I'll cut you some slack," I said deactivating the Hyper-Jammers. "You should be abele to see me now,"
Before they had a chance to lock on to me I kicked up Zero jets, flying towards the landing bay where all the arriving and departing ships were directed and nearly ran into one of the exiting Nelson-class ships. Good thing I was on the moon surface or I would have been fire on by now, rejoining the buster rifle and placing it in the shield I took out one of the beam sabres and flew backwards into the landing bay, slicing up its port side missile launchers.
"I wouldn't worry about your ships commander, destroying them is not part of my mission," I said flying past the rows of warships.
"Commander, our defence systems are responding we can't return fire!"
"This is the seventh orbital fleet our weapons are none responsive, we're completely defenceless!"
'That should keep them occupied,' I thought passing the second row of ships and mobile armour. "All right Zero, show me all the personnel involved in Gundanium alloy production,"
Regular POV.
Earth.
Alaska base.
City Section.
Flay had never been so lost in her life, the Alaska base was an endless series of corridors and passageways and seeing as she had never been to the Earth Forces headquarters she somehow wound up far away from where the Archangel was, which was currently engaging the attacking ZAFT forces. In her panic she stumbled around a building and right into a battle involving 3 Dinns a CGUE and an assort of armoured vehicles which were already destroyed and a large transport truck much like the ones she heard about from one of the bridge officers. The kind that carried Mobilesuits, then she felt something cold and hard pressed into the side of her head.
"If you want to live you'll do exactly as I say, understand?" a deep muscular voice asked.
"Perfectly," Flay replied going stiff as a board.
"Name and rank,"
"Flay Allster and I'm just a crewman. I joined the Earth Forces for the wrong reasons," she answered trying not to soil herself. "Who are you? If you don't mind me asking,"
"I'm ZAFT Special Forces agent Shawn Regal and you're coming with me. Now turn around and face the wall," he instructed taking the gun away from her head. "Resist and you will be punished,"
"I understand," she sobbed as her hands were cuffed behind her back and a thick cloth secured over her eyes. "Why don't you just kill me now?"
"Because your superiors have seen fit to sacrifice you to destroy ZAFT's attack forces. Now stop asking questions," he ordered tossing Flay over his shoulder.
Heero's POV.
Lunar Base.
Five Minutes Later.
Pulling Zero's fist away from the fresh smear of scientist on the wall I stopped our advance after sensing another echo of the Zero System but as Zero was keeping the Lunar base defences offline he couldn't determine where the echo was coming from only that it was a new Mobilesuit. Looking back at the human splatter I felt uneasy about something. Pulling up the personnel records on the Gundanium alloy production I went through them again to make sure none of them had families otherwise I'd be labelled as terrorist or worst a simple murderer, something I never wanted to be called. I felt my stomach lodge itself in my throat when I read that the remaining scientists had families who were living in the Lunar base, one of the scientists wives had given birth to a baby girl only four months ago. There was no way I could kill these people even if it was to protect my father's work.
"Wing-… please… respond. Wing-… if… hear me… respond. We… escape… help us,"
'How the hell in this base would want my help?' I wondered trying to match the communication frequency. "This is Wing-Zero go head,"
"Thank you for responding, I'm one of the scientists assigned to produce Gundanium alloy and when I say assigned I mean we were all force to create it. The Earth Forces have used our families as hostages to make us cooperate and we're had enough,"
"So you want my help?" I asked finding this not that hard to believe considering the actions of Blue Cosmos.
"We know you have direct control over the quarantine procedures. All we're asking you to do is clean a path so we can get to our families and escape from the base,"
"I'll be waiting for you in the hanger, there are some shuttles you can use to escape to Earth, but you have to destroy any remaining Gundanium you've created," I replied accessing the security feeds for the lab.
"We only managed to create enough for the X-226 Helsion. The command officers decided Gundanium took too long to make and so we were ordered to create an alloy that didn't take as long to fabricate,"
"What'd you come up with so far?" I asked finding the lab where the scientists were dressing up in space suits, one of which was talking to me through a headset.
"Nothing, we told the people in charge we didn't have the time to create a new type of armour,"
"Very well, I'm programming a sequence that will allow you to get to you families and keep you away from any other soldiers. I'll be standing by in the hanger and escort you away from the moon," I replied going back the way I came.
"We'll meet you there and thank you,"
'At least I won't have to kill them,' I thought.
Regular POV.
Earth.
Alaska Base.
"So they're sacrificing the Eurasian forces and the legged ship. Sometime the Earth Forces plans can be quiet entertaining," Le Creuset said to himself, lowering his binoculars with a sadistic grin on his face.
As he was about to return to his Dinn and leave for the submarine carriers waiting beyond the fighting, a black with red highlights coloured unidentified Mobilesuit touched down beside his. He surmised that if it were an enemy suit he would have been dead already so he calmly rode the descent cable back up to the cockpit just as the pilot stepped out of the suit and gave a sharp salute.
"Commander Le Creuset sir. Shawn Regal ZAFT Special Forces," Shawn said standing at attention wearing an Earth Forces mechanic's jumpsuit.
"I see your mission was a success Agent Regal," Le Creuset smirked saluting back. "You can give me your report once the battle is over, however I would like to know if that machine is capable of fighting right now,"
"It is sir, but I have a female prisoner aboard at this time," Shawn informed dropping his salute.
"Very well you shall accompany me back to the carrier group. And I shall leave the girl in your care as well as let you continue to pilot this machine," Le Creuset instructed pausing to look at the new machine. 'It has characteristics from both Tallgeese and Epyon. I wonder what that will do to its combat performance,'
"Understood sir," Shawn replied climbing back into the cockpit.
'This is strange, why do I have the feeling this suit has something in common with Wing-Zero?' Le Creuset wondered powering up his Dinn's systems. 'No matter I'm sure this machine will be far better off in Shawn's hands then anyone else. Things will surely get more interesting now,'
Shawn's POV.
Helsion's Cockpit.
'Why did I take this girl with me? I should have just left her there to die but why did I feel sympathy for her? I've been train not to feel anything for my enemies, yet it seems she was scared. Maybe since she's just a crewman she doesn't get involved in the fighting. No I mustn't think about unnecessary things, my mission is all that matters but why does that make me feel empty?' Shawn pondered following Le Creuset's Dinn around the fighting back to the sub carriers. 'Wait what's this? Enemy fighters changing course heading for the Commander and myself, two no three but who's telling me this? Helsion that's your name but why? No you're wrong, destroying my enemy is the only thing I must do! Wait, what are you doing! No! Get out of my mind!'
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!"
"What's going on?" Flay cried feeling her stomach lurch into her throat as I lost control of Helsion causing it to free fall.
'Flay? Why are you showing me this Helsion? Why is she important?' I wonder as I was shown Flay's body vaporising as if she were in a shuttle explosion. 'I have to protect her, is that what you mean? Then give me the power to keep her from harm!'
Heero's POV.
Lunar Base.
Shuttle Hanger.
'Huh? There it is again. Another echo of the Zero System. That new machine must be in combat. I'll have to keep an eye out for it then,' I thought waiting as a small group of people in spacesuits floated over to the shuttle I was guarding.
"Wing-Zero we can't thank you enough for helping us, but once we're clear of the moon the Earth Forces will hunt us down,"
"Then I suggest you head to Orb ask for Cagalli Yula Athha and tell her Wing-Zero sent you. You can help oppose the Earth Forces by helping with their military since they only use it to defend themselves," I answered opening the Zero System control circuit. "That bitch!"
"Is something wrong?"
"The Helsion, is it equipped with something called the Zero System?" I asked noticing one of the control cards was missing.
"I'm not sure we were only told to make the Gundanium for a Mobilesuit and send it to Earth once we were finished. We weren't told anything about the Mobilesuit the alloy would be used for. Why?"
"An officer on the Archangel stole one of the control cards for the Zero cockpit system as well as sent you the information on Gundanium alloy," I fumed closing the control circuit. "We all ready to leave yet?"
"Yes, now we just need to get around the warships,"
"Leave that to me," I replied pointing the buster rifle straight up and blasting a hole through the moon's surface, big enough for the shuttle and Zero to fit through in single file.
"We could have just used the shuttle exit tubes,"
"Trust me this is better," I said programming the computer virus to release control of the warships orbiting the moon only. "In three minutes then fire up the shuttle and head for Orb, I'll keep the EF occupied,"
Shooting through hole and out into open space I fired the buster rifle at less than half power between two Nelson-class ships. Their attention grabbed as they trained their beam cannons in our direction, the other ships turning to engage us. As Zero calculated their attack pattern I fired the gatling cannons at the east quadrant radar station leaving a blind spot for the shuttle to escape.
'I doubt Zala will be willing to resupply Zero when I get back to the Plants, so I'll have to wait till I meet up with Kira and the Freedom,' I pondered dodging the first missile barrage.
"Wing-Zero pilot, we've launched successfully but it'll take us seven minutes to put enough distance from the Lunar base for us to escape,"
"Seven minutes! How am I supposed to keep dodging these guys for another seven minutes?" I shouted flying through the random cannon fire.
Five Minutes Later
"Oh this stinks, it's not fair! This was not part of my plan! I did not sign up for this crap!" I hollered narrowly avoiding cannon fire and missiles.
"Wing-Zero, stand down and surrender,"
"Like I hell I will!" I shouted switching Zero to mobile armour mode and turning back towards the Earth Forces ships. "Let's see you shoot at me when I'm right between your ships!"
Regular POV.
Earth. Alaska Base.
ZAFT Carrier Sub.
Commander Le Creuset's Dinn and a mean looking Mobilesuit landed and docked facing each other in the sub's hanger while Yzak was waiting for the mechanics to resupply the Duel.
"Commander!" Yzak shouted grabbing the masked man's attention after he stepped out of this Mobilesuit.
"Resupplying Yzak?" Le Creuset asked.
"Yes sir, I've gotten through two gates so far. Next time I'll rip the interior apart," the platinum blonde declared.
"Hmm," Le Creuset pondered for a moment. "Because the legged ship is station there we haven't been able to breach the main gate. I think I'd prefer if you were there Yzak,"
"Yes sir, thank you very much," Yzak replied ecstatic at the opportunity to take out the Archangel.
"Commander, should I take the prisoner to a holding cell," Shawn asked standing on the Helsion's cockpit hatch with Flay slumped over his shoulder.
"No, until we complete the analyses on this new Mobilesuit she is your responsibility. Take her to your quarters, I'll be there shortly to question her," Le Creuset instructed riding the zip cable down to the deck.
"Understood sir," Shawn replied riding down the Helsion's zip cable. 'Why do I feel relieved with the Commander's decision? This girl's fate shouldn't concern me,'
Plants.
The Next Day.
Plant Council Building.
Zala's Office.
"What do you mean the invasion forces were practically wiped out!?" Zala demanded slamming his fist on his desk.
"Well sir from what we've been able to gather the enemy used a Cyclops system which wiped out 80 of our forces. It seems there was a significant amount of their own forces stationed at Alaska so we wouldn't think the enemy had abandoned the base," Commander Yuki informed cringing at Zala's rage.
"Those damn naturals!" Zala roared. "How did they know we were really planning to attack Alaska? Perhaps the spy who stole the Freedom new about it,"
"Chairman Zala, I have Faith Special Forces Heero Yuy and Athrun Zala here to see you," a guard said saluting from the door with Heero and Athrun slight behind him, his arm in a sling.
"This is one butt ugly office," Heero murmured immediately receiving shocked looks from the other officers in the room.
"Where the hell were you Yuy? One of our prototype machines was stolen by an enemy spy!" Zala shouted snarling at Heero's blank expression.
"I was technically removing a tactical advantage the Earth Forces would have used to win the war. As I'm sure your aware Zala Wing-Zero's armour is made of a very strong alloy, the formula for that alloy was stolen by an officer in the Archangel while I was temporarily onboard. I managed to erase the formula from their computers and eliminated the scientists who were working on the project," Heero informed crossing his arms. "So what's this about a stolen machine?"
Pressing a button on his desk a screen to Zala's left flashed to life showing security footage from the Freedom's hanger with Lacus and a brunette soldier standing on the catwalk.
"Lacus!" Athrun gasped.
"This image was taken just before the X10-A Freedom was stolen. It's clear Lacus was using your departure as an excuse to aid an enemy spy," Zala said in a calmer voice this time. "The spy couldn't steal Wing-Zero so he stole the Freedom instead,"
"And all this time she was just pretending to love me," Heero hissed clenching his fists.
"Heero?" Athrun asked.
'Excellent,' Zala smirked. "Athrun, when your injuries are heal I want you to take the X-09A Justice and either recover or destroy the Freedom as well as any places or people he may have been in contact with,"
"That's a little extreme isn't?" Athrun asked.
"Those to machine the X10-A Freedom and the X-09A Justice are equipped with N-Jammer cancellers," Zala replied. "If the naturals get their hands on that technology they will regain the nuclear capabilities and possibly launch an all out nuclear attack on the Plants!"
"But…," Athrun began.
"What about Lacus' father?" Heero asked effectively silencing Athrun.
"He's gone into hiding like is daughter, and we can only surmise that it was Clyne who informed the Earth Forces of our attack plans," Zala sneered.
"But sir I just don't see how they could have informed the Earth Forces. Their house doesn't have a transmitter capable of contacting anyone on Earth and the communications centre is under constant surveillance," Athrun conjectured.
"It doesn't matter how they did it, what matters is the Earth Forces knew we would be attacking Joshua Alaska and made preparations to annihilate us! All the two of you need to do is find the Freedom and eliminate the spy who stole it!" Zala snarled, practically foaming at the mouth. "Since Yuy is a member of Faith he's in charge of this mission,"
"We understand sir. And with your permission we'd like to hunt Lacus down and arrest her," Heero interrupted snapping Zala his first salute.
"Proceed at your discretion. Your both dismissed," Zala ordered. 'I knew Lacus' betrayal would turn him,'
Heero's POV.
Remains of Lacus' House.
"Uh can I ask you something, sir?" Athrun asked attentively.
"And what would that be?" I asked back frowning at the damage done to such a nice house.
"Do you really believe Lacus would have helped an enemy spy, sir?" he questioned broken glass crunching beneath his feet. "And respectfully, what are we doing here?"
"I don't know what to believe anymore, I thought she was really in love with me and then she does something like this," I scoffed looking up at the room I had shared so many with Lacus. "You've known her longer than me, do you have an idea where she might be right now?"
"If I ventured a guess I'd say she's gone to the music hall where she performed her first concert. Her fans gave her dozens of white flowers like the ones that grew in the garden," Athrun answered.
"Wait in the car there're some personal items of mine that I need to retrieve. Then we'll resume our search, after we've located and arrested her we can start looking for the Freedom," I said throwing a chunk of wall at the bullet ridden couch. 'That couch won't be the last one we make out on,'
"Yes sir," Athrun replied heading for the car.
Disclaimer: Now you all know the name of the new Gundam but I can't tell you about its weapons until it goes into battle and until then you'll just have to suffer a little while longer. The next chapter we might see Zero and the Justice leaving for Earth and the long awaited reunion between Athrun and Cagalli. I might add some more Dearka/Miriallia and some Kira/Shinobu and maybe I'll give Mu and Murrue's relationship a jumpstart but that's only if you leave a good review. And I mean tell me what you liked about this chapter. But enough of my rambling see you in chapter 17.