Disclaimer: Ok this chapter should have Shawn and Flay joining up with the Archangel and the other ships, as for how Le Creuset gets the N-Jammer Canceller tech to the EF, I have something planned you probably won't expect.
"Speech"
'Thought,'
"Communications"
Freedom, Justice and Wing-Zero.
Mendel Colony.
Rear Harbour.
Vesalius Bridge.
"Well this is interesting, Wing-Zero's not even fight back and still holding his own. That Heero never ceases to intrigue me," Le Creuset smirked. "Tell me Shawn which ship would that traitor Lacus have taken residence?"
"My guess is the legged ship. The Freedom and Justice haven't moved from their defensive positions and they're not protecting the harbour exit," Shawn replied, keeping his eyes on the battle.
"My thoughts exactly, but until we ascertain Lacus' current location we're better off not getting involved. Therefore Yzak, Shawn and I shall venture into the colony to gather intelligence," Le Creuset ordered, turning to leave the bridge with Yzak and Shawn behind him. "Ades, tell the Heldertron and Heusinger to remain at their current positions. Don't move the ship unless the enemy catches onto our location,"
"Understood sir," Ades replied.
"And Shawn, soon you will have your chance to fight Wing-Zero again," Le Creuset grinned.
"I look forward to it sir," Shawn said emotionlessly. 'Looks like I'll have the perfect opportunity to escape with Flay and very soon,'
Dominion Bridge.
"Damn this bastard's annoying!" Clotho grouched, launching the Raider's mace at Wing-Zero for the umpteenth time only to miss again.
"Stop running away and fight asshole!" Orga shouted, firing the Calamity's shoulder cannons at empty space.
"What's wrong with those three? Why can't they shoot down a single Mobilesuit?" Azrael demanded, slamming his fist on his armrest. "Where are the Strike Daggers?"
"They're busy fighting the Orb Mobilesuits, sir,"
"How long before the time limit expires?" Natarle asked calmly.
"Two minutes 15 second ma'am,"
"This is stupid, it's 3 against one and he isn't even fight back. Recall the Strike Daggers!" Azrael ordered.
"If we did that we'd be facing Orb's warship, it's Mobilesuits plus the Strike and the Buster. And the Archangel, Freedom and Justice haven't even moved since the fight began. Recalling our machines would only put us at a disadvantage," Natarle said. "I recommend we fall back and call for reinforcements,"
"We are not falling back Captain, we just need to keep the pressure up and Wing-Zero will fall," Azrael rebutted, just as the ship shook from a sudden impact. "What the hell was that?"
"Wing-Zero impacted against the ship sir, it's below the bridge,"
"Order the Calamity, Raider and Forbidden to hold their fire!" Natarle shouted.
"Are you made woman?" Azrael demanded.
"If they fired, Wing-Zero would dodge and we would take the hit. Heero's in the perfect position, we can't fight back as long as he remains where he is. We have no choice but to retreat at this point," Natarle advised.
"Hey Azrael, I only have to wait a minute and a half before I can fight back. And by the way I took a hit from the Calamity on purpose so I would suggest calling your forces back, your three machines are almost out of power,"
"I swear I'll kill you for this you coordinator bastard! Badgiruel! Don't just sit there, order our forces to withdraw!" Azrael shouted, seething in his seat.
Archangel Bridge.
"Captain, the Dominion and their Mobilesuits are withdrawing," Sai informed, completely surprised.
"Where's Wing-Zero?" Murrue asked, breathing a sigh of relief.
"He's holding position between us and the Dominion," Sai answered, reading the radar data.
"Archangel, this is the Kusanagi. The Buster and the Strike are heading back to the colony. Commander La Flaga said something about ZAFT nearby," Cagalli informed.
"Hey, Kira. Zero says you should go after them, the rest of us will stay here for repairs and resupplying," Heero said, bring Wing-Zero alongside the Freedom and Justice. "I need to check in on Lacus. Cagalli could you transfer to the Archangel? You might be able to help her more than I can,"
"I'm on my way over now," Cagalli replied, as the Freedom headed back inside the colony.
"I'll stay behind and escort Cagalli's shuttle in," Athrun said, heading towards the Kusanagi.
"Archangel can you open the door? I got a bit banged up in that skirmish," Heero informed.
"Hanger doors are open, Wing-Zero you are clear to return," Miriallia replied. "Do you want us to alert Lacus?"
"No, I don't want her worrying about this. She's got enough on her mind as it is," Heero said, guiding Zero into the hanger noticing one of the cockpit displays showing a malfunction in the left arm. "Hey Shinobu, looks like Zero took some damage in that skirmish. The left arm can't compensate for the weight of the buster rifle,"
"I'm on my way down," Shinobu replied, leaving the bridge.
Hanger.
"Alright boys I want team 1 prepping this hanger for the Commander and Elsman when they get back! Team 2 get the starboard flight deck ready for the Justice and Kusanagi shuttle!" Murdock shouted, feeling a sense of pride as his mechanics responded almost without him even barking out instructions.
"Deck crew this is the bridge. Wing-Zero's coming in with damage to its left arm, Shinobu's on her way so follow her instructions,"
"Right you heard the lady, we've got a ton work to do so let's get it done! Anyone not working on ship repairs help Shinobu out with Wing-Zero!" Murdock bellowed.
"Yes sir!"
Sickbay.
After Wing-Zero's Docking.
The battle was over but Lacus hadn't moved from her father's side even when the nurse covered him completely with a sheet, she wasn't even concern that she was sitting in sickbay half naked. She had lost her whole family now, it made her sad and angry, she wanted to hurt those who had taken her father from her. But that wasn't how she was raised, if she tried hurting Patrick Zala all her efforts for peace would be for nothing, she had to be strong for everyone and for Heero. Standing up she was just about to leave for the bridge when Heero walked through the door in his flight suit minus the helmet with blood running down the left side of his face.
"Heero what happened?" Lacus asked worriedly, as he took a seat to wait for a nurse.
"Had a little skirmish with those 3 Gundams the Earth Forces are using and the Dominion," he answered, watching as she grabbed a gauze to gently wipe the blood away. "I gave them 5 minutes to hit me while not fighting back, of course they weren't able to get a single hit on me until I took a hit to get below the Dominion's bridge. That's how I got this injury, when my head impacted the controls, and because I didn't have my helmet on. Oh and Zero took some damage for the first time ever,"
"I wish you wouldn't take such risks like that. I just lost my father and you come in here bleeding after a battle," Lacus blubbered, throwing the gauze on the table as more tears spiled from her already red eyes. "I don't know if I can watch you going out to fight anymore but I know it's necessary for you to protect me. I want to be strong but I just don't have the strength left,"
"Lacus you don't need to be strong for everyone, they all have their own reasons for fighting and ending this war. Shinobu and I both know what it's like to lose our parents and even though I had Wing-Zero with me I still felt helpless when my father died. When I promised I would do everything in my power to protect you I meant it, but I have to risk my life to protect yours," Heero replied, taking her sobbing form into his arms. "I'm sorry I worried you but I'm a warrior and I need to pilot Wing-Zero. I'm already working on a program that will allow Zero to fight without me in the cockpit but there isn't a Mobilesuit I can pilot that's fast enough for me. And don't worry if you're not strong enough, I've got more than enough strength for the both of us,"
"Hold me," she sobbed, dropping into his lap crying into his right shoulder as a nurse came to attend to his minor injury.
Disclaimer: Sorry about not having Shawn and Flay joining the Archangel, I've just been lost with all my other fan fics. And it doesn't help that I've got ideas for new fan fics popping up. Oh and if anyone has read my Negima fan fic I've got a poll on my profile that I've recently opened, so cast a vote and I'll be back with the next chapter