Chapter 2
Lord Djibril smiled as he got close to the mic.
"For our blue are pure world, FIRE!"
As soon as he gave that order, munition controllers hit buttons and shouted orders. A hail of missiles shot out of secret launching tubes and rocket launchers loosed their payload. STRIKE DAGGERS with heavy guns mounted on the shoulders walked forward to protect the base proper. Five large doors opened and the fleet under Durandal's leadership knew the worst was to come. Five gigantic mobile suits lifted off and slowly descended to the battlefield, like angels of death coming for those who strayed.
[It's the DESTROY's, Shinn, you're up!] Rey yelled through the radio.
[They're all going down!] Shinn rushed the first one, anger fueling him and making him quicker. He cut it off at the knees before killing the pilot with his next blow.
Rey rushed toward the massive gun emplacements and let loose his small DRAGOONS, each of the small pod like guns floated and dodged out of the way like wasps. And with well placed shots the guns were silenced, but the crews only had minor injuries.
Lunamaria was having a hard time defending the Minerva, it seemed as if all the forces that LOGOS had set their targeters for that ship alone. After strafing using the 180mm beam cannon to take out a salvo of missiles, she was hit by STRIKE DAGGER heavy guns. As they ganged up on her, they didn't seem to realize what they had done. In a quick flash the DESTINY took a hit meant for the IMPULSE, and just as quickly sliced through the STRIKE DAGGER's as if they were tissue paper. When the first one hit the water was when the last one was cut down.
[Luna, use the ships defenses as your own. Right now you're equipped for long range, which means if they get close, you're dead.] Shinn looked to his screen that had her on it.
[Roger that...and thanks for the save.] She smiled at him as Rey came onto their line.
[Cut the chatter, they still have four of those monstrosities out there killing good men.] Rey looked hard at her.
[I'll get right on it!] Shinn left her to stand on the Minerva as Zabarrel looked thoughtful as he replayed what had just happened.'I'll have to talk to Gil about this...it could be good or it could be very bad...'
As several mobile suit teams came ashore, several STRIKE DAGGER's landed to fight the on base personnel.
The first officer of an Alliance ship that was with the Chairman looked up to the sky.
"Sir, they should be beginning their drop."
"Then let our teams know to back them up. Let the mobile armour's crew know to hit gate thirty-seven. That one hasn't opened yet and I want to know why." The Captain looked to the First Officer.
"Yes sir." He nodded to the radioman who then relayed the message.
"Also let the flagship know, I know how I hate surprises." The Captain smiled as the radioman gave a thumbs up.
On the bridge of the Minerva Talia looked to the CIC. "Hammer them on the left flank."
"Are you really sure that's what you want to do?" The Chairman just looked at her.
"Yes. Thanks to our Alliance allies, they've softened it up for us. Move the Maximillion team and the Walters team in."
"But ma'am, they're in prototype ZAKU suits." Arthur looked shocked at his Captain.
"But their all Aces. And with those suits they haven't been shot down." She looked like she had pride in them.
"I thought the order was given to replace them?" Durandal looked confused.
"They refused." She smiled at his startled look.
"Well then, looks like I'll have to transfer them here if they survive." He looked thoughtful.
"Please see that you do." She then focused her attention back on the battle.
One of the LOGOS ground troopers held onto his rifle like a lifeline as ZAFT ground forces made sure he kept his head down. When he saw ZAFT marine he went full auto, spraying and praying. But he didn't see the other marines squad members, he felt pain and realized that he had been shot. He dropped his rifle and waited for the end, which never came. The marine knelt down beside him and started to bandage him up.
"Son, you fought hard and you're tired. But a word of advice, keep your eyes on the target, you didn't even come close to hitting me." The elderly man smiled as a look of shock came on his face.
"But...but Junius Seven..."
"Kid, we aren't all monsters, and if we survive this I want you to meet my family. But be proud of what you accomplished, you survived when your squadmates didn't." The elder marine nodded to his squad and they helped him up to move him.
"There's a shuttle at bay thirty-seven...I heard it was prepped and ready to go, but for what I don't know..." He told the marine.
"All right greenies, pass the word and lets make sure that shuttle doesn't launch!"
"HOO-RAH MASTER CHIEF!"
He was taken aback by the booming voices of the marines.
"Gets 'em every time." The Master Chief chuckled as they carried the LOGOS soldier to safety.
When the last DESTROY went down was when Lord Djibril made a quiet retreat. He boarded the shuttle but nodded to one of his men who nodded in return.
"Launch the shuttle, the others can't make it." The ensign gave the order.
"But sir-" A silenced gun-shot was heard as the pilots body was moved.
"Launching sir." The ensign blew out the hangar doors and launched the shuttle.
This caught everyone by surprise as the shuttle rocketed out of the bay, the only thing keeping it from being destroyed was its speed. The ensign nimbly piloted the shuttle around the munitions being shot at them, when they were free of the battlefield he turned to the only noble occupant.
"Sir, to Orb?"
"Yes...time to use their strength."
"Too bad the other weapon wasn't ready sir."
"Indeed. But we still have the moon." 'And a way to kill every last coordinator...' Anger clouding his thoughts as the shuttle made its way to the safe haven the Seirans offered him.
xXx
Kira watched the battle with Athrun and Meyrin, Cagalli, Murrue, and Neo Roanoke. 'So...that's how PHANTOM PAIN ends...' Neo looked down, seeming to concentrate on the sheets.
"Where do you think they'll head next?" Meyrin looked confused.
"Orb." Cagalli looked angry and sad at the same time.
"They'll either destroy Orb or take it over. And we can't let that happen." Athrun looked seriously to everyone.
"Unfortunately we have to wait till they're in dire need. Otherwise you still won't be recognized as the Chief Representative of Orb." Kira looked seriously to his sister.
"I know that...and when I get my hands on Yuna..."
"Don't kill him. He can't suffer if he's dead." A man in black fatigues looked at them.
"Who are you?" Athrun looked at him confused.
"Dracos Maximillion, best damn merc you're ever going to find. And for your next question, I'm stuck here. You see I was caught helping the ARCHANGEL, which right now is a big crime. So I'm working this gig pro-bono." His red hair complimented his green eyes, but everyone could see the roadmap of scars on his hands and neck. They guessed his whole body was like that.
"Pro-bono?" Meyrin looked confused.
"Honey, I get paid if you guys win. If you lose, I'm as good as dead." His eyes danced as she let out a squeak.
Athrun got in front of her as he looked into the mercenaries eyes. "Glad to have you aboard...now what can you do?"
"Infiltration Specialist." He smiled.
"Good...I have an idea. We need someone on the inside of Orb right now, because in a month they'll be surrounded." Athrun looked to Cagalli.
"But-"
"If I was Unato and Yuna, I would have my personal shuttle ready for launch and run to the moon when things got bad." Kira looked down thoughtfully.
"Exactly." Athrun looked from Cagalli to Kira.
"Then capture them both..." Cagalli looked to the mercenary.
"And this Lord Djibril?" He looked like a kid in a candy store.
"If you can. I'll deal with them when I get there." Cagalli smiled.
"Sounds good. I'll need a pilot's uniform, low rank, some duct tape, and that guys cyber eye." He pointed over to an Orb pilot.
"That was funny in the movie, not here." Kira looked at the merc as he bust out laughing.
"Damn...ah well, the uniform and the duct tape then." Dracos was still chuckling to himself.
"Done. What rank?" Cagalli looked at him.
"Lieutenant, low enough to not get noticed, but high enough to get into certain area's unnoticed."
"Alright Lt. Maximillion, get into uniform."
He gave a mock salute and left the bridge.
"If he's as good as he says he is, we can save Orb without firing a shot." Cagalli looked thoughtful.
"...Have you seen our luck recently?" Murrue looked to her.
"You're right...better get the other pilots ready in the MURASAME's when the time comes." Cagalli looked down and face-palmed.
"Getting a message from the ETERNAL ma'am...They'll be dropping a surprise in two weeks. They said to have Kira pick it up..." Miriallia chuckled as Kira blushed.
"Good...he can stop sulking when he thinks no one is watching..." Athrun ducked under a haymaker.
"It's not as if I miss her that bad..."
"Says the guy that almost hit me." Athrun dodged another playful blow meant for him.
"Ok guys, knock it off...What are you going to do with me?" Neo looked to Murrue.
"You're not a prisoner anymore, you can come and go as you please." She couldn't hide the trembling in her voice.
"Well I'm in. I have unfinished business with the MINERVA." 'I owe that ship some payback.'
"What machine is he going to use?" Murrue looked to Kira.
"The GOUF if I guess right...if not we have a SKYGRASPER right?"
"A fighter?" Neo looked like he didn't hear right.
"When equipped with the 380mm beam cannon...you're fast and can pack a punch." Athrun smiled at the thought.
"I see..." 'This seems so...familiar.' Neo had a lost look on his face.
"We have work to do." Cagalli looked to everyone and they nodded.
xXx
Unato looked to his guest and motioned to one of his men. 'We still made the right choice in joining the Alliance...right?' As if reading his mind his guest just smiled.
"Lord Djibril...will I still be heir to Orb?" Yuna looked to the hateful noble.
"Yes, follow my plan and the world will be yours, think about it." Djibril's words were like honey.
"We'll show everyone the strength of Orb when the enemy comes to our shores." Unato looked to a servant when she came in with a cell phone.
"Sir, It's one of the cabinet members." She handed the phone over to him.
{Unato...we have a problem.}
"What kind of problem?" Unato looked confused.
{Somehow word of your house guest got leaked to the tabloids. Security caught the man, but he's already sent the picture to places unknown. You know what's going to happen right?}
"We'll be hit with everything they have." This wasn't conjecture, this was a statement. A statement that got the attention of Lord Djibril.
{After they give us time to give him up. What does the child say? He is in charge.}
"Yuna..." Unato handed over the phone to his son.
"This is Yuna."
{I see. How are you going to deal with the press and the leaked picture of Lord Djibril?}
"We'll do what we did when the ARCHANGEL was here. That will surely work." He looked like he had a great idea.
His father face-palmed and then looked to the other noble in the room. 'Orb burned after that had happened...the second time around. It won't work again.'
{Yes sir. I will see to it.} The line went dead.
As Yuna handed the phone back to the female servant he looked to the clock. "By Haumia! It's raid time! My crew..." He ran out as fast as possible to get to his computer.
"He thinks more about games than he does as head of state. A good leader if I ever saw one." The sarcasm was thick in the hateful nobles voice.
"He is just...a boy. Cagalli would've turned him into a man but..."
"She was taken from the wedding. She needed to say I do so that he would've had some solid ground. As it is, she could very well take over the government, and the people will let her." Lord Djibril looked at Unato hard.
"We'll see what happens when she gets back." Unato looked down and sipped his tea.
"I guess we need to." Djibril looked away.
xXx
Durandal looked at the photo and smiled. 'This is what I needed to wipe out that annoying country. And when that happens-' The door closed viciously and there stood Talia Gladys. The look on her face spoke volumes.
"Pilot Asuka is depressed, Pilot Hawk is crying, and Pilot Zebarrel is following orders like a good trooper." She stood at the at ease position.
"And Hine?" He looked at her, his eyes dancing.
"Out on patrol." The temperature of her voice made Siberia seem like the tropics.
"Why do you hate me?" His features seemed to have a mask fall off.
"Permission to speak freely."
"Granted."
"Do I? Can I? If I do will you call me a traitor as well?"
"Record this if you wish." He sounded a little annoyed.
"Ok." She pulled out a small digital pocket recorder and hit the record button. "It's about what you did to Athrun...and in turn to Meyrin. They weren't traitors...and I'm thinking that whatever you have planned, it may be for the best interest of the species. But...That is all." He noticed conflict on her facial features as she noticed the photo on his desk.
"I do appreciate honesty, I really do. If we can't be honest with each other then..."
[Sir, a Miss Maximillion is here to see you.] The intercom interrupted him.
"Great, send her in." He had a smile on his face again.
A red haired and black eyed woman came in and she looked angry.
"What the hell are these orders about?" She lit into him as if she was a machine gun.
"And this is the attitude that keeps you from getting promoted." He face-palmed. 'That's why I had sent her to the front lines...she still hates me for what I did to her brother.'
Talia looked at this woman and on the inside she was smiling. 'A fire cracker...I like her.'
"Well screw these orders, getting assigned to your pet ship is not what I wanted you little prick." She looked at him like she wanted to kill him, nice and slowly.
"This here is the Captain of the MINERVA, Talia Gladys. This here is Pilot Koren Maximillion, the leader of the Maximillion team. She would be higher in rank if it wasn't for that attitude." He looked a little annoyed as she gave him the finger.
"Well, you made me a FAITH member, and as a FAITH member I hereby promote Koren Maximillion to the rank of Commander." She noticed how dark the Chairman's eyes got.
"I can't stop you. But I expect Commander Maximillion to be in uniform in two hours." He caste his dark gaze on them both.
"I'll walk you to the Quartermaster." She lead the new commander out of his shipside office.
'And now I can't do a thing...she recorded everything.'
xXx
Dracos Maximillion looked to his superiors seriously.
"I don't understand why we need more Intelligence Officers, and we never got any notice." The Captain looked at him suspiciously.
"They lost my packet again...seriously I think I'm unlucky..." He looked down and angry.
"It's ok...if we still don't have it by the end of the week I'll lite a fire under Commands ass to get it quickly." The Captain looked apologetically to him. "I'm sorry but right now all you'll be is a go-fer til I get that packet."
"Yeah...I understand...well where am I quartered at that doesn't take a security clearance..." Dracos looked annoyed.
"Sounds like that same old song and dance to you, huh?" The Captain looked a little puzzled.
"Yes...last time around I was stuck with Marines..."
"Well how does mobile suit pilots sound? And you'll only have one roommate." The Captain saw him smile and knew he made the right decision.
"Thanks sir...that means I can actually get some sleep." Dracos looked thankfully to the Captain.
"Don't mention it, just be sure to report to the ground floor of the building for your daily orders." The Captain saluted him as he saluted back.
"Yes sir."
"Dismissed." The Captain smiled as Dracos left his office under armed guard.
xXx
A/n: I hope I'm keeping the pacing good. I know I've established a good timeline. I think. But as for the OC's, They are my characters. The ones with out names aren't really important. Have fun reading this as much as I've been writing it. And as for the spelling, I blame the spellcheck google has.