Gundam Wing: Journey to a New Battlefield

by operation meteor

The war is won, yet he cannot find peace. When a mission gone wrong throws Heero into another world, how will he survive? And how will he react when he is confronted with his greatest challenge yet? For love can be trickier than any battlefield foe...

28. Chapter 28

Author's Notes: Hey there, hope everyone's doing ok! This chapter's not nearly as long as the last one was, though I'd still recommend setting aside a bit of free time for it. Anyway, to business. Three songs for this chapter, in order: "It Has To Be This Way" and "The Only Thing I've Ever Known" from the Metal Gear Rising; Revengeance soundtrack, and "Gradus Vita" from the Hellsing Ultimate OVA soundtrack. I know I used that last one in the previous chapter, but I felt it was fitting for a certain scene in this one too.

Usual disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing or Gundam Seed. I'm just writing this for fun.

Enjoy!

Episode Twenty-Eight: Prelude at Boaz

September 16th, C.E. 71

The atmosphere was tense as Heero, Murrue, and La Flaga entered the Eternal's conference room. Looking across the table, Heero saw Waltfeld and Aisha in hushed conversation, and from their body language it seemed the topic was grave. Lacus was already seated with Kira, along with Adaline, Lan, and Priscilla, and the somber looks on their faces did not bode well for the meeting. Cagalli, Athrun, and Erica were present as Orb's delegation, while Shemei and Eric had joined Heero and Murrue from the Archangel and were filing into the room behind them. The Wolf of the Far East had not revealed the purpose of the meeting on the way over despite prodding from Murrue and Heero, but his demeanor and that of the Valkyrie's was grim.

Waltfeld nodded in acknowledgement when he saw them enter. "Thanks for coming. I'm sorry we called this meeting so early, but it's too important to put off."

"Please," said Lacus, "be seated."

As Heero, Murrue, and the others settled in Waltfeld turned to Eric and nodded. "You ready to go?"

The former ZAFT Field Marshal nodded as he pulled a data drive from his pocket. "Everything's here."

Without further prompting Eric inserted the drive into a port next to the keyboard at his part of the table. A few inputs later and the holographic projectors in the center of the table sprang to life, bringing up a three dimensional map of the Earth Sphere. Studying the display, Heero saw that L5 and a point between it and the Moon were flashing blue, while Luna was blinking red and L3 green.

"As you all know," said Eric, "for the past few months the Earth Alliance and ZAFT have been focused on massive buildups of their forces in preparation for the final campaign. Last night I just got an update from our intelligence network. Azrael and Zala have decided it's time to get the show on the road; they're massing their fleets. It won't be long until they kick things off."

"Who made the first move?" asked Heero.

"The Alliance," Eric replied, "They started mobilizing their armada four days ago. That triggered Zala's total muster order; the Grand Fleet's preparing for battle."

Heero saw Shemei's jaw drop. "Holy shit…"

Murrue looked puzzled. "The Grand Fleet? I'm familiar with some of the designations for ZAFT's full battle fleets, but I've never heard of that one."

"No reason you should've," said Waltfeld, "It's mostly been a theoretical concept until now; we never thought we'd actually see it mobilized."

"What are you talking about?" asked La Flaga.

"As you're well aware," said Eric, "ZAFT's never fought with the bulk of its forces; our offensive operations involved limited fleets and armies. Ever since the Bloody Valentine Tragedy, the majority of our forces have actually been deployed defensively. It was only thanks to our mobile suits and enhanced abilities that we were able to take the initiative in this war, and thanks to their new developments the Earth Alliance has finally neutralized those advantages. Even with big offensives such as Ouroboros and Spit Break we still maintained sizeable reserves and defensive formations."

"The Grand Fleet," said Waltfeld, "is a total mobilization of ZAFT resources for a single operation. There's no reserve, no rearguard deployment; every last resource is gathered and prepared for battle."

A grim silence fell over the conference room. Heero certainly couldn't blame them; the sort of force Eric and Waltfeld were talking about eclipsed any that had ever been deployed in his old world.

And this was just one side of the fight.

"How many ships do they have?" asked Heero.

Eric closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them they were dark and somber.

"At last count… about five thousand."

Several people gasped, and Heero felt Murrue tightly grip his hand under the table. The stoic pilot was hard pressed to maintain his cool demeanor; the sheer size of the force was astounding.

Five thousand ships, he thought, Who knows how many mobile suits…

It was Lan Zhao that summed things up the best. "Fuck."

"This doesn't make any sense," said Priscilla, "How could Zala throw every resource into this when the enemy hasn't even launched their fleet yet? If he deploys wrong, the PLANTs will be wide open to assault!"

"Unless he knows exactly what the enemy's strike vector will be, he's setting the civilians up for slaughter!" cried Adaline.

Waltfeld raised his hand. "Calm down. Zala's aggressive, but he's not a fool. He has the Patrol Fleet monitoring the enemy's movements. With the size of the fleet their massing, there's no way Azrael's forces can make a move without ZAFT scouts picking up on it. If the Earth Alliance shifts their attack vector, Zala will be able to counter."

"Besides," said Eric, "with where they're deploying, the Earth Alliance isn't exactly hiding their intended route."

"What do you mean?" asked Cagalli.

"Check this out," Eric replied, typing on the keyboard.

The map shifted again, with the focus zooming in on one point of the Lunar Perimeter. Studying the new display, Heero saw two distinct fleet groups… one considerably larger than the other.

"That staging area," said Athrun, his eyes widening, "it's a straight shot to The Boaz Wall!"

"The Alliance is going for a frontal assault on The Wall?" said Erica incredulously, shaking her head, "They really don't give a damn about their troops…"

"They've split their forces," said Lacus, her gaze fixed intently on the two Earth fleets, "Mister Bristow, why did they do that if they're going to be attacking Boaz head on anyway?"

Eric nodded. "The smaller fleet is the vanguard. They'll engage ZAFT's front line at Boaz first while providing the main fleet valuable intel for when they move to join the fight."

"How large are the two fleets?" asked Heero.

"The vanguard alone is about seven hundred ships strong," said Waltfeld, "and signals intelligence indicates it's under the command of Rear Admiral Bernard."

"What about the main fleet?" asked Murrue, trepidation clear in her voice.

"Almost eighty-three hundred," said Eric grimly.

Heero felt Murrue squeeze his hand under the table again. He couldn't fault her reaction. His eyes narrowed as he stared at the two Earth Alliance fleets hovering over the table.

Almost nine thousand ships…

"No way…" said Kira softly.

"Bloody hell…" hissed Shemei.

"It can't be…" said Cagalli, her eyes wide with horror.

Athrun sighed. "We can't beat them. It doesn't matter what force we face; there's no way we can fight them head on."

"Which is why we won't be taking them on like that," said Heero, looking at the Desert Tiger, "Isn't that right, Waltfeld?"

The Field Marshal nodded, smiling at the Gundam pilot. "Quite correct, Heero. Nice to see you're ahead of the pack."

"What are you talking about?" asked Kira.

"Athrun's right that we can't attack either force head on," said Eric, "but so is Heero; that's not the way we'll be engaging the enemy."

"We'll be waiting for them to engage each other before making our move," said Murrue, "That's your plan, isn't it Waltfeld?"

Waltfeld nodded before turning to Heero. "Back at L4, you were the one that said we couldn't stop the Earth Alliance and ZAFT from massing their fleets and launching their final campaign. You were right, and I have no intention of stopping them from engaging in combat."

"Your strategy's to bleed them out," said Heero, "Let their fleets take each other head on while we wait for the right time to strike. When they're tied up with fighting each other they won't be able to coordinate an effective response when we enter the fray."

"Exactly," said Eric, smiling, "the chaos of battle offers us the perfect cover. They'll still know when we take the field; there'll be no hiding that. However, every resource they have available will be occupied with trying to kill each other. That will give us the chance we need to make the decisive moves to shape the outcome of the battle."

"And what would those moves be?" asked Erica.

"It depends on what way the battle goes," said Waltfeld, "There are a lot of factors in play here."

"I think it's pretty clear what way the battle will go," said Lan grimly, "I know the Alliance's advantage in numbers hasn't been a guarantee of victory for them by any means in this war, but now they've got mass production mobile suits, and they're superior to the GINN to boot. Azrael's just going to throw them at The Boaz Wall until it's been ground to dust, and then he'll continue on to the PLANTs and kill everything in sight."

"Don't be so sure," Priscilla cautioned, "Even with their vast numbers and new mobile suits the Earth forces don't necessarily have everything going their way. Attrition's been horrible on their ranks; it's likely that a significant portion of the soldiers they'll be fielding in the coming fight are green. Besides, in our past few battles with ZAFT we've seen them field not just more GuAIZ units but also modified versions of the older models with beam weaponry. ZAFT's taken its share of losses, especially since Wing Zero made its debut, but it can still field an experienced pilot corps."

"Maybe," Adaline chimed in, "but that doesn't diminish the threat posed by the Alliance's mass production Strike models. It's true they don't have Phase Shift Armor like the original, but that means their operational time is significantly increased. Combine that with the new units they fielded at Elysium along with the overwhelming fire support they'll have from the fleet, and… well, ZAFT will be hard pressed to hold the line."

"Hold on a moment," said Shemei, turning towards her lover, "Eric, you said the Alliance would be initiating the fight with the smaller vanguard fleet. If Zala counters with the full Grand Fleet, the vanguard would be wiped out with little effort."

Eric shook his head. "Zala's playing this like Azrael; he won't bring his full force to engage until the forward skirmishes have given him enough intel on the makeup and tactics of the Alliance fleet, and when the enemy decides to commit their main force to the fight."

The Wolf typed on the keypad, and the map shifted to L5 and Boaz. "Zala's massing the main body of the Grand Fleet at Jachin Due, but he's got a sizeable forward force set up at Boaz. It's a little over five hundred ships. The Earth Alliance vanguard force may outnumber them, but they won't be able to breach The Wall right off the bat, especially with the fortress's defenses backing up the ZAFT fleet. They'll get bogged down, and as the fight drags on Azrael and Zala will eventually commit the rest of their forces. Eventually we'll get the opening we need."

"Will we be targeting the leadership?" asked Murrue, "Rear Admiral Bernard's a member of the Atlantic Federation High Command, but so far we haven't confirmed any other major figures from the Alliance and ZAFT as part of the fighting forces."

"Actually we have, Captain Ramius," Eric replied, "Signals intelligence has indicated that Admiral Sutherland will be with the main fleet on board the Doolittle, and additional comm traffic intercepts point to Azrael also taking part in the campaign."

"Aboard what ship?" asked La Flaga. The Hawk of Endymion was unusually hesitant with his question, and Heero had a feeling he knew why.

Eric sighed. "This isn't confirmed, but… according to my informants, ZAFT stealth scouts spotted the Dominion in lunar orbit. From all appearances she's fully operational again. If Azrael's going to be with the armada, I'm willing to bet he'll be on that ship."

"What about Natarle?" asked Murrue, tightly squeezing Heero's hand under the table, "Is she still commanding the ship?"

"I don't know," Eric replied, "She handled the Dominion skillfully during the battle at L4 though; no reason to believe the Alliance would remove her from command of the ship she has the most experience with."

La Flaga startled everyone by slamming his fist on the table. "Damn it! We have to fight her again?"

"I'm sorry, La Flaga," said Waltfeld, "but yes."

And if Azrael's on her ship, thought Heero, just forcing them to withdraw like last time will not be enough. As long as he's alive and in power this war will never end. We have to take him down.

A part of the young man, the cool and pragmatic aspect of his being that had earned him the moniker The Perfect Soldier, was willing to say 'so be it'. That side of him was willing to sacrifice Natarle and earn the Hawk of Endymion's hatred if it meant killing Azrael and saving not just Murrue but all of the Cosmic Era.

However, another part of him rebelled against that. It was his humanity, the compassionate side that he had long held deep within his heart, hidden from most but still there, now nurtured and empowered by Murrue. That aspect put the brakes on his cold and calculating combat instincts. After being given the opportunity to experience love in all its wonder, how could he deny a comrade, a friend, the chance to do the same just in the name of pragmatism?

An idea formed in the midst of that schism, a compromise born from the clash of ruthlessness and compassion. It was risky… but when had that ever stopped him?

"We'll have to fight her, yes," he said, drawing the attention of the others, "but not kill her."

"Heero?" said Murrue softly, her eyes widening.

"You… you got something in mind?" asked La Flaga, his desperation clear.

Heero nodded. "Meet me after the conference. I'll explain then."

"Heero," said Waltfeld sternly, "if this is going to affect our battle we all need to hear it now."

The Gundam pilot shook his head. "It won't adversely affect us. On the contrary; we'll kill one of our worst enemies, and gain a valuable ally. Trust me."

Waltfeld closed his eye for a moment, and when he opened it he smiled. "Well, after what I asked you to do for us back at Avalon, I suppose it'd be a bit hypocritical if I didn't trust you. All right, Heero. Whatever your plan is, we'll support it, and I'll take your word that it won't cause trouble for our battle plan."

Heero nodded. "Thank you."

"Mister Waltfeld, if I may?" Lacus chimed in.

Waltfeld turned to her. "What is it, Miss Clyne?"

"So far we've only discussed the Earth Alliance leadership that will be taking part in the campaign," she said, "However, neutralizing Zala is crucial to our efforts to defeat the radicals in the PLANTs and ending this war, and I've heard no mention of his role in the battle yet."

"Zala and most of the Defense Council will be at Jachin Due," said Eric, "However, there's always the possibility that Zala could move closer to the battle."

"But if he doesn't leave the fortress," said Shemei, "then that makes it much harder to take him out."

Eric nodded. "No arguing there. We've got a backup plan, but it's risky."

"What isn't, these days?" muttered Lan.

"What did you have in mind?" asked Priscilla.

"Even if ZAFT defeats the Earth Alliance forces," said Eric, "their own casualties will inevitably be high, and post battle the fleet will be disorganized and exhausted. That's our opening."

"To do what?" asked Adaline.

Eric turned to Heero. "To destroy Jachin Due. It may be an asteroid fortress, but we've got one weapon that can pierce its armor."

Heero nodded. "In the immediate aftermath of the battle I should be able to make that strike."

"Not alone, you won't," said Murrue with determination, "Even if the enemy's disorganized, the minute they see Wing Zero heading for the fortress they will try to stop you. You're not making that attack without backup."

"Nor would we want him to," Eric replied, smiling, "We can get a strike team organized quickly enough, and from Boaz it's a short hop to L5 proper. We'll make a hard, fast attack and then pull out before they can counter."

"Taking out Zala won't necessarily be the hard part," said Heero, his eyes narrowing, "What's our plan once he's neutralized? He may be the most prominent of the radicals, but he's not the only one of them in a position of power."

"True," said Waltfeld, "but Zala's the one that keeps them united. He's the most charismatic and ruthless of the lot, not counting Creuset. Take him out and it will kick off a power struggle among his top lieutenants. That will give Councilor Canaver and her allies inside the PLANTs the chance to make their move."

"Miss Canaver has been making preparations for this day just as we have," said Lacus, "With Zala and many other of the leading radicals now at Jachin Due and Boaz she has more room to maneuver. When she gets word that the Chairman has been killed or incapacitated the moderates still in the PLANTs will seize power."

"Will the people support her?" asked Murrue, "Whether we like it or not, Patrick Zala's regime was democratically elected, and Councilor Canaver's takeover will be a coup."

"The situation inside the PLANTs has changed dramatically since Siegel Clyne lost his reelection bid," said Eric, "The radicals rule more by fear now than anything else; Miss Clyne's efforts to undermine Zala's popular support have worked wonders, especially since the raid on the capital. Zala knows that his hold over the military is the only thing that's kept him on his lofty perch, and with the recent defections even that's beginning to slip. He sees the coming battle as his big chance to not just destroy the Naturals but permanently cement his rule over L5, but in fact it'll be the moment when he is most vulnerable."

"What about the Earth Alliance?" asked Shemei, "Even if we kill Azrael and the last two members of the Atlantic Federation High Command we don't have any allies from their ranks. Captain Ramius, her crew, and the defectors that have gathered here are all considered traitors by them; we can't expect anyone from their government to ally with them, nor do we know anyone on the inside."

Waltfeld nodded grimly. "That's a weakness in our plan that we're well aware of. Unfortunately we don't really have a means to counter it. All we can do is kill the leadership that shows up at the fight and hope they suffer enough casualties that whoever assumes command will lose all taste for continuing the war."

"There's no sense worrying about it now," said La Flaga, "It's out of our hands. All we can do is fight the enemy in front of us."

Eric nodded. "Well said."

Waltfeld turned to Orb's young ruler. "Cagalli, I'm sorry, but we can't afford to leave any forces behind to defend L3 when we depart for the battlefield. This is an all-or-nothing fight we've got on our hands. We need every ship and mobile suit we can get."

Cagalli nodded. "I understand. Actually, I've been preparing for that."

"How?" asked Athrun.

"Aside from the Kusanagi," said Cagalli, "Orb can't really contribute any more warships to the cause. The only other vessel from the Kusanagi's line, the Izumo, is under the control of the Sahaku family, and they've kept their military resources at an orbital research facility. I've tried contacting them, but they've refused to lend aid, and there's nothing more I can do on that end without risking a confrontation."

"Will they try to seize power when we leave L3?" asked Heero.

"Doubtful," Erica chimed in, "The Sahakus have always played their own game, but I can't see them sparking an Orb civil war. They want Orb to thrive, perhaps even dominate someday; any efforts to undermine us now would risk their own long-term goals."

"If that's the case," said Murrue, "wouldn't it make more sense for them to send us the Izumo and any other military assets at their disposal? If we fail, whichever power wins the final battle will not ignore them forever. It strikes me as in their interest to help us succeed."

Cagalli sighed. "I don't know how their minds work. I tried using that angle, but they wouldn't go for it. They said they had refugees of their own to defend at their station, and that was it. For what it's worth, they're at least not lying about it; father did send evacuation flights to installations besides Eden and Elysium before Orb fell. The Sahakus' station was one of them."

"Bottom line," said Adaline, folding her arms, "it doesn't sound like we can count on them for any help. So if we can't get access to any of their military resources, what preparations did you have in the works?"

"Orb maintains a small fleet of Marseille III-class transports," said Cagalli, "We purchased them from the Earth Alliance when they began to discontinue the line in favor of newer ships. In the past we've used them in our efforts to expand asteroid mining beyond L3, but after the attack on Elysium I ordered them all recalled."

"I noticed a few of those ships in the Elysium docks over the past few weeks," said Waltfeld, "I assumed they were just bringing in materials for the Morgenroete factories."

"That was probably their last act in that capacity," said Eric, studying Orb's ruler, "You've converted them into carriers, haven't you?"

Heero was surprised at that announcement, and could tell that Murrue was as well. Neither of them had anticipated Cagalli making a move like that.

Cagalli nodded. "The transports have been refitted to hold two Tauruses and two M1 Astrays each."

"We've also overhauled their engines and given them armaments," said Erica, "Each vessel has CIWs, anti-air and anti-ship missile launchers, and two Valiant linear cannons. However, despite these modifications they're still no match for true frontline warships. Their hull plating's nowhere near as strong as battleship armor, and even with the engine overhauls they're still cumbersome."

"At this point it doesn't matter," said La Flaga, "We need all the help we can get. The Marseille III-class might be old, but it works just fine as a makeshift carrier. I'd know; one of those brought me to Heliopolis. Man, that feels like a lifetime ago…"

"Are the refits complete on all the ships?" asked Murrue.

"Yes," Cagalli replied, "and they're all stocked with supplies, munitions, and mobile suits. They're ready to deploy at any time."

"I'll adjust our deployments accordingly," said Waltfeld, stroking his chin in thought, "With the forces we've gathered here we should be able to give them an escort. Won't guarantee their survival, but it'll help a little bit. If nothing else those Valiant cannons and anti-ship missiles will make them decent artillery platforms."

"It's a good thing they're ready," said Eric, looking around the table, "We're not sticking around here much longer. It's just a matter of days now until Azrael launches his armada."

"When do we deploy?" asked Heero.

"We launch in forty-eight hours," said Waltfeld, "ZAFT long range patrols are focused on monitoring the Alliance fleet, so it won't be too difficult for us to enter enemy territory. We'll take up position just outside the outer patrol zone of The Boaz Wall. That will put us close enough to the fight to make our move when the opportunity presents itself but out of range of enemy attack. Any questions?"

Kira raised his hand. "Just one. What do we do if the Alliance breaches The Boaz Wall before ZAFT can reinforce it?"

Waltfeld sighed. "If that happens… we'll have to redeploy. The battle will shift to the Jachin Due Line, which means Azrael will be that much closer to striking the colonies. No matter what happens, we can't let him breach the final defenses. Any fight at the Line puts the civilians in grave danger."

"But it will also put Zala within our grasp," said Shemei, "All we'll need to do then is cover Heero while he takes the fucker out."

"If the battle gets that close to the PLANTs," said Heero carefully, "my priority will be to prevent civilian casualties. I'll take a shot at Jachin Due only if I won't be leaving an opening for the Earth Alliance to attack the colonies in the process."

"Hold on!" Athrun interjected, "You're all talking like there's no choice but to kill the Chairman! What if… what if we can get him to surrender?"

"You mean what if you can talk him down?" asked Aisha pointedly.

Athrun sighed. "I just… I think we're being too quick to consider assassinating him the only option."

"Assassinate or capture," said Priscilla.

"Come on, Pris," said Lan, "What do you think the odds are we can take him alive?"

"Not very high," Adaline deadpanned.

"Athrun," said Eric grimly, "I know he's your father, and I understand what you want to do, but… it's not going to happen. Patrick Zala is well past the point of no return."

"You can't say that for sure!" said Kira, coming to his friend's defense, "Not without even trying to talk to him!"

Eric shot Kira an icy glare, and the boy from Heliopolis recoiled. "What do you think I was doing when I was on the Defense Council? It sure as hell wasn't staying silent while he gave his forces carte blanche to commit war crimes!"

"Eric," said Shemei softly, laying her hand on his arm.

The Wolf of the Far East took a deep breath to calm himself before looking at Kira again. "I'm sorry. Look, Kira, Athrun… I've spent more time with Zala during this war than either of you; I've seen firsthand how far he's fallen. Whoever he was before this war, that man is gone. All that he is now is a murderer driven by vengeance. Whether by capture or lethal action, he has to be taken down… and under the circumstances, the latter is by far the more likely scenario."

"So you won't even let me try to talk to him?" asked Athrun desperately.

"Athrun…" said Cagalli, looking at him with concern and sympathy.

"It's unlikely you'll get the chance," Murrue cut in, "Whether it unfolds at Boaz or Jachin Due, this is going to be the largest battle in the history of humanity, and it will have the highest possible stakes. Do you really think you'll be able to afford time to talk to him with so much on the line, and with both sides trying to kill you?"

Athrun looked down. "I… I can't just…"

"You can't save him," said Heero, causing everyone else to look at him, "Bristow is right, Athrun; your father is too far gone. It's understandable why you feel otherwise, but you have to face the facts. Patrick Zala has devoted himself to nothing less than the extermination of the Naturals and his complete dominion over the Earth Sphere. He would murder everyone you care for and billions of innocent people without hesitation. By now I'm willing to bet he'd sooner kill you than speak to you. You're not going to pull him back, Athrun; no one can. Patrick Zala has to die."

Athrun sighed in defeat. "Damn it…"

"I'm sorry, Athrun," said Lacus softly.

The former ZAFT ace nodded numbly.

After a moment of silence Waltfeld spoke. "We all know what needs to be done and what is at stake here. The time for second thoughts is over. If we are not fully committed to this fight, none of us will survive."

Murrue nodded. "I believe I speak for everyone on board the Archangel when I say that we are prepared to see this through to whatever end."

She turned to Heero and smiled at him while squeezing his hand under the table.

Heero gave her a small smile of his own before turning to the rest of the table and nodding. "I know I'm not from this world, but I consider it my world now. No matter what happens, I will save it."

And you, Murrue, he silently added.

Waltfeld bowed his head. "You have my thanks. When this is all over, Heero, the drinks are on me."

"I'll hold you to that," Heero replied, "So stay alive."

Waltfeld chuckled. "Yeah. You too."

"Heero and Captain Ramius aren't the only ones," said Cagalli, a determined smile on her face, "It was my father's dream to build a world where peaceful coexistence between Coordinators and Natural's was a reality. Orb will do everything in its power to honor that legacy. We'll fight until the very end."

Lacus smiled. "Cagalli, your father's dream was also my father's dream. I believe I'm safe in saying that it is the dream of everyone here, all who have joined our cause, and so many good people in this world. No matter what happens, we won't let the Earth Alliance and ZAFT destroy it."

"Damn right we won't!" cheered Lan.

"We've come too far to fail now," said Priscilla, smiling.

Adaline chuckled. "What can we say? We're suckers for a good fight. Isn't that right, Commander?"

Shemei laughed. "Couldn't have said it better myself."

She turned to her lover and kissed him on the cheek. "Well, Eric? Should we get this show on the road?"

Eric nodded and smiled. "Yeah. It's time."

"All right then," said Waltfeld, "As of this moment, all shore leaves are cancelled. Every ship and mobile suit is to be prepared for battle. Cagalli, I want you to send word to the Eden colony to dispatch all the forces that have gathered there since the defections began. They're to rendezvous with us here in no more than forty-eight hours."

Cagalli nodded. "I'll do that as soon as we're done here."

"Ok, everyone," said Waltfeld, "move out."

….

As they left the Eternal Heero, Murrue, La Flaga, Shemei, and Eric all headed towards the dock where the Archangel was stationed. However, as soon as they had put some distance between themselves and the ZAFT cruiser the Hawk of Endymion put his hand on Heero's shoulder.

"Hey," said La Flaga, "that idea you mentioned during the meeting… about Natarle and the Dominion. Let's hear it."

Heero stopped and the others followed suit. "I hadn't forgotten. I just wanted to wait until we'd gotten everything else taken care of back there."

"Well, now's as good a time as any," said Murrue, "Care to tell us your plan?"

"I'm curious too," said Shemei, "I mean, you're talking about saving the Captain of what's most likely going to be Azrael's flagship. No offense Heero, but that's a tall order even for you."

"She's right," said Eric, "especially in the middle of what's no doubt going to be one hell of a battle. I have the utmost respect for your skills, Heero, but I'm having a hard time seeing how you're going to pull this off."

"I know it sounds like a long shot," Heero replied, "but there is a way to do it."

Murrue and the others listened intently as he described what he had in mind. When he finished she had to shake her head at what he had laid out. It was audacious, reckless… and so utterly Heero.

She sighed. "I can't believe we're considering this…"

Eric chuckled. "I've heard some crazy plans in my time, but this one… damn."

Shemei smirked. "No kidding. Were all the Gundam pilots of your world so bold, Heero?"

"Yes," Heero replied bluntly.

"Why am I not surprised?" asked Murrue, smiling wryly.

La Flaga smiled as well. "It sounds like something I'd come up with. Heero, you really are something else, you know that?"

"So I've heard," said Heero, "I also know that I can't do this alone. Are you in, La Flaga?"

The Hawk of Endymion nodded in determination. "If you're willing to do this to save Natarle, then hell yes."

The Gundam pilot turned to the Archangel's Captain. "Murrue?"

She smiled again, this one genuine. "Yes, Heero. She may be on the other side, but Natarle's still our friend, and I know she's not the kind of person who would agree with Azrael's goals. I'll back you up the best I can."

Heero nodded. "Thank you. La Flaga and I will also need a few things from the Archangel's armory."

"Take whatever you need," Murrue replied.

"What about us?" asked Eric, gesturing between himself and the Valkyrie, "Any way we can help?"

"I'd appreciate it if you continued to defend the Archangel, Bristow," said Heero, "As for Shemei… La Flaga and I could use some cover fire from the Valkyrie Team."

Shemei grinned. "You got it, Heero. Just let us know when you're ready to launch this little operation, and we'll be right behind you."

"All right," Heero replied.

Murrue grabbed his hand. "Come on, let's get back to the Archangel. We've got a lot of work to do, and not much time to do it."

While Murrue knew they had two days to get ready for launch, she was all too aware that the time would go by far too quickly. She wasn't worried about having her ship ready to go on time; she'd kept the Archangel ready for action at a moment's notice. It was the tremendous undertaking before them that her fears were centered on, as well they should be.

The largest fleets in the history of the Cosmic Era, she thought as they approached the ship, So much riding on the outcome of this fight. I know our plan's to hang back while the Earth Alliance and ZAFT forces pummel each other until the time's right to make our move, but if I've learned anything over the course of our travels it's that no plan survives contact with the enemy.

Murrue's feelings on Heero's plan to save Natarle were mixed. Her desire to save her friend and the woman La Flaga loved was genuine, but at the same time she could not deny the risks involved. Heero and La Flaga would be making a huge gamble with their lives in this plan, and there was one variable that could scuttle it all; the very person they wanted to save.

Murrue knew just how strong Natarle's sense of duty was, and the final bit of Heero's plan hinged on her being willing to commit treason. Would her conscience and her love of La Flaga be enough to overcome that ingrained loyalty to her country and superiors? Could she defy Azrael and the High Command?

There was just no way to know for sure. All Murrue could do was trust that Heero knew what he was doing, and that when the critical moment came La Flaga could win not just Natarle's heart but her loyalty. It all came down to what she believed was truly worthy of her allegiance; the nation that she had sworn to serve regardless of the path it went down, or the man who would risk everything to pull her back from the brink. Whether Natarle knew it or not, her fate would be in her hands.

As for Azrael… there was no doubt in Murrue's mind what his fate would be.

It would be sealed the instant Heero got him in his sights.

….

September 17th, C.E. 71

At the rearward observation deck of Jachin Due, Field Marshal Creuset folded his arms as he looked out at a certain point of space behind the fortress. "So its Mirage Colloid system is online now."

To his left Anton Kupchenko nodded. "We withdrew the Mirage Net about a week and a half ago."

"And you're sure we can't utilize those satellites for the coming fight?" said Patrick Zala from Creuset's left.

Kupchenko regretfully shook his head. "The Mirage Net is of limited use. For hiding clandestine projects like this, it's perfect. However, it's time consuming to deploy and can only cover so much space. We could hide some squadrons of warships and mobile suits in it for an ambush, but the element of surprise would be lost the instant they opened fire."

"Why not use it to hide Jachin Due or Boaz?" asked Creuset, "That would be useful as a psychological ploy."

"Only for a short time," Kupchenko replied, "The enemy would realize by the actions of our forces what the deception is, and we can hardly convince them the fortresses were moved. The enemy would be aware that towing such massive objects is incredibly difficult and a slow process and that it would serve us no strategic purpose for the bases to not be in the positions they've occupied for so much of this war. Cloaking Boaz or Jachin Due would only temporarily mess with their heads. Don't forget it was the Earth Alliance that pioneered Mirage Colloid technology; they'd figure out their own trick was being used against them."

"It doesn't matter at this point," Zala interjected, "The time for stealth and gimmicks is almost over. We need keep the weapon concealed until it's ready for its first shot. Besides, the Mirage Net may prove useful for other endeavors after this war, and was incredibly costly to develop; best to keep it out of harm's way for now."

"It's a pity we need to keep it concealed for now," Creuset mused aloud, "GENESIS certainly is an imposing sight behind the veil."

Kupchenko chuckled. "We'll get to reveal her in all her glory soon enough. The Naturals won't know what hit them."

Zala smiled. "First we denied them their greatest source of power, and now we've turned it against them. A fitting vengeance for Junius Seven and every other atrocity the barbarians have wrought upon us in this war."

Creuset stifled a smirk.

Barbarians? You're one to talk, Chairman. As crude and vicious as Azrael… and like him, you're little more than a puppet.

Kupchenko turned to Creuset. "I understand you were finally able to take the Providence out for trial runs. How did it perform?"

Creuset smiled. "Extraordinarily well. The data provided from the GuAIZ Lancer was the final bit of the puzzle needed to perfect the software for controlling the DRAGOON System. It is still challenging to wield all the drones at maximum efficiency, but I am not exaggerating when I say that I have achieved mastery. All those simulations paid off, and I was able to unleash Providence's true potential in the live fire runs."

"As I had anticipated," said Zala, "I knew you would be able to master that machine. You'll make a fine ace in the hole for the final battle."

Creuset inwardly fumed at the idea that he was the Chairman's weapon, but held his composure. Zala's arrogance continued to blind him to who was really calling the shots. It would be very satisfying to watch that pride shatter when the truth was finally revealed.

Maintaining his civil veneer, he gave the Chairman a slight bow. "I'm honored by your praise, Chairman Zala."

The three of them stared out the window for a moment in silence before Kupchenko spoke. "Providence is not the only unit that's finally come to fruition. I hear that the Galm Team was granted the machines from Projects Knight and Witch."

Zala nodded. "They've performed very well in both simulations and live fire exercises. With the Galahad and Morgan, Galm Team will be invincible."

"It seems a waste to hold them back for the defense of GENESIS," said Creuset, "Would it not be better for them to be thrown into the thickest part of the action? The Earth Alliance has nothing in their arsenal that can stand against them."

Zala shook his head. "No. We've worked too hard to complete this weapon, and I will risk nothing with it."

"With all due respect, Chairman," said Kupchenko cautiously, "You're already holding back Gault, Sorcerer, and Wizard Squadrons in defense of GENESIS, and the weapon is protected by multiple layers of Phase Shift Armor. Surely Galm Team isn't needed to supplement those safeguards."

Zala's eyes narrowed as he studied the seemingly empty patch of space where the weapon was positioned. "Avalon was thought to be invulnerable, but we learned the hard way that it was not. I will not leave any opening for Wing Zero this time."

Creuset had to suppress a chuckle. So the Chairman had finally stopped underestimating Heero Yuy. Too bad it had taken him so long to learn that lesson.

You should be honored, my enigmatic and unpredictable adversary. The Chairman is holding his best squadrons in reserve just because of you. High praise, and you've certainly proven yourself worthy of it.

"What about Gelb Squadron?" asked Kupchenko, "I understand they've been outfitted with the two GuAIZ Advanced Experimental Heavyarms units, and that they're still stationed here at Jachin Due. Will we be holding them back as well?"

"They may be just a two-man team," Creuset chimed in, "but like Galm, they are formidable. All the more so now that they have those prototypes."

"We shall see," Zala replied, "For now they will act as part of Jachin Due's guard, but I may see fit to send them forward to The Boaz Wall depending on how the battle unfolds there. With their new machines they would be able to make good time in travel from here to the front."

Kupchenko turned to Creuset. "I understand you had your protégé stationed at Boaz. Are you hoping his performance there will boost your profile, or are you merely trying to get rid of him? Rumor has it you two had a bit of a falling out after the battle at L4."

Creuset shook his head. "I never considered Yzak to be my protégé, merely a gifted subordinate. As for this 'falling out' you speak of, I wouldn't put it as such. We simply have a few differences of opinion."

"Those 'differences' can be dangerous in these times," Zala growled, glaring at Creuset, "Perhaps Ezalia's son is questioning his position. If he is a threat, Creuset, we had best deal with him now."

"I don't think that will be necessary," said Creuset, smiling, "Yzak may be having second thoughts, but he's not about to turn traitor. His devotion to his mother and ZAFT is too strong for that. With the Earth Alliance about to launch its offensive against Boaz, Yzak won't be able to bring himself to do anything to weaken ZAFT. The defense of the homeland will come first for him, and his skills as the pilot of the Duel continue to be an asset for us. I say we let him slake his need for a just fight with the impending clash with the Earth forces. If after the battle his doubts continue to grow, we can eliminate him then…if the Alliance doesn't take care of that for us."

"Would Ezalia stand by while we made a move against her son?" asked Kupchenko, "I know she's been a loyal supporter, but that could prove to be too much."

Zala shook his head. "Hardly. Ezalia's loyalty to our cause is beyond question. If her son was a threat she would sacrifice him without hesitation. For her, duty to ZAFT and dealing with the Natural threat are above all else; motherly affection has no place in her political life."

"What about Councilor Elsman?" said Creuset, "Decrypted comm intercepts from the Fall of Avalon, the clash at L4, and the renegades' rescue of Task Force 9.3 confirm that his son is indeed flying the Buster on their behalf. I know we've had him under watch, but with the final confrontation fast approaching perhaps we should take steps to neutralize him as a potential threat."

"There's no need for that," Zala replied with a confident smile, "Elsman is a career politician, and not prone to risking his neck. He's had no contact with his son since Dearka went missing in the Marshall Islands and has not made any efforts to reach out to members of the moderate faction. Elsman's merely acting to ensure his survival both in this war and beyond. So long as he acts in that manner he'll continue to be useful to us."

"Should we eliminate Councilor Canaver?" asked Kupchenko, "We know she was one of Clyne's strongest supporters."

"We can't yet," Zala growled, "She enjoys strong support in the September City colonies and other parts of the PLANTs. Her removal would cause major unrest, all the more so considering we do not have concrete proof that she's had any contact with the renegades or known sympathizers."

"We can deal with her after the war," said Creuset, "Any internal dissent caused by her removal then can be easily crushed."

Zala nodded. "Once the final battle is done, our power will be absolute. With our external foes crushed once and for all we will finally be able to completely clean house. A little internal struggle will be inevitable, but with the Naturals finally dealt with we won't need to worry about external forces taking advantage of our division."

Creuset took no small amusement in hearing Zala voice his plans for after the war.

If only you knew, Chairman… there will be no 'after' for you.

Or the rest of humanity, for that matter.

….

A satisfied smile on her face, Murrue reached over to caress Heero's cheek as her boyfriend pulled the sheets over the two of them. She settled in at his side, her body snuggled up tightly to his, resting her head on his right shoulder, the two lovers basking in the lingering heat of their earlier shared intimacy.

"That never gets old," she said as she leaned over to kiss him.

The Gundam pilot gave her a small smile as their lips parted. "Got that right."

'Night', or what passed for it in Elysium, had finally on the colony and the Archangel. Every possible measure had been taken to prepare for the departure that was coming the following morning. The white warship and her crew were as ready as they were ever going to be, and after sharing their evening meal Murrue and Heero had retired to their quarters to check off, as the latter had put it, "the final item on our to-do list."

They laid there in silence for a moment, content just to have each other, to hold the one they loved close to them while time would still allow. Tomorrow they would launch their final campaign, their last effort to stop the most powerful militaries the world had ever known from committing unspeakable atrocities. So much was on the line, but the strength they drew from each other would allow them to rise to the occasion.

Her hand still on his cheek, Murrue broke the silence. "This past month and a half, the time we've spent in this colony… it's gone by all too quickly. I know things were grave when we arrived here, helping the people recover from the battle, but after that… it almost felt like a dream."

Heero nodded. "I know what you mean. The concert, the date you gave me, the time we spent together here… even though it was in the midst of this war, it felt like peace. It felt like we had finally gotten away from the battlefield. There wasn't a fight around every corner, a battle to rush into, or an enemy to defeat here and now. We were helping this colony, protecting it, but we weren't fighting."

Murrue kissed his cheek. "It may have been the illusion of peace, but it felt so real. I never wanted it to end."

"Same here," Heero replied, "Still… we both knew it wouldn't last forever."

He reached over to brush a few strands of hair out of her face, and he gave her a small smile. "It was enough, Murrue. We had our leave, our temporary escape from the fighting, but as long as the Alliance and ZAFT are threatening genocide we cannot truly leave this conflict behind. We have to see it through to the end."

Murrue gently grabbed his hand and brought it to her lips. "Yes," she said softly, "It's our responsibility to stop them. We may not be at fault for the direction that they have gone in, but we have the power to counter them, and with that power comes an obligation. How could we as people with any sense of decency stand by and allow them to bring about such a bloodbath? We never wanted this fight, but it's a fight we must take on. As long as they threaten the lives of those we care about and countless innocents, it's our duty to stand against them."

She saw Heero close his eyes for a moment. When he opened them again she saw a determined look in them. "We're soldiers without a country, our duty not to a flag but to humanity and our hearts, going up against the most powerful fleets ever assembled by any nation… history will turn on our actions, and we have to make sure it takes the right path."

Murrue nodded. "There's too much riding on this. Everything is riding on this."

A shiver went through her as she thought of what would happen if they failed. Her fate, Heero's, that of their friends, of countless innocents…

"Heero," she said softly, "I'm… I'm afraid. More than I've ever been in my life."

Heero nodded as he raised his hand to gently caress her cheek. "Murrue… so am I."

Her eyes widened; she hadn't expected him to say something like that.

"Heero…"

"The last time I felt something like this," he said, "was at Alaska. When the Duel was about to fire on the Archangel's bridge… I'd never been so scared in my life. Now we're about to go into a battle that's far beyond Operation Spitbreak… beyond any I've ever experienced before. Even that final clash at the Libra in my old world can't compare to this."

That was a startling admission. Heero had shown her combat footage and data from the epic clash that had brought the Eve Wars to a close. Murrue had been astounded at what her boyfriend had gone through, what he had survived. Now he was telling her that the final battle of his old war paled in comparison to what they would be flying into all too soon…

"Towards the end of my old war," he continued, "I learned to finally to truly fear death, and with that I found my will to survive. That fear, though… it's tiny compared to the fear I have for you, Murrue. If something happened to you… it's selfish with everything that's at stake here, but the thought of losing you scares me more than anything else."

Murrue held him tightly. "I feel the same way. I know that billions of lives are riding on the coming battle, but… yours matters more to me than all the rest combined. I… I can't lose you, Heero!"

"You won't, Murrue," Heero replied, his voice firm and resolute, "That fear I told you about is what's been driving me so hard in our battles. I won't let myself fall and leave you to despair and suffering, and I refuse to let anything happen to you! We both have the strength to face that fear and use it as motivation, to overcome it and fight with everything we've got. We've proved that in all our battles before, and we'll do the same in this one. We will survive, Murrue!"

Murrue smiled. There it was again; that calm confidence, that cool yet resounding strength, that awe inspiring sheer force of will that she so admired about him. That drive to face his fears head on and power right through them, and his selfless lending of that incredible courage to her when she needed it most.

"Yes," she replied, "We will survive… and we will win! And when it's all over, we'll go back to Orb together. When it's all over… we can truly begin our new life together."

Heero nodded and gave her a small smile. "Orb… I'd like that. Although… I'm not sure what I'd do there. I only knew peace for about a month in my old world before I wound up here… it's not something I'm used to."

"I know, Heero," said Murrue, "Don't worry; I'll be your guide. You won't be set adrift like you were at the end of your last war, I promise. I'll help you find your new path… our new path."

"Thank you," he replied.

"Anytime," said Murrue.

She leaned over for a firm and deep kiss. When their lips eventually parted she ran her hand through his thick brown hair and smiled.

"I love you, Heero Yuy."

The Gundam pilot responded by pulling her back in for another kiss.

"I love you too, Murrue Ramius."

….

September 18th, C.E. 71

The Archangel's bridge was alive with activity as the crew ran through the final launch checks. In his customary place besides Murrue's chair, Heero surveyed it all with quiet pride.

He glanced over at the beautiful Captain as she readied her ship for takeoff. She had gone from a Lieutenant suddenly burdened with command of the new battleship in a time of crisis to a confident commanding officer. She had inspired her crew to take up a fight against impossible odds and had demonstrated an unwavering commitment to their well-being, a steadfast determination to see them through their harrowing journey in one piece. Over the course of their travels she had forged them into perhaps the best crew Heero had ever seen, and had done so against odds and adversaries that would have broken a lesser commander.

They're ready, he thought with satisfaction, and it's because of you, Murrue. You gave them confidence, purpose, a reason to fight. They'll be able to face whatever the Earth Alliance and ZAFT throws at them. You couldn't ask for a finer crew, and they would never find a better Captain.

I'm so proud of you.

She turned to him, and he knew he'd been caught starring. He didn't look away, instead just giving her a small, confident smile and a firm nod. She readily returned both gestures, an unspoken sentiment passing between the two of them.

We're ready.

The Archangel was fully stocked. Not only had her supplies and munitions been completely replenished, but now her hangar was filled almost to max capacity. In addition to Wing Zero, Tallgeese Kai, Buster, Judgment, Werewolf, and the three M1 Astrays, Murrue had requested new units from the Morgenroete factories in the colony, and Cagalli had delivered. Joining the warship's complement the day before were three Orb versions of a suit that was very familiar to Heero; the OZ-12SMS Taurus. Sporting the same white, black, and red color scheme as the M1 Astray, the units would be joining Wolf Team and the Buster as the Archangel's escort. Heero and Murrue had had only a brief amount of time to evaluate their pilots, but their dossiers showed their records and skills to be solid.

Turning back to the bridge, they saw Lieutenant Tsukino looking up at Murrue. "Final checks complete, ma'am."

Murrue nodded. "Do we have clearance from Elysium Control?"

"All other ships have left the colony," she replied, "We're the last one, and our departure path is clear."

Murrue turned to Neumann. "Helm, take us out."

"Aye, Captain," the helmsman replied.

There was a familiar thrum and a gentle rumble as the warship's powerful engines came to life. The white battleship slowly began to pull out of her berth.

Heero saw Murrue turn to him again. "Wing Zero is ready?"

Heero nodded. "Ammo's replenished and all systems are green. I'll do more checks before we arrive."

Murrue smiled. "Glad to hear it. Chief Murdoch's already wrapped up maintenance on the rest of the machines. No problems on his end."

"Good," Heero replied.

Clearing its berth, the Archangel proceeded to make her way through the docks towards the colony exit. The damage suffered in the Battle of Elysium had been repaired quite a while ago, but Heero knew that only the colony's physical scars had been mended. The memory of the slaughter of so many innocents would haunt it for years to come, perhaps for the rest of the colony's life.

It was just one more source of motivation for the Gundam pilot and his allies. They weren't just fighting for each other; they were determined to make sure that not one more civilian population had to suffer the same way the refugees inside Elysium had. The dead could not be brought back, but Heero swore to himself that they would be given justice.

Azrael, he thought, his gaze fixed determinedly ahead, we're coming for you. One way or another, you will answer for your crimes!

Out the main viewport he saw the repaired main gate of the colony open, and the Archangel passed through the portal. Once she was clear of the colony the white warship picked up speed, moving to take its place in the assembled fleet.

We started with three ships, he thought as he surveyed the vessels around them, We've come a long way…

He saw the converted Marseille III-class freighters, Drake-class escort ships, Nelson-class battleships, Laurasia-class frigates, Nazca-class destroyers, the Eternal and the Kusanagi…

A force of nearly four hundred capital ships.

"Not much when compared to what we're up against," he heard Murrue say. He turned to face her and saw her smiling again. "Still, it definitely beats what we've fielded in the past."

Heero nodded and put a hand on her shoulder. "We're not alone in the fight anymore. We'll lead, and they'll follow."

Murrue nodded. "You'll be the spearhead again, Heero. The tip of the blade that we drive into the hearts of the Alliance and ZAFT. You'll be the one they'll be the most desperate to kill, and we'll be backing you up with everything we've got."

Heero gave her a small smirk. "The one they're the most desperate to kill… just like old times."

"You may be no stranger to such battles," said Murrue, "but our new allies… they've never confronted anything approaching this before."

"But they had the courage to take up this fight," said Heero, "They united under our banner, and it's our responsibility to live up to the faith they've placed in us."

"Yes," said Murrue, smiling, "especially you."

He gave her a puzzled look, and she elaborated. "Bristow told me something interesting during our final preparations. He's been keeping an eye on morale among our forces, especially our new allies. Given the situation, he said that it was unusually high, and it wasn't just due to Lacus and Waltfeld's efforts. They know that they're fighting alongside the greatest soldier this world, any world, has ever known; you."

Heero shook his head. "Murrue, I wouldn't…"

She stopped him with a wink and a finger raised to his lips. "Don't go there, Heero. I know you don't let your skills go to your head, and you have a very humble opinion of yourself. I love that about you, but I'm not going to let you use that to avoid the truth. Whether you like it or not, everyone here acknowledges you as the best pilot in our alliance, if not the best in the whole Cosmic Era. The respect you command thanks to your skills and the power of Wing Zero is real, Heero. Don't discount the affect that has on the people around you."

Heero sighed. "All right. As long as no one tries to put me in a command role. I'm not officer material."

Murrue gave a small laugh. "I disagree with that, but I'll save it for another time."

"Ma'am," said the communications officer, "Fleet wide transmission from the Eternal."

"Patch it through," Murrue replied.

Heero and her turned to the main monitor and saw Lacus appear on the screen, forgoing the white dresses she wore for performances in favor of her black and purple tunic and white overcoat. Her normally gentle face was hardened by a stern expression, as sure a sign of any of the gravity of their situation.

From a popular singer to a leader of a multi-national resistance movement, he thought, she's come a long way. She'll be tested harder now than ever before… as will the rest of us.

"We all know what is at stake here," she began, "What our chances of survival are, what will happen if we fail… no one is under any delusions about what we face, and I won't spin any illusions for you now. To do so would insult the extraordinary courage each and every one of you have demonstrated just in being here today. There is no turning back for us; we have to fight."

"Even if we win," she continued, "we have no guarantee of what the future will hold. If we stop the Earth Alliance and ZAFT from wiping each other out and all of humanity with them, what comes next is still uncertain. Can we forge a true peace? Can we make it last? There are no guarantees, but I know we have to try. The impacts of our actions may have unintended consequences, but to not act at all would be far worse."

She took a deep breath before continuing. "Right now the people of this world are oppressed by two powers that are driven by nothing more than hate and vengeance. They've marshaled every last bit of their military might for this final campaign, an all-or-nothing effort to unleash an unthinkable bloodbath. Yet I know that this does not represent the true wills of their people. Yes, some may embrace this vicious cycle of malice and murder, but I know that they do not speak for the majority. Their governments may be headed down the path of genocide, but the people of both Earth and the PLANTs do not want this! I know they want what we want; peaceful coexistence between our two races!"

She closed her eyes for a moment before speaking again. "However, they do not have the power to give voice to their true beliefs. Their nations hold them back; keep them at bay with open and veiled threats. They are literally living under the barrel of a gun, and they do not have the strength or skill to fight back. That is where we come in. We can fight back, can stand up for those who lack the power to stand up for themselves! We have the power to make a difference, to pull not just the Alliance and ZAFT but all of mankind back from the brink! It's not just our desire to stop Azrael and Zala's campaign of mutual genocide; it's our duty!"

She then gave them a small smile. "Whether we are Natural or Coordinator, from Earth or outer space… or another world entirely… we are united in our purpose. We've come together under the banner of acceptance, tolerance, and understanding. Where our foes fight with hatred, terror, and vengeance, we counter with friendship, courage, and love. It is not overwhelming numbers or raw power that we wield; it is the determination to save our future, and that of the entire Cosmic Era!"

Heero respectfully nodded at the screen.

Well said. I didn't know your father, Lacus, but I'm sure he'd be proud of you if he could see you now.

He saw her close her eyes and bow. "I am honored to be with all of you as we embark on the final leg of our journey. The road has been long, and our greatest task still lies before us, but I wouldn't do this with anyone else. Whether you only joined us recently or have been with us since the beginning, you have my sincerest gratitude. May fortune favor us all."

She left the screen and was replaced by Waltfeld. "All right, people. You all know what we've got to do, and I'm not really one to give speeches. Hard to top Miss Clyne's anyway. Eternal, Archangel, and Kusanagi will be the lead ships. Maintain formation until we've joined battle with the enemy. All ships, move out!"

"Flight plan transmitted from the Eternal!" said the communications officer.

Murrue nodded. "Helm, follow that course."

"Aye, Captain," said Neumann.

The Desert Tiger disappeared from the main monitor. Replacing it was an image of their entire fleet moving forward as one. It was an impressive sight, but Heero was sobered by the grim truth of what their force would be up against.

How many of them would make it through this alive?

It was impossible to say for certain, or even guess. But that didn't matter to Heero. Regardless of the overwhelming odds against them, he was more determined than he had ever been before in his life to survive.

Survive, and make sure that the woman he loved did too.

….

"Captain," said the helmsman, "we're in position."

Natarle nodded. "Maintain formation with the fleet. We'll be holding here until we get the final launch order."

"So many of them…" she heard Flay say from her post at the communication's station.

Indeed, she thought as she surveyed the gathered armada out the main viewport, the largest fleet I've ever seen. The largest anyone's ever seen…

Technically this wasn't the full armada; Natarle was aware of Rear Admiral Bernard's vanguard fleet that was out ahead of the main force. Still, the fleet commanded by Admiral Sutherland, and unofficially by Azrael, far surpassed the first strike force led by Bernard.

The Dominion was at the heart of the armada alongside Admiral Sutherland's flagship, the carrier Doolittle. Most of the armada's carriers were with them as well, protected by a thick screen of Nelson-class battleships and Drake-class escort ships. The fleet seemed to stretch for as far as the eye could see, and to Natarle it looked like the Earth Alliance ships outnumbered even the stars in the sky.

Eighty-three-hundred warships, she thought, her mind struggling to reconcile the knowledge of the force and actually seeing it firsthand, and seven-hundred more in the vanguard. Nine-thousand in all…

…and all at the command of a sociopath.

The power at Natarle's hands alone was sobering. In addition to her fearsome armaments, the Dominion's mobile suit complement had been completely replenished since the heavy losses that they had taken at the Battle of Mendel. The Calamity was still with the ship, and now it was joined by four Strike-Avengers and four Strike-Daggers. While she was glad to have her vessel's mobile suits completely restocked, Natarle was concerned about the pilots of the four Strike-Avengers. Her interactions with them had been brief, but she knew immediately that they were part of the same program that had altered the Calamity's pilot into what the brass had so coldly labeled a Biological CPU. However, it looked to her like the Alliance had gone even further with these pilots than that of the Calamity's; while Orga was merely overly aggressive and disrespectful of all authority save Azrael, these new pilots seemed downright feral… and that was when they were conscious at all.

To have to be kept sedated until the time to fight, she thought with despair, hardly able to even function as human beings outside of battle… what did the Alliance do to them? They were ferocious in the simulations I watched… inhumanly so. It's like they were robbed of everything but their most primal urges… they were turned into beasts! Is this how far we've fallen?

New mobile suits were not the only units her ship had been granted. Out the main viewport she could see one of a new series of mobile armors that had latched onto the upper deck between the base of the Dominion's legs and in front of the bridge tower; the FA-X Juggernaut.

Standing for Fortress Armor-Experimental, the new assault mobile armor certain deserved its title. It was a broad circular machine with black and dark grey armor, its body so wide that it took up almost the entirety of the Dominion's upper deck. In fact, it was impossible to fit this new weapon into the hangar of the advanced battleship or any other Earth Alliance vessel, hence the need to latch it onto a broad flat surface such as the top of the Dominion, the upper hull of an Agamemnon-class carrier or the bottom forward hull of a Nelson-class battleship.

It was crewed by a pilot, co-pilot, and a gunnery officer; the craft was far too complex for a single operator. Powered by multiple high-capacity batteries, the unit lacked Phase Shift Armor but had a very thick hide capable of withstanding heavy punishment. The craft had been designed to wade into the thick of the action, penetrating the front lines and sowing carnage and destruction the deeper it went into enemy ranks. They were heavily armed, with two twin-barreled Aufprall Dreizehn high-energy beam cannons serving as the units' heavy artillery, their firepower comparable to weapons normally found on warships. For additional attack power the Juggernaut also had four Mark-62 six-tube multipurpose missile launchers, with two facing forward and two to the rear, useful for both mobile unit interception and full offensive barrages. For close-range defense the unit was ringed with ten Igelstellung CIWS.

However, despite the unit's fearsome armaments and heavy armor it was far from a perfect fighting machine. The assault mobile armor was slow when compared to the older Moebius units, and quite cumbersome. It was a large target, and had absolutely no defense against beam sabers or other melee weaponry. In addition to this the units were very vulnerable to attacks from below. The sheer cost of the Juggernaut was a major hindrance as well, hence the units being in a limited production run at the moment. There were several dozen with the vanguard fleet and more with the main armada, but they would hardly be replacing the Strike-Daggers anytime soon.

She heard the door open behind her and a familiar voice followed. "Well, I think it's about time we got moving. Don't you, Captain?"

Natarle had to suppress a glare as she saw Azrael take his seat. "The Dominion is ready, sir. I can't speak for the rest of the fleet."

"They're ready," Azrael replied, "Sutherland assured me of it. Speaking of which, get him and Bernard on the line."

Natarle looked at her communications officer and nodded. A few seconds later the main monitor split in half, with Sutherland in the upper portion and Bernard in the lower.

Azrael smiled. "Gentlemen, today is quite an occasion, wouldn't you say? We've assembled the largest fleet in the history of mankind, and to undertake the most important mission in human history. Victory and glory will be ours."

The most important mission?, Natarle fumed, Bullshit, you psychotic narcissist! There's nothing glorious about murder, let alone the bloodbath you've got planned!

Sutherland nodded. "It will be a day long remembered, surpassed only by the day when we reduce L5 to floating cinders."

Looking around the bridge Natarle saw her subordinates trade furtive looks of fear and disgust.

So here it is, she thought grimly, If they didn't know what this fleet's real purpose was before, their uncertainty will be cast aside now. Azrael, Sutherland, Bernard… they're finally laying their true intentions bare before the rank and file.

"The Boaz Wall will fall first," Bernard chimed in, smiling, "With our greatest weapons back in our arsenal we'll cut through their line and turn their fortress into a smoldering ruin."

"Wait until sufficient firing lanes have been opened before playing that card," Sutherland interjected, "We don't want the enemy to intercept them."

Bernard glared at the head of the High Command. "I know that, Admiral." He all but spat out that last word.

"Gentlemen, please," said Azrael, "Let's not get carried away in the excitement of the moment. You're both professionals, and you both know your tasks. Should we not get to them?"

Both men nodded. "Yes, my lord."

Azrael smiled. "Good."

He then focused on the lower half of the screen. "Bernard, your mission is not just to breach the initial Coordinator defenses. It's to set an example, to sow fear into the hearts of the freaks that live at L5, to make them realize just what their fate will be. Leave no survivors from the fortress itself, but let her supporting forces retreat once the deed is done. They'll carry their terror back to the Jachin Due Line like a disease. By the time the final battle begins their ranks will be thoroughly infected, and it will make their annihilation all the sweeter."

Bernard nodded. "Understood, my lord."

"Well then, gentlemen," said Azrael, "I see no need for further delay. Rear Admiral, Admiral."

The two men saluted and disappeared from the screen. Azrael turned to the communications officer.

"Get me a fleet wide channel."

"Yes, my lord," the officer replied, "Channel established."

Azrael cleared his throat. "Attention all soldiers of the Earth Alliance. Today is a truly historic day! Today marks the beginning of the end for not just this war but that of the Coordinator menace! You will return our precious Earth to Natural purity; this affront to nature and Holy God will be purged by our hands!"

'Holy God'?, thought Natarle, Since when was this war a Crusade?

Then again, Natarle realized it wasn't hard to see how religion had gotten mixed up in this. Blue Cosmos had been started by religiously minded environmental activists, but after the revelation of the existence of Coordinators the zealots had taken over the organization and used it as a platform to whip up fear, hatred, and resentment of the genetically modified humans. Religion had always been a part of this; now it was just being taken to its logical conclusion.

"I know some of you may be uneasy with our undertaking," Azrael continued, the mock concern all too clear in his voice, "You fear that actions you undertake, your role in the cleansing of L5, may brand you as war criminals. Please, allow me to lay your doubts to rest. There are no civilians at L5, no innocents; there's no such thing as an 'innocent' Coordinator. They are all unholy abominations, demons who wish to destroy the natural order and replace us, pure humans, as the inheritors of the Earth. They are hell-bent on destroying us, and that hatred is not confined to those you will face on the battlefield; it is embraced by every member of their corrupt society! Each and every one of them would gleefully kill us and then slaughter those we care for. The only way we can respond to such cruel brutality is in kind; it is the only way Naturals can survive!"

Natarle's face paled as she listened to the speech. What this man… no, this monster, was trying to incite her fellow soldiers to do…

Government sanctioned war crimes…

Unprecedented slaughter…

That was when she knew, with absolute certainty.

Her country was dead.

And it was dragging her down into its grave.

She looked down at Flay and saw the girl staring at Azrael with a mixture of shock and horror. Natarle couldn't blame her; it was hard enough to conceal her own feelings… and to keep from shooting Azrael on the spot.

"The only 'crime' you need fear," Azrael continued, "is the failure to do your duty to the utmost, to serve your country, your people, to the fullest extent of your abilities. Your devotion to the Earth Alliance, to Natural Humanity, must be absolute. Deviation of any kind will not be tolerated. As long as you fight with the same courage and dedication you've shown throughout this war you will have nothing to worry about. Loyalty will be rewarded… and treason will be dealt with swiftly."

So there's the ultimatum, Natarle thought grimly, Serve your country, commit atrocities… or be executed as a traitor. So much for fighting of our own free will, for a just cause, to defend those we care about… now it's just commit murder or be murdered.

If Azrael meant for his speech to be rousing he was failing, at least as far as the bridge crew of the Dominion went. Not one of them seemed to take heart in what the head of Blue Cosmos was saying, which was actually a point of pride for Natarle. Her crew might not have been as experienced or skilled as that of Captain Ramius, but they shared the same moral compass that her old comrades had.

Unfortunately Natarle knew it could very easily get them killed, and not by way of enemy fire.

She'd never felt so trapped in her life.

"Show no mercy," said Azrael, his smile now a cruel grin, "and expect none in return! Our enemy has already shown that they do not accept surrender, and we must demonstrate the same ruthlessness if we are to triumph today. Do what must be done, and we will send that pack of space monsters to the depths of Hell where they belong! Purge L5, cleanse humanity, and restore our blue and pure world!"

With a grand sweep of his hand he issued the inevitable command. "Launch the armada!"

Natarle sighed, the weight on her shoulders growing immeasurably heavier with that simple order. After all this time, the wait was over.

Now they were on the march.

Down our very own highway to Hell…

….

September 23rd, C.E. 71

The blaring battle alert sirens sent Yzak flying out of his bunk. In mere seconds he was dressed and rushing out the door as the scramble orders roared over the intercom.

"Enemy forces approaching!" said the Captain of the Granin, "All hands, battle stations! All mobile suits launch immediately!"

"So they finally showed up," Yzak grumbled as he rushed to the pilots' locker room to suit up, "Had to happen sooner or later…"

His scowl belied the adrenaline coursing through his system. For weeks the higher ups had been saying that the final clash of the war would be at The Boaz Wall, and it looked like they were actually right. Yzak had no way of knowing what kind of force was approaching, but he was sure that it wasn't just skirmishers; they would've been repelled long before the need to summon the Granin from her position close to the mighty fortress.

Zipping up his crimson suit and grabbing his helmet, he nodded at his fellow pilots as they all rushed into the destroyer's hangar. He was the only ZAFT Red in the bunch, but he knew his comrades were all skilled pilots, and they would all be flying the new GuAIZ mobile suits.

I'll have good backup, he thought as he kicked off the floor and floated towards the Duel, but still… I miss the old team. I'd much rather be flying with them right about now… I'd even put up with Athrun being in charge.

He climbed into his machine and closed the cockpit. Strapping himself in and powering up the systems, Yzak tuned his radio into the Granin's tactical channel.

"Mobile suit and mobile armor launches have been confirmed," he heard the destroyer's combat controller say, "Joule Team, Vega Team, be prepared for interception!"

Yzak nodded. On his main monitor he saw one of the hangar techs waive him out, and he took the Duel to the catapult. Up ahead he saw the doors open, and the lights went from red to green.

"Yzak Joule," he said, "launching!"

The Duel shot out of the hangar, and as Yzak started to put some distance between himself and the Granin his sensors lit up with contacts. His eyes widened in shock as he took it all in.

So many ships and mobile suits, he thought, us and the Alliance force… holy shit!

At just over five hundred capital ships, the ZAFT fleet supporting Boaz was an impressive sight in its own right. The vast majority of the ships were of course Laurasia-class frigates and Nazca-class destroyers, but there were also three new vessels with the fleet; the gargantuan Orizaba-class carrier/dreadnoughts. The three black leviathans, named Elbrus, Zugspitze, and Chimborazo, were out towards the head of the ZAFT force. The Elbrus anchored the center of the forward line, while the Zugspitze held the right wing and the Chimborazo the left. Mobile suits were pouring out of the assembled warships and Boaz itself. Original and modified GINNs and GuAIZs rushed to meet the units seeming to hemorrhage from the Earth Alliance fleet.

Yzak was surprised at the size of the Alliance force. It outnumbered the ships of The Boaz Wall by around two hundred vessels; a daunting fleet, but not quite as big as Yzak had been expecting. He realized that this was the enemy's vanguard, similar to the force that had been deployed around Boaz.

They'll smash against our ranks and try to punch some holes, he thought, and once they smell an opening they'll call in their main fleet. When they do that we'll call in ours, and the fight will snowball from there…

Focusing on the Earth Alliance force, he started to get a feel for the makeup of the attackers. The majority of their units were a mix of Strike-Daggers and Moebius units, but backing them up were a considerable amount of mass production Busters as well. At the head of the formations he could also see the enemy's newest Strike variants, which communication intercepts had revealed to be called Strike-Avengers. They were equipped with a variety of augmentation packs, and he was sure that they would be formidable foes. Also in the mix were several larger machines, a new model of mobile armor that he had never seen before in any intelligence reports. It looked like a flying saucer with heavy weapons mounted on the top. Yzak was not looking forward to seeing what those things were capable of once they got into attack range.

Allies and enemies fanned out as they moved forward. The blue pinpricks of thruster fire seemed more numerous than the stars. It was like the fleets were rainclouds unleashing a deluge, but this would be no cleansing downpour. A manmade thunderstorm was about to be unleashed, one that threatened to cascade and escalate into a raging tempest with the potential to consume all.

A transmission from Boaz came over the fleet-wide channel. "All mobile suits, clear firing lanes!"

At the same time Yzak saw a series of red lines appear on his sensors as the fortress transmitted data to him; the firing paths for both Boaz's weapons and the rest of the fleet. He immediately adjusted his heading so it took him away from any of the crimson lines, and he saw the rest of the mobile suits doing the same. Out ahead he saw the enemy formations shift, and he realized that they were doing the same thing ZAFT was.

A few seconds later there was another order from Boaz, this time issued in the deep, guttural voice of the base commander, Field Marshal Hans Rupo. "Fire at will!"

Start "It Has To Be This Way"

Yzak watched in awe as space lit up around him. A hailstorm of energy beams, missiles and railgun rounds poured out of the capital ships, asteroid weapons platforms, and the massive fortress itself. At the same time the Earth Alliance forces opened up as well, and the gargantuan volleys crisscrossed through space as they flew towards their targets.

"Shit!" Yzak snarled as he raised the Duel's shield.

The move was not a moment too soon, as an anti-ship missile slammed into the shield. Even with the protective barrier taking the impact Yzak was still rocked by the warhead's detonation. He quickly opened fire with his CIWS, destroying another missile before it could hit one of his comrades.

Explosions ripped across both fleets like strings of firecrackers as warships and mobile units took hits from the massive barrages. The ranks of both sides thinned out a bit from the casualties, but their forces were still largely intact; this battle was only just getting started.

Yzak steeled himself as he saw enemy squadrons approaching his position. "Joule Team, engage!"

Sighting in with his beam rifle, Yzak opened fire. With a trio of quick shots he downed three beam cannon-equipped Moebius units that were at the head of an Alliance formation; his first kills of the battle. From both sides of the Duel his comrades opened fire as well, the shots from their beam rifles each destroying a Strike-Dagger.

"Keep your guard up!" he said as he ignited his beam saber, "Watch out for fire from the capital ships!"

He brought his energy blade up to block an attack from the yellow beam saber of a Strike-Dagger. Parrying the blow, Yzak quickly countered with a swift stab to the Alliance unit's cockpit.

Immediately after pulling his blade out of the exploding machine he was set upon by more Strike-Daggers. A volley from his beam rifle took down one machine while a precise shot from his shoulder-mounted railgun destroyed another. He then cut loose with the missile launcher in the Assault Shroud's left shoulder, felling two more enemy mobile suits with the barrage.

"There's just no end to these guys!" said one of his wingmen, Abdul, as he ripped a Strike-Dagger apart with his GuAIZ's beam claws.

"Tell me about it," said the other one, named Simon, as he shot down a Buster-Dagger with his beam rifle, "At least they're not aces."

That was certainly true, Yzak reflected as he destroyed another Strike-Dagger with his beam saber. The enemy units were formidable, but their pilots were clearly green. Then again, matters weren't much better for ZAFT. The pilots Yzak was flying with now had some combat experience, but the ranks of ZAFT's veterans had been thinned out considerably over the course of the war, especially once the legged ship and Wing Zero made their debut. Yzak could only hope that ZAFT's greater experience with mobile suit tactics and strategies gave them enough of an edge to hold out against the incredible number of fighting machines the Earth Alliance was hitting them with now.

Glancing at his long-range sensors as he shot down a Strike-Dagger with his rifle, Yzak could see that so far ZAFT was holding the line. The three mammoth Orizaba-class carrier/dreadnoughts alone were giving the enemy pause as they pumped out heavy fire from their beam and plasma cannons, railguns, and missile launchers. Combined with fire from the regular warships, the weapons platforms, and the fortress itself and it looked like the enemy fleet could be stonewalled.

However, not all was well. As he destroyed a Moebius unit with his railgun Yzak could see the new, larger mobile armors move into the fray. They were slow when compared to mobile suits or even the older model Moebius mobile armors, but they more than made up for that with thick armor and heavy firepower. Yzak could see waves of crimson fire spewing forth from their main cannons, taking down individual frigates and destroyers along with any mobile suits unfortunate enough to be in their way. The topside missile launchers were formidable as well, with multiple volleys of warheads flying out at a rapid rate and overwhelming mobile suits that tried to attack the machines. As if that weren't bad enough the ten CIWS that ringed the units were pouring out streams of anti-air fire, making attack runs difficult at best.

Damn it, he thought as he cut down another Strike-Dagger with his violet blade, I've got to get up there!

"Come on!" he said to his wingmen, "We've got to get up there and hit the heavies!"

Gunning his engines, Yzak powered forward. His shield raised, he slammed into a Moebius unit. Shoving the mobile armor aside for one of his comrades to shoot down, Yzak continued his charge. He veered right as a Strike-Dagger attempted to spear him on its yellow blade and slashed the unit through the torso. On his flanks Abdul and Simon were pouring out cover fire with their beam rifles, and the three of them were slowly but surely cutting a path towards the nearest assault mobile armor.

Suddenly a red beam tore across space, missing Yzak but slamming right into Abdul's GuAIZ. Yzak grimaced as he saw his comrade's machine disintegrate, and his eyes soon found the unit that had dealt the fatal blow; a Strike-Avenger with the Sword-Launcher pack.

"You son of a bitch!" he heard Simon yell, "You'll pay for that, you bastard!"

"Don't rush in!" Yzak cried, but it was too late.

His wingman had through caution to the wind and was making for a head-on strike. Yzak angled to back up Simon, spewing out cover fire with his beam rifle. The enemy's reflexes were sharp though, and the Strike-Avenger managed to not only dodge his fire but sideslip Simon as he attempted to skewer the machine with his beam claws. With a powerful slash from its anti-ship sword the Alliance mobile suit tore the GuAIZ clean in two.

"Shit!" he hissed, working to keep his anger in check; if he made the same mistake as Simon, he'd die the same way.

He veered sharply to the left as the Strike-Avenger took another shot with its Agni. The blast missed the Duel by mere meters, and Yzak wasted no time in returning fire with his rifle and railgun. His foe dodged the energy beams and tanked the linear rounds with its Phase Shift Armor, moving in hard and fast, its anti-ship sword raised for an overhand strike.

Yzak's eyes narrowed, steeling himself for his counter. Just before his adversary swung the heavy blade Yzak took the Duel to the right. Barely avoiding the anti-ship sword, Yzak hit his engines and thrust his beam saber into the Alliance unit's torso.

The Strike-Avenger had barely exploded before another one was attacking the Duel, this one wielding the Havoc pack. Yzak was barely able to bring his shield up in time as the machine lashed out with its sphere-breaker, and even taking the impact on the barrier severely shook the mobile suit.

"Damn it!" he growled, "I don't have time for this!"

He opened up with his beam rifle, but the shots were deflected by the energy shields that materialized in front of his foe. Yzak was then forced to dive as a blast of plasma flew at him, barely evading it as it curved through space, almost seeming to track him.

"Not good," he said as he tried to figure out how he was going to take this guy down.

He gunned his engines toward his foe, only to have to break to the left as the machine fired at him with the twin cannons imbedded in the shield on its left arm. Too late he realized it was a set up as the Strike-Avenger took a swing with its sphere-breaker, and the heavy orb slammed right into the center of the Duel.

"Arrgh!" he groaned as the impact rocked the Duel. Even with the additional protection provided by the Assault Shroud the hit had been heavy, and he saw his power gauge drop noticeably as his Phase Shift Armor tried to compensate. He could not afford more hits from that thing.

Yzak climbed, determined to get above his foe and take him down. The enemy was having none of that though, and another curved plasma beam forced him to break to the right instead. Yzak pumped out more beam and railgun fire, but his shots were just deflected by the energy shield.

It was just as the machine was swinging its sphere-breaker at him again that he realized how he could win. Reacting purely on reflex, he lashed out with his beam saber as the heavy spiked orb came straight at him, and he split the incoming weapon in two. As both halves of the sphere slipped past him he pushed his engines to the max and thrust his beam saber dead-center into the Strike-Avenger's cockpit.

Finally, he thought as the Alliance machine exploded, that took way too long.

On his sensor he saw the closest of the new heavy mobile armors plowing through the ZAFT lines. The Strike-Daggers escorting it only added to its firepower and were making it difficult for Yzak's allies to make an attack. It opened fire with its topside cannons, and pillars of crimson death smashed into a Laurasia-class frigate, turning it into bits of hot metal.

He dived, knowing that the assault unit's biggest weakness would be an attack from below. The units escorting it were prepared for that eventuality though, and instantly moved to intercept him.

Raising his beam rifle, Yzak threw up a hasty volley. The shots didn't take down any of his foes, but they did force them to bring their shields up, which gave him the opening he needed to close the gap. Up above the heavy mobile armor began to rotate, and Yzak realized it would soon be able to target him with its CIWS and missiles.

Acting quickly, he sighted in on one Strike-Dagger and cut loose with his rifle and railgun. The one-two punch took the unit off guard, and as it hastily blocked the shots Yzak rushed in and gutted it with his violet blade.

A rain of bullets forced him to break off; the assault mobile armor had him in its crosshairs. Multiple missile lock alarms went off in his cockpit, and Yzak was hard pressed to shoot down or block the stream of warheads the large craft sent his way. At the same time another Strike-Dagger attempted to shoot him down, and he was barely able to avoid shots from its beam rifle.

Breaking right, Yzak maneuvered out of the mobile armor's line of fire while setting up for an attack on one of the Strikes. He fired a few shots with his beam rifle, enough to get his target on the defensive, before rushing in and slicing the Alliance unit in half. Whirling around, he managed to deflect a beam saber strike from another Strike-Dagger before swiftly countering, spearing the machine on his blade.

Once he again he angled to attack the heavy mobile armor, but found that he was facing its top side. The main guns couldn't fire at him, but all of its missile launchers had clear shots at him, and another volley was already coming his way. Cutting loose with his beam rifle, railgun, and CIWS, Yzak powered through the barrage, taking a few hits to his armor and shield as he flew towards his target, violet blade ready.

"You're mine!" he yelled as he thrust his beam saber down through the machine's upper hull. There was some resistance from the thick armor but he managed to cut through, and Yzak began dragging his energy blade along the top of the unit. A few seconds later he withdrew his sword and gunned his engines, and the assault mobile armor exploded behind him.

One down, he thought, his eyes narrowing as he studied the raging battle, but there's plenty more to go!

End "It Has To Be This Way"

….

Cackling wildly as he blew another GINN to bits with his beam rifle, Zachary Rivard grinned as he flew through the fight of his life.

"There's so many of them," the blond haired, brown eyed fifteen year old said, his voice dripping with sadistic glee, "and they're all mine!"

He let loose with two of the missiles mounted on the wings of his Aile-Avenger, and chuckled as they ripped another GINN apart. "Is that all you guys can do? I thought you Coordinators were supposed to be hot shit!"

Out at the head of the Alliance squadrons cutting further into the ZAFT ranks, the young man was another one of the subjects of the vast Extended Human Program. He'd only had small fights before this; little skirmishes with ZAFT patrols to get him a taste of combat before Operation Peacemaker. Now the final campaign was underway, and before him lay a battlefield that he'd only been able to dream of before. Target rich environment didn't even begin to describe it. It seemed all he had to do to kill an enemy here was just point and shoot; there were so many that he hardly even had to aim.

"Come on," he growled as he set his sights on a trio of GINNs, "give me some more!"

He gunned his engines, rushing headlong at his foes. Their machineguns blazed as they frantically tried to shoot him down, but it was to no avail. His shield raised to take the shots, Zachary brought his beam rifle to bear and opened fire, downing one of the machines effortlessly. He then drew his violet beam saber and grinned as he got into range; he loved close quarters combat.

The GINNs were helpless against him; they were original units, which meant their rifles and metal swords posed no threat to him while his Phase Shift Armor was up. Enthralled at the feeling of overwhelming superiority over his foes, Zachary wasted no time in cutting into them. The first unit fell from a stab to the cockpit, while the second was quickly slashed in half.

He flew deeper into the storm of beams and bullets, of missiles and mobile suits, reveling in the scale of the carnage and the freedom it gave him. His orders were incredibly simple; kill every ZAFT unit he saw.

The entire battlefield was his buffet.

Seeking a more challenging foe, he set his eyes on a team of three GuAIZs that were carving through the Alliance ranks. The new model ZAFT machines were easily dealing with the Strike-Daggers and Buster-Daggers they encountered, buy Zachary wondered if they'd be a match for him.

He made straight for them, cutting loose with his rifle as he went. His foes scattered, their shields raised to absorb his fire. Zachary zeroed in on one of the machines, launching his last two missiles at it. The GuAIZ actually managed to shoot the warheads down with its CIWS, but in doing so it left itself open for another attack, and the Extended downed the machine with a beam rifle shot to the cockpit.

The other two mobile suits moved to catch him in a pincer attack. Zachary simply dived, firing as he went and forcing the two machines to break off their attack. Picking one target, he zoomed in, his beam saber ready to strike. Bringing the blade down in an overhand strike, he was surprised to see that his foe was actually able to block the attack. The Extended soon found himself on the defensive as the GuAIZ countered with its rocket anchors while the other mobile suit laid down beam fire from his right flank.

"Huh," he sneered, "not bad. Too bad I'm better!"

He managed to stay clear of the rocket anchors while at the same time blocking the beam fire on his shield. Hitting his thrusters and climbing, Zachary nailed the first GuAIZ with his beam rifle. He then turned on the second one and charged straight at it. His foe blocked his initial beam saber strike on his shield, but a quick burst from his CIWS distracted the ZAFT pilot, giving him the opening he needed to gut the GuAIZ.

"Jeeze," he groaned as the machine exploded, "Isn't there anyone out here actually worth fighting? At this rate I won't have any fun at all!"

He wasn't the only Extended wreaking havoc on the battlefield. There were nineteen more of his fellow augmented humans assigned to the vanguard fleet, all flying Strike-Avengers with various Striker Packs. Like him they were absolutely mauling their foes, though Zachary noted that two of them had disappeared from his scopes.

Jason and Kyle bought it, he thought, some ship probably got a lucky shot on them. No way any of these pilots could kill us.

The loss of two of his comrades didn't bother him much. They could barely cooperate under the best of circumstances, and now that they had such a target rich environment they'd all thrown caution and teamwork to the wind. It was all about who could rack up the most kills, who would be able to claim the title of 'The Best' when the fight was over.

And Zachary had no intention of losing.

"Who's next?" he yelled, diving back into the fray with renewed zeal.

The ZAFT fleet may have been holding back the Earth Alliance vanguard, but individual teams and units like Zachary and his fellow Extended had worked small breaches into the enemy ranks. Zachary continued to carve his path forward, heedless of any threats to his flanks or rear. He was caught up in the moment, the thrill of battle, the only freedom he knew in his life as nothing more than a living tool of the Alliance.

One GINN fell to a rifle shot, and another soon followed. Two more were slashed in half by his beam saber before another GuAIZ appeared to block his progress. The machine fired its beam rifle and CIWS, briefly forcing Zachary onto the defensive. However, a quick break to the left gave him the chance to counter, and he opened fire with his rifle. The ZAFT machine blocked the shots on its shield, but Zachary simply charged in head on, his beam saber raised and ready to split the GuAIZ down the middle.

The ZAFT pilot raised their beam claws to block the overhand strike. The move was successful, but it was only a momentary deterrent to Zachary's assault. He opened up again with his rifle, laying down a volley as he moved in for another attack. This time he lashed out with a horizontal strike, and cleaved through the GuAIZ's torso.

As he pulled away from the exploding machine his attention was drawn to one of the nearby Alliance FA-X Juggernaut assault mobile armors… or, to be more precise, its destruction. A blue mobile suit not too different from one of the Strike series machines had hit it from below, pumping energy beams and railgun rounds into it before administering the finishing blow with a stab from its beam saber.

It was the GAT-X102 Duel.

Zachary grinned as he made straight for the stolen machine. "Well, now, let's see if you'll put up a good fight!"

He wasted no time in making his presence known, laying down a volley with his rifle. The Duel reacted quickly, raising its shield to block the incoming shots before returning fire with its beam rifle and railgun. Zachary copied his foe, taking the incoming fire on his shield before returning with more beams of his own. Emerald fire crisscrossed the space between them as the two mobile suits rushed towards each other.

"Enough long-range," said Zachary, chuckling, "Let's see what you can do up close!"

He thrust out with his beam saber, intending to skewer the Duel right through the cockpit. Its ZAFT pilot wasn't having any of that, though; the Duel fluidly slipped to the right, and Zachary was forced to dive in order to avoid a slash from his foe's blade.

"Not bad," he said as he set himself up for another attack, "Now try this!"

He rushed back in, his blade raised for an overhand blow. The Duel responded by bringing its shield up to take the hit before thrusting out with its beam saber, and Zachary was barely able to avoid getting impaled on the violet energy sword. As he pulled back the Duel immediately opened fire with its shoulder-mounted railgun, and the Aile Strike-Avenger was rocked by a series of hits. Zachary managed to bring his shield up just in time as his foe brought the Duel's beam rifle to bear; the energy beams would've had no problem with his Phase Shift Armor if they'd hit, unlike the railgun rounds.

"You're good," he said, sneering, "but your mobile suit's an antique now. Time to throw it in the trash heap!"

He opened fire with his rifle before rushing in to engage up close. This time his foe dived to avoid the shots before rushing back up, its beam saber ready to go. Zachary brought his own blade up just in time to block a horizontal slash. The Duel followed up that attack by thrusting its shield forward, slamming it into the Aile Strike-Avenger's torso.

"Shit!" snarled Zachary as he was thrown back by the blow.

He tried to strike back with his beam saber, but he was too slow; the Duel struck first and cleaved his sword arm off at the shoulder. The stolen Alliance machine leveled its rifle at him, and it was all Zachary could do to bring his shield up to block the beams. Unfortunately for him his foe was only using the shots as cover while he moved back in, angling to strike his unit's vulnerable right side.

Time seemed to slow to a crawl as the Duel thrust out with its blade, and Zachary knew that there was no way he would be able to block this attack.

There was a brief flash of fire and pain… and then nothing.

….

Yzak shook his head as the Aile Strike-Avenger exploded. The pilot had been good, and it had taken far too much time for him to destroy the machine. Every second he spent on these new models and their hyper-aggressive pilots was another that the rest of the Earth Alliance forces had to advance.

And they were advancing. With the new heavy mobile armors and Strike-Avengers leading the way, the Earth Alliance forces had opened up gaps in the ZAFT lines, and the enemy was wasting no time in exploiting that. Both sides' capital ships continued to trade withering volleys, and the three Orizaba-class carrier/dreadnoughts anchoring the front were still holding strong, but the enemy was slowly moving forward.

We've got to halt their momentum, he thought as he shot down a Buster-Dagger, I've got to stop playing with these small fries and hit the ones that count!

Those were the assault mobile armors. Two had already fallen to the Duel, but there were still others pushing into ZAFT's ranks, widening holes in the line and leaving swaths of destruction in their wake. Yzak wasn't the only one to have scored kills against them; a few more had fallen to capital ship fire or daring attacks from GuAIZs. However, there were still enough machines on the field to continue to threaten the ZAFT forces and press further into their ranks, exacerbating breaches in the lines and making it easier for normal Alliance units to move in behind them and spread like a virus through ZAFT's formations.

Those heavy mobile armors are the center of their forward assault squadrons, he thought as he sliced a Strike-Dagger in half, if they can be taken out the smaller Alliance units will have a harder time moving forward.

Determined to turn thought into action, Yzak marked the closest assault mobile armor on his sensors. Pushing towards it while shooting down another Strike-Dagger, he got on the radio.

"This is Yzak Joule to Boaz Command," he said, "We need to focus on hitting those heavy mobile armors. If we can destroy them it will be easier to halt the Alliance advance!"

He didn't wait for an acknowledgement; he just sighted in on his target and prepared to attack.

His eyes narrowed as he saw the large machine open fire with its topside cannons, obliterating a destroyer.

"Not one more," he growled, "Not for you!"

Start "The Only Thing I've Ever Known"

Gunning his engines, he charged in hard, bearing down on the mobile armor's right flank. Its escorts reacted immediately, moving to intercept.

"Out of my way!" he snarled.

He opened up with his beam rifle, not destroying any units but putting them on the defensive and giving himself an opening to move in for close quarters combat. His beam saber blazing, Yzak swiftly slashed a Strike-Dagger in half before whirling around and impaling another through the cockpit. More mobile suits were angling towards him, and the heavy mobile armor was angling to get him in the firing arc of its CIWS and missile launchers.

"I don't have time to play with you!" he yelled as he pounded a Buster-Dagger with his beam rifle.

A Strike-Dagger moved in to stab him with its yellow blade, but Yzak was one step ahead of the attacker. His shield was already raised when the Alliance machine made its strike, and Yzak wasted no time in striking back. Shoving the blade aside with his shield, Yzak stabbed the Strike-Dagger through the torso.

Diving as another escort and the mobile armor opened fire, Yzak quickly reoriented himself and cut loose with his rifle and railgun, eliminating a Strike-Dagger. Now with a clear path to the assault mobile armor, Yzak dived to set up for an attack on the unit's belly. His foe began to roll to keep its guns on him, but the Duel was faster than the larger mobile armor.

"You're mine!" he yelled, firing as he charged in.

The railgun rounds and emerald beams hammered home into the unit's belly, scorching and cratering but not piercing the machine's thick armor. It didn't matter to Yzak; he was just softening the machine up for his finishing strike. Gunning his engines, he struck out with his blade and thrust it deep into the mobile armor's gut.

Even as he pulled his blade out and the target exploded Yzak was already looking for another assault mobile armor. He quickly found one and wasted no time in zeroing in on his new objective. Just like last time, the target's escorts were already reacting to his approach, screening the mobile armor while it blasted a frigate with its heavy guns and missiles.

This time the enemy escort launched the first salvo. Yzak was forced to go evasive, flying through a storm of fire unleashed by Strike-Daggers and Buster-Daggers.

There's more of them than with the last unit, he thought as he tried to work his way through the barrage, this won't be easy.

He managed to get a few openings to return fire, but the enemy wasn't making it easy on him. There was a pattern to the defense; the Strike-Daggers were up front with their shields raised to intercept his fire while the Buster-Daggers continued their barrage. It was coordinated and deadly, and Yzak just could not make any headway. At the same time he saw more mobile suits rushing forward, ready to flank him.

"Damn it," he said as he shot down a Strike-Dagger, "They're getting smarter."

Suddenly a rain of beams cut into the mobile armor's escorts, destroying two Strike-Daggers and a Buster-Dagger. Checking his sensors, Yzak saw a trio of GuAIZs moving in fast.

"This is Caldwell Team," said a male voice over the radio, "Boaz Command ordered us to back you up, Joule!"

Yzak nodded as he blocked beam fire on his shield. "Thanks. Focus fire on the escorts; we need to punch through their screen!"

Making words action, Yzak redoubled his attack on the assault mobile armor's escorts, blasting away with his rifle and railgun. He was joined by rifle fire from two of Caldwell Team's units while the third moved to block additional Earth Alliance units from striking at the flanks.

Yzak smiled as he saw two Buster-Daggers and a Strike-Dagger fall to ZAFT fire. "I've got an opening. Cover me!"

It was not a moment too soon; the heavy guns of the machine cut loose with another swath of crimson destruction, and a Nazca-class destroyer was consumed by the salvo. He gritted his teeth as he charged in, his mobile suit buffeted by the hail of bullets the mobile armor's CIWS were throwing at him.

"Take this!" he yelled, firing away.

Beams and railgun rounds hit their target, knocking out two of the CIWS on the right side of the machine. Yzak continued to fire as he closed in until he was at saber range, when he lashed out with his blade and dragged it along the side of the machine. When he reached the end and pulled out, the mobile armor exploded.

As the blast faded he received a transmission from the Granin's Captain. "Excellent work, Yzak! Continue focusing your attacks on those heavy mobile armors. Caldwell Team will act as your guard; they're yours to command!"

Yzak nodded. "Understood."

He quickly designated the next target and sent the data to his comrades. "We'll cut a path through to that mobile armor and take it down."

"Copy that," the lead pilot replied.

Yzak hit his thrusters and made for the target while the three GuAIZs formed up around him. They flew through a storm of fire the likes of which Yzak had never seen before; the vanguard fleets of the Alliance and ZAFT were continuing to hammer each other with everything they had. The young pilot was keenly aware that luck mattered almost as much as skill in an environment like this; a single stray shot from a capital ship, regardless of allegiance, could easily be enough to kill him.

So much fire, he thought as he destroyed a Buster-Dagger with his beam rifle, it almost outnumbers the stars…

It was almost beautiful, but it was hard to enjoy the scenery when it could very easily kill him and when who-knew how many people were dying every second. Yzak couldn't begin to imagine how many soldiers on both sides had already perished, and he wondered if he'd have the guts to look at the casualty figures once the fight was over.

He shook his head; such thoughts now would only get him killed.

He kept his rifle up, firing as he advanced. His fire was joined by shots from his three wingmen, and together they carved a path towards the next assault mobile armor. Their drive through the enemy ranks was hard and fast, their rifles and energy blades cutting down any Alliance mobile suit unfortunate enough to be caught in their path. Yzak was sure his kill count was through the roof, and the battle was still young.

"Dive," he said, "Those things are vulnerable from below; we'll hit it in the gut!"

His words became action as he and the Caldwell Team descended as they prepared to attack their target. Up ahead he could see several escorting Alliance mobile suits break away from the mobile armor and move to intercept.

"Let's punch through!" he yelled, opening fire.

His rifle and railgun blazed, with a Strike-Dagger and Buster-Dagger falling to his fire. His comrades joined him, and more machines went down in flames. However, the enemy did not take the attack lying down; there were plenty of surviving units that wasted no time in returning fire.

Yzak grimaced as he saw one of the GuAIZs get taken down by a blast from a Buster-Dagger's Hyper Impulse rifle. The loss of a comrade only fueled his determination to stop the enemy here and now. He flew into the thick of the enemy ranks, cutting down a Strike-Dagger with his beam saber and destroying a Buster-Dagger with a shot from his beam rifle. As he approached his target he saw the assault mobile armor turn to face him, the barrels of its heavy guns glowing red.

"Shit!" he snarled, veering sharply to the left.

It wasn't a moment too soon. The heavy mobile armor opened fire, its powerful main guns cutting a swath of destruction. Yzak was unscathed, but Caldwell Team wasn't so lucky; a GuAIZ had gotten caught in the blast.

"Watch my back," he said to his surviving wingman, "I'll take this thing down!"

Stabbing another Strike-Dagger through the torso, Yzak dived to get below the mobile armor. The craft's crew was skilled though, already rolling the craft to bring its CIWS and missile launchers to bear on him. Bullets rained down on him, buffeting him as he tried to make his approach. Yzak gritted his teeth and powered through the barrage, hoping his armor could take it. The mobile armor cut loose with its missiles, and Yzak replied with his beam rifle and CIWS, cutting himself a path through the horde of warheads.

He came in fast and hard, impaling the machine's topside with his blade. Dragging the beam saber across the top of the machine, he took it all the way to the back of the mobile armor, and the unit exploded as he pulled the blade out.

Another one down, he thought, but there's plenty more to go!

End "The Only Thing I've Ever Known"

….

From the bridge of the carrier Roosevelt, Rear Admiral Bernard's eyes narrowed as he studied the unfolding engagement. Both fleets had taken losses, but they were still holding strong; each side had hundreds of capital ships on the field, and neither had brought in reinforcements yet.

He felt like the conductor of a grand orchestra. To command such a vast fleet of warships and thousands of mobile suits was a heady feeling; power unlike he'd ever felt before. It was almost enough to make him forget that his force was merely the vanguard of a gargantuan armada.

This is but a taste of our power, Coordinators, he thought, We've yet to show you our true might!

It was not yet time to unleash the Alliance's secret weapon, but it would not be long before they could play their ace in the hole. The battle had to wear on just a little longer, with the enemy ranks worn down just enough to ensure that they could not stop what was coming.

The Juggernaut mobile armors and Strike-Avengers were accomplishing that goal nicely. The former had done a good job at opening up gaps in the enemy ranks, while the latter had exploited that and exacerbated the effect.

However, their momentum was grinding down. ZAFT squadrons had begun concentrated attacks on the Juggernauts, punching through their escort screens and outmaneuvering the cumbersome craft, hitting them from above and below. As for the Strike-Avengers, the erratic and hyper-aggressive nature of their pilots meant that they lacked real coordination with the rest of the Earth Alliance forces, or even their teammates for that matter. They were charging out ahead on their own, leaving themselves vulnerable to flanking attacks, and several of the Extended pilots had already fallen. Bernard rued the fact that the vanguard fleet had not been given any of the units that were piloted by normal and experienced Alliance pilots; Azrael had saved those for the main fleet, along with the bulk of the Extended Humans.

The Earth Alliance forces still held the advantage of numbers, but it was dwindling. The combined firepower of the ZAFT dreadnoughts, weapons platforms, Boaz itself and her supporting fleet was enough to make up the disparity. The three black leviathans and the fortress's armaments were particularly impressive and destructive, and while the former were showing signs of damage none appeared close to falling.

Bernard frowned as a fresh swarm of missiles flew forth from the asteroid base, ripping into mobile suits and Drake-class escort ships at the head of the fleet. The fortress added to the storm with heavy railguns and beam cannons, its firepower equaling that of a battle group and savaging the attacking Earth Alliance forces. The three massive dreadnoughts were only making things worse, with each enough to hold whole flotillas at bay, and with the support of the ZAFT fleet they were succeeding in blunting the vanguard's assault. The Rear Admiral actually found himself envying the Coordinators new warships; even the Archangel-class battleships were put to shame by those behemoths.

"Any word from the Dominion or Doolittle?" he asked.

"No new instructions at this time," the communications officer replied.

Damn micromanagers, he silently fumed, Azrael, Sutherland… I can't order the strike until they give the go-ahead.

He wondered how long he would have to wait until they finally gave him the orders he was waiting for. Would it be in the next minute, or an hour from now? Were they deliberately withholding the authorization he sought, hoping his fleet and the power he wielded with it worn down by the ZAFT defense? Did Sutherland and Azrael seek to make him call them and beg for permission to launch the nukes, humiliating him and elevating themselves at his expense? Politics of that sort was not unheard of among the upper ranks of the Alliance forces, and the High Command was hardly an exception to it? The egos of the top brass were enormous, and they all were constantly looking for means to advance themselves over the others.

"Is Red Squadron ready?" he asked.

"They've been on standby since the battle began, per your orders," replied the carrier's flight controller, "They can launch at any time."

Held back like dogs on a leash, he mentally grumbled, If this is Azrael and Sutherland's idea of amusement, I'll be sure to find some way to return the favor once this is all over…

In the meantime, all he could do was command his force and wait for that one order…

….

"Whoa," said Lan softly, "Look at 'em go…"

Holding position on the outskirts of the battlefield, her Wraith's Mirage Colloid activated, Lan had been tasked by Waltfeld to act as a forward observer for the Three Ships Alliance, transmitting data to her comrades and keeping them apprised of the situation. It was a mission her machine was very well suited for, along with those of Adaline and Priscilla, and so the Desert Tiger had set up a rotation with Lan as the lead pilot; depending on how long the battle wore on, she would eventually swap positions with one of her allies to return to the Eternal and rest.

Lan knew her role was vital, but she was still unhappy with the assignment. She hated recon and observation; she was the kind of girl that liked to mix it up. In that respect she knew she was no different from her fellow ladies of the Valkyrie Team. Still, she had to admit that the view was spectacular.

Should've brought some popcorn, she thought idly as she monitored the unfolding battle.

The voice of the Desert Tiger came over the radio, startling her. "Enjoying the fireworks, Miss Zhao?"

Lan straightened out in her seat. "Sorry, sir. It's just… there's not a lot for me to do out here right now."

"I know," Waltfeld replied, "but stay sharp all the same. You never know when the action's going to shift in your direction."

Lan nodded. "Yes, sir."

"From the data you're sending us, it looks like quite the show," said Waltfeld.

"It is," said Lan, "although it feels weird, being a spectator and all."

Waltfeld sighed. "I know what you mean, Miss Zhou. It's hard to just sit back and watch as they duke it out. Still, for now it's what we need to do. The time's not right for us to intervene yet. Look at the enemy forces that are fighting right now; do you really think the head honchos will be with the vanguard fleets?"

Lan shook her head. "No, sir."

"As long as the top dogs from the Alliance or ZAFT aren't on the field, there's no point in us acting against their fleets," said Waltfeld, "With them fighting out at Boaz right now there's no danger to either of their civilian populations, so there's no need for us to intervene on their behalf yet either."

"But if the Earth forces breach The Boaz Wall, that could force our hands, right?" asked Lan.

"They'd still have to contend with the Jachin Due Line after that," said Waltfeld, "but yeah, if the fighting gets to the doorstep of the PLANTs then we'd have to jump in to safeguard the civilians. Also, at that point we might have a shot at both Azrael and Zala."

Lan nodded. "Yes, you're right."

"Hold tight, Miss Zhou," said Waltfeld, "I know it's not what you want to do, but that's your mission. Eternal out."

Lan sighed as she relaxed in her chair. "Hold tight, he says. Great. Something I suck at."

It wasn't just her personal desire to get in there and defeat the enemy that had her at odds with this assignment, though. Lan may no longer have been a part of the ZAFT forces, but as she watched them now she knew that most of the soldiers fighting against the Alliance were doing so for one of the reasons she had joined the military in the first place; to defend their loved ones and their home. Even after being away from L5, after basically exiling herself, Lan knew that she still thought of the PLANTs as home, and her instincts wanted her to fight to protect it from the Alliance fleet.

She shook her head in disappointment. "It's no longer home. There are still innocent and good people there, but it's no longer home. Get that through your head…"

It wasn't easy though, especially since she had a very personal stake in this; her mother was still at L5. She was in the September City Colonies, under the protection of Councilor Eileen Canaver, safeguarded from the Zala regime, but the shelter offered by the moderate leader meant little in the face of Earth Alliance aggression. Lan doubted the enemy cared about the different factions of ZAFT and PLANT politics; as far as they were concerned, they were all Coordinators and had to die. When all this was over, Lan vowed to find a way to get her mother out of the PLANTs, perhaps to Orb. She was sure Lady Cagalli could find room for another exile from L5.

Until that time though, all she could do was look on as the vanguard fleets of the Alliance and ZAFT clashed at L5's doorstep. Explosions big and small constantly flared amidst the black backdrop as mobile suits and warships were destroyed. It was a pyrotechnic display unlike any she had ever seen before, and the young Chinese Coordinator knew that this was just the opening round. She couldn't begin to imagine what it would be like when both sides finally brought their full strength to the battlefield.

I know our plan's to hit them while they're mixing it up with each other, she thought, her eyes narrowing, and it makes sense, but still… even if they're focused on killing each other, they'll still have plenty of firepower to throw at us when we take the field. It doesn't matter how fast and hard we hit them, or how precise. It's going to get ugly…

Not that it wasn't already.

….

Folding his arms, Creuset smirked as he looked up at the massive main monitor inside Jachin Due's command center. "Magnificent…" he said softly.

Hundreds of warships, thousands of mobile suits… all were mixing it up in a titanic display of military might, a confrontation that had been brought about thanks in no small part to his manipulation. He had worked very hard over the past few years to push both sides deeper into the throws of fear and hatred, and it was all paying off splendidly now. From the massive asteroid fortress he watched as the opening act of the final campaign unfolded before his eyes, and as fearsome a battle as this was he knew that it would soon be surpassed by the one that followed it.

The Boaz Wall continued to hold strong despite their casualties. Creuset was impressed with how the station's master commanded his forces and had yet to call for reinforcements. The defense was skillful and formidable, a potent combination of ZAFT's mastery of mobile suit warfare, the supporting capital ships, and of course the raw firepower of Boaz and her surrounding weapons platforms.

Yzak's putting up a good fight as well, he mused, having noted the Duel's progress in the battle, I suppose I should take pride, but… well, despite what Zala and his cohorts may believe, I never considered him to be my protégé. The same goes for Athrun and the rest of the old team. They were nothing more than tools, means to an end…

He glanced over at his superior… well, nominal superior; Creuset could never truly consider the Supreme Council Chairman to be his greater. Patrick Zala had a face of stone as he watched the battle unfold. It may have been the opening act of the final campaign, but Zala was not letting any excitement show. That was to be expected, though; Creuset knew that the man was calculating when would be the best moment to deploy their trump card. With the Earth Alliance only deploying a fraction of the force the Patrol Fleet had reported, Zala had surely come to the conclusion that patience was required for the time being.

Although Creuset had to wonder if that restraint would hold when the Earth Alliance played their trump card.

You're taking longer than I expected, Azrael, he thought, I do hope you'll pick up the pace soon. Otherwise I may have to get directly involved…

He hoped to avoid taking the field personally just yet. While Creuset knew he could certainly shake things up with the power of the Providence, he wanted to keep the fearsome new mobile suit in the shadows for just a little longer. After all, it was entirely possible that the renegades were observing the battle, and he wanted his new personal machine to be a surprise for them. Still, he was aware that events could force his hand.

"We are holding," he heard Field Marshal Keitel say, "The Earth Alliance forces are no match for our defenses!"

The overweight Chief of Staff for the Defense Council was right next to Zala, a smug smile on his face. It was all Creuset could do to keep from revealing just how insignificant a pawn the fat bastard was in this grand game and just shoot him; at least other players on the board weren't as disgustingly sycophantic as him.

"They have only brought a fraction of their armada to bear," Zala replied, "but that was to be expected. Soon they'll bring in their reinforcements, and that is when we'll strike. They'll learn that no amount of numbers will allow them to triumph over us!"

Out of their line of sight, Creuset allowed himself a smirk. Believe that all you wish, Chairman. I can't wait to see the look on your face when Azrael finally makes his move.

When Boaz is consumed by fire…

….

Yzak smiled as another one of the Alliance's new assault mobile armors fell to his blade.

It's working, he thought, their advance has stalled!

The battle was still raging furiously, but the enemy had completely lost their momentum. The Earth Alliance had actually taken more losses than ZAFT, with their force of seven hundred warships now at nearly 450. ZAFT, on the other hand, still had almost 360 ships from their vanguard fleet still in action; the firepower of Boaz and the Orizaba-class carrier/dreadnoughts had gone a long way towards evening the odds. The enemy's mobile suit squadrons had likewise taken a beating, though the fact that they had more new models than ZAFT did meant that Yzak's fellow pilots were having a harder time than the capital ships.

Combined strikes by mobile suits and warships had stopped the heavy assault mobile armors dead in their tracks. Most had been completely destroyed, while a few badly damaged units were limping back to the Alliance fleet. The time was ripe for a counter attack, and Yzak was already moving in.

He sighted in on the closest enemy capital ship, a Drake-class escort ship. The vessel was already pumping out bullets at him in a desperate attempt to stop his attack, but Yzak was fully aware of that type of vessel's firing arcs and easily slipped through the gaps in the coverage.

Zeroing in on the bridge, Yzak opened fire. Beam rifle and railgun fire hit home, destroying the command center and setting the vessel adrift.

"Who's next?" said Yzak.

He didn't have time to pick out another warship; mobile suits were moving in to intercept him. Yzak readied his beam saber, and was just in time to block a slash from a Strike-Dagger. He swiftly countered, brining the blade up and thrusting into his foe's chest. As the machine exploded he whirled around and raised his shield, blocking rifle fire from another Strike-Dagger.

"Out of my way," he growled, shooting down the attacker with his rifle.

A quick glance at his sensors showed other ZAFT mobile suit teams following his lead, beginning to advance into the forward ranks of the Earth Alliance forces. The initiative had completely reversed in the battle, and now it was ZAFT that was taking the fight to the enemy. Flotillas of frigates and destroyers were moving up as well, emboldened by the clear shift in momentum.

He selected another escort ship on his sensors and gunned his engines. The vessel opened fire with its three 75mm Vulcan cannons while Strike-Daggers moved to intercept him. Just like before, Yzak quickly cut a path through the Alliance mobile suits, slashing two machines with his beam saber while downing two more with his rifle. Moving behind the ship, he pumped beam rifle and railgun fire into its engines. Explosions ripped through the vessel and tore it apart.

Yzak didn't have time to celebrate. Alarms rang in his cockpit as multiple missiles locked onto the Duel, and as he looked at his sensors he saw another escort ship open up on him with every warhead in its arsenal. Knowing there was no way he'd be able to evade every one of them, Yzak opened fire with his beam rifle, railgun and CIWS while at the same time charging towards the volley.

To an outside observer the move looked suicidal, but Yzak had a plan; destroy the missiles in the middle of the volley, the ones most likely to hit him, and accelerate past the ones on the fringes before they could course-correct and hit him. It was bold to be sure, but his skills, Coordinator reflexes, and the combined protection of the Assault Shroud and Phase Shift Armor gave him a chance to pull it off.

The mobile suit shook as two missiles impacted it, but before he knew it Yzak was through the barrage and his target was in sight. He unloaded on it with his beam rifle, destroying the topside 75mm Vulcan turret before moving on to the bridge. The command center was torn apart by his beams, and the warship began to drift. Another pilot might've finished it off, but Yzak refrained; the target was neutralized.

Will others show them that mercy?, he thought as he traded saber blows with a Strike-Dagger, I wish I could say for certain yes, but with the way things are now… I just don't know.

He didn't have time to worry about it; he had a battle to win.

….

They're pushing forward now, thought Bernard, scowling as he observed the battle, damn mongrels.

The fact that the momentum had swung in the enemy's favor was something Sutherland would never let him live down. Bernard was furious that the head of the High Command and Azrael had allowed the fight to drag on for as long as it had without giving him authorization to launch the nukes. Now he was certain that their silence was just to screw him over. They wouldn't allow the vanguard fleet to be destroyed, but he knew that they wanted him thoroughly humiliated before they gave the order that would turn the entire battle around.

He gritted his teeth as he looked at one of the monitors and saw the Duel carving through Strike-Daggers and Buster-Daggers. It infuriated him to no end to see the stolen Earth Alliance prototype used against them like this, and against a fleet he himself led it was just insulting.

Duel in the hands of ZAFT, the Buster with the traitors, along with the Archangel… the damn Heliopolis project's been one pain in the neck after another. If we hadn't gotten the Strike-Dagger as a result it would never have been worth it…

It was even worse to know that the enemy had not only stolen their new weapons but had used them to improve their own arsenal. Bernard knew that some of the technology used on ZAFT's nuclear-powered machines was pioneered by the Heliopolis project, and the GuAIZ also owed its existence to the stolen prototypes. It would be very satisfying to witness all those machines destroyed, crushed beneath the heels of the Earth Alliance.

"Sir," said the communications officer, "Incoming transmission from the Dominion!"

Finally, thought Bernard.

"Put it on screen," he said.

He grimaced as Azrael's face appeared on the screen. That familiar smug smirk was on his face just like always, and it sickened him.

"Rear Admiral Bernard," said Azrael, "Having a little trouble?"

Bernard slammed his fist on the arm of his chair. Formalities and protocol be damned; he was pissed.

"You fucking little shit!" he snarled, "How long are you going to wait to give me that fucking order?"

Azrael chuckled. "Language, Rear Admiral, language. My, my, yours is hardly fitting of a man of your position. You won't win favors talking like that."

"Fuck favors," Bernard growled, "This is an assault, not a damn game! My fleet's been bloodied, just like I'm sure you wanted, now let me turn those fucking mutants to radioactive cinders!"

"I meant you no slight, Rear Admiral," Azrael replied, his tone one of mock apology, "This was merely part of the plan. The abominations think they're on the cusp of repulsing your attack; what better time to show them just how wrong they are than when they believe they are on the verge of victory?"

"This isn't fucking theater, it's war!" roared Bernard, "Now let me send them to the pits of Hell!"

Azrael smiled. "I'm glad to see your devotion and zeal, but with your tone I just can't simply give you want you want. Change your language, Rear Admiral, and I can issue the order we both wish to hear."

I can't believe it's come to this, he silently fumed, to be humiliated in front of my own bridge crew… Azrael, this isn't over! When the dust has settled, you will pay for this indignity!

He sighed. "Please, Lord Azrael. Give me the order to begin the purge."

Azrael grinned. "There, was that so hard?"

"Do I have your authorization?" Bernard said through gritted teeth.

Azrael's smile became maniacal and sadistic. "Of course, Rear Admiral. Show them that we have returned, and that they cannot hope to stop us! Show them that we are here to finish what was started with the Bloody Valentine!"

Bernard nodded. "It will be done, my lord."

"I look forward to seeing it unfold," Azrael replied, "Don't disappoint me, Rear Admiral."

Bernard had to resist flipping him off as he disappeared from the screen. He'd been unprofessional enough as it was today; as a member of the Atlantic Federation High Command he ought to at least have some restraint.

"Have Red Squadron launch," he said, "Their targets are the dreadnoughts and Boaz."

"Understood, sir," replied the carrier's flight controller.

Bernard smiled as his gaze turned back to the raging battle before him. The sweet satisfaction of victory would soon be his…

…as he kicked off the Coordinators' Armageddon.

….

Yzak smiled as another Drake-class escort ship fell to his guns. We're pushing them back! We're winning!

He knew it was too early to declare victory, and wasn't about to let his guard down, but the change in tide was cause for celebration. The battle still raged around him, with so many people dying every second, but ZAFT had begun to make serious headway in repulsing the Earth Alliance fleet. Of course, it was only a matter of time before they called in their reinforcements, but the fact that they would be the first to do so rather than ZAFT despite starting of the fight with over two hundred more capital ships and so many more mobile suits than Yzak's comrades was testament to the furious and effective defense waged by The Boaz Wall.

Thanks to supporting fire from the fortress and the capital ships mobile suit teams and individual units like Yzak were penetrating deeper into the Earth Alliance ranks. They were doing to them what had been done to ZAFT earlier in the fight; opening holes in the Alliance lines and sowing chaos and confusion in their formations.

We can do this, he thought as he cut down a Strike-Dagger with his beam saber, We can win!

He continued to push forward, shooting down a Buster-Dagger with his beam rifle and slashing another Strike-Dagger in half with his violet blade. His adrenaline was pumping like never before, driving him onward as he fought with all his might to defend his homeland. He knew he'd half to pull back soon; the battle had been raging for awhile now, and the Duel's batteries would eventually need to be recharged. For now though, he wasn't worried about that. All that mattered was fighting to make sure the defenses held.

It was a mission he was so sure ZAFT would accomplish.

Until the cruel hands of fate gave him a nasty surprise.

Start "Gradus Vita"

"All units, new priority targets!" said Boaz Control, and Yzak was taken aback by the very clear fear in their voice, "New contacts have launched from one of the carriers with Ragnarok payloads! Repeat; contacts are carrying Ragnarok missiles!"

Yzak's eyes widened in shock, and his blood chilled.

"Impossible! Nukes…"

It can't be! The only ones with N-Jammer Canceller technology are us and the renegades! No way the Earth Alliance has it! They can't!

He frantically searched his scanners until he found the contacts designated by Boaz. Yzak brought them up on his visual sensors, and shock turned to horror as his worst fears were confirmed.

Four Moebius mobile armors.

Each carrying a large missile.

The four mobile armors were under a heavy escort of Strike-Daggers and beam-cannon equipped Moebius units. Numbers didn't matter to Yzak now though; he had to take them down.

"All forward units, on me!" he said, "We can't let them launch those missiles!"

He charged forward, not waiting for any acknowledgement. Whole squadrons of mobile suits and mobile armors were already moving to face him, and nearby capital ships were switching their fire from ZAFT warships to the mobile suits moving to intercept the nuclear strike force.

The entire Alliance force seemed reenergized by the appearance of those four mobile armors, and it showed in their furious defense as the units moved in to strike. Yzak suddenly found himself facing tough opposition as he clashed with Strike-Daggers, and he realized that the enemy had held back their more experienced pilots for just this moment.

"Get out of my way!" he yelled as he shot down one unit and impaled another.

For every machine he took down another immediately took its place, and he soon found himself being pushed back under combined fire from Strike-Daggers and Buster-Daggers. Worse yet, he saw on his sensors the entire Earth Alliance vanguard fleet start to push forward as ZAFT frantically tried to punch through the screen they had thrown up around the four nuclear-warhead-bearing mobile armors.

He fought like mad. A Buster-Dagger fell to his railgun, a Strike-Dagger to his beam rifle, and another to his saber. His focus was solely on cutting through their escort and taking down those four machines, but he wasn't making any headway, and the same went for his allies.

The Duel rocked as he took fire from a nearby escort ship. More Strike-Daggers rushed in, and Yzak had no choice but to pull back. Fighting for his life, he watched with a growing sense of helplessness as the enemy advanced.

Then the Alliance escorts pulled back.

And the mobile armors fired.

Four Ragnarok type nuclear missiles streaked across space. The ZAFT fleet tried to intercept, but with the Earth forces redoubling their assault they could not coordinate their fire on the warheads.

Three massive spheres of red-orange light erupted as the Orizaba-class carrier/dreadnoughts were hit. The mighty black leviathans were nothing before the raw power of the Earth Alliance's deadliest weapons. Their great hulls were briefly outlined by the blinding explosions before they were consumed by the fire of the atom.

As horrifying as that was, Yzak's shock paled in comparison to what came next. Time seemed to slow to a crawl as he watched that last missile fly towards its target, untouched by any of the desperate fire ZAFT threw at it.

"No…" he said softly, praying for a miracle that he knew was not coming.

And then the missile hit Boaz.

Like the dreadnoughts before the outline of the base was momentarily illuminated before it was overtaken by nuclear fire. The light was both entrancing and blinding, and Yzak had to force himself to look away lest he be killed thanks to his distraction. When he looked again though he was once again overcome by shock and horror as he saw the utter carnage wrought by the attack.

Half of the asteroid was completely blown away. What was left was blackened by the searing heat of the blast, the innards of the base exposed to vacuum. Shards of rock and metal floated out in an expanding cloud of debris, along with who-knew-how-many bodies. The once mighty Boaz fortress had been reduced to a charred stone grave.

The Duel shook as a missile hit it, knocking Yzak out of his funk. He immediately began to pull back, laying down covering fire with his beam rifle and railgun. There was no doubt in his mind that a general retreat order would soon be issued; the ZAFT lines were already falling apart. The loss of the three carrier/dreadnoughts and Boaz herself had a devastating, crippling impact on the defense, and Yzak knew that they would have to regroup with the main body of the Grand Fleet at the Jachin Due Line.

Sure enough, new orders came over the fleet-wide channel from Jachin Due. "All forces, fall back immediately! Withdraw to the Jachin Due Line!"

Already the survivors of The Boaz Wall were pulling back, with the stronger warships laying down covering fire while damaged vessels and mobile suits made their retreat. For their part the Earth forces seemed to be consolidating their position, not moving to pursue.

Small favors, he thought, I'll take what I can get.

Yzak knew they would not have much time to rest though. The Earth forces would not sit on their triumph for long; it was only a matter of time before they brought forth their full armada and marched on the Jachin Due Line. Where before he had felt confident in his side's ability to repulse any attack from the Alliance, now Yzak knew only doubt and dread. What could ZAFT do against the power of nuclear weapons?

He hoped his superiors could come up with a plan fast.

If they could not, then their entire race would be exterminated.

End "Gratus Vita"

….

So, Heero thought grimly as he studied the image on the main bridge monitor, our worst fears are confirmed.

He looked over at Murrue and saw her eyes wide with horror. "They really did it…" she said softly.

Heero put his hand on her shoulder, and when she looked over at him he gave her a small nod. She quickly regained her composure and returned the gesture while bringing her hand up to his and briefly holding it.

"We knew it was a possibility after L4," he said, "but still… it is hard to swallow."

"Yes," Murrue replied as both of them looked at the screen again, "but wishing it were otherwise is pointless now. Their nuclear arsenal is fully operational again… and this was just a taste of it."

Heero nodded. "They'll bring the main fleet up and reintegrate the vanguard force into it. Then they'll march on the Jachin Due Line."

"Our old plan's out the window now," said Murrue grimly, "We can't sit back and let them slug it out any more now that we know the Alliance has brought its nukes to the fight. I hope Waltfeld has a plan B."

"Agreed," said Heero, "No matter what happens, we can't let them launch those at the PLANTs."

Murrue sighed. "All this destruction, and it was just the warm-up. The Alliance has revealed its trump card, and we still have no idea what tricks ZAFT has up their sleeve. If they're going to use that new weapon Bristow thought they were building, now's the time."

"I imagine we'll see it soon enough," said Heero, his eyes narrowing in determination, "and we'll find a way to stop it, too."

We have to, he thought as he looked at the charred ruins of Boaz on the main monitor, too much is riding on it. The Alliance's nukes, ZAFT's secret weapon… one way or another, both threats have to be neutralized. We've got our work cut out for us…

….

Creuset could not suppress a grin as he saw the looks of shock on the faces of Patrick Zala and the rest of the Defense Council members gathered aboard Jachin Due. On the main monitor of the control room he could see the still-smoldering ruins of Boaz and an expanding cloud of debris. The remnants of The Boaz Wall were falling back in disarray while the Earth forces maintained their position, no doubt savoring their victory.

Even more beautiful than I imagined, he thought, confident that no one was observing him as he gazed upon the destruction and ruin with a look of near-triumph, and it's just the opening piece. Soon the grand finale will be upon us… in all its infernal glory!

He watched as the Chairman gestured frantically, issuing new orders to his subordinates. That supreme confidence that had so irritated Creuset had taken a serious blow, and the masked Field Marshal knew that Zala had gotten a major dose of fear, though the man would never admit it. The same went for the rest of the Defense Council, and the general population of L5 would soon follow; there was no way Zala and his cronies could hide a defeat like this or put any sort of positive spin on it.

That fear would morph into anger and further fan the flames of hatred that the radicals had already stoked to a blazing bonfire. The officers and enlisted men and women would be hardened in their resolve, and the propaganda machine would go into overdrive as it further played on the fears and prejudices of the people. The regime had been preaching total war for quite some time now, but with this latest development they would abandon the last vestiges of restraint in their proclamations to the people. Phrases like 'absolute victory' and 'total submission of the Earth' would be exchanged for the language of annihilation; the calls for the Naturals' extermination would now be blatant.

At long last, the Rubicon had been crossed. Both sides now truly were at the point of no return. Arsenals were unleashed, fresh blood spilled, and nuclear fire had been reborn.

Creuset chuckled as a phrase from a certain ancient Roman General-turned-Emperor came to mind, and he felt it was quite fitting for the occasion.

"Alea iacta est," he whispered.

The die is cast.

Preview for next time!

With the fall of Boaz and the collapse of the outer defenses, the ZAFT Grand Fleet and the Earth Alliance armada are set to clash at the Jachin Due Line. Azrael has already revealed his trump card, but Patrick Zala still has his concealed, primed, and ready to fire. With the two largest forces in the history of mankind running headlong towards their Ragnarok, both wielding weapons of apocalyptic destruction, the stakes in this fight could not be higher. None are more aware of this than Heero, Murrue, and the rest of the Three Ships Alliance. The Earth forces' early victory at Boaz has forced them to drastically alter the timetable and layout of their operation and their fight is now more desperate than ever. Plunging headlong into the blazing inferno, the Perfect Soldier knows that the odds against him here are the greatest he's ever encountered, and the fate of all he holds dear in his new world is riding on the outcome. Next time, on "Journey to a New Battlefield", Episode Twenty-Nine: Firestorm.

The Battle of Armageddon begins now.

Author's Notes: Well, it's taken almost three years to get here, but I'm finally ready to start writing the last battle of this fic! Man, hard to believe I've been at it for this long, and this is just the first fic of this series! Still got quite a ways to go, the Second Battle of Jachin Due's going to take some time to write, so your patience will be greatly appreciated. I promise the wait will be more than worth it.

By the way, if the Alliance's Juggernaut heavy assault mobile armors looked familiar, they should; I based them off the attack mode configuration of the Destroy units from Seed Destiny, but without some of their technology and weapons. Consider them the forerunners to the new mobile armors that the Alliance will use in the sequel, along with the Destroy itself of course.

Until next time!