Gundam 00: Phoenix

Traitor In Our Midst

Spain, September 9

Ribbons simply smirked before it quickly faded at the sounds of footsteps approaching down the hallway with the security team now entering the room and securing the area.

He had expected that to happen, Celestial Being was no fool to stay around and he had a feeling Tieria had simply fallen to care about the humans around him and this confirms it. Now he knew where everyone's loyalties lay, he would no longer have to be bothered by such matters and the pieces were likely to begin moving once more; he no longer needed to plan for a possible traitor now or revising parts of the plan to incorporate the Gundam Meister.

"What happened here?" one of the guards asked Ribbons, weapon drawn with his head quickly surveyed the room.

"Celestial Being sent two spies to have me assassinated," Ribbons replied, pretending to use a slightly panicked, and weary voice. "However, my bodyguard was able to force them to retreat through the window," he pointed to the guard with two of them already peering out of the exit point to try and find the assailants.

"Looks like they disappeared into the forests," one of them said after a quick look through the smashed window frame. "No sign of them."

"You should head down stairs, we'll lockdown this area," he was told before the guard then got on the radio. "All security teams lockdown the area and begin a search of the surrounding area. We've got two assailants within the woods-"

Ribbons did not bother to hear the rest of the guards as he left the room, Judgment by his side.

"Was it wise letting them get away so easily? I could have shot her right there, we could have dealt a decisive blow to Celestial Being and have accelerated the plan, Ribbons," Judgment whispered to Ribbons, disappointed and almost furious.

Ribbons turned his head to Judgment as the two kept walking. "It may have been a slight oversight, but remember we have another way to get them to come to us. We'll ensure we destroy them all at once. You'll be heading up to space to ensure that," he told Judgment. "The rests of the Innovators shall join you to ensure their defeat."

"And what of A-Laws? They won't like us interfering in their operations. You have not told their leadership we have a common cause. They may assume we are enemies as well," he said back to Ribbons.

Ribbons could only but hold back a smile. "That won't be necessary. Instead of following their orders, we can simply follow our own and come in when the time is right. A-Laws will simply wear them down for us to finish. They do not need to know our motives or goals as they're simply but humans."

Judgment did not show any sign of acceptance of the notion, but Ribbons knew he understood perfectly. His loyalty had only doubled upon his resurrection; he would dare not question the man who had gave him purpose and brought him back from the grips of Death.

Continuing down the stairs, Ribbons decided he might as well play along with what the humans expected any ordinary person to experience after an assassination attempt as the crowds came around wondering what had just happened.

It annoyed him to no end by discussing it with those who were inferior and did not realize who the superior being was. He needed to change that; after that, the whole world and its people would bow at his feet.

Middle East, September 9, Afghanistan/Turkmenistan Border

Daveral looked over a data pad for the Phalanx, which had just finished undergoing repairs, before he took a glance at the carbine it held in its right-had. That new installment had been a personal request; he did not want another experience of being nearly useless when it came into short-range combat.

It had been quite a surprise when the machine did not even have some sort of weapon that could engage targets at close-range for self-defense which the original Lancaster had. Even a GN Pistol would have been nice rather than relying on the slow firing railgun and the GN Missile Launchers. The javelin was only suitable at extreme ranges that almost always favored other machines due to their speed. Being an artillery Gundam should not mean a lack of defensive weapons when mobile suits were getting faster and faster with each new generation.

Those three machines were so different from the current arsenal used by the A-Laws and the Federation. Not even their transformable mobile armour compared to those machines which were sleek and looked far ahead of their time. Their designs were also completely different from any military mobile suit, not even bearing resemblance to any machine of the past or present.

Did that mean they were part of something else or were they another special arm of the Federation they did not know about? Those machines just brought up so many questions, though, from what information they had from Celestial Being, they were used by those called Innovators–the ones supposedly behind all the events going on in the current world and responsible for things such as the A-Laws.

Turning his head away from the machine, Daveral looked over to where the Pegasus was with Flint busily modifying his machine's program with the help of a technician in readjusting all the systems back to optimal performance. Maintenance always took a considerable amount of time when parts were lost and had to be recalibrated.

Bored, and with nothing else to do, Daveral took out the current novel he was reading titled Eyes of a Traitor. A strange and ironic coincidence when there was a traitor possibly still running loose within their ranks. From all conclusions drawn, it had to be a technician or a group of them if all their stuff had been tapped into and compromised right before the previous battle, but why?

Daveral flipped to where his bookmark was and took a quick glance around at the teams working around him in their makeshift base. He did not like being suspicious, but knowing that someone had betrayed them made him feel uneasy. Was this a spy placed in their ranks or truly one of their own?

That was made this so hard. To either think someone they trusted had willingly betrayed them or that it was someone who never truly was loyal to the Rising Phoenix and had intentionally been planted by either A-Laws or the Federation.

Trying to ignore the matter for the moment, Daveral went through his book, but his gaze just could not help but notice someone acting rather suspiciously near his machine–or what he considered suspicious.

It was one of his maintenance crew, but his hand seemed to be nervously tapping against his side for some reason. Clearly something was wrong. His facial expression also did not seem right; he seemed conflicted on something. Currently he was messing with the console connected to the Phalanx with the other hand and waited for something, constantly turning his head to see if anyone was looking.

Standing up, Daveral decided to go over to the man and find out just what his problem was. He shouldn't be here if he was acting so strangely and rather…..suspiciously.

As he went in to get closer the man suddenly jumped and pulled a small hard drive out of the maintenance console before running away in the direction of where all their vehicles were set up.

"What the hell?" Daveral shouted at what he saw. Immediately he chased after the man as several soldiers also saw this and raced after the man. They may have just found their traitor.

Despite their training, this man had a head start and he was quick on his feet that rapidly took him to one of jeeps that were currently standing-by.

"Lockdown the vehicles!" one of the soldiers shouted as people were starting to realize what was going on and began ensuring all vehicles were locked-down.

The runner, however, had already made it to one of the vehicles, shoving the nearby crew away before the lock-down had begun and started the engine with a rumble and sealed the armoured doors.

Within seconds, the vehicle began to head out of their temporary base and into the rugged country-side at full speed.

"C'mon after him!" a voice then called out as small teams of soldiers began loading up into one of the jeeps, Daveral included.

Several more teams loaded up and prepared to head out; they were not letting this runner escape them.

The vehicles' engines quickly came to life and immediately they were off, with the gunners at the ready. If they could not catch up to their escapee, they were going to have to stop him with force.

A shadow then cast itself overhead as Daveral looked through his window to see the Pegasus flying overhead, quickly gaining speed and closed in on the jeep at lightning pace.

The Pegasus then descended overhead and planted in feet on the ground in front of the jeep. From what Daveral could see, the jeep made a hard turn right to evade, but instead, it ended up skidding off course and flipping over on the unstable ground. The vehicle rolled onto its back with a crash and then silently lay still.

"Let's hope the guy is still alive to explain himself," one of the soldiers in the jeep growled, their vehicle coming up upon the now immobilized jeep.

"No kidding," Daveral muttered back as their vehicle skid to a halt with everyone disembarking except for the drivers.

Quickly some of the soldiers lowered down to see where the occupant was and with several hand signals, two soldiers at the front managed to get in there and drag the driver out who screamed in pain, his forehead cut and it seemed like his right arm had been dislocated for it hanged down by his side limply.

Quickly a medic went over to take a quick look and within a couple of seconds, gave a quicknod to the rest of the soldiers.

"He'll be fine, we'll patch him up when get back to base. Captain's going to want to see this," the medic said with the soldiers dragging the man back towards their vehicles.

Daveral gave a sigh. That was too close; if the man had escaped the Federation or possibly any group in the world would have info on the Phalanx. Anyone gaining technical information would easily put the Rising Phoenix at risk and it was his responsibility to ensure such information never left beyond the Rising Phoenix or Celestial Being; he had been entrusted as the pilot, after all. He needed to be more careful from now on or we wouldn't be trusted anymore.

Taking a glance at the wrecked jeep, Daveral gestured to the Pegasus to pick up the crashed vehicle. It was likely salvageable and it couldn't just be left lying out here; the parts could be picked up later or buried if necessary.

Flint seemed to have understood his gesture as the Gundam carefully grabbed the vehicle and gently lifted it off the ground before the Pegasus slowly took off and began returning back to base with the vehicle in tow.

Someone then gestured for Daveral to climb into one of the vehicle. Immediately, he obeyed and got inside one of the jeeps. It was only moments later that the vehicles quickly swiveled around and began heading back to base with, who they hopefully thought, the traitor.

Atlantic Ocean, September 9, Ptolemaios II

Most of the crew had assembled in the med-bay the Ptolemaios. Waiting to hear what the undercover group had discovered during their mission in Spain.

Nena winced, with a slight groan, as a cotton swab soaked in disinfectant graced over one of her cuts on her arm. Some glass had managed to scrap her arm on the way down and during the roll when both she and Tieria had reached the bottom from that third story window.

"Just a few minor cuts, but nothing broken from that fall," Nena then stated with a smile before she winced in pain again.

Tieria, who no longer had the complete appearance of a woman, nodded. He had only a few scrapes as well, but they had already been tended to, nothing major.

"I'm surprised there were no further injures from what happened," Feldt said as she finished up treating Nena's injures. "Reaching the Gundams can't of have been an easy task with how tight security was once they issued the lockdown."

"Fortunately, Setsuna was ready to get us out of there on a moment's notice," Tieria replied back before turning his head.

"Did you find out anything important while you guys were there?" Lasse asked, leaning against the wall.

"Ribbons Almark, from what his true name is, appears to be the leader of Innovators and he was the one that locked us out of Veda before he took control of it for his own means. He claims he's doing this as part of Aeolia's Plan, but instead he has manipulated to his own ends. If we don't take down A-Laws, then we must at least defeat the Innovators as they're the ringmasters of all this," Tiera then said to Lasse.

Setsuna agreed with but a simple nod. "A-Laws will always have a chance of rebuilding or reforming as a new entity with the Innovators still around, especially when they have Veda."

"Apparently they can also come back from the dead when they're killed," Nena then frowned. "Not sure if you've all read up on this, but Judgment, the one sent to kill me four years ago, he's back," she told them, trailing off at the end.

She hated the fact that Judgment was now back to haunt her, likely dedicated to hunting her down for revenge. She would have to be ready if he decided to make an appearance. They had not bested him in mobile suit combat; only on foot did they manage to finally kill him and that almost cost Daveral his life as well as her own if it were not for Flint.

"It just shows how dangerous they will remain until we can find where Veda is and retake it from their hands. The problem is, however, finding Veda. Only the Innovators themselves are likely to know the whereabouts, making our options limited," Tieria then explained to everyone.

Lyle then stood forth. "We'll just have to wait for them to make their moves and be ready when they do. They're bound to make a mistake that we can exploit."

"The question is when they'll make their move," Allelujah responded. "They haven't made themselves that obvious aside from Tieria's meeting and their intervention with the Rising Phoenix's battle plan. The fact we can never let our guard down will wear us out should it go on for too long."

"Speaking of guard," Setsuna then interjected. "I met an ace of the A-Laws stating he would be challenging us when the moment is right. Take what you may from it, but that man from what I saw, meant his word meaning his team could appear to strike us should we be unprepared."

"Seems like things just keep getting better and better," Lyle sighed, placing his hand behind his head before Miss Sumeragi then spoke.

"Even with those matters, we still need to ensure our mission succeeds against the A-Laws and now, the Innovators. We'll be heading up to space to regroup with Ian. He's just reported the new system for the 00 will be ready for testing shortly which will be critical in ensuring we're at full strength. We need the 00 fully operational for what's to come."

"Already?" Allelujah raised a brow. "Going to guess he was just up there for fine tuning, but it will be nice to have the 00 ready instead of having to worry about losing our GN Drives due to Trans-Am. We can't afford to lose our GN Drives."

"Indeed, now, all of you be ready for when we prepare to head up into space, I've got a feeling the journey will not be as smooth as we hope it will be," Miss Sumeragi then told all of them.

All the Meisters and crew gave understanding nods of what was to come. They would need to act soon if they wanted to put an end to the current atrocities and stop them from spreading any further.

Saji gazed over the Gundams as Setsuna and the rest of their Meisters began to get ready for what may be another battle. They were heading up to space and it would be likely A-Laws would notice them. There was no way escaping the atmosphere could be done in secret, not with the increased presence of the Federation with their larger fleet and more advanced methods of detecting GN Particles output.

And he was still around with Celestial Being. He was beginning to wonder if he should actually tag along to maybe try and stop the A-Laws, but he did not know if he could do it. There was the matter of Louise, he did not want to have to fight her again, but he knew he had to get her out of there, for her own safety. So many things just conflicted with the other, what was right and wrong? Just what was he supposed to do? Did he even have the power to do it?

Originally he thought being with Celestial Being and even helping them was the wrong thing to do, but now he was beginning to wonder if it was the right thing to do instead. He did not want people to fight or die, but the A-Laws, and now word of those called the Innovators who manipulated the world, made it seem wrong not to stop them. Would he just be as guilty for letting such things go on in the world when he had some power to stop it?

Saji then prepared to head back to his temporary room before he suddenly bumped into someone.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I-" Saji did not get to finish his sentence as he saw it was Nena who did not seem to mind as she gave him a weak smile before proceeding to her machine.

Before she could get far, however, Saji then called out to her.

"Nena, I just wanted to know something," he began instantly causing Nena to stop and listen to what he had to say as he approached her. "What made you think what you were doing is the right thing when you joined Celestial Being? I need to know as...wel I can't seem to decide what seems to be right and wrong."

The question seemed to make Nena think for a moment before she gave him her response.

"It just seemed like the right thing to do after what I've done," Nena replied, still not fully sure how to answer his question before she continued. "Something just told me I had to do this for the better, both for myself and the others around me. And, if you're going to do something right, don't just think about yourself but for those around you," she told him before giving a brief pause. "Wesker told me that years ago and it's stuck ever since. Now I actually care about those around me other than just thinking of myself as I used to," she stated with a soft smile before looking back at her machine. "I better get going, see ya around," she finished as she left for the Vier leaving Saji alone.

Saji thought about what she had just said for a moment– Doing something not for yourself, but for those around you. It made sense.

He then thought about Mileina, Ian, and the others onboard of this ship. Despite what they had done, they were all good people in their hearts and they wanted to stop something that they all knew was wrong. They just could not sit around with the wrongs of Federation or any power affecting more than just them. In a sense, Celestial Being was fighting to right the wrongs through force, despite how strange it may seem. And they were fighting for those who did not have the power to change things, even if Celestial Being did not see it themselves.

And this all led back to his original question. He wanted no place in any fighting, whatsoever, but could he simply sit by and let all these things in the world happen? What about the truth his sister always tried to uncover? Would he dishonor her memory by living in a world that was made of lies, despite how convincing they may seem?

Kinue, just what would you do if you knew of this? Just what would you try to accomplish if you were in my place? he thought to himself as memories of his sister flashed into his mind. She always searched for the truth behind her stories and reports. Maybe he could do the same thing; maybe there was a way to change things without truly having to fight.

He was no reporter and never would be one of the caliber that was his sister, but maybe it would be his way to change this world for the better. By getting rid of A-Laws by revealing the truth to the public then maybe less blood would be spilled and less people would have to die. Then, he may just get Louise back.

Yes. It made perfect sense, but then the question was, how would he get this out? How would it get pass the censorship that had its grip over all Earth Sphere Federation member nations?

Just so many questions, he then stated in his mind before he left the mobile suit container. He had the basic concepts, but he needed to build on them and hopefully, find support for them to end this and get Louise back, one day. And hopefully that would be sooner than later.

Middle East, September 9, Afghanistan/Turkmenistan Border

In one of the tents, many people coming from the higher positions of power in terms of rank, waited patiently. Murmurs and whispers were being passed along, discussing the fate of the man who had tried to betray them.

To the edge of the small crowd, Daveral and Flint had their eyes focused on the technician who now was cuffed and kneeling down, his head hanging low. Two well-armed and armoured guards to his sides watched him carefully, their faces completely hidden by their dark goggles and balaclavas–the exact same men who led the assault with Wesker against a Federation battleship.

"I hope this will put the traitor issue to rest," Flint said to Daveral with a frown, his eyes narrowly focused on the man.

"It may make things worse, there could be more like him and it seems like the Federation may know how to get to some of us," Daveral muttered back, unconvinced. "That guy almost looked hesitant to do what he did. How many others may be forced to turn against their in the Rising Phoenix just like him?" he then added.

Flint then turned his head. "That's a good question. Thankfully my parents are part of the Rising Phoenix itself. They're all the way back in Spain," he replied, feeling like he did not need to hide it here.

"Not so great for me. My family supports us indirectly…" Daveral said in a low, concerned tone.

He did not want to risk the lives of his parents or anyone that he knew personally who may get caught up in the current fight because they were linked to him. Knowing A-Laws, they would likely pull it off if they obtained the proper list of contacts and acquaintances. Anything that may threaten the current administration would be taken done by any means–and that was any.

"They'll be fine," Flint reassured him. "As long as you don't get captured like I did."

Daveral then turned his head to Flint. "Do they still have records on you?"

"Probably," he replied simply with another frown.

The tent went silent with everyone turning their heads and at now paying attention to what was going on. Wesker stepped in followed by another pair of guards who walked towards the center of the ten where the man was; their approach a combination of heavy boots against sand and rock.

From the near silence, Daveral could hear the man whimpering in fear, shaking uncontrollable with eyes wide open, unable to avert his eyes. The sunglasses Wesker wore seemed to add to the persona of a cold, calculating captain who would not accept failure or mistakes, even if that wasn't quite his true personality.

Wesker stopped, along with his guards, and looked down at the man that only made his whimpers even louder with glistening drops of sweat now rolling down his forehead.

"You are Merrick Dover, correct?" Wesker began in a calm, yet commanding tone.

There was no response coming from the man who was simply too terrified to say anything, his eyes darting around at the guards and Wesker. This soon caused one of the guards behind him to give a harsh stomp beside him and nearly caused him to jump and scream in surprise as if he were expecting to get shot.

"You will answer the Captain's question!" the guard threatened in a deep voice and was about to continue until Wesker signaled for him to stand down.

"How long will this take?" Flint muttered, annoyed by how long this was taking only for Daveral to nudge him.

"Be patient, this is more important than anything else," Daveral whispered almost harshly.

"I know, but still. For all we know the man may not even talk. He's pissing his pants, goddamnit."

The man's mouth then finally opened and he spoke, or at least tried to.

"T-Th-at w-would be….me," he stuttered, teeth nearly rattling while doing so.

Wesker then began again, "What reason did you have for running off like that with vital information?" Wesker then questioned before pausing. "We won't hurt you if you tell us why. Was it the Federation who set you up for this or someone else? Are there any others involved in this?" he continued when the man refused to say anything.

"Time's wasting, Wesker. We need this to hurry," Wallace than said from the crowd. "Leave him behind if we have to. We can't wait on him forever."

The Captain was about to reply back to Wallace, until the captured technician then spoke, interrupting him.

"It was A-Laws, their agents got to me," Merrick said quickly in one breath, and pausing as if something would happen. "They've threatened my family and bribed a few others to send them important information... Th-There were eight-eighteen of us, though only four now after the last battle. I took the information hoping...that they would spare me when they came."

The man then rose up and looked at Wesker with pleading eyes.

"A-Laws, they're coming. They know where we are. Their agents are coming! We've got to get out of here!" Merrick told Wesker, afraid of what may happen now. "They may already here."

Wesker grabbed the man up by the shoulder and gripped him tightly causing the man some pain. "Why did you not tell us this before?" Wesker the asked, almost in surprise with anger as the crowd began muttering to each other with several people, including Wallace, leaving to check on the perimeter.

"I don't know…. They'd kill my family…And they would know…they would just...know….." the man muttered in a fearful voice.

Wesker nearly growled at hearing what had just been heard until one of his guards suddenly slumped dead, a mist of red blood and skull fragments still trailing through the air. Another round then came and caused Wesker to give a painful grunt, a deep cut now over his browls and almost reached his eyes; his sunglasses being knocked off in the process, shattered to pieces.

"Sniper, find cover!" someone shouted.

Immediately people began displacing, either to find cover or to locate where the shooter was firing from with more shots being fired and more people falling down either in pain or death.

Gun-fire then crackled through the air followed by a series of explosions. Screams could be heard over the sudden intensity of battle. Orders were quickly trying to be passed on, but there was simply so much confusion. People were lost, nobody had expected A-Laws, or anyone for the matter, to get this close without warning.

Daveral had immediately taken shelter behind a series of heavy crates along with Flint. Both of them were currently unarmed, though Flint had already began opening one of the crates, hoping there were weapons located inside for their defense.

"Not good, if they start bringing mobile suits now we'll be in trouble," Daveral growled, grinding his teeth before he peered around the corner of the crate he was behind and saw a series of muzzle flashes from the dimness that concealed the shooters.

A rifle then found its way into Daveral's lap who turned to see Flint already loading his weapon and turning the safety off.

"We need to get to our Gundams," Flint said to Daveral just as a series of bullets crashed into the crate they were behind, moving them slightly.

Looking to his right which was the direction where their machines were, Daveral then turned his head back to flint.

"We'll have no cover on the way," he replied. "Though, I do agree. We need to get there before whoever's attacking us gets there."

A soldier, to their surprise, then appeared behind them with a DMR in his hands along with several others.

"Get going, we'll cover you!" they were both told and instantly they obeyed by getting on their feet and preparing to move.

The squad's weapons then flared to life and orders and instructions being barked by the squad leader. The distinct sound of grenades being launched was then heard before the hiss of a canister which landed not far from them was heard signaling smoke rounds had been fired.

Daveral and Flint then made a run for it and so did the squad that was not far behind, all of them heading towards the Gundams in hopes they could get there before the enemy did.

Author Notes: Sorry for how short it is and long this chapter took. University, new games such as Skyrim coming out in Novemeber and SWTOR have stolen my soul making me out this off. I promise to get the story on the move over these enxt few weeks, but I cannot promise anything.