Characters: Minerva bridge crew; Arthur Trine
Pairings: None
Time frame: GSD ep 43
Distraction
"Mobile suit launched from Archangel," announced Abby. Arthur, while surprised they still had troops in reserve at this point, tried to focus only on the opening the launch did provide. A few heartbeats later the opening was used, failed, and gone. Not surprisingly.
"Searching in library…no match," added Mark. That was not a good sign. Mobile suits that weren't listed, were new models. New models meant better models.
The Minerva shook from impact. Arthur quickly checked the ship's readings. No damage. The new mobile suit apparently was not released for anti-ship combat. That was good. Arthur had enough to deal with the Archangel alone. That ship was, in his opinion, impossible persistent.
"Confirming visual…," Mark continued. When no match could be found according to heat patterns, then visuals were the next source of information. In many cases new models were based on older ones and assumptions on manufacturer, abilities and associations could be made. Arthur Trine tried to block it out. He needed to focus on anti-ship combat and as long as the other suit was not attacking the Minerva directly he was free to learn all about it later. Such was his thought process before he heard the announcement.
Maybe ten seconds had passed since the initial information.
"Th-This is," Mark stumbled over his words. "The Justice!"
Gasps filled the bridge and Arthur himself did a double take in Mark's direction. Stunned silence lasted for a couple of seconds before the visual was brought up on screen. Hypnotically it pulled all eyes towards it.
Red, flight pack, shield, and infinitely more details and fine differences that left no doubt about the suit's identity and predecessor. The Justice. The one and only Justice.
"Ma'am?" Arthur couldn't help but ask. It couldn't…If that was…
"Ignore it," the Captain instructed, quickly. "It is our enemy. Shoot it when it comes in range."
Arthur briefly glanced at the Captain's clenched fists, before turning back to his terminal. "Understood."
Engaged with the Archangel, he still occasionally glanced at the screen displaying their mobile suits' battle. The Freedom, the Justice, fighting Legend and Destiny. Evenly. Whatever else might be, Arthur had little doubt concerning the identities of both pilots.
To fight against their Super Ace and not lose, they had to be the genuine thing. And the Justice was in flawless combination with the Freedom as if they had jumped straight out of the history books.
Athrun Zala, Arthur Trine had no doubt.
The Captain had no doubt, either.