Phase 5: The First Light
Space... A massive vacuum of nothingness. Beyond it lie stars, planets, galaxies in a never ending beautiful universe. Space seems like a dream world to many but in CE 89 every conflict and pain that dwells on the earths surface also dwells within space. Will there ever be a time where mankind can live in peace? Will every place which humans dwell be filled with pain and suffering?
"Docking complete; welcome General Liene." The announcers voice rang through the hangar as the self declared greatest ship in the universe, The Stranger, landed. John Liene stood up from his seat and looked out toward space as the hangar door closed blocking his view of the great back expanse. Liene had been ten years old when his father, Melran Trien had first brought him to space and at that young age he had seen space as a place where peace could finally be realized. Time had brought a hardness upon him that was unbelievable. He bowed his head as the past began to fill his mind. Space had always been his one refuge throughout his life. Every time the past had tried to catch up with him he had fled to space.
At age fifteen his father was brutally murdered in front of him as the world began to fall into unrest. As a political leader in favor of building colonies in space that would allow both coordinators and naturals Melran Trien became a target of Blue Cosmos for sympathizing with Coordinators. After killing his father Blue Cosmos dumped John Trien in ORB where he was able to regain a life. Changing his name to John Pri he got himself though school with a degree in genetics. He had always been interested in the technologies that had created coordinators in the first place. After college he moved to Alaska where he married and began his research and that was when everything happened. Had he been in space at the time he might have been able to protect himself. He loved space more than anything now.
At age thirty just before the Bloody Valentine he moved his wife and his two children to Eurasia to present his work to some of the leaders of the world and there he met his fate. The coordinator elite tracked him down in fear that he would be used by Blue Cosmos to create a race meant to destroy them. When they finally found him they murdered his wife and and eldest son driving him mad with grief. His young son soon became the target of Blue Cosmos as the youngest first generation coordinator in the world. Mad with anger John fled into space with his son and few followers and there he wallowed in his grief. A month later the war broke out as he watched the struggles unfold he soon realized that what happened to him happened because all humanity was filled with evil. He awakened at that moment with his final name Liene and from then on he worked opposed to all those who believed that peace could come. He worked to ensure a future where space would be uncorrupted by the greed of humanity. But something happen he never forsaw, his son, his last reason for life was destroyed and with the child went the last shred of humanity in Liene's heart. All that was left when it was all said and done was darkness and greif and his grief turned to anger and he blamed the world for everything.
Right after the war ended Liene stumbled upon an amazing find; a gifted baby girl born to an insecure teenage mother without any way of raising her child. This child was simply called "Meiko" so he gave her a last name and a future as the first pillar of his operations. He then found a child whom he was able to minipulate for his own gains, a boy whom could take on the powers that Meiko posessed. The two children would be brought up and trained for their special assignments which would rid the world of evil forever but Liene's dream would be shaken one more time. At a young age the boy was stolen from his program and Liene was left with only one pillar. Liene felt no remorse at the loss of the child because he soon discovered that thought he only had one child he had the right one. This little girl had proven to him that coordinators and naturals were silly to believe that they could exist without each other but he kept the secret of her birth buried within his mind alone.
Even in the peace of Lacus Clyne the world stayed segregated between Coordinators and Naturals with one exception; ORB. The inability of Coordinators and Naturals to live together as humanity would ultimately be their undoing. Sighing Liene stood up and walked toward the exit of the ship; he would soon right their wrongs and restore the world.
"General!" he was met at the end of the ramp by one of his top technical advisers, Ali Newent.
"Are all our developments on schedule?" he asked her beckoning her to walk alongside him. Ali was a coordinator who had lost her brothers in the second bloody valentine, they had fallen in ORB so her anger against the nation was one of his perfect tools.
"Sir, to be frank project 7341 has not moved at all," she said looking toward his blank face, "we have most of our top computer scientists and engineers working on it and we can't seem to break the natural mind barrier. Our test subjects are being either killed or driven mad; Sir I believe we must bring Meiko in soon."
"Meiko isn't ready for a test of that magnitude," he said, "she is still reeling from the last technology you tested on her. We can not break her for she is the key to the recreation of the world." Very few understood Liene's obsession with the perfection of Meiko but they didn't question it.
"Then what do you propose we do?" Ali was getting impatient with the rate of technological progressions in the factory and she had hoped Liene would bring a solution with him.
"Double your efforts," he said, "it must be ready on schedule."
"Yes Sir," she sighed, doubling efforts would make no huge difference since they were already expending so much energy into the project but Liene's orders could not be questioned.
"I am also here regarding the Sting," he said. His facial expression did not change, it was blank and emotionless as he spoke.
"It is moving on schedule and there have been no problems."
No problems yet...
Crashes sounded around them as the ship shook from each blast. The battle had just taken a turn for the worst; Uzumi's power was being stretched and Yaro's was gone. The crew of the Eternal had never failed in a battle and here at one of the most critical times in their lives they could not fail! They could not leave the world to be devastated by another giant conflict.
"Yaro is experiencing critical damage!" Kiran yelled, "He's a sitting duck where he is!" The boy worked frantically to help his brother whose life was hanging by a thread.
"Order Uzumi to protect him until we can make an approach!" Waltfeld commanded, "hang in there Yaro!"
"Leyas," Lacus whispered holding her daughter, she looked up toward Waltfeld "How does it look out there?"
"Its bad," Waltfed said, "If we take another hit on the port side we won't be able to make it very far. If we take more than one hit in that area we might loose the whole ship."
"I'll protect you and Yaro," Uzumi's face appeared on the largest monitor, "but I need you to cooperate." Everyone listened to Uzumi knowing that he had proved valuable so far.
"What does that kid want," Waltfeld said aloud.
"I want you to send out the G4 Booster pack," he said. Kiran looked at the monitor in shock; how did Uzumi know about everything they were carrying on the ship? Only workers and bridge members knew exaclty what was contained in the hangar.
"That thing needs a pilot," Waltfeld said.
"I'll go commander," Dearka said. Kiran stood up knowing that this could be his chance to follow in is fathers footsteps and protect the lives in the eternal.
"You're injured," Kiran said, "I'll go."
"With Leyas down we need you here son," Waltfeld said causing Kiran's hopes to be dashed, "we can send it out alone but we'll need precise coordinates to send it to." Kiran quickly relayed the message to Uzumi.
"I'll get you the coordinates," Uzumi said, "with the pack Yaro will be able to reboot, his suit is almost out of power; thats all I'm asking for."
"Missiles coming in at port," Kiran mumbled.
"Fire intercepting misses on the port side and aim all guns at that ship," Lacus yelled standing up with the authority she had gained through many years as Chairwoman of the Plant Supreme Council, "we have to get out of this. I'm taking Leyas to the medical bay."
"I'll take over while you're gone," Waltfeld said. Lacus then exited the room carrying her daughter. Waltfeld turned back to the task at hand, hoping for a miracle.
"HARO," the little pink robot said louder than before as Kayla stumbled through the hallways. Her eyes had changed with the resolve of SEED triggered by the presence in her mind; something big was happening around her and she could feel something coming. The pink haired child found herself in front of a door where a lot of noise was coming from. She sat down across from the door as her mind screamed for her to enter.
"What is happening!" She grasped her head as so many things seemed to fly through her. All she knew is she had to do something!
"Kayla," a voice called her, "You can do anything! Just focus on your main goal and fight toward it!" She recognized the voice as her fathers. It was a memory of a time she had helped her ride a bike. What did the memory want from her? Why was her mind so clouded?
"Coordinates set," Kiran said looking up toward Dearka whom was set to key the launch code of the booster pack.
"Ready Uzumi?" Dearka asked. In order for their plan to work Uzumi would have to protect the pack, Yaro, and fight the Pain all at once. It was a little too risky for Waltfeld's taste but what were they to do? Without Yaro their fighting strength was critically low, of couse Uzumi couldn't fight everything on his own plus the loss of a family member at this time would not be pleasant in any way. The whole operation could save Yaro's life as well as everyone else.
"I'm ready when you are," Uzumi yelled, "this is our chance! The Pain has cowered to the mother ship for a beam recharge!" The bridge crew confirmed that this was true. Kiran prepared to hit his controls as Dearka prepared his own.
"Ready!" Kiran yelled flipping a few switches. Dearka typed in the code to trigger the launch sequence.
"Code initiating!" Dearka replied.
"The booster pack is launching!" another crew member responded.
"Yaro," Kiran quickly switched his channels, "prepare to receive the booster in 35 seconds." He saw Yaro's face appear on his screen. His brother looked flustered and a little bit frightened at is situation.
"Rodger that!" Yaro yelled, "it's a little freaky being out of power this close to a large vessel!"
"You can tell me about it later," Kiran said, "once we make it out of this!" Waltfeld listened to the boy's sound of assured victory and dearly hoped that the two brothers would get their conversation.
"What are you doing!" Gilligan yelled again; Meiko was definitely not in the mood to be bossed around at this moment. Her blood had begun to flow more rapidly and the presence that she had felt in her mind earlier had caused her too much confusion! What was it about the eternal that seemed so precious and familiar to her? She somehow knew that something familiar was aboard the vessel; she had felt this presence before in a small way. She shook the feeling out of her mind, now was not the time! Right now she had to destroy that ship and those two troublesome mobile suits.
"Come on use the beam!" she yelled, "give me some power." Her mobile suit was met by the beam as she noticed an object racing toward the blue and white mobile suit which was sitting out of power. She couldn't sit her. Her recharge wasn't finished but that suit couldn't get anything! She would make sure of it. In a blinding flash she spun her mobile suit toward the blue and white suit. It was going down today. She got closer and closer; at the same time she saw the Prejudice's secondary cannons also aiming at the suit. She pushed her mobile suit and pulled out her beam saber when suddenly something unexpected happened; a blast from the Eternal rocked the back of her suit sending her off course and giving the pilot of the blue and white suit enough time to dock with his little pack. Meiko growled and maneuvered her mobile suit back toward the blue and white suit which was not able to meet her attack with his own beam saber.
"What is wrong with these people!" she yelled, "can't you all just die!"
"Docking successful!" Kiran yelled letting a huff of releaf pass through his mouth.
"Thank goodness," Andrew Waltfeld sighed, "he won't be able to use any of it's weapons without a pilot in it but he got the power he needed."
"What's happening!" They heard a small voice exclaim. Waltfeld turned quickly in shock to see Kayla floating onto the bridge followed by Haro.
"Kayla!" he exclaimed nodding to Dearka as he stood up. He was about to float toward her when he saw her eyes; her pupils had shrunk but her iris had grown very large. He immediately recognized what had happened to her but it shocked him. Kayla had the seed just like her parents and yet it had manifested now of all times. Kayla was not in battle or at an emotional height, she was just a child sitting in the back of the ship waiting. What could have triggered this sudden change and how could it have happened to her so young?
"Where's mommy?" Kayla asked looking around her, "something's coming! Somethings happening! We have to get out!" Kayla then grabbed her head and let out a small cry of pain.
Yaro turned to fight the Pain for the second time in this battle. Would this mobile suit ever go down?
"Why can't you just let us go!" he yelled trying to find the pilots weak points. Suddenly retreat flares came from the enemy ship. He looked to see Uzumi's mobile suite immediately stop attacking the ship, adapting quickly to the peaceful meathods of his family. The other pilot seemed torn but the suit went back to it's mother ship anyway. Yaro quickly turned off his beam saber and began to breath deeply searching for flares from the Eternal.
"Stay alert Yaro," Uzumi's face appeared on one of his monitors, "Something is not right and we can't just let our guard down because they are leaving."
"Rodger," Yaro said looking around him. There was something wrong about this situation. These guys seemed absolutely determined yet they moved away so quickly. They couldn't just be frightened about the odds being against them; Uzumi's mobile suit could run out of power at any moment if he wasn't careful then the odds would be even once again.
"What's the situation on the bridge," he said switching channels and sending the message to Kiran.
"Leyas fainted for some reason so mother took her to the medical room," Kiran responded, "Kayla just appeared on the bridge a moment ago. I'm worried about her Yaro, she's been holding her head, mumbling about something coming and her eyes have changed! I'm not sure what's going on!" Yaro took all the information in wondering about what could be wrong with his sister but his mind quickly remembered all the dangers that could take place at this moment in time.
"What is the situation of the ship?" he asked quickly.
"We have experienced critical damage on the port side," he said, "we'd be a sitting duck if it weren't for you two." Yaro looked up toward the enemy ship. Why were they leaving? Most ROW ships were ruthless to the end and they didn't leave a job undone unless random and uncontrollable outside circumstances intervened. He sighed thinking about how ROW could have sent more than one ship but they didn't. He was just glad they didn't and he was glad that the PLANT fleet had not found them yet.
The PLANT fleet.
His head jerked up as the thought suddenly jumped in his mind. One ROW ship could face the Eternal but if that one ship were fighting a fleet it wouldn't stand a chance. The PLANT fleet would destroy a ROW ship on sight in anger; of course they wouldn't care if they shared common goals. ROW was the enemy of the PLANTs in every way and never would any ship from the PLANTs hesitate in attacking ROW. The PLANT fleet would be sufficient to frighten the one ship off. He cursed loudly pounding his fist on the wall while turning his communicator back on with his other hand.
"We have to get out of here!" he yelled to the whole bridge, "the ship wouldn't just retreat! It must be the PLANT fleet! They are out looking for us! We have to run!" He sounded as desperate as he was yelling to them. He heard Andrew Waltfelt curse through the communicator as well.
"Get us out of here!" Kiran yelled.
"I'm picking up three signals!" Dearka Elsman's head shot up as he saw what Yaro was talking about coming on his screen. "They're are three ships! Two Atermis class war ships and a Neo Nassca class!"
"An advance fleet!" Andrew Waltfeld said, "chances are they have already caught are signal and we can't outrun them in this state."
"We can't fight them either!" Lacus's voice was heard as she floated back to her seat, "we can't do this!"
"Let me talk to them," Kayla said with her small voice. Lacus had not even noticed her there so it surprised her to see the little girl. Lacus was shocked to see her little girls eyes as well. What had happened to cause this?
"They are coming toward us fast!" Kiran exclaimed
"It's alright Kayla," Lacus said putting a hand on her daughter's arm. Kayla didn't even look at her nor did her eyes change. She simply walked to Leyas's station.
"I have to talk," Kayla said turning to face her mother finally, "daddy said I could do anything and I know what I have to do." Tears filled Lacus's eyes at the mention of Kira, she missed him so dearly. She knew better than to stop someone in Seed mode, the resolve it held was amazing and inexplainable. She let her daughter work at Leyas's station while the bridge crew scrambled to prepare for a larger battle. Uzumi had brought the Journey back into the Eternal for a quick recharge and Yaro had landed on the ships hull. The whole atmosphere of the ship had changed as they knew they probably couldn't make it past the three ships.
"Surrender is an option," Waltfeld said.
"All of you would be executed for accompanying me," Lacus said, "and I would be forced to live knowing that. No we have to have hope."
"There is always some hope," Uzumi said floating onto the bridge, "they don't know our fighting strength so we have to make them believe it is more than it is." Lacus looked at the boy whose presence reminded her of both Athrun and Cagalli; he had already done so much for them yet here he was again ready to assist them in any way he could.
"What is your plan?" Lacus asked.
"Dearka must launch!" he said, "even if all he does is stay on the hull and shoot down random targets, he must launch!"
"He's injured," Waltfeld said.
"I can handle just firing at the enemy!" Dearka exclaimed, "it won't be too hard!"
"And I'm launching in the Journey," Uzumi said, "I wonder if we should put someone in the G4 booster pack."
"Who do you suggest?" Lacus asked.
"Just scratch that," Uzumi said, "there is no one that we can spare to pilot it. If only we had Leyas back!"
"We should have an escape plan," Kayla's voice rang through the bridge as it spoke loudly. She was working on the computer at Leyas's station. Everyone on the bridge was unsure what to think of the small girl, no one stopped her since Lacus had not but they were all a little worried about what she was doing.
"What kind of plan?" Uzumi asked.
"A descent to earth," Kayla said, "if we can't fight them off we must descend." Lacus instantly knew that it wasn't her daughter talking but the resolve within her; Kayla was young and no girl at her age could think like this. What was going on?
"And we must stirke fear into their hearts," Kiran said.
"Right!" Uzumi said, "if it comes to a descent orbit, launch someone in the Strike Freedom. It doesn't matter who it is at this point! Just send it out and keep it near the ship. The appearance of the Freedom before we make our descent should buy us a little time while they try to figure out whether or not they should fear it." Everyone looked at him in shock knowing what the Strike Freedom meant. Kira was the only person in the world who had ever piloted it and it was a symbol of hope to people on earth and in the PLANTs. The Strike Freedom was so much more than a weapon, it was immortal and powerful, beautiful and terrible.
"That is risky," Waltfeld said.
"We can't loose the Freedom," Lacus said desperately.
"They're here!" Kayla yelled gripping her head and putting on Leyas's communicator. Uzumi quickly rushed out to the Journey and Dearka rushed to his suit.
"Lauch!" Kiran yelled as soon as he confirmed that they were both ready. The whole bridge saw the three ships looming in the distance.
"Do not fire," Kayla said standing up and pressing a button instantly opening a communication channel with all three ships leaving the bridge crew shocked at what this little girl had accomplished.
"Sir the Eternal is opening up a communication with us," an officer said.
"It might be a surrender," the commander replied, "open the channel and let them speak." As soon as the channel opened they did not see Lacus Clyne but instead there stood the youngest of the family, Kayla. Her eyes looked strange causing the entire ship to gasp; what was happening to this girl.
"Hello," she said sweetly, "my name is Kayla Yamato and I am the daughter of Lacus Clyne as many of you may know. I am not speaking to you to surrender, nor am I speaking to you out of request of anyone on this ship. I assure you I am speaking to you from my heart and this decision is my own. I do not completely understand the entire reason why we are running from you and why you are chasing us but I do understand that we have done nothing wrong. My mother Lacus Clyne has always served the PLANTs with dignity and honor and never would she betray them. She also has been fighting for peace since the great wars and she would never work with enemies of the peace like ROW same goes with my father whom hates war with everything that is within him. I want you to ask yourselves, how could Lacus betray peace? Search her actions, not the ones you see on the media today, but the real ones that are recorded in the halls of the PLANT records." Kayla breathed deeply before continuing.
"I am asking you all to please let us go free, please don't cause the deaths of innocence to be on your hand for we are all innocent. I am not asking this just for myself but I am also asking this on behalf of my siblings and my friends. Please don't allow innocence to be destroyed! I ask you please let us go." Suddenly Kayla's eyes faded to normal as she looked around understanding what the strange force had led her to do.
"Please," she said one last time before sitting down on the ground. The entire crew of each ZAFT ship were amazed at the little girl and many of them began to have doubts about their missions. The general gritted his teeth in anger, this little girl was trying to stop them! What would he do if his crew backed down because of her?
I hope you all liked this chapter. Sorry I haven't updated in awhile, I've been really busy preparing for my graduation among other things. I'm really tired and I just finished my final edit but this might be one of the weaker chapters. It transitions into something but I promise! I'll let you know that I think Kira should be coming in a few chapters and I know the Minerva is on its way! Also Redemption is going on her first mission soon! I can't wait to finish this!
-WintersChill
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