Mobile Suit Gundam 00: Create the Future
Chapter 3: Initiation.
"Soran," The woman called out his name. He ignored her. He had been given a mission and nothing would stop him from carrying out it out.
"In order to give your body to God and join this holy war, there is something you must do. And that is…" He listened intently along with the group of boys to the man's instructions. They were prepared to give everything to God. They would prove themselves to God.
"And so this led to the Solar Power Wars that would last for over twenty years. For those living in the land of God, it was a holy war. A selfish pretext," He listened as his comrade described the situation of the Middle Eastern countries. He didn't understand where his comrade was going with this, but he listened all the same. He wouldn't run away from his sins.
"Of course I am. I'm going to carry out my duty in the name of God," The older boy declared one hand already on the doorknob. He and some of their other friends were going to Ireland. Those who went on this mission were not going to return.
"Congratulations, you have now been accepted by God," The eyes of the children were locked on to the man as they hung to his words, forming a circle around him. They had followed God's instructions and proved their devotion.
"What's wrong? Are you afraid of dying?" The older boy was lifting him by the collar of his shirt. The young boy had hoped that his words could reach the older boy. But the question still struck him. Was he afraid of dying?
"I understand that you were just being used by the KPSA and that you were fighting a battle you never wanted. But I was dragged into that twisted world and I lost my family…I lost them," These words were coming from a man whose life was ruined by the KPSA. Had he done something all those years ago, the man wouldn't have been driven to become a Gundam meister.
"Don't do this, Soran," She was sobbing and had reached her trembling hand towards him. A man's body was sprawled out on her lap, blood pouring from him. The man was dead and soon the woman would be as well.
"And you can become warriors participating in this holy war," He had done it. He was now accepted by God and ready to fight in the holy war.
"There's something I have to do," His fellow meister, a man he had come to respect, lifted his gun and aimed at him. He had been waiting for this moment. As soon as that Trinity pilot had revealed his identity, he knew that he would be in this situation. He waited silently for his comrade to make his next move.
"That's blasphemy against God," The anger in his eyes bore into the young boy's soul. Nothing he said could deter the devotion the older boy had for his mission, for God. He couldn't stop him. He couldn't save him. Was this their reward for following God?
"This battle is a holy war in the name of God," Tomorrow was the first of many battles they would be in. As warriors of God, it was their duty to kill those who would desecrate their homeland.
"Let me avenge my family. Let me settle the score," He waited for the bullet to strike him. He could have prevented all this long ago. This was his chance to atone. He had chosen his path. The others could carry on without him and eliminate war from the world.
"We shall strike down the infidels who disrespect our traditions and lay waste to the land of God," The man's words inspired the boys. His words carried such strength within them that, for a moment, the boy felt the doubt in him disappear.
"Why, why are you doing this, Soran," He ignored the woman's begging, ignored the shock and tears in her eyes. His hand was steady. His aim was perfect. Without hesitation, he pulled the trigger.
September 20, 2314 A.D: Ptolemaios
Setsuna woke up with a start, sweat sticking to his body. He rose from his bed, trying to calm his nerves. Sitting on the edge of his bed, Setsuna wiped the sweat from his brow and took a deep breath. Those dreams of his had been occurring more frequently lately. Nightmares about his past weren't abnormal. He had come to deal with them over the years. The only difference now was that they seemed to be stronger and clearer than before. He could feel more. Was this another consequence of becoming an Innovator?
He was different from everyone else. Innovation changed the way he saw the world. He felt more aware of what was around him, feeling things that he wouldn't have noticed before. While he may not have understood the new sensations, he was aware of them. Whether he understood or not, he wasn't sure how to deal with them.
Whenever he was around the others, he always seemed to be able to sense their emotions. He could sense that the others were worried and confused by his behavior. He had tried to block them out, but there were times when his concentration wavered. While they tried to act as normally as possible, they couldn't hide their feelings from him. In all honesty, Setsuna couldn't blame them. Becoming an Innovator had only complicated things.
What was he supposed to do as humanity's first Innovator? Tieria had explained the Aeolia plan to him. The world needed to be united and move into outer space without spreading war. To prepare themselves for the future dialogues, humanity needed to understand each other. With his new abilities, he should have been able to understand others better. That was what Innovators were suppose to do. So why did he have such a difficult time understanding anyone, even himself?
He began thinking of the Europa. He couldn't fully explain to himself, let alone the others, why the exploration ship drew his interest. There was the nagging feeling in the back of his mind that told him he needed to learn more. The Europa was from Jupiter, meaning that it could have ties with Celestial Being. While he wasn't aware of the specifics, Setsuna did know that the GN drives needed to be made on Jupiter.
But whatever he had felt had turned out to be nothing. The Federation was able to completely destroy the Europa. He had thought, had hoped, that something would come from that ship. There were no leads or clues to find, nothing to help him understand. He was beginning to wonder if there were any answers for him to find.
Had he become the Innovator that Aeolia had hoped for? Was this what it meant to be an Innovator? Or was he the problem? Was there something that he had failed to do?
Setsuna took a deep breath. Sitting around and questioning himself wouldn't solve anything. He would need to find the answers himself. There was no one else who could do it for him. Setsuna rose and left his room. He needed to clear his head.
Union Territory, Earth Sphere Federation Military Orbital Elevator Base
"How's it going, Katagiri?" Graham asked on his personal terminal as he floated upwards in the mobile suit hangar. Having just returned from a test run with his new mobile suit, Graham decided now was a good time to chat with his friend. There was a certain subject he wanted to talk about.
"I don't know about you, but it's been a long night for me. We're finishing up with the standard-type Braves."
"And how are they turning out?" The Brave was an experimental alternative to the GN-X series. It was the successor of the Flag and Enact, a transformable mobile suit. Billy had even developed a commander test type for him to pilot. Graham had a suspicion that Billy purposely gave his Brave a more Flag-like design. Piloting the mobile suit brought back memories of when he had been a test pilot of the Flag.
"I understand the test flights are going well. We're planning to roll the remaining models at the end of the month. The test pilots have been handling the prototypes better than I had hoped. They've even nailed down the Graham special."
"That's good to hear. Nice to know that there are pilots who can handle your new model, Katagiri," Graham said. The Brave units had been developed for a small unit, the Solbraves. The Solbraves currently consisted of six of the best pilots within Federation Army with him as the leader.
"While we're on the subject, how's your model holding up?"
Graham smiled. "Well, you gave me a unit that is an upgraded but harder to control version of a prototype mobile suit. A prototype that is still in its testing phase and is only to be piloted by the most experienced soldiers within the army. So simply put, I can handle it without a problem."
He could here Billy chuckle over the channel. "Just don't push yourself too hard. The members of the Solbraves will be heading up to the base. It should give you a chance to work as a team."
"Been awhile since I led a squadron," He hadn't led any squad missions since leading the Overflags. It had taken him some time to get used to interacting with his fellow officers, partly because they seemed to still see him as Mr. Bushido. The obsession and grudged he had held for the Gundams had damaged his reputation. Fortunately, he had been able to gain back the reputation he had had before becoming a licensed pilot.
"I'm sure you'll get back in the swing of things. And I doubt there will be any pressure from the army. The Federation's more interested in the Innovator and his Gadelaza. Especially after seeing how he handled the exploration ship mission"
"So it's true about him taking it down on his own?" News of the mission had reached Graham's ears. Some people believed it was only a rumor while others were certain that it had happened. This was one of the reasons he called Billy. If there was anyone who could provide him with the information he needed, it was Billy Katagiri.
"Looks like it. From what I hear, the higher ups are impressed with his performance. They're thinking of sending it out into real combat to collect more data. Can't say that I blame them. From what I can see, that mobile armor is a pretty powerful unit."
"Even more powerful than the Brave? You shouldn't let yourself be outclassed, Katagiri," Since he had known him, Billy had always put his best effort into designing mobile suits. It was rare to hear that some other Federation designers had created a more powerful unit. Knowing Billy, his friend would strive to make the superior unit. When Billy devoted himself to something, he never failed to disappoint.
"Don't make any quick assumptions. I think I'm doing pretty good considering I haven't used Veda as much as the other designers. But you do have a point. I'll just have to see what I can do."
"Guess I'll have to do my part and show them just what a Brave is capable of."
"Thanks, I'll let you know if anything comes up," And with that, the two ended their conversation.
"There's a friend I can count on," Graham said to himself. No matter what went on around him, Graham always had Billy supporting him.
September 25, 2314 A.D: Quantum Computing System, Veda
Living within Veda was an experience he couldn't put into words. Data flowed and shifted around him. With access to all of Veda, Tieria was able to pick up any important information sent to Veda. Anything Veda knew, Tieria would know as well.
He was alone in the system. Regene Regetta's consciousness had disappeared into Veda not long after they had taken it back and the other Innovades who had been linked to Veda were killed off, leaving Tieria as the only one left in the system. But he was never alone. He still had friends that were there for him. Knowing that, Tieria had refrained from completely merging his consciousness with Veda.
Tieria turned his attention towards his Gundam, Raphael. He had been working on Raphael during his spare time. Unlike his previous Gundams, Raphael was used with plans derived from the other Innovades mobile suits. Its design was a departure from Virtue and Seravee, lacking the heavy armor that had been used by his previous Gundams. While he has far into the production of Raphael, Ian had still been able to give some helpful suggestions in its design and was ready find ways to improve the mobile suit.
While Tieria could have used a Twin Drive system using Tau drives, he had chosen not to. With an original GN drive still operational, he found it more suitable for a Gundam to use that instead of the Tau drives. And considering that an original GN drive was superior to the Tau drives, it would be better in the long run. All that was left was to retrieve and install the Exia's GN drive.
Scanning the data within Veda, Tieria once again came across the report of the Federation's plan to reveal the existence of Innovators. He had chosen to wait before sending the data to the Ptolemaios. While he had informed Ian and Linda, he hadn't informed them about Descartes Shaman. When Shaman had been discovered as an Innovator, Tieria decided that it was too early to tell the others. They had their own task to tend to and the Federation was only studying Shaman.
But they would need to know soon. Considering how important Innovators were to the Aeolia plan, Celestial Being would have to respond to any conflict that would come. Everyone on the Ptolemaios would agree that they would have to fight if necessary. He did not know what course of action they would take regarding the press conference but was willing to help them in any way he could. Compiling all relevant data concerning Descartes Shaman and the Federation's plans, Tieria sent a report to the Ptolemaios. He would place his faith in them and let them decide the course of action.
Kingdom of Azadistan, Royal Palace
Walking down the halls of the palace, Shirin made her way towards Marina's room. Opening the door, she found Marina resting in a chair, free from her political work. They had been making progress on the Azadistan worker situation. It was only a matter of time before they were returned to their homes. Had she not received an urgent message from the Federation, Shirin would have given Marina a chance to rest.
She wasn't sure how she felt about the Federation's approach to Innovators. When she had read that the Federation would be holding a press conference to reveal Innovators, she hadn't believed it. Revealing something of that magnitude so soon seemed unbelievable. Klaus had confirmed that this was their plan. He told her that because it was believed that the Innovator population would soon grow, the Federation wanted to inform the public as soon as possible.
"We've received a message from the Federation," Shirin said as she walked towards Marina's side.
"Have they worked out an arrangement with the Colony Corporation?" Marina asked, hoping to hear good news concerning the Azadistan workers.
"This isn't about the Azadistan workers. It's an invitation."
"An invitation? For what exactly?" the princess asked.
"A press conference. You can read the details here," Shirin placed a report in front of Marina, waiting for the Azadistan princess to read through it. Shirin knew Marina well enough to know her answer. The princess was the type of person who would try to understand others.
"I think we should go," Marina said. Shirin couldn't complain with Marina's decision. The Federation had provided crucial support in rebuilding Azadistan. Maintaining a good relationship with the Federation would benefit their country. They seemed to be one of the few Middle Eastern countries to have such a relationship with the Federation. After the A-laws' actions, many of the countries still held resentment towards the Federation for allowing such atrocities.
"I'll make the preparations and see if I can find anything else from Klaus," Shirin replied.
Marina raised an eyebrow. "Is there a reason you want to go?"
"I just believe that attending would be in the best interest for Azadistan," Without another word, Shirin left the room. As she made her way through the hallway, Shirin sighed. The last two years had been the most peaceful the world had experienced. No doubt the peacefulness would be disturbed once the world learned of Innovators. Shirin wondered if Celestial Being would become involved. Would the Gundams have to appear for the sake of peace?
September 26, 2314 A.D:Ptolemaios, Briefing Room
"We've received a new report from Veda. The Federation will hold a press conference on the tenth of October and reveal the existence of Innovators," Sumeragi announced to the rest of the crew. She focused in on Setsuna, waiting to see how he would react. As expected, he remained as stoic as ever.
"So what's the Federation's plan?" Lyle asked.
"All we know at this point is that they're going to explain to the public what Innovators are and introduce an Innovator that has been confirmed by Veda," Sumeragi said. "Feldt, bring up an image please."
Feldt nodded. With the press of a few buttons, an image appeared on the screen covering the wall. The crew looked at an image of a silver-haired man in an ESF military uniform.
"This is Descartes Shaman, the Federation's first Innovator. He will be making a public appearance at the press conference."
"Wait a minute. How come we haven't heard about this guy until now?" Lasse asked.
Sumeragi shrugged. "You'll have to ask Tieria."
Lyle stepped forward. "So what's the plan? We can't ignore something like this."
"That's what we need to decide," Tieria had left the mission planning in their hands. Sumeragi had wanted to hear what the crew thought.
"Let me go to Earth," Everyone in the roomed turned their eyes to Setsuna. Sumeragi had been waiting to see how Setsuna would react. The look in his eyes told them that he was determined to go to Earth.
"Are you sure, Setsuna?" Sumeragi asked. She knew it was a foolish question. But out of concern for him, she asked anyway.
"This is something that I have to do," Setsuna replied.
"Setsuna has a point. Maybe we should go see this guy in person. The more we know the better prepared we'll be," Lyle said.
Feldt highlighted information from the report. "Security will be tight at the conference. Getting in might be a problem."
"Well, things can't be too easy for us, right?"
Sumeragi closed her eyes, mulling over the situation. It went without saying that they had to watch the press conference closely and she knew that Setsuna would want to go in person. The only question was how to approach the situation. They were still operating in secret and couldn't afford to reveal themselves yet. She doubted that they would have any trouble getting past security. Tieria could easily find a way for them. It was another problem that concerned the tactical forecaster.
What worried her most was Setsuna. The young meister seemed dead set on going to the conference in person. The tactical forecaster was unsure about letting him go on the mission. While it made sense to send him, there was still so much unknown about Innovators. Who knew what would happen when two Innovators were close to each other. And with Setsuna acting more like how he was years ago, there was a chance that he would end up doing something reckless.
But he was dead set on going to see Descartes Shaman. Lyle could go with him, but that might not guarantee that he could keep Setsuna from doing anything drastic. If Setsuna was drawn to the Innovator, he might put himself in harm's way. There had to be a way to keep Setsuna safe. Something to occupy his time. At that moment, an idea popped into the tactical forecaster's mind.
Sumeragi opened her eyes and looked directly at Setsuna. "All right, you and Lyle will go to the conference. I'll work on the details with Tieria. I'll let you know the details at our next meeting."
"Thank you, Miss Sumeragi," Setsuna quietly left the room. The others began to follow him.
"Feldt, Mileina, Lasse. Could the three of you stay for a minute? There's something I need to discuss," Sumeragi was aware that she may be trying to be too protective of Setsuna. Setsuna was dependable and placed everyone's safety above his own. But there were too many unknown factors that could possibly lead him to danger. Even so, she felt a need to help guarantee his safety. Besides, she had been meaning to find a way to give the crew some time off.
Celestial Being, Command Center
Upon his return from his mission, Descartes was treated more as a captain. He had been given a military uniform and his own quarters. They had even allowed him to walk about without escorts. His opinion of them, however, hadn't changed at all. Even if they treated him differently, Descartes wouldn't allow himself to be fooled that easily. No matter how they dressed him up or where they put him, he was still their precious lab rat. At least for now.
Descartes scanned the room, eyeing the military personnel attending their own task. He had been accustom to seeing them scurrying about to complete whatever task they were given. He would not miss watching those worms following their orders. Unfortunately, he would be surrounded by the same limited beings once he arrived on Earth.
For the first time in what felt like years, Descartes was leaving the Celestial Being. Descartes had been ordered to go to Earth and make an appearance at a press conference. They would most likely parade him in front of the media, continuing to play his role as the Federation's lab rat. He looked forward to the day when they would know their rightful place.
"Captain Shaman," Descartes turned and saw Brigadier General Mannequin walking toward him. "Your shuttle is set to depart within the hour. Is there a reason you're here?"
"I thought I would have last walk around the Celestial Being. It's been quite some time since I've left the mothership," Descartes said, giving the general a wry smile. He was certain that the reason for his new treatment was because of General Mannequin. But if the woman thought that she could gain his loyalty so easily, then she was sorely mistaken. Descartes had already chosen the path suitable for him.
"I see," the General said skeptically. Her eyes focused on Descartes, as if she were trying to judge him one last time. "You'd best prepare for your departure now."
"It has been a pleasure, General. Thank you for everything you've done," Descartes said as he fell into a salute. General Mannequin didn't say a word or lighten her expression. He could tell that she hadn't bought his false politeness. During her entire stay on Celestial Being, Descartes could feel a sense of suspicion and from the general. She was quite perceptive for a human, though still limited. Had he been a normal human being, he might have had a sense of respect for her.
He headed towards the elevator, still smiling. The world would learn of the existence of Innovators, of his existence. He was interested just in how humanity would react to his presence. The world would change and he would be at the center of it all.
October 14, 2314 A.D: Mongolia
The inn they had chosen wasn't luxurious by most standards. However, Allelujah found that it had a simple charm to it. It was small yet comfortable and affordable. Considering that they wouldn't be staying long, the inn was a good place for them.
They had stayed in Mongolia longer than he had expected. While they weren't on any particular schedule, Allelujah had thought that they would have moved on to another country. Though, it didn't matter in the end. They had seen quite a bit of Eurasia during the last two years. Staying in one country wouldn't affect them in any way.
Placing their luggage down by the bed, Allelujah opened up the window curtains. Marie sat down on the bed, resting from the long day. After spending the last few weeks camping, it would be nice to sleep in a bed again.
"It's been a long day. Maybe we should turn in early," Allelujah suggested.
"That sounds like a good idea," Marie said as she removed her boots.
Allelujah gazed out the window, watching the sunset and trying to figure out what to do next. From his view, the world looked so peaceful. This peace was what he had wanted to achieve when he was recruited as a Gundam meister. But with what was going to happen, he wondered if the peace they had fought for could last. In any case, Allelujah knew that their days of traveling would soon come to an end.
"The others will be at that conference, won't they?" Marie said suddenly. It had been a few days since they received a message from the Ptolemaios. They had learned about the press conference and what it was about. All they could do now was wait to see how the world would react.
"Most likely. They wouldn't ignore something this important," Allelujah said.
"The Federation's broadcasting the conference tomorrow. We should watch it if we can," Marie suggested. Allelujah agreed with her. If everyone else was keeping themselves informed on the situation, it was best that they do the same.
Allelujah sat next to Marie. "Marie, depending on what happens; we may need to go back to the Ptolemaios."
Marie reached and grasped Allelujah's hand. "And we'll be ready to help them. I want to be there for them too, Allelujah. Until then, let's enjoy the time we have together."
Leaning in, Allelujah's lips met Marie's. The last two years had been more than he had hoped for. But there was a chance that the others would need him. A chance that he would be needed to fight once again. Allelujah was prepared to do that. For now though, he and Marie could enjoy what they had.
Union Territory, Earthsphere Federation Government Headquarters
Redire Novo stepped into the President's office. She saw the President at her desk, turned around and staring out the window.
"Madam President, all preparations have been completed for tomorrow. We have confirmed that all countries who had agreed to appear at the conference have arrived. And finally, we have listed which news stations that will be broadcasting the conference, though more are expected to appear. Everything is proceeding as scheduled."
"That's good to know," the President replied. Redire could see that the event was worrying the President. The worry and stress was evident in her face. Tomorrow would be a pivotal day for the Federation. She, as the President of the Federation, would be held responsible for whatever happened afterwards.
"Is there anything else you need, Madam President?"
"What is your take on the current situation, Miss Novo?" the President asked.
Redire was confused, unable to understand why the President would want her opinion. "I'm afraid I don't quite understand what you mean?"
"I want to know your thoughts about introducing Innovators into society. Do you think humanity is ready for this?" The President was obviously asking her because of her status as an Innovade. After all, one of the reasons Innovades were created was to prepare humanity for Innovation.
"At this point, whether we believe humanity is ready or not is inconsequential. We can only deal with the situation as it unfolds," Redire answered. While she was an Innovade, there was much that Redire didn't know. There was no hint as to when humanity would be ready.
The President gave a small smile. "I suppose you're right. Although, I was hoping that you would have said something more reassuring. Thank you, Miss Novo."
"You're welcome, Madam President. Now if you'll excuse me, there's still some work I have to get done. Please take care of yourself," Redire exited the room. Although she didn't say, Redire did hope that Innovators and humans would coexist peacefully. If Innovades couldn't prepare humanity for Innovation, then they had failed their purpose. And without that purpose, what was their reason for existing?
October 15, 2314 A.D: Earthsphere Federation Capital
The city was as alive as it always was. People were walking down the streets, going about their daily lives. The sounds of vehicles and the voices of the crowds rang throughout the city. Having spent her entire life as part of Celestial Being, Feldt was unused to the commotion of a large city.
The mission plan had been a simple one. Lyle and Setsuna would attend the conference as reporters. Lyle had on a brown trench coat. Setsuna wore a blue jacket and scarf. He was carrying some equipment that would make them look more authentic. With Tieria's help, they create the false documents and authorization. With how tight security would be, Tieria's help had been vital. Miss Sumeragi had told Setsuna that Feldt and Mileina would provide support. He obviously didn't believe that but didn't object.
Setsuna had dressed in black pants, a blue coat, and a white scarf. He carried a bag holding equipment one would expect a cameraman to have. Lyle wore a brown trench coat. Feldt and Mileina stuck with their uniforms.
Feldt and Mileina followed Lyle and Setsuna as they made their way through the city. Miss Sumeragi had asked if they would go on the mission with Setsuna and Lyle. When Lasse declined, Feldt had thought it would be best if she had stayed behind as well. However, Miss Sumeragi had been adamant on having at least her and Mileina go. She said that they would be there to help make sure that Setsuna wouldn't do anything rash after the conference ended.
Lyle faced the two girls. "The two of you can take care of yourselves, right?"
Mileina grinned. "Don't worry about us, Mr. Stratos. Just keep your mind on the mission. We'll be waiting for you to get back."
"All right, you girls have fun," Lockon said.
"Lockon, we need to go," Setsuna said with a hint of impatience in his voice. He pulled out a pair of sunglasses. If someone saw his eyes glowing, it would reveal his status as an Innovator.
"Setsuna, good luck on the mission," Feldt said. Setsuna only gave a small nod in response and headed forward. Lyle shook his head and then gave the two a wave goodbye as he followed Setsuna. Feldt kept her eyes on the two, feeling a small twinge of worry. Even though she knew that this was what Setsuna had wanted, the young woman couldn't stop herself from worrying about him.
She wanted to help them. During preparations for the mission, Feldt did whatever she could to aid the mission effort. Now she felt useless. Being out in the city, Feldt wondered if it was right for her to be there while the others focused on the mission.
Mileina, on the other hand, was thrilled to be out in the city. "Feldt, you heard Mr. Stratos. Let's go have some fun while we can."
Feldt smiled at the younger girl. "We can't wander too far. Remember what Miss Sumeragi told us."
"I know, I know. But who knows when we'll get another chance like this," Mileina grabbed Feldt's arm, pulling her down the street. Feldt understood the girl's point of view. She remembered the times when Christina would take her shopping and sight seeing. The days she spent with her best friend seemed like distant memories. She did her best to push back the feeling of nervousness and tried to enjoy herself.
Earthsphere Federation Headquarters
The President watched as the room began to fill with people. Government officials filled the seats while news journalist and cameramen placed themselves on the floor. The President gazed into the cameras and the faces in the room. She wasn't the least bit intimidated by the media. For the Federation and for the people, she needed to show strength.
They had prepared for this day as best they could. The sooner the public were informed about Innovation, the sooner the Federation could set up a proper system to handle them. They were prepared to do their best to provide a peaceful solution to whatever outcome this day would lead to. Whatever backlash came from today, the Federation would do its best to protect the citizens and maintain peace.
The moment when the world would once again change was approaching. Today, humanity would take its next step towards the future. Humanity would make a choice and unlock their future.
Quantum Computing System, Veda
The press conference would start soon. Although Tieria was curious to see how it would go, he chose not to watch the conference. Using Veda, he had been able to get Lyle and Setsuna through security. Setsuna and the others were on their mission and Veda would store information concerning the broadcast. There were still some things that needed his attention. He should check on recon satellites dispersed throughout space. Everything was clear except for one satellite that seemed to have a bad connection
That was odd. He tried to fix the connection with the recon satellite, but it seemed to be more difficult than it should have been. Such a problem had never existed before. Had the satellite been damaged? When the connection had been reestablished, Tieria saw a peculiar sight.
From the satellites camera, Tieria saw what appeared to be a Virginia-class MS carrier outfitted with Tau drives. Why was an obsolete ship doing in that sector? That model hadn't been used since the Union days. Calculating its course, Tieria realized that, if it continued on the projected path, the carrier would reach one of Celestial Being's asteroid satellites. More specifically, the one where the Qan(T) was stored at.
He attempted to contact Ian and Linda, but wasn't able to establish a connection. A feeling of uneasiness washed over Tieria. If the carrier contained mobile suits, then it would mean that it was armed for an attack. Tieria was distressed over what to do. If he launched out in Raphael, the Federation would notice the hangar it had occupied. There was also the matter of Raphael's particles. The distance he would need to cross would take up a good amount of energy. He had only recently installed the new GN condensers and they weren't fully charged. On the other hand, if that ship was meant to attack, everyone on that satellite was in danger. Tieria knew what he had to do. With the Ptolemaios on Earth, he was the only one who could reach the satellite.
He would sortie in Raphael and intercept the ship before it reached the asteroid satellite. He sent a message to the Ptolemaios. Once they completed their mission, the crew could head to provide support. Scanning over his body's specs, the body was perfectly functionable. He downloaded himself into the body. There wasn't time to revel in having a physical body. He suited up as fast as he could and headed towards Raphael. The hangar door opened. All systems were clear.
"Raphael, Tieria Erde, launching," Raphael flew out of the hangar. With Raphael fully equipped, Tieria was prepared to take on whatever that transport ship contained if necessary. By drawing power from the three GN drives and the condensers, Tieria would be able to reach the carrier. However, the only way to reach them quickly enough was to use Trans-Am. Doing so would drain his energy storage but there was no other option. He only hoped that he would be able to reach them in time.
Author's Note: Sorry this took so long. I tried to go farther into the story but decided that this was a good stopping point. Next chapter will have a Gundam fight scene and a reunion between characters. I've also fixed some mistakes that were in the previous chapters. Thanks readers and reviewers for your time and I hope you enjoy the story.