Mobile Suit Gundam 00: Create the Future
Chapter 8: On the Edge
October 15, 2314 A.D: Space Colony Eclipse, Hallway
"I don't know what you did to Kamal, but I don't like it. If he keeps up like that, he'll only end up being a liability," Scheris hissed at the Haro in her arms as she took a turn in the hallway.
"Consider it a pet project. I will admit that the experiments may have had some...adverse effects on his psyche. His mind may be feeling some strain from the procedure. The previous subject was far more unstable from what I remember."
Scheris scoffed as she made a turn in the hallway. "The whole thing seems like more trouble than its worth. We don't need to have someone who acts like that on our side, especially once Captain Shaman arrives."
"Rest assured I will rectify his behavior."
While not exactly finding solace in her leader's words, Scheris chose not to pursue the matter. He was most likely trying to patronize her. She would be sure to keep a closer eye on her comrade.
She caught sight of a few Innovades standing by the entrance to the room where the group was waiting. Handing the Haro over to one of them, Scheris composed herself. There were others like her, former A-laws who would fight against the Federation. Scheris wondered if anyone she knew was part of the group. She hadn't been in contact with anyone she served with for nearly two years. Not since the A-laws' official disbandment.
Scheris stepped into a room and was greeted by twenty pairs of eyes. All the arrivals watched her intently, waiting for her to make the first move. Scheris scanned the crowd. There was not a single person she recognized. She saluted the group in front of her. "Welcome to Eclipse. I am Scheris Talion, former First Lieutenant of A-laws."
The group saluted in response. Real soldiers with training. Nothing like the Innovade replicas that their leader had created. They could do more than mindlessly follow orders. They had a reason to fight.
"Unfortunately our leader isn't here to greet you in person. You were all brought here for a reason. By now you all know that there is no turning back. I know that it may not have been an easy decision to make and for that, I thank all of you."
The group took in her words, their faces not giving any hints to how they felt. In all honesty, Scheris was uncomfortable speaking in front of them. But someone had to reach out to them, especially if they had been like her. She had to show them that they were not alone.
"I know the last two years haven't been easy for any of you. We were used, betrayed, and disgraced. We killed countless people under the orders of the corrupt and power hungry. For those atrocities, we were punished. But the world refuses to acknowledge the crimes of Celestial Being, the ones who put the world in a situation where the A-laws were necessary. Katharon, a terrorist group, is celebrated as freedom fighters. Their leaders have been placed in the government and memorials have been built in memory of their dead comrades. The people we lost will never be given the same respect," Scheris said as she clenched her fist. The idea of those terrorist gaining more respect than her fellow soldiers disgusted her. There were good people who served and died under the A-laws, following the orders of corrupt leaders. Soldiers who truly believed that they were fighting for a unified world.
"We may be fighting in the memory of those we lost, but we are no longer A-laws. From here on, we're soldiers fighting under a new organization. One that will not fall victim to the hypocrisy of the new Federation, one that will pave a path to a new future. We are fighting for a new cause. This is a new start for all of us. Together, we will reclaim our honor as soldiers."
The group listened patiently and silently. A few had angry expressions on their faces and others shook with contained rage. Some just stood still letting the reality of the situation sink in. Behind her, the Innovades entered the room.
Scheris took a calming breath. "That's all for today. You are dismissed. The Innovades will escort you to your quarters."
The soldiers gave a final salute before filing out of the room. One of the Innovades handed her Haro before leaving. After they had exited, Scheris leaned against the nearest wall and let out a sigh of relief. Now she had a chance to rest.
"That was adequate," the Haro said.
"I'd rather be giving orders than speeches. Hope Shaman handles it better," Scheris quipped.
"He better. He better," Haro chirped, reverting to its default personality. The woman groaned inwardly. Her benefactor always seemed to do as he pleased. Although as much as it annoyed her, she was starting to get used to her leader's eccentricities. So long as they stayed on task, she didn't care what he did.
She looked down at the robot. "Got anything to say about all this? Hmm, Haro?"
"Give them hell. Give them hell."
"Sounds like a plan," Scheris stated with a smile. She was going to take on the world. And they would have the justice they deserved.
Ptolemaios, Bridge
Tieria stood next to Feldt and Mileina as they went to work at their stations. He still thought the idea that Ribbons had somehow managed to survive was ridiculous. There was no way he could made it out of the final battle and remain hidden. But Setsuna's unyielding belief did make him curious and slightly disturbed. For now, it didn't hurt to be too cautious. They couldn't afford to be caught off guard.
Regardless of whether or not it was Ribbons, someone had been able to tamper with Veda. And they had developed their own Gundams. He wasn't disturbed by their power, there were many mobile suits that had given them trouble and most likely many more to come, but by what they represented. The Gundams were Aeolia's creations for his mission. For someone to twist the embodiment of Aeolia's ideals was unforgivable. Their very existence came across as a deliberate taunt.
"Mr. Erde, here's the list of Ribbons type Innovades stationed in the capital and what they were doing during the conference," Mileina's comment snapped Tieria out of his thoughts.
Tieria scanned the list. Six Innovades with that specific genetic code were in the Federation capital. He wasn't aware that there were that many of that type stationed there. None of who were doing anything suspicious or anywhere near Setsuna at the time he said he spotted Ribbons. Yet Setsuna insisted that it had been Ribbons he saw in the capital. What was going on in that head of his?
"Feldt, have you gone over records of the Innovade activity within Veda? Is there anything out of the ordinary?" Tieria asked.
"I'm checking the activity within the last two months. Only levels one and two have been accessed by all registered Innovades. Everything seems to be routine procedures. So far, all codes have been within their limits. Only yours has been accessing the higher levels of Veda," Feldt reported.
"Keep going back and be as thorough as possible."
"Roger."
"Mileina, I want you to see if the Federation army has been developing anything similar to those Gundams. There could be a chance that they could have been developed at a Federation facility."
"No problem, Mr. Erde."
"If you'll excuse me, I'm going to check on the Ian and the mechanics. I'll be back shortly," Tieria said.
Ptolemaios, Hangar
Ian shook his head in a mixture of frustration and disbelief as he looked at Raphael, or rather what was left of it. There were many things that Ian missed during the past two years. Damaged Gundams were not one of them. The Haros had been tending to the damages for quite awhile. Zabanya, Harute, and 00 had only taken minor damage that they could take care of now. Unfortunately, they wouldn't be able to fully repair Raphael until they stopped by the next satellite and had access to more materials. Ian groaned as he thought of how many more times he would need to repair the mobile suits. And they still had to rebuild the Qan(T). Damn, he was getting too old for this.
The mechanic saw the purple haired meister floating in his direction and not far behind him were Lyle and Allelujah. "Tieria, what the hell were you doing to get this kind of damage? This machine hasn't even been running for a day."
"Sorry about that. It looks like I've become rusty in the last couple years."
Lyle patted Tieria on the shoulder. "Don't worry about it. Just try to at least come back with both arms next time."
Ian smacked his own forehead in exasperation. "I swear you meisters get a kick out of trashing your Gundams. What are you gonna do next time? Blow the whole damn thing up?"
"That is always an option," Tieria joked. Ian responded with the nastiest glare he could muster. The message was received. "Sorry. Anyway, we can at least replace the tau drives with condensers for Raphael. And a beam saber or two would be useful. In my haste to launch, I seemed to have left out close combat weaponry. How are the other units holding up?"
"They've been roughed up but nothing that we can't fix here and now. We're going to get the rifle bits for Zabanya up and running soon. After that, the next thing we'll do is modify the new drives for the 00." Ian replied.
"What about the Harute?" Allelujah asked.
"It'll be easy to fix up. We're still brainstorming on what else to do with it. I'm sure we'll come up with something new for you to use."
"We're going to need that fire power. Who knows how many of those guys we'll need to deal with," Lyle said.
Tieria nodded. "Ian, when you have a chance, I want you to analyze the data we have on those new Gundams. I know we don't have much but we'll need to be prepared to fight them again."
"No problem, but don't expect much. You've all gotten up close and personal with those things. I'm sure you have a good idea of what they can do," Ian remarked before heading back to work.
Lyle faced Tieria. "Anyway, moving on. So this thing about Ribbons. I'm not saying it's him, but we do have a sticky situation on our hands. What are the chances that Setsuna's right?"
"I don't think we should rule out that possibility," Allelujah mused. "Setsuna is an Innovator after all. There could be something he's picking up that the rest of us aren't."
Tieria pondered to himself for a moment. "How has Setsuna been lately?"
Clearing his throat, Lyle responded. "The guy's been for a while. He doesn't really talk to any of us and spends most of his time brooding in some corner."
"Sounds like the old Setsuna," Allelujah remarked.
"That's what everyone's say," Lyle sighed. "But seeing Ribbons has really got him worked up. I almost forgot that he could get emotional."
"Personally, I'm still skeptical. However, on the off chance that Setsuna is right, then I'm more worried about how Ribbons could have hidden from us."
"You've been in Veda this entire time. Did anything seem strange to you?" Lyle asked
"No, not at all," Tieria answered, shaking his head. "That's what concerns me. How could anything escape my notice?"
October 17, 2314 A.D: Ptolemaios, Hallway
Feldt rubbed her eyes as she exited the bridge trying to shake off her exhaustion. She had spent hours with Mileina and Tieria investigating Veda again. They had tried every method they could to find a sign of Ribbons Almark. Checking access records, monitoring Innovade activity, and anything else that they thought of had been done. But no matter how much they scoured for data, they still had only a handful of leads. Even those wouldn't give them any concrete evidence. Then they had to make sure that their own systems were secure. This was her first break since she started working in the morning.
Moving through the ship, Feldt spotted Setsuna standing alone, staring out into space. He seemed to be completely lost in his own thoughts. Since they had returned from Earth, she hadn't had a chance to speak with him. From what she could tell, the rest of the crew hadn't spoken much with him since after the last battle. Setsuna had kept to himself all this time. Something that had become very common lately.
"Hey there, Setsuna," she greeted. He turned to her without a hint of surprise. As if he had known she was there, which given his sensing abilities was likely the case.
"Feldt," Setsuna replied.
She landed softly next to him. "What are you doing here?"
"I needed to think," the meister answered.
"Oh," Feldt responded. "Do you mind if I join you?"
Setsuna shrugged and she remained at his side looking out the glass window. Neither of them said a word, choosing to instead stare out into space. The silence created an air of awkwardness. Feldt tried to think of something to say, but nothing right came to mind. If what Tieria said was true and judging from the fact that he was here alone, then there was something that was bothering Setsuna. But like the rest of the crew, she couldn't pinpoint what it was. Obviously there was this Ribbons sighting and his Innovator abilities. But she couldn't escape the feeling that there was something else. So then, what could she say?
"Have you found anything about Veda?" Setsuna asked, breaking the silence and nearly startling her.
"We haven't been able to find any strong leads," Feldt answered. "We're still trying to be thorough. There's still a chance you could have been right."
Setsuna's expression became more stern. He didn't seem to find any comfort in those words, not that Feldt expected him to. Telling him that he may be right was far from comforting. No one wanted to see Ribbons return.
"Do you think he's out there?" he asked.
Feldt blinked at his question. Honestly she wasn't quite sure what to think, much like the rest of the crew. There were so many facts that pointed otherwise, but enough questions had been raised to suggest the possibility.
"I think that someone's out there. But it being Ribbons, I"m not sure about that," Feldt said.
He looked back with his ever stoic expression. "Thank you for being honest."
Feldt smiled. "Whatever happens, we're in this together. Just like we've always been."
"Right," Setsuna murmured, looking away.
"Anyway, what did you think of the mission back on Earth?" Feldt asked, hoping to move on to a more comfortable subject.
"Why do you ask?"
"I just thought it was nice to be able to visit the capital. We've been up in space for so long," Feldt answered. "Mileina had fun and obviously Marina was happy to see you again."
"I...owe you an apology," Setsuna said. "It was wrong of me to leave you and Mileina like that."
"It's all right. But if there's something you need to talk about, we're here for you," Feldt said. Maybe talking about the city hadn't been a good move.
Setsuna nodded and paused to think. "Marina stayed with you after I left?"
"She did. That was very kind of her," Feldt told him. She gazed back into outer space. "You two haven't seen each other in so long. It's too bad you couldn't have had more time to catch up. Princess Marina was concerned about you."
"She would be," Setsuna plainly stated.
Feldt looked over at him. "You miss her, don't you?"
Setsuna remained silent.
"It's alright to say you do, you know," Feldt said, giving Setsuna what she hoped was a reassuring smile.
"I chose my path and she chose hers. It's that simple," the Gundam Meister replied.
"Do you ever wish things had turned out differently?" Feldt asked.
The relationship between the Gundam Meister and the princess was a curious one. The Ptolemaios crew knew that Setsuna was from Krugis and was involved in the war with Azadistan. Despite, or perhaps because of, that fact, the Gundam Meister and the Azadistan princess No one seemed to know exactly what sort of relationship the two had. The only thing everyone else knew for certain was that the two cared for each other. Feldt couldn't help but envy Marina a little. If she had been with Setsuna, maybe he wouldn't have distanced himself.
Setsuna was silent as he thought to himself. Feldt waited intently for his answer, unable to divert her attention. He had told her once before that his and Marina's relationship was not a romantic one, yet there was still a part of her that couldn't help but wonder. The last two years had given them all time to reflect on themselves and their lives. So perhaps Setsuna's feelings had changed.
"I-"
"Setsuna, there you are!"
Feldt and Setsuna looked over to see Ian standing at the doorway behind them.
"We've finished reconfiguring the new GN drives. We want you to run tests with us," the mechanic said pointing his thumb in the direction to the hangar.
"Roger that," Setsuna answered. He turned to Feldt. "I'll be going then."
"I'll see you later," Feldt nodded. Setsuna followed Ian to the hangar while Feldt stayed near the window alone. Now she was the one who needed to think to herself in private. She rested her forehead against the cool glass window.
Miss Sumeragi had told her that she needed to continue thinking about him in order to understand him. That by caring for Setsuna, her feelings would reach him. The older woman had far more experience with such matters and had always been a person she could trust. But the more time passed, the more Feldt began to doubt her advice. It just didn't feel like she was able to help him that way.
Maybe caring wasn't enough.
October 21, 2314 A.D: Space Colony Eclipse
Kamal strolled into the room. His interrogation of the Celestial Being hostages had finally paid off. He still hadn't lost his touch. His boss was there, currently at work with his computers.
"Looks like one of them had the information you wanted. But you know that already don't you," Kamal said. Every time he conducted an interrogation, an Innovade had been present. No doubt that anything they learned would be sent back to the leader.
"I'm putting the information to use as we speak," the boss replied without taking his eyes away from his work.
Kamal rubbed the back of his neck. "You really lucked out, didn't you? What would you have done if none of them knew?"
"Adjusted my plans accordingly. Do you have such little faith in my abilities?" the boss asked.
Kamal didn't respond to the question and paced around the room. "So how long until we see results? I'd hate for all this work to be over before-"
He was interrupted by Julius Vardon bursting in the room, steaming with anger. Kamal looked at him with contempt while the Innovade paid him no mind.
"Where have you been?!" the man roared. "Do you have any idea how long I've been waiting to hear from you?"
The boss looked at Julius with disinterest. "Is there something I can help you with, Julius Vardon?"
"Help me? Explain to me why there are A-laws soldiers in my colony. The Federation is already keeping their eyes on me after the Azadistan incident. What makes you think that now is the time to harbor your personal army?" Julius shouted.
"You have a problem with my actions?"
"I know for a fact that you have other secure bases! You think you can jus-" Julius was cut off when he felt a firm grip on his shoulder. He turned to see Kamal staring him down.
"Remember who you're talking to," Kamal warned, tightening his grip.
The Innovade rose from his seat and walked over to them. "They are here because I want them here. You agreed to follow my plans to the letter. I promised to grant you autonomy and I will. It would be wise you don't interfere."
Julius sweated. "To have our army headquartered here is-"
"You think that this station will be our headquarters? Ridiculous. No, I have a more appropriate location in mind."
"When? I've done everything you've asked. You said that I could take control of the colonies. We had a deal," Julius said. Kamal let go of Julius' shoulder when the boss signaled him to do so.
"In good time. For now, there are other matters that call for my attention. You may leave," his boss said as he returned to his work. Kamal followed Julius through the door. The moment they exited, Julius didn't waste a second distancing himself from Kamal and rushed down the hallway. Kamal watched the coward with contempt before heading in the opposite direction. People like him were such an ugly sight.
October 22, 2314: Earth Federation Capital, President's office
It had certainly been a hectic week for the Federation President. Not only did she have her typical workload to deal with, she had to make addresses to the public regarding Innovators and the Federation's policy regarding them. Issues that required her attention. It was her decision to reveal the existence of Innovators and there wasn't a chance it would be a simple affair. And what political leader would find themselves free of a swarm of adversaries looking for an opportunity to pounce.
There were some members of the government who disapproved of her decision to hold the press conference. Some believed that the public was not ready for such information to be shared or that there wasn't enough known about Innovators. Others made discrete, and some not so discrete, insinuations that she wanted to use the reveal to overshadow any other problems that the Federation was experiencing. The President continued to stand by her actions. She was ready for the consequences. Or rather, she hoped she was ready.
The door opened and in walked her trusted secretary. Redire headed over to the front of her desk. "Madam President, I have some documents that require your handwritten approval."
The President looked at the first document. "The Colony Corporation has finally responded to us."
"They have agreed to our terms. The Azadistan workers will return to work while being given benefits. We are currently aiding the Azadistan government in negotiating over their contracts. All things considered, I'm sure that we will find a compromise that suits both parties."
Hearing that was a source of relief. While the Federation did carry enough weight to affect their progress, the Colony Corporation was still an independent organization. The President wanted to avoid starting a conflict with the corporation if she could. A peaceful compromise would be preferable to having to mobilize the military against them.
"There is also the matter of the Reconstruction policy," Redire noted. "This is the current proposal for the budgeting and distribution of Federation aid."
The Federation Reconstruction policy had been implemented shortly after the new administration stabilized. Countries that had been devastated from the A-laws' had been given aid from the Federation. It had helped some countries recover, though the damage was still felt in most of them. Of course, there were still nations that were wary of the Federation regardless of the fact that there was a new administration in place. Some international relationships had worsened despite their best efforts. Aid or not, it had been the Federation's failure to monitor the A-laws that had caused such devastation.
The problems today just reminded the president of how the end of the corrupt and tyrannical government did not lead to an instant peace. Homer Katagiri had committed suicide rather than face trial for his crimes. The former president and most of the former administration had no choice but to resign from their positions, leaving the new government to pick up the pieces. Veda had given them an advantage, but there was still much they had needed to discover and analyze from the supercomputer. And all decisions fell onto human choices.
The President moved on to the next document. The title caught her attention immediately. She was not surprised. It was only a matter of time.
"Innovator Registration Act."
October 26, 2314 A.D: HRL Asia Tower District, HRL Elevator Worker's Lounge
"Hey, I'm just calling to check up on you," Saji said to Louise on his phone as he took a seat in the worker's lounge, cup of coffee in hand. He was currently on break from his shift. It was a long work day and it was going to be an even longer work night. That seemed to be the norm lately. He spent so much time at work that he wasn't able to spend time with Louise. His supervisor had been kind enough to let him go to the hospital whenever Louise was experiencing an attack. Now Saji had to repay the favor.
On the digital display, Louise chuckled slightly. "I'm fine. You worry too much. How was work?"
Saji smiled back. "Same old routine. Nothing worth mentioning."
"Please, it's not like I've done much here either," Louise replied. "I'll be doing nothing until I get a job or something."
"Anyway, how are you feeling?" Saji asked.
"Other than being bored out of my mind, I'm fine."
"You know, we should go out and have some fun next week. Maybe I can try and work things out with my boss. I'm sure I can talk him into giving me a day off. It'll give you a chance to get to know the city," Saji suggested. Despite having lived in the city for quite some time, he hadn't had a chance to take Louise out to spend time together.
"That would be nice," Louise replied.
Saji chuckled. "I've seen this new restaurant on my way to work. I think you'll like it."
"Guess I'll have to go on your word."
"What do you want to do? See a movie? Shopping? Sightseeing?" Saji asked.
"Why don't we wait until we see if you can take time off first," Louise suggested lightheartedly.
"Okay, I guess I'm getting ahead of yourself," Saji admitted. Part of him couldn't help but get excited. It was like they were back in the old days before their lives had changed. When their lives were simple.
He glanced at the time. "It's getting late. You should probably get some sleep."
Louise rolled her eyes. "You'll be wishing you could get some sleep. Good night. I'll see you in the morning."
"Good night," Saji replied before closing the call and took a sip of coffee. Having Louise out of the hospital and living with him had been nice. Though it would have been better had he actually gotten to spend more time with her. His job had demanded a lot of his time. He didn't like leaving her alone like that, especially considering that she knew no one else in the city. Louise had known enough hardships for a lifetime.
Louise never finished her education and had once been a part of A-laws, leaving her with few opportunities. Being part of the autonomous peace-keeping force was a stigma in the public eye. The hospital staff had been professional during her stay, but Saji occasionally heard whispers about Louise and her history in their service. Although, it was clear that Louise was in her condition because of the medication provided by the A-laws.
Not long after the new Federation had been formed, they began to put A-laws officials on trial. Considering everything that had been done, it was to be expected. Many important A-laws members had tried to run or committed suicide rather than be put on trial. Only a few high ranking officials had been brought in for their crimes. Even some soldiers had been put on the stand. At the time, Saji worried about whether Louise would have to go on trial. Fortunately, it never came to that.
Saji sighed and rose from his seat. He threw his mostly empty cup into the trash and headed out the door. No sense fretting over the past. No matter what the future held in store for them, the two would deal with it together. Right now, he had a long night ahead of him.
October 29, 2314 A.D: AEU Orbital Tower District, Hotel Suite
"That is our current fighting strength," the Innovade had returned for another visit, this time occupying one of the green-haired Innovade vessels. The two sat across from each other in his private suite. From what he had told Descartes, there had been much going on since their last meeting. Since the press conference, Descartes had been on tour across the world. He had conducted interviews with various news outlets and attended public events. The world had unsurprisingly developed a great interest in him. While it had made for an interesting experience, the novelty had quickly worn off. Fortunately, he would be returning to military duty soon.
While he had been off on tour, it seemed that his friend had been quite busy preparing his revolution. Though not without a few snags from what he had to report.
"As impressive as that is, I doubt that would be enough to wage war with the Federation. And your Gundams were defeated by Celestial Being's. I have to say I don't think that bodes well for us."
"When my initial attack failed, I needed to act quickly. Tieria's intervention forced me to send out my Gundams prematurely. I suppose I did underestimate him. Do not worry. Soon I will give you the army you require."
"So now that Celestial Being is suspicious and both your plans have been foiled, what will you do to salvage the situation?" Descartes inquired. He could clearly remember the hatred he felt when mentioning the organization's name in front of his ally. However, that hatred was not present. Instead, from what Descartes could tell the Innovade was content with the current situation.
"Salvage? You should give me more credit. It is a shame that the retrieval was a failure, but it is a manageable loss. And while I would prefer to have him eliminated, Setsuna F. Seiei has a valuable role to play. He is the one we will use to proceed to the next stage," the Innovade answered with a serene calmness.
Descartes raised an eyebrow. What was Setsuna F. Seiei capable of doing that he could not? Just another question that he would have to wait to be answered.
"While we're on the subject of Celestial Being, I've been meaning to ask you something. Celestial Being's goal was the eradication of war. So why do you work to start another conflict?" Descartes asked. For someone so dedicated to Aeolia Schenburg's vision, it seemed strange to start another conflict.
The Innovade rested his cheek against his hand. "How long do you think this peace can last? Humankind cannot escape the cycle of destruction and rebirth. It was a common fact to those who devoted themselves to the Aeolia plan, yet this is the path that Celestial Being chose. I'm sure that in time, human weakness will lead them back to the cycle. It is the Innovators who will break that cycle."
"So you place your hopes in us. Yet you would plunge the world into another war to draw us out," Descartes remarked.
"Rebirth begins with destruction. Celestial Being's actions have forced me to act. What we must do is unite those that will support our cause. We will bring together those who are needed for the dialogues to come."
"Dialogues to come?" Descartes repeated. "You still haven't explained what those are."
"You'll understand in time. After all, you are the Innovator that Aeolia predicted would appear." the Innovade answered.
"And what about this Kamal Majirif? Your own created Innovator? Surely you plan to continue this experiment of yours," Descartes noted.
"Only time will tell whether the experiment will bear success. From what I can gather, his abilities pale in comparison to yours. But who's to say that another wouldn't turn out more successful."
The Innovator chuckled quietly. "I see I'm not the only guinea pig. Are you already preparing my replacement?"
"Nothing of the sort. I am merely testing an old experiment. Consider it a way to sate my curiosity and provide an asset to our forces," The Innovade explained.
Descartes leaned forward. "Very well then. Now, what's your next move?"
The Innovade grinned. "I believe you've waited long enough. The responsibility of completing Aeolia's plan falls on our shoulders. For that, we must initiate a second Awakening."
October 30, 2314 A.D: AEU Territory, AEU Federation Embassy
Diplomats and local staff moved through the building to tend to their responsibilities. That included the director of the Federation Intelligence Service, William Elyon.
Time had certainly taken its toll on his body, though he could say that he aged better than most. He was thin, even gaunt looking. His hair, a dark brown with a few gray streaks, was combed back and accentuated his forehead. In his left hand he carried a cane. He walked slowly for he was in no hurry.
As he made his way through the hallway, Klaus Grad stepped out of his office. Grad spotted him and headed over.
"Director Elyon, it's been quite a long time," Grad greeted, extending his right hand.
William shook it. "Mr. Grad, how good to see you again. I trust your visit is going well."
"Everything is going fine. It's been quite some time, hasn't it? After all you had done for us, I really should have kept in touch," Grad replied sheepishly.
"No need to apologize. Considering recent events, I'm sure you've been quite preoccupied."
Grad laughed. "I'm sure that you've had some important work as well. How is the progress with Veda?"
"Slow, but we are making progress nonetheless. I'm sure that it will prove useful in time."
"That's good to hear," Grad said, still smiling politely. The man glanced down at his watch. "Well, I really have to be going."
"Yes, I still have some work to take care of myself. Have a good evening, Mr. Grad."
"You do the same, Mr. Director," Grad replied. Once he was out of sight, William continued on his way.
He was one of the few who had remained from the previous administration. It was all thanks to his contributions to the A-Laws' downfall. He had been able to provide Katharaon with information during their operations. He was in a position that was high enough to receive useful information but low enough to cover his tracks. Granted, what he could report was limited, but it had been enough to pay off. During the Federation government's reformation, Grad himself had vouched for him during the turnover. With his history and standing, he had been able to reach his current position. A much more prestigious one at that. Choosing to support Katharon had proven to be quite lucrative.
William entered his office and took a seat at his desk. He quickly looked through his messages on his computer. His eyes drew in on one sent by Julius Vardon. William didn't even need to open the message to know what Vardon was concerned for. The Colony Corporation had little choice but to cooperate with the Federation after their assassination attempt. Such a fool hardy move. William ignored the message and began to prepare for his meeting. Julius would have to be patient.
Veda had done much for him, allowed him to access information with an ease and speed that he had never been able to before. It was a system unlike anything he had worked with before. But the fact that they only had access to a portion of Veda left him with a sense of apprehension. Celestial Being could very well be using Veda without their notice, keeping an eye on the Federation's activities. It was the Veda that allowed aided them in their interventions after all. People like them rarely faded into nothing. William was sure that they were lurking in the shadows. He expected that the organization would make an appearance some time in the future. The only question was when.
It was astounding how different a world they lived in now. The international structure was completely alien from what it was not even a decade ago. All because of Celestial Being. It had been wise for the President to take advantage of Celestial Being's popularity to garner support for the Federation. Coupled with how they worked with Katharon and took steps to make amends for the A-laws' actions, it gave the new administration the good standing they needed. At least to a portion of the public.
Now these Innovators would change the world once again. They themselves didn't have to do anything. Their mere existence would cause the world to react. The Federation had already gone to great lengths to compile a list of potential Innovators. There was so much yet to discover about them. The Innovators were a wild card. Change was coming once again. This time, William would need to be active in the conflicts to come.
November 16, 2314 A.D: Deep Space Celestial Being
Kati stepped into her quarters for a short rest. Even fifteen minutes to herself would do her wonders. She removed her cap and loosened her collar before taking a seat.
Captain Shaman was scheduled to arrive at the Celestial Being. Now that his campaign had come to an end, he would return to being a soldier of the Federation army. He would now be treated like one as well. If only she had arrived sooner. Descartes' treatment was completely uncalled for no matter his status. Innovator or not, he was a soldier of the Federation.
Still, Kati would be lying if she said that she trusted the man. There was something about him that was unsettling. It wasn't his ego or his attitude, though they didn't exactly help with her opinion of the captain. It was something else entirely. She couldn't put it into words, but her intuition told her to be wary of Descartes Shaman. She would be sure to watch him closely once he arrived on the station.
The captain wasn't the only important figure who would be coming to the Celestial Being mothership. Billy Katagiri would also be arriving shortly in a week. Kati had only met him a few times during their time at the International University, but Katagiri had done more than enough to show that he knew his stuff. His work on mobile suit design was unparalleled and the reason that the Federation had him as a mobile suit technical chief.
Thinking of one fellow alumnus led her thoughts to a certain fellow tactical forecaster. She and Lisa Kujo had known and respected each other well back in the day. They had been two of the best in their class. To this day, Kati could hardly believe that her old colleague would go down such a path. It was such a shame that her old colleague had wasted her talents working for that organization. She had squandered a bright future for the ridiculous notion of eradicating war.
Celestial Being was still out there, hiding away without paying for their crimes. They had disappeared completely after that battle two years ago while her forces were recuperating and searching for survivors. She had told Kujo that they would be taken care of after the battle with A-laws and she still planned on doing so when the chance presented itself. Celestial Being, no matter how the media portrayed them, was a criminal organization.
Kati was taken out of her thoughts when her husband came bursting through the door.
"Colonel!" Patrick cried.
"Brigadier General," Kati muttered in frustration. Was it really that hard to remember?
"Whatever, Kati. This is serious!" Patrick said, not a hint of humor in his voice.
"What's going on?" Kati asked seeing that Patrick was not playing one of his jokes.
She found herself desperately wishing it had been a joke not a minute later.
Ptolemaios, Bridge
Sumeragi pointed to another name on the display. "How about this one?"
Tieria shook his head. "That may not be wise. The CEO's been involved in some personal controversy lately and the company works too closely with the Federation for my taste. We need to find a safer option."
"Damn, this is getting tedious," Sumeragi grumbled. They had already reviewed several candidates. Each, for one reason or another, had been rejected. And this was only the selection process. They would not only have to gain the financier's cooperation and plan out a method through which to receive their support, but also keep their aid hidden from both the Federation and the new enemy. So far they hadn't found anyone they could agree on.
They had remained at the satellite since they arrived. If the enemy knew where to find one of their locations, the Ptolemaios crew couldn't risk leaving another group in danger so soon after an attack. So far though, there hadn't been any more attacks or sign of them. They could afford to remain on the site for a little while. Sumeragi and Tieria had decided that it might be best to recruit more personnel for the Ptolemaios.
Feldt and Mileina were along with them in the room hard at work. No progress had been made yet on the Ribbons lead. All they could do was keep their eyes and ears open. Ian and the mechanics had been hard at work since they arrived. The Gundams had been fully repaired and were being prepped for future combat. Unfortunately, they hadn't even started with rebuilding the Qan(T). Their materials were stretched thin and they had to have stock prepared for future repairs.
"Miss Sumeragi! Tieria!" Feldt exclaimed suddenly, snapping Sumeragi out of her thoughts.
"What's wrong, Feldt?"
"There's an emergency message being sent out to high level officials within the Federation. An ESF army ship was attacked while enroute to the Celestial Being mothership. That ship was escorting Captain Shaman back to duty. There are no traces of any survivors."
Space Colony Eclipse, Hangar
His friend had kept his promise. Descartes had sensed the attack moments before it had occurred, and the panic that followed. As the ESF forces engaged in combat with his ally's mobile suits, Descartes had suited up and prepared for departure. It wasn't long before he was taken away from what was left of the Federation vessel and put on another transport ship. It was a shame that the crew had to be eliminated, but it was necessary.
As Descartes landed onto the hangar platform, the realization finally began to settle in. He was free. From his superiors and the scientist who looked down on him. From the Federation and their suffocating limitations. He was free from the shackles that held him from reaching his true potential. It wouldn't be long before the world knew what a true Innovator was capable of.
The Innovator felt the three pilots approaching him. The same ones who had retrieved him from the Federation. He turned to meet his new allies.
The woman stepped forward and saluted him. "Captain Shaman, my name is Scheris Talion. An honor to finally meet you, sir."
"No need to be so formal. Our mutual acquaintance has already told me much about you and you know enough about me."
Scheris nodded. "I look forward to working with you, Captain."
"Likewise. Although I don't believe I could be considered a captain now that I've left the Federation," Descartes replied before looking over at the other two. "Kamal Majirif and Cypher Aleph, I presume."
"Mr. Shaman," the young boy greeted while Kamal gave him a lazy wave. Setsuna F. Seiei's old comrade was eyeing him with a wary eye. He could wait. There were more important matters to tend to.
"Now, I do believe we're missing someone" Descartes quipped.
"The boss? You know he goes wherever he wants to go," Kamal said.
Descartes chuckled. "Yes he does. Annoying, isn't it?"
"I'll be sure to work on that," someone announced from above. Descartes and the others looked up at the person who spoke. It was the Innovade descending towards him. The body looked similar to a type of Innovade he had seen. However, there was something different about this one. To Descartes, it looked like his friend was much more comfortable in his current vessel.
"I assume that this is your real body."
The Innovade landed gently in front of him and extended his hand. "I believe I owe you answers, my friend."
Author's Note: Kept you waiting, huh?
Real life, other interests, no muse.
After all this time, I've finally buckled down and finished up the chapter. Sorry it's taken so long to update. This chapter probably wasn't worth an over two year wait. I think it's safe to say that the wait for the next one won't be quite as long. I'll also be tweaking the previous chapters when I get a chance. Mainly fixing up some dialogue and maybe some minor details.
To everyone who's shown an interest in this story, I truly appreciate your feedback.
Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed the chapter.