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Gundam Seed Destiny or Liberty
Chapter 12: Orb land of ambition
At the peak of its economic, political and military power Orb was by far a successful nation. This was mainly because of its independent nature. It had been Uzumi Nara Athha's ideal to never attack another nation, to never allow his nation to be attacked and to never intervene in the conflicts of other nations. That ideal was what kept Orb at peace, but also it made the nation a target. As a lone nation without any allies it also had the potential to be attacked. But the danger for Orb right now was the ambitions of simple men. Simple men like Yuuna Roma Seiran and his family. Cagalli Yula Athha was just a woman to them, a woman they would try to pressure. That's what Dagger Thanos knew would happen. He sat in his office; with the pictures of the team members he had lost looking over him. All of them were the original True Storm members. Some of them were killed while others had left to make their own lives.
"Commander, our spy reports that Cagalli Yula Athha has arrived in Orb, soon she will begin the teleconference" Lain said on the other side of the door.
"Thank you Lain, have Lionel set up the link in my office" Dagger said.
He poured himself a small cup of sake and raised it for his old comrades. When he poured the liquid down his throat he thought of the last time Orb was pressured by the Earth Alliance. That time Uzumi Nara Athha endured and never compromised his beliefs. But the people suffered for that, Cagalli would most likely learn from her father's mistake. Or so she would feel, the new council were men of ambition. Cowards who deceived others in order to make more money and titles for themselves. Dagger was tempted to kill the council off, but he could use their ambitions to his advantage. Cagalli would give in and the people would suffer for it. Then they would be open to new leadership.
The Minerva docking at Morgenroutte was a sight to see. Yuuna Roma Seiran looked at the ZAFT battleship and couldn't help but be reminded of the Archangel. That ship had bought nothing but trouble for the nation and the Seiran family when it had arrived. Now it bought back Orb's head and the major pilots of the Sensou organisation. Yuna hated Sensou; he saw them as a threat to his country and his plans. Not the mention they drew inspiration from Gekido Jaeger, a freak of nature and a savage. Yuuna wouldn't forget Gekido's assault of him and the repeated insults to the Seiran family.
"It seems Lady Cagalli has come back with trouble" His father agreed with him.
"It's not really her fault father, I'm sure Cagalli never expected to be involved in these troubles to such an extent, we cant exactly rebuff the ship that is returning our head of state back to us safe and sound" Yuuna explained.
"Yes, at least for now"
Yuna nodded his head and put on a smile as the coordinators stepped out to greet them.
"Cagalli!" He cheered, rushing over and hugging Cagalli.
Cagalli did her best to hide her impatience with Yuuna while Athrun kept his cool. He knew that Cagalli could handle Yuuna; she'd push him away if he got too inappropriate. Kojiro's face was unreadable while Flay was pointing her finger into her wide-open mouth. Vincent scratched his cheek while Branden tapped his foot against the ground in impatience. Yuuna's father greeted them as well, obviously putting on a show for the sake of civility.
"Thank you for everything Captain Gladys, I hope we see one another again" Cagalli said, shaking Talia's hand.
"Thank you Miss Cagalli, Chairwoman Alster, Commander Rach, keep up the good work with Sensou" Talia said.
Vincent saluted the captain while Flay shook her hand. While the Sensou members left the Minerva, Silver Mask stood on one of the launchers. He narrowed his glowing eye at the chief engineer speaking with Talia. She seemed to have changed very little, apart from using a new moniker.
'Murrue Ramias, good to see your enjoying life as a deserter' Silver Mask thought.
He broke off into a run, jumping off of the Minerva, onto a fence and into a set of bushes. The sound of the rustling bushes caught Andrew Waltfeld's attention for a moment before he got back to work. Orb was indeed a land of peace; the country had suffered no catastrophic damage, although the fishing trade would be suffering. People could still walk across the street and not have to worry about what would happen tomorrow. Cagalli wanted to preserve this; she truly hoped that Vincent and Flay were wrong in their predictions.
"Cagalli, putting up with that hideously scarred Commander Rach must have been daunting, are you all right?" Yuuna asked.
"It's okay, Commander Rach was pleasant enough to be around, I'm just glad he and his men were able to prevent some of the damage" Cagalli said.
"You know Cagalli there is an issue we must discuss as soon as we get back to the council building, we've received multiple messages from Dagger Thanos" Yuuna explained.
"Thanos, the commander who disappeared after Jachin due?"
"The very same, he is offering an alliance, I told him of your policy but he refused to listen to me…this is an issue I trust you can deal with in the same way and integrity your father would have"
"Yes, thank you Yuuna, we can set up a meeting in the council chamber, have the ministers and councillors gather" Cagalli said.
"As I expected!" Yuuna sighed.
"What?"
"As I'd expect from the Lioness of Orb, five minutes off of a battleship and already you are prepared to carry out your duty, that's exactly what Orb needs right now, a level headed leader whom can see the big picture" Yuuna explained, smiling through his teeth.
Cagalli thought nothing of the praise, dismissing Yuuna's attempts to "ass kiss" as Gekido would have put it. She unintentionally smiled at the thought of her old friend. They were friends, even though they never found themselves admitting that fact they did have a lot in common. Cagalli looked at the road ahead and sighed at the memory of those happier days.
The young natural looked up at the sky and smiled.
"You know you're a pretty strange guy!" Gekido turned around to see Cagalli standing at the doorway.
"Look whose talking" Gekido said with a smirk.
"I'm not strange" Cagalli growled.
"Yeah but you are a guy…oh wait your…a girl" Gekido said and the two of them laughed at his mockery of Kira.
Cagalli smiled like she never had before. The past was a place of comfort, when Athrun wasn't around it was a place she could lose herself in.
Captain Todoka kept his cool, as all captains had to. He gave the mobile suit pilots a clear message, if they crossed the Orb border they would be fired upon. Now alls he could do was watch. Apparently some of the younger ship staff had a poll going on which G-Weapon would win. The grey mobile suit used its shield to bat aside the Green Astray's beam weapon while the Black and Gold Astray fired wires from its wings. Swinging around, the grey suit grabbed the wires, holding them in place as the electricity ran through its body. Remarkably it took the plasma surge and span around, throwing the Astray towards one of the islands. The Green Astray fired its rifle at the grey suit, which dived downwards towards the recovery Gold Astray. It swung its fist back, slamming it into the Astray's head. The Astray slid across the rock surface of the island, finally coming to a halt at the edge of a cliff face.
Jeremiah watched the scene with a smile. He'd only had opportunities to see old video footages of the Purpose fighting. But now he saw a battle directly in the presence. The Purpose Mark 2 was ferocious in its assault of the Astray Gold Frame. Like Gekido, it used parts of its own body as weapons. Its fists were weapons in themselves, knocking the Gold astray off of the edge of the cliff. The Astray Green Frame switched its rifle to beam sword mode, swinging it into the Purpose's shield. Then the Purpose flipped around, slamming its heel into the side of the Astray. Suddenly the Gold Astray flew up the mountain, firing its beam rifle and separating the Purpose from the Green Astray. All three machines stared one another down as the Purpose's eyes glowed. Jeremiah eagerly leant forward while Jessica shook her head. The man loved to watch his mobile suits fight, but this was different for him. Now he had a love for "Gundams" or as some of the staff had called them "the god suits".
Flay and Athrun sat in Athrun's sports car, making their way across the coastline. They stopped when they saw Kira and Lacus on the beach with the children they stayed with. Flay smiled while Kira widened his eyes when he saw them. Athrun parked the car nearby and the two of them walked over to meet them. Lacus and Flay hugged while Athrun and Kira shook hands.
"It's good to see you're all right" Kira said.
"It wasn't pretty up there, we barely survived" Athrun said.
"You mean you two were up there?" Lacus asked.
Flay immediately pulled Kira into a deep kiss, causing some of the children to fake vomit. Athrun checked his watch as Flay held the kiss. Finally they both let one another go and blushed as Athrun looked at them with crossed arms.
"Thank god your all right" Flay said.
"Lacus's inheritance didn't go to waste, plus Mr Waltfeld still had contacts in ZAFT, the shelter could take the water but the house will need some work" Kira explained.
"Nothing that wont be fixed in a few days, I could have some of my men come over to help if you wanted" Flay said.
"No don't bother, we'll be fine"
Flay and Lacus took a walk while Athrun and Kira drove across the road.
"We were there in the middle of it Kira, they had worked with my father "your living in a damn dream world laughing with the butchers who caused this" he had said "Athrun Zala knew it all along, the only true path for coordinators was the one he chose for us"" Athrun explained, remembering every vivid detail of the battle.
"So you were fighting? Along with Sensou and Flay" Kira said.
"Sensou is different than how Cagalli thought they were, I always knew this, I always understood it but now I cant see the Purpose of Sensou when a war is knocking at the Plants doorstep"
Kira lowered his head, thinking of his battles with Rau Le Creuscet and Uragiri. The two of them had created havoc and hate throughout the battlefield and neither one was contempt with the idea of peace. But now it seemed that if a war did come it wouldn't be as black and white as the last war had been.
Nothing was simple anymore, but this was a good escape for him. Old Twenty first century planes were dangerous in comparison to Sky graspers. Vincent sat in the old aircraft, flying over the Sensou airfield. He wore all the protective gear including the insulation suit and helmet and mask. It was far different from the flight suits of today and the experience was something that made him forget all of his problems. He forgot about Shinn Asuka, about the coming war and about the horrors that would go to the Plants. Tilting his stick, Vincent pulled off a barrel roll and dashed into the clouds. He didn't worry about the negotiations that would soon be taking place or even about the fact that he may fight old comrades in the Earth Alliance. This was how he spent his free time, honing his reaction times with old aircraft.
"Commander Rach, we have a message from Chairman Durandal of ZAFT" An engineer on the ground said.
"Relay the message" Vincent said.
"He wishes to meet with you in the Plants sir, at your earliest convenience"
A meeting with the chairman of ZAFT would be the beginning of an Alliance. Sensou had many talented pilots but too few resources to fight a full-scale war with the Earth Alliance alone. Tasha's black ops team had been investigating the Junius Seven footage and had determined that explosives that had to have been organised by someone in ZAFT caused the event. Forming an alliance would be a good way of working inside the system and finding out who caused the disaster and being in a good position to take them down.
"Have my landing team ready, I'm coming down" Vincent said.
"Yes sir!"
Branden held a scowl across his face as he walked through the streets of Orb. He was unused to the peace of this country and even disliked that peace. No one dared to speak with him, as they knew of his connection to Sensou. He wasn't wearing his uniform, but his face had been seen in newspapers and on the TV. Branden had been quite vocal in his defence of Vincent's actions a year ago, believing that there was no line to cross when it came to saving lives. When he saw who he was looking for his scowl dropped, but the disdain in his eyes remained. Standing by a coffee stand was a red haired man wearing a brown trench coat. A scar ran across his throat while underneath his shirt he also had numerous battle scars.
"Casvall" Branden said.
Casvall nodded his head at the young Middle Eastern teen, pointing to a keg of beers he was carrying. Branden smirked, though hid a scowl at Casvall's lack of communication. He couldn't help it, his vocal chords had been damaged in a bar fight. Branden and Casvall didn't share many things in common; they only had one thing in common. A place they visited often, Casvall removed a cap from his beer bottle and raised it for a toast. Branden took his can and tapped it against the bottle. They sat by a gravestone with the name "Sakon Date". Unbeknownst to them a group of men in black suits watched them. They reached for the knives on their belts as they prepared to attack.
Elsewhere, Cagalli sighed as she sat down at her desk. Her meeting with the council was faced with multiple criticism on her policies. It was mainly in connection to a possible Alliance with the EA. Cagalli knew that such an alliance wasn't right, yet Yuuna put forward a very convincing argument about what had happened the last time Orb refused the Earth Alliance. Some Orb technicians set up a screen that Cagalli and the council would use to communicate with Dagger Thanos. Cagalli had never met Thanos face to face, but his reputation was often confusing. Some people called him a man of honour; others called him a ruthless fighter. The man sat at his desk alone, looking Cagalli in the eyes and ignoring the presence of the other council members.
"Cagalli Yula Athha, at last we meet, I trust your country is doing well" Dagger said.
"Yes Commander…"
"My title is now Admiral Miss Athha, though perhaps in time you will earn the right to call me by my old title"
"Admiral Thanos, do you not think that now is an inappropriate time to be establishing direct contact with us?" Cagalli asked.
"Perhaps, but I'm afraid political correctness must be thrown aside for the survival of my people"
"And what do you mean by "your people"?" Yuuna asked.
"I currently have a few dozen Orb immigrants under the protection of Lady Mina Sahaku whom has joined my faction, there are others but at this time I am not willing to reveal the exact number of civilians under my care" Thanos explained.
"Though you and I never met we did fight together as part of an alliance, however that was when the war consumed Orb" Cagalli said.
"War is inevitable because of the Earth Alliances foolish propaganda while people within your own government are likely to stab you in the back…no they're actually shove you off a cliff and run the other way" Dagger said, looking at Yuuna from the corner of his eye.
"Orb's policy has always been neutrality, we will not attack another nation, nor will we allow ourselves to be attacked by another nation, and we will not intervene in the conflicts of other nations, my father held onto this policy until the end…"
"And look what it got him" Dagger said.
Cagalli grinded her teeth together while Dagger raised his hand.
"I apologise, I have deep respect for your father, but in this new era you as a young leader will not be taken seriously unless you have the support of an elder, the Earth Alliance knows this and will seek to pressure you from both the outside and inside your council chambers, however I suggest an Ultimatum, a way for Orb to continue to live in peace but also to use its power to make a difference…an alliance between my nation and yours, my army and I will provide with complete protection against any force that seeks to attack you as well as political guidance in exchange for materials and medical supplies as well as shelter for my people, thirty percent of your trade profits and the retirement of all current council and noble members from Orb's political decisions…"
"THIS IS AN OUTRAGE!" Yuuna's father yelled.
"Actually it's a lot better than the bloodshed and scraps you'll be left by the Earth Alliance" Dagger said casually.
Yuuna glared at the military commander, whom remained calm as he awaited Cagalli's answer.
"I am sorry admiral, but I am afraid Orb's policies must stand, what ever game your playing it's a dangerous one, what assurance can you give us that your mere presence will not turn our nation into an even greater target, can you protect our one nation as you protected Junius Seven?" Cagalli asked.
Dagger squeezed his hands together as he took a calm breath. He sighed as he got off his chair and looked Cagalli in the eyes.
"I can give Orb a greater chance than the Earth Alliance would have, reject my offer if you want but share the Alliance the same courtesy and do not leave Orb even for one second in the hands of these fools blinded by their ambition and "nobility"" Dagger said, glaring at the noble men. "My offer still stands, there is a number on your personal computer, memorise that number and call me if you ever change your mind"
Dagger cut the connection and cursed, slamming his hand into his door.
"Don't doom Orb daughter of Hibiki" He said.
Yuuna walked to his desk, smiling at Cagalli's decision. When the Earth Alliance knocked at their door she would give in to his advances. Sitting at his desk he opened his laptop, leaning back as a blackened face appeared.
"Mr Ambition, its good to hear from you again" Yuuna said.
"I am General Ambition Seiran, did Cagalli do as I predicted?" The voice on the computer asked.
"Everything and more, soon I will have her as my bride"
"Yes, continue to arrogantly believe that women will fall at your feet, we all know that if not for Djibril then you wouldn't get anything you wanted, I will help you fulfil your ambitions Seiran and help your family rise to the top of Orb and beyond, you will go ahead with your plans as usual and try not to worry about Athha's other child, if there's one man who will destroy you and your ambitions it is this "Casvall", he will be dealt with I assure you of that" Ambition explained.
Yuuna smiled while on the edge of a cliff face Casvall threw his bottle aside. He turned to a group of men walking out of the bushes. Branden clicked his fists together as the men drew their knives. Further away from the scene, Silver Mask's right eye flashed before he rushed towards the coming battle.
Next Chapter 13: Assassins in a land of peace
Lion's Silence preview
"What future is there for Earth? How can it survive when its people poison it with pollution and war?"
A Blue Slash Zaku Phantom swung its Tomahawk around, slashing two Dagger L's in half. Then a Green Zaku fired its main cannon, cutting a Windam in half. Suddenly a Red Zaku flew past the two machines, equipped with a vizard back that boosted its speed beyond normal Zaku's. It fired its beam rifle, shooting several Windam's in their chests and then cleaving a ships bridge in half with the boomerang axe.
Flay Alster sat in her office, looking over the list of casualties. She sighed and called in Natarle.
"What is it chairwoman?" Natarle asked.
Flay's hands shivered as she looked up at Natarle.
"Casvall, he's disappeared…please find him!"
(Gackt-Mind forest)
"ALL HANDS BRACE FOR IMPACT!"
A Sensou base class ship exploded, sending a Gundam and the red Hyaku Shiki flying backwards. The Red Hyaku Shiki looked around, its eyes flashing as a glowing machine appeared before it. It spread out its arms, releasing dozens of funnels.
The White Base prepared for launch with its partner ship in this mission, a ship similar in design to the Dominion. Natarle narrowed her eyes while Bright Noa swung his arm forward.
"White Base launching, our mission is to bring in Casvall!" He said.
Emma Sheen
"Casvall was out of control, he attacked our forces without mercy, what are you prepared to do to stop him if he's really lost control?"
A White and Blue Slaughter Dagger fired at a group of Hizack's, flying between the two machines. It then drew a beam sabre, slashing two Hizack's in half. Emma Sheen narrowed her eyes at a Red Hyaku Shiki as it flew in the middle of the Hizack group.
Gyunei Guss
"Leonard lives on and his influence and hate has spread to others, Casvall may be working with him, if so then he is my enemy!"
The Jagd Doga released is funnels, shooting down a volley of missiles. Gyunei grinded his teeth together as he fired back at his attackers. With a yell he released a surge of Newtype power.
Kaite Madigan
"I hate to admit it, but Casvall may be a renegade, I mean why is he the only Sensou crew member that survived the attack, how did the attacker know exactly when and where to attack?"
The Devine Testament engaged its attack mode, slamming its claw into the Hyaku Shiki's sabre.
"CASVALL IF YOU HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE THEN COME BACK WITH US!"
Katejina Loos
"WE ARE THE INHERITORS OF THIS WORLD! OUR LEADER IS LIGHTING THE WAY TO A NEW ERA! ONE WITHOUT YOUR PATHETIC EARTH!"
Uso Evin
"KATEJINA!"
The Victory Gundam and Gottrlatan dived towards one another with beam blades drawn. Both machines slashed one another across the chest.
Cecily Fairchild
"My father and another is turning old mercenary companies from Jupiter into a new faction, they want to take advantage of the chaos on Earth"
A white and purple mobile suit known as a Vigna Ghina flew through waves of missiles, firing it's beam rifle every chance it got. Several funnels appeared around it, shooting its right arm and legs off. The shadowed Gundam's eyes glowed as the masked figure underneath it smirked.
Casvall pushed his Hyaku Shiki to its absolute limit as it flew towards a gigantic purple mobile suit. The Psycho Gundam Mark 2 opened its arms and unleashed a storm of beams. Everything went silent as the Hyaku Shiki was struck by one of the beams. Natarle and Bright Noa yelled out for Casvall as the Hyaku Shiki resumed its assault on the giant.
"CASVALL!"
A ghostly image appeared before Casvall as he sat on the shoulder of his machine. The mute pilot widened his eyes and reached out to the man he would have called father. But the image faded and he stared at his hand.
"Don't give up hope my son, whatever happens never stop believing"
A red Gundam waved it's mane around as it drew its beam sabre. The lion didn't roar, but his charge towards its target spoke more than any roar.
"Father…Sakon, WHAT HOPE IS THERE FOR EARTH!"
Lion's Silence coming soon
Hope everyone enjoyed the chapter