Disclaimer: I dont own Gundam

I'm back, not just me but Name Under Construction too, credit over editing and additional dialogue goes to her. There's none of the main characters in this, just most of the OC's, in fact they are mainly reader OC's, so this counts as one of the first chapters I've written where none of my own OC's appear with an active role, unless you count Vincent's very small role in the flashback.

Gundam Seed Destiny or Liberty

Chapter 29: Gundam vs. Zaku

Underwater launches were never spectacular, and they weren't supposed to be. The point of the mission was stealth infiltration, which was why the carrier moved slowly. Individual aquatic mobile suits had to follow their target data exactly, which was why many Aqua GM pilots were also outstanding navigators. As lone mobile suits they had to move in the deadliest of environments. Not only did man-made defences threaten them but also the ocean itself could crush them if even the slightest damage to the cockpit area of the suit occurred. Noah didn't envy the Aqua GM pilots one bit.

"Seems good so far, ready to submerge," one of the GM pilots said.

"Bombardment missiles armed, aerial team, prepare to move in," the squad leader said.

Nia took a deep breath as she armed her beam rifle. The Aqua GMs began to emerge from the water, firing the vertical missiles from their shoulders. The missiles slammed into the Alliance base, bombing bunkers and warehouses.

"Alright boys and girls, let's show the naturals that coordinators work hard too!" Noah said.

He activated his thrusters, bursting out of the water, whilst the carrier torpedoes began landing on the beach. Noah drew his beam sword and dived into the Daggers. They fired their beam rifles, only for Noah to cleave straight through them. He then swung around, beheading a Sword Dagger, and then stabbing it in the chest.

"Where is he? Where's the Russian?" Noah wondered.

Nia marched towards the base alongside a squadron of ground GMs. They fired their beam rifles and machine guns, clashing with the Dagger forces. She drew out her Gatling guns, firing barrages of beams at the Earth Alliance forces. Tanks and artillery trucks rolled up, firing projectiles at the Halion brothers's Zakus.

"Little insects, YOU THINK YOU CAN STOP ME WITH THAT!" Ruther yelled.

He drew out his beam tomahawk, crashing the massive axe on the trucks. Ruther then dragged the axe across the floor and cut apart two Daggers. Sochiro fired his beam rifle, sniping the Daggers as they walked out of their carriers.

"This is strange, they seem to have more units than we originally thought," Linda said.

"Its almost as if they were…expecting us," Shadi gasped and turned to the sky.

"AERIEL UNIT ABANDON BOMBARDMENT MISSION!"

Nia and the Bagal team widened their eyes as a giant explosion parted the clouds. Explosives began going off within their landing zone, taking out the torpedo carriers and even knocking down several suits. Linda cursed as her own suit was thrown to the ground. She looked up in the sky, widening her eyes slightly as a black mobile suit descended from the sky. The Strike Noir drew its antiship swords and swooped down on Linda. Suddenly, Shadi stepped in the way, blocking the sword with his shoulder shield. The CGUE/Zaku hybrid pushed the Strike Noir back and grabbed Linda's suit. Jumping into the air, Shadi dodged a hail of missiles.

"Damn coordinators are faster than I thought," Shams Cousa growled.

Sven Cal Bayan narrowed his eyes at the CGUE as it landed beside a squad of ground MS Gundams. The Gundams began firing their machine guns, only for the Strike Noir to take to the air again. It cleared the way for a much bigger mobile suit.

"THE GIANT DUEL!" one of the Gundam pilots yelled.

Bhishma Alhazard's mobile suit matched his natural giant frame, being bigger than the duel and much bulkier. Its positron shield reflected the beam weapons of the Gundams, giving Bhishma the chance to raise his suit's arms. As soon as he dropped the shield, he activated his sabres and stabbed two Gundams in the chest. The 'Gepanzert Riese's eyes glowed as it loaded its armour busters, firing the high velocity bunker busters point blank into the enemy mobile suits. Bhishma swung his arm around, throwing the CGUE and Zaku back like a bear swatting a man.

"Nice try, your attempt to flank our base through our blind spot, my earlier defences wouldn't have been enough to stop your attack, but sometimes the best way to defend is to let the enemy break through, then trap and eliminate them," Bhishma explained.

"BHISHMA ALHAZARD!"

The Giant Duel turned, just in time to block a slash from Noah's Zaku. Both machines flew back, the Zaku swinging its sword and pointing it at the Giant Duel. Bhishma stepped to the side, standing between both Shadi and Noah.

"Lets see if his defence truly is unbreakable," Noah grinned.

"Roger that sir," Shadi nodded his head as he drew his assault sword.

Linda moved behind Shadi, sliding open the missile launcher on her back. She jumped into the air and fired their missiles, hitting the Giant Duel's armour. Bhishma took the projectiles and raised his arms, blocking Noah and Shadi's swords. Noah and Shadi widened their eyes as the Giant Duel broke their swords and threw both suits aside. Their suits slid across the ground, drawing their rifles.

"This guy, he really is as powerful as they say," Shadi said.

"No defence is unbreakable, we're just going to have to step it up, Sochiro, Ruther, back me up," Noah said.

"Roger!"

"Oh this is gonna be good!"

Bhishma narrowed his eyes as the two Halion brothers began hovering around him. Ruther broke off into a run, brandishing his beam axe. Sochiro fired a shot that bounced off of the Duel's positron shield. Ruther swung his axe around, slamming it straight into the shield. Electricity and energy surged off of the Giant Duel as its armour alone blocked the gigantic axe. Ruther widened his eyes as the axe broke apart. Bhishma deactivated his positron shield and prepared to hit the brothers back with a missile volley.

"AN OPENING!" Noah yelled.

He dived at the Duel, swinging his heat axe down on its shoulder. Noah and Bhishma seemed to look one another in the eyes, like their clashing machines. Bhishma threw his hand up, delivering a swift uppercut to the Zaku's head, throwing the machine away from him. He brandished the giant bunker buster on his arm, looking towards Noah's machine.

"I cannot lose, I cannot allow myself to lose," he growled.

Noah looked at the Duel's shoulder in shock, his axe had only done a miniscule amount of damage, the simple scratch was enough evidence to confirm that the Gepanzert Riese was a both a walking bunker and fortress buster.

"It's more than the suit, you've got a reason to fight haven't you?" Noah asked.

"That's not your business," Bhishma said before flying at the Zaku again.

The Strike Noir sliced two Gundams in half before moving onto a lone GM.

"WHAT THE HELL ARE THESE GUYS!" the pilot yelled.

Sven raised his sword over his head, ready to tear it through the rookie. Suddenly, a beam flew out of the clouds. He threw the Strike Noir to the side, dodging the blast in time. The Special Forces pilot looked up at the sky as a Neo Raptor flew onto the battlefield.

"Don't tell me you guys are having trouble with a simple supply base," Zack said as he landed in front of the Strike Noir.

"Zack Tempest," Sven said.

"My reputation precedes me I see, all right, time to earn my keep," Zack grinned.

The Neo Raptor ignited the bayonet blades on its submachine guns and flew at the Noir. Both machines slammed their blades together and took to the skies. Sven fired the cannons on his wings, whilst Zack fired a flurry of beams from his machine guns. Joe and Nia respectively hovered and walked around the base, shooting down any Daggers in their path. Nia rolled her Gatling guns, cutting two Strike Daggers apart. Joe cocked his shotgun before shooting two Long Daggers.

"Other than the Russian, there's not much this base has going for it." Joe grinned.

He widened his eyes slightly as the signal to another combatant appeared on his radar. The Kampfer turned its head, watching one of the warehouses open. A white and blue Gundam type suit walked out of the warehouse, carrying a shield and beam rifle. Inside the machine, Christina Mckenzie ran through the Alex's full activation sequence. The Phase shift capabilities of the Alex's armoured coat turned on and the targeting retinas appeared on her screen. A small pressure ran through Zack's head, but it was only small, it didn't distract him from his battle with Sven.

"All right Chris be careful, this isn't a simulation anymore." Jeremiah said over the radio.

"Understood, I know how to fight anyway sir." Christina said.

The Alex raised its rifle and fired a blast. Joe hovered to the left and cocked his shotgun again. He fired a slug, hitting the Alex's armour. It caused the machine to shake a bit, but Christina quickly recovered and rushed towards the Kampfer. She slammed her shield into the machine's head, knocking Joe back slightly. He quickly threw his shotgun aside and drew one of his Panzer Faust launchers.

"Lets see your armour survive this," Joe said before he launched the miniature warhead.

The missile slammed into the Alex, causing the cockpit to shake. Christina checked over the damage of her armour, though the main hull was safe, the Alex's armour coat was finished. She disconnected the broken armour, revealing the Alex's blue chest and its hidden wrist weapons. Joe widened his eyes as the Alex opened its wrist, firing a flurry of bullets from its gatling gun. The Kampfer moved to the right just in time, but the wave of bullets crippled its left arm.

"This one's surprisingly good. I don't have the manoeuvrability to take him on in a real fight; should have chosen the Efreet." Joe growled.

"DIE, COORDINATOR!"

Joe looked to his left, just as the Verde Buster fired its shoulder cannons.

"LOOK OUT, SIR!"

A ground GM slammed into Joe's back, knocking him to the ground and out of the Buster's range. The beams however tore through the GM's chest, killing the pilot. Nia watched as the GM fell the ground and blew up in a shower of metal. She squeezed the control sticks and grit her teeth together.

"No more... NO MORE OF VINCENT'S COMRADES ARE GOING TO DIE!" she yelled.

Nia looked between the Alex and Buster, deciding on her course of action.

"GM pilots, Joe, join me in my attack!" she said.

She broke off into a run and jumped at the Buster. Shams turned to fire his linked cannon. But much to his shock, Nia cleaved through the gun with her axe. She then disconnected her pack, giving Joe the perfect target. He drew his second Panzer Faust and fired it straight into Nia's abandoned pack; the resulting explosion threw Shams off balance and destroyed most of his weapons.

"NOW!" the Gundam commander yelled.

He and the other GM's drew their beam sabres, slamming into the Buster. Multiple beams pierced through the Buster's cockpit like a pincushion. Sven looked to the Buster in shock as it and his friend blew up.

"It isn't over yet. Here I come, Gundam!" Nia said.

She ran towards the Alex, using her shield to block its beam rifle blasts. With a great yell Nia leapt at her target, slashing its beam rifle in half. She then grabbed the Alex by the head and activated her thrusters. Christina screamed as she and Nia slammed into the nearby forest. The two machines grappled with one another, rolling through several trees. At the same time, Nia dropped several grenades, covering the field in smoke. She broke off from the Alex, keeping the beam blade of her axe deactivated.

"Try and find me Gundam, I'll show you that it doesn't take a Gundam to beat the shit out of another." Nia whispered, more to boost her own morale.

Christina got up off the floor, raising her gatling gun. She scanned the area for any signs of her target. Listening for the Alex's footsteps, Nia calculated its position in comparison to her. The Alex was close, but Christina was too focused on her own beating heart to notice that she had walked straight past the Zaku. Nia swung her axe at the Alex, cutting its backpack. Christina quickly turned, firing her gatling gun. The bullets struck the Zaku's shoulder, knocking off its shield. Nia immediately pulled out a grenade, punching the Alex with it. The grenade exploded, throwing both Nia and Christina away from one another. Their machines slammed into the ground and both pilots struck their heads on the back of their seats.

Two years ago

"Top grades in engineering, average in physical education, top grades in architecture, top grades in English Literature, top grades in biochemistry, below average grades in outdoor pursuits, top grades in aerospace research, below average grades in music…"

"To be fair, that's classical music. You never gave me an electric guitar!"

"Please don't interrupt Miss Holland; below average history grades, top grades in business and citizenship studies…"

'Blah, blah, fucking blah,' Nia thought as her academy interviewer droned on.

"I hope you understand what I'm getting at Miss Holland," he said.

"I understand completely sir, I just don't care, I want to join ZAFT," Nia said.

"I'm not saying you can't join ZAFT, I'm just saying that your school grades and aptitude scores show that you are best suited for intellectual and research pursuits." the man explained.

"That's not what I want to do, sir. I want to be a combat pilot, somebody fighting at the front line," she responded stubbornly.

"Miss Holland, please consider your future. In the event that there is another war, we will need pilots that are truly qualified for their role. Enthusiasm will only get you so far - the scores from your piloting tests were consistently average. Though you understand the engineering and mechanical side of the machines very well, that only reiterates my point: you are far better suited for developing them."

Nia fought back the urge roll her eyes in frustration. "You are not hearing me, sir. I want to be on the front line. I want to see, feel, actually experience the difference I'm making, not read about it in a report."

At the same time, the interviewer was fighting back the urge to sigh. He only had one problem with ZAFT's recruitment policies and this was it: the teenagers. The minimum age requirement being what it was, most of the recruits were still in their teens and the whole lot of them thought they were made of steel and impervious to death. 'The only difference I can make is on the battlefield' mentality was all too common, and it pained him to think of how many youths he had been unable to halt in their blind march towards an early grave. Denying their admission would do nothing; ZAFT had thousands of other recruiters they could turn to that were happy to accept anyone without a second glance. Persuasion was his only viable course of action, but it was becoming plain to see that Nia Holland would not accept 'no' for an answer. The arrogance of youth and genius combined apparently, with more than a dash of plain foolhardiness.

But he would try one last time. "Consider this Miss Holland: as a combat pilot you'll be put in constant danger - during wartime, there's a likelihood that you'll end up getting shot down, or constantly overshadowed and pushed to the side by superior pilots. You might even be put on a no action posting where you'll never thrive beyond the rank of a green coat. But if you pursue another course, you could be the head of your own engineering corps within a year, and head of research and development within three! Please - don't waste your potential."

When Nia did not immediately reply, the interviewer dared to hope that his words had done the impossible and changed the stubborn girl's mind.

That wasn't the case. "...A person's life is their own. I want to be a pilot sir. I... I want to fight and protect others with my own strength!"

She had spoken quietly, but the firm resolve in her voice sounded deafening to her own ears. Nia had always been a quiet and reserved child - the destruction of her family had only twisted what was already there. Where she had once been shy, she was now withdrawn – the less she had to with other people, the better. She ignored, she froze out, and she never said what she really felt, much less stand her ground so persistently on something.

But this mattered. She had sworn to fight as a soldier against the very people that took her parents away. And she had promised to be together with her sister again, when they were sent to different relatives, their hearts had broken a second time. Due to the N-Jammers embedded in the Earth, most civilian communication between the Earth and space had been rendered practically impossible. No video calls, no email – only snail mail remained. And then one day the letters just... stopped. That last letter she'd received read that their aunt had died in a car accident, and she was joining ZAFT to help provide for her remaining cousins. After that, nothing... until the end of the war, when she got a letter from ZAFT informing her that her sister was MIA, presumed defected to the Thanos faction, and that she should report her if she ever made contact with her again. Something had happened, something had gone wrong, and Nia was going to find both the answers and her sister.

The interviewer sighed as he stamped Nia's form.

"Congratulations Miss Holland and god help you. Report to your first class at 0600 tomorrow." he said.

"Thank you, sir! I promise, you won't regret this!"

Several months before

"Have I done something wrong?" Christina McKenzie asked.

Vincent looked up from his bag, concern written on his face.

"Why would you think that?" he asked.

"The commander said my trial time was a new record, whilst you're at the bottom ranking, is that why you requested a transfer?"

"No, you should never be sorry for being successful, you're a good test pilot Chris," Vincent smiled.

"Then why are you leaving, we have a good thing here. Maybe you're just not good with the jets, those prototype mobile suits coming in might be better," Christina said hopefully.

"It isn't that Chris, it's the war, everyday it gets more hectic, we have numbers but ZAFT has mobile suits and talented soldiers. I know I'm not talented, that I'm not special but I want to help those that are, General Revil said he was looking for scout pilots, I want to be one of those pilots," he explained.

"Do you think you're not making a difference here?" she asked.

"A below average test pilot, I don't think so, I want…more, even if I'm just a sacrificial pawn I want to do more for the Earth," Vincent lowered his head slightly.

Christina smiled as she touched Vincent's cheek.

"You're more than that, even if we're apart I'll always believe in you and I'll always be in your life, but as your friend…I'm sorry but I can't be with someone whose not fully committed," she explained.

"I'm glad to have had you in my life, if not as…well you know, then as a friend," Vincent blushed slightly.

"Good luck Vincent, take care of yourself and don't be reckless," Christina said.

"Right back at you," Vincent huffed as he walked past Christina.

It had been the last time they spoke as colleagues and their last moment as something more than friends.

Present

Christina and Nia groaned as they both recovered from their temporary disorientation. Nia slowly pulled her axe out of her fallen shield and ignited the heat blade. She looked at the Alex with determination in her eyes.

"I still have a promise to keep. Both to Lain and to Vincent." she said.

"Alex, protect me, I'll try to get back to you Barney." Christina said as she drew her beam sabre.

Both women raised their heads, the flash of their mobile suit's eyes reflecting the determination in their own. Nia rushed forward, slamming her axe into the Alex's sabre. Christina pushed her back and swung her sabre. But Nia sidestepped the slash and countered with her axe. Christina raised her sword to block and the clashing blades released sparks that set the trees alight. With the trees burning around them, Nia and Christina clashed blades again. Nia swung her axe, cutting the Alex's left arm. Christina then countered with a slash that took off the Zaku's arm. Quickly turning around, Nia blocked Christina's follow up strike.

"Where did Holland go?" Joe asked as the GMs picked him up.

One of the machines pointed to the forest, where the sparks of the clashing blades could bee seen by any that watched. Bhishma looked at his surroundings and saw the burned out remains of his comrades, including Shams's Buster. He tackled Sochiro and took several shots from Linda's rifle. Nia and Christina yelled at one another, their blades grinding together. The Zaku cut the Alex across the chest, just enough to burn Christina's arm. She stepped back, moving her sabre into a stabbing position.

"Nearly out of power... Damn it, I won't die here!" Christina coughed as the smoke of the flames began to seep into the Alex's cut.

'I'm gonna win, I'm going to win, just like Asuka and Zala!' Nia thought as she ran at the Alex.

Christina lunged with her sabre, but much to her shock Nia activated her thrusters and sailed over the Alex. The sabre split the Zaku's left leg, but that didn't stop Nia. Whilst in mid-air she threw her axe and it crashed into the Alex's head.

"JUST LIKE VINCENT! ONE MORE STRIKE!" Nia yelled, smashing her fist into the axe and driving it further down the Alex's chest. "SHIT!" she cursed as the Zaku, too much traction lost, fell to the floor.

The Alex, however, stood, its main camera gone and battery exhausted. Christina continued to cough as more smoke filled the cockpit. She tried to open the hatch, but Nia's axe had jammed the cockpit.

"Damn it, all units, commence full retreat, Cal Bayan, recover the Alex." Bhishma ordered.

"But sir, we can still take back…"

"We're not sacrificing more lives for a DAMN SUPPLY BASE!" the Russian yelled.

"Sir, Djibril will think of this as a failure - you'll be demoted for this." a Dagger pilot said.

'I'm counting on it,' Bhishma thought.

He needed to end up under Roanoke's command, so that he could find her.

"If you're not a hundred percent committed to the fight then go, I ain't interested in an opponent that won't fight back." Noah said snidely.

"Say that when you've managed to break my defence." Bhishma retorted.

Two Jet Daggers grabbed Bhishma by his shoulders, lifting him off the floor.

"Cal Bayan, retrieve the Alex, damn it, anyone close to the Alex get it now!" he ordered.

Sven slammed his sword into Zack's sabre, knocking the Neo Raptor back slightly. The Strike Noir turned and began flying with the other Earth forces.

"Shit, the Raptor can't match my reaction time but it's still a damn good machine." Zack cursed.

Christina continued coughing inside the Alex, choking on the smoke that gushed into the machine. Her vision began to blur as she struggled for breath. She felt her machine being lifted off the ground and jerked around as the GM's flew it back to the airfield, unceremoniously dropping it onto the tarmac. Noah watched the Earth forces retreat before turning to the supply caches that their enemy had been defending. He opened the hatch to his machine and climbed out. The GM pilots had already vacated their machines and a medic was tending to Christina.

"Wow, never thought the pilot would be a hot redhead." Joe whistled.

'Men.' Linda and Nia thought.

Noah walked to Zack's side, the mercenary running his hand across the side of one of the boxes. Suddenly, images of the Omega Gundam flashed before his eyes.

"No... the Earth Alliance wouldn't, not after what it did to their own forces." Zack muttered.

"What was that?" Noah asked.

"Nothing." Zack sighed.

Unbeknownst to the ZAFT forces, someone else was watching them. Far away from the conflict, Dagger Thanos looked through the scope of his rifle.

"So they actually took it," he muttered.

"Sir," Lain said, following the Commander in her jet equipped Zaku Kai.

Marcus and Cairo also hovered behind their commander. They had taken to observing battles between ZAFT and the Earth Alliance forces. Right now the Thanos faction was clear in its intention to fight the Alliance, yet Dagger had chosen to allow ZAFT to claim the supply base and its cargo.

"We are done observing." He stated.

"Sir, shouldn't we wait and see what they do with the cargo?" Lain asked.

"They'll refer it to Durandal's judgement; we're leaving this in his hands. If he decides not to use it then good for us; if he does decide to use it that's even better. Even more will rally in outrage." Dagger explained.

"Why are we fighting Durandal anyway? He seems to be making things better." Lain wondered out loud.

"Are you questioning the commander's orders?" Marcus asked sharply.

"Calm down Marcus, Lain brings up a good point - the people support Durandal. If he wins more people over it might not matter what he does. Even if he strips them of their freedom completely they'll still follow him." Cairo explained.

Dagger nodded his head and continued to observe.

Nia climbed out of her machine and pulled off her helmet, pulling her waist-length hair free of its ponytail. She smiled at the sight of the crippled Alex Gundam.

'I did it, I beat a Gundam! Vincent, is this what you felt like during your first victory?' She wondered.

The girl turned her gaze to the Alex's pilot. She didn't know why, but she was glad Christina was okay. A smirk ran across Dagger's face when he spotted a pilot almost identical to one of his own. He slid the rifle back on his shoulder and motioned for his squad to finally leave. Thanos cut communications with his other soldiers and continued to smile.

"So that is your sister, Lain. I wonder, if she follows Durandal will you fight for your family, or the bonds you have formed with us?" A pair of twins, separated by tragedy, only to end up on differing factions in a war? It was poetic as it was potentially useful. "The night is indeed darkest just before dawn… but dawn will come, one way or another, and I will see your plan fall to ruin, Durandal." He narrowed his eyes in vicious anger.

Hours later, Sensou had taken Christina into custody, including the remains of the Alex. Sheryl watched the girl from the observation area of the interrogation room. Sensou wouldn't use torture on regular soldiers, and Christina had cooperated enough to paint a good picture for herself. She was just a test pilot whom Jeremiah Israfel believed in.

'There's a name I haven't heard in a while.' Sheryl sighed.

"Ma'am," Nia saluted as she walked into the room.

"Well done today Nia, Vincent will definitely be proud." Sheryl smiled warmly at the girl.

Nia's cheeks turned pink. "Is… is Vince-Commander Rach all right?" Sheryl rubbed her head in embarrassment.

"The operation went well, he's adjusted to the mask well… although Durandal recommended that they skip therapy so that the commander can attend this summit." Sheryl explained.

"What?!" Nia blurted out, "But the commander will need time to adjust, won't he? ...And what summit?"

"Oh yeah, you haven't been keeping up have you? Well, you see, Dagger Thanos's recent invasion of the United Kingdom and his declaration that the Earth Alliance is redundant has caused several European and Middle Eastern nations to leave the alliance. England and Scotland have surrendered to Thanos while Ireland has broken off from the Alliance and claimed neutrality. Thanos has called for Sensou and ZAFT to meet him at a location in Diocuia. You were actually mentioned by name, Nia. Dagger Thanos himself specifically requested the attendance of 'Nia Holland and the Minerva pilots'. You seem to have caught his interest." Sheryl explained, smiling in amusement at Nia's confused expression.

"Why would ZAFT's former special forces leader want to see me?" she asked.

"No idea. Weird thing is, they asked to meet us at the very city we've just liberated from the Alliance, yet there's no sign of support there for the Thanos faction and there's no telling how Durandal will respond to the plan." Sheryl put a hand to her chin, considering the logic of the military leader.

Nia didn't respond immediately, and a contemplative silence filled the room. Finally, she asked, "Is there anything else you wanted ma'am?"

"Oh, yes. I thought you should know, that pilot in there? She used to be close to Vincent. Her name is Christina McKenzie." Sheryl said.

Nia froze in shock, her body tensing up. She struggled with the sudden rage she felt, completely unsure as to why she suddenly disliked Christina. The girl didn't seem that bad, she wasn't cocky as was typical of captured aces, but she didn't seem frightened either.

"Does she know about what happened to the commander?"

"No, I couldn't bring myself to tell her, really. Unless you want to break it to her?"

The girl fell silent again. "...I don't like kicking people when they're down. Besides, something tells me that… that she has her own memories of the commander, and that she doesn't want anything to spoil that." Nia struggled with her words, causing Sheryl to look at her.

"I understand. Better to remember him how he was; better to remember the good times." She said quietly.

Sheryl remembered Wes as her baby boy, not the Earth Alliance soldier destined to die at Noah's hands. Nia touched her locket, remembering the promise she and her sister made and not the sorrow they both felt after losing their family.

Hundreds of miles away, whether by coincidence or fate, Lain reached to touch her own locket. But her happiness of that memory quickly turned to sorrow and she stopped slicing the garlic for her soup.

'Nia... did you make it? Are you all right?' The short-haired girl wondered.

She looked out of her tent, seeing Marcus looking up at the stars. Cairo was snoring, his massive sleeping bag made him look like a butterfly cocoon. Lain walked out of the tent and sat next to the blonde pilot, looking at him with innocent curiosity.

"Marcus, can I ask you something personal?" she asked.

"If you're wondering why Michelle and I didn't work out don't bother even asking." He responded, his expression stoic but intention clear.

"No, nothing like that. I was just wondering if... if you ever think about your sister?" Lain lowered her head, waiting for him to yell at her.

"Sometimes… sometimes I wonder whether she's still alive." he said.

Lain looked up at the pilot and saw the slightest shine in his eyes.

"Sometimes I wonder if I find her, whether she'll be the girl I remember, or whether some new persona has taken her place. To be honest I think that dead or alive, she's no longer my problem." Marcus said bluntly.

"But you're her big brother!" Lain gasped.

"Tell me: if you found your sister and she was completely different from how you remembered her, would you still believe that she was your sister, that the bond you shared was intact? Not all long lost families reconnect the way people hope. Sometimes they're just numb - 'they may be my blood but they are simply strangers'. If my sister is indeed alive and happy then I wish her the best, but I will play no part in her life." he explained.

"And if she's dead?" Lain pushed.

Marcus got off the floor and walked over to his sleeping bag. Dagger touched Lain's shoulder, shocking her slightly.

"Don't take it the wrong way. As an adult, Marcus has gotten used to the idea that dead or alive, he just doesn't have a special place in his sister's memories. Also, to answer your question, if Stella was killed then Marcus would probably kill himself to avenge her." the red haired man explained.

Lain hugged her knees as Thanos walked back into his tent. He wouldn't sleep for the night; he'd be going over the plans for his new weapon. Lain however was awake for very different reasons.

'Sister, I'll always love you no matter what, but would we have to fight one another?' the thought kept her up all night.

Bhishma stood in front of a screen that showed the chief staff members of the alliance. Jeremiah looked at him in sympathy, highly aware that Bhishma had formed close-knit bonds with those under his command. Djibril however had a much different look on his face.

"This was an embarrassment Alhazard," he growled.

"Yes sir," Bhishma said.

"What do you have to say for yourself?"

"Nothing sir, the base and its cargo was mine to protect, I had failed and gotten most of my team killed or captured," the Russian explained.

"We do not take failure lightly Alhazard, your giant duel is a valuable machine, don't think we wont replace you," Djibril growled.

"Vincent Rach was the only pilot who would have been able to mimic Alhazard's fighting style, he's no longer under Earth Alliance command so we don't have a viable replacement," Jeremiah explained.

"Also consider the fact that Bhishma is popular with the soldiers, if he disappears people will ask questions," Haiwa said.

"I am willing to take whatever punishment you deem fit sirs, I am an Earth Alliance pilot first," Bhishma said.

Djibril stroked his cat gently as Jeremiah tilted his head at Bhishma. Unlike Djibril, Jeremiah had analysed Bhishma's combat record extensively, the man never failed in defensive missions. Even if all his forces had been destroyed he would have fought on as the final layer of defence. Heiwa too knew of Bhishma's expert defence, particularly during Jachin Due, the mission itself was the defence of Earth and Bhishma proved vital to that defence. Finally Djibril looked at Bhishma, glaring in a fashion he wouldn't of if face to face with the giant.

"Report to Captain Roanoke, you are under his command now," he growled.

Bhishma saluted the man he had zero respect for, the man whose head he would have crushed like a melon if given the opportunity. The communication feed cut and Bhishma frowned at where Djibirl had once been displayed.

"Arrogant bastard, I'm sorry Shams, Sensou will treat you well Christina. I trust you'll do the right thing with that cargo Vincent…the Omega Mark 2 is something that must never be built!" he said as he walked out of his office.

He lowered his head slightly as he walked past his comrades, most of whom looked at him with hate in their eyes.

'I have to find you sister, if those bastard scientists truly did change you then I'll save you, and if they killed you in that lab…then Logos, the Atlantic Federation and Blue Cosmos will all be torn apart by my vengeance, an unbreakable suit and an iron will make an unstoppable rampage. You've given me everything I need Djibril, both to find the truth and get my revenge!'

Next Chapter 30: Hidden Truth

Hope everyone enjoyed the chapter, next time we move onto the episode of Destiny, Hidden Truth, Durandal reveals the truth of Logos and another party crashes Meer's concert :) plus Vincent returns a changed man.