PHASE-21: Dead Heat
"Those who cannot remember the past are condemed to repeat it."
―George Santayana, Spanish-American Philosopher
It's been already a year since Team Paradox left the Earth and established their new base of operations in Copernicus City in the moon. However, just as the future trio of Akiza, Ian, and Kiryu predicted, the peace between the Alliance and the PLANTs will not last long. Tensions began rising following the attack on Armory One, a PLANT industrial colony.
Three pilots from the Earth Alliance hijacked three of five of ZAFT's Second Stage Series Gundams. However, ZAFT refused to turn a blind eye as they dispatched one of its pilots to take on the enemy. Despite, ZAFT's best efforts, the stolen mobile suits were able to escape, with ZAFT's new spaceship Minerva hot on their tail.
However, remnants of ex-chairman Patrick Zala's loyalists attempt to drop the ruins of Junius Seven onto Earth. The Minerva were able to blast the ruins using its Tannhauser cannon.
However, destroying the colony itself would leave chunks of debris to fall into Earth, destroying several major cities and cultural landmarks. With the PLANTs being blamed for this disaster, the Atlantic Federation immediately declared war.
Inside Team Paradox's flagship, the Gilgamesh, the Gundam Operators begin their first mission. A satellite shows the world in the present (C.E. 73), broadcasting a speech by Atlantic Federation president Joseph Copeland over the declaration of war.
"It's already happening.", said Kiryu. "First, Armory One. Now, Junius Seven. And now we're about to see another war escalating out of control."
"Just another day at the office.", Akiza added.
Rio follows up a report of Cagalli's whereabouts. "Sources told me that Lady Cagalli is safe. I hope those ZAFT soldiers treat her properly. Unbelievable... three Alliance pilots being able to hijack three mobile suits..."
"It's like Heliopolis all over again...", Flay still has unpleasant memories of the earlier war.
"As much we don't want to get involved in this mess, we just can't ignore this.", Akiza said, wanting to propose a course of action.
Trent then shows the team a diagram of the ship that the three stolen mobile suits that were boarding in. It is, in fact, equipped with a Mirage Colloid stealth system. When the Junius Treaty was still in effect, Mirage Colloid and Neutron Jammers were prohibited. Now, that the war has already began, the treaty is now rendered moot.
Trent lectured the team, "The Gilgamesh, being a battleship from the future, possesses more superior specs than that of the Archangel or even the Minerva. One of its features is its Mirage Colloid Suppression System, rendering Mirage Colloid ineffective. That Girty Lue-class battleship won't know what's behind them."
"So, we're going to ice the assholes who stole those Gundams? Hell yeah, let me at 'em!", said Ian, showing his eagerness to fight opponents, no matter how strong they are.
"Ian!", Akiza and Kiryu shouted, disapproving the idea of provoking the Alliance given that Orb is a neutral country, despite the fact Team Paradox is Orb's anti-Blue Cosmos elite task force unit.
However, Ian's intent to take on the Alliance unprovoked just had Rio coming up with a strategy in mind.
"I think Ian might be up to something.", Rio decides to play along with Ian's plan. "I think we will be doing the PLANTs a good favor if we not only bring those stolen mobile suits back to them, but along with the heads of those insects who have the audacity to hijack them."
"Rio, you can't be serious.", Akiza once again objects.
"We don't have much of a choice. It's not because those Alliance scum wormed their way into stealing those machines and nearly endangered Lady Cagalli in Armory One, but I want to make sure those three pilots are facing their toughest challenge yet."
And given that Rio has the highest position in the team, and Akiza is only the second-in-command, she has no other choice but to follow her orders. Either way, Team Paradox plans to provoke the Girty Lue ship as the Gilgamesh are now hot on their trail.
Earth Alliance Battleship Girty Lue
Inside the Girty Lue's command center, an Alliance comms operator reports to Captain Neo Roanoke about a mysterious ship tailing them.
"Sir, we have an unidentified ship on our six!"
"That ain't good. This ship has Mirage Colloid, as this thing should be undetectable by radar.", said Neo. "Tell the three to sortie with their mobile suits right now. It's level 2 battle stations!"
Little what the Girty Lue crew know is that the Gilgamesh's Mirage Colloid Suppression System is now in effect, which explains that the battleship from the future being able to chase after them.
The three pilots - Sting Oakley, Auel Neider, and Stella Loussier board on the Chaos, Abyss, and Gaia, respectively. Before the three Gundams prepare for launch, the ship began sustaining enemy fire, or in this case, sniper fire.
"Sir, the enemy ship is being backed by enemy sniper mobile suits."
The Gundam Dynames (actually, the Sentinel Gundam with Kiryu using the Dynames MS card to transform) and the Gundam Pharact (the Mach Gundam with Ian using the Pharact card) took sniping positions from the Gilgamesh to shoot down the Girty Lue's Igellstellungs.
From Stella's perspective inside the Gaia Gundam, Neo informs her that the enemy is bringing in snipers to disable the ship.
"Stella, watch yourself. The enemy ship has snipers.", Neo's face appears in the cockpit's monitor.
Inside the Abyss' cockpit, Auel apparently remains unfazed by the presence of a mysterious enemy out to get them.
"Alright, let's get this party started then!", Auel lets out a sadistic smile.
"Who are these guys? Are they ZAFT or...", Sting is curious of the enemies he and his team are facing.
The Sentinel and Mach immediately revert back to their base forms. Kiryu then calls out the sniper support team of Benkei mobile suits.
"We got their attention. Snipers team one and two, box the ship. We're taking on the pilots. How copy?"
"Team one copies.", one of the Benkei pilots said. "Spread out!"
"Enkidu Teams four and five, cover the Murasame Teams.", Kiryu further gave orders.
"Goemon teams four and five, give the snipers some cover.", Ian directs the Goemon pilots. "Murasame Bravo Team, take point. Make sure those motherfuckers are trapped."
"Copy."
Inside the Girty Lue, the Alliance did not see the Dynames and Pharact having reverted into the Sentinel and Mach.
"What are those mobile suits?", Neo kept his cool knowing that they're facing a much more tougher enemy than ZAFT.
The Paradox 2.0, Izayoi, and Neptune are catapulted out of the Gilgamesh. The Alliance warship find themselves surrounded by Team Paradox's forces.
[BGM: "Aki Izayoi Battle Theme" from Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's]
From the Izayoi's cockpit, Rio patches into the Girty Lue's comms.
"Attention, Earth Alliance battleship. We are the Anti-Blue Cosmos Task Force Unit Team Paradox of the Orb Union!", Rio's voice is heard from inside the Girty Lue's command center.
"What the hell does a neutral nation like Orb want with us?!", an Alliance officer asked.
Rio gives the Girty Lue an ultimatum, "You have stolen three mobile suits belonging to the PLANTs and having threatened to endanger our Chief Representative. Right now, there is no escape. You are surrounded, you will be given two choices; surrender the stolen mobile suits to us or be eliminated with extreme prejudice!"
"Don't you guys stand there, return fire! Send those three out!", Neo orders the three Extended pilots to launch.
And so, the Chaos, Gaia, and Abyss are launched as they engage on Team Paradox's platoons of Murasames, Benkeis, and Goemons. While the Murasames are average foot soldiers as far as the three pilots are concerned, the Benkeis and Goemons give them a hard time. Of the three Extended pilots, Auel enjoys maiming enemies. Sting is a cool and calculating. Stella is childish and absentminded, but is the most dangerous of the three.
The Paradox 2.0 and Neptune double team the Gaia, Akiza and Flay make use of their teamwork skills ever since the latter has been improving in her piloting skills. But, Flay is already made aware of the Gaia's pilot prove to be unpredicable.
"Flay, watch yourself.", Akiza's image appears from the Neptune's monitor. "Whoever these pilots are, they are probably much more dangerous."
"Got it.", Flay nodded.
The Paradox pulls out its beam rapier and the Neptune readying its "Gran Turismo Superleggera" beam trident. They charge at the Gaia, but, the jet-black Gundam dodged, and pulled out its beam sabers, clashing swords with the Paradox.
"If this thing can transform into either a tiger or whatever it is, let's use dragon power this time.", Akiza pulls out the Epyon card.
"I don't know what you're talking about, Aki. But, let's give that a shot.", Flay replied as she picked the Dragon Gundam Mobile Suit card.
The two invoke their respective Gundam's Mobile Suit Card Replication System (MS-CRS) to transform into the specific Gundam by scanning the cards into their G-Phones.
[Change: Gundam Epyon!] / [Change: Dragon Gundam!]
Much like how the Sentinel and Mach having transformed into the Dynames and Pharact earlier, the Paradox and Neptune would do the same thing, taking form of the Epyon and Dragon. The battle intensifies as the Paradox Epyon form catches the Gaia's feet with the heat rod. Before the Neptune, as the Dragon Gundam, stretches its arms and grabs the mobile suit from the other leg.
Meanwhile, Auel finds himself facing the Mach Gundam. Ian felt something is a bit off with the pilot, other than the fact that Auel's bloodlust equals his. The two Gundams fight at an equal footing, but Ian proves to be more superior than Auel in terms of piloting, without the need of transforming into a different mobile suit. However, Ian proves to be much more pragmatic, as he uses his Emerald Ring to erase a time frame with Auel unaware of his enemy's actions. Within moments, the Mach suddenly disappears in front of the Abyss, only for it to appear behind the Abyss, Ian uses this opportunity to ambush Auel.
"Hey, don't play dirty asshole!", Auel cusses at the Mach's pilot.
"Dirty?", Ian throws back Auel's words right back at him. "This is a fucking war, kid. There's no rules, and most of all, no mercy motherfucker!"
However, hearing the word "mother" coming out of Ian's mouth causes Auel to become more unhinged and now fights like a berserker. Not knowing something caused Auel to be riled up with the mention of the word in his earshot.
The Izayoi and Sentinel team up against the Chaos. The latter Gundam summons Aerosmith and Motorhead. With Aerosmith being the Gundam's wings, and Motorhead once again the drill arm, Kiryu prepares to thrust his Gundam's drill at the Chaos, only for the Chaos to avoid the attack. The Izayoi catches Sting off guard.
"Hmph. Is this what the Alliance's pilots have to offer? What amateurs!", Rio boasted.
"I'd rather not be smug if I were you, commander.", Kiryu's face appears in the Izayoi's monitor, warning her that the pilots who stole the Second Stage mobile suits are not to be taken lightly. "Whoever the Alliance sent those three guys to hijack those mobile suits, are apparently more than just mere Naturals."
Rio already heard about the existence of Biological CPUs, as a result of the Earth Alliance engaging in illegal human experimentation.
"You mean that those pilots are Biological CPUs?", Rio asked. "Yeah, I've already heard of them."
Flay's face appears on the Sentinel and Izayoi's monitors. "Are they similar to Azrael's goons?"
Only for Kiryu to reply, "Yes and no. Biological CPUs are enhanced humans as a result of the Alliance's unethical human experimentation called the Extended Program. They create super-soldiers in order to fight on par with Coordinators. There are two types of them. Flay, the three pilots Azrael employed are actually called "Boosted Men", and they are regularly given a dose of a certain drug to enhance their already superhuman feats. But, they become violent if they suffer withdrawal symptoms if the effects of the drug wears off. The other one, "Extendeds", circumvents all the weaknesses of the Boosted Men. They are much more subdued and subservient, and they are somehow needed to be kept in line to keep their violent impulses in check, usually by memory manipulation. However, doctors and commanding officers use certain "block words" to restrain them, however, over do that, they will go berserk. And Ian has apparently provoked the Abyss' pilot way too far."
"Gaahh!", Flay takes damage as her Neptune gets tackled by the Gaia Gundam, forced out of her Gundam's transformation.
Likewise, the Gaia was able to force the Paradox out of its Epyon form.
"What power...", Akiza reels as Flay manages to regroup with her.
Within moments, Flay's butterfly medallion shows her a prediction of the Gaia Gundam's actions: The only way to stop the Gaia's tracks is when time is stopped.
"Obsidian Pendant, bring time to a complete stop!", Akiza quickly goes in her SEED mode.
Akiza's Obsidian Pendant starts to glow, and time suddenly freezes inside the fabric of space. Everything within the Paradox's range changed the colors into negative from pitch black to bright white, signifying that Akiza's time medallion having stopped time completely in space itself.
Both Gundams in both Team Paradox and the Alliance were rendered in suspended animation in the middle of the time stoppage. And the Paradox is the only Gundam moving while time is stopped.
Akiza pulls out the Final Attack-Overdrive card for the Paradox. "The kid gloves are off now!", she quickly scanned the card on her G-Phone and afterwards, scans the phone on her G-Watch, and does an arm movement that invokes a clock arm pointing at 3:45.
[Paradox: Final Attack-Overdrive! Full Charge!]
The Paradox 2.0 leaps and hits the Gaia Gundam with a devastating flying roundhouse kick, powerful enough to decapitate its head clean. The impact of the kick leaves behind a trail of black roses with magenta highlights.
"And now time will resume...", Akiza finally returned time back to normal as everything returns to the way as it is, and the Gaia's head gets sent flying.
"Kyaahh!", Stella screamed in pain after taking the brunt of the Paradox's roundhouse kick.
"Stella!", both Neo, Sting, and Auel yelled in unison.
"The hell was that?!", Sting had no idea that their enemies are able to manipulate time while in the fabric of space.
However, the Izayoi prevents the Chaos from reaching the Gaia. From the cockpit, Rio invokes the power of her Ruby Magatama, accelerating her time flow (slowing down time from her perspective), as she proceeds to overwhelm Sting with a speed of 2300mph, faster than a bullet fired from a gun.
"As swift as the wind.", Rio begins reciting a proverb while making short work of Sting. Unfortunately for the Alliance pilot, his Chaos, being a mobile suit designed for heavy firepower, is rendered ineffective when he gets overwhelmed by such speed. "As quiet as the forest.", she continued, as the Izayoi tossed beam kunais at the Chaos.
[Change: Altron Gundam!]
The Izayoi then transforms into the Altron Gundam, and fires its flamethrowers at the Chaos. Rio then continued the third line of that proverb, "As fierce as the raging fire!"
Rio would then follow up by using AGE-1 Titus card.
[Change: Gundam AGE-1 Titus!]
Rio then scanned the AGE-1 Titus' Final Attack-Overdrive card on her G-Phone and then scanned the phone on her G-Watch to initiate a Full Charge.
[Gundam AGE-1 Titus: Final Attack-Overdrive! Full Charge!]
"And become unshakable...", Rio finishes the fourth and final line of the proverb before the Izayoi, as the AGE-1 Titus, hits the Chaos with the Beam Lariat. "...as the mountain! Furinkazan!" The Chaos gets sent flying but Auel and his Abyss Gundam managed to catch Sting.
The Girty Lue began releasing signal flares, ordering the pilots to retreat.
"Sting, Auel! Get Stella out of here!", Neo orders the pilots to retreat, knowing that Team Paradox proved to be a far more dangerous threat than ZAFT. "Those guys have some kind of ability to control time..."
"But sir, time works differently here in space.", Neo's second-in-command Ian Lee raised an eyebrow. "The fact that those Gundams were able to pull that off is astounding."
"No kidding. If we fight those guys, the three won't stand a chance against them."
Neo's subordinate continued, "Sir, that mobile suit that took down the Gaia. Isn't the same one that appeared in Jachin Due two years ago?"
"Haven't seen it before. But, I've been in Jachin before...", Neo apparently recalled having been in Jachin Due before, but did not see the Paradox's presence at the time.
"And judging by rumors around circulating around the internet, it could be the Black Rose Witch."
Neo chuckled as he dismisses the rumors, "Do you expect me to believe that the pilot of that strange mobile suit is some kind of witch?"
Despite not believing about the myths about the Black Rose Witch of Jachin Due, referring to Akiza Izinski of Team Paradox, Neo already saw firsthand how dangerous Team Paradox as a whole.
Luckily, Stella, Sting, and Auel barely retreated back to the Girty Lue. With the ship having sustained moderate damage due to sniper fire. That said, they have to head back to Arzachel for further repairs before heading back to Earth.
As the Alliance are forced to retreat, Team Paradox's Gundam Operators return to the ship.
"Aki.", Flay's image appears in the Paradox's screen from Akiza's perspective.
"What is it, Flay?", the Black Rose Witch asked.
"Is it possible that those pilots that stole those three ZAFT mobile suits are like the same as those three pilots of the Calamity, Forbidden, and Raider?"
"Didn't you listen to what Kiryu said? Yes, they are Biological CPUs. And they are a far cry from the three pilots working for Azrael."
As the Gundam Operators and other surviving support units return to the Gilgamesh, Kiryu is having flash forward visions of Stella, right from the girl meeting a certain ZAFT pilot and dying on his arms. Every time Kiryu sees the Gaia, he often mutters "Stella" without the other Gundam Operators noticing.
Meanwhile in Orb, Prime Minister Unato Ema Seiran is furious after he receives a call from an Atlantic Federation representative about the attack on Girty Lue. Due to the fact that Team Paradox is actually an Orb Union task force unit. The Federation is unaware that Team Paradox, having since left the Earth a year ago, is now operating independently from Orb. Meaning, the Prime Minister has no authority to deal with them, as the team is under authority of Rio of the Tokino family.
"Damn you, Rio!", the prime minister punches the table in fury.
"Father, please calm down!", Yuna tries to calm his father, but he's not safe from his wrath. "We can at least convince Rio to talk things through."
"WHY DON'T YOU DO IT YOURSELF YOU SPINELESS COWARD!", Unato shouted. "Team Paradox, of all people, they ruined our chances of forming a partnership with the Alliance.", and given that Team Paradox attacked the Girty Lue unprovoked, this puts the Seirans' bid to cooperate with the Earth Alliance to a stall, until they do something about Rio's task force.
Author's Note:
- This chapter now starts the Destiny side of the story. This chapter takes place following the fall of Junius Seven, which immediately kickstarted the second PLANT-Alliance war.
- This is the first time a mobile suit from the recent Gundam series, in this case, Witch from Mercury, of which Team Paradox's Gundams transforms into. Ian's Mach Gundam transforms into the Pharact, the mobile suit of Peil's Enhanced Persons 4 and 5, who use the name Elan Ceres.
- The Paradox's spinning roundhouse kick as its Final Attack-Overdrive is a shout-out to Suzaku Kururugi from Code Geass. His trademark spin kick is called "Spinzaku" by fans. And the fact that Akiza stops time while her Gundam uses the aforementioned finisher is basically a reference to Kamen Rider Kabuto, who uses a roundhouse kick to finish off his enemies while in Clock Up. Kamen Rider Cronus from Kamen Rider Ex-Aid's finisher is basically a reverse roundhouse kick while time is stopped, which is similar to Kabuto's.
- Rio recites a passage taken from Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" while fighting Sting. She uses her time medallion's ability to speed up her time flow ("swift as the wind") while avoiding the Chaos' firepower ("silent as the forest"), followed by her Izayoi Gundam transforming into the Altron and use its flamethrower ("fierce as fire"), and finally capping it off by using the AGE-1 Titus' brute strength ("unshakable as the mountain").
