A/n
Okay, the Phase that many readers have been waiting patiently for, the climax of the Seed Destiny part of this story. This chapter is a tad longer than average, but it will be worth it and I hope you readers will think so as well. My standard disclaimer still applies, enjoy the Phase!
Phase 46: The Potential of Humanity
June 21st, 74 C.E.
-Neutral pov-
Above Daedalus
Rey and Shinn had returned to the Minerva for resupply, but the light from Neo-GENESIS firing was clear against the black backdrop of space. Shinn could not easily rip his eyes away from the sight, the line that had been said by captain McGregor stuck in his mind. That Chairman Durandal would use a nuclear weapon was a harsh mark to say the least and only seemed to lend credence to what had been said against him. It also fed the doubts that Shinn was having and the arguments that had been against them were far less sensible than before. It made him wonder if the Destiny Plan was really the solution that it was being said to be. Shinn didn't voice his thoughts yet, as whenever he did, Rey would wave them off in some way that he was worrying unnecessarily.
At the same time, Rey was contemplating on the ongoing battle for it was pointless for so many reasons really. The resistance to the Destiny Plan and Gil's attempt to save the human race from bringing about its own destruction was foolishness. It brought to mind some text from what was thought to be one of the most ancient records that the Human race had written. "Thou may freely eat of every tree in the garden, but never touch the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for the day thou eatest thereof, thou shall surely die. But the serpent who was the most cunning creature brought forth at that time had this to say. Ye shall not die, for God doth know, that the day ye eat thereof, thine eyes shall be opened. Ye shall know of good and evil and ye shall be as god is and that god knows that fact." The tale of 'original sin' and loss of innocence was one that had stayed with humanity since its conception and it was said that the first humans ate of the fruit was the start to where things had come today. Perhaps the tale was the way to explain when the flaws in humans were noticed, it was hard to say how true the story was.
However, those that believed that the human race as it was could still save itself were only fooling themselves. That pilot with Athrun Zala, this Tyler McGregor as Shinn called him was one such individual. He was blind to what the Destiny Plan would do for the Human race just as others that wouldn't listen to Gil were. McGregor was just worse as he actually took action against Gil instead of merely voicing his complaints. It was very similar to Athrun Zala now, he couldn't keep quiet and accept what was best for everyone. Then of course, there was the abomination Kira Yamato and he was another matter that needed to be dealt with. And if possible, Rey wanted to be the one that dealt with Yamato, partially for Rau and Gil also partially to help the Destiny Plan.
That was not to say that Tyler McGregor and Athrun Zala weren't issues that needed to be handled. The two would cause problems if they were left to their own devices, there was no doubt in Rey's mind about that. The issue with them as was with Kira Yamato, was that they were skilled mobile suit pilots and the mobile suits they used were well-designed and powerful. There was a reason the three were considered and seen as war heroes from the previous war, they certainly could fight well. Nonetheless, they had to be defeated for the future that the Destiny Plan would bring, they would ruin things if they weren't dealt with.
Meanwhile, on Messiah in the control center, Gilbert Durandal was looking out to where the battle was still raging on and he became lost in his thoughts. 'I have to admit, it's amazing when observing this as well as beautiful in a way' Gilbert mused to himself.
'What is,' asked a voice and the ghost of Rau Le Creuset appeared by Durandal.
The work faded around him as Durandal considered the question, "The fights that seem to keep occurring, the battles that pop up and the wars that always seemed to follow. It seems that it is the only way that human beings are able to test their limits, yet never seem to be satisfied and so don't stop. So why do people enjoy fighting one another?"
Creuset stared at Gilbert and chuckled, "And how are you different," he posed.
Gilbert returned the gaze, "All I want is to win, to change things for the better preferably without fighting at all. True progress is obtained through trying what other says isn't possible, daring to challenge the status quo," he replied.
Creuset sighed, "Quoting that mentor of yours Professor Blass? I won't deny that such a mentality can be true, but you know, there are some things that you can't win," Creuset commented.
Thoughts of Talia came to Gilbert's mind, of how he and a friend had been courting Talia and she had chosen his friend. Gilbert didn't blame or hate his friend, nor did he Talia, he blamed himself for not doing more. "Yes... I lost that day. Sometimes even when you fight you can't win, an unobtainable victory. But if that is so, then why do people fight even when death is inevitable? Why are we even born or bother living for that matter," questioned Durandal.
Creuset smirked and laughed, "Like I said before, humans exist only to find out that reason even if they claim others, they are driven to learn that truth for themselves. However, you probably don't like that answer, but that's what it is," Creuset posed.
Durandal frowned, "That's right. I'm sorry, but I'll have nothing to do with it. I will not be caught in an internal struggle, nor the suffering you went through, I will not lose… like you did Rau," Gilbert finished.
The ghost of Rau Le Creuset faded, yet the insane smile was clear on his face, saying that Creuset didn't believe that Durandal could win in the struggle he was facing. Durandal focused forward on the events playing out and not on these thoughts. Neo-GENESIS's shot had cut down a portion of the enemy fleet, but the advantage of numbers was still with them over ZAFT. The battle was long from being finished, that was clear, but for the human race, losing this battle wasn't an option.
-Line Break-
-Tyler's pov-
Okay, let's recap a bit of how the current situation is going as I want to confirm what had just seen. Athrun and I had gotten into Requiem and had cut it open to allow access the barrel, check. The two of us even disabled the positron reflectors that had been left defending the beam cannon leaving Requiem wide open, check. Ships from the allied fleet had moved into position to start bombarding the beam cannon to destroy it and prevent it from shooting at Earth or the colonies, check. Then, light came from a distance away and engulfed ships starting to blast Requiem and they vanished, unfortunately another check. So then, the viable explanation as to how the last item occurred, Durandal proved me absolutely right and pulled a nasty move with a weapon he shouldn't have.
The light had been familiar to me, how could I forget, it was the same as that gamma beam weapon used towards the end of the previous war. Heck, I had personally made sure that the weapon had been destroyed and had been a pleasure to inform the Rat of that. Still, to see that the concept of the weapon was around despite what it had done before did not sit well with me at all. I had lost a personal friend to this type of weapon, so I was angry at seeing it again even if in a form that was different from before. I don't like the fact that I had pegged Durandal exactly right as no different than other villains history has known. To the contrary, I wish I was wrong on reading those I do more of the time in cases like this, but I rarely am.
I know that I wasn't the only one that felt more than irked at the type of weapon used or the effect it had. I may not know pretty much any of those that had been killed, yet they were humans and so people as much as any. Such was enough in my book to make the action done by Durandal wrong and give me the desire to stop him in any and every way I can! Now, the best way to give the time to those that could take down Requiem is of course, distraction. Rest assured, I can distract amazingly when I put forth the effort, it's more how far I go. You see, there's just such a fine and blurry line between distraction and getting someone to dislike you. And, I often toe that said line… and will neither confirm or deny that I might step over it for a short period from time to time.
Case and point, Natarle was the last one I played this dangerous 'game' with and there had been a time or a few that we got close to going too far. Like I had mentioned to Athrun, I have a talent at getting people to dislike me to varying degrees, sometimes to the point that they want to kill me. It hasn't happened for a while with the exception of the rat, but that is different from this idea. Yet, I'm seriously considering screwing with Durandal to the point that he will want to kill me by the end. Like Chairman Zala had shown wonderfully, when you find the right 'button' you can press it over and over as hard as you can to get that kind of result!
So, as vessels were regrouping to shoot at Requiem again, I decided to do what I could and disappeared from sight and dove into the ZAFT lunar fleet. I was looking for a victim-I mean first unwilful test-subject to see how Durandal would react to me, best to gage what range I'll get and plan accordingly. Once I picked out what I wanted, I zoomed towards it and latched the Exalt to the Nazca-class I chose. Now why did I attach myself to a ZAFT destroyer? Well, I may have polished my skills of wreaking havoc with systems against the Earth Forces with their vessels and mobile armors, but that by no means implies that I can't do the same against ZAFT forces. I made sure to study what I need to in order to uh… take the reins of ZAFT vessels if the need ever presented itself.
So, it took me half a minute to seize the navigation and lock out most of the other controls from the crew with my hacking skills. When I was steering, I turned the ship around and pointed it towards the space station that Durandal had and had the thrusters put on speed. After closing some distance, I had the ship's guns open up on the fortress. True, the guns weren't having a great deal of effect with the station's shield, but that's not my intention. I'm testing what Durandal will do when some of his loyal forces turn against him even if I'm the one in control.
The fortress's defenses did begin to shoot the Nazca-class I was using once we got closer. I locked the controls with the commands I had in them to keep going forward and shooting before I shoved away from the ship. I did notice two shuttles leave the Nazca around the same time I abandoned ship. The Nazca did get destroyed a minute after I left it by the fortress's guns, telling me that Durandal would eliminate anyone that got in his way. That wouldn't deter me from using ZAFT vessels against Durandal by any means, but that wasn't making him hesitate. So, while thinking on where to go next in finding what gets under Durandal's skin, I went from ship to ship taking their controls and sending them at the fortress.
All the while, I was doing my thing with trying to find and push Durandal's buttons, ships were repositioning and began bombarding Requiem. As that was starting, ZAFT defending forces were fighting more desperately in attempting to stop the bombardment. Athrun and Lacus were assisting in stopping that effort, while if my eyes weren't deceiving me, then Kira was making his way slowly to where I was. And while I can appreciate Kira wanting to help me, I'm doing just dandy on my own and the job I'm doing is extremely risky in a life-threatening sort of way. And yet as time kept moving forward, the rain of weapon fire coming down on the beam cannon produced a column of orange flame coming from Requiem's barrel. To say that it was a satisfying sight was an understatement in my view! It meant that the bombardment had been successful in the disablement and fall of the weapon of mass destruction. The control center of the former Alliance base quickly came under attack after Requiem's destruction so that nothing but ruins would be left of the weapon.
I continued with my testing Durandal's temperament and just seeing what it would take to get Durandal to lose it. And I can attest to you, finding someone's breaking/tipping point is a fine art of which I have been practicing off and on for years. I'd moved on from using ships to literally sending pointed insults to the fortress over any and all communications channels I could work with. I was also having the Exalt giving the finger as much as I could when facing the fortress just to see if I could get Durandal to lose his cool. Thus far, I hadn't gotten much in terms of a reaction from the man I was attempting to tick off as much as I possibly could. And that I hadn't gotten anything both frustrated me and gave me a hunger to keep going until I succeed!
It was as my frustration grew, a fact came to my mind, Durandal is or was a scientist, and it sounded from what I've heard like he's proud of that fact. If that is so, then maybe that is where I should start aiming the blows for the desired results. I changed the content of the insulting messages I was sending to include shot made against scientists. And with my dad being a rather famous one, I've heard an abundance of slander and crap aimed at insulting science-types. I avoid using such as I have nothing by shinning respect for scientist because of my dad, but lives are at stake, so my dad would forgive me and not hold what I am about to do against me. The first message and those that followed went along the lines of 'Durandal had lost sight of what his work was doing to everyone else'. I went with that because of something my dad would often say, 'if a goal and its results costs are too high, then was the intended goal really worth pursuing?'. I kept fighting as I waited for a response to gage if I had hit a nerve as I hoped I had.
What I got was the weapon fire I was dodging got heavier, which I took as a sign that I was getting somewhere in my intentions. Before now, the beams and projectiles coming my way had been pretty consistent, but it had increased not too long after I started sending the changed messages. That being the case, I kept going with renewed vigor and gusto in my taunts and insult throwing to draw as much attention to me as possible.
It was as I intercepted more and more communications of ZAFT's that was pretty much to shoot me down, that I knew I had hit more than just a nerve. From what I was observing, I had hit a raw solid gold button with a huge 'press me pretty please' engraved on it, that made it too tempting to me to not press as hard and as much as I can! Honestly, I wanted to prove that the rat wannabe was dead wrong about Durandal and that he wasn't infallible as he is portrayed. And that I had finally gotten a reaction from the intended target, I wasn't about to stop until I get Durandal to do something plainly stupid and/or nuts! We'll see how far I get before I'm forced to stop, now won't we?
I redoubled my effort to screw with Durandal, and things kept getting more interesting to me, and I was starting to have fun with the challenge I was working on. I don't know how much time passed by, but once I got the impression that I had riled up Durandal and/or those around him enough, I decided it was time for the gauntlet to be cast out. I gave that in the form or an ultimatum as follows:
'Duuurandal! Your foolish stupidity is so large, that it's swollen your head to the point that I'm amazed that it hasn't exploded long before now. However, it's beyond tiring to listen to that it makes me actually want to pierce my eardrums to not have to hear you anymore. So, I say to put your effort where your mouth is Durandal, your words won't cut it, follow through with what you say. So, if you have balls like the majority of men do, then let's see you use them and show me what you got!'
Perhaps a bit poignant and uncouth, but it got the point I wanted to get across to the intended recipient I believe. And oh boy, did I get me an answer! The dish on the fortress was pointed in my direction and I saw the same subtle signs of the charging of the weapon like the much large GENESIS had put off. Plus, ZAFT mobile suits were leaving me be and getting away from me, kind of says I'm the target of the gamma weapon. At seeing there were signs that the gamma beam was getting ready to fire at me, I knew that I had scored pay dirt! Durandal was about to be stupid and prove me right. What might I mean by get Durandal to be stupid? Let's say I think I've shown that I can really tick off another if I put forth the effort, I just usually restrain myself. Natarle was the last one that this had come up with and that woman had one tough skin that I did get under sometimes!
Admittedly, I was making a very dangerous gamble with my life as collateral for the bet shoving Durandal as I was, I knew that. My assumption that I'm banking on is the GN particles produced by the solar reactors will be able to block the gamma energy. It's gutsy, more so than my normal risky bets and my life will be on the line too. Still, it's the best way I can think of to get the human race to see Gilbert Durandal for the real kind of individual he is!
So, I had all the Exalt's sword bits move to be in front of me in somewhat a web-like formation with me in the middle and slightly behind them. I shifted the shoulder packs to be in front and had them pouring out particles ahead of me. The sword bits help in the deployment of the field that would hopefully protect me from being vaporized by nuclear gamma energy. I gazed forward and waited to see what Durandal would do to my screwing with him. As I waited for whatever would come, others were heading my way and not just enemies, but allies as well. Apparently, with the destruction of Requiem, the battle's focus was moving in the direction I was in and Durandal's fortress. It was all the more reason and acted as motivation for me to not be moved from where I was, should I do so then many more would die. Yet, my attention was once again pulled away from what was about to come in my direction when the particle field began to suddenly strengthen.
Upon glancing around my immediate area, I found the new particle drive carriers behind me, contributing their own particles to the field I was projecting. "An impressive thing you are doing Tyler," said the voice of Graham Aker. "Putting your life on the line for so many you don't know." I would have answered him, but he beat me to speaking, "And we members of the Soul Braves will join you in your efforts to fight and save the human race come what may!"
For one of the few times that I have had to tolerate being around Graham, I could think of nothing to say in reply. I was well-aware that I could and very-well may die for the gamble I was making against Durandal and I planned for it to just be me in this bet. However, I'm really not in a position to say no to those who are willing to help though I don't want to admit it. And Graham and those with him weren't the only ones that joined into my suicidal attempt, more kept appearing as Durandal's GENESIS was charging. The other pilots from the Normandy popped up, including Sakura, but there was also Lacus and another machine which was white and green that appeared to have a solar reactor on it. And then there was the Burst Freedom and the Eternal Justice taking places on either side of me. All of us contributing the particles that our mobile suits used to build up and reinforce the field that was the best chance we have to block the gamma beam.
The field had become much denser than when it was just me making it, which gave me more confidence in the chances we had. When I had faced forward and saw the beam shoot out of the hole in the center of the dish of the GENESIS weapon saying that this was it. That beam hit the forward mirror and reflect in many more beams back to the dish. Then came the gamma beam exactly like the original GENESIS weapon had put out, just smaller than what was used by Chairman Zala. The gamma beam slammed into the particle field but was halted there and did not progress beyond though the energy kept coming. However, none of us were budging any, not with what was at stake should we fail, and the beam get past us.
I can assure you, riding out the nuclear beam was no picnic by any means, nor was it nice to have to go through from my perspective. Any vision forward was blotted out by the red magenta light from the gamma beam as was much of the side views. Nonetheless, the beam was stopped and didn't continue beyond us blocking and that point will not be dismissed! I can't say how long we were blocking the beam, I doubt it was as long as it felt like. Still, the red magenta light finally faded, and the particle field was still there in front of us and none of us blockers were gone, and that's significant!
Yet, now that the nuclear weapon had been fired and the shot subverted, I had some of the choicest word for Gilbert Durandal and he would hear me out whether he wanted to or not! I went as far as to use as many communication channels as I could, a number of them being ZAFT's to make sure that Durandal would hear me. I glared forward in anger at the fortress as I began, "Gilbert Durandal! Enough is enough you scheming punk, and it is high time that every single human knows what kind of man you truly are!"
There was total silence, the battle had come to a halt as every pilot on the field stop as did every vessel. I didn't stop with the single line, I was going to tell Durandal my view and he would hear it right here, right now! "You sir are a hypocrite and have shown the definition of the term with your actions since they don't match your words. And I highly doubt that I'm the only one that is sick and tired of the silver-tongued lies you keep spouting," I snarled in a near shout as anger filled me with the thoughts of how many lives have been lost because of the lies. "You claim you wish for peace for everyone, but this battlefield says the opposite. Your honey flavored words that tell of sympathy that you say you feel, let me be frank, cut the crap as you don't feel it. That you are willing to use and defend not one, but two weapons of mass destruction, shows that you want your way and see nothing wrong nor show remorse at silencing any that disagree with you! Lord Djibril is a horrible individual and has done much wrong, but you are no better than him. Your actions show that you are worthy and can aptly be called Humankind's True Enemy Gilbert Durandal just like Djibril!"
It felt good to call Durandal what he was, humankind's true enemy, better than I thought it would. And yet, I was just getting started, and Durandal would be extremely uncomfortable by the time I'm done, I'll make sure of that! "And as to your prefect solution to the 'problems' the human race has, your Destiny Plan, I have many words for it and none of them are complimentary or meant to be an endorsement. So, sit and listen Durandal and be uncomfortable, because you will hear the truth of what sort of world that your Destiny Plan would bring."
I took a breath and then began the railing on the Destiny Plan with nothing held back, "Your Destiny Plan is one of the worst machinations ever conceived. Your claims that it is our ignorance and selfish ambitions that have us fight one another, why don't you just say the true that you mean, our capabilities to improve and our dreams. That's what you're referring to after all, oh but then, were you to say it that way selling your plan as a good thing would be much more difficult, now wouldn't it? Plus, is it not your own ambition to see your Destiny Plan brought to pass, showing that you the plan's creator is just as flawed as you claim we all are and so, the plan is too?"
I took a moment to reign in my emotions, before I kept going, "It is our ability to choose that makes the difference in how life is, and your plan would take that away from all of us. You never mention that as it's another point that would show your plan for the horrible thing that it is! And the biggest hole and unsaid lie of the Destiny Plan, you try and convince others that you can program people through their genes when their genes are only a part of what makes us human. There is so much more that shapes us than how are genes are and how dare you think or say otherwise, especially having been a scientist! The future that you guarantee is mere existence trapped in a cage that none would be 'allowed' to leave."
My voice had grown in volume as I had kept going to close to a shout again, "Well guess what Durandal, I SAY THAT EXISTENCE ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH, LIFE IS BETTER THAN IT!" I was breathing hard after shouting that, then went on, "No matter how bad things get, life is still better than existence in your world Durandal. Your world makes all those that have sacrificed their lives meaningless! No, it slaps them in the face, laughs at them and demeans each and every one of them. Your Destiny Plan takes everything that makes life worth living at all without the curtesy of informing anyone about it. To that, I say screw freaking you Durandal and your Destiny Plan too!"
I grabbed one of the Exalt's sword rifles and pointed it at the fortress, "But mark my words and mark them well Durandal, today will be a day that will never be forgotten no matter how hard you deny it or try and hide it from anyone else! Today will be the day, that even if it is but for a moment, the majority of humanity will be united. Today will be the day that Humanity's potential will shine forth, brighter than it ever has before! This day will be the day that the human race will choose to either move forward or regress. So, prepare yourself Gilbert Durandal, because I'm coming for you, and there is nothing that will stop me, not even ZAFT's lunar fleet!" I tightened my grip on the control sticks, readying to throw them forward hard, "THE FIGHT FOR THE FUTURE OF HUMANITY HAS JUST BEGUN!"
I rushed forward and changed the Exalt over to its flight mode and flew towards the fortress, focusing in on getting to Durandal. It was a moment after I shot off to get to Durandal, that I came to realize that all in the allied fleet had begun advancing forward as well. Heck, the Freedom was on my right and the Justice was on my left both just a little behind me. I knew the fight was about to get harsher, but the way this would end would be confronting Durandal, the sooner the better!
-Line Break-
-Neutral pov-
Durandal was furious as well as mortified at the turn of events and what had developed from them. The first shot from Neo-GENESIS had gotten the direct attack against Requiem to stop for a time. Then as the enemy had been regrouping, a single enemy mobile suit had popped up and had been causing havoc among the lunar fleet, which had been a gundam-type. They were likely the ones that had made some of the Nazca-classes to do odd things. The pilot, whoever they were, also was doing actions that were clearly meant to be insulting. Durandal had learned to ignore such childish attempts to get under his skin quite some time ago, but he would applaud the persistence for it was notable.
The issue was that while that had been going on, the attempts to stop Requiem from being destroyed weren't working. And so, when the column of flames erupted out of the mouth of Requiem, it said that the efforts to prevent the destruction of the beam cannon had been in vain. The loss of Requiem did not sit well with Durandal, for it cut down on future option to protect the Destiny Plan. The continued taunting from the blue and white gundam pilot was beginning to wear too as messages had been coming in through multiple communication channels. The content of the messages had made it even more clear that the sender was trying to see if they could get under Durandal's skin.
The sight of the mobile suit showing one of its hands with only the middle finger pointing up caused pause with many in Messiah's control center. Honestly, Durandal hadn't been aware a mobile suit could do that gesture, stupid as it was. However, it was as the content of the messages changed, that Durandal's patience and discipline were put to the test. The contents switched over to taking shots at Durandal's scientific background and experience. To be frank, some of the insults were quite similar to what Gilbert used to hear during his days as an intern.
There was a particular line that struck home for Durandal, that being 'losing sight of what his work was doing to everyone else'. It was not just and insult against him, but the mentor that he respected a great deal, Professor Blass. That line had hit a nerve which had Durandal ordering the destruction of the blue and white mobile suit. The laser turrets targeted the machine but were still having trouble hitting the unit which frustrated Durandal. Then came a particular message:
'Duuurandal! Your foolish stupidity is so large, that it's swollen your head to the point that I'm amazed that it hasn't exploded long before now. However, it's beyond tiring to listen to that it makes me actually want to pierce my eardrums to not have to hear you anymore. So, I say to put your effort where your mouth is Durandal, your words won't cut it, follow through with what you say. So, if you have balls like the majority of men do, then let's see you use them and show me what you got!'
That message had irked Gilbert though he kept himself in control, the sender was definitely pushing their luck. Then he had been told that Neo-GENESIS was just about ready to be fired again, and that provided a way to turn the tables back to going better. Not only could Neo-GENESIS get rid of that gundam-type suit, it would also persuade those that were resisting to back off. The blue and white mobile suit did start to emit more of the odd light in front of it, but that wouldn't change what was going to happen. Other enemy units did appear around the machine that had been an annoyance, not that it would make a difference to the result.
Neo-GENESIS fired, and the beam zoomed at the growing circle of light that had been forming and towards the vessels behind it. Yet somehow, the shot from Neo-GENESIS had ended out being blocked, which shouldn't have been possible to begin with. It displayed that the odd light from a number of the Federation mobile suits possessed capability to do things that were thought possible. But what came next took Durandal by surprise even more, "Gilbert Durandal! Enough is enough you scheming punk, and it is high time that every single human knows what kind of man you truly are," came the voice of none other than Tyler McGregor.
The communication was coming through multiple channels and the tone that it was being said in was clear. In fact, the battle seemed to pause as McGregor spoke, the fighting came to a halt. "You sir are a hypocrite and have shown the definition of the term with your actions since they don't match your words. And I highly doubt that I'm the only one that is sick and tired of the silver-tongued lies you keep spouting," McGregor snarled.
Gilbert was somewhat speechless at the accusation, for it wasn't one that he had faced, and it be viewed as anything but a joke or nonsense. Oh, being a dreamer or a fool, Durandal had been called those, but a hypocrite or a liar no. "You claim you wish for peace for everyone, but this battlefield says the opposite," McGregor line wasn't nice to hear for Gilbert, not exactly a slap in the face, but not far from it. McGregor kept going, "Your honey flavored words that tell of sympathy that you say you feel, let me be frank, cut the crap as you don't feel it!"
The more that Gilbert heard, the less he was able to just wave off the subject matter, and yet, McGregor continued. "That you are willing to use and defend not one, but two weapons of mass destruction, shows that you want your way and see nothing wrong nor show remorse at silencing any that disagree with you! Lord Djibril is a horrible individual and has done much wrong, but you are no better than him. Your actions show that you are worthy and can aptly be called Humankind's True Enemy Gilbert Durandal just like Djibril!"
To be compared to Lord Djibril was disgusting for Durandal, and to be called and labeled as one of humankind's true enemy was worse. It was infuriating to say the least, and from a young man that if record and assumption was correct, was but a decade younger than Gilbert himself. The single meeting that Gilbert had with McGregor, he had found the young war hero to be very straight forward. Tyler McGregor told things like they were, and Gilbert could respect that however, reports about him did state that he had an 'attitude' that was troublesome. "And as to your prefect solution to the 'problems' the human race has, your Destiny Plan, I have many words for it and none of them are complimentary or meant to be an endorsement. So, sit and listen Durandal and be uncomfortable, because you will hear the truth of what sort of world that your Destiny Plan would bring," McGregor stated.
The ranting didn't stop there, it kept coming, "Your Destiny Plan is one of the worst machinations ever conceived. Your claims that it is our ignorance and selfish ambitions that have us fight one another, why don't you just say the true that you mean, our capabilities to improve and our dreams. That's what you're referring to after all, oh but then, were you to say it that way selling your plan as a good thing would be much more difficult, now wouldn't it? Plus, is it not your own ambition to see your Destiny Plan brought to pass, showing that you the plan's creator is just as flawed as you claim we all are and so, the plan is too," the young man snarled.
Durandal could handle the insults aimed at him, they weren't nice, but he could take them and not lose his cool. Nevertheless, to have to hear some of the very same reasons others had used to contradict the Destiny Plan before in its earlier stages was infuriating. "It is our ability to choose that makes the difference in how life is, and your plan would take that away from all of us. You never mention that as it's another point that would show your plan for the horrible thing that it is! And the biggest hole and unsaid lie of the Destiny Plan, you try and convince others that you can program people through their genes when their genes are only a part of what makes us human. There is so much more that shapes us than how are genes are and how dare you think or say otherwise, especially having been a scientist! The future that you guarantee is mere existence trapped in a cage that none would be 'allowed' to leave."
It was taking much of what Gilbert had to not show how angry he was at having to listen to what was being said. Yes, this young man Tyler McGregor was one of those that couldn't exist in the world that the Destiny Plan would create, he was too different, stuck out too much. But, he was now shouting his thoughts and there could be those that would heed what he was saying and that was dangerous. "Well guess what Durandal, I SAY THAT EXISTENCE ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH, LIFE IS BETTER!" There was a pause before McGregor continued, "No matter how bad things get, life is still better than existence in your world Durandal. Your world makes all those that have sacrificed their lives meaningless! No, it slaps them in the face, laughs at them and demeans each and every one of them. Your Destiny Plan takes everything that make life worth living at all without the curtesy of informing anyone about it. To that, I say screw freaking you Durandal and your Destiny Plan too!"
Gilbert gritted his teeth as he watched the blue and white gundam grab one of its rifles and pointed at Messiah. "But mark my words and mark them well Durandal, today will be a day that will never be forgotten no matter how hard you deny it or try and hide it from anyone else!" Durandal focused in on the mobile suit that McGregor was likely in, glaring at it with contained anger, "Today will be the day, that even if it is but for a moment, the majority of humanity will be united. Today will be the day that Humanity's potential will shine forth, brighter than it ever has before! This day will be the day that the human race will choose to either move forward or regress. So, prepare yourself Gilbert Durandal, because I'm coming for you, and there is nothing that will stop me, not even ZAFT's lunar fleet! THE FIGHT FOR THE FUTURE OF HUMANITY HAS JUST BEGUN!"
The blue and white gundam rushed forward towards Messiah, bypassing a portion of the lunar fleet before they came out of their daze. Yet, all of the enemy force quickly followed McGregor forward which proved that Tyler McGregor was dangerous more than just being a pilot. His ability to influence others was impressive, heck, if the young man had gone into politics, who knows how far he could have gone by now and it would not be a small distance. The gundam McGregor was flying changed over to be a space craft gaining more speed on its approach toward Messiah. The fighting resumed and became more intense than it had been moments ago and didn't look like it would end anytime soon.
-Line Break-
Lanus Treize had seen many things in his years of military service, upon many battlefields and off them, both believable and ludicrous. But seeing a number of mobile suits block a nuclear-powered beam was certainly much closer to the ludicrous end of the spectrum. And yet, that was what he witnessed, a number of the mobile suits that possessed the new particle reactors and drives used those particles to shield the vessels in the allied fleet. He would applaud the courage that was shown by those that put themselves in the path of the fortress's beam, it was close to suicidal. In fact, the fighting had stopped after the beam had been halted and most just stared at the after effects.
"Gilbert Durandal! Enough is enough you scheming punk, and it is high time that every single human knows what kind of man you truly are," growled a voice over open com-channels.
The voice belonged to Tyler McGregor if Treize wasn't mistaken, though he had never met the young man face to face, so he couldn't be sure. He had heard and read about the young soldier and had been fairly impressed with what information there was on McGregor. He had enlisted while in his teens, unfortunately not uncommon in the last decade, but had also made a name and record of himself rather quickly. His work to subvert malicious efforts of the Alliance were nothing to scoff at, even Lanus had to admit McGregor did great work though most wouldn't ever hear or know of it. However, something in Treize told him that whatever was going to be said would be important and should be heard by as many as possible. His intuition hadn't led him wrong before now, so he heeded it as he had before.
Treize sent a quiet order to have what would be said to be broadcasted to both Earth and the colonies, no matter what words came. McGregor kept going as the conversation began to be broadcasted unbeknownst to the participant to many people. "You sir are a hypocrite and have shown the definition of the term with your actions since they don't match your words. And I highly doubt that I'm the only one that is sick and tired of the silver-tongued lies you keep spouting," McGregor snarled.
What Tyler said was being heard by many both on Earth and in space and the human race seemed to pause and listen. Even his own mother Minister Blass was caught listening, somewhat surprised to hear the voice of her son as she had been working on keeping the Republic's citizens calm. The tone in Tyler's voice was one that was unusual for him, it only came when he fought on battlefields and the horrors that existed on them. Ellen had been aware that her son was going to a battlefield, things had been building around the moon quickly after all. And of course, she worried about if he would come back like she always did when Tyler went off to battle. He was the only family she had like Ellen was the only remaining family member he had after Bloody Valentine as well.
Nonetheless, what he had said didn't make sense as there had been no reference to whom Tyler was talking about that Ellen had heard. Tyler's voice continued, "You claim you wish for peace for everyone, but this battlefield says the opposite. Your honey flavored words that tell of sympathy that you say you feel, let me be frank, cut the crap as you don't feel it!"
Ellen held in the sigh that tried to come out of her, Tyler had always had colorful language even though she had discouraged it the best she could. Where her son had learned such, she had never found out, he had just seemed to pick it up. Tyler kept going, "That you are willing to use and defend not one, but two weapons of mass destruction, shows that you want your way and see nothing wrong nor show remorse at silencing any that disagree with you! Lord Djibril is a horrible individual and has done much wrong, but you are no better than him."
The two lines caught Ellen's attention, particularly 'weapons of mass destruction' and the mention of Lord made her all the more curious about who Tyler was talking about or to, though she had an educated guess. "Your actions show that you are worthy and can aptly be called Humankind's True Enemy Gilbert Durandal just like Djibril!"
The stating of Durandal's name explained a bit to Ellen, as well as the references made about him now. Ellen wasn't saying that Gilbert Durandal was completely evil, nor was his Destiny Plan without some merit. And Ellen understood the general methodology that Durandal's Destiny Plan would employ better than most political leaders would. Having a scientist for a husband had made sure of that and Lance had definitely been scientifically minded. However, the premise that an individual's genes determined everything about a person was wrong to Ellen. There were many more factors to the nature of human beings than just their genes.
"And as to your prefect solution to the 'problems' the human race has, your Destiny Plan, I have many words for it and none of them are complimentary or meant to be an endorsement. So, sit and listen Durandal and be uncomfortable, because you will hear the truth of what sort of world that your Destiny Plan would bring," Tyler went on.
Siegel entered Ellen's office as the broadcast kept going and he had listened to some of it, but he noticed a smile creeping onto Ellen's face. It was much the same kind of smile that his late wife Tasara would get when she watched their daughters doing something she was either impressed with or happy about. "Your Destiny Plan is one of the worst machinations ever conceived," Tyler stated firmly.
Siegel focused back on the broadcast at hearing that, "Your claims that it is our ignorance and selfish ambitions that have us fight one another, why don't you just say the true that you mean, our capabilities to improve and our dreams. That's what you're referring to after all, oh but then, were you to say it that way selling your plan as a good thing would be much more difficult, now wouldn't it? Plus, is it not your own ambition to see your Destiny Plan brought to pass, showing that you the plan's creator is just as flawed as you claim we all are and so, the plan is too?"
Tyler wasn't wrong about the Destiny Plan, Siegel and Ellen knew that in the general same way if not with different details. And Tyler pretty much began to iterate the major reasons why the Destiny Plan was a bad idea. "It is our ability to choose that makes the difference in how life is, and your plan would take that away from all of us. You never mention that as it's another point that would show your plan for the horrible thing that it is! And the biggest hole and unsaid lie of the Destiny Plan, you try and convince others that you can program people through their genes when their genes are only a part of what makes us human. There is so much more that shapes us than how are genes are and how dare you think or say otherwise, especially having been a scientist! The future that you guarantee is mere existence trapped in a cage that none would be 'allowed' to leave."
Ellen's smile had been growing as Tyler had talked, his realization was nothing short of clear and right on the money. His skills in coming to a conclusion and the logic that worked with it were being shown off well. Tyler's voice then got to a shout, "Well guess what Durandal, I SAY THAT EXISTENCE ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH, LIFE IS BETTER!"
Siegel chuckled, "I don't know if there is a better way to say what needs to be said. That is quite a son you have Ellen," he remarked.
Ellen giggled openly which she so rarely did, "Indeed, he certainly is. I can clearly hear my husband Lance laughing gleefully claiming something along the lines of "that's our boy" with great pride. My daughter Lana would be cheering her brother on saying to keep telling the "bad guys" how they're wrong. And honestly, I find myself agreeing with both images, for I am proud of Tyler right now proclaiming the truth as he is," she replied.
Siegel's smile faded a small margin, "I do understand being able to clearly picture those that are not here anymore and what they would say and do. I know my late wife Tasara would be beaming with pride knowing that both of our daughters are fighting for the future of the human race. She would also be pacing back and forth with desperate worry at what they are facing at the same time switching between the two emotions," he commented.
As Tyler kept going on life being better than existence, Ellen's smile also lessened, "I would assume that you miss your wife like I do my husband and daughter Siegel. The conflicts of this era have taken so many lives as the fighting and wars from history have done. So, why do we humans not learn and work harder to not keep causing and getting into such things," Ellen questioned.
Siegel walked over and put a hand on Ellen's shoulder, "The human race seems to need to repeat some lessons multiple times to understand, and yet we also forget some of those lessons. It takes individuals like your son that fight for the good to change the cycles that we can get stuck in," Siegel stated.
"But mark my words and mark them well Durandal, today will be a day that will never be forgotten no matter how hard you deny it or try and hide it from anyone else! Today will be the day, that even if it is but for a moment, the majority of humanity will be united. Today will be the day that Humanity's potential will shine forth, brighter than it ever has before! This day will be the day that the human race will choose to either move forward or regress. So, prepare yourself Gilbert Durandal, because I'm coming for you, and there is nothing that will stop me, not even ZAFT's lunar fleet," Tyler was saying. "THE FIGHT FOR THE FUTURE OF HUMANITY HAS JUST BEGUN!"
Ellen nodded slowly, "Let us pray that enough listen to the truth that is being said right now," she said.
-Line Break-
Above Daedalus
Shinn and Rey launched out from the Minerva when they were resupplied to the field, Neo-GENESIS fired at those that had destroyed Requiem. The gamma beam was halted however which was unexpected and in the end was blocked. It was unreal to see that the nuclear-powered beam stopped for it should have been impossible. Rey's frustration was rekindled at seeing the impossible sight while Shinn was just gawking at the sight. But it was what came afterward that took Shinn by serious surprise and sharply increased Rey's fury.
Tyler's opening statement was enough to gain the attention of most if not all on the battlefield, some of the lines that followed were unlike anything most had heard applied to Chairman Durandal. Calling Durandal a hypocrite was one thing, and it settled uncomfortably among those that had been around the Chairman and had seen his messages. The insults that came after that were just as hard to swallow, but the evidence provided was downright hard to argue with truthfully. Yet, to compare Chairman Durandal to Lord Djibril seemed a bit much to a number of those that fought to help bring about the Destiny Plan. Even when Tyler labeled Durandal as one of Humankind's True Enemy none moved to stop him in his talking.
Rey was getting angrier the longer he was forced to listen to the insults being thrown at Gil by this Tyler McGregor. He then had the gall to compare Gil to Djibril and call him one of Humankind's True Enemy, when Gil was trying to save the human race. If there was a way, then Rey would make McGregor retract or pay for the words that he was saying. And yet, Shinn was finding himself believing some of what it said, it didn't settle well in his mind, but his heart kept telling him that there was truth in the words said. "And as to your prefect solution to the 'problems' the human race has, your Destiny Plan, I have many words for it and none of them are complimentary or meant to be an endorsement. So, sit and listen Durandal and be uncomfortable, because you will hear the truth of what sort of world that your Destiny Plan would bring," Tyler continued.
What followed that was an entirely different spin on the Destiny Plan than many had heard or even imagined. The word change from ignorance and selfish ambitions to improving and dreams brought completely different meaning to the Destiny Plan and what it could do. And the accusations of Durandal leaving out details to "sell" the Destiny Plan were like some of the other insults, hard to swallow but also hard to dispute. Yet, Rey was one of those that wanted to silence McGregor but doing so would make the action look to prove what he was saying had truth to them.
Tyler kept going in his 'speech' by justifying that choice was important and that the Destiny Plan would steal that away from everyone. Then claimed that there was a 'hole' in the Destiny Plan, implying that there could be those that could go against the gene manipulation that the Destiny Plan utilized. Rey knew that to be rubbish, the gene manipulation was flawless and would do what Gil said it would, the only factor that could ruin things were those like McGregor that were abnormalities. And after comparing the Destiny Plan to a cage, McGregor shouted the one line that seemed to send this all into a bad spiral for the Chairman. "Well guess what Durandal, I SAY THAT EXISTENCE ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH, LIFE IS BETTER!"
Rey had to control himself at that and not rush forward and attack McGregor and shut him up and stop him from insulting Gil. But it didn't end there, Tyler kept going, "No matter how bad things get, life is still better than existence in your world Durandal. Your world makes all those that have sacrificed their lives meaningless! No, it slaps them in the face, laughs at them and demeans each and every one of them. Your Destiny Plan takes everything that makes life worth living at all without the curtesy of informing anyone about it. To that, I say screw freaking you Durandal and your Destiny Plan too!"
Shinn was taken aback at hearing that the Destiny Plan was supposed to take away things that make life worth living. The tone that all this was being said was anger, but not the anger that would say it was lies or being said by someone that was blinded by their emotions. Things changed when the Exalt took out one of its rifles and pointed it at Messiah, "But mark my words and mark them well Durandal, today will be a day that will never be forgotten no matter how hard you deny it or try and hide it from anyone else! Today will be the day, that even if it is but for a moment, the majority of humanity will be united. Today will be the day that Humanity's potential will shine forth, brighter than it ever has before! This day will be the day that the human race will choose to either move forward or regress. So, prepare yourself Gilbert Durandal, because I'm coming for you, and there is nothing that will stop me, not even ZAFT's lunar fleet! THE FIGHT FOR THE FUTURE OF HUMANITY HAS JUST BEGUN!"
McGregor rushed forward and changed his suit over to the space craft form and flew towards the fortress. It was a moment after McGregor shot off that pretty much the rest of those that had assaulted Daedalus surged forward as well. The fighting had resumed and ZAFT forces under the command of Durandal were quickly finding themselves extremely hard pressed to do anything about the advance of their opponents. And having difficulty with resupplying wasn't helping the ZAFT forces in this battle at all.
Rey and Shinn zoomed forward towards the advancing enemy forces, Rey aiming for the three in the lead which were the Exalt, the Freedom and the Justice. Those three were the ones that were spurring on the rest in this battle. So, take down those three and it would be a blow against those that were in opposition to the Destiny Plan. That would be no simple task Rey knew, but for the future Gil was doing his utmost to bring about it had to be done, failure was not an option. If the three mobile suits could be separated, then defeating them would be more doable. Rey was confident that Shinn and he along with any that would help could overwhelm the three gundam-types. Right now, the issue was the three gundams had better speed than their pursuers and being in their path wasn't wise as they barreled past or destroyed any who were in front of them.
As the Destiny and the Legend drew closer, the saw that the Freedom, the Justice and the Exalt had joined hands and had increased their speed collectively by doing so. However, it was as the Impulse joined the Destiny and the Legend when the three enemy gundam-types broke apart. The Freedom went to the left and forward, while the Justice dropped back and headed towards the three mobile suits from the Minerva. This left the Exalt still going forward with a small number of allies with it aiming for Messiah. Those from the Minerva were separated somewhat as they kept pursuing their quarry. Rey when for the Freedom while Luna found herself forced to defend against enemy forces pressing in on her. Meanwhile, Shinn found himself facing off against the Justice once again, this time one on one.
Shinn raised the Destiny's beam rifle, while Athrun brought the Valor system up and trained it on the Destiny. To Athrun this was a chance to help Shinn see the truth that he was blind to, Rey wasn't around to interfere or interrupt and that was the problem last few times. "So, tell me Shinn, have you come up with an answer to the question I put to you the last time we faced each other? Have you figured out what kind of future you wish to see and are willing to fight for," Athrun posed. "It is important to think about this Shinn, even if you don't have an answer to the point yet."
"What would you know," Challenged Shinn, "I bet you can't answer the same question."
Athrun felt a small smile come to his face as he had given the idea an amount of time and thought, "I want to see a world and future where as many human beings have the opportunity to know and experience genuine happiness and joy. For myself, I want a family and be able to have what was taken and denied me while I was growing up, that is the future I fight for," Athrun replied with firm belief.
Shinn was taken aback at hearing such a firm and clear answer for he hadn't expected it at all and he was left to consider the question as he had several times before now. It had really not left his mind, just bounced and stewed there, what kind of future he fought for and wanted to see. Honestly, Shinn hadn't really thought about what the future could be like, it had been Athrun's question that had started the consideration. Aside from the fighting and people dying, the world and what it included wasn't all that bad. Sure, things could be better than they were, but it wasn't a horrible place to live. Shinn had encountered and interacted with many people, including those in the Minerva's crew like Luna, Aila, Rey, and others. Then there had been those that weren't on the Minerva, like those from the Normandy and Stella. If things changed in the ways stated by Chairman Durandal, then would such meetings not occur again? It was an ominous yet burning question to be sure and it nagged at Shinn in a way he couldn't ignore.
Athrun sensed Shinn's hesitation, "Shinn I'm not demanding an answer from you on this question," Athrun said. "I ask it so that you can know and decide for yourself what reasons you have to fight. As I said, fighting for its own sake is meaningless and does nothing but bring regret, I know that from personal experience. Don't let the past chain you down but don't let the potential future hang over your head or on your shoulders."
Shinn was confused and all sorts of things that he had been told recently began playing through his head. Having been told he had the power to change the world for everyone for the better and to use it. Thoughts of his family, his friends and Stella flashed through his mind adding to the volatile state he was coming into. The voice of Rey came to Shinn, "And that's a weakness, you will not be able to protect any as long as you hesitate."
This was countered by the voice of Athrun, "Shinn, make the judgement for yourself, don't let others cloud your vision," interjected Athrun's voice.
And as the war of views went on inside Shinn, the battle between the Justice and the Destiny started. Yet, no matter the weapon Shinn went with, the Justice countered it and honestly one-upped the Destiny. And during the clash, Athrun was trying to help Shinn see the truth, "Shinn I know that the Destiny Plan as presented by Chairman Durandal sounds wonderful. The way that put it sounds too good to be true and I'll admit that I was tempted by what is offered. But it's what he doesn't say that really is telling, nothing comes for free, you yourself know that, the Destiny Plan is no exception."
"Shut up, what you say can't be true," Shinn exclaimed shakily.
Athrun's heart fell, knowing that Shinn had to hear the truth that he had been trying to be gentle with. "Shinn, in the world that the Destiny Plan would create, those like you or I would never exist, we're too different and that is a risk to it. Differences are unacceptable variables, that's how it will be seen but those that will managing it all. So, how different would things be if you didn't exist Shinn? Do you truly believe that you haven't made a difference by what you've done," question Athrun.
At around the same time, the Legend managed to get into fighting range of the Freedom and Rey didn't waste the opportunity, he shot at the Freedom. Kira evaded the beams sent his way, but what he noticed was there was a sensation that went through him just before the shots came. It was reminiscent of his encounters with Rau Le Creuset for the tingle was near identical for whatever reason. In fact, images flashed in Kira's mind of the final fight he had with Creuset as he dodged. 'What's this, what is going on here? There is no way that he can have survived the destruction of his mobile suit and gamma beam it was in,' Kira thought to himself.
Rey kept up his assault on the Burst Freedom, determined to take the mobile suit and its pilot down for certain this time. It was not just for himself that Rey fought, it was for Gil and for Rau, to make up the difference that others couldn't. It was this time that the human race must be ended as it was and be born anew to be freed of their flaws. That was Gil's goal and mission, to save humanity from itself before it was too late. He even deployed the Legend's DRAGOON pods to add to the pressure that he was putting on the Freedom.
Kira was trying to figure out just who he was fighting right now, the style was near identical to Creuset's and yet it had a slightly different feel to it. But other than that, there was little else that differentiated his opponent from Creuset. There just came a point where Kira had to ask the question over an open com-channel, "Who is that, just who are you?"
There was a pause, "I'm sure you recognize me now Kira Yamato, I am Rau Le Creuset," Rey replied.
"Rau Le Creuset," exclaimed Kira in disbelief. It wasn't possible, Le Creuset had died at the end of the Second Battle of Jachin Due, that was fact. "I may not know who you really are, but you are not Rau Le Creuset, that I do know," Kira shot back. He was using the Freedom's beam shields and detached the Freedom's own assault bits to join the battle.
Rey was forced to evade as the Freedom had its DRAGOON pods come out and get shots in at him. Such didn't discourage Rey at all though, "Mankind's dreams… mankind's future! You are the splendid yet cursed result Kira Yamato! And because of that, your existence must come to an end, for the greater good! You will disappear along with those of us that carry the burden of the past. For the sake of the new world that is to come, it must be," Rey snapped.
The memory of the talk he had with Gil shortly after the end of the Second Battle of Jachin Due came back to Rey's mind. He had met with Gil after being told that something had happened to Rau, "Gil, where's Rau," the young Rey asked.
Gil had frowned at the question, "Rey, I am sorry to tell you that Rau… is no longer with us. He fought bravely, and he will be remembered for the good he did. But then Rey, you are also Rau," Gil had been saying, finishing up with, "That is your destiny."
It had not made sense at the time what Gil had said, yet Rey had been young at the time as well. But over time it had begun to be understandable, that Rey was a clone like Rau had been, that he could do what Rau could. So, when Gil had explained to Rey what he intended to do with the Destiny Plan, Rey was quick to agree to help. One line that Gil had said to him over and over, "The one thing you cannot run away from is yourself." It was true, one couldn't run away from themselves as much as they might want to, that was why the Destiny Plan was the solution.
"That human beings keep resorting to this conflict with one another, it's why we must put an end to all of this, to sweep everything away! So, we shall return what we were meant to be! Humanity… the world as they should be," Rey exclaimed.
-Line Break-
-Tyler's pov-
My focus was still locked onto the space fortress that Gilbert Durandal was sitting in and getting to that man. I would make him listen to what had to be said and either he would understand what he was attempting to do to the human race or I would educate him on that! My allies were doing a good job at keeping ZAFT defenders busy so as to have no time to face me or slow me down from getting to Durandal. And I was using the skills I'd acquired over the years of my military service to keep up my cruising speed and take care of mobile suits and ships that were in front of me.
At first, Athrun and Kira had been flying next to me, and we had our mobile suits link hands to combine our output to increase overall cruising speed. The idea had worked nicely, but then some of the ZAFT forces got ahead of us and attempted to hamper our course. We broke apart and Kira had moved to the left and forward to deal with those trying to stop us from getting to Durandal. Athrun was doing the same behind leaving me to rocket forward and do the job of reaching Durandal. I did catch glimpses that Athrun got caught up fighting one of the two he and I had danced with earlier, the blue, red and white one specifically. Then Kira got stuck with the Creuset wannabe mobile suit and pilot, which sucks as Kira had to go against the Rat and it wasn't nice.
So, while my friends and other kept those loyal for whatever reason to Durandal busy, I made my way closer to the fortress. Of course, I was whipping and kicking rear as I went, I wouldn't be me if I didn't have that style quirk which comes on at times. And with the Exalt's capabilities, ZAFT machines did little if they managed to get close enough. Heck, I would simply shift out of the Exalt's flight mode shoot or slice as I went and then go back into flight mode and not change speed much if any. Their vessels didn't fare much better than their mobile suits as I disabled them too and a few of them I just plowed through a section of them and kept going.
The Xevonia and the Phoenix did help me along the way off and on in fending off would be hampers to my task. Lacus tended to disable the mobiles, which I expected of her, whereas on the other end of the spectrum, Sakura was just destroying them outright. Both attitudes I have come to expect from these two ladies. It brought to mind the thought that as things were going towards official in Sakura and me being together, how would Lacus take that one? I mean, let's say Sakura and I tie the knot as unknown as that is right now, that would make me Lacus's brother-in-law. I don't have an issue with that, it's just we've been friends for a period of time and it might make things awkward.
Anyways, I put aside the thought and brought my mind back onto the situation at hand, getting do Durandal. The going was becoming more difficult the closer I got to the space fortress as the weapon fire got heavier. I had to make it so that the Exalt to project a particle field around itself to intercept shots being sent my way. Not to say that I was hurting for power supply, I wasn't as the levels of particle production between the two reactors the Exalt had were a close to equal to the rate at which I was consuming them. So, I kept making steady progress towards Durandal, sure, I would like it to be going faster, but as long as Durandal is confronted and dealt with in the end, it's fine and I'm patient.
Now Durandal's space fortress did have a network of emitters that created a large beam shield that surrounded the fortress. However, should enough of those emitters be disabled or destroyed I wouldn't doubt that the shield would fall. My big beef is there's a nuclear energy weapon that can kill en mass and one that I'm familiar with. To see the gamma beam type weapon again did not give me a warm fuzzy feeling, quite the opposite really. That said, I have plenty of motivation to do damage to this fortress to say the least and I fully intend to do that. So, I didn't stop when I reached effective combat range, I surge forward and slammed into the beam shield hard.
I had shoved the Exalt's throttles to the stops as far forward as I could put them and yet, my forward progress was hard to see. The shield was definitely slowing me down, BUT it was not stopping me from moving. I believe that the particle field my mobile suit was projecting was allowing me to move against the shield, a slow crawl, but still forward movement. It took a minute but as the view of the fortress kept sharpening, a smile grew on my face as my target was getting closer! I opened a channel, and honestly, I don't care if Durandal hears me, but should he, this will be fun. "KNOCK KNOCK DURANDAL! I'LL JUST LET MYSELF IN, SO NO NEED FOR YOU TO GET UP AND OPEN THE FRONT DOOR FOR ME," I shouted as the Exalt's flight array started breaking through to the inside of the beam shield.
Activating the GN Vulcans in the nose section, I began making marks on the fortress walls, giving a show as to me getting through. Once all the way through the beam shield, I shifted the Exalt into its suit form to get down to business! Of course, the laser turrets all swiveled to point at me and started firing seconds after I broke through the beam shield. I moved to the right and began making my way towards where the GENESIS dish was located. Along the way, I had the Exalt's left shoulder pack keep its sword bits, just have them flip out and form a particle field to block incoming fire. The right shoulder pack's and the flight array's bit sets detach and combine with my sword rifles to give more power to my rifles.
I was shooting as I went along keeping attention on me and not giving the time for others to figure out where I was actually aiming to get to. The sight of the dish and its aiming mirror for my target and I had the sword rifle in the Exalt's right hand switch over to its blade mode. Drawing closer to GENESIS the beams coming my way lightened ever so slightly, my guess is that there were less defenses around GENESIS. My target was the aiming mirror for past experience told me that if that mirror is out of position or gone, the weapon doesn't work anywhere near as well if at all. This GENESIS's aiming mirror is small than the previous one I dealt with, so this in theory should be easier to take down. However, theory and practice I've found can be two entirely different ideas that don't always agree, I've personally learned the lesson several times.
So, when I was just about to the aiming mirror, I ignited my right sword rifle, raised it up and brought it down at the cone structure it was in. My beam blade was stopped momentarily perhaps by anti-beam coating, but a moment later my blade slowly cut forward. It took me a little over a minute to slice the cone structure in half in the middle. Then I moved to the left and saw the actual mirror and thrust my beam blade and used it to destroy the reflection surface. After that was done, I turned to the main dish of this weapon, for when it comes to the job and task of dealing with this weapon, I fully intend to be thorough in making sure it doesn't fire again!
And speaking of which, the short view I got through the opening into the firing chamber of this GENESIS, it was getting ready to unload. Even with the aiming mirror unusable, I wasn't about to let this thing be used in any way to hurt another! Nevertheless, getting inside would be difficult as well as dangerous, I would like to avoid adding to the current life-threatening circumstances I'm dealing with right now. However, as energy became visible inside the firing chamber, I knew that action was required now! I took aim and tossed one of my sword rifles combined with a sword bit set.
They sailed away from me and flew through the opening in the dish and into GENESIS's firing chamber and was on course towards where the nuclear power supply should be. I had the sword bits detach from the sword rifle while they still took commands from me as the nuclear radiation was quickly starting to interfere with signals to them. The last order I gave them was to fire shot after shot at the nearest object or structure to them that wasn't the sword rifle. After doing that I backed away from the dish a distance and waited for what would result, for either the weapon would fire, or my sword rifle and bits will start the event of this thing being destroyed. And let me tell you, seeing the flash from inside the firing chamber gave me reason to hope that I had made the money shot. However, it was when chunks of the fortress exploded outward that got me to smile with satisfaction and made my sacrificing the sword rifle and bits worth it.
I recalled the sword bits that were combined with my remaining sword rifle back to their docks and shifted the Exalt into its flight mode. Heading off in a somewhat better mood from taking down the nuclear weapon, I flew off to see where I could help out for a bit before going and confront Durandal. The battlefield had grown harsher while I had been working, expected yes, but not to the extent I was seeing. ZAFT was still hard pressed, more so since the fighting resuming, but they were hanging on.
As I was going along, I spotted Kira still duking it out with the rat wannabe which the two had been going at each other for a period of time now. Don't get me wrong, Kira was holding his own, but the fight for some reason didn't sit well with me. So, like with Athrun, I moved forward to assist one of my best friends in the predicament he was in. As I got closer, I switched the Exalt out of its flight mode and deployed my sword bits as I could see that autonomous bits were a part of this fight. "You keep denying the truth right in front of you Kira Yamato," the wannabe was saying as I came closer. "But how appropriate of the perfect human and ultimate coordinator to deny humanity's blatant flaws!"
Hearing the rhetoric of the rat Le Creuset irked and infuriated me quite a bit in multiple ways. I mean, can't that dirty punk shut up, he's dead for goodness sakes but his ideals are still around so it's like he's still alive. I had personally helped in the efforts that had ended Creuset, and like most I don't like to see my efforts to be shown as not completely valid. So, I focused in on assist Kira in whipping this wannabe in a way and extent that even he won't be able to deny! The stats of this, on one side there's the Burst Freedom and the Exalt, on the other is the ZAFT mobile suit. The Freedom has eight autonomous weapons while the Exalt is down to twelve with the loss of one sword bit set. That puts Kira and I at a grand total of twenty remote weapons to work with. On the other side, if I'm seeing right our opponent has eight bits to use, do the math, the advantage is with Kira and me and not the wannabe.
I took aim with my particle cannons and sent a stream in between the Freedom and the ZAFT suit. That also happened to catch two of the rat wannabe's DRAGOON pods in my shots and take them out. "Howdy freaking duty, our paths cross again rat wannabe," said in greeting and in a firm yet flat tone, "I mean, it's like fate wants one of us to die, or perhaps in your case you can call it destiny."
There was a short moment of silence, "McGregor," exclaimed Rey.
I smirked, "That's my name, don't wear it out, so let's pick up where we left off," I returned.
Not a word was said between Kira and me, kind of like with Athrun, we worked well-enough together that we could read and predict the other's movements. Kira went to the left while I went to the right side of the ZAFT suit both of us attacking from different directions. Admittedly, the wannabe rat wasn't half bad fighting against multiple opponents, he was at least holding his own fairly well. And rest assure, fighting more than one opponent isn't as easy as some of us make it look. "How can you two not see the need of the changes that the Destiny Plan will bring to the human race? Are you both so stubborn and blind that you don't understand it will save humanity," the wannabe snapped.
That comment irritated me, "Save? How does enforcing existing in a cage save anyone?! It's a form of living death that Durandal is trying to sell off as something it is not," I shot back. Kira and I were dodging beams and firing back, trying to take out our opponent's DRAGOON pods. The fight was quickly growing pointless and was getting none of us anywhere from where we were.
"Why do this," challenged Kira, "What's the point of this? It does nothing but bring misery!"
"For the world and humanity, it must be," the wannabe shouted.
I rushed forward and slashed with my sword rifle at the ZAFT suit, but only got a shallow gash in the left backpack. I moved to be above where the Freedom was in an upside-down orientation both of us facing the ZAFT suit. The rat wannabe had recalled his DRAGOON pods to be next to him, waiting for us to make the next move. "No, you're wrong," Kira stated firmly.
I was in complete agreement with Kira, "Damn right he's wrong," I barked. "We all have one life, one chance to live! And how we live our lives is something that each and every individual chooses that for themselves!"
"You are not Le Creuset," said Kira.
"And thank goodness is what you should be shouting," I finished. "Rau Le Creuset was a dirty rat regardless of what others say of him or claim he was like. He attempted to destroy all life on Earth and the colonies while cackling with maniacal glee as he did so!"
The ZAFT suit appeared to hesitate as Kira and I made our voices heard and didn't attack us, which gave us time. Kira and I brought all of our suits' weapons to bear on our opponent, neither of us aiming for the cockpit but at everything else. ""This is your life you're living, it's not his,"" Kira and I said together at the same time. We fired are combined arsenal at our opponent and made good hits with what we had. The ZAFT suit for a moment seemed frozen with beams hitting it before it was blown apart, yet the torso, waist and some of the backpack sections intact to an extent.
-Line Break-
-Neutral pov-
The fight between the Destiny and the Justice was still going though blows were being traded as the conversation kept going off and on. Athrun could see that there was serious hesitation on Shinn's part and the doubts that was fueling it were growing. The way the Destiny was swinging around its beam sword only announced the doubt Shinn was having. "Shinn, you have a good heart and that's why points of the Destiny Plan don't feel right, your heart is telling you there's things that aren't being said that need to be," Athrun stated. There was silence from Shinn, but that spoke for him in a way to Athrun, "How many lives have been affected by your choices and action Shinn? I can assure you, you would be surprised at how high the number is, for there's the members of the Minerva's crew alone, they might not be here if not for you."
Shinn was left to consider what Athrun had said, for he had given a great deal of thought about what kind of effect his actions could have. And now that he did, it was kind of shocking to think about just how many lives he had saved or affected. Shinn had just been doing his best to protect others, it was as simple as that to him. "What are you trying to say," Shinn asked.
"As I said," Athrun started, "The world that the Destiny Plan would create wouldn't accept or allow those like us who have power like we do. There would be too much of a chance that those of us that are different toppling that arranged world." Shinn was processing what Athrun had said as beams started to fly by both the Justice and the Destiny. Athrun rushed forward blocked the shots that went towards the Destiny while Shinn was not fully aware of what was going on around himself.
The battle kept going on around Shinn, but he was trying to make sense of what information he had been getting recently. The world that Chairman Durandal painted sound wonderful, a world without worry, no war or fighting. That's how Rey and others put what the Destiny Plan would bring about anyways, and Shinn couldn't deny that such an idea wasn't desirable. And yet, the things that Athrun had said only seemed to contradict the Destiny Plan. Athrun's question of what kind of future did he want to see had been relentlessly bouncing around his mind. Warring thoughts were still going at each other and they were tearing him apart! Then a single line clawed its way above the rest, "An individual can only be how they are with their choices, period. If you are letting someone else make decisions for you, then you are but a puppet of another. Remember it is important that you use that right and ability to choose, not just follow what someone else tells you without agreeing with it." It was something said by Captain McGregor when Shinn had been talking to him while on the Normandy.
That idea seemed to quiet the rest and things started falling into place to form an understandable picture. The Destiny Plan as given by Durandal wasn't exactly wrong or a lie, but it wasn't the whole truth as to what the plan would do. That was what Athrun had been trying to tell Shinn, there was more than portrayed and it was clear if one took a moment to look at the Destiny Plan from the standpoint of what wasn't being said and honestly avoided being mentioned. True, the Chairman made the point to say over and over that the Destiny Plan would rid the world of war, but that couldn't be all. War wasn't good or nice, but if everything was arranged, then wouldn't that mean the things learned from the unexpected turns and hardships wouldn't occur either?
Shinn knew for a fact that if he and his family hadn't gone through what they had back in Orb, he wouldn't be where he was right now. Nor would he have met many of the people that he had during his short military service. So then, if that was also taken away by the Destiny Plan, then was it really worth going with it in the end? No, if such things as meeting the friends from the crew of the Minerva and the other individuals Shinn had met had to be given up then it was not acceptable! No matter how safe or comfortable a world could be made, if you didn't have genuine friends and family, not arranged or setup versions, then it amounted to nothing.
With this clear vision set, Shinn came out of his thoughts in time to see the Justice intercepting weapon fire coming toward the Destiny. It was a surprise after what Shinn had done to Athrun and tried to do and yet, Athrun was defending him. Still, now was the time that Shinn would do what was right no matter what, that was his decision in this! Shinn's mind became clearer than it had ever been before, even more than during the times that he had done amazing things. Shinn rushed forward past the Justice and used his beam sword to slice through the ZAKU that had been approaching the Justice. It was like he could see a move ahead of his opponent, which had never happened before now. Somehow, Shinn had already known that the ZAKU would be there, he couldn't explain how, it was some sort of intuitive feeling.
As the Destiny shot forward, Athrun took that as Shinn was done thinking, and no matter what decision he had come to, he was in it completely. Athrun was hoping Shinn had come to realize the truth of the Destiny Plan. Shinn had been fighting for a world that he would never see after all and that was a tragedy in itself. And now was his opportunity to not just admire those that fought for what they believed in regardless of orders or anything else, but to be one of those individuals. The Justice moved forward working alongside the Destiny heading in the general direction of Messiah.
At the same time, the Minerva and the Archangel were still locked in combat with one another, neither giving an inch. The battle was still going on around them, the allied fleet was advancing towards Messiah and ZAFT defenders weren't slowing them down much. Neither ship had gotten in critical hits to their opponent, but they were both stubbornly keeping going at each other.
Yet as time kept moving on, the Minerva managed to fire one of their Tristians and strike one of the Archangel's Gottfrieds destroying it. With a credible shot scored the Minerva surged forward renewing their assault on the Archangel. However, as the Minerva was attacking the Archangel, the Xevonia appeared and began attacking the Minerva to draw attention away from the Archangel. ZAFT mobile suits attempted to thwart the Xevonia, but none were successful, especially when the Xeviona detached the Prometheus-01 and it joined in the fight. While the Prometheus had split into its three vectors which attacked the ZAFT forces, the Xevonia itself blocked shots at the Archangel.
Even the Osiris came and fought against the Xevonia in the defense of the Minerva, but Aila was finding herself hard pressed against the unknown Federation mobile suit. And that was before taking into account the three DRAGOON pods that were assaulting the Minerva. This enemy unit has similar qualities as the new Freedom and the Justice which made it a difficult opponent to face. And yet, Aila was holding her own against the Xevonia, that had to be said in this which was a tall order.
The Osiris was joined by other ZAFT suits in the attempt to overwhelm the Xevonia for even if the suit was powerful, it wasn't undefeatable. And for a brief moment, it appeared that the Osiris and its allies just might overwhelm the Xevonia, but that changed in an instant. It came when the Phoenix appeared and began destroying the ZAFT suits that were with the Osiris. Lacus had caught glimpses of the mobile suit that had popped up that was now helping her on the battlefield. It was seemed to have many of the same qualities that the Xevonia shared with the other machines from the same series. But what was the most telling for Lacus was what came shortly after the suit's appearance, "Hey Lacus, these suits haven't been bullying you too much have they," asked Sakura. "Because if they have, then I'll make they understand the folly of that fully before this is done."
Lacus had expected her older sister to be somewhere around this battlefield, but not piloting a gundam-type. And although, this was by no means the first time her sister Sakura had been protective of her like this, Lacus wasn't ignorant of everything that her sister did when it came to Lacus herself. However, there was something in her voice that hadn't been in it before now that was faint, but Lacus could hear it. What it was Lacus couldn't say exactly, but there was a happiness that had definitely not been there for a very long time. "No Sakura, I'm doing fine," Lacus replied as she blocked another shot aimed at the Archangel.
Sakura stuck around the fight between the Archangel and the Minerva, helping in what ways she could. Said ways were cutting down the number of ZAFT mobile suits that were in this fight and that didn't go unnoticed for long but the Minerva or her allies. Aila was kind of horrified as she witnessed the newcomer rip suits apart, use their own weapons against them and even getting ZAFT forces to shoot one another. It was clear that the pilot of this new gundam-type was experienced and had skills to overwhelm their opponents to say the least. So, Aila was cautious as she approached this machine, beam javelin and the ready to thrust. However, as Aila tried attacking, the gundam raised an arm and deployed a beam shield on the gauntlet shaped part on the right arm.
The gundam countered a split-second later with a beam saber igniting on the other gauntlet and it swinging at the Osiris. Aila flew back to avoid being sliced up by the gundam-type, but her opponent moved forward after her. Slowly but surely, the Phoenix drew away most of the mobile suits that had been assisting the Minerva away. This gave the Xevonia and the Archangel the opportunity to push forward against the Minerva. Lacus had the Xevonia's vectors move in on the Minerva attacking from multiple directions as she approached as well. As they got closer, the vectors fell into a single file line with the main vector in the front followed by the sword carrying vector and the cannon vector bringing up the rear.
The leading central vector locked in a flight path that aimed at the triple-barreled cannon the Minerva had and deployed its screaming nimbus field to cover all three vectors. The Minerva's bridge crew took notice of the vectors approaching and attempted to intercept them, but the screaming nimbus blocked the shots. And then the three vectors began firing their weapons at the Minerva starting with their vulcans and the lead vector also using its high-energy beam cannons. Then when the three vectors got much closer to the Minerva, the sword vector extended the anti-ship swords out and activated the beam blade in the front section of the vector. The vectors broke out of their line the main vector went up the cannon vector went left while the sword vector stayed on course. The sword vector then punched straight through the Isolde's mounting structure, slicing it completely free of the rest of the Minerva. The cannon vector had brought the barrel of its particle cannon to aim at where the Minerva's positron cannon was and fired. The hole made in the Minerva was more than enough for the disablement and destruction of the Tannhäuser.
The Archangel went into a barrel roll as the Xevonia's vectors were attacking the Minerva as attention was on them. Murrue ordered missiles fired to cover their maneuver the Archangel was going into. The Minerva's CIWS guns intercepted the missiles before they were able to strike the ship, but it created a smoke screen. As the Archangel turned a hundred-eighty degrees the Valiant linear cannons were pointed upward so that they would be aimed at the Minerva. So, when the smoked cleared Talia found the Archangel sailing to go over the Minerva and was upside-down. When the Valiants were right over the Minerva's Tristan beam turrets, Murrue ordered the Valiants to fire. The linear cannons rounds slammed into and through the beam turrets the Minerva had and destroyed them. The effects of the Archangel's linear cannons didn't stop at the Tristans, but also took the missile launchers on both sides to go offline.
On the bridge of the Minerva, the crew was holding on as the ship shook from the hit from the linear cannon rounds. Losing the Isolde was harsh and the loss of the Tannhäuser made things worse for the Minerva. However, the destruction of the Tristans shook the ship hard, Arthur looked at his console, "Captain, Tristan 1 and 2 are damaged, launchers on both sides have gone offline! Ma'am the Minerva can't take much more of this!"
Meanwhile, Aila had been fighting the magenta gundam-type, having lost most if not all those that had been fighting with her. This mobile suit had proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that it was not to be underestimated or death would be the outcome. However, an explosion caught Aila's attention, and upon looking back to the Minerva she saw that the other Federation machine's three DRAGOON weapons had assaulted the Minerva taken down two weapons. Then the Archangel rolled over and used its own linear cannons to destroy the Minerva's beam turrets. Aila tried to get back to the Minerva, but the magenta suit stopped her and also detached its four wings which flew towards the Minerva. Said wing pods ignited what looked like spear edges and they were aiming for the Minerva's rear, specifically the engines.
The Phoenix's autonomous bits punched right into the Minerva's engines and carved paths through them. The extensive damage to the engines forced them to shut down almost immediately which caused the Minerva to lose helm control. On the bridge if the Minerva, Malik Yardbirds who was the Minerva's pilot gripped the helm harder as the navigation systems stopped responding to his input. "Main thrusters offline, we've lost attitude control Captain," exclaimed Malik. "The helm isn't responding to any commands any more ma'am, she's going down!"
The Minerva fell towards the moon's surface caught in its gravitational pull and crashed then plowed into the lunar landscape. It soon came to a stop from the friction of the rocks that the Minerva had plowed through and many of the ship's systems started not working correctly. The ship was left where it was as it had crashed and been put out of commission by this point.
-Line Break-
After Kira and Tyler had defeating the Legend, they turned our sights on the space fortress where Durandal was. They were joined along their way by a number of our allies including the Eternal and the Normandy. The fortress's shield was still up at the moment even after the damage that Tyler did after destroying the GENESIS weapon. The shield was providing a difficulty to those assaulting the fortress and getting down to business of reaching Gilbert Durandal and it was quickly getting irritating for a number of individuals. Even when Sakura joined in the efforts there was little progress made and images of Durandal with a confident smirk on his face was irking Tyler internally.
More allied forces kept adding to the efforts against the fortress, but it wasn't making the needed headway that was being fought for. Even as the Justice and the Destiny came and started assisting those trying to get into the space fortress. The ZAFT defenders hesitating somewhat at realizing the Destiny and the Impulse were now fighting against them. None of the forces that were attacking Messiah voiced a complaint or qualm about two of ZAFT's gundam-types working with them now. Still the Destiny was disabling and taking down ZAFT suits with seemingly the greatest of ease and little to no hesitation shown.
To Lunamaria, the way and style of fighting Shinn had now and before were close to night and day in comparison. Lately, Shinn's fighting spirit had been almost snuffed out or at least he had not had his heart in the battles he went into. He had been like that since what had happened with Meyrin and Athrun back at Carpentaria by what Luna figured. But whatever it had been holding Shinn back, it was gone without a trace and he was dedicated to seeing this fight to the end. What that end would be, Luna couldn't say, Athrun might have said something to Shinn to help him, she couldn't be sure.
Nevertheless, the lack of progress being made in the task of breaking into Messiah was reaching a breaking point. The level of irritation Tyler was feeling grew quickly and he was getting fed up with getting really no closer to Durandal as time had kept moving forward. He wasn't the only one becoming frustrated at the lack of progress that those who were putting forth the work were seeing. "Damn, we're still not moving forward, time is running short the longer we take," cursed Kira.
Tyler gritted his teeth at Kira's curse, as much due to the truth of the line as the mirrored frustration that Tyler had in common. There were only two outcomes that this battle would end in, either those fighting Durandal defeated him, or he wins. Tyler had the firm determination of not letting Durandal win with the amount of work that has already been put into this. Tyler glanced down at the Exalt's main forward display and brought up an option that he had until now not use or even considered doing so. But right now, Tyler knew it was coming to the point of this being all or nothing, "Then Kira, we put all our chips down and go all out. Either Durandal emerges victorious or we do," he stated, and then Tyler activated the system option that he had brought up.
The Exalt's main display went magenta with two blueish half circles one on the top half of the screen and another on the bottom half of the display. On the center of the screen was a circle with angel wings and part body in the middle with a halo above. In front of that symbol came the words "TRANS-AM system". The particle output and consumption of the Exalt increased to a much higher rate along with raising every stat the suit had as well as making the Exalt glow with a reddish/magenta tint. At the same time, Tyler felt the onset of his own SEED mode which made the increased output of the Exalt more manageable. Now, Tyler guessed there was a limit as to how long this would last as the power usage was greater than the rate particles were being generated at. And the timer at the bottom of the main display reinforced that, so he shot forward and to get down to business!
With the Exalt operating at the level it was now, Tyler didn't really slow down when he made contact with the large beam shield. No, the Exalt punched through it and was inside the defenses of the fortress, leaving Tyler to just start working on taking out the shield generators. Messiah's laser turrets that made up its defenses tried to shoot the Exalt down, but their aim was not good as they aimed at the afterimages that the Exalt was leaving behind as it moved.
The Exalt wasn't the only the mobile suit working on disabling Messiah's defensive shield in the way it was for long. Sakura after seeing the Exalt activate its increased output, she scanned through the Phoenix's systems and found the Trans-Am mode. She activated it and the output of the Phoenix's solar reactor skyrocketed and that gave more power to all systems of the suit at the price of higher power consumption. The Phoenix gained a reddish sheen to it as the Exalt had done when its Trans-Am mode had activated. And the sight of Tyler dodging inside Messiah's shield, Sakura gained a focus beyond any she had before. She finally had gotten Tyler to say he would give her a chance at a relationship with him, she wasn't about to let anyone take him away from her! Sakura had always had the knack of predicting where her opponent would end out being. But suddenly, it was no longer predicting where her opponents were going to be, it was as if she knew their future location before her opponents did.
Shortly after the Phoenix shot forward towards Messiah, Kira decided to see if he could do more to help Tyler as well. It didn't take him long to find the Trans-Am mode option and after watching two machines activated it and noting the improvement in performance, the mode seemed a good option to go with. So, Kira put the Freedom into Trans-Am mode and all systems of the Freedom increased their output. He also noticed that a time that was set for one-hundred-eighty seconds did appear at the bottom of the main display counting down. Kira focused back forward as his SEED mode activated for the second time in this battle and he went after Tyler.
When the Phoenix and the Freedom came into contact with Messiah's shield, like the Exalt the shield didn't slow them down all that much, they still punched through it. Tyler focused on the upper and middle rings Messiah had, Kira took the lower ring and helped with the middle ring, while Sakura focused on the middle ring alone. All three used every weapon at their disposal to attack the rings as they seemed responsible for generating the shield.
Durandal watched from Messiah's control center as the three enemy mobile suits were attacking Messiah, his fist clenched as he did so. The three of the gundam-types had suddenly gotten more powerful after they had started to glow as there were now. They moved faster gaining afterimages, their firepower had increased with all their weapons and the beam shield Messiah hadn't prevented them from advancing. Now they were wrecking the shield generation system and its emitters, which would open the way for the rest assaulting Messiah.
The defensive measures of the fortress couldn't seem to hit any of them, yet the suits were leaving afterimages behind them confusing the targeting sensors. If the shield were to go down, then Messiah would be in a far worse position than it already was, but it was looking more a matter of when rather than if. The upper ring was the first to lose functionality, the shield weakened as a result, but it was still up. The lower ring could normally go down as well, but that required the middle ring to be in good working order and it was becoming less so very fast. The magenta mobile suit was crashing through the ring over and over as was its DRAGOON pods. So, the shield after another couple of minutes of the attacks dropped, allowing enemy ships to begin their attacks which consisted of lots of missiles.
-Line Break-
-Tyler's pov-
As the assault of allied ships started, I flew the Exalt in its flight mode inside the nearest entrance which got me into one of the hangers that Durandal's fortress had. The Freedom and the Phoenix stayed outside working while I flew in and that was fine with me. Once inside I began unloading the flight array's vulcans and particle cannons, shooting up the docking and control facilities. When I was done dealing with the places of interests, I shifted the Exalt into its suit form and landed in the free space I could find. I then rose out of the cockpit, got out and locked the cockpit as I started my journey into the bowels of this fortress to get to Durandal.
There was gravity inside this place, it was apparently close enough to the moon to be affected by its pull, so I was moving with hops, skips and leaps. I knew that once Gilbert Durandal was confronted about the Destiny Plan however that would end, this battle would then head for a close. I can't say how that confrontation would go, or if Durandal would be alive by its conclusion, that will depend on him and his decisions.
Moving into a corridor from the hanger area, I proceed slowly forward, my SMG out and at the ready to fire. As I was going forward, I did come across some ZAFT soldiers who I did shoot as they were clearly going to do to me if I gave them that chance. However, it was when I around a wider hall that I glimpsed what looked like elevators that I was forced to duck behind the wall as a high number of bullets zoomed my way. Soldiers were at the other end of the wide corridor and they were shooting my way and there were more of them than little old me and had better weapons than my SMG. Heck, just trying to glance around the corner into the hallway was a serious risk with bullets flying around.
Nonetheless, my gut feeling is that the lifts that I'd caught a glimpse of will get me to Durandal, so this hallway was the best course to take. A sonic grenade should do the job of clearing but getting it into the hall would be more a hassle I think with all the bullets zipping past. As I was trying to come up with an idea to get to one of those lifts I had spotted, I saw a figure come into the corridor I was in. I pointed my SMG at the one approaching but was surprised to find it was Kira coming up to where I was. He stopped on the other side of where the corridor opened to the wider hallway as bullets were still flying. Kira did have a pistol in his hands to work with, but a pistol and SMG won't really do well against several assault weapons being used against us.
I got Kira's attention and signaled him to follow my lead, so that we were going to get into the hallway and to one of the lifts. Then, I got a sonic grenade out and armed it before lobbing it into the hallway and drawing back. The thud from the pressure wave shot past where Kira and I were before the gun fire stopped, meaning I likely got the soldiers with the grenade. I popped out into view of the wide hallway and saw soldier floating unmoving before I hopped forward towards the middle lift with Kira close behind me. A commotion ahead drew my attention and there came more ZAFT personnel with guns in hand. I had my pilot suit's thrusters flip out and give me extra pushing power towards the lift. As I closed the distance, I kicked an object that hit the switch for the lift, which opened the door and I zoomed inside with my feet hitting the opposite wall of the lift. I shot out a hand for Kira to grab, which he did, and I pulled him into the lift and he hit the button to close the lift door and have us start going up.
While the lift ascended to the control center of this fortress, Kira and I removed our helmets, "So what now," asked Kira.
I looked to my friend, "We confront Durandal, he needs to understand what he's trying to do and what effects it will have. How he takes that is up to him as is how this confrontation ends, but this has to happen, only then will this battle come to an end," I replied.
When the lift reached the destination, the door slid open and a view of the control center was in front of us. Kira and I moved forward, guns at the ready, sweeping around from side to side, but we found there was only one person in the room still alive, Gilbert Durandal in a chair in the center of the area. Durandal gazed at Kira and me, "I have to admit, I am surprised that both of you made it here, I confess that I had doubts that you would make it this far," Durandal admitted.
Kira and I trained our guns at the man in front of us, "It's your choice if you leave here Durandal and how you do," I stated flatly, "So recommend that you consider your next few choices carefully."
"Oh, I see," Durandal replied dryly. "But are you sure that is the only choice in this situation?" The man raised his own gun to be directed at Kira and me, "Is what you two fight for the best solution to the problem that humanity clearly has?"
"Whoever says that humanity has ever been without flaws or problems or can be so is blind and delusional. Humans are imperfect beings that are a constant work in progress that are improving as they go. Problems and/or challenges are opportunities for us to learn and grow, even if some don't see it that way," I retorted firmly.
Neither Kira nor I lowered our weapons in the slightest as Kira spoke up, "And what you offer is not all that different than the issue you refer to."
Durandal frowned slightly, "It is a chance at real change, you two at least can understand what a rare idea that really is," he said. "True progress is made when facing the unknown and a world without war is something that has never been faced by the human race. This cycle of fighting will not end will if things go on unchanged and that is fact."
Kira and I kept our guns pointing where they were, though it was a tad difficult for me to keep in control at hearing a line my dad would say. There were two reasons that hearing an idea that my dad believed in and would say often affected me. The first was that my dad's belief being used to justify existence being better than living and that is not what my father believed in at all. The second point was that it inferred that Gilbert Durandal was likely a former student of my father and I would have never guessed that. After I reigned in my emotions I spoke, "Yeah, neither of us are denying the facts that you have stated. And I'll admit, never would I have thought that you were one of his students Gilbert Durandal."
Durandal stared at me, "To whom are you referring McGregor," he asked curiously.
I took a deep breath, "I'm talk about Lance Blass, a professor and a scientist. He's had many students, but I would have never imagined that you were one of them," I replied.
Durandal blinked, "I'm surprised that you would guess that or bring it up," he said. "Why would you bring up Professor Blass? For I was a student of his for a time, he inspired me to give my best which was the start of the Destiny Plan. However, you are too young to be one, his death from the Bloody Valentine was extremely unfortunate, humanity lost a great mind that day that will never return."
I kept my gaze on Durandal, "Take a good look Durandal, I'm told by a number that I look like my father Lance Blass," I returned.
Durandal looked at me for a moment, then he gained an expression of comprehension, "Ah, that explains a great deal about you Tyler McGregor, or I suppose it would be Tyler Blass really. Your talent for inspiring others you learned from your mother, the Prime Minister of the Republic as she is an expert at it," he iterated.
I nodded, "My mom taught by example as is her style, that's for sure. Nevertheless Durandal, I can assure you that my dad would never endorse your Destiny Plan were he alive right now. Although he would applaud that you notice and admit the negative, for most it's either something they won't do or can't see. Still, you're not helping the pursuit of a way forward, you're making things worse," I stated.
Durandal hesitated momentarily, "Don't do this, we're so close to overcoming the flaws the human race inherently has. Humanity could be free of what has chained us down for so long, is that not a goal worth pursuing," questioned Durandal. "If you kill me and stop the Destiny Plan, then you doom the human race to fall back into the cycle it has never been able to escape for very long! Is that what you two want, to consign humanity to darkness and chaos for its future that will end in destruction?!"
Words that my father used to tell me were coming to my mind right now for the Destiny Plan went against many values that he taught me. The kinds of paths humanity could take towards the future fell into three basic types of outcomes. The first and darkest of course, was the complete and utter destruction and extinction of the human race, something to be avoid if at all possible. The second is a set future which was what Durandal would bring with the Destiny Plan, but that came at a cost. The third and final type of future was an uncertain future of possibility, which would be what could come if the Destiny Plan was stopped.
The true difference between Durandal's world and the world as it is right now is the ability of choice. Durandal would take away the ability for human beings to choose to live and how they would live their lives. Instead all would be forced to exist by a written script assigned to them before birth, in essence, life in an inescapable cage. It is predetermination versus possibility, choice and uncertainty against absolute assurance and nothing left unknown or discoverable. With predetermination there is but one path to move on, yet it is neither good or bad for that would require more than one path. That was my biggest beef with Durandal's idea that was the Destiny Plan, it took away everything that made life worth living along with what makes it hard.
"You both know and can see that I'm not exaggerating, I speak the truth," Durandal reasoned.
I gritted my teeth for there was a huge point that was being left out, "You say that us stopping you would plunge humanity into darkness and chaos Durandal. However, the future that you would bring about is not that much different, it can be in a way worse. But above all, humanity has the right to choose, and they will have the facts first, all of them," I shot back.
-Line Break-
-Neutral pov-
After crashing into the surface of the moon and coming to a stop, the Minerva was left where it was unable to do much of anything. Talia could see the outcome of this battle by this point, ZAFT forces would lose and Messiah would likely be destroyed. Yet, she wanted to see Gilbert one more time before the end of all of this and there may still be time. She faced second-in-command, "Arthur, the battle is over, and I know it is difficult right now, but please make sure everyone gets off the ship and to safety. I have something I need to take care of," she said. Talia left the bridge after that, leaving the bridge crew rather baffled as to what the Captain had been talking about. Talia headed to the hanger and took a shuttle from the Minerva and made her way towards Messiah.
Athrun and Shinn had fought their way to be around Messiah and had joined in alongside the allied fleet's forces. Offers of surrender were being extended to those remaining which at first were rejected. However, when the mobile suits that had the colors that were registered to Lanus Treize, the offers were taken more.
When the way was cleared, Athrun moved forward, leaving the Xevonia, the Destiny and the Phoenix in front of Messiah. Athrun piloted the Justice inside Messiah's docking facilities and spotted both the Burst Freedom and the Exalt already there. So, Athrun found a clear spot to land the Justice before he exited his mobile suit and began the trek further into the fortress. Athrun was adamant that he would stand with Tyler and Kira against the Destiny Plan and all it could take from the human race. It would serve as a way to forgive himself for those that had died that Athrun had known, their sacrifices and work wouldn't be in vain.
Nevertheless, as Athrun headed inside Messiah he missed that another had seen him and took up following him. Talia Gladys had watched the new Justice go into Messiah's docking facilities and she had flown the shuttle quietly in behind it without being noticed. She had even caught sight of Athrun going deeper into Messiah, why she couldn't say. The destruction on the outside of Messiah had looked worse than what Talia saw around herself on the inside. She did see that the new Freedom was already here as was the odd blue and white gundam-type as she took a similar path as Athrun.
At the same time, Rey had made his way into Messiah and to the control center through one of the service lifts. None notice him enter, but he instantly felt the tension in the air and he was on-guard because of that. Rey inched his way to see what he could of the situation that was causing the air in the room. So, seeing Gil facing-off against none other than the two who had beaten Rey himself, Tyler McGregor and Kira Yamato didn't sit well with Rey at all. However, even with the three pointing guns at one another, they didn't appear to be about to pull the trigger just yet, so Rey didn't reveal himself wondering what was going on.
"You may be right in a way Durandal," Kira said, "But as we have said already, we have the ability to choose a path where that doesn't happen, and as long as we live in a world that we have a choice that is possible."
Durandal's expression faltered ever so slightly, "I once believed and shared such a view that humanity could overcome the cycle of fighting and war. I too had the faith that the human race could work towards a bright future full of possibility before them. But as the hatred and conflict kept coming, I came to realize that enough people won't make the right choices to have peace happen left to their own devices," Durandal challenged. "They are quick to forget and then they repeat the same mistakes over again. So many say they won't let it happen again that they'll change the world for the better this time around and move forward. However, humanity's history is a clear testament, there is not guarantee nor even a likelihood while there are those that would continue the hatred and other factors that contribute."
Rey was somewhat stunned at hearing that Gil had thought that humanity could save itself at one time. He never had given that impression, he had always talked about the Destiny Plan was the solution for the human race. "And your Destiny Plan gives us no future as your world never permits or allows change, it would fail otherwise. So, how is your Destiny Plan providing any different Gilbert Durandal," Tyler posed.
That drew back Rey's attention to the conversation, "No one can guarantee it, No one knows what the future holds. Not either of you, not those fighting out there or any that lead parts of the world today for none know what the future holds. My plan can give a guarantee for every single person, that all will survive," Durandal replied.
"That is no different than what I said just now, though it sounds more to me like you have given up on humanity and what it has within itself," McGregor challenged.
Durandal glanced at Tyler, "Oh, and what makes you say that Mr. McGregor," he asked.
"Have you ever taken the time to think about how many choices and decisions have been made by you and others to bring you to where you are now as you are? The answer regardless of what it would be, I can tell you that it would've never happened if you had been existing by a script written into your genes," Tyler said.
That statement caused Rey to pause to consider the question, how many choices had been made to bring him to this point right now. Rey had never thought about the idea before, the Destiny Plan and bringing it about had always been the goal he had worked for. Had there been opportunities and chances missed because of the focus that Rey had placed on helping Gil?
"The world that you talk about where everything is laid out is tempting, even I'll say that," Tyler stated. "Nonetheless, what would the point of such a world be? In essence, everyone is going through the same day over and over again with nothing changing. You say that in the world that you would bring all people will be happy and will live perfect lives. Yet, you would be wrong for the simple fact that there would be no happiness as none would even know what that is without the contrast of sorrow and misery. If there is no contrast, then the emotions and feelings that we humans have right now would cease to exist. There would be no value of any of it for there would be no work or effort put in to achieve anything."
"Look, we know what you're saying, but we can learn to understand, and we can change," Kira insisted. "That's why we want a tomorrow no matter how much we may suffer, we don't want a world that nothing changes."
Rey recalled what the two had said to him before, that it was his life he was living and no one else's. That there could be more as long as there was a tomorrow and the Destiny Plan would likely take that away. "Indeed, a future that can be better requires the ability to choose even if that means that we might stumble and mess up as we move forward," Tyler finished.
Rey was left in a state of confusion, with part of himself still saying Gil was right and yet another screaming the desire to have the world that those against Gil talked about. Before now, Gil had always been right, maybe not exactly right in everything, but overall, Gil had been right on things. However, something in Rey pulled strongly in the desire for a world with possibility and chance of something better just wouldn't go away or leave him alone. "How arrogant, yet how appropriate for the Ultimate Coordinator and one of the foremost defenders of humanity as it currently is," returned Durandal.
"Arrogance? You really should think about what you're saying Durandal, for you believe that not only can you change the human race completely, but it's your calling. That is an example of the definition of arrogance last time I had to check," Tyler shot back. "So, what makes you think that you know better than everyone else, that you can determine what is best for anyone else besides yourself?"
"Exactly, it is you that is arrogant Durandal, we are nothing more than single human beings. And as I told another that was insistent that I was different, I'm no more unique than anyone else is and can be," Kira added.
Rey was trapped between two voices that were shouting at one another, one claiming that Gil had to be right, the other saying that he was wrong. And as the standoff was climbing towards its climax, the two other lifts to the control center of Messiah opened. In one of them was Athrun, a pistol in his hands ready to you as he stepped out of the lift, out of the other came Talia much the same with pistol in hand. The two swung their guns to point at one another as they noticed each other.
Tyler moved his gun to point at Durandal's chest and flicked off the safety, "I say it again Gilbert Durandal, it's your choice how this ends for you. Whether you leave here under your own power, or in a body bag or you go down with this fortress, that is for you to decide," he stated. "And if you don't think that I have the determination to follow through to put a bullet hole in you, then I say this, I put two of the bullet holes in Patrick Zala including the shot through his head that killed him."
That drew all attention back onto the face-off between Durandal, Tyler and Kira as the climax to this was almost palpable. "Then tell me, between the world you two describe and mine, which do you think people will prefer," questioned Durandal. "Say one or both of you shoot me here, what will you do when the world plunges back into chaos and darkness?"
"We'll do what we have to," Kira started answering.
Tyler picked up where Kira had started, "While we move towards the future we wish to see, that's the gift of human potential."
Durandal gained a bit of a smirk, "Then we will see here and now, the strength of your determination." Everything started occurring in the next instant, there were cracks of guns firing and blurs of movement. The next moment the scene had changed completely, Durandal had lost his pistol and had a bullet hole in his chest. Tyler had pushed Kira to the left and now had a bullet-sized hole in his shoulder both front and back. And finally, the presence of Rey was brought to the notice of everyone else there and he was pointing his gun at Gilbert himself.
Athrun rushed forward to Tyler and Kira to check on them to make sure that they were okay after the exchange. He got out patches to close the holes in Tyler's pilot suit made by the bullet he took. Kira was also by Tyler, "Why did you," Kira began but he was silenced by Tyler smiling at him even if his face showed pain.
"I would have thought by this point you would have realized that I won't hesitate to take a bullet for either one of you. And now I've taken a bullet for each of you, perhaps you both can try not to get into situations that require me to do so. It would be nice if I don't have to get shot though I'm willing, I prefer not to," Tyler replied.
While this was going on, Talia had moved forward toward Durandal who had collapsed to the floor with the moon's gravity affecting him. When she was over him, Durandal opened his eye and after seeing her he smiled, "Talia… were you the one that shot me, or was it McGregor," he asked.
Talia shook her head, "No, it was Rey that shot you Gilbert," she answered.
That fact shocked Gilbert honestly, "Rey?"
There was the sound of sobbing, "I'm sorry Gil, but I… their… tomorrow, the world that they described… I wanted that world of possibility too," Rey sobbed.
Gilbert shook his head, "No Rey, it is fine, perhaps it is better this way," he breathed. "Talia, I'm glad that I was able to see you one last time," he said, before his eyes closed and his final breath left him.
The room shook around those there accompanied by explosions bringing back attention to the point that the fortress was not going to hold together for a great deal more time. Kira, Athrun and Tyler got to their feet and were looking towards the lifts that would go down to the hanger level. "Kira, Athrun, go on, I'll catch up with you both shortly," Tyler said. Athrun and Kira stared at Tyler for a moment, then nodded and headed for the center lift.
Tyler watched the lift door slide close and then turned back to where Durandal lay and Talia was over. He took one step forward, to which Talia pointed her pistol at him and Tyler stopped, "I promise you, I will do nothing to Gilbert Durandal, he has faced his fate. And honestly, I applaud and respect those that do without running away from it as so many choose to do," he said.
"Then what is it that you want McGregor," Talia posed.
Tyler bowed, "To offer a parting prayer, it is a tradition from my homeland and even if Durandal isn't from the Republic, I feel that it would be right to give him the prayer though he won't hear it," he replied.
Talia lowered her pistol, for she had heard rumors of such traditions from some places, but this was the first she had seen or heard solid evidence of the idea. "Gilbert Durandal, you who have fought the fight that so few do, have fought it valiantly and honorably. You have faced an evil that many have fall to and done so with zeal. For such valor, may you find rest in the place that awaits your arrival. May you be welcomed by those there as a brother and a hero which you have shown yourself to be capable of being. May the journey that you embark on be a joy and a pleasure for you as you pursue your future," Tyler said.
Tyler glanced at Talia, "I may not agree with what the Destiny Plan would do to the human race however, I don't deny that Durandal was right in saying that we humans have issues we need to admit exist and then fix," Tyler stated. "That he spotted these facts at all and brought them to light can be the start of change for the better. And for that, he should be remembered and honored as one of those that help bring about change."
Talia nodded, "Then perhaps you could Captain Ramius a message for me." Tyler gestured for her to go on, "I have a child, a son, please ask her to visit him, he will have no one now."
Tyler was quiet for a moment, "If she doesn't then I will, he will be told of how his mother was a hero in the end and that he should be proud to be your son," he said, then saluted. "It's been an honor and a pleasure Talia Gladys."
Tyler then turned and headed towards a lift, but as he was passing where Rey was still quietly sobbing he stopped. "You claimed to be Rau Le Creuset did you not," Tyler posed. Rey glanced at Tyler as he continued, "You are wrong about that, you are better than that man ever was. And the reason why that is, when you were faced with the same choice of doing what is right and what is easy, you chose what was right rather than what is easy. You chose to save humanity and not destroy it as Creuset did, that is the difference. As I recall your name was Rey Za Burrel, correct?"
Rey slowly nodded, and Tyler inclined his head, "I will remember that name, for today, you have been a hero and history will remember you as such, not that you were a clone." After saying that, Tyler moved into a lift and made his way down towards the hanger area to leave the station that was collapsing around him.
Talia couldn't help the smile at what Tyler McGregor had done for Rey just now for it made a real difference. "Rey, come here," Talia said. Rey walked over to where Talia was and knelt down to her level, before Talia hugged him, "Dear boy, you did a wonderful job. What you were told just now about being a hero was correct, for you are one," Talia said in the same tone she would use with her son.
Rey felt warmth at being told that, it was unlike anything he had felt before now, even with Rau. It was pleasant somehow and fit the description of what others had talked about when they had been with one person in particular. Rey smiled, "Mother," he whispered. Explosion quickly surrounded them and the three were seen no more.
Phase end
A/n
Alrighty then, I'm leaving off there for the next phase, which may be mean of me, but this was getting long, and I didn't want to keep going on with what will be the next phase. So, points to clarify and point out, there are a few of them in this phase. The battle overall does 'loosely' base upon what happens in canon, specifically "Gundam Seed Destiny: Final Plus". Two particular examples of that is Rey's reference to original sin as that's in Final Plus and I liked that comparison. The other is the conversation between Durandal and Creuset as that's not in the final episode.
For the points of Durandal's character that I showed off in this Phase, mostly that he didn't see what he was doing as wrong I did for a reason. First, Durandal saw the problems that the human race repetitively faced and set off to break that cycle. I wanted to have Durandal seen as one that was doing what is noble but hadn't thought through every detail of what would result. I also wanted to make it clear that Tyler doesn't hate Durandal specifically, it is the Destiny Plan he detests. That is displayed with Tyler giving Durandal a prayer in the end. The rant that Tyler gives is out of anger and frustration.
Next point to highlight, Shinn finally coming to the realization that the Destiny Plan is wrong. I know that a number of you have been saying that Shinn is better in my story than in canon and I don't disagree. Shinn not acting out of anger and hate is much better, but he was being tricked as should be obvious by this point. It is the combination of things that help Shinn come to the realization of what the Destiny Plan. I planned to have Shinn switch sides in this battle some time ago and the stuff before has been leading up to it. Also like Kira in Seed, Shinn's Seed mode has two different versions, one that comes from desperation and the other from resolve. Resolve will beat out desperation most times as proven with Shinn versing Athrun around Orb.
Point number three, the Trans-AM system introduction. Some of you might have guessed that this idea was coming at some point after I brought in GN solar reactors, so good assumption. However, there is a caveat to Trans-Am in my story that isn't in Gundam 00, that being handling the increase Trans-Am gives takes more than just pushing some buttons. This can be seen by Tyler, Kira and yes, even Sakura going into SEED mode when they activate Trans-Am. Trans-Am doesn't affect the nuclear power source on the Phoenix or the Freedom, if any ask that. Side note, I had debated whether to have Sakura have Seed Factor before now, but this made more sense in the end.
Finally, the confrontation between Tyler, Kira and Durandal for there is significances to it. Yes, it is the philosophical argument should human beings have free will and choice, but there is more to it than just that. The conversation shows firmly that there was a connection between Tyler and Durandal, Tyler's father. The other point that I kind of bring up is again with free will, without it can we have a future or will it be like being in a cage. In the end, I did have Durandal killed like in canon, but I wanted it to feel different with Rey questioning just following Durandal was right.
Thank you to all you readers for taking the time to read this Phase and I hoped you enjoyed it. as usually, some of you please take the time and write a review, tell me what you think, ask questions whatever you like. Reviews are helpful to me at improving my writing skills. The next Phase will likely be the last one for this story for a while at least, but no promises whether that will be true, we'll see. A off topic note, my next project for those that have read the White Dragon Chronicles, I will be polishing it up and combining it into one store instead of two parts. Peace out everyone until next time!
KakeruPB
Glad you enjoyed the last Phase, but I think I made Sakura even scarier now that I have revealed that not only does she have SEED factor, but she also has one of the same skills as Tyler, Tactical forecasting. I'm hoping that the blocking of Neo-GENESIS was to your liking like the change with how Requiem was destroyed.
Guest
Glad you like the character development it takes work and effort to do right. I thought about having Durandal in a mobile suit, but it just didn't feel right to me, though it would be neat to see. It wouldn't be a fair match, Kira is good at piloting the Freedom, but Tyler is in the top five pilots the Federation has, so again not fair fight.
REANOFSITHLORD
Hope you like this update as much as the last one.
Flaxj
Thank you, hope you like this one too.