"Kira Yamato/Suletta Mercury!" - Normal Text.
"Strike/Aerial!" - Some Random-Ass Bold Text That I Put Just To Make It Look Cool When Other Fanfics Do It Cuz Why Not Text.
"Launching!" - Thinking Text.
"Bruh" - Comms/Mic/TV Audio/ZOOM Meeting/Flashback Text
The next day after Mu got his new Strike Kai, Suletta's Aerial got her own Striker Packs, and Kira's Strike got the new but complicated IWSP Striker Pack. The crews are doing their own thing, Kira helping Mu with his Strike Kai, Erica, and her fellow mechanics carefully studying the Strike's Warp Drive Engine (Because Kira requested them to check the engine carefully. He believes that a failsafe is in that said engine because... it's Prospera who installed that engine in the Strike, but he is in desperate need to know its secrets and how they could get home so he lets Erica and the rest commence some studies on the mysterious engine.), and Suletta and Miorine on maintenance duty at the Aerial in Kira's absence.
At Orb's main building where Lord Uzumi and the rest of the Orb Government officials are inside, they received what the Earth Forces called their "final warning", but the truth was that they were only being shown the Earth Forces' true colors that they had no trouble revealing now that they had lost Panama. Along with this, they also received information that an Alliance Fleet was already on its way to Orb, and somehow Carpentaria had found out about the situation and was now requesting a meeting as well.
Needless to say, Uzumi Nara Athha was furious at this, not only because the Atlantic Federation was now shamelessly showing its true colors, but also over the fact that the world was continuing to be forced into two camps because of the Federation. Knowing that even if they avoided a conflict today, they only be forced to fight in the war tomorrow, there was only one thing that the Orb leaders could do and it was not a hard decision.
That decision was soon passed on to Murrue Ramius aboard the Archangel, which led the former Earth Forces ship's captain to call the crew together for a meeting.
"An Earth Alliance Forces fleet is on its way here to Orb." Once Murrue announced that, all of the Archangel crew members began to murmur to one another, but that didn't stop Murrue from continuing, "The reason given is...unless Orb joins forces with the Earth Alliance and fights against the PLANTs... they will consider Orb a supporter of ZAFT."
Then more murmurs came, mostly all of them thought that this was outrageous.
"My hypocritical loser of a father might get along with the Earth Forces." Miorine thought out aloud as she clicked her tongue at the thought of her father and the Earth Forces.
"Yeah, I can imagine, Miorine." Kira joined in as he and Miorine imagined the interaction of Delling and the Earth Alliance.
Suletta decided to join in the imagination but... she imagined differently. What the girl imagined were stickmen versions of Delling and the Earth Alliance hitting each other.
"I don't know... Are you sure they're gonna get along?" Suletta asked as she looked back to Kira and Miorine. Kira just sheepishly chuckled and shrugged at Suletta, while Miorine just facepalmed and sighed at Suletta.
"The Orb government continues to stress its position as a neutral nation...and is calling out for diplomatic cooperation as we speak." With Uzumi, he and the rest of the Orb superiors are panicking in the room, with Uzumi being the calm one, "But unfortunately...judging from the latest reaction of the Earth Forces...we must say chances of avoiding battle are extremely low. Orb has given orders to its citizens...to evacuate the city and areas close to military facilities."
At the Orb docks, battleships are deployed and other Orb soldiers left at the docks are getting ready. Then in another area, Orb civilians are evacuating.
"They are readying their defensive positions to prepare for the worst. Each of us must also decide on what we wish to do. Currently, the Archangel is a runaway ship." Then we're back at the Orb hangar, "...in a situation where it cannot even establish its own position... There is no longer anyone with the authority...to give orders on what we should be doing amidst this situation with Orb. For one, I do not have such...authority over you."
Then more murmurs come, the crew now confused and asking themselves what to do. Sai and Miriallia looking at each other with concern, Cagalli looking at Kira with concerned look, and Kira and the girls now looking at one another with concerned looks.
"Should there be no means to avoid battle...attacks wi;; commence at 0900 the day after tomorrow! Each one of us must independently make a decision...as to whether to fight and protect Orb, or not." Then various scenes occurred, an Orb tank going to its designated post, the Astray trio (Asagi, Mayura, and Juri.) suiting up into their pilot uniforms, Astray M1s getting ready in the hangars, and the tanks getting into their firing positions.
"Therefore, anyone who wishes to take this opportunity to leave this ship...is asked to promptly disembark...and evacuate according to orders by the Orb Government." Murrue then paused for a moment as she gave a small, apologetic smile before finally finishing her speech, "Thank you all for sticking by me... your reliable Captain, for so long!"
After the speech of Murrue was finished in a few hours, most of the crew remained with the ship while there are some people decided to leave for good reasons. Among them are Kira, Sai, and Miriallia's friend Kuzzey.
"I see. You're getting off, are you, Kuzzey?" Sai asked when he saw Kuzzey in his casual clothes instead of the Earth Alliance uniform.
"Yeah... Aren't you leaving, Sai?" Kuzzey asked his friend back and looked at him.
"I'm staying." Sai replied his reason, "It's Orb that's gonna be under attack, after all...and right now, I can contribute. I just called my parents a moment ago and told them the same thing."
Kuzzey then looked away in shame, "But..." Then he realized about Miriallia as he looked back to Sai, "Oh, what about Milly? She's getting off, right? I mean, she's a girl."
Sai realized what Kuzzey was on about as he sighed, "Kuzzey. Don't worry about what other people are deciding."
Kuzzey was then surprised at Sai, who continued, "If you made the decision yourself, that should be good enough. Everyone has their own reasons."
"But..." Kuzzey started as he is now having second thoughts about leaving because his hands were shaking, "...if I'm the only one saying I want to get off, everyone will think...I'm timid and cowardly, right?" Kuzzey then looked back to Sai with a pity expression.
Sai understood his guilt, "Kuzzey..." While that was happening, Kira and Cagalli entered and noticed the two. They quickly hid and listened in on the conversation. Speaking of hiding, on the other side, Miorine and Suletta are also hiding and listening in on the conversation between Sai and Kuzzey. Suletta gives off an upset expression that Kuzzey's leaving because she and Kuzzey got along after she and Miorine were introduced to Kira's friends. Miorine's expression is a pity, but she understands why he has to leave even though she and Kuzzey are just acquaintances.
"It's probably true. But, there's...nothing I can do on board! Nothing to do with fighting! I'll leave that stuff to guys who are able to do it!" Kuzzey told his reasons to Sai, who understood his reasons.
"I know. Fighting wars is just not your thing. You're too kind for this stuff."
"Sai..."
Sai then put an arm on Kuzzey's shoulder, "We'll meet again when the war is over. Be sure to survive until then."
"Sai... You know, I've changed my..." Kuzzey tried to tell Sai that he changed his mind, but Sai is having none of that.
"Don't even think about it. You'll regret it again later."
Still at the Archangel, but in the prison section, Miriallia unlocked Dearka's prison cell, while holding his pilot uniform. This caused Dearka to quickly stand up and give Miriallia a questioning expression.
"Interrogation? Or a transfer?" Dearka guessed.
"This ship is going out to battle again." Miriallia corrected Dearka, "Because the Earth Forces are attacking Orb. Apparently, you're free to go. You're being released." Miriallia then threw Dearka's ZAFT uniform to him and left. Dearka abruptly caught his uniform and quickly went after Miriallia.
"But w-wait a minute! Hey!" Dearka called out as he and Miriallia left the prison section of the ship, "What's that supposed to mean?!"
"It's like I just told you." Miriallia repeated as she and Dearka just walked through the Archangel's corridors, "The Earth Forces are attacking, so the Archangel must fight. And there's no reason to keep you on board. So get off."
"What I want to know is, why are you guys fighting against the Earth Forces?" Dearka asked, confused as to why the Archangel is fighting against the Earth Forces.
"Because Orb refused to side with the Earth Forces."
Dearka paused in his tracks when Miriallia told him, "That hardly makes sense! Are Naturals really that stupid?"
Miriallia also stopped in her tracks and looked back to Dearka, "Say what you like! When the battle begins, it's going to get chaotic around here. I'm sorry, but you're on your own."
"Easy for you to say." Dearka sighed until he realized one important thing. His mobile suit, the Buster Gundam, "What about my Buster?"
"That was ours to begin with. Morgenröte took it." As soon as Miriallia told him that, Dearka's face fell, "I'm sorry things turned out this way." She turned away and left, but Dearka then ran up and stopped her from going by grabbing her arm.
"Are you fighting too?" Dearka asked as he spun Miriallia to face him.
"I'm in charge of the Archangel's CIC!" Miriallia stated as she pulled herself free. She then calmly stated, "Besides, Orb is my home country."
In the Archangel's hangar, we see Kira doing maintenance to the Strike in the cockpit, with Suletta just watching him... with a troubled expression. Then Miorine arrived with a tray that contained their snacks. You guys can imagine what it is. It can be either a sandwich or something. As long as it's not sus.
"I got us something to eat you two. Eat up." Miorine said as she extended the tray to the pilots. Kira then went out of the Strike grabbed the snack on the tray and ate it while he was sitting on the cockpit doors. Miorine then grabbed hers and ate it, and finally, Suletta grabbed hers as she uneasily ate her snack... until she stopped midway from biting her snack and decided to ask Kira.
"Hey, Kira-nii-chan..."
"Yeah?"
"What do you feel about... killing?" Then Kira and Miorine stopped biting their snacks mid-way as the both of them looked at Suletta with surprised expressions.
"Uhhhh..." Kira started, but because he was surprised, he couldn't utter a word but uhh.
"Suletta... W-Why the sudden question?" Miorine stuttered, not expecting Suletta to ask that... but she had a good feeling why Suletta asked that.
"It's because we're going to fight the Alliance, right? You told me back at Mercury that killing is bad... and yet when we've arrived in your home and timeline... You kill." Suletta told the two as she looked at Kira, "I know that you told me that I shouldn't have blood on my hands when we arrived, but... what about you?! You kill, Kira-nii-chan! You had blood on your hands!"
Kira just looked at Suletta... then he looked back at his snack with a sorrowful expression, "To be honest with you... I don't like killing, Suletta. I'm a pacifist. I became traumatized by the people that I killed. When I was little, a childhood friend of mine then told me about war, which led both of us to dislike it... until I piloted the Strike and started to kill to protect my friends."
Suletta and Miorine just looked at Kira as he kept on going, "Yeah, killing is bad unless you had a reason to, Suletta. Like you had to kill to protect your loved ones. But it's not that easy."
"Kill to protect..." Suletta muttered processing Kira's words to her... until her troubled expression faded away as she smiled, "I see... Thank you, Kira-nii-chan. I know what to do."
"What do you mean?" Kira asked, having no clue what she meant.
"I'm going to kill, Kira-nii-chan." Suletta told Kira with determination in her eyes, "If it means protecting you and Miorine-san, or our friends and families! So you don't have to be alone to bear the burden of killing someone. Even if it also pains me to do so as well..."
"Suletta.../Suletta!" Kira muttered and Miorine exclaimed, "Are you crazy?!" Miorine said this one.
"I'm sorry, Miorine-san. But we're in a war, and this timeline is where Kira-nii-chan is from, so we need to give our everything to defend his home!"
"...You had a point." Miorine admitted, "Who would've thought that my groom is a soldier from another timeline and we've also become soldiers as well... I don't like it but we don't have a choice, we're in a war and the two of us agreed to help Kira." She then looked back at Kira, "Same goes for the idea of killing... but at least you're not a killer that likes to kill...Idiot."
"Please don't call me that, but..." Kira then smiled, "Thank you, you two."
The girls just smiled at him as the Miriallia began to announce to everyone to get ready.
"Well, looks like this is it." Kira said as he and the girls nodded to each other, "Good luck to each of us. Let's go."
Suletta already went ahead but Miorine... she just looked at Kira.
"Hey... does Suletta know?" Miorine asked him.
Kira just paused from what he was doing as he looked back at Miorine, "No... not yet."
"I see..." Miorine nodded at Kira, at least she knew Suletta didn't know, "You must've hidden that illness of yours pretty well, huh?"
"I know that the truth will be revealed to her in the future... but for now... she must not know." Kira said with a somber expression.
"Alright... it is your choice." Miorine nodded to him in understanding, "Don't worry, I won't tell her. You can trust me."
"Miorine... Thanks."
Then they went to their separate designations. Kira and Suletta went on to change their clothes into their pilot suits. The Earth Alliance ones, not their Asticassia ones. Kira's going to wear his classic blue and white OMNI uniform while Suletta's going to wear the red Orb pilot suit that was given to her by Cagalli. Miorine heads straight to the bridge for her designated post, a CIC Operator. Once they got themselves ready, along with the rest of the crew, they are now ready to launch.
"The Orb forces have begun battle!" Sai Argyle, in his new post as the Fire Control Operator, informed Murrue.
"Archangel, taking off!" Murrue called out as soon as she heard that the battle had begun. The Archangel then activated its thrusters as the ship now went out of Orb, with Kira, Suletta, and Mu waiting for their call to launch while inside their respective Gundams.
In no time at all, the Orb forces were engaging the enemy and shooting down the enemy missiles that threatened the neutral nation. It was going well on the battlefield, as the Astray M1s and tanks destroyed the oncoming missiles. As soon as the Archangel was near as it was now on the air, Murrue gave the call to fire the Gottfrieds. The Gottfrieds fired and destroyed the other oncoming missiles. Far away and behind the Archangel was Dearka Elsman, in his civilian clothes, just watching worriedly at the white ship while he's left at Orb.
"You nervous?" Kira asked Suletta through the comms.
"Y-Yeah... even though we kicked butt back at JOSH-A, I'm still nervous... also nervous that I'm gonna kill." Suletta admitted her concerns to Kira, but of course, Mu joined in.
"Don't worry, Suisei-chan. You'll get used to it eventually. The first kill is always traumatizing, take that back to me and the kid here." Mu said in a joking manner as Kira chuckled at Mu's antics and Suletta just smiled.
"Strike! Strike Kai! Aerial! Get ready and sortie into your designated Striker Packs!" the voice of Miriallia Haw called out as Kira and Suletta nodded and readied themselves.
The Strike was sortied into the IWSP Striker Pack, with his arm-mounted beam cannon on his arm and beam rifle on his side skirts equipped in compensation for his lack of beam weaponry. The Aerial was then sortied into the Multiple Assault Striker Pack, or the Perfect Aerial, with both arm-mounted variants of the shoulder units now equipped on her arms and the Striker Packs now equipped on her back. As soon as both Gundams equipped their equipment, their eyes flashed.
"Strike! Aerial! You two are clear for launch!" Miriallia gave the go-ahead.
"Kira Yamato! Strike, ikimasu!/Suletta Mercury! Aerial, ikimasu!" Both pilots announced their names and designated Gundam names, launched out from the Archangel's two catapults and soared through the skies.
Then Mu's Strike Kai was in place of Kira's Strike as he is now being sortied into the Multiple Assault Striker as well.
"Strike Kai, go ahead!"
"Mu La Flaga! Strike Kai, deruzo!" Mu shouted as he closed his visor and his Gundam was launched into action for his new mobile suit's first battle.
In the Archangel's bridge, Miorine, from her post, just looked at the three flying mobile suits, praying to them good luck.
Now on the battlefield, the Astray trio is... having some trouble fending off the attacking Strike Daggers. But don't worry! Kira's here to save the day! The Strike arrived while in the air as it fired all of its long-range weapons to kill the Strike Daggers that were troubling the Astray trio.
The remaining alive Strike Daggers gasped in shock, too shocked to do anything when the Strike discarded its Combined Shield to reach for its Anti Ship Swords. Once the Strike's now landed on the ground, he swiftly slashed the cockpits of the remaining Strike Daggers and took off to the skies again, of course, he couldn't forget his shield.
"Awesome." Asagi muttered in awe at Kira's performance.
In another location of the battle, a squad of Strike Daggers was killed by a slash of Aerial's Schwert Gewehr. Suletta inside was hyperventilating... until she managed to calm herself down. C'mon, the girl had her first kill, it's reasonable why she had to hyperventilate and calm herself down.
"I'm sorry, Aerial. For making you kill as well, but we had to do it to protect Kira-nii-chan's home and our new friends!" Suletta apologized to her (sentient) Gundam as the Aerial equipped her Agni Launcher and fired at the oncoming Strike Daggers.
With Mu's Strike Kai, as he went down to land, he fired his Agni at three Strike Daggers that attempted to shoot him down, but they failed because they were killed.
"Boy, that's so cool." Mu amusingly commented, "Though, I'm still new at this." Then he noticed the three Astrays, "Hey! You'd better stay alert, girls! Others will be here any minute!"
The Archangel fired its Valiants at other Earth Alliance aircrafts, which they successfully destroyed. Then came Raider and Calamity.
"I'll get that white one." Clotho Buer, the pilot of the Raider Gundam, told his Calamity partner, Orga Sabnak. Jackie informed Murrue, who was puzzled to what he informed her. A mobile suit or a mobile armor?
Calamity then fired his beam weapons at the Archangel, but the Archangel did a swift dodge, dodging the blasts... but at the cost of taking out an Orb ship.
"You missed, lousy shot!" Clotho insulted Orga's shot. The Calamity then jumped off of the Raider and fired all his beam weapons on the Orb forces that it could, a sight that did not go unnoticed by Dearka, who scowled feeling like that machine was an insult to the Buster, which also specialized in long-range tactics.
Of course, the Calamity didn't go unnoticed by Mu, "A new Earth Forces machine?" Mu asked as a battery pack of the Perfect Strike Kai was purged off from the Aile.
During the fighting, some people were still doing everything they could to escape Orb, as not all of the civilians were able to evacuate in time. One family, in particular, was running as fast as they could to reach the boats that would get everyone to safety when the younger of the two children accidentally dropped her phone. Moving quickly when he saw that his little sister was not willing to leave it behind, the son quickly jumped down the hillside where the phone had fallen and scooped it up, none of them noticing an enemy machine was about to fire a blast in their direction. Thankfully, someone else did.
"Look out!" The Aerial then dashed through the ground and scooped in the parents and the girl by the Aerial's hand. The Aerial tumbled downhill and scooped up the boy and then the Gundam took up the skies seconds before the blast could hit the Gundam. The Aerial then landed safely on the ground as Suletta began to eye the family, "A-Are you guys alright?"
The family looked at the Aerial and all of them started to become a bit worried. Suletta noticed this as she made the Aerial's cockpit open and she took off her helmet, "I-It's alright! I'm a friend! Aerial and I saved you all!" Suletta assured the family as she smiled at them.
The parents are wondering why she's piloting a mobile suit this young. Then the son gasped, now realizing that Suletta is a teenager like him, albeit three years older than him, but he shook that thought as he went to his younger sister and gave her her phone, "Hey Mayu, try not to drop this next time, okay? If it weren't for Onee-chan here all of us would've died from there."
When Mayu saw that Shinn was holding her pink phone, she squealed with joy as she accepted her phone from her brother and hugged him, "Thank you, Onii-chan! You're the best!"
Suletta just smiled at the interaction until her alarms blared. Of course, the Asuka family noticed this as well, now with scared expressions. Suletta put on her helmet and told the Asuka family, "Please get inside Aerial, we will safely escort you to the transport ships!"
The Asuka family nodded at Suletta's request as they went inside and the cockpit doors closed.
"Woah... So this is what an inside of a mobile suit is?" Shinn said in awe.
"Umm... technically so... Please brace yourselves, this will get bumpy!" Suletta said as the Aerial then dashed through the battlefield, going to escort the Asuka family to the evacuation site, but of course, not without some obstacles in the way. The Strike Daggers.
"Yosh... Ikuze, Aerial!" The Aerial's eyes glowed in return to Suletta's exclaim, Aerial pulled out the Schwert Gewehr again and slashed the Strike Daggers that blocked her way.
Then more came in as the Aerial was prompted to equip the Agni, spun around the area, and fired at the oncoming Strike Daggers.
While Shinn and Mayu's parents are scared at what's happening and Mayu just hugging her older brother for support, Shinn is in awe at how Suletta performed... now having an idea of what he'll do in the future.
With the Strike Daggers now gone, the Aerial arrived at the docks to where the transport ships were and knelt with her hand on the cockpit, which opened so the Asuka family could hop off of the cockpit. Once they were out, Mayu and Shinn looked back at Suletta and Aerial.
"Onee-chan, thank you for the lift! You too Aerial-nee-chan!" Mayu waved at Suletta and Aerial with a smile. Shinn also waved back.
Suletta just smiled back at Mayu and Shinn as she made the Aerial to give them a thumbs up, "It's my pleasure uhhh..."
"My name is Mayu! And this best older brother of mine is Shinn!"
"Ah! It's my pleasure, Mayu-chan! Shinn-kun!" The Aerial closed the cockpit doors and went back to the battlefield. Specifically at the Strike due to the reports of three new Alliance mobile suits.
Shinn could only stare after the white heavy-armed Gundam in awe for a moment as his sister started tapping his arm to get his attention. When she finally had it, Shinn told her, "Mayu, I think I just figured out what I want to do in the future."
"I'll getcha!" Clotho roared out as the Raider charged at the Archangel, dodging every beam it fired at him. Once the Raider was near, he transformed into its Mobile Suit mode and attempted to attack the bridge with its "Mjolnir" mace, but he was kicked away by Kira's Strike, prompting the Raider to hit the water and Clotho to scream for dear life.
Then a new Gundam entered the fray, the Forbidden Gundam in its High-Speed Assault mode. The Gundam then changed back into its MS mode and landed on an Orb ship, slicing off the bridge. Kira punched the Strike's thrusters as the Strike then went after the Forbidden Gundam.
The Raider then recovered from the water as Clotho glared at the white mobile suit, "Bastard! You're terminated!" The Raider fired its Mjolnir at the Strike, who evaded it by going upwards. Then the Raider's alarms blared as an Agni shot was fired in his direction, but it barely hit him. The Raider then looked at the mobile suit responsible for that, only to see the Aerial dashing towards him. How is the Aerial not slowly descending? Let's thank the GUND-Bits for the added thrusters and mobility.
Then back at Orb, the Calamity managed to kill the defending Astray M1s. Orga just maniacally laughed at the masterpiece that he'd created, he also noticed the Strike Kai charging at him with the Schwert Gewehr.
"Take this!" Mu roared as the Strike Kai barely dodged the Calamity's beams. He's now in front of the Gundam as the Strike Kai attempted to slash, but the Calamity managed to block the attack with its shield. It fired its Scylla, the same Scylla the Aegis has, at the Strike Kai, but the Strike Kai managed to jump out of its way in time.
At the same location as the now-ruined Orb, Dearka arrived and worriedly looked at the Archangel, now recalling his conversation with Miriallia. He shook his head and decided to help as he ran straight to his destination where his Buster Gundam was stored at. Morgenröte.
Back at the Archangel, Strike fired his Combined Shield's Gatling Gun at the oncoming Raider, but for some reason, he was blocked by the Forbidden, much to the irk of Clotho.
"You're getting in my way, Shani!" Clotho called him out.
"You're the one getting in my way!" Shani argued as the Forbidden fired its railguns at the Strike, who elegantly dodged it by going upside down and firing its beam cannons at the Forbidden, who deflected the beams thanks to his Geschmeidig Panzer.
"The hell? It could curve beams?!" Kira exclaimed as he immediately dodged Raider's Mjolnir.
Aerial then pulled out its Midas Messer from the Panzer Aisen and she threw the said beam boomerang at the Forbidden. The Forbidden swatted it away with his Nidhoggr scythe.
"You're way out of my league, newbie!" Shani insulted the Gundam as he attempted to slash at the Aerial, who countered it with her Panzer Eisen, locking the scythe with her small shield.
"Don't underestimate me and Aerial!" Suletta exclaimed as the Aerial unlocked the blade parry and fired her beam vulcans at the Gundam, who quickly used his Geschmeidig Panzer to block the said vulcans... but it also surprised him that the beams curved.
"What the hell? Are those vulcans of that white newbie beams?!" Shani gawked as he glared at the Aerial.
Even though the Archangel was firing all of its beam weapons in every direction, some fighter planes swooped in and managed to get through the Archangel's defenses, ready to fire their missiles. But... a beam shot from the direction of the island took down both planes.
The bridge crew just looked at the destroyed planes, wondering where that beam came from. Until Sai informed them.
"The Buster?" Sai informed as Miriallia's eyes widened. When everyone looked to the source, they all gasped in shock at the sight of the Buster with its rifles armed and aimed right at the Earth Forces.
"The green Gundam... Buster." Miorine noted as she took note of the Strike's sister unit.
Dearka, in his ZAFT pilot suit, fired Buster's missile pods as the missiles went straight to the fighter planes, shooting down the entire squadron.
"Hurry out of there! Archangel!" Dearka called out to the Archangel bridge
"Why... is he...?" Miriallia wondered why Dearka was in his Buster and saving the Archangel.
With Mu, his Strike Kai managed to dodge every beam and railgun attack from the Calamity thanks to the Aile Striker's thrusters and his own Strike's thrusters. Then two of the Astray M1 trio arrived to help Mu.
"Commander!" Asagi called out as she fired her Astray M1's beam rifle at the Calamity.
"These guys...!" both Kira and Suletta grunted in unison as the Strike aimed his currently equipped beam rifle at the Forbidden and fired, but of course, the beams were deflected thanks to his bullshit-ass shields. The Forbidden then went out of the Raider's way as the black Gundam itself fired its Dual 52mm Hyper Velocity Shield Cannon at the Strike, which was then blocked by his combined shield.
"You're getting on my nerves!" Clotho grunted.
"You pest!" Shani added.
The two Gundams then dodged an Agni beam from Aerial as both the Strike and Aerial were now back-to-back with both Gundams from the Alliance surrounding them.
Orga noticed the two white Gundams as he aimed his Calamity's weapons at the Gundams, but of course, Kira and Suletta dodged them. The Alliance Gundams then gave their all to attack the two Archangel Gundams, who dodged every attack that was given to them. Until the Forbidden suddenly appeared in front of the Strike and slashed the mobile suit down, the good thing is it hit the shield instead of the mobile suit itself, causing the Strike to descend into the air as the Raider appeared in front of him, his Mjolnir ready to fire to the Strike.
"Kira-nii-chan!" Suletta cried out as she tried to help Kira, but she was now locking blades with the Forbidden with the Schwert Gewehr.
"You're not going anywhere, newbie!" Shani shouted, trying to stop Suletta from helping Kira.
"The end." Clotho smirked as he used the Raider's Zorn energy Cannon at the Strike.
Before the beam could hit the Strike... the Justice appeared in front of the Strike, blocking it with his Laminated Beam Shield. With the beam now gone, the Justice then aimed his beam rifle at the Raider, which surprised Clotho and the rest as they just gaped at the red machine. Suletta used this chance to kick the Forbidden away as she rendezvoused with the Strike and Justice.
Kira and Suletta just looked at the red machine that saved Kira and suddenly arrived.
"Eh? A-Akai... Gundam?!" Suletta gaped.
"That red machine and that head crest... Aegis? No, it can't be. It doesn't look like it..." Kira muttered, having a good feeling who pilots this Aegis look-alike.
On the island, Asagi is fighting a Strike Dagger, but she is saved by Mayura when Mayura fires her beam rifle to destroy the Strike Dagger's arm and torso. Near the two, Juri struck a Strike Dagger's torso with her beam saber.
Then now at the command center or something where Cagalli and Kisaka are at...
"They've broken through our secondary defensive line! We've lost communication with the Sixth Technical Company!" an Orb official informed Cagalli, who now wore an uneasy expression with the information that she got.
Now with Mu and Dearka, the Strike Kai fired his Agni at the squadron of Strike Daggers, easily killing them. Buster then fired his missiles at the oncoming Alliance missiles, and then he combined his two guns into the Hyper Impulse Long-Range Sniper Rifle, destroying the missiles.
Now back to the Gundams...
"Damn it! Who the hell are you?!" The Raider then transformed into its MA mode and charged at the Gundams.
"Wow. There's another one of those funny-looking mobile suits." Shani commented as his Forbidden transformed into its High-Speed Assault mode and also charged.
The Strike's alarm blared in the cockpit, alerting Kira as the three Gundams evaded the Alliance Gundams' attacks.
"This is ZAFT Special Forces agent...Athrun Zala!" Athrun's voice echoed through the Strike and Aerial's radio, causing Kira to gasp, "Can you hear me, Strike? Kira Yamato, I presume."
"Athrun..." Kira gaped, now knowing that Athrun was the one who piloted that mobile suit. Kira just watched Justice combine his beam sabers into a twin-edged form known as the Ambidextrous Halberd and charge at the Raider while blocking and evading the Raider's shots.
"Kira-nii-chan, who is he?" Suletta asked Kira, but Kira ignored her question as he just watched Athrun exchanging blows with the Raider, until he shook his head and made the Strike reach for an Anti-Ship Sword and also join in the fray, leaving the Aerial.
"What's the big idea?" Kira asked as he intervened in the clash of Raider and Justice with a slash, which caused the Raider to fly back off, "Is ZAFT going to stick its nose into this battle?"
Justice then dodged more railguns from the Raider, "I have no specific orders regarding this battle!" Athrun revealed the reason why he was here.
The Forbidden then fired his beam, while in High-Speed Assault mode, at the Strike... which the beam curved in his direction. Luckily, the Strike managed to dodge that.
"This intervention...is my decision alone!" Athrun declared as the Justice attacked the Raider, but his attack was blocked by the Raider's shield, causing both mobile suits to back away from each other.
'Athrun...!' Kira mentally thought out when he heard Athrun's reason.
The Aerial then fired its beam vulcans and the Combo Weapons Pod, only the bullets, at the Raider, who dodged the vulcans and blocked the bullets.
"I don't know what's going on, but you're going down too!" The Raider fired its Dual Shield Cannon at the Justice, who blocked it with his shield.
The Strike and Aerial then fired their beam weapons at the Forbidden, but of course, the beams were deflected causing Kira and Suletta to grunt in annoyance and for Shani to grin in success.
"Kira-nii-chan, we need to do something about that deflector thing!" Suletta called out.
"I'm trying to think how we're gonna do that!" Kira grunted as the two white Gundams kept on firing their weapons at the Forbidden.
"What's that? There's an extra one." Orga commented when he saw the Justice arrive, causing him to fire at the Justice. Of course, the Justice dodged, but the Raider was nearly hit by his comrade's attack, causing him to transform and glare at the Calamity.
"Orga! Damn you!" Clotho cursed his teammate, but of course, Orga didn't give a shit as he kept on firing.
This didn't go unnoticed by the rest on the ground. Dearka and Mu were wondering what was happening up there. The same goes for the Astray trio and the Orb officials.
"Is that another Alliance Forces machine?" asked an Orb operator to his fellow Orb comrade.
"No, it's not! It's backing the Strike and the Aerial!" replied the other operator as Cagalli looked back to the screen behind her to see the results of the fight in the skies.
The Calamity on the ground decided to activate its thrusters so he could join his teammates in the skies, "What are you guys playing around for?" amusingly asked Orga as he fired more beams at the white and red Gundams, which they evaded.
"Out of my way, Orga!" Clotho called him out as he and the Forbidden just soared through the skies, with Shani just smirking and chuckling.
The Calamity then landed on an Orb ship and fired a shot on the bridge, "You pests!" Orga amusingly shouted as he fired more beams into the sky.
The Justice and Aerial narrowly dodged it and the Forbidden went to the beams way as he used his shield to deflect the Calamity's beam to the Justice and Raider's way, which they dodged. Well in Raider's case, almost dodged it.
"Wha?!" Clotho gasped as he glared at the Forbidden, "Shani! You bastard!"
Shani just smirked at Clotho in return as the Justice and Aerial fired their Vulcans/Bullets at the Forbidden. Of course, the Forbidden blocked it with his movable shields.
The Strike then twirled around in the air as he fired his rail guns at the Forbidden, which did a little bit of damage to his shield.
"Rail guns, huh." Kira took note of the Forbidden's damaged shields against the Strike IWSP's rail guns.
Shani just grunted in return as he tried to fix his Gundam's stance... only for the Justice to arrive in front and kick him.
The Raider fired his machine guns in MA mode at the Justice, but Justice backed off as the Aerial entered and fired its Agni at the Raider. The Raider dodged the beam as he transformed into MS mode and fired its Mjolnir at the Gundams, which they dodged.
The Aerial then punched her thrusters as she put away the Schwert Gewehr in exchange for Aile's beam saber and charged at the Raider.
Of course, the Raider's pilot didn't expect this as he barely dodged the Aerial's attempt... only for him to meet with Justice's knee.
"Take this!" The Calamity fired more beams into the sky, of course, the three Gundams dodged it as the Strike returned fire by firing his beam cannon at the Calamity, who of course deflected it with his shield.
"Above you two!" Athrun warned the two white Gundams as the Forbidden, in its normal mode, suddenly came down and attempted to slash at the Gundams. Still, they dodged it as Kira equipped his beam rifle and fired at the Forbidden again, but of course... they curved when he went into bullshit mode aka High-Speed Assault mode.
Shani smirked in victory again, but his alarms blared when he suddenly saw... the Justice's Fatum 00 flying towards him. The Forbidden used his shields to shield himself from the support unit, but it didn't tackle him, which prompted the Forbidden to remove his shield... only to be met by the Strike's face as he fired his beam cannon and railgun. This caused the Forbidden to get pushed back... as the Aerial's missiles from the Combo Weapons pod met his face, which exploded upon impact.
At the island, the Strike Kai charged to the firing Strike Daggers, and for some reason, the beams were not hitting the mobile suit... like certain white armored bucket-headed soldiers from a certain space wizards movie.
"You're not getting through!" Mu roared as the Strike Kai reached the Strike Daggers and slashed three of them... with the Buster slid in and killed the other Strike Daggers behind Strike Kai with his Hyper Impulse Long-Range Sniper Rifle.
"Numbers alone won't help you!" Dearka declared.
"The same old tricks won't work!" Mayura's Astray then charged to some Strike Daggers.
"Juri!" "I'm okay!" Asagi and Juri told to ask and assured one another as they fired back toward their enemies.
With Kira and the Gundams... they're dodging the attacks from the Alliance Gundams.
The Raider transformed and readied its Ahura Mazda, "YAAAHHH! You're going down!" the beam was fired, but it was blocked by the Justice when the beam was supposed to go straight to the upsidedown Strike. The Strike then fired its railguns and beam launchers at the Raider, who dodged it. Then the Raider dodged again when the Aerial, behind the Raider, fired her Agni at the black Gundam. Then both the Aerial and Raider dodged the Calamity's beam cannon shots.
"Orga!" Clotho called out to his teammate.
"You're getting on my nerves!" Orga declared as he went to his teammates, "And the same goes for you, Shani!" The Calamity fired its beam cannons at the Forbidden, which was deflected by his bullshit shield.
The Gundam pilots that are opposing the three Alliance Gundams looked at them.
"Why are they fighting each other?" Suletta asked, noticing the three Alliance Gundams fighting each other.
"Those guys will even fire at each other!" Athrun gawked, didn't even realize the other mobile suit was piloted by a girl.
"You're the one getting on my nerves, Orga!" Clotho yelled out as he tried to fire at Orga... until his eyes widened and he screamed in pain. The same goes for the other Gundams of the Alliance.
"What the...?" Kira muttered as he and the others noticed that the three machines were not doing anything.
"Shit! We're out of time! Clotho!" Orga grunted in pain as Clotho cursed as the Raider transformed into MA mode and grabbed the descending Calamity. Followed by the Forbidden in BS mode, the three machines are now retreating.
Kira and the others are wondering why they suddenly retreated until a signal glare was fired on one of the Earth Alliance's ships. Signaling the remaining Earth Alliance forces in Orb for a temporary retreat.
The Fatum 00 on Justice's back went back to Normal from its HiMAT mode as both the Strike and Justice looked at each other.
"I thank you for your support." Kira thanked the red machine that contained his childhood friend, "But I'd like to confirm once again your true intentions."
Athrun closed his eyes as he began to recall Nicol's death, his father's orders, and Lacus, "I have..." The Justice's cockpit opened as Athrun was raised from the Justice, "...orders from our Headquarters... to kill you and Codenamed: Witch."
Kira and Suletta mentally gaped, couldn't believe that ZAFT gave the Aerial a codename that relates to what the Aerial and the Gundams in Ad Stella are by Delling. A Witch.
"But right now... I have no intention of fighting against you or your allies." Athrun declared his reason to Kira and Suletta.
"Athrun...!" Kira whispered as he eyed the red machine.
Then at the island, the Strike Kai, Buster, and the Astray M1s just looked at the casualties and damages. The pilots inside are trying to catch their breath and try to recall what just happened. Then we see Cagalli out of the base that she was at, observing and reviewing the battle damages that were done.
Then we're now back to the Gundams.
"I'd like to have a talk... with you." Athrun said as Kira just stared at his friend. Then he nodded at Athrun's request.
It was sunset when the four finally landed, and everyone who was catching their breath from the battle was quick to notice them, and they all ran over to see what would happen.
The Astray trio are on the ground, out from their Astray M1s, drinking, or pouring water on their heads. Then beside the Astrays are the Strike Kai and Buster, with Mu zipping down from his Gundam and sighing, and Dearka just staying on his Gundam, looking at the Archangel, which was now on the waters.
"Everyone! You all did well!" Cagalli assured the Orb forces that fought as she and Kisaka walked through, "I'm not sure why they retreated..." Then she saw the Strike, Aerial, and Justice descending. Of course, this didn't go unnoticed by the others.
All three pilots of the Gundams zipped down, Kira and Athrun eyeing each other on their way down while Suletta had a worried expression on her face. Worried about Kira. Kira told her about Athrun and how the both of them wanted to kill each other when both of them (accidentally) killed each other's friends, so she has a right to be worried.
The others who saw the Gundams ran in their direction but stopped. Murrue raised her arms to signal her crew not to take any hasty actions.
"He's the ZAFT soldier we found." Kisaka commented once he saw Athrun.
"Athrun." Cagalli muttered with her eyes widened. Alongside Dearka's.
Both childhood friends looked at each other for a moment... until Athrun took a step forward.
"Suletta, stay here." Kira told Suletta, who nodded at his request, as Kira also took a step.
Everyone suddenly began to find themselves on edge at this sight, to the point where some Orb soldiers even started to aim their guns at Athrun. Athrun barely spared a small glance in their direction as he kept on walking towards Kira. Kira raised his hand to the soldiers, signaling them to stand down, "He's not an enemy!"
Cagalli silently gulped down her throat as Dearka wondered how Athrun was here. Miorine just stood on the sidelines and worriedly watched Kira and Athrun. Kira told her about Athrun so she had a right to be worried.
Then flashbacks began to occur, but I am not going to elaborate on what's what. Anyways... Finally, the two childhood friends are now inches from each other. They all stood there for a brief period in silence until Birdie called out and landed on Kira's shoulder, bringing a smile to Kira's face.
"Hi, Athrun." Kira casually greeted with a smile.
Athrun tightly gripped his fists, "Kira."
Before anyone else could say anything, Cagalli rushed out to them and grabbed them both in a tight hug as she stated with a teary smile, "Y-You guys!"
"C-Cagalli!" Kira exclaimed in surprise, didn't expect Cagalli to do this. The same goes for Athrun.
"You bastards!"
Kira and Athrun could only look at the blonde girl strangely before they finally smiled at each other.
Suletta from the Aerial just smiled, now happy that the two childhood friends now forgave each other while Miorine with the crew just closed her eyes, crossed her arms, and smiled.
It's been a few hours since the battle, and everything is about to be repaired inside the now-damaged Morgenröte. The Archangel is being repaired, the Astray M1s being repaired, and the Gundams are now being repaired and maintained.
"I still can't believe that's how you survived." Athrun commented when Kira told him how he survived the fight at the Marshall Islands. Both pilots are sitting on some boxes beside the Justice and in front of the Strike.
"Yeah, that's what I think back then. Thankful that I lived and met people that I considered as family in Ad Stella, but at the cost of turning back into a 5-year-old toddler and spending my time at Mercury for 21 years." Kira chuckled, "At this point, I should be 37 years old."
"It's still hard to believe, but I am curious as to how you still looked like the same age..."
"Maybe..." Kira started as he looked at his two fiances. Suletta just waved at him while Miorine just nodded... until she realized why he looked at her. She knows Kira's sickness, and Suletta doesn't. So Miorine had to keep a straight face so Suletta wouldn't notice, "Next time."
"Seems pretty personal."
"Yeah..."
Athrun began to recall his introduction to Suletta and Miorine, as he began to chuckle, "That Suletta and Miorine... You had yourself a three-way, huh? A nymphomaniac little sister and a tsundere fiancé..."
"A lot has happened back then." Kira chuckled back.
"I can see that." Athrun then looked at the Strike, "So the Strike's upgraded and not using its Phase Shift?"
"Yeah, it's thanks to the people at Vanadis that they repaired and upgraded the Strike. And me and the rest of the survivors had to disguise the Strike because I made a reputation of myself. The White Devil of Vanadis. But, I was more known as the son instead. I mean, would they believe that a 5-year-old at that time was the White Devil?"
"Well, they'll believe it when they see it, right?" Then both boys chuckled again. Athrun then looked at the Aerial, "So what's Codenamed: Witch called?"
"I'm still scared that's the codename that you used on Aerial." Kira said as Athrun nodded. Kira did tell him about the term "Witch" on Ad Stella. People who use Gundams, "XVX-016 Aerial. Built based on the Strike, now making her the little sister of the Strike."
"Aerial, huh..." Athrun muttered.
Then deciding to change the subject, Kira decided to tell Athrun his next move.
"However, that's...!" Athrun began after he heard what Kira told him.
"Yes, I'm aware of the difficulties." Kira said as he was handed drinks by Cagalli who had been smiling at the fact that the two were starting to become friends again for hours now, "Thank you." then he gave the other one to Athrun.
"Thanks." The conversation was being watched by the Archangel crew. Specifically, Murrue, Mu, and Sai in another direction, Miriallia and Dearka in another, and Suletta and Miorine in another and final direction.
"But, I also believe that it can't be helped. I believe what Cagalli's father says to be true." Kira stated that in another location of the now ruined Orb, Uzumi is spectating the damages in a helicopter, "Should Orb side with the Earth Forces... the Atlantic Federation will take advantage and attack the PLANTs. And the same thing if Orb decides to side with ZAFT. The only thing that differs is the enemy. But that won't help things one bit. I can no longer live with that."
Then we see what the other forces are doing. Murata Azrael, the maniac Coordinator-hater Natural, inspecting the three Gundams. Rau Le Creuset just observing the seas in a submarine. Flay... doing nothing since she was kidnapped by Rau. And Yzak walking through the corridors.
"That's why I...!"
"But you...!"
Kira smiled at Athrun for a moment before he looked down sadly as he replied, "I killed a comrade of yours. A personal friend." then flashbacks to when Kira's Sword Strike accidentally killed Nicol, "But I never knew him. And its not as if I wanted to kill him. You killed Tolle." And the flashback of Aegis killing Tolle, Athrun didn't expect Kira to point that out as Miriallia reacted differently as she looked down. Trying to hold back her emotions, Dearka just looked at her worriedly, "But you never knew Tolle. And it's not as if you wanted to kill him, was it?"
"No...!" Athrun replied sadly, "I tried to kill you."
"Same here." Kira admitted, getting Athrun's shocked attention once more, "Athrun. It would be great if we lived in a world where we didn't have to fight. If only we could live forever in such a world." Then Kira recalled the time he was in Heliopolis, "But the war continues to spread." Mu began to comfort Murrue as they began to recall about JOSH-A. Athrun then looked away from Kira as he began to recall his father's words about winning this war.
"At this point...the PLANTs and the Earth will have no choice but to destroy each other. Therefore..." Kira declared as he looked at Athrun.. then at the Archangel crew, Suletta, and Miorine, "We've decided to fight."
"Kira."
"Because, although it was to protect others, I still pulled the trigger."
"But... what about Ad Stella? Surely there's no war in there."
"There is racism between people living in some Planets, Space, and Earth... and I have my war with someone there..." Kira said as he looked back to Athrun, "But I do have a question... are we gonna fight each other again?"
Athrun gasped in shock at that, wanting to say no so much, but found he could not for some reason. Kira smiled, seeing this fact on Athrun's face, as the boy himself recalled his conversation with Lacus about declaring her as an enemy.
"I should get back to my duties." Kira said as he stood up, "We never know when they might attack us again."
"I have one question!" Athrun said as he stood up, "How did you and the girls arrive here? You didn't tell me that."
"The Strike was installed a system and engine I wasn't aware of." Kira said as he looked at his machine, "It's called the Warp Drive System and Warp Drive Engine. It was installed by my foster mother and Suletta's mother, Prospera Mercury. She somehow activated it with a remote control or something... Erica and the others are carefully studying it without trying to activate the failsafe, which is what is currently installed if I know Kaa-san... She's three steps ahead of me." He said that quietly to Athrun so the others wouldn't hear this.
"This Prospera... Is she...?" Athrun asked as he began to connect the two pieces about Kira's war with Prospera.
Kira nodded to Athrun's speculation as he then now left the scene and went straight to his Gundam. Athrun watched Kira leave and overheard Dearka attempting to cheer up Miriallia, but ultimately failed as she ran off with the blonde doing his best to make up for his stumble.
Now knowing what happened, he had a guilty look on his face as he sat down, with Cagalli worriedly staring at him.
A few hours later... Athrun and Cagalli are standing beside the side of the Strike Kai, watching everyone else work. Or just watching Kira helping Mu with his Strike Kai.
"Why are you sticking so close to me?" Athrun asked Cagalli.
"Don't mind me. I'm just standing guard." Cagalli replied.
Athrun looked back to Cagalli and smiled at her, "I see."
"You must be relieved that Kira's alive." Cagalli asked as Athrun looked at her for a moment... then he smiled, "Yeah."
"I didn't thank you before." Athrun pointed out.
"Yes, you did, quite clearly." Cagalli smiled at Athrun, "Sort of."
"Did I?" Athrun asked, surely not recalling that he thanked her.
"You weren't exactly in a proper state of mind, so perhaps you don't remember." Cagalli stated, turning away so that Athrun could not see her face.
Athrun let out a small chuckle as he replied, "Right."
The two then fell silent for another moment as Kira was now talking with Erica regarding the Strike's Warp Drive. Then Cagalli asked, "Kira's changed, don't you think?"
Athrun just watched Kira for a brief moment, then replied to Cagalli's question, "Even though he spent 21 years in that other timeline's Mercury, he still hasn't changed in my eyes."
Athrun then moved to head for the Justice before Cagalli stopped him asking, "Ah... um... What do you plan to do now?"
Athrun looked back at Cagalli and stared at her for a moment, before looking back and answering, "I don't know."
"Ugh, not again..." Cagalli moaned as she placed a hand on her head.
"But," Athrun then continued. "Maybe I've got the answer... It's tough." Then flashbacks of his father occurred in his mind.
Cagalli watched Athrun go for a moment before she glanced down stating, "For us all."
With Kira and Erica...
"Wait, what?" Kira gawked at what Erica told him about her findings about the Warp Drive System.
"Yeah, apparently the Warp Drive Engine gives your Strike a limitless amount of energy when it uses Phase Shift Armor... or rather Combined Phase Shift, and your other beam weapons." Erica informed Kira until her face became an unsure face, "Or that's what I theorized... do you want to run a test run?"
Kira then gave it a thought for a moment...until he complied, "Sure."
Then we're now at the training area, with the Strike equipping the Aile Strike Pack and its basic weapons, the beam rifle and shield, and in front of him are dummies. In the spectating area, Suletta, Miorine, Athrun, Cagalli, Mu, Murrue, and Erica are just spectating.
Kira then made his finger go to the Phase Shift Button, but he paused.
"It's been a while since I used Phase Shift..." Kira muttered, "I'm also surprised that I survived without even using it back at the battle." Kira's eyes widened in realization about that as he made his finger press the button. The Strike activated its Phase Shit with the familiar hissing sound, even though the Strike's colors are already there.
"Alright Kira, are you ready?"Erica asked from the speakers as Kira nodded at her question, "Good. Let the test begin!"
The Strike activated its thrusters and charged straight at the dummies.
RF2: Originally, this and the last chapter were supposed to be a single chapter but... 15k words? Jeezus Krayst! ANYWAYS! What do you guys think? Is the fight scene decent? And yey! Suletta killed some people, but with a reason and guilt (I think) instead of being happy like in episode 12 of WFM! Not only that, we got cameos with Shinn and his family, who lived! Another yey! TBH, Shinn in SEED Destiny was... a wasted potential. But hey, SEED Freedom's gonna be released this January so... hopefully he is not gonna be another wasted potential. Speaking of which, posted a Perfect Aerial fanart and info in DeviantArt (Or Wattpad), check it out! So anyways...Okay, so next chapter! Round 2 of Orb VS Alliance, and also their retreat to space with... some Orb big shots sacrificing themselves. Damn...Anyways! This is RF2 signing off! See you!