"All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother."
- Abraham Lincoln

Chapter XVIII: Reunion

Federation Lexington-class fleetcarrier Ark Royal
System J-292
August 15, GC 379

"Apparently we're early," Mirai dryly commented as she gazed out across System J-292 with the rest of the bridge crew. Beyond the local star, which projected an eerier-than-average red glow, and the two dead planets and multitude of asteroids, there was very much nothing else within. Or at least I hope that is the case.

Though he could almost read her associated thoughts, Bright nodded in conclusion to her words, at least hoping that was the case. Having just exited warp, the Ark Royal was now drifting at the edge of the system, holding position and waiting. She could go no further now, having spent the last of her power getting to J-292 in the first place. Neither could she defend herself it the Zeon or any of their allies somehow tracked her there, while three (possibly four) operational mobile suits only amounted to so much, even if two of those suits were in fact Gundams. For better or worse, this was the Ark Royal's final hope, the very slopes of Mount Ararat that she was to make berth upon. If there really was nothing out there…

Bright forced that thought back before it developed any further. No, he couldn't think that just yet. Even though they had arrived upon the time and date stipulated by High Command, there was no reason to believe that it had been for nothing. They could wait for just that much longer – as long as necessary in fact – until whatever aid Earth had sent to them did in fact appear. Assuming that they themselves hadn't been intercepted on their own voyage of course, another thought that Bright forced out of his mind for the time being.

It was precisely at that moment that the sensors beeped in alert, instantly bringing much needed anticipation onto the bridge. "Picking up one incoming warp signature," Letz announced for everyone, his voice very much astounded. "Whatever it is it's big."

"Can you identify?" Bright asked, daring not to hope too much too soon. For all he knew, the Zeeks could have deployed their prized superdreadnought Gwadan after them, or even an entire colony laser. That brought to mind Juno once more, such that Bright almost physically shook himself to keep that back and away as well.

"ID coming in now," Letz reported, almost holding his breath as the oncoming ship got close enough for its IFF to be computed. Upon the identification coming in, the navigator found himself completely taken back. "I don't believe it…!"

At that, the newcomer emerged from warp just ahead of the Ark Royal, apparent for all aboard to see. And just like with Letz, the entirety of the bridge crew were taken back by her appearance, such that Bright dared rise from his chair and take several steps toward the main monitor, his eyes in distant shock. Of all the relief that he had expected Earth to send them, he never believed it would be her.

"Ark Royal, this is Captain Kurena Hacksell of the La Vie en Rose," a voice suddenly announced from the overhead comm. as the titular dockship drew closer to the stricken carrier, her giant blossom shaped hull becoming even more apparent. "With the compliments of Earth Forces Command and Anaheim Electronics, we are here for your relief and refurbishment."

Turning around and tapping the comm. switch on his chair arm, Bright replied. "This is Captain Noa of the Ark Royal," he began, somehow managing to keep his voice steady. "Let me just say, Captain Hacksell, that you and your ship are a much needed sight for sore eyes."

An amused chuckle sounded from the comm. "Anaheim prides itself on fast and friendly service Captain Noa," came the reply. "Prepare for docking."

"Acknowledged," Bright stated back, to which Kikka dropped the comlink. As relieved by the Rose's as he was however, Bright knew better than to believe they were entirely out of the woods. It would take a fair amount of time to repair and refurbish the Ark Royal, and unless the Rose had come into J-292 ahead of her escorts, then defense would still be threadbare. Thus, as much as Bright wanted to relax from the long voyage – especially when it would go on for that much longer – both logic and his duties required that he see his ship fixed up as quickly as possible. Preferably before the Zeeks and their cohorts ever found out they were there.

With that in mind, Bright then tapped the switch for the shipwide intercom.

"I'll be damned," Sanders murmured as Captain Noa's announcement to the ship ended. He, along with some of the other remaining pilots, was just having breakfast when the news was given, such that the Lieutenant's arm had almost frozen with coffee mug in hand. "So this wasn't a wasted trip after all."

"The La Vie en Rose…" Karen murmured as well, not bothering to hide her amazement. "I never thought they'd send her so far out."

"I don't get it," Michel exclaimed, his expression matching his words. "What's the big deal? This 'Lavie Rose' or whatever is just another dockship, right? What's so strange about High Command sending her out to meet us?"

Kiki gave her wingmate an irritated glare. "For one thing, the La Vie en Rose isn't just 'another' dockship. She is one of the most advanced replenishment ships ever made. For another, the Rose isn't a Federal Forces ship. She's owned and operated by Anaheim, and they do not just send her anywhere in the galaxy."

"Especially out this far into enemy territory," Sanders added on, finally taking his swig. "But then, they usually wouldn't send a Trojan Horse out here either, so I guess anything is possible anymore."

"You think that's why Command sent her?" Kayra inquired, herself taken back. "Because this ship is the last of the great Lexington-class? And much more, she's carrying the three Project V prototypes?"

"I wouldn't put that reasoning past them," Shiro shrugged. "But even if that were case, it would have taken a lot of pull on their part to convince Anaheim to move her. Even with the war on and all, AE doesn't just bend to anyone."

"Indeed," Sleggar exclaimed, his own expression one of thought. Was it possible, as he suspected, that High Command wasn't actually the one that persuaded Anaheim to send the Rose out there to meet them? That, in fact, there had been but a single voice that had swung AE's higher ups, namely President Carbine, toward that decision? As Sanders had said, anything was possible anymore. "In any case, it means the ship is going to be back in tiptop condition soon. I'm guessing a few days, a week or two at most."

"Yeah, and maybe, just maybe, we'll get replenishment suits and pilots too," Nigel suggested, actually daring to hope. "God only knows we're going to need them sooner than later."

"All too true Nigel," Daryl concluded as well, taking a sip of his own coffee. "And if they aren't, maybe we can shanghai some of the Rose's onboard escorts. I'm sure they have plenty of suits to spare."

Nigel shrugged. "I think Anaheim has bent over backward just enough on this one Daryl," he exclaimed. "Besides, at the risk of being too hopeful, I don't think Earth would have sent her this far without a load of Federal Forces pilots and Guncannons onboard. That would have been a bad oversight, even for them."

"I hope so as well sir," Kayra added, stretching out her arms in apparent exhaustion. "But that's something I'd rather deal with after the R&R. Or are they going to leave us here until the Ark Royal is fixed up?"

"And risk a ship wide mutiny Lieutenant?" Nigel grinned, remembering some ad some time ago that proclaimed the recreational facilities aboard the La Vie en Rose were second to none. That, as much as she was a mobile dockyard, she was also something of a space-going resort, albeit one open to the ship crews under her charge. "I don't think Captain Noa would stand for such a thing."

Especially if he suspects who exactly is aboard too, Sleggar thought but chose not to say aloud, sipping his own coffee conspiringly. Even if his CO and friend did however, it wouldn't have changed anything. Instead of a mountain, it seemed the Ark was to settle upon the blossom of a rose following the great flood. At least just long enough for her to get back into the war, preferably with her MS forces replenished as Nigel had said.

Needless to say, he and the rest had an interesting few days ahead of them. Some all too likely more than others.

Anaheim dockship La Vie en Rose
System J-292

It took but a few minutes' time for the Ark Royal to line up with the La Vie en Rose – the dockship's laser catch ensuring that it would not deviate – and then proceed to dock. Gently the carrier glided toward the Rose's center, moving at almost a crawl as a multitude of stamen-like extensions reached out from the base. No sooner than when the Ark Royal reach its designated point did the stamen contract upon her, effectively locking her into place while an additional number of metal arms reach out and latch themselves onto specific points across the hull. Among them were several landing ramps, which would allow the crew to systematically disembark once all final procedures were completed. At least when the captain and first officer would allow it.

Both almost elated at stepping off the Ark Royal after so long, Bright and Mirai proceeded across one of the extensions, eventually reaching the Rose herself. Once across, a waiting crewman directed them the rest of the way, eventually bringing them to Captain Hacksell's office. A simple buzz later and the door shifted open, revealing the interior and its two occupants. One being Captain Hacksell herself, and the other one that Bright, for the life of him, never thought to see there. Much to his sudden incredulousness.

"Welcome aboard the La Vie en Rose," Captain Hacksell greeted as the two Federal officers came over, shaking hands with either. A tall woman with an unblemished face and brown hair that was already starting to fade to grey, yet all the same projected herself as a woman of authority. The fact she wore a traditional captain's uniform, including a similar greatcoat and commissar cap to Bright's, only emphasized her rank and position. "Captain Noa, Commander Yashima."

"Captain Hacksell," Mirai greeted for herself and her captain, who, for the first time she had ever seen of him, was completely aghast by the woman standing beside Hacksell. Not so much that it broke his bearing as a soldier and captain, but still enough for Mirai to be disconcerted by. Forcing down her own discomfort, she turned to the woman. "And you are…?"

Hacksell was quick to introduce. "This is Mrs. Emary Noa," the Rose's captain stated, causing instant realization on Mirai's part. Both toward her own captain's discomposure and why that woman was there to meet them at all. "One of our executives."

"A pleasure Commander Yashima," Emary brightly greeted as she took Mirai's hand into hers. Compared to her apparent subordinate, "Mrs." Noa was adorned in a dark blue dress suit with an AE pin on the left lapel. Standard garb for one of Anaheim's higher ups, as Hacksell had alluded to. "I've wished to meet you for some time. My husband has spoken fondly of you in our correspondence."

Now it was Mirai's turn to appear shocked. Husband!? she thought, doing well not to vocalize it nor glance toward Captain and Mr. Noa in her own shock. Though she had known her CO was a married man, she never would have guessed he had been wed to an Anaheim executive. Not that Mirai – herself a scion of one of Earth's largest and oldest conglomerates – didn't suspect there was more to the woman before her than even that description precluded.

"Emary?" Bright managed to exclaim through his shock, actually sounding as a thirsty man would upon seeing a mirage.

To this, Emary greeted her husband with a warm smile. One that Bright had missed for the longest time. "Yes it's me darling," she spoke chidingly. "Did you mi…?"

Rather than respond verbally, the captain of the Ark Royal crossed the proverbial threshold, drawing his wife into sudden and very deep kiss. One that Emary, for all of her own surprise and astonishment, eagerly reflected, not the least caring about decorum or how the other two women in the room would react. It had been too long for both of them, and they were only risking their lives in order to meet like this.

After a very long moment, Bright at last retracted, breathing heavily for the next few moments before regaining his composure. "Yes, in fact, I did miss you," More than anything. "Though at the same time, I'm not exactly happy to see you here, in a warzone."

Regaining her own composure, Emary shrugged. "By this point, the whole galaxy is a warzone my love," she retorted. "It wasn't that long ago that the Zeon were a warp flight away from Earth."

"Even so, that doesn't mean you should put yourself in greater risk," Bright admonished, his yearning actually warring against his desire for his wife's safety. "What would have happened if a Zeon ship had been here instead of us?"

Again Emary seemed undeterred. "We would have dealt with the situation accordingly," she shot back. "Captain Hacksell?"

Taking her cue, the Rose's captain explained. "On top of the replacement suits and pilots we are carrying for you, the La Vie en Rose retains her own contingent of mobile suits and additional support craft, alongside other sufficient defenses."

"My ship was also equipped with a mobile suit contingent when she set sail for Antillia. Now she's down to four at barest operational condition," Bright countered. "And don't get me started on her remaining weapons…"

"Captain, if I may interrupt," Mirai quickly entered in before the husband and wife exchange escalated. Though Mrs. Noa seemed more amused by her husband's worry than anything else, the Commander would rather not have an argument there. "We remain on a tight schedule and repairs and resupply need to begin as soon as possible."

Sighing, Bright understood the underlying message. He looked back toward Hacksell. "When can you get started?"

"We already have Captain Noa," Hacksell dutifully answered. "Right as you docked."

The Rose captain then gestured. "In the meantime, you and your crew are welcome to make use of our facilities." And may I suggest you do so now, before you make an even bigger scene.

Bright didn't need Newtype powers to read that last unspoken sentence. "Thank you Captain Hacksell, I believe my crew and I will do exactly that," he said, then giving the Rose's captain a salute. "If you will excuse us."

With that, he and Mirai both exited the office the way they came. Her eyes remaining on her husband's back as he went, Emary could already tell that she had her work cut out for her. "How long will it take you to finish?"

"A week at least ma'am," Hacksell helpfully offered.

Emary nodded. Somehow that seemed both too long a span for the Rose's mission, and too short for her own. Even so, if that was all she had to work with, then she would make the best of it. "Keep me informed of your progress."

She then took her own turn to leave, leaving the Anaheim captain alone. Momentarily shaking her head at it all, Hacksell then returned to her desk and engaged the monitor there, reviewing the Ark Royal's damage and associated data.

"I almost thought we would never get off the Ark Royal again," Fraw proclaimed with exasperation as she, Amuro and Sayla made their way onto the Rose. "Feels like it's been years since Juno."

Sayla chuckled at this. "Enjoy it while you can then, because we're still in enemy space," she replied, herself feeling elated at getting off the ship at last, even if their "port" was actually another ship. Even the smell of the air on the Rose was a welcome change. "We won't have many opportunities like this in the future."

"Yes yes, I know," Fraw waved her off, doing well not to let that simple but undeniable fact ruin her present mood. Yes they were still technically in danger, and there was still a fair possibility that the Zeon or some other enemy would find them, but for the time being the doctor was going to put that all aside. As Sayla said, it was unlikely they would make port like this again. "What about you Amuro? Looking forward to our hard earned R&R?"

Though Amuro physically heard Fraw's inquiry, he was otherwise unable to answer. Ever since the La Vie en Rose had appeared, he had felt a strange sensation come over him, one that was especially amplified now that he was actually aboard the dockship. A strange sense of familiarity, unless he was mistaken. As though there was a presence aboard the Rose he should have recognized, yet couldn't quite place.

"Amuro?" Fraw questioned as she took note of the Gundam pilot staring off into the open air.

Snapping himself out from his trance, Amuro addressed the doctor. "Sorry, was lost in thought," he partially lied. "What was the question again?"

"Nothing of any real importance," Sayla answered in Fraw's place, having also taken note of Amuro's lapse. He was obviously sensing something, but what exactly? "We were just wondering if you're looking forward to this like the rest of us."

Amuro shrugged. "It's nice to get off the ship, I admit that," he replied. "Though I'm not sure what there is to do on a dockship like this, even if it's a civilian one."

"According to some of the others, there's plenty to do here," Fraw reentered. "Assuming the claims are to be believed, the La Vie en Rose is the equivalent of a five star hotel, meant exclusively for ship crews like ours."

"I can believe that, given the secrecy of her meeting us out here," Sayla replied, extending her Newtype senses to scan the immense dockship. There were the usual operational centers, yes, as well as areas meant for repairing and resupplying whatever ship(s) that were docked with the Rose. However, unless her senses had dulled over the last few days, Sayla was also picking up several lounge areas where people were relaxing in or otherwise engage in some kind of activity. There even seemed to be a section that contained a pool.

Command really rolled out the red carpet for us, Sayla thought, rather astonished – not that she would show it – that the Federation had deigned to send such a vessel all the way out there, just for them. Perhaps they were of some vitality to the war effort after all, even if Project V were discounted. Or perhaps it was due to some connection between Captain Noa and another presence that was moving toward his. One that was dressed in a high profile skirt suit with the telltale AE pin on her left lapel.

Stretching out her arms as they walked, Fraw spoke up once more. "Well, I know where I'll be going," she said, checking her wristcom for her room assignment. "Not to speak ill of the Ark and all, but it'll be nice to sleep in a decent sized room again."

That earned a chuckle from Sayla. "You should see the accommodations of most other military vessels. The Lexington-class is a luxury cruise compared to them."

More words were exchange between the pair on that subject, but Amuro found himself unable to listen in much further. That strange presence remained with him, nagging his consciousness to try and identify it. And no matter how much he tried to ignore it, he couldn't help but feel drawn toward…

"Hello! Foxtrot Bravo to Shrike Three!" Fraw called out, once more snapping the ace from his stupor. "You're zeroing out again."

Shaking his head, Amuro started to say. "Sorry, I just…" he then ultimately decided. "Can you two go on without me?"

Sayla raised an eyebrow toward that. "What's the matter?" she asked, both she and Fraw holding newfound concern.

"I…" Amuro took a moment to find his answer. "There's something I need to look into."

With that, the Gundam pilot walked away, leaving his two companions for parts unknown. Both watching him for a moment before he disappeared down the corridor.

"What was that about?" Fraw asked Sayla, concern beginning to develop into worry. She could already tell that Amuro was having a Newtype episode of some kind.

"I don't know," Sayla murmured back, for once feeling very unsure.

It really wasn't hard for Emary to find her husband again. She already knew the first place he would go to once all formal business was taken care of, and that was the nearest observation deck. Sure enough, she saw him there, standing by and watching as the initial repair work on the Ark Royal took place. His face, or at least the corner that Emary could see as she walked up, was almost unreadable, yet his eyes held much intensity as they gazed over the mighty fleetcarrier, as though searching for any kind of blemish on part of the repair crews and equipment. It was almost picturesque for the image of a ship captain.

Despite that however, Emary knew Bright's gaze wasn't just fixed on his ship. Nor was it entirely the result of his concern for the Ark Royal's wellbeing. "I knew you would be mad," she began, speaking moderately. "And that you would feel I was putting my life on the line needlessly."

"Aren't you?" Bright responded, still facing away from her.

Emary shrugged at that. "I don't think so, at least on the 'needlessly' part," she answered back as she came to stand beside him, her own eyes now on the Ark Royal. Even with all the damage that had been inflicted upon her, Emary found her to be strangely beautiful, her equine hull far removed from Federation design standards. There was little wonder why her husband, or really everyone else in and around Earth, were so enamored with her.

"Even if you were discounted," Emary continued. "Your ship is the last of one of the Federation's most effective weapons, and your crew has long proven itself time and again. And then there are the three Project V prototypes…"

"I understand and appreciate all that," Bright interrupted. "What I don't understand is why you had to come."

Emary was quick to note the lack of "appreciate" in that line. Not that it wasn't obvious, given his prior actions in Hacksell's office. "We all have to do our part in this war Bright," she replied. "Mine is to personally make sure the Ark Royal and her crew are sent back into the war as quickly and efficiently as possible, with the best resources available."

It was then she turned to face Bright again. "And, perhaps most importantly, that her captain remains in top form."

Closing his eyes on that, Bright at last gave into his own desire, turning to face his wife as well. His gaze softening exponentially, he wrapped his arms around her waist, to which she contently followed, the two spending several more moments like that. Entirely content to be together once more. "I won't lie, I would very much rather you were back on Earth," he confessed softly. "But since you're here anyway…"

"I know," Emary answered, reaching up to stroke her love's face. From there she reached around to the back of his head and drew him forward into another kiss, this one far less intense but by no means less passionate. Again they remained like that for several minutes, before momentarily breaking contact to regain their breaths. As well as stare into each other's eyes.

"I missed you too," Emary whispered before she herself moved forward as Bright, his earlier disapproval now completely forgone, contently followed her lead. The war only became that much more distant as a result.

Before he knew it, Amuro was deep within the Rose, specifically her engineering compartment. Far less scenic than the rest of the ship, he nonetheless continued on, zeroing toward that singular presence within the whole. Several nearby crew members noticed him, with more than a few wondering what exactly he was doing there, but he paid them no mind, and none seemed overly interested in stopping him. Thus he continued to move further into the ship, gradually coming across the same deck as what he sought. It was there that he saw her, causing Amuro to nearly freeze in all manner of motion.

Though she was dressed in the same engineering jumpsuit as the rest of the engineering crew, he more than recognized her face along with her presence. A face that had aged since the last time he had seen it long ago, back on Earth, but nonetheless a familiar one, complete with the same colored eyes and hair that he held. At the moment she was inspecting a nearby panel, to which she then opened and began to apply some sort of tool, seemingly not noticing his proximity. For the longest time, Amuro wasn't sure how he would signal her, until at last he felt another, far less familiar presence, come up from behind.

"'Scuse me son, this area is off limits," the rather large engineer claimed, very much looking down upon the much smaller Lieutenant. "Need you to return to the main area now."

Suddenly remembering how far he was within the Rose, Amuro turned an apologetic face. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to trespass," he stammered, trying to sound unintimidated. "I just…"

"No excuses kid," the bigger man said as he reached out and moved to shove Amuro back toward the specified direction. "You might be Federal, but this here's Anaheim turf. Not your playground."

"I know that!" Amuro responded as he was shoved away that much more. "But I still…!"

"Amuro?" a female voice suddenly spoke up, right as the woman engineer moved up to the pair, blinking as she took in the Federal Forces officer. "Is that you?"

Seeing the recognition in her eyes, the larger man stopped. "You know this guy Kam?" he inquired.

A single glance into Amuro's eyes was all that she needed to confirm. "Yes," Kamaria Bailey – formerly Ray – exclaimed with a sudden touch of emotion. "He's my son."

Blinking himself, the man suddenly realized the resemblance between the kid and the woman engineer. "Well, I'll be damned then," he let out, now understanding in full. "I'll let you two have a minute. After that, I must insist you return to the main area Lieutenant."

"I understand," Amuro acknowledged, allowing the hulk to lumber off to somewhere else on the deck. He did not pay any attention to that; what mattered now was the woman in front of him now. The one he had not seen since he had been a child. "Is that really you, Mom?"

Nodding as tears started to glisten her eyes, Kamaria confirmed. "Yes, it's me Amuro," she replied, not at all bothering to hide her euphoria as, for the first time in years, she found herself facing her son. "It's me."

Without thinking any further, Amuro closed the gap between them, effectively running into his mother's waiting arms as tears fell from his own eyes. As Kamaria embraced him tightly, mother and son stood there for several minutes, the latter almost sobbing in newfound emotion while the former could only hold him close.

Musai-class cruiser Kuwamel
System J-292

Letting out a long whistle, the hulking, green haired lizard of a man gazed at the main monitor with palpable longing. "This is just too good to be true," Kudal Cadel let out, his surgically forked tongue flicking out in full reptilian motion. "To think we'd have a Trojan Horse and a damned Anaheim ship on our doorstep."

"And not just any Trojan Horse either," the very fat and piggish Brooke Kabayan concurred as his eyes gleamed toward the beaten and battered Ark Royal, laid out entirely open and vulnerable before them. All the while his ship remained tucked away within the local asteroid belt, in no way detected. "Damn shame really."

"What do you mean?" Kudal suddenly snapped, realizing from his boss' tone alone that they weren't going to pounce. "Don't tell me we're going to let them slip…"

"We got no choice," Brooke snarled, disgusted as well. "Think about it Kudal. We're only one ship and four mobile suits against all of that. We'd get our asses kicked for sure, especially if the White Devil's suit happens to be operating, to say nothing of the Eagle or the Valkyrie."

Hearing that, Kudal had no choice but concur, though it took him a long moment to accept it.

"Goddammit, you're right," he snarled, once more glancing at the two ships on the viewer. Indeed, there was no way they could stand up to them, especially in an outdated Zeek cruiser that had to be retrofitted to carry four clunked together suits. And as much pride as Kudal took in his overly kickass piloting skills, he knew he could never stand up to those three monster suits and their aces aboard the Ark Royal. The mere idea of going against the White Devil alone, especially after what it did to Prince Garma and the rest…

Letting out another, louder snarl, Kudal could only turn away from the sight in disgust. "So what are we going to do?" he inquired to his fat boss man. "Just sit here and watch?"

"Not exactly," Brooke replied, both to Kudal and the rest of the bridge crew. "While we can't do anything ourselves, I'm sure there are people out there who can."

He grinned conspiringly as he added. "People that would pay handsomely for the kind of information we have."

It didn't take much for the boot to drop on that. "I get it boss," Kudal answered back for the rest. "But the nearest Zeek outpost is a long way off. By the time we drop them a line, those two could be long gone."

"Possible, but doubtful," Brooke retorted, putting a magnification window on the Ark Royal. "That's a lot of damage to fix, even with that big Anaheim ship there. The hull damage alone could take weeks to fix up, which is more than enough time to get the word out."

The pigman shrugged. "Besides, what does it matter if the Zeeks get to them or not? We'll get paid either way," he then turned to his navigator. "And since we're on the subject, where is the nearest Zeek base?"

"Signas IV," the navigator answered. "At maximum warp we can reach communications range within three weeks' time or so."

"That's pushing it," Kudal stated.

"I agree," Brooke acknowledged. Depending on how capable that dockship was and how skilled her repair crews were, the Feddies could very well be gone by the time they got the word out. And he dared not think what the Zeeks would do to him if they thought he put them to a chase. "Anything closer?"

After a moment, the navigator confirmed. "There's a Babylonian listening post on Zebras," he reported. "Three or four days, give or take."

"Even better," Brooke exclaimed, actually rubbing his hands together in anticipation. Though the Babbys didn't have a bone to pick with the Ark Royal like the Zeeks, they'd still pay, and pay very well, for the favor. Brooke could only imagine how much Iron Mask would fork over for the privilege of showing Emperor Gihren up.

He then looked over to his helmsman. "Set course for Zebras, maximum warp," he commanded, the helmsman already entering in the appropriate commands. "Let's get this party started!"

"Heh," Kudal laughed as he took one final glance toward the Ark Royal and the Rose. Once more he would rather he and the rest of his boys take the prize themselves, but he was still smart enough to realize that was beyond them. Disappointing, but not the end of the world, especially if they got paid handsomely for it.

Enjoy it while you can Feddies, Kudal thought with a very sinister grin. Because the whole galaxy is going to drop on you soon, and you're still a long way from Earth!

Her course set, the Kuwamel turned and accelerated, eventually reaching the outer edge of the asteroid field. Once clear, she flashed straight into warp, heading onward to Zebras at her best speed.

Anaheim dockship La Vie en Rose
System J-292
August 20, GC 379

This might not be beachfront, but damn it all does it work, Fraw thought as she lounged near the poolside, feeling as though the whole of the universe had slipped away from her shoulders. Indeed it had been a while since she had been able to relax so much, especially by some large body of water, as well as be able to wear something less constraining than her uniform. Judging by the rather abundant glances she was getting along with Sayla, the red bikini she was adorned with now had been the right choice. "So they have Unit Gamma fixed up already, huh?"

"As well as Alpha and Beta, yes," Sayla replied from right beside the doctor. Like her friend and everyone else in the Rose's indoor pool area, she too was now dressed in appropriate swimwear, specifically a striking blue ensemble. And also like Fraw, she felt as though it had been whole ages since she was able to wear something other than a pilot suit or military uniform. "Apparently they were the first of our remaining suits to be repaired."

"That's hardly surprising, given how effective those three are," Fraw stated knowingly. "Though you hardly look ready to get back into it."

Sayla laughed a little at that. "I could say the same for you Doctor Bow," she responded. "Not that you have too many patients to attend to, I imagine."

"Thank god for small favors," Fraw sighed, grimacing at the idea of having to go back to work so soon. If anything it felt like she had been doing one major medical operation after another since she left Antillia. "It's rather nice to not be on call for once, even if my sickbay happened to be restocked with everything else. I even got some equipment upgrades alongside."

"As you said, hardly surprising," Sayla responded, remembering what she had sensed upon their first arriving aboard. Not only had the Federation rolled out the red carpet for them, but it was also giving them the full star treatment along the way. That being said, Sayla couldn't help but wonder if it was all a special favor from Mrs. Emary Noa, who had since been identified as Captain Noa's spouse, or if Earth had formally recognized their efforts. The latter was uncomfortably likely, given everything that entailed with Amuro.

Speaking of Amuro, neither Sayla nor Fraw had seen much of him since their first arrival. And though Sayla wasn't sure how her friend felt about that, the Gundam pilot felt rather perturbed. Especially when that woman – Kamaria Bailey as she had been introduced days ago – was involved; there was something about her that Sayla felt she should have recognized, but wasn't quite able to. Something that she found rather disturbing.

"Onto another subject," Fraw said, somehow knowing exactly what, or who, Sayla was thinking of. "Have you seen Amuro lately?"

"Unfortunately not," Sayla answered, frowning. "Not that I blame him of course. I never would have believed that he would find his mother out here, especially when he hadn't seen her for quite some time."

"Yes, funny that," Fraw replied, also frowning at the thought. For the life her she couldn't recall Amuro mentioning his mother at any time on Antillia, or thereafter. Of course, he did name the Kamaria Circuit after her, so there was that.

Sayla couldn't help but grin toward her friend. "You obviously don't think too well of Miss Bailey."

"Any more than you do," Fraw retorted. "She left the family when Amuro was still a child, and not once bothered to check up on him thereafter. Now all of a sudden, they meet up in the middle of nowhere and she's elated to see him again?"

Sayla shrugged. "I could believe the meeting was coincidental," she said, then thinking. "But as for the rest… yes, it does seem rather strange."

Fraw easily detected the hint. "What did you pick up from her?"

To this, Sayla leaned up and forward. "Well, she was definitely surprised to see him again. Nothing was prearranged, at least on her part," her frown deepened. "In fact, I would say she was too surprised. As though she never thought she would ever meet her son again, anywhere in the galaxy."

The doctor leaned up herself, a peculiar expression on her face. "But now that she has, how did she take it?"

Again Sayla shrugged. "More or less as a mother would upon seeing her child for the first time in perhaps decades, fully grown and wearing a uniform," she answered. "Pride, pleasantness, excitement… it all seemed to be there. A heartwarming family reunion as it were."

"Hm," Fraw murmured, thinking herself. In spite of that explanation, it still didn't sit well with her. And though she wasn't a Newtype, she could easily tell that it sat even less with Sayla.

"I still can't believe you're here," Amuro said, his voice betraying his continued astonishment. "I mean, I knew you were a scientist and everything, but I didn't think you would go into engineering."

"Let's just say I changed specialties," Kamaria replied as she took another bite of her sandwich. She and her son were presently having lunch in one of the La Vie en Rose's lounges, as they had done since the Ark Royal had first arrived. "I got an engineering degree a few years after I left your father, and it was apparently good enough for me to find decent work. To be honest I'm probably not as good at it as you are, but it pays the bills back home."

Amuro was keen to note that she didn't mention his father in that last sentence, despite his being roundly considered one of the best engineers on Earth. He let it slide however. "So you've been with Anaheim all this time?"

"Not quite," Kamaria answered. "I've bounced around from company to company and job to job. I never thought I'd end up working for Anaheim myself, but the last company I worked for was bought out by them, and apparently they thought I was good enough to keep my job. So here I am now."

"That's good," Amuro said, actually sounding relieved. "I'm really glad that you're doing well for yourself."

"As I am with you," Kamaria replied, recalling him having worn a Federal Forces uniform when they first met. "Though I never thought you'd join the military of all things…"

"That was dad's idea actually," Amuro replied. Through his Newtype powers, he thought he pick up a trace of emotion emerge within his mother on that, but again he dismissed it. The falling out between his mother and father had been quite intense at the time, and there was no need to ruin a pleasant meal over it. "If I had my way I would have probably had a job like yours."

"Oh?" Kamaria suddenly perked up. "Being an engineer on a Federal Forces ship isn't enough for you Amuro?" she chided with some bemusement.

"If only," Amuro sighed. "I'm actually a mobile suit pilot."

For a brief moment, Kamaria seemed to freeze up at that statement. Before Amuro could inquire as to why however, she spoke again. "I see," she replied. "So the newsfeeds were true for once."

This time it was Amuro's turn to sigh. "Yes, I'm the White Devil," he admitted, somehow managing not to roll his eyes. "And what you heard about Juno and Anges is probably true too…"

"Including your killing Garma Zabi?" Kamaria asked. Rather pointedly at that.

Amuro shrugged indifferently. "More like he tried to kill me and failed, but I suppose."

Another long moment stretched out as Kamaria appeared to consider that. Again before Amuro could inquire however, she merely shook her head and continued. "Sorry, it's just," she began again. "I never thought of you as a soldier. You were always into playing around with machinery and building things, not going out and fighting the good fight."

"Again, it was dad's idea," Amuro answered back, taking a drink of his soda. "For what it's worth I still do engineering in between those good fights."

"I see," Kamaria repeated unintentionally, though she seemed to perk up more on that. "Working on anything now?"

To that, Amuro tapped his wristcom and generated a certain schematic. "One of the pilots aboard the Ark Royal is a guitarist," he explained. "I've never heard him play to be honest, but he really has his heart set on this, so I'm helping him with it."

Kamaria regarded the holographic guitar, which she noted to be labeled "ELEDORE SPECIAL (WORKING TITLE)". She then found herself nodding in approval. "I can see your hand in this, especially on the technical specs."

"Yes," Amuro beamed with pride. "If nothing else, he'll have the best performing guitar this side of the galaxy. I might even put it into a full line whenever the war ends."

Again Kamaria nodded in approval. "I can see that as well," she said, unable to help but hold apparent pride of her own. "You always were a technophile Amuro. I'm glad that hasn't changed."

Amuro could only smile that much more. "Some things are forever Mom. For me, it's technology," he proclaimed as he took another drink. "That being said, I'm working on other things to, if you'd like to hear…"

"I'd love to," Kamaria replied earnestly, taking a drink herself before adding on. "Maybe you can show your mom a thing or two on engineering."

Letting out a small but warm laugh, Amuro quickly brought up another schematic and began regaling Kamaria on the finer details.

"Dammit to hell," Kai let out as the struck ball failed to land in the hole. "I really hate this game."

"What's the matter Kai?" Michel gleamed toward her opponent's missed shot. "Are card games the only thing you're good at? Not up to shooting pool with real players?"

"If you're a player, then I'm an altruist Michel," Kai retorted as his fellow Shrike then lined up to take his shot, only to botch it as well. "Case in point."

"Shit," Michel snarled as the six ball ended up clipping the side of the hole and bouncing back out. "I guess this is what I get for being years out of practice."

"I'm sure B.B. will understand," Kiki sardonically gleamed as Hayato quietly moved into take his shot. Michel opened his mouth to snap, but was caught off guard by the next shot, which landed two balls in one strike.

"Huh," Kai let out, somewhat dumbfounded by the display. "You're actually good at something outside of brooding. Color me shocked Hayato."

"I like to think I'm good at a lot of things Kai," Hayato retorted as he sank another ball. "I just prefer to let my abilities speak for themselves."

Unfortunately his next shot landed just short of the hole, much to Kai and Michel's matching grins. "Not very eloquent, are they?" Michel rejoined.

Regardless, Hayato was undeterred. "I guess that's why I'm a pilot, not a hustler," he replied as Kiki came up to take her own shot. "Pulling back a trigger is much simpler."

"Of course it is," Kiki agreed as she sank her own ball. "Easier to destroy than to create and all that."

Michel arched an eyebrow. "I'm not sure how smacking ceramic balls into holes with wooden sticks counts as creation."

"Put that way it sounds perverse," Kai spoke with a rather disturbed grimace.

"And Freud lives on," Kiki retorted as she took her next shot, only for it to fall short as well. Frowning, she moved back as Kai took his next turn. "Well, creative or not, it's nice to shoot at something that isn't mono-eyed for once. I almost forgot we could actually do that."

"Don't get too used to it," Michel warned. "Once the Ark Royal is all fixed up, it's back to the war. And there'll be plenty of bad guys waiting for us there."

"Anyone ever tell you you're a real ray of sunshine Michel?" Kai spoke sardonically as he lined up his cue, preparing to strike. "For all we know, the war just might end before we're sent back."

The younger Ensign glanced at Kai with utmost dubiousness. "That's rather optimistic coming from you."

"I didn't say it was likely, just that it might happen," Kai retorted before at last hitting the cue. Unfortunately his intended shot missed wide. Again.

Michel laughed. "Yeah, just as you might happen to land a shot in this game," he said as he moved over to the cue ball. "Though I admit it would really be nice. The war ending while we're living it up, just before we can be sent back in…"

"So long as we're the victors," Kiki spoke, actually shivering at her thought. "I can't imagine what the galaxy would look like if the Zeeks won."

"For starters, there wouldn't be a galaxy remaining," Hayato entered back in. "It would all end up like Juno by the time the Zeeks were through with it."

"Now who's the ray of sunshine," Michel quipped as he at last took his shot, which stopped short of the intended hole. Snarling at his miscalculation, he moved back to allow Hayato some room. "Even if there is no room for argument, not after all we've been through to this point."

"Indeed," Hayato stated, sending the ball into the hole. Somehow the mobile suit pilot found that action poetic to the discussion, and what the future may yet hold. "We've come a long way to get here, but we still have that much more to go before the war ends."

He looked out toward the other three. "At least, if we are to be victorious."

Though very much solemn, the other Ensigns could only nod in acknowledgment. "Yeah," Michel bitterly responded. "God help us on that end."

"Amen and Hallelujah," Kai agreed, crossing himself as Hayato took his next shot.

"To the Ark Royal," Mirai proclaimed upon raising her glass to Sleggar's. "May she sail forever more."

"May she indeed," Sleggar acknowledged as the two glasses clinked together. The pair then took the respective sips before continuing their conversation. "And how are the repairs going?"

"As far as I know, very well," Mirai answered, recalling the last report on the subject. "The engines are pretty much fixed, and most of the hull damage has been repaired. Now they're working on the weapon systems, as well as replacing the guns that we lost."

"Cool," Sleggar replied with a thumbs-up. "That's quite a bit of work for only five days."

"As Captain Hacksell claimed, Anaheim prides itself on fast and friendly service," Mirai repeated benignly. "And of course, a hefty paycheck from Earth's taxpayers is always helpful."

"To a degree," Sleggar mused, remembering Emary's presence aboard the Rose. A presence he noted to have not seen much of for the last few days. Any more than he had Bright's. "As long as the work is getting done, we needn't complain."

"I'm not complaining in the least. Just making statement of fact," Mirai answered, before changing the subject a little. "What about you? How are the new pilots doing?"

"Well enough," Sleggar shrugged. "We have the usual round of fresh Academy graduates among them, but they'll get their grown up feathers soon enough. With any luck they may even survive the effort."

Mirai coolly nodded to this. "And the mobile suits?"

Another shrug on the CAG's part. "Those that can be repaired are in the process thereof, and the rest are being swapped out or replaced as we speak," he replied. "For the moment, only Shrike Squadron's suits are back in full operational condition."

"Yes," Mirai exclaimed with apparent dubiousness. "Funny how that works."

You have no idea, Sleggar thought, choosing not to say aloud. His discussion with Bright about involving the XO in their conspiracy-in-the-making wasn't too long ago. "Priorities, Mirai. Everyone has them, including Command."

"Especially Command," Mirai retorted, as though either of them needed to be reminded. "It's why we're out here to begin with, drawing fire from the Zeeks."

"True enough," Sleggar acknowledged, then taking a sip of his drink. "At least they're not shooting at us right this moment. I actually got to have a couple nights of sleep for once."

"That can change at any time Sleggar," Mirai cautioned.

"I know, I know," he waved her off. "But I'm enjoying it for what it is, and how long it will last. With any luck it will be some time yet before the bad guys find us again. Or even better, we find them first and go on the offensive for once."

Mirai nodded at the thought. "I admit that would be nice. To be able to do some real damage to the enemy instead of taking theirs…"

"A dream come true at this point in time," Sleggar replied, sighing as he took another sip. "It's been a near lifetime since we left Antillia, and we've spent the better part of those days just keeping the Zeeks off the Ark."

Mirai solemnly nodded, knowing exactly how her ex-fiancée was feeling. It was typical of him, and perhaps every other mobile suit pilot, to hate being on the defensive. Not that she herself would have minded blowing a few holes into the planet Zeon, when they got the chance of course.

"Fortunes of war Sleggar, fortunes of war," she exclaimed. "Sometimes the best we can do is to simply stay alive, to live to fight another day and all that."

"As well as to have some much needed downtime like this, yes," Sleggar answered. "Still, it really would be nice to take the fight back to the enemy at the end of this Mirai. Preferably before the Zeeks strike the final chord."

"And we will, in time," Mirai added, doing well not to mention Operation Odessa by name. Not that Sleggar needed that much to understand. "For now however, we're enjoying the moment for what it is and how long it would last," she then smirked. "Or has that already slipped your mind Commander?"

Smirking in return, Sleggar raised his glass in acknowledgment, right before downing the rest of his beer. "Wouldn't dream of that in the least, Commander."

With their fifth day aboard the La Vie en Rose having come and went – such that the onboard equivalent of nighttime was now going into effect – Fraw and Sayla continued the deck toward their respective quarters. Dinner would be in another hour, so both officers made it a point to get changed into more standard clothing as soon as possible; their spending nearly the whole day at the pool made for some strong hunger after all. After that, a welcome night's rest awaited either of them, and then another day of rest and relaxation from then on until the Ark Royal was fully repaired. Not at all a bad place to spend a vacation, the two women both agreed.

"At least until we make it to Atlantis," Fraw claimed, referring to the Federation's most illustrious vacation planet. "Sooner or later of course."

"Of course," Sayla concurred, amused at the prospect. "It certainly sounds like a nice place to spend a holiday or two, assuming the ads are entirely false."

"I wouldn't know myself," Fraw shrugged. "I'm a colony girl after all. The closest to a vacation spot I ever got was an artificial lake on said colony."

"Indeed," Sayla could understand that. "I never had much time for vacations myself growing up," she spoke truthfully, more than her friend would ever realize. "Outside of one or two trips to the Côte d'Azur anyway," she then added at the last second, remembering her official background.

"Lucky," Fraw pretended to mope. "I heard that's another great place to spend the weekend."

"As far as Earthside areas go," Sayla continued down the line. "Beside them, some of the local space colonies have some decent resort areas. For example, Texas Colony in Side 5 has been converted into a reenactment of the American West."

Fraw chuckled at the idea of an entire space colony being turned into a spanning desert dotted with small frontier towns, complete with people walking around in Stetson hats and carrying archaic six shooters. "Sounds like a place we'd see Commander Law spend the winter in."

"Heh," Sayla laughed herself, more than able to imagine the CAG dressed as Wyatt Earp, down to the exaggerated mustache. "More like a second home away fro…"

She trailed off as she felt a lightning bolt suddenly launch across her consciousness. Something was close by; a very familiar presence that she had picked up on not too long ago. One that, for all that she knew and understood, should not have been able to feel again.

"Sayla?" Fraw questioned, watching as her friend's expression turned to utmost seriousness.

With newfound caution, Sayla turned to face down the deck, where the pressure was emanating from. "I don't know who you are," she called out in warning. "But I do not tolerate being followed in such manner."

A rather mirthful laugh answered her. "My sincere apologies," a disarming voice replied as its owner entered into the light. "I did not mean to cause alarm or provocation."

Upon seeing the presence's actual form – a very familiar physical form – Sayla could not hold back her shock. "You…!"

"Indeed Lieutenant Mass," the bald headed man nodded in affirmation. Though he was now dressed in a grey jumpsuit instead of a clerical collar, Sayla more than recognized him as the priest she had spoken with on Juno. Right before its destruction at Delaz's hands. "It is good to see you again, as I recall you hoping."

"Impossible!" Sayla gaped, completely taken back. "That planet, and its populace, was eradicated!"

"Sayla, who is this man?" Fraw questioned, wholly unsure of what she was facing now.

The man in question turned to address the doctor. "As I told Lieutenant Mass not too long ago, I am an observer," he proclaimed. "One who stands by and watches as all come to pass."

Sayla regained herself upon hearing that repeated claim. "I met him on Juno, just before it was destroyed," she explained to Fraw. "Only then he was a priest at one of the local churches."

The Observer tilted his head on that. "That is one of my forms, yes," he explained further. "A particular one, however, which I have taken quite repeatedly through each age," he then shrugged. "Humans, after all, will always hold faith toward a higher power than themselves. And they will always need places of community to gather and worship that power."

"But now instead of God, you apparently work for Anaheim," Sayla observed, nodding to the man's attire.

"For the moment," the Observer answered, as though it were obvious. "Though there is a chapel aboard this vessel, it already has an assigned priest, so it would not do me well to go around in a clergy collar."

His smile then enlarged as he said. "Not that that matters, for as I said, that is only one of my forms," he said. "One of infinite, as is this."

Sayla became that much more defensive, nearly moving between Fraw and the intruder. "Who are you?" she demanded, almost threateningly. "Really?"

The bald man sighed. "Once more, I am but an Observer," he claimed. "One who watches as all comes to pass, nothing more and nothing less."

He then dared to move closer, so that he stood just before the two women, disarming smile everlasting. "And I am here now, before you, to watch as one part of the whole enters motion."

"I see," Kamaria said as she sat by her son on one of the couches. At his insistence, they were now on one of the Rose's observation decks, looking out toward the stars. "So he just sent you out to Antillia without any real kind of explanation."

"Outside his wanting to field test the Gundams in an isolated location anyway," Amuro said, recalling that last conversation he had with his father. "I don't know why he insisted I be the pilot of Unit Alpha however. They found more experienced pilots for Beta and Gamma easily enough."

"I'm sure he had a reason," Kamaria said, her tone taking a slightly darker note. "He always does."

Amuro couldn't help but take note of the tone, as well as her expression. "You really had problems with him, didn't you?"

Kamaria closed her eyes at that inquiry, choosing the words of her reply carefully. "Your father…is a problematic man Amuro," she said. "He wasn't when we first met, and certainly not when we got married, but as I time went on…"

Though he didn't quite understand, Amuro found himself nodding slightly. The pain he picked up from his mother felt real enough. And yet, there was something off about even that. "Did I have anything to do with it?"

Again, Kamaria seemed to consider her words before speaking. "I admit you were difficult to raise," she spoke, though with a small hint of fondness. "Remember when you tried to take apart our neighbor's lawnprobe?"

"There was a glitch in the programming," Amuro contested. "It kept moving into our front yard!"

"Yes, I know," Kamaria recalled as well, though unlike Amuro she had known that had been deliberate on that neighbor's part. She forgot the exact reason why, but she knew that her ex-husband had caused him ire somehow. "You were, and still are, so smart and gifted, and yet so difficult to understand. For all the doctorates I learned over the years, I just couldn't get a handle on you."

Amuro moved to respond to that, but Kamaria merely turned to him and smiled. "That being said, you were still my child, and I loved you dearly," she said. "Leaving you with your father was the hardest decision I ever made, even if I knew it was for the best."

Again through his Newtype powers, Amuro felt something amiss about that claim. However, the feeling was far too brief to isolate, much less bring up to his mother.

"Suffice to say though, my problems with your father lay solely with him Amuro," Kamaria claimed at last. "Not you."

Amuro pursed his lips as he considered that. On one hand, he loved his father; though he had more than a few problems with him, he never once thought of leaving home to get away from him. And yet, that was precisely what his mother had done, and, whether through his Newtype abilities or through his basic intuition, he somehow felt she had her reasons to do so. For the life of him he could not understand why, even with her being there with him now.

Letting out a sigh, Amuro decided to move on somewhat. "You think," he began. "When I make it back to Earth, we can meet again like we have here?"

Kamaria smiled at the thought. "I believe we can, assuming I'm back to Earth with you," she said, looking back out toward the stars. "As you can see, I can only go where my work takes me."

"Same," Amuro said, thinking back toward the Ark Royal. "It'll probably be years yet before I ever get back home. Between the war and my being shoehorned as Unit Alpha's pilot, it feels like I'm going to be out here forever."

That caused Kamaria to chuckle. "We all have to do our part son," she assured, placing her hand on his shoulder. "And from what I understand, you and your unit have given us a fighting chance against the Zeon, and not just with your defeating Garma."

Amuro nodded. "I suppose we have," he replied. "Though I'd like to think it will go toward the war ending, not just keeping the Federation afloat."

Again Kamaria chuckled. "It will, eventually," she said, purposely not saying to whose victory. As if that part wasn't obvious enough to her, much to the dread in the back of her mind, which she dared not show. "Until then however, we have moments like these to live on."

Her arm then sifted down to Amuro's back, holding him close to her as the Gundam pilot laid his head upon her shoulder. Both looking out toward the stars and all that lay within their light.

Babylonian Zamouth Giri-class battlecruiser Zamouth Ghan
Warp

Not much longer, Commander Zerik Ronah thought, feeling as though he could sense his taskforce drawing closer to J-292. Closer to its waiting and quite vulnerable quarry, much to the commander's increasing excitement.

Indeed, even as a scion of the ruling family of Cosmo Babylonia, Zerik never thought he'd have a chance like this; a chance to prove himself against a worthy foe. Though he was a Ronah by blood – quite unlike the current Patriarch and his favored son – he had yet to gain even a measure of glory for himself through the present war. Very infuriating, especially when compared to his bastard cousin Dorel, who many were already claiming to be next in line to the Patriarchy, yet was having much trouble conquering the Freedens of all people. Zerik would have none of that against his own enemy; he would hunt down the Ark Royal and the White Devil, and he would see both dead before him. For the honor and prestige of Cosmo Babylonia, as well as himself.

That being said, as Zerik took a moment to review the data of his foe via holographic projection, he had to admit these would be most challenging opponents. The White Devil was self-explanatory, as was the Eagle of Arcturus and the Valkyrie of Riah, but the Ark Royal was an entire beast unto herself. The last of the Federation's vaunted Lexington-class, having been claimed destroyed at least once before, and yet still active enough to even throw off the pursuit of two prominent Zeon commanders. Even within her present berth, Zerik could see it would take much to bring her down, as well as the Earth dockship that was presently refurbishing her. Naturally he wouldn't have it any other way.

"Approximately ten minutes to reversion," the Zamouth Ghan's captain reported, his voice betraying no anxiety whatsoever despite the coming fight and there being a member of the Ronah family on his bridge. Zerik liked to think he, and by extension the rest of the taskforce, were looking forward to the challenge as he was. "Shall I have your mobile suit prepared sir?"

Zerik nodded. "Please do Captain," he replied, flicking a strand of his long blonde hair aside. "Far be it for me not to lead the charge."

In truth, he had no wish go into this particular battle. If all went well, the Feddies would surrender outright than face imminent destruction, but if they chose to stand up and fight, then Zerik had little doubt that his fleet could handle them without his involvement. Shame really, as he still had yet to try out his new mobile suit, and he admitted there was some temptation to try his hand against those three aces himself. Even so, if his participation was unnecessary, he was generous enough for others to have that particular glory.

Having thought that over, there were a few things that disturbed him about his opposition, particularly the White Devil. Though Zerik highly doubted that Amuro Ray was the monster that his Zeon compatriots had claimed him, the fact of the matter was he was piloting a superior mobile suit, whose capabilities were yet to be fully documented. If Zerik was to bring back the Devil's head on a platter, he would have to take care not to underestimate him or his machine, much less those of the Eagle and Valkyrie.

At the same time however, he had several factors working in his favor. One of them was that neither nor those around him were Zeon. The Ark Royal and her mobile suit force may have made a name for themselves killing self-proclaimed "highborn", but Zerik and the men and women of his taskforce were a different breed. As were the mobile suits in their muster, which in Zerik's opinion, were leaps and bounds better than those ugly one-eyed monstrosities the Zeon used. And that much more ahead of the Feddies' Guncannons, which they would surely send against him beside the aforementioned three.

Indeed it would be a contest, but not one in which Zerik saw himself losing. The Feddies may yet put up a fight, and in doing so he may actually lose some of his taskforce, but in the end, he and his soldiers would be triumphant. In the end, he would be the one standing with the White Devil's skewered head in his hand. He would do what Char Aznable, Aiguille Delaz and Garma Zabi were unable to do, to which his uncle Carozzo would have no choice but to recognize him over his own son. To say nothing of Emperor Gihren.

Not much longer indeed, Zerik mused as his grin expanded, taking on a predatory note. The game was afoot, to borrow from some Earth adage. He need only follow his spirit, and it would surely be his.