We Met Two Years Ago

by Ben Firebird

The sequel to the story But We Just Meet, many of the pairings will remain the same, like Lacus/Kira and Cagalli/Athrun, but there will of course also be a few new once. This goes on in the Second Bloody Valentine War with quite a few change, like Shinn's sister Mayu still being alive.

62. Chapter 62

Chapter 62

Talia Gladys was of course sitting in her usual seat up on the Minerva's bridge, while her ship continued following the Archangel.

But with her having so much against what they where doing right now, the woman hadn't really said all that much since she had gotten up there. She had mostly left it to Arthur to give orders to the crew.

Yet finally after a few long tense minutes, the brown haired woman let out a small breath. Then yelled out a few orders of her own. "Make sure to keep us positioned right behind them, Malik. If we stay there they wouldn't hit us! If you take are good look at how they are shooting now. It's quite obvious that they are not even trying to hit us!" Talia explained loudly. Doing her best to ignore the small part of her that kinda wished that the Archangel would start shooting at them seriously. The sadden Captain of the Minerva realized that if the Archangel where to do that, she would not feel nearly as guilty about attacking them as she did now.

She did however not get a whole lot of time to think about that. When her ship's second-in command interrupted her thoughts, with a question which he was obviously quite curious about. "But why would they do that Captain? They can't seriously believe that they can get away from us, by just shooting around us?!" Arthur asked in a loud voice. Frankly having a tough time believing that the white spaceship would not really do anything to defend itself against them.

Thinking a brief moment or two about what Arthur had just asked, the brown haired woman slowly moved her far away gaze up at the screen that was showing the Archangel. 'Perhaps because they are truly good people that don't deserved to be hunted down like this' Talia thought sadly to herself.

But not wanting Arthur or the rest of the crew up there to know, how low-spirited she felt about all of this. She decided, to give him another answer instead.

"If I had to guess, Arthur. It's most likely because, they do not see us as an enemy at the moment, which means that they haven't any real reason to fight us" the Minerva Captain explained softly. Only to immediately after make the decision to try one last thing to stop all of this, before they could do any major damage to the Archangel.

And even though Talia did of course realize, that this was most likely going to get her in a great deal of trouble. But she quite honestly felt like it was the right thing to do.

And with that decision made, Talia quickly turned her seat around, and looked over at the only other woman up there. "Meyrin please hurry up open the international rescue canal! If we use that we should be able to get in contact with the Archangel!" She ordered loudly.

Getting a shocked gasp from Arthur and the rest of the crew up there. "Wha...you? You actually want to talk with them Captain?" The Deputy Captain asked. Doing nothing to hide how much the Captain's present actions was puzzling him.

Taking a short glance over at him, Talia could of course easily tell from his expression, that he wasn't really sure that this was a wise move on their part.

But that was of course something which Talia Gladys already knew. "Yes Arthur, I want to try and reason with them! You know as well as me that these people are not terrorist! So if there is away to resolve this battle without destroying the Archangel, then that is definitely preferable!" The woman said seriously, sincerely hoping that the Archangel crew would listen to reason.

Blinking one or two times at that, Arthur was just about to protest, and tell Talia that it was highly unlikely that High Command would approve of what she was doing right now.

Yet as luck would have it, he didn't even get his mouth halfway open, when the youngish Hawke sister's voice cut him off. "Captain the canal is open! You should be able to speak with the Archangel, whenever you are ready!" The pigtailed girl loudly informed her, then turned and once more began working on the control panel in front of her.

Hearing that everything was ready, Talia immediately took a short glance over at the hard working girl. "Good job, Meyrin" she told the redhead. Before using a small moment or two to mentally prepare herself for what she was about to say.

After that Talia cleared her throat a single time. Just as she reached out and picked up the small phone locate in the armrest on her chair.

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At the exact same time down in the Archangel's hangar.

Dearka was presently getting out of his beaten up mobile armor transformed Murasame with a deep angry frown on his face. And as he jumped down the ladder and landed on the floor. He stood there silently a few long seconds. Taking in a couple of deep breath, in an attempt to calm himself down.

Yet in the end the mere thought of what Kira had done to his mobile suit not long ago, was to say it mildly, more than enough to make the extremely pissed off Coordinator raise his helmet up over his head. Only to immediately after smash it down into the floor with even more force then a basketball player would use to score the finishing goal. And with the highly violent way he was treating the poor helmet, it wasn't much of a surprise, that more than a few cracks appeared in the reinforced glass, the visor on his helmet was made of.

Yet even though it could not be denied that the helmet had been quite expensive since it had been specially made for him. Dearka honestly didn't care all that much about that right now, to tell the truth it kinda helped on his deep frustration and anger beat the color of the round object.

And as he gave the black helmet a hard kick, that send it flying full speed to the other side of the hangar, Dearka shouted out a few loud words which could easily be heard by everybody down there.

"Damn you Kira, you...you FOOL!" He cried out. Somewhat disappointed that there wasn't anything else around he could take out his anger on.

But before he had the chance to start searching around for anything else, that could really use a good thorough beating. A soft yet deeply concerned voice suddenly asked him a extremely serious question. "Where is big brother, Kira?" Mayu asked behind him.

Hearing that, Dearka instantly turned around, where the first thing he saw was Mayu looking up at him with a concerned look in both of her eyes.

And the sight of the eleven-year-old girl's deeply worried and scared expression, did momentarily make him forget some of the deep anger he felt towards Kira right now. "That idiot is still outside fighting with the Impulse" he explained to her in the most calm tone, he could manage under these circumstance.

Not at all happy to hear that, the brown haired child twirled both of her index fingers around in a worried manner, while she continued standing there staring out into space, with such a far away look on her face that it was completely impossible for Dearka to figure out what she could be thinking about.

But just when he was about to ask her if she was all right. She suddenly start trembled so badly, that Dearka actually thought for a brief second, that she was about to fall over, yet just when he was about to reach out to grab her arm in an attempt prevent her from falling to the floor.

Mayu slowly moved her gaze up away from the floor and looked back up at him. "I...I can't really explain why...But I have this feeling that big brother Kira could be in real danger right now...So would you please come with me up to the bridge!?" The girl asked out through sob, just as a couple of tears left her eyes and ran slowly down both of her cheeks.

Blinking one or two times at that, Dearka Elsman thought hard about everything the Archangel's youngest crew member had just said to him. And even though he could not deny that he was still somewhat tempted wring Kira's neck the next time he saw him.

There was simply noway Dearka could ignore the nagging feeling at the back of his head, that kept on telling him that something wasn't right, and the his best friend was in serious danger in this battle with the Impulse.

Which was actually one of the reason why he had so much against retreating in the first place. Even since the very first battle they had interfered in, it was getting more and more obvious every time they came across the Minerva and her forces, that the Impulse pilot's skills, was increase steadily with every battle he fought.

And no matter how many times the blond Coordinator twisted and turned it in his head, Dearka just couldn't shake away the feeling, that the little brat had thoroughly prepared himself for this battle with Kira and the Freedom.

So while still thinking about what was presently happening outside, Dearka slowly reached out, and wrapped his fingers around Mayu's small hand. And as he gave it a soft yet reassuring squeeze, the girl looked back up at him with her tear filled eyes. "Mayu! I honestly have no idea about what good it would do, if the two of us went up to the bridge now!" He told her in a loud tone.

Which of course instantly made a highly displeased expression appear on the Mayu Ramius's face. Yet before eleven-year-old had the chance to protest, the former pilot of the Buster gundam took a short breath, then once more continued talking just as loudly as before.

"But there is noway! I'm just going to sit around down here bitting my nails, while so many of the people I care about are trying so damn hard to get us away from that grey piece crap called Minerva! So the two of us are going up to the bridge right here and now!" The blond teen said, with a great deal of determination in his voice.

Truly glad to hear that they were at least going to do something other than wait around down here, while big brother Kira was in danger. Mayu smiled a tiny bit at her most childish big brother figure, even with the large amount of tears still covering up a big part of her face.

Yet when another long heavy sob ran through her small form, that smile quickly disappeared again. "Then lets hurry up and go big bro. I want to get up there before anything happens to big brother Kira!" The girl said. Making it sound like her present up there was actually going to help Kira beat the Impulse.

But even though Dearka frankly doubted that it was going to change all that much. If the two of them were up on the bridge. Yet he was not about to tell Mayu that. He did not want to hurt his little sister figure's feelings in such a manner. So instead, he simply tighten his grip on her hand.

And without saying another word to each other, the two members of the at times weird, but still close family, began making their way towards the exit of the hangar.

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It was about two or three minutes later when Dearka and Mayu arrived at the bridge.

Once inside, Mayu was just about to open her mouth to ask how big brother Kira was doing. When a certain brown haired woman wearing a Zaft uniform appeared up on the main monitor. "Who is that?!" The girl asked somewhat curious, obviously not sure if this person was one she should be afraid of.

Yet once she heard the large amount of hatred big brother Dearka had in his voice when he answered her question. Mayu instantaneously knew that this woman was not somebody she was suppose to like. "That's Captain Gladys Mayu. She is the top dog over on the Minerva!" The blond boy explained, while glaring hatefully at the woman he had met so long ago back in Orb, where he and Murdoch had helped repair her ship shortly after the whole mess with Junius Seven.

Somewhat surprised to hear who this woman was, the eleven-year-old remained completely silent, the next couple of seconds. As she slowly ran both of her slightly curious eyes, over the Minerva Captain's face. And much to the trouble maker's small surprise, she found herself thinking that this woman didn't look anywhere near as evil, as she herself had imaged her to be.

Frankly now that she was giving it some thought, Mayu found herself thinking, that the woman actually looked kinda nice. Yet before she had the chance to comment on that. Her mother shouted out one single order, to all the people currently up there. "All right everybody be quite so we can hear what she has to say!" Murrue Ramius said seriously. Not once moving her attention away from the female Zaft officer, she had only spoken to one or two times before.

But even though there was no way Murrue could not deny the great deal of respect, she had for the Minerva's Captain. It was just impossible for her not to wonder why exactly Talia Gladys, had taken the time to get in contact with them.

Up until now all those Zaft forces they had encountered on their highly unpleasant journey to the sea, had only been interest in one thing, and that was to try and take them out, as quickly as possible. So it was to say it mildly somewhat bizarre that one of them suddenly wanted to speak with them, even if it was Captain Gladys.

Murrue did however not get many seconds to try and figure out what Talia Gladys motivation for doing this could be. When the short haired woman up on the screen began talking loudly to them, in a highly serious tone.

"Attention Archangel crew! My name is Talia Gladys and I am the Captain of the Minerva. My ship is presently under order to take down both the Archangel and the Freedom! But if you cease with all combat actions immediately. Then I'll do what I can to make sure that you are all spared and are brought safely back home to you families!" Talia promised in a sincere tone, then let out a light breath, before saying one last thing to them.

"I'll be expecting an answer from you shortly" the woman said. Just as she again disappeared from the from the main monitor.

Once gone, Murrue leaned slightly backwards in her seat. And thought hard about everything Talia Gladys had just said.

Yet even though Murrue Ramius was truly thankful for what Talia was trying to do for them, there was a small part of Murrue, which could not help but be reminded of the conversation she had with Natarle back at the Mendel colony.

This was almost precisely like that, and it really served to remind Murrue, how kind both of these women where. And how much she sincerely wished that neither of them had ended up being their opponents, to be completely honest she would much rather have fought alongside them, instead of against them.

But of course knowing that no matter how much she wished things could have been different, there was simply no changing what had happened in the past and what was about to happen now.

So while still thinking about how much respect, she had for the Minerva's Captain. And her old black haired friend, who had lost her life when the Dominion had been destroyed, Murrue let out a small sigh, as she told her crew her opinion on Talia Gladys.

"The Captain of the Minerva really is an interesting person" the brown haired woman mused out in a deep thoughtful tone.

Which instantly made Lieutenant Amagi decide to share his thoughts about this matter with everybody else up there. "Yeah she does seem much more reasonable then the rest of the Zaft forces. But even if this woman truly does want to help us out, it doesn't change the fact that there is simply noway we can surrender to Zaft now! If we where to do that, then Lady Cagalli's life would be put in serious jeopardy! There is no telling what Zaft would do, should they manage capture the rightful leader of Orb!" The lieutenant said, generally concerned about the young woman who was trying so hard, to get Orb back on the path of righteous.

Hearing him say that, Cagalli was more then ready to protest, and tell Amagi that if Murrue wished to surrender for the sake of her crew's safety then neither of them had anything to say about it.

But before she could get even a word out. Somebody else had something to say about the whole surrendering matter. "That woman might be able to pull our ass' out of the fire now! But I for one REALLY dislike the idea of Zaft getting there slimy little claws, on the Archangel and the Freedom. In my eyes that's kinda like handing Durandal the victory!" Dearka said loudly.

And just the mere thought of how much easier it would be for the Chairman to carry out his scheme. If he had the Archangel and the Freedom on his side, was more then enough to send an almost freezing cold shiver down the blond haired man's spine.

Having little trouble understanding the two crew members concern. The brown haired Captain took a quick glance over at both of them, where she gave them each a reassuring look that made it completely clear for both of them, that surrendering was most certainly not something she was planning on doing anytime soon.

"While I do admire Captain Gladys' determination to help us out. But with all those forces send after us, it's highly obvious that Zaft wants us out of the way quite a bit right now! So no matter how much influence she has in the Zaft military! I frankly doubt that even she will be able to keep all of us safe should we end up capture. So there is noway we are stopping now" Murrue said, while taking a glance up at one of the smaller monitors that was showing a clear image of the grey Zaft ship.

Murrue did however only stare at the Minerva for a brief moment or two, before she narrowed both of her eyes slightly. Murrue did of course know, that as long as they didn't fight the grey spaceship seriously, the Minerva would have a really big advantage against them, and while she was still thinking about that, she hurried gave her crew a couple of new orders.

"But that surely does not mean that we shouldn't at least give Captain Gladys a response. So Miriallia please open the same canal they where using only a few minutes ago. And Dalida prepare to fire both Valiants directly in front of the Minerva once I'm done talking with them. Perhaps by doing that, we can at least slow them down a tiny bit!" The Archangel Captain said, with as much seriousness in her voice as possible.

And once those words had left her mouth. Dalida and Miriallia, immediately began working on carrying out their orders, as the enormous white space ship continued on it's course for the coast.

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Meanwhile back over on the Minerva.

Talia and the rest of the bridge crew was still waiting for a response from the Archangel.

And just before Arthur could run completely out of what little patient he had left, and ask the Captain if she thought the Archangel crew was just going to ignore them. A familiar looking brown haired woman appeared up on the main monitor.

And immediately after Arthur saw who it was, both of his eyes instantly widen quite a bit in surprise. "Wha! But...but that's her. She was the one in charge of the repairs when we got to Orb after the Junius Seven drop!" The Deputy Captain said, while thinking about the small conversation, he and Talia had with this woman shortly after they had arrived in Orb.

Talia on the other hand did not say anything, as she studied the face of the woman, she had met so long ago back in Orb. But even as she was doing that, she wasn't really overly surprised at seeing who was in charge of the Archangel.

She had from the very first second, this woman had introduced herself as Maria Bernes suspected that she wasn't using her real name for some reason.

And now that it had finally been confirmed to Talia who she had made a bit of a friendship with during their brief stay in Orb, she had little trouble understanding why this woman had decided not to use her real name.

It was after all a pretty well know fact even in the Zaft military, that it was a woman named Murrue Ramius that was the Captain of the Archangel. Yet there was surprisingly few people that actually knew what she looked like.

So after just sitting there staring silently at the other woman for a few small seconds, the Minerva Captain sank a bit further down into her seat, while she softly mumbled out five small words. "It's just like I expected"

Sincerely hoping, that her friend and fellow Captain was going to tell them, that the Archangel would agree to what she had just asked of them. And cease with all hostile actions immediately.

And once Talia heard the highly serious and determined tone of voice, the brown haired woman up on the main monitor was using. The Minerva Captain could easily guess, that she was going to be greatly disappointed with the response the Archangel Captain was planning on giving her offer to surrender peacefully.

"My name is Murrue Ramius, and I am the Captain of the Archangel! My crew and I truly do appreciate your generous offer Captain Talia Gladys. Yet with the world now once more trapped on the path of war. And with the threat of this war one day evolving into one of annihilation like the last one. All of us here on the Archangel firmly believes, that there is still a need for us to be around!" Murrue said in a loud tone.

Making the rapid decision that it was probably best not to tell the Minerva crew, that the one they saw as the real threat to world peace, was none other than Gilbert Durandal himself. It did not really take much of a genius to figure out, that if Murrue began bad-mouthing Chairman Durandal now, it was a pretty good way, to provoke the rest of the Zaft forces out there, to attack them even more violently then they where already.

Gilbert Durandal, was after all seen as the hero of salvation through most of the world right now. And even though Murrue couldn't deny, that she along with everybody else on board the Archangel had a great deal of negative things to say about the current leader of the Plants, she did of course knew that the Minerva crew and the rest of the Zaft forces in the area, was properly not the best once to tell that they saw the Chairman as nothing else, then a crazy manipulator that was trying to fool the entire world with his words. Saying such thing to a bunch of his own soldiers, was after all a really good way to add even more fuel to the already dangerously huge fire.

But that certainly did not mean that Murrue did not have something else to say to the Minerva Captain.

"You people might see our interference as nothing more than a bothersome annoyance that needs to be dealt with. But even though most of you properly wouldn't agree with me on this, I for one sincerely believes that my crew and I have done a lot of good, since the very first battle we jumped in to. And with the war being as chaotic as it is right now. We all feel like that now isn't the right time, for us to disappear! So I would be most grateful Captain Gladys, if you would allow us to take our leave from the battlefield!" The Captain of the Archangel said in a thankful tone.

And with those words said, Murrue got ready to cut off the communication with the Minerva. When a certain brown haired trouble maker, decided that she too had something which she wanted to tell all those mean people over on the Minerva.

"And tell that stupid bully in the Impulse to leave big brother Kira alone!" Mayu shouted angrily, just before the signal was cut between the Archangel and the large amount of Zaft forces still gather in the area.

Yet with the transmission ending so quickly, neither Murrue, Mayu or anybody else on the Archangel realized just now, that there was actually a few people around Minerva that was somewhat shocked at hearing that small voice.

"Was...was that a child's voice, Captain?" Arthur asked quietly. As he turned his seat around and looked right back at the captain. Who on the other hand didn't say anything at first, Talia simply sat there with a far away look in her eyes staring blankly out into space, as she thought hard about what the last thing they had heard from the Archangel had been.

Yet finally after a few long moments the Minerva Captain was finally able to open her now completely dry mouth and give Arthur reply. "Yeah it...it really did sound like the voice of a little girl, Arthur" the brown haired woman said in a quiet tone, now feeling even more guilty about this assault on the Archangel, after discovering that there was a child on board the white spaceship. The woman did however not get long to think about that, before all of the other Zaft forces in the area, began violently attacking the Archangel again, with everything they got.

And when Talia realized what the Commander of the BABIs and BuCUEs was doing. She immediately tried to stop the man. "Commander Willard what in the world are you doing?! Your job was only to slow them down, until we arrived. Then we where to take over, and stop the Archangel!" She shouted, as loud as she possibly could. Frankly hoping that her words would be enough to get the man to pull his forces back, and cease with this attack on the Archangel.

Yet the angry response she got from the man made it completely clear to her, that he wasn't going to listen to anything she had to say. "Up until now Gladys the only things you have done, is chatting with them. And that's not really a deed which shows you and your crew's deep determination stop them. But that's not something my soldiers lack! So if you can't bring yourself to attack them woman, then we are taking over!" The man yelled determinedly. Only to immediately after tell one of the crew members on his Land Battleship that their main target right now was the Archangel's engines.

And knowing that it was pointless to try and reason with this man. Talia cut of the communication with the Uhlenbeck. Then slowly reached up and rubbed her forehead in a deeply frustrated manner.

Yet even as she was doing that, she gave the people around her a few orders. "Malik keep us right behind the Archangel. And try to take out the two cannons shooting backwards" she said in a tone, which did nothing to hide how badly she felt about all of this.

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At the same time down on the observation deck.

The frown on Athrun's forehead. Had now grown even deeper after hearing that familiar voice. 'Damn, and here I thought things couldn't get any worse! I didn't know that they had Mayu on board. I actually thought they left her back home in Orb, with either Caridad or Myrna' the blue haired man thought displeased.

Just before he took a small glance over at Rey, where he immediately noticed that the Chairman's most loyal lapdog was still keeping a close eye on him. And that of course meant that he had to remain calm, and not act too suspicious. And with that in mind he once more turned his attention back towards the screen, that was still showing what was going on outside.

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Yet the one mostly taken back by hearing that somewhat familiar voice was Shinn. The red eyed boy, was actually so confused and rattle-up at the moment, that he had completely forgotten all about all about chasing after the Freedom. As his mind ran a million miles in hour, trying to make just a little sense of it all.

'That voice!...Could that have been?...No there is noway it could have been her...I saw her die, didn't I?...Could...it...could it have been somebody else I saw?...No it had to be her, I saw her!...But...what...what if...I'm wrong, so much happened back then! That I didn't have the time to get a good look at her face, before Todaka dragged me away!' The young deeply conflicted man thought, as a couple of tears left his eyes and ran slowly down his face.

It was not surprisingly extremely hard for the boy to think about the very moment in time where his parents and apparently his sister had been kill. Even now he could clear see the images of the Freedom, Forbidden and Raider fighting far above, the very place, where he and his family, had been running for their lives in a desperate attempt to get as far away from the battle, as possible.

Yet now that Shinn was giving it some thought. There was a small part of him that realized, that even with the many nightmares that had been hunting his dreams these past two years. There was simply noway for him to know for certain what exactly his mother, father and sister had been doing when he had ran off after Mayu's pink mobile phone.

Which meant that there was the small possibility that one of them could actually have survived the onslaught from the three powerful mobile suits.

And while his bewildered mind was trying to come up with a somewhat reasonable explanation for what had happened back then. The sadden teen slowly turned the Impulse around and looked down at the Archangel.

Seriously wondering if his little sister could be on board that ship somewhere or if it was just somebody sounding just like her, he had heard only a few minutes ago.

Yet with Shinn being so distracted, it was impossible for the red eyed boy to know that the guy piloting the Freedom was almost as confused as he was.

But what was confusing Kira did not have the slightest to do with Mayu. He was quite honestly more bewildered over why the brat piloting the Impulse had suddenly stopped attacking him.

Even since the Minerva and the Impulse had first shown up, the stubborn little brat inside the Strike look-alike, had just seemed so completely and utterly determined to defeat him. So no matter how many times Kira twisted and turned it in his head, he just couldn't see the logic, in what the Zaft pilot was doing right now.

From what he was able to tell from his position. The thick-headed brat seemed much more interested in the Archangel at the moment. "What the heck is he doing? Is he actually considering going after the Archangel now?" The young pilot of the Freedom quietly asked himself. Then took a glance in the direction of the Archangel to see how it was holding up against the many Zaft forces still hot on it's tail.

And once he saw the unbelievable large number of BABIs and BuCUEs, chasing after the white space ship. It was impossible for the brown haired man to deny how highly tempted he was, to just ignore the Impulse and start fighting with the mass-produced mobile suits instead.

But with Kira simply having no idea about what in the world, was going through the Impulse pilot's head right now, he came to the conclusion that it was best to deal with the extremely annoying copy of the Strike gundam first, incase the stupid brat really was planning on attacking the Archangel.

"Perhaps I can somehow knock him unconscious. That should keep him out of the rest of the battle" Kira muttered thoughtfully under his breath. Then hurried moved the Freedom a bit to the left side so he ended up directly behind the Impulse.

And even though, Kira did feel a little guilty about attacking an opponent in such a cunning way. He knew that this was most likely his best chance to make sure that the brat wouldn't do anything that would endanger his friends and family on board the white spaceship.

So after staring at the back of the enemy machine for a few minor seconds. Kira narrowed both of his purple eyes in a deeply determined manner. Then without even the slightest hesitation, he threw the red and white shield up and took off full speed straight towards the Impulse gundam.

Seriously hoping that this crazy stunt would be enough to ensure, that the Impulse pilot would never be able to carry out whatever scheme he was plotting right now.

Not having any idea about what his opponent was about to do, Shinn Asuka was simply so caught up in staring after the Archangel, and trying to decide if it truly had been his dear sister Mayu Asuka, who's voice he had heard.

Yet before he could give it all that much thought. The alarm inside the Impulse's cockpit, began beeping loudly. Which instantaneously snapped the short tempered teenager back out of his thoughts about Mayu, and back to reality.

"What the heck is going on now?!" Shinn asked, extremely displeased, that somebody actually dared to interrupted his thoughts, about his sister possible survival.

And as he swiftly whirled around, to try and find the source of the disturbance. It only took him a brief moment before he spotted a certain blue and white mobile suit coming right at him. And just the mere sight of his most hated opponent, was all that was needed to make Shinn's blood boil, more then ever before.

"YOU! It's all your fault that Stella and Mayu is dead!" He shouted furiously, as he hurried fired a single shot at the Freedom. Which much to his huge irritation did not do any damage to the Freedom, seeing as the bastard already had the shield up.

"To hell with you, Freedom!" The pissed off teenager growled hatefully. And before he could even think, about pressing the trigger one more time. The powerful stolen mobile suit slammed shield first directly in to the front Impulse.

But even though the Freedom's last assault, was somewhat brutal. It didn't really do a whole lot of damage to the Impulse, other then sending a loud ring sound through the gundam's cockpit and Shinn's already aching ears. But that wasn't what really bother him about this whole thing, what was really getting on his nerves was that he dropped the beam rifle in the process.

Ignoring the earthquake like tremor which went through the Freedom. When he had smashed into the Strike look-alike. Kira immediately started pushing downwards in an attempt, to make the Impulse gundam crash into the snowy ground below them, and hopefully knock the brat out. But unfortunately it did not take very long, before the crazy nut case inside the Zaft gundam got over Kira's attack and started struggling back.

And even though it was pretty easy to tell for all who was watching this extremely hectic battle between the two Coordinators.

That with the Freedom's many thrusters and incredible high speed, the blue and white gundam had a clear advantage, in this so called wrestling match. But it was quickly becoming more and more obvious to Kira, that with the limited amount of time on his hands, and with the annoying brat fighting back this hard. There was just noway, that his strategy to make the Impulse gundam crash, was going to be accomplish anytime soon, it was simply impossible for Kira to force the Strike copy any further down, then it was already.

"Damn it! This isn't getting me anywhere!" The purple eyed man cursed out through his teeth. Just before he took yet another small glance in the Archangel's direction.

And once he saw the few clouds of thick black smoke, appearing from some of the damage which his second home had sustained through this long battle. The young man knew that time was short, and that he needed to hurry the hell up and get rid of the Impulse as quickly as possible.

So while trying his best to come up with a different strategy, to overpower the red and blue Zaft machine. Kira Yamato practically had to forced his angry gaze, away from the Archangel and back over on his opponent. Where he instantly noticed that even with the highly intense struggle they where currently engaged in, the annoying brat was trying to get a hold on one of the beam sabers locate on the Striker Pack, or whatever it was call.

And of course knowing, that this highly hazardous wrestling match could end pretty badly. If the Zaft pilot was the one who brought it to and end. Kira realized that it would without a doubt be a good idea on his part, to get a little distance from the Impulse, before his crazy opponent could get his hands on the close combat weapon.

So after taking one last glance into the Impulse's dark green eyes, Kira swiftly yet carefully change his grip on the shield, so he was now holding it upside down.

And just when the Impulse was about to wrap it's fingers around the saber. The brown haired teenager hurried hammered the shield in a uppercut motion directly in to the forehead, of the other machine, but even though that did looked extremely violent. Kira seriously doubted, that something like that would keep the highly annoying yet skilled pilot of the Impulse distracted for long.

But even so it was still enough to give him the small break he needed to get away from back the Zaft war machine. And once there was about four or five meters between them, Kira watched as the Impulse pull out it's beam saber which of course served to make him do exactly the same.

And without wasting even one second the two pilots charged straight at one another, each of them with the saber lift and ready to strike. Yet it did not really come as much of a surprise for anybody that with Shinn's short temper he was the one who attack first by thrusting the saber out after the Freedom's head.

Yet with the large amount of skills Kira had obtained by fighting so many battles both in the first Bloody Valentine war and now this one. The young Coordinator had little trouble maneuvring his mobile suit, up over the weapon before it could get anywhere near the Freedom. And seriously not wanting to give the brat the possibility of changing the path of the saber. Kira instantaneously swung his own saber out, and removed the Impulse's right arm.

But even though, that should be enough to remove the Zaft version of the Strike from the rest of the battle. Kira wanted to make absolutely sure, that his highly stubborn opponent would not under any circumstance continue doing battle, even with one arm gone. So without pause the Freedom pilot made a fluid upwards motion with the beam saber, and cut the head straight off the Impulse.

And as Kira took a quick look over the massive damage he had just made on the Impulse, there was simply noway for him to deny how utterly relieved he felt over knowing, that this guy was finally out of the battle and that he could now concentrate fully on helping the Archangel.

Yet the small smile which was currently on Kira's face, instantaneously disappeared again, when the Impulse pilot, suddenly send the top part of the damage machine directly at him. "What the...heck is he doing now...?!" Kira asked highly bewildered, just as the Impulse top compound slammed right into him. And even as he was trying so damn hard to push it back. It quickly became clear to Kira that keeping this dumb piece of crap at bay, was going to be an extremely difficult task to accomplished. Especially when the plane like thing, that was as far as Kira knew suppose to be the Impulse's cockpit began opening fire on compounds.

And once Kira Yamato figured out what the brat was attempting to do, the young man immediately realized, that it would definitely be a good idea to get away from the upper body part from the Impulse.

But unfortunately with the high speed of the 'Striker Pack' it was simply impossible for Kira, to just turn around and leave. Without having the weapon pack slammed into the back of his mobile suit, which would without a doubt cause a great deal of damage to the Freedom.

Especially if the pack, actually exploded once he turned away. So pretty much the only other way, the Freedom pilot figured he could get out off this mess somewhat unharmed, was if he where to shoot down the small bothersome plane, using either the plasma cannons or the machine guns.

But no matter how much Kira truly disliked the moron piloting the Impulse gundam he simply could not bring himself to actually kill the brat. Which meant that the only option he had at the moment was to try and keep the damn thing at arms length, hopefully until the back pack's thrusters was burned out.

Seeing the pretty sight of the Freedom pilot struggling so hard right now. The deep wicked smirk on Shinn's face grew that much bigger in size, if that was even possible.

"Heh! You are finished Freedom you dumb bastard! Nothing you do is going to work against me!" The boy growled proudly. Yet even as he kept on violently shooting at the red Silhouette pack and the rest of the Chest flyer. The red eyed boy shouted out a couple of loud commands to the Minerva.

"Meyrin! Send out a new Chest Flyer and a Force Silhouette!" He ordered. But even though there was just no denying that the wicked tone of voice Shinn had been using did actually frightened the younger Hawke sister a tiny bit. The red haired girl still hastily carried out the two commands he had given her.

And just as the new equipment for the Impulse left the Minerva. The short tempered Zaft pilot's highly brutal attack on the old Silhouette pack finally made it blow up with such forces, that it instantaneously send the Freedom hurling uncontrollably straight downwards towards the ground.

Yet while Kira was trying desperately to regain just a little control over the Freedom. He still noticed two things even as the white and blue powerful gundam his father-in-law Siegel Clyne had given him two years age, continued swirling violently towards the snow covered landscape below him.

The first thing one was his sister's loud concerned voice calling out his name. But with the dire situation he was currently in, he just didn't have the time to tell her that he was all right, and that she shouldn't worry.

Especially not when the second thing Kira saw as he was falling towards the ground was the Impulse reassembling itself again far above him.

And now realizing what strategy his opponent had in mind, Kira couldn't stop himself from cursing loudly, as he tried hard to get the Freedom in an upwards position so he would at the very least hit the ground feet first.

"Ahh damn it! If he keeps on getting new equipment for his machine like that. I can end up fighting the crazy little bastard forever!" The young pilot of the Freedom growled displeased.

He did however not get anytime to even try and come up with a plan to either beat or get away from the Impulse gundam. Before he crashed full forces in to the hard ground. Where he instantaneously began gliding more then just a little unsteadily down the steep rocky hill he had smashed into.

And while Kira did everything he could think of in the heat of the moment, to keep his mobile suit on it's feet. It was only a brief moment later when he tripped over a bunch of hard rocks. Which pretty much instantly send the Freedom falling sideways to the ground.

Yet after barely managing to force down his breakfast which was currently threatening to leave his mouth.

The white and blue mobile suit rolled about four times the rest of the way down the hill. Which to say it mildly didn't really help on the deep dizziness Kira was feeling right now.

And when the gundam finally stopped at the bottom of the hill. Kira Yamato had a pretty nice view of the bright blue sky, and he could honestly say without lying say. That that he would have preferred to just remain still for a bit and get a little time to recover, from his overly unpleasant trip down there.

Yet once he spotted the Impulse coming right at him, it did not take a genius to figure out that it was probably a good idea get the Freedom moving again.

So while glaring angrily at the hastily incoming Zaft mobile suit.

The still highly dizzy teenager hurried lift the rifle and fired a single shot at the Impulse in an attempt to win himself a little time. Yet when he did that the other mobile suit fired a shot of it's own. And while Kira did succeed in doing a little damage to the Impulse's left shoulder.

It was simply nothing compared to what the beam from the Impulse did to the Freedom.

Seeing as the powerful beam flew in and hit right below the knee on the Freedom's right leg, thereby removing that one body part from the mobile suit, and making it impossible for the Freedom to stand up again.

And before the purple eyed man could even think about complaining, he heard a familiar voice over the radio. "I got you now Freedom! This time you are not getting away from me!" The pilot of the Impulse yelled determinedly. Just as he pulled out the right beam saber and started flying full speed towards him obviously planning on piercing the Freedom's cockpit.

Instantly realizing what his opponent was about to do, The young husband suddenly saw a few images of the most important person in his life appearing in front of his eyes.

And just the one gleam of his gorgeous wife's generally happy smile, was enough to make Kira, whisper a few deeply determined words to himself. "Lacus I want to see again. I want to be with you Lacus" and while still thinking about how much he truly missed the woman he loved, with all of his being.

He once more pressed the trigger, and fired one more beam up at the still approaching Impulse, that swiftly used it's shield to defend itself.

Not that Kira paid a whole lot of attention to that, as he got the Freedom up in to a sitting position. And once he saw the enemy mobile suit, draw it's arm back in an obvious attempt, to get even more force into the highly deadly stab. He immediately pulled one of the levers backwards.

And when it actually seemed like the beam saber, was about to make contact with the Freedom and most likely end Kira Yamato's life, he pressed down on both of the pedals at the bottom of the cockpit. Which instantaneously send the highly damage mobile suit shooting backwards, with such unbelievable much speed. That it was simply impossible for Kira to prevent the two upper wings from hitting the edge of a rocky quarry.

Thereby sending the right wing flying off in a random direction. While the other one sailed through the air, and impale itself in the hard ground. Not that far away from where the snotty pilot of the Impulse was slowly pulling the beam saber out of the deep hole he had made in the ground, when he had tried to pierced the Freedom's cockpit.

And even though Kira was far from pleased. With having lost both plasma cannons in such a manner, it was without question, better then the alternative.

So while doing his best to ignored the great deal of sweat which was presently running down his face. Kira hurried roll sideways a few times, to get the Freedom away from the ground and back up in to the air, before it could suffer any further damage from the environment.

And once he was absolutely certain that there was nothing but open air around him. The young brown haired pilot immediately ran a quick status-check, on all the damage the Freedom had gotten, through this short yet extremely vicious battle against the Impulse. "Damn it! Murdoch is probably going to have a serious heart attack, when he finds out just how much on the Freedom that is in the need of some serious repair" Kira grumbled unhappily.

Then looked back down at the very mobile suit responsible for putting the Freedom in this condition. It was not like the Freedom was just missing a leg and a single wing or two. Up until now, five of the wings had been broken off through this unpleasant encounter with the Impulse gundam.

And from what Kira was able to tell from the small screen, located directly in front of him. The elbow joint on the left arm, had also suffered some minor damage here and there, most likely from crashing not long ago. Which was probably also where, he had lost the two other wings, the Freedom was evidently missing.

"Neither me nor the Freedom can keep on fighting this moron for much longer. Especially not since he just keeps on replacing everything I destroy on his machine. So maybe it would be best, if I withdraw back to the Archangel for now" Kira mused quietly to himself.

Even though he simply could not deny, that there was a huge part of him that quite frankly despised the very thought of retreating now. After everything the Impulse pilot had done to his mobile suit.

Fortunately the more reasonable part of Kira Yamato's mind realized, that with the sad condition the Freedom was presently in, his chance of claiming victory in this battle, had been reduced quite a bit since the Impulse had first shown up. And with Kira having less than no knowledge about how many spare 'Striker Packs' and other things the Minerva had on board to restore the Impulse.

So in the end, Kira figured that the only way he could win this fight was if he actually began targeting the Impulse's cockpit. But just thinking about adding yet another individual to the long list of people he had killed, was almost enough to make him want to throw up again.

And so after giving the Impulse one last look, Kira took a short breath as he hurried turned the Freedom around and began heading in the direction of the Archangel.

At the same time down on the ground Shinn had been studying the Freedom the last couple of minutes. Feeling more then just a bit annoyed that he hadn't succeeded in killing his most hated enemy just now, when he had been given such a grand opportunity to do so, when the bastard had crashed not long ago.

"Ahh I didn't expect that son of a bitch to evade my attack like that! But at the least now, I don't have to worry about those damn shoulder cannons any longer. They were definitely some of his most dangerous weapons!" The teen growled out. While giving the Freedom gundam a deeply hateful glare which would without a doubt have torn the blue and white mobile suit apart, had his gaze actually been given the power to do that.

And while still staring with intense bitterness at the Freedom, the cranky red eyed teenager placed the beam saber back where it belonged on the Silhouette pack, and got out the rifle instead.

"Guess I shouldn't really be surprised that he is so determined to keep on fighting no matter what! Besides if he was really that easy to take out. Then he would probably have been defeat a long time ago. And now that I think about it, it would definitely have been a real disappointment if he went down too fast" Shinn whispered with a small yet confident smirk on his face.

Seriously looking forward to make the Freedom and it's moron of a pilot squirm even more, than he had already. Now that so many of the yellow eyed mobile suit's wings had been destroyed. It's otherwise impressive yet dangerous speed had most certainly been reduced quite a bit. Which meant that it would now be that much easier to catch up to this guy and chop off the rest of the wings, and pretty much everything else on the Freedom.

Yet the thoughts of how utterly entertaining he found this deadly cat and mouse game he was currently playing with the Freedom, was quickly brought to a hold when he saw the other mobile suit turn around and take off in the direction of the Archangel.

"Don't you even think, you can get away from me you little coward!" The boy shouted as loud he possibly could.

Just as he instantaneously fired one shot after the retreating mobile suit while at the same time getting the Impulse gundam back up into the air. Where Shinn immediately started shooting continuously after the Freedom.

And when one of the green beams slam in to the back of the very machine which he could honestly say he hated with every single fibre of his being. It was impossible for the highly confident teenager to stop a small yet satisfied laugher from leaving his mouth, as he hurried fired two more shots after his opponent.

But just when it seemed like, the two beams where going to hit their intent target, and do even more damage on the enemy mobile suit. The Freedom swiftly rolled sideways away from the attack. One simple action which quite frankly annoyed Shinn so profoundly that he let out a deeply displeased growling sound.

If the young pilot of the Impulse gundam had to be completely honest right now he would have preferred just staying on the Freedom's tail. And cautiously destroying one part after another on the stupid white and blue mobile suit.

And while ignoring the deep temptation to shout out for the Freedom to stop moving around. Shinn Asuka once more aimed the beam rifle at the back of the gundam that was presently flying around a dozen yards in front of him. But just when he was about to press down on the trigger. The Freedom suddenly made a quick swing to the right.

"WHAT the heck!? Does this guy actually have eyes in the back of his neck?!" The boy questioned loudly. While he continued following the Freedom in the direction of the Archangel and the Minerva.

Yet what the Freedom did next, did kinda give Shinn a response to his question. The enemy pilot began waving widely from side to side, and drawing large figures of eight in the air. Quite obviously trying to make himself a much more difficult target to hit.

"Ahh damn it! If that moron continues flying like that. There is just noway I'm going to hit him!" The teenager growled out through his teeth with a highly displeased expression on his face.

And as Shinn kept on carefully watching all of his opponent's movement, to try and figure out, if there was actually some kind of pattern in the way the stupid bastard was moving around.

The dark haired Zaft soldier hurried reached out, and increased the Impulse's already high speed, in an attempt to keep the pressure up, and make it absolutely clear to the pilot of the Freedom, that there was simply noway he was going to allow him to escape from this battle that easily. And once Shinn noticed that they where not really that far away from the Minerva, he instantly got an idea to get this fight back into close quarters combat again.

"Minerva! Can you please do something to try and slow the Freedom down a bit? So I can catch up to it!" The short tempered teenager requested loudly. Just before he again pull out the right beam saber.

Meanwhile over in the Freedom. Kira had less than no idea about what the annoying brat in the Impulse was up to, he was presently about to get in contact with the Archangel, and ask them to open the left hangar door so he could get on board.

But before he could get even a single word out, one of the Gottfried like cannons on the Minerva, suddenly turned and fired two green beams right towards him. And having quite honestly not expected that both of Kira's purple orbs widen greatly.

"Ahh crap! Like this whole thing wasn't bad enough already!" He cursed loudly. Then even though he did of course realized that the Impulse could not be that far behind him.

Kira swiftly without any hesitation reduced the Freedom's high speed and threw himself full force backwards to avoid the Minerva's attack. Yet just as the two highly destructive beams flew only a couple of short meters above him. About six smaller warheads was launched from the grey colored Zaft ship's missile tubes.

And instantaneously realizing that he was their main target.

But knowing that it could not be long now, before the Impulse gundam would start attacking him again, Kira got a deeply serious expression in his face, as he moved forward straight towards the missiles. Quite frankly hoping that this extremely crazy idea of his to actually try and use the missiles as cover, would be enough to make his highly stubborn opponent think twice about attacking him right now.

So after swiftly maneuvring the Freedom past the first missile. He lifted the beam rifle and immediately shot down the next couple of warheads before they could get any closer to him, and so while trying his best to stay hidden in the large amount of smoke from the two destroyed missiles.

The purple eyed teenager did not waste anytime, in using the machine cannons to take out the rest of the warheads. But even though it could not be denied, that the thick black smoke did camouflage his position quite well. It took only about ten short seconds before the small alarm inside the mobile suit's cockpit began beeping loudly.

"What now?!" Kira asked somewhat confused. Just as a single beam flew in from the right side and destroyed the remaining leg.

And as the Freedom shook violently and Kira jammed his teeth together to prevent himself from biting his own tongue. And once the Freedom finally stopped shaking, Kira immediately turned and looked in the direction where the beam had appeared from.

But with so much smoke surrounding him he could not see anything at first. And it was only by share luck that he spotted the enemy gundam coming right at him, with one of it's beam saber raised in such a manner, that it wasn't overly difficult for Kira to tell that the brat's target was none other then the Freedom's head.

And of course knowing that if he where to lost that now, there was simply noway for him to get out of this battle alive. And as his wife's beautiful loving smile flashed through his mind one more time, the young husband glared angrily at the hastily approaching mobile suit. And once he saw the Strike look-alike pull it's hand back, and thrust the close combat weapon out after him.

He reacted instantaneously by trying to get the shield up into a position, where it would prevent the Zaft mobile suit from doing any kind of damage to the Freedom's head. But unfortunately thanks to the bit of damage already done on the left elbow, the arm's reaction time had been reduced slightly.

Which meant that even though he much to his own relief he did succeed in blocking the attack. He was quite frankly having an extremely tough time keeping the Impulse and it's crazy pilot at bay. "Damn it! If he keeps this up for long there is a huge chance that the elbow joint will break completely under the pressure" Kira growled in a highly displeased tone.

And seriously not wanting to lost yet another one of the Freedom's body parts. Kira grabbed on the shield with the right hand. And just when the annoying brat began pressing downwards with the saber in a pretty obvious attempt, to push his only means of defense out of the way.

The brown haired teen reached down and grabbed on to the the left beam saber. Which he immediately swung sideways out after the Impulse gundam. Aiming to cut off both of it's legs. But with the left arm still in somewhat in disarray and not function entirely like it was suppose to, the weapon did not get anywhere near the Strike copy, before the other machine threw itself backwards away from him.

Where it did not waste anytime in firing the two machine guns located in the upper chest on the Impulse. But even though there was noway for Kira to avoid getting hit by some of the bullets.

He wasn't really overly concerned about the Freedom suffering any major damage from this attack. The young Coordinator felt absolutely certain that the Phase Shift armor, should be more then enough to protect him from the rain of bullets. Especially since his mobile suit had the Neutron Jammer Canceller install.

Frankly the few machine gun shots that actually did hit him, did nothing else other then lower the Freedom's energy level a tiny bit. And just one short glance down at the energy measurer told him, that the Freedom still had more then enough juice to continue doing battle with the Impulse for quite while.

And just knowing that, was to say it mildly, quite a relief to him. He did however not get many seconds to think about that, before the enemy gundam fired yet another round of bullets from it's machine guns and a single shot from the rifle.

Which Kira instantaneously response to by swiftly evading sideways to get past the attacks. And once he was out of harm's way, he immediately hurled the left beam saber out towards the Impulse's head, with as much force as the left arm could produce in it's slightly broken up condition.

Yet not really all that surprising the brat was quick to knock the approaching weapon out of his hand using the shield. But with the brat being momentarily distracted like that, Kira hurried got the shield over in the left hand again, and got out the other beam saber.

Which was apparently one thing he was going to have a great need of very soon.

Seeing as the Impulse was now again charging towards him, still holding on to it's own close combat weapon.

And as the rest of the smoke from the missiles slowly blew away. Everybody who had been watching the battle between the two gundams, saw the Freedom and the Impulse with their beam sabers locked together in a lethal struggle to overpower the other.

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Meanwhile down on the Archangel.

The entire bridge crew, was working hard to keep the few remaining Zaft mobile suits away. But with the about fourteen BABIs and twelve BuCUEs still hot on their tail, that was an extremely difficult task to accomplish.

And it really didn't help much that the Minerva was also sticking to them like glue, no matter how hard Arnold tried to shake the grey spaceship off.

And as yet another explosion ran through the enormous white space ship. Each one of the Valiants, immediately fired a couple of times at the still hastily incoming ground mobile suits. "Captain, we just succeeded in knocking over that one LaGOWE and a few of the BuCUEs!" Dalida loudly informed the Captain.

Hearing that, Murrue took a quick glance back at the spectacle wearing man. And without even wasting a second, she gave him a few new orders.

"Try and see if you can't get rid off some of the BABIs too, Dalida! Other than the Minerva those machines are most definitely the biggest threat to us right now. They are clearly fighting a lot more well organized, then the BuCUEs!" The brown haired woman shout loudly.

And while Dalida tried to carry out his orders as quickly as he possibly could. The Archangel Captain asked Miriallia the one question, which they all wanted answers to. "Miriallia, how much further until we reach the coast?!" Murrue asked, sincerely hoping that it would not be long now before they could get down under water and away from the large number of Zaft forces pursuing them.

Not saying even one word to that at first, Miriallia swiftly ran her fingers over the controls in front of her, to figure out the answer to the Captain's question. And finally after what felt an awful lot like an eternity, but was nothing more then a few short seconds.

The young brunette turned in her seat, and gave the crew up there the news they had all been waiting anxiously to hear since this extremely vicious attack had begun a little over an hour ago. "We should be there in about ten minutes Captain if all goes well!" Miriallia explained in a loud tone. Quite frankly a bit concerned that there might be even more Zaft forces ahead of them.

If there actually was a fleet of Zaft Vosgulov-class waiting out in the sea for them. It was kinda unlikely that they would be able to defeat them. With the large amount of damage the Archangel had received on this highly unpleasant voyage.

She did however only get a few brief moments to think about that. When Cagalli's loud voice interrupted her concerned thoughts. "That's all well and good! But what I really want to know is where Kira is right now?!" The blonde asked deeply worried about her brother's safety.

Of course sharing her friend's deep concern for the male Yamato. Miriallia immediately took a quick glance over at the pregnant woman, before she began working hard on trying to locate the Freedom.

And realizing that there was the possibility, that they might just end up being forced to leave Kira behind if he didn't get back on board the Archangel, before they got to the sea, and went down under water. Miriallia Haw was completely and utterly determined to find Kira as quickly as possible.

Fortunately much to her relief, it did not take very long for her to find the familiar mobile suit she had been searching for. "There I found him! He is not that far behind us and the Minerva fighting with the Impulse!" The girl explained just, as she made the images of the two gundams appear up on the main monitor.

And just seeing the very mobile suit which he had fought alongside so many times up until now. In that totally beaten up condition, was more then enough to make the former pilot of the Buster gundam, narrow both of his eyes in a deeply pissed of manner. "Ahh to hell with it all! The Freedom looks almost as bad now as it did after it's battle with the Providence!" Dearka growled displeased, while his mind wandered back to just how much repair the Freedom had been in the need of after Kira's encounter with Rau Le Creuset at Jachin Due.

Yet after thinking about that for a short moment or two. The blond teenager quickly shook his head a couple of times, before he once more, began talking in the same highly displeased voice as before.

"And I'm really starting get sick and tired of standing around up here, not doing anything! Cagalli I'll be borrowing the Duel Rouge. I'm heading back out there to help our idiotic friend! There is noway I'm going to let the little bastard in the Impulse kill him. Before I get the chance to break every last bone in his body for what he did to my Murasame!" Dearka said in a somewhat wicked tone, yet still with a deeply determined expression covering most of his face.

But just when he was about to leave the bridge, and race off full speed back down to the hangar, Murrue's loud voice call out after him. "Wait a sec Dearka! With us almost at our destination! It's just impossible to get the Duel Rouge ready to launch, before we go under water!" The Captain yelled loudly.

Not doing anything to hide just how much the thought of having to leave Kira behind disturbed her to the very core of her being. There was simply noway that Murrue could even begin to fathom just what in the world she was suppose to tell Lacus and Kira's parents, if they didn't somehow find away to get him back on board, and with them back to home to Orb. So while trying her best to remain calm, and push her deep concern for the young man that was like a little brother to her, as far back into her mind as she possibly could right now.

The Archangel Captain hurried turned her deeply serious gaze away from the main monitor, which was still showing the two battling gundams. And once more looked back at the eighteen-year-old brunette sitting behind her.

"Miriallia! Get in contact with the Freedom. And tell Kira to get back here immediately!" She ordered in an extremely harsh tone, that only the people who had been apart of the Archangel crew in the last war, knew she would only use under the most dire circumstance.

And not even taking the time to see Miriallia nod a single time to her orders. Murrue Ramius did not hesitate even one instant. About giving Dalida Lolaha Chandra II a couple of new orders too. "Dalida, see if you can't make the Minerva back off a bit! We need to increase our distance from it before we reach the sea!" The brown haired woman said.

So while Murrue was busy barking out one order after another.

Miriallia was having a few problems finding the right radio frequency, that would enable her to talk with Kira. Simply put, the large amount of radio interference currently in the air, made the otherwise simple task of getting in contact with the Freedom extremely difficult.

And it took almost about two whole minutes, before Miriallia was finally able to hear her long time friend's displeased voice, curse softly to himself on the other end of the line. "Kira, can you hear me?! You have to get back here! We are almost almost at the coast! So please hurry up and get back here!" The young woman yelled loudly. Sincerely hoping that it would not take Kira to long to shake off the Impulse gundam.

Yet just when Miriallia was about to call out to him one more time. They all saw the Freedom swiftly dashing aside, the other mobile suit's saber.

Only to immediately after move in, and actually gave the Impulse an immensely severe head-butt right in the middle of it's face. And even though it was pretty obvious to all of them, that each one of the machines suffered a tiny bit of damage from that minor stunt.

It was only a brief moment later when the Freedom turned around and began heading in their direction as fast as it possibly could in it's highly beat-up condition. And before the pilot of the Zaft mobile suit had anytime to recover from Kira's last 'attack'.

Yet not really all that surprising it only took a few small seconds before the Impulse raced off after the Freedom. Quite obviously completely determined to stop Kira before he had the chance to get too far away, and just as the enemy pull out it's rifle and began violently shooting after the Freedom.

Mayu who had kept quiet up until now, asked the one question which they all sincerely hoped with all of their being, Murrue would give a positive response to.

"Mom isn't there anything we can do to help out, big brother Kira?" The eleven-year-old child asked her mother, in a small low spirited voice, that made it clear both to Murrue and everybody else up there on the Archangel's bridge, that Mayu was just about ready to start crying at any moment now, because her deep concern for her purple eyed big brother out in the Freedom.

Looking directly over at her daughter, Murrue Ramius truly wanted to embrace and comfort her little girl right now, but of course realizing that she simply could not do that, with both the Minerva, and all of those other Zaft forces still hot on their tail. So after forcing herself to swallow the huge lump in her throat, Murrue gave Mayu a somewhat sad look.

"I'm sorry dear! I really do wish we could help him! But with the Impulse gundam still so close to him, there is noway we can shot at it, without running the risk of hitting the Freedom too!" The brown haired woman explained loudly to her daughter.

Only to immediately after narrow both of her eyes in a deeply anxious fashion, as the Strike lookalike fired yet another couple of beams after the Freedom. And from what she was able to tell from the video footage, the shots would most likely hit the white and blue gundam in the back.

Yet much to her relief Kira somehow succeeded in avoiding both of the green beams. And while he continued heading straight towards them, the older Ramius once more, turned her highly serious gaze back at Miriallia. Who she immediately gave yet another couple of orders. "Please do make certain that we are ready to open the hangar once he is close enough to get on board! And tell the medical team to head down to the hangar incase he is injured!" The Archangel Captain said. Just as she again looked out of the window in front of her, where the very first thing the brown haired woman noticed, was that she could now see the ocean not that far ahead of them.

And knowing that it would only be a matter of a few minutes now before they could get back down under water was enough to make Murrue smile slightly.

That smile did however quickly disappear again when about two or three missiles send yet another earthquake like tremor through the entire ship. Which result in that Murrue immediately began shouting out for her crew to start making preparations for them to submerge, once they where above water.

And so while most of the crew up there was preoccupied with getting the Archangel ready for it's descend down in to the dark ocean. Nobody notice when the door to the room flew open, and Dearka Elsman slowly left the room.

For some reason the former pilot of the Buster gundam just couldn't shake away the nagging feeling, that there soon was going to be a need for his present down in the Archangel's hangar.

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At the same time over on the Minerva.

Arthur just could not deny that he was getting more and more worried, that the Archangel would actually succeed in escaping from them. They might have done quite a bit of damage on the white spaceship's hull up until now.

But with all of it's engines and just about all of it's more dangerous weapons still intact, it did not really take much of a genius to figure out, that the Archangel was still more then capable of continuing doing battle with them for quite a while. And while still thinking about that, he turned and looked back at brown haired woman sitting behind him.

"Captain they are almost at the coast. If we don't do something drastic to stop them now! They are surely going to get away from us!" The Deputy Captain yelled with an overly anxious expression on his face.

That really served to make it clear to Talia and just about everybody else up there, that he was seriously starting to get more then a little worried that all of their grand effort to stop the Archangel, was going to go to waste.

And even though it simply could not in anyway be denied that the Freedom gundam and the blue Murasame, had damaged more then their fair share of Zaft mobile suits through this long drawn out battle.

One small look around at the great many beaten up BABIs and BuCUEs, should be enough to make even the most stupid person realize, that the lose of life on their side, was pretty much none existing.

And the next words Talia Gladys spoke frankly made her feel sick to the very core of her being. "Activate the Tannhauser and target the...Archangel!" The short haired woman ordered. With an utmost hard look in each one of her eyes, that made it just about impossible for anybody present up there to tell, just how much she truly despised what they where about to do.

Frankly it was only Arthur Trine, who where suspecting, that the woman who he had know for such a long time now, and respect so unbelievable much, wasn't going to see their defeat of the almost legendary Archangel as a victory.

Actually now that he was giving it some thought. The Deputy Captain realized that he himself would not be jumping up and down in celebration, once this mission was over.

No matter how many times Arthur twice and turned it in his head. It was simply impossible for him to see the destruction of the white powerful spaceship in front of them, as some grand achievement. Especially not after finding out that the Archangel actually had a child on board.

One of the reason why Arthur had decide to join the Zaft military in the first place, was because his cousin had lost both his wife and son when Junius Seven had been destroyed.

And the thought of how his little nephew Jeremy had lost his life only nine years old, had just been to much for him to bear. Which had lead him to the conclusion that he needed to do something, to make completely certain that no other children would lost their lives in such a gruesome manner.

So the very thought that he was now going to have a little girl on his conscience honestly nauseated him on the highest scale.

Arthur did however only get a few moments to think about how utterly grotesque and sick this mission truly was, when Shinn's loud voice suddenly interrupted his low spirited thoughts, by calling out for Meyrin to launch the Sword Silhouette.

And hearing the boy's shouting, the Deputy Captain instantaneously turned his attention away from his lap and outwards again at the Archangel. Where he immediately notice that the white colored spaceship was not that far above the ocean surface.

"Hurry up now! We can't let them get under water!" The man shouted loudly, so while Arthur was trying his best to push away the deep aching guilt he was currently feeling.

The Zaft ship's main cannon was steadily being charged up to fire.

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Meanwhile back outside.

The Freedom pilot had of course instantly taken notice of what the Minerva was about to do. "Damn it! I can't allow them to fire that cannon at the Archangel. I have to stop them now before it's too late!" Kira growled out determinedly. Then swiftly aimed the beam rifle at the Minerva's Tannhauser or whatever that stupid weapon was called.

But just when he was about to press down on the trigger to take out the glowing cannon, a well aimed green beam flew in from the right side and hit the upper part of his beam rifle, which instantaneously made the long range weapon blow-up before he had the chance to get even one shot off.

And not really needing a whole lot of time to figure out who exactly was responsible for destroying the rifle, Kira hurried turned and saw the Impulse gundam heading hastily towards him.

"Why you obnoxious little bastard!" Kira shout out as loud as he could.

Not even close to being able to describe how insufferable he found the very present of the Strike copy right now. So while giving the Zaft mobile suit the most hateful glare humanly possible.

The brown haired teenager began opening fire with both machine guns. In an attempt, to take out the Impulse's own rifle, before it could be used to do any further damage to the Freedom.

Yet his opponent's next move did quite frankly surprise Kira a great deal. Instead of doing anything to try and prevent him from actually destroying the rifle. The nutty brat simply hurled the heavy piece of metal which the rifle was made of over the red and blue mobile suit's right shoulder.

Obviously not overly concern about losing that highly dangerous weapon at this point of the battle. And even though, Kira did frankly wonder just what in the world the annoying pilot of the Impulse was planing now.

Those thoughts instantly disappeared from his mind, when he saw a highly destructive red beam leave Minerva and fly straight towards the very ship, that was housing so many of the people who where important to him.

"NOOO AAAARRRCCCHHHAAANNNGGGGEEELLLL!" Kira yelled with a highly panicking look plastered all over his face.

And without giving the troublesome Zaft gundam, he had been fighting all of this time now, a second thought. The male Yamato immediately spread out the Freedom's five remaining wings, and took off full speed straight downwards towards the Archangel.

Sincerely hoping that he would somehow be able to reach everybody in time, to take the beam. And thereby save the Archangel in the exact same manner which Mu had done two years ago at Jachin Due.

Yet he did however not get all that far. When something suddenly slammed into the back of the Freedom. "Oh no you don't you bastard! You are not about to leave the party now, when the fireworks is about to start!" An extremely wicked tone of voice hissed evilly out after him over the radio.

And just when he turned around, he saw the Impulse's shield swirling hastily towards the ground not that far away from him. Which made it pretty obvious that, it had been that dumb piece of junk, which his opponent had thrown at him a few minor seconds ago.

But even though Kira seriously wished, that the Impulse gundam would either get lost or breakdown right about now.

Yet as he watched, the Zaft machine draw it's right beam saber, Kira's mind was literally running a million miles a minute, trying to come up with some kind of plan, that would rid him of the Impulse at least just for one small second or two. Yet all those hostile thoughts about the copy of his first mobile suit was swiftly sweep away from his mind. Once he saw the Minerva's immensely powerful positron beam, hit the exact spot where the Archangel was submerging down into the dark blue ocean water.

Frankly not really all that strange, the only thing Kira could think about right now was getting back to the Archangel immediately. And find out if his friends and family on board the ship was all right, after taking a hit of such a high caliber.

So not caring the slightest bit about what the dumb moron piloting the other machine was up to now. Kira's now almost completely disarray brain rapidly came to the conclusion. That the best way for him to deal with the Impulse was simply by turning a blind eye to it's present.

And with that clearly narrow-minded decision made. The outermost concerned brown haired teenager imprudently turned his mobile suit around and began heading in the direction, where he had last seen the Archangel.

Just seeing his idiotic opponent taking off in such a cowardly manner. Simply made it impossible for Shinn Asuka to stop himself from letting out a small yet extremely wicked laugh. "Heh! Guess that really shook the fool up quite a bit" the red eyed teen proclaimed proudly.

Feeling more then a little pleased, that they had succeeded in hurting the pilot of the Freedom so intensely, after everything he had done to Stella, Mayu and Heine.

But even while Shinn was practically basking in the knowledge that the bastard in the Freedom, was suffering more then ever before.

The revenge thirsty teen knew without any doubt. That the only sure way, which he could really make his opponent pay for everything he had done, was if he himself personally ended the Freedom pilot's life. And with that in mind, Shinn promptly got rid of the beam saber he was holding on to, then hurried took off to rendezvous with the Sword Silhouette pack.

Which meant that it was only about a minute later, when he was flying not all that far above the weapon pack. Yet instead of wasting time changing his equipment like most of comrades watching from the Minerva had expected him to do, Shinn simply reached down and grabbed on to the closed beam boomerang located on top of the Silhouette.

"Hey Freedom wait up I got a farewell present for you!" The dark haired teen yelled out as loud as he could. Then immediately hurled the powerful throwing weapon after the retreating blue and white mobile suit.

But while Kira had next to no trouble at all, hearing the Impulse pilot's boasting. It was only when he heard a well-known beeping sound ringing through cockpit that he finally reacted, by swiftly turning a bit sideways to take a look at what was going on behind him.

And when he saw the boomerang heading in his direction, Kira instantaneously got a deeply displeased frown on his forehead. As he hurried got the Freedom into a position to counter the attack. But while it was only the shield that was hit by the boomerang, the share force which the weapon had been thrown with, did force him backwards quite a bit.

Which meant that he and the Freedom ended up not all that far above the ocean surface. "I have to get into the water now before he can do anything else" the young man muttered determinedly.

Yet almost instantly after those words had left his mouth, Kira saw the Impulse gundam once more charging straight towards him, holding tightly on to a beam sword with both hands.

And seeing the way the Strike look-alike's movements was more then enough to make Kira realize, that this was most definitely, the brat's final attack, and that there was simply nothing he could do to dodge it, and knowing that, Kira gapped the on to the one beam saber he had left while at the same time getting the shield back in front of him again to counter the incoming attack.

But even while he was doing that. Kira swiftly pressed a few of the more important buttons, inside the Freedom's cockpit. In a last bit attempt to prepare himself and his long time mobile suit and friend, for what their lunatic of an opponent was about to do.

And it was only a second later, when he heard the Impulse pilot let out a loud determined battle cry, that sounded so utterly creepy and murderous that Kira actually felt a few drops of sweat running from his forehead and down his face.

"Lacus...Everybody" The young man whispered quietly.

Just before he thrust the beam saber out after the other mobile suit. And amazingly enough even with the incredible high speed this whole thing was happening in, he did somehow succeeded in piercing the Impulse right between it's two dark green eyes. Yet even after receiving that kind of damage, the Impulse continued onward with the exact same speed as before.

And that of course meant, that it was only a split second later, when the enormous close combat weapon was jammed directly thought, Kira's last means of defense and into the stomach area of the Freedom.

"Lacus...!" Kira yelled out. Sincerely hoping that he would be able to see the woman he loved, and everybody else again.

So while the faces of all who where important to him flashed rapidly through Kira Yamato's mind.

The ZGMF-X1OA Freedom exploded in a bright blinding light.

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And as that happened.

Athrun Zala truly had to fight with every last bit of strength he had left not to fall to his knees right then and there.

No matter what the blue haired young man just could not believe what he had seen. First the Archangel had taken a direct hit from the Minerva's Tannhauser, and now Kira and the Freedom had been defeat too.

So while tightly holding on to the chair, he was standing next to. It all became to much for Athrun Zala to bear, and he screamed out the names of his best friend and his fiancée in a loud deeply painful tone.

"NNNOOOO...KIIIIIIIIRRRRRRAAAAAA!...CAAAAAAGGGGGGGAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLIIIIIIII!".

To be continued.

Ok that was a hard chapter to write. The Freedom is my favorite gundam, and I for one really do think Kira would have won had he been out to kill Shinn, think about it, the Providence is definitely more dangerous and powerful than the Freedom. And Shinn said so himself, that the Freedom is a more powerful machine than the Impulse. And in my eyes Rau really is the most skilled and deadly pilot in the gundam seed universe, and Kira defeat him.