Disclaimer: I do not own Ranma and Gundam SEED FREEDOM
Chapter 9
Welcome to Tabletop
Cosmic Era 75
Aprillius colony
The Plants
A few minutes later
Outside Aprillius colony, Ryo-Ohki waited for the Millenium to arrive as they will travel together to Earth side by side. As they leave Plants controlled space, Ryo-Ohki went above the Millenium and a beam of light shines down on the ship and it disappeared and reappeared inside Ryo-Ohki subspace pocket dimension which is a new edition to Ryo-Ohki and similar to what a Jurai treeship can do.
The crew were surprised and shocked to find themselves inside Ryo-Ohki special features as Ranma explains it, they are inside a 'pocket dimension within subspace' that's connected to Ryo-Ohki while on spaceship mode and that the Millenium is floating on a lake with a dock surrounded by an enormous forest.
Lacus and Kira and several of the crew were brought to Ryo-Ohki bridge where Washu and the others were waiting.
"Everyone, I am sorry to surprise you like that" Ranma apologize
"Washu can't stand moving at snail pace" Ranma sits down at one of what can be described as the ship's controls
"Snail pace?" Alexei Konoe, Captain of the Millenium repeated as he felt offended to call his ship, moving at snail pace
"My ship the Millenium, is one of the fast ships ever built!" Konoe declared as the others are confused at what Ranma said, and he explained
"No disrespect Captain Konoe, I am sure the Millenium is fast, but it can't go up to sublight speeds, but Ryo-Ohki can"
"Whoa, wait, sublight speed? She can do that?" said by an awed Heinz and inquires "can she sustain such speeds?"
Ranma would answer the question, but Washu answered it "what you should really ask… if she can go faster than light, Mr. Heinz" Heinz and the captain was wide eyes at possibility of Ryo-Ohki can go FTL the holy grail of interstellar space travel, the means to travel the void of space, to explore the galaxy is a dream of mankind, and he's standing on it.
"This is incredible" remark by councilor Ezalia who volunteers to represent the Plants who is looking around the supposed bridge, seeing that they are moving very fast. From the Plants back to Earth could take a few days, this trip will only take them a few minutes at least.
Ezalia thoughts of Overtechnology and their military contract with the Earth Alliance Forces in building ships capable speeds much like Ryo-Ohki is a concern and more so if they have new weaponry in their inventory. It has been two years and there is nothing but silence with the occasional border dispute, when cruisers from the EA and Zaft commit border violations and beyond that, nothing else but the mundane.
Intel reports say that the EA has not fielded any new ships in their lunar yard but refurbishing older and salvage ones with upgrades from Overtechnology and their affiliated companies.
Ranma senses the others concern especially councilwoman Ezalia. he just ignored it and just focus on the screen showing Ryo-Ohki just in orbit above Earth and quickly shoot straight down to the atmosphere without causing any sonic booms or air friction.
A reentry that took only thirty seconds and the people onboard the Ryo-Ohki felt nothing, no G-forces no vibration whatsoever.
"We are nearing Tabletop Island" Ranma announced before Ezalia would inquire anymore as they watch the screens above them. A geographic representation of Earth shows where they are, which is somewhere in the Pacific Ocean between Hawaii and Orb.
"Tabletop Island?" Kira repeated questioning
"It's a hidden island somewhere in the Pacific, it is the Earth Alliance fallback base should we have lost the war and go into a guerilla warfare. There is also a max prison"
"A prison?" Lacus look to Ranma concerned
"For Humanity worst criminals and they are incarcerated here for now, until a suitable place we can dump them in and let them live their lives forever"
"Ranma, why are we here?" Lacus asks and Washu answered her
"Someone suggested that we need to talk to one of my wayward students before we can decide to head for Foundation" it was right then that Via, Sophia and Kasumi heave a sigh
"You have other students?" Ezalia asks curious that there are others who Washu taught her knowledge
"I taught a whole class councilor, and you should know one of them since, you voted him to be your chairman once" Washu answered
"W-what!"
"Gilbert is alive…he is here?" said Ezalia asking
"Yes" Ranma flat out answered
That admittance has triggered a whole sway of emotions from every member of COMPASS, especially to the former crew members of the Minerva especially to Shinn and Luna and was about to demand answers
Then Ranma shouted, "Hold it!" Ranma stop them from firing twenty questions at them
"I am very sure you all want to ask the HOW, WHY and the WHO ELSE question. I can't answer all of you if go asking us at the same time!" he said
"Calm down, all of you!" Sophia raised her voice to them to let Ranma speak
"To ease your mind a bit, the two people who were with Durandal are fine and no harm has come to them. On my honor, I swear it" he offered, and some felt relieved, and many were crying especially the Hawke sisters and for Shinn,
"So, why are you keeping them prisoner!?" Shinn demanded an answer
"Prisoners?"
"I am talking about Captain Talia Gladys and Rey Za Burrel!" Shinn yelled
Ranma acted feigning ignorance of not knowing who they are but in truth he knows who they are"
"Talia Gladys? wha Oh! you are talking about Ron ex-wife and Al La Flaga clone?" Ranma said
"Ex-wife?" Kira muttered in confusion
"They are not prisoners; they are fine and in the same place Mrs. Zala was staying and that the Earth Alliance is protecting them"
"Protecting them?" Luna sounded skeptical
"Asks me about that later, because right now, we need to talk to Gilbert Durandal about Destiny Plan, and we need to know more about the Accords before we move forward" he turns to Kira, but Shinn tries to butt in
"You can't just,"
"I will not answer your questions Shinn" Ranma cuts him off forcefully "I know you are worried, now that you know that two people that I assume are very dear to you are alive, and I can understand your concern for them"
"They are fine and having the time of their lives" Washu added her assurance and so dismissively "I was the one treated Rey ailment, so he's not suffering anymore from telemore withdrawal syndrome and he's living normally"
"Thank you, ma'am" Lunamaria said bowing
"You're welcome"
"But what about Captain Gladys?" Luna asks
"Ms. Gladys is with her son, and she relinquish her status as a Plants citizen for Atlantic Federation citizenship status six months ago" was Ranma answered then look at the record and dismissed it and a look of confusion from the others
"She's living with her son, as her ex-husband relinquishes his custody to Ms. Gladys. They are living peacefully, so I wouldn't worry about that and as for Rey well, he's doing some exploration work for the EA, and he seems pretty good at it"
"Exploring? Where?"
"Classified"
"What?" Shinn was losing his patience, and he would have lunge at him if Lacus hadn't intervenes
"Major, do I have your word that they are in no danger?" Ranma notices a sharp tone in Lacus voice, and by her expression, especially her pale cerulean eyes glaring daggers at him, and he knows that she's serious.
"By my warrior code of honor, yes" Ranma answered
"Then, that's good enough for me. However, I want the whole truth as to why you are detaining them and not repatriating back to the Plants?"
"Like I said, she has relinquished her status as a Plant citizen for an Atlantic Federation citizenship" Ranma replied as he stood up "they don't want to be repatriated"
"But why?"
"Ask them that yourself when you see them again soon. For now, we have arrived" Ranma nodded to Washu, and she nods back in understanding
"Ryo-Ohki!" Washu signaled her and slowly slipped thru a stealth field to reveal an island at the other side.
"Welcome to Tabletop Island"
Within moments Ryo-Ohki transported the Millenium to an open dockyard line up with over a three dozen surface ships, warships and floating docks of hundreds of warships and they look different from the Earth Alliance Arkansasclass, Fraserclass, Danilovclass and Spenglerclass.
What they are seeing are ships that look like it came from a bygone era, US Navy warships and yet they look like they have been modernized for the standards of the Cosmic era, from the Aircraft carriers, Amphibious assault ships, Amphibious command ships, Amphibious transport docks, Dock landing ships, Expeditionary mobile base, Cruisers and Guided missile cruisers, Destroyers, Frigates, Littoral combat ships, Mine countermeasures ships, Patrol ships and Submarines.
One vessel however, stood out like a sore thumb from all the rest and it was big, bigger than the Gerald R. Ford-class aircraft carriers by its side, and they are over three hundred plus meters in length, but for this vessel is over 550 meters in length and the design is like that of an US Navy aircraft carrier but with a dual deck launching system.
An Uraga Class Escort Battle Carrier. Twice as big as Archangel and though they see nothing but the fighter planes on the flattop, they are sure it's capable of launching mobile suits. Speaking of fighter planes, they find something odd about them because they closely if not aesthetically resemble old US Navy fighter planes of old and not the EA F-7D Spearhead Multi-Purpose Air Superiority Fighter
What the crew is seeing is the VF-1 Valkyrie, a type of swept-wing variable fighter like that of the US Navy F-14 Tomcat and they assume, will replace the outdated F-7D fighter planes of the Earth Alliance. It was bigger, sleek, and clearly built for speed, and they can feel something menacing about them.
On the dock, they were met by Earth Alliance officers and soldiers guarding the pier and one top ranking officer who is at Tabletop to greet them.
Fleet Admiral, Donald Hayes. The Chairman of the Earth Alliance Joint Chief of Staff and a very important person, if not, the person on top of the Earth Alliance hierarchy.
Ranma step forward and saluted to Hayes "Admiral Hayes" Ranma greeted
"Major" Hayes saluted back and sternly looking at Ranma "When you told me you are bringing COMPASS here, I thought you were joking and yet, here you are, bringing these people here! To Tabletop base of all places and for what Major?"
"Admiral, we need to talk to Durandal" Ranma answered and step forward and whispered to his ear "We could be having another 'Break the World' situation any day now"
That stiffens Hayes when he heard 'Break the World' also known as the opening scene of the Second Alliance-Plants War. In a time when the EA is at its weakest, another war could break them and that most of their resources is focused on something far more important than waging war right now.
"How serious are you about this Major?" Hayes whispered
"Serious enough to bring them here Admiral, yes, it's that serious, Sir" Ranma replied serious "We are going to need COMPASS strength"
Hayes heaves "Very well, let's welcome our guest to Tabletop then" they both walk toward the awaiting guest and properly greet them
"President Clyne, Commander Yamato and Lady Cagalli, councilwoman Ezalia I am Earth Alliance fleet Admiral Donald Hayes, and welcome to Tabletop Island"
"Pleased to meet you Admiral Hayes" Lacus greeted and shake his hand "My apologies on intruding on your… secret base" Hayes glared at Ranma, and he look away as not to meet the admiral glare and an expression of saying 'I will deal with you later'
"Now, from what the Major explained to me, you wish to speak to Gilbert Durandal?"
"Yes, Admiral Hayes. This is an urgent matter" Cagalli said
"From what Saotome told me, we may have a Break the World scenario in the works, and that you are trying to prevent that from happening?" Hayes inquired
"Break the World?" Lacus looked to Ranma in her eyes asking why he told him that. Then realize it was to convince the Admiral to let them see Durandal
"Yes Admiral" Lacus confirm as to play along with Ranma
"Hmmn," Hayes crossed his arms and look to Ranma "I didn't know Colonel Michael became that serious a problem now"
"He's one of several problems we have to deal with Admiral" Ranma make clear
"Several problems? Explain" Hayes curious
"The Kingdom of Foundation is one of them, Admiral" Ranma answered and Hayes stiffened
"Let's step into my office and explain to me thoroughly of what you have found"
COMPASS entourage walk towards a fleet of waiting SUV and there they drive towards a growing city, home to a population of twenty thousand people and heading towards the center where administrative district that manage the day-to-day activities of the local government and the naval/space base are located.
They crossed an avenue and at the end of that avenue are two buildings with rows of flagpoles in front of it. Ezalia thought it looked familiar for some reason but for the life of her, she can't remember where.
When they arrived, Kira couldn't help but noticed that most of the buildings, the roads are…well everything looked newly built. In fact, the city looks like it's in a construction boom and when they entered the Alliance building, Kira and the others could smell the fresh coat of paint drying on the walls and that everything is brand new including the carpet.
At the entrance, most likely the building lobby, workers are placing an emblem of some kind on a wall that looks like an inverted kite in a red circle. Kira didn't have time to see the rest as they were directed to follow the admiral.
At the Admiral office, while everyone was sitting at a couch as Lacus explains to the Admiral about their suspicions regarding the Kingdom of Foundation and that Gilbert Durandal could shed some light on several subjects and questions that needed to be answered.
"I see, Durandal Destiny Plan, still lingers" Hayes solemn and gave a disappointing heave "I thought we already pass that, and yet those involve in it could very well be plotting in the shadows, 'sigh' and it had to be the Kingdom of Foundation of all places"
EAIA has been keeping tabs on the Kingdom of Foundation for a while but only through passive observation especially when it comes to Queen Aura inner circle. This was due to information about them easily catching spies from Eurasia and executed after they took every ounce of information from them and used it against Eurasia became clear.
Only recently did Washu advise EAIA to them to keep their distance as the possibility of Aura court being telepathic and possibly empathic, then they can easily detect a person's intent and once they capture you, they will take whatever information they have in their brains. Keeping their distance kept their agents away from danger, but it also limited their investigation of Queen Aura and her court.
"Which is why we need to talk to him, talk to Gilbert Durandal, Admiral Hayes" Lacus said
"Ranma, what's your opinion on this?" Hayes asks him as Ranma was looking outside the window overlooking the mountain his Washu built cellphone in his hand he put it away, and then he looks towards the others.
"Like I said, we need him to talk Admiral, we need the whole story from him on Destiny Plan because, there is something that we can't see because it's being hidden from us"
"And what is being hidden from us?"
"A plot to start another war, that, I have no doubt that they will start it, but how and what they will use to wage it is the question we need answers" Ranma answered
Ranma pressured "Admiral, we can't afford another war, so we need to nip it from the bud before it starts"
Hayes leaned back to his seat and thought of how the last war started and it started with the dropping Junius 7 remains on Earth, the event called 'Break the World' the first scene of the beginning.
The start of the Second Alliance-Plants war.
To start it, it needs three prerequisites
First: a catastrophic premeditated event, like the terrorist attack Earth by dropping Junuis 7 on the planet.
Second: a cause to rally around to wage the war
Third: the military might to wage the war
All three are a question mark, and what the Earth Alliance knows, the Kingdom of Foundation has a formidable army and an impressive mobile suit force, but it's not enough to force the world into submission.
"Alright, I will allow it" Hayes replied "The Earth Alliance has an interest in keeping the peace. However, we will not shrug off on any group that tries to start another war. So, if they dare to attack us then we will respond in kind" he looked to Ranma
"Major, I hope you succeed in preventing another war to occur, because we can't afford to wage it, not now"
"I understand, Admiral, believe me I do" Ranma replied in agreement
"Oh, by the way, you should visit Lady Sasami since you are here"
"Uhmn, Sasami?" Ranma sounded unsure and he looked like he was sweating, which made the Admiral grin. So, with a dramatic groan from the Admiral he said to Ranma with mischief in his words
"Seriously Major, why haven't you visited, your wife after all this time?" Hayes put the emphasis on 'your wife' just to make it clear
"Eh?" came from the Admiral guest because this was news and with a tone innocence, but Ranma knows it's not, as the Admiral ads another to the bombshell,
"The Major is a married man…I thought everyone knew that"
"EHHH!"
It took thirty to forty minutes of demanding answers as to why he has a fiancée like Kasumi when he's already married, plus the rumors about him having multiple fiancées they thought was utter nonsense could possibly be true. Lacus, Cagalli, Lunamaria and Ezalia called him a 'philandering gigolo' 'womanizer' 'pervert' and other colorful names Ranma hasn't heard those named called on him for a long time.
Being berated by a circle of women, down on his knees being scolded for disgracing Kasumi.
How nostalgic.
'Well, at least no one is whiffing up a mallet somewhere and hitting me with it' Ranma thought
Meanwhile, Kasumi and Washu were sitting at the couch trying look stoic while Sophia and Via were holding their stomachs unable to hold their laughter. This made the others find it odd, until Kasumi snap a giggle and finally explains something that they don't know about Ranma past life but just enough of a story that's mostly the truth.
"…So, in a way, it's all his father fault and not Ranma" Kasumi explained finally to a shocked audience
"Your father…he sold you for a bowl of rice, two fish and some pickles? And I thought I had it bad" Kira remark in shocked and sympathetic to what Ranma went thru
"Yeahhh, my old man was a jerk, and those are not the worst of what he did to me" Ranma said
"What's even worse than wrapping your ten-year-old son up in fish sausages and threw you into a pit of cats over and over again just to learn a martial arts technique?" Ezalia was shaking in anger, motherly instinct kicking in like crazy
"The Berserkers technique, which was actually banned by every martial arts group due to causing psychological damages to anyone who learns it" Ranma clarified calmly
"Oh crap! Not even Blue Cosmos was that cruel to their 'Extended' kids as to throw them in a pit of cats over and over again when they were 6 years old" Luna remark in disbelief
Then Lacus enumerate the kind of training Genma put Ranma thru "He tied you behind a moving train to make you run faster, tied a boulder behind your back while swimming in the ocean or climb up a steep cliff with a boulder behind your back, climb down Tokyo tower with a boulder behind your back…your father seems to have a fondness in using boulders as a training tool" Lacus remark in disgust, describing the disturbing training regimen invented by Genma Saotome that he put Ranma thru, and this was when he was still a child.
"How are you even alive or even sane after going thru all that?" Luna asks
Getting up from kneeling, Ranma thought of an answer for that question but found nothing
"Honestly, I just did. I just lived thru all that" he answered
"Ranma, I am so sorry" Lacus apologize
"It's fine, its fine."
"So, what happened to all those engagements your father made to all those families?" Lacus curiously asks
"Some of them were dismissed, and uhmn, but uh, we are getting sidetracked here, so let's not talk about that now, were here for Durandal, remember" Ranma redirected back to the primary subject.
Lacus remembers now "Oh right. But I want detail"
"No, you won't!"
When they were filing out the office Ranma stayed behind for a moment to glare at Hayes "That was a dirty trick sir!" he complained
Hayes held open hands forward but look amused "Don't blame me, this was Lady Sasami Idea to mention her as your wife which is technically true by the way"
"Sasami" Ranma groaned
"Seriously Ranma, I didn't even know you were married to her majesty" Hayes admitted
"Which is something I would have love to keep it that way, admiral Hayes" Ranma activated the anti-surveillance field and Hayes seeing that made him puzzled
"Ranma?"
"Just making sure, but have your office swept with bugs afterwards"
"Think they are spying?"
"Doubtful but it pays to be careful" Ranma answered and then
"Sir, you know who Sasami really is right, and how important she is to us and Earth?"
"Of course I know who she is, but she insisted on mentioning her name and if you want to know why, you should ask her yourself" Hayes said
He groaned for knowing Sasami, it can only mean that she wants to meet Lacus personally. Ranma would have wanted her to remain unknown for her importance to the Alliance is beyond measure
"I will ask when I visit, Admiral,"
"Now Ranma, are you sure Durandal will give you the answers you need?" the Admiral asks
Thinking about it for a moment and unsure "We are following every lead Admiral and like you said, we can't afford another, and it will cripple us internally and externally, since we may be facing trouble from out of town soon. So, I suggest getting everyone, out of harm's way now before unwanted guest comes knocking"
"So, noted" the Admiral felt a shiver through his spine as he replied, for understands what Ranma meant.
"Also, Admiral, what's the status of the negotiation with the other groups not part of Michael group?" Ranma asks
To keep the other BC groups from going active, Atlantic Federation representatives went in secret negotiations with other remnants not tied in with Michael, offer them amnesty and a return to service before they cross the line like Michael, as not all of them are hardcore fanatics like him. Some can be reasoned with.
"We have good news on that front," he said with great delight "Of the twelve groups, six of them is taking advantage of our offer of amnesty and will be surrendering to our forces in designated bases in a few hours and the remaining six will surrender a few days later" Admiral Hayes answered
"Well, that's good news!" Ranma nodded in agreement
"The Atlantic Federation will be announcing it today and that the surrendering ceremony will be in designated bases with instruction on how they will surrender without incident"
Then, Hayes added "They have already handed over several Blue Cosmos hardcore fanatics a week ago as a gift and we have confirmed who they are, but unfortunately most of them fled before they could be apprehended and are headed for Michael group to join him"
"Be that as it may, Michael is the last group and that maybe a problem since the man and every member of his group are hardcore Blue Cosmos fanatic like himself" Hayes said
"Stopping the violence is a victory for us if we end this peacefully, Admiral. This makes our job in the other projects much easier because we are not diverting manpower and resources in dealing with BC remnants or Zaft," said Ranma
"Speaking of Michael, do we have any more information on his military strength and anything from the Kingdom of Foundation would be helpful"
"I'll send you everything we have but it's not much"
"Thank you, Admiral" he saluted and left the Admiral office for the waiting SUV
The convoy of SUV followed a highway, and some separated from the group and headed somewhere else. The rest took a turn to an exit towards the Tabletop Island Correctional facility built to house a thousand prisoners but for now, only less than a hundred inmates are in prison, mostly members of the terrorists' groups, mostly Blue Cosmos and Zala fanatics that went missing after the war.
The correctional facility has three perimeters to keep the prisoners in. The outer is a multitude of high fences and razor-sharp barb wires and Washu anti-escape system, the next is the guard wall where only one gate can one enter and exit to the inner prison itself.
Ranma was explaining that the prison is practically impossible to break in and break out, even though it looks like any other correctional facility you would see anywhere.
"Many prisoners tried everything to get out of this place and they all went back in because the Island will not let you leave, unless have served prison sentence completely"
"The Island won't let you leave? I don't understand Ranma" Lacus confused
"It's kind of hard to explain, and if I go thru the details, we will be here all day, but trust me on this, no criminal incarcerated in this place will leave here without serving their full prison terms or get paroled"
"Has anyone tried to make a jailbreak?" Athrun asks
"A few, mostly newbies and when they are recaptured well, let's just say their punishment is beyond disturbing"
"Disturbing?" Ezalia repeated the word.
As they enter the prison, they can hear the cries and pleads of mercy as snap of a whip can be heard echoing from somewhere, most likely they are torturing someone. What followed next made them blush red
"Please, mistress no more!" someone was pleading and the voice that responded was a man talking like a woman made them pale
"OHHH, you have been a bad, bad, bad boy! You need to ride the horse!"
"Nooo! Not the horse, anything but the horse! Nooo Mistress!"
"I told you before, call me Queen! Now I have to add another candle for the repertoire!" and another sound of whips are heard followed by cries of pain and moans of pleasure or pain they do not know and don't want to know.
Right on cue, prison guards were rolling several triangular wooden horses right pass the guest and entering a room ahead of them and doors sliding closed.
"Well, that's new" Ranma remark "They added the wooden horse to punish these idiots"
Ranma look back to others a bit stunned and very disturbed, so Ranma explained a little "We normally just put them in an isolation room for a month or a hot box to cool them off"
"You put them in a hot box to cool them off?" Kira confused
"Isn't that a bit contradictory, and is having a torture room even legal?" Athrun remark pointing at the room as the voices and cracking of whips
"Legal! Well, just call it the disciplinary room…. not really, but it refrains them from trying to escape, though I am surprised that they rolled out the wooden horse. These guys must have done something really bad to piss everyone off" Ranma shakes his head and then asks the guard escorting them as they pass by the room and Ranma asks
"It sounded like more than a dozen are in there, what happened?"
"Sir, a bunch of newbie prisoners started a riot two days earlier and caused the death of several inmates and several guards were badly injured," the guard answered
"The Warden got permission from the local government, decided, a harsher punishment is required to discipline them…but it seems that the prisoners look like they are enjoying themselves, 'ahem' sir"
"Enjoying themselves?" Ezalia repeated
"Yes ma'am, uhmn…most of them are bunch of…masochist" was the prison guard stated, and it made the visiting group very quiet and very disturbed.
"Unbelievable" Ranma muttered in disbelief
"Yes sir. Who would have thought"
"Well, anyway where's the warden?"
Right then the door to the room slides open and then came out an overweight man in his sixties in Alliance uniform and shouting into the room
"Ladies! Make sure you drill it into their heads, we do not tolerate jailbreak because the next time they do this kind of shit, they will have a 12volt wire up their crotch and a dildo in their orifice!" hearing that, everyone just sweatdrop at that
"Yes, sir!" shout in chorus by multiple voices as the Warden greeted his guest
"Ranma my boy!" called out the man who is the Warden
"Warden, you've been busy?"
"A bunch of stupid a-hole newbies that arrived here and started trouble a few days ago"
"So, I heard"
"They thought that they could just walk out of here without finishing their prison sentence, a bunch of idiots. Well, that's Blue Cosmos for you," said the Warden
"With these guys here, the remaining Blue Cosmos groups are finally surrendering to Alliance Forces, and we have more than enough intel in going after their backers and weapons supplier of these pricks"
"Surrendering?" Lacus look at Ranma and explained
"The Admiral just told me, that the remaining twelve BC cells are surrendering, thanks to AF diplomats in secret talks with their leaders who wanted to surrender" Ranma said
"Ranma, why did you not tell us this?" Lacus demanded upset of being kept in the dark
"Secret talks, Lacus. Had Michael or Zaft heard of our secret talks with those who wanted to surrender, they would have been killed the moment they were found out, those who wanted to surrender, sent out feeler in secret to people in the Alliance who would listen, namely me"
"They sent messages to you?" said Lacus query
"A year ago, and those who sent messages to me were my friends. They want to negotiate a surrender in secret. It was a long process and only now that it bore fruit"
"I see"
Ranma look back at the Warden and asks, "are they ready?"
"We are bringing them to the two visiting rooms" the Warden replied
"Good," Ranma look to the rest "I will deal with Durandal, Washu, councilor Ezalia, commander Joule and Elsman, Shinn and Luna, you will be with me. The others will be with Ms. Lacus, commander Yamato and Kasumi, go visit the other one"
"What other one, I thought were going to interrogate Durandal together?" questioned Kira and Ranma glance at Mrs. Via Hibiki, Cagalli, Athrun, Kira, and Lacus
"I will be the one doing the questioning" he glances at Mrs. Hibiki again and then at Kira and Cagalli, a bit concerned about what their reaction will be to who they will be seeing.
"There is someone here that you need to see"
"See, who?" Cagalli asks
It was Via answered that "Ulen, your father …he's here children"
Silence filled everyone when they heard this revelation and for Kira, this is not something he expected but given that his mother is alive, his father might be alive as well but never even thought of meeting him.
Ulen Hibiki, the father of Kira and Cagalli, is one of the best geneticists in the world and is known as the leading expert in both birthing technology and the coordinator development process. He is also the one who subjected his unborn son Kira to his experiments in order to make him the Ultimate Coordinator, in spite of the condemnation of his wife. His disregard for others is the result of his obsession to create a child with the highest potential of humanity through his son, believing it would make his life better.
One must question, 'Is Kira life better or worse?'
For Cagalli, she was balling her fist as she is shaking in rage that the man who put them especially her brother thru hell, is still alive, and he is here to see him.
"Where, where is that bastard?" Cagalli quietly demanded
Ranma and the others don't need a mind reader to know what Cagalli is thinking. So, Ranma gave her a bit of the wrong encouragement.
"Here" Ranma pass to Cagalli, of what can only be describe as 'brass knuckles' and Cagalli smile "Thanks Major Saotome"
"You are welcome"
Of course, Via eyeroll on Ranma wrong gifts of encouragement and so, she took those brass knuckles away from Cagalli and gave it to Col. Kisaka who is with them, as Via is not about to have her daughter go Rambo on her father.
"No, you are not going to go violent with your father!"
Cagalli protested "Mother!"
"No! I will not have it! And you!" Via pointed at Ranma accusingly "Don't encourage my kids like that you brute! Brass knuckles of all things you give to a girl, really?"
"What? Come on Via, the guy deserves to get his lights punch out" Ranma disputed
"Yes, but if anyone was going to punch his lights out, it would be me!" Via exclaimed and that earned her a few raised eyebrows from the group
"I, am the only one who has the moral and legal right to pound my stupid husband to a bloody pulp!" she declares "Besides, if my husband will do something stupid again, I will have to use these on him since I haven't had time to have break in with these"
Via pulled out two fighting gloves with metal knuckles from her pocket and wore them on her hand and by the looks of it, those were made to cause severe damage to a person if one gets into a fist fight.
"Ok, that's new" Ranma remark
"Uhnm mother, is that even necessary?" Kira queried in concern
Via look at her son, looking apologetic and explained "I never subscribe to violence myself Kira. But your father has push me to the breaking point of what he did to our family, towards you"
"So, I told myself, for the sake of my children, I promise, that I will not stay idle, and I will protect my children at all cost" she explained about herself
"So I went back to school, learning new things along the way and expanding my knowledge… and getting myself physically stronger, learning a few martial arts, especially my favorite, MMA and Krav Maga… so that I can pound some sense into your father thick head of his" she declared smiling which was worrying for Kira.
"Who would have thought that, putting your husband face on a sand bang and punch it to your heart content, would relieved your heart of from so much pain and frustration, it's so… therapeutic"
The group was pretty much speechless except for Ranma, he gave her two thumbs up as the others facepalm to his reaction
"Kira, your old man is going to be so boned if he screw up your family reunion" he declared which everyone eyeroll at that
Kira is wondering and worrying of what kind of family reunion they will have as he watches his mother and sister talk about what kind of self-defense training Cagalli have back at Orb and her mother is giving her pointers on some moves she learned and that Cagalli seemed to relish the idea of learning some martial arts moves from her mother when this is over.
"Well, good luck then"
The group separated into two rooms and Ranma entered the first room with a Smart Glass wall
From Wiki
Smart glass, also known as switchable glass, dynamic glass, and smart-tinting glass, is a type of glass that can change its optical properties, becoming opaque or tinted, in response to electrical or thermal signals. This can be used to prevent sunlight and heat from entering a building during hot days, improving energy efficiency.
It can also be used to conveniently provide privacy or visibility to a room.
End Wiki
Gilbert Durandal and Ulen Hibiki were brought in from the minimum-security section where there are no Blue Cosmos inmates and made sure they not mixed in with the others as well.
Durandal has his long hair cut as he's now a crew cut hair. He looked fine and healthy and showed no sign of any mistreatment of sorts. He was wearing orange prison clothes and, on his hands, neck and ankles had these kinds of glowing metal rings. High-tech devices that have a tracking system and GXP restraining field that nullify the prisoners' movements should they try anything stupid
"Sensei, Ezalia, Shinn and Luna, it's nice to see you again" Gilbert greeted
"H-hello sir"
Ranma glances at Shinn and Lunamaria and they look uncomfortable at the idea of seeing the former chairman again and this was concerning for Ranma
"You don't have to be here if you don't want to"
"No, we are fine Major, it's just…we never thought we would ever see the chairman again" Shinn said "We never thought that he would still be alive, as well as captain Gladys and Rey. Rey is my best friend"
"I see" Ranma nodded in understanding "When this interview is over, I can make a call to help you talk to them"
"You can do that?" that brightens Luna up
"Yes, I can"
"Could I have one phone call to her as well?" Gilbert spoke up with an inquiry after being silent and Ranma growled at him for butting in a conversation
"You don't get to speak unless you are spoken to Mr. Durandal," Ranma snap at him
"You don't get to speak to her and disrupt the peaceful life she has now, and as for Rey," Ranma walks up to him and grabs him by the neck, pulling him up from the seat at the other side of table like he was weightless. The others just watch in amazement and worry but not interfering or try to restrain Ranma
Gilbert can feel the rage as Ranma spoke to him "Rey is his own person now and not his sociopathic brother which you try to make him into one, do you get me, Mr. Durandal"
'Y-yes, I get you Mr. Saotome"
"Good" he drops him back to his seat and look to the others "You can say your greetings before I start asking him questions"
"Is this about Aura and the Foundation, isn't it?" Durandal queried as Ranma stops and look back to him with a questioning look as to how he guesses it right
"The new arrivals from Blue Cosmos as quite talkative when the warden put them that S room which echoes all over the prison thru the PA system. Very disturbing confession, I might add"
"So, there really is a backup plan?"
Durandal hesitant to answer Ranma question. Until he decided to do so "Yes, Aura will try to make it happen, that is, if she finally has Lacus in her hands" Durandal answered
"Gilbert, Lacus was originally part of Destiny Plan, and if so, why did you try to have her killed before, why? Wouldn't that upset your plans then?" Ezalia asks
He shakes his head "If her DNA wasn't so different from the one me and Aura made and yes, she was useless to us." he answered
"How did you find out her DNA is completely different, for as I remember correctly, members of the Plants Supreme Council guarded their own DNA and only their family doctors are allowed to treat them for any ailments" Ezalia explained Durandal has an answer
"Before she left the Plants, she had an injury due to a small cut on her finger from peeling potatoes at an orphanage she runs. The cut was treated, no harm done but the cotton buds and blood-stained tissue papers were saved by the nurse and brought to me for testing"
"You had someone in her employ, in the clinic"
"In the opportunity of getting a blood sample, yes"
"We've never bothered her for years, but as she grows up, I noticed peculiarities, an air of nobility, her maturity, kindness and understanding is beyond her years, her wisdom is impressive that, I find it hard to believe it was Aura work because it was too good, so I made comparison with the blood sample and the record we have of her DNA…they are completely different. Different and perfect" his words carry a sense of admiration
"Her DNA was perfect, seamless…beautiful even. It's practically a work of art, flawless and only one person I know who can make such miracle, and that is sensei Washu."
They all look to Washu, and she slightly nodded
"With the kind of changes from what we made, she was useless to Destiny Plan because of it, so I tried to have her eliminated but it failed"
Ranma remembers from intelligence record he once read, that Zaft special forces was sent to assassinate Lacus at the start of the Second Alliance-Plants War.
Now…
"So why is Aura after her now if her DNA is so useless to your plans?" Ranma asks
Durandal didn't answer at least not immediately
"Answer my question"
"I will answer it, but I want a fair trial"
"A fair trial?"
"I am being detained against my will, I demand," Durandal would have continue until Ranma grab him by the throat again and lifted him up
"Help me" Durandal throatily pleads but the others did nothing but stand there
"The world knows you are officially dead, you don't get to demand anything from me or the Alliance, and the only thing you can asks me is, how do you want your death be painless or not" Ranma told him coldly
"Why did you save me then, if was a dead man to you?"
Thinking back, Ranma remembers Washu request through Sasami, that if he ever runs into Durandal, spare his life. That day at the fortress, Talia Gladys begged him to save Durandal life when Ranma was evacuating them. Now, One of Ranma weakness in his life, is…
'He can't say no to a pretty lady'
"Washu, asks me to spare your life and then Ms. Gladys ask me to save your life" he answered, "I think she believe that…you could still be redeemable, same as Washu, despite everything that happened, you could still be redeemable…maybe worth saving. I don't know" Ranma let him go and the chill in the air disperses as he turns his back on him
"I told you once before Gilbert, Destiny Plan was flawed, and it's doomed to failure" Washu spoke up
"But Washu," Washu cut off Gilbert
"Gilbert, you were going to condemn humanity in a system that's no more than a prison system via genetic casting. Humankind evolution will be stifled because you created a chain that can never be broken and that means you condemn everyone in a fate assigned to them because of his/her genetics, and it's a fate they can never break free of or change it because you would take away their right of choice, their freewill"
"Freewill is a gift" Ranma remark as he looks back with a heavy weight
"I don't care what you think is right or what you believe is right, but for the good and for the bad, freewill is freedom, a gift from God, and the right of all mankind… you… have no right to take that away!" Ranma leans down in eye contact with Gilbert, and he can't move as if he was bolted down but what making him unmoved is Ranma presence as an aura of deep and dark emotions was going thru him and he felt fear all over.
Then Ranma ask, "Now answer me, why do Aura want Lacus so badly?"
Durandal felt compelled to answer, this was strange and terrifying as if the will to resist was absent. At first, he thought of Ranma was just a brute, wielded by the alliance like a blunt object but no. he hears the whisperings of the prison guards and grumbles and curses of prisoners mostly from alliance forces sent to prison for several offenses and they all curse the name, Ranma.
His rank of Major was just a deception, this man was no lackey to power, but the one wields the growing power of the alliance itself.
"Lacus, is not their target, it's her Genes, her DNA"
"What?"
"It's her DNA that Aura wants not her," Durandal explained it further and Ranma and the other will not like it
"During the war, when I sent Zaft special forces to kill her, Aura wants me to stop targeting Lacus immediately and instead, capture her and bring her to Foundation. Her plan… her plan was to impregnate her with Ophee Lam Tao genes, create a perfect child for the Destiny Plan, and she'd do it no matter what, even if it means she will kill the child Lacus carrying right now and force Lacus to," Gilbert couldn't finish the sentence because Ranma hand is in his throat choking him to silence.
"Orphee Lam Tao man is really a piece of work. He really is a f*ing rapists" Ranma muttered
To say that everyone was shocked and horrified at the confession was an understatement, but it confirms earlier information
"Ah! Crap!"