Disclaimer: I do not in any way own Gundam SEED! I also only own the refitted Drake Class ship mentioned in this story, it is partly owned by my buddy SethMKlein.
This is a very old piece of mine, that I wrote for an RPG I had been running based on one my many SEED AU ideas the Orion Colony which is a colony half-way between Mars and the Earth Spheres. The Drake Class staring in this story is massively rebuilt to be a kick-ass ship that can and does deliver a beating. The original idea if a recall of fitting a ship platform with a DRAGOON system was originally SethMKlien. He had used another old idea of mine which put a Hyperion like Lightwave Shield onto a ship and expanded onto it creating the Orion Refitted Drake Class ship seen here.
Since this is a very old idea from way back when it does not compare really with my modern stories though I am sure it is pretty close for I didn't get all that better from the time I wrote this to now but still improved slightly. Just to let you know!
This is going to be a small taste of what is in store for the later Angelic Saga stories. /evil laughs/ So sit back and enjoy!
-o-o-o-
Only Fools Rush In
-o-o-o-
ODS Paladin
Drake Class Escort Ship (Orion Drake Refit)
March 17, C.E 76
Cruising peacefully through the sea of stars was blue and silver hull of the Drake Class Vessel Paladin of the Orion Defense Militia Homeguard Unit. Out in the empty space between Earth and Mars the ship there was nothing much but an odd asteroid or other piece of cosmic junk floating through. On the quiet bridge of the Paladin, the green uniformed -portly- form of Captain Nathan Florance the commander of the ship yawned as he entered the bridge with a hot bulb of coffee in one hand. The portly and friendly Captain like many of the Orion Militia was not always a solider. He actually was a teacher before he had joined the Militia, during the occupation of the Orion Colony he had lost his son, and many of students which was the reason he joined in the first place. Though he had served aboard a civilian freighter in his youth before he had fled the war to Orion like many of his fellows. That was the reason why he had been chosen to command the Paladin. Sighing Nathan finally took his seat, in his captain's chair. As he took a sip from his coffee Nathan took a look around his bridge and his crew hard at work over their instruments. Only six months ago they would have been nervous, and shaking in their seats since they had been only just trained to operate the ship in six weeks time. Now they where straight faced veterans ready and able to defend the Colony from any aggressors. In fact the reason why the Paladin was by herself patrolling was the increasing attacks on the colony. With the Colonies Defense System fully up and running the Homeguard Naval Unit where able to help the normal Navel Unit on their patrols.
"Morning Sir," came the accented voice his XO, Commander Natasha Avery from her own seat beside his own as she looked over reports on the crew breaking him out of his thoughts.
"Morning Ash everything ship shape today?" he asked her with a grin, the short older women snorted before looking over at her Captain with a glare.
"Sir you always asked that every morning, frankly sir you need something else to ask me since that is getting pretty old," she answered with a grin back at him. This was their usual morning greeting every day, even while in dock. The bridge crew only rolled their eyes as they continued to work with their instruments. Suddenly the sensor tech stiffened in surprise as a contact came on his screen.
"Captain, contact sir bearing Alpha-Two-Niner, unknown so far, attempting to identify," he called out as he sprang into action trying to get a solid reading on the unknown contact. Captain Florance frowned and grumbled about his morning coffee was disturbed. Commander Avery, turned to her own readouts as the data from the sensor station where sent to it. She frowned knowing that their relief the Warden would not be here till the next day. Even then they would contact them as soon as they where range.
"Got it! Alright its a Laurasia Class Frigate, a 71 model so it can't be the Zala Faction or a lost ship from the ROF and is diffidently not the Copernicus. So if I was a betting man, I would say they are a pirate ship. Looks like they haven't spotted us just yet either," the sensor tech cried out with a excited shout. Nathan raised an eyebrow at that, while Natasha only scowled at the information. A '71 Model Laurasia meant it was not a newer Laurasia Kai class ship that both the Zala Faction and the ROF use. So it would only have six Mobile Suits at the most and its weapons where pathetic in comparison to the Paladin.
"Alright, time to do some pirate hunting. General Quarters, bring the ship to battle stations, prepare all Mobile Suits for launch. Operator, prepare our Hounds and power up the Angel System as well, let's show this scum that we are far from a normal Drake Class. Also get a hold of Orion, tell them to send the Storm Unit to assist," the captain said as he started to bark orders to the crew, Natasha soon took her place in the CIC as the red lights of battle stations started to flash throughout the ship. Crew started to racing to their positions. Outside the ship the four ODM-D1 Hound Mobile Armors detach from the exterior racks they where stored in. Like their mothership these tiny Mobile Armors more then meets the eye. They started life out as Moebius Mobile Armor but after the Junk Guild on the colony where through with them they became something else. First of all they had no pilots they where computer controlled, secondly their weapons very different then a normal Moebius it was loaded for bear. Though some would think a computer controlled weapon wouldn't do so good against human pilots, they where dead wrong the computer controlling the Hounds was a semi-aware AI. The likes that is only seen in AI like ELRIC and the AI known as '8'. The pirates wouldn't even know what hit them. From the two exterior catapults where four aging Strike Dagger Mobile Suits, they quickly took defense positions around the ship. The Paladin was now ready for war, and they knew they where going to win. Back on the bridge Nathan watched as the last Strike Dagger flew off the Catapult, he still did not like having his pilots in those old junk heaps. But command promised that a new Mobile Suit was just about finished. Till then they had to relay on the Angel System and the bravery of the pilots who flew the older Strike Daggers.
"Now we have to wait," the captain said grimly belaying his happy and joking attitude earlier. His crew nodded with him, because they will not fire first in case this was not even a pirate it could be mercenary or ship refitted for cargo for all they know.
-o-o-o-
Bridge
Laurasia Class Frigate Samson
The overweight man sitting in the command chair of the ship, was not the mercenary or civilian that Nathan hoped it was. In fact the grinning man was indeed a pirate, he looked like the part. He looked at the Paladin on a screen in front of him with sick grin.
"Another lamb to the slaughter, that puny Drake is not match for us. I knew we could find some prey this far out here," the captain said with a snarl down at the screen. Around him the bridge of the ship looked very different then a normal Zala Faction or ROF vessel. First it was not well lit as the normal bridge. In fact it was dark and gloomy, with fumes of several different type of cigarettes or cigars waffing around the gloomy bridge.
"Well sir I am surprised that there is a Drake this far out here, at least a refitted one at that," his XO, a slimy and oily man said in high nasal voice, as he stood next to the command chair. Like his commander he wore a very dark blue version of the normal EA uniform.
"Though I am worried they have launched their Mobile Suits already. They must have seen us a lot sooner then we spotted them. Though they must know they can't fight us and win, so why are they heading towards us," the XO wondered with a frown. The Captain only shrugged in response before barking a few orders to the crew, who in question where moving around in the gloomy bridge during there duties.
"COMM, I want a open Communication Link to the enemy ship," he ordered as well. A faint response was heard before the screen in front of the two pirate officer flicked on to show a bridge the exact opposite of the Samsons. Though the two officer where surprised that the crew where wearing what looked like Orb Uniforms, not the Alliance Uniforms they expected the crew to wear.
"Attention Drake Class Vessel, you are to heave to for boarding or we will destroy you, so shut down your engines, weapons and recall your Mobile Suits. This is your only warning," the XO said their typical challenge to the other vessel. The camera then zoomed onto the portly man sitting in the center of the bridge, who looked calm and did even flinched at hostile looks he was getting from the two pirate officers.
"I am Captain Nathan Florance, commander of the Orion Defense Militia Warship Paladin. We are not your average Drake Class vessel, if you attack be warned we will fight back and it will not be pretty," the enemy Captain said with a grin before signing off. The pirate Captain looked flustered but the XO frowned as he took a new look at the Paladin.
"Sir he is right. Something is different with this ship. But I can not place my finger on it. Though it does have some sort of weapon replacing his Positron Deflector on the foredeck. I think we should let this one go, I have a bad feeling about this," the XO said but only got punch in the gut and a broken nose for his trouble. The Captain only glared at his second in command not evening caring that the man knew he was talking about having served aboard Drake Class Ships in the war.
"Nonsense, this will be our first catch today. Weapons ready all weapons and get the grapples ready we are going to do a firing pass on them and when we get in range fire the grapples, also launch our own Mobile Suits to get those Strike Daggers busy," the Captain ordered with manical grin on his face. The XO only shook his head but resumed his position next to the captain. The grapples like they implied where thick cables with a pressure cup on the end of it. Since the pirates usually did not destroy their prey alright, they boarded the ship and took it over. Though they where indeed going to be surprised by the so called inferior Drake Class Ships before them.
-o-o-o-
Bridge
ODS Paladin
Drake Class Escort Ship (Orion Refit)
Nathan only rolled his eyes after the pirates disappeared from his screen. These idiots where about to be pummeled. Frowning he turned towards the weapons section, which unlike a typical Drake Class Ship with only one Weapon Officer the Paladin had two. Since she was far from a normal Drake, she had better weapons then any Drake in the Alliance inventory.
"Weapons start the Angel System, and let our Daggers know they are weapons free. Though I doubt they would be needed. Alright lets people lets give these pirates a serious bloody nose," he ordered with a snarl. One that his crew copied, no on in the Militia liked Pirates not after what happened to them when Pirates had been in charge of the colony.
-o-o-o-
Outside Space
The Samson launched their own Mobile Suits, a squad of four aging Strike Daggers similar to those being flown by the Militia Pilots. Though the fifth mobile suits was a surprise, it was a GAT-01A1 105 Dagger equipped with an Aile Strike Pack. The Militia Pilots in their own Strike Daggers did not worry over the far superior Dagger, they had fought against similar Daggers in the employ of LOGOs or other pirates. So they where not worried, besides the Angel Systems and Hounds would make quick work of the enemy anyways they would only get scraps left behind. While granted they thought the Angel System was only a replacement for them, they however knew that they would be no match against the far more superior modern day mobile suits. Hence the reason for the Angel System equipped on the Paladin. Though the Angel System's job was usually to take on the enemy capital ships leaving the enemy Mobile Suits or Mobile Armors to the Hounds and Strike Daggers of the Militia. If the Angel System Failed to destroy the enemy capital ship there was always the Militia Naval Unit awesome weapon load-outs to finish the job. Though luckily for Militia Pilots they had the Hounds to back them up when needed. Not to mention the Hounds own DRAGOONs evened the score for the Militia Pilots. Since the Militia Mobile Suit Corps where almost always outnumbered when facing their foes and the supported provided by the Hounds where a lifesaver to them. All this was on the mind of the green and white suited figure of Paladin's MS Commander Lieutenant Sophia Wilson as she waited patiently in her Strike Dagger as the enemy pirate forces approached them. Sophia like many of her fellows in the MS Corps had no prior Mobile Suit Experience. Though some where ex-military pilots who had fled the war in either disgust or just where tired of fighting.
Though back to Sophia she had been a young glory seeking teenager and had joined the colonies Mistral Workpod Squad thinking it would be a fun experience for her. However she had been wrong, it was a gritty duty for a Orion Mistral Pilot. Their job was to help mining for the lifeblood of the Colony the minerals needed to keep the colony going. It was tiring job and while she was disappointed that it was fun like she was expecting. She did known it was a important job and she slowly became proud of doing it. However her world came crashing down when the Blood Dawn Pirates arrived to ruin it for her. While many of her friends made it with their families almost intact. Hers had been all out destroyed, all but her and her younger brother everyone else had been taken awhile to be executed just because they where in the wrong place at the wrong time. So when the ODM was formed Sophia was one of the first to sign up to be a pilot. Since then she had risen through the ranks till she was given command of the Paladin's MS Squadron. However a beep on her console brought the young commander out of her thoughts. Turning she saw her other three Strike Daggers had already taken positions to cover the Hounds as they approached the enemy. All of her pilots where now veterans and did not need her orders to do their jobs. So she only waited silent waiting for her turn in avenging her family and everyone else who had suffered through the occupation of the colony. Suddenly she frowned as the enemy Mobile Suits stopped not far from her forces. The Hounds after pre-programmed orders paused in their rush waiting for any further orders. The Aile Dagger in the lead sat still facing the Militia Mobile Suits.
"Attention enemy Mobile Suits! We are giving only one choice to surrender or we will destroy you. I will only give you this one warning and that is all," the leader said with a snarl in his words. Sophia rolled her eyes and flipped on her COMM.
"This is Lieutenant Sophia Wilson, Commander of the Orion Defense Militia 18th MS Squadron. I don't think so, you should be the ones surrendering not us," she said with a business like tone. She heard snickers over the squadron COMM channel as the others got over their shock.
"Do you really think you can take us Lieutenant, its five vs four. Not counting those puny Mobile Armors you have there. They will fall in time though you and your squadron will be first kills of this battle. So just give it up, you can't win," the other pilot responded with a biting voice. Once again Sophia rolled her eyes though this time she follow it with a laugh.
"You got some nerve you know that. You will not win for two reasons, one your arrogant and two you are way to overconfident," she replied with a grin on her face.
"Alright you know I am so going to enjoy taking you as my slave, I am not going to kill you. No I am going to rip you out of your Mobile Suit. Then I am so going to enjoy listening to you scream as I beat you into submission," he said with a snarl. Sophia was now pissed this guy was really getting on her nerves. She glared at the floating Aile Dagger standing peacefully in front of her own Strike Dagger.
"Fat chance," she snarled back to the man. She was disgusted that there was still slavery rampant anywhere. With the rise of pirate activity after the war, more serious crimes had been reported. Slavery being one, in fact PPF ships where now ordered to capture pirate ships instead of destroying them so any slaves on the ship would be saved. That order was soon copied by the other national forces, the Orion Militia included.
"Hound Squadron Attack, Dagger Squadron support the Hounds," she ordered with a snarl. The Hounds stopped their orbit pattern and resumed their charge towards the enemy Daggers. Meanwhile the Militia Strike Daggers took positions to support the Mobile Armors. As the Hounds approached the enemy she could imagine the Aile Dagger's pilot rolling his eyes as he aimed at the Mobile Armor. He most likely then did not expect the Hounds to keep coming. The enemy Daggers started to open fire on the Hounds, however as was proven in many previous battles Hounds where not your average Moebius Mobile Armors that are seen throughout the Earth Sphere. The Hounds that had been targeted went into grueling evasion patterns, ones that would kill a human pilot.
"HOLY SHIT! What are-" the Aile Dagger pilot cried out before Sophia aimed for his cockpit and blew him all the way to hell where he belonged. The rest of the enemy Mobile Suits where soon destroyed by the combined firepower of the Strike Daggers and the Hounds. As the last Strike Dagger blew into a million pieces Angel DRAGOON units flashed past the battle heading towards the enemy Laurasia Class ship. Sophia nodded impressed with her unit today and had them hold station above the Paladin as the DRAGOONs did their job.
-o-o-o-
Bridge
Laurasia Class Frigate Samson
Onboard the enemy ship the bridge crew looked in shock as their Mobile Suit Squadron was all out destroyed. The Captain could only whimper as the impossible Mobile Armors and their Mobile Suit allies slaughtered the pirate mobile suits.
"Hawkins Unit has been destroyed," the MS Controller reported with a shocked expression on his face as he reported the last remaining pirate Strike Dagger was targeted by the entire intact enemy force. The Mobile Suit battle only lasted for like fifteen seconds from start to finish, and was by far the fastest MS Battle in history.
"Sir unknown units approaching our position, they are far to small to be Mobile Suits or Mobile Armors and are to big to be missiles. However they have weapons signatures of Mobile Suits sir," the sensor operator reported with wide eyes. The captain look out the viewport slackjawed as the DRAGOONs units approached the ship. His XO looked over at with a cool frown.
"I told you and now you have kill us all you fool," he said with a snarl as he turned calmly and waited for his death while the rest of bridge crew started to rush for the bridge exit. However there was no time, they where certainly dead. Only seconds later the entire crew of the Laurasia Class ship Samson died in a blaze of glory as over forty beam emitters from the approaching DRAGOONs turned the ship into something resembling swiss cheese, before the ship finally exploded.
-o-o-o-
Bridge
ODS Paladin
Drake Class Escort Ship (Orion Refit)
Back aboard the Paladin the bridge crew looked on with a sneer on their faces. This was not the first time they had destroyed a overconfident enemy, and was most likely not the last. While the far more military wise Zala Faction and LOGOs forces did not try to fight a single DRAGOON Drake since they learned the hard way not to mess with likes of one. However the various pirate groups in and around the Earth Sphere did not and repeatedly tried to fight one. Tried being the key word here, since every pirate ship that attacked the ODM's various patrol units found that they where harder to chew then thought. Now Captain Florance summed up the collective thoughts of the entire ODM in only a few words.
"Only fools rush in," he said as the DRAGOONs started to return to their mothership leaving behind little then small bits of debris from the enemy ship. The rest of the bridge crew only nodded in agreement to their Captain before they went back to work.
"Order the Mobile Suits and the Hounds home. Also get a hold of ODM command let them know that we have engaged and destroyed a pirate vessel. Finally get some Pods out there, see if there are any survivors of that ship, which I hardly doubt but it won't hurt to check. Ash you have the bridge I need to prepare a report for Commandant Star and Captain Star," Nathan ordered with his usual smile before leaving the bridge to his XO. The women only nodded in his direction before taking the command seat and sighed. Only a matter of days before she got her own command since the Guild where about done with the refits of the Drake Class that the ODM had captured a couple of weeks ago during the latest battle with the LOGOs Phantom Pain Army. However the words of her captain still ringed in her ears.
"Fools indeed, pathetic fools more like it," she said with a smile of her own and turned to watch as the Hounds and Daggers started to return to the ship along with the DRAGOON units. Things where looking very bright ahead for Orion Colony and their protectors.
-o-End-o-
/evil laughter/ Poor pirates! Anyways I hope enjoyed this! Like mentioned this is a small taste of battles later in the Angelic Saga! Anyways that should do it for The Garden for tonight. That is everything that I could find that was post-able in my files, everything else I have are unfinished ideas or just some notes.