Phase-25: Unfulfilled Feelings

"Purple One here. Confirming signal flare at Yellow 22 Beta. Heading over there right right." The pilot of a ZGMF-LRR704B GINN Long Range Reconnaissance Type reported.

"Bravo here. Roger. That should be it, the hijacked shuttle we've had reports about."

"So they switched rides here. Pretty clever. We're going to check the interior." The recon unit and its two escorts caught the shuttle and two pilots went inside. They arrived at the cockpit, all armed, and saw two fellow soldiers floating about, gagged and roped together... along with a black wig and a pair of round sunglasses. The two in pilot suits immediately confirmed their comrades' safety and reported to their superiors.

"I see. Do you have any leads as to where those who stole the shuttle could have gone?" Durandal inquired from his office in Aprilius One. He was told the Glasgow Team was working exclusively on the search, but nothing had come up yet. "Hmm... But of all things, impersonating Lacus Clyne to steal a shuttle... that's quite a bold move..."

"Yes, sir. The pilots rescued from the shuttle and the guys from the base all tell us that she's completely identical, even her voice..."

"In any case, find her at once. I don't know if the Alliance is involved or not, but I can only think of one reason why someone would do such a thing. Someone's using her appearance to create a state of confusion within the PLANTs. Imagine how sad our kind-hearted Lacus would be to hear she's being used in such a way." Or so he said, but Meer, rather than sad, was frowning like a sulky, peevish, agitated child while her manager was restlessly pacing behind her and her other attendant was worriedly gazing at her. He framed his impatience as concern for his Lacus all while subtly confirming she was the real one, and suggesting that other one could have ties with the Alliance, pinning his own doings on her, so he would have an easier time dealing with her. He manipulated his surroundings as skillfully as always. "It's important to stop them before they take action and cause any sort of commotion. I'm counting on you."

"Yes, sir! We'll do our best!"

The communication being over, Gilbert relaxed sightly against his armchair, closing his eyes. Then he opened them again and frowned at the chess board in front of him. But perhaps it's a good thing that they've been separated... Lacus Clyne... and Kira Yamato.

However, Lacus and Waltfeld had already boarded the Eternal and changed into their commander outfits (his usual ocher ZAFT outfit for Andrew) and were taking place on the bridge. DaCosta, and the other staff members all saluted.

On the deck of the JP Jones, Auel and Sting were playing a game of basketball, one-on-one, under the eyes of other crew members. But while they were having fun, their minder, Neo Roanoke, was being chewed out by Djibril...

"I'm not the kind of man who dwells on the past. But I'm also not one to tolerate repeated failures. This latest loss of an Extended can't be helped. I'm sure the enemy is just as desperate during the battle. Not everything's going to go as planned. I understand that. However, goals must be achieved. All orders are given because they are necessary. We're not here to play."

"Yes, that is very clear."

"If it's clear to you then I wish you would hurry and accomplish your task, just as you're told to. Otherwise, our plans will be disturbed as well." Djibril looked at the other windows on his computer showing the details of what he had most recently concocted with his associates... the details of the GFAS-X1 Destroy gundam like its height, 3D modeling, armament, and such. "The Anti-Alliance forces praise that ship, the Minerva, as the Ally of Justice sent by ZAFT, and see them as heroes! What nonsense, even though it's a Coordinator vessel. Isn't it because they keep on winning battles?"

"Is that so?"

"The masses are foolish. They don't give the future any thought and embrace what's the most convenient for them at the moment."

"Well... that's true." It was difficult to perceive because of his mask and skills at pretending, but Neo was apparently just humoring his superior as, rather than Djibril, his attention seemed much more taken by Stella's memento, a tube-shaped mini aquarium where swam a lone tiny fish.

"How can they be so easily deceived? There's no way those Coordinators would seriously give a helping hand to us Naturals! I'm certain they'll just turn against us again soon. That's why that ship is problematic. It's just too dangerous to leave alone. Make sure you destroy it this time, Neo. Don't forget this is the reason you're all here."

"Yes, I'll take it to heart."

In an examination room of the Minerva, the nurse gave the doctor the file he wanted. Although Stella was sleeping in the same room, she was still tied to her bed, and from her complexion, her condition seemed to have worsened rather than improved. Shinn, Seren, and Athrun were in their respective units' cockpits, working together with the mechanics on the maintenance of their gundams. Rey who had been talking to the soldiers of the Turkios base returned inside the ship. He had overseen the transfer of the Gaia to a shuttle bound for the homeland. In the captain's office, Lunamaria was also handing Gladys what she had asked for, that is the record of the conversation Athrun and Seren had with those of the Archangel. She also apologized for the lateness of her report but Talia told her to pay no mind. Given everything that had occurred upon her return to the ship, neither of them had the time for that.

"I'm sorry for making you act like a spy." The captain apologized too, opening the file and looking at the pictures and disk.

"No, it's alright. You're a FAITH member as well, Captain. I think I understand why you had to do this." Hawke reassured her. And indeed, Gladys heaved a relieved sigh, a small smile on her lips. "But, umm... it's just... would you allow me to ask a few questions?" The young Red Coat timidly inquired.

"That's to be expected. Sure, I'll answer what I can for you."

"Thank you very much. It is no secret that Athrun Zala deserted ZAFT near the end of the last war to fight alongside the Archangel that had also deserted the Earth Alliance. Likewise, everyone knows that Seren Elvira Ledford was part of the Archangel's crew." Luna began. Talia confirmed. Athrun and Seren themselves had no intention to hide those facts. "But I've also heard that despite knowing all that, Chairman Durandal approved their enlistment and assigned them to FAITH. But then, that latest mission... umm... does that mean there are still some suspicions about them? We've been following their orders because they're FAITH members, and well-trusted by the Chairman. However, if-"

"That's not how it is, Lunamaria." The older woman interrupted her. "I don't blame you for thinking that way. But I believe the objective of this mission was to gather information about the Archangel. I have no doubt that they're serious, honest, with a strong sense of justice." After all, both this time, and on Junius Seven, they had so earnestly requested her permission to sortie and spoken of their feelings. "I see no chance of them being a spy or betraying us. And I doubt anyone else thinks that either. But what about the Archangel this time? Sure, it's the ship that worked with Lacus Clyne to stop both sides from spiraling out of control and end the war. But what about now? Just as Orb is about to join the Alliance, they suddenly reappear to kidnap Orb's Chief Representative, and then that incident the other day."

"Yes." She agreed that ship's crew had been behaving rather strangely lately, or more like nonsensically.

At the same moment, Athrun, who had finished working on the Savior, climbed down and with his eyebrows knitted, looked up at Shinn leaning pensively against the side of the Core Splendor. But then his attention was drawn to Seren. She had also completed her work on the Fortuna but she holding a data disk. It seemed she intended to work some more in her room. She caught him staring at her and paused. He did not avert his eyes and they kept gazing at each other for a time, until they both went their own way.

"I have no idea what they're thinking or what they're trying to accomplish. Presently, that's what we need to know more than anything, don't you think?" Talia added. Hawke agreed. "Athrun and Seren said the same thing when they left the ship. But they still believe in that ship's crew, and in Orb too. I'm sure the last thing they want is to fight against them. So I hope you understand that this is all what it is about. Okay?"

"Yes!" Luna sounded quite relieved. "Then I have no problem."

"It must be especially difficult for Seren. After all, nothing changes the fact that the people on that ship are her family. No matter what she says, she's no doubt torn about it, and she might at one point end up overwhelmed by her emotions. So please be on the lookout and support her where you can."

"Understood!"

"In any case, thank you. That's all for this matter. Is that clear?" Gladys noisily closed the file as if to further her point.

"Yes!"

"The moment you leave this room, I want you to forget everything you heard and saw."

The moment she gave her those orders though, Lunamaria gasped slightly and looked down with a thoughtful expression, recalling Kira Yamato's interrogations "Then what's with that Lacus Clyne? What is it with that Lacus in the PLANTs? And why was the real one almost killed by Coordinators?" as well as Seren's answers "That girl... Meer Campbell, is nothing like Lacus. She's indeed a doll only interested in an idol's glamorous life. The Chairman recognizes that Lacus' ability to influence the populace is much greater than his. So if the real Lacus disappears, he'll be able to make full use of that influence without fearing a clash of opinions." Was that girl she had seen on stage truly a fake Lacus? Yet she had been in Athrun's room dressed so scantily... Luna could vividly remember how upset she had been then. Seren had been with her too that day, and she had seen that.

"But then, if he's that trustworthy, why are you no longer wearing your rings? Wasn't he the one who made you break your engagement to each other?" If Athrun and Seren had really been engaged and in love, could Athrun have really done that? Could Seren have reacted so coolly? Or was her teasing her way to vent? Was she actually being spiteful? She could be so hard to understand. You could never tell when she was joking or being truthful. However, the known, confirmed facts were: Athrun did defect from ZAFT, and he spent the following years in Orb... at Seren's side, and they were obviously so very close. Did he defect for her, so he could be with her? Besides, if that was all true, then the whole thing must be really hard on Seren, separated from her family, and her lover...

They also said the Chairman had told them about that girl, 'Meer Campbell' so it must be true? Was it also true that the Chairman tried to have Lacus Clyne killed?! "It is only thanks to Meer and the Chairman that the PLANTs' response to that attack had been relatively lenient. They worked together to appease the people's anger. They were the only ones in a position to do that. Without them, believe me things would have turned out a lot worse." But Seren was right in that too. She couldn't be the one to foil the Chairman's plan and confuse the situation even more...

"...maria? Lunamaria? What's wrong?" Gladys snapped her back to reality.

"Ah, no, nothing. It's nothing. I'm sorry. I will do as ordered." She saluted and exited the room. However, the moment she left, Talia opened the file again and pensively looked at the photographs. At the same moment, Durandal was frowning at his computer that displayed the exact same windows as what had been on Djibril's computer. The data of the GFAS-X1 Destroy, that should have been one of LOGOS' top secrets, had somehow ended in the possession of the PLANTs' Supreme Council Chairman as well...

"Do you have her latest biochemistry data?!" The anxious doctor demanded as his young blonde patient's condition took a turn for the worse. The nurse hurriedly prepared for it. "This isn't good. Get the oxygen mask!" They quickly fit the mask on her. Shinn arrived just in time to see that and worriedly ran to her, crying her name, asking what was happening. He scowled when he was told to stand back, but even the physician did not know what was happening or what to do. He had already warned him that her body was affected too strongly by too many drugs and he had no idea how things worked now. It appeared that her bodily functions could not be maintained unless a special device of some sort was used at a specific time. At the present, they had no way of knowing what that device was or how she suddenly became like this.

"It can't be! Stella..."

"Shinn... No... I'm scared... Shinn... Protect..." The frightened and tearful child slightly shifted her head to better look at Shinn, desperately begging him for help with her purple-pink eyes. He gasped and recalled how he had saved her, her sheer terror to the point of panic, hysterics, how she had clung to his hand on her cheek, and she had even that pink tiny and fragile fragment that was obviously a most precious treasure to her, like a piece of her heart. And yet, now, there was nothing he could do to help her. His powerlessness was painfully twisting his features and nearly bringing him to tears.

"The Naturals are far more advanced than us when it comes to researching such drugs. Good grief..." The physician explained, or complained.

"Stella..." Shinn clasped her hand and tightly shut his eyes.

"Eh?! We're bringing her with us?!" Arthur Trine exclaimed in shock. Talia confirmed they were taking her with them along with the research data they had found in that laboratory. They were in the bridge. The Deputy Captain objected that the girl was not recovering well, according to the doctor. Gladys had also reported that, but the top brass had replied that it was 'all the more reason to bring her to better-equipped facilities.'

Lunamaria was pensively walking down the hallway when a hand plopped down on her shoulder. The startled girl turned to see Seren, which agitated her even more and made her flounder. Well, had she not been so preoccupied, she might have seen Chacha passing her by and flying ahead of her.

"Did you just finish your report to Gladys-kanchou?" The smiling amber-eyed girl questioned. Yet more alarmed and flustered, Hawke started bumbling. "It's all good." Canaver laughed and reassured her. "Certainly, it would be much easier on you if you forgot everything as she asked, and just surrendered all thought. But it's not that easy, huh?" She smiled sadly. The robotic pet returned to her shoulder.

"Seren-san... that's... I..."

"I told you it's fine. But if you can't forget, then think, and remember. Before being soldiers who must obey orders, we're humans. Seeing and hearing for ourselves, we make up our own mind, and decide what's right or wrong. Because Athrun, I, and many others went against orders and made our own choices, the last war could be stopped. So I hope you too will make your own opinion. All I can say is that everything you heard is the truth. Although I would appreciate you not charging ahead based on emotion like some people I know. Not like you're the type though." She patted her younger fellow pilot on the back and left. She had thought about staying quiet for her own security. But she was growing tired of holding everything in. She could tell her patience was thinning. More than playing it safe, she was one who took risks to achieve her goals.

She had to probe others to discern their true intentions, even if that meant revealing hers. And then, she dealt with the consequences. Fortune favored the bold after all. Andrew, Lacus, and Athrun had been a success. Back then she had honestly spoken to them, sounded them, and confirmed their good character and hopes for the future. Yzak and Dearka were on their side as well despite having stayed/returned to ZAFT. Durandal was on the way to become a failure, from the most recent events. Now what about Luna? Besides, as a senior, it was her duty and heartfelt desire to provide guidance to a junior.

Neo Roanoke had gone to the Takemikazuchi, Orb's flagship, and was informing Yuna Roma Seiran, Captain Todaka, and Vice-captain Amagi of the battle plan. It was quite a simple plan, but Todaka was rather skeptical about it, starting with the reliability of the information. It wasn't a bad idea to spread a net, but if the Minerva chose another route...

"Hey, hey, hey, what's with this negative talk after coming all the way here? I wouldn't dream of moving our forces here on chance alone. The Minerva will definitely take this route on its way to Gibraltar. They'll be leaving any minute now. We've already confirmed that." Seiran supported Neo who smirked. "All you people need to think about is what to do when they get here." And indeed, the Minerva was just leaving the Turkios harbor, under the unexpectedly sharp and alert eyes of a vagrant-looking man selling some trinkets.

"Yuna-sama is truly competent. Your decisions are quick too. Orb is very fortunate to have such a leader." The masked officer flattered the Orb commander.

"You're too kind. It's nothing, really."

"It'll be a harsh battle, but it has to be done."

"And we, the Orb forces, are capable of doing it!" Yuna puffed out his chest.

"However, at this rate our Orb forces will..." Amagi protested. Orb had already taken the brunt of ZAFT's counterattack just a few days earlier; losing too many ships here as well would spell the annihilation of their fleet! And their flagship had been this close to being destroyed too!

"If we sink the Minerva here, our nation would show the whole world its true strength. You can do it, right?" Seiran smiled in a tone that prevented any backtalk. Amagi and Todaka gritted their teeth with appalled expressions. That man only saw the glory in case of success, as if dazzled, blinded by it. He did not consider defeat or that even if they succeeded, their forces would truly end up in tatters this time.

"If it is your order, then it's our job to do it." Todaka conceded reluctantly, through closed eyes. Amagi also shut his eyes and balled his fists in frustration.

"Then please."

"Yes."

"I don't believe that strange ship will make an appearance this time around, but even if it pops up, you won't have any problems, right?" Neo questioned, causing a small startled 'eep' to escape Seiran's lips. That 'strange ship' was evidently referring to the Archangel that had suddenly appeared during the previous battle... "You said that it was an enemy, and that the person claiming herself to be the Chief Representative was an impostor, didn't you, Yuna-sama?"

"...Y-yes, that's right!" Yuna Roma replied after a moment of teeth-grinding.

"Yuna-sama!" His subordinates protested again.

"F-for that ship to use such tactics t-to try and cause confusion within our forces... it can be nothing but an enemy! Isn't that right, Captain Todaka?! Isn't that why you fired at them?!" He glared at him for confirmation, throwing the responsibility over.

"...Yes, sir." Todaka finally admitted after a time. He did give the order to shoot despite being aware of that person's identity. He could not deny that. But Yuna did not seem to know or care about his feelings at the time.

"Captain Todaka!" Amagi cried.

"Then, that's how it is." Roanoke concluded. Seiran loudly humphed and turned away, ignoring Todaka's silent suffering. Amagi, though, watched without averting his eyes as his superior lowered his head in defeat.

The Freedom returned to the Archangel, but Kira was not alone. Miriallia was accompanying him. After that discussion with Athrun and Seren, she had decided to rejoin the Archangel's crew and talked to Kira about it. She asked him to come fetch her in a few days as she still needed time to settle her affairs and tie some loose ends. He looked up at her with a smile as she was rejoicing this much to see the Archangel and everyone again. The Freedom parked in the hangar and a moment later, the two came down on a platform. She happily greeted Chief Mechanic Murdoch.

"Howdy, girl! What brings you here? You'll never find a husband if you hang out in this kind of place." He joked.

"What? That's rude. It's fine. I immediately dump any man who complains about what I do." She proudly waved a dismissive hand. Murdoch scratched the back of his head and made a noise that expressed both how impressive and scary he thought her to be. She was one tough and independent woman. "Anyway, glad to be working with you again!"

"Same here! I'm glad, girly!" The two did a high five. Then Kira and Milly went straight to the bridge to greet everyone.

"Orb is deploying at Crete?!" Cagalli voiced her shock and quickly took her place at the communication officer seat. They had just heard the information from Rayner.

"Which means they're most likely after the Minerva again." Murrue-san deduced. Chandra agreed. Terminal was of the same mind too apparently.

"A strategic deployment on the assumption that the Minerva will head towards Gibraltar. The Alliance is showing signs of desperation." Pilot Arnold Neumann voiced her opinion.

"I guess they brushed up on their intelligence gathering. The Ledfords' network informed me of the same." Rayner mused. It was then Kira and Miriallia entered. Everyone was quite delighted to see her. Chandra asked how things were going with Elsman. She answered with a smile devoid of the slightest hint of regret that she had dumped him. The computer rang. Cagalli floundered, unsure of what to do. Miriallia, accustomed to the equipment, typed on the keyboard and said it was a coded message. The Minerva had left the Sea of Marmara and was advancing southward. That confirmed their suspicions, and the justness of the Alliance's maneuvers. Orb was going to confront the Minerva again at Crete.

Athrun was sitting before his tray of food. But as delicious as it looked, the food was still untouched. The young man was simply staring into the distance, his clenched fists on the table. He snapped back to reality when someone quickly stole his fork, broccoli and carrot pieces.

"Seren!"

"It was getting cold. It's your fault for wasting good food." She justified her thievery like some naughty child. "You can have this instead. But it's not an apology or anything."

"What's inside?" He looked at the disk she had given him.

"You'll understand once you watch it in your room." She walked away to get her own lunch. Luna entered and paused when she saw them. Being in their presence now was quite awkward given what she had just recently talked about with the Captain, without even mentioning her conversation with Seren. She was not ready to face them so soon after that. Shinn was already in his pilot suit, sitting in the pilots' lounge with a fairly upset expression.

At this moment, a MVF-M11C Murasame Reconnaissance Type detected the Minerva at 11 o'clock, at a distance of 60 and reported to the Takemikazuchi. Among the vessels of the Orb fleet, all hands prepared for battle. The Atlantic Federation ships did the same. Sting and Auel hurried to their gundams, until Auel stopped suddenly and looked around, as if searching for something. His comrade asked what was wrong. The Minerva also detected one carrier and three escort ships that they believed to be Orb vessels. However, they could not confirm the presence of the Earth Forces ships. Talia told Burt Heim to keep looking as it was unlikely Orb had come alone.

"Lower the bridge! Announce Condition Red!" Gladys ordered. Meyrin sounded the alarm and relayed the instructions through the ship. All pilots were to board their machines and standby. Athrun quickly stood up and turned to see Lunamaria. She appeared more startled by the fact that he had seen her than the alarm and pending attack, like she had been caught red-handed pulling a prank. And rather than simply obey orders to go board her ZAKU, she ran towards the changing room like she was fleeing from the scene. Despite the seriousness of the situation, Seren could not help but let out a light chuckle before she and Athrun followed her. Shinn and Rey, already in their pilot suits, were in the elevator taking them to the hangar.

"I keep feeling that I'm forgetting something important." Auel Nieder pondered, on standby in the Abyss.

"What do you mean 'something important'?" Sting asked him, sounding like he was taking him only half-seriously.

"That's what I can't remember!" The light blue haired boy retorted. Teams of Murasames in both MS and MA mode took off one by one.

"Send out the Impulse, Savior, and Fortuna." Gladys commanded. "30 to starboard! Bearing: East!"

"Impulse, Savior, Fortuna, please sortie!" Meyrin instructed. Shinn jumped into the Core Splendor. Seren and Athrun also boarded their respective units.

"Distance until the target is within firing range: 40!" An officer reported in the bridge of the Takemikazuchi. Todaka asked whether any mobile suits had launched from the Minerva. When the man replied it was not the case, Seiran cheered, certain of victory, and ordered to shower them with Type Eight fragmentation shells.

"Gunners! Prepare to fire Type Eight shells at once! Fire!" The Orb fleet's main cannons hurled their projectiles. The CIC of the Minerva reported the oncoming attack.

"Abort launching of the mobile suits! Counterattack while evading!" Talia yelled. The ZAFT ship's CIWS fired nonstop, managing to intercept some of the cluster bombs. The others, however, exploded in mid-air, raining shrapnels on them. The glass-like windows shattered like the windshield of a car pelleted by large hailstones, damaging the inside. The hull as a whole had also significantly suffered. Explosions rocked the vessel. The crew weathered the storm. There was no telling what would have happened to the mobile suits had they come out under that.

"Shrapnel has penetrated the upper armor to the second level!" The degree of destruction was immediately reported. Black smoke was billowing here and there, rising into the clear blue sky. Trine cursed.

"Damage control! Another 10 to starboard!" Gladys-kanchou continued. But then Burt informed her that three more Orb ships had appeared at 9 o'clock. Meyrin also reported the presence of nine Murasames at 2 o'clock. "Send Shinn, Athrun, and Seren. Aim the 'Tristan' and 'Isolde' at our portside enemy fleet! That carrier should be around somewhere as well, hurry and find it!"

One could hardly call this an avenging battle, Stella. But today, we will sink that ship for sure! Neo thought as the Minerva deployed its cannons, unaware that Stella was inside, suffering on her medical bed.

"Sting Oakley, Chaos! Taking off!"

"Auel Nieder, Abyss! Going out!" The Chaos soared into the air, while the Abyss plunged into the Sea of Crete, turning into a mobile armor.

"Shinn Asuka, Core Splendor! Launching!" The YFX-M56S Core Splendor zoomed out of the Minerva's central catapult, followed by the γ Blast Silhouette pack, the Chest Flyer, and the Leg Flyer. As soon as the four parts combined, Shinn roared, and with the help of the Silhouette's additional thrusters, glided over the water at high speed.

"Athrun Zala, Savior! Taking off!"

"Seren Canaver, Fortuna! Launching!" The Savior and Fortuna sortied as well.

Cagalli was balling her fists and gritting her teeth like the very picture of distress and frustration as she recalled her sister's words...

"If Orb sides with ZAFT, it will have to fight against the Earth Alliance. If Orb sides with the Earth Alliance, it will have to fight against ZAFT. I thought that was the only thing you'd never allow. Or maybe you were naïve enough to believe that despite becoming part of the Earth Alliance, only Orb would somehow be exempt from military contribution?! Were you naïve enough to believe that others would listen to you after you left your country?! You can't have seriously thought that just making an appearance there would make Orb obediently retreat."

"The army listens to orders from the head of state. And the actual head of state now, is Yuna Roma Seiran. And he repudiated you. Did it occur to you that if Orb were to turn tail at that time, its fleet would have been attacked by the Atlantic Federation, and then it would been the country's turn that would have been unable to defend itself due to the absence of its fleet and leader? Or did you just act on your emotions and jumped the gun without any thought?"

"That's not what you were supposed to be doing, is it?! Before going out onto the battlefield and blurting such things, you should have never allowed Orb to join the Alliance!"

"ZAFT is at war with the Earth Alliance. The only way to stop Orb from fighting is for you to take control of the Orb government and make the nation withdraw from the Treaty."

She wanted to go so, so much, but she also understood Seren's feelings, and her words acted like shackles restraining her.

"Damn!" She swore.

"...Let's head out." Kira declared after a time, surprising everyone and especially his sister. "Remember what Lacus said? First decide, then see it through. That's why you should go. Right?" He smiled reassuringly at her.

"Kira..." She tightly shut her eyes and lowered her head. She was obviously very tempted, but Seren's words just had too strong of a hold on her. Murrue and Arnold smiled, nodded at each other and sat at their respective seats.

"The Archangel will now prepare for take-off." Neumann announced. Rather than reason, they had chosen to follow Cagalli's heart, her true desire. The blonde girl gasped.

"Could you move?" Miriallia placed a reassuring hand on the Orb leader's shoulder. "You have other things to do, don't you? I'll take that seat."

"Miriallia..."

"It would be a boost of confidence to have you take that seat, but are you sure? Even though you had finally freed yourself from..."

"Yes. I decided to become a photographer because I love everyone and the world. But now all of that is in danger. So I'm gonna help protect it too." Haw took the communication officer's seat in Cagalli's stead and placed the microphone on her head before winking at Kira.

"I see. Thank you." Ramius smiled and thanked her, voicing everyone's feelings.

The Abyss broke through the surface, transformed back into a mobile suit, and shot the Impulse with its 'Calidus' multi-phase beam cannon. Shinn avoided and retaliated with his two 'Kerberos' high-energy long-range beam beam that had swung underneath his shoulders, but the X31S turned back into a mobile armor and hid underwater again. Athrun had intercepted Sting. Both clicked their tongue as the Savior and Chaos started an aerial shootout. Shinn and Athrun being occupied meant the Murasames had a free path towards the Minerva that they began bombarding with their 'Hayate' air-to-air missiles. However, Seren had remained in the back to protect the Minerva. Her offensive aerodynamic binders in front, she fired her 'Orcus' machine guns and 'Eos' beam cannons, detonating the projectiles before aiming her rifle and 'Honos' railguns at the oncoming mobile armors. Under the cover she provided, Luna's and Rey's ZAKUs jumped on the decks on either side of the bridge tower, right behind the 'Tristan' dual beam cannons.

At the same moment, the Archangel surfaced.

"Cagalli Yula Athha, Strike Rouge. Heading out." The Ootori Strike Rouge sortied.

"Rayner Liam Ledford, Blast Wave. Launching!" For improved mobility in the atmosphere and underwater, the suit was equipped with the 'Namikaze Storm' pack. Concerning the armament, the multipurpose Seiryuu pack was selected this time.

"Kira Yamato, Freedom. Taking off!"

A new dawn came. Yet it was still dark and hazy before our eyes. Even if the world accepts darkness, even if laughter is still too far on the horizon, we told ourselves 'we decided, so we must walk forward, no matter how awkward'. But are we really moving forward, or are we just fumbling along, like lost in a smokescreen? That day, we sailed out once again. Staying still was not allowed. So we took off, knowing that even if we moved forward, only the flashing and smoking of cannons awaited us, because we still could not forgive our warm place.

Author's note: I should have updated this earlier, but FF was being a pain with its glitches, so yeah.

Next chapter: 'Phase-26: Sea of Sorrow'