Disclaimer: see chapter 1
Howl of Destiny
By Storm Wolf77415, Wing Commander White Wolf, and Centurious the Azure
Breaking Bad World Part 2
(ONS Blizzard Prowler, Bridge)
The minute word got out of Junius Seven's imminent impact with Earth; Captain Rachael Dupree wasted no time ordering her team to deploy. She stood on the bridge next to her foster sister. Captain Maria Allster looked over the Iron Dove. "You all right?" She asked.
"What do you think? We're staring at what has the potential to become a new war. Sebastian and the others have a front row seat for it and I'm stuck up in the rafters." Rachel snapped, flipping her dark brown hair over shoulder. "I should have put that up in a ponytail." She tapped her foot on the metallic deck. "I know I'm sounding like a child when I say this, Maria. But is there any way we can squeeze some more speed out of this crate?"
Maria sighed. "We're already redlining all the reactors as is, Rachel. This ship is going as fast as it can without coming apart at the seams." She rested her chin in her gloved hand. "Does this have to do with what happened when Sebastian took on Rau at Ame? That was his own fault for being so reckless."
"Maybe, but if I had been just a little bit faster…" Rachel trailed off. "That way I could have talked him out of going in with an inferior mobile suit. Now once again I'm in a position where he's in great danger and I have to bring up the rear."
Maria gave her sister an understanding pat on the shoulder. "You can't beat yourself up over every perceived failure, Rachel. This time, Sebastian has his Gundam, Both Cagalli and Kazuma are there, and they have their Gundams too. Not to mention Kira is backing him up with Freedom! I think they have more than enough firepower to deal whatever threat is present."
"I just feel so…powerless at times." Rachel lamented, a tear coming out of her ice blue eyes. The older woman stood up, putting an arm around her petite shoulders.
"They'll be fine, Rachel. Sebastian and Kira are the leading men in this story. We're just the bit players. Our job is to support the boys the best we can. I'm sure they'd tell us that they couldn't do it without us. All we can do is trust in them to win the day."
(Minerva, Bridge)
Many of the bridge crew wondered if the Storm Wolf of Jachin Due was going to set up a sleeping bag on the bridge. He had barely gone to his quarters since hearing about the impending colony drop. Meyrin nervously peeked over her shoulder. With his fierce glare and dark clothing, he resembled his namesake more than ever.
Ren stood at the top of the bridge where VIPs could sit, watching Sebastian continue to stalk from side in front of the viewport. He had wisely told Angelo to remain in their quarters, wanting to avoid another potential explosive confrontation. He was observing the Storm Wolf's behavior closely.
"Pacing up and down like that isn't going to make time go by any faster, General Connor." The masked commander put his arms behind his back. "I know that Junius Seven is your former home. Anyone would consider this sacrilege of the worst sort, but you must show patience. Those who rush in blindly usually are the first to die."
"No one's ever going to let me live that down." Sebastian muttered, directing his gaze to the masked man in red. "Your perceptions are a bit skewed, Commander Za Burrel, while I did call J7 my home at one point. Orb is currently where I reside; it is where my wife and family are." His gaze never deviated from the giant circular plate slowly hurtling toward the blue orb in the distance "The fact that Junius Seven is being used for this doesn't help either."
"Rest assured, General Connor. We will do everything in our power to prevent this tragedy from occurring. I have no desire to see the world burn. Though I may have been born in the PLANTs, we still have a connection to the planet that gave us life."
Sebastian straightened up, going into commander mode. It was a familiar feeling to him. "Then we had better get to work." He went over to the master situation display. "I have faith that Commander Joule's team can get the Meteor Breakers set up, but if someone has set this into motion, it's all too likely that we'll be walking into an ambush. In which case, we'll go into provide extra protection."
Ren nodded, looking over the chart. "I think the best plan is for me to take the Minerva's mobile suit team and run close guard. While you hold back with your own people, I wouldn't be surprised if the Earth Alliance thinks we're in cahoots with those renegades. The Joule Team's GuAIZ Rs will be sitting ducks if the other prototypes are deployed."
"Indeed, We can keep them from picking off the mass pro units. Engage them Gundam to Gundam." Sebastian said. "Plus if we keep the fighting in more open space, Kira can make the full use of Freedom's arsenal." He gave the colony disk another look. "If we only had some kind of back up in case the Meteor Breakers are taken out." It was then he was hit by an idea. "Excuse me, Commander Za Burrel. I need to make a call home."
(Orb Central Command, Onogoro Island)
Light from the myriad of computer screens and monitors reflected off the lenses of the Arctic White Wolf's steel rimmed glasses. He had been running on nothing but coffee and sheer adrenaline since getting the grim news.
"Admiral Russo, we're getting a priority one message from General Connor! He says it's urgent!" One technician reported. Anthony immediate sat down at an available console.
"Good to see you, Anthony. We're about to J7, and we're going to link up with Yzak's team. I can feel it in every fiber of my soul that a fight's going to break out." The Storm Wolf of Jachin Due tried to compose himself. "Give me a sitrep. How's the situation down there?"
"It's grim, Pup. Even with Chairman Durandal's reassurance that MBs have been deployed, everyone's outright terrified of what will happen. Lady Sasaki ordered Murrue to deploy the Archangel to try and deflect any debris that comes our way." Anthony grimaced, hand smacking the table in anger. "I hate this! I wish I was up there alongside you."
"Maybe you can, in your own unique way, Admiral Russo." Sebastian smirked. "I recall you discussing a long range sniping system, key word being long." He drew out the word.
Realization went off in Anthony's head. "You're talking about the Augnir? Oh my God, why didn't I think of that sooner!" He sprung up from his chair. "Pup, you're a genius! I'll notify Erica and have her begin setting things up! It will take a couple of hours, but we'll speed this along as quick as possible!" He grinned. "You may have just given us another slim chance of getting out of this alive!"
"I do my best." Sebastian said. "Between the Augnir, the Minerva's positron cannon, and the Meteor Breakers. I think we just have a chance to save the entire human race! I'm going to mount up, and get ready. I'll see you in a while, Brother Wolf."
"Same to you, Pup. Russo out!" with that the screen went dark. Anthony left the Commander Center, hopping on his motorcycle for Morgenroete. He had to get out one of his new toys after all.
(Girty Lue, Bridge)
Neo Roanoke stood on the bridge of his flagship, arms folded across his broad frame. The Girty Lue had been following Junius Seven for days, under the cloak of Mirage Colloid. Neo had been less than amused by Sato's renegades as they bustled about the colony surface in their mad aims. He'd been tempted to deal with them personally, but orders were orders. The LOGOS leadership wanted to exploit the colony drop in order to get the war to start up again. It wouldn't have made any difference to Neo anyway; Sato's renegades were mediocre at best, and hardly a test for someone of his skill.
"What a complete farce. They have no honor at all. To stoop to such lowly tactics just to honor the memory of a madman? There is no glory in this fight at all." Neo remarked to Willet, standing by his side.
"It's never been about glory to me, Captain Roanoke. We have a duty to accomplish, nothing more." The redhead responded. "Still, I'm eager to give whoever orchestrated this whole crazy plan a sound thrashing."
"That makes two of us, Colonel. You threaten Earth, you incur my wrath, and no one escapes it unscathed." Neo said, before directing his attention to his executive officer, currently checking out the latest sensor data. "Ian, what does it look like out there?"
"There are currently two ZAFT vessels on stationkeeping, Nazcas from the look of them. IFF is coming up as the Voltaire and Rousseau. Both vessels are attached to the team commanded by Yzak Joule."
Neo contemplated the level of fight he could get out of this. Hmm Yzak Joule, Formerly a member of the old Le Creuset Team if I recall right. The pilot of the stolen X102 Duel. He could be a fairly competent opponent, still not quite up to my level, though. "Very well, anyone else present we should know about?" He said to his XO.
"The new ZAFT ship should be here as well, it could be a good chance to get back for what happened to us in the Debris Belt." The Girty Lue's captain replied, the failed ambush still left a bitter taste in his mouth.
That immediately got Neo's attention. "I see, notify Commander Morris, Headhunter team and the Extended are to engage the ZAFT renegades, and any mainline ZAFT troops that get in the way." He said, looking back to Karen. "I'm sure you can handle the Freedom, Colonel Willet. Still, I'd be cautious, Kira Yamato is a formidable opponent. I hope you haven't bitten off more than you can chew."
Willet just smirked. "Captain, I searched for a worthy challenge all my life. This is an opportunity I've long sought. I think I can handle myself."
Lee watched her leave the room. "As uncomfortable as I get what she's around. I'm very glad Colonel Willet is on our side."
"Indeed, is the Tallgeese prepared?" Neo remarked.
"Yes Captain, ready to launch at a moment's notice. Do you intend to join the battle personally?" Lee asked.
"Not right away, I'm content to let Willet, the Headhunters, and Extended do most of the heavy lifting. But if the opportunity calls for it…then I'll leap in myself." Neo said, idly flicking his blade in and out, anticipating the epic battle yet to come.
(Junius Seven Ruins)
Sato watched as the GuAIZs milled about, putting in the massive devices that would shatter the colony before it laid waste to the precious blue gem looming ever closer. His lips twisted into a feral sneer. "All right boys! Let's show these guys who the real ZAFT is! Weapons free, light the bastards up!"
The GINN HM2s sprung from their hiding places, beginning to open fire. One of the GuAIZ pilots had no time to react, a green lance, piercing clean through the chest, causing the mobile suit to explode, a second beam hit the Meteor Breaker the pilot had been setting up.
"Shit!" Yzak cursed, opening fire on the GINNs, managing to hit one, but only for two more to take its place. "This is White Spade Actual to Storm Wolf Actual! We are under attack by hostile forces!" He ducked behind some rubble as another of his men died. Sebastian, you'd better get your sorry ass down here right now!"
(Minerva, Hangar)
The atmosphere in the Minerva's cavernous hangar bay could only be described as totally chaotic. Yzak's panicked call for help had sent the entire crew into full out action mode. Ren and Angelo had already launched, and the other ZAKUs were rolling into position to launch.
Unlike many of the others on the ship, Kira was calm. He wished he didn't have to tread this road again, but sadly it wasn't meant to be. Juliana launched, and he was about to take his place on the catapult when he was suddenly contacted. Kira was surprised to see Shinn's face. "Something I can help you with, Lieutenant Asuka?" He asked.
"Uh, sorry for the timing, Major. But, I guess I'm just kind of nervous."
The Eagle Knight gave his usual warm smile. "I guess this is going to be your first real big battle. You don't need to worry. I was the same way when we fought in Earth's orbit two years. You wouldn't be wearing that uniform if you didn't have the skill. Just trust in yourself, know your teammates are watching your back, and everything will be fine."
Shinn visibly relaxed. "Thank you Major. I'll be sure to remember that." Kira nodded before the screen went blank.
"You are clear to launch, Major Yamato!" Meyrin's voice piped in.
"Kira Yamato, Freedom launching!" The white mobile suit leapt off the Minerva's rails and headed into the massive fracas. He saw the various pieces of the Impulse pull itself together, before the Force Silhouette pack attacked itself to his back. He felt a certain nostalgic pang for the old Strike Gundam, still back in Orb. But there was no time for sentimentality as a squad of GINNs advanced on him.
Kira quickly asserted himself, twin plasma streams, a pair of ferric-tungsten penetrator shells, and a green lance shot across space, blowing off limbs and heads. Freedom drew the Gerbera Straight and started going for close quarters combat. The magnificent black and blue blade swung cleanly through the arm of one High Maneuver, and neatly cleaved off another GINN's head.
Another of the rogue ZAFT machines attacked Freedom, its katana drawn. The magnificent white machine spun in a full 360, almost gracefully, parrying with its own sword and slashing downwards. The Xiphias came up and blasted point blank range, the GINN's limbs were ripped off by the hyper sonic shells.
Across the way, the Headhunters were using their elite sniper skills to pick off the ZAFT machines, renegade and loyalist alike. To Morris it didn't matter. He snorted in disgust as another GINN became space dust "This is so boring…isn't there anyone here I can match my wits against?" A flash of red out of the corner of his eye caught his attention. He watched as Ren and Angelo quickly advanced on his team, as Shinn and his squadmates brought up the rear.
Lunamaria found herself overwhelmed by the sheer scope of the battle they were currently in. "There's so much going at once! It's all so intense!" She couldn't help but feel a little bit panicked. It was then Ren's face appeared on her screen.
"Calm yourself, Lieutenant Hawke. You are a soldier of ZAFT. The people of both Earth and the PLANTs are depending on you to stop this threat. You will do fine." His voice was smooth and reassuring, Luna took a deep breath.
"Thank you, Commander. I'll remember that." She took aim with her rifle, firing at one of the Headhunters. He opened fire at Gavin. But the British national nimbly ducked out of the way. "He is good!"
"Allow me to handle this." Ren said. "Attention Earth Alliance forces, this is Commander Ren Za Burrel of the Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty's Fast Acting Integrated Tactical Headquarters. We are engaged against a group of ZAFT renegades. We have begun efforts to try and stop the colony from hitting Earth. No good will come from us fighting like this." Ren said in his most diplomatic tone, but he knew that it would fall on deaf ears.
"Oh is that a fact? Well unfortunately, my orders say otherwise. And since you declared just who you are, then I can't pass an opportunity like this up!" Morris licked his lips. "You see, my team and I specialize in taking down aces like you!"
Ren frowned. "Then so be it. Don't say I didn't try to warn you!"
(Girty Lue, Locker Room)
Willet was finished zipping up her black and silver flight suit, when the speaker buzzed to life. "Roanoke to Willet." The masked commander's deep baritone spoke.
"This is Willet."
"Colonel, The Freedom has been spotted in combat. We'll send the coordinates straight to Reaver's computer." Neo said. "Good hunting."
The British commando smirked, a slight gleam appearing in her ice blue eyes. "Thanks for the heads up, Captain. I'm heading out now." She closed the transmission, grabbing her helmet.
She walked into the hanger, where the three Extendeds were boarding their machines. Paying them no mind, she headed for her own mobile suit. Willet admired the machine, looking like a silent sentinel at the moment. The GAT-X510 Reaver Gundam's origins were a delicious irony. The strength it gave her was a perfect match for her own. Ever since she retrieved it from the debris after the titanic clash at the Second Battle of Jachin Due, and thanks to Professor Ralph Eifman and his team of scientists and engineers, the mobile suit once known as ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam Mark II was a completely different beast.
A sense of anticipation was rising inside her, but a sense that was tempered by long years of training and discipline. She'd long grown bored by her own training, and even bouts with the rest of her unit of elite soldiers became dull in her own eyes. All six of the Frighteners were restless, and eager to test their skills against the very best the world had to offer. In the latter days of the First Bloody Valentine War, word had risen of a noble champion, a white knight that seemed to have no equal in skill and power. For Karen Willet she'd had long sought to face this foe in glorious combat. She went over the details of her soon to be opponent in her head.
Major Kira Yamato, the Eagle Knight. A reluctant young student who was pushed into the cockpit of the GAT-X105 Strike and came out of nowhere to become one of the greatest aces in the Cosmic Era. He quickly grew in skill and experience, taking on such formidable foes as the Desert Tiger, Andrew Waltfeld, and his equally famous best friend, Athrun Zala. But it was when he came behind the controls of the equally legendary ZGMF-X10A Freedom that he fully matured as a pilot. A formidable force on his own, when paired with Athrun and his own ZGMF-X09A Justice, the two were considered nigh unbeatable. The redhead recalled how the two, along with his sister, Cagalli Yula Athha and Mu La Flaga, the Hawk of Endymion, engaged Rau Le Creuset at Jachin, defeating him in four on one combat. Karen Willet intended to test both his piloting skill, and his swordsmanship, reputedly taught to him by the Storm Wolf of Jachin Due himself.
The rest of the squad was still back at their base in Hereford, but Willet had accepted an offer from the mysterious Neo Roanoke to join his unit on a raid to Armory One. She'd been skeptical at the time, but it appeared that her decision to come was a smart one. As she would now have the opportunity to get the duel she desired so much.
"All right, let's get this done." She sealed her visor, "Karen Willet, GAT-X510 Reaver, launching!" The machine rocketed out into the void of space with the aid of the electromagnetic catapult. A slight hum signified the activation of phase shift armor, which colored the machine black and silver. It spread its silver wings as it began its long-awaited hunt.
(Minerva, Hanger)
Sebastian strapped himself into the cockpit of his new mobile suit, the MBF-X05A Maelstrom Gundam. He'd discovered it buried in the deepest reaches of the Onogoro facility. It had a sleek, streamlined appearance that spoke of its incredible speed, thanks to the two giant banks of vernier engines mounted on the back. Thanks to those powerful engines, Maelstrom was capable of matching Freedom in speed. Under Erica's guidance, it was put through a series of improvements and upgrades to bring it up to current standards. A new OS, courtesy of Kira, energy weapons, including two brand new Type 70J beam sabers, a pair of Type 70K beam daggers as back up weapons, a spare Lobo beam rifle, plus a new Gerbera Straight and full sized Tiger Pierce to finish the package.
"Does everything check out, General?" Meyrin asked.
"Yes, Private, everything's in the green. Maelstrom is ready to make its combat debut. I wish it could have been a little bit sooner though." He sighed, putting on his signature wolf shaped helmet. "I'm headed out, tell Commodore Attha and Colonel Sasaki to do the same once I've cleared the airspace."
"Good luck, General," Meyrin replied.
"Thank you Private Hawke, Lieutenant General Sebastian Connor, Maelstrom entering the hunt!" the machine shot off Amatarasu's catapult and into space. Sebastian took a moment to take in the entire spread of the battle. He could really say that this was his grand return to the battlefield in full. "I'm back, baby!" He reflected, noting as Yukimasa's GOUF, the Namikaze and Akatsuki launched, joining him before keying in his fellow Orb nobles.
"So what's the game plan, boss?" Yukimasa said.
"Yeah, Sebastian. You're the man in charge." Kazuma piped in.
"I want the three of you to keep to the perimeter of the battlefield," Sebastian ordered. "Keep an eye out for the missing prototypes. Your job will be to hold them back in order to keep Yzak and his people from getting killed. I'll go join with Kira since the two of us are the fastest. We should be able to root out the renegades quickly."
"Understood, Wolf! Leave it to us!" Kazuma said, banking off with Yukimasa just a few seconds behind. Akatsuki remained a few seconds.
"Something wrong, Cagalli?" Sebastian asked.
"I just want you to stay alive. Neither Kazuma nor I want to have to deliver the message of your death to Lacus." The blonde princess said. "Good luck, Sebastian. Keep your blade sharp."
"You do the same as well, Cagalli. Thanks for thinking of me." Sebastian said, and with that the two mobile suits spilt.
(Girty Lue, Bridge)
Neo Roanoke had been patiently waiting, watching as the battle unfolded, but with each minute, his warrior soul resonated, yearning to join in the glorious dance that was combat. His lips curled into a thin smile, he had waited long enough. He turned to Lee. "Notify the hangar and have Tallgeese III prepared…I have my own opponent to face."
"What do you mean, Captain?" Ian asked.
"The pilot of that one mobile suit has piqued my interest, Captain. He's not just an ordinary ZAFT soldier. He's a true warrior like me, an elite. I'm convinced he'll be out there. I intend to face him this time with a proper machine. I'll see how just good he really is now when comes up against the power of Tallgeese!" Neo declared, picking up the sheathed katana at his side.
"But how do you know he'll be out there, sir? I recall both of you severely bashed up your machines during our last outing with them." Lee said, recalling how torn up the black Exus was after it was brought in after battle in the Debris Belt.
"If he's the kind of soldier I believe him to be…he'll have another mobile suit waiting for him. One even more powerful than the simple mass production unit he was using earlier." Neo said, "I know I'm correct."
He immediately departed the bridge and headed for the hanger. He didn't bother with a pilot suit, simply floating up to the cockpit of his personal mobile suit. "And so the curtain is pulled back," Neo Roanoke said to no one in particular, boarding his machine and reclining in the pilot seat. With his Exus effectively scrap, he had nothing else to rely on. He smirked slightly, "The question now is will the result be a five star performance? I certainly hope so. I wouldn't want to become bored."
The machine lumbered over to the catapult, reading for launch. "Okay, I'm set for launch."
"Good luck sir," Lee replied.
Neo smirked again, "Luck is for lesser folk, but I appreciate the sentiment, Captain." His hands grasped the controls firmly. "This is Tallgeese, Neo Roanoke heading out."
The mobile suit exploded off the linear catapult into the black, star filled ocean of outer space, it drew the sheathed blade at its side, sunlight reflecting off the curved, fifteen-meter katana and the massive cannon mounted on its right arm.
(Perimeter of Battle Zone)
The Akatsuki continued its long patrol of the outer rim, flanked by the Namikaze and the Yukimasa's red and black GOUF. She looked toward the rapidly falling plate, noting several small explosions. "Kira's doing his usual thing, it looks like he's already taken about half of the renegade GINNs." She remarked.
"I've wondered about his always sparing lives during combat. I just hope it doesn't come back to haunt him." Kazuma said.
"Managing to be so precise in how he disables his targets shows how skilled he really is." Yukimasa added.
"Kira can make the kill when he really has to. Look at what he did to Rau during Jachin II." Cagalli said. The conversation was cut short when her radar blipped to life. "Hold that thought, guys." Malachite eyes narrowed. "It's the other stolen prototypes! They're heading for the central battle zone!"
Indeed, the three Second Stage Gundams were going straight into the heart of the fighting, the Chaos in the middle, flanked by the Gaia on the right and the Abyss on the left.
"I think we owe them for the Debris Belt, what about you guys?" Yukimasa grinned ferally.
"I would feel surprisingly comfortable with that!" Kazuma said, raising his mobile suit's shield Gatling cannon. "I'm eager to show those little upstarts what Namikaze is capable of. The new ADMM launchers are going to give them a rude awakening!" His targeting reticule fell on the Chaos. "Sorry, Yukimasa, I'm going to have to scratch up your toys!"
"Just don't hurt them too much!" Yukimasa pleaded, crossing his legs.
"Have a little present from the Orb Union!" Kazuma squeezed the trigger, A pair of hatches on the Namikaze's shoulders opened up, unleashing a barrage of ten missiles apiece.
All three Extended only had seconds to react. It was only thanks to their chemically enhanced reflexes and Variable Phase-Shift Armor that prevented them from getting the worst of it. "It looks like someone wants to play." Sting said. "How about we oblige them, guys?"
"A golden mobile suit…it's the Lioness of Orb!" Auel said.
"Then she and her compatriots must be dealt with. Nothing can interfere with our orders." Stellar replied coldly, raising Gaia's beam rifle in challenge. "Let's see just how good the aces of the First Bloody Valentine War really are!"
(Junius Seven Airspace)
Shinn took a moment to watch Rey's older brother in action. He had to admit, the elder Za Burrel was a sight to behold, even with such an obsolete mobile suit. He was fighting the three black Daggers on equal footing. "Rey, I've gotta be honest. Your brother is quite the pilot."
"That he is." Rey said, the pride evident in his voice.
"But he's still fighting him all on his own. Shouldn't we help him?" Lunamaria said.
"Luna's right! Even if Commander Za Burrel is a great pilot, he can't handle it alone!" Juliana said. All of the young pilots were ready to rush in to help their superior officer, only to be blocked by Angelo's GuAIZ-S.
"None of you will go no further than this!" Angelo commanded. The younger redcoats just looked on in disbelief.
"But Ren is in trouble! Some of Sato's renegades are advancing on him!" Rey said, fingers nervously curling around the control yokes.
Angelo snorted in disgust. "How can you have such little faith in your own blood? Commander Za Burrel needs no assistance! He is the greatest ace ZAFT has ever produced in recent times. Unlike certain other pilots who didn't have the stomach to stay loyal, the Commander will never fall!"
"This is no time for your stupid hero worship, Sauper! We have a serious job to do!" Lunamaria protested. She could only wonder where this guy was dug up, and maybe if he couldn't be put back. "You going to kiss the feet of his mobile suit if you get the chance?"
"Just watch and see, Lieutenant." Angelo scoffed. "This is sacred ground, and we mere mortals have no place treading on it."
Many would consider it foolish to take on three opponents at once, especially with such a dated mobile suit. But Ren Za Burrel was no ordinary pilot. He effortlessly handled the Headhunters with minimal effort. "Damn, this guy is the real deal, we can't even put a scratch on him!" He brought his rifle up to bear, but by the time he could get his bearing, the red GuAIZ was in his face. It was then Michael's eyes fell on the other ZAFT mobile suits.
"What are those morons doing?" He muttered, taking aim. "Well, I'm not about to look a gift horse in the mouth!" Michael opened fire.
Shinn and the others were still arguing with their bull headed comrade when the alarms began screaming. Training and reflexes kicked in, and Angelo brought his weapon to bear, firing twice, almost hitting Michael. "You…How DARE you!" There was a cold fury in Angelo's voice. "You made me…open fire…and DESECRATE THE COMMANDER'S PERFECT BATTLEFIELD!" His tone rose by six octaves, nearly blasting out the ears of all three Headhunters and nearby renegade ZAFT pilots. "DIE!" He began setting up on the Phantom Pain pilots with a mad fury.
A pair of hapless GINN pilots tried to attack him, but Angelo's rage was too much for them to bear. The purple GuAIZ-S fired off its pair of anti-beam depth charges, causing a blinding light. The beam claws on his shield ignited, spearing the GINN HM in the chest.
"This is for the Commander!" Angelo raged, firing a smoke bomb at the second GINN, obscuring him from sight. The GINN pilot looked around. Only for a pair of metal whips with small beam tips lanced out, picking him apart. The smoke dissipated, the white haired pilot reeled in the extensional arrestors. "This is just the beginning! Anyone who gets in the way of Commander Za Burrel WILL DIE!"
From two different vantage points, Commander Yzak Joule and Lieutenant Shinn Asuka watched as Angelo Sauper began venting his rage on anyone unfortunate enough to come into his range. The two men, well known for their short tempers, could only think one thing. "And they say I had anger management issues!" They both said simultaneously.
(Over Junius Seven)
Yzak shredded another GINN, "Damn it, is there no end to this, Dearka?"
"What do you expect, man? These guys are hardcore extremists! Their lives mean nothing as long as they accomplish their goals!" The blonde replied, blasting another GINN to pieces.
"How right you are, Commander Joule!" Sato spat Yzak's title like a curse. "We lived for this day! Ever since our loved ones died on that horrible day! My beloved Elizabeth…we won't be denied our revenge! Not by those puppets on the council, and certainly not by you!"
Yzak growled, whipping out one of the Duel's sabers. After the war's end, the Duel had gone in for a full overhaul, replacing the original beam sabers with the Lacertas used by Freedom and Justice.
"You're a sick bastard!" Dearka growled, opening fire with his trusty rifle. The GINN HM2 neatly avoided the Buster's attack.
"You're going to have do better than that against me!" Sato smirked, "We've all dedicated ourselves to the cause, and no one will sway us!"
"AURRRRLLLOOOOOOOO!" Radios of both Earth Alliance and ZAFT machines alike emitted the haunting, mournful call of the timber wolf. "Then perhaps you'll listen to me!" a voice colder than space itself spoke, "This is Lieutenant General Sebastian Andrew Connor, United Emirates of Orb Defense Forces."
"Welcome to the party, sir! You're just in time for the clown!" Dearka cracked.
"It's about time you showed up!" Yzak remarked.
"Commander Joule, Lieutenant Elsman, go and help the rest of your team set up the last of the Meteor Breakers…I'll deal with this scum," Sebastian ordered. Yzak and Dearka both knew that tone of voice. It was the tone the Storm Wolf used when someone was about to get hurt badly. The two Gundams headed down to the colony surface, leaving the Wolf alone, "I will give you this warning only once, Commander Sato. Stop this right now or I will be forced to deal with you. By using my homeland in this manner, you've committed the ultimate act of sacrilege! You're a disgrace to ZAFT!"
Sato gave a harsh laugh at the statement, "Oh you're so wrong! We are the true soldiers of ZAFT serving the true Chairman of The PLANTs! And that is Patrick Zala! I'm not intimidated by you one bit, Storm Wolf of Jachin Due! You're the biggest traitor of all…" Sato gunned the engines, "AND YOU DIE HERE AND NOW!" Sato's frail psyche finally snapped entirely, brandishing his beam rifle, he madly fired emerald darts but Maelstrom remained unmoving. "You just going to stand there while I cut you down? Fine by me!"
Maelstrom's hand went to the Gerbera Straight, named Raikiri. Sato cackled in mad glee, drawing his own sword. He raised his weapon in preparation to strike Sebastian down. In a flash, the shining blade came out of the green and white sheath, shattering his foe's weapon, and slashing clean through the mobile suit. "You call yourself a swordsman?" Sebastian said. The GINN exploded at the same time he finished sheathing his weapon, "Don't make me laugh."
Far across the battlefield, the Storm Wolf's action hadn't gone unnoticed. Neo had felt elation when he saw the Gundam in the familiar colors and tensed when he saw Maelstrom slice through Sato's GINN with minimal effort. He quickly zoomed in on the mobile suit to get a closer look at it. His blood raced when he noticed the symbol emblazoned on the mobile suit's left shoulder, a gray wolf howling at the sky against a circular, dark blue backdrop, with a lightning bolt striking down behind it. Realization struck him as he figured out who was at the white and green mobile suit's controls.
"The pilot of that ZAFT suit from earlier…no wonder he was able to keep up with my Exus the way he did!" He took on a feral sneer. "Well this is quite interesting, the Storm Wolf of Jachin Due…here?" It took a moment for everything to sink in for him. For the longest time Neo Roanoke had sought to be the best, and now the man known as nothing less than "The Supreme Ace," was right here in front of him. Neo had a new purpose; he would defeat Sebastian, claiming his title for himself. Thus proving he was the most skilled pilot in the world. "I suggest you get ready, Storm Wolf. You're about to be knocked off your throne!" With that Tallgeese's engines ignited, aiming for the white and green mobile suit.
(Junius Seven Airspace)
In another corner of the battlefield, Kira was having little problem with Sato's followers. The GINNs quickly falling to Freedom's vast array of weapons, The GINNs were all equipped with katana style blades themselves, but they were just pale imitations in comparison to the Damascene Gerbera Straight Freedom carried. In addition, Kira had been trained by the Storm Wolf himself in its usage, and he was showing everyone why.
Unbeknownst to him, far out of sight all of the combatants, Reaver hovered, massive metallic arms crossed. Inside the cockpit, Karen Willet gave an appraising look to her future rival, watching as he continued to clean up the GINNs. "Magnificent." She commented. "He and that machine are truly worthy of their reputations. His bladework is superb, his aim is right on the mark, and he's doing it all with merely disabling his opponents. It makes me wonder what he can do when he's forced to fight at full power, and against me, he'll have to fight at his full power. Let's see what happens when he has to face his own dark reflection. Shall we go meet our destiny, Reaver?" She smirked. Reaver's silver wings flared and dove straight at Freedom.
Kira was making very good time in disposing of Sato's renegades. Despite being veterans, they were still no match for the overwhelming force that was the Eagle Knight and his mount. He sighed as he blew off the arms off yet another GINN that insisted on getting in his way. The master alarm started blaring like crazy, and saved him from nearly getting speared by a pair of plasma streams and twin railcannon shots. He looked around in surprise and his heart leapt up into his throat when he saw a heat signature making a direct charge for him, and the IFF tag read "ZGMF-X10A Freedom."
"Freedom? How can that be possible?" Kira asked. His heart kept on beating as the approaching Earth Alliance mobile suit materialized into view, hurtling towards him before it came to a dead stop before Freedom. The Eagle Knight could say nothing as he found himself staring at his beloved mobile suit's dark twin. Ten silver wings, a silver torso, jet-black limbs and head. A black shield trimmed in silver clenched in its left hand. A sheathed longsword in a black sheath trimmed in silver hung at its right side. It was a complete duplicate of ZGMF-X10A Freedom.
"Who are you and where did you get that mobile suit from?" Kira asked, gripping the controls tightly, wondering how the Earth Alliance had their own version of Freedom. It was an uneasy feeling seeing his precious machine on the side of the enemy; Kira likened it to looking at his reflection in the mirror, noting how the sun reflected off the silver torso and wings.
"Major Kira Yamato. It's a pleasure to meet you in person." The voice was female, with a strong but clear English accent, "I am Colonel Karen Willet, of his Royal Majesty's Special Air Service 22nd Regiment, Third Covert Tactical Assault Team, code named 'Frighteners', at your service. I never imagined in my entire life I would run into you out here. I've waited for a challenge like this my entire life! We'll settle this as true warriors, with our blades."
"You didn't answer my question as to how the Atlantic Federation got its hands on a copy of Freedom, much less created a Gerbera Straight," Kira said curtly.
"Oh, you want to know about my mobile suit, do you? Say hello to GAT-X510 Reaver. I obtained it from ZAFT during the Jachin Due at the end of the first war. Some fool just left it out for anyone to claim. No finer prize than a complete copy of Freedom. But it's become far more than just that now. It's been outfitted with the very best technology the Earth Alliance has to offer. A special frame with artificial muscle tissue and synthetic nerve fibers increases Reaver's reaction time by a factor of five! As for the sword," Reaver drew the longsword, inspecting it thoroughly, "We have some very good engineers and metalsmiths working for us. They studied the blade this machine was originally equipped with, and forged a new weapon for me based on it. Katanas aren't exactly my weapon of choice. Now if you don't mind, Major, Have at you!" And the identical mobile suits started clashing against the chaotic backdrop of the rapidly falling space colony.
(Battlezone Perimeter)
The three Extended of Phantom Pain had only heard the stories of the legendary aces of the previous war. They had experienced a taste of the Orb trio's skill during the fights at Junius Seven and in the Debris Belt, but now Kazuma, Cagalli, and Yukimasa were all in machines that could equal or even overcome the Second Stage Gundams. Yukimasa was taking on Auel, Kazuma locked up with Sting, and Cagalli was facing Stellar.
Stellar opened fire with her beam rifle, but the green beams hit the Akatsuki's mirror beam coating, causing the entire mobile suit to seemingly glow for a few seconds before bouncing back. Stellar frowned, switching the Gaia to quadruped mode. It was a rather surreal experience to see what looked like a much more advanced version of the BuCUE bounding through space, but she was closing the distance between her and the Akatsuki, adding the firepower of the shoulder mounted beam cannons.
The Akatsuki's golden shield came up, letting the beams glance off if it. "Not going to help you!" Cagalli said, bringing the Oowashi pack's twin beam cannons to bear. Stellar transformed Gaia back to mobile suit mode, dodging to the left to avoid getting hit. "How are you guys doing?" She asked.
"Oh, we're fine over here!" Yukimasa shot back, dodging and weaving out of the Abyss's Baelena Kai's beam cannons, firing back with his fingertip beam cannons. "I love being attacked by my own creations! I think I'll test all the new mobile suits I develop this way from now on!"
"I think you did your job a little too well, Masa." Kazuma said blocking the shots coming from the Chaos's remote beam pods with his shield before opening fire with his beam gatling. The green bursts managed to leave a few scorch marks on the green mobile suit's torso.
Sting winced as the rounds burned into his machine's side, he let loose a barrage of Fireflies. But this time was different. The Namikaze was much faster than the ZAKU, not to mention the wonderful invention that was Phase-Shift Armor. Kazuma just smirked, taking the missiles on the PS. Sting's eyes widened in shock as the Gatling cannon let loose, taking out one of his beam pods. "Damn…these guys are no joke. No wonder they survived Jachin Due!"
"It makes no difference to me who they are or what battlefields they have survived." Stellar intoned. "They'll fall just the same."
Cagalli had ignited her double-bladed beam saber, arcing straight at the Gaia's midsection. Stellar drew one of the Vajras, the two flaming blades meeting. "I wonder if Kira is having any more luck than we are."
(Junius Seven Airspace)
In his short and unexpected career as a soldier, Kira Yamato faced many opponents but to date, no one, not even Rau Le Creuset himself at Jachin Due, gave the Eagle Knight fits the way the pilot of the black and silver copy of his beloved machine was doing right now. The Damascene katana creaked against its longsword counterpart. Freedom swung upwards, trying to get Reaver across the shoulder, but the broad blade expertly snapped up, and the katana slid harmlessly along the razor sharp edge. Kira whipped the blade around to try from the other side, but was parried just easily.
"Your swordsmanship is impressive, but I'm not even getting warmed up yet!" Willet said, catching Freedom's horizontal slash with Reaver's longsword, and then firing the Baelenas. Freedom's matching weapons folded out, and the four plasma beams met and exploded. Kira spun Freedom on a dime, circling up and over Reaver trying to take off one of its wings. The Gerbera bounced off Reaver's shield. Kira snapped it out and around, aiming for the black and silver mobile suit's midsection.
Karen threw Reaver into a wide ascending spin to avoid having its legs chopped off, and thrust her longsword upward, aiming at Freedom's cockpit. Which Kira barely avoided with a parry from his katana. Reaver's blade made contact with the Phase Shift, but bounced off the white armor with no effect, "Not enough for you, how about I pull a page from your playbook?" And Kira's stomach came up to his throat as he found himself on the receiving end of his own attack for once! As two plasma beams and two ferric-tungsten penetrator shells streaked at the white, black and blue mobile suit.
"WHOA!" he yelled, not having time to block, went into a steep descent, barely evading his counterpart's mad attack. Followed up by the wide arc of the Damascene longsword, and a barrage from the railcannons, "This woman is insane! But she doesn't fight like an Extended. How can she be this good?" He commented. "And her machine! It doesn't move anything like Freedom is supposed to!" Reaver swung its blade one more time, the Baelenas flipped out, grazing the left leg of Kira's machine.
"You're still in denial? Then let me educate you further!" Willet smirked. The heavy double-edged blade in her mobile suit's hands swung in a rapid series of movements that Freedom's katana had to struggle just to keep up with. Kira abandoned all sense of subtlety and swept the blue and black katana in a brutal, horizontal chop. Both razor sharp blades met with a screaming collision, catching the reflection of the moon within both blades. A spray of 76mm shells from Reaver's CIWS sent Freedom struggling back. Freedom extended the Xiphas to try and hit Reaver, but Willet was too fast, the Gerbera longsword cut through barrel the right railgun, rendering it useless.
Kira retaliated with a big upward swing of his own blade, aiming at Reaver's left hip, to his satisfaction it managed to cut through the Phase-Shift, leaving a shallow cut. He dug it deeper and pulled downward, ripping a large gash going from just below the belly to where the legs met. "I'm impressed! Let me guess…Trans-Phase on your sword? It's a nice trick. And due to using TPA, it only activates at the point of impact, meaning it won't register on the sensors until it's too late?" Karen analyzed. Freedom slashed again, and Reaver blocked, the two went back and forth, the two black and blue blades, katana and longsword clanging.
Willet then took Reaver's shield, repeatedly smashing it into Freedom's chest. Kira was forced back but still okay. His Gerbera swung horizontally, but was met by Reaver's longsword again. It was a truly amazing sight to behold, the two Freedoms blazing across the stars, swords straining against each other, trying to break their dead lock. The Damascene katana and its longsword counterpart met again.
(Minerva, Bridge)
"Meyrin, give me a status report." Talia ordered.
"Commander Joule reports little over half of the Meteor Breakers were placed before they were ambushed, Captain." Meyrin said. "It may not be enough to break up the colony plate into small enough pieces to burn up in orbit."
"Then it may come to us to use the Positron Cannon." Talia said. "Arthur, fire up the Tannhauser."
"At once, ma'am!" Arthur said, for once in his life not freaking out at such a desperate maneuver, knowing that billions of lives were at stake.
"Give me the position of all mobile suits?" Talia asked.
"Our mobile suits are engaging the enemy on all fronts, Captain. It appears that Commodore Attha and her people are engaging the other prototypes on the outer most perimeter of the battle zone." Meyrin said. "Commander Za Burrel and our own team are taking on those Daggers from earlier." Her eyes widened. "And Freedom appears to be…fighting itself!"
"Say that again, Private?" Trine asked.
"It's confirmed, Sir. There are two Freedoms fighting each other." Meyrin said.
Talia felt a great sense of dread with those words. Somehow someone had managed to produce a copy of the most powerful mobile suit ever created. "What about General Connor himself?" She asked, doing her best to keep calm.
"He seems to be engaging the remaining renegades." Meyrin said. "Wait a second, Captain! There's a mobile suit approaching him at a rapid speed, It's not in any of the catalogs!"
(Over Junius Seven ruins)
In the middle of the action, Sebastian was showing just why he had earned his titles. Maelstrom roared in and out between all the renegade machines. The Lobo flared three times, sending a pair of GINNs to oblivion. A beam saber ignited in one hand, bisecting a third in half.
"All the stories about you were true! You're a monster!" One of the renegades started ranting, frantically trying to evade being hit by the Lobo or lucky swat from the beam saber, "A wild beast of a wolf that brings a storm of destruction! You killed our beloved leader! You won't stop us!"
Sebastian rolled his eyes, wound up with Maelstrom's giant fist, and punched the offending GINN right in the cockpit. He gave the silent mobile suit a slight nudge and sent it tumbling into the void.
"And to think Sato's team was considered one of the elites back in the day…I've never seen a bigger group of morons in my entire life!"
Neo zoned in on his target. His eyes blazed with anticipation under his mask. "I suppose it would be prudent to introduce myself!" the machine shifted its blade to the left arm, "Alright Storm Wolf, let's see what you can really do!" His mobile suit raised its right arm, bringing the enormous cannon to bear. "Evade this…if you can!"
A massive emerald beam lanced out, nearly striking Maelstrom. "What the hell?" Sebastian looked around for the source of the attack. Hurtling towards him was a mobile suit all in black, A plumed head crest reminding him of a Roman legionnaire, clamped to its right arm was a massive beam cannon, reminding the Storm Wolf of the Barrus cannon from the old D-Package weaponry. The machine lazily came to a stop in front of him, allowing him to get a closer look, his eyes narrowed when he saw the weapon clenched in the massive iron hand.
"A Gerbera Straight? Could that be…the blade I lost to Zavier?" He said.
Neo appraised his rival's machine, it was clearly meant for melee combat, evident by the two blades hanging on either side. The masked captain's eyes were locked on the symbol on his left shoulder. Confirming immediately who his foe was in that moment, "So you were the pilot of that mobile suit from earlier? It should have been apparent to me, but now I see you in your true colors! Lieutenant General Sebastian Connor, the Storm Wolf of Jachin Due!" It wasn't a question.
Blue eyes narrowed, the voice was clearly recognizable as the pilot of the dark mobile armor from before. "I see my reputation proceeds me…so you're the black comet that was making my life hell back at Armory One and in the Debris Belt." Sebastian snarled. "What's your name then?"
Neo's mouth tightened into a thin smirk. "Black Comet you say? I quite like the sound of that. Very well then, I am Captain Neo Roanoke, commander of the 81st Independent Mobile Battalion, code named Phantom Pain. And you, General Connor…are my opponent!" Drawing their Gerberas at the same time, Maelstrom and Tallgeese charged one another, vernier engines blazing at full thrust.
(Blizzard Prowler, Hangar)
Rachel strapped into her mobile suit. Her white Murasame came to life, rolling into position at the launch gate. "Maria, tell me we're close enough to deploy our mobile suits. We're running out of time."
"Roger that, White Wolf Nine. You have a green light…get out there and help them stop that colony drop!" Maria sounded every bit the commander, before her voice softened back to big sister mode. "And come back alive, the both of you."
"Understood. Rachel Dupree, launching!" With those words, a team of five white MVF-M11C Murasames lurched into the void in mobile armor mode. The Iron Dove's fingers clenched around the controls. It wouldn't be long before the White Wolves leapt back into the void. "Hang on Sebastian, the cavalry's coming!"
At that moment, Yzak and Dearka had pared down the number of GINN High Maneuvers. "This is Voltaire-Actual to Minerva-Actual. Captain Gladys, we're going to activate the Meteor Breakers now. We lost about a third of them in the ambush. I don't think it's going to be enough to completely break up the colony remains, but we're going to do it anyway."
"Understand Commander Joule. We're going to warm up the Tannhauser. We'll try and do something from our end." Talia looked over to Arthur, who gave her a truly devastated expression. The Tannhauser positron cannon was the Minerva's most powerful weapon, more than a match for the Lohengrins on both the Archangel and Izumo-class, but even then, it only carried one of them, so it was still limited in what it could do.
"Activating in 3! 2! 1!" Dearka barked. With that, the devices activated, and slowly but surely, the colony broke apart. But several of the pieces were still large enough to cause catastrophic damage.
"Tannhauser, fire!" Talia's order was clear and distinct. The front of the Minerva folded open to reveal the giant cannon. The antimatter stream nearly the size of a redwood lanced out at the largest fragment, striking with near perfect accuracy, turning it into nothing but a few small chunks of dirt and not much else. The Minerva's captain gave a slight nod of satisfaction at how her vessel's most powerful weapon performed under its first actual combat condition.
"It was a perfect shot, Captain!" Arthur said.
"This isn't the time to be impressed with ourselves!" Talia snapped. "Target the next largest fragment at once."
"There's just too many for us to get, Captain." Meyrin said with dismay in her voice. It was then a series of large green bursts began erupting from the planet in quick succession, each hitting a good-sized fragment with near perfect accuracy.
"White Wolf Actual to Minerva. Don't worry about a thing, Talia. I've got you covered from down here." Anthony's voice broke in. "My friend, Mr. Augnir and I will help try to clear up some of that debris. I can't imagine that General Connor is going to like this turn of events."
"Your assistance is much appreciated, Rear Admiral Russo." Talia couldn't help but smile in relief. "I should have figured that where the Storm Wolf of Jachin Due is, the Arctic White Wolf isn't too far behind."
(Onogoro Island, Orb)
The MFB-PO6 Gundam Astray Blizzard Frame, built like its predecessors but in all white, was attached to a giant monstrosity of a beam cannon, based off the Archangel's Gottfrieds. A quartet of white Murasames, the other half of the White Wolves, soared through the sky, breaking up any clouds that crossed into his line of fire. The Arctic White Wolf caught another fragment on the leading edge of the atmosphere, opening fire with a double tap, sending a pair of massive beams into the sky. He noted with satisfaction of its destruction.
"You of all people should know that wolves always hunt in packs. I'll do what I can from down here about those incoming fragments." Anthony's voice was calm as ever, but there was no hiding the concern. "I just hope my brother is okay." He went back to firing, taking out another falling chunk of debris.
(Junius Seven Airspace)
At that moment, Maelstrom and Tallgeese were still engaged in their death battle, the two machines moving at rapid speed, as the two blades locked up, "Oh…just so you know for the record. I believe that weapon you're carrying belongs to me. I'd like it back!" Sebastian growled, his eyes flickering gold for a second.
"Sorry, General. This weapon was claimed by the Earth Alliance, along with the mobile suit that went with it! Since it wouldn't do anyone any good just lying around. I took it for myself!" Neo replied. The two heavy steel blades banged against each other in the silence of space. Maelstrom and Tallgeese weaved around each other in a deadly dance. Sebastian went for a wide upward slash to the right, but Neo parried it, before sweeping in a wide arc. Maelstrom jerked to the left, just barely catching the katana's edge as it swept across the shoulder, snapping back with a strike aimed at one of the vernier engines on the back, which bore a striking resemblance to Maelstrom's thrusters.
Damn it, where was the Earth Alliance hiding this guy? I don't remember there ever being such a pilot like this before! He's matching my every move, and that's saying something! Sebastian growled in frustration. He put the Raikiri away, exchanging it for the Tiger Pierce he had named Kazekiba, the composition of the metal was different, making it a little lighter than the original sword.
Neo's heart was singing, his adrenaline and blood pumping through every vein. "The Storm Wolf isn't like the rest of them! His blade work is flawless! I've lived for this day! The day I would find my ultimate opponent!" Neo declared, raising the stolen Gerbera in a full overhead strike, Maelstrom parried with its own shining blade.
Neo begun a wild series of slashes, which Sebastian had a great trouble of blocking. The Kazekiba barely keeping his foe's weapon from slicing him to ribbons, "We're equally matched!" the Storm Wolf made another conclusion which he found even more unsettling, "This style he's using! It's so familiar!"
The man in the black mask had also made the same connection. It wasn't evident the last two times they faced since he was in a mobile armor, but now that they both had comparable machines, there was a sense of familiarity in his movements, "His moves are so familiar, even though this is the first time we've faced each other in this manner at all!" Tallgeese then went for an unconventional maneuver, kicking the green and white machine right in the chest. The entire cockpit shuddered from the impact, rattling Sebastian around in Maelstrom's cockpit. After his brains settled into place, he looked around to find his rival, the Storm Wolf nearly crapped his pants.
Neo had broken out the heavy artillery. The massive cannon unfolded, and started sparking with energy, and then fired the same massive burst of emerald energy from earlier.
Sebastian wrenched the controls, barely avoiding the energy blast. He put the Tiger Pierce away, pulling out the Lobo beam rifle. He opened fire, but Neo raised his shield, the emerald burst splashed on it. Out of the end of the shield came a segmented whip, lashing out like a viper. Sebastian raised his own shield, and it smacked against it, leaving a large black burn mark right down the center.
"How do you like my heat rod?" Neo smirked, retracting the weapon back into the shield. He reached inside the shield, producing a beam saber. The Wolf replied in kind, ignited his own blade. Neo's crimson to Sebastian's green. The melee battle resumed, as the two blades intersected, causing sparks to fly.
(Southern Battle Zone)
For as loud and obnoxious as Angelo Sauper was, he was proven his capability on the battlefield. Most of Sato's people had already fallen to his berserk rage for desecrating what he considered holy ground. "I guess he really did earn his position as Commander Za Burrel's right hand man." Shinn begrudgingly accepted, watching as the violet GuAIZ-S impaled another machine on its beam claws.
"The loudmouth has his uses after all." Juliana sniffled. The violet haired beauty knew many saw her as a snob with a rather elitist view of things. However, she would never have done what Angelo did, insulting the Orb delegation in such a crude manner. Even if Sebastian had left ZAFT under less than pleasant circumstances, she still respected him for what he did to save the planet from Rau's mad plan.
The Headhunters prided themselves on being elites. Morris was a veteran of Jachin II. He managed to bring down 4 GINNs, 2 CGUEs, and even a GuAIZ Experimental Firearms Type. However, Ren Za Burrel was nothing like anything the small team of snipers had ever encountered before.
"He's so fast! It's like his machine is three times faster than normal!" Gavin whined, opening fire with his rifle, but all he hit was dead air. Ren gave a thin smile, opening fire with his CQB rifle.
"No, I just know how to make the full use of my mobile suit's capabilities." The masked man launched his extensional arrestors at Gavin's Dagger L, managing to tear the right leg off.
"Hang on, Gavin!" Michael said, igniting a beam saber. "I may not be best at close up combat, but I'm not going to let you do that again!" With a single swing, he hacked the metallic whip off, leaving a sparking stump for Ren to reel back in. The foul mouthed pilot ignited his engines. "Come and get me if you're not scared."
Ren took off after Michael, firing missiles and his rifle. It was only then he realized that he had been led right into a trap. "I always find my target eventually!" Morris sneered, the red GuAIZ-S was right in his crosshairs, and his hotheaded subordinate was too preoccupied with taking down the few remaining renegades.
The Earth Alliance sniper depressed the trigger, watching the brilliant emerald beam reach out toward its target, but then suddenly a red, white, and blue blur shot it, putting itself in front of the GuAIZ, Morris's blast bounced off the Impulse's anti-beam shield. "That was way too close for words!" Shinn said, grateful he had gone for the superior maneuverability and speed of the Force Pack.
"Impeccable timing, Lieutenant Asuka. I can't believe I almost fell for such a simple trap." Ren said. Rey, Lunamaria, and Juliana all formed up with the Impulse. The four mobile suits presenting a united front to the Headhunters.
"Let my friends and I handle this Commander Za Burrel. You've already done more than enough. Besides, we owe them for what they did at Armory One!" Shinn's eyes narrowed as he thought of the lives lost back at the space colony. Even if the two events weren't closely related to each other, the Phantom Pain squadron was hampering their attempts to try and save Earth.
"Very well, Lieutenant Asuka." With that, the crimson GuAIZ folded its arms. "Show me what you've to done in order to earn your redcoats." Shinn didn't need any further prompting; he reached up for one of the Impulse's Vajra beam sabers, igniting it. That was the signal, and all four machines kicked on their thrusters, all of them were intent on hacking the sniper team into little metallic chunks.
Morris was ready for the fight, but both Michael and Gavin weren't so enthusiastic. "This is really gonna suck!" The British national's words perfectly embodied their feelings for what was to come.
(J7 airspace)
Kira swung again, spinning his sword and aiming for Reaver's head. Willet smirked deviously and out swung the plasma cannons again, firing off two quick shots. The Eagle Knight nearly stomped the accelerator pedal through the cockpit in a mad attempt to keep from getting fried by the orange-blue beams. Both warriors swung their respective weapons. Freedom's sword tore into Reaver's shoulders, while the massive longsword swung downwards, leaving a long scratch along Freedom's face, and kept going down dragging a sense of sparks along the Gundam's torso.
Willet snapped up Reaver's railguns, and immediately set them off without trying for a lock. Phase-Shift Armor may've made Freedom highly resistant to actual damage from the projectile weapon, but the jarring impact still sent it staggering back, breaking the deadlock. Kira barely had time to recover before she fired again, the twin magnetically propelled tungsten shells nearly forcing Freedom to drop the Gerbera. Not wanting to lose the valuable weapon. The Ultimate Coordinator stowed his sword, and pulled out one of Freedom's Lacertas.
Karen matched her rival's action, replacing Reaver's Gerbera with one of the hip mounted ES04B beam sabers. The twin blades of crimson frozen fire locked. Karen's adrenaline was pumping through her entire body. For so long she had desired a challenge and now she had truly found the rival she wanted! All of her years of long training and combat experience was finally being validated.
This was turning out to be a sobering lesson for Kira, how even skilled as he was, there was always someone better out there. Willet and Reaver were giving him a thorough trouncing.
Freedom and Reaver's beam sabers continued to slash at each other, leaving more and more burn and gouge marks on both machines. The crimson fire of Reaver's saber dug a large gash out of Freedom's left shoulder, an ugly black burn mark marring the spotless white armor. Kira responded by slashing downwards, leaving an equally black mark across Reaver's torso.
"You're probably wondering aren't you? How is it I, a mere Natural can stand against the likes of you? Well, I'll tell you," Karen said almost conversationally, as she arced the beam saber slamming against her white counterpart's weapon, "It's like this, Major Yamato, unlike many of my other…comrades, I don't view the genetic enhancements Coordinators gained with jealously, I see it as an obstacle to climb, a challenge to overcome. The rest of my team feels the same as I do. Because of that, we've pushed ourselves past human limitations, training our bodies to the absolute peak. Our reflexes are on the same level as any Coordinators…even you and your friends! I was at Jachin Due, Major. I witnessed your fight against Rau Le Creuset. It was the most amazing thing I'd ever seen. You truly are the Ultimate Coordinator, but don't think it makes you special. As I said, we Frighteners pushed our bodies to the absolute limit of human tolerance. But…we're still dependent on the Natural operating system to control our machines. That wasn't enough for me. So I went beyond! I've trained myself to the point where I can move Reaver with the same ease you control Freedom! That day at Jachin I swore an oath to myself, that I would surpass you in every way possible!"
Kira's heart was racing at this revelation. The thought people were willing to push themselves so hard to prove that you didn't need to be a Coordinator to be a superb pilot was a chilling thought. He brought out the Lupus deciding it was about time to end this. He started firing, but Reaver was too agile.
"Damn it, why can't I hit her?" Kira yelled in frustration, now getting the feeling of what every enemy pilot who had the misfortune of encountering Freedom in combat felt during the war. He kept firing emerald lances, but Willet either avoided the shots or they bounced off her shield.
"You're letting your emotions getting the better of you, a bad move on your part." Willet shook her head. "I don't think that beam rifle of yours is going to do you much good!" Reaver's engines kicked on, and she lunged, aiming to hack off the arm containing the beam rifle. Kira quickly discarded the Lupus, and Reaver slashed the beam rifle in two.
Freedom brought the shield up to block, to Kira's horror, the saber cleaved clean through it, and dug a big chunk out of the torso, way too close to the cockpit for his own taste. Willet swung about again, Kira barely evaded having his machine's head lopped off
Willet would have pressed the attack further, but then both pilots saw the Meteor Breakers activate, fragments starting to enter the Earth's atmosphere as the Minerva began blasting away, punctuated by shots from the Augnir on the surface.
It was then Lee's voice came on the radio, "Colonel Willet, the fragments of Junius Seven are starting to descend to Earth. We need to start pulling back."
Willet frowned, "Oh bollocks! Well, Major Yamato, it appears we're going to have cut this short. Stay alive until next time. Don't let anyone else defeat you until then." Reaver turned and soared back towards the bluish-gray battlecruiser.
The Eagle Knight breathed a sigh of relief as he watched the black and silver copy of Freedom retreat out of sight. He had just been in the most intense battle of his life, and he knew in his heart this was just round one. Freedom spun and returned to the Minerva.
(Outer Perimeter of Battle Zone)
The fight between the Orb nobles and the Extended was proving to be a stalemate. While Sting, Stellar, and Auel may have their stolen top of the line machines, plus the addition of their enhancements. Cagalli and her friends still had the advantage in skill and experience.
Stellar was re-evaluating her view of the Lioness of Orb's skill. She had wisely decided to quit using ranged weapons, engaging the Akatsuki in melee combat. The golden mobile suit's mirror beam coating may have made the majority of her weaponry useless, but she had found it was weak against melee weapons. Both mobile suits had several rents and gouges.
"She's definitely worthy of her status as an ace." Stellar said, going for an arcing slash with her beam saber, but parried by the Akatsuki's own blade of frozen fire, taking a chunk out of her shield. Cagalli then fired with her beam cannons managing to score hits on the Gaia's left shoulder and hitting on the lower left leg.
"Who in the hell is the guy and what is this mobile suit?" Sting wondered as he engaged Yukimasa's GOUF Ignited. The two male Orb nobles had swapped opponents in an attempt to throw the Extended off. It was so quick and maneuverable. The fingertip cannons were blasting out shots rapid fire. The weapon pods deployed, firing back. He opened fire with a full barrage of Firefly missiles. But the prototype commander mobile suit was too agile.
"Time to fight up close!" Yukimasa said, pulling the collapsed sword from its storage rack. "And I'm bringing a Tempest!" The sword flared to life, as Sting ignited a beam saber. The two machines exchanged lightning quick strikes. The Tempest dug into the Chaos's torso, as the Vajra buried into the GOUF's right shoulder.
Sting gritted his teeth. "You're not going to get me so easy!" He maneuvered the weapon pods to hit Yukimasa from behind, but to the young soldier's surprise his foe quickly whipped around, destroying one with his sword, and the other with a quick burst from the fingertip cannons.
"Nice try, pal. But don't think you can try beat me with my own weapons." Yukimasa said.
Kazuma's battle with Auel was going about the same as his comrades. He had resorted to using the Namikaze's anti-ship swords to counter the Abyss's trident. "You're not going to get me that easily!" the blue haired Extended mocked, firing the Baelena Kais and the Callidus at Namikaze.
The Sasaki heir raised the shield, praying it would at least take the edge off. It blocked the worst of the Abyss's fire, but the shield was now heavily charred and burned, plus scorching its left arm and both legs.
Auel let out a triumphant laugh. "I guess you're not so tough after all, huh?" He sneered. The wing binders came up, revealing the shining barrels of the triple beam cannons. It would have been more than enough to reduce the machine to slag.
It was then a massive barrage of beams reached out of the void of space. "What the hell?" Auel said, catching a salvo to the right wing binder. "Damn, they got reinforcements!" Much to the relief of the Orb pilots, Five white Murasames were bearing down on them quick, followed by an equally white Nazca bringing up the rear.
"It's the Blizzard Prowler! Talk about great timing!" Kazuma said.
"Come on guys, let's bail! We don't need to hang around here anymore!" Sting said, with that. The three Gundams arced away back to the safety of the Girty Lue. The lead Murasame stopped in front of the Akatsuki.
"Are you guys all right?" Rachel asked.
"We're fine, Captain. Thanks for showing up when you did." Kazuma said. "We're getting a hail from the Minerva. They're telling us to head back." There was grimness in his voice. "It looks like they're going to try and use their positron cannon to break up more of the colony…and Admiral Russo is providing fire support from the planet's surface!"
"Sebastian must have told Anthony to pull out the Augnir then. That actually might make a big difference in lowering the level of casualties that are going to be coming soon. " Rachel said, a slight smile creasing her lips. "I'm going to come with you guys."
"What about the rest of us, Rach?" First Lieutenant Alan Barqs asked.
"Take the rest of the team and return to the Prowler, Alan. Tell Maria to head back for Ame, and wait for further orders. I don't think we can do any more from here." The Iron Dove ordered. With that, the four white Murasames wheeled about, heading for their carrier. "What about Sebastian? Is he okay?"
"We still haven't heard from Storm. As far as we know, he's still in the middle of combat." Yukimasa said.
"Once we get back to the ship, we can get a clearer picture of what's going on." Kazuma said. "Let's go, you guys." The four mobile suits looped around, giving a clear view of the still disintegrating colony plate. The Minerva was firing its Tannhauser as quickly as possible, and the bursts coming from the surface showed that the Arctic White Wolf was setting an all new personal best for volume of shots fired.
"It's just not enough…those colony fragments are still gonna hit!" Yukimasa said.
"Then pray for the people below, Masa." Rachel struggled to keep the tears out of her eyes. "We've done all we can for them."
"Sebastian better get his ass out of there and quick." Kazuma huffed. "Otherwise Lacus is going to make him sleep on the couch for a month."
(Junius Seven ruins, five minutes from Earth interface)
The duel of the energy blades was turning out much like the clash of the physical swords. Both the Storm Wolf of Jachin Due and the Black Comet were evenly matched. And with every swing, every block and parry, Sebastian was slowly coming to a sobering conclusion. "He uses the same style I do! This Earth Alliance soldier…uses Ryujin Torai no Ryu! But that shouldn't be possible!"
His musings were cut short when Tallgeese III's saber came down with the intent to lop off Maelstrom's right arm. Sebastian wasn't able to parry with his own weapon, instead blocking with the shield, "You shouldn't think so much during a battle, General. It could cost you greatly down the line!" Neo leered. His swordsmanship is superb! Whether it's with a physical sword or even just a simple beam saber. This man…could be the one! He could be the ultimate opponent I've so long sought! It's time to take a harder approach and see just how sharp the Wolf's fangs really are!
Tallgeese, then switched the beam saber to its left hand, reached into the shield and ignited a second saber. Maelstrom quickly followed suit, "I have to admit, General, you are a credit to your legend." He remarked, hoisting the flaming weapons over his head, "You and I are exactly the same. You possess a true warrior's spirit, much like myself." Neo swung both blades.
"Aw, I'm flattered." Sebastian replied, parrying his foe's attack, before slashing upwards, "But last time I checked, we weren't here for a friendly chat!" He swung the left side blade at Tallgeese's arm, seemingly to relieve it of one of its sabers. Neo evaded, but it wasn't the arm itself Sebastian was aiming for, the flaming blade cut clean through the large cannon, severing the barrel. "Oops, did I do that? Sorry!" Sebastian laughed cheekily.
Neo grimaced, "Damn! He took out my main weapon! I guess it's to be expected. He's not the Supreme Ace for nothing!" He jettisoned the now useless weapon. "But we're not done yet!" He primed the head rod, letting it fly at the same time the Storm Wolf drew the Lobo.
The super-hot segmented whip lashed out like a scorpion's tail. The first blow slashed a nasty gash just right of the cockpit, the second one melted away the armor on the Maelstrom's right leg, melting away the armor, and the last strike neatly pierced the beam rifle. Sebastian quickly tossed the sparking Lobo away, watching it explode.
But Tallgeese wasn't getting off unscathed either. Sebastian managed to get off four quick shots before his weapon was destroyed. One beam knocked off the head plume, the second melted off the top of the starboard vernier, and the third and fourth both buried themselves into the right shoulder, leaving the armor as a heap of twisted slag.
Sebastian and Neo were about to continue when Lee cut in, "Captain Roanoke, the fragments of Junius Seven are about to hit the planet! Most of our people have pulled back, you're all that remains!" The masked warrior gritted his teeth in frustration. He'd finally found the one person in the world, a fellow warrior that could keep up with him, and now the battle had to be cut short. But Neo was a pragmatist, his XO was right, time was getting short, and thus a strategic withdrawal was necessary.
"Very well, I guess I'll just have to accept this match as a draw this time." Neo said. He turned back to Maelstrom, "You win the day, General Connor, but we will meet again, that much you be certain of."
"Aw, leaving so soon? I was just starting to have fun," Sebastian replied, beam saber trained on Tallgeese.
"There will be other times. I want to face you when you will be at your peak. Remember me well, Storm Wolf of Jachin Due, for this day you've met your true equal! " Tallgeese spun on its axis and sped away. Neo's adrenaline was still pumping. He then looked to Mugenjin, sitting in the corner of the cockpit, "Well old friend, it appears our long wait is over! I've finally found him! My ultimate rival! This will be glorious!"
Maelstrom remained in place, "I'll remember you for sure pal. Especially considering you fight with the exact same style as me!" Sebastian growled, deactivating the saber before turning back to the Minerva. "I need to contact Sasuke…he needs to know about this!"
"General Connor, please return to the Minerva immediately…it won't be long now." Sebastian didn't need genetically enhanced hearing to hear the apologetic edge to Talia's voice, knowing that while they had averted the remains of Junius Seven hitting Earth as a whole, which would have definitively wiped out all life, the dozens of remaining pieces would still find their mark, causing the deaths of hundreds of millions.
"Understood, Minerva Actual. I'm heading back to the den." With that, MBF-X05A Maelstrom Gundam took one more look at the falling debris that had once been the Storm Wolf of Jachin Due's home, it turned and headed back for the Minerva, now angling to make for Earth, as the first pieces began entering the atmosphere, the long trails signaling the paths they'd take. It would have been beautiful if it didn't mean that people watching it, would soon end up dead.
(Minerva, Hangar)
The white and green mobile suit settled into the docking slip. Sebastian emerged with his helmet in hand. He was on his way out when he looked to see Kira looking over Freedom.
There were multiple gouges and a huge angry mark across the chest. Freedom had also lost its beam rifle, and shield, not to mention the melted stump of the railcannon. The Storm Wolf's eyes widened when he saw the full extent of Willet's thrashing. "Damn Kira, I don't think I've ever seen Freedom take this much abuse in one battle. What happened?"
"I ran into someone who could have been just as skilled as Rau." Was all the young pilot had to say, he was clearly shaken up by the ordeal. "Sebastian, when we get back to Orb…do you think you could give me a few extra sword lessons? I have a feeling I'm going to need them."
The Storm Wolf gave him a brotherly pat on the shoulder. "Sure, I think we'll both need the extra practice."
Author's Notes: And so the world breaks, signaling the start of the second verse of the Storm Wolf of Jachin Due's song. Before long, the howls of war will sound, and the heroes of the Cosmic Era must answer their destiny…
Now that we've finished with that. I can say this is a new personal best for me. The longest single chapter I've ever written, with 13,607 words, not including these notes. I have to say, I'm just a little bit proud of myself.