The United States of South America housed Ra's secret base, but it was in perfect position to be in the middle of Orb Union and the Kingdom of Scandinavia, flanking on opposite sides. Captain Amagi was directing the Izumo Class Kusanagi above the water. Although it's main purpose was for space, it could still be used in Earth's atmosphere. Orb soldiers were worried as Cagalli had informed them about meeting up with the royal military of the Kingdom of Scandinavia. They kept a slow steady pace, as they didn't want to alert the enemy just yet. They also were waiting on Anita's signal on when to strike.
In the North Atlantic Ocean, in the depths of the blue sea, a vessel was jetting through, making good time to the South Atlantic Ocean. Miriallia and Jess were placed in an empty pilot's room. They were informed by their escorts that 8 was placed back inside the mobile suit. The mobile suit was primed and ready for Jess' journalism and for battle if need be. Miriallia was given back her personal camera along with new cameras of all sizes, makes and models. To pass the time, the two were testing out each camera, trying to figure out which would be ideal to take along with them.
A countdown could be seen in war rooms, vessels, webpages, as those around were waiting with anticipation of the possible catalyst to a third war.
The Ormr Drakkar made its way into space. When it stabilized, by Selena's command, the vessel headed towards the coordinates.
Sven unbuckled himself from the chair, allowing himself to float in space. Yzak unbuckled as well. He glanced up to see Sven stretching in space. He started to bend backwards.
"Ah!" A few pops from his back could be heard. "That's the good stuff. I love antigravity." He continued to stretch. "Yzak, have you ever tried Lausatök?"
"Huh?" Yzak grabbed his floating hat. It had come off while entering space due to the jarring of the vessel through the atmosphere."
Sven turned around. His back hit the ceiling. "It means 'loose grip.' It's a style of Viking wrestling. It's freestyle but it has rules. But the look on your face, shows that you have never heard of it. You've seen it though. Some of the fighting styles Selena has comes from the wrestling of our ancestors. The contestant who remains standing wins or if both fall, the one who gets up the quickest wins." He pushed himself off to get back down to the floor. "She bested me there too, but my favorite was fighting in zero gravity. We named the winner by who remained in the center between the floor and the ceiling." He moved towards a closet door. He opened it to reveal clothes.
Yzak watched the screen as Sven changed into his royal attire. He was in white trousers with white boots that came below knees. He wore a white brocade jacket with gold braided cords that were laid horizontal, descending down. He placed on a gold cape that hung from one shoulder, but attached in the back. From the neck, gold braided cords draped down to the shoulder where the gold cape hung from. Sven didn't care for the white cover; he left it in the closet.
Sven headed over to Yzak, his gold cape trailing behind. Yzak turned to see him. White and gold looked great on the twins. They were a few hours from the coordinates but still had plenty of time before the inevitable battle. Sven pushed the buttons to toggle through the cameras, he stopped when he spotted his sister. Selena was in a hallway discussing with a few soldiers. Anytime she moved around, Sven would push the button to follow her. Yzak didn't say anything but watched with intent. He, too, was curious on what she was doing.
On the Morningstar, that was closing in on the coordinates from another side, Ra saw the vessel Selena was in moving across the radar screen. "Is it ready?" He asked.
"Yes," a soldier nearby answered.
"Proceed," Ra commanded. The soldier nodded. He pressed a few buttons. "The sun wants the moon but the moon hates the sun, they'll soon come together as the moon can't outrun the sun. The moon phases, the sun is constant, while earth likes to wedge in between. Only a solar eclipse will make their love seen." Ra smiled as he finished the saying.
All the vessels that were drawing in close to the coordinates were taken over by Ra's program. It was on a loop. It was a jumbling of words, music, and sounds.
"What is going on?" DaCosta was flipping through every channel. "It's on every channel, and submitting through every speaker. We're not jammed, but it won't go away."
Andrew closed his eye, muttering to himself. "Come on, don't fall prey to the hypnotic sway of a cobra, Rikki." His educated guesses were confirmed with this interruption.
Selena paused as she heard the program over the speakers. She started to float on, when it slowly started to affect her. It sounded like it was on a loop but it slowly changed. Selena closed her eyes trying to fight it, focusing on something else. It wouldn't stop. She started to put her hands over her ears, hoping to muffle it. The sound started to get louder. She hit the wall with a closed fist. She shook her head trying to clear her mind. She started to scrunch her face, gritting her teeth, trying to ignore it.
Sven continued to watch his sister while the sound was also annoying the two. Yzak placed his hands over his hears as he watched Selena struggle. It hurt his heart. He glanced over to Sven, who made no intent to move.
"We have to let her fight this," Sven could feel his gaze. "We cannot interfere." Yzak could barely hear him over the weird program.
Soldiers spotted Selena but kept their distance. She started to curl into herself until she paused. The sounds continuing. Selena rose up. No more anguish, but her eyes the same dullness she had when she was under Ra's control. Sven's heart dropped. Selena slapped herself across the face. A sudden jolt brought her out of the trance. Sven became hopeful again. The sounds changed once again. Selena brought both her hands to her face, trying to cover it. Sound changed. Selena started to shake her head, hoping to keep herself out of the conditioning. It was a battle that she eventually lost. Selena had the distant look into her eyes. Sven's hope plummeted once more. He let out a defeated sigh. Yzak wanted to do something but he was not allowed. He thought about trying to stop her but after seeing how she reacted when she came back, it may be safer for everyone to let her be, but it tugged on his heart to see her no longer in control of herself.
The two watched her head to the pilot's room. Sven let the camera stay. He watched as she came out in her white pilot's suit. Her white Haro, Hala, flapping behind her.
The soldiers stayed out of her way as she headed towards her mobile suit. Yzak tried watching as the noise kept getting louder and changed sounds. They watched her enter a white mobile suit, leaving the vessel to head towards the Morningstar. The program only stopped once Ra had confirmation that Selena was headed back to him.
"Nothing to be worried about," Ra smirked.
"Sir," another soldier came by. "The extremists and Earth Alliance are wanting to meet with you before the battle begins."
Ra sighed. "I wanted to hold hands but not with them. Least I have her coming back now. Let Diana know she is not needed." The soldier nodded before leaving. "Now I must tend to a flock who thought they were wolves, but they only need to do what I say." Ra left to head to his quarters.
It didn't take long for Selena to reach the Morningstar. They allowed her to enter. The soldiers were told to leave her alone. Ra communicated to her to head to the pilot's room, to change into her new pilot suit. Selena left her white GUNDAM, the hatch door left open. Her Haro, Hala, stayed on hatch door, as if it was waiting for her to come back.
As Selena headed to the pilot's locker room, she was met with her impersonator. Diana was floating in front of the door to pilot's locker room. She wore the white and silver uniform. Selena paused. Sai floated around the corner to see the two staring at one another.
"Ah," Sai moved as fast as he could.
Diana was afraid but she had to gather courage. "Please your Highness. Don't do this. I'll take your spot. Don't go. I will cover for you. Escape. You've done it once already." Tear droplets started to float around them. Diana was afraid but she needed to do this. This was the only way to right her wrong, she believed. Help the princess escape one more time.
Selena ignored her. She started to float past Diana, before she grabbed part of her shoulder, pinching it enough for her to lose consciousness. Sai saw the commotion. He grabbed Diana, only for himself to end up in the same state.
"Bring them back to the mobile suit," she spoke without moving her lips. Selena waited for the door to open before moving in.
On camera, it didn't show the interaction at all. It continued to show that Diana never left her room, and Sai was still standing guard outside. Their bodies were hidden by an unknown force, bringing them to the mobile suit without anyone noticing.
Selena came out in a silver and white pilot suit. She headed back to the hanger with a silver helmet in hand. The silver ZAKU's hatch opened and ready for her. She stepped inside, putting on her helmet, the hatch closing up. Ra watched on the screen as she sat down, buckling herself in, the metal bars coming out, locking her in.
Hala had started to bounce around when it spotted her, but stopped when it saw that she entered another mobile suit. It rolled around a bit, hoping she would come back, but it was no use. Hala went back into the cockpit, the hatch closing. The mobile suit started to move, heading towards the exit.
"Let it go," Ra informed them. "It's no longer needed. We have what we want."
The soldiers did as they were commanded. They let the white GUNDAM leave. Ra watched it fly towards the direction of the vessel it came from.
As that took place, Sven and Yzak left the room. Sven showed Yzak the pilot's locker room. "Since you will be piloting one ours, you will need the proper suit." Sven pulled out a matte, white pilot suit, just like Selena's. Yzak was surprised he got a simple white pilot suit. He thought he was going to get one of the royal military soldier's version. He changed into it. Sven showed him how to place his helmet on the back of his pilot suit. "Mikael will be here shortly to escort you to the hanger. I will be headed to bridge to take over for now." Yzak nodded. "There will be some rules we need to continue to abide by. When you get out there, do not interfere with whatever Selena is doing. Do not fight her. Do not try to make her see the truth. Stay out of her way. I made a promise to keep you safe. I will be able to do that, if you don't interfere. I know what you must be thinking, I too want to do the same. We could argue who loves her more, even Anita and Gatlin would throw their hats in the ring as contenders, but Selena has been fighting this battle by herself, it is best to let her continue fighting it by herself. Anymore distractions, and I am afraid she would be scrambling for plans. Even though I fear we are already past that point. Let's continue to hope for the best."
The two headed back into the hallway to see Mikael in a matte, black pilot suit. He greeted the two. "Time is drawing near, let's head to our machines," Mikael floated backwards. Yzak followed behind him.
Sven turned around, he continued to the bridge. The soldiers saluted him once he entered. He waved them off, acknowledging their presence. He sat down in a chair that was off to the side of the captain's chair. It had a screen on one the left arm rest with a keyboard and dial in the arm rest. He typed a few buttons with his left hand to bring up four screen quadrants. In the top corner, was an almost black screen, with a faint outline. The second was the Morningstar, the two were black screens for now.
Yzak was silent as he followed Mikael to the hanger. When they reached it, Yzak counted four white GUNDAMs, and one black GUNDAM. Three white GUNDAMs on one side with an empty space, and the fourth one next to the black one. Yzak noticed the pilots for the rest of the machines were hanging out in groups near the machines or floating just outside of it, ready at a moment's notice.
Mikael floated to the white GUNDAM next to his. The hatch was open. Mikael stepped down onto it. Yzak followed him. "You will be piloting Her Highness' mobile suit, the AIA-A000 GHOST. I could guess your feelings from past skirmishes how you may feel about this machine, but Her Highness would want you to pilot only the best. You will have the Haro to help you if you are in a bind. I will also be there with the AIA-A001 GHOST SHADOW." He glanced over to his mobile suit. Yzak wanted to know what the numbers and letters meant. He glanced over to the three other white mobile suits that mirrored the two here. Mikael smirked. "Unfortunately, you're not allowed to know those ones yet. I'll give you this time to familiarize yourself with the cockpit."
The three white GUNDAMs started to close hatches simultaneously. Yzak noticed that soldiers paid them no mind. The crew moved away from the runway, allowing the mobile suits to leave. Yzak looked over to Mikael who were watching them.
"Pay them no mind," Mikael let out a sigh. "They're on a different mission. Stick to what His Highness spoke, and you'll be fine. I'll be over in my mobile suit, getting prepped. Still sore, so I have to make some adjustments." Mikael shrugged his shoulders with a small smile. Yzak nodded. The two separated to enter their mobile suits.
ZAFT was drawing close to the coordinates with Minerva out front with several ZAFT vessels flanking on either side. The Eternal was off to the side near the back. The Archangel was on the Eternal's side but near the front in line with the Minerva. The Morningstar was miles away, but facing them. The Ormr Drakkar came from the middle of the two, each side having their own quadrant, with the last quadrant being empty. It seemed like a standoff.
Lacus was sitting in her designated chair with the chess board sitting on her lap. Everyone watched with anticipation as the countdown finally hit zero. Lacus waited a few seconds before asking communication with the captain of the Morningstar. Ra was curious as to what she had to say.
"Dr. Donovan Landry, or should I say, Ra," Lacus started. "I have been trying to understand as to why you would want to choose this route, however, I have had the same thoughts about Earth Alliance for the past few years. Even holding a position with the highest authority, avarice and pride have not sullied my leadership, so I cannot fathom how one could consciously make the decision for war and genocide. Your façade of wanting to unite is misleading. We all know you want to continue what your predecessor could not. If you truly believed in helping the people, I will only ask you this once, stand down and allow us to talk things out."
Ra was a bit impressed but also bored. "I commend your courage, PLANT Supreme Council Chairwoman Clyne. But who's to say you are on the right side of history? Your whole persona is too sweet and privileged for this cruel and unjust reality the rest of us are actually living in. You should have stayed a privileged, sheltered, pop princess who did charity work on the side. You've only gotten this far due to the coattails of your father, but now you'll end up the same as him. It is you who should stand down, lest you want to have their blood on your hands."
Lacus did not let his words chase her away. She instead became more serious. "You can try to dismiss my merit all you want, but you will not disregard the peace that everyone has worked so hard for, even losing their lives in the process. Disrupting this peace, you are disrespecting the lives that fought so hard for it."
"Enough," Ra cut her off. "I am a man of action, not words. You can try your best, but you will not win. I ask all of you, if you want to switch sides, do so now, we will not show mercy otherwise." There were no signs of movement. "I wish you will not regret your decision." Ra ended the communication between the two. "Captain, I leave the rest to you. I will be heading out. Commence fire when ready, and as per usual, don't stop until they are all dead."
"Yes sir!" The captain saluted. Ra headed off to change into a red and gold pilot suit.
ZAFT vessels anticipated the first barrage of strikes by firing off their own missiles. Mobile suits launched simultaneously on each side. The royal military mobile suits followed the same as the white GUNDAMs, walking out of the hanger's launch pad instead of being launched.
On the way to Mars Colony, Ergnes and Nahe were shocked by one of Ra's captains spoke through the communication screen. The two were luckily on the bridge when the captain asked if they were going to join them.
Ergnes glared at the opposing captain. "We will not join. After everything that has been fought for, we will not let the peace crumble so easily." The captain repeated them same as Ra, hoping they would not regret their choice. As the communication between the two ended, the screen didn't stay blank. It split into two, showing two captains from the Kingdom's Royal military. "Huh?"
"Greetings Mars Delegation Leader Ergnes Nahe," one of the captains spoke. "We have been ordered to protect you during your journey back to Mars Colony, and to setup delegations with Mars once you have been inaugurated as the next Mars leader."
"We will be taking care of this issue," the other captain continued. The screen finally went back to black.
Ergnes let out a sigh of relief. "Coordinate with the royal military. I would go out, but I cannot." Ergnes was conflicted as he was watching the battle between ZAFT and this new militant group. Brahe was surprised, as Ergnes would usually storm out, using his anger to feed his fight. "I leave this to you, Captain." His captain nodded.
Ergnes left the bridge to head back to his quarters. Brahe following him. "Shouldn't you be there on the bridge?"
"Unfortunately, I am focused on both battles," Ergnes frowned. "I cannot watch another battle in the presence of another. I do not want to distract our soldiers all because I am invested in the main battle that could possibly change the future. I am also worried about Her Highness." Brahe was impressed but agreed. The two were having a hard time focusing because they were more invested in the first one.