The Blast Impulse Gundam and ZAKU Warrior were being assisted by several GuAIZ Rs. In spite of this, Lunamaria still felt a bit concerned.
"My record isn't that great in debris field battles." She admitted.
"The enemy will have noticed us by now. Stay alert." Shinn advised.
"I know!" Luna sighed. "You're starting to sound like Rey! It's throwing me off!"
"Mayu's gonna be sad if you get hurt, you know." Shinn said.
"Shouldn't I be the one telling you that?" Luna asked.
"Changes to the enemy ship?" Arthur asked.
"No, sir! Course and speed are the same!"
"Okay, load launcher one to launcher six, numbers one through four with Dispars! Activate CIWS and Tristans! We'll get them this time!"
However, the focus of the others was not on the battle, as they all looked back at Durandal and Athrun, who was silent as Durandal said his true name.
"Mr. Chairman! That's-" Cagalli started.
Mayu entered the bridge, and was confused at how a majority of the crew, as well as Chairman Durandal were staring at Athrun. "Erm… did I come in at a bad time?
"No. Right on time, actually." Talia turned back to battle with a small sigh.
Mayu sat down in one of the spare chairs next to Cagalli. She briefly glanced at Athrun, guessing that the Chairman had figured out who he was.
She didn't notice Cagalli was staring at the burn scars on her face, slightly clenching her fist.
"Do not worry, Representative Athha." Durandal said, as Cagalli looked back at him. "I'm not challenging him for his actions. I understand what happened, as well as the measures taken against him and others by former Chairwoman Canaver."
Mayu glanced at the Chairman, who turned to Athrun.
"It's just that, if I were to talk to you, I'd rather talk to the real you, Athrun." Durandal said. "That's all."
"Impulse, 1400 from Bogey One. Hasn't it changed its course yet?"
"What's going on?" Arthur asked. "Is this part of a plan?"
"Damn…!" Talia realized.
"It's a decoy!" Athrun shouted.
Mayu and the others looked back at Athrun, who had leaned forward when he shouted. She watched as he sank back into his chair.
The Impulse kept gliding onwards, Shinn perturbed by the lack of enemies. Why? Why isn't anything happening yet?
Shinn's thoughts immediately changed to alert as the squadron dodged several beams from behind, courtesy of the Chaos and Abyss Gundams. Tragically, one of the GuAIZ Rs was unable to dodge in time, blowing up.
"Shawn!" Luna shouted, dodging several more beams.
"Scatter and fight them separately!" Shinn called, as the team split-up. He swiftly dodged the beams from the Chaos Gundam, practically every angle being covered. "Damn! They were waiting for us!"
His radar blipped, showing no scans for the enemy ship. He widened his eyes, realizing the Minerva had been tricked.
"We've lost Bogey One!"
"What?!" Arthur shouted.
"Shawn's machine isn't responding!" Meyrin reported. "Three heat sources at Yellow 62, Beta! It's them… it's Chaos, Gaia and Abyss!"
"Find me that enemy vessel, Bogey One, now!" Talia commanded.
Mayu was looking at the lost signal on Meyrin's monitor. If Shawn's not responding… that means he's…
"Heat source at Blue 18, Mark 9, Charlie!"
"It's Bogey One! Distance 500!"
"What?!"
"Also, two mobile suits!"
"Behind us?" Talia realized.
"Detecting targeting lasers, directed at us!"
"Fire anti-beam depth charges! Thiry to starboard! Aim Tristans now!" Talia commanded.
"Can't do it! Mobile suits at Orange 22, Delta!"
They set up a trap… Mayu widened her eyes. We flew straight into it!
Talia grit her teeth, but kept shouting orders. "Engines to maximum! Turn us around using that starboard asteroid as a shield!"
The Minerva made evasive maneuvers, using the asteroid as cover. The explosions from the enemy's missiles caused the ship to shake, but everyone was relatively fine.
"Meyrin! Bring Shinn and the others back!" Talia ordered. "And prepare to send out our remaining machines!"
"Yes Ma'am!"
"Malik!" Talia shouted. "Use the asteroid's surface features to protect us from any direct hits!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
"Arthur! Counterattack!"
"Launcher five! Launcher ten! Dispars! Fire!"
Mayu was holding onto her chair as the ship shook. Her prosthetic hand gripped tightly as she closed her eyes, trying to tune out the sounds of the explosions.
The Impulse and ZAKU were maneuvering around the enemy's fire. The Abyss swiftly flew nearby.
"You're mine!" Auel shouted, firing several blasts. They pierced through the space debris, blowing up one of the GuAIZ Rs hiding behind it. Shinn widened his eyes, seeing the signal disappear.
"Dale!" Luna shouted.
Shinn grit his teeth as the two flew through the smoke, the debris exploding from the blasts. THey had to start dodging more shots from the Chaos.
"We're already down by two!" Luna said.
Shinn's radar beeped, as the message on it called for a retreat.
"The Minerva's… You mean, we walked right into their trap?" Luna realized.
"Yeah, it looks that way." Shinn muttered. "But there's no way we can get back right now!"
The Impulse flew towards the Chaos, dodging more of its remote beams.
Mayu opened her eyes after hearing the missiles fire from the Minerva.
"With them on our tail, there's nothing we can do!" Talia said. "Can't we get behind them?!"
"No, ma'am! We've got our hands full just evading."
"Send out Rey's ZAKU!" Arthur shouted.
"We can't get a clear course to send anyone out!" Talia said.
Mayu's grip tightened on the armrest, as she tried taking a few silent breaths to try and calm down. Athrun was watching the battle, his concern growing.
Luna's ZAKU landed on some of the space junk, flying away from the Gaia pursuing it. Luna turned to face her foe, taking aim with her beam cannon and firing. The Gaia jumped away from the debris, allowing the beam cannon's blast to blow it up.
"Who do you think you are?!" Luna shouted, taking aim again. "You thieves!"
The Gaia dodged another shot, pouncing at Luna.
"You're going down." Stella said.
She fired more beams at the ZAKU, which Luna barely dodged. The Gaia kept up the chase, running across the debris. A little ways off, the Impulse ducked into an abandoned hangar, the Chaos and Abyss right on its tail.
"Get behind him, Auel." Sting said. "We'll take this head!"
"I don't really want it, but okay." Auel agreed.
Shinn was speeding through, looking around for his foes in case they tried to ambush him.
"Tch. I can't get their position." He grit his teeth.
"Shinn!"
He looked forward to see Luna's ZAKU had been tossed through the glass. Reacting quickly, he turned and fired the Blast Impulse's twin beam cannons, which the Gaia barely avoided.
"What is it with you?!" Stella demanded.
The Minerva was still struggling against the onslaught of the enemy.
"Half of our firepower is useless here!" Talia muttered.
"Drifting rocks are getting in the way! Our shots aren't reaching the enemy!"
"Missiles approaching! Six of them!"
"Counterattack!" Talia ordered.
"But these missiles…"
Mayu looked at the monitor, looking at the direction of the shots. Athrun did the same, as they both reached the same conclusion.
They're not aiming at us. Athrun looked at the cameras.
Does that mean… oh no! Mayu braced herself.
"Look out! Get the ship away from the asteroid!" Athrun called.
"What?!" Talia looked back.
"Captain!" Mayu shouted. "They're aiming for-!"
The missiles struck the asteroid, causing a burst of debris to spray out. The entire ship shook as the debris rained upon them.
"Our Starboard…" Arthur realized. "Captain!"
"Get us out of here! Raise the bow by fifteen!" Talia ordered.
"Second wave of missiles approaching!"
"Decelerate twenty!" Talia shouted.
The Minerva's evasive maneuvers managed to keep it still flying, but it had still taken quite a bit of damage from the debris. The enemy ship launched its pink jet, with Neo piloting it.
"Now… I'm really sorry to do this before your launching ceremony, but this is where your voyage ends!" He declared.
A massive chunk of the asteroid crashed in front of them, nearly blocking their path.
"Thrusters number four and six damaged." Arthur reported. "Captain! We're getting trapped!"
"Our route is being closed off!"
"Mobile armor and mobile suits approaching!" Meyrin reported.
No… is this the end for us? Mayu thought. Big Brother…!
Talia picked up the phone to call the hangar. "Aves, send out Rey!"
"Ma'am! Our catapult isn't-!"
"Walk him out if you have to! Hurry! Where are Shinn and the others?"
"The Impulse and ZAKU are still in a battle against Chaos, Gaia, and Abyss!" Mayu answered.
"Aren't there any more mobile suits on this ship?!" Durandal asked.
"We have no pilots!" Talia said.
Athrun looked like he was about to speak up, but Mayu stood up first. "I'll go!"
"Mayu?!" Meyrin looked shocked.
"Mayu, it's not possible for you to-" Talia started.
"I'll be fine, Captain. Rey will be with me, and I know my way around a mobile suit." Mayu said.
The others could see her left hand was shaking, but she quickly grabbed it with her right to make it stop. Talia didn't want to send the young girl out to battle, but was starting to realize there was no choice.
"I want you to stay near the Minerva and provide defense. Do not attempt to approach the enemy. Do you understand?" Talia asked.
"Roger!" Mayu saluted briefly, before quickly making her way out of the room.
"That does not sit well with me." Durandal had to admit, seeing Mayu rush off.
"Captain, she's a young girl!" Cagalli said. "Are you sure-?"
"If anyone can do it, Mayu can." Meyrin spoke up. "She knows the inside out of every mobile suit on this ship, and was a total prodigy back at the academy."
"How was she allowed entry into the academy if she was so young?" Athrun asked.
"After the accident that cost Mayu her arm and leg, she got prosthetics from ZAFT's top mechanics and medics." Meyrin explained. "She was inspired by their kindness and sought to try studying both mechanics and epidemiology, and she was allowed entry that way."
Her arm and leg? Cagalli widened her eyes, remembering Mayu's left leg seemed slightly different from her right. She lost so much, yet still has the kindness to try helping people. And now she's in a situation where she could lose it all again…
Athrun grit his teeth at his own weakness, slumping back in his chair. Durandal looked back at him with a curious smile.
"Captain! We can crush the cliff ahead of us with the Tannhauser…" Arthur suggested.
"That'll only scatter rock toward us as we approach the next layer of solid rock!" Talia said.
"R-Right…"
Mayu had reached the hangar, having put on a spare pilot uniform that was a little big for her. She quickly slid into one of the remaining GuAIZ Rs. She had only sat in the cockpits briefly to work on repairs, but this was her first time actually maneuvering one. Sure, she had simulations back at the academy, but now it was time for the real thing.
She gripped the controls briefly, before hearing another explosion outside. She remembered hearing the same thing back when she lost her arm and leg…
I'm scared. She realized. I'm terrified… but I need to do this! I need to protect everyone!
"Mayu Asuka! GuAIZ! Taking off!"
The bay door opened, and Mayu carefully flew through. Rey's ZAKU noticed her approach, and tapped his comms. He widened his eyes seeing who the pilot was. "Mayu?! What are you doing out here?!"
"I'm defending the Minerva." She answered. "Don't worry, I'll stay near the ship."
Rey could hear the slight tremble in her voice. The girl was clearly scared out of her mind, but was pushing through for everyone's sake. Admittedly, he was impressed by her resolve, though part of him wondered if it was just reckless foolishness.
"Alright, if that's what you're doing, then promise me you won't die. I don't want to tell Shinn-"
"I won't. Good luck, Rey."
Rey nodded, before turning and flying towards the enemy. Mayu's shown her own strength, so it's time to show mine. Gil's aboard the Minerva! I won't allow scum like this to sink it!
The Impulse and ZAKU were flying through more debris, having gotten a bit of a breather away from the enemy.
"Damn! The Minerva…" Shinn grit his teeth.
"It'll sink unless we hurry back!" Luna said.
"I know that!" Shinn shouted, increasing his thrusters. Mayu! I'm on my way!
They entered space, only to be forced to dodge several beams from above. The Chaos and Abyss had been waiting for them to show themselves. Shinn aimed the Blast Impulse's weapons, firing the rail cannons and beam cannons. While the enemy dodged the shots, the beam cannon blast blew up some debris, causing a huge explosion.
"What?!" Auel shouted, being forced away.
"How many starboard thrusters are still functioning?!" Athrun shouted.
Talia looked back at Athrun in surprise. She briefly glanced at Durandal, who gave her a nod.
"Six." She answered. "But we'll be target practice for them if we head out there now!"
"Fire everything on starboard all at once, against the asteroid!" Athrun said.
"What?!" Arthur asked, as most of the bridge turned to Athrun in shock.
"We'll push the hull out in one motion with the force of the explosion together with the rocks surrounding us." Athrun explained.
"Don't be ridiculous!" Arthur said. "Think of the damage to the Minerva's hull if we did that!"
"Right now the priority is to get out of here." Athrun said. "We're nothing but a target if we stay here."
Athrun looked away after the suggestion, before Durandal looked at the captain. "Talia."
"Hmph. You have a point." Talia agreed. "Alright, let's give it a try."
"Captain!" Arthur protested.
"We'll talk about this later, Arthur." Talia said. "Prepare to fire all starboard weapons! Starboard thrusters to maximum as we fire! Match the timing! Meyrin, contact Mayu and have her destroy any debris that gets too close to the Minerva."
"Roger, Ma'am!"
"Preparing to fire all starboard weapons." Arthur said. "Engaging starboard thrusters on signal!"
Mayu clung to the port side of the Minerva, keeping the GuAIZ's railguns and beam rifle ready. Meyrin had told her the plan Athrun suggested, and she was prepared for it.
This seems crazy… but it might be our only shot. It's a strategy from one of ZAFT's top aces from the last war, after all.
Meanwhile, Rey was in combat against the pink jet from earlier. He dodged several shots, maneuvering around the enemy.
"What is it with you, White Baldy?!" Neo asked, avoiding the shots from Rey's ZAKU.
Two Dagger Ls fired upon Rey's ZAKU to assist Neo, but Rey brushed them off simply with a few shots.
"Out of my way!"
One shot blew up one of the two Daggers.
"Jon!"
"Get back, Miller!" Neo commanded the remaining Dagger. "He's out of your league! Aim for the enemy ship!"
"Yes, sir!"
"I won't let you!" As the Dagger retreated, Rey tried to give chase.
"Not so easy!" Neo shouted, flying in his way.
The remote weapons started to fire at Rey, who quickly used the asteroid to take cover. He narrowed his eyes to concentrate, avoiding the explosions all around him. One of the beams grazed his ZAKU's leg, leaving a light singe. He wasn't close enough to get a good hit on the enemy.
"Mayu!" He shouted.
Mayu's hand shook as she took aim with her beam rifle. "Just like we had practiced. Aim down sights… and…!"
The crosshair was on the cockpit, but she didn't shoot. She couldn't bring herself to. Thinking quickly, she pulled it a big higher, aiming for the head.
"There!"
She pulled the trigger, as her GuAIZ fired the beam rifle, taking off the head of the enemy Dagger. This stunned it enough for Rey to get within range, shooting the cockpit and blowing it up. Seeing his allies had been taken down, Neo made a strategic retreat. Rey looked at his communicator, seeing Mayu was rather shaken up.
"Rey… I… I'm sorry I didn't-"
"Don't apologize." He said. "It's fine. You did a good job."
He looked around for where the enemy jet had flown off too, but didn't see anything.
"Haaaah!" Luna fired a blast from her beam rifle, which the Abyss dodged. The Impulse came into view, the Chaos and Gaia hot on its heels. Seeing his foes, Shinn performed a risky move, flipping around and aiming at them. Thinking he was about to fire, the two scattered, falling for Shinn's bluff. This allowed him to fire missiles to disorient them. The Gaia shot down several, but the pilot was growing more irritated.
"That guy…" Stella muttered. "That guy!"
The missiles from the Blast Impulse caused several of the space debris to explode, disorienting the Chaos and forcing it to fly away.
"Damn! Why can't I hit him?! It's the same as last time!" Sting said.
"Captain! The enemy ship is approaching!" Mayu reported.
"Bogey One, distance 150."
"All hands, brace for impact! Here we go!" Talia said, as everyone in the bridge prepared themselves. "Starboard thrusters to maximum!"
"All starboard cannons, fire!"
Outside, Mayu had braced herself as the Minerva fired its cannons and weapons. Her GuAIZ was barely able to hold on as the ship launched itself free.
Rey watched this maneuver in surprise. "The Minerva!"
The enemy jet he was facing retreated with this chance.
"Turn bow thirty!" Talia commanded. "Fire at Bogey One!"
"Aiming Tannhauser! Bogey One!"
"Fire!"
The massive cannon grazed the enemy ship, but caused enough damage to put the Minerva in a favorable position. The Exus sped nearby, Neo gritting his teeth. "They've risen from the brink of defeat!"
The jet approached, but had to avoid blaster fire from both Mayu's GuAIZ and Rey's ZAKU.
"Mayu! Keep this guy away from the Minerva!" Rey shouted.
"Wait, Rey! He's retreating!" Mayu said, seeing the Exus approach the enemy ship to dock.
Neo's machine docked, as he looked back at his foes. "I look forward to seeing you again, White Balty, and the rest of the ZAFT crew."
Several lights lit up, red, blue and green, catching the attention of everyone on the battlefield.
Is that a signal? It's not ours, so the enemy? Mayu thought.
The stolen mobile suits seemed to react to the lights more than anyone in ZAFT. Stella seemed to relax, seeing them.
"Damn, game over with only two kills." Auel sighed.
"Whatever." Sting said. "Stella, Neo's calling. He says to come back."
"Right."
"Bogey One is leaving."
"Power has reached critical levels on both the Impulse and Lunamaria's ZAKU!" Meyrin reported.
"Captain. With that explosion our number two engine and portside heat sensors have also been damaged!"
"Captain Gladys." Durandal said, as she turned in her seat to face him. "You've done enough. We'll think of another plan. I personally cannot inconvenience Representative Athha any longer."
"...I'm very sorry." Talia apologized.
They sent out return signal beacons for the Impulse and Luna's ZAKU, as the bridge started raising back upwards once more. Thinking of her friends, Meyrin quickly got out of her chair to make her way to the hangar.
"Mayu? Mayu!" Rey called.
His ZAKU had docked a while ago, but Mayu was still sitting in her GuAIZ. The girl was wide-eyed, staring at her trembling hands. A hand on the open hatch, Rey lowered his voice, seeing that the girl wasn't in the best mindset.
"Mayu, it's alright. You're safe now." He said in a quiet tone.
"R-Rey…"
Rey turned to see Shinn and Luna approaching. "Your brother and Lunamaria are coming. You're going to be fine."
"Rey!" Shinn quickly made his way over, looking into the GuAIZ's cockpit. "What happened-? Mayu?!"
"B-Big Brother…!" Seeing him, Mayu practically jumped out of the cockpit into his arms. Shinn gently held her, seeing her tears.
"Rey, what's Mayu doing in a pilot suit?" Luna asked.
"We were short on mobile suit pilots, so Mayu offered up herself to defend the Minerva." Rey explained. "Apparently, the Captain reluctantly agreed due to the dire situation."
"What?!" Shinn shouted, anger in his voice.
"She stayed near the ship, so she wasn't harmed." Rey said. "She actually saved the Minerva by crippling an enemy mobile suit for me to finish off."
"Mayu did…?" Luna was half-impressed, half-worried for the girl.
"Mayu… what were you thinking?" Shinn asked, looking at his sister.
"I… I wanted to help…" Mayu murmured.
"That was really dangerous! You could've…!" Shinn trailed off, not wanting to say the rest. "Mayu, if I lost you…"
"I'm sorry…"
Luna gently held Mayu's hand. "Come on, Mayu. Let's get you changed out of that pilot suit."
Shinn and Rey watched as Luna took Mayu towards the locker rooms. Shinn reached for her briefly, before lowering his hand, slightly clenching his fist. Rey put a hand on his friend's shoulder, trying to calm him down.
"I sincerely apologize for everything, Representative Athha." Durandal said, as he walked down the hall with her, Athrun and Talia.
"Never mind us." Cagalli said. "Although, I must say I very much regret that things ended this way. I pray from my heart that you're able to resolve things quickly."
"Everyone!" Meyrin saw her friends exiting, though her smile quickly faded when she saw Luna gently guiding Mayu. "Mayu, are you alright?"
"I'm fine…" She said.
"First time on the battlefield for her." Rey said. "Though I'm sure that a few more times will probably help her get over it."
"What the hell are you saying, Rey?!" Shinn shouted, with Luna sharing his look of incredulity. "I'm not letting her go back out there!"
"I'm sorry for saying that, but that is the natural way it works on the battlefield." Rey explained. "Though it is ultimately Mayu's choice. I have seen her potential, but I admittedly also don't feel right about someone her age being forced to fight."
Meyrin protectively had her arms around Mayu, as the girl looked conflicted. She was absolutely terrified of the battlefield, but without her actions, they might have lost. She was sure that Rey would have handled things on his own, but what if he made a mistake? She couldn't ask the others about their thoughts, as she knew all of them would want her to stay out of the fighting.
What do I want to do…?
Seeing as she was going through quite a bit, Meyin decided to change the subject. "I should mention this now, but Representative Athha's bodyguard… Big Sister's intuition was right. He's Athrun Zala."
"Athrun Zala? Him?" Shinn said, surprised.
So it really was him… Mayu realized.
"We've finally reestablished contact with the homeland." Durandal said.
"I'm told that rescue teams and investigation units are on their way to Armory One, so I've requested they send a vessel our way to pick you up." Talia said.
"Thank you." Cagalli nodded.
She was about to leave with Athrun, before Durandal spoke up again. "But really, this young man saved us earlier, didn't he, Captain?"
"Ah… Yes…" Talia agreed.
Athrun let Cagalli go on ahead, as he turned to Durandal.
"That was most impressive." Durandal complimented. "The true strength of someone who has survived numerous battles."
"Thank you. But I apologize for sticking my nose into things like I did." Athrun apologized.
"Your decision was the correct one." Talia said. "Thank you. If you'll excuse me."
She did a brief salute to acknowledge Athrun's actions, before leaving with Durandal. Athrun watched as they left, remembering what had happened on the bridge.
"Aren't there any more mobile suits on this ship?!"
"We have no pilots!" "I'll go!"
As he sat down in the ship's break room, Athrun cursed his indecisiveness, wondering if he had gone out there, he might have been able to prevent any further tragedies. Several lives had been lost that day, and a child was forced to take up arms to survive.
"If it's not real, would that mean its existence is not real either? Is that what it would mean?"
"Did he really have to change his name, though?" Meyrin's voice came from the hall outside the room Athrun was sitting in. "Are you serious?"
"Regardless of his past…" Luna started, though she stopped as they realized Athrun was sitting in the room, likely having heard what they were talking about. Meyrin quickly hid behind Rey out of shyness.
Shinn had a slight glare, which Mayu noticed. She wondered if she should hold his hand, but figured now wasn't a good time.
"Well now… We were just talking about you, Athrun Zala." Luna said, walking over. "Hard to believe but it figures. I'm honored to have the chance to meet such a legendary ace in the least expected of all places."
Mayu and Meyrin shared a look, knowing what Luna was trying to do.
"I'm not anything like that. I'm just Alex." Athrun said.
"So you no longer have to pilot a mobile suit?" Luna asked.
"Cut it out, Luna." Shinn spoke up. "Who cares about anyone living in Orb?"
"Big Brother!" Mayu said, as Shinn turned to leave. She quickly bowed to Athrun before saluting. "I'm sorry about that!"
She quickly followed after him, as Rey also saluted Athrun. "Excuse me."
"But I hear you saved this ship." Luna said, saluting. "For that, I thank you."
"Hey, wait for me!" Meyrin said, following Luna. "Hey, Sis!"
Athrun watched as they all left, though Mayu was the one he was most concerned about. I saw the look in her eyes… she was absolutely terrified, but she's pushing through…
From a space station located near a colony, some panic was rising.
"Huh? That can't be possible."
"No, I've checked it multiple times. Look here, this one's from two hours ago. Although it's very gradual, even now it's unmistakably moving."
"That's impossible! Junius Seven should be in a fixed orbit."
Mayu had returned to her room, exhausted after the events of the day. She tossed off her jacket, briefly flexing her prosthetic arm, before lying down on her bed. Her brother had locked himself in his own room, so she didn't get a chance to talk to him. She wasn't surprised, considering what he had to see and be reminded of today.
We really launched… We're really going to be in battles.
She sat back up, moving over to her desk and opening her laptop. She went over the various mechanical files she had on hand, before opening a folder buried in other folders.
The files that were labeled "Gundam."
A/N: And Mayu finally takes to the battlefield. A lot of the writing I have planned for her is inspired by Uso from Victory Gundam, someone so young being forced to mature so fast in the field of battle. I'm excited to continue exploring this as the story goes on.
Feel free to leave a review. See you all next time.