Chapter One
Messages

A.C. 203
Brussels, Belgium Preventers HQ

Preventers HQ was a buzz of chaos. Over the past few weeks random encrypted messages had been coming in and only one person had been able to crack them. With no trace as to where the encrypted messages were being sent from, only little bits of information were given over the course of three weeks. Nothing fully stating anything until the very last message arrived.

Preventers had received some intel on a sleeper group, but said sleeper group hadn't been made aware. Until now. This particular group had been growing fast over the past two years. Under the radar from what the intel had suggested. Preventers didn't have as much information as Commander Une would've liked before making a move. But based on this person's anonymous information, it seemed like they needed to move and move fast. Even if there were too many unknowns going into something like this.

Une had put together a team as quickly as she could. Consisting of four out of the five ex Gundam pilots, Duo Maxwell, Heero Yuy, Trowa Barton and Wufei Chang. Une also had three of her best field agents. Agent's Brown, Roberts and Watson.

Duo Maxwell was only currently working part time for the agency as he and his wife Hilde had yet to make the move to Earth. If they ever did move, Une was still more than willing to offer him the full time position she had been dangling in front of him for some time now. But for now she was happy with the team she had put together and was grateful Duo was available on such short notice. Heero had seen to it to contact him. She trusted the four young men with executing this mission with as little difficulty as possible.

The group of seven were gathered in one of the conference rooms waiting for Une to debrief them on what the mission was going to entail and any necessary actions that may need to be taken once they were actually out in the field.

There were a lot of variables going into this particular mission. It wasn't normal protocol for them to dive right into something. Especially without fully investigating it beforehand. But Heero Yuy had felt strongly about seeing this mission through till the end. Something about the whole situation had him acting strangely. Une had noticed he was on edge the minute the encrypted messages were brought to his attention. Something about the encryption codes themselves made him uneasy and he had been restless since.

It had taken them four days to assemble a team and with some help plan the mission out. Une trusted Heero's judgement and had allowed him to plan everything. She would be lying if she said she wasn't worried about what was told to them via this anonymous informant.

Une cleared her throat to get the groups attention once everyone had settled into their seats. "Thank you all for coming on such short notice. As you all are aware we received some information about a possible sleeper cell. Unfortunately based on what little information we have, we're going in slightly blind."

"Correction, we are going in completely blind. Why the hell are we even doing this?" Duo said aloud. Duo may have agreed to come on this mission, but he didn't receive all the information until he physically at HQ. Heero had left some of the finer details out when he placed the call to him.

Une turned slightly sending a glare in Duo's direction. "I am well aware that some of you are confused on this. Normal protocol is not to jump head first into something, but as I was saying before I was rudely interrupted." Une sent Duo one final look before she turned back to address the rest of the group. "Based on some of the information and the encryptions in which we received it, we are to believe that the information is therefore valid and requires our immediate attention. I will allow Agent Yuy to explain further." Une gestured to Heero.

Heero nodded before standing from his seat. The group swung their eyes to him waiting to hear what he had to say about this "mission."

"While it is true we have little to go on other than the fact this group has been flying under the radar for some time now." His monotone voice conveying nothing of his own personal feelings. "The last two years this group has been rapidly growing in numbers. Not to mention the illegal trade of weapons and metals. We are unsure of what they plan to do or build and our informant didn't divulge that information to us. What was stated clearly was that they were planning something."

Heero's eyes swept over the room. Glancing at everyone making sure he still held their attentions. "Based on the encrypted messages..." Heero trailed off trying to put his words together. "This is not something we should just sweep under the rug. There's a chance for us to gather more information on this group and possibly be able to take them down quicker. As long as we can complete our mission to infiltrate this compound, securing all data and personnel on site, we should have an upper hand. Understood?" Heero watched as the group of agents nodded their understandings. But one in particular couldn't help but open his mouth.

"So we're doing this based on some hunch you have about these "encryptions?'" Duo asked as he leaned back in his seat. Eyeing Heero carefully.

Heero cringed inwardly. He hadn't told Une why he felt so strongly about the encryptions and why he felt the information was believable. They normally checked into anything that could potentially become a fire, but this time it was more personal to Heero. The encrypted coding for the messages he'd know anywhere. He also knew who it could've possibly sent them. There was a small side of him that did had doubts, but the codes that were used hadn't been used since his training days. There was no mistaking the codes themselves though. Whoever set the information wanted him to see it. Something that didn't sit well with him and by going on this mission he hoped to find the answers to his questions.

Regaining himself as he glanced at Duo. "Like I said Maxwell, based on the messages I believe the information is worth looking into." Heero kept his face impassive and his voice stern as he spoke. He couldn't let them know anything about his "hunch" just yet. Especially Duo. He'd hound him till he got the information.

Duo rolled his eyes. "I call bullshit dude. You know something and you're not sharing." Duo pouted at the end hoping to get something from his comrade.

Heero ignored Duo's comment as he sat back down. Allowing Une to continue with what the mission would intel. "Thank you Agent Yuy. While we don't have much information it's never stopped us in the past on completely a mission and preventing more fires from spreading. I want you to split up into two teams. Now I am aware that there is an odd number of you. I'm requesting that Agent Brown stay behind to be your eyes and ears while you enter the compound. Understood Brown?"

Charles Brown nodded his head. "I won't let you guys down." He was one of the best at his job. Brown was the eyes and ears for many of their missions. His hacking skills had improved over the last few years thanks to Heero's training. Heero knew having someone to guide them during certain missions was crucial when it came to either succeeding or failing.

"Fastest routes in and out, Brown. We'll all be connected via commlinks for this mission." Heero spoke to Agent Brown and the rest of the group.

Everyone nodded once and listened to the rest of what Une had to say. Duo just kept his eyes on Heero. He knew something was going on but couldn't figure out what it was. He caught Trowa's eye and a thought passed between them. Even Trowa knew something wasn't quite right with Heero. Wufei had yet to open his eyes so to Duo, he was useless in this little mental chat. But he suspected he knew something was going on as well.

Une continued on with the debriefing. "Agents Yuy, Barton and Roberts will be our infiltrate team. I want you guys in and out. Gather as much information as you can. Anyone you come across apprehend them for questioning. As for Agents Chang, Maxwell and Watson, I want you as back up and monitoring the situation from the outside."

"Ah! C'mon Une, can't I get any kind of action!?" Duo groaned. He was hoping for some kind of action. But patrol duty was not it.

"Maxwell, there will be plenty of action. You'll need to stop anyone fleeing the compound along with disarming any bombs that may be around the outer walls of the building. They may plan to try and destroy any and all information obtaining to their group. You will need to keep your eyes open. They could have traps set up inside the facility as well." Une spoke sternly to Duo.

Duo waved it off. "So clean up crew. Got it. Don't let the others get blown up."

Heero rolled his eyes. This wasn't the time to be playing games. They had the layout of the facility and possible places where any number of explosives could be placed. They still needed Brown to infiltrate the system to secure the best point of entry and exit, as well as disable any security systems in place. "We have a layout of where these "bombs" may be planted." Heero stated.

"So, we're still going in blind?" Duo question again.

"Maxwell shut it. We'll deal with things as they arise and handle them the way we need to handle them." Wufei for the first time made eye contact with Duo. His tone was harsh but Duo saw something in his black onyx eyes. Duo quickly shut his mouth.

Sighing Une decided it was time to end the meeting. They could work on things once in flight to Russia. "I believe you all could figure out the finer details to this one while you're on your way there. I trust in each of you to do your best and complete the mission. You will be leaving at 1900 today. A backup team will also be sent along with Agent Po to assist with any injuries, should they occur. Also you will report back to me with your findings as soon as everything is over." Une turned her stern brown eyes onto Heero. "Dismissed."

Une stood up first. Gathering her thing before she quickly made her exit from the conference room. She was relying heavily on what Heero had briefly said to her. The encryption coding used to send the messages were familiar to him. That much she knew. She didn't doubt that they were from his days with Doctor J. But whatever the case was she was putting her full trust and faith in him. She'd be lying to herself if she wasn't a little worried about this particular mission. Whoever this group was they were up to something but that something wasn't known. Une hoped her team could pull this off and gather the much needed information they needed to put a stop to them before it got to be too late.

The rest of the group sat gathered around the conference table. Some assumed they were still there to finish discussing the upcoming mission. Heero was the first to stand up and gather his things. "You all know your jobs. I suggest you return to your regular duties for the remainder of the day while also preparing for tonight." Heero's dark blue eyes looked up to address Brown. "Brown, I want you to go over the blueprints that were provided and plan ahead. We won't fully know what we're getting into until we enter the compound."

"Roger that sir." Brown said as he stood. Gathering his belongings he briefly nodded to everyone before leaving the room.

Duo who had been quite for some time now decided to ask his most thought of question. "So… you gonna actually tell us why we're going into this mission blind as a bat?" As he leaned back in his chair, setting his feet upon the table. With his hands behind his head, he gave Heero sidelong glance. "Or are you gonna play dumb about it?"

Heero shot him a look. Narrowing his eyes at his braided comrade. "It's not like we've never done this. It's not the first nor will it be the last time we go into something just as blind." He resorted back, anger lacing his words.

"That may be true, but you're not telling us everything. What's so special about these 'encryptions' that has you jumping the gun so quickly?" Duo shot back, point a finger at him.

Trowa and Wufei both turned to look at Heero, while Roberts and Watson gathered their things making a quick exit. They knew the conversation wasn't intended for thier ears. Even if they were highly curious as well.

Heero clenched his jaw, trying to keep the tick out of his eye. Maxwell was pushing him to his limits. He had already been stressed enough over it. The coding was too familiar for his liking. He just needed to get through this mission then sort things out after.

"Well?" Duo asked, quirking his eyebrow. Heero simply grunted before turning on his heel to leave. He didn't feel like explaining himself.

Once Heero had left the conference room, Duo turned to Trowa and Wufei who had stayed to see how the conversation would turn out. "You know he's hiding something. It's blantely obvious that he's hiding something." Dragging out the last word.

"That may be true Duo, but you know just as much as the rest of us that Heero isn't going to say anything until he's hundred percent sure of it." Trowa calmly spoke as he stood to leave. Duo dropped his feet from the table and crossed his arms over his chest. Giving the impression of a small child who was just told "no".

"Just let it go for now Maxwell. Go prep for tonight, or whatever you do instead of actually working" Wufei said as he walked out of the room following Trowa.

Duo rolled his eyes. "I'll get to the bottom of this, with or without you guys." He grabbed his bag, slinging it over his shoulder before leaving the room. I'll figure out what is going on with Yuy. He can't hide everything from me. A wicked grin crept onto Duo's face, his violet eyes twinkled as he continued to muse over his plans to extract the information from Heero.

A/N

Welcome to When The Tides Change! This story is rate M for mature content.
This story is going to be long, just a heads up. But if you're a fan of the longer stories I hope you enjoy this one!
There is much more to come and I hope you all will enjoy it!

-MM