A small beeping sound alerted Hildre to a signal on her wristband and drew her away from observations of the Lightning Count.

"The pilots are at the main gate, Wufei is with them, and Sally is at headquarters still"

"Good, I want her to stay there. She is an excellent tactical officer, but she is not a pilot… I have no Noin to back me up this time, Wufei will have to do."  Zechs was looking off to the right, where in a more darkened corner of the hangar, stood Tallgeese III, freshly brought in from its usual hiding place. He started off towards it, but Hildre held him back.

"Wufei will not do, because I am coming with you. Let me be your second in this Sir." She entreated with respect and determination. Zechs smirked and shook his head, continuing to walk on toward the Tallgeese. Hildre pursued him.

"Sir! Please let me do this."

"No"

"Why not?"

"You'll get hurt. You know nothing of Piloting a Mobile Suit in combat"

"I piloted in the OZ colonial corps! And I was a good enough pilot to get myself on Libra and off again!" She defended, running in front of him to block his way. Zechs continued past her.

"That proves nothing more than that you are a mediocre spy, and not such a good escape artist as I was told you were nearly killed in fleeing Libra."

"I can do this Sir! I won't let you down, please give me the chance to prove myself." She stopped him one last time at the foot of the tremendous suit. He looked down on Hildre sternly, weighing her request while she stood in hope.

"I will not risk your life for that chance Hildre. Prove yourself to me in a less dangerous time. There is far too much at stake now. Wufei was a Gundam pilot. He is the best one for this operation that we have available."

Hildre just stared at him with an attempt to hide her disappointment and appear strong. She saluted sharply.

"Assemble the men here immediately." He ordered and walked past her for the final time. Above him Tallgeese stood in waiting.  "Here we go again old boy" He whispered up to the sleeping giant.

The men were assembled without much delay, lining what was left of space in the hangar. A tremor of excitement was spreading through the interior, it mixed with dread for those among the young pilots who had known battle before. Zechs kept his back to them for some time, still contemplating Tallgeese. Years had passed and the grand machine still captured some obscure part of his imagination. It was not until Hildre calmly came to his side and cleared her throat that he remembered where he was. Zechs turned and recounted their mission.

            "In a matter of minutes we will be in battle. The enemy is of the Isle, who for some reason they keep to themselves, have condemned us. We know they have been responsible for the devastation to many of the world's capitals, and now they come for Brussels. Each of you is to be the pilot of a Scorpio. You will be based into squadrons of fifteen with one captain. I want the ten most experienced pilots in the Conference room immediately. The rest of you are to familiarize yourselves with the Scorpio. You will receive further instruction from your Squad Leader." Zechs waved his hand in a dismissive fashion.

They dispersed like seeds blown off a dandelion deep into the Hangar. They each received a number that corresponded with a number of a Mobile Suit. Each one found their allotted suit and climbed in. A great rumble preceded the elevation of the Hangar to ground level where the Mobile Suits awaited the order to take flight. In a side room, now set as a military conference room, Zechs and Wufei took ten of the chiefly experienced pilots along with Hildre and debriefed them further. The men, all rather young, listened patiently as to how they were to lead their respective outfits. Wufei started the debriefing.

"There is some question as to the visibility of the Enemy. During the last attacks, which we are now certain the Isle was responsible, information collected at the attack sites indicates it was a mobile suit doing the damage, yet no one has them. We suspect that they have some sort of new technology that cloaks them. Though we did check for the same kind of vernae signature that was left behind on the upgraded model of Gundam 02, ( That model was equipped with a cloaking device and produced a specific residue from its engines) nothing similar was found at the attack sites. This is our strongest handicap in the battle."

"I'll say. How are we supposed to fight what we can't say?" one of the younger of the men spoke up in earnest. He could have been no more than eighteen. Zechs looked him over critically, and something appeared familiar.

"What's your name son?" he asked

"Luscian Tenne`, I go by Tenacious though." The young man said firmly and Zechs could see a slight prideful smirk hidden in the corners of his mouth.

"What experience do you have?"

"I worked with the Treize Faction as a scouter pilot at thirteen, and then I left their company and served aboard Libra with you. Since then I have piloted for the Preventers"

"So you worked for the restoration of Treize Khushrenada, and then changed sides when he was restored to power? What's that all about?" One pale eyebrow rose at the young man. Tenacious however, smiled and shrugged in a casual manner.

"I go where the challenge is." He answered confidently.

"Well, to answer your question rightly. You will have to figure out a way to detect the enemy as the leader of your squadron. I am sure that should be a sufficient challenge for you."

To Zechs almost disappointment, Tenacious did not appear embarrassed or admonished, instead his youthful face glowed with the prospect of it all. Zechs resolved to keep an eye on this kid. He again addressed the company as a whole.

"Each of you has a hard task ahead. We must stop the enemy in Brussels. If our capital falls there is no hope for the stability of the Unified Nation. That would not only spell disaster for the Earth Sphere, but for the Colonies as well. I know many of you served in the Eve Wars, and can appreciate as much as I the cost of those struggles. We are fighting to see that those periods of conflict are left in the past and not reborn."

"You don't need to tell us what this means sir, we understand perfectly what's at stake, what we need is for you to point us in the right direction tactically."  Another young man started, he seemed passionate yet scared at the same time. Beside him, still another young man set a hand on his shoulder. They both appeared in their early twenties, the former was blond and blue eyed with a fair complexion not unlike Zechs, the latter had darker features with longer green eyes.

"Take it easy Kaze" the darker young man said. "Sorry sir, my partner is kind of jumpy. We haven't been to battle in a long time" Zechs nodded an understanding.

"Once you have spotted the enemy, follow the order of surround and destroy. However, wait for the order to be given. We don't know what kind of fire power they have. If you are given an order, follow it." He was ready to dismiss them, but he stopped short and gave himself a moment of repose and time to think and remember what he felt and what was to be accomplished

"Most importantly, trust in yourselves, and in each other, and in the knowledge of what we are trying to protect. Let us have no more families torn apart from the wrath of others. We need to help wounds of War to heal, not to fester. Life… will never be as we wish it if we stand by to simply endure or be overwhelmed again and again. I don't want any more… angry and lost young men to be born by the destruction of this day."

The company in unison stood sharply and saluted. Hildre looked on Zechs and thought that something higher than the Lighting Count was standing before her. And her spirit, which had been leaded by his refusal to let her act as his second was suddenly lifted. He had touched the whole company in a way only one soldier to another could.

Her communicator wristband beeped again, and she went sent back the channel of the Telecom in the conference room to Sally at the Preventer Headquarters. A few seconds later the Telecom held her urgent face in its pixel frame.

"We have confirmation of a high speed convoy moving across the East towards Brussels sir, due north East"

"That's the signal. They are coming. SUIT UP!" Zechs called out and the dispersed. Zechs and Wufei waited for everyone to leave the room first. Then Wufei found himself held back by Zechs.

"What of your friends?" he asked. Wufei just looked at him, reluctant to answer so quickly. He still did not have complete faith in Zechs. But, weighing the importance of the situation, he yielded.

"You can be sure Heero is already there. As for the rest, I know they were working on it, but I have been excluded from their project for sometime, for my loyalty to your Lady." He finished off  with a sharp glance and went out into the Hangar. Zechs thought for a moment about Heero, and about the other Gundam Pilots and something in his relaxed. But he tensed again when his thoughts went to Anne and Relena. He kept hold of the tension and left the Conference room for the Hangar and Tallgeese.

The feeling of ascending to the cockpit was nostalgic and familiar feelings crept inside Zechs. The door opened easily, having been so well kept over the years. The seat was firm and fit him perfectly as it had those years before. He slipped his hands over the controls and let the bars fix to the shape of his palm and fingers. A strong scent of machinery filled the small cockpit, and he knew in a small way he was home. It was a home he had loathed to return to, yet here he was. The Hangar doors were opening and the Scorpio's took flight. They hung in the air like birds awaiting the head of the flock. A little apart from the rest, Wufei made his distinction. Zechs fired up his forward thrusters and ascended. With remembered ease he took command of the main squadron, Wufei on his left, and he soon noted Tenacious led the Squadron to the right. In the most effective formation for battle with an unknown enemy, they took expedient flight towards Brussels.

*******************

Preventers Headquarters was hit first. All at once the siege came, though it had been expected. Sally Po, in the secured portion of the interior, kept watch with the rest if the internal staff. They had defenses enough. As a base, the Preventer Headquarters was secure for attack. A laser cannon system had been installed shortly after the last Eve war. Lady Une had decided to be prepared for what could now be seen as inevitability. With all Preventers on the premises awaiting battle, there was tautness in the air that was also inevitability. Anxiously their eyes all turned towards the Southwest, knowing that there was to be incoming at any moment. Collectively they held their breaths as the danger approached.

Somewhere in the city nearby, a dog barked, knowing nothing of wars or shattering peace, or of impending death. Sally heard it, and those in the interior, the bunkers, the East and West observation towers, even to the barracks, they heard it. The dog howled then, and the western tower was hit with the blast of an explosion. The enemy came pouring in from the Southwest. Sally gave the order of combat and reported to Zechs. Those that operated the defense systems were baffled for a time as destruction rained down on the base and even the city surrounding it. The enemy was unseen still. They could catch them only by a kind of shadow that illuminated when something exploded. The only course from there was to fire sweep beams through the air and hope to catch them. This was met with limited success, and the enemy increased their devastation suddenly by an attack from the east. The Isle had traveled around south and come up to the eastern side of the Preventer Base. Within a matter of ten minutes the Western Observation Tower was gone, and one of the bunkers too, from having the tower land upon it. Fire burned, coursing through the rubble. Sally frantically gave orders and prayed silently for the quick arrival of their own army. They could not sustain such damage for long.

            From the South there came the light. The white Mobile suits, headed by what was undoubtedly the Tallgeese met the enemy straight. Zechs was in immediate contact with Sally, asking about casualties, of which she gave him the brief report to her knowledge. Some of the enemy suits, having received damage, ceased to have been hidden, and were dispatched quite quickly by the Preventer Force. The force was competent enough. But the overcoming of the enemies cloak had not been realized. Zechs caught some of them near the heat sources of the tower fire. It was enough to register on his radar. But the enemy was yet higher up in the air where the radar failed to register them. Shots were fired from higher in the atmosphere and the enemy continuously darted out of range before the Base lasers returned fire. Exasperated reports were flying back and forth on the Preventer's com. Wufei was trying different combinations of weapons to attack the enemy. Tenacious took his squadron higher and a step farther than Wufei.

The Scorpio was equipped with a low-range area effect EMP. Something that was not to be used near any ground troop units in the vicinity as it would disable all electrical components in the blast range. Ten and his squadron ascended approximately one and a half vertical miles and formed a V line to the North. In that formation they detonated their EMP and upon Ten's command. The blast fanned out towards the southeast and southwest. Seventeen enemy Mobile suits, black against the sun were suddenly there against the skyline and losing altitude. The squadron's collective blast was enough to disable the enemy's cloak. Zechs watched this and a battle hungry grin spread across his face. He would definitely keep an eye on Ten now.

"EMP in safe effect first. Then surround and destroy." He gave out the order to all squadrons. Zechs took Tallgeese to the eastern tower and kept it close to the main building. All around him there was black mobile suits dotting into the air like ink blots on air blue paper. Increasingly he became aware that the attack on the enemy's part was not at all sufficient. There were not nearly enough of them there to cover an attack on the base. Zechs was also now aware that what was left of enemy was swarming the Tallgeese. His squadron was in heavy combat and risking damage to the base Towers by staying so low. Sharply he commanded his unit to ascend. Flying upwards to a safer level and keeping sure that the destroyed suits did not damage the Base in falling. Wufei was not covering Zechs' back as Noin would have done. The former Gundam Pilot was more interested in direct pursuit of the enemy. He was on the Base's eastern side, preventing them from further entry into the city.

"Wufei, high concentration on the central portion" Zechs commed out, revealing how the enemy seemed to be gathering around he and what was left of the Towers. The lasers, which were mounted up in fortified embankments along the four corners of the base were now being drawn down. Zechs watched the revealed enemy suits begin a dive bombing tactic. They attracted the laser fire down towards the Main building. Zechs was familiar with the laser defense system. Once locked on target, the beam would pursue its target to its destruction or until it lost the signal. A flaw the enemy was obviously aware of as they were now trying to bring down the central building and eastern observation tower with the lasers themselves.

Something was clearly amiss to Zechs. In the fast pace of the battle he still had some part of his mind working on the higher details. Why so little a force to take out the main defense of the ESUN? Brussels held all that was most precious to the stability of the Unified Nation, taking it out would be priority if an enemy wished to destroy the ESUN. Was this the extent of Aria's threat?

A sudden blast of laser to Tallgeese rear caught him off his guard and the suit lunged forward. Several enemy suits had trained the lasers on him and crashed below. They knew who to go after in this battle. Zechs set his thrusters skywards but the lasers followed on him. What was left of his squadron was behind him, trying to aid their commander.

"Stay off!" he shouted, knowing they would only be destroyed if they tried. Zechs was confident that he could lose the lasers. Tallgeese was well equipped for the job.

Yet, even as was about to change directions for the job, his head was seized with the old pain. It was searing, like a red hot poker jammed directly into his brainstem. Almost the instant he fell forward the blood began from his nose and ears. The visions were also immediate, but this time so fast he could not make them out above the immense pain. Zechs completely stopped in mid air, where the lasers wracked the suit upon impact. He grasped his head in agony and his eyes widened with what he saw.

"Zechs! Pull back!" Wufei shouted. But Zechs was immobile, paralyzed by the grinding assault on his mind and body. Every muscle was contracted to complete tetanus even as his body was tossed back and forth against the seat restraints. However powerful Tallgeese was, it could not withstand a full assault from laser cannon.

"Commander Zechs!" Wufei called out again. Zechs was vaguely aware now. But he did see the laser fire on him joined with that of enemy suits. Tallgeese was losing altitude rapidly. Wufei moved in to take out the exposed enemy suits. Ahead of them, a stray Scorpio suit darted directly towards the laser cannon.

"You there, MOVE AWAY!" Wufei shouted at the renegade suit. But it ignored his command and went right for the cannon. When it was within range, though darting to avoid the shots fired at Tallgeese, it started firing towards the cannon. The pain in Zechs' head crested finally and receded. Within a few seconds he was able to make sense of the world around him and pulled Tallgeese back under his control. The renegade suit was in his line of vision. He watched as it took damage to its anterior compartments but still went forth towards the laser that assaulted its commander. It began to lose control and spiral, but at the last moment of control it fired a direct hit to the canon. With a great flash the embankment and the canon exploded and the renegade Scorpio redirected its flight path to come to a skidding yet safe landing. Through his heavy breathing, Zechs smiled a little, knowing who the pilot was. Hildre always managed to get her way.

            She pulled herself out of the disabled Scorpio and waved up to her commander with a look of triumph. Her hand stretched out towards the sky and came back in a crisp salute before she ran from the dangerous area she had landed in. The rest of enemy suits that hadn't retreated were quickly dispatched by Ten's squadron. Tallgeese landed easily in an open area where other Preventers had gathered to greet the victorious commander. Sally was on hand as well as Hildre. They succeeded in pulling Zechs out of the Mobile suit and were astonished to find him practically unconscious.

            "My god Zechs, what happened up there?" Sally said noting the blood all over his face.

            For reasons he couldn't understand, Zechs barely aware eyes focused north. He refused a stretcher and barely allowed Sally to examine him. The old headache had come back and it meant something. Zechs was unwilling to reveal the nature of his affliction. A lingering idea that it was weapon in itself was his for the keeping. In the heat of battle the images had been too fast to make sense of. What was his affliction trying to tell him?

            He sat there at the base of a battered Tallgeese and questioned himself. Why did his eyes keep falling north? Hildre was next to him, wiping the blood off  his neck. She bore her own blood on her face from a gash received during the battle. Zechs spoke in false admonishment.

            "That was a stupid stunt Preventer Schebeiker. Now how did I know you would do that?"  He took off his glove and moved a bit of her black hair away to see how the cut went all the way from the middle of her forehead to her hairline. She would undoubtedly have a scar. Something in him thought she was too young for such scars.

            "I couldn't let my commander down. It's what any worthy second would have done" She smiled affectedly at him. Zechs rested back in mock relaxation.

            "Yep, I have ladies everywhere ready to sacrifice themselves for me. It's just how it is when your as good looking as I am" He laughed when Hildre smacked his arm and they embraced.

            "So I get the job right?" Hildre persisted.

            "Heh… We'll see. Your piloting still needs some work. But I'll be happy to teach you when this is all over" Zechs offered, and Hildre seemed pleased enough with it.

            Even as she smiled a dull roar came from the Northern horizon and all turned to see what was coming. Many felt dread reborn inside their stomachs as a black armada of mobile suits appeared in the North. They passed over without striking a single blow to the Preventer Base, but formed a line that blocked the east.  Wufei, Sally, Hildre and Zechs stood as they pointed their beam cannons down at the base, but did not fire.

            "My god" Sally whispered faintly.

            "Look!" Hildre called out and pointed to the Western sky where the first of the attack had come from. A black airplane surrounded by the black enemy suits appeared in the distance and passed over them. Zechs watched as it continued on through the line that blocked the east and went out of sight.

            "What are they doing? Why aren't they stopping?" Hildre asked and Zechs immediately stood, ready to board Tallgeese once again, though he doubted he could take them all.

            "Wait Zechs" Wufei grabbed his arm and pointed still to the west. A black shape appeared there. It moved at incredible speed and jetted over them with a crashing boom. The shape of the suit was all too familiar to Zechs Merquise. It did not stop but continued forward and passed the blocking line of enemy suits to the east, on the heels of the black craft that had come just before it.

            "Was that…?" Sally broke out in astonishment.

            "The Eypon…." Zechs answered bitterly. He felt the anger rising in him. And all at once, the dam that had been holding him back for the past years broke and the warrior's spirit flooded into him. In his minds eye, he kept the image of Anne steady as the cataract of violence swelled.

            "We have to break that line" he said to Wufei as he started up to Tallgeese cockpit. "Use any method you can, but break through that line. We have to get east."

            "What's east? What are they after?" Hildre called after him. Wufei looked towards the deadly blockade line.

            "The Khushrenada Estate" he answered and took to his own suit. Each pilot now followed to their own suit, determined to break the blockade. They rose against the black line, reading to attack, not looking back for a minute.

****************

            Relena was not afraid. She had been through this before of course, being under attack by an enemy that opposed her way of thinking. When the black suits came, and with them the plane and the Epyon, she knew no fear, but instead a great tiredness. Anne had moved away from the window some time ago and stood by the cradle, stroking her son's silken head. He slept quietly, not disturbed by any of the tumult taking place outside. Anne did not even seem to realize anything was happening. She hummed gently to the sleeping babe even as Mariemaia tried to calm the crying of Elizabeth Foster.

            "Anne?... Who are they?" Relena asked when the plane had landed on the front lawn. The mobile suits made short order of the Preventer Guard and had now moved in to secure the grounds. They were in the house. Relena could hear them searching each room,… for them. It would take them a while yet to find them on the third floor, but not too long.

            "Anne?"

            "They are displaced Relena. A remnant of another time, a true testament to the danger of a wound left to fester until it consumes all of the flesh."

            "Speak sense Anne, not riddles! They come for me don't they?" Relena wanted to shriek but she spoke not above a whisper. Anne turned from her baby and looked at the President.

            "You really think this is about you?" she asked in earnest. Relena rethought her statement. "No perhaps not"

            "I would that you could go in my place Relena." She came over to Relena then and embraced her tightly. "I know you would do better than I. You have always possessed inner peace. Perhaps that's why you believe true peace is possible for all of us, because you have it inside." Anne stroked her hair like she was admiring a doll, a delicate and heartbreaking smile on her face. Relena thought she would begin crying through her smile at any moment. But Relena did not smile, but eyes her gravely.

            "Will you please tell me what's going on now."

            The door flew open from a stiff kick to the other side. It crashed against the wall and Alexander Khushrenada awoke and began to cry from the noise. On the threshold his father stood, bearing the attire of the Delizabane Isle forces. The only eye now visible bore down on the inhabitants of the room with contempt. Gabriel searched the room, looking for something that he was not finding on any of their faces. Relena could not help but recoil when he recognized her.

            "The president here too! Such a treat this will be. What a splendid garden party you have arranged for me Lady." He finally met Anne's eyes. Relena stole a glance, and Anne was most definitely in fear of him. Gabriel stalked in, a lion on the prowl.

            "Gabriel?" Mariemaia breathed from the corner. Gabriel turned and sighed in mock exasperation. "There you are!" He wasted no time in covering the distance and picking Mariemaia up in his arms. The man's large arms crushed Marie against him and he smiled the old smile.

            "You are what I've come to get." He kissed her cheek. Mariemaia was astounded and also visibly frightened. She started into the black patch that covered his eye.

            "Pirate!" Elizabeth Foster called out at Gabriel and threw a colored pencil at him. She hid herself but scowled at the foul man who had invaded the sanctuary. Gabriel's one eye looked on Zechs' daughter with disdain.

            "So he's moved all his possessions in now hasn't he? Really made this place his comfy little home." He set Mariemaia down and she stepped back. Gabriel frowned at his niece and knelt down to her level even as she flinched back from him.

            "Now why would you act that way Marie. Its me, your uncle Gabriel." He smiled and tried to coax her out. Marie sighed and shook her head without fear.

            "You are not Gabriel, not anymore." Gabriel's face fell to a tight scowl and he stood abruptly and looked towards Anne.

            "Is that what SHE told you?" he went to Anne and grasped her by the hair. The woman yelped as he tossed her backwards against the wall and held her there. Relena immediately took to pulling him off, but he tossed her aside with the same ease he had tossed Anne with. His fingers curled about her throat and forced her to look at him.

            "More lies Anne? Now you even tell lies to our Marie?!" he shouted at her. The baby screamed at the commotion and rolled in his crib. Gabriel seemed to notice him for the first time. Slowly, his head turned towards the crib. He let go of Anne and she slumped down against the wall gasping and rubbing her neck. One foot in front of the other took Gabriel to the place where his son waved his arms in discontent and cried. His expression was indiscernible to Relena, who could only see his back. But he looked down into the crib for what seemed like too long. Finally, as if he wasn't sure what he was seeing, he bent down to get a better look, and even put his hand into the crib.

            "What is this?" he demanded. Anne was silent. Gabriel turned on him and demanded further.

            "What is this? Is it HIS?!" he shouted at her. Anne's eyes stared off at the opposite wall and did not look at him. She was doing everything in her power to block him out.

            "He is your son" Relena answered for Anne with thick bitterness for this man who kept glancing from the baby to his Mother. With a sudden rush his arm extended and he punched through the window above Anne's head. Glass shattered and fell all around them. The baby cried ever louder. Mariemaia called out to her mother.

            "Well… isn't this…. Something else." He pulled his fist, now bloody and riddled with glass out of the broken pane. Pacing now between the mother and the crib, Gabriel shook his head and bit down on his lip. Inside he was making his own kind of sense of things.

            "No matter" he said finally and jerked on Anne's arm to bring her to a stand. "Its time for us to go. Mariemaia! Come on we are going." He commanded sharply, dragging Anne along. She resisted and he pulled harder on her. Mariemaia did not obey, but ran at the man, trying to get him to release her mother. Gabriel yelled out the door.

            "UP HERE!" footsteps followed, and several Isle soldiers came flooding in the room. They snatched up Mariemaia with ease. He nodded towards Relena and the President soon found guns pointed towards her. She raised her hands warily, well acquainted with this procedure. Mariemaia flailed against her captor even as he Mother did.

            "It's for the best Marie! You won't have to worry. We'll be a little happy family before you know it. Just tell your Mother to behave."

            "NO I WON'T GO BACK! I WON'T" Anne screamed out and fought furiously against Gabriel who was barely able to hold her in place. There was a succession of grunts and flailing arms. "I TELL YOU I WON'T RETURN!" Gabriel subdued her easily.

            "Yes you will. It's time to come home Leecy" Aria spoke from the doorway, behind her Mathius and Kateline stood in wait, grinning malevolently at her.

            She sank to her knees, staring up her family. The semblance of Anne fell from her mind. It was like a the rapid freezing of a lake, all the pieces of her mind came together to form the fundamental whole of a personality. Everything she had been suddenly ceased to be in that moment and from the hold of her former lover, to the crying of her son, to her sister's deadly gaze, Analicia Delizabane became aware again, and Anne fell away from herself.

To Be Continued