Phase Four: Take Action!

I know my updates take a long time but I'm a careful writer mostly and I'm a perfectionist for this story. I want everything to come out as close to perfect as I can get it (perfect in my eyes anyway). I think there might be some typos that I missed in this chapter so I'm sorry. Also, I love writing pieces with Shinn and Kira, no matter how small they are. It's such fun! Oh and Kira and Yzak. It's just funny having the two characters who wanted Kira dead more than anyone else be his comrades now :P. Enjoy :)

PLANTs Administration, Aprilius-One

Lacus heard a funny sound and turned her head to the side, partly curious and partly believing it was just her mind playing tricks on her.

"Birdie!"

She jumped when Kira's robotic bird swooped down from the ceiling and landed on her desk in front of her. Birdie looked at her for a moment and Lacus reached out towards him when he jumped back up. Her eyes caught a flash of light in the roof and she frowned. It looked like a round piece of glass reflecting light…

Her mind caught up with her in time and she dived beneath her desk just as a bullet whizzed through the air and imbedded itself in the wall behind her desk.

She reached up and found the alert button at the edge of her desk and pressed it.

"Oh my god," Lacus breathed, curling into the foetal position and praying with all her heart that Kira was going to get there soon. She heard footsteps in the roof and took a deep breath. People had tried to kill her plenty of times in the past but someone had always been there.

How did this man even get in the building? How did he get in her ceiling?

"Chairwoman Clyne!"

Several people's running footsteps came towards her office.

"Chairwoman! Is everything alright?"

"Lacus? Where are you?"

Lacus heard Kira's voice and her body relaxed automatically.

"Kira!" she shouted. She heard the footsteps in the roof stop. Lacus crept out from under her desk warily and Kira, gun in hand ran over to her. "There's someone in the roof! He shot at me! If it wasn't for Birdie…"

She was drowned out by the soldiers running off and shouting orders. Several of them came over, guns directed at the roof and surrounded Lacus and Kira.

"Take her out of here, Commander!" one soldier shouted, his gun at the vent where the shot had come from. Kira put his gun away and wrapped an arm around Lacus. She moved out of her office surrounded by soldiers.

"Are you okay?" Kira asked worriedly, his eyes darting around.

"Thanks to Birdie, it drew my attention to the roof," Lacus explained. Birdie swooped down past them and Kira smiled up at it.

"Thank you, Athrun," he murmured affectionately. Lacus sighed and leant her head against Kira's shoulder.

"Let's go home," Lacus requested. Kira nodded.

"They'll find whoever it is," Kira assured her. "We'll find out who sent him and we will make it known that they tried to have to killed."

Lacus nodded, a crease appearing between her eyebrows. She turned and looked at one the soldiers.

"I want to know the second you find anything," Lacus ordered firmly, despite her shaking hands. She folded them against her stomach so that nobody would notice they were trembling.

"Yes, ma'am!" the soldier replied and rushed off to let his superior know the Chairwoman's orders. Lacus turned back to Kira.

"I have to know who ordered this," she whispered. "If it came from inside the PLANTs… supporters of Patrick Zala and Gilbert Durandal still exist…"

"Don't say that," Kira replied gently. "This was not an inside job."

"How else would they have gotten into the building?"

Both fell silent, lost in contemplation of what could have occurred.

Orb Union, Administration

Cagalli shut the door to her office, walked across the room to her desk and dropped into the chair, her hands over her face. She groaned quietly and leant on her desk. Her mind was running faster than it had in a long time and she couldn't settle on a single thought in that moment.

The door to her office opened and Athrun slipped inside and shut the door softly. Cagalli looked through her fingers at him.

"Are you alright?" Athrun questioned, standing in front of the doorway.

Cagalli just sighed and dropped her head down onto the desk, her hands clutching her hair. She tried not to pull too hard at it but she desperately wanted to start banging her head on the desk top. She heard Athrun move and then felt his hands on hers and he gently lifted them away from her hair.

"Calm down, Cagalli," he murmured. "Can you look at me?"

Cagalli raised her head and looked up at Athrun. "What am I going to do?"

"Take a deep breath."

"Don't, Athrun."

"I'm being serious. Take a deep breath. Go on." He looked at her seriously until she did it and then he smiled. "Now, King Hector has asked for your help. You are going to help him aren't you?"

"Our nation owes him," Cagalli replied. "I owe him personally."

Athrun nodded. "Then it's simple. I'll go out with the Archangel and we will find Prince Aleksander."

Cagalli sat up straighter and pulled her hands away from Athrun.

"Why are you going to go?" she demanded, her heart stopping a little. The idea of Athrun disappearing for who knew how long was terrifying. When she was stressed it was speaking with Athrun that calmed her down. She needed him around.

"Prince Aleksander has been kidnapped. Best-case scenario it's somebody wanting money from the royal family of Scandinavia. Worst-case scenario…" Athrun trailed off and Cagalli's heart sank knowing there was no way she could argue with him. "Well, I just think it might be better if I go with them. They have Andy and they have Mu but I'd feel better about sending them all out if I was with them."

Cagalli nodded and sat back in her seat.

"I have to agree with you," she decided. "I'll send orders. You'll leave as soon as possible."

"I need to organise Zane and the others," Athrun explained. "But then I'll be ready to leave."

Cagalli frowned. "Why don't you take them with you? Give them some field experience."

Athrun hesitated and then nodded. "Yes, ma'am. I'll organise them to be ready to leave right away. When does the Archangel arrive back at headquarters?"

"In an hour. I want you to leave within two."

Athrun straightened up and saluted. "We will be ready, Representative Athha."

Cagalli nodded and Athrun turned to leave her office. She stood up and cleared her throat. Athrun looked back at her.

"I'll be there to see you off and I imagine King Hector will accompany me," she told him. Athrun smiled.

"I'll see you there, Representative." He left the office and Cagalli sat down. She hated it when he used her title. And with him gone her worry was returning.

Athrun hadn't actually said it but both of them knew. Worst-case scenario: Eurasia had made its first move against the rest of the world. It was a business they'd discussed in detail. Eurasia had pulled away and Orb, the PLANTs and the Atlantic Federation all knew that it would not turn out well. Eurasia had suffered and they wanted vengeance.

It looked as though they had started.

Hector's fear for his son was leaking into the other Representatives and their decision to help Scandinavia was unanimous. Scandinavia had helped them in the past and now they could repay those favours.

Cagalli considered sending a request to Lacus for assistance. At the least she had to let her counterpart know what was going on. This mess could get very serious and one of Eurasia's targets would most definitely be the PLANTs.

Eurasian Mobile Assault Ship Vasalisa, Moscow

Elation was running through the crew of Eurasia's newest warship. Word had just come in that Mikhail Lander had won the election by a landslide. Rumours were running from person to person that he was going to use his new position to incite revenge for what had happened to Eurasia during the war.

"People are so dumb sometimes," Jacob muttered. "Why would Lander become President of the Atlantic Federation simply to destroy it?"

"He could use his position to help us, you know," Marcus shrugged.

The pilots were gathered together in the cafeteria, trying to hear each other over the crew's loud voices as they celebrated Lander's win.

"You know, I bet he rigged the election," Jacob stated angrily. "It seems like something he'd do."

"Why would he do that?" Avery asked, bored.

Jacob gave her a sour look. "So he can use his new position to avenge Eurasia," he told her sardonically.

"Shut up, Jacob," Avery snapped.

"Make me!"

"Guys, cool it, please," Marcus requested. "You'll do my head in."

"Sorry," Avery replied immediately, smiling at him. Jacob rolled his eyes in annoyance and glowered off to the side. He knew he was probably the only person unhappy about Lander's win but there was just something about the man that he didn't like. Lander's eyes and smile made his skin crawl and he felt on edge each time he spoke in a broadcast.

His foul mood was increased further when Viktoria strode into the cafeteria and joined them, a smug smile on her face.

"Guess what, everyone," she stated cheerily. "We're heading out."

"What?" Marcus asked. "For real?"

"For real. We just received our orders from HQ. We're going south."

"South?" Jacob turned to look at Viktoria. "How far south exactly are we heading?"

"Oh down past Africa and then we'll go East," Viktoria explained. "I'm not sure exactly what we're doing but I know we're going south."

"Finally," Avery sighed. "We finally get to do something other than sit in this ship all day long."

Viktoria nodded and Jacob watched her expression curiously. Something about her smile was off. He wasn't sure what it was exactly but there was something she wasn't saying. Something important.

"Okay," Jacob finally sighed. "We're going south."

Marcus grinned at him but Jacob couldn't help the uneasy gnawing in his gut that had him feeling tense all of a sudden.

Orb Defence Headquarters, Onogoro Island

Athrun saw that the Infinite Justice and his students' three Gundams were safely stored in the Archangel's hanger before joining the others on the harbour where Cagalli and King Hector were saying their goodbyes.

"Thank you, so very much for this," King Hector said, bowing to Murrue, Mu and Andy.

"It's our pleasure," Murrue assured him. "We promise we will find Prince Aleksander and bring him back to you safely."

King Hector nodded in thanks. He looked at Athrun and nodded to him. Athrun nodded back and then turned his attention to Cagalli.

"Be careful out there," she warned Murrue. "If it is something worse than a simple ransom I want to hear from you the moment you can send word."

"You have my word, Lady Cagalli," Murrue assured her.

"Stay safe while we're gone," Mu teased. Cagalli said goodbye to them and turned her attention to Athrun. Murrue subtly ushered Athrun's students on board the Archangel, Mu and Andy following her.

"Please be careful, Athrun," she requested.

"I will," Athrun promised. "You stay safe, Cagalli, promise me."

Cagalli nodded, her eyes softening when he used her name. Athrun knew he shouldn't do it. Their professional boundaries often wavered. It was hard to act as if nothing had ever happened between them when in moments like this all he wanted to do was hold her.

Cagalli was staring at the ground sadly.

"I'll be coming back, Cagalli," Athrun murmured. She looked up at him. "I'm going to come home. That's a promise."

Cagalli hesitated and then hugged him. Athrun was surprised for a moment then hugged her back, knowing it was a wrong decision to make but unable to resist. He shut his eyes and turned his face into her hair. It had been so long since he'd been so close to her and she smelt unbelievably good.

They parted after a long time, both unable to meet the other's eyes. Athrun regretted the decision to hug her so freely but knew he wouldn't have been able to get on the ship without it.

"I'm counting on you, Admiral," Cagalli said softly.

Athrun tilted his head at the use of his title and turned away.

"I'll be back," he promised again and walked up the ramp into the ship. He looked back at her once more before the door shut and then continued on, already missing her and wishing he could have said something more.

He joined the others on the bridge and watched the ocean open out before them as they left Onogoro.

"So, where are we going to start, Admiral Zala?"

Athrun looked down at Andy who was sitting at the helm and he smiled to see the sly look on the Tiger's face that went with his tone. Not that long ago Andrew Waltfeld had been his superior and now it was the other way around.

"It's only a hunch but I'm sure I'm correct in thinking that this was not some simple ransom kidnapping," Athrun explained, glancing at Murrue. "I'm sure it's got something to do with Eurasia."

The crew stilled and Athrun continued.

"I want to start heading towards Moscow. We should begin there."

There was silence for a moment and Murrue nodded.

"Helm, set course for Eurasian capital, Moscow," she ordered.

"Ma'am!"

Murrue looked at Athrun and grimaced.

"Are you sure?" she asked.

"Unfortunately." Athrun sighed. "I hope we can resolve this with minimal dispute but the likelihood of that happening is about zero."

"Our main goal is rescue Prince Aleksander, whatever else happens won't be your fault, Athrun," Murrue reminded him. Athrun nodded.

"I'm going to go and check in with my students but then I'll be back," Athrun told her. Murrue nodded and Athrun left. He knew that Zane, Maria and Kenichi would be very excited about their first real assignment but he was concerned that would make them reckless so he was making it his goal to have them treat this seriously. He was going to get all three of them back home, no matter the cost.

Aprilius-One, Chairwoman's Residence

"Lacus, are you sure you're alright?" Kira questioned worriedly, kneeling down in front of Lacus where she was sitting on the couch. She lowered her gaze to him and reached a hand out. Kira took it and squeezed comfortingly.

"I love you, Kira," she murmured softly, so that the guards stationed outside the room wouldn't hear her. She knew how uncomfortable they sometimes got. It was usually in their home that they were able to be together without worrying about the reactions of the PLANTs' politicians and high ranking military officers. Now, of course, after the attempt on her life there had to be guards in their home leaving them unable to act the way they normally would.

Kira kissed her fingertips. "Talk to me," he urged.

"I'm okay, really," Lacus assured him. "I just want to know who he was and how he got into my office."

"Same here."

There was a knock at the front door and the guards answered. Kira and Lacus heard the voice of Samuel, Lacus's head of security, and both stood as he was escorted into the room.

"Did you find him?" Kira demanded immediately.

"We did," Samuel replied, his face grave.

"What has happened?" Lacus questioned.

"He bit down on a cyanide pill before we'd even taken him out of the roof," Samuel sighed. "I apologise, Chairwoman Clyne. I will take full responsibility for this huge error. I should have ordered the soldiers to search him for cyanide."

"You weren't to know," Lacus assured him, disappointed.

"So, we have no idea who sent him?" Kira asked. "Whether he came from inside the PLANTs or outside?"

Samuel smiled a little. "He had a radio on him. We heard someone trying to contact him just after he'd died. He works for an organisation called Red Dawn."

"Red Dawn?" Kira frowned. "I've never heard of it."

"We in the Special Forces have," Samuel explained. He gestured to the pair to sit and took a chair across from them. "They are an off-shoot of Logos based in Moscow."

"They're Eurasian?" Lacus asked, her eyes widening. She looked at Kira in horror. He nodded at her sadly. "So, our fears are not unfounded then?"

"Unfortunately it does not appear so, Chairwoman," Samuel nodded.

Kira stood up. "I'm going to Moscow."

Lacus looked up at him in shock. Samuel raised his eyebrows.

"Do you think that's wise, Commander Yamato? You'd be leaving the Chairwoman to the care of men other than yourself," he reminded him. Kira smiled slightly.

"I know that you'll protect her," he replied. "If anybody is going to investigate this, it'll be me. Send all of your information on Red Dawn to our Intelligence officer, Meyrin Hawke." Kira looked down at Lacus whose eyes were wide with worry. "Don't worry, Lacus, you'll be fine."

"I was more worried about you, actually," she replied, almost smiling. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

Kira nodded. "I have to do this, Lacus."

"Okay. I want you to descend to Carpentaria."

"That is very far away from Moscow, Chairwoman," Samuel reminded her curiously.

"I know that. But if Kira's team descended to Gibraltar then he would have to wait for a time until Yzak's team could meet up with him. I'd rather the Yamato Team were joined by the Joule Team."

"I'd rather that too," Kira agreed. Samuel nodded and stood up. He saluted Kira.

"I will forward the Intel to Meyrin Hawke as you requested," Samuel assured him.

"When you return to the Administration, please send notice to Kira's team that they are to be at the harbour tomorrow morning," Lacus requested. Samuel saluted once more and took his leave. Kira retook his seat beside Lacus and she looked at him sadly.

"I'd rather be here with you but I need to find out what's going on," Kira told her. "If Eurasia wants to start something, I'm going to try my hardest to stop them. That's why I have to go."

"I understand," Lacus assured him. She leant over and rested her head on his shoulder. "I'll miss you, that's all."

Kira stroked her hair and they said no more.

0900, Aprilius-One Harbour

Kira saw all of his team onto the shuttle that would be transporting them to Carpentaria. He had been up since the crack of dawn supervising the transportation of the mobile suits from the Eternal to a transport shuttle. Now he was waiting for Shinn, Lunamaria and Meyrin to arrive.

"Commander!"

Kira turned around at the sound of Meyrin Hawke's voice and smiled in greeting, returning her salute.

"Did you receive the Intel from the Special Forces?" he asked immediately.

"Yes, sir, I have it here," Meyrin replied, handing him a tablet. "Would you like me to go through it with you?"

"Not yet, we'll go through it when we've rendezvoused with Yzak's team," Kira replied.

"Alright, sir." Meyrin saluted him once more and received a hug from Lacus before she went onto the shuttle. The two girls had become close since the end of the Second Bloody Valentine War and Lacus was very grateful for the younger girl's friendship; she didn't have a lot of close friends.

Kira looked around. He'd been sure that Lunamaria would arrive with her sister but she wasn't anywhere to be seen. He looked at Lacus.

"Trust my aces to be late," he joked. Lacus smiled.

"Mr Asuka and Miss Lunamaria are probably around here somewhere," Lacus shrugged. "Give them a bit more time."

Sure enough, they arrived within the minute.

"Commander, Chairwoman Clyne," Luna greeted, saluting them both. Shinn followed suit and looked at Kira.

"Commander, we were wondering, what is this about exactly? I thought we weren't heading out for a few more days," Shinn questioned.

"I know, I'm sorry Shinn," Kira replied. "The situation is rather complicated and I'll explain everything once we arrive at Carpentaria. I promise."

Shinn nodded and saluted to them once.

"Shinn, wait a moment," Kira said. He motioned to Luna and she entered the shuttle and Shinn remained. "How did the other night go?"

Shinn smiled. "She loved it. Thanks so much for your help, Commander." Kira nodded and Shinn entered the shuttle.

Kira watched him go and couldn't help but shake his head a little. Shinn had once tried very hard to kill him, he had even destroyed the Freedom, the mobile suit that had given Kira the power to end the First Bloody Valentine War. Now, however, there weren't many other pilots Kira would rather have at his back than Shinn Asuka and he knew, even if the young pilot never said anything, that Shinn felt the same way about him.

Kira turned to Lacus.

"That's everyone," she commented. "Take care, Kira."

"You as well," Kira responded. He hesitated slightly. "Before I go…" He reached into the pocket of his jacket and Lacus tilted her head curiously. "I know this is probably the absolute wrong time for this, and I was hoping to do it in a much better setting but considering the circumstances we're in…"

"Kira, what are you talking about?" Lacus asked.

Kira opened a small velvet box and showed Lacus a white-gold ring with a gold diamond set in the centre flanked by two smaller, clear diamonds. She held up her hands to her mouth and looked at Kira in shock. Tears sprang into her eyes and Kira frowned.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"Are you… is this…?" Lacus looked back at the ring and Kira smiled, taking her left hand.

"I want to marry you, Lacus," he informed her, slipping the ring onto her finger. "If that's alright with you, of course."

Lacus nodded, tears running down her face and she threw her arms around Kira, holding him tightly.

"I love you, I love you, I love you," she whispered to him.

"I love you, too," Kira replied. They held each other for a little while longer and then parted. Kira kissed her swiftly on the mouth and floated backwards to the entrance of the shuttle. "I'll be back soon, I promise."

"Take care, come back safely," Lacus called after him, dashing the tears from her face. The other council members gathered near the gates were trying not to look uncomfortable at the Chairwoman's tears of happiness. Kira kept looking back at Lacus until the shuttle doors shut on him and then he turned around and noticed his team all watching him.

"Did you do it?" Shinn demanded.

Kira ran a hand through his hair, embarrassed.

"Uh… yeah, I did," he admitted.

"Finally," Luna sighed. "You've kept us waiting a very long time, Commander."

Kira laughed. "Sorry, about that, Luna."

"Congratulations, Commander!" Meyrin bubbled as Kira sat down beside her. He smiled.

"Thanks, Meyrin." Kira settled back in his seat, savouring the moment because when they arrived at Carpentaria he would have to delve back into the mystery of Red Dawn and the dangers that Eurasia posed to the fragile peace the world had settled into since the end of the last war.