"Hello, you've reached the Hawke residence. We're away from the phone right now, but if you leave a message, we'll be sure to get back to you."

Lunamaria watched as for the dozenth time Meyrin ended the call and then immediately dialed the same number, anxiously rubbing at her mouth. Junius 6 had been one of the colonies hit by nuclear weapons, the very same colony that the Hawke girls and their family hailed from.

She was sitting on the floor in the common room in front of the couch next to her sister where Meyrin had decided to sit down. Lunamaria supposed that she should be in the same state as Meyrin, but instead all she felt was numbness, like her heart had ceased to beat, making her thoughts strangely clear. As if though she was only looking down on everything from above as an observer. Even amongst all the confusion and near manic atmosphere of the Minerva's crew as they frantically tried to contact their families, Lunamaria felt oddly removed from the events around her.

"Hello, you've reached the Hawke residence. We're away from the phone right now, but if you leave a message, we'll be sure to get back to you." Click.

"Meyrin," said Lunamaria softly as her sister began dialing the number again.

"They're going to pick up," mumbled Meyrin, practically gnawing on her fingers.

"Meyrin it's going straight to voicemail, the signal's not getting through."

"They're going to pick up!" said Meyrin forcefully, the look in her eyes hovering somewhere between mania and despair, hitting the numbers on her phone forcefully enough that Lunamaria was surprised that it wasn't cracking.

"Hello, you've reached the Hawke residence. We're away from the phone right now, but if you leave a message, we'll be sure to get back to you." Click.

Meyrin started dialing the number again with single minded intensity, ignoring everything and everyone else around her. Lunamaria slowly looped her arms around her sister and pulled her into a gentle hug. Stroking her hair as Meyrin finally began to cry softly, clutching at Lunamaria's jacket like a small child might.

Lunamaria held her close and whispered soothing words and sounds into her sister's ear as stroked her head much the same way their mother had when they had been little. Though Lunamaria was only a year older than Meyrin, it had always fallen to her to look after her younger sister. Always quick to cry, always quick to hide behind their mother's skirt at the first sign of trouble, Meyrin had always been a gentle soul. At the same time, a tremor of anger passed through Lunamaria.

She wanted to be able to cry and be the one to be comforted and not always be the one who had to put up the brave front, but the anger was only temporary. She could never stay angry at her sister, or truly hate her. She would put Meyrin first and she would bear the burden, because she had the strength to do so.

Lunamaria held her sister close, listening to her hitched breathing as she sobbed quietly and the beating of her heart. Lunamaria realized then how precious, truly precious her sister was to her. She resolved then and there that she would never let anything happen to her sister no matter what. Meyrin would be safe within the armored hull of the Minerva, possibly safer even than on the colonies now. Lunamaria would pilot her Zaku and use it to protect the Minerva and her sister. She would destroy anything that threatened the ship or its crew. She would fight for her sister and if she needed to, she resolved that she would die for her.

Lunamaria knew that she would be afraid and would see and do many things that would change her forever, but like the General had said she would, she had found her reason to carry on and to fight. For her sister, she would do anything. For now though, stroking her hair and whispering soothing words into her ear would be enough.

Xxx

"Ma'am," said Heinrich, snapping off a crisp salute to the Captain of the Minerva.

He was alone and when the door closed behind him, it was just him and Captain Gladys in her office, the ZAFT officer remaining oddly silent, not looking at the Krieg General or really anything for that matter. Tapping her finger slowly on her desk as if lost deep in thought.

"I just got a call from my eight year old son General, he's on Aprilius 3 with my mother."

"That is good news Captain, I am happy that your son escaped harm."

"I am too General, but I am not so happy that I am not confused," said Gladys locking eyes with Heinrich, her gaze as unwavering as his.

"My son was on November 5 going to a boarding school and staying in the dorms. November 5 was one of the colonies that was destroyed only an hour ago. Talking to him, he said a group of men and women took him from the boarding school in the middle of the night and kept him on a ship until after the attack by the EA. He said that the men didn't hurt him and were actually rather nice. He particularly liked the green-eyed woman who read him stories and gave him ice cream. My son is very smart you see, very perceptive. He remembers the green-eyed woman because he liked her and thought that the tattoo on her cheek was pretty. He also said she was pretty. Heh, he's going to be a little heart breaker when he get older," said Gladys, a smile cracking her face as she did so.

"He said it was a fleur de leis on her face and he knows what it is, because he was learning about France before this atrocity. I am given to understand that the fleur de leis has some significance within the Imperium. I'm not angry, if anything I couldn't be more grateful to you for saving my son, but to do what you did can only mean that you had prior knowledge of the attack. Why didn't you warn us?"

"That is a very serious accusation Captain, and I find I must be harsh in my rebuke, but it is one I find baseless and quite frankly unjust. Even were I to have had prior knowledge of any impending attack by the forces of the Earth Alliance I would be forbidden to share it and it would be a gross breach of security were I to make anyone else privy to it. Such an act would shame me, my family, Krieg, and every man under my command. It would be high treason punishable by execution of me and my entire command staff. It would also be a deserved punishment, because I would be choosing a side for the Imperium in this conflict, having us side with ZAFT over the EA and deciding Imperial policy even though I have no authority to do so."

"I understand General," said Gladys, a small smile never leaving her face. "I'm sorry to have accused you of this."

"It is of no concern Captain and I take no offense by it. Was there another matter that you wished to discuss? Perhaps what occurred between members of your crew and my men?"

"No, not yet. We'll conduct a formal investigation when everyone is thinking more clearly. For now the accused are in the brig where they'll stay until the investigation is complete. I'm going to have to detain your men involved as well."

"Of course ma'am, would you like me to be detained as well?"

"No, I trust that you will not attempt to leave the ship after being so adamant about remaining on it."

"As you wish ma'am. Is there anything else that you desired of me?"

"No, you are dismissed General."

"Ma'am," said Heinrich crisply, snapping off a salute before turning to exit the office.

"General, if you ever do find out who was responsible for rescuing my son tell them that I owe them a debt of gratitude for it."

"As you say Captain," said Heinrich. "Though I believe that they would say that no gratitude is necessary and that it was an honor to be of service to such a remarkable officer. I wish you well Captain."

"You as well General."

xxx

The sound of flesh striking flesh reverberated through the debriefing room and stinging pain coursed through Helen's face, courtesy of Peter's hand. Her eyes watered at the blow, but she blinked away the tears, refusing to let any fall and instead placed a smirk on her still stinging face.

"Don't you ever disobey my orders again! When I say to pull back, you pull back, do you understand that Visser?!"

"Perfectly sir, I just couldn't resist the chance to kill some of those space monsters. I wanted to know if they bleed like humans do. Turns out they just burn."

Though she had goaded him, Helen still wasn't entirely prepared for Peter throwing her up against the wall, slamming her shoulders against the metal bulkhead roughly, murder in his eyes and practically snarling. His fingers digging into her arms painfully, clearly wanting to seriously harm her. Helen met Peter's aggression with a cocky grin.

"At least take me out to dinner first Peter, mein gott. How about barbecue?"

Before it could escalate any further Diego and Adolf pulled Peter off of her, the purple haired German apocalyptic while Helen merely wiped at her mouth gingerly where Peter had hit her.

"In case you were curious Sir, I bleed red," said Helen calmly as she held up her gloved hand displaying the crimson from her split lit.

"Merde! Quit being such a bitch Helen," chastised Adelina, the brunette french woman giving Helen a scathing look.

"Bitch?" asked Helen curiously. "I just enjoy a good barbecue. Don't act so offended Adelina and don't tell me it's not Christian either. You did just as much as I did."

"I'm not reveling in it like a damned monster Helen."

"I'm sure that makes the people you burned to a crisp much less dead Adelina."

"Putain de chienne!" spat out Adelina, the woman reverting back to her native French in outrage.

"Kom maar op," said Helen calmly in Dutch, goading the other woman to act. Gesturing for Adelina to come at her.

"Officer on deck!"

Immediately Helen and all the other pilots came to attention as the captain strode into the briefing room.

"Just what the hell is going on in here?" demanded the Captain, severe dark purple eyes surveying the pilots before him.

"A difference of opinion Sir," said Helen calmly.

"Why are you bleeding Lieutenant?"

"A severe difference in opinion Sir."

"Commander Schweitzer, get a hold of yourself and conduct yourself as an officer or so help me I'll find someone who can."

"Yes Captain Badgiruel," said Peter after taking a moment to collect himself. Standing firm under the wizened gaze of their gray haired commanding officer. Jeremiah Badgiruel, a man who had retired at the rank of vice admiral, but had come out of retirement and taken a demotion in rank to command the Mermaid.

"I understand that emotions are running high right now, and I doubt that any of you ever thought that you'd be ordered to do what you just did, but you will act like soldiers or so help me I find pilots who can."

"Sir, if they weren't so-"

"Junior Lieutenant Visser you will be quiet or you'll never see the inside of a mobile suit again. Understood?" growled Badgiruel.

"Yes sir."

"Good. Now as I was saying, this was a difficult thing that you were asked to do and you did it. Something I wish that I never had to ask of any of you. Regardless, I'm very proud of all of you that you all had the strength of spirit and discipline to do what was asked of you. I'm excusing all of you of duties for the next 72 hours, with the condition that you all go and talk to the padre. If you need to get anything off your chest I want it done and if you need any help coping I want to make sure that you get it. I also don't want you at each others throats. No instigating, no fighting, and none of this schoolyard bullshit. We're in a war now much like the last one and you will need each other to survive. You're going to depend on the person to your left and your right and everyone on this ship is going to depend on all of you. That being said, if you can't do that I will kick you off this ship without the benefit of a shuttle or a spacesuit. Dismissed."

The pilots all filtered out, Helen one of them, noting that Peter refused to even look at her, which didn't bother her as much as it should, though she felt dirty and tired now. Very tired.

Helen showered when she got back to her room, or rather stood under the hot water in the shower for a long time. Hand continuously playing with the wedding ring she wore looped through a necklace that fell into the valley of her breasts. Twirling it end over end between her fingers endlessly.

Crawling into her bed once dry and dressed in pajamas, Helen suddenly felt very alone. She pulled the covers tighter around herself, but it didn't help. No blanket would every replace the arms that would never hold her again. Her gaze then drifted to where it did most nights and fell onto the picture of a smiling man with blonde hair on her nightstand. Helen's face softened as she looked at it and one of her hands snaked out from her covers and grabbed the framed picture, drawing it close and clutching it to her breast. Drawing up her legs until she was in a fetal position. Helen eventually fell into a long and dreamless sleep, picture clutched close to her the entire night.

Xxx

Djibril was frustrated, but things weren't as bad as they could have been. Five colonies had still been destroyed which meant that there were a little over 1.2 million less coordinators in the galaxy now. A good dent in the population to be sure, but it had done little to the military strength of the PLANTs.

Sure it gave them less manpower to draw upon and less production capacity, but the colonies hit hadn't been critical in ZAFT's military production. So while it was still a victory, it just wasn't what Djibril had wanted. Still, dead coordinators were always a reason to celebrate.

Djibril was more than a little tipsy as he wandered through his Persian mansion, perched in the Alborz mountains north of Tehran. He wanted something special to celebrate with and he had just the proper vintage with which to do it with. Oh the others in LOGOS weren't exactly celebrating at recent events. Some were, but others were nervous at the only partially successful nuclear strike against the PLANTs and what they would do to retaliate. Nervous prattling of old fools. So long as Durandal was in charge there would be only conventional retaliation. Djibril would only be concerned were a man like Patrick Zala still in charge. A coordinator who had stripped away the silly pretensions that the others of his kind liked to hide behind. Revealed how they believed themselves an entirely new species, and while Djibril didn't disagree with that, he had disagreed with the assertion that the coordinators would inherit this world. The only thing that they would inherit would be extinction.

Making his way to the wine cellar, Djibril was surprised when the lights wouldn't work. There was power in the mansion and he doubted that a breaker had blown. He had spent too much money rewiring this place for that to be the case.

Yet as he descended down the spiral staircase, a he noticed a faint light emanating from the bottom. Curious, he continued down and when he reached the bottom he saw what the light was. It was candles, but that wasn't what mesmerized him. What made him stare in horror.

Passed the casks of beer and bottles of wine set into their holders in the walls, candles were arranged around what could only be described as an altar. The center of which was dominated by a painting of a man in massive golden armor, flaming sword in hand and long flowing black hair. An ethereal glow emanating from his form and his expression all knowing, godly even. The God Emperor of the Imperials.

Thick ropy strands of what Djibril realized were intestines hung like garland around the painting and in front of it was a form prostrating itself before the effigy, holding up a still red and bloody skull stripped of all flesh even as the figure pushed their own into the ground before the painting.

The figure was fair skinned, but red lines of still wet blood traced their way over her body. Accentuating bones and swirling in intricate loops and spirals. Muscles like steel cords outlined against her skin and flexing underneath what appeared to be a double headed eagle drawn in blood stretching from shoulder to shoulder across her back. Djibril was only a few feet away when Dabria set the skull down on the ground with a soft clink and stood gracefully to greet him.

She was entirely nude except for her coat of blood that she wore which looped and swirled around her breasts from her collarbone down her abdomen, riding the ridges of her pelvis all the way to her toes. Her face was painted in different lines that appeared nonsensical until Djibril looked at each individually. Rage, joy, sorrow, confusion, all were there for all the world to see.

She looked like a primitive feral goddess, something that men should drop to their knees before and offer their prayers to. Like a being that demanded worship simply by being. Death given form and flesh to walk amongst humanity if only to better choose her next victim. The most recent of which appeared to be one of his household staff. Or at least the remains of his savaged corpse.

"I assume that you have a good reason for doing this," said Djibril tonelessly.

Dabria merely nodded and reaching down, tossed a flash drive which Djibril surprised himself by managing to catch even in his tipsy state. The next thing she tossed was a strip of cloth which upon further inspection contained a micro camera sewn into the fabric.

"A spy then?" asked Djibril, watching as the death cultist merely nodded.

"As much as I appreciate you rooting out all the rats from my home, understand that I want you to let me know what you're going to do in the future, before you open up positions on my staff," said Djibril gesturing to what remained of the corpse.

Dabria merely nodded and gave a respectful if somewhat theatrical bow, looking up sharply when there was a scuff of a shoe on the stone floor. Golden eyes narrowing.

Djibril looked back and saw the terrified faces of two of his maids by the stone staircase.

"This is unfortunate," remarked Djibril as Dabria rushed passed him like death itself, blade in hand.

"Don't kill them," said Djibril just in time to stop Dabria from plunging her blade into the neck of the first terrified maid. Instead she grabbed the woman's wrist with her free hand and threw her with inhuman strength across the room and into the wall where the silver haired young woman crumpled without a sound. Unconscious, but still very much alive.

Dabria grabbed the second one, a local hire from Tehran by the looks of it and covered her mouth to quiet her screams, putting a blade to her throat before taking her before Djibril.

"If you scream Dabria will kill you. Do you understand?"

The woman gave a quick birdlike nod and Dabria removed her hand from the maid's mouth. She drew in a few hushed breaths, careful not to move too much with Dabria's blade at her throat.

"I'm afraid that you've seen something rather unfortunate. You see this is how my assistant Dabria here deals with traitors and spies. Rather gruesome to be sure, but most effective.

"I-I w-won't say-" began the maid only to be silenced with a raised finger to her lips from Djibril.

"No, of course you won't. Dabria here is also skilled with chemicals and drugs. You'll drink a little vial and wake up with no recollection of this unpleasant nightmare ever have happened. Dabria if you would," said Djibril and Dabria gave a nod of affirmation. Reaching for her black bodyglove suit and the vials within, before stopping and slowly casting her gaze once more upon the maid. The point of her knife traveling downwards and lifting up the woman's necklace, before pulling it free. Holding up the pendant for Djibril to inspect. Inside sat an amethyst set in a silver housing, yet there was a small black dot. An imperfection perhaps, but it seemed to move opposite of how the pendant swayed, as if keeping track of Djibril's face. A micro camera.

"Also a spy?" asked Djibril and Dabria nodded.

"Do what you will then," said Djibril with an air of resignation and the maid in front of him died before she could so much as utter a sound.

Djibril watched then curiously as Dabria carried her before the altar and laid her down in front of it like an offering, which in a way was the dead woman was. Then she took her blade and plunged it into the dead woman's chest, ripping open the ribcage remarkably quietly. A testament to the extreme sharpness of the blade.

Djibril supposed he should have been more horrified, or terrified, disgusted at the very least as Dabria pulled the heart from the woman's chest and offered it up to her God Emperor on bended knee. Yet it was like he was removed from everything happening. An observer looking in on perhaps a curious colony of insects or maybe watching a play. He felt so disassociated from the proceedings that for a moment he believed himself to only be watching a movie in his study. An airy groan dispelled that notion however.

The first maid, the one with the silver hair was stirring and rubbing at the back of her head, but drew in a sharp intake of breath at what she saw in front of her. Hands going to her mouth in horror as her pupils narrowed to pinpricks of fear. In an instant Dabria was in front of her like a god of death gazing down at the maid and the silver haired woman actually began trembling in fear.

"Is she a spy too?" asked Djibril.

By way of response Dabria yanked the maid to her feet making the woman whimper and she then began to search the maid.

"I-I'm not," began the woman tearfully only to be silenced as Dabria put a bloody finger to her lips to quiet her, leaving a streak of crimson in its place. She quickly, if somewhat roughly searched the terrified woman, leaving her disheveled, but very much unharmed. Dabria turned back to Djibrl and shook her head, but narrowed her eyes in anger as the woman began to pray, forcing her back against the wall and the maid let out a cry of fright.

"If you're going to pray, I think it would be wise to do pray to her god," said Djibril as the maid took in the golden-eyed death cultist that towered above her.

"H-how?" asked the silver haired woman, and took in a fearful breath as Dabria carried her by the front of her dress and set her down in front of the altar, before looking down expectantly at the maid.

The woman jerkily clasped her hands in front of her and began to pray, before letting out a whimper of pain and looking up fearfully as Dabria squeezed her shoulder. The death cultist said nothing, but brought her own hands to her breast and make her hands into the rough shape of the double headed eagle on her back. The woman quickly understood and made the same gesture, praying fervently for forgiveness and protection from the effigy of the God Emperor. Unknowingly reciting an actual prayer from the Imperial Cult nearly word for word.

The woman let out a gasp as Dabria grasped her jaw, opening her mouth and poured in a clear vial of liquid. The terrified maid fell back as Dabria released her and frantically pawed her throat and chest as if it was acid, before looking up in confusion.

"Don't worry, it wasn't poison," said Djibril as the fright began to leave the maid's face and her eyes began to droop. "When you wake up, it will be like this was only a bad dream, if you even remember it at all." With that the woman's eyes closed and she knew nothing more.

The next morning Madeline woke up feeling groggier than usual in addition to her sore shoulder and having trouble waking up as she went to the shared servants bathroom to begin her morning routine. Staring in the mirror, she rotated her shoulder and pulled down a strap of her nightgown to get a better look, creasing her silver brows in a frown and biting down on her toothbrush in confusion. There was a bruise on her shoulder in what almost looked like...finger marks.

Xxx

Captain Lee understood the burden of command better than most and as he looked out of the large bay windows on the viewing spire aboard the Angry Beadle, he felt what a heavy burden it could truly be.

He had been in a position to halt the attack on the PLANTs, his fighter squadrons had been prepped for launch and his gunnery officers had been ready to engage at a word, yet his requests to stop the nuclear task force had been denied. Captain Lee was a good officer, a good soldier and that meant that he obeyed orders, even if it meant that he had to watch habitat stations full of civilians get turned to space junk.

Lee said a silent prayer for those who had been lost in the senseless attack wishing them a safe journey to the Emperor's side, making the sign of the Aquilla as he did so. Lee had wished to help, but his first duty was to the Imperium and those who ruled in the Emperor's stead.

He didn't fully understand why The Lord Militant himself had ordered that the Imperial Navy stand idly by while a battle erupted right in front of them, but his orders had been most clear. Still, Rossi was nothing if not a loyal creature of Cardinal Hassan and would make no such order without first ensuring that it received the blessings of the church first. What that really meant was that It had been Hassan's order.

Lee wasn't a stranger to the intricate politics of the Imperium, no officer of his rank was. Some managed to get to a certain level on skill alone, but after that promotion and command relied upon a network of officers, nobles, and clergy working in concert. Owing someone a favor for having your name put a spot higher on the promotion rolls, or protecting you from the fallout of a military blunder. Perhaps the money from some lord or lady to send gifts to the right person. Even the patronage of a holy man would make many of your detractors think twice before trying to meddle in your affairs.

No, Lee wasn't a stranger to the politics of the Imperium, but he truly did not understand what the Cardinal was playing at. They were spending too much time in this system when they had a crusade to get back to, though if what his astropaths were telling him, they may never get back to Imperial space again. That is, if their frightened gibbering could be believed and with psykers that was highly questionable.

Nevertheless even their protocol was somewhat odd for how they were dealing with this system. Even the Church was restraining itself which was more than a little strange. They offered the gospel of the Emperor, but they did not force it present it as the one truth that it was. In a word, the Imperium was being gentle.

The military power of this system was great, but not immeasurable and if so allowed the guns of the Imperial Navy could silence all opposition. The Angry Beadle alone could destroy the whole of ZAFT in the time it took to fire a salvo from its Nova Cannon. A moon sized explosion of plasma had a remarkable effect on people's willingness to surrender.

Xxx

Lunamaria hadn't known what she would say to Heinrich the next time she saw him, but as it turned out she didn't say anything at all. She struck him across the face. It was an awkward blow, having to reach up so high above her head, practically on her toes, yet the sound of flesh striking flesh reverberated down the hallway.

"You knew," growled Lunamaria, indigo eyes burning with rage and hand stinging, though the red mark on the General's face gave her a small measure of satisfaction. If anything though his stoic calmness did nothing but infuriate her more.

"L-Lunamaria!" gasped Meyrin, hands flying to her mouth in shock.

"You knew and you didn't say a damned thing you bastard," spat Lunamaria. "You come on our ship asking for protection, eat our food, beg to stay and then you stab us in the back once we start to trust you. You say you live for honor? Well I don't see a damned shred of it in you."

"I understand that you are upset," began Heinrich, voice the same neutral tone as it always was, and gaze never wavering from Lunamaria's.

"Don't you DARE patronize me!" growled Lunamaria. "I lost my parents, both of my parents, my brother, and my home, because you couldn't be bothered to warn us you son of a bitch. I guess you were just having too much fun playing pilot in the simulator huh? I guess our lives were secondary to your damned fun."

"I've been told that you've been having trouble reaching your parents Lieutenant," began Heinrich.

"That's because they're dead you asshole!" screeched Lunamaria, trembling in rage.

"Are you quite sure of that?"

"Of cou-" began Lunamaria fading off mid sentence, realization dawning on her face and casting her gaze back onto her sister.

"Meyrin I," began Lunamaria.

"They're not dead! They're not," said Meyrin, voice draining away to a whimper as her eyes began to fill with tears again, before she shook her head as if refusing the very idea of it, and running away.

"Meyrin, wait!" called Luna after the retreating form of her sister.

"I'm not finished with you," promised Lunamaria to Heinrich. Glaring at him.

"Before you go, take this with you," said the Krieger, holding out a small black phone. "The after effects of nuclear detonation can make wireless communication troublesome. However, with the proper equipment such limitations can be overcome.

With a grunt Lunamaria and a moment of indecision, she took the phone and chased after her sister. Finding her wasn't too hard and she hadn't run very far. She was sitting next to the protruding frame of a security door, nearly gnawing on her fingers as she dialed their parents number again for the hundredth time. Meyrin looked up at her briefly, before fixating her attention on her phone again and bringing it up to her ear again, before the call went to voicemail and she she repeated the process.

Lunamaria felt helpless to help and kneeling down to her sister, she had never been so close yet so far away from her sibling.

"Meyrin," began Luna hesitantly.

"They're not dead," Meyrin all but growled at Luna refusing to look at her.

"Try it with this one," said Luna holding out the phone, knowing that she was giving her sister false hope, but at the same time not being able to bear her being angry with her. Meyrin gave her a sideways look with the same indigo eyes that every one of their family had, before taking the phone and dialing the number, waiting expectantly.

"Hello?" said a voice on the other end, Lunamaria instantly recognizing it and her eyes opening wide in disbelief.

"Mom?" said Meyrin tearfully and as she veered from incoherent crying to demanding to know if everyone was okay, Lunamaria felt like a huge weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Tears of relief filled her eyes as she finally didn't have to put up a strong front for her sister anymore.

"Aprilius Prime? How did you get there?" asked Meyrin in confusion into the phone.

Xxx

"Con, conshe, consee, throne dammit," muttered Selena in irritation as she stumbled over the word. "Rachael come over her for a second."

"What's going on?" asked the redheaded Cadian from her own bed.

"What's this word?" asked Selena holding up the magazine she was reading from.

"That eighth grade education really biting you in the ass now huh?" asked Rachael as she made her way over.

"You know how they raise us farm girls: big, strong, and dumb as a bag of hammers."

"Conscientious," said Rachael.

"Okay, thanks Rachael," said Selena quickly.

"Do you know what it means?"

"Well...maybe not the dictionary definition of the word but...no," conceded Selena under the gaze of her redheaded gunner.

"It means moral or someone wishing to do what is right. It can also mean someone who likes to do things properly and thoroughly. What are you reading about?"

"The Desert Tiger, Andrew Waltfeld. He was a ZAFT commander in the last war that they had. He was good too, but he was defeated by the Archangel and a group of rebels. They thought he was dead until he turned up back in the PLANTs and they gave him command of the Eternal. Then he went and stole it and joined up with the Clin-"

"Clyne," corrected Rachael.

"Alright, he joined up with the CLYNE faction and helped stop both a nuclear attack and GENESIS from firing. He's also a tall glass of water if I do say so," said Selena appreciatively looking at the picture of the man. "You know some people don't like scars but damn does that one make him look sexy."

"It also says that his lover was killed," said Rachael.

"So what you're telling me is that he's single," said Selena with a wink and Rachael just rolled her eyes.

"Well, I mean, it's not like I'd go up to the guy and be like, hey, so I heard the girl you loved is dead wanna screw? Plus it was three years ago."

"Oh my throne," muttered Rachael.

"What?" demanded Selena.

"You're incorrigible Selena."

"Yeah, well so are you Rachael."

"So what does it mean then Selena?"

"Uhh," mumbled Selena and failing to find an answer merely extended her middle finger towards her gunner.

"You too. So when are we heading out?"

"Well we were supposed to stay longer, but with shit hitting the fan we're heading out on Friday back to the regiment. Hopefully the cogboys have the Two for Flinching back in good order."

"Think that we're going to get drawn into this mess Sarge?"

"Knowing our luck since there's rocks falling and nukes flying probably," said Selena.

"I'm back Sergeant and I go the ice," said Lisa, the brunette entering the room and setting down the ice.

"Did you get the warm ice?" asked Selena.

"W-warm ice?" questioned the young driver.

"You did get the warm ice didn't you?"

"There's warm ice?"

"Ah," sighed Selena in exasperation. "If you don't get the warm ice then we can't have margaritas."

"But, but they said," protested Lisa.

"I don't care what they told you, they don't know what they're talking about. Go and tell them that you're not leaving until you get some."

"Yes Sergeant," said the young driver obediently, hurrying back down to the lobby.

"You're such a bitch," said Rachael.

"Then why didn't you stop me?"

"Because it's too damned funny," admitted Rachael.

"Now who's the bitch, eh?" countered Selena putting her her arm to deflect a thrown pillow from the grinning redhead.

xxx

"You did it, didn't you?" asked Lunamaria, more a statement than a question.

"Did what Lieutenant?"

They were at the Orb war memorial and the sun was just beginning to set, casting the rows of white graves in hue of red and gold. Waves lapped gently against the rocky cliff overlooking the ocean, filling the air with a subtle smell of salt. Heinrich's aide, the one he had come with that did not have the skull faced mask stood a respectful distance away, standing at parade ground rest. Never moving to intercept Luna as she approached the General.

He was dressed as he always was in the gray and black of the Death Korps, but Luna was sporting her own clothes instead of her crimson jacket.

"You saved my parents and my brother didn't you? Meyrin called them on the phone you gave me. They're on Aprilius Prime, safe and sound. A little ruffled at being kidnapped, but they're safe."

"I can honestly say that I have no idea what you're talking about Lieutenant."

"Yeah, yeah, can't admit to taking sides or acting outside of your authority I get it. Look, I just wanted to say thank you is all. I owe you more than I can ever repay. Truly, I'm grateful."

"I have done nothing to credit thanks."

Lunamaria stood next to Heinrich and looked up at the stone memorial he remained fixated on, as if studying every detail of it.

"So how exactly did you find me Lieutenant?"

"The ship registry. You left a pretty detailed manifest as to where you were going. 5:30 to 6:30 Onogoro island memorial cemetery," said Lunamaria holding up her watch and pointing at the time.

"I was not aware that the registry was available for public viewing."

"There's no rule against it."

"I suppose not," conceded Heinrich, "I just had not expected that you of all people would come looking for me."

"I suppose I should be angry at you. Hell, I should probably hate you for knowing what was coming and not saying anything. For letting the colonies get hit I don't think that there is a way to forgive you for that, but god help me I don't care. I've found my reason. You know, like we talked about? It's my family. I realize now that they're the most important thing to me and I'd do anything for them. Anything to keep them safe, so I can't hate you since you saved them. I do have a question for you though Heinrich. Why did you do it? I mean, we kind of know each other and I would like to say that we're friends in a roundabout way, but we don't really know each other and if it's so against what you're supposed to do, then why did you do it? I mean I'm not complaining, but I just don't get it. Actually, thinking about it, you almost did warn me indirectly that the PLANTs were going to be attacked when you told me to keep training. Hm, you've got that look on your face."

"Pardon?"

"The one you get when you don't have an answer or don't know something. Like you're in your head looking for it."

"I was not aware that I had such a look Lieutenant."

"Well you do, you're not made of stone you know. Tell you what, I'll give you a little break while you look for it and ask you something different. Why are you visiting this place? I wouldn't think that you would know anyone here."

"No I don't, but these men and women answered the call to duty and gave everything they had for their people. It is a sacrifice worthy of respect and remembrance. A small gesture to show that what they did was not taken for granted. That their deaths hold meaning beyond simply the end of an expendable piece of equipment."

"There's a memorial, well, there was a memorial on Junius 6 for everyone lost on Junius 7 and during the war. It was nice, but I only ever visited it once. I guess now they'll make a memorial for Junius 6 too."

"More than likely."

"So uh, I guess that you'll be leaving the Minerva now that war has been declared?"

"No, I requested permission to leave the ship and return to my men, but I was given very clear, very direct orders to remain aboard the Minerva until such a time as they choose to recall me."

"What? That makes no sense," said Lunamaria frowning in confusion.

"To command it does."

"Well, if you're going to be staying onboard I suppose that we should keep training in the simulator. My little way of saying I'm sorry for hitting you," added Lunamaria with a mild pink blush on her cheeks.

"Lieutenant," began Heinrich.

"You can call me Lunamaria if you want. I mean, I call you Heinrich."

"Very well Lunamaria, please listen closely to what I tell you. Do not become overly attached to me."

"Well, I wouldn't say I'm attached to you," began Lunamaria taken aback.

"I would also suggest that you and your sister put in for an immediate transfer to another ship. I would do this tonight if at all possible and get out of Orb as soon as possible."

"What? Which one?"

"Any ship besides the Minerva," answered Heinrich and Lunamaria noticed that he had the same look now as he did when they had been in the simulator room. "My vocation is a dangerous one and one in which I am destined to meet my untimely end in sooner rather than later. Those who stay close to me could meet a very similar end."

"Is...are you saying that your own people are going to kill you?" asked Lunamaria in disbelief.

"I said nothing of the sort and the Lord Militant would never be so open as to directly make an attempt on my life with Imperial resources. With the standing of my family were someone to kill me my murder would not go unanswered, or unpunished for very long. Those responsible would not survive the month, but that is an entirely different situation than what we are discussing."

"I never said the Lord Militant," said Luna.

"Merely an example Lunamaria."

"But he might try to indirectly kill you," said Lunamaria, realization hitting her like a lightning flash. "By keeping you on a foreign ship that's going to be kept on the frontlines and undermanned. And about Orb, are they going to join the EA?"

"You have a habit of letting your imagination get ahead of you Lunamaria. But I believe that our time is running short, I said that I would return to the ship by eight and if I miss the ferry I won't make my timing...what is that?" asked Heinrich in confusion as a pink ball of something bounced towards them from the stone steps leading up the hill.

"Hello! Hello!" said the small robotic creation as it bounced towards them. It bounced up towards Luna who brought her hands up to catch it, but it had bounced too hard and rebounded off of the magenta girls face.

"OW! Goddammit!" cursed Luna holding her hand over a rapidly blackening eye. "Stupid thing!" cursed Luna in her anger and kicked at the pick ball, grunting in annoyance as it bounced away towards a young couple walking towards it.

"I'm so very sorry!" said the woman contritely, face twisting in concern as she rushed towards Luna.

"Yeah, just be more careful next," said Lunamaria fading off as her eyes widened in recognition of the pink haired woman in front of her.

"Miss Lacus?" said Luna dumbfounded.

"Yes, it's lovely to meet you. I have to say most people have me at a disadvantage when we meet. They always know who I am, but I almost never know who they are."

"But-I-you're-this-PLANTs-here-" sputtered Luna incoherently.

"Are you sure that you're alright?" asked the newly revealed Lacus Clyne.

"I...YES!" blurted out Lunamaria exuberantly, face breaking in a wide dopey grin and grasping the pinkette's hand in both of hers. "Me and my sister are both huge fans of yours! We went to your first concert when we were 16 on Aprilius Prime and we have all of your albums! It's a huge honor to meet you."

"Oh my, thank you so much. I'm glad that you like my music so much. Are you from the PLANTs then?"

"Yes Ma'am, I'm sublieutenant Lunamaria Hawke and I'm stationed aboard the Minerva. We're just here finishing repairs. So you live in Orb now?"

"Yes, me and Kira both live here."

"Kira?"

"Oh my, how rude of me. This is Kira here," said Lacus gesturing to the young man at her side.

"Hello," he said politely.

"It's nice to meet you," said Luna, shaking his hand.

"Who's your friend?" asked Lacus gesturing.

"Oh. This is General Heinrich von Shreider of the Imperium."

"A pleasure Miss Clyne," said Heinrich giving a formal bow to the pink haired woman.

"I haven't met anyone from the Imperium before, it's nice to meet you. Is your man not uncomfortable wearing that mask?" asked the songstress, gesturing to Heinrich's aide glad in the Korps gas mask of dull brass.

"No," said Heinrich simply.

"So are you thinking about making a comeback?" asked Lunamaria, hoping to steer the conversation away from the Krieger.

"Oh no, for now I'm quite content just how things are."

"Oh, well if you do I'll be sure to buy a ticket," promised Lunamaria.

"Aren't you going to war soon?" asked Lacus.

"Well, yeah. But it's not like I'm planning on dying," said Luna, wondering if she'd said something wrong as a look of almost immeasurable sadness crossed Lacus' face.

"I do hope that you return safely," said the pink haired songstress.

"I hate to be rude, but I do need to be going. Take care Miss Clyne, Lunamaria, said Heinrich, giving a short bow before leaving.

"Hey Heinrich!" called Luna.

"Yes?"

"Me and my sister aren't going anywhere, so I guess I'll just have to keep you safe too eh?" said Luna with a wink.

"It would appear that you do."

"Grinning again?" teased Luna, before devoting her energies to the songstress and pestering her with questions.

Xxx

Sting had known that they were going to be attacked long before the alarm klaxons had sounded. Felt it in his blood and bones, so when the alert had sounded he'd already been dressed his his flightsuit. He didn't know how he had known, he had just known.

"It's eight Vosgulov class carrier submarines attacking, so Auel you're going going to engage the submersible forces along with the bravo flight. Stella, you're staying on deck to provide fire support and everyone else is with me. We're taking the fight away from the John Paul Jones. The Ares and the Thermopylae are going to be missile defense for the John Paul Jones. We're only fighting to keep them away from the ship, there's too many of them to take win a drawn out engagement. Just play for time until the Algonquin and the Germania get here with their escorts.

"Roger," was all Sting said back to Neo, feeling his blood begin to race and heart beat faster. Fingers twitching as if in anticipation of pulling a trigger.

What was this feeling? Was this excitement? Was he now really so eager to go into battle that it felt as if though he had to wait any longer he would tear open the hangar door himself?

"Hey sting, quit revving your thrusters, you're going to cook the ground crew," came Neo's agitated voice over the radio.

"Roger," said Sting again, watching as the power fluctuations quit on their own, his hands having been nowhere near the thruster controls. It seemed that the Chaos was just as eager to fight as he was. Just as eager for blood.

If Sting could have seen his face, he wouldn't have recognized it for the blood thirsty grin that split it from side as he was moved to the outside ramp of the John Paul Jones. He was actually shaking with anticipation as the Windam ahead of him launched and then it was his turn.

"Sting Oakley, Chaos, Launching!" cried out Sting, gunning his thrusters to maximum, turning some of the ocean spray to superheated steam as he rocketed into the clear blue skies of the red sea, quickly outpacing and overtaking the Windams that had launched before, his mach cone making one he passed by close enough to trade paint with spin out of control for a fraction of a second.

"Sting, what are you doing? Get back here and stay in formation," demanded Neo and Sting shut off his radio. Nobody was going to hold him back.

Sting cut through the clouds in Chaos, the fluffy white puffs of water and dirt drawing away as if afraid to touch the green GUNDAM as he sped towards where he felt that the enemy were. The sensors soon rewarded him with radar contacts and on its own the suit highlighted the threats.

A mix of AMF 101-DINN and AMA 953-BABI mobilesuits approaching fast in groups of three, spread out for over a mile horizontally with a thousand foot separation in altitude between the flights. 42 suits in total. It seemed that the captains of the Vosgulov ships wanted the John Paul Jones sunk in one sortie.

Sting willed the Chaos to go faster, to bring him to battle quicker and glancing down was only somewhat surprised to see that the Chaos was outputting 150% of available engine power. Something that was supposed to be impossible, but the suit showing no signs of strain.

Missiles from the DINNs came first, the volley leaving smoke contrails as they sped from their chest launchers towards the Chaos GUNDAM. Sting only kept grinning and kept on a direct course as the missiles and his suit rapidly closed the distance between one another.

When only a few hundred meters separated the GUNDAM and the missiles, Sting launched the pair of beam pylons from the back of his suit and cut the back thrusters as he forced the feet of his suit up vertically, forcing him down in a maneuver that felt like it would crush his bones, yet he couldn't stop grinning.

The beam pylons fired into the incoming missiles causing a brilliant ripple of explosions as they veered down to try and keep on course with the Chaos. Sting triggered the CIWS mounted on his suit as the surviving missiles tried to veer around towards him, the tracers hunting down and ripping apart the projectiles with frightening accuracy.

Sting brought the legs of the Chaos so that they once more pointed down, almost like the GUNDAM was crouching before putting all thrusters to maximum power and launching himself skywards, a cluster of missiles passing harmlessly underneath him, their engines dying out as they ran out of propellant and now fell harmlessly to the water below.

A sudden premonition of danger hit Sting and he fired a green beam blast into what looked like empty sky, only for the empty patch of blue sky to spew molten metal as the beam punched through a DINN Raven. The stealth mobilesuit drifting aimless for a heartbeat before exploding.

Another pair of missiles fired from the DINNs closed in on Sting, put green beam blasts cutting across his field of vision from his beam pylons detonated them well short of the Chaos.

"Come on, come on, COME ON! Fight me!" yelled Sting in exuberance as the beam pylons reattached to his suit and he used their added thrust to rocket towards the ZAFT mobile suits. A boom sounding as he first broke the sound barrier, then a mach cone rapidly forming as he picked up speed.

Heavy cannon tracer fire cut its way toward him, interspaced with beam blasts as he entered the effective range of the ZAFT weapons.

"Shoot all you want! It's not going to safe you!" cried out Sting as he rolled and spun around the incoming fire. Moving only enough so that it wouldn't hit him, lest he maneuver too heavily and increase the time it would take to come to blow with the ZAFT suits.

About half of them changed out of their mobile armor forms as Sting reached them, while the other half rushed past him towards the John Paul Jones. Sting didn't fire as he reached the mobile suits, rather he ploughed through them. In the last war there was an incident of a sparrow fighter cutting through a DINN with its wing. It seemed that the story wasn't exaggerated as sting cleaved a DINN in half with his shield, hardly slowing as he cut through the lightly armored mobile suit. The two halves carrying on forwards and careening wildly as they fell from the sky.

Sting flipped the Chaos around and cut the thrust letting the momentum carry him on past the flight of DINNs he had passed and putting a beam blast through the cockpit of each one as they tried to turn and face him, causing them to explode. He gunned his thrusters and just managed to clear a spread of explosive flechette rounds that sent shrapnel and fire careening wildly through the air.

While not a threat to the phase shift armored Chaos, a piece of shrapnel getting into his air intake could still ruin his day. Sting released the beam pylons from his suit and the shot off wildly as if possessed by a mind of their own and working in concert as they chased down and destroyed the ZAFT suits.

Sting was in the center of a swirling vortex of mobile suits that were below, above, in front, and behind him. All of which were drawing a bead on him.

"Who's got the guts to be first?!" demanded Sting as fire converged on him from every direction, both energy and solid rounds.

Sting used his engines to avoid what he could and blocked the rest with his shield. Then he saw something odd. A semi-transparent BABI bursting from a cloud, then shooting at him, but it did him no harm. Trusting his instincts like he had the last time, Sting fired at the apparition, gaping in amazement as an actual BABI came from the exact route that the fake one had and right into the path of Sting's beam blast. The burst of energy hit the battery pack of the suit and the BABI burst into flame, before breaking apart. Sting grinned at the destruction.

Every shot he fired either was a kill, or corralled the suits into a kill shot. He rocketed down on top of a BABI, crushing its sensory head and cleaving a groove in its body as he drove his shield down with the force of his momentum and weight of his suit. The other two BABI suits in the flight tried to take advantage of Stings assault, lining up shots on his back, but they exploded as molten metal spewed from the chests of their suits. The pair of beam pylons claiming another victim, before rocketing away again. Sting kicked the headless BABI away and went after his next victim, A DINN that wasn't quite fast enough to avoid the thrown Shield of the Chaos. It lodged in the cockpit of the mobile suit, crushing the pilot, before Sting pulled it free and kicked the sparking suit away, but not before putting a beam shot through its wingman that resulted in a satisfying explosion.

"Keep it coming, keep it coming! I'm not satisfied yet!" Sting punctuated his words by gunning down another pair of BABIs as the came at him in their mobile armor mode.

Sensing danger, Sting tossed his shield behind him, the abused piece of armor breaking apart as it absorbed the full blast of a DINN's 190mm shotgun blast. The DINN never got off another shot though as Sting rammed a pink beam blade through its chest, turning the pilot to vapor, before forcing the blade up, leaving a stream of molten metal where there had once been a whole mobile suit.

A strange lull descended as Sting let the half molten suit fall to the earth below. Four ZAFT machines remained, two BABIs and two DINNs hanging nearly stationary in the air, but well away from the Chaos. Their pilots it seemed none too eager to try their luck against the green GUNDAM.

"Don't tell me your getting cold feet?" taunted Sting on an open frequency. "There's four of you and one of me, so what's the problem? Don't you want to get a kill marker? So, which one of you is next?" without waiting for a reply, Sting shot one of the BABI's through the chest, rupturing the battery pack and making it explode. Then the rest of the suits scattered. A DINN and BABI running back towards the Vosgulovs while another DINN headed towards the John Paul Jones.

"Sting? Sting! Come in Sting! We need you back at the Jones!"

Grunting in annoyance Sting heeded the call and headed back towards the carrier at full speed. Letting whatever panicked fire from that DINN that managed to hit him spark off of the phase shift armor, before almost lazily cleaving it in half with his beam saber.

He hardly even noticed the explosion as he closed in on the Jones. Reading the IFF tags it quickly became apparent that things were not going good for the defenders. Even with only half of the mobile suits continuing onto the Jones they had still rivaled the number that the Jones could launch to intercept them. Add to that the fact that they were coordinators and they had only lost three units while claiming eight of the windams. A further four daggers repurposed for underwater combat having been proven no match for ZAFT's GOOhN and ZnO underwater mobile suits. All four having been destroyed without a kill between them. At least Auel was holding his own, having destroyed five of the underwater suits already, despite being horribly outnumbered. Though more were on the way and Sting doubted that even Auel could take on so many enemies by himself, extended or no.

A BABI disappeared from Sting's HUD and sure enough it was Neo who had shot it down. Then not so surprisingly another trio of Windam signals ceased as they were shot down. Then one DINN, followed shortly by a second disappeared as they drew too close to the John Paul Jones and Stellar in the Gaia.

It would be interesting to see who the victor would be between the Jones and the ZAFT forces, but Sting didn't quite feel like sleeping on the ground tonight should the Jones lose the battle.

Looking at his energy meter Sting expected to find it nearly depleted, but instead saw it only down a quarter from when he had launched. That was surprising, but at the same time seemed right.

A windam crossed Sting's flight path, firing hopelessly at a BABI intent on cleaving it in half with a beam saber. As an afterthought, Sting put a beam blast through the BABI an instant before it was set to cut the windam in two.

The BABI exploded and the Windam flew away, a much different outcome than what the ZAFT pilot had intended no doubt.

"The Ares!" Came a panicked cry over the radio and Sting saw why. Auel wasn't able to keep the swarm of underwater mobile suits all busy and some of them had taken it upon themselves to attack the destroyer from below. Their heavy 533mm torpedoes breaking the spine of the ship's superstructure and tearing the ship in two. A great gout of water went almost as high as the flames from the explosion, marking the death of the warship.

Oh well, though Sting unconcerned as he cut an unsuspecting DINN in half, before putting a beam blast through another. A BABI turned to engage him, but Neo took advantage of its distraction, putting a beam shot through the mobile suit. First taking off an arm, then correcting to take down the suit for good.

Sting's HUD suddenly lit up with 40 more radar contacts coming from the North and Suez. Windams. It seemed that the Germania and the Algonquin had arrived and were eager to join in on the fight. Another pair of BABIs were shot down as they tried an attack run on the Jones courtesy of the Gaia, before the ZAFT forces decided that they'd had enough and turned tail and ran. Though not before shooting another two windams, leaving only Neo's and the one that Sting had saved still flying.

Sting watched them go, finding little urge to kill cowards, before returning to the Jones.

In the hangar, Sting felt oddly satisfied, but also felt like there was more he wanted to do, but he wasn't sure what it was.

"Excuse me, sir? I just wanted to thank you, you really saved my hide out there and the way you shot down those mobile suits, well, it was incredible."

It was the pilot of the windam that Sting had saved, a buxom woman with bronzed skin, hazel eyes and long chocolate tresses. Sting felt the urge build within him and somehow he knew that what he was about to do was going to work. Felt it.

"I'm Camila by the," started the woman, cut off as Sting crushed his mouth against hers, pulling her close as at first she stiffened in surprise, before submitting and allowing Sting to deepen the kiss and let his hands wander where they wished.

When he broke the kiss the windam pilot's face was flushed and breathing deep.

"Would you like to...get better acquainted?" breathed Sting into the woman's ear as he caressed one of her breasts through her flightsuit and breathlessly she nodded. Sting had a very good night to follow up a very good day.

AN: Well that's another chapter out of the way and hopefully you all enjoyed it. Please drop a review and tell me how you found it.