2010-12-16 - Wings Of Liberty

Katharon Flagship Argama In Far Orbit of Earth 18:30 - Local Space Time

"Alright, team, we're only going to get one shot at this." Captain Bright explains as he stands in the middle of the Argama's launching bay. He -- and truly everyone nearby -- are dwarfed by the mighty combat machines known simply as GUNDAM.

Beneath them, a holographic display projects the White Star in green wire-frame. "Colonel Testarossa has identified a key location in this access point," Bright points at a particular area of the White Star. It seems to be some manner of space-waste disposal chute. "It has very minimal sensors and defensive systems. Heero, your team will have to infiltrate White Star through this area. Disable whatever you can and move quickly. It's imperative you defend Juku as she installs this psi-dampener at the psi-conduit power-link here.." he points. "Time is your enemy and this is the most important part of this entire operation. The entire success of the battle tomorrow hinges on your success today. Failure is not an option."

THIRTY MINUTES LATER

The Argama drifts toward the White Star, staying -just- out of maximum range of its sensor arrays with the aid of Minovsky interference. All lights -- save for those lining the runway of the Argama's catapults -- are off.

"Start the clock!" Bright motions to his bridge crew. "And launch our mobile suits!"

HOURS AGO, SANC KINGDOM

"I know the Earth and everything else is at stake, but this is more than a suicide mission, this is-- this is-- I don't even KNOW what this is," protests a doctor as he paces along with Heero Yuy's incredibly slow... wheelchair gait.

The Gundam youth continues wheeling himself forward, towards the chartered shuttle that he's requested be sent to the Sanc Kingdom aerospace. He didn't quite know, exactly, what he was going to be riding or even what he'll be piloting when he got there. He had one good unit -- the original Wing Gundam rebuilt -- and he entrusted it to Banjo Haran.

"It's... something I need to do," Heero concedes, having nothing especially remarkable or cool to say about it. When the two arrived at the spaceport, however, there was something far more than a shuttle waiting for them.

It was the Wing Gundam Zero.

NOW

Pitch black darkness.

Zoning & Emotional Range Omitted .... Z.E.R.O. SYSTEM ONLINE ....

A single light from the center sphere.

Heero sees his face reflected on it. A soft blue glow fills the cockpit; lights, buttons and monitors come alive as power spreads throughout the Gundam. With a few more keystrokes, the panoramic display comes into view. Outer space... and their target: the White Star. Already, the Search Eye gleams around, filtering his mind with information.

"ZERO... let's finish this. It's been a long time coming," Heero speaks to his own machine. He's at ease, now. The painkillers are kicking in. He's well-braced. Even the abdomen rupture isn't bothering him.

The Wing Zero glides onward as it sails out of the Argama's docking bay, wings outstretched, and its verniers carving quad trails of light blue trails across pitch-black space. ZERO's eyes shine with an indefatigable green light.

"Roger that, Captain Bright. Heero Yuy and Wing Gundam Zero, entering the battlefield.

Attack orders confirmed. Adopting first strategic level."

He shuts his eyes for a moment. The full pulse of ZERO enters his mind, and he hears the keening of its acceptance and its vigor. Its desire to make things right. He opens them.

"Mission accepted."

BACK AT SANC...

"Hey, uh, the shuttle's here now. Apparently Katharon said they never sent out a Gundam. Who the hell sent for it? 'cause it sure wasn't me," mumbles one confused doctor.

"I thought it was you. 'cause I didn't either," stares the other opposite. Moment of silence as the two stared at each other.

"GHOST GUNDAAAAM--!!"

Barely having enough time to get familiar with a new mobile suit, Wufei was back in his beloved 'Nataku'. Thanks to Juku's timely positioning aboard the Argama, she was able to upgrade the mobile suit, despite Katz trying to take it out for a joyride when it was missing a leg and arm. Juku also seemed to be the reason why Wufei was ON the Argama at this moment. Having flown a shuttle to get Wufei, he now stood ready to help the Argama, and by proxy, Earth. Gundam Altron rockets out of the hanger of the Argama and Wufei was itching for quite a bit of payback, not that he'd admit it to anyone but a certain select few people.

 Duo Maxwell transmits, "Heero?! What the hell, man - aren't you-"

 Heero Yuy transmits, "This is Heero Yuy, designation Zero-One. Ready to begin the operation."

 Trowa Barton hmms, "Good to hear from you Heero..."

 Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "Ah, Heero. Long time no see."

 Duo Maxwell transmits, "Quatre!"

 Chang Wufei transmits, "This is Wufei. Designation Zero Five."

 Heero Yuy transmits, "Thank you, Trowa. You too, Quatre... Infiltration Team, sound off!"

 Duo Maxwell transmits, "Wufei! Trowa! Maaaaaaan...this is /great/! - Oh right, this is Duo, Designation 02! It's time fer th' God of Death t' get t'reapin'!"

 Juku Reimaru transmits, "The balance on your machine should be better in general now, and it has fully integrated space thrusters."

 Trowa Barton transmits, "Trowa Barton, deisgnation 03. Ready to go."

 Chang Wufei transmits, "Zero Five, Standing By."

 Staren Wiremu transmits, "Quatre, haven't seen you around in some time... Who are these other two? Friends of yours, Heero, Duo...?"

 Heero Yuy transmits, "Yeah... you couldn't ask for better people in a fight."

 Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "Quatre Raberba Winner, designation 04. If we get caught, try not to kill them. They may not be human, but they are still living and breathing beings. Maybe we can teach them some human compassion?"

 Duo Maxwell transmits, "Okay, /now/ it's just like it used t'be."

 Duo Maxwell transmits, "It just ain't complete if Quatre doesn't say somethin' about th' Heart of Space or whatever."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Staren Wiremu transmits, "If we get captured, there's not much we can do, the power armor didn't work out..."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Heero Yuy transmits, "I've brought an extra pair of wings, as well..."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Juku Reimaru transmits, "Then don't get caught. Juku, launching the REX Hound."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Chang Wufei transmits, "We don't have that luxury, Zero four. It's either we defeat them or mankind is enslaved."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "Hehe. I'm sorry Duo, I am sure that the Heart of Space will speak to me soon. But for right now, let's concentrate on our mission."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "Heh...yeah..."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "See? See?!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Banjo Haran transmits, "Banjo Haran, Designation 06; don't even /think/ about using lethal force on these people. Launching!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "Some of these people may be our friends. Much like Banjo Haran. We cannot risk losing such important peopel."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "The Heart of Space would not allow for it."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Staren Wiremu transmits, "Heart of Space? Do I even want to know...?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell says, seriously, "No."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Chang Wufei transmits, "It's...Quatre's /thing/...."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Heero Yuy transmits, "I think he's described it in similar fashion to that of a Newtype... but the details I've never heard."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Trowa Barton transmits, "A Wing Gundam variant?"

EARLIER

Quatre had been a late moment addition. He'd been hard to find. A single ship was currently docked with the Argama containing some rather unsavory characters. The blonde had kept to himself in his room, practicing his violing whilst looking over the mission instructions. Rasid stood before him, with his arms crossed. "I don't know about this. Are you sure? This sounds like a suicide mission to me." To which Quatre put down his violin and just smiled at the rough looking man. "That is exactly why we were called. Suicide missions is what we do. When it comes to that, there is no better team. You know that, Rasid." The man nods. "You are right. But..." - "Don't worry about it."

NOW

"Quatre Raberba Winner, designation 04. If we get caught, try not to kill them. They may not be human, but they are still living and breathing beings. Maybe we can teach them some human compassion?" The unit wasn't standing on the Argama's launchpad, but rather was revealed as the top of the Maganac's ship's roof opens. The unit is wearing its typical cape of course, and the Heat Shotels are hidden away properly. "Alright. Here I go." The lights within his units start turning on, and the cockpit is filled with light as the camera systems turn on. "All systems are good. Wish me luck." And with that the thrusters fill with life and push the Sandrock from its resting place and into the depths of space... following after the Wing Gundam.

EARLIER IN THE EVENING

"Duke Brazen." Baron Ashura called to the fleeing figure, voices speaking in unison. "Where do you think you are going?" The General of Doctor Hell, eyeing the figure. "Aren't you forgetting your helm?"

Brazen turned his head, grinning at his peer as he eyed him up and down with his crimson eyes. "Tch. That old thing? I don't wear that garbage anymore. As for where I'm going. Anywhere I damn please." He steps in front of the other general, shoving him/her with his fingers. "And there is nothing you can say to stop me."

"This is heresy! Dr. Hell will hea---" Ashura is cut short as Brazen's fist connects with the female half of the equation. The male side of Ashura is almost shocked by it before the anger sets in. "HOW--" The second fist strikes Ashura, knocking him to the ground.

Brazen laughs and shakes his head. "Go ahead and tell, Dr. Hell. He'll probably give me a medal for it. I'm the favorite. Remember that." Brazen laughs as he walks toward his machine, his torn mantle hitting the wind as the door to the hangar slides open.

The Argama probably knows of the DC signature before the others do. Whatever it is, it is coming very fast.

Within moments, the Warrior Beast soars past the Argama, glowing with swirling green energy as glares toward the target. He registers the other tags in the area, chuckling slightly. "My, my. Someone had the same idea." Brazen says to himself before hailing the Argama. "Attention...You....I'm here to destroy the Balmarian weapon. If you are doing the same, don't get in my way and I won't destroy you. If you are not, then I will take care of you after I deal with this. You will have that long to run. That is all."

The black Machine beast lets out a mechanical roar as it powers up a new weapon on it's arm: The Rail Gun from that Metal Gear. It takes a test fire, pulling metal particles from the air and forming a drill before firing it in a random direction. "Hmm. Very well."

ARGAMA MINUTES AGO

Staren nods and salutes as Bright dismisses them to their machines. At long last, they're taking the fight to the enemies... Hopefully Earth will be free again, soon. And then he can worry about war against other _humans_, sigh...

In his distinctive safety orange armored normal suit, Staren walks over to the waiting zipline which lifts him up to the Astray's cockpit. Red and grey have been recolored to bright red and white, and the forehead fin painted gold. Does that make it count as a Gundam? Staren closes the cockpit, and grabs a small bottle of painkillers, popping a single pill and swallowing it. Two days ago, he was in a mobile fighter that got ripped apart. He's still recovering, but damnit, he can still help... He begins running checks, making sure everything is in order with the machine, but of course it is...

NOW

The Astray waits in the queue after the 'real' Gundams. Its turn arrives, and the elevator brings it up to the launch deck. "Staren Wiremu, Astray Prometheus-type, launching!" He closes his suit's visor for safety, and the customized Astray takes off into the void.

Two Days Ago In the background, the crowd applauds wildly as Trowa Barton (wearing his half clown mask) steps into the back area of the tent where all the things go on behind the scene. Following shortly after him is Catherine Blooms. "Good work Trowa, you really put on a good show out there." Trowa quietly takes off his mask and sets it on the table next to him. Before he can say anything though, another voice calls out. "Second Leiutenant Trowa Barton of the A-Laws?" Trowa turns to see a man dressed in a black suit and dark sunglasses, "Yes?" "We have a mission for you," the man says as he pulls out a folder. NOW Trowa Barton sits in the darkened cockpit of Gundam Heavyarms Kai as it's systems slowly come online. Readouts light up, screens flicker to life, and the sound of the machine hums to life. It feels a little strange... he has worked with his fellow Operation M colleges many times before, but this is the first time single the Missile Base where they have all been brought together... and under one man's command to boot. It feels... kind of good, actually. There's no group of people he'd rather put his lot in than these four. "Gundam Heavyarms Kai, launching." The catapult presses him into the back of his seat as he's hurtled out into space... and almost as if on cue, he sees the Wing Zero in teh distance, "Heero... right on time."

By rights, Banjo Haran should still be in the Argama's medical bay or worse, as his months of operations as an alien monster ended with him on the wrong side of some of the most dangerous weapons in the Earth Sphere. Even now, he's still wearing an eye patch beneath which bruises are blooming, still sporting a brace around one arm - just days ago, it was a cast; chalk it up to the miracles of modern science - still wearing bandages over practically every inch of his body and most pressingly, most /painfully/, the scars Baraq Sheraga wore into his psyche are still fresh. He wears a bandana over his nose and mouth and another over his brow to conceal the sigils scrawled across his skin by sacred Balmarian science.

But there's too much work to be done to languish in bed, too many wrongs to right and a friend who's entrusted him with the keys to take his first small steps towards claiming some measure of vengeance from the Ze Balmary Empire.

"Banjo Haran, Designation 06," the heir to the Haran Conglomerate transmits as Wing Gundam's Neo Bird Mode suddenly roars to life, shocking nearby technicians who'd grown used to merely maintaining the newly reforged Gundam in its Argama launch bay. "Don't even /think/ about using lethal force on these people. Launching!"

One fifth of the colonies' original plan for violent, Gundam-led revolution explodes from the Argama, screeching silently through the darkness with its eyes locked on the White Star in the distance. Within, Banjo begins the transformation procedures and assures himself that he won't accidentally crush himself within the machine's cockpit as its avian body unfolds to become a sleek mobile suit with the power to threaten entire armies.

And he prays.

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Heero Yuy transmits, "It's based on the Wing Zero's combat data -- I received notice it was completed yesterday."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Staren Wiremu just sort of '...' at the sight of TWO Wing Gundams. It's a great thing Heero isn't trying to kill him anymore.

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Heero Yuy transmits, "I trust that it's fine, 06."

Celestial Being has seen better days.

Hunted, dogged and ambushed at every corner, they had hardly been in good shape when their Balmarian invasion arrived, particularly stymied when they Aegis Shield cut the Gundam Meisters (and friends!) off from the Ptolemaios II, effectively robbing them of both their base of operations and tactical heart. De-centralization could only take you so far.

Not only that, the revelation that one of their own had been turned by the Balmarians struck just as the situation seemed to be improving. Once again, the goals of Celestial Being turned inwards, concerned with sorting out their own house first before taking action on the world stage once again. It was easy for some to think the organization dedicated to ending war had turned tail and fled, caring nothing for anything that did not concern them directly, little more than a bunch of self-interested terrorists after all.

In truth, they'd taken advantage of this time to recover from much of the damage A-LAWS had dealt them, submerging across dozens of hidden earth bases while the invaders took the spotlight they'd once held. Plans had been drawn, tactics formulated, battle scenarios revised. They had enough intel and equipment for one operatione, one crucial moment. The Meisters had to choose wisely.

Better late than never.

Having a true GN drive meant not needing a spaceship to get you somewhere over long distances. The Gundam Arios led the vanguard of the first half of the team, cruising on on the opposite side of the battlefield, White Star looming great and ominous in the HUD. "Hm..." Allelujah Haptism went over his directives carefully, which essentially amounted to 'provide an excellent distraction while rest of Katharon does its thing'. No one else beyond the Meisters has been consulted on this, it wasn't their way. Actions, not words, guided the philosophy of Aeolia Shohenberh.

"Allelujah Haptism, Gundam Arios.." The GN drive surge with renewed vigor, dropping a stream of glittering green particles to note the arrival of those most enigmatic of the Gundam units, "..joining the battle!!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Juku Reimaru transmits, "That thing is sweet."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "Hey, I want one!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "Man, why doesn't Deathscythe Hell turn into a bat?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Chang Wufei transmits, "Focus, Zero Two."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Heero Yuy transmits, "... you're a Gundam pilot, not Count Dracula."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "Yeah, well"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "Well"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell uh

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "This isn't a battle yet, Allelujah. And let us hope it will never."

The REX Hound is not a Gundam. It is however a very high performance machine with similar specificaitions and the ability to become practically invisible, a perfect infiltrator for this mission with a technical specialist at the controls.

"Juku Reimaru, REX Hound. No designation. Let the Balmarians know who fucked up their shit."

The REX Hound is catapulted down the Argama's runway and released off into space, where it's thrusters ignite and the color of it's armor shifts to rapidly adapt to the surrounding space. The only mark os it's passage is two strips of fluttering materials...

Is that a bandana?

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Staren Wiremu transmits, "Count Dracula, Gundam Pilot. It sounds like a bad TV show..."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Heero Yuy transmits, "... wasn't there... such a Gundam Fighter sometime ago? -- nevermind, irrelevant."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Staren Wiremu transmits, "Um... These other guys... Can they be trusted to know of Prometheus's existance?"

ONE HOUR EARLIER

Duo Maxwell sits on the bed of the temporary room on board the Argama. He was here specifically for this operation; they were the only people who could pull off something this ludicrous, insane, impossible, and over the top. This was super-spy stealth acton, and they were just the people to do it. Still, Duo stares at the photograph in his hand; it was the one and only photograph he still owned from That Time, of the Maxwell Church. Father Maxwell, standing in the background; Sister Helen, her hands on Duo's shoulders; Duo himself, not even ten years old.

"Father...Sister...I know y'wouldn't approve of me pilotin' like this," Duo sighs, "I've said this like a hundred times, too...every year since then...but this time..." Duo looks away, staring over at the window. "I'm not very religious, I know...probably a huge disappointment...but I want y't'do me just one favor, okay? If y'guys can hear me...watch over her, please? Not me...jus'...keep her safe."

Duo closes his eyes, and slides the photograph into his pocket, picks up his jacket, and throws it over his shoulder. He stands up, exiting the room with a smile on his face. Because that was who Duo Maxwell was; who he needed to be. The God of Death had to put his sorrows in his pocket and leave them behind.

Otherwise, how could he do what was necessary?

RIGHT NOW

Just one shot, Bright Noa, captain of the Argama, said. Just one shot to drop into the White Star, disable every system they can find, defend Juku, and save the day by screwing over the psychic field of all the Balmarians in the White Star. One shot to infiltrate, defend, and sabotage.

Duo Maxwell grins, flipping up the switches, keying the Deathscythe Hell's ignition, and adjusting his colar. The screens come on; one by one, they light up, targetting and radar and weapons readouts, each one making a "bwoop bwoop bwoop bwoop bwoop' sound as they do so. The wings of the great black demon machine slide down, closing and rippling into invisibility; Duo's eyes slide shut, appreciating the feel of his cloak. It was like wearing a sweater knitted by his girlfriend (and that was pretty much what it was, too); it gave him a warm, fuzzy feeling. It was a good way to counteract the fact that he was about to use it to cut people up.

Duo relaxes into the cockpit, sinking into the leather seat as his fingers wrap around the controls. Like Bright needed to tell him to protect Juku.

"Duo Maxwell, Designation Zero Two, launchin'! Th' God of Death's got souls t'reap!"

Silent, invisible, cold, and radar-blocked, the Gundanium machine slides out of the Argama's launch bay. He's excited; flying with Trowa and Quatre and Wufei and Heero and Juku and Allelujah and Lockon...it was almost enough to let him put the darkness of his past behind him. Deathscythe Hell forms up above the REX Hound; he's not going to let her out of his sight.

"Anyone who sees my face..." Duo murmurs, staring at the White Star before them.

"Anyone who sees my face is gonna die!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Allelujah Haptism transmits, "Ah..well..it probably will be. Not be negative or anything..!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Allelujah Haptism transmits, "(Darn it, I jumped the gun..!)"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Heero Yuy transmits, "No, it's only reasonable. We -are- infiltrating the White Star, after all..."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "Allelujah! What the hell are you doing out here!?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "Duo, does your unit still have its ECM capabilities?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Chang Wufei transmits, "The same reason the rest of us are here?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "Yeah."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Chang Wufei transmits, "Unless I'm the only one here that wants to turn the White Star into the Dead Star?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Allelujah Haptism transmits, "Captain Bright! Ah, Tieria told me to say 'Celestial Being has arrived to assist in the operation against the White Star' if you asked that."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Staren Wiremu transmits, "Uh... None of you are newtypes or otherwise psychic, right?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Allelujah Haptism may be reading this off an index card

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "...."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Banjo Haran transmits, "There's work to be done, Bright; are you /really/ gonna complain?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "Were you even planning on telling me ahead of time!?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "Man, fer once he ain't yellin' at me..."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "Great t'have ya, Allelujah."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Chang Wufei transmits, "the heck is a newtype?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell may only be saying this because Bright isn't distracting him.

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Allelujah Haptism transmits, "And he said to say 'We did not wish to compromise the effectiveness our operation by risking a leak.' if you said that."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "D-damn...Captain, I think you got out-maneuvered!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Theresa Testarossa transmits, "That does sound like Tieria."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Heero Yuy transmits, "Welcome onboard, Allelujah."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "Well, if your ECM signal is strill strong, it may be best you take the lead, Duo. That may stop them from detecting us a little longer."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "Nnggg. Is -this- Celestial Being!?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Staren Wiremu transmits, "A newtype is someone who's going to feel very unpleasant along with, hopefully, some of the aliens, if I activate this."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Theresa Testarossa flatly, "Yes."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Trowa Barton asides to Heero, "Is this a common occurance in katharon?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Heero Yuy transmits, "...more than you'd expect."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Chang Wufei transmits, "They have Duo. you expected less?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "H-hey!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Staren Wiremu transmits, "I repeat, can these other two be trusted with the existence of Prometheus and the Artificial Empathy System?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Allelujah Haptism transmits, "In any case, this is where we felt we could strike the biggest blow in ending another pointless war, so here we are."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "They can be trusted."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "It's okay Duo. There's nothing wrong with you being you."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "They ain't gonna tell anybody. I dunno about anyone else, but they can be."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "Just... try not to let it cost us the mission."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Heero Yuy transmits, "If someone can keep a secret, it's those two."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Staren Wiremu transmits, "Alright."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "What's /that/ supposed t'mean?!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Heero Yuy transmits, "And Staren... I'll trust you on this. I hope that it'll work."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Heero Yuy transmits, "..."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "Maaaaan...jeez, you ask me t'go first /an'/ insult me...I guess I got no choice. Deathscythe Hell, takin' point."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Heero Yuy transmits, "Might want to let Quatre know, though. He doesn't call it such, but I'm sure he's a Newtype."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "Fine! Allelujah, Meister Team will have to cause a distraction to keep the Balmars from pulling their entire frontline on our infiltration. Unless, of course, /Tieria/ told you to say you've come up with something else?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Staren Wiremu transmits, "It helped break their control over Akira, and it definately had an effect on one of the Balmarians so far. ...Curiously, it didn't affect Macua while she was... you know."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Chang Wufei transmits, "Nataku, right behind you, Duo...."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Staren Wiremu transmits, "A jamming signal will give us away, won't it? It will just stop them from pinpointing us."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "Man, give me some credit, an' you stay back, Wufei."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "Jus' let me do what I do best."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Chang Wufei transmits, "You underestimate Zero Two, Zero Six."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Allelujah Haptism transmits, "..No, actually. He said that was exactly what you would suggest, and that he agreed."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "...."

Dramatic timing is actually one of the primary traits required for qualification as a Gundam Meister. Sitting in the cockpit of the GN-006 Cherudim Gundam, the green flightsuited Lockon Stratos is slightly distracted for reasons of his own... But beneath that, his conflicted feelings over a certain individual to return from Balmarian control - one who, admittedly, hasn't been widely advertised due to Celestial Being's nearly pathological need for secrecy in all things - there's that familiar tension that always comes before a battle. The knowledge that any second could be your last. Things occur to you, then, that wouldn't really figure into your thought processes any other time. Some people become introspective, some people become pessimistic. "Hey, Allelujah, are you gonna marry that Marie girl or what?" Lockon Stratos becomes a nosy jerk. Cherudim is in fact clinging to the back of Arios as the two GN-series Gundams race towards the battlefield, the hunter green and pure white suit crouching on the back of its orange counterpart. The orange Haro docked with him turns to look at the counterfeit Gundam Meister, the spherical AI giving him an unreadable look (it lacks a face) before returning its attention to the forward screen. "Well, about time to get ready," Lockon decides, and Cherudim lets go of Arios, using the boost to keep its momentum up as the second Gundam's own true solar furnace surges, green particles streaming out of its rear mounted thrusters. "Cherudim, Lockon Stratos!" "Sniping the targets!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "I'm getting too old for this shit."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "--Not a single word, Allelujah!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Lockon Stratos transmits, "Ha ha ha."

Tessa Testarossa has largely been quiet - she didn't even really announce her return to humanity's side for several days, choosing to take time to rest, recuperate, and reclaim herself and her pride. The Balmarians did a lot of hard work to undermine her personality - her will to be herself, and her belief in the things she believd in. And one other thing they changed...that Tessa has found she doesn't want to part with.

Tessa was aboard the Argama for the briefing, secluded away in a guest quarters, unwilling to look anyone in the eye with the changed body the Balmarians had inflicted on her. But she listened through a comm feed, nodding to herself. That location...yes. She's nervous, butterflies in her stomach. But she knows, as she rises up to flip open the vacuum-sealed suit bag she brought with her, that if she's to move forward...she must take a step.

ABRUPTLY:

Argama's runway receives another visitor, darting out amid the swarm. The reflexes are rusty, the woman in the pilot's seat thinks, dimly. She's never even used this machine before, but the Balmarians gave her a gift, even if she feels uneasy using it. But at the same time, she knows that no longer can she feel comfortable simply standing by while others take the heat for her. A second battleship will be useless, here...and Tessa Testarossa feels like she absolutely must assist. The bright red sparklers of the Mithril-manufactured GN Tau drive race behind Kyrios as it darts in among the swarm.

"...Ansuz," Tessa announces, quietly, "I'll be assisting in Gundam Kyrios."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Allelujah Haptism ziplock

Hours ago the Freedan, Macua is trying to keep Kid away from the Esh, before R&D can get to it. It was a fortunate catch. Functional EOT technology for the most part and who knows what other terrible suprises that Ingram might have had other nasty supries and it was a hell of a technological windfall. That's why she doesn't scramble in it tonight.

The Phoebe Gundam which has sat idle for months now finally comes to life.

"The destroyer of souls, the Balmarians will pay for everything they have done."

The Morganrote Made Gundam launches with the rest she knows the mission she knows what she's got to do. She's got some friends to back up several who didn't give up on here. So away her machine goes, she does reach out with her mind, there's someone out there, someone she knows or should she say Adom knows. That shouldn'tbe left to the Mercy of Ingram or Gozzo.

"Fire Dancer Launching!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Macua Huitl transmits, "Fire Dancer launching."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Allelujah Haptism transmits, "(That cue card was really funny, though..)"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "You are only as old as your feel, Captain Bright. And you sure seem young to me still. Although your dress... well, I guess it is military requirement to wear that."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Colonel Theresa Testarossa transmits, "Incidentally, I'll be assisting as well."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Heero Yuy transmits, "Macua? ... Colonel?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell offers, cheerily, "/I/ think y'look like a total badass, sir."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "...still waitin' on that autograph, though."

NEVIIM

"It would seem that we have more Samples, m'lord," a masked scientist says inside of the White Star's inner throne room.

Euzeth sits up straighter on his throne, hewn of the stone that had once composed the capitol tower of Augustus, the first Spirit Emperor. He looks up, and brings his mask up to cover his face, concealing locks of blue hair from the sight of his minion days before. "I see," he rumbles. "Attacking us directly?"

"Indeed."

"So it has come to this," Euzeth says. "Pathetic. Is /it/ ready, yet?"

"No," the scientist says. "It is not, yet, m'lord. However, there is another machine that you might find suitable."

Euzeth reflects and then, finally, realizes. "Indeed."

OUTSIDE

A hatch opens on the side of the White Star. It is an immense one, normally reserved for the Huleh-class battleships. The machine comes hurtling up and out of the hangar. It is dark blue, red, and gold -- it has a face of steel, a mighty build, and it speaks to a great power within. The machine broadcasts an IFF, announcing its affiliation with the Ze Balmary Empire.

Inside of the cockpit, Euzeth looks up. He crosses his arms over his chest, and then clutches the controls. "Let it be done, samples," he says. "You come here to kill us -- I come here to remind you what we have taken from you."

Then, with great gusto, he roars. "Go, DAITARN 3!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Colonel Theresa Testarossa transmits, "I can't simply stand by, not today."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Heero Yuy transmits, "Captain Bright. Let me make up for what grief I've caused before. We'll handle this operation --"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Banjo Haran transmits, "Are you s--"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Banjo Haran transmits, "Oh--"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell observes, in that eloquent, Duo way, "Sunuva/bitch/."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Colonel Theresa Testarossa transmits, "--*"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Staren Wiremu transmits, "Captain, however old you are, you handle running the Argama better than I can imagine anyone else I've ever heard of doing so."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Colonel Theresa Testarossa transmits, "I..."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Heero Yuy transmits, "..."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Colonel Theresa Testarossa transmits, "Feel like I should be less surprised."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Banjo Haran quietly transmits, "--oh, oh, my God, no..."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Macua Huitl transmits, "Can't leave you guys to do this alone, beside I think Tessa and I have some debts to collect on from them. ... Heh, Banjo. Hey."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "Hey! HEY! Snap outta it!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Chang Wufei transmits, "guys. once again...focus."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Macua Huitl transmits, "... Oh dear god!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "It's just like everythin' else!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "It's a friend we gotta break out!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "So let's break our friends out an' kick some serious ass!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "What!? You're barely fresh out of their mind-control! I can't let you run off half-cocked without even being at your physical peak!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Staren Wiremu chuckles about something.

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Heero Yuy transmits, "Banjo... that one's all up to you."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Colonel Theresa Testarossa transmits, "Consider it therapy."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Banjo Haran transmits, "Bright, shut up. Tessa, good luck. Heero, I'm..."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Banjo Haran transmits, "--I think I'm gonna need /backup/"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "How did they detect us?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Macua Huitl transmits, "I'll have your Wing, Tessa."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Colonel Theresa Testarossa transmits, "Thank you, Macua."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Allelujah Haptism transmits, "Miss Testarossa! Are you alright?!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Staren Wiremu transmits, "Wha...?! That's... That's... We have to fight DAITARN 3?!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Banjo Haran transmits, "I've got it, Staren."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Macua Huitl transmits, "Your welcome."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Juku Reimaru transmits, "Oh /hell/ no."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Heero Yuy transmits, "Roger that, Banjo. ... it's time for you to take back everything else stolen from you, isn't it."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Theresa Testarossa transmits, "Hah. Alright isn't the word I'd use, but...I should use these reflexes before they die on me."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Juku Reimaru transmits, "The point of infiltration is to /avoid/ mofos like that."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Staren Wiremu transmits, "Hmh. I can help if you want."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Banjo Haran transmits, "No."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Banjo Haran transmits, "/I've got it, Staren./"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "Let's stay near Duo, so we remain undetected."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "I just hope the radio-chatter won't be detected."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "How the hell did they get ahold of Daitarn-3? You'll all have to work as a team in order to succeed, I can't unveil the Argama to provide long-range support without risking them summoning their entire frontline. Banjo, just remember who you are. What they turned you into is not the person you are now."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Banjo Haran transmits, "Where did you think the /Titan/ came from?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Banjo Haran loudly, gradually exhales before adding, "I'm good."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duke Brazen transmits, "Hmph."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duke Brazen transmits, "Well, Captain? Do you accept my terms."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "Duke Brazen!? I should've known -- I could smell your stench from space miles."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Staren Wiremu transmits, "Is this a secure frequency or the Earth Party Line?!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duke Brazen transmits, "Bright Noa, your ship bleeds emotion hormones to make that terrorist Katz into a man."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duke Brazen transmits, "Does it matter?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "I guess I have no choice. For the sake of the Earth, I'll accept."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "Uh, Cap'n."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Heero Yuy transmits, "We'll intercept the Daitarn on the way in, Banjo. We should be able to disable it with our combined power."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "What *are* his terms?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Heero Yuy transmits, "You've got my backup."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duke Brazen transmits, "Don't get in my way or I will kill you all."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "Okay, yeah, I can do that - I'm /great/ at stayin' outta peoples' way."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Chang Wufei says something in chinese.....

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Staren Wiremu transmits, "Who's going to show up next, Dewey Novak??"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "Just remember, Brazen."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Heero Yuy transmits, "Let's just focus on the mission, Staren."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "Try anything stupid to my team and I won't hesitate to end your evil here and now."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Banjo Haran transmits, "Roger, just--just, whatever you do, try not to damage its head."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Banjo Haran transmits, "I'm going to /need/ it tomorrow."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duke Brazen transmits, "I'm here to destroy the Balmarian War machine because that's a fun thing to do on a Thursday Night. Also because these aliens irritate me....Shut up, chuckles....Very well, Captain but the same can be said if one of your children come after me. I will abort them right then and there."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Heero Yuy transmits, "Roger that."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "....THAT AIN'T TH' KINDA THING YOU ROGER, HEERO"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "WE'VE /TALKED ABOUT THIS/"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Heero Yuy transmits, "... I'm not even dignifying him with an answer, Duo. I was talking to Banjo."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "I mean, jesus!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Juku Reimaru transmits, "Bluh bluh bluh. Goddamnit who invited one of Hell's flunkies?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Chang Wufei transmits, "WE can hear you Duo."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "If somebody says 'Why don't you see for yourself'"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "What are you gonna do, go 'Roger that'?!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Colonel Theresa Testarossa transmits, "One imagines he invited himself. Don't worry, cooperation is in his interest, too."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Colonel Theresa Testarossa transmits, "And if he decides to break from that...well, that's his problem."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Juku Reimaru transmits, "So are double mobius reach around backstabings."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Chang Wufei transmits, "Duo. The White star."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "I'm good at backstabbin's."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Staren Wiremu transmits, "Double mobius...?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "Look, I'm focused, I'm focused, I'm focused."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "That's enough everyone. Stay focused on the mission. Brazen, you'll have to assist the Meisters in providing a distraction."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Chang Wufei transmits, "Then focus a little harder."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Juku Reimaru transmits, "Dr. Hell likes convoluted plots."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "So we keep an eye on him *an'* the crazy aliens. Simple."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Macua Huitl transmits, "Hell hates aliens more than he hates us, at least."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Colonel Theresa Testarossa transmits, "It's true, I can't forecast for insanity. We do what we can."

Adamah Kaptzen, loyal soldier of the Ze Balmary Empire, has been granted a post of great import and great honor: that of a commander in the White Star's defense, in a position suited to his unique talents and carefully-honed skills of command and control. He commands respect and obedience from his subordinates--partially because he has demonstrated he will beat the crap out of them--and stands tall in the command station he has been granted for monitoring the space surrounding the White Star.

And right now, he's /incredibly/ bored.

Adamah, fist propping up his chin as he sits at an elevated position on the command deck, waits. He dozes, dreaming of a far-off place, a foreign one, full of gritty sand, broken rocks, and plentiful lizards. He smiles a little. It's not home, but it's nice. He could--

ALARM. Adamah sits up with a start, practically falling out of his chair. "R-report!!" he sputters, adjusting the ridiculous hat he insists on wearing basically all the time.

"Enemy forces are approaching! They've just come in sensor range, sir!" reports one of the many nondescript individuals under his command.

"Daring...! Well what are you waiting for?!" he demands. "Scramble the troops! Intercept them! We won't have another chance for /this/!"

"For... what, sir," one of the eerily similar men asks.

"To cure my deadly case of boredom, that's what. Now do it!"

OUTSIDE THE WHITE STAR

Defense forces scramble. Drone forces rush into space, preparing to intercept the paltry attack force. They don't seem to suspect a thing--but that is a pretty substantial amount of firepower they're bringing out, too. Must be a pretty good distraction already!

Allelujah Haptism was many things, but 'leader' did not quite make the cut among them. Seeing as how Tieria had other, classified, things to be doing while this operation was in effect, it fell to him by virtue of seniority over Lockon to handle the public side of their arrival.

Fortunately, thanks to meticulous coashing and a ridiculous number and hand-written, organized note cards (They were also scented! Marie did that), he thinks he handled it pretty well.

"Wh..what?!" The Super Soldier blaked at his fellows Meister's sudden, invasive question; the Arios nearly swerved off course as it made headward to join the other units in providing cover to the infiltration team, "W-w-w-we're taking it slow!" Yes, that's a good answer. He killed his video too, so the sniper couldn't see his red face through the orange flight helmet, "..But by the same token, what about you and Miss Returner?" Yes, why not a little chitchat before the storm?

The other radio banter gives the third Meister cause to smile, "Heh, those Operation Meteor pilots sure seem lively. I wonder why it seems nostalgic..?"

There wasn't enough time to dwell, as the veritable alarm finally sounded, scything through their banter like a sickle through wheat. "Ah, there's the signal!" Just like Tieria said! Al gripped the controls and did his thing.

The Arios glittered across the expanse of space at a speed few other machines could hope to match. Repeating beam rifles laid down a preliminary line of fire upon drones and grunts and hopes of inciting chaos, then once more on a return run. It was a strafing, nipping tactic the Meister meant to keep up as long as he could, until it got too hot.

Classic CB strategy: when the numbers are against you, change the rules of the game.

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Chang Wufei transmits, "Go Duo."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "I/am/, jeez."

Because he is who he is, Banjo manages to keep speaking to his allies after his mouth's gone dry and ice water fills his veins, but it's /difficult/. He--Baraq Sheraga didn't spend /much/ time behind the controls of the AGX-16 'Titan', but it had been enough to sway him from wanting to be anywhere near Daitarn 3 or its cockpit for a while--long enough to let the memories fade to the background a little. He'd imagined that once Earth's forces had stormed the White Star, the Invincible Man of Steel could be recovered from what remained and brought back home to be sealed away safely for a while.

"This," he quietly transmits to Euzeth, unable to keep tremors from his tone despite the bravado he seeks to display. "This is going to go very badly for you--you know that, right?" Light briskly gleams along the edge of Wing Gundam's shield before the mobile suit takes off screaming through space, directly towards Daitarn 3. He may not have /built/ the super robot, but nobody on Earth knows it better than him and nobody on Earth could be better suited to overseeing its destruction.

"Here I was thinking I'd have to /wait/ to get it back, but look at you, bringing it out here, just for me; I coulda done with gift wrap, or a bow, or something, but this'll do too."

With that, the wings that the Operation Meteor mobile suit was so aptly named fully unfurl, and following a tight, spiralling barrel roll, it's on course to make a pass by the Invincible Man of Steel's side. The sharp end of its shield is primed to tear through the super robot's flank; he knows how deep the armour goes and how strong it is, but he prays that if he and Heero can open a few weaknesses across its frame, they'll be able to overcome it.

"So instead of talking about what you think you've taken from us, Euzeth, let's talk about what you'll be giving us back!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "Calm down. Easy does it."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "This isn't the wedding-dress 90% off sale..."

"Why are they so willful?" Bright mutters aloud as he rubs his face. "These days I'm starting to find it hard to believe I gave up a pension and a mature crew to go fight oppression all over again."

"B-but Captain," Torres glances over his seat. "All you had on the Temptation was a co-pilot and a stewardess at best."

Bright frowns. "Maybe, but at least I didn't have to put up with rapid-fire hormones and constant squabbling. Dylandy's on the field, so at least there's someone I can trust. I'll just have to put my faith in the capabilities of the rest of them to see this through."

The Captain shifts in his chair. In his thoughts, he contemplates the theraputic benefits of kicking a Haro. "All we can do now is monitor them from afar and hope that Duke Brazen doesn't do anything brazen."

"HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-!" Beecha laughs as he points a finger at the Captain. "-I- get it! Brazen! Ha ha ha!"

Bright's frown worsens.

As the machines stealthily make their way towards the White Star, defenders appear. Daitarn 3... Staren would like a crack at it, but he knows better than to get in Banjo's way. Bsides, here comes the main force... Now, to get attention away from the Gundam pilots and Juku...

The Astray changes course, aiming directly towards the defenders.

At this point, he would _like_ to activate the Artificial Empathy system at full power to see what its max range is, but with Macua nearby and Quatre possibly a psychic, that might be a bad idea. So he turns it on lower, broadcasting psychic static to be picked up only by the closest Balmarians, if they're sensitive to it at all. He doesn't give them time to figure out what it is -- Reticles appear on his voewscreen as he begins acquiring missile locks, and lets fly with a large salvo from the missile packs added to the Astray.

Woob-woob-woob-woob-woob...

Heero stares down at his opponent. The Daitarn 3. He always made secret concessions that he may have to fight it -- someday, but not like this, certainly. Fortunately, fighting the Uriyah, in its own way, has given him some practice against it.

He watches as the rest of the Infiltration team goes. He feels the ting at the back of his mind as ZERO finishes its scan of the impressive machine -- and watches as Banjo dives in first to use the shield as a weapon. "Super Robot Target confirmed: Daitarn 3. Assessing..."

Once the Wing Gundam passes through and makes its attack, Heero worsens the deal: he locks and loads with his machine cannons to fire a steady stream of powerful bullets at the same point.

"Euzeth Gozzo... even you must realize that this war is a losing prospect for you. Why continue it?" Heero taunts to the Balmarian commander, the Wing Zero flying almost in tandem with its sister unit, working together harmoniously.

Naturally, Allelujah's embarassment over his remarks draws a chuckle from the Celestial Being sniper, who is already in the process of tugging the rifle-like targeting computer down from the ceiling of his cockpit; as he does so, the Gundam's forehead opens above its V-fin, baring the suit's third eye. It doesn't bring enlightenment, though. Mostly it brings shootings. "Taking it slow, huh?" Lockon repeats, shaking his head with a rueful look on his face. Well, what can he really do? The other Meisters are pretty dense about that sort of thing. Or, so he thinks, anyway... Right up until Allelujah turns the question around on him. "Me and Anew?" the counterfeit Gundam Meister says in disbelief. "Man, does everybody know...? Well, we haven't even gone that far yet." "LOCKON MISSED," the orange Haro contributes to the conversation, spinning around and flapping its ear-wing flap things gleefully. "LOCKON MISSED." But this is no time to be having zany hijinks it seems; the Operation Meteor team and a few othes are making their run, and it falls to the two Meisters to do their job: Be distracting. The only way they know how to be a distraction, of course, is with horrible beam murder. "Man... There sure is a lot of 'em," Lockon says, with an impressed whistle. Cherudim raises the GN Sniper Rifle II, its barrel unfolded to full length, the suit's left hand bracing the weapon with its side handle. Lockon sights along the targeting computer, a reticule reflecting on the faceplate of his flight suit, and... "Not for long, though," he concludes. A single beam lances through the night with terrifying accuracy, concentrated GN particles erupting from the barrel of Cherudim's rifle, looking to cut down on the numbers already.

The appearance of Daitarn 3 is fucking *jarring*; there's no question about that. Duo thanks his lucky stars that *he* doesn't have to deal with that...monster, but he does start to get worried about Banjo and those who *do*.

Was his curse going to come screaming back again? This was a really bad idea...a really, really, really bad idea. He could feel it, in the pit of his stomach, something as going to go wrong, something was going to fuck up and somebody was going to *die*. Somebody was going to *fall*, and it was going to be his fault, his fault, HIS FAULT, because he was there and he was the God of Death and it always followed him, always somebody he cared about, and it could be Heero or Quatre or Trowa or Wufei or Macua or...or Juku...

Duo closes his eyes. He's starting to hyperventilate. This was a huge, huge team mission; he had to focus, focus, focus, focus, focus, focus, focus. He wasn't used to this; not used to operating with so many people, so many distractions. If he'd had his way, he'd just go in, rig the bombs, and blow them apart. But he didn't have his way; he had to do as he was asked, and he had to make sure...he had to make sure nothing went wrong.

Deathscythe Hell coasts into the White Star carefully, Duo's eyes darting from side to side. Even though the enemy couldn't see him, he wasn't worried about *himself*. He never worried about himself; no, the universe never seemed to want to let *him* be the one to take the blow. Always a friend, a loved one...always someone else, and he was always left behind to take the responsibility.

"...we can do this, buddy..." Duo murmurs to Deathscythe Hell, "We can do this...okay...? Nobody's gonna die...right, Solo?"

As always, the machine is silent.

Duke Brazen smirks at the radio chatter, shaking his head. "A bunch of fools." He takes control of his Warrior Beast, pointing his Rail Gun toward the incoming enemies. "Well then, distracting is something I can do for so long as it is interesting." The Hell General powers up the charge, pulling particles quickly toward the condensing energy before a green spiral appears in the center and forms a long drill at the top of the shaft. "Prepare to face Dr. Hell's Greatest Creation, Duke Brazen."

The Warrior Beast fires a drill toward the nearest swarm of drones, already pulling more particles from the area for another shot. He cackles, waiting for this battle to get interesting.

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner, as if knowing about Duo's hesitation, suddenly says: "We'll be fine you guys. We'll go in, do our thing, and go out. Nobody will die today. There will be no need for our selfdetonation devices. I am sure of it."

The Heavyarms settles in behind Duo, taking advantage of the Deathscythe's Hyper Jammers to remain undetected as they make their way towards the infiltration point. Within the cockpit, Trowa glances out towards the raging battle and feels his grip tighten on the controls. he feels that familiar tightness in his chest, the same he gets in every battle. His senses fully awaken. He quietly settles beside the REX Hound... after all, that's what they're here to escort.

The Daitarn-3 appears.

God/damn/ that just ain't right.

Juku sweats just slightly and accelerates the REX Hound with a burst of it's thrusters, and ducks into the EM shadow behind Deathscythe. Their combined electronics masking systems should make them look like nothing more then floating junk.

...She hopes.

Quatre proceeds to make some suggestions over the radio, but is somewhat bothered by the bloodthirsty way people are talking about the task at hand. Of course he cannot help but remind them. They are not here to kill aliens. They are here to do their mission, get in safe - get out safe. That's it.

As according to one of the suggestions he made, he flies closely behind the Deathscythe as it deploys its EM, keeping a good look on his radar. In fact, he is on the left of the REX Hound - opposite to Trowa. The sudden appearance of Daitarn three has him biting his lower lip, and his heartbeat to increase a little. Sure, they'd been trained for these kind of things, but that didn't take away the exhiliration such situations caused. The heart-stopping fear that one will be found out whilst trying to invade.

'Just keep going, Quatre. They won't notice us.' He thinks in his head, but can't help but keep an eye on that giant blip on the radar. But he cannot help but feel safe - with the four others of the Wing crew near him. The blonde knew that he could trust any of them with his life. Unlike Duo, there was no such hesitation. They'd gotten out of worse situations. Right? Right.

Also inside of Deathscythe's Hyper Jammers is Altron, with Wufei keeping moving his head around to make sure they don't get ambushed. He was currently switching from joking around with the team, to turning really serious. The only twitch to the whole operation, Wufei feared, was this... Duke Brazen. Wufei kept an eye on his mech while watching the battle. "All right Nataku... let's make sure no one else gets hurt." He says to himself, and to Altron. Yeah, Duo's not the only one who talks to his Gundam.

The shield of the Wing Gundam slams into the Daitarn 3. The much larger, colossal super robot is shoved backward. The machine brings its left hand down, and the fan on it unfurls, bladed weapon swinging down just left of the smaller Mobile Suit. The head of the machine looks down, metallic face unable to mirror the scowl on Euzeth's.

"Do not be so sure, Banjo Haran," he says. "I broke you once--and I will again, easily enough."

The Wing Zero's machine cannons riddle the mighty armor of the super robot. The machine turns, as it backs deeper into the pathway leading into the White Star. A missile hurls from between the legs, snaking up after it. "I am no fool, boy," he says. "I do not believe I will fail here--I do not believe I will fail at all. We have more than you know that will let us win this war."

The super robot reaches to its side, and draws its first weapon out. The Daitarn hammer comes whipping, tearing outward -- hurtling around in a huge arc, the spikes nearly scraping the side of the White Star, before the hammer comes whipping at the Gundam Wing Zero, and then past. It comes in towards the Wing Gundam.

The end spike shoves forward, with sudden force.

"DAITARN HAMMER!"

The other Gundam pilots, and those they are escorting, slip further into the base. Euzeth does not see them -- the other two Gundams have him /quite/ distracted, at the moment.

Tessa rockets along in the Kyrios. The /actual/ Gundam Meisters come along, too, and that's...well, good, actually. She estimates that with this density of particles in the air, even Neviim's sensors will start having trouble tracking them pretty soon...

She takes a slow, deep breath. "OK," she mutters to herself, fingers slowly finding console controls. The instincts don't feel like instincts anymore; part of the process, she realizes dimly, was the restraint of her inhibition and morals. With that back in place, it feels...awkward. But as blasts start firing, only a faint flutter touches her belly. She doesn't panic. Of course; the phobia was the number one inhibitor to her ability to take the field. And with that gone...

She flies along, quickly slipping within the same field projected by Deathscythe Hell and the rest of the infiltration team. She doesn't make comment. If they know who she is, they know why she's here. That's enough. They'll need her expertise to handle this mission to the best effect, and that's the story she's gonna stick to, even as the goddamn Daitarn 3 comes out of nowhere and Tessa's pale blue eyes affix on it. "Shit," she bites out, quietly. But she doesn't break off to attack - it looks like Banjo and Heero might handle it, so maybe they can...keep ....going??

"Like it's /ever/ that easy," she sighs, leaning back in her cockpit.

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Juku Reimaru transmits, "There is a detail I forgot to ask abouwut int he briefing."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "What is that?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "Go ahead, Juku."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Juku Reimaru transmits, "Doesn't the enemy's battle fortresss have a shield?"

Heero sees the Hammer coming, and jerks the control back-- And the sharp pain from the abdomen sets a fire in his stomach, forcing him to double over. "ARGH!"

The Daitarn Hammer is just not something even a Super Robot really wants to take head on, no matter how well-armored; similarly, the Wing Zero gets pounded back first by a missile explosion, a singed tone now on its shield -- and when the spiked ball comes swinging in from the side, the shield just /crumbles/ into a million pieces.

Heero is surprised. He wasn't even controlling the suit at the time, yet it defended itself the best it can. "Thank you, ZERO. We'll have to step our game up, though."

He regards Euzeth again. "No one I've spoken to can offer any reason for this war more concrete than 'it is the will of Zehirut'. To obey one so uncompromising... I cannot allow such a close-minded view to harrass more people."

Heero fetches one of the Buster Rifles from the backpack hook. The white-winged mobile suit skims further, swooping down for a fast attack run from a different angle. The trigger is squeezed, brilliant lances of golden light screeching across the battlefield with each press.

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "Yes it does but at the moment it's down."

<Radio: B - Secure> Duo Maxwell nervously hums a tune he got off one of his salvaged CDs, which the actual players behind the keyboard would recognize as the Imperial March.

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "Can't you play something proper. Like... Bach?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "I think that would suit this situation much better."

Banjo has to swallow a lump in his throat when Euzeth speaks. In truth, Baraq Sheraga was far from the best, most respectful and disciplined soldier in the Seventh Fleet, but failing to bow and scrape before the Gozzos' authority is one thing.

Understanding the kinds of men they are and what they're capable of--and moreover maintaining a healthy dose of /fear/ for them is quite something else, so compounded with the awful memories of his shadow-self, Ezeuth's voice brings undeniable, unmistakable terror to the fore of the young heir's psyche. Even as he hastens to force Wing Gundam into its high mobility Bird Mode to better evade the Daitarn Hammer and seek some advantageous position against the Seventh Fleet commander, he's doing the breathing exercises he learned during that week he spent training with monks aboard a space ashram in Neo-India to try and calm himself.

"/Judecca/ broke me," Banjo quietly corrects, a hiss in his tone. "Asfanit broke me--"

After completing one--two--three full revolutions around Daitarn 3's body, Wing Gundam reassumes its mobile suit form and coasts to a stop before Daitarn 3's pelvis-mounted missile launcher; with one last push from the mobile suit's engine, it seeks to bury its shield into the panel that conceals the launcher, and if it can get any purchase at all, it will pull away with all the torque it can muster to wrench the metal violently out of place.

"--who /are/ you, without them? How does it feel to be a paper tiger, Euzeth?"

Laughter.

Harsh, cruel, taunting laughter.

The transmission at first seems to be originating from somewhere deep within the White Star, but as the Gundam pilots approach, through the fog of radio attenuation, the source becomes more clear: It's a Mobile Suit. A feminine, Gundam-derived Mobile Suit, twisted and reshaped by Balmarian technology. Four massive, angelic wings, glowing a brilliant sky blue, are spread out behind it, driving it forwards with a innumberable jets of bright blue flame.

The Newtypes in the attacking force can feel its sick, monsterous aura reaching out to them, examining the mecha, and their pilots. It's almost unnerving, feeling disembodied eyes watching them from afar, just out of sight.

And then, as the Mal'akh, the Messenger, the AGX-05 Blue Angel approaches them... Ketol Iyar stops laughing.

"Duo Maxwell. Trowa Barton. Quatre Winner. Chang Wufei. Yes. I can *feel* you. Hear the beats of your hearts, the fear in your eyes you try to hide. You're not gods of death, or powerful warriors. You're pathetic children, hiding behind Gundanium armour, invisibility fields, and... Ahhhh... Is that mumbling I here? Is that you... whatever they turned Asfanit into? I knew you were still alive. Was that your work in the desert?"

"Tell me why I should let you live. Tell me why I shouldn't burn your cockpits and sear every last cell in your weak, human bodies, just to make sure there's no trace, no *hint* of you that could be revived..."

The eyes of the Messenger flash blue, as arm-mounted cannons unfold out of their boxy housings. The hands burn with an unearthly fire, as they're clenched into steaming, sparkling fists.

"And you." Ketol says, settling her focus on Macua. "I can see you. You wear her skin. You crawl in her mind like a parasite.... You're a ghost. A dead spirit that couldn't have the decency to die when it should.... Don't even bother speaking. You don't get to live. I'll burn you to ash... SO THEY'LL NEVER HER FROM ME AGAIN!"

The Messenger raises its arms, and opens fire with its arm cannons, firing a rapid scattering beam weapons across the infiltrating forces!

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Trowa Barton states the obvious, "I think we have been compromised."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "Y'know"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "Just *once*"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "ONCE"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "I would like jus' /one simple mission/ t'go /smooth/."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "Try not to kill her."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Theresa Testarossa transmits, "That's a nice dream. I'm sure it even happened to someone, once."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "Duo, you go ahead with Juku. Me and the rest can try to keep this one occupied. How does that sound for a plan?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Chang Wufei transmits, "Oops. My finger slipped."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "I blew up a base once."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "It worked for real."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "I miss when I was jus' fightin' the Federation's incompetents."

Megillots lead the charge. The bug-like units rush forward forward in a swarm, splitting apart only when enemy fire starts to pick them off. The two Gundam Meisters have a good plan: when outnumbered, don't play by their rules. The repeated bolts from Arios's beam rifles chew away at the outermost edges of the two swarms, shots sending Megillots into a spin before detonating them in bright blazes in space. The others go around them, launching missiles at the swift Gundam, getting on it's tail and chasing it with a storm of solid rounds. One group splits off completely, chasing after the sniper in the distance.

They don't get quite that far. The sniper beam rifle splits the approaching Megillots in two, one by one, leaving still-hot wreckage behind. Numbers are on their side, but superior firepower appears to be the guiding light of Celestial Being. More missiles dart inward, but they're few once the Megillots have been thinned out. Unfortunately, they appear to have friends, Zechariah-class mobile weapons following along 'above' and 'below' the formation, harassing Lockon with laser fire from both sides as they close in.

The Warrior Beast Evangelion is a fearsome foe. The drill at the end of the rail gun strikes the Megillot closest to Duke Brazen's chosen war machine, splitting the armor and punching to the center of the Balmarian machine. The detonation knocks out another nearby--but there are far more than that. A volley of missiles is the alien reply, and immediately after they detonate or pass Brazen's monster, they start to lay down a solid wall of fire--

--which the Astray Prometheus Type soon shares. It's missiles detonate prematurely, with only a handful of drones laid to waste by the customized mobile suit's fire. The Balmar mechs close at high speed, filling space with warheads of their own, fired between bursts of automatic fire. They compete for volume of fire with the defenders of Earth and space; unfortunately, the competition has been dropped on their heads. Fancy flying may be necessary... or outright cheating.

"Hah! That will show them!" Adamah Kaptzen proclaims. He clenches his fist, grinning, perched on the edge of his chair. "Have the Habakkuks move to support! Deploy more Zechariahs! Show them the might of the Ze Balmary Empire!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Chang Wufei transmits, "Sounds like a plan Zero Four. Zero Two. Take Juku and go."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "It happened, once."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "O-ohkay."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "It's a date...c'mon, Juku, let's let them play with her an' get t'the mission objective."

<Radio: B - Secure> Macua Huitl transmits, "...this is going to make it harder than I thought..."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "Trowa, can you open a hole for Duo? Make it look... natural."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "Move fast, you two."

"SUN LASER!"

The forehead of the Daitarn 3 shimmers, loosing a beam of golden sunlight into the heavens. It traces after the Wing Gundam Zero, scorching the void, but never quite reaches the machine. The energy shots come down from its buster rifle, slashing into the body. Mighty armor burns bright red, breaking apart in three small circles, where the energy shots lance through and into the interior of the machine.

"I have my reasons, Sample," Euzeth rumbles back to Heero. "They are my own. But if you find the will of Zehirut to be lacking, then consider this. Zehirut is as a god. We have seen this god and he has told us his will. We do not have faith--we have seen the truth."

His eyes narrow, as the Wing Gundam's shield slams into the launcher for the missile and rips out. Sparks explode, as metal is shredded in an instant, and a fiery explosion roars out of the machine. "Don't look so smug," he spits. "I know what you're thinking, but Judecca's loss was merely a setback."

The Daitarn 3 lunges forward. The machine drags a handle free, and a huge wedge-shaped blade comes into existence. It hacks at the center of the Wing Gundam, but goes underneath it. The super robot turns, hacking hard at the machine with a backhanded strike. "Did you honestly believe that I would trust the future to some foolish, slip of a sample?"

Euzeth chuckles. "Oh, no, no, no, she was merely an instrument!" The sword drags down again, a hard slash along the center of the Wing Gundam from above. "A stepping stone to a much larger plan!"

He turns, and sends the sword flying through the void, turning rapidly, at the Wing Gundam Zero. "It has all led to this... and this time, you will not interfere!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "Allelujah, Lockon, how's the distraction run going?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Allelujah Haptism transmits, "We may not need phase 2 after all.."

When the Sandrock enters the White Star along with the other units, Quatre feasts his eyes on the inside but for a small moment, before looking behind him at those that are following. It is during the time he is looking behind himself that a feeling of dread suddenly overcomes him. And that laughter. What was with that laughter? His head turns so he can look ahead of himself once more

Then suddenly, an enemy unit! How'd they find them? "Looks like there is a place for us being here after all." The young blonde claims and moves his hand up to the top of his head to pull down the sand-goggles he has sitting there and pulls it down to his eyes. The helm was still connected to the back of his spacesuit, but it wasn't fashionable to put that on right now. The beams come striking home against the protective cloak of the Sandrock Custom, bouncing off and barely leaving a scratch, as the young man tries to ensure that the more sensitive areas are not exposed.

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "Guys. Close your eyes!"

He then moves its left arm out from underneath the light-brown anti-beam coated cloth and reveals a shield that suddenly flares up brightly, sending a massive flash of white light ahead - into the face of the Mal'akh.

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duke Brazen transmits, "Heh. I will destroy these pathetic war machines."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Theresa Testarossa transmits, "Their best commanders are disabled. Their resources are depleted. It's no surprise, they're still reeling from the last week..."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Chang Wufei transmits, "They've still got one ace in here...."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Theresa Testarossa transmits, "Ketol..."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "Who?"

The incoming missiles start to rain down on the Warrior Beast, blowing chunks of meat off the Spiral Powered Titan. The machine manages to seal itself in a matter of moments, erupting in a green flame as the pilot laughs hysterically. "BRING ME YOUR POWER BALMAR! I WILL DESTROY YOU ALL WITH THIS HAND HERE!!!!"

The Warrior Beast roars as it forms a drill around the Rail gun, slamming it forward to impale the nearest drones and fires them off as their own kind. "Show me your rage, Balmar! Show me your best or I will not hesitate to destroy you without hesitance."

The Warrior Beast makes a aggressive push forward toward the White Base, ready to start trashing the surface if Balmar's finest doesn't make an effort to stop him.

So far, so good. With the fleet keeping the enemy's attention away from them, the Infiltration team has managed to make it this far undetected. and then they hit a snag. Ketol's appearance immediately puts Trowa on guard as he readies his weapons... then hesitates. Quatre wants to avoid excessive force whenever possible, since the enemy they're fighting may very well be one of their own. This is unfortunate because if there's one thing Heavyarms is, it's /excessive/. The blast from the optical cannon catches Heavyarms in the shoulder and puts an end to Trowa's hesitation as he lets fly with a barrage of micromissiles from his leg pods. He'll just have to cope with the situation at hand and trust in his skill and his comrades. the missiles go a little wide though as they detonate all around the Blue Angel. 'Calibration must be off. I'll have to comphensate...' When Quatre lets out his warning, trowa immediately averts his gaze to avoid being blinded by the flash. then immediately afterwards, he seeks to capitalize upon the distraction and opens fire with his machine cannons at Ketol's feet. Dance I say! DANCE!

Slipping in right behind Deathscythe is Altron of course. However, despite their carefully orchestrated plan (read: cluster*BLEEP*), it seems they have been discovered. Wufei's first reaction is to reach for his shield arm, but another system seems to flash to life as the left arm DOES raise, but extends straight at the Ezekiel. Though it misses, Wufei is still smiling. <<Thank you Juku.>> He radios, just as he rushes the Ezekiel, but another weapon system springs to life. From the back of the Altron unfurls a tail, which arcs over the Gundam's head and fires two shots at the Ezekiel. By now, Wufei is ecstatic....

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Theresa Testarossa transmits, "That's her...name. Her Balmarian name, anyway. I don't...I didn't have access to her files, or if I did I don't remember it, so ..."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Theresa Testarossa transmits, "If she was human once, and I think she was...I don't know who."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "Well, if we can, let's try to kidkap her. End to a means."

Macua Huitl feels a pressence madness someone whose snapped but it's also one she knows. She hears what the other is saying once Ketol stops laughing. Her blood runs cold, she listens but she knows there's going to be a fight. She pauses at how Ketol's changed her memory's not perfect but this isn't the Ketol Adom knew.

"You will hear me you know you can't shut my voice out. The last thing she told me was... to get you away from them. I will keep that promise. You think you can burn me to ash? I'm the fire dancer still, come on then show me. But remeber she and I are ONE AND THE SAME!"

Macua opens up with her head vulcans, to no effect as she's too busy doging the massive volley of fire, the machine deploys the spikes from it's back, which turn out to be funnels, they spread out and start firing at the Messenger.

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Theresa Testarossa transmits, "Don't take her lightly. The Messenger is a powerful weapon."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "Right now she's standing in the way of the safety of Earth. Pilot Three, you'll have to neutralize her firepower."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Trowa Barton transmits, "Understood."

Non.

Existant.

God.

DAMMIT.

Duo Maxwell just puts his hands down into his face. Of course. There was always somebody, someone, some wild card that they couldn't account for; every time, every single one of them, always some kind of wild card that always threw off some plan, some scheme, some foolproof thing. And when things went south, they went *really*, *really* south. They went so far south it wasn't even funny. Or maybe it was funny; maybe it was hilarious, and he just wasn't quite apathetically self-loathing enough to get the joke. Maybe if he completely detached himself from the whole world, he'd think it was funny. But then he'd probably wind up some kind of psychopath who kills for money or fun or something.

Duo's fingers tremble around the joysticks. If this went any south-er, he could lose the person he cares most about, or any of his friends, or... or... or...

Duo slams his hand on the cockpit screen. "DAMN!" He screams, knowing full well that only he can hear it. "Why does this always happen, buddy... are we jus' totally cursed?"

As usual, Deathscythe Hell is silent. Truth be told, Duo would probably be more worried if it did talk back. Duo flips on the comms, sending a tightbeam at Juku.

<Radio> Tightbeam to Juku Reimaru: Duo transmits, "Okay...she hasn't noticed us yet..."

<Radio> Tightbeam to Juku Reimaru: Duo transmits, "Maybe...maybe t'day we're gonna be lucky."

Duo kills the radio after that. Yeah. Yeah *right*. Like he was /ever/ that kind of lucky.

Er...what was supposed to show them, exactly?

The Arios sails wide and clear of the Aerogater force, dodging lasers, missiles and knows what else was thrown the advance Gundam's way in a manner analageous to a writing, tentacled beast's final death spasms.

Okay, that was a weird analogy. Al's head is a strange place.

"If even other races come here to make war..." The Super Soldier frowned. It easy to get discouraged by such an idea, that the whole universe was categorically opposed to peace, but he couldn't let his belief waver, not when he had a reason to fight, "...I guess we have our work cut out for us!"

The Orange-and-White fighter plunged into the midsts of the assembled legions like a demon, unfolding into the more familiar visage of a, you know, /Gundam/ and proceeding to lay a spread of indiscriminate destruction on it's surroundings with wide-dispersal beam fragements from it's wrist-mounted submachine guns. It was a crazy strategy, but, well, Al's fighting style had been more influenced by his darker half of late. Also Marie being Soma much of the time these days meant a lot of nights on the couch.

There wasn't much room negotiation in the face that. Sorry Quatre, pacifism wasn't a Celestial Being thing.

Staren finds his missiles taken out by a wall of weaponry, and is unable to avoid all the megillots' attacks as a missile blows off some armor plating. Staren frowns slightly. Well, he knows how to handle this.

The Astray races forward into the fire, finding a path through the danmaku to the closest Megillot. It draws its beam saber and slices through the Megillot, before hurrying to the next one and repeating, and the next one... A warmup for the real battle, as he makes his way steadily towards the evangelion... _thing_.

"Your army is in /shambles/, Euzeth," Banjo grits out as Wing Gundam jukes left, then right, then finally /straight upwards/, avoiding the massive blade of Daitarn's blade by mere inches the entire way up. "You're running out of tricks--you're so desperate to turn the tide that you had to bring Daitarn 3 out to frighten us, but /look/ at you!"

Wing Gundam reaches to its hips and draws a pair of cylinders that almost immediately flare to brilliant, emerald life; wasting no time, Banjo tries to drive them into Daitarn's abdomen, and if he succeeds, he'll just continue to rise, dragging the sabers along for the ride.

"No matter how many of us you steal, no matter how hard you try to copy our technology, no matter /what/ you do to prop your dying, inbred civilization up, no matter how vehemently you deny it and how much religion you try to cloak it in--you aren't /like/ us. You can't /be/ us," Banjo Haran radios, quiet and somewhat tremulous despite the character of his words.

"And /you/ can't be /me/--you're making a /fool/ out of yourself in Daitarn!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Banjo Haran transmits, "Christ! Is this--is this seriously what it was like for /everyone else/?!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "Kinda, yeah."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Theresa Testarossa transmits, "Yes."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Heero Yuy transmits, "You're not fearing the Sun now, are you...?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Banjo Haran transmits, "Oh, uh--" Beat. "--uh, I mean people in mobile suits, against... y'know..."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "-Yes-."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "Yeah."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "It's what I think it's like fer the guys on the receiving end of us an' Celestial Being, too."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "ha ha...receiving end. Maybe I shoulda used a better term, given how bad it looks like we're about t'get fucked up..."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "But in the end, we've succeeded at retaining and retrieving all of our friends. Just as long as we keep trying..."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "Get your head out of the gutter and into the game, Duo. I need results, not poorly-formed quips!"

The Wing Zero's eyes shimmer again.

The sword swoops in, easily larger than the entire length of the mobile suit. It's like dodging a Colossal Blade: witness its pattern, and then move. The early warning from ZERO, as the two work further in tandem, also helped. There was a bright flash, and when it subsided, the blade has passed harmlessly... and the Wing Zero is closing in at rapid speeds.

"This entire war... I have been lost. I denied the words of those you've turned into your soldiers -- that there truly is no greater reason for this entire tragedy than the unquestioning will of one, God or not." Heero proclaims, the forces in his cockpit rattling and causing his wounds to flare up again. He ignores them.

His machine cannon ports open. The ammo docks are primed and ready. The head vulcans whirr softly as they get ready to fire. Closing... closing... closing.

"...that there is no facet of your culture or lifestyle that is even remotely common with ours -- some common ground to stand on... that's what makes this war so senseless to me! I resist the word of this God of yours, who makes a plaything out of this universe! Begone!"

The Wing Zero dips in at the last moment, after Banjo's scored with his sabers and /unleashes/ a focused storm of lead bullets to further gnaw their way through Daitarn's armor towards a sensitive part.

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duke Brazen transmits, "Your pilots are much to be desired, Bright Noa."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Heero Yuy transmits, "Banjo, or Colonel... anyone -- in your time with them... were you able to speak or sense this Zehirut in any way or form?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Theresa Testarossa transmits, "..."

The overwhelming horde might not be much on skill, but... Numbers can always win the day, too. It's not as though the Earthling machines outstrip the Balmarian ones /that/ completely. No, there's definitely still a danger here. Lockon can tell. "Looks like we made 'em mad," he notes, Zechariahs shooting at him from multiple directions, trying to close in on the hunter green and pure white Gundam, as he tries to track them through the targeting computer's sight. But there's too many, moving too quickly on the offensive, so... "Haro!" "DEPLOYING SHIELD BITS," the orange partner robot declares cheerfully. "DEPLOYING SHIELD BITS!" Nine discrete sections of hunter green armor, like eloganted hexagons, detach from Cherudim and begin to move of their own accord, propelled by green particle light. The GN Shield Bits zip around the Gundam to intercept the incoming Balmarian fire, while Cherudim itself stows its rifle on its right shoulder, thereafter drawing both of its pistols from their back mounted recharge rack. Probably better suited for firing on a whole bunch of guys anyway. Using its superior mobility and the GN Shield Bits to stay out of the alien machines' attacks, Cherudim returns fire with its GN Pistol IIs, hurling bolts of concentrated, weaponised particles at the Zecharias.

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Theresa Testarossa transmits, "They implanted some in my arm so I could control a unit composed of it."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Theresa Testarossa transmits, "Does that count?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "From what I can tell, it isn't a religion in the way we know it on Earth."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "Stow it, Brazen. I might be cooperating with you today but I won't tolerate your lip."

Tessa doesn't feel much. A little. The Whispered are /bad/ at sensitivity, not wholly inert, and Ketol broadcasts like a freight train. Plus: using the radio helps her focus on it. Kyrios blasts alongside the rest of Infiltration Team in waverider formation...and then, Ketol's mind turns on her.

"...because you'll fail," Tessa says, quietly, to the air. Can Ketol hear her? She's not sure. Ketol's a powerful newtype thanks to that /atrocity/ they have her in boosting her reception well beyond her physiological limits, but her thoughts never seem to register to Newtypes as more than the faintest of murmurings. She takes a slow breath. This... she knew this was a possibility. The optical cannons come at her, and she sets her teeth. "Evasive maneuvers," she announces to herself, and her machine blurs to the side, abusing fully the GN particles' agnosticism to newtonian mechanics.

"The desert?" she wonders aloud, but has no more time for it. As the beams slam around her, the Kyrio's beam SMG opens up on Ketol's machine, even as the machine swaps configurations in mid go. Tessa flips the buttons, knows the commands, but the feel of weight on her chest from the pressure...She takes a slow breath, and then snaps the gun up again, continuing the run-and-gun fire on Ketol's Messenger while Tessa tries to get her head in the game.

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Heero Yuy transmits, "Everyone claims that this is the will of Zehirut. I still wish to know... for what reason."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duke Brazen transmits, "Funny. I didn't ask you to tolerate anything. Just remember our arrangement. The second one of your boys plays hero, I will end him."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Theresa Testarossa transmits, "...the Zehirut is a self-regenerating psychoreactive crystaline matrix. Sort of a... transceiver and repeater for quantum brainwaves, but even I don't really understand it beyond the basics. But... I felt often like it had a mind of its own. But no, when they speak of Zehirut in that way, they're talking about their religion."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Chang Wufei transmits, "Like Nataku....."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Theresa Testarossa transmits, "Where Zehirut is their god, and the Spirit Emperor his herald."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "They believe a machine is their God?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Theresa Testarossa transmits, "No. I'm...not sure which came first or how."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Heero Yuy transmits, "Euzeth mentions that he has seen his God, that it is 'truth', and not 'faith'. He could be lying, but... I don't see much of a reason for him to. Or delusional."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "I mean. I have no problems with this. If only they would not try to push their religion on us, you know? If only we could live together in harmony..."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Allelujah Haptism transmits, "How...strange.."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Theresa Testarossa transmits, "The Zehirut crystal is held as a sign of the god Zehirut's divine providence. It's...ngh, can I not give an anthropology lesson when I'm fighting for my life?"

The beam saber cuts into the Daitarn 3. The blades rip through the armor, up along the chest. The machine brings its hands upward, as sparks and flame alike explode from the chest of the super robot, shooting gouts of fire out. Euzeth's eyes widen, as he realizes that the pilot speaks the truth. This machine does not respond to him naturally, like he needs it to be.

He must finish /it/.

The Daitarn 3 brings its hands together, and slams the two fists straight down at the head of the Wing Gundam, trying to bat it away.

"You... you are insolent fool, Banjo Haran!" Euzeth snaps back. The anger in his voice gives him away. "To think this little speck of dust was such trouble--to think that we've lost so much fighting mere samples! I will end your pathetic life!"

Heero's rounds batter the Daitarn's armor. It dents the machine's armor, but never quite breaks through -- that is how strong it is. Euzeth's eyes narrow behind the mask, and he scowls at the Wing Gundam Zero from the monitor of the super robot. "Silence!" he barks. "Why would we have common ground--common ground with trash like you!? Such an idea is ridiculous! This war lacks meaning to you, because you cannot even know what true meaning is!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Heero Yuy transmits, "We'll speak later -- ugh! Banjo, what IS that armor made out of?"

<Radio: B - Secure> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "Lockon, do you read me?"

<Radio: B - Secure> Lockon Stratos transmits, "Loud and clear, a little busy right now, though."

<Radio: B - Secure> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "Make sure you keep Duke Brazen in your sights at all times."

<Radio: B - Secure> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "If I give the word, you eliminate evil. Do you understand?"

Juku rubs the bridge of her nose as Ketol appears "What is this? An RPG final dungeon?" She grasps the controls of the REX again and starts manuvering the REX closer to Neviim's access...

"Hey Duo... All things considered, I think we either floor it or we get shot."

The REX Hound tilts forward, and ignites it's verniers on full power. It's EM-field is still going at full tilt too, but that doesn't mean anything really, not with everyone and their damn balmardog out here ready to punch kick and shoot them.

The REX dives down and skims over the surface of Neviim, closing in on the waste port.

<Radio: B - Secure> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "I'm getting a little sick and tired of compromising my ethics in order to play ball with mad men and tyrants."

<Radio: B - Secure> Lockon Stratos transmits, "Uh huh. Well, if he's gonna be a threat, we'll deal with him."

<Radio: B - Secure> Camille Bidan transmits, "Well, I'm at least glad to hear you say that, Captain Bright."

<Radio: B - Secure> Camille Bidan still kind of pissed off about having to fight alongside Ali Al-Saachez

"Yes -- it is ridiculous! That you subjugate our entire planet, dehumanize our entire race... no amount of technology or vision could ever justify that! No one, God or Devil or human alike..." Heero snaps back, really, -really- getting into this now even as he finds his attack foiled by Daitarn's own strong armor.

The pulse of ZERO hums in his mind. The Gundam flies inward, and tries to capitalize on that exact same spot once more. It's almost getting predictable by now, but Daitarn's size can work against it as well when dealing with smaller enemies. He locks his Buster Rifle into place, firing several quick bursts in succession.

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "Juku, how much longer until the psi-dampener is in place?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Juku Reimaru transmits, "that depends on how soon I crash REX into the port and fly out the open cockpit hatch."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "please don't do that."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "We're heading beyond the mission parameters on time. Duo and Banjo, get on the damn ball and handle your business! Time is a commodity we don't have!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Chang Wufei transmits, "Yeah, don't do that. I've got enough to kick Duo's ass for."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa meant Heero and Banjo.

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa honest

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Banjo Haran transmits, "Relax, Bright, we know what we're doing--disabling Daitarn 3 without crippling it is a delicate operation!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "When I can look at Earth without seeing a damn Balmar ship obscuring the view, -that's- when you can tell me to relax."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Heero Yuy transmits, "Roger that, Captain Bright. ... Banjo, come here and tell me what the rifle charge is at."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "What?!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "I have some video-tapes of Earth you could loan from me, Captain Bright. Discovery Channel and the Animal Planet are really good for their documentaries."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "There's some neat panaramas on those tapes."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "Oh my God, I forgot, /yer still on morphine aren't you/?!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Chang Wufei chuckles a bit more. "What took you so long."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Heero Yuy transmits, "I can feel stomach bleeding, so I assume no, Duo, but that's not what's important."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "Heero... don't kill yourself. People would be very upset."

"Not to sound too cliche, you--you kinda tried that," Banjo quietly transmits as Wing Gundam shoves its beam sabers back into its holsters and replaces them with the massive beam rifle strapped to its back. "It's how we ended up /here/, with you doing your best 'me' impersonation and failing /miserably/."

As it swings its buster rifle up to level it at Daitarn 3's body, catches in its stock swing out to attach themselves to Wing Gundam's arm for stability's sake; as soon as the systems have calculated that the risk of Banjo accidentally blowing himself into the Argama's bulkhead or something, it begins shunting its energies through the Gundam's frame and to its rifle. The charge is brief; a thin beam of golden energy lances from the tip of the gun towards Daitarn 3's chest, leaving wisps of gold to trail from the barrel like smoke.

It is, for all intents, a warning shot. A probing action.

"You're as deluded as /I/ was, Euzeth--you just don't have Judecca to fall back on as an excuse."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Heero Yuy transmits, "I don't plan on dying today, don't worry."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Chang Wufei transmits, "the sooner we get the mission done, the less chance anyone has of dying."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Banjo Haran transmits, "Where's the kic--oh."

<Radio: B - Secure> Duo Maxwell transmits, "HEERO YUY I SWEAR TO NONEXISTANT GOD IF YOU GET YER ASS KILLED I WILL *REACH INTA THE NONEXISTANT AFTERLIFE AN' RIP YOU OUTTA THERE MYSELF!*"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Banjo Haran transmits, "/Oh/."

<Radio: B - Secure> Duo Maxwell transmits, "An' THEN I'LL KILL YOU AGAIN!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "I will have the Maganac get some blood and surgeons for you. Let me contact them."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Staren Wiremu transmits, "Jeeze, Heero, we really need to rig you up with something like a Clan Elemental's medical gear, huh...?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Heero Yuy transmits, "Mission!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Banjo Haran transmits, "Right. Heero, target the chest! The gun's still building a charge--I need a few seconds!"

<Radio: B - Secure> Colonel Theresa Testarossa transmits, "He's got Zero. It won't be a problem."

<Radio: B - Secure> Duo Maxwell transmits, "He's *wounded*!"

<Radio: B - Secure> Staren Wiremu transmits, "It might not be nonexistant, I've met a ghost. And a ghost mecha. I'm still not sure how that works."

<Radio: B - Secure> Duo Maxwell transmits, "An' you an' I know full well what that thing does!"

<Radio: B - Secure> Duo Maxwell transmits, "An' if he's puttin' that much pressure on his wounds..."

<Radio: B - Secure> Heero Yuy transmits, "ZERO is helping me do this, yes. It'll be fine. ... this isn't the first time I've done this anyway."

<Radio: B - Secure> Duo Maxwell transmits, "An' you know Zero ain't got a *LICK*'a compassion for stuff like that!"

<Radio: B - Secure> Colonel Theresa Testarossa transmits, "...we have to have faith, Duo."

<Radio: B - Secure> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "Duo, you keep the domestic dispute in the quarters and -off- the battlefield! Now can it and stay on target!"

<Radio: B - Secure> Duo Maxwell transmits, "This ain't a domestic dispute! If he dies, where d'you think that big fella's gonna /go/!?"

<Radio: B - Secure> Staren Wiremu transmits, "Big fella?"

<Radio: B - Secure> Banjo Haran transmits, "/Nowhere/."

The blasts fire into the Daitarn 3's increasingly battered, but intact armor. The buster rifle shot strikes into the machine, sending fiery bursts up from where the machine struck home. Euzeth's eyes narrow behind the mask, as he feels outrage growing.

"This will not suffice!" Euzeth bellows. "I will not be frightened off by your words or your drive!"

The machine turns its head -- and the forehead glows, brilliantly, with a golden light. Then, ovaloids of light begin firing one after the other. They twist and arc around, as they come raining in towards the Wind Gundam Zero. As they grow closer, they explode.

A sphere of golden fire and light erupts a distance away, reflecting onto the White Star's surface brilliantly.

"SUN ATTACK!"

Banjo's buster rifle shot comes in a moment later, slashing into the left side of the chest. Sparks and flame explode from where it slashes into the armor. The head turns, and looses a bolt of light down for the Wing Gundam.

"No," he rumbles, "I am not you. I have a greater strength to fall back on!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Heero Yuy transmits, "Did he just say Sun Att--ACK!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "Damn it!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "Sounds like they could really use a miracle out there... like, Duo's girlfriend suddenly throwing some missiles into the mix."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Staren Wiremu transmits, "You have a girlfriend?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Banjo Haran transmits, "/Not now, Staren!/"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Banjo Haran transmits, "Heero! Come in!"

Bright Noa studiously watches the timer count down. Each second a precious commodity that when lost, makes the outcome that much more dire. He already has one pilot of questionable health, not to mention two more whose mental health is subjective at best. This is starting to go poorly and there isn't a damn thing he can do about it so far away from the battle.

But there's at least a measure of Duke Brazen. As he rubs his normal suit-covered fingers together, Bright thinks to himself. Celestial Being is terribly peculiar of who they choose to strike down. Dylandy might be a plant, but he's caught up in the cause. Sometimes, you just have to take matters in your own hand. Especially when it comes to smiting evil. "Put our missile batteries and gun-crews on standby," Bright tells Caesar. "If I call for it, we're putting this dog to rest for good."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Hell transmits, "Packard."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Hell transmits, "If necessary, use lethal force."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Hell transmits, "Do not damage that machine. I want it intact."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Hell transmits, "/He/ can be...rebuilt."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Hell transmits, "/It/ cannot."

Staren's beam sabers tear through the closest Megillot. Two more come for him, but they're systematically destroyed before they can actually fire. And then, trouble arrives in the form of Zechariahs. The bigger humanoid mechs come at Staren from behind the Megillots with their handheld Laser Blades, meeting the Astray in head-on, hand-to-hand combat. It's another stumbling block on the way to the Evangelion--

--but the Warrior Beast makes this kind of a moot point. More Megillots are launched spinning into space, the whirling drill piercing three more before they slam through a fourth. The Evangelion descends towards the surface, explosions thrown about by it like toys slowly but surely thinning out the horde. More Zechariahs appear, this time from below, flying up at the Evangelion and igniting their blades on the way, charging point-first at it.

The spasming Arios dives into the swarm, throwing off targeting sensors as friendly fire becomes a huge problem. The moment of something like hesitation gives him ample time to start picking apart the Megillots, the wrist-mounted submachine guns shredding things like some kind of ridiculous GN chainsaw that can reach out and touch someone. Blasts from something else outside the swarm finish off a couple of the damaged Megillots, but they don't even graze Arios--though the optical laser-using Zechariahs begin to line up another shot...

Lockon Stratos is a god damn cheater, but for good reason. The optical lasers slam into the shield bits as they chase the Cherudim, the light green and grey machines growing in number. They keep firing, beams lighting up space around the sniper even as they start to fall to the two-gun mojo. They start to thin, and more break off, the defense force beginning to scatter. Things are beginning to look bad for the Aerogaters out there on the edge. Drones move closer, the main body of the force dispersing even further...

BACK AT THE COMMAND STATION

"What are they /doing/?!" Adamah wails, clutching his hat and standing on his chair. "They're supposed to be /destroying/ them, not--not /exploding/!!" The crew look to one another awkwardly, and then back up at him. He releases the hat with one hand, pulls it off his head with another, and starts to throw it to the ground... only to make his arm pinwheel and bring it back up to drop it on his head, clearing his throat suddenly.

"Have the Habakkuks engage them. Intercept the one closing in first, and then pursue the Gundams!!" He nods suddenly, satisfied with the order.

OUTSIDE

Which is what happens, in fact.

The larger Habakkuks, lingering at the edge of the engagement, begin to fire. Whirling storms of greenish-blue energy fire 'upwards' at Duke Brazen's Evangelion, trying to blow it out of space before it can close in. Further away, the Zechariahs abandon their use of guns, already outclassed by the Gundam Meisters, and rush them in what seems like a suicide charge. Laser blades flash on and engines burn bright, carrying the green shapes closer, looking to hack them apart!

The massive orb of light consumes the Wing Zero, at first seemingly devouring it whole and leaving not even a shred of evidence of its existence behind.

It subsides, however, and the Wing Zero is suddenly still present. It is seared all over, white metal scorched into warped black substance, glowing embers and exposed circuitry underneath. Arcs of electricity and lightning erupt through the entire mobile suit... and yet, it's still online.

Its eyes are glowing. The gem in its center is shining brightly. It sees the future, and what it must do -- for the sake of the Earth, for the sake of all innocent people... and to crush the ambitions of evil everywhere... Daitarn 3! Must be disabled here!

The sphere containing ZERO shimmers brightly. The entire battlefield filters in as a stream of steady data, arrows and pathing and diagrams dancing about with a delicate backdrop of raining code and numbers. He's used to this by now, and even then... ZERO isn't pointing total destruction to him.

It is in tandem with him, pointing the path where Daitarn 3 can be disabled. It, too, knows the importance of the Titan of the Sun in the upcoming battle against the Balmarians. The mobile suit rises up into the air, high above Euzeth. "Euzeth Gozzo... for the sake of the Earth, for the sake of all mankind...! Let's do this, Banjo!"

Crosshairs fly across the overlay, one by one turning red as both Heero and ZERO confirm their mark. Outside, the Wing Zero's arms snap into place in front of its chest as its trademark Twin Buster Rifle starts charging. Large motes of energy wisp in waves, an ominous glow staring as a pair of predatory eyes down the length of its massive barrels.

>>>TARGET: FINAL LOCK ON<<<

"Triple Buster Rifle, maximum discharge...!" Light engulfs the Wing Zero's cockpit as two bright beams fire forthwith, returning the fury of the Sun towards the Super Robot.

But... where is the third?

The Angel hovers in place for several moments, as the infiltration team levels their weapons... And the next moment, it's simply *gone*.

A trail of blue light, and afterimages burned onto the cameras are all that can be clearly made out of the rapidly moving machine. Trowa's spray of fire manages to catch it as it passes, but the powerful barrier field seems to absorb the shot. Likewise, the twin beams from Altron skim the surface of one of its massive wings.

But with a blinding *flash*, The Angel is frozen, gliding merely at high speed for a few moments, dazzled by the shield's glare. In that short space of time, Tessa manages to score a direct hit, peppering the craft with GN Particle fire... And it seems to do nothing.

With the momentary pause, Ketol's stares back across the radio screen, tears rolling down her eyes as she blinks rapidly in pain.

"Adom is dead... Raquel. You're a ghost. You think I can't see your soul? You think I couldn't hear her dying words, pleading to live as you consumed her *soul*? You Dare... YOU DARE mock the woman I LOVED, so you can turn me into one of YOU?!"

With her last words a shrill *scream*, Ketol wraps the Messenger's wings around herself, and lunges forwards towards the group of machines. With a sudden *blast*, its wings explode outward, unleashing a wave of energy as the forcefields discharge in a wave, backed by the hate and rage boiling inside the machine's heart.

But the Angel isn't done. Turning around, it *leaps* away from the infiltration team, and charges... The REX.

Unable to see, but able to feel, Ketol tries to *pounce* at the fleeing ball of fear behind her, talons of burning energy standing ready to claw the armor off whatever it finds.

Belatedly, Staren realizes the eva is on _his_ side. Oh. Um, okay.

Good thing, too, because he's got his hands full! As the Zechariahs come for him, a beautifully animated chase scene ensues as he flies away, parrying Zechariah attacks with his sabers and occasionally slashing a passing Megillot, and then a bit drops off the Astray and begins to zoom around, shooting everything, particularly the backs and flanks of the zechariahs chasing him and the others.

It feels like it's taking all of Staren's concentration to keep this up. One slip-up would be catastrophic...

Luckily, Quatre is not /entirely/ aware of the fact that mister Super Soldier was going straight for the kill. But then, he'd probably give the guy a hug at the end of the day or something. He's just that kind of guy. Forgive and forget you know? Everyone has a way of doing things, even /he/ has realized that pacifism isn't something attained through sitting around twiddling your thumbs. As much as he hates to admit it, sometimes death may very well be a necessity.

Instead, he is fully concentrated at what is going on and is positioning his unit between Duo and Juku so that they may continue the mission. He turns his head for a moment, those blue eyes peering through those silly anti-sandstorm goggles, before he turns his attention back towards the Gundam-like machine they are facing, as it comes towards them. And he fails! It is simply too fast for him, as he is forced to brace for the assault of the unsealing. Luckily, the cloak protects his machine, but is immediately left ragged.

The youth reels in his cockpit as the wave of anger and other emotions hit him as well, clenching his teeth whilst looking up in defiance - turning around and getting the slow-to-maneuver sandrock moving again. Pushing the pedals of his machine he gets his thrusters to get to full burst. And finally, the cloak comes off! Little mini-explosions go off at his unit's shoulders after which the burst in speed increases quite a bit - and hoping to attack the unit from the back...

He moves his unit's hands for his back and grabs firmly onto the weapons attached to the shoulders - gripping the massive heat-shotels and swiping them down in a giant X-shape in one fluid and beautiful move!

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Trowa Barton transmits, "The wings seem to be the main focal point of her offensive. Disable them if you can."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Theresa Testarossa transmits, "Agreed."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell lets out a scream of absolute, /unending/ rage and sorrow as Ketol's machine crashes into REX Hound.

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Theresa Testarossa transmits, "Duo!!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Staren Wiremu transmits, "What happened?!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "What the hell is going on in there!? I don't care what you all are thinking about this Ketol, as she's about to murder the rest of you! Put this bitch on ice, now!"

NONEXISTANT GOD DAMMIT!

AGAIN!

Duo Maxwell can see the shot coming. He can see it; he can see it like he's some kind of SEED mode or something, even though he isn't, and it's just the same sight he's seen a hundred thousand times before. It's a bullet, even if it's not *really* a bullet, and it's aimed at someone he cares very much about - cares about more than anyone else. His eyes narrow into pinpricks; horror, terror, shock, and sheer adrenaline take over. Deathscythe Hell flings itself forward, its verniers burning towards Juku's machine, trying to intercept the attack, trying so hard...he's going to make it, he's going to make it, he's going to get there and save her, he's not going to let her-

Impact.

Duo's freakout is palpable, at least to Quatre, Macua, and probably Ketol, too; the sheer misery and self-loathing that's kicked in is almost unbearably huge, even for someone who *doesn't* happen to have fancy psychic powers. And for once, Duo Maxwell is very, very, very quiet. Very...very quiet.

And then he screams.

It is a loud, echoing scream; it is fortunate that his radio audio-adjusts, or half the people he was working with would be deaf. It's a scream of denial; of rejecting the reality that the heartless, cold 'god' of this world has chosen for him, a scream that denies any ability to be rational at this moment in time, fueled by compassion and past wounds being ripped open by those talons more acutely than any damage to Deathscythe Hell could possibly do. He sees Solo, dying of the plague; he sees Father Maxwell's church in flames from the sky; he sees Sister Helen's burned and shot body as she murmurs her last words to him. And he says no more; in thhat scream, he denies that Juku Reimaru will be added to that pile of corpses that rises behind him. He will not lose someone else.

He will kill that Balmarian long before that happens.

The Not-So-Grim Reaper casts off the Not-So.

Deathscythe Hell suddenly emerges behind Ketol's machine; its huge, batlike wings spread wide. With the beautiful glow of Daitarn 3 behind it, it is like it is silhouetted against the sun itself; all that is visible of its fine details are its blazing green eyes and its immense, dual-pointed green scythe. This is the instrument of his vengeance; with this weapon, he will ensure that no one else he loves dies.

Even if he must become the God of Death for wholly different reasons.

In the back of his mind, Baal'Sariel murmurs that it was only a matter of time.

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "Duo! Get a hold of yourself."

Macua Huitl says "She was me and I was her, I accepted who she was. I made her a promise and I INTEND DO KEEP IT! I never said become one of us! GEt you away from Gozzo and Ingram. They are snakes who care nothing for their own personal power. Look how many they would throw away, I'll not let you be thrown away by them too!"

"You think she'd want you to have this happen. If you are happy as Ketol then remain as her, but I am getting you away from them. I will not break that promise you hear me?!" She feels screwams forces it's just crazy, and she's not so lucky this time. The Phoebe is faster than the Esh, but it's not as durable by far, she's caught by the seal breaking but her funnels evade, and then open fire comming in from several angels.

"Ketol Iyar? You are not anyone's puppet! STOP THIS!"

She pauses as Duo just goes nuclear she can feel it from here.

The Blue Angel charges towards their position and Trowa readies himself for the blow. His feet plant down hard into the deck of the White Star's interior and the massive Army Knife unfolds from his right arm. The waves of pure force buffet Heavyarms as it skids back, screeching of metal on metal echoing through the halls... but he holds firm and waits until Ketol is /just/ within range before bringing the knife up and raking her with it. "The wings seem to be the main focal point of her offensive," Trowa then transmits to his colleges, "Disable them if you can." Seeking to do just that, Trowa quickly whips around and opens up his Gundam's chest compartment to reveal the pair of heavy gatling guns hidden beneath. The guns unleash a near solid stream of bullets into the Blue Angel's back, seeing to deprive her of her main form of offense.

Wufei's shot might have missed, but the Melakh's speed might be it's undoing. When the mech reappears, the right arm dragon fang unfurls to go after it. Even as he unfurls his double beam trident, he sees Duo go nuclear. He can't even form the words as his dragon fang is going to hit right around the time Duo does.......

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Lockon Stratos transmits a definite KABOOM. "Gah! Tch... These guys...!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "Keep it together! I'm uploading combat data to your Gundam now!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner has a single tear roll off of his cheek... and somehow this is audible. "I am sorry, this is my fault. We should have taken down the enemy first, and then continued. This is my fault, Duo, for giving a bad plan. But we cannot let this get to us. Keep it together Duo!"

Fear is not the correct term for Juku Reimaru is feeling. Set determination is closer to correct.

Batshit nuts, even more so.

The REX Hound continues to accelerate despite coming to Ketol's attention. THe talons dig into and tear away optical camoflauge armor in a spray of electricity and fire.

The REX Hound bounces off the surface fo Neviim once, then smashes fully into the side of a protrusion, falling limp.

What no one else can see is that Juku Reimaru, in her normal suit is launched into a waste displosal shute on Neviim on impact. Rolls down the coordinor as she tucks over a polycarbonate carryiing case and bounces around like a goddamn human pinball.

There are broken bones, definitely broken bones, but Juku Rei-goddamn-maru does not care. She uncurls from her ball with a tiny gasp and reaches up with an arm that still mostly works and grasps a railing, hauling herself up to find where this stupid psi-conduit thing is and goddamnit if it turns out to be non-existant the strength of her spite will reach out across space and slap Bright Noa right in the pie hole.

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "This isn't the time to get in touch with your feminine side, Quatre. Lock, load, and drop the enemy like a bad habit!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Staren Wiremu transmits, "Feminine side? But we have plenty of girl pilots... kickass ones, too..."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "Less talk, more shooting!"

"No--!" is the only response that Banjo can muster when Euzeth intones those two awful, familiar words and summons the nuclear fury of the Sun itself. Beyond remembering the way the Uriyah's foot drove through the Disaster of Abel's slagged chest during the last moments of Baraq's life, beyond even the fear of seeing a friend engulfed in sunfire, Banjo struggles with the knowledge that someone else - not him, not his shadow, /another person entirely/ - so effortlessly called upon Daitarn 3's most powerful weapon.

Intellectually, he fully knows and understands that the Sun Attack is a purely mechanical feat, as at its heart there's nothing remotely mystical about it. Spiritually, however, after years of being Daitarn 3's sole pilot and its close association with the radiant destruction of the Sun Attack... Euzeth may as well have moved into his home, slept with one of his girlfriends and stolen all of his money to buy fabrege eggs or something else similarly worthless.

"Heero!" he exclaims after swallowing the lump in his throat. "Hee--"

When the young man /response/, Banjo exhales a sigh of relief and flicks his eyes towards a monitor.

The Buster Rifle is /still charging/, which means that he has to hurry to pull Wing Gundam into position behind its younger, sleeker and more powerful brother. Together, they can strike a sure, resounding blow against the Balmarian threat and reclaim another one of the Earth Sphere's fruits so ruthlessly stolen from its people.

"Aim for the cockpit," Banjo tells his wingmate.

>>>TARGET: FINAL LOCK ON<<<

"Euzeth," he transmits as the great, jittering jewel of golden light at the buster rifle's tip threatens to spill forth prematurely, "Thank you again for bringing me Daitarn back--you might wanna use all that strength of yours to get the hell out of my machine and fall back to Neviim."

And then the gathering light /explodes/, casting the Wing Gundams in shadow as a golden ray deadly enough to threaten an /army/ of robots burns through the void to penetrate - and purify - the heart of just one. Euzeth Gozzo may have tried to eradicate Heero with the Sun Attack, but between the twinned Gundams--

--Banjo and Heero have as good as borrowed the power of the Sun itself.

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Theresa Testarossa hm. "I forgot how direct you were, Bright."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "I can't kill them... the heart of space tells me that'd be wrong."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "THEN I'LL DO IT FOR YOU!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Heero Yuy transmits, "Triple Buster Rifle, maximum discharge...!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "/IF I HAVE TO BE THE GOD OF DEATH TO PROTECT EVERYONE I LOVE...THEN FINE! NO BALMARIAN WHO SEES MY FACE WILL WALK AWAY!/"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "Duo! But then, how will they ever learn?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "Peace, even with the aliens, cannot be archieved with meaningless death!"

Duke Brazen grins as he impales the first of the drones. This was going too well. The General in Hell's army is getting more fired up by the second, feel his will pump up his machine further than it is meant to go. Even as more of the Balmarians start to surround him, he is too in the zone to really start to worry about.

The blades cut into the Warrior Beast, ripping meat off of the metal skeleton. The pain surges through Brazens body, causing him to get even more fired up. The clutches his sides, finding Dr. Hell's reprograming only make him able to deal with this pain in one way---to laugh like a mad man.

Finally the Warrior Beast points its rail gun attachment forward, summing the wreckage of its previous kills. The metal rips and bends, screeching as it works itself together. Finally it forms a large drill, which fires off to the center of the largest group of Balmarians Brazen can find.

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "/You're wrong!/ /THERE'S ALWAYS THE PEACE OF THE GRAVE!/"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "Subtleties are for politicians, Colonel. I have a battle to win and pilots to return to my hangars in one piece."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Theresa Testarossa transmits, "Grim....but you're not wrong."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "So you want Juku to be peaceful in the grave too!?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "You know that isn't right!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "I-!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "You are better than this, Duo."

Well, the Gundam Meisters must have been doing something right when whoever was in charge sent the elites out against them.

The Arios's GN Shield had been doing a good job of deflecting much of the weaker fire that would've otherwise gotten through despite the mobile suit's agility. This not the case when the unit's abandon 'strategy' for 'suicide' but outright /bum rushing/ the Arios with their numbers.

Allelujah Haptism grimaced. He was not Tieria and this was not the Seravee; he not equipped to hold off a horde of enemies like a linebacker with the poundage to spare. The GN Shield crackles and brakes before the onslaught, laser sword carving out their pound of steel even as the variable Gundam beats a hasty retreat back, taking out quite a few of them with return fire from it's twin beam rifle as it does so.

"Shouldn't have underestimated them..." Al chides himself, doing a quick status check on the Arios and finding things nominal. He could still fight. "Still there, Lockon?" He offers some playful banter, typing a few quick codes in, "I think it's time we showed them what a distraction /really/ is."

See? He could be sassy!

The Arios clears the field, flying above and around the Zecheriahs like a bat out of hell in confusing zigzags and strafes that threaten nausea just trying to follow. All the while the twin beam rifle snaps off pink arcs of fury without pause, all aimed to deadly precision. There is no waste among them.

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Chang Wufei transmits, "Quatre, we're fighting for our survival! They brought war to us! Duo! Get Juku out of here if you can, or get the charges to the site yourself!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "Don't turn into one of 'them'."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Trowa Barton says simply, "Listen to what your heart tells you. That's the best advice I can offer right now."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "Q....Quatre...you can say that so easily...you got faith in yer heart of space..."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "Then have faith in me - who has faith in you."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Macua Huitl transmits, "Duo!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "This isn't an enemy that responds to reason, Winner! You can hash out your philosophical debate -after- the battle!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "If our enemy didn't respond to reason, then how did we get Banjo back?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "And all the others who once fell to their spell?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Heero Yuy transmits, "Duo... I trust you'll do the right thing."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Chang Wufei transmits, "We beat the snot out of them first."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "Three billion tons of steel and the will for justice behind it."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "I'm sure there's... reason in that too!"

Cheaters or not... Even the Gundams aren't perfect, no matter who their manufacturer might be. GN-006 manages to keep the Balmarians at bay, keeping attention focused on Cherudim even as Arios does likewise, but the unexpected charge the Zechariahs is enough of a surprise that the incoming barrage is enough to breach the Celestial Being machine's defenses, laser blade strikes battering the green and white machine as a bolt of energy from one of its pistols fires wide. There is a thunderous sound in the cockpit, not unlike an explosion. "Gah!" the counterfeit Meister at the controls shouts. "Tch... These guys...!" But... Something like this isn't enough to stop him. Even without Bright's encouragement and tactical information, he knows that. Not that it doesn't help. "Heh," Lockon chuckles, in response to Allelujah. "Sounds good to me!"

Seemingly still overwhelmed by the Zecharias, Cherudim starts to /move/, both GN Beam Pistol IIs coming to bear; the damaged Gundam swings around, carefully placing single shots, no panic fire or wasted motions as both guns pivot, aim, and shoot. Even the GN particle-infused axe blades on the guns' barrels come into play, Lockon using them to try to knock aside the Balmarian machines' own guard before delivering more brutally efficient shots, aiming to take down as many of the 'suicidal' machines as possible in as little time as he can manage. Who'd have thought a guy named 'Lockon Stratos' would have a funny idea about what to do in melee?

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Banjo Haran transmits, "Tell that to my cuts and bruises, Quatre."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Juku Reimaru transmits, "In. Goddamn. Side."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell finally, /utterly disbelieving/, manages, "...y-you're alive?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Macua Huitl transmits, "...Juku!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "...c-coming."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Heero Yuy transmits, "... did we do it?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell sounds completely, totally relieved and deflated at the exact same time, which is probably good given he was about to murder someone in cold blood.

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Juku Reimaru transmits, "Don't get me yet. Keep the crazy occupied or she really -will- murder me."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "I'll cover you both. Finish the mission!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "O...okay."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Chang Wufei transmits, "Taking care of it, Juku."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Macua Huitl transmits, "I'm on her I'll keep her busy. She's got a vendetta vs me."

"What are you doing? You would put your own machine at such risk?" Eueth asks with a snarl. He looks at the screen, seeing the first lock on -- and then the second registers. His eyes widen behind his mask, as he sees the three beams fire. An overwhelming, golden light floods over his screen. There are numerous warnings across it and blaring.

He vanishes, in a feat of precision from his engineers. A flash of blue light, and Euzeth is out of the cockpit. The beams strike a split second later, and erupt out the back. The Daitarn 3 is surpriisngly whole, with a gap torn into the chest, where the cockpit was.

Inside the White Star, Euzeth appears in a flash. He crumples to his knees, breathing hard.

Tessa blurs alongside, firing along at the Angel. Think, focus, attack... keep it up. And then Ketol drops a bomb...and Tessa shakes her head. Was that a hint, she wonders, mind ticking through options. "Dana," she murmurs, and the controlling intelligence of the de Danaan, which Kyrios has been tricked into thinking is none other than Veda, chimes, "Yes, Colonel?"

"Start cross-referencing data on Earth machines matching the Messenger's profile. Use my guncam footage as reference." "Aye, Ma'am," the AI chimes, and Tessa immediately has occasion to get back to work.

Kyrios abruptly averts to an entirely separate angle, the GN particle thrust proving highly effective at advanced maneuvers, especially using the free-roaming thrust technique Tessa got used to in Lekhishah. Tessa starts planning to prime the Heat Sword...when she sees the Angel turn. "Shit!" she bites out. That'll piss off Duo, but more than that, Juku's the one with the objective in hand! Which means...

She snaps the GN Submachine Gun up. Aims - slow, careful, precise.

Slow breath out. "Angle... range... got you."

Bang. One blast. All she needs to blast the Messenger's wing right off... she hopes.

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Banjo Haran transmits, "We--we did it."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Banjo Haran transmits, "Of course we did it."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "/We/'re not done yet."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Heero Yuy transmits, "... right. Captain Bright, can you send a pickup for 120 meters?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "Is it done?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Banjo Haran transmits, "My hangar had better still /be/ there--I'm gonna need people on fixing it 'round the clock in these next hours."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Heero Yuy transmits, "I'm going in after all of y--urkh...!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "Heero!? Come in, I lost that last part!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Banjo Haran transmits, "Shit--Heero, Bright, are we /done/? Can he get back on the Argama?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "Everyone inside, make your way back out."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Macua Huitl transmits, "Tessa I may be able to cut her lose of that nightmare with my funnels, I just need a fireing soultion."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "Allelujah, Lockon, and Teletha, am I correct in understanding your Gundams have a special speed boost ability?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Heero Yuy transmits, "I'm... al...right..."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Staren Wiremu transmits, "Did Juku get it into position...?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Allelujah Haptism doesn't see any point in hiding it, "Ours do, yes. I don't think Kyrios is capable of it without a True GN Drive."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "Damn. There's too many of us and too few of you."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "We'll just have to risk it."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Theresa Testarossa transmits, "I can get you one, Macua, hold on -- Uh? Trans-am, you mean? No, Mithril never figured out how to get the particle release to work."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "Allelujah, Lockon, give me coverfire."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "Argama is coming in hot!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Allelujah Haptism transmits, "Roger that!!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Heero Yuy transmits, "Roger... I'm coming in for a... landing on the Argama."

Banjo has to resist his urge to alight on Daitarn 3's frame and try to assume its controls to fly it back to the Argama himself; he knows full and well that after having its chest blown out, it's entirely possible that /some/ part of it could explode at the wrong moment, were he to make any attempt at actually using it.

Thankfully, Heero's health problems give him something else to think about, so once the order to return to the Argama is given, Wing Gundam glides towards its brother unit to try and help it along to the AEUG mothership as best as possible.

Heero didn't want to have it end like this, exactly... but there was just no other choice. He clutches his stomach as he feels red staining the shirt he had on, gripping the controls with one more hand. The mobile suit is moving with much more grace and accord than it normally would, on its own.

He sees the Wing Gundam assist from the side, and throws an arm around it to latch onward. Profusely sweating and gasping for air, the Gundam pilot stares towards the inert Daitarn 3 as they fly away from it. "... mission... complete."

That'll have to do.

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Juku Reimaru transmits, "I still need some time..."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "I'll give you all the time y'need...I promise. Jus' stay alive...!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Heero Yuy transmits, "All of you... good luck."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Theresa Testarossa transmits, "Confirmed! We'll keep her busy!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "You've got -ten- minutes!"

One probably ought to wonder how Quatre can be lecturing Duo and just about everyone else on the channel, whilst at the same time performing quite admirably in combat. And he lectures so well! Or at least, so he tries, spouting pacifistic ideas as if it's candy. But at least some of it makes sense. Some of it.

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Hell transmits, "Colonel Mauser, are you present?"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Hell transmits, "I believe I have acquired something that may be of.../great/ interest to the Divine Crusaders."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Hell transmits, "I will begin deconstructing this sample of Extra-Over Technology immediately upon return to Bardos Island. I shall let you know what I discover."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Sir! What have you found, if I may be so curious, sir?"

Aboard the Argama, Captain Bright nods to Torres. "Torres -- do it!"

Torres's eyes go wide, stricken with fear. He swallows hard and secures his fingers tight to the throttle of the Argama. "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.." he whimpers.

Under the cover of space, the Argama's lights kick in all across its decks. Its engines begin to burn, blasting blue-hued propulsion that begin to push the battleship toward White Star at increasing speeds.

"Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." a worried Torres bleats out as he manuevers the Argama toward the Balmar battlestation. "Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors..."

The Argama picks up speed as its engines roar to full-power. It begins rushing for the White Star, nearing the site of Allelujah and Lockon.

"Begin the barrage!" Bright demands with a motion of his hand. "Full deployment, everything we've got!!"

Everything around the Argama is explosions and laserfire, something akin to a shield of death seperating it from the Balmar fighter-squadrons. Dummy-balloons deploy on port and starboard side, clouding the battleship from line of sight.

Hanging out of either hangar, Rick Dias units provide coverfire to the returning Wing Zero. A blast from their beam pistols might as well serve as a welcoming committee.

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Juku Reimaru transmits, "More then enough."

The Blue Angel is forced to release Juku as it dashes away, diving through Macua's funnels, evading Quatre's artful, but insufficiently fast, cross-strike, and twirling through the barrage of heavy gattling fire, as the Messanger streaks through the captured sky of the White Star.

However, Wufei's aim strikes true, as it smashes against one of the massive wings, but rebounding off its shields. Tessa's also fotunate, as her shots strafe along its side, causing the shields to filcker, but not falter. Then, the Deathscythe charges in, Duo's rage clear as a bell as he closes range, almost matching the Angel's speed as it turns around...

And catches the blow on its wing.

The massive, flexible Binder slams against the Gundam, as the massive beam scythe pierces the hull. It buffets the black Mobile Suit away, and turns to face it.

It's not coincidental that they've ended up with Duo floating before Juku... Or that the Messenger's chest has opened up, revealing the baleful glare of its central cannon.

"You should have died, Sariel. Let me help you... and that thing you thought you cared for.

There's no time to blink. The energy explodes outwards, contained within a somewhat small area, but just as deadly as a warship's cannon. With a bright flash of light, the weapon pulses, and Duo and Juku are directly in its path.

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Theresa Testarossa transmits, "So many variables, ugh. Got it!"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Hell transmits, "A Balmarian machine."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "Interesting, sir."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "What kind?"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Hell transmits, "One of their lower-ranked models, but likely to give us a significant technological advantage."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Ascian Luddite transmits, "An Ezekiel?"

"OH NO YOU DON'T!" Wufei yells as the Mech zips towards Duo and Juku. With his Double trident in his left hand, he extends his Dragon Fang at the Mech again. Not to hit it this time, but to grab it and hold it in place....

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell sounds noticeably shaken from earlier. "Juku...?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "You okay?"

When Quatre says he will give you cover, you can bet you will be given cover! The Sandrock Custom's thrusters burst to live and he extends the hand of his unit forwards - shotel sideways so he won't do harm to those he is trying to protect. Finally, he places the unit's appendage against Duo's unit and /pushes/ him out of the way to give that extra bit of boost the guy may need, after which the Sandrock comes to a full stop in front of Juku's unit and lets down the other heat shotel to try and stop the attack!

However, the beam just flows right along the heat shotel and forces it back, not allowing him to complete the swing and instead crushes pieces of the shoulders and chest - creating big black marks. But the unit will not budge! He keep standing where he is! A stalwart defender he is. A small little bit of blood suddenly comes down his forehead, moving down to his nose before he notices it and moves it back up. He'd hit his head as a result of the rocking of his cockpit.

Quatre wipes the blood off onto his sleeve and dips his head a bit downwards. "Okay. That's enough. I can spout all these words all day, but it is time I show them that I am not just all talk." The blonde claims to himself and tightens his grip on the controls... and pushes all of his pedals forwards all the way. His thrusters come to life again, and hopefully gives him the sprint he needs to get in close range with Ketol! "You are not getting away this time!"

"Duo! Trowa! Assist me!" He calls out. "Wufei, keep holding on to him!" The heat shotels move each to one side of the unit as he comes forwards, his eyes perfectly concentrated on the winged enemy unit. An attack from both sides of him, a scissor attack of sorts! "Remember! Don't hit the cockpit!" He calls out at the last moment.

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Hell transmits, "Packard."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Hell transmits, "Tsurugi and his friends are about to try some of their reckless heroism."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Hell transmits, "If Gool is destroyed, do me a favor."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Hell transmits, "Make certain you do not lose that package."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Hell transmits, "Make absolutely certain."

Juku's...alive? That mere thought gave Duo so much of a drive it was remarkable. It put him in the zone; back in the zone where his anger is cool and his compassion is strong, where his loved ones aren't about to die and where Baal'sariel is at his absolute weakness. It's her face in his eyes as Deathscythe Hell vanishes in mid-strike, the attack of Ketol's machine passing harmlessly through it and exploding through a megilot Duo had lined up behind him.

Quatre calls for aid, and Duo sees his plan. Calm and cool and oh so collected, Duo's machine appears right in front of Quatre's, on the opposite side of Ketol's machine; the scythe of Deathscythe rises into the darkness, twin beams blazing. But he wasn't going to kill her; no, Quatre had told him not to, and he was calm, now. He was okay, now. The monster inside him was quiet.

"I'm not gonna let you hurt her again!" Duo rages, the beam scythe swinging down as hard as he can towards Ketol's wings. He'd been told to cut them off - so he was going to cut them off!

The rocket booster on the end of the scythe triggers.

This was going to be a sweet, sweet cut.

"Quatre!" Trowa exclaims as he watches his friend throw himself into the path of the attack and instinctively snaps his beam gatling gun up for a killing blow. the barrels spin up to speed... but he stops himself at Quatre's request, "... Understood." His fingers quickly work the controls as he readjusts the targetting perimaters. in an instant, his HUD lights up with information as targetting reticules appear on the Blue Angel, highlighting the wings, the arms, and the legs... but leaving the torso alone. His aim shifts slightly as all four of his gatling guns wind up to speed before a hailstorm of bullets come flying out to pulverize the Messenger in the wake of Quatre and Duo's attack.

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Norris Packard transmits, "Yes sir."

The chase is on! Staren manages to throw off the Zechariahs, parrying laser blades and cutting apart Megillots on his way to his end goal of 'being alive.' The Zechariahs take a few more potshots at his back on the way, but the device dropped into their midst gets the job done before he can be seriously harried. The Prometheus Bit shoots up the Zechariahs, and he escapes their reach as they get picked apart by a remote they weren't prepared for. Who expects the non-psychic kid to have a remote weapon?!

Duke Brazen encounters three Habakkuks with his drill. The huge machines stand side by side, backed by rows of Megillots, charging their beam weapons. The fields of light in front of them begin to glow--and then, suddenly, the middle one is torn apart and thrown in unrecognizable pieces in every direction. The ones on either side have the sides facing the drill completely sheared away, drifting off. A trail of explosions follow as Megillots are not spared the drill's wrath, even if their missiles might be.

Basically it's epic. Dr. Hell would be proud.

Arios, meanwhile, proves to be some kind of terrible hell-bat. It zips in a completely chaotic manner through the lines, and the Zechariahs do their best to keep up, but they just /can't/. They zig when they should have zagged, and then their zigs are taken off--the map, that is. Explosions follow from deadly pink arcs of fire. There isn't much they can do about it but die. Allelujah should feel /awful/ (and Hal should be updating his score card).

Lockon Stratos, sniper of many talents, creates a killing zone in what is effectively melee range, doing exactly what no sniper should be able to: function when someone gets close to you without a kukri of some sort. A few shots puts the Zechariahs out of the battle, and the suicidal charge proves to be one. Floating husks of holed machines are left in space, with the blasts of a few that are too close threatening him more than their quasi-head vulcans.

"This is NOT GOOD," Adamah shouts, hands squeezing his head. "DEPLOY MORE MEGILLOTS! MORE MEGILLOTS!!" He suddenly turns, pointing to a person at a command console. The person looks startled and a little bit frightened. "GUNDAM MEISTERS! FOURTH QUADRANT! HANDLE IT!!"

Suddenly, explosions. The battleship way out there starts shooting down at them, thinning the herd and covering their way out. Bright will be satisfied to see that the dummy balloons work wonders, with the lasers from the Habakkuks being absorbed by... balloons that look like rocks. This, of course, makes /some people/ even angrier.

"THE ARGAMA?!" Adamah exclaims. "WHAT THE F--"

He slams his fist into a console. A button is pressed.

Battleships in proximity to the White Star suddenly fire. The blasts are titanic and blinding, shooting out across space into the swarm. They evaporate the outermost Megillots and come for the Gundam Meisters, destroy the Zechariahs and sweep down at the Astray, and go as far as to finish off the damaged Habakkuks in search of Duke Brazen. Even the Argama is targeted, though it is much bigger and probably a lot less worried about it.

Uh, right?

Macua Huitl realises just how fast Ketol is. A promise is a promise and given the nature of how and why. She feels totally compelled to keep after this. The funnels miss, she calls for some targeting support from Tessa. Her idea seems like a good one, cripple the Angel, pull Ketol out.She realises to her Horror. She mutters "Ketol you damned fool, you want to die don't you?!"

Her Funnels do go into a full out firing pattern still she's trying to keep Ketol off balanace trying to keep her away from the others. The madness the rage, it's consumed Ketol without Adom as her sanity stone around. The Grief's deiven her mad. Macua is crushed, at this realisation, any other newtype can feel it.

"...Adom...I'm sorry."

"Ketol Iyar...the Ketol Iyar Adom knew is gone isn't she? I can't let you live...like this. It's onoly right I ... bring this to and end."

Her funnels now go in for the kill, opening up with eveyrthing they have and she doesn't hold back not at all. The Phoebe also moves at high speed almost much like Adom used to when she spear dance, the funnels keep comming directed again and again by Macua's mind. Is this how it was for Tessa with those remaining subjects at the old lab....?

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "Damn it, we don't have much more time left!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "We can't repel firepower of this magnitude for long!"

Juku Reimaru is unaware of the drama going on outside. Which she is distinctly aware of it's the pain of a broken ankle and arm while trying to carry a 30 pound case while leaning on the wall for support.

Needlss to say, this kind of sucks.

What sucks more is when she reaches the so called conduit. It is where it should be. Behind a goddamn panel. Nobody said anytihng abouwut panels! The briefing was specifically glass panel devoid! Panel-less!

Juku tosses down the case as she leans against a wall and pulls out a hand gun. A small H&K compact, but it's ll she's got. She fires the entire clip into the panel, shattering it and letting it fall down to the depth below.

She quickly grasps the vcase and flings it open. Taking ouwut the doodad that is insuffciently explained by any conventional science and gets on her belly to crawl up to the ledge. She spend the next 3 minutes affixing the device with one good arm and one nearly useless broken arm.

Eventualy she switches for ballancing it on her good leg with her good arm doing all the real work. It works out much better.

Juku then stands up and kicks the plastic case away with her good foot and begins the slow, agonizing hoping march back down the shute and into the battered torso of REX Hound.

Thank God the cockpit still shuts.

REX Hound shudders and ignites it's thrusters, leaping in upwards. It looks nearly trashed and is flying lopsided, but it manages enough thrust to get out and away from Neviim.

Time Since REX impact: 7 minutes 48 seconds.

Tessa's shots don't quite hit the mark. Well, she consoles herself, not a bad shot for attempting a snipe using /absolutely no/ equipment that is appropriate to the task. Kyrios bolts down rapidly, but the Messenger is so much faster...got to move, move, move!

And while she moves, Tessa quickly puts together firing solutions for Macua, trying to factor in all of the many dozens of variables in her head. If she can pin this exactly right...she can just about... "...got it." She hopes. This isn't the same as providing data using the full suite of command and control data that she has on the de Danaan, but Dana's pitching in to help, and that's a big plus.

The explosion of light from the Messenger's main gun gives Tessa a star to light her way. The Heat Blade starts to burn. "OK..." she murmurs.

The GN thrusters shoot her forward, quickly, darting rapidly in a projected path among the blasts. Others are handling defense. Offense, she thinks. Offense is what they need. OK. She can do offense.

"Ketol..." she sighs. "I should've put my foot down when I had that chance, shouldn't I...?" ... "I'm sorry," she murmurs. "Then, if this is all I can do--!"

The shield blade rises, Kyrios nearly a rival for the Messenger's speed - and the Angel has had to slow down. Tessa knows where it all is - can see it, feel it, sense it. So she can tell, in that moment, where to swing her blade to slice through the Messenger to most effect, trying to shred through damaged armor and sear one of the arms off completely - and hopefully significantly damage the wings as she does it. Got to keep Juku in the air. It's just the same as doing it from the bridge, except you're the one who might die.

It's a little comforting to no longer be terrified by that, strangely.

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Juku Reimaru transmits, "I am double goddamn done and gone."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "Insertion team, retreat back to the Argama! Allelujah and Lockon, -do it-!"

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Hell transmits, "I do so enjoy that."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Hell transmits, "Someone prepare a storage facility."

<Radio: B - DC Tactical> Dr. Hell transmits, "I shall dismantle this machine and extract its secrets for the good of the Divine Crusaders."

Incoming HUGE BEAMS! Sweeping across space!

Man, Staren's faught loads of bosses with that kind of attack pattern. The Astray flies to the side as the beams sweep past. With the Zechariahs gone, the prometheus bit returns to its dock, and Staren flies towards the nearest battleship, slashing Bugs along the way and then setting to work carving up the battleship. Mostly to be a better distraction, but hey, if he can manage to destroy the ship, so much the better!

Well, perhaps there was such a thing as being /too/ good of a distraction.

Hisllelujah does indeed feel a bit bad about how hard he's blowing the hell out of these guys (And Hal is having a lark updating his score), but they've got mission to do here an all. Celestial Being was prepared to make sacrifices.

Though not usually the ones that tended to involve getting near-vaporized by battleship fire. Not for /this/ anyways.

Bright tries something so crazy that even Tieria may not have expected it (or at least, none of Al's index cards reference something like this), so the the supersoldier is left to wing it.

"I'll take the port." He asides to Lockon, "You take starboard?!

Whatever Lockon does, Al quickly moves to flank the Argama only to be caught up in the massive backwash of artillery they follows. It's not good: At least half the Arios's armor is melted and works wonders with the circuitries, catching the gundam badly in a big way. It was the worst way for him to take a hit, and he didn't have much left. At a time like this...he should probably..

All the more luck that Bright even suggests it.

"Okay then..."TRANS-AM!"

Suddenly, the Arios is /gone/.

Instead there is only a shimmer, incandescent afterimage of something that /may/ have been a Gundam as it dances a perimeted of devastation around the Argama, keeping all ports of entry covered until a full retreat is reached. Hopefully the ones inside completed their mission... Celestial Being has done all it can here.

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Staren Wiremu transmits, "Aww, _what_, _what_ how is he doing that"

In fact, Lockon Stratos' dark and terrible secret is: He's not actually a sniper, per se. Oh, he can /snipe/, sure, and he's quite good at it... But he'll never be as good of a shot as his brother. His talents lie in other areas, broader if perhaps shallower than those of Neil. But you know what? That was totally sweet. As fire continues to come in, Cherudim starts /moving/, avoding the Eraser fire from the Hulehs and breaking to starboard as Arios goes to port. The incoming Argama is noted as well, and as the two damaged Gundams move into a better attack position in order to provide fire support to the battleship, Lockon's voice rings out at the same moment as Allelujah's. "TRANS-AM!" A brilliant red glow envelops GN-006, and its movement picks up, accelerating to blurring speed - although it still can't match the Arios. The Gundam's two pistols keep firing, spraying ultimately harmless covering fire at the Balmarian drones and such... While eight of the nine Shield Bits, also glowing red, form up on one another into two sets of four, each creating a particle array that increases their output tremendously. No longer to they fire the small, relatively weak beams they manifest individually... Instead, two free-floating, battleship-scale GN beam cannons orbit Cherudim, unleashing further hell on the Balmarian forces to help cover the retreat!

Aboard the Argama, every single system warns of impending doom.

"INCOMING!" Caesar cries out.

Bright's voice rings out across every section of the Argama. "All decks, brace for impact!"

The Huleh Legion descends on the Argama, just battering it like a drunk spouse. Lights flash and every single thing shakes violently under the forceful throes. People are thrown from one side to the next, broken bones and concussions being the least of their concerns.

"Camille!" Fa cries out as she hugs Shinta and Qum tight to her, the orphans whimpering in her arms.

A Nemo dislodges from its Mobile Suit cage and comes crashing to the deck, its visor shattering instantly. One of the mechanics is caught beneath the arm of the green-hued mobile suit and screams for help, clawing pitifully in the zero-gee air as Astonaige and Anna Hanna leap toward him.

Sparks fly within the Argama's bridge. "Whuaaah!" Bright grunts as he's thrown forward yet stays in his seat by thanks of having his seatbelt secured ahead of time. "Damage report!" he shouts over the dim of venting gasses and fizzling electronics.

"Heavy damage to our hull!" Ron Keith reports, his eyes squinting to make out the flickering of his operations console. "Decks three, four, and six are losing power! We've got a mess in our hangar and wounded reports are rolling in! We can't take much more of this for very long!"

"We'll have to hope that Allelujah, Lockon, and Staren are capable of keeping us defended. Keep the barrage rolling! Torres, bring us about so we can catch one of their battleships in range of our guns!"

Torres feverishly hums his prayer under his breath as he pushes the wounded Argama to its limits. Metal creaks in protest as the Argama comes around to aim its main gun at one of the battleships.

Lasers fly, things explode.

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Juku Reimaru transmits, "I am probably going to need a doctor"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "I'll take care of it, Cap'n."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "Once this is over, I mean.

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "We have good doctors available on the Maganac ship."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "You and Duo are of course welcome for a visit."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "God damn it!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "We can do both."

Duke Brazen, listening to the chatter, grunts as he realizes he needs to pull back. The Warrior Beast roars as it fires off it's rail gun as it begins to pull out of range. The pilot of the biomechanical Machine Beast takes one last look at the Argama and it's mission of hope and shakes his head. Bright Noa would be dealt with when the time came. He would end that fool with all the power he demonstrated today.

The Angel falls. Bitten by a mechanical dragon, blades of concentrated energy, or burning with the desert's fire, stab through her wings, and pin her to the floor. Cannonfire riddles her torso with bullets, as she *screams* in agony. The beamfire from the Funnels puncture the armor, and the shield surrounding her flickers, and fades, burning away from the damage. And finally, with a devestating slice from Kyrios, a long, ugly scar is carved into the helpless Mobile Suit's shoulder, the tortured agony being relayed over the radio, or into the minds of those sensitive to it, almost excurtiating to hear.

And then, in the stillness... Ketol is /crying/. The pain feeding back to her is unbearable. Her fear, her terror at being trapped, at being helpless before the savage humans, is palpable. Every fiber of her being cries out for them to stop, to let her go, to stop hurting her like this, as a scared teenager mentally *pleads* with her tormenters.

And then with a sudden spark of pure, unbridled rage, the crying stops.

There's a tearing, *wrenching* sound as the wings flex beneath her. The Messenger, damaged and pinned to the floor of the White Star, rises.

And tears its wings off its back.

The pain, the *AGONY* of it echos through the cavernous interior, as the crippled robot stands, pouring vast clouds of some glittering, vapourous substance out of the pathetic-looking stubs on its back.

And yet, it still moves.

Filled with rage and hate, the Messenger charges forwards, unable to fly, but still able to *leap*, as it lunges for Macua, a murderous intent in her eyes, and a burning, unearthly power in her hands.

There are no words.

There's nothing left to say them.

Macua Huitl is crying, she knows someone who never had a chance, that being Ketol. She's not sure if these feelings came from Adom or her self she doesn't know. Shemay never know, she feels the emotions from Ketol. But she presses on she always ways. No matter how staggered, or when she falls she gets back up.There's o doging this, as she watches Ketol come in at her, the Messenger was a monster, it's consumed Ketol. She stans her gound getting right in her way, as the machine leaps at her, and rips into the Gundam Phoebe, amror and exteral systems are just reduced to nothing, the V fun is ripped off in the savage assault, its miracle she didn't bring the Amazon Gundam with her, it would have been so much worse for her. It looks like Ketol has attained her victory. "...if I can't ... save your life. I can see that thing does not ... have your soul. MESSENGER! YOUR TIME IS UP! YOU WILL REALSE HER SOUL!"

She summons her remainging funnels, using every last bit of her will she can muster and she holds for a second. She's got just enough power left in them to this, They get in close and then fire with till their batteries save for thrusters are gone, she knows all she can do is cut Ketol's strings even if it kills her...

Wufei keeps back for only a second before Macua's Mech goes down. Not hesitating for a second, Wufei simply charges the enemy mech, seeking to ram his shoulder mounted shield into it....

Lasers fly, things explode.

There isn't much left that's been deployed to throw at the DEFENDERS OF EARTH. Bright's barrage continues to chew away at them, but it's the main gun that does the most damage. The actual main gun's beam powers through the bow of one of the battleships, leaving a sparking hole from top to bottom, setting the battleship adrift. It floats, drifting towards the battlefield, gradually blocking the Balmarian line of fire. It's the first step of many--

--many that are taken by Staren and the Gundam Meisters. Staren continues to cut apart bugs, the battleship in question proving a bit too large to effectively destroy with beam sabers. Bugs are removed, though, even as they return what little fire they can; he's kept on his toes and has to have his full attention turned to the fight to win it, but win it he is.

Arios, or what the Balmarians think is Arios, kills them like some kind of God damn ghost. The thing hits anything that comes even remotely close to the Argama; individual units explode with a pink light piercing through them with no apparent cause, and missiles are launched into the void with no target in mind. Trans-Am is some kind of wizardry.

Some kind of double wizardry, now that Lockon is joining in the sparkly party. The covering fire keeps them at bay long enough that the Shield Bits can become cannons, and the cannons wipe out the approaching Habakkuks before they can so much as get a shot off. More missiles, more missiles, more missiles... but it's a paltry effort from a force that is incredibly ragged and with no more reinforcements coming.

There is a reprieve from the Balmarian attack. They have precious moments to mount an escape.

On the bridge, Adamah Kaptzen throttles two of his subordinates with both hands, howling for blood.

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Staren Wiremu transmits, "Are we no longer needed on the field, captain?""

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "Mac!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "FFfffffFffFfFffFfffffffff-"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "Kazuma's gonna *kill* me!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "Duo! Grab Macua - or anyone do so, for that matter. I'm going to try and cut out the alien."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "Belay that! We don't

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Chang Wufei transmits, "Forget it Quatre..."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "Dang... fine!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "Evacuate White Star, now!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Chang Wufei transmits, "If I know the Balmarians, she's already warped out."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Chang Wufei transmits, "Quatre. Get Macua out. Juku! Status!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "Duo! Your EM better still be working."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "I will grab Macua, as Wufei suggested."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Chang Wufei transmits, "Mission accomplished, Captain. We're on our way out..."

"They've .. stopped firing!" Caesar realizes.

"We must've disrupted their offensive strength just enough to earn a brief reprieve before they rally themselves," Bright realizes. "Damn it, we're already in the red. If our pilots can't make it out -now-, we might be forced to leave them or else the ship is done for."

Bright glances to his radar, "Come on you bunch," he thinks aloud. "Don't make me strand you."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Staren Wiremu transmits, "Shall we destractions return or wait for the infiltration team, Captain?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "Duo, you lead the way."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "Fall back to the Argama, Staren!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "I'm *always* leadin' the way."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Staren Wiremu transmits, "Roger, sir!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Theresa Testarossa transmits, "We have, nnnngh"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "It's what a scout *does*."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Theresa Testarossa transmits, "....dammit, too many variables, I can't figure it in time. Not long!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Juku Reimaru transmits, "Iiiiii'vveee injected myself with the morphine from my medical kit..."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Juku Reimaru in a perfectly serious tone "I am high as a goddamn kite."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "Well."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "T'night's gonna be interestin', huh."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Theresa Testarossa flatly, "Well at least one of us is having fun."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Chang Wufei transmits, "You can be high when we're out. MOVE!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell apparently didn't realize what he just said or how that could be read, at all, given by how serious he sounds.

Welp, it's time to go. Staren punches the battleship for emphasis, before sheathing his beam saber and kicking off, heading back for the Argama.

The Astray is in pretty good shape, especially considering what it was up against. It lands without incident. He hopes Juku and Macua are okay... but what's this in his inbox about alchemic drives...?

Deathscythe Hell doesn't need to be told twice. Duo hooks the machine's arm around REX Hound and kicks up the verniers to full blast to drag both the mech and its pilot back to the Argama. He'd take her to Peacemillion for treatment as soon as he could; right now, however, his primary concern was getting her to safety.

The Blue Angel falls again, stabbed repeatedly by the Funnel's beams, crippled, armor falling off the massive robot in great chunks, exposing the reworked, and remodled Frame. For a heartbeat, it looks like it's finally over. The Messenger is gone.

There's no time to react. A skeletal arm *lunges* at the Phoebe, dragging the twisted, broken frame of the AGX-05 to its feet, the skull-like remains of its face *leering* at Macua through the main camera.

YOU! WILL! JOIN! ME!

With a single *thrust*, the Messenger *jams* the still-burning Breaker fist into the Phoebe, burning straight through armor and internal structure, before the damaged arm is torn off by its own actuators.

The crippled, twisted remains of the Messenger fall to the ground, and lie still.

And then, as if to add a final insult to the nightmarish battle, A burst of light covers the robot, and it's sucked into a teleportation gate, along the the remains of its wings.

It's far off, thousands and thousands of miles away within the Neviim... But It's still faintly detectable.

Ketol *screams*.

Macua Huitl is shocked the thing's still comming at her, the Phobe brings up it's shield but it's not enough, it does only a little to slow the Messenger but the machine is badly wounded. The Phoebe drops to it's knees and sinks ot the deck, there's nothing but Static over Macua's radio as the machine sinks to it's knees gioving out and falling finally face first to the ground, the optics of the camera flickering out.

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "Hey! No tech work while yer high. Remember when you fell offa the Huckebein?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Juku Reimaru transmits, " mean...I mean when I'm not doped up on morphine and I can hopefully walk unasstited."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Juku Reimaru transmits, "Can I see the new Gundam Wiiiing? Pllleeeeasssseeee?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "Oh...y'twisted yer leg?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Juku Reimaru transmits, "I think I broke my ankle."

Seeing as they were trying explicitly /not/ to kill Ketol, it wasn't unexpected that her unit would survive. Surely, she could tell that they were going out of their way to do this? That they were respecting her life? Surely she would learn something from this! Or was she just not even human enough to appreciate people not taking one's life?

"Why can you not accept that we are trying to help you?" He calls out for the woman, before realizing that shit is happening, and it is happening now! Macua and the alien call out at eachother, explosions follow, and before he knows it, there are two scrapped units. He tries to call out orders over the radio, but realizes just how foolish his orders are. So he does the next best thing, he tries to rescue /their/ downed unit.

In the meanwhile, Wufei's attack is halted as the enemy unit suddenly disappears in the light of teleportation. Doing what is best at that moment, the 'Chinese' youth shifts Nataku - and gets out of the way of the Sandrock which is running over to assist the fallen unit. He grabs the Phoebe and hoists it up before hitting the thrusters. They stall for a moment, as the 'gravity' of the gigantic structure grabs for a moment... then breaks free and takes to space right after Duo - Wufei following right behind him. "Rasid. Prepare the medical rooms. We have two potential wounded incoming!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "Well, that explains whatcha meant."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Juku Reimaru transmits, "And my arm."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "Infiltration team coming in hot!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "Jeez."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "...sorry."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "Unit 02 is providing EM cover. Two severely damaged units."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "Unit 02 is providing EM cover. Two severely damaged units."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "I...I was too slow t'get in the way."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "I coulda...jus' two seconds faster an' I'da..."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "Duo - stop beating yourself up about it."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "It was my fault in the first place for not giving adequate cover."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Chief Astonaige transmits, "Jeez kids, quit complainin' and get your ass aboard before we get blasted into smithereens!"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Juku Reimaru transmits, "DUO MAXWELL IF YOU START BEATING YOURSELF UP YOU WILL GET NO MAKE OUT TIME WHILE I AM BEDRIDDEN."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "yezm."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Juku Reimaru transmits, "....that was the outside my head voice, wasn't it?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "Yes'm."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "An' not the private radio channel, either."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Juku Reimaru transmits, "...goddamn morphine."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "I am more worried about miss Macua... she's not responding on the radio..."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Quatre Raberba Winner transmits, "And her unit took a severe beating..."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "...Mac's tougher'n most of us here, she's a Gundamfighter. I think she's okay."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Staren Wiremu transmits, "Oh, _Juku's_ your girlfriend? I didn't know. Or maybe I did and forgot."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "...yeah."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "I woulda thought it was obvious, what with th' psychotic scream an' the tryin'-t'-kill-that-girl-who-stabbed-her-mech an' all."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "...man, yer even more oblivious than Heero says /I/ am."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "...that sounded...better...in my head."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Juku Reimaru transmits, "By the way captain Bright."

Mobile suits stream into the Argama's holds, one after the other. Their arrival is registered by the ship's computers, which relays this directly to Ron Keith's ops console.

"Everyone's aboard!" Ron Keith realizes. "Good to go, Captain!"

"Give them an inch and they'll go a full space mile." Bright sighs. "Torres, punch it!"

Torres doesn't need to be told twice. "And lead us not into temptation.." he sweats, yanking hard on the throttle.

The Argama responds in kind. Its main thruster array blares with power, the combination of sheer force and heat instantly disintegrating a series of Megillots that drift too close. The Katharon Flagship blasts forward, engines working in overtime to put as much distance between it and the White Star.

"..but deliver us from evil!" Torres sputters as he puts the figurative pedal to the metal.

The Argama rockets away, shooting off in the direction of La Vie En Rose.

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "What is it, Juku?"

<Radio: B - Secure> Staren Wiremu transmits, "Okay, how do I put this without making it sound bad... It looks like I'll be getting the opportunity to study some stuff, with the objective of finding something to give civilians health benefits. I'm telling you this now so that I'm not keeping unreasonable secrets from you. I don't foresee this leading to anything like another Artificial Empathy System, but then I didn't see that coming either. But I promise if things go in a direction like that again I will talk with you guys and make sure that it can be tested without putting anyone at risk, okay?"

<Radio: B - Secure> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "What the hell are you talking about, Staren?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Juku Reimaru transmits, "I was going to say something that I thought was hilarious about summoning my scorn for you and slapping you with it, but I think it's just the morphine."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "Let's hope."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "Some kinda...some kinda psychic Bright-slap?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Juku Reimaru transmits, "I'm going to go sleep on the nice bed on wheels the men in medicla scrubs have brought for me now."

<Radio: B - Secure> Staren Wiremu transmits, "I'm trying to figure out how to tell you that and also preserve the privacy of someone who has asked me to look at some of their technology and try to refine it for civilian use. As a side project. I won't let it get in the way of helping Katharon, of course."

<Radio: B - Secure> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "Are you telling me that you want to work on someone else's technology, Staren?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "I'll be here, okay?"

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "Sir, uh...."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "...requestin' some permission t'take some time off."

<Radio: B - Secure> Staren Wiremu transmits, "...I guess you could put it that way."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "This is a bad time to be asking for something like that, Duo."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "I know."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "But I can't ask someone to risk their life when participation in Katharon is strictly voluntary."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "It's not...my life I'm worried about."

<Radio: B - Secure> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "What's the project, Staren, and who is it for."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "But...if the final battle turns out bad..."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "If the final battle turns out bad, then there isn't going to be anything left to run to."

<Radio: B - Secure> Juku Reimaru transmits, "Staren. If you do something bad..."

<Radio: C - Gundam Wing> Duo Maxwell transmits, "I know."

<Radio: B - Secure> Juku Reimaru transmits, "I'm gonig to eat your face."

<Radio: B - Secure> Juku Reimaru transmits, "Like a spider."

<Radio: B - Secure> Duo Maxwell transmits, "Morphine threats."

<Radio: B - Secure> Juku Reimaru transmits, "I would do it anyways!"

<Radio: B - Secure> Staren Wiremu transmits, "I have no intentions of doing anything bad. I have, as always, intentions to do something _good_. I don't even, at this time, have the intention of doing anything that just _looks_ bad but is actually good. But I am alerting you that, to my surprise, such opportunities may manifest in the future and I'm trying to figure out the right amount of secrecy to keep."

<Radio: B - Secure> Juku Reimaru transmits, "Om nom nom nom nom."

<Radio: B - Secure> Captain Bright Noa transmits, "What is it and who is it for, Staren. The next time I ask, it'll be with my foot in your ass."

<Radio: B - Secure> Duo Maxwell transmits, "See, now /that's/ a threat."