Chapter 7: Chapter 5
-Archangel-
Murrue hurried down the corridor as the alarms blared, she drifted as fast as she could to reach the elevators to get to the bridge. After a stressful day compiling a report to HQ and coming to terms with the self proclaim mercenary, she had figured she would be able to get some rest in before the ZAFT forces decided to launch an attack, she and many others had likely felt tired from fighting an entire fleet of ZAFT ships and surviving.
She had been just getting into the terms with self proclaim mercenary when the alarms began ringing and she received a call from the bridge, she had to hurry back leaving the self proclaimed mercenary alone.She entered the elevator for ensign Badgiruel to join her, while Mu likely getting ready to hangar in case he needs Moebius zero to launch.
"Ensign Badgiruel, what do you think happened?" Murrue asked Badgiruel.
The raven haired woman shook her head. "I'm not sure captain, I'm as blind as you're."
"If you say so." She said as they felt the elevator begin to accelerate.
It wasn't long before they were on the bridge, because both her and Badgiruel on discussions with Zero, lookslike Romero in charge to oversee the shift.
"Romero what's going on?" She asked as she greeted the man.
"Ma'am, the Strike has left the ship." The operator reported.
Murrue slowly dropped her body to her seat, she really need to rest.
"I believe, he has the girl with him?" Badgiruel asked clearly not liking the information she received
"I believe so ensign Badgiruel."
"Romero can you get the Strike on coms?" Murrue asked.
"He's ignoring our messages."
"So, what're you gonna do captain?" Ryu asked over the intercom.
"Zero, where are you right now?" Murrue asked.
"In the hangar bay, I've got Barbatos ready to launch, that's if you want me to do that."
"No, you don't have to. We'll asked the Moebius Zero…"
"Captain, bad news. Lookslike the reparation of Moebius Zero not finished yet." Badgiruel cut in.
"I…" Murrue clearly never expected the reparation still not finished yet. She doesn't want to rely on the self proclaimed mercenary yet. After all, they're still suspecting him to be a spy from ZAFT. And to further down, they still not asked him to test his blood.
"You heard that Captain, what's your order?" Ryu asked, waiting her responds
"Alright, please ensure the transfer is in order and the strike back in onepiece." Murrue said. She clearly don't like the situation right now, relying on luck was not her virtue. But she can only hope that the mercenary will keep his deals.
"Crsytal, what if the situation not in my favors? Can I make a decision that I think give us the most benefits?"
"What do you mean Zero?" Murrue asked clearly doesn't like where this conversation goes on.
"You do understand what's the meaning of the questions I asked earlier. Your orders?"
"Very well, I believe you'll act on our best interest if it come down to that" Murrue said ending the conversation.
"Captain, I don't think it's a wise decisions to give him …" Badgiruel said
"Not now ensign Badgiruel" Murrue cut in. If Zero turn out to be a spy from ZAFT, they're basically a dead meat. Even with Moebius Zero in 100% conditions, their survival rate is close to 0. There's no way they can survive the combine attack from those G-Weapon units and Barbatos itself. She really need to sleep for a good time, not to sleep for eternity.
-Versalius-
The Versallius and Gamow held themselves at a safe distance, having allowed the rest of the fleet to back off and regroup and recover, no doubt getting rearmed and restocked with new machines for them to use against the Archangel and the 8th fleet. So far the situation had remained relatively similar, no one dared to risk engaging, with the life of the Chairman's daughter in the firing line, it was a dangerous proposition to consider.
At least until they were faced with no other choice but to try, the captain of the Archangel knew that she was bluffing, but if ZAFT attempted to seize the ship, it wouldn't have mattered at that point. And now there was something strange going on, the Gamow taking point with the damaged Versallius holding behind, the Gamow noticed activity.
"What's going on?" Le Cruset asked.
"It seems as though the Legged ship has launched the Strike."
"On its own?"
"Get our patrols to intercept."
"No, wait, there's something going on here." Le Cruset stated as he looked at the display.
"Captain we're receiving a message, text only, it's from the Strike."
"Read it." He said.
"The Strike's pilot has Lacus Clyne aboard, and is willing to return her, if it meets with the Aegis and its pilot, Athrun Zala."
"Commander, please let me go and see what he wants." Athrun said.
"We still don't know what the enemy's intentions are," one of the bridge crew cautioned. "We don't even know if Miss Lacus really is in there."
Athrun however, wasn't deterred. "Commander!" he urged, looking at Le Cruset who was standing by the captain.
Le Cruset paused before his lips lifted a little into something between a smile and a smirk. "Alright. I authorise it," he said.
As Athrun left, Le Cruset signalled to the captain. "Get both Yzak's and Nicol's units ready to launch, tell them they'd be providing additional support to Athrun. And get ready My new machine, after all if we can't get the strike, at least we can sunk it now."
"Understood Commander."
The Strike was currently flying through space. So far it seems his demands were being followed, as the Versallius had stopped moving, and had launched a single Mobile Suit, the Aegis. It wasn't long before the Aegis was in front of the Strike, which he quickly lifted its rifle and pointed at the Aegis.
"Athrun Zala?" Kira checked.
"That's right," Athrun confirmed.
"Open your cockpit!" Kira ordered. He needed to be sure.
Athrun complied, and opened his cockpit, just as Kira did the same. Once both cockpits were open, Kira turned to Lacus and said, "Say something."
Lacus seemed confused at the request before Kira explain further. "He can't see your face. He must be convinced that it's you."
"Oh. I understand," Lacus nodded. "Hello Athrun. It's nice to see you," she said, waving at Athrun.
"Athrun, hello Athrun…" Haro added as if just to further prove that it was them.
Athrun smiled a bit, both at seeing Lacus safe and realizing it hadn't been a trick. "Confirmed," he said to the comms.
"Then take her with you," were the orders he received. With that, he unstrapped himself and came out of the Aegis.
Seeing Athrun ready, Kira told Lacus, "Now go."
Nodding, she quickly got out of the Strike and floated slowly towards the Aegis. Kira smiled as he saw her go, happy that he had managed to get her away from the hostage situation. However, the moment was ruined when a warning came up from their own mobile suits.
Athrun want to take lacus with him, but Kira immediately grab lacus back to his mobile suit, closing his cockpit, readying the strike. Athrun finally back to his mobile suit, and immediately know that the warning was come from The Duel, he really don't understand why the commander send Yzak now out of the time.
Yzak acted to take this chance in attacking the Strike, using the momentary break to close distance from the side of the Strike. Fortunately Kira had enough time to react before the Duel closed in weapons range.
"I have you now Strike!" Yzak yelled as he attempted to get in close. But his guts tell him to stop, sure enough there's a trajectory shot high power beam cannon not far away in front of him.
"Lookslike I'm right on time, huh…" come a voice from an open channel.
-Cockpit, Barbatos Ultima Rex-
As he positioned himself, his monitor lit up, and a display of Ensign Badgiruel appeared on the screen.
"Zero of the mercenary…"
"just call me zero, what is it?" Ryu asked.
"I hope you remember that the Strike's pilot is still very much new to this, make every effort to support him, I trust that you'll be able to handle this correct?" The officer said with all seriousness.
"I'll do what I can." Ryu told her a matter of fact.
As the display changed, he got a view of a familiar face, Miriallia, who he had recalled was supposed to be in the CIC by now.
"Greetings Mr.Zero, I'm your support operator, Miriallia Haw."
"Nice to meet you, Ms Haw, am I cleared for launch?" Ryu asked.
The girl nodded before signalling. "Catapult charge is nominal, you're cleared to go."
"Understood, Zero, Barbatos Ultima Rex, launching." Ryu said as the catapult launch the Gundam and he ignited the booster and quickly left the ship.
Ryu immediately activates both his GN-Drive and spreading out the wings backpack for accelerated the speed of Barbatos Ultima Rex leaving out of the ship at high speed, leaving a trail of GN particles behind it. Most in the crew were surprised at the display of engine thrust and by the fact that it moved at high speed.
It zipped off into the black abyss, its engines leaving a trail of ionising plasma, a blurry line of light glimmered around the abyss. Inside the cockpit, Ryu take that the sensors are picking up movement, detection of multiple signatures, mobile suits, three of them ; the Strike, Aegis and Duel.
"Good, it looks like our little party about to begin." Ryu said with a wide grin.
Without delaying further, Ryu then unpacked one of M2000GX High-Energy Long Range Beam Cannon, equip it on his Gundam right hand and fired slightly off toward the Duel direction. The Duel halted and looked towards ryu direction, the Duel then readying up for a melee attack.
But to Yzak surprised, Ryu came in with the speed that he can't countered and sent a kick into the Duel's chest and sent it into the Aegis direction, make the Duel collided into the Aegis.
"ZAFT and Alliance pilots, stop this at once. Are you both planning to make this a battlefield in the presence of a memorial representative such as myself."
Why do you have to lump me in on this? Ryu thought, keeping his way into The Duel with GN Swords on both his gundam hands.
"I will not permit this to happen. You are to halt and desist all hostile actions immediately. And though I can not order you to do so, I ask out of respect that you do the same, pilot of unknown mobile suit." When no response was given, she added. "Can you not hear me?"
Ryu keep ignoring lacus, and continue to pursue the Aegis after he cleaved both of the Duel's arms, incapacitaded it for him to continue the fight.
"Damn it…Damn you Naturals!!!" Yzak said clearly frustated
"Mr. Zero, please stop. I just want to returned Ms. Lacus!" Kira said on the open channel
"I was tasked with asset loss prevention by the earth alliance forces on the Archangel. While I hold no love for either flag in this war, a job is a job. Had you not selfishly launched without order, it'll be a different matter." Ryu said.
"But, she's just a civillan , she's innocent Mr. Zero. She's not supposed to be here, I just want to returned her as how the deal have been made within Alliance and ZAFT." Kira said while drifting away, don't want to get involved with the brawl between Aegis and Barbatos.
Ryu want to reply, when suddenly the warning sign blarred, he have to leapt away from The Aegis, dodging the shot beam riffle from the Blitz that come out nowhere.
"Tch, mirage colour…what a pest." Ryu said clearly annoyed.
Ryu then throw one of the GN swords towards the blitz.
"Wha…" Nicol that never imagined ryu'll throw the sword into his direction barerly managed to dodge, costing the Blitz right arm to completely severed.
"Nicol…!!!" Athrun and Yzak shouted the pilot name.
"You…!!!" Athrun enraged and want to strangle Barbatos, but suddenly halted his approach as two beams are shots not far away to his directions.
There was a white Cgue, it continue approach towards the Aegis. It finally stopped beside the Aegis.
"That's enough Athrun, I think the mission was to received Ms. Lacus Clyne from The Strike, not to engaged in battle with any of Alliance Mobile suits." A smooth voice cut over an open channel.
CREATORS' THOUGHTS 
Ranzoku
Ranzoku I'm sorry, because i can't upload the chapter yesterday.
If i've enough free time, i'll try to upload another chapter for this week. But for now, please bear with 1 chapter per week.
Also if you like the story, please give a review and some power stone.
Thank you for reading the story !! :)
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