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 Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007 9:17 pm
Paul laughed and put in a final word into his radio. "Yes, I'll leave you plenty of them to take down while I show the front-runners my superior skills. ORB won't know what hit them. Let's get this started Team!" He cut the connection after that.
"Absolute Zero, on standby to launch, prepare yourself on the launching ramp!"
The order came from the bridge, and Paul grinned. Finally.
"GAT-X150 Nigritude, you're up first."
Paul positioned himself on the launch ramp as the belt moved his mobile suit to the starboard ramp.
"Loading anti-warship missiles to launchers. Using energy deflection armour for combat." Continued the announcement. "Initiating launch sequence. GAT-X150, you are set to launch."
"Yes!" Paul said exuberantly. "Paul Riesz. Nigritude going to victory!"
Pushed along the ramp, the gundam soared out of the carrier and into the sky dove down to the dot that had appeared on the horizon.
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Posted: Sun Aug 05, 2007 9:22 pm
"GAT-X152 Ravager. Loading beam claw igniter to armaments. Initiating launch sequense. GAT-X152, please launch."
William pushed down on the thrusters and engaged his helmet guard. "William Archer. Ravager taking off."
Activating the armour shield as he dropped out of the carrier, he set out a flying platform to requent his javalin. "Paul, slow down." He piped into the radio. "Alex, Tanya, get them all, you hear?" And with that he cut connections and took off after Paul.
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Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 6:47 pm
Alex, having already sealed off his radio connection, was only concentrated on the launching process. He watched as the Ravager was shot out of the carrier.
"GAT-X156 Nihil, you may launch. GAT-X155 Nightmare, stand by."
Alex carefully moved his mobile suit so that it was properly aligned onto the ramp. Not that it had ever happened to him before, but one of the soldiers he trained with had a horrible incident on the launch ramp simulation - he had incorrectly aligned himself and crashed into the wall during launch. Needless to say, the teacher had yelled at them. But he was smart, and knew not to make that same mistake.
"Alex Raven, Nihil. On my way!"
He stepped down on the pedal his right foot sat on top of, raising the power bar at his right. Its right hand grabbing a beam saber from its side, the Nihil sped forward into the fray.
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Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 6:54 pm
"You don't need to tell me that," Tanya said, smiling slightly. She drummed her fingers as her missile launchers were loaded. Yes, it was necessary, but it was tedious.
"GAT-X155, go ahead." Finally, the signal.
"Tanya Lowe, Nightmare. Heading out."
She launched out of the carrier and flew forward, keeping behind Alex. Her lock-on system was already at work.
Well, they had it coming.
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Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 2:36 pm
_________
"WHAT?!"
There was a bang as Cagalli slammed her fist down against the table. This had happened often, so no one had flinched, but never had they seen her entire body shaking with the fury that she had now. Some would have sworn her eyes were on fire. Not even Yuuna had gotten her this angry before.
"There is no way Orb is going to fire against the Atlantic Federation first!" She said angrily, though it appeared she had calmed down a bit. "How many times do I have to remind you, we are a nation of peace! I know that we have had conflicts with them before, but I should remind you it was this elite that signed Orb up in an alliance with them in the first place. Now you want to rebel against them! This whole time I haven't wanted anything but peaceful negotionations with them. It's for the best, it's for Orb! You must understand that!"
"However, Miss Cagalli..." said an Emir calmly. "You know how violent the Atlantic Federation can get. We must prepare our defenses, and to be sure that they will not fire at our homeland, w-"
Cagalli glared at the senior member who had tried to speak. He fell silent. "I agree that we must take precautions, and that Orb must be defended. After this meeting I am arranging national defense systems to be prepared for an attack. But, I will never attack the Atlantic Federation or its base. Orb will not be the people who start another war after two devastating ones already." She glanced around at the stony faces, realizing not many people agreed with her at the moment.
"Please, listen to me. I know that this is for the best." She looked from face to face. "Isn't it? Isn't it Shoji?"
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Posted: Tue Aug 07, 2007 7:50 pm
Shoji looked at Cagalli shocked. He wasn't prepared for her to suddenly single him out on such an important matter when normally he was just pushed to the side. He usually would have to speak out to make himself known, but this was one of those times when he really didn't want to be known. Especially since the reason they were having this problem was because of the announcement that he had made.
He stared at her for a moment with his mouth slightly opened before gazing around the table to see that the other officials had their sights upon him. Probably hoping that he himself would succeed in calming the princess. Or perhaps this was a mere test to see how he would handle himself under such situations and to whom his allegiance lie with: the Head Representative or the majority. Shoji bit his lower lip. This must be my punishment for stepping out of line.
He looked back towards Cagalli nervously that appeared that he wasn't really looking at her at all. "Y-yes you are right Miss Cagalli, this is for the best."
"For the best?" The eldest official at the table said out loud from his right. "For whom? The Federation when they realize that we openly accused them of committing a serious crime and then suddenly lower our guard because our leader finds it unnecessary?"
Shoji watched as another man spoke from across from him. He was a bit stout and was balding on top. "Exactly! "What kind of nation would that make us if we directly address those who defy us and stand in our way and then suddenly hide under our shells with no means to support ourselves and our beliefs?"
Shoji eyed Cagalli wondering how she was going to convince the elders otherwise. They did seem to have a point. They had just basically "declared" war on another nation and it did seem foolish to suddenly back out of it; however, was all this really worth creating another war? His heart caught up in his throat. It had just dawned on him that it would be his fault if another war had officially begun and if it were to greatly damage Orb. He didn't understand too much about wars, but he knew that they were bad and it usually took years to recover from. However, is what Cagalli saying wiser? That they should just worry about defending themselves and holding up their image of peace? But how will that help us if they were to attack us first?
"How can you sit there and say that it's for the best, Shoji?"
He looked up and down to the very end of the table were a most prominant man sat. He was the most respected of the Emirs, aside from Cagalli, whose opinions were greatly appreciated among many. "Was it not you who demonstrated earlier that we needed to act against such vile and unforgiveable attacks on a nation's leader? And here I believed that your number one duty was to protect our princess." He said quietly but clearly enough for everyone in the room to hear.
"I-it is." Shoji said softly with even more unwillingness to make himself known.
"Or are you just another one of the princess's lapdogs that you are so willing to aid her in her own demise because even she, at times, can be greatly ignorant of the seriousness of a situation." The man continued on just as quietly and calmly as before.
Shoji was lost for words. He was afraid to open his mouth to retort back for he wasn't sure if anything he would say from now on would be the right thing. All he could do at that moment was to turn to Cagalli and pray that he could make it through the rest of the meeting alive.
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Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 2:48 pm
Cagalli sighed then straightened. The Emirs could be so difficult sometimes.
"I asked Shoji's opinion simply because I know his beliefs are much more open and optimistic than that of many of you. I appreciate the advice and the logic you are making, but your wisdom sometimes clouds the true reason we have these meetings: to make decisions based on the beliefs and ideals of Orb! It is what my father has wanted ever since he governed this nation. You know how respective he was, and I know how many of you admired him. Why, now, then do you go against what he had worked so hard for?"
She turned to the man who had made the last retort. "I don't NEED a lapdog. And I don't need protection either, not this way. You know that this is just putting Orb in more danger, and in doing so, I'll be in more danger now than before. You can't possibly justify your aggressiveness over me. I want to have the choice to do that myself to the soul person responsible for it, and no one else."
She stood up now, looking around at the silent room around her. "I never said that we would lower our guard. The navy and aerial teams are already on patrol, and I am arranging a defense plan shortly. Even if the Atlantic Federation approaches us, they will not harm out citizens, I can assure you that. We are standing up for ourselves, but not in a way that will provoke anger and tension."
Cagalli looked down, her hair falling to her side to slightly cover her face. "Now, my suggestion is that we speak to the public and have them prepared to go to the war shelters." No one had used the shelters for a long time. She knew this would be startling to many. "After that, I will make the public apology. Hopefully Richard Henderson will still be willing to talk to me after that. Negotiations for peace are as important as ever now."
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Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2007 7:04 am
Shoji looked at her uneasily. Send the civilians to hide in war shelters? "Is that really necessary?" He asked out loud and then realized that he really shouldn't have.
The balding man looked at Shoji in awe. "No, it's not really necessary, but it is standard procedures."
Shoji sat quietly in his seat for a moment. He didn't quite understand why everyone was making this such a big deal. Well, of course he understood that thanks to his speech things could turn for the bad, but to go as far as evacuating civilians...he didn't see why they were taking it to the extreme. It wasn't as if a battle was knocking at their front door. "But Ms. Cagallli said so herself that she would try to talk with Representative Henderson. I mean why send the civilians to shelters when no one has yet to even suggest a war?"
"Truth be told, you did suggest a war."
Shoji looked to the man sitting next to him in shock. He then looked up and down the table to the others to find that none was really looking at him. He suddenly felt that there was a silent agreement among them that if they were to blame someone for anything it would be he, Shoji, the one to blame. And somehow it made him both frightened and angry at the same time. How could they suddenly turn on me and put the blame on my shoulders? He didn't have an answer to that, but at the same time he knew. He suddenly remembered those words that that man Kira had said to him: You have to learn a lot of things. And they all knew it as well and somehow used it against him. He sighed. "But still..."
He heard the old man sigh as well next to him. "Not everything is as simple as it looks."
Shoji could have sworn he saw a smirk in the corner of the man's mouth, but he didn't worry himself over it. He just hung his head and silently told himself not to open his mouth again.
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Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2007 5:55 pm
Cagalli stared amongst the table, realizing her words had finally set in. However, none appeared to want to take responsibility in putting in a vote to make the announcement. Seeing them all look at Shoji, she felt a twang of guilt for having them all turn on him.
"It isn't your fault Shoji, nor is it any single person's fault." Cagalli said quietly. "What's important now is that we fix things. So here are my orders: first w-"
"Cagalli-sama!!"
Everyone turned as the door to the conference room burst open. A man stood panting, his messenger uniform slightly less organized.
"The Atlantic Federation...there is an advancing fleet from the Atlantic Federation heading towards Orb!"
Silence. Cagalli gasped and without another word, ran out of the room. She no longer cared what the rest of the Emirs thought: she was going to protect Orb.
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Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 2:20 pm
Kira was standing in front of the video-line screen in his room, wondering what he should tell Lacus. He heard the rush of chatter down the hallway outside his quarters, people panicking as the news of an incoming Atlantic Federation fleet had reached their ears.
He wanted to fight. He wanted to make sure ORB would be safe and that Cagalli wouldn't have to be pressured into a rash decision. He wanted to make sure his mother and the Reverend would be safe, he just wanted to be sure that everyone would be alright.
But he also didn't want Lacus to worry. Since she had become Chairwoman, she had always had to remain calm in public, but in private she would pour her heart out to him, all her concerns and worries flooding her mind.
Sighing, he opened the line up. Ready as usual, and always on time, Lacus' face popped up on the screen.
"ORB's going into battle." he said as quietly as he could. "The Atlantic Federation is approaching with a fleet. Apparently there are mobile weapons on board."
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Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 2:25 pm
Lacus had checked the clock. Oh! She realized, it was time to meet with Kira. Excited, she hastily sat down in front of the video line, smoothing out her pink gown so that it wouldn't look as ruffled. Turning it on, she saw Kira standing there in his white and black uniform, looking saddened.
She listened carefully as he explained the situation and dread filled in her.
"Oh poor Cagalli." she said softly in response. "The Atlantic Federation is coming? I hope they aren't planning on attacking or invading ORB! It would be a terrible repeat of what happened in the last two wars!"
She resisted the urge to bit down on her lip. She was glad the PLANTs weren't involved in any conflicts at the moment, but she knew that ZAFT would not take standing idly aside as an option. She knew that secret operations would be underway to investigate the going-abouts of the nations on Earth, but she was planning to confront them later. If they were to get involved in the coming conflicts, it would be as a mediator and peacemaker, not choosing one side over the other.
"Oh Kira, you aren't planning on fighting are you?" She asked worriedly.
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Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 2:29 pm
Kira sighed. He knew that she could read his thoughts. But he also saw the flashes of worry running along her face. He looked away for a moment. He couldn't bear to see her like this. Turning back, he tried to reach out to her over the long distance that they were separated by. "Lacus, you know that I don't want anyone else to get hurt, and that I don't want any fighting to occur." He said patiently. "I just want to protect my mom and Reverend Malchio, and all the other innocent citizens here." At this, a brief flash of Shinn's past crossed his mind. He knew Shinn had a deep connection to the memorial because his family had died during the evacuation of ORB four years ago. He didn't want to see anyone else turn out with so much pain and hatred like he did. "And we know Cagalli will need our help. She under just as much stress as you."
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Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 2:32 pm
Lacus shook her head. "No, Kira, she is under much more stress than me. I could tell from when she left that day from the PLANTs. She's got much more on her mind than me, as I know her council is not listening to her. And with this coming attack, times of war are ahead and we all know it. Except, with ORB being at the center of the target of other nations, I'm pretty sure she is exhausted and frustrated right now." She tried to smile, despite the despairing thoughts. "I want you to make sure she survives this ordeal Kira, and then I want you to come back to the PLANTs. It isn't right for you to become involved in this conflict. Not yet, anyway. And I want to make sure you are safe. I will not allow you to fight in this battle."
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Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 2:36 pm
Kira stared at her. Surely she realized how he felt about the situation. No, of course she did. But she was being too worried. He glanced over her features, and saw the hint of a tear in her eye. He knew that she wouldn't let him.
"Lacus..." he tried reasoning with her. "Please, you must understand. I know you don't want me to fight, but ORB needs help. There is no way Cagalli will be able to organize the forces in time, and I know the Strike Freedom can take on all those Gundams without a problem. After all, we are defending a nation that has civilians near targeted military areas. Even ORB would not attack to the EAF base if it were near a populated city."
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Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 2:41 pm
Lacus' mouth was quivering. Finally, she took a deep breath and looked Kira in the eyes. "Kira, I understand how you feel, and I know genuinely what sort of pain you would feel if you failed to protect someone. However, I'm sure Cagalli will have warned everyone and made sure everyone is safe before the attack begins. Please Kira, I don't want you to fight in this battle, and I forbid you to go out and do so. You are representing the PLANTs at the moment, and I'm sure Cagalli would understand. It would hurt me greatly if you were injured or killed because of a small battle like this. Please, stay out of it Kira!"
She looked down, then back up at him, this time holding a smile on her face. "Please come home Kira, and keep Cagalli calm for the time being."
Blowing a kiss to him, she cut off the line and turned around, sighing and looking at the floor.
"Haro! Haro!!" Mr. Pink had bounced across the floor space to her. Smiling, she picked him up, and stared quietly at the ceiling.
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![[-Lacus--Clyne-]'s avatar](https://a1cdn.gaiaonline.com/dress-up/avatar/ava/cd/40/468ecff12340cd_flip.png?t=1410340011_6.00_11)