Before getting into the car she approached the Intel-Officer for a copy of the report concerning the MS-hijacking. At the end it stated the carriers along with the suits went off a cliff and crashed onto some sharp rocks which ruptured a fuel tank and caused the carriers to explode. The investigating team had found mobile suit innards in the water but so far they were basic parts any mobile suit could be outfitted with and thus they couldn’t conclude if the three stolen suits had blown up with the carriers or they used a ruse to make it seem they had met their demise at the bottom of the cliff.
Letting out a long sigh she lifted her head up and rubbed her eyes tiredly. She could handle it if Kou was part of the hijacking. Personally she felt it served the Earth Forces right to have more some of their war machines stolen so they can’t use them to inflict the same harm they did to Orb. However she prayed that the MS parts found at the crash site were planted as a ruse and not a scrape of truth telling the hijackers met their end. Letting out another sigh, she blinked as she spotted two people she recognized walking down the street. “Marvin, stop the car!” She commanded.
Her driver did as told, pulling up to a curbside parking spot and stopping. Cagalli opened her door and walked toward the two people. “You’re Liam Garfield and Kisato Yamabuki from Lowe Gear’s team right?” Cagalli had met them briefly before a few times but she was often too busy to have more than a few words of exchange.
Both Junk Guild members nodded as they too recognized the blonde. “Hello Miss. Cagalli is there anything you wish to speak to us about?” Liam inquired curiously, wondering what the heir of the Athha family wanted with them.
”Have either of you seen Lowe or Kou recently?” She asked, nervous of their answer.
Kisato and Liam shook their heads. “Not since the other day when Lowe said he had some project to do along with the kid and some others.” Kisato replied. “So why are you looking for them?”
Cagalli bit her lip, she couldn’t explain to them in the open street, too many ears. “If you don’t mind, get in the car with me and I can explain to you then.”
Kisato and Liam exchanged looks before giving their nods of approval to Cagalli. The three made their way to the car and got inside. Once the doors shut, the driver backed out and then proceeded to drive back down the street.
The backseat of the car was an extended cab with the normal passenger seating arrangement with another set behind the driver that was facing the rear. Cagalli shut the small window between the drivers section and the back and turned to face the two Junk Techs. “The reason I had us get in the car to talk is because the matter I’m going to reveal is top secret. You cannot speak to anyone about this; can I have your word on that?” When both nodded she continued. “Earlier I got a report stating three Earth Alliance mobile suits were hijacked…and one of the hijackers flipped them the bird much like Kou does.” She tightened her hands together as she continued. “Since Kou and Lowe both vanished to do whatever supposed project they were working on I can only assume those two idiots had a hand in it.”
”That sounds like something Lowe would do, especially with all the atrocities the Earth Alliance has committed as of late he would consider stealing those suits a worthwhile cause.” Liam sighed, his tone indicating he wasn’t surprised.
“I wish it stopped there but it seems the carriers along with the stolen suits went over a cliff and crashed into some rocks by the ocean. There was an explosion and they’ve found MS innards but they’re still unsure if they weren’t planted there as a ruse or the hijackers did die when they went off the cliff.”
Both Kisato and Liam stiffened at that tidbit of information. Lowe often did reckless and even extremely stupid stunts that put his life at risk but he always seemed to come out on top. The notion he maybe dead disturbed them greatly.
“I-I’m hoping that it was a ruse and they’re alright but there’s been no word or any sign of them lately.” Cagalli says softly, great worry evident on her face.
“I don’t know about your friend Kou because I only met him when we handed over Gold Frame and saw him in passing during our stay here, but Lowe if anything is a very resourceful person. He’s bond to spontaneous impulses and urges but he is brilliant in his own way.” Liam said positively, trying to help inspire some hope.
“Kou’s no slouch in the brains department and he can make a mobile suit dance if he wanted…so I hold hope for them myself. However I’m going to see Kisaka who was the last person I know who saw them before they vanished. Maybe he knows something that we don’t.” Cagalli had a sinking feeling the Colonel probably did; the man was good at keeping secrets.
Suddenly a loud shrill sound filled the air before an explosion erupted in the distance. The car screeched to a halt and stopped, causing the passengers in the back to grimace as they were jolted in their seats. Cagalli pulled open the separating slide between the drivers cab and the back. “Marvin what happened?”
”I don’t know yet sounded like an explosion obviously.” Marvin switched on a radio that was intoned to the Orb military channel.
”All available units, report to the Morgenroete facility and the Kusanagi and prepare for anti mobile suit combat. A large team of Obsidian Abyss mobile suits have appeared by the harbor and are making their way inland.”
Cagalli felt herself go pale, “Oh no…not again, not now! Fuck!! Marvin, drive to the Morgenroete hanger NOW!”
“But Miss Cagalli-“
“I don’t care if I am considered a V.I.P. I need to get to Morgenrote so I can help fight!” Cagalli shouted. “Now drive!”
“Yes ma’am!” Marvin gulped and started the car again and started to weave through the streets to get to Morgenroete.
*******
“Remember the plan; keep your attacks focused on the Kusanagi and the Orb defense teams and away from the city or civilian centered areas!” Tammy called over the radio to firmly remind her team that she wasn’t going to put up with what happened last time. Her DoMZ was flying in the air with the aide of a Guul not only to gain an aerial advantage for shooting targets, but also to give her a wide view of the battlefield so she could conduct maneuvers accurately.
The three-teams consisting of ZnOS, GOOhns, and GINN WASP types already had the harbor areas secured while doubling as guards for the submarines, so there was no problems there. Currently the GINN, and DINN teams along with the two Dagger L’s and herself were engaged in fighting in the Kusanagi M1 squadron, another M1 squad that must have been thrown together after the last attack and a few Junk Guild mobile suits that were working around the area and took up arms when the fighting broke out.
So far so good, they attacked swiftly enough that they disabled not only three squads of anti-infantry and MS vehicles, but two M1’s that were patrolling the perimeter. Right now only a handful of Junk Guild suits and the Kusanagi’s M1’s stood between them and taking out the ship itself. They had the enemy surrounded and cornered, the advantage was theirs but she knew better than too get cocky this time.
”Anna any sign of the Strike Rouge, Gold Frame or Red Frame?”
Her Dagger L flying beside Tammy’s DoMZ; Anna shook her head. “No sign of them, there’s a chance they might not be on site and thus haven’t launched yet, or they’re waiting for some reason.”
”I don’t like it when the enemy keeps their best in waiting…continue to press onward but make sure all eyes are peeled for their appearance.”
“Roger that, I’ll relay that to the others.” Anna’s Dagger L flew downward to rejoin the fighting.
********
“Stop here Marvin!”
”But Miss Cagalli we’re not there yet.” Marvin protested as he slowed the car down.
”A moving car driving to the Morgenroete hanger might draw their attention. I doubt they’d go out of their way to shot a lone person running toward it, besides I want you to drive back and help oversee the people are safely steered away from the combat zone.” Cagalli ordered. She opened the door to get out and felt a hand softly grab her arm to stop her.
”Kisato and I will go with you. My GINN and her BuCUE are being serviced in the Morgenroete hanger.” Liam said in a tone that left no room for argument.
“Alright but let’s hurry!” Cagalli gently shrugged her arm away and started to run past the gate that led into the Morgenroete hanger. Kisato and Liam got out of the car and followed suit after her. It seemed Cagalli’s hunch about a person on foot not drawing attention was correct as the Obsidian Abyss mobile suits were fixated on the Kusanagi’s M1 team and the Junk Guild suits.
When they were only fifty feet away from the hanger; a GINN WASP type landed near them after jet-boosting out of the water by the harbor near the hanger. The mobile suit spotted the three and aimed its phonon maser cannon which began to charge up. The instinct of fear stopped Cagalli, Kisato and Liam dead in their tracks. Kisato’s legs froze up and she fruitlessly moved her arms over her head like a shield. Liam grabbed both women in an attempt to have them run away even thought it was impossible to dodge. Cagalli was simply frozen, eyes wide and wonder.
”Is this the end? Athrun...I’m sorry.” The Orb Princess shut her eyes, expecting the end.
However instead she heard the familiar sound of a beam saber slicing metal as an impact jolted the ground as something landed right by them. A gust of wind followed a large explosion that nearly threw her off her feet. Surprised she opened her eyes and they went wide as a smile began to form on her lips.
”Are you guys alright?!” A familiar voice came over the intercom of a familiar black and gold mobile suit that now stood protectively over them.
It was the best thing Cagalli had seen all day. “KOU!!”
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(Posted Tue, 21 Jun 2005 03:12)
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