13 Chapter 11

-Bridge, Versaillus-

"Well, moving on. Let's start the real meeting right now, shall we?"

Natsume said while adjusting her uniform. The look she gave was different from before, her lazy attitude anymore was no more.

"I'll introduce myself again, my name is Natsume Kisaragi. Member of FAITH. You all understood what's the meaning of this right? I don't have an obligation to follow up with your order. I'm just obligated to the Council of PLANTs, for now, my objection is to retrieve Ms. Lacus. I'll say this just once, I don't care with whatever action you guys want to take in this mission, but if that'll hinder my objection…there's gonna be some people that going to be KIA"

"What do you mean Lieutenant Commander ?" Le Creuset asked frowned upon hearing what Natsume said

"What I want to say is, please told your subordinates that greedy for medal or achievement to stay on order and don't do the unnecessary things." Natsume said, she then eyed Le Creuset "and for you Creuset, I don't care if you want to sink it down the legged ship.But, as long as Ms. Lacus is still there, don't do that, or else…"

Natsume smiled towards Le Creuset "I'm afraid, I can confirm that ZAFT gonna lost one commander"

Natsume then walked over towards the door ready to leave.

Sato then voices out his displeasure "Hey, wait a minute…" but before he could finished it, Captain Biden shook his head, motion him to stop.

Natsume eyed Sato from her shoulder. "I already said the piece I want"

She then throws the file she holds up towards Captain Biden. "That's the course action I'm gonna take, and some information about course action of the 8th fleet. I'm counting on you Captain Biden, also please reign him."

With that Natsume then walked away, and the door finally closed

*Cough* *Cough*

"Well, I'd prefer we confirm this before acting." Captain Biden stated gathering the attention of everyone.

"It is the most logical course of action, we should present viable evidence that this is the case and then pursue the enemy, but for now we will have to focus on searching the debris field." Captain Nader stated to the gathered officers.

"Well, according to these reports. The Alliance ships, they're heading in on this projected course." Captain Biden said while looking at the reports. He then smiled after reading more.

"Oho…as expected of her, how brave, really brave…" Captain Biden said while nodded his head. "She'll go alone to keep on tabs on the Alliance patrol in order to catch if there's any indication of the legged ship in the area"

Captain Nader raised his left eyebrow, intrigued with the course action taken from the FAITH member. "Then, I believed it was good if the rest of our battlegroup scour the area near the last known position of the Legged ship and progress along with a projected pattern following the axis of Earth, which will allow us to stay within relative range of the Alliance patrol group."

Captain Biden smiled.

"Yes, that's a good idea, besides we can count on her"

It was a rather concerning fact that they were making a detour from their intended mission, but with the risk of the Archangel and the 8th Fleet regrouping meant that there was a highly probable risk of them losing the chance to corner the ship and destroy it. Not only this, but there was also the potential risk of the knowledge of the G-weapons project and the Archangel making it safely to Alaska HQ.

Captain Nader and Commander Leif were more focused on completing their objective, which was clear at least to them. They were more concerned about following their objective of recovering the Chairman's daughter, regardless, they were supposed to be the more pragmatic of their force, Nader being a trusted ally to Clyne's family. This course of action would no doubt be critizised, but seeing as their limited choices and their standing orders, it'd have to be done.

Athrun made a case and statement to support military action in pursuing a new aggressive policy in attacking the Beast would be preferable than ignoring the dangers presented by the mobile suit.

Their fleet's movement was steady, they'd be soon to engage the Archangel and 8th Fleet in orbit, utilising the movement of the debris field, they'd shadow from a blind spot created by their advanced scouts. And then from there, the process of attacking the fleet was easy, the trouble was more about whether or not dealing with the Archangel would be as easy.

Le Creuset internally gritted his teeth he knew from the rumors what's Natsume Kisaragi capable off. And her threats earlier was not some crap, she'll do it. No doubt about it, she'll kill him without a second thought if he tried anything funny.

'The Beast, I'll be ready for you this time.' Le Creuset thought as he looked at the display.

-Hangar, Archangel-

Several hours later, Murrue stood in front of Barbatos, not sure how to make Zero come out from his Mobile Suit. Not long after, the dock lift and the cockpit is open, revealing the pilot that still sat on his cockpit. Ryu then unstrapped himself, walk out and stood on the brink of his cockpit. He then looks down towards murrue for a while.

Murrue staggered and unknowingly take a few steps behind. Ryu then coming down and taking off his helmet. "What is it?"

Murrue straightened her stance before answering. "The higher-ups want to meet with the pilot of the new Mobile Suit. They're in the Conference room right now. I thought I should come to get you personally

"Now, shall we get going? I don't think we should keep the Admiral and his staff waiting much longer." Murrue said maintenance her normal face

She knew from La Flaga, that the self mercenary was 16 years old. But his body builds telling it differently, she could tell that underneath those pilot suit was a body with enough muscle. If only he used normal clothes or uniform, with the height of 173cm, that body build, not to mention his face, she believed he could woo many girls with ease. A shame he's not that expressive person.

Murrue immediately shook her head, ignoring those thoughts. She can't believe which devil whispers that run through her head right now, but that's definitely not a good thing.

"Technically that's your problem since I'm not part of your formal command structure," Ryu replied, he then pondered a bit. "I guess I can be accommodating towards them… this time."

Ryu then checking his guns on each holster, after he feels it was okay, he ready to follow up with Captain Murrue, only to see her knitted brows.

"I don't think that's a wise decision" Murrue said aloud.

"Yeah, it's not a wise decision. But this is the only guns I bring along this time, if only I could bring along in time my favorite guns." Ryu said clearly disappointed

"That's not what I mean !!" Why you're bringing guns with you !!" Murrue clearly annoyed this time

"Self defense…I'm a mercenary remember? Hurry up lead the way, you're making them wait so long" Ryu shrugged his shoulders

"Aarrgghh…whatever…" Murrue groaned

Ryu smirked, then released a sigh…'I hope they'll not make me use the guns, well there's a knife too' Ryu thought, he then put it on his helmet.

-Conference Room, Archangel-

When they arrived at the Conference room, they found Admiral Halberton, a tall man with brown-blond hair and a moustache, conversing with two aides, one a lieutenant, the other a captain. Also in the room, though off to the side for the moment, were Mu La Flaga and Natarle Badgiruel.

The admiral looked over at them and walked over. "Ah, Lieutenant Ramius," he began, "thank you for bringing him here. You must be the mercenary, Zero I presumed?" The man offered his hand, which Ryu took.

Halberton smiled. "I hear that I have you and another young man to thank for this ship arriving in one piece." He turned to Murrue. "I'd like to speak to this Kira Yamato that you mentioned later on, Lieutenant."

She nodded. "Of course, Admiral."

He motioned towards a table, which had already been set up with three chairs on one side and four on the other. "Let's be seated. We have a great deal to talk about."

As everyone took their seats, he cleared his throat. "Well people, we'll start from the beginning. Regarding the ZAFT attack on Heliopolis…"