5 Chapter 3

-Commander's quarters, Versalius-

Rau Le Cruset was sitting at the desk going over the footage from the previous battle. Everything had gone so smoothly up until one of Laurasia-class frigate Ship and many GINN's were destroyed by the unknown white Mobile Suit. Earlier he had ordered the bridge crew to keep an eye on the machine as soon as the sensors had detected it on the off chance the Earth Alliance had more prototypes in production than he had known about. As the footage played then the door slid open, surprisingly it was Athrun Zala.

"Oh, Athrun, are you sure it wise to walking around right now? I thought you're still on the infirmay?" Le Cruset asks showing his concern.

"I'm fine sir there's something I want to ask, it's about Lacus." Athrun says looking to the side.

"I see, you want to save her right? Unfortunately we lost one of Laurasia-class frigate ship and almost one platoon GINN's in that last engagement, so we don't have the manpower to mount a rescue right now, especially if 'The Beast' joins them." Le Cruset says.

"The Beast ? Is that what we called the new mobile suit?" Athrun asked with grimaced.

"Yes, we the higher up agree to called that. It's fitting for how he's not even hesitated to killing many live. Besides, even if we got the reinforcement, your machine is still not finished being repaired. And what'll you do if once more they used her? Could you ignore it and continue to stay on the order?" Le Cruset cut him off.

"I-I dont know." Athrun admited.

"As hard as it may be, right now all we can do is wait for the reinforcement. After all, it's better to have as much hands that we can used for better plan. Now, I want your opinion on this previously unknown mobile suit." Le Cruset says as he gestured to the monitor on his desk.

"I'm not really sure, it doesn't looks to be another Alliance machine like the Strike or any G-Weapons, the suits is quite unbalance, even with that massive body it can maneuver easily, and I doubt that was the highest speed that machine can go". Athrun says gesturing to the wings pack, and the sword that attached into the shoulders of the mobile suit.

"Yes, the data we've collected from the suits we've taken show that the pilot still hidden many cards. Not to mention that raw power, he can shred Aegis hand easily even though still in phase shift mode." Le Cruset notes.

"Yeah that really surprised me sir, also, no, never mind." Athrun mutters.

"Athrun, if there's anything else you can say, please tell me. No matter how trivial the information may seem." Le Cruset said.

"Well, its just something about that Mobile Suit doesn't sit right with me. The way he fight it was to decimated the enemy, but the more I don't understand is how he's not low on battery even after he fired out many times his high beam cannon. That's terrifying " Athrun admits, grimaced at the possibility if the battle earlier is still go on.

"Well, I can certainly understand that." Le Cruset said.

"Sir?" Athrun asks, looking at Le Cruset.

"You see, we've been secretly made a prototype Mobile Suit that based on the enery of Nuclear Reactors. Well it's not surprising, considering that we're the one that developed the N-Jammers. The thing is I'm afraid if some information leaked, and that white mobile suit "The Beast" was the result." Le Cruset says.

"Are you saying if there's a traitor on our higher ups?" Athrun asks pulling back slightly.

"I don't know, and like you said I believe there is more to that Mobile Suit than we have seen so far. He knows not to show all the cards in his hand until the time is right." Le Cruset says.

"Um, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go help with the maintenance of our Mobile Suits." Athrun says before heading out the door and down the hallway.

"And I really don't understand why you'd also destroyed several Earth Alliance ship on the way you come to our battle" Le Cruset muttered as he looked towards the noted he got from his subordinates. Unknownly they've met a lifepod not far away from a few debris of a destroyed ship. After some torturing, finally they spill the beans, and surprisingly it was the same white mobile suit that attacked them.

"Well, unknown white Mobile Suit, just how much more do you have cards in your sleeves?" Le Cruset muttered as he watched the footage restart.

-The Bridge, Archangel-

Murrue released a sigh, her hand still rubbing her temple feels the headache and looked at her second-in-command. " Where're you going ensign badgiruel?"

"I need to go to the Hangar, someone need to keep an eye on him." she said as she headed for the door. "After all he's dangerous" With that she was out the door.

Murrue frowned and closed her eyes. "I hope everything will be fine."

Not long after, she also headed to the door and go to the hangar.

-Hangar, Archangel-

The tech crews were swarming over the Strike and Moebius Zero when Badriguel arrived in the hangar. However, she noted that several others were looking upon the new mobile suit in awe. The machine was unlike any she had ever seen. Unlike the Strike, which had reverted to its dull gray form now that it was out of combat and its Phase Shift Armor, which gave it its distinctive coloring, was inactive, this suit retained its color. This suggested that the machine did not use that type of armor, but there was something about it that gave her the feeling that it didn't need it, that whatever material was used in it was far more potent than the system the scientists at Heliopolis had come up with. The machine was far more massive than the Strike, and it seemed to exude a sense of power and majesty that the Earth Forces' new prototype just couldn't measure up to.

Noticing Mu La Flaga amongst the onlookers, she made her way towards him. The tall blond mobile armor ace turned and waved. "Quite a sight, eh ensign Badgiruel?" he said.

She nodded, saluted , and looked up at the suit. "Sir, Is the pilot still inside?"

He nodded. "Yeah…"

"Good…" Badriguel then looked towards the soldier and gave the signal to be in positioned.

Not long after the hatch finally opened, one of the soldier spoke up while keeping his gun pointed to the pilot cockpit. "Sir, climb out of the machine…" Before the soldier finish his line, the pilot already catched his hand, and broke it."ARrrgghh…" he then shot the soldier in the head and the others two in the chest.

The atmosphere was tensed and heavy , all the techs who had previously been drooling over the machine now stepped back. The pilot finally step out, he was clad in a black pilot's suit, and had another pistol holstered at his waist. He looked around and once again shot one of the soldier in the head, he then looked towards a certain woman.

"Is this how the Naturals show theirs gratitude towards theirs benefactor, Ensign Natarle Badgiruel?" The pilot asked with cold tone

Badriguel can't believe what was happening, the soldiers that tasked to apprehend the mobile suit pilot was no longer there, they're death all of them.

"What are you doing?!!" Badgiruel yells.

"Just cleaning up some bugs and I'll say this just once; if any of you tamper with that mobile suit without my supervision, you'll just hurting yourself, bad way you'll die.". Ryutaro said as he put back his gun into the holster at his waist.

Before Badgiruel could responds, there's someone that put a hand on her shoulders, she seemed surprised knowing her down here.

Murrue took this as her cue to step forward. "I'll have them keep their distance. However, I'm assuming you will want maintenance done on it eventually."

Ryutaro just shaking his head. "I don't need that, at least for now."I

"I understand," she replied.

Murrue held out her hand. "My name is Murrue Ramius, Lieutenant, Earth Alliance armed forces, and commanding officer of this ship. On behalf of all of us, welcome aboard the Archangel."

Ryu took her hand in a gentle yet firm grip and shook it. "Codename zero, mercenary. It's nice to meet you."

She nodded. "Thank you for your help earlier. We'd be dead without you."

"No problem," Ryu replied, "I had my own motives for saving you guys."

"I'm sure you did. Would you like to continue this conversation in the officer's lounge? As I'm sure you understand, there's a lot I need to ask you about."

Ryu nodded. "Fine by me, but is that okay with you? After all I killed your subordinates?"

Murrue winced. "That wasn't my idea, and we're soldier. We've come prepared that someday we'll die eventually." She suddenly stopped in front of Badgiruel "we'll talk about this later"

"Right this way." Murrrue headed towards one of the doors, Ryu following suit.