While the Fed pilot and the Kid 'I really need to get their names. were busy getting some drinks Marcus had opted to stay behind and work on his suit. Currently he was on top of the remnants of the Zudah's head doing his damnedest to get the main camera back online, "What ever she hit me with it crushed so much of the circuitry that I'm amazed she didn't just outright smash the head into the sea. Fortunately all was not lost, the actual Optics were still functioning so all Marcus really needed to do was find a way to get a new camera feed going back to the cockpit.

'I can understand the need to relax, I'm guessing they're part of that rebellion we were being dropped into, but why take the kid to drink? Especially in an actual bar... That Fed pilot is really damn nuts.

Shaking his head Marcus went back to work, it would be another hour at least before he could even test the optics. 'I just hope they don't get too wasted, the faster we leave the better.

Bowels of the Nava-Hoe

Aaron Gentles stood in his workshop, staring blankly at a screen. He had input the channel correctly. He had connected to the other party without issue. He was not being traced or wiretapped or any other form of being eavesdropped upon.

So why was he staring at a black wall after his signal had gotten through? And why was he continuing to look at it blankly like an idiot?

Several minutes ticked by, as the engineer contemplated ways he could be better spending his time. He had finally settled on not purchasing the vintage toaster to satisfy his carnal urges, and had simply filled up a bathtub with loose bills to relax in instead.

Much healthier.

The blond reached to switch off the feed and return to his relaxing money bath, when an irritating, nasally voice came through the speakers.

"Ah, wait! Stop! Sorry to keep you waiting!"

Gentles hesitated, weighed his options, and then shut off the feed. The man stood up, and then prepared to shuck off his suit after a long day of filling out paperwork.

The viewscreen beeped, announcing a call waiting. Sighing, the Guild Tech returned to his seat, before answering the call. The image that appeared before him caused the man to narrow his eyes in distaste at the greasy figure in a cheap suit. It was not merely the fact that the man was blond and blue-eyed. It was not merely the fact that he had pasty white skin and an all too expressive face.

It was that all of the man's features accumulated to the point where Aaron realized that he was staring at his complete opposite in every way.

And that somehow, some day, the time would come when he would have to kill the man in front of him in as messy a manner as possible.

For the balance of the universe and whatnot.

Future homicide set aside for the moment, the Engineer focused on his immediate task, which was to apparently negotiate with his would-be victim.

"Chairman Azrael, I presume?" The curled hair inquired, opening the discussion.

"You presume correctly, Mr. Gentles." The greaseball replied in kind, "As you may have no doubt noticed, we've come to offer you and your..." Azrael paused, looking to the side for the moment as if considering his choice of words, "Ship, I suppose, a rather lucrative job offer. I hear that even among the Junk Guild, you have a reputation for getting things done. And I am a man that needs things to get done." Azrael pauses, breathing in, "Mr. Gentles-"

"I understand, Chairman." The engineer interrupted the oncoming diatribe flatly, receiving a cool glare from the well-spoken Klansman, "I'm assuming that you are sending me into an at risk environment? What, exactly, does the head of Blue Cosmos require the services of a humble Junk Guild Tech such as myself for?"

Azrael stares at his opposite for a moment, arms folded over his chest in a childish pout, "Fine then, I did say you could ask questions, didn't I? I'm acting as an intermediary for the Atlantic Federation, Mr. Gentles. And we have it on sensitive information that one of our prototype mobile suits has gone missing after the ship transporting it was attacked while in ZAFT held space."

"That sounds like a terrible place to hide a Federation mobile suit." Gentles deadpanned, receiving another glare from the blond opposite.

"Yes, well, it was a secret facility, and I certainly don't make those kinds of decisions, now, do I?" The unrepentant racist replied scathingly, as if he had been expected to have a hand in such highly classified military matters, "Anyway, the job is to 'salvage' the area and recover whatever you can find. If you can find the ship, or any remains of it that had data on the suit, or even the suit itself, return it to us in whatever condition and we'll be sure to reward you handsomely."

Aaron sighed, shaking his head as he extended a lanky arm, waving it to the side in a dismissive motion, "Mr. Azrael, I don't see why you don't just hire out a mercenary squad for it, or simply send out a retrieval team of your own to salvage whatevers left."

The politician simply stared at the engineer coldly for a moment, his expression finally taking a form befitting one of the most powerful men in the world, "I think you and I both know the answer to that."

The engineer nodded, "That sounds like a violation of the Non-Aggression Pact signed by the Three Powers."

"We can make it worth your time, Mr. Gentles. Should you succeed, some very powerful men would be in your debt."

"Still not interested, Mr. Chairman. I'm a Guild Tech first and-"

"You and I both know that you only pay those hippy bilaws of yours lip service at best, Mr. Gentles." This time, it was Azrael's turn to cut off his opposite, and the smug grin plastered over his pasty face showed just how much he enjoyed it. "Now do we have a deal?"

The two men exchange heated glares in silence, measuring each other up for a few long moments before Aaron nods in answer.

"Just send me the details."

Azrael nods in response, satisfied, "I'll send you the last known coordinates. It's called 'Project X', by the way, and we need it taken care of as quickly as possible. That suit in the hands of a Coordinator is a scary thing, Mr. Gentles. I'd rather not risk it by having you dally."

"Of course." Aaron said, standing up from his seat as he took out his tablet, it having just received the information for this contract, "It's not like a Coordinator has ever used one of your prototype mobile suits against you before."

His back turned towards the screen, the Guild Tech never notices Azrael's face twist in fury at the barb. With an expression like biting into an extremely sour lemon, the leader of Blue Cosmos nods at the retreating figure of Aaron Gentles, eyes narrowed in dislike.

"...Good luck."

Chapter 2: The Skies above Tokyo, the flames in space
Columbus class Ship Antietam
For the next phase of the Cadets of Ecole’s training the class has gone into space.
Asuna was in space once again, it felt as if she was at home amongst the lightness of the gravity.
“This is a Columbus class ship?” a student said
“You mean Antietam” A second student specified
“Those are magnetized shoes!” A third one pointed out
“Shut up and move forward kids” Instructor Yahagi said impatiently
Mom…I’ve…returned to space. My body feels unusually light it’s been a while I can tell

Asuna was first on the liftgrip while the other students were in awe at her ease managing zero gravity.
“She’s a Spacenoid right?”
“Cool look at Asuna!”

Soon the students began piling over the grip
“I’m next!”
“I’m first in line
Soon all off the children were knocked over in Zero G
“You idiots…” Yahagi said with disdain and began to facepalm at the rowdy students speeding off the lifts
I’m getting used to school, I made new friends. They’re great people
I was afraid of joining a military School…but now I’m glad
As Asuna past the hanger of the ship she saw a MS
“A GM for space?”
Mom are you doing well?
“Asuna? Asuna this isn't the time to be spacing out!”Emilu said after she bumped into her friend
Asuna became wide eyed
“We’ve had 22 turns”
“And?”
“You've had 15 turns”
“You don’t have enough credit” Erisia elaborated
“Hey have you seen Instructor Forma?” Instructor Yahagi said as he arrived on the lift
“Instructor Yahagi! I DON’T HAVE ENOUGH CREDITS!” Asuna said with tears in her eyes
“?!”Yahagi could barely utter a proper response to Asuna’s fit
“She doesn’t have enough simulation credits. Remember she was banned from the simulator for a while! Do you know what that means?” Emilu explained
“……..”
“I HAVE ENOUGH LIVE ACADEMIC AND LIVE CREDITS! INSTRUCTOR!” Asuna began sobbing and pulling on her wayward instructor’s sleeve
“STOP THAT YOU CLINGY FREAK!” Yahagi howled
“I would prefer if the instructors watched their language, even to the unmotivated students. After all Asuna is trying really hard” Erisia said
She then pointed in Asuna’s direction
“We have time for simulation practice, in Space! I’ll personally tutor you so be prepared!”
Both Asuna and Emilu were blindsided by his declaration
“NOOOOOOOOO!”
“What! This sucks!”
“These kids are acting way to relaxed round here” A man said in the scaffolding above the students
“The school wants the kids to be bright and cheerful. Captain Yogan Phara! Happy to see you again sir” Forma responded
“Can’t say the same for you; you always bring me trouble. “
“Oh come on don’t pick on me like that” Forma responded jokingly
“That Newtype candidate you briefed me about. That’s the girl right? I can’t believe you got access to the Flanagan Institutes Data, must be your little Council eh? What kind of group is it anyways” Phara said inquiring
“It’s nothing special really, disorderly crowd mostly. Though there’s one guy that stands out. He’s civilian business elite. He wants to make Asuna his property.” Forma said
He then began recalling Alpha Rau’s requests to Forma concerning the girl.
“Regarding Asuna Elmarit, please give me her information first before the Council. To be honest with you it’s not Asuna Elmarit I want…I just …want to have the latest data relating to anything relating to Newtypes. Do you think that’s unusual? If I have the latest data –my company will end up with the rights to Newtype and other Psycocommunication weapons. Can you imagine the profit that will bring to my company?” Rau had said
“Hmm well keep the reins tight on your dangerous ideas. Otherwise you’ll get burned badly.” Phara said
“A newtypes abilities are awakened by extreme stress on the battlefield. It’s a tired theory but I believe it. There must be a reason the dark side of the moon was chosen for space training. If there's a geographical aspect in awakening their abilities then it’s worth trying out. I really want to see it, Newtypes are thought to be the evolution of Humanity. I want to see how they’ll change the world.”
“I wonder if that day will ever come…to Humanity. Space is always dark.”
“The location is perfect; I have no objection regarding the personnel. If nothing happens…I’ll have to hang myself” Forma said solemnly
"Avalanches mark the beginning of spring, if you fire several rounds in the mountains to greet spring in person you will be the first to die" Phara said

Art had entered his apartment building, he had hated his new post and his Japanese was rusty.
The two test pilots he was assigned to work with were insufferable.
The first one Ein Lewi was an arrogant ass, the white haired jackass saw himself a cut above everyone else just because he has fancy new tech. The second one Serein Experi was practically a doll that Ein drooled over. It was like looking into a madhouse and the patients ran the asylum, the saddest thing is Art was the sanest out of the three. Art never made any contact with Aliens yet but he was hoping to add more kills to his name
Were all Newtypes fucked up like this? Ein was on that woman like his life depended on her, while Serein seemed soulless like a machine. This is bullshit Jamaican. Just because you got me in the Titans doesn't mean I owe you a damn thing!
Art was about to take off his uniform before he started hearing alarms
“Aww dammnit” Art said disappointed by his denial of respite
Art took his humvee to the Base the alarms still blaring

UFO activity was heavy in this country, but they seemed to be less then formidable scouting units. All the traffic out there caused by the Aliens could disguise their projects by having their units be mistaken for alien craft all the while cleaning it up.
As soon as art entered the base Ein was waiting outside of the entrance.
“I’m surprised you didn't stay back in you bunk and cower, these aren't outdated mechs piloted by Betamaxes your about to engage. ”
It began

“Look Los Beta’s didn’t even scratch my fucking paint off. They were a practically a warmup for me, hopefully these Aliens you’ve been hyping up constantly are a real challenge. Not unless you’re just a bunch of fucking pussies.” Art said confidently
“You wouldn’t last a day against the things we’ve seen back in the OYW, a privileged Feddie brat like you couldn’t understand what lies in space”
“Stop bringing up bullshit from the War like it means anything to me Zeek! Only reason the Federation let you in the Titans was because you’re a Newtype who double crossed your own friends retreating from A Baoa Qu and gave them that tech data, you’re just a coward who hides behind technology, a real man depends on his own power not a machine!”
“Oh there we go your fixation with machines again, why bother piloting if you hate them so much!”
“I never said I hate automatons used by humans, I hate people who let machines do everything for them, like you”
“My machines power is my power just watch!”
Then why not scramble without your woman then asshole you scared?”
“Silence, Serein is mine! She needs me” Ein said as he began
“Yeah I thought so! It’s not just the machine you hide behind.”
Serein seemed to have come from nowhere when she slapped Art
“Ah yes here comes the puppet herself!” Art said
“Enough” Serein spoke
“ I don’t see the point in you defending him your just an object to him, an organic hugpillow he can do nasty things to when he feels alone. You like being a doll? Does he play dress up with you to-?”
Ein came at Art and attempted to kick him in the side Art dodged and attempted a swipe at Ein himself but Serein subsequently struck him in the face again this time with a punch, Ein started punching him in the stomach at the same time while Art was dazed with the blow to his face.

Cheating bastard…Art thought before he blacked out
Art woke up in the infirmary with a black eye and an ice pack
“Heh, even in a fight on ground he can’t stop hiding behind his bitch.”
Do they share some kind of bond Newtypes get? Art wondered to himself
Art was irritated at his defeat; he thought Ein was pathetic, not nearly as much as Preet to say the least but no one could be that fucking Beta.
Art took his icepack made a dash for the Hanger but the other two other Newtypes had already left.
Great now I have to find those two and play catch-up. Art fumed
A moment later Art took his Gundam and the nearest Base jabber and took off
“I’ll show you how I fare against the Aliens! Ein Lewi! Art Right doesn't need no skirt to hide behind!” Art shouted defiantly

Deep Space

Wherever

The imposing figure of the ReGHOST traversed the darkness of space, it's scanners tuned towards tracking the Agamemnon-Class ship Ortygia.

For several hours, it searched the area, scans set to full deep in ZAFT territory. Oddly enough, although the Guild Tech did not go undiscovered, the ones who approached him were generic ZAFT patrolmen, who took his contract and Junk Guild status at face value. It was on one such encounter that Aaron felt the need to inquire about something.

"You know, for a place thats supposed to have seen the destruction of a Federation ship by violent and explosive means, there isn't much debris."

The helmeted figure of the patrolman nodded, "I was a bit surprised too, I've been on this route for weeks, and this is the first I've heard of any engagement in the area."

The blond's eyes narrowed beneath his helmet, "Yeah, it's making me reconsider this whole dogtag retrieval contract."

"No bodies no paycheck, eh, buddy? Good luck." The GINN turned around, blasting off in a wave of heat and light, as the Engineer cut communications.

So...There was no battle.

Interesting. That means that Azrael sent me out here off shoddy intel, or he just wanted me to walk into an ambush. The former isnt plausible, given his position and the fact he contacted a potential asset like myself. His type make sure that the information they receive is accurate, even if they botch the execution of whatever the hell they're scheming.

So he wants me caught by surprise. The question is: Why? It couldn't be revenge. I only ever killed contractors that tried to backstab me, and those were only ever small time bit crews. Big mucky-mucks like him don't give a crap about them, even if any of them were pawns of his. I'm a Natural, so rampant racism isn't a motivation. If he wanted the Gold Frame he wouldn't have put me into a combat situation under these circumstances...So if he doesn't want me dead for some kind of infinitely small reason to the point of picking me out in particular, that means that I'm....being tested.

Wonderful.

Unseen, the blond sighed, and fiddled with his instruments. Turning them from seeking out random debris, to a long range-scan for a ship matching the Ortygia's descriptions.

Several more hours later, right after recharging his suit and moving the Nava-Hoe into a new searching area, Gentles received readings from his mobile suit's scanners confirming the Ortygia's presence.

"Looks like I've found you, 'Project X'. Pfft." Snorting to himself, the Gold Frame turned and abruptly sped towards the ship. As if in answer, a white trail of light erupted from the craft, speeding towards him. "And now for work."

Seconds later, static burst into the Astray's cockpit, before a shrill, effeminate voice roared, "A GUNDAM!!! DO YOU KNOW KIRA YAMATO?!" before an image of a young...person came up on his display.

"Afraid I don't."

The helmet nodded once, before continuing in a more pleasant tone, "Oh, I see then. Thanks for your time...NOW DIE!"

Sighing, the black and gold mobile suit lowered its position, avoiding a burst of beam...pellets.

Beam submachine gun? Interesting way to tackle the energy consumption limit, if ultimately stupid and unnecessary. The Guild Tech banked to the left, avoiding another stream of fire as a high pitched roar of frustration filled his ears. "Excuse me," Aaron began, hailing his opponent, "But I'm with the Junk Guild, firing on me, even if ineffectual, is a violation" Aaron paused, glancing around expectantly, "...of the Non-Aggression Pact between the Federation, Plants, and ORB regarding our organization. I'd really-"

"GRAAAAAAAAAAAGH!" The child screamed, ejecting the clip from his beam gun, a concept the Guild Tech was still wrapping his head around, before replacing it with another. "Hold Still! I don't care about your shitty Junk Guild status! Fight me! As a man piloting a Gundam, that's your destiny!"

The man waved his hand at the other pilot dismissively, "Nope."

"YES IT IS!"

"Explain this to me, then."

"FINE! But only if you agree to fight me afterwards!"

"Sure."

The genderless creature in front of him sighed, taking a deep breath, "My name is Cahard Pars, Special Operative X of th-"

For some reason, images of the Gold Frame becoming transparent filled the eyes of the all observers, as each individual part of the ReGHOST was dyed the color of the void, before vanishing entirely.

"WHERE THE HELL DID YOU GO?!"

"Didn't ask for your life story, kid. Later."

"GET BACK HERE YOU COWARD!" Cahard screamed, tearing off his helmet in frustration as his long, womanly black hair filled his cockpit in the zero gravity environment.

A transmission cut in, showing the younger pilot an image of a librarian in a Federation suit, adjusting her glasses as she looked at him sharply, "Special Agent! We've pinpointed the location of the enemies craft, I'm sending you the coordinates now!"

The failed coordinator felt a savage grin grow across his features, "I've got you now, you little punk!" He growled, his voice cracking in the process, "Activating Armure Lumiere!" He shoved a thumb down on a button, as several antennae extended from the boy's Gundam, emitting a hard blue light which surrounded the mobile suit completely. "Now I've got you, you little bitch!" A countdown starting from 5 minutes lit up on the Hyperion's display, "With my shield up, I'll rush that pathetic little ship of yours and reduce it to a scrap heap! AHAAHAHA!"

"Would have mocked you for leaving your channel open, but this is still pretty satisfying."

A blue axe tore through the Hyperion's right arm, cleanly separating it from the rest of the machine, as a gold and black arm grabbed it while behind the larger mobile suit.

"Yoink." The blond man states in a flat tone.

Cahard's eyes opened wide in shock, "But, how?! How did your cheap suit get past my Armure Lumiere?!"

In front of him, the brown suited image of Aaron Gentles appeared once again, "Easy. As soon as I stealthed..." Another image popped up on the Hyperion's monitor, showing a helpful diagram to illustrate the Guild Tech's explanation, "I went behind you. Then I let you do whatever it was you were going to do. And then took the opportunity to disarm you." The Gold Frame lifted up the Hyperion's severed limb, "Quite literally."

The failed ultimate coordinators mouth gaped like a fish in shock, "You! YOU BITCH! I'M GONNA VIOLATE YOU!!!!"

Aaron snorted,"Poor choice of words." The engineer replied, as the black panels on his mobile suits back flipped over, dropping over the shoulders of the Hyperion. His hand reached towards a button labeled "Maga no Ikutachi". It then slammed down on it.

"Data! Draaaaaaaain!" He mutters unemotionally, as the black extensions crackled with energy. Within seconds, the phase shift armor giving the Hyperion it's color faded away, as did the shining blue shield which had previously surrounded it.

"Now then," Aaron warned the blubbering child, "Don't go anywhere while I dispose of your friends."

Cahard simply watched helplessly as the Gold Frame sped towards the only place in the universe he could call home, it's massive blue axe slicing the engine's clean off, before emptying several seconds of machine gun fire into what the Coordinator already understood to be the ships living quarters. His eyes widened in sick fascination as he saw the gold and black mobile suit destroy what he already knew to be the source of the ship's life support functions. The figure set the axe over it's shoulder, admiring it's work as frost leaked out from the craft's hull, marking the violent exit of the ship's atmosphere.

"A job well done. I'll back in a sec, keep an eye on things here for me, will you?"

Suddenly, Cahard's cockpit was flooded with live camera footage of the inside of the Ortygia

"You..." The failure muttered in horror, "You son of a bitch..."

It turned out that Kamille was, no surprise, a lightweight and also, no surprise, an angry drunk. Karako was giving him an A+ "bitch, please" face with her brows raised and eyes slightly narrowed with just a touch of a pout. Kamille was slumped over the bar counter, glaring over his arm at her while defensively holding what was his third glass of peach schnapps.

"I think you've had enough." Karako said.

"No."

"All it's doing is making you pissed at me and that is bad."

"No."

"Angry drunks are bad."

"NO."

"Point proven."

"Shut up!" Kamille growled.

"Do you need a time out?" Karako started laughing mid-sentence to a point where she almost couldn't be understood.

"Men don't get time out."

"Uhhh yeah they sure as hell do. It's called solitary confinement."

"Oh my god you were the worst person ever and I hate you....a lot..."

"I'm really scared of a kid with blue hair and a girly na-"

"SHUT THE HELL UP!!!"

".......I think that's the closest you've ever come to swearing since I met you."

"I swear."

"Do it. Swear. Gimme your worst if you hate me so much."

"Your hair looks like a fuckin' dead animal."

".....PFFFFFTTT! You sound like a kid trying to get away with swearing in high school!"

"SHUT THE FUCK UP!"

This only made Karako laugh more. Kamille just drank more and growled.

Adam glances at the woman and blue-haired young man, amused at the latter's inability to hold his alcohol. His ability with profanity is not much to write home about either. The display is sad, yet amusing, and not nearly annoying enough to warrant kicking him out like that Los Betas moron. Impotently raging drunkards can make for good entertainment, especially drunk babbies who think they're men.

He then goes back to drinking his vodka, hoping for some more amusement at the young man's expense.

Bowels of the Nava-Hoe

Some Time Later

Still Pre-Slam

"I was not informed that the crew of the Ortygia was still among the living." The Guild Tech stated flatly, staring once more at his communication screen.

"Oh really?" Came the slightly nasally response, "Must've slipped my mind. You know how these things go, I'm sure." Muruta Azrael shrugged in a 'What can you do?' gesture.

Aaron simply nodded, his face expressionless "Of course. The retrieval continued unhindered. The ship and it's prototype mobile suit are more or less intact and en route out of ZAFT space."

Across the depths of space, Chairman Azrael whistled in appreciation, "Took 'em out all by yourself, huh? How'd you convince the space monsters?"

This time it was the engineers turn to shrug, "I told them they were pirates, and that I intended to collect the bounty on them since my original contract was a bust."

The greaseball opposite of him nodded in understanding, "Of course, of course. No one would want to deny a simple Guild Tech his hard earned windfalls after a stroke of bad luck, I'm sure."

"Indeed." Gentles continued without emotion. "What do you want done with the surviving crew?" The man asked, his eyes hardening at the thought of potentially being forced to kill in cold blood. It had been one thing to slaughter them in the heat of battle, and there had been precious few other options to disable the craft without causing catastrophic damage to it.

Besides, they had attacked him before he had even gotten the chance to hail them. It was only fair that they suffer the...indignities of such an approach backfiring on them.

But cold blooded murder? That was a line the reserved Guild Tech was unwilling to cross.

"Bring them in." Was Azrael's response, all business. "I'm a bit impressed that you did this while keeping down the casualties, Gentles. I guess that you've got a bit of a hippie streak in you after all, hm?"

"I'm a member of the Junk Guild first and all else second, Mr. Azrael," the curled hair replied dryly, "Preserving lives whenever possible is the rule, not the exception. They simply had the misfortune of engaging me before even attempting communication. Such a hotheaded and naive approach would have eventually backfired."

Azrael merely shrugged, his face taking on an expression of smug skepticism, causing Gentles to increase his desire to kill the man by another eleven percent. "If you say so. Send over the list of survivors, although, I have to ask. The pilot of the Hyperion...?"

"Still alive, and unharmed. I took...measures to ensure his compliance however."

Azrael smirked, "Good. Let me send you these coordinates for the drop off point, and then I'd like for you to come to the Lunar Base so we can discuss the matter of your payment." The greaseball fiddled around with something off screen, and an alert pinged from the Guild Tech's tablet. "You've done good work here, Gentles. And from what I can tell, you've definitely impressed my superiors."

Azrael's smirk grew almost feral, triumphant, "We'll keep in touch,"

The feed flickered, and faded to black as Aaron leaned back in his chair, staring at the bulkhead above him.

The prisoners shouldnt be an issue. They're wrapped up in their normal suits, subsisting off my good charity, are helpless without power or engines, and are in the middle of ZAFT territory. From what I could gather, they're Eurasian Federation out of Artemis, so this is probably political in nature. Even so...

Aaron chuckled, bringing up his tablet and a cup of coffee as he looked over it's display.

Mirage Colloid...Virus, huh? And that shield wasn't too bad either. I'm going to need a better parts fabricator if I want to put this stuff to use anytime soon. The Junk Guild simply doesnt have any industrial complexes capable of producing equipment this advanced. Hmm...Azrael's superiors, huh?

Well, if they can provide that for me, I won't mind doing a few more jobs for them. I'll do whatever it takes to keep this ship alive. And what my family left for me. No matter what the cost.

The expressionless natural drank deeply from the straw in his cup, adapted to the low-G environment, Huh. I wonder what they plan to do with that long haired pretty brat? Oh well. Probably dissect him or something. He shrugged, dismissing the train of thought, and returned to poring over the information he had gotten from this latest stunt. Dropping them off could wait until they were actually on the way. It's not like the Ortygia or Hyperion could escape under these circumstances, given that theyre being dragged through space by harpoons firmly anchored in the ships hull and the suits pilot being locked in a holding cell.

Art began searching the skies for his the two other Newtypes on his Base jabber on his MS, not wanting them to score his kills.
Bastard knocks me out and leaves me huh? I’ll show you I’m a force to be reckoned with alone! I don’t need no woman or a shitty tech gimmick to succeed!
As he advanced he began seeing dozens of small fightercraft engaging each other in dogfights.
Wait they're fighting each other? I guess different factions between the aliens all have some vested interest here…sorry to interrupt your party guys but this is my planet!
Art on the Jabber readied his Beam rifle and fired at the small UFO’s, a few exploded. They began scattering at the sight of the act and began swarming at Art.
Art pulled out his beam saber and began hacking and slashing at and dodging any alien attempting to strafe him.
Heh, that moron Ein is too cautious. These guys are easy street, one hit and their out. Only thing they got in their advantage are numbers, I guess cowardly minds think alike. Art thought, little did he know a real challenge has yet to appear.


Elsewhere in Japan the Green light that enveloped Dunbine has dropped it off in front of a house.
The scared residents of the home look to investigate the seeming UFO not knowing it is piloted by a familiar face
“Shou, Shou wake up!” Cham urged the young man
Shou while moving his arm to rub his face accidentally knocked the Ferrario aside
“It looks like we've come to some weird place! We have!”
“What? This is my house! What is it what’s going on?” Shou said
“I don’t know this place! Where is it? I don’t know!” Cham said panicking
“There’s no mistaking it, it’s my house on Upper Earth. Did we travel to the world of Upper Earth?”
“Is this the world of Upper Earth really?”
“This is my house,There’s no mistake… Dad mom Ms .Kawahara?!” Shou said as he saw the scared spectators.
As Shou left the Cockpit of his Battler Kawahara and Shou’s mother fled in fear
“Dad!”
Shou’s father fell over in terror
“It’s not a mistake Cham this is upper earth! Dad!”
Shou’s father still could not recognize his son beneath his armor, as show took off his helmet he called for him again
“Stay away!” His father said
“Dear!” His mother said in fear
“Oh its Shou isn’t it? Why are you wearing that getup?”
“Youko, Mom, Dad it’s me!”
“Shou? You came out of that weird thing in the yard just now didn’t you?” His father said
“Yeah it’s an Aura battler, the Dunbine”
“Dunbine?”
“Yeah it’s the Dunbine, it’ll take some time to explain but…
“Don’t come in are you really Shou?”
“Of course!”
“You’re wrong as if someone like that could be our son!” His mother shouted
“Mom what are you talking about? You don’t even know your own son?”
“We’d like proof now wouldn’t we? Shou why are Rabbits eyes red?” Youko said
“It’s because they eat carrots” Shou answered
“You passed. Shou always said that didn’t he?”
“Then why are you dressed like that?” His father asked
Shou began to become frustrated and placed his palm on his face.
“Even if I said It was because I was in Byston well you wouldn’t understand right away anyway…”
A crowd began gathering around Dunbine
“Shou people are gathering! What will we do?” Cham asked as she fluttered in”
“What is that!” Youko shouted
“Dear” Shou’s mom grabbed his father and let out a scream so lout it hurt the fairylike being’s ears and then fainted
“Chiyo! Shou what is it? That butterfly?”
“I’m Cham, not a butterfly!”
Police sirens began going off and cars were speeding by the House and Dunbine
“What is it?” an officer asked as he exited the car
“Is it one of those UFO’s?” another asked
“Where did it fall from?” a third asked
“Father!”
“Get out!”
“Listen to what I have to say!”
“Big brother Shou!” a little boy said recognizing Shou
“Yoshibou from next door!”
“Get out!” Shou’s father repeated
“What happened?” the boy and his mother asked
“If you’re really my son theres no way you would come riding in something like that!”
“You! You’re saying you came riding that thing?” An officer said as the cops surrounded him
“I came to my own house in Dunbine what’s wrong with that?”
“So your child make some kind of plastic model?”
“Your mistaken that is not our child” Shou’s mother ignorantly said
“Shou let’s get out of here at once and come back later” Cham said
Subsequently the tiny creature began pulling at Shoou’s hair chanting lets go
“Dad, Mom why won’t you acknowledge me?”
“It’s not an insect it’s in the shape of a Human being!” A cop said in a panicked voice
“Oh dear the same things on Tv!” Youko said
“Some kind of new UFO is flying above the skies of Tokyo in the shape of a Human being”
“That’s Garalia’s Bastole!” Shou said recognizing the figure
“What are you going to do” Cham asked
“Police officer please arrest this man!” Shou’s mother shouted
“Mom look at the TV! It’s Garalia’s Bastole, I was fighting with it ”
Shou ran off the confront Garalia before she did something rash

The Cave: Operation Troll the Titans

Brainwave was almost finished with his several days of exhaustive study about the capabilities of various Titan and AEUG mobile suits. Including various other factors including number of pilots and maintenance capacity. It was tricky to carefully weight all the factors to find the proper balance in just what to hand them but Brainwave was confident. If all goes well this should accelerate the AEUG's resistance movement and keep the Titans distracted for months or years.

"Alright, I'm just about ready. All I have left to do is track communications back to the Anaheim Electronics unit developing new AEUG mobile suits and give them my upgrades and we'll be ready."

"And what of my battle plans? I hope I haven't been wasting my time on this."

Chuckling light Brainwave reassured Megatron. "Oh no Joe, they will be very important for phase 2. You see when the Titans do counterattack the AEUG is going to need more help and to assuage our new allies fears your particular brand of strategic genius is what we'll offer instead of more technology. And of course that will make the Titans even more worried."

"Well..." Megatron cackled lightly "You're certainly devious, yes. I have to say I'm impressed. I didn't think your kind had it in you."

"Never assume anything Joe, never assume anything. I assume this is satisfactory to you Rastun."

Rastun mulls over the plan and on the surface, there shouldn't be any problems with it. Brainwave doesn't seem to be the type to overlook details and he has been hard at work with his calculations. These Cybertronians are far more advanced than the ones he knows of, and accurately predicting outcomes of carefully planned actions should be the least of their capabilities. However, Rastun couldn't help but have a nagging feeling that something will go wrong from this. Again though, he doesn't have any better ideas at the moment, so he'll just have to trust in Brainwave's plan.

"I have no problems with it," he responds and adds, "The offer of your partner's strategic capabilities appears to be a good recompense for no new additional technology, hopefully sating their greed. I'm not sure I can find anything overly wrong with this scheme."

Still, he couldn't get rid of his vague worries. Perhaps it's simply the idea of trusting two unknowns and being stuck without logical alternatives.

“Where did Elf Castle disappear to? Where is Dunbine?” Garalia asked confusedly
She became startled as she saw a plane enter her direction and plowed the talons of her Battler into the cockpit of the vehicle and cut off the rudder
“An Aura ship that large!”
The plane began exploding and crashed into the ocean
“A town made entirely from stone! This may be Upper Earth! I wonder if I came here with Dunbine” Garalia said as she began observing the city.
She flew over a highway and caused a crash
“Machines with wheels!”
Garalia then came across a Skyscraper
“There’s a castle! It’s dangerous to move about aimlessly. Is there no place I can hide?”
Shou began taking off in Dunbine while the crowed began scattering
“Why did it turn into something like this?” Shou asked Cham
“Didn’t we end up here because you’re and Garalia’s Aura powers combined?”
“Then why here?”
“Shou we were attracted by your mother and your fathers Aura powers”
“Then it’s some kind of thing?”
“Who knows?”

“But it’s too rectangular! I cannot think it is a castle” Garalia said still marveling at the buildings
“Huh?” As she noticed Dunbine
“Garalia can you hear me? This is upper earth! It’s where Humans live!” Shou said
“Dunbine so you were here!”
“If we fight here we’ll hurt the people of Upper Earth!”
“If Shou one of Upper Earth is an enemy then this is Enemy territory! I shall destroy it!”
“You can’t do that! We have to find out why we came to Upper Earth!”
In response Garalia fired off a Aura missile that decimated a town
“What the way that explosions spreading…stop Garalia!”
Shou’s pleas were ignored as the Bastole pulled out its sword and began taking a swipe at Dunbine which Shou dodged. Dunbine in turn pulled out it’s blade.
“It’s coming!” Cham shouted
“Garalia please stop we don’t have time to fight on Upper Earth!’
“Shut Up!”
Bastole and Dunbine commenced clashing blades with each other over the skyscrapers
“Oh a Building!” Shou said
Dunbine ceased dueling Bastole and flew downwards to avoid damaging the structure while the occupants of the building fled, Dunbine then began hovering above a park.
“How careless of me, I let her corner me to the ground!” Shou said
Dunbine began to shoot upwards into the sky while Bastole attempted to ready more Missiles but nothing came out
“I’m out of missiles! huh?” Garalia said as Dunbine came charging at her
It swiped at Bastole with its sword twice while Garalia narrowly dodged the attacks
“Shou is fast! Oh what is it? My body…” Garalia exclaimed
“Garalia stand down! Let’s stop fighting and…”
Bastole somehow had another missile stored and fired
“Don’t fire Missiles!”
Shou once again chased after Bastole trying to keep it from attacking the city.
Their blades began clashing furiously as Hizacks and GM’s began surrounding them.
“Garalia Mobile Suits have come! Do you plan to go against them? Stop! Stop fighting!”

A Hizack swooped by Bastole
“What has happened? I am getting very tired!” Garalia
Bastole fired a missile at the Hizack demolishing not only it but the underlying Racetrack Stadium and several blocks with it. A second one took down Art’s apartment.
“Garalia stop at this rate you’ll make all of Japan your enemy! ” Shou shouted
“If you use strength like that you’ll be tying the noose around your own neck!” Cham said
“I shall not let Dunbine go easily! I won’t I WON’T!” Garalia said
“Garalia stop you can’t antagonize the people of upper earth!”
“Machines that fly in the sky are coming!” Cham said
Ein and Serein moved in and began firing at both opponents
“They seem to be made of organic and mechanical components. Strange little machines aren’t you? Let’s see how good you are when you aren’t hitting Oldtypes and cities!”
“They do not seem to be allied with one another” Serein said in a monotone voice
“It is of little difference, their fight has totaled several parts of the city. It’d be bad publicity just to let the purple one walk” Ein said
“Affirmative” Serein responded
Both fighters dodged the attacks
“Who are these guys? What Mobile suits are those? Stop don’t shoot!” Shou said at his new attackers waving Dunbines hands.
Ein fired the Dezpada’s Psi Rod at Dunbine almost immediately
Shou’s speed was great enough to dodge
“You’re a fast one I’ll give you that, nothing normal could outrace me. What are you?” Ein wondered
Ein and Serein began meeting beam sabers with blades, a colossal struggle between Aura Battler and Newtype had begun.
As Art finished off the last of the UFO’s that came after him he began seeing the battle in the sky while hovering back to base.

Well look at this, seems Ein got more then what he bargained for; A fair fight.

Art was considering leaving the freak to handle this mess and the bad PR that comes with letting a city get fucking nuked in several places but unfortunately for the UFO’s Art noticed a smoking crater was where his apartment was
“OH FUCK! My apartment! My clothes! My computer! My porn! You fucking bastards!” Art shouted
Art with his Gundam on board of the Base Jabber began speeding off into the cities direction.

"Excellent Rastun, I shall finish my tracking of Anaheim Electronics and provide them with the necessary info then we can get to work on searching for a way to contain Unicron, or at least preventing the anomalies from making contact."

"Yes well let us hope our attempts to stop it aren't the thing that makes it happen. Things seem to be going too smoothly after all."

"Oh no Joe, don't jinx us by giving THEM ideas. That isn't remotely funny."

And with that the plan was set in motion but everyone had to wonder if Megatron was being prophetic.

"God dammit Joe!"

Rastun raised an eyebrow at the word "them". "Uh, 'them' who, if you don't mind me asking," Rastun said. Cybertronians have their odd quirks, but these two seem to be more eccentric than most. "And Joe didn't exactly respond to that sentence, so is there some other Joe I don't even know about?" Rastun added.

This is going to be one long mission.

If ever there was a touchy subject to avoid this was it. New arrivals to Axiom Nexus often had a hard time adapting to the presence of the narrator. Even most Transtechs tend to ignore it whenever possible. This would either be a hilarious exchange or the start of a new problem...

"To be frank I don't think you want to know the answer to that question. You'd either think I'm insane or the revelation would break your mind. Of course I could make a device that would make it easier for you to accept but the only person I know it was used on turned into an apathetic wreck."

Truth be told, Rastun is already thinking Brainwave might be a touch insane. What he just said doesn't exactly help to prove the contrary. Frankly, Rastun would likely be better off not getting too deep into this. He already has enough to worry about without adding Brainwave's potential insanity to the mix. Perhaps he can just live with ignoring the occasional odd blurts from Brainwave. Yes, that seems to be the logical solution to this dilemma.

"No need to trouble yourself with me, I think I can cope with not knowing," Rastun replied.

The Cave: Getting back to the actual plot

"Alright then, now that that's settled I suggest looking at a city from our multiverse renowned for massively stupid shit happening in it thus making it a prime candidate for being involved in this... somehow."

"Carbombya?" Megatron immediately inquiried.

"Car... How the hell could you guess that Joe?"

"Like I wouldn't remember the stupid country that had Tripticon defend their coast from the tourist industry, rob Fort Knox, and steal the worlds supposed greatest monuments. No one could possibly notice any of this, no. What an absurd notion."

"Yes well case in point."

After practicing in the GM canard in space Asuna’s skills were steadily improving to the point she was at one point close to surpassing Erisia’s score in the training course. Well that was before she slammed into debris. Erisia began noticing Asuna was reacting to something unseen.
After the test instructor Forma asked Shinn and Erisia that Asuna’s mother was sick and that she should visit her in the nearby colony. They were completely unaware of Forma’s sinister intentions
Earlier in the day two Titans officers approached Forma
“You wanna have Asuna see her mother? Why for what?” Forma asked
“We’re including the family members of the passengers in our investigation. We would rather not have to involve you but…the person in question is being watched by the Federation military. It’s a petty turf issue to be honest with you” The man in a suit with a Titans insignia shaped pin on it said
“Then...What’s the point of having her see her mother?”
“It’s just…part of the investigation”
“This doesn't feel right, I’m gonna be blunt with y’all. You’re after professor Elmarit, it’s lucky for you Asuna was involved with this incident. You wanna take that as an opportunity to see if her mom has some juicy info”
“….” The two men went
“You can’t see her directly after all you can’t ignore jurisdiction if you value your jobs. More than anything you don’t want the federation to know why you’re after the professor am I right?”
“You bastard!” the first officer said
“Well I would be glad to help you. Under one condition of course, I would like to join you.” Forma said
The other mans emotions did a complete 180
“I always wanted to do the stalker thing.” Forma said ending the conversation
“Working with the titans eh? Maybe that’s the reason people don’t trust me.”Forma said as he left the room

Side 3 Cluster colony 23
Achilles
“Asuna your father would be happy to see you so happy”
“Mom I’d rather you not mention him, please.”
“Asuna your still upset at your father…”
While Asuna was conversing with her mother Yahagi had nodded off in the car.
Little did Asuna know her instructor was at one point involved with her mother in a relationship years ago. As he slept in the car seat he had was remembering his time with her.
Suddenly he awoke and began noticing a strange van
In space
“Hey GM Number 1! who’s in the cockpit?” A mechanic asked
“Some earth VIP” Said another
“I hope he’s not in there messing things up in there”
“Please don’t make more work for the maintenance crew. We’re busy baby sitting around here” the Captain in the com said
“That’s no way to speak to me captain!” Hank shouted
“Sorry sir” Pharra said apologetically
There’s no internal weapons, energy quotas the same as the mass produced models. Is the limiter weaker on purpose? It’s been thoroughly prepared but..to think they’ll actually fight using this machine… Hank thought
He focused on an image of a Gelgoog flying by on his video screen
“Marie Albeltia.” Hank said out loud
He flashed back to his debriefing with Forma
“An activist from Esysium, apparently she’s joined forces with Zeon extremists…and has been sabotaging this region. An intolerable weasel! “Hank said
“That intolerable weasel will be the one attacking our dear students?” Forma asked
“We need actual combat to discover Newtypes, that’s what you think anyway. You can prove it to me”
“With these risky stories is it a good idea to let these investigators who are Titans to run loose?”
“That’s why I’m here the Council that we’re a part of is affiliated with the Titans task force. We need to prevent infighting.”
“I agree with you completely” Forma said
But out of all of them you are the most dangerous. You want to see a world of Newtypes you’re insane. Nobody on earth wants that they just want a more efficient means to get their ends ,Hank thought bitterly
In the Van Forma overheard the conversation in the bugged room
“Well I’m right aren't I? I’m at a military Academy and I don’t want to be there! You have to live alone because of him! You have to live alone like this because of him!” Asuna said
“Asuna you don’t understand!” He mother responded
“What I don’t understand what?”
“He just wanted a proud soldier in his family that’s all. Your father was researching ways to make people in space lead happier lives. I know It’s been hard on you bit I wish you would understand that.”
“You really believe that? He wanted me to be a soldier because he couldn't be one himself! I WAS JUST A DAMNED EXPERIMENT TO THAT MAN!”
Forma and the Titan investigator had struck gold
Tears began welling up in Asuna’s eyes
“Asuna don’t…speak about your father like that.”
“He’s not EVEN MY REAL FATHER DAMMIT!” Asuna shouted
“Asuna!” her mother said
“I shouldn't have come.”
“Wait Asuna!” her mother cried out
You didn't find information about the professor. Although it’s now clear Haruka Elmarit agrees with her husband the Professor.” One investigator said
“That’s worthy information “ The second one said
Their so clueless. An experiment eh…? That’s where everything ties together. Forma thought
Asuna’s mother went to her instructors car to ask for her location unaware of it’s occupant
Asuna had ran off throughout the city, skipping rocks, buying ice cream, but her final stop would be the former Zeon defense Academy a long buried Ghost of her past.

Deathsaurer said
The Cave: Getting back to the actual plot

"Alright then, now that that's settled I suggest looking at a city from our multiverse renowned for massively stupid shit happening in it thus making it a prime candidate for being involved in this... somehow."

"Carbombya?" Megatron immediately inquiried.

"Car... How the hell could you guess that Joe?"

"Like I wouldn't remember the stupid country that had Tripticon defend their coast from the tourist industry, rob Fort Knox, and steal the worlds supposed greatest monuments. No one could possibly notice any of this, no. What an absurd notion."

"Yes well case in point."

"What kind of name for a city is Carbombya?" Rastun blurted. "With a name like that, I'm surprised it even gets tourists," he added. Rastun has seen some horrendously stupid things in his career as an Overseer Agent, but judging from what he's hearing here, he'll be seeing levels of sheer idiocy that he has never witnessed before. On the bright side, whatever this country is, it can't be as nonsensical as Unicron's convoluted history.

"Anyway, continue, don't mind my musings," he said.

"Tripticon didn't realize they got tourists either."

Both Megatron and Brainwave spent a good minute laughing at this.

"But seriously that place is one of the biggest magnets for idiocy in our multiverse and obviously has to have some connection to Unicron because it's here so it's the most reasonable place to start. Otherwise we'd just be stumbling around in the dark hoping to get lucky. Watch out for the camels though, I understand they're everywhere."

With that Brainwave opened his short range space bridge to the outskirts of Carbombya to begin the investigation.

"Shall we?"

"I would be going right now if it weren't for the fact my machine can't get to the portal. This cave isn't exactly accommodating to it," Rastun said. He then follows up with, "Unless you have some spare extradimensional space I can use to fit it in so I could carry it with me."

Perhaps that came off a bit ruder than intended, but Rastun is not about to go into unknown land without his Chronoframe.