Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Family Ties ❯ Chapter 89 ( Chapter 89 )

“Family Ties”

 

January 200 ShenLong

 

Chapter 89

 

[Preventer Headquarters]

 

Une reached the planning room and entered, her eyes immediately noting the three agents currently in the room. She nodded to them and moved to take a seat at the table. The three agents did the same, the curiosity evident in their faces.

 

The door opened again and a fourth agent entered, moving hastily to take a seat.

 

“Is this all the agents we have?” Une asked.

 

“Yes, Commander. All the other agents are otherwise indisposed,” the agent called Snow informed her.

 

Giving a deep sigh, Une decided she'd better get started. “Agents, as you have probably already been made aware, our situation is quite precarious right now...” Une went on to explain in a little more detail the current state of affairs surrounding the earth sphere. “I now have information that Barton has dispatched his army to earth and the shuttles they are on should be here somewhere in the next twenty-four hours.”

 

The four agents frowned.

 

“Commander, with all due respect, there's not going to be much that the Preventer group can do to stop an army of that predicted magnitude,” Agent Hail stated.

 

“I am well aware of that, Hail. I do not intend for Preventer to even try and attempt to stop them.”

 

“Then what is it you want us to do?” Hail questioned.

 

“Barton wanted the ESUN board to stand down with the intent of taking over the ESUN, putting his own people on the board and running things himself,” Une replied.

 

“I see.”

 

“Agents, our problem and task is this.” Une looked to the four expectant faces. I am pretty certain that once the army lands they will try to take out the board senators. With the people rioting right now and fully aware of what Barton wants, they are blaming the ESUN senators for their current state and as such, are out for blood. I have several agents out in the field that have been called back to protect those senators that currently do not have protection assigned to them. I do not intend to lose any of the senators or my agents. Gentlemen, we need to find a safe, secure location to move the senators to until this fiasco is brought to a close.”

 

“Do we know where and when this army will be here?” Agent Frost inquired.

 

“Not exactly.”

 

Frost and the others raised their eyebrows in question.

 

“As I said earlier, I have been informed by another agent currently out in the field that the army is on its way and he estimated twenty-four hours before they would arrive.” Une looked to her watch. “I'd say that's now twenty-two hours. As for where, I have no clue. We cannot track the shuttles, all our radar and scanning equipment is non functional thanks to Barton and this Firecell. I think I would be pretty close though in saying I expect them to arrive somewhere in our vicinity given the senators and the ESUN headquarters are here.”

 

“I think we need to move pretty fast on this,” Agent Ice said.

 

“I agree,” replied Snow.

 

“Commander, do we have any access to the data base here at HQ?” Ice asked.

 

“Minimal,” Une replied. “Agent Day did develop a program to convert the filing system, however the Firecell struck before all the files could be converted.”

 

“We need to see if we can locate some of the safe houses, check them out and make sure they would be capable of securing the senators until this blows over,” Ice stated.

 

“Then let's get to it, agents,” Une ordered.

 

The agents split into two groups, Ice and Frost moving to the computer console on one side of the room, Snow and Hail, the other. Communicating between themselves, they brought the computers on line and scanned through to see what they could and couldn't access in regards to the safe house records.

 

It wasn't easy as only a small part of the data base was able to be used, but after checking on what they had, combining the knowledge of any other safe houses they knew of in the areas, they did manage to locate four that could be suitable.

 

“Commander? We have managed to come up with four places we think the senators can be safely hidden in, but we need to contact the agents assigned to overseeing the places.”

 

“The good news is, the communications network is still up and running,” Une informed the agents, getting four sighs of relief in return. “I'll have Sky patch you through.” Une went to the terminal in the corner of the room and spoke with the communications department. Within moments Sky had patched Frost through and he'd confirmed his intentions with the agents out in the field.

 

“All four safe houses are secure. We can move the senators there as soon as you wish, Commander,” Frost informed.

 

“Thank you. I'll have Sky contact the agents out protecting the senators, you can speak with each of them and pass on the coordinates. Have the agents check in once they are secure in the safe house.”

 

“Yes, Commander.”

 

Moments later all the information had been passed on to the respective agents. With there being nothing more they could do for now, the Commander left the four agents to continue their liaison between the secure locations and Headquarters. She had more pressing issues to deal with.

 

* * *

 

[Preventer Transport Shuttle 221]

 

“Crap, crap, crap,” Zechs muttered to himself. His fingers flew over the console, locating the beam rifles and bringing them on line. He'd really hoped he wouldn't have to use them, but that hope had been futile once he'd seen the sheer number of suits approaching.

 

There was no doubt at all that Barton knew they were there, if he'd not spotted them when they'd moved the shuttle, then the decimation of the six suits would have told him something was there. Zechs could tell by the way the suits were coming in and forming up they intended to apply their full power at the area the shuttles were both currently sitting in.

 

He needed to have the beam rifles charged and on line, ready to use. The Gundams would only be able to take on so many at once and it wouldn't be long before the shuttle would become visible to Barton and his men. He needed to strike now, utilize the element of surprise and with any luck, take out quite a few before they could rally.

 

He just hoped and prayed that the other shuttle would remain cloaked and stay unharmed - they would need some form of transport back to the earth and he wasn't too sure if the Transport shuttle would manage to survive an attack of the magnitude he could see flying towards them.

 

The console beeped, telling him the beam rifles were fully powered and ready for use. The rifle control sticks rose out from the side of the console and Zechs took them in his hands, feeling the familiar contours of the sticks. Zechs then turned and picked up the helmet, slipping it on. The visor darkened before his eyes and then cleared to show him the full view outside the shuttle.

 

He was ready.

 

* * *

 

[Satellite XRB 23 Surface]

 

“Jesus, Mary and Joseph...”

 

All the suit pilots hung in the air, unable to come to terms with what they were seeing.

 

“Do you see that?”

 

“I think so.”

 

“Isn't that a fucking different Gundam?”

 

“I believe it is.”

 

“Well, fuck me.”

 

The shocked conversations flew back and forth between the suit pilots.

 

“Shit! There's more.”

 

“How many of the bastards are there?”

 

“Four that I can see.”

 

“Don't forget that other one, the one that disappeared.”

 

Back in the control room, the techs, Barton and Zaheer all listened to the conversations flowing back and forth. None of their eyes left the screen as the air began to shimmer and several large objects began to take shape.

 

The first to appear was a predominantly white suit, thrusters pushing it upward to hover before the incoming suits. A red suit then black and gold suit followed, also engaging their thrusters and forming up alongside the white Gundam. Lastly, a mostly green suit appeared.

 

The visible four Gundams formed a line ahead of the incoming suits. Behind them, a cloaked Deathscythe hovered, watching their backs and waiting to see who would make the first move.

 

“How many are there?” Craven whispered.

 

“I think that's all of them,” Zaheer stated.

 

Barton stood, transfixed for a moment, then a feral smile began to form on his face. “Well, I must say this is a pleasant surprise.”

 

“Pleasant?” Zaheer questioned with a raise of his eyebrow. He couldn't see for the life of him how four Gundams materializing could be pleasant at all - in fact, it was more like down right freaky!

 

“Yes, pleasant,” Barton snapped. “Isn't it obvious? We now have all of the Gundam pilots here. That means they will be much easier to dispose of.”

 

Zaheer could see where the boss was coming from, but still... Zaheer was familiar with the Gundams from the war, although he'd never had anything to do with them himself. He could recall the destruction they left behind, the skill of the pilots flying them and the fear they instilled in those that opposed them.

 

Seeing the Gundams paused in the air, Barton looked to where his own troops were similarly hovering in the air. The two lots facing off, sizing each other up. Patience running thin, Barton moved to Craven's console and grabbed the microphone.

 

“Well! What are you waiting for you idiots?! You outnumber them by almost seventy to one. Attack you fools, ATTACK!” Barton yelled down the microphone.

 

The suit pilots were jolted from their stupor with Barton's command and hastily scrambled to get themselves back together and ready to fight.

 

The squadron leaders pulled themselves together, ordering their squad to have their weapons at the ready. Then they split up and attacked.

 

“Here they come,” Heero announced and fired up the buster rifle.

 

“Do we take them on as a group or fight individually?” Trowa asked as he raised the gattling gun and prepared the rockets for launch.

 

“I'd say split up, take out as many as we can but protect the shuttle,” Quatre answered and swung his shotels in the air.

 

“I'm with Winner,” replied Wufei as the trident flared into life.

 

“You four take on the masses and do your best to keep them at bay. I'll stay by the shuttle and remain cloaked for as long as I can to protect it,” Duo stated.

 

“Okay. Are we all agreed?” asked Heero.

 

“Agreed,” came the replies.

 

“Then let's stop them.”

 

The four visible Gundams broke ranks and with their thrusters engaged, they shot towards the incoming suits, weapons at the ready.

 

The pilots of Barton's suits watched as the Gundams began to head towards them, each group facing off against one, large mecha.

 

The red squadron paused to eye up their opponent and then they attacked. Trowa remained calm in his seat, Heavyarms responsive to his slightest touch. The gattling gun came forth and Trowa engaged it.

 

Wufei swung the trident around and managed to take off the leg of a suit. The hairs on the back of his neck bristled and with a roar of rage he spun the suit around, firing off the dragon arm at the same time. “Dishonorable cur!” he snapped. “No soldier worth the title would shoot a fellow soldier in the back!” The dragon arm struck its target, burying itself inside the chest of the suit and rendering it completely useless.

 

“Please. Lay down your weapons and surrender. I have no wish to harm you,” Quatre said as he tried to reason with the suits that surrounded him.

 

His pleas fell on deaf ears though, the shot from a beam rifle hitting Sandrock in the arm. With the lucky strike, the rest of the pilots took courage and opened fire.

 

Shaking his head, Quatre closed his eyes for a moment and sent a silent prayer to Allah to look after their souls. Eyes open once again and the `angel' image was gone. Teal eyes glowed with the mind set of battle, the warrior behind them all too familiar with what had to be done. Quatre focused on the enemy, Sandrock's hands bringing the shotels above his head and then striking down with them. The mecha spun and twisted in a deadly dance.

 

Heero was too preoccupied with his own attacking group to worry about what the others were doing. He was surrounded by suits, all of them pointing their beam rifles at him. His eyes hardened, a cold mask dropped into place and Heero raised his buster rifle. Taking aim, he shot two suits out of the satellite's `atmosphere'.

 

With the Gundams occupied in fighting the suits, a few other pilots had regrouped to attack the coordinates they had been given. Having witnessed the Gundams materializing before them, they no longer doubted that there was something there.

 

“Gold squad, form up and prepare to fire.”

 

The suits all scrambled to form a semi circle around the coordinates. Rifles were aimed at the one spot, the weapons all charged and ready to fire.

 

“On my call,” the gold leader instructed.

 

The air before them moved subtly and then there was a huge, black mecha with glowing green eyes between them and their target.

 

“Oh shit,” said the gold leader, a few of his squad taking the statement literally.

 

Duo raised the thermal scythe, paused for a moment and closed his eyes to say a silent prayer for the ones he was about to destroy. Purple fire shone in those normally amethyst depths as Duo let his alter ego come through to allow him to do what he had to. “Prepare to meet your maker,” he cried and launched the black mecha forward, scythe slicing through the air.

 

The gold squadron scattered, breaking their formation as they did their best to evade the thermal weapon but still get a few shots in themselves.

 

The blue squadron leader panted as he fought his suit, doing his best to dodge the shotels and bring the suit around to take a shot at the gold and black Gundam. He was exhausted from the battle and knew his squad wasn't much better off. He flipped the switch to the comm unit and yelled into it, “Switch to doll mode. All suits switch to doll mode!”

 

Around him, those suits that were still fighting heard the order and instantly did their best to activate the doll mode of the suits.

 

The Gundam pilots also heard the order.

 

Duo could only pray and hope the codes he'd embedded would do what the professor said they would.

 

Having activated the switch, the blue squadron leader pushed deep into his seat and relaxed his arms, looking forward to the break he would get to recover some of his energy whilst the machine took over.

 

All around, other pilots were similarly relaxing a touch, grateful for the break to be able to re-energize themselves.

 

The computers took over, data running through the systems and engaging with the doll program. The codes Duo had installed awoke and began to run through the computer banks of the suits.

 

Within seconds all the suits appeared to `stall'.

 

“What the hell?” screamed the blue leader and punched the doll mode button again. The suit remained unresponsive. “Fuck!” he growled and grabbed the controls, a relieved sigh escaping his lips as the suit began to move again. Around him, other pilots were also discovering their doll mode wasn't functioning and the airwaves were thick with the cries and exclamations of many pilots.

 

“The doll program isn't working!”

 

“The suits aren't going into doll mode!” were some of the frantic calls.

 

“All pilots listen up. The doll mode has obviously suffered from a glitch. Switch back to pilot only, repeat: switch back to pilot only!”

 

An evil chuckle came down the communications lines. “I guess the coding worked.”

 

“It sure looks like it,” Quatre replied.

 

“Excellent work, Duo,” Heero praised.

 

“Thank you, Maxwell. This should make quite the difference, combat on an equal footing.”

 

“I hate to break up the party, but don't you think we should do something about these remaining suits?” Trowa interrupted. “It would be a shame to let all of Duo's hard work go to waste.”

 

“Ain't that the truth.” Duo gave a loud war cry and spun Deathscythe around, slicing through a suit with the thermal blade.

 

Inside the shuttle, Zechs was sweating, watching the dramas unfolding before him. The Gundams were completely engaged in battle and the shuttle shook from time to time with the force of the explosions going on around it. Sapphire eyes darted everywhere as Zechs did his best to keep an eye on his enemy should one be able to try and take the shuttle out.

 

Then the unthinkable happened.

 

With the Gundams occupied in taking down as many suits as they could, the gold leader saw a chance and took it. A couple of his team noted his movements and joined him. The three suits managed to get behind Deathscythe whilst Duo was under attack from several mecha. They homed in on the coordinates and raised their rifles.

 

“Fire!” yelled the gold leader.

 

All three suits fired as one.

 

Zechs saw the incoming beam and grasped his own controls tightly. He swung the rifles around but didn't get the chance to activate them before the beam hit.

 

The shuttle rocked on its very axis, sparks flying from the console as Zechs yanked the visor of his helmet up and grappled with the fire extinguisher. The force of the strike moved the shuttle slightly and the tentative touch the wing tip had with the other shuttle was broken.

 

The transport shuttle began to shimmer and appear.

 

Zechs managed to get the situation under control, checking the console quickly to see what he still had available to him. Noting the rifles were still up and running, He pulled the visor back down, grasped the controls again and swung the rifles around. With a roar, he let fly with a volley of shots.

 

“Yes!” crowed the gold leader as the beams all seemed to hit something. That something began to materialize before their eyes.

 

“It's a fucking shuttle,” exclaimed one.

 

“Go to the top of the class, idiot. Of course it's a shuttle,” the gold leader snapped. “What did you think it was? The fucking tooth fairy?”

 

The pilot promptly shut up.

 

“It's a Preventer shuttle,” cried the other pilot.

 

“Preventers?” the gold leader questioned and moved his suit slightly. There, emblazoned on the side of the shuttle was the Preventer logo. “Shit! Take it out!” he yelled down the comm link.

 

The three began to power their beam rifles again, ready to fire another round at the shuttle. Before the rifles could fully charge, the gold leader spotted something from the corner of his eye.

 

“Shit, take evasive action, that shuttle is armed!” he cried out as the rifles on the shuttle turned to lock onto their target.

 

“Oh, crap,” muttered one pilot as one of the beams from the shuttle rifle hit his suit hard. He grasped the controls, desperately trying to bring the suit back under control, but the beam had hit in the suit's most vulnerable spot; the power cells.

 

The suit didn't respond and the pilot felt himself plummeting to the satellite's surface.

 

The other two watched in horror as their comrade connected with the surface, the suit managing to survive the impact but completely out of commission.

 

With an angry cry, the gold leader turned his now fully charged rifle back to the shuttle and opened fire, the other suit joining in seconds later.

 

Zechs returned the fire as best he could.

 

*

 

In the control room, Barton continued to watch the battle taking place, Craven monitoring the air waves. He was quietly confident that his suits would overpower the Gundams, regardless of how good they were, he had the sheer weight of numbers on his side.

 

So far it looked a pretty even fight though and Barton knew the skills his pilots had were not up to the standard of the Gundam pilots. “Why the fuck don't they switch to doll mode?” he muttered.

 

Craven overheard his boss and turned to the other man. “Shall I tell them to switch to the doll mode, sir?”

 

“I think you'd better. If we wait for them to think of it themselves there won't be any suits left to change over,” Barton sneered.

 

Just as Craven was about to tell the suit pilots to switch over to the doll mode, the blue squadron leader's voice came over the comm unit, ordering all the pilots to switch their suits over.

 

Barton heard the call and watched the screen intently. “Now we should really see some action,” he said as his eyes glittered.

 

The rest of the people in the control room watched with baited breath as the suits prepared to switch over.

 

The suits all seemed to freeze and hang in the air.

 

“What the hell?” Barton exclaimed when the suits didn't move after a few seconds. “The doll mode should have kicked in by now.”

 

“I think we have a problem,” Craven mumbled to himself. “Pilots, report. What is happening?” he asked.

 

“Craven?! What is going on?” Barton barked.

 

“I'm not completely sure, sir,” Craven replied.

 

Before Craven could question the pilots on what the problem was, several panicked voices came down the comm lines.

 

“The doll mode isn't working.”

 

“What the fuck is happening?”

 

“ I can't get the doll mode to engage!”

 

“It would appear the doll program isn't working, sir,” Craven muttered and then winced as the verbal blows rained down on him.

 

“I can hear that for myself, Craven! I want to know why the doll program isn't working.”

 

“Ah, yes sir, I`ll get right onto it,” Craven mumbled and pulled out the keyboard.

 

“How can the doll program not be working?” Barton asked Zaheer.

 

Zaheer shrugged his shoulders. “I have no idea, but I did say it was a bad idea to have that Maxwell working on the programming.”

 

Maxwell.

 

Barton felt the rage building up inside him. He spun around. “I want to know who was the person watching Maxwell whilst he programmed the suits,” he snapped to Zaheer.

 

Thinking back through his mind, Zaheer replied. “I think Young and Tewson were two of the ones that guarded him. I'm not sure if Patterson or Matthews did.”

 

“That bastard has done something to the suit programming,” Barton yelled. “I want to know what and how he did it!”

 

“And just how am I expected to find that out?” Zaheer stated. “I don't have a crystal ball and I wasn't one of the people to watch him. Even you, yourself checked the programming once the suits were finished and there was no sign of Maxwell having done anything then.”

 

Barton's anger was beginning to get the better of him. “Get Hawkins there to go through the programming and find out what Maxwell did,” he said through gritted teeth. “And you'd better pray he finds what it is, I'm not feeling very charitable right now.”

 

Noting the clouded expression, Zaheer thought he'd better do as asked and moved to the corner of the control room and Hawkins.

 

*

 

Having disposed of another suit, Duo twirled the scythe in his hand and turned the mecha around. He froze momentarily as he spotted the decimated suit, the other suits, and now visible shuttle. “Fuck!”

 

“Duo?” came Heero's voice.

 

“It's okay, Heero. A couple of suits have managed to get a few lucky shots in and the shuttle is now visible. Don't know what the damage is to it, but Zechs is returning fire. I need to assist him, there's too many for him to take out by himself.”

 

Heero took a moment to look across to where his lover was fighting, noting the number of suits still attacking Deathscythe. “Any of you other pilots able to assist Duo?” Heero asked down the comm link.

 

“Negative,” came Quatre's reply. “I've got too many here to handle.”

 

“Unable to assist at the moment,” Wufei said.

 

“Ah, shit. That fucking hurt,” Trowa said as Heavyarms took a shot to the chest. “I'm a little too occupied right now. Take that you bastard.”

 

Heero caught the explosion of the suit that had dared to hit Heavyarms.

 

“Sorry, Duo. You're on your own right now. Will try to assist you as soon as I can.” Heero swung Wing around and took out another suit.

 

“No problem,” Duo replied. “I work better when under pressure,” he snickered. A loud `whoop' was heard followed by; “I hope you all have a good health plan or funeral plan, you're gonna need it!”

 

The black suit spun, swinging the scythe and cutting through a couple of suits as Duo aimed for the ones harassing Zechs. The suits that had been attacking him were hot on his heels.

 

~ * ~

 

tbc...