PHASE-3: Unexpected Friends!

Not far from the battle brewing between the under-gunned Clyne Faction and an overpowering ZAFT reserve fleet, a pair of Mobile Suits sat looking over the battle. One was red while the other was blue. These two were the Gundams Red Frame and Blue Frame Second L being piloted by the cocky Junk Tech Lowe Gear and the mercenary Gai Murakumo the leader of the famed Serpent Tail Mercenaries respectively. Currently the Junk Tech Lowe who had previous contact with the besieged Clyne Faction was inching to get out and help, but the Mercenary Gai wouldn't let the poor Tech to do anything but wait. At least till their reinforcements arrived, for Gai had been hired to protect a Top Secret Base located at Lagrange Point 3 under the employ of the Orb Union. While his fellow Junk Techs had left behind Lowe while they went on another mission, so he had decided to stay with the moody Coordinator Gai.

"You know Gai I have really tired of watching this, I know we have reinforcements coming from the Tsumugari but the Clyne Faction doesn't know that," Lowe said in his usual cocky altitude. Gai sighed in annoyance as he started to open his mouth to say no once more when Lowe let out a loud shout and took off towards the battle. Gai cursed and fired off another message to his ship the Orb Battleship Tsumugari that was assigned to protect the Base in which he was suppose to protect. Suddenly two things happened at the same time, one he got a reply back from the ship in the matter of seconds, while the other was that his sensors beeped announcing something approaching. Confused he turned to see the Tsumugari herself heading towards the battle with Lohengrins and Gottfrieds deployed ready to fire.

"Mister Gai, if you be so kind to get out of the way of our cannons if you please," came the voice of the Tsumugari 's commander Colonel Nathan Roberts over the radio.

"Sir all units ready for your orders," said another voice right on the heels of the Colonel, this one was 1st Lieutenant Shin Kiga the senior Astray pilot aboard the Tsumugari. Gai grunted and turned his head to see eight MBF-M1A Astrays waiting for his orders. Gai nodded and detached his Gundam's Beam Rifle from its recharge rack.

"Alright then Lieutenant let's go," he ordered engaging his thrusters and took off after Lowe who had stopped when the Tsumugari made her appearance, the eight Astrays followed. Gai allowed himself a grin as they approached the battle for he too believed in what the Clyne Faction was fighting for.

---

Murrue Ramius watched as the battle heat up with the two young girls of Lacus Clyne and Cagille Yula Attha. The Clyne Faction pilots fought very well, but the large numbers of ZAFT Mobile Suits and the far more powerful ZAFT ships where taking a toll on the Clyne Faction. Murrue could see that Lacus was silently crying as the last Moebius Mobile Armor exploded in front of the bridge. Murrue closed her eyes against the harsh light of the explosion and seeing the young girl like this. She really hoped that the rest of the Clyne Faction would get here and soon. As if to answer that call a powerful light of plasma soured through space from the other side of the battle spearing one of the ZAFT ships right through the middle. The battle all out stopped as the Laurasia stopped firing and just sat there silent before suddenly exploding. Murrue and the rest of the Archangel bridge crew looked in awe at the explosion before snapping out of it just in time to see ten new Mobile Suits throw themselves into the battle.

"Where the heck did that attack come from, and what are those Mobile Suits?" she asked her crew scrambled to find that very same answer. However someone beat them the punch as they where hailed.

"Clyne Faction this the Orb Battleship Tsumugari ready to assist you," came a voice only reply over the radio. The bridge crew's jaws as one dropped to the floor, Cagille was even more surprised then the others for she had heard myths about the secret sixth Izumo Class ship Tsumugari but never thought it was possible that it was real.

"Captain, ship silhouette confirmed as an Izumo Class Battleship, and eight of the new Mobile Suits are identified as MBF-M1A Astrays, however the last two are the Red Frame and the Blue Frame Astrays," one of the CIC crew reported. Cagille's surprise doubled for she had met the Red Frame pilot once in Orb and later during the last days of the war when he and his crew supplied the Clyne Faction with supplies. It looked like this was one of many surprises that the Clyne Faction would go through this day.

---

Jeremy Maxwell was not a happy camper first the trap planned to take out the Clyne Faction had failed then it fell to him clean up the Natural's mess. However he knew that he would need there help if they where to survive. With a sigh the man leaned back in his chair as he listened to the other peace party members bickering with each other. Thankfully his communicator beeped rescuing him from this hell hole. Sighing with relief he brought the tiny unit to his mouth.

"Yes what is it?" he asked whoever decided to call him during this very important meeting, not that he care any about it.

"Sir the Orion has returned," an officer aboard his Nazca Class ship reported, however the young man did not sound too happy to be relaying the news. This made Maxwell very wary of what had happened to warrant such a response from the officer and so his smile had disappeared.

"Well what happened, did they destroy the Clyne Faction or not?" he inquired dreading the answer to come. He briefly heard some further talk on the other end of the radio, but he ignored it as he waited for the response.

"No sir, our forces where slaughtered, and sir the Orion was the only one to make it back but with major damage. Also only three GINNS and one of the CGUE Deep Arms made it back as well. Also sir the Orion reported that they had the battle well in hand when another ship leapt into the fray destroying the other two ships single handedly and it's MS forces slaughtered our GINNs, also they manage to report that it was a Izumo Class but not the Kusanagi sir" another voice replied which Maxwell knew was the Captain of the Nazca Class. Jeremy upon hearing this went pale, for he had not even thought it could have been this bad. He then thanked the Captain and ordered him to finish repairs before getting ready to leave for PLANTs, before he looked up at the other people in the room.

"Excuse me I have some horrible news to report to you all," he said bringing the room to silence as everyone turned to look at him.

"I just received the report from the Orion the single surviving ship that I had sent to intercept the Clyne Faction, apparently they now have some new allies and I suggest we break up this meeting and meet up at a later time," Maxwell suggested to the shocked crowd of people before him, before they erupted in questions which surprised him. However he did his best to answer the questions and promising once more that he would see the downfall of the Clyne Faction. Little did he know that was not going to happen anytime soon.

---

The debris strewn area of space known as debris belt had witnessed many battles silently with the remains of the said battles joining the large debris belt. It now sat silently watching as another battle come to yet another bloody end leaving behind yet even more debris which soon joined the vast debris field leaving a testament, even some gravemarkers to those left behind to mourn over. Presently the victors and their rescuers cruised through the debris filled space that is the debris belt, hearts heavy with the thought of killing once more. However this time was different for they where not fighting merely to make a point and protecting both Earth and the PLANTs. This time they where fighting for their very lives. Aboard the Archangel the officers of the Clyne Faction meet their saviors. However Lowe Gear had already dragged off Kira saying that Kira owned him another one for saving his ass once again. Sighing Gai introduce the new officers to the veteran group of officers from the Clyne Faction. Some of the new officers where raw with excitement having finally managed to fight in a battle, thankfully their far more experienced fellow officers calmed them down enough. The commander of the "Sixth" Izumo Class Ship, was as mythical as his ship. For Nathan Roberts was once an Earth Alliance OMNI Enforcer Captain, during the first stages of the war. It was rumored that not only had he managed to capture an intact GINN, but somehow found out how to fly it. Not to mention he had perfected some sort of new tactic to destroy GINNs. However the man had disappeared, it was said that he was a Myth that Higher Up OMNI Officers created to raise the moral of their troops. Nevertheless it seemed that Roberts was indeed real and it brought many questions from Murrue and the other former EA Officers of the Clyne Faction. The colonel met them at the pass and started to tell his tale.

"Before you ask, yes I managed to steal a GINN, and managed to fly it," he paused a brief moment looking over his audience before launching himself back into his story.

"I am what is called a Half-Coordinator, many of my kind die before they are three thanks to their mixed genetics, or you could call us the experiments that failed. You see some embryos did not accept Coordinator modifications. So we happened to be born weaker then normal Coordinators, and so I only have the response time and the strength of a normal Coordinator. This allowed me to steal and fly the GINN, anyway back to the story my Natural family either hid my medical files or burned them before creating new ones. Fast forward a decade or two and so when I entered college I was approached by some men who where interested in my "Robot" that managed to get me the scholarship into college, for you see my family where very good design engineers, designing vehicles, later military vehicles, and finally mobile work pods. But I had chosen a different direction to go in then my family before it; I then created a three foot robot to prove a theory of mine. I will save you from the technical details but these people wanted to create a much larger version of my robot. So I agreed seeing my dream coming true before my eyes, what we created was the first Mobile Suit. I had created it in the first place to help in the construction of the new space colonies going in. However these men my so called partners had different ideas it was then they told me they where Coordinators and they intended to use it as a military weapon. I was at first devastated and then I turned my anger on the people who had lied to me. It was about this time that things started to heat up between Earth and the PLANTs. It was then that I joined the newly created OMNI Enforcer, thinking of bringing my creation down. It never happened like that, it was luck that I managed to have some sort of military blood in me giving the courage I needed and the detected leadership skill that quickly drove me up the ranks faster then I thought possible. Then "it" happened the first shot in this war, and I began to come up with a way to capture a GINN as war exploded between Coordinator and Natural. I also happened to fall into command of a group of 250meter Class Warships called by the military the 124th Battleship Group or just known as the Liberty Group named after my flagship Liberty," he paused briefly to catch his breath before launching himself back into his story.

"It was then that I started to come up with tactics to take out enemy GINNS a lot easier then ever before. However Blue Cosmos found out my secret and tried to kill me however a large portion of my crew saved me out of loyalty to a man who goes out his to keep them alive. We managed to capture the other two 250 meter ships and fled. About soon after this I was approached by a man named Terrence Marcellus the leader of the Marcellus family of the five noble families of Orb. He is also the leader of the Marcellus Shipyards, which are a subdivision of Morgenroete, his company and himself had a hand in the design of the Izumo Class Ships, even the Archangel Class," he stopped looking around at the ship in question, before resuming his story,

"His yards also designed and built the Aegis Ships that…. Excuse me had protected the shores of the country. He also had come up with the idea of the Astrays in the first place while he was not the man who had been talked into letting the EA build and design their G-Weapons on Orb Soil he was the one who had figured out what was going on and came up the three Astray Prototypes. Now excuse me back to my story here, well Mister Marcellus approached me when I was still running from the EA and gave me a deal. Let him and his men make myself and the men who had followed me disappear, then he would let me join the Orb Forces, along with my remaining men. As quickly as I joined the man had quickly placed me in the command of an Izumo Class one that no one else knew about. For she happened to built the same time as the Kusanagi and bore the same name as the Athha's new ship. One was built at the new Marcellus Yards at the main Morgenroete facilities at the Orb Mainland; the other was built the Primary Marcellus Shipyards –where all the other Izumo's where built- located at a secret facility in LaGrange Point 3 located inside one of the abandoned colonies there. The one built at Orb went on to become the Kusanagi, while the one built at the Secret Shipyard became the Tsumugari. Anyways after getting command of this ship I was given the mission of guarding the Primary Shipyard. So I went on to become dead in the mind of Blue Cosmos and the rest of the EA who knew I was real, while the rest thought I was a Myth. Now I need to mention that I am entirely loyal to Representative Marcellus for he got me out of quite a bind along with me men, however I equally loyal to Orb for that is the nation that Marcellus is part of and had shaped him to what he is today," he finished with a smile looking over his stunned audience in the main briefing room of the Archangel. Nodding to them he walked up to Cagille who was equally stunned as her friends.

"So Ms Athha… excuse me Princess Attha I am yours to command," he said as he bowed deeply to the blond haired princess of Orb who look at the man before her in shock and nodded politely to the man. Murrue finally shook off her shock and addressed the commander.

"Sir, so I guess we will make our way to your base then?" she asked with a frown wondering how they where going to get there without the EA or ZAFT seeing them.

"Yes, where we will regroup I have already sent a message to Colonel Kisaka. However I and Leonard Marcellus have come up with a plan that Miss Lacus and yourselves may want to hear," he responded with a smile mentioning the son of Terrence Marcellus. The gathered officers and leaders of the Clyne Faction nodded in understanding as they started to file out of the room sensing that the meeting was over, however they left with far more happiness then when they entered for their still might be hope left in this world for peace.

---

Behind the Earth's single satellite The Moon, a large station hovered in the area gravitational stability known as LaGrange Point 2 or L2 for short. This station is known as Halo to its creators the Earth Alliance. Once the station was an asteroid that had been towed to Earth Orbit when the colony building started however it then had been towed to its present location when it had served its purpose, now it happens to be the new Earth Forces Space Headquarters after the destruction of the Lunar base. Floating beside the station are large ship docks used for both building starships and repairing them. All of them where now currently occupied by damaged ships, even the massive docks of the station itself are overloaded with damaged ships. However other ships cruised through the packed space of L2. Standing next to the station was a fleet of ships receiving supplies from the station via shuttles before they moved on. In the fleet are a single Agamemnon-Class Flagship, three 250m-Class Battleships, five 130m-Class Escort Ships, and finally two of the new Zeus-Class Assault Cruisers. On the bridge of the single Flagship in the group, two men stood by the massive window guarding the ship's captain's quarters from the emptiness of space. One of these men happened to be Admiral Jacques the man who brought the crushed leadership of the Earth Alliance back on its feet. Next to the massive man was Rear Admiral Ryan Sutherland the nephew of the late Admiral William Sutherland. The twenty-three year old Admiral watched the fleet before him with hazel eyes, which hold an angry fire in them. For the newly promoted Admiral had just taken command of the Earth Forces Assault Battlegroup 58 which was given the mission of guarding Halo and its shipyards as the main fleet headed for battle. The BG 58 was the core of the newly created 9th Orbital Fleet, which happened to be only the ships gathered here before them.

The flagship they now stood on is of the new Jackson-Subclass of the Flagships, which only had two ships represented at the Battle of Jachin Due, one the Jackson herself was sunk by the GENESIS Weapon. While this one went on to become one of the few functional ships left after the battle. While other Agamemnon Ships where modified to be able to support Mobile Suits and able to launch them, the Jackson and her sisters where built with MS in mind. Also like the Noble Sub-Class, and the Hermes Sub-Class of the 250m-Class, and the 130m-Class ships the Jackson Sub-Class has a Mirage Colloid Generator. Unlike the Noble Sub-Class the Jackson does carry any technologies from the Archangel, for it was made to be a Carrier and flagship not a battleship. So the Jackson can carry ten Mobile Suits like it modified sisters of the late war type, however its hanger is not so crowded as them.

Sitting beside the large flagship where the two Zeus Assault Cruisers, which now held the attention of the two admirals. This class happened to be smaller and less expensive version of the Archangel Class. It has no Ablative Armor, and not as many weapons as the legendary ship. However it does have a Titan Siege Canon, a cheap version of the Archangel's Lohengrins located in its single 'leg'. Also the ship can has two Gottfrieds Canons located on the bottom and the top of the leg which like the Archangel are protected by covers when not in battle, further on the deck of the ship is a blister that hides a Valiant Linear Gun. Finally the ship can carry a total of eight MS, and a pair of Meobius Armors modified for scout work.

"Well Ryan I hope you bring us victory when ZAFT could not, thankfully the Clyne Faction ships are heavily damaged and their troops weary. So I better leave you to your command since it looks like your ships are almost ready for their journey," Jacques said as he placed his white officer cap back on his shaved head before starting to walk out.

"Thank you sir, and I promise I will bring victory back to the Earth Forces, and my uncle's death shall not be in vain," Ryan angrily stated with fire in his eyes. Jacques paused at the door and turned back to the other man before nodding at the other officer before leaving the room leaving the young man with his thoughts and the stars themselves. Outside Jacques rejoined his aide Captain Williams.

"Sir if may say sir we where damn lucky that some spy saletilles at Artemis happened to be still functioning to see the Faction pass by, and sir I don't think this glorified battlegroup can actually take on the faction for who knows what forces are hidden out there," he ranted, then flinched as he prepared for the outburst ahead but it did not come as he expected it to. Frowning he turned to his admiral looking at him with a sad face, something he had never seen before on this man's face.

"Captain do you believe that this war is over?" the Admiral asked once they where safely back in their own shuttle. Williams was caught by surprise by the question, since he had been wondering that ever since this particular war started

"Yes sir, I been wondering that very same question. However I then ask myself why did this war start it will only bring even more blood shed," he answered with a confused frown. He was in turn surprised at the sudden sad smile on his boss's face.

"You will understand it all in due time my boy, but keep this in mind I did not want this to happen, I don't want any more bloodshed on my hands however a man must do what he must," he replied with that same sad smile, before looking away from his aide and going back to his "mask" which told the younger man this discussion was very much over and will continue else where. Williams nodded in understanding and decided to inquire later on as the shuttle finally arrived at Jacques's flagship the Noble Class 250m Battleship Defiant, the third of her kind. Williams sighed aloud but knew that this bloodshed will not last and looked out the glass pane that comprised his seat's window at the stars beyond along them the Clyne Faction. He quietly prayed for their safety and their sanity in this coming battle.

---

Drifting through the numerous ruins of L3, a damaged colony sat peacefully out of view from either the Earth Alliance or ZAFT. However it may looked peaceful to some, others with far more experienced eyes would see that it was all a trick. The colony was not only operational but was now the home the Primary Shipyard of the Marcellus Shipyards. As the four ships of the Clyne Faction's Peace Envoy, and its single escorting warship appourching the colony a pair of heavily modified 250m Class Battleships meet them at the entrance of the debris cloud that the shipyard was hidden in.

"Approaching ships this is the Orb Battleship Liberty state your intentions or you will be fired upon," came the quick reply from the lead ship. The Tsumugari slowly pulled forward from her charges heading towards the two cleverly disguised warships which look almost like the debris around it not mention being painted in deep black.

"Liberty, this is the Tsumugari, transmitting codes and the codes of our guests," came the quick reply from Colonel Robert's himself.

"Roger Tsumugari codes are accepted, and welcome back sir," the Liberty replied with some relief in their voice.

"Thanks good to be home, have our other four guests arrived yet?" Robert's in turn asked the other ship's commander.

"Which ones sir?" the commander replied with confusion in his voice. A silence answered him as Robert's was confused as well.

"What do you mean Commander there should be only four guests," Robert's inquired in his best Commander's voice. A gulp could be heard over the line as the colonel's voice hit home; no one wanted to be at the other end of an angry officer especially their commander.

"Well sir they happened to be refugees from the Clyne Faction," the commander answered with some hesitation in his voice. On the bridge of the Tsumugari the colonel blinked as he tried to get what the other officer was saying before he finally got it.

"You mean from the PLANTs?" he asked as it started to become clear for the poor colonel. A sigh could be now heard over the channel as it became apparent that there would be no more yelling.

"Yes sir, one heavily damaged Laurasia Class and three Freighters, they where thrown out about the time that you went off sir," the relieved subordinate answered with a frown in his words.

"Alright what about the Eternal, the Kusanagi, and their Escorts?" asked another voice this one from the Archangel.

"Well they where the ones who brought in the Refugees in, and it turned out that the Eternal is heavily damaged as well," came the reply from the same officer. Lacus Clyne the one in asked the question closed her eyes in pain.

"Let's get this show back on the road before an Alliance patrol shows up," ordered Colonel Roberts and soon after the four ships sailed past the two sentries who soon went back to their positions.

---

Lieutenant Eric Anderson and his girlfriend Fiona Rose watched as the debris cleared to show the Shipyard in all of its pristine glory, the pair where finally managed to get some time to themselves. As the small fleet approached, other ships could be seen orbiting the Yard, which surprised the young couple for the way that Colonel Robert's was talking told them that only the colonel's former command and the Tsumugari where the only ships protecting the Yard. However the Kusanagi, two more Izumo Class Battleships, the other two Escort Ships and a few other ships where on station, with a few others occupied Yard slips. Through this the fleet sailed through into the already crowded space, of the Shipyard's Air Space.

"It's amazing it looks like Orb wasn't entirely destroyed in the Alliance's attack," Eric commented with awe as he witness a passing Astray patrol. However these where not like his own for they where like the ones who saved the Faction earlier.

"Yeah it is, so think we should get some sleep since we haven't managed to get any in the past two days," Fiona suggested with a smile. Eric surprised look down at the girl in his arms.

"So are you suggesting that we sleep together now then," Eric said with a raised eyebrow suggesting it anyways.

"Jerk! Yes for I am tired and I do believe your quarters are a lot closer then mine," Fiona answered with a slight blush coloring her cheeks, but not before she hit him lightly on the arm.

"Also don't get any bright ideas from this you hear," she said as they watched out of the observation room unnoticed by the other inhabitants, and bickering all the way their.

---

Cruising towards the unaware Shipyard was the Alliance Fleet gathered to put a stop to the Clyne Faction. Deep in the Flagship's MS deck the lone figure of Admiral Ryan Sutherland sat watching three more figures climbing down from their mechanical mounts.

"So gentlemen how are they?" the Admiral asked with a slight smile that could send shivers down any sane human's spine. However these three pilots could be considered not sane, in anyway.

"Well Admiral I know we can really kick some ass in these," answered one of the men. The other two just nodded in agreement to their partner's comment. Ryan nodded and looked at the Mobile Suits behind the men looking like they weren't even there for their deep black paint jobs hid them well in the darkened hanger. Also the trio had a familiar outline that just screamed powerful. Ryan then finally grinned and started to laugh in pure joy knowing was going to win this. The three cronies joined their boss in his laughter, giving a bad omen to things to come.

…tbc…

Well there we go the next chapter of Shadows of War... I kept forgetting that I had this done so I am dreadfully sorry for the delayed posting. Also it seems that Jaques is not the man he seems to be... snicker Also a cookie to the people who can figure out where I got the idea for the Kusanagi and Tusamagari being built under the same name. Finally both Eric and Fiona (And Adam as well) well get alot more screen time in the next chapter... they took a back stead in these first few because I wanted to show that the main character were not going to be left out. Also be prepared for a return of a SEED Character in the next chapter... heh heh...Also don't fret the next chapter shall also reveal the reason why the Tusamagari was where she was to save the Faction., and not to mention what happened the other part of the Faction... Okay enough fo this I am tottally going to give away my story here... Ummm what's this:

Adam: Yeah why do I have after the love birds? And in brackets no less!

DZ: Adam don't make me take away your cool ship I gave you! powers up portable Lohengrin Canon and points it at the Noble III

Adam: Please master don't! I promise not to be angry at you again! grovels at the feet of DZ

DZ: That's better! The Druggies appear in front of DZ

Druggies: Whats with corny copys of us!

DZ: Because even thought I hate you, I think you guys do rock a bit and please get out of here for you guys are suppose to be dead, and don't make me take away your meds! the Three Druggies crawl away groveling all the way

Shani: whisper He is no better then that bastred Azeral!

DZ: I heard that and if I hear that again I will send you with your old boss where all the bastreds go! Shani prompty shuts his mouth and takes off in fright for no one wants to go to the ninth ring of hell

DZ: Good! Much better! Now to get ready for the next chapter! And till then I say good night and I shall be back!