2023-02-02: The Destruction of Origin

• Log: The Destruction of Origin
• Cast: Rau Le Creuset, Asciel Colette, Yurika Misumaru, Eight York, Arriety Hearn, Rena Lancaster, Rita Bernal, Ryoko Subaru, Koji Kabuto, Riika Sheder, Naoko Suzuki, Natarle Badgiruel, Ruri Hoshino, Treize Khushrenada, Hikaru Amano, Puru Two, Anita Rosetta, BC-001 Minae, Lucine Azul, Liam 7-020, Romilly Draid
• Where: Side 2 - PLANTs
• OOC - IC Date: 0097-02-02
• Summary: A combined assault from the Federation, Three Ships Alliance and rogue ZAFT elements enact a plan to bring an end to the superweapon known as GENESIS, bringing an end to this bloody chapter of war.

---

<Pose Tracker> Rau Le Creuset has posed.

        "All systems checks are reporting green."
        "There has been no significant damage from the Federation attacks."
        "Defense fleet strength is down to fifty eight percent."
        "Several active vessels are failing to report in."
        "Alignment mirror repositioning is in the final stage."
        "Nuclear cartridge is loaded and ready for firing."
        "The Federation fleet is showing signs of moving again."

        "They're coming." Patrick Zala muses as the numerous operators in the
 Jachin Due command center give their reports. In his seat at the top of the
 large room, Zala stares firmly at the screens showing the status of the
 GENESIS superweapon.

        "Did you expect them to just give up?" Asks Rau Le Creuset, standing
 behind the PLANTs Supreme Council Chairman.

        "We showed them the power of GENESIS. It's foolhardy for them to
 continue opposing us." Counters Zala.

        "It's in their nature to fear that which is different. And destroy that
 which they fear." Rau explains. He then asks, "Are you going to fire it again?"

        Zala hmphs, "They've failed to heed the warning. There's no longer any
 need to hold back."

        Rau smiles, "Understood. Then I shall go out now to protect the weapon
 from their inevitable attack." Rau turns, pushing off to slowly float towards
 the command center's exit.

        Zala grunts at the man's leaving, "I'm relying on you. We can't afford
 to fail... Not now, when we're so close to the new world we've been dreaming
 of."

        Rau chuckles in response, "Indeed... A new beginning." Rau makes his
 way through the door to leave, passing by a nondescript ZAFT officer on the
 way who salutes him. Rau glances at the man for a moment, before saluting back
 and then continuing on towards the hangar.

        ----

        It's been roughly twenty four hours since GENESIS was first revealed
 and fired. Twenty four hours since all three sides temporarily pulled back to
 regroup and consider the situation.

        During that time, a few Federation strike teams have attempted to
 engage the superweapon and it's defenses, but weapons fire proved considerably
 ineffective against it. The attempts were not in vain though as each attempt
 revealed more information about what it is they were facing.

        And thanks to a rather informative Explanation from some strange woman,
 there is now a clearer understanding of what needs to be done: A two pronged
 strike. One each against the exterior and interior of the weapon. Already the
 Federation fleets are beginning to move forward again to engage, attempting to
 put the plan into action.

        ZAFT's defense force has clustered primarily around Jachin Due and
 GENESIS. Its numbers have been reduced by the previous day's battle, so its
 formations are looking a little unstable. Plus some of its forces don't seem
 fully committed.

        Of course, having been in the path of the first shot from GENESIS, the
 Federation's fleets are in little better shape. As it stands, it could prove
 difficult for them to break through to the weapon.

        That is until an open comm comes in from a ZAFT vessel, <"Attention all
 forces. We can no longer stand by as our leaders take us down the path of
 mutual destruction! We condemn the actions of Chairman Zala and those
 supporting him and so will fight alongside the Clyne Faction and its allies!">

        Several ZAFT vessels and their mobile weapon teams begin to turn away
 from the Federation fleets and now instead towards the GENESIS weapon.

        <"TRAITORS! You would spit on all the lives that the Naturals have
 taken!? You're no better than they are!"> Some of the other nearby ZAFT
 vessels also begin to turn, now towards the previous group. Weapons fire
 quickly erupts between both ZAFT groups. An unfortunate affair, to see
 comrades in arms fighting each other. But this creates a break in ZAFT's lines
 that presents an opportunity to push through and make for GENESIS.

        GENESIS itself looms largely. Not quite the size of a colony, it's
 still quite the sight. The alignment mirror can be seen moving into place, a
 number of ZAFT forces defending it.

        But that is not the objective today.

        The point outlined in the plan is closer towards the rear of the
 structure, where several of ZAFT's Nazca-class vessels float, ready to engage
 any who get close. While it won't be necessary to destroy them, it's going to
 take more than one barrage to break through the defense layers and hit the
 generators beneath. So doing so without also engaging the Nazcas would prove
 extremely difficult.

        As for the interior team, there are a few access points that lead into
 the structure and they are thankfully not too heavily reinforced. The shafts
 are too small for warships, most mobile weapons should be able to fit. And
 based on the schematics provided, they lead to a large open chamber within
 where the main target is.

        However... As predicted, the weapon's interior is not completely
 undefended.

        Those who are sensitive to such things will be the first to notice the
 single individual within the detonation chamber. For those who were at the
 last battle, it's a familiar presence.

        Everyone else though will quickly learn of it too as they arrive inside
 the very roomy, spherical cavern that is the detonation chamber. Hundreds of
 panels line the walls, while the primary emitter indicated in the plans
 provided sticks out, ready to fire the concentrated beam of gathered gamma
 radiation.

        And there, floating near the center of the chamber, the Gundam that
 first showed up in the prior battle. The one which thoroughly defeated the Ra
 Mari II and its team. The one piloted by ZAFT's infamous ace, Rau Le Creuset.

        The ZGMF-X13A Providence Gundam.

<Pose Tracker> Asciel Colette has posed.

>It's unforgivable. It's unforgiveable.

>It's proof of everything I have held so close.

>GENESIS. Something designed from the foolish notion that humanity must expand
 to the stars, even if it is built upon a pyramid made of the very human
 suffering spurring on that desire to escape. The dream itself would burn most
 of humanity as fuel.

>And in the process, 'hope' for the future becomes so immense that it holds
 equal potential to simply be used as a weapon on its own terms.

>The [spiral] is that great destruction serves as the foundation for even
 greater hope - but greater hope plants the seeds of even greater destruction.
 A plant that cannibalizes itself to grow taller.

>EXCEPT FOR THE PART WHERE YOU'D DEVOUR YOURSELF TO ASHES - AND WHAT HOPE WOULD
 EVEN GROW THERE!? IT'S NOT. FUCKING. SUSTAINABLE. THIS IS WHY YOU NEED ME
 AND IF YOU THOUGHT ABOUT IT FOR FIVE MINUTES YOU'D REALIZE IT! THIS IS WHY I
 HAVE TO GO TO RIDICULOUS LENGTHS LIKE THIS FOR ALL OF YOU!!!

        Something has to be done. At least one thing can be done. And Asciel
 Colette knows she would never live it down if she stood idly by and watched
 the destruction of the Earth. The Macross 13 launches - half ready, half
 blaring in alarms - but rocketing towards the site of Jachin Due all the same.
 A grand titan that soars just outside of the edges of the skirmish - an
 instrument of judgment in its hand. Just barely visible atop the Macross
 Cannon, aimed towards the assembling forces of ZAFT - a single cyan Arm Slave
 into which Asciel's core is installed perches...countless wires and tubes
 hastily arranged to embed her light-emitting 'heart' - the Lambda Driver -
 into the overwhelming output of the particle reactor.

                "I exist for the sake of an endless today."

        The Lambda Driver burns - and burns - and burns. Linking its willpower
 of miracles to the fire which ignites beneath - mixing the two in a tangle of
 encoiling luminous serpents. Hair fluttering. Sunlight glimmering in Asciel's
 eyes. Her mouth parts gently with each word - but each word calls openly.
 Perhaps someone will hear. Nobody has to - because all that's important is
 that she says it, with all her heart.

                "I exist to defend my oath to this planet."

        She erupts into blazing sunfire - her entire body glowing with sizzling
 heat, hair starting to glow a stark, blinding white. <It's not enough.>

                "I exist to save humanity from itself!"
                "I exist to be an invincible aegis of Earth!"
                "I EXIST TO PURGE THE WORLD OF ITS AGONY!"
                "I EXIST TO ACCEPT EVERY PERSON'S QUESTIONS!!!"
                "I EXIST TO HOLD EVERY ANSWER!!!!!"

        The heat is searing - blinding brighter with every proclamation. It
 shimmers like a rainbow - every color of prismatic light surging like a
 volcano. As much as possible all shifts downwards. Towards the starlight -
 aimed at the cloud of ZAFT's defenders guarding GENESIS from opposition.

                "I EXIST TO BECOME AN ENDLESS MIRACLE!!!!!"
                "I EXIST AS THE GUARDIAN WHOSE SPEAR IS THE DAWNLIGHT!!!!!!!!"

                        ~~~IRIDA DAYBREAK PARTHENOS!!~~

        A swirling, twisting, coiling <rainbow> blazes across space - so
 determined to sear at the formation of Nazca-class vessels and blaze a path
 for everyone else, that the light never fizzles out - never gives in, never
 ceases, like the arm of a supernova that would unleash untold destruction to
 forge a solar system anew.

        --it is all Asciel has to give. It merely screams amidst the chorus of
 firepower turning this mote of space into a crucible of hell, before finally -
 once every bit of starlight has passed its destination - it finally quiets.

        The source of this judgment vanishes from sensors - plummeting to the
 heart of the Pacific Ocean as far from notice as possible, engulfed in fire
 from the atmosphere - fire from its own expended heat. Fire breaking out from
 overloading the reactor so fiercely.

        "...this is the last time I leave it up to you to produce the miracle
 that will save the world, humanity."

        "Next time...I will destroy the very spiral which leads us to this
 peril. Forever."
Treize Khushrenada teleports in.

<Pose Tracker> Yurika Misumaru has posed.

        In some small way, Yurika Misumaru wonders if today would be so
 radically different, had last time, she devoted her all to stopping the
 nuclear warheads - if her decision would have changed the course of events
 such that GENESIS were never fired.

        But-

        It was already built before anyone there made their decisions, wasn't
 it?

        It was already prepared to fire so shortly after the destruction of
 Quintillus Five, wasn't it?

        Past the haze of her own responsibilities, with each splash of cold
 water over her face, Yurika Misumaru sees it. Or rather-

        -( There's something I don't see, happening behind these curtains. )-

        -( The people on each individual side of the war maybe don't even
 notice. Captain York may not have even felt it. I wonder if Miss Lacus has,
 and that's why she pushed so hard to join us. )-

        -( ...this feels like there was mutual preparation. Like what seems
 like the worst outcome for both parties was the best outcome for someone. It's
 too- )-

        -( Too perfect. It's a pitch perfect story for the history books. It's
 the ideal narrative of tragedy to weave to get everyone at each others'
 throats. It's what'd happen if you were trying to get everyone to hate each
 other. )-

        -( ...I don't think I'll be able to see just whose hand wants it this
 way. But whatever game is being played here - there's no world where the fate
 of the Earth is worth gambling that game on. ...right?! We're not being pulled
 by something super cosmic here, right?!! )-

                ( ( ( ~splash~ ) ) )

        If Captain Misumaru looked sick and queasy the other day, in the wake
 of the first half of this battle, there's a brighter shine in her eyes. A
 firmness in her step. At least now, it's clear what she has to do. It's clear
 to everyone what must be done today - and thanks to Inez's hard work and
 research, everyone has a better idea on just what they need to do if they want
 to stop this thing.

        "All hands - the Nadesico will be engaging with the enemy fleets to
 occupy the bulk of their defenders! Every one of you out there who plans to go
 inside that thing..." Yurika's hands clasp tightly together. A slight bit of
 worry pools up in the corners of her eyes. A deep breath in- "Everyone on
 Earth is raising their arms towards you. No matter what, we must not let
 GENESIS fire again! With our hopes and dreams by your side - please, don't
 give up in there!!!!!"

        With that, the Nadesico surges forward into the fray, the phalanx of
 Nazcas receiving an opening hailfire of missiles, sweat dripping down Yurika's
 forehead as she carefully pores over enemy formations, the gears in her head
 working to find openings in positioning and weaknesses that can be exploited...

KTS: Yurika Misumaru targets Mobile Weapon Team with Seeker Missile!
KTS: Yurika Misumaru has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> Eight York has posed.

The Ra Mari II was among the ships that pulled back. There were many
 repairs necessary from the battle against the Providence Gundam, though the
 damage was indeed possible to repair. Above all else, with the plan they have
 in mind, the engineers of the ship have ensured the capabilities of the
 Converging Spinal Beam Cannon.

Now, the ship is abuzz with activity. Rita Bernal's assistance buoyed the
 spirits of much of the crew; Eight York's leadership, and the leadership of
 her line officers, would see to the rest. Now, Eight sits in her command
 chair on the bridge, behind most of the bridge crew, where she can see all
 that they're doing. On the main screen ahead looms the GENESIS. In front of
 her, Enba Rezza directs operations throughout the ship; Gidon Kall mans
 Operations, Licia Chovan helms the ship, and another crewman operates as
 support for every station. Meanwhile, to her left and right, Astelian handles
 comms, and Kazama tactical.

The ship is ready. The plan is sound. It's time.

Within, the rounded corners of the artificial-seming structure of the bridge
 remains perched within the colossal, cavernous interior of the Zentradi
 warship. And the ship... is on the move, a red giant in space, dwarfing many
 of the other ships in place. The Three Ships' Alliance would not miss this
 battle.

And so they won't.

Eight's voice crackles to life on the radio. "Clyne faction forces. This is
 Captain Eight York of the Three Ships Alliance. Please accept our support."

And to her own pilots... "Everyone," Eight says over the radio to them, to
 Naoko and Anita, to Rena and Callisto. "This is a dangerous mission. But it's
 important. You all know that. Just know, too, that I have complete faith in
 all of you. Accomplish your mission. Stop the GENESIS. And come home safe."

"York, out."

Then, she narrows her eyes at the blockade ahead. "Chovan, keep us lively.
 Kazama... Clear us a path. Load missiles and fire at will."

"Yes, ma'am."

They don'te ven ahve their uniforms yet--but they are a crew, nonetheless.
 Eight's eyes remain on the viewscreen as missiles begin to pour off of the Ra
 Mari II, a set of basic shots to warn their way in and soften up the enemy.

"Go!"

KTS: Eight York has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
KTS: Eight York has activated the Attune Spirit Command.

<Pose Tracker> Arriety Hearn has posed.

        About seven months ago, following a harrowing battle in Torrington
 Base, Arriety Hearn was taken off-duty after suffering significant internal
 damage from the overuse of the Biosensor on her kaiju-incorporated mobile
 suit, the Myrmekes Zeta. Hospitalised for a few months, she was eventually
 discharged... and advised to not exacerbate her condition through further use
 of psycommu-style weaponry -- which meant that she left to return to civilan
 life...

        ... until last week, when word on the comms is that Arriety and the
 Myrmekes both suddenly disappeared.

        That was then, and this is now--

        The gleam of a booster bed's cruise-type verniers can be seen even
 before it arrives -- and the unmistakable psychic presence of... Arriety
 Hearn. As the figure approaches within radar distance, it's unmistakably the
 white Zeta Gundam that Arriety's been using throughout her stay with the Ra
 Mari, except...

        Except any biomechanical mutations it may have had is now... gone,
 leaving it as just a mobile suit. Inside, Arriety lowers her head and places
 her hand to her heart. "Myrme... I'm going to apply the lesson you taught me
 right now. Just watch."

        She flips the comms on.

        "... hailing Ra Mari II, hailing Nadesico, this is Arriety, do you
 copy? I'm going to provide backup," Arriety calls over the comms. "Minae
 picked my distress signal up and picked me up. It's a long story, but...
 right now..."

        The white Zeta Gundam alights on its verniers, hopping off the booster
 bed, which is carefully steered towards the nearest of the Nazca-class vessels
 -- and then it lifts its beam rifle up, firing at the last moment to utilise
 it and its enormous propellant tank as a makeshift explosive.

        Then, it descends on the Ra Mari II's dock. Arriety lifts her head,
 crimson eyes gleaming for a moment. "I want to protect the Home that you've
 all built with your hands."

KTS: Eight York targets Mobile Weapon Team with High-Power Missile Armament
 System - Basic Shot!

KTS: Eight York has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Arriety Hearn has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
KTS: Arriety Hearn targets Mobile Weapon Team with Beam Rifle Trick Shot!
KTS: Arriety Hearn has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.

The Gaia Gear Alpha screams -- well, silently, as it's space -- through the
 entry point that they located. In waverider mode, the white Mobile Suit moves
 along quickly. Rena Lancaster leans forward in the cockpit, her hands on the
 controls. The three-sixty display shows the long access tunnel that a number
 of Three Ships Alliance mobile weapons have taken.

Here, she can't see the Macross 13 or Asciel. She can feel it, though -- a
 sense of judgment. It sends a shudder down her spine. She doesn't know what it
 means.

She exhales, once. "I feel him ahead," she says. "All right, Kakapo Squadron,
 Nadesico Team, Riika... let's keep our eyes open. That's Rau Le Creuset ahead."

They break into the open spherical room.

The rematch -- not even a day late -- that Rena isn't sure she can win. She
 hits the controls -- and the arms and legs of the Gaia Gear Alpha unfold. The
 nose cone slips down; the head rises, and its two eyes flash green, as the
 head of it turns towards Rau.

"You don't have any right to do this!" she says. Right where they left off --
 right with the words that he said to her, last time. "One person can't decide
 the future of humanity alone!"

The white Mobile Suit lifts its hand -- and the beam rifle in it swings up.
 There is a glint off the barrel, before a golden bolt of light shoots out,
 hurtling for the Providence Gundam.

KTS: Rena Lancaster has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
KTS: Rena Lancaster targets Rau Le Creuset with Beam Rifle Shot!
KTS: Rena Lancaster has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> Rita Bernal has posed.

Atop the Ra Mari II, a beautiful golden bird perches, riding along with the
 ship. She must conserve her energy. This will be a trying few days. The images
 of Rita Bernal that have been attempting to help the crew of the Ra Mari II
 each give a little wave before vanishing, returning to their greater self.

Whole save for a single splinter, now, the Phenex stands as the GENESIS weapon
 comes into view. As a being disconnected from time, the battle plays out
 before her, blurring against the stars. Victory, defeat. Endless possibility.

The heroes of the living have assembled. The Phenex cannot change fate on her
 own, but she can help.

Do your best.

With those simple parting words, the Phenex lifts from the Ra Mari II and soars
 toward the weaponry. She's impossible to stop, darting between those who would
 block her way, trailing azure fire.

Making her way to the detonation chamber, the Phenex comes to a halt, hovering
 before Rau. There is no need to offer him guidance or warning. He's accepted
 his fate, as surely as he accepts the fate of all those he would kill with
 this weapon.

A weapon like this can't exist. The Phenex spreads her wings, launching the two
 shields that hover at her back. This fight is important, but she has to
 protect herself for what is yet to come.

A cautious strike to begin with, a singular shield sent racing toward the
 Providence Gundam.

KTS: Rita Bernal targets Rau Le Creuset with Phenex Kite Shield Strike!
KTS: Rita Bernal has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> Ryoko Subaru has posed.

Inez's words hung heavy in her mind. She remembers the last time Earth was
 threatened by something like this. She remembers she was on the wrong side.
 Not that the Federation was the right side. They just weren't the Geno-side.

...
...
...

"DAMNIT IZUMI!" Ryoko yells in her cockpit, rubbing the hair on both sides of
 her head, realizing she just punned in her own internal monologue.

"I HAVE DEFINITELY HUNG AROUND YOU FAR TOO LONG!"

Coughing into a fist, she flipped on the comms... and listens to Yurika, it
 was surprisingly inspirational...

"Captain..." She takes a breath, "Don't worry, we absolutely won't let that
 thing fire, no matter what." Putting her hands on the control globes, she
 announces- "Ryoko Subaru - Aestivalis - Launching!"

The catapult slides forward, and the Aestivalis Wing flies towards the internal
 passages of the super weapon, Ryoko talking to Hikaru, "Hey Hikaru... this
 is, pretty big isn't it? If..."

Pause.

"Ah what am I even saying!? Just remember what Inez said about the Phase Shift
 Armor. We may not be able to even scratch it without using our Distortion
 Field. So get ready for that!"

As they skirt the internal passages, Ryoko makes sharp turns, until they
 arrives at the spherical chamber. She may not feel the pressure beyond this
 vague stress...

... but she knows who it is from the last fight. "Rau Le Creuset...! And that
 Gundam of his is no joke... alright Hikaru, cover me, I'm going in."

The Aestivalis in the Zero G frame suddenly fires its thrusters, as it tries to
 keep moving at a flanking circle, as if anticipating his DRAGOONS, its knee
 armor opens, and she takes out a knife.

"<Hey Asshole! Do you think it's FUNNY what you're doing!?>"

She only strikes then, flipping out the knife like a switch blade flourish,
 before darting in, trying to drag it across the Providence Gundam's armor and
 DRIVE it in as deep as she can, before dragging it along - as if testing the
 waters against its armor.

"<Are you expecting to have a huge BELLY LAUGH over trying to fry the Earth!?>"

And once she has to the full extent possibly, she kicks at the Gundam to try
 and drag her knife back out of it.

KTS: Ryoko Subaru targets Rau Le Creuset with Rather Immediate Knife!
KTS: Ryoko Subaru has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Mobile Weapon Team successfully intercepts Yurika Misumaru's Seeker Missile

<Pose Tracker> Koji Kabuto has posed.

The dawn of ZAFT's new superweapon GENESIS has catalysed new action in the
 Photon Power Research Institute - an old hero, by now almost done with shaking
 off the rust of ten years' retirement, has stepped up to personally intercede
 in the misuse of the powers of devils and gods.

Unfortunately, the Londo Bell ship he'd reach out to for transportation has
 defected. Understandable, but it sure does complicate things for someone who
 hasn't built a network of dubious contacts to get in touch with them.

So his Ichinana, painted not in the neutral colours of the Photon Power Lab or
 the soft green of Londo Bell but, like his brother's, in the black and purple
 of its older brothers Z and Great, is kneeling on the Dominion's deployment
 lift as Koji suits up his reinforced, vacuum-sealed version of his guard suit,
 talking over the hangar intercom.

"I appreciate the lift, Captain Badgiruel. I'm sorry I can't bring something a
 little heavier, but the big guy - " Z, obviously "- was never designed for
 spaceflight." He pats the leg of the Ichinana. "Still, I know the MPMZ-17 is
 dependable. Hook me up with the intrusion team, I'll make sure they get out
 safe."

Swinging himself up to the cockpit as battle stations sound, he dons his
 fully-enclosed winged helmet, slotting the visor into place and letting the
 suit seals pressurise. "Koji Kabuto, Ichinana PPL-2. Maz - " he clears his
 throat, remembering he's not in company that would get it, and corrects
 himself: "Launching!"

In atmosphere, the Dominion's rail catapult would make a THUMP of displaced
 air. As it is, there's a flash of light and a photonic star burning towards
 the GENESIS, on an intercept course for the intrusion team's access point. The
 scrander pods stay unextended as Koji approaches - a narrower profile is going
 to be best for this.

A shining beam of incandescent iridescence falls upon the defense fleet in a
 cavalcade of destruction and the Ichinana's scientific instruments scream at
 the data they're picking up. Koji watches the source of the weapon fall away
 towards Earth as his Ichinana carries on, frowning. "Someone else is grasping
 at that power," he murmurs, saving his instruments' readings for further
 analysis.

He'll survive this. The promise he made before Tsutsujidai, and its
 fulfillment, demand it.

At the sight of the Gundam standing against them, Koji frowns behind his visor,
 and his Ichinana takes a defensive posture, one hand drawing its machine gun
 and the other drawing out a heavy hilt. A beam saber? No - slats of sharpened
 metal snap out of the hilt, a Mazinger Blade unfolding as he rests it atop the
 Ichinana's shoulder. He picks up Rena's identification, flashing the
 Ichinana's visor green in acknowledgment, and speaks. "Rau Le Creuset. Get out
 of the way. Dying to protect a weapon like this is a fate nobody should face."
 A futile kindness, he knows, but it's one he has to offer anyway. The
 Ichinana's chest array illuminates to that signature, striking red as the
 machine comes to full battle-readiness.

"And if you won't, we'll go right through you." Left hand pulls the trigger,
 spraying bullets towards the Providence Gundam.
Cornelia li Britannia teleports in.

KTS: Koji Kabuto targets Rau Le Creuset with Ichinana MG Burst!
KTS: Koji Kabuto has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> Riika Sheder has posed.

After the disaster twenty-four hours ago (or just about), Riika - once she'd
 recovered and regathered her emotions - spent the majority of her time buried
 in work.

Going through the details of the Phase Shift Armour, as she had the most
 experience with the ZAFT-built versions of it, having been the one to test it,
 and plotting some of the complex math related to it - yes, Inez on the
 Nadesico was doing it, or having it done (Riika didn't know which), but she
 wanted to double-check and get confirmation.

Making last minute adjustments on Svalinn Gundam, including connecting the
 Feather system for its first deployment and making sure the *disconnect*
 system was ready to go.

And, of course, worrying. Lots of worrying.

She even found time to sleep for about three hours in there, near the end,
 which is better than she thought she'd do. She can sleep more when it's over;
 right now she has to be functional, and she's done more with less rest.

And now they're engaging. Putting that mad plan to work. Riika isn't entirely
 sure it's the best plan, but she does know it's the *only* plan. And that
 means she has to give it her full effort and determination. Otherwise the
 world is going to burn.

No pressure.

---

Svalinn Gundam has only ever been seen, by just about anyone off the Eternal,
 buried in the center of a METEOR unit. This time, it flies under its own power.

Svalinn has a Gundam-styled frame. Primarily a soft powder pink, accented in
 white and a very deep red and with the traditional golden V-crest, it has some
 touches that set it apart from other Gundams. The exterior armour plating is
 sleek and streamlined, giving it an aerodynamic look; it has flared shoulders
 and hips, giving it a different silhouette.

The reason for that silhouette is to accomodate additional exterior systems,
 like the flight system currently mounted on it. Connected across the back and
 locked partway around the waist, against those hips, Svalinn's Feather GUARD
 pack spreads its wings wide, burning thrusters, the wingtip beam guns
 currently still. She threatens to outpace the Ra Mari units and intentionally
 throttles back to not get there too much ahead of anyone else...

...but she's not *not* pulling ahead a little. This is, in some ways, her fight
 - and her fault. Both for letting a missile slip by when her own shots were
 shot down, and with Rau ahead... if she'd been better at investigating, or if
 she'd thought to cover her tracks instead of letting him find out what she was
 doing, she would have gotten proof before she was exiled from PLANTs under a
 death sentence.

Riika pulls up as soon as she clears the tunnels into the wider chamber,
 accelerating now that she has room to move. *Now* the wingtip beam guns begin
 to fire, taking shots aimed at Providence Gundam even as Riika maneuvers
 around.

He may not be expecting the voice he hears, if he still thinks she's dead.
 Riika doubts Shiho reported her, or if she did, it might not have had enough
 time to get to Rau. "Commander Creuset," Riika says. "Why? Why all this? I
 know what you did in Alaska - but I still don't know why!"

KTS: Riika Sheder targets Rau Le Creuset with IFP-F Mk2 Feather Launcher
 Wingtip Shot!

KTS: Riika Sheder has completed their actions for the round.
Ryoko Subaru has cancelled her attack.

KTS: Ryoko Subaru has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
KTS: Ryoko Subaru targets Rau Le Creuset with Rather Immediate Knife!
KTS: Ryoko Subaru has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> Naoko Suzuki has posed.

Naoko spent the better part of the last twenty-two hours repairing the
 extensive damage to her Sukeban, courtesy of the Providence Gundam. Her claims
 of being a Miracle Worker are easiest to prove in this particular area: within
 that time, she managed to make the Arm Slave look like new. Or, well. Like
 before. It still has that same shoddy arrangement of armor plating. But, as
 the keen observer may note - that arrangement is exactly the same as it was
 before. It was never a random patch job, she just meant it to look that way.

One thing she hasn't done is sleep. Well, a 20-minute power nap, but that was
 it. She couldn't possibly manage more in this situation. Especially after the
 communication from that woman in the lab coat, giving a long-winded (if
 fascinating) explanation about how boned Earth is if they don't do something
 about GENESIS.

...How did any of this even happen? Did her life really go from relaxed daily
 tinkering to helping to save the freaking world in about two weeks?? It seems
 insane, and yet, that's the only way this could go, after seeing - feeling
 what happened to Quintilis Five. She'd never forgive herself if she didn't do
 everything she could to help prevent another such tragedy.

At least this time, it isn't an unauthorized sortie. Naoko - as Nova Stellar -
 has been granted the official designation of Pilot for the Ra Mari II, and is
 properly joined up with the other of the Zentradi ship's pilots. The specifics
 of her status may need more discussion at a later time, but it suffices for
 general coordination purposes regarding this operation. It's all she needs
 right now. The other thing that's changed is that she's actually wearing a
 suit to protect from the void of space, something she really should have been
 wearing all along. ...She still isn't wearing the helmet, but it's nearby.
 It's fine, probably.

Like before, she starts off assuming a supporting role from the rear, busying
 herself with translating all the data provided by Inez into usable data for
 the mission. The data package that she eventually sends over to the other
 members of the Ra Mari team also happens to include data gathered from the
 battle with the Providence Gundam. She just... had a feeling it might come in
 handy. And sure enough, what is waiting for them once they enter the chamber...

"I knew it! It's that guy again! Be careful everybody!" After everything Rau
 said last time, there's no way he wouldn't be here. Naoko continues to hang
 back for the moment, carefully observing and considering her approach, in
 hopes of avoiding this ending as badly as it did last time.

KTS: Naoko Suzuki targets Rena Lancaster, Anita Rosetta, and Puru Two with
 Insight L1.

KTS: Naoko Suzuki has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Mobile Weapon Team fails to intercept Eight York's High-Power Missile
 Armament System - Basic Shot, taking 3850 damage!

<Pose Tracker> Natarle Badgiruel has posed.

Just twenty-four hours ago, Natarle had been arrayed against some of those
 fighting with her today.

But twenty-four hours ago, Natarle had witnessed one atrocity, and the birth of
 another.

So powder blue bastards be damned, the Dominion has no intention of prosecuting
 a war of extinction today. GENESIS will fall - Jachin Due may follow - and
 with any hope, the war will end...

But not for the sake of a blue and pure world. Just to make sure the world
 doesn't end today - that the people still living, on Earth and in space, see
 another tomorrow. As many tomorrows as it takes.

"GAT teams! If you can't get off the rail in 90 seconds, don't bother! Keep
 the decks clear unless you're using them! The Colonel and..." And she does
 have to check, for a moment, the other IFF request the Dominion has received
 in these last 24 hours. Fucking hell, really? Well - "Doctor Kabuto have
 launch priority! The rest of you will be screening the Dominion and our
 allies!"

The Dominion sweeps forward - only for an alarm to blare. Maneuvering
 thrusters flare, briefly cutting acceleration - as a sharp rainbow light
 slices a hole in the chaos ahead of the battleship. What in the goddamn?
 But Natarle just huffs, fixes her cap, and hammers at her terminal for
 updates... well. Whoever it was, they...

"We've got a hole. Weapons, I want an ongoing Valiant barrage on the provided
 mark! Tactical, I want time and position for a direct Lohengrin barrage on
 our primary objective! Secondary bridge, you're organizing GAT formations - I
 want our teams clearing that space before the ZAFT fleets can fill the gap!
 It's our clearest path to victory!"

The rail launchers pulse, pulse, and blaze with heat, maintenance crews
 spraying them with foam when the decks fold them back in, as two squadrons of
 Strike Daggers glitter into space... Sweeping down on the Nazca-class
 vessels, as the Dominion itself plows forward towards that Phase Shift
 generator, to shatter the defenses of this terrible weapon.

KTS: Natarle Badgiruel targets Mobile Weapon Team with MS Squadron Pincer
 Formation!

KTS: Natarle Badgiruel has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Naoko Suzuki shares insight with Rena Lancaster, making her next attacks
 more accurate!

<Pose Tracker> Ruri Hoshino has posed.

        Ruri Hoshino, systems operator, follows Yurika's orders. Omoikane, on
 the other hand, has his own ideas about what's right. Ryoko really ought to
 thank him, for that day... and Ruri's willingness to listen to him, too.

        So, too, the way she looks up -- eyes widening just so,
 blink-blink-blink, as the rainbow blazes out. /You're really a good person,
 aren't you..? It's okay. I won't let the Earth be destroyed, either./

        "Now targeting Nazca fleet," Ruri confirms, mildly, to Yurika's orders.

        She looks down, at her screens.

        "This is the Nadesico," she opens a communication window, to Arriety.
 "Acknowledging pilot support." Her communication band widens, as she adds:
 "Now transmitting targeting data to nearby allied units..."

        And it's Omoikane who pops up a communication window in Arriety's
 ship:

                                < WELCOME BACK >

        Ruri might have said the same thing, were this not a combat situation.

KTS: Ruri Hoshino targets Arriety Hearn, Eight York, and Natarle Badgiruel with
 Coordinate.

KTS: Ruri Hoshino has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: [Lucky] Anita Rosetta's Serious Mode activates, and luck goes her way!
KTS: Anita Rosetta successfully accepts Naoko Suzuki's Insight L1
KTS: Ruri Hoshino coordinates maneuvers, raising Arriety Hearn's Piloting!
KTS: Ruri Hoshino coordinates maneuvers, raising Natarle Badgiruel's Piloting!
KTS: Ruri Hoshino coordinates maneuvers, raising Eight York's Piloting!
KTS: Mobile Weapon Team fails to evade Arriety Hearn's Beam Rifle Trick Shot,
 taking 6000 damage!

KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Arriety Hearn's SEED activates, causing Insight L1!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Arriety Hearn's SEED activates, causing Jam L1!

<Pose Tracker> Treize Khushrenada has posed.

        Treize has had an eventful twenty four hours, he had taken to getting
 his hands dirty and had been helping to provide repairs to the battleship that
 he had been on since the GENESIS had been fired. As for what he did to the
 assholes who had decided that nuclear weapons were the answer, he had found
 storage compartments for them for now, and had perhaps orders those storage
 departments welded shut until the battle was over.

         As for Treize's Greif that had been effectively lit on fire in space
 by a golden gundam, it was still more charred then operational. In the end
 Treize couldn't bring himself to prioritize himself over the people of the
 Dominion, instead he had simply reserved a Taurus for the impennding battle.
 All this is probably inside the expected reactions of Treize during this
 incident, but the oddity is over that twenty four hour period he never reached
 out to the other ships. Other G-Hound members may have perhaps, but in the end
 he was just to ashamed to look Captain York and the other pilots in the face
 after Murata's betrayal.

         So instead he only hoped that perhaps his actions today would help him
 regain some of the honor that he loss, the Taurus launching from the Dominion
 in it's waverider form makint it's way through the GENESIS towards the reactor
 only to come across his opposite in this fight, Rau Le Creuset.

         As the Taurus shifts into it's suit form Treize opens the comms to
 Rau, feeling obligated to speak, <"Greetings to you Rau, as the representing
 leader of the federation, I feel indebted to offer you the same terms I was
 once given. Surrender now and allow us to pass and I will see to it that we
 can once again sit down and talk peacefully.">. In some way Treize is starting
 to see the board that Rau had placed them at after JOSH-A, and realize his
 role in it now.

         As for the others who have joined him he speaks them up to <" To those
 who don't trust me due to recent events, I can only apologize. After we have
 put this to a stop, you are welcome to come find me and we will sort it out.">

<Pose Tracker> Hikaru Amano has posed.

Twenty-four hours since GENESIS was revealed to the world - plenty of time to
 form at least some kind of plan (which mostly just involved listening to one
 of Inez's lectures), and plenty of time for one Hikaru Amano to regain her
 usual bouncy energy in full. "Roger, roger, Captain Yurika-chan~! Hikaru
 Aestivalis, launching!"

It's not nearly enough time for the mountainous task ahead of them: put a stop
 to the next firing of GENESIS. "Hey... if it's gonna end the world, why'd they
 call it GENESIS anyways?" Hikaru muses, as her orange Zero-G whirs onto the
 battlefield, headed along with the rest of the Nadesico pilots - and so many
 other mobile suits, super robots.. all kinds of them.

It feels like they're flying right into the belly of the beast - and Hikaru
 hears Ryoko's voice. "No ifs! Right? Let's do this...!" Hikaru maintains that
 cheery enthusiasm in her voice, no matter what stands in their way.

A comm from further away... Rena lets them know that's Rau le Creuset standing
 ahead of them, confirmed by Ryoko. And as she does, Ryoko charges immediately
 ahead with her immediate knife, counting on Hikaru for cover fire. "Don't
 worry, I didn't forget my gun this time... I won't let you down! Rapid rifle,
 pepper him up!" The rapid rifle is aimed... and fired!

She can't even begin to think what ridiculous motive this le Creuset guy must
 have, not turning back even when an entire squad gangs up on him... he must
 think he's a popular anime villain! "Geeeez... I can feel this guy's smug aura
 even from back here. I don't like it at all!" She asides to Ryoko.

KTS: Hikaru Amano targets Rau Le Creuset with Rabid Rifle!!
KTS: Hikaru Amano has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Mobile Weapon Team partially guards Natarle Badgiruel's MS Squadron Pincer
 Formation, taking 2520 damage!

KTS: Natarle Badgiruel begins a Formation attack!

<Pose Tracker> Puru Two has posed.

A black shadow flits through the inky backdrop of vacuum with nary a sound, in
 contrast to the boistrous announcements and shouted declarations pinging
 through the airwaves. They grow more crowded by the moment, and the background
 buzz of Human noise grows more intense with it. All the better to sneak
 through.

The girl at the controls scowls briefly. It's been one big series of stepping
 on rakes ever since they parted ways with the Federation. Just like the old
 days.

"Rena," muses Puru Two over their communications link. Even through the
 distortion and the flange of encoding, a wry streak shines through. "Men who
 think they have the world in their hands don't bother listening to anyone but
 themselves. Don't waste your breath."

The black Qubeley scythes through the night and forms up briefly on the Gaia
 Gear's flank. Its pilot pauses, as she feels another familiar presence
 suddenly blooming in the corner of her mind. The distant warmth of family,
 growing closer.

"Arriety...?" murmurs Puru Two, the Qubeley's head glancing to one side in
 response to its pilots wonder. Wasn't she--?

"Arriety, you're... here?" she reaches out, via
 talking-head-in-the-corner-radio. "Are you okay? You sound different..."

(-Focus-, girl, or you'll die.)

The Puru clone's attention snaps back to the matter at hand, as the mobile
 suit's sensors try to make sense of the looming threat ahead. The Providence
 Gundam. Against her, in the half-fixed remains of the Qubeley MK. II, cloak
 billowing in place of its missing arm. "I already evened the score with the
 last wretch who put hands on my family." she warns, spraying her attitude all
 over the open frequencies. Poor Yuliana, surely you're more in her memory than
 a wretch.

"Don't take it personal when I do the same to you."

The Qubeley points accusingly towards the Providence, moments before its
 thrusters fire in a complex pattern that practically kick it off course in a
 wide loop. A little readout informs the pilot of the ever-increasing
 transversal velocity between herself and Rau le Creuset's unholy weapon.

"Funnels, hunt this scum."

The broken Qubeley's cloak flares dramatically behind it as a wing of six
 Funnels rip from their berths and soar towards the Providence on a completely
 different trajectory. They occasionally spit neon flares of brilliance, lances
 of sunlight and beam-fire trying to force it to move, or be struck.
 Frustratingly, said Funnels are being piloted by a clever duck who weaves them
 in and out of support structures and other sensitive electronics. What a
 weasel.

KTS: Puru Two has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
KTS: Puru Two targets Rau Le Creuset with Qubeley MK-II Funnels - Velos
 Formation!

KTS: Puru Two has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Treize Khushrenada targets Rita Bernal, Riika Sheder, and Lucine Azul with
 Awe.

KTS: Treize Khushrenada has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Treize Khushrenada inspires awe, increasing Rita Bernal's Morale!
KTS: Treize Khushrenada inspires awe, increasing Lucine Azul's Morale!
KTS: Rau Le Creuset blocks Rena Lancaster's Beam Rifle Shot, taking 2100 damage!

<Pose Tracker> Anita Rosetta has posed.

Anita finds herself once again in the cockpit of the VF-25 Messiah Rosetta,
 freshly repaired after the battle with Rau. A daunting task lies ahead of them
 - the fate of the world lays in the balance.

But, Anita's okay. She exhales. They have to stop this. Failure isn't an
 option. She has a beach date to look forward to after this, after all. She
 can't have a beach date if there are no beaches left.

So, it's pretty simple. They have to succeed.

She hears Eight's voice over the radio and centers herself.

"Don't worry. We'll be just fine." Anita replies. "Anita Rosetta, launching."

The Messiah Rosetta soars out of the Ra Mari II, but as she does -

"Arriety?" Anita gasps in surprise - actual surprise, a rarity. A grin crosses
 over her face. "...We gotta catch up. I'll see you after this is all over!"

The VF accelerates, going at high-speeds in Fighter Mode - and once she reaches
 the destination, she notices someone.

...It's Rau Le Creuset. A frown crosses her face. ...She promises herself that
 this won't be a repeat of last time.

"This won't go the way you think. Just get out of the way and save us all the
 trouble." Anita says, opening up with a flurry of beam vulcan fire.

KTS: Anita Rosetta targets Rau Le Creuset with Beam Vulcans!
KTS: Anita Rosetta has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> BC-001 Minae has posed.

        Just a little while ago...

        Minae still isn't used to the silence of space, she thinks as she
 pilots a clunky little shuttle through a debris field and picks her way
 carefully both through glittering pieces of scrap metal and the errant
 thoughts she's trying to organize in her head.

        A lifetime ago - by her standards - she was capable of staring at a
 wall and passing the time with idle tasks, but the robot of today is a much
 more social person, and the lack of both physical and electronical chatter
 around her is somehow stifling. All she has out here are her own thoughts, and
 a deep-set nagging that she desperately hopes can pass for 'intuition'.

        One piece of debris catches her eye, the familiarity of it jarring her
 forwards into action. While its silhouette might be subtly different, when the
 lights of her shuttle sweep across it, the colour is unmistakable. Minae
 doesn't breathe, but she still lets out the metaphorical breath she'd been
 holding. With sudden and infinite care, she moves the shuttle in alongside the
 drifting Zeta Gundam.

        "... hey there," she smiles fondly over communications.

        * * *

        "I brought a friend!" comes Minae's call over the radio to the rest of
 the combined Ra Mari and Nadeisco crew, immediately after Arriety's
 declaration. The Zeta's connection to the Ra Mari II's systems suddenly
 explodes into life, as the mobile suit suddenly and abruptly gains a
 visualisation of the battlefield, projected flight paths of all units, and an
 over-accurate modelling of the Ra Mari II's bulk. Someone might be pushing
 themselves just a little in celebration, or maybe just sheer relief.

        She's not entirely sure about bringing Arriety to a battle quite so
 soon, and it shows in the way she glances over from her console every so often
 to keep watch on her pilot. Still, she can't deny the conviction in the young
 woman's eyes, and the part of her that can't let go of being the Kakapos
 'guardian' fills with pride.

        "It's really, really big. It might be hard to protect all of it on your
 own," she natters to fill the air instead, a faint grin tugging at her lips as
 her hands fly over the console and further enrich the tactical layout. "I
 don't think it's quite as cute as the first one, don't tell Eight, but I was
 easily bribed with a bigger office and comfier couches." Comms are still open,
 of course, because she's still got to extract some level of mischief as
 payment for returning from Tsutsujidai and having to rapidly catch up on
 everything she missed.

        The Phenex isn't on the readout at first, even when it spreads its
 wings to fly forwards. The robot hesitates just a little at the sight of it,
 her brow furrowing as she tries to feel for that sense of intuition once more.
 It's not exactly a blind spot - more that she's not quite sure she's seeing
 all of it at once. She settles for a ? on her radar.

        "Providing logistical support, please standby for area connection to
 mobile suits-- uh, it's been a while since I did this, so please don't mind if
 I'm a little rusty!" Minae adds, and as usual a little SD version of the
 green-haired robot pops up onto the screens of several of the Ra Mari's
 forces. Maybe in honour of it being the second Ra Mari, the small image is
 wearing the distinctive white and pink uniform even if Minae has yet to do so.

        * * *

        Behind the Zeta, the second-hand shuttle slowly putt-putt-putts its way
 back into the Ra Mari's docking bay. Good job, little shuttle.

KTS: BC-001 Minae has activated the Resupply Spirit Command targeting Arriety
 Hearn

KTS: BC-001 Minae has activated the Resupply Spirit Command targeting Puru Two
KTS: BC-001 Minae has activated the Resupply Spirit Command targeting Eight York
KTS: BC-001 Minae targets Eight York, Arriety Hearn, and Yurika Misumaru with
 Awe.

KTS: BC-001 Minae has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Rau Le Creuset's Physical Wall L3 activates, negating 3000 base damage.
KTS: Rau Le Creuset blocks Rita Bernal's Phenex Kite Shield Strike, taking 240
 damage!

KTS: BC-001 Minae inspires awe, increasing Eight York's Morale!
KTS: BC-001 Minae inspires awe, increasing Arriety Hearn's Morale!
KTS: Naoko Suzuki shares insight with Puru Two, making her next attacks more
 accurate!

KTS: Rau Le Creuset fails to react to Ryoko Subaru's Rather Immediate Knife,
 taking 3900 damage!

KTS: Ryoko Subaru has engaged Rau Le Creuset!

<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.

        Through one of those points flies the magenta and black form of the
 Dianthus, with Liam's Long Dagger following behind. < "This is Lucine Azul,
 from the Nadesico,"> Lucine identifies herself. < "Here to provide
 reinforcements. Ryoko, Hikaru.... I apologize for not being there earlier.
 But... I'm here now. And I've brought someone with me." > Her voice is calm,
 carrying none of her former timidness a little under a year ago. She even
 manages a smile over her video link.

        When Ryoko identifies the pilot of the Providence Gundam, Lucine
 flashes back her last encounter with the ace pilot, and how her thrill at
 battling the pilot had nearly ended with her death, if not for Rita and Ryoko.
 < "..... I don't understand. Why is he there? It's called the GENESIS, but I
 can't see the new beginning it promises being a good one." > Hikaru isn't the
 only one seeing irony in the name. < "Hikaru, don't let that attitude fool
 you. He nearly killed me last time. That's why Ryoko was yelling at me, a few
 weeks ago. ..... And why I was... running laps...." > She makes an ill face.

        Lucine's still going to try to talk. < ".... Rau le Creuset. I thought
 you fought for the people trampled by the Federation, during the Side 6
 battle. Why are you here, in front of the very weapon that destroyed an entire
 colony of Coordinators? This is beyond rooting out widespread corruption." >
 It's not the first time Rau has gotten this question. < "If this weapon isn't
 destroyed, you'll create a new source of potential corruption. If you don't
 care about the Earth, do you even care about Spacenoids?" >

        < ".... Maybe.... your pride is what keeps you here." > The Dianthus
 draws the Argen-21 Beam Arbalest as she gets within range, and aims. < "As you
 told me, once, 'Be careful not to get buried along with it'." > As Ryoko
 closes in, a bright magenta beam is fired; the first from Lucine, and probably
 not the last.

        Rau le Creuset may not remember Lucine, but Lucine certainly remembers
 him.

KTS: Lucine Azul targets Rau Le Creuset with Argen-21 Beam Arbalest Aim!
KTS: Lucine Azul has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Rau Le Creuset successfully avoids Koji Kabuto's Ichinana MG Burst
KTS: Rau Le Creuset blocks Riika Sheder's IFP-F Mk2 Feather Launcher Wingtip
 Shot, taking 1530 damage!

KTS: Treize Khushrenada inspires awe, increasing Riika Sheder's Morale!

<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.

        Liam took his anti-radiation drugs, adjusted his suit's IFF, and stood
 by while the Nadesico's techs checked and double-checked its armor.
 Hypothetically speaking, he is ready for the fight ahead. Hypothetically
 speaking. Liam has fought Angels and fused monstrosities and even an assassin,
 but he's never stood up to fight a superweapon like this. He wasn't even
 ordered to be here, but not being here would feel like leaving Lucine to
 fight all alone, even if she's technically AWOL and collaborating with
 equally-AWOL enemy soldiers.

        And even worse, it would feel like Dublin, all over again, except this
 time he could actually do something besides cry and scream.

        A Long Dagger shadows the Dianthus on its way in. The Mobile Suit is
 both larger and bulkier, thanks to its Fortestra, but the pilot maneuvers down
 the access shaft like he's practiced it hundreds of times. Its jets fire in
 precise, careful bursts, maximizing momentum while accounting for antennae,
 hatches, and other protrusions. In the cockpit, Liam's breathing has evened
 out, and he hunches forward despite the pressure of acceleration on his chest.
 As they pass through the final hatch, into the collection chamber, a sense of
 its tremendous scale settles into Liam's head.

        <"Enemy sighted,"> Liam tightbeams, to the other nearby suits. There's
 just one. That is making him deeply nervous, so he breathes, and lets himself
 sink into the moment. The Long Dagger--how many of those has Rau shot down
 by now--whips its Beam Saber free, and ignites it.

        <"You heard her,"> Liam transmits, this time over a wider beam. The
 Long Dagger races towards the Providence head-on, in what looks like a simple
 charge, but then it jukes left, in a pilot-crushing twist, turns down and
 beneath the unit, and then jams its saber into its backpack rack. It looks
 important. Liam doesn't want to know what happens if Rau gets the chance to
 deploy it.

KTS: Liam 7-020 targets Rau Le Creuset with ES01 Beam Saber Strike!
KTS: Liam 7-020 has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Rau Le Creuset's Physical Wall L3 activates, negating 3000 base damage.
KTS: Hikaru Amano rattles Rau Le Creuset, making his next maneuvers more
 difficult.

KTS: Rau Le Creuset fails to react to Hikaru Amano's Rabid Rifle!, taking 450
 damage!

KTS: Rau Le Creuset fails to evade Puru Two's Qubeley MK-II Funnels - Velos
 Formation, taking 3540 damage!

KTS: Rau Le Creuset fails to evade Anita Rosetta's Beam Vulcans, taking 2880
 damage!

KTS: Rau Le Creuset blocks Lucine Azul's Argen-21 Beam Arbalest Aim, taking
 4464 damage!

KTS: Rau Le Creuset blocks Liam 7-020's ES01 Beam Saber Strike, taking 1110
 damage!

KTS: Liam 7-020 has engaged Rau Le Creuset!

<Pose Tracker> Rau Le Creuset has posed.

        "Incoming heat signature! It's massive!"

        A massive blast of multi-coloured light rips through part of the ZAFT
 fleet, continuing on to graze the side of the Nazca formation defending
 GENESIS's weak spot. Three ships are caught up in the blaze, ripped aparts and
 quickly exploding under the sheer amount of energy.

        The beam then of course continues on, but at this angle it misses the
 weak spot and instead impacts against a more solid part of the large
 superweapon behind the fleet. But much of the energy is forced away from
 station's surface, quickly dissipating after losing cohesion. Until finally
 the shot peters out, not much but some scorch marks left behind on GENESIS's
 surface. An awesome display of the defensive power.

        "Damage to GENESIS is minimal. All systems still operational."
        "The alignment mirror is in final position."
        "Linkup confirmed. Maneuvering thrusters at station keeping."
        "Enemy warships on approach to GENESIS."
        "Breach in access shafts detected! Multiple mobile weapons are entering
 the structure!"

        Patrick Zala clenches his fist. After that display of light that struck
 their weapon, it's clear that there is no choice. They need to finish this,
 now. Before something like that is used against the PLANTs, "Hurry up! We
 don't have much time. Commence target input. Target: North America. Capital
 city of Pendragon." There are several quiet gasps of surprise and murmurs from
 the operators in the command center. Even the ZAFT officers advising look
 doubtful. When there's no immediate response, Zala asks, "What are you doing?
 Hurry! It'll all be over once we finish this!"

        One of the advisers replies, "Mister Chairman... Targeting the
 Federation fleet is one thing. But if we fire on Earth, half the planet's
 surface will be destroyed. There have already been too many sacrifices." Even
 as the adviser is talking, Zala turns his chair around.

        A gunshot echoes through the command center.

        Blood goes flying, a look of shock on the objecting officer's face as
 he slowly floats backwards from the force of the impact. Zala's hand, the one
 holding his still smoking sidearm, begins to shake out of anger, "The enemy is
 still out there... Those damn Naturals are still out there! Why would you
 suggest we don't fire it!? We've got to fire it again! Before they have a
 chance to destroy any more PLANTs! Kill any more of us!"

        Zala gets up from his chair, moving over to the nearby console, "They
 need to be annihilated. Don't you understand that!?" He starts typing on the
 console, bringing the firing system for GENESIS up. The remaining officers
 look on in shock as they see him preparing to fire it, hesitating after what
 just happened.

        Another gunshot sounds.

        This time it's Patrick Zala's face that has a look over shock. He too
 begins to drift backwards, blood floating out of the hole in his chest. As he
 begins to feel his life slipping away, he tries to get out, "We... Must
 fire... It... Protect... PLANTs..." He goes still.

        With all eyes having been on Zala, it's unclear who fired the shot. But
 chaos quickly erupts within the command center, quite a few of the operators
 abandoning their post and starting to rush out, having long been doubtful
 about the path they were heading down. The officers rush up to the console
 Zala had been at, relieved to find that the firing sequence had not yet been
 started.

        ----

        Numerous mobile weapons flood into the detonation chamber. Rau Le
 Creuset watches them on his screen. Logically speaking, he has no chance of
 surviving this. It would be wise to retreat. Or accept the offer of surrender
 from Treize.

        Rau is well beyond logic at this point.

        He laughs at Treize, <"Surrender? But we're just about to get to the
 good part!">

        A veritable cacophany of attacks are launched in Rau's direction. But
 he's already moving, flying around the large chamber. A few of his attackers
 come to face the chilling truth about the Providence's Phase Shift Armor: It
 REALLY FUCKING WORKS. Reducing their attacks to practically nothing.

        Others find ways to get past the defense with their physical weapons,
 finding points where it's weaker or having something about their weapon that
 lets it negate some of the technology's strengths. But even then, the regular
 armor proves thick. The Providence Gundam is indeed a rather chunky machine.

        <"This is a path not just of my making, but one everyone has brought us
 to! All your fighting, your desires to defeat the enemy. It's all the same!">

        Others more rightly turn towards using their beam weapons, which the
 Phase Shift Armor (at least at this level) is no where near effective against.
 And yet Rau is still able to contend with those too, his machine zipping and
 twisting around, taking shots on its more heavily armored components or even
 the shield unit on its left arm, damnpening them.

        <"Ah, Riika. I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that you're still
 alive... Alaska was the beginning. When I revealed ZAFT's secret plans to
 attack it, I figured they'd have something prepared. And that ZAFT would
 suffer from it, giving the Federation the courage to press the attack. It was
 necessary, to bring us to this point. A point where Zala had no choice but to
 use GENESIS!">

        DRAGOONs detach, beginning to fly around the chamber after people. Some
 also chase after the funnels launched by Puru Two, engaging in a rather rapid
 and chaotic dance. At others, they fire indiscriminately, multiple beams of
 green lancing out. Rau's not worried about causing damage to the chambers
 interior, as even in here GENESIS's Phase Shift Armor is protecting it. Any
 shots that miss will just splash off the panels lining the chamber walls.

        Liam more specifically though finds himself facing off against the
 Providence's rather large beam saber projected from the unit on its left arm.
 The large beam, roughly twice the length of an average saber, swings towards
 the Long Dagger.

        ----

        As the Federation and Three Ships Alliance warships begin to approach
 those Nazcas defending GENESIS, a comm line opens up to them from one of
 Nazcas, presumably the one in the lead, <"Attention incoming vessels. I will
 not ask you stop. In fact I understand your reasoning and respect your choice.
 There's a good chance I would do the same in your position. But unfortunately,
 I have been assigned the responsibility of protecting this weapon. And so, as
 a loyal soldier of ZAFT, I will do so. Godspeed to us all.">

        At this point, weapons fire lights up between the two sides. The
 Nadesico and Ra Mari II open up with a combined barrage of missiles that
 streak in towards the Nazcas. Their CIWS turrets turn and raise, beginning to
 put up a blanket of small cailber bullet fire. Many of the missiles in the
 initial barrage are worn down, exploding before they reach the vessels. But
 their numbers prove too many as those that follow get closer and closer until
 finally they start exploding against the vessels. Chunks of hull being blown
 free, holes opening the precious atmosphere inside to space. The Nazcas
 quickly counter with their own barrage of missiles, sending them flying across
 the space separating the two forces.

        But the initial barrage has passed and so comes the mobile weapons. The
 Dominion's Strike Daggers, backed up by Arriety's Gundam. Beam weapon fire
 from them rains down on the vessels, splashing against their armor, burning
 holes through the large vessels which continue to lumber on. The Nazcas begin
 trying to ward off the mobile weapons with their railgun turrets. Firing
 somewhat heavier slugs than the CIWS, they begin to pelt them at the smaller
 machines, trying to keep them from getting too close.

        Meanwhile, the Dominion is the first to open up against GENESIS's
 weakspot, its large linear cannons beginning to pelt shots at it. To the naked
 eye, it would look like the shots are essentially completely ineffective. But
 as the shots begin to add up, sensors do start to report the target point
 weakening. It does seem that, with enough firepower, they'll be able to break
 through!

 KTS: Mobile Weapon Team targets Eight York with Internal Missile Launcher
 Anti-Ship Missile!

KTS: Mobile Weapon Team targets Yurika Misumaru with Internal Missile Launcher
 Anti-Ship Missile!

KTS: Mobile Weapon Team targets Arriety Hearn with Machine Gun Turrets Barrage!
KTS: Mobile Weapon Team targets Natarle Badgiruel with Machine Gun Turrets
 Barrage!

KTS: Mobile Weapon Team has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Rau Le Creuset targets Ryoko Subaru, Koji Kabuto, Rena Lancaster, Naoko
 Suzuki, Riika Sheder, Rita Bernal, Hikaru Amano, Lucine Azul, Puru Two, Anita
 Rosetta, and Treize Khushrenada with DRAGOON System Remote Bit Pattern Gamma.

KTS: BC-001 Minae inspires awe, increasing Yurika Misumaru's Morale!
KTS: Yurika Misumaru partially guards Mobile Weapon Team's Internal Missile
 Launcher Anti-Ship Missile, taking 2852 damage!

KTS: Ryoko Subaru has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
KTS: Rau Le Creuset enervates Riika Sheder, reducing her Morale significantly.
KTS: Riika Sheder blocks Rau Le Creuset's DRAGOON System Remote Bit Pattern
 Gamma, taking 5880 damage!

KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Rau Le Creuset's Welcomed By Power activates, causing Deject!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Rau Le Creuset's Unleashed By Anger activates, causing
 Nullify!

KTS: Hikaru Amano has activated the Alert Spirit Command.
KTS: Ryoko Subaru has activated the Alert Spirit Command.
KTS: Arriety Hearn successfully evades Mobile Weapon Team's Machine Gun Turrets
 Barrage

KTS: Ryoko Subaru partially guards Rau Le Creuset's DRAGOON System Remote Bit
 Pattern Gamma, taking 4017 damage!

KTS: Hikaru Amano fails to evade Rau Le Creuset's DRAGOON System Remote Bit
 Pattern Gamma, taking 4410 damage!

KTS: Natarle Badgiruel charges into the attack!
KTS: Natarle Badgiruel partially guards Mobile Weapon Team's Machine Gun
 Turrets Barrage, taking 2010 damage!

KTS: Rau Le Creuset enervates Rena Lancaster, reducing her Morale significantly.
KTS: Rena Lancaster partially guards Rau Le Creuset's DRAGOON System Remote Bit
 Pattern Gamma, taking 5880 damage!

KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Rau Le Creuset's Welcomed By Power activates, causing Deject!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Rau Le Creuset's Unleashed By Anger activates, causing
 Nullify!

KTS: Eight York has activated the Attune Spirit Command.
KTS: Anita Rosetta has activated the Focus Spirit Command.
KTS: Eight York fails to intercept Mobile Weapon Team's Internal Missile
 Launcher Anti-Ship Missile, taking 4260 damage!

KTS: Rau Le Creuset enervates Treize Khushrenada, reducing his Morale
 significantly.

KTS: Treize Khushrenada fails to evade Rau Le Creuset's DRAGOON System Remote
 Bit Pattern Gamma, taking 5880 damage!

KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Rau Le Creuset's Welcomed By Power activates, causing Deject!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Rau Le Creuset's Unleashed By Anger activates, causing
 Nullify!

KTS: Rau Le Creuset enervates Anita Rosetta, reducing her Morale significantly.
KTS: Anita Rosetta blocks Rau Le Creuset's DRAGOON System Remote Bit Pattern
 Gamma, taking 5390 damage!

KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Rau Le Creuset's Welcomed By Power activates, causing Deject!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Rau Le Creuset's Unleashed By Anger activates, causing
 Nullify!

KTS: Rita Bernal has activated the Dash Spirit Command and has gained
 proficiency bonus.

KTS: [Spirit Defense] Rita Bernal's When I'm Reborn Again... activates, and her
 spirit endures.

KTS: Rau Le Creuset enervates Rita Bernal, reducing her Morale significantly.
KTS: Rita Bernal fails to evade Rau Le Creuset's DRAGOON System Remote Bit
 Pattern Gamma, taking 5390 damage!

KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Rau Le Creuset's Welcomed By Power activates, causing Deject!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Rau Le Creuset's Unleashed By Anger activates, causing
 Nullify!

KTS: Naoko Suzuki has activated the Focus Spirit Command.
KTS: Naoko Suzuki successfully evades Rau Le Creuset's DRAGOON System Remote
 Bit Pattern Gamma

KTS: Puru Two has activated the Strike Spirit Command.
KTS: Puru Two fails to intercept Rau Le Creuset's DRAGOON System Remote Bit
 Pattern Gamma, taking 4410 damage!

KTS: Lucine Azul successfully evades Rau Le Creuset's DRAGOON System Remote Bit
 Pattern Gamma
Rau Le Creuset has cancelled his attack.

KTS: Rau Le Creuset targets Liam 7-020 with MA-MV05A Composite Armed Shield
 System Beam Blade Flash Strike!

KTS: Rau Le Creuset has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: [Spirit Defense] Liam 7-020's Catecholamine Regulation System activates,
 and his spirit endures.

KTS: Rau Le Creuset enervates Liam 7-020, reducing his Morale significantly.
KTS: Liam 7-020 blocks Rau Le Creuset's MA-MV05A Composite Armed Shield System
 Beam Blade Flash Strike, taking 4620 damage!

KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Rau Le Creuset's Welcomed By Power activates, causing Deject!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Rau Le Creuset's Unleashed By Anger activates, causing
 Nullify!

KTS: Rau Le Creuset has engaged Liam 7-020!
KTS: Natarle Badgiruel has activated the Enable Spirit Command targeting Yurika
 Misumaru

KTS: Natarle Badgiruel has activated the Enable Spirit Command targeting Eight
 York

<Pose Tracker> Romilly Draid has posed.

         A man in a non-commissioned officer's uniform briskly makes an exit
 from the command center. Straight posture, head tilted slightly down. Deniably
 'busy.' Deniably en route to deliver a report. Chaos was the perfect element
 for this particular task. Shouted orders, the din of reports rapidly coming
 in, frantic conversations carried over and past each other.

         It is both like and unlike the old days, for Romilly. A sickly pit in
 the bottom of the stomach is an old friend. The sense that he has done some
 good by it is unfamiliar. They hadn't expected the sudden turn from their own.
 The racket fading away behind him is proof of that. This is his first such
 assignment--though externally he is a picture of routine, internally a storm
 of questions harasses him as he cuts through low-traffic areas, avoiding eye
 contact, making his pre-planned escape route. How long would it be before
 accusations turned outward? Would they? He'd done a good thing--but were the
 reasons good? Had he agreed to this mission out of whole-hearted concern, or
 only to exorcise demons lingering from a past failure?

         Romilly slips away from the command center, away from Jachin Due. In
 piecemeal, he also leaves behind the gun, having disassembled it one piece at
 a time, gloved hands tossing a slide here, a spring there, and so on. Anything
 to make them think the culprit was still afoot. But the questions burning in
 his mind--those still follow him, all the way back to base.

KTS: Natarle Badgiruel targets Mobile Weapon Team with Gottfried Mk.71 Dual
 High-Energy Beam Cannon!

KTS: Natarle Badgiruel has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> Eight York has posed.

"Captain, on the radio, it's--" Astelian traces the signal from the mobile
 weapon appearing.

"Arriety!?" Eight exclaims in surprise. She'd been missing, but--"You can tell
 me all about it later," the Captain says, a smile spreading onto her face.
 "...You know you're always welcome here."

'Do your best', the Phenex tells them, and Licia chimes in, "Thanks, Rita."

And then Eight says, "All right--Kazama, keep getting targeting data to that
 Zeta Gundam." Astelian meanwhile, "Nadesico is coordinating maneuvers.
 Chovan, you got the data?"

"Got it, buddy. We may be big, but we can keep up with her!"

"...Nice uniform," Eight comments to Minae with a grin. "...Thanks for
 bringing her home," she says, and then moves to focus again on the battle.

She feels buoyed, herself, bright and ready despite the small amount of sleep
 she's had.

Weaponsfire lights up from the other side, and the Ra Mari II takes missiles to
 its hull. They crash against it, batter at armor, strike hits. But the great
 bulk of the Ra Mari II does not stop coming.

"Mr. Orlodhari," Eight communicates over to engineering. "...Begin diverting
 power towards the Converging Spinal Beam Cannon. Wait until it's at one
 hundred percent, and patch it through to tactical."

"Aye, ma'am. Charging sequence intitiated."

The Ra Mari II's front begins to glow, the seams of the cannon in the front
 half of the ship beginning to blur faint teal.

In the meantime, Eight leans forward. "All right, we're through. Target those
 generators! Kazama! Target all small cannons on these coordinates, fire on
 my mark. We'll pin them down... 3, 2, 1--MARK!"

The Ra Mari's cannons open up, beams on all sides of the machine erupting
 forward towards the Phase Shift Armor generators.

"Come on, crew! Let's go!"

KTS: Eight York targets Mobile Weapon Team with Guided Beam Cannons -
 Maneuvering Shot!

KTS: Eight York has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> Ryoko Subaru has posed.

"Uhhhh Inez said something about it... that it was meant to do things...
 for... things far away."

Ryoko had said to Hikaru, awkwardly, she is very much not a sciency person.
 Her straight D average in middle school is proof of that.

"Ah it doesn't matter!? Who knows why anyone names anything anyway! What even
 is an Aestivalis!? Doesn't matter! We're still flying in them!"

Hikaru's cheery voice is at least enthusiastic, like this isn't as serious as
 it truly is, and Ryoko can't help but smile thinly, "Same ol' Hikaru." She
 says to herself... before nodding grimly at Lucine's own evaluation, "And you
 deserved every last lap!!!"

As they engage she yells, "Good good! Keep up the pressure!" Ryoko says
 before, "We're gonna wipe the smug right off his damn face before the day is
 done!"

Ryoko is oblivious to the drama going on within ZAFT command, too focused is
 she on the Dragoons, as they zip about, beams lancing and firing.

Putting her distortion field up, she twists and turns, trying to make herself
 as small a target as possible as beamfire shimmers across the Aestie's
 distortion field.

And as she does, Rau's words throb in her brain, he was setting this up, all
 along - to use a super weapon, to kill SO MANY PEOPLE! It's just like HIM!
 IT'S JUST LIKE HIM!

That's all Ryoko can think of, as she snaps the Immediate Knife back into its
 sheath, and channels the Distortion Field right into a singular point.

As part of her rages, "YOU BASTARD!" And drawing back her fist, she drives it
 right into his suit, pouring the distortion field's energy right into the
 point of impact.

"YOU THINK HAVING A HARD LIFE GIVES YOU THE RIGHT TO DO THIS!?" Apparently she
 heard his talk of being a clone, "WE'RE GOING TO SEND YOU STRAIGHT TO HELL!"

KTS: Ryoko Subaru targets Rau Le Creuset with Stop Calling it the Gekigan
 Shoot!!

KTS: Ryoko Subaru has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.

It's not only the presence of Rau that Rena feels. Her brown eyes widen when
 she senses Arriety's presence -- distant as it is, with Eight's. "Arriety!?"
 she says. "Are you--just be careful! You, too, Minae!"

There isn't more that she can say for now. She brings her focus back on the
 present, and nods to Naoko. "Roger, Nova," she says. "Don't let him get the
 best of you. We don't have nearly as much room to maneuver, this time."

Rena's eyes are drawn, for a moment, to the Svalinn. Riika's Gundam is amazing
 -- and it's a relief she is here. How long ago was it that they were on
 opposite sides? Now, they stand on the same side. She can't quite call it a
 miracle though. Not with the world teetering on the edge.


"Callie..." She hesitates. "...right."

She sucks a deep breath. She sees the Phenex appear -- attack -- and it's a bit
 of a relief, knowing she is here again to support them. But does she ever get
 to rest?

She grits her teeth -- eyes widening when Rau starts talking. "We're not... not
 trying to fight each other, now! We're trying to change things!" she says. Her
 eyes widen -- and she looks at Riika. "Riika--!"

She doesn't get that off. The DRAGOONs detach -- and two of them fire, lances
 of green light slamming into the Gaia Gear Alpha. The white Mobile Suit is
 rattled, mightily; explosions rock it, searing some of that alabaster armor
 black.

She glances at the Messiah Rosette, then. "C'mon, Annie," Rena says. "Like we
 said, right? Together!"

The Gaia Gear Alpha tears a beam saber free of the recharge rack. A blade of
 golden light ignites -- and the white Moile Suit boosts forward, before
 swinging the weapon down with one, massive overhanded chop at the ZAFT Gundam.

KTS: Rena Lancaster has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
KTS: Rena Lancaster targets Rau Le Creuset with Beam Saber Cleave!
KTS: Rena Lancaster has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Mobile Weapon Team fails to evade Eight York's Guided Beam Cannons -
 Maneuvering Shot, taking 4400 damage!

KTS: Eight York continues a Formation attack!

<Pose Tracker> Treize Khushrenada has posed.

        Treize shakes his head as the response to the offer to surrender is to
 attack him with the damn bits of the gundam. UnderTreize's control the Taurus
 begins to try to dance around Rau's attack but unfortunately it's not enough,
 and again in the back of his head Treize can't help but think that the power
 of these mass produced units can not withstand the power that is Gundam.

         Still this does not mean he is given up, the Taurus model was made to
 accel in such an environment and he is not alone fighting this battle. His
 people were fighting , so he could not stand by and let them fight while he
 did nothing.

         The Taurusu raises its large beam cannon and takes aim at Providence,
 the tip of the beam cannon gathering power , and the moment it hits minimum
 power the Taurus fires, not to concerned with any collateral damage to the
 room.

KTS: Treize Khushrenada targets Rau Le Creuset with Taurus Beam Cannon Blast!
KTS: Treize Khushrenada has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Koji Kabuto has activated the Assail Spirit Command.
KTS: Koji Kabuto has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.

<Pose Tracker> Koji Kabuto has posed.

"Please don't," Koji answers Ryoko's declaration that they're going to send Rau
 to Hell. "I'd hate to see what kind of undead monstrosity the Doctor would
 make out of this jackass."

Oh, right, Wilhelm is a 'philanthropist' now. "On the other hand, maybe
 community service is the perfect punishment. Either way - "

The Ichinana levels its blade at the Providence Gundam. "One Count Brocken is
 more than enough!" Thrusters flash and the Mass Produced Mazin rockets
 forwards.

Creuset's declaration - that he betrayed ZAFT in order to encourage Blue Cosmos
 to do what they did at JOSH-A and accelerate the war - sets Koji's teeth
 grinding. "You're scum," he snarls, securing the machine gun on the Ichinana's
 hip in order to throw a fist and a knee at the Providence Gundam, even though
 the Phase Shift armour is certain to blunt the impact of the strikes.

Because it's a feint! "BURNING FIRE!" Koji roars, and a beam of heat lances
 from the central section of the Ichinana's chest array at point-blank range!

KTS: Koji Kabuto targets Rau Le Creuset with Burning Fire!
KTS: Koji Kabuto has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Rau Le Creuset partially guards Ryoko Subaru's Stop Calling it the Gekigan
 Shoot!, taking 2958 damage!

KTS: Ryoko Subaru has engaged Rau Le Creuset!
KTS: Rau Le Creuset fails to evade Rena Lancaster's Beam Saber Cleave, taking
 4500 damage!

KTS: Rena Lancaster has engaged Rau Le Creuset!

<Pose Tracker> Arriety Hearn has posed.

        Omoikane's message filters in, and Arriety quietly nods; she can't
 directly respond to him right now, and it's a combat situation, but seeing the
 Nadesico's AI again fills her with a measure of confidence.

        It's Callisto's presence that she feels most, at the moment, throughout
 the chaos of the assault on GENESIS. "I'm here, big sis," she answers. Her
 presence is different. Her voice is a bit different. Her psychic presence
 is, paradoxically, weaker than it was before: but with that dimmed strength
 comes a narrowing in the often chaotic vulnerability she often displays.
 There's strength where there wasn't before. A sense of solid identity.

        "I'll help protect everyone here, Callie-sis. So go do what has to be
 done... we can talk afterwards."

        Arriety doesn't know the Phenex personally or what it represents, but
 she can't miss the resonance that comes from within; 'do your best', it seems
 to say. A quiet, pensive bite of her lip. "... yeah."

        Anita and Rena both voice their surprise, and there's a quiet smile for
 her too. "You'd all better come back. Annie. Rena."

        Minae tells her that it's really big -- it might be hard to protect it
 all on her own. "That's fine. Because I'm not protecting it all on my own.
 The whole bridge crew and everyone else is trying their hardest too. Right,
 Eight?" She furrows her brow, though. "You're more easily bribed than I
 thought, though. Maybe Tsutsujidai changed you."

        When the Brave Counselor expresses some uncertainty from being rusty,
 though, she has encouragement for her instead: "It's okay. I still have to
 adjust myself. If we're in trouble, we pull back into the hangar. Okay?"

        The Nazcas open fire, and Arriety prompts the Zeta to nimbly swerve
 inbetween nearby asteroids; at one point, she's trapped in their firing
 pattern, though the moment she tries to mitigate damage through her shield and
 accept her fate--

        A crimson SEED alights upon the pool of her mind's eye.

        Arriety's consciousness expands, psychically; she touches closer to
 that of Eight and those onboard the Ra Mari II, but her presence is still one
 of inner quiet and intense focus now.

        Minae can spot the phenomenon, as her pupils shrink until they're
 little more than dots; now a radiant red, Arriety's reaction time accelerates
 as she pops several dummy Zeta Gundam balloons out in her wake, which rip and
 tear underneath the concentrated railgun fire. She's not there anymore.
 "They're giving this their all..."

        She pauses to listen to the comm line opening from the lead Nazca.
 "..." Arriety's expression becomes a bit more intense, after a moment of
 thought. "Yeah... I've got someone to protect too. No matter what happens, I
 don't want to have any regrets."

        There's a faint smile, unseen through comms, to Eight. "I've got data.
  Thanks, Kazama," she answers. "Hangar Team! I need the Hyper Mega Launcher
 -- do you still have it? Launch it to me on these coordinates and I'll take
 care of the rest."

        A moment's miraculous bit of teamwork later, the massive blue launcher
 soars into space -- and the white Zeta swerves to connect with it, landing on
 one of the other docks of the humongous Zentradi ship. There's more room to
 manoeuvre here, she thinks to herself. The Clops-class was tighter and more
 difficult to defend... it's a good choice.

        "I've got Ruri and Kazama's data," Arriety intones to Minae.
 "Collating. Firing solution, please, Minae."

        What happens later is in the interstice of time in which AI work,
 because the Zeta Gundam rises into the air and locks onto the nearest of the
 Nazcas to fire a swath of incandescent beam fire to lance through the
 centre-of-mass.

KTS: Arriety Hearn has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Arriety Hearn targets Mobile Weapon Team with Hyper Mega Launcher!
KTS: Arriety Hearn has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> Rita Bernal has posed.

The words that pass between the living are meaningless to the Phenex. This was
 always going to happen. All they can do is try to mitigate the damage.

Her shield proves to be utterly ineffective against the enemy Gundam, and she
 pulls it back, letting it rest against her shoulders. She dislikes utilizing
 the light of the resonant plane in such tight quarters, fearful of damaging
 one of the heroes who accompany her, but it appears the Phenex has no choice.

Radiance builds around her. Green-blue-pink, shining and ever-shifting, like
 water. Her hand extends toward Rau, and the light surrounding the Phenex races
 forward. She seeks to pull him in. Perhaps to hold him still, to make things
 easier for her allies.

Even as she guides her effervescent power, the Phenex is fired upon. Unable to
 divert her strength away from her attack, the golden Gundam takes a terrible
 blow. No cry of distress is broadcast on the radio, but she recoils in
 distress all the same. Aulic pieces of armor fall away from her like so many
 feathers.

With all she has, the Phenex launches her miracle light forth. There's a
 sensation echoing to those sensitive enough to feel it. Determination. The
 soft, breathy voice of a young woman.

Whatever it takes.

KTS: Rita Bernal targets Rau Le Creuset with Eos!
KTS: Rita Bernal has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Rau Le Creuset fails to evade Treize Khushrenada's Taurus Beam Cannon
 Blast, taking 2850 damage!

KTS: Rau Le Creuset fails to react to Koji Kabuto's Burning Fire, taking 4140
 damage!

<Pose Tracker> Riika Sheder has posed.

It's still very strange for Riika to be on the field with - working with! -
 Federation soldiers. Though many of the people willing to go in are
 ex-Federation soldiers, it's not quite universal, as (of all people) Treize
 Khushrenada drops a message on her.

She doesn't respond. She is, after all, as wanted in the Federation as she is
 in the PLANTs - and showing up today with a mobile weapon nobody has seen
 before probably isn't exactly making it better.

Working with the Ra Mari team, though, is something she can do. "I know who it
 is. I can tell as well as you," Riika replies to Rena, though it's not true -
 she does not feel Rau the same way a Newtype does. But she doesn't need a
 psychic connection to know him. "If he's in Phase Shift Armour, try to use
 beam weapons if you have them; the most he'll have there is laminated armour,
 which spreads out the heat, so you can penetrate it if you keep trying. I'll
 try to cover the rest of you; I'm fastest. I think. Unless you drop that into
 its flight form."

Svalinn Gundam rolls when under fire from the DRAGOONs. Riika has never fought
 against them before, and doesn't have much experience with them; she brings up
 her shield to try to cover the main body of Svalinn, but the DRAGOONs start to
 burn through it relatively quickly, scorching around the edges and blacking
 the paint. "No thanks to you that I'm alive. You just - threw me away, and
 left me for dead, because I wanted to see why Alaska happened. I only survived
 because of the Ra Mari... and because I got lucky."

"And that isn't a reason!" Riika's voice doesn't hide her anger, or the fact
 that she is upset. "Why have the PLANTs fight the Federation like that? Why
 would you want to kill everyone? It isn't just the Earth that suffers - and
 even if it was it would still be wrong!" Riika is practically doing an orbit
 around the inside of the central room at this point, using the size of it to
 advantage. If one of the DRAGOON shots *does* blast through something on the
 walls, it would only benefit her.

Riika draws what is clearly a ZAFT-model beam rifle, one of the ones that
 integrates with the suit's generator. She carefully maneuvers, the
 wing-mounted verniers changing angle just slightly to propel herself away from
 the wall as she approaches Rau, taking a zig-zagging, erratic approach. She
 fires, several times - and her firing is accompanied by orientation as she
 changes her flight path, making it difficult at best to get a lock on her.
 It's the kind of timing that Coordinator pilots are known for, but Riika
 wasn't that good at it before; she was an engineer, not an ace.

Now she's both.

"There's no answer that you could give that would make me not stop this - "
 Riika doesn't even have a good word for it. In person, she'd wave her arm
 instead of using a word; here, she doesn't want to take her hands off the
 controls, so she just cuts off. "This insanity! But I still want to know. What
 makes someone want to destroy a whole world like this? Even if you hate Earth
 so, the PLANTs wouldn't survive if they destroyed the planet - everyone else,
 any survivors from the Orbital Ring or the other colonies or the Moon, would
 turn against them! Everyone on the PLANTs would die. Not that you care about
 that," she says, bitter. "I know that, after Quintillus Five."

KTS: Riika Sheder has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
KTS: Riika Sheder targets Rau Le Creuset with MA-M21R Lepus Beam Rifle Maneuver
 Shot!

KTS: Riika Sheder has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Mobile Weapon Team partially guards Arriety Hearn's Hyper Mega Launcher,
 taking 7920 damage!

KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Arriety Hearn's SEED activates, causing Insight L1!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Arriety Hearn's SEED activates, causing Jam L1!
KTS: Arriety Hearn completes the Formation attack!

<Pose Tracker> Hikaru Amano has posed.

"I uhm... might've fell asleep during that part? Maybe? But you're right - if
 we stop it here we won't ever have to worry about what it means!" Hikaru nods
 at Ryoko's attempted explanation. As for the Aestivalis question... "It means
 summer, doesn't it? But I kinda have no clue what these even have to do with
 summer.. not the finest hour over at the naming department." Hikaru shrugs.%
Lucine brings help in the form of her boyfriend, but the time unfortunately
 isn't right for Hikaru to tease her about it. She also brings a warning...
 that Rau le Creuset is not to be messed with.

And she's right - Hikaru can feel that immense pressure as the rapid rifle's
 bullets seem to just bounce off that Gundam's armour, and the Aestie can't
 escape from the DRAGOON bits' relentless assault.

The rapid rifle shot was successful in one thing though - and that's creating
 an opening for their next attacks. There's a dead serious look on her face as
 she returns comms, before it turns much more determined. "Okay, okay!" Hikaru
 exclaims at Lucine's warning. "On someone like him, looks like I'll have to
 unleash the rest of my power!" She is taking this seriously, rest assured:
 that's just her way of saying she knows how to get through that barrier.

It's through the Field Lancer, Uri-pea's genius tool developed to cut through
 the Jovian Lizards' barriers. Hopefully it works on the Providence Gundams'
 too! "Field Lancer, equipped! In the name of this spear, I punish you!" Hikaru
 charges, field lancer at full thrust aimed at the weak points created by the
 previous rapid rifle round. "You're not fighting for anyone - not even
 yourself, are you? You don't care anymore and that's why you'll lose!"

KTS: Hikaru Amano targets Rau Le Creuset with Field Lancer Thrust!
KTS: Hikaru Amano has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Rita Bernal anchors Rau Le Creuset, forcing him into close range.
KTS: Rau Le Creuset fails to evade Rita Bernal's Eos, taking 3300 damage!
KTS: Rita Bernal has engaged Rau Le Creuset!

<Pose Tracker> Yurika Misumaru has posed.

        A much different form of worry knots Yurika's stomach at this phase in
 the battle, but not for herself. For Ryoko - for Hikaru - for Lucine - for
 everyone facing off with the devil at the heart of GENESIS. It's clouding her
 ability to give it her all - maybe it's the pressure that man, Rau le Creuset,
 emanates from in there, one fierce enough to even make her queasy this far
 away.

        As the Nadesico plunges into the fray, rumbling and rocking amidst the
 counterattack that ZAFT returns - - - Yurika paces and paces up at the top of
 the bridge, lips pressed in a fine line. Commands for repositioning tumble out
 a little on the rote side - isolating the ZAFT fleet ship by ship, trying as
 much as possible to detach them from their allies, to maybe push them just
 that much further towards turning their firepower towards GENESIS instead.

        Abruptly, Yurika's pushing forward down to the main deck, a mild
 grimace on her face - with Megumi and Minato turning a little concernedly in
 their seats.

        "I know it might not make any sense right now," Yurika squeezes her
 eyes shut, doing her best to push out the noisy world around her, to find the
 thread that pulls everyone forward. "But right now, all I can think about,
 with this big horrible weapon looming over all of us-"

        Suddenly - Yurika marches forward and plants a hand on Ruri's shoulder,
 staring upwards in determination. "Ruri-ruri here shouldn't have to grow up in
 a world that fears this sort of thing! We're going to go back to Earth so that
 we can see her look up in the sky in peace!"

        Minato, for her part, is giggling behind her hand. She knows exactly
 what kind of mood is striking Yurika to specifically target this - Megumi, for
 her part, is a little more annoyed. "...Captain, could you please avoid
 getting so sentimental right now, you can't just leave your post unattended-"

        "The computer up there doesn't even do anything important! I can just
 say to hold position now that we're facing the bulk of the fleet side-on and
 get the Gravity Blast ready and it'll be fine! Let me have this one!" Yurika
 pouts and grouses with the puffiest of cheeks.

KTS: Yurika Misumaru targets Mobile Weapon Team with Gravity Blast -
 Charging...!

KTS: Yurika Misumaru has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.

        Hit confirmed. Damage noted. Weapon array still functional. At least,
 Liam presumes the Providence's backpack is an array, because those things
 sticking out of it look an awful lot like remote weapons. The Long Dagger's
 shield shifts down and onto its left forearm, and it makes a tight U-turn, up
 and over, before racing at the Providence Gundam again. Liam's eyes dart back
 and forth, taking in HUD data with superhuman speed even as the rest of him
 pilots the machine. He doesn't recognize the Gaia Gear, or the Svalinn, and
 the Qubeley--

        --Liam tears his eyes away from that one. Koji. Rita. A tightbeam opens
 from the Long Dagger to the Ichinana.

        "<Doctor. Golden Gundam's friendly. It saw this coming. She saw this
 coming!>"

        A moment later, Liam's more mundane intuition proves itself correct as
 the DRAGOONs detach, and

        "<LUCINE!>" That's over the open comm. The Long Dagger jukes to the
 left, but Rau's ready for him. Liam raises the Mobile Suit's shield, and the
 Providence's beam saber SLAMS into it, searing through the anti-beam coating.
 It cuts through the shield's face, and into the Fortestra's shoulder pod.
 Exposed wiring sparks and glints in the void.

        Riika speaks up, and Liam recognizes her voice. His own joins hers a
 moment later, hovering on the edge of fear. "<Do you really,>" he says, "<want
 everyone to die?>"

        Maybe he does. Liam can't let that happen. As the Phenex's otherworldly
 light washes over them, his neurochemical regulators steer the 'flight' urge
 back towards 'fight'. It didn't need much help, this time.

        "<Rita. Rita, I'm here!>" The Long Dagger stows the saber, reaches for
 its rifle, and tumbles past the Providence. Memories of training to kill
 George de Sand jar loose in Liam's mind as he starts juking, trying to make
 himself a harder target for the DRAGOONs. Despite the sharp maneuvering, he's
 able to take aim and let loose with a single, well-aimed beam right for the
 Providence's shoulder joint.

KTS: Liam 7-020 targets Rau Le Creuset with M703 Beam Rifle Sighted Shot!
KTS: Liam 7-020 has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> Natarle Badgiruel has posed.

"Am I... no. We have response. CIC, feed our impact data to the Nadesico and
 Ra Mari II. And keep working on the Lohengrins!"

Natarle sighs at that declaration. But she can't criticize. Yesterday's
 battle has been dutifully recorded in the Dominion's service logs. Her ship's
 service will always be marked by the lives that could not be saved at
 Quintilus Five.

<"I understand. Ultimately, soldiers have to trust that their orders exist for
 the sake of the future, and not simply use their power to do whatever they
 please. But, don't forget that your duty isn't merely to a rank, or the man
 holding it. It's for the sake of all the people who have no choice but to
 trust in your power... Will another tragedy, for the sake of revenge, bring
 them happiness?">

Eyes shaded by that narrow brim, she confirms the secondary bridge's
 recommendation to use the Gottfrieds to cripple weapons on as many of the
 Nazcas as possible. To fight to defend such a terrible weapon... what
 monsters are you hoping to slay? But, then, there are those in the Federation
 who are just as brutal.

"Sir. You're supposed to be confined to medi-"

There is a report from behind the bridge. Security officers spin towards the
 door, but they hesitate to open fire on a privileged agent of the
 Federation... a courtesy the LOGOS representative doesn't share. A stolen
 weapon in hand, two rounds tear into each of the guards, Azrael storming onto
 the bridge. Natarle whirls, and she's in mid-twist when the next bang tosses
 her from the chair. Her right arm blooms in pain... though she confirms,
 slumped to the floor, that everything still moves. Just... something in her
 bicep aches. It's Gilmore, at weapons, who goes down next.

"What a fucking joke. A concussion? Like I can't tell when you're just trying
 to get rid of me! Well, I won't put up with it! We still have a battle to
 win! We still have Coordinators to kill! And YOU'RE SENDING THEM OUR
 TARGETING DATA? Well... That ship's defied us long enough... and you've
 been kind enough to warm up the Lohengrins for me, haven't you!"

"You can't... be serious," Natarle hisses, drawing herself up as best she can,
 throwing her left arm over her captain's chair. "The Nadesico is... an ally
 to the Federation. If you do this now... Britannia, hell, the Earth, is
 going to be destroyed..."

"Ahaha... Don't you get it? It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter if they
 fire. It doesn't matter how many filthy losers like you get burned to a
 crisp, as long as we destroy every last one of those space monsters! Once
 every last traitor and Coordinator is dead, we'll finally have our blue and
 pure world!"

Half-hunched over the console, Azrael nonetheless keeps the gun trained on her,
 limiting her movement... blindly, her left hand taps over the terminal she
 can still reach from here. The Lohengrins begin to unfold from the massive
 legs of the Dominion...

<Don't worry. I won't let him fire. So stay calm, Nadesico... and give me an
 opening in just a minute, if you can... You have my permission.>

<Pose Tracker> Naoko Suzuki has posed.

And there come the DRAGOONs. Naoko sure remembers those, and what can happen if
 she fails to fully keep her attention on them at all times. She thus keeps her
 attention fully focused and ready to analyze their movement patterns, and let
 her intuition do the rest. Just as before. She just has to do what she did
 before. No big deal, right?

Of course it's still a big deal. The only saving grace is that there's much
 more support on her side this time, which means that she personally has to
 deal with less of the remote weapons at once. Even so, it takes considerable
 mental effort to remain in the zen-like state required to predict the
 seemingly randomly flight patterns. She's starting to understand. She's not
 fighting against mechnical devices here. She's fighting against the enemy
 pilot's mind. Predicting thought patterns, rather than a fully automated
 mechanical process. Which is oddly... not strictly easier, but more
 natural-feeling?

Somehow, she manages it, once again. That's three times now. Three times,
 against a type of weapon that she used to think was virtually impossible to
 avoid. How does she know - no, how does she feel the way to do this? She's
 snapped out of her thoughts by her artificial co-pilots chiming in.

>"Don't think about it too much, Nova. Just stay focused."<

>"You gotta take some of those things out while you can, make things easier on
 everyone. Use your own remote weapons!"<

Naoko blinks blankly. "My own-- what are you talking about? The Saucers? You
 know I can't make those move, I've tried so many times."

>"You already did! Don't you remember?"<

Naoko's eyes go wide, briefly flashing back to the previous battle against the
 Providence Gundam. Back then... something intercepted that shot to her
 cockpit, didn't it? Something did... was it...? Did she, at that time...?

Suddenly, the Sukeban's large circular shoulderplates start to spin rapidly,
 before they detach, and fly off under their own power. There's only two of
 them, and a massive amount of DRAGOONs... but if she can manage to disable
 even one of them, that's one less that everyone has to deal with. All she has
 to do is... think of them like an extension of the machine, and they act the
 way she wants. It all seems so simple now... how did she not manage to do this
 before? It happens, because it's what needs to happen right now.

Whatever it takes. ...huh? Did she hear Rita, just now...?

KTS: Naoko Suzuki targets Rau Le Creuset with Remote Saucers!
KTS: Naoko Suzuki has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Rau Le Creuset partially guards Riika Sheder's MA-M21R Lepus Beam Rifle
 Maneuver Shot, taking 3016 damage!

KTS: Rau Le Creuset partially guards Hikaru Amano's Field Lancer Thrust, taking
 2340 damage!

KTS: Hikaru Amano has engaged Rau Le Creuset!
KTS: Mobile Weapon Team charges into the attack!
KTS: Mobile Weapon Team partially guards Yurika Misumaru's Gravity Blast -
 Charging..., taking 360 damage!

KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Yurika Misumaru's I've Got a Plan! activates, causing
 Control Bonus!

KTS: Yurika Misumaru begins a Formation attack!
KTS: Rau Le Creuset fails to react to Liam 7-020's M703 Beam Rifle Sighted
 Shot, taking 3525 damage!

<Pose Tracker> Puru Two has posed.

What is the difference between a ZAFT Dragoon remote weapon, and a Zeonic
 funnel? Roughly one generation of aerospace development, and engineering
 crunch time by genetically enhanced superhuman minds.

Thus, the Providence's own weapons snake outwards like the many heads of a
 hydra with greater speed and precision than the outdated Qubeley's Funnels.
 Though the space between them grows thick and charged with traded fusilades of
 beam-weapon fire, let's not pretend it's a fair fight. The Funnels lag behind
 a second or two, if not more, unable to meaningfully chase and control the
 airspace between the two suits. One of the black funnels vanishes in an
 ever-expanding sphere of neon lightning as a Dragoon-blast catches it head-on,
 and Puru Two winces as she feels a distant limb wink out of existence.

Rau calls in, informing the gang that he won't stand down, but he totally gets
 why they're here. "How noble." the redhead's tone is curt, not that she
 expects him to bite back. "You going to call firing this thing some kinda
 noblesse oblige, too?"

The Qubeley jukes between a pair of interior supports, thrusters bringing it to
 a hard stop before a Dragoon's line of fire can rip it in half. That's some
 real gravity under your dogs, man. The GENESIS's phase-armored structure soaks
 the first hit, but there's a couple of follow-ups which chase the ancient
 Zeonic mech from its perch. Blasts lance through its billowing cloak and one
 pings the upper-left shoulder binder, which all but disintegrates under the
 impact.

"The Federation are a rotten bunch, but all you guys are doing is trying to
 one-up them!" Puru Deux barks back, as the remaining funnels swing back over
 her shoulder. "But if you don't want to get into the moral weeds about it,
 I'll be happy to put you down for revenge alone."

The Qubeley reaches out with its remaining hand and grabs a thick girder,
 swinging around the superweapon's structure and arresting its momentum once
 more. The funnels come with it, acting like little more than shoulder-mounted
 cannons at this point. There's a slow-mo moment where the mobile suit hangs
 upside-down above the Providence, before its many floating guns erupt into a
 blizzard of brilliant golden lances down at it.

Just gotta tie this guy down long enough for Rena to make a clever move,
 right...?

KTS: Puru Two targets Rau Le Creuset with Qubeley MK-II Funnels - Spathi
 Formation!

KTS: Puru Two has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Mobile Weapon Team partially guards Natarle Badgiruel's Gottfried Mk.71
 Dual High-Energy Beam Cannon, taking 7320 damage!

KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Natarle Badgiruel's Sharp Eyes activates, causing Designate
 L1!

KTS: Natarle Badgiruel completes the Formation attack!

<Pose Tracker> Ruri Hoshino has posed.

        Ruri has the -- good sense? remaining empathy? -- to be embarrassed,
 when Yurika puts a hand on her shoulder. She does not, strangely enough, move
 away. Perhaps it's because she's working.

        "... Captain..." She's on Megumi's side, it sounds like, through her
 stoic expression. But she dutifully reports: "Now configuring Gravity Blast,"
 hands pressed to her IFS console.

        She can deal with her feelings about Yurika caring for her wellbeing
 specifically while also dealing with all the complicated targeting and
 alignment data of a warship.

        Her best friend is a supercomputer, so she'd better be able to keep up.

KTS: Rau Le Creuset's Physical Wall L3 activates, negating 3000 base damage.
KTS: Rau Le Creuset fails to react to Naoko Suzuki's Remote Saucers, taking
 2340 damage!

<Pose Tracker> Anita Rosetta has posed.

"Don't worry. You too, right? We've got a lot to catch up on." Anita replies
 with a smile to Arriety. It feels so good to see her again. She wishes it was
 under better circumstances... but maybe here and now is when it had to be.

---"It's not the same at all. We're trying to build a future, not destroy it.
 Don't even begin to compare yourself to us." Anita retorts to Rau. Providence
 Gundam's DRAGOON's detach, sending a flurry of green beams her way! Anita
 grimaces and raises her shield, feeling her machine recoil back as its hammer
 by DRAGOON fire. This isn't going to be easy... but she isn't going to let
 this discourage her.

"Right!" Anita says with a nod, as Rena encourages her. Together, like always.
 She watches Nova for a moment briefly, too. The shoulderplates...? Wow. She
 seems to be actually pretty talented... Anita's glad she's on their side. The
 same goes for Callie - it's good to be fighting alongside her again.

The Messiah Rosetta's shoulder cannon emerges over its shoulder and takes aim.
 She's learned her lesson last time - with the Providence Gundam's Phase Shift
 Armor, she might as well hit it with just the gun pod itself for as much good
 as it'll do. Conventional weaponry won't fly here. The cannon fires, sending a
 beam of energy soaring Rau's way!

KTS: Anita Rosetta targets Rau Le Creuset with Beam Cannon Blast!
KTS: Anita Rosetta has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.

        < ".... Aestivalis. Ah, it's Latin, 'of the summer'. Hikaru has it
 right... I think, like the Nadesico, your machines are named after flowers,
 I'm just not sure which one..." > Ryoko's confirmation makes Lucine's head to
 hang listlessly. Snapping her head back up, there's an awkward pause, as
 Lucine considers their surroundings. < "..... Ryoko.... the fact that we're
 inside this weapon, though, and we're all fighting him... will we all be doing
 laps this time...?" Lucine considers, with that wide-eyed expression still on
 her face. < "..... If one of us manages to take down Rau Le Creuset... that's
 worth at least.... ah, ten less laps?" > How many laps did Ryoko have Lucine
 do, even?

        Rau's heart is not easily reached by words alone; though, with the
 likes of Rita and Riika here, it may be impossible.

        < "This is a world where flowers bloom." > Another statement, likely
 equally as nonsensical as Lucine stating the impossibility of actual blue
 cosmos. It centers her, like feeling the band of metal and semiprecious stones
 on her ringfinger when she presses it to her cheek.

        'Lucine!'

        An array of DRAGOONS detach and spread out like seeds from a dandelion;
 Lucine is ready. The Dianthus loops around, leading her share on a tight,
 precise chase around the grand space, pressing close to the containing walls
 to get some to crash, then flipping back on a tight curve towards the battle
 anew, losing the remaining few.

         Lucine may have evaded the DRAGOONs that deployed after her, but, as
 her unit floats in its awkward angle relative to Liam and Rau's crafts, she
 casts a worried glance downwards towards them. < "... Liam, be careful. This
 is a man who left his own ally to die. He has nothing to lose but his own
 pride." >

        She has to place as much trust in Liam as she does Ryoko and Hikaru.
 But that doesn't mean she can't help. Information is tapped into Hikaru,
 Ryoko, and Liam's machines; Lucine's fingers tapping out the coordinates. She
 flies through the area surrounding Rau releasing a variety of balls of light,
 making the area a little tighter for Rau to maneuver in without catching on a
 few.

KTS: Lucine Azul has activated the Foresee Spirit Command targeting Ryoko Subaru
KTS: Lucine Azul has activated the Foresee Spirit Command targeting Hikaru Amano
KTS: Lucine Azul has activated the Foresee Spirit Command targeting Liam 7-020
KTS: Lucine Azul targets Rau Le Creuset with Lunate Crown v.2 Fireflies!
KTS: Lucine Azul has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> Ruri Hoshino has posed.

        "Acknowledged," Ruri adds, to the Dominion and Natarle. "Now
 transmitting optimisation data."

KTS: Ruri Hoshino targets Natarle Badgiruel with All-Out!
KTS: Ruri Hoshino has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> BC-001 Minae has posed.

        If there's one thing that makes Minae pause, it's the declaration from
 the lead Nazca that filters through the communications line. It's not just her
 typing that hesitates - the entire tactical map freezes in place, the
 rendering of it halting for a second or two before it abruptly cuts back to
 the present time.

        Minae is fully self-aware that, if you look at things in terms of
 organizations, she is not exactly the most loyal person around. Never mind the
 whole conversation around the Three Ships Alliance, the robot is
 simultaneously working with NERV and the GGG, a bit of a conflict of interest
 she still hasn't gotten around to resolving in her head. She's clambered onto
 kaiju for the sake of friendship, committed the occasional bout of electronic
 breach of access, and harboured some quiet doubt about the Brave Police
 project. She's firmly committed to the personal layer, more than anything.

        But she at least understands being loyal to an organization and the
 responsibilities that came with it, not to mention the events that have led to
 this battle. There had been an impulsive reply to the transmission on her lips
 - but she sets it gently to one side with a quiet shake of her head. Everyone
 has something to protect somewhere... or at least, that's certainly the way in
 which she prefers to believe in people.

        "I didn't really do that much," the robot notes to Eight with a smile
 in her voice, the little figure on the battleship's screens talking with her
 as firing lines simultaneously light up across her console and several
 incoming threats to the Ra Mari are rapid-fire flagged as either bouncing off
 its armor or else marked as priority targets. "All I did was drive the
 shuttle. The rest was all Ah-ri."

        "Are you sure you should be lecturing us about being careful and not
 the other way around?" she adds towards Rena, puffing up a little as she puts
 on the impression of being ruffled - and keeps it there as even Arriety of all
 people needles her. "All I'm saying is that it got real tough working out of a
 gym shed. I've got a newfound appreciation for plush carpet."

        She softens, because she can't really hold onto a joke when she's faced
 with Arriety's growth and the quietly proud smile it brings to her face. "...
 yeah. I've got your back, you've got mine." In service to that statement, she
 watches on as the pilot's focus abruptly sharpens. She can't help but compare
 it to 'before' - tracking Arriety's control, waiting to see if the fiery
 phenomenon begins to engulf the cockpit once more.

        --and suddenly having to work a lot faster to keep the battle plan
 updated, because what takes her most by surprise is the way Arriety is
 catching up to her processing speed.

        Something cuts into her attention in the midst of that work. She likes
 to describe herself jokingly as being a big router, but it's not that far from
 the truth when what she's fundamentally doing is facilitating the transfer of
 data between ships. She doesn't miss the brief distress signal from the other
 ship, or the data package that comes with it. "... something's wrong on the
 Dominion, but-- they say to keep going," she reports quietly. "Trying to get
 into their system to see if I can find a bridge camera."

        Just the occasional bout of electronic breach of access.

KTS: BC-001 Minae has activated the Resupply Spirit Command targeting Arriety
 Hearn

KTS: BC-001 Minae has activated the Prospect Spirit Command targeting Eight York
KTS: BC-001 Minae has activated the Attune Spirit Command targeting Yurika
 Misumaru

KTS: BC-001 Minae targets Arriety Hearn with Sparkle!
KTS: BC-001 Minae has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Ruri Hoshino orders an all-out attack, raising Natarle Badgiruel's Skill!
KTS: Rau Le Creuset fails to react to Puru Two's Qubeley MK-II Funnels - Spathi
 Formation, taking 5700 damage!

KTS: Rau Le Creuset partially guards Anita Rosetta's Beam Cannon Blast, taking
 1710 damage!

KTS: Rau Le Creuset fails to evade Lucine Azul's Lunate Crown v.2 Fireflies,
 taking 3000 damage!

KTS: Lucine Azul begins a Formation attack!

<Pose Tracker> Rau Le Creuset has posed.

        Rau takes just a moment to glance to the side as he receives a priority
 message from Jachin Due: Zala is dead.

        Hmmm.

        That's a shame.

        Rau reaches over and presses a button in his cockpit.

        ----

        Still trying to decide how to proceed from this point, the remaining
 officers in the Jachin Due command center have their conversation disrupted by
 beeping from the console Zala had been accessing. The one showing the
 incomplete firing sequence. Except, the system is now running on its own.

        "How is it doing that!?"
        "It doesn't matter! Shut it down!"

        One of the officers quickly starts typing, or trying to, before saying,
 "I'm locked out! The firing sequence is starting!"

        ----

        "Down fifty! Full burn!"

        The Ra Mari II starts unloading beams towards the Nazca fleet and
 GENESIS simultaneously. The Dominion and Arriety also join in with their own
 beam canons. The Nazcas begin manoeuvring, trying to avoid the shots. Some are
 successful, others are grazed, the beams ripping through them and taking some
 of their wepaons with them. One Nazca takes an unfortunate hit to a critical
 point, secondary explosions beginning to light across its surface before the
 entire ship explodes. The Nazcas don't take it lightly though, beginning to
 respond with their own beam cannons in response, green lancing out across
 space at their targets.

        Meanwhile, one of the Nazcas doesn't miss the power buildup coming from
 the Nadesico. Its engines start to burn brighter as it starts to quickly close
 in the Nadesico's direction. Is it making a suicide run? It doesn't reach the
 Nadesico just yet, but as it acceleratesit starts to unload its railguns at
 the Nergal vessel.

        As that Nazca moves forward, its Captian once again communicates,
 responding both to Natarle and Puru, <"Being complicit and defending this
 weapon... I don't know whether it'll bring a future we all wish for. A future
 of peace. All I do know is that I fight to protect. The PLANTs are threatened.
 Already two have been destroyed in this war. In a battle, it's you or the
 enemy. I choose to continue fighting to protect. At all costs.">

        ----

        <"Destroying everything IS the point! Humanity is a lost cause. The
 constant drive for greater power. Greater wealth. Greater control. Giving
 birth to weapons such as this! I'm also a creation of those sins. Created in
 the image of a man who wanted to use his wealth to achieve immortality. And as
 a result, I've lived a life of pain and suffering, destined to live little
 longer than I have so far, my body failing me even now.">

        Attacks continue to fly within the chamber. Having learned from
 previous mistakes, most have chosen methods that will render the Providence's
 Phase Shift Armor ineffective. And even Naoko's attack, still wholely physical
 in nature, is aimed at a DRAGOON instead. Probably reasoning the PSA there is
 not quite as strong. And she's right! The targetted DRAGOON is is hit by the
 two remote saucers, holding for a moment before it is finally torn assunder,
 reducing the Providence's firepower.

        But Rau seems unconcerned at this as he continues to weave his way
 through attacks, others striking and beginning to wear away his Gundam's
 armor. It's not until the Phenex Gundams grabs him in its magical grasp that
 the Providence stops for a moment. This presents an excellent opportunity,
 Puru's funnel barrage striking from one direction, while Hikaru's spear
 pounches through from another moments later. The team is starting to inflict
 some serious damage!

        To the Phenex Gundam, <"I remember you...">

        ... The Providence's thrusters fire up brightly as it pushes itself
 towards the Phenex Gundam trying to slam into it and drag it along with it to
 smash it into the chamber's wall. All the while, Rau is laughing. starts
 laughing, <"This needs to end! Humanity needs to end! And those that rise from
 the ashes will have a second chance. A chance to do it right. It's too late
 for any of you to stop anything now. It's already beginning!">

        ----

        Within the detonation chamber, an object of some kind is ejected out of
 a port at the bottom. It rapidly rushes upwards through the chamber. Quickly
 enough, a laser fires out of the chamber's top. It meets the object in the
 center.

        At which point there is a BRIGHT FLASH of light as a nuclear detonation
 occurs.

        The destructive force quickly spreads out to take up most of the
 chamber's interior. If the calculations were correct, only the outer edges are
 going to be spared the direct power of the incredible reaction. And even then,
 it's going to be a rough ride!

KTS: Rau Le Creuset targets Ryoko Subaru with Demoralize!
KTS: Rau Le Creuset targets Liam 7-020 with Demoralize!
KTS: Rau Le Creuset targets Koji Kabuto with Demoralize!
KTS: Rau Le Creuset targets Rena Lancaster with Demoralize!
KTS: Rau Le Creuset targets Naoko Suzuki with Demoralize!
KTS: Rau Le Creuset targets Riika Sheder with DRAGOON System Remote Bit Pattern
 Omega!

KTS: Rau Le Creuset targets Hikaru Amano with Demoralize!
KTS: Rau Le Creuset targets Lucine Azul with Demoralize!
KTS: Rau Le Creuset targets Puru Two with Demoralize!
KTS: Rau Le Creuset targets Anita Rosetta with Demoralize!
KTS: Rau Le Creuset targets Treize Khushrenada with Demoralize!
KTS: Rau Le Creuset has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Rau Le Creuset targets Rita Bernal with MA-MV05A Composite Armed Shield
 System Beam Blade Heavy Blow!

KTS: Rau Le Creuset demoralizes Rena Lancaster, reducing her Morale drastically.
KTS: [Spirit Defense] Rena Lancaster's Ultrasonic activates, and her spirit
 endures.

KTS: Rau Le Creuset demoralizes Anita Rosetta, reducing her Morale drastically.
KTS: [Spirit Defense] Anita Rosetta's Easygoing activates, and her spirit
 endures.

KTS: Rau Le Creuset demoralizes Koji Kabuto, reducing his Morale drastically.
KTS: [Spirit Defense] Koji Kabuto's Mazin Pride activates, and his spirit
 endures.

KTS: Mobile Weapon Team targets Eight York with Beam Turret Array Blast!
KTS: Mobile Weapon Team targets Natarle Badgiruel with Beam Turret Array Blast!
KTS: Mobile Weapon Team targets Arriety Hearn with Beam Turret Array Blast!
KTS: Mobile Weapon Team targets Yurika Misumaru with Ship Light Railgun Array
 Volley!

KTS: Mobile Weapon Team has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Eight York charges into the attack!
KTS: Eight York partially guards Mobile Weapon Team's Beam Turret Array Blast,
 taking 3660 damage!

KTS: Rita Bernal has activated the Dash Spirit Command and has disengaged.
KTS: Yurika Misumaru fails to retreat.
KTS: Yurika Misumaru fails to evade Mobile Weapon Team's Ship Light Railgun
 Array Volley, taking 4170 damage!

KTS: BC-001 Minae sparkles, reducing Arriety Hearn's incoming damage!
KTS: Riika Sheder has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Rau Le Creuset enervates Riika Sheder, reducing her Morale significantly.
KTS: Riika Sheder fails to Intercept Rau Le Creuset's DRAGOON System Remote Bit
 Pattern Omega, taking 8760 damage!

KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Rau Le Creuset's Welcomed By Power activates, causing Deject!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Rau Le Creuset's Unleashed By Anger activates, causing
 Nullify!

KTS: Rita Bernal rushes into the attack!
KTS: Rita Bernal partially guards Rau Le Creuset's MA-MV05A Composite Armed
 Shield System Beam Blade Heavy Blow, taking 5320 damage!

KTS: Rau Le Creuset has engaged Rita Bernal!
KTS: Arriety Hearn successfully evades Mobile Weapon Team's Beam Turret Array
 Blast

KTS: Natarle Badgiruel fails to evade Mobile Weapon Team's Beam Turret Array
 Blast, taking 4140 damage!

KTS: Rau Le Creuset demoralizes Hikaru Amano, reducing her Morale drastically.
KTS: Hikaru Amano has activated the Rouse Spirit Command.
KTS: Lucine Azul has activated the Alert Spirit Command.
KTS: Rau Le Creuset demoralizes Naoko Suzuki, reducing her Morale drastically.
KTS: [Spirit Defense] Naoko Suzuki's Guarded Mind activates, and her spirit
 endures.

KTS: Rau Le Creuset demoralizes Ryoko Subaru, reducing her Morale drastically.
KTS: [Spirit Defense] Ryoko Subaru's The First Star Inside Yourself activates,
 and her spirit endures.

KTS: Rau Le Creuset demoralizes Liam 7-020, reducing his Morale drastically.
KTS: Rau Le Creuset demoralizes Lucine Azul, reducing her Morale drastically.
KTS: Rau Le Creuset demoralizes Puru Two, reducing her Morale drastically.
KTS: Riika Sheder has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.

<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.

"Don't worry, Ah-ri," Rena answers. "I'm not planning to die here. And... and I
 understand, Minae."

She leans forward, eyes locked onto the Providence -- and the strange, eerie
 glow of the interior of GENESIS.

"Right... beam weapons," Rena agrees with Riika. "I'll drop it into flight form
 if I need to, but it's going to be tight in here. And... be careful, okay? We
 came this far together. I'd like to talk to you when the world's not falling
 apart, for once."

She flashes her a smile. Then, it's into the fray. The Gaia Gear Alpha's beam
 saber swings down -- and while it bites down, the Providence Gundam moves away
 -- and drags the Phenex with. She sucks a breath in -- and then the white
 Mobile Suit rockets after.

The beam saber is stuck back into the recharge rack. "Phenex...!" she calls
 out. "HANG ON!"

She swings around, fast, towards Rau's Gundam. Both hands point towards it --
 and then the undersides of the Gaia Gear's forearm armor drop down, revealing
 beam guns under each hand. The Providence has energy blasts from them both
 raining down into it. "You can be more than you were made to be!"

Rena shouts that at Rau. "You don't have to let that define you!"

KTS: Rena Lancaster targets Rau Le Creuset with Dual Hand Beam Guns!
KTS: Rena Lancaster has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Eight York has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
KTS: Eight York has activated the Attune Spirit Command.
KTS: Eight York has activated the Enable Spirit Command.

<Pose Tracker> Koji Kabuto has posed.

"Gotcha, Liam!" Koji replies - and power thrums throughout the
 superstructure they're fighting in.

"Damn it!" GENESIS is preparing to fire. This knowledge - that a terrible
 superweapon is about to wreak havoc on innocent people and there's nothing
 that can be done to stop it - might make an ordinary person panic, or despair.

Koji Kabuto gets mad instead.

"You're a goddamn idiot," he spits. "You can't see the people striving, day
 after day, to make the world a better place. You just see the fascists and the
 lunatics and you decided to go along with them and burn them all down, huh?"

"Well." The chest array of his Ichinana flares brighter and brighter. "If
 you're so committed to being the monster that burns down the world..."

The chest array is a searing white-hot now. The Ichinana lunges - to grab onto
 the Providence Gundam's arm and keep the Phase Shifted mobile suit close for
 this Special Occasion.

"You can burn first. Photon Power, FULL THROTTLE! GIVE IT EVERYTHING YOU'VE
 GOT, ICHINANA! BREAST FIIIIIIIIRE!!!"

This time, the heat blast is incandescent, bleaching the entire chamber in
 light and flame, with the Providence Gundam the dead-centre focal point of the
 inferno!

KTS: Natarle Badgiruel has activated the Resupply Spirit Command.
KTS: Koji Kabuto has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
KTS: Natarle Badgiruel has activated the Resupply Spirit Command.
KTS: Koji Kabuto targets Rau Le Creuset with Ichinana Full Volley!
KTS: Koji Kabuto has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> Eight York has posed.

"That's exactly right," Eight answers Arriety. "We're all doing our best.
 ...And you're one of us." It fills her with hope to see her old friend here
 again, fighting with them. She knows it may be more complicated than that for
 her--knows that there's things that have changed--but her presence to Arriety
 is a bright red beacon of will.

"Hey, I'll take it!" Eight answers Minae. "And it is a nice office, isn't it?"

The hangar is open, and welcoming; if Arriety and Minae do need to pull back,
 there's plenty of safety for them. ...But for now...

"Such focus," Eight murmurs of Arriety. "It's impressive..."

Then: "On it, ma'am!" the head mechanic says to Arriety when she communicates
 to the hangar team. A fresh-faced young Meltrandi is the one to load the
 Hyper Mega Launcher up in the cannon. "Firing in 3... 2... 1! Now!"

The Launcher rockets out of the ship, sailing gracefully to exactly the
 coordinates Arriety requested in perfect time.

Kazama glances back to Eight. "This pilot's important to you?" she wonders,
 but does not stop her focus on the battle. Instead, she says, "If so, I'll
 make sure to look out for her in particular!"

Eight nods. "That's right. I'll tell you all about her later. For now, let's
 look alive, folks! Chovan, continue evasive maneuvers!"

For the moment, she is unaware of what's going on aboard the Dominion, thanks
 to the man shooting the crew before they can get out warnings. But she
 suddenly has a bad feeling, and Minae is there to mention it. "Something
 wrong?" Eight confirms with Minae. "All right, keep me posted."

"Rezza," Eight says. "When Minae gets us a bridge camera on the Dominion, i'm
 putting you in charge of taking care of that. I'll focus on the main battle."

"Acknowledged," the taciturn green-haired tactician says.

Eight feels the fatalities of that ship, distantly, the one destroyed by their
 barrage. Her mouth thins into a line--but this is the battle they chose. So,
 when the officer aboard the Nazca speaks back to them again, this time, Eight
 has an answer.

"Do what you must. But I left the Federation, rather than remain a part of
 atrocities like Quintilius Five. ...I have sympathy for your position, but I
 won't hold back."

Eight sighs, and shakes her head. And then--

"Captain!" comes Lavhi's voice over the radio. "The cannon is fully charged.
 All weapons at 100% power. It is ready, at your command."

"...Thank you," Eight says. "Kazama, you heard him. Prepare the Converging
 Spinal Beam Cannon."

"On it," Kazama says, and flips open the glass case over the system--to press
 down on the button that activates the charge. The Ra Mari II begins to split.
  Its entire front hull section starts to peel back, huge chunks of metal
 structure moving out of the way to reveal a truly gigantic cannon, already
 lit up with teal radiation. The Converging Spinal Beam Cannon is revealed for
 the colossal weapon it is. Once, this weapon was used against the surfaces of
 planets for the Zentradi war machine. Now, its entire force is focused on the
 armor Generators of the GENESIS system. Brilliant, cascading light begins to
 suffuse the area in front of the ship. Anything in its path may well be
 destroyed; other ships.. the generator itself. This is a terrible weapon.

"These coordinates... on my mark." Eight breathes in. This is a weapon they
 had not sought to reveal. But it is necessary. So... "3... 2... 1."

"FIRE!"

A gigantic beam ERUPTS from the main cannon of the Zentradi Monitor, seeking to
 consume everything in its path towards the Phase Armor Generators of the
 GENESIS system. The entire Ra Mari II glows with the force of its blow.

And then it will quiet.

KTS: Eight York targets Mobile Weapon Team with Converging Spinal Beam Cannon -
 Full Power!

KTS: Eight York has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Rau Le Creuset demoralizes Treize Khushrenada, reducing his Morale
 drastically.

<Pose Tracker> Ryoko Subaru has posed.

"Really!? It means SUMMER?" Ryoko considers this for a short time as Lucine
 and Hikaru lay it out, considers herself and Hikaru and... "Well at least the
 two of us are in summer colors!? I GUESS?"

It also excludes poor Izumi.

"The rest of your power!? You better not have been holding back during
 training!" Apparently Ryoko does not yet know the anime lingo. A beat- "And
 noone's doing laps Lucine! Because this time none of us are so dumb as to
 fight the enemy's top ACE BY THEMSELVES! We're taking him down together!"

Koji quips about Hell and- let's be real, Ryoko was a Spacenoid kid, so she
 doesn't really know the horror of Doctor Hell minus being a vague boogeyman
 (And the Titans being a greater boogeyman in her time).

Still, not realizing she's talking to some famous hero, Ryoko says quickly,
 "<Heh. There won't be enough left of him for that when we're through.>"

Rau though starts to speak of his life, of humanity, of a dying man, and
 despite her best efforts she feels a pang of sympathy.

That sympathy however, gives rise to ANGER! "<So what!? You think your pain,
 your suffering, your grief gives you the right to inflict it on everyone else?
  You think some of us haven't thought about BURNING IT ALL DOWN at one time or
 another!?>"

Ryoko's Aestie zooms around the edge, skirting his periphery, relying on the
 IFS system to push her ahead of whatever Newtype senses Rau may have.

This time she charges right at him, encased in a Distortion Field, "<WE GOT
 OVER IT!>" She speaks about it almost like it was some teenage phase,
 "<BECAUSE WE REALIZED IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT OUR DAMAGE YOU SELF-ABSORBED PIECE OF
 SHIT!>"

And uses it to try and simply knock him out of position, "Hikaru! Lucine! Get
 him!"

KTS: Ryoko Subaru targets Rau Le Creuset with Killer Move - Set Up!!
KTS: Ryoko Subaru has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.

There is, of course, a titanic flash.

The huge surge of power from the nuclear explosion rattles the Gaia Gear Alpha;
 the white machine is hurtled forward, a little closer to the Providence
 Gundam. Then Rena's eyes widen, as she looks back at it.

"It's--it's starting the firing sequence!" she shouts. "We've got to stop it,
 soon...!"

If, she thinks, they can pull the timing off on this. It's already tight. It
 didn't include a ZAFT ace.

KTS: Rau Le Creuset fails to react to Rena Lancaster's Dual Hand Beam Guns,
 taking 5980 damage!

KTS: Rau Le Creuset fails to react to Koji Kabuto's Ichinana Full Volley,
 taking 8580 damage!

KTS: Koji Kabuto completes the Formation attack!

<Pose Tracker> Arriety Hearn has posed.

        Arriety may not be able to hear the banter on the Nadesico, but she'd
 agree with Yurika's sentiments too, no matter if Megumi finds them annoying!
 But even as the battle continues, something... feels wrong, and Minae's the
 one that speaks up regarding the matter. "... all right. Let me know if you
 need me to do anything," Arriety relents, because she really can't do anything
 when she's got her hands full engaging the Nazca-class ships.

        She notices Minae's pause, though, and as the Nazca Captain speaks to
 them a second time, she answers both of them at the same time. "... no, I get
 it. And you haven't done anything wrong, Minae. Everything you've done,
 whether it's to cross the line, or not, is because you're following your
 heart. And for some people, like the Captain here, it isn't as easy as
 turning on everything on a single dime. Because... a captain's responsible
 for more than just themselves, but everyone else under them. Because... there
 are people living back home that they can't just abandon. That's something
 Eight taught me, watching her grow into the role."

        Her eyes narrow, her pupils still at their smallest point. "But that's
 the same for me too. I've got a Home to protect. It's right here. So I'm
 not going to hesitate."

        But as an aside to Minae, she tries to lighten things up slightly.
 "You're truly a Brave if you're going for carpet in zero-Gravity. The
 cleanup..."

        Eight's beacon of stability and will is something that Arriety's leaned
 on for a long time in her life, and that won't change forever; it's under that
 presence that she can field this next burst -- as the Nazcas apply further
 pressure upon them, the Zeta Gundam weaving to-and-fro as Arriety repeatedly
 cuts and jukes through the lancing beams with a grimace; at one point, one of
 the shots glances against her shield, leaving a hot-white mark upon it, and
 another one seems poised to cut straight through them--

        "I can't die here."

        --leaving her to fuwastep out at the last moment, as a latch ditch
 manoeuvre, landing on a blind spot on the Ra Mari II's side.

        "The Nazcas are going for the Nadesico...!" she murmurs.

        Arriety's focus is distracted for a moment as she senses an enormous
 eruption from within GENESIS; she bites her lip, and decides that she can't
 waver in her focus right now. The Ra Mari II, however, unfurls in two, the
 front hull peeling back -- Arriety herself has to pull back before she gets
 caught up in the quasi-transformation. Teal radiation shimmers, and she flies
 well out of reach as the Converging Spinal Beam Cannon erupts.

        "... this power ..."

        It's not her job. She's here to make sure the battleships can focus on
 their duty of unleashing their all upon the GENESIS' generators. Then...

        "Minae, the Ra Mari II should have clearance after that shot for a
 moment -- I'm intercepting that Nazca-class!" Arriety calls. "Let me know if
 the situation changes."

        The Zeta Gundam contorts, its head pulling back as its chest literally
 flaps upwards -- and Arriety's racing out towards space to give chase to a
 threat to the Nadesico. She throws everything into the mix -- the beam guns
 and the mounted hyper mega launcher fire first, and when she's in red-lock
 range, the mobile suit reforms as she dumps the grenade launchers, empties her
 beam rifle e-pac, and finishes it off by throwing the Zeta's beam saber at the
 Nazca-class for good measure.

        "Hang in there, Ruri, Yurika, everyone. I'm with you."

KTS: Arriety Hearn has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Arriety Hearn targets Mobile Weapon Team with SEED Coordinated Assault!
KTS: Arriety Hearn has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> Treize Khushrenada has posed.

        Treize frowns as he hears the words of Rau over his comm, at one point
 he had hoped that perhaps Rau and him could have been friends and allies, and
 yet here is some one who thought might see world as he did standing against
 him declaring that humanity's existence is over.

         Taking a moment Treize steadies himself and gathers his thoughts
 before he responds to the enemy infront of him.

<" I am sorry to say that you are wrong. Humanity is not a lost cause. The
 humanity that is a part of the earth sphere continues to move and evolve and
 with it they will face the darkness that is in all mans heart and will
 continue to face. Darkness and light both exist as part of nature, and the law
 of nature says that a balance will continue to be fought for all time, however
 despite this continuing struggles humanity continues to exist, humanity
 continues to fight for a better tomorrow and humanity continues to strive
 against those that claim it is a loss cause. Rau Le Creuset, if you have lost
 faith in humanity it is you who has become lost. ">

         The Taurus begins to move once again as it shifts position and begins
 to fire rapidly as it closes intowards Providence. Perhaps it is at risk of
 endangering itself, there are plenty who may want to take a shot at him as
 well and kill two birds with one stone, but in a way this is Treize's fault
 and his guilt says he needs to do something more.

KTS: Treize Khushrenada has activated the Rouse Spirit Command.
KTS: Treize Khushrenada has activated the Rouse Spirit Command.
KTS: Treize Khushrenada targets Rau Le Creuset with Taurus Beam Rifle Closing
 Barrage!

KTS: Treize Khushrenada has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> Rita Bernal has posed.

Liam calls out to The Phenex, and she reaches a hand toward him, even as the
 fallen feathers of her shattered armor swirl around her, slowly catching on
 fire and burning in the same prismatic brilliance as the fire that propels the
 golden Gundam.

Liam! Stay back!

It's difficult to reach Liam in the waking world, but he may get a flash of
 Rita standing between his machine and the Phenex, holding her hands out in a
 'stop' motion. A great attack is coming. If Liam is close to her when Rau
 attacks, his machine will take catastrophic damage.

The weapon -- the Phenex sees it, in a flash of awareness. It will soon
 retaliate, and strike all present. With the cry of a great bird echoing in
 this strange chamber, the Phenex stretches her arms wide. Luminous power flows
 from her machine, racing to bolster those who call to the golden Gundam.

A singular golden bird soars up, out of the cockpit, and flaps its wings
 urgently. Racing to Rena's side, she fades through the walls of her Gaia Gear
 Alpha. Quickly moving to one side so as not to block Rena's view, the bird
 folds her wings, perching next to her friend.

Rena. Something bad is coming. I need your help.

Hovering amidst the battle, the Phenex's shields orbit her, trailing their
 tails of gold. Rau comes for her, and both shields raise, trying to stop his
 approach -- but he's too quick, too enraged. Slamming into the Phenex, she's
 propelled to the chamber wall.

Even now, she doesn't cry out, though her arms raise to try and grapple with
 the Gundam pinning her. Azure flame ignites as she pushes back with all her
 strength, resonating between two worlds.

Everyone! Brace yourselves! A great attack is coming! The Phenex calls, echoing
 her words to all who could hear her.

Only moments after, the chamber ignites in a nuclear detonation. The Phenex
 attempts to shield her allies with the light she sent to them, but she's in
 truly terrible shape. Her wings are cracked, one hanging in two pieces. The
 armor shielding her body is shattered -- revealing more of her blue inner
 fire. She cannot allow much more damage to occur -- she must be prepared for
 what is to come.

Not yet, her beloved murmurs, we can still be of use here.

Their hearts entwined, the Phenex rallies. Though her feathers fall from her in
 tatters, she burns brighter, brighter, forcing Rau's Gundam off of her and
 darting straight up.

This life... She broadcasts her voice to Rau. Isn't all there is.

Again and again...

Light gathers around the Phenex, stained kaleidoscopic where once it was pure
 blue.

We're reborn.

With a psychic cry, luminous fire races toward the enemy Gundam once more. It
 stays with him, swirling around the Providence in a brilliant cocoon of
 effervescent flame.

The Phenex droops, slowly sinking in her psychic flight.

KTS: Rita Bernal has activated the Trust Spirit Command targeting Liam 7-020

<Pose Tracker> Riika Sheder has posed.

Riika winces at something Puru Two - Callisto? They haven't met - says. "This
 isn't what the people of PLANTs want," she says. "It's him. Probably some
 other people agree with him, but... not everybody. Not even close. They just
 want to live, safe at home, the same as anyone else."

Signaling an affirmative to Rena, Riika reorients her unit again, guiding
 Svalinn Feather through an increasingly complex hail of fire. She's really
 putting it through its paces and it looks like she's actually going to get to
 Rau - until disaster strikes.

A stray DRAGOON, knocked off the flight line of the others, carves a line
 directly through Svalinn Feather's left wing, shearing it off entirely in a
 spray of half-melted metal, shattered fragments, and sparks. This being an
 area without atmosphere, Riika doesn't immediately pinwheel out of control,
 but a whole bunch of red lights pop up in her cockpit and her fingers fly a
 mile a minute as she tries to readjust Svalinn.

But Riika manages it. Svalinn comes to a stop, floating, one-winged. Riika
 debates just ejecting the entire thing, but it won't make much of a
 difference, and the launchers on the other wing still work.

And yet she actually finds time to respond to Rau.

"That doesn't give you the right!" Riika continues to type, planning a maneuver
 - she has a moment to plot it before she activates. And so she actually turns
 on her video transmission: in one of those strangely shaped ZAFT-style
 helmets, with her goggles-like visor on underneath, held on by two straps. Her
 eyes are invisible behind it. "I, too, am a 'failed Coordinator'. A mistake.
 I'm not dying because of it, and I can't imagine what it's like, but I
 wouldn't have a life doing what I like without everything the PLANTs gave me."

"But none of that - none of that! - gives you the right to decide that, because
 you're hurting, that everyone else has to hurt too! Because you're dying, that
 everyone else has to die! I'll protect the people of the PLANTs, and the other
 colonies, and - yes, even Earth - from someone who thinks that! People are
 better than that! Not Coordinators - people!"

The explosion erupts and her communications immediately end. Riika, up near the
 edge of the room, practically presses Svalinn against it. She flicks on
 emergency cooling systems and, simultaneously, deploys a dummy balloon from
 Svalinn's backpack. The balloon isn't meant to be a decoy - she uses the
 inflated balloon as padding so she can press up against the wall more safely,
 without damaging Svalinn.

The explosion clears. The dummy balloon is still there, a pinkish blob. It must
 have had a slow puncture because it is drifting and slowly deflating, not much
 of a decoy. Svalinn is not present.

Riika turns on the beam glaive at the last instant as she charges toward
 Providence Gundam from behind, slashing out with a wide sweep from the
 long-hilted, long-bladed polearm and using the speed of her movement to
 increase the power of her blow. She has *enough* operating thrusters to do
 this. Just enough, even though she's trailing broken armour from the shattered
 wing.

KTS: Rita Bernal has activated the Trust Spirit Command targeting Rena Lancaster
KTS: Rita Bernal has activated the Trust Spirit Command targeting Naoko Suzuki
KTS: Riika Sheder targets Rau Le Creuset with JS-F03 Isarnkoll Beam Glaive -
 Glaive Mode Sweep!

KTS: Riika Sheder has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Rita Bernal targets Rau Le Creuset with Eos!
KTS: Rita Bernal has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Mobile Weapon Team partially guards Eight York's Converging Spinal Beam
 Cannon - Full Power, taking 8400 damage!

KTS: Eight York roots her unit, coming to a standstill and leaving her
 vulnerable.

<Pose Tracker> Hikaru Amano has posed.

"Flowers in the summer, huh? That's actually really pretty..." Hikaru starts,
 and then considers the point about Izumi's not matching in. "Maybe we
 should've been spring themed... because we're always springing into action!"
 Even if she isn't here, Hikaru can at least make her puns in her stead.

"Holding back against YOU, Ryoko? I don't even think that's possible!" She
 pouts. "Instead of laps, we'll get to put together a victory party! Hopefully
 without needing to do laps to make up for it after..."

And then she's in full focus as the GENESIS begins to flash - they're running
 out of time. The best Hikaru can do is psyche herself for the grand arc
 finale. "It's not over 'till it's over. Let's get to burning, shall we!" She
 follows on Ryoko and Koji's conversation.

And as Ryoko's distortion field roars... Hikaru knows it's time for Formation
 Amaryllis. That's a flower too, huh! Ryoko takes the front, that leaves Hikaru
 room to take the back. "Nice weapon, chump! Too bad for you it's only ever
 gonna be for show... no one gets the right to fire something like that!"

Switching to private comms to Ryoko and Lucine, she comes up with a "plan".
 "Alright! Once we got him pinned down, we'll get him with our strongest
 attacks! Ryoko: let's do Formation Gekigan, Lucine: I'll leave your special
 move up to you~!" Geez, who made her squadron leader?

And the distortion field charges forward with the hope they'll stop Rau just
 long enough to make sure he'll never get he chance to fire that weapon.

KTS: Hikaru Amano targets Rau Le Creuset with Killer Move: Start!!
KTS: Hikaru Amano has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Mobile Weapon Team partially guards Arriety Hearn's SEED Coordinated
 Assault, taking 5640 damage!

KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Arriety Hearn's SEED activates, causing Insight L1!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Arriety Hearn's SEED activates, causing Jam L1!

<Pose Tracker> Puru Two has posed.

Traded beam-fire ricochets through the GENESIS interior. Showers of sparks
 stretch for the heavens with each blast's impact. The Qubeley releases its
 grasp on that interior support and drops, by way of vernier blast, out of
 harm's way. Its many funnels whisk home, slipping past that enormous black
 cloak and docking with their berth once more.

A voice reaches Puru Two's ears once more:

        <"Destroying everything IS the point! Humanity is a lost cause. The
 constant drive for greater power. Greater wealth. Greater control. Giving
 birth to weapons such as this!">

Her pupils shrink as irritation surges to fury. "It's the same song every time!
 You Great Men who can't see a way out of a problem other than to kill everyone
 involved! You're pathetic!" the Qubeley clenches a clawed fist in emphasis.

        <"I'm also a creation of those sins. Created in the image of a man who
 wanted to use his wealth to achieve immortality.">

The claws open again, and the Zeonic mobile suit fires a frustrated blast at
 the distant Providence. But this is a cutscene, and not a mechanical battle,
 so it flies wide. The shooting is but a vehicle for the words. "You don't have
 to let that define you, damn it! From one clone to another, you don't have to
 keep a wall around your heart!" there's a meaty thump as Puru Two slams her
 center console with balled-up hands in wild frustration.

                (... closed hearts cause nothing but tragedy ...)

It's obvious that the pilot of the Providence Gundam's convictions won't be
 swayed by such idle yelling. To add to that, a vaguely familiar voice--that of
 Riika Sheder's--shines some light on the situation: once again, a madman
 claims to speak for more than he actually does.

(It's true, they haven't met -- 'Callisto' has been absent on the RMII dealing
 with something she won't elaborate on.)

"Of course it isn't what they want," Puru Two retorts, bitter and angry. "It's
 happening again, just like all those years ago. I hate it!" she doesn't sound
 angry -at- Riika, no, more like angry at the situation. At fate. At failing
 her own, personal little Axis Moment.

There's a great sense of urgency beamed into the girl's head, a message from
 far beyond. The Phenex, that peace-loving harbinger of omens, certainly means
 well. "Wait, what's coming? An attack on--?"

The chamber at the heart of GENESIS undergoes a critical nuclear reaction.
 Understandably, the Qubeley vanishes behind whatever meagre cover it can find
 in such a place, in the shadows of the efforts of others, rather than face
 such an elemental force head-on.

KTS: BC-001 Minae has activated the Resupply Spirit Command targeting Natarle
 Badgiruel

KTS: Natarle Badgiruel has activated the Attune Spirit Command.
KTS: Natarle Badgiruel targets Mobile Weapon Team with Dominion Full Barrage!
KTS: Natarle Badgiruel has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> Natarle Badgiruel has posed.

To their credit, the pilots of the Dominion's mobile suit unit are
 exceptionally well trained. Few of them had, up to this point, ever been
 heroes... They'd never gotten the chance in the BU Spacy. But that just
 meant none of the usual Britannian muckrakers had so much as blinked when
 she'd submitted her transfer requests. So she'd gotten a dozen of Britannia's
 best.

So when Omoikane and the Electron Fairy give her her opening... Captain
 Badgiruel can afford to bet it all on one covert order.

A beam rifle shot lances back out of the chaos ahead, something the defensive
 systems of the Dominion would normally easily swat aside with depth charge
 deployment. Those systems remain silent. It splashes just under the bridge,
 impossibly precise, scorching a hole in the deck below, which shudders out a
 gasp of atmosphere before sealing off. But it's already been evacuated.

Natarle only requested the best.

The explosion jostles the bridge. It doesn't give her time for much, and
 Azrael is swinging his arm back round, but when he squeezes the trigger,
 Montoya is on him. The shot goes wide, though she takes a nasty swipe in
 return that splits her lip. Still, the scuffle gives Natarle enough time to
 reach under the armrest... and fish out that discarded pistol from the other
 day. Leveling it a little unsteady in her left hand, she keeps it square on
 the representative - and he swings his to match. Montoya has him from the
 side - he's caught, but he's still smiling.

"I can... at least kill you... for ruining everything. I hope that bastard
 Khushrenada burns in there, so we can be rid of him too. Now be a good girl
 while I put an end to this stupid piece of space garbage."

Muruta Azrael whirls to squeeze the trigger - Montoya pulls just a little bit
 slower - but it's Azrael who slumps, clutching his arm near the elbow, as his
 empty gun clatters to the floor.

"...Don't they at least teach you high class idiots how to count? Montoya,
 call for a stretcher. At least he can't complain about not needing Medical
 this time."

Huffing, a little pale, Natarle makes two requests from her command console.
 The first is for shipboard EMTs - she's going to need help staying upright in
 the long term. The second, of course, is re-aligning her data with what the
 Nadesico's provided. The Dominion swings wide of its fellow battleship,
 orienting towards GENESIS... but when the cannons roar, it's joined by a
 total barrage aimed to batter the Nazca-class vessels aside.

KTS: Puru Two targets Rau Le Creuset with Pass!
KTS: Puru Two has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> Naoko Suzuki has posed.

"...It worked? It worked! Hahaha, it worked!" This is... probably a bit too
 much excitement for what is but a small victory in the grand scheme of things,
 but for Naoko, this feels huge. She managed to not only dodge remote bits, but
 fight back against them. She never would have dreamed that she'd be testing
 theories in any sort of live fire exercise, let alone a battle for the fate of
 the planet, but... in the end, she still can't help but feel a rush of
 excitement at what she was able to accomplish.

Before her two friends can remind her to stay focused on her opponent, however,
 Naoko's attention is drawn to her instruments, all of her screens turning red
 as they blare a pre-programmed warning.

> NUCLEAR REACTION IMMINENT

"Wh-what? It's starting??" Though this is likely hard to miss, she tries her
 best to make sure no one will, wasting no time in broadcasting through an open
 channel. <"It's about to fire, we have to hurry!!">

She has to reach the edge of the chamber, right now. She can't think about
 anything else, terrified of getting caught in that nuclear reaction. The
 remote saucers return to the Sukeban, and with all thrusters at full speed, it
 pulls away towards the outer walls.

Where she has a clear view of the Phenex, struggling against the Providence.
 And she can hear Rita's voice, calling out, clear as day. Looks like she can
 think about something else, after all. Or not really think about anything at
 all, her Arm Slave taking the massive metal club off its back and charging
 Rau's Gundam, full speed.

"Hey! If you want things to end so much, why don't you go on ahead to Hell! Eat
 this! Wrath! Of! Enma!!"

With a powerful swing, backed by the thrusters on the Sukeban's arms and the
 Arm Slave's own momentum, a massive electric current is discharged from its
 weapon, aiming to supplement the physical force with a disruption of the
 Providence Gundam's systems.

KTS: Naoko Suzuki has activated the Foresee Spirit Command.
KTS: Naoko Suzuki targets Rau Le Creuset with Wrath of Enma!
KTS: Naoko Suzuki has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Rau Le Creuset partially guards Ryoko Subaru's Killer Move - Set Up!,
 taking 5280 damage!

KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Ryoko Subaru's In the End All I Do Is... activates, causing
 Insight L1!

KTS: Ryoko Subaru has engaged Rau Le Creuset!
KTS: Ryoko Subaru begins a Formation attack!

<Pose Tracker> Anita Rosetta has posed.

Rau laughs - laughs at the possibility of impending destruction. And Anita...
 frowns.

"...I feel sorry for you, man. There's a lot of good in this world - I guess
 you just haven't gotten the chance to see any of it." Anita replies with a
 frown. "There's more to life and humanity than jerks with more power than
 sense deciding who they hate this week. We'll take 'em down in time. As for
 you - if you don't wanna open your eyes, then I guess we'll just have to take
 you down with them. We're not going to let a thing like this stop us. Things
 are gonna keep going after this, with or without you. It's up to you how you
 wanna be remembered."

The beam cannon opens fire again, this time, unleashing a pair of shots one
 after the other. She hasn't gone for anything big, yet. She has to save her
 energy...

One of the reasons for that happens now, as Anita's sensors go wild and start
 to warn her. Something big is coming - destructive force begins to fill the
 chamber. They knew this would happen, though.

"...Let's hope that lady was right about this." Anita mutters. Her Valkyrie
 turns, accelerating for the outer edges of the chamber. Her cyborg body, in
 addition to the other precautions everyone's taken should provide her some
 protection against this... hopefully it'll be enough.

"...Our time's coming up. Get ready, everyone." Anita says. Good thing she's a
 sharpshooter - she's used to waiting for just the right time to take the shot.
 And here and now, they all need to wait for just the right moment...

KTS: Anita Rosetta targets Rau Le Creuset with Beam Cannon Double Shot!
KTS: Anita Rosetta has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> Yurika Misumaru has posed.

        "Captain! Energy readings from GENESIS are rising rapidly!" Megumi
 declares, sending alarms ringing through the Nadesico's bridge. The mood
 tenses ever further, Yurika suddenly hopping a few inches in the air, both
 hands flying to her cheeks.

        "W-w-wait they're still in there though! Does that mean they haven't
 managed to stop it!?" Darting back up to the upper bridge level just to get a
 better view of the monitors, Yurika, breathless and leaning her hands on her
 knees after a most impressive sprint, briefly raises a hand to signal the
 lowering of the ship's barrier to better fire off.

        "We're not finished charging yet but - fire off at once...and get
 closer to GENESIS as much as possible! There's a really good chance the
 infiltrators have to get out of there really quick - and there's a really good
 chance people in there are gonna be in bad shape, so we'll need to retrieve
 them as soon as possible! Besides - we may need to have gas in the tank to
 fire on GENESIS itself...all engines, get us closer to the reaction FROM THE
 BACK SIDE, PLEASE, and we'll send the Gravity Blast in a nice litle arc!"

        The seeming...oddness about the Dominion's positioning throws Yurika
 off - the messaging is scattered and chaotic from the ship, and its movements
 seem...delayed, somehow. "...b-be careful with that Londo Bell vessel, it
 looked like it might catch us in the crossfire there for a while...!"

KTS: Yurika Misumaru targets Mobile Weapon Team with Gravity Blast - Wide
 Spread!

KTS: Yurika Misumaru has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.

        'Destroying everything IS the point! Humanity is a lost cause!'

        A chill races through Liam's body, followed by a sense of numb
 emptiness. "<You don't-->" he whispers, but oh, Rau means it.

        There were moments, late at night, when a younger Subject 7-020
 wondered the same.

        The others' anger pours in to fill that void in Liam's self. Koji.
 Ryoko. Liam's hands tighten on the controls. "<So you want to die in a way
 that you want,>" he says, "<and take the rest of us with you. Because we're
 all monsters, and monsters have to die.>" His thoughts flicker back to Akane
 saying a few words that said so much about her. Words that felt true to
 him, when they met in Bujack's dream, and Bujack sank its claws into him.
 "<That's not true!>" Liam's voice breaks on the last word.

        Then--

        "<Rita?>" Liam compensates instinctively; the Long Dagger jets back,
 and raises its shield. Something fuzzy and hazy--a vision he can only
 half-process--settles into his eyes. "<Rita!>" She's warning him.

        Something ejects from the side of the firing chamber. Liam's guts
 twist; it's a 99% match for the nuclear warhead in the schematics Inez shared.
 "<Back. GET BACK! IT'S FIRING!>" That twist turns into a sudden spike of
 panic. Liam is in motion before he realizes what he's doing; the Long Dagger
 holsters the rifle, jets for the Dianthus, and then grabs the smaller machine
 by its shoulder. There's another of those gut-wrenching U-turns, and Liam
 drags the smaller machine with him. With fractions of a second left to go,
 Liam throws the Long Dagger between the Dianthus and the explosion.

        The wash of Rita's brilliant light--protecting him and Lucine--is the
 last thing he sees as the outside world goes white.

        Liam counts signals as the flash fades. No one was incinerated. The
 suit's geiger sensors report hellishly radioactive conditions outside, but
 that was to be expected.

        "<Acknowledged, Anita. Remember the plan. Remember, execute.>"

        Liam gets a lock on the Providence again, and starts pouring fire
 downrange with the Beam Rifle. This is it. They either succeed, or they die.
 Liam is deeply familiar with tests like this, except this time, he's not alone.

KTS: Liam 7-020 has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
KTS: Liam 7-020 targets Rau Le Creuset with M703 Beam Rifle Rapid Beams!
KTS: Liam 7-020 has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Mobile Weapon Team partially guards Natarle Badgiruel's Dominion Full
 Barrage, taking 8160 damage!

KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Natarle Badgiruel's Sharp Eyes activates, causing Designate
 L1!

KTS: Mobile Weapon Team has been defeated!
KTS: Natarle Badgiruel roots her unit, coming to a standstill and leaving her
 vulnerable.

KTS: Mobile Weapon Team fails to react to Yurika Misumaru's Gravity Blast -
 Wide Spread, taking 6890 damage!

KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Yurika Misumaru's I've Got a Plan! activates, causing
 Control Bonus!

KTS: Mobile Weapon Team has been defeated!

<Pose Tracker> Ruri Hoshino has posed.

        "GENESIS has begun its firing sequence," Ruri reports, stoic. "Internal
 chamber now flooding with nuclear energy. Calculating a 10% safe zone from
 direct damage around the chamber's walls." Which is to say, she believes about
 90% of the chamber's central surface area will be irridated with...

        Ruri's expression doesn't shift, as she considers the reality of her
 co-workers -- her friends -- cooking in their flesh.

        "Captain," Megumi reports, a hand to her headset, "one of the
 Nazca-classes are targeting us directly, too! We're getting a line in --" she
 facilitates the Captain's words, and she frowns, clearly bothered.

        Megumi is relieved, at least, to hear Arriety's transmission.
 "Thanks, Arriety," the purple-haired communications officer transmits back to
 the Ra Mari's attache. "We're counting on you, too." She can't quite keep the
 tension out of her voice, but...

        Ruri, at least, is more collected. "The Ra Mari II has launched its
 Spinal Beam Cannon," she reports, stoic. "The Dominion is still targeting
 GENESIS, Captain. Now firing Gravity Beam Cannon..."

        And she does.

        Ruri wonders what life will be like if Earth isn't here any more.

        "... even if that happens," she supposes, to herself, "we'll all be
 dead, anyway." So there's no point wondering.

<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.

        < ".... You.... Y-you..." > Lucine has trouble finding flowery words to
 speak to some point or virtue. It's not a point of proving anything to Rau
 right now; she was just trying to beef up her own self-confidence. < ".... So
 I'm going to lose everything to you.... it wasn't enough for you to throw away
 your friends, your allies, *everything*, you don't want Earth to even *exist*
 after you're done. You're disgusting...." > She shakes her head, as tears
 begin to float from her cheeks. < ".... I'm glad I didn't die to you, back
 then." > Back when she tried to *take on Rau herself* not realizing who or
 what he was, but that's besides the point. < "... It would have been
 humiliating to have survived Mars, then die to a man who can't even appreciate
 what he had..." >

        "...." As her stomach drops, Lucine's senses fail to grasp the full
 enormity of what's coming. Something is coming, something big, something,
 danger, danger, go, flee, run, fear, run, death, go

        The blast is beginning.

        The world is spinning.

        She's going to lose everything, again, isn't she? What use is any of
 it? She can't outfly a nuclear blast. Where will she go? Space is cold.

        No, it's... the Long Dagger, in front of her, shielded in the Phenex's
 light.

        Lucine presses her right knuckle to her lips, trying to regain her
 wits. "... Liam..."

        'Hikaru! Lucine! Get him!'
        'Ryoko: let's do Formation Gekigan, Lucine: I'll leave your special
 move up to you~'

        < ".... Ah, right. Liam's got me." > She breaths. < ".... Rau Le
 Creuset's in my sights. Liam, turn 20 degrees left, angle .03 downwards.
 That'll be good, for me." > The Dianthus steadies its Arbalest over the Long
 Dagger. Lucine's gold eyes widen.

        < ".... Please go to hell." > She fires.

KTS: Lucine Azul targets Rau Le Creuset with Argen-21 Beam Arbalest Orion Shot!
KTS: Lucine Azul has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Rau Le Creuset partially guards Treize Khushrenada's Taurus Beam Rifle
 Closing Barrage, taking 3000 damage!

KTS: Treize Khushrenada has engaged Rau Le Creuset!
KTS: Treize Khushrenada completes the Formation attack!
KTS: Rita Bernal anchors Rau Le Creuset, forcing him into close range.
KTS: Rau Le Creuset blocks Rita Bernal's Eos, taking 990 damage!
KTS: Rita Bernal has engaged Rau Le Creuset!
KTS: BC-001 Minae has activated the Resupply Spirit Command targeting Koji
 Kabuto

KTS: Koji Kabuto has activated the Trick Spirit Command.
KTS: Rau Le Creuset blocks Riika Sheder's JS-F03 Isarnkoll Beam Glaive - Glaive
 Mode Sweep, taking 2900 damage!

KTS: Riika Sheder has engaged Rau Le Creuset!
KTS: Rau Le Creuset fails to react to Hikaru Amano's Killer Move: Start!,
 taking 3960 damage!

KTS: Hikaru Amano has engaged Rau Le Creuset!
KTS: Hikaru Amano begins a Formation attack!

<Pose Tracker> BC-001 Minae has posed.

        Minae nominally intercepts the incoming Hyper Beam Launcher, but
 truthfully there isn't a whole lot to intercept outside of simply marking its
 presence in space for the Zeta to link up to. Everything is smoother than she
 could have hoped, from her own return to the copilot console to Arriety's
 piloting skills. There are still worries, of course, but they're less
 immediate than they could be. "Just be careful in there yourself," she notes
 to Rena and Anita both, a solemn note somewhere behind her usual upbeat nature.

        "Mm, I will do," her next reply is to Eight and Arriety instead, as she
 parcels off a piece of her attention to try to get into the Dominion's systems
 and get some idea of what might be happening on the ship's bridge. "But, I
 think it's alright to keep going. At the very least, they're putting their
 trust in us and the Nadesico."

        Turning her head a little to listen to Arriety's thoughts, the robot
 slowly nods her head. "... and on top of that, it's the steps that have led us
 all here. It's easy to say you should just set aggression aside, but it's
 rarely that simple. You could ask a hundred different people where this all
 started, and probably get a hundred different answers." The words are a little
 melancholy, but the tone is not. From Minae's point of view, that's just part
 of what being human - what having a heart - means. It might not be the most
 desirable part, but she's well enough aware that it's not a matter of just
 cutting away the bits of it you don't want.

        "It's worth it," she adds with a huff of determination and a brighter
 grin. "You just wait 'til you're rolling around on it."

        Another part of her consciousness finally breaks through into the
 Dominion's systems right at the same time as the battleship appears to
 willingly take on fire; the video feed she manages to access is scratchy and
 distorted from the damage, but it's enough. "Dominion, this is Minae from
 Three Ships. Are you okay? You--" the ship is moving again, and its cannons
 roar. "You, uh, seem like you're doing better."

        She marks the rising energy signature instead, and-- anxious or not,
 she can't help but add it into her tracking. It's a potential threat, and
 she'd be remiss if she didn't. "It's okay," she quickly says back to the pilot
 with her, her voice gentle. "Everyone else is there. They've got it under
 control, just like we've got things here." ... 'under control' might be a bit
 too optimistic, but she holds onto that thought dearly as her computations
 shift like water, flowing along the lines of Arriety's piloting.

        She's forced into concentration - for the most part. There's the
 tiniest pause as her fingers still, and she looks up with a deep-set frown.
 "Please remind me to drag Ruri into my office sometime."

        Oh no!!

KTS: Rau Le Creuset fails to react to Puru Two's Pass, taking 0 damage!
KTS: BC-001 Minae has activated the Rouse Spirit Command targeting Eight York
KTS: Rau Le Creuset fails to react to Naoko Suzuki's Wrath of Enma, taking 7670
 damage!

KTS: Naoko Suzuki has engaged Rau Le Creuset!
KTS: Naoko Suzuki completes the Formation attack!
KTS: BC-001 Minae targets Arriety Hearn, Yurika Misumaru, and Natarle Badgiruel
 with Awe.

KTS: BC-001 Minae has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Rau Le Creuset fails to react to Anita Rosetta's Beam Cannon Double Shot,
 taking 3840 damage!

KTS: Rau Le Creuset fails to react to Liam 7-020's M703 Beam Rifle Rapid Beams,
 taking 5460 damage!

KTS: Rau Le Creuset fails to react to Lucine Azul's Argen-21 Beam Arbalest
 Orion Shot, taking 7410 damage!

<Pose Tracker> Rau Le Creuset has posed.

The nuclear explosion quickly fades with nothing in the void to keep its
 effects persistant. Except for all the energy it released in the form of
 radiation. Which under normal circumstances would be CONCERNING, even for the
 mobile weapons that are no doubt shielded due to the necessity of operating in
 space.

        However, all the radiation is being absorbed. Thankfully not by the
 pilots. Not thankfully, instead by the numerous panels lining the chamber
 walls. Energy levels within GENESIS rapidly begin rising as it gathers the
 energy unleashed by the blast. That energy begins to crackle along the chamber
 walls, barely contained within the weapon's transfer systems.

        All the while, the structure pointing out of the chamber wall, the
 primary emitter responsible for firing the first laser... It begins to glow
 ominously.

        This is it! This is signal that they need to destroy the emitter. Now!

        The Phase Shift Armor isn't down yet... But everyone inside will have
 to trust that those outside will get the job done!

        ----

        After the detonation has subsided, Rau snorts in response to Rena,
 <"I've been all I'm ever going to be. Didn't you hear me? I'm dying! Keep up.">

        The Providence struggles against the Phenex. Had this been a one on one
 duel, the Providence likely would have been able to overpower the other Gundam.

        But of course, Rita is not fighting alone!

        Koji closes in, trying to grab Rau and unleash a deadly powerful blast
 up close. But Rau instead chooses to back up, leaving the Phenex be and using
 barrages from his DRAGOONs to ward Koji off, even as the attack partially
 strikes him, <"Of course I see other people! They pretend to care. Pretend to
 make the moral choice. When in reality, they're all just as rotten to the
 core, deluding themselves. Wearing the mask society demands from them! We're
 all selfish, wanting creatures. Some of us just choose to accept that instead
 of trying to hide it!">

        Riika charges Rau from behind, but he's aware of her. He spins around,
 blocking her glaive with his saber, <"This is not only my doing! There's no
 way I could amass this kind of power on my own. This is the doing of so many!
 The engineers who built this. The one directing its firing. Those in the
 Federation who encouraged it with their nuclear attack. The man who created
 Coordinators, feeding those people's racism. A feat such as this requires so
 many, across so long, to accomplish! HOW CAN IT NOT BE THE COLLECTIVE WILL OF
 HUMANITY!?">

        Several beam shots aimed by Liam and Lucine threaten to break through
 the Providence's weakened armor and do some serious damage. But before they
 can manage to do so, a couple of DRAGOONs rush in, placing themselves in the
 path of those beams and taking the shots. They are destroyed in the process,
 but it's an acceptable loss as Rau continues fighting, <"Of course, not
 everyone will be dead. But those who survive will have a difficult journey
 ahead. Either they band together and survive, or humanity truly is worth
 ending and so will just die off!">

        The remaining DRAGOONs continue their assault against everyone, joined
 by shots from the Providence's main large beam rifle. It's clear from the
 machine's movements that it's starting to succumb to the damage it's
 receiving. But Rau's mad determination is pushing it to its limits, keeping it
 going.

        ----

        The Ra Mari II is the first one able to get its massive gun off at the
 section of GENESIS's surface. Having already taken a pounding from continous
 fire from the vessels, the layers of armor, reinforced by the energy of the
 Phase Shift Armor system, begin to melt and buckle under the strain of the
 ginourmous cannon.

        But it's still not enough. As the light from the Ra Mari's weapon
 fades, there's now a more noticeable hole in the armor. But it's still not all
 the way through yet.

        Arriety shows her concern for the Nadesico, starting to give chase on
 that lead Nazca with all the weapons she has at her disposal. And they prove
 effective, tearing through the ship's armour, blowing off weapons, ripping
 holes open in it... But still the ship flies on.

        Unfortunately, Arriety's attacks delay it and it's too late. The
 Nadesico's gravity cannon fires, reaching out towards GENESIS and into the
 hole previously created by the Ra Mari II. Even more of its structure is
 ripped apart, the massive weapon drilling down into the large station.

        And yet, as the weapon fades, IT'S STILL NOT ENOUGH.

        But, there is hope! There, within the hole formed by the firing of two
 warships worth of massive guns, are a set of generators. The armor protecting
 them mostly torn away.

        On the bridge of the lead Nazca, the sight is clear to see. There's
 only one thing left to do... The Captain says, "All hands... Abandon ship."
 Some of the bridge crew begin to leave, following the orders. Others though,
 decide to decline.

        "No. We're not leaving."
        "Yeah, it's just getting good!"
        "We are with you, Captain."

        "... Very well. Set course... Put us between those ships and the
 generators." As escape pods begin to jettison from it, the Nazca alters course
 away from the Nadesico and instead moves closer towards GENESIS.

        Soon reaching a point between the superweapon and the hostile warships,
 it turns towards them. At this angle, it'll be impossible to avoid hitting the
 ship without repositioning somewhere else. And there's not enough time for
 that!

        As for the other Nazcas, the Dominion's barrage proves effective. A
 couple are struck seriously, one even completely exploding under the assault,
 its damage too severe to survive. This effectively finishes off the Nazcas
 except for the lead. Which floats ahead of them, shielding the generators
 beyond.

KTS: Rau Le Creuset targets Riika Sheder with Demoralize!
KTS: Rau_Le_Creuset Changes attack to Ryoko Subaru, Liam 7-020, Koji Kabuto,
 Rena Lancaster, Naoko Suzuki, Rita Bernal, Hikaru Amano, Lucine Azul, Puru
 Two, Anita Rosetta, and Treize Khushrenada with DRAGOON System Remote Bit
 Pattern Eta.

KTS: Rena Lancaster has activated the Focus Spirit Command.
KTS: Rau Le Creuset rattles Anita Rosetta, making her next maneuvers more
 difficult.

KTS: Anita Rosetta blocks Rau Le Creuset's DRAGOON System Remote Bit Pattern
 Eta, taking 3240 damage!

KTS: Rena Lancaster has activated the Focus Spirit Command.
KTS: Rau Le Creuset enervates Rena Lancaster, reducing her Morale significantly.
KTS: Rau Le Creuset rattles Rena Lancaster, making her next maneuvers more
 difficult.

KTS: Rena Lancaster fails to evade Rau Le Creuset's DRAGOON System Remote Bit
 Pattern Eta, taking 5940 damage!

KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Rau Le Creuset's Welcomed By Power activates, causing Deject!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Rau Le Creuset's Unleashed By Anger activates, causing
 Nullify!

KTS: Rita Bernal has activated the Trust Spirit Command.
KTS: Liam 7-020 rushes into the attack!
KTS: [Spirit Defense] Liam 7-020's Catecholamine Regulation System activates,
 and his spirit endures.

KTS: Rau Le Creuset enervates Liam 7-020, reducing his Morale significantly.
KTS: Rau Le Creuset rattles Liam 7-020, making his next maneuvers more
 difficult.

KTS: Liam 7-020 partially guards Rau Le Creuset's DRAGOON System Remote Bit
 Pattern Eta, taking 6480 damage!

KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Rau Le Creuset's Welcomed By Power activates, causing Deject!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Rau Le Creuset's Unleashed By Anger activates, causing
 Nullify!

KTS: Koji Kabuto charges into the attack!
KTS: Rau Le Creuset rattles Koji Kabuto, making his next maneuvers more
 difficult.

KTS: Koji Kabuto partially guards Rau Le Creuset's DRAGOON System Remote Bit
 Pattern Eta, taking 5130 damage!

KTS: Rita Bernal rushes into the attack!
KTS: Rau Le Creuset rattles Rita Bernal, making her next maneuvers more
 difficult.

KTS: Rita Bernal partially guards Rau Le Creuset's DRAGOON System Remote Bit
 Pattern Eta, taking 4428 damage!

KTS: Ryoko Subaru has activated the Alert Spirit Command.
KTS: Ryoko Subaru has activated the Wall Spirit Command.
KTS: Rau Le Creuset enervates Ryoko Subaru, reducing her Morale significantly.
KTS: Rau Le Creuset rattles Ryoko Subaru, making her next maneuvers more
 difficult.

KTS: Ryoko Subaru partially guards Rau Le Creuset's DRAGOON System Remote Bit
 Pattern Eta, taking 5670 damage!

KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Rau Le Creuset's Welcomed By Power activates, causing Deject!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Rau Le Creuset's Unleashed By Anger activates, causing
 Nullify!

KTS: Puru Two successfully evades Rau Le Creuset's DRAGOON System Remote Bit
 Pattern Eta

KTS: Rau Le Creuset demoralizes Riika Sheder, reducing her Morale drastically.
KTS: Rau Le Creuset rattles Hikaru Amano, making her next maneuvers more
 difficult.

KTS: Hikaru Amano blocks Rau Le Creuset's DRAGOON System Remote Bit Pattern
 Eta, taking 3779 damage!

KTS: BC-001 Minae inspires awe, increasing Yurika Misumaru's Morale!
KTS: Lucine Azul has activated the Alert Spirit Command.
KTS: Lucine Azul has activated the Alert Spirit Command.
KTS: [Spirit Defense] Naoko Suzuki's Guarded Mind activates, and her spirit
 endures.

KTS: Rau Le Creuset enervates Naoko Suzuki, reducing her Morale significantly.
KTS: Rau Le Creuset rattles Naoko Suzuki, making her next maneuvers more
 difficult.

KTS: Naoko Suzuki fails to evade Rau Le Creuset's DRAGOON System Remote Bit
 Pattern Eta, taking 6480 damage!

KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Rau Le Creuset's Welcomed By Power activates, causing Deject!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Rau Le Creuset's Unleashed By Anger activates, causing
 Nullify!

KTS: Lucine Azul successfully evades Rau Le Creuset's DRAGOON System Remote Bit
 Pattern Eta

<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.

Rena's eyes turn towards the golden bird that flies into her cockpit -- and
 around her -- and she hesitates for only a moment. How much does she owe her?
 If Rita hadn't helped her at Denver Colony, she would be dead. Or, maybe, she
 would be something worse.

Rita... okay. I understand. I'm with you.

The Gaia Gear Alpha's psychoframe suddenly sends a pulse of green particles
 outward. It's more than that, though; it's a strong push of Rena's will,
 joining Rita's. Where Rita's barrier fails, there's Rena's power -- lesser,
 but there -- to buffet it. When a crack appears, light infuses it. When the
 Phenex sags, there's a few motes of green light -- as if to lift it up.

Just a little more. Just a little more, I promise.

Her eyes shoot to Riika's Svalinn. It's damaged; so is the Gaia Gear Alpha,
 though. They're all damaged. They're all doing everything they can to hang on.
 She looks to Anita, then. She hesitates, but only for a moment.

"I've got your back, Annie," Rena says. She knows which of them is the better
 shot. It isn't her.

Then, she shakes her head. "No!" she says. "You can choose how you want to
 leave this world! It's not right that their experiments made you find an early
 grave... but you're the one who decides your life's worth!"

The psychoframe is still glowing brilliantly, particles of green light rushing
 out from it. She flies in close -- launching her machine right for the
 Providence. She doesn't have time to draw a beam saber. But the green light of
 the psychoframe engulfs the hands of the Gaia Gear Alpha, and Rena swings one
 fist out -- and then another -- and smashes them for the Providence's side,
 even as the DRAGOONs fire.

"Funnels! GO!" Rena shouts. Her funnels launch, shooting past the DRAGOONs --
 and start firing their own beams of golden light, straight for the core of the
 GENESIS. But, it's a feint, too. "Annie! Now!"

Lances of green light slash through the white Mobile Suit. One takes off the
 left leg at the knee -- and another leaves a molten gash on the head. But the
 fists of the Gaia Gear surge with the psychoframe's light, and shine
 brilliantly.

She isn't trying to pummel it to pieces. She isn't trying to stop him, single
 handedly. She is trying to get his attention on her, so it isn't on someone
 else.

Which is when Riika might spot something -- a flash from the Gaia Gear Alpha's
 eyes. Long, short, then three long ones--

It's Morse code: 'Now.'

KTS: Rena Lancaster has activated the Alert Spirit Command.
KTS: Rena Lancaster has activated the Alert Spirit Command.
KTS: Rena Lancaster targets Rau Le Creuset with Gaia Flash!
KTS: Rena Lancaster has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> Eight York has posed.

What Eight taught Arriety... She knows she's grown a lot, to become the Captain
 her crew needed her to be. But hearing Arriety say it touches her heart.
 She'll do the best she can. Because... This is the path they chose. This is
 the home they chose.

This is their promise.

"To drag Ruri in?" Eight wonders of Minae. "...Noted."

The bombardment cannon makes a path. But only a path. "Should we recharge?"
 Kazama asks Eight, and Eight shakes her head. "There's no time. If we don't
 do this now..."

"...Right. Loading missiles."

"Get everything we've got ready, Kazama. Chovan--get us closer."

"We won't be able to escape firing range if we go any further in," Chovan
 warns... but doesn't hesitate to follow her orders. Eight smiles, grimly. "I
 know. But we have to trust the ones inside."

"And finish our job, too."

Finally... Eight sees it. That Nazca, remaining, there to move between them
 and the generators. She grits her teeth. "...So, this is the resolve of
 ZAFT," she murmurs. "...Kazama. Prepare to fire through the Nazca."

"...Yes, ma'am."

Astelian looks to Eight. "Do we want to try to give them another chance?"

"No. They've chosen their path. ...I don't like it, but apparently this is
 what their consciences demand. So... that's how it is. But communicate with
 the other ships. Make sure we've got the best angle we can get."

"Good work, Arriety," Eight comunicates to her. "Thanks for looking out for
 our friends. ...We're almost there. Let's finish this."

She wants to reach out to Callisto. So she does. "Callisto," Eight murmurs,
 and her mind focuses on Callisto more than her radio does. "Callie. Come
 home, this time. It'll be different. ...We're fighting to make sure of that."

But Natarle? It seems she has it covered, now.

She hopes Rena and Annie and Naoko are all right. And so many others. But
 there's only one thing to do...

"These coordinates," Eight says. "Punch through that ship and keep firing.
 The only way forward is through."

"Aye, ma'am."

"Divert power from the armor. ...Fire everything we have. Now."

"Firing!"

The Ra Mari's missiles pour out, one after another from every port it has. A
 truly prodigious profusion of projectiles pour forward, aiming to tear right
 through the Nazca--and beyond, to the Generator.

Eight lowers her head, and closes her eyes. "I wish we could've been friends,
 instead."

"...But I just can't get behind sticking with orders like that."

She doesn't say it over the radio. But her crew on the bridge will hear it.

KTS: Eight York has activated the Enable Spirit Command.
KTS: Eight York targets Mobile Weapon Team with High-Power Missile Armament
 System - Full Volley!

KTS: Eight York has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Mobile Weapon Team fails to react to Eight York's High-Power Missile
 Armament System - Full Volley, taking 7540 damage!

KTS: Mobile Weapon Team has been defeated!
Liam 7-020 transforms to GAT-01D Long Dagger

KTS: Riika Sheder has activated the Trick Spirit Command.
KTS: Liam 7-020 has changed loadout.
KTS: Riika Sheder has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Treize Khushrenada successfully evades Rau Le Creuset's DRAGOON System
 Remote Bit Pattern Eta

KTS: Riika Sheder has activated the Valor Spirit Command.

<Pose Tracker> Ryoko Subaru has posed.

It is really pretty imagery! But she'd hardly ever admit that! She does groan
 though at the immediate pun after, "Okay BOTH of us have been hanging around
 Izumi for far too long!"

A party sounds nice, but she's not counting her chickens before they hatched.
 GENESIS flashes, and it's perhaps only due to the Phenex that she's fully
 covered.

Quietly she thanks Lucine's friend.

Her attention is drawn away from her gratitude though, "HEY! Since when do you
 name the formations!? Who died and made you squad leader?" She bickers, but
 she doesn't object to her plan.

And Lucine's follow up-! "Good one Lucine! That's ten fewer laps!" Wait
 didn't she just say no laps for this one!?

Ryoko though listens to Rau, she listens. She remembers a man talking all
 about killing off so many people to force the survivors to space... and...

Her anger just surges, thinking of his face. Thinking of Full Frontal in Zum
 City and what he did.

"<You... Goddamn - DUMBASS! It's the same song and dance - ALL OVER AGAIN!
 ALL OVER AGAIN! This won't end humanity!>"

As her distortion field flares bright, "<And it won't change humanity! It'll
 just play RIGHT into the hands of the people with POWER, all over again! The
 house is rigged!>"

Extending both fists, she comes around on the other side of Rau as Rena's
 funnels pound into him, aligning herself with a target on the other side then
 she charges right towards him, as if to smash right through the Providence
 Gundam.... and to keep going.

"<And you're not doing anything but playing the game!>" With the emitter
 glowing, she makes her own play with the charge... and makes right for it,
 just hoping that her Distortion Field will protect her enough...

... but if not, that's honestly just fine by her.

KTS: Ryoko Subaru targets Rau Le Creuset with This Is Not the Gekigan Flare
 Shut The Hell Up!!

KTS: Ryoko Subaru has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Treize Khushrenada has activated the Resupply Spirit Command targeting
 Koji Kabuto

<Pose Tracker> Natarle Badgiruel has posed.

"Captain...", Montoya mutters, as Azrael is dragged off without particularly
 much care. "The Lohengrins are ready. But..."

"I see them," Natarle responds, wincing as she shifts her left arm to give her
 better access to her command terminal. "Secondary bridge, match my timing...
 With Gilmore down, I have to leave this to you. I'm giving you firing
 control. We get one shot." The wince becomes a groan as scissors slice away
 her sleeve, alcohol dripping off her bicep as a (very annoyed, but very
 dedicated) medic does her best to correct Azrael's handiwork.

"Lucky, Captain... Man can't shoot for shit. It's as clean as one of these
 gets... but no guarantee it didn't leave anything behind. I'll have
 everything filed for surgical by the time we get home - but you're riding back
 in Medical and letting Bowers ride the chair, got me? I know you probably
 want to strangle the bastard, but we'll push the beds reaaaaal far apart so
 you remember to behave. ...not that I think anyone on board would mind."

"Busy saving the world, here... but yes, I'll behave. Am I going to keel over
 in this chair or what?"

"Not as long as you remember to say thank you!~"

Natarle just huffs, as the Dominion angles itself towards that last ship.
 "...all out of thank yous. How do you feel about... 'Ramming speed'?"

She'll have to get this just right... making sure the Lohengrins are clear at
 the moment of collision, and that the impact carries that damn Nazca clear of
 the firing line for the others.

But with Bright riding a desk, and York defected, there's just no competition.
 The Dominion is the best damn ship in the Federation. She'll make it happen.

KTS: Natarle Badgiruel has activated the Enable Spirit Command.
KTS: Natarle Badgiruel targets Mobile Weapon Team with Ramming Maneuvers!
KTS: Natarle Badgiruel has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> Arriety Hearn has posed.

        Arriety doesn't further answer Minae's followup, of a hundred humans
 having a hundred different answers -- because she already agrees with her.
 And, well, she's busy flexing the Zeta to its limit and worrying about whether
 or not everything's going to overheat and stall when she's done.

        "The moment you need to vacuum in zero-Gravity, you're going to regret
 it," she answers quietly.

        Minae reassures her regarding the energy signature, but as things come
 under control on their end, all she can do is wait... and welcome everyone
 when it comes time. "It's all right. I'm not worried about them. They've
 all got a home to come back to..."

        Megumi answers her, and she nods quietly in turn. "It's been too long.
  I'll cook for Ruri and everyone when this is over. I want to impress Miss
 How Mei."

        It seems like the incident upon the Dominion is resolved. She's still
 uncertain what went on, but... she had a really bad feeling for a moment
 there. There's no time to hesitate; even with all her attacks, the Nazca is
 flying onward. She grimaces and says, "Their determination is immense..."
 She can't further give chase.

        "Status?" Arriety asks, a little to herself, a little to Minae, and yet
 it's evident that it's still not enough; even with the Ra Mari II and
 Nadesico's combined might, it's not sufficient. She witnesses the last
 Nazca-class proceed to shield the generators beyond with its already-damaged
 hull. "You're still going to protect this mission of yours to the end, even
 if it costs your life..."

        "..."

        Arriety closes her eyes for a moment. There, within her expanded
 mind's eye, she sees the golden double-doors she once saw when she first
 experienced this strange phenomenon. Her parents once beckoned to step
 through the threshold with her, and yet, now...

        The Zeta Gundam brandishes the Hyper Mega Launcher once more, motes of
 errant beam particles gulping down the length of its barrel. She listens in
 as Eight communicates with her. "... mm. I don't have to like it, but I
 understand them. I understand their sentiment. So Captain... I'm going to
 assist in clearing a path to the generators."

        Arriety speaks with quiet resolve. She doesn't need to spell out
 directly what that means: it means, quite possibly, taking lives. Eight knos
 that. As they both said, it doesn't mean she has to like it. It doesn't mean
 this is a fate she's consigned to. And as to the morals of taking a life in
 battle...

        "Myrme..."

        She's already taken a very important life just hours before Minae
 picked her up: her own. And a life was reborn from that death.

        "Target in sight. I have a firing solution. ... Hyper Mega Launcher,
 maximum output."

        She fires.

KTS: Arriety Hearn targets Mobile Weapon Team with Hyper Mega Launcher!
KTS: Arriety Hearn has completed their actions for the round.
KTS: Mobile Weapon Team fails to react to Natarle Badgiruel's Ramming
 Maneuvers, taking 5850 damage!

KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Natarle Badgiruel's Sharp Eyes activates, causing Designate
 L1!

KTS: Mobile Weapon Team has been defeated!
KTS: Natarle Badgiruel has engaged Mobile Weapon Team!
KTS: Natarle Badgiruel roots her unit, coming to a standstill and leaving her
 vulnerable.

KTS: Mobile Weapon Team fails to react to Arriety Hearn's Hyper Mega Launcher,
 taking 6760 damage!

KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Arriety Hearn's SEED activates, causing Insight L1!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Arriety Hearn's SEED activates, causing Jam L1!
KTS: Mobile Weapon Team has been defeated!

<Pose Tracker> Treize Khushrenada has posed.

        The Taurus finally got a track on how these bits move as it dashes
 around, using it's close proximity to the Providence to force the bits to not
 shoot their homebase. Meanwhile Treize has no words for Rau, he is done
 talking to this man and is tired of his unmoveable defeatist view of humanity.

         The Taurus itself doesn't stop though as even as it runs low on
 energy it still has a few shots left, however it is showing that the Taurus is
 still lacking in the long run.

         The beam cannon begins to glow as it gathers energy, taking aim at the
 Providence gundam before the Taurus fires aiming to sweep the beam after the
 attack towards the emitters, to turn them into space slag.

KTS: Treize Khushrenada targets Rau Le Creuset with Taurus Beam Cannon Blast!
KTS: Treize Khushrenada has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> Anita Rosetta has posed.

The DRAGOON's open fire again. Anita grits her teeth and bears with it. She
 can't risk the energy expenditure of dodging in a place like this, especially
 not with all the risks involved... Beam after beam strikes against the
 Pinpoint Barrier system... but it holds, for now. Any more and it'll probably
 give in.

...But if it takes any more, it'll probably be too late anyway.

"...Sounds like you're pretty set on this. But I've got one more answer for
 you. You wanna see the will of humanity? Just watch - it's taking form here
 and now." Anita says. Energy builds and builds in her beam cannon. She
 charges. She waits and she charges... and when Rena addresses her, Anita grins.

"I know. And... thanks. Countin' on you, Rena." Anita says. Trust is evident in
 her voice, and then -

'Annie! Now!'

Anita fires. A massive beam issues forth from the Messiah Rosetta's cannon as
 Anita releases all the energy she's gathered up to this point, flying toward
 the Providence Gundam!

...But in the end it doesn't matter whether it hits him or not because her
 true target lies beyond him - the emitter. It's up to him whether he's swept
 up along with it.

KTS: Anita Rosetta has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Anita Rosetta has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Anita Rosetta has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Anita Rosetta has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Anita Rosetta has activated the Strike Spirit Command.
KTS: Anita Rosetta targets Rau Le Creuset with Concentrated Full Charge Beam
 Cannon!

KTS: Anita Rosetta has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> Hikaru Amano has posed.

"Maaa-aaa-ybe if you named them faster," Hikaru snaps back, but then they
 kind of just silently agree to put the plan together anyways.

And then Hikaru closes her eyes, letting the IFS do the work, yet still quietly
 thanking Lucine for her contribution to the formation.

The Distortion Field roars to life with its ultimate intensity - preparing to
 follow with Ryoko's assault. It will take all the Aestivalis's remaining
 energy, and with them away from the Nadesico... this energy is everything they
 need or the world they know will be done.

"You're a sad man, Rau le Creuset... it's honestly kinda sad you convinced
 yourself it's the only way." Hikaru echoes Ryoko's sentiment. "All stories
 have an end - but your new beginning will never come to fruition!"

Closer and closer, the distortion field burns brighter and brighter... this is
 the only thing left she can do as the impending clock of GENESIS ticks on.
 "Ryoko... Hikaru... Nadesicrew, everyone, the world is counting on us..." She
 breathes out quietly. The world's counting on them.. but she'll make sure no
 unnecessary sacrifices are made as she covers Ryoko's advance in a true
 team-attack.

And then the moment of impact. "Distortion field, full burst! Gekigan
 formation, ready! [orange]GEKIGAAAAAAAAAAAN FLAAAAAAARE!!"

KTS: Hikaru Amano has activated the Rouse Spirit Command.
KTS: Hikaru Amano targets Rau Le Creuset with Is this the Gekigan Flare?!!
KTS: Hikaru Amano has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> Ruri Hoshino has posed.

        "The Nazca-class ship has taken a defensive position in front of the
 generators," Ruri reports, stoic. Either she didn't hear that therapist
 marking her for certain death... or she's ignoring Minae. (Both are bad signs,
 really.) "Reorienting the Nadesico will allow GENESIS time to fire."

        "Captain," Minato frowns, hands clutching her controls. "What should we
 do?" She, at least, would love to use her helmswoman's experience to move the
 Nadesico, to get them another firing angle. But it's not her call, and she
 knows Ruri has enough experience to offer that analysis, horrifying as it is.

        "The Dominion is... moving to ramming procedures," Ruri says, and
 doesn't flinch. "The Ra Mari II is firing."

        Ruri will act on Yurika's signal.

        The analysis Yurika has of this situation... it's something she trusts
 more than anything.

<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.

        The Long Dagger is more massive and more well-armored than the
 Dianthus. It certainly can't survive even a glancing hit from a warhead that
 powerful, but it can shield the smaller, lighter craft. And it can certainly
 serve as a stable firing platform.

        "<Compensating,>" Liam says, as he twists the right stick, pushes a
 pedal, and lets AMBAC take care of the rest. "<Twenty degrees left, angle .03
 degrees downward.>" The intercepting DRAGOONs erupt in blooms of light. Not
 ideal, but fewer remote weapons means fewer things to dodge.

        "<No.>" That's Liam's initial response to Rau's entire thesis--at
 least, initially. "<You're seeing--you're seeing a pattern that isn't there.
 I'm... sorry you think this is the only way.>"

        This does not deter the DRAGOONs. The Long Dagger ducks, weaves, and
 generally does an admirable job of keeping up with them, but that doesn't mean
 Liam comes out on top. Beam fire rakes down the machine's side, its legs, its
 other shoulder. A blast rips through the shoulder armor next to the main gun,
 the one with solid ammunition--Liam's instincts take over the moment he sees
 the Propellant Explosion warning. In the space of a heartbeat, while dodging a
 DRAGOON blast, he hits the panel labeled 'ARMOR PURGE', and starts maneuvering
 up and away.

        What's left of the Fortestra explodes from the Long Dagger's form, some
 of it shredding apart as the explosive bolts blow it clear. The wounded
 machine--much leaner of frame, and more lightly-armed--rushes towards the
 Providence.

        "<Rita!>" Liam shouts. "<Remember Gae Bolg!>" The Long Dagger is
 holding a different weapon than its usual sabers--something more like what the
 Svalinn's wielding, but less configurable. A spear with a beam-bladed head.
 Liam races forward, juking back and forth to try and throw the DRAGOONs for
 just a few crucial seconds. He drives the spear forward, aiming for center
 mass.

        As soon as it makes contact--or doesn't--Liam jets back, and the Long
 Dagger twists into a new pose: legs spread, spear raised high. The Long Dagger
 throws it, and Liam relinquishes his weapon to Rita's power. He's not a
 Newtype, and can't talk to her without words. But he can trust in her, and
 hope their bond is enough.

        Because what he feels is very clear: GENESIS needs to die, it needs to
 die now, and they need to do this together.

KTS: Liam 7-020 has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Liam 7-020 has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Liam 7-020 has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Liam 7-020 has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Liam 7-020 targets Rau Le Creuset with Beam Spear Combo!
KTS: Liam 7-020 has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> Koji Kabuto has posed.

Koji's Ichinana, brawling with the Providence Gundam, is just within the
 safe zone of the nuclear blast. On instinct, Koji extends the Ichinana's
 Mazinger Blade into the danger zone until the blade too is glowing white-hot.
 A trick he used before, on Goldymarg, to cut through the joints linking the
 Marg Hand to Titan G9.

He still can't believe they dug that thing up.

Here and now, though, Koji releases the grip on the Providence's limb, tuning
 out the crackling screech of his onboard geiger counters. He's gonna need a
 course of anti-radiation therapy after this maneuver - but right on the edge
 of peril is where he thrives.

"MAZINGER! BLAAAAAAAAADE!" He lunges forwards, to plunge the weapon into the
 Providence's flank and pierce the reactor, the white-hot blade overcoming the
 Phase Shift Armour with sheer incandescent force. This close, Koji remains
 defiant. "'Nobody really cares, everyone just pretends?'"

"You're full of shit. Just because you've never loved anyone or anything, you
 assume the same is true for everyone else. I've looked real monsters in the
 eye, Creuset, and from where I'm standing, you're no better than any of them."

KTS: Koji Kabuto targets Rau Le Creuset with Mazinger Blade Revenge Strike!
KTS: Koji Kabuto has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> Puru Two has posed.

The battered black Qubeley remains motionless behind a collapsed shutter, its
 pilot biting her lip and anticipating the worst. There's a great rumbling that
 passes over her as the GENESIS's critical reaction spills outwards and fills
 the chamber... and yet, nothing more comes. Dancing motes and arcs of ethereal
 light around the suit seem to almost hide it from the blast, until the
 shockwave has passed.

                        (... the Phenex? Was it you... again?)

Of course. Whatever happened to the Phenex, their pilot seems to safeguard life
 with limitless stores of hope... of will, of a desire for something greater.
Contrast this to the shrieking madman in the Providence, who snaps and flails
 as his fuse burns short.

                (... if I went beyond the veil, would I find peace too...?)

Before the girl can stay lost in such thoughts forever, the thoughts of another
 dive into her mind as Eight's emotions make themselves known:

>> Come home, this time. It'll be different. ...We're fighting to make sure
 of that.

The Qubeley quickly stands; then ascends on jets of brilliant blue as the
 Phenex's protective energies boil away. "Eight, I'm still alive out here.
 Don't worry." she calls back, slightly dry of throat. As if unsure how to
 respond, but struck with a need to respond all the same. "Make sure Arriety
 comes back safe too. Not that I need to tell you."

The Qubeley throttles to full and makes a wide loop around the Providence. The
 Ra Mari II's many guardians clash with ZAFT's finest, who seems determined to
 protect the core of the GENESIS to the end. Rau's Dragoons come hunting for
 their prey, and we encourage you to disregard the little essay we had earlier
 on the benefits of newer technology now that psycommu magic is firmly in play.
 "Fine, if your mortality's what you feel so anxious about..." Puru Two snarls,
 as crackling tongues of psychic flame begin to lick at her temples and drift
 upwards from her fingertips. "Let me help you with that."

Puru Two burrows deep within herself and shapes her will: to protect, to guard
 and steward this fragile world and all of her friends, she must first kill
 again.

The Qubeley Mk. II flanks across from Anita and Rena, as the Providence can't
 guard itself every which way. Brilliant rose flames ripple along the unit's
 head and back, as the force of will needed to snuff out another's flame leaps
 into the remaining Funnels. They leave their berths in an irising spiral,
 dazzling trails hanging in space.

                                "Funnels. Pierce."

The command leaps from the overloaded Psycommu unit to the distant remote
 weapons. They stop in space, turn towards the Providence, and charge. Twelve
 shrieking comets. There is no need for beam-fire when your weaponized emotions
 themselves form a blade more deadly than any silly particle.

(GENESIS's core? Everyone else will clearly handle that. She just needs to
 murder the guy standing in front of it to let that happen.)

KTS: Puru Two has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
KTS: Puru Two has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Puru Two has activated the Spirit Spirit Command.
KTS: Puru Two targets Rau Le Creuset with Qubeley MK-II Funnels - Pneuma
 Formation!

KTS: Puru Two has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> Yurika Misumaru has posed.

        "...I think...I think everyone in there has bought as much time as
 possible...! I think they can get it if we act now!" Yurika's gripping her
 railing tight, fingers crossed as she hears vicariously through Hikaru and
 Ryoko about Rau's utterly manic cackling and rambling.

        "Alright everyone. The time's come! I can only imagine the Aestis are
 fighting for their lives but low on juice, so you know what that means! If we
 want to get them to fight at full capacity and finish the job, AND wipe out
 the Phase Shift Armor...!"

        With extra clarity in her eyes, Yurika rumbles at the Nazca's defensive
 posture - and clarifies Hikaru and Ryoko's position. "Call into the Dominion
 at once! We'll be joining them in a ramming position, with the full power of
 the Distortion Field - if we both join in at opposing angles, we'll be better
 positioned to basically lift the Nazca up, maybe right into Captain York's
 line of fire, AND be positioned right where the generators are, AND maybe be
 close enough to resupply our field team! So! Everyone! Get yourselves ready,
 it's going to be a rocky impact! Be careful not to bite your tongue! Nadesico
 - surging at full speed ahead, at a 45% trajectory to the Dominion! It's time
 to finish this!!!"

        Just as she says - Nergal's flagship fires on all cylinders, getting
 closer and closer to the Dominion as both ships start to charge ZAFT's last
 resistance. Closing in faster and faster, the whirling of the Distortion Field
 exerting ever more pressure, and giving the Aestivalises just that little bit
 of extra oomph from proximity...!

        <"Oooyyyy, and if you can hear me from here, Mr. Creuset: you've been
 consumed by tragedy and wasted your life thinking only of pain and suffering!
 Give it up, and I, PERSONALLY, will give you a lesson on the power of romance
 in changing someone's life!">

        Jun, of course, goes totally blue in the face, followed by - most
 everyone else. "Captain!?!?! What on earth are you saying?!"

        "...huh? I just mean I'm gonna force the fluffiest and happiest
 loveydovey manga in his daily reading as I can get away with! If he's in
 prison he'll have plenty of time for all 48 volumes of Daisies At Sunset - One
 Maiden's Quest For A First Kiss, after all!"

        ...it's hard to know which interpretation of Yurika's intent is more
 off-putting!

<Pose Tracker> Rita Bernal has posed.

The Phenex expends much of her remaining strength shielding those who she can.
 Rena's strength bolsters her, and the bird riding along with Rena glows warmly
 in gratitude.

You'll know when it's time. We have only a few moments left.

Thankfully, Liam understands the Phenex's message and saves Lucine. The rest of
 the heroes of the living yet stand -- though only just. Expanding her
 awareness, she looks on the outer battle. Almost time... If she can just
 endure, just a little while longer, everyone will be safe.

Rau rages against the Phenex, tearing more and more of her feathers away. Inner
 light shines forth, something precious and fragile. Both her wings have been
 worn away to their bare psychoframe skeleton and golden tails, hovering weakly
 at her back.

This isn't the end for you. No matter how much you wish it was.

Again, she speaks to Rau, the golden Gundam raising her head to look straight
 into his soul. Thanks to those fighting with her, the Phenex is freed from
 Rau's grasp, and she floats limply for a moment. Feathers burn all around her,
 illuminating the chamber with spiritual promise.

Slowly, each piece of her destroyed, burning armor begins to move. They gather
 around the Phenex, forming into a ring, circling around her slowly. As they
 burn to nothingness, the Phenex glows a bit brighter.

Slowly, she straightens. Psychic pressure builds, emanating throughout the
 chamber. There's no violence in it -- only fierce love and protectiveness.
 It's reassuring, perhaps. As long as the Phenex is here, humanity's future
 will be safeguarded.

Liam calls, and the Phenex reaches a hand out to him, immediately. Her gesture
 in this moment is beckoning, where before it warned him away. She's ready.
 She'll honor Liam's trust in her.

Azure flame ignites around the beam-spear, as it passes to the Phenex. It soars
 through the air, faster, faster -- trailing embers behind it. GENESIS needs to
 die. In this moment, their spirits echo in perfect harmony. For a moment, the
 flames before the spear form in the shape of a bird with spread wings. Faster,
 faster.

Striking as true as the spear of legend, Liam's spear sinks home into the
 center of GENESIS. Flame ignites around it, bursting forth from the tip and
 forcing incandescent barbs into the system itself, scorching all in their path.

Glimmering with indescribable brilliance, the Phenex raises her hand once more.
 Each of her destroyed feathers swirls to her fingertips, forming a sunbright
 expression of sacred flame.

Turning to the Quebeley, the Phenex nods, once. Despite everything, it's still
 her.

Your story here isn't over yet. But they're waiting for you. Don't be afraid.

Turning to face Rau once more, the Phenex tilts her head, then pulls her
 extended hand into a tight fist. The radiant energy she's gathered
 supercompresses into a whirling shape of pure incandescence. Opening her hand,
 she sends it toward Rau.

Flame and wonder, swirling toward him in a bridled expression of death. Perhaps
 this, at last, will convince Rau of her words.

KTS: Rita Bernal targets Rau Le Creuset with This Life Isn't All There Is!
KTS: Rita Bernal has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> Riika Sheder has posed.

With the nuclear blast having already gone off, they're on a time limit.
 GENESIS won't take long to charge up and finish the process at this point. But
 if they can damage the emitter enough...

"It may be yours. It may even be some of theirs. But it's not everybody's! And
 how can you blame Coordinators and those who make them?!" Riika isn't even
 thinking about distracting Rau by keeping him talking. That's not a good plan.
 That's barely even a plan at all. What she should be doing is shutting up and
 moving into position. "I'm sorry the world was so harsh for you," she says,
 "but that's no excuse. So many people stand against you now. That's a pretty
 good sign that it's not the collective will!"

And so that's when she goes silent. Riika receives the signal and signs back,
 to Rena and Anita, two characters only: 'OK'. Then, she bursts into action,
 all at once.

Riika deploys the remaining dummy balloon, giving Rau something to look at.
 It's shaped like the Svalinn Feather, but it won't actually work as a
 duplicate for more than an instant: it has both wings, unlike the real one's
 battle damage. But this dummy balloon is a little different.

There's a tiny thruster on the back, and so it propels itself forward, a
 distraction more than a decoy. In an atmosphere this would never work. Air
 pressure would squash it out of shape. But in space the only air pressure is
 inside and it holds together just long enough.

Curving away from it, Riika orients down and turns hard enough to give herself
 whiplash, orienting up at Rau from below. Even in space, a lot of people do
 not look 'down' often enough, especially when they're being pressed from 'up'
 - which Riika is making sure Rena is before she does it.

A hail of missiles erupts around Providence as Riika empties the micromissile
 launchers on the Feather Launcher, showering him with bright flashes and small
 explosions. It would take a miracle for it to break Providence's phase shift
 armour and she's not counting on it to. It still blinds. It still shoves the
 suit around, a little bit, forcing him to move his thrusters just so to
 compensate or be pushed.

Svalinn's thrusters fire all at once and so hard that Riika slams back in her
 seat. There's no room to build up speed in here, so she needs to do the
 acceleration all at once. She feels the pressure on her ribs; she can barely
 breathe. If she wasn't a Coordinator, she would probably be unconscious; if
 she was using her actual eyes for vision, she would have it narrowed and
 darkened just from physics, Coordinator or not.

But she isn't. Her visor, strapped in place, is rigid. It keeps on working
 without distortion.

And then at something like 15G of acceleration, Svalinn Gundam drives her beam
 glaive directly into Providence all the way to the physical emitter like it
 was a lance.

Riika immediately releases the glaive, imparting as much of that momentum to
 the larger Providence Gundam as she can manage, and fires all her thrusters
 backwards, painfully slamming herself in the other direction while turning. It
 is something between reckless and suicidal to pull this trick in an enclused
 space; Riika comes damn close to driving directly into the side of the chamber
 herself but manages to skim along it, coming within inches but never quite
 touching. Even without touching, several of Svalinn's thrusters start to burn
 out, the fine maneuvering verniers on Feather melting and locking in place and
 leaving her with Svalinn's more standard space maneuvering systems.

KTS: Riika Sheder targets Rau Le Creuset with JS-F03 Isarnkoll Beam Glaive
 Decisive Assault!

KTS: Riika Sheder has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> Naoko Suzuki has posed.

Naoko knows it as soon as she swings that club of hers. She made the same
 mistake as last time. Charging in that close to the Providence Gundam means
 losing the overview she had of the battle, and the position of each individual
 DRAGOON. It's almost instant-- she doesn't get the chance to celebrate even a
 little bit before the remote weapons are on her, bombarding her Arm Slave with
 a hail of beam fire. In her panic, she maneuvers awkwardly to try and escape,
 but she can't prevent several strikes hitting home, the additional armor
 plating saving her from fatal damage once again, but left in bad shape by the
 end of it. This battle absolutely can't go longer than this, or she'll be in
 trouble.

Fortunately, it doesn't have to. All of her screens light up green, as the
 second of the preprogrammed alerts displays. This alert only displays a single
 word.

> NOW

When she launched to go on this mission, Naoko had no idea what her plan was
 going to be for hitting the emitter. But now... now the mentally-controlled
 discs of Sukeban go flying, its rapidly spinning, heated surface ready to
 slice through the device. Which also, conveniently, leaves the machine's hands
 free. Well, it does after it puts away the club. This one... this one only
 feels right to finish with her bare hands.

"Rau...!" She shouts that man's name for the first time, the way it comes out
 little more than a growl. "I've been listening to you going on about the
 collective will of humanity... but right now, all the collective will of the
 people here wants is for you to GO THE HELL AWAY!"

The hands of the Sukeban begin to glow red, superheating like normal... but
 then, something changes. As the Arm Slave folds its hands into fists, they
 begin to emit a white glow. All thrusters fire as it charges, intense heat
 coming the focused energy it continues to build along the way. There is the
 distinct sense of a Will behind those fist, a mental force as well as a
 physical one.

The ultimate effect is, however, very much only a physical one, as Naoko seeks
 to plow the right fist directly into the Providence Gundam's head.

"HEART!"

Next, the left flies forward, a hook thrown for the midsection.

"BEAT!"

The energy in the left fist fizzles out, only for the right fist's glow to grow
 that much brighter, for a final, devastating uppercut.

SHAKEEEEEEER!!

KTS: Naoko Suzuki has activated the Trick Spirit Command.
KTS: Naoko Suzuki has activated the Trick Spirit Command.
KTS: Naoko Suzuki has activated the Valor Spirit Command.
KTS: Naoko Suzuki targets Rau Le Creuset with Heart Beat Shaker!
KTS: Naoko Suzuki has completed their actions for the round.

<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.

        'That's ten fewer laps!'

        Lucine's video window in Ryoko's cockpit is appropriately oblivious. <
 "A-ah, we're doing that? I'll have to work harder, then...." > It's a pleasant
 diversion, hearing Ryoko squabble and rouse her fellow pilots, and Hikaru's
 cheery disposition in the face of Earth's annihilation.
        
        But Rau's words reflect a harder reality beyond that. < "... That's
 what happened on Mars. Over 75% of the population.... lost, to Jovian Lizards.
 Those of us who survived... were the ones who were lucky enough, or had the
 right tools. Hard the right amount of luck. And Alba City... it's still the
 same. Just.... more people, the ones who made it there. There's still
 bounties, and there's still cowboys. .... And maybe... we could reclaim Mars
 back...." >

        Separating from Liam's Long Dagger, she doesn't risk going further in,
 but it's not necessary; Lucine has what she needs, already, as she twists and
 evades the final volley of DRAGOONS nipping at her heels.

        < ".... We'd have a chance, if it wasn't for all the conflicts here.
 Like people in the Federation..... and especially... people like you." >

        A curtain of beams curl out from the arbalest like a flurry of white
 feathers, curling a signature into the open space inside the GENESIS. The
 Phenex is the truest bird here, but for Lucine, this is her last shot.

        A dying swan's last dance before the Earth, or one man's dreams, meets
 a final end.
        
        < "I read Daisies At Sunset a few years ago... it was decent..." >
 Lucine's cheeks are tinged pink, perhaps from the whiplash in how quickly her
 tone changed in response to Yurika's ultimate punishment. < ".... I wonder if
 it holds up...." >

KTS: Lucine Azul targets Rau Le Creuset with Lacrimosa!
KTS: Lucine Azul has completed their actions for the round.

KTS: Rau Le Creuset fails to react to Naoko Suzuki's Heart Beat Shaker, taking
 8320 damage!

KTS: Naoko Suzuki has engaged Rau Le Creuset!
KTS: Rau Le Creuset fails to react to Ryoko Subaru's This Is Not the Gekigan
 Flare Shut The Hell Up!, taking 9230 damage!

KTS: Ryoko Subaru has engaged Rau Le Creuset!
KTS: Rau Le Creuset fails to react to Hikaru Amano's Is this the Gekigan
 Flare?!, taking 8840 damage!

KTS: Hikaru Amano has engaged Rau Le Creuset!
KTS: Rau Le Creuset fails to react to Anita Rosetta's Concentrated Full Charge
 Beam Cannon, taking 7280 damage!

KTS: Anita Rosetta roots her unit, coming to a standstill and leaving her
 vulnerable.

KTS: Rau Le Creuset fails to react to Rena Lancaster's Gaia Flash, taking 7540
 damage!

KTS: Rena Lancaster has engaged Rau Le Creuset!
KTS: Rau Le Creuset fails to react to Lucine Azul's Lacrimosa, taking 6500
 damage!

KTS: Rau Le Creuset has been defeated!
KTS: Rau Le Creuset fails to react to Riika Sheder's JS-F03 Isarnkoll Beam
 Glaive Decisive Assault, taking 8840 damage!

KTS: Rau Le Creuset has been defeated!
KTS: Riika Sheder has engaged Rau Le Creuset!
KTS: Puru Two enervates Rau Le Creuset, reducing his Morale significantly.
KTS: Rau Le Creuset fails to react to Puru Two's Qubeley MK-II Funnels - Pneuma
 Formation, taking 9010 damage!

KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Puru Two's Pressure of Aggression activates, causing Deject!
KTS: [Dynamic Hit] Puru Two's Pressure of Aggression activates, causing Control
 Bonus!

KTS: Rau Le Creuset has been defeated!
KTS: Rau Le Creuset fails to react to Rita Bernal's This Life Isn't All There
 Is, taking 8840 damage!

KTS: Rau Le Creuset has been defeated!
KTS: Rita Bernal roots her unit, coming to a standstill and leaving her
 vulnerable.

KTS: Rau Le Creuset fails to react to Liam 7-020's Beam Spear Combo, taking
 7540 damage!

KTS: Rau Le Creuset has been defeated!
KTS: Liam 7-020 has engaged Rau Le Creuset!
KTS: Rau Le Creuset fails to react to Treize Khushrenada's Taurus Beam Cannon
 Blast, taking 4940 damage!

KTS: Rau Le Creuset has been defeated!
KTS: Rau Le Creuset fails to react to Koji Kabuto's Mazinger Blade Revenge
 Strike, taking 7800 damage!

KTS: Rau Le Creuset has been defeated!
KTS: Koji Kabuto has engaged Rau Le Creuset!
KTS: Koji Kabuto roots his unit, coming to a standstill and leaving him
 vulnerable.

<Pose Tracker> Rau Le Creuset has posed.

        Destroying the emitter is proving more difficult than expected. Even
 with the Phenex unleashing that flaming spear of Liams at it. No doubt because
 the superweapon's Phase Shift Armor is still up. Has the exterior team failed?
 Is this all hopeless? And yet, those inside GENESIS continue forward, keeping
 hope and trusting their allies.

        Rau himself is starting to feel the effects of both this prolonged
 fight and his failing health. His reactions are slowing. More of his DRAGOONs
 are getting destroyed.

        Rena's combo forces him on the defensive, giving both Anita, Treize and
 Lucine a chance to unleash their beam weapons at him. They rain down on the
 Gundam. One pierces the Providence's own beam rifle and causes it to explode.
 Another pierces through part of the head, vaporizing half of it. More proceed
 to tear off the machine's legs.

        Ryoko and Hikaru come in from either sides to deliver devastating
 Gekigan Flares (yes, that's what it is Ryoko, get over it!) with their
 distortion fields, the Gundam's armor easily buckling as internals are crushed.

        Liam lunges in with his spear, Rau's piloting throwing the aim off just
 slightly and causing it to pierce through one shoulder. Koji attempts
 something similar, his own blade piercing through the other shoulder.

        Puru Two's funnels rush in, catching the Providence from behind. They
 stab their way into its backpack, housing the recharging systems for the
 DRAGOONs. An overload begins to form, forcing the Providence to jettison the
 pack, which explodes, catching the Gundam on the edge of the blast.

        This sends it flying right into Naoko's combo. One. Two. Three! The
 punches connect, Phase Shift Armor practically pointless at this stage with
 all the damage that has accrued. This forces the Gundam backwards, sparks
 flying from the damaged sections.

        This is when Riika finally comes charging in, micro-missiles filling
 Rau's screens with light, before her glaive pierces through the machine's
 chest and the force of the charge starts to drive the Gundam back faster and
 faster...

        Straight for the emitter.

        Riika releases her grip and pulls away, but the damage to the
 Providence Gundam is far too much for Rau to do the same. The tip of the
 emitter pierces through the Gundam's back, punching right through and out the
 other side.

        For a moment, there's almost a stillness...

        ----

        On the bridge of the lead Nazca, the Captain and the few of her bridge
 crew that remained stare out at the window at the Ra Mari II ahead, no doubt
 ready to fire. The Nazca's weapons are inoperable and, even if they weren't,
 unlikely to be able to finish of their foes. All that's left to do is buy a
 few seconds...

        ... Or so that was the plan! As coming in from one side is a rapidly
 moving Dominion! And from the other, the Nadesico!

        The three ships crashing together is quite a sight. The speeds weren't
 so high as to deliver any deadly crushing blows, but the engines of the
 damaged Nazca are quickly overpowered by the two far more advanced vessels.
 It's quickly pushed out of the way, even as the Dominion angles its large
 Lohengrin cannons towards GENESIS.

        Even as the Ra Mari II opens up with its beam cannons.

        Even as Arriety unleashes a shot from her Mega Launcher.

        The combination of attacks scream in through the hole drilled into
 GENESIS's armor, striking at the generators direction. What occurs in a large
 flash of light on the surface of the large station...

        ... And rapidly following that, a sudden distortion rushing across its
 surface, draining all luminous colour from that structure and leaving nothing
 but dull greys behind.

        ----

        ... And then things really start to get Bad!

        All at once, the colour in the walls of the detonation chamber all
 vanish, leaving dull greys behind. The exterior team has succeeded in
 destroying the Phase Shift Armor generators!

        At the same time, the Providence Gundam's fusion reactor starts to go
 out of control, significant energy levels rising!

        At the same time, the GENESIS is finishing the collection and
 transference of the gamma radiation, the tip of the primary emitter beginning
 to glow brightly.

        Within moments, there is going to be a great release of energy! One
 that everyone should really not stick around for.

        ...

        ...

        ...

        In the cockpit of the Providence Gundam, Rau Le Creuset coughs up a
 heaping of blood which has started to fill his lungs. The damage from the
 impaling had sent a big chunk of metal into his chest. He's not long for this
 world...

        But he does manage to cough out, <"You can't... Stop this path...
 Humanity is on... ... If not now... ... Then soon... It's only a matter of...
 Time...">

<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.

Rita told Rena that it will be any time now.

Rena sees the color in the walls wash out -- to a plain grey -- as the
 Providence Gundam floats closer to the core. Badly damaged -- and with Rau
 hacking, she can tell he must be mortally wounded. Or, in a way, he was
 mortally wounded before he came to this fight. Riika struck true.

They all did, though. "That's... we're not going to let things end like that,"
 she tells him.

The gamma emitter is glowing brightly. Rena stares at it -- and she is, after
 all, a Coordinator. She does the math in her head. Not every machine here
 could get away in time -- not with any certainty, with the damage they took.
 Maybe they knew they could die, doing this. But, it shouldn't happen like that.

She understands what Rita meant, now.

"Go!" she transmits. "Get out of here! I'll be right behind you! Rita..."

The Gaia Gear Alpha, short one leg, begins to glow a bright green. The
 explosion starts to form off the gamma emitter -- a consuming ball of nuclear
 flame that should, by all rights, expand out in microseconds and consume them.
 The white Mobile Suit hovers in front of it, for a moment, as a shimmering
 field of green particles appears. They rush out, washing over it, and try to
 constrain it.

Alone, the Gaia Gear Alpha's psychoframe isn't enough.

"GO!"

But she is not alone, either.

<Pose Tracker> Rita Bernal has posed.

The little golden bird looks meaningfully at Rena, then vanishes, returning to
 her greater self. The Phenex is going to need all the strength she can muster.

We'll be okay. Get to safety.

Again, the voice of a young woman echoes to all those present -- including the
 ships outside. Graceful even in her torn-up state, the Phenex moves next to
 the Gaia Gear Alpha. She takes one of Rena's machine's hands, and in this
 moment, their hearts are as one.

Psychoframe glows brilliantly, intensifying Rena's particles tenfold. She
 cannot solve the problems of the living, but she can help. Auroric light
 surrounds the Phenex and the Gaia Gear Alpha, painting the stars in shades of
 green-blue-pink, a vision of the skies the Phenex soars through.

You're very brave, Rena. I'm glad you're with me.

Aligning her strength with Rena's, the Phenex turns her hand to soothing the
 destructive future GENESIS promises. With the two of them, surely it will be
 enough...

<Pose Tracker> Koji Kabuto has posed.

"Maybe not," Koji allows to Rau's final words. "But I made a promise, a long
 time ago, to fight tooth and nail to pull us off that path. Otherwise we'll
 never be worthy of the power to become a devil or a god."

He turns his Ichinana to the rest. "Time to go, people! Divert everything you
 have to your thrusters and let's book it!"

Rena moves her Gundam forward, shimmering green light expanding to buy the team
 enough time to escape, and Koji sucks air in past his teeth, moving to grab
 the Gaia Gear and book it - but the Phenex joins her, its own psycoframe
 radiating blue to reinforce the shield.

"... Don't you dare die," is what he says, and it's weighted like an order, as
 he turns his Ichinana back to the escape shaft, flaring its thrusters to full
 burn and rocketing away.

<Pose Tracker> Eight York has posed.

Callie's still alive out there. "You don't need to. But I'll hear it anyway."
  Eight sighs, then. ...Yurika is Yurika again. That's just fine. Because as
 it turns out?

While Eight was entirely prepared to strike that Nazca-class, and all
 remaining hands on it--while she steeled herself for the necessity--she can't
 say she's sorry when it's rammed out of the way. She's not the only one;
 Astelian sighs in relief outright. He didn't want to see them die. But he
 trusts the Captain's orders.

When Arriety says she doesn't like it, but she understands--Eight nods. "I
 understand," Eight says. The path that Arriety, too, has chosen...

"..." But she doesn't have to destroy them, either. "...Looks like they get
 a reprieve. I hope that they can go home to their families after this."

The colors change. Dull greys, and in that flash of light--yes. They've done
 it. And inside...

"Rena...?" Eight can feel her presence. She can feel her energy. She is
 doing something so, so, so dangerous. But Rita is with her. Rita, too...

"Live, Rena."

"...Chovan," Eight says, shaking her head, "Get us out of here! Hangar crew,
 prepare to receive our pilots!"

Over the radio to her pilots, "Come on home. Good work out there."

...The Ra Mari II, is going to put some distance between it and the GENESIS
 system...

"...Please."

Come back.

<Pose Tracker> Anita Rosetta has posed.

They all come together, unleashing everything they have. Is that enough? And,
 Rau...

"...Watch us. From wherever you end up. We'll prove you wrong." Anita replies.
 But...

"...Did we do it? Is it...?" She asks, hesitantly. But... they still have to
 get out after all. And she spent a lot of juice on her attack. And then...

Rena tells them to go.

"...Wait, what about you?" Anita asks, concern seeping into her voice. The Gaia
 Gear Alpha begins to glow, releasing a field of particles - and the Phenex
 strengthens them.

"This is- Rena, what're you...!?" Anita stammers in disbelief. She grips her
 console tightly. ...She knows what she's doing. She just doesn't want to
 accept it.

Rena says to 'GO!', and Rita says they'll be okay. Anita tries to speak, but
 nothing comes out at first but sound. She tries again, and fails. It's only
 after the third attempt that she manages to force anything out.

"...W-We made a promise. We made plans. I'm holding you to them, alright?"
 Anita says, and then asides to Rita... "...Take care of her."

She squeezes her eyes tight, takes a deep breath, and then the Messiah Rosetta
 folds back into Fighter Mode before accelerating out of GENESIS as fast as she
 can.

Back to the Ra Mari II.

Back home - where she'll be waiting for her.

<Pose Tracker> Ryoko Subaru has posed.

The two flare forward, Lucine at their backs with the Dianthus' attack, but
 they are just one part in the myriad attack that finally brings the Providence
 Gundam down.

The phase shift armor dies, and so too does the Providence Gundam on the tip of
 the emitter, he manages to choke out a few things. Ryoko is silent as the
 fusion reactor starts to go up.

Rena and the Gaia Gear - as well as the Phenex form up, and there is light-

-the kind of light Ryoko has never seen, because she was too cowardly to stay
 and watch.

Her Aestivalis turns after a time, and- suddenly she turns back... "We're
 getting out of here! Haul ass!"

With her comms off, Ryoko says to herself quietly, "You're luckier than you
 realize... Rau." She says quietly to herself, "You don't have to live with
 what you tried to do."

Despite Yurika pronouncing it as a punishment and Lucine damning it with faint
 praise, she makes a mental note to pick up Daisies at Dawn.

Maybe she isn't into the Gekiganger craze sweeping the Nadesico but she sure
 hides a lot of Shoujo manga under the mattress of her bunk.

<Pose Tracker> Riika Sheder has posed.

Riika does, indeed, narrowly avoid smashing into a wall.

It's close. She clips Svalinn Feather's remaining wing, and it shatters into
 flinders - but Riika saw it coming and ejected the pack, leaving the bare,
 un-GUARDed Svalinn to fly free. (Never has Riika been so happy for the quick
 detachment system, which she only made because it seemed like it might one day
 be useful.)

She catches the first breath she's managed to take in a while as Svalinn
 finally gets to a reasonable thrust level; it's still accelerating but in a
 less suicidally insane maneuver. "All I wanted," she says, feeling the
 soreness in her core. "All I wanted was peace between the PLANTs and Earth,
 between Coordinator and Natural..."

And now Rau le Creuset, who didn't start the war but was happy to push it as
 far as it could go, killing millions and threatening billions, is dead. She
 killed him. It's not the first time Riika has taken down an enemy unit, but
 it's the first time she *knows*, without any possibility otherwise, that her
 target is dead.

Riika closes and opens her hands a couple times, a nervous movement. It doesn't
 make her happy. It doesn't make her upset, though she's not sure that it
 shouldn't. It just makes her determined. It's a long road to peace and this is
 only a step on it. There are other people who want to keep the war going like
 Rau did. But it's a start.

But that's the kind of thing you can worry about *afterwards*. Time to go,
 indeed. "This way!" Riika signals. Svalinn, damaged as it is, is slower than
 it could be but still faster than some heavy units; Riika's lost a lot of the
 fine maneuvering but the heavier propulsion thrusters that weren't on the
 Feather backpack (which is now floating in pieces, inside GENESIS) still work.
 Mostly.

Riika looks back at Rena. She can't just leave her, her and that golden Gundam,
 but with Svalinn damaged she can't pull her, either. Neither of them would get
 out that way. There is one other thing, though...

'I'll try to cover the rest of you; I'm fastest. Unless you drop that into its
 flight form.'
'I'll drop it into flight form if I need to, but it's going to be tight in
 here.'

Svalinn darts into the escape tunnel at its current best speed. Riika's
 attention is not on flying the tunnel so much as probing it, mapping it - it
 curves and bends, making it impossible to let someone shoot straight into the
 core of GENESIS, so it actually requires some flying to get out. She plots the
 path. The distance. The angles.

Several seconds later, Rena recieves a message - no, a data transmission.

It is a precise flight path, angles and rotations and burn times. She won't
 need to worry about finding her way out: unable to help with the Psychodriver,
 Riika has helped by giving her the exact route out she needs, so that she can
 escape at a faster speed than it would be safe to fly without that aid.

<Pose Tracker> Treize Khushrenada has posed.

        Treize watches the shimmering green light for a moment, in a way it is
 a rather beautiful experience, one that reminds him of several years ago.
 Still all the signs point to the fact that he has overstayed his welcome at
 this show down, shifting the Taurus back to the waverider form as it begins to
 navigate it's way out of the Genesis before it blows up around him, as he
 doubts that gold gundam is going to go out of it's way to protect him.

         As the Taurus emerges from the inner working of the Genesis Treize
 begins to broadcast to the federation fleet, and anyone else who hears him,
 <"This is colonel Khushrenada, for all ships begin to retreat to a safe
 distance. I repeat retreat to a safe distance."> Hopefully he doesn't have to
 tell the ships with advance sensors that but you never know.

         The Taurus beings to move to meet back up with the Dominion, and deal
 with the final loose thread of this very very long day.

Murata Azrael.

<Pose Tracker> Naoko Suzuki has posed.

Naoko gasps for breath, coming down from having A Moment. When she's piloting
 this machine, she just can't keep from getting carried away somehow. When she
 thinks about it, it doesn't seem like she should be able to do all this... but
 when she stops thinking, it all feels so natural, like she's been doing this
 stuff all her life. She has yet to make sense of all this.

And now... is the worst possible time to try doing that, because she doesn't
 have to calculate anything to be able to tell that things are about to go
 critical. They have to go, right now--- wait, what's Rena doing? And Rita,
 too. That light, could it be...?

>"Oy, Nova! She said 'go', so GO!"<

It takes that extra mental prod for her to actually start moving. She can't
 question this, and she definitely can't stick around, there's no time and
 she'd never survive. As she powers up her thrusters, she sends one last
 message to Rena.

"...Ok, I'm trusting you! And I want to look at your machine later, so... so
 you better not be lying!" With that, the Sukeban rockets off at full speed.

<Pose Tracker> Natarle Badgiruel has posed.

"It's fading..."

"Confirming... rapid energy swell, and then it... stalled? But it's not
 reducing, either..."

"...another miracle to save humanity, huh... Recall the GAT teams. We can't
 stick around, but... keep the decks open and the lights running. We'll take
 on everyone we can and get the hell out of here. How many responses?"

"Got ten... no, eleven, sir." There's a moment of eerie quiet. "Still
 waiting on Lt. Odom..."

Eleven. In a situation like this, more than she could hope for. But... One
 is still too many. And Arlie and the others, fighting for their lives...
 Natarle sags into her chair, cheeks drained of color, lids hanging over faded
 vision.

A playful contralto voice cuts in over the comms.

<"This is Faulkner. Odom's unit was non-viable, we had to cut it loose. Lt.
 Bang's bringing him in - say hi, Thad, before you make the nice lady cry.
 We're coming home, so set the table.">

She murmurs something from under her cap, reaching up to brush her hair and
 lifting it away... Letting it hang loosely off the left armrest.

"Foster. You're on nav. Get us the hell out of here. Montoya, just keep
 bringing everyone home..."

<Pose Tracker> Arriety Hearn has posed.

        Arriety, too, was entirely prepared to strike -- one doesn't pull the
 trigger on such a weapon without an intent. And she's no stranger anymore to
 that intent; this is to the extent that she's internalised the simple concept
 that being a "pilot of a mobile weapon" is her life now, with everything that
 that entails. Including battle; including death, of oneself and others.

        Once, she floated on the Boundary of Life and Death without truly
 accepting what that means.

        It's a bit different now.

        But sometimes... it doesn't have to end that way. With the Dominion's
 manoeuvre, with the way things played out... Arriety quietly closes her eyes
 and slumps back on her seat. But then the colours change, as the Phase Shift
 Armour dies down, and that flash of light...

        "... ... I've just come back and you're already putting your life down
 for something very dangerous, Rena," Arriety murmurs. "But that's part of
 what being with you all entails, at this point. I thought I accepted it
 then... but I didn't, and that was where the distortion originated. But I
 understand what accepting it means now. All of it."

        She flips the comms on. "This is Arriety. Ra Mari II, I'm docking."

        The Zeta Gundam's retro verniers first fire, and then it's shifted into
 Waverider form as it blasts swiftly towards its home base, a twinkle in the
 vastness of space.
Riika Sheder transforms to MF-XR01 Svalinn Gundam

<Pose Tracker> Ruri Hoshino has posed.

        "The Gaia Gear is resonating with the Phenex," Ruri reports,
 clinically. "They're holding back the explosion, but I don't think they can
 stop it."

        Her eyes are unshaken, as she requests of their forces: "All pilots,
 withdraw to safety. All pilots, withdraw."

        "Us, too -- right, Captain?" Minato confirms, but she's not about to
 squander Rena's miracle, here.

        If Ruri were the child she looks to be, she might cry, she might scream
 -- Rena, Rena, what about you? Will you be okay?! You're going to be okay,
 aren't you?! -- but the mild expression on her face remains, with only a
 shadow of tension.

        Her parting words, instead, are to the GENESIS System itself.

        I'm sorry they made you this way. I hope it doesn't hurt you.

<Pose Tracker> Hikaru Amano has posed.

Rau le Creuset's death... it's a truly lonely one. Maybe it's a fitting final
 page to his chapter in history, but it's lonely nonetheless. Hikaru has no
 more words for a dead man like him.

She does pay attention to the light - can it really put an end to the impending
 destruction by GENESIS? For all her optimism, Hikaru has a hard time believing
 in miracles. "The ones who stayed behind... d'you really think they have a
 chance? I mean that Gundam sure is gold and glowing, but..." It's a question
 directed to no one in particular, maybe herself?

And she continues to consider it. "Lucine.. you chose to believe in them.. so I
 guess the best I can do is believe too.. just a little bit." A satisfied smile
 emerges on her face as she goes to follow back Ryoko. "Right behind you,
 Ryoko-chan...!"

Hikaru wonders what she'll do after a battle like this. 'Daisies at Dawn'
 doesn't sound hardly even close to her usual preferred genre. But it could be
 decent inspiration... she just hopes she has plenty of time to get back to
 sketching and writing, so she can allow this miracle at least, to make a
 difference.

<Pose Tracker> Yurika Misumaru has posed.

        The hues of the Phase Shift Armor dull, the generators crackling and
 bursting upon impact, the Nadesico buried prongs-deep in the outer armor of
 GENESIS - seeing it seem to power down imparts a relief of tension aboard
 the bridge, followed by a cheer aboard. It looks like GENESIS has been halted,
 and the world saved!

        "...eh?! It's not exactly time to be celebrating yet, everyone! Please
 keep pushing full speed ahead - I want this thing out of alignment as much as
 possible. We'll push it just like Axis!!!" Yurika puffs, blinkblinking at a
 slightly deflated Megumi.

        "Eeh? Captain, shouldn't we pull out and prioritize retrieval right
 this second?"

        "Didn't you remember what Doctor Inez said? It's kind of like a lens
 that uses a nuclear explosion as its ignition mechanism!" Yurika insists -
 boggling much of the crew who'd have figured she might not have paid that much
 attention.

        "Yes, but we've disabled the power supply!"

        "Right, but there's like, twelve Mobile Suits still in there! They use
 nuclear engines! They might explode! It's pretty simple stuff!"

        ---sure enough, just a minute into trying to shove GENESIS forward as
 much as possible, one such explosion rings out, and energy reactions spike -
 but this time, far more uncontrollably and wildly. This isn't the output
 that'll make a beam - this is the output that'd catalyze into a meltdown.

        "Okay! We're prioritizing retrieval right this second!" Yurika
 flusters, grabbing her wide-area intercom and belting out, <"The Nadesico's
 hangars are open for the next 60 seconds! Everyone still inside GENESIS please
 get here please please please, that 60 seconds is no joke!!!">

        ...One soul insists on staying. No - two. She can see just faintly the
 radiant light burgeoning within the core. Something amazing. Something
 romantic. Once again, a miracle saving the world, just like that light which
 transfixed her four years ago.

        "No matter what, I never stopped believing in that power. Rena - you're
 more fortunate than you imagine. If - no, when we meet again, tell me all
 about it!" Something just ever so faintly wistful and melodic fills Yurika's
 voice - something about it (reaches) further than just her tone.

        Her heart won't stop racing. That's right - this person who is a
 miracle, just like her belo-

        "Wait a minute, you're the one Captain York favors enough to paint on
 the nose her new mobile weapon! Nooooo I can't compete with a bond that
 strong, it's over before it's even begun!!!!!" A slightly agonized clutching
 of her hat to her head, as the Nadesico finally rears away from the fountain
 of this miracle...

<Pose Tracker> Liam 7-020 has posed.

        Dammit, Liam thinks, that wasn't enough. His hands clench the
 controls with enough force to bend them, were they any less sturdy--but he's
 still moving. The wounded Long Dagger whips the rifle off its rack, and Liam
 takes the substantial risk that is deprioritizing an enemy ace. Maybe if he
 empties what's left of the e-cap he can--

        Riika happens. The Long Dagger's ocular cameras track her as she
 executes that heart-crushing charge. It happens so quickly, but for someone
 with Liam's augmentations, there's just enough time to process, appreciate,
 and feel shock at what he's seeing. The impact of the Providence Gundam
 SLAMMING into the collector doesn't transmit through the vacuum, but Liam can
 feel it in his bones anyway.

        "<I'm sorry,>" Liam says. There's a horrible wetness in Rau's voice,
 now, and Liam realizes he's listening to someone die. At first, it sounds like
 a stock Liam apology, like the one he gave to Sandalphon. "<But you're wrong.
 And I hope the last thing you realize is how wrong you were.>" There's a faint
 tremor in Liam's response, but it's underscored with resolve that wasn't there
 at the start of this fight.

        The Phase Shift Armor is coming down. The array is overloading.
 "<Rita,>" Liam says, "<Bring her home, and you come home, too.>" The Long
 Dagger jets over to the Dianthus for only a moment--just enough to give a
 visual reminder to Lucine.

        Liam picks up Svalinn on sensors, and floors it. Without its Fortestra,
 the Long Dagger is much faster. G-forces press against Liam's chest as he
 keeps accelerating, and pushing the Mobile Suit through those tight turns.
 When it finally roars through that last hatch and into open space, Liam gets a
 visual on the Nadesico and starts his approach.

        "<Pilot 7-020 reports mission success. Dianthus and Aestivalis
 complement accounted for.>" No word on Rita, or on the pilot who stayed
 behind. Rena? God, please be safe.

BC-001 Minae has connected.

<Pose Tracker> Lucine Azul has posed.

        Riika makes the last move. Lucine bows her head slightly averting her
 eyes away from that delicate moment. To kill someone you had put your faith
 in, that had thrown it aside to embrace oblivion... there is a certain deadly
 sacredness to it, like the red of blood across white snow. "... Riika..."

        It's done.

        Lucine looks towards Rena with some hesitation, then to Rita, finally
 attempting to press at the walls of her own mind to try to reach Rita herself.
 Her fingers touch the glass of her cockpit where the Phenex is, as she
 visualizes the human form of Rita in her mind. She remembers Rita
 enthusiastically waking her up to tell her Tsutsujidai was back, and that Liam
 was on his way, and how Rita floated around Liam's apartment, items floating
 around in the air like the gravity settings had been turned off, but only for
 specific, helpful things they needed. The way Lucine's touchscreen managed to
 evade Rita's touch, as Rita tried to keep watch over it while Lucine herself
 took a hurried shower.

        The way Lucine and Rita flew through Mars and the stars beyond,
 untouched by war or violence.
        
        If Lucine's thoughts do reach Rita, it would most likely due to the
 power on Rita's end, than through Lucine's own abilities. You gave me hope
 that I'd see Liam again. It was something so small, compared to everything
 else... but you still came and helped me. Please, don't let this be the last
 time we meet.... I want to show you all the plants in the greenhouse!

        Ryoko, Hikaru, and Liam's urgings are not ignored; Lucine may not know
 if her message got through, but she places faith in it.

        < "... I'm coming. Don't worry." >

        Rushing into the Nadesico's hangar, the Dianthus plants itself into its
 hold, and, as the cockpit opens, Lucine takes her helmet off and sits there,
 looking down at the floor below.

        Just like that day, on another planet, when she flew in like a bat out
 of hell into the Nadesico, and never seemed to leave.

         "..... I'm home."

<Pose Tracker> Puru Two has posed.

Call it callous or cruel, but as the Providence Gundam sags lifelessly beneath
 a barrage of steel and fire, it exits Puru Two's consciousness. By her
 measure, the will to carry on from its pilot is evaporating rapidly, meaning
 he's probably on his way out. Her funnels return in a swirling cloud of
 scarlet lights. "He's toast. We're leaving." she calls, right before the
 sensor suite starts beeping angrily because the GENESIS's gamma pulse is
 actually about to pop and kill everyone inside.

The Qubeley is a moment too slow to grab Rena and Anita and leave, though, for
 the spirited girl in the Gaia Gear has other plans. Puru Two's expression
 briefly returns to neutral as her feelings about this churn, unease and dread
 threatening to claw their way back to prominence and paralyze her. "Rena,
 wait--"

        ( ... if I went beyond the veil, could I cause the miracle ...? )

Her features tighten. Eyes narrow. "Stop it." she chides herself.

"Rena, don't you dare disappear on us." Puru Two's face appears in the corner
 of her monitor, with that familiar caring scowl (trust us) as the Gaia Gear
 begins to glow with the light of a thousand ghostly emeralds. The Qubeley is
 pausing to look her way, but doesn't disregard the order to run. "Don't you go
 somewhere we can't follow. We'll be waiting." and with that, the black, avian
 Mobile Suit egresses at a stupendous speed. Like most dramatic things in life,
 you can't say much more than that. At one point it was there, and then it left.

"Again... it happened again..." Puru Two's arms are folded across her console
 as the Qubeley zips out of the GENESIS's core chamber at breakneck pace. She
 moves to rest her head on them, then pauses... and stops. She clasps her hands
 together tightly, instead, her head bowed.

And for the first time, the girl prays. With all of her heart, gripping her
 soul with both hands and silently screaming her wishes into whatever forces
 swirl beyond the edge of this world.

        ( Let her,
                come home,
                        I beg you. )

<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.

The psychoframe practically burns in Rena's mind. She stares at it, her eyes
 starting to tear up. Her tears drift up inside of her helmet, floating as
 little droplets in the zero-gravity. She smiles, though; the Gaia Gear Alpha's
 hand remains with the Phenex's.

I'm glad you're with me too. I couldn't do this alone. But... I don't want
 anyone else to die today.

It's surreal for her to hear Koji Kabuto talk to her. She can't even afford to
 marvel at it.

"Not... not planning on it!" Rena tells Koji, though her voice is strained.
 Then, she looks at her 360-degree display -- where a cut-in with Naoko
 appears. "You can trust me, Nova. Just get moving!"

Then, Yurika cuts in. She smiles. "Y-Yeah," she says. "I'll tell you all about
 it when I'm out of there." Then, her mouth hangs open. Callie's hurting.

"I'm not, Callie. I'm not," she repeats. "Just... just get clear, okay?"

She feels Eight's presence. Her words reaching through space, to her mind. She
 closes her eyes for a moment; with the psychoframe turned up the way it is,
 though, she doesn't really need her eyes open to see. She feels the ball of
 nuclear flame pressing in, closer and closer. But Rita is there, with her; the
 Phenex is at her side.

Together, they can do this.

I promised, Octo. I'll be back. Just make sure everyone's safe, okay?

Then, she cracks a smile. No talking to Anita through her mind. "I know,
 Annie," she says. Her voice wavers for a second, though. "I'll... I'll be
 right behind you."

She feels Arriety's presence, too. Something very different about her, too, and
 yet--yet, it's still her. Rena's eyes open again. She looks at the shimmering
 barrier of green particles, holding a nuclear explosion at bay. The others are
 getting away.

Rita... we need to go now. They're all clear. I promised.

The Gaia Gear Alpha's limbs fold into it -- the damaged head tucking down --
 and then the nose cone flips up. The wings unfurl -- and the waverider does a
 sharp turn. Its speed makes it do a tight turn, as it blitzes towards the
 tunnels. Rena stares. They're labyrinthine. One could easily get lost in them.
 And there's only the two of them. She looks at the Phenex, fear starting to
 fill her.

It might be impossible. It dawns on Rena that, maybe, she should never have
 promised Eight and Anita that...

A soft chime. She stares, as data floods her screen -- then she smiles.
 "...Riika. Thanks. Rita, follow me!"

The waverider's afterburners kick in -- and she gets thrown back against the
 seat, as the white Mobile Suit shoots out of GENESIS, trails of white light
 and green motes after it like a comet, as it makes its way towards the Ra Mari
 II.

To home.

<Pose Tracker> Rita Bernal has posed.

The warmth of the heroes of the living -- no, Rita's friends, her allies,
 bolsters her resolve. She never expected this. Kindness is so foreign to her.
 This is simply what has to happen, after all, she's only easing the path to
 the future.

Rena calls for them to leave, though the explosion will still happen. If she
 put all of her will forth, could she prevent it entirely? But -- Rena won't
 leave her. With a nod, the Phenex's words echo into Rena's heart.

Lead the way. I'm right behind you.

In contrast to her blindingly fast entrance, the Phenex retreats slowly, one
 hand held behind her, focusing on keeping up the glimmering barrier. Just a
 little longer. Just until Rena's clear. Through the twisting passageways of
 GENESIS, the golden Gundam soars, clinging to her shattered wings. Even now,
 as she flies, bits of armor begin to ignite in miraculous fire, slowly but
 surely filling in the broken pieces.

The Gaia Gear Alpha races free, and the Phenex is but a few moments behind. She
 turns, flying backwards, both hands held out. Rena's safe. Everyone's safe.
 Her mind expands, once more, searching for Rau -- curious, perhaps. But she
 offers him no words. Just like the Phenex's beloved, he chose his fate.

With a snap of psychic effort, the Phenex releases her barrier and darts
 away, engulfed in azure flame. She will escape the blast, but it's a close
 thing, singeing a few of her tailfeathers.

With deliberate movement, the Phenex soars by each ship for a moment, proving
 her wellness. It's all she can offer, for now. She's exhausted, and she has a
 long journey ahead of her. A terrible battle awaits...

<Pose Tracker> Rau Le Creuset has posed.

        The Providence Gundam's fusion reactor explodes!

        The energy gathered by GENESIS explodes!

        ... Except it doesn't.

        Halted by the Phenex Gundam, there is a single point of blinding light
 within the detonation chamber. Ready to expand outwards, engulfing the entire
 superweapon and everyone within it with enough destructive force to cause them
 all to cease to exist.

        And yet it doesn't. Almost as if time has briefly been stopped.

        Of course, the Phenex Gundam can't keep this up indefinitely. And as
 those inside GENESIS quickly begin to make their way out, the light slowly
 starts expanding.

        Even a miracle has its limits.

        Finally, everyone is at a point where they can reasonably make it out
 safely. Probably a good thing, as the expansion of blinding light is growing
 faster and faster. The Phenex itself doesn't have much time left either...

        ... Shortly after everyone is able to get clear of GENESIS, a bright
 light engulfs the superweapon. Blinding, for a moment.

        But after it fades, a field of debris is all that remains. Some pieces
 larger than others, but certainly not enough to even consider trying to put
 the thing back together.

        GENESIS is destroyed.

        Which then begs the question... What now?

        It's at that point that a comm channel opens up to all, coming from the
 Aprilius One, the PLANTs capital of all things:

        <"This is Councilor Eileen Canaver to the Federation forces. On behalf
 of the PLANTs Supreme Council and ZAFT, we are officially requesting a
 ceasefire. I repeat, we wish to request a cease-fire. Those responsible for
 the deployment of the GENESIS superweapon are in custody. We have no further
 desire fight, there has been too much death already.">

        Thus ends this chapter of the Bloody Valentine war. It might not be
 over completely... There's no telling what tomorrow brings. But for now...
 It's over.