2024-10-03: Preparing to Fly Tomorrow

• Cast: Murrue Ramius, Lacus Clyne, Kira Yamato (NPC)
• Where: Akatsuki Manor - Orb
• Date: U.C. 0099 10 03
• Summary: The group over in Akatsuki Manor receives a letter with a ring attached. With the wedding just around the corner, everyone agreed something needed to be done.

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<Pose Tracker> Murrue Ramius has posed.

It was early evening when the letter arrived. The Letter. Delivered by the hand of Merna, the loyal servant of the Attha family to the mansion on Akatsuki Island, where the children of Reverend Malchio's Orphanage had found refuge after the Break the World Incident. It was a letter that cast an air of sadness over the household. In the mansion's living room, three of the Mansion's residents had met, Murrue Ramius, Captain of the Battleship Archangel, Kira Yamato, the ace pilot of the Freedom Gundam, and Lacus Clyne, the songstress of the PLANTs. The letter, and a ring that was stuck inside the envelope it came in were sitting on the coffee table between the three like a loaded pistol.

"Well...I suppose she's made her decision then." Murrue said, tugging at her shirt's sleeve. "I knew there was a delay but...well I suppose it had to happen sooner or later."

Murrue was doing her best to hide her concern. She knew that with this letter, and a date finally set, that she had a promise that had to be kept. But when she spoke with Marian Cross she only promised the Archangel, and still at the back of her mind was a creeping desire to not have to keep that promise made under what was, in retrospect, a brief moment of weakness.

<Pose Tracker> Lacus Clyne has posed.

... This isn't what Lacus expected, to put it delicately.

She had hoped that they'd have more time; for that matter, she'd hoped that something else would happen. She's tried to give NUNE the chance to establish itself as different from the Federation of old, but this sort of expansionism (and of sealing an alliance with a wedding, for that matter) is straight out of the Britannian playbook. Her gaze has been subtly downturned the entire time they've sat together.

"... Can she be said to have made a decision under circumstances like these? The Seirans have enough power in the legislature to shut down any attempt to join another defensive compact or increase trade with another country," Lacus reflects. It's very plain to her that Cagalli is cornered, not choosing -- wrapped in a role until it smothers her.

The room... feels cold, to Lacus -- feels cold, bone-deep. She weighs, for some time, the possibility of some grand rescue -- but can she do that? Ought she do that?

There are narratives Lacus Clyne tampering in an island nation's politics would serve, to be sure, but they aren't the ones she'd want to indulge.

"... Kira," she murmurs, softly, instead. Whether she's asking for guidance or suggesting a solution would be hard to tease out.

<Pose Tracker> Kira Yamato has posed.

It seemed the world is once more hurtling towards another war ever since Break the World. Kira, for his part, has retired from fighting by the end of the Blood Valentine conflict. A quiet life, away from all the fighting. No lives need to be taken again. Not by his hands, least of all.

The letter, and the ring, came at a surprise. He didn't expect the sister he knew - so headstrong and stubborn - to give up so easily like this. For her to allow Orb to join NUNE against her adoptive father's wishes, and to give up on her relationship with Athrun...

"Cagalli... She must've been forced to agree to this. She's not the kind of person to give up like this," Kira replies, picking up Athrun's ring, more than a little thoughtful.

As Lacus says his name, he turned to face her. He may be the 'Ultimate Coordinator', but he can't read minds. But he still offered, "...I know, Lacus." Regardless of what she's asking, he offers his support. If she give him her strength, then he'll give her his will in return. "I think we have to do something to help."

While the Freedom Gundam was kept in secret, he never intended to ever fly it again. But with this...

<Pose Tracker> Murrue Ramius has posed.

Murrue sighed. Deep down, this may have been what she wanted. Though it seemed strange, she was so much older than the both of them, and yet here she was looking to a pair of teenagers for guidance. Or, at the very least, some confirmation.

"...I...may have been approached to do something about it...with the Archangel." She said, her eyes turning to look out the open doors that led out to the balcony facing the vast, sparkling ocean, turning orange with the setting sun. "And to be honest...I still haven't made up my mind about it."

<Pose Tracker> Lacus Clyne has posed.

Lacus nods to Kira as he says she's likely been forced to agree with this. That seems to be the case to her as well. "... I agree," Lacus affirms, and there's some reassurance in the fact that Kira has been the one to say it.

Murrue, apparently, has also been asked to do something about it. ... With the Archangel. That gives Lacus a bit more resolve. "If either of you act, I will support you," she says, nodding to each of them in turn.

... She thinks, for a moment, about whether she's best served by remaining on the ship with Murrue or if she ought to take the field. The EFREET Steward is at the stage where it needs field data. At the same time, though, that's always been Kira's role...

... perhaps Lacus ought not think about roles quite so much, at a moment like this. She'll judge what she can do, when the moment approaches that she can do it.

<Pose Tracker> Kira Yamato has posed.

"You've...been approached to do something about it?" Kira parrots. There's a concern he's not hiding particularly well, reminded of how the Archangel and her crew was treated by the Federation during the last war.

"Are you sure they're trustworthy? Whoever they are?" He asked next, honest to a fault, as always.

But when it comes to saving Cagalli, it seemed to even him that sailing the Archangel will give them the best chance to do so. Even if he flew the Freedom to her aid, they could only go so far without support from a base or a ship. He sees Lacus's resolve though, and offers his in kind to Murrue after some pondering. "...I can't force you to sail again, Captain. I have my doubts too, but the Freedom will need support. And Cagalli as well."

Kira shares a invisible acknowledgment with Lacus. All the same, he'll support her in whatever she chooses to do. She's not so weak where she needs to be coddled. Not like-

He pushed that thought out before he could complete it. If it came to it, then...

For now, Cagalli.

<Pose Tracker> Murrue Ramius has posed.

Could she trust Marian? The woman seemed kind and compassionate enough, but there was a tact to her that Murrue found...well it reminded her a bit of Natarle, to be honest.

"I'm not entirely certain myself to be honest...but what I do know, is that if Orb ascends to NUNE...my own safety, and the safety of all the Archangel's old crew are going to be at risk. I'll admit to a little bit of paranoia. I did steal a Britannian funded warship from the former Earth Federation...and I imagine there are some people amongst NUNE's ranks who would certainly like her back."

Murrue turns to look at Kira and smiles as she gets to her feet. "I of course only promised myself and the Archangel. But if you're willing to come along for the ride and be rogues again...I'll be happy to have you. Especially with Andrew and Aisha having gone back to the PLANTs."

<Pose Tracker> Lacus Clyne has posed.

Kira asks good questions, and that gives Lacus some cause to smile; she scoots toward him a little, reaching for a hand discreetly. She almost pulls back, despite being the one initiating the touch -- but she does, ultimately, go for it.

Murrue's words give her cause to think. NUNE accession would be singularly dangerous for many members of the former Three Ships Alliance, that much is true. Lacus has that to consider as well, and not only for herself. It puts her deep in thought for a long time.

"... None of us can ignore this for any longer," Lacus agrees, eventually. "Do you have any more information on the situation than we do?" she asks of Murrue with a glance toward Kira. Lacus... really would have liked more information before deciding on a course of action. It's her way.

<Pose Tracker> Kira Yamato has posed.

When Lacus reached for him, he took her hand without hesitation. Turning his hand in hers and intertwines their fingers, returning a kind, supporting smile.

Kira has always thought if they kept their heads down, they could avoid prosecution by NUNE, even if they came for them. After all, the Archangel and the Freedom is well hidden. But for Murrue, and the others, perhaps they don't share that benefit...

He simply nodded as Murrue smiled at him. "I...don't know if I'll fight again... But at the very least, I have to save Cagalli from her predicament."

He then nodded at Lacus too when she asks. Kira was always a man of action first. Perhaps this is why they work so well together, with Lacus being the strategist of the pair.

<Pose Tracker> Murrue Ramius has posed.

Murrue nodded at Lacus, knowing her desire to have as much information as possible. She didn't have much really, but she did have enough experience as a battleship commander to give an educated guess.

"All I know so far is that according to...the person who reached out to me, that the Archangel is the safest place for Cagalli to be right now. And if NUNE wants this wedding to go through, they'll most likely be augmenting the Orb Defense Force security detail with their own forces. I can reach out when I rally the crew to find out anything else."

A tingle went up Murrue's spine. That feeling...of planning an action. It had been such a long time...

"I'll also see what we can do about keeping Reverend Malchio and the children protected. Someone will have to take care of him, but I don't think the Archangel is the right place for the orphanage to relocate."

<Pose Tracker> Lacus Clyne has posed.

That presence is a relief... and a curse. Even if it was Kira who put forth the idea of acting again, Lacus still sinks into the feeling of responsibility. She takes a deep breath, closing her eyes; when they open again, they remain downcast.

If they're planning to double down on security forces for the wedding... it increases the likelihood she'll need to do something beyond provide support for Murrue.

"Admiral York said she could find a place on Magallanica, or elsewhere, if necessary," Lacus volunteers. "I was hoping that wouldn't be necessary, but we may no longer have a choice in the matter." Lacus has been looking for more stable options, but...

"... And thank you for your hospitality, regardless," she adds, with a nod.

<Pose Tracker> Kira Yamato has posed.

Kira clasps his other hand on Lacus's. Offering another supporting smile. 'It'll be okay', his eyes seemingly says.

NUNE's own forces... If they are indeed there, then the Freedom alone will not be enough to break through their defenses. NDF may be one thing, if they are willing to simply let the Freedom pass. But Nergal's forces is another matter. NUNE's own adds yet another layer of complexity.

But it doesn't change what he needs to do.

"I think that's a good idea," he says to Lacus. Her allies in Terminal is trustworthy, if nothing else. Admiral York would be able to give the kids sanctuary. That'll give Kira, and hopefully Lacus, a peace of mind.

Kira also nods, his hands still locked with Lacus's. "Yes, thank you, Captain."

<Pose Tracker> Murrue Ramius has posed.

Murrue smiled at Kira. It felt good to know the Archangel's best pilot, as reluctant as he may be, was joining her. Deep down she knew that if he wasn't going to be there, they probably had very little chance of success. "Well then...I have some phone calls to make. If the rally order is right, we should be able to cast off by tomorrow morning at the latest. Plenty of time to reach the wedding site. Of course after we kidn...rescue her, we'll need to figure out what to do next. But I suppose we can cross that bridge when we reach it."

<Pose Tracker> Lacus Clyne has posed.

The reassurance in Kira's eyes... registers for Lacus, and does make her feel more confident -- but it doesn't totally assuage her worries. Some of those worries, after all, lie within her.

"Thank you," she offers him. It's thanks for more than just the assertion that it's a good idea.

Then, to Murrue, she agrees, "I'll need to contact people as well... we should be able to have everything in place by tomorrow morning as well." They're committed, now, from the sound of it -- and Lacus thinks she owes Orb, and Cagalli, at least that much commitment.

<Pose Tracker> Kira Yamato has posed.

Murrue almost saying 'kidnap' didn't escape Kira. Yes, kidnap. That is what they're doing. But with the wedding happening so soon, they're not left with a lot of choices other than 'kidnapping' her.

He couldn't grasp the deeper meaning behind Lacus's thanks... But, "of course," he returns. For now, it's enough that he gives her the confidence to act.

"I'll go run some diagnostics on the Freedom for tomorrow. See if anything needs to be adjusted before we launch," he says. It's been awhile, after all. Kira doesn't have the connections unlike Murrue or Lacus. He'll just have to do what he's most familiar with.

<Pose Tracker> Murrue Ramius has posed.

"I'll make certain Murdoch gets it loaded up when you're ready." Murrue said with a smile.

Hours later, the calls to the crew to gather had been sent out, as well as a message to Marian letting her know the Archangel was back in play. Murrue made her way through the halls of the legged battleship, brightly lit as the hum of the external power welcomed her Captain aboard once more.
//"Well, Lieutenant Commander La Flaga, you're his commanding officer, what do you think we should do about this?"//
//"...My suggestion...might not be worth sharing right now."//
//"...I figured."//

Up the elevator, Murrue stood in silence, until she reached the bridge. The door slid open, and she stepped inside through the double bulkhead door. The air was chilly, but warming up. The consoles and chairs had been covered in a plastic cover to protect them.

Murrue made her way down the stairs, and paused to look down into the CIC.

//"This is the Earth Federation Space Forces Ship the Archangel! We have Lacus Clyne aboard this ship, cease your attacks if you want to ensure her safety!"//
//"Ensign Badgiruel!"//
//"We're out of Options Lieutenant Commander! We don't have a choice!"//

Murrue walked the perimeter, and up the forward stairway to the windows. She touched her hand to the glass, and in the reflection saw the commander's chair, sitting ominously.

//"...You should know I don't have a good history with Mobile Armour pilots..."//
//"Well it's a good thing I'm a Mobile Suit pilot now, isn't it."//

Murrue turned to look at the commanders chair, before decending the stairs once more and standing before it, keeping her distance like it was a waiting lion.

"Am I ready to do this?" She thought to herself. "Well," A voice, warm and familiar spoke in her head. "You could stand here being wishy-washy...or you can be the Captain I abandoned the Earth Federation for and plant that cute butt of yours in that chair."

Murrue took hold of the plastic tarp covering the command chair and in one motion, yanked it free, tossing it aside. She touched the arm rest, the shoulder. And then turned and took her seat. Her seat. She sat for a few minutes, taking everything in, until she finally felt at ease.

It was time to go ruin a wedding.