Crossing Orb: Newtype Commander

As the Archangel slowly emerged from the dock at the transit station, Char stood by the porthole on the bridge, staring at the wreckage area outside. In his hand, he held an encrypted terminal, the screen displaying the latest intelligence from VEDA—Kruze's fleet was patrolling the outer edge of L4 space, approximately 30,000 kilometers from the Archangel. They hadn't given up the pursuit.

"Commander Asha, the location of the Kruze team," Natal's voice came from the fire control console. "Approximately 30,000 kilometers away, slowly approaching. Expected to enter engagement range in ten hours."

"Accelerate," Char's voice was calm. "Full speed toward the moon. Enter the Combine's sphere of influence before Kruze catches up with us."

"Yes."

The Archangel's thrusters roared to life, leaving a white trail in the starry sky. But everyone knew that ten hours—at Kruze's speed, perhaps less. Maybe eight hours, maybe six. They had to find reinforcements before Kruze caught up.

Bridge of the USS Wesalis.

Kruse stood in front of the holographic screen, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest. The screen displayed a live monitoring image of the Junius 7 wreckage area—the Archangel's trajectory was extending towards the moon, moving quickly, but not fast enough.

"Captain, reconnaissance aircraft report." The adjutant's voice came from behind, "The Archangel stayed in the Junius 7 wreckage area for two hours. They entered a supply depot and loaded up a large amount of supplies—food, fresh water, and medicine. Now, they are heading towards the moon at full speed."

Kruze's lips curled into a slight smile. "That idiot Garcia did us a huge favor."

"What?"

"If he hadn't seized the Archangel, we would have caught up with them long ago on their way to the moon. But he insisted on seizing them, forcing them to flee to Artemis, wasting precious time, though it still had some value." Kruze turned around, his gaze behind the mask cold. "Now, although their supplies are plentiful, time is running out. They still have at least three days' journey to the moon. Three days—enough for us to catch up with them and sink them."

"But Captain, the Eighth Fleet—"

"The Eighth Fleet is still preparing at the lunar base and will be ready to deploy in at least two days. Two days—the Archangel will be gone." Kruze leaned back in his chair, a slight smile playing on his lips behind his mask. "Order all teams to pursue at full speed. Do not let them enter the Combine's sphere of influence."

"yes!"

Just then, the communications officer's voice came from behind: "Captain, Lieutenant Aslan requests communication."

Kruse frowned slightly. "Take it."

Athrun Zala's face appeared on the holographic screen. He looked tired, his eyes bloodshot, but his gaze remained resolute. In the background was the cockpit of the Aegis Gundam, the lights on the instrument panel flickering in the darkness.

"Captain, Lux Clyne's comfort ship has been attacked." Athrun's voice was hoarse. "Is...is she still alive?"

Kruze paused for a moment. "Not sure. But according to intelligence, her life pod was taken by an unidentified ship. The ship's identity—it could be from the Coalition forces, or it could be civilian. It's still being confirmed."

Aslan's fingers tightened slightly. "Captain, I need to go to the Junius 7 wreckage area. I need to see it for myself."

"Athrun, do you know what that place is?"

"I know. That's—the place where my mother rests. And also where Lux might... be."

Kruze stared at him for a long time, then nodded. "Go. But on one condition—if you can't find it, come back. Don't delay the pursuit."

"Yes."

The communication was interrupted. Kruse stood alone in front of the holographic screen, a slight smile playing on his lips behind the mask.

"Athlan Zala... are you still worried about that girl? In war, emotions are the most useless thing. They make you hesitate, make you make mistakes, and make you lose everything." He turned and walked towards the captain's seat. "But perhaps, your emotions will be the key to sinking the Archangel."

In the hangar of the Wesalis, the Aegis Gundam's thrusters ignited, and the mobile suit slid out of the catapult deck. Athrun sat in the cockpit, hands gripping the control stick, his amber eyes fixed on the starry sky ahead. The Junius 7 wreckage area—the place where his mother rested. He had never gone back, because he dared not. But today, he had to go back. Not for his mother, but for Lacus.

"Lux..." he whispered, "Are you still alive?"

No one answered. Only the silence of the starry sky.

Two hours have passed.

Athrun's Aegis Gundam moved through the wreckage. His eyes were glued to every dot on the radar screen, his fingers gripping the control stick firmly. He saw the debris—the debris of what had once been homes, schools, and parks. He saw the bodies—the bodies of mothers, fathers, and children.

But he couldn't find Lux.

The wreckage of the comfort ship floated deep within the wreckage area, its hull broken into several pieces, the fragments slowly rotating in the vacuum. Aslan piloted the Aegis closer to the wreckage, his eyes fixed on the debris—he saw the remains of the bridge, the ejection ports of the escape pods, and the escape pods that had been affected by the blast wave but failed to eject.

But Lux is not included.

"Athrun, this is the Wesalis." The communications officer's voice came through the communicator. "Intelligence confirms that Lux Clyne's life pod was rescued by an unidentified vessel. The vessel's identity—is still being confirmed. But based on its trajectory analysis, it is likely a Combined Forces warship."

Aslan's fingers tightened slightly. "A coalition warship?"

"Yes. Model—Archangel-class. It's the very ship we've been chasing."

Athrun's pupils contracted. The Archangel—Kira's ship. Had Lacus been rescued by Kira? Or by someone else? He didn't know. But he knew that as long as she was still on that ship, she had hope of survival. Because Kira wouldn't allow anyone to harm her.

"Athrun, return to base immediately," the communications officer's voice rang out again. "The captain orders you to return immediately."

Aslan stared at the wreckage outside the window, remaining silent for a long time. Then, he pushed the control stick, the Aegis's thrusters ignited, and the machine flew towards the Wesalis.

"Lux, wait for me," he whispered. "I'll come get you."

Bridge of the USS Wesalis.

As Athrun entered the bridge, Kruze was standing in front of the holographic screen, staring at the Archangel's trajectory. He didn't turn around, but his voice clearly reached Athrun's ears.

"Did you find it?"

"No," Aslan's voice was hoarse. "But intelligence says her life pod was taken by the Archangel."

Kruze turned around, his gaze from behind the mask fixed on Athrun. "So, your friend Kira Yamato saved Lacus Clyne."

Aslan's fingers tightened slightly. "Yes."

"Interesting." Kruze's lips curled into a slight smile. "A Coordinator, piloting a Union mobile suit, saved PLANT's songstress. If this news got out, how much of a stir would it cause in PLANT?"

"team leader--"

"I won't tell anyone," Kruze interrupted him, "at least not now. Because Lux Klein on the Archangel is an opportunity for us."

"What opportunity?"

Kruze walked to the tactical table, swiping his finger across the screen to bring up the Archangel's trajectory map. "The Archangel is heading towards the moon. If we intercept them before they reach the moon, Lux Clyne will be fine. But if we fail to intercept them after they reach the moon, the Combine will know Lux Clyne is in their hands. What will they do? Use her? Protect her? Or… kill her?"

Aslan's pupils contracted. "Captain, you wouldn't—"

“I won’t,” Kruze interrupted him again, “but the Combine will. When the Combine learn that they’ve captured the daughter of a PLANT senator, her value will be immeasurable. If they’re smart enough, they’ll use her and keep her alive. But if they’re not smart enough…”

He didn't finish his sentence. But Aslan knew what he wanted to say.

"Captain, I beg you—let me go to the Archangel. I need to personally check on Lux's safety."

Kruze stared at him for a long time, then nodded. "Okay. But on one condition—her safety must be guaranteed."

"Yes."

Aslan turned and walked towards the bridge exit. Kruze watched his retreating figure, a slight smile playing on his lips behind his mask.

"Athrun Zala...you will become an excellent warrior. As long as you learn to let go of those useless emotions."

The Archangel, outside the Junius 7 wreckage area.

Suddenly, an alarm sounded on the bridge.

Natal's fingers flew across the fire control panel. "Captain, high-speed target detected behind! Approaching at an extremely high speed! Expected engagement range in four hours!"

Maru's pupils contracted. "Is it Team Kruze?"

"Uncertainty—Only one target! Signal characteristics—Aegis Gundam!"

Kira's breathing stopped. The Aegis—Athrun. He's here.

"Kira," Char's voice came from the corner of the bridge, calm and deep, "Go to the hangar. Prepare for sortie."

Kira turned around and looked at Char. There was no fear in his deep red eyes, only a calm and resolute light.

"What if he attacks us?"

"Follow your heart. You're not a soldier right now," Xia said calmly. "So, keep the battle at the level of 'deterrence.' Let him know we won't be easily defeated, but don't force him to use lethal force."

Kira stared at him for a long time, then nodded. "I understand."

He turned and walked toward the bridge exit. Reaching the door, he stopped and glanced back at Char.

"Commander-in-Chief Askha, thank you."

"What are you thanking me for?"

"Thank you for letting me know that killing is not the only option on the battlefield."

Char's lips curled into a slight smile. "Go. Be careful."

Kira left. On the bridge, Murrue stared at the approaching dot of light on the radar screen, her brown eyes filled with tension.

"Captain Bugiluru, notify all personnel to enter combat readiness."

"Yes."

The Archangel's alarms sounded again, and red warning lights flashed in the corridor. Crew members ran, some shouting "To combat positions!", others "MS, prepare for sortie!", and still others "Wounded personnel, evacuate to safe zone!" Everything was proceeding according to plan.

But inside the hangar, Kira Yamato sat in the cockpit of the Strike Gundam, his hands gripping the control stick, his amber eyes fixed on the catapult deck ahead. His heart pounded, but his hands remained steady. He knew that the battle to come wasn't about killing, but about protecting. Protecting the people on board.

"Strike Gundam, Kira Yamato, sortie!"

The catapult activated, propelling the mobile suit into space with immense thrust. The Strike Gundam emerged from the Archangel's hangar, leaving a white trail in the void. In the distance, a point of light approached—the Aegis Gundam.

The two machines met at the edge of the Junius 7 wreckage area.

Distance – 500 meters.

Kira pressed the communication button, his voice calm: "Athrun."

Athrun's voice came through the communicator, trembling slightly: "Kira, Lacus... is she on your ship?"

Kira was silent for a moment. "Yes. She's safe."

A sigh of relief came through the communicator. "Kira, let me on board. I need to see her."

"No." Kira's voice was calm. "You're a ZAFT soldier, and this ship belongs to the Combine. If you board, you'll be arrested, interrogated, and—"

"I don't care," Aslan interrupted him. "I just want to make sure she's safe."

Kira was silent for a moment. "Athrun, she's safe now. I assure you. If you really want to see her, wait until the war is over. Then you can see her anywhere. But now—no."

There was silence on the communicator. A long silence followed, so long that Kira thought the communication had been lost.

Then, Athrun's voice rang out again, hoarse and weary: "Kira, you've changed. You actually believe the Alliance."

"Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe I just saw something I hadn't seen before."

"What is it?"

Kira stared at the red mobile suit, the Aegis Gundam reflected in his eyes. "The truth of war, the real, vivid, unfolding tragedy. I saw a woman dying in a vacuum, holding her child. I saw an old man clutching a photograph of his daughter."

"Kira—"

"So, I won't let you board the ship. Not because I don't trust you. You've seen enough already, and I hope you can trust me."

Silence fell again on the communicator. Then, Athrun's voice came through, tinged with bitterness: "Kira, you're still so gentle."

"I'm not gentle," Kira said calmly. "I just don't want to see anyone else die."

The Aegis Gundam's thrusters ignited, and the mobile suit slowly retreated. Athrun's voice came through the communicator, tinged with determination: "Kira, I will come again. Not for battle, but for Lacus. And for you."

"I know."

The Aegis Gundam turned, its thrusters firing at full power, and the machine disappeared into the shadows of the debris field. Kira sat in the cockpit of the Strike Gundam, staring at the departing red machine, his amber eyes filled with complex emotions.

"Aslan," he whispered, "maybe we'll fight again when we meet next. But at least today—we've chosen peace."

He pushed the control stick, and the Strike Gundam flew towards the Archangel.

In the bridge, Maru stared at the receding dot of light on the radar screen, her brown eyes filled with complex emotions.

"Commander-in-Chief Ashar, the Aegis has retreated."

"I know," Char's voice came from the corner, calm and deep. "Kira did it."

"What should be done?"

"At this moment, an enemy has chosen peace."

A moment of silence fell over the bridge. Everyone stared at the receding red dot on the radar screen, their eyes filled with a mix of emotions—surprise, gratitude, admiration, and sorrow. Because in war, such peace is only temporary. The next time they met, they would be enemies again.

But at least they had that moment.