SEED - Trial

Strike Gundam raised its beam gun at Aegis Gundam, and Kira Yamato opened the communicator.

"Athrun Sara?"

"Yeah, it's me, Kira Yamato."

"Open the hatch."

Both Strike Gundam and Aegis Gundam opened their cockpit hatches.

Kira Yamato said to Lacus Klein,

"Go on, talk to him. Athrun Sara can't see you. Let him know it's you."

"Oh, so that's how it is."

Lacus Klein then waved at Athrun Sara across from her and said,

"Hello, Athrun. It's been a long time."

Athrun Sara smiled as he confirmed it.

"Confirmation complete."

"Then take her with you. And Liza Kalman over there as well."

Liza Kalman said expressionlessly,

"Athrun Sara, do you remember me? Liza Kalman, a ZAFT Red Uniform Elite who graduated in the same class as you."

"Mm, I remember. The blonde girl who always ranked one place below me."

Liza Kalman said through gritted teeth,

"Athrun Sara, remember this well. My name is Liza Kalman, not 'that blonde girl.' Hmph."

Athrun Sara helplessly shook his head, unfastened his seat belt, and stepped out of the cockpit.

Kira Yamato gently pushed Lacus Klein out, sending her floating toward Athrun Sara.

Athrun Sara looked at Lacus Klein's spacesuit, at the huge bulge around her belly, and sure enough, his face showed utter shock.

At that moment, Thor Keni really wanted to say right in front of them,

"Athrun, Kira knocked up your wife!"

Liza Kalman did not ask Kira Yamato for help. With a powerful kick, she floated over to Aegis Gundam's cockpit.

Lacus Klein said to Kira Yamato,

"Thank you for taking care of me, Kira Yamato."

Then she looked at Athrun Sara and said, "Athrun, thank you as well."

Athrun Sara looked at Lacus Klein, then at Kira Yamato, and said,

"Kira, come with us too. You have no reason to stay with the Earth Federation Army."

Kira Yamato lowered his head sorrowfully and said,

"Athrun, I don't want to fight you either.

"But there are people on this ship I want to protect. My friends are here."

Athrun Sara met Kira Yamato's eyes deeply for a while, then lowered his head in sorrow and said,

"Kira, then there's no helping it.

"The next time we fight, I'll attack you."

Kira Yamato said with a face full of pain,

"Athrun, next time, I'll attack you too."

Kira Yamato then closed the cockpit hatch, and Strike Gundam slowly moved away from Aegis Gundam.

At that moment, the Archangel's radar operator reported,

"Enemy Mobile Suits are launching from the Nacskha-class battleship. The Nacskha-class battleship's engines are starting."

Rau Le Creuset piloted a Ginn out from the Nacskha-class battleship opposite them.

At the same time, Mwu La Flaga in the Archangel's hangar impatiently activated his Moebius Zero and flew out of the Archangel.

Just as the battle was about to resume, Lacus Klein aboard Aegis Gundam opened the communicator and said,

"Captain Cruze, please stop.

"Are you planning to turn the place where the Mourning and Memorial Group I represent is located into a battlefield?

"I absolutely will not permit such a thing. Stop all combat operations immediately.

"Can't you hear me?"

Rau Le Creuset had no choice but to comply. He stopped advancing and returned to the Nacskha-class battleship together with Aegis Gundam.

Kira Yamato also breathed a sigh of relief and returned to the Archangel with Mwu La Flaga.

At that moment, Thor Keni said to Nami,

"Nami, help me assimilate the New DG Cells around Lacus Klein into Aegis Gundam.

"Then have them self-replicate and assimilate that Nacskha-class battleship as well.

"Make the personnel aboard do the same as last time: assimilate them and have them lie low, including Rau Le Creuset.

"Hahaha, Rau Le Creuset, you got away last time, but didn't I catch you this time?

"Your battleship and Mobile Suit will all be mine. Destiny Gundam will be mine too, hahaha."

"Master, Nami received the order.

"Yay, more work! Work, work!

"Master's battleship count is +1 again!"

Thor Keni shook his head, feeling increasingly helpless when it came to his Nami.

Still, he had made an absolute killing this time. At this rate, would he become the hidden mastermind behind all of SEED and Destiny in the later stages?

Hehehe, just thinking about it was exciting. He definitely had to try it if he got the chance. This absolutely had potential.

By then, every powerful machine in the SEED world would become part of his collection.

After Kira Yamato returned to the Archangel, Natale Badgiruel decided to put him on trial and punish him.

A small Military Tribunal was convened aboard the battleship. Mwu Lamias served as the Chief Judge, while Natale Badgiruel acted as both the prosecuting attorney and the prosecuting counsel.

Mwu La Flaga naturally became Kira Yamato's defense attorney.

Natale Badgiruel accused him.

"The defendant has not realized at all just how great a threat his actions posed to the safety of this battleship."

Mwu La Flaga defended him.

"That is merely your speculation. There is no concrete evidence.

"I request that this statement be stricken from the record."

Mwu Lamias struck Ikari Gendo's standard pose and said, "Request granted."

Mwu La Flaga continued his defense while holding a book.

"Um, in this case... using civilians as hostages violates Article 4 of the Goloscardo Treaty."

Natale Badgiruel said sternly,

"This action was handled appropriately in accordance with wartime measures under Special Case Project C."

"Eh?" Mwu La Flaga picked up a military law book and began searching through it nonstop.

"Special Case Project C? How come I've never heard of such a thing?

"Ah~, but it was precisely because the hostages were released that the Nacskha-class battleship retreated, allowing us to escape danger."

Natale Badgiruel rebutted,

"That is merely judging by the outcome."

Watching the two of them fool around, Mwu Lamias truly did not want to continue this game. She directly asked Kira Yamato,

"Kira Yamato, do you have anything to say in your defense? Why did you make that move without authorization?"

Kira Yamato answered,

"I didn't save her because she was being held hostage."

Mwu La Flaga, standing nearby, said happily upon hearing Kira Yamato's words,

"Exactly! You'd only do something like that for your girlfriend."

Kira Yamato immediately glared furiously at Mwu La Flaga.

Natale Badgiruel also rose angrily and said, "Objection."

Thor Keni, peeking in from outside, immediately gave him a thumbs-up and sighed inwardly.

Mwu, you're a real talent. What a spot-on prediction.