The red lights flashing in the hangar gave off an almost eerie light along with their high-pitched siren as Nataku rushed for the catwalk. Right behind her brother, she bounded up the metal stairs two at a time, her boots clanking with each step. She easily slid into the pilot seat of the Mobile Suit Igtenos, securing her seatbelts with one hand while she fired up the machine with the other. Someone pressed a button or pulled a lever that caused the catwalk to slide out of the way, and once all the pilots were ready the large hangar doors creaked open. The Suits filed out, each one taking off with a loud scream of back thrusters once safely outside. Igtenos spread its large wings as though it needed them for flight, and with an almost jumping motion, took to the air.

The Gundams flew in no discernible formation towards the battlefield, Nataku towards the rear, Heero taking the lead. She got the feeling it would usually be like that. Hm. Something else to change.

The young girl tapped in her brother�s radio code before she began to speak. �Aniki, what�s our objective?�

�Well it�s really none of our business this time, but we aren�t just gonna sit here while people die.� She heard her brother�s voice before she saw his face in the corner of the screen. �OZ is attacking a small group of rebels with far more force than they need. But I hear that most of the pilots out there are rookies, so it shouldn�t be too much of a problem. They�re probably just trying to show off.�

Nataku�s breath caught in her chest. Rookies�no, don�t think about that. She won�t be there. She couldn�t. Fate wasn�t that cruel. �Was it?

She didn�t have time to ponder, for the field of battle was quickly filling her sight. Her brother�s face disappeared from her screen, and she heard the small click as the connection was broken. A natural high had begun to creep its way through her system, her adrenaline pumping at even the thought of a battle, her first actual battle. She pushed down on one of the levers, increasing the output of her back thrusters, an action that sent her burning up beside the Deathscythe. She caught sight of the black Gundam out of the corner of her eye, and gave a small smile along with a silent wish that God, if there was one, would keep her only family safe.

The long line of Leos and Aries came into view, and the firing of rifles both from the MS of OZ and those of the rebels assaulted the girl�s ears. The rebels had somehow managed to get a hold of a few Leos as well�probably stole them. That�s probably why OZ sent so many. Petty revenge. It made her sick to her stomach. OZ was the cause of all of the problems, even all the way back to Heero Yuy�s assassination.

But there was no time to think of that now. Now she had a mission. Now she had to hurt those who had hurt her. Now she had to help those who couldn�t help themselves.

She saw the Wing move in without hesitation, drawing its beam sabre in a flash of green energy and leaping at a Leo. Igtenos and Deathscythe seemed connected, for they both ran with thundering steps towards a cluster of Aries, even their steps in sync with each other. Nataku whipped the heat rod around from behind her, slinging it around the head of one of the suits before jerking hard to bring the rod back to her, the head of the enemy MS along with it. Then she heard a deep, commanding voice come over the airwaves, seemingly uncaring as to whether the Gundam pilots heard it or not.

�This is Lieutenant Zechs Merquise! We are under Gundam attack! All units return fire immediately! Attack rebel units only under defensive circumstances! Defeat of Gundam units is first priority!�

�That has to be the commanding officer�only a Lieutenant? They care enough to take revenge on thieves, but not enough to send a real officer?� Nataku�s eyes narrowed as she saw what was apparently the head Leo turn, followed by the rest of the MS in the group. Her brother didn�t hesitate, jumping to swing his scythe in a large arc down into the headpiece of one of the other Aries.

The American girl turned her attention to their leader, a malevolent smirk creeping its way across her lips as she rushed forward to meet it. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed one of the Leos hanging back from the others, but she shrugged off the oddity and continued to the Lieutenant, who had by now drawn his sabre in preparation for her assault. In recognition of his challenge, she drew her own, the energy clashing with a bit of a spark as the blades met.

�You�re new,� that same deep voice came over Igtenos� communication system, almost mockingly, �if you think you�re good enough to take me on.�

�Experienced enough to know that a Lieutenant shouldn�t get overly confident,� the girl answered sharply, twisting her sabre to push the Leo�s away for a moment, just long enough to dig the energy blade into the MS�s side before it could jump back. Again, she caught sight of the Leo that was staying away form the battle. Was it a rebel? No, there were only four rebel suits, and they were already attacking a batch of Aries. Why was an OZ pilot holding back? Was he afraid?

�You have no idea what you�re dealing with.� The voice of Zechs Merquise broke Nataku�s train of thought, and she had to bring up her sabre quickly to avoid damage to her headpiece as he swung at her. Still, she couldn�t resist a challenge, be it physical or verbal.

�Your soldiers are going out pretty fast, Ozzie�they only give you rookies because you can�t handle anyone else?� She pushed back against her opponent�s force, locked in a stalemate for a moment.

�I brought the rookies on purpose,� came the answer with a small bit of strain within it. �They have to be broken in.�

�Bet you didn�t plan on breaking them in by letting them die by a Gundam�s hand.�

�I figured you would come. This is the sort of scare rookies need to bring them closer to the battle.�

�Hn. Too close, if they�re dying.�

�If they die then it�s because they didn�t try hard enough!� With a burst of strength Zechs pushed the girl away, forcing her to take a step back, stumbling to regain her balance. Before she had time to retaliate, the purple energy from the Leos beam sabre was placed under the chin of her suit. �Maybe you should have tried harder, Gundam pilot.�

�Nataku!�

Bright green eyes widened as the girl recognized the voice that called her name with such worry. �Hitomi�� She turned to look for the source, and saw that the seemingly cowardly Leo had taken a step forward. That was why�

�Lieutenant, please stop!� Hitomi�s gentle, high-pitched voice pleaded, causing the officer to pause, if only briefly.

�The Gundam is your opponent, cadet!� Cadet? She shouldn�t be on the battlefield! She isn�t a real soldier yet! �Attack now!�

��Yes sir. Nataku�forgive me!� The inexperienced pilot�s Leo began to charge, its beam sabre coming into view, but one of the rebels seemed to notice this new attacker. Hitomi�s Leo suddenly stopped, jerked backwards by the barrage of bullets from the rebel rifle.

Nataku could only watch in horror as bullet after bullet hit her friend�s MS, and she heard a horrible, piercing scream from the younger girl as that MS burst into pieces, and then there as no more sound to the American�s ears. A red film was seemingly cast over her vision, and she turned to look into the face of the Leo that believed it had her at a disadvantage. A cry ripped itself from her throat, and she swung around her heat rod quicker than could readily be seen, letting it twist around the Leo�s leg before she jerked on it hard enough to bring the lesser MS to its knees, laughing as she saw the way that the weapon ate its way into the metal of the Leo�s leg armor. �Who isn�t trying hard enough now, Zechs?!�

The OZ officer tried in vain to pull away, only managing to get to his feet as Nataku withdrew her rod. �All units, retreat! Repeat, all units retreat! Return to base!�

�Running away?!� Nataku started after the Leo as an Aries picked it up and quickly hauled it away, only to be stopped by the Deathscythe. �What are you doing?! Aniki, he killed Hitomi! Let me after him!�

�Taku-chan, calm down, this mission�s over! Who killed who?�

��� As Nataku watched the Leo disappear beyond her field of vision, her hands clenched tighter around the controls in her cockpit. ��Zechs Merquise�� Her voice dropped to so low a whisper that even she could barely hear it. ��I hate you.�

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