Why did Creuset find L4 such a headache? Because it had long been known that the Colony clusters at L4 were being used as a base by an unidentified organization. Now, it was almost certain that remnants of the Clyne Faction had secretly established a non-governmental organization there. The Clyne Faction was nothing short of a hot potato for the ZAFT Forces.
The power struggle at the top had resulted in a sweeping victory for Chairman Zala's faction. However, while the purged Clyne members included high-ranking officials and key hidden connections, many Clyne sympathizers still remained among ZAFT's rank-and-file soldiers and departmental staff. Moreover, war-weariness was spreading within the military. With morale fractured, anything could happen now.
"I once crossed paths with Captain Waltfeld. I never imagined it would come to this," Captain Addis lamented. He had always thought Andrew Waltfeld was a fine man.
"He was eloquent and cheerful—no doubt Chairman Zala was outmaneuvered by him," Creuset remarked. Yet he wasn't the least bit surprised by Andrew Waltfeld's betrayal. He had long since discerned the man's allegiance to the Clyne Faction.
"Now we've been dragged into this mess. What a nuisance," Captain Addis grumbled. Creuset and his team had only just returned to space from Earth and boarded the Vesalius when they were immediately assigned the mission to pursue the Eternal. There was no rest for them.
"Can't be helped. As the saying goes, plans never survive contact with reality—let alone the thoughts buried deep in people's hearts. But Chairman Zala entrusted me with such a formidable force. If I don't deliver results, I'll be utterly humiliated," Creuset said.
"True enough."
"Yzak."
"Captain." Yzak looked up when Creuset called his name, awaiting orders.
"The next time we meet, Athrun, Dearka, and Nicol will all be enemies. Can you pull the trigger?"
The atmosphere grew heavy. Most of the Mobile Suit pilots in Creuset Team now were later additions, but they all knew Yzak had once been close comrades with Athrun, Dearka, and Nicol.
"...Of course! They're traitors!" Yzak answered firmly, his voice ringing with conviction. His hesitation wasn't born of reluctance—it was fury. Especially toward Dearka. How dare he abandon his honor and pride to become a turncoat?
When the three had been reassigned, Yzak had vowed to catch up to them and even surpass them as their captain. But now... that promise lay shattered. All three had defected with new Mobile Suits, leaving him behind.
"I look forward to your performance."
...
Meanwhile, Muruta Azrael arrived on the Moon alongside the transport fleet bound for the lunar crater base. There, he boarded the Dominion—the second Archangel-class ship, already completed. He also met the Dominion's crew, particularly the captain and executive officer.
"Let me introduce you. This is Muruta Azrael, director of the Defense Industries Association. I'm sure you're familiar with his name."
"Yes..."
"He will be boarding as an observer for the twelve newest MS units assigned to this vessel. They are in your hands now."
"Pleased to meet you, Captain and Executive Officer."
"Yes! I am Lieutenant Commander Murrue Ramius, captain of the Dominion."
"I am Major Natarle Badgiruel, executive officer."
"Well, I must say, I didn't expect both the captain and executive officer of this ship to be such young and beautiful ladies. But... perhaps my memory is failing me, as you both look quite familiar." Muruta Azrael began recalling, genuinely feeling he'd seen them before.
"Ahem, they were assigned by headquarters. Rest assured, both are highly capable." When Muruta Azrael mentioned the women's past, the Earth Forces officer's expression became strained. After all, Murrue Ramius and Natarle Badgiruel were involved in certain secrets that couldn't be disclosed.
"Is that so?"
Seeing Muruta Azrael's persistent curiosity, the Earth Forces officer sighed and whispered something in his ear, causing Azrael's expression to shift dramatically.
"So that's the case? Hahaha, what an interesting arrangement. Please convey my gratitude for their support and assure them we will achieve final victory."
"Understood."
"Well then, Captain, Executive Officer, I look forward to your performance. After all, our next mission is to deal with that Archangel."
The two women froze, their expressions complex before hardening with resolve. Regardless of their true identities, they were now the Dominion's captain and executive officer, bound to complete their assigned mission.
...
The three-ship alliance, remaining at Mendel to avoid exposing Terminal's hidden headquarters, relocated to the nearby abandoned Colony Sadley. Terminal had no presence here, making it a temporary hiding spot with sufficient resources for the three ships.
"Beep beep beep..."
After several days at Sadley, alarms finally sounded from the perimeter sensors.
"Large thermal signature approaching! Estimated warship class! Distance 1700, sector Orange-11, MK18α. Database comparison... no records found!"
"All hands, first battle stations!"
"Archangel launching, proceed outside the port."
"Captain Ramius."
"What's the White Tiger's status?"
"Ready to launch."
"Eternal's final adjustments are complete. Ready for immediate departure."
"Good. Archangel will take point. Once we identify whether it's ZAFT or Earth Forces, their intentions will become clear."
"Understood." x2
With the deployment order given, Archangel's engines ignited, leading the formation. The heavily armed White Tiger followed at the center, while the least combat-capable Eternal took the protected rear position.
"Gottfried, CIWS Array, and Valiant systems activated. All stern missile tubes loaded with Great Hammer missiles." Natarle promptly issued fire control commands.
After leaving the port, the Archangel came within visible range of the Dominion. The expressions of the two women aboard the Dominion grew even more complex, even... tinged with a hint of hatred.
Murrue on the Dominion stood up immediately, picked up the intercom, and initiated communication with the Archangel: "This is the Earth Alliance Forces, space battleship Dominion, calling Archangel. Do you copy?"
"Huh?"
Everyone aboard the Archangel, White Tiger, and Eternal froze in shock. The bridge crew of the Archangel turned their heads in unison toward Murrue.
"Your vessel has defected and fled. This ship demands your immediate and unconditional surrender. Refusal to comply will result in your vessel being sunk."
"This! That voice is—!"
"Captain Ramius!?"
"But... Captain Ramius is right here..."
"Just a similar voice, right?"
"But... it's way too similar..."
From the start, everyone recognized the voice as identical to Murrue's. Yet Murrue was clearly seated in the captain's chair aboard the Archangel—she couldn't possibly be on the enemy ship. The only explanation was an uncanny vocal resemblance.
"Captain, here's the optical feed from the enemy ship," Miriallia said, projecting the Dominion's image onto the screen. Once again, everyone was stunned. Apart from color differences, it was identical to the Archangel.
"The Archangel?"
"A sister ship?"
At that moment, a live video feed activated, reigniting the doubts that had nearly been dismissed. The person on screen was Murrue's exact double.
"This—!"
"It really is Captain Ramius!"
"That's impossible! Then who's our Captain Ramius...?"
"Twin sisters?"
Murrue was the most bewildered of all—she had no twin sister.
"Pleased to meet you, Captain Ramius."
"Who are you?" Murrue grabbed the communicator and demanded immediately.
"I am Murrue Ramius."
"Impossible!"
"The facts speak for themselves," the Dominion's Captain Ramius said with a serious expression. She knew exactly where she came from, but her mind was bound by restrictions preventing her from revealing it. "I regret meeting under these circumstances, but this ship's orders are to sink the Archangel. However, I'm willing to offer your vessel a chance. I'm aware of the Alaska incident, but that doesn't justify your desertion. Surrender now to avoid unnecessary casualties."
"I don't know who you are, but I refuse. We have doubts about the very existence of the Earth Forces. We will not surrender."
"Is that so...? Thank you for giving Natarle and me this opportunity." The Dominion's Murrue suddenly shifted from her identical expression to one of excitement and danger, her smile unsettling.
"Natarle!?"
Shock rippled through the crew again. Was there also a Natarle Badgiruel aboard the Dominion?
At that moment, the Dawn Gundam's communication channel activated, appearing simultaneously on the screens of the Archangel, White Tiger, Eternal, and Dominion. The face on screen was terrifyingly cold.
"Yang Hui..." The expressions of Murrue and Natarle aboard the Dominion twisted at the sight of Yang Hui's face—filled with longing, desire, and possessiveness.
"Carbon Humans, is it?" Yang Hui's tone was icy, capable of freezing one's soul.
"You! How do you know—" Murrue (Carbon) and Natarle Badgiruel (Carbon) paled drastically, while Muruta Azrael's expression twisted into something equally unpleasant.
"Good. Carbon Humans, Librarian Works—you've succeeded in angering me. All ships, sink the Dominion." Yang Hui's chest burned with Scorn. He was aware of Librarian Works and Carbon Humans; intelligence had uncovered information about them while investigating LOGOS.
Knowing full well how terrifying this organization was, Yang Hui had wanted to hunt them down and eliminate them outright. But their headquarters had remained elusive.
And now... they stood before him, in the form of Carbon copies of his women. This enraged him—using these counterfeits to insult them.
"Yang Hui!"
"Save it for later. Right now, focus all firepower on sinking the Dominion. That's an order!"
(End of Chapter)