"Ensign Yamato!"

The grating voice of Natarle Badgiruel reached Kira's ears and startled him out of his silent reverie as he entered the control room of the Archangel. The young boy lifted his amethyst eyes slowly, wincing at the harsh tone applied to him so mercilessly by his commanding officer.

"I'm sorry, Lieutenant," Kira murmured, already well aware of the near-fatal mistake he had just made on the battlefield.

"Kira! You're wounded," Flay cried, pushing the others away and rushing to his side.

Kira grimaced as she lifted the tattered remains of his left sleeve to reveal a long gash in his upper arm.

The red head's eyes widened in horror. "You need to go to the infirmary right away!"

Natarle had been gaping at her, quite taken aback, but Flay's suggestion had snapped her back to the present. "Flay Allster, I am the one giving the orders here. He'll be treated only after I'm done with him, is that clear? Civilians are not allowed aboard this section of the vessel. Please return to your room."

Flay shot her a venomous look. It was all the elder woman could do to keep from striking her.

"I'm not leaving Kira here! Can't you see he's wounded?"

"Insubordination!" The Lieutenant roared, her tolerance ebbing quickly. "That's disobeying a direct or—"

"Lieutenant Badgiruel," A softer female voice called authoritatively from the other side of the room, "That will be enough. You are to resume you post and leave the punishment of the Strike's pilot to me."

Natarle blushed slightly, bowing in a formal apology. "I'm sorry. Yes, Captain."

"Captain Ramius," Kira began, but the gentle brunette held up a hand to silence him.

"Everyone makes mistakes, Kira," she said, a bitter smile on her porcelain features. "After all, you volunteered your services, and we can't expect you to succeed one hundred percent of the time."

"But the ship! I failed to protect it! The Archangel is going to —"

He stopped short, flailing around wildly in search of something to steady him as the ship gave a mighty lurch, a long shudder convulsing the war machine to its core. Flay paled, gripping his arm tighter.

"This isn't good," came Mu La Flaga's deep voice over the microphone. "Captain, let me launch in the Zero. If we don't do something, this entire ship is going to be in for it big time."

Murrue regained her balance and met his gaze, the blonde man watching her intently from the video screen.

"I can't let you go out now! There's no time!" The loud tremor that followed seemed to accentuate her harried statement.

"But Captain!"

"You are to remain here, Lieutenant La Flaga." Her mouth was set in a firm line.

"Wh-what's going to happen to us all?" Flay cried out in a panic.

"I'm sorry," Kira gritted his teeth in agony. "It's my fault. I let the Archangel get hit…" His thoughts strayed to the pilot of the Aegis, the one who had fired upon their ship.

Athrun…

The searing pain in his arm intensified as he recalled the incident with the azure-haired Coordinator. He'd been to caught up in the moment, agonizing over the fact that he was pointing a gun at his former best friend yet again, when suddenly, Miriallia's anxious voice had called him back. As he turned to retreat, Athrun Zala rushed to block him and nearly destroyed the cockpit of the Strike in one blow. Kira had escaped by the skin of his teeth. His eyes wandered to his injured arm, and he bit back a frustrated yell.

"You mustn't blame yourself, Kira," Flay reassured him, though still clutching his opposite arm roughly.

"Captain, do something!" Natarle hollered desperately. "The thrusters are malfunctioning!"

Murrue appeared indecisive. "This ship isn't going to make it." Her face darkened. "All right." She pressed the loudspeaker button with gusto. "We are now taking emergency procedures. Please report to a secured area; the Archangel is going to attempt to land. All hands prepare for sudden impact when we reach Earth's surface!"

"We're landing?" Kira spouted incredulously. "With the Archangel in this condition? We'll crash for sure!"

"It's our only choice, kid," La Flaga stated, slapping him heartily on the back as he walked in, helmet in hand. He caught sight of Murrue's worried countenance. "We'll make it, Captain," he insisted. "With your skills, there's no doubt."

"Flay," Kira spoke up softly, taking her hand in his and leading her to the door, "Please go find Sai and the others. I'll be fine. I need to secure the Strike for the landing."

"But, Kira!" she screeched in protest as the door slid open and he shoved her through.

The interior of the Archangel was beginning to get excessively warm. Kira headed down the corridor towards the docking station.

"We've reached the atmospheric re-entry point," one of the hands called out.

"Release the Ablative Gel!" Murrue commanded instantly, as a thick silver goo was deployed, spreading along the ship's laminated surface to keep the vessel from disintegrating during re-entry.

It wasn't long before Natarle announced their arrival in Earth's atmosphere. An air of apprehension and fear radiated ominously throughout each of the crew members as the ground drew rapidly nearer.

"Reverse thrusters!" the Captain ordered nervously.

"It's no good, those are down too!"

The ship rocked dangerously, tilting forward at an angle nearly vertical to the ground. Rather than slowing down, the vehicle seemed to be picking up speed rapidly.

"At this rate, we'll crash hull-first!"

"Looks like we're in for a bumpy ride," La Flaga commented dryly.

"Prepare for impact!" Murrue announced at the last moment.

The ship collided with the Earth's rocky crust with an earsplitting crash. Murrue and La Flaga were hurled off their feet, collapsing atop one another in a stifling pile of debris and loose equipment.

As the heavy dust settled, Natarle coughed. "That went well."

Kira rubbed his head ruefully. "The Archangel…"

La Flaga cast him a knowing glance. "It can be fixed, kid, don't you worry. It'll just take some time, that's all." He ignored the sound of the other crew members' painful moans as they stood and massaged aching limbs. "Until then, why don't you disembark and find out where in the hell we landed just now?"

Kira's eyes widened. "I…"

"Everything here will be fine."

Kira saluted and made his way outside. The land was green and lush; rolling hills stood out against a clear blue sky. Kira scanned the horizon. He could discern tiny dots in the distance that must have been various houses, or perhaps they were farms… He glanced behind him. A small dirt road accompanied by a white picket fence stretched down as far as he could see. Then he squinted. There was a signpost a little ways off.

The young Coordinator trekked the short distance to it and read the faded script.

"Welcome to Resembool?"