AN: Hello, hello everyone! Welcome to my newest fanfic idea. With ACOF wrapped up and the sequel's plotting chugging along, I decided to work on something else to keep myself occupied. My other stories are either fully written (A Rose and a Sparrow) or dead in the water (Celestial and Mirror of Desire) so I decided to 'come back to my roots' if you will. SEED is where I started, and it's where I've returned. Now, this idea came to mind due mostly to binge watching Gundam X. I wanted to write a Gundam fic after that, and...

Skywalker_T-65: Roped me into it. Since I've take DX's original fic (Angel) and made it so successful, she's roped me into helping with this one.

DX: No need to be dramatic bro. Anyway, the two of us are collaborating on this fic, in the interests of making it as good as possible! :D

Sky: We do hope you enjoy it.

DX: Let us know what you think! Also, special note on the bottom. ;)

March 16th, CE. 70

Kingdom of Scandinavia

A massive roaring noise shook the quiet night outside the city of Oslo, in the Kingdom of Scandinavia. A brilliant flash of white light lit up the darkness, as alarms rang in the nearby naval base. Radar, already having issues from the N-Jammers dropped by ZAFT, went haywire across the base. Nothing on the readings made sense, as...something...flashed across the screens, towards a nearby mountain. Something fast, that quickly vanished from the N-Jammer crippled sensors.

The panicked Scandinavian soldiers, yet to develop a more effective scanner, had no idea what was happening. Their nation had been neutral for centuries-barring the unfortunate Second World War- if one counted their constituent Kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. They retained that neutrality in the current war that had begun to grip Earth and her colonies just a few short months previously. Scandinavia took that neutrality seriously, and any aircraft to enter their airspace had to be civilian...and cleared to enter.

For something to streak across the night sky so close to one of their major cities, the capital of Norway, was not a pleasant thought. Needless to say, aircraft and troops were scrambled almost immediately after the event began. At least a dozen helicopters took to the skies, with a handful of fighters for escort. Scandinavia took their neutrality very seriously, much like the Orb Union.

Inside one of the choppers sat a group of Scandinavian soldiers, dressed in the dark green uniform indicative of their nation's Army.

"Alright everyone," a tall man with black hair spoke up, "Command is running around like headless chickens, so its our job to figure out what that object was."

"Do we have any idea what to expect Captain?" a red-haired woman asked, carefully adjusting her Gevär m/68 Assault Rifle.

"None," the Captain, a man by the name of Sillen replied, "we have no idea what it was, or where exactly it landed. Current theory is a ZAFT mobile suit."

Muttering began amongst the soldiers as the redhead frowned slightly, "But sir, the closest ZAFT base is in Gibraltar. Surely they couldn't get a Mobile Suit all the way across Eurasia."

"I don't believe it either Corporal. However, no fighter moves that fast. It might have been an orbital drop."

While the capabilities of ZAFT's machines were mostly unknown to those in Scandinavia, it was still hard to believe that a lone GINN or CGUE could survive atmospheric reentry. In any battle involving the Coordinator's, their machines always came down in some form of drop pod. Such a device was more than large enough to be easily identified, even on the N-Jammer afflicted radar. Not to mention far slower than the object that had crashed in the Norwegian mountains.

"We're landing now!" the pilot called back, as the helicopter landed with its fellows in a snow-covered clearing.

"This is as close as we can get to the estimated impact zone," Sillen informed his men, "Corporal Westberg, take two men north. The rest, with me to the East."

The redhead in question nodded, as she took the lead in a triangle formation with two Privates following close behind her. Once the three Scandinavians were amongst the trees and away from the landing lights of the helicopters, they blended in perfectly with the trees surrounding them. The soldiers weren't about to take any risks. If this was a ZAFT machine, it's pilot could be watching for anyone sneaking up on it. And Coordinators had notoriously good night vision, depending on their enhancements.

The soldiers didn't fancy being shot full of holes by a submachine gun, or whatever the pilot could be packing. But as they continued deeper into the forest, it became harder to actually see anything. After all, none of them were Coordinators. Despite having similar practices to the Orb Union, there were not many Coordinators left in Scandinavia. Oh to be sure they were there, and many of them were in the military. But when only one percent of your military was made up of Coordinators, having one of them in any random squad was rather rare.

Thus, the soldiers stopped in a particularly thick part of the forest, and one of the Privates pulled his pack off his back. Corporal Westberg stepped up to the pack, and reached inside. Her hands came out with three sets of night vision goggles, that she promptly passed around her little group. Once the goggles were on, there was no longer any worry of being snuck up on at least.

"You hear something?"

While there wasn't a worry of being ambushed, the Private did have a point. There was a rumbling noise echoing through the mountains.

"Move!" Westberg shouted.

The soldiers scattered, as snow and rocks started to slide down the slope. It wasn't an avalanche, but whatever had landed in the mountains was clearly in this direction, as objects rattled by its landing rolled down past the soldiers who had barley gotten out of the way.

"We must be close then," the Corporal mused, as the last of the rocks flashed by.

The little group of Scandinavians continued up the slope. While the night-vision was effective, it almost made them miss a detail on the trees though. They were starting to look...burnt. Whatever had hit up here, had hit fast enough that it probably had a fireball around it. What else could have scorched the trees like this?

Of course, when they reached the clearing where the trees were the most damaged...they found what they had been looking for.

"Oh my God," the younger Private muttered, his eyes going wide.

"Indeed," Westberg added, her own voice tiny as she stared at the sight greeting her.

Sitting in the center of a large crater...was the unmistakable form of a Mobile Suit. The machine was laying on its back, 'sitting up' like it had hit the ground in an uncontrolled descent. Despite that and the size of the crater however...the machine didn't show any damage. It's body was fully intact, and there weren't even scorch marks on its odd paint scheme.

Not to mention it was clearly not a ZAFT machine.

"Captain, we found the source of the signal."

It didn't take long for Captain Sillen's voice to reply over the radio, "What is it?"

"A Mobile Suit sir," the young Corporal answered.

There was silence for a couple seconds, before the Captain replied. His voice was tight, obviously worried about what he had heard.

"A Mobile Suit? What is ZAFT doing here?"

"That's the thing sir...it isn't ZAFT."

"What? Only ZAFT has Mobile Suits, you know that Corporal."

Westberg shook her head slightly, her blue eyes carrying a disbelieving look, "I know that sir, but this machine isn't a GINN. Or a CGUE, for that matter."

"Well then, what is it?"

The Corporal wasn't an engineer. Or a pilot for that matter. She was a ground-pounder through and through. So describing a machine like a Mobile Suit wasn't exactly her forte. Still though, until the Captain and his squad could reach her position, describing the machine in front of her would have to do. Taking her night vision off to see it better in the moonlight without the green tint, the young woman could describe it better.

"It's slimmer for one," she began, "more humanoid. Colors are wrong too. It's not olive green or white."

The woman looked a bit closer, before correcting herself.

"Correction, the limbs are primarily white. The torso is blue-red with a green panel of some sort on the bottom of what I'm assuming is the cockpit. I don't see a ZAFT issue rifle or sword on the hips, just some sort of white weapon."

"Hmm..." the Captain sounded thoughtful, "Any other differences? I notice you haven't mentioned the head, Corporal."

The redhead shook herself, That's because it's so odd...I've never seen a Mobile Suit with such a...human like head.

"It doesn't look anything like a ZAFT machine's head," she said aloud, "it doesn't have a mono-eye, or the large crest. If anything...it looks like a human skull. Two eyes, green coloration, a faceplate and some sort of V-crest instead of the massive GINN style one. I don't know who built it sir, but unless ZAFT's been holding back it isn't theirs."

"I'm almost at your position Corporal," Sillen replied, his voice still sounding thoughtful, "Has there been any movement? Is the pilot in sight?"

Westberg looked up at the imposing Mobile Suit, "No sir, nothing at all. I'm honestly surprised the machine is still intact. This is a rather large crater it made."

"I can tell," the Captain's voice said, as he walked into the clearing from behind the other soldiers.

"Sir!" the Corporal and her group saluted their commander.

"At ease," the older man waved, "I can see what you meant Westberg. That is not any ZAFT design I've ever seen."

The Captain looked up at the Mobile Suit. He couldn't shake a weird feeling about it though. Perhaps his inexperienced men and women hadn't noticed. But he did...it didn't feel like the machine belonged here. And he wasn't referring to the fact that no Mobile Suit should violate Scandinavian territory. There was something distinctly off about this weapon. He just couldn't place a finger on what exactly it was. It was a very odd feeling, to be sure.

Nonetheless, he couldn't help but be impressed with whoever had made it. Trees were flattened and the ground cratered from its landing, but the machine really didn't show any damage. Not even the long...something...on its back was snapped. If a ZAFT machine had gone into the ground at the speeds this was traveling on the radar screens, it would have shattered. At least, that was what the reports from the spies in the Alliance military reported.

But if this machine really wasn't ZAFT built...

"Corporal, you and Private Hawkson head up there and try to open the cockpit."

"Sir?"

The black-haired man looked over his shoulder at the confused woman, "If the pilot were conscious, the machine would have moved by now. I want to see if we have a prisoner, or a corpse."

The Corporal gulped audibly, "Yes sir."

The redhead and a blonde man drew their assault rifles, and crept carefully towards the Mobile Suit. The machine didn't move, its eyes remaining dull even as the Scandinavians got closer and closer to it. Westberg looked warily up at the cockpit, her blue eyes narrowing behind the visor that was once more on her face. Just because the thing hadn't moved, didn't mean the pilot was out cold or dead. He could just be waiting to ambush them.

Still, orders were orders.

"Crack that thing open Private."

Hawkson, the best technician in the group of soldiers, nodded slightly, "On it ma'am."

The young man took out a pocket computer, and hooked it up to a port on the side of what they assumed was the cockpit. His face tightened underneath his own goggles, as the soldier muttered under his breath. His hands raced across the touch screen of the tablet, and Westberg could only guess that his eyes were scanning it every bit as fast.

After a few minutes of muttering though, a triumphant sound came from the man.

"She's opening up," he warned the senior soldier, dropping his tablet and grabbing his rifle.

The redhead had her own weapon aimed at the opening cockpit, ready for anything. Or, at least she had thought so. What she wasn't ready for was the cockpit to be...

"Empty?" the Corporal muttered, "There isn't a pilot sir!"

The Captain scowled, "No pilot? How did it get here then?"

None of the soldiers could answer that question. The Captain just sighed, and radioed command. There wasn't anything else he could do, but secure the landing site. His men and women fanned out, as more of the troops filtered into the clearing. They set up a secure cordon around the crash sight, as Private Hawkson tried to get some information from the Mobile Suit's computer.

It would need to be transported to Haakonsvern near Bergen, the closest major naval base. Scandinavia had a Mobile Suit now...and they had to figure out who had built it, where it came from...and maybe, just maybe, what made it tick.

This was quite the opportunity after all...

March 18th, CE. 70

Haakonsvern, Bergen, Kingdom of Scandinavia

In the two days since the 'Flash in the Night', the formerly Norwegian naval base of Haakonsvern had been on secure lockdown. No one was allowed in or out without extensive paperwork. The citizens in nearby Bergen had absolutely no clue why this was the case, as the Scandinavian military wasn't exactly known for randomly locking down important naval bases. They were secure certainly, but this was on a whole different level. Of course, no civilian outside the base could possibly realize why it was locked down. Or why it was so deadly important to the small Kingdom to keep it that way...they could hardly afford for the Eurasian Federation, largest power within easy striking distance, to figure out what they had stashed away in that base.

ZAFT finding out would be even worse. While it was true any ZAFT assault would have to come from space or across the industrial heartland of Eurasia, there was little real doubt that they would do it in a heartbeat. After all, if the Coordinators knew what was hidden deep inside Haakonsvern, they would collectively have a heart attack. Not least because the colonists would quickly realize their main advantage had just gone up in smoke, were Scandinavia to spread around what they had found.

Luckily for the heart health of the collective Coordinator leadership, the neutral Kingdom had absolutely zero intention of sharing their little discovery with the Earth Alliance. Other strictly neutral states such as the Orb and Equatorial Unions...maybe. The Alliance? Not a chance in Hell, not after they nuked Junius Seven.

Naturally, the top secret object in question was the mysterious Mobile Suit. Airlifted under the cover of darkness, it was sitting snuggling in a gantry, deep inside the naval base, as the best technicians in Scandinavia buzzed around it like honey bees. Ever since it had arrived, it had been causing quite the impression amongst the engineers and scientists. Amongst them, SAAB's Aaron Hanson, the Scandinavian counterpart to Orb's Erica Simmons.

"This machine is like nothing I've ever seen," the engineer was explaining to a group of very curious officers, "I've seen footage of ZAFT machines and Mrs. Simmons has sent me some very interesting theoretical problems. This Mobile Suit though...it is on a different level."

One of the officers, a graying Colonel, looked down on the machine, "And what exactly do you mean by that Dr. Hanson?"

"Exactly what I said," the engineer replied, "There is nothing about this machine that is not awe-inspiring."

Hanson started walking towards the Mobile Suit, sitting in its cradle. The officers followed behind him like a herd of ducklings, as the gray-haired man began speaking.

"Take the armor for example."

The engineer placed a hand on the side of the Mobile Suit, its paint as bright as ever.

"It fell through the sky at speeds that would have destroyed a GINN, according to all the reports I have read on them. Yet, this machine was undamaged, and completely intact. Analysis of the armor shows it is some unknown alloy of titanium...strong, durable and very hard to damage."

Noticing a look from the officers, Hanson shrugged, "And likely difficult to replicate. Given time, it could be done but it would be neither cheap nor efficient."

The men and women visibly deflated at that. Having an armor that was so much better than a GINN's was little use if they couldn't mass produce it. Still, even a limited production run of this armor could really improve Scandinavia's aging military.

"If the armor is difficult to duplicate, what of the rest of the machine?" a Major asked this time.

Hanson looked at the officer, and then walked away from the Mobile Suit. Sitting in a smaller cradle next to it were the weapons retrieved from the crash site. A, relatively, small square object. A curiously designed white rifle. And, most shocking of all, the long object from its back that the soldier's had noticed when finding the machine. An object that had an obvious barrel on one end of it.

"The weaponry," Hanson answered, "is highly advanced. However, it should be possible to duplicate two of them. The third is a rather more difficult prospect."

"Yes?"

The engineer sighed slightly, "After being tied to a generator, we can confirm that the square is the hilt of some form of beam sword. The same technology, in its simplest form, as that used by the larger warships in ZAFT and Alliance service, merely condensed in a magnetic field to prevent it from firing like a gun. Presumably, this weapon is used for melee combat, and could likely cut through the swords used by ZAFT machines."

"Impressive."

"And then there is the rifle," Hanson continued, his face showing a level of excitement as he looked at it, "a Mobile Suit scale beam rifle. It seems to use a magazine of some sort, pre-charged before a battle as opposed to charging from the machine's own power supply. The firepower of this rifle should be more than sufficient to destroy even a warship, given good targeting."

The first Colonel, moving away from the little group, had started to examine the rifle. While it was obviously shaped like a gun, albeit on a massive scale, there was something odd about it. The 'grip' seemed to have a line on it. In fact, it looked like it was designed to 'split' open. Perhaps to change the magazine? It would make sense, if the machine relied on pre-charged magazines to fire.

Turning to the engineer, the man raised an eyebrow, "Does the grip split open to allow reloading?"

Hanson looked up, "No, though I can see why you would think that. The grip actually splits into some form of shield, so far as we can tell. Useful since GINN's don't have a shield, but it leaves the machine with only its saber to fight with if it uses the shield function."

"Hmm..." the Colonel mused, "Interesting."

And it was, considering that was a rather unique design feature. One had to question what the purpose was though, since if you can overcomplicate your rifle to form a shield, you can probably build a regular one. ZAFT certainly could, since their CGUE had a shield with a built in gun...almost the reverse of this strange machine. For all that its rifle was interesting though, the Colonel hadn't failed to notice that Hanson hadn't mentioned the large barrel sitting next to it.

"And this?"

"Ah, yes," the engineer sounded off, "that. I will be honest with you all...we should not duplicate that, not unless you want to end the world as we know it."

The Colonel frowned, "And what do you mean by that Doctor?"

Hanson sighed, and ran a hand through his gray hair, "Exactly what I meant Colonel. That weapon...we had no idea what it was until we were able to access the Mobile Suit's computer. I almost wish we had never known."

All the officers turned to look at the old man, giving him odd looks. Surely something of that size wasn't that bad. It was big for a Mobile Suit scale weapon maybe, but no bigger than a GINNs ion cannon. And while those were powerful, they weren't world ending powerful.

"You won't give up will you?" the man muttered, "Very well. According to the computer, that weapon is called a 'Satellite Cannon.' An interesting name, wouldn't you say?"

"Get to the point Doctor."

"I am, I just thought the name of an object might tell you its purpose. In this case, the weapon in front of you is powered by a microwave beam, sent by a base on the moon and relayed across the Earth by a set of satellites, to allow for using in the day," Hanson took a deep breath, "That is not what is special about it. The Satellite Cannon requires the external power source, because it has enough power to destroy a Colony in a single shot."

One could have heard a pin drop after that statement. If it weren't for everyone in the little group around the Cannon being professionals, they would likely have had their jaws drop. Maybe even outright fainted. That much destructive power...it just didn't exist. Not even the largest warship could carry a weapon of such power. Beam weapons had not reached the point where they could destroy a colony. If they had, the PLANTs would long since have been obliterated. Junius Seven showed that much.

And who else could have a base on the moon and a network of satellites, but the Earth Alliance? ZAFT did not control enough of the moon, or Space, to set up something like that. Nor would they...the Coordinators were far from stupid. Providing a Mobile Suit with this level of power just asked for it to be captured and used against their homeland. Anyone with half a functioning brain cell could tell you that.

"Do we know who built this?" the Colonel asked.

The Engineer nodded warily, "Yes...but...perhaps its best if I show you."

Walking over to the leg of the massive machine, Hanson activated a terminal connected to its main computer. The boot up screen was interesting looking to say the least...it didn't say ZAFT or OMNI Enforcer on the OS. In fact, it didn't even load an OS. It just went right into the machine's computer systems, where all the data about it was stored.

What it did say on this screen, however, was odd.

"UNE?"

"'United Nations Earth'," Hanson said, "the machine is called the GX-9900 Gundam X."

The officers shared a look, "The UN is gone Doctor. Nor did it ever proclaim itself the United Nations of Earth, or develop Mobile Suits."

Hanson sighed again, "I am well aware. That is why it was best I showed you. This is the last recorded date the machine registered. Its construction date, if I am not mistaken."

The Colonel moved closer, and looked at the date that the 'Gundam's' computer was showing. His grey eyes widened ever so slightly at the sight. For it did not say Cosmic Era. In fact, it said 2250 AD, a date that was not only using the obsolete Anno Domini Calendar, but one using a date that AD never reached. Even the current year, CE 70, would not have equaled 2250 AD.

What was going on with this machine? An alloy of titanium never before seen. Handheld beam weaponry. A cannon with more firepower than the largest battleship cannon. And a computer that seemed to believe it was both from the future, and an obsolete dating system at the same time. What was this Gundam?

"Doctor?"

"I am as confused as you, I assure you," the gray-haired man replied, "However, I only have one theory. Alternate Universe."

The Colonel gave his older counterpart a flat look, "That's impossible."

Hanson shrugged, "Perhaps it should be. However, that is the only explanation that I can give you. I can assure you that neither ZAFT or the Alliance has developed a machine this advanced. There has been absolutely no tampering with the computer either, it is still in the state we found it in. Even if I am off my mark and ZAFT did develop a machine with a cannon that can destroy their homeland, it still wouldn't explain why it uses the Anno Domini Calendar. And uses a date that should be in the future. Not to mention...this machine uses a nuclear fusion reactor. The N-Jammers have no effect on it whatsoever...tell me, have we developed any technology like that?"

The Engineer looked at his military counterparts, and welded a serious look on his face.

"If the possible answers do not work, that leaves only the impossible."

April 2, CE. 70

Stockholm, Kingdom of Scandinavia

I do miss simpler times, Queen Margaret of Scandinavia mused.

The Queen was currently standing in an expansive suite of the Stockholm Royal Palace. The large window in front of her looked out on the slowly rousing streets of the largest city in Scandinavia. It was a beautiful sight in the early morning light, as birds chirped before they would be inevitably overrode by the noise of cars. Margaret almost envied the citizens of the city really. They had simple lives, totally unaware of what was happening behind the scenes in their nation. Most of them were only worried about getting to work on time. Not like their Queen...who had to worry about the very security and continued existence of her nation.

After all, things had stopped being simple in her life when the light flashed in Oslo's sky. It had taken some time for the Monarch to be informed, but once she was...well, she was shocked. To think that Scandinavia had quite possibly the most advanced Mobile Suit in existence, stashed away in Norway. A machine that seemed to be from a completely different timeline, and one that would make ZAFT green with envy. And, of course, do something rather more threatening. Because if either side of the raging war discovered the Gundam X...

Well, Scandinavia would not last long. The Alliance would diplomatically or militarily force its way into the nation, and confiscate the machine to develop their own Mobile Suits to counter ZAFTs advantages. And if the Coordinators found out, they would not hesitate to invade Scandinavia to steal or destroy the X. They could ill-afford to lose their one advantage over the Alliance, especially as the Gundam had an operating system that any Natural could use.

The military was developing their own Mobile Suit, in conjunction with SAAB, on a simplified variant of the Gundam's design. There was no way that the small Kingdom could build enough to counter Alliance numbers or ZAFT experience however. Thus, the reason that as Margaret turned around, she saw two men sitting across from her.

Lord Uzumi Nara Athha of Orb, and Prime Minister Edhas Vamsi of the Equatorial Union, to be specific.

"Thank you for meeting here on such notice," Margaret said, sitting down near her male counterparts.

"It was no issue," Uzumi inclined his head slightly, "It has been far too long since I last visited Stockholm."

"And I do admit it is interesting, to see such a different city from New Delhi," Vamsi added.

The Queen smiled slightly, "I am glad you are enjoying your stay. However, this is not a personal meeting."

"I expected as much," Uzumi replied, "so, then, why have you called the two of us here Your Majesty?"

"That...is a complicated question," Margaret sighed.

Vamsi frowned slightly, "Why is that? Our nations are not allied...but nor do actively ignore each other, not like Eurasia and the Atlantic Federation."

If only they knew...

Margaret looked at the window behind her again, gathering her thoughts. She knew what she was about to say was...awkward. Either the men would hear her out, or they would leave. Nothing for it though. If Scandinavia wanted to survive when the secret of the X inevitably leaked, they would need the help.

"What I'm about to tell you cannot leave this room," the Queen said, carefully showing no reaction to the looks of suspicion from the men, "I trust both of you, but this is a matter of national security. Unless I can guarantee you shall not betray Scandinavia, I cannot tell you any more and will have to ask you to leave."

The men shared a look at that. It was very rare that any of the three nations called a meeting of this variety. The Neutral Nations, as they were collectively known as these days, shared many things. However, as there was a distinct lack of a formal alliance system, such topics never included matters of national security. Why should they?

The very fact that Margaret mentioned that fact, meant this meeting was unusual. It also showed the level of trust she had for the other nations though...and could the men deny her that trust?

"Very well," Uzumi inclined his head slightly, "I agree."

"As do I," Vamsi added.

The Queen let out a small sigh, "Thank you, both, for trusting me. Now, I am sure you are curious as to what I am going to tell you."

"Indeed."

"Naturally."

Margaret smiled slightly, before it slid off her face, "Well, curious or not, I rather doubt you are prepared for just what I am going to show you. If I may direct your attention to the monitor?"

The little group of national leaders looked at a large TV screen, installed into the wall of the meeting room. Margaret pressed a button built into her own chair, and the screen crackled to life. While the male leaders were far too dignified to gasp in shock, there were noticeable reactions. Uzumi's eyes narrowed slightly, a suspicious look on his face. Vamsi, by contrast, had his brown eyes widen slightly.

For pictured on the screen, was the Gundam X.

"I am sure you realize why this is a secret now?"

"I do," Vamsi spoke first, while Uzumi continued to give the X odd looks, "I never...would have thought you had a Mobile Suit. Only ZAFT has access to that technology...how did you develop this?"

"We didn't."

Now the suspicious look from Uzumi was focused on the Queen, while Vamsi continued to look at the X curiously. Margaret was far from certain why Lord Athha was giving her that look, since it wasn't like the Gundam came from Orb. And she explained as much, as she told them what her advisers had told her...that the machine was from another timeline. As insane as that may sound, it was the only thing that fit considering the number of quite frankly impossible things related to the Mobile Suit.

Not to say that Uzumi and Vamsi necessarily believed her. Especially the former, who was thinking of a similar looking design he had been presented by Erica Simmons. He was not going to mention that project, however, not unless he had to.

For his part, Vamsi just didn't believe it right away, because no matter how clear Margaret made it, or how clear she made it that she believed what she was saying, it was hard to believe. He wasn't a scientist, but being told that something came from an alternate universe was something hard to believe. Not least because what were the odds that something like that could happen? An alternate timeline developing Mobile Suits, albeit ones completely different from ZAFTs, and then having one of them randomly pop up in his universe in Norway? That sounded crazy for even fiction, let alone reality.

And of course, there was the fact this machine had a Nuclear Fusion reactor. Regardless of where it truly originated, that was worrying.

"You do understand what you are saying is hard to believe Your Majesty," Uzumi spoke up, once Margaret had finished speaking.

"I do," she replied, "I don't believe it myself on occasion."

"It is very hard to stomach," Vamsi agreed.

"Indeed," the Lion of Orb added.

The Queen looked at the two men and sighed lightly, "As hard as it may be to believe, I am not lying."

"You do understand I cannot just believe such a story based on your word."

Uzumi was still frowning slightly. While he would like to believe the Scandinavian woman wasn't lying, he couldn't shake the fact that the 'Gundam' so closely resembled the machine's being developed in Morgenroete. On top of that, the story was still extremely hard to believe.

Vamsi on the other hand, "I do admit it is hard to believe. I have never known you to be a liar though, Your Majesty."

Sending another look at the Mobile Suit on the monitor, Vamsi sighed, "You truly believe what you are saying?"

"Yes, I do," Margaret nodded.

The leader of Orb was ready to question her again, but the Queen simply held a hand up to cut him off.

"I am well aware of how you feel, Lord Uzumi," she smiled slightly, "I do truly feel the same. However, I trust my engineers. Dr. Hanson is the best expert on Mobile Suits we have, and he is completely convinced he is correct on the origins of this machine."

The noble sighed slightly, "I believe that you are not lying to me. I have to question why you are bringing this to our attention, however."

The screen changed in response to that question. Now a line of half-complete Mobile Suits were shown, clearly based on the X. There were only a handful of them, but the very fact that Scandinavia had begun to duplicate the machines...

Well, that was a surprise.

"As you can tell, we have begun construction of our own Mobile Suits," the Queen explained, "However, we will never be able to build enough to defend our nation if ZAFT or the Alliance should discover we are doing so. We lack the industrial or technological base to do so."

Now, neither Vamsi nor Uzumi were idiots. They didn't take long to figure out what the Scandinavian was suggesting. There could only be one reason she had invited them to her Palace, shown them the Gundam and its derivatives, and informed them of her own country's issues with producing them. After all, the other two nations had the same issues...if reversed. As a union of India, Pakistan and other nations, the Equatorial Union did not lack for manpower or industrial might. However, they did not have an equivalent technological base compared to the highly advanced Orb Union.

And for all Orb's technological expertise, something almost entirely due to its policy on Coordinators and the presence of Morgenroete, it lacked severely in the manpower or industry needed to capitalize on that. They could build as much high technology as they wanted, but Orb would be quickly overrun in the event of a war with either side of the ongoing conflict. Anyone in the command of the nation knew as much, hence the reason it clung to its neutrality.

But...the Queen of Scandinavia was clearly suggesting...

"I believe we should cooperate," the woman confirmed the men's suspicions, "the Equatorial Union has the industry, and Orb has the technology. If we cooperate, with the data of the Gundam, we might just be able to produce enough to protect our nations."

"You realize what you are asking of me?" Uzumi asked.

"I do," Margaret nodded.

Vamsi sighed, "Our nation's have survived by staying neutral. None of us want any part of this war."

"And yet we all know that it is only a matter of time," the Queen countered, "Eurasia has been pressing for our annexation to their nation 'for our own good'. I am certain East Asia is doing the same for the Equatorial Union. And I know that the Federation wants Orb's technology and Kaguya."

They wanted to deny those words. Uzumi and Vamsi could not deny them, however. To attempt to try, would be lying to the woman who had been nothing but honest with them.

"You are correct," the Lion of Orb finally said.

"We have also had pressure to give up our independence," the Prime Minister agreed.

"And that is why I am suggesting we pool our resources," Margaret continued, "Not an alliance...if we were to try and ally with each other, the Alliance or ZAFT would surely not allow it. And I am sure Orb's principles would not allow them to do so in any case."

Uzumi inclined his head, "'We shall not attack another nation, nor involve ourselves in another nation's war'. You are indeed correct."

"A defensive pact though," Vamsi mused, "would that work?"

The other two leaders turned to look at the Indian. The man simply shrugged slightly, a thoughtful look on his face.

"If we were to commit to aiding each other in constructing Mobile Suits, we would need something of the sort," he explained, "It would not be long before the Alliance or ZAFT would attempt to pressure one of us into giving up the technology unless we kept it a very closely guarded secret. If we had a defensive alliance...it might not keep them from moving against us, but it would at least add another layer of security."

The man had a point. ZAFT and the Alliance would have no issues moving against their individual countries, were the secret of the Gundam to come out. The Equatorial Union lacked advanced technology, for all its manpower. Orb lacked manpower, for all its advanced technology. And Scandinavia was somewhere in the middle, with the added problem of being right next to Eurasia and Atlantic Federation-controlled Britain.

"A defensive pact may be in our best interests," Margaret finally spoke up.

Uzumi frowned lightly, "While I do not condone war, nor do I want to have Orb tied to the fate of another nation, I will not oppose such a move."

Considering how the Lion of Orb was opposed to any form of alliance, it was a miracle to get that much out of him.

"Perhaps a joint military force too?" the Queen suggested, "to allow our militaries to train with each other?"

"Such a move would make it obvious we are working together," Uzumi warned.

Vamsi nodded, "Then maybe a special task force? It doesn't need to be tied to any of our nations."

"You are speaking of a shadow operation."

"Yes, I am," the Prime Minister replied.

Margaret looked thoughtful, "It could work. There are groups that use mobile suits, without being a part of a government. The Junk Guild and Serpent Tail come to mind."

"You are suggesting forming a unit that will pose as a mercenary group?"

The Scandinavian nodded, "Yes. This will allow our soldiers to gain experience, and also provide a way of testing the new Mobile Suits in combat conditions."

"Very well," Uzumi conceded the point, well aware he would be the only dissenting voice.

"It will need a name..."

The three leaders dipped deep in thought, to come up with a name for their new idea. Margaret was the first to come up with one, her head coming up as her blue eyes looked at the other two leaders.

"Sword?"

"Not an acronym, right?" Vamsi asked, almost shuddering to think that it was considering ZAFT's joy of making completely nonsensical ones. It was still a mystery exactly what 'GINN' or 'CGUE' meant.

Margaret laughed lightly, "No, of course not."

"In that case, I like it."

"Lord Uzumi?"

The Lion of Orb nodded slightly, "I agree."

"Then it's decided. We will form a defensive pact, begin technological transfers, and form a special operations unit."

And thus, the Cosmic Era was changed forever.

DX: As I said at the top, I have a special announcement to make down here. :D

Namely, we are willing to take OC submissions to fill up Sword's ranks! If you have a...

Sky: Well-developed.

DX: ...well-developed character, feel free to PM either of us! We're not adverse to co-authoring either, since the fic is already plotted out and all.

Sky: However, the two of us are siblings. We have no issues working together and collaborating on things...this and Change of Fate show that. So if someone wants to submit an OC or co-author (like that group that has been posting so many fics), you'll need to have more experience than we do. We have no clue on how to do 'proper' co-authoring. And I've been burned on OC submissions before...that's why they need to be well developed not just 'here's a name and some basic character traits, have fun!'

DX: So moody. :(

Anyway, I do hope everyone enjoyed the introduction! Remember, OC submissions are on a 'best written' basis. Anyone from Scandinavia, Equatorial Union or Orb is possible, and heck, I might even accept AF or other nation's for characters as long as they have a good reason for being here! :D

Sky: See you all next time. And since I have more experience with this than my sis does...Pairings are currently undecided. There won't be a poll or anything...we just haven't decided yet.