Disclaimer: I do not own Gundam Seed, but you know that right?
It has already been a year after the end of the war. Kira and Lacus set out to live a peaceful life on the PLANTs, Athrun went with Cagalli as her protector, and Yzak became part of the ZAFT Council with Dearka as his guard. Most of the other characters that are still alive stayed in Orb to rebuild their lives. Now, the story begins…
…
Yzak paced around the room, thinking about the new issues the Council had just discussed. Finally giving up, he glanced over at Dearka sitting on the couch. The blond stared out at the stars through the ship's window, completely drowned in his thoughts. The faint starlight reflected in his eyes, which looked painfully empty to Yzak. Yzak slumped down on the other end of the couch and sighed. Dearka snapped out of his daydreaming and turned to look at Yzak.
"Too much work, eh?" he said, all usual sarcasm gone, which was not like him at all. Yzak noticed the change all too well in the past year, ever since they returned to ZAFT. The Dearka he once knew seem to have just faded away.
"You seem to have your own problems to sort out," the silver-haired boy responded.
Dearka turned to stare at the stars again. "There has not been one waking moment that she hasn't been on my mind," he whispered.
Yzak laughed under his breath. "Well, then go tell her that. I can't have a bodyguard whose mind is constantly on the safety of the Natural girl he loves."
Dearka winced when Yzak said "love" and a bit of us usual tone returned. "What do you mean? I don't love Miriallia…" he trailed off.
"I'm starting to doubt what you say," Yzak joked. Dearka just glared at him. Yzak laughed, "Now that's the Dearka we're been missing."
Just then, a transmission shot throughout the ship and to every other communication center in the Earth and outer space. Numerous pictures of a mass array of different types of mobile suits appeared along with dozens of mobile suit carriers flying for space.
"Those are the models ZAFT always used for normal combat," Yzak muttered. "We usually use only a few in a battle, but there must be at least three thousand just shown; they have a whole army of different GINNs!"
A male voice began speaking. "Attention all Coordinators! You are to surrender at once to Gold Cosmos. If you do not abide by this order, we will take action and destroy your precious PLANTs one at a time until you do. We have already controlled all of Earth, including Orb. You have 48 hours to respond! I look forward to your… cooperation." The transmissions stopped as abruptly as it had began, leaving a pair of Coordinators and the rest of ZAFT and the PLANTs baffled.
"Gold Cosmos? I thought they were blue," Dearka said. However, the real words he wanted to utter were, "Miriallia is trapped in Orb."
"Gold Cosmos was formed by one of the members of Blue Cosmos after Azrael's death. He is the elder brother of Azrael himself. They said that this group is merciless in its campaign and will execute or arrest anyone who have associated with Coordinators. In other words…"
"Orb is in a total lockdown by Gold Cosmos," Dearka spoke.
"Yes," Yzak said solemnly. "No one is allowed into or out of Orb."
…
"Hurry!" one of the engineers yelled. Gold Cosmos was entering Orb and their forces were barely holding their ground. They loaded the rebuilt Freedom, Buster, Duel, and Justice Gundams into the ArchAngel. Buster and Duel were modified so now they were powered by nuclear energy like Freedom and Justice and each also received a set of wing plates for flight in the atmosphere. Athrun observed the scene while Cagalli entered the ArchAngel. "You better board too," one of the workers said. Athrun nodded and climbed into the red and white battle ship after Cagalli.
Athrun turned to the worker, "Thank you for doing this. I know it's a big risk for all of you."
"No problem, it's our job. If they get their hands on these suits, we'd be dead anyway."
One of the hangar walls exploded just as Justice was loaded. The doors closed after Athrun and the enormous ship took off with the four mobile suits and everyone that had been in Orb that was once part of its crew. That included Athrun, Cagalli, Sai, and Miriallia. The Orb forces outside released a series of smoke bombs to shield the ArchAngel from view. They were able to fly out unseen until they were at a safe distance and out of range of the Gold Cosmos ground forces.
"We're returning to space," Sai said with mixed feelings. Miriallia observed the battle below on her monitor.
"I'm sorry we had to retreat like this, but if Gold Cosmos gets its hands on these Gundams, then it would be over for the PLANTs," Murrue said. She then turned to the crew, "Thank you for coming with us. It would be just like the old days now, huh?"
Although the ArchAngel could not be pursued by any of the Gold Cosmos forces on the gorund, they were well prepared for them in space. "Level one battlestations!" Athrun launched in Justice. All of the ship's guns and cannons were set into action once more. Slowly, the ArchAngel moved closer to the safety of the ZAFT forces.
"We're not going to make it!" yelled Sai. The engines were hit and their progress slowed even more.
…
Yzak ran into the room where Dearka was dozing. "We've received a distress signal from the ArchAngel! They need our help!"
Dearka quickly went to the control room with Yzak. "Sirs, a transmission for you!" called out one of the crew both Dearka and Yzak. They approached the screen.
"Dearka!" Miriallia yelled into the screen. Dearka's heart skipped a beat and he was lost for words.
"Miriallia…"
"There's no time for this!" Yzak mumbled to Dearka. Then he spoke to Miriallia, who had a funny expression also. "What's your situation?"
"We're being chased by Gold Cosmos forces. Buster and Duel are on board! Is there anyway you can get to them?" A sudden explosion took place. Miriallia looked at them in dismay. "I should change what I said, only Buster is accessible; they just blew up the exit for the hanger where Duel was so we can't launch it!"
Dearka finally regained his ability to speak. "Hey, launch Buster toward our forces!"
"What? Are you crazy?"
"I'll pick it up."
"Hey…"
"What?"
"Be careful…" Dearka was caught again in the same situation as a year ago.
"Thanks. You too," he responded.
…
"Launching, Buster!" The green Gundam was thrown out into the middle of the war with as much force as the catapult could muster. Dearka boarded a carrier and flew towards Buster. With the ZAFT guns covering his ship, he found himself safely inside the cockpit of Buster after jumping off the carrier and barely grabbing on to the Gundam.
"I'm in!" he said through the microphone as he activated Buster. Dearka whirled Buster around and charged for the battle. "Miriallia, so we meet again…" he thought.