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"Alternative Directions: Options "Written By: Karina Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Wing or the lovely
boys and their girls in the series. Wish I did. Please don't sue me.
I haven't even got a brass razoo to give you. Rating: Deffinately PG in Australia, at the moment,
but probably safer to say R for later chapters. Not sure about international
ratings Warnings: It will be 6x2, even though it does
not start out that way. After all, Zechs and Duo never met in Gundam
Wing and only spoke briefly over a com line in Endless Waltz. I've
tried to keep them in character as I saw them in the series. A bit
of language creeping in under stressful conditions. Pairings: eventual 6x2, past 2xH, 2+H,6x9, 1+R
Summary: Directions is set post Endless Waltz
and roughly 2 years have passed. Zechs and Noin are on Mars and Duo,
after spending some time with Hilde in a relationship leaves L2 to
join Preventers. Hilde was not happy about his decision. I guess enough
said. Here t'is, and I hope you like it. This is also AU for the standard
setting, as well as the series and Endless Waltz. Spoilers: Gundam Wing Series and Endless Waltz Many thanks to Dulin for volunteering to beta this. //... // thoughts
"Alternative Directions: Options"
Chapter 102 Mars Colony Base Dome 1st March AC 198 Time: 23: 57 [approx Sanc time 21:47] Zechs “But why are they doing this? You claim it is the ESUN who is attacking the base, but you have not said why they would. There has to be a reason. Raiders, pirates, yes, I suppose I could believe that though there is nothing here as yet that would interest them, but the ESUN? For God's sake, Mako, what do you think this is, the Dark Ages?” Voices spilled from the speakers on the consol, voices that filled Zechs with a momentary relief that thrust him perilously close to passing out. The world spun dizzily around him, shadows and shapes he dared not investigate rearing within his mind and he feared the onset of vision and scrambled desperately to sort out his impressions and reinforce his control. This was not the time to push his boundaries beyond what he knew to be safe and he must stave off vision and function at command level to give the survivors a chance of coming safely into the dome. “We need to stay off this frequency as there is the chance that it may be monitored by hostile parties and the longer we remain on the air the more likely it is that we will be discovered. I am sorry, but that is all that I dare say at this time. Keep calm and in control of the situation and remain where you are. Sit tight. We are working on the situation.” “Mako …” the man sounded exasperated, at his wits end but determined to get answers. Zechs did not recognize the voice but he recognized Mako clearly enough. He needed to know what was happening and he was going to have to break into this conversation, but at least he now knew that there were others alive. “No, Peter. Enough. Get off the line now and keep those people calm. We are trying everything that we can to get those doors open for your people. Just give us some time and trust. That is all that we ask of you. Give us the time we need to get this job done.” Zechs exhaled softly, a long drawn out sigh of relief. There were people alive out there and the fact that they were using that particular frequency meant that they must have found his message hidden in the maps sent to Alpha Dome. They must have found the maps and that would mean that either Barker or Mako had rescued the workers from immediate death. There was hope that they could keep the bulk of the terra formers alive, at least until the Wellington showed up in the next few days. After that … All bets were off. How close was the ship to Mars? Was doom hanging over their heads even now? He forced his morbid thoughts aside, clinging to the small victory it was that those people were alive. Now was of immediate concern. With a slow and deep breath Zechs leaned forward and depressed the send key. “Clear the line. Earth Delta ten.” He held his breath, uncertain if the send as well as receive on this radio was functioning. If Barker was out there and listening then he should respond. If. So many ifs. If the transmit function worked and they could be heard as well as hear on this patched together radio. If they could receive and not send, then they were effectively still on their own, but at least they had the small comfort of knowing the maintenance teams were alive. The knowing firmed his resolve to see this day done. There was a gasp from the radio which might have been coincidence if they were unlucky and if they were lucky it was someone reacting to hearing his voice. He felt Giles lean forward enough to lay a hand on his good shoulder, knowing him to be just as tense and willing there to be an affirmative response to the command. There was so much that Giles too wanted to know, not the least of which was if his partner was still alive, but he knew that the Raider was well aware that would have to wait. As Zechs had to trust him so did he have to trust Zechs to establish secured communications. Barker's voice broke from the speaker sounding calm and efficient. The trained professional voice of a Preventer. “Preventer emergency. Take your conversation off the air. Eagle acknowledged command. Earth Delta in five.” With the ghost of a smile Zechs reached forward and adjusted the radio frequency to the designated channel. The Preventer emergency code was a rarely used frequency and differed from assignment to assignment, each code sequence devised prior to each assignment to lessen the chances of the wrong personal gaining the information. The Mars emergency code, like the designated emergency frequency had been set by Preventer Earth before Barker had been assigned to Mars but prior to this attack on the Terra Forming base Zechs had convinced Barker to establish another code system explaining that it was highly probable that the ESUN agents soon to arrive would have been briefed on the channel assigned to the Mars personal of Preventers. It had taken all of his persuasive powers to have Barker agree to the alternate code, one he had devised himself that he was assured the ESUN agents could not possibly know, but in the end Barker had agreed. Now it was possible that they could engage in a quick conversation and be reasonably assured of keeping it secure. “Wind?” the man's voice seemed hushed, almost as though he did not believe he would receive a response. “Acknowledged Eagle. Nice to hear your voice.” a quiet sigh. Just knowing that that man was alive out there, somewhere, was a relief. If his vision was to be believed then Barker should be with the maintenance team at K23, if they had used the maps he had detailed. “Jesus.” the breath of a whisper answered his sigh. For a moment there was silence then the voice came again, stronger this time, the assured tones of a professional reporting to a superior. “Situation under control. K23 a go. Less twenty-two.” Zechs closed his eyes briefly drinking in the information and the assurance that his vision seemed to be on the mark. They had gone to the caves that he had recommended as giving them the best chances of survival and they had lost twenty-two people in getting them to that secured location. Considering the other scenarios he had witnessed they had done well. With that worry off of his mind he could now turn to more immediate matters designed to end this fiasco and restore order to the base. What he could do about the Wellington remained to be seen, but all he need concern himself with now was getting the last of the agents out of the way and medical attention to those who were so desperately in need of it. First thing was first, however. He needed to brief Barker on the situation in the dome in as few words as possible. “Dome unsecured. Sub base unsecured.” A silence as outside the base Barker considered that both the Base Dome and the sub base still was in enemy hands and that there would be no immediate opportunity to get the workers into its safety. How well he would take that information remained to be seen or if there was any possible assistance to them that might be offered. They needed to be quick in their exchange of information and Barker seemed to be taking a considerable time to assimilate their current situation. “Understood. Entry possible. Confirm.” Zechs exchanged a glance with Giles who appeared to be catching on to the shorthand used very quickly. //He can get into the dome? How? I can't recall any vision that suggested Barker enters the dome, still there is a lot about this situation that I have not witnessed. // “Time?” “Sixty to ninety. Earth. Sector three.” Zechs leaned back from the radio a little, considering that. Earth. Not the usual sector reference for the Mars base then, but the alternate sector designations that they had arranged for an emergency where Preventer security was in doubt. Yes, he knew that this was definitely Barker he spoke to and that he was under no coercion, but free of interference and able to act. Sector three? Zechs frowned, running quickly through the alternate sector designations for the Base Dome and then arched an eyebrow as he realized what it was that the man intended. Yes, it could work, he admitted to himself and it was possible that Barker would succeed in using that method of entry to the dome. The waste treatment plant was huge and an independent unit outside the dome itself, linked to the dome by vast pipes that carried the waste from the dome to the plant where it was treated and recycled before being brought back into the dome by automated pumps and a separate pipe system for use in the hydroponics domes. The pipes had inspection points and multiple entries into the dome and each of the three entry points were independent airlocks. It was possible that Simpson and his tech had not interfered with the airlocks but on that Zechs would not risk Barker's life. Yet he could not voice his concern over the airwaves. It was possible Simpson could have picked up their conversations now and he would not give the agent that advantage to hunt Barker down. “Acknowledged.” While he could not mention the possibility of trapped airlocks he could be reasonably assured that Barker would not remove his enviro suit. “Advise toxic contamination in upper dome systems.” He noted Giles' curious look, knowing he would not recognize the designated sector as the sewerage and waste disposal and treatment plant, but instead the designation he knew would apply to the storage and warehouse facilities on the opposite side of the dome, near the hydroponics domes. He would explain the conversation to his companion when he was finished with Barker and they could not long linger on their conversation. “Toxic … Due care. Three.” Zechs nodded to himself as the response. Barker would keep the enviro suits operating until assured they were clear of contaminated air and it would be idiocy to remove them within the supposed safety of the airlocks if you were expecting to walk out into poisoned air. It was wise for him not to enter the base alone and a small force would have a better chance of infiltrating the dome and Barker had just given him the numbers to expect on the team to attempt it. Three. Barker and two others could be expected to join them at some later time. Now knowing the numbers to expect Zechs moved onto the next order of business, the rendezvous. “Earth Sector Five C sub. Rendezvous Earth Sector seven.” He waited hardly daring to breathe, uncertain if Barker would make the link. He presumed the infiltration team would plan to use the ventilation system to gain the sub base if they wished to go unnoticed by hostile elements within the dome. With the vents contaminated it was hardly safe to send the team through the vents to reach the shuttle bay, even by a somewhat roundabout route to that which he and Giles had so recently employed. What he offered to Barker now was a safer route, an alternative he could be almost assured that Simpson would not guess if he was listening to the conversation. Should Simpson have returned to the Shuttle Control Tower then it was possible he had discovered the room where he and Giles had cut their way into the vent system and it was even possible that Simpson might try following them through that cramped and dark system. Zechs stifled the shudder of distaste, determined that he would not be going back into the vents and unwilling to send another team into them and Simpson was canny enough to devise a means to stop anyone else using the vents as a means of getting around. What he offered now was the same route that he had employed to leave the sub base and enter the upper dome so many hours ago. Hydroponics Dome Three was designated Earth Sector Five C, sub designated the means by which to enter the sub base and he only hoped that Barker figured out exactly what it meant as he dared say no more. Being too specific was not safe on an unsecured radio frequency. Earth Sector Seven designated the shuttle bay as their point of rendezvous. Barker seemed to be having difficulty figuring out what he meant, but the acknowledgement finally came through and Zechs could only hope that the Preventer had indeed understood him. “Earth Sector Five C sub. Earth Sector seven. Acknowledged.” // Did you understand or did you decide to figure it out later? I only hope that you get it right. // “Time?” He would allow Barker to set the time schedule as the man had to work his way to the shuttle bay and best knew the requirements of that journey. From his own experiences he knew it was a bitch to work to a time schedule, but the situation really called for at least a loose schedule to enable them to meet. He had no idea what means of transportation Barker had to achieve his goals and he personally wanted a minimum of an hour to make his own preparations. By foot K23 was a goodly hike and it might take Barker three or four hours before he could be assured of making his way into the shuttle bay. For his own needs Zechs found that he preferred at least two hours for him to accomplish the work required of him, but he could work with one hour if he had to. If Barker had a small shuttle or even a Taurus available to him then it might be as little as one hour, though at that pace unacceptable risks would surely have to be taken. “Ninety.” //Ninety minutes? He sounds confident. Two hours would have been better for me but it still allows me enough time to act and at least I know he's not likely to rush and make mistakes. Une assigned him here for a reason. He's not a fool.// “Done. Luck. Wind out.” Ahmed Hawass was watching Zechs with an arched eyebrow and a faintly bemused expression. He watched Zechs lean back from the radio after giving the frequency locator a goodly tweak taking it off the frequency they had used and shutting down the unit to conserve the battery power. He eyed the lights glowing softly in the dim light of the cockpit and the shuttered expression on his companions faces. They were clearly lost in thought and he was concerned that it was possible that someone in one of the control centres might chance to see the active signal on the emergency shuttle and he understood well enough that every small precaution must be taken against discovery. “Okay, of that I understood just about zero. Do you always talk like that?” “Only on unsecured frequencies when a knife in the back could be the result.” Giles quipped. “No offence, Ahmed, but I don't want anyone knowing we are here.” “Point.” the Chief nodded his agreement. “Is he likely to contact us again? I need to know whether or not to keep the power running through the command consul. It is possible that anyone monitoring the systems in one of the control rooms would notice an active shuttle interface.” “Keep the radio down and take down the interface. There will be no further contact and we can not afford to have anyone come to investigate the shuttle.” Zechs heaved himself from his seat. I need you to find a way of venting the pollution in the air vents servicing the upper dome out into the atmosphere. Somehow Simpson or the Sleepers have caused a malfunction that is allowing a toxic build up and within the hour there will be enough of a toxicity problem in the upper dome that anyone venturing out without an enviro suit on will be poisoned. We need to clean out the system and check the scrubbers and filters are not damaged. Can you do it?” Hawass leaned back in his chair, considering the various means by which he could make a start on the work that needed to be done. The ventilations systems of the dome were complex and computer controlled. Air meant life on Mars and there were safeguards in place that ensured good clean air fed into the dome and harmful gas products were vented before the cleaned and recycled air was returned to the dome. Because of the various stages of the construction process for the dome there were multiple systems feeding the different parts of the dome and he might be able to make use of those duplicate systems to clean the main dome vents. Finally he nodded. “I can try. It would help if I could get to the main control room but I guess that is out of the question, so I can try to jury rig something and hack into the computer systems. See if I can't link to a viable active system.” “Virus. The main computer systems are down.” Giles offered. “Shit.” Hawass leaned back in his chair, rubbing at his eyes and trying to ease the tension in his shoulders. “Secondary systems?” “Out of commission to my knowledge. The last I looked there was a dirty great big piece of metal sticking up out of the control consul in the shuttle control tower. I'm really not sure what works and what is junk now.” Hawass hissed like a boiling kettle for a moment, teeth clenched as he considered his options. This was not going to be straight forward, but he was the Chief Engineer and a high level technical expert. To be a part of the Mars Terra Forming team meant you had to be multitalented and extremely inventive at dealing with the unexpected. Here you could not just pop down the road to the shops for the required spare parts for a quick fix. He knew state of the art computer systems and he knew how to hack into them. While this problem with playing around the limits set by a virus was going to be a challenge he did not see it to be an impossible challenge. “Okay, leave it with me. There is still the back up monitoring station on the other side of the lounge in the supervisors office. If I can hack into the systems after installing some private personally devised software to protect it from the virus I might be able to isolate the ventilation system and get the outer vents open and the filtering system operational. Maybe. I will think of something.” “Well enough.” Zechs moved to the door. “Giles, we get something to eat now. It may take us some time before we get the chance again and I want each of us to carry water bottles.” Hawass watched both men leave the cockpit of the shuttle and nodded slightly. That conversation he had listened in on clearly suggested that the man was a sneaky bastard and did indeed know how to roar. They needed that just now, the roar, not the meow but they needed him to roar at the right time. He had an idea now of just how patient the man could be and he liked what he saw. //Funny sod, Marquise. Always polite. You get the impression that butter would not melt in his mouth, but I guess Giles is right. There is a lot more to him than he lets on. Why else would the ESUN have dropped him out here if he was not the same Milliardo Peacecraft who threatened to blow up a world? Okay. Reassessment. A feral cat then. He gives the appearance of a pedigree house cat, nice and quiet. Docile until someone stamps on his tail and then you might find yourself facing a nasty mess of claw and fang. // Zechs motioned Giles toward the rear of the shuttle, picking up at random two containers of emergency rations as they passed through the main body of the shuttle. A quick glance over his shoulder assured him that the Chief Engineer had remained in the cockpit of the shuttle and that was a relief. He did not know if he should trust the man or not, but he wanted a private few minutes with Giles and this was the best time for them to discuss what needed to be done. The clock now was ticking toward a rendezvous. “So what is the exact translation of that conversation?” Giles settled himself down on a container of medical supplies in the cargo section and glanced at the ration tubes he was offered, selecting the roast beef and vegetables option that looked like a particularly sickly coloured smooth peanut butter. Zechs settled beside him, facing down the body of the shuttle so that he could see if Hawass left the cockpit or if anyone else should enter the shuttle through the main access doors. He glanced at the tube Giles left him with and sighed. He was fed up with chicken. The thought almost drew a snort out of him it was so irrelevant to their situation. “Barker and two others will rendezvous with us in the shuttle bay in ninety minutes, less the time it has taken us to get here.” The Raider operative blinked, tube of food concentrate held opened before him. “How the hell are they going to get into the dome, let alone down here?” “Someone has come up with a bright idea. They will be entering through the sewerage and waste treatment plant.” Giles hissed a breath and grinned. “Of course, the inlet and outlet pipes.” a flair of hope was quickly squashed as he remembered a conversation he had had with his partner assigned to back him up while on Mars. Was it possible that his partner was alive? //Chris? Might you …I'll just have to wait and see, but it is a coincidence that they choose that method of entering a sealed dome. You said to me that day that the sewerage treatment plant was a possible point of entry and exit if we needed to get Zechs out of the dome unseen. Are you a part of the team or is it just coincidence? // “Giles?” Zechs was watching the man with narrowed eyes. “Sorry, I was just thinking, but it would not do to try using that method of getting those workers into the dome. It would take too long and the automated systems might think a blockage was developing if the flow of waste product was obstructed by a mass of people moving through the system. That could get messy. I take it the teams working outside are safe?” “Yes. K23 is the caves I suggested would be suitable for them to spend the night in should a lock out of the dome eventuate.” “Score another success up to your visions.” at the wince that produced Giles sighed and dared to lightly touch the man's shoulder, careful of the heavy bruising he carried. “Hey, I know most of them are not pleasant, but you have to take the good with the bad, man. Those visions have allowed you to save those people from certain death. That's good. Having the Gift is not always a curse Zechs. That is the reason why we call them Gifts.” Zechs ran a hand lightly over his eyes, brushing aside the unruly fringe of rapidly drying blonde hair. “One day we are going to have a long discussion, Giles, on what you call Gifts and I think of as something else entirely.” “Hey, I used to think of them as something else. I understand where you are coming from, believe me, but you spend a few months on Station One with the Training Masters and see what you think. I believe it safe to say that your views will have altered somewhat. It helps to talk to and work with people who have the same sort of unusual abilities. There are a fair few of us on Station. Anyway, what are we up to next?” It was time to return to the matters at hand, Zechs reflected as there was so much to do and he at least had a time schedule to work to now. Meeting Barker in the shuttle bay would be an added bonus as it would give them extra bodies to effect the capture of the tech they needed to acquire if his plan was to succeed. He did not want the man harmed. There had already been too much killing here this day and he wanted to keep the death toll down as much as possible. If they could capture the man, well and good, but if they had to kill him then he would have to accept that as unavoidable. Whether they had to kill Frazier or not he and Giles would at least have some much needed help. “First up we need to check on the agents I left drugged in the hospital sector. With the sedative I used they should be out for another four or five hours at least but I need to ensure that they are not going to feature in this. After that you and I are going to check out the camera equipment I need to record my little discussion with Simpson. If I can get the Commander to own up to what is happening here and record that confession, then it will help later, when the dust settles and there is time for finger pointing and recriminations.” Giles nodded, sucking on the tube and wishing roast beef and vegetables did not taste like soggy cardboard. “Where is this camera equipment?” “Cached in a safe place in the sub base. We have a room to prepare before we can sucker Simpson into a confrontation and I would think that by now he would be on his way up to the upper base, but we have no guarantee of that. He may already be up there and could be on his way back down, there is no way that I can be sure so we will still need to move with care. We are so close now to ending this that I want nothing to go wrong. Within three hours it could all be over.” //Until the Wellington shows up. // “I'll do my share of praying to the man upstairs for that.” a sigh. Giles sucked the last of the food paste from the tube and drank quickly, washing down the bland taste. “So, I guess we are bound for the hospital section first?” “Yes. We will need to be careful but all going well we should be ready for when Barker and his team arrive.”
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