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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 60 Sanc Sanc Palace Date: 1st March AC 198 Time: 22:05 Heero Heero watched the scrolling information on the screen and after a few minutes nodded slightly. Blue eyes almost glowed with the intensity focused on the data displayed. //Yes.// Yes, he had isolated the programming that caused the delay on the emergency services satellite, as, no doubt, Lady Une's operatives would also have done about now. The Preventers employed some top hackers and he had checked them out himself, so he knew just how capable they were. Two or three of them might even be better than he himself, he acknowledged. While they might very well have equal computing skills, he personally thought they were perhaps lacking in his own broader range of experience and perhaps in incentive to use those skills. Regardless of skill levels and experience, they were more than capable of finding the evidence that he had found concerning the tampering with the Dakkar III system. The evidence was there to be found when you knew where to look. It was there, and it showed that the relay system was not only tampered with, but had also recently been accessed by multiple non authorized contact. He assumed the access was most likely to be by the Preventer investigators, but he was not such a fool as to believe that there were not others capable of realizing that something was wrong with the system and had the means and experience to check. He had also found evidence of a number of messages passing through the Dakkar system, most of which were hit by the programmed delay in the system, but not all of them. One message that drew his attention had been placed on delay, not affected by the general delay, but programmed from the source to be sent on general broadcast from the coding, at a set time. The source from whence it originated alerted him that it might bare further investigation. There were two messages in particular that tweaked his curiosity. "There is a delay on the satellite, Quatre. I've isolated a message in the relay that appears to have originated on Mars. It does not have a call coding that I recognize, so I doubt it is a Preventer trying to report from Mars." Quatre glanced up from his own laptop where he had been studying Trowa's records. He was rather surprised by the information contained within the file, but he knew that this information was secondary in importance to the possible disasters happening on Mars. Just what was happening there that could affect the ESUN held frightening potential. He wondered briefly what he would do if it was himself trapped on Mars, a new parent, isolated and basically alone, with agents out to kidnap his children. It was not a thought he enjoyed contemplating. He was very much afraid that rather a lot of people would end up dying around him. Nor did he doubt for an instant that the death toll was indeed mounting out there, on that barren world. "Coded?" Heero was busy at the keyboard, working on accessing the message that so intrigued him, frown deepening the longer he typed. "Of course. I think… Yes." a final flurry of fingers over the keyboard and he glanced up quickly. "Yes, its an ESUN security code, but its new. One I've not seen used before, but considering the coding used and the manner it is written in, it has to be ESUN in origin. A new code, active and operative at level seven security." Quatre pursed his lips in a silent whistle. Level seven was only used to define a possible threat of a level that posed danger to the entire Earth Sphere. Yes, he supposed on reflection, they would be inclined to consider anything to do with Merquise as a threat of that level. Even confined to that lump of red rock Zechs was not helpless, as evidenced by that message he had received from the man. If it was authentic, of course, and he was inclined to think that it was. Yet that begged the question of how had Marquise known? "How long before you can decode it?" Heero actually chuckled, reflecting that Quatre had not asked if he could decode it, but when. He frowned, peering intently at the screen, one finger lightly tapping just off the keyboard, considering the complexities of the coding displayed before him. "Not so long, I think, as they would like it to take. There's… something odd. Not so much about this ESUN coding, but about the traffic on the satellite system itself." a flurry of typing ensued and he frowned at the results. "This looks like… Someone is running test messages through the system, Quatre. I've picked up indications of three instances of access into the system by non authorized codes. Possibly as many as five, but I need time to check out some of these. That's not counting my own entry, of course. The Dakkar network may be the emergency services communications system, but from what I can make out so far, an awful lot of people seem to be using it fairly freely. I've initiated a program to copy the last few months of traffic through the system, but that is for later investigation. Just now I think some of these users are rather upset and running test messages through the system." Something caught his eye and he fairly attacked the keyboard, eyes almost glowing with the challenge. " Now, what are you? Not the new ESUN code, but a complex one regardless. From the records… Hn. Sent after the other message that I am sure is ESUN Security. It was… Hn…That is a quick, hard contact… Has to have been sent from a high pulse beam com device." Quatre arched an eyebrow. "You have to have a special transceiver to receive one of those. Someone has some nice toys to play with if they are using high pulse beam messaging. Still, why would they… if they sent that via the Dakkar system, it would not increase the transmission speed by any appreciable amount. How long before you can decoded it?" "A couple of minutes, if I'm lucky. I've got it
working through the decoder, along with the confirmed ESUN message.
Its very complex coding. Hmmm. Three, four… five messages had
been fired through in quick succession soon after the high beam pulse
hit the system. Ahh. Interesting." his fingers flew over the
keyboard. "Someone who is not ESUN." Quatre mused. "I wonder." "Quatre?'" Heero looked up from the screen, focusing on him. "What is it?" He rose, stretching high, glancing at the clock and winced. It was going to be a long night and with a small sigh he banished the thought that he wished Trowa was here for him. He felt a strong need to be held by his lover just now, and a growing sense that things were going to be taking a downward spiral very soon now. Not since the war and their trial separation had he so keenly felt the absence of his emerald- eyed beloved. He knew only too well that his days as chairman of Winner Enterprises were numbered, and he still had so much to do before he stepped down. There were so many things he needed to do before he felt secure enough for he and Trowa to be together and safe from his families interference. He had made careful investments and arrangements and discussed each stage of this operation with Trowa before embarking on the plan. It was unfortunate and unavoidable that at this stage so many of the arrangements must be carried out without the emotional support only Trowa could give him. The end result would be well worth it. //I may be a sinner, as they take every opportunity to tell me, but I am not a stupid sinner. I honestly do not see why my love for Trowa is wrong. Homosexuality is accepted now, everywhere but on L4, it seems. I know that if they can confirm our relationship I will be flogged and …// he sighed, shaking his head. //Honestly, Quatre. Get over it. This is neither the time nor the place for these thoughts. There are far more important things to do.// "Quatre?" He settled on the chair nearest to Heero's perch on the couch and made himself comfortable. From here he could see the onscreen activity on the laptop. The satellite receiver was propped up on the back rest of the couch, a cable connecting it to the lap top. Quatre knew that Heero had made a point to hone his computer skills after the war, and if anything he was more efficient now than he had been when he had piloted Wing. He was confident that it would not take long to start cracking the coded messages. "As the chairman of Winner Enterprises, I need to give consideration to future business dealings along a wide band of activities. I know that Merquise was sent to Mars basically to keep him imprisoned. At least controlled and isolated from the general population of the Earth Sphere. That may not have been Relena's intention, but I am certain that it featured in Lady Une's plans. She never liked Zechs. It certainly would have been the intention of those in the ESUN government who knew that he was alive." "Relena did not intend it to be a prison." Heero responded. "Regardless, it worked in the favor of the ESUN Security Council. Zechs was quietly placed in an easily controlled environment. In six months or so from now, the Mars Colony was going to be opened up for general colonization. The easily controlled environment was going to be compromised. They would have needed to do something before it became generally known that he was there. What I am getting at, Heero, is that there is a plan underway by Winner Enterprises to set two agents on Mars within three months to check out the prospects for future business activities on Mars. Winner Enterprises is not the only conglomerate that will have devised such a plan. Because we suffered so much from the wars we actually are late in formulating this plan. It is very likely that there may already be agents for other business concerns working on Mars. The presence of Zechs Merquise may not be so much a secret as the ESUN would like it to be." Heero considered Quatre for a long moment, then his fingers played over the keyboard, bringing up another window. "This is the message from Mars, not the high beam impulse, but the one before it. I'd say from the looks of the coding that it was intended for a general broadcast. This…" the screen flicked madly for a moment. "Now what was that? Damn." His fingers flew over the keyboard. "That had to be a high intensity pulse message on full boost, Quatre. It was automatically shunted through the relay, too, not affected at all by the delay on the satellite." "Then it had to have a priority code to get that type of clearance. What… " Heero swore as the screen flickered and died. For a long moment he stared at the blank screen and then attacked the keyboard. It was a long few minutes of furious keyboard activity before he admitted that no amount of effort on his part would again raise contact with the Dakkar III satellite or any of the satellites in the emergency services system. It was a bitter pill to swallow that he needed to admit defeat, but it was a waste of time, he knew to continue. For a long moment he stared at the screen before typing in the load command to display the saved messages. "Heero? What was that?" Quatre's voice was keyed low, soft and worried. He sighed and shrugged. "Someone has to be aware that the satellite is compromised. Or at least was likely to be compromised by now. The signal that boosted through seemed to act as a trigger and the result is the shut down of the entire Dakkar III relay system. That's the only thing that makes sense of what just happened." Quatre sat back and contemplated the ornate plasterwork of the ceiling. He could well believe that somewhere in a room somewhere, likely on Earth, a very smug little nobody who thought they were somebody was gloating about the shut down. For what purpose had it been done? The system was used as the main communications array for Preventers and the Mining Security services, as well as the ESUN patrol fleet. That in itself was answer enough. Everyone was now very effectively isolated. Communications were slowed, as if, he mused, a three hour delay had not been enough. "They have shut down the entire satellite system? Damn. Une is going to be pissed. Did you catch where it originated from?" "Mars." Heero almost whispered. ------------------------ New Port City Preventer Headquarters Time: 22:14 Lady Une Une scowled at the windows, glaring at the lights of the city. She was well aware of Sally settling into the chair behind the desk, and wondered if this night would ever end. "Of course it will end." Sally smiled, stretching. "Whether it ends to our satisfaction or not is another matter entirely." Une winced. She had not intended to voice that question, merely muse on the thought of the pleasures of a warm bed and a decent nights sleep. It had been a long day, and the prospect of an endless night was not sitting too well with her. //Trust that bloody blonde to give me even more sleepless nights. I knew I should have taken action sooner, but the fact remains that I just had no where I could consider isolated enough to keep him confined.// "Anne? Penny for your thoughts?" Sally leaned forward in her seat, blue eyes intense. "It does not matter. Nothing important." //If she knew what I had been thinking she would probably end up psychoanalyzing why I want to lock him up and throw away the key. It's not his fault, I suppose, but I am heartily fed up with that Peacecraft. He causes trouble just by being who he is.// The com line beeped and she sighed. Perhaps news, finally.
"Ma'am. The Daccar Emergency Satellite System has shut down. No contact can be established with any of the satellites in the network." ----------------------- Sanc Palace Time: 22:17 Heero "I would imagine Lady Une would be unamused." Heero returned, for a fleeting moment amusement lighted his eyes, before the seriousness of the situation closed in on him. "I'm going to set the computer to generally monitor the airways. We may pick up something of interest. There will certainly be an increase in official communication while the systems are down, as the various organizations start to run… That's odd." Heero leaned back, frowning as the laptop issued a long, drawn out beep. It took Quatre a moment to recognize it as the emergency services general emergency alert. The speakers of the laptop distorted the tone almost beyond recognition, yet the Dakkar system was inoperative. The lap top blinked, static filling the screen. Slowly a picture steadily emerged from the static. A picture of a woman in dirty, blood stained coveralls, blood smeared over her face. Wild red hair was pushed aside, from a face that had a classical beauty and fear filled green eyes stared in panic at them. "Mayday! Mayday! Help us. This is Mars Base Dome. The Raiders… oh, God… The Raiders are here! They're killing everybody. Help us…" Quatre sucked in a deep breath, leaning back from the computer as though he expected it to bite him. The screen now showed a static field and the speakers hissed and fell silent. The message struck alarm bells in his head, not for its content, but for what it implied when viewed with the other information he had available to him. He glanced at Heero and noting the frown, before looking to the screen again. Had Heero worked out the same scenario as he had? They both had the same information available to them. Had they come up with the same result? "Can you call up the files on Mars personal? Positively identify her?" Quatre queried. "I don't have to." Heero whispered, then looked at Quatre. His blue eyes now held a deadly serious gleam. "She was included in the information that Lady Une passed to me. That was Shanna McIntyre, an engineer and terra former with the Mars Colony Project. She is also a Sleeper Agent for the ESUN. In fact, she has been confirmed to be the commander of the agents known to be on Mars at this time." Quatre leaned back into his seat and considered the screen and the information that Heero had provided him, adding up the information and not liking what he continually concluded. He was not a Preventer, merely a private citizen. Occasionally he would work in conjunction with the Preventers, but that was a rare occasion. Trowa was the Preventer agent, not him. Yet for all his civilian status he was also an ex gundam pilot and had a huge information network at his finger tips in the Winner Corporation. He was very much abreast of the political events of the times and Trowa kept him informed of what he needed to know about the other pilots who worked with Preventers. //Trowa. Oh, Allah. I wish you were here now. This is so not good.// Heero had briefed him fairly thoroughly concerning the matter of Mars, information that would not severely compromise the security of Preventers, but which he needed to know to fully appreciate the mystery of the Romefeller files, the link that presented to Zechs Merquise and... This latest piece of information filled in a few holes. A Master strategist he processed the information quickly and efficiently, coming once again to the same conclusions that he really did not want to contemplate. "Let me guess. That mayday was broadcast on every radio frequency used in the Earth Sphere?" "Yes." Heero responded. "More than that though, it was broadcast on an ultra high frequency beam. Instead of taking twenty to thirty minutes to cross the distance between the relay system and Earth, it took maybe five to seven minutes. That's... revolutionary. I expect to have Lady Une call shortly." Quatre pursed his lips, assimilating this latest information and shook his head slowly. "Oh dear. Not good." "Summary?" Heero turned to him, waiting expectantly. He had formed his own theory and he only hoped that Quatre had not come to the same conclusion. "It's a cover up. Things have gone very wrong for the planned operation taking place on Mars. So wrong, that it has been deemed necessary by those agents who are still active, to effect a cover operation. The cover will clear any involved parties in the government and high positions in the military and possibly business concerns, of any involvement with the mission. The cover operation will likely mean the total elimination of the Mars Colony personal." Quatre met Heero's intense blue gaze. "They will kill everyone on Mars so that no one can prove who was actually involved in the attack." "More than two thousand people." Heero whispered
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