With the destruction of the Alliance fleet there were only a few ships left where one remaining officer asked a nearby operator, "What is the status of the situation outside?"
"Sir, we are reporting the enemy has disappeared. But not without extensive damage to the Alliance fleet. We are suffering major casualties."
"Damn. We were supposed to be ready for this day but we couldn't even defend ourselves against three of those things."
One of the operators remembered the rush of events when he added, "And took down one. It's something of an improvement in our favor."
Another operator shook his head when he reminded them, "Even so we've lost Admiral Ramius and the fleet defenses." He went back to his duty when he asked, "What do we do about the civilian evacuation?"
The officer ordered, "Cancel the process. There's too much debris and we can't risk them being caught up in all of this."
One of the operators prepared to contact the colony when he agreed, "Understood sir. We'll maintain the civilians within the colony."

Avris cursed his luck when he received the boomerangs from his thrusts, "Well damn. First chance to take this baby out against those bastards and all it's good for is mowing down Generics." He turned on his communication channel to Illiana asking, "How much of the squad is still in tact?"
Illiana checked her status when she answered, "Enough to form two squads at least. To tell you the truth it's more than I thought we'd have."
"Yeah. I don't think anyone could have exaggerated the threat the Generics were going to pose."
"You'll get them next time though. And I can't wait to see you rushing out there into battle like that."
"If anything this battle could have used a more grand entrance from yours truly."
Illiana smiled when she giggled, "And tell me do you think you still have what it takes to make a grand entrance with someone else?"
Avris shook his head before he cut off the channel answering, "Sorry, not going to happen tonight. I've got other things to worry about."
Illiana sighed in disappointment when she wondered, "Hm... Always more interested in the Verity. Why doesn't he just marry the thing?"
He saw the ZETA behind him and contacted, "Sorry about the line of fire kid. I'm sure you had a good idea what you were doing."
He saw Arath contact him on his channel, "Attention Verity. Please report to the Terminus."
Avris answered the call, "Right away sir."

Kira was contacted the ZAFT leader on the Terminus when he asked, "Captain Ramin. Have the units been secured?"
A holographic image of Arath Remin appeared before the Archangel crew answering, "Yes Commander. We have the Terminus under control. I have to say it's quite generous of you to let us take the flagship of AERO like this though, most people would be pretty tempted in situations like these."
Kira recognized this hole when he answered, "The activation codes aren't the only thing necessary to operate the ship Captain. We've had those procedures worked out."
Arath nodded when he agreed, "Good thinking. Just keeping them in the out of the enemy's hands is the most important thing though."
"Please prepare to board the Archangel and begin a briefing. We have to prepare out next course of action."
"Anything you wish Commander. We'll see how things turn out." The image faded and the crew was left to operate the old warship in preparation for their next move.
Kira turned to find a forlorn officer when he recognized the pain that had come to overtake him. "Terzo..."
Terzo has his eyes shut facing his panel when he answered, "This was supposed to be a peaceful day for her Commander... I guess I was never prepared for this."
Kira avoided the gesture of seeming too close to personnel when he simply answered, "These random events are among many cruelties of war. If I had it my way she wouldn't have been the one to attend. But you have to remember what she wanted you to do."
Terzo looked up when he maintained a professional tone, "Yeah... Prepare for the worst and do everything to enforce the future of peace."
Kira nodded when he confirmed, "The mission we've all promised ourselves in AERO's founding."
"Commander, we have the Gundams making their way into the Archangel. They are now secure for landing.
"That's good news to hear. The Centennial is still in our hands."
"Commander sir, it is time for me to enact my duty as commanding officer of the pilots."
Kira was reluctant to accept the idea but remembered the procedure that he had set himself. It was time for his son to "... As you will Bitalech."

As soon as the Centennial opened its cockpit Sousuke heard Meyryth shout near the railways, "Yamato! Front and center!"
Sousuke sighed when he recognized the voice, "Great she wants to talk to me..." He slowly made his way down the ramp before greeting, "Hey lady. Listen I did ever-" Before he could finish that sentence Meyryth delivered her rightfully feared double slap to Sousuke's face and pushed Sousuke's body to the ground. Sousuke tried to stand up when he said, "Ah... ow... Hey... Let me-" Before he could finish Meyryth had her boot on the center of his stomach and pressed as hard as her foot permitted.
Meyryth looked down at him when she scolded, "I'm sorry your highness I had no idea a Scandinavian Princess was signing up for these ranks."
Sousuke tried to stand up when he answered, "H... Hey I didn-"
Meyryth pressed harder when she interrupted him, "You signed up when you got in the Centennial maggot! Let me be the first to school you that attacking a fellow officer especially in the line of duty is an offense that will not be excused in the history of human decency! If you're below that then please be the first to let our medical staff take a look at you!" She lowered her voice when she offered a light compliment, "I'll give you this much credit, taking out an Actualizer on the first flight is not an easy thing to pull off. That's the only reason I'm not throwing you out the airlock right now."
Sousuke didn't have any gratitude when he focused on the last portion asking, "Yeah? You think my dad isn't going to have a problem with that?"
Meyryth leaned over her knee when she spat in Sousuke's face asking, "Listen to me your ladyship, you try go crying to your daddy. Daycare ended last week and you're on the ground running and from what I've heard you'll be the only one permitted to pilot the Centennial for a while. Are you ready for at least holding this much?"
Sousuke didn't have any fight left in him when he accepted, "Okay already. If I can stand I'll do it."
"First lesson for the day my lady, military procedure requires that every sentence you direct to me contains the word 'Sir' twice. Do you agree?"
"Yeah I get it..." Instead of lifting herself off of Sousuke's body Meyryth pressed more of her heel into his stomach before she heard, "Ah... ah... Sir I get it sir."
Meyryth stood from her position when she ordered, "Get some decent uniform clothes on and report to the bridge to be debriefed on you schedule starting tomorrow. Do it in that order and I'll consider going easier on you in training."
Sousuke pulled himself off the ground grasping his gut when he remembered to answer, "Sir, got it sir."
"Dismissed."
Sousuke face palmed when he wondered about his current situation asking, "God damn it... What did I get myself into?"

As the civilians made their way off the civilian ships back into the colony. 
Several civilians wondered among the recent destruction asking, "The evacuation's been canceled?"
"Looks things got that intense."
"Is it still even safe in here though? What about all the damage?"
One of the teens from the dance club answered, "The panels are shutting everything and least there's still a floor to walk on."
Another one observed the destruction when he reminded them, "Yeah... But now we have to wait for everything to be fixed first..."
Trip agreed with the problem when he sighed, "Could have been worse I guess."
Mei took a look at her cell phone only to find that there weren't any new messages. "Sousuke... Please be out there..."