Eota piloted the shuttle with ease through the atmosphere.
Eota - This is Lieutenant Eota Mars of the Vanguard Prime, come in Caligo Umbra.
Caligo Umbra Tower - This is Caligo Umbra, we read you loud and cleaner Leutinant.
Eota - Good to hear. Requesting permission to land at Anitoch base.
Caligo Umbra Tower - Permission granted, Lieutenant. Runway 27-14 is clear.
Eota - Roger that, Lieutenant Eota Mars, out.
Eota cut the transmission as he eased the controls to line up with the runway that came into view as the shuttle cut through the clouds. Soon, Eota had touched down on the runway and was taxi-ing the shuttle into a hangar. Climbing off of the shuttle, Eota was greeted by a few Caligo Umbra members. He could tell the base was in a very tense moment. Eota sighed sliding on his sunglasses as he watched the Cygnus X-1 being taken off the shuttle.
Caligo Umbra Soldier - You can wait in Val's office, Leutinant.
Eota - Thank you.
Eota knew where it was. There wasn't a lot that had changed in the last three years. He guessed that was true about a lot of things. The war was officially supposed to be over. A treaty was signed, but no one truly laid down their arms. Well other than the Defenders. The Trinity Alliance needed someone to fight the political battles, neither Val nor Han took up the job, so Zach did. However, the Trinity Alliance was losing what support it did have.
Each of the branches, even the original }{ell's Gundam branch, of the Trinity Alliance was seen as rebels. While both the FRE Faction and Followers of Lowe were rebels as well, they were seen as providing the greater good. The Trinity Alliance was seen as causing more harm than good, and trying to break down the natural order of things. Earth wanted to be unified and to control the colonies. The colonies wanted independence and many were buying into the FRE's ideology of having the Earth purified of the "cancer" known as the human race. Both the Followers of Lowe and FRE were offering these ideas to their different homes.
Eota sighed as he walked into the office and sat down in a leather chair in front of Val's desk. He hadn't seen Val since when the Treaty of Paris of AC 199 was signed. They were all there, except those who had fallen. Eota still remembered seeing Han glaring at Lord Raphael Winson as he signed the treaty and saying "Kiyoshi would have loved to see this. Another false treaty signed to make people happy". No one really believed Han then, or at least Eota thought so. Kiyoshi wanted to see peace for both the Colonies and Earth. He wanted to see both free of evil men in positions of power. That was the whole reason he had first suggested an alliance between himself and the Defenders.
Eota took off his sunglasses and looked at them in his hands. They had belonged to Kiyoshi, and they were the ones he first remembered him wearing, but sometime after he went back to join with the }{G he began wearing another pair. Eota smiled as he thought back to one of the few times he saw Kiyoshi actually smile. It was when Eota was trying to give Kiyoshi back this pair of sunglasses.
~Flashback~
Kiyoshi stood on the observation deck of the Pegasus. A holographic display showed the position of L3 and the Pegasus, as well as the FRE Faction and Followers of Lowe forces positions. His eyes, hidden behind his dark sunglasses, were moving from one position to another, trying to piece together a good offensive plan. He knew that the enemy had the advantage of more soldiers and mobile suits, but the Trinity Alliance had strong pilots and Gundams. Eota soon walked in and up to Kiyoshi.
Eota - Um, Captain Kazami...
You know I don't like to be called that, Eota.
Eota - Commander Richards says I should refer to you by your designated rank. You are Captain of the }{G now.
Commander Richards is Acting Captain of the Pegasus, go call him Captain.
Kiyoshi took in a deep breath and then let it out.
Sorry. I'm just a little stressed. After the colony drop I'm worried about what the FRE Faction will throw at us next.
Eota - What about the Followers of Lowe?
The Followers are nothing but foot soldiers to the FRE. If you look at how they are deployed, the Followers are all to the front. The FRE plan to use them. They're from Earth, the FRE look down upon them. Now, of course, they don't let the Followers know this, but they don't know the FRE like I do.
Eota - Yeah...they're the ones who made you who you are.
Kiyoshi was a bit hurt and angry about what Eota had said, but he shrugged it off.
Yes. They've had a lot to do with that. Anyway, what is it you came here about?
Eota - Oh, sorry...
Eota took out the pair of sunglasses from his pocket.
Eota - I found these in your Virgo.
Kiyoshi turned to look at the sunglasses in Eota's hands. They were the one's Cloud had given him so long ago now. It brought back the memory of seeing Cloud again in the church after the funeral. Kiyoshi shook his head and then smiled. The smile was warm and true. Something, Eota had not seen. Kiyoshi turned to look back at the holographic map.
As much sentimental value those sunglasses hold, the ones I wear now mean something more to me. You can have them if you wish. Cloud gave them to me years ago.
Eota smiled at Kiyoshi.
Eota - Thank you, sir.
~End Flashback~
A voice over an old radio brought Eota out of his flashback.
Hello. I am sending you this transmission to warn you of the trap that is being set up. I, unfortunately, cannot help you in any other way but this, for now. You should be receiving a map which shows where the Followers of Lowe have deployed their mobile suit troops. He's expecting you to come from Europe. His back up plan is most likely that you'll come from the opposite direction. I suggest you come up from the south. It'll take longer, but he should not be expecting it.
May the heroes of the Trinity Alliance bring about peace.
Eota sat up in shock. He knew that voice, but it couldn't be. The person who had that voice had been dead for three years. Eota shook his head. No, it was Han who said he was dead. What gave it away more than anything was the last thing whoever this person was said.
Eota - "May the heroes of the Trinity Alliance bring about peace."
It was what Kiyoshi had said when he sent everyone off to fight in the Battle of Heaven's Light. Eota didn't know what to do. He sat back down in his chair. What if he was wrong, what if he just thought it was Kiyoshi's voice. Maybe it was just all the stress. Looking over on the desk, he saw that the message had been recorded. He'd wait for Val to come back to listen to it again. Eota laid his head back and looked at the ceiling.
Eota - Kiyoshi...if you are alive...why haven't you come back to lead the Trinity Alliance again. We could have used you these last three years.
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