Title: Operations Underway

Author: Karina

Rating: PG

Pairing: Milliardo + Duo

Notes:  Challenge 221.  Baby Series 4  #121.  Takes place immediately following Find the Children.

Spoilers: None

Warnings: Extended Length

Disclaimer: I don’t own Gundam Wing or the Characters from the series but the baby is mine.

Title: Operations Underway

                “Operation...” Duo coughed softly and hid the grin. “Cheesy.  Ah, you don’t think you are going out there to find the kids, do you?”

                Milliardo snorted softly, amused. “I would if I could get my arse out the door without Pagan landing on it; but no.  No, I will not attempt that.  There is too much for me to do as it stands, but that does not mean we can not make a start on finding the children tonight.  You can then go and gather them in at first light.”

                Duo considered the broad back for a long moment, trying to keep pace with the long stride of the man.  Damn those long legs, he increased his pace, wondering if he was going to need to run given the pace the man was setting.

                “Sooo, where are we going?”

                Crystal blue eyes flicked to him and a smile softened the aristocratic features.  Milliardo motioned up the stairs he was heading for.

                “The control centre.”

                Duo blinked.  “Ah... Why?”

                A low rumble of amusement answered him and Milliardo took the stairs two at a time easily with his long stride. “To find your refugees who have somehow gone unnoticed.  How young are they and how many of them are living up there?”

                Duo trotted up the stairs in his wake, reflecting that when he set his mind to action Milliardo was something of a force to be reckoned with.  Keeping up with him physically was probably easier than it was mentally.  He had no idea what the man was heading to the control centre for.  It was certainly not where he would be headed to begin the search.

                “Jess and Jamie.  Two of them.  Jamie’s a bit older than Jess, but they’re both just kids.”

                A slight nod and Milliardo pressed his palm to the identification pad, the control room door opening in quick response.  Those within the room looked up, eyeing the new arrivals for a long moment.  Salutes were dismissed with a brief wave of the King’s hand and he nudged one of the operatives to vacate his chair, taking over the position himself.  His fingers flew expertly over the control console as he settled himself, eyes on the screen as he typed.

                “What...?”

                “Watch and learn, Duo.  There is more than one way to search.”

                Milliardo fitted a headset and activated the microphone, grinning at the voice only he could hear through the headset.  He permitted the woman on line to bitch at him for a few seconds before he chuckled.

                “Such wonderful language to greet your Commander in Chief, Margaret.  Yes, it's Zechs bloody Merquise hacking into your private system.  I have a task only you can perform for me, my dear.”

                Duo met the curious gaze of the other men and women in the room and shrugged slightly, he hadn’t a clue who the man was talking to.  Zechs keyed up a view of the cliff face and his smile widened.

                “Margaret, stop bitching and get in your helo for me, there’s a dear.  I’ve got you clearance from traffic control to do a fly over the city and up the cliff face for me.  I’m forwarding the necessary details to you now.  Oh and I guess I should warn you I’ve hacked the onboard camera system.”  He paused for a long moment and snickered, shaking his head. “Yes, fine, I owe you a slap up dinner at the most exclusive restaurant in town... Fine, for you and the whole family.  Yes, thank you for your cooperation.”

                Duo stood in silence for the next few minutes, watching the view on the screen change and he realised it was a rising view.   The multi coloured lights were spectacular as they illuminated the city with the last of the sunlight gone, the sky darkening into true night.   Slowly the cityscape shifted, the view changing and the spectacular orange spotlights that illuminated the waterfall came into view.

                Milliardo stirred at that, leaning forward slightly in his seat, resting his elbows on the edge of the consul.  “Margaret?  Yes, I need you to scan the cliff face using thermal imaging equipment.  I need the precise GPS locations of any heat spots larger than a fox.  Something as intense as a fire would be perfect.”

                Understanding dawned on Duo and he felt the hard knot of worry break.  He had not even given a thermal imaging scan a thought.  He mused that this was one example of why Milliardo had been so highly respected in his days as Zechs Merquise.

                It did not take long.  He held his breath until he saw it... In fact, there were multiple heat sources to be seen on the screen and they were so intense they had to be fire related.  One of them should be the fire that warmed Jessica and Jamie, but he had little doubt Milliardo would have all of them found with the new day and brought to safety from the encroaching storm front. 

End

Karina Robertson  2013