"What did you say?" Everyone was shocked. No one expected Yang Hui to use Lacus as leverage to force ZAFT into a ceasefire—this was practically using civilians, an utterly despicable tactic.
"Do it!"
Yang Hui's tone brooked no argument at this moment, exuding the commanding presence of a superior to perfection. Anyone unaware might have mistaken him for the actual captain of the Archangel.
While the others were momentarily stunned, Yang Hui seized control of communications and contacted both Serpent Tail and Celestial Being, who were guarding the Archangel.
"Serpent Tail and Celestial Being, listen up! Gai, Setsuna, Lyle—execute Tactical Formation A10 and assault the enemy fleet. Elijah, Tieria—escort this ship and the Strike. Full speed into the combat zone! The Strike must stick close to the Archangel at all times. Subsequent command will be handled by Celestial Being's Sumeragi."
"Roger that." (xN)
Logically, Serpent Tail were just mercenaries and shouldn't have obeyed Yang Hui or Sumeragi's orders. But this wasn't the first time they'd accepted Yang Hui's contracts. Several of those missions had seemed suicidal at first glance, yet by following the operational plans provided in advance by Yang Hui or Sumeragi, they'd managed to pull through every time—albeit narrowly. This had earned Yang Hui and Sumeragi the mercenaries' respect for their tactical planning and command skills.
Given the current situation, only Yang Hui or Sumeragi's leadership offered even a glimmer of hope for victory. Otherwise, Gai might well have abandoned the contract and evacuated with his team.
"Yang Hui! You—"
"No time for debates! Where's Kira? Has Lieutenant Flaga sortied yet?"
"N-not yet. The Moebius Zero—Flaga's unit—is preparing for launch. The Strike... Kira hasn't boarded yet!"
"Damn it." Yang Hui immediately opened a channel to the Moebius Zero and relayed orders to Mu. "Lieutenant Flaga."
"Yang Hui? Why are you—?"
"Explanations later. Once you launch, keep the Zero close to the Archangel and follow it into combat."
"Say what?"
"Do as I say! Unless you'd rather not make it out alive!"
Mu wanted to demand answers, but the line cut off abruptly.
"What the hell is going on?" Confused, Mu immediately reconnected with the bridge. "Hey! What's happening? Why is Yang Hui giving orders?"
"J-just follow his instructions for now," Murrue stammered in reply.
"What do you mean?"
"Command of the MS and Mobile Armor units is temporarily handed over to Yang Hui. I'll take responsibility if anything goes wrong."
Truth be told, Murrue's mind was barely functioning at this point. Yang Hui's overwhelming presence had struck her like a hammer. The optimal course would have been for the Archangel to turn around immediately and disengage, abandoning the Vanguard Fleet to their fate.
But Murrue couldn't bring herself to stand by while allies were slaughtered before her eyes—which was why she'd made the wrong call to rescue the Vanguard Fleet.
Though the decision had been made, Murrue was still uncertain about the specifics—how they should proceed and survive. As her thoughts tangled in confusion, Yang Hui stepped forward with a solution she was reluctant to accept, yet knew was the most correct course of action.
Initially, Murrue had been unwilling to resort to underhanded tactics to force ZAFT into a ceasefire, but... Yang Hui gave her no chance to argue. At this moment, he exuded an aura that compelled others to follow his lead without question.
Mu, too, realized the issue of command wouldn't be resolved anytime soon. Though frustrated, he had no choice but to comply with Yang Hui's directives once the captain had spoken.
After ending his communication with Mu, Yang Hui left the bridge to seek out Lacus. However, upon arriving at her door, he found Kira there as well, still unprepared for deployment.
"Kira! What are you doing? Get to your mobile suit now!"
"Yang Hui..."
"Move it!"
"O-okay."
Even Kira was momentarily cowed by Yang Hui's commanding presence, agreeing without hesitation. But just as he took two steps forward, someone stopped him.
"Kira!"
"Flay?"
"What's going on with the battle alert? What about the Vanguard Fleet?" Flay pressed anxiously.
"I don't know, I haven't heard anything..."
"Everything will be fine, right? Dad's ship won't be destroyed, will it?"
"If you keep holding Kira back, not only will your father's ship be sunk—we'll all go down with it!" Yang Hui's sharp rebuke cut through Flay's frantic clinging.
"That can't be..."
"Kira, get moving!"
"Right!"
As Kira hurried off, a panicked Flay turned her attention to Yang Hui.
"You're lying, aren't you? You have to be lying! Dad's ship can't be sunk! He's—"
"Snap out of it!" Yang Hui's even harsher tone made Flay stumble back. "This is a battlefield, not the time for your spoiled tantrums! Get back to your room and stay put—stop interfering with the operation!"
"But—!" In her distress, Flay caught sight of Lacus standing beside Yang Hui, her expression twisting with fury. "Then kill her! Isn't she with ZAFT? Isn't she a Coordinator? Use her to make them retreat! Or else—!"
She lunged for Lacus, trying to drag her to the bridge as leverage, but Yang Hui shielded Lacus, blocking Flay's attempt. Undeterred, Flay clawed at him in desperation.
"Move! Let me through! If we threaten her, they'll have to—"
Slap!
Yang Hui didn't hesitate to strike Flay across the face, the sharp sound silencing her hysteria.
Stunned, Flay clutched her reddened cheek, staring at him in disbelief.
"You... hit me? Even my father never..."
"If you keep acting like this, I'll do it again. Try me."
Flay wanted to scream, to rage—but the ice in Yang Hui's gaze and the chilling authority radiating from him stifled even her tears.
"Get back to your room. Now."
With that, he led Lacus toward the bridge, leaving Flay standing there, hollow and shaken.
"Lacus, I'm sorry to involve you in this," Yang Hui said quietly as they walked.
She shook her head gently, offering a reassuring smile. "It's alright. If I can help stop the fighting and save lives, I'm glad to do my part."
"...If possible, I really don't want to do this."
"It's alright, I know you wouldn't force me if I refused."
"..."
"And you'll be joining the battle too. I don't want to see you fighting."
"...No one enjoys fighting, Lacus. But often, it's the only way to protect what we hold dear."
"Does that include me?" Lacus asked Yang Hui with a smile.
"...Yes, including you. Because you're my friend."
"Just a friend?"
"What else?" Yang Hui shot Lacus an exasperated glance. He wouldn't fall for one of the classic misunderstandings—he knew this was Lacus trying to soothe his rising frustration. But...could she not choose this moment to tease him?
Soon after, Yang Hui brought Lacus back to the bridge, where the battle could now be seen through the windows.
"What's the situation?" Yang Hui asked.
"...The Lauer has been sunk, the Bernard is heavily damaged, the Montgomery is in critical condition, and the Mobile Armor units are nearly wiped out..."
Yang Hui nodded and took over communications control again.
"Gai, Setsuna, Lyle, report your status!"
"Nearest Laurasia-class at 400. ZAFT Forces have noticed us. Engaged with Duel, Buster, and Blitz, plus six GINNs," Setsuna reported in his usual monotone.
"Switch from assault to guerrilla tactics. Maximize enemy MS casualties and draw their attention."
"Roger." x3
"Montgomery's position!"
"Green Zone 33, Mk22 Bravo!"
"Elijah, Tieria, provide immediate support to the Montgomery!"
"Roger." x2
"Lieutenant Flaga, continue guarding the Archangel. Focus on repelling enemies, not eliminating them."
"Understood."
After issuing new orders to the MS and MA units, Yang Hui checked the distance between the Archangel and the ZAFT fleet.
"Thirty seconds left..." Yang Hui gritted his teeth. Amidst the heavy interference, it would take thirty more seconds for the Archangel to bring the ZAFT fleet within communication range.
Whether they could save the critically endangered Montgomery hinged on those thirty seconds.
But...the ZAFT Forces didn't give them that time. Setsuna's three units were pinned down by Duel, Buster, Blitz, and several surrounding GINNs, unable to stop the ZAFT fleet's advance. The moment the Montgomery entered the Vesalius's main cannon range, the Vesalius fired.
A massive beam tore through space, piercing the darkness with radiant brilliance as it struck through the Montgomery.
"Damn it!"
Yang Hui slammed his fist on the console. Despite all his preparations, he'd still been a step too late. The Vanguard Fleet was nearly annihilated, the MA units decimated, and all three escort ships lost.
"That's...what...?"
Just then, the bridge door slid open again, and a low, hoarse voice thick with despair cut through the crew's shock.
"Flay! What are you doing here?" Sai quickly rose from his seat, intending to escort Flay away from the bridge, as the ship that had just exploded was the Montgomery—the very ship her father was aboard.
"That wasn't... Dad's ship, was it? Tell me, Sai, that wasn't Dad's ship, right?" Flay's face was frozen in shock as she pleaded with him.
Sai turned his head away in anguish, unsure how to respond. He could lie to her, but... the truth couldn't be hidden for long. She would find out soon enough, so deception was pointless.
"No... no... NO~!!! DON'T~!! NO~!!!"
"Sai, get her out of here!" Yang Hui barked sharply.
"Right." Nodding, Sai immediately led the nearly broken Flay away from the bridge.
Meanwhile, the agonizing seconds that had stretched like centuries finally passed, and the ZAFT fleet entered communication range.
Without hesitation, Yang Hui opened a channel to ZAFT.
"Attention ZAFT Forces, this is the Earth Alliance vessel Archangel. We are currently providing protection for Lacus Clyne, daughter of PLANT Supreme Council Chairman Siegel Clyne!"
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