"Hey hey hey! You've got to be kidding me?"
"This... this can't be real, right?"
"How is this possible? These... extraterrestrial lifeforms?"
"Something like this... could it truly exist?"
...
When the intel on the festum was disclosed before the elite pilots, it was only missing someone shouting "Holy shit!"
The information had been modified—for instance, the otherworldly legion was presented as extraterrestrial lifeforms. This was to conceal Yang Hui and the others' true identities. After this battle's victory and once Prometheus Fortress connected to this world, most of those present would learn the truth—but certainly not now.
"The above intel is absolutely accurate. Countless outstanding intelligence operatives from Orb sacrificed their lives to obtain this information," Yang Hui reaffirmed. He didn't blame Yzak and the others for doubting the authenticity of the report—it was simply too shocking.
Especially the festum's abilities and traits—utterly terrifying, seemingly impossible to counter.
"Yang Hui, even if this intel is real, how do we deal with it?" Yzak asked.
"Right. The Wormhole attacks are manageable—at least they have a tell before striking, so we can evade. But the Assimilation phenomenon..."
While there was no means to defend against Wormhole attacks, the intel stated that a black flash would appear as a warning before the enemy struck. With that warning, evasion was possible. Everyone present was an elite pilot—even a one-second heads-up would be enough to react.
But the Assimilation phenomenon was another matter. A direct mental attack like this—there was simply no way to guard against it. Once infected, it was as good as death. And even in death, there would be no peace—the victim would turn into an enemy and attack their comrades.
"That's why, for this operation, we'll maintain complete radio silence. Everyone fights independently—no contact whatsoever between units," Yang Hui declared.
"I see... minimizing distractions to focus entirely on the battle..."
"Additionally, avoid close combat as much as possible. Even if unavoidable, immediately create distance after eliminating an enemy."
The festum's true forms likely wouldn't appear on the battlefield—otherwise, Mephis would have already deemed the mission a failure. Still, no one knew what the Kingdom of Scandinavia might have obtained from the dormant festum. Thus, precautions had to be taken in case the enemy also possessed the ability to generate Wormholes upon death for mutual destruction.
"Understood."
"Listen up, all of you. I don't care if you're Naturals or Coordinators, nor how many conflicts exist between you. But this battle determines the fate of Earth and humanity. If we lose, then whether you're a Coordinator or a Natural, in their eyes, you're nothing but food, livestock, or material for conversion. So... for Earth, for the human race, I expect everyone to set aside all prejudices and cooperate wholeheartedly."
"Understood." (xN)
Everyone nodded solemnly in response. Yang Hui wasn't wrong—the moment extraterrestrial life arrived, both Naturals and Coordinators belonged to the same collective: humanity. There was no distinction. Forget the fate of Earth or mankind—even for their own nations, for their own families, this war had to be won.
"Alright everyone, in five minutes all communications will be severed. Full deployment—target, the royal palace of the Kingdom of Scandinavia. May fortune favor you in battle."
"Yes!" (Multiple voices)
The meeting concluded, and everyone dispersed, the weight of their mission pressing heavily on their shoulders. Without exception, they all returned directly to their Mobile Suits, sealed the cockpit hatches, quietly drafted their wills, and set them to be sent at a scheduled time.
Even Yang Hui had admitted he couldn't guarantee his survival in this battle, let alone the rest of them.
Yet fleeing wasn't an option—there was nowhere to run. If they lost this fight, Earth and humanity would be doomed. Unless they could escape the galaxy or this world entirely, the outcome would be the same no matter where they went.
"Hey, Yzak."
"What is it?"
"Still not going to accept it? Don't tell me you really haven't noticed."
"Accept what? What am I supposed to have noticed?"
"Shiho, that girl! You can't seriously be unaware, can you?"
"What about Shiho?" Yzak asked with genuine confusion, completely clueless.
"You... fine."
"No, seriously, what are you talking about?"
"Never mind." Dearka was exasperated. He'd assumed Yzak was aware of Shiho's feelings for him—it was painfully obvious—but had remained unresponsive due to his personality. But this... was he really this oblivious?
"No, Dearka! Explain yourself! Leaving things half-said is a jerk move!"
"Ask Shiho yourself later. I can't explain it!"
"Then why bring it up in the first place?"
"For fun!"
"Dearka! You bastard!"
"Maybe so." Dearka thought to himself, wondering who the real oblivious bastard was—the one who couldn't tell when someone liked him.
Meanwhile, Kira and Athrun were also deep in conversation, though their concerns weren't about the outcome of the war but the future that lay beyond it.
"Kira, what do you think about Prometheus Fortress?"
"Honestly, I don't know. But I do know you'll definitely agree to it."
"...In your eyes, am I only ever a soldier?" Athrun felt a pang of sadness. He was indeed a soldier by background and skilled in combat, but that didn't mean he embraced the identity. He envied Nicol, who had managed to step away from the vortex of war and reclaim his dreams.
"Whether you're a soldier or not, you're still Athrun, aren't you?"
"Huh?"
"Besides, could you really stand by and do nothing?"
"...You're the same, aren't you?"
Kira fell silent. He and Athrun were cut from the same cloth—both gentle and kind-hearted souls who couldn't bear to watch others fight while they reaped the rewards of peace others had fought for.
"Truly, Yang Hui knows us well. The reason he never brought it up is because he understands us, isn't it?" Kira sighed after a long pause.
"Yeah. But... I think if we refused, he wouldn't force us, right?"
"That's just like Yang Hui. He never says anything outright or makes demands, yet somehow, people end up following his lead."
"Heh, that's true." Athrun shook his head with a bitter smile, realizing that neither he nor Kira—no, anyone targeted by Yang Hui—could escape his control.
"Speaking of which, Athrun, what if I—"
"There are no what-ifs."
"But—"
"You actually believe what Yang Hui says?"
"Ah... haha, right. With him here, with them here, we'll definitely survive and achieve victory."
"Exactly."
The two shared a smile across their screens, neither speaking discouraging words nor writing any last wills. They might lack confidence in themselves, but they had faith in Yang Hui, in Setsuna, Lyle, Tieria, and the others—faith in the Prometheus Fortress!
"Beep beep beep..."
"Time's up. All units, this is our final communication. May we all return alive."
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