When the Luna arrived in the North America Theater, it did not immediately head to the frontline headquarters to report to John Kowen; instead, a simple video communication was established.
"Major General Kowen, the First Squad of the Twelfth Independent Technical Division has completed its mission in the Australia Theater and has arrived to support the North America Theater as ordered."
"Good work, Colonel Yang Hui." John Kowen had a very favorable impression of Yang Hui. Before Yang Hui appeared, John Kowen had proposed increasing the R&D efforts for MS, but he was repeatedly rejected by the Military Committee. Even after the tragic lesson of Dr. Minovsky's death and the Iron Cavalry Squadron being brutally suppressed by Zeon's Zaku I, they still blindly believed in giant ships and big guns.
It wasn't until Yang Hui rescued Revil, and then, with the support of Revil and Gopp, began developing MS and personally led men to earn a glorious reputation on the battlefield, that the members of the Military Committee finally acknowledged the existence of MS. Then... joining forces with Revil and Gopp, they finally managed to completely topple the Military Committee that John Kowen so detested.
"My unit will continue to clear the outer bases of the Principality of Zeon. Please be prepared, General Kowen."
"...I understand. I will make the arrangements."
John Kowen understood what Yang Hui meant. The "preparation" wasn't for combat deployment, but for a handover of duties. He had already received Revil's orders; someone would soon arrive to take over his work, while he would return to Jaburo Base to continue presiding over the R&D work at the Central Research Institute.
As the communication ended, Brad reported to Yang Hui: "Colonel, over the past few days, our unit has destroyed a total of 41 Principality of Zeon observation posts, eliminated 31 patrols, and destroyed four large bases—Austin, Del Rio, Juarez, and Rio Rancho—as well as three military airports—Alan, Hobbs, and Chihuahua—and two large supply warehouses in Cedar Hill and Las Vegas.
The squads are currently advancing toward Phoenix Fortress and are expected to arrive at the designated location tonight at 2300 hours."
"Hmm... What about the equipment?"
"Everyone is equipped with ground-warfare packs."
"Order Squads 1, 5, 6, 9, and 10 to switch to aerial-warfare packs. The Luna and White Base are to depart immediately. We take Phoenix Fortress tonight."
"Understood."
...
Under the cover of night, the Luna and White Base reached the airspace above Phoenix Base without hindrance.
Initially, the Principality of Zeon had dispatched numerous reconnaissance squads for perimeter scouting. However... every time a squad set out, they would lose contact shortly after. The commander of Phoenix Fortress realized that the Twelfth Independent Technical Division—whom they regarded as demons—was surrounding them. Sending out more reconnaissance units was simply sending lambs to the slaughter.
Consequently, they adopted a complete "turtle" tactic, turning Phoenix Fortress into an iron barrel that even a fly couldn't enter.
But because of this, they failed to notice the two Kirin-class warships hovering directly above them.
"Notify the ground forces. Russ, commence bombardment and punch through both sides of the fortress."
"Understood."
On the ground, Russ Kessel received the order, a dangerous curve tugging at the corners of his mouth. The backpack of Unit 04 opened, extending several struts that dug deep into the ground to secure the machine's body. The Super Mega Cannon was raised, its muzzle aimed at the brightly lit Phoenix Fortress.
"Minovsky Particles channeled. Output at maximum. Super Mega Cannon charging initiated."
At that moment, brilliant light flowed across the entire body of the pitch-black Unit 04, channeling through conduits into the Super Mega Cannon in its hands. The glow at the muzzle grew increasingly dazzling, the energy contained within becoming more and more terrifying.
"Vroom— Vroom— Vroom—"
The commotion, like a rising star, and the gathering of world-shattering energy would surely be noticed by Phoenix Fortress. But by the time the alarms blared, it was already too late.
"Charge at 80%... 90%... 100%. Charging complete. Super Mega Cannon, fire!"
For an instant, time seemed to stop, and all sound vanished. Only a pink spiral torrent remained, striking the solid armor of Phoenix Fortress with lightning speed. The armor turned glowing red, and the friction between energy and steel produced a piercing "sizzling" sound. Soon...
"Boom—!"
The spiral torrent broke through the Super Alloy Armor, completely piercing through Phoenix Fortress from front to back.
"It's not over yet! Hah!"
Unit 04 began to pivot its body, acting like an unstoppable holy sword as it swept across the left side of Phoenix Fortress.
"Hiss, hiss, hiss..."
As the thick beam gradually weakened and faded, the glowing red Super Mega Cannon caused the surrounding air to distort. Numerous cooling vents opened, venting billowing clouds of steam.
"Phew... that was dangerous."
Russ Kessel wiped away cold sweat. Alarms were ringing incessantly in the cockpit, and red signal lights representing danger flashed repeatedly. On the status display, the Super Mega Cannon was marked as extremely hazardous, and various parts of the Mobile Suit showed varying degrees of damage.
"I can't move. I'll leave the rest to you all." Seeing the state of his machine, Russ Kessel directly gave up on participating in the subsequent invasion operation.
"Don't worry."
At that moment, three signal flares lit up the sky—three red ones, telling those below to commence high-pressure suppression and signaling to the Principality of Zeon that the wolf pack had arrived; the hunt had begun.
"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Countless missiles rained down from the sky, landing directly on the perimeter of the fortress. The fire points and searchlights on the armored walls were instantly swallowed by explosions and flames.
Simultaneously, the snipers of the ground forces opened fire. Beams of light passed through gaps in the steel walls, sinking deep inside. Then...
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Countless explosions erupted from within the walls, sending steel fragments flying in all directions.
"All outer heavy fire points cleared. Assault units, advance."
"Understood."
The airstrike and precision sniping had eliminated all external threats. The assault personnel, like tigers released from a cage, had their eyes glowing faintly in the dark forest as they advanced with long trails of light, surging into Phoenix Fortress through the massive breach opened by the Super Mega Cannon.
In the sky, several blindingly thick beams fell, all striking the center of the fortress. The thick armor was instantly blasted open into a gruesome hole, penetrating from the top to the ground and melting the earth into lava.
"Sortie! Sortie now! Destroy the enemies in the sky!"
Inside the command center, which was being melted down, there was a very lucky "survivor" who had not been instantly vaporized along with the molten steel. In the final moment before death, he let out the last roar of his life, issuing the final command.
Upon receiving the order, the panicked Zeon Army regained their composure for a time. Several hatches on the fortress opened, and one Dopp Fighter after another took off. Zaku IIs, Doms, and Tigers all sortied while standing on Dodai YS, looking as terrifying as a swarm of bees leaving a hive or a plague of locusts.
In the very next second, countless beams fell like a torrential rain. The MS units in the air dived like divine soldiers descending from heaven. The beam rifles and beam gatlings in their hands and on their shoulders fired without pause, acting like an eraser that rubbed out several chunks of the terrifying swarm. Explosions and firelight turned into small suns, their fleeting brilliance bringing the warm light of day to the night.
"All units disperse. Tactical Formation A04."
"Understood!" X N
As the airborne unit was about to make contact with the enemy swarm, Yang Hui immediately issued the dispersal order. A solid, sharp arrow scattered like divine wrath, with each pilot finding their position, turning themselves into tiny arrows that stabbed fiercely into the enemy swarm.
"Clang—!"
Unit 01's blade cleared its sheath, performing an elegant rotation in the air. Two approaching Doms were instantly sliced smoothly through their waists.
After cutting down the two Doms, Yang Hui naturally didn't forget the Dodai YS beneath their feet. He quickly took them out with two shots. His legs kicked out, sending the two halves of the Doms' wreckage crashing into nearby Dopp Fighters before they exploded, the resulting blast swallowing all the surrounding aircraft.
Unit 01 did not linger in its original position, trailing a long plume of fire as it painted a beautiful and elegant picture across the sky.
But a static picture wasn't enough; dynamic special effects had to be added. For instance...
"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Explosions, fireworks, and death.
In less than fifteen minutes, the Zeon forces of Phoenix Fortress were slaughtered into a disorganized rout, fleeing in all directions. The Twelfth Independent Technical Division did not pursue them to the end; they only chased for 10 kilometers before returning to the ruined Phoenix Fortress to begin clearing the battlefield.
"Notify the regular units in the rear to send people to take over Phoenix Fortress," Yang Hui ordered.
"Uh... Colonel, it's in this state. Does it still need to be taken over?" Amuro looked at the ruined fortress before him, which was still suffering from occasional small explosions, his expression awkward.
"Patch it up and fix it; it can last another three years." Yang Hui neutralized the awkwardness with a deadpan expression.
"Uh, Colonel, how about... we just level it instead?"
"Do you think ammunition is free?" Yang Hui issued a soul-piercing question.
"In this state... fixing it will cost even more money," Amuro complained.
"Are we the ones paying to fix it?"
"No, of course the Federal Military Department pays." Amuro answered as if it were obvious.
"Then what does it have to do with us?"
"Uh..."
Fine, that was classic Yang Hui.
"Clear an area and have the Luna and White Base descend. It will serve as our temporary station."
"Are we not continuing the advance?" Amuro asked in confusion.
"We have to leave some soup for the allied units to drink," Yang Hui said, rubbing Amuro's head and educating him earnestly.
Look at how much merit the Twelfth Independent Technical Division had already claimed since returning to Earth.
The First Squad had performed an orbital drop into Eastern Australia, destroyed the HLV launch site "Moon Ladder," eliminated the Bear Demon Spirit units, thwarted their conspiracy, and assisted the Federal forces in the Australia Theater in completely ending the war there.
The Second Squad hadn't been as flashy, but the results they achieved were already fruitful enough. Now that the two squads had merged, they had taken down the largest military fortress in the western part of the North America Theater, the biggest obstacle before California Base.
If they kept fighting, the Twelfth Independent Technical Division would take all the credit for the entire North America Theater, leaving others without even a lick of the soup.
It wasn't about scarcity, but about inequality. In the way of the world, one had to let allied units gain some merit as well. Otherwise, as much as they admired and respected the Twelfth Independent Technical Division now, that was how much they would ostracize them in the future.