Athrun seized the Aegis, while Murrue and Kira entered the Strike. Both mobile suits burst out of the now completely destroyed factory. Because the mobile suits were equipped with the new Phase-Shift (PS) armor system, they were entirely gray before activation. Only after activation would their true colors appear. Once the PS armor was activated, physical weapons could barely damage the Gundams. However, this type of armor was not without drawbacks; prolonged use of PS armor would deplete the power reactor, meaning it consumed energy extremely quickly. Conversely, if the energy ran out, the PS armor would also deactivate, allowing live ammunition to cause damage.
However, although Murrue entered the Strike's cockpit, she was not its pilot. Furthermore, the Gundam's OS (Operating System) was not something a natural could use. While Murrue could activate the Gundam, she simply couldn't control it; it swayed precariously even when walking. Meanwhile, Athrun, sitting in the Aegis, successfully piloted it away under the cover of two GINN units, returning to the Vesalius. Although he was concerned about seeing someone resembling Kira just now, the mission took priority.
The two remaining GINN units were naturally tasked with either taking or destroying the remaining Gundam, ensuring it wouldn't be left for the Earth Alliance. Murrue struggled to operate the Strike forward, attempting to attack, but the enemy easily dodged. However, this OS was only suitable for Coordinators; as a Natural, she couldn't control it freely.
The GINN pilot sneered, "Hmph, can't even walk straight? What a waste. Rasche, capture it, along with the pilot."
"Not so easy, is it? Don't forget the mobile suit has a self-destruct device. The Alliance pilots aren't fools."
"Ah, true. Then there's no choice. Destroy it." Saying this, a GINN raised its heavy solid-bullet rifle and fired at the Strike, which had its PS armor activated.
Rat-tat-tat. The bullets hit the Strike without causing any damage. The GINN pilot's face turned cold, remembering the information Athrun had given him before leaving. "PS armor, huh?"
Another pilot took out the GINN's physical sword and sneered, "It doesn't matter. The pilot is a Natural. If they can't control it freely, it's no different from a sitting duck."
"Heh heh, you're right." Rasche, the GINN pilot who spoke earlier, also sneered, looking at the Strike as if it were a lamb waiting to be slaughtered. The GINN's sword fiercely slashed the Strike's shoulder. Although it caused no damage due to the PS armor, the immense force was something the unperfectly tuned Strike and its amateur pilot couldn't withstand. The Strike was inevitably knocked to the ground with a single slash, crashing into the building behind it.
Murrue quickly operated the Strike to get up and dodge to the side, evading the second GINN's attack. Retreating in disarray, Kira, who was standing beside the pilot's seat, saw the display showing his four companions not far from the Strike's feet.
"Everyone!" At this moment, the GINN's attack arrived again, and the pilot's arrogant voice came through, "Naturals are not fit to pilot mobile suits. Accept your fate!"
The GINN raised its sword and thrust... Murrue, due to her arm injury, didn't have time to react, watching helplessly as the GINN's sword thrust towards the cockpit...
The scene slowed down at this moment. Beep, beep, beep. Unknown alarms simultaneously went off inside all three mobile suits. Rasche followed the alarm's prompt and looked towards the southeast. A black dot rapidly approached.
"That's..." His pupils constricted violently when he realized the approaching object seemed to be a weapon. "No good, quickly dodge..." But before he could finish his sentence, his comrade GINN was struck by that black long-handled weapon, and the mobile suit exploded.
"What's going on...? Who is it?! Bastard!" Rasche roared in fury. Murrue, in the Strike, was also stunned by this sight, temporarily forgetting the pain in her arm.
"That's... a lance?" Kira frowned and said, "It looks a bit like... a hammer." It wasn't their fault they didn't recognize it; Barbatos's mace was simply too rare. Practically no one in this world used it; it was always beam rifles, electromagnetic cannons, longswords, or beam sabers. Physical weapons were truly scarce.
A red dot suddenly appeared on the Strike's radar. "Up there!" Murrue had just finished speaking in shock when a formidable mobile suit descended from the sky in front of the Strike, raising thick dust and a hurricane. After the smoke and dust cleared, Murrue lost her voice when she saw the true form of the appearing mobile suit. "Gundam? How can this be? No... that's wrong. There are only five Gundams in the plan. There can't be other Gundams. What exactly is that...?"
"Hey, guys in the Gundam, are you still alive?" A calm voice came from the Strike's communicator. Murrue looked at the mobile suit in front and hesitated, then asked, "Who are you?"
"Huh? Oh, me, um... Mikazuki Augus, leader of Tekkadan."
"Tekkadan leader? What's that? Who are you exactly? And this mobile suit of yours, report its unit quickly!" Murrue had never heard of Tekkadan and thought Mikazuki was toying with her.
Inside Barbatos, Mikazuki, shirtless, scratched his head. He wasn't good with words. If Orga hadn't insisted, he wouldn't have actively contacted Murrue. However, he still said, "Now isn't the time to talk about this. It's good that you're still alive. Otherwise, it wouldn't count as saving you. And then Orga would just nag me again. That guy's been chattering ever since we reunited; he's practically become like an old hag."
"Huh?"
"Don't worry about it." Just as Mikazuki and Murrue were bickering, the GINN opposite moved. Rasche pushed the control stick, roaring, "Bastard! Is that you? How dare you ambush me! Watch me deal with you!" Mikazuki collected his composure, his hands tightening on the control stick. Barbatos nodded, its green eyes lighting up. It grabbed the mace beside it, like a wolf hunting its prey, and stared at the GINN that had delivered itself to its fate.
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