Inside the bridge of the recently repositioned Dominion, an Earth Alliance communication officer shouted, "A high-speed contact is approaching rapidly! This speed... it's unbelievable!"
"What is it?"
"It looks like... a Mobile Suit? No, is it a Mobile Armor?"
Because it had already engaged in a firefight with the Archangel, the Gundam Barbatos had vanished from the Dominion's sensors minutes ago. They had no idea what this high-speed object actually was.
Inside the Freedom Gundam, Kira Yamato gaped as he watched a streak of light flash past like a meteor. "So fast... Is this the Barbatos's new equipment?"
On the Kusanagi, Erica Simmons stared blankly at the blue trail of light that even the ship's sensors could barely track. "That speed isn't any weaker than the thruster armor we built for the Barbatos. Honestly, I'm amazed that child can withstand such an intense impact."
"Never mind the thrusters for now! Kusanagi, full speed ahead! Pull up alongside the Archangel on the port side!" Cagalli Yula Athha shouted from beside the captain's seat.
Erica pushed her distractions aside and focused on the Kusanagi's systems. However, just as the ship began to accelerate, the entire vessel was suddenly snagged by cables from satellite debris, grinding it to a halt.
"What's happening?"
"The hull is tangled in cables! We're immobilized!"
"Break through it!"
"We can't! The satellite debris is too massive; we can't pull it!"
Ledonir Kisaka immediately opened a channel to the escort units outside. "Asagi, the Kusanagi is caught in cables! Go and cut them!"
"Roger!" Asagi Caldwell replied.
On the other side of the battlefield, Mikazuki Augus charged into the enemy ranks and activated the weapons systems of the long-distance transport booster. "All missile tubes open. Deploying armaments."
Two rows of missile tubes on the top and bottom of the auxiliary thrusters slid open. Simultaneously, two cannon barrels that had been facing rearward like the thrusters rotated to the front. This was the weaponry mounted on the Barbatos's auxiliary thrusters. Compared to the original version, this model designed by Lacus Clyne for the Barbatos was undeniably more practical.
Furthermore, a multi-lock-on system display, similar to the one found on the Freedom Gundam, appeared on the Panoramic Monitor before Mikazuki's eyes.
Boom!
The Gundam Barbatos fired its missiles and beams while maintainings its high-speed flight, instantly sweeping the path ahead completely clean. Seeing the results, Mikazuki raised an eyebrow in slight surprise.
"This efficiency is actually pretty good. Heavy-firepower equipment isn't half bad."
Truthfully, he was enjoying it. The feeling of high firepower output was incredibly satisfying. He still preferred his original way of fighting, of course, but there was no denying that this was efficient for clearing out fodder.
Meanwhile, the three machines of the Phantom Pain unit, which were currently entangled with the Freedom Gundam, spotted the white blur charging toward their fleet. Then, Muruta Azrael's voice crackled in their ears.
"You three, capture one of the enemy machines you're fighting immediately! Don't worry about this side. But if you fail to bring one back, you'll have to answer for the consequences."
The faces of the Phantom Pain trio went pale. They had originally intended to intercept the Barbatos.
"Damn it! Just come back with me quietly!" Clotho Buer, the pilot of the Raider Gundam, roared as he transformed into Mobile Armor mode and charged the Freedom Gundam.
Kira's eyes narrowed as he and Athrun Zala focused their efforts on dealing with these three Gundams.
Muruta turned to Natarle Badgiruel and spoke in a low, heavy voice. "Aim every weapon on the Dominion at that high-speed object. That guy has to be the monster. I refuse to believe we can't shoot him down with the combined firepower of a cosmic warship."
"But what about the Archangel and the Nazca-class ships...?"
"Let the Agamemnon-class ships handle them. Why do you think I brought those three extra ships? It was for this very purposeto destroy that monster." Muruta stared at the high-speed signal on the radar with a twisted, hideous expression.
Natarle looked dissatisfied. The tactical contingencies she had just finished arranging were now essentially worthless. But no matter how much she disliked it, she had no choice. She was a soldier, and she had to obey orders. She commanded the Dominion to train all its cannons on the Barbatos.
Nearby, the Archangel was providing cover for the Kusanagi and the Sassari as they engaged three Earth Alliance Agamemnon-class battleships. The Strike Gundam and the Buster Gundam were also occupied with the enemy Strike Daggers.
"Main cannons, fire!"
Murrue Ramius braced herself in her seat as she issued the order. "What about the Barbatos? How is Mikazuki doing?"
Miriallia Haww responded immediately. "The entire weapons system of the enemy Archangel-class has locked onto the Barbatos!"
"What?! Every weapon? You've got to be... kidding me..."
Amidst her alarm, Murrue quickly realized the problem. "I see. The leader of Blue Cosmos intended to use his own ship to draw away the Barbatos from the start. That's why he brought three Agamemnon-class shipsto pin us down!"
Realizing the enemy's objective, Murrue hurriedly connected to the Kusanagi. "Kusanagi! Aren't you ready yet?"
"I'm sorry..." Ledonir and Cagalli both looked grim. The Kusanagi had truly become a burden in this critical moment.
Murrue's expression darkened. It seemed the Kusanagi would need more time to escape its predicament, which meant the Archangel was stuck dealing with the three Agamemnon-class ships and could not provide support to the Barbatos.
"Tsk... Mikazuki..."
In the bridge of the immobilized Eternal docked in the port, Lacus looked at the combat footage with a face full of worry. "Mikazuki..."
Andrew Waltfeld was also solemn. "Young man, be careful. The number of weapons on an Archangel-class warship isn't something a Nazca-class can compare to. Especially... the Lohengrin. You should know that better than anyone."
"Mikazuki, you okay?" Orga Itsuka's voice came through the comms.
Inside the cockpit of the Barbatos, Mikazuki watched the Dominion's movements. Far from being panicked, he actually began to smile.
"Yeah. Just leave it to me..."
A split second before the Dominion opened fire, the auxiliary thrusters detached, and the Gundam Barbatos within revealed its true face...
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