Chapter 14: 0079 – The Second Crossing
"Detaching from Heliopolis is our top priority," Murrue ordered. "During the battle, avoid damaging the satellite as much as possible.
High-energy converging linear cannons, power up. Target the breach in the outer wall. Load large missiles in tubes 7–12 and 19–24 at the stern.
Ensign Badgiruel, the firing window is yours to determine. Captain Mu, the linear cannons will be under your manual control."
"High-energy converging linear cannons, powering up. Ship rising to target the breach in the outer wall. Large stern missiles, tubes 7–12 and 19–24, loading,"
Natarle Badgiruel repeated the order. In the blink of an eye, the crew completed a series of preparations, and a tense atmosphere enveloped the entire bridge.
At that moment, the satellite's outer wall was blown open, and five GINNs along with the Aegis Gundam poured through.
The GINNs were mostly equipped with heavy anti-fortress weaponry. Kira, piloting the Strike Gundam, launched from the Archangel to intercept.
From the bridge display, Natarle Badgiruel spotted blinking light points. A deep, decisive voice announced the start of the battle.
"High-energy converging linear cannons—fire! Stern large missiles—fire!"
At her command, the Archangel's two main cannons roared in unison.
The beams shot through the breach in the satellite's outer wall, striking outward. The four beams widened the hole to nearly twice its original size, with only a faint burst of sparks visible at the edge.
"Confirmed—enemy unit destroyed. One GINN down."
…
The battle raged for over ten minutes. The satellite's surface was in ruins; the single original breach in the outer wall had multiplied into several.
Kira's Strike Gundam was locking down the Aegis, the two machines weaving between one another.
Athrun, intent on persuading Kira, held back somewhat, but the Aegis's beam rifle still caused considerable damage to the satellite.
Of the five attacking GINNs, one had been destroyed early on by the Archangel's main cannons.
Of the four that breached the interior, Kira destroyed one during the fight. Mu took out another with the main cannons, leaving two GINNs still pounding the Archangel.
Each of the enemy units carried anti-fortress armaments—massive explosive weapons—that inflicted severe damage to the satellite.
As though fate had arranged it, the GINN Mu destroyed managed, just as in the anime, to launch all of its missiles before exploding. The four missiles struck the satellite's central shaft.
The satellite was left on the brink of collapse. One more attack of the same scale on its main axis would finish it. That moment wasn't far away.
As for Kira Yamato, he had been flustered at first, and though supported by the Archangel's main cannons, he achieved little.
Then, as if a different pilot had taken over, the Strike Gundam's movements changed dramatically, becoming swift and decisive. Another GINN was cleaved cleanly in two by the beam saber.
In the nick of time, under Mu La Flaga's control, the main cannons destroyed the last GINN.
But the high-energy converging linear cannons also struck the edge of the satellite's main shaft, and the GINN's explosion became the last straw that broke the camel's back.
The main axis disintegrated completely. Heliopolis began to collapse, escape pods shooting outward in all directions.
The satellite shattered into countless drifting fragments.
Inside the Strike Gundam, Kira was stunned, frozen in shock.
The crew of the Archangel was equally shaken—their home had just been destroyed before their eyes.
Athrun Zala, in the Aegis Gundam, retreated as soon as the collapse began.
Amid the drifting debris, the Strike Gundam remained motionless, ignoring Natarle Badgiruel's repeated hails. Kira sat breathing hard, staring in horror at the image of the shattered satellite on his display.
Seeing this, Tolle sighed inwardly.
(Sigh… finally survived. My first time in space, and I run into a collapsing satellite. Too terrifying. War really is brutal. I'm still not strong enough—couldn't change this tragedy. And the next plot arc is even more dangerous than this… I hope things go smoothly.)
Not long after, Kira spotted a powerless escape pod drifting among the debris, its alarm light flashing.
He moved the Strike Gundam forward, retrieved the pod, and brought it back to the Archangel.
When the hatch opened, Kira saw Flay among the rescued, floating out.
He quickly moved to steady her, blushing as he looked at her.
At that moment, Tolle Koenig heard the system's voice in his head:
"Host, the artifact's energy is now full. You can cross over again at any time."
"System, hold on a sec. I'll find somewhere private before crossing."
"Understood, Host."
Taking the chance to slip away, Tolle went to a restroom stall, locked the door, and began his second crossing.
His vision went dark, then brightened again—he was already in another world.
Looking up, Tolle found himself inside a cylindrical-type satellite.
One glance told him it was a Gundam world—only Gundam had such standardized satellite designs.
"Nami, have the neo DG cells simulate micro-bugs, spread out, and scan this satellite for specific information: the current date and the personnel roster."
"Understood, Master."
After Nami's scan, the satellite was identified as Side 7, dated late June, UC 0079.
The personnel list included the name Amuro Ray. No doubt about it—this was Gundam 0079.
There were just over three months until the plot began.
Tolle Koenig sighed. "What bad timing… I'll only be here right as the story starts.
By late October I'll have to return—won't even make it to the December 31st end of the One Year War."
"Host, world confirmed: Gundam UC timeline, year UC 0079. Permissions upgraded.
Crossover days increased by 30; next crossover duration: 150 days.
Current rank: Private Second Class. Storage space doubled to a maximum of 200×200×200 meters; partitioned space expanded proportionally."
Tolle sighed inwardly at the system.
"System, I just left a satellite in SEED, and now I'm in a satellite in Gundam 0079.
I barely got through one Gundam theft battle, and now I have to go through another.
This anime is so old I can't even remember exactly when in September Char shows up for that failed Gundam heist."
"Host, crossover destinations are completely random. It's all luck—nothing to do with the system."