Chapter 74: SEED – Landing Operation III
The battlefield of the Eighth Fleet was already completely dominated by the three Gundams: Aegis, Blitz, and Duel.
The Aegis Gundam kept firing its anti-armor shotgun and ultra-high pulse long-range sniper rifle, sweeping across wide areas.
The Blitz Gundam transformed into its MA form and launched attacks on the fleet with its twin-phase energy cannon—most shots piercing through several warships at once.
The corpse-equipped Duel Gundam was less effective against battleships, but it had already destroyed a large number of the Moebius fighters escorting them.
The battle between ZAFT's forces and the Earth Alliance's Eighth Fleet looked like an adult bullying three- or four-year-old children—effortless and one-sided.
Inside the Archangel's hangar, the broadcast announced:
"Duel Gundam, Aegis Gundam, breakthrough the front line formation—Minerva-class ship is now engaged!"
The warships of the Eighth Fleet were still struggling desperately. By a stroke of luck, their artillery fire managed to destroy one Ginn.
But misfortune far outweighed fortune—the three Gundams continued blasting apart their ships one after another, and their comrades kept falling in sacrifice.
In the Archangel's hangar, Kira Yamato could no longer hold back. He shouted loudly at Mu La Flaga: "Lieutenant Flaga!"
Mu La Flaga responded, "I know—I'll contact the captain immediately."
He then called out to Murrue Ramius: "Captain! The enemy machines are already on top of us. If we don't launch, both we and the Eighth Fleet are finished! Let us sortie! How many minutes until Archangel reaches atmospheric entry point?"
Murrue Ramius retorted: "What nonsense are you talking about? 'We'? Who else is there?"
At that moment, Kira Yamato's voice came through the Strike Gundam's communicator to Murrue Ramius: "The manual says the Strike Gundam can descend into the atmosphere alone."
Murrue Ramius, startled to see Kira still aboard the Archangel, exclaimed: "Kira? You're still here?"
Ignoring her question, Kira continued on his own: "If this goes on, the Minerva-class ship will be in too much danger, Captain!"
Natarle Badgiruel, seeing Murrue's silence, cut in and said firmly to Kira: "Understood. But you must return before third stage re-entry. Even if the manual says so, no one's ever attempted it before. No one knows what will happen inside the unit—you must watch both temperature and time closely."
Murrue Ramius rose angrily to her feet and shouted: "Ensign Badgiruel!"
But Natarle glared back at her, raising her voice: "If this ship goes down here, then the Eighth Fleet's sacrifice will all be in vain!"
As yet another of the Eighth Fleet's warships sank, the two stopped their argument.
At that moment, the Strike Gundam and a Zero-type Moebius finally launched from the Archangel's hangar, ready to join the war.
However, Earth's gravity exerted tremendous pull on the two units as they left the ship, dragging at the Strike Gundam and Zero Moebius.
The two pilots struggled against the pull and forced their way into the Eighth Fleet's battle zone.
Tolle Koenig looked at the utterly one-sided battle, and seeing the Archangel already in position for descent, while the Strike Gundam had also entered the battlefield, he murmured to himself: "Looks like it's about time for me to appear. If I let them keep fighting, it'll end up the same as before."
He then spoke to Nami: "Nami, I'm going to seize that orange Ginn. Get things ready for me. In a moment, I'll attack the propulsion engines of those three warships. You make sure they all break down and can't move. And when the Strike Gundam begins its atmospheric descent, its fall trajectory will depend on you—just make sure his life is safe. But it must land in Africa, far from any ZAFT military bases near the desert. If Strike Gundam's descent target is already close enough, then no need to adjust."
"Yes, Master. Just watch—Nami will see it done."
Tolle Koenig's clothing instantly transformed into a mobile armored suit, its appearance similar to a Kamen Rider.
He immediately activated the Mirage system, rendering his body transparent and invisible.
Nami opened the rest room door, and Tolle Koenig dashed out, slipping through several hatches until he reached the orange-colored Ginn.
The cockpit hatch suddenly opened, and he leapt in at once; the hatch closed immediately behind him.
Nearby ZAFT crew members saw nothing enter and assumed nothing unusual. They approached to inspect, thinking the unit had malfunctioned again.
But before they got close, the Ginn suddenly moved by itself.
Startled and afraid, the crewman turned and ran back to the engine room, reporting to the bridge: "Bad news, Captain—the ghost of Miguel has returned!"
The captain of the Laurasia-class ship scolded angrily: "What nonsense! Don't make a fuss. Keep talking nonsense and I'll throw you in the brig."
"No, Captain! Miguel's personal Ginn—it suddenly moved on its own… it looks like it's preparing to sortie—"
Before he finished, Tolle Koenig, inside the Ginn, raised its beam rifle and fired several shots into the launch bay.
The Laurasia-class MS launch port exploded open with a gaping hole, and Tolle Koenig accelerated the Ginn, blasting his way out.
The Laurasia's captain stared in shock, then shouted frantically: "Check on that Earth Alliance volunteer soldier—see if he's still there!"
But the rest room was already empty—no trace left behind.
The captain roared in fury: "Shoot that Ginn down at once! Destroy it at all costs!"
Just as Tolle Koenig cleared the warship, Nami's warning reached him—the ship's main cannons were locked on his Ginn.
Without hesitation, Tolle Koenig soared higher and fired his beam rifle at the Laurasia's two main guns.
They exploded instantly. He then aimed several shots at the propulsion engines—leaving the Laurasia-class ship powerless to resist.
Not stopping there, Tolle Koenig piloted the Ginn to attack two more nearby warships.
With the beam rifle in his right hand, a heavy machine gun in his left, and missiles mounted on his legs, he targeted their main cannons and engines—then unleashed a full barrage.
In an instant, the Nazca-class and another Laurasia-class ship erupted in explosions. The warships sank into silence, unable to move.
Tolle Koenig admired his handiwork with satisfaction. The three ships looked heavily damaged on the surface, but in truth the problems were not fatal.
They were mostly system malfunctions—ZAFT would need half a day to repair them, by which time the battle should be over.
For the Eighth Fleet, though, it was already a huge relief.
After all, these warships would become his property in the future—he couldn't afford to wastefully destroy them too badly.
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