Chapter 201: Descent Operation 1
And Virgo II still used Leo's parts—whether the land-combat type or the space type—which greatly reduced resource waste.
Its piloting system was optimized, reducing the acceleration shock on the pilot's body.
They removed Virgo's original beam cannon similar to Vayeate's and instead equipped each shoulder with four reflector magnetic drums. In addition, like the land-combat Leo, it retained shoulder beam cannons, and two weakened thruster units similar to those on the Tallgeese were mounted on the back.
Thus was born an MS focused on defense—the final result. Although its performance was slightly inferior to the original Virgo I in some respects,
it had the advantage of simple operation, and all existing Leo models could be converted into Virgo II units.
At the same time, after dismantling and studying the Virgo they had seized from the Moon base using the colony satellite, the Romefeller Foundation also imitated and produced their own Virgo.
However, constrained by the limited resources of the colony satellite, they could not carry out large-scale, mass production.
With no other options, they turned their sights toward Earth. In the end, they sent numerous shuttles carrying unmanned Taurus drones and Virgo units into Earth orbit on the far side of the Moon.
But Lady still discovered their scheme and ordered the Barge Fortress to remain on standby in a nearby orbital position.
A radar operator aboard Barge Fortress reported to Lady: "Lieutenant Colonel Lady, over sixty MS-exclusive HLV shuttles have appeared in Earth orbit. There are also numerous MS signatures nearby—it's Virgo."
Lady pushed up her glasses and said to Tolle beside her, "Looks like the Romefeller Foundation just can't hold back. Even at a time like this, they're still determined to launch a descent operation on Earth."
Lady glanced at the heat signatures on the main monitor and continued, "With such a small force, it seems about two-thirds less than their original plan.
Could they be trying to gamble everything on seizing a single continent and rebuilding a Mobile Doll manufacturing plant there?"
Tolle looked at the scene and, realizing he didn't have much narrative advantage, could only nod in agreement:
"Yeah, looks that way. After all, the colony satellite's resources are limited. If they want to keep mass-producing units, they'll have to rely on Earth's resources."
Lady smirked and said playfully, "Then why didn't they come to seize the Moon base? I was all ready for them to attack again. But they never came—could it be they were scared off by you last time?"
Tolle thought she might be right. After all, last time they had unleashed repeated large-scale attacks, firing so many high-powered destructive beam cannons—and with the Barge base nearby, they might indeed have been too afraid to come again.
"Lady, I have a feeling the enemy commander's strategic ability isn't any worse than yours. Ever since the Virgo wreckage incident, it seems they've been planning this all along.
I don't think this interception will go smoothly. We'd better prepare for both the best and worst outcomes.
Contact Treize. We'll deploy part of the Virgo IIs near OZ headquarters on Earth.
Also bring the Leo modification blueprints so they can start conversions there.
We'll use the modified Virgo IIs to defend OZ's Earth bases—otherwise, the ground forces might not be able to handle the Romefeller Foundation's Mobile Dolls."
Lady nodded and said, "Don't worry, I'll get everything ready. There are still plenty of MS descent shuttles at the Moon base; they'll come in handy. What about you? Are you planning to go to Earth too?"
"Yeah, that's the plan.
But if too many unmanned Mobile Dolls start descending, I'll have to make an emergency landing and take down as many as I can."
At that moment, the radar operator reported to Lady and Tolle, "Lieutenant Colonel Lady, Lieutenant Colonel Darks, we've reached the vicinity of the designated area.
The target ahead is within two hundred seconds of the Barge Fortress main beam cannon's firing range."
"Lady, I'm heading to the hangar to get ready. Once the distance is right, fire the beam cannon directly.
If the enemy is launching such a large-scale descent operation, they must have already cracked the Virgo design and produced a large number of them.
If the main cannon fires too late, it might not be able to break through their electromagnetic shields. We can't hesitate—otherwise…"
Before Tolle could finish, the radar operator interrupted, "Enemy forces may have discovered us—they're beginning their descent sequence. The shuttles are already entering the atmosphere!"
Lady exclaimed, "What? So soon?"
Tolle immediately cut her off and shouted to the gunnery crew, "No more waiting—fire the beam cannon! Hit as many as we can! I'm heading out!"
He dashed toward the hangar, and a thick beam shot erupted from the Barge Fortress.
Unfortunately, the distance was too great; most targets were out of range, and only a few HLV shuttles were destroyed.
However, numerous Virgo IIs began launching one after another from Barge's hangars, rapidly heading into battle.
Tolle piloted the newly remodeled Tallgeese Wing Zero—Nami—and blasted out of the hangar at high speed. This remodel integrated all his current technology into the machine.
In truth, after the second remodel, the unit was essentially the Gundam Snow White Prelude disguised as a Tallgeese.
As the Tallgeese Wing Zero reached the upper edge of Earth's orbit, the Romefeller Foundation, already prepared, deployed many Virgo units to protect the shuttles carrying Mobile Dolls.
Tolle raised the Tallgeese Wing Zero's Buster Rifle and fired at full power toward the shuttles.
One Virgo immediately deployed its reflector magnetic drums, forming multiple electromagnetic shields that layered together to block the Buster Rifle's blast.
But Tolle wasn't having it—he fired again and again, breaking their reflector magnetic drums to see what they would use to defend themselves next.
The Tallgeese Wing Zero raised its Buster Rifle once more, unleashing continuous destructive fire and sweeping across the area, testing how long they could maintain their defense.
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Virgo II (Imitation)
B-Class Unit
Terrain Adaptation:
Space-type Leo Modification: Sea–Land–Air–Space A
Land-type Leo Modification: Sea C / Land A / Air B / Space –
Fixed Weapons: Beam Rifle ×2; Beam Saber ×2; Shoulder Beam Cannon ×2
Special Equipment: Reflector Magnetic Drum ×8