"Can he really do it?"
Among the Coordinators on the bridge whose faces had turned as pale as paper, someone voiced this question.
Using Vulcan Cannons for directional thrust while precisely coordinating with the Moebius' thrusters - such delicate maneuvers?
This wasn't something that could be easily accomplished just by talking about it. Even for people like them... no, even for ZAFT Forces' elite Red Jackets, performing such feats would likely be extremely difficult.
In fact, many were privately wondering - could even their own ace Red Jacket pilots manage this? Even Captain Kruze might not be able to execute such inhuman maneuvers within split-second timing!
"This isn't the time to debate whether the enemy can do it or not!"
Seeing his entire bridge crew utterly stunned by the enemy pilot's skills, the captain urgently snapped them back to reality. Now wasn't the time to discuss how the enemy had accomplished this.
Outside, that damned evil Natural's Moebius was about to ram right up their battleship's rear!
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
But the captain's reaction came too late. By the time the bridge crew scrambled back to their stations...
Wang Hu piloted the Moebius at speeds too fast for the battleship's anti-air guns to track, closing in dangerously close to the Laurasia-class battleship's rear thrusters.
In the brief moment before pulling up from his steep dive, Wang Hu unleashed a furious barrage against the ship's vulnerable rear thruster area.
"Tch!" Clicking his tongue as he broke through the enemy's defensive fire, Wang Hu observed the smoking rear of the enemy ship, dissatisfied with his attack.
Mainly because the ship's designers clearly understood the rear thrusters were a critical weakness - the armor plating there was among the thickest on the ship, second only to the bridge and bow sections.
The 40mm machine guns of the Moebius, plus the additional Vulcan Cannons he'd installed...
"Better than nothing, I suppose. If not for my skills... well, Amuro's exceptional skills, that is," Wang Hu muttered.
Watching the spreading flames, the Coordinator's Laurasia-class ship had already shut down its thrusters and cut power to prevent the engine explosion from triggering a catastrophic chain reaction. Now it drifted forward on momentum alone.
"The Moebius' limits, huh?"
Shaking his head, Wang Hu thought that if he'd carried four wire-guided missiles, his debut combat record could have included an enemy warship.
"But with missiles, I wouldn't have been able to execute the atmospheric combat maneuvers I copied from that fighter jet."
Not dwelling on regrets, the pragmatic Wang Hu chose to withdraw while ahead. The current results were sufficient - with its propulsion disabled, the enemy ship's priority now was damage control to contain the burning thrusters.
Next, if they were lucky enough not to be sunk by the Allied warships during the repairs, their choice would still be to retreat rather than stubbornly holding their ground.
Otherwise, with an enemy warship stranded here without power, once the news got back—
"Heh heh, the generals at Nova Resource Satellite Command would be more than happy to send additional forces."
"They'd love to vent their anger on this warship, a tiger fallen prey to dogs."
After one last glance at the enemy ship, which was undoubtedly scrambling to minimize losses, Wang Hu swiftly retreated toward his own warship.
"Hmm, the worst-case scenario is that because of this ship, both sides will reinforce this area."
"A small-scale skirmish could escalate into a full-scale decisive battle, becoming the prelude to ending this war."
Mulling over various possibilities, Wang Hu calculated how to secure the greatest military merit from the situation.
"Captain, the enemy Moebius is retreating!"
As Wang Hu made his way back, the radar officer on the Coordinator warship's bridge shouted in relief.
"Retreating?"
Another Coordinator soldier also let out a sigh of relief, his pale face regaining some color now that the enemy was gone.
Immediately, he spoke up in a tone laced with disdain and bravado.
"Hmph, typical foolish Natural. If it were one of our brave Coordinator warriors, they would've pressed the advantage by now."
"They'd never run away like that Natural!"
The soldier had expected his words to be met with enthusiastic agreement, or at least some support from those around him.
But he had completely forgotten—if Wang Hu hadn't retreated, none of them would even have a chance at survival.
So why would anyone else be in the mood to humor him?
Idiot. If that Natural hadn't left, wouldn't we all be dead by now?
The others on the bridge shot subtle, disapproving glances at the officer who had spoken.
How did we never notice how stupid you were before? You're so dumb you don't even seem like a Coordinator—are you actually a Natural in disguise?
"Enough." The captain sensed the tense atmosphere on the bridge and barked sharply.
Then, glaring at the subordinate who still hadn't realized his blunder, he turned his attention to the massive screen overhead.
"Do you really think that Natural was afraid? Open your eyes and look carefully."
"Look at the information on the screen. You're soldiers—don't you have even the most basic awareness?"
"Huh?" The captain's words made many officers feel a sudden pang of shame.
Especially the one who had made the inappropriate remark—his face flushed red and pale as he turned to the screen.
"What's that?" When the officers finally saw the screen clearly, they gasped in shock.
"Three GINNs have returned?"
It turned out that of the six GINNs originally dispatched from the warship, due to Mitt's death, their leader Tyler had led two subordinates.
After failing to find Wang Hu's trail at the site of Mitt's demise, they thought of their mothership.
Suspecting that it might be under attack by the Moebius piloted by a Natural, they were now belatedly rushing back.
"Terrifying… absolutely terrifying."
Having clearly seen everything and pieced together the sequence of events, the Coordinator officers on the bridge felt an unusual sensation toward the Natural piloting the Moebius.
"Even this was anticipated? That's downright terrifying."
The captain watched his subordinates, some of whom had turned pale, and felt a twinge of regret.
He had only intended to make his crew take the enemy seriously, but perhaps they had taken it too far?
"Contact Captain Tyler and the returning reinforcements. Relay the intel and emphasize that they must shoot down that enemy Moebius."
"We absolutely cannot let such a genius Natural pilot return alive."
Clenching his fist, the captain spoke with resolute determination.
"Yes, sir!" the bridge communications officer bellowed, swiftly establishing contact with the returning Captain Tyler.
Then, unable to suppress his concern, he asked, "What about the remaining GINNs? Should they continue attacking the Allied interception fleet?"
"Hmm..." After a moment of contemplation, the captain replied hoarsely, "Recall them as well."
For various considerations, the captain had already decided to retreat as soon as the thrusters were minimally repaired, prioritizing safety.
"Understood." The communications officer hesitated but understood his captain's concerns. He glared fiercely at the blip representing the Moebius on the screen—and the three GINNs about to intercept it.
"Don't get cocky, Natural! Captain Tyler will show you the might of Coordinators!"
(End of Chapter)