On the calm sea, the Archangel, its outer armor temporarily patched with steel plates of various colors differing from its original coating, sailed quietly, just as it had when heading to the Alaska base before.
Unlike that time, however, fifteen Earth Alliance warships were now eyeing the Archangel warily and gradually closing in.
"So this is the rebel Archangel…"
The commander of this combined fleet gazed at the warship before him and muttered in admiration, "I had heard rumors before, but to continue sailing despite such heavy damage… truly a ship that will not sink."
When he picked up the nearby microphone, intending to broadcast a call for surrender, he saw the Archangel's launch deck open.
"I haven't even started the surrender broadcast… and yet it's so resolute?"
The commander realized the Archangel's intention, shrugged, and placed the microphone back.
"Even if it surrenders willingly, it will ultimately be dragged to a military tribunal and executed for treason or something like that."
At this point, a deputy spoke up, "By the way, Captain, your will is already written, right?"
"Written long ago. After all, this time we are dealing with a Unicorn capable of destroying Torrington Harbor single-handedly." The commander adjusted his hat and cleared his throat.
"Battle begins. Everyone… try your best to survive."
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Emerging from the dark launch track, Roz was momentarily captivated by the peaceful sea, distant islands, and the brilliant sunlight reflecting off the waves.
"They've surrounded us…"
Then, seeing fifteen Earth Alliance warships gradually closing in on the sea, Roz narrowed his eyes.
"Then, let's make some noise."
Checking the beam magnum's ammo status, Roz refocused on the Earth Alliance ships opening their hangars to launch Daggers. "The longer we fight them, the safer everyone else will be."
The beam magnum was extremely powerful but charged slowly. At this moment, it contained only a single magazine of five rounds. Thanks to Roz's modification using the direct-link mode, he could greatly reduce the firing frequency to conserve energy and maintain endurance.
"Here they come!"
Roz watched the Daggers gliding through the air using their thruster packs, and raised the Unicorn's beam magnum.
At the same time, a large number of missiles were launched from the Earth Alliance warships, streaking through the sky toward the Unicorn.
The Archangel unleashed all its remaining armaments. The surviving ammo formed a powerful curtain of fire, shooting down many of the incoming missiles.
Unfortunately, several anti-air turrets had been destroyed, and a few missiles penetrated gaps in the fire curtain, striking the Archangel's armor.
The temporarily patched armor was shattered again, internal fires erupted, and black smoke rose.
Despite the Archangel appearing battered and barely holding together, the combined fleet commander sensed something off, though he couldn't put his finger on it.
Suddenly, a thick red beam streaked across the calm sea. The intense heat vaporized the water, with swaying air currents shimmering in the air.
The target of the beam: the armor of an Earth Alliance warship, instantly pierced. Before the ship could even respond, a subsequent purple high-energy current shredded it into irregular debris, which began sinking.
Several Daggers brushing past the beam were also severed mid-air by the purple high-energy current and exploded.
Seeing the carnage, everyone felt fear but no surprise, as the battle records provided by the Kingdom of Foundation had already described the beam magnum's power in detail.
"MS units, scatter. Don't give the enemy a chance to destroy multiple MS at once. Warships one through five continue to attack the Unicorn; the rest deal with the rebel Archangel."
Witnessing the devastation caused by just one beam magnum shot, the combined fleet commander clenched his fists.
"Emergency shot… this MS truly is a monster."
The Unicorn continuously adjusted its position in the air with thrusters, weaving between the Daggers' beams, occasionally blasting the fragile armor of the Daggers with its head-mounted Vulkan Cannon.
Compared to the Strike Gundam's excellent physical armor — even without PS armor active — the Dagger, as a mass-produced Earth Alliance unit, had thinner armor for cost reasons and appeared fragile against the Unicorn's head cannon.
Listening to the missile-lock alarms echoing in the cockpit, Roz pressed the pedal, bringing the Unicorn closer to the sea.
Many missiles lost lock due to the Unicorn's sudden acceleration, veering off in other directions. The remaining missiles hit the water, creating splashes.
Roz raised the beam magnum again and aimed at another warship.
He pulled the trigger. The thick beam blasted out, pushing the seawater aside like Moses parting the sea.
The high-temperature beam, carrying immense kinetic force, struck the center of the ship's side armor. The steel twisted and tore, the munitions stored inside detonated, ripping open gaping wounds, and the ship — cut in two — was further shredded by the explosions.
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"Archangel rolling 15 degrees to port, Gottfried, fire at the 3 o'clock target!"
"All remaining Helldarts loaded, lock all onto those Daggers!"
In one of the cargo holds of the super freighter, Murrue and Natarle were relying on the information displayed on the screens, continuously issuing commands through their headsets.
Originally, they were still puzzled about how two people could operate the warship, when a voice claiming to be "Big Haro," with a distinctly mechanical tone, joined the communications channel.
If it weren't for this so-called "Big Haro" claiming to be Roz's support and providing proof, Murrue probably would have disconnected immediately.
But it had to be said—the efficiency with which Big Haro controlled the warship was terrifying. Under its control, the Archangel moved like a remote-controlled toy.
"The remaining ammunition is almost depleted. Archangel is nearing its limit."
Big Haro's voice came through the comms.
The external cameras on the screen also showed Murrue and Natarle's commands being executed swiftly. The remaining Helldarts were ready again, launching toward the Daggers in the sky.
The Archangel quickly completed a turn. Tilting to the side, the two Gottfrieds fired at an Earth Alliance warship, piercing its ammunition storage with precision. The resulting detonation split the warship in two.
However, while one warship had been destroyed, the remaining eight warships' assault caused the Archangel's hull status indicators to turn red across the board.
Earlier, due to the ship's tilt, several missiles bypassed the anti-air curtain and struck the two Gottfrieds. Now, the Archangel had no other means of attack.
Although the Archangel-class was one of the Earth Alliance's newest warships, considering the extensive pre-existing damage and being attacked by nine warships, it was remarkable that it had lasted this long.
"Give the order, Murrue."
Natarle rose from her seat, adjusting the uniform she had not yet changed out of.
"…It's time to say goodbye."
"It seems… there's no other way."
Looking at the Archangel's data on the screen, Murrue sighed. "Activate the bombs. Archangel, target the warship at 1 o'clock and accelerate for a collision."
"Please contact Roz, tell him to retreat."
Murrue and Natarle looked at the screen, at the Archangel's hull status flashing red, and together saluted the Archangel.
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On the distant battlefield, the heavily damaged and defenseless Archangel, under Big Haro's control, roared its thrusters, flames from the engines pushing aside the sea at its stern.
The Archangel, moving at high speed, charged toward the target warship. Bombs installed inside the ship began to activate one after another, red lights flashing in a certain rhythm.
"Roz, it's time to retreat."
Big Haro's voice came through the comms.
Roz also saw it now—the Archangel, marked on the cockpit's display, was shrouded in thick smoke, its damaged sections glowing brightly, rushing toward an Earth Alliance warship.
"At least… let me see it through."
Roz sighed and pressed the trigger toward an Earth Alliance warship.
The beam cut through the warship again, slicing the Earth Alliance's steel giant into a heap of sinking scrap metal.
At this moment, a Dagger somehow blocked Unicorn's path, reaching out and grabbing Unicorn's shield.
It seemed that due to Unicorn's speed, the impact alone forced the Dagger to struggle. Just holding on to avoid being thrown off, the Dagger's frame already let out a metallic cry under the strain.
With both hands barely stabilizing the mobile suit, drawing the beam saber was clearly impossible. The Dagger's pilot could only futilely operate the suit, attempting to kick at Unicorn.
Feeling the vibrations from the mobile suit, Roz glanced at the Dagger clinging to the shield and pressed the pedal a little harder.
The sudden surge of thrust broke the fragile balance of the Dagger. Its hands, overloaded, twisted under the force, and the mobile suit was flung behind Unicorn, plunging into the sea.
Roz casually tossed aside the two severed arms still clinging to the shield and looked toward the Archangel's fate.
The Archangel collided precisely with an Earth Alliance warship. Its two protruding frontal structures dug deep into the ship's hull.
The internal bombs activated, causing explosions from inside out. Armor and parts of the structure scattered like shrapnel from a grenade. The immense force tore two gaping holes into the Earth Alliance warship.
The huge breaches, combined with the weight of Archangel's wreckage, left the Earth Alliance ship helpless as water poured in, and it began to sink rapidly.
"…Hah, farewell, Archangel."
Roz's expression was complex, like bidding farewell to a long-time companion.
He committed the image of the Archangel sinking to memory, resolutely turned Unicorn around, and pushed the throttle to maximum.
Now was not the time for sorrow. For the sake of those still alive, he could not stop moving.
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Unicorn circled around the Earth Alliance fleet.
Although the Earth Alliance warships still prioritized capturing Unicorn, trailing far behind, they hesitated when they saw Unicorn entering an area of extremely strong N-jamming.
After all, in modern warfare, information is life. The center of N-jamming could essentially cut off this fleet's ability to transmit information. Anyone entering such an area would have to think twice.
What Roz wanted was exactly the time gained while they were blocked by the N-jamming.
Following the planned route, Unicorn calmly exited the N-jamming zone.
Not far away, a heavily loaded supercargo ship was quietly moving along the freight route.
Seeing Unicorn's approach, the supercargo ship opened the camouflaged doors at its stern. Two support frames extended from the cargo hold, ready to dock with Unicorn.
Roz pressed buttons on the control stick, while constantly fine-tuning the pedals with his feet.
Facing the open sea, Unicorn slowed down, steadily approaching the support frames at the supercargo ship's stern.
Roz monitored the data displayed in the cockpit and used the maneuvering thrusters to adjust Unicorn's position. Finally, Unicorn was securely fixed by the frames, and its thrusters ceased operation.
Although the two support frames looked somewhat delicate, they could firmly hold Unicorn and quickly retract it back into the cargo hold.
Roz didn't know what materials that guy Lowe had used.
His mind wandered, and his body relaxed.
At this moment, he also saw that, surrounded by a cluster of equipment, Strike Gundam, like Unicorn, faced the sea and lay quietly to the side.
With Unicorn fully stowed, the stern doors closed. The supercargo ship continued along its route as if nothing had happened.
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