"Indeed, there will be no delay."
Felix thought to himself upon hearing this.
Looking at Creuset, Felix issued an order.
"Creuset, deploy your unit! Launch an attack against the Earth Alliance Forces ahead."
"Captain Griffith, won't you be joining the fight?"
Creuset looked directly at Felix and said with a smile.
Seeing the insincere smile on Creuset's face, Felix replied calmly.
"Subordinates need training too. Your unit has many new recruits who require more battlefield experience. Therefore, I'm entrusting this offensive mission to you, while I provide support from the rear."
"Understood!"
Creuset didn't press further after hearing this.
After ending the communication with Felix, he turned and ordered the communications officer.
"Order Athrun and the others to deploy!"
"Yes, sir."
The communications officer looked up at Creuset and acknowledged.
A minute or two later, Felix watched through the screen as Creuset's Mobile Suit Unit deployed.
"Are those the MS secretly built by the Earth Alliance at the Orb Colony Satellite?"
Aric remarked curiously, looking at the four Mobile Suits: Aegis, Duel, Buster, and Blitz.
Glancing at Aric, Felix issued an order.
"Deploy the Mobile Suit Unit!"
"Captain, will you be deploying as well?"
Aric asked Felix upon hearing this.
Felix stood up, straightened his military uniform slightly, and said with a smile.
"I will deploy." Then he continued, "However, the main combat will be handled by Creuset's team. We'll provide support from the rear, and that includes me."
After saying this, Felix turned and walked out of the bridge.
A minute later, Dawn launched from the Athena with the new Guuru.
Following behind Felix were the members of the Griffith Team.
"Captain, are we really not going to participate directly in the attack?"
Heine's voice came through the comms.
Hearing Heine's question, Felix smiled and replied.
"The enemy's numbers are small this time, and the intensity of the battle isn't high. It's not necessary for both units to engage, so it's perfect for the newcomers to gain experience. We'll monitor the battlefield from the rear and provide long-range fire support if needed."
While responding to Heine, Felix was actually thinking something else entirely.
If we quickly crush the Eighth Fleet advance team, how will we draw out the Archangel?
"Understood."
After this brief reply, Heine asked no more.
Sitting in the CGUE cockpit, he piloted the CGUE and followed obediently behind Felix's Dawn.
Meanwhile, aboard the flagship of the Eighth Fleet advance team...
"Sir, detecting new thermal signatures!"
A soldier, looking at the feedback on the screen, turned to report to Commander Koopman.
Hearing this, Koopman's expression turned serious as he issued the order.
"Engage!"
"Yes, sir!"
The soldier replied in a resounding voice.
Koopman turned to George Allster beside him, his tone grave.
"Mr. Allster, the situation is critical. I'll arrange for someone to escort you away from here."
"No need!"
Allster shook his head in refusal.
Meeting Koopman's gaze, he continued, "With the current emergency, all resources should be directed toward combating the enemy—not wasted on evacuating me."
"Very well."
Seeing Allster's firm stance, Koopman dropped the matter and resumed directing troops on the frontlines.
In space, the Mobius units deployed by the Eighth Fleet's advance force officially engaged Creuset's team!
On the battlefield, the Aegis Gundam—piloted by Athrun—evaded missiles fired by a Mobius and squeezed the trigger.
The Aegis's beam rifle fired.
A beam shot from the barrel, instantly piercing through the Mobius.
An explosion erupted moments later.
After the shot, the Aegis transformed into Mobile Armor mode and maneuvered toward the front-left.
Moving at high speed, it dodged incoming attacks while extending a beam saber from its front, charging straight toward another Mobius.
The searing beam saber melted through the Mobius's armor, and the high-speed impact tore the unit into several pieces.
"Yzak, one Mobius, yellow, Alpha!"
Athrun reported over comms while observing the battlefield.
Yzak's displeased voice crackled in response.
"I don't need your reminders!"
Even as he spoke, Yzak maneuvered the Duel Gundam into a sidestep, precisely shooting down the targeted Mobius.
After firing, the Duel Gundam dodged right and fired its beam rifle again.
Another beam pierced through a Mobius.
At the distant edge of the battlefield—
"Captain, are you sure these are rookies?"
Heine watched the combat performance of the Aegis, Duel, Blitz, and Buster Gundams with astonishment, directing his skepticism toward Felix.
Felix chuckled.
"They're rookies compared to us—just unusually strong ones."
"Strong indeed," Heine nodded in agreement, then added, "But they're already outperforming most ZAFT Mobile Suit Pilots."
Felix smiled without replying, his eyes fixed on the battle ahead as he thought:
The Archangel should be appearing soon.
"Captain, detecting a large heat signature."
Aric's report came through the comms.
Hearing this, Felix's smile widened.
"Understood."
After his brief reply, Felix remained inactive, continuing to observe like a spectator.
Inside the Moebius Zero cockpit, Mu zoomed in on a designated target through his screen and spotted the Dawn. A bitter smile crossed his face as he muttered in dismay,
"You've got to be kidding me?"
"Mr. Mu, what's wrong?"
Kira's inquiry came over the comms.
Mu responded,
"ZAFT's most elite forces are here. That white MS is the one known as the Sword of Damocles!"
Hearing this, Kira's face turned pale, drained of all color.
What do we do now?
Despair crept into Kira's heart as he questioned himself.
Aboard the Archangel, both Murrue and Badgiruel spotted the Dawn. Their expressions turned grave and solemn as they watched it, a trace of despair spreading across their faces.
"Aren't they supposed to be fighting on Earth?"
Murrue clenched her fists, murmuring the question to herself.
Hearing Murrue's words, Badgiruel spoke sharply.
"Murrue, you are the Captain!"
The brief reminder snapped Murrue out of her helpless despair. Gazing ahead, she gave the order.
"Engage!"
"Yes!"
Badgiruel acknowledged and, observing the situation displayed on the forward screen, directed the fire control department into action.
Two High-energy convergence fire cannons fired.
The beams shot straight toward the Griffith Team's position.
"Evade!"
Felix issued the command, maneuvering the Dawn to dodge the attack.
While avoiding the assault, he turned to face the Archangel's direction. Looking at the ship before him, he chuckled.
"Not letting us watch the show?" he said, then shifted his tone. "Fine, we won't watch then."