[So he finally gets it]
[Once the thought of surrender takes hold, suddenly the whole world opens up]
[Easy, easy. Stop right there]
[Athrun is a character who actually thinks. I like that]
[Inori is basically an interrogation-type AI. Cagalli, Flay, and Athrun have all been grilled by her]
[More like a personality-correction AI. Too bad Cagalli and Athrun got corrected, while Flay just exploded]
[If Inori were still on the Archangel right now, you think Flay would even get the chance to blow up like this?]
[But you can't just ignore what's happening over here either]
[Athrun may be the enemy, but I find his characterization more likable]
[A character who can think independently is never going to be unpopular]
[So are we supposed to side with the Earth Alliance or ZAFT?]
[Neither]
[Huh?]
[You can't ignore where one side came from just because of where the other side came from]
[Grass (a type of exclamation), you can turn even this into a formula?]
[Huh? That's it?]
[Gaia!]
[Godzilla!]
[See you in seven years!]
The episode's cliffhanger ended right in the middle of Athrun's thoughts. The viewers were still immersed in thinking and arguing, so much so that they barely noticed the episode was already ending.
But in the very next instant, the new episode began.
A fresh wave of danmaku started flooding the screen.
This time, however, the camera was no longer on Inori's side. It had shifted back to the Archangel.
Seeing Athrun sitting there lost in thought, Inori worried he might get bored and simply sent him five E-books. For a Coordinator, reading them for entertainment was not a bad way to pass the time.
Inori herself kept track of developments aboard the Archangel at all times through the Fyu-Neru and the Stage's cameras.
Lacus held Kira in her arms. She did not offer any words of comfort, simply letting Kira quietly feel the warmth of her embrace.
Elsewhere, Miriallia had finished bandaging Flay's arm.
Miriallia likewise did not ask what had happened.
"Damn it… I can't… scrub it clean…"
Flay murmured, her eyes vacant.
What exactly was wrong with her?
Did she truly just despise people who had been artificially modified, or was there jealousy mixed in as well?
She was finding it harder and harder to understand what she was even thinking anymore.
But…
It did not matter anymore.
Once she saw Dad and left this place with him, she would never have to see that person again.
She had nothing left aboard the Archangel now.
Friendship, love…
She could not fit into Sai and Kuzzey's little group. She got along reasonably well with Miriallia, but Miriallia had her own boyfriend.
They all had lives of their own.
She alone had nothing.
Her relationship with Sai would probably end here as well.
But that was fine. She still had her father. She still had Dad.
Leave this place and never see them again.
Then there would be no problem at all…
Yes. No problem at all…
"Milly."
"Mm, I'm here."
"Let's go eat."
It was dinner time. She should get something to eat and regain some strength.
Miriallia breathed a sigh of relief as well.
Flay looked like she should be all right now.
The two of them went to the cafeteria together.
"—?!"
At that moment, however, Miriallia froze.
Kira and Lacus were there too.
She had no idea why Lacus had left her room again, but this situation was looking rather bad.
Miriallia glanced at Flay beside her, but Flay did not erupt like she had before.
She remained silent, her expression awful, but said nothing.
"Kira, come to my room!"
Lacus put two meals on her tray, then took Kira by the hand.
The girl might have been innocent, but girls her age could be extremely sensitive when it came to emotions.
So after smiling at Miriallia and Flay, Lacus left with Kira.
Flay watched Kira walk away in silence.
Never see her again.
If she did not see her… she would not feel upset.
"Radar contact! Three ships! The escorts Montgomery, Bernard, and Law!"
The scene shifted again, this time to the bridge.
Although it was a single cut, it was already the next morning.
A wave of cheers rose across the Archangel's bridge.
"Finally." Murrue let out a long breath.
"According to that young lady, she and Cagalli should probably be back sometime this afternoon," Mu said. "When that happens…"
"Mm. I'll handle it." Murrue had already steeled herself.
But just then, Romero Pal, who had been staring at the radar, suddenly panicked.
The display began to distort as static appeared.
Automatic correction failed, and manual adjustment was no better. The display only became more chaotic.
"What's going on?" Murrue had not thought much of it at first, but then a warning suddenly flashed across her screen.
While everyone else was still relaxing, the AI had continued working with meticulous precision.
"…Interference?!"
"It's interference! This entire area is being jammed!"
Romero Pal understood what was happening as well. His shout sounded almost like a wail.
The cry was like a bucket of cold water, instantly silencing the lively bridge.
Murrue immediately understood what had happened—the EA 8th Fleet Vanguard had already been discovered by the enemy.
"Quick, warn the Montgomery!" Murrue immediately issued orders. "Archangel, enter combat status at once!"
The Montgomery crew was still somewhat confused when they received the Archangel's transmission.
Only a short while later did they finally detect the enemy.
"Heat sources approaching! Five Mobile Suits! Three GINNs, and two are… G Weapons! Duel and Buster!"
Captain Koopman of the Montgomery hesitated for an instant, then immediately gave the order. "Have the Archangel reverse course and disengage! Launch our Mobile Armors at once!"
"What are you saying? If we can't rendezvous, then what was the point of coming all this way?" Flay's father, George Allster, protested from the side.
But Koopman, who had been flattering him until now, roared back, "If the Archangel gets taken down too, then none of this will mean anything!"
Murrue closed her eyes, her clenched hand trembling.
"Two Nazca-class ships… The enemy is closing in on the Vanguard."
"Message from the Montgomery! Rendezvous canceled! Archangel is to turn around and disengage immediately!"
The Vanguard had sent the same message from their side.
Two G Weapons, three GINNs, and even two Nazca-class ships.
The Vanguard had three ships, but there was still an enormous gap between small-fry escorts and mainline warships.
—Should they run?
The Astrays were gone. The Archangel's only remaining combat strength was the Strike Gundam.
Murrue thought rapidly.
At that moment, the AI produced its analysis as well.
"…Hm?!"
The display showed the developing battle situation.
But one line in particular caught Murrue's attention.
Blitz had not appeared yet.
It was a trap!
Two Nazca-class ships were in front of them. Then… what about behind them?
Three warships had been pursuing the Archangel before. So now… how could there possibly be only two?!
"Even if we turn around now, there's no guarantee we can escape. Blitz still hasn't appeared either."
"All hands to first battle stations! Archangel will move to cover the Vanguard!"