Chapter 234: Cracked Earth, Göll...
"Troop redeployment is already underway!"
Hearing the reports from his subordinates, Woody finally let out a sigh of relief.
This surprise operation had been doomed from the start. The only thing left to fight for was how much strength they could manage to preserve.
Thanks to the fierce efforts of Eli and Amuro, the Titans' airdropped Mobile Suits failed to carry out their intended pincer maneuver by coordinating from both inside and outside.
They had only planned to seize one Garuda-class vessel, but they'd managed to capture two.
"Abandon any unnecessary equipment and prioritize personnel! Request cover from the White Chaser!"
Woody shouted at the nearby communications officer, emphasizing that retreat was now their top priority.
Even Mobile Suits could be left behind if needed.
"We're abandoning this gate. Plant the explosives and detonate it the moment we're out."
With those final instructions to his men, Woody began preparing for evacuation.
"But... there are still people trapped inside, aren't there? If we just leave…"
If it were ordinary soldiers, the subordinates might have gritted their teeth and left them behind for the sake of the larger withdrawal.
But the ones still inside were senior officers—generals, including their direct superiors.
"There's no time. If we delay any longer, none of us will get out. I'll take full responsibility."
Woody frowned, shouldering all the blame himself.
Even though General Revil had already left Jaburo, it wasn't as if no other generals there supported him.
However, in the final stretch before his departure, Revil had used various excuses to reassign or send those supportive generals on inspections, effectively dispersing them to other regular force bases across Earth and even into space.
Had that move not weakened his faction within Jaburo, things might not have deteriorated like this.
As he directed his troops' retreat, Woody was filled with doubt.
Why? Why had General Revil chosen to deploy his people at such a critical moment?
"What's the status of the Garuda-class vessels?"
"Ready for takeoff at any moment. Airspace superiority is essentially secured!"
That firm response helped settle Woody's nerves.
The airborne Titans had no means of carrying flight platforms. Expecting them to suppress Jaburo's interior forces and intercept the Garuda-class ships was unrealistic.
Moreover, the White Chaser—a ship capable of operating within Earth's atmosphere—was more than sufficient to secure the runway.
"Everything's finally moving in the right direction."
Watching the forest grow quieter by the second, Woody began to feel more optimistic.
This was clearly a sign that the Titans' forces were retreating.
He climbed aboard the Sudri and headed straight for the cockpit of the Garuda-class vessel.
Though this colonel wasn't an MS pilot, he was more than confident when it came to operating these kinds of vehicles.
Besides, the Garuda-class cockpit also functioned as a command bridge to some extent.
"Pleased to meet you, Lieutenant Colonel Otto. Please patch me through to Colonel Eli—we need to discuss our route."
No sooner had Woody taken his seat than he resumed his duties, initiating contact with the White Chaser, which was still engaged in combat.
"Yes, sir!"
Otto, who had been ordering the MS units not to overextend their pursuit, responded without hesitation and immediately opened a line to Eli.
At that moment, Eli was piloting a Gaplant with NT-X onboard, taking down enemy craft attempting to break through another gate—covering the final friendly unit's retreat.
"Head north to Augusta Base!"
Eli made the decision without a moment's hesitation.
"We'll rest there, then proceed to the Kennedy Space Center to transport personnel into space."
He laid out his reasoning.
"And then, I want to go somewhere."
"Where?"
Woody had just been mapping out the route in his head and found it quite feasible—until he heard what Eli said next.
"To Dakar."
"Are you insane?! This is no time to act on emotion!"
Woody immediately slammed the table, reprimanding Eli for what sounded like an irrational outburst.
"Those bastards in the Federation Assembly aren't going to defend you. If you want to clear your name, you'd be better off defeating the Titans!"
"That's something I will do. But I've never expected anything from the Assembly to begin with."
Eli responded calmly, unfazed by Woody's scolding.
"Woody, you should try trusting me more. At least when it comes to fighting, I won't hesitate anymore."
Confirming that all remaining units had safely retreated into their operational zone, Eli began maneuvering the Gaplant back toward the White Chaser.
Gaplants, while extremely agile within the atmosphere, burned through propellant at an alarming rate.
Even the brief engagement just now had pushed its reserves near critical levels—fortunately, allied forces were nearby.
That's why, in some cases, Gaplants could be seen in MA mode standing on flight platforms as they approached the combat zone—to conserve propellant.
"Alright. White Chaser, ascend. Garuda-class vessels, initiate takeoff procedures!"
At that moment, Eli issued orders to all three friendly units.
And this time, he bypassed Woody entirely.
The bridge crews of the Sudri and Odum exchanged looks—until Woody, now at the helm, began flipping switches and activating systems, bringing the airborne fortress that was the Garuda-class vessel to life.
This act, without a doubt, confirmed Eli's authority at this point in time.
As the Sudri began warming up its engines, the Odum followed suit.
"Eli, I'm here to take you off Earth."
It was only then—after a long stretch of battle with no communication—that Amuro finally spoke.
"Ah... thank you, Amuro."
No need to feel embarrassed—just say thank you.
After getting scolded by Woody, Eli understood how others saw him.
All that stiff, bureaucratic talk... he didn't come across as someone capable of decisive leadership.
"Yeah. From now on, just like before, we'll fight side by—"
Amuro's sentence cut off abruptly.
Eli, sensing the same thing, also turned his gaze downward.
"Eli—enemy incoming!"
"From below!"
They reacted in unison. NT-X instantly leapt off the Gaplant, and Eli transformed the Gaplant into MS mode, changing his trajectory.
The earth—split open beneath them!