The two stared at the contents displayed on the screen, cold sweat immediately beading on their foreheads.
"Damn it! Those bastards!"
"No wonder... no wonder..."
Now, Natarle Badgiruel and Mu both understood what had happened in Alaska. The ZAFT Forces' target wasn't Panama—it was Alaska!
Moreover, the Atlantic Federation had obtained intelligence in advance and prepared a terrifying trap for ZAFT. Once the pre-installed underground [Cyclops System] was successfully activated, everything within a ten-kilometer radius would be reduced to ashes.
That was why the personnel of this base had already fled! The submarines that carried them weren't transport ships for reassigned personnel—they were escape vessels!
The higher-ups had used Alaska as bait to lure ZAFT into the trap, but they couldn't let the enemy catch on. They couldn't even allow Alaska Base to fall too quickly, as they needed enough time to evacuate beyond the [Cyclops System]'s range. Thus, they had left behind a portion of the defense fleet as sacrificial pawns.
Natarle also thought about their transfer orders. She knew very well—the Archangel was filled with capable individuals. Those who had survived the grueling journey to reach Alaska safely were all elites. But why were only she, Mu, and Flay transferred off the Archangel?
Because Murrue and the others didn't align with the Atlantic Federation's interests!
She had been transferred because her family came from a military lineage. Mu had been transferred because he was the Archangel's last remaining combat asset, and his piloting experience still held value. Flay had been transferred because her father was the late former Vice Foreign Minister—if utilized properly, she could provide unimaginable leverage.
And those left behind, like Murrue, had become sacrificial pawns!
"We have to warn the Archangel! This battle must not be fought!" Natarle declared.
"Right, and the allied forces still stationed here—they need to break through!"
"We need to find the Archangel immediately. We can't afford to be late."
"Wait, the Archangel has probably already set sail by now. How are you going to board it?" Mu suddenly realized the problem. If it were just him, he could find a [Swordfish] and fly back—though even that wasn't safe. The area outside was undoubtedly chaotic, and he couldn't guarantee his own survival.
Not to mention Natarle and Flay. The [Swordfish] only had room for one person, and Flay had no fighter pilot training. How were they supposed to return to the Archangel? Grow wings and fly?
"...Let's head to the port first. There might be a way." Natarle said. It was a desperate measure, but by now, the last submarine had likely departed. Staying here meant waiting for death.
"Alright, let's move out immediately."
...
Meanwhile, the Orb fleet had also received the news.
"Has the war begun?"
"Yes, the ZAFT Forces have launched an attack on Joshua."
"It's our turn now. All units, assume first-level combat readiness. Once we sortie, we'll disrupt the ZAFT fleet's formation. The rest is up to you, Togao."
"Understood, Commander. You can count on us."
"Path cleared. Dawn, launching!"
Stepping onto the deck, the Dawn Gundam spread its wings and soared into the sky with a fierce blaze, followed closely by Gundam Exia, Gundam Cherudim, and Gundam Virtue, all launching from their respective flight units.
Their movements were detected by the ZAFT fleet, which quickly responded. The MS launch hatches of the fleet all opened as MS units scrambled to intercept the four Gundams.
Though their reaction was swift, the four Gundams—Dawn and the others—were even faster. Many AMF-101 DINNs had barely been catapulted out before being pierced by beams, exploding before their wings could fully unfold, causing massive chaos in an instant.
"The Commander has secured an opportunity for us. First MS Unit, emergency sortie—target the ZAFT Forces fleet! This ship will retreat. Sixth and Seventh Escort Fleets, form a horizontal defensive line ahead of us. Deploy minefields with the Itami, Kashima, and Yamazaki!"
Togao, one of Orb's top commanders, lived up to his reputation. After the four Gundams launched, he swiftly issued precise orders. His steady command had already coordinated a linked formation and prepared underwater defenses, as Orb lacked dedicated underwater MS, making the GOOhN and ZnO their greatest threats.
"Main cannons, ready!"
"Target ZAFT fleet—all ships, fire!"
"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom…"
While the ZAFT fleet was still dealing with the sudden assault from the four Gundams, the Orb fleet's bombardment arrived. Simultaneously, the four Gundams broke through ZAFT's interception and appeared behind them, forcing the fleet into a pincer attack. With no choice, they had to abort the AMF-101 DINN launch sequence and dive immediately.
"Heh, now they're in a tight spot—surrounded by us," Lyle teased.
"Enough joking. Togao's plan is set. Let's move—the battle over there won't wait."
"Roger."
Expecting the four monsters to turn back and continue their slaughter, the ZAFT forces were stunned to see them fly straight past, completely ignoring them.
"Phew… Are we saved?" The ZAFT fleet commander wiped cold sweat from his brow, relieved. The four Gundams—Dawn and the others—had appeared twice now, each time inflicting heavy casualties on ZAFT. The sheer battlefield dominance of even a single unit was terrifying, let alone all four together.
Now, they were heading toward Alaska Base, leaving the fleet behind. The commander felt a wave of post-crisis relief.
But that relief lasted only seconds before being shattered by a report from his subordinate.
"Orb MS units launching! Count: 60!"
"What?!"
Sixty MS?! And Orb's new models at that?! Did they bring out their entire arsenal?! Come on, we're just a small fleet—we're not worth this!
Though screaming internally, he didn't just sit idle. With the four Gundams gone, nothing was left to disrupt MS deployment—especially the GOOhN and ZnO. Since the enemy lacked underwater MS, wouldn't the GOOhN and ZnO make short work of their surface fleet?
"Status of GOOhN and ZnO deployment?"
"Complete."
"Good! Target the enemy fleet—sink them all!"
"Yes, sir!"
The GOOhN and ZnO units that had received their orders moved swiftly through the deep sea toward the Orb fleet, confident as fish in water, already fantasizing about the merits they would earn. But the next moment...
"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Huge splashes erupted continuously from the sea surface as the signatures of the GOOhN and ZnO units rapidly disappeared from detection.
"What in the world just happened!?"
"It's an enemy minefield!"
"H-How... How could this be..."
The commander slumped into his chair, his face drained of all color.
...
In another direction within Orb's territorial waters, Guelt received Sumeragi's orders and immediately commanded the fleet to advance at full speed.
"What are the movements of the ZAFT Forces?" Guelt asked.
"The garrison forces at Carpentaria Base are mobilizing urgently, attempting to intercept us."
"Send one final message informing them that we are only providing humanitarian aid in response to Papua New Guinea's request for support. If they take any further hostile action, we will consider it an act of war."
"Yes, sir!"
"Dispatch the Second Fleet to coordinate S79 and deploy horizontally to establish a defensive line in the Torres Strait to block the ZAFT Forces. The 1st and 2nd Squadrons of the 2nd MS Unit will accompany them. The Third Fleet will split into two groups—one heading to Osprey Reef to threaten Cape Tribulation and Cooktown, and the other occupying Port Moresby. The main fleet will enter through the Gulf of Papua."
"Sir, will our landing forces be sufficient with this arrangement?" the Adjutant asked worriedly. The MS units were the backbone of ground suppression. If two-thirds were diverted to support the Second Fleet, they would be left with too few. The objective was the complete occupation of Papua New Guinea—if that failed, no matter how many ZAFT Forces the Second Fleet eliminated, it would be meaningless.
"Don't we still have the 1st Special MS Unit?"
"But even if it's called a unit, their numbers..."
"Don't worry. They're all aces personally selected by the Commander. With their support, the landing forces will have no problem."
"Understood!"
...
At Joshua Base in Alaska, the battle between the ZAFT Forces and the Earth Forces had reached a fever pitch. Though the remaining forces were essentially sacrificial pawns, with the command system in complete disarray, they still fought valiantly. With only a handful of warships, fighters, tanks, and ground anti-air defenses, they stubbornly held back the ZAFT Forces' fierce assault.
The Archangel, as the newest and most advanced warship, demonstrated unparalleled combat prowess even without Mu and Kira's cover.
However, the enemy numbers were overwhelming, and standing out only made them a bigger target. Their outstanding performance meant attracting even more enemy units.
"Valiant 1 and 2 are unresponsive!"
"Ship damage rate exceeds 30%!"
"Damn it..." Murrue sighed in frustration. Just ten minutes earlier, she had been trying repeatedly to contact headquarters. From the start of the battle until now, they had received no detailed orders—only the same repeated message urging them to persevere through hardship.
"The Yermak and Yaroslav have been sunk!"
"Any contact with headquarters?"
"Nothing! Every channel just auto-replies with the same message: [All units maintain defensive positions and act as the situation demands.]"
"The command chain has been severed, Captain. If this continues—"
"Boom~!"
"Ahhh~!!!!"
"Where are the reinforcements from Panama?"
"Not a single one in sight!"
"Incoming missiles!"
Murrue was utterly exhausted, her mind nearly devoid of thought. She had begun to sense something was wrong—why had they lost contact with headquarters from the very start of the battle? The entire force was in chaos, fighting independently with no one stepping up to command the fleet. Moreover, when Colonel Sutherland had issued orders earlier, it clearly hadn't been from the command center. So then…
Suddenly, Murrue recalled Yang Hui's earlier request. Could it be…?
"This is Natarle Badgiruel. Archangel, respond! Archangel, respond!"
"Huh? Natarle! Where is this transmission coming from!?" Hearing Badgiruel's voice, Murrue snapped back to attention, urgency in her tone.
"It's an allied transport plane nearby!"
"Patch them through!"
The screen connected, revealing Badgiruel's face—alongside Mu and Flay. All three, who should have been reassigned, were present.
"Lieutenant Badgiruel! Major Flaga! And Flay, you…"
"No time for explanations! Take us aboard immediately! Then get away from Alaska!"
"Wha—Look out!"
Murrue had wanted to press for details, but a GINN had already closed in on the transport, its dark gun barrel locking onto them.
"Damn it!" Mu, piloting the transport, felt despair—there was no time to evade.
Just as they braced for death, a Beam shot from afar pierced through the GINN's heavy machine gun, followed by another that tore through its torso.
"Boom~!"
"Ugh—! That's…"
"Yang Hui!"
(End of Chapter)