The Dawn Gundam led the charge, soaring through the sky alongside Gundam Exia, Gundam Cherudim, and Gundam Virtue. Soon, the intense battlefield in the distance came into view.
"All units, commence operation. Priority is to protect the Archangel."
"Roger. Gundam Exia, engaging targets."
"All right, Gundam Cherudim, commencing sniping."
"Gundam Virtue, initiating target elimination."
"Hold on, don't go overboard. Tieria, we're here to rescue people."
"...Tch!"
"Scatter!"
"Roger." x3
The four mobile suits dispersed. Gundam Cherudim aligned its twin rifles, locking onto a distant GINN. A beam shot pierced through the GINN's weapon, followed by another that tore through its torso.
The Dawn Gundam spread its wings, cutting into the battlefield at top speed. Its golden radiance cascaded like divine judgment, shielding the Archangel from harm.
"Yang Hui!"
"Are you alright?"
Yang Hui quickly established contact with the Archangel, positioning himself protectively beside it.
"I-I'm fine... What are you doing here? What about Orb—"
"Save the questions for later. Right now—"
Beep beep beep...
Another communication request came through—this time from a transport aircraft Lyle had just rescued. When Yang Hui accepted, he saw Natarle Badgiruel, Mu, and Flay aboard the transport. He froze momentarily before his surprise took over.
Natarle's fate had been altered—she hadn't left Alaska, and she would never become the captain of the Dominion, meeting a heroic end.
"You guys—"
"Not now! Get away from Alaska, fast!" Natarle cut him off, shouting urgently.
"What?" Yang Hui's expression darkened. The crew of the Archangel was equally stunned.
"Listen carefully! The Cyclops System is installed beneath headquarters! Once activated, everything within a ten-kilometer radius of the base will be incinerated!"
"What!?"
"With our current forces, we can't hold Joshua. Reinforcements from Panama won't make it in time. The defenders will be wiped out, the gates will fall, and headquarters will trigger the Cyclops System—destroying everything, including the facility! They plan to take out the majority of ZAFT's forces with this! That's the script those higher-ups have written!"
"No way...!" Murrue couldn't believe it. She had sensed something was off, but she never imagined the brass would be this ruthless.
"We saw it with our own eyes! The command center is deserted! The only ones left fighting are the Eurasian Federation troops and expendables like the Archangel!"
Anger, resentment, disbelief, despair—waves of negative emotions flooded the bridge, especially among Murrue and the other former Earth Forces soldiers. They had fought tooth and nail, faithfully carrying out orders, enduring immense sacrifices to bring the Archangel back to Alaska.
Yet, instead of cheers and applause, they were met with suspicion and interrogation. Now, they were being discarded like trash. Their loyalty shattered in that moment, leaving them to wonder—what had all their efforts even been for?
"Meaning... we're supposed to die here?" Arnold asked unwillingly, hoping he'd misheard. Everyone else shared the same thought.
"And fight to the last!" Natarle Badgiruel shattered their illusions, delivering the harsh reality. "To prevent the enemy from discovering they've already evacuated."
"Is this... what you call tactics?" Miriallia's calm voice suddenly spoke up. But her calmness didn't stem from foresight—it came from utter despair, the kind that makes one cry in silence. "Because it's war... because we're soldiers... does that mean we have to obediently die when given such orders?"
"No!" Just as everyone's hearts turned to ash, Yang Hui's resolute voice reignited their hope and courage. "Let someone else carry out this bullshit order! Archangel will break through immediately!"
"But—"
"No buts! Or do you actually want to die here for those bastards?" Yang Hui demanded sharply. He knew none of them wanted to die, especially not for those who'd abandoned them. They just needed someone to snap them out of their shock—which was why he took command so forcefully.
As for what came next? Survival came first!
"Captain..."
Under the crew's expectant gazes, Murrue gritted her teeth and made her decision: "If this battle's purpose was to lure ZAFT Forces into a trap, then our mission is already accomplished. This is the personal judgment of Archangel's captain, Murrue Ramius. All crew members bear no responsibility for this action!"
"Captain..."
"We're abandoning this combat zone and retreating! Signal allied forces to follow us! Immediately recover the transport carrying Major Flaga, Lieutenant Badgiruel, and Private Allster! Full power, hard to port—break through the left bay!"
"You focus on moving out. We'll cover your retreat."
"Yang—"
"High-speed object approaching from above! It's an MS... no! Incredible speed!"
"Enemy forces!?"
"They're here!"
A red meteor pierced the clouds, drawing a pink blade as it descended vertically. In a blur of motion, two GINNs were cleanly bisected at the heads and arms.
The phantom ascended, taking position beside Dawn Gundam in front of Archangel.
"This is Kira Yamato. I'll cover you—retreat now!"
"Kira?"
"It's Kira!"
"Ki... ra...?"
"Is it... really him?"
Everyone aboard Archangel froze. They'd all believed Kira was dead, yet here he was—alive, arriving at their moment of greatest need to protect them once more.
"Took you long enough," Dawn Gundam's comms crackled with Yang Hui's teasing voice as he linked with Freedom Gundam.
"Yang Hui..."
"Well? Still willing to be used by me?"
"...Just for now."
"Good. Archangel will lead allied forces in breaking through to coordinates Z01! Exia, Cherudim, Virtue—clear the path! Kira—"
"What's happening? Why break out?" Kira asked after unleashing Freedom's full arsenal at surrounding ZAFT Forces, clearing a swath of enemies. If they were retreating, shouldn't they fall back to base?
"The Cyclops System is installed beneath the headquarters. They were used as bait to die—we must evacuate Joshua beyond a ten-kilometer radius now!" Yang Hui explained while piloting the Dawn Gundam to clear enemy units on the right flank.
"I understand." Having learned the truth, a resolute Kira unleashed the full power of his Rainbow Beam Cannon once more, charging into the center of the battlefield.
"Notify both ZAFT and the Earth Forces—the Alaska Base is about to activate the Cyclops System for self-destruction!"
"Huh?" XN
Everyone on the battlefield who received the transmission was stunned.
While sweeping through enemies with devastating rainbow beams, Kira simultaneously broadcasted evacuation orders to both forces.
"All forces must cease combat and evacuate immediately! Repeat, the Alaska Base is activating the Cyclops System for self-destruction. All forces must cease combat and evacuate immediately!"
"This kid... seems to have found his own path. But..."
The Dawn Gundam's wings flared as golden light dots scattered like rain, coating nearby enemy Mobile Suits in gold before they rapidly turned crimson and exploded.
"Will anyone believe him?" The Gundam Cherudim landed on the deck of the Archangel, shooting down all enemy units approaching the ship.
"Naïve." The Gundam Virtue arrived, its beam bazooka fully charged, obliterating enemy Mobile Suits and warships directly ahead of the Archangel and tearing open a massive gap.
"..." The Gundam Exia circled the Archangel, leaping from its flight unit to bisect two DINNs midair. Using another DINN as a stepping stone, it backflipped while sweeping its beam submachine gun to shoot down the enemy before returning to its flight unit to seek the next target.
"If he's chosen this path, then let him walk it."
With those words, the Dawn Gundam charged toward Kira at the battlefield's center, arriving to stand back-to-back with the Freedom Gundam.
"Yang Hui?"
"I'm here to help." The Dawn Gundam then opened a public channel, broadcasting to both ZAFT Forces and the Earth Forces: "This is Yang Hui. I can confirm the earlier intel is accurate. If you don't want to die, cease combat immediately and evacuate beyond ten kilometers from Joshua!"
If Kira was just a stranger piloting an unknown Mobile Suit, Yang Hui's identity was widely recognized—the monster who had brought the same nightmare upon ZAFT twice.
Beep beep beep—
At that moment, alarm sirens blared as danger descended.
Both Mobile Suits activated thrusters to separate just as a pink blade slashed through the space between them.
"Who'd fall for such a trick?!"
"Duel!"
Thanks to Yang Hui's intervention, the civilians rescued by the 8th Fleet had not died by Yzak's hands. Kira held no hatred for Yzak—only the familiarity of an old rival.
The Freedom Gundam drew its beam saber and charged, clashing midair with the Duel. Seizing the opportunity, the Dawn Gundam appeared behind the Duel, unsheathing its sword to strike at its waist from behind.
"Ah—!!" Alarms blared as the Duel Gundam, immobilized by the Freedom's restraint, left Yzak helplessly staring at impending death.
"Just kidding."
At the last moment, the blade's trajectory shifted downward—targeting the legs instead of the waist.
"Ugh—!"
The Freedom Gundam and Dawn Gundam worked in perfect coordination, releasing their hold on the Duel Gundam. Their twin blades flashed, completely destroying the Assault Shroud armor on its arms and shoulders. The Dawn Gundam delivered a powerful kick to the Duel Gundam's back, sending it flying toward the AMF-101 DINN's position.
"You...!"
"Not yet time for you to die, tsundere little white-haired brat."
"Yang Hui! You bastard!!!!"
With the Duel Gundam dealt with, the Freedom and Dawn Gundams exchanged nods before following after the Archangel and Earth Forces fleet. Their continued interception was no longer necessary—though Yang Hui's demonstration hadn't directly ended the battle, it had shaken every combatant present to their core.
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