With Reid's order given, the Mass-Produced GM Astrays immediately began to encircle and blockade the city.
During this time, Reid and the others took the high ground and began to play a game of cat and mouse with the Vagan Mobile Suits around the buildings.
Simultaneously, Reid had Hoshino Ruri use the biological detection radar to identify occupied and unoccupied buildings, creating a simple 3D map. She also recorded the electromagnetic field frequency band from the Electromagnetic Armor.
This electromagnetic field frequency data could be considered a negative side effect of the Electromagnetic Armor.
It relied on a highly compressed electromagnetic field to protect the armor, so the field's fluctuations were impossible to hide. The "Veil Umbrella" technology could make a Mobile Suit disappear from visual, radar, infrared, and thermal sensors, but the magnetic field around the Mobile Suit itself would not vanish. Moreover, because of the Electromagnetic Armor, this field was much stronger than that of a normal MS.
(The author suspects that the Mirage Colloid positioning system from the C.E. timeline works on a similar principle. The only difference is that the magnetic fields of different Mobile Suits using the Mirage Colloid System are not fixed, so one can only detect that a Mobile Suit with Mirage Colloid activated is nearby, but cannot pinpoint its exact location.)
However, magnetic fields are ubiquitous in any place inhabited by people. Without specific frequency data, no one could find the one they were looking for amidst countless chaotic magnetic fields.
But Reid had the complete technology for Electromagnetic Armor. After fighting for so long, while the Vagan Mobile Suits were scanning the Gran Chaos, the Gran Chaos was naturally scanning them right back.
Thus, the external data for the four types of Mobile Suits—the Genoace, Danazine, Ghirarga, and Zeydra—had been mostly collected, and the electromagnetic field data from their Electromagnetic Armor was naturally in hand.
Reid had already thought of the next tactic.
Since Vagan wanted to fight a street battle, he would indulge them. However, Reid was going to disable the Vagan Mobile Suits' ability to lock on from a distance, forcing everyone into close-quarters combat.
Furthermore, to end the battle quickly, Reid prepared to have both the Union and Celestial Beings join the fray.
Thus, Hoshino Ruri directly hacked into Graham's Mobile Suit and the Celestial Beings' transport ship where Wang Liu Mei was located, pulling them into a conference call.
Of course, Hoshino Ruri did not show her face, instead using a cartoon avatar of a white rabbit. For Wang Liu Mei, Hoshino Ruri set her up with a cartoon avatar of a little red dragon and used a voice changer to make both their voices sound like mature, older sisters. (She privately notified Wang Liu Mei about the avatar and voice after creating the group chat.)
Therefore, the only one being deceived, Graham, was still leading his team in search of targets to hunt when a voice, which sounded very much like a mature woman's, suddenly came through his Mobile Suit's communication system.
"To Celestial Beings and the Union, this is the SDP warship communications officer. Our side is about to implement the 'Silent Hill' tactic. To prevent unnecessary friendly fire, we are hereby notifying you of the situation you will encounter."
After speaking, Hoshino Ruri sent the details of the phenomena that would occur after the smoke was deployed to both parties.
Graham took one look and couldn't help but complain.
"You're going to cover the entire city with smoke that blocks thermal sensors, with camera visibility dropping below five meters? Radar and electromagnetic waves are already a tangled mess thanks to the dual interference of GN Particles and Minovsky Particles. If you do this, won't our Mobile Suits be unable to move an inch? Are you trying to make us withdraw from the battlefield?"
After reviewing the data, Wang Liu Mei also spoke directly.
"This applies to us as well. Rushing into the fog to fight blind is extremely unwise, and it would be easy to harm civilians. Miss White Rabbit, you must have something else you haven't told us."
Hearing this, Hoshino Ruri didn't keep them in suspense and replied directly.
"That depends on whether your side decides to stay and assist in the battle. If you assist, we will provide you with data to help you operate."
As soon as Hoshino Ruri said this, Wang Liu Mei, who was already in a support role, immediately agreed.
"Even if you told us to leave, we of Celestial Beings would stay. Our goal is to eliminate war and conflict from the world. An otherworldly invasion is a conflict even more severe than that. For the sake of the world itself, it is our duty to join the battle."
With Wang Liu Mei having said her piece, it was even more impossible for Graham to back down.
Backing down would be tantamount to admitting he was less righteous than the terrorist organization Celestial Beings, and he would rather die. If you gave him a handgun right now, he would still demand to participate in the battle.
So, right after Wang Liu Mei finished, Graham immediately said, "I and my remaining forces will also participate. However, for now, this represents only my personal will. Is that acceptable?"
Of course, Hoshino Ruri had no problem with it. Reid's only request was to have the combat-capable forces here help catch the "rats." After all, it would take too much time for his small group to hunt them down one by one.
So Hoshino Ruri replied directly, "We don't mind, as long as you confirm that you and your subordinates will participate."
Graham had the decisiveness to make such a call. He said with understanding, "No problem. I and everyone I have left will join the battle."
With Graham's confirmation, Hoshino Ruri said no more and sent the current 3D terrain map of the Kingdom of Azadistan's Cauchy region and the Vagan Mobile Suits' magnetic field data to both parties.
Upon receiving the map and data, combined with the previous tactical briefing, both sides immediately realized what SDP was planning.
Graham nodded in earnest approval. "Interesting. Using magnetic field data to locate enemies and distinguish friend from foe, and a 3D map to navigate. This is just like playing a video game. And only we can see the enemy, while they can't see us. Unless they fly out of the smoke zone, but then they'll have to face your super mothership and your most elite forces. However... to think there are so few people left in this city..."
Graham had actually only seen the first layer of the plan. Wang Liu Mei, however, instantly thought of the second layer and continued where Graham left off.
"Actually, with a slight change, this tactic can be used to call out targets for snipers and Mobile Suits capable of long-range attacks. Mr. Graham, it seems SDP wants us to cooperate."
Hearing this, Graham also understood.
Indeed, his Union Flags and Union Real Combat Types were not well-suited for entering the streets to engage those bulky Mobile Suits in close combat. But by taking advantage of the enemy's loss of lock-on capability to call out targets from low altitude, it was perfectly suitable for Celestial Beings' long-range bombardment and sniper-type Gundams to destroy the enemy.
Moreover, this was much less dangerous than going down for close combat. Graham had no reason to refuse.
Thus, Graham remarked with emotion, "Yesterday's enemy, today's friend? Alright, I'm actually quite looking forward to seeing what it feels like to stand on the same front as a Gundam. Besides, desperate times call for desperate measures. I don't have time to report back to base right now."
Seeing that Celestial Beings and the Union had finished their discussion, Hoshino Ruri marked out areas on their 3D maps of the Cauchy region and said, "Then, to prevent friendly fire or unnecessary suspicion, please have your combat personnel clear the otherworldly enemies in these areas. If you finish and our side is not yet done, please contact me through the IP address below, and I will assign you new areas."
The IP address Hoshino Ruri provided was temporary, routed through several proxy servers. It would be wishful thinking for Celestial Beings or the Union to try and trace it back.
However, neither Wang Liu Mei nor Graham showed any interest in the IP address at this moment, instead directly agreeing to Hoshino Ruri's plan.
After all, they both knew there was no foundation of trust for cooperating with SDP against the enemy, so they avoided making suggestions that could easily affect unity.
With the plan finalized, Reid's side quickly took action.
The Gran Chaos began loading special smoke grenades from the IBO universe into its missiles, then fired them into every corner of the city below.
Soon, the Cauchy region of the Kingdom of Azadistan was shrouded in a thick white fog.
The smoke from the IBO universe could maintain its form in the vacuum of space, so doing so in an atmospheric environment was even simpler. Now, even if a sandstorm were to kick up, it wouldn't be able to disperse the smoke immediately.
After confirming that this smoke was also some kind of black technology that couldn't be blown away, Graham spoke on the temporary communication channel with Celestial Beings.
"Miss of Celestial Beings, our Mobile Suits are suffering from severe electromagnetic interference, so we will relay target locations to you. There will be a few seconds of delay, so please be aware."
Wang Liu Mei simply smiled at this issue and said, "No problem. We will send a Gundam to escort your spotter team. You can transmit the data directly to it, and it can notify us immediately. This Gundam pilot is rather quiet, so please don't mind him. But rest assured, this Gundam is quite skilled in street fighting and will definitely not hold you back."
Graham didn't need to guess to know that the incoming unit must be the Gundam covered in close-combat weapons. He also knew that Celestial Beings not allowing their pilots to speak was a way of controlling information, but again, they were cooperating now, so there was no need to say anything that would undermine unity.
Therefore, as he watched the approaching Exia, Graham responded cheerfully, "No problem. I trust in the abilities of you Celestial Beings."
After speaking, Graham connected to the Exia's communications and said familiarly, "Gundam pilot, although I know you can't state your name, and you may already know who I am, I'll introduce myself anyway. My name is Graham Aker. Please remember it. I feel we'll have many more opportunities to interact in the future."
Setsuna couldn't speak, so after hearing this, he could only have the Exia nod in acknowledgment.
Seeing this, Graham said no more and piloted his Mobile Suit, leading his men into the thick smoke below.
The Exia naturally followed them into the smoke.
At this moment, let's turn our attention back to Reid.
After Wang Liu Mei and Graham confirmed their cooperation, Reid specifically checked the World Change Fluctuation Value to see if this collaboration would affect the future.
However, the World Change Fluctuation Value remained motionless at 33.273% (the Vagan invasion had increased it by 20%). It seemed this cooperation between Celestial Beings and the Union would not affect the future.
This put Reid at ease, allowing him to concentrate on dealing with the Vagan forces.
Reid was certain that the pilots in the Vagan Mobile Suits that had been transported over were already growing agitated.
This was because Mobile Suits were constantly trying to leap out of the smoke zone to observe the situation.
However, these birds that stuck their necks out were naturally shot down in seconds by a dozen or so sniper beams. The Black Tri-Stars and Hilda were currently guarding the perimeter of the fog. If any Mobile Suit managed to evade the sniping, they would shoot it back down.
So after a few more attempts, the Vagan Mobile Suits realized that showing their heads meant instant death, and none dared to try it again.
Reid's elite team had also entered the thick smoke by now.
Just as Graham had said, the current situation was like playing a video game. The screen displayed numerous guide lines, allowing the pilots to distinguish if there were buildings around them.
Of course, the map was drawn before the battle. The system couldn't display buildings destroyed during combat, but this small margin of error wasn't fatal, because the Vagan Mobile Suits were now fighting completely blind.
Therefore, in the early stages of this street battle, many Vagan pilots activated their "Veil Umbrella" systems, essentially lying in wait.
However, the high-pressure electromagnetic field generated by the Electromagnetic Armor was now a death warrant. The moment these Mobile Suits' positions were exposed, a Magellan Beam would come flying over.
The Mystic Lightning, which had failed in its flanking maneuver during the air battle (because the battlefield changed too quickly, and the Vagan forces had landed in the city before it could complete its maneuver), had become a true ghost in this smoke-shrouded city.
By the time a Vagan Mobile Suit detected the airflow from the Mystic Lightning's movement, the Mystic Lightning's Thermal Blade had already sliced it in half.
And at this time, the Funnel Blades were extremely useful, embodying the principle of killing without a trace.
As for the Gundam Barbatos Lupus and the Garibaldi Rebake, there was no need to even mention them. Tekkadan loved using smoke for sneak attacks, and the improved Epyon System could even project the 3D map directly into their minds.
Thus, the Gundam Barbatos Lupus and the Garibaldi Rebake began their killing spree, taking down one enemy with almost every swing of their sword (or mace).
With so many gods of death on the field, plus the fact that Celestial Beings and Graham's forces were cooperating better than expected, Lockon and Hong Long basically just had to pull the trigger according to the coordinates. It was as easy and pleasant as could be.
By the time the Vagan commander realized that stealth was completely useless, it was already too late. Almost all the Genoace units had been wiped out, with only two or three lucky ones remaining.
However, the remaining Mobile Suits now began to go berserk.
Unable to find their enemies, these Vagan pilots started attacking everything around them indiscriminately, based on gut feeling.
In particular, the large tails of the Danazine and Zeydra could take down a building wall with a single sweep.
Although the Vagan Mobile Suits' actions couldn't be seen, they could be inferred from the sounds.
Moreover, the commotion they caused also allowed the Vagan Mobile Suits to confirm each other's positions. Two Ghirargas emitted a special sound wave, calling other units to rally to them.
Thus, the remaining Vagan units scattered throughout the city began to converge on the two Mobile Suits, tearing down walls and buildings in their path.
After hearing Hoshino Ruri's report, Reid thought for a moment and gave a direct order.
"Sariya, Yulan, Yufang, Belfgang, you're with me. We're going to the rendezvous point to see how the enemy's party is going. Ange, Noin, you go back to the Gran Chaos and grab two Buster Beam Rifles. Once we confirm the enemy's gathering point, we'll wipe them out in one go."
Reid was no longer afraid of harming civilians. As the Vagan Mobile Suits converged from all directions, there would likely be no living people left in that gathering area.
Besides, he was only having them use the Wing Gundam's Buster Beam Rifles. Their attack range was relatively controllable; they wouldn't actually destroy a city with a few shots.