Hoshino Ruri's electronic assault had truly caught Daedalus Base off guard. It could only be said that during the previous war, ZAFT's consistent deployment of Shipboard Neutron Jammers had caused every battle to skip electronic warfare procedures.
This practice had made everyone accustomed to it, completely forgetting that in wars from three years prior, whenever major powers clashed, electronic warfare always commenced first.
Nevertheless, the commander of Daedalus Base remained relatively calm. Amid the chaos in the command center, he roared:
"Quiet! Have you all forgotten the emergency protocols for when communications are severed? Control panel, report: how many base permissions have been compromised?"
The commander's shout instantly silenced everyone. The personnel at the control panel glanced at their system control permissions and replied:
"Only communications and base gate control permissions have been seized. However, the operation interfaces for these are now blacked out—likely because the terminal division shut down the servers."
The Daedalus Base commander nodded upon hearing this. The terminal division's decision was fairly decisive; shutting down the servers meant the enemy's further intrusion had been blocked. Still, he added:
"Modify all ports of currently accessible permission devices to the backup plan to prevent a second intrusion by the enemy. Observation team, what's the situation outside?"
The observation team soldier promptly responded:
"The external gates have been blasted open by our forces. The Third, Fourth, Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Mobile Squadrons, along with their affiliated warships, have all sortied. They've assumed a Bombardment Formation outside and are standing by."
The Daedalus Base commander grew even more pleased. It wasn't an empty boast that his base was filled with elites—the junior officers' initiative was quite commendable.
Thus, the Daedalus Base commander inquired again:
"Control panel, can you still manage the external lighting of the base?"
The control panel soldier immediately understood the commander's intent and decisively answered:
"No problem, sir!"
Upon hearing this, the Daedalus Base commander ordered:
"Use the beacon lights on the signal tower to transmit light signals to the external fleet. Inform them that the defensive strategy remains unchanged, and command of the external forces is transferred to the Seventh Mobile Squadron commander.
Also, find a way to contact the terminal division and have them restore gate control and communications ASAP. Otherwise, we're like fighting with handcuffs and shackles on."
Once the Daedalus Base commander's orders were issued, the external forces quickly deciphered the command center's decisions via the light signals.
Since light signals could only convey simple instructions, no one objected to the transfer of command to the Seventh Mobile Squadron commander.
The newly appointed commander, thrust into the role, didn't complain and directly commanded:
"Dispatch a base transport craft to monitor the signal tower lights. Notify me immediately if there are any instructions from the command center.
All other units, position Zamza-zah and Gelzzegh at the forefront to guard against enemy artillery. The enemy's firepower is extremely powerful—remember to deploy Positron Reflection Shields with three to four Mobile Suits combined.
All Dagger L units, switch to artillery combat equipment. Close-quarters combat duties are assigned to Slash Daggers and aerial Windams.
Notify all warships: once the New Misurugi Kingdom fleet breaches the Photon Wave Barrier, do not cease missile and artillery fire."
"Also, use optical signals to inform headquarters: if the base missile system is still operational, please provide continuous missile cover once the Photon Wave Barrier fails."
The command from the Seventh Mobile Division's commander was highly professional, so the order was quickly relayed.
By the time Reid led his forces to the scene, they were met with the heavily fortified Daedalus Base, which had already activated its Photon Wave Barrier, adopting a turtle-like defensive stance.
The Photon Wave Barrier here was fortress-grade, unlike the thin layer on the Hyperion Gundam, which allowed for one-way internal attacks. The fortress-grade barrier blocked both incoming and outgoing attacks.
Of course, if the Daedalus Base's communications were functioning normally, they could have coordinated with their troops to temporarily deactivate specific sections of the Photon Wave Barrier, seizing the initiative in attacks and leaving the New Misurugi Kingdom largely defenseless.
But war offers no "ifs." With real-time communications severed, the Daedalus Base had no choice but to hunker down like a turtle.
However, as the Daedalus Base's staff had anticipated, a mere Photon Wave Barrier was hardly an obstacle for Reid.
The Factory Module had fully analyzed all the barrier's technology two years prior. Breaking it was simple: disrupt the constraints of the Mirage Particles.
To disrupt the binding of Mirage Particles, one needed to use Mirage Particles at a specific frequency for counteraction. This would trigger a chain reaction in the particles, rapidly reducing the binding rate and causing the barrier to dissolve.
But this operation required close proximity, so Reid immediately ordered:
"All ships, fly close to the ground, using mountain terrain as cover to block enemy line of sight.
Then, all vessels launch smoke grenades toward the Daedalus Base. Have the Mass-Produced GM Astrays carry Mirage Particle Dissolvers to approach the Photon Wave Barrier. Once the barrier's Mirage Particle frequency is read, use the dissolvers to melt this turtle shell. Immediately destroy the emitters afterward to prevent them from reactivating the shield."
Upon Reid's command, the New Misurugi Kingdom fleet simultaneously launched smoke grenades around the Daedalus Base, quickly enveloping the exterior in smoke.
Frankly, this was agonizing for the internal defense troops. The smoke grenades completely obscured visibility and had strong interference capabilities, even blocking thermal sensing. Without special means, it was like facing an isolation wall, leaving the Daedalus Base temporarily unable to pinpoint the New Misurugi Kingdom fleet's location.
But the Daedalus Base's defense forces had no alternative. They couldn't very well ask headquarters to deactivate the Photon Wave Barrier and venture out to search for the enemy. Having chosen to turtle up, they had to commit to it fully.
Thus, numerous Mass-Produced GM Astrays carrying Mirage Particle Dissolvers approached the Photon Wave Barrier unimpeded.
In truth, the Photon Wave Barrier remained a formidable defensive tool in the current CE Universe, but this relied on the base's ability to counterattack. If used purely for turtling, there were plenty of ways to counter it.
Even ZAFT could wrap solid weapons in large amounts of Mirage Particles, creating a CE version of the Gungnir, specifically designed to target Photon Wave Barrier emitters.
The Mirage Particle Dissolver currently used by Reid falls into the relatively mild category, as he deliberately avoids weapons like the Gungnir due to their perceived ominous nature.
However, mild as it may be, the Mirage Particle Dissolver striking the Photon Wave Barrier was like setting paper ablaze—piercing through it in an instant.
The defending forces at Daedalus Base watched as the Photon Wave Barrier, shrouded in external smoke, suddenly melted away like ice thrown into a fire, the protective shell enveloping the entire base vanishing in a flash.
Then, the high-energy beams previously restrained by the Photon Wave Barrier were instantly freed. Due to the Moon's gravity, these beams plummeted straight downward.
Though no longer constrained, these free-falling beams had lost most of their destructive power by the time they reached the defenders at Daedalus Base. Still, like molten iron slag splashing onto steel, they seared small craters into surfaces. Unlucky Mobile Suits had their head cameras destroyed.
However, the defending forces at Daedalus Base had no time to concern themselves with such minor issues.
The moment the Mass-Produced GM Astrays dissolved the Photon Wave Barrier, they immediately opened fire on the Photon Wave Generator while relaying the altitude coordinates of the Daedalus Base defense fleet to their rear.
Upon receiving the coordinates, the Gran Chaos unleashed its Shipboard Buster Beam Cannon, sweeping it across the airborne fleet and MS defense units.
But the airborne Zamza-zahs were prepared. Detecting the high-energy warning, hundreds of Zamza-zahs activated their Positron Reflection Shields, forming a combined defensive barrier with three layered shields spaced over ten meters apart.
The Gran Chaos's Shipboard Buster Beam Cannon was clearly not something a single layer of Positron Reflector Beam Shield could withstand—even with over a dozen units sharing the load.
However, three layers of shields were sufficient to completely neutralize the cannon's destructive power. Thus, the Daedalus Base defenders managed to block the Gran Chaos's attack at the cost of just over twenty Zamza-zahs.
At this point, both sides were about to enter close-quarters combat. The Gran Chaos's Shipboard Buster Beam Cannon had revealed the position of the New Misurugi Kingdom.
Meanwhile, after strenuous efforts by technicians, the relatively simple gate control servers at Daedalus Base finally rebooted.
Though communications remained offline, the base's artillery turrets rose once more, and the previously sealed gates reopened. While Reid's assault team had already breached the base, Daedalus could now deploy its remaining assets.
Inside Daedalus Base, Reid, piloting the Joyeuse Gundam, felt a faint trace of pressure for the first time in a while.
This pressure didn't stem from Otherworld Entanglement or elite enemies, but from being overwhelmingly outnumbered.
Of course, as mentioned, it was merely a trace of pressure. For Reid, such tension only heightened his interest and focus.
At this moment, the Joyeuse Gundam alone faced targeting from at least thirty to forty artillery-equipped Dagger Ls, accompanied by a torrent of missiles raining down from all directions.
Had this been during his elite-rated days piloting the NT-X Gundam, Reid would have immediately turned to flee—such dense beam fire would have been impossible to handle. Even during his ace-rated period with the Hermes Zero, he would have needed to maneuver extensively to create openings in the attack pattern.
But the current Reid only perceived dozens of gaps within those beams, while the missiles crawled along at a snail's pace.
Thus, the Joyeuse Gundam charged straight into the barrage of beams and missiles, like a butterfly dancing around a bonfire. Though any misstep would be fatal, the butterfly flawlessly evaded the rising flames.
The Joyeuse Gundam's counterattacks proved lethal to these Dagger L units. Every beam from its GN Sword Rifle eliminated an enemy, and firing dozens of shots took Reid less than a minute. He swiftly broke through the Dagger L forces and pressed directly toward the enemy mothership.
By now, even the dullest commander at Daedalus Base could recognize the Joyeuse Gundam's exceptional nature. Its combat efficiency far surpassed any enemy unit.
Coupled with the fact that the already famous Blade Angel Gundam and NT-X2 Gundam were clearly escorting this new Gundam, the pilot's identity needed no speculation.
Without waiting for headquarters' signal, the frontline commander of the 7th Mobile Battalion immediately ordered:
"Distribute photos of the lead mobile suit to all units. Shoot it down at all costs. The pilot's survival is irrelevant, but under no circumstances can we allow it to escape."
Simultaneously, as if echoing the 7th Mobile Battalion commander's words, five additional launch platforms - two large and three small - emerged from Daedalus Base.
Two large Mobile Armors and three Mobile Suits rose, directly blocking Reid's assault path toward the fleet.
Staring at the new adversaries, Reid muttered in exasperation:
"Damn, two Golden Starfish and a Double Three Young Aces? Daedalus Base was hiding these?"
Reid remained unaware of the Astray Reverse Red Frame's existence, as it was currently engaged in combat against six Kiharu II Kai units in the upper space zone.
Thus, when the three bizarre Mobile Suits from the Acteon Plan and the peculiar Mobile Armors developed by Azrael's military corporations appeared, Reid couldn't help but be astonished.
Here's an introduction to these three peculiar Mobile Suits and two unusual Mobile Armors:
The three peculiar Mobile Suits were:
-
GAT-X131B Azure Gundam Calamity
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GAT-X252R Crimson Forbidden Gundam
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GAT-X370G Ochre Steal Gundam
These three Gundams were essentially double-armed versions of the original Three Young Aces' units.
Acteon Company's design philosophy was brutally simple: worried about insufficient firepower? Just double all weapons to double the firepower.
As for mobility issues - while the original versions had to consider battery limitations - now, with Minovsky Particle Fusion Reactor technology obtained from PLANT, power supply was no longer an issue.
Of course, doubled armaments significantly increased piloting difficulty. Chief Engineer Valerio Valeri acquired Lowe Guele's Hachi code to develop an artificial intelligence called "80".
Compared to the New Misurugi Kingdom's AI assistance systems, this artificial intelligence was practically artificial stupidity. Still, it somewhat alleviated the pilots' inability to simultaneously control so many weapons.
Then there were the two bizarre MAs - identical models developed by the military enterprise under the Azrael conglomerate, designated TSX-MA717/ZD Peggrande.
How should one describe this MA? Its main body resembled a starfish mutated by nuclear radiation.
Moreover, since it was developed by the military enterprise under the Azrael conglomerate, one could only say they've created "mutated creatures" through their nuclear experiments.
Of course, while ugly, its practicality as a weapon was equally questionable.
This MA was equipped with the latest Dragoon System, with each Dragoon being a large Beam Cannon. However, since ordinary people's spatial recognition abilities couldn't maximize the Dragoon System's potential, the Azrael conglomerate inhumanely developed a Human Brain Connection System.
This system had nothing to do with the Psycho-link system researched by Elvira Hill.
The Azrael conglomerate performed surgical modifications to achieve synchronization processing, allowing three pilots' brains to connect directly through machinery, each responsible for X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis calculations to simulate spatial recognition ability.
One could only say that after undergoing such cruel surgery, these pilots became temporary weapons - even if they survived the battlefield, they couldn't return to normal life, and would most likely be disposed of like trash by the Atlantic Federation.
Yet despite paying such a high price, the spatial recognition ability obtained was probably inferior to Mu's capabilities during the opening of the original SEED series. One could only say that the Azrael conglomerate consistently behaves inhumanely without achieving any significant results.
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