Chapter 70: SEED – Joining Forces & Conversation 2
The adjutant with the mustache and Colonel Hoffman questioned, "But… to just let him go like this…"
Natarle Badgiruel stepped forward and interjected.
"Forgive me for speaking out of turn, but I share the same opinion as Colonel Hoffman. Kira Yamato's abilities are plain for all to see.
And he practically knows all the secrets of the G-weapons. We can't just let him leave."
General Halberton waved his hand at Natarle Badgiruel and said,
"No need to be too concerned, Lieutenant Badgiruel.
One of the Gs is already in ZAFT's hands. At this point, there aren't really any secrets left."
Natarle Badgiruel protested unwillingly.
"But… his abilities are extremely valuable, and his piloting skills are outstanding. If possible, I would like Kira to become part of our strength."
General Halberton replied,
"But from what I heard in Captain Ramius' words, it seems the boy himself has no such intention."
Natarle Badgiruel still refused to give in.
"Both of his parents are Naturals from Earth.
After Heliopolis was destroyed, they escaped to Earth.
If the military were to place them under supervision…"
Hearing that Natarle Badgiruel actually intended to use Kira's own parents as leverage to force him into compliance, General Halberton slammed the table in anger.
"What kind of nonsense is that? What use is a soldier gained in such a way? Doing so would only chill the hearts of our men!"
Realizing her mistake, Natarle Badgiruel immediately bowed and apologized.
"My deepest apologies, General Halberton." With that, she stepped back and returned to stand beside Murrue Ramius.
General Halberton stood up in displeasure and continued,
"This matter is not to be discussed again. It ends here. What comes next is the real issue!
After this, the Archangel and her crew will be assigned to another fleet and proceed to Earth headquarters in Alaska."
Colonel Hoffman added,
"And the advance unit that was carrying reinforcements was already sunk. We no longer have any personnel to assign to the Archangel."
General Halberton said,
"But now that Heliopolis has been destroyed, only the Archangel and the Strike Gundam remain.
No matter what, we must bring all the data to Alaska."
Murrue Ramius spoke with difficulty, "But we…"
General Halberton said sternly,
"Those developments must be put back on track! ZAFT continues to field new machines!
But those fools who only care about power are wasting the budget on worthless projects!
Do they even understand how many soldiers have died on the battlefield? To them it's nothing but numbers! They don't care at all about the lives of those soldiers!"
Murrue Ramius saluted him solemnly.
"Understood, General Halberton. I will carry your resolve to Alaska."
Mu La Flaga also saluted.
"To be the lucky survivors of Heliopolis… it's hard to refuse. We'll cling to life and see the mission through!"
General Halberton bowed deeply to them. "I'm entrusting this to you!"
Tolle Koenig also sighed, thinking that General Halberton truly was the last conscience of the Earth Alliance. At least saving him wasn't in vain—if only for the fact that he genuinely cared about the lives of soldiers.
Maybe the reason he wanted to save others was just to make up for some regrets of the past.
Perhaps that was why, when dealing with these people, he sometimes showed a saintly side.
But when it came to the irrelevant or those he disliked, he would become a reaper urging death.
To personally grant them humane destruction—maybe that too was to atone for some regrets of the past.
Meanwhile, in the Archangel's hangar, supplies and ammunition were being loaded nonstop, including two Skygrasper fighter planes.
Skygrasper
Class: D-class MA (D+ when equipped with Strike Gundam's backpack)
HP: 500
Energy: 140
Mobility: 105
Armor: 120
Terrain Adaptability: Sea – Land – Air A / Space –
Fixed Weapons: Vulcan x4 (400); Large-Caliber Main Cannon x1 (700); Beam Cannons x2 (1000/5); Missile Pods x2 (600)
Equipment & Design Features: Can mount Strike Gundam's backpacks, allowing mid-air equipment swaps.
Backpack-usable weapons:
Artillery Pack: 320mm Hyper Impulse Cannon (2300/20)
Mobility Pack: 57mm High-Energy Beam Rifle (1400/5)
Melee Pack: 15.78m Anti-Ship Sword (1800/6); Rocket Anchor on left arm (600)
On the Archangel, civilians were also boarding lifeboats in an orderly fashion, transferring to the 8th Fleet's Menelaos to await shuttles back to Earth.
In the hangar, General Halberton found Kira Yamato, who was staring at the Strike Gundam. He approached and asked,
"When it really comes time to part, do you feel reluctant to leave?
Kira Yamato, isn't it?
I looked over the reports. To be honest, the power of you Coordinators really astonishes me.
What was made only reluctantly to counter ZAFT—once in your Coordinators' hands—has become unimaginable superweapons."
Kira Yamato protested nervously, "That's not true…"
General Halberton continued in a gentle tone.
"I heard your parents are both Naturals, yes?"
Kira Yamato nodded nervously. "Y-yes."
General Halberton clasped his hands behind his back, speaking with gravity.
"What kind of dreams did they hold, to make you a Coordinator?
In any case, I truly wish this war would end soon."
Just then, an adjutant stepped forward to report to him.
"Message from the Menelaos—they request your immediate return to the ship."
General Halberton sighed helplessly.
"Ah, really now… I have no time to talk slowly with you. Thank you very much for protecting the Archangel until now. Before the day of peace comes, make sure you don't die."
He then saluted Kira Yamato in farewell, preparing to return to his battleship, the Menelaos.
Watching the departing General Halberton, Kira Yamato asked uneasily,
"Um… the Archangel—what will happen to Captain Ramius and the others?"
"The Archangel will descend directly to Earth. What awaits them will be the battlefield."
"Then…"
"I know what's troubling you. To the military, your power is indeed difficult to overlook.
But even with you here, it doesn't necessarily mean this war can be won. Don't let it go to your head."
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