Chapter 71: SEED – Before the Forced Landing
Kira Yamato hesitated as he spoke to General Halberton.
"But… people say the greater the power, the greater the responsibility. You should do as much as your abilities allow."
"That depends on whether you have the belief to support it. Without belief, a man will accomplish nothing."
Kira Yamato was shaken by General Halberton's words, standing silently in place as he watched him leave.
Elsewhere, in the rest area, Miriallia Haw and Sai Argyle's group also received their discharge permits, delivered by Natarle Badgiruel, from the Archangel of the Earth Alliance's Eighth Fleet.
These included the permits for Kira Yamato and Tolle Koenig as well.
Colonel Hoffman explained that even in times of emergency, it was still a crime for civilians to participate in war.
As a way to sidestep this risk, the enlistment dates had been backdated, treating them as if they had been drafted as volunteer soldiers before the fact.
He further reminded them that even after discharge, they were forbidden to disclose anything about their time in service.
At that moment, Flay Allster stepped forward, declaring that she had decided to enlist voluntarily. Sai Argyle and the others were taken aback.
Colonel Hoffman then learned that she was the daughter of George Allster, Deputy Director of Affairs.
With emotion, Flay Allster spoke to them.
"I'm not joking. I was devastated when my father was killed.
At the time, all I could think was that I never wanted this to happen again. I kept thinking I couldn't just stay here.
When I learned that we could rendezvous with the fleet and finally return to Earth, I felt something strange inside.
Would that really bring me peace? Would that really mean peace itself?
Impossible!
The world continues its wars, just as it always has. The only reason I didn't notice was because I was living in a neutral nation.
My father worked tirelessly so that the war could end sooner.
True peace, true safety, can only be achieved through war.
I want to inherit my father's will and fight as well."
Tears streamed down her face as she went on.
"Even if my strength might not amount to much in the war, I still want to contribute whatever little I can."
In the end, Flay Allster was supported and led away by Colonel Hoffman and Natarle Badgiruel.
Sai Argyle, unable to set his mind at ease about her, tore up his discharge permit and chose to enlist alongside Flay Allster.
Miriallia Haw also decided to join Flay Allster, while keeping both her own and Tolle Koenig's discharge permits so she could wait for Tolle's return here.
Kuzzey Buskirk likewise agreed, keeping his discharge permit for now, but choosing to stay with her and enlist.
Together, they looked at Kira Yamato's remaining discharge permit and decided to deliver it to him.
Meanwhile, Kira Yamato, having left the Strike Gundam, encountered the little girl again in the Archangel's second hangar.
The child called out to him warmly, giving him a paper flower in thanks for protecting the civilians.
Kira, deeply moved, accepted the paper flower.
Sai Argyle's group found Kira in Hangar 2, just as he was preparing to leave.
Seeing them still in uniform, Kira asked curiously,
"What? I thought you were all going to leave."
Miriallia Haw pushed the discharge permit into his hand and said,
"Kira, here. This is your discharge permit. Maybe you'll find it useful."
Sai Argyle explained,
"The Archangel is short on manpower, so we decided to stay."
Miriallia Haw smiled and added,
"Yes, Kira. We're going to remain on the Archangel, remain in the military."
Kira asked in confusion, "Stay? What do you mean by that?"
Miriallia Haw replied,
"Flay enlisted voluntarily. We decided to stay here with her, and I also want to be here to wait for Tolle's return."
Meanwhile, on ZAFT's side, their fleet had already regrouped.
Three warships in total: one Nazca-class and two Laurasia-class.
Aboard them were ten standard Ginns, one custom Ginn, and four Gundams—Aegis, Blitz, Buster, and Duel.
The resupply equipment for Duel and Blitz was also carried on the two Nazca-class ships.
Once repairs were complete, Blitz was re-equipped with its shield system and anchor claws, restoring it to its former state.
Duel, however, received additional armor and weapons, remodeled into the Assault Shroud Duel.
Assault Shroud Duel Gundam
C-class Unit
Life: 2600
Energy: 420
Mobility: 100
Armor: 600
Terrain Adaptation: Sea C / Land B / Air – / Space B
Fixed Armaments:
Head Vulcan x2 (300)
Beam Sabers x2 (1600/6)
Grenade Launcher (1500)
Beam Rifle (1400/5)
Right Shoulder Piercing Rounds (1400)
Left Shoulder Micro Missiles (800)
Shield-mounted Railgun (1000)
Specialized Anti-beam Shield
The custom Ginn was the orange unit left behind by Miguel, that dead man. Had it been repaired sooner, it might have been buried with him.
Ginn (Miguel's Custom)
D–class Unit
Life: 1000
Energy: 220
Mobility: 60
Armor: 280
Terrain Adaptation: Sea – / Land B / Air – / Space B
Fixed Armaments:
MA-M3 Heavy Sword (600)
MMI-M8A3 76mm Heavy Machine Gun (500)
MMI-M636K Beam Rifle (1000/5)
Leg-mounted M68 Triple Missile Launcher x2 (600)
Custom Shield
Currently unmanned, its performance slightly exceeded that of a standard unit, and it just so happened to be stationed aboard one of the Laurasia-class ships.
When Tolle Koenig planned his escape, he could seize and pilot it. He immediately had Nami modify it with assimilation, creating system malfunctions so that no one else could operate it.
What's more, one of the incoming Nazca-class ships belonged to Rau Le Creuset's team, and Tolle had already arranged for Nami to assimilate it earlier.
He also had Nami assimilate the remaining Laurasia-class ship.
This meant he effectively controlled four ZAFT warships now—two Nazca-class and two Laurasia-class.
With everything ready, ZAFT launched the first wave: ten Ginns departing in succession.
Soon after, Blitz, Buster, and Aegis followed close behind.
Yzak Joule, his head newly bandaged, forced himself out of the infirmary, ignoring his pain.
Leaping into his Assault Shroud Duel Gundam, he was determined to settle his score with the Strike Gundam, to exact his vengeance for the two strikes he had suffered.
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