Chapter 108: SEED - The Crimson Sea 2
At the same time, an alarm rang throughout the Archangel: "All hands, second-level combat readiness. Repeat, all hands, second-level combat readiness."
In the hangar, Mu, still busy repairing his unit, complained with a disgruntled look. "Wasn't this area supposed to be free of ZAFT forces?"
Murdock, forced to pause his work, replied helplessly. "How should I know? I never thought we'd run into ZAFT troops here. The Archangel really has the worst luck."
Taking the opportunity, Tolle also put down his tools, chiming in with a mocking tone. "Yeah, no kidding. To run into ZAFT forces in a place like this—what rotten luck. Good thing I pushed you guys to hurry and finish this setup, otherwise I wouldn't even be able to sortie."
Closing his eyes, Murdock clearly didn't want to bother with Tolle, answering half-heartedly. "Yeah, yeah, you've got great instincts, brat! But how about cutting us some slack and lightening our workload a little?"
Seeing Murdock was already annoyed, Tolle decided not to argue further. After all, he still needed Murdock to finish the modifications. He and Mu quickly headed to the changing room to put on their space suits, ready to sortie at any moment.
On the deck, Kira had immediately pulled on his uniform the moment the alarm sounded. After helping Flay get dressed, he grabbed her hand and rushed back.
Meanwhile, the Archangel's radar confirmed the ZAFT unit types. "Enemy mobile suits identified," the radar operator reported. "Two DINNs, air-combat type!"
Upon learning the enemy's strength, Murrue ordered decisively. "All hands, first-level combat readiness! Have Lieutenant La Flaga, Ensign Yamato, and Ensign Tolle prepare to launch!"
Natarle, knowing Strike Gundam's Aile and Sword packs were still damaged and unrepaired, was reluctant to let it sortie. "Captain Ramius, the Strike right now…"
But Murrue, tense and serious, cut her off. "I know. The Strike can neither fly nor fight underwater as it is, but we'll have to overcome that somehow."
At the same time, the radar operator reported that the ZAFT suits were still closing in. Natarle, unwilling to risk the Strike yet, tried to have the Archangel repel the attack directly. "Load missile tubes 7 through 10. Ready and fire! Activate automated CIWS defense! Linear cannons, target and fire!"
But the DINNs' aerial maneuverability was too strong. They easily evaded the missiles and weaved freely between the CIWS fire.
Seeing the situation, Natarle had no choice but to order Mu's Skygrasper to launch first, keeping the Strike in reserve for now. After all, if the Archangel were destroyed, the Strike would never make it to Alaska.
As Mu launched in the Skygrasper, Murdock turned to Tolle. "Brat, orders from above. We're mounting the underwater propulsion system onto the Strike. Once you launch, just stick to the Archangel's deck and help defend against attacks."
Tolle could only accept it. The Strike's performance was better, and ZAFT had no mobile suit as effective underwater. If it meant staying alive, he'd let Kira take it. Still, he grumbled at Murdock. "What, seriously? My underwater thrusters, and Kira gets to use them first? …Fine, guess that's how it is. I'll just sortie in the Recon Ginn. At least its beam rifle outranges the ones on the High-performance Ginn's shield system."
"Yeah, fine, that works," Murdock agreed.
Just then, Cagalli rushed into the hangar, about to climb into the cockpit of Skygrasper Unit 2, but Murdock quickly blocked her. "That one can't launch! It's still damaged. Don't go running around recklessly."
Seeing the Skygrasper's broken tail fin, Cagalli had no choice but to leave the hangar in frustration.
Murdock's team hurriedly installed the underwater propulsion system onto the Strike and brought out the Ginn's bazooka to equip it as well. Meanwhile, Tolle boarded the Recon Ginn, waiting for Mu to clear the two DINNs near the launch bay so he could sortie safely.
Once deployed, Mu immediately engaged the DINNs at the Archangel's launch zone with machine guns and beam fire. The combined barrage from the Archangel and Skygrasper put the enemy under pressure.
Forced to back off, the DINNs counterattacked Mu. They fired scattershot rifles while pulling away, then followed up with heavy machine-gun fire.
Mu had no choice but to break off, pulling his Skygrasper back in search of an opening to re-engage.
Seizing the chance, Tolle catapulted out in the Recon Ginn, ignited his thrusters, landed on the deck, and fired his beam sniper rifle at the two DINNs.
The DINNs immediately split and dodged, evading Tolle's shots.
At that moment, the Archangel's sonar systems gave an alert. "Sonar contact! Four… no, correction, two. Judging by their speed, they must be underwater mobile suits!"
Natarle's unease deepened. "What did you say? Underwater mobile suits—it's the GOOhNs!"
The operator's voice grew urgent. "Sonar spike detected! Incoming torpedoes!"
"Evasive maneuvers!" Murrue ordered at once.
"It's too late!" the helmsman shouted back nervously.
Hearing there was no time to evade, Murrue's expression darkened. But then she snapped out a new order. "Maximum thrust—get us airborne!"
The helmsman yanked the controls, driving the engines to full power. The Archangel surged upward, the resistance of the water shaking the entire hull and sending the crew tumbling about.
But it worked—the Archangel lifted clear just in time, narrowly avoiding the GOOhNs' torpedo barrage.
Underwater, the two GOOhNs could only watch as their target slipped from range.
Unwilling to give up, they surfaced immediately, unleashing both head-mounted torpedoes and beam fire at the Archangel, which had just broken free of the sea.
(Support me and read ahead on Patreøn: patreøn.com/craxxtranslations.
3 new chapters are released daily—thank you for your support!
Powerstone Event: For every 50 powerstones, 1 chapter will be unlocked.)