Chapter 206: Barge Attack and Defense Battle 1
A series of continuous thin blue beams struck the electromagnetic protective barrier and soon pierced through the shield generated by the reflective magnetic drums with ease.
The laser beams hit the Virgo units like cutting torches, slicing their mobile doll bodies apart.
When the first wave of attacks ended, the White Fang's drone forces suffered heavy losses—nearly forty percent of the front-line Virgo squadrons had been wiped out.
On our side, the Virgo II's laser beam rifles had overheated from prolonged firing and needed to cool down; some even exploded, rendered damaged and unusable.
That was their greatest weakness—they couldn't be used continuously for long periods. They were fine for intimidation, but if people found out they were one-shot weapons, that would be humiliating.
Still, most could be used again after a short cooldown. If each firing lasted less than ten seconds, they could still remain operational for a long time.
Tolle had already anticipated this. Each pilot carried three laser beam rifles and one standard beam rifle, allowing them to alternate fire in turns.
Tolle then piloted the Wing Gundam Zero Snow White Prelude, transformed into MA Mode, and, braving the hail of beam rifle rounds and beam cannon fire from the enemy, charged straight into the middle of the drone swarm.
The Wing Gundam Zero Snow White Prelude smoothly decelerated, transformed back into MS Mode, spread its movable wings, split the twin-barreled Twin Buster Rifle in two, and gripped one in each hand.
Raising both hands to either side, the Wing Gundam Zero Snow White Prelude fired two continuous, massive destructive beams in opposite directions.
As the destructive beams blazed forth, the Gundam spun with them—two radiant lances of energy swirling in a deadly dance.
After several full 360-degree sweeping rotations, the destructive beams left nothing of the White Fang's drone squadrons but drifting debris.
Seeing the battle turn against him, Milliardo Peacecraft could no longer sit idle. He piloted the Gundam Epyon, transformed into MA Mode, and dove into the battlefield at high speed.
Reaching the vicinity of the Barge Fortress, the Epyon reverted to MS Mode and began slashing through nearby Virgo II units with its massive beam saber and electrothermal whip.
As if in a no-man's land, the Virgo IIs fell before him one after another without resistance.
Seeing the Epyon's arrival, Tolle felt a twinge of unease. After all, the last time he'd faced it, he'd only won by pushing his limits and joining forces with others to defeat its pilot, Heero Yuy.
Milliardo's piloting skills were far above Heero's, and he was already fully synchronized with the Epyon's Zero System. Tolle wasn't sure he could win this time.
Should he risk activating his own? He thought for a few seconds but ultimately decided against it—he wasn't eager to lose his mind.
If he accidentally destroyed the Barge Fortress, that would become a major scandal.
Helplessly, Tolle turned to Lady Une and said, "Lady, I'm going to engage Milliardo. I'll leave things here to you. When you fire the Barge's main cannon, make sure to issue an all-channel announcement—otherwise some people might twist it to smear Treize."
Lady Une glanced toward the Epyon's direction. Though her face was stern, her voice remained calm. "Understood. I'll handle it. Be careful out there."
Tolle nodded, then piloted the Wing Gundam Zero Snow White Prelude toward the Epyon.
"Gundam Epyon, this time it's different—taste my Six Dwarf-Star Floating Cannons!"
With a sharp whoosh, six Dwarf-Star Floating Cannons launched from the Snow White Prelude's movable wings, speeding toward the Epyon and beginning their free-form assault.
Seeing the floating cannons for the first time, Milliardo was momentarily taken aback by their agility.
He tried to counter with the Epyon's large beam saber and electrothermal whip, but under Nami's precise control, the six Dwarf-Star Floating Cannons darted around him like nimble dragonflies—swift, unpredictable, and deadly.
Milliardo quickly lost his rhythm. Whenever he targeted a few of the cannons, they would instantly dodge, while the others swooped in for coordinated counterattacks.
In the end, he could only pilot the Epyon toward the Barge Fortress, intending to use it as cover.
But Tolle saw through the move. He linked two of the Dwarf-Star Floating Cannons together, fired a high-powered destructive beam, and successfully blocked the Epyon's advance.
Milliardo was forced to temporarily withdraw from the fortress perimeter. The six floating cannons returned to the Snow White Prelude's movable wings.
As they docked, Milliardo glared at the Snow White Prelude from his cockpit with pure hatred, and Tolle suddenly felt a chill—an ominous premonition.
Milliardo must have already marked him as his primary enemy. After all, Tolle's floating cannon system was making its debut in this world.
Together with the Virgo II's laser beam rifles, it probably made him look like a war-obsessed fanatic—perhaps even someone Milliardo now viewed as a threat to eliminate.
Of course, Tolle knew this war was nothing more than a performance between him and Treize—a grand play designed to expose and purge every warmonger and weapon of mass destruction.
He just hadn't expected to find himself drawn into the role as well.
Elsewhere, back on Earth, Heero Yuy learned of the battle and was determined to join it.
With Sally Po's assistance, he took the Deathscythe Gundam and the fully repaired and upgraded Gundam Sandrock Kai (Custom), loaded them aboard a shuttle, and headed for space—handing the two Gundams over to Quatre Raberba Winner and Duo Maxwell.
Watching Milliardo's retreat, Lady Une finally let out a quiet breath of relief. Then she opened a channel and broadcast to everyone on the battlefield:
"All personnel on the battlefield, listen carefully! This is your final ultimatum!
The colony satellites on the opposing side must withdraw from the combat zone immediately. Our forces have no desire to involve innocent civilians in this war.
Cease your support for the White Fang organization and your resistance against the OZ Forces—or the Barge Fortress's main cannon will target and fire upon your colonies.
I repeat—this is the final ultimatum…!"