Chapter 284: A Shining Moment 3
At the same time, the radar alarm sounded again on the Archangel's bridge. Romero immediately reported to Natarle, who was on duty: "Enemy warship detected on sensors! Confirmed signature—Boaz Grav-class submarine carrier!"
Chatra added from the side, "MS thermal signatures detected. Three units: Aegis, Buster, and Duel."
Natarle hadn't expected ZAFT to catch up again so quickly. She issued orders at once: "Sound the alert. All hands to First Combat Readiness. Notify Captain Ramius to return to the bridge immediately.
"And Major Flaga, Ensign Yamato, and Warrant Officer Tolle—get them ready to launch."
With her command, alarms blared across the Archangel.
Kira scrambled to pull up his pants, grabbed his clothes, and dashed out of his room, leaving a very naked Flay behind.
Android Tolle also rushed out of his room, hurrying toward the hangar.
As the Aegis, Buster, and Duel drew closer and closer to the Archangel—
Back on the bridge, Murrue, now returned, saw the Buster's movements on the display and ordered, "Evasive maneuver! Hard to port!"
Following Neumann's controls, the Archangel slipped cleanly past the beam fired by the Buster's high-impulse long-range sniper rifle.
Natarle then issued attack orders: "Load all anti-air defense missile tubes!
"Activate port and starboard linear cannons, twin high-performance precision beam cannons, and the automated anti-air Vulcan system! Aim aft—prepare to engage."
She turned to Miriallia. "Major Flaga, Kira, and Tolle—are they ready yet? Tell them to launch immediately."
After confirming with the hangar, Miriallia replied, "Major Flaga is already preparing for launch. Kira and Tolle are changing into their pilot suits; they'll be ready shortly."
Mu launched first in his Skygrasper configured for artillery support.
Kira and android Tolle took off in their respective units soon after. But without the SFS Guul this time, the High-Performance Ginn had to temporarily land on the Archangel's starboard deck and wait for an opening.
Kira hovered on standby with the High-Mobility Strike on the port deck.
They waited until the Aegis, Buster, and Duel closed in to attack range.
Perhaps because they were nearing the Tropic of Cancer and no longer needed to conserve ammunition, Natarle ordered, "Linear cannons and anti-air missiles—lock on and fire!"
Yellow beams and a torrent of missiles surged out, streaking toward the three ZAFT suits approaching from astern.
The Archangel's first volley immediately scattered their formation.
But Yzak, Athrun, and Dearka swiftly maneuvered their machines, dodging while firing back, shooting down the incoming missiles.
The Buster then combined its arm-mounted weapons into its long-range sniper mode again, trying to target the Archangel's thrusters.
But Neumann's skilled handling let the ship dodge another beam cleanly.
Because of the ship's severe tilt, Kira and android Tolle had to clear the deck for a moment, returning only once the Archangel stabilized and resuming fire toward the Guuls carrying Athrun's team.
But this time Athrun, Yzak, and Dearka were attacking far more aggressively than usual.
Riding their Guuls at high speed, they unleashed a relentless barrage of beams, missiles, and cannon fire, completely ignoring the Strike, the Ginn, and even Mu's Skygrasper.
It was likely their last chance to corner the Archangel—and with Nicol fresh in their minds, they were desperate.
The Archangel shook violently as it took repeated hits from beams, scatter shots, and missiles.
Seeing things take a bad turn, Kira launched again in the High-Mobility Strike, aiming straight for the Aegis to pin Athrun down and relieve the pressure on the ship.
They exchanged beam-rifle fire, both of them far more serious this time.
Especially Athrun—he was genuinely trying to kill Kira now, aiming every shot at the High-Mobility Strike's weak points.
Kira could only respond in kind, pushing the suit harder as he fired back at the Aegis.
Android Tolle chose the Duel as his opponent. With Nami enabling support-pilot and command-assist functions, he flew toward it and opened fire with the beam rifle on his assault shield.
Yzak saw the orange Ginn approach and exploded in fury. "You again—the bastard who stole Captain Miguel's machine! I'll settle this! First I'll kill you, then that Strike pilot—both of you will pay for Nicol and Captain Miguel!"
Android Tolle mocked him: "Scar-faced pretty boy, focus on the fight.
"Careful running your mouth—you might bite your tongue off.
"Then you really will end up a mute."
"You bastard!" Yzak roared, firing his beam rifle while opening his left shoulder's micro-missile pod.
Beams and tiny missiles poured toward the High-Performance Ginn.
With Nami's support, Android Tolle slipped past the beam fire and burst through the missile cloud—explosions rippled harmlessly behind him in the thruster wake.
He raised the beam rifle on the assault shield and the rocket launcher on his left arm, firing back at the Duel.
They weaved through the air trading attack after attack, but it didn't last long—soon the Ginn's thrusters hit their limit.
Forced to withdraw, Android Tolle returned to the Archangel's starboard deck, switching to long-range suppression fire with the beam rifle to keep the Duel at bay.