Chapter 315: Freedom Sets Sail 1
On a P.L.A.N.T satellite, Siegel looked flustered as he went to find Mentor Malchio. "It really won't work… Even the mentor's shuttle can't get approval. Right now, anyone trying to depart for Earth is being denied permission…"
Before he could finish speaking, a communications officer rushed in with an urgent signal. "Chairman Clyne, Eileen Canaver is calling. She says it's an emergency."
"Oh? Put her through." After instructing the officer, Siegel switched to Eileen's channel. "This is Siegel Clyne. Canaver, what's going on?"
Eileen replied anxiously, "Chairman Clyne, we've all been deceived by Patrick Zala. The target of the Operation Spitbreak isn't the Panama Base—it's the Alaska Base."
Siegel immediately asked in alarm, "Canaver, what did you say?"
"They're planning to wipe out the Earth Alliance's headquarters in one decisive strike. We never approved this kind of ruling in any of the previous meetings."
"Damn it. For Zala to do something like this—he's completely betrayed everyone's trust in him." Siegel clenched his teeth. "I'm heading over right now. I have to confront him and find out exactly what's going on."
After ending the call, Siegel turned to Mentor Malchio and apologized. "I'm very sorry, Mentor. I've made a fool of myself. It seems you'll have to stay on P.L.A.N.T for a while longer.
I have urgent matters to deal with, so I'll have to excuse myself."
Mentor Malchio nodded calmly. "Chairman Clyne, please attend to your affairs. There's no need to worry about me."
After bidding farewell to Mentor Malchio, Siegel hurried off in a panic, leaving without even stopping to speak to Lacus.
Nearby, upon hearing the news that ZAFT was launching a full-scale assault on the Earth Alliance's Alaska Base, Kira instantly lost his composure. Even the teacup in his hand slipped and shattered on the table.
Thinking of his companions and the Archangel—who were all at the Alaska Base—Kira grew increasingly anxious, his body beginning to tremble uncontrollably.
Seeing this, Lacus immediately stepped forward, took Kira's hand, and began to comfort him.
At the Alaska Base, still completely unaware of what was about to happen, Mu, Natarle, and Flay went their separate ways. Mu and Flay were assigned to the Panama Base, while Natarle was sent to the lunar base.
However, halfway through, after arranging for Flay to line up, Mu ran off alone toward the Archangel, intending to say goodbye to Murrue.
Unfortunately, at that very moment, the base's alarms blared. ZAFT forces had already launched a full-scale assault on the Alaska Base.
The skies outside the base were packed with ZAFT transport aircraft, while the space overhead was filled with ZAFT warships and MS landing craft.
As the ZAFT transports approached the Alaska Base, one mobile suit after another burst out from their holds, charging straight toward the base.
Upon spotting the dense ZAFT forces, the soldiers inside the Alaska Base immediately activated the base's defensive cannons, machine guns, beam cannons, missile launchers, and other weapons.
They opened fire on the ZAFT MS units descending from the sky.
But it was already too late. The ZAFT mobile suits were too close. Many of the outer defensive emplacements were destroyed before they could fire more than a few shots.
Immediately afterward, ZAFT's forward units—ground combat types like GINNs, BuCUEs, and ZGOOTs; naval units like ZONOs; and aerial units such as DEENs and SIGUs—charged en masse toward the Alaska Base.
The battle was unimaginably fierce. Both the Earth Alliance and ZAFT forces unleashed relentless attacks against each other.
Dense crossfire intertwined in the air, and defensive turrets and mobile suits were constantly struck, reduced to piles of ash in the explosions.
Yzak, piloting the Assault Shroud Duel Gundam mounted on an SFS GOUF, also joined the assault.
He launched attacks against the Earth Alliance's outer defenses, continuously aiming his beam rifle at the warships at sea and firing streak after streak of green beams.
"Although fighting here puts the Archangel at a severe disadvantage, the headquarters base can't just be allowed to fall." Aboard the Archangel, Murrue watched the situation nervously and immediately issued orders. "All hands, Condition One battle stations. The Archangel is to sortie immediately and carry out defensive operations."
Katz aboard the Archangel, terrified of going into battle, took advantage of the chaos to sneak off the ship and hide in the harbor of the Alaska Base.
Meanwhile, on a P.L.A.N.T satellite, Lacus looked at the distraught, tearful Kira and asked gently, "Kira, are you alright?"
Though tears streamed down Kira's face, his resolve remained firm. "I'm leaving."
Lacus asked in confusion, "Where are you going now?"
"To Earth. I have to go back."
"Why? Even if you return to Earth now, the war won't end because of it."
"But I can't do it—standing here and watching this war break out with my own eyes."
Lacus looked at Kira with a troubled expression, her heart tangled in thought. What should she do next? What could she do? Should she help Kira in some way?
At that moment, Kira said with unwavering determination, "I don't want to keep saying that I can't do anything, that I'm powerless and can only stand by.
Those words only make me even more helpless—unable to change anything, unable to bring anything to an end."
Looking into Kira's resolute eyes, Lacus smiled and asked, "Do you want to fight ZAFT again?"
Kira smiled and shook his head. Lacus, still wearing her innocent expression, asked again, "Then… are you going to fight the Earth Alliance instead?"
Influenced by Mentor Malchio's ideals of peace, Kira shook his head once more and replied, "I think I finally understand a little… what it is that we truly must fight against."
Seeing that Kira had been successfully guided by both herself and Mentor Malchio, Lacus said with relief, "I understand. Please wait a moment."
She then immediately had someone bring out a ZAFT red uniform. Handing it to Kira, she said, "Kira, please put this on. I'll take you to a place."