Chapter 319: The Alaska Defensive Battle (2)
The thermal energy beam test-type Zaku watched as the Astray Gundam Zero charged straight toward it and immediately drew its heavy beam saber, slashing down at Tolle.
Tolle instantly pulled the control lever, spinning sharply to the right to evade, narrowly dodging the heavy beam saber's strike.
He then activated the beam saber on his beam rifle and clashed with it head-on.
The beam saber and heavy beam saber collided several times in succession. Each time the blades met, powerful repulsive forces erupted, occasionally bursting into arcs of plasma lightning along the beam edges.
Seeing that it could not gain the upper hand in close combat, the thermal energy beam test-type Zaku immediately raised a machine gun in its left hand and opened fire on the Astray Gundam Zero, using the barrage to force some distance between the two units.
Tolle responded by pulling the control lever and raising the twin-barrel Gatling cannon, launching an attack at the Zaku's shoulder-mounted thermal conduction energy beam cannon mounts.
At Tolle's instruction, Nami mixed the neo DG Cell bullets into the Gatling cannon's ammunition.
The dense stream of shells struck the Zaku's shoulders, beginning the assimilation of the unit.
Before long, Nami transmitted the monitoring footage—it was indeed Shiho inside the cockpit.
"So it really is Shiho. I knew she might show up on the Alaska battlefield, but I didn't expect to run into her this quickly.
"But that makes things awkward. It'd be such a waste to kill such a delicate beauty. I guess I'll go easy on her, just like with those Dinn.
"Maybe there'll even be a chance to…"
Suddenly, a green beam shot toward the unguarded back of the Astray Gundam Zero, abruptly cutting off Tolle's muttering.
Fortunately, Nami controlled the shield thruster in time, blocking the beam attack.
Tolle immediately maneuvered the Astray Gundam Zero away from the thermal energy beam test-type Zaku and turned to look in the direction the beam had come from.
The one who had launched the attack was none other than Yzak, piloting the Assault Shroud Duel Gundam.
Seeing Yzak, Kira wore a mischievous grin and said, "Yzak, I didn't really feel like playing with you. I was planning to leave you for Kira.
"But now that you've interrupted me, I'll play with you properly. Go ahead and eat my dust."
Tolle then swiftly took control of the Astray Gundam Zero and delivered a spinning kick to the thermal energy beam test-type Zaku, knocking it off the SFS GuA and sending it plunging into the sea.
After landing on the SFS GuA himself, he immediately had Nami seize control of it. Using its flight capability allowed the I.W.S.P. flight backpack to rest for a while, saving some energy as well.
Watching Shiho fall into the sea and seeing the SFS GuA taken over by Tolle, Yzak shouted angrily, "What are the maintenance crews even doing?! I told them to change the GuA's operating codes and security locks to prevent enemy theft! So why is that blue guy still flying off with it?!"
Yzak hesitated, glancing back and forth, then looked at the Astray Gundam Zero already flying far away.
In the end, he decided to rescue Shiho's unit instead, retrieving it and sending her back to the submarine carrier for emergency repairs.
Tolle glanced back, surprised that Yzak hadn't chased after him.
It was simply unbelievable.
He had thought that, with such a powerful enemy right in front of him, that stubbornly proud guy wouldn't care about Shiho and would definitely pursue him instead.
What Tolle didn't realize was that he had flown too fast. Yzak simply couldn't catch up, and his energy and ammunition were nearly depleted, forcing him to give up for the time being.
With no other choice, Tolle headed toward the Archangel's position, preparing to cover its breakout later.
At the same time, on the Archangel's bridge, Chandra reported to Murrue, "Missiles incoming toward the Archangel!"
"Emergency evasive maneuver!" At Murrue's command, Neumann immediately pulled the controls, dodging most of the missiles.
However, just like before, one missile still struck the outer deck hatch of the Archangel's hangar.
Chandra immediately reported, "Starboard side, flight deck hit. Exit hatch has been breached."
The situation was grim. As ZAFT forces pushed deeper, their attacks grew increasingly intense.
Units farther from the Archangel were being destroyed one after another, and even the forces near the ship were starting to collapse.
Rommel then reported, "The battleship Olek has been sunk!"
Murrue issued orders with resignation, "Archangel, move to port and fill the gap left by the Olek."
As the Archangel maneuvered while enduring heavy fire, Murrue made a decisive call. "Activate the automatic anti-air Vulcan defense system—maximum interception mode.
"Twin high-performance convergent fire cannons, fire at the densest concentration of ZAFT MS ahead."
At the command, Rommel controlled the Archangel's twin high-performance convergent fire cannons and fired four green beams forward.
Along the path of those beams, five Ginn units mounted on SFS GuA were instantly destroyed.
But the respite was short-lived. ZAFT reinforcements arrived again, and Chandra continued reporting, "Another batch of Ginn approaching—twelve units!"
Rommel said helplessly to Murrue, "Captain Ramius, there are just too many of them. With this kind of formation, we simply can't hold them off."
Murrue looked deeply troubled, unsure how to respond. After all, behind them was the Earth Alliance's headquarters—the Alaska base.
Retreat was absolutely impossible. No matter what, they could only grit their teeth and continue defending and counterattacking.
Nearby, Chandra couldn't help but cry out in despair, "Damn it! The Archangel is getting beaten to pieces! Those high-ranking officials at headquarters—can't they send us some reinforcements?!"
Sai asked helplessly, "Is our main force all stationed at the Panama base?"
Rommel replied awkwardly, "Uh… that should be the case."
Trying to raise everyone's morale, Miriallia said, "Tolle will arrive soon. He'll definitely come help us."
Sai chimed in as well, "Yeah, Tolle already contacted us earlier. He'll be here any moment now."
Rommel still said awkwardly, "There are too many ZAFT units. For Tolle to break through the encirclement from the outskirts won't be easy either."
At that moment, the twelve Ginn in the sky arrived near the Archangel and began attacking from afar, launching large numbers of missiles, beam shots, and machine-gun fire.
The dense barrage poured down on the Archangel like a torrential rain.
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