Chapter 320: The Alaska Defensive Battle (3)
Neumann immediately pulled the control lever and executed an emergency evasive maneuver. Although the automatic anti-air Vulcan defense system intercepted most of the incoming missiles,
some still struck the Archangel, and the shockwaves from the explosions rocked the entire ship violently, sending it lurching from side to side.
Chandra panicked as she reported to Murrue, "Single-mounted linear cannons No. 1 and No. 2 destroyed. Automatic defensive gun turrets No. 3 and No. 7 destroyed. The Archangel's damage rate has exceeded 30%!"
Rommel also reported nervously, "The Yerumak and Yaroslav have been sunk."
Hearing such dire news, Murrue asked anxiously, "What's the status of communications with headquarters command?"
Denim replied helplessly, "Nothing's getting through! Every channel returns the same reply message.
They're telling all units to hold their own defensive lines and provide mutual support as the situation allows!"
Neumann also reported tensely, "The harbor approach system has been cut off—we can't return anymore.
Captain Ramius, if this keeps up, sooner or later we'll—"
Under the relentless bombardment, the Archangel continued to shake violently.
Sai couldn't help asking, "When are the reinforcements from the Panama base going to arrive? Where are they? If this keeps going, the entire Alaska base is going to be finished."
Rommel answered blankly, "I can't see anything. Not even a trace."
At that moment, Chandra reported again, "A large number of missiles are approaching at high speed! The automatic anti-air Vulcan defense system won't be able to intercept them in time!"
At this critical moment, Tolle arrived near the Archangel, piloting the Astray Gundam Zero.
Seeing the twelve Ginn attacking the Archangel, Tolle immediately flew into a rage. His girlfriend was still on board—how could the Archangel be allowed to sink?!
He immediately pushed the Astray Gundam Zero's firepower to maximum, unleashing a full salvo with its beam rifle, twin-barrel Gatling cannon, electromagnetic cannon, railgun, and Gatling guns toward the twelve Ginn.
Shells roared out in torrents, intercepting the incoming missiles while simultaneously wiping out all twelve Ginn in an instant, turning them into fireworks in the sky.
Tolle crooked his mouth into a grin and said to everyone aboard the Archangel, "Yo, looks like I made it just in time, huh?"
Murrue looked at Tolle's strange smile and said awkwardly, "Ah… thank you, Tolle. Your timing couldn't have been better."
Neumann couldn't help adding, "Thanks. ZAFT's attacks were way too intense. If you'd arrived any later, I wouldn't even know how to dodge anymore."
"Don't worry, everyone. I'm not going anywhere now—I'll focus on protecting the Archangel right here."
Miriallia said tearfully, overwhelmed with emotion, "Tolle, I really missed you so much."
"Miriallia, I'm back." Tolle rubbed his nose and said a bit sheepishly, "I won't say any other flag-raising stuff for now. We'll talk about that once we meet face to face."
Sai joined in teasing, "Oh~ then you really shouldn't say it. Those private words aren't something we're supposed to hear."
"Yeah, yeah, we're not supposed to hear that!"
Everyone joined in the teasing for a while, but unfortunately, happy moments always passed quickly.
Chandra reported again, "This is bad—another batch of Ginn is approaching! More than thirty units!"
Murrue looked at Tolle nervously and asked, "Ensign Tolle, do you still have enough ammunition and energy? We'll be counting on you again."
"Don't worry. I've got enough energy and ammo to give ZAFT one hell of a beating."
The bravado was there, but when Tolle glanced at the display showing his solid-ammunition reserves nearly depleted, he quickly opened the storage space. With Nami's assistance, he resupplied the Astray Gundam Zero's weapons to avoid causing panic.
Meanwhile, Mu had just arrived at another exit on the opposite side of the Alaska base, which had already been breached by ZAFT forces.
Taking advantage of the fact that ZAFT's MS had all rushed deeper into the base, Mu immediately boarded a fighter jet and burst out of the hangar.
Before long, he reached the skies above the Archangel. Seeing the ship still fighting on, he said with relief, "Thank goodness, the Archangel's still holding on. But what's with that blue unit? Is it here to protect the Archangel?"
Unfortunately, the moment of relief didn't last. While distracted, Mu's fighter was hit by a Zaku, damaging the fuselage. He immediately pulled the controls, turned toward the Archangel, and called for help, "This is Mu La Flaga! Archangel, do you read me?! Archangel, do you read me?!"
However, the fighter's communicator had been damaged, and the Archangel didn't respond.
With no other choice, Mu gritted his teeth and flew straight toward the damaged section of the Archangel's deck, forcing a landing.
Seeing a fighter trailing black smoke suddenly flying toward the Archangel in the distance, Tolle thought to himself, Could that be Mu piloting it?
He immediately piloted the Astray Gundam Zero over to provide cover for Mu's return, raising his beam rifle and attacking the Zaku and several other MS pursuing the fighter.
Beam after beam streaked past, nearly every shot blowing apart an MS.
On the Archangel's bridge, when Miriallia saw the fighter approaching, she reported to Murrue, "A friendly fighter is approaching—it looks like it's been hit."
Murrue stared at the fighter on the main display and said blankly, "Is he trying to land on the Archangel?"
Neumann also looked completely baffled. "This pilot is being way too reckless."
Murrue immediately picked up the phone and called the hangar crew. "Maintenance crew, some idiot fighter pilot from who-knows-where is trying to crash into the hangar. Get out of there right now!"
Unable to contact the Archangel, Mu focused intently on the breach in the hangar deck and muttered to himself, "Everyone, please clear the way for me, okay? Otherwise this is going to be a real problem."
He then shoved the control lever forward and plunged straight into the opening in one go.
Once the fighter came to a stop, Mu jumped out of the cockpit and hurried straight toward the Archangel's bridge.
Upon arriving, he immediately said anxiously to Murrue, "Captain Ramius!"
Seeing Mu suddenly return, Murrue asked in confusion, "Major Flaga? Why are you back? Weren't you already… How did the transfer go? Did something happen?"
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