Kira entered the bridge, his gaze firmly fixed on Wang Hu.
Just like everyone else on the bridge, it was as if Wang Hu possessed an inexplicable charisma that made people unable to resist following him!
"How we fight and where we fight shouldn't be decided by them—it should be decided by us."
With a powerful sweep of his hand, as if shattering the invisible chains in everyone's hearts, Wang Hu beckoned the group to gather around the tactical platform.
"Everyone, take a look."
Wang Hu tapped on the tactical platform's interface, pulling up the positions of their ship, the Archangel, the lunar base, and the Eurasian Federation's space fortress.
"Logically speaking, based on location and risk assessment, our best option would undoubtedly be heading to Artemis under the protection of the Eurasian Federation's 'Umbrella of the Moon.'"
"Umbrella of the Moon?" Kira, who usually paid little attention to military affairs, asked in confusion.
"The so-called 'Umbrella of the Moon' is a special defensive technology developed by the Eurasian Federation. By installing specific beam generators, the entire fortress can be completely shielded," Li Chengzhi explained, seeing Kira's lack of understanding.
"This protection is extremely thorough. With current technology, there's no way to breach it head-on."
"Ah?" Kira looked astonished. "Doesn't that make it an impregnable fortress?"
"Indeed," Mu nodded in agreement.
"Since this technology was developed, even ZAFT's repeated attacks have failed to penetrate it."
"There's no such thing as an impregnable fortress," Wang Hu said with a smile after they finished explaining the Umbrella of the Moon.
"The Maginot Line in the old century was also called impregnable, yet it was still breached."
"You have a way to breach Artemis?"
Startled, Natarle Badgiruel stared at Wang Hu, who spoke so casually about the fortress the Eurasian Federation took such pride in.
"That's not the issue for today," Wang Hu redirected the discussion.
"Lieutenant Badgiruel, your original plan was to use decoy missiles to mislead Creuset, correct?"
"Yes," Natarle replied, knowing now wasn't the time to dwell on whether Wang Hu could breach the Eurasian Federation's fortress. Seeing that he had already guessed her intentions, she openly shared her considerations.
"First, we launch a decoy missile to create the illusion that our ship is heading to the Allied Forces' lunar headquarters. After a period of silence, we'll stealthily proceed toward the Artemis fortress."
"With the enemy in the open and us in the shadows, even if they grow suspicious, we can at least divert one of their battleships as a precaution."
"This would reduce the immediate threat we face. Based on my estimates, it's highly likely the enemy's fast Nazca-class battleship would chase the decoy missile toward the lunar base."
"Because their ship is fast, even if they realize it's a decoy, they can still turn back in time."
"We'd exploit this time gap, during which we'd only need to face one slower Laurasia-class battleship."
Wang Hu first acknowledged Natarle's idea—after all, under normal circumstances, her plan was indeed highly feasible.
However, the one thing she misjudged was Creuset! That Creuset hadn't taken the bait at all!
"Correct." A faint smile appeared on Natarle Badgiruel's face as Wang Hu's affirmation lifted her spirits.
"Useless. The force approaching is Creuset's team."
Wang Hu's words instantly wiped the expression from Natarle's now-animated face.
"If I weren't here, tricks like yours would never fool Creuset."
"Why?" Natarle retorted indignantly. Wasn't Wang Hu just praising himself between the lines?
Pure self-aggrandizement!
"Because I'm Wang Hu." Facing Natarle's skepticism, Wang Hu pointed unapologetically at his own nose.
"Qilin of the Nova, The Strongest Natural, Fangs of the Alliance."
"I'm Creuset's equal. While he holds absolute psychological advantage over you, he'll treat me with the utmost seriousness!"
"You—!" Natarle was so furious she nearly lost her composure, had Murrue not swiftly restrained her.
Even while maintaining her military bearing—despite already having several arguments with Li Chengzhi—
Natile felt there were times when image could be temporarily set aside.
"Do as I say." A glint flashed in Wang Hu's eyes as he laid out his plan.
Thus, the Archangel began preparing to act according to Wang Hu's instructions.
Meanwhile, after the satellite's collapse, Creuset had returned to his mothership and was now studying the tactical platform.
"Any updates from the Kamov?"
Creuset asked his adjutant about the situation on the other Laurasia-class Battleship.
"None, Captain Creuset." The adjutant glanced at the intelligence officer before answering his superior's question.
"Is that so?" Creuset remained hunched over the tactical platform, scrutinizing the map.
Would that ship head for the Allied Forces' lunar base, or the nearest Eurasian Federation fortress, Artemis?
Without Wang Hu aboard, it would be easy to guess. But with that man present, underestimation wasn't an option.
Just as Wang Hu had said aboard the Archangel, Creuset was giving this his complete attention when facing Wang Hu.
Decisions that would normally come easily now left Creuset hesitating.
As time ticked by, the adjutant watched Creuset standing silently before the tactical platform, awed by Wang Hu's formidable reputation.
In all his time serving under Captain Creuset, this was the first time he'd seen the captain so intensely focused!
At that moment, the Vesalius' intelligence officer suddenly stood up and reported:
"Captain! Thermal imaging radar has detected a large heat signature moving toward the Allied Forces' lunar base!"
"Captain Creuset!" Hearing this, the adjutant urgently suggested, "We should intercept immediately!"
"Wait!" Creuset motioned for silence, instinctively recognizing this as a trap.
Knowing that man as he did, such a simple, crude trick wasn't his style.
"Captain?" the adjutant murmured, watching Creuset remain frozen before the tactical platform. He wanted to speak but feared interrupting his commander's thoughts.
Several minutes passed before the intelligence officer called out again.
"Large heat source detected, heading towards Artemis of the Eurasian Federation!"
"Captain," the adjutant called again.
"This time it must be real. What should we do?"
"Wait a little longer!" Creuset waved his hand dismissively, once again rejecting the adjutant's suggestion.
He still held the same judgment—Wang Hu was not a man to be taken lightly!
Watching helplessly, the adjutant grew increasingly anxious and couldn't help pacing in place.
The Allied Forces' new battleship, the Archangel, was clearly a high-speed warship.
If they didn't begin pursuit immediately,
by the time they confirmed the enemy's true course of action,
their Nazca-class high-speed warships might still have a chance to catch up,
but the Laurasia-class Battleships would be completely out of the running!
After another moment, the intelligence officer stood up yet again and shouted,
"Large heat source detected once more, heading towards the enemy's lunar base!"
This time, faced with the intelligence officer's new report, the adjutant didn't even want to speak.
Their captain would surely say the same thing—wait a little longer.
Wait a little longer, and the opportunity would be long gone! The adjutant grumbled internally, his thoughts far from respectful.
"Order this ship to set course for the Eurasian Federation's fortress, Artemis!"
"Contact Serman and have his Kamov pursue the Allied Forces' lunar base. Simultaneously, using my FAITH authority, issue orders to all nearby friendly warships."
"Direct them to converge on the enemy's routes to both Artemis Fortress and the lunar base headquarters!"
After careful consideration, Creuset decided to go all out. Facing that man, no amount of caution was excessive!
"Captain!" The adjutant was stunned. Never had he imagined that his captain, who had remained inactive until now, would make such an earth-shattering move!
Attacking a neutral nation's satellite without authorization was already something they'd have to explain to both military command and the Council.
Now, he was even using his privileges to mobilize so many warships!
This was practically tearing the heavens apart!
(End of Chapter)