From the surface-level assessment, Wang Hu's side had completely crippled Creuset's team in this latest confrontation.
Of the four stolen Gundams, two were severely damaged. Even accounting for the Coordinators' advanced technology, the process of custom-molding replacement parts and conducting repairs meant the Duel Gundam wouldn't be operational anytime soon. The Blitz Gundam was in slightly better condition, but that was only relative...
Creuset's CGUE would be repaired faster, but the damage to their mothership this time would undoubtedly make him more cautious. Under normal circumstances, given the risks to his personal safety, he likely wouldn't take such gambles again. After all, he was a man with grand ambitions.
By this measure, Wang Hu's side could be considered entirely victorious!
However...
Complacency breeds danger—those without foresight will soon face troubles.
"Set course directly for Artemis, the Eurasian Federation's fortress," Wang Hu commanded from the Archangel's bridge. "Also, prepare delayed decoy missile launches—set for 20 minutes after our departure, targeting the Allied Forces' lunar headquarters."
"Understood," Murrue responded immediately, turning to carry out Wang Hu's orders without hesitation.
Pleased with her attitude, Wang Hu gave a slight nod—a gesture that once again drew a sharp gleam in Li Chengzhi's eyes. It was clear now that Wang Hu had his own strategic reasons for pushing Murrue into the captain's seat. If Natarle Badgiruel had taken that position, gaining control would have been far more difficult.
As Li Chengzhi was still musing about Natarle, she abruptly made her presence known.
"Lieutenant Wang Hu," Natarle said with an expressionless, official demeanor. It was unclear whether she was upset about Wang Hu using Murrue as a mouthpiece or resentful of how he, as an East Asian Army officer, had unilaterally placed himself above the Atlantic Federation Army.
"While this operation appears to be a major victory, we are far from being in a position to grow complacent," she continued, playing the role of the wet blanket. She pulled up the tactical display of enemy and allied forces. "Our Qilin sustained extensive damage in this battle, and due to manpower shortages, repairs are expected to take considerable time. During this period, if we encounter another attack, Lieutenant, you will only be able to sortie in the Moebius Zero. In other words, our combat strength has been effectively halved."
"You needn't worry about that, Lieutenant Badgiruel," Li Chengzhi interjected, deliberately emphasizing her rank. Seeing her nitpick even in the wake of such a decisive victory, he stepped forward without backing down. "As it happens, I'm also proficient in mechanical engineering. I'll assist with the Qilin's repairs—by my estimate, the work won't take long."
"Oh?" Natarle's chest rose slightly—she could tell Li Chengzhi was deliberately obstructing her. "Then I'll be watching closely, Lieutenant Li Chengzhi!" After this retort to the irritating man, she shifted to another issue. "True, Creuset's forces suffered heavy losses this time, but everyone must not forget—"
"The enemy's main force is continuously arriving. If I were the enemy, I would definitely tighten the encirclement around us systematically."
"Even if Captain Wang Hu attempts to disrupt the enemy's judgment by deploying delayed decoy missiles..."
"But!" Natarle Badgiruel shot a glance at Li Chengzhi, noting his silence, then turned her gaze to the composed Wang Hu.
After carefully considering the situation internally, Natarle continued with utmost seriousness.
"Captain Wang Hu's mobile suit can't be repaired immediately, which means repeating our previous tactics is impossible."
"There's an extremely high probability this ship will be completely surrounded by the enemy at the Eurasian Federation's fortress, Artemis."
Having freely voiced all her thoughts, Natarle scanned the faces around her.
Mu was the first she dismissed from consideration—her focus remained firmly on Wang Hu and Li Chengzhi.
Speak up! Mu thought as he watched Natarle, itching to ask this woman:
Aren't you going to ask for my opinion at all?
What's the point of only fixating on Wang Hu and the other guy?
Opening his mouth briefly, Mu swallowed his words dejectedly. Faced with this situation, he truly had no worthwhile suggestions to offer.
"You're absolutely right. Thank you for your incisive analysis, Lieutenant Badgiruel," Wang Hu, the primary subject of her scrutiny, nodded approvingly at her assessment.
"So in our current predicament, Lieutenant Badgiruel, do you have any constructive ideas?"
"I—" Natarle was stumped. Identifying problems and solving them were entirely different matters.
Confronted with this thorny issue, if she had to propose a perfect solution...
Well, there didn't seem to be one.
"Heh." Li Chengzhi responded with a cold smirk.
"You—!" Natarle's eyebrows shot up in irritation—the mutual disdain between them was palpable.
Li Chengzhi couldn't stand Natarle, and the feeling was entirely mutual.
As tensions between them threatened to erupt into an argument, Murrue—who had just finished instructing the crew—returned just in time.
With a smile that bordered on placating, Murrue positioned herself between the two and addressed Wang Hu:
"Captain Wang Hu, you must have a solution, right?"
Wang Hu chuckled at Murrue's meaningful look before shaking his head lightly.
"There's no good solution here. Even the cleverest housewife can't cook without rice."
"Ah?" Murrue gasped in surprise.
"Huh?" Mu also appeared astonished. Was Wang Hu actually admitting he had no plan?
Had the sun risen from the west today?
Was he truly out of ideas?
Natarle, who seemed most inclined to criticize Wang Hu, refused to believe it.
She was far more convinced Wang Hu was secretly scheming something!
"But at the very least, we won't be disturbed during our journey to Artemis, correct?"
Under Li Chengzhi's I knew you had your own plans gaze, Wang Hu continued nonchalantly:
"And once we enter the impregnable fortress, we can use its high-powered communications equipment to call for reinforcements."
"After all, this ship and the Strike Gundam aboard are Allied Forces secrets. Even if the Atlantic Federation refuses to deploy troops, I imagine—"
"—to rescue two soldiers like me and Li Chengzhi, the East Asian Army would at least send reinforcements, wouldn't they?"
"Exactly!" Murrue chimed in to mediate, though Wang Hu's remarks carried a faint implication of disparaging the Atlantic Federation Army.
But to maintain the harmony aboard the ship, suspicion?
No big deal!
"Wang Hu is right. The Allied Forces won't abandon a single soldier."
"Then isn't the problem solved?" Murrue said with a smile to Natarle Badgiruel.
"Mhm." As the saying goes, you don't hit someone who smiles. Seeing Murrue grinning like a flower, Natarle suppressed the anger in her chest and said nothing more.
"Alright, alright, then the issue is settled." Mu played the peacemaker, deliberately stretching lazily.
"After fighting for so long, my old bones are exhausted. I'm going to the officer's quarters to get some proper sleep."
"While I still count as a senior officer on this ship, I might as well enjoy the privileges."
"Lieutenant Mu!" Natarle couldn't reprimand Wang Hu and the others, but with Mu volunteering himself, she instantly turned into a military judge.
"Then that's settled."
Clapping his hands with a crisp sound, Wang Hu declared the meeting over.
"I'll head to the hangar to help repair the Qilin." Seeing this, Li Chengzhi announced he had work to attend to as well.
Soon, everyone on the bridge dispersed, each going about their own tasks.
"Natarle," Murrue said to her friend, who remained standing in place.
"Why don't you go rest too? I can handle things here."
"I... alright." Exhausted, Natarle didn't refuse and accepted Murrue's kindness.
Meanwhile, just after leaving the bridge, Wang Hu ran into Kira, who wore a guilty expression.
"Is something wrong, Kira?"
--Support me in Patreon for more chapters 35+ chapters in there
patreon.com/LegendaryTL
Thanks!