I had been chatting with Murrue in my quarters for a while, but as she was on duty, she eventually left, leaving me alone in the room. I was idly flipping through a gravure magazine Mu had given me when, suddenly, the red alert klaxons began to wail throughout the ship.
"...Kira, is it?"
He was likely taking Lacus out to return her to ZAFT.
"Axel Almar, report to the Mobile Suit deck immediately!"
The communication came from Natarle. Her face, displayed on the monitor, looked unusually flustered.
...I suppose it couldn't be helped. The only daughter of a PLANT Supreme Council member—a prisoner we had secured by sheer chance—had just been abducted from within the ship.
"Understood. But... what is this alarm for?"
"Kira Yamato has taken Lacus Clyne. We may need you to pursue him. Lieutenant La Flaga's Moebius Zero has been repaired, but asking a mobile armor to take on mobile suits is a tall order. Prepare the Blitz for launch."
"Roger."
I answered briefly, tossed the magazine onto the bed, and headed for the pilot briefing room. Mu was already there, zipped up in his pilot suit.
"Axel! The kid took the little lady!"
"Yeah, Natarle told me. He plans to return her to ZAFT."
"No doubt. But do you think Le Creuset is going to just let that slide?"
...Right. Le Creuset. Is this... a chance? A chance to eliminate that dangerous man right here and now? The probability isn't zero. Especially with the Blitz; thanks to the Mirage Colloid, the likelihood of the enemy detecting me is low.
"Not a chance. He'll likely bare his fangs the moment the hostage is handed over."
"You think so too, huh? In that case..."
"Yeah. Let's prep for launch."
We nodded at each other and moved to the hangar, boarding our respective machines. As I booted up the OS, I heard the broadcast Kira was transmitting on the open channel.
『This is the Earth Alliance. Mobile Suit Strike, attached to the Archangel. I am escorting Lacus Clyne to hand her over. However, the Nazca-class ship must halt its engines. The pilot of the Aegis must come alone. Those are my conditions. If these conditions are violated, I cannot guarantee her safety.』
...Well then.
"Bridge, do you copy?"
"Axel? What is it?"
It was Murrue who answered. Perhaps because we had been talking in my room earlier, she seemed accustomed to it; calling me 'Axel' without honorifics sounded completely natural now.
"I spoke with Mu. We don't think Le Creuset is the type to overlook a chance to catch the Strike while it's alone. He's going to make a move."
"...You're right. He would."
"The Moebius Zero can't launch until the enemy actually moves, but the Blitz has the Mirage Colloid. I want to launch with the Colloid active and move under inertia. Do I have permission?"
"...Ensign Badgiruel, what do you think?"
"Eh? Ah, well... Axel Almar's point is valid. It would allow him to provide backup in an emergency, so I see no issue."
Murrue was already putting my earlier advice into practice, asking Natarle for her opinion. Conversely, Natarle seemed flustered to be consulted so respectfully by the Captain she had fiercely clashed with only hours ago regarding the hostage situation.
"Very well. Axel, I'm counting on you."
"Roger. Initiating Mirage Colloid generation."
I generated the particles, fixing the stealth field over the Blitz's armor surface.
"Brother, what about your loadout?"
"Even if it turns into a fight, it'll be a short decisive battle. The Blitz's standard armament will be fine."
"Understood. Watch your back out there."
"Yeah. Bridge, do you copy?"
"What is it?"
Once I confirmed the Colloid had stabilized, I contacted the bridge again.
"Point the catapult deck toward the Strike. Since I'm using the Mirage Colloid, I'll be moving by inertia. If I use my thrusters to change direction later, ZAFT will spot me immediately."
"Understood. ...Axel, be careful."
"Right. Blitz, Axel Almar, launching! Everyone in the hangar, stay clear of the thruster wash!"
At my warning echoing through the hangar, the mechanics scrambled for cover. Once the area was clear, I moved the Blitz onto the catapult deck and fired the thrusters, launching into the void. Naturally, I cut the engines the instant before exiting the ship, switching entirely to inertial drift.
Using the linear catapult might have given me more speed, but if the electromagnetic flare alerted them to a mobile suit launch, it would defeat the purpose of the stealth system.
"Now, I just have to pray the conversation goes smoothly."
Drifting through space on that initial burst of speed, I headed toward Kira's sector. I could see the Aegis approaching from the other side. If he hands over Lacus and Le Creuset's CiGue shows up, the trap is set. I'll likely only get one shot, but if I can destroy the CiGue with it, future developments will become significantly easier.
The Strike and Aegis exchanged words for a moment. Then, Lacus Clyne floated from the Strike's cockpit toward the Aegis. Watching this, I maneuvered the Blitz—still drifting—close to the Strike's position.
The Strike and Aegis began to separate... Here it comes!
The CiGue launched from the Nazca-class. Good! It's Le Creuset!
Cloaked in the Mirage Colloid, the Blitz continued its silent drift, having already passed the Strike and closing in on the Aegis.
The CiGue, utilizing its speed, zoomed past the Aegis...
"Right there... Love!"
I triggered the Spirit Command Love.
A mysterious, surging power flooded through my body—focus, ferocity, and clarity all at once. Confirming the surge, I raised the Tri-keros and fired the beam rifle while still cloaked.
It's going to hit... No, not a clean hit?!
A single beam of light erupted from empty space. I don't know how the CiGue sensed it, but Le Creuset rolled the machine at the last possible microsecond. He used the mobile suit's legs as a shield, sacrificing them to prevent the shot from piercing the cockpit.
"Damn it!"
The effects of Strike (Sure Hit) and Accelerate were still active. ...Then I'll finish it here!
I instantly activated the Phase Shift armor and deployed the beam saber from the Tri-keros. Using the speed boost from Accelerate, I closed the distance to the CiGue in a flash. The Aegis, perhaps trying to protect its commander, was rushing toward me, but at this distance, he wouldn't make it in time.
The CiGue's lower body was dead weight. I raised my blade, aiming straight for the cockpit—
『Commander Rau Le Creuset. And the pilot of the Earth Alliance mobile suit. Please, cease hostilities at once.』
An open channel transmission cut through the chaos.
『Do you intend to turn the location of the representative of the Junius Seven Memorial Delegation into a battlefield? I will not allow such a thing. The souls of Junius Seven are resting here. Cease combat operations immediately.』
He must have decided to heed her words. Le Creuset's crippled CiGue began to retreat toward the Nazca-class, supported by the Aegis. The Aegis backed away slowly, keeping its weapon trained on me until they were clear.
I couldn't very well chase him down after that speech. I had to just stand there and watch him go.
...Damn it. To think I couldn't finish him off even with a surprise attack from complete invisibility. That was unexpected. How on earth did he dodge a beam rifle shot fired from nothingness?
"Axel-san!"
A transmission came in from the Strike.
"...Are you alright?"
"Yes. But... why did you..."
"You know that naive thinking doesn't work out here, right? Proof being that Le Creuset sortied the moment he saw an opening. We're just lucky he backed off after that speech."
"You two. I don't know exactly what went down, but if the fighting is over, let's get back to the ship. Chasing them now would just be kicking the hornet's nest."
Mu's Moebius Zero, which had sortied to support me, pulled up alongside us.
He was right. Pursuing Le Creuset now would likely provoke a desperate counterattack. Worst case scenario, Kira might even turn on us to protect his friend.
"Roger."
I replied briefly and turned the Blitz back toward the Archangel. Kira followed us, though his expression on the monitor remained conflicted.
"Still, that was one hell of a Princess, wasn't she?"
"Yeah. I suppose you could say she's overflowing with charisma."
"The Songstress of the PLANTs, right? I guess being in that kind of position among Coordinators naturally grants you a certain aura. I never expected her to make Le Creuset listen, though. Right, Kira?"
"..."
Kira didn't answer Mu. He remained silent.
He was likely just now truly feeling the weight of the decisive break with Athrun—his childhood best friend.
"Kira. You're sure about this?"
"..."
"You decided to stay on the Archangel and fight. That means from now on, ZAFT is your enemy."
"Hey, Axel."
I ignored Mu's warning tone.
"I know you're fighting because you want to protect your friends. But to do that, you have to turn your guns on your own people."
"...I know."
"If you hesitate when the time comes... you will die. And if you die, Sai and the others will grieve."
"I know that! I know all of that! But... then what am I supposed to do?!"
Kira screamed the words, his voice thick with emotion. I felt a strange sense of nostalgia hearing that cry, but I spoke anyway.
"Set priorities for the things you want to protect. If you try to protect everything... you'll end up dead."
The image of Yulia, my best friend from the military academy days, floated through my mind. I had, in a sense, cut her off. I did it for the sole purpose of my own survival. And Yulia, in turn, couldn't abandon the subordinates who looked up to her, so she couldn't come with me.
In a way, you could say she cut me off, too.
...Ah, I see. That nostalgia I felt from Kira just now. It's because he reminds me of the path I once walked. The me who couldn't prioritize who to save, who couldn't cut off those I couldn't protect. The me before I learned to make those cold, necessary judgments.
"I... I'm not strong like you, Axel-san."
With just those words, the Strike accelerated, leaving the Blitz and Moebius Zero behind as it returned to the Archangel first.
"You were a little harsh on him, don't you think?"
Mu's voice carried a hint of concern.
"Maybe. But it's a road he has to walk eventually. Better he chooses now than later."
"...Sorry. Making you play the bad guy."
"It's fine. An outsider like me is better suited for it. I'm used to being disliked. Anyway, let's get back to the Archangel. With this desertion incident, a Captain like you is going to be busy, right?"
"Ahh... true enough. I hate meetings and tribunals, though."
Meetings... Well, it's basically a court-martial, so calling it a meeting isn't technically wrong.
Name: Axel Almar
LV: 35
PP: 510
Stats:
Melee: 246
Shooting: 264
Skill: 256
Defense: 253
Evasion: 281
Accuracy: 303
SP: 422
Ace Bonus: SP Boost (Consuming SP increases unit performance)
Growth Type: Versatile / Special
Terrain Ratings:
Air: S
Land: S
Sea: B
Space: S
Spirit Commands:
Accelerate (SP 4)
Gain (SP 8)
Focus (SP 16)
Direct Attack (SP 30)
Zeal (SP 32)
Love (SP 48)
Skills:
EXP Up
SP Boost (SP Up L9 + SP Recover + Focus)
Telekinesis L10
Attacker
Gunfight L9
In-fight L9
Limit Break (Morale)
Geass (Gray)
???
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???
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???
Shot Down Count: 259
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