The Archangel's desperate flight, which began at Heliopolis, seemed to finally be drawing to a close with our rendezvous with the 8th Fleet.
Before us now lay a gathering of over thirty battleships, destroyers, and cruisers. It was a majestic sight, convincing anyone who saw it that this was indeed the fleet led by the renowned strategist, Admiral Halburton.
...Though, if things proceed as they are destined to, even the "Wise General" Halburton will scatter into dust here.
Ideally, if I could save Halburton in this low-orbit battle, I would like to. However, as the name implies, the battle will take place in low orbit. If I'm not careful, the Blitz might end up forced into atmospheric re-entry just like the Strike in the original story. The Strike managed to mitigate the heat of re-entry using its shield, but trying to replicate that feat with the Blitz's Tri-keros is pushing the laws of physics a bit too far.
Losing a man of Halburton's caliber is a waste, but if the choice is between his life and mine, I will choose my own survival without hesitation.
"Come about 180 degrees. Decelerate by another 20%. Match relative velocity."
At Murrue's command, the Archangel began its 180-degree turn. Essentially, we were turning our back to the fleet's heading to pull up alongside the 8th Fleet's flagship, the Agamemnon-class Menelaus.
"Are we sure about this? Sidling up right next to the Menelaus..."
Neumann, the Archangel's helmsman, muttered the words as if he couldn't help himself.
"Admiral Halburton likely wants a good look at the ship. He mentioned he would come aboard personally later. After all, the Admiral was the primary driving force behind this ship and the G-Project."
I nodded as I listened to Murrue's explanation. I suppose his foresight was what earned him his reputation as a wise commander.
"Murrue, do you mind if I head down to the mobile suit hangar?"
"Eh? No, I don't mind, but... we've met up with the 8th Fleet. Surely we don't have to worry about attacks anymore?"
"I wouldn't be so sure. I don't think ZAFT is the type to just overlook us and let us walk away. Do you really think the Le Creuset Team is going to give up that easily?"
I said it casually, but in the back of my mind was the image of the Duel, which I had damaged in the last battle. Thinking back, in the original story, it was Kira who damaged the Duel and scarred its pilot, Yzak, across the face. That injury became the source of Yzak's obsessive grudge. But in this timeline, I was the one who damaged the Duel. I don't know if his face is scarred, but at the very least, he won't let the Blitz—the machine that dealt him such a humiliating blow—get away scot-free.
"I... see. All right. Please do."
I gave a light wave to Murrue and left the bridge, heading for the hangar.
In the hangar, Kira was helping repair Mu's Moebius Zero, which had taken damage in the previous sortie. Perhaps Mu, like me, instinctively felt that a ZAFT attack was imminent. Or maybe it was that Newtype-like resonance he shared with Le Creuset.
"How are the repairs coming?"
"It's going to take a little longer."
"Axel-san, please tell him. We've met up with the fleet, but he's still making me rush the repairs."
Kira looked slightly disgruntled, but sorry kid, I'm on Mu's side on this one.
"I get what you're saying, Kira, but I don't think ZAFT is going to just give up on us... or rather, on the Archangel, the Blitz, and the Strike. It never hurts to be prepared. If nothing happens, then great, nothing happens."
"Besides, I get anxious when my ride's busted."
Mu followed up on my words. You could call it being a worrywart, or you could call it being cautious. ...I'm probably the latter, and Kira is likely the former.
"Eighth Fleet or not, their pilots are all greenhorns. When the chips are down, we need the Captain out there. Besides, leaving something broken just doesn't sit right with me."
Murdoch approached us, adding his two cents. In his case, it wasn't about anxiety or caution; it was simply professional pride as a mechanic—he hated leaving a machine in disrepair.
"Haa... I guess I have no choice. ...But, are we leaving the Strike and Blitz as they are?"
"Eh? Hmm, I know what you mean. But downgrading them back to their original specs seems like a waste..."
"Besides, setting aside the Strike, the Blitz is fine as is, right? Axel here is a mercenary. Unlike you kids, he's not disembarking here."
"Eh?! Axel-san, you're staying on the Archangel?"
Kira looked at me with genuine surprise; he must have assumed I would leave the ship along with them.
"Yeah. I plan to stick with the Archangel at least until we reach Alaska."
"Besides, it's that, isn't it?"
Mu looked at me with a suggestive smirk.
"What is?"
"You don't want to be separated from Captain Ramius, right? You two have had a pretty good atmosphere going lately."
"Good atmosphere?"
True, my relationship with Murrue had been good recently. Establishing a bond of trust between a mobile suit pilot and the ship's captain certainly wasn't a bad thing.
"Oh? Is there something about me being discussed?"
The person who cut into the conversation was none other than Murrue herself. She had a smile on her lips, but she was exuding an undeniable pressure that brooked no argument.
"C-Captain? What are you doing here?"
At Murdoch's startled voice, she dropped the mysterious pressure and smiled normally.
"Sorry to interrupt. I just wanted to have a quick word with Kira-kun. ...By the way, Lieutenant La Flaga seems very concerned about my affairs, but I've heard that you and Ensign Badgiruel have become quite intimate yourselves?"
"Gah. No, uh, that's, well..."
"Um, you wanted to talk to me?"
Mu looked like he'd just kicked a hornet's nest, while Kira looked confused. Murrue gave them a soft, amused smile.
"Don't look so suspicious. Though, considering everything that's happened, I suppose I can't blame you."
"R-Right."
"Well then, I'll borrow Kira-kun for a moment."
With that, Murrue led Kira away toward the Strike. Three men were left watching them go.
"...You kicked the hornet's nest there, Mu."
"I see. So Mu and Natarle became that kind of relationship before I noticed? To think I, with my sharp instincts for romance, missed it entirely... Not bad."
"Hey, hey, who exactly has sharp instincts for romance?"
"Me, of course."
I said it with full confidence. After all, I have two lovers, Lemon and Cornelia. It wouldn't be wrong to say I'm reasonably skilled in romantic relationships... probably.
I felt like I briefly saw a mental image of Lemon and Cornelia looking exasperated, but it must have been my imagination.
"Well, the kids are getting off the ship here. She probably wants to thank him for everything he's done."
"Right. Assuming nothing happens from here on out... that is."
When I replied to Mu's words, he looked at me with a grimace.
"Oi, oi, your hunches have stopped being funny lately. Cut it out."
"That possibility is exactly why you were rushing the repairs on the Moebius Zero, isn't it?"
"...Do you think they'll come?"
"With my instincts—which you praised so highly—I'd say it's almost a certainty."
Yes. If things proceed according to the script, a ZAFT attack is inevitable.
We looked at each other and sighed in unison.
Crew members, mechanics, the Heliopolis students, and I were gathered at the Archangel's port airlock—the area used for shuttle transfers—waiting for the launch to dock. Several officers emerged from the shuttle. The man leading them was undoubtedly the commander of the 8th Fleet, Rear Admiral Halburton.
Seeing us gathered there to welcome him, Halburton's face lit up with genuine delight.
"Oh!"
He walked down the ramp, laughing happily.
"I must admit, when I heard the news of Heliopolis's collapse, I feared the worst. To think I would be able to meet you all here like this."
"Thank you, sir. It has been a long time, Admiral."
Murrue returned his greeting with a happy expression and a crisp salute. According to what Murrue had told me earlier, just like in the original story, she was Halburton's former student and direct subordinate in this world as well.
"I was worried when I received reports that you were engaged in combat just a short while ago. Is everyone unharmed?"
Halburton looked around at everyone. Natarle and Mu stepped forward.
"Ensign Natarle Badgiruel, sir."
"7th Mobile Fleet, Lieutenant Mu La Flaga, sir."
"Oh, it was fortunate that the 'Hawk of Endymion' was with you. And Ensign Badgiruel, you have supported Captain Ramius well."
"No, sir. I did not do anything worthy of such praise."
Mu replied briefly, and Natarle bowed her head. Watching the two of them, Halburton's eyes then turned toward the group standing a little apart from the bridge crew: me, and the Heliopolis students led by Kira.
"Ah, and these must be..."
"Yes. These are the students from Heliopolis who assisted the ship, and the mercenary, Mr. Axel Almar."
Murrue had been calling me plain 'Axel' recently, but in front of her superior, she reverted to the formal '-san' introduction.
Hearing this, Halburton moved closer to us and spoke.
"We have confirmed the status of your families. Everyone is safe."
The safety of their families—the biggest concern since escaping Heliopolis—was finally confirmed. Bright expressions of relief washed over everyone's faces.
"You have all done remarkably well in the face of impossible circumstances. You have my gratitude as well. ...And you must be Axel Almar-kun. Having a mercenary of your caliber present during the collapse of Heliopolis was a stroke of incredible fortune for us. Thank you."
He extended his hand as he spoke.
I couldn't help but think he was perhaps a bit too good-natured. if he had investigated the situation at Heliopolis, he surely would have realized there was no record of me entering the colony. ...Or perhaps, that information was simply lost and couldn't be salvaged.
"No, I'm the one who was saved by the Archangel being there. If not for this ship, I might have been thrown into space with nothing but the clothes on my back."
"So, it was mutual aid then. More importantly, I hear you are piloting the X-207 Blitz. What is your assessment of the machine?"
"Let's see. The Mirage Colloid is a highly useful piece of equipment, but the inability to use Phase Shift armor simultaneously is a significant vulnerability. Also, concentrating all the weaponry on the Tri-keros shield means it can't attack while defending in the same way the Strike can. I'd say that's a design flaw."
"Hoh. You seem quite knowledgeable about mobile suit operations. I heard you are a Natural, not a Coordinator?"
At that moment, Halburton's eyes shone with a sharp light, seeming to assess my very existence.
...I see. The title of "Wise General" isn't just for show.
Hiding a wry smile at his unexpected shrewdness, I lightly shrugged my shoulders.
"It just means there are some Naturals who possess abilities that exceed Coordinators."
"Admiral, we are short on time."
Halburton's aide interrupted us. Personally, I was grateful; I'm not particularly fond of these probing mind games.
"Mm. I hope to speak with you all more at length later."
With that, he left the shuttle bay, accompanied by Murrue, Mu, and Natarle.
The Wise General Halburton. He certainly is quite the character.
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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???
???
???
Shot Down Count: 259
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