"The Archangel-class... truly a remarkable type of ship."
Standing on a catwalk in the hangar of this Archangel-class vessel, Muruta Azrael looked at the three mobile suits they had successfully stolen, seemingly in high spirits.
"I remember when the original *Archangel* first launched, it was chased by ZAFT the entire way. I never expected that this time, we would be chased by ZAFT's newest battleship."
"...I recall rumors saying that ship only had two mobile suits." Clotho Buer, back in his civilian clothes, leaned on the railing, swinging his flask in his hand.
"And one of them was the White Devil."
"In comparison, we are in a much better position, with four G-Units and two Dagger mobile suits."
"According to sighting reports, the White Devil's initial unit was destroyed during the Archangel's landing operation. Even the salvaged wreckage of the Archangel yielded no data on the White Devil's unit, only a few general hangar measurements—length, width, height—labeled as 'unknown.' Not very useful."
Apparently in a good mood because his planned operation had been quite successful, Muruta Azrael even had the presence of mind to explain things to Clotho Buer.
"...Typical of him, completely leak-proof." Clotho Buer took a sip from his small flask but suddenly frowned.
After glancing briefly at the state of his flask, Clotho Buer sighed, screwed the cap back on, and put the empty container back into his pocket.
"You're drinking heavily while reducing your medication dose... You won't last long like this." Muruta Azrael raised an eyebrow, looking at Clotho Buer's condition. "Try not to drop dead suddenly."
"I wasn't going to live long anyway after the drug enhancement surgery."
Clotho Buer seemed mentally prepared and calmly voiced his current thoughts. "Now that the dosage is cut, my combat capability has also decreased significantly. I felt overwhelmed fighting the Duel just now."
"However... as long as I live long enough to see the White Devil again, that's all that matters."
Clotho Buer touched the three dog tags strung together around his neck and narrowed his eyes. "A decisive battle must take place between us. It's either him or me."
At that moment, Muruta Azrael received a tablet from a nearby researcher. He quickly scanned the data displayed, narrowed his eyes, and couldn't stop his mouth from curving into a smirk.
"Is that so... Well, good luck to you."
Muruta Azrael casually replied to Clotho Buer, then turned around. "Because right now, I seem to be having a turn of good fortune..."
With that, Muruta Azrael walked toward the bridge, pulling out his communicator.
"Captain, proceed to Earth as quickly as possible. The fleet near Gryps will cover us and hold off ZAFT."
"What? What if they manage to break through to Earth? That's even better. Earth is our territory. It will be the perfect trap to catch them like a turtle in a jar..."
Muruta Azrael's voice faded into the distance. Clotho Buer watched Muruta Azrael's retreating figure and shook his head.
For some reason, Clotho Buer felt that the situation on Earth was somewhat unsettling, but he couldn't pinpoint what was wrong.
The feeling was strongest concerning the Kingdom of Foundation, which had previously been responsible for building the new Destroy mobile suit. The atmosphere there felt particularly strange.
-----------------------------------
"Do we really have to keep chasing, even down to Earth, Councilman Durandal?"
Onboard the Minerva at this moment, a man in a ZAFT military uniform looked somewhat flustered.
"That's Earth Alliance territory! ZAFT's former deployments there have been completely destroyed. We won't find any support there!"
Hearing the man's words, everyone on the bridge looked over.
"First Officer Arthur, I am well aware of your concerns."
Durandal sat in the seat diagonally behind the Captain's chair and pressed a few buttons near him.
"You know that both the Earth Alliance and ZAFT have moles planted within each other's organizations. This Gundam theft was carried out by the Earth Alliance activating some of their moles inside ZAFT."
Durandal sighed here.
(Internally, he felt no anger about the theft of the Gundams; he had, in fact, deliberately leaked the existence of these units.)
"For the sake of secrecy, we have been covertly providing aid to a nation on Earth."
A map of Earth unfolded, and a spot of light appeared in the European region.
"The *Kingdom of Foundation*. A small coastal nation whose prime minister is quite resourceful, playing both sides between us and the Earth Alliance."
Durandal began to explain this "sleeper agent" covertly funded by ZAFT.
"However, thanks to the Unicorn, the Earth Alliance's largest investment in the Kingdom of Foundation, the Port of Torrington, was destroyed. They have significantly reduced their aid to the Kingdom of Foundation since then."
Footage of the Unicorn's battle at the Port of Torrington appeared before everyone.
"Now, the Kingdom of Foundation has fully tilted toward Plant, and we have an opportunity to resupply there."
Durandal spoke, but realized everyone was captivated by something else.
"That level of attack... was fired from a single beam rifle?!"
Seeing the red beam mixed with purple, high-energy current fired from the Beam Magnum in the video—a single shot destroying a giant Mobile Suit that was an absolute powerhouse of firepower—everyone couldn't help but swallow hard.
"...Based on my speculation, the Unicorn's beam rifle can only fire five such attacks per magazine before the magazine must be replaced."
Seeing that everyone's interest was fixed on the Unicorn, Durandal didn't dampen their enthusiasm but continued the topic.
"After the subsequent three magazines were depleted... the weapon was likely connected directly to the mobile suit's power source."
"Connected directly to the mobile suit's power source?! Doesn't that mean..." The female communications officer, Meyrin Hawke, gaped upon hearing this news.
"Your guess is correct, Meyrin. The most likely source is nuclear energy. The worst-case scenario is the miniaturization of a battleship reactor."
Durandal nodded, not denying the girl's speculation.
"But regardless of speculation, logically and reasonably, we must descend to Earth to reclaim our stolen mobile suits."
Durandal narrowed his eyes, looking at the map of Earth.
It was also a perfect opportunity to pay a visit to his 'old friend.'
-----------------------------------
At this moment, in a room on Orb's Industrial 7.
Roz Links had just finished bathing. He was wearing a bathrobe and drying his hair with a towel.
Meanwhile, Murrue Ramius, who was previously capable of physically overpowering Roz Links, was now lying exhausted on the bed, deep in sleep.
"Hoo... whose communication is this now... Lowe?"
Just as Roz Links was about to lie back down to continue sleeping, his communicator rang. It was a call from Lowe Guele.
"...Roz... the situation is urgent. I need your help."
Lowe Guele didn't waste any time and immediately stated his purpose.
"I recently uncovered an incredible organization that seems to be related to ZAFT's clone troops."
Lowe Guele briefly explained his predicament.
"I am currently being pursued by them. In short, I need your assistance. If you can come, I won't charge you for transporting you all back to space last time."
................