After replying, the Vanguard Commander continued to focus on the screen ahead. Watching the situation unfold, he issued orders.
"Deploy forces for a second encirclement against this ZAFT MS!"
The Adjutant responded crisply and decisively.
"Yes!"
Following this response, the Adjutant turned to the communications officer to relay specific combat instructions. Upon receiving the command, the communications officer acknowledged and transmitted the orders downward.
With the orders issued, multiple Nelson-class Battleships and Drake-class Frigates sprang into action.
Beam Cannon Turrets locked onto the Genesis Gundam.
"Fire!"
As the ship captains gave the command.
The Beam Cannon muzzles glowed brightly, then twenty to thirty thick beams shot toward the Genesis Gundam in an extremely dense barrage.
After the beams, missiles were ejected from their launch tubes, trailing fiery plumes as they followed the beams at hypersonic speeds.
...
Inside the Genesis Gundam cockpit
Felix rapidly worked the four pedals with his feet, his hands gripping the control sticks to make precise adjustments to the Genesis Gundam's movements.
Under his precise control, the Genesis Gundam and its Destiny Support Fighter executed evasive maneuvers with extreme accuracy, appearing from a distance as if they were performing an elegant dance.
With the final movement completed, the beams were successfully dodged.
Felix's finger squeezed the trigger.
The Whale Plasma Cluster Beam Cannon, Beam Rifle, four Fortissimo Beam Cannons, and six DRAGOON Beam Cannons fired simultaneously.
Intense artillery fire surged toward the missiles.
The rapidly approaching missiles were instantly obliterated, with more than half destroyed in an instant.
The remaining missiles, after advancing a short distance, were wiped out by the Genesis Gundam's secondary volley.
After dealing with the missiles, Felix piloted the Genesis Gundam forward.
Aiming the Beam Rifle ahead, he fired multiple times to destroy the second wave of incoming missiles.
Having neutralized these missiles, Felix spotted two Strike Daggers appearing on the left flank. The mobile suit accelerated diagonally forward, evading the beams fired by the two Strike Daggers.
His finger pressed the trigger, and the next moment, the two Strike Daggers were completely destroyed.
After destroying these two Strike Daggers, the muzzle of the Genesis Gundam's Beam Rifle swiveled, targeting another Strike Dagger.
Inside the Strike Dagger cockpit
The pilot, seeing the situation on the screen, instantly turned pale. Any intent to fire vanished in the face of terror, leaving only the panicked instinct to maneuver the Strike Dagger for evasion.
While evading, the pilot screamed.
"I don't want to die!"
"I don't want..."
Before the second cry could fully escape his lips, the beam fired by the Genesis Gundam pierced directly through the cockpit.
Thus, the pilot ended his life in fear.
At the moment of his death, several other Strike Daggers nearly mirrored the same actions.
Meanwhile, aboard the Vanguard flagship at the rear
"Commander, our pilots have been terrified out of their wits by this ZAFT MS."
Watching the data on the screen, the Adjutant spoke with a grave expression. Hearing the Adjutant's words, the Vanguard Commander's face darkened severely.
His fingers lightly tapped the armrest, a surge of resentment boiling within.
'Useless!'
Amidst this inner fury, a wave of helplessness washed over him. Under this resignation, the Vanguard Commander silently sighed.
"Sigh!"
Hearing his superior's sigh, the Adjutant turned to inquire.
"Commander, what should we do?"
"The attack proceeds as planned, but assign personnel to reassure the pilots via communications. Tell them the enemy won't spare them just because they're afraid."
Setting aside his earlier sigh, the Vanguard Commander issued the order with stern resolve. Acknowledging the command, the Adjutant responded.
"Yes!"
After this reply, the Adjutant shifted his gaze to the communications officer, who promptly answered.
"Yes!"
With that confirmation, the order was relayed downward through the communications officer. Once the transmission was complete, the officer reported back.
"Orders delivered!"
"Hmm."
Hearing this, the Vanguard Commander gave a faint nod and a quiet "Hmm."
Meanwhile, on the front lines...
The MS and Mobile Armor pilots, previously terrified by the Genesis Gundam, gradually regained their composure under warnings and reassurances.
Their initial panic faded, and their attacks became noticeably smoother.
Inside the Genesis Gundam cockpit...
Felix observed the recovering MS and Mobile Armor units, commenting calmly.
"Have they adjusted now?"
As he spoke, Felix maneuvered the Genesis Gundam to evade an incoming attack. Raising the Beam Rifle, he fired a single shot.
The Mobius that had dared to open fire was instantly destroyed.
After eliminating that target, the Genesis Gundam evaded again. Dodging another assault, the Whale Plasma Cluster Beam Cannons deployed.
Two Sandwich Beams shot forth.
Streaking across the airspace, the beams obliterated three Strike Daggers in an instant.
With the attack complete, the Genesis Gundam executed evasive maneuvers while retracting the two Whale Plasma Cluster Beam Cannons. The Beam Rifle fired once more.
A beam pierced through another Mobius.
Felix continued pushing forward in the Genesis Gundam.
...
About ten minutes later...
The Genesis Gundam, under Felix's control, broke through a second encirclement.
Maintaining its speed, it charged ahead relentlessly.
Aboard the Vanguard's flagship...
"Commander, what do we do?"
Watching the Genesis Gundam escape another siege, the Adjutant turned to his superior. In response, the Vanguard Commander rose silently to his feet.
Seeing his action, the Adjutant immediately understood his intent.
He then glanced at the ship's captain, who met his gaze. In that moment of silent understanding, the captain saluted the Commander.
The Adjutant, expression grave, returned the salute.
After the exchange, he followed the Commander out of the bridge.
At the doorway, both turned and saluted the bridge crew a second time. The soldiers, faces resolute, returned the salute.
...
Shortly after their departure, the Genesis Gundam arrived before the Agamemnon-class Battleship under Felix's control.
Inside the bridge...
The captain watched as the Genesis Gundam closed in before his eyes, his expression grave and his voice resolute as he issued the order.
"Fire!"
Under the command, the defensive firepower equipped on the Agamemnon-class Battleship launched an attack toward the Genesis Gundam.
Observing these attacks, Felix effortlessly maneuvered the Genesis Gundam to evade them. After completing these evasions, Felix controlled the Genesis Gundam to dodge fire from other directions.
While dodging, Felix directed the Destiny Support Fighter to open fire on this Agamemnon-class Battleship.
Two Siren Beast Cannons unleashed thick beams.
The beams struck the battleship, and the laminated armor equipped on the vessel failed at that moment, the beams melting through the armor.
Finally, two large holes were torn into the battleship.
Seeing the two large holes in the battleship, Felix piloted the Genesis Gundam to begin withdrawal.
As the Genesis Gundam turned to leave, the struck Agamemnon-class Battleship began a chain reaction, ultimately engulfing the entire ship in explosions.
"Bastard!"
The captain of the nearby escorting Drake-class Frigate, witnessing the flagship's condition, glared with bloodshot eyes and growled under his breath.
Bang!
He slammed a fist onto the armrest, then raised his gaze to the Genesis Gundam in space and issued an order.
"Fire! Give it everything you've got!"
"Yes!"
The reply echoed through the bridge.
The weapons equipped on the Drake-class Space Frigate aimed and fired at the Genesis Gundam.
Under the barrage of fire, the Genesis Gundam, under Felix's control, easily dodged the attacks. After evading the assaults, Felix took control of the Destiny Support Fighter.
The Destiny Support Fighter adjusted its direction.
The Siren Beast Cannons fired rapidly.
Thick beams struck the Drake-class Space Frigate, piercing through the ship's armor. Explosions erupted continuously from the breached sections, eventually consuming the entire Drake-class Frigate in a chain of blasts.
...
Meanwhile, aboard another Agamemnon-class Battleship further back.
"Make sure to stop that MS!"
After witnessing the Genesis Gundam's actions, the Commander-in-Chief of the Assault Force issued the order with an extremely grim expression.
After giving the order, he clenched his fists tightly.
At the front lines,
The Genesis Gundam, under Felix's control, dodged one volley of fire after another.
"Captain, are you alright?"
After evading an attack, Felix heard Aric's concerned inquiry over the comms. Hearing Aric's voice, Felix chuckled and replied.
"Isn't your inquiry a bit late?"
"Captain, I wanted to ask earlier, but I was worried it might distract you, so I held off until now."
"I'm fine, just focus on your own tasks."
Listening to Aric's response, Felix calmly replied. After this exchange, Felix's finger pressed the trigger.
A beam shot out from the Beam Rifle.
A Strike Dagger attempting a sneak attack was instantly destroyed.
Following this shot, the Genesis Gundam raised its shield, blocking beams fired from the front.
With the shield lowered, the Genesis Gundam's Beam Rifle fired again.
The emitted beam pierced through a Mobius.
After the shot, the Genesis Gundam moved once more, dodging an attack from the right.
After evading, Felix's finger pressed the trigger again.
The Whale Plasma Cluster Beam Cannon deployed, rapidly firing two beams.