Hawaiian Islands—The Orb Military assembled in full force. A combined fleet consisting of three complete naval divisions, two White Tiger-class capital ships, and one Qilin-class carrier-based aerospace fleet advanced toward the Atlantic Federation's mainland.
The Atlantic Federation had already sensed something amiss when Orb's forces began mobilizing. They hastily organized defensive lines, but... as Orb's troops ignored all warnings and pressed forward steadily, the Federation's defenses retreated repeatedly until they were pinned against the coastline. Only then did Orb's advance halt.
"Heh, have the Atlantic Federation's forces really grown this cowardly?" Barry Ho crossed his arms on the Qilin-class bridge, sneering at the Federation's troops. Even with his temperament, he couldn't help but mock their behavior.
Had they launched a preemptive strike when Orb first approached their initial defensive line, he might have respected them more.
But now... they kept retreating. Just a little further, and Orb's forces would breach the Federation's mainland. This could only be described as fleeing without a fight.
"This isn't the Atlantic Federation's usual style," remarked Jiang Kerry, a former Federation Mobile Suit pilot who knew them well—corrupt and decadent at the top, but their rank-and-file soldiers were at least competent enough not to retreat without resistance.
"Hard to say. Ever since the last war ended, the Atlantic Federation's backbone seems broken," Barry Ho shrugged. His impression of the Federation had never been favorable, especially as Orb grew stronger over the past year while the Federation's influence waned, making them appear even more pathetic in his eyes.
"Better stay cautious. The Chief of Staff's orders are just to pin down the Federation's main forces—we don't expect actual combat, but we should still guard against desperate measures," Jiang Kerry warned.
Barry Ho and Jiang Kerry led the First Special Task Force and the main fleet in a bold thrust into the Federation's borders, aiming to buy time by anchoring the enemy's main forces along the coastline.
This would leave the Federation's interior vulnerable, allowing special operations teams more opportunities to raid LOGOS's secret bases and research facilities, destroy them, and return safely.
Barry and Jiang's First Special Task Force had no objections to this containment mission. After all, during the Second Battle of Jachin Due, they had already earned enough merit. With sufficient seniority, promotions were inevitable.
Moreover, compared to other unit commanders, Barry and Jiang were the most detached. Their personalities led them to voluntarily take on the least glamorous containment mission while others fought over more prestigious objectives.
"...I got overconfident." After a brief silence, Barry acknowledged his mistake. As a martial arts master, he shouldn't underestimate his enemies. Yet his military growth and wartime experiences had made him somewhat arrogant.
"You're the Captain, Lieutenant Colonel Huo."
"Having you as my deputy is truly fortunate, Major Jiang."
"Heh, let's hope the other units succeed in their operations."
"They definitely will."
"Hmm? Lieutenant Colonel, the enemy forces are in chaos!" At that moment, the captain of the Qilin-class ship reported to Barry Ho.
"Any signs of attack?"
"Not yet..."
"Hmm... All hands, battle stations level one. MS units deploy in formation but hold your fire."
"Understood!"
After issuing the orders, Barry Ho and Jiang Kerry also headed to the hangar, boarding their respective Mobile Suits and advancing to the front of the fleet, observing the increasingly chaotic Atlantic Federation forces.
"It's begun..."
...
Deep in the mountains within Atlantic Federation territory, Rena Imelia's Destruction Tempest Gundam, Edward Harrelson's Sword Calamity Gundam, and several pitch-black M1 Astrays slowly materialized from seemingly nowhere. Their additional back-mounted components detached with a "clank," crashing to the ground and startling flocks of birds into flight, before charging toward a base entrance so well-hidden even satellites couldn't detect it.
"Enemy attack!!!"
"No good! Communications are down!"
"Damn it! It's those orange particles!"
"Damn Orb bastards! Return fire now!"
With electronic equipment paralyzed by GN Particles, the base's defenders instantly became blind and deaf. Under the Destruction Tempest Gundam's overwhelming firepower and the Sword Calamity Gundam's relentless charge, chaos, fear, and despair began to spread.
"BOOM BOOM BOOM..."
"Instructor! Take it easy! You almost hit me!" Edward Harrelson complained to Rena Imelia as the Destruction Tempest Gundam's devastating barrage nearly caught him in the crossfire while he was cutting through enemy lines like a berserker.
"I didn't cover your area," Rena Imelia retorted irritably, knowing Edward was just upset she'd taken out many targets he'd marked. "And it's Major to you!"
"Yes yes yes, Major Imelia." Even as he spoke, the Sword Calamity Gundam bisected several hastily deployed Massacre Daggers with its signature Ship-Slaying Sword.
The Destruction Tempest Gundam maintained continuous high-intensity fire, its relentless bombardment leaving the base's defenses as cleanly swept as if scoured by floodwaters.
"Now, breach!"
"Roger!" (Multiple voices)
The Sword Calamity Gundam halted before the base's steel gates, raising both swords high before bringing them down in a crossed slash, rapidly carving glowing-hot scars across the metal surface.
Soon, the gates collapsed under the assault, shattering into fragments. The M1 Astrays behind the Sword Calamity Gundam surged forward while marines disembarked from armored transports, splitting into squads to infiltrate.
Instantly, the base interior became a cacophony of alarms, gunfire, curses, and screams... while Orb's covert operatives moved like silent reapers, offering no words as they coldly harvested lives wherever they advanced.
"Are we sure about this approach?" Edward Harrelson remained in his Sword Calamity Gundam, guarding the entrance just in case.
"This is the Chief of Staff's order." The Destruction Tempest Gundam stood beside the Sword Calamity Gundam, maintaining full control of the situation.
"But..."
"Edward, I never taught you to disobey orders." Rena Imelia knew exactly what Edward Harrelson wanted to say—even she had felt some resistance when she first received the mission. "According to intel, this is one of Phantom Pain's operational bases. Everyone here is a die-hard loyalist of LOGOS. Even if we don't kill them... they're beyond saving."
"...Understood."
Edward Harrelson said nothing more. He simply found this slaughter distasteful—but that didn't mean he would defy orders. Besides... he himself harbored deep hatred for LOGOS, the very organization responsible for invading his homeland.
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