In the bridge of the Archangel, Murrue was on the comms, likely checking the evacuation status of Heliopolis.
"Haah..."
She sighed, placing the external communication device—which looked like an old-fashioned handset—back in its cradle.
"The evacuation of the colony is nearly 100% complete, but the alert level has just been raised to 9 due to the earlier attack."
"That CiGue again," I muttered. "He really knows how to show up at the worst times."
Now that I was officially hired as the Archangel's mercenary, I was present in the bridge for the strategy meeting. My cover story was that of a veteran mercenary, so my role was essentially that of an advisor or observer.
Hearing my comment, Mu spoke up.
"So the shelters are in total lockdown, huh? ...Damn that Creuset, he's haunting us. But what about those kids? We can't just find a safe spot and dump them there now, can we?"
"They have seen military secrets, which is why Captain Ramius detained them," Natarle interjected. "We cannot simply release them..."
"So you're saying they have to join our escape? It's going to be a flashy battle getting out of here."
"I believe we will need the Strike's power as well," Murrue said.
Natarle frowned at that. "We have the Blitz. Is the Strike truly necessary...?"
"The enemy is the Creuset Team, remember?" Mu countered. "Can we really handle them with just one Mobile Suit? Even if Axel here is a monster of a pilot, he's still just one unit. We're shorthanded no matter how you look at it. My Moebius Zero is going to take time to repair."
"Yeah, I agree with Murrue," I added. "The situation isn't optimistic enough to say I can handle it alone."
If I could use the Glowsaver, I could wipe them out in an instant, but...
"In that case, why doesn't Lieutenant La Flaga pilot the Strike?" Natarle suggested.
Mu shook his head silently.
"Don't ask the impossible. There's no way I can handle that thing. Didn't you see the OS data that kid rewrote? No normal human can use that."
"...Axel-san is using it, though," Murrue murmured.
"Hey, hey. I have spatial awareness, sure, but I can't pilot a Mobile Suit like Axel does. My physical abilities are strictly within the realm of a Natural."
"That makes it sound like you're implying I'm not a Natural," I quipped.
"I didn't mean it like that. But realistically, you can pilot that Blitz thing, right? I'm just saying I can't."
"But while Axel is fine because he's a Natural mercenary, entrusting the valuable Strike to a civilian... and a Coordinator child at that..." Natarle trailed off, clearly conflicted.
"So, what? We go out there slowly and become target practice?" Mu shot back.
"...So, basically, the only combat power the Archangel can currently count on is me and the Blitz?"
The three officers nodded at my summary.
"Considering the unit's characteristics, perhaps having Axel-san pilot the Strike is an option," Murrue suggested, sliding a few sheets of report paper across the table.
They outlined the Blitz's general specs. Of course, the Mirage Colloid was the main feature. You could say the Blitz's greatest asset was its stealth. However, maintaining the Mirage Colloid drained power rapidly, giving it a strict operational limit of 85 minutes. To conserve energy, its weaponry wasn't particularly heavy. For better or worse, it was a machine specialized for stealth.
...If you ask me, it feels like a downgraded version of the ASRS.
By comparison, the Strike had three Striker Packs—high mobility, melee, and long-range bombardment—making it adaptable to almost any situation. In terms of firepower, it far outclassed the Blitz. So, suggesting I pilot the Strike wasn't unreasonable. But...
"Me taking the Strike is an option," I said, "but if Kira is willing to pilot, it's better if I take the Blitz and he takes the Strike."
"And why is that?" Mu asked.
I scanned the report as I answered.
"It goes without saying, but there's a difference in combat proficiency between me and Kira. The Strike is powerful, yes, but the problem is the Blitz. As this report shows, it's specialized for ambush via Mirage Colloid, so its raw firepower isn't high. Plus, you can't use Phase Shift Armor while the Colloid is active. ...Even if he is a Coordinator, putting a kid with barely any combat experience in the Blitz is just asking for him to get sunk."
Murrue sighed, conceding the point.
"Axel-san's reasoning is sound. ...We'll ask Kira-kun one more time if he's willing to pilot the Strike. If he agrees, he takes the Strike and Axel-san takes the Blitz. If he refuses, Axel-san takes the Strike. Is that acceptable?"
"Yeah, I don't mind either machine."
"If Captain Ramius says so..." Natarle agreed reluctantly.
"Well, looks like we're pinning our hopes on the kid."
"...It seems we have a plan. I'll go ask him immediately."
Murrue left the bridge. While she was gone, Natarle checked the ship's status with Mu's help, and I reviewed the report she had given me.
About ten minutes later, alarms suddenly blared throughout the ship. The C.I.C. officer shouted a report, panic in his voice.
"Electronic interference across the entire colony! N-Jammer levels rising!"
"What!?"
"Tch, I knew that bastard wouldn't wait for us to leave," Mu cursed.
"They're attacking inside Heliopolis again?"
"Easy for them. We can't fire freely, but they can shoot all they want."
And to make matters worse, the enemy would be equipped with anti-ship and anti-fortress weaponry. It was a nasty situation. I wanted to secure those weapons for the Blitz as intact as possible, but... I couldn't push my luck.
"I don't know which machine I'll be in yet, but I'm heading to the hangar. Is that alright?"
"Yes. I'll contact Captain Ramius immediately and have her decide whether Kira Yamato will pilot the Strike."
I nodded at Natarle's words and left the bridge, heading for the mobile suit deck.
"Yo, brother. The enemy's here!?"
As soon as I entered the hangar, maintenance chief Murdoch called out to me.
"Yeah. Fighting inside Heliopolis again. What's the status of the machines?"
"Which one? The Strike or the Blitz?"
"The Strike... no, both."
I spotted Kira running toward us and corrected myself. Seeing him, Murdoch nodded and started barking orders to his crew.
"Axel-san!"
"Kira. You decided to pilot?"
"Yes. I... I really don't want to fight. And you're here too, Axel-san. ...But when I thought about Sai and Tolle dying because I didn't fight..."
His eyes showed resolve—a young boy determined to protect his friends. And perhaps a part of him also wanted to confirm if the pilot of the Aegis really was Athrun.
"I see. Then I won't say anything else. Fight hard to protect your friends."
"Yes!"
"Brother, Kid! Both the Blitz and Strike are prepped and ready to launch!"
"What about the Blitz's left arm equipment... the Gleipnir?"
"Equipped and ready, of course."
...Gleipnir, huh. I was used to using Gleipnir's threads elsewhere, but could I master this rocket anchor? Well, I had no choice but to use it.
"What about the GINN and CiGue weapons?"
"Can't do anything about those without rewriting the FCS settings. Ask the kid to do it after this battle."
"Understood."
I glanced at the 'kid', who had already climbed into the Strike. I followed suit, boarding the Blitz.
"Open Container Three! Equip the Strike with the Sword Striker!"
Murdoch's shout echoed through the hangar as the Sword Striker pack was fitted onto the Strike. The most prominent feature was the anti-ship sword Schwert Gewehr on its right shoulder. Including the hilt, it was taller than the Strike itself. The beam boomerang Mydas Messer on the left shoulder also stood out.
Watching this from the corner of my eye, I had the Trikeros equipped onto the Blitz's right arm.
"Kira, I'm heading out first."
"Yes, I'll follow right behind you."
With that, I moved the Blitz onto the catapult deck.
"Axel Almer, Blitz, launching!"
With that declaration, the Blitz was shot out of the Archangel. Simultaneously, the ship's Gottfried beam cannons fired.
The enemy force consisted of the Aegis and three GINNs heavily armed with anti-ship and anti-fortress equipment—four machines in total.
The four beams from the Gottfried tore through space, but the enemy scattered, evading the fire.
"Axel-san, sorry to keep you waiting!"
The Strike launched from the Archangel and pulled up beside the Blitz.
"The Blitz doesn't have the thrust for sustained jumps like the Strike," I radioed. "I'll use the Archangel as a foothold to fight. Kira, you take the offensive."
"Me!? ...Understood."
Kira nodded on the monitor and used his thrusters to leap into the air. As if waiting for him, the Aegis and one GINN moved to intercept. The remaining two GINNs headed straight for the Archangel.
One of the approaching GINNs carried four massive missiles—two on each side. The other wielded what looked like a giant beam rifle.
"Tch, like I'll let you!"
I intercepted a missile fired at the Archangel using the Trikeros's built-in 50mm high-energy beam cannon. The missile detonated in mid-air.
However, the GINN with the giant beam rifle tried to maneuver under the Archangel, avoiding the Blitz stationed on top.
"Not happening!"
I fired the Gleipnir rocket anchor from the Blitz's left arm at the evading GINN.
Controlled by a wire, the claw extended and bit into the GINN's right shoulder, successfully capturing it.
"Get over... HERE!"
Due to the Mirage Colloid system, the Blitz was said to be the most underpowered of the five Gundams, but it still outclassed a GINN. Using that power, I yanked the GINN toward me, wire and all, and slashed with the Trikeros's beam saber.
"Tch."
I managed to sever the right arm holding the giant beam rifle, but the GINN broke free from the Gleipnir's claw in the process, retreating out of saber range.
Seizing that opening, the missile-equipped GINN fired its remaining three missiles at the Archangel.
I see. The GINN with the giant rifle was a decoy.
I kicked the severed arm of the rifle-wielding GINN out of the way and muttered under my breath.
"[Accel]."
Using the Spirit Command Accel, I maxed the thrusters and dashed to the Archangel's left wing. I fired the beam rifle at the incoming missiles.
One, two, three. As the missiles turned into massive fireballs around the ship, I swung my right arm back, aiming the Trikeros's built-in spear—the Lancer Dart—at the retreating GINN.
"That's one."
As I spoke, the dart pierced the cockpit of the armless GINN, sending it crashing to the ground.
"Archangel, use the anti-air guns!"
I opened a contact channel to the bridge. My suggestion was immediately accepted, and the ship's Igelstellung CIWS guns began spewing a relentless stream of bullets.
The last GINN fired several small missiles from the pods that had held the large ones. But none reached the Archangel; they were all shot down by the CIWS.
"You're the la—!?"
I aimed the Trikeros's beam rifle at the final GINN. But in that instant, the Blitz's OS froze. The cockpit plunged into darkness.
What happened!?
I tried to reboot the OS, but there was no response. Was this... an OS configuration error!?
Bad! If the OS is down, the Phase Shift Armor is down too. I can't take a hit from a GINN like this.
"Damn it!"
I instinctively tried to pop the hatch to bail out, but the next second, a massive impact and a deafening roar shook the entire machine.
"Guh!"
I braced myself against the cockpit walls, barely avoiding injury... but what just happened?
Once the shaking stopped, I opened the hatch to check the situation outside.
The first thing I saw was Kira's Strike cleaving the giant beam rifle-wielding GINN in two with its anti-ship sword. And beyond that... the colony shaft was spewing fire.
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 30 - 40 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
Here's the link:
[patreon.com/Greyhounds]
Thank you so much for your support!!