A few days had passed since the Archangel surged into the heavens via the Mass Driver, followed closely by the Kusanagi. The Earth Alliance, having monitored the departure of Shadow Mirror—Orb's most terrifying deterrent—was surprisingly quick to act.
"Lord Uzumi."
Uzumi Nara Athha looked up at the main monitor, focusing on the figure projected there. Echidna stood on the screen, her short pink hair and bold, skin-tight uniform a striking contrast to the sterile military environment behind her.
He had heard rumors that her presence in the command center was a double-edged sword; the sight of her walking confidently through the halls was causing a surge in "distracted" male personnel, noticeably dipping the facility's overall efficiency. Apparently, even some of the female staff weren't immune to her arresting appearance.
"Lord Uzumi?"
Echidna's voice, cool and level, snapped him back to the present.
"My apologies," Uzumi said, clearing his throat. "I was lost in thought. I assume you've been briefed? The Earth Alliance has launched another incursion against Orb. Fortunately, they seem to have scaled back their numbers following their previous disastrous defeat. We're tracking twelve vessels—a mix of carriers, cruisers, Aegis-class ships, and destroyers. They're undoubtedly carrying mobile suits and fighter wings. Per our mutual defense treaty, I am requesting your assistance in intercepting them."
"Acknowledged," Echidna replied without hesitation. "Shadow Mirror will commence interception as per the treaty. Given the enemy's limited numbers, I suspect a possible diversion. I will deploy two hundred Megillots for the sortie; the remaining three hundred will stay here to maintain Orb's domestic defense. Is this acceptable?"
"It is."
"Then the Gyanland, the Sea Lions, and the Megillot swarm will begin immediate preparations. Out."
The screen flickered to black.
"Megillots, hm?" Uzumi murmured to the empty room.
The performance of those machines—units that treated the Orb military's pride, the M1 Astray, like a mere toy—had sent shockwaves through the global community. And yet...
Uzumi offered a wry, almost pained smile as his gaze drifted to a small object sitting on the corner of his desk.
"Megillot-kun..."
It was a plushie—a "super-deformed" (SD) version of the terrifying Megillot drone. Following the leaked footage of Axel and his team's total annihilation of the Alliance fleet, a local entrepreneur had been struck by inspiration. The "Megillot-kun" line had hit the shelves and immediately triggered a consumer frenzy. Now, the once-feared drone had become a mascot, the cuddly symbol of Orb and Shadow Mirror's combined might.
Word had it that even the eldest son of the Asuka family—a boy with the SEED factor and a notorious "sister complex"—had utilized his Coordinator reflexes to win a brutal tug-of-war at a local department store just to secure one for his younger sister.
"We truly chose the right side of history by befriending Shadow Mirror," Uzumi sighed.
There were still whispers of movement from certain high-ranking families—the Seirans, specifically. But in a world where Shadow Mirror held the absolute advantage in technology, military might, and intelligence gathering, the Seirans were essentially toothless.
In fact, intelligence suggested that this latest Alliance "surprise" attack was only possible because the Seiran family had leaked the news of Axel's departure.
Uzumi let out a long, weary sigh. "Do those fools in the Seiran house even understand? The moment you make an enemy of Shadow Mirror, you aren't just betting against a faction. You are betting against the survival of this world."
Images of the previous battle flashed through his mind—the way Shadow Mirror's units moved, the absolute lack of mercy, the sheer efficiency. It hadn't been a battle; it had been a one-sided hunt. To provoke such a power was nothing short of a suicide pact.
"The only grace we have," Uzumi whispered, "is that Axel-kun is a man of his word."
A few hours later, a brief, professional notification arrived from Echidna: the invading Alliance fleet had been completely neutralized.
Orb Defense Forces - Post-Launch Status
Commanding Officer (Orb): Echidna (Shadow Mirror)
Active Assets: Gyanland (Land-Battle Carrier), Sea Lion squadron, 500 Megillots (200 Sortied, 300 Reserve)
Alliance Casualties: 12 Ships (Total Loss)
Orb Casualties: 0
Current Domestic Trend: "Megillot-kun" plushies are sold out nationwide.
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