"Turtle... heh."
Orga Itsuka couldn't help but laugh out loud. He truly admired Mikazuki Augus's talent for giving people nicknames; it was actually quite fitting.
But he quickly wiped the smile off his face, steering the ship while opening a channel to the Barbatos. His expression was grave as he spoke.
"Mika, it looks like the Orb leaders are planning to abandon Orb."
"Huh? What do you mean?" Mikazuki was currently locked in combat with the Forbidden Gundam.
"Literally. The self-destruct program for the Orb Union's Mass Driver has been initiated. Not only that, but they're preparing something deep within the underground factoriesmost likely warships meant for a retreat. What should we do?" Orga Itsuka watched Mikazuki through the screen with one eye closed.
Mikazuki blinked once and replied coolly, "Since we took the payment, we have to follow through, don't we? I just have to kill all these guys in front of me, right?"
"Heh, you always say the craziest things... but that's just who you are." Orga Itsuka brushed back his hair. "Alright then, let me give you a report on the current tactical situation. Can you handle the distraction?"
"No problem. This guy isn't hard to deal with. I'll finish him soon."
In Mikazuki's eyes, this "Turtle" was weak, just like the "Bird-man" before him.
"Good. I'll keep the war report brief. The Earth Alliance currently has 112 Mobile Suits, 22 carriers, and 57 fighters. On our side, we have 56 Mobile Suits and 18 carriers. I won't count the fighters and anti-aircraft missiles. These numbers include the Barbatos, the Archangel, and the Sassari.
"We have Kira Yamato and the others helping, but... honestly, I don't agree with Kira's combat style. Just disabling the machines without hitting the cockpits means the enemies will just return after repairs and resupply. To put it nicely, it's mercy. To put it bluntly, he's indirectly helping the enemy."
Barbatos kicked the Forbidden Gundam away, hovering in the air while watching the Freedom Gundam and Justice Gundam coordinate their attacks further back.
"Don't worry about that. Everyone has their own way of living. If that's the path he chose, let him be."
As he spoke, Mikazuki pulled up on the control lever. The Barbatos's right-arm Mortar fired several rounds at a group of missiles that had just streaked past toward the Archangel. He shot down most of them; the Archangel could handle the few that leaked through.
Clang!
The blade of a scythe pressed against the front of the Barbatos's cockpit. The Wrench Mace caught the joint between the blade and handle, blocking the sudden strike.
Shani Andras saw his scythe being slowly pushed aside by his opponent before being suddenly flicked away.
"Eh? So much strength... and no beam weapons? What the hell?" Shani's tone was filled with dissatisfaction. His machine was specialized against beam weapons, yet this machine in front of him didn't seem to have a single oneit wasn't even equipped with a Beam Saber.
The Calamity Gundam suddenly fired at the Forbidden Gundam, the beam hitting the shields on the Forbidden's sides. The beam distorted and grazed past the Barbatos.
"Shani, get out of my way!" Orga Sabnak shouted.
"Hmph."
"Hm? Attacking their own? Infighting? Whatever, I don't care," Mikazuki muttered.
The Barbatos burst forward with incredible speed. Before the Calamity Gundam could react, it swung its mace.
Boom!
One of the beam-deflecting shields was instantly smashed by the Barbatos. At the same time, the pilot in the cockpit took a massive shock. The machine's energy, which was already at half, dropped straight to the critical line.
The Trans Phase Armor (TP Armor) could no longer be maintained.
Shani's gloomy expression darkened further. His eyes glared at the attacker like a venomous snake that had been struck in its vitals.
"Bastard! What do you think you're doing!"
Shoom!
A beam from the Forbidden Gundam streaked past his eyes.
"Enough! We have to go back for resupply. Both energy and the drug effects are running out..."
"Damn it..."
The corner of Shani's mouth twitched. He turned and flew toward land, accurately grabbing the Forbidden Gundam's hand to return to the fleet together for resupply.
"Don't even think about running."
They wanted to escape, but Mikazuki wouldn't let them. His thrusters roared to life, catching up to the two machines in the blink of an eye.
"You bastard! Get lost!"
The Forbidden Gundam, hanging below the Calamity, raised its "Todesblock" 337mm Plasma-fed Rocket Launcher and fired at the approaching Barbatos.
However, the Barbatos held its left arm horizontal. The rear-facing Mortar burst into flames.
Boom!
The two shells collided in mid-air, creating a massive explosion that enveloped all three machines.
"What the... is that bastard suicidal?"
Forbidden and Calamity burst out of the smoke. Their Trans Phase Armor (TP Armor) had saved their lives.
However, the Barbatos followed immediately through the explosion. He threw his Wrench Mace, striking the Forbidden's right shoulder.
An explosion erupted on the Forbidden's right shoulder, and the shock caused the instruments on the right side of the cockpit to explode. The glass on Orga Sabnak's pilot helmet shattered, and the state of the face beneath it went without saying.
"Aaaaaaaagh!"
The screaming was non-stop. Hearing Orga's screams from within the Calamity, Shani's mouth hung open. His face showed the sheer terror of death. He frantically manipulated his controls to speed up, desperate to shake off the Barbatos.
But how could prey targeted by a wolf ever hope to escape? The Smoothbore Gun fixed to Barbatos's back deployed to his right side. Mikazuki gripped the handle.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Explosions bloomed in front of the Barbatos as Mikazuki narrowed his eyes.
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