In the hangar of the Kusanagi, a Strike was undergoing final sortie preparations.
"Strike Rouge, power readiness normal," Erica reported from the bridge. "The pilot is a rookie, so please be sure to verify the support AI."
"Understood."
Cagalli climbed into the cockpit of the Strike Rouge and exhaled deeply before initiating system startup. Once the self-check concluded, every control sequence mirrored that of the Strike. Strike Rouge's Phase Shift Armor flared to life, shifting the machine into a vibrant, brilliant crimson that completely distinguished it from the original Strike.
"Phase Shift Armor activation confirmed. System operating normally."
With no launch order issued yet, Strike Rouge's Phase Shift Armor powered down again. Shutting it off preserved energy now that the systems had been confirmed fully functional.
"Strike Rouge... Mika, I'm on my way."
Meanwhile, both the Archangel and the Eternal were readying their Mobile Suit teams for launch, preparing to plunge into the contested sector.
"Confirmed: Barbatos has entered the combat zone and has engaged both the Earth Alliance and ZAFT."
The main screens across all three warships flickered with visual feeds from the battlefield. Across the monitors, all anyone could see was a streak of light carving its way through the densest zones of crossfire.
Wherever that streak passed, both Earth Alliance Mobile Suits and ZAFT GINNs fell under its relentless assault.
Lacus swept her right hand forward. "Maximum speed! Enter the battle zone! All units, prepare to sortie in three minutes!"
"Understood."
Andrew nodded slightly and picked up the comms receiver beside his seat. "Attention, Mobile Suit teams across all ships. Sortie in three minutes. I repeat..."
Aboard the Earth Alliance battleship Dominion, on the bridge.
"We have detected the Wolf's signal! It is moving at extreme speeds and relentlessly hunting down our Mobile Suits!"
"Although it has eliminated ZAFT Mobile Suits as well, it appears to be focusing primarily on our forces. Thus far, the Wolf has destroyed twenty-three of our Strike Daggers and one Agamemnon-class battleship!"
"The Wolf? Damn it, why do those bastards have to stick their noses into everything?!" Muruta's face darkened with rage.
Seated in the captain's chair, Natarle remained stony-faced aside from issuing orders. It was impossible to tell what she was thinkingperhaps analyzing the tactical situation, or perhaps something else entirely.
"Archangel-class detected! It's the Archangel! Scramble Mobile Suit units against them!"
Sure enough, no sooner had Muruta spoken than his prediction came true. The radar caught the Archangel's distinct signature.
Natarle commanded calmly, "Intercept them! But do not overcommit our forces. ZAFT will deploy units against them as well."
"Understood!"
Aboard the Archangel.
Murrue picked up the handset and established a line with the Eternal. "The Earth Alliance doesn't seem to have used nuclear weapons yet."
Andrew replied, "They haven't breached the defense perimeter at Jachin Due. Once ZAFT's lines collapse, the nukes will definitely take the stage..."
Right then, Nicol shouted, "High-energy surge detected! It's GENESIS!"
"What?!"
"It's already ready to fire?!"
Gasps of horror erupted across the bridge. Beyond Jachin Due, the colossal reflecting mirror of GENESIS flared with blinding radiance. An immense blast of gamma radiation surged forth, roaring past a mere twenty kilometers from the Archangel and its allied vessels.
Every Earth Alliance warship caught in the nuclear-powered beam detonated without exception, vanishing in roaring fireballs.
Having just launched, Cagalli watched the catastrophic beam blaze past and immediately hailed the bridge. "Where was GENESIS aiming?!"
Aboard the Kusanagi, Erica's fingers flew across the keyboard. A few seconds later, she answered, "Just as anticipated... The target of this strike was the Earth Alliance's lunar crater base."
Another dozen seconds passed before satellite feeds relayed footage of a colossal mushroom cloud billowing over the Earth Alliance's lunar stronghold to every monitor.
The sight cast a grim pall over everyone, particularly on the Earth Alliance's side.
"Just as we thought, huh?"
On screen, Orga closed one eye. Recalling the plan Mikazuki had discussed with him before the sortie, an involuntary smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. "Mika... you crazy bastard..."
Neither he nor Mika gave a damn whether a monstrous weapon like GENESIS should exist. Besides using the battlefield to stockpile energy, taking part in this clash was simply fulfilling the task Mikazuki had accepted from Uzumi back in Orb.
Protect Cagalli. It was that simple. As for whether Earth was obliterated or not, what did that have to do with Tekkadan?
As for why he was smiling, everyone would find out soon enough. But before that, he had to get things ready...
Ready for a move...
"Hey, Mika, I'm all set on my end."
"Yeah, got it. But before that, we need to finish the job Lacus and the others gave us."
"True enough."
Even if they couldn't care less about GENESIS, a job was a jobespecially one requested by Mikazuki's girl... ahem. So Orga wasn't about to object.
Aboard the Dominion, Muruta's face went deathly pale at the sight of the lunar base being wiped out. One of Natarle's bridge crew members reported in a shaking voice:
"As a result of that strike, our forces have suffered a fifty percent casualty rate!"
Muruta's pupils shrank to pinpricks. Natarle looked equally shaken, her lips trembling slightly. "Tch... Did they factor their own fleet into the firing solution?!"
With a twisted, feral expression, Muruta shot up from his seat, marched to the upper communications station, and snatched the headset.
"Director Azrael."
If anyone from the Archangel had been present, they would have recognized the man on the screen immediately. It was the flat-faced officer who had presided over the inquiry regarding the Archangel back at the Alaska Base.
Indeed, this man was a devoted member of Blue Cosmos and Muruta's most loyal subordinate: William Sutherland.
Muruta barked with rabid fury, "Deploy the nuclear attack squad! The target is PLANT!"
Hearing this, Natarle snapped to her feet in horror. "Director Azrael!"
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