After Kira left, Frey Alsta asked Sai Argyle in confusion.
"What was that just now? Who is this Kira person?"
Sai Argyle explained to her that Kira Yamato was the one who had rescued her lifeboat while piloting a Gundam.
Frey Alsta questioned why Kira Yamato was able to pilot a Gundam.
The moment Thor Knig heard that, he felt this woman really knew how to bring up the worst possible subject.
Miriaria Haw, standing nearby, also showed an awkward expression when she heard her say that.
Fortunately, Kira Yamato had left. Otherwise, he would have been hurt and dejected again.
His own Miriaria Haw was still better. She would not say such thoughtless things.
At that moment, Kazu Bascar, standing nearby, answered at the worst possible time, "Kira is a Coordinator."
That made the already awkward atmosphere even worse, and Thor Knig grumbled helplessly to himself.
What a pig teammate. Useless at accomplishing anything, but excellent at ruining everything.
Fortunately, Sai Argyle helped explain that Kira Yamato was not a ZAFT Coordinator.
That slightly soothed his girlfriend, Frey Alsta's spoiled-princess temper...
After a long while, the radar operator on the Archangel's bridge sounded an alarm.
"A large heat source has been detected nearby. It should be a battleship engine."
The bridge was filled with tension. Everyone was on high alert, like tightly drawn bowstrings.
Mu La Flaga said, "Is it beside us? It's moving in the same direction."
Mwu Lamias asked nervously, "Has ZAFT caught up with us already?"
Natale Badgiruel denied that the enemy had noticed the Archangel and continued checking the information before replying.
"However, there is still some distance between us. The target is preparing to overtake this ship. It is a Nacskha-class battleship."
Mu La Flaga saw through the enemy's intentions and said,
"They want to get ahead of us and block our path."
At the same time, they discovered that more than one battleship was pursuing the Archangel. A Laurasia-class battleship was also behind it.
ZAFT was preparing to pincer the Archangel from the front and rear.
The Archangel had shut down its engines and was drifting forward on inertia. It was now trapped with no way forward or back.
Alarms also rang throughout the Archangel, followed by an announcement.
"Enemy traces detected. First battle stations. All personnel with military status, report to your posts immediately.
Kira Yamato, report to the bridge."
Miriaria Haw said nervously, "I wonder what will happen to Kira?"
Everyone fell silent. Sai Argyle spoke from the side.
"If Kira doesn't fight, everyone will be in serious trouble."
Thor Knig grumbled inwardly.
Sai Argyle, I never thought you were one of those sanctimonious hypocrites. Since you can't do it yourself, you want Kira to shoulder it.
You're sending someone to die, yet you say it so casually. If Kira weren't the strongest Coordinator, he would have died who knew how many times by now.
Miriaria Haw asked Thor Knig,
"Thor, can we only sit here? Can we only keep relying on Kira to protect us?"
Thor Knig felt a sudden sense of crisis when he heard that. If he did not know the plot, he might have thought she liked Kira Yamato.
He lowered his head and put on a solemn expression as he answered, "Mu La Flaga was right. Do what you can with the strength you have."
Then he looked at everyone. Just as in the original plot, they all nodded one after another.
He knew things were settled. He had finally joined the Archangel as a reserve soldier.
Now he could openly go to the hangar and practice piloting the MA Moebius in a training craft.
Thor Knig and the other three arrived at the bridge and found Mwu Lamias, requesting to join the Archangel and help with work aboard the ship.
Mwu Lamias agreed to Thor Knig and the others' request, then had a soldier take them to change into military uniforms.
After changing uniforms, they ran into Kira Yamato on the way.
Kira looked at the uniforms they were wearing and asked, "Thor, everyone... What's with that outfit...?"
Thor Knig replied, "We want to do something to help the Archangel too."
"Is there not enough manpower?"
Kazu Bascar said, "You have to wear a military uniform to go to the bridge, right?"
Thor Knig spread his hands. "ZAFT uniforms look much better, though. This set is really awful.
But we can't keep making you fight alone and relying on you to protect us."
Miriaria Haw spoke from behind Thor Knig.
"Now that we're in this situation again, we should also do our best to help in whatever ways we can."
After chatting for a while, the soldier beside them began urging Thor's group onward. They could only say goodbye to Kira Yamato first, then headed to the bridge to handle communications work.
Mu La Flaga piloted Moebius Zero and launched first.
Then Kira Yamato, piloting the Strike Gundam, stood ready to launch at any moment.
On the bridge, the radar operator warned, "Laurasia-class battleship, fifty units behind us and closing."
Mwu Lamias commanded, "In two minutes, start the Archangel's main engines. Strike Gundam, prepare to launch."
Inside the Strike Gundam piloted by Kira Yamato, Miriaria Haw's voice rang out.
"Kira, starting today, I'm the combat navigator for MS and MA units."
Then she made a V sign at Kira and said playfully, "Please take care of me."
Natale Badgiruel said sternly from the side, "Kira Yamato, equip the Strike Gundam with its aerial combat pack.
Once you leave the Archangel, the enemy will immediately move in. Understood?"
Kira nodded and said, "Understood. Kira Yamato, Gundam launching."
The Strike Gundam then flew out of the Archangel's hangar, activated its PS Armor, and soared through space.
The radar operator on the bridge said nervously,
"Three heat signatures are approaching from the rear. Distance sixty-seven. Three units, they are MS."
Mwu Lamias said, "They came after all?"
Natale Badgiruel commanded,
"Prepare for battle. Missile tubes thirteen through twenty-four, load Large Missiles at the stern. Activate the High-energy Beam Cannon, start the main components, input target data. Hurry."
The radar operator said nervously, "Unit identification: these are the X Series—Duel, Buster, and Blitz."
Natale Badgiruel asked in shock, "What...?"
Mwu Lamias said helplessly, "I never expected ZAFT to put all the captured G units into actual combat so quickly."
The bridge was filled with tension.
When Thor Knig heard that ZAFT's Three strong ones had already come out in the Duel, Buster, and Blitz Gundams, he prayed desperately in his heart.
Jade Emperor, Heaven, God, Buddha—anyone will do, please bless me.
Please let it be just like the original plot, with danger but no disaster. Don't let anything go wrong.
I haven't even piloted an MS or MA yet. I don't want to die this early.
Before you continue