SEED - Rendezvous

Sergeant Maddock thought for a moment, then answered with complete confidence.

"Fine, brat. I'll bet with you. If you lose, you'll keep helping the maintenance crew until you disembark.

Hehehe, don't think you can back out just because we'll be leaving the ship soon."

Thor Kni raised his right hand toward Sergeant Maddock.

"Sure, no problem. Let's seal it with a high five.

If I lose, I absolutely won't welsh on it. I'll keep helping the maintenance crew until I disembark.

But if I win, Sergeant Maddock, you have to finish modifying the Moebius as soon as possible."

Sergeant Maddock slapped Thor Kni's palm hard.

"Hahaha, fine, it's a deal. No cheating. You're definitely going to lose."

Luckily, Thor Kni's constitution was high enough. Otherwise, Maddock would have swollen his palm with that slap.

He pretended to be in pain and shouted loudly, while thinking to himself.

Heh heh, you're betting against me on the plot. You're doomed.

I've watched Gundam SEED more than ten times. How could I possibly misremember something this important?

Hahahaha, you're finished. You can just be my hardworking lackey.

"Ah, that hurt! Uncle Maddock, I'm never sealing a bet with a high five with you again.

Sigh, you hit way too hard. Was that so even if you lose, you still won't come out worse?

But I'll give your last words right back to you. You're definitely going to lose."

Sergeant Maddock said indignantly.

"Hmph, we'll see who wins and who loses.

Kira, you can be our witness."

"Yeah, Kira, be our witness.

So Uncle Maddock can't deny it if he loses."

Kira Yamato looked somewhat troubled and said timidly from the side.

"I'd better not. You two can be happy with it. Don't mind me, hehehe."

Seeing that Kira was troubled, Sergeant Maddock did not press the matter. He simply said he was going to rest and left the two of them alone.

Kira Yamato continued adjusting the Strike Gundam's various parameters according to the deviation values.

Thor Kni continued his MS simulation combat training. After all, he had taken the Blitz Gear's weapon.

If he encountered any of the three Gundams—Duel, Buster, or Blitz—on the battlefield later...

They would definitely attack him. They might even call the other units in to gang up on him.

As for the Aegis, that was Kira Yamato's problem. The two of them were like magnets; once they met on the battlefield, it would have nothing to do with him.

What a headache. For one moment of satisfaction, he had made three powerful enemies.

He could not reveal his strength, nor could he modify his machine through assimilation too extravagantly.

Otherwise, he could have modified the Moebius himself. Why would he need to make a bet and have Maddock do it?

"The radar has detected three warships: the escort ships Wadogomei, Bennaton, and Raiwei."

The radar operator aboard the Archangel excitedly reported the good news, and everyone else cheered.

Before long, the radar operator suddenly turned serious and said nervously.

"This is..."

Mwu Lamias suddenly had a bad feeling and immediately asked.

"What is it?"

The radar operator replied emotionally.

"It's a Neutron Jammer! It's coming from that area."

In an instant, the atmosphere on the Archangel's bridge became uneasy.

On the other side, GINNs continuously launched from the ZAFT Nacskha-class ship and charged toward the Earth Alliance forces.

The Federation forces also entered combat readiness, dispatching large numbers of Moebius MAs to meet the ZAFT military's MS units.

The radar operator reported excitedly.

"There are heat signatures ahead resembling a battle formation. It is presumed that the advance force is engaged in combat."

The tension on the Archangel's bridge grew increasingly severe.

The communications soldier reported, "A transmission from the escort ship Wadogomei: rendezvous terminated. The Archangel is ordered to turn around and withdraw immediately."

After receiving the message, everyone on the Archangel's bridge was at a loss.

Seeing Mwu Lamias at a loss and unsure what to do, Natale said to her urgently.

"Captain Lamias!"

Mwu Lamias immediately calmed down and asked the radar operator.

"How many enemy forces are there?"

The radar operator answered, "One Nacskha-class High-Speed Battleship. The battle heat signatures indicate three GINNs, and—wait a moment.

This is... the Aegis, GAT-X303 Aegis Gundam."

Upon hearing the name Aegis Gundam, everyone on the Archangel's bridge was shocked.

Mwu Lamias asked the radar operator.

"You said that warship is Nacskha-class?"

On the battlefield, the Aegis Gundam darted back and forth, constantly attacking the surrounding Moebius units, taking one down with each shot from its beam gun.

The three GINNs beside it wielded Rocket Launchers and Heavy Machine Guns, taking turns attacking the Moebius formation as they rapidly advanced toward the three warships.

On the Archangel's bridge, Natale once again urged Mwu Lamias, hoping she would issue orders as soon as possible.

"Captain Lamias!"

Mwu Lamias lowered her head and thought.

"Even if we turn around now, we cannot guarantee that we'll escape ZAFT's pursuit."

Then Mwu Lamias said firmly.

"All hands, first combat readiness!

The Archangel will move to cover the advance force!"

Immediately afterward, alarms blared throughout the Archangel.

Thor Kni said to Mwu Lamias.

"Captain Lamias, Thor Kni requests permission to sortie in the Blitz Gear."

Miriaria stood up and said in disbelief, "Thor."

Thor Kni stepped forward and gently embraced Miriaria. Looking at her tear-filled eyes, he spoke softly.

"Miriaria, I'll be fine. Kira will be with me too.

We'll protect everyone. I'll protect myself—and you—as well."

"But, Thor..." Miriaria swallowed the words she had left unfinished, then said.

"Thor, you have to be careful."

Mwu Lamias shook her head and said sternly to Thor Kni.

"Volunteer Thor Kni, your sortie request is approved."

Then her tone softened.

"Stay safe. Good luck!"

Thor Kni nodded and saluted Mwu Lamias.

"Yes, Captain Lamias!"

He then quickly left the Archangel's bridge and headed for the hangar.

On the way, Thor Kni spotted Kira Yamato while running and was just about to greet him.

Then he saw Frey Alusta grab Kira and ask.

"Kira, what was that combat readiness announcement about? What happened to the advance force?"

Kira Yamato answered in confusion.

"I don't know either. I still don't know anything."

Just as Kira Yamato was about to turn and leave, Frey Alusta grabbed him again with a tense expression and asked.

"It'll be fine, right? My father's ship won't be attacked, will it?"

Kira Yamato could only smile and comfort her.

"It'll be fine, Frey. We'll be heading back too."