Eighth Fleet

(Chapter two is out. Continuing with chapter three will be too much work, so I can only update during the day. The estimated update time for the 30th is between 3 PM and 4 PM for the first chapter, and the second chapter will be later.)

Inside the Archangel's bridge, Xiao Ran's new appointment had already been sent from the Archangel to the flagship Menelaus, and from the flagship, the information would be transmitted to the lunar base. It wouldn't be long before Xiao Ran officially became a Major in the Earth Forces.

For the Earth Alliance, a coalition of multiple factions, internal unity and stability were far from guaranteed. The Eurasian Federation had a long-standing disagreement with the Atlantic Federation, often contributing little to the war effort and even suspected of hindering progress. The East Asian Republic, while also part of the Earth Alliance, possessed unparalleled skills in playing a supporting role and had numerous secret contacts with the PLANTs, making them less enthusiastic about Alliance affairs. Consequently, the Atlantic Federation held a very dominant position.

The Eighth Fleet belonged to the Atlantic Federation, so it was a simple matter for an admiral of a fleet to arrange a Major. Even if there were some complications, Xiao Ran's series of actions, initiated before he even boarded the Archangel, had smoothed things over.

Although the prestige of this Major position was somewhat diminished compared to Mwu's, who was at least a captain commanding dozens of people, it was more than enough for Xiao Ran. Regardless of the actual authority this Major rank carried, simply having the rank was sufficient. A high enough rank would undoubtedly lead to a significant hidden evaluation after completing missions, and this hidden evaluation was directly related to mission rewards. Therefore, for Xiao Ran, authority and the like were secondary.

After speaking with Mwu and Xiao Ran, Harborton was urged by the flagship to leave. Xiao Ran watched him depart the bridge, not uttering a single word of retention, simply observing his retreating figure as the heavy steel doors closed behind him.

As Harborton's figure completely vanished from Xiao Ran's sight, Xiao Ran gritted his teeth and closed his eyes. He knew that with Harborton's departure, he was truly gone, leaving behind only memories in this world. Although he hadn't known Harborton for long, Harborton's magnanimity had benefited Xiao Ran greatly, allowing him to skip two ranks and gain a significant advantage. He had also confined those four participants aboard the Menelaus, ensuring Xiao Ran's safety.

Even though Harborton had done all this, Xiao Ran still hardened his heart and let Harborton leave as if he knew nothing, making no attempt to keep him. The reason for not holding him back was that Harborton had already completed his tasks and even exceeded expectations. Any attempt to retain him would be without reason or meaning. If Harborton were to remain on the Archangel and survive, it would be a disaster for Xiao Ran.

If Harborton survived, the Archangel could not have descended to Earth and, without any reinforcements, broken through enemy territory alone to reach Alaska. It would not have been used as bait, with the intention of sacrificing it in Alaska. Even without special favor from the Earth Forces' high command, it would have been possible for it to become the flagship of the Eighth Fleet under Harborton. Without the events that transpired with the Archangel in the original plot, Xiao Ran's knowledge of the story would be rendered useless, and the subsequent direction of this world would become an endless unknown. Xiao Ran dared not let such a thing happen; for the current, extremely weak Xiao Ran, it would be more reckless than playing with his own life.

As Harborton walked out the door, Xiao Ran had struggled, and he had also considered the possibility of gaining more benefits if Harborton survived. However, he knew clearly that he didn't even have the right to take risks at this moment. Therefore, those who were meant to die had to die, and only those who were meant to live could continue to do so.

Not long after Harborton left, Xiao Ran also departed. The feeling of watching someone go to their death was truly unpleasant. Previously, when he could have saved Frey's father but also chose not to intervene, Xiao Ran had not interacted with anyone from the advance fleet, so he could ignore it. This was a necessary psychological fortitude for living in such a world. However, after interacting with someone, benefiting from them, and then choosing to ignore their fate, it truly made Xiao Ran feel uncomfortable.

Xiao Ran returned to his room and lay on the bed, holding his head in a feigned sleep. "This is fate, I can't change it. My current world isn't here, it's Prometheus, which is definitely a more brutal place. I have to get used to watching others go to their deaths, because it's destined for them to die. Only by letting them walk their destined path can I survive."

At some point, whenever Xiao Ran wanted to escape or felt down, he would return to his room, close his eyes, and somehow fall asleep. When he woke up, he would act as if nothing had happened and return to normal. This was Xiao Ran's self-regulation, adjusting himself to better adapt to this world.

It's unclear whether Xiao Ran had actually fallen asleep, but as the alarm sounded on the Archangel, Xiao Ran shot up and quickly headed for the waiting room.

"All personnel, first combat configuration. All personnel, first combat configuration. Please have Major... no, Major Xiao Ran and Major Mu proceed to the waiting room immediately, ready for deployment."

At the same time, the Eighth Fleet, which had been stationary in low Earth orbit, also made full preparations for battle due to the appearance of the ZAFT fleet. MA after MA were launched from various parts of the warships under the control of new recruits. In a short while, a dense formation of MAs was swirling in front of the Eighth Fleet.

On the Archangel's radar, there were four ZAFT warships more than five hundred units away. Even more astonishingly, these warships were all carrying their full complement of MS, which had all been launched. Among the more than twenty mobile suits, there were four Gundams, Aegis, Buster, Duel, and Blitz, which were supposed to be the Earth Forces' newest cutting-edge weapons.

The entire Eighth Fleet currently had less than twenty warships. In terms of numbers, they were more than four times outnumbered by the ZAFT forces. The number of MAs also had a five-fold gap compared to the ZAFT's MS. While they appeared to be well-armed and overwhelmingly powerful, everyone on the Eighth Fleet knew that more than fifty percent of the warships were manned by new recruits, and the MA units had over eighty percent new recruits. Facing more than twenty MS units, the seemingly powerful exterior was actually fragile and could be easily broken. Especially when facing those four Gundams, all equipped with beam weapons, they were as easily pierced as paper.

As Xiao Ran arrived at the waiting room, Mwu was on the bridge, arguing with Harborton on the Menelaus via communication. The moment she learned of the enemy's configuration, Mwu understood one thing. These enemies had followed the Archangel, and their target was precisely the Archangel. If they fought, the Archangel would be subjected to concentrated fire and encirclement by the ZAFT forces, making it almost impossible to escape. Of course, the sinking of the Archangel could also result in a hard-won victory for the Eighth Fleet.

If they didn't fight, then the entire Eighth Fleet, including the Archangel, would be pursued by the enemy. Except for the Archangel and a few high-speed ships of the Eighth Fleet that might escape, the remaining warships and the already deployed MAs could only become targets for the enemy.

In an instant, Mwu made a decision: to use the entire Eighth Fleet as a shield to prevent the Archangel from landing on Earth prematurely. In Mwu's view, perhaps as long as the Archangel left, the enemy would have no reason to continue attacking them. Although the losses for the Eighth Fleet might be significant, such losses were entirely justifiable compared to the sinking of the Archangel.

Mwu's intentions were good, but he never imagined that it was precisely because of this idea that the entire Eighth Fleet would be annihilated, and he would perish along with it. Consequently, the Archangel became a rootless wanderer, eventually used as bait by the Atlantic Federation, allowed to rampage through enemy territory, buying countless amounts of time. Furthermore, after the Archangel successfully reached Alaska, it was once again treated as bait, nearly killed by its own people.

"Descend to Earth immediately. This is an order." Mwu's tall figure appeared on the bridge screen, his voice leaving no room for doubt. "They are targeting you. If you leave, they will have no reason to continue attacking us. Do not let our hopes and sacrifices be in vain."

"Yes." Mwu and Bargyll both lowered their heads, their expressions unreadable, but their fingers pointed directly at their temples. Their slightly trembling bodies also indicated their current emotions.

The moment the screen went black, Mwu raised her head and shouted to everyone on the bridge, "Engage engines, disengage from combat at maximum speed, and descend directly to Earth. Target: Alaska. Launch the shuttle once we enter the descent orbit."

After issuing the orders, Mwu sank weakly into her chair, looking out at the flagship Menelaus, which had already activated its thrusters, silently offering a blessing.

Bargyll stood and shouted to Miriallia in the CIC, "What's the readiness status of the Strike Gundam? If Kira isn't here, let Major Xiao Ran pilot it. At least contribute before we land!"

"I'll pilot the Strike Gundam?" Xiao Ran, sitting in the waiting room, pointed at himself with a look of astonishment, facing Mu. Mu sat in front of Xiao Ran, his usual relaxed expression gone, and nodded seriously at Xiao Ran. "The kid isn't here, and I can't pilot that thing. You've flown it so many times in the training machine, you should be fine."

Xiao Ran's eyes widened. Although he knew Kira would return, he couldn't be sure when. However, this was not the time to directly disobey the bridge's orders. Xiao Ran could only take a deep breath, then grit his teeth and nod. "Alright, I'll go."

As he was changing, a figure stumbled through the door, "Teacher, I heard everything just now. I'll go!"

"Kid!" Accompanied by Mu's startled cry was Xiao Ran's relieved sigh.