An MS squad of three units had attempted to attack from the rear, only for the Minerva to easily break the encirclement and leave behind two of their machines. This also proved from the side just what kind of combat capability ZAFT's newly built Minerva possessed. Even with damage across multiple sections of its hull, it had still not affected the warship's normal performance.
Of the two destroyed Windams, one exploded directly in midair, while the other began falling after being hit by a Fire Snake. By sheer coincidence, the burning Windam fell toward the observation deck at the rear of the Minerva. In a situation everyone had overlooked because they assumed it had already been destroyed, it came crashing directly onto the observation deck on the ship's rear flank.
The instant the Windam landed on the deck, a tremendous roar and violent tremors swept through the entire Minerva. The Windam that struck the deck twisted and buckled before turning into a massive fireball. The close-range explosion blasted the observation deck into several pieces, and directly beneath that deck lay one of the Minerva's main engines and thrusters.
The Windam's explosion seemed to trigger a chain reaction. The thruster erupted in a bright blaze with a thunderous roar, causing the hull to shake violently again. Flames and thick smoke poured from the rear as the ship began to tilt out of control and plunge toward the sea.
The two consecutive explosions had sent the warship into violent convulsions. The first had already thrown countless people off balance, but the shockwave from the second was even fiercer, causing the vessel to start veering uncontrollably. On the bridge, Captain Talia was nearly flung from her chair. Hearing the ship control officer's report as she tightly gripped the armrest, her heart sank nearly