Round two

The next day.

The light of dawn spilled like diluted saltwater across the sea east of the Orb Archipelago.

The wreckage still burned. Yesterday's smoke had yet to disperse, mingling with the morning mist to form a gray curtain,

one that smelled of rust.

Then a new fleet emerged from the other side of that curtain.

A fleet larger than yesterday's, carrying hatred left to fester overnight and fresh killing intent.

Le Creuset stood before the observation window on the Gamow's bridge, holding a cup of hot coffee. Its steam blurred the upper half of his mask.

"Oh? So Lord Durandal was right after all?"

His voice was soft, almost a murmur to himself.

On the holographic tactical display, red dots representing enemy ships were refilling the waters cleared yesterday with ruthless efficiency.

During the battle at Junius 7, they had captured several Extended alive.

After examining the prisoners, whose brains had been turned to mush by drugs and hypnosis, they had concluded that this enhancement technology, capable of mass production, did not belong to the Earth Alliance.

Mass-producing Extended—

The biotechnology required pointed to a third party lurking in the shadows.

That was also why he had adopted such aggressive tactics.

He wanted to muddy the waters with this almost brutally unreasonable approach, then force whoever was hiding behind the Earth Alliance to show his hand.

Now, it seemed the bait had worked.

He set down his coffee cup. Its base struck the metal tabletop with a soft clink.

"All hands, condition one."

After issuing the order, he turned and headed for the hangar.

The Providence Gundam's cockpit hatch closed before him, shutting out every sound from outside.

Then its antigravity engine started with a low hum.

Without boosters or a catapult, the pure-white machine simply rose silently and