Defeat

The molten armor of the Dom even splashed onto the chest plating of the Ground Type, adding a layer of ferocity to an image that had already begun to take on a demonic reputation within Zeon.

"Hum! Hum!"

It was difficult for two Beam Rifles to suppress the remaining two Doms, but the cherry-pink beams grazing past the machines still inflicted immense psychological pressure on the pilots.

"Retreat, quickly!"

Ramba Ral immediately assessed the situation and shouted to his subordinates.

However, it was a miracle that Ramba Ral was still alive at all.

The upper half of his Dom had been pierced by a beam; the head had lost its connection and its lights had flickered out completely.

Ramba Ral survived only because Amuro's firing angle had been restricted, and because the Dom's thick chassis placed the cockpit in a lower position. Although the beam had caused a certain degree of damage to the cockpit—shattering the screen and sending a shard of glass into Ramba Ral's right shoulder, which was now bleeding profusely—he remained alive.

The combat power these two Gundams displayed when working together far exceeded his imagination.

To think, they were even holding back during our previous engagements!

Ramba Ral thought with bitter regret.

Have I become arrogant just because I received a new machine? I knew full well that these two were warriors crowned with the name of demons.

"How, how could they do this to you..."

As his subordinate dodged the Gundam's double-beam volley, he tried to move closer to the Ground Type.

But every time he attempted to dash, a beam would strike from that direction, landing exactly when the Dom pilot intended to press the pedal.

This made the situation agonizing for the Dom pilot; no matter how much he wanted to save his captain, he dared not lose focus lest he be shot down himself.

"Listen to me, as long as you can make it back, there is still hope for you to rescue me. If you all die here, then I truly have no way out!"

"But..."

"There are no 'buts.' Retreat now, that is an order!"

Both subordinates fell into silence.

But hearing the sound of the beams gradually grow sparse, he could surmise that his subordinates were withdrawing.

Immediately after, the somewhat deformed cockpit hatch of the Dom exploded open with a "bang." Ramba Ral struggled to support his injured body, standing as tall as he could at the cockpit entrance to face the Ground Type looming just inches away.

At that moment, Eli had just confirmed that the last two Doms had fled into the distance. He deactivated the Ground Type's Beam Saber, only to see Ramba Ral standing there, forcing himself to remain upright.

He removed his flight helmet and stared directly into the Ground Type's dual-eye sensors.

He was using this gesture to show Eli his pride.

"Lieutenant Eli, Lieutenant Eli! Bright has ordered the capture of Ramba Ral, do you copy!"

Just as Eli was locked in a staring contest with Ramba Ral on the screen—a game of who would blink first—Sayla's urgent voice cut into Eli's cockpit.

"Understood, proceeding with the capture of Ramba Ral."

With that, Eli drew his sidearm and opened his own cockpit.

Of course, compared to Ramba Ral, who was wearing a full flight suit, Eli was still dressed in the field uniform common in Southeast Asia.

In short, Eli's face was fully exposed to Ramba Ral the moment the cockpit opened.

"To think... he is such a young fellow..."

Because of his injuries, Ramba Ral was not immediately thrown into the brig, but was instead taken to the ship's infirmary.

However, when Eli arrived at the infirmary with his pistol trained on Ramba Ral, he couldn't help but pause at the sight of the blonde woman inside.

It was Sayla Mass.

Sayla had been serving as a communications officer on the bridge lately, which had caused Eli to forget that she had originally joined the White Base as a medic, and that she had aspirations of becoming a doctor.

Naturally, Sayla being in the infirmary meant she was the one who would be treating Ramba Ral.

"Would you mind stepping out? The patient requires a quieter environment."

Sayla, already wearing a mask, said to Eli, who was acting as the escort, with a feigned calmness.

"This is a prisoner. What if he suddenly attacks? If he takes you hostage, the entire ship could be in jeopardy."

Even without the system's enhancements while outside his machine, Eli could sense the extreme turbulence in Sayla's heart.

The White Base had not initially known who the pursuing force was, but the Southeast Asia base had been able to confirm through various comparisons and intelligence that it was indeed Ramba Ral.

Of course, Eli, who knew the plot, was an exception. After all, even if he knew, stating it outright would be too shocking.

Based on this, Eli could guess why Sayla was so desperate to get him to leave, using a completely illogical excuse.

She wanted to confirm identities with Ramba Ral to determine the safety of her brother, Casval.

"Even if he is a prisoner, he is a patient. Listen to the doctor!"

There was an overly obvious sense of urgency in Sayla's voice, so much so that Ramba Ral began to look at her with a strange expression.

Perhaps he was wondering when Zeon had managed to plant such an amateur spy on the Trojan Horse.

Sayla glared at Eli in annoyance, then had no choice but to gesture for Ramba Ral to come to the bedside so she could remove the glass shards from his wound and bandage it herself.

"Please don't stand by the bed; you're casting a shadow."

Sayla's request on this point was beyond reproach, so Eli obediently walked over to the wall, though he kept his pistol gripped in his hand, aimed at Ramba Ral at all times.

Eli was considering a few things.

After the war, as a "Deikun," Sayla had been confined to Earth by the Federation, leaving her able to live only in the vicinity of the Mediterranean.

Regardless of what the Federation might be thinking, this was, in a sense, a waste of political resources.

Since that was the case, it might be better for him to find a way...

No, since when had he started thinking about how to change this world?

Eli shook his head, trying to cast these wandering thoughts to the back of his mind.

"Ngh..."

Because of Eli's sudden movement, Sayla, who had been preparing to remove her mask and reveal her identity to Ramba Ral, immediately stiffened.

But upon realizing that the other man had merely made a strange gesture for no reason, she boldly signaled for Ramba Ral to look at her face once more.

Ramba Ral was confused, but after confirming that Eli was not paying attention to this side, he endured the pain and looked at Sayla as she removed her mask.

Immediately afterward, his pupils constricted violently.

"You are..."