The new tactical arrangement was complete. Felix maneuvered the White Ginn through the air, dodging the incoming bullets before turning and firing at one of the Vanguard Fighters.
Boom!
An explosion erupted in the sky.
One of the Vanguard Fighters surrounding Felix was instantly taken out.
Seeing their comrade die, the remaining Vanguard Fighter pilots grew grim-faced but continued maneuvering their machines and firing at the White Ginn.
Fire came from every direction!
The Vanguard Fighters maneuvered around the White Ginn like a swarm of locusts.
One Vanguard Fighter rushed in, intending to attack the White Ginn at close range. Sensing the pilot's intentions, Felix piloted the White Ginn and dodged the incoming bullets.
He seized his chance and maneuvered toward the Vanguard Fighter.
He gripped the Heavy Slash Blade and brought the long blade down on the fighter.
Its nose and fuselage were instantly cleaved in two.
The two halves dropped toward the ground, but after descending just over a hundred meters, they exploded in midair.
After taking out that enemy, the White Ginn turned and opened fire.
Bullets shot from the barrel at incredible speed, striking a Vanguard Fighter. Having taken it out, the White Ginn maneuvered to evade and narrowly dodged the bullets coming its way.
About a hundred meters above Victoria Spaceport
The Fiber-Optic Optical Reconnaissance Aircraft relayed information about the airspace.
More than a dozen Ginn appeared on the optical sensors aboard the reconnaissance aircraft. Their positions were transmitted to the ground through fiber-optic cables.
The headquarters had yet to respond.
The dozen-plus Ginn scattered and opened fire on all the reconnaissance aircraft.
In just a minute or two, headquarters once again lost track of the situation in the skies.
"Commander, all our reconnaissance aircraft have been destroyed! We've lost track of the situation in the skies."
The soldier turned and reported to Humphrey.
Humphrey sat in his chair, his expression calm but grave, and issued an order.
"Order the anti-aircraft defense system to engage! Use optical sensors for targeting!"
"Yes, sir!"
The communications soldier acknowledged the order.
It was quickly relayed down the chain.
The combat units operating the anti-aircraft guns began carrying out their orders.
One anti-aircraft gun after another sprang into action.
Using their Redundant Optical Sensor Targeting Systems, they took aim at enemy aircraft in the airspace.
The anti-aircraft guns swiveled continuously, but did not fire.
"These guys are moving far too fast. Our optical targeting systems can't lock on steadily!"
An operator growled, his face twisted with frustrated anger.
Hearing this, the squad leader scowled and spoke sternly.
"If you can't get a precise lock, fire anyway! Otherwise, the only thing waiting for us is death!"
"Yes, sir!"
The operator answered.
He operated the anti-aircraft gun and opened fire.
The Multi-Barrel Anti-Aircraft Guns fired into the sky, sending shells streaking upward.
Above
A Ginn pilot watched the shells fired from the ground.
The pilot easily maneuvered the Ginn out of the way of the inaccurate anti-aircraft fire.
As it dodged, the Ginn opened fire with its Heavy Assault Machine Gun.
Bullets streaked toward the anti-aircraft guns below.
Boom!
An explosion rang out.
An anti-aircraft gun was blown apart.
Boom!
Another explosion rang out.
Victoria Spaceport had lost yet another anti-aircraft gun.
"Die, you damned Naturals!"
A Ginn pilot roared in a voice filled with hatred and fury.
The pilot sent the Ginn diving toward the ground.
Soon it was only forty or fifty meters above the ground.
At that height, the pilot pulled the trigger, and the Ginn opened fire with its Heavy Assault Machine Gun.
Bullets spat from the muzzle.
They blew up an anti-aircraft gun and two Close-In Weapon Systems.
After destroying them, the pilot pointed the muzzle directly at an anti-air missile launcher and fired.
Bullets burst from the muzzle, cut through the air, and struck the launcher.
Boom!
An even more violent explosion erupted near Victoria Spaceport.
The fireball was many times larger than those from the other explosions.
"There are still anti-air missiles inside those launch tubes!"
Seeing what had happened, he relayed the information to his comrades over the comms. When the others heard, some of them focused their attacks on the launch tubes.
Inside the Victoria Spaceport Defense Forces headquarters
"Commander, the combined fire from our anti-aircraft guns and Close-In Weapon Systems isn't working well. Our defenses are gradually being eaten away!"
The communications soldier turned and reported the information that had come in to Humphrey. Humphrey gave a slight nod but said nothing, sitting in his chair and contemplating what would happen if things continued this way.
At a much higher altitude
The White Ginn darted through the sky, its Heavy Assault Machine Gun continuously spitting bullets.
The bullets streaked through the air and destroyed a Vanguard Fighter.
After blowing up the fighter, it turned to dodge an attack, then raised its weapon and fired.
The first shot threw off its aim; the second finished it off.
The Vanguard Fighter exploded in midair.
"Three left!"
Felix said, looking at the number of Vanguard Fighters displayed on the screen.
Just as he was about to keep firing, Heine and the ZAFT Forces fighting at an altitude of five thousand meters descended to their position.
The three Vanguard Fighters faced more than a hundred Ginn. They were like mice in a cat's den, hopelessly outnumbered.
They were wiped out in just a few seconds.
Seeing that the last three had been eliminated, Felix piloted the White Ginn down to an even lower altitude.
More than a dozen Ginn in the low-altitude airspace above Victoria Spaceport had already overwhelmed the spaceport's anti-aircraft defenses. Now Felix and more than a hundred others descended into the same airspace.
The entire defensive network, made up of anti-aircraft guns and Close-In Weapon Systems, was even less able to hold out.
Explosions erupted one after another inside and around Victoria Spaceport.
Inside the Victoria Spaceport Defense Forces headquarters
"Commander, all our anti-aircraft guns and Close-In Weapon Systems have been destroyed. We have no forces left to stop the ZAFT Forces."
The soldier's report came out in a voice of utter despair.
Humphrey sat in his chair, and the moment he heard the words, his spirit seemed to wilt.
A sense of defeat spread through him.
"Is Victoria Spaceport really going to fall just like this?"
Staring ahead, Humphrey murmured the question to himself.
His words went unanswered.
At that moment
In the low-altitude airspace above Victoria Spaceport
Seeing that Victoria Spaceport no longer had any anti-aircraft firepower, Felix contacted the forces in near-Earth orbit via laser communication.
"Victoria Spaceport's anti-air defenses have all been destroyed. You can begin deploying ground troops!"
"Received!"
A brief two-word reply came over the comms.
Before you continue