Low Earth orbit above Victoria Spaceport
After receiving the reply, the ZAFT Forces began their operation. Drop Pods carrying ground troops started their descent.
One Drop Pod after another accelerated under Earth's gravity. Friction with the atmosphere grew more intense, heat built up, and the temperature of their outer shells kept rising.
Fortunately, the Drop Pods were well designed, and those inside were barely affected.
Above Victoria Spaceport
Under Felix's command, the force split into three groups.
One guarded the low-altitude airspace over Victoria Spaceport, another stood watch at ten thousand meters, and the third held position at thirty thousand meters.
Felix led from between the three groups, ready to support either those above or those below.
"Captain Griffith, we've successfully linked up with the Drop Pods!"
A ZAFT Forces soldier's report came over the comms.
Felix nodded slightly. "Mm."
"Follow the Drop Pods down."
"Understood!"
With that, the communication ended.
A minute or two later, the Drop Pods reached ten thousand meters. The force that had been standing watch at thirty thousand meters followed close behind.
By the time the Drop Pods reached ten thousand meters, they had slowed to Mach six. That was still incredibly fast.
Felix led his troops down after them.
"Leave three pilots at ten thousand meters to patrol and keep watch!"
Felix's order rang over the comms.
Three mobile suit pilots acknowledged the order. Felix left them to patrol while the rest of the force continued descending with him.
At five thousand meters, the Drop Pods had slowed to Mach four.
Felix assigned another three pilots to patrol at that altitude.
The Drop Pods continued downward. At two thousand meters, their reverse thrusters activated again, slowing them to below Mach two.
At one thousand meters, the reverse thrusters brought the Drop Pods down to subsonic speed.
Finally, at just over ten meters above the ground, the reverse thrusters kept firing, and the Drop Pods landed smoothly.
The Drop Pods opened, and three experimental BuCUE ground-combat mobile suits charged out under their pilots' control. The other pods carried hastily modified ground tanks and ZAFT Forces soldiers armed with small arms.
"Captain Griffith, energy supplies for your units came down with us. Have everyone take turns replenishing their reserves!"
A voice sounded over the comms.
Knowing that energy supplies had arrived eased some of Felix's worries. He gave an acknowledgment over the comms.
After ending the call, he arranged for his troops to rotate through resupply, replenishing both energy and ammunition so their mobile suits remained in peak condition.
"Captain, why don't you resupply first?"
Heine's voice came over the comms. Felix shook his head and replied.
"You go first. I'll resupply once all of you are done."
"Yes, Captain!"
Heine did not press the matter.
He piloted his Ginn down toward the ground.
While part of the force resupplied, Felix led the others above the ground troops, supporting their advance.
The three experimental BuCUEs led the way!
The 13-tube Missile Launchers mounted on their backs fired their entire payloads at once.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A string of explosions tore through the ground fortifications protecting Victoria Spaceport.
As the BuCUEs cleared a path below, Felix and the others piloted their mobile suits overhead, removing obstacles for the ground troops.
Victoria Spaceport's ground tanks were destroyed by Felix's force before they could fire.
With the two forces working together, they quickly broke through Victoria Spaceport's ground defenses, and the ground troops pushed inside.
At around 8:55 a.m.,
the final gunshot inside Victoria Spaceport fell silent. The first phase of the operation—the capture of the spaceport—was over.
On the ground
Inside a hastily assembled command post
"Captain Griffith, this operation ended so quickly because your people took out Victoria Spaceport's air defenses and air forces with such speed."
Felix looked up at the voice.
A man he found familiar walked in, accompanied by a woman about his age.
Felix waved a hand modestly. "You're too kind, Captain Waltfeld. We also owe the speed of this operation to the Neutron Jammers.
Without their interference with communications and radar, the enemy's command and response wouldn't have been so badly disrupted. We couldn't have ended the battle this quickly."
"No need to be modest. The Neutron Jammers played their part, but so did the speed and ferocity of your attack.
Both can be true!"
Andrew walked up to Felix and casually draped an arm around his neck, speaking with a broad grin.
Felix smiled back, then looked down at the table. His smile faded, and his voice turned grave.
"This is only a temporary victory. The real challenge is holding Victoria Spaceport against the Earth Alliance Forces' counterattack.
Otherwise, we'll still lose everything we've gained."
Andrew's grin vanished. He studied the map on the table and nodded seriously.
"You're right. Holding it is what matters now. If we can't, this victory won't last."
At that, Andrew turned to Felix and asked,
"What's your plan?"
"I've just contacted the Ministry of Defense, explained our situation, and requested reinforcements to make sure we can hold Victoria Spaceport."
Felix glanced at Andrew as he answered.
Andrew nodded, then turned to Felix and asked,
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
"There's plenty I'll need your help with, Captain Waltfeld. I certainly won't let you sit idle."
The corners of Felix's mouth lifted as he spoke. Andrew patted his chest and laughed.
"Just tell me what needs doing. If I can do it, I'll give it everything I've got."
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