Around 16:00, Standard Time, January 27, CE71
"The Artemis Fortress has replied.
'Welcome, Archangel. Please follow the guidance signals to the harbor.'"
When Sai Argyle, temporarily serving as the combat information center officer, repeated the reply from Artemis Fortress, the bridge of the Archangel erupted in cheers. Even Second Lieutenant Natarle Badgiruel, who rarely cracked a smile, looked relieved.
"Set the entire ship to Condition Three.
Miriallia, contact Captain La Flaga and Yamato, and tell them to remain on standby."
At the command of Captain Murrue Ramius, Miriallia Haw, who was also temporarily serving as flight control officer, put on her headset and began contacting Mu and Kira, who had been on standby.
Meanwhile, following the guidance instructions received from Artemis, Chief Petty Officer Arnold Neumann began adjusting the Archangel's course under the direction of Executive Officer Badgiruel.
As Artemis Fortress's proud "Umbrella of Artemis" retracted and emitted a guidance beam to lead the Archangel into port, everyone aboard the ship couldn't help recalling the past few days, when tensions had run high and they had been on edge.
Two days earlier, around 15:00, Standard Time, January 25, CE71
After confirming that the Strike Gundam had landed in the deck hangar, the Archangel quickly moved away at low speed from the debris field that had once been Heliopolis. Using the countless heat sources in the wreckage to mask its presence, it fled the area at full engine power.
Once they had reached temporary safety, the three remaining Earth Alliance officers—in fact, Atlantic Federation officers—discussed what the Archangel should do next.
"Although the sudden appearance of an unidentified third-party force helped this ship temporarily escape ZAFT pursuit, we still don't know whether ZAFT has given up chasing us.
I'd like to hear everyone's thoughts on what we should do next."
Captain Murrue Ramius had become the ship's captain in the confusion because she knew its capabilities better than Captain Mu La Flaga did. But she had no intention of making a unilateral decision. She sincerely sought advice from Captain Mu La Flaga and Second Lieutenant Natarle Badgiruel.
"'Just make a straight run for the Lunar Base!' ...Would that not work?"
In response to Captain Mu La Flaga's half-joking suggestion, Second Lieutenant Natarle Badgiruel, who knew the Archangel better but outranked him by less, answered seriously on Captain Murrue Ramius's behalf and offered her own opinion.
"Unfortunately, we departed in such a hurry that the Archangel has very few supplies and is also short of the personnel needed for a long voyage. We probably can't make it all the way to the Lunar Base.
Captain, I suggest we dock at the nearest Earth Alliance base, Artemis Fortress in L3, to resupply and contact headquarters. Then we can determine our next course of action or request additional personnel."
Captain Murrue Ramius gave no indication of whether she agreed with Second Lieutenant Badgiruel's suggestion. She simply turned her gaze to Captain Mu La Flaga.
"Artemis Fortress, the Eurasian Federation base with the 'Umbrella of Artemis'?
It is certainly the nearest Earth Alliance base to us, but this ship hasn't officially entered service yet, and neither has the Strike Gundam.
Without the proper friend-or-foe identification codes, would the fortress accept our request?"
Although he spoke of identification codes, Captain Mu La Flaga was actually concerned about other issues that could strain the unity of the Earth Alliance forces. But since Captain Murrue Ramius and Second Lieutenant Natarle Badgiruel were still practically strangers to him, he didn't feel comfortable speaking too freely.
Clearly, Captain Murrue Ramius seemed to understand what Captain Mu La Flaga meant.
However, Second Lieutenant Natarle Badgiruel, who came from a family of career military officers and was rather straightforward, addressed his concerns purely from a military standpoint.
"This ship and the Strike Gundam are classified projects of the Atlantic Federation. I understand that.
But even setting aside whether we've truly shaken off our pursuers, the more urgent problem is that this ship is nowhere near ready to set out, either in terms of personnel or supplies.
In any case, the Eurasian Federation is also an ally. I believe they'll understand our situation and provide the help we need.
Even in the worst-case scenario, staying temporarily at Artemis Fortress and contacting headquarters for an escort is a viable option."
"That may be true, but..."
Faced with the practical difficulties Second Lieutenant Natarle Badgiruel had raised, and a plan that seemed sound in theory, Captain Murrue Ramius fell into thought. She had her concerns, but no better solution.
To be honest, Captain Mu La Flaga had no better ideas either. So, in an effort to break the deadlock, he offered another viable option—one that the other two were even less likely to accept.
"In that case, should we consider surrendering?
If surrendering to ZAFT is out of the question, there's still that mysterious third party that appeared out of nowhere. They might even be allies."
"Captain La Flaga!"
Second Lieutenant Natarle Badgiruel reacted strongly to Captain Mu La Flaga's "joke."
Captain Murrue Ramius, however, seriously considered the possibility—not surrendering to ZAFT, of course, but whether the mysterious third party or the Eurasian Federation would prove more reliable in their current predicament.
In the end, hope in the possibilities outweighed fear of the unknown, and Captain Murrue Ramius made her decision as the ship's captain.
"Our situation is certainly desperate, but I have no intention of surrendering.
Then the ship will head for Artemis Fortress, a base belonging to the Eurasian Federation of the Earth Alliance.
To avoid any pursuers, I plan to launch decoys toward the lunar orbital route, then change course and shut down the main engines. We'll rely on inertia to reach Artemis Fortress. What do you think?"
As the one who had made the proposal, Second Lieutenant Natarle Badgiruel naturally had no objections.
Captain Mu La Flaga thought it over briefly, then nodded in agreement and added something.
"Even with decoys, Rau Le Creuset is cunning and relentless.
So, just to be safe, we need to repair my Type Zero as soon as possible—and we also need to convince that boy to help us."
"But he's not only a civilian, he's also a Coordinator..."
Captain Murrue Ramius cut off Second Lieutenant Natarle Badgiruel before she could repeat her usual objections, then turned to Captain Mu La Flaga.
"Captain La Flaga, could I leave this matter to you?
To be honest, the bridge is severely understaffed. Badgiruel and I can hardly spare anyone."
Looking at the handful of people on the Archangel's bridge, Captain Mu La Flaga had to admit Captain Murrue Ramius was right. They had already been press-ganging crew from elsewhere on the ship. They were so short-handed they could have used an extra pair of hands from a cat.
"Understood. I'll take care of the mobile suit maintenance and speak with the boy."
"I'm counting on you, Captain La Flaga."
After the two captains saluted each other, Captain Mu La Flaga left the bridge without delay.
Just before the bridge door closed, he heard Captain Murrue Ramius, now starting preparations of her own, issue an order as the ship's captain.
"Prepare to launch the decoys!..."
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