Creuset on the Vesalius

A short while earlier, on the bridge of the Nazca-class high-speed combat ship Vesalius.

As the commander of the Le Creuset team, the white-clad Rau Le Creuset stood alongside the black-clad Captain Frederick Ades, waiting for good news from his subordinates who had breached Heliopolis.

After all, their opponents were merely a warship that had not been completely destroyed in their first wave of demolition—though its crew should have suffered heavy casualties—and a handful of mobile suits launched in a panic, presumably piloted by Naturals.

Their own side had three battle-hardened Ginn units, and the red-clad son of Chairman Zala had also sortied in a newly captured enemy mobile suit; the advantage was undoubtedly theirs.

Just as Captain Frederick Ades was thinking this, waiting leisurely for good news from the front, the face of the highly decorated Rau Le Creuset beneath his mask suddenly shifted, and he pressed a hand to his temple.

"What is it, Captain Le Creuset?"

"Captain Ades, get the ship moving. I have a bad feeling about this."

Captain Ades dared not take the intuition of Captain Le Creuset, which had always proven accurate, lightly.

"Get the ship moving! Advance at slow speed, and contact the Gamow as well!"

Before the crew members, who had yet to realize the gravity of the situation, could finish executing the order, Captain Le Creuset's bad feeling was confirmed.

From behind the cover of floating debris, two beams of light streaked past the side of the ship, followed shortly by two more, and then another two, appearing closer with each volley.

There was no need to overthink it; this was undoubtedly the enemy's twin-barreled ship cannons performing ranging fire, yet the style of these beams did not seem to belong to the Earth Alliance, nor were they anything Captain Ades had ever seen before.

"Accelerate to combat speed, prepare for evasive maneuvers, move!"

This time, there was no need for Captain Le Creuset to issue the order; despite his confusion, the experienced Captain Ades took command himself, and the crew members clearly sharpened their focus.

While waiting for the Vesalius to gradually pick up speed, Captain Ades barked orders at the radar officer while confirming the situation with Captain Le Creuset.

"What are you doing, radar officer? How did you fail to detect the enemy until they were this close? Confirm their position immediately! Captain Le Creuset, could these be reinforcements for the Naturals?"

"I don't think so. But since the enemy has opened fire on us, we have no choice but to strike back."

While indicating the general direction to the radar officer, Le Creuset responded to Captain Ades's inquiry with a meaningful tone.

Before Captain Ades could process this, with Le Creuset's assistance, the radar officer finally located the Gwameir, which was closing in on Heliopolis with guns blazing.

"Due to unknown interference, the electromagnetic radar has failed completely! There is no corresponding data for heat signatures or optical matching; I am transferring the observed imagery now!"

As the radar officer transferred the feed, Captain Ades fell into even deeper confusion after carefully observing the Gwameir on the screen.

"No matter how I look at it, it doesn't look like an Earth Alliance warship. If anything, it looks more like our own design, and the emblem on the bow doesn't belong to any known organization. Could there be a misunderstanding? Should we attempt to contact them first, Captain Le Creuset?"

Faced with Captain Ades's suggestion, Le Creuset's response was resolute.

"That is the enemy, there is no doubt about it! Captain Ades, I authorize you to open fire on the unknown enemy ship. You must hit them before they hit us! Contact the hangar and have my CGUE repaired as quickly as possible; use parts from the Ginns if you have to. We may need it soon!"

The situation was indeed critical, and with a clear order from his 'superior,' Captain Ades stopped hesitating and began to direct the battle.

"Bring the ship to a port-side turn! Gunnery officer, fire as soon as you have a firing solution! Communications officer, contact the Gamow and coordinate our actions!"

As the named crew members responded, the tactical officer, who had been monitoring the front lines, suddenly called out a warning.

"Captain Le Creuset, Captain Ades, Heliopolis is disintegrating!"

Captain Ades was shocked by this news, but there were clearly more pressing matters to handle first.

"What are the front-line units doing? How are we supposed to explain this to the Council! We have to prioritize the enemy ship in front of us; there is no time to deal with this!"

Compared to the flustered Captain Ades, Le Creuset remained as calm and unhurried as ever.

"First there were mobile suits developed for the Earth Alliance, and now another unknown enemy ship has made a sudden appearance; Heliopolis can hardly be called neutral. As long as we explain this clearly to the Council, I am sure they will understand. Besides, the civilians should have evacuated in time."

Le Creuset's words held a certain logic, effectively easing Captain Ades's anxiety and giving him the capacity to handle other matters.

"After causing such a disaster, is there still no word from the front-line units?"

"Yes, there is... a friendly signal is detaching from Heliopolis. It's Athrun Zala!"

Without needing further instruction from Captain Ades, the communications officer contacted Athrun; yet, amidst their exchange, before they could even process the shock of the front-line failure, the radar officer delivered more bad news.

"A large number of mobile weapons are launching from the unknown enemy ship, and they are approaching us at high speed!"

In truth, there was no need for the radar officer to report it; both Le Creuset and Captain Ades had been keeping their eyes on the Gwameir throughout their conversation.

"Why is the lead mobile suit also in a style I've never seen before, and what the hell is that massive mobile armor behind it! Damn it, we don't have any usable mobile suits left here!"

If Captain Adess had previously been anxious about how to explain the situation to the Council, he was truly panicked now that the battle had turned against them.

Although he felt a bit uncertain himself, Rau Le Creuset remained calm and composed.

"They are merely mobile armors; there is nothing to fear!

As for the mobile suits, do we not have the four captured from the Earth Alliance? The data has already been extracted, so let us make good use of this gift.

Contact Yzak and the others and have them prepare for sortie!

I shall sortie as well. Have the hangar crew perform an emergency replacement using spare parts for the Ginn. The rest is in your hands, Captain Adess!"

Recalling the battle that earned Captain Rau Le Creuset the Nebula Medal, Captain Adess regained his confidence in the situation and steadied himself.

"Understood, Captain Le Creuset. May fortune favor you in battle!"

Rau Le Creuset waved to Captain Adess, and before he had even left the bridge, he heard the captain ordering the ship to open fire.

"High-energy beam cannon, target the unidentified enemy ship, fire!"

On his way to the hangar, Rau Le Creuset naturally encountered Athrun, who was heading to the bridge to report after returning to the ship.

"Captain Le Creuset!"

"Judging by the enemy's fierce reaction, it seems our actions have struck a nerve.

I am about to sortie, and Yzak and the others are preparing as well.

However, Athrun, you have been fighting continuously and must be exhausted. Go and get some rest for now."

After returning Athrun's salute, Rau Le Creuset paused briefly to have a short conversation with him.

Under the pressure of Rau Le Creuset's words, Athrun's overwhelming sense of responsibility naturally would not allow him to rest at such a critical moment.

"I will sortie as well! But Captain Le Creuset, what about that ship and the remaining G?"

"As much as it is a pity, we have no choice but to let them go for now."

Hearing Rau Le Creuset's response, Athrun felt a sense of relief, which was reflected in his expression—naturally catching the attention of Rau Le Creuset, who was already 'interested' in Athrun's unauthorized sortie.

However, as this was not the right time to probe into the matter, Rau Le Creuset offered a brief salute and, without waiting for Athrun to return it, drifted off toward the hangar alone.