Bonus Chapter for Accumulated Tips: The Incoming ZAFT Forces 2

If not for Xia Ya, Jiliang, and Mu piloting their Gundams and fighting desperately on the battlefield, along with the Archangel's fire support from the sea, Orb's defenses would have collapsed long ago.

At this moment, ZAFT's intervention, which could only be described as "descending from the sky," was like throwing another handful of salt into an open wound. It instantly left every officer and soldier in the command center with indescribable shock, confusion, and the deepest question of all—

What exactly was ZAFT's purpose in approaching Orb?

Why had they appeared at this time, in this place?

Could they be trying to reap the benefits while the others fought?

Were they taking this opportunity to seize Orb's strategic resources?

Or did they also covet Orb's advanced technology?

This enormous question mark surfaced in the minds of nearly everyone in the command center like invisible smoke.

Every speculation and every line of reasoning had become chaotic and uncertain with the intervention of a third party.

The command center briefly descended into confused murmurs.

Yet amid the shock and confusion of everyone in the command center, only two people did not show the same pure surprise as the others. In its place was deeper thought and helplessness, along with a bitter expression that was almost as though they had expected this.

They were Athha and Kisaka, who stood calmly at his side.

The moment they saw the ZAFT Forces appear, both of them thought of their recent contact with those "special individuals" aboard the Archangel, as well as the unavoidable sense of fate that had been hanging over their hearts.

"Damn it... just as I thought—"

His lips pressed into a straight line, and the fist resting beside him on the table turned faintly white from the violent surge of emotion.