A New Mobile Suit

Before Xia Ya could fully recover from the tremendous shock brought by this sudden reinforcements, the Dominion's two Gottfried MK-71 225cm twin-mounted high-energy convergence cannons at its bow once again spat furious flames.

Another volley precisely erased several ZAFT mobile suits attempting to regroup their offensive from the sky.

The arrival of this steel behemoth completely disrupted the balance of the battlefield. The ZAFT Forces' attention had shifted entirely from the Blaze Gundam, which was on the verge of collapse, to this deadlier new threat.

Just then, an encrypted video communication request connected to the Blaze Gundam's cockpit.

"Ah, Xia Ya, can you hear me? It's Azrael."

After static flickered across the screen for a few moments, it revealed Muruta Azrael's face, always wearing that faintly frivolous smile.

He sat leisurely in the Dominion's captain's chair, with the bridge crew busily working in tense but orderly fashion behind him.

Without hesitation, Xia Ya accepted the call and transmitted his own image back.

He did not want this man to see him in such a bedraggled state, not even a little.

"Yes."

His reply was concise and steady, without the slightest emotional fluctuation, as though he had not just survived a life-or-death crisis.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. You did well, lasting this long in such an outdated machine. Now, come to the Dominion immediately—I have a gift prepared for you. Your new mobile suit has been waiting for you for quite some time."

"—Yes."

Without any unnecessary words, Xia Ya gave another affirmative answer.

The video call ended immediately after Azrael gave him a meaningful look.

Xia Ya took a deep breath and shoved the control lever forward. The Blaze Gundam's thrusters unleashed their last reserves of energy, dragging its battered frame toward the steel ark approaching him.

The Dominion