Dangerous PLANT 2

"Regarding this matter, I have received direct orders from our homeland." The commander's gaze swept across the conference room before finally settling on two people.

"Rau Le Creuset, Athrun Zala. You have both received orders to return home immediately. At exactly noon tomorrow, a high-speed shuttle will depart the base for PLANT. You are to board that flight."

"Understood."

Athrun and Rau Le Creuset beside him answered almost simultaneously.

Athrun rose to his feet and gave a crisp military salute. His movements were smooth and precise, but his heart was in turmoil.

Is this for real...? They're just... giving up?

He understood what the commander meant. From a purely military perspective, defending Victoria was indeed no longer realistic.

Recalling valuable ace pilots and new mobile suits to the homeland to prepare for the coming defensive battle was undoubtedly the "correct" strategic decision.

It was an indisputable fact that the main battlefield would inevitably shift into space.

Yet understanding it rationally did nothing to calm the turmoil in his heart.

The higher-ups had decided to abandon Victoria so swiftly, so "easily." The coldness contained within that decision sent a chill through Athrun.

"Abandonment" was an easy word to say, but an unbearably heavy one to carry out.

Even if Victoria was to be abandoned, they could not simply hand it over without resistance.

A minimum defensive force would inevitably remain behind. Their mission would not be victory, nor even survival.

Their mission would be to delay the enemy for as long as possible despite knowing they would lose, inflict as many casualties on the Earth Alliance as possible, and buy even one more second for the homeland's defensive preparations.

Those soldiers left behind would fight until the very last moment.

Their battle would not earn cheers of victory, nor would it