Battle at Victoria Spaceport

The sky near the equator had been dyed an unnatural orange-red and dark gray. Deafening artillery fire roared without end, each explosion making the ground tremble. Scorching air currents swept up sand and dust, forming murky curtains that blotted out the once-azure sky. Across this canvas ruled by smoke and fire, countless black dots streaked through the air—Earth Alliance fighters and Mobile Suit formations, weaving into a massive net that tightened around the enormous facility on the ground: Victoria Spaceport.

After failing to achieve its intended objectives in its military operation against the Orb Union, the Earth Alliance swiftly adjusted its strategy and turned its spearhead toward ZAFT Forces' most important space launch base on Earth, located on the African continent. The Earth Alliance high command knew well that if they seized Victoria's Mass Accelerator, they could regain the ability to deploy troops into space on a massive scale, reverse their disadvantage on the ground battlefield, and carry the flames of war back to the Coordinators' homeland.

In contrast, ZAFT Forces' defensive posture was somewhat delicate. They seemed to have adopted an almost abandoned defense strategy, yet they were not entirely refusing to resist. The troops left behind had not chosen to withdraw. Instead, they stubbornly held every inch of ground with resolute determination. Their goal was not victory, but to delay for as long as possible and wear down the Earth Alliance's fighting strength. Behind this lay a vast evacuation and transfer plan, a secret operation known only to ZAFT's upper ranks. To ensure the core plan could proceed smoothly, Victoria's defenders had to become the toughest obstacle, buying every precious second for their distant compatriots with their lives.

"Second squad, watch your positions! Don't stray too far from the defensive line! I repeat, don't advance recklessly! Our mission