General Unilateral Neuro-Link Dispersive Autonomous Maneuver...
Inside the Colony Assault Gundam, Kira stood in the rear of the cockpit, his eyes reflexively reading the six red letters flashing across the screen.
"GUN... D, A, M...?"
As though it had been granted life, the MS's eyes lit up, and its fingers began to move rapidly.
The engine let out a deep roar as its massive limbs began to move stiffly.
Powerful force tore free of the steel restraints on the maintenance cradle, snapping them apart and flinging them away.
Bang! Bang!
Like a toddler who had just learned to walk, the MS stepped out through the gates, swaying forward in jerky, unsteady movements.
Yet even so, this MS stood upright amid the blazing explosions.
Firelight reflected off its iron-gray armor, setting off its towering crimson majesty.
The battle in space near Heliopolis continued.
Mu La Flaga piloted his custom MA, the "Moebius Zero," as he faced off against three Ginns.
The attached Wire-controlled Gun Pods unfolded nimbly around the sleek red body, sweeping their targets from different angles with their distinctive movements.
Boom!
Suddenly, one of the allied units beside the Zero was hit and crashed straight into the colony's mining district as if sucked in.
Mu caught the flames of the explosion from the corner of his eye and pulled the trigger at the same time.
A shot that seemed to have missed struck the Ginn in the shoulder.
With no other choice, the Ginn turned back toward its warship for repairs. Seizing the opportunity, Mu immediately changed direction and struggled free under the attacks of the other two Ginns.
However, as he turned, three machine silhouettes departing from the harbor appeared on his screen.
"What are those!?"
Three unfamiliar MS were now flying toward Z.A.F.T.'s La'Lia-class warship.
Flaga recognized the three MS at a glance. They were the Earth Alliance Military's closely guarded new MS, the G--X series.
Their development was supposed to have been top secret. For them to be stolen so easily now, there could be no explanation other than an intelligence leak.
"Orro's unit has been hit! Return immediately!"
At the same time, the damaged Ginn returned to the Vesalius.
Cruze raised his brows when he heard the report from the maintenance crew.
"Orro was hit in a battle like this!?"
Captain Addis raised his voice in surprise.
Z.A.F.T. pilots were generally highly skilled, and those assigned to this unit were the elite among elites. Their capabilities should not have been inferior to the forces of a neutral colony.
Yet Cruze, his gaze drifting as though he were looking into empty space, gave a soft laugh. "Perhaps there's an annoying fly buzzing around out there..."
"A fly?" Addis looked at Captain Cruze in astonishment.
"I'll launch and meet them myself."
As he floated toward the elevator, Cruze continued, "Once I sortie, recall all the MS and equip them with D Equipment."
"D... D Equipment!?"
Addis was startled by Cruze's words. D Equipment was the heaviest equipment used for fortress assault operations. This...
"Everyone must pay the proper price for what they have done."
After saying that, Cruze boarded his beloved Sigoo.
Unlike the Ginn, the Sigoo's pearl-gray frame had a leaner, more capable appearance. Its added boosters also greatly enhanced its thrust.
Just as Cruze left the mothership, the Zero that had been about to return to Heliopolis seemed to sense something and turned back.
Seeing this, Cruze muttered inside the Sigoo's cockpit, "Just as I can sense you, can you sense me as well? What an unfortunate bond of fate, Mu La Flaga..."
Cruze's tone seemed filled with boundless hatred, yet it also carried an inexplicable, strange delight.
Before long, Cruze's MS closed in on Flaga's MA.
Having already noticed the Sigoo's approach, Flaga narrowly evaded the rifle shot.
After the two machines passed each other, he swiftly circled behind his opponent.
The red Moebius deployed its Wire-controlled Gun Pods and attacked Cruze's machine from every direction.
Yet Cruze easily dodged every single shot.
"You're always getting in my way, Mu La Flaga! Though I'm sure it's the same from your perspective!"
"Damn it..."
"Rau Le Creuset!"
Flaga cursed inside the cockpit of the Moebius.
Though it was somewhat unbelievable, he could clearly sense who his opponent was.
This was the mortal enemy he had clashed with countless times on the battlefield—Z.A.F.T.'s ace pilot, Rau Le Creuset.
Although he had long known of this man's reputation and fighting style, there was an extraordinary sensation deep within him.
It was like a cold blade being pressed up along his spine, bringing both a shudder and a sense of displeasure.
That feeling, like destiny itself, made it impossible for his heart to settle.
In an instant, the two machines exchanged blows again and again.
Rifle beams scattered through the darkness while the Wire-controlled Gun Pods sought angles of attack from all sides.
They traded attacks back and forth, every shot deadly, yet each was narrowly evaded by the other.
Suddenly, just as Flaga's attacks paused, Cruze turned and flew toward Heliopolis Harbor.
"Bastard!"
After Cruze flew into Heliopolis Harbor, Flaga recalled his Linear Attack Pods and gave chase.
In the blink of an eye, Cruze had passed through the harbor and headed for the colony's spine—the central axis.
Within the weightless axis, the Sigoo used the factory equipment as cover and fired upon the Zero pursuing from behind.
Flaga had aimed at his opponent several times as well, but he feared damaging Heliopolis's central axis. Unable to attack freely, he could only endure the assault passively.
Boom!
Boom!
Cruze's MS shot down the Zero's Wire-controlled Gun Pods one after another.
Flaga gritted his teeth in fury, but there was nothing he could do. Under Cruze's full counterattack, he could only dodge desperately.
"This is bad!"
All of a sudden, Cruze's attacks slowed sharply. Only then did Flaga realize in horror that his opponent's rifle was aimed at the inner wall of the central axis.
Boom!
Cruze's machine had been reinforced. Under the rifle's attack, a massive hole was blasted open in the central axis. Without hesitation, Cruze pushed through the burning flames above and entered the colony through it.
"Damn it!"
Flaga cursed and chased after him.
Cruze's combat ability was beyond comparison with the other Ginn pilots. Once he entered the interior with no one there to restrain him...
Passing through the opening, Flaga's MA also entered Heliopolis's internal space.
The scenery inside the colony immediately spread out before him.
Very quickly, his attention was drawn to an area where the black smoke was especially dense.
At a glance, he spotted a white MS standing on the ground.
"Is that the last one?"
Cruze had apparently noticed that MS as well.
The Sigoo flew straight toward that final X-series unit.
"Stop right there, Cruze!"
Flaga noticed Cruze's movement and attacked him with his MA, now stripped of its Linear Attack Pods.
This was the last MS, and also the most powerful of them all. He absolutely could not let it be destroyed like this.
"You fell for it, Flaga~"
Yet just as the two machines crossed paths, Cruze's lips curled slightly. Thanks to his improved thrusters, he performed a backward roll at a speed far beyond that of the MA.
One shot pierced straight through Flaga's machine.
Thanks to "Salted Fish Without Dreams" and "Seven Bright Moons" for the donations.
So there will be another three chapters today.
That said, I'm not a full-time writer. I'm only part-time.
Three updates every day are a bit much for me to handle...
Before you continue