Gibril

"The Zhaolu Mountain has been sunk! The Hushan is unable to sail!

"The Sixth Mobile Air Force, proceed to Izanagi Coast! I repeat, the Sixth Mobile Air Force—"

The National Defense Headquarters constantly echoed with operators reporting battlefield developments and relaying orders, while search reports poured in from all over.

"Zone Nine, no sign of Gibril."

"Nothing unusual in Zone Ten!"

Listening to the string of reports, Cagalli anxiously bit her hand.

"Damn it! Where the hell is that man hiding?"

The search net had already spread across all of Orb, yet there was still no trace of Gibril.

But finding him amid such chaos was probably no easier than finding a needle in a haystack.

Don't be afraid—Cagalli forcibly suppressed her impatience.

The routes out of the country had been sealed, and the mass driver had been completely shut down. As long as they could hold off ZAFT's offensive now, they could slowly drag him out afterward.

The battle situation was gradually turning in Orb's favor.

Watching her nation's forces fight desperately across the screens, Cagalli felt her heart tighten.

Everyone... you have to hold on...!

Just as she closed her eyes in prayer, she suddenly heard an operator cry out.

"An aircraft has taken off from Zone Three of the main island!"

Cagalli opened her eyes and looked over.

Zone Three! They had just received a report saying nothing was wrong there.

"What's going on? Contact Zone Three!"

As Cagalli shouted, she looked toward the map.

From here, Zone Three lay on the far side of the main island—where the space shuttle launch site was located.

No way!

A chill ran down Cagalli's spine as she watched the shuttle lifting off on the screen. Painted on its tail was an emblem she recognized all too well.

"This is...