Minerva Returns Empty-Handed

"Still no contact with the command center?"

Arthur hurriedly asked Ebi.

By then, the Minerva had left the atmosphere and was speeding at full thrust toward lunar orbit.

"Please wait. I'm—received it!"

After operating the controls for a moment, Ebi was about to open the incoming message when she stopped hesitantly. "But this is... a Special Order code...!"

"Hm?"

Talia frowned.

A Special Order—did that mean the plan to rendezvous with the Moon Fleet had changed again?

"Gawana has led the lunar orbital fleet to the enemy cannon's first relay point and is currently engaged in battle. The Minerva's rendezvous mission is canceled. Proceed immediately to Daidalus Base, the main body of the enemy cannon, and join the advance Yzak Squad in carrying out the Main Body Elimination Operation—"

"What?"

Seeing the contents of the message, Arthur nearly fell out of his seat in shock.

"The main body... So they're telling us to attack Daidalus Base?"

Talia's expression darkened. She said nothing, only immediately summoned the seven combat pilots to the bridge.

Upon learning that the operation orders had changed, Shin Asuka and the others looked equally astonished.

"Attack the cannon's main body?"

It was unclear whether there would be any other reinforcements, but this was the order their ship had received.

Talia thought to herself that they had better not count on reinforcements. Attacking an enemy base with just the Minerva and one Yzak Squad would likely be the most difficult operation they had ever undertaken.

It was a base, after all. Though Yzak Squad was known as an elite unit, its numbers were far too small. Against a base's defensive forces, they were terribly outmatched.

Yet Ray's expression remained unchanged, and his tone was as casual as ever. "Indeed. Daidalus Base is closer to us. We should be