Those Favored by Darkness Would Ultimately Die by the Light

"Messiah is about to enter combat status! Red alert! I repeat!"

Inside Messiah, the air was taut as a bowstring, while the broadcasts proceeded in an orderly fashion.

Durandal leaned back in his chair and cast a pitying glance toward the fleets fighting in the distance.

"Mirage Colloid system disengaged—"

"Activate all attack mechanisms. New Genesis, stand by!"

The operators made their announcements mechanically, counting down to those people's despair.

"Anti-Neutron Interference Device activated. Nuclear magazines moved into firing position!"

Before the massive mirror at the front of Messiah, the conical single-reflection mirrors had already been set in place.

"Target is thirty from effective range."

Just as the fortress beneath his feet was about to enter combat, Durandal's thoughts returned to the past—to the day when he had first tasted the bitterness of despair.

I'm sorry— the woman had said as she turned and walked away.

Once one had hope, the pain of disappointment became inescapable.

These people should have realized that long ago...

"Massive structure detected to the rear! Suspected ZAFT Messiah Base!"

At that moment, the people struggling on the battlefield discovered the massive black shadow that had suddenly appeared behind them.

The shadow resembled a colossal boulder, with several rings circling its outer mass as it slowly approached the fleet.

"What?!"

"Now?"

Marlu and the others were startled by the news.

The screen switched.

An asteroid resembling a spiral shell appeared on the monitor, surrounded by four orbital rings.

"—It's a ZAFT fortress!"

Remembering Noer's warning and speculation, Marlu could not help holding her breath.

Though its mass was smaller than the ZAFT fortresses Poyaz and Yachin Due she had seen before, compared to a warship, it was still like a towering cliff face.

Even from such a great distance, they could still clearly make out its