Minerva

"Circle around behind the fortress! I don't care how big that beam is—if it can't hit us, it's meaningless!"

Andrew gave the order.

"Yes!"

Daguza replied tremblingly.

Though the Eternal Covenant's three units were charging into the enemy formation ahead.

There were simply too many ZAFT forces.

The Eternal was caught in wave after wave of Mobile Suit assaults. Fortunately, the three Goumaru units and Orb's elite pilots had joined the fight, barely managing to hold the line.

Behind the oncoming swarm of Mobile Suits, the massive conch-shaped fortress could be seen.

The small Genesis cannons mounted on the fortress should not have finished charging so quickly. There was still time before the second shot.

Lacus glanced out the bridge window and saw several beams flashing across the distant battlefield.

Noer...

Remembering Noer's exhausted expression and tone, Lacus could not help but worry.

She knew she could not let personal feelings sway her at a time like this, yet she could not stop herself from worrying about the man she loved.

Facing the overwhelming advance of the forces ahead, Yzak and the other two, who had intended to follow Noer's trio, were forcibly driven back.

"Damn it! Don't you know when to quit?!"

Watching as the Eternal's three Mobile Suits were about to reach Messiah, Yzak could not help roaring, "You people, didn't you hear Lacus Clyne's voice? Pull back already, you bastards!"

"Do you really want to die?!"

Some were visibly shaken by his roar, but most soldiers simply ignored him and kept trying to rush toward the Eternal.

Diago and Nicol continually darted in front of them, firing beams and swinging their Beam Sabers.

"Hey, hey, hey, fall back! You bunch of rookies!"

Suddenly, a woman shouted roughly as a new black-and-purple unit charged in.

Displaying maneuverability utterly