The Talbadiya Ambush

The first ray of morning sunlight pierced the desert haze, spilling across the endless yellow sands and bathing the entire ZAFT African desert base in a warm, golden glow.

The night receded, and the morning breeze swept away the lingering chill as the base gradually came back to life. The lights of the hangar intersected with the morning light, and the maintenance crew was already hard at work, carefully overhauling the mobile suits and warships damaged in the previous night's probing battle. The air was filled with a mixed scent of machine oil, dust, and a faint trace of gunpowder smoke. Every busy figure signaled that the fires of war, yet unquenched, still lurked above this desert.

Mei Hock straightened his attire and walked slowly and alone toward the base command room. His expression was calm, his stride leisurely, and he deliberately feigned complete ignorance of the previous night's combat-this was precisely his plan. Finding Andrew alone and asking about the battle situation with an air of innocence would naturally open the conversation, allowing him to gauge Andrew's judgment on last night's skirmish while also laying a solid foundation for subsequently persuading Andrew to join his ranks.

Inside the command room, the lighting was dim. Andrew Waltfeld sat in the command chair. His expression could hardly be called gloomy, yet it carried a distinct and visible impatience and reluctance. His fingertips tapped against the desk erratically, producing a dull thudding sound. As an unruly and rebellious commander in the ZAFT military, he had always been arrogant and proud. Last night's probing attack failed to gain the slightest advantage; instead, a Strike Gundam piloted by a punk had disrupted the operation, leaving several of his BuCUEs damaged. To him, this felt less like anger and more like a loss of face. Aisha stood beside him with a calm expression, saying nothing, simply keeping him company in silence and handing him a cup of water from time to time to ease his irritation.

"Reporting to the commander, Major Hawke requests an audience." The communications soldier's voice broke the silence of the command room with a trace of caution, as he well knew Andrew's temperament-seemingly casual yet actually proud, and undoubtedly vexed at the moment because of last night's battle.

Andrew did not even lift his head, his tone carrying a casual impatience: "Let him enter." Though annoyed, he knew Akira was a rare ace in ZAFT, and as fellow commanders, there was no need to deliberately put on airs. He simply had no heart to spare for superfluous pleasantries at the moment.

Akira pushed the door open and entered, a fitting look of puzzlement on his face. His gaze swept over the atmosphere in the command room and Andrew's slightly impatient expression, and he feigned surprise as he said, "Andrew, looking at your expression, you don't seem to be in a very good mood? I just finished inspecting the unit tuning in the hangar, and I heard there were abnormal signals near the base last night. Could it be that Earth Alliance Forces people broke in?"

Andrew finally glanced up at him with a curl of his lip, his tone full of annoyance: "You certainly are well-informed, actually knowing about last night's events. That's right, it's those fellows from the Archangel. They had damn good luck, getting caught up in turbulence and accidentally making an emergency landing in our sphere of influence-the desert area at 12 degrees 47 minutes north latitude and 38 degrees 19 minutes east longitude."

Akira feigned a sudden realization, nodding with a bland tone: "So it was the Archangel. Speaking of which, when we pursued the Strike Gundam, we were also affected by the turbulence and forced to land here. I never expected it would be such a coincidence to run into them here. Andrew, how was yesterday's battle? Were you unable to take them down?"

Mentioning last night's battle only deepened Andrew's irritation. He reached out to rub the bridge of his nose, his tone carrying a hint of reluctance rather than extreme anger: "Don't ask, it was thoroughly bad luck. Those fellows' warship is severely damaged, and I thought they were easy prey, but that Coordinator piloting the Strike Gundam turned out to have some skill. Last night I sent five BuCUEs and several Aguil, cooperating with long-range shelling from the Lesseps, purely to test their strength without intending a hard fight. In the end, even though that kid was unaccustomed to the desert terrain at first and looked rather flustered, he quickly adjusted his state and forcefully repelled my squad without causing them a hair of damage, while costing me several BuCUEs instead."

Akira understood in his heart that the Coordinator Andrew mentioned was naturally Kira Yamato. He kept his expression neutral and followed up on Andrew's words: "Oh? There is such a thing? It seems this pilot of the Strike Gundam indeed has some ability. But you needn't take it to heart; it was merely a probing attack and never meant to be a hard fight, so failing to take them down is normal. After all, even damaged, the Archangel is a frontline warship of the Earth Alliance Forces, and the Strike Gundam is their ace mobile suit. Taking them down easily was never going to be that simple."

Andrew gave a cold laugh, his tone tinged with arrogant confidence: "Of course I knew it wouldn't be simple, and I haven't really taken it to heart. But since they dared to blunder into my territory, they needn't think of leaving easily. Last night's probe gave us a measure of their partial combat strength, and I've already decided to make my move today. First, I'll wipe out the old nest of Desert Dawn-they were the ones providing cover for the Archangel last night and spoiling my plans. Then I'll set up an ambush to completely sink the Archangel and settle the score from last night."

Akira nodded slightly, a look of approval on his face: "That's a good idea. Taking the initiative before they can firmly find their footing gives us a better chance of winning. Still, we must be careful of that Strike Gundam's pilot. The fact that he could rapidly adapt to the desert terrain shows exceptional adaptability and piloting skills. Our subsequent actions must still be properly guarded to avoid unnecessary losses."

"Do I need you to remind me of that?" Andrew shot him a sideways glance, his tone arrogant yet without malice. "No matter how skilled that kid is, he's ultimately just a greenhorn, and I haven't taken him seriously yet. Once I finish dealing with Desert Dawn and set up the ambush, our next meeting will surely make him pay the price."

Seeing that Andrew's mood had stabilized and his tone carried its familiar arrogance, Akira knew the time was right. He pondered for a moment and said slowly, "Andrew, actually, besides inquiring about last night's battle, I came to see you today with two matters I'd like your help with."

Andrew raised an eyebrow at him, a flicker of doubt flashing in his eyes as his tone resumed a casual air: "Oh? You actually have a favor to ask of me? Speak your mind. As long as it doesn't violate ZAFT military discipline or delay me from cleaning up the Archangel, I'll naturally help where I can."

Akira took a deep breath, his tone earnest: "The first matter: I would like to request that you allow Aisha to temporarily leave this place and go to PLANT to protect Miss Lacus for a time. As you know, the internal situation within PLANT is currently complex; both Blue Cosmos and the radicals of the Zala Faction are secretly watching Miss Lacus, and the security risks to her are significant. Aisha's piloting skills and weapon operation abilities are both formidable, and her mind is meticulous. Having her by Miss Lacus's side would give me greater peace of mind. Once the situation stabilizes, I will have her return immediately and will certainly not delay you for long."

Hearing this, Andrew's expression turned serious in an instant. His brow furrowed tightly, his tone carrying a hint of hesitation and evident worry: "Send Aisha to protect Lacus? That won't do, it's too dangerous. Aisha is my subordinate and moreover my wife; I cannot let her take that risk. PLANT is too far from here, and if any emergency were to arise, I wouldn't be able to provide backup at all. Besides, as Chairman Clyne's daughter, Lacus surely has no shortage of guards around her; she doesn't need Aisha."

"Andrew, I know you're worried about Aisha's safety." Akira looked at him, his tone sincere and his gaze steadfast. "But I assure you that I will make thorough arrangements. Having Aisha stay by Lacus's side is far safer than remaining on the battlefield. Furthermore, the guards around Lacus are mostly ordinary escorts whose piloting skills and practical combat abilities simply cannot compare to Aisha's. Now that hidden dangers are everywhere, having one more powerful bodyguard adds an extra layer of security. Moreover, both you and I know that the radicals of the Zala Faction are single-mindedly bent on waging war and slaughtering the innocent, whereas Miss Lacus yearns for peace, and Aisha herself leans toward the Clyne Faction. Protecting her is also doing our part for peace."

He paused and continued, "In addition, there is another matter I wish to discuss with you. Andrew, you are a rare talent in the ZAFT military-your piloting skills are outstanding, your command abilities are top-tier, and you command a formidable elite Desert Army with immense strength. But have you ever considered that remaining in this desert forever and holding down a single region will ultimately prevent you from bringing your full talents to bear? The radicals of the Zala Faction only want to completely eradicate Naturals and ignite an even larger war, and while the Clyne Faction yearns for peace, there are too many internal constraints for them to accomplish much."

A flash of surprise crossed Andrew's eyes, immediately followed by a cold chuckle, his tone laced with a hint of disdain yet also understanding: "What do you mean by that? You want me to work under you? Hawke, aren't you being a bit naive?"

"I have no intention of asking you to betray ZAFT." Akira shook his head, his tone resolute, calm yet imbued with strength. "I merely wish to ask you to secretly join my ranks. I know that whether it is the military represented by the Zala Faction or the government represented by Lacus, both are behemoths, and for now I am merely a fleet captain under the military with genuinely limited strength. But I firmly believe that as long as we join forces-relying on your command abilities and elite troops, combined with my Silver Wing fleet-we will certainly be able to carve out a place in this war, and perhaps even influence its trajectory, bringing about an early coexistence between Coordinators and Naturals and preventing more innocents from dying in the flames of war. Doesn't this match what you've always believed? You never kill proactively, and even against enemies, you leave room wherever possible. That is identical to the peace I seek."

Upon hearing this, the disdain on Andrew's face gradually faded, replaced by a solemn expression. He remained silent for a moment before speaking slowly, his tone carrying a touch of mockery yet no longer complete denial: "Hawke, you certainly dare to dream. On the strength of just you and me, you want to pit yourself against the Zala Faction and the Clyne Faction? You must realize that the Zala Faction controls the primary military might of ZAFT, while the Clyne Faction holds the governmental power of PLANT. Neither of them is a force we can contend with. I admit that I don't want to see more innocents die, nor do I wish to be hijacked by the radicals of the Zala Faction, and remaining stuck in the desert is indeed something I'm unreconciled to. But following you carries too much risk; I see no path to victory."

Akira showed neither anger nor rebuttal, simply looking at him calmly with a steady tone: "I know you have reservations and that you don't look favorably upon me. But I am unwilling to give up, and I believe that if we join forces, we can surely accomplish it. How about we make a wager?"

A trace of curiosity flickered in Andrew's eyes, and his interest piqued. He leaned forward slightly, his tone carrying a touch of defiant provocation: "A wager? That's somewhat interesting. What do you want to bet on? Let's hear it; if the terms are to my liking, I might play along."

"It's very simple." Akira looked at him with a firm tone: "Let us wager on the Archangel. If you can sink the Archangel, I will never again urge you to join my ranks, nor will I ever bring up the matter again. But if you let the Archangel escape, then you must agree to join my ranks, work alongside me for the sake of peace, and uphold our bottom line together. How about it? Do you dare accept this wager?"

Andrew pondered for a moment. A flash of hesitation in his eyes was instantly replaced by defiance and a competitive spirit. He abruptly stood up, extended his hand, and spoke with a firm, provocative tone: "Fine! I accept this wager! Hawke, don't you go back on your word! I assure you, the Archangel is not getting away; I will sink it right here in this desert! When the time comes, don't you forget what you said and stop trying to get me to follow you!"

"I will never regret it." Akira smiled, extended his hand, and shook hands firmly with him: "It's a deal."

Their palms gripped tightly, both of their eyes flashing with resolute light. A wager concerning future spheres of influence and their shared ideals was thus struck. Upon releasing his grip, Andrew immediately shouted into his communicator, his tone urgent yet maintaining its composure without excessive agitation: "All units pay attention! Gather the troops immediately and prepare for combat! Raid the old nest of Desert Dawn! Remember-burn only their supplies, and do not harm a single soul, especially civilians!"

Akira stood to the side, watching Andrew urgently urge his subordinates to prepare. A knowing smile crossed his face, and he raised no objections. He knew that Desert Dawn had long been a thorn in Andrew's side within the desert, and since they had indeed provided assistance to the Archangel the previous night, Andrew was bound to use this opportunity for retaliation. Yet Andrew had specifically ordered that no lives were to be taken and that only supplies were to be burned, which precisely corroborated his own philosophy-even against an enemy, he would minimize casualties among the innocents. Decisive yet not bloodthirsty, this matched Akira's own thoughts to perfection. Furthermore, as long as Andrew raided Desert Dawn's old nest and destroyed their supplies, the organization would face the crisis of resource exhaustion. This would also lead into the subsequent plotline where the Archangel escorted the remaining members of Desert Dawn to the Red Sea Port, paving the way for the upcoming Tarbeidia ambush, which seamlessly dovetailed with his plan.

"Andrew, go ahead and busy yourself with preparing for the raid; I won't disturb you any further." Akira looked at him, his tone calm and mild. "Regarding Aisha, I hope you can agree to my request and let her go protect Miss Lacus for a time after this matter is settled. Also, please exercise caution during the subsequent ambush operation, and don't forget our agreement to avoid civilian casualties as much as possible."

Andrew waved a hand, his tone carrying a hint of impatience that masked a trace of softening: "Don't worry, I'll speak to Aisha about it. As for the ambush, you needn't concern yourself; I have my own judgment. You'd better prepare yourself well and wait to see me sink the Archangel to fulfill your wager."

Akira nodded, said nothing more, and turned to leave the command room. Stepping outside, the morning sun was pleasant, its warm golden rays washing over him as his heart filled with certainty. He knew that although Andrew appeared arrogant on the surface and seemed pessimistic about his chances, they shared a common creed. The odds of him winning this wager were high. Once he won the bet and persuaded Andrew to join his ranks, his strength would receive a massive boost, granting him a greater voice in this war and bringing him one step closer to achieving peace.

Meanwhile, inside the command room, Andrew watched Akira's departing figure, a complex look flashing in his eyes. Although he still felt Akira's notions were somewhat naive, he had to admit that Akira's poised and resolute demeanor, coupled with their shared ideals, truly moved him somewhat. He turned to look at Aisha, who had just entered, his tone softening considerably, shedding its defiance and taking on a touch of doting affection: "Aisha, Hawke just told me he wants you to go to PLANT to protect Miss Lacus for a while. He's right-staying by Lacus's side is indeed safer than remaining on the battlefield, and protecting her is also doing our part for peace, which aligns with our own ideals. What do you think?"

A flash of resolve crossed Aisha's eyes, her tone earnest, gentle yet imbued with strength: "Andrew, I am willing to go. But right now you need me more; let's wait until the matter with the Archangel is settled first."

Andrew looked at Aisha's determined gaze, shook his head helplessly, and spoke with a mixture of doting affection and worry: "Since that's the case, we'll do as you wish. However, you must mind your safety; if anything happens, contact me immediately. No trying to act tough, you understand?"

"I understand. Thank you, Andrew." Aisha smiled gently.

By late morning, inside the ZAFT Africa desert base, lights were bright, and soldiers hurried back and forth, rapidly preparing the equipment and supplies needed for the raid. Several BuCUEs and Aguil stood in neat formation, their hulls modified for desert adaptability and the weapons on their shoulders primed. The flagship Lesseps slowly sailed out of the base, the bow's main gun adjusted to the correct angle and ready to fire at any moment. The ground armor units were also neatly lined up, the roar of engines echoing across the open desert and breaking the morning stillness.

Andrew stood within the command room of the Lesseps, his sharp gaze fixed on the screen ahead. His tone steady and resolute, he reiterated his orders: "All units pay attention! Target: the old nest of Desert Dawn! Full speed ahead! Upon reaching the target area, launch an immediate raid. Remember my command-burn only their supplies and destroy their stronghold, but do not harm any civilians! Anyone who dares disobey will be dealt with by military law!"

"Understood, General!" All the soldiers responded in unison, their voices loud and ringing through the desert. They all knew Andrew's temperament: seemingly rebellious yet possessing a strong baseline, never slaughtering the innocent, and thus they dared not show the slightest defiance.

Following that, the ZAFT forces swept imposingly toward the old nest of Desert Dawn. In the morning light of the desert, the footsteps of the mobile suits, the roar of engines, and the grinding of treads against gravel intertwined, kicking up a sky full of yellow sand like a surging dragon lunging toward the enemy stronghold. A raid was about to erupt in the morning desert, yet this raid would involve no slaughter-only the destruction of supplies, highlighting the shared bottom line of Andrew and Akira.

At this same time, the area where the Archangel had made its emergency landing was equally busy. Crew members were rushing to repair the warship, replace damaged components, and restore its basic functions. Kira Yamato sat inside the cockpit of the Strike Gundam, repeatedly tuning the machine and familiarizing himself with the combat parameters for desert terrain-yesterday's battle had made him profoundly aware of his unsuitability for desert warfare. If he did not quickly master combat techniques for this terrain, encountering another ZAFT raid would make getting out alive difficult indeed.

Captain Murrue Ramius stood inside the command room, looking at the warship undergoing emergency repairs on the screen with a grave expression. She knew the ZAFT forces would never let the matter rest; yesterday's probing attack was merely the beginning, and they were bound to launch a much fiercer assault next. With the Archangel severely damaged, coping with a ZAFT attack would prove extremely difficult.

"Captain, people from Desert Dawn have arrived. They say they want to speak with us." The communications soldier's voice rang out, breaking the silence of the command room.

A flash of surprise crossed Murrue's eyes before she nodded: "Let them in."

Moments later, several members of Desert Dawn dressed in desert combat gear walked into the command room. At their head was a tall, middle-aged man with a steady expression, sharp eyes carrying a measure of vigilance yet also a degree of sincerity.

"Hello, Captain Ramius." The middle-aged man spoke respectfully. "I am Kamran, leader of Desert Dawn. We have learned that you are the Earth Alliance Forces warship Archangel, forced to land here and subjected to a ZAFT attack. We in Desert Dawn have long dedicated ourselves to resisting ZAFT's oppression and protecting the civilians in the desert. We hope to establish an alliance with you, helping one another to jointly fight against ZAFT."

Murrue pondered for a moment, a trace of hesitation crossing her eyes. She knew Desert Dawn was a guerrilla force in the desert; although their strength was not formidable, they were familiar with the terrain and held a certain influence locally. Establishing an alliance with them would undoubtedly benefit the Archangel. Yet she also worried that Desert Dawn might bring trouble to the Archangel, given that ZAFT bore a deep-seated hatred toward the organization.

"Captain Kamran, thank you for your kind intentions." Murrue looked at him calmly. "It's just that the Archangel is currently in a difficult plight, with our warship severely damaged and vulnerable to another ZAFT attack at any moment. If we form an alliance, I fear it might implicate you."

"Captain, you needn't worry." Kamran shook his head firmly. "We in Desert Dawn have long been at irreconcilable odds with ZAFT; even without you, they would still come after us. Rather than fighting separately, joining forces and helping each other gives us a better chance to oppose ZAFT, protect ourselves, and safeguard the civilians in the desert. Moreover, we are familiar with the desert terrain and can provide you with intelligence and supplies, helping you repair your warship as quickly as possible and extricate yourselves from your current predicament."

Murrue looked into Kamran's sincere eyes, then glanced at her adjutant. After a moment of silent reflection, she finally nodded with a firm tone: "Very well! Captain Kamran, I agree. The Archangel is willing to establish an alliance with Desert Dawn to help each other and jointly oppose ZAFT!"

"That's wonderful, Captain Ramius!" A joyful smile broke across Kamran's face. "Please rest assured, we will do our utmost to help you and will certainly not let you down!"

Subsequently, the two sides discussed the specific details of the alliance, establishing a cooperative framework of mutual support, shared intelligence, and joint supply. The Archangel and Desert Dawn officially formed an alliance, which meant the Archangel finally possessed a reliable ally in this unfamiliar desert.

At the exact same time the Archangel and Desert Dawn forged their alliance, the ZAFT forces led by Andrew arrived at the old stronghold of Desert Dawn. Though members of Desert Dawn discovered ZAFT's approach and attempted resistance, they were swiftly suppressed by Andrew's forces. Andrew steadfastly maintained his bottom line, ordering that only supplies and the stronghold be burned while no lives were taken. Consequently, seeing this, the members of Desert Dawn chose not to fight to the death, withdrawing successively and leaving behind only an empty stronghold and vast quantities of supplies.

"Open fire! Aim only at the supplies and fortifications, and do not harm a single person!" Andrew stood inside the command room of the Lesseps, his tone cold yet resolute, his gaze entirely devoid of bloodlust, filled instead with decisive resolve. "I want them to know that messing with me comes with a price, but I will not slaughter innocents either. This is my bottom line, and it is the bottom line of us ZAFT soldiers."

The main gun of the flagship Lesseps instantly spat fire, precisely targeting Desert Dawn's supply warehouses and strongholds as dense shells rained down like a storm. Several BuCUEs and Aguil sortied simultaneously, accurately destroying the stronghold's defensive facilities and supplies without striking a single retreating member of Desert Dawn. The ground armor units also advanced, crushing the defensive earthworks while carefully steering clear of the personnel evacuation routes.

Before long, Desert Dawn's old base was thoroughly demolished. All supplies were burned to ashes and the stronghold reduced to ruins, yet not a single person was injured throughout the entire operation-neither the members of Desert Dawn nor the ZAFT soldiers emerged with a scratch. Andrew looked at the destroyed base and supplies on the screen without a shred of triumph, only a calm demeanor. He knew this was forced by the exigencies of war; he had to be decisive to guard his sphere of influence and pave the way for subsequent operations, yet he never forgot his creed or proactively harmed any innocent soul.

"Pass down the order: clear the battlefield without leaving any unnecessary traces, then withdraw immediately and proceed to the Old Town of Tarbeidia to establish an ambush circle!" Andrew commanded into the communicator with a steady tone. "I have received word that the Archangel and the remaining members of Desert Dawn are bound to head for the Red Sea Port, and the Old Town of Tarbeidia is their inevitable route. I will set up a dual ambush circle there to completely sink the Archangel and fulfill my wager with Hawke. Remember, in the subsequent ambush, continue to avoid civilian casualties as much as possible; our targets are the Archangel and the Strike Gundam, not innocents."

"Understood, General!" All soldiers answered in unison, immediately throwing themselves into the work of clearing the battlefield and withdrawing. They all understood in their hearts that their general, however rebellious and decisive, possessed the softest of bottom lines and never slaughtered the innocent-which was precisely one of the reasons they were willing to follow him.

Meanwhile, Yzak Joule and Dearka Elsman, having tracked the Archangel's trail while piloting their respective mobile suits, had also arrived in the North Africa desert. Following minor repairs, their units had recovered basic combat capabilities. Operating their mobile suits at high speed through the desert, the two soon discovered the presence of the ZAFT forces led by Andrew and proactively approached to rendezvous with him.

"Commander Waltfeld!" Yzak addressed Andrew through the communicator in an arrogant tone. "We are Yzak Joule and Dearka Elsman. Tracking the Archangel here and learning that you are also pursuing it, we have specifically come to rendezvous with you and join forces to completely destroy the Archangel and the Strike Gundam!"

Andrew looked at the Duel Gundam and Buster Gundam displayed on the screen. A flicker of surprise crossed his eyes, immediately replaced by an arrogant smile and a casual tone: "Oh? It's the two of you. I didn't expect you to track them here as well, which saves me quite a bit of trouble. With your participation, our strength will indeed increase significantly, making it all the more certain we can sink the Archangel."

"Naturally," Yzak said arrogantly. "Our mission is to destroy the Strike Gundam and the Archangel. As long as we are here, neither of them is getting away!"

"However, I have a condition." Andrew's tone turned serious in an instant, carrying firm resolve: "In the subsequent ambush battle, no indiscriminate slaughter is permitted, especially of civilians. Our targets are the Archangel and the Strike Gundam; there is no need to harm irrelevant people. If any of you dare disobey orders and injure people without authorization, don't blame me for being discourteous."

Yzak froze for a moment before letting out a dismissive, scornful laugh: "Commander, you're being far too soft-hearted. On the battlefield, when has a fight ever taken place without injuries? Still, considering our alliance, I can agree not to actively harm civilians."

"It's not being soft-hearted; it's a bottom line." Andrew's tone was calm yet carried unquestionable power. "Very well, enough idle talk. We will form a combined force of the ZAFT regular army and the Desert Army, and head immediately for the Old Town of Tarbeidia to set up the ambush circle, waiting for the Archangel to walk right into the trap!"

Following that, Yzak and Dearka drove their respective mobile suits to join Andrew's forces, racing together toward the Old Town of Tarbeidia. At this point, Andrew's coalition army possessed unprecedented strength. Command was held by Andrew Waltfeld, with elite mobile suits such as the Duel Gundam and Buster Gundam under his banner, alongside more than ten BuCUEs, several Aguil, large-scale ground armor units, the flagship Lesseps, and multiple ZAFT land battleships and gunboats-a force more than sufficient to easily crush the Archangel faction. And Andrew consistently upheld his bottom line, repeatedly instructing his subordinates not to engage in indiscriminate slaughter.

On the other side, the Archangel and the remaining members of Desert Dawn had successfully rendezvoused. Although the members of Desert Dawn looked somewhat disheveled, every single one of them was completely uninjured-not a single person had been hurt. Upon learning that Andrew's forces had merely burned supplies and destroyed the stronghold without harming anyone, they felt a measure of surprise, but above all, profound relief. Kamran walked up to Murrue, his tone heavy yet tinged with relief: "Captain, our old nest was completely destroyed by the ZAFT forces led by Andrew, and all our supplies were burned. Right now we've fallen into a crisis of resource exhaustion and have no way to continue establishing a foothold in the desert. But fortunately, Andrew's forces didn't harm a single one of us, which completely exceeded my expectations. We earnestly implore you to escort our remaining personnel and troops as we head together toward the Red Sea Port, leaving this desert for a safe area."

Murrue looked into Kamran's heavy yet relieved eyes, a sense of surprise welling up within her-she had never expected a ZAFT commander to show mercy, destroying only supplies while sparing lives. She nodded, her tone resolute: "Captain Kamran, rest assured. Since we have already established an alliance, we will certainly protect you. We will escort you as we head together for the Red Sea Port and leave this dangerous region."

"Thank you so much, Captain Ramius!" A grateful smile bloomed across Kamran's face, his eyes filled with gratitude.

Murrue immediately ordered the crew to prepare and escort the refugee convoy of Desert Dawn toward the Red Sea Port. The Archangel started up slowly; although still unable to fly, it was now capable of normal travel. The refugee convoy of Desert Dawn followed closely in neat formation behind the Archangel, speeding in the direction of the Red Sea Port. Under the desert sun, the lights of the Archangel shone like a beacon in the darkness, guiding the refugees forward while simultaneously drawing a fatal ambush.

The coalition forces led by Andrew had already arrived at the Old Town of Tarbeidia, setting up a dual ambush circle. The Old Town of Tarbeidia was an abandoned urban district with dilapidated buildings, narrow and rugged streets, and broken walls everywhere, rendering it extremely unfavorable for the maneuvering of large warships and mobile suits. Andrew made full use of these geographical advantages, positioning the flagship Lesseps and multiple land battleships and gunboats in the front of the district to form a frontal interception fleet; he deployed Yzak's Duel Gundam, Dearka's Buster Gundam, several BuCUEs, and Aguil to the flanks and rear to form a mobile suit pincer movement; simultaneously, he ordered soldiers to plant explosives on key buildings throughout the district, intending to detonate them the moment the Archangel entered the zone, utilizing the collapsing structures to further restrict the mobility of the Archangel and the Strike Gundam, trap them completely within the town, and annihilate them in one fell swoop.

"All units pay attention! Enter a state of alert! Closely monitor the movements of the Archangel, and launch an attack the moment they enter the ambush zone!" Andrew stood within the command room of the Lesseps, his sharp gaze fixed on the screen ahead as his resolute tone reiterated the command: "Remember, prioritize attacking the Archangel and the Strike Gundam, avoid the refugee convoy as much as possible, and do not proactively harm innocents! Even in battle, we must hold our ground!"

"Understood, General!" All soldiers responded in unison, their expressions solemn as they readied themselves for battle. Yzak sat within the cockpit of the Duel Gundam, his gaze icy as he stared at the road ahead, his heart filled with burning rage-he vowed that this time he would completely destroy the Strike Gundam and wash away his previous humiliation. Dearka sat within the cockpit of the Buster Gundam, calm of expression as he carefully tuned his weapon system, preparing to deliver a long-range, precision sniper shot that would deal a fatal blow to the Archangel and the Strike Gundam, while also quietly keeping Andrew's orders in mind to actively skirt civilian-dense areas.

Time ticked by as the sun climbed higher, casting its light over the abandoned town and making it appear exceptionally desolate. Finally, the figures of the Archangel and Desert Dawn's refugee convoy appeared on the screen. The Archangel drove slowly through the dilapidated streets, its massive hull appearing somewhat clumsy within the narrow lanes; the refugee convoy followed closely behind in orderly fashion, its vehicle lights faint as it proceeded slowly into the depths of the district under the sunlight.

"They're here! They've arrived!" The radar operator's voice rang out, laden with excitement and tension.

A sharp glint flashed in Andrew's eyes as he abruptly stood up, his tone resolute: "All units pay attention! The Archangel has entered the ambush circle! Attack immediately! Frontal fleet, salvo with main guns, aim for the Archangel's weapon systems and shield generator! Flank and rear mobile suit forces, execute a pincer movement immediately, pin down the Strike Gundam, and do not harm the refugee convoy! Detonate the building explosives to restrict their mobility!"

The moment the orders were given, the ambush circle activated instantly. The main guns of the flagship Lesseps and multiple land battleships and gunboats simultaneously spat lethal fire, dense shells shooting accurately toward the Archangel while giving the refugee convoy in the rear a wide berth. The shells struck the streets, kicking up a sky full of yellow sand and gravel, while massive explosions reverberated deafeningly through the empty district. On the flanks and rear, Yzak and Dearka immediately piloted their respective mobile suits, leading several BuCUEs and Aguil in a pincer movement toward the Archangel to seal off its retreat while maintaining distance from the refugee convoy. Concurrently, the explosives planted on key buildings throughout the district were detonated, setting off a chain of roaring explosions. Numerous dilapidated structures collapsed with a crash, piling rubble and masonry onto the streets and sealing off both the advance and retreat paths of the Archangel, trapping it firmly in the center of the district without room for evasion, plunging it into desperate straits.

"Enemy attack! Activate defense systems immediately! Counterattack with all our might! Prioritize protecting the refugee convoy!" Inside the command room of the Archangel, Captain Murrue issued orders instantly, her tone urgent. Crew members performed their duties rapidly, activating the warship's defense and weapon systems to counterattack the incoming ZAFT forces. However, pinned down by the rubble of collapsed buildings and unable to maneuver freely, the Archangel could only take a passive beating. Furthermore, in order to protect the refugee convoy trailing behind them, Murrue was forced to issue orders prioritizing civilian defense. The warship's counterattack capability was severely restricted, and its shields sustained continuous pressure, quickly showing signs of fracturing.

"Captain! The shields are severely damaged; at this rate, they're going to be pierced through!" The crewman's voice came through laden with panic.

"Captain! The frontal fleet's bombardment is too fierce, we can't hold out! ZAFT mobile suits are closing in from our flanks and rear!" Another crewman's voice rang out, similarly fraught with panic.

Murrue's face turned pale as she bit her lower lip hard, her heart filled with anxiety. She knew the Archangel had fallen into a desperate plight at this moment. If no reinforcements arrived soon, it wouldn't take long before the Archangel was completely sunk by ZAFT forces, and the refugee convoy behind them would face total annihilation.

"Kira! Launch the Strike Gundam with the Aile Striker! Sortie immediately! You must pin down the ZAFT mobile suit forces, buy us time, and find an opportunity to break through! Be careful to avoid civilians as much as possible!" Murrue shouted into the communicator, her tone filled with eager hope.

"Understood, Captain!" Kira's voice came back, firm and steady. He activated the Strike Gundam instantly, switching to the Aile Striker, and slowly steered out of the hangar to meet the incoming ZAFT mobile suit forces. The Strike Gundam equipped with the Aile Striker experienced a drastic recovery in mobility. With its wings spread wide, it resembled a soaring eagle wheeling through the skies above the narrow district, dodging incoming artillery fire and collapsing building debris.

"Hmph, you finally dare show your face!" Seeing the Strike Gundam, Yzak's eyes flashed with anger as his icy tone took control. He immediately piloted the Duel Gundam to charge toward the Strike Gundam, drawing his beam saber and slashing fiercely downward: "This time, I will completely destroy you!"

Kira's gaze was sharp as he rapidly operated the Strike Gundam, nimbly dodging Yzak's attacks. The Strike Gundam equipped with the Aile Striker had far greater mobility than the Duel Gundam, displaying astonishing flexibility in the narrow urban airspace, and Kira skillfully evaded Yzak's repeated assaults.

"Damn it! Stop dodging! Have some guts and fight me head-on!" Yzak's heart burned with fury, his angry tone driving him to accelerate his attacks. He swung his beam saber into a torrential blur, slashing toward the Strike Gundam.

Kira ignored Yzak's rage, maintaining his focus on operating the unit to evade attacks while searching for an opportunity to counter. He knew his mission right now was to pin down ZAFT's mobile suit forces and buy time for the Archangel to break through. He could not easily engage Yzak in a direct, protracted fight; otherwise, once bogged down in a melee, he would be unable to pin down other ZAFT mobile suits, placing the Archangel and the refugee convoy in even greater peril.

Meanwhile, Dearka, piloting the Buster Gundam from atop a tall building on the outskirts of the district, carefully took aim at the Archangel, his sniper rifle primed and ready. His expression was calm and his gaze sharp as he locked onto the Archangel's bridge, weapon systems, and shield generator-all vital components of the warship. Striking these targets would completely paralyze the Archangel's combat capabilities, laying the groundwork for ultimately sinking it. At the same time, he kept a constant watch on the refugee convoy below, intentionally steering clear of civilian-dense areas.

"Bang!" With a loud report, Dearka pulled the trigger, and a large grenade streaked like a meteor toward the shield generator of the Archangel. The projectile accurately struck the generator, instantly blowing a massive gap in the Archangel's shield and dimming its radiance.

"Captain! The hull has been hit, the Phase Shift Armor has a breach, and we can no longer maintain defenses!" The crewman's voice came through, laden with a hint of despair.

Murrue's face grew even paler, her heart filled with despair. She knew the Archangel was on the brink of absolute peril at this moment. Without a turn of events, it would be thoroughly sunk by the ZAFT forces before long.

At that very critical juncture, a dramatic turn of events occurred. In order to snipe the airborne Strike Gundam, Dearka pulled the trigger once more, launching a heavy grenade toward the target. However, Kira reacted with extreme swiftness, rapidly maneuvering the Strike Gundam to nimbly dodge out of the way. The heavy grenade missed the Strike Gundam entirely, instead striking with pinpoint accuracy against a weight-bearing pillar supporting the nearby high-rise building.

"Rumble-!!!" A massive explosion rang out as the tall building collapsed in an instant, a vast quantity of rubble and masonry piling onto the street. The roadblock that had previously trapped the Archangel was blown open, creating a massive passage-the Archangel had finally regained its room to maneuver!

"What?! How could this happen?!" Looking at the collapsed building and the blown-open passage on his screen, Andrew felt a trace of shock and reluctance, his tone filled with disbelief: "Dearka Elsman! What on earth are you doing?!"

Sitting inside the cockpit of the Buster Gundam, Dearka wore an equally bewildered expression as he spoke awkwardly: "I... I didn't mean to. I was trying to snipe the Strike Gundam, I never expected... never expected to miss and hit the load-bearing pillar instead." He certainly hadn't anticipated that his blunder would end up doing the Archangel a huge favor by blasting open an escape route and granting them a chance to break through.

Watching the blasted passage, Yzak's eyes flashed with shock and fury as his tone turned ice-cold: "Damn it! Dearka, you really are a waste of space! Even a simple sniper shot, and you mess it up while helping the enemy out in the bargain!"

Dearka's face turned beet red, unable to find any words for rebuttal-this was indeed his mistake, and he had never imagined things would turn out this way.

Seizing this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Kira immediately manipulated the Aile Strike Gundam to launch a counterattack. With a wave of its wings, the unit shot forward like an arrow released from a bow, charging toward the flank and rear ZAFT mobile suit forces. The beam rifle in its hands spat fire as dense beams rained down like a storm toward the BuCUEs and Aguil, intentionally avoiding their cockpits and striving only to disable the machinery without harming the pilots. The BuCUEs and Aguil, fully concentrated on sealing off the Archangel's retreat, had never expected the Strike Gundam to launch a sudden counterattack. Thrown into immediate disarray, several BuCUEs were struck by beams, their hulls damaged and combat capability lost as they plummeted toward the ground, their pilots ejecting one after another without a single injury.

"All units pay attention! Seize the chance to break through with all our might! Fire all main guns, bombard the bow of the Lesseps, and pin down their firepower! Watch out and avoid the refugee convoy!" Captain Murrue reacted instantly, seizing this fleeting window to shout out her resolute commands.

"Understood, Captain!" All crew members responded in unison, their voices filled with hope. They immediately steered the Archangel at top speed toward the blown-open passage while firing every main gun in a dense barrage of shells that rained toward the bow of the Lesseps, carefully avoiding the refugee convoy and the ZAFT soldiers.

"Rumble, rumble-!!!" Countless artillery shells struck the bow of the Lesseps, instantly fracturing its armor and dimming its lights. Internal equipment suffered varying degrees of damage, and the firing speed of its main gun slowed down correspondingly.

"Captain! The bow of the Lesseps is damaged, its main gun firing rate has dropped, and it can no longer sustain high-intensity bombardment!" The communications soldier's voice came through, tinged with panic.

"Captain! The flanking and rear mobile suit forces have suffered heavy losses from the Strike Gundam's counterattack and can no longer maintain the pincer formation! Fortunately, most pilots ejected successfully, with no severe casualties!" Another communications soldier's voice followed, similarly anxious.

Andrew's face grew gloomy as he looked at the battlefield conditions on his screen. His heart filled with anger and frustration, yet also a hint of relief-at least there had been no massive casualties, preserving his bottom line. He knew the ambush circle had failed completely by this point; neither the Duel Gundam nor the Buster Gundam could quickly deal with the Strike Gundam, and the Lesseps had sustained damage. Continuing the stalemate would not only fail to sink the Archangel but might incur even greater losses and potentially harm innocent civilians. Proud and competitive though he was, he understood that a wise person submits to circumstances, and continuing the fight at this stage served no purpose.

"Damn it!" Andrew slammed his fist hard against the desk, his tone angry yet resentful. "Pass down the order! All forces retreat! Abandon the ambush and resume tailing the Archangel! Once we regroup our forces, we'll settle accounts with them next time! Remember, during the retreat, continue to give the refugee convoy a wide berth, do not initiate conflicts, and harm no innocents!"

"Understood, General!" All soldiers answered in unison, immediately halting their attacks and beginning an orderly retreat. Yzak and Dearka had no choice but to begrudgingly abandon the attack, piloting their respective mobile suits in the wake of Andrew's forces as they slowly withdrew. Yzak glared at the retreating back of the Strike Gundam, his eyes burning with anger and frustration-he vowed that the next time he encountered the Strike Gundam, he would completely destroy it to wash away today's disgrace.

Kira watched the retreating ZAFT forces without pursuing. He knew that although the Archangel had successfully broken through, it remained heavily damaged, the crew was exhausted, and the refugee convoy still required protection. Rash pursuit, should they run into a ZAFT trap, would only plunge them into greater danger. He piloted the Strike Gundam back to the side of the Archangel, guarding the warship and the refugee convoy as they sped continuously toward the Red Sea Port.

This ambush battle in the Old Town of Tarbeidia ultimately ended in failure for Andrew's coalition and a successful breakthrough for the Archangel. On a tactical level, Andrew's annihilation plan completely failed; not only did he fail to sink the Archangel, but he lost several BuCUEs, and the Lesseps sustained damage. Yzak and Dearka had achieved temporary coordination with Andrew, but internal cooperation was abysmal, and Dearka's blunder became the turning point of the entire battle, shattering Andrew's annihilation plan into nothingness.

On a strategic level, the Archangel successfully breached the Tarbeidia defense line, placing it only a step away from the Suez Canal and the Red Sea Port. As long as it could safely reach the Red Sea Port, the Archangel and the remaining members of Desert Dawn would be able to shake off the pursuit of ZAFT forces and head for safe territory.

Regarding damages, the Archangel suffered moderate damage, with its Phase Shift Armor and certain weapon systems impaired, and a minor number of crew members injured, though none critically. On the side of Andrew's coalition, the bow of the Lesseps was fractured, several BuCUEs were damaged and scrapped, and all pilots ejected safely without serious injury. As for the refugees and members of Desert Dawn, every single one remained completely uninjured-all of this was owed to the shared creed of Andrew and Akira: never killing proactively and holding fast to their bottom line, maintaining a soldier's conscience even on the cruelest of battlefields.

The sun gradually slanted westward, and the desert evening breeze began to blow with a touch of chill. The Archangel and the refugee convoy of Desert Dawn continued speeding toward the Red Sea Port, their lights flickering through the twilight with hope, while the coalition forces led by Andrew trailed far behind in pursuit, their eyes filled with anger and frustration yet steadfastly maintaining their bottom line without rashly launching an attack, waiting for the next opportunity to strike.

Mei Hock stood upon the observation tower of the ZAFT desert base, looking at the flashes of artillery and the eventual dissipation of fire in the direction of the Old Town of Tarbeidia, a mixture of understanding and gratification flashing in his eyes. He knew Andrew had lost this ambush battle, but he also knew Andrew had defended their shared creed without proactively harming a single innocent person. Although Andrew had not been on the front lines personally, he could guess that the process of the battle must have been fraught with twists and turns, and Andrew's failure meant that he was one step closer to winning that wager and persuading Andrew to join his ranks.

He raised his head to gaze into the distant twilight, a resolute gleam in his eyes. He knew the war was far from over; the Tarbeidia ambush was merely a transition, and more brutal battles awaited them ahead. And he would continue to plan and scheme, steadily building up his strength step by step, striving alongside Andrew to uphold the bottom line of never taking innocent lives, working to realize the peaceful coexistence of Coordinators and Naturals and rewriting the ending of this stellar epic.