Earth, Alaska Headquarters.
The Archangel had been assigned to the Alaska Reserve. That was right despite being a space-faring battleship, the Archangel had somehow been incorporated into a local defense unit.
The helmsman of the Archangel spun his chair around and looked at Murrue in the captain's seat.
"Captain, this just doesn't feel right. The Archangel is a space battleship! Why are we being treated like a garrison force? What on earth is high command thinking?"
Murrue let out a long sigh. "I don't know. But... since it's an order, we must obey."
"Yes, ma'am."
Despite her words, an ominous premonition rose in Murrue's heart. Suddenly, the Archangel's sirens blared.
"What? An attack? What's going on? Get me Command HQ!"
Just as Milliaria was about to patch them through, Command HQ initiated contact with the Archangel first.
"A call from Command HQ."
"Patch it through."
A monkey-faced officer appeared on the screen. He seemed to be in a very dark, cramped location something like a submarine.
"Colonel Sutherland, what is"
"We've been tricked! The enemy's objective isn't Panama, where we're currently setting up defenses. Their target is our headquarters! Right here!"
"What?"
The colonel's words sent a shockwave through the bridge crew. Murrue finally realized what that nagging sense of unease had been, but she still felt like something was wrong, even if she couldn't quite put her finger on it.
"Our main forces are all at Panama," the officer continued. "Therefore... all defense units are to sortie immediately and intercept the enemy."
"...Understood. Archangel, prepare for sortie."
Though Murrue was still filled with doubt, she accepted the order.
However, the Archangel had lost its three primary sources of combat power. Mikazuki was gone, Kira had no machine, and Mu had been reassigned. Against such odds...
The Archangel left the port and entered the fray. The results were predictable; ZAFT had deployed nearly half of their total strength on Earth to attack the Earth Alliance's Alaska Headquarters.
Meanwhile, the Alliance's main forces were concentrated in Panama. The only battleship left to defend Alaska was the Archangel; the rest of the defense consisted of aircraft carriers, planes, armored vehicles, tanks, and the base's original fixed defenses.
Against ZAFT's Mobile Suits, these conventional weapons were woefully inadequate.
Watching the situation from the Archangel, Kira grew anxious. He rushed to the catapult deck and boarded a Skygrasper. Although it wasn't a Mobile Suit, he could still pilot it.
"Captain, please allow the fighter unit to sortie!"
"But you... I understand. Skygrasper, you are cleared for launch!"
With that, Kira piloted the Skygrasper and soared out of the Archangel.
Elsewhere, Mu, who was supposed to have left Alaska by submarine, had broken away from his unit because he had sensed someone.
Following his intuition all the way to Command HQ, he was surprised to find every department completely deserted.
Command HQ in particular was empty, save for the person he had sensed. As Mu peered inside, the man he saw watched the shadows beside him, the smile on his lips curling into a deeper, more sinister arc.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Mu leaned against the wall as bullets struck the surface behind him, sending sparks flying. He lunged forward and dove behind a desk, shouting, "Rau Le Creuset! Why are you here?"
Creuset, having dodged to the side, wore a mocking smile. "Oh, it's been a long time, Mu La Flaga. It's a pity we've met under such circumstances; I don't have time to catch up with you.
"The fact that you're still here just proves that you no longer have any utility to the Earth Alliance. You are no longer that 'Hawk of Endymion,' are you?"
As he spoke, he fired two more shots at the desk Mu was using for cover before decisively making his exit.
Mu stood up and scanned the room. The sensation had vanished; Creuset had indeed left.
"What is going on? What he just said..."
Mu's eyes inadvertently fell upon the main computer Creuset had been looking at. He holstered his pistol and approached the terminal with a frown. As he scrolled through the files, the expression on his face turned to one of pure horror.
"This... this is... the Cyclops System? Don't tell me... those bastards!"
Mu quickly tried to contact the Archangel using the main terminal, but the communication system was locked. It was stuck on a loop, repeatedly broadcasting the same command to the defense forces: Hold your lines, adapt as necessary, and provide mutual reinforcement.
"Dammit... Are the Archangel and the entire defense force just disposable pawns to them? No, I have to notify the Archangel immediately!"
Mu spun around and ran out of Command HQ. "I have to make it in time..."
By the time Mu discovered the truth, the battle outside had already raged for over an hour. On the bridge of the Archangel, Murrue's face was grim as she spoke to the two communications officers behind her.
"Still no contact with Command HQ?"
"No, ma'am. The orders remain to hold at all costs. Furthermore, the ground in front of the base is being overrun by BuCUEs."
"Missiles detected on the port side! Duel Gundam and two GINNs are approaching from the rear!"
"Anti-air missiles and the Gottfried MK.71 rail cannon, aim for the rear Mobile Suits!"
Since Natarle had also been transferred, Murrue had to take over the duties of the CIC combat commander as well.
"Report! Friendly fighters have appeared to our rear, providing cover and drawing off the Mobile Suits."
Murrue instinctively cautioned, "Chandra, be careful not to hit our allies."
Kazzui spoke up. "We're receiving a transmission from the fighter."
"Patch it through!"
Mu's voice soon rang out across the bridge. "Archangel, this is Mu La Flaga!"
Murrue blinked in surprise. "Major Flaga? Weren't you supposed to have left the Alaska base?"
Mu spoke with extreme urgency. "Forget that for now! Listen to me! Retreat immediately! Get as far away from this base as you can!"
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