Fingers pressed the communicator buttons, and Creuset's face appeared on the small screen installed at the front of the armrest.
"Captain Griffith, is there something you need?"
"Have Athrun Zala, Yzak Joule, Nicol Amalfi, and Dearka Elsman from your team pilot their MS and escort the escape ship to retrieve Miss Clyne.
Meanwhile, have the Vesalius and Athena halt their advance in this vicinity and await further action orders."
Looking at Creuset's face, Felix relayed the command. Upon hearing it, Creuset gave a slight nod.
"Yes!"
After receiving the response, Felix ended the communication with Creuset.
Staring at the terminated transmission, Creuset wore a faint smile. He proceeded to notify Athrun and the others via communication and then issued orders to the Captain of the Vesalius.
"The Vesalius will coordinate its movements with the Athena."
"Yes!"
The Captain turned to Creuset, saluted, and replied.
In the Vesalius hangar:
"What a hassle!"
Yzak, floating toward the Duel Gundam, complained aloud. Dearka watched Yzak's grumbling with a chuckle.
"It is quite troublesome. Should we speak with Captain Griffith and see if he might change his orders?"
Hearing this, Yzak turned and glared fiercely at Dearka.
After a moment, he turned back and continued toward the Duel Gundam.
"Athrun Zala, Aegis Gundam, launching!"
"Yzak Joule, Duel Gundam, launching!"
"Nicol Amalfi, Blitz Gundam, launching!"
————
"Dearka Elsman, Buster Gundam, launching!"
In the space ahead of the Vesalius, the Aegis Gundam, Duel Gundam, Blitz Gundam, and Buster Gundam assembled. Athrun, piloting the Aegis Gundam, took the lead, heading straight for the Athena.
Yzak and the other two followed behind Athrun.
On the Athena's bridge:
Felix observed the four Gundams in space and suddenly recalled someone. Pressing the communicator, he asked,
"Athrun, how is that guy Rusty doing?"
"Rusty returned to PLANT to recuperate from his injuries."
Athrun reported to Felix via the communication.
Hearing about the recuperation, Felix was momentarily taken aback but quickly regained his composure, thinking:
Did that unlucky fellow not get shot dead by Murrue?
"How was he injured?"
Setting aside his thoughts, Felix continued questioning Athrun.
Athrun replied over the communication.
"He was injured during the operation to seize the Earth Alliance Forces' new Mobile Suit at Heliopolis."
"That guy was lucky. If he'd been any more unfortunate, that shot could have killed him."
After Athrun, Dearka's voice came through the communication. Following Dearka, Nicol's admiring tone chimed in.
"And this matter was also thanks to Athrun. If he hadn't suggested to Captain Creuset before the operation began to arrange an additional squad for rescue support, Rusty might not have survived."
"It's all thanks to Captain Griffith's excellent teaching! It's all thanks to Captain Griffith's excellent teaching!"
Hearing Nicol's praise, Athrun smiled modestly and said.
Felix was slightly taken aback by Athrun's words, thinking to himself: "Did I teach you that?"
At that moment, the Athena received a communication request from the Archangel. Felix stopped conversing with Athrun and the others and switched channels to communicate with the Archangel.
After a brief exchange, the communication ended.
"Athrun, you and the others take the escape ship and set off!"
"Yes."
The four of them responded in turn through the communication.
Under Felix's watchful gaze, the four Gundams, piloted by them, departed with the escape ship.
Watching them disappear from view, Felix stopped looking at the screen and sat quietly waiting for Athrun and the others to return.
The distance of one thousand kilometers was quickly covered as Athrun and the others hurried on their way.
On the screen, Athrun saw the Archangel and the Strike Gundam around it, establishing communication with the Archangel through the communicator.
Once the communication was established, Athrun spoke.
"We have arrived and are ready for the handover!"
"Please hold your position fifty kilometers away from the Archangel and have the escape ship approach the Archangel."
Badgiruel's voice came through the communication to Athrun.
Hearing this, Athrun nodded.
After ending communication with the Archangel, Athrun briefed Yzak and the others on the situation.
Yzak and the others, upon hearing the instructions, began holding their positions as required.
The escape ship, piloted by its crew, moved toward the Archangel. The forward launch hatch of the Archangel opened, welcoming the escape ship inside.
In the Archangel's hangar, the escape ship came to a steady stop, and its hatch opened after it stabilized.
Badgiruel and the others breathed a sigh of relief when they saw no ZAFT soldiers rushing out. Turning to the civilians present, Murrue spoke.
"Please board the ship in an orderly manner!"
The civilians looked at Murrue and the others, then at Lacus. Lacus smiled gently and reassured them.
"Everyone, there's no need to worry. It's very safe."
Her gentle voice reached the civilians' ears. They glanced at each other and, thinking of the situation on the Archangel, made their decision at that moment.
People began filing toward the escape ship.
At that time, a little girl walked up to Murrue. Murrue looked at the girl, crouched down, and with a warm smile on her face, asked.
"Is there something, Ellie?"
"Big sister, please give this flower to Kira later and thank him for me."
Ellie handed a folded paper flower to Murrue, her voice filled with childlike innocence as she spoke.
Murrue took the folded paper flower from Ellie's hand and nodded with a smile.
"No problem."
After saying this, Murrue reached out and gently patted Ellie's hair.
Ellie's face lit up with a happy smile. She looked at Murrue and the others, bowed deeply, and expressed her gratitude.
"Thank you all!"
After saying this, she straightened up, returned to her mother's side, took her mother's hand, turned around, and waved to Murrue and the others.
"Goodbye!"
"Goodbye!"
Murrue held a folded paper flower in her hand, smiling gently as she bid farewell to Ellie.
A short while later, after all the civilians had boarded the ship, Murrue turned to Lacus with an apologetic expression and said, "I apologize for the unpleasant experience we caused you earlier."
"Captain Ramius, there's no need to apologize. I fully understand why you acted that way, and I haven't held any grudge about the matter," Lacus replied, turning to face Murrue with a gentle smile, her voice filled with warmth and forgiveness.
After speaking, Lacus turned to look at her friends she had met here, including Miriallia. Gazing at Miriallia in the crowd, she asked, "Miriallia, won't you come with me?"
"No," Miriallia shook her head and declined before continuing, "Kira is still here. We can't just abandon him."
"Very well then," Lacus said, accepting this without further insistence.