"Continue observing!"
Felix glanced at Jerold and spoke calmly. Upon hearing this, Jerold turned his gaze away from Felix and focused back on the screen before him.
Watching the Freedom Gundam's combat on the battlefield.
On the battlefield:
Under Kira's control, the Freedom Gundam evaded beam attacks fired from multiple directions on the ground, its waist-mounted Sailfish Railguns deploying.
Boom! Boom!
Two firing sounds rang out as electromagnetic shells shot rapidly from the barrels.
Traveling at hypersonic speed, they headed straight for two Strike Daggers ahead.
Bang! Bang!
Two explosions sounded as the Strike Daggers' beam rifles were destroyed, along with the arms holding them.
Inside the Strike Dagger cockpit:
The pilot checked the mobile suit's status feedback. Upon learning that the beam rifle and half an arm were destroyed, he immediately controlled the Strike Dagger to retreat from the battlefield without hesitation.
Seeing the retreating Strike Daggers, Orb's Astray MS units charged forward, opening fire on the two Strike Daggers.
"Cover me!"
While using the Strike Dagger's shield for defense, the pilot called for support from comrades over communications.
Hearing this, other Strike Dagger pilots repelled attacks in their own sectors before turning to provide covering fire for their allies.
With tacit coordination and precise shooting, they quickly eliminated the two or three pursuing Astray units.
In the air, inside the Freedom Gundam cockpit:
Seeing the situation on the ground, Kira's expression grew anxious. He swung the Freedom Gundam around, aiming its beam rifle downward and opening fire.
Bang! Bang!...
Several explosions erupted.
A few more Strike Daggers had their arms, legs, or heads destroyed.
After this, Kira piloted the Freedom Gundam into a dive, fingers operating the command buttons. The Freedom Gundam discarded its shield and drew two beam sabers.
Upon landing, it swung both blades, instantly dismembering two Strike Daggers.
After the slashing attack, the Freedom Gundam quickly sheathed the two beam sabers at its waist, dodged left to avoid an attack, then raised the beam rifle on its rear skirt armor, firing two quick shots.
Bang! Bang!
Two more explosions sounded.
The two Strike Daggers that had opened fire instantly became headless flies.
The Freedom Gundam crouched, surged forward rapidly, retrieved its discarded shield while passing by, adjusted the angles of its wings and thrusters, and ascended into the sky at a steep angle.
...
Earth Alliance Forces Fourth Naval Fleet
On the flagship bridge:
"I didn't expect this MS to be here."
Watching the Freedom Gundam on the screen, Director Azrael showed a faint smile, murmuring to himself.
Hearing this, the fleet commander turned to Director Azrael and asked, "This MS isn't easy to deal with."
"Naturally, I'm aware of that."
Azrael responded with a laugh as he opened a communicator, issuing an order to the other end. "Send them out!"
"Yes!"
A reply came through the communicator after the command.
The fleet commander listened with a calm expression, his voice carrying a hint of anticipation. "I look forward to their performance."
"They won't disappoint you."
Out of the corner of his eye, Councilor Azrael glanced at the fleet Commander and spoke with confidence.
As the two conversed, six distinct Mobile Suits, unlike the mass-produced Strike Daggers, launched from the warships.
Two Raider Gundams transformed into Mobile Armor forms, carrying two Calamity Gundams forward. Two Forbidden Gundams plunged directly into the water, advancing stealthily toward the battlefield ahead.
In the Air
The Beam Cannons mounted on the Calamity Gundams fired fiercely at the Orb fleet.
After several volleys, multiple Orb warships exploded and ultimately sank into the sea.
In the Sea
The stealthy Forbidden Gundams suddenly leaped out from beneath the water, swinging their giant scythes at the warships with a speed the ship captains couldn't react to.
The sharp scythes instantly sliced through the bridges of the battleships, killing everyone inside in a flash.
After striking the warships, the Forbidden Gundams ceased their stealth approach and, propelled by powerful thrusters, headed straight for the Freedom Gundam in the air.
In the Air
As Kira piloted the Freedom Gundam to attack the Strike Daggers, he spotted the unique MS like the Forbidden, Raider, and Calamity on his screen.
Especially upon seeing the Calamity Gundam, Kira immediately maneuvered the Freedom to evade.
The timely dodge allowed the Freedom Gundam to avoid the Calamity's attack, then the Whale Plasma Cluster Beam Cannons deployed, firing two thick beams directly at the Calamity Gundam.
The Raider Gundams, carrying the Calamity Gundams, evaded in the air.
"These guys are different!"
Watching them dodge the attack, Kira's expression turned grave as he muttered to himself.
Just as he was about to pull the trigger to continue firing, he saw the Forbidden Gundams attacking him from two directions.
He quickly switched from firing to evasive maneuvers.
While the Freedom Gundam performed a series of fluid dodges in the air, Kira's face showed shock.
"Distorted beams!"
In surprise, Kira kept his hands moving on the controls.
The Freedom Gundam responded precisely to his commands, executing another round of evasive actions.
After dodging this attack, Kira pressed the trigger.
The Freedom Gundam's Beam Rifle fired at one of the Forbidden Gundams.
The beam shot forward at high speed but, as it neared the Forbidden Gundam, it distorted and veered off in another direction.
"The beam got distorted?"
Kira muttered in astonishment, then quickly maneuvered the Freedom Gundam to evade an attack from the other Forbidden Gundam.
After dodging, as Kira prepared to fire again, all six Gundams simultaneously opened fire on the Freedom Gundam.
The dense and accurate barrage forced Kira to abandon his attack and focus on evading in the air.
"This is no good! I can't handle this alone!"
Struggling to dodge and seeing no chance to counterattack, Kira spoke grimly and honestly.
Meanwhile, Outside the Battlefield
A red MS dove rapidly toward the area.
The Fortissimo Beam Cannon fired at the Calamity Gundam on the Raider Gundam's back, forcing the Raider to maneuver sharply in the air.
"Who is that?"
Watching the Calamity and Raider Gundams evade, a look of confusion crossed Kira's face as he murmured.
The next moment—
The Justice Gundam piloted by Athrun swung its Beam Saber as it appeared before Kira. Staring at the red MS, Kira's expression turned grave, and he continued his questioning.
"Who are you?"
In response, a voice that shocked Kira came through the comms.
"Athrun Zala!"
"Athrun?"
Hearing Athrun's voice, Kira called out his name tentatively.
Inside the Justice Gundam's cockpit
Athrun, recognizing the all-too-familiar voice over the comms, tightened his grip on the control stick. Taking a deep breath, he evaded an attack and spoke.
"Kira!"