Vesalius.
On the bridge, Rau Le Creuset's actions had indeed never been authorized by the Council.
However, he had already made preparations. Whether he failed or succeeded, he could still produce the outcome he wanted.
Besides, the Council's lack of authorization did not mean every council member opposed him.
It was precisely because some people supported him that the operation could proceed smoothly.
As for the three new machines they had obtained, logically speaking, they should have been sent back to headquarters first for further study. Instead, they had been deployed immediately because the enemy possessed an unexpected transformable fighter.
If he did not add the captured new machines to the battle, victory might be impossible.
Besides, the data from the three Gundams had already been downloaded.
With that information, PLANT's technology would have little trouble manufacturing them. They might even optimize and upgrade the designs, producing machines even stronger than the Earth Alliance's.
"Enemy transformable mobile armors launching!"
The camera feed showed the warship Rau had mockingly nicknamed "Legs" launching the fighters that had wiped out five of his GINNs almost instantly.
Four of them?
"Captain Le Creuset, this is...!"
Captain Ades's voice carried a trace of shock.
"Enlarge the image further."
The fifth machine on the screen became clearer.
"Judging from its appearance, it should not have a major generational gap from the other four. Most likely, it's an enhanced unit."
It was almost identical to the others. The only difference was that its back had been fitted with something like a massive booster unit, which was probably also an oversized ammunition pack. For that reason, Rau did not believe this machine represented a more advanced generation with a clear technological gap over the other four.
It was flying straight at them, as though aiming to decapitate the command ship.
And facing it head-on were three Gundams and five GINNs. Did it truly have the confidence to endure their fire and break through?
"It is about to enter our mobile suits' attack range."
It was still flying straight in.
"Is this a suicide attack?"
"Have all GINNs fire their anti-ship missiles!"
Rau immediately gave the order.
Those high-yield missiles had originally been meant for Legs, but this machine gave him a very bad premonition.
"All of them?"
"Yes. Now!"
"Understood!"
After the order was transmitted, three seconds passed. The enemy entered firing range, and all five GINNs launched the four missiles mounted on each of them.
Twenty missiles in total raced toward the abnormal machine.
"The enemy isn't trying to intercept?"
"It isn't evading either."
"Has he lost his mind?"
Rau, however, did not think the enemy had lost his mind. On the contrary, his expression grew even more solemn.
"Countdown to impact. Three... two... one. Impact!"
All twenty anti-ship missiles exploded. That level of power was enough to tear Legs apart.
"With that, the enemy should..."
One crewman's voice cut off as if someone had seized him by the throat.
Everyone on the bridge stared at the image before them in utter shock.
"It's unharmed?"
"Y-You're kidding."
"Did we miss?"
Disbelieving voices rang out over the communication channels of the three mobile suits, which had observed the scene from the closest range.
All three machines were units captured from the Earth side.
The red one was model GAT-X303, known as Aegis Gundam. Its pilot was Athrun Zala, an elite red-uniform member of Rau's team.
The black one was model GAT-X207, known as Blitz Gundam. Its pilot was Nicol Amalfi, also an elite red-uniform member.
The yellow-green one was model GAT-X103, known as Buster Gundam. Its pilot was another elite red-uniform member, Dearka Elsman.
All three stared at the sight before them in disbelief.
"I don't believe this. Eat this!"
Dearka immediately opened both missile pods on his machine's shoulders and fired every missile.
At the same time, he raised the rifle in his hand, took aim, and pulled the trigger.
In the next instant, a storm of fire faster than the missiles rushed straight toward the enemy.
Of course, one rifle alone could not create a true barrage. The three Gundams and five GINNs were all firing on it.
The dense barrage struck.
"What!"
"This is...!"
"You've got to be kidding!"
Disbelieving voices rang out, followed by sharp gasps.
The rifle fire had been blocked by an invisible force before it could strike the enemy.
"An energy shield?"
"They actually mounted that kind of power on a machine this size?"
At that moment, several faces turned ashen.
It was not that they lacked energy shield technology. They simply could not miniaturize it to the point of mounting it on an MS. Even warships could not carry it.
The equipment was enormous, and the energy requirements were massive. Normally, such systems were installed only on fortresses.
Yet the machine before them possessed that very technology. It was enough to make them both shocked and suspicious.
"Then take this shot!"
Dearka combined the two weapons in his hands into a cannon and fired at maximum output.
That level of power could vaporize a GINN with a direct hit.
And yet...
"It still doesn't work!"
It was not truly useless. Their attacks had slowed the enemy down.
But if this continued, things would become disastrous.
They had sortied to take down that warship, but if the enemy broke through their line instead, their own warship would be in grave danger.
Their active assault was turning into a defensive battle.
Damn it!
"Do not let the enemy break through our defense line and approach the Vesalius!"
"As if we'd let it get close!"
"Bastard. It's ignoring us? Does it look down on us that much?"
The eight mobile suits closed in.
When they were so close that they seemed about to collide in the next second, every mobile suit with live-ammunition machine cannons opened fire at full power.
An even denser storm of metal poured madly toward the target, as if to shred it into a sieve.
But the scene that followed was even more shocking.
No, it was almost frightening.
"Is... is that really a shield?"
Nicol's voice carried a hint of fear. When the live rounds struck the enemy's invisible shield, they did not ricochet like bullets bouncing off armor, nor did it feel as though they had hit a solid object. Instead, in the instant they made contact, some unknown force forcibly braked them to a halt.
As the enemy machine continued moving forward, a cluster of metal rounds was left behind, suspended in the cold vacuum of space.
"Damn it. Shooting from behind doesn't work either! It's an omnidirectional shield? What the hell kind of technology is that?"
Dearka's face turned even paler.
At this rate, their machines would gradually be left behind. The enemy was faster than them, which meant it would break straight through to the warship.
"All units, immediately clear the current firing line. Vesalius will fire its main cannon!"
The order came from the command ship, and they scattered at once.
At the same time, they watched the terrifying machine with extreme tension.
"Don't tell me the main cannon will also..."
"Don't jinx it!"
In the next second, Vesalius fired its main cannon. The beam struck the thing head-on.
(End of Chapter)
[Get +30 Extra Chapters On — P@tr3on "Zaelum"]
[Every 300 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter Drop]
[Thanks for Reading!]