"How did they appear here? Were we followed?"
At the bridge entrance, Lu Tianming looked at everyone inside with a puzzled expression, clearly not understanding the situation.
Logically speaking, after leaving the Desert Tiger's territory, the Archangel should have completely disappeared from ZAFT's radar. There was no way they should have been found.
So how could they suddenly be targeted by G Series mobile suits?
"...It doesn't seem like that. The situation appears somewhat delicate."
Murrue frowned slightly, her eyes filled with confusion as she looked at the data on the bridge.
Although the four G Series mobile suits had sortied... they had merely stopped near their battleship without taking further action, as if they were surprised by the current situation.
According to Murrue's explanation, Miriallia had momentarily panicked earlier and rashly assumed the radar contacts were attacking.
But after carefully reviewing the historical data, the bridge crew concluded that the four mobile suits were more likely returning to their ship, only stopping when they detected the Archangel at the last moment.
This made the situation rather awkward... Lu Tianming sorted through the current circumstances and roughly understood what Murrue meant by "subtle.""
Currently... it seemed both sides had encountered each other by accident, with each being equally surprised by the other's appearance, leaving them momentarily unsure how to respond.
"Based on recent Alliance battle analysis, they were likely ZAFT's vanguard forces sent to attack ORB, who coincidentally encountered and engaged with the Alliance's vanguard."
"Our ship probably just happened to enter the enemy battleship's radar range while heading toward ORB, and was mistaken for an Alliance ambush unit."
Badgiruel massaged her forehead, explaining the complete battle situation the bridge had deduced with clear frustration. It was evident that this encounter was truly just an unfortunate coincidence.
But since it was an accident, could they pretend they never saw each other and go their separate ways?
That seemed unlikely. Even if the Archangel wanted to, ZAFT forces probably wouldn't agree.
The Archangel and Strike Suit were high-priority targets for ZAFT forces, and those four mobile suits already had significant history with the Archangel.
Now that they'd encountered each other, conflict was highly probable.
"...Anyway, we might need to trouble you again this time."
Murrue looked somewhat awkwardly at Lu Tianming, hoping he would standby in the Strike Suit, ready to respond to any potential combat.
Lu Tianming didn't know how to react either, and could only nod with a wry smile before turning to head toward the hangar.
————————
While the Archangel nervously watched the four Gundams, the four pilots were equally tense, circling around their Vosgulov-class battleship.
"...Why isn't the Archangel making any moves?"
Perched on his flight platform, the Duel Gundam stared at the Archangel, which had appeared on radar but remained inactive, its pilot utterly baffled.
They had rushed back from the front lines after their mothership detected a Union battleship suddenly approaching from the rear—they assumed the Union dogs had set an ambush, splitting their forces to lure them out while striking their defenseless carrier on the open sea.
But upon hurrying back... they found it was the Archangel?
And... the ship seemed to have no intention of attacking?
This series of surprises left them momentarily stunned, uncertain how to proceed.
"Yzak, what do we do? Should we engage?" Dearka asked hesitantly. Normally, a non-hostile target would be a relief... but this one was special.
The Archangel—forget their accumulated grudges from space battles, even by ZAFT military orders alone, this was no ordinary foe to ignore.
—Ever since the Strike Gundam demonstrated its ability to slice a battleship in two with one blow, that MS, its carrier, its pilot, and everything related had been designated priority targets for destruction within ZAFT forces.
But a direct attack? Dearka wavered. What if the Strike really pulled off that slash again?
Another bisected battleship would be an utter humiliation.
After a moment's thought, Yzak checked each unit's energy levels, gritted his teeth, and ordered:
"Attack! Why wouldn't we? The Strike hasn't shown itself yet... this might be our chance to take them down in one go!"
Their repeated defeats by the Archangel had subconsciously made the ship a shadow over him—over all of them.
Take Dearka: faced with this perfect opportunity, he wasn't planning how to win but hesitating whether to retreat.
Yzak felt... all four of them desperately needed a victory now—to prove themselves and boost morale.
With that resolve, he opened a comm channel to the mothership, hesitated briefly, then declared firmly:
"Launch the atmospheric combat equipment for the Duel and Blitz too!"
——————————————————
"...So they're launching after all."
In the hangar, Lu Tianming sighed wearily as he watched four Gundams on radar closing in on the Archangel.
They were so close to entering ORB airspace... yet a battle was unavoidable.
But his side had long been prepared. The moment the enemy showed intent to fight, they could respond at top speed.
Right now, the Strike was equipped like never before—mounting both the Sword and Launcher packs atop its Aile Pack backend.
Clearly, the plan was to end this quickly, establish overwhelming suppression, and create an opening for the Archangel to reach ORB.
"...How does it feel, carrying three packs for the first time?"
As the Strike was moved into the launch catapult, Lu Tianming asked Xia Chuan with curiosity.
Originally he had only planned to equip the Launcher Pack for suppressive fire... but Xia Chuan said since they were already here, they might as well cosplay as the perfect Strike Suit and wear all the equipment beyond the Striker Pack.
According to theoretical calculations... by equipping both the sword and launcher packs and using the Manta Ray pedal as an intermediary, Xia Chuan could still achieve aerial combat.
"An unprecedented sense of security!"
Xia Chuan replied with a laugh. As the ejection window opened—an unprecedented surge of confidence immediately flooded his heart.
"Never mind fighting four... I feel like even ten would be no problem at all!"
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