Chapter 197: Assault on the Lunar Base I
On Earth, after completing the Mobile Doll MD System, the Romefeller Foundation prepared to bare its fangs of aggression toward the entire world.
However, Treize objected to this plan during a council meeting. He declared that what truly mattered in war was not victory itself, but the attitude and ideals with which one fought.
The way the MDs were now being used in battle greatly disappointed him. He stated that humanity had no need for such a game-like war.
The Duke Dermail, the chief overseer of the MD Combat Program, also raised doubts—but like Treize, he was soon placed under house arrest, all his channels for communicating with the outside world completely cut off.
Meanwhile, out in space, Lady Une received Treize's message, ordering her to destroy both the forces under the MD system's creator, Technician Tsubarov, and every MD system under his control.
Une immediately commanded OZ's space fortress satellite, Barge, to head toward the lunar base.
On the way to the moon, Tolle had Nichol hastily prepare a few standard models—a Tallgeese, Wing Zero, and Mercurius.
He decided to use the Tallgeese Wing Zero as his representative unit in OZ's future battles. After all, the Taurus was too mass-produced, too lacking in character.
Mercurius, on the other hand, was given to Lady Une to pilot—better that than having her recklessly flying out in a Taurus all the time. After all, its electromagnetic protection field powered by reflective magnetic drums offered decent safety.
Once they arrived near the lunar base, the radar operator reported to Une:
"We've reached the vicinity of the lunar base. The target is now within Barge's beam cannon range.
In our current course of approach, we've confirmed large formations of MD Taurus units stationed at the base—they've taken up combat positions."
Just then, the communications officer spoke up:
"Connection established with the lunar base."
On the communicator's screen appeared Tsubarov's face.
"Miss Lady Une, the movement of the Barge fortress wasn't scheduled for today. The MD Taurus units almost began attacking, you know?"
Une replied casually, as though brushing it off:
"The MDs—quite a merciless weapon indeed. They make excellent defense forces, I'll give you that."
Hearing her description of the unmanned weapons, Tsubarov grinned smugly.
"Exactly. The MD mass-production system here has already been completed. The finest soldiers are now ready. The Romefeller Foundation will soon bring a new order to Earth—hahahaha!"
Watching his deranged laughter, Une began to feel that same disgust Treize must have felt.
"I think I'm beginning to understand Lord Treize's aversion toward the MDs."
Tsubarov blinked in confusion at her sudden change of tone, especially when she mentioned Treize, whom he loathed the most.
"What did you just say? What do you mean by that?"
"Nothing much. I'm heading to the lunar base now. In the meantime, have those MD Taurus formations disable their automatic attack protocols."
Une gestured to her soldiers while continuing to stall Tsubarov over the communicator.
Then, leading Tolle and a squad of troops, she launched an unexpected assault toward the lunar base—catching the enemy completely off guard.
Seated in her cockpit, Lady Une continued speaking to Tsubarov:
"Lord Treize loves humanity—and he also loves the deaths that come with it. Death holds an intense emotional significance for mankind.
The feelings left behind by the dead affirm and deny the nature of battle itself. When emotions surge too high, people are driven to extremes. To calmly accept death—that is the true stance of a soldier."
"That's just the thinking of the weak!" Tsubarov scoffed. "We've already created MDs—soldiers that cannot die! We are building a history of war that transcends death itself!"
"Tsubarov, haven't you realized? MDs don't transcend death—they merely fear it. They're nothing more than puppets, substitutes for people who fear dying."
"No one goes to war to lose! Anyone who does must be insane!"
"Victory or defeat means nothing. Through endless combat, emotion itself is refined—and someday, the lost soul will find redemption."
"That's nonsense! Unrealistic idealism! Achieving the greatest gain with the smallest loss—that's the best result, isn't it?"
"And that," Une said coldly, "is why you and I are destined to be enemies."
"What are you—"
Before Tsubarov could finish, Une and her squad of space-type Leos opened fire on the unmoving MD Taurus units.
Caught off guard, the unmanned Tauruses were struck down—over a dozen fell in the first barrage.
Tolle, piloting the Tallgeese Wing Zero, fired its beam cannon. A massive beam, nearly as thick as a twin-barrel buster rifle shot, tore across the sky over the lunar base, sweeping back and forth.
Within moments, over fifty MD Taurus units were reduced to ashes.
Tsubarov stared at the battle in horror before realizing he had been ambushed. Enraged, he roared:
"Damn them! Dispatch the majority of the MD Taurus forces and order them to attack the Barge fortress directly! They'll definitely try to fire Barge's beam cannon at this base!"
Inside the Mercurius, Une watched as the swarm of MD Tauruses departed from the lunar base toward Barge. Smiling proudly, she said to Tolle:
"Tsubarov took the bait. He'll never suspect that Barge is just a decoy.
The fortress's beam cannon would cause unpredictable damage to the lunar base—destroying it would defeat the purpose of capturing it."
Tolle nodded with a sly grin.
"As expected of my chief strategist. Your cunning truly knows no bounds. But let me add a little fuel to the fire."
"Take this—beam cannon barrage!" he shouted dramatically.
The Tallgeese Wing Zero raised its right arm-mounted beam cannon and unleashed another sweeping blast at the retreating MD Taurus formation.
This time, only about a dozen were destroyed—they weren't caught off guard like before.
Tolle then drew the beam rifle from his back and grabbed his lance with his left hand, charging straight into the enemy formation.
Thus began the Tallgeese's heroic one-man battle.
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Tallgeese Wing Zero
Class: B+
Terrain Adaptability: Sea B / Land A / Air B / Space A
Fixed Armaments: Beam Rifle ×1 (mounted on lower back), Beam Sabers ×2, Knight Lance ×1, Shield ×1, Beam Cannon ×1 (mounted on right shoulder)
Special Equipment: ZERO System, Close-Combat Sensors, Active Wing Units, Gundanium Alloy Armor, Reflective Magnetic Drum ×5