Miriallia paused her steps upon hearing this, her expression carrying a hint of confusion as she asked, "Is something wrong?"
Dearka was momentarily stunned by her question, his words catching in his throat before he looked at Miriallia with an embarrassed smile. Seeing Dearka's awkward demeanor, Miriallia grew even more puzzled, completely unable to understand what he intended to do.
After a moment of silent eye contact with Dearka, Miriallia remembered she had matters to attend to and bid farewell, "If there's nothing else, I'll be going now."
With that, Miriallia turned to leave.
Watching her retreating figure, Dearka snapped out of his hesitant state and called out to her back, "After the war ends, could I invite you to go out together?"
Miriallia chuckled softly at his words, turning back with a teasing smile, "Are you asking me out?"
Hearing the words "asking me out," Dearka's ears instantly turned red. He awkwardly scratched his cheek with his hand while making excuses, "I just wanted to thank you for saving me before."
"Is that so!" Seeing through but not exposing him, Miriallia replied meaningfully before answering with a smile, "We'll see!"
After speaking, Miriallia gave Dearka a slight smile.
Her paused steps resumed moving forward, soon disappearing from Dearka's sight.
Staring in the direction Miriallia had left, Dearka remained dazed for a long while, muttering to himself in confusion, "Did she agree?"
...
On the Moon
Battlefield between Earth Alliance Forces and ZAFT
The Genesis Gundam moved to evade attacks coming from the front left, simultaneously firing its Beam Rifle.
After one shot, the Genesis Gundam shifted to the rear left.
Without pausing after dodging the attacks, the Genesis Gundam moved again.
It successfully evaded the incoming attacks for the second time.
Cockpit
Felix performed operations with his hands before pulling the firing trigger.
The remaining five DRAGOON Beam Assault Cannons opened fire.
Beams appeared on the battlefield, instantly destroying three Mobius units and two Strike Daggers.
After eliminating these five enemy units, the DRAGOON Beam Assault Cannons moved through the airspace under Felix's control.
During movement, one DRAGOON Beam Assault Cannon was targeted by multiple Strike Daggers, with numerous attacks coming from different directions aimed at this single DRAGOON unit.
Genesis Gundam Cockpit
Seeing the situation, Felix quickly performed operations with his hands. While attempting to control other DRAGOON Beam Assault Cannons for rescue, he discovered the other DRAGOON units were also being engaged.
Faced with this, Felix had to abandon the rescue attempt and instead focused on maneuvering the DRAGOON Beam Assault Cannons to escape their encirclement.
After several attempts, a beeping sound echoed through the cockpit.
"Another one lost!"
Glancing calmly at the instrument panel, Felix murmured to himself while deeply pressing the backward pedals with his feet and pushing the control stick to the left.
The Genesis Gundam executed movement to the rear left according to commands.
Through this movement, the incoming beam attacks were successfully dodged.
His fingers pressed command buttons before his left hand made fine adjustments.
The Genesis Gundam's Beam Rifle fired toward the left side.
In the cockpit of the Strike Dagger on the left, the pilot performed maneuvers almost identical to Felix's. However, due to performance limitations and timing issues, the Strike Dagger's movements appeared somewhat sluggish.
Just as it began to move, a beam pierced through the cockpit under the terrified gaze of the pilot.
After destroying this Strike Dagger, the Genesis Gundam evaded once more.
Dodging the beam attack, it fired a Whale Plasma Cluster Beam Cannon toward the right front.
A bright explosion erupted, engulfing the Strike Dagger.
"I'll fight you to the death!"
A resolute voice echoed from the cockpit of another Strike Dagger.
The next moment, the pilot charged the Strike Dagger toward the Genesis Gundam.
Other Mobile Suit pilots witnessed this suicidal charge and shouted at him over the communications.
"Tony, stop!"
"Don't go, Tony!"
"You'll die! Stop now, Tony!"
Hearing their pleas, Tony remained undeterred, urging his current comrades over the comms.
"If I'm going to die anyway, I might as well fight him!"
With those words, Tony continued his death charge in the Strike Dagger.
Inside the Genesis Gundam's cockpit,
Felix controlled the Genesis Gundam to evade the attacks, then spotted the Strike Dagger charging toward him on the screen.
Watching it calmly, Felix maneuvered the Genesis Gundam to dodge.
After several evasions, Felix saw the Strike Dagger closing in. His fingers pressed on the control stick while his other hand tapped command buttons.
Under simultaneous operations, the Genesis Gundam drew its blade with swift responsiveness.
A single draw-slash cut the Strike Dagger in half at the waist.
At that moment, the Strike Dagger was still in the motion of drawing its Beam Saber.
"Admirable courage," Felix remarked coolly, then quickly piloted the Genesis Gundam to retreat from the area.
As he withdrew, an explosion followed.
"Tony!!!!"
A loud cry echoed through the Earth Alliance Forces' Mobile Suit Force communications channel.
...
Over ten minutes later,
The high-speed flying Genesis Gundam executed evasive maneuvers.
After dodging the attacks, it turned and fired toward the rear.
Following this shot, Felix heard Aric's voice over the comms.
"Captain, why don't you return to the Athena for a short rest?"
"No need."
Felix refused outright and continued controlling the Genesis Gundam in combat.
On the Athena's bridge,
Aric glanced at the time and clenched his fists tightly.
His eyes fixed ahead, Aric issued an order.
"Green, thirty-three, twenty-two, mark fifteen, Bravo, launch air-to-air missiles!"
"Aye!"
A response sounded on the bridge as the fire control department swiftly executed the command.
Six air-to-air missiles launched from the Athena's rear vertical missile launch tubes, streaking toward their targets with long trails of flame.
...
At 4:55 PM,
The glow of signal flares illuminated the battlefield.
Felix watched the signal flares launched by the Earth Alliance Forces, vigilantly observing the situation on the battlefield.
Aric's voice came over the comms.
"Captain, the Earth Alliance Forces have fired retreat signal flares."
Upon hearing this, Felix issued his orders.
"Fire the retreat flare, and order the troops to withdraw from this combat zone in an orderly and vigilant manner."
"Yes!"
Aric responded upon hearing the command.
The next moment, the Athena was the first to launch the retreat flare, followed by the other ZAFT Forces battleships.
Thirty-five minutes later,
In the central hangar of the Athena.
The Genesis Gundam, which had been fighting for nearly a full day, finally had a chance to rest. Felix stepped out of the cockpit, removed his helmet, shook the sweat from his hair, and said to Taiber,
"Complete the inspection and maintenance of Genesis as quickly as possible!"
"Yes!"
Taiber replied with a serious salute.
Felix gave a slight nod, then picked up his helmet and headed toward the standby room.
In the standby room,
Finding the room empty, Felix took a seat in a relatively secluded corner. He placed his helmet casually beside him, leaned back in the chair, glanced at the ceiling, and exhaustion soon lulled him into sleep.
Less than a minute later, the door to the standby room opened again. Heine, Doulens, Pratt, Rusty, and others entered, chatting among themselves. Upon noticing Felix asleep from exhaustion, they all fell silent in unspoken agreement.
Heine and Doulens exchanged a look, then approached Felix together. They supported his body and secured him in the seat with a safety harness.
After completing this, Heine used the communicator to report to Aric.
"Vice Captain Aric, the captain has fallen asleep."
"How is the captain's condition?"
Aric breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this and inquired over the communication. Heine glanced at Felix and replied,
"The captain is fine, just exhausted."
He added,
"However, it would be safer to have the team doctor come and check on him."
"Understood."
Aric nodded slightly in response.
...
6:08 PM
On the bridge of the Eternal, traveling through space
"Miss Clyne, we've received a video file and an email from Felix's side."
Andrew, after receiving the materials, turned to Lacus and reported. Lacus immediately stood up and went to Andrew's side.
Looking at the screen, she asked anxiously,
"How is Felix doing?"
"Felix is fine. He just engaged in nearly a day of intense combat and is now exhausted and asleep."
Seeing Lacus's worry and anxiety, Andrew relayed Felix's recent condition. Lacus's heart finally settled upon hearing he was unharmed.
Continuing to look at Andrew, Lacus inquired about the video file.
"Is this video footage from the battlefield?"
"Yes."
Andrew nodded in confirmation.
Upon learning this, Lacus said with a serious expression,
"Notify Captain Murrue and Cagalli to come to the Eternal. We'll take a brief rest here."
"Understood!"
Andrew nodded and replied.
Murrue, Mu, Dearka, Cagalli, Athrun, Kira, Ro, and Gai Murakumo gathered around the tactical display table, where selected combat footage was playing on the screen.
As everyone watched the footage, Athrun noticed the timeline and looked up at Lacus to ask, "Lacus, how long has Captain Griffith been fighting?"
"Felix fought from start to finish!" Lacus replied seriously, lifting her head to meet Athrun's gaze.
Upon hearing this, Mu, Ro, and Gai Murakumo showed startled expressions. Mu was the first to speak among them. "He fought for almost an entire day?"
Following Mu, Ro's shock was more blunt. "Is that guy even human?"
Lacus heard this and looked up, her gaze profound as she glanced at Ro. Feeling her stare, Ro immediately sensed he might have said something inappropriate.
At that moment, Andrew stepped in to lighten the mood. "Of course Felix is human—what else could he be?" He then turned to Ro and continued, "Your previous battles were just minor skirmishes. Large-scale military conflicts between armies are like this. Fighting nonstop for a day, two days, or even half a month isn't unusual."
"Mr. Waltfeld, I understand that. What amazes me is that Mr. Griffith could fight for nearly a day without rest. It's simply incredible," Ro replied humbly, looking up at Andrew.
Andrew smiled slightly and was about to speak when Lacus interjected first. "Please don't focus on these matters. We're not here to discuss how long Felix fought."
Hearing Lacus's words, Andrew fell silent, and Ro wisely dropped the subject. Seeing this, Lacus lowered her head and continued watching the combat footage.
As she viewed the scenes, Lacus spoke up. "What are your thoughts on our next course of action?"
No sooner had she finished asking than Athrun voiced his opinion first. "My view is that we probably won't be able to join this battle in time."
Everyone turned their attention to Athrun. Under their collective gaze, he continued, looking at the display. "This battle is intense and brutal, but from these selected clips, it's clear the Earth Alliance Forces hold an absolute advantage in numbers. With such superiority, ZAFT's advantages will vanish. Without any edge, holding out here is pointless. So, ZAFT will likely withdraw from the Lorentz Military Base tonight or tomorrow."
"Athrun makes a valid point," Andrew nodded in agreement.
Murrue glanced at Andrew and then asked Lacus, "Miss Clyne, if it's as Athrun and Mr. Waltfeld say, should we still proceed toward the Moon?"
"Until we receive a response, our objective remains unchanged," Lacus replied calmly, looking up at Murrue.
Murrue asked no further and lowered her head to focus on the display. As she watched, she spoke again.
"The best way to stop this battle isn't to intervene between the two sides in the combat zone, but to directly attack the Earth Alliance Forces' Ptolemy Military Base.
Only by launching an assault here can we force the Earth Alliance troops attacking Lorentz Military Base at the frontlines to withdraw."
"Murrue is right." Mu nodded and continued. "Our current strength is too limited compared to either side in this conflict. Appearing on the frontlines won't make them cease hostilities, so the best approach is to attack their base."
"I agree with this plan too."
Upon hearing this, Dearka glanced at Murrue and Mu, then cheerfully voiced his agreement with the idea.