A faint smile played on Creuset's lips as he walked down the road, his thoughts racing.
So swift!
With this thought, Creuset's gaze fell forward.
He contemplated his next move.
Not far behind Creuset, a surveillance agent disguised as a civilian watched his movements and thought to himself.
Where is this guy going?
"Be careful. Don't get spotted."
As he was thinking, a voice came through the hidden earpiece in his ear. Hearing his superior's reminder, the agent pushed aside his thoughts and focused completely on his mission.
...
On the Moon.
Inside the Ptolemy Military Base.
"Did you need something from me?" Azrael asked, sitting on the sofa in Richard's room. A faint smile was on his lips, and his voice carried the air of a superior.
Richard was displeased by his tone, but he maintained a calm expression as he spoke. "Mr. Azrael, according to our latest intelligence, the ZAFT Forces are already heading this way."
"Then just engage them normally, shouldn't you?" Azrael said with a laugh, leaning back on the sofa and cutting him off.
Richard grumbled internally at the response.
Don't I know to engage them directly? Can't you wait for me to finish before you speak?!
Despite his inner complaints, he continued speaking with a natural expression. "Mr. Azrael, this attacking ZAFT force includes their most elite ace unit, and their top ace is among them."
As he spoke, Richard projected an image onto the large screen in his office.
Azrael looked at the lit-up screen. The moment he saw the Genesis Gundam, the smile vanished from his face, replaced by a dark, gloomy expression.
A plan was already forming in his mind.
Looks like I need to get out of here.
Muttering to himself, Azrael glanced at Richard. "Why are you telling me all this?"
Hearing the question, Richard stated his intentions. "Could you hand over the combat forces under your command to us at Ptolemy Military Base for our use?"
Azrael frowned, his mind flashing back to the battle at Orb. Thinking of the Enhanced Human Squad that this man had already gotten wiped out, Azrael stood up.
"I'm sorry, but I have other uses for them."
With that, Azrael paid Richard no further mind and walked straight out of the office.
Richard watched Azrael leave, his face instantly contorting with rage. His hand on the desk clenched into a tight fist.
"Bastard!"
He cursed aloud, then deflated in an instant. A moment later, Richard placed a call to Paramount.
A few minutes later, Paramount arrived in Richard's office.
"Commander, you were looking for me?"
"How many well-trained 105 Dagger pilots do we have left?" Richard asked, looking at Paramount.
Paramount thought for a moment before answering. "Commander, we currently have a total of fourteen 105 Dagger pilots ready for combat. There are another thirty-six pilots still in training!"
"Organize all of them. Form two combat units. We'll use them to tie down that ZAFT MS."
Hearing that only fourteen pilots had completed their training, Richard's already heavy heart sank further, but he issued the order in a normal tone.
Paramount was stunned. "Commander, those pilots still in training can't pilot the 105 Dagger perfectly. Isn't it a bad idea to send them against that ZAFT MS?"
Richard looked up at Paramount and calmly retorted, "Do you have any other ideas?"
The question registered, and Paramount thought for a moment before speaking. "Mr. Azrael has a..."
He stopped mid-sentence, instantly understanding as he saw the look in the Commander's eyes.
His expression grew heavy, and he raised his hand in a salute to Richard. "Sir!"
After replying, Paramount left Richard's office.
Once Paramount was gone, Richard placed a call to the Commander-in-Chief.
"What is it?" Williams asked calmly, looking at Richard's face on the screen.
Richard made his request. "Commander, is there any way you can get Mr. Azrael's Enhanced Human Squad integrated into our operational sequence?"
Williams was momentarily speechless, looking at Richard as if he were an idiot. He let out a slightly exasperated laugh. "Richard, do you hear what you're saying?!"
Richard knew it was a long shot, but he pressed on, unwilling to give up. "Is it impossible?"
Williams's face hardened, and his voice grew somber. "If I had that kind of authority, I wouldn't be the Commander-in-Chief."
Without waiting for a reply, Williams terminated the communication. Richard stared at the blank screen, calmly accepting the outcome, and let out a sigh.
"Hah!"
After the sigh, Richard's expression turned grave, and he muttered, "It seems we can only rely on numbers to hold him down."
With that, Richard forced himself to stop thinking about it.
Meanwhile, aboard the Dominion, docked at Ptolemy Military Base.
"Evacuate Ptolemy Military Base?" Badgiruel said in shock, her brow furrowed as she heard Azrael's order.
Seeing Badgiruel's uncooperative attitude, Azrael's tone grew stern. "Do you not understand what I'm saying?"
At his words, Badgiruel's expression turned serious, and she retorted in a solemn voice, "The enemy is attacking right now. If we retreat at a time like this, aren't we disregarding the lives of our comrades?"
Her tone then shifted, becoming resolute as she gave her answer. "I will not abandon my comrades!"
"So you're disobeying me?" Azrael laughed, furious.
Badgiruel looked at him, her expression unmoved, her silence a clear statement of her stance.
Seeing this, Azrael laughed angrily and shouted, "Come in!"
The next moment, the doors to the Dominion's bridge opened, and two soldiers armed with live ammunition rushed in. Their rifles were aimed directly at Badgiruel.
Badgiruel's body tensed as she stared down the dark muzzles of the guns. "What do you think you're doing?!" she yelled.
"I'm asking you to leave!" Azrael said with a smile, looking at Badgiruel from his seat.
Badgiruel glared at Azrael, and just as she was about to do something, the two armed soldiers moved to restrain her.
Seeing this, Badgiruel remained uncooperative, raising her hands to fight back.
After a few exchanges, Badgiruel was dragged off the bridge by the soldiers, her face bruised and a trickle of blood leaking from the corner of her mouth.
Watching her being hauled away, Azrael sent out a communication.
At the hatch leading out of the Dominion, the two soldiers dragged Badgiruel out and tossed her onto the ground like a piece of trash.
Having done this, the soldiers returned to the Dominion. The hatch closed behind them.
Just then, two soldiers passing by happened to see Badgiruel's condition. They walked over, helped her up, and asked, "Are you alright?"
Hearing their concerned voices, Badgiruel recovered slightly and said to them, "Quick, go inform the Commander! Azrael has stolen the Dominion!"
"We'll go inform him right away."
...
Back in Richard's office.
Before Badgiruel's message could reach him, Richard received a communication from Commander-in-Chief Williams.
"Natle Badgiruel has openly defied a superior's order! After discussion, Natle Badgiruel is hereby removed from her position as Captain of the Dominion, and her rank is demoted to Captain!"
"Yes, sir!" Though confused, Richard accepted the order. He then asked Williams, puzzled, "Commander, what is going on?"
"This is an order from the President. You just need to follow it," Williams informed him in a strictly professional manner.
Seeing this, Richard asked no more questions, and the communication was terminated.
Just as it ended, another call came in. Richard reached out and accepted it.
"Commander, Mr. Azrael has stolen the Dominion."
Richard understood instantly. Looking at Badgiruel on the screen, he sighed inwardly and relayed Williams's words to her, almost verbatim.
Badgiruel was stunned, unable to utter a single word.
Seeing her shock, Richard offered some comfort. "Captain Badgiruel, some things are beyond our control. If Mr. Azrael wants to leave, let him. As for you, I will arrange a new post for you."
After comforting her, Richard ended the call.
In a room within the naval port.
Badgiruel stared at the terminated communication. As she came back to her senses, her hands clenched into tight fists, and she questioned inwardly.
Why did it turn out like this?!
The two soldiers who had stayed with Badgiruel saw her state and asked quietly, "Captain Badgiruel, are you alright?"
Badgiruel snapped back to reality at their voices. She looked at the two soldiers who had helped her, forced a smile, and shook her head. "Thank you for your help!"
"Captain Badgiruel, it's what we should do," the two replied, saluting with loud, respectful voices. After lowering their arms and seeing there was nothing else for them to do, they bid Badgiruel farewell and left.
After the two soldiers departed, Badgiruel's face twisted in anger. She slammed her fists on the table, her voice filled with disbelief. "Why? Why? Why has the Earth Alliance Forces become like this?"
As the questions tumbled from her lips, she thought of the abandoned Archangel crew, and her furious expression instantly turned bitter.
"I was so foolish!"
...
Meanwhile, aboard the Dominion.
"Lord Azrael, where are we heading next?" the temporary captain asked Azrael respectfully.
Azrael glanced at him and said, "Leave the Moon and head for a near-Earth orbit!"
The temporary captain saluted and replied, "Yes, sir!"
...
At the same time, aboard the ZAFT joint fleet's flagship, the Athena.
"How much longer?" Felix asked Aric, looking ahead.
Aric turned to Felix and reported, "Captain, based on our reconnaissance, we will officially engage the Earth Alliance Forces in thirty minutes!"
"All Mobile Suit Forces, launch!"
Giving the order, Felix turned and walked off the bridge.
Aric saw this and called out, "Captain, are you sortieing again?"
"If I don't, our forces will suffer even heavier losses!" Felix replied from the doorway, his voice heavy.
Without waiting for Aric's response, Felix strode out of the bridge.
In the Central Hangar.
"How are the adjustments on the Meteor System coming along?" Felix asked, looking at Taiber.
Taiber patted his chest and guaranteed with confidence, "Rest assured, Captain, the Meteor System's adjustments are complete!"
Felix nodded and replied with a smile, "You've all worked hard."
Taiber waved his hand and smiled back. "It's what we should do."
...
"Felix Leo Griffith, Genesis, launching!"
...
In front of the Athena.
The Genesis Gundam, having launched from the hangar, hovered in front of the battleship. The Meteor unit, temporarily equipped on the Athena, detached and flew slowly behind the Genesis Gundam.
Inside the Genesis Gundam's cockpit.
Felix's fingers danced across the keyboard, and the Genesis Gundam officially docked with the Meteor unit.
Once the connection was complete, Felix checked the Meteor's weapons loadout.
"A decent weapons configuration!" he murmured with a smile, then pressed a command key.
The Genesis Gundam swung its mechanical arm, and a thick beam shot out from the generator. A long beam saber materialized in this region of space.
"Captain, that equipment looks amazing!" Heine's voice came through the comms.
Hearing Heine, Felix smiled. "Want one?"
"Of course I do," Heine replied bluntly.
"I'll make sure you get to equip something like this in the future," Felix said, as if making a grand promise.
Heine laughed. "I'm really looking forward to it!"
"Alright, this isn't the time for chatting," Felix said, cutting the conversation short.
Hearing this, Heine stopped the idle talk and focused, piloting his MS and waiting intently for the battle to begin.
...
PLANT.
In the Chairman's office at the PLANT Supreme Government Office Building.
"What has Creuset been up to lately?" Patrick Zala asked over the comms, inquiring about Creuset's situation.
A voice replied, "Chairman, Captain Creuset's situation is normal. There have been no anomalies."
"Continue surveillance. Report any abnormalities immediately!" Patrick nodded slightly and said.
With that, Patrick ended the communication.
His fingers tapped on the communicator's keys, and the next moment, he connected to Yuri's line.
"Zala, do you need something?"
"Yuri, have you gotten anything of value out of Durandal?" Patrick asked.
Yuri sighed and replied, "Not yet, nothing so far."
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