The Archangel and the Kusanagi had just broken through the encirclement of the Nazca-class ships, catching up to the Eternal and the shatriya ahead. Just as Murrue was about to signal the MS units to return, Orga appeared on the screen.
"Sorry, Mikazuki is going to be delayed for a bit. The shatriya will stay here and wait for him. You all head out first."
"Eh? What's going on?" Murrue asked hurriedly, standing up with a look of panic.
Inside the Eternal, Lacus's expression shifted, and Cagalli's face paled aboard the Kusanagi.
"Mikazuki is going to recover that escape pod," Orga explained. "Based on the transmissions from earlier, you already know, don't you? Flay Allster is inside."
"But... that woman has nothing to do with Mikazuki, does she?" Cagalli pointed out.
"He said that pod can't be recovered by the Earth Alliance. He seems to have sensed something. It's not because of this Flay girl, but rather..."
"I have... I have the key," Flay's voice crackled through the comms, leaving everyone stunned. A key? What key?
Then she spoke again. "The key that can end the war. So please, save me!"
"The key that can end the war..." Lacus asked urgently. "Mr. Orga, is that what Mikazuki feels must not fall into the hands of the Earth Alliance?"
"Probably."
"An MS is approaching the escape pod," Andrew Waltfeld said, his brow furrowing deeply. "It's the Calamity Gundam!"
"Do they not even suspect this is a trap?" Andrew looked up at Orga on the screen. "Mr. Orga, should we"
Orga closed one eye and spoke calmly. "Do nothing. Mikazuki will handle it. You all leave first. I'll wait for him in this Sector."
"How can we"
"Rest assured. He'll be back... He always lives up to our expectations. Just like when he and I first set out together. Right, Mikazuki?"
A faint smile played on Orga's lips, but it was a look Murrue and the others couldn't quite decipher. They didn't understand why he was smiling, or what he meant by "just like when they first set out."
Inside the Calamity Gundam, Orga Sabnak glared at the escape pod ahead with an annoyed expression. "Tch. I was so close to catching that winged guy. Why is the captain making me do this?"
Though he was disgruntled, he obediently followed orders to recover the pod. He didn't want to suffer the consequences of being insubordinate.
"Flay!"
Inside the Freedom, Kira finally snapped out of his daze. He let out a shout and immediately slammed his controls, racing toward the escape pod. He had opened a public channel, so Flay heard his voice from within the pod.
"Kira?"
But Kira was so focused on saving Flay that he ignored the reality of the situation. He was still in the middle of a battlefield, and the enemy had no intention of letting him pass.
The Freedom's head was grazed by the mouth-mounted energy cannon of the Raider Gundam, which had suddenly appeared above him, damaging half of the unit's face. Immediately after, it was struck by the Mjölnir Hammer. The head's sensors and monitors were completely destroyed. The unit's backup monitors kicked in as alarms blared throughout the cockpit.
Fortunately, Athrun arrived just in time to drive the enemy back; otherwise, the Freedom would have certainly been captured.
"Flay!"
Kira could only watch helplessly as the enemy drew closer to the escape pod. Just as the Calamity reached out its hand to grab it, an alarm screamed inside its cockpit.
"What?"
Boom!
Before Orga Sabnak could react, the two Schlag High-energy Beam Cannons on his unit's shoulders were struck by beams and exploded. The damage was severe enough to cause a short circuit in the left shoulder.
"What happened?"
Whish
An afterimage blurred past, leaving dots of blue light flickering between him and the escape pod.
"What is that thing?"
Orga Sabnak tried to lock on, but his sensors could only catch trails. However, that afterimage was enough for him to realize who had attacked him.
"The Wolf..."
The afterimage belonged to a white, fighter-like craft. He had already witnessed the power of this Kutan Type-III Booster in a battle hours ago. Incredible speed, fierce firepower...
While moving at high velocity, the Kutan Type-III Booster fired a volley of tracking missiles at the Calamity.
"Dammit!"
Orga Sabnak frantically maneuvered to dodge. Counting the rocket launcher he had lost earlier, he was now missing both shoulder cannons. Relying on his remaining weapons to intercept the missiles was impossible; his only choice was to evade.
Inside the Freedom, Kira's expression was vacant, almost as if he were no longer there. He looked like he was on the verge of a total collapse. Suddenly, a communication request blinked on his screen, and Mikazuki's face appeared.
Seeing Kira's hollow expression, Mikazuki's eyes turned cold. Without a word, he closed the channel.
"Did I misjudge him...?" Mikazuki muttered to himself. He shifted his gaze to the floating escape pod and moved his control stick.
Inside the escape pod, Flay felt a heavy vibration, tears still tracks on her face. "What... what's happening?"
She checked her small monitor. A savage, mechanical face filled the screen.
"Barbatos?"
It was indeed the Gundam Barbatos that had seized the escape pod. Everyone watching was stunned as the Barbatos appeared beside the pod out of nowhere. By the time they saw it, its hands were already firmly grasping the rescue craft.
On the Eternal, Nicol gasped. "Is that a Mirage Colloid?"
Andrew shouted urgently, "Wait, who is piloting that booster? Look at those maneuvers! That technique is too perfect!"
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