The concept of curved beam firing had actually been utilized by the Earth Forces' Forbidden Gundam. The basic principle involved releasing Mirage Colloid particles to form a field that forced the beam to bend. However, due to technical limitations and an inability to make fine adjustments, the original Forbidden required extensive pilot training to use the ability effectively in combat, and even then, its results were mediocre. Consequently, the Earth Forces had temporarily shelved the technology.
By integrating the Psycho-frame into the Armed Armor BS to finely adjust the release of Mirage Colloid, the weapon could not only replicate the original version's beam attacks but also achieve curved trajectories that the original could never hope to master.
"A beam... can actually follow a parabolic arc like a physical shell?"
Shinn, having just returned to the vicinity of the Minerva, witnessed the beam bypass the anti-beam depth charge field and destroy one of the ship's triple-mounted cannons.
"Static... Don't just stand there, Shinn. The enemy is preparing for a second attack."
Rey, having just finished his diagnostics, was slowly manipulating the sluggish right arm of his Zaku Warrior.
"I know that...!" Shinn, caught between the Unicorn and the Minerva, felt completely helpless. "But... but..."
Rey sighed. The Zaku Warrior's remaining right arm raised its machine gun, sluggishly aiming at the Unicorn. Then, he pulled the trigger.
Muzzle flashes erupted. In Rey's eyes, the tracers streaked with a blinding light across the dark void of space, flying toward the Unicorn as it raised the strange weapon on its right arm.
"Keep fighting, Shinn..."
As if seeing his predetermined future, Rey slumped in his cockpit, his mind going blank. "...Don't do something you'll regret."
By launching this attack, Rey had already prepared himself for death. A fully intact Zaku Warrior had nearly been shaken apart by a single shield bash from the Unicorn; what chance did a unit with only one functional arm have?
A sharp prickling sensation shot through his mind. Roz instinctively slammed a pedal and pulled back on the control stick. The Unicorn jerked backward as the thrusters on its backpack flared, pushing the machine away. A split second later, the chain of tracers and shells tore through the space where the Unicorn had just been.
Roz glanced at the source of the attack and found the Zaku Warrior he had previously crippled. Its head camera flickered erratically, and it held its weapon aloft with a slightly deformed right arm.
"I let my guard down... Is it because I've been slacking lately?" Roz frowned, clearly dissatisfied with his own performance.
The Unicorn raised its right arm toward the battered Zaku Warrior. Blue particles began to manifest between the plates of the Armed Armor BS. Seeing the blue glow on his screen, Rey closed his eyes, ready to peacefully accept his end.
Suddenly, a green beam shot in from the Unicorn's right. A needle-like warning flared in Roz's brain, prompting him to swiftly spin the Unicorn and deploy the shield on its left arm. With the lightwave barrier system activated, a beam shield materialized in front of the Unicorn's physical shield, accurately intercepting the incoming green bolt.
Near the Minerva, Shinn panted as he aimed his beam rifle, maintaining his firing stance.
"You saved me, and you saved my sister... thank you."
As if he had finally made a decision, Shinn gritted his teeth and gripped the Impulse's control levers tightly.
"I don't want to fight you, but... but I have comrades I need to protect now. I... I have to fight you!"
Shinn slammed the pedals down, and the Impulse lunged toward the Unicorn.
"I will protect my comrades! I'm sorry!"
Enduring the internal agony of firing upon his savior, Shinn cried out and stiffly pulled the trigger. The beam struck the Unicorn's beam shield once more, scattering and dissipating.
This was intentional. Usually, his crosshairs were locked onto a mobile suit's cockpit, but to ease his own conscience—and because he didn't want this to become a life-or-death struggle—he specifically aimed for the Unicorn's shield.
"...How strange."
Sensing the familiar yet alien brainwaves emanating from the Impulse, Roz narrowed his eyes, continuing to use his shield to block the Impulse's attacks.
"What's strange?" The Large Haro on the rack swayed its round body slightly, seemingly unable to comprehend Roz's remark.
"The pilot's brainwaves are somewhat familiar. The intensity is excellent... but they're filled with hesitation and an urge to flee."
Sensing the emotions flooding his mind, Roz flicked the Unicorn's right hand. The blue particles, which had long since finished charging, surged forth like an unbridled horse. They formed a beam between the weapon's plates that acted like a whip, lashing out at Rey's Zaku Warrior and leaving a wavy, scorched trail across its right arm.
Though the impact area was small, the energy release at the point of contact was devastating. The Zaku Warrior's remaining functional right arm was instantly blown to fragments. The explosion even tore open the right side of the Zaku's torso, exposing the compact outer shell of the cockpit.
"Rey!"
Shinn's eyes widened at the sight, but he had no time to daze. The blue "whip" followed an irregular trajectory and curved toward the Impulse.
Fortunately, Shinn instinctively raised the Impulse's shield. The blue beam ended up striking the shield and the machine's legs. Seeing the distorted, wave-like marks on the impact points, Shinn reflexively detached the leg connection and discarded his shield.
As the Impulse's upper and lower halves separated, the legs and the shield were consumed by the explosion.
"Shinn!" aboard the Minerva, Meyrin screamed out in shock.
"Ugh... I'm fine, Meyrin! Get the Impulse's replacement modules ready!"
Having just escaped the attack, Shinn gasped for air. Maneuvering what was left of the Impulse's upper body, he continued his struggle against the Unicorn.
"Shinn, I'll cover you!"
At that moment, Lunamaria—who had been offline for a while to replace her machine's parts—spoke over the comms. A thick yellow beam shot out from the Minerva, but Roz, as if he had predicted it long ago, maneuvered the Unicorn in a fluid horizontal slide, dodging the sniper shot.
"Tch, missed again."
Luna clicked her tongue. Her red Zaku Warrior, now fitted with a new arm, stood in the open catapult bay, its beam sniper rifle still smoking from the shot. The red Zaku detached from the catapult and took a position on the deck above the hangar, raising its sniper rifle once more.
"Pull yourself together, Shinn!"
Watching the Unicorn fight—or rather, one-sidedly suppress—the Impulse's upper body at incredible speeds, Luna gritted her teeth.
"Sniping a target moving this fast... I've never tried this before."
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