With the new tactical arrangements in place, Felix maneuvered the White GINN through the air. Dodging incoming bullets, he turned and fired at one of the Vanguard Fighters.
Boom!
An explosion erupted in the sky.
Instantly, one fewer Vanguard Fighter surrounded Felix.
The remaining Vanguard Fighter pilots, grim-faced at their comrade's death, continued to control their fighters and fire at the White GINN.
Firepower assaulted from all directions!
The Vanguard Fighters swarmed around the White GINN like locusts.
One Vanguard Fighter charged forward, intending to attack the White GINN at close range. Detecting its intent, Felix piloted the White GINN to evade the incoming bullets.
Seizing the moment, he maneuvered toward the fighter.
The Heavy Sword gripped in hand, the long blade came down upon the fighter.
The nose and fuselage were instantly sliced in two.
The two sections plummeted toward the ground, exploding mid-air after falling just over a hundred meters.
After dealing with that one, the White GINN turned and fired.
The bullets left the chamber, flying at ultra-high speed to strike another Vanguard Fighter. Having eliminated this foe, the White GINN maneuvered to dodge, narrowly evading the incoming bullets.
...
Approximately one hundred meters above Victoria Spaceport
Fiber Optic Sensing Reconnaissance Aircraft were transmitting data on the airspace conditions.
The figures of over a dozen GINNs appeared on the optical sensors equipped on the reconnaissance aircraft, and the situation was relayed to the ground via fiber optics.
Headquarters had not yet responded.
The dozen-plus GINNs dispersed, firing at all the reconnaissance aircraft.
In just a minute or two, headquarters once again lost grasp of the sky's situation.
"Commander, all our reconnaissance aircraft have been destroyed! We've lost track of the airspace conditions."
The soldier turned to report to Humphrey.
Sitting in his chair, Humphrey's face was calm yet grave as he issued the order.
"Order the anti-aircraft gun defense system to commence attack! Use optical sensing aiming for targeting!"
"Yes!"
The communications officer acknowledged.
The command was quickly relayed.
The operational units controlling the anti-aircraft guns began acting according to orders.
One anti-aircraft gun after another sprang into action.
Using the redundantly designed optical sensing aiming systems equipped on the anti-aircraft guns, they targeted enemy aircraft in the airspace.
The anti-aircraft guns rotated continuously but did not fire.
"These guys are moving too fast. Our optical sensing aiming system can't lock on steadily."
One operator, with a tone of frustrated anger, growled under his breath.
The squad leader, stern-faced, responded sharply.
"Even if you can't aim precisely, you must open fire. Otherwise, death is our only fate."
"Yes!"
Came the reply.
The operator controlled the anti-aircraft gun to fire.
The multi-barrel anti-aircraft guns aimed at the sky and opened fire, shells soaring upward.
In the sky above
The GINNs observed the shells fired from the ground.
The pilots easily evaded the poorly aimed anti-aircraft fire.
Dodging while the GINN fired its Heavy Assault Machine Gun.
The bullets rained down on the anti-aircraft gun below.
Boom!
An explosion erupted.
One anti-aircraft gun was destroyed.
Boom!
Another explosion followed.
The number of anti-aircraft guns at Victoria Spaceport decreased by one again.
"Die! Damned Naturals!"
A voice filled with hatred and rage roared from a GINN pilot.
The pilot maneuvered the GINN into a dive toward the ground.
Soon, it reached an altitude of just forty to fifty meters.
At this height, the pilot pulled the trigger, and the GINN's Heavy Assault Machine Gun opened fire.
Bullets shot from the muzzle.
Destroying one anti-aircraft gun and two Close-in Weapon Systems in the process.
After taking these out, the gun was immediately aimed at an anti-aircraft missile launch position and fired.
Bullets streaked through the air and struck the target.
Boom!
A much more violent explosion echoed near Victoria Spaceport.
The blast was visibly several times larger than the previous explosions.
"Those anti-aircraft missile launch tubes still have missiles inside!"
Observing the situation, the pilot relayed this information to his comrades via communications. Upon hearing this, some shifted their focus to targeting these launch tubes.
Victoria Spaceport Defense Force Command Center
"Commander, the defensive firepower composed of anti-aircraft guns and Close-in Weapon Systems is not effective. Our defensive line is being gradually eroded!"
The Communications Officer turned to report to Humphrey based on the incoming updates. Humphrey nodded slightly upon hearing this but remained silent, sitting in his chair and contemplating the dire situation they would soon face.
...
Higher Altitude
A White GINN weaved through the air, its Heavy Assault Machine Gun continuously firing.
Bullets flew through the sky, destroying one Vanguard Fighter.
After taking down that Vanguard Fighter, it maneuvered to evade an attack, raised its weapon, and fired again.
One shot to disrupt, a second to finish it off.
The Vanguard Fighter exploded mid-air.
"Three left!"
Looking at the number of Vanguard Fighters displayed on the screen, Felix muttered to himself.
Just as he was about to continue firing, Heine and the ZAFT Forces, who had been fighting at an altitude of five thousand meters, descended to this level.
Three Vanguard Fighters facing over a hundred GINNs were like mice in a cat's den—nowhere near enough to go around.
In just a few seconds, they were completely eliminated.
Seeing the last three fighters cleared, Felix piloted his White GINN to descend to a lower altitude.
Low Altitude Over Victoria Spaceport
Over a dozen GINNs had already overwhelmed Victoria Spaceport's anti-aircraft defenses. Now, with Felix and over a hundred others descending into this airspace,
the entire anti-aircraft network, composed of anti-aircraft guns and Close-in Weapon Systems, became even more untenable.
Explosions occurred one after another inside and around Victoria Spaceport.
Victoria Spaceport Defense Force Command Center
"Commander, our anti-aircraft guns and Close-in Weapon Systems have been destroyed. We no longer have any means to stop these ZAFT Forces."
A voice of utter despair came from a soldier's report.
Humphrey sat in his chair, his spirit visibly deflating upon hearing these words.
A wave of despondency spread through him.
"Is Victoria Spaceport really going to fall like this?"
Humphrey muttered this question to himself as he stared ahead.
No response came to his self-directed words.
At that moment, in the low-altitude airspace above Victoria Spaceport, Felix observed that the entire spaceport could no longer deploy any anti-aircraft firepower. He immediately contacted the troops in low orbit via Laser Communication.
"All anti-aircraft defenses at Victoria Spaceport have been destroyed. You may proceed with ground troop deployment!"
"Received!"
A simple two-word reply echoed through the communication channel.