Felix further realized at this moment that he held almost no say in this war, a realization brought on by the calm yet unyielding response.
Despite the complex emotions swirling inside him, Felix maintained a placid expression and raised his hand in a salute to Patrick. "Understood, Chairman!"
"Hmm!"
Patrick nodded in satisfaction at the response.
The next moment, he ended the communication with Felix.
Watching the terminated communication, Felix's calm expression faded, a slight furrow in his brow revealing his current distress.
This troubled look lingered briefly before Felix turned to gaze at the photos on the wall. His eyes eventually settled on a picture of himself wearing medals.
"Days without a voice are truly difficult to endure!"
With that, Felix suppressed his overflowing emotions once more, his expression returning to normal.
Sitting in his chair, he picked up a pen from the desk and toyed with it. Using the uncapped pen, he lightly traced a character on the desktop.
Seeing the character for "struggle" he had drawn, a faint smile touched Felix's lips before he placed the pen back on the desk.
"There's still plenty of time ahead. I'll take it slow."
...
April 24th
4:50 AM
The shrill alarm ripped Felix from his sleep. His eyes snapped open instantly, and he sprang from his bed as if propelled by springs.
Without bothering to dress properly, he rushed from his room wearing only shorts and a t-shirt.
In the locker room, he retrieved his combat suit from his locker, changed into it with maximum speed, grabbed his helmet, and headed straight for the hangar.
Inside the hangar, Felix contacted the bridge via the local communication equipment.
"Aric, what's the situation?"
"Captain, our hidden scouts on the periphery have detected traces of an Earth Alliance Forces fleet. They're currently advancing toward Jachin Due."
Through the comms, Aric briefed Felix on the situation.
Upon learning this, Felix issued his command. "Prepare to engage!"
After speaking these four words, Felix terminated the communication.
Holding his helmet, he floated toward the Dawn MS. Grabbing hold of the mobile suit's frame, he smoothly entered the cockpit.
Pressing the button to close the hatch, the cockpit sealed shut.
The dark cockpit illuminated with emergency lighting the moment the hatch closed. In the lit interior, Felix started up the Dawn.
The system initiated its self-check procedure, conducting an automatic inspection of the MS.
As the final item was verified, the Dawn officially activated.
"Dawn reports no issues. All systems ready!"
Opening the comms, Felix reported the status to the maintenance crew.
Upon hearing this, the maintenance crew began their work.
The hanger rack securing the Dawn moved along its track to the central transfer track in the hangar. Once in position, the rack released the Dawn.
The Dawn's feet engaged with the mobile units on the track.
The mobile platform carried the Dawn forward once again, arriving at the equipment configuration area. The side hatches of the equipment configuration area opened, and mechanical arms retrieved the corresponding equipment from the maintenance bay, attaching it to the Dawn.
Once all equipment was installed, the mechanical arms retracted. The side hatches of the equipment configuration area closed, followed by the rear partition hatch. The forward launch hatch opened!
As the launch hatch opened, the view of outer space was transmitted to the screen through the Dawn's optical sensors. The electromagnetic catapults on both sides of the warship also appeared on the screen.
"Dawn final preparations complete, requesting launch!"
"ZGMF–414 Dawn, launch approved!"
The Communications Officer's response came through the comms!
Inside the cockpit, Felix increased the Dawn's thrust. At that moment, the Dawn's feet separated from the mobile platform on the track. With the combined effect of thrust and the zero-gravity environment, the Dawn's frame hovered, the connected power cable taut behind it.
Finally, with the force of the electromagnetic catapult, the Dawn separated from the power cable and shot out of the warship at high speed.
Entering space
Felix piloted the Dawn to wait in space for his subordinates. Seeing that they had also completed their launches, he gave the order.
"Move out!"
After these two words, the Dawn took the lead and advanced forward.
The other five GINN Mobile Suits increased their thrust and followed behind the Dawn, charging forward. Behind them followed the warship that had deployed the Mobile Suit Unit.
...
Near Jachin Due Resource Satellite
The Earth Alliance's Fifth and Sixth Fleets had reached their designated positions and were hovering in space.
Under the commander's orders, Mobius units carrying missiles launched from the warship hangars. One after another, the Mobius units deployed and flew through space, looking like a swarm of locusts from a distance.
"Squad leader, do you think we'll encounter that terrifying white MS from ZAFT during this attack?"
Inside one Mobius cockpit, the pilot asked his squad leader with some apprehension. The questioned squad leader replied uncertainly.
"I don't know about that!"
"Let's hope we don't run into that guy!"
Hearing the squad leader's response, the Mobius pilot prayed silently.
After his prayer, he quietly piloted his Mobius forward.
Both sides continued advancing, drawing closer and closer under this forward push!
When they were approximately one hundred kilometers apart, the warships from both sides initiated attacks first, aided by laser radar and more advanced optoelectronic detection systems.
Missiles, ion beams, and electromagnetic cannon shells fired from launch tubes and cannon barrels.
...
"Squad leader, the Earth Alliance's Mobile Armor units are about thirty kilometers from your position!"
Inside the Dawn's cockpit
Felix received Aric's report.
Nodding slightly and making an affirmative sound, Felix issued orders to all Mobile Suit Pilots.
"Everyone, prepare for combat!"
After speaking, Felix piloted the Dawn MS to continue rapidly advancing forward.
The thirty-kilometer distance dwindled to less than ten kilometers in the blink of an eye as both sides accelerated.
The Dawn's equipped optical sensors and laser radar displayed the enemy's situation on the screen - the enemy was now completely visible before them.
Finger on the trigger, as the finger pressed down.
Dawn raised his Heavy Assault Machine Gun, bullets firing from the muzzle. With greater kinetic energy, the bullets flew forward at even higher speeds.
Meanwhile, the Mobius Mobile Armor squad of the Earth Alliance Forces launched their attack simultaneously with Felix and the others. Missiles mounted on the Mobius units were fired one after another.
After launching their missiles, the Mobius units performed evasive maneuvers in space to dodge incoming fire.
"Commander, it's an MS we've never seen before!"
A Mobius pilot urgently reported through the comms upon spotting Dawn on his screen.