Rau Le Creuset’s observation might have been correct.
Or perhaps he was misled by the equipment currently carried by the Sky Raider Gundam.
Apart from the Leaf-Wheel Blades, the Sky Raider Gundam had no other long-range weapons in hand.
This conclusion unconsciously formed in Le Creuset’s mind when he saw the GINN raising its MMI-M7S 76mm Heavy Assault Machine Gun and firing continuous bursts at it—the Sky Raider Gundam merely drew two Beam Blades, accelerated to evade, and sought opportunities for close combat.
The attacks of the Leaf-Wheel Blades were indeed bizarre, but judging from the Sky Raider Gundam’s performance, it seemed unable to use other long-range weapons simultaneously due to the presence of the Leaf-Wheel Blades.
This conclusion was not only drawn by Le Creuset but also felt by Athrun, who had been forced to circle and observe opportunities after the Aegis Gundam’s left arm was severed by the Halo Blades in the previous battle.
Could this mobile suit, equipped with such a bizarre weapon as the Leaf-Wheel Blades, merely be a deceptive but actually one-dimensional prototype?
“Did they take the bait?”
Under Leon Vance’s control, the Sky Raider Gundam continuously weaved through the barrage of bullets fired by the GINN’s heavy assault machine gun, sometimes retreating to create distance and evade the barrage, other times rapidly closing in to swing its blades at the GINN.
Although Le Creuset felt increasing pressure from the Sky Raider Gundam’s assaults, both sides faced varying degrees of crisis during their exchanges over several rounds.
On Le Creuset’s side, Athrun’s Aegis Gundam provided support, ready to counter the Sky Raider Gundam’s descending Beam Blades at any moment.
In contrast, when facing danger, the Sky Raider Gundam only evaded, even decisively abandoning favorable opportunities to distance itself from the GINN and the Aegis Gundam.
“Captain Le Creuset.”
After successfully supporting Le Creuset once again, Athrun lifted his gaze toward the two GINNs entangled by the Leaf-Wheel Blades, unable to find any opportunity to join them in surrounding the Sky Raider Gundam.
“Are you confident?”
As the main attacker, Le Creuset bore far greater pressure than Athrun.
After several exchanges, Le Creuset began to harbor a trace of doubt about his earlier judgment.
The combat prowess displayed by the Sky Raider Gundam, armed only with Leaf-Wheel Blades and Beam Blades, was formidable.
If the Sky Raider Gundam’s Beam Blades were replaced with long-range weapons—even something like a heavy assault machine gun—it would undoubtedly prevent the two of them from joining forces and multiply the pressure.
Yet, why didn’t the opponent carry more weapons when sortieing, given such an obvious advantage?
This was simply irrational behavior!
Le Creuset gritted his teeth slightly, glanced at the two GINNs overwhelmed by the Leaf-Wheel Blades and unable to respond to his earlier command for a joint assault, and acknowledged Athrun’s intention.
Although its left arm had been severed by the Sky Raider Gundam’s Leaf-Wheel Blades in the previous battle, its MA Mode still posed a lethal threat.
As long as the Aegis Gundam could close in to a sufficient distance, Athrun would be able to use the mechanical claws deployable in the Aegis Gundam’s MA Mode to seize the Sky Raider Gundam, then employ various strategies to either destroy or capture it.
“Trying to catch the Sky Raider Gundam?”
Noticing the Aegis Gundam accelerating its charge and the GINN following up with a dense barrage to restrict the Sky Raider Gundam’s movements, Leon Vance slightly curled the corner of his mouth.
“Sorry!
You’ve taken the bait!”
After Leon Vance saw through Athrun’s intention, the Sky Raider Gundam advanced instead of retreating, stubbornly pushing through the dense barrage fired by the GINN and head-on meeting the Aegis Gundam, which was opening its mechanical claws toward it.
“Athrun!
Be careful!”
Rau Le Creuset shouted, sensing something was wrong.
At that moment, Rau Le Creuset finally realized the Sky Raider Gundam’s plan.
Whether it was the Leaf-Wheel Blades or the dual-wielded Particle Beams, the Sky Raider Gundam’s target was the Aegis Gundam.
The goal was naturally to disable the fastest mobile suit on the field—the Aegis Gundam—completely depriving it of the ability to pursue the Archangel, thereby disrupting the Archangel’s operations and preventing it from successfully escaping the pursuit of the ZAFT fleet.
“Captain Le Creuset!
Don’t worry about me!!
Attack when you have the chance!”
The moment the beam blade in the Sky Raider Gundam’s hand scattered deadly light, Athrun’s breath hitched, but he still gritted his teeth and struggled to lock the Aegis Gundam’s mechanical claws onto the Sky Raider Gundam.
However, he never considered the possibility that the Sky Raider Gundam might not fear the mechanical claws of the Aegis Gundam’s MA Mode but had come prepared, waiting for the Aegis Gundam to approach it in MA Mode.
“Got you, Athrun Zala.”
The Sky Raider Gundam flipped its hands, reversing the beam blade swinging toward the Aegis Gundam’s cockpit.
As it crossed and slashed downward, the Aegis Gundam’s mechanical claws were instantly severed.
Amid the shattered limb wreckage, the Sky Raider Gundam twisted its waist, spun around, and kicked the limbless Aegis Gundam down toward the outer wall of Heliopolis below.
“Ah!!”
“Athrun!”
The GINN frantically raised its gun and fired while also drawing its Heavy Cleaver to slash at the Sky Raider Gundam, fearing it would press its advantage and take Athrun’s life.
If that happened, Patrick Zala, who had already suffered the pain of losing his wife, would surely not let him off.
To his relief, the Sky Raider Gundam showed no intention of pressing its advantage.
Instead, it quickly distanced itself from the GINN and headed straight for the two GINNs.
“Not good!”
Rau Le Creuset’s eyes widened sharply, a trace of ferocity flashing in his gaze.
The two GINNs, originally entangled with the two light wheels, suddenly froze in their movements the moment the Sky Raider Gundam left the GINN’s firing range, and were neatly sliced in half by the light wheels.
“Boom!”
“Boom!”
As two fireballs erupted, the Sky Raider Gundam didn’t look back but accelerated directly toward the ZAFT fleet.
This action had already revealed Leon Vance’s ultimate objective.
From beginning to end, Leon Vance had no intention of annihilating their MS Squad.
Instead, he aimed to break through Rau Le Creuset’s MS Squad’s interception as much as possible, thereby threatening the ZAFT fleet’s operations and cutting off the possibility of the fleet pursuing the Archangel.
Using two beam discs to delay the movements of the two GINNs, he misled Rau Le Creuset and Athrun into the mistaken perception that the Sky Raider Gundam could not afford to be too distracted.
This then prompted the young and impulsive Athrun to take the initiative to attack, exposing a flaw, and ultimately being kicked by the Sky Raider Gundam onto the outer wall of the colony satellite.
Rau Le Creuset’s expression shifted uncertainly, his gaze turning toward the Aegis Gundam that had crashed onto the outer wall of Heliopolis, its condition unknown.
Should he pursue the Sky Raider Gundam?
Or should he check the condition of the Aegis Gundam and confirm Athrun’s survival?
Whichever option he chose, Rau Le Creuset would inevitably face accountability from ZAFT afterward.
“Earth Alliance pilot, you’ve really given me a difficult problem!!”