As the water collection plan proceeded smoothly and a clear completion time gradually emerged, Mu, who was patrolling the surrounding airspace, seemed to have made a new discovery.
“Captain, I spotted what appears to be traces of a military facility over there.
Should we go and investigate?”
After glancing at the mission completion schedule just transmitted from the Archangel, Mu asked.
“A military facility?”
Murrue pondered for a moment, then looked at the mechanical cat Bao Bao lying beside her.
“Bao Bao.
Is the Archangel’s current ammunition reserve sufficient?”
The mechanical cat Bao Bao raised its head and responded in a cold electronic tone.
“Since the Archangel did not expend any ammunition during the previous breakout battle, the current ammunition reserve is approximately three base units.
This is sufficient to meet the demands of engaging one to two ZAFT fleets.
However, according to current tactical projections, the next encounter with a ZAFT fleet will likely involve a force of three fleets or more.”
“What?
Three or more?!”
Murrue’s expression shifted slightly, her eyes immediately turning grave.
“Captain.
If Bao Bao’s tactical projections are correct, I’m afraid we must prepare for the worst and gather as much additional ammunition as possible.”
“But that wasn’t part of our collection plan.”
Murrue frowned, involuntarily considering how much time collecting ammunition would require.
“No need to worry, Captain Murrue.
We currently have sufficient personnel.
Let Kira pilot the Strike Gundam to assist!
I’ll keep watch over the Archangel here.”
At that moment, Leon Vance appropriately proposed a solution.
“Send Kira?
Alright.
Let’s do that!
There’s still some time before the water collection is complete, but the overall operation must not exceed four hours!”
Upon hearing Leon Vance’s solution, Murrue decisively made her choice.
“Good!
Then, I’ll scout ahead first.
Kira, you follow with the others.”
“Ah!
Yes!
Lieutenant Mu.”
After watching the Moebius Zero and the Strike Gundam fly off one after another toward the distant military facility, Leon Vance shifted his attention elsewhere.
At first, Leon Vance thought it might be the enemy, or even that an escape pod containing a certain girl might be located there.
But after a thorough search, he found nothing.
“You seem quite tense, Leon Vance.”
After fulfilling its duty as the Archangel’s temporary auxiliary AI, the mechanical cat Bao Bao began pestering Leon Vance through their mental link again.
“Did you discover something, Bao Bao?”
Leon Vance was all too familiar with the mechanical cat Bao Bao’s nature.
The seemingly normal response procedure earlier was definitely not this mechanical lazy cat’s usual behavior.
“No.
Didn’t discover anything.
Just following your instructions and properly fulfilling my duties.”
The mechanical cat Bao Bao chuckled, slightly wagging its tail, its electronic eyes faintly revealing a hint of anticipation, as if looking forward to some entertainment.
Clearly, this mechanical cat Bao Bao was once again scheming for Leon Vance’s Reward Points.
Seeing through this, Leon Vance merely frowned and ignored the mechanical cat, instead piloting the Sky Raider Gundam to patrol back and forth around the Archangel.
Sure enough, after circling around a few times, Leon Vance actually made a discovery.
A civilian spacecraft covered in bullet holes and explosion marks lay quietly on a massive piece of rubble.
Not far from the civilian ship, the wreckage of a black-gray GINN was scattered in a radial pattern across the surrounding area.
Though reduced to scattered debris, the head design and the contours of other parts identified this wreckage as a Long-Range Forcing Reconnaissance Two-Seater Ginn used for enemy reconnaissance.
“Did someone get here first?
Or is there an Earth Alliance fleet nearby?”
This sight jolted Vance’s spirits, instantly tightening every nerve in his body.
According to the original timeline’s discovery, this Long-Range Forcing Reconnaissance Two-Seater Ginn should have appeared near that civilian spacecraft, on a mission to search and rescue an important person, and was later destroyed by the Strike Gundam.
But now, before he, the Archangel, or even the original protagonist Kira Yamato had discovered this GINN, it had already blown itself into scattered wreckage?
“Archangel!
Heighten alert.
There’s a situation nearby!”
Without hesitation, Vance sent a warning to the Archangel and piloted the Sky Raider Gundam to search further out.
Regardless of what exactly caused this Long-Range Forcing Reconnaissance Two-Seater Ginn to arrive here ahead of them and be destroyed, Vance had to find out the reason as quickly as possible.
Otherwise, the Archangel’s safety would be threatened.
As soon as Miriallia received Vance’s warning, she immediately reported it.
“Captain, warning from the Sky Raider Gundam!
Combat traces and wreckage belonging to a ZAFT Mobile Suit have been discovered!
Please raise alert level immediately!”
“Is it a ZAFT fleet? This chapter was taken from g.com without permission.
Has Vance already engaged them?”
Murrue pressed for details.
“No!
Aside from the GINN wreckage and combat traces, no other discoveries for now.
The Sky Raider Gundam is expanding its search range.”
After Miriallia responded, Natarle Badgiruel voiced her thoughts.
“Captain!
I recommend the entire ship enter Combat Condition Two!”
“Implement it!
Ensign Badgiruel.”
Murrue did not hesitate, immediately affirming the suggestion.
With the enemy situation unclear, all caution was warranted.
“All hands, enter Combat Condition Two immediately!
Except for personnel out gathering resources, everyone report to combat stations and stand by, prepared to transition to Combat Condition One at any moment!”
As Natarle Badgiruel swiftly executed the order for Combat Condition Two, Mu also received the relevant information.
“Tsk!
They really are persistent!
Kira, how’s your situation over there?”
Mu glanced somewhat unwillingly at the mountain of ammunition piled up in the warehouse ahead.
In the current situation, they could only make this one trip.
“Yeah, it’s fully loaded!
We can head back.”
Kira responded.
“Good!
Let’s go!!”
Without hesitation, Mu called everyone to withdraw back to the Archangel.
Unexpectedly, the moment everyone prepared to retreat, a tremendous anomaly suddenly swept across the entire Junius Seven wreckage.
“BOOM!!”
The shattered ground trembled continuously, as if something was tearing at this death-strewn land.
Then, a fleeting flash of light appeared at the center of Junius Seven’s surface.
Before anyone could question what had happened, Leon Vance’s warning rang out like thunder in the communication channel.
“Hurry!!
Get out of here now!!
We must leave immediately!!”
“There’s something inside Junius Seven!”