Murrue was already injured, and she was standing close to Jonathan.
On top of that, he now possessed the genetic makeup of a Coordinator.
If they truly fought, subduing a Natural would take almost no effort.
In the next instant, before anyone could even blink, the handgun had already left Murrue’s grasp and entered Jonathan’s hand.
The explosive speed and reflexes he had displayed gave even Jonathan an intoxicating rush.
His body suddenly felt lighter, and his vision had become noticeably sharper.
He almost felt like shouting in exhilaration.
“You—”
Her weapon had been taken, one arm was pinned behind her back, and her body was held firmly against his.
Unable to move, Murrue’s expression immediately became awkward, and even the tips of her ears began to burn.
The five people nearby stared at them in stunned disbelief.
They looked at one another, completely bewildered.
Weren’t these two both with the Earth Alliance?
Why were they suddenly fighting each other?
“Captain Ramius, calm down and listen to what I have to say.”
Jonathan spoke quietly while keeping Murrue restrained.
Instead of calming down, however, she struggled even harder.
She twisted her shoulder forcefully, her breathing growing slightly ragged.
It was obvious that she did not trust him at all.
Seeing her reaction, Jonathan could only reveal something more persuasive.
“Don’t you want to know what happened to the Archangel?”
The moment those words left his mouth, Murrue’s entire body went rigid.
“The Archangel?
How do you know about it?”
If there was one thing she cared about most right now, it was whether anything had happened to the Archangel.
“How I know isn’t important.”
Jonathan deliberately kept his explanation vague while maintaining a composed expression.
“You only need to know that I’m telling the truth.”
Murrue stared at him for several seconds.
Her brows were tightly furrowed, and her eyes remained filled with suspicion and vigilance.
Yet Jonathan did not look as though he were making anything up.
After hesitating for a moment, the strength gradually left her body, and she finally stopped struggling.
Sensing that she had relaxed, Jonathan released her. This chapter is updated first at g.com.
Murrue regained her balance, took a deep breath, and tidied her disheveled clothes and hair.
Jonathan then held the handgun by its barrel and offered it back to her grip-first.
Murrue accepted it and gave him a complicated look.
“What should I call you?”
“Jonathan Hale.”
Jonathan introduced himself.
“The Archangel…
Is it really safe?”
She was still unable to put her mind at ease, and an unmistakable trace of anxiety entered her voice.
“According to the information I received, the Archangel is safe for now.”
Jonathan paused before continuing with what he knew.
“However, most of the ship’s senior officers and the original pilots assigned to the G-series have been killed.”
“Actually, not all of them.
Ensign Badgiruel is still alive.”
“How could this have happened…?”
The color immediately drained from Murrue’s face.
It was terrible news.
Worse, it was precisely the kind of news she had least wanted to hear.
Given the current circumstances, Murrue was now the highest-ranking officer remaining aboard the Archangel.
Under wartime regulations, she would automatically be placed in command as the ship’s acting captain.
It was not the kind of “promotion” she could feel happy about.
Nevertheless, she was still a soldier.
After briefly losing herself in shock, she forcibly suppressed her emotions.
She straightened her back, and her expression became serious once more.
“Mr.
Hale, thank you for providing this information.”
She then turned and looked at Kira and the other four.
“Unfortunately, from this moment onward, all six of you will remain under my supervision.”
“Regardless of your reasons, you have witnessed one of the Earth Alliance’s highest military secrets.
Until I contact the relevant authorities and receive further orders, you must remain where I can monitor you.”
Her words were almost identical to what Jonathan remembered from the original storyline.
He was therefore not surprised in the slightest.
Tolle, however, immediately exploded.
“You’ve got to be kidding!
Murrue showed him no patience whatsoever.
Her expression was cold, and her tone was as hard as iron.
“You will obey my orders.”
Sai stepped forward as well.
He frowned, clearly unwilling to accept this.
“We’re residents of Heliopolis!
This is neutral territory!”
“We have nothing to do with the military, and your war has nothing to do with us!”
His words only made Tolle even angrier.
“Exactly!
Why was the Earth Alliance operating inside Heliopolis in the first place?
You’re the ones who caused this!”
Even Kuzzey, who was usually less confrontational, could no longer remain silent.
“That’s right!
If it weren’t for you, how could this place have ended up like this?!”
The three of them grew increasingly agitated, each voice rising above the last.
The smell of smoke and gunpowder still hung in the air, while the distant sound of metal tearing apart echoed through the colony.
Damaged facilities and shattered debris surrounded them.
Yet they continued arguing as though they were still on their peaceful college campus.
Murrue finally lost her patience.
She abruptly raised her handgun and fired twice into the air.
Bang!
Bang!
The shots thundered through the open area, leaving everyone’s ears ringing.
Tolle and the others instantly fell silent.
The students who had been shouting moments earlier looked as though someone had suddenly pressed a pause button.
“Enough!”
Murrue’s eyes turned icy, her voice trembling with restrained anger.
“You ignorant children!”
“Do you honestly believe that declaring neutrality and claiming the war has nothing to do with you will somehow keep it away?”
“You have witnessed one of the Earth Alliance’s most closely guarded military secrets.”
“That is the reality you’re facing!”