Chapter 78: SEED – Landing in the Desert
Tolle Koenig immediately picked up Miriallia Hawke gently and carried her to the lounge to rest.
Even in her dreams, Miriallia softly called Tolle's name.
He stayed by her side, quietly watching over her.
Not long after, Natarle Badgiruel arrived with several soldiers and said to him:
"Volunteer soldier Tolle Koenig, we need your cooperation. Please explain what happened to you on the ZAFT battleship—and the origin of that Ginn?"
He signaled them to keep their voices down. After stepping out of the lounge with her, he turned to Natarle Badgiruel and said:
"Ensign Badgiruel, what's the meaning of this? I've shed blood and sweat for the Archangel, I've done my part.
Now you're putting me under investigation? If it weren't for me joining, the Eighth Fleet would already be wiped out.
And after escaping from the ZAFT ship, I directly sank three of their battleships, and three Ginns!
I even saved the Eighth Fleet!
After all that effort, do you really still suspect me of defecting and being a traitor? Do I need to?"
Hearing Tolle Koenig's emphatic defense, Natarle Badgiruel felt a little awkward.
"Sorry, Tolle, that's not what we mean.
This is just routine procedure. I only wanted to record how you managed to escape.
These records will go into your military personnel file, and they'll be needed in the future during promotion reviews.
Please believe me, I don't doubt you.
Besides, you're a Natural. We have no reason to suspect you."
Tolle Koenig sighed and said, "Alright, I believe you. Ask whatever you want to know."
"Good, let's head to the captain's room first—since some of this involves military secrets."
Tolle Koenig reluctantly followed them to the captain's room, where he explained his escape in front of Murrue Ramius and Mu La Flaga.
He took out a small tablet computer he had prepared in advance and played a pre-recorded video, using it to directly explain his escape.
He had recorded the video precisely because he knew something like this might happen, preparing for the worst. As it turned out, it came in handy.
He also demonstrated how the tablet could crack the captain's room door lock, and showed that it contained MS OS data.
He explained how he had used the tablet to break into the guardroom of the ZAFT battleship, then slipped into a Ginn during the chaos.
After modifying the Ginn's OS data, he successfully escaped.
That Ginn also held his combat records, perfectly justifying the entire process.
If asked where the tablet came from, he would explain that, as an electronic engineering student, it was reasonable for him to DIY his own tablet.
Of course, who would he tell that it was actually built by Nami? And really, what difference was there between Nami building it or him building it? It was still his.
After all, Lacus Clyne's electronic pet Haro constantly unlocked the Archangel's brig doors on its own.
So was it really so hard for him to open a door or copy an MS OS? Perfectly reasonable.
After a series of records and checks, Tolle Koenig smoothly passed the review, and the video was stored in the archives.
He sighed at how troublesome it was. As long as he stayed in the military, he couldn't recklessly save people anymore. Even when he had kindly saved General Halberton and the Eighth Fleet, he still ended up treated with suspicion. What rotten luck.
Once the review was over, Mu La Flaga pulled him along to the Archangel's hangar to start preparing their machines.
After all, this was ZAFT's defense zone—they had to be on guard against a sudden attack.
With Kira Yamato still unconscious, the defense of the Archangel rested solely on him and Tolle Koenig.
Mu La Flaga walked over to two Sky Grasper fighters and began maintenance.
Tolle Koenig, with a helpless shrug, walked toward the Ginns.
But when he saw the five battered Ginns, he was struck with indecision.
The three that were heavily damaged could be set aside, but choosing between the Blitz Ginn and the high-performance Ginn (Miguel's custom unit) was difficult.
The Blitz Ginn was missing a leg, but it still had the Assault Shield system, and spare parts could be taken from the wrecks.
The high-performance Ginn was completely intact and didn't need repairs, but it lacked the Assault Shield system—something he didn't like.
Swapping arms to retrofit would take too much time.
The real problem was not knowing when the Desert Tiger, Andrew Waltfeld, might launch a surprise attack. If Kira Yamato didn't wake up in time, could he really handle a pack of desert BaCUEs with just one of those Ginns? He wasn't like Kira, able to instantly adjust an MS OS on the fly.
After thinking it over for a long time, he decided to pilot the Sky Grasper instead. At least he was skilled with fighters now—his time in the Macross-like world hadn't been for nothing.
Tolle Koenig went over to Mu La Flaga and said:
"Lieutenant Flaga, volunteer soldier Tolle Koenig reporting in. I'll join you in piloting the Sky Graspers.
I figure the Ginns can't fly for long, especially not in the desert. Better I stick with you in the fighters."
When Mu La Flaga heard that Tolle had also taken a liking to the Sky Graspers, he enthusiastically launched into an explanation.
"Yo, kid, you've got good taste. Sharp eye.
The Sky Grasper was developed specifically to support the Strike Gundam, with incredibly powerful firepower.
It surpasses the limits of ordinary fighters and can match MS in combat.
And it comes equipped with beam weaponry of its own.
Besides its standard armaments, it can also mount the Strike's optional packs for extra firepower. During combat, these packs can even be transferred to the Strike as replacements.
You won't regret choosing it. And with two Sky Graspers, it works out perfectly—we each get one."
Tolle Koenig nodded in agreement, then turned to Sergeant Murdoch and said:
"Uncle Murdoch, could you install the Blitz Gundam's Assault Shield system onto the Sky Grasper? Same as usual—mount the Strike's shield on the other side for balance."
Murdoch covered his face helplessly, paused for a moment, then said:
"Tolle, you brat, just how obsessed are you with the Blitz's Assault Shield system? Why do you insist on sticking it on every machine you pilot?"
Putting on a mock-serious face, Tolle replied in a joking tone:
"Mm, I love it. Aside from Miriallia, it's my second true love!
It's packed with weapons and doesn't need weapon switching. For a clumsy pilot like me, it's simply a godsend!"
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