Chapter 82: SEED – Desert Dawn
On the bridge of the Archangel, everyone was left stunned by Kira Yamato's brilliant maneuver in intercepting the incoming shells.
Only Tolle Koenig knew that Kira had gone into SEED mode again. It was really infuriating how unfair life was—his own SEED burst ability was nothing compared to Kira's.
When Kira entered SEED mode, whether attacking or defending, every move seemed calm and effortless. Tolle's own bursts, on the other hand, were usually spent frantically fleeing for his life. No comparison at all.
The two remaining BuCUEs still pursued the Strike Gundam relentlessly, circling around it and launching fierce attacks.
Combat helicopters also swooped in, firing machine guns and missiles at the Strike.
Unfortunately, Tolle Koenig couldn't help Kira. After all, the Ginn's stubby legs were hopeless in desert terrain—it was better to focus on saving his own skin.
All he could do was stand on the Archangel's deck in his Ginn, firing his beam rifle continuously at the helicopters.
But after the continuous firing of the high-energy impulse cannon earlier, the Strike Gundam's energy reserves were heavily depleted. Now, bombarded by relentless solid-weapon fire, its energy gradually dropped to the critical level, the PS armor on the verge of shutting down.
The Strike finally collapsed to the ground. Seeing this, Murrue Ramius tensed up and gave her orders.
"Provide covering fire for the Strike Gundam immediately! Archangel, advance at slow speed!"
Natarle Badgiruel objected. "Captain, that's too dangerous! In this situation, the Strike's PS armor won't last!"
Just then, a sudden rocket blast struck one of ZAFT's helicopters.
At the edge of the desert battlefield, several vehicles sped into view.
Tolle instantly recognized who it was—Kira's sister, that tomboy Cagalli Yula Athha.
The convoy of heavily modified combat vehicles roared toward the Archangel, firing missiles and machine guns at the BuCUEs and helicopters.
Once Cagalli reached the Strike, she opened a comm link with Kira, directing him to lure the three remaining BuCUEs into a trap zone.
Though conflicted, Kira obeyed, driving the Strike forward at full speed.
The three BuCUEs gave chase and soon followed him into the designated area.
Suddenly, the Strike's thrusters ignited and it shot out of the encirclement.
Cagalli immediately hit the detonator. Explosives erupted, trapping the BuCUEs in quicksand.
Then she pressed the second detonator—an enormous explosion burst skyward, and the three BuCUEs were reduced to ashes.
With the last three BuCUEs destroyed, the Desert Tiger—Andrew Waltfeld—issued the order to retreat, and ZAFT's helicopters withdrew from the battlefield.
Tolle Koenig and Mu La Flaga also piloted their machines back to the Archangel.
After Mu disembarked, he went to speak with Murdoch.
Not long after, the Archangel itself landed near the Strike's position.
Following a brief discussion, several soldiers were stationed at the ship's exit as a precaution.
Murrue Ramius, accompanied by Mu La Flaga, then went to meet the resistance group for talks.
Tolle, being too low-ranked, couldn't attend. But fortunately, thanks to Kira's neo DG cells, he could still peek at the meeting from the ship's monitors.
Murrue stepped forward to address the resistance.
"For the help you gave us just now, I thank you. I am Major Murrue Ramius of the Earth Alliance's Eighth Fleet."
A brat suddenly piped up.
"Oh, the Eighth Fleet? The one that was almost wiped out by ZAFT? I heard there were originally fifty or sixty ships, and now only five or six remain."
Murrue's expression soured instantly at the remark.
The bearded leader, Sahib Ashman, waved the boy to silence before introducing himself.
"We are Desert Dawn. I am Sahib Ashman. No need to thank us. You should already know—we weren't helping you out of kindness. Heh, we were just firing at our own enemies."
Mu La Flaga asked, "Against the Desert Tiger, is this what you've been doing all along?"
Sahib studied him curiously.
"Where have I seen you before?"
Mu smirked slightly. "I'm Mu La Flaga. I doubt I'd know anyone around here."
"Oh? To think I'd run into the Hawk of Endymion here."
Murrue and Mu both widened their eyes in shock—someone here actually recognized him.
Murrue spoke up. "So, it seems you have quite a bit of intelligence on hand. About us, perhaps?"
Sahib pointed at the Archangel.
"That's the Alliance's new special-class warship, the Archangel, isn't it? Pursued by Rau Le Creuset's team until you had to flee to Earth."
Then he glanced at the Strike Gundam.
"And as for that one…"
"GAT-X105, the Earth Alliance's prototype mobile suit, the Strike Gundam."
Cagalli interjected before he could finish.
Sahib nodded at her, then continued.
"Well then, since both sides know who the other is, we can speak frankly. The seeds of disaster have blown into our midst, and we're caught off guard. You landed here with cause, but at least let us hear your intentions going forward."
Murrue spoke plainly. "Would you be willing to lend us your strength?"
Sahib glanced disapprovingly at the Archangel's guarded entrance.
"Heh, if you really want to talk, you should put the guns down first. And the pilot, too."
Murrue closed her eyes briefly in resignation.
"I understand. Ensign Kira Yamato, come down."
Kira quickly unfastened his harness, opened the Strike's cockpit, and slid down the descent cable.
The moment he removed his helmet, Cagalli froze in shock, then rushed forward in a mix of embarrassment and anger.
"Why are you here…!"
Everyone nearby stared curiously at her outburst. Mu tried to intervene, but Cagalli's bodyguards blocked his way.
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