"Our invasion has been blocked!"
On the other side, Creuset, who was still clearing the external defense turrets, also received a report from his subordinates.
"A data stream has appeared out of thin air."
"Out of thin air?"
As Creuset spoke, the Dragoons on his back fired another round of volleys, instantly destroying six exposed turrets.
However, he was not pleased at this moment. Despite the interference from the Neutron Jammers, a data stream had still appeared out of nowhere.
If it wasn't a hidden contingency here, then someone must have bypassed the Neutron Jammer's restrictions to transmit data and resist their invasion.
The former scenario was manageable, but if it was the latter, reinforcements would arrive soon.
Did he anticipate this?
A smile crept onto Creuset's lips.
"If we can't break through, their reinforcements will arrive at any moment. Use nuclear bombs to target the weak emergency repair entrances and fire a concentrated barrage. Locate the internal server positions."
The combined power of electromagnetic storms, Positron Cannons, beams, and nuclear bombs should be enough to breach the gates of Genesis A.
"Creuset, stand down."
Amid Creuset's calm command, He Kui's processed voice echoed inside Creuset's cockpit.
Though far away at Genesis, He Kui's communication was still clearly transmitted to Creuset's Mobile Suit.
"Do you know what I'm about to do next?"
"Blow open the repair passage."
He Kui replied.
The repair passage was indeed the weakest point of the entire Genesis.
Normally, it would be guarded by troops to prevent anyone from getting close.
But Genesis A didn't have such strong defensive capabilities.
"I can cure you."
"Can you forget what happened in South America? The lives that were lost."
Creuset couldn't help but laugh upon hearing He Kui's words.
"No, but don't you want to see what the future world will look like?"
"To see if it will destroy itself as you predicted."
He Kui remained calm, unprovoked by Creuset's taunts.
"It's just the same cycle of destruction, meaningless."
"Even if your technology allows humanity to reach outer space, they will eventually destroy each other one day."
Creuset sensed the seriousness in He Kui's tone, and the mocking laughter in his voice grew stronger.
"Is there any meaning? Entrusting it to those elusive hopes."
"..."
He Kui silently twitched the corner of his mouth.
He shouldn't have tried to persuade Creuset. It was like talking to a brick wall.
He wasn't one to preach grand philosophies, so he simply replied with a "Hmm."
"Then we'll meet on the battlefield. But I won't let you have this place."
With that, He Kui cut off the communication.
A few more words, and he would have been driven mad by Creuset.
There was no reasoning with him.
In the end, He Kui just wanted to survive. He had no common ground with someone like Creuset, who was willing to drag the entire world down with him in death.
"Sulei, they're about to breach the base's gates. How long until reinforcements arrive?"
"Based on the latest report and the positions of the nearest troops, it should take about ten minutes."
"Have we regained control of the self-destruct system?"
He Kui asked.
"No, after failing to breach the gates, they've redirected all their computational power toward invading the self-destruct system."
"We can't take it back..."
Sulei said in panic.
If Genesis A self-destructed, everyone in the base would surely die.
But those stationed here must have already prepared themselves for that possibility.
If they could self-destruct, they might hesitate, but in the end, they would still explode.
A Colony Satellite houses 240,000 people.
If exposed to gamma rays, all Colony Satellites within range would explode.
Casualties would number in the millions.
"Is the Thunderstrike Backpack still there?"
He Kui wasn't surprised by the question and simply followed up.
"It's still here, but Luna can't shoot that far, and firing it would expose us," Sulei replied.
The Thunderstrike Backpack could fire beyond visual range, and with real-time data transmission, accurate shots were possible.
"I'll handle the remote-controlled firing. Get ready. Our asteroid's position allows for a clear shot at Genesis A without any obstructions."
"As for whether they'll notice, it's fine if they catch a hint," He Kui said. He was no longer the novice he once was.
Within PLANT, he had quietly established his own faction.
His actions were also in the interest of protecting PLANT, so Patrick wouldn't react too strongly.
"Is that why you had us move the asteroid?" Sulei's eyes widened slightly as she asked.
"One of the reasons, yes."
In truth, he was more afraid that his asteroid would also be targeted and pierced along with the Colony Satellites behind it.
The light shield could hold for a while, but its energy wasn't infinite.
As they spoke, the small aircraft of the Thunderstrike Backpack was remotely piloted out of the hangar. It floated motionlessly on the surface of the asteroid, with the Backpack directly connected to the asteroid's power supply, ensuring the possibility of continuous firing.
"Who are you planning to shoot?"
"The Quantum Virus Mobile Suit and the nuclear bombs," He Kui replied.
As he spoke, image and environmental data from Genesis A's monitors appeared before him.
Manipulating the data, He Kui continuously fine-tuned the Thunderstrike Backpack's barrel.
At that moment, outside Genesis A, a battleship of the Archangel class was gradually approaching Genesis A.
The missile bay had already begun to open.
Once the targeting was complete, He Kui decisively fired.
The orange beam streaked across the dark void of space, resembling a meteor seen from Earth, heading straight for the battleship.
"Enemy attack! A beam is heading our way!" the radar operator on Matiss's ship shouted in panic.
"The lock-on radar didn't activate. It's an attack from beyond visual range!"
Due to the suddenness of the attack, the light shield hadn't been activated in time, and the beam directly struck the missile bay that had just opened.
The nuclear bombs exploded, but because the Neutron Jammer was active and the anti-Neutron Jammers on these bombs hadn't been activated, the explosion wasn't as powerful as it could have been. However, it still severely damaged the battleship's missile bay, rendering it completely inoperable.
"Activate the light shield. Where did the attack come from?" Matiss asked, his face grim.
"The direction is PLANT, but the exact location is unclear," came the reply.
At the same time, He Kui's voice echoed through the battleship's communication channel.
"Shall we continue?"
"Who are you?" Matiss asked, quickly regaining his composure upon hearing the synthesized voice.
"Aegis."
"He Kui, I didn't expect to see you here."
"How about it? My offer still stands," Matiss said with a cold laugh.
"I'm not He Kui. If I were to come over, the first thing you'd do is kill me, wouldn't you?"
He Kui shook his head and said.
"How could that be? What did my dear brother tell you? Where is he now?"
"Probably somewhere enjoying his retirement?"
He Kui shrugged.
"So, shall we continue?"
As He Kui spoke, another beam shot towards him, but this time it was blocked by the light shield.
"Unfortunately, your weapon attacks are ineffective."
As if in a game of chess, Matiss sneered.
"That's not necessarily true."
Another shot, but this time it was aimed at the Mobile Suit carrying the Quantum Virus, which resembled the Blitz, that was infiltrating the system.
However, this attack was intercepted by Creuset, who had rushed back from the front.
(End of Chapter)