Victory was theirs. The Desert Tiger had been defeated, the weight lifted from Desert Dawn's shoulders, and the path cleared for Archangel. For now, ZAFT could do nothing more against them. Time to celebrate… or so you'd think I'd say?
"Ah—! Ouch, ouch, easy! I'm injured, damn it!" Yang Hui shoved Mu away with his good arm, scowling.
"Hahaha! Who told you to go so wild? Jumping out of the cockpit mid-collision—breaking just one arm is lucky!" Mu laughed.
Yang Hui's injury was merely a fracture and dislocation, nothing irreparable. After removing the bone fragments, realigning the joint, and applying a cast, he'd be fine.
"Tch. Jumping cost me an arm. Not jumping would've cost me my life," Yang Hui grumbled.
"Fair point."
Murrue, Natarle Badgiruel, and the others gathered around Yang Hui nodded in agreement. After all, Yang Hui's GINN—if it could even still be called a GINN—was now just a pile of scrap. The armor was shattered, the frame beyond repair, not even worth melting down for parts.
Yet this very wreckage left everyone in awe of Yang Hui's—and Lyle's—piloting skills.
Murrue and Natarle would swear that without Yang Hui and Lyle's help, Archangel would have been lost.
Half the credit for this victory went to them, aside from Yang Hui defeating the Desert Tiger.
Moreover, this battle gave Archangel's crew hope—a Natural could pilot an MS!
The G Project remained unfinished, and the idea of Naturals operating MSs had been purely theoretical, never tested. But Yang Hui and Lyle were living proof. Naturals could pilot MSs. And all the effort poured into the G Project hadn't been wasted.
"Yang Hui, you bastard!"
"Huh?"
The sudden shout stunned everyone. They turned to see Cagalli, her face flushed, staggering toward him.
She grabbed Yang Hui's collar, yanking him close. "You can pilot an MS?! And you're that good?! And you hid it from me?! You're the worst! Why didn't you tell me?! Why won't you teach me?!"
"Kisaka! Get this brat out of here!"
"Yes." The ever-silent Kisaka obeyed, hoisting Cagalli over his shoulder without expression and walking off.
"Let me go! Put me down! Yang Hui! You have to teach me! I will pilot an MS! I will fight! Remember that—!!!"
As Cagalli's furious shouts faded, Yang Hui rubbed his temples in exasperation. "Who the hell let her drink?"
"Hahaha, what's the harm? It's a celebration," Mu reasoned.
"Pfft. Cagalli? One drink—home wrecked. Two drinks—nation destroyed. Three drinks—Earth explodes. And you let her drink?"
"Uh… it's not that bad, is it?"
"Try it. Whoever allowed it can deal with her."
Everyone shook their heads so fast their faces blurred.
Knowing Yang Hui was indeed exaggerating, but Cagalli's earlier outburst had been quite entertaining as a spectator. However, dealing with her? He'd rather drink dozens of bottles of fake liquor—expired milk would be preferable.
"But Yang Hui, what Cagalli said is what I wanted to ask too. Can you teach me how to pilot an MS?" Tolle asked.
"Have you thought it through?"
"Yeah, I have. I don't want to just watch you guys fight anymore. If possible, I want to contribute too," Tolle said seriously.
Yang Hui didn't answer Tolle directly. Instead, he glanced at Miriallia. Though she was still worried, she supported her boyfriend's decision.
"And me too, Yang Hui. I'd like to try as well," Sai said.
"You've made up your mind too?"
"Yeah. I might... not be as skilled as you guys. Maybe I still want to prove myself, but I want to try anyway. Didn't you tell Kira before? Do what you want to do, so you won't regret it later," Sai said.
"Hmm..." Yang Hui thought briefly before nodding. "Since you've decided, alright then."
"Great!" X2
"But not right now."
"Why?" X2
Yang Hui pointed expressionlessly at his left arm, still in a cast.
"Uh, ahaha, no problem. We're not in a hurry, and there's still Mr. Dylandy, right?"
"Yeah, yeah! Mr. Dylandy is really skilled too. He can teach us, can't he?"
"Probably not," Yang Hui said with a wry smile.
"Why not?"
Everyone was puzzled. They thought Lyle was quite approachable—not the type to withhold knowledge, right?
"The main reason Naturals can't pilot MS is that the OS is too complex. Most Naturals can't keep up with the reflex speed and processing power required. Lyle and I are among the rare exceptions, so the current OS still isn't very user-friendly for Naturals," Yang Hui explained.
And that was putting it mildly. Murrue knew better—the original OS Yang Hui had written for the Strike Gundam was so complicated even Coordinators struggled with it. When Kira first saw it, he had commented, "This isn't an OS meant for humans." That alone showed how exceptional Yang Hui's OS was—something others simply couldn't handle.
As for Lyle... they didn't know much, but they doubted he was any different.
"Seriously...?"
Tolle and Sai deflated like punctured balloons. Just when they thought there was hope, it was shattered immediately.
"However..."
"However what?"
"I've been researching a simplified OS that Naturals can use. If you're willing to assist me..."
"We're willing!" X2
"I can help too."
Not just Tolle and Sai—even Mu was intrigued. Natarle and Murrue's eyes gleamed with excitement.
If Yang Hui's research succeeded, it would completely change the current battlefield. The Earth Forces would have their own MS units, and ZAFT's greatest advantage would vanish.
Mu, of course, also wanted to pilot an MS in battle. Fighting MS in a fighter jet was always a life-or-death gamble. Piloting an MS would significantly improve his survival odds!
Besides, who'd prefer a fighter jet when they could have an 18-meter-tall giant robot? That was every man's dream!
"Let's talk about it later. Even if I can complete it, there aren't any mobile suits for you to train with," Yang Hui said, spreading his hands.
"Um... actually, I've been meaning to ask, Yang Hui—where did you get your mobile suits from?" Natarle Badgiruel inquired.
"Did you forget about the Junk Guild?" Yang Hui teased in response.
"Huh? You mean there's one on Earth too?"
"The Junk Guild is divided into Earth and space factions. I remember telling you about this," Yang Hui said, exasperated.
"Ah... so you're saying..."
"The Earth faction's gathering point is right here in this desert."
"That's great! Let's go buy a few more... What's wrong?"
Natarle thought that since Yang Hui was already developing an OS for Naturals, it would be good to prepare several mobile suits aboard the Archangel. Once successful, they could be deployed immediately. After all, they were likely to face pursuit from ZAFT Forces on their way to Alaska Base—more combat power meant more safety.
Moreover, while the Strike's combat data had already been taken, wouldn't additional data be even better? Kira was a Coordinator, making it hard for Naturals to learn from him. Having combat data from Naturals piloting MS would surely be more helpful to the Atlantic Federation.
But before she could finish, everyone was looking at Natarle with strange expressions. Yang Hui even gave her a deadpan stare, making her uneasy.
"Do you have money?"
"Uh... no, but don't you?"
"...Why should I buy them for you?"
"Well..."
Natarle was at a loss. She suddenly remembered that Yang Hui never liked the Atlantic Federation to begin with—and he wasn't even part of it. What right did she have to ask him to spend money for them?
"Heh, Natarle, I really think you're getting cuter—adorably naive," Yang Hui joked.
"You! Fine, don't buy them then! Hmph!"
"Hahaha..."
"Still, things won't be easy for you from now on," Mu said to Sayibu. "Even without Tiger, ZAFT is still around. They'll want the mines, won't they? They'll be back soon."
"When that happens, we'll keep fighting," Sayibu replied calmly. "We'll fight as long as we must—against those who oppress us."
A heavy silence fell over the group, as if the joy of victory had been dampened.
Indeed, this victory was only temporary. The fighting wouldn't stop—whether for Desert Dawn or the Archangel, as long as war and oppression existed, the battle would never end.
Just then, Sayibu's son ran in, reminding him that the farewell ceremony for the fallen warriors was about to begin.
Those who fought together were comrades, so the Archangel's crew naturally attended as well.
They gathered at the entrance of the frontline command post, firing salutes into the sky as the Elder recited the names of the fallen one by one. Each name was etched into their hearts—heroes all.
"Such foolish people, aren't they?" Lyle murmured to Yang Hui.
Yang Hui and Lyle stood apart from the crowd, watching indifferently from a corner. Though they had fought alongside them, they didn't consider these people comrades. There was no grief in their hearts—just a quiet reflection.
"Indeed, but they are also the most admirable group of people."
"Admirable? You're right. Fighting fearlessly for their beliefs and ideals, even at the cost of their lives, truly deserves respect."
"Is the mobile suit processed?" Yang Hui asked Lyle.
"All data has been deleted, and the black box physically destroyed. But... are you really planning to ask them to assist in developing an OS for Naturals? This would be aiding the enemy."
"Tell me... what if I could recruit everyone from the Archangel to come to Orb? How about that?"
Lyle froze for a moment, then looked at Yang Hui as if he were an idiot. He thought Yang Hui might have gone mad.
But upon reconsideration, he remembered Yang Hui had good relationships with everyone aboard the Archangel. Moreover, the way the captain and vice-captain looked at him was somewhat unusual. Perhaps... there really was a chance!
Only...
"Sigh, Ms. Huang and Wang Liu Mei are going to suffer again."
"What the hell!?"