Both Mikazuki and Mu noticed that something was off with Kira. Mikazuki took a sip of water and said flatly, "Still haven't found it?"
"Huh?" Kira looked up, confused.
Mikazuki poured a bit of yogurt sauce onto another piece of grilled meat and rolled it up. "You understand, don't you? What exactly... is your goal? You've been in a lot of pain lately, yet you're always the first to volunteer for a sortie. At first, I thought you had already made your choice, but now it seems that isn't the case at all."
"..." Kira lowered his head, his expression filled with struggle. Mu, standing to the side, finally began to understand a little of what Mikazuki was getting at.
"I don't know what you're thinking," Mikazuki continued, "but as you are now, you can't move forward. You're just running in circles."
Kira suddenly stood up, his eyes brimming with tears. "Then what should I do? I... I don't know what to do anymore. I go out to fight, but I can't protect anything! People who should be protected fall right before my eyes..."
"Kira..." Mu looked at him blankly.
It was true; he had overlooked it. Kira was only a sixteen-year-old boy who had never received formal military training or psychological counseling. Everything that had happened on this journey must have been incredibly painful for him. As adults, they had ignored Kira's feelings and failed to guide him. It was a complete dereliction of duty.
Mikazuki stuffed the last bite of grilled meat into his mouth, swallowed, and looked up to meet Kira's gaze. "To protect others... I'm not really qualified to say this, but those people who died didn't have much to do with you, did they?"
Kira's brow furrowed deeply. "You..."
Mikazuki looked down to tidy his tray, speaking as he did. "It's the same question: the dead or the living, which is more important? If you really think they died because you didn't protect them well enough, then get stronger.
Whatever the case, it's a decision you have to make for yourself. How you walk your path and where you go in the future that's your decision alone. It has nothing to do with anyone else."
Kira sat back down, sinking into deep thought.
"I'm full."
Just as Mikazuki picked up his tray to leave, a massive explosion reached his ears. He moved instantly, dropping his tray and rushing out of the canteen toward the hangar.
He stripped off his jacket and his thin shirt. Bare-chested, he climbed into Barbatos and connected to the Alaya-Vijnana System. Since they weren't in space, there was no need for a heavy pressure suit.
"Orga, what's the situation?"
Orga's voice soon crackled over the comms. "Oh, the landmine traps Desert Dawn laid ahead were detonated. It's the Desert Tiger's doing. There are two battleships directly ahead, and another one seems to be hiding under the sand, planning an ambush."
The radar on Barbatos displayed three red signals indicating battleship-class targets.
"What are those yellow dots on the ship in front?"
Within the signal for the Lesseps, there was a red dot marked with an 'x2' symbol.
"Consider them your old rivals," Orga replied. "It's the Duel and the Buster, though you haven't actually traded blows with them yet."
Mikazuki nodded. He indeed hadn't fought those two directly; Mu and Kira had always been the ones to handle them.
At that moment, the Archangel's alarm blared, signaling a shift to Condition One battle stations. On the bridge, Murrue listened intently to the urgent but orderly reports.
"What is the status of the Strike and the Skygrasper? Can they launch?"
Mikazuki didn't even need to ask; he knew they were already on standby. Millyaria reported, "The Strike and Skygrasper are currently being equipped. Estimated launch is in two minutes. However, Barbatos is ready for sortie."
Murrue nodded. "Fine. Have Barbatos launch. Tell Mikazuki to be careful; the enemy seems to be throwing everything they have at us."
Murrue squinted as she watched the distant sandstorms kicking up.
"Yes, ma'am!" Dalida shouted. "The enemy is deploying helicopters and Baku!"
Murrue waved her hand with a sharp, heroic air. "Main cannons one and two, railguns one and two, anti-missile tubes, and all anti-air weaponry open fire! Target the enemy Lesseps-class, Mobile Suits, and helicopters!"
On the catapult deck, Mikazuki received clearance. He flexed his arms. "Mikazuki Augus, Barbatos, launching!"
Exiting the Archangel, Mikazuki quickly surveyed the battlefield. Two battleships were attacking head-on, helicopters were in the sky, and five Baku were on the ground. Including the two Gundams still on the enemy ship, that made seven units.
No, there were likely even more.
Without a second word, Mikazuki charged straight into the group of Baku. With a Tachi in each hand, he swung wildly, instantly shattering the Baku' formation.
By then, the Strike and the Skygrasper finally launched together, beginning to provide support for Desert Dawn on the ground while guarding the Archangel.
The Strike had descended into battle equipped with the Aile Striker Pack. It made sense; the Baku had incredible mobility in the desert, so the only way to counter them was with equipment that could match that speed.
Just as Mikazuki finished off one Baku, he patched into the Strike's communication line. "Kira, don't stay here. Go to the rear of the Archangel."
"Huh? But isn't it dangerous back there?"
Mikazuki glanced at his radar. "It's more dangerous behind the Archangel. Don't ask, just go. I'll handle things here."
"Uh, okay. Understood."
The Strike banked away, flying toward the rear of the Archangel. Inside the bridge, Murrue and the others were stunned as they watched the Strike streak past them.
"Strike, why are you leaving the combat zone?"
Kira's response came quickly. "Mikazuki said it's more dangerous behind the Archangel..."
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