Several days have passed since we left the African continent and entered the Indian Ocean. In that time, the biggest issue with traveling by sea—the lack of sonar—had been resolved. As a mercenary with no immediate tasks, I found myself in my room, flipping through a magazine Mu had given me, much like I usually did during downtime.
Mu usually kept magazines focused on gravure models, but for some reason, the one he handed me yesterday was a special issue on restaurants. ...Did he get this for his dates with Natarle? While wondering about that, I read through it, thinking about taking Murrue to some of these places eventually...
"Attention all hands. Battle Stations Condition Two. Repeat. All hands, Battle Stations Condition Two."
The announcement blared through the ship accompanied by the alarm. Condition Two meant I just needed to be in a location where I could reach the MS hangar within three minutes. The pilot ready room would suffice for now.
"So they're here."
If I recall the original story correctly, this should be an attack led by some squad leader with several DINNs and GOOhNs.
I tossed the magazine onto the bed and headed for the pilot ready room.
Inside, Mu had already changed into his pilot suit and was ready to launch at a moment's notice.
"You're fast."
I remarked as I pulled my own suit from my assigned locker.
"I was already in the hangar. Still, I didn't think we'd get hit out here. Who do you think it is?"
"Let's see. Given the situation, probably aerial DINNs or amphibious GOOhNs... or maybe both."
"You know your ZAFT mobile suits."
"Hey, when you're a mercenary, that kind of intel just naturally comes your way. More importantly, getting into a fight in these conditions... is the Skygrasper going to be okay?"
"Well, can't be helped. We knew this was a possibility the moment we decided to travel by sea, didn't we?"
"Sorry I'm late!"
Kira rushed into the room and immediately began changing into his pilot suit.
"We're still at Condition Two, so you're not exactly late. But we don't know when it'll jump to Condition One, so get changed fast."
"Yes!"
Just as we were talking, the broadcast sounded again.
"Attention all hands. Battle Stations Condition One. Repeat. All hands, Battle Stations Condition One."
"Speak of the devil. Alright, let's move."
Mu headed straight for the hangar, with Kira and me following close behind.
"Brother, the only weapon you've got left is that vulcan-shield system from the CGUE. What's the plan?"
Murdoch asked as soon as I entered the hangar. The GINN's assault machine gun, which had been so useful, ran dry during the fight with Waltfeld. The Giant Beam Rifle was broken when I used it as a club against the BuCUE, and the Heavy Blade was basically just a metal stick after I battered the Aegis with it back in space.
"No choice. I'll launch with standard loadout."
The CGUE's vulcan shield system seemed usable, but it mounts on the left arm. If I equip it on the Blitz, I can't use the Gleipnir. Plus, given its size, it's incredibly unwieldy—not quite as bad as the Giant Beam Rifle, but close. ...It's a shame since I went to the trouble of stealing it from Rau Le Creuset, but it's basically just gathering dust in the hangar. Maybe I can have the Strike equip it later.
"Gotcha. Nothing special to prep then. Head to the Blitz's cockpit."
Following Murdoch's instructions, I climbed in.
"Axel, Kira. I'll intercept the airborne enemies. Kira, can I leave the underwater ones to you? Given our loadouts, the Strike should handle underwater combat better than the Blitz."
"That makes sense... I'll stay on the Archangel's deck and act as a turret. Kira, can you handle it?"
Among the Blitz's weapons, only the Gleipnir and Lancer Darts are effective underwater. By comparison, the Strike equipped with the Sword Striker pack has the "Schwert Gewehr" anti-ship sword, Armor Schneiders, and Igelstellung vulcans, making it much more viable than the Blitz.
"I understand, but... are there really amphibious mobile suits out there?"
"In the middle of the ocean? I doubt it's just DINNs. Besides, you know Axel's hunches are rarely wrong, right Kid?"
"Ah, well, true."
"Alright then, counting on you. Mu La Flaga, launching!"
With that, the Skygrasper took off. Immediately after, the Archangel, which had been floating on the sea surface, suddenly lifted off and hovered in the air. Probably to avoid torpedoes from the GOOhNs.
"Looks like the guests have arrived. I'm heading out first. The ocean is all yours."
"Yes!"
"Axel Almar, Blitz, launching!"
Shot out by the linear catapult, I landed directly onto the Archangel's deck. The first things I saw were two DINNs flying in the sky... and the Skygrasper being chased by them from behind.
"Eyes on the prize, boys... Hah!"
I aimed the Trikeros's beam rifle at a DINN, but it sensed the lock and broke away. That one must be the commander unit. The other machine followed its lead.
As expected of a white uniform like Creuset.
I glanced down to see the Sword Strike diving toward a GOOhN that had surfaced. The GOOhN noticed the Strike descending upon it and tried to submerge immediately, but... too late. Just a few meters below the surface, the Schwert Gewehr pierced through it, triggering an underwater explosion.
"Mu, Kira got one of the GOOhNs. Listen, I'm going to set a trap. Lead the DINNs over the Archangel's starboard wing. I'll be hiding in a blind spot there."
"Roger. Can't let the kid have all the glory, right?"
With the plan set, I moved to the starboard wing and activated the Mirage Colloid instead of the Phase Shift Armor.
Remaining perfectly still, I waited for Mu's Skygrasper to lure the enemy in... Here they come!
Just like before, the Skygrasper—seemingly being chased by two DINNs—approached the airspace over the starboard wing as planned. The DINNs followed. They were wary of the Archangel's Igelstellungs, Valiants, and Helldarts, but in this specific area near the wing, they likely thought they only had to watch out for the CIWS. And normally, that would be correct. ...Unless an invisible Blitz was waiting in ambush.
"Axel!"
The Skygrasper flew over the Blitz, followed by the commander unit that had dodged my earlier attack. And finally, the standard grunt DINN... Now!
Deactivating the Mirage Colloid and re-engaging Phase Shift, I fired the Gleipnir from my left arm. The anchor shot out, its sharp claws biting deep into the torso of the trailing DINN.
Suddenly burdened with the weight of an entire mobile suit, the DINN lost its flight stability. bracing myself on the Archangel's wing, I yanked the enemy machine toward me.
The DINN is built extremely light to enable flight; it probably weighs less than half of the Blitz. Against the Blitz's superior power, it stood no chance and was brought to a halt.
Its thrusters couldn't withstand the strain of opposing forces... The DINN snapped in half mid-air, scattering parts onto the deck and into the sea.
Startled by the sudden destruction of his wingman from an unseen attack, the commander DINN paused for a split second. Naturally, the Archangel didn't miss that opening. Bullets from a nearby Igelstellung shredded one of the wing-like binders on its back.
"Mu!"
"Yeah, on it!"
Answering briefly, Mu flipped the Skygrasper around. As if repaying the favor for the earlier chase, he fired the Agni cannon at the commander unit.
However, credit where it's due—the commander managed to dodge Mu's attack and retreated, flying somewhat steadily despite the damaged wing. I considered taking a shot with my beam rifle, but by the time I had retracted the Gleipnir, the DINN was already out of range.
"Bridge, what about the Strike?"
Watching the enemy retreat, I opened a line to the bridge. Murrue appeared on screen, a smile on her face.
"Confirmed disappearance of underwater MS signals. Kira-kun is safe too. Good work, all three of you. Please return to the hangar."
Phew, we managed... somehow. But not being able to fly while traveling over the ocean is a painful disadvantage. I recall ZAFT has a sub-flight system called the Guul... I really want to get my hands on one of those if possible.
As I headed toward the MS hangar, something on the monitor caught my eye. It was the weapon held by the DINN I just destroyed. Judging by the muzzle size, it looked like a shotgun rather than the assault machine gun I used before... well, better than nothing. Making a snap decision, I retrieved the weapon before heading into the hangar.
"Glad you're safe... wait, Brother, what are you holding?"
Murdoch radioed in as he saw the Blitz walking back into the hangar with the shotgun in hand.
"It's the DINN's weapon. The guy I shot down dropped it, and it looked intact, so I picked it up. Looks like a shotgun or something... can you analyze it?"
"Got it. I'll run it through the database. You can hop out of the Blitz now."
"Thanks."
I cut the comms, climbed out of the Blitz, and went to the pilot room to change back into my Federation uniform. Kira returned shortly after. Mu was apparently still in the hangar tweaking the Skygrasper; he must have been unhappy with some setting or another.
"Looks like you handled the underwater enemies well."
"Yes, well... somehow."
His response was hesitant. He's probably agonizing over killing enemies again. Considering he was just a civilian student a few months ago, I suppose it can't be helped.
"By the way, I managed to snag a DINN's weapon. Mind if I ask you to adjust the Blitz's FCS for it?"
The most I can do for him is give him tasks to keep him from brooding. ...Though, it's true I actually need the FCS calibrated.
"Ah, yes. Understood. ...Still, you really do pick up enemy weapons a lot, Axel-san. You grabbed weapons from the GINN and the CGUE before too... Is that the mercenary way?"
"It's a waste not to use what you can, right? Besides, unlike your Strike, the Blitz doesn't exactly have a wealth of armament options."
"True, the Strike is pretty versatile with the Striker Packs... So, what kind of weapon is it?"
"Details are unclear, but Murdoch said he'd look it up. Grab the data from him when you do the adjustments."
"Yes, understood."
As he nodded, the darkness that had clouded his expression moments ago seemed to have lifted.
Name: Axel Almar
Level: 36
PP: 105
Melee: 254
Shooting: 274
Technique: 264
Defense: 264
Evasion: 294
Accuracy: 314
SP: 446
Ace Bonus: SP Boost (Increases unit performance by consuming SP)
Growth Type: Versatile / Special
Terrain Ratings: Air: S | Land: S | Sea: S | Space: S
Spirit Commands:
Accelerate (SP 4)
Gain (SP 8)
Focus (SP 16)
Direct Hit (SP 30)
Zeal (SP 32)
Love (SP 48)
Skills:
EXP Up
SP Boost (SP Up Lv.9 & SP Recover & Focus)
Telekinesis Lv.10
Attacker
Gunfight Lv.9
In-fight Lv.9
Limit Break (Will)
Geass (Gray)
???
???
???
???
???
Shot Down Count: 276
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded over 40 chapters of this story on Patreon.
If you're enjoying it and want to read ahead, feel free to check them out here:
[patreon.com/Greyhounds]
Thanks a lot for your support, it really helps me keep going.
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"