"As I've stated previously," I said, leaning over the tactical map, "leave the orbital theater to Shadow Mirror. Orb's contribution only needs to be symbolic—a small detachment to show the world that this is a joint operation between the Orb Union and our forces."
Uzumi shook his head, his expression firm. "I appreciate the sentiment, Axel-kun, but this is a crisis of our world. We should resolve it with our own hands wherever possible. Orb will deploy the Kusanagi. Kisaka, I'm placing it under your command."
"Understood," Kisaka replied with a sharp nod. "I will ensure the name of Orb remains untarnished."
Mu scratched his head, looking between us. "So, where does that leave the Archangel crew? We're effectively a unit without a home."
Kira looked down, his voice quiet. "Since Captain Ramius is officially with Shadow Mirror now, it feels… complicated."
"Should we stay behind for Orb's local defense, then?" Mu suggested.
"No," I countered. "Your combat potential—specifically yours and Kira's—is far better suited for the vacuum of space. I want you both up there."
"Then will you and your people be boarding the Archangel?" Mu asked.
It was a logical question. Shadow Mirror had two primary ships: the Gyanland and the Wonderland. I intended to keep one at White Star as a final reserve. That left the Gyanland for active duty. However, considering Orb was an island nation, the Gyanland's amphibious capabilities made it a far superior choice for local defense than the Archangel, which—at its current specification—couldn't even submerge.
"We have a vessel called the Gyanland," I explained. "It's a multi-role ship capable of operating underwater, in the air, and in space. It also features a stealth shroud—think of it as a significantly more advanced version of the Blitz's Mirage Colloid. For the sake of Orb's survival, it makes more sense to keep the Gyanland here and send the Archangel to space under our banner. How does that sound?"
Mu looked at Uzumi. "I've no objections, but what about Orb?"
"The Archangel was never officially part of our fleet," Uzumi noted. "I have no right to dictate its use. Personally, I find Axel-kun's proposal to be incredibly reassuring for our domestic defense."
"I'll assign Murrue to captain the Archangel," I added. "You and Kira are already used to her command, and the crew functions better under a familiar face."
"Really? That's a huge weight off my shoulders," Mu admitted with a grin. "I was half-expecting to be shoved into the captain's chair myself, and that's a job I'm not built for."
"I agree," Kira added softly. "If Captain Ramius is at the helm, I know I can focus on the fight."
That settled the Archangel, but it left the question of who would command the Gyanland. As Shadow Mirror's local flagship, I couldn't hand it over to an Orb officer due to security protocols. The mass-produced W-series units were excellent at following orders, but they lacked the tactical flexibility required for ship command.
That left my inner circle. I was out—I was our strongest pilot and needed to be on the front lines. Murrue was spoken for. Cornelia had the experience, but her true talent lay in field command; leaving her in Orb to wait for an attack that might not come was a waste of her genius.
It came down to Lemon or Echidna. Given the tactical requirements, Echidna was the logical choice.
"We'll proceed with that plan," I said. "Now, Representative Uzumi—aside from the Sea Lion analysis, how far along is Orb's own amphibious Mobile Suit development?"
"Unfortunately, we only have a handful of test units," Uzumi admitted. "Does Shadow Mirror have a significant number of underwater-capable machines?"
"Our numbers are limited," I replied.
White Star was currently optimized for Megilot production. While the Gyanland and Wonderland could manufacture units, they focused on main-line mass production models like the Erwin or the Ashsaviour. Underwater combat had never been our priority.
I checked my internal inventory. Sea Lions… twenty-three units. A few were tied up in R&D at White Star.
"I can spare twenty Sea Lions," I said. "As for pilots, I can provide them if necessary."
The mass-produced W-series pilots, thanks to Lemon's refinements, were roughly equivalent to ZAFT's "Red Coat" aces. The only issue was their appearance—the cybernetic implants in their faces were often jarring, requiring them to wear masks that made them look like a cult of executioners.
"Kisaka, your thoughts?" Uzumi asked.
"We're pressed for time," Kisaka observed. "It's better to leave the underwater theater to Shadow Mirror. We should keep our pilots focused on mastering the M1 Astray. Spreading them too thin across different machine types would be a mistake."
"Then it's settled," Uzumi said. "Axel, we'll leave the Sea Lion piloting to your people."
"Understood. The Gyanland will serve as their mother ship. It's the perfect base for underwater operations."
With the logistics falling into place, I moved to the tactical overview. "The Megilots will form the vanguard. Since the M1 Astrays lack flight capability, they will remain in Orb as the final line of defense."
Cagalli looked like she wanted to protest, but I didn't give her the opening.
"Technically, the Alliance's mass-produced units are inferior to the M1 Astray. We have five hundred Megilots, which outperformed your Astrays in the mock battle. The Alliance will likely bring around three hundred Mobile Suits."
I suspected the number might be even lower. The invasion would primarily be driven by the Atlantic Federation under Azrael's influence. The Eurasian Federation and the East Asia Republic were likely prioritizing the defense of Victoria Base.
"Our Megilots will handle the enemy grunt units. The Sea Lions will hunt their ships. Statistically, the battle is ours to lose… except for the Alliance's trump cards."
"The successors to the G-Series?" Mu guessed.
I nodded. "Three machines. A heavy-artillery unit derived from the Buster. A high-mobility assault unit derived from the Blitz. And a transformable, hit-and-run unit derived from the Aegis. Their pilots are 'Boosted Men'—human beings enhanced through drugs and psychological conditioning. They are mentally unstable, but their combat efficiency is monstrous. Against them, an M1 Astray is little more than a training target. Only our top-tier machines or Kira's Freedom can match them. Kira… are you up for it?"
"If it's to protect Orb," Kira said, nodding.
I looked him dead in the eye. "If you plan on fighting like you did at Alaska—refusing to kill your enemies—then stay off the battlefield. You'll only be in the way."
Kira flinched. "What? But I—!"
"If you were fighting a private duel, I wouldn't care," I cut him off. "But this is a war for the survival of a nation. I won't have you playing at being a saint and making the battlefield even more chaotic."
"Hey! That's uncalled for!" Cagalli shouted, standing up. "Kira is just—"
"Be quiet, Cagalli. Kira refuses to kill? Fine. That's his choice. But will you be the one to tell the families of Orb's soldiers why their sons and daughters died? Will you tell them their loved ones were killed in a counter-attack because Kira Yamato was too sentimental to finish off a disabled enemy?"
"I… that's…" Cagalli trailed off, her face reddening.
I turned my focus back to Kira. "I said you were a necessary asset for the space theater. But if you insist on that half-hearted way of fighting, I don't want you out there. In fact, I'm telling you now: don't participate."
Kira looked like I'd slapped him. "How can you say that?"
"Because I won't ask my subordinates to trust a comrade who won't watch their backs. I have no intention of letting my people be shot from behind by an enemy you 'spared.' As the leader of Shadow Mirror, I cannot accept the unnecessary loss of my forces to satisfy your ego."
In Alaska, Kira's "mercy" consisted of taking out cameras and weapon arms. But a Mobile Suit with one arm can still fire. A pilot in a disabled machine can still trigger a self-destruct. Even a limping MS can crush infantry underfoot.
"I'm not asking for an answer right now," I said, my voice softening just a fraction. "But the invasion is less than a month away. Find your resolve before the first shot is fired."
"...I understand," Kira whispered, looking utterly defeated.
It was a harsh lesson, but one I wouldn't budge on. If Kira stayed home, I'd have to shift the plan. I could put Echidna in a pilot seat for the duration of the battle. Cornelia had also been training in Personal Troopers and Armored Modules; with her natural genius, she'd be proficient in a Shadow Mirror machine within weeks. We'd survive without the Freedom if we had to.
I turned back to Uzumi. "One more thing. What about the other ships and personnel that arrived with the Archangel?"
"About half have requested asylum in Orb," Uzumi replied. "The other half wish to return to the Eurasian Federation."
I nodded. The bulk of the Alaska garrison had been Eurasian. Despite the incompetence of men like Garcia, it seemed some still felt a sense of duty to their homeland.
"Is there anything else?" Uzumi asked.
I thought for a moment, then shook my head. We had a month. In war, that was a lifetime.
"Then we're done for today," Uzumi said, handing me a small slip of paper. "This is the direct line to my private quarters. Contact me if anything changes."
It was an oddly old-fashioned gesture in an age of encrypted digital packets, but I took it. "Understood. We'll keep a liaison at the gate. If you need us, send word through them."
The meeting adjourned. Uzumi and Kisaka left first, followed by a worried Cagalli who hovered near Kira. I stood to leave but paused by the young pilot.
"Kira. You have a month. Think about what you really want to protect. I'm hoping you'll be there when the time comes."
"...Yes," he murmured.
I walked out into the hall, where Mu was waiting for me. "Don't you think that was a bit much? The kid looks like he's ready to collapse."
"If I were just a mercenary on the Archangel, I'd let him be," I said, not looking back. "But I'm leading Shadow Mirror now. I can't tell my people to go into a meat grinder with a pilot who refuses to do his job."
If Kira's indecision cost me Lemon, Cornelia, or Murrue… I knew exactly what I'd do. I would kill him myself, and it wouldn't be quick. To prevent that, I had to force him to choose: become a soldier, or stay a civilian.
Mu looked at my face and seemed to read the darkness there. He sighed, rubbed the back of his neck, and turned back into the briefing room to check on Kira.
One week later, the news arrived. The Panama Base—the Earth Alliance's last functional mass driver—had been annihilated by ZAFT. The clock had officially run out.
Status Report
Name: Axel Almar
Level: 36 | PP: 165
Melee: 254 | Ranged: 274 | Skill: 264 | Defense: 264 | Evade: 294 | Hit: 314
SP: 446
Ace Bonus: SP Boost
Terrain Rating: Air: S | Ground: S | Water: S | Space: S
Spirit Commands:
Accel (4) | Effort (8) | Focus (16) | Direct Hit (30) | Awaken (32) | Love (48)
Skills:
EXP Up | SP Boost (Lv.9/Regen/Focus) | Telekinesis Lv.10 | Attacker | Gunfight Lv.9 | Infight Lv.9 | Morale Limit Break | Geass (Grey)
Kill Count: 288
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