The space vessels—resembling large propulsion engines attached to the back of two cargo containers—were continuously deploying the newly tuned GN-Xs and sending them into space.
Since humanity in this world had no experience with large-scale space warfare, the most suitable ships the UN (formed by the three superpowers) could acquire to carry the GN-Xs were these Virginia-class large transport ships.
The only space combat unit in their possession that could be considered to have "warship-class" firepower was the golden-armored Alvatore, which was currently escorted by ten GN-Xs.
"The Ravens, Celestial Being... and a Flag?"
As the deployed GN-X forces gradually approached the battlefield, Alejandro, seated inside the Alvatore wearing a gold-colored pilot suit, subconsciously frowned.
Honestly, no one expected the nine GN-Xs sent as the vanguard to return alive. Their objective was simply to confirm the coordinates of the Celestial Being mothership and draw out their Gundams.
But clearly, because the Nahel Argama was also there, they had drawn out more than just Gundams.
"The Gundam Thrones have also begun their move... at this position, they should arrive very soon."
Looking at the completely destroyed vanguard in the distance, Alejandro narrowed his eyes with a smile. "Then... it's time for me to take the stage."
As Alejandro issued a signal, the GN-Xs that had been blocking the Alvatore's path scrambled to clear the way, as if they had seen something terrifying, giving the Alvatore a clear line of sight.
"Now... let's start with the Celestial Being warship!"
He looked at the display, which had been specially customized with gold-bordered frames, showing the two ships forming the fleet.
Pulling the trigger with his right hand, a multi-segment barrel assembly suddenly extended from the bow of the Alvatore. As the assembly's armor unfolded, it revealed the hidden cannon barrels within.
"Oh? You're actually going to stand in front of the Celestial Being ship?"
Watching the Nahel Argama suddenly accelerate and change course to shield the Ptolemaios, Alejandro laughed. "Perfect. A collateral hit. Now, experience the full power of the Alvatore!"
A massive surge of orange-yellow particles erupted from the muzzle, hurtling toward the Nahel Argama.
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On the bridge of the Nahel Argama as they sighted the Alvatore: "How is the situation with Celestial Being?"
Murrue Ramius watched as the Ptolemaios, positioned alongside the Nahel Argama, deployed its four assault containers housing the Gundams, revealing their internal launch tubes.
"All Gundams have been deployed, but don't expect them to exert too much combat influence," Natarle Badgiruel remarked after a quick glance at the Ptolemaios's armament. She withdrew her gaze, focusing instead on the approaching UN forces and that massive, gold-armored MA.
The Nahel Argama's databases contained extensive combat data on MAs from the SEED world. Putting aside the Shamblo, even the mass-produced Destroy Gundams later fielded by the Earth Alliance were enough to give ace pilots a headache.
"At the end of the day, the warships of this world are still essentially armed cargo containers. Don't demand too much from their firepower," Christina said from the damage control station, monitoring the ship's data and standing by to deploy repair teams.
"High-energy reaction detected from the target MA!" a young radar operator shouted. "Visual confirms bombardment charging—profile is similar to the Lohengrin positron cannon. Target is the Nahel Argama and the Ptolemaios!"
"A high-output beam bombardment...?"
Hearing this, Murrue subconsciously frowned. The Nahel Argama was equipped with Crystal Armor, giving it excellent resistance against beam weapons and decent protection against kinetic ones, but the Ptolemaios was clearly not as durable.
"Based on the analysis, it's only equivalent to one or two positron cannons. The Crystal Armor can easily withstand it," Christina said, curling her lip with blatant disdain for that level of power after checking the energy readings.
"Very well. Nahel Argama, deploy Crystal Armor and accelerate. Get us in front of the Ptolemaios."
Following Christina's assessment, Murrue made a swift decision. The Nahel Argama suddenly surged forward. Semi-transparent liquid gel sprayed from the dispensers at the bottom of the hull, surging across the ship's frame before solidifying into a layer of shimmering Crystal Armor.
"Wait, what are you doing?! A normal warship can't block that bombardment! Evas—"
Seeing the Nahel Argama's maneuver, Sumeragi Lee Noriega, fully geared in her space suit, froze in shock before shouting anxiously over the comms.
A split second later, the orange-yellow beam struck the Nahel Argama's Crystal Armor dead-on.
After being weakened through successive layers of the armor, the crew felt very little impact; it was well within acceptable limits.
However, from the perspective of Celestial Being, the scene was terrifying. Their ally had moved to shield them and taken a direct hit from a warship-class beam—they could even see "fragments" melting away within the light.
"The Nahel Argama..."
Graham Aker's eyes widened as he watched the ship he had stayed on for less than three days take the hit from the Alvatore.
"Damn it... you bastard!"
Even the usually calm Tieria Erde grew frantic at the sight. He raised both GN Bazookas and the additional twin beam cannons on his shoulders, aiming them at the firing Alvatore. Despite his past "conflicts" with certain people on the Nahel Argama, he cast aside his petty hesitations and pulled the triggers.
"Hmph, foolish."
Watching the six massive beams racing toward him, Alejandro sneered and activated the GN Field. Orange particles swirled around the Alvatore, forming a massive spherical shield.
The Virtue's bombardment slammed into the particle barrier, but every shot was completely repelled.
"What?!"
Tieria started to speak, but was cut off as a hail of red particle beams from the GN-X swarm forced him to activate his own GN Field for defense.
As Tieria began to retreat to evade the dense rain of beams, a Flag trailing orange particles soared past the Virtue. It transformed into MS mode mid-flight and raised its beam spray gun.
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For some reason, seeing the Nahel Argama bombarded sparked an inexplicable fury within Graham Aker—the kind of rage one feels when seeing a friend under attack.
Had he truly forged a bond with the people of the Nahel Argama in just two or three days? He didn't know the answer, but of one thing he was certain...
"A man like you... is someone who absolutely cannot be allowed to live!"
Graham maneuvered his Flag, using the beam spray gun to precisely sever the limbs of several GN-Xs blocking his path as he pushed toward the Alvatore.
"Reckless and foolhardy!"
Seeing Graham's frantic charge, Alejandro took control of the Alvatore, firing its eleven small beam cannons at the Flag, creating a dense barrage.
Just as the barrage was about to overtake the Flag, a massive silhouette carrying a green particle shield threw itself between the Alvatore's beams.
"Don't even think about it!"
Setsuna, piloting the Exia equipped with the GN Arms, maintained the particle shield to deflect several beams aimed at Graham. He then braved the rain of fire, charging straight for the Alvatore.
Alejandro frowned slightly, redirecting the beam cannons to aim at the Exia in front of him.
"Where exactly are you looking?!"
At that moment, a red-and-white beam streaked down from above the Alvatore, accurately striking the extended beam cannon of the MA.
High above the Alvatore, Shinn had appeared at some unknown point in the Destiny, its built-in long-range beam cannon already deployed.
"You brat... get out of my way!"
Seeing this new, unknown Gundam above him, Alejandro used the Alvatore's small beam cannons to weave an anti-air curtain, while the GN-Xs escorting the Alvatore began to fly toward the Destiny.
Shinn skillfully retracted the beam cannon and performed a barrel roll to the right, dodging the beam saber of a GN-X and the rain of red beams rising from below.
The Destiny raised its right hand, intense energy condensing in its palm. As the steel hand slammed into the GN-X, violent energy surged from the palm into the machine's torso, finally exploding out its back.
A mass of parts and severed cables drifted into space; even the GN Drive Tau was punctured, letting loose a cloud of red GN particles into the void.
"Now's my chance!"
Seeing the Destiny shift its focus to the GN-Xs, Alejandro instinctively deployed the Alvatore's grappling claws.
The golden "crab claws" reached upward, seemingly intent on snatching the Destiny and crushing it.
But in the next heartbeat, a red beam carrying purple high-energy electricity struck the claw.
The golden anti-beam coating on the mechanical claw offered no protection at all; it was completely dissolved and twisted by the Beam Magnum before exploding.
The purple high-energy electricity didn't stop there. It carved deep furrows across the surface of the Alvatore, terrifying Alejandro into instinctively activating the machine's GN Field.
To be honest, despite the Alvatore's immense firepower and defensive capabilities, being besieged by these units was starting to make Alejandro feel a cold sweat break out on his forehead.
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As the Alvatore's bombardment ceased, and while the crew of the Ptolemaios wore expressions as if they had seen a ghost, the Nahel Argama skillfully executed a turn as if it were a warship that hadn't a care in the world.
Watching the Crystal Armor gradually shatter, yet seeing that not even the paint on the ship's surface had been scratched, Sumeragi subconsciously swallowed hard.
"Report ship status."
Feeling the violent vibrations subside, Murrue breathed a small sigh of relief.
"No damage to the ship. Crystal Armor consumption is at 11.4%, within acceptable parameters," Christina stated after a quick check of the ship's status.
Meanwhile, Murrue began to observe the battlefield.
The Psycho Zaku and the Impulse, carrying the ReZEL and Jesta mass-production teams, were launching an attack on the massive number of GN-Xs alongside the Kyrios and Dynames.
On the other front, the Penelope, Destiny, the customized Flag, as well as Celestial Being's Virtue and Exia, were ganging up on the Alvatore, which had retreated into the turtle shell of its "GN Field." However, the results were clearly not significant.
"Positron cannons, all batteries charging. Target: the golden MA."
Murrue made her decision after a brief observation.
"Also, notify the MS teams to clear our line of fire!"
The bow of the Nahel Argama and the components on its "wings" deployed one after another, revealing a total of eight positron cannons, their operational charging lights glowing.
Upon receiving the signal, the machines from both the Nahel Argama and Celestial Being pulled back to the sides, leaving only the Alvatore in the Nahel Argama's line of fire.
"Fire!"
In an instant, under the watchful eyes of everyone on the Ptolemaios, eight positron beams slammed directly into the Alvatore's GN Field.
Almost immediately, the GN Field was on the verge of being dispersed by the positron beams.
The Alvatore's systems took over, and the GN Drives Tau began to spin at high speeds to maintain the shield's integrity.
However, anyone could see that the Alvatore's GN Field had become extremely thin, looking as though it would be blown away by the positron cannons at any second.
Under the pressure of the positron cannons, the GN Drives Tau began to explode one by one.
Ultimately, four out of the eight drives were destroyed, scattering debris and a massive amount of red GN particles within the GN Field.
"Phew... It seems my Alvatore's performance is superior after all."
Even though the machine's status display showed that the Alvatore's GN Drives had reached their limit and four had already exploded, Alejandro still taunted them over the public channel.
But in the next second, everyone saw a massive white beam erupting from Earth's orbital elevator, even sweeping up one or two unlucky GN-X pilots in its path.
"What?!"
The sudden attack caused Alejandro to cry out in alarm. The two remaining GN Drives, which were already in a precarious state, were overloaded by this strike and exploded into fragments within the shield.
At this moment, however, the people of the Nahel Argama and Celestial Being had no time to worry about the state of the Alvatore. Everyone was transfixed by two events.
Most of the "Swords of Damocles," as Alejandro called them, began to fire toward Earth, their thick beams lashing out at the planet's surface repeatedly.
And from among those thirteen "Swords of Damocles," five beams shot out.
Under everyone's gaze, they flew toward the distant Jupiter—but before they could reach the Jovian region, they struck something along their flight path, triggering a massive explosion.
.....................