Chapter 180: Not the Same Place, But the Same Time
What was that?
For a moment, Jamitov couldn't quite grasp what that guy was thinking.
He stared at the green MA's side cannons sweeping across the sky, intercepting missiles mid-air and then coming to a halt to begin charging up. Jamitov found himself deep in thought.
The weaponry equipped on an MA did indeed exceed that of a standard MS and could pose a threat to warships.
But the current range shouldn't be anywhere near enough.
"Forget him—lock on and fire immediately!"
In the high-density Minovsky particle environment, it often took a considerable amount of time to calibrate the ship's main guns.
During that span, the green MA's barrel gradually began to glow, a portion of its structure spinning rapidly.
After estimating the caliber of that barrel and comparing it to the armor of the Birmingham-class warship, Jamitov concluded that the shot could be withstood.
Besides, as the flagship, the Birmingham-class was situated at the very center of the formation—making any evasive maneuver nearly impossible.
"Electro-needles—fire!"
Six GM Customs launched their electro-needles simultaneously, and the Birmingham's main cannon fired at the same time!
A thick beam of pink light shot straight toward Neue Ziel's chest!
But Val Walo rushed forward immediately, raising its heavy shield and blocking all six electro-needles.
The thick shield absorbed the impact, only allowing the needles to pierce its surface armor. Moreover, the needles' built-in discharge systems—designed specifically to disrupt internal systems—were neutralized by the shield's specially insulated layer.
Right after, Val Walo dove down, clearing Neue Ziel's line of sight!
An I-field deployed instantly, neutralizing the beam attack as well.
This outcome had been anticipated.
Jamitov hadn't expected to land a critical hit from the start, so he didn't take it personally.
"Prepare for a second volley—"
"Enemy MA—high-energy reaction detected!"
A yellow glow began to streak from the green MA's barrel—it was as if time itself had slowed!
From the CIC came an urgent shout, "...Energy signature—it's a nuclear warhead!"
Everyone on the bridge froze in disbelief.
The reason for arranging the fleet in this phalanx formation was similar to the idea behind the 2,000 warships in Three-Body—that "there would be no further merit after this battle." The entire arrangement, disrupted by Zeon remnants, had been converted into a display of the Federation's military might for the Earth Sphere.
But it was precisely this formation that now guaranteed maximum casualties from the entirely unexpected nuclear strike!
"This isn't Solomon's airspace, but I can hear them... the echoes of Solomon's warriors screaming…"
Daryl muttered solemnly.
"Solomon... I shall return."
"Order the fleet to retreat—!"
The captain of the Birmingham rose from his seat, shouting toward the communications officer.
Jamitov no longer cared about the breach of protocol.
"Is there still time?"
He turned and looked out the side window. Drawing closer was the nuclear missile, ignited by laser, glowing like a beam of light.
"Revil… what kind of Federation will remain after you?"
He noticed some on the bridge abandoning their stations in panic, trying to flee from the place about to be struck.
But Jamitov's gaze remained fixed in the direction of Konpei Island, his expression unreadable.
Everything was silence.
The warships, caught in the void, charred and twisted, lost their function and became drifting wreckage.
How many lives were lost in that instant?
Kelly couldn't imagine it.
Nor did he feel any real sensation of having taken lives.
Inside such a massive machine, even killing didn't splatter blood across your view.
His left arm trembled. Kelly let go of the control stick with his right hand and pressed it against his cybernetic left arm, connected to the machine.
The Regeneration P-System—his gift from Gato—was what allowed him to return to the battlefield.
But after successfully repairing Val Walo, he hadn't even gotten to see Gato one last time before the man was inexplicably killed in combat.
Kelly should have felt grateful to Gato, but now he was trembling.
He didn't know if it was from the tremors of the machine using its shield to block the nuclear blast… or from his own fear.
"Subarashii (Magnificent!) This radiance—this is the gleaming spirit of Zeon's warriors!"
The shout came through the comms—none other than the frontline commander of Operation Stardust.
"Federation! Solomon! Do you see me? I have returned!"
This man, Daryl, had no combat record related to Solomon Fortress on file.
Yet, a chill ran through Kelly's heart.
Rumors had been circulating in the Delaz Fleet, whispering that Daryl had been possessed by Gato's ghost.
Could it be… that all Zeon remnants like them were doomed to this fate? Haunted by lingering resentment, eventually losing themselves?
Perhaps it was psychological, but Kelly thought he caught a glimpse—just at the edge of his vision—of a red flag bearing a black cross and golden emblem fluttering behind Neue Ziel.
It was the flag of Zeon.
He had thought Gato's spirit had latched onto Daryl, but now… maybe it was the spirit of Zeon itself.
Kelly gritted his teeth.
In that sense, wasn't he the same? Wasn't everyone in the Delaz Fleet haunted by Zeon's ghost?
The tremors stopped.
Val Walo's left arm joint crackled with electricity—clearly overloaded.
The shield vented a plume of smoke, and from the glowing red edges, it was obvious the hastily fabricated warship-armor shield had at least done its job.
Clank.
The ejection mechanism clicked. Charred and blackened, the shield—still bearing the faint emblem of Zeon—was cast away.
"You did well. Looks like Axis's gift was bigger than we expected,"
Daryl's slightly hoarse voice came through to Kelly.
The nuke had been specifically modified and delivered by Axis for the Delaz Fleet.
Originally, the goal had been to destroy a third of the fleet during the review ceremony—a feat in itself. But due to the Federation's arrogance, the nuke had gone on to accomplish even more.
The remaining scattered survivors—and numerous vessels suffering electronic failures from the radiation—would be handled by Delaz's follow-up forces.
This marked the beginning of Stardust Operation's second phase, delivering a massive blow to the Federation's military strength.
"Well done, you two. You can begin returning now."
Just as Neue Ziel discarded its now-useless cannon barrel, a transmission from Delaz came through.
"The moment she saw most of the Federation's fleet go down, that woman Cima rushed right over. We've got you to thank for that."
Delaz sounded genuinely impressed.
He wasn't fond of Cima, but she was Zeon through and through, and right now, she had a role to play.
"Just to be safe, I want you two to head to the rear of the colony satellite and eliminate that persistent nuisance—Undertaker. He's a Gundam pilot after all, and that job is better left to you."
Delaz remained composed—no signs of excitement over the extraordinary success.
Kelly nodded, but as he turned, he cast one last glance at Neue Ziel.
According to the maintenance crew, ever since Daryl entered Neue Ziel, he had never once exited. He ate, drank, and relieved himself entirely within the machine.
It was as if he had been consumed by it.
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