Gundam SEED: Poetry of Tomorrow

Chapter 97 The Eighth Fleet Destroyed
"...Everyone...take it...please——"

Ahead, Ino and the others also received messages from the Kamov.

"Captain Selman?"

"Kamov?"

In the stunned eyes of Ino and others.

A burning battleship rushed into the hinterland of the enemy fleet.

As the Kamov fired a salvo of artillery fire, the destroyers aware of the other party's intentions moved in front of the Eighth Fleet flagship Menelaos in an attempt to block it.

After some fierce shooting, the destroyer sank in the sea of ​​fire, but the Kamov still slowly moved forward firmly towards the Menelaos.

"Stop it, bastard!"

The Mobius Zero piloted by Mu resisted the gravity from the earth and launched a wire-controlled turret to fire with all its strength.

However, in the face of a huge battleship that has developed inertia and is not afraid of death, Mobius Zero's attack seems particularly bullying.

No more passionate orders.

Soldiers on both sides have already noticed the other's intentions.

The two battleships began to fire their main guns without dodge.

"——Does he want to die together?"

On the swaying bridge, Hoffman stood up in horror after realizing it.

Halbarton, who had been gritting his teeth and saying nothing, ordered with a serious expression: "Let the refugee space shuttle evacuate immediately."

Hoffman was stunned.

After he understood the meaning of this order, his face suddenly turned pale: "But, Captain -"

Halbarton yelled at him reprimandingly: "Now that we've reached this point, how could we be shot down by him!"

outside world.

The Menelaos' main gun penetrated the Kamov, causing violent continuous explosions.

However, the huge hull of the Menelaos was hit everywhere and began to tilt sharply.

Reddish fire began to appear on the bottom of the ship, and the two battleships had been dragged into the earth's atmosphere.

A space shuttle shot out from the Menelaos, gradually moving away and controlling its posture. Halbarton, who confirmed this, had a trace of peace in his eyes.

All that's left is for the Archangel to reach its destination safely.

"The Archangel must not be silenced here! Absolutely not!"

Halbarton's voice echoed in the bridge.

The largest flagship of the Eighth Fleet is also ready to sink ZAFT's brave enemy ships with it.

"Captain Selman and Halbarton..."

Looking at the two battleships that had been pulled by the earth's gravity, a hint of complexity flashed in Ino's originally indifferent eyes.

He didn't have much contact with Captain Selman. He only knew that he was a soldier with a beard. The soldier's serious character was a little peaceful.

Major General Halbarton Ino only knew the name, but didn't know the details.

But now - he couldn't help but feel a little respect for these two people and the other dead people.

At the same time, it also made him discover some of his own problems.

In fact, many times, Ino would subconsciously forget about other people besides the protagonist group.

His eyes were always on the person whose name he knew.

But now, other people in this world are also human beings, and they are not meaningless supporting characters. At least they are fighting to the death for the ideals in their hearts.

Even if you want them to die, you must show the most basic respect. Otherwise, what is the difference between you and a killing machine?
beep beep-

"Haha - let's die together, ZAFT!"

Ino, who did not move forward, heard an unfamiliar roar coming from the near-field communication.

As he turned around, a Mobius that didn't fire for some reason rushed towards Ino.

boom!
The next second, a beam of light hit the opponent's body from a distance.

The flames of the explosion ignited in front of Ino.

"Ino, go back first. If you continue to move forward, you can't come back by relying on Keen's engine!"

Diego's voice came to my ears.

"I see."

Ino nodded, which was why he didn't continue.

Keen's engine output is too weak compared to the Earth's gravity.

And my own body is not a good one. If it is really entangled by the gravity of the earth, it will be a feast.However, he did not leave, but wanted to see the end, at least to witness the heroism of both the enemy and ourselves.

The two battleships were covered in scars, their outer armor had burned red under the friction of the atmosphere, but they still kept shooting at each other.

The Kamov, which was the first to hold on, had a chain explosion inside the ship, and its armor was bounced high by the explosive force inside.

The scattered fragments drew parabolas in the atmosphere, and were burned up one by one.

Although the Menelaos barely held on, its shell was cut and burned by the thin air, and its engine almost lost its ability to escape gravity.

In fact, at this point, no matter how powerful the engine is, it can no longer make this huge flagship escape the gravity of the earth.

"General Halbarton...!"

Facing the gradually broken and burning Menelaos, Malu stood up and stood at attention slowly, her vision blurred by tears.

Halbaton's last free and easy smile still lingered in her mind.

"Captain Selman—!"

Nigel's distressed cry came from the loudspeaker.

Aslan couldn't help but be stunned for a moment, staring blankly at the two warships that were on fire.

At this time, the Vesalius's return order was also transmitted to their cockpit through laser communication.

Indeed - even if they pursue him now, there is nothing they can do.

But Aslan couldn't leave, he just watched the tragedy in front of him in trance with Ino.

This was pointless, no reason or reason could justify such a huge sacrifice, he thought in his mind.

below.

The battle between Strike Gundam and Duel Gundam continues.

At the same time, as the two men fought, the two machines were gradually locked and torn apart by the earth's gravity.

Diego is calling Yitzhak.

The Archangel is sending retreat orders.

But Yitzhak, who had completely lost his mind, could no longer hear other sounds at this time. There was only one thought in his mind - kill him!Kill the culprit who caused you so much humiliation.

The Duel Gundam attacked with its lightsaber, but Kira blocked it with her shield and pushed it back.

The Duel Gundam that was deflected fired its rifle, and the Strike Gundam also retreated and fired back.

Just then something suddenly appeared and blocked their sight.

It was the space shuttle launched by Menelaos.The refugees from Heliopolis were all on the shuttle, and Kira herself was supposed to be among them.

What a coincidence, it was right between the Strike Gundam and the Duel Gundam.

The Duel Gundam's rifle was raised.

"don't want-----!"

Kira shouted and activated the fine-tuning thruster, and the Strike Gundam's hand stretched out desperately.

He seemed to be able to see that little face leaning against the window on the side of the space shuttle, looking out.

——Thank you for always protecting us...

boom!
Boom!

Suddenly, the Strike Gundam's head was hit by a beam and exploded.

Kira, who lost the external image and did not know the safety of the space shuttle, was shocked to realize his mistake.

He thought that all he needed to do was protect, as long as he had done it himself, but the reality was not like that.

Without determination, nothing will be achieved - Halbarton's words are right.

If he had known this, he shouldn't have shown mercy to Duel Gundam.

Since you are trying to protect someone, you shouldn't be confused.

For that purpose, even if you have to do anything - even let your hands be stained with the blood of your compatriots, if you don't have this determination, no one will be able to protect you.

"Ino!"

Yitzhak looked at the bullet that deflected his attack, cursed angrily and looked up, wanting to drive the machine body up.

However, as the earth's gravity pulled apart, Yitzhak's roar and unwillingness could only gradually disappear as he landed.

"The people sitting there are civilians, you idiot-"

After saying that, Ino silently took back his weapon and turned around to leave.

As for the three machines being pulled by the earth's gravity - I'm sorry.

　Okay, let’s change the route~
　　I'm almost numb when I'm doing the main plot.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)