"Buzz... buzz... buzz..."
"This is...! Strong photon radiation detected behind enemy lines!"
At the very last moment before the Photon Destroyer Cannon was fired, the photon radiation was detected by the Fortress Tons.
"Could it be that it's been completed? Immediately notify the troops on the radiation axis to retreat! Fortress Tons, emergency turn towards F21 direction, [Giant's Shield] system activated!"
The peculiar limbs of Fortress Tons shimmered with a faint glow, growing brighter and brighter. Laser beams shot out from four points, connecting to form three layers of sturdy energy barriers in a conical shape in front of the fortress.
Just as the [Giant's Shield] was completed, a visible torrent of photon energy collided with the solid shield. The overwhelming force pushed Fortress Tons backward, but the [Giant's Shield] remained unyielding, without a single crack. Under its steadfast protection, Fortress Tons suffered almost no damage.
"Report the situation!" Medel Sant immediately asked after enduring the blast.
"No significant damage detected!"
"Phew~" Medel Sant sighed in relief. "Did we make it in time? Jehart's prediction was indeed accurate."
He then inquired about the losses among the allied forces. "What are the casualties among our troops?"
"10% of allied signals lost!"
"Bang~" Although he had braced himself for it, Medel Sant couldn't help but slam his fist on the command console.
"Was it still too late?"
Despite issuing the retreat order in time, it was already too late for the frontline troops. Especially after the [Celestial Being] squadron cleared the path, the attacking forces on the central front charged forward like unleashed beasts, treating the Diva and Nodam as their prey and recklessly pouncing on them.
They rushed in too quickly, falling into the enemy's encirclement. The excitement of having seemingly driven away the [Celestial Being] squadron blinded them, leading them down a path of destruction.
"Report the situation to Commander Jehart. That weapon can't be used consecutively. Now is the time for a full assault!"
"Yes, sir!" XN
...
The attack from the [Photon Ring Array] inflicted heavy casualties on VEGAN, but the Federal Army found no joy in it.
"The electronic beam was diffused. The fortress remains unharmed."
"What!?"
"What's going on?" Flit urgently asked, unable to accept that his surefire strike had failed to deliver the expected results.
"The enemy seems to have deployed some kind of interference barrier," Romary reported.
"How could that be..."
"To think they neutralized our tactic on the spot..."
The atmosphere on the Diva's bridge was heavy. Although they had eliminated 10% of the enemy forces, their primary target remained Fortress Tons. Without destroying the fortress, even 20% or 30% losses among the enemy would be meaningless.
"Recharge immediately!" Flit commanded.
"Understood!"
"But Commander, the enemy fortress's interference barrier..." Argreus interjected. As long as the barrier remained, no matter how many times the [Photon Ring Array] fired, it would likely have no effect.
"...What's the status of the [Celestial Being] squadron?" Flit asked.
"They're currently engaged in combat," Romary replied.
"...There's no other way. Argreus, I'm leaving the command to you." With that, Flit rose and left the bridge, heading towards the hangar.
"Of course..." Seeing Flit depart, Argreus shrugged. He had anticipated that Flit would take matters into his own hands.
The remarkable presence of the [Celestial Being] squadron had made many forget that before becoming the Supreme Commander, Flit was a top-tier pilot second only to the [Federal Army's Three Archangels].
Although he had shifted his focus to battlefield command, his heart still yearned to fight on the front lines. This was one of the reasons he had tirelessly trained Argreus as his successor.
However... the [Celestial Being] squadron was simply too dazzling. Minor skirmishes didn't require the Supreme Commander's intervention, and in major battles—such as the defense of the [Big Ring] base—just as Flit prepared to take action, VEGAN had retreated.
"Leave it to me now, Commander!" Argreus confidently thought to himself.
...
"Damn the Federation! They were hiding such a weapon!" Deet Lancer seethed with anger. How many of his comrades had been swallowed by the photon torrent? It was impossible to count!
"So that's why the Vice Commander issued the retreat order? Damn the Federal Army!" Awoha Fadian also vented his fury.
"If we hadn't been pinned down by the [Moon Angel]'s sniping, would we have..."
At Doll Frost's reminder, the two men's heated minds cooled, their backs instantly drenched in cold sweat.
Yes, if it hadn't been for the [Moon Angel]'s sniping keeping them outside the [Photon Ring Array]'s firing axis, they might have also been blinded by rage like the other VEGAN forces, only to be engulfed by the photon torrent.
In a way, Yurin was their savior.
"Tch! How frustrating!"
"But we can't let this slide!"
"Whether it's Commander Jehart's orders or the vengeance for our comrades, we can't stop here. Awoha, Deet, let's go!"
"Understood!" X2
The three machines of the personal guard, trailing blazing flames, charged towards the three Gundams of the [Celestial Being] squadron. They knew it was a futile effort, but neither Jehart's orders nor the hatred for their fallen comrades allowed them to falter in fear.
...
"Phew~ Quite a spectacle, huh." Graham whistled in admiration. It was his first time witnessing the power of a large-scale strategic weapon.
"Surprised already? You'd be scared to death in the future," Yang Hui teased.
Indeed, the [Photon Ring Array] was nothing special. Across various worlds, there were countless similar—and even more formidable—weapons, such as the Beam Magnum, Genesis, Requiem, not to mention the even more overpowering Moonlight Cannon, Moonlight Butterfly, and Photon Torpedoes.
"Ho? Is that so? Then I won't be bored," Graham grinned. If there were even more powerful strategic weapons, there must also be stronger opponents. That wouldn't scare him—it would only fuel his passion further.
"Don't worry, there'll be plenty of challengers for you in the future. For now..." Yang Hui glanced at the targeting system, where three enemy markers were rapidly approaching. "...Let's greet our guests."
"It's those three... Yurin, mind if I take your opponents?"
"Feel free," Yurin replied indifferently. She didn't shy away from battle, but it didn't mean she enjoyed it. If someone else could handle it, giving her more time to stay by Yang Hui's side, she wouldn't object.
"Then I'm going!"
With that, the Flag Gundam's thrusters ignited, transforming into a meteor as it charged towards the three personal guard units.
"Beep beep beep..." At that moment, Flit's communication request came through.
"Is your fight over?" Flit asked directly after the connection was established.
"Pretty much. The enemy units on the central path have been driven to the flanks," Yang Hui replied. The [Photon Ring Array]'s attack had thoroughly sobered up the frenzied VEGAN forces. The three Gundams then hunted down the surviving remnants, driving them towards the ordinary Federal Army units on the sides, away from the scythe of death.
"Graham, he's..."
"The last of the enemy's X-Rounder units."
"I see. Then follow me. We're launching an assault on the VEGAN mobile fortress to create another opportunity for the [Photon Ring Array] to fire."
"Direct assault on the fortress?"
"Yes. The enemy's movements are strange. Up until now, there have been no attacks directed at the Nodam itself, so..."
"Capture the Nodam intact?"
"Exactly. Based on their behavior and trajectory, that's the only explanation," Flit confirmed with a nod.
"I see. They're really bold, huh," Yang Hui feigned mockery. Knowing the original plot, he was aware from the start that VEGAN's plan was to forcibly dock Fortress Tons with Nodam. He also knew that Ezelcant never believed the operation would succeed—his ultimate goal was to use the destruction of Fortress Tons to hide VEGAN troops within the debris and infiltrate Earth.
But he couldn't reveal this now. Not because he wanted to preserve the plot, but because he had no credible reason to explain it. How could he tell Flit he could foresee the future?
"Yang Hui, Yurin, we must not let VEGAN's scheme succeed. Follow me!"
"Understood." X2
The Dawn Gundam and Luna Gundam closely followed the Gundam AGE-1, charging straight towards Fortress Tons. Regardless of whether they knew the enemy's plan, the objective of this battle was clear: destroy Fortress Tons and thwart VEGAN's scheme. As for the infiltrating forces, they would have to be dealt with separately. After all, there were still over twenty years before VEGAN's large-scale invasion of Earth. Even if they couldn't root out all of them, they could eliminate a significant portion.
Cutting through enemy lines, the Dawn Gundam, Luna Gundam, and Gundam AGE-2 reached the front of Fortress Tons. Facing its heavy firepower, even with their exceptional skills, the three found themselves unable to break through this spiky hedgehog.
"Tsk tsk, as expected of a fortress. That anti-aircraft fire network must have at least a hundred Beam Cannons, right?" Yang Hui clicked his tongue in amazement.
"Is now the time to marvel at the enemy?" Flit's eyebrow twitched. This was no time for jokes... but he quickly gave up, knowing this was just Yang Hui's nature—rarely showing tension or urgency in battle.
"What now? At this rate, we won't have time to destroy the interference barrier," Yang Hui asked Flit. Although destroying a hundred shipboard cannons was feasible, it would take time—time they didn't have to leisurely dismantle Fortress Tons.
"We'll target its propulsion system. Before resisting the [Photon Ring Array]'s attack, the fortress adjusted its orientation, meaning the interference barrier only works in
a specific direction."
"Understood... I'd like to say that. Yurin, protect Flit. As a guest, I should respond to the host's warm welcome," Yang Hui said, piloting the Dawn Gundam to meet the swarming enemy units.
(End of Chapter)