After eliminating the UE's assault troops, Grudick accepted Yang Hui's suggestion to forgo returning to Minslie for resupply and set off directly for the Ambat Fortress. Now it was a race against time and luck—whether they could capture the Ambat Fortress before the UE reinforcements arrived, and whether the fortress was as weak as Yang Hui and Grudick had analyzed.
Everything was a gamble; if they guessed right, all would be well, but if wrong, everyone could perish on the battlefield, including Yang Hui and Graham.
Even if they could retreat, less than half of the joint fleet would likely survive, and even those who returned would be labeled as traitors, dragging Yang Corporation down with them.
"Vargas, how is the modification of Diva going?" Yang Hui asked. The photon blast cannon was their only trump card; if it wasn't completed, they wouldn't stand a chance against even Fah Bausser, let alone Ambat Fortress.
"It's done! Thanks to Emily bringing in Mukuride Madonna, or we really wouldn't have made it in time," Vargas said happily as he pulled up the data for the photon blast cannon.
Yang Hui examined it closely and nodded in satisfaction. With this decisive weapon, the pieces for the Bat Extermination Operation were all in place.
"Good work. Take a good rest; we'll soon be entering the space domain of Ambat Fortress. This will be a tough battle."
"Mm."
With 20 minutes left before the operation began, everyone's mood was complex. On one hand, there was excitement; given their previous achievements, everyone held hope for this battle. As long as they won and returned alive, they would all be heroes of the Federation.
On the other hand, there was anxiety. War inevitably brings sacrifice, and they didn't know if they would be among the lucky few to survive. They could only pray they would be, while also wishing for the safety of their comrades.
"Once this battle is over, the first phase will be complete, right?" Graham approached Yang Hui to chat.
"Yeah, the first phase task isn't too difficult for us; the rewards shouldn't be too high."
"That's something you need to worry about. I'm just looking forward to the upcoming battle; I hope it gets my blood pumping."
"Then I'll just turn you into a stick to cool you down. Although the Samurai Gundam has been enhanced, it's still a B-class unit and can't fully keep up with our speed. Rather than let you fall apart in space, I might as well take action myself," Yang Hui shot Graham a glare and said irritably.
"Tch, that's so frustrating. Is it really impossible for this world to produce B-class units?"
"Of course not; it's mainly a matter of time. The spoils we get from UE are still very valuable for research. It's not hard to produce B-class or even B+ class units. After the battle, I'll enhance our units again."
"Well, that's good. At least we won't have to be so cautious in the second phase. But Yang Hui, what do you plan to do after the first phase? Will you still be a civilian?" Graham asked.
"Let's see. If I'm not mistaken, there won't be a second phase. It's a pity we might not be able to achieve our ultimate goal this time."
"EXA-DB?" Graham wasn't foolish and quickly guessed what Yang Hui's ultimate goal was.
"Yeah, we'll see how it goes," Yang Hui nodded.
After the Bat Extermination Operation, the performance and results of several Gundams would definitely attract the Federation's attention. If Yang Hui and Graham continued as civilians, they would surely lose the Dawn Gundam and Samurai Gundam. Rather than let the Federation take their units for research or hand them over to others, it would be better to join the Federation with their units.
Moreover, the Federation had invited Yang Hui and Graham to join the Federal Army multiple times before, but they had declined for various reasons. Now that Yang Hui and Graham were actively piloting MS in battle, they could no longer find reasons to refuse the Federation's invitation.
The third point, and the most important one, was that once Yang Hui obtained the rights to an independent unit, he could leverage the entire Federation's intelligence capabilities and internal data to search for EXA-DB in the vast universe. Otherwise, relying solely on Yang Corporation's capabilities would be like searching for a needle in a haystack.
And they wouldn't have to search secretly to avoid being discovered and feared by the Federation. Once found, they could back it up and then destroy it, claiming they were too busy with the battle. Yang Hui knew what kind of monsters guarded EXA-DB; to put it bluntly, with the current Dawn Gundam and Samurai Gundam, Yang Hui and Graham would be walking into a death trap.
"Understood. I'll follow your command then, Captain," Graham teased.
"If you want it, I can give you the Captain position."
"Forget it. I just want to enjoy the thrill of battle right now."
Graham was also an excellent leader, but that was only because he was willing to take on responsibility; it didn't mean he truly enjoyed leading others. With the more capable Yang Hui in command, he could set aside the burden and focus on the fight.
At that moment, the alarm on Diva sounded, broadcasting to the entire ship: "The Bat Extermination Operation will begin in 5 minutes. All personnel to level two combat readiness. Repeat, the Bat Extermination Operation will begin in 5 minutes. All personnel to level two combat readiness!"
Yang Hui and Graham exchanged smiles and bumped fists before heading to their respective units.
...
"Zalam and Auba ships report, all units are combat-ready."
"Good!" Grudick stood up, suppressing his excitement, and announced, "I am Captain Grodek Ainoa of the Diva! Comrades, the decisive battle is upon us. Sacrifice is inevitable, but… we must win this battle! This is a fight for humanity's right to survive! It is a battle to defend human dignity! And it is also… for the many souls lost. Our counterattack begins now!"
"Oh~!!"
"MS units, launch!"
With the order given, all MS units of the joint fleet launched. This was an all-or-nothing battle, leaving no reserve forces behind.
Dawn Gundam and Samurai Gundam led the charge, with Gundam AGE-1 and G-Onger following closely as the spearhead of the fleet. Lagan couldn't handle the high-intensity combat, and Genoece's special type was also unfit, so to avoid holding back, they stayed behind with Diva.
The Zalam and Auba forces spread out on the flanks, becoming the strongest shield for Diva.
"MS units deployed!"
"Optical sensors have detected Ambat Fortress."
"Display image."
The image of Ambat Fortress magnified in everyone's view. Although it was an abandoned fortress by the Federation, its former grandeur and might were still evident.
"This is… the cosmic fortress hidden by UE…"
"Finally found you, lurking in the cosmos, winged ones!" Grudick said fiercely, then issued the command, "Flush the enemy out! Notify the entire fleet to begin the attack! Target… Space Fortress Ambat!"
All cannons fired, a torrential downpour of beams mixed with meteor-like missiles surged toward Ambat.
But strangely, despite the countless fireworks exploding in space, the detectors showed no response.
"Did they escape early? Or…" Yang Hui frowned, gesturing to Graham, Flit, and Woolf beside him, and sent a coded message to the entire fleet. The joint fleet's advance speed began to slow and gradually contracted inward.
As everyone waited anxiously, a flickering camouflage light suddenly appeared in front of Ambat, and UE's forces finally came into view.
"Enemy detection system confirms: one large battleship, numerous MS!"
Hearing this, Grudick and Yang Hui relaxed; they didn't have to worry about UE escaping.
"Have they shown themselves?" Grudick grinned and announced the command according to the battle plan, "Diva, begin conversion to assault landing mode!"
"Eh?" Everyone was momentarily stunned but quickly began to operate.
"Repeat! Diva begins conversion to assault landing mode!"
"All personnel, assault landing configuration! All personnel, assault landing configuration…"
With the enemy revealed, Diva finally showed its hidden fangs. The bow split open, and along with the rear thrusters, it rotated 90 degrees. The folded wings unfolded, revealing the central photon blast cannon, transforming Diva into a striking Trojan horse in space.
"Diva, assault landing mode, conversion successful!"
"From now on, Diva will seize the effective launch position for the photon blast cannon. Zalam and Auba fleets, close in on Diva. Conventional MS units, advance steadily while escorting the fleet! Gundam squad, clear the path ahead!"
"Understood!" XN
As soon as the order was given, Dawn Gundam and Samurai Gundam, along with Gundam AGE-1 and G-Onger, charged straight into the enemy formation, weaving through the dense barrage of fire. Guns blazed, swords gleamed, and after tearing a hole in the enemy lines, they pressed on without pause, quickly cutting through UE's formation.
However, they did not attack Fah Bausser, nor did they directly penetrate Ambat; instead, they immediately turned around and charged in another direction, once again splitting the enemy formation.
UE's MS units attempted to fill the gaps, but the joint fleet's conventional MS units were already waiting for them. As soon as they got close, they would be pierced by pink beams.
But the current advantage was merely a surprise attack by the spearhead squad, and UE quickly stabilized their formation, launching effective counterattacks. The fleet that had charged through the gap immediately found itself surrounded by the enemy, while a steady stream of MS units surged out from Fah Bausser.
"At this rate, it'll never end!" Woolf shouted. Following the three Gundams, he hadn't encountered danger, but the physical toll was too great. He could hold on for a short time, but it wouldn't be long before he was exhausted.
"Woolf, Flit, fall back and escort Diva with Lagan," Yang Hui ordered immediately upon seeing their condition.
"But…" Flit panted, wanting to argue.
"Follow orders! The photon blast cannon is our only chance! As long as we heavily damage the UE mothership, we'll have succeeded halfway. We must protect Diva at all costs!" Yang Hui reprimanded.
"...Understood!"
Flit recalled the dangerous consequences of his previous impulsiveness. Though reluctant, he accepted the order and retreated to Diva's side with Woolf.
"Graham, let's clear the MS units blocking our path!"
"Understood!"
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