Chapter 379 - 380: This Time It’s 800,000 vs. 60,000—We’ve Got a Huge Advantage!

Chapter 379: Chapter 380: This Time It’s 800,000 vs. 60,000—We’ve Got a Huge Advantage!

[Coordinators really are pretty calm.]

[In any other anime, they’d have charged straight in by now.]

[Think about how many bosses back in the day only died because they insisted on opposing the protagonist.]

[If you don’t fight the protagonist, you won’t die. Why can’t you understand that?]

[I thought a fight was about to start. ε=(′ο｀*))) Sigh.]

[So there’s nothing to fight in the desert? Nooo.]

[They’re about to fight. Nothing’s happening now because the troublemakers haven’t arrived yet. Once Le Creuset’s team comes down, it’s all going to hell.]

[Yeah. Feels like that’s the only group they can still fight.]

[SEED is pretty unusual. In other Gundam series, the Gundams are usually on the protagonist’s side. In SEED, most of the Gundams belong to the enemy instead. Our side has three Gundams, and two of them are basically bootlegs.]

[Gundam Astrays are still Gundams. The technology is just different.]

[Just tell me whether Gundam Astrays are knockoff G-series units or not.]

[Just tell me whether Gundam Astrays look cool or not.]

[Can’t argue with the looks.]

[Please buff the Astrays. They look this cool and yet they’re so weak.]

[Feels like it depends on the pilot. Put Inori in an Astray and it turns into a massacre.]

[So Astray performance varies wildly depending on the pilot? It’s basically SEED’s version of a Leo?]

[I’m the only one who thinks Astrays look bad. Those exposed joints are ugly.]

[The Astrays should be Orb machines. We’ll have to see how Orb upgrades them later.]

[I’m more interested in ZAFT’s next-generation machines. All the Gundams on their side were stolen. I think they showed new machines being developed before, but there haven’t been any actual shots of them.]

[They haven’t finished developing them yet. Only a month or two has passed in-story. How could it be that fast?]

[I’m more curious when Athrun is going to defect.]

[Feels like it’ll be soon.]

The viewers’ discussion turned to Athrun, and the Stage display shifted to Athrun as well.

By this point, Athrun had arrived at the spaceport together with the rest of the Le Creuset Team. On a television inside the spaceport, Athrun’s father, Patrick Zala, was delivering an impassioned speech.

"—However, if the situation continues to develop in this direction, then we too will have no choice but to take corresponding measures..."

"Athrun!"

Nicol’s voice came from behind him.

"Nicol!"

Athrun greeted Nicol.

"You feel a little different today, Athrun. You seem a lot more cheerful than before," Nicol said with a smile.

"Do I?" Athrun himself did not notice it.

"Yeah. Before, Athrun always looked like he was about to be crushed under some enormous weight. But now it’s like you finally took that weight off your shoulders." Nicol was sincerely happy for him.

"It’s because his fiancée is finally safe, right?" Yzak floated over as well.

Athrun said nothing.

In truth, he and Lacus had already "broken up."

But Athrun was not going to tell anyone something like that.

If Lacus did not clarify it herself, Athrun would not say anything either.

Athrun and Lacus had met in the first place because their parents had arranged their engagement.

Athrun had not had any girl he particularly liked, and Lacus had not seemed to question the arrangement much either.

And so, for the time being, the two of them had simply "become a couple."

But in reality, it had only been a "show" put on by the adults.

The son of ZAFT National Defense Committee Chairman Patrick Zala and the daughter of the PLANT Supreme Council Chairman becoming a couple was an ideal political alliance for both sides.

But if someone asked whether what they felt for each other was love...

Before this, Athrun probably would have answered, "I don’t know."

Of course Athrun liked Lacus, respected her, and was willing to protect her.

If Lacus had asked him to spend his life with her, he would not have refused.

But now, Athrun would state it plainly: "This isn’t love."

Even if Lacus still asked him to spend his life with her, Athrun would respect that wish—right up until... Lacus found the person she truly loved.

Yzak and the others knew nothing about Athrun’s inner journey, however. At the moment, they were still in quite a good mood.

[It’s hilarious. Everyone thinks Athrun is happy because his fiancée is safe, but actually he’s happy because he doesn’t have a fiancée anymore.]

[I just want to know whether Athrun is ultimately going to choose Cagalli or Kira.]

[Probably Cagalli.]

[Kira is obviously his true love.]

[If he gets together with Kira, Inori and Lacus come bundled with her. Obviously impossible.]

[Athrun: I finally got away from Lacus and you’re bringing Lacus back again?!]

[Inori is basically Athrun’s nightmare too. She’s nearly become an inner demon at this point, so obviously that’s impossible as well.]

[Romance by process of elimination, huh?]

[Cagalli is pretty good. She’s responsible and I think they fit well. She’s just a little reckless.]

[A pure meathead.]

[She’s actually really pretty as long as she doesn’t open her mouth.]

[Such a cute girl. Shame she came with a mouth.]

Athrun and the others boarded the transport ship bound for Earth.

"Why haven’t we seen Captain Le Creuset?" Dearka asked.

"Captain Le Creuset was kept behind by the higher-ups. They’re discussing a new operation, so I’ve been put in temporary command," Athrun said.

"This time, once we reach Earth, we’re definitely sinking Long Legs!" Yzak clenched his fist.

All of the Gundams had been fitted with atmospheric equipment, while "Long Legs" not only had no resupply, it had even been attacked. Its current condition had to be terrible.

This wasn’t 800,000 against 600,000. This was 800,000 against 60,000!

The advantage was ours!

After boarding the transports, everyone prepared to head for Earth.

This should not have been a difficult trip. After all, their transports were two Laurasia-class frigates.

So after taking his place inside the Aegis, Athrun simply dozed off to conserve his strength for what came next.

"Mm...?"

But the next moment, when Athrun woke up, alarms were blaring outside.

"What’s going on?!"

Athrun immediately opened a channel to the bridge.

"It’s an Earth Alliance fleet! We’ve been ambushed!"

The two Laurasia-class frigates were already approaching their planned deployment orbit when, at precisely this moment, they ran into an Earth Alliance attack!

"Wait, that enemy formation... Were they waiting here for us?!"

Athrun immediately realized something was wrong.

—This force had specifically been lying in wait to ambush them.

Their intelligence had leaked!

That was Athrun’s first thought.

"Hey, hey, how did this happen?!"

They were just about to enter the descent trajectory, making the situation extremely dangerous.

"It’s probably Blue Cosmos!" Athrun guessed. "They must be here for revenge!"

Last time, it had been the Le Creuset Team that ruined Blue Cosmos’s attempt to seize the Archangel.

This time, they were probably here to retaliate!

They might not be able to beat three Pascal-class ships, but two Laurasia-class frigates were much easier prey!

In an instant, Athrun reached a decision. "I’ll sortie and buy time. The moment the transports complete deployment, leave this area immediately!"

"Athrun, what about you?!" Yzak shouted.

"The G-series can enter the atmosphere independently. I’ll... go down on my own!"