Who is Playing the Love Development Game in Gundam

Once airborne, He Kui quickly spotted the intense battle unfolding below. Justice and Freedom each fought on separate fronts—Andrew, as the high-ranking commander of the Sarah squadron, held the left flank, while Creuset managed the forces alongside Yzak on the right. It was clear that Patrick Zala held Andrew in high regard.

From his high-altitude vantage, He Kui naturally flew toward the left side. Using the biplane form of his new Gundam had its advantages—it could maintain Freedom's speed in a straight line without excessive thruster usage. However, it lacked Freedom's flexibility, especially against the Elastic Wings. But that was only natural; this was a higher-grade mass-production model, not a top-of-the-line mobile suit.

Despite its TP armor, it still couldn't match ZAFT's latest models in combat. The Atlantic Federation's vast resources allowed them to churn out various mobile suit models at a rapid pace, diminishing ZAFT's technological edge. But He Kui set aside these concerns for now, focusing on the battlefield below.

Due to the presence of neutron jammers, he had managed to avoid detection from either side so far. Earth's radar had picked him up, but the Alliance had coded this suit with friendly recognition, so they assumed he was an ally. Even if someone tried to establish communication, the interference would block it. It was an odd scenario—He Kui flew an unrecognized mobile suit, yet the Eurasian forces treated him as one of their own.

He Kui needed to deliver the Cyclops data carefully. Broadcasting the intel exclusively to ZAFT wasn't ideal—most of the forces here were from Eurasia, and their survival was more beneficial than their demise. If he had Freedom's radar technology, he could make an open broadcast, but such technology, with its quantum communication capacity, was out of reach.

"Might as well keep it simple," he muttered, guiding his suit down toward a Spengler-class carrier that appeared to be a command ship.

"Warning! The Cyclops system beneath Alaska is about to detonate! All units, cease combat operations immediately!" He Kui broadcasted this message using laser communication, simultaneously transmitting the Cyclops data directly into the carrier's system.

"Cyclops?! Who are you?" came an accented voice over the line, skepticism clear.

"We're with 'Pallas.' There will be no reinforcements. Eurasia is nothing more than a sacrificial pawn."

"Why should we trust you?"

"Examine the data for yourselves."

Silence stretched over the line before the officer spoke again, his tone more serious. "What is your objective?"

"To preserve this world's existence."

"…Even if we withdraw now, ZAFT will pursue us."

He Kui replied calmly, "I will ensure ZAFT understands."

"Very well," came the response after a moment's pause.

Fortunately, the commanding officer was a decisive man. Breathing a sigh of relief, He Kui ascended back into the clouds.

In the carrier's control room, an aide voiced his concern to the general. "Are you sure about this, sir? If this is false intelligence, we could completely sever ties with the Atlantic Federation."

"Sever ties? That data speaks for itself," the general replied sharply. "Do you think that 'Pallas' group could have fabricated all that information? And the lack of reinforcements is fact."

"Contact the other three battalions. If they agree, we'll concentrate our forces and retreat westward, regrouping at Chukotka Peninsula."

The aide saluted, acknowledging that in this era of heavy interference, commanders had to rely on their own judgment.

Meanwhile, the beleaguered crew aboard the Archangel were stunned by the revelation Mu brought back.

"Is this true?" Murrue looked at Mu, momentarily speechless.

"I checked their command center myself. It's…"

A booming announcement suddenly cut through the cacophony of battle:

"To all soldiers:

Our current intelligence confirms that a Cyclops system is buried beneath the Joshua base.

Our temporary Eurasian command has decided to concentrate all forces to break through toward the Eurasian Chukotka Peninsula.

This mission is a matter of life or death. The road ahead is fraught with danger, but we have no choice but to fight. May the heavens bless our troops. Victory to us! Hoorah!!!"

From the loudspeaker ship at the back of the Eurasian fleet, the general's voice, amplified to its highest volume, echoed across the battlefield, briefly drowning out the sounds of explosions. While not all ships received the message—especially ZAFT submarines underwater—the ones that did began relaying it to their command ships.

Back in the ZAFT command ship, the broadcast sparked a wave of confusion. "Captain, could this be a delaying tactic?" Dacosta, acting as Andrew's aide, voiced his concern.

"If that's the case, they're effectively abandoning the Joshua base…" Andrew fell silent, contemplating the situation.

He Kui, listening from above, couldn't help but feel a touch of admiration. That Eurasian commander's plan was simple yet effective. By framing the retreat as a bold act of self-preservation, he was challenging ZAFT: either let them leave, or face total annihilation together. With Joshua base relinquished, ZAFT would have no reason to block their retreat.

"It's time I played my part."

He Kui steeled himself and piloted his Strike variant toward Justice's position.

"Athrun!" He Kui called out as he approached the bewildered pilot. Before Athrun could fire on the unfamiliar blue suit that seemed to blend elements of Strike and Justice, a familiar female voice interrupted him.

"It's… you?"

Athrun raised his beam rifle but hesitated. He Kui had gambled correctly. Athrun wouldn't kill indiscriminately; if it had been Yzak, He Kui likely wouldn't have survived this approach.

"This is the Cyclops intel. ZAFT needs to pull back, at least beyond its blast radius."

"Who are you? And why should I trust you?"

"We're with 'Pallas.' Eurasia is already preparing to retreat. Do you really want to keep fighting here? At this rate, reinforcements from the Panama base could arrive at any moment."

ZAFT was stuck in a dangerous situation; any decision here could be a game of chance. If they stalled too long, they'd be forced to retreat to Carpentaria.

"…Understood. I'll forward the intel to command," Athrun finally agreed, seeing that Eurasia was genuinely attempting to break through toward Chukotka.

With time running out, Athrun nodded, recalling the enigmatic figure who had once saved Nicol and Yzak from death. Although neither had spoken much about it, the memory of that cloaked figure remained firmly in their minds.

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