Chapter 22: Mission Reappears

The small episode of Kira Yamato, Cagalli Yula Athha, and the Desert Tiger meeting unexpectedly would not affect the fact that both sides were about to engage in a decisive battle.

When both the Archangel and the resistance army were ready, they began to break through toward the Red Sea, and in front of them was naturally the Waltfeld Team entrenched there.

The resistance army's armed convoy set off as the vanguard, heading toward the place where the minefield was buried, attempting to attract the ZAFT BuCUEs.

The Archangel followed closely behind. In the hangar, the Strike had completed its sortie preparation, and the maintenance crew was equipping the two Sky Graspers with the Strike's equipment.

Mula Flaga, in his pilot suit, was directing on the scene: "Unit 1, equip the Launcher Striker; Unit 2, equip the Sword Striker. Get it done quickly. The resistance army can play a very limited role; the main battle still depends on ourselves."

Li Boyong hurriedly reached out to pull him: "Hey, chotto matte, why am I using the Sword Striker?"

Using a Sword Striker on a fighter jet sounds very unreliable!

My melee stat is only 45!

Mula Flaga spread his hands: "I can't help it either. To deal with BuCUEs, the Strike needs the mobility of the Aile Striker, so only the Sword Striker is left."

As he said this, he wanted to slip away, but was pulled back by Li Boyong.

"Why is it based on the premise that you use the Launcher Striker?" Li Boyong glanced sideways, holding Mula Flaga tightly.

"Of course, it's because my shooting is more accurate." Mula Flaga turned his head and used his shoulder to break free. He wouldn't say that he also disliked the Sword Striker; it sounded unreliable.

Li Boyong: "............"

Hey, look at me when you talk, you jerk!

"I'm also very good at shooting." Li Boyong gritted his teeth.

"That's still impossible to be better than me. My shoot-down count is clearly higher than yours."

"That's because your service time is long. If we count from the advance team, my combat record is better."

"Nani? Where is your attitude of respecting your superior?"

The two clowns started making a scene over the right to use the equipment. The maintenance crew watched the fun while working, and the originally heavy pre-battle atmosphere was diluted quite a bit.

"Major, why don't you two decide by rock-paper-scissors."

There were also those stirring up trouble; Madok had a look of watching the fun without fearing the size of the mess.

Mula Flaga hooked Li Boyong's neck with his backhand: "You brat, don't go too far. This is a superior's order."

Li Boyong: "............"

Damn it, it's all Mula Flaga's fault for always being so unserious. I got used to the fuss and forgot that this guy is still a Major.

At this time, a series of violent explosions came from outside. Although it didn't affect the Archangel, the commotion was a bit scary.

Natarle Badgiruel asked from the bridge: "Hangar, this is the bridge. Are the sortie preparations complete?"

"Uh... this..." Sergeant Madok was in a difficult position.

"Not ready yet?" Natarle Badgiruel said sternly: "Get it done immediately. The resistance army's minefield was destroyed, which means the enemy was prepared early on and will attack soon."

"Yes, immediately!" Madok was so scared that he stood at attention and saluted the communicator.

Mula Flaga also let go of Li Boyong and put away his grinning face: "Alright, alright, no more fooling around. The battle is about to start."

"Understood."

Li Boyong nodded seriously, put on his helmet, and climbed into the Sky Grasper.

"Wait, this is Unit 1."

Mula Flaga pulled Li Boyong, who was halfway up.

Seeing that he couldn't fool him, Li Boyong had to smile awkwardly and went to his Unit 2: "Ah, sorry, sorry, because they all look the same."

Madok shook his head helplessly at the two clowns, but he still had to speed up his work.

A Major, a Second Lieutenant, neither has a serious look all day. Or is it that pilots are like this no matter how high their rank is?

But in any case, why do I have to be scolded by the First Officer because of these two clowns............

Li Boyong boarded his Sky Grasper Unit 2, and then received a mission from the System.

【Mission】

Sink one Petrie-class land battleship. (Completion reward: 5 Battle Merit Points)

Here it comes, here it comes. I remember the Petrie-class seems to be ZAFT's medium land cruiser, one size smaller than the Lesseps, equivalent to something like the Lesseps' escort ship.

It seems the System is very considerate of me this time, issuing a mission that fits my grunt status, and didn't make it difficult for me to sink the Desert Tiger's mothership or anything.

The most critical thing is that it didn't mention any failure penalty; even if I can't complete it, it doesn't matter.

Li Boyong rarely didn't complain about this mission.

Soon, the resistance army outside and the ZAFT armed helicopter units began to exchange fire.

And after the two Sky Graspers finished equipping, they immediately departed from the Archangel to support the resistance army's armed convoy.

The Strike followed closely behind, actively launching an attack on the ZAFT BuCUE formation.

Li Boyong entered the battlefield in his Unit 2. He first aimed his target at the ZAFT armed helicopter units.

Clear these things first, otherwise the resistance army's casualties will be heavy. In case Cagalli Yula Athha has any trouble, it won't be good. As for the BuCUE formation, it's completely fine for the current Kira Yamato to handle.

The Sky Grasper relied on its performance advantage to shoot down several enemy aircraft in succession. After all, things like armed helicopters are just moving targets for fighter jets.

After the ZAFT armed helicopter units were routed, Li Boyong turned and flew toward the enemy mothership. On that side, Mula Flaga had already begun attacking the enemy mothership.

The Waltfeld Team's mothership, the Lesseps, along with a Petrie-class, braved Mula Flaga's harassment and launched a shelling battle against the Archangel. The Desert Tiger and his wife also sortied in the LaGOWE, joining the siege of the Strike.

Missiles, anti-aircraft guns, artillery, railguns, beam cannons—various firepower intertwined into a violent yet slightly aesthetic picture.

"You brat, pincer attack!"

"Understood."

The two Sky Graspers launched a dive attack on the Petrie-class from two directions amidst the intense anti-aircraft fire net.

The two Zauort artillery MS mounted on the Petrie-class deck also aimed their firepower at the two Sky Graspers.

Mula Flaga's Unit 1 attacked first, using a better entry angle to dodge the anti-aircraft fire, and the Agni directly destroyed one Zauort.

Li Boyong was a bit unaccustomed to the Sky Grasper equipped with the Sword Striker. Under the pressure of the anti-aircraft fire, the ejected Ship-Slicing Blade failed to cut the Zauort he was targeting, instead cutting off the main gun barrel next to the Zauort.

"Damn it."

Unit 2, while breaking away, was blocked by the Lesseps' anti-aircraft fire, which included the Duel and Buster just dispatched from Gibraltar to support. Fortunately, these two machines still retained their space combat settings and had not performed heat convection shooting adjustments.

The Duel and Buster's attacks all missed. Li Boyong broke away from the gap they created and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Tsk, that's why I said the Sword Striker is a pit. I'm not Edward the Ripper."

The attack failed. Li Boyong used complaining to relieve his emotions, and incidentally thanked the Duel and Buster for their missing aim.

Li Boyong circled his Unit 2 in a large arc, preparing to attack the low ship again. ===== CHAPTER 23 =====