Chapter 270: Supporting Suez (Part 3)

The damage to the fleet did indeed drag down the speed of Li Boyong's unit supporting Suez to a certain extent. However, from the perspective of the combat loss ratio, the price paid by the ZAFT military for this was too huge.

After simple repairs, Li Boyong's fleet continued to head north, sailing toward the Suez stronghold, but that heavily damaged cruiser did indeed drag down the overall speed of the fleet.

By the time Li Boyong's unit arrived at the Suez stronghold, it was three hours late from the original plan.

And at this time, the ZAFT military unit had already lined up around the stronghold, in a state of being ready to launch an attack at any time.

*Jones* Bridge

The communicator reported to Li Boyong, who was on the command seat: "Colonel, a communication request from the Suiyishi Judian Headquarters."

"Connect me." Li Boyong waved his hand.

The next second, the big face of the Suiyishi Judian Commander appeared on the screen of the bridge.

"Thank you for your hard work coming from afar, Colonel Neo Roanoke," the Suez Commander said politely: "Although I really want to set up a welcoming banquet for the distinguished guests who have traveled far, the ZAFT military on the opposite side doesn't seem to want to give me this opportunity."

After a pause, the Commander continued: "I have long heard of the great name of Phantom Pain. Being able to get the support of such an elite unit is truly reassuring. So Colonel, can the defense of the river valley on the south side of the stronghold be entrusted to your unit?"

This old fox, there were only two roads for ZAFT to attack the Suez stronghold, which were the two river valleys on the south and southwest sides of the stronghold.

Among them, the river valley on the south side was more spacious and flat, which could be said to be the main direction of ZAFT's possible attack.

Regarding the Commander's proposal, Li Boyong indicated that you were thinking of peaches (a slang for "dreaming").

Of course, the Commander's little thoughts shouldn't be so simple either. It was estimated that he hoped Li Boyong would retreat and choose the river valley on the southwest side, and then reluctantly agree to it.

In fact, the two river valleys would eventually converge in front of the stronghold. It wasn't impossible to concentrate the deployment of troops in front of the stronghold, but that would be too passive strategically.

"I understand the situation. My unit will start the support operation for the Suez stronghold from now on," Li Boyong stood up and saluted, then changed the subject: "However, it is a pity that my unit has independent command, and this battle will be fought according to our own intentions."

"My unit just encountered a large-scale ambush by the ZAFT military in the Red Sea, and the state of the fleet is not perfect, so the fleet will enter Port Said in the north of the canal for repairs. The combat power that can be provided temporarily is only the *Dominion*."

"So I suggest that the stronghold's troops can set up a defense line at the confluence of the river valleys, and the *Dominion* will threaten the ZAFT military coming to attack from the side."

"Hmph, thank you for your suggestion, but even if your unit cannot provide enough combat power, my unit will still set up defense lines in the two river valleys separately."

Hearing Li Boyong's answer, the Base Commander could no longer maintain his gentle expression, stared coldly at the mask on Li Boyong's head, and hung up the communication directly.

"Thanks to independent command, otherwise every time I fight, I have to engage in political maneuvering with these wastes, and I would want to directly defect to the enemy," Li Boyong sat back on his command seat and mocked.

It was truly a spicy sarcasm, but it seemed to make sense.

The captain of the *Jones* evaluated in his heart, and then asked, "Then our deployment?"

"Just as I said just now, the fleet enters Port Said for repairs, the Windam team and Chaos, Abyss, and Forbidden Blue stay behind, and I and Gaia will temporarily transfer to the *Dominion* to participate in the defense operation of the stronghold," Li Boyong replied.

"But in that case..."

"Rest assured, if the other party really complains to military headquarters, they will only ask for trouble. And don't forget, the higher-ups specifically asked us to come over to support, actually because they took a fancy to the positron cannon carried on the *Dominion*," Li Boyong explained: "When it comes to the point of no return, I won't have any scruples."

"Since that's the case, I wish the Colonel martial luck." The officers on the bridge of the *Jones* saluted Li Boyong together.

After all, Li Boyong's decision was also to some extent considerate of his subordinates.

This favor, everyone had to accept.

Ten minutes later, Li Boyong piloted the Windam and Stella's Gaia Gundam to transfer to the *Dominion*.

Subsequently, the *Dominion* left the water and took off again, positioned at the 3 o'clock direction of the defense line of the river valley on the south side of the stronghold.

The arrival of the *Dominion* brought huge pressure to the ZAFT military preparing to attack.

As a ship of the same model as the *Archangel*, which was famous in the last great war, ZAFT was also very clear about the performance of the *Dominion*.

In the ZAFT military command, the commanders of each team also had differences of opinion because of this.

"I suggest delaying the offensive. Failing to block the support of the *Dominion*, the possibility of this offensive being frustrated is extremely high. Under the threat of the positron cannon, our military must pay a huge price to break through the river valley."

"How can we be timid at such a time? Do you want us to watch the Alliance's positron cannon platform be built?"

"That is, estimating the report of the ambush unit, the enemy's support fleet is also not lightly damaged in the previous battle, especially the *Dominion*, which was injured by the LaGOWE team. This may not be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us."

"But now with the arrival of the *Dominion*, it is equivalent to the positron cannon platform having been built. I think we can consider delaying the offensive. Even if the enemy's support fleet has been stationed here, looking at the overall situation, it is indeed that the enemy's important mobile combat power is contained here."

"How could it be stationed here forever? Once the enemy's positron cannon platform is built, naturally there is no need for the *Dominion* to continue staying here."

Several White Uniforms and Black Uniforms argued in the command communication channel. The White Uniform captain who was temporarily in charge of this offensive was also very troubled by this form. Now the ZAFT military was indeed facing this dilemma.

Everyone's discussion was still continuing, but after expressing the views of each clan clearly, their eyes gradually turned to the White Uniform who was the temporary general commander.

It was about time to make a decision...

The White Uniform captain who served as the temporary general commander pondered for a while, stood up from the command seat, and said: "Choosing to wait here is indeed a safe strategy, but it is useless for the promotion of the situation."

"We must open up the passage between the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean as soon as possible, and then liberate Europe under the bloody suppression of the Alliance."

"Only in this way can we make this absurd war farce end as soon as possible."

"So, I hope you will join me in conquering the Suez stronghold."

The general commander made his words clear, so the captains, regardless of what opinions they had expressed before, now obeyed the order.

The ZAFT military began to launch an offensive! ===== CHAPTER 271 =====