Chapter 3: First Battle (Part 1)

After completing the final checks, the maintenance crew began to evacuate the hangar.

Due to the design of the Nelson-class, the Mobius's sortie required it to be grabbed by mechanical arms, exit from the hangar doors in four directions, and then be fixed in four directions on the rear hull of the Nelson-class to prepare. After the bridge issued the final sortie order, the Mobius would then detach from the Nelson-class cruiser.

While waiting for the final sortie order, the middle-aged soldier who was the commander of the MA unit was also making final tactical arrangements through the communication channel.

"ZAFT forces detected, one Nazca-class, five MS have been dispatched from it and are rushing toward us, four of which are GINNs, and the other one is the captured Alliance MS, the Aegis."

"After each machine sorties, set up a defensive perimeter near the fleet's anti-aircraft fire zone, try to maintain mutual fire support with the warships, and drag down the opponent's MS unit."

"As long as we protect our warships, the enemy's Nazca-class won't dare to come forward easily. After all, our side still has the advantage in fleet battles. Then, under the fire cover of the warships, repelling the enemy's MS unit won't be a difficult task."

After the captain explained the situation as briefly as possible, there was a brief silence on the tactical channel, and even the two teammates who seemed to like talking just now lost their voices.

Although the captain sounded full of confidence when explaining the situation and arranging tactics, the actual situation was not optimistic.

Their side had a total of 12 MAs, and just dealing with four GINNs was already very strenuous. If an Aegis was added, it probably wouldn't last long.

After all, if the Aegis appeared, it meant the enemy was the famous Kruse Team, which was a special task force composed entirely of elites, and its combat power was ranked high within the ZAFT forces.

As for the so-called fire support from warships, in an N-Jammer environment, once the two sides' units were entangled together, the effect it could play was quite limited.

The advance team had a total of twelve MA pilots; after this battle, it was estimated that not many would be left. The guys who could survive probably saved the world in their previous lives.

Seeing that the atmosphere was not conducive to the team's morale, the captain broke the dull atmosphere: "Speaking of which, you might not believe it, but I've actually secretly gotten that communications girl from just now."

At a time like this, the captain self-detonated his private relationship information, which indeed attracted everyone's attention.

"You're lying, right? Captain, you're ten years older than her."

"Exactly, exactly. And don't you have a wife at the Lunar Base?"

The captain chuckled: "You don't understand. This is the charm of a mature man. Let me tell you, don't go spreading this, but she already knows about my wife, yet she's still willing to be my military lover. As long as we can go back safely after this battle, she's willing to give herself to me."

Li Boyong sweated slightly hearing this. Holy crap, this captain is setting up a hell of a flag before the battle.

While he was complaining in his heart, he heard the captain continue to encourage: "So, don't be nervous. This battle isn't as desperate as you think. Trust me, I will definitely lead you all to survive."

Li Boyong sweated profusely. Captain, what are you doing, Captain! Is it really okay to set up such a crazy FLAG?

It seemed the captain's optimism also infected the other two teammates, and the two of them also laughed and responded a few times.

The captain felt he had boosted the teammates' morale and continued with satisfaction: "This is more like a soldier. After we go back this time, I'll treat you to my treasured good wine."

Li Boyong was already in despair. Captain, why are you still setting up a team FLAG? I didn't offend you...

Just at this moment, the bridge transmitted the sortie order, and the four Mobius MAs slowly detached from the warship.

Li Boyong maneuvered his machine to accelerate, circled around after detaching from the Montgomery, and entered formation flight.

"Yo, rookie, how come it feels like your operation has become smoother?"

Seeing Li Boyong get into position quickly, the captain asked with some surprise and teasing.

Li Boyong didn't know what to say, so he could only say: "Maybe it's your encouragement, Captain, that made me less nervous."

"Is that so?" The captain laughed: "I said it, I will definitely lead you all to survive."

Li Boyong almost burst into tears inside his helmet, thinking, forget it, since you love setting up FLAGs so much, then set them. Maybe they'll become invalid if you set enough of them.

After the twelve Mobius MAs completed three four-machine formations, they began to accelerate toward the ZAFT forces' MS unit.

Immediately after, the first round of support shelling from the fleet behind passed over the MA unit and shot toward the ZAFT forces' MS unit.

The firepower of one Nelson-class cruiser and two Drake-class frigates was still quite objective. The Aegis and the four GINNs dispersed and dodged the first round of shelling.

And the MA unit happened to capture the enemy MS unit within firing range at this time. The three four-machine formations each focused fire on three GINNs, but unfortunately, all of them were flexibly dodged by the GINNs relying on their mobility.

Li Boyong also handed over his first live-fire shot in the CE Century in that round of focused fire. His two 75mm Railgun shots didn't touch anything; the GINN's mobility was too erratic and difficult to aim at for the Mobius's field of fire.

Damn it, real combat is indeed much harder than simulation combat.

Li Boyong cursed inwardly and didn't continue to waste ammunition, but instead tried his best to keep up with the MA formation. If he were left alone at a time like this, he would become a target for the enemy.

You have to know that if an MA is caught by an MS, it's very difficult to shake it off. He had to avoid this situation from happening no matter what.

But there is always a huge gap between reality and ideals. After the first round of fire, the Aegis, relying on the PS Armor's characteristic of being immune to live ammunition, began to rampage through the MA unit, severely disrupting the MA formation.

Seeing this, the four GINNs began to hunt down the isolated MAs, and the battlefield fell into a chaotic melee.

Ammunition belts intertwined, chasing the tail smoke trajectories of their respective targets.

A Mobius equipped with four-tube missiles seized an opportunity and fired all its missiles at a GINN, thinking it could kill it in one hit, but they were all shot down by the GINN while it was maneuvering and using its machine gun.

The Mobius, having missed its attack, was planning to turn around and evade, but its cockpit was hit by another GINN's rocket launcher. The pilot didn't even have time to scream before becoming dust in space.

After shooting down one Mobius, that GINN began to maneuver to evade the attacks of two Mobius MAs that were circling around to surround it. The ammunition belts of the four 45mm Vulcan Cannons didn't seem to be able to catch even the GINN's tail smoke.

The two Mobius MAs seemed too obsessed with creating battle results, but were instead both sniped by the Aegis using its beam rifle.

And our Li Boyong was piloting his own machine, aiming his muzzle at a GINN that was hunting down a Mobius. ===== CHAPTER 4 =====