Chapter 39: The Archangel Sets Sail Again

As the OS for Naturals gradually improved and the Archangel's repair work entered its final stages, the brief peaceful life of the Archangel's crew in Orb was also coming to an end.

During this period, many things happened, such as the student soldiers of Orb meeting their parents under the arrangement of the Orb government, and a certain carrier-based pilot who snuck out to play being confined for three days...

After Li Boyong finished his confinement, he couldn't get permission to leave the Archangel again. He could only stay on the ship bored until the Archangel set sail again.

On the day the Archangel set sail again, Li Boyong changed into his pilot suit and entered the cockpit just like Kira.

"Hey, you two are ready for battle already?"

Sergeant Madok of the maintenance crew felt a bit strange. "The Captain didn't issue a sortie order!"

"ZAFT will come."

Kira replied casually and entered the Strike.

"Hey? What do you mean ZAFT will come?"

Getting a nonsensical answer, Madok gave a bitter smile and looked back at Li Boyong with suspicion. "What's going on? What did you instigate him to do again?"

"What do you mean I instigated him?" Li Boyong was dissatisfied. This tone sounded as if he were a bad kid teaching Kira, that good baby, to be bad.

Before Madok could say more, Li Boyong ordered: "Forget it, equip Unit 2 with the Sword Striker first and prepare for sortie."

"Really, everyone is so willful!"

Watching Li Boyong also enter the cockpit to stand by, Madok cursed and had to direct the maintenance crew to start working.

Just in time, Mula Flaga, who originally wanted to find Li Boyong and Kira, also came to the hangar. Seeing the busy scene in the hangar, he asked: "What's wrong? What happened?"

"Major, you came just in time!"

Madok complained to Mula Flaga: "The two brats don't know what kind of madness they've caught. They both said ZAFT would definitely come, so they entered the cockpit to stand by early."

"Oh? Both of them said so?"

Mula Flaga touched his chin, looking thoughtful. "Since they said so, let's do as they say."

Afterward, he simply entered the cockpit of Unit 1 and opened the communication with Li Boyong and Kira: "I originally wanted to discuss with you the tactics to deal with ZAFT later, but since you are all in the units, let's just talk in the cockpit."

————

On the other side, the submarine carrier belonging to Athrun's pursuit team had already lurked on the only path the Archangel had to take to go north to Alaska.

Athrun gathered all the pilots to discuss tactics to deal with the Archangel. After Athrun explained the tactical objectives of every unit in detail.

Yzak, who had long lost patience because of the boring underwater life these days, couldn't help but ask Athrun impatiently: "Are you so sure the Archangel is still in Orb, and will definitely take this route?"

"Yes, at least give us a reason."

Dearka was also very confused. Clearly, they didn't find any important evidence when they infiltrated that day.

Shihe was the same. She had met Li Boyong there again, so she was very sure that the Archangel was in Orb.

But she hadn't told anyone about this situation, and she had been very hesitant about it these days.

But Athrun just insisted on judging that the Archangel was in Orb, which made her feel relieved that she didn't have to struggle, but also felt some inexplicable anxiety.

"If the Archangel wants to go to Alaska, it must take this route."

Athrun replied calmly: "My judgment is that the Long Legs is definitely still in Orb. We will definitely be able to wait for it here. It's that simple."

"Tch, then I'll look forward to your wise judgment."

Although Yzak was still dissatisfied, since Athrun had said so, he couldn't continue to ask: "Dearka, let's go."

"Oh, oh."

After Yzak and Dearka left, Athrun announced the meeting was dismissed. Nicol and Shihe left together, both choosing to go to the hangar to check the condition of the units.

Walking in the dim corridor of the submarine carrier, Shihe somehow thought of the things on the island that night, and the happy look on that guy's face when they met again in Orb.

Of course, there was also the fact that he dared to take the opportunity to hold her hand.

"What on earth is that idiot thinking?"

Shihe subconsciously grabbed her left hand that had been held by Li Boyong. These days, her left hand would have strange feelings from time to time, as if the touch from that time still remained on her hand.

"Miss Hafunis, what's wrong?"

Shihe's wavering expression was seen by Nicol, and this kind-hearted piano boy opened his mouth to care: "Not feeling well?"

"No, nothing."

Shihe came back to her senses and shook her head.

Nicol seemed to think that Shihe was nervous about the upcoming battle, so he chatted casually: "Speaking of which, Miss Hafunis, you were originally scheduled to go directly to space to join the main team, but because the Captain was worried that we didn't have enough combat power, you were temporarily transferred to our team."

"Hmm, when I communicated with Captain Kruse before, the Captain had already told me."

Shihe nodded, indicating she knew.

"Speaking of which, that CGUE seems to be a precious experimental unit. Will our military also mass-produce units equipped with beam weapons in the future?"

Nicol asked curiously.

Shihe nodded: "Hmm, actually, the data that needed to be collected has been completed. I heard that the mass production plan for the next-generation main units in the rear has already started, so the headquarters can rest assured to let the precious experimental unit participate in the battle."

"So that's how it is." Nicol was a bit happy to hear this news: "After the new main units are equipped, the casualties of our compatriots on the front line will definitely decrease. At that time, our military with increased combat power might usher in a turning point for peace."

"I hope so."

"By the way, after peace, I want to hold a piano performance. I have already invited Athrun and the others, and I hope you will come too, Miss Hafunis."

Talking about the music he liked, Nicol looked very happy.

"Hmm, I will go."

Shihe paused and then nodded in agreement.

Looking at Nicol showing that kind of pure smile from the inside out, Shihe couldn't help but sigh in her heart about the horror of war, which actually made such a simple 14-year-old boy have to stain his hands with blood on the battlefield.

Just at this time, a level 3 combat readiness alarm sounded inside the submarine carrier.

The two looked at each other, realizing that Athrun's judgment might be correct.

The Archangel really came!

Soon, the pilots of the pursuit team gathered on the bridge.

The scout reported signs of the Orb navy moving out. A moment later, the Orb navy began to return, and the submarine carrier detected the Archangel's signal. Based on the Archangel's current route, it would happen to pass through the sea area where the submarine carrier was lurking. ===== CHAPTER 40 =====