Returning our focus to North Africa on Earth, Yang Hui, Cagalli, and Kira had gone missing, throwing everyone into a panic. Despite extensive searches, they couldn't be found—until the trio eventually returned safely, much to everyone's relief.
Just as they were settling down to ask about the reason for their disappearance, they received another shock.
"What? The Desert Tiger sought you out? And invited you to his home?" Natarle Badgiruel exclaimed. If she didn't trust Yang Hui, she might have suspected them of defecting.
"Yeah, the Tiger was targeted by a Blue Cosmos assassination attempt, and we happened to be there, so..."
"..."
Murrue, Natarle, and Mu fell silent. Though Blue Cosmos was ostensibly just a religious organization, who in the world didn't know that the upper echelons of the Atlantic Federation were composed of its members? Blue Cosmos was no longer just a simple religious group—it now wielded influence on a global scale.
And Murrue, Natarle, and Mu were affiliated with the Atlantic Federation. While they didn't care much about the assassination attempt itself, the fact that Yang Hui and the others had been dragged into it was another matter entirely.
"Were you hurt?" Natarle asked with concern.
"Of course not," Yang Hui assured her, patting his chest.
"Tch, as if he'd get hurt. You should've seen him showing off," Cagalli muttered sourly. Her bitterness wasn't about Yang Hui stealing the spotlight—it was because, having grown up with him, she now felt she barely recognized him anymore. It was like a betrayal.
"Huh?"
"You fought back?" Natarle pressed.
"So it's fine for them to try and kill me, but I can't retaliate?" Yang Hui raised an eyebrow in response.
"No, I just—"
Truthfully, Natarle hadn't even realized it herself, but her mindset leaned heavily toward Blue Cosmos. She instinctively saw all Naturals as allies and harbored hostility toward all Coordinators.
Of course, thanks to Yang Hui's influence, this had changed somewhat.
Her question had stemmed from worry—that Yang Hui might face repercussions for his actions.
"Relax, no one knows my identity."
Yang Hui reached out to pat Natarle's shoulder, but the moment his hand made contact, she shuddered like a startled kitten, freezing up completely, her face burning red.
"Uh..."
Yang Hui was baffled. What was this? Was she sick? Or trying to frame him?
"Pfft—" Murrue and Mu couldn't hold back their laughter. "Yang Hui, that's sexual harassment, you know."
"Huh? This...?" Yang Hui blinked, stepping back and staring at his hand in disbelief. "This counts?"
"Pfft—HAHAHAHA!"
"Captain! Lieutenant Flaga!"
"Alright, alright, I'll stop laughing."
The two rubbed their aching stomachs, forcing themselves to sober up.
"Ahem, back to the matter at hand—did the Tiger really figure out your identities?" Natarle asked, trying to sound serious, though her flushed face betrayed her.
"My intel isn't hard to dig up, and Kira being the Strike's pilot was exposed too..." Yang Hui said, shooting a glance at Cagalli.
"Ahem..." Cagalli lowered her head awkwardly. She had been too straightforward—a little probing had been enough to give away Kira's identity.
"Then why did he let you leave?" Natarle Badgiruel asked.
"Who knows? But judging from our conversation, he's an upright soldier who disdains underhanded methods like assassination or imprisonment," Yang Hui replied.
"...Alright. What should we do next?" Natarle didn't want to press further. Yang Hui's answer was ambiguous, and if he chose not to explain, no one could force it out of him.
"Prepare yourselves. The great battle is about to begin." All traces of casualness vanished from Yang Hui's face, replaced by solemn seriousness.
"..." The three fell silent. Murrue immediately issued orders to Kira and Mu. "Lieutenant Flaga, Ensign Yamato, adjust your mobile suits and be ready for combat at any moment. In two days, the Archangel will set sail for the Red Sea, entering the Pacific via the Indian Ocean en route to Alaska Base."
"Understood." x2
"But that route... there's no way to resupply along it, right?" Cagalli immediately questioned.
"Correct. But we have no choice. Our combat strength isn't sufficient to break through the Gibraltar base. The Red Sea route is our only option," Murrue said helplessly.
"In that case, you could—"
"Cagalli!"
Anticipating what she was about to suggest, Yang Hui sharply interrupted.
"W-what?"
"Nothing. Just don't speak carelessly." Yang Hui didn't even look at her as he spoke flatly.
"You—!"
"Get out!"
"...Yang Hui! You're such a bastard!"
Tears welling in her eyes, Cagalli stormed out in a rage.
All I wanted was to help the Archangel! You're close with them too, aren't you? Why can you do it but I can't?
What Cagalli didn't know was that while Yang Hui hadn't concealed his identity from Murrue and the others, all assistance he provided wasn't done in Orb's name—either through private channels or under concealed identities.
If they followed Cagalli's suggestion and had the Archangel resupply in Orb, the detour would be the least of their problems. It would create massive international complications for Orb, a neutral nation that prohibited any armed forces from entering without authorization.
The Archangel wasn't just a cutting-edge warship—it carried the Strike Gundam, one of the Earth Forces' highest classified projects (though the secret was already largely exposed). With no way to contact the homeland for prior diplomatic coordination between Orb and the Atlantic Federation regarding the Archangel's visit, allowing the ship into Orb on Cagalli's whim...
Never mind ZAFT's reaction—the Atlantic Federation would immediately intensify its pressure on Orb.
Witnessing this, neither Murrue nor Natarle spoke. They'd clearly realized Cagalli wasn't just an ordinary Resistance Organization volunteer—her status in Orb must be significant.
"What about you, Yang Hui? Will... will you still come with us?" Murrue asked, her voice mixing hope with resignation.
"Probably not. I'll help you reach the Red Sea, but the journey after that will be up to you," Yang Hui replied.
"I see. That's for the best."
Both Murrue and Natarle Badgiruel felt a little disappointed, but they understood Yang Hui's reasoning. Boarding the Archangel under the pretense of humanitarian aid in space was justifiable, especially after Heliopolis's collapse. But now, on Earth, as long as Yang Hui didn't recklessly draw attention to himself, whether it was PLANT, the Earth Alliance, or neutral nations like the Equatorial Union, they would ensure his safe return to Orb.
"Don't worry, I took the liberty of divining your fortunes for fun. This journey will be perilous but ultimately safe," Yang Hui said with a grin.
"Divining fortunes?" Murrue and Natarle were taken aback before bursting into laughter. "Hahaha, do you really think you're some kind of prophet? Can you foresee the future?"
"Who knows?" Yang Hui shrugged, offering no further explanation—one he couldn't give, at least not yet.
Still, if the two women remembered this joke, they might understand what he meant once they reached Prometheus Fortress.
Just then, Mu rushed back in a hurry, immediately grabbing Yang Hui. "Your companion just returned—what did you send him out to do?"
"Lyle's back? That was quick."
"No, do you even know what he brought back?"
"Of course. I told him to get those things—just in case."
"What kind of joke is this? Why would you have him buy those things?"
"What's going on, Lieutenant Flaga?" Natarle asked.
"Yang Hui's friend—or bodyguard? Whatever. That Lyle Dylandy—do you know what he just brought aboard?"
"What?" The two women grew even more curious at Mu's horrified expression.
"Two GINNs! Desert-specialized ones, no less! And a whole arsenal of weapons and ammunition!"
"What?!" they exclaimed in unison.
Their expressions mirrored Mu's as they stared at Yang Hui in shock.
"Yang Hui! You—"
"Shh." Yang Hui pressed a finger to his lips, signaling Natarle to keep quiet. "Like I said, I'll see you safely into the Red Sea. My promises to women aren't made lightly."
Without waiting for further questions, he waved and left the captain's office.
"Was that... sexual harassment?" Mu muttered blankly.
"Lieutenant Flaga!" both women snapped.
"Uh—I'll go check on the Sky Grasper!"
Unclear how he'd offended them, Mu decided a tactical retreat was the best course of action.
Murrue and Natarle flushed red, exchanging glances before lowering their heads in awkward silence.
...
Yang Hui left the ship to inspect the goods Lyle had brought back.
"How are they?"
"Meh. What can you expect from GINNs?" Lyle sighed.
GINNs—and refurbished secondhand ones at that, bought from the Earth faction of the Junk Guild. They were D-grade mobile suits at best. Even with desert modifications, their base specs were lackluster. After much deliberation, they'd only managed to pick two units that barely scraped a D+ rating.
As for weapons and ammunition, they were quite plentiful. Not only did they obtain the standard-issue MMI-M8A3 76mm Heavy Assault Machine Gun, MA-M3 Heavy Sword, and Heavy Battle Axe, but they also managed to acquire several MS-specific rocket launchers. The shoulders were additionally equipped with two triple-barreled missile launchers.
Moreover, these two desert-type GINNs had undergone further modifications. Multiple large thrusters were installed on the legs to ensure the mobile suits could perform hover-style movements.
Under the watchful eyes of the group, Yang Hui boarded the desert-type GINN and began adjusting the OS while running system checks on the unit's condition. Though the exterior looked brand new, that didn't guarantee the internals were flawless—countless unlucky souls who bought refurbished units based solely on appearances had already met their demise.
After verifying the systems and confirming everything was in order, Yang Hui rewrote the OS for both units before disembarking to inspect the ammunition quality. He had no intention of dying from a misfire caused by substandard rounds during combat.
"Huh? This batch of goods is surprisingly good quality," Yang Hui remarked in surprise. The ammunition's condition far exceeded his expectations.
"Right? I checked several suppliers. Word is this one's channels are..." Lyle didn't elaborate but raised his thumb meaningfully.
"Mm. Initiate startup tests and movement tests. Prepare yourselves—the big battle is coming."
"Understood."
"Yang Hui!"
At that moment, Cagalli, Kira, and even Tolle came running over, staring in awe at the GINNs behind Yang Hui and Lyle.
(End of Chapter)