Chapter 88: SEED – The Price of Growth 2
While Mu La Flaga and Murrue Ramius were speaking—
Natarle Badgiruel was gazing gently at a small child with an injured arm who was sobbing.
At that moment, her maternal instinct surged, and she stepped forward to comfort him.
"Does it hurt?" she asked, then removed her military cap and placed it on the little boy's head, continuing softly, "There, don't cry. I'll give you something good—it's very tasty."
With that, Natarle Badgiruel pulled a compressed biscuit from her pocket and handed it to him.
The boy immediately stopped crying, his attention captured by the treat, and began devouring it eagerly.
One second, Natarle was feeling satisfied at her success; the next, she suddenly felt a chill run down her back.
All around her, pairs of small, hungry eyes were staring intently at her.
A bead of sweat trickled down her face as she panicked. She quickly stood up and rummaged through her pockets, hurriedly explaining to the group of children:
"Um, I don't have that many… this is really a problem."
Tolle Koenig, watching this, thought to himself: Well, well, look at you. Usually you act all high and mighty, but now you're the one flustered.
Hmph. When I was taken hostage, you were even ready to sacrifice me. I won't forget that. I'm someone who really holds grudges—you'll never escape my grasp in this lifetime.
I was even thinking that if you died, it wouldn't matter—I could just use the program to record your data into the system and turn you into a Shumagia.
But now… don't worry. Once you're aboard the Archangel, I'll definitely save you. After that, I'll brainwash you, make you work for me for free your whole life, and then use you as a toy—humiliating you endlessly. Only then will my anger be soothed.
〈(??w?)? Heh, and as for whether too much of that activity might turn hatred into affection—that's not something the current Tolle Koenig can control.〉
At this moment, Murrue Ramius made her decision and said:
"Have Ensign Yamato head out. We can't just sit by and watch. I'll arrange for the remaining vehicles to bring over water and food."
"Understood." Mu La Flaga ended the transmission, preparing to pass Murrue's orders on to Natarle.
Murrue then turned to Miriallia Haw and said:
"Private Second Class Miriallia, authorize the Strike Gundam for launch."
Miriallia immediately opened the comm and called to Kira Yamato:
"Kira, the Strike Gundam is cleared for launch!"
Kira Yamato instantly perked up as if injected with adrenaline, piloting the Strike Gundam out to rescue the Desert Dawn group.
Tolle Koenig, impatient himself, opened a channel to the bridge and spoke to Captain Ramius:
"Captain Ramius, request permission for Skygrasper Unit 2 to sortie alongside the Strike Gundam!"
Murrue considered for a moment, then nodded in approval.
"Very well, but be careful—it'll be your first official sortie in the Skygrasper."
Miriallia Haw also spoke to Tolle:
"Skygrasper cleared for launch!" Then, with gentle warmth, she added, "Tolle, be careful out there."
Tolle felt a warmth in his heart at Miriallia's kindness. She really is my little angel.
Shyly, he nodded and answered, "Mm, I'll be careful."
He then turned to Murdoch and said:
"Uncle Murdoch, the Aile Striker pack isn't finished yet—help me swap the Strike's Launcher pack onto the Skygrasper for now."
Murdoch nodded in agreement and quickly began the equipment transfer.
After all, caliber is justice. Who in their right mind would pilot a fighter jet with the Sword Striker pack and play at melee combat? What, do you think your life is too long?
Of course, Cagalli Yula Athha—that reckless girl—was the exception. Only she would think of using the grapple anchor to latch onto an enemy land battleship and then go for a point-blank slash.
If not for her insane luck, she would've been shot down long ago by the ship's automatic anti-air defenses.
And besides, ever since, the Launcher pack had mostly been used either by the Strike Gundam or hogged by Mu La Flaga. With neither of them using it right now, Tolle decided it was his chance to enjoy it first.
On the other side, the Desert Dawn resistance's eight vehicles had already caught up to the slowly advancing Desert Tiger, and immediately launched their attack.
Cagalli Yula Athha personally hefted a rocket launcher and fired at one of the Desert Tiger's vehicles.
Andrew Waltfeld—the Desert Tiger himself—promptly commanded one of the four BuCUEs to move forward and engage.
The machine gun fire and rockets hitting the BuCUE were like mosquitoes biting a big dog—barely an annoyance, with negligible damage.
The BuCUE, like a hound at play, didn't even bother with its weapons. Instead, it casually used its forelegs to swat at the vehicles on the ground.
Several of the Desert Dawn's vehicles were instantly overturned, their occupants sent sprawling.
Unwilling to back down, Cagalli raised her rocket launcher again and fired directly at the BuCUE's main monitor.
Perhaps it was her luck, but the blast and flash on the display dazzled the pilot, causing him to lose control and topple the BuCUE.
The Desert Dawn fools, loud and brash as ever, actually thought they had won, smugly celebrating—completely oblivious to the fact that the enemy had only been toying with them all along.
The BuCUE pilot soon regained his senses, and in a rage, counterattacked.
He leapt toward the most aggressive vehicle, transformed into tank mode, and crushed it—vehicle and men alike—into paste.
Then he swung around and chased after the others, his treads rolling over and destroying one car after another.
Meanwhile, Cagalli "Hot-Head" Yula Athha, true to her reckless streak, made another foolish move.
On impulse, she rushed under the belly of a BuCUE that wasn't even attacking—just marching forward—and fired two rockets at it.
The BuCUE didn't take a scratch. Enraged, it joined the fight, turning the skirmish into a bloodbath with two BuCUEs rampaging at once.
This BuCUE then charged at the vehicle carrying Cagalli.
Sensing danger, her bodyguard quickly grabbed her, leaping from the car to safety.
But the poor friend who secretly liked her wasn't so lucky—he and the vehicle were swatted away in one brutal strike.
Cagalli collapsed to the ground, frozen in disbelief, staring blankly as her companion was sent flying.
Just as the BuCUE was about to finish her off, the leader of Desert Dawn, Sahib Ashman, reacted swiftly.
Hoisting a rocket launcher onto each shoulder, he fired two shots at the BuCUE, drawing its attention away and saving Cagalli's reckless hide.
Her bodyguard immediately pulled her along, dragging her into frantic flight to escape the BuCUE's attack range.
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