Artemis, protected by the Umbrella of the Moon, is impregnable.
This is universally acknowledged, but there exists a widely held misconception—a prejudice, if you will.
That the Artemis Fortress merely cowers beneath the Umbrella of the Moon.
When faced with an attack by ZAFT Forces, they simply deploy the Umbrella and tremble beneath its protection, watching helplessly as the Coordinators flaunt their strength outside.
Until the Coordinators, unable to breach the Umbrella, regard the Artemis Fortress as a mere chicken rib—tasteless and unworthy of further effort, eventually departing in disdain.
Yet, much like the Maginot Line of old, when opportunity arises, such defenses can transform into a solid foundation for offensive operations.
Artemis is no different. In truth, the firepower and military strength concentrated within this fortress alone are formidable enough to engage ZAFT's battleships head-on—not without merit.
If the Coordinator fleet arrives in small numbers, they might suffer losses. If they come in force, it would tie up too many resources for little gain, making the endeavor more trouble than it's worth.
It is precisely this "stubborn mule" attribute that has allowed the Artemis Fortress to thrive thus far.
But now...
Major General Sharu stood in the command center, observing the assembled ZAFT battleships on the screen.
Though the number of enemy ships this time was significantly smaller compared to previous large-scale operations, Sharu, with his keen insight, knew that ZAFT was serious this time.
Their combat resolve and determination were on an entirely different level from before.
"Is it because of the Archangel?" Sharu mused silently, stroking his chin as he weighed the strengths and weaknesses of both sides.
He had anticipated feasting on a succulent prize, only to realize that knives and forks were needed first—a deviation from his expectations.
"Have we made contact with East Asia? When can their reinforcement fleet arrive?"
Turning to his adjutant, Sharu fervently hoped that, given the East Asian Army's decisiveness, their fleet would materialize instantly to bear the brunt of the assault.
"Yes, sir!" The adjutant responded briskly before consulting with the intelligence officer. "According to East Asia's reply, due to prior arrangements by the Allied Forces High Command, all East Asian patrol fleets are currently concentrated at the Nova Defense Line."
"At the earliest, reinforcements from there will take three days to reach us."
"Three days?" Sharu repeated bitterly, his resentment toward the Allied Forces High Command—dominated by the Atlantic Federation—boiling over.
Wasn't it simply jealousy over the East Asian Army's stellar performance during the Nova Campaign?
To suppress their potential for further glory, all for the sake of accolades and public opinion?
If you're going to stifle the East Asian Army, at least have the competence to deliver results yourselves!
Instead, you cower like a pile of excrement—just look at how the Atlantic Federation Army can't even secure the airspace above the spaceport during ZAFT's recent landing operations!
If it were the East Asian Army in charge, things would never have come to this!
"General, the Archangel has sent word. Captain Wang Hu suggests we consider launching a counterattack."
Seeing his general deep in thought, the adjutant hesitated to interrupt but had no choice but to softly remind him of the urgent message from Wang Hu.
"Hmm?" Major General Sharu, disturbed from his contemplation, snatched the message from the adjutant's hand.
His eyes quickly scanned the contents, and his eyelids twitched in reaction to Wang Hu's words.
"Ha, we're really being looked down upon, aren't we?"
Laughing in anger, Major General Sharu crumpled the paper into a ball and threw it to the ground.
"General?" The adjutant, who had finished reading the message earlier, cautiously asked, "What should we do?"
"The strong fear no challenge, and the strong only cooperate with the strong." Major General Sharu closed his eyes in thought for a moment before speaking slowly.
"That Wang Hu is just trying to use the enemy to his advantage. But there is one thing he's right about."
"The Eurasian Federation is neither the Atlantic Federation's lackey nor East Asia's. If we act the same as the Atlantic Federation..."
"Cooperating with East Asia would only make the world think we've just switched masters."
"Before using the barbarians, we must demonstrate the strength to dominate them!"
"So...?" The adjutant, struggling to follow his general's reasoning, was at a loss.
What exactly did his general mean?
"Follow Wang Hu's suggestion—provide the Archangel with appropriate supplies." Major General Sharu gave clear instructions.
"Appropriate?" The adjutant pressed for confirmation.
"Are you an idiot?" Unable to tolerate his adjutant's stupidity, Major General Sharu shot him a glare.
"Give them enough weapons and ammunition for two battles, but no provisions whatsoever."
"This way, even if the Archangel leaves the fortress, they won't dare scheme against us."
"Without supplies, wherever they go, they'll starve halfway there!"
"Understood!" The adjutant feigned sudden enlightenment, even fawningly raising a thumb in praise. "General, you're brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!"
Meanwhile, just as Major General Sharu decided to showcase the Eurasian Federation's military prowess by supplying the Archangel with limited resources...
Back on the battleship, Wang Hu had quickly smoothed things over with Natarle Badgiruel and Murrue. He then boarded his mobile suit alongside Kira and Mu, preparing for launch.
"You and Li Chengzhi are truly impressive," Mu remarked from inside the Moebius Zero, sighing in admiration.
"After causing such a scene in the meeting room, you returned to the ship as if nothing happened. Murrue aside..."
"Even Natarle Badgiruel, who loathes you, was handled so easily. I'm impressed."
"Interests. Before interests, there is no hatred." Wang Hu brushed off Mu's veiled sarcasm with a smile, countering, "Isn't this the Atlantic Federation's usual approach? I'd think you'd be more accustomed to it than I am."
"As long as it serves your interests, whether you have eyes or not makes little difference."
"Ha!" Mu laughed dryly, realizing his mistake—why had he tried to outwit someone from the East Asian Army?
After all, those people could talk the dead back to life, insult you to your face, and still make you thank them for it.
Moreover, I vaguely recall an old saying from the past—something about how oil easily breeds mold!
"Brother Wang Hu, are those people outside evil?" Kira suddenly interjected with a serious expression.
"No," Wang Hu flatly denied, much to Mu's surprise, that the Coordinators outside were evil.
"In my view, most soldiers are simply following orders from above. The heroes of one nation are the enemies of another—except for a few war-crazed maniacs."
"Most soldiers are just fulfilling their duty to their country."
"But then—" Kira perked up, about to say something.
"Yet I still have to kill them," Wang Hu continued, cutting Kira off.
"Why?" Kira was puzzled. Didn't Brother Wang Hu just say they weren't evil?
"If I spare them today, will they spare my comrades tomorrow?"
Wang Hu thought of what Kira had done in the original timeline and decided to give him a preemptive warning here.
"Our positions are different. I can understand them in spirit, but for the sake of my comrades and my country—"
"When we meet on the battlefield, the only way to fulfill my responsibility to myself, my comrades, and my nation is to kill them!"
"And it's also the only way to hasten the arrival of peace!"
(End of Chapter)