Most Coordinators believed that their technologically enhanced race was superior to Naturals in every aspect.
This was one reason why Coordinator supremacist ideology ran rampant in PLANT - they naturally saw themselves as humanity's future hope.
They fundamentally looked down upon the backward and ignorant Naturals.
But was reality truly as most Coordinators believed?
Clearly, the answer to this question would never be acceptable to those arrogant Coordinators.
"Blitz Gundam, Mirage Colloid."
Inside the Gundam cockpit seized from the Allied Forces, Nicol followed through on what he had told Captain Creuset.
Taking inspiration from Kira's surprise attack on the Vesalius, he similarly adopted inertial drift tactics.
He stealthily approached the supposedly impregnable Fortress Artemis.
Observing the surrounding Umbrella of the Moon generators that remained completely unaware of his intrusion, shut down under the assumption that the danger had passed.
Nicol sighed deeply once more.
No matter how excellently the Gene performed on the battlefield, their ZAFT Forces ultimately only held the advantage of striking first.
Just like how a certain nation's fighter jets seemed invincible at the start of the war in the old era, even achieving mythical renown.
But when facing enemies who got serious, inferior overall strength would ultimately bring misfortune.
The Mirage Colloid System beneath the Gundam's frame - which allowed him to sneak here undetected by all scanning equipment while hidden under the Umbrella of the Moon - made him wonder:
Who knew what other trump cards the Naturals might pull out if they got serious?
"Father, Mother."
Nicol shook his head, not daring to think further. Having inherited the rare rational ideology from PLANT.
He genuinely worried that continuing such thoughts would completely destroy his will to fight.
This time, he was doing this for his good friend Athrun!
So he couldn't fail!
Athrun's voice and appearance surfaced in his mind, bringing a knowing smile to Nicol's face. Fueled by this motivation for Athrun.
The Blitz Gundam boldly shed its disguise!
Raising the triple missile launcher that the maintenance crew had desperately repaired to barely functional condition.
He fired all missiles whoosh-whoosh-whoosh at the Umbrella of the Moon generators before him, then without waiting to see the results, equipped a gun in one hand and Beam Saber in the other.
Pushing the throttle to maximum, Nicol fully unleashed the complete capabilities of this Allied Forces-manufactured Gundam.
One generator after another turned into piles of scrap metal under his assault!
Violent explosions erupted, flames accompanied by tremors.
Apocalyptic destruction surged across the surface of this fortress the Eurasian Federation took such pride in.
"What's happening?" The surface tremors quickly reached inside the fortress.
Countless soldiers still celebrating their victory cried out in panic amid the shaking.
"Is it an earthquake?"
A drunken soldier offered an idiotic response.
"Are you stupid? We're in space!"
The soldier beside him immediately slapped him hard across the face, then his complexion instantly turned pale.
If it's not an earthquake, then what could the current vibrations be?
It must be either the ammunition depot inside the fortress exploding, or the enemy outside has broken in!
But both of these reasons are just too absurd, aren't they?
Even if our Eurasian Federation military has lax discipline, we still guard places like the ammunition depot properly.
As for the enemy! Could it be that the pigs in the command center are all drunk?
How could they fail to notice the enemy sneaking right under their noses?
"It's started."
Standing on the bridge of the Archangel, Wang Hu sighed as he watched the walls of the dock shaking continuously.
As the vibrations persisted, some areas even began to crack open, which truly gave him a new perspective on the craftsmanship of the Eurasian Federation.
"Wasn't it promised? A hundred-year legacy."
Leisurely, as if he didn't belong in such a tense atmosphere, Wang Hu even had the mood to joke.
"Hey, at a time like this, you're still talking about that?" Mu, standing right beside Wang Hu, said discontentedly.
"What should we do next?"
Hearing this, Wang Hu glanced at the others who, when he arrived on the bridge, were already fully equipped and at their posts as if waiting for him.
"Do I even need to say it? Haven't you all guessed it already?" Wang Hu shrugged and spread his hands. "It's definitely the Blitz Gundam wreaking havoc outside."
"Then, seeing the flames, Creuset's fleet is bound to charge in. Without the protection of the Umbrella of the Moon, how long can the Eurasian Federation forces in this fortress hold out?"
"Tch!" Mu spat in frustration, looking at Wang Hu, who acted as if it had nothing to do with him, and once again realized just how dirty the hearts of those who play with tactics can be!
"Captain Wang Hu, you had already guessed this from the start, right?" Murrue, who had only belatedly followed Mu and Natarle Badgiruel's advice to stay on the bridge, exclaimed in surprise.
"Then why didn't you inform Major General Charle in advance? If you had, couldn't what's happening now have been avoided?"
"Would he have believed me? And besides, I wasn't sure either." Wang Hu lied through his teeth, acting as innocent as a white lotus.
"You should have at least tried!" In her urgency, Murrue said something that made everyone turn to look at her.
"If you could all team up to try and seize the Atlantic Federation's assets, that means you're partners, right!"
"Hmm?" A hint of displeasure flickered in Wang Hu's eyes.
"Murrue." Mu quickly stepped over to stand beside this well-endowed but sometimes clueless captain.
Natarle Badgiruel, on the other hand, remained expressionless the entire time and even had the presence of mind to instruct the ship's helmsman to prepare the Archangel for launch.
"We are not partners with them." At this moment, Li Chengzhi, who had left the banquet earlier and waited for the supplies promised by General Charle, returned.
After waiting until the ZAFT Forces' attack began, he hadn't even seen a single strand of the promised supplies.
"If we were partners, then supplies and personnel reinforcements should have been provided to us the moment we reached an agreement."
"Yet, unfortunately, we've received nothing. Their attitude during our previous sortie was also quite clear."
"Having us take the lead was just using us as cannon fodder, wasn't it?"
As he spoke, he winked at Wang Hu, signaling that the items had been secured.
"You didn't notify the Eurasian Federation to send reinforcements, right? You only notified our East Asian Army, correct?"
Wang Hu returned a knowing look before explaining further.
After all, some things were better clarified. If left unexplained, certain individuals might cling stubbornly to their so-called convictions—like being unable to overcome some moral hurdle—and end up sabotaging critical moments!
"What do you mean?" Murrue seemed precisely the type Wang Hu had in mind. With enemies practically at their doorstep, she kept pressing him about his meaning, unlike the resolute Natarle Badgiruel beside her, who had already directed the gunners to replicate what they had done at Heliopolis.
"In that conference room, both sides were clearly scheming against each other," Wang Hu had no choice but to spell it out more bluntly. "The so-called plan to split the Archangel was just a facade of mutual deception. From start to finish, they never intended to treat us as partners."
"Notifying the East Asian Army for reinforcements is one piece of evidence. That Sharu planned to use them as a shield while reaping the benefits himself."
"I actually gave him a chance. Had he cooperated sincerely, none of this would have happened."
"Every outcome is the result of one's own choices."
"How could that be?" The revelation of such deceit among allies shattered Murrue's worldview. She staggered, her prominent curves drawing attention, before slumping pale-faced into the captain's chair.
"Fire the Lohengrin positron breaker cannon."
Unfazed by the argument between Wang Hu and Murrue, the highly decisive Natarle Badgiruel issued the firing order without hesitation during their wasted time. Just as she had once blasted open Heliopolis, she now shattered Artemis with a single shot—forging a new path for the beleaguered ship and themselves.
(End of Chapter)