While using manual aim, Siegfried was startled by Haro's reaction. A moment later, he realized this was no different from the approach he once hated in "[NAME_0100]." By crippling the enemy instead of killing them, he left the pilots trapped to wait for death, and that was the justice of a future Kira, but to Haro it was hypocrisy.
"Heh, can't avoid it forever." As the green reticle turned red, Siegfried gave a self-mocking laugh and pulled the trigger. Two bursts of flame marked the change of his personal tally from zero to two.
"Human adaptability is truly frightening." Repeating the words he once taught Kira, Siegfried watched as the threat was removed and the Archangel finished adjusting its heading. It avoided the exit blocked by Eurasian ships and prepared to charge out from the side of the port.
"GINN and Assault, return to the ship immediately. Repeat, GINN and Assault, return to the ship." The voice on the comms was Miri, and it seemed Cagalli and the others were safe. Seeing Thunder still entangled with Assault nearby, Siegfried pressed the pedal lightly, used live rounds at mid range to halt Thunder again, and brought the GINN down onto the Archangel's hull with Assault. Just as he was about to fire another burst at the immobilized Thunder, a Mobius burst out of the flames and forced him to change targets.
"This is Regret-Allen, requesting pickup by an Alliance ship. Repeat."
With Artemis clearly finished, Regret realized he had nowhere to go. As a wanted criminal of PLANT with no achievements, he could not return, and the thought of seeing Eliza Joule again only made him regret that his earlier shot had not been more accurate. Thinking that surrendering once or twice made little difference, and noting that both pilots aboard the Archangel were Coordinator, he fired a grappling anchor the moment his Mobius cleared the fire.
The anchor was caught instinctively, and under Murrue's order, the Archangel forced open a gap with Gottfried. At last, they left behind the Artemis fortress, destroyed by its own actions.
After the GINN and Assault returned, Siegfried, not wanting to see Flay and clinging to the idea that avoiding things might help, stayed in Ganaku to watch Regret emerge from the Mobius. He was immediately shackled again, a bleak scene to witness.
Unlike Siegfried and Kira, who had the status of students from Orb, or Lacus as a noncombatant, Regret might as well have had "I am ZAFT" written all over him. Even though Murrue was reasonable, he still received proper prisoner treatment, the kind Tiaego would face in the future.
When he was escorted past Siegfried, the boy expected him to ask for help. Instead, Regret simply said a brief thank you and cooperated as he was led away by Alliance soldiers.
"Sai, you're still here? Captain Murrue wants us in the briefing room."
The entire trip to Artemis, including Flay's betrayal and Eurasian's coercion, had originally been pressure aimed only at Kira. Now Siegfried had shouldered half of it, so Kira was not as depressed as expected and even managed a smile at him.
That calm did not last once they met Murrue and Badgiruel in the briefing room. Murrue tried to mediate, but the main issue was Badgiruel's blunt questioning.
"I have read the full report. Now the two of you need to give a reasonable explanation for attacking friendly forces."
The problem was obvious. Because Nicol failed to appear, Siegfried had acted first, and calling it an attack on allies was not wrong by strict terms.
Facing such cold questioning after returning to the ship finally set Siegfried off. He had lingered in Ganaku to avoid the tragedy of the little girl and the flowers, and the dark feelings had never left him. Even knowing this was Badgiruel's nature, he almost lost control and came close to punching her.
"Lieutenant Natarle-Badgiruel, I want to ask you and Captain Murrue-Ramius, what was the command staff doing when guns were pointed at my and Kira's heads? I suppose you were invited to a lounge, sighing in helpless comfort."
"Sai-senpai."
Kira knew this opening would go badly and tried to calm the red-haired boy.
"Kira, be quiet. This is an Atlantic Federation Federation ship, yet it relied on two civilians to protect it. You knew allies might threaten us for data, yet you still told us to lock and prep the MS. Did you assume we wouldn't be killed?"
"Sai, you misunderstand Natarle."
"Captain Ramius, don't continue. When you forced us to stay as pilots, did you think about our safety? Just because we have friends aboard, you felt justified enjoying our protection, is that it?"
"And you, Lieutenant Badgiruel. I hear you come from a traditional military background, so tell me, what is the meaning of your service? Your ideals? Your motivation? Is it just to kill, or because you cannot escape family duty?"
"I joined the Alliance Forces to protect."
"Protect? Spare me. Who did you protect? Did you protect me and Kira? Did you protect Heliopolis? Did you protect the seventy-eight civilians when Eurasian held them at gunpoint in the cafeteria? Did you protect Miri Aria and Tolle when they were taken hostage? Hiding behind us while speaking in righteous tones, truly worthy of the Alliance Forces, Lieutenant."
Badgiruel flushed red and had no answer when Mu rushed in from the bridge, already sensing trouble. Seeing the confrontation, he was relieved he arrived in time.
"Lieutenant Badgiruel, your accusation is unreasonable. Sai and Kira are not regular soldiers of the Alliance. You cannot demand they meet your standards. I simply was not present, and if I had been, I would have fired the first shot. Would you court-martial me as well?"
"Thank you for your support, Captain Flaga, but that does not explain why I am being questioned here." Siegfried clearly was not letting this end. Images of that transport ship full of civilians filled his mind, and his agitation kept rising.
"Lieutenant Natarle-Badgiruel, here and now, I demand a formal apology. Otherwise, from this moment on, I will refuse to pilot the GINN. I don't care what Kira chooses, but I will not fight for people who only know discipline and right and wrong by rank. I appreciate your cover in battle, but I owe you nothing."
"An apology? Are you threatening the Alliance Forces?"
"Anyone who cannot protect civilians is not fit to be called a soldier. If your academy taught you that sacrificing innocents is acceptable for strategic victory, then I despise the entire Earth Alliance Forces. A shameless military."
"How dare you!"
"One."
"Two."
"Three. Enough. Since you clearly see nothing wrong with your actions, I respect your so-called military ideals. Please respect the choice of a civilian. Kira, do your best. From now on, this ship depends on you."