The Archangel had begun forced landing procedures, and all three pilots received notice from the bridge. They had to return to Ganaku before phase three, or aside from the Assault, which theoretically could enter the atmosphere alone, the Type Zero and the GINN would burn up as meteors with no chance of survival.
On the ZAFT side, Gamov broke away from the fleet formation and charged toward Menelaos. Because Siegfried had joined the fight early, the entire Eighth Fleet still had a fair number of warships, including the Drake-class escorting Menelaos. As a result, every step forward that Gamov took was met with heavier and heavier barrages of fire.
Because of what he was worried about, Siegfried never strayed far from Menelaos. When he saw that Gamov could not get close, the boy touched his collar and finally let out a small breath.
At that moment, a white MS moved to intercept Type Zero in a strangely twisted posture. After a series of precise shots, it directly crippled two of Type Zero's mobile weapon units.
"Dearka, have you really degraded to the point where you cannot even handle a group of outdated warships? Should I consider suggesting to your father that you take off that Red Uniform?"
The emotionless voice of Cruze came from Sigune, like a bucket of cold water poured over the overheated mind of Dearka. Coming back to his senses, the blond boy led his last remaining GINN to clear a path for Gamov.
Type Zero was being pressed hard by Xigu. On the other side, Assault and Aegis were still trading near misses, and Siegfried connected to Assault's channel in shock and anger.
"Kira-Yamato Kira! I do not care whether you want to fight Athrun or not. I am bringing Duel over, and you will stall him no matter what, or I will not let Flay go!"
Siegfried meant every word. His GINN could not deal fatal damage to Duel, but Yzak Joule had already lost his reason. The fact that a GINN clearly inferior to him was running him around made old grudges and new fury boil together, and when the GINN flew toward Aegis and Assault, Duel followed without a moment's hesitation.
Inside Menelaos, watching friendly ships lose signal one after another as the Laurasia-class closed in, Halberton turned to his adjutant. The decision was written clearly on his face despite the chaos outside.
"Hoffmann, we are going in as well. This is an adult war in the end, and children should not die for our disputes. Launch the Escape Pod and advance Menelaos at full speed, and make sure they broadcast non-combatant signals. This battlefield has lost its reason."
"Yes!"
Whether Kira heard the anger in Siegfried's voice or not, at the moment the GINN crossed paths with Duel, Assault still drew its Beam Sword and blocked Duel. With his hands freed, Siegfried quickly closed in on Storm, swapped in his last magazine, and sent a stream of 75 mm rounds sparking across its frame. Using the brief lull in fire, he circled to the side of ZAFT's final GINN.
The opposing pilot was no amateur. Noticing the movement, he drew his own Heavy Slash Blade and used an unorthodox posture to block the ambush. After repeatedly striking Duel's PS armor, Siegfried's Heavy Slash Blade was already chipped, and this direct clash finally shattered the cracked blade.
The sudden break did not slow Siegfried down. He threw away the fragments, pressed his right-hand assault machine gun against the GINN's cockpit, and pulled the trigger hard, punching through the unprotected MS with his final rounds.
"Whew, next…"
Scanning the battlefield, it was clear that Menelaos could no longer be saved. As Gamov closed in, both ships had been dragged into the gravity well and burned in blazing light. Mu's Type Zero could not beat Xigu, but it managed to disengage and retreat toward Archangel.
Rau skimmed the edge of the gravity zone in pursuit, even his skill demanding caution to avoid being pulled down by Earth. Otherwise, his end would be no different from Xigu and the GINN.
"Sa Siegfried… I cannot hold Duel anymore!"
While checking his weapon systems, Siegfried heard Kira shout and felt relief at his own foresight. He had brought out a Heavy Particle Cannon with only two remaining shots, slung the assault gun at his waist, and switched weapons just as Menelaos released that escape craft, like a gift from the goddess of fate.
There was no blaming Kira. Aegis had stopped holding back, and every beam now aimed for Assault's joints. Under that pressure, Kira could no longer restrain Duel and was dragged back into his duel with Athrun.
"Only two shots… please."
Siegfried muttered without knowing who he was praying to. Coordinator were atheists by principle, and the radicals even thought of themselves as gods. His words had no clear target.
Under the pull of gravity, the GINN shook violently, its thrusters screaming as they fought the gravity well. For a moment, the boy regretted not bringing Haro, since it would have helped with balance and aiming. Still, he did not regret the choice, knowing the destruction of the escape craft would shape Kira's entire life.
Duel charged like a mad beast toward the GINN. From Nicol to Yzak Joule, and because of the origin of his machine, Siegfried had become the biggest target of hatred on the Archangel side. Aside from Mu, anything that spotted him would chase him relentlessly.
The escape craft behind him had begun atmospheric entry, its hull glowing red from friction. Siegfried did not dare get too close, unsure how far Yzak Joule's madness would go. Above, Storm hesitated at the edge of the gravity zone, firing a few shots before stopping in indecision.
As Duel drew closer, the GINN's Heavy Particle Cannon released its first beam. It cut through drifting wreckage and struck Duel's shoulder, much to Siegfried's regret.
"Damn it, the gravity is too strong!"
This GINN had never been tuned for gravity, and Siegfried himself had never fought near Earth. Every unit present was suffering under the pull. On Archangel's bridge, after Type Zero docked by cable, all eyes were fixed on Assault and the GINN.
"I do not care what Orb is planning, but you must make him come back now. Once it reaches stage three, a GINN will never return."
Badgiruel stated the fact coldly to Cagalli, who could only clench her fists in frustration. If she could, she would have dragged that infuriating boy back herself.
He will not listen to me.
With nothing more to say, Badgiruel left her post and took Miri's headset, connecting directly to the GINN. Murrue stared in shock as she issued the order.
"Siegfried, I order you to return immediately. This is a military command!"
"Yo, Natarle, long time no see."
"Come back at once!"
"Hello, bad signal. Please try again later."
"Thirty seconds to stage three!"
As Neumann shouted the countdown, Cagalli tried to force her way into CIC but was stopped. Badgiruel shook her head, telling her that all they could do now was let him fight.