Chapter 143: Surrender or Escape

A few days later, He Kui received news of Lacus's departure. At the same time, Aegis, cloaked in a cape, secretly boarded a Laurasia-class cargo ship.

"Hello."

The black-clad captain curiously observed Aegis boarding the ship.

Aegis was completely covered in a cloak, with a metal mask covering her face even more thoroughly than Cruzer's, making it impossible to see her skin underneath.

"Thank you."

Aegis bowed slightly.

"No problem!"

Thinking this girl might be related to the popular Director He, the black-clad captain's enthusiasm grew, though he found it odd she wanted to go to Julius 7.

"Please follow me; the room is ready. We expect to arrive near Julius 7 on February 2."

"However, we can only stay for about an hour; any longer might raise suspicion."

"I understand."

"Shall I arrange for food delivery?"

"No, I've brought some dry food."

With that, Aegis returned to her room.

There were no incidents on the way. On the route to the Junk Guild's trading port, the captain halted near Julius 7, citing ship issues as a suitable excuse.

Through the mask's enhanced display, He Kui could see the broken remnants of Julius 7 drifting aimlessly in space from his room.

There were no rescue signals or any signs of activity.

One hour. He Kui calculated that Lacus's Silver Wind should arrive within that time.

But if his estimates were wrong, he'd have to resort to Plan B.

As the anxious minutes ticked by, the void of space showed no signs of life besides the ruins of Julius 7.

After about half an hour, the ship's communication, long awaited by He Kui, sounded in his room.

"Captain?"

"We received a distress signal from the Silver Wind. The escort squad is ready to deploy."

"They attacked Miss Lacus's memorial group!"

"The enemy's numbers?"

He Kui sighed in relief, then quickly tensed up, carefully asking.

"One Drake-class and three Moebius! We're heading up to support; please stay safe."

He thought having just three GINNs was already a stretch, but the enemy had even fewer.

"Okay."

He Kui said softly.

However, before they could act, a Red Astray appeared, slicing off a Moebius propulsion unit with something like a katana.

"Very sharp..."

The cabin screen connected to the Laurasia's screen displayed the Red Astray's movements.

One clean cut through Moebius, sharper than the heavy broadswords used by their GINNs.

After the three Moebius lost their combat capability, seeing the approaching Laurasia-class, the Drake-class, only capable of firing missiles, quickly fled.

It felt like... had he been outsmarting himself against thin air all this time?

If he'd known it was so easy and there was help, he might have come alone.

No need for a Laurasia-class ship at all.

Thinking this, a sudden change occurred at the Red Astray's location.

Two familiar GINNs appeared, attacking the Red Astray.

Old acquaintances from DSSD, but this time, the two machines targeted the Red Astray specifically.

What was going on?

Watching the Red Astray and the other two machines vanish instantly, He Kui was puzzled.

Meanwhile, with the Silver Wind's engine completely disabled, Lacus and her group soon arrived on the cargo ship via a connecting shuttle.

"Captain Hawk, why are you here?"

The recent turmoil seemed to have no effect on Lacus. On the Laurasia-class's hangar, holding a blue and a pink Haro, she spoke lightly.

The blue Haro in her hand had a component resembling an antenna.

"Yes, the ship had issues, so we temporarily docked for inspection."

The tense captain replied.

It was Lacus, a national idol; it was hard not to be nervous seeing her.

Moreover, he was secretly transporting someone on a cargo ship, technically a violation.

"I see. Is the inspection complete?"

Lacus smiled, gauging the truth of the captain's words.

"Complete. We'll escort Miss Lacus back."

The Drake-class fled, and in their concern for the Silver Wind, they hadn't pursued.

They hadn't activated the neutron interferometer to receive the Silver Wind's communication.

Compared to He Kui's friend's sightseeing, Lacus's safety was paramount.

"No hurry, I need to complete the memorial ceremony here."

Lacus said softly.

"But!"

"Aren't you all here? So I'm fine."

"Miss Lacus..."

Hearing Lacus's determination to honor the dead despite the risks, the captain's eyes welled with tears.

He Kui smirked.

Indeed, returning like this wasn't feasible for Lacus.

Claiming she fled from a single Drake-class despite having Laurasia-class escorts?

It would impact her popularity.

The Klein faction was already labeled weak and appeasing by the Zala faction.

At least in public, they had to show bravery.

If the Archangel hadn't arrived, He Kui wouldn't have stopped her, but...

"I think it's better to return first."

Aegis's cool voice echoed in the hangar.

"Who is this~?"

Seeing the fully cloaked girl, Lacus felt a sense of incongruity.

"Aegis, a bystander."

He Kui introduced himself, then continued.

"I heard Cruzer's team attacked Heliopolis, and the new ship escaped. If it's not fully restocked, the new ship might lack supplies."

"Without water, people can't survive more than three days, and the nearest water source to L3 is here. Though not certain, there's no need to take risks."

He didn't want to risk with Lacus, and he had personal reasons to keep her off the Archangel.

Preventing Lacus and Kira from meeting eyes, regardless of plot changes, would mean she wouldn't steal Freedom.

This would stabilize PLANT's political situation. The current Zala wasn't as radical as in the series, and with that superweapon and Klein's influence on Earth, resolving the main antagonist could force the Atlantic Federation to negotiate or even surrender.

Then everyone could return to their business.

But he still had to guard against Cruzer. Though there were no signs yet, he was running out of time.

"Is that so?"

As they spoke, the Archangel also spotted the Laurasia-class drifting near Julius 7.

"Is that a Laurasia-class?"

On the bridge, Mu, who had been explaining the story of Julius 7, was stunned.

"Doesn't look like a Laurasia-class from Cruzer's team. The identification signal suggests a ZAFT cargo ship."

Bacchus said, and everyone looked at Murrue.

Time was short, and though their radar was advanced,

discovery was only a matter of time.

While they hesitated, the Laurasia-class detected the Archangel's scan, and alarms blared throughout the ship.

"Has the Alliance ship returned?"

The captain asked urgently through the wall communicator.

"No, it's the new ship."

A blurry ship silhouette appeared on the screen.

"The Archangel... the Atlantic Federation's new ship, retreat."

He Kui spoke urgently, and the captain began remotely directing the Laurasia to turn around.

"Can't let them escape."

Seeing the Laurasia-class move, Murrue made her decision.

It was a ZAFT ship, even if a cargo ship, it was ZAFT military. Letting them go would leak their location.

There was no room for mercy from Murrue for the enemy.

Previously, at Morgenroete's factory, how many crew members were gunned down by Cruzer's team?

Not to mention, military cargo ships had combat capabilities.

"Did we still collide?"

In front of the screen, He Kui chuckled bitterly, while another screen showed him relaying the Gamow's location to Cruzer's team via a regular relay.

The rescue energy communication locator Haro given to Lacus, fearing not finding her was one reason; another was an excuse to openly call for reinforcements.

But to hold out under the Archangel with three regular GINNs and a Laurasia-class until reinforcements arrived...

Having just complained about things going too smoothly, He Kui now felt cold sweat on his palms.

Surrender or escape?

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