Lowe's Gift

After Andrew sent off Xiao Ran and company, he looked up at the sun, a dazzling light making him squint.

"They are berserker and his guardian. I wonder what will it will be when meeting on the battlefield."

"Be careful of people that coming from Plant that coming from Orb? What did you mean by that, guardian?"

While Desert Tiger trying to understanding what is the meaning behind Xiao Ran last words, the participant himself was sitting in the car, closed his eyes and think.

'The reinforcement has arrived earlier than expected and it is not from Gibraltar Base! Eight additional MS and pilots and that not counted Duel and Buster from Gibraltar Base!'

'Including Andrew's forces, they have at least over 15 pilots! It will be impossible for Archangel to break through from here only depend on Strike Gundam and SkyGrasper. On top of it, this is desert, not space, therefore we don't have many evacuation routes.'

'It is strange when the reinforcement came directly from Plant, not from Gibraltar Base. Although I already making early preparation, I did not expect other participants gradually join the plot on this speed.'

'With Earth Alliance and Zaft not having large scale battle so far, it is not surprising Zaft will divert their forces towards Archangel and Strike Gundam, which shown greater combat strength than the original plot.'

'Fortunately, Zaft's quantity of soldier less than Earth Alliance, therefore if the participant takes this opportunity making a move, Zaft will investigate the real status of those people. It is very simple to investigate their true identities without contacting them. In another words, Zaft will treat the participants with non-confidential task.'

'Perhaps Zaft's current missions are in line with personnel shortages that urgently need excellent personnel to supplement, and they are non-confidential tasks. Until now, the Archangel meets these requirements. In other words, ... Is it easier for the participants on Zaft's side to have access to the main storyline compared the participants from Earth Alliance? Is this the advantage of joining the Zaft camp?'

'As for Earth Alliance, although they have tons of soldiers, the disadvantages of backward weapon cannot be ignored. Even they won the battle, it will be costly.'

'Therefore, the participants who joins the Earth Alliances have a single advantage, the evalution reward of Main Mission. Earth Alliance not stingy in terms of treating the talented MS pilots. I'm pretty sure that some participants from Earth Alliance's side already obtain high military rank.'

'The reward system is not faked because Earth Alliance had too many talented soldiers at the front, therefore they capable to gift the rewards. The proof? They already regard Archangel as 'abandon child'. Therefore, it will be difficult to get in touch with the Main Mission.'

'Sigh… In the end both sides have their own advantages and disadvantages.'

Xiao Ran opened his eyes and sighed in daze, he mentally talks.

'It is wrong. What I should thinking now is how to bring Archangel out from here safely, then I can think further. It's really troublesome this time.'

'I don't know whether it is God's arrangement or merely luck, Lowe appeared here earlier than usual. Could it be Lowe and his Junk Guild are the key of this entanglement?'

'I glad to ask Lowe to enhance Strike Gundam before.' Xiao Ran shook his head with a sad expression can be seen on his face.

'However, I can't pilot SkyGrasper, it will kill me earlier. I need to think a way.'

After a soldier under Andrew arrangement delivered Xiao Ran and the company to the city, the participant himself still remember the conversation in Andrew's reception room. He already guesses that between eight reinforcement, some of them is participants. Even the number is small, a single or two participants can cause a great trouble to Archangel and him.

Once arrives in the city, the trio returned to the alley where the parked the car. Cagalli wanted to ask Xiao Ran several times what did his previous action meant and why he even agreed with Desert Tiger invitation. And not to mention, both of them hugs like a good brother.

As for Kira, after been in contact with Xiao Ran from Heliopolis, he has a lot of knowledge about Xiao Ran. After seeing Xiao Ran ponder expression, he wants to ask him but completely held the question in his time. He even stopped Cagalli several times to avoid her interrupting his teacher. All of them was silent all the way returned to Archangel.

Once the car was parked, Xiao Ran looked around and didn't find the person he was looking for, so he jumped out of the car, leaving Kira and Cagalli behind without saying a word. He hurriedly run towards the bridge.

When he arrived at the bridge, Xiao Ran did not find the second person he was looking for, Murrue. After tapping his head, Xiao Ran realized that there was nothing wrong with Murrue at this time. Generally, she would not stay on the bridge. After wastes several minutes, Xiao Ran find Murrue in Captain's Quarter.

.

Murrue frown when heard Xiao Ran first few words.

"Zaft had new reinforcement, totaled eight MS."

"How do you know!?" Maru asked with a frown. Xiao Ran then said without concealment.

"We've met Desert Tiger today. Some things happen and he invited us to be a guest. I heard it during that time."

"Is the situation urgent?" Murrue looked at Xiao Ran's serious expression and couldn't help covering her mouth with a chuckle: "It is rare to see you speaking so directly."

Murrue discovered Xiao Ran's nervousness and anxiety. When she heard he become a guest at Andrew's place, she was worried and surprise. Instead asking about what happened, she told Xiao Ran to calm down for a moment.

"You can smile even at this time?" Xiao Ran rolled his eyes, speechless.

"Are you expecting me to be sad and anxious?" Murrue looked at Xiao Ran and shook her head slightly. She then said.

"Even if I am like that, there is no use, it can't solve the current problem."

Xiao Ran closed his mouth. He couldn't tell her about the participants. In fact, if there are no participants, Xiao Ran will relax, nor he will meet Murrue to report the situation hurriedly. A few moments, he already calms down however the tension and anxiety in his heart cannot be avoided. It's because Xiao Ran not confident facing the participants, who knows they already have a lot of awaken skills.

"In short, you must be prepared. This battle may be more difficult than before. If you are not careful, you will be threatened by being sunk." Xiao Ran patted Murrue on the shoulder. Xiao Ran wondered if he had too much influence on others. The mood was over, so he put a smile on his face again: "Of course, I will also be prepared to not let the Archangel met any accident."

Murrue stared at Xiao Ran blankly, and almost never saw Xiao Ran's strong smile. After seeing this smile, she seemed to feel that the situation might be more serious than expected: "I know, I will Let others be prepared."

Xiao Ran left the quarter soon. The Archangel was about to face a large number of enemies, and even participants who were very likely to appear. The current combat power alone is irresistible, and it needs to gain new combat power. There is only one person who can help him at the moment, Lowe Guele.

.

It is indeed strange for Xiao Ran not to meet the Lucky Star anywhere. When he went to the hangar, he saw Lowe and huge group from mechanic team was testing Strike Gundam. Once Xiao Ran sees Lowe, he yelled to Lowe.

"Lowe!"

Lowe looked at Xiao Ran happily, waved his hand to Xiao Ran. He slowly climbed down the Strike Gundam. When he walked in front of Xiao Ran, he laughed: "You come at the right time. Today, I find a lot of material. The modification on Strike will surprise you this time."

Xiao Ran knew the reason for Lowe absent before. He nodded and said "I couldn't find you just now. When the machine will be remodeled?"

"I can't tell you the specific time." Lowe scratched his hair and looked at the disassembled Strike Gundam.

"The weapon interface on the shoulder needs to be modified, and it must be strengthened so that it can be directly suspended. The joints of that huge physical sword must also move, especially the waist, legs, and hands. I read the combat records of the kid Kira. I think these places restrict him a lot, and there are other aspects, too. Too much cannot be done in a short time."

Xiao Ran frowned when heard the information. He then said "Although I am embarrassed right now, I'll have to trouble you to complete the modification of the mecha as soon as possible. The current situation is subtle. There will be reinforcement from Zaft's side including from Gibraltar Base. Without Strike, Archangel is a living target. In fact, I don't even know if Strike can resist the battle with current condition."

"The situation is critical?" Lowe taken aback after Xiao Ran words. The participant nodded affirmative and say.

"In the reinforcement group, there are some strengthened people from the rebel group of Earth Alliance, the two kidnapped Gundam from Heliopolis. The totaled of them is at least 15 mechas if not mistaken."

"One to 15?!" Lowe widened his eyes and said in disbelief "Impossible, even if I complete the modification on the Strike now, it is impossible to make Strike to reach such a high degree even it is Kira we're talking about. Even combat records unable to achieve that."

"I know but…" Xiao Ran looked at the useless Ginn on the side.

"If at least I can join the battle… I'll able to protect Archangel." He then looked at Lowe.

"Lowe, I can't see Archangel sunk like this. I don't want to see the person I like fighting and die here, and I don't want to see my friends and students follow along the destruction of Archangel. If there is any way, I implore you to help me."

"Please… Help me…"

After listening to Xiao Ran's words, Lowe was silent for a long time. He lowered his head and thought. When he raised his head to look at Xiao Ran, his brows were still frowning tightly: "To be honest, although I have a MS, it has already been marked with Junk Guild label. Therefore, I can't participate in the war between Zaft and the Earth Alliance, so I cannot help you fight."

Hearing what Lowe said, Xiao Ran's heart swelled, but before he had any other thoughts, Lowe's face changed instantly. A smile can be seen on his face, and he said in a frivolous tone: "Hey, although I can't help you fight, you can fight by yourself. The people of the Archangel have been getting along these days. I also think that everyone is good and I am willing to help them. Also, aren't we friends? It is normal to help friends, right?"

Xiao Ran was stunned instantly. After Lowe greeted the mechanic team, he turned over and got in a car.

"Come with me."

"I had a gift for you."