Chapter 255: Better to Die Standing

Within the confines of the base, He Kui took Aegis on a thorough patrol. While there weren't many ZAFT personnel around, and those who were didn't recognize the mysterious "Pallas" organization or his particular Aegis unit, He Kui knew that stepping onto the frontline would mean swift identification. This would likely tip Matthias off about his connection to "Pallas," though such exposure wasn't necessarily a problem, as their interests didn't conflict—much like with Lacus. Plus, he'd already saved ZAFT's airborne forces once.

Still, if he was recognized, it could add complications. He planned to leave once the president safely reached Panama amidst the chaos. By bringing Aegis, he was prepared to handle any threats. Even if enemy forces identified his unit, it wouldn't be easy for them to get a signal out from the base. The only real danger would likely come tomorrow, during the air drop, which was exactly why he'd opted for the firepower of Aegis.

When the next day arrived, He Kui and his team boarded their mobile suits and were launched from the base's catapult into the sky.

"Our mission is to secure the landing zone," Gai Murakumo briefed, a map overlay appearing on He Kui's screen with altitude markers and target locations.

"Expecting trouble?" Elijah asked.

"Uncertain. Stay alert."

They soon reached their designated altitude. He Kui maintained Aegis in biplane form, circling above while the others hovered using their GUs.

Moments later, He Kui's radar caught faint streaks of firelight breaking through the clouds—the incoming supply drop. The package contained three Dagger units, thirty planes, and an elite team of eight DINN units, meant to escort the president and pierce through to the heart of enemy defenses.

"Alert! Incoming fire!" The radar alarm blared just as a bright beam shot out from the ground, colliding with one of the DINN units before it fully deployed. The explosion triggered a devastating chain reaction, taking three units out with it.

"Such range!" Elijah gasped, his machine beginning evasive maneuvers.

"It's likely a sniper-type unit. Be cautious."

He Kui studied the beam's intensity. "If I'm not mistaken, that was a Buster Rifle shot. It could be a variant of the Buster Dagger."

"They've been spotted." He Kui's radar picked up additional readings as sixteen Saberfish fighters, six Skygraspers, and dozens of helicopters advanced rapidly toward them. Six more Daggers, including at least one Buster variant, also appeared on his radar.

Against this formidable force, He Kui knew that without Serpent's Tail and Aegis, their odds would be slim. But with both, victory was possible.

"We need to neutralize the Dagger squadron," Gai's voice remained calm and steady despite the numbers against them.

"A, stay back," he added, a note of caution.

"Understood."

Just as they were about to engage, a booming voice reverberated from the base below, carrying across the battlefield:

"Soldiers!"

The president's gravelly voice was filled with conviction. "For too long, we have been cloaked in darkness, betrayed and besieged. But we have never surrendered! Today, some of us may spill our blood on this land, yet our faith and honor remain unbroken! Our souls will return to this forest."

"I know that many of us may not see tomorrow's dawn, but remember, our sacrifice is not in vain! We fight to protect our home, to defend our dignity and freedom! Let the usurpers see that the people of the South American Union would rather die standing than live kneeling!"

"Even if only a breath remains, we will make those thieves understand—South America's spirit will never be crushed!"

His impassioned words stirred a roar of defiance on their internal comms, echoing through the troops.

"Local war cries?" He Kui murmured, watching the enemy forces regroup. Dodging a shot from the Buster Dagger, he deployed two infrared-guided missiles toward its position. The resulting explosion ignited the jungle below, sending debris flying, but the Buster Dagger managed to escape the flames, battered yet intact.

"We're in the rainforest! No beam or missile weapons!" A South American colonel barked over the comms, his frustration clear.

"…Got it," He Kui replied, slightly exasperated. Why worry about trees when they were fighting for their lives? Not that he had many missiles left anyway—just six. He switched tactics, opting for biplane mode to keep the enemy harried.

If he could buy enough time for the DINN units to safely deploy, they'd have a significant advantage with four additional mobile suits. But the enemy wasn't clueless. Trained to ambush and incapacitate, the enemy Skygraspers fired toward him, while the other three split off to intercept the DINN units.

"Block them!" He Kui shouted through the comms, as three allied Saberfish fighters rushed to intercept. With only ten seconds until the DINNs could manually eject, the Saberfish pilots knew they were unlikely to intercept the Skygraspers in time.

Without hesitation, the three Saberfish pilots placed themselves directly in the line of fire, shielding the DINN drop trajectory.

"For South America!" Their voices echoed through the comms before their machines exploded, clearing a path for the DINNs.

Freed from the landing pod, the DINN units extended their wings, cutting a graceful arc through the sky as they charged directly toward the Skygraspers.

--Support me in Patreon for more chapters 35+ chapters in there 

patreon.com/LegendaryTL

Thanks!