Chapter 70: A Completely Different White Base

Chapter 70: A Completely Different White Base

Arcs of electricity coursed through the Rick Dom II!

"Uwaaahhhh!"

The opposing pilot's anguished screams were immediately transmitted into Eli's cockpit through the contact circuit.

While modern Mobile Suits (MS) were designed with measures against nuclear, biological, and chemical threats, countering electric shocks wasn't yet a priority. At least not against the power of the EZ-SR's electromagnetic knuckle, which completely pierced through the enemy's defenses.

As Eli retracted his fist, the screams had already stopped, and the enemy's machine fell into complete shutdown. If the pilot were a cyber-enhanced human, they might still be barely clinging to life. However, in this situation, the fact that they weren't reduced to charred remains was Eli's act of mercy.

Without hesitating over his recent kill, Eli immediately raised his left arm. Another Rick Dom II emerged from behind the immobilized one, brandishing a heat saber in an all-out charge. Clearly, the pilot was betting that the electromagnetic knuckle couldn't be reused in such a short time, as it required a cooldown period to recharge its systems after delivering such high-voltage current.

Sensing the enemy's resolve to avenge their comrade, Eli, with equal determination, squeezed the trigger on his left control stick.

The armor on the raised left arm shifted, revealing the internal Gatling gun. After a brief spin-up, a torrent of bullets erupted.

Simultaneously, the Vulcan cannon on the EZ-SR's head joined in, targeting the Rick Dom II's cross-shaped visor. The bullets shattered the visor, and the Gatling rounds followed, striking the right hand holding the heat saber. The barrage obliterated the Rick Dom II's right arm and the hilt of the saber, causing the orange-red blade to fizzle out without the MS's power supply.

What remained of the Rick Dom II's arm slammed into the EZ-SR's sturdy chest plate, but the impact was negligible.

The EZ-SR's forward thrusters ignited, pushing the suit back slightly. Once again, Eli raised the left arm, the Gatling gun whirring back to life and unleashing another barrage that pierced the Rick Dom II's cockpit.

Eli silently thanked Yashima Heavy Industries for their MS-grade weaponry. With limited development in beam weaponry, Yashima Heavy Industries had taken a unique approach, creating melee weapons like the electromagnetic knuckle. The advantage in space combat was clear: there was no risk of accidentally triggering an opponent's nuclear reactor in close quarters and being caught in the ensuing nuclear explosion.

Similarly, the Gatling gun was optimized for close combat. Its rounds were enhanced with specialized propellants, increasing their penetration power. This was why the bullets had been able to punch through the Rick Dom II's armor.

"Sorry, Joseph. I take back what I said. Projectile weapons in space are actually quite useful."

Eli retracted the armaments back into their armored compartments and maneuvered his MS to retrieve the beam rifle floating nearby. Gripping the rifle in the EZ-SR's right hand, he ignited the main thrusters, heading toward Amuro and Char's battlefield.

From the sudden acceleration and the full activation of thrusters across the suit, it was evident the EZ-SR wasn't a long-range unit. Its arms featured heavily reinforced armor, as durable as its chest plate, capable of withstanding small-caliber MS weapons like Zaku machine guns with ease.

As for rockets, missiles, or beam weaponry? The answer was simple:

As long as they don't hit, there's no problem!

With this audacious mindset, Eli charged headlong into the fray between the two combatants, who were already locked in a duel between a beam saber and a heat axe.

"Eli-san!"

Amuro's voice was filled with relief as he watched the gray MS rush forward.

"Ugh, another Gundam!"

Char, on the other hand, was distinctly displeased. Seeing the unmistakable Gundam-like features of the machine decelerating and turning to face him, his irritation grew.

Loosening the collar of his elaborate military uniform, Char took a deep breath to alleviate the inexplicable pressure he felt. He had always disliked the confinement of a pilot suit, preferring the freedom of a regular uniform despite the risks. This unorthodox choice seemed to sharpen his focus in battle.

When his Zanzibar-class cruiser detected the White Base heading toward the lunar base, Char had contacted his former subordinate, Dren. A former aide who once commanded ships for Dozle, Dren now led a patrol fleet in the area.

Dren had readily agreed to Char's proposal to pincer the Trojan Horse, likely out of nostalgia. However, Char suspected the real motivation was to use the victory to overshadow Char's reputation.

Regardless, it didn't matter.

What Char hadn't anticipated was that, even with his sudden decision to synchronize the attack with Dren's forces, the White Base had still turned the tide in its favor.

In their first encounter, the White Base could barely muster a counterattack. But now...

"Musai-class ship confirmed destroyed!"

The White Base had finally fired its main cannon. The MEGA particle cannon tore through the battlefield, piercing the front half of one of the three Musai-class ships.

That Musai was fortunate in one respect: its elevated bridge design spared its command crew from immediate destruction, allowing them to prepare for escape in lifeboats. However, Kai's Guncannon quickly closed in, using its beam rifle to obliterate the bridge before retreating to higher ground under the White Base's cover.

The remaining two Musai-class ships attempted to fire their main guns, but the White Base managed to evade each time.

"Hard to port—no, starboard!"

From his position in the captain's seat, Bright projected the image of a legendary commander despite his youth and low rank. His sharp eyes seemed to read the battlefield perfectly, plotting evasive maneuvers before the enemy could act.

At the helm, Mirai responded instantly to Bright's orders, sometimes making her own quick judgments to avoid danger.

In the CIC, Sayla felt a sudden clarity amid the chaos of commands and reports.

This ship was no longer the ragtag group it had once been.

It had become something more—a cradle of potential, nurturing the seeds of possibility.

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