Chapter 75: The Assault of the Thrones

On the Pacific Ocean, Graham received an encrypted communication.

"Hmm? Why is this guy contacting me at this time?" Graham frowned. The battle had just ended not long ago, and he was still on his way back. Yang Hui shouldn't be thinking of this at all.

"Captain? What's wrong?" Howard Mason asked, noticing Graham's strange expression.

"Nothing." Graham shook his head. "I just need to get some fresh air."

"Captain, don't be too hard on yourself. If it weren't for the newly appeared Gundam, Randy and the others wouldn't..." Daryl Dodge tried to comfort him, thinking Graham was feeling guilty about the failed operation.

"I'm fine." Graham didn't explain, nor could he.

Once on the deck, ensuring no one was around, Graham opened the encrypted communication sent by Yang Hui. Like Professor Eifman, his expression turned quite grim.

"Hey, hey, hey, this bastard can't be joking, right?"

Though Graham said this, he believed Yang Hui wouldn't joke about such matters. He turned to notify his teammates to urgently return to base, but as soon as he took a step, he froze.

How was he supposed to say it? Just come out and say the base was going to be attacked? Where did he get that information?

But if he didn't leave, they wouldn't make it in time. Losing the base was a minor issue; if Professor Eifman and Billy Katagiri were killed, that would be the biggest loss.

"Damn it, Myer, this bastard is trying to make me expose myself..."

Just as he hesitated, Graham's PAD rang again. He thought it was Yang Hui sending him a solution, but upon seeing it was a communication from the bridge, he immediately connected.

"It's me... What? A unit is breaching the atmosphere?..." Upon hearing this, Graham confirmed that currently, the only MS capable of breaking through the atmosphere alone was the Gundam. "…What's the expected landing location?… What did you say!? I'm heading out immediately!"

After hanging up, Graham rushed back to the team's lounge.

"Emergency deployment! Return to base!"

"Captain, what happened?" The team members were confused.

"Hurry! A unit is breaching the atmosphere, and the expected landing location is our base!"

"What!?"

"Is it a Gundam?"

"Damn! How could it be at this time!"

Everyone wasted no time, quickly putting on their pilot suits and rushing towards their machines.

"We have to make it in time."

...

At the Overflag base, Professor Eifman immediately took Billy Katagiri to the underground shelter after receiving Yang Hui's encrypted communication. Just as they entered the shelter, the base alarm blared.

"They really came! But why..." Billy Katagiri couldn't believe it. Why would the newly appeared Gundam target Professor Eifman and himself? Weren't they all part of the Celestial Being organization?

"Don't forget, Katagiri, not many people know our identities."

"I see, but isn't there still VEDA? VEDA wouldn't possibly arrange a mission to eliminate us." Billy Katagiri pressed on.

"I don't know. Maybe... it wasn't an order from VEDA." Eifman pondered the same question. After thinking it over, there was only one answer; otherwise, Yang Hui wouldn't have taken the risk to send an encrypted communication to warn them.

"Not VEDA?"

"Don't you remember? Myer once said there are traitors within the organization."

"I see. If that's the case, then the three newly appeared Gundams..."

"Yes... the second phase has begun."

"…I hope we can survive by some stroke of luck." Billy Katagiri looked up at the ceiling of the shelter, as if his gaze could penetrate the surface.

At first, Billy Katagiri suggested that Professor Eifman leave the base on a special aircraft, but now it seemed that Professor Eifman's choice was the correct one. If they had followed his suggestion, they would likely be targets on the runway right now.

As for whether the shelter could withstand the Gundam's attack, they could only pray.

...

As the alarm sounded, the three Thrones had already arrived above the base.

"Arrived at the target location. Nena, connect with me directly and eliminate the target in one go."

"Understood!"

The second unit retreated to the back, and the GN Particles output of the third unit connected to the first unit. The Long-Range GN Cannon deployed, and the third unit pulled the trigger from the back.

"High concentration GN Particles transmission... GN Particles, transmission complete!"

"Understood, Throne Eins, GN MEGA beam cannon, fire."

A thick black-red beam descended from the sky, as if a giant's hand was flipping the earth upside down. Whether it was the runway, hangar, tall buildings, or signal towers, all were destroyed in this one shot.

"Yahhoo~! Amazing! As expected of my big brother, ruthless in action!" Seeing the devastated base below, Michael became excited again. Just then, the radar indicated enemy aircraft approaching from behind.

"They're coming! The grunts are finally here!"

In the airspace behind, Graham's Flag Bearer led the charge, heading straight for the three Thrones.

Just as Michael was about to show off, John stopped him: "We retreat."

"Why? Just let me play for a bit, big brother." Before John could stop him, Throne Zwei broke formation and flew towards the Overflag team's formation. "It's fine, it'll be over soon. I want to destroy, ravage, and annihilate them! Go! FANG!"

Facing the incoming GN Fangs, Graham remained unfazed. He had long felt the power of these small, single-unit active units, and they were far weaker than Throne Zwei.

He slightly sidestepped to avoid all the GN Fangs, and the Flag Bearer raised its gun to shoot, hitting the stationary Throne Zwei. The violent impact made Michael momentarily unable to bear it, and even the external armor of Throne Zwei showed signs of damage.

"Damn! How could... a mere outdated MS... dare to harm my Throne... Ugh!"

Michael wanted to curse angrily, but the Overflag team members didn't give him the chance. They formed a three-by-three formation and shot, forcing Throne Zwei to retreat step by step.

"Don't underestimate the power of the Flag Bearer!" Enraged, Graham accelerated under the cover of his teammates, arriving in front of Throne Zwei, drawing his plasma sword and swinging it down.

"Bang~!"

Michael was startled, and Throne Zwei immediately drew its giant sword to block. To his shock, the second unit, the strongest among the Thrones, was being suppressed by the Flag Bearer, which he had looked down upon.

"How is this possible..."

"Don't underestimate us! Gundam!" With a furious shout, the plasma sword in the Flag Bearer's hand swung forcefully, directly knocking aside Throne Zwei's giant sword, and a kick sent it crashing down towards the ground.

"Ah~!"

"Revenge for my subordinates, hatred for the base! It will be repaid here! Gundam!"

With a burst of flames from behind, the Flag Bearer accelerated again, catching up to T

hrone Zwei, and the tip of the plasma sword aimed at Throne Zwei's cockpit, stabbing out in a flash.

(End of Chapter)