第七章「クレヴェナールの影」2
CHAPTER.07 – SHADOW OF KURWENAL (2)

　Mehmet and the others in the lab realized Arlette’s absence a few minutes after she left.

　”Arlette… What’s she trying to do…”

　Rather than surprise, Mehmet was bewildered and buried his head in his hand.

　Considering the circumstances, it was highly likely that Arlette sneaked out of the corner of their eyes onto the surface of Axis, as there was no way that the Mastima team would not notice if she went through the corridors inside the lab.

　”Arlette! Arlette! “

　He tried to call out to Arlette over the communicator but got no response. She must have cut off the comms on her end. As someone put in charge of a civilian, he had made it a point to be attentive to her behavior. Arlette had been acting very cooperative up until now.

　He never expected her to act on her own without his permission, even now. It was Mehmet’s regrettable mistake for taking his eyes off of her, even for just a few minutes.

Could she have put up an act as an obedient civilian, anticipating this…?

　Mehmet recalls Arlette’s sad and longing expression when looking at Axis a few hours ago and started panicking. They couldn’t just sit and wait for her return, and they couldn’t remain on Axis for much longer.

　Moreover, there could be more hostiles heading their way.

　Other than the Byarlant that Danton went after, the Gundam-type they engaged earlier could still be around. They need to return to the landing craft as soon as possible. If it came down to it, he might have to consider abandoning her… As the thought crosses his mind, the comms on Mehmet’s normal suit buzzed with a voice drowned in white noise.

　”….met…”

　”!!”

　As the Minovsky particle concentration around the lab was not that high, the communicator’s calibration mechanism quickly kicked in and muted out the noise.

　”Mehmet, do you read me?”

　”Arlette! Where are you?!”

　”Sorry. I went outside. I had to confirm something…”

　”Confirm something…? “

　”We’ll talk about that later. We’ve got a situation on our hands right now. The enemy’s mobile armor is heading for the port.”

　”A mobile armor… Are you sure?”

　Unable to grasp the dizzying turn of events, Mehmet could only repeat what Arlette told him.

　”I believe it is the Gundam-type we encountered earlier this time with an armed base attached to it.”

　”And it’s heading for the port? “

　”Yes. Danton and the landing craft are in danger.”

　”Eurgh…”

　Mehmet clenched his teeth under the normal suit. While he is curious about Arlette’s actions, they are in a desperate situation if she is telling the truth. Danton’s R-Jarja should still be engaging the Byarlant. Now, an unidentified mobile armor appears out of nowhere. If they take out Danton and destroy the landing craft, they would have no way to return to the Earth Sphere.

“It’s all over, huh…”

　”No… Not yet.”

　Arlette’s voice over the comms expressed strong willpower.

　”Huh?! Arlette?”

　”Get everyone in Mastima to take the data that has been collected and head to the port immediately.”

　”But the enemy’s mobile armor is going to the port…”

　”I will handle that.”

　”HUH?!”

　”Just leave it to me. Hurry!”

　”Wait…”

　Right after saying that, Arlette cut the comms on her end. Mehmet stared at the severed comms link on the visor, feeling utterly disturbed.

　”Commander…”

　Mehmet shook his head while responding to his subordinate, who called to him anxiously.

　”We’re pulling out. Return to port.”

　”But she’s…”

　”She said she’ll take care of it. She must have something up her sleeve. I will take responsibility.”

　”…Understood.”

　Goodness… She looked so meek, but she’s such an unruly girl.

　While still frustrated, Mehmet quickly started preparing for their withdrawal. She’s their best bet now, though. Either way, they don’t have time to waste. Quickly finishing up the withdrawal preparations, he looked back at the desolate, rocky stretch outside the window.

　”I’m counting on you… Arlette.”

　Mehmet made a salute to Arlette, who’s out there somewhere, before leaving the lab with his subordinates.

×　×　×

　A sandstorm was raging on the surface of Axis.

　The Isolde, with its thrusters at maximum, closes in for the attack while gliding just above the surface. Danton’s R-Jarja parried the Isolde’s attack with its variable shield and drew its beam saber as they passed each other. The two sabers threw off sparks and lit up the barren land of Axis.

　”As expected, he has the upper hand in mobility…”

　The R-Jarja, which was mainly designed for close combat, couldn’t keep up with the incomparable thrust of the Byarlant. Danton continued to dodge Isolde’s attacks coming from all sides with minimum movement.

　”Alright, white one! Let’s see what you’ve got!”

　Walter exclaims in delight inside the cockpit of Isolde. In all his years in the military, even after being hired as a mercenary for Birnam, he had never experienced a more exhilarating battle. He always thought of the enemy’s mobile suits as nothing more than targets and preys that earned him money. However, this guy is an exception. He’s totally different from the rest.

　He wields the mobile suit as if it were his own body. He had never had the chance of encountering one on the battlefield, but he’s probably the type they call ace pilots. If he could fight such people, maybe becoming a mercenary wasn’t such a bad idea after all.

　”But…”

　While passing the R-Jarja, the Isolde extended its left arm.

　”!!”

　Its sharp claws penetrated the R-Jarja’s shoulder armor; the same left arm was the one that lost its mega-particle cannon after being fired at point-blank range just moments ago. After that, he had engaged in close combat with the beam saber on his right arm. To make him think that that attack disabled the left arm. However, it is still functioning, and it can at least stop his foe in its tracks.

　”You’re finished!”

　The Isolde thrust its right arm into the body of the R-Jarja, which had been stopped in its tracks.

　My mega-particle cannon is still functioning. If I can fire it at point-blank range…

　”Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!”

　Danton roared.

　The R-Jarja raised its beam saber and cut off its own arm together with the Isolde’s manipulator in one sweep.

　”What?!”

　Pivoting around the Isolde, which lost its balance and fell to the ground, the R-Jarja turned around and got behind its back.

　”I…”

　He quickly swung the raised beam saber down.

　”…can’t die here!”

　”!!”

　In sync with Danton’s cry, the beam saber was buried into the back of Isolde.

　”Eurgh…”

　The light in the monoeye of the Isolde flickered for a while before slowly vanishing. The R-Jarja stood in silence as it looked down at the disabled Isolde. Danton breathed heavily inside the cockpit.

　”…Finally… it’s over…”

　Looking back, he saw the Mastima landing craft hidden in the port. Danton sighed in relief as he realizes he had successfully defended their means of returning.

　Zzzt… Zzzt…

　The communicator buzzed with a voice mixed in static.

　”…Eurgh… I lost, damn it… You’re… strong…”

　It must be the pilot of the Byarlant in front of him. Danton replies to the voice, which was younger than expected, with a worn-out voice.

　”You too.”

　”…May I ask?”

　”What?” “

　”You’re not a soldier, are you? Who are you?”

　”I’m… just a laundry cleaner.”

　”…Huh? “

　Hearing the surprise in the enemy pilot’s voice made Danton smile wryly.

　”Drop by if you ever come to Libot. I’ll give you a discount.”

　After saying that, Danton dropped deep into his seat.

　I’m done. All I have to do now is wait for Arlette and the Mastima’s return. I guess I’ll take a little break until then…

　That was when it happened. The monitor displayed CAUTION in red, and the alarm echoed through the cockpit.

　”What?!”

　He panicked and looked around.

　”What the hell… is this?”

　The R-Jarja’s main camera captured the silhouette of the large object coming towards him. Apparently, the Byarlant pilot also noticed this and blurted something nervously over the comms.

　”Brother…? “

　The massive mobile armor—Kurwenal—approached them with the inky blackness of space in its background.

×　×　×

　Meanwhile, Arlette climbed into a Petite Mobile Suit and returned to the lab. Mehmet and the others were nowhere to be found. They probably set a course for the port first, as they were told.

　I’ve gotta hurry. Danton should still be in combat with the Byarlant. If that mobile armor comes into the picture, not even Danton stands a chance of winning.

　Arlette jumped off the Petite Mobile Suit and ran to the back of the lab towards the large dock behind the hatch at the rear.

　The abandoned prototype is still here.

　In order to save Danton, the landing craft, and Mehmet, she had to boot up this mobile suit.

　”Captain, please…”

　She grabbed the terminal on her chest while running and said,

　”Just this once. Please help me… just this once.”