[MONTHLY] Beltorchika's Children Ch.10

　"Enemy heat signatures approaching! Intercept with missiles! Disperse particle rounds!"
　The alert resonated through Axis's core pulse nozzle and engine control chamber. Around the nozzle, mobile suits busied themselves with maintenance tasks.
　"Enemy vessels detected at bearing code 4!"
　"A.E.M.! Scatter!"
　"Transfer control to combat bridge! Contact the Captain at Axis!"
　Crew members of the Rewloola scrambled into the combat bridge, and the three vessels, led by the Rewloola, dispersed laterally against the Ra Cailum fleet.
　"So... they've finally come?"
　Char set down the intercom and addressed the individual in a normal suit beside him, "Initiate ignition once adjustments are complete. We'll have ample time to correct our course. Londo Bell shall not breach this place."
　"We're counting on you, Supreme Commander!"
　"Please, dispense with formalities. I prefer being called a pilot."
　Char smiled at the technician before heading towards the Nightingale.
　"They were quicker than anticipated..."
　Char's sentiment was stirred by the exceptionalism he sensed in the Londo Bell unit.
　He doubted Mesta could grasp such a perception.
　"Is that it?!"
　From the Nightingale, Char launched a barrage of funnels toward the rapidly encroaching trail of missile light.
　Yet, he couldn't dispel the notion that the missile swarm concealed more than mere inanimate "objects."
　"…!?"
　Char, slightly unnerved, tried to concentrate on the few "heated" presences nestled among them.
　An explosion detonated within the missile cluster. A brilliant band of light unfurled. Within it, one particularly immense fireball sent a chill down Char's spine.
　"Tch! They hide a nuclear warhead inside those missiles?"
　The revelation stirred a maelstrom of emotions in Char—betrayal by the Earth Federation government and astonishment that Amuro and Bright dared employ a nuclear weapon against him.
　Retreating from the swelling fireball, Char wrestled with a foreboding sense of an arduous battle looming on the horizon.

ｘ ｘ ｘ

　Crack!
　The force behind Bright's slap across Hathaway's cheek was anything but gentle. In the zero gravity, Hathaway's body drifted away, and Beltorchika caught him.
　"Your mother and sister would be worried sick if they knew you were on the battlefield!"
　"Leave him be. Boys should be like this."
　"This is no laughing matter!"
　Ignoring Amuro's interjection, Bright tried to dismiss Hathaway as Amuro pushed a normal suit towards him and inquired,
　"You want to see Quess, don't you?"
　"I'm going to get her back from Char!"
　Hathaway's fervent words left Amuro and the others at a loss for words.
　As Bright prepared to lash out again, Amuro restrained him and said, "Hathaway, Char is taking advantage of Quess' very sensitive nature. Right now, she's become a mere tool for Char. It's a lost cause."
　He attempted to persuade him with the utmost composure.
　"A tool for Char?"
　"Yes... Char is a man who dares to change the world by destroying lives. If she's going to follow a man like that, she's merely courting the Grim Reaper.. ."
　"Courting the Grim Reaper?!"
　"The battlefield has that kind of influence. Get into a normal suit! That's an order!"
　"……!?"
　Without a word, Hathaway began to don the lower half of the normal suit.
　"Beltorchika! Lock Hathaway in the study. We don't know what he'll do if he's wandering around like this."
　"I-I'm on it!"
　Beltorchika hesitated.
　"What's wrong?"
　"No... I got tired all of a sudden, but I'll be fine. I'll take some medicine."
　"Do that. We're leaving soon."
　Amuro longed to berate Hathaway, who was slowly putting on the normal suit, but he restrained himself and exited the mess hall.
　Beltorchika's reluctance to inform Amuro of her pregnancy wasn't solely due to the mission's chaos.
She worried that if Amuro discovered the truth, he might either strive harder for the child's sake or become excessively cautious.
　Either way, it would alter the man Amuro had been until now.
　She couldn't discern whether such a change would yield positive or negative outcomes. Although she had considered consulting Dr. Chan Swahn, the frenetic nature of their deployment prevented her from doing so.
　"Ahh!"
　As Bright entered the bridge, cries of alarm erupted from the operators.
　"Have they come?"
　"Axis has fired up its engines! It's heading for Earth!"
　The brilliance of Axis's nozzle was visible on the enlarged display. Even from a considerable distance, the image unmistakably showcased the might of Axis's nuclear pulse engine.
"Enter the mobile suit combat zone! Launch our mobile suits! Fire the third wave of missiles!"
　"Hold the fourth wave for a moment!"
　As Bright issued the orders, he directed them to switch control to the combat bridge.
　From the catapult decks of the Ra Cailum and accompanying vessels, mobile suits like the Re-GZ were launched. Jegans attached themselves to the Base Jabbers hovering before the ships, pursuing the leading Re-GZ.
　"Deploy the decoys!"
　"At the same time, prepare for evasive maneuvers!"
　The decoys, released from the flanks of the Ra Cailum, inflated into forms resembling rocks and ships. They remained stationary at strategic positions, connected by wires.
　"In case of danger, we'll come to get you right away... If something abnormal happens, plug this into the intercom line and let us know, okay?"
　"Yes."
　Hathaway took the interphone from Beltorchika and entered the study room. Watching him, Beltorchika mused that raising a child must indeed be a formidable challenge.

　"A third wave, huh?!"
　Char entrusted the second wave of missiles to the minefield and the mobile suits and defended against the third wave by unleashing the full firepower of the Nightingale.
　Amid the tumult of missile explosions, there was a single, particularly large flash of light.
　"I suspected this would be the primary assault, but there's only one nuke among them. Well played, Bright..."
　Char maneuvered the Nightingale and retreated along the line of fire from the cannon barrage originating from Axis.
　"Mesta! Hurry and join me!"
　Char's voice sounded like a desperate plea.
　"They've caught up to Axis. Londo Bell was faster than we anticipated."
　On the combat bridge display of the Musaka, a CG representation showed the positions of ally and enemy ships. The graphics were an integration of data obtained from radar and laser measurements, as well as human optical observations. Without such a system, it would be impossible to analyze information under the influence of Minovsky particles. Still, this was less accurate than the radar systems of the old century.
　Rezin Schnyder launched from the Musaka's catapult deck. She was delighted that the Cyber-Newtype and Quess, whom she detested, were gone.
　"I don't understand what Char is thinking, letting them handle the job!"
　"Once the second wave of mobile suits is finished launching, continue cover fire for another thirty seconds. Then, we'll engage the enemy mobile suit forces! I wish you all the best."
　At Mesta's decisive command, Rezin smirked and replied, "Alright! Mesta babes, Rezin is heading out!"
　Rezin, along with her squad of three Geara Doga units, latched onto a Shackles and charged into Axis airspace.
　Subsequently, the Musaka and the fourth ship's missile and mega particle cannon barrage commenced in the area where the Ra Cailum fleet was presumed to be. The assault was strikingly accurate.
　The decoy units deployed by the Ra Cailum vanished one by one under the attack from the flank.
　In this dire situation, Amuro initiated the launch sequence for the Nu Gundam.
　"Reinforcements are en route, but is it safe to launch!?"
　"Second wave of mobile suit forces, move out! The fleet will endure with close support!"
　"Please! Kayra and the others are already engaged. Halting Axis's advance is our top priority!"
　Amuro, in the Nu Gundam, tilted forward and equipped with fin funnels resembling heat dissipation plates on its backpack, rode the catapult's acceleration and departed the Ra Cailum.
　"We're losing..."
　That was the sentiment Amuro harbored as he sat in the cockpit of the Nu Gundam.

　With Axis at its rear, the Rewloola executed evasive maneuvers while repeatedly firing its ship cannons. The other four ships followed suit, but their intensity had diminished. This was because mobile suit combat had erupted on the frontlines.
　The mobile suit skirmish unfolded in the airspace below where the mega particle beams from the fleets intersected. However, the area teemed with floating rocks. Both enemy and ally mobile suits had to navigate around the rocks while exchanging gunfire, occasionally using the rocks as shields. Amid the pandemonium, some mobile suits collided with the rocks and detonated upon impact.

　Kayra Su's Re-GZ, flanked by several Jegans, had slipped into an airspace where Axis was visible to the naked eye by circling near the North Star.
　"Should we target the enemy fleet's core to establish a foothold to halt Axis, or should we bypass the fleet and obliterate Axis's core nozzle itself?"
　She wavered momentarily, but within seconds, she would have no choice but to charge in one direction or the other.
　"Huh...!?"
　Although the main forces should have started engaging one another, Kayra spotted the glint of another Geara Doga squad directly ahead of her Re-GZ.
　The supporting Jegan units discarded their Base Jabbers and unleashed a surprise assault, plunging into the heart of the enemy's fragmented resistance line.
　"Nice cover!"
　Kayra barreled through the airspace where beams crisscrossed. The enemy would evade, rendering her advance more dependable.
　"Uh!? Another mobile suit squad!?"
　She saw multiple tail nozzles extending to the lower right. Realizing that the defense of the Rewloola's mobile suit units was remarkably robust, Kayra hastily aimed at the flash of Axis's core nozzle with the mega particle cannon on her backpack.
　"Even if this doesn't take it down in one shot!"
　She discharged the first round. However, the misfortune of the mega particle cannon lay in its sluggish beam speed and the conspicuous trail of light it left in its wake. Once detected and confronted with a defensive beam barrage, the beams would easily be deflected and dispersed.

　Rezun Schneider's Geara Doga forces, which had launched from the Musaka, were watching the glow of the mobile suit battle.
　"We're on a winning streak with these consecutive battles! Hahaha...! Londo Bell, huh? They should've stuck to ringing bells!"
　As Rezin destroyed a Jegan, she gazed at the unscathed Axis and marveled at Char's prowess.
　"If only he didn't have a penchant for young girls!"
　That was the general consensus among the pilots when it came to Char.

　At the same time, Quess's Alpha Azieru, which had penetrated deep into Axis's combat airspace, searched for Char's Nightingale.
　"Captain! Where are you, Captain?! I can't stand Mesta!"
　Quess, who was scanning left and right on her display, didn't notice the flashes of light from the battle.
　"Captain!"
　"You're being careless, Quess! Be more aware of what's around you!"
　Glarv suppressed the urge to leap into the cockpit of the Alpha Azieru as he heard Quess's mournful cry. It was all he could manage.
　"He's over there?"
　Quess zoomed in on her multi-display, focusing on the airspace above Axis.
　"Captain! You're hiding over there?!"
　Quess detached the Alpha Azieru's external fuel tank and accelerated rapidly. The abrupt acceleration shook off Glarv's Psyco Doga.
　"Quess!"
　Glarv attempted to chase the Alpha Azieru but felt an odd pressure on one side. It was the same "heat sensation" Char had experienced. He zoomed in on the display.
　"Is this the pressure of the Nu Gundam...?"
　Glarv directed the Psycho Doga towards the flash of light. He quickly realized that it was a group of missiles and doubted his own sensing ability. But...
　"...!? A nuclear warhead?"
　Rationale dawned on Glarv.
　With Axis at his back, he positioned the Psycho Doga so that Earth shone brightly behind him and focused his mind on the "heat."
　"Damn... these guys!"
　Glarv released all the Psycho Doga's funnels at once.
　"Hit them! Funnels!"
　Glarv's powerful will was transmitted to the funnels through the Psyco Doga's psycommu system.
　The fourth wave of missiles from the Ra Cailum contained five nuclear warheads, but Glarv's funnels scored direct hits on all of them, creating an enormous, dazzling light that engulfed dozens of regular missiles flying alongside.
　"I did it!"
　Glarv shouted in triumph.

　"The nukes have been intercepted?"
　Amuro angled the Nu Gundam's body towards the swirling vortex of the nuclear explosion, instantly realizing that the primary menace had been neutralized.
　"Could Char truly possess such power?! No, that can't be it!"
　Amuro's thoughts raced as he deduced that there must be a number of individuals with immense abilities scattered across Axis's combat airspace. A shudder coursed through him at the idea.
　"It seems we face a multitude of formidable adversaries..."
　The nuclear flash starkly illuminated Char's Nightingale and the approaching Alpha Azieru in the void of space.
　"Incredible!"
　Quess was captivated by the ferocious spectacle of light.
　"Quess!"
　Char's voice pierced through the cacophony of noise.
　"Captain! Captain! What is it?"
　She strained her eyes, and the Nightingale emerged on the main display of the Alpha Azieru.
　"Glarv intercepted the enemy's nukes."
　Quess quickly brought the Alpha Azieru in contact with the Nightingale.
　"Captain! Mesta slapped me real hard!"
　"Oh? I'll talk to her about it."
　As Char replied, he flinched when the Alpha's head, dominating the display, shifted. He opened the hatch of the Nightingale's cockpit.
　As Char leaned out, the Alpha's cockpit opened beneath the armor of its head, and Quess was propelled towards him by the air pressure within. The vacuum, the absolute zero, direct light created a skin-burning environment...
　"She's naked...!?"

　As Char caught Quess's approaching body with his own, he embraced her naked body and retreated into the cockpit, closing the hatch.
　"You're not wearing a pilot suit?!"
　Quess shook her head, gasping for breath.
　"C-cold..."
　Coughing and shivering, Quess was alive... Char, with his pilot suit's visor open, couldn't help but scold her.
　"What were you thinking?!"
　"Will you really... make sure she's punished?!"
　"Yes... Don't worry."
　Char, finally catching his breath, marveled at Quess's purple skin and her incredible vitality.
　"Well, Captain, I'll do my job!"
　Quess seemed satisfied. She quickly pulled up her slightly lowered panties and tried to open the hatch.
　"Stop! You don't know the dangers of the vacuum. Don't get carried away!"
　Char held her still-youthful chest to restrain her.
　"But...!"
　"Real combat is a terrifying thing. Beyond what you can imagine."
　"Terrifying? Yes, it's frightening! Even though I endured that fear and fought, Mesta didn't praise me! She just got really mad!"
　"I see... so that's what it's about?"
　"That's right. Captain, don't waste your time on someone like Mesta. She lacks empathy. It diminishes you."
　Quess, now calmer, spoke earnestly, completely naked on Char's lap as he wore his pilot suit.
　"You're right... Mesta is practical, but she does have the shortcomings you mention... I have an idea. Quess... we'll continue your training here. If you can experience more of the battlefield's horrors without entering it, you'll truly become a Newtype. Then, you can unleash the power to turn all of humanity into Newtypes and save humanity..."
　"Isn't that your job, Captain?"
　"I'm just paving the way. It's up to your generation to achieve it."
　"Captain, you're amazing."
　Quess murmured as she tried to stroke Char's cheeks with both hands from underneath his helmet.

　"Isn't Kayra being too reckless?"
　Amuro's anxiety mounted as he neared the rendezvous point, finding no sign of mobile suits in the vicinity.
　His concern was warranted, for Glarv detected the Re-GZ's presence within the airspace close to Axis.
　"What's that!? I feel a sharp sensation from the upper left!?"
　The Psycho Doga, poised to return to Axis, swiveled and climbed. The lack of funnels made Glarv increasingly uneasy, yet he persisted.
　"Is it the pressure of the Gundam!? The suit I encountered on Fifth Luna!"

ｘ ｘ ｘ

　"If I can't control it remotely, I'll just shoot them directly!"
　"But still!"
　Hathaway pressed his ear against the door, straining to catch Beltorchika's voice as she paced the hallway outside the study room.
　"I'll just man the machine gun seat and fire directly!"
　"Beltorchika's really giving it her all...ugh!"
　The ship's hull shuddered, sending Haro floating upward. Hathaway grimaced and clutched the Haro.
　Having slipped into the rear gun seat, Beltorchika operated the machine gun as if expelling pent-up frustration.
　Before her, a lone Geara Doga approached, decimating the dummies deployed by Ra Cailum. It was Rezin Schnyder.
　"Really! Cyber-Newtype or Newtypes, if they can't stop the fleet, they're nothing but useless nitwits!"
　Rezin, dodging the Ra Cailum's machine gun fire, unleashed a volley of missiles from her shield.
　"…!"
　Simultaneously, Beltorchika countered with her machine gun, thwarting Rezin's missiles from reaching their mark.
　But...
　"Not bad!"
　Within the exploding missiles' glare, Rezin's Geara Doga retreated and spun, exploiting the blinding light. Beltorchika struggled to track Rezin, firing the machine gun wildly.
　"Ah...!?"
　"Mama!"
　Hearing the voice, Beltorchika swiftly swung her machine gun right, channeling all her strength into her two thumbs. Tracer rounds homed in on Rezin's Geara Doga as if the suit were sucking them in.
　"Wha?! The light... it's...!?"
　Rezin's scream was cut short as a concussive explosion blossomed, her suit vanishing in the flash of light.
　"I-I did it...!"
　Beltorchika wondered if the voice she heard was "Mommy," "Mama," or something similar to the Chinese word for "Mother."
　"What was that...?"
　Still, she believed that the sound had informed her of the enemy mobile suit's direction of invasion.
　"Is it because of the baby?"
　Beltorchika's hand groped her abdomen through her normal suit, but all she could feel was an unpleasant sensation as if heartburn and nausea had melded together as one.

　"Aah!?"
　Quess, sitting on Char's lap, shuddered with a sudden tremor. It was a convulsion.
　"What's wrong?"
　"It feels like... a lot of people are entering me..."
　Quess murmured her words as if grounding them to the earth. It was not an unfamiliar sensation to Char.
　"...Captain... I-I'm scared..."
　Quess's hands quivered in terror, gripping Char's elbow. He tenderly embraced her exposed back, soothingly caressing it...

　"…!?"
　Hathaway, cradling Haro, felt as if Quess's scent lingered nearby and scanned the dimly lit self-study room.
　"Dad?... Quess!?"
　Hathaway struggled to grasp the situation beyond the escalating battle, but that alone was sufficient. He pondered what he could do amidst the chaos.
　The Re-GZ deftly evaded the enemy warship's mega particle cannon assault with a sweeping maneuver, closing in on Axis's rear.
　"There it is! Go!"
　As the Re-GZ unleashed beams and missiles simultaneously, several Geara Doga units distorted the beams emanating from Axis.
　"Not yet!"
　The Re-GZ swerved amidst the flash, but a separate formation of Geara Dogas ambushed from the fleet's vicinity as though anticipating the wide turn.
　"Hmm!?"
　Simultaneously, Kayra detected a distinct presence and glanced up to see Glarv's Psycho Doga bearing down from behind.
　"With this one machine, I'll obliterate the entire fleet!"
　Glarv's exasperated emotion exerted a unique pressure on Kayra, distinct from the other mobile suits. The Psycho Doga's psycommu transmitted Glarv's thoughts.
　"There you are!"
　Glarv fired his beam rifle at the Re-GZ, heedless of friendly Geara Dogas in his path. Naturally, some allies were hit, but the heavily armored Re-GZ, with its backpack, remained functional.
　"With one more shot, I can stop Axis from falling to Earth…"
　Kayra fired the mega particle cannon while dodging Glarv's onslaught, but in the next instant, half of the backpack was obliterated.
　"Agh!"
　"Like hell you will! You're full of yourself!"
　Glarv referred to the pressure emanating from the Re-GZ's main body, reminiscent of a Gundam. The Psycho Doga's missiles annihilated the Re-GZ's tail nozzle, causing the mobile suit to whirl uncontrollably.
　"Just because you think you're some successor to the Gundam!"
　The Geara Doga squad encircled the Re-GZ and launched their assault. Armor from the Re-GZ's back was shredded and cast aside.
　"Grr! Don't finish it off just yet! Incapacitate it and capture it!"
　Glarv's realization was that the pilot must be Amuro. That's why he called out to the mobile suits on both sides.
　A beam struck the Re-GZ's leg directly, but only the armor's tip was sheared off.
　"Nngh!"
　In Kayra's view, the display showed damage points blinking incessantly, menacing her.
　"Leave only the cockpit! The pilot of the Gundam is supposed to be Amuro! Some Newtype!"
　Glarv continued giving orders.
　"What the hell is with them? They're toying with me!"
　Kayra was filled with despair.
　Once more, the manipulator gripping the Re-GZ's beam rifle was blasted away. Prior to that, the beam rifle's primary energy tube had been severed, rendering it inoperable.

　"Kayra!?"
　Perceiving the despair that engulfed Kayra's thoughts, Amuro guided the Nu Gundam with unyielding resolve into that airspace. The psycommu, attuned to that steely resolve, served to stimulate Glarv.
　"…!?"
　Though the sensation was still vague, Glarv realized that the order he had just given was a mistake.
　"Tch…!?"
　Aware that the Geara Doga squad was restraining the movements of the Re-GZ, Glarv tried to pinpoint the direction from which the "stimulation" was coming.
　And there it was – a distinctive tail nozzle light, unmistakably unlike any other mobile suit.
　"Stop!"
　Amuro sensed, or rather perceived, the stagnant air within the intense, lightless abyss. Through the video game-like cockpit display, he addressed the external "presence."
　"Incoming! I don't know who you are, but if you come any closer, this Gundam-wannabe's pilot will--"
　In that instant, Glarv magnified the oncoming mobile suit and observed that it, too, bore a striking resemblance to a Gundam. He cast a glance at the immobilized Re-GZ.
　"A Gundam? Two Gundam wannabes?"
　A slight unease crept over Glarv as the pieces of the puzzle started coming together.
　He remembered the Re-GZ's vulnerability compared to their previous encounter at Fifth Luna. The implication was unmistakable. Judging from the intensity of thoughts radiating from it, the pilot of the approaching mobile suit, the new model, must be Amuro Ray.
　If that's the case, the "presence" advancing head-on...
　"Amuro! If you come any closer, this mobile suit's pilot will lose their life!"
　Glarv maneuvered the Psycho Doga nearer to the Re-GZ and struck its frame. Inside the swaying Re-GZ cockpit, Kayra Su struggled to engage the emergency escape lever on her seat.
　"Dammit! It won't work!"
　The flickering, half-knocked-out display was filled with the visage of the Psycho Geara Doga.
　"You, the Gundam wannabe! I'll kill this mobile suit's pilot!"
　"Ugh!"
　Kayra manually opened the cockpit hatch and ignited the verniers of her pilot suit.
　With a swift swoosh, Kayra's pilot suit soared into the void.
　"You won't escape!"
　Glarv sent the Psycho Doga's manipulator chasing after Kayra and caught her.
　"Ah!?"
　"Damn him!"
　As Amuro scrutinized Kayra's pilot suit on the enlarged display,  her fragile form was held tightly by the enemy mobile suit's manipulator.
　Several of the surrounding Geara Dogas began to close in on the Nu Gundam.
　"Lieutenant! The enemy has stopped! Please, take the shot!"
　"Surrender that Gundam wannabe and your life shall be spared, pilot - and you as well, Amuro!"
　Amuro received Glarv's message via an optical signal. However, through the psycommu and psycho-frame, he detected even more ominous, shadowy thoughts from Glarv.
　"…!?"
　If he didn't show a total willingness to surrender, Kayra would be crushed by the manipulator.
　It appeared as though the manipulator proffered Kayra towards the Nu Gundam.
　"Lieutenant, don't worry about me. Just shoot! These people are insane! It's all because of Char, who's misleading them as if he's watching this battle from the heavens!"
　"…!?"
　"It's all because of Char, who's misleading them as if he's watching this battle from the heavens!"
　Amuro did not hear this through radio transmission but sensed Kayra's intentions directly. Although her suit had a radio, the din in the high-density Minovsky particle environment rendered it inaudible.
　For a moment, Amuro faltered, and his emotions manifested in the Gundam's movements.
　Seizing the opportunity, several Geara Doga units launched wires from their shields, ensnaring the Gundam with the intent to tow it.
　"Wait! I surrender! I'll release my funnels and beam rifle!"
　Amuro cried out. If the enemy mobile suit was a psycho-type, it ought to have received his intentions.
　"Alright!"
　Amuro sequentially released the fin funnels attached to the Nu Gundam's backpack and let the beam rifle he held in his right manipulator drift forward.
　Nonetheless, the Gundam's actions infuriated Glarv.
　"Releasing the heat sinks, what sort of funnel is that!?"
　Force was applied to the Psycho Doga's manipulator gripping Kayra's torso.
　"Ugh!"
　Kayra's ribs were likely shattered...
　"What!?"
　Neo Zeon's funnels were cylindrical, unlike these flat fin funnels. To the inexperienced observer, the Gundam's funnels appeared as heat sinks.
　"Terminate the Gundam's pilot!"
　At Glarv's behest, high-voltage electricity surged from the wires entangling the Gundam. Four Geara Dogas initiated the assault.
　"Ugh!?"
　For an instant, it seemed as if the direct hit had reached Amuro's seat. However, the detached fin funnels instantly folded their wings and discharged mega particles from the gaps, severing the wires.
　Amuro escaped a lethal blow, but the fin funnels' movements were not entirely his own doing.
　Kayra's body met its demise within the relentless grip of the Psycho Doga's manipulator.
　"Ugh!"
　"You'd dare resist, Amuro?! It wouldn't have come to this if you just followed orders!"
　Infuriated, Glarv bellowed as he hurled Kayra's lifeless pilot suit and charged toward the Gundam.
　"You're nothing more than Char's lackey!"
　Amuro, too, charged, directing the Gundam's right manipulator to grasp the rifle.
　"I am Glarv Guss--What!?"
　Glarv sensed the Gundam's movements and the funnels whirling about it, suddenly converging on him. He retreated with the Psycho Doga at full force.
　This was where Glarv diverged from ordinary pilots. Without a doubt, there was a part of him that had been enhanced as a warrior.

　"Nnnngh!"
　"What's the matter, Quess?"
　Char felt as though he had heard Amuro's voice, but at that moment, Quess's back was convulsing more intensely than before, causing him to forget about Amuro's presence.
　"Captain, Captain... If I don't kill all my enemies, I... I'll be undone..."
　Quess whimpered, her teeth chattering.

　Had Amuro pursued the Psycho Doga at that time, he might have managed to destroy Glarv. However, as he evaded the onslaught from the Geara Doga squad on either side, he discovered the crushed pilot suit of Kayra Suu, preventing him from acting.
　Amuro seized the opportunity to recover Kayra's body, but in doing so, exposed himself to the relentless assault of the Geara Doga and Rewloola, compelling him to fall back.
Upon seeing Kayra's pilot suit hidden in the shadow of the left manipulator's shield, Amuro swiftly retreated from the airspace.
　Immediately after, the Nightingale descended upon the point where the Gundam had been, unleashing a torrent of beam attacks. Char realized Amuro's retreat.
　"He's not here? He knows when to quit. So, Amuro, you're using a new Gundam?"
　"Go after him, Captain!"
　"No, it's too late..."
　Char gently patted Quess's back as he spoke.
　"Glarv suffered too, you know."
　"I could tell. But fighting to conceal our fear will only hasten ones death."
　Removing his helmet, Char tenderly counseled Quess.
　"Ah...!"
　Quess pressed her cheek against Char's, embracing his neck with all her might.