Disclaimer: Gundam Seed doesn't belong to me, just like a bunch of other things that I wish did...

Phase 3: Losing the Fight (A Momentary Retreat)

Smoke lined the skies as unit after unit was shot down by the ever growing ZAFT forces. "Those damned Daggers...can't do anything..." muttered Crot as he watched yet another casualty occur on their side as he flew over the battlefield trying to avoid getting shot down.

Forbidden was constantly using it's Panzer unit due to the numbers of units hidden under the water's surface.

"Die you filthy naturals!" came a shout from one of the ZAFT soldiers as another barrage of fire came bursting from underneath the waters below.

"Gah...fucking bastards," Shani mumbled, unable to retaliate against the sudden onslaught.

On the mainland, Calamity was having trouble keeping up with the strange unit.

"Ha, you think you can match the speed of a LaGOWE?" questioned Andrew, who was quite amused with the other pilot's attempts.

"Just watch me dumbass!" Orga hissed, still being stubborn about the concept that his unit could best the other on the sandy battlefield.

"Stop talking like a blind fool!" Andrew commented as he rammed his LaGOWE into the other unit causing Calamity to nearly fall over once more.

"Damn, he's pretty good," Orga murmured, managing to stabilize Calamity. "Have some of this!" Orga shouted as a blast from all of Calamity's weapons struck the LaGOWE.

"Hm, nice shot, now here's mine..." Andrew remarked. Suddenly, the LaGOWE shot from the cloud of dust that had been kicked up by Calamity's last assault with it's blades fully extended and slashed off the arm that had been holding the bazooka.

"Dammit..." Orga mumbled, realizing that his chances of destroying this unit had just become very slim.

Forbidden was speeding towards land with Shani hoping that the horde of marine units would stop their pursuit if he was closer to land.

The midair dog fight between the Raider and the horde of DINNs wasn't going very well for Crot. "Fuck...I can't keep this up much longer..." Crot grumbled, eyeing Raider's slowly depleting energy gauge.

Orga scanned the battlefield only to find that most of their units were either destroyed or damaged to the point where they can barely move.

"We have to keep going, we can't let ZAFT win this!" Shani urged.

"And what the hell do you think we can do about it! Take a look around you dumbass!" Orga replied, trying to find a way to get away from the mainland units who were intent on taking him down.

"You better think of something quick cause I'm about to come crashing to the fucking ground!" Crot shouted, still eyeing the gauge.

At that instant, an announcement came over their com. systems, "All units are ordered to retreat! Return to the ships at once!" came one of the operators.

"Damn..." Shani growled before turning Forbidden around and heading back towards the ship. Raider followed while grabbing Calamity on it's way.

"Why the hell did you do that!" demanded Azrael, who seemed quite shocked that the captain had ordered a total retreat of his units.

"Azrael, sir, we lost more than half our units out there! Do you honestly expect us to go on against such odds!" argued the captain.

"So? Was that any reason to order a total retreat!" Azrael growled, further enraged by the captain's reasoning. He gave the captain an angry glare which then turned into a disappointed look.

"You're mad! You're just sending more soldiers to their deaths if you keep this up! Pretty soon you won't even have a fleet to command!" hollered the captain who just had enough of the other man before him.

"We're sending those units back in an hour. No more, no less!" Azrael coldly stated before leaving the bridge.

The captain stood at the bridge trying to find an alternative, but he just couldn't help think that the plan was turning into a complete failure...