Compared to Durandal's relatively pleasant mood after encountering the Unicorn, the crew aboard the Minerva were experiencing headaches.
"This position is way too deep... do we really have to keep chasing them?" Arthur Trine, the Minerva's first officer, involuntarily swallowed as he looked at the planned course. "Their target is clearly to land on Earth. If we continue the pursuit..."
"We will land on Earth, and we will be in enemy territory," Talia Gladys, the Minerva's captain, finished Arthur's incomplete sentence.
"But there's no choice. Councilman Zala is extremely angry about this Gundam theft incident and has ordered that the Gundams must be recovered."
"After all, two units from another series that was greenlit around the same time as these three stolen Gundams were also stolen not long ago... Being stolen twice in such a short period, the hardline Councilman Zala certainly can't swallow this humiliation."
Durandal leaned back in his seat, calmly looking at the navigation chart. "Speaking of which, those two units called Freedom and Justice should also have participated in the Orb mass evacuation, based on the timeline... Shinn, you really should have seen them."
As the man who personally promoted Shinn Asuka, Durandal had naturally investigated Shinn's background thoroughly. At the very least, his identity as a participant in the Orb mass evacuation was indisputable.
Regarding Shinn's intense focus on salary and bonuses, Durandal only vaguely knew that Shinn's sister was seriously injured during the Orb evacuation, leading to high medical expenses, and didn't pay much attention to the rest.
"That time? I didn't pay any attention to those two units at all."
Shinn, who had been requested by Durandal to come to the bridge, was having a casual conversation with Meyrin Hawke, who was sitting at the CIC station. "I only noticed my sister and one other unit..."
"The Phoenix, right?" Recalling his brief exchange with Roz Links last night, Durandal narrowed his eyes. "I had a short conversation with that pilot during the battle near the agricultural colony of Braugel last night."
"I see..." Shinn suddenly fell silent for a moment after hearing Durandal's words. "What kind of person is he?"
"He has some ideas, some capacity for action, but also a somewhat naive persistence in certain matters." Durandal organized his thoughts while leaning back in his chair. "In short, don't deify that pilot. He is also a person, and inevitably has flaws."
Everyone looked at Shinn, who was deep in thought. They all knew that the red-shining "Phoenix" held a deep symbolic significance for Shinn.
"I know." Shinn looked at Durandal, seemingly relieved, and also as if he had made a decision. "What I aspire to is what that Phoenix could do... If anything, hearing your description actually makes me feel relieved."
"Precisely because he is also human, and he can do it... then I should be able to do it too."
"...Just as I expected from the person I chose." Durandal smiled when he heard Shinn's words.
Indeed, the Shinn Asuka of this moment displayed his own will and seemed completely uncontrollable, yet Shinn's intense desire for money became the chain Durandal could use to pull him back onto the path he had set.
As long as Shinn could still be influenced by him, the plan could proceed without issue.
"Now, back to the main topic. Councilman Zala's order cannot be refused, so everyone, prepare for the descent to Earth."
"But how will we secure supplies on Earth?" Arthur wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, listening to Durandal's words.
"And how will we return to space?"
"Regarding supplies... do you remember the Kingdom of Foundation, which PLANT has been assisting?" Durandal stated his intentions almost without hesitation. "We will resupply there. It works out well, as I also need to meet with their Prime Minister and Queen."
"As for returning to space... it's the same principle as the Archangel, nicknamed 'Long Legs.' We'll use the Positron Cannon to open an interference channel, and the Minerva's thrusters are powerful enough to send the ship back into space through that channel."
Talia was naturally fully aware of the Minerva's capabilities, especially since this kind of capability was factored into the Minerva's original design.
"If there are no other questions, then prepare for the descent operation."
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Meanwhile, Roz Links, who was modifying blueprints in his quarters on the Nahel Argama, suddenly sneezed.
"Hah-choo! ...Who on earth is talking about me?"
Roz Links took a tissue, wiped his nose, and tossed the used tissue into the trash bin nearby.
After dismantling and analyzing the salvaged Library Mobile Suit armaments, Roz Links began making improvements to the blueprints for the Unicorn's future weapons.
Due to the relatively small size of the armaments, the "shipyard" wasn't under the same intense pressure as before, and several projects that had been suspended due to the all-out rush on the Unicorn and the Nahel Argama were now proceeding systematically.
Not long ago, Lowe Guele and Gai Murakumo seemed to have some business, and the Re.H.O.M.E. parted ways with the Nahel Argama mid-route.
As the two ships separated, and as they drew closer to the border of ZAFT territory, Roz Links felt a strangely anomalous sensation. His hazy memory dimly suggested that a major battle should be taking place nearby right now? Yet, the area was eerily calm, with no sign of any Earth Forces or ZAFT troop concentration.
"...I'm probably overthinking it. It shouldn't be here." Roz Links sighed after a long silence, feeling no presence of that imminent battle "premonition."
After completing the final section, Roz Links pressed the save button on his tablet and sent the revised blueprints to Big Haro.
The overall exterior of the weapon on the blueprint hadn't changed, but small components had been added in a few places to include some functions Roz Links particularly liked, and minor adjustments had been made to suit Roz Links' personal operating habits.
"Beep beep beep... Beep beep beep..."
At that moment, Roz Links' communicator rang. Glancing at the name, Roz Links skillfully answered the call.
"This is Roz Links, what's up, Murrue?"
"Lacus has people in PLANT who gathered some information regarding why they are so determined to chase those stolen MS." Even Murrue sounded helpless as she spoke.
"Go on, I'm listening." Roz Links frowned. He picked up his pilot jacket from the back of the chair, put it on, and began walking toward the bridge while holding the communicator.
"According to information leaked by Rau Le Creuset, or rather, information he didn't even bother to conceal... the stolen MS units' OS contain data related to the Neutron Jammer Canceller."
At this, Murrue instinctively clasped her head.
"Which means..." Roz Links' expression darkened upon hearing the news.
"Yes, it's safe to assume that Blue Cosmos has already obtained the Neutron Jammer Canceller technology." Murrue nodded, confirming Roz Links' fears. "There's now reason to suspect that the Earth Forces are already forming nuclear strike units... or even developing nuclear-powered mobile suits."
This was undoubtedly terrible news. Clearly, the Earth Forces would not give up on using nuclear weapons to break the deadlock, and the next round of fighting was about to begin.
"I understand... I'm heading to the bridge now."
.....................