Following the transport vehicle carrying the Strike, they arrived at the entrance of the MS Research and Development Center.
"Hmm? Is that..."
Seeing several somewhat familiar mobile suits being debugged not far away, Roz Links instinctively grasped the vehicle frame and stood up from his seat.
They were mobile suits painted in red and white. Yet, the clean and streamlined exterior, along with the blue "sunglasses" that distinguished them from other machines, all pointed toward the mobile suit Roz Links was most familiar with.
"Those are Jegan D-Types. Although the production line is set up, the main focus is still on manufacturing the M1 Astray and developing new units, so the Jegan D-Type's output hasn't been ramped up yet." Erica glanced in the direction Roz Links was looking and explained. "These Jegan units are currently undergoing OS optimization. Although your unit's OS is quite excellent, the operational floor is too high for Orb's current soldiers. The M1 Astray's OS is still more suitable for them."
"However, going forward, Orb's OS will likely incorporate some references from your work, as soldiers are not static either."
"That's normal... even I, in my rookie stage, probably performed worse than them."
After watching the red-and-white Jegan units for a bit longer—seemingly recalling the days when he was constantly beaten by "Amuro" during simulated cockpit training—Roz Links sat back down in the vehicle seat.
"Alright, we're here. Let's get out."
Erica skillfully parked the vehicle and stepped out.
The transport vehicle beside them also stopped steadily, allowing a gantry crane to lift the container securing the Strike onto a transfer mechanism, which carried it into the research center.
"Where are Kira and the others? Didn't you say they'd be waiting here?" Mu looked around, observing the surroundings, but couldn't spot the familiar figure.
"They've been waiting in the hangar inside the R&D center for a while." Erica led Roz Links and Mu to a door, skillfully authenticated her identity, and opened the door.
Compared to the exterior, which resembled a cargo port, the space behind the door was a different world.
Many people in work clothes hurried past, pushing carts of components. Several researchers in white coats were pushing an unknown machine into a room.
The Strike had already been removed from its container and was being carried by the transfer mechanism toward the hangar.
"We specifically cleared out a hangar bay for the Strike's nuclear battery upgrade." Looking at the Strike being wheeled into the hangar bay in the distance, and recalling the nuclear battery Roz Links had previously rigged up using ordinary parts—one that looked like it would explode at any moment—Erica couldn't help but sigh. "Be careful. It's nuclear energy, after all. I wouldn't want this place to blow up due to an operational mistake."
'Still, this time, all the parts are supplied by Orb... the production process is standardized, so there shouldn't be any problems...' Turning to look at Roz Links, who had pulled a wrench from somewhere, was constantly fiddling with it, and observing his surroundings, Erica felt a little unsure herself.
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"Why did you come here?"
Cagalli, dressed in a black suit and looking somewhat tomboyish, curiously watched Roz Links, who, upon entering the hangar, immediately began working with a wrench.
"The agreement has already been signed. Although the aid isn't massive, it's about to begin..."
"It's because you haven't witnessed the capabilities of a nuclear battery... It's not just about combat endurance; you still lack a clear concept of the performance boost it gives the machine."
Lacus stood in front of the glass window, watching Roz Links assemble the nuclear battery piece by piece below.
"I hope that by being here, you will gain an understanding of this, so I can confidently hand over the Neutron Jammer Canceller technology to you."
Kira, holding a file in his left hand, looked at Lacus in front of him with his right hand, reaching out to hold her hand somewhat anxiously.
Was it confusion about the sudden drastic changes in the world, or a doubt about his own ability to protect Lacus in the future? Kira wasn't quite sure.
But the thought of the enemies they might face next made Kira feel his own weakness, and a yearning for strength began to rise within him.
"Cagalli, watch what happens next..."
Athrun, who had appeared beside Cagalli unnoticed, patted her shoulder. "You are about to witness the kind of enemy—with performance similar to or even greater than this Strike—that we may soon face."
"...I understand."
Although Cagalli was impulsive, she wasn't entirely single-minded or reckless. She would listen to the useful advice of her comrades.
"Speaking of which, why haven't those three M1 Astray units been moved? Is there not enough space in the hangar?"
"Probably because one of them wanted to see her boyfriend, and the other two tagged along for their best friend." Erica's voice rang out in the observation room.
"But it works out. Conducting a mock battle between the nuclear-powered Strike and the M1 Astray units will let us see the performance gap between the machines..."
Erica, who had entered the observation room at some point, walked to the window and surveyed the scene.
Erica knew well that trying to learn Roz Links' techniques and principles for manufacturing mechanical components through live observation was futile. After all, many of Roz Links' operations seemed to be born from a moment's whim, and the final result was like a mobile suit cobbled together with Blu Tack on various scrap parts during model assembly. You didn't know why it looked the way it did, but the thing he built simply worked, and worked stably.
Therefore, rather than getting confused on site, it was more straightforward to look at Roz Links' blueprints.
It must be said that the quality of the parts provided by Orb was excellent. Roz Links felt no resistance or delay while assembling the nuclear battery.
'Pity, the file in my pocket is useless.'
Sighing, Roz Links tossed the file back into his toolbox and reached out to tighten the last screw on the nuclear battery. The nuclear battery, whose components and raw materials were all sourced from Orb, was now complete.
Roz Links casually typed away on a computer for a moment, successfully activating the nuclear battery beside him. The specially reserved LED indicator light displayed an anomaly-free blue color.
The maintenance team had already uninstalled the Strike's internal battery interface along with its original high-energy battery and replaced it with the interface Roz Links designed specifically for this nuclear battery.
Reaching for a nearby remote control, a hangar crane hoisted the nuclear battery close to the interface.
Roz Links calmly walked onto the catwalk near the interface. After checking the state of the interface, he exerted force with both hands, pushing the nuclear battery—which would grant the Strike a new life—into the port.
"Mu! Stop fooling around and get back here to calibrate the data!"
After finishing all of this, Roz Links turned his head and saw Mu flirting with Mayura Labatt, and his eyes narrowed.
Damn it! If Murrue wasn't still conducting resupply work on the Nahel Argama, how would I have to endure this PDA from you, Mu?
Mu walked up the catwalk, seemingly ignoring Roz Links' glare.
"So... what exactly do I need to adjust next?"
Mu sat in the Strike's cockpit, powered it up, and let various screens light up before his eyes.
"You need to make some numerical adjustments to components like the weapons and thrusters." Roz Links grabbed a nearby tablet, connected it to the Strike, and checked the data displayed on the tablet.
"Even though the Strike has space reserved for upgrades, your values still need careful tuning, or you might overload and burn out the circuits during combat."
"Got it, got it..." Mu flipped down the keyboard on the Strike's left-hand side and began typing.
"Static... Attention everyone, a mock battle will commence once the Strike finishes its adjustments. M1 Astray team, please prepare."
The broadcast sounded, and Erica's voice echoed in the hangar.
"Don't get beaten by a unit running on nuclear power."
Hearing Erica's words, Roz Links raised an eyebrow and looked at Mu in the cockpit. "Your standing in the family depends on this battle."
"Haha, then you underestimate me." Mu laughed this time. "Piloting the Strike, I'm confident I can defeat Mayura and the others."
It seemed no one had realized that due to Mu and Mayura's relationship, this ordinary mock battle now determined Mu's future standing in the family.
Or perhaps Erica was doing this on purpose? After all, Mu and Mayura didn't hide their relationship, and Erica was a married person—maybe she just wanted to have some fun?
Roz Links didn't know. He just looked at the last data point on the tablet, unplugged it, and walked away.
After all, what was coming next was the legendary "domestic abuse battle," and Roz Links needed to find a good spot to watch the results.
.......................