After the Nahel Argama and the cargo ship arrived safely at Industrial 7, Roz took the hard drive provided by Reverend Malchio to Erica Simmons for analysis.
"Voiture Lumiere... it's a type of solar sail technology," Erica remarked, rubbing her temples after reviewing the data on the drive. "And the organization holding this technology... if I recall correctly, it's a group dedicated solely to deep space exploration that has existed since the early days of colonization. But why was it in the hands of Reverend Malchio?"
"...I'm not sure either. When he gave me the drive, he simply told me to 'make good use of this power,'" Roz replied. He skimmed the documents on the screen, gaining a rough understanding of what the technology entailed.
"However, I think I have an idea of how this can be used." Though Roz's expression at that moment resembled a certain pink-clad "world-passing" Destroy, he truly did grasp the potential of the tech. "I reckon we could install this on the Nahel Argama..."
"Installing this on a battleship wouldn't yield the maximum effect in combat," Erica interrupted, cutting Roz's suggestion short. "Besides, this technology was originally meant to be verified on Mobile Suits. Adapting it for a warship would take who knows how long."
While mounting solar sail technology on a battleship was technically a logical progression, Reverend Malchio's words about "making good use of this power" suggested something more specific than just a ship upgrade.
Furthermore, Orb currently possessed very few warships. Even if they equipped every single one with Voiture Lumiere, it wouldn't significantly boost their combat power against the massive "fleet seas" of the Earth Alliance and ZAFT.
To utilize this technology quickly, they needed a high-mobility machine. The Strike wasn't suitable, nor was the M1 Astray. While the Jegan was highly modular, switching to a high-mobility configuration would inevitably decrease its combat effectiveness. Not everyone was like Roz—capable of withstanding the immense G-forces required to push a machine beyond its limits to achieve high-mobility speeds under normal conditions.
"...I think I have some ideas. I'll need to consult with Lacus's MS designers in a bit." Erica scrolled to a design of a machine with massive wings. As if struck by inspiration, she looked up.
"Lacus's designers... a variant of the Freedom or Justice?" Roz raised an eyebrow, glancing at the image of the Freedom on Erica's computer.
"No, just the Freedom." Erica manipulated the controls, displaying the Freedom's blueprints that Lacus had shared recently. "Voiture Lumiere requires a large wingspan to achieve maximum efficiency. The Justice's Fatum backpack simply can't provide that."
"By the way, you should help with the design as well," Erica said, looking directly at Roz. "It would be a terrible waste to let your talent sit idle."
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The Minerva had covertly docked at the Morgenroete private pier in the Mendel colony—at least on the surface, that was the official story.
Shinn had not left the ship. Instead, he returned to his quarters and picked up a communicator he hadn't used since leaving for Earth, dialing a familiar number.
"Hi! Long time no see, big brother."
Mayu's familiar voice rang through the device. Shinn felt a wave of relief wash over him, as if he had finally returned to a safe harbor.
"Yeah. Long time no see, Mayu." Shinn took a deep breath. To maintain his image as a reliable older brother, his tone was exceptionally calm. Although the two were very close, Shinn knew Mayu's "little devil" personality all too well—if he showed even a hint of weakness, she would likely find a way to make him "socially dead" the next time they met.
"Eh? Why are you acting all stiff again? Give me back my embarrassing big brother!" Mayu's slightly spoiled tone over the comms made Shinn smile instinctively.
"Wait... this isn't a long-distance number from PLANT. You're back in Orb, aren't you?" A second later, Mayu noticed the difference in the caller ID, and her voice spiked with excitement. "Where are you? I'm booking a shuttle ticket right now!"
"...Mendel. We'll be here for about two or three days." After some thought, Shinn decided to be honest about his itinerary. "We're doing some emergency repairs and buying supplies before heading back to PLANT."
"Aw... why so soon?" Despite her complaint, Mayu didn't hesitate to purchase a ticket to Mendel.
She had fully adapted to her prosthetic limbs and passed the rejection period. Now, she could live a normal life—she even used her color-changing LED hair at school to leave the local boys, who hadn't seen much of the world, completely starstruck. The only real difference from her old life was that she had to take immunosuppressants for the rest of her life.
"I'll be there tomorrow afternoon... By the way, you've been in PLANT for so long, have you found a girlfriend yet?" Mayu's eyes twinkled as she began packing a suitcase. "I heard salaries in PLANT are high. Is it possible nobody has eyes for you?"
"What are you even thinking..." Shinn sighed.
However, his mind drifted to Stella, who had woken up briefly after her coma earlier, spoken a few weak words to him, and then passed out again. His expression turned complicated.
"Actually, I've been having some trouble lately." Shinn paused to gather his thoughts. "A little while ago, I told someone I would protect them. But in the end, when I shot down an Earth Alliance MS, I found them inside the cockpit."
"They are dying now. I have two ways to save them... but both would come at a very high price." Shinn looked up at the photo on his desk of him and Mayu together. "I'm having a hard time deciding... What would you want me to do?"
There was a long silence on the other end. Shinn waited patiently.
"This person you're talking about... is it a girl?" Mayu finally asked tentatively.
"...Yes."
Shinn's simple affirmation made Mayu let out a massive sigh of relief.
"You scared me! You were being so mushy just now after saying you couldn't find a girlfriend. I was about two seconds away from searching for 'treatments for being gay' on the internet." Mayu resumed her packing, her hands moving again.
"Because she seems to have some kind of mental illness... so the things I said were a bit more intense," Shinn explained awkwardly.
"Saying someone is mentally challenged is illegal!",Mayu teased through the comms. "But... you said you'd protect her, right? I don't remember raising a brother who breaks his promises."
"For the sake of my future sister-in-law—wait, no, I mean... if you do nothing, nothing will ever change. Yes, that's it." Mayu cleared her throat. "Anyway, just go for it. I'll always support you. We've already hit rock bottom, it's not like things can get any worse."
A metallic clinking sound echoed over the comms—it was the sound of Mayu tapping her prosthetic limb. That crisp, mechanical sound felt like a giant hammer striking Shinn's heart. It brought back memories of everything they had been through, and a heavy, suppressed emotion filled the room.
"If it really doesn't work out, just give up and come home," Mayu's voice softened. "My prosthetics work fine now, I can find a job. Mr. Roz didn't set a deadline for the repayment, so at worst, we'll just have to work a bit harder. Everything will be okay."
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Shinn walked out of his dorm, only to find Rey—his head wrapped in bandages—leaning against the wall right next to the door.
"Finished with your call?"
Rey looked down, casting a calm glance at the silent Shinn. Shinn nodded, instinctively trying to push past and leave the area.
"If you're going to act, it's best to do it while the Minerva is still at Mendel, Shinn."
Rey's sudden remark caused a cold sweat to break out across Shinn's back.
"I checked. The dorms on either side are empty. The soundproofing in the Minerva's quarters is pretty mediocre, save for a few specific rooms."
Shinn realized the gravity of the situation. The conversation he'd just had with Mayu regarding Stella could easily be branded as "treason" if overheard by the wrong people. While Shinn viewed himself more as a "mercenary" working to pay off debts rather than a die-hard PLANT loyalist, a treason charge in the current climate would be a death sentence for his future.
"In short... do you want to send her away?" Rey asked bluntly.
"If I don't... she'll be dead before we even reach PLANT," Shinn gritted his teeth, his voice tinged with self-deprecation. "And even if she survives, she'll just be dissected—treated like a lab rat, just like the rest of her life has been. I said I'd protect her... I can't just stand by and watch her die."
In his pocket, Shinn's left hand gripped his bank card tightly. His right hand clenched and unclenched as he struggled internally.
"...You'll come back, right?"
Rey spoke as if he were completely unaware that he was helping Shinn walk a tightrope over the abyss.
"...Yeah."
It was a pale, fragile promise, but Rey looked up and stared into Shinn's eyes with total sincerity.
"I understand. When you're ready to move, come find me."
To Shinn's absolute shock, Rey had offered his help.
"Because... no matter what kind of life it is, if given the chance, it wants to live."
Rey patted the stunned Shinn on the shoulder, his expression remaining hauntingly calm.
....................