On the small island where the Nahel Argama was anchored, following last night's bonfire party, the crew members had gradually returned to the ship to relieve their companions still on duty.
Although Big Haro's main body hadn't left the bridge, she had utilized a small sub-unit, hopping and skipping off the ship behind Roz Links. She found a comfortable spot near a set-up sunshade and promptly buried herself in the sand.
For Big Haro—who hadn't yet obtained a physical body like the "Retired Old Man No. 1" (Char Aznable's Haro) back in the Courtyard—sleeping with her external sensory devices active was the best form of rest.
Roz knew her situation well; he merely glanced at her to ensure she hadn't buried her eyes upside down in the sand before leaving her be. After all, Big Haro was a sphere; if she got stuck head-first in the beach, it wouldn't be easy to hop back out.
"Celestial Being has been quite diligent lately... there's news of an intervention or attack every day."
Murrue Ramius had changed into a bold black bikini. She lay prostrate on a beach blanket, her right hand scrolling through a communicator as she watched the news.
"It's likely to demonstrate their power and fulfill that oath of eradicating all wars in the world through force."
Natarle Badgiruel was wearing a purple bikini, lying on the blanket next to Murrue. She felt the sticky sensation on her back from Roz applying sunscreen, her cheeks flushing slightly as she buried her head in the crook of her arm.
Whether it was Murrue's black swimwear or Natarle's purple set, the styles were somewhat different from their usual professional personas, yet they looked strikingly good and fit them perfectly... perhaps it was simply a matter of their figures and looks?
Roz thought as much, his expression calm as he squeezed more sunscreen onto Natarle's back. His hands moved continuously, ensuring every inch was covered.
For some reason, he instinctively felt like he was seasoning a steak, but he obviously couldn't say that out loud, or he'd likely get thrashed by both women.
At this moment, Roz had finally discarded his classic pilot jacket and cargo pants combo in favor of a "Summer Limited Edition" pair of beach trunks.
Compared to other pilots, Roz's build might have seemed lean, but the muscle definition—standing out like carved marble—hinted at the immense strength and extreme physical resistance contained within his frame.
To this fact, Murrue and Natarle, as well as Christina (who was currently blowing bubbles in the seawater) and Cindy (who was flipping meat on the grill), all had a very profound understanding.
"It seems they really intend to take on the three superpowers, and they have the resolve to see it through," Natarle said, forcing the tremor out of her voice as her body tensed up.
"And they have the strength to do it," Murrue added. "The current mainstream MS—even the AEU's new models—have a generational gap when compared to their Gundams."
As a former technical officer, Murrue had her own way of evaluating machine performance and specs.
"But considering there are Agents in the AEU, it's hard to say for now."
Feeling the tension in Natarle's back beneath his hands, Roz instinctively gave her a firm "slap" on the backside. "Don't be so tense, relax a bit."
"Ugh..."
Unexpectedly, Natarle let out a rather cute sound.
"So, you want to use them as bait? To fish out those lurking Agents?" Murrue turned onto her side with interest, watching the interaction between the two. "Isn't that a bit cruel?"
"I'll explain the situation to them directly. If they are rational people, they'll know how to choose."
Roz didn't dare assume the judgment of these prospective "partners" was normal. After all, the deeper one's understanding of humanity, the more one realizes the group occasionally produces some truly incomprehensible individuals.
After applying the sunscreen to the last remaining area, Roz turned around and sat between Murrue and Natarle.
"Then we can only hope the upcoming developments go smoothly."
Murrue shifted her posture and lay across Roz's lap, resting the back of her head against the firm yet slightly soft muscle of his thigh. The atmosphere instantly turned heavy with a touch of intimacy.
Seeing that the situation was one step away from escalating into something that would require a several-thousand-word skip, Natarle spoke up to break the rising heat.
"...The two of you, save it for when we get back."
Having never experienced this before, and with her inner sense of shame nearing its breaking point, Natarle managed to compose herself. She lifted her face, still flushed with a lingering crimson hue. "There are so many children around here."
"Now you think of them as children?"
Roz was somewhat surprised by her words. "I thought you were so strict with them because you considered them adults."
"I have always felt they were still children..."
As she said this, Natarle sat up, her expression turning complicated. "Precisely because I know their ages have been frozen at that moment, and because I know the battles we may face ahead... even now, I feel a sense of guilt about them going to the battlefield."
A warm, slightly burning arm drew Natarle into a hug. Through the skin-to-skin contact, she felt Roz's body temperature and unconsciously leaned closer to him.
"But a long time ago, they all made their resolve."
Roz looked toward the people in the distance, comforting Natarle.
Under their gaze, some crew members equipped with diving modules and thrusters swam through the sea, while others strolled along the beach in small groups, chatting as the waves lapped at their feet.
Some gathered around the grills, holding bottles of beer, letting their artificial stomachs break down the consumed food while sensors simulated the relevant sensations, laughing heartily...
Their souls were frozen at that specific moment in time, yet they lived in this world with such vibrant life.
"So, there's no need to worry. All of us are prepared."
Roz leaned his head toward Natarle until their cheeks touched.
"At least... not in front of them."
Natarle felt Roz's breath, and her own breathing became slightly shallow and quick.
"In the woods behind us..."
Although she put up a front of resistance, her tone made it sound as if she were anticipating something.
"I never expected you to be this kind of person..."
Watching her good friend act this way, Murrue narrowed her eyes slightly, wondering how Natarle had ended up like this.
Without anyone noticing, the lovey-dovey trio vanished from the beach.
—A several-thousand-word skip line break—
On a private resort island belonging to Wang Liu Mei, located a fair distance from the uninhabited isle where the Nahel Argama was anchored, a group of guests had arrived.
"The equipment is well-prepared... thank you for the hard work, Liu Mei."
Having changed into a formal Celestial Being uniform, Sumeragi reached up to adjust her collar, which felt slightly restrictive.
"What is the status of Veda's reconnaissance?"
"They've established a perimeter. Any nanomachines that cross that line immediately lose their signal and self-destruct."
Wearing an elegant dress, Wang Liu Mei had let down her twin tails, opting for a softer, straight hairstyle. "Even if Veda's nanomachines maximize their camera zoom now, they can only see a blurry outline of what they're doing."
Since the upcoming meeting wasn't a banquet or a gala, there was no need for lavish gowns or elaborate grooming—just decent attire to ensure they weren't overwhelmed by the other party's presence.
"Are they still on vacation?"
Sumeragi sighed upon hearing the news. "I have no idea what they're up to—appearing so suddenly only to act like they're on a holiday."
"That's exactly why our communication is meaningful," Wang Liu Mei said with a smile. "I have a premonition that this world is about to undergo an unexpected transformation, one not found in Veda's plans."
"Miss Sumeragi, the operation on Ceylon has begun!"
At that moment, Christina, sitting at a console, turned her head toward Sumeragi.
"Current combat conditions remain within predicted parameters."
"Excellent. Continue execution as planned."
Sumeragi cut her conversation with Wang Liu Mei short and stepped behind Feldt Grace and Chris, watching the streams of intelligence unfolding on the screens. There were text reports and camera feeds from various angles showing the Gundams, all demonstrating the overwhelming suppressive power they possessed on Ceylon.
Wang Liu Mei didn't mind Sumeragi's abrupt departure. She picked up a glass of water, took a sip, and watched the images with keen interest.
Every sortie of Celestial Being's Gundams, aside from the pressure brought by their superior performance, utilized specific maneuvers to exert psychological dominance. This was meant to plant a suggestion in the minds of viewers: "These Gundams are enemies that can only be defeated if all of humanity unites." Eventually, this would likely lead to the formation of a massive global coalition. This was one of Celestial Being's core objectives, and so far, it was progressing well.
Thinking this, Wang Liu Mei glanced at the battle reports where the Gundams had begun engaging the "Anf" and "Tieren" units of the two factions on Ceylon. She sat down on a nearby sofa and began to steady her state of mind.
Facing an unknown organization with immense power required her to prepare for every possibility. To prevent the situation from spiraling into the worst-case scenario, she had to ensure she could provide a safety net for Sumeragi and the others during the dialogue.
Between the fear of the unknown and the excitement of potential change, Wang Liu Mei's breathing quickened slightly.
The Battle of Ceylon concluded rapidly. Or rather, the Anfs and Tierens simply couldn't inflict effective damage on the Gundams. With resistance proving futile, the battle ended with Celestial Being striking both sides, forcing a retreat and a temporary ceasefire.
"Very well. The operation was a success. Please extract via Route 3 and rendezvous with us mid-transit."
Having delivered the final instruction, Sumeragi let out a sigh of relief and removed her headset. She turned toward Wang Liu Mei, who was resting on the sofa with her eyes closed.
"What happens next might be a sprint toward hell. Veda's predictions regarding their attitude don't guarantee a peaceful outcome."
"No need for words; I've been ready for a long time."
Wang Liu Mei opened her eyes and looked at Sumeragi. "In a moment that brings such transformation, I must be present."
..................