"Mm!"
Patrick grunted softly over the comms, and the next moment, the call ended. Seeing the terminated communication, Felix got up and left the room to inform Andrew and Doug that he was about to be transferred.
This was to give them a heads-up and to begin the handover of his current duties in advance.
April 12th
"Construction has begun on the base in the Oceania Union," Andrew muttered, sitting in his chair.
Doug turned to look at him and asked, "How's the situation?"
"It's going smoothly for now. The Earth Alliance Forces' Pacific Fleet, which tried to obstruct the construction, was soundly defeated and forced to retreat," Andrew replied, taking a sip of coffee.
Doug nodded upon hearing this.
Felix spoke up at this moment. "According to the latest intelligence, the Earth Alliance Forces stationed around Victoria Spaceport are gradually being withdrawn."
"They're just retreating like that?" Doug asked, slightly surprised.
Felix looked up at him and smiled faintly. "The East Asian Republic and the Atlantic Federation both have spaceports they need to protect. Now, with the spread of the Neutron Jammers, they feel a great sense of crisis. Naturally, they can't afford to keep fighting a war of attrition over Victoria Spaceport alongside the Eurasian Federation's troops."
"That makes sense," Doug said with a nod of understanding.
Felix then put down his water glass and said to the two of them, "The forces of the East Asian Republic and the Atlantic Federation have already pulled out, and there aren't many Eurasian Federation troops left stationed nearby. I'll be returning to PLANT in a few days, so I'm leaving the defense of this place to you."
"The thought of parting ways makes me quite reluctant," Andrew said, a touch of sadness rising in his heart as he listened to Felix's words of farewell.
Felix reached out and patted Andrew's shoulder. "It's alright. We'll have plenty of opportunities to work together in the future."
"Yeah! We'll cooperate again when we have the chance," Andrew replied with a slight nod.
...
April 15th
After everything at Victoria Spaceport had stabilized, Felix completed the handover of his duties. He then led the Griffith Team, which had undergone a major personnel change, into space via the spaceport's Mass Driver.
Propelled by the Mass Driver, the transport pod quickly accelerated to the first cosmic velocity. With such momentum, the pod shot straight into the sky, soon disappearing from everyone's sight.
Earth's Low Orbit
Upon arriving, the transport pod released the MS piloted by Felix and the others.
Felix piloted his MS toward the Griffith Team's warship, which was on standby. Meanwhile, the transport pod continued to orbit, awaiting the right moment to descend and return to the spaceport.
On the bridge of the Sebastian.
"Captain, welcome back!" Aric stood up and saluted Felix, his voice warm with welcome. Felix gave Aric a slight nod and looked at the space outside.
"You must have been under a lot of pressure here in low orbit during this time, right?" he asked.
"The pressure on our side wasn't too great," Aric replied, standing beside Felix. He then explained, "The Earth Alliance Forces in space were tied down by the Ministry of Defense's Containment Operation Plan, so they couldn't mobilize large numbers of troops here. As a result, we didn't face many enemies." Pausing here, Aric's tone shifted slightly. "However, the Orbital Strike Missiles launched by the Earth Alliance Forces from the ground did cause us a lot of trouble and put us under considerable pressure."
After listening, Felix nodded slightly and gave an order. "Return to PLANT!"
"Yes, sir!" Aric saluted, then sat down in his chair and ordered the fleet to depart.
At his command, the three Griffith Team warships that had been docked here set off once more, changing course for the PLANT homeland.
...
PLANT Homeland
December City , Sector 1
ZAFT Forces Garrison
In Felix's apartment.
"Finally, I can get a good night's sleep."
Lying on the soft, large bed, Felix's face showed an unprecedented expression of relaxation as he murmured with a hint of joy.
Ding-dong!
Ding-dong!
The doorbell rang at that moment.
Hearing the doorbell, Felix frowned and grumbled inwardly. Who is it? Disturbing someone's rest.
Though complaining in his mind, he got up and walked toward the door.
He opened the door to find Heine standing outside.
"What is it, Heine?"
"Captain, Miss Lacus is coming here today for a morale-boosting performance. Want to go see it together?"
Heine held up his phone, showing Felix the contents on the screen. Looking at the electronic poster on the phone, Felix instinctively shook his head and refused. "I'll pass."
"Captain, are you sure you're not going?" Heine looked at Felix and asked again, uncertain.
Seeing Heine's persistence, Felix shook his head. "I've decided not to go. I think it's better for me to get some proper rest right now. As for everything else, we can talk about it after I'm well-rested."
"Alright then! I won't force you, Captain."
Receiving Felix's firm reply, Heine stopped trying to persuade him. He raised his hand in a salute, then lowered it and turned to leave.
Watching Heine depart, Felix said nothing. After Heine was out of sight, he closed the door and went back to his room to rest.
The Next Day
After resting for a full day and night, Felix felt refreshed and in excellent spirits. He got up, made a simple breakfast, and after eating in the dining room, went to the living room and turned on the TV, preparing to play some games.
The moment the TV turned on, the first channel to appear was broadcasting a video of Lacus Clyne's morale-boosting performance. Watching Lacus sing her heart out on stage, Felix stared at her for a moment.
"How nice," he praised Lacus's song and voice, then immediately switched the TV to the game screen, picked up the controller, and selected his favorite game.
Ding-dong! Ding-dong!
As noon approached, the doorbell rang again. Hearing the sound, Felix put down his controller and went to the door.
He opened it to find Heine standing there.
"What's up?"
"Captain, want to go out for lunch together?" Heine invited with a gentle smile on his face.
Felix raised his hand to check his watch. Seeing that it was almost noon, he accepted Heine's invitation. "I'll go change. Wait for me in the living room for a bit."
He welcomed Heine inside and spoke to him.
Heine nodded and sat on the sofa to wait.
Seeing this, Felix went to the bedroom to change his clothes.
Sitting there with nothing to do, Heine looked around Felix's apartment. Observing the decor and the space, he couldn't help but feel a pang of envy.
As expected of the Captain's apartment, it's so much bigger than where we live!