Felix thought for a moment before speaking.
"I don't have many requirements. I just hope to shorten the deployment time for all MS units, ensuring they can be launched in the shortest possible time."
After hearing this, Clint pondered and replied,
"That can be arranged. We'll add one or two electromagnetic catapults to allow MS units to launch from multiple directions."
After his response, Clint asked again,
"Captain Griffith, aside from this, do you have any other requirements?"
"The ship's firepower should be stronger to ensure its survivability and ability to support and cover MS operations."
Felix thought for a moment before proposing another point.
Clint took note of this and nodded slightly at Felix.
"No problem, that condition can be met."
After speaking, he looked at Felix, waiting for him to continue. Felix went on,
"I hope this ship can operate in multiple environments—space, Earth, and underwater—ensuring it can accompany me on missions across various locations and conditions.
Unlike current ships, which can only wait in near-Earth orbit when I lead the team to Earth."
"Multi-environment operations?"
Clint murmured to himself.
Then he looked up at Felix and agreed,
"Although the design will become much more complex, it's not impossible to achieve. We will consider it."
After speaking, Clint asked again,
"Captain Griffith, do you have any other requirements?"
"Can the ship be designed to return to space without relying on a mass driver or other external propulsion systems?"
Felix thought again, then looked up at Clint as he asked. This question stumped Clint for a moment. He sat in the chair in the reception room, thinking carefully for over ten seconds before replying,
"According to current theories, it should be achievable with sufficient thrust. But theory is just theory—actual implementation would require practical verification and discussion. I can't promise you that directly here."
"That's fine. It would be great if it can be done, but it's not a strict requirement if it can't."
Seeing Clint's hesitation, Felix waved his hand gently and replied in a humble tone. Clint smiled and responded,
"Captain Griffith, rest assured, we will do our best to meet your requirements."
"I trust in your capabilities."
Felix nodded, replying with recognition and firmness.
...
Over an hour later,
After discussing all that could be covered, Felix bid farewell to Clint and left the Scott Ship Design Bureau.
He took the elevator from the satellite hub to the hangar, changed into his combat suit in the locker room, and after coordinating with the maintenance crew, piloted the Dawn away from Martius City.
Near Jachin Due,
The Dawn slowly entered the Alighieri.
On the bridge of the Alighieri.
"Has anything else happened while I was away?"
After arriving, Felix inquired of Aric. Turning to face Felix, Aric stood up and saluted before responding.
"Everything is normal, no unusual situations have occurred."
After replying, Aric lowered his hand and asked Felix in a conversational tone.
"Captain, what did the Chairman want with you?"
"Nothing particularly important."
The words were vague and somewhat dismissive.
Seeing this, Aric didn't press further.
...
A few days later, following the Ministry of Defense's orders, the Griffith Team was officially split up. Under the Ministry of Defense's directive, Phipps and Miles remained at Jachin Due, joining the Jachin Due defense line currently under construction.
With two-thirds of the Mobile Suit Unit members gone, the Griffith Team received personnel replacements from the Ministry of Defense.
"Captain, after our team was split up this time, all we're getting are rookies!"
Aric stood before Felix with documents in hand, his tone somewhat complaining. Looking up at Aric's dissatisfied expression, Felix took the documents with a calm smile.
"ZAFT needs people everywhere right now, veterans are needed everywhere! Where would we find veterans to supplement your team? Getting new recruits is already quite good, don't be so picky about it."
While saying this, Felix continued working without pause. He divided the five remaining veterans in the Griffith Team, mixing them with the new recruits.
This ultimately formed a structure of two veterans and four new recruits per team.
"Call Heine and Doulens over to me."
Looking up at Aric, Felix gave the order. Aric saluted, acknowledged the command, and turned to leave Felix's room.
Shortly after he left, Heine and Doulens arrived in Felix's room.
"Captain!"
Both moved in unison, speaking simultaneously.
Looking up at the two, Felix handed them each a document.
"This is your new assignment. From this moment on, you two are no longer ordinary Mobile Suit Pilots but Mobile Suit Pilots serving as Mobile Suit Team leaders.
You must take on the responsibilities of team leaders, understand?"
Upon hearing Felix's words as they received the documents, both looked up at Felix, standing at perfect attention with loud, clear voices.
"Yes, Captain!"
"Good! Take your command documents and report to your assigned warships!"
Looking at the two, Felix continued.
After hearing this, they left Felix's room with his orders.
...
One week later, on May 7th
Felix, resting in his room, received a communication from the Ministry of Defense.
"Chairman!"
Looking at Patrick, Felix saluted in greeting.
Patrick nodded casually in response before giving Felix his orders.
"The Moon Surface Capture Operation has been finalized. Your unit is to proceed to the designated coordinates and assemble with other units mobilized for this operation. The operation will commence in two days!
The Phase One requirements for this operation will be sent to you in document form."
"Yes, Chairman."
Felix replied in a loud, clear voice.
No sooner had the words been spoken than the communication before him cut off. Gazing at the terminated transmission, Felix opened the corresponding document. After reviewing its contents, he reopened communications to relay the assembly coordinates to Aric.
Upon receiving the cosmic coordinates, Aric gave the order to set sail.
Inside the room
Scanning the document, Felix couldn't help but mutter inwardly.
『The objective of the Lunar Battle remains largely unchanged from what I recall.』
Having completed this internal remark, Felix dismissed the matter from his thoughts.
As for temporal discrepancies?
He had long ceased to concern himself with such matters. After all, since the Neutron Jammer's dispersal occurred ten days later than expected, numerous operation timelines had already shifted accordingly.
Under these circumstances, there was truly nothing left to dwell upon.