PLANT, the Aprilius defensive line.
Under the escort of allied forces, the Vesalius finally returned to PLANT territory.
Everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief once the Vesalius was docked at the port of the Aprilius satellite fortress.
Despite being escorted by allies throughout the journey, the Vesalius, having completely lost power, was essentially a steel coffin drifting in space at any moment.
Even with the assistance of allied forces and ample supplies, the constant pressure of potentially becoming cosmic drifters alongside the Vesalius left everyone feeling palpitations and lingering fear.
“We’re finally back at Aprilius.
This mission was…
quite something.”
Dearka let out a long sigh as he watched the restraint arms securely lock the Vesalius in place.
“Damn Earth Alliance!!
If it weren’t for that strange MS, would we have ended up like this?”
Yzak couldn’t hold back any longer and punched the nearby wall, instantly filling the room with a loud, resounding thud.
“Hey!!
Yzak, doesn’t that hurt?
That’s a steel wall!”
Dearka sighed and turned to Nicol, who was sitting quietly nearby.
“Nicol, where’s Athrun?”
Nicol thought for a moment before replying somewhat uncertainly.
“I think I saw Captain Rau Le Creuset call Athrun away earlier.
Maybe it’s to debrief on the previous battle.”
Hearing this, Dearka spread his hands and shook his head with a bitter smile.
“Truly a series of misfortunes!
But I suppose we were lucky—”
The next moment, Yzak rushed up to Dearka, grabbed him by the collar, and roared.
“Bastard!
Dearka, what are you saying?
Lucky?!
It’s just that Athrun wasn’t skilled enough and had to show off!
If my unit had been fully prepped at the time, that Earth Alliance MS wouldn’t have had a chance to boast!!”
Dearka’s brow twitched as he skillfully tried to calm his childhood friend.
“Yeah, yeah!!
This time we just have to accept defeat.
Next time, that Earth Alliance warship and MS won’t be so lucky.”
Mid-sentence, Dearka winked at Nicol.
Nicol quickly nodded, helping Dearka soothe Yzak’s temper.
“That’s right!
Maybe we’ll still get to pilot them in the next operation.”
Before Nicol could finish, Yzak stormed out of the room in a rush.
“Yzak, where are you going?”
Dearka hurried after him.
“Do I even need to say?
Prepping the units!!
Next time, I’ll make sure that Earth Alliance MS pays!”
Meanwhile, on the other side, Athrun, who had followed Rau Le Creuset all the way to the core area of the Aprilius satellite fortress, couldn’t help but tense up.
Because, from the moment they arrived, he had noticed numerous figures in purple ZAFT uniforms moving about the surroundings.
Clearly, the man he and Rau Le Creuset were about to meet was the leader standing at the pinnacle of ZAFT, and also his father, Patrick Zala.
The door opened, and as he and Le Creuset stepped inside, they saw the man standing with his hands behind his back, gazing out the window at the ZAFT fleet passing by the Aprilius satellite fortress.
“Chairman!
Rau Le Creuset and Athrun Zala reporting for duty!”
Le Creuset stood at attention, saluted, and spoke loudly.
“Hmm.
Take a seat!”
The man slowly turned, his gaze shifting to Le Creuset, then briefly resting on Athrun before gesturing toward the nearby sofa, indicating for the two to sit.
“Yes!
Thank you, Chairman!”
Le Creuset and Athrun complied accordingly.
Even as father and son, at this moment, Athrun could only act according to ZAFT’s regulations.
Unless called upon by Patrick Zala, he could only remain in the background.
“Captain Le Creuset.
I have received your report.
Unfortunately, most of the Defense Committee members find it difficult to accept.”
Patrick turned and pressed a button on his desk.
A screen slowly descended from the ceiling, displaying the report Le Creuset had previously compiled.
As the images on the screen shifted, Patrick Zala’s expression remained calm and composed.
Only when the Sky Raider Gundam in the footage activated its Leaf-Wheel Blades, captured precisely by the GINN’s optical camera, did Patrick Zala’s expression gradually show a flicker of emotion.
“Captain Le Creuset, in your opinion, what exactly is this type of weapon?”
In Le Creuset’s report, he repeatedly mentioned the Leaf-Wheel Blades—a new type of armament with autonomous attack capabilities and the ability to alter its flight trajectory through unconventional means.
In his subsequent evaluation, he also issued a significant warning.
“Yes!
Based on the engagements so far, this new weapon could be some form of highly intelligent unmanned weaponry, but that is not the only possibility.”
Le Creuset stood up and solemnly voiced his perspective.
“Highly intelligent?
AI-controlled weaponry?”
“Then, what are the other possibilities?”
Le Creuset nodded and presented a possibility even more difficult for Patrick to accept.
“That would be a new type of weapon directly controlled by the pilot, possessing high mobility.”
Upon hearing this, Patrick’s expression darkened.
“Captain Le Creuset, do you understand the impact such a statement would have if it were to spread?”
“Yes!
I am fully aware!
That is why I did not mention this point in the report.”
Le Creuset responded quickly.
Patrick Zala nodded slightly, his gaze shifting to Athrun, but he did not call upon Athrun to speak.
Instead, he continued to contemplate.
Whether controlled by AI or directly by the pilot, the threat posed by the Leaf-Wheel Blades used by the Sky Raider Gundam was significant enough to warrant ZAFT’s vigilance.
From the start of the conflict until now, ZAFT had maintained an advantage over the Earth Alliance, largely because the Earth Alliance currently lacked new equipment capable of rivaling ZAFT’s Mobile Suits.
Once the Earth Alliance achieves a breakthrough in Mobile Suits and proliferates such bizarre weaponry as the Leaf-Wheel Blades, the threat faced by ZAFT will increase exponentially.
After pondering for a moment, Patrick once again raised his gaze and looked at Rau Le Creuset.
“Captain Le Creuset.
The Defense Committee will now specially approve a new Nazca-class battleship to be assigned to the Le Creuset Team, to serve as support for completing subsequent missions.
As for the original Vesalius, let it remain here at Aprilius for repairs!”
“Yes, Chairman!
Then, Athrun and I will take our leave!”
“Go!
I don’t care what methods you use, you must complete the destruction of that battleship and that bizarre Mobile Suit.
Otherwise, not only ZAFT, but even PLANT itself will face threats from the Earth Alliance!”
Patrick issued the order resolutely.
“Yes!
We will definitely complete the mission!”
Following behind Rau Le Creuset as they left the office, Athrun suddenly felt a sense of loss.
He couldn’t help but look back at the gradually closing door, but ultimately, he did not hear that call.
“Athrun, this is a rare opportunity.
Do you want to return to April City?”
“Ah?
No, there’s no need!
Captain Le Creuset, thank you.
There isn’t that much time for us to leisurely travel back to the homeland.”
Looking at Athrun’s somewhat dejected face, Rau Le Creuset’s lips curled slightly upward as he remarked, seemingly intentionally or unintentionally:
“That’s true.
The Chairman is here, and your fiancée seems to have already set sail for the Junius Seven wreckage to hold a memorial ceremony.”