Chapter 218: A Message from Axis
Just as Eli received an unexpected gift, elsewhere, Quattro Bajeena—having returned to the AEUG base—received a "gift" of his own.
Or perhaps, more accurately, a scare?
"Captain, someone's been broadcasting using Axis's communication code."
Roberto approached and spoke to Quattro as he stepped into the residential quarters.
"Axis's code?"
Quattro immediately sensed trouble. Behind his sunglasses, his eyes sharpened.
It had been quite some time since he'd last contacted Axis. As a matter of protocol, such communication codes should've been changed by now to prevent intelligence leaks.
Using a code they were familiar with to initiate contact… The intent was painfully clear.
"They're reaching out to us? What's the message?"
"We've decrypted it—it's coordinate data. Somewhere between the L4 region and the Moon."
Roberto handed a slip of paper to Quattro.
"Let's go, Colonel!"
The fact that Roberto addressed the man in front of him as "Colonel" indicated that he was speaking to him as a fellow soldier of Zeon.
"If we can secure Axis's cooperation, wouldn't that give our AEUG cause a better shot at success?"
Though Blex had been steadily garnering support from various civilian factions across space through relentless persuasion, it was the hard disparity in military strength that still forced AEUG to remain cautious to this day.
Indeed—if they could merge forces with Axis, their chances of victory would rise dramatically.
But in that case… would the end result be a future of independence and self-determination for spacenoids—or merely the resurrection of Zeon's ghost?
Char couldn't see the answer.
"I'll report this to General Blex and let him make the call."
That was what Char said, though he couldn't miss the look of visible disappointment on Roberto's face.
"Don't look at me like that. I'm just a subordinate doing as I'm told."
Adjusting his sunglasses, Quattro said this to Roberto, then turned and walked toward the communications room—after all, Blex wasn't stationed here permanently; he would only be contacted when necessary.
"What do you think we should do, Captain Quattro?"
It was ironic. Even though Blex knew Quattro's true identity, not once had he changed how he addressed him, always speaking to "Quattro" with professionalism and sincerity.
"From the AEUG's standpoint, no matter what, we should at least meet with them."
"Oh? Is that so? Could you offer me some insight, then?"
Quattro fell silent for a moment. He slightly lowered his sunglasses so his eyes peeked out from beneath the lenses.
"I believe we should not accept any form of cooperation. While it's true our goals currently align, once we begin cooperating, all of AEUG's ideals will inevitably be eroded by the malice festering in that isolated corner of space."
"I see. Then we'll go with your assessment. Lead the team and establish contact—but preserving your own safety takes priority above all else."
"Understood."
Quattro saluted toward the screen and held it until the transmission cut off and the screen went black.
Blex was probably on the Moon right now, negotiating with other parties for financial support.
He really had it rough.
The thought lingered with Quattro even as they arrived at the coordinates. He couldn't help wondering: if he were in Blex's position, what would he do?
The designated location turned out to be, unsurprisingly, an asteroid belt.
For people like them—those who needed to stay out of the spotlight—such places that the Federation couldn't be bothered with were ideal rendezvous points.
"Captain, we've confirmed a ship signal. Based on the match… it's a Gwazine-class."
"A Gwazine-class?!"
Quattro gasped in surprise.
Within Zeon's hierarchy, the Gwazine-class was practically synonymous with the Zabi family—elite ships reserved for their direct use.
The presence of just one of these warships shattered all of Quattro's previous assumptions.
He had assumed Axis had simply detected movements within the Earth Sphere and was reaching out to AEUG to stir up the situation and carve out a path for their own return.
But if that were the case, they would hardly need to send a Gwazine-class ship.
"They're refusing communication!"
Someone at the CIC turned around and shouted into the bridge.
"No—wait."
He pressed his headphones tighter to his ears.
"They say they want us to send someone for direct contact. Specifically… they want the Red Comet to come in person!"
In that instant, every eye on the bridge turned toward Quattro.
His face twitched slightly behind the sunglasses.
Seriously, why does everyone always look at me first? Am I doing that bad a job hiding my identity?
Wearing a full red outfit, Quattro thought this to himself.
"Ahem. Either way, I'll go meet them. Apolly, you're with me. Roberto, get in your MS—if anything goes wrong, lead the MS squad in immediately."
Quattro gave the orders with a few awkward coughs as he turned around.
Inside the signal-light-flashing shuttle, Quattro gazed with a complex expression at the Gwazine-class ship before him.
"Colonel, that's the Asam, right?"
"There's no mistake. That's the Asam."
It was the very same Gwazine-class ship that had carried Char away to Axis during the final stage of the Battle of A Baoa Qu.
It was also the escape vessel of Minerva Zabi, Axis's princess—designated as her personal ship.
Considering the Gwazine-class's association with the Zabi family…
What in the world had happened to bring this warship into Earth's orbit?
When Quattro stepped out of the shuttle in his red pilot suit, he noticed the entire hangar bay staring at him.
Yeah… this outfit really doesn't help with keeping a low profile.
He thought to himself, though his expression remained calm as he returned the salute of the major who stood before him.
"I'm Captain Quattro Bajeena of AEUG, here as their representative."
The moment he said that, a wave of hushed murmurs rippled through the surroundings.
"Captain? AEUG only sent a captain to meet us?"
"This guy's got quite the presence… looks a lot like Colonel Char."
"Don't be ridiculous. The Colonel wouldn't be in such a shabby state."
…
Char forcibly suppressed the turmoil bubbling within him and shut those voices out. He gestured for Apolly to remain where he was.
Then he followed the major deeper into the Asam.
He knew this path all too well.
On that long journey fleeing to Axis, he had walked it countless times over the span of a year.
This was the route to the audience chamber.
Each step felt heavier than the last.
It felt as if something with the weight of gravity itself lay waiting ahead.