Even after everything, they still hadn't managed to find out exactly what kind of agreement Mikazuki had reached with Uzumi.
However, more important intelligence arrived in the following days. Panama had fallen, and word was that ZAFT had deployed an electromagnetic interference weapon known as Gungnir.
Inside her office on the Archangel, Murrue Ramius stared at the data on her computer screen and muttered to herself.
"Was their goal to destroy the Mass Driver in Panama? But the Strike Daggers... just who has the Atlantic Federation been collaborating with?"
After turning it over in her mind, a terrifying organization occurred to her.
Blue Cosmos. They were notorious warmongers, an extremist group that truly desired the complete extinction of all Coordinators.
Murrue's pupils contracted.
"Is it possible... that the Atlantic Federation is connected to Blue Cosmos? No... it would be more accurate to say that the top brass of the Atlantic Federation has already been infiltrated by them."
Beep. Beep.
A comms signal cut through her thoughts. Murrue shook off her worries and opened the channel.
"What is it?"
Millyaria's voice came through.
"Captain, Cagalli just came by looking for Mikazuki. She said Erica Simmons has something to discuss with you, Kira, and Major La Flaga. She wants you all to head down to the factory."
Murrue's brow twitched slightly when she heard that Cagalli had come looking for Mikazuki.
"Where is Mikazuki and the others?"
"Um... it seems Mikazuki isn't on the Archangel."
Murrue closed the data files and asked, "Is he on the Sastry?"
"Yes. Mr. Orga responded just now. Mikazuki is currently on the bridge of the Sastry chatting with him. Cagalli has already headed over there."
"I understand. I'll head over to the Sastry as well."
With that, she cut the communication, threw on her jacket, and left the captain's quarters.
Recently, Cagalli had been coming to see Mikazuki every single day. This gave Murrue a slight sense of crisis, even though she herself ate meals and went on walks with Mikazuki every day.
Inside the empty bridge of the Sastry, Mikazuki slumped in the captain's seat, staring at the screen in front of him.
"Hey, Mika, the Princess of Orb is here to see you again."
"Oh."
Mikazuki gave a flat response, remaining motionless in the seat.
On the screen, Orga sat in a chair, resting his head on one hand with a smirk.
"That's a pretty dull reaction."
"Because she comes looking for me every day. It's a pain."
"I see. So that's why you ran off to hide here. If it were Shino getting chased by a pretty girl like that every day, he'd probably be over the moon."
"Is that so...?"
Mikazuki's expression remained indifferent.
"You... I really don't get why a cold guy like you attracts so many girls."
Orga's last sentence was barely a whisper. Mikazuki caught the sound of his voice but couldn't make out the words. "Huh? What did you say?"
"Nothing. The Princess is here, I'm signing off."
The people of Orb were unaware of Orga's existence. Only the crew of the Archangel knew, and they were all tight-lipped, never breathing a word about him.
As for why the Sastry could move without a visible crew, the people of Orb hadn't asked. When Uzumi heard that Mikazuki had snatched the ship from PLANT, he guessed it was some sort of Tekkadan technology.
Therefore, after learning the ship's origins, he hadn't hesitated to send maintenance crews to repair the Sastry. Not only that, they had even added a few features, such as a heat-resistant layer that would allow the warship to enter the atmosphere.
Uzumi knew that helping Tekkadan right now was absolutely the right decision.
The bridge elevator doors slid open, and Cagalli, dressed in an Orb military uniform befitting a princess, stormed in. she looked toward Mikazuki sitting in the captain's chair.
"Mika! Why did you run off to this place?"
Mikazuki replied with his usual indifferent, dead-fish eyes. "Does it have anything to do with you?"
"You jerk... fine, just come with me."
"For what?"
Mikazuki squinted toward the right. Since he was blind in his right eye, he had to physically turn his head to bring Cagalli fully into his vision.
"There's something I want you to see."
"So, what is it...?"
Just then, the elevator doors opened again. Murrue walked out, smiling as she saw the young boy and girl. She called out softly, "Mikazuki, Cagalli."
Mikazuki rotated the chair toward her. "Oh, Murrue. What's up?"
"I heard Chief Erica needed me, and then I heard you were on the Sastry, so I came here first. Cagalli, what exactly does Chief Erica want from us?"
Murrue stepped to Mikazuki's other side, looking at Cagalli curiously. Cagalli scratched her cheek and spoke up.
"Actually... we recovered the Strike."
Murrue froze. "The Strike?"
"Yes..."
As it turned out, the Strike, which had fallen into the ocean, had coincidentally drifted into Orb's territorial waters. It was discovered and recovered by a patrol fleet, then sent to Morgenroete for repairs. Once fixed, they had replaced the original Phase Shift Armor system with a Natural OS written by Orb.
They had called Murrue and the others over because they intended to return the Strike. After all, Morgenroete had already obtained the Phase Shift Armor data and other technical specs from it.
With their own capabilities, they were fully capable of building their own Strike; there was no need to keep this one for themselves. In fact, Morgenroete had already begun construction on a new Strike unit.
"I see. For Orb to recover the Strike... what an incredible coincidence. Well then, Mikazuki, let's go take a look."
Murrue spoke with visible excitement to the still-apathetic Mikazuki.
"Okay."
Mikazuki hopped down from his seat and followed the two women into the elevator to leave the Sastry. Only after the three had left did Orga's face reappear on the screen.
"Hmm... the Sastry, huh...? It doesn't suit Tekkadan at all. Maybe I should change the name. Isaribi No. 2...? Forget it, there's no point giving this junk ship a name."
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