"Anyway… this is the solution we can offer you."
Looking at the Narrative Gundam before him, now equipped with brand‑new armaments, Erica Simmons spread her hands.
"Two triple‑barrel beam machine guns, and a modified interface for the Buster's bombardment barrel weapon, directly linked to your nuclear battery."
"…This is already good enough. Thank you."
Roz Links looked at the unit before him, which had undergone partial adjustments.
These two triple‑barrel beam machine guns were not real machine guns. Roz had simply wanted beam machine guns, then used a Jegan beam rifle in a parallel‑linked modification to create this temporary makeshift version.
Unfortunately, if he added a particle spiral acceleration component to the barrels, the rate of fire would decrease even further, so Roz gave up on that idea.
As for the Buster's bombardment barrel, all it needed was an interface modification to match the Narrative Gundam. Roz had already written the drive code.
"A nuclear battery really is great… it can carry so many weapons…"
Erica looked at it, recalling the combat records of the Narrative Gundam glowing with different lights across its frame.
"But removing the wings—there really won't be a problem?"
Right now, the Narrative Gundam's high‑mobility backpack—refitted from a Jegan backpack—had its gliding wings removed and replaced with the mount point for the Buster's bombardment barrel. The small missile launcher discarded during the Orb evacuation battle had also been reinstalled.
"It was originally just a modified high‑mobility backpack made from a Jegan's, and besides, my next destination is the moon. That environment doesn't need wings."
Roz floated to the Narrative Gundam's hatch, opened it, and sat inside.
"As long as the battery can run stably, that's enough."
"You don't need propellant anymore?"
Mentioning the propulsion pack, Erica couldn't help but laugh. "When you came asking me for propellant, I thought you were planning to make some kind of rocket grenade."
"When I finished assembling this nuclear battery and mounted it on the unit, the battle started the next day. The backpack's pipelines weren't adjusted for compatibility yet. Forcing it with the nuclear battery would've caused overload shutdown."
Roz glanced at Erica floating at the hatch and curled his lip.
"Anyway, there were tons of rockets. Borrowing some propellant thrusters as temporary replacements was fine."
"So this backpack is the complete version now?"
Erica looked at the backpack on the Narrative Gundam's back, estimating the performance after being powered by the nuclear battery.
"So nice… nuclear power…"
Thinking about it, Erica sighed. "Being able to mount so many weapons and boost mobility… it's honestly enviable."
"You're not getting the data or intel on the Neutron Jammer Canceller from me."
Roz shook his head.
"If I leak that, Kira Yamato will come after me for real."
"Or maybe when the Earth Alliance eventually steals the Neutron Jammer Canceller data and makes it public?"
"These things… who knows…"
With both Earth Alliance and ZAFT acting like they've gone insane, each holding something in and preparing a massive move…
Maybe ZAFT really would produce another war‑madman, or some tactical plan that ends up leaking the Neutron Jammer Canceller data.
"If there's nothing else, I need to adjust the Narrative's code."
Erica naturally understood Roz's thoughts and floated away from the unit with a smile.
As the hatch descended, the cockpit dimmed. Only a soft light from above illuminated the interior.
"Haa… back then in Orb… thank you, Narrative Gundam."
Roz looked at the closed hatch. He obviously knew who had closed it.
"Just relying on myself… I wouldn't have been able to do that."
After all, he had only sat down—without touching anything—and the hatch closed automatically. And it even waited until he finished talking with Erica before doing so. It felt… polite?
Very strange—Roz could feel an emotion called "happiness" surrounding his mind.
"…I don't know what I should say now… but for the battles ahead, please fight with me just like always."
Roz extended his hand toward the "soul" of the Narrative Gundam.
"It's a promise, we will never abandon each other."
The cockpit's lowered display—normally used to help the pilot enter and exit—suddenly rose on its own without Roz touching anything, completing a "high‑five" with him.
The cockpit activated. Lines of code flowed across the touchscreens, waiting for Roz's operation.
-----------------------------------
At this moment, in the residential area of Industrial No. 7, inside a hospital ward, a black‑haired girl lay on the bed, staring at her brother who looked as dumb as a goose.
"What the heck! Why are you going to ZAFT, brother?!"
Having just become slightly familiar with operating her prosthetic body, Mayu couldn't help getting angry when she heard Shinn's actual decision. Right now she looked like an angry, puffed‑up pufferfish.
Interestingly, as Mayu's emotions rose, her long hair also began turning red, the color rippling like waves.
Seeing Mayu like this, Shinn could only smile helplessly.
"I really do want to stay by your side forever, Mayu…"
Thinking of the debt on him, an amount that was basically astronomical, Shinn couldn't help feeling troubled, though he didn't show it in front of Mayu. "But Mom and Dad taught us, right? 'If you owe money, you pay it back.' That's only natural."
In fact, Shinn had already paid the debt once. While working five jobs every day, he had saved nearly 10,000 and sent it to Roz.
Then Roz immediately sent the money back, along with a single sentence: "Give it to me when you have a stable job. Right now, your sister needs it more."
And now, Shinn happened to know a "stable job" that suited him.
"Anyway… I can still stay with you a little longer, Mayu."
Thinking back to the application he had submitted, Shinn didn't know what the final result would be.
But no matter what, the worst case was simply continuing to work part‑time jobs or becoming a corporate wage‑slave somewhere. He had already prepared himself mentally for anything.
Besides the debt, Mayu also needed medical expenses, living expenses, and all kinds of miscellaneous costs. In short, he had to pay off the debt first, then earn another ten million.
"In that case…"
Looking at her arms and skin that were no different from before, and the "scanning view" in her eyes that she could freely activate, Mayu could only accept the fact that her brother was preparing to leave her side. "Brother, you should have time, right? I want to go out on a walk with you."
"Yeah, of course."
Shinn never refused Mayu's requests—especially something as simple as taking a walk.
Walking through the streets of Orb, Mayu, although still a bit unaccustomed at first, felt slight delay in the prosthetic body, which nearly caused her to fall.
But as time passed, Mayu became more and more skillful in controlling her prosthetics.
Passing through the park, past the bustling crowds, Mayu reached her destination.
It was the artificial lake in the central park of Industrial No. 7. If one lifted their head, they could see Orb's administrative center and the many vehicles going in and out. It seemed that even now, that place was still busy. However, the administrative center being guarded by M1 Astrays was something that surprised Shinn a little.
Looking at those red "giants," Shinn couldn't help recalling the M1 Astray that had desperately drawn enemy attention to cover the evacuation of his family before they were rescued.
"That's it for today, brother."
Stopping in her tracks, Mayu felt the simulated breeze created by the colony satellite.
"When you get to the PLANTs, don't forget your sister."
"What are you talking about?"
Shinn scratched his hair, not really understanding what Mayu was thinking.
"I heard there are a lot of beautiful girls in PLANT. Brother, don't get tricked away and forget your poor little sister."
Even though Mayu was still smiling, her artificial throat let out a "crying" sound.
"Of course… if you do get a girlfriend, I'll bless you…"
After saying that, Mayu even rubbed her eyes like a melodramatic actress.
For some reason, even though this was supposed to be a warm moment before parting, the mood suddenly became strange.
"Hah?! Girlfriend?"
Seeing Mayu acting like that, the single‑threaded Shinn didn't react for a moment. But after hearing her words, he showed a pair of dead‑fish eyes.
"I have debt to repay, and I still have to earn over ten million. How would I have time for something like that?"
"Women get in the way. They only slow down my ability to make money…"
Remembering the complaints his friends had about their girlfriends back when he lived in Orb, Shinn said this instinctively.
The next second, a huge force hit Shinn's stomach. It only made him hurt a little without injuring him, but he was still sent flying.
"That answer—minus points!"
Mayu pulled back her fist and formed a big "X" with her arms, her earlier melodramatic act completely gone, replaced by a stern expression.
"I'm also a woman, you know. Do I get in the way too?"
At that moment, aside from Shinn—who was holding his stomach and trying to get up from the ground—no one would have imagined that such monstrous strength existed inside Mayu's small body.
Even after suffering a tragic experience, the siblings could still joke and play around like this.
Of course, more often than not, it was just Shinn getting beaten up by Mayu. After all, even a Coordinator could only suffer in front of such high‑performance prosthetics.
"In any case, I'm not going to lose."
Finally, with a serious expression, Shinn looked at Mayu. "Even if fate wants to toy with us and drag us into a dead end, I'll defeat it."
"Mhm… it's a promise."
Mayu smiled at Shinn and held out her right pinky finger. "I won't lose to life, so you can't either."
Standing by the lake, the siblings hooked pinkies.
"Pinky promise, no backing out for a hundred years!"
"Ow ow ow ow ow…"
The incredible strength coming from her pinky instantly broke Shinn's serious expression.
-----------------------------------
In the dock of Industrial No. 7, a cargo spaceship had finished loading. In the nearby lounge, three people were talking.
"All right, Mr. Roz's MS has been loaded."
A middle‑aged man in work clothes signed the "minerals" section on the cargo manifest, then looked up at Roz.
"In any case, our cover identity is that this is a cargo ship from Orb's space mines delivering ordered minerals to the Earth Alliance's lunar base."
The man waved his free hand and began to gesture subconsciously. "Once we reach the scheduled location, we'll drop Mr. Roz and your MS from Cargo Bay No. 2."
"From here on, it's up to you, Mr. Roz."
"No problem. Please go prepare."
Roz's expression was calm, as if he had already anticipated this.
The man in work clothes didn't say anything further and left, leaving the space to the remaining two.
"Isn't this plan too dangerous?"
Murrue stood to the side, listening to all of Roz's plans, her expression worried.
"I'll take the Archangel and go—"
"You can't go."
Roz firmly rejected Murrue's suggestion. "The Archangel is already a rebel warship to the Earth Alliance, and the lunar base is the main stronghold of the Earth Alliance's space fleet. Even General Halberton would have to act very cautiously there."
"Besides, it's just to scout what those Blue Cosmos guys connected to the Kingdom of Foundation are up to, and maybe destroy what they're building."
Roz frowned. At the thought of what Blue Cosmos had built on the Moon, his mind sent out a strong warning. "I have a feeling that thing isn't something good."
"…I understand."
Seeing Roz's determination, Murrue seemed like she wanted to say something more, but finally sighed. "How did I end up with someone like you?"
"If you want to break up with me, you can say it," Roz said with a joking tone. "Then you wouldn't have to deal with this troublesome guy anymore."
"Don't even think about it."
Murrue hugged Roz tightly, unwilling to let go.
"I've got you," she said.
After a few minutes, Roz felt Murrue's hands relax and let go of him.
Then came an intense kiss.
"…Come back alive."
After separating, Murrue stared into Roz's eyes.
Roz didn't speak, only showing a reassuring smile and giving Murrue a thumbs-up.
Murrue watched as Roz left the lounge, boarded the already prepared cargo ship, and departed for the Moon.
-----------------------------------
On PLANT's home territory, in ZAFT headquarters.
"Still haven't found a suitable pilot?"
Le Creuset looked at Durandal flipping through the documents with interest.
"You've already looked at this list several times; they're all ZAFT's Red Coat elites."
"Whether they're elite or not doesn't matter. What I need is a Seed."
Durandal rubbed his slightly dizzy forehead and sighed.
"If we don't find one, the plan will have to be postponed."
"Don't worry, we still have some time."
Le Creuset said, pointing to the clock nearby. "But now both sides are at a standstill… Should I go stir things up a bit?"
"What are you trying to do again?"
Looking at his "idea king" friend in front of him, Durandal couldn't help but shake his head.
"Neutron Stampeder."
Le Creuset spoke a name.
"It should be almost fully developed by now."
This was an almost top-secret project, originally intended to protect the homeland in case the Neutron Jammer Canceller fell into the Earth Alliance's hands.
But if Le Creuset mentioned it…
"You want to leak the Neutron Jammer Canceller to the Earth Alliance?"
Durandal immediately understood Le Creuset's plan.
"When the drama hits a lull, you need some twists, otherwise it's too boring."
A subtle smile still lingered on Le Creuset's face.
"Although now it seems the Clyne faction is also considering political asylum or something, the home territory is mostly dominated by pro-war ideas."
"After all, we lost Freedom…"
Durandal glanced at Le Creuset a few times, then picked up the documents again and continued searching.
"It's normal if the Zala faction punishes them."
Durandal didn't speak to stop Le Creuset from leaking information about the Neutron Jammer Canceller; after all, paired with the Neutron Stampeder… it might produce some interesting tactical effects. "Then, I'll go add fuel to the fire…"
Today, Le Creuset was still thinking about stirring things up.
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