"We've entered the Moon's orbit, about to reach the Eighth Fleet's area."
Inside the transport ship, the captain activated the communicator and spoke to the people in the cargo hold.
"Eighth Fleet detected… It's the escort fleet sent by General Halberton!"
The transport ship's communicator turned to look at the captain; everyone was waiting for the next order.
"Good… proceed according to the original plan!"
The transport ship's captain took a deep breath and adjusted his hat.
"Zzzz… this is the Earth Alliance Eighth Fleet patrol squad, civilian vessel, state your purpose."
Through the communicator, a slightly stern voice sounded.
Two Drake-class and one Nelson-class ships—a total of three vessels belonging to the Eighth Fleet—were approaching the transport ship.
"This is Asha Mining Company, we are transporting minerals."
The transport ship's captain calmly stated their identity.
"Passage code is Xam0080."
The voice on the communicator went silent for a while, leaving only white noise on the channel, seemingly verifying the transport ship's identity.
Even after receiving the identification code, the distance between the transport ship and the patrol fleet continued to close, as if the next second, if the transport ship's identity proved false, a shot would be fired.
"…Identity confirmed. Proceed to Open Area, Spaceport No. 3."
Finally, when the transport ship had to pass beside the Nelson-class ship, the patrol fleet's voice came through again, letting everyone aboard the transport ship breathe a sigh of relief.
But the next second, the seemingly calm cargo ship began to take action.
"Awaken Cargo Hold No. 2, deploy according to plan!"
Watching the cargo ship about to brush past the Nelson-class ship, the captain swallowed nervously, suppressing his tension.
"Wait a bit… just a bit longer…"
Inside the transport ship's Cargo Hold No. 2, the mechanical arm began operating, moving a large container to the edge of the hold. The hatch, designed for easy unloading, opened, ready to jettison the container.
"Mr. Roz, you may start the countdown."
The crew member controlling the mechanical arm spoke to Roz through the communicator.
The Narrative Gundam was placed inside the container. In the dim cockpit, Roz calmly activated the countdown and started up the mobile suit. The Narrative Gundam's eyes lit up, and UI displays appeared all around the cockpit.
Once the countdown ended, if the Earth Alliance fleet capturing the container had not sent the predetermined signal, Roz would launch the Narrative Gundam from the warship.
"We've reached the designated distance!"
Finally, the cargo ship and the Nelson-class ship were at the proper distance, and the helmsman reported loudly.
"Deploy Cargo No. 2!"
With the mechanical arm's push, the container housing Roz was ejected.
"Good luck, Mr. Roz!"
After the last words, communication between the transport ship and the Narrative Gundam was cut, and the transport ship entered silent mode.
Immediately, a slight vibration was felt as the Nelson-class's mechanical arm caught the container and quickly stowed it in its hangar.
"Captain! Cargo received!"
In the Nelson-class's bridge, the CIC officer looked at a slightly young middle-aged man—the ship's captain.
"Patrol squad, maintain your route, and send the prearranged signal to General Halberton's channel."
The captain straightened his uniform and adjusted his hat.
"You all should know what to do and why we've gathered in the Eighth Fleet."
"Understood! Target unchanged, continue patrol!"
Watching the Nelson-class smoothly receive the cargo and then casually resume its patrol route, the transport ship's captain also breathed a small sigh of relief.
"Close Cargo Hold No. 2, maintain current speed, just pass by this patrol fleet!"
The transport ship closed the cargo hold, kept its original speed, and headed toward the spaceport designated for the mineral order.
Apart from these four warships, no one realized that a "dangerous element" had quietly entered the Moon's orbit.
-----------------------------------
"Beep… beep… beep…"
The predetermined signal came through the Narrative Gundam's communicator. Roz, hands on the controls, let out a small sigh of relief.
"Pfft…"
The Narrative Gundam's hatch opened. Roz shut down the mobile suit and floated out, locking the unit.
Although the container looked large, with the Narrative Gundam and its backpack fully stowed inside, the remaining space was a bit cramped.
Roz followed the light strips attached to the container and reached a small door.
After briefly checking the auxiliary handgun he carried, Roz skillfully entered the password, preparing to open the door.
Although General Halberton had said that the soldiers here for the rendezvous could be trusted, Roz still felt it necessary to stay cautious.
The password door opened, and no surprise attack occurred. Light from the hangar shone through the small doorway into the container.
Roz, wearing his pilot suit, exited the container and closed the small door behind him.
The container was surrounded by a cluster of Moebius units, almost covering the container's markings, clearly indicating that the Nelson-class captain did not expect any incidents.
At this moment, two middle-aged officers stood seriously on a catwalk in the hangar, waiting for Roz.
"This is the Nelson-class warship Watcher, of General Halberton's Eighth Fleet. I am Captain Rubens."
Seeing Roz approach in his pilot suit, Captain Rubens saluted formally.
"You must have had a tough journey to the moon."
Roz paused for a moment and instinctively returned a salute, copying a gesture Murrue had taught him before. Though not perfectly formal, it conveyed his intent.
"Not a hard journey…"
Reaching the catwalk railing, Roz stopped saluting, grabbed the rail, flipped smoothly, and landed steadily on the catwalk.
"After all, we are both working toward peace."
Roz removed his helmet and looked at the two officers.
"Roz Links. My past identity is irrelevant; my current identity outwardly is a private space junk collector."
"Mr. Roz, though we are committed to peace… unfortunately, the Clyne faction, which also strives for peace in PLANT, is not in a good position."
Surprised at Roz's young age, Rubens continued reporting recent events. When mentioning PLANT's situation, he sighed: "It's already difficult for us just to catch a trace of Blue Cosmos."
"Moreover, the faction we tracked seems different from the Blue Cosmos in the Atlantic Federation."
Another middle-aged officer sighed as well: "I am Oss, first officer of the Watcher, under General Halberton of the Eighth Fleet."
"Regardless…"
Roz shook his head and stated his view: "Letting Blue Cosmos continue construction on the Moon is likely not a good thing."
"Whether it's that wetware manufacturing facility or the current enhanced human program… all must be investigated thoroughly…"
Recalling the intelligence received from Halberton, Rubens's expression turned grim.
"The problem now is, General Halberton's fame among Moon officers is considerable, and our Eighth Fleet currently does not use wetware or enhanced humans, so many are watching us."
The entire Eighth Fleet, after learning the truth about these so-called "Intelligent Components," had developed unprecedented anger toward Blue Cosmos. Such anti-human behavior was unacceptable to them.
Moreover, it seemed that Blue Cosmos had been advancing the "enhanced human" program recently. Faced with this, the Eighth Fleet was furious, wishing they could completely eliminate Blue Cosmos immediately. No one wanted the Solar System to end as a wasteland.
"We've approached Blue Cosmos multiple times, but they escaped due to interference from other fleet officers."
Both Rubens and Oss showed frustration. The Eighth Fleet's "purebloods" were somewhat known on the Moon base, which had hindered their operations against Blue Cosmos.
"For detailed information, please proceed to the bridge to discuss with General Halberton."
-----------------------------------
"In any case… Captain Amuro Ray, welcome to the Moon."
At the border of the Moon colony, a member of the Earth Alliance glanced at the ID in Roz's hand and immediately allowed Roz, dressed in an Earth Alliance uniform, to pass.
This ID had been in Roz's hands for less than half an hour. After arriving at the Eighth Fleet base aboard the Nelson-class Watcher, the container carrying the Narrative Gundam had been personally placed in a secure hangar by Halberton. Even the Watcher, originally a patrol ship, and two Drake-class ships were assigned as Roz's support fleet, guarding the hangar.
As for this ID labeled "Amuro Ray," even if the Earth Alliance investigated, they could only conclude, "This ID is genuine."
Of course, no one in the Earth Alliance actually existed by that name.
"Zzzz… Mr. Roz, according to our intelligence, Blue Cosmos' secondary leader in this area will appear at a bar in the colony."
Through the earpiece in Roz's ear, he heard Oss's voice.
"If you can get the list from him, we can insert you inside."
The Moon colony was a project the Earth Federation had been developing. Although development was delayed due to war with ZAFT, its existing facilities could still maintain operations.
Currently, the colony was mostly occupied by construction workers, followed by officers and soldiers from nearby Earth Alliance space fleet bases.
Roz blended into the crowd, passing by Earth Alliance personnel and civilians, heading toward the bar where the target often appeared.
-----------------------------------
Meanwhile, in a PLANT satellite.
"Miss Lacus…"
A young man in a trench coat entered a residential room.
Inside, several people in formal attire were constantly adjusting equipment, with cables scattered across the floor, ready to trip someone at a moment's notice.
Amidst the chaos of cables and machines, Lacus, still wearing her dress, moved gracefully like a dancer across the tangled wires and approached the young man in the trench coat.
"Thank you for your work, DaCosta. How are things on the streets?"
"Although some of our people have hidden themselves by using defection tactics in response to Patrick Zala's speech, the citizens are somewhat confused about the reasons for the speech, and the overall trend is still tilting towards the pro-war Zala faction."
Having left the North African war zone, DaCosta' skin was still slightly tanned, but his overall condition was no longer as dry as during his time there.
As DaCosta continued reporting, Lacus grew concerned.
"The development of MS is accelerating. Four Gundams have completed preliminary rollout, and to prevent further theft of nuclear-powered units, they are using a new generation of battery packs."
"The GENESIS project, under the promotion of MP Durandal, is progressing rapidly."
Hearing the last piece of information, DaCosta swallowed hard.
"Athrun seems to have returned to PLANT, but Justice Gundam wasn't brought back. He was just shot by Chairman Zala and is being detained."
"I see…"
Lacus frowned, thinking deeply about how to solve the problem.
"Can we rescue Athrun? DaCosta."
"Absolutely no problem, but… I think now is the time to act."
DaCosta nodded. "With the Zala faction continuing to track us, our operating space will be compressed to the extreme."
"…Understood."
Hearing DaCosta' report and analysis, Lacus looked at the supporters around her, who were continuously working.
"Let's move out, everyone."
"There's nothing more we can do here. We must leave to gain enough operational freedom."
-----------------------------------
In the dimly lit bridge, a scar-faced man in a dark trench coat hung up the communication.
"It seems our princess is finally ready."
Sitting in the vice-captain's seat, Andrew, blind in one eye and missing his left hand, smiled.
"Given her personality, she definitely wouldn't give up operations on home territory—unless there's literally no room to act."
A female voice came from the pilot's position.
Aisha, who had lost both legs, was seated at the pilot's station, smiling as she looked at Andrew.
"After all, Chairman Zala's recent crackdown on the Clyne faction has been escalating without limit."
Andrew shrugged. "If we don't move, Lacus might still manage, but we're probably facing a firing squad."
He smiled, glanced at the pocket watch at his side, and casually picked up the communicator used for shipwide announcements.
"Eternal, commence final preparations immediately."
The order echoed through the warship, causing several people to raise their heads in confusion.
But the next second, comrades who had spent every day together raised their guns toward the puzzled soldiers and pressed them right in front of their faces.
The dark barrels forced the bewildered soldiers to instinctively raise their hands.
.................