"Any ideas?"
Yuri tapped his fingers lightly on the table, asking with a headache.
"Yes."
"I've prepared contingency plans."
Fred pondered for a moment before speaking.
These were plans he had made before Yuri's Veil Project.
Though unused, they had been preserved.
Now they could finally be utilized.
"Contingency plans...?"
Yuri was stunned upon hearing this. He actually had prepared plans?
Had he already anticipated things to this extent a month ago with the asteroid?
If so, his foresight was almost too meticulous.
While Yuri was still processing this, Fred continued.
"Our key weapon components haven't been installed yet. With just minor modifications, we can make this retrofit appear as a simple upgrade and maintenance procedure."
This Central Hub contained not only the Energy Conversion System that served as the power furnace, but also control systems for securing cables, and even highly intelligent equipment like the Cable Automatic Weaving System controlled by machinery.
And when it came to equipment, the more sophisticated it was, the more it required upgrades and maintenance.
Fred had previously identified this loophole and created a camouflage plan.
Now it happened to be perfectly usable.
"We've created openings at both the Cooling Device and Automatic Weaving System locations. These areas don't need concealment and have extremely complex structures."
"Even experts wouldn't detect anything unusual before we complete the work."
"This is just ordinary upgrade work."
Fred sketched on his design drawings for a while, then presented the modified blueprints to the other party, looking up with calm composure.
The confident gleam in his eyes somewhat eased Yuri's originally tense heart.
Yuri's focus quickly shifted to the design drawings before him.
He wasn't sure how reliable this young man's method was.
He just hoped...
"Uh..."
While still thinking, Yuri stared at the design drawings and momentarily froze.
Fred's forgery wasn't overly sophisticated - even he could understand it.
But now, actually seeing the drawings Fred submitted, he realized Fred had considered this step from the very beginning of the project.
Otherwise, there was no explaining how Fred could so skillfully create such complex camouflage, with even the initial work procedures strictly following Fred's designed disguise.
It wasn't that he wasn't intelligent for not anticipating this, but as a researcher, most of his thinking revolved around MS research, and his problem-solving approaches habitually started from technical perspectives due to habitual thinking.
His sensitivity to other areas wasn't as high.
He never expected that Fred had buried a solution in advance.
It was important to understand that retrofit projects had several work sequences, and Fred's approach, while slower, followed procedures step by step, with various excess components promptly cleared away.
Making it impossible for anyone to detect any issues.
Of course, this wasn't the only solution. If the project couldn't be discovered, he could also have those concealed Powered Suits - the predecessors of MS - go out and use High-Intensity Oscillators to destroy the asteroid.
But such unusual behavior would be equivalent to telling the Atlantic that there was truly something problematic beneath their veil this time.
So that's why Yuri had been caught between a rock and a hard place earlier.
But unexpectedly, such a difficult problem was resolved so simply.
When it came to reliable teammates, Fred was practically a god-tier ally.
After sighing in admiration, Yuri immediately said:
"Alright, let's proceed with this plan then!"
"I'll report the situation as soon as possible. Until you hear from me, there's no need for you to come over."
They needed to maintain cover here, and Fred's presence also required concealment.
Although Fred was currently wearing a mask, his physique had recently changed - he'd grown taller and more muscular, with no visible flaws that could give him away.
But given the gravity of the situation, having Fred return home first was the best choice.
"Understood."
Fred had no reason to be stubborn. He nodded and agreed.
Though in truth, even if Yuri hadn't suggested it, Fred would have proposed the same thing.
His life didn't belong to him alone.
Unless absolutely necessary, he didn't want to take any risks at all.
However, based on his understanding of the Atlantic Fleet's external commander over the past few months, with the cover operation in effect, the other party shouldn't be clever enough to devise such a troublesome plan.
Could it be...
Thinking of that Masked Man, Fred's expression grew serious again.
Though the plot hadn't mentioned it, if Junius 7 was also destroyed by nuclear explosion under Creuset's guidance, it would make some sense.
But if Creuset was already advising Blue Cosmos at this point, it represented both danger and opportunity for Fred.
A legitimate chance to eliminate this threat.
With these thoughts, Fred picked up the tablet containing structural engineering knowledge and walked out, leaving Yuri in the office to begin contacting various parties.
His plans had already been submitted. If they couldn't even handle this properly, the Coordinators might as well collectively commit suicide and forget about independence.
Rather than worrying about the enemy, he'd be better off continuing to work on improving his own abilities.
With only incremental improvements of zero point zero something each time, without making these efforts routine, there would be no progress at all.
Of course, this was the path he had already decided on.
...
Meanwhile, on the bridge of an Agamemnon-class ship in the nearby Atlantic Fleet, an Atlantic major general was staring at the distant Junius 7, his somewhat sinister face displaying clear coldness and contempt.
"The General's strategy is brilliant, effortlessly setting up the Net of Heaven and Earth," said the Adjutant beside the major general with a sycophantic, ingratiating smile.
"Hmph, those Coordinators only know how to use underhanded tricks."
"We are the products of nature, the true favored children of God. How could those disgusting creatures possibly compare?"
This time, with the asteroid incident, those Coordinators had called for their rescue.
By generously offering assistance, they could not only counter previous criticism against the Atlantic Fleet and stop the one-sided public opinion, but he could also become the hero who helped PLANT while simultaneously gathering intelligence about Junius 7.
It was truly a strategy that killed three birds with one stone.
Moreover, if he could help Blue Cosmos reverse the current unfavorable public opinion, he believed he would gain even more favor from his superiors.
Perhaps it won't be long before I can leave this godforsaken frontier.
From a watchdog to a military governor.
This is all thanks to a certain helpful individual who provided me with the plan.