If there were truly issues with Fred's equipment, it would absolutely fail this test.
It was no exaggeration to say that success or failure hinged on this moment.
Everyone else in the room also held their breath in silent agreement.
As one of PLANT's top research teams, they naturally understood what Fred's team was about to face.
Success would cement Fred's team as the primary developers of the ZIC-01P Power Furnace.
Failure would mean everyone returning to their respective tasks, striving harder next time.
"Father, can Fred succeed?"
Far away, in the study of the Clyne Estate in April City, Lacus, watching the live broadcast, couldn't suppress the tension in her heart. For once, she looked up and asked her father, who wore an equally solemn expression.
Upon hearing this, Siegel pondered for a moment before shaking his head uncertainly.
"It's possible."
"But the data hasn't finished running yet, and this is only our first actual test."
Even he found it difficult to gauge Fred's chances of success.
However, deep down, he still hoped the young man would succeed.
This youth's ideals clearly aligned more closely with the Clyne Faction than with the Zala Faction.
Moreover, given their currently good relationship, he might even try to win him over.
As for Creuset, he would need to observe him further before making a decision.
Hearing this, Lacus's beautiful eyes immediately returned to the screen.
She hadn't yet told her father about the plan she and Fred had discussed to set a trap for Creuset.
But as previously considered, if Fred succeeded this time, his influence would be enough for her father to make that decision.
And if Fred's correctness was ultimately proven, she could also let go of her last remaining reservations about him.
Lost in thought, Lacus tightened her grip on the armrests of her chair, her young hands clenching even harder.
"Electromagnetic catapult simulated launch initiated."
In the brief silence, the control room seemed filled only with the roar of the engines.
"Test sequence activated. Launching Mobile Suit 0... 3... 2... 1... Launch!"
The moment Heinline's words fell, even through the thick observation window and multiple decks, everyone in the control center felt a deep, resonant thud emanating from the very bones of the battleship.
On the simulated combat screen, the light representing the launched object traced a bright trajectory, perfectly overlapping with the predicted path shown as a dotted line.
The power reactor's output curve trembled slightly before stabilizing under the buffering effect of the Super Capacitor Bank.
Watching this, everyone in the control room held their breath, not daring to relax in the slightest.
This was only the first Mobile Suit; three more were to follow.
Amidst everyone's varied thoughts, one Mobile Suit after another was launched.
Mobile Suit 1, Mobile Suit 2, Mobile Suit 3, all the way to Mobile Suit 4.
"Engine... output stable!"
As Heinline's words echoed, before anyone could begin to celebrate, a sharp alarm shattered the moment.
"Electromagnetic interference overflow! Shielding system error!"
Following the observer's loud announcement, the screens before everyone flickered violently with intense distortion.
The output of the electromagnetic catapult was too high, and the interference from simultaneously activating the weapon system breached the electromagnetic shielding system, causing the entire control system to crash now.
After a quick glance, Fred quickly understood what had happened.
Logically speaking, this breached electromagnetic shielding system was manufactured by the materials group.
After all, the output used in his own tests should have been within safe limits.
This had also been communicated with the materials group.
Of course, there was no point in debating who was right or wrong now.
The key was not to fail.
Fred sighed softly in his heart.
If this attempt failed and they had to restart the experiment, his plans would be delayed again.
If failure wasn't an option, could it be salvaged?
While Fred's mind raced on one side, the others also had their own thoughts as they watched the sudden scene before them.
The director of the materials group had a grim expression, and he roughly understood what had happened.
But at this moment, how could it be resolved?
Behind the director, several others from the materials group hadn't fully grasped the situation yet, but seeing such electromagnetic interference, they thought of certain possibilities and felt a sense of dread.
On the other side, some members of the other groups couldn't help but close their eyes and begin to pray.
Others, however, felt a hint of schadenfreude.
Like VV and Thomas's subordinates at that moment.
However, there was no time for them to speak.
Looking at the battleship on the screen, whose durability was decreasing rapidly, and the weapon system flashing red lights and completely down, Fred spoke as the idea formed in his mind.
"Activate backup cable communication and cut off the energy output to the catapult system."
Under the interference, they had lost control of the battleship, but of course, there was a backup system.
However, cutting it off didn't mean success; it was merely a safety measure to cancel the test.
Thinking this, Fred quickly moved to the main control computer.
"I'll revise the energy distribution protocol. Heinline, you stabilize the power reactor."
"...Yes!"
Seeing Fred's hands flying across the keyboard, Heinline snapped back to reality and nodded vigorously.
Those who thought the experiment would be declared a failure outright watched this scene with confusion.
"Director, what is he doing?"
Someone couldn't help but ask Thomas.
"He... is redistributing energy, reducing weapon output, and re-establishing balance..."
As he spoke, even Thomas was stunned.
Because it sounded like something out of a sci-fi movie.
Of course, they could do it, but it wasn't as simple as moving a finger.
The energy distribution had its own inherent logic.
Too little in one place and too much in another could cause the entire energy system to collapse in an interlocking chain reaction.
What Fred was doing now was work that would take others days or even a month.
It might not sound exaggerated, but this was the workload of an entire Coordinator team.
As for the Atlantic warship's high output modes, those were pre-set default system modes, like energy-saving mode or power mode.
What Fred was doing now was rebuilding a mode from the ground up of the system.
Under everyone's astonishment, Fred's typing speed visibly increased, soon leaving afterimages.
Fred certainly possessed programming skills. Though not yet at the director's level, he had built this energy system himself and was most familiar with it.
Moreover, his other two abilities had already reached the director's level, allowing him to barely manage it.
Amidst everyone's astonishment, time continued to pass minute by minute.