Chapter 259
The true power Char referred to, of course, wasn't the helium-3 in AEUG's possession.
Those helium-3 reserves merely served as leverage to ensure AEUG's independence when cooperating with other factions.
As long as they had that helium-3, and as long as the Jupiter Fleet had yet to return, AEUG could rely on the support of the conglomerates to avoid bowing to those people who only cared about their own interests.
In Char's eyes, that was the real value of the helium-3.
AEUG's actual power stemmed from the unique nature of its identity, and from the claims rooted in that original Charter Stone.
Granted, most of that stone's influence had been lost due to Delaz's misuse of it.
Had it been employed only now for the first time, Char was confident he could have stirred up an independence movement across the entire Side, on the scale of the original Principality of Zeon.
Still, even now, it might not be too late to use Deikun's name and draw out the final value of that stone.
The Charter Stone was proof that the Federation's founding had once genuinely included the idea of Newtypes—but the world hadn't forgotten that it was Zeon Deikun who had first systematized the Newtype theory.
As for what parts of his father's theory were right or wrong, Casval didn't wish to delve too deeply.
Unlike Kamille, who vehemently rejected his father's ideals, Casval's attitude toward his own father was more mild and forgiving.
With that name, at the very least, he could once again sway public sentiment to his cause.
However, the public support he managed to stir up wasn't strong enough, forcing Char to temporarily scale back AEUG's demands.
If possible, Char had wanted to push forward with the full concept of building a Newtype society all at once.
But for now, the only message he could send was that AEUG's demand was merely for the Federation to fully implement its space colonization policy.
Of course, given the Federation's current financial state, "merely" doing that would still be a move that threatened the very foundations of its rule.
---
"Ah—sorry."
Still deep in thought about how he should face the person now reunited with him in space—his own "family"—Char accidentally bumped into someone.
"Kamille?"
Naturally, the person he had collided with was Kamille.
"Lieutenant Quattro! Captain Henken just told me—Titans sent a transmission!"
"Titans? What was in it?"
Char was surprised. Something like this had happened, and Henken had informed this boy before contacting him?
Still, Char suppressed his minor irritation, resting both hands on Kamille's shoulders and meeting his eyes without flinching.
The eyes that usually held stubbornness and determination now, uncharacteristically, revealed a trace of panic.
"They—they've kidnapped my mother!"
"What?! The Titans… they've abandoned even the last shred of military decency!"
Char's brows instinctively furrowed in anger, but as a leader, he forced himself to relax them.
"Is that all they said? Any other details?"
"Yes. They said if we don't hand over the MK-II and me, they'll execute my mother!"
This was bad.
That was the first thought that surfaced in Char's mind.
But what saddened him was that the reason it felt "bad" wasn't the content of the Titans' ultimatum.
Rather—it meant the Titans had already deployed a unit nearby, close enough to attempt an extraction, and they hadn't noticed!
Char quickly shook his head, pushing away the unease caused by that line of thought.
It was the right line of thinking—he was responsible not only for Kamille's emotional state, but also for the safety of every crew member aboard the Argama.
"Calm yourself for now, Kamille. We'll handle this properly. If necessary, we'll trade the MK-II for your parents' safety."
Perhaps it was Char's composed demeanor, but Kamille visibly steadied himself as well.
That's right. A real man couldn't afford to lose control at a time like this.
Kamille shoved his hands into his pockets, his fingertips brushing against Amuro's parting message, still kept safely within. The familiar presence helped him center himself.
"If there's anything I can do, I'll cooperate… All I want is to save my mother."
Just now, he had deliberately hidden the fact that his father was also being used as leverage.
Was this a Newtype's intuition at work?
Kamille wondered—but his resolve remained firm.
Just as a father could reject a son, a son also had the right to reject his father.
---
"Titans? They've done this?!"
Inside the White Base, Bright Noah's face twisted into an uncharacteristically deep frown.
The two messages that had just come in from the Argama weighed heavily on this honest Federation officer.
Now that Eli's situation had been confirmed, their priority should be heading to Earth to provide support.
But was Bright the kind of man who could stand by and watch a child lose their parent?
As a fellow human being, hesitation in the face of such a choice was only natural.
His hand unconsciously began tapping on the armrest of the captain's chair.
He, too, was the father of two children—making him all the more painfully aware of just how vile the Titans' actions truly were.
At this moment, the White Base and the Albion were using their onboard radar systems to search the surrounding sector of space.
According to the Argama's assessment, a Titans vessel should be nearby.
But at the moment, the only thing around was a field of scattered debris.
Bright made a decision.
"Patch me through to the Albion. Ask for the status of the Delphinium."
As of now, the Albion had abandoned the previous Pegasus-class configuration that separated its MS hangar and core fighter modules. Its forward hull had been remodeled to restore the classic Pegasus-class-style catapults.
But the biggest modification lay elsewhere—directly in front of the central hangar, a large extension had been added, sacrificing nearly all of the nonessential armor in that area.
Its sole purpose: to fit the massive Delphinium unit into the hangar.
As a result, Albion's MS carrying capacity had been reduced to just three units.
In essence, the ship had lost the ability to operate independently in combat.
"No issues! The Delphinium is ready to deploy at any time!"
This machine, which had diverged significantly from its original design due to a new frame structure and sudden armor material support from Yashima Heavy Industries, was now being overseen by its lead designer, Istha, who had transferred from the White Base to the Albion.
She glanced over at Kou Uraki, standing beside her in a bulky pilot suit.
"The pilot is fully operational as well!"
"Good. Then launch the Delphinium."
On the other end of the transmission, Bright gave his order—his tone carrying a slight chill.
"Understood!"
Yet the pilot, Kou Uraki, accepted the mission without a hint of hesitation.