The Chapter get Retranslated
As Mikazuki Augus advanced towards the rest area, Murrue Ramius and the others arrived at the command office of Artemis Fortress.
Gerard Garcia, the Major General and Commander of Artemis Fortress, affiliated with the Eurasian Federation of the Earth Alliance, smiled a superficial smile as he looked at the three individuals before him.
"Your identities have been verified. You are indeed affiliated with the Atlantic Federation of the Earth Alliance."
"So..."
Gerard Garcia clasped his hands under his chin, chuckling.
"Then, you three will remain at Artemis for a while.
A Laurasia-class ZAFT warship is patrolling outside. You will be attacked if you leave."
As he spoke, he opened the composite screen behind him, displaying a ZAFT warship patrolling outside Artemis.
Murrue Ramius's expression darkened. She said,
"Then we must leave as soon as possible. We need to rush to Lunar Headquarters and report to our superiors without wasting a minute."
Murrue Ramius's words were direct, but how could Gerard Garcia let them leave so easily? His superficial smile vanished.
"Alright, you three, please rest for a while. Once the ZAFT warship retreats, we will naturally let you leave.
But not now. It's too dangerous for you to go out like this. Don't worry, you are absolutely safe here at Artemis."
Gerard Garcia pressed a button on his desk, and soldiers entered.
"Take these three to the rest area and protect them well."
"Yes, sir."
Murrue Ramius and the other two's faces turned as black as the bottom of a pot.
At this point, even an idiot would understand. They were being forcibly detained.
No, it might be more than just forced detention. If they were interested not only in the data but also in the warship and mobile suits themselves, then...
Artemis indeed intended to eliminate Murrue Ramius, Natarle Badgiruel, and Mu La Flaga—the three highest-ranking officers on the warship—and seize the Gundam and Archangel for themselves.
If necessary, they would also conduct a thorough purge of everyone on the Archangel, including civilians, as long as they could obtain the warship and the Gundam.
As for the consequences? Not many, even within the Earth Alliance itself, knew much about the Archangel and the Gundam.
Furthermore, the Archangel couldn't contact the Atlantic Federation at all, and the Atlantic Federation had no idea whether the Archangel had sunk or not.
Even if Artemis seized the warship, as long as they kept it strictly confidential and denied everything, what could the Atlantic Federation say, even if they found a few traces?
They could only swallow their bitterness. The Eurasian Federation and the Atlantic Federation wouldn't turn against each other over this matter. This was the calculation of Artemis's highest authority.
Therefore, Mikazuki Augus was not mistaken in considering this place an enemy that must be destroyed.
Murrue Ramius and the other two had no choice but to follow the soldier to the so-called rest area. Although they wouldn't be killed immediately, there were still things about the Archangel and the Gundam that they, as participants in the plan, needed to explain.
After Murrue Ramius and the other two were confined, Gerard Garcia left the command office and, with two direct subordinates, went to the Archangel.
The warship was fine; data extraction proceeded smoothly. However, the Strike Gundam was different. Its system had long been locked by Mu La Flaga with a key that only Kira Yamato could activate.
Thus, Gerard Garcia couldn't obtain any data on the Gundam. So, he went to the Archangel personally to find the Strike Gundam's pilot.
Arriving at the rest area where everyone was gathered, his adjutant spoke in a condescending tone,
"Where are this warship's MS pilots and technicians?"
Kira Yamato, who was already in military uniform, tried to stand up but was pushed back down by Kojiro Murdoch behind him.
"I'll ask again, where are this warship's MS pilots and technicians?"
Seeing no one respond, the adjutant impatiently asked again.
Helmsman Arnold stepped forward and said,
"Why do you ask us?"
"What?"
Hearing Arnold's questioning tone, the adjutant couldn't help but grab Arnold's collar. Arnold, however, remained unfazed, a mocking smile on his face.
"Because the captain didn't tell you? Or are you afraid to ask?"
Gerard Garcia smiled, raised a hand to signal the adjutant to step back, and then stepped forward, saying,
"You are all excellent soldiers specially selected from the Atlantic Federation to participate in a confidential project."
Anyone could tell that this was insincere flattery. Arnold asked unceremoniously,
"What do you want to do with the Strike Gundam?"
Gerard Garcia chuckled,
"Nothing, just finally having the opportunity to admire the latest model mobile suit before its official unveiling.
So, who is the pilot?"
Kojiro Murdoch replied,
"It's Lieutenant Mwu La Fllaga. If you have any questions, please go ask Lieutenant Mwu La Fllaga.
We cannot disclose any confidential information without the consent of our direct superior, Major General. As a soldier, you should understand that, right?"
Gerard Garcia's expression stiffened. He was left speechless by a mere maintenance sergeant, which made him lose face.
His mouth twitched, and without any pretense, a cold smile appeared on his face.
"Yes, I understand. But Captain Murrue Ramius and the other two are resting in the lounge I prepared, so they might not be able to give you orders immediately."
"Ugh..."
The atmosphere immediately became tense. Gerard Garcia's words were clear: if they didn't reveal the pilot's identity, their captain would be in danger.
Seeing that he had successfully bluffed the crew, Gerard Garcia grinned, stepped forward, and grabbed Miriallia Haw's arm. Miriallia Haw cried out in pain.
"Ow!"
"Miriallia Haw!"
Miriallia Haw's boyfriend, Tolle Koenig, tried to step forward but was restrained by an Earth Alliance soldier behind him.
"Although I don't think the pilot would be a woman, considering the captain is a woman, hehehe, it's not impossible..."
Just as he continued to squeeze Miriallia Haw's arm harder, gunshots and falling sounds echoed from outside the rest area, followed by a cold, somewhat hoarse voice like that of a young boy.
"Found... the rest area..."
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