"What? Panama has fallen?!"
Murrue's voice, filled with shock, echoed inside the meeting room.
On the second day after the simulation training, Uzumi came aboard the Archangel and brought this news to Murrue and the others.
"Yes, that's right."
Standing in the meeting room, Uzumi nodded, his expression serious as he continued speaking.
"According to intelligence, even though the Earth Forces deployed their mass-production MS units, they were completely wiped out by ZAFT's electromagnetic pulse attack. Panama's mass driver was also destroyed."
"And just now, the Earth Forces sent Orb an official demand to requisition the Kaguya mass driver. They stated outright that if we refuse, we will be regarded as a nation supporting ZAFT."
"You refused, right?"
Roz, who had been sitting to the side operating a tablet, suddenly lifted his head.
After seeing Kira's Freedom equipped with the "neutron jammer canceller," and witnessing the performance boost from nuclear power, Roz began wondering whether he could produce one himself. He spent the entire night after training preparing material orders and submitting them to Morgenroete, Inc.
He had originally been planning to return to his room to sleep, but Uzumi stopped him and brought him into the meeting room, where he ended up hearing this "big news" for Murrue and the others.
"And… this commanding tone, plus the whole 'if you don't join us, you're on ZAFT's side' polarity… Blue Cosmos?"
Uzumi seemed a little surprised at Roz's deduction, but considering the intel he had seen himself, he understood.
"Yes. According to intelligence, the leader of Blue Cosmos, Muruta Azrael, has already entered the Earth Alliance's leadership meetings and holds considerable influence."
But upon hearing this, Roz frowned.
The reason was simple: back when he worked inside Blue Cosmos' research facility, he had seen internal documents.
The leader of the "SmartBrain" project had been eliminated during Roz's raid, and this Muruta was the chief of another project known as "BoostedMan." Both projects had overlapping research paths.
"Does Orb have intel on who the Earth Forces are purchasing those SmartBrain components from?"
Thinking this through, Roz asked Uzumi directly.
"…According to intelligence, the Earth Forces purchase all SmartBrain components by signing contracts directly with the founder of Blue Cosmos."
Uzumi seemed confused as to why Roz asked this, but didn't dwell on it.
So that means both projects have been consolidated under that Muruta's control?
Roz glanced at the digital clock displayed on the tablet, calculating how much time he had for modifications and maintenance.
"Has the evacuation order been issued? Judging from Blue Cosmos' style, if we don't comply, they'll definitely attack. There isn't much time."
Roz put away the tablet and looked up at Uzumi, his expression serious.
"Orb's geographical position doesn't provide much strategic depth."
"That is precisely why I came to see all of you."
Uzumi finally explained his purpose.
"I hope the members aboard the Archangel can participate in the battle to stop the Earth Forces' attack."
"At least until all our citizens are launched into space through the mass driver."
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"So, you're planning to join this battle?"
Roz stood inside the hangar, opening a cargo crate and checking the goods inside.
"In fact, you all should actually be able to avoid this completely."
To avoid leaking any designs related to the Neutron Jammer Canceller and nuclear batteries, aside from some necessary raw materials, Roz chose to purchase complete machines that contained the components he needed, then dismantled them to extract the parts for assembly.
He had to admit, doing it this way felt like assembling a model kit by using leftover parts to build a new machine.
"Just take it as my selfish choice."
Perhaps because Roz was from Orb? Or because Morgenroete, Inc. had repaired and supplied the Archangel so many times?
In any case, Orb still left a good impression on Murrue.
"And furthermore, the Archangel is a ship that escaped. Even if we leave, we don't know where we'll end up. Our own position is uncertain… but for now, it seems helping Orb is the best option."
"After all, the Archangel isn't a battleship that belongs only to me. I also have to consider the thoughts of the other crew."
After saying that, Murrue couldn't help letting out a sigh.
"Right now is the perfect opportunity. Those who want to leave can disembark, so they won't have to follow me to die."
"Careful, you might end up all alone."
Roz roughly finished checking the items, then took a wrench from a nearby toolbox and quickly unscrewed a bolt from one of the machines.
"But I still have you, don't I? Besides, even without me… you would still fight for Orb, wouldn't you?"
Although she didn't know why Roz was buying machines just to dismantle them, Murrue glanced at the charging conversion interface placed nearby and became a little curious about what Roz was planning to build next.
"…Don't joke around. I worked hard to buy that factory. Even though I haven't gone there in a long time, if the Earth Forces blow it up I'll lose a ton of money again, okay?!"
Roz spoke without even turning his head, already having removed what he needed from one machine and immediately starting to dismantle another.
"With this topic and this atmosphere… you bring up money…"
Murrue narrowed her eyes, suddenly worried about her own savings.
"Are you being tempted by money?"
"What are you thinking?! I'm broke right now! All the money used to build these machines came from my savings!"
Today, Roz was once again troubled by the costs of manufacturing mobile suits.
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Orb's Mass Accelerators were operating nonstop, continuously launching cargo ships and passenger ships into space.
At this moment, Orb's operational command headquarters was established here.
"Father!"
Cagalli, dressed in military uniform, entered the operations center and saw Uzumi still wearing his suit. "Why are you evacuating the citizens via the Mass Accelerator? Wouldn't it be safer to evacuate via waterways?"
"Moreover, our colony satellite Heliopolis has also been destroyed, right? How are we supposed to have another colony satellite?"
Inside the operations center, officers in blue uniforms were running back and forth, issuing one order after another.
"…Because we cannot gamble. Now is the time when we have no choice but to use the backup plan, Cagalli."
Uzumi seemed accustomed to Cagalli's impatient tone, calmly explaining the decision made by him and Orb's senior staff.
"The Earth Forces have already surrounded us. Evacuating by ship will inevitably take us near their fleets. Considering that Blue Cosmos already holds considerable influence, the ships carrying our citizens would very likely be destroyed."
"Even civilian ships cannot be guaranteed safe. Not long ago, they cut off our communication with the outside world."
Although Uzumi described the situation as seemingly hopeless, his expression did not falter, as if all of this was within his expectation.
"How could this be…"
Hearing such a plan for the first time, Cagalli's eyes widened in surprise.
"Then… what is the backup plan? What is the backup plan?"
Uzumi did not answer Cagalli's question, but instead asked another. "Do you remember a plan I pushed forward before, even if it would harm Orb's economy? That was when you hated me the most."
Uzumi pressed buttons on the nearby control panel, seemingly searching for something. "That was… the space mining plan?"
Cagalli clearly did not understand why Uzumi brought up this topic.
"I remember at that time, the development of the space mines wasn't urgent, but Father, you forced the project forward."
"Indeed, the space mines. We built Industrial 1 through Industrial 6, a total of six space stations."
After speaking, Uzumi finally found what he wanted and projected its contents onto the screen behind him.
"And they actually have another, even more important mission."
A slightly unusual-looking asteroid appeared on the screen, and a label in the lower-right corner indicated that this was the camera of Industrial 6.
As a cargo ship approached, a spaceport unfolded where there had been rock, allowing the cargo ship to enter the asteroid's interior.
"Industrial 7 colony satellite."
Uzumi calmly stated the name of this modified asteroid.
"This is the backup plan we left for Orb."
"A year ago, Morgenroete, Inc. already transferred the important parts to Industrial 7, and Industrial 7 has been operational for some time."
"We thought it would continue like this, but unexpectedly, it will be put to use so soon."
Looking at the asteroid on the screen, Cagalli was somewhat stunned.
After all, what she had originally thought was a plan that harmed the citizens' interests had become Orb's lifeline. Such a dramatic reversal left Cagalli at a loss.
"In short, Cagalli."
Uzumi placed a hand on Cagalli's shoulder, bringing her back to focus. "The upcoming battle will be very difficult. Now that you are wearing this uniform, are you ready?"
"…I understand."
Seemingly realizing the importance of this battle for Orb, Cagalli took a deep breath to steady herself. "I will ensure that everyone reaches space safely."
"Good… that's what I wanted to hear."
Uzumi let out a small sigh and turned around. "Until you finish arranging the defensive positions, I will continue to buy time for you."
"Grow up quickly, Cagalli."
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Above the ruins of Alaska Base, a red mobile suit hovered, its backpack acting like flight pedals, observing the battlefield.
Athrun sat in the cockpit, his expression was not good.
"How… how much more fighting must there be before it ends?"
Athrun gritted his teeth and maneuvered the new mobile suit.
According to ZAFT intelligence, the last appearance of the target mobile suit "Freedom" was when it joined up with the Archangel.
Based on the combat records, the Archangel was already heavily damaged, and because it was treated as cannon fodder by the Earth Forces, eliminating the possibility of returning to them…
"Orb… is it that place again?"
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