Archangel, Medical Room.
"Doctor, what's Roz's condition right now…"
Murrue stood beside the unconscious Roz and asked the ship doctor in a white coat.
"From what I can see, it's just overexertion of the brain, too much fatigue. Some glucose and a little rest should be enough."
The doctor looked at the data on the tablet and explained to Murrue.
"However… this is the first time I've seen this kind of physical constitution…"
The doctor scratched his head while looking at Roz's body data. "Compared to the data from the first time he received treatment in the medical room, Roz's physical strength has roughly doubled. Some values have even surpassed those of a Coordinator… Can a natural human really achieve this?"
"Physical strength has increased?"
Murrue was curious about the doctor's conclusion and asked.
"You see, comparing these data to last time, it's an all-around improvement. Especially muscle strength and resistance to impact, even surpassing Kira in some areas."
The doctor handed the information to Murrue, pointing out several values.
"In short, if Roz's body continues to strengthen, it will increase his strength, G-force resistance, endurance, and other combat-relevant stats. For upcoming battles, this should be good news."
"…I hope there are no side effects."
Murrue wasn't sure whether Roz's situation was good or bad.
"Early on, this might be a good thing for the captain. After all, women generally hope their partners are a bit stronger."
The doctor took back the tablet, stood up from the chair, and prepared to leave Murrue some privacy.
"But later on, who knows what could happen."
"Huh?"
Murrue was momentarily taken aback by the doctor's words.
Before she could react, the doctor smoothly walked out of the medical room and closed the door.
Emergency repairs on the Archangel still required some time. Having just finished rescuing the wounded, the doctor just wanted to rest a bit.
He didn't know if ZAFT would attack the Archangel later.
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"Archangel… after every battle, it's always so battered…"
By the window of Kusanagi, Erica frowned as she watched the Archangel being skillfully patched up.
"The intensity of the battles is too high. Whether it's the Earth Alliance's automated combat units or the ZAFT clone soldiers from intelligence reports… both sides are racing in an arms buildup. Even a minor sweep forces us to abandon our homeland and head to space."
Ledonir frowned, recalling the intelligence he had recently obtained.
"Therefore, Orb's belief must continue to be upheld. Without strong faith, possessing great power would make us no different from the Earth Alliance forces attacking us."
Cagalli looked at the Archangel, her expression serious, her fists tightly clenched.
Having been formally informed by Uzumi about Industrial 7 and the responsibilities on her shoulders, though still immature, Cagalli already understood the weight she bore.
After entering into space via the Mass Driver and seeing the magnificent aurora, Cagalli also began contemplating the connection between faith and military power.
"You don't have to push yourself so hard, Cagalli."
Erica noticed Cagalli's state and reminded her, "Prime Minister Uzumi left you enough leeway. With enough time, you can become someone like him."
"Time… time… what we lack most now is time."
Cagalli sighed. "How long can Industrial 7 remain safe? How do we protect our citizens…"
"Cagalli, you can't rush now."
Ledonir patted Cagalli on the shoulder. "In war, impatience is the worst. We should first return to Industrial 7, consolidate our resources and information, and then make decisions."
Cagalli opened her mouth as if to say more, but eventually slumped completely.
The frustration of impatience and helplessness filled her heart.
"Lift your head, Cagalli."
Erica noticed Cagalli's state. "While the aurora hasn't faded, take another look."
Compared to Cagalli's agitation, Erica felt a bit puzzled.
Using all her knowledge, she tried to explain why the aurora appeared, and why after Narrative Gundam displayed the aurora, the Archangel could fly into space.
If she remembered correctly, the Archangel's positron interference channel should have dissipated by then.
And that flame…
"Exactly like the Jesta…"
-----------------------------------
Consciousness seemed to drift along the brilliant ocean currents.
Although it occasionally sank beneath the surface, there was no feeling of suffocation.
"…Still not waking up? Roz."
The voice of Big Haro came from beside his ear.
In this hazy state, Roz opened his eyes, and the scene before him made him recall the first time he met Big Haro.
"You should wake up now. Sleeping Beauty isn't your style."
With Big Haro's words, Roz felt an invisible force lifting him from behind, until he broke through the surface.
"Ugh…"
Roz instinctively sprang up from the hospital bed, taking deep breaths of fresh air.
Soon, Roz put his hands on his head. For some reason, the sound of the "space ghosts," which had previously been somewhat muted, now seemed clearer.
Occasionally… was that singing? Were these space ghosts singing?
"Roz!"
Feeling slightly confused and having removed the IV from his left hand, Murrue, who had just gone to get a towel, entered the room and saw Roz, drenched in sweat.
"Yeah, I'm here."
Roz looked at Murrue and let out a small sigh of relief. "How's the Archangel?"
"Damaged in multiple areas, a few more injured, and two crew members dead."
At this, Murrue's gaze darkened slightly.
Even knowing that the battle had been intense, casualties were understandable. But the Archangel had not been fully crewed to begin with—losing even one member meant a slight drop in combat effectiveness.
At first, she had insisted, "We have to bring everyone back alive," yet in the end there were casualties. This fact weighed heavily on Murrue.
"Sorry… I couldn't do better…"
Hearing Murrue's words, Roz clenched his fists. The hand that had just removed the IV still had blood seeping from the needle hole.
"If only I were stronger…"
"It's okay, Roz."
Seeing Roz's bleeding left hand, Murrue quickly pulled a piece of medical cotton from the nearby medicine box and pressed it on the bleeding needle hole.
"Everyone was prepared and knew this day could come."
"Let's go back to the bridge first."
-----------------------------------
At this time on Earth, aside from the Earth Alliance being somewhat enraged due to the destruction of Kaguya, the atmosphere within ZAFT was comparatively relaxed—at least on Creuset's side.
Inside a rest room on a ZAFT submarine mothership, Creuset was speaking with Yzak and Nicol.
"Captain Creuset, what does 'hold off the offensive until the weapon is completed' mean?"
Yzak frowned as he looked at the orders on the tablet.
"It's like this. It seems the homeland is planning to build some kind of high-power weapon, requiring it to have enough deterrence like a nuclear weapon."
Creuset waved his hand, seemingly uninterested in the order. "Anyway, it's probably just another one of those so-called doomsday weapons."
"More likely, it's to buy time for the new mobile suits to come online."
Nicol spoke. Since his father was an important figure in the MS development department, Nicol naturally knew this information.
"After acquiring the G series, the homeland has been developing corresponding GUNDAMs as well."
"GUNDAM?"
Hearing Nicol, Yzak felt the term was familiar, though he couldn't immediately recall why.
"The name used when activating the G series, the first letter chosen as the codename."
Nicol set down the tablet as he explained. After Nicol's explanation, Yzak remembered that the G series machines did indeed have similar words on their activation interfaces.
"Anyway, that's the reason."
Creuset interrupted Nicol and Yzak's discussion of PLANT's homeland plans.
"We have a clone army, and they have MS equipped with intelligent combat systems. Both sides are now at a stalemate and want to amass forces to crush the other in one strike."
Yzak still remained skeptical of what Creuset was describing.
"Can just this alone defeat the Earth Alliance?"
"You have to try, right? If we stay at a stalemate forever, neither side can afford it."
Creuset waved his hand. "Besides, you haven't returned to the homeland in a long time. Take this chance to visit your families."
After speaking, Creuset sat on the sofa in the rest room, lifting his head.
His gaze beneath the mask seemed to pierce through the submarine's armor, through the sky, to the "small asteroid" being constructed, imagining the special weapon being built on it.
Meanwhile, inside a small asteroid near PLANT, ZAFT's engineering teams had already completed rough internal excavation and the supporting structures. Devices were being hurriedly transported into the asteroid.
Durandal, still dressed in his parliamentarian attire, was inspecting the asteroid.
As a key project of PLANT, the construction of the "Genesis" could not be handled too cautiously.
"Accelerate the progress. Even though we are currently at a stalemate with the Naturals, only once Genesis is completed will we have the power to reverse the situation."
Upon hearing Durandal's words, the engineering team moved even faster.
"Parliamentarian Durandal, don't you also have research work on the new MS? Please return as soon as possible."
An officer from the engineering team saluted Durandal.
The officer's words reminded Durandal of his MS research project.
The four units were about to come off the production line, so it was probably time to start planning.
Durandal thought to himself.
..........