ZAFT's efficiency was remarkable. In no time, the Backpack System and Nano Machines had been transported from Victoria to the base in Alaska.
"It's an honor to join your unit, Commander Andrew," Courtney said respectfully, saluting Andrew.
Standing behind Andrew were members of Athrun and Yzak's squads. Among them, Dearka looked at Courtney with visible resentment. He had finally obtained a new Gundam, used it a few times, and now it was gone again. If it weren't for the fact that the plan made sense, he would have suspected that he had somehow offended He Kui. Every time, it was him who ended up suffering.
"Doesn't look all that impressive," Dearka couldn't help but mutter, his voice echoing through the hangar.
"I'm just here to help you complete the mission," Courtney replied without taking offense, offering a warm smile instead.
Faced with such a response, Dearka had nothing more to say and simply turned his head away.
"Alright, Mr. Courtney must be tired after such a long journey," Aisha interjected, skillfully diffusing the tension.
Everyone tends to show some courtesy to a beautiful person, and so the atmosphere among the group eased after the verbal exchange.
Athrun and the others, of course, didn't mind either. They still regarded Courtney with a hint of curiosity. They knew about him—he had originally been an employee at the Design Bureau before being discovered and becoming a test pilot. Now, unexpectedly, he had become a soldier. However, they were unaware, or perhaps hadn't paid attention to the fact, that Courtney had been temporarily drafted into combat during He Kui's last mission on Earth.
Still, Dearka, who had his Mobile Suit taken away, couldn't help but feel a bit sour. After all, based on piloting skills alone, Courtney was currently only at the level of a Red Uniform. Of course, with the added advantage of spatial awareness in space, he would at least have the strength of an Elite Red Coat, and could even gain an upper hand in one-versus-many battles.
"Welcome, Hieronymus. Now that we've finished chatting, come with me. I'll brief you on the specifics of the plan," Andrew said cheerfully, watching the dispute between the two as if it were a show. Now that the show was over, it was time to get down to business.
The two had fought side by side before, and now meeting again could be considered fate.
"Alright," came the resounding reply, and Andrew nodded in satisfaction before leading the group toward the inner command room. Naturally, everyone followed.
With heads held high, the group marched into the command room and began the strategy meeting.
The content of the plan was simple, just as He Kui had proposed earlier: Athrun and the others would stage a feint attack, while the hidden Liberator would destroy the enemy's Light Shield Generator. However, while the plan sounded straightforward, its execution presented numerous challenges. After all, the Liberator didn't have a Mirage Particle system, and such a large Mobile Suit approaching the base, no matter how remote the location, would inevitably be noticed.
"Before the operation, we'll do our best to lure the main forces from the Clinton base to the frontlines. However, there will likely still be many defenders left behind. Dearka will provide long-range artillery support for you, and we'll also send two GINN squads and one GAT-X squad to accompany you. You can rest assured about your safety."
After all, it was such a dangerous mission, so explanations were necessary.
"Alright."
"May I use the simulator pod?"
Having experienced the battlefield before, Courtney wasn't unfamiliar with such missions, but using the simulator pod for rehearsals was still quite useful.
"Of course, no problem."
"Dearka, you should go too, for coordinated combat."
"Yes."
Hearing Andrew's words, Dearka was somewhat speechless, but he dared not defy the military's plans and could only agree.
Meanwhile, Andrew, as expected, simply sipped his coffee leisurely, watching them leave.
"I didn't expect He Kui to come up with a combat plan so quickly."
After the sound of the door closing completely, Andrew sighed and pulled Aisha into his arms.
"Yes, I didn't expect it either."
Aisha naturally embraced Andrew, recalling the moment they met in the desert.
It had to be said that his progress was too fast; he had even become a council member now.
"Speaking of which, we haven't congratulated He Kui on becoming a council member yet."
Aisha chuckled softly.
"Yes, but we can't go back for now."
Knowing what Aisha was thinking, Andrew remained silent for a while, then sighed as he looked at the three-dimensional combat map in front of him.
Unless the war completely ended, he, the Desert Tiger, would likely have to stay here indefinitely.
Others could take breaks, but he couldn't.
"Of course, I know. I meant after the battle ends."
"After the war ends..."
Seeing Aisha purse her lips, Andrew smiled bitterly and continued.
"According to Clyne, this war might not last much longer."
"When the time comes, Aisha, you can go wherever you want."
"Hmm, Andy, you said it yourself~"
The two of them quietly enjoyed their intimate moment, while He Kui, still on his asteroid, was quite troubled.
"Currently, their patrol range is getting wider, seemingly trying to force us out."
Sulei opened the sea map in front of them. They had already retreated from twenty kilometers off the coast to nearly a hundred kilometers away.
At this rate, they wouldn't even need to attack the port; they'd run out of power themselves.
"Soon, once Andrew starts the attack, the pressure on us will ease."
"Have we identified any submarines from Prince Port?"
He Kui asked Sulei.
"There is one."
Since He Kui had previously hacked into their server, the fleet's identification numbers were already in his database.
Plus, his radar was slightly better than theirs, so he could detect the enemy in advance.
Otherwise, he would have been surrounded long ago.
"Then we just have to wait."
"What will you do once you get in?"
Shihe asked.
"According to the intelligence provided by the Serpent Tail informant, I can find the secret hangar inside the base, and then..."
"We'll steal their Mobile Suits."
He Kui flashed a mischievous smile.
Coincidentally, the Serpent Tail's leader, Reed Wheeler, was a former Atlantic Federation officer, specializing in intelligence, with his own information channels and much of the intel stored in his head.
With his assistance, things would be twice as effective.
"But we don't know what kind of Mobile Suits are inside."
Hearing Sulei's words, Shihe nodded in agreement, as this was also her concern.
"If it's an unfamiliar Mobile Suit, the decryption process will be very slow."
"It won't be slow."
He Kui smiled mysteriously.
He had been decrypting the Atlantic Federation's Mobile Suits for a long time, and these were just the ones stored in the hangar, not even activated.
Moreover, through his collaboration with Sulei and Meyrin, his abilities in electronics had grown significantly stronger.
Come to think of it, it had indeed been a while since he had fully demonstrated his electronic warfare capabilities.
(End of Chapter)