"Can't find it…" On the bridge of the Saphirus, Creuset frowned.
"Overall, Miss Lacus's vehicle started exploding from the inside," the captain of the Saphirus floated over.
"We just decoded the black box we found earlier. It contains data showing that an escape pod was launched."
"In other words… Lacus probably got into the escape pod, but we can't locate it…" Creuset rubbed his chin, starting to speculate.
"Either we haven't found it yet, or it's already been picked up… could it be Longleg?" Creuset turned to the Saphirus's captain. "Has the backup fleet arrived?"
"The follow-up rescue fleet has arrived. Also, we just discovered traces of the Earth Federation fleet. What should we do next?"
"The Earth Federation fleet? Here?"
Creuset was somewhat surprised. After all, this area was symbolic of Junius 7, a place neither the Earth Federation nor ZAFT would want to occupy.
"Probably for ammunition resupply, or maybe it's the fleet to meet them. After all, Longleg just left here; according to the route, there's a high probability they're in that area." Although the Saphirus's captain wasn't as strong or famous as Creuset, his military knowledge was solid. Even this simple deduction got most of the facts right.
"Heh… leave this area to the follow-up rescue fleet. We'll go after Longleg." Creuset pointed to the Earth Federation fleet's location on the map.
For some reason, the Saphirus's captain found Creuset's smile a little strange.
"Could it be what I'm thinking… I'm looking forward to it."
-----------------------------------
"Is Lacus on the list?" In the observation deck of the warship, Roz leaned on the railing, constantly operating his communicator.
"No, I didn't put her name on the list." At this time, Murrue was not on the bridge but in the observation deck, talking to Roz. "But there's a problem."
"George Allster, Deputy Secretary of the Atlantic Federation, is Flay Allster's father."
"In other words, George Allster might come aboard later?" Roz narrowed his eyes. "We need to keep Lacus from going out… wait, Flay has met Lacus."
"Yes, I'm worried about that too," Murrue sighed, leaning against the wall of the observation deck.
"Can we cover one day?" Roz pressed the last button on the communicator and transferred money to the contact. "I just contacted my scrap dealer friend. He happens to be operating in this area and will reach our route by tomorrow."
"You mean?" Murrue looked at Roz.
"They'll rendezvous with us under the pretense of ammunition resupply. I'll tell them it was my order after leaving Artemis Fortress," Roz lifted his head and looked Murrue in the eye. "Then we can take the opportunity to get Lacus out and hand her over to ZAFT."
"…I'll do my best." Even hearing Roz's solution, Murrue still worried about how to stall Flay's father.
"Don't worry, Murrue." Roz floated over and patted her shoulder. "Everyone on the Archangel trusts you. We'll all help you."
At this point, their distance had narrowed to about half a meter to a meter.
With Murrue's silent blush, the atmosphere was awkwardly intimate.
But soon, the ringing of a communicator broke the tension.
Roz took out the communicator and frowned when he saw the words "Shipyard."
"Ahem… someone's calling for you. I need to talk to the other crew members," Murrue coughed awkwardly and turned away.
"Mm… go ahead. I have an urgent call; I'll find you later."
Roz didn't say anything else and silently watched Murrue leave.
Once the observation deck was empty except for Roz, he connected the call.
"Oh no! Big Brother Roz! Our shipyard got… no, it was robbed by a super big Haro!"
A young man's voice came through the communicator, panicked but trying not to lose composure.
-----------------------------------
In an asteroid belt, there was a disguised small asteroid.
The inside of the asteroid had been hollowed out and converted into a base, with various machines operating within. This was Roz's "shipyard."
Remember the two bodies Roz had made? One was Christina, now Roz's assistant. The other was a green-haired young man named Marvin, who was in charge of this "shipyard."
"It's holding at least a .50 caliber barrel to my head!"
At this moment, Marvin leaned against a wall and called Roz, his face full of panic but trying to stay composed.
He had just seen a radar alert, mistook the size for some asteroid about to collide, and, out of habit, activated the defense system.
The shipyard's location was cleverly chosen. There were no strategic choke points nearby; neither the Earth Federation nor ZAFT would appear here. This base was right at the edge of Lowe Guele's operating range.
Roz frequently sent orders to Lowe Guele, delivering materials to this base, so Marvin recognized Lowe Guele's warship.
But today, after a couple of shots from the anti-air guns, all instruments lost control.
The HAROs still in operation, sitting on engineering machines, were locked down and couldn't move.
And Marvin, the only humanoid body in the base, was trapped by the electronic door, forced to watch as a giant HARO leisurely floated in.
Now, the giant HARO had deployed armor on both sides, revealing various weapons. One of the .50 machine gun barrels was pressed against Marvin's head.
"…How big is that giant HARO?"
"About… 2.5 meters tall?"
Marvin observed, using his prosthetic eye to filter through the interference of various "unknown data" and estimated the diameter of the giant HARO.
"Is it blue, with black rings around its eyes?"
"Big Brother Roz, even the rest of us using HARO bodies don't have black… eye rings?"
Hearing Roz's calm tone, Marvin's panic eased slightly.
"Uh… it's blue, and there are… black rings around the eyes."
Upon hearing Marvin, Roz finally confirmed who had "robbed" the shipyard base.
"Let me talk to it."
After Roz spoke, Marvin held the communicator up to the giant HARO.
"Is that you? Big HARO?"
"Hmph, of course it's me, Roz."
The blue HARO's eyes flashed, and it slowly withdrew its weapons. The previously locked engineering machines and other equipment were returned to control.
"No need to hold the gun to Marvin's head. I think you can find my contact information yourself."
"This was just a test of your base. I'll be spending some time at this base… helping, since I am your assistant after all."
The HARO flapped its oval-shaped wings, seemingly pleased.
"…Fine, as long as you don't interfere with my current plan, do as you like."
Roz's tone in the communicator was tired but relieved.
"Don't worry, I know what you're doing."
The HARO landed steadily and began spinning in place, surveying the entire base.
"Marvin, can you hear me?"
"Uh… I'm here, Big Brother Roz." Marvin held the communicator to his ear.
"That HARO is my assistant. While keeping things on schedule, just fulfill whatever it wants to do."
"Ohhh, so this big HARO is Big Brother Roz's friend." Marvin understood. "Don't worry, progress is normal. It will be built on schedule."
"Mm… if there's nothing else, I'll hang up now. I still have some things to do."
After the call ended, Marvin exhaled and looked at the HARO observing the base.
"Uh… Big HARO? What do you need next?"
"The base is pretty well-made… get me a production line." The HARO turned, its teal eyes looking at Marvin, who had just regained composure.
"And call me Big Sis!"
...........