Lu Tianming sighed helplessly. Seeing Erica looking stunned, he began to explain:
"First, you need to understand that the G Series Mobile Suits weren't designed through rigid copying. They were originally created based on tactical requirements for coordinated operations with the Archangel."
"In standard tactical operations, the Buster Gundam would remain aboard the Archangel to provide covering fire against approaching Mobile Suits."
"The Duel Gundam handles mid-range attacks, the highly mobile Aegis Gundam deals with long-range targets, and the Strike Suit switches between sword, aerial, and launcher packs as needed to support teammates in their respective combat zones."
"Only when frontal suppression is maintained would the Blitz deploy its Mirage Colloid to conduct surprise attacks on enemy fleets."
"The fundamental role of Buster and Blitz is to combine with the highly mobile Archangel, forming a fully functional combat group of five Mobile Suits plus one battleship, enabling a single vessel to accomplish all tactical missions."
After explaining the design philosophy behind the original Buster and Blitz as technical prototypes, Lu Tianming turned his gaze to the two derivative M1 Astray models and sighed again with some frustration.
"As for your two proposals... they appear quite redundant given ORB's current combat situation."
"First, the fully armored M1 Astray... once fully equipped, this thing essentially becomes a mobile turret with no close combat or aerial combat capabilities, only suitable for coastal artillery duties."
"But the problem is... couldn't coastal artillery handle this job?"
Lu Tianming sighed helplessly once more, rubbing his forehead as he made this criticism.
Erica felt as if struck by lightning upon hearing this. Having her hard work dismissed so thoroughly made her somewhat unwilling to accept it.
But after careful consideration, she realized he was actually right.
"And the assault type is even more useless... ORB can't even win in frontal engagements right now, yet you're proposing stealth units."
"Then... what would you suggest we do instead?"
Erica sat in her seat, momentarily at a loss as she asked this question.
"Simple - add a pair of large dual-intake lift fans to give it high-speed takeoff/landing and short-distance flight capabilities. This alone would extend its operational range to cover most of ORB's territorial waters."
Lu Tianming said with a smile. This equipment was originally the Shrike Pack in the source material, designed to work with later-developed Murasames deployed from battleships for high-low altitude coordinated operations, performing patrol and defense duties for ORB.
"If possible, we could also develop a submersible M1 Astray based on the Buster Gundam's underwater combat equipment. This would enable combined air-sea strikes to maximize interception against MS and battleships attempting amphibious landings."
Hearing Lu Tianming's words, Erica lowered her head and began thinking seriously.
She quickly ran through the data in her mind. Leaving aside the feasibility of underwater combat for now, simply adding those fan units to standard Astrays seemed like it could indeed achieve maximum effectiveness at minimum cost.
After all, compared to long-range sniping capabilities... what the M1 Astray needed most right now was rapid response and interception capabilities.
Thinking this, Erica couldn't help but look at Lu Tianming with newfound surprise in her eyes.
Indeed, from a pilot's perspective, the approach is entirely different... You immediately pinpoint the core issue the moment you speak.
In contrast, our side has been too focused on pushing new technologies to achieve results... even forgetting the most fundamental cost and application environment concerns.
"However, both versions can be retained. The former can serve as a specialized assault type for future breakthrough missions, while the latter can be applied to special operations units during peacetime."
"In short... it's not that your designs are flawed, but rather that you haven't found the right application for them."
Seeing Erica's dejection, Lu Tianming immediately added two more sentences to explain.
Hearing Lu Tianming's renewed encouragement, Erica nodded thoughtfully, realizing that this was indeed the case.
"But with you providing the solution so directly, it makes our side feel somewhat useless."
Erica remarked somewhat awkwardly... Lu Tianming's proposal was straightforward, almost requiring nothing more than copying it and calculating the data.
This gave them a sense of... guilt over winning without effort.
"Mr. Lu, is there any equipment you'd like to develop recently? We could help with that."
"...You've really hit the nail on the head."
Lu Tianming pinched his chin, thought for a moment, and then smiled mysteriously as if he had thought of something.
"And, the data from the two sets of equipment you're working on this time might actually come in handy."
"Oh? I'm all ears."
Hearing Lu Tianming's words, Erica raised an eyebrow, growing somewhat interested in the project he was about to propose.
"The derivative models of the M1 Astray aren't needed for now... but we could start researching derivative models of the Blitz and the Blitz."
"You have the basic data stored from developing the Astray, and the combat data is recorded in the cockpits of those two Mobile Suits. I believe creating derivative models shouldn't be difficult for you, right?"
When the development of the Astray was mentioned, Erica scratched the back of her head and smiled awkwardly.
After all, tracing back to its origins, the Gundam Astray series... including the M1 Astray, was actually a project developed by the Dawn Organization using stolen data from the G Series as reference.
Being bluntly reminded of this dark history, she felt somewhat ashamed to face it.
But seeing that Lu Tianming had no intention of pursuing the matter, she didn't dwell on it too much and nodded, indicating that the project could indeed be completed.
"Speaking of which, what about the Strike Suit... should we develop a derivative model for it as well?"
Erica suddenly remembered that since switching to the Freedom, Mr. Lu hadn't piloted the Strike Suit much.
Currently, the Strike Suit was idle at the Dawn Organization, waiting to be modified with a Natural Operating System before being handed over to Mr. Mu of the Archangel.
She thought she might as well improve the Strike Suit as a favor—whether by optimizing its main body or using its spare parts to create a new Mobile Suit, it would be a trivial task for the Dawn Organization.
Lu Tianming hesitated for a moment but first waved his hand:
"Not for now... Let me go talk to Uzumi and see what he has in his treasury."
With that, Lu Tianming picked up Xia Chuan and prepared to head to the presidential palace to have a good chat with Uzumi.
Apart from confirming whether he truly intended to surrender outright in the next match, he had another idea.
He recalled that in the original storyline, the Akatsuki Gundam—which wasn't fully completed and deployed until SEED-D—had actually finished its main frame by the time of the first ORB defense battle. With temporary rush work using spare parts from the Strike Suit, it wouldn't be impossible to assemble a usable MS by the actual outbreak of war.
If it could really be used, it would undoubtedly be a tremendous asset. The cost-no-object development of the Akatsuki allowed it to rival the top-performing machines of the SEED-D era. Even now, with just the frame and proper armaments, its actual performance likely wouldn't fall far behind the Mobile Suits of Earth's three elite pilots.
Therefore, he now intended to try... try to persuade Uzumi through reason and emotion to awaken this hidden ace card ahead of schedule.