The small asteroid was merely a temporary modified base, lacking any complex structures apart from the newly added secret port, making it rather ordinary.
At this moment, He Kui and Shi He were both dressed in their pilot suits, observing the damaged port.
"The high-energy pulse cannon has shown significant effectiveness against artificial metals, but being just an energy beam, its impact on the rock walls is minimal."
Since the pulses carried high temperatures, anyone hit was vaporized, resulting in a remarkably clean scene without blood or bodies.
"Mm, the data has been recorded," Shi He nodded from behind as she stowed away her computer.
"Iron Wall, we've completed our work here. How's it going on your end?" He Kui opened the communicator to ask.
"No issues here. The internal garrison of the Alliance had some stubborn Blue Force members, but they've been subdued by the other guards."
Surrendering was futile; their warships had been blown up, and those that hadn't were now under siege.
If they didn't surrender soon, they'd face total annihilation along with the asteroid.
The Blue Force was likely considering self-detonation, but not everyone was a member of the Blue Force.
After they announced a surrender without retaliation, the internal guards would naturally prevent any self-destructive attempts.
"Fortunately, the opposing commander isn't from the Blue Force," Shi He breathed a sigh of relief.
If someone did self-destruct, not only would lives be lost, but the asteroid would be wasted as well.
Though it wasn't large, it could easily serve as a small transfer station.
"Yeah," He Kui sighed as he looked at the remains of several warships floating outside.
"He Kui, it's alright! We didn't kill that many people," Shi He reassured him.
"Mm."
He Kui shot her a puzzled glance.
She must have misunderstood something.
He was merely lamenting the waste of so many materials.
Each of those warships cost hundreds of millions to build.
If he could strip the materials from them, it would keep him supplied for a long time.
Unfortunately, apart from the engine components of the asteroid, nothing else could be salvaged.
The captives could only be taken aboard their Nasca-class ships.
While feeling regret, He Kui and Shi He returned to the Nasca.
Inside the hangar, it was bustling; dozens of captives stood in rows.
With several warships having surrendered, along with the garrison forces from the asteroid, such numbers were to be expected.
As they saw He Kui, dressed in white, arriving late, the captives collectively gasped in surprise.
However, at the front of the group, a colonel in uniform recognized He Kui and displayed an expression of sudden understanding.
"That new-style weapon is indeed the work of Director He."
The colonel's voice wasn't loud, but it echoed through the spacious hangar, reaching He Kui's ears.
"You know me?" He Kui furrowed his brow as he approached the officer.
"ZAFT's Blue Devil, the director of the Beam Weapon Group, the primary developer of beam weapons—am I mistaken?"
"You've got your intelligence wrong; I'm not the primary developer," He Kui replied quietly.
"True, but the beam weapons were developed under your leadership at the Beam Group. After the beam weapons were deployed in combat, you were promoted to director. Given this latest development, there's no need to pretend otherwise, Director He."
As the two conversed, the mention of He Kui being the developer of the new weapon and the small beam weapon sent ripples through the crowd of captives.
Their gazes shifted back and forth between He Kui, filled with wariness, hostility, trepidation, fear, and hatred.
It was clear that many were ready to rush at him for a confrontation.
Yet, no one made a move.
All weapons capable of inflicting harm had long been confiscated.
Without firearms, any attempt to confront He Kui, who was armed with automatic rifles, would result in one-sided slaughter.
In the tense atmosphere, He Kui smiled lightly, neither agreeing nor denying the claims.
He simply turned and left the chaotic hangar.
"This is bad," He Kui thought as he left the hangar, the calm he had previously maintained slipping away as he furrowed his brow deeply.
If the Alliance's high-ranking officials had almost confirmed it was him, especially with the introduction of this new weapon.
He was likely to become a target.
However, for now, it seemed the Defense Council wouldn't abandon him.
The problem was that he didn't want to be at the center of this power struggle.
If even the Deputy Director could be killed, what chance did he have as merely a director?
He needed to focus on creating more protective machines.
Ideally, he could lay low for a while and get the unidirectional wave shielding system completed before considering developing new weapons.
If things continued this way, he might lose everything.
Meanwhile, Shi He, following closely behind He Kui, looked at him with admiration.
"He Kui! That officer just called you the 'Blue Devil!'"
"Uh-huh."
Interrupted from his thoughts, He Kui felt a bit embarrassed upon hearing that overly flattering nickname.
Since the last half-hearted title of "Radar Thrower," this was the first time he had heard his nickname from an enemy's mouth.
He had previously suggested avoiding personalized paint jobs, yet now he had partially become a hero unit; he worried that he might attract fire from the smaller units.
Of course, he was still a bit far from that level; it appeared that only that officer knew his title, while the others looked on with confusion.
"The fear the enemy feels is a testament to their acknowledgment of you!" Shi He said, excited.
"This nickname probably originated during the New Star incident, so you have a part in it as well."
"Mm!"
Compared to He Kui, Shi He was unusually exhilarated by the title.
"Director He, Director Hanifus, your piloting skills are improving!"
As they arrived at the bridge, a message from Iron Wall came through.
His enthusiastic voice sounded like that of an old friend.
"Thank you."
"I really want to recruit both of you into our team. By the way, there's a lot of support for this idea in our ranks!"
"Well, we still have research to do."
"I know, I know! Just a little joke."
"Waste Merchant Guild ship detected, distance 2000."
Just as the joking words fell, the radar operator's report came through.
"These guys are as quick as ever."
"Since the Waste Merchant has discovered us, it's time to leave."
Iron Wall chuckled as he spoke.
"Let's go; we also need to receive the data from the recent battle."
As both of them indicated they were leaving, the quiet captain nodded with a smile.
This time, the captain had also gained quite a bit, having directly dragged back a small asteroid port.
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