As soon as He Kui launched, he was locked onto by a cannon, but to their disappointment, He Kui had no intention of leaving the light shield. Instead, he stood on the Nazca-class, mimicking the tan-colored GINN across from him, using the beam rifle on his shoulder to target the incoming enemy.
He was like a turret.
"Is this the Light Shield System, using electromagnetic principles?"
Seeing the situation gradually stabilize, Selene wasn't bothered by He Kui's cautious strategy. Instead, she was intrigued by the light shield before them.
"Why can your attacks pass through? Is it due to automatic system adjustments?"
"That's right."
"Oh, impressive."
"Thank you."
As they spoke, He Kui's shoulder-mounted shield cannon forced the high-mobility GINN back.
"That's about it. If you're interested, why not visit PLANT?"
"What's this? A counter to my earlier offer to switch jobs, or are you flirting?"
With the tension eased, a slight smile appeared on Selene's previously cold face.
"Both?"
"Unfortunately, my lover is a celestial body beyond Mars' orbit."
That specific? Not even within Mars? He Kui wanted to say something more, but Tie Bi had already hit the Nelson-class engine with a high-energy pulse cannon during his skirmish with the CGUE.
"Attention all space pirates in this sector. This is Captain of the ZAFT Graeme, issuing a final warning on behalf of the ZAFT military."
"Against our firepower, further resistance is futile. I order you to cease all hostile actions and surrender. We will ensure your safety according to international law."
"Will they listen?"
Selene asked.
"Surrender or flee—those are their only choices."
These 'pirates' clearly hadn't expected the Light Shield System to be integrated into a warship. The earlier surprise attack was indeed dangerous.
But now, with no cover from a surprise attack and no reinforcements in sight, they were bound to retreat.
He Kui couldn't tell if the rest would escape, but the Nelson-class with its engine destroyed certainly couldn't.
Shortly after the communication was sent, seeing that their attacks couldn't penetrate He Kui's defenses, the two GINNs fled with the Laurasia.
Left behind were the CGUE, half its Strike equipment gone, and the immobilized Nelson-class, resisting desperately.
Seeing no response to surrender, Tie Bi fought with increasing caution.
For good reason; he feared the enemy would self-destruct.
This is why Tie Bi first targeted the Nelson-class engine. The Laurasia-class seemed more concerned with survival, while the Nelson-class had rushed too far ahead.
Behind them was the space station. Given the Blue Cosmos' usual tactics, using a Nelson-class for a suicide attack wasn't new.
"Five minutes until shield failure. If they don't surrender, shoot them down."
The captain suggested to Tie Bi.
"Understood."
None present were particularly compassionate. Hearing the captain's words, Tie Bi fired the high-energy pulse cannon at the enemy bridge. Soon after the Nelson-class exploded, the CGUE followed suit.
"Linked detonation? Were our captives inside?"
He Kui sighed.
Linked explosions were prepared for disobedient Coordinators.
If the mothership was lost or the commander died, they'd follow suit in a sacrificial explosion.
"Nothing we can do. At least they're freed."
Tie Bi said over the communication.
"Indeed."
The price of being captured by the Alliance was too high.
If he were captured, his fate would likely be having a bomb implanted and being forced to research continuously.
No, he might not even survive the interrogation.
Thinking this, He Kui frowned.
Indeed, staying in PLANT was safer.
"Have you really not considered having a security force?"
Exiting the cockpit, He Kui asked the girl following him.
"Don't we have one?"
"They were nearly wiped out just now."
DSSD had several Moebius units, with many Coordinators among them.
But the enemy was also Coordinators, piloting GINNs and CGUEs.
Their forces weren't on equal footing.
And compared to Tie Bi and the elites, it was even more pronounced.
"We're an absolutely neutral force; we can't have too much armament."
Having fought alongside He Kui, Selene's relief was replaced by solemnity upon hearing about her colleagues' deaths.
"Can't Security approve it?"
"Security?"
"Otherwise, who ensures your safety?"
"You can apply for it using this incident as a pretext."
"Many of your colleagues perished. Even if the target was likely us, PLANT will offer compensation for DSSD's casualties, and the Alliance won't have grounds to object."
"I understand."
Though not particularly politically savvy, Selene quickly grasped He Kui's point.
Using this attack, DSSD could elevate its armed capabilities.
While Selene pondered the feasibility of advancing this proposal, He Kui met Representative Ge, who had emerged from the shelter.
Still as meticulous as ever, as if he'd returned from a meeting.
Though just attacked, the space station was still relying on backup power and needed repairs, leaving no time for meetings.
"Did you secure the technology?"
Representative Ge asked calmly on the ship.
"Yes, I believe I can develop the positron cannon."
It should barely count as his research, right?
Buoyed by the success, He Kui's demeanor brightened.
After all, solving an urgent problem like this was cause for celebration.
"Good."
Hearing He Kui's words, Representative Ge's stern face finally broke into a smile.
"The meeting's canceled; we'll return once repairs are complete."
"What about Orb?"
"They'll delay their visit."
"Alright."
He Kui nodded, having no reason to stay, especially given Selene's lukewarm attitude toward him.
Perhaps he could use a robot to visit in the future, keeping a robot stationed for AI collaboration.
But for now, that wasn't feasible.
If he stayed, surviving until the New Year would be uncertain.
Meanwhile, at the L3-L4 boundary:
"What do you mean, space pirates? We should help!"
On the Marseille III-class transport ship, Cagalli protested the order to return to Heliopolis.
"Miss, look at our ship's configuration."
Hearing Cagalli's words, Erica couldn't help but remark.
Their ship had no configuration—a transport ship with three Moebius units, not even equipped with beam weapons.
Moreover, the attacked party was ZAFT; they had no reason to assist.
"Once they've achieved their goal, they'll leave. Besides, isn't ZAFT there?"
Irritated, Cagalli ignored Erica's reassurance and stormed toward the living quarters.
Behind her, a round, plump owl flapped its wings, following the princess.
"Is that machine really safe?"
Chisaka asked, eyeing the owl warily.
"It is. Most of its internal components have self-destructed. It's more a reconstruction than a repair; even the original owner can't control it."
"However, did you find who eavesdropped on you at PLANT?"
"No, the owl's design circulates in PLANT. The Desert Dawn people said Tiger of Tash also has one, but without other machines for comparison, it's hard to identify the creator."
Chisaka shook his head.
"Cagalli wanted to investigate the desert earlier."
He Kui had patented his design, but Orb couldn't access PLANT's patent office, and selling it to [Mecha Enthusiast] meant no name promotion.
Orb had difficulty tracing anything back to PLANT.
"You'll need to keep an eye on the princess. If she finds out about our activities in Heliopolis…"
Erica said with a rueful smile.
She could already imagine Cagalli throwing a tantrum at Lord Uzumi.
"I understand."
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