Upon arranging for Heigles to stay in the temporary field camp, He Kui's communicator suddenly chimed.
"He Kui, are you there?"
"Yes."
Looking at the late hour, He Kui's tone was a bit weary.
"Apologies, but it's urgent," Yzak said with a slight tone of regret, then sent an image file over to He Kui's computer.
"Is this the moon?"
Looking at the silver-white terrain and the sprawling city structures protected under a transparent dome, He Kui could identify what seemed like Copernicus City.
"Yes, our operatives managed to gather this intel. Keep scrolling for more details."
As He Kui continued through the images, he could see detailed photos of Atlantic Federation bases across the lunar surface. Although shot from a distance, it seemed these high-resolution images were taken by a mobile suit equipped with long-range surveillance.
"Have you developed a mobile suit equipped with Mirage Colloid?"
"The focus here isn't on that… but yes, we do have a Mirage Colloid-enabled mobile suit running on nuclear power. However, I can't reveal the specifics to you; sorry about that," Yzak responded apologetically.
"No problem," He Kui replied, realizing that while he was only a technical advisor, this technology had already reached deployment without his direct involvement.
But the more he looked through the photos, the more serious He Kui's expression became.
"So, what do you think?"
Yzak, noticing He Kui's reaction, asked promptly.
"They've installed a Lightwave Barrier system at both Ptolemaeus and Lorenz bases," He Kui observed, zooming in on one image that depicted a small, barely noticeable protrusion in the lunar terrain.
At a glance, one could easily mistake it for a natural rock formation, but upon closer inspection, there were subtle lines indicating it was a constructed structure.
"These projections likely cover the entire base with a defensive Lightwave Barrier. Their supplies might have been transferred before we even seized the mass driver."
"What's the material of those barrier doors?"
"Most likely Phase Shift Armor," Yzak guessed.
It was a logical assumption; given the importance of these structures, covering them with Phase Shift Armor would provide protection similar to the Artemis Umbrella.
"If the Phase Shift Armor is directly linked to the base's power supply, our standard beam weaponry won't be effective."
"Yes, so do you have any ideas?" Yzak asked, somewhat expectant. "You're the technical advisor, after all."
He Kui fell into a contemplative silence. With the heavy concentration of defensive beam cannons and positron blasters around the base, a direct assault seemed impossible.
"Do they have Mirage Colloid detection systems?" He Kui asked.
"They most likely do," Yzak replied, his frustration clear. It appeared they had tested this assumption in some way already.
In the meantime, the lunar base had been quietly transformed into something resembling a second Boaz Fortress.
"We could try deploying a quantum virus, but we'd need an operative on the inside."
"We don't have any agents inside the lunar base," Yzak responded flatly.
"Could someone smuggle in through a supply ship?"
Without a mass driver, large-scale supplies were impossible to transport to the moon, but they could still manage to send smaller necessities, albeit at great cost.
Yzak pondered He Kui's proposal, and after a moment's thought, he nodded.
"It might be feasible, given the right timing."
"But once they detect our infiltration, things will get difficult. Are you confident you can breach their system?"
"I can't be certain."
It was an honest answer, one Yzak seemed to appreciate.
"I understand. I'll continue investigating the Federation's systems at Ptolemaeus."
For such an operation, thorough preparation was crucial. They couldn't afford to marshal a fleet and fail to breach the defenses, risking a counterattack.
After ending the call with Yzak, He Kui felt a renewed sense of pressure. With the Odin Beam Rifle project still in early stages and a moon operation looming, his workload seemed endless.
Prioritizing the development of the quantum virus, He Kui then activated his radar.
The screen displayed the scenes of Orb, where the local time showed it was just around dawn. He Kui, connected through his radar system, checked that he had already arrived with the Winslet father-daughter pair the night before. They had arranged for him to stay in a luxurious single apartment in the city center, clearly meant for high-ranking professionals.
Compared to his residence on the PLANT or the asteroid station, this new apartment was indeed impressive.
After freshening up, He Kui put on a suit, the mask covering his face casting a cold gleam in the morning light, giving him an enigmatic aura.
Taking an automated car, he soon arrived at the venue—a grand European-style palace near the government building.
The name was simple, the "Orb International Exchange Center," a versatile venue for hosting banquets, conferences, and cultural events. Numerous Orb military personnel patrolled the area, indicating the high-profile nature of the event.
"He Kui, over here!" A cheerful voice called out.
Turning, He Kui saw Lasse stepping out of a luxury vehicle with her father, Winslet. Dressed in a light blue gown, her hair tied in an elegant side ponytail, Lasse looked more mature and dignified than usual.
"I've memorized a lot of people's profiles here, so I'll introduce you to everyone!" Lasse said excitedly, clutching his arm. "Oh, and there's a pair of twins! A boy and a girl! Isn't that intriguing?"
"I am curious," He Kui responded, already suspecting who these "twins" might be—the Sahaku family's heirs, Cagalli and Kira.
"Also, some people from the Seiran family are here, so it's best you don't mention being a Coordinator," Lasse added, looking more like an adult as she issued her warning.
"I understand," He Kui nodded, suppressing the urge to ruffle her hair.
As they entered, the venue was filled with an opulent atmosphere. Diplomats, officials, and Orb's elite moved about, exchanging formalities and pleasantries. In this elegant setting, He Kui maintained his composure, his masked face drawing curious looks from attendees, intrigued by the mysterious figure accompanying the Winslet family.
"Let's go, I'll show you the twins!" Lasse tugged on his arm, guiding him deeper into the venue.
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