Xiao Ran had once reminded Gendo Ikari about the true nature of EVA, telling him not to recklessly tamper with it lest an asset become a burden. Yet now, the newly produced EVA had run into trouble just as testing began. To Gendo Ikari, it must have felt like he had put in endless effort to help, only to end up making things worse through endless effort instead. Especially since Xiao Ran had warned him beforehand, it was only natural for him to feel frustrated.
After receiving NERV's emergency request for aid, Xiao Ran turned to the Ra Cailum's First Officer standing beside him. "What is everyone else doing?"
The First Officer knew Xiao Ran was asking about the other captains and pilots of the Victory Fleet, and answered without hesitation, "They organized a meeting aboard the Burning Legion to disclose information concerning Mazinger ZERO. Princess Sarah of the Dragon Clan is leading it, along with Minerva, whom you brought back. Since you already knew all this, they did not trouble you by asking you to attend."
Xiao Ran nodded. "Sound the alarm. Put everyone on Level One combat readiness and have them take their positions immediately. Notify the Nadeshiko to prepare for a Boson Jump. Destination: the underground space beneath Tokyo-3."
"Understood."
At that moment, everyone except Xiao Ran had gathered in the Burning Legion's conference room. This so-called meeting had initially just been a gathering for Ryoma Nagare, Banjo, and the other pilots who had acted alongside Xiao Ran to inform everyone of the situation, but once the news spread, everyone promptly came over.
The real reason Ryoma Nagare and the others wanted to hold such a meeting was because the information they had learned from Minerva X was simply too terrifying. Minerva X had traveled through nearly