Siegel left his residence once again, only to see Patrick's car parked outside the gates. Patrick stood beside it rather than getting in, clearly waiting for Siegel to come out.
"Patrick." Siegel walked over to him and asked in confusion, "The others are one thing, but are you really going to let Athrun join that so-called team he mentioned?"
"Aren't you also letting Lacus get closer to him?" Patrick glanced at Siegel, who shook his head. "That was Lacus's own choice, not something I told her to do."
Patrick gave a soft snort and said noncommittally, "If everything in that document is true, then there's nothing wrong with letting Athrun join his team. As the son of ZAFT's military council chairman, it is also his duty."
Siegel fell silent for a moment before asking, "Then do you believe what he said? S-class, A-class, B-class... not only were pilots and machines ranked like that, but an A-class alone could suppress a planet's Military Strength. Do you believe that?"
"It doesn't matter whether I believe it. What matters is that you already do, Siegel." Patrick sighed. "As he said, even a single generation of technological difference can be enormous. What he described isn't impossible. But from the standpoint and perspective of a military commander, this so-called suppression must be relative. So we should be thankful that he isn't on the Earth Force's side."
Patrick patted Siegel on the shoulder and shook his head. "Forget the engagement ever happened. I'll explain things to Athrun. On your side, secretly arrange for some people to go to Orb. Apart from expressing our gratitude, I'll leave Athrun's matter to you as well. And you'll need to start preparing for the new machines from behind the scenes."
"Heh." Siegel shook his head with a smile. "I feel