Seeing the shock on Patrick Zala's face, Felix explained everything again. As Patrick listened a second time, his shock gradually faded, replaced by a grave expression.
Felix watched his somber expression and waited quietly.
After a long silence, Patrick spoke in a somewhat heavy voice.
"Felix, I order you to depart immediately and destroy the Providence Gundam!"
Hearing the order, Felix asked calmly.
"What about the fighting here on the moon?"
Patrick raised his eyes slightly and replied, calm but resolute.
"Leave command of the battle to your adjutant!"
"Understood!"
His expression solemn, Felix raised his hand in a salute.
Before he could lower his arm, the transmission ended.
Lowering his arm, Felix contacted the Athena's bridge.
He relayed Patrick's orders.
"Is that clear?"
"Understood!"
The crisp reply came through the comms. Felix reached out to end the transmission, then rose and headed for the door.
Meanwhile, in the PLANT Supreme Government Office Building in District One of Aprilia City, in the PLANT homeland, Patrick demanded, "Can someone tell me what exactly happened?"
Looking at the design bureau members on the screen, Patrick wore a dark expression as he questioned them in a low voice laced with anger.
At Patrick's demand, they exchanged glances, then fell into thought.
Seeing them deliberate, Patrick suppressed his anger, leaned back in his chair, and quietly waited for an answer.
Time passed. About a minute later, a voice broke the silence over the comms.
"Speaker, aside from entering the proper authorization key, the only ways to activate Providence are to replace the entire operating system or find some means of bypassing the security lock."
Anger simmered beneath Patrick's calm expression. Struggling to contain it, he muttered.
"Replace the entire operating system?"
The design bureau director on the screen nodded, then added.
"However, Providence is