"Captain Waltfeld."
Felix called out to Andrew.
Andrew looked at Felix and asked, "What is it, Captain Griffith?"
"What do you think of this deployment?"
Felix pointed to the map before them. Andrew turned to the virtual map projected above the table, studied Felix's arrangements, and ran through them in his head before nodding.
"I don't see any problems so far."
"Then we'll deploy according to this plan for the coming battle."
Felix finalized the defensive deployment. Andrew raised no objections and nodded in agreement.
Meanwhile...
PLANT.
District One, Aprilia City.
The Ministry of Defense.
Inside the chairman's office.
"Eileen, Yuri, Herman, we've just received the latest battle report."
Patrick Zala looked at the three of them as he spoke.
They turned their full attention to him, eager to hear the result. Patrick Zala continued.
"According to Felix's report, our forces have occupied Victoria Spaceport. The first phase of our operation has succeeded."
Joy spread across their faces. A moment later, Yuri's expression grew grave, and he spoke into the quiet room.
"Zala, occupying Victoria Spaceport is only the beginning. The real challenge is holding it.
The Earth Alliance won't let us keep a spaceport in peace."
"You're right. Felix raised the same concern in his report and requested reinforcements for Victoria Spaceport.
He wants enough troops to ensure we can hold it."
Patrick Zala nodded and explained. As soon as he finished, Herman asked,
"Zala, what were our losses in this operation?"
"We lost roughly a quarter of our MS units and more than a quarter of our ground forces. Casualties were high."
Patrick Zala glanced at the report in his hand as he spoke.
Then he added,
"Our ground losses were heavier because the Victoria Spaceport garrison defended from inside the facility. Clearing them out proved difficult and drove up casualties."
"We certainly need reinforcements, especially on the ground. Otherwise, we might hold the air and still lose the spaceport."
Herman's face was stern as he replied.
Then he asked Patrick Zala,
"How did the experimental ground-combat MS, the BuCUE, perform?"
"Fairly well overall, but Felix wants more options for its armament," Patrick Zala replied.
"That won't be a problem. Besides the three Missile Pack BuCUEs already produced, three Railgun Pack BuCUEs have also been completed. We can send them to the ground for deployment and testing."
Patrick Zala nodded at Herman's answer, then looked at all three of them.
"What are your thoughts on reinforcing Victoria Spaceport?"
"I think we should air-drop an MS force equal in size to the assault force to defend it. We should also produce enough equipment to expand the spaceport and make it easier for our troops to defend and garrison!"
Yuri was the first to answer.
After him, Herman spoke.
"I don't think that's enough. We should double that number. The three major Earth Alliance member nations have more than ten thousand combat aircraft in their air forces and navies. The number destroyed at Victoria Spaceport wasn't even a tenth of their reserves.
To be safe, we should double the reinforcements and make certain we can hold Victoria Spaceport.
We can't let this operation end in failure!"
"I agree with Herman."
Eileen voiced her agreement the moment Herman finished. Yuri turned to him and thought it over but raised no objection.
After a brief silence, Eileen spoke.
"Zala, now that the war between us and the Earth Alliance has begun, another expansion of our forces is essential."
"I know. I've already prepared a report and will submit the proposal when the Supreme Council convenes."
Patrick Zala looked at Eileen and nodded.
With that, Patrick Zala took out a document and placed it before the three of them. Each reached for it.
It detailed Operation Ouroboros.
As Yuri read, he frowned and spoke.
"Zala, spreading Neutron Jammers across Earth will shut down civilian facilities, including nuclear power plants. That will plunge Earth into an energy crisis and endanger countless civilians.
Anti-PLANT and anti-Coordinator sentiment on Earth will only grow stronger. That could seriously hinder our operations."
"Yuri, you're being too softhearted."
Before Patrick Zala could respond, Eileen cut in. She went on,
"Using Neutron Jammers to block Earth's nuclear energy will save ZAFT soldiers' lives. Otherwise, the Earth Alliance's industrial capacity will pose a serious threat to our forces and drive our losses even higher.
We have to cut off Earth's nuclear energy and reduce the Earth Alliance's industrial output."
Yuri opened his mouth at her rebuttal but said nothing. While the two debated, Herman sat quietly and waited for the meeting to end.
"Does anyone still object to Operation Ouroboros?"
In the ensuing silence, Patrick Zala looked at all three of them, his gaze lingering on Yuri as he asked.
Eileen and Herman shook their heads. Yuri neither agreed nor objected, answering Patrick Zala with silence.
"In that case, we'll submit the proposals we've prepared at the Supreme Council meeting shortly and aim to get all three approved."
With no one objecting, Patrick Zala stood, bringing their brief discussion to an end. The other three rose as well and followed him out of the chairman's office.
Before you continue