Cagalli's Shock

January 27, CE 71, approximately 14:30 Standard Time.

Although Tessa had said as much, Luther felt that since even his own Newtype senses hadn't picked up anything, Cagalli's Newtype abilities—if they existed as Tessa claimed—could not be very high.

Regardless, now that he knew Cagalli was aboard the Gwameir, he naturally had to meet her.

"Please invite Miss Cagalli, and, um, Miss Flay as well, to the reception room near the bridge. Aina, would you like to meet them with me? What about you, Tessa?"

After instructing the communications officer, Luther sought the opinions of Aina and Tessa, receiving one affirmative and one negative response.

With Aina accompanying him, Luther decided against calling for Haman, Monica, or Cima, as he felt things would only become unnecessarily complicated.

As the leader of Celestial Being—and by extension, the Luther Fleet—Luther's orders were carried out with swift efficiency.

Luther and Aina had not been chatting for long in the reception room when a knock from his personal guard sounded at the door.

"Lord Luther, Miss Cagalli and Miss Flay have arrived."

"Please, come in."

As the female officer, dressed in a uniform embroidered with the Celestial Being Neo Zeon Emblem, opened the door, Cagalli—wearing an unmarked uniform—and Flay, still clutching her shopping bag, walked in one after the other.

As for where Flay had obtained Celestial Being's internal currency, Luther realized the answer after a moment's thought.

Evidently, his subordinates had overheard the conversation in the Gwameir's hangar between Cima and Haman; while they hadn't granted her excessive privileges, they had provided her with the base treatment level afforded to members of Luther's harem.

Now, in a somewhat similar vein, while there was no need to be overly polite to Flay, he intended to have an honest, open discussion with Cagalli Yula Athha, and thus, he had to extend the appropriate courtesies.

Therefore, as Cagalli and Flay entered the room, Luther stood up alongside Aina to welcome them.

"Although it is a few days late, welcome to my ship, Miss Cagalli Yula Athha."

Cagalli, who had been feeling bewildered as to why her simple inquiry about the simulator had led her to the heavily guarded bridge, let out a "tch" before responding in a rather displeased tone.

"I am Cagalli Yula Athha. Should I say 'nice to meet you' or 'please treat me well'? Lord Luther Deikun of Celestial Being."

"I am Aina Sahalin. It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Cagalli."

Under Aina's warm greeting, which addressed her directly by name, Cagalli felt a bit awkward and returned the gesture to this approachable "big sister" figure.

Beside them, Flay, whose mind had finally caught up to the situation, began to make a scene.

"You said 'Athha'—is that the 'Athha' of the Orb representative?"

Before Cagalli could offer a cold response, Luther cut in.

"That's right. This Miss Cagalli's father is none other than the current Orb representative, Lord Uzumi Yula Athha. Well, Flay, do you see now how foolish it was to throw your own father's name around the other day?"

Faced with Lord Luther's teasing, Flay stomped her foot and turned her head away in resentment; this combination of remarks also stifled whatever retort Cagalli had prepared, and Aina stepped in to smooth things over.

"In any case, standing around isn't the way to talk. Please, both of you, have a seat. I have some prized Darjeeling tea here; if you don't mind, please join us for a cup."

Guided by Aina, the four took their seats, and the female officer timely served a freshly brewed pot of tea.

"What a wonderful aroma. This must be the top-grade second-flush tea from last year, right? But wasn't last year's new tea almost entirely unavailable on the market due to the April Fool's Crisis? I begged my father, but he couldn't get even a little bit!"

As expected of a young lady who specialized in perfumes, cosmetics, and fashion, Flay's instincts were correct; however, the tea Aina had brought out was naturally not from CE 70, but rather from UC 0078...

Finding it difficult to explain this to "strangers," Luther stopped Flay's further questioning with a mysterious smile.

Beside Flay, Cagalli took a "wasteful" gulp of the tea, proving her palate was quite robust; she then deliberately tapped her white porcelain cup against the saucer, creating a sharp sound, and asked Luther with a huff.

"So, may I ask why Lord Luther Deikun of Celestial Being has summoned us? Surely it isn't just to treat us to tea?"

Luther took a slow sip of his tea, and only under Cagalli's impatient gaze did he smile and respond.

"Miss Cagalli, are you aware that the simulator game you've been playing is actually a simplified Mobile Suit operating system? And the additional content you were looking forward to is, in reality, actual Mobile Suit pilot training."

Although Luther spoke in a rather understated manner, Cagalli, who understood the implications, was struck with shock.

"A Mobile Suit operating system that a Natural can use?! How is that possible? Such a valuable thing, and you've turned it into a game and spread it everywhere! This is impossible, absolutely impossible—don't think you can scare me!"

Compared to Flay, who looked on in confusion at why her "roommate" had suddenly gone frantic, it was clear that Cagalli could clearly grasp the immense strategic value of a Mobile Suit operating system for Naturals disguised as a game; it was, perhaps, no less significant than the Neutron Jammer or the subsequent Neutron Jammer Canceller.

Although Cagalli had already accepted this explanation in her heart, having associated it with the content she had played and the information she had read before, she still resolutely questioned Luther on the surface.

Luther did not mind at all, using a simple response to completely shatter Cagalli's lingering hope.

"If you are still interested, you can go to the Hangar to pilot the machine yourself later."

As Cagalli fell into a momentary state of speechlessness, Luther naturally turned his target to the other person present.

For Flay, who was at a loss and sipping her tea almost reflexively because she could not understand Cagalli's shock due to a "lack of information," Luther brought a brand-new "piece of good news."

"According to the results of optical observations from a short while ago, we have confirmed that the 'Umbrella of Artemis' underwent a process of deployment, retraction, and re-deployment; it is presumed that the Archangel has arrived at Artemis Fortress.

If there are no accidents, your boyfriend Sai, as well as your admirer Kira Yamato, should have both arrived safely at Artemis along with the Archangel, and we will also proceed to Artemis Fortress as previously declared."