February 6, CE71, about 10:00 standard time
It has been almost 2 days since the 8th Fleet advance fleet arrived at the 'Debris Belt L5 side' where the Junius Seven wreckage is located, but not to mention Archangel, not even any other ship has been confirmed.
Koopman Colonel understands.
Debris Belt Not only is there physical sight obstruction from Debris Belt;
There are also interference signals caused by remains including the Junius Seven wreckage that are still sending signals automatically;
There are even warships abandoned in past wars, campaigns, and battles that are still releasing electromagnetic interference to this day;
Therefore, even if two groups of people happened to pass by a large wreckage like the Junius Seven wreckage, it is not completely impossible that they would not notice each other in the end.
In this situation, even relying on visual inspection may lead to misjudgment due to light and shadow. It was expected that Archangel was not found for two days, and this is probably the reason why Archangel, who was weak and weak, chose the Debris Belt route.
It's just that although Colonel Koopman knew it very well, when he entered the bridge and changed his shift with the first officer, he still couldn't help but confirm it before he could sit down on the command seat.
"Have you discovered anything new since last night?"
"Three suspicious transmission sources have been confirmed, all of which are the wreckage of battleships, and nothing else has been found."
Regarding the unsurprising answer from the combat situation control officer, Colonel Koopman, who knew that he would be woken up even in the middle of the night if there was any discovery, could not help but feel a little disappointed. However, he controlled his emotions well and continued to perform his duties.
"Very good, don't let go of any doubts no matter how small they are, and never slacken off!"
"Yes!"
After receiving a firm response from the combat situation control officer, Koopman sighed in his heart about the availability of morale, and then turned to the communications control officer.
"How is the working status of the installed ultra-long wave signal generator?"
"No problem, Colonel!
We also regularly check whether the wing ships can receive it, and yesterday we received automatic responses from 8th Fleet headquarters several times."
Colonel Koopman nodded with satisfaction at the communications control officer's response.
Although very little information can be transmitted, ultra-long wave signals also have their advantages.
First of all, it has a long duration and wide coverage. For the 8th Fleet advance fleet that only needs to let Archangel know its own existence and relative position, it is the most likely method to reach contact with Archangel in silent submersible state;
And because the ultra-long wave signal is relatively weak, for other people who do not know the specific frequency, it will only be filtered out as clutter, so it is also very excellent in terms of concealment.
So as long as the advance fleet remains mobile, there will always be no barrier between it and Archangel, allowing both parties to still have the opportunity to let Archangel know their existence and location even if they are both in Debris Belt.
Therefore, Colonel Koopman immediately confirmed the position and route of the advance fleet with the navigator.
"Captain, what is our current position and trajectory?"
"According to the scheduled plan, we are taking a figure-eight cruise route around the biggest obstacle in Debris Belt, the two large fragments in the north and south of Junius Seven.
We are currently just halfway through the circle, on the path from the east side of the southern wreckage to the west side of the northern wreckage."
Koopman Colonel was about to say something, but the radar controller suddenly called out.
"Colonel, the electromagnetic radar has detected something!"
The words of the radar controller immediately attracted the attention of all members of the bridge. Unfortunately, after careful judgment, the final result was disappointing.
"Data comparison, information confirmation.
It is a civilian ship belonging to Plant, and its registration name is 'Silver Wind'.
Colonel, how should we respond?"
The Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Alstar who entered the bridge at this time also heard this conversation, so he casually told the information he knew.
"Silver Wind? Isn't that the ship that Plant's singer, Lacus·Klein, is riding on?"
Seeing that Captain Koopman was still looking at him after saluting him, many crew members also cast curious glances, and the Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Alstar also took his seat at the guest table skillfully while giving additional explanations.
"That ship should be here to conduct preliminary investigations related to the memorial ceremony for the anniversary of the Junius Seven incident on the Plant side.
What do you think, Colonel, do you want to take the opportunity to visit this Plant singer?"
Regarding Alstar's joke, Colonel Koopman shook his head firmly.
"Although we didn't do it, as one of the perpetrators, how could we bother her.
Let us wish her a smooth trip so that the souls of the innocent victims can be comforted and rest in peace."
As Captain Koopman saluted the shadow of the Silver Wind ship on the screen, everyone on the ship's crew and the Foreign Secretary Alstar also saluted or observed silence, and the bridge of the Montgomery ship fell into a solemn atmosphere for a moment.
--5 hours later--
The atmosphere on the bridge of Montgomery is quiet, and the sound of various departments working normally can even be regarded as a kind of white noise.
After all, from the morning to now, except for more than an hour ago, Silver Wind was confirmed from a distance again, and then as the two sides drove to the east and west sides of the large fragment on the north side of Junius Seven, they lost contact, and the most critical Archangel was still missing.
At this time, as the advance fleet is about to move to the north side of the large fragment on the north side of Junius Seven - that is, the side closest to the earth, it is unlikely that Archangel coming from the L3 direction will be contacted.
Therefore, when the communications control officer suddenly reported loudly, Colonel Koopman, who was dozing in the captain's seat, was somewhat unprepared, and the foreign deputy secretary Alstar, who was sitting next to him in the guest seat, seemed to be awakened from his doze in the same way.
"A call for help has been received!
... The code is confirmed, it is the code Eurasian Federation!"
Amidst the confusion of Colonel Koopman, all departments on the bridge received the news and acted quickly;
Soon, the radar controller brought new developments.
"Confirmed the ship shadow, it is Marseille III Transport!
The pursuers in the rear are...'Celestial Being'! It's the mobile unit of 'Celestial Being'!
This transfers the signal to the big screen!"
Following the radar controller's report, the escaping special fleet with the identification code Eurasian Federation, and the pursuing 'Celestial Being' mobile weapons team consisting of a 'Celestial Being' unique large-scale mobile armor and four 'Celestial Being' standard mobile suits appeared on the big screen of the Montgomery bridge.
One side is a 'friendly force', and the other side is an 'unknown' force that suddenly appeared. Colonel Koopman naturally responded without hesitation.
"Sound the alarm and put everyone on level 2 combat alert!
Contact all fellow ships to complete the formation arrangement of the box array as soon as possible!
Moebius team is ready to attack at any time!
Contact friendly forces and ask about the specific situation!"
Following the order of Colonel Koopman, the entire advance fleet moved.