--a little earlier--
Luther, who was on the bridge of Gwameir, watched leisurely as Tessa easily dealt with the advance fleet of 8th Fleet in front of him. He was stroking A-Qiu, who had temporarily transformed into a pet form because of a visitor.
At this time, Luther received a call from Cagalli transferred from the living area.
"Sorry, Luther.
I'm already with Flay, but Flay has to dress up before going out. She won't listen no matter what I say.
What to do now?"
Facing the humanized mocking eyes of A-Qiu in his arms, Luther couldn't help but hold his forehead and helplessly responded to Cagalli's inquiry.
"Then please Cagalli, please help me ask Flay for her Orb ID number.
Then you can come back first, or you can come here with Flay."
After listening to Luther's response, Cagalli obviously didn't think much about it and directly turned to ask Flay in the communication.
"Flay, Luther would like to know your Orb ID number."
Flay, who was probably busy putting on makeup or maybe wearing a facial mask, so he didn't want to appear on camera even though his voice was very close, responded immediately.
"Eh? Orb's ID number? I remember it should be..."
There is no need for Luther to explain further. Tessa, who also heard it, directly arranged for Gwameir's communications control officer to record the string of numbers reported by Flay;
After finishing reporting the numbers, Flay also explained half coquettishly and half apologetically.
"I'm sorry Luther, but because I came back at noon, took a nap and took a shower, I'm not ready to go out to meet people now, let alone meet my dad."
After getting familiar with Flay, the rich girl personality naturally resurfaced. Luther regarded this as one of Flay's 'attributes' and didn't care too much.
"It's okay. Your father is still on Montgomery. You still have some time to prepare. I will send someone to take you directly to the boat deck to meet up."
"This is great. I was worried that I wouldn't have enough time."
After the conversation with Flay, whose face could not be seen, Luther stared at Cagalli;
Cagalli blushed a little when he saw it, and then suddenly reacted.
"I don't have anything to do here on the bridge, I'll just stay with Flay later.
I also need to think carefully about what you said to Lacus before."
"I understand, let's do this for now."
Luther, who had experienced many battles, did not pursue the shy Cagalli. After hanging up the phone with the living area, Luther signaled A-Qiu to help himself, and he walked to the usual position beside Tessa.
"Send the message to the 8th Fleet advance fleet now?"
Although he noticed Luther beside him, Tessa still concentrated on handling various matters and asked calmly;
Luther didn't care, and responded while playing with her braids on behalf of Tessa.
"Wait a moment, wait for Silver Wind to appear first."
Tessa acquiesced to Luther's play with a calm expression, and nodded slightly to show that he heard it.
Luther and Tessa didn't have to wait long. Soon, the flight control officer made a report to them.
"Silver Wind has driven out of the ejection deck on its own!"
Luther did not need any further explanation, Tessa issued the relevant command.
"Very good, communications control officer. In one minute, Ms. Flay's Orb ID number will be sent to the flagship of the 8th Fleet advance fleet, using the same set of naval light signal codes I provided in the past."
The communications control officer should have followed the order and left.
Soon, following the channel through which Montgomery sent a communication request to which Gwameir had never responded, Flay's Orb ID number changed into the 'original' navy light signal code and flew towards the 8th Fleet advance fleet.
At this time, along with the sound of the Gwameir bridge door opening, Haman and Lacus also returned to the bridge.
"I'm back, brother Luther!"
"Welcome back, Haman and Lacus."
Seeing Luther standing next to Tessa playing with her braid, Haman obediently went to catch A-Qiu;
On the contrary, Lacus, who saw the warm scene of this "old married couple", felt a little envious and shy, so he softly asked about the current situation to divert his subtle emotions.
"Luther, how is the situation now?"
"We have done everything we can do here, and it would be inappropriate to do more, so now it depends on whether Establishment Faction of Atlantic Federation is willing to contact them."
Regarding Luther's statement, Lacus nodded in agreement, and then still sighed softly.
"I hope the contact can be successfully completed this time. It will not benefit either party if the war continues."
After listening to Lacus's speech, Luther stopped what he was doing and turned around to face Lacus.
"You are wrong, Lacus.
It is precisely because some people benefit from the war, or at least some people think that stopping the war will benefit the other party, that the war will always continue.
Although most of the time, people can rationally distinguish between pros and cons;
But sometimes, for many people, a double loss is better than a single win.
When we consider how to stop this war, we must also take this situation into consideration."
With Lacus's intelligence, he was able to draw inferences as soon as he heard Luther's words, and directly selected the most critical examples.
"That's it.
For example, if Creuset Team is long, according to your statement Luther, he is obviously in a revengeful mood, right?
Even if Uncle Patrick takes a closer look, is it because of the death of Aunt Lenore that he is also in the same state of mind?"
Although an alliance had been formed, Luther still chose to remain silent regarding this kind of 'family matter', and Lacus had no intention of asking further questions after reacting.
And it didn't take long for the Gwameir radar control officer's report to break the momentary silence in the command area.
"From the Earth Alliance 8th Fleet advance fleet flagship, a seemingly unarmed small shuttle was launched. The expected target is this ship."
Immediately afterwards, following the radar control officer, the communications control officer also made relevant reports.
"I received an application to board the ship from the small shuttle. The signature is George·Alstar."
After talking to Lacus just now, Luther turned around and put down Tessa's braid, then turned around to face Lacus again.
"It seems that our analysis is correct, Lacus."
When Lacus nodded, Tessa next to Luther had also begun to issue orders.
"Flight controller, direct the small shuttle to the boat deck.
Communications Control Officer, give Cima a light signal to prepare for retreat."
After issuing the corresponding order, Tessa picked up the intercom phone on the captain's seat.
"Hey, living area? Send someone to guide Miss Cagalli and Miss Flay to the boat deck."
After listening to Tessa's order, Luther stretched and shook his shoulders.
"Okay, let's go meet Flay's father. Haman, do you want to come with us?"
Haman, who was playing 'Cat', raised his head and hesitated for a moment, and finally shook his head firmly.
Luther naturally didn't force it and drifted towards the bridge door on his own.
"Then Lacus, let's go?"
"Please show me the way, Luther."
Listening to Lacus's meaningful reply, Luther and Lacus left the bridge together.