February 6, CE71, around 20:00 standard time
Archangel is heading towards the increasingly dense Debris Belt, maintaining an inertial and stealthy navigation state.
"Sai, Sai..."
After sneezing inexplicably, Sai heard the low voice of his friend Kuzzey from the communications control officer's seat next to him.
He raised his head and looked at the deputy captain, Lieutenant Badgiruel, who was resting with his eyes closed at the vice-captain's seat, wondering if he was asleep. Sai also lowered his voice and responded to Kuzzey's call.
"What's wrong, Kuzzey, something went wrong again."
"Please help me find out what's going on with this alarm. This is the second time it has appeared..."
At the call of Kuzzey, Sai turned his head and stretched his neck to look at the alarm that Kuzzey pulled on the terminal desktop:
The title is light yellow indicating low priority and reads 'Preset specific frequency ultra-long wave communication';
The text is only a string of capital letters and numbers, and Sai cannot understand the specific meaning.
Therefore, Sai shook his head and said that he did not know either;
Kuzzey secretly glanced at Lieutenant Badgiruel, and then seemed to have made up his mind to cross off the alert.
"What's wrong?"
Although Lieutenant Badgiruel's tone was calm, Kuzzey was still shocked;
Sai also quickly sat upright and gave Kuzzey a helpless look.
"Communications Control Officer Kuzzey, report the situation!"
Seeing Kuzzey's timid behavior, Badgiruel, who were somewhat familiar with each other, knew that Kuzzey must be out of shape again, so he did not hesitate to increase his tone.
"Report, report! A strange alarm has been received."
"Turn around!"
Kuzzey hunched his neck and obeyed. As expected, Badgiruel shouted angrily after confirming.
"When did you receive it? Why didn't you report it!"
Under the pressure of Badgiruel, Kuzzey almost cried and had to admit his mistake.
"Actually, I received it once in the afternoon. I thought it was an irrelevant false alarm, so I crossed it out.
I just received it again, and I think something might be wrong, so I want Sai to help me take a look..."
After hearing Kuzzey's confession, Badgiruel was furious.
"Your Majesty!"
Just when he was about to curse, he suddenly remembered Murrue's previous request to him, so Badgiruel suppressed his emotions, picked up the intercom and called Murrue.
"Captain, I am Lieutenant Badgiruel.
Received ultra-long wave communication from the 8th Fleet advance fleet, if it is convenient, please come to the bridge immediately!"
"What, the ultra-long wave communication of the advance fleet?!
I understand, I will come right away, please also contact Major Mu."
I listened to the conversation between Badgiruel and Murrue. How could Sai not know what mistake Kuzzey made;
When he saw Kuzzey, he was already holding his head and shivering, and kept repeating "I'm sorry";
After Badgiruel contacted Mu, he just snorted when he saw this scene and did not do anything to Kuzzey.
Soon, Captain Murrue rushed to the bridge first;
Before he could sit down on the captain's seat, a slightly disheveled Mu also rushed in.
"Received ultra-long wave communication from 8th Fleet advance fleet?!"
Before the Mu people were in place, the words of inquiry arrived first;
However, seeing Kuzzey who was still shivering in his seat, Mu asked curiously.
"What's wrong with him?"
Under the watchful eye of Murrue, Badgiruel's reply answered both questions at the same time.
"Mr. Kuzzey, who serves as the traffic control officer, took action on his own after receiving the ultra-long wave communication for the first time in the afternoon and did not report it;
It wasn't until I received it again just now that I discovered and confirmed it."
Faced with the big mistake Kuzzey had indeed made, Mu Ye could only laugh and scratch his head;
In the end, it was Murrue as the captain who smoothed things over for Kuzzey.
"It's us who have to let them take on the heavy responsibility because of the lack of manpower.
Now that the information was finally received, let's forget about it.
Of course, Mr. Kuzzey, please learn from this lesson and definitely report and contact us in time next time."
"Yes, definitely next time!"
"But!"
Amid Kuzzey's immediate assurance, Murrue reached out to intercept Badgiruel's objection.
"Anyway, let's take a look at the location of the 8th Fleet advance fleet first. Natarle, please."
"... Yes, Captain Ramius."
Although he was a little unconvinced, Badgiruel still accepted the order and projected the Debris Belt map on the big screen on the bridge.
"Judging from the information brought by the ultra-long wave signal, the advance fleet should be near this location, roughly near the wreckage of Junius Seven;
I judge that it should be bypassing this group of biggest obstacles, so that we can receive ultra-long wave signals.
Our location is here. If we rush there at full speed, it will take about 4 to 5 hours.
I suggest that we set off immediately and rendezvous with the advance fleet as soon as possible."
Regarding Badgiruel's analysis, neither Murrue nor Mu have any objections;
However, regarding Badgiruel's plan to 'set off immediately and move forward at full speed', Murrue looked troubled, and Mu Ze directly expressed his worries.
"The ship 'Celestial Being' has not been seen yet. The dispatch of the advance fleet may not be able to hide it from ZAFT, right?
Then we will most likely encounter a battle on the way to the rendezvous or after the rendezvous.
Under such expectations, setting off immediately and moving forward at full speed is probably not the best way, right?"
"What is Major La Flaga's opinion?"
Although Badgiruel does not agree with Mu's ideas, the problems raised by Mu are real;
However, Mu did not immediately come up with his plan, but first confirmed a fact.
"Since we can receive the ultra-long wave communication from the advance fleet, does it mean that we can communicate with the advance fleet?"
Regarding Mu's question, Murrue was the first to answer before Badgiruel opened his mouth.
"Unfortunately, ultra-long wave communication requires special equipment. It is already good if we can accept it here.
Due to the obstruction of Debris Belt, conventional communication methods make it difficult to complete contact when both parties are moving.
Unless we reveal our location and use full-frequency communication mode..."
"In other words, in a forest where enemies may appear everywhere, shouting to contact friendly forces? This is a bit..."
Mu was not too disappointed with the predictably poor answer. He just scratched the back of his head and came up with his own plan.
"In short, since we can't complete the contact in advance, we can only make full preparations and take it one step at a time.
It is already evening today. I suggest that only the minimum number of people be left behind and everyone else go to rest.
Then get up at 7 o'clock tomorrow, have a full meal, prepare for battle, and then move forward at full speed, but continue to maintain radio silence to delay discovery as much as possible.
If everything goes well, we should be able to join the 8th Fleet advance fleet around 12:00 at the latest;
If things don't go well, we should be able to get close enough to have a chance to force a breakthrough and join the advance fleet."
After listening to Mu's proposal, Murrue turned his attention to Badgiruel;
Badgiruel also gave his answer after thinking about it.
"I understand. Since Major La Flaga, who is in charge of the mobile weapons unit, said so, I also accept this plan.
I will lead the people to stay on the bridge, and everyone should take the time to rest."
Facing the determined Badgiruel, Murrue said nothing more.
"I understand, then Lieutenant Badgiruel, I leave the bridge to you.
Kuzzey, inform everyone about the combat plan!"
"Ah, yes!"