The Envoy's Visit

The next day, third-floor reception room of the Special Equipment Bureau administrative building.

Sheng Lan completed her final inspection of the arrangements ten minutes early.

The reception room was small, with one long table and six chairs. Bottled water and East Asian standard meeting record terminals sat on the tabletop.

There was no tea set, no refreshments, nothing that conveyed a welcome.

Lin Yuan entered at 9:58, his military uniform immaculate and the silver insignia of the Special Equipment Bureau pinned to his left breast.

He took the seat at the head of the table, opened an internal document wholly unrelated to the meeting, and began reading.

At exactly ten o'clock, the door was pushed open.

When William Sykes entered, his gaze swept across the room before settling on Lin Yuan.

He was in his early fifties, dressed in a gray suit, with the blue-and-gold insignia of the Atlantic Federation Foreign Affairs Division pinned to his collar.

His shoulders were held high, chin slightly raised, and the heels of his leather shoes struck the floor heavily as he walked.

A young aide followed behind him, carrying a briefcase.

"Director Lin." Sykes spoke in English, his voice echoing through the reception room.

Lin Yuan did not look up. He turned a page in the document.

Three seconds later, he closed it and raised his eyes.

"Special Envoy Sykes. Sit."

Sykes pulled out a chair and sat down.

The aide placed the briefcase on the table, then stepped back to stand by the wall.

"Director Lin, I came on short notice and have been remiss in my courtesies. Please excuse me." Sykes spoke fluent Chinese, with a touch of deliberate warmth. "I assume you are aware of what happened at Heliopolis."

"It's all over the news."

"Yes." Sykes folded his hands on the table. "ZAFT launched an armed attack against a neutral colonial satellite, causing severe civilian casualties. The United Army is deeply concerned and is making every effort to track the movements of ZAFT's raiding forces."

Lin Yuan did not respond.

Sykes waited two seconds before continuing.

"As an important member state within the United Army system, the East Asian Republic has civilian transport vessels in the L3 Sector. During our routine patrols, we noticed that several East Asian-registered vessels passed through the area around the time of the incident. Therefore, I am here to discuss intelligence sharing."

"Discuss what?"

"For instance, which East Asian vessels docked at Heliopolis on the day of the incident."

"Sheng Lan."

Sheng Lan handed over a printed document from the side.

Lin Yuan took it and pushed it across the table to Sykes.

"These are the navigation records for East Asian-registered vessels in the L3 Sector, compiled according to United Army standard format. Three cargo ships and two communications relay maintenance vessels. Their travel times and cargo manifests are all included."

Sykes picked up the document and flipped through two pages, but his brow did not relax.

"Director Lin, you have been very forthcoming."

"Routine information reporting within the United Army system is not a matter of being forthcoming or otherwise."

Sykes set down the document, raised his eyes, and shifted his tone.

"Then I'll be direct. Director Lin, Heliopolis housed an advanced equipment project jointly developed by the Atlantic Federation and Orb. The project's technical materials are core assets of the United Army. During ZAFT's attack, the project facilities suffered severe damage, and some data may have been leaked amid the chaos."

He stared into Lin Yuan's eyes.

"The United Army Supreme General Staff has authorized me to confirm with all member states whether any party came into contact with the relevant technical materials during the incident."

The reception room fell silent for three seconds.

Lin Yuan picked up the bottled water on the table, unscrewed the cap, took a sip, and put it back.

"Special Envoy Sykes, I have a question."

"Please."

"The Atlantic Federation secretly developed advanced military equipment on a neutral colonial satellite under Orb's jurisdiction. Was East Asia informed of this project in advance?"

The corner of Sykes's mouth twitched.

"This was an internal division-of-labor arrangement within the United Army. The confidentiality level of specific projects—"

"East Asia wasn't informed," Lin Yuan answered for him. "East Asia is the second-largest contributor within the United Army system, bearing over thirty percent of the military budget, yet advanced equipment projects neither notify East Asia nor permit East Asia to participate. Now that something has gone missing, you suddenly remember to ask whether East Asia touched it."

Sykes leaned back in his chair.

"Director Lin, the United Army's technology confidentiality system exists for the security of all member states—"

"Whose security?" Lin Yuan tapped the tabletop with one finger. "The Atlantic Federation alone controls advanced technology, while the other member states can only use the obsolete Daggers you discard. Is that security, or is it monopoly?"

Sykes pressed his lips together.

"Director Lin, I understand that East Asia has greater expectations for technological cooperation. But my purpose here today is clear. The United Army needs to confirm the operational records of every member state during the incident. This is procedure."

"I have already complied with the procedure." Lin Yuan pointed to the printed document on the table. "The navigation records are there. If the United Army requires anything else, submit a written request through formal diplomatic channels."

Sykes fell silent for several seconds, and the curve of his mouth grew thinner.

"Director Lin, I would also like to offer a reminder."

"Go ahead."

"East Asia currently has seventeen military-industrial subcontracting projects under the United Army technology cooperation framework. Renewal reviews for those projects are about to enter their next cycle. If East Asia demonstrates a... less than cooperative attitude in this incident, the review results may be affected."

Standing by the wall, Sheng Lan held her pen tip suspended above her notes without moving.

Lin Yuan looked at Sykes, his gaze calm.

"Special Envoy Sykes, are those words the official position of the United Army Supreme General Staff, or your personal suggestion?"

"I am merely describing a possibility."

"Fine." Lin Yuan rose to his feet. "Sheng Lan, make a note. Beginning today, freeze the renewal review procedures for low-end alloy processing projects 07 through 09 under our subcontracting framework with the Atlantic Federation, on the grounds that the internal technical route assessment has not yet been completed."

Sykes's smile vanished.

"Director Lin, that is not a wise decision."

"Special Envoy Sykes, we have never failed in our obligations to the United Army system. But obligations go both ways." Lin Yuan pushed his chair back beneath the table. "East Asian soldiers will not pay forever for someone else's technological hegemony."

Sykes slowly stood and adjusted the cuff of his suit.

He looked at Lin Yuan, and the last trace of polite warmth in his eyes had completely faded.

"Young man, East Asia is not yet qualified to stand alone at this table."

Lin Yuan's expression did not change.

Sykes turned toward the door, with his aide following behind clutching the briefcase.

As the door was pulled open, he paused and turned halfway around.

"Here is a piece of advice. The United Army system has no shortage of screws, but when screws want to become wrenches, that is often the moment before they are unscrewed."

The door closed.

The reception room fell silent again.

The sound of the air conditioner filled the entire space.

Sheng Lan walked to the table and closed her notebook.

"Director, freezing the three subcontracting projects will cause at least six companies in East Asia's military-industrial system to lose short-term revenue. Luo Qiming will make a move."

"Let him." Lin Yuan sat back down and picked up the document he had not finished reading. "It will be a good chance to see just how far his tail reaches."

Sheng Lan stood across the table from him and fell silent for a beat.

"Director, Sykes came today to test us, which means the Atlantic Federation still has no conclusive evidence pointing to East Asia. But he will not return empty-handed. He will certainly add speculative descriptions to his report."

"Let him write whatever he wants." Lin Yuan turned to the next page of the document. "In seventy-one hours, the Spark Data will arrive. On the day it arrives, the proposal to establish the 811 Institute will be submitted to the Ministry of Defense at the same time."

"The same day?"

"Yes." Lin Yuan did not take his eyes off the document. "Focus everyone's attention on the political debate over the 811 Institute. No one will have the energy to investigate what was loaded onto a cargo ship."

Sheng Lan's pen moved lightly across her notes.

"Understood. I'll finish organizing the submission materials for the 811 Institute proposal tonight."

"Sheng Lan."

"Yes."

"Sykes said East Asia is not qualified to play this game alone. What do you think?"

Sheng Lan slipped her pen into her pocket, bringing the heels of her military boots together.

"Whether we are qualified is not for others to decide."