Cruze paid no attention to Addis's reaction. He simply stared at the tactical display and continued, "Perhaps we can cast a net..."
"A net? You mean a net?"
"Let the Vesalius go first, then wait for the enemy ship here. The Gamous will take this route and follow after conducting an intensive search."
Looking at the area Cruze indicated, Addis frowned. "That's the route to Artemis? But if we only lock onto that direction, what if they head toward the Moon instead..."
Beep beep~
Before Addis could finish, the alarm and the communications officer interrupted his objection. "Large-scale heat signatures detected! Possibly a battleship! Based on comprehensive analysis, its projected route is toward the Atlantic Federation headquarters of the Earth Alliance military on the Moon after accelerating through Earth's gravity!"
At that, Addis looked toward Cruze. Cruze merely shook his head and declared, "It's a feint. This situation only makes me more certain of my guess."
"They're heading for Artemis. Vesalius, sortie. Call the Gamous."
At the same time, aboard the Archangel.
Because the Archangel had begun moving, the drowsy Noer floated up from his bed under the effect of inertia.
"Is this... a sortie?"
Noer hurriedly got up and walked to the window, staring blankly into the dark expanse of space beyond it.
The Archangel had definitely set out, but where was it planning to go?
The Lunar Base? Or...
"I remember there being an Earth Alliance military base not far from here... Wait! If they make it to an Earth Alliance military base, what happens to me?"
Suddenly, Noer's mind buzzed as he realized the crucial problem.
One warship was already troublesome enough. If they reached an Earth Alliance military base...
That would be like lighting a lamp in a toilet—shit everywhere!
As for whether the Archangel might get destroyed along the way... Don't joke around. Even if I died, the Archangel might not explode!
"Kira Yamato!"
After the ship set sail, Marlu and Flaga appeared outside the room of Kira Yamato and the others.
Seeing them, Tolle hurriedly shook Kira awake.
Soon, with Kira still bleary-eyed, the two explained why they had come. In short, they hoped he would continue piloting the Strike Gundam.
"I refuse!"
Still half-asleep moments ago, Kira immediately woke up upon hearing their request. He got out of bed and said angrily, "Maybe you're right. Maybe war really is all around me. But we came to neutral Heliopolis precisely because we hated war and wanted to escape it!"
Marlu looked apologetic and remained silent.
Flaga had no choice but to step forward. "You're right, but you're the only one who can operate that thing now. What else can we do?"
"What do you mean, there's nothing else you can do?! I'm not a soldier, I'm not anyone! Why should I keep piloting it?!"
"Don't you understand? Fighting is something that will happen sooner or later. When that time comes, are you going to cling to that idea and wait to die?"
Flaga spoke bluntly. This time, Kira did not know how to answer.
"Right now, only you and I can protect this ship. Do you want to watch your friends die in the middle of artillery fire?"
"But... I..."
"I know I'm being harsh, but since you have that power, why not use it? You're far better off than those people who can only hold their heads and cry when faced with hardship."
"Besides, taking up a weapon to protect others is honorable and noble. No one will blame you! You should know that weapons can protect as well as kill."
Looking down at Kira, whose voice had begun to tremble, Flaga's expression suddenly softened. Though Kira was a Coordinator, he was still only a teenager.
Being suddenly thrown into a world of war, feeling uneasy and unwilling to join it, was only natural.
After hearing him out, Kira looked at Flaga in surprise, then lowered his head again with unbearable bitterness.
Flaga silently patted Kira on the shoulder, then turned and left the room.
He had made everything clear. Smart people knew how to choose.
"All right, now let's go see the other one. Hopefully, he won't disappoint me..."
Soon, Flaga arrived at a room guarded by soldiers after leaving Kira's room.
That was right. It was Noer's room.
"Captain!" The two soldiers hurriedly came to attention and saluted when they saw Flaga's sudden arrival.
"How's the situation?" Flaga asked.
"Everything is normal," Soldier A replied.
"Thanks for your hard work."
Flaga nodded and continued, "Please open it for me."
"This?" The two soldiers froze and looked at each other.
"What? You don't trust even me?" Flaga asked with a smile.
"Of course not!" the soldiers hurriedly replied.
"Then open it. Don't worry, Lieutenant Junior Grade Baggage knows about this." Flaga smiled.
"Yes, sir!"
The soldiers exchanged glances, then turned to enter the password and open the door. Flaga held the highest rank aboard this ship.
Beep beep~
Whoosh~
Soon, the door opened, revealing a completely bewildered Noer.
"Could you let me speak with him alone?" Flaga asked the two soldiers, looking at Noer's bewildered face.
"Yes, sir!" The soldiers exchanged glances, silently stepped outside, and shut the door behind them.
At the same time, they sent a message to the bridge.
"Your name is Noer, right?" After the soldiers left, Flaga sat in a chair nearby and asked Noer.
"Yes."
Noer was genuinely bewildered. He had no idea why Flaga had come to see him.
"Affiliated with the ZAFT military?" Flaga dropped the bombshell.
"Hm?"
Noer's gaze tightened as he stared at Flaga in disbelief. How had this guy guessed that?
"Don't be so surprised." Pleased with Noer's reaction, Flaga chuckled and pulled over a stool to sit across from him.
"How did you connect me with the ZAFT military? Wasn't what I said earlier enough..."
"All right, all right. There are only the two of us here, so there's no need to keep hiding it."
Flaga directly cut Noer off.
"When did I ever say..."
"Do you really want me to spell it out?" Flaga interrupted Noer again.
"What do you mean?" Noer frowned slightly, quietly calming the unease in his heart and forcing his expression and tone to match the situation.
The results were mediocre. If he had not trained at military academy for a while, his legs might have gone weak.
"I've been a soldier and fought in wars for so long. Do you think I can't even tell whether someone is a soldier?" Flaga countered.
"I don't understand what you're talking about." Noer shook his head, though his heart was pounding wildly.
"The calluses on your fingers, the marks on your palms, your eyes, the way you walk, and..."
With every item Flaga listed, Noer's heart grew colder. It was ice-cold to the core, while his heart soared straight into panic!
"And what?" Noer could not help asking.
"And the way your heels unconsciously come together when you stand." Flaga chuckled and pointed at Noer's heels.
"You're calling me a ZAFT soldier based on that?!" Noer hurriedly separated his heels and tried his best to refute him.
Though there was no visible change in his expression, his mood had already fallen to rock bottom.
In truth, Noer could not be blamed. Everything Flaga had mentioned had become habitual for him.
Moreover, Noer truly was not a spy. He had never been trained as one from the beginning, so these habits that were perfectly normal within ZAFT now appeared exceptionally fatal under these circumstances.
"Do you think that isn't enough?" Flaga asked with a smile.
If it had been only one isolated detail, Flaga would not have thought anything was wrong or had any doubts.
But when all those details were gathered in one person, there was definitely a problem!
Before you continue