Sunlight streamed into the corridor.
Vibration Analysis Room.
"Request authorization from Commander Ikari to issue the A-17 Directive. This is an emergency."
"Please be careful. This is an unsecured line."
"I know. Switch to a secure line, quickly."
In a dimly lit room.
Only six chairs glowing in different colors revealed that anyone was there.
"A-17? You want us to launch an offensive?"
"Yes," Gendo Ikari replied, his interlaced hands covering his mouth.
"No. It's too dangerous. Don't tell me you've forgotten what happened fifteen years ago," a fat old man said, turning his face aside in rejection.
"This is an opportunity. We have always been on the defensive. Now we finally have a chance to strike first," Gendo Ikari replied calmly, light flashing across his glasses.
"The risk is too high," the old man in the center with a white covering over his eyes added.
"But surely all of you understand the importance of a living Angel specimen."
"Failure will not be tolerated." In the end, all parties gave their tacit approval.
The importance of a living Angel lay in its S2 Core alone. It could advance the Mass Production Units' development. Work on cloning the Spear of Longinus was already halfway complete; the core was the only remaining obstacle for the Mass Production Units.
The lights on five chairs went out, leaving only Gendo Ikari.
"If we fail, humanity will go extinct."
"Are you sure there won't be any problems?" Fuyutsuki asked beside him.
The corners of Gendo Ikari's mouth lifted slightly, but he only smiled without answering.
Meanwhile, with the pilots.
"That's an Angel?" Shinji asked in surprise, looking at the photograph of the Angel on the monitor.
"Yes. It hasn't fully formed yet. It's still in something like a pupal stage. The objective of this operation is to capture the Angel. Bring it back alive, as unharmed as possible," Akagi explained.
"What if that isn't possible?" Asuka asked.
"Then destroy it immediately. Understood?"
"Yes!" they all replied.
"The person responsible for the operation..."
"Me, me! I'll go down!"
Before Akagi could finish, Asuka eagerly interrupted her.
She had no choice. With Huang Zhetian around, she never got a single chance to show what she could do. This time, she had to get out in front, no matter what. She had to leave Shinji behind, too!
During their last synchronization rate test, he had already come close to catching up with her. Can just anyone surpass me? I won't allow it! Never! I'm the one who shines brightest! Huang Zhetian is one thing, but why do you have to steal my spotlight too, you son of a high-ranking official? And that model student! Why? What right does she have to surpass me too?
Asuka wore a bright smile, but inside, her thoughts had begun to twist. Everyone would surpass her. No one would praise her. They would only praise Huang Zhetian and Shinji, while she got nothing at all!!!!
Fortunately, this time she wasn't disappointed.
Akagi's words delighted Asuka. "Asuka, you'll pilot Unit-02 for this mission."
"Yes~ Something like this is a piece of cake." Asuka drew out her reply in delight.
"What about me?" Rei Ayanami asked expressionlessly.
"The prototype Unit-00 doesn't meet the special specifications," Ibuki added from the side.
"Rei and Unit-00 will remain on standby at headquarters. The Special Unit and Unit-01 will wait above for orders," Akagi said, looking over her documents.
"Understood," Rei Ayanami replied briefly.
Asuka immediately leaned forward, tilted her head, and said mockingly, "What a shame you can't take a dip in the hot springs. Tsk, tsk, tsk..."
"Enough, Soryu. Do you have to be so difficult every day?" Shinji protested on Rei Ayanami's behalf.
"Hmph! What's it to you? Was I talking about you? Don't tell me you like her? You like this model student?" Asuka continued to taunt him.
"All right. We're counting on you for this operation. Misato said we can go to the hot springs once this mission is over. Just thinking about it makes me happy..." Huang Zhetian tried to calm things down and change the subject.
"Hmph!" Asuka turned her head away irritably.
Huang Zhetian glanced at Rei Ayanami.
She still looked the same, her face utterly expressionless. She showed no emotional response whatsoever. Was this what they called a girl with no words, no expression, and no emotion?
"We leave as soon as the A-17 Directive is issued. Go get ready!"
"Yes," they all answered.
The women's changing room.
Click-hiss~
Asuka pressed the button on her wrist. Gas immediately escaped from her suit, and it contracted around her, fitting the heat-resistant combat suit to her body.
"This heat-resistant combat suit isn't much different from what I usually wear." Asuka twisted around, looking herself over, and found nothing unusual.
"Try pressing the switch on the right," Akagi said without raising her head, pointing while she read the documents in her hand.
"Ah! What is this?" Asuka wailed.
Asuka's combat suit immediately inflated.
You could picture a shapely figure turning into a bulky one weighing over two hundred pounds...
"Unit-02 is ready too." Akagi didn't answer her complaint. She merely glanced at her and returned to mission-related matters.
Unit-02's hangar.
"No! What is this?" Asuka wailed again.
"Heat-resistant, pressure-resistant, nuclear-protective gear. It's Type-D Equipment, used for combat in special environments," Akagi explained unhurriedly, both hands in her pockets.
Only Unit-02's red head remained visible to identify it. Its entire body was wrapped in protective gear, just like its pilot.
Asuka couldn't quite accept seeing its lean frame transformed like this.
"Is this really my Unit-02?!" Asuka muttered.
She immediately turned around with her hands on her hips, though the pose looked rather comical now.
"I'm not going. I'm not! I don't want people seeing me dressed like this. Shinji and Zhetian would be better suited to this sort of thing..." Asuka shouted at the staff, pointing at the two spectators nearby as she spoke the last sentence. Shinji looked utterly bewildered.
Shinji: Even standing off to the side bothers you? That's not fair.
"That's a real shame. I thought I'd get to see Asuka looking heroic." Kaji's voice came from the walkway above.
"Oh, no. I really don't have the courage to let Mr. Kaji see me like this." Asuka dragged her bulky combat suit behind a door. After a while, she awkwardly peeked halfway out.
"Now we're in trouble."
"Yes, we are."
Akagi and Ibuki whispered to each other nearby.
"Um, I'll do it." Hearing them, Shinji's gaze flickered slightly, and he raised his hand.
"I'll pilot Unit-02," Rei Ayanami said, raising her hand too.
As soon as Asuka heard that, her gaze turned fierce. She walked over and slapped Rei Ayanami's hand down.
"Sorry, but I don't want you touching my Unit-02." Asuka leaned close to Rei Ayanami's face, visibly furious.
"I'd rather go myself than let her do it." Asuka immediately made up her mind and announced it to everyone.
Asuka looked up at Unit-02, still struggling to accept it.
"It does look a little ugly. Just bear with it."
After taking a glance, Huang Zhetian turned around and mouthed something to Kaji above.
Kaji shrugged helplessly.
"I hope things won't be so dangerous this time..." Huang Zhetian looked at the virtual system panel before him.
Angel Embryo: 7,000 practice points Mission completion reward: Special Unit exclusive weapon-Greatsword. The blueprints will be sent to the China Branch in your name. Bonus objective: Rescue Asuka Bonus objective reward: China's god-tier skill-**Ten Thousand Swords Become One** Proceed with caution on this mission.
Huang Zhetian's expression grew increasingly grave, and he murmured, "This doesn't look good..."
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