The Sea of Tranquility on the moon, Tabgha Base of NERV's Seventh Branch.
A crewed lunar lander designed for subsurface resource exploration flew over the "lunar wound." Through its windows, a blood-red LCL energy amplification matrix could be seen below, its gridlike structure resembling an array of solar panels.
This matrix could absorb and convert the energy in liquid LCL-the bodily fluid of the Progenitor Lilith-producing enough power to keep the entire Tabgha Base running normally.
Legend had it that Jesus had used a miracle in the town of Tabgha to feed five thousand famine victims with five loaves and two salted fish, while a little of Lilith's water of life likewise sustained the entire Tabgha Base.
Gendo Ikari and Kozo Fuyutsuki wore crew suits for Earth-moon spacecraft that resembled spacesuits. Disregarding appearances, they pressed themselves against the windows and peered down.
"The lunar Tabgha Base is right before our eyes, yet the Seventh Branch won't let us land. SEELE has gone too far," Kozo Fuyutsuki said with a smile.
He and Gendo Ikari were NERV's Deputy Commander and Commander-in-Chief, respectively. In principle, they should have had full authority over every NERV branch, answering directly to SEELE.
In reality, however, as time went on, their control over every branch except the Headquarters in Japan where they were stationed had become quite limited.
If the relationship between Headquarters and the branches were compared to the politics of ancient states, it was less like a central government and its provinces than a suzerain and its vassals.
"Mark.06's construction method differs from the others. Confirming that is enough." Gendo Ikari looked at the Seven-Eyed Giant in the pit below, which was about to be fitted with armor.
The once-white giant's skin had turned black after its modifications. Under the effects of an LCL