NERV Headquarters, operations command room.
Kozo Fuyutsuki, who had just returned from the moon, sat at the command station. This time, however, Gendo Ikari was nowhere to be seen. "First Lieutenant Ikari will carry out the mission?"
"According to the Technical Department's projections, Shinji has the highest chance of success on this mission. He can also minimize losses caused by unexpected developments."
Ritsuko Akagi held out a tablet to the silver-haired old man.
Fuyutsuki did not even look at it. He pushed the tablet aside and glanced at the only boy in the room. Their eyes met, and Fuyutsuki smiled faintly.
"First Lieutenant Ikari seems quite confident. Very well. Deploy Unit-01."
In the room next door, Gendo Ikari frowned slightly when he heard the decision through his headset. Had it been up to him, he would have been reluctant to let Unit-01 take the initial risk.
But when he considered that the greatest dangers were merely an embryonic Angel and some volcanic magma, his brow relaxed despite himself.
Still, Gendo remained somewhat displeased. Although various circumstances had kept him out of the operations command room, he had been in contact with Fuyutsuki the whole time.
Yet after hearing Ritsuko's proposal, Fuyutsuki had not even waited for him, the Commander-in-Chief, to make the decision. It suggested a certain disregard for his authority.
Deputy Commander Fuyutsuki clearly had no interest in what the Commander-in-Chief was thinking. His attention remained fixed on the transport aircraft icon on the screen.
Shinji Ikari's efficiency lived up to his reputation as an ace pilot. The moment the Deputy Commander gave the order, he headed straight for Unit-01, boarded the transport aircraft, and made directly for Mount Asama.
Yui's son, through and through.
The corners of Fuyutsuki's mouth lifted slightly. "First Lieutenant Ikari, the Womb Angel is