Chapter 96: SEED – A Temporary Calm 1

Andrew Waltfeld called Aisha to safely send Kira, Tolle, and Cagalli back to where he had first met them.

Just as the three were about to leave, Andrew—his back to them—spoke again.

"And that Naturals boy, because of what you've done, your face is already on ZAFT's wanted list.

Next time you're in ZAFT-controlled territory, don't just strut around in the open. At the very least, disguise yourself before going out.

See you on the battlefield."

Tolle Koenig couldn't help blurting out, "What the hell."

Cagalli Yula Athha looked at him with strange eyes, mostly filled with scorn, as if to say, So you were the one who sold us out, huh.

Tolle helplessly avoided Cagalli's gaze, struggling inwardly as he thought, This isn't even my fault. Even without me, you guys still would've been invited by the Tiger for coffee. Now I've been made into the scapegoat.

Meanwhile, Desert Dawn had already noticed that Cagalli, Kira, and Tolle had failed to arrive at the rendezvous point on time, and had gone missing.

They immediately informed Natarle Badgiruel and the Archangel's crew to join in searching for the three.

After discussion, Cagalli's bodyguards, along with Natarle and one Archangel crew member, stayed behind to continue the search. The other Desert Dawn members transported the purchased supplies back to base and onto the Archangel.

At the same time, the Archangel also received the news that Cagalli, Kira, and Tolle were missing. Murrue Ramius was especially anxious about Kira's safety.

Sai Argyle, upon hearing of Kira's disappearance, was torn.

On one hand, he was glad—if something happened to Kira, there'd be no one to compete with him for Flay Allster. On the other, he worried—without Kira, there was no one to pilot the Strike Gundam, leaving the Archangel's safety in jeopardy.

Struggling with himself, Sai rushed to the Strike Gundam and stared at its cockpit.

He remembered what Tolle had said, but he didn't fully believe it—or rather, he refused to believe it. More than that, he didn't want to lose Flay Allster.

Sai steeled himself. If Kira can pilot it, why can't I? With that thought, he climbed into the Strike Gundam's cockpit and tried to start it up, determined to master it.

He wanted Flay to see that he too could pilot the Strike Gundam, that he could protect her, and avenge her.

Unfortunately, reality wasn't so kind. Under Sai's control, the Strike Gundam couldn't even walk steadily. After only a few steps, it toppled over inside the Archangel's hangar.

Utterly crushed, Sai wept bitterly inside the cockpit, shouting over and over, "Damn it! Why?!"

The Archangel's crew were baffled by his behavior.

Flay Allster, seeing Sai like this, turned away without a trace of regret.

Right then and there, Murrue Ramius had Sai confined to the brig for a week to reflect on his actions.

Over the next few days, the weapons, ammunition, and supplies obtained through Desert Dawn were gradually transported onto the Archangel.

In his free time, Tolle sought out Mu La Flaga and Murdoch, bringing up a proposal.

"Major Flaga, can I modify the Zero Moebius into a general-purpose MS backpack? At the very least, it could extend flight range.

Heh, I know most of the upcoming battles will be in the desert and at sea.

But the High Mobility Ginn can't fly. In the desert, it's nothing but a sitting duck, and it can't go underwater either. That leaves me with no way to fight."

Mu La Flaga and Murdoch both twitched at his words, annoyed that Tolle was once again eyeing Flaga's unit. They asked unhappily,

"Ensign Tolle! Why do you keep wanting to turn my Zero Moebius into a backpack? What about the Moebius Kai backpack you made before? Aren't you using that?

And can't you just pilot a Skygrasper? Why are you fixated on my Zero Moebius?"

Scratching his head awkwardly, Tolle replied,

"Well, the Moebius Kai backpack is too bulky. It's fine in space, but on Earth it's way too big and limits mobility.

That's why I want to turn your Zero Moebius into something like the Strike Gundam's mobility pack.

As for the Skygrasper, it's good in the air, sure, but in the ocean it's useless. Firing beam weapons into the sea doesn't work.

And ZAFT has lots of aquatic mobile suits. I'm afraid that if I go out in a Skygrasper over water, I'll just become target practice.

With MSs, it's different. They can be adapted for underwater combat, but MAs can't.

So I want to add aquatic thrusters to the High Mobility Ginn, and combine them with the Zero Moebius backpack. That way I can fight on land, sea, air, and in space.

Uncle Mu, you can't use the Zero Moebius on Earth anyway, so why not let me modify it? Worst case, once we're back with the Earth Alliance, you can just request a new one."

Beaten down by Tolle's shameless persistence, Mu sighed and agreed reluctantly.

"All right, fine. We'll let you modify it. But do you have a concrete plan?"

He then glanced at Murdoch with a mischievous smile. "Murdoch, this kid's giving you extra work again. Want to beat him up together? I hear he's pretty tough though—managed to put Desert Dawn in their place. Maybe we should bring the whole maintenance crew."

Murdoch grinned wickedly.

"Haha, sounds good. Tolle, you brat, if you dare fight back while we're beating you up, we won't help with the modifications. Your choice."

Tolle pulled a pitiful face and said,

"Uncle Mu, Uncle Murdoch, you're terrible! Picking on an innocent kid like me."

Seeing they weren't moved in the slightest, he lowered his head and muttered nervously,

"Fine, just… don't hit me too hard, and not in the face. And only you two—no one else. I won't resist."

In the end, Mu and Murdoch didn't actually beat Tolle. Instead, they dumped a mountain of modification and repair work on him.

They also approved his proposal, redesigning the Zero Moebius into a backpack similar to the Earth Alliance's '105 Dagger with Wired Guidance.'

For the High Mobility Ginn, they designed detachable aquatic propeller units for the legs, waist, and shoulders, and even made a set for the Strike Gundam.

On top of that, they modified the High Mobility Ginn's back thrusters with a connector compatible with the Strike Gundam's backpacks.

That idea was Murdoch's—to save the trouble of repeated modifications every time Tolle came up with something new.

And since the new equipment could also be used by the Strike Gundam, it reduced waste and saved manpower.