"Yes!" Felix responded loudly, raising his hand in a salute before lowering it and heading out.
Just as he was about to leave the office, Patrick's voice sounded behind him.
"Stay safe!"
"Thank you for your concern, Chairman!"
Pausing his steps, Felix turned to look at Patrick and expressed his gratitude softly. Patrick nodded slightly in response and waved his hand at Felix.
Seeing this, Felix turned and continued outward.
Aprilius City District 1 Spaceport
Upon arriving, Felix boarded the Athena directly and reached the bridge via the elevator. Looking at Aric, he gave the order.
"Athena, set sail!"
"Yes!" Aric replied, saluting Felix. Lowering his arm and withdrawing his gaze, Aric looked ahead and issued the command. "Set sail!"
Josh responded upon hearing the order.
"Yes!"
After receiving the reply, Aric turned to Felix and asked.
"Captain, where do you think it might be?"
Hearing the question, Felix, seated in his chair, looked up and saw the confusion on Aric's face. He smiled calmly and spoke with composure.
"Based on the current situation in space, the most suitable location is the L4 Zone."
Hearing this, Aric immediately understood and directly ordered Josh.
"Head for the L4 Zone!"
Josh promptly responded to the command.
"Yes!"
...
Three days later
Near Mendel Satellite in the L4 Zone
"Move closer to the other side of Mendel Satellite!"
Gazing at the Mendel Satellite before him, Felix wore a faint smile and calmly issued the order. Upon hearing the command, Aric relayed it to Josh.
Josh, receiving the order, began maneuvering the Athena to approach the other side of Mendel Satellite.
Some time later, Josh turned to Aric and reported.
"Captain, we have completed the approach!"
Aric, upon hearing this, shifted his gaze to Felix. Sensing Aric's look, Felix smiled and nodded at him before rising from his seat.
"I'll take a team to check the situation inside the satellite. You all remain on standby here!"
"Yes, Captain."
...
"Felix Leo Griffith, Genesis , launching!"
...
Inside Mendel Satellite
"It's so desolate!"
Heine murmured unconsciously as he viewed the barren landscape through the screen.
Inside the Genesis Gundam Cockpit
Hearing Heine's murmured words, Felix looked calmly at the desolate land before him and spoke.
"Mendel has been abandoned for a long time. It's no surprise it has become this barren."
As he spoke, Felix piloted the Genesis Gundam to descend toward the ground. Seeing Felix's actions, Heine and the others followed, piloting their MS to land as well.
After landing
Felix operated the communicator with his fingers.
Simultaneously
On the bridge of the Eternal, docked at Mendel Satellite's Spaceport
"Captain, someone is attempting to establish a communication channel with us!"
Martin watched the situation on the communicator and looked up to report to Andrew. Hearing this, Andrew ended his conversation with Lacus and the others, lightly pushed off the ground to float over to Martin's side, his gaze falling on the communicator.
Seeing the channel display of this communication, Andrew's lips curled slightly upward as he reached out and directly connected the call.
Looking up at the image displayed on the large screen, he said with a hint of teasing in his tone.
"What a rare guest!"
"Long time no see, Andrew."
Hearing Andrew's teasing, Felix smiled slightly, his voice carrying the familiarity of old friends.
While the two exchanged greetings, the expressions of those standing near the tactical planning table behind them varied. Among them, Lacus and Kira remained calm without any surprise, while Athrun, Cagalli, Murrue and others wore solemn and serious expressions.
Athrun's face showed the most obvious gravity and seriousness among them.
Felix took in the expressions on their faces, paying no attention to the reactions of others. Looking at Lacus, he said calmly.
"I'm inside the Mendel Satellite. Come meet me."
Lacus could tell these words were directed at her, and she nodded to Felix in response, agreeing.
"No problem, I'll head over right away."
"I'll be waiting here."
After nodding in acknowledgment, Felix ended the communication.
Athrun watched as the communication ended, a puzzled expression on his face as he spoke to Lacus.
"Lacus, you two...?"
"You'll understand when we get there."
Turning to look at Athrun, Lacus replied with a gentle smile.
Seeing this, Athrun stopped questioning further.
Lacus then looked at the others and said.
"Shall we all go together?"
...
Inside Mendel Satellite
"Captain, will Miss Clyne and the others come?"
Sitting on the foot of the MS, Heine played with his helmet in hand, his voice carrying some uncertainty.
Hearing this, Felix looked at Heine with a faint smile.
"They'll come."
Just then, a report came through the communicator from a subordinate.
"Captain, MS and a shuttle are approaching our position."
Hearing the report, Felix nodded.
"Understood."
After speaking, he fixed his gaze ahead.
Moments later
The figures of the Freedom and Justice Gundams appeared first, followed by the shuttle behind the two Gundams.
Inside Justice Gundam cockpit
Athrun looked at the Genesis Gundam, CGUE and other MS on the ground, finally zooming in on the target display on the screen to focus his gaze on Felix.
"What exactly is it that I don't know?"
He murmured to himself, then piloted the Justice Gundam to land on the ground.
On the ground
Athrun and Kira emerged from their cockpits, landing on the ground to join Lacus and the others.
The reunited group walked together toward Felix and his team.
Watching Lacus and her companions approach, Felix handed his helmet to Heine and greeted them with a smile.
"Long time no see, Lacus."
"Long time no see, Felix."
Lacus nodded, responding with a gentle smile and soft voice.
Seeing the two exchange such familiar greetings deepened the mystery in Athrun's heart. Looking directly at Felix before him, he asked outright.
"Captain Griffith, what on earth is going on here?"
"Exactly what you see."
Hearing Athrun's urgent inquiry, Felix replied with a smile. Athrun was momentarily stunned by this response, his gaze shifting back and forth between Felix and Lacus.
Under such scrutiny, some of the puzzles in Athrun's heart began to unravel.
Seeing this, Felix turned to Kira and said.
"Kira, you explain it to Athrun."
"Understood."
Nodding, Kira responded verbally.
His eyes turning to Athrun, Kira addressed him.
"Athrun, my brother and Miss Clyne are partners. I was brought to PLANT by people arranged by my brother, and the Freedom was successfully stolen with his assistance."
"So that's how it is."
Much became clear to Athrun, and he murmured the words softly.
Seeing Athrun's newfound understanding, Felix spoke to Lacus in surprise.
"Impressive! I never expected you could steal such a massive battleship—it caught me completely off guard."
Hearing this, Lacus studied Felix, her gaze meaningful as she retorted.
"Were you really caught off guard?"
"Truly caught off guard."
Nodding, Felix replied with complete seriousness.
At this, Lacus rolled her beautiful eyes at Felix, letting out a light hum as she said.
"Hmph! I don't believe you for a second!"
Then, calming her emotions, Lacus's expression turned serious as she asked Felix.
"What's the situation on the ground?"
"Currently, we've abandoned all occupied territories on the ground. All forces remaining on Earth have been withdrawn to space."
Answering her inquiry, Felix explained the situation to Lacus. After speaking, his expression grew grave as he looked at her and continued.
"Soon, we'll be engaging the Earth Alliance Forces on Earth! This battle will be the largest and most intense conflict in history."
Hearing the gravity in Felix's words, Lacus asked him with a stern expression.
"What are your plans regarding this?"
Upon hearing the question, Felix glanced at his subordinates and then at Lacus and the others, finally sighing as he addressed Lacus.
"This battle isn't something you or I can stop from the outset."
Saying this, Felix took two steps back and sat on the foot of the Genesis Gundam, looking at Lacus as he continued.
"Stopping it will only be possible after both sides are exhausted. Otherwise, no amount of effort will be enough to prevent it."
"What do you plan to do next?"
Looking at Lacus, Felix posed the question back to her.
In response, Lacus voiced her thoughts.
"I'm currently in contact with the peace faction within the Earth Alliance, hoping to establish cooperation with them. Besides that, I've asked Mentor Malchio to help connect with civilian armed groups, encouraging them to join the effort to end the war."
As she spoke, Lacus turned her gaze to Felix and expressed her gratitude.
"Thank you."
"For what?" Felix asked with a teasing smile upon hearing her thanks.
Seeing the playful expression on Felix's face, Lacus replied with a gentle smile.
"Of course, I'm thanking you for the information you provided earlier. Without that intel and the cooperation of your people, I wouldn't have been able to get Gai Murakumo and the others out of prison."
"No need for thanks, it was all part of my duties."
With a faint smile, Felix replied gently to Lacus.
While the two were conversing so cheerfully and casually, Cagalli, standing beside Athrun, watched how familiar Felix and Lacus seemed and murmured under her breath.
"Lacus seems quite close with my brother!"
Turning to Athrun, she asked,
"Were they always this familiar before?"
Hearing this, Athrun lowered his gaze and shook his head.
"I don't know."