In Iron Maiden, Alex was in the crew quarters along with everyone when Tolle asked why they didn't take the new ship, as it might have been faster from his understanding of the Archangel, to which Alex said they would be shot as soon as they got near the plants, even if they saw Alex. Because using the EA's latest warship will make them doubt the stance of the Ashford family, despite their close connection to Patrick Zala.
Alex went to hanger of the Iron Maiden where there were 5 MS docked three were the MSTV-00 Stratos Gundam who's current machine code has been changed to MS-00V while retaining the name Stratos Gundam at the insistence of Alex with father and the MS development team which currently is developing only weapon, researching the dragoon system and better thrusters even though Alex just improved the Archangel thrusters. They can be scaled down for MS.
Next to it were the newly modified Astray Gold and Black. Alex first thought about having Aisha be the pilot of Astray Gold. Still, now he thinks it is better to let Nicol use it so that he won't have to worry about Nicol dying accidentally reason being the current Astray gold is fitted with the latest full coverage light wave barrier system it is also equipped with dual weapons a beam rifle in each hand the backpack carrying the light wave barrier also has additional thrusters for faster maneuvering and movement.
After a high speed journey of five days, which is because the location of the Ashford colony is farther, if they went straight from Earth, it would only take 2 or 3 days. The Iron Maiden reached the plants but stayed outside without docking in the space port and received a transport shuttle, as it is used to cover the reason for the meeting by announcing it as a private delivery for Patrick Zala.
Once the shuttle landed in the Iron Maiden, Nicol's parents, who saw Nicol, were very emotional as they didn't know Nicol was alive, as only Patrick knew, and he, along with Alex, had already discussed the following settlement of Nicol for the coming months.
Patrick then went into his great actor mode, as he had explained how the Ashford group's use of the MS made from stolen technology from EA to watch over the members of the Creuset team and save them in case of an emergency where they cannot get out safely themselves was his idea. After some great acting and a convincing reason of how the pain the couple experienced recently could have become real if not for his foresight, he successfully got Yuri Amalfi to support him. Also, with some talking, he convinced it was best for Nicol to follow Alex till the end of the war.
As for Nicol, because Alex only told him to stay with them but didn't say the action to rescue him was fully Alex's decision, Nicol was also fooled by Patrick's speech of how this was his arrangement from the start, so he didn't question anything. But Nicol's mother, who had just experienced the sadness of losing him once, didn't want to stay away from him.
Yuri who knew Romina suddenly missing would cause many people to suspect many things told her to return with him for now but he will arrange private shuttle to send her to the Ashford space colony which will finish the assembly and start accepting residents in a few days since It is known to Yuri that Ashford's will be moving into the colony as soon as it is finished and Nicol following them will surely be in the colony.
On the other side, while the Amalfi family was getting together, Patrick and Alex were having a deal of their own.
Alex said, " Uncle Patrick, let me congratulate you in advance for being the supreme chairman of plants."
Patrick said, " It's not yet confirmed. Although I am in the lead, thank you, Alex. besides you saved Nicol and did me a great favor. Even though Yuri sided with me when he received the news of Nicol's death, I am sure he would put more effort into making sure Nicol doesn't have to risk his life again."
Alex remembered now what he had forgotten to talk to Patrick Zala last time he met. Although the GN particles and the evolution of Innovators are a secret he won't reveal until his family and trusted families have evolved first, and he has some advantage first in regards to the GN technology and understands the capabilities of the Innovators properly. The things he is going to tell Patrick Zala are about New Type Humans(NT), as he could use the NT abilities for his many actions, which are like predictions in the past and future, which will definitely be noticed by those who are observant.
As for why he tells Patrick Zala about NT is because Patrick Zala is an out-and-out coordinator supremacist, so telling him about NT possibilities and telling him that coordinators posses higher chance at evolution will make him happy, even if Alex says that even naturals have the potential, he will focus on the point that coordinators have the best conditions and chance to evolve.
Alex said, " Uncle Patrick, I will tell you a secret. Originally i wasn't going to change too much of the future I know because it would reduce my advantage, but after thinking about it for a long time, I decided that would inform some things even if it could cause some changes to the known future."
After that, Alex explained to Patrick Zala how NT are humans who adapted to the space environment after long term living in the space colonies, and also how exposure to Mi particles can accelerate the evolution. As soon as Patrick heard of a way to accelerate the evolution he asked Alex about the Mi particles for which Alex just told that the Mi particles are the ones the first (non existent ) NT who saw the future and described it to Alex told about and how that person was a rare natural NT who awakened luckily but died of old injuries which were from before his awakening and how he told the future so that Alex could make decision create a place the safe and stable development of the future NT humans.
Alex also told Patrick the reason he invited Patrick after losing the war was so that the future NT humans could have a real leader to lead them, as Alex would not fight for their benefits like Patrick would. Alex then described some future scenarios and also told Patrick which can be changed and which cannot be changed. While asking Patrick, would he still have Siegel Clyne killed, knowing he was not the one who leaked the information about Operation Spit Break?
For which Patrick responded " I would still not ask my people to take extra risk to arrest Siegel alive and don't worry since you said the Freedom is essential for a good future even if you I might lose the war as the future you know I will not stop Lacus from taking it but can you really not tell me about the end of war and why I lost? "
Alex said, " I really can't tell you what if you suddenly win the war, won't I lose all my family property. Also, Uncle, leave don't kill Creuset, just let him believe he is your most trusted person, leave his fate to luck of battle, and give the MS, which I said you gave him after Boyaz falls."
Patrick was very angry about this, but he still chose not to change things. Alex specifically asked, even though he had some doubt, but thought being able to save the ZAFT forces of operation Spit Break and Boyaz was enough for now, even if he lost the battle. That just means there are still some things he missed, and he can learn his lesson from it later.
Alex noticed that the survival of Lenore really had some positive impact on Patrick Zala, as even though he was still a hardliner and racist, he was willing to take a strategic retreat, which would definitely not be what he would do if Lenore were dead. Alex thinks the current Patrick, who can be a bit kinder while being rational, is better than the mad Patrick Zala that he knows.
After talking these thing and once Nicol and his parents spent some time Alex had everyone prepare to leave plants and go to the space colony of the Ashford's first as he would staying there till it is completed and will go to Orb to get his mother and sisters(Lily and Stella who is adopted) later while also getting involved in the orb war to some extent as it would be beneficial to him to ally with Orb later when it is rebuilt which can also be a form of support for the space colony instead of being alone.