However, Fred was not without his concerns.
He still had little clue about the Strike Suit. Perhaps he would need to infiltrate Heliopolis and look for Kira along the way.
Of course, these were just thoughts for now.
Thinking about the future, with so much Black Technology at his disposal, he would no longer have to fear being at a disadvantage on the battlefield.
The thought alone was exhilarating.
As Fred was feeling excited, Andrew followed closely behind him, floating out of the cockpit.
"Who would have thought your perception of danger would be so sharp?"
The more Andrew spoke, the stranger it seemed to him.
As a seasoned veteran with extensive combat experience, he naturally understood that Fred's ability to hold his own against him for so long wasn't due to a sudden leap in skill, but rather because Fred had managed to cleverly evade or neutralize his attacks every time.
This kind of ability was perfectly normal for a battle-hardened veteran who had survived countless fights, but it was utterly bizarre for a young man like Fred, who rarely even stepped outside.
They were both human, so how could Fred pull this off so effortlessly?
"It was just a coincidence."
In response to Fred's words, Andrew shook his head helplessly but didn't press further.
After all, Fred was a prodigy in many fields. It wasn't unheard of for someone to possess such keen perception, but Fred's talents simply spanned a broader range.
Muttering to himself, the two soon made their way toward the locker room together.
"Speaking of which, that ground-based MS research you mentioned might be ready to start," Andrew said while changing, his words seemingly out of nowhere.
Fred chuckled in response.
"Thanks."
What Andrew was referring to, of course, wasn't about urging Fred to begin his research. Instead, he was reminding him that some within the Zala Faction were likely already preparing for war on Earth.
This was an extremely dangerous sign.
For Fred, however, it was merely a piece of information he had long been aware of.
The same went for that jammer.
He couldn't just let the Zala Faction plant Neutron Jammers all over Earth.
Otherwise, what peace could there be? If he were an Earthling and Neutron Jammers were installed, he'd probably throw a punch or two at any Coordinator he saw on the street.
Of course, most Naturals might not be able to win a fight, too afraid to speak up despite their anger.
But it would still lead to a complete loss of public support, and the death toll would be unimaginable.
After all, leaving other regions aside, the Atlantic Federation certainly wouldn't care about the lives of its civilians and would continue pouring all its energy into military production.
To the Atlantic Federation, civilians were nothing more than expendable resources.
The awkward part was that without Neutron Jammers, it would be difficult to launch an attack on Earth.
So, perhaps various operations targeting the Atlantic Federation would be necessary in the future.
But these were matters to consider down the line.
For now, at least, Fred had other things to attend to.
"No problem."
Hearing that Fred understood his meaning, Andrew gave him a firm pat on the shoulder.
"See you next time."
"Alright, see you next time."
They didn't say much more, but everything was understood without words.
"See you next time" meant they wouldn't die on the battlefield.
...
"This Fred, has his MS piloting skills improved again?"
In Patrick's office, Shiva's face showed surprise upon seeing the recent video footage.
After all, this didn't seem like something a Natural could do.
Where were there Naturals like this?
Then again, Fred's abilities were already extraordinary compared to ordinary Naturals.
"Yes, at this rate, catching up to Andrew is only a matter of time."
Patrick sighed with emotion.
"It's a shame, though. The development speed of the High Mobility GINN has been rather slow lately."
"We urgently need high-end combat power that can turn the tide of battle."
The more Patrick spoke, the more serious his expression became, tense with a heavy, imposing pressure.
According to the data on paper, the High Mobility GINN's speed was sufficient to evade missiles and Beam cannons.
For them, top-tier combat power was absolutely the key to everything.
Otherwise, just by numbers alone, PLANT would have been wiped out a thousand times over.
"There's no other way."
"Forcing a Battleship Engine to merge with a GINN would cause many issues; insufficient power is just one aspect."
Shiva shook her head.
"The existence of the Neutron Jammer is a contingency, and we can't use nuclear energy for now."
"Hmm..."
Patrick nodded slightly upon hearing this; he was already aware of everything Shiva mentioned.
Originally, he had intended to see if Fred had made any breakthroughs.
As it turned out, research was ongoing, progress was being made, but there hadn't been any major leaps forward.
Of course, this wasn't too surprising.
After all, their own team hadn't made progress either, and Fred's advancements were already faster than anyone else's.
"We still need to keep pushing forward. The recent movements from the Atlantic Federation are becoming increasingly unsettling."
Patrick sighed.
"Yes, you must also take care of your safety."
Shiva said with concern in her eyes.
"Mm, I will, don't worry."
Their conversation wasn't particularly long, as both were very busy people, and Shiva soon returned to work.
Watching Shiva leave, Patrick lowered his head to look at another document in his hand.
It was the one Siegel had given him.
Regarding the plan for South America.
"A ruse involving self-inflicted injury?"
He was not an inflexible person.
On the contrary, he quite liked this plan.
It was far better than stubbornly trying to trade with South America while constantly risking exposure.
Moreover, he didn't think Blue Cosmos would pass up such an opportunity.
But to support this ruse, they still needed to provoke Blue Cosmos in other areas.
This wasn't particularly difficult either. While overt conflicts between the two sides had been few lately, covert struggles were countless.
Applying covert pressure on Blue Cosmos was still achievable.
If the plan proceeded smoothly, they would have more opportunities and greater support.
Fred's plan carried risks but also promised rich rewards.
It was a shame there hadn't been time to discuss it with him lately.
...
As Patrick was lost in thought, on the other side, the AI Fred submitted quickly made its way through Lacus to Siegel's desk.
It was a machine resembling a briefcase with a built-in screen.
Modeled after Little Eight.
However, Little Eight was a unique Artificial Intelligence, even immune to Quantum Virus intrusion.
Fred couldn't possibly replicate it so easily.
In fact, that plot convenience might be difficult to recreate even if Fred studied Little Eight extensively.
However, even with just ordinary quantum computers combined with the unique technological advancements here, various ultra-high energy density batteries, and insights from his past life, the AI created by Fred was far more powerful than the AI from his previous life.
In short, Siegel was astonished by Fred's creation.
Although Fred had indeed taken many of their top-tier computers and components earlier, it was still surprising that he could create such a powerful computer.
Clearly, it was already stronger than their ordinary computers here.
Of course, the truly core computers were undoubtedly more powerful than the one in his hands, but Fred's AI was more lightweight and compact, suitable for carrying around, and its cost was significantly lower compared to their machines.
Various materials could be substituted without relying on metals traded with Mars.
This also provided him with many ideas.
"He just gave it to you like that?"
After snapping out of his thoughts, Siegel asked.
It was unclear whether he was pleased by the other party's trust or worried about some hidden scheme.
"Mhm~"
Upon hearing this, Lacus nodded vigorously.
She could guess some of her father's thoughts, but she believed Fred simply felt the current AI wasn't good enough yet and didn't pay it much mind.
However, such a notion was a bit far-fetched. Given that her father was already sufficiently shocked, Lacus didn't say anything further.
"He's quite capable."
Upon hearing this, Siegel sighed and continued.
"Test it out, and if there are no issues, deploy it."
Fred had already given them enough surprises, and this was just one more.
After saying this, Siegel cleared his throat lightly.
"I've already spoken with Patrick."
"Your plans are meticulous, and I'll grant you the authority to arrange things."
Setting aside everything else, Fred was indeed a formidable commander and planner.
For Lacus to work with him on action plans was undoubtedly a vivid practical lesson for the young girl.
So, of course, Siegel welcomed it wholeheartedly.
"Alright."
Seeing this, Lacus nodded.
While a sense of tension welled up in her heart, she also felt a greater sense of responsibility.
She was gradually growing up, and it was time for her to shoulder responsibilities.
However, with Fred by her side, Lacus was also brimming with confidence.
Stepping out of her father's study, Lacus looked at the unchanged scenery before her and took a deep breath.
She still had much to prepare. If this succeeded, their Coordinators would gain a rare initiative.
...
And so, time quietly passed by several weeks under Fred's efforts.
Public sentiment on both sides continued to boil, but aside from that, the authorities remained surprisingly calm.
However, to discerning eyes, this calm was also due to the impending storm.
As the monthly transport ship made its journey once again.
Perhaps Blue Cosmos had already set their sights on the South American transport ships, or perhaps not.
In any case, the waiting time was always agonizing.
For Lacus and the others, it was no different.
However, as someone with knowledge of the plot, Fred naturally knew that an attack was only a matter of time. Thus, he wasn't overly worried or tense at the moment, continuing instead to focus diligently on his books and MS.
Yet this tranquility didn't last long.
Just as Fred closed his book and prepared to head out for lunch, a sharp ring from the terminal interrupted his movement to stand up.
"Brother Fred, they're here!"
Seeing the message before him, Fred's heart tightened, and he quickly strode outside.
...
Meanwhile, on the other side of the Earth Sphere, along a navigation channel, an ordinary spacecraft drifted alone along this trade route.
Although this route was occasionally traversed by merchant or civilian ships from PLANT, the vastness of space remained immense.
On a cosmic scale, chance encounters were actually surprising.
It was much like the Age of Exploration.
Most of the time, no one was visible on the open sea.
The transport ship here was no different, sailing alone in the desolate, remote expanse of space.
But that wasn't entirely accurate, for in the dark, cold void, this ship soon found company.
At that very moment, an Atlantic Federation fleet—six Drake-class battleships in total—surrounded the isolated transport ship from all sides.
Several blinding searchlights tore through the darkness of space, illuminating the unarmed cargo vessel.
The dazzling metallic reflections displayed rainbow hues on everyone's screens.
"This is the Atlantic Federation fleet executing a blockade mission. In accordance with Council Resolution 328, your PLANT-registered civilian vessel is suspected of illegally transporting controlled materials and military equipment."
"We hereby order you to immediately shut down your engines, cease all navigation, and submit to our mandatory boarding inspection. Any resistance will be met with all necessary measures!"
Within the Atlantic Federation fleet, Barnes—who had previously faced off against Fred—stood beside the commander.
Unlike before, this time he was participating in the operation as an adjutant.
Standing tall and straight, he listened to the commander's words while watching the transport ship on the screen, which remained unmoved and slowly came to a halt. His brow furrowed.
He couldn't shake the feeling that it was all too quiet.
No guards, nothing—the ship simply drifted there alone, almost like bait.
While this could be attributed to the secrecy of the operation, if the opposing commander was the same as before, then things wouldn't be so simple.
Yet Barnes remained uncertain. After all, that commander was undoubtedly high-ranking, and his presence during the previous evacuation mission was understandable.
But this transport mission was likely PLANT and South America's second secret transport flight.
He probably wouldn't be involved.
Moreover, this intelligence had been obtained from opposition factions within South America.
Given the hostile relations between the two sides and their verification, the information was most likely accurate.
Considering all this, Barnes found himself momentarily at a loss.
After all, he wasn't the commander, and offering opinions casually might provoke a reprimand from the commander next door.
Just as Barnes was pondering this, the reply from that cargo ship arrived.
"This is the refugee ship 'Mandelbrot,' currently transporting refugees from Panama to PLANT! We have three hundred and twenty passengers on board, including women and children! We carry no military supplies and request that you grant passage exemption in accordance with international civil aviation conventions! Repeat, we are a refugee ship, requesting humanitarian clearance!"
Although the atmosphere on the Bridge was tense due to their status as regular military personnel, many crew members wore the same disdainful smiles as the commander upon hearing the other party's statement.
It was difficult to distinguish between a cargo ship and a refugee ship based on appearance alone.
After all, both were designed for space travel.
Just as Fred, in his previous life as a layman, couldn't tell whether an aircraft was a passenger plane or a cargo plane just by looking at its exterior.
And according to the registration information, the ship before them was indeed a refugee transport vessel.
However, based on their intelligence, this ship was undoubtedly a secret Transport Ship.
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