Although Fred had indeed taken many of their top-tier computers and components earlier, it was still astonishing 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 needing metals traded from Mars.
This also provided him with many ideas.
"He just gave it to you like that?"
After snapping back to reality, 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 had guessed some of her father's thoughts, but she believed Fred simply felt the current AI wasn't good enough yet and didn't pay much attention to it.
However, such a statement was a bit far-fetched. Considering her father was already sufficiently shocked, Lacus didn't say anything further.
"He's quite capable."
Siegel sighed upon hearing this and continued.
"Test it out. If there are no issues, deploy it."
Fred had already given them enough shocks; one more wouldn't make a difference.
After saying this, Siegel cleared his throat lightly.
"I've already spoken with Patrick."
"Your plans are meticulous. I'll grant you the authority to arrange things."
Putting everything else aside, 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.
Along with the tension rising 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 scenery before her, which remained unchanged as always, and took a deep breath.
She still had many things to prepare. This time, if they succeeded, the Coordinators would gain a rare initiative.
...
And so, time quietly passed by several weeks under Fred's efforts.
Public sentiment on both sides remained boiling, but aside from this, the authorities were surprisingly quite calm.
However, to the discerning eye, this calm was also due to the brewing storm.
As the monthly transport ship made another trip.
Perhaps Blue Cosmos had already set their sights on the South American transport ship, or perhaps not yet.
In any case, the waiting was always agonizing.
For Lacus and the others, it was no different.
However, as someone with knowledge of the plot, Fred naturally knew that the attack was only a matter of time. So, he wasn't overly worried or tense, 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 go for lunch, a sharp ring from the terminal interrupted his movement as he stood up.
"Brother Fred, it's here!"
Looking at the message before him, Fred felt a sudden tightness in his chest, then 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 overwhelming.
On a cosmic scale, chance encounters were truly surprising.
It was much like the Age of Exploration.
Most of the time, the open seas revealed no one in sight.
The transport ship here was no exception, sailing alone in the desolate expanse of space, far from any settlements.
Yet, 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 pierced the darkness of space, illuminating the unarmed cargo vessel.
The metallic reflections cast a rainbow of colors across the screens of those watching.
"This is the Atlantic Federation fleet enforcing a blockade. According to 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, 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 at all—the ship simply drifted there alone, like bait.
While this could be attributed to the secrecy of the operation, if the opposing commander was the same as before, then things were far from 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 the second secret flight between PLANT and South America.
He probably wouldn't be involved.
Moreover, this intelligence had come from opposition factions within South America.
Given the hostile relations between the two sides and their verification, the information was most likely accurate.
With these thoughts, Barnes found himself in a dilemma.
After all, he wasn't the commander, and speaking out of turn might provoke the commander beside him.
Just as Barnes was lost in thought, the cargo ship's response arrived.
"This is the refugee ship 'Mandelbrot,' transporting refugees from Panama to PLANT! We have 320 passengers on board, including women and children! We carry no military supplies and request passage exemption under the International Civil Aviation Convention! Repeat, we are a refugee vessel, requesting humanitarian clearance!"
Although the atmosphere on the bridge was equally tense at this moment due to being part of the regular military, many crew members, upon hearing the other party's words, revealed the same contemptuous smile as the commander.
It is difficult to distinguish between cargo ships and refugee ships based on appearance alone.
After all, both are 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 the ship before them, according to its registration information, was indeed a refugee transport vessel.
But based on their intelligence, this ship was undoubtedly a secret transport vessel.
"Do they think we're fools?"
The Captain looked at the images of the ship's interior cabins and the passenger list sent by the other party and sneered coldly.
Although the information they sent was indeed the layout of the cabins, who would believe such a thing?
Their spies in South America had all insisted that the ship was carrying food, and there was a complete chain of evidence to corroborate it.
The Captain would never let them go just because the other side sent a passenger list.
Even if there were refugees on board, he was determined to keep them here.
Thinking coldly, the Captain paid no further attention to other matters. With a wave of his hand, his deep and chilling voice followed.
"Stubborn fools! Sink that ship for me!"
"Commander... wouldn't it be better to board and inspect the ship?"
Barnes, after some hesitation, decided to speak up.
He was certainly not someone prone to undue leniency, but he wasn't foolish either.
From the moment they locked onto this ship, he had felt a sense of unease in his heart. The operation had proceeded too smoothly, as if the people on that ship were waiting for them to attack.
Especially after the previous battle at Mendel, Barnes had become even more vigilant.
Having faced the enemy before and reviewing the battle afterward, he had naturally discerned some of the tactics of the opposing commander.
Simply put, they would avoid using personnel wherever possible.
The armor of space vessels was specially treated to protect against cosmic radiation, which also blocked scans from various instruments, so they couldn't scan what was inside the other ship.
This situation gave him a feeling of a trap.
Not to mention, ZAFT's recent movements had been quite strange.
Previously, they had been relatively low-key, but lately, they had been constantly provoking.
The commander earlier was clearly one of the victims, already consumed by hatred and lacking rationality.
Although it wasn't certain that the same commander would be leading this operation or that this was a trap, precautions still needed to be taken.
"I didn't expect you to be so soft-hearted."
Upon hearing this, the commander showed no mercy, scoffing at the adjutant who had challenged his authority.
"Have you forgotten how many of our people have been killed in our recent operations? Have you forgotten how many of our comrades have died at the hands of these despicable Coordinators? Are you so eager to survive that you've forgotten the vengeance owed to your own subordinates?"
"It must be truly frustrating to serve under you, almost like being a grandson to the Coordinators."
Facing the commander's merciless mockery, a few malicious chuckles echoed through the bridge.
These were the commander's people.
When Barnes spoke up now, they felt he was slapping them in the face, and of course, they were hostile.
Meeting everyone's gaze, Barnes' back remained ramrod straight.
He fearlessly stared at the commander before him.
Like a wooden puppet.
The eerie silence on the bridge lasted only a moment. Without giving Barnes a chance to retort, the commander's eyes grew even colder as he continued.
"Then if we board and suffer personnel losses, can that be charged to your account, Adjutant Barnes!"
The commander emphasized the word "adjutant" heavily.
Anyone could hear the hostility in his tone.
Hearing this, Barnes' mouth slightly opened, an awkward expression on his face. In the end, he shook his head and stepped back.
Seeing Barnes like this, the commander, having finally vented his anger, arrogantly glanced at Barnes out of the corner of his eye before straightening himself in his captain's seat.
The others looked at Barnes with varying degrees of mockery.
Even within Blue Cosmos, there were factional struggles.
And clearly, Barnes was not one of them.
As for Barnes, though his face was flushed with embarrassment mixed with pallor,
his mind remained remarkably calm.
His facial expression was mostly an act. In truth, Barnes wasn't entirely certain whether the ship before them was a trap.
But he had already given his warning. If something really went wrong, it wouldn't be his responsibility.
After all, this operation was under the other party's full command. With that earlier question, he now had recorded evidence on hand.
He understood the commander's intention in bringing him here—nothing more than wanting someone to pin the blame on.
But it was truly foolish, driven by reckless ambition.
Still, he needed to be prepared.
If things developed as severely as he feared, the other side would try to shift the blame onto him, the adjutant.
Of course, the other side had connections, but so did he.
As for the emotions of those around him now, they meant nothing to him.
Better them than me.
If these idiots really walked into a trap, they'd deserve it.
And if it turned out not to be a trap, he'd accept that.
At worst, he'd lose a little face—nothing compared to the risk of being made a scapegoat.
The commander paid no further attention to the young man behind him and loudly issued the command.
"Open fire!"
Following his order, countless missiles from the surrounding Drake-class ships densely streaked toward the cargo vessel.
Of course, not all missiles were launched—only about twenty or so.
Yet the ship made no attempt to evade and was destroyed just like that.
As if it hadn't recovered from the shock of their sudden attack.
Without any surprise, every missile struck the PLANT cargo ship.
Only the crimson glow of the explosion remained, overpowering the searchlights and illuminating the excited, twisted faces of the crew.
Soon, cheers erupted across the bridge. There was no panic over possibly having destroyed a refugee ship—only exhilaration.
It was the thrill of completing a mission and earning rewards, as well as the excitement of eliminating Coordinators.
But Barnes was not among those cheering.
After all, the ship hadn't made the slightest attempt to evade just now, which was undeniably strange.
Just as Barnes's suspicions arose, the onboard computer precisely captured the signal transmission from the transport ship ahead.
"An unidentified signal has exchanged data with this vessel!"
The science officer exclaimed in surprise.
"Who is it? Are there any of their escort ships nearby?"
The commander quickly snapped back to attention and asked loudly.
He hadn't considered the possibility of a trap, assuming only that PLANT had escorts operating covertly.
"No... the signal's destination cannot be traced."
Upon hearing the science officer's words, while the others were still puzzled, Barnes had already turned and headed out of the bridge.
His expression was ashen.
His earlier premonitions had now come true.
This was a trap.
The untraceable signal was clearly identical to the situation during the operation at Mendel.
While it wasn't unusual for technologies to be similar, such advanced technology wouldn't be so easily disseminated.
If he wasn't mistaken, the transmitted data likely included their recent actions and words.