"I was only trying it out, but I didn't expect Athrun to be so decisive."
Analog Hack did not always succeed.
Depending on the person, an Analog Hack could also fail.
For example, making Athrun notice the news that Lacus had gone missing in order to divert his attention was also a kind of inducement, but for Athrun, Lacus simply did not have enough pull to shake him.
Probably only news about Kira could make Athrun waver.
But Inori had no intention of revealing that right now.
No matter. There were plenty of other solutions.
Athrun knew none of this.
After finishing his report and sending the email, Athrun finally relaxed and lay down on the bed.
"I feel like… I forgot something."
[Your fiancée, bro]
[Athrun has already been molded into Cagalli's shape. Lacus who? Don't know her]
[Lacus: I've already been molded into Kira and Inori's shape. Sorry, Athrun, sob sob sob]
[Stop, my stomach hurts from laughing]
[It was a political marriage to begin with, right? Maybe the two of them never had much of an emotional foundation anyway]
[This is pretty fun]
[This isn't NTR. It's called helping each other move on]
[But mutual NTR is more fun]
[You people will stop at nothing for NTR, huh]
[NTR fans see NTR everywhere]
The viewers tried to spam the chat and make Athrun remember Lacus.
But right now, Athrun's head was full of Kira.
For some reason, however, Athrun also thought of Cagalli. "That Cagalli… she's from Orb too, right?"
Although she had never revealed her identity, from the way she spoke Athrun could easily tell that she was not an ordinary Orb civilian.
She was definitely the daughter of someone in the upper ranks, and quite possibly had some decision-making authority herself.
She was just a little airheaded.
"It's time to leave."
The war would continue.
Now it was time to depart.
"Mm…"
But just before leaving the dormitory, Athrun suddenly thought of something else.
"There's still a little time. I'll take a quick look."
How many Naturals had ultimately died because of the Neutron Jammers?
There were no official figures. But plenty of people liked to brag that tens of millions had died on Earth because nuclear power had disappeared…
Naturally, those kinds of boastful claims could not be trusted.
But there were other ways to investigate.
"Earth's total grain production…"
"No, there's more. The Atlantic Federation's grain imports?! But aren't they… a grain-producing country?"
Athrun fell into thought.
"And then… the data from PLANT…"
There was not much time, so Athrun worked as fast as he could.
The Stage did not linger on him for long. At that moment, it switched to another scene.
A ZAFT officer.
"Effects on the mind from long-term survival in enclosed or space environments… hallucinations… self-protection… cognitive distortion… Mm, lunch break is over."
Having finished reading the recently popular space-survival handbook, it was time to get back to work.
Although this was ZAFT, ZAFT was technically a "militia organization," so it was not quite as strict as a true Earth military, and clerical work was somewhat easier as well.
After returning to work, the officer pulled up the information on his screen.
"Ah, it's Athrun Zala's report… Oh dear, looks like there really are still some issues. Should we have him undergo another mental-state evaluation? Hmm, but he's about to head back. I'll have Captain Le Creuset keep an eye on Athrun's mental state…"
The officer was very considerate of Athrun.
"This worked too. That means I won't have to hack in."
Inori nodded.
Side characters had their advantages too. When manipulating things behind the scenes, the camera would not catch them.
Then again, if you were the protagonist, you usually did not need to do much secret manipulation in the first place.
At that moment, the scene switched again, this time to Murrue and the others.
The Archangel's officers had all been summoned aboard the Doolittle.
"We investigated the contents of the Archangel's navigation computer, but there's nothing left inside. Captain Murrue Ramius, can you explain what happened?" William Sutherland sat opposite them, with several other officers seated beside him.
The Archangel group sat in the middle.
"Because the Archangel was not yet fully completed at the time, it was only after departure that we barely managed to finish the bridge. But because we were short-handed, some accidents may have occurred…" Murrue said.
After rendezvousing with the Archangel, there had been no welcome and no rest, only this inquiry that felt almost like an interrogation.
It was far too strange.
"I see. What a pity. In that case, I'm afraid your combat record can't be officially credited. Without physical evidence, what a pity indeed."
Sutherland leaned back in his chair. "Please provide detailed reports and testimony regarding every action you have taken up to this point."
"With respect, Colonel Sutherland. This sector of space is not safe right now…"
"No need to worry. This is Earth Alliance territory. ZAFT would not dare come here. As for you, do not engage in pointless resistance. Hurry and explain the situation clearly."
Murrue had only two subordinates with her.
Mu and Natarle were in the room next door, being questioned by a different group.
They were clearly taking precautions against the Archangel trying anything unauthorized.
"In addition, this inquiry will be conducted according to court-martial standards. Everything you say will be entered into the formal record. Do you all understand?"
"Yes."
—What kind of standards were those?
With that attitude, the other side clearly looked ready to drop all pretense and turn openly hostile…
But there was no helping it. For now, they still had to go along with this.
Naturally, they were not going to make the viewers sit through a meeting like this, so the scene switched once more, this time to the refugees and civilians.
"Hey, hey, this doesn't look like they're planning to let us leave at all."
Tolle looked outside.
Another group of Earth soldiers had entered.
Unlike the relatively friendly and casual people aboard the Archangel, these soldiers were here to keep everyone from going outside.
All the refugees were forbidden from leaving their rooms.
"Flay…"
Sai was still worried about Flay. She was over at the infirmary, and he had no idea how she was doing.
"These guys…"
In another room, Cagalli stood with her arms crossed.
Beside Cagalli, Kira had changed into casual clothes and was ready too. They were wearing pilot suits, but those suits… did not really look like pilot suits, so the Earth soldiers had not paid much attention to that.
(One pilot-suit jacket)
(I think this one was posted before)
(For Kira, the pilot suit is underneath)
"Do you really have to go over there?" Cagalli asked.
"There's no helping it. They insist on seeing Inori, and I'm Inori's manager."
Kira said.
"Mm. It'll be fine." Inori nodded.
However, when Inori and Kira left the Archangel together and arrived aboard the Doolittle, the Earth soldiers there separated the two of them…