Gundam, the Gundam journey of a certain glue guy and his mecha girl.

"Alright, Major Lamias, don't be so tense. You are the most famous and decorated unit in our army. It's okay to relax a little. No one will gossip."

He paused, then changed the subject, his eyes scanning the screen as if searching for someone.

"Speaking of which, where is 'Skyfire Crow' on the bridge? I was hoping to get his autograph for my son."

"Well..."

Maru remembered Raven's instructions and quickly put on a sorrowful expression.

"Lieutenant Ray... in the battle in the Pacific, in order to cover the evacuation of the Archangel, he faced four stolen Gs alone and ultimately sacrificed himself heroically. I will attach detailed battle details in the report to be submitted later."

"I see..."

Colonel Sazarland's tone also became very heavy, but Maru, with her uniquely feminine sensitivity, caught a fleeting hint of relaxation in his expression.

'There really is something fishy here.'

"Those damned adjusters have killed another promising young man. However, Major Lamias, you don't need to worry about your safety from now on. During your stay at JOSH-A base, the 13th Independent Unit can rest well. Headquarters has made arrangements, and you will receive comprehensive supplies and preparations."

Colonel Sazarand's words surprised Maru somewhat.

"Rest and recuperation? The fighting on the front lines is very intense right now. The Archangel is in good condition. Don't you need us to go to the front lines to provide support?"

"Although Major General Halbarton has been trying to transfer you back to space, the generals at headquarters believe you need some time to rest. Of course, during this period, there will be some publicity work that requires your cooperation. In a few days, high-ranking government officials will be visiting JOSH-A base in person. Just cooperate and take a few photos with them."

After Colonel Shazaland finished speaking, he turned off the communication. Baki Lulu, who had been silently listening to the entire conversation, frowned, sensing that something was wrong.

It is illogical to deliberately leave the Archangel behind for propaganda purposes when the fighting on the front lines is intense.

"Are we going to become pawns for headquarters to manipulate Admiral Halbarton?"

"Captain?"

Maru, realizing her slip of the tongue after feeling Basilulu's gaze, knew that such words were inappropriate to utter in public.

Maru quickly laughed it off, but deep down, her suspicion of the JOSH-A base could not be dispelled.

-----------------

At the same moment, Master Marcio's shuttle gradually approached PLANT, located in the L5 space region.

Raven and Kira pressed themselves against the shuttle's porthole, gazing into the distance at the cosmic nation comprised of 92 Libra-type colony satellites.

Who would have thought that a total of 6000 million people live in this small world comprised of 92 Libra-shaped colony satellites?

What's even more unimaginable is that the productivity of these 60 million people is almost on par with that of the Earth, which has a population of over 10 billion.

"It's simply a miracle."

Raven sighed from the bottom of his heart.

"Is this your first time at PLANT?"

The voice of Mentor Marcio came from behind me.

“I’m a true native of Earth. Heliopolis is the farthest place I’ve ever been.”

Raven's gaze never strayed from PLANT in the distance.

"Looking at PLANT, I feel that the war we are currently fighting is meaningless. I've heard that PLANT, with just tens of millions of people living on it, has the same productivity as the entire Earth. If such technology could be popularized, perhaps we humans could have the opportunity to leave our cradle and venture into the stars."

"Let's journey towards the stars and the sea..."

The blind teacher smiled slightly, his voice very gentle.

"What a grand ideal! It seems Mr. Raven is a man with the seeds."

"Seeds?"

Raven was somewhat stunned by his mentor Marquis's seemingly random remark.

"In my view, you possess the seed to unleash the inner potential of humanity. Perhaps, the future you desire will be reached under your guidance."

"I'm just an ordinary person who likes to tinker with robots. You're praising me too much. I can't do something as great as leading humanity. All I can do is contribute my share to achieving that future."

Chapter Sixty-Four: Reunion with the Desert Tiger

Mentor Marcio came to PLANT at the request of the Earth Alliance to deliver a so-called "Obama Concession" to PLANT's leadership.

However, although the document was titled a concession proposal, its contents made Professor Marcio secretly shake his head.

PLANT is only recognized to have "some degree" of autonomy, while its diplomatic, military, and other powers are to be jointly managed by the member states of the Earth United Nations.

Such a demanding proposal was unacceptable even to moderates who advocated for peace. Not to mention that the PLANT government is now led by the radicals, led by Patrick Sara.

This was a journey destined to be fruitless. The only meaningful thing for Master Marcio was helping Halbarton deliver Raven to PLANT.

Halbarton was one of the few reliable generals in the Allied Forces whom Master Marquis knew who was not influenced by Blue Cosmosism. Raven, who represented Halbarton's will, became Master Marquis's hope.

Hopefully, his contact with the Cline faction will yield positive results.

With that thought in mind, he led Raven and Kira, who were dressed as his entourage, off the shuttle.

As soon as he stepped off the shuttle, Raven was captivated by the futuristic scenery inside the PLANT colony satellite.

Although humanity has entered the CE era, in Raven's view, both the cities on Earth and Heliopolis are much the same as the cities he lived in in his previous life.

But it was only when he stepped into PLANT that Raven truly understood what a future city was like.

Looking up, one sees a sky composed of layers of precisely arranged elastic polarizing glass. These glasses prevent harmful cosmic rays from entering the interior of the colony satellite while allowing outside light to pass through.

The sunlight inside the colony satellite is provided by a giant array of reflectors located in the middle of the hourglass-shaped colony satellite.

By combining elastic polarizing glass and a giant array of reflectors, it is possible to simulate the same day and night cycles as on Earth inside a colony satellite.

Although colony satellites are man-made celestial bodies, they have a complete ecosystem built inside, complete with vegetation and water systems.

One high-rise building after another stands in the center of the colony satellite. In the gaps between the buildings, various unmanned hovercraft constantly shuttle between them. Of course, there are also many traditional vehicles with drivers on the ground.

These numerous vehicles are controlled by a massive traffic management system, ensuring that the city's traffic continues to operate normally.

PLANT's reception staff didn't keep Master Malchio waiting for long. A special car for picking up VIPs took Master Malchio up. Raven and Kira were about to follow when they felt someone tap their shoulder.

“You guys go this way.”

Raven felt the voice was somewhat familiar, but before he could remember who it was, the person pulled him to a secluded corner without saying a word.

"Long time no see, Mr. Raven, and the kid who drove the assault. You haven't forgotten me, have you?"

Andrew folded his sunglasses and tucked them into his collar, his voice as deep and steady as ever.

"Andrew!"

Raven was somewhat surprised, not expecting to run into an acquaintance here.

"Desert Tiger..."

Unlike Raven, Kira was clearly a little nervous.

"Andrew, what are you doing? Why did you give up being a captain and come to PLANT to do airport pickups?"

Upon hearing this, Andrew let out a muffled groan of displeasure.

"Who do you think it's because of? It's because you and the guerrillas beat us to a pulp. My Butterfield team was disbanded on the spot, and I, Aisha, and poor Da Costa were all forced to retire."

"Isn't this great? They can enjoy retirement at a young age. If you ask me, they should be called pension thieves."

"Go! Go! Go."

Andrew waved at Raven as if swatting away flies, then looked around before asking.

"Why are you the only one here with this kid? Where's El? Didn't you bring her?"

“There’s no way around it, El is too conspicuous in every sense, and I also need her to stay in Orb to help me receive a new mobile suit. Besides, during PLANT, I’m not the dead ‘Skyfire Raven’.”

Raven raised his right hand and used his index finger to push the sunglasses on the bridge of his nose upwards.

“I am Edward Maas now, and no one else.”

"Love...Edward Maas?"

Andrew's eye twitched as he looked at the young man with an oriental face.

At the same time, Raven nudged Kira beside him.

“Oh, by the way, Mr. Andrew. My pseudonym is Tomoki Sakurai. Nice to meet you.”

Kira sounded like a student being called on by the teacher to answer a question, his voice earnest and serious.

"Although I don't think your pseudonyms are really useful... fine, whatever makes you happy."

Andrew sighed as he watched the teacher and student engrossed in their spy game.

-----------------

At the same time, at ZAFT Kapandaria base.

"Tsk, how come you always seem to have all the good things happen to you?"

"Izak said unhappily as he watched Aslan about to board the shuttle back to his country."

"There's nothing we can do. We were outmaneuvered by that 'Skyfire Raven,' while Aslan managed to force him to self-destruct all by himself."

Diego remained as carefree as ever.

"It's because he killed you right away that I lost my composure and that's how that guy got his way."

"Hey, I didn't realize you cared about me so much, Yzak."

"Stop nagging!"

"Alright, you two, Aslan is leaving, so stop arguing."

Nicol's voice was as gentle as ever.

The easily angered Ytzhak, the sleazy Diego, and the gentle Nicol.

Aslan, who thought he had lost them forever, couldn't help but smile as he watched them bickering in front of him.

Although his Aegis suffered irreversible damage to its frame from the short sword's point-blank self-destruction, forcing it to be scrapped, his greatest fortune was seeing his comrades reappear before him unharmed.

Aslan himself, having shot down the Allied Forces' top ace, was awarded the FAITH badge and is about to return to PLANT.

Everything seemed to be going so smoothly, and even Kira, whom he missed the most, seemed to have stayed in Orb and no longer appeared on the battlefield.

But the thought of returning to PLANT instantly dampened Aslan's spirits.

After losing his wife, his father became increasingly paranoid, and the once warm home lost its former atmosphere.

Besides, returning to PLANT also means seeing the girl who is nominally his fiancée, and Aslan is often troubled by how to maintain the right distance in his relationship with her.

Perhaps these problems will be solved someday after the war ends, but for now, Aslan can't help but sigh at the problems he is about to face.

Chapter 65 The Evil Fruit

When Raven opened the car door, he found that there was already a passenger inside.

She sat quietly by the window, her hands clasped on her knees. An elegant white dress accentuated her slender figure, and her signature long pink hair cascaded down her shoulders. A pink soldier ant perched quietly on her shoulder, and as the girl turned her head, the ant followed her gaze, its red lens fixed on Raven's figure.

Raven was somewhat surprised, not expecting that Lux, whom he hadn't seen in a long time, would come to greet him in person.

“Miss Klein, I didn’t expect to meet you here.”

However, the pink-haired girl did not respond to Raven. Instead, she pouted playfully, turned her head away, and left Raven with only her long, smooth pink hair.

Raven then remembered the promise he made when they parted last time.

"I'm sorry, it's a pleasure to see you again, Lux."

Hearing Raven's blunt words, Lux turned around and gave him a genuine smile.

"Me too, Mr. Raven. Welcome to PLANT."

Lacus's gaze passed over Raven's shoulder and landed on Kira, who looked somewhat reserved outside the car.

"Oh, Mr. Kira is here too. Thank you so much for last time."

Kira subconsciously raised his hands and waved them in front of him in response.

"It was just a small favor, please don't mind it. Also, I'm not Kira Yamato, please call me Tomoki Sakurai."

?

Lux blinked, and tilted her head along with the pink soldier ant perched on her shoulder.

"Isn't it common practice for agents to prepare a false name when they infiltrate? By the way, my name is Edward..."

"Hey, you two! Stop playing spy games and get in the car!"