After learning about the situation of Lacus and the others in South America, Reid fell into silence.
They absolutely had to be rescued, but this time it wasn't because Reid wanted to curry favor or anything.
It was purely because Lacus and the others' trip to South America was his doing, and currently, he had no conflicts or entanglements of interest with them—they could even be considered friends. Both emotionally and logically, Reid felt it was only right to provide whatever help he could.
So Reid went to find Nein. After a month of technical integration, the Mobile Suit she had designed for him should have been finalized.
However, Reid had been thoroughly worn out by his wives over the past month, and Nein, just like in the game, instinctively sought to understand love by interacting with others. Moreover, she had a normal sense of right and wrong, so after learning that Reid was being punished for his affairs, she had been relentlessly sarcastic. For instance, the moment Reid asked about the Mobile Suit design, she immediately retorted:
"Mr. Reid, please don't entertain any improper thoughts about my body. You might get me pregnant."
Reid could only sigh in exasperation. Nein's remark was purely teasing—the "body" she referred to was likely the Mobile Suit she had designed. According to Nein, compared to her current form, storing her true self within the Mobile Suit was the intended state during her design.
So, there was no risk of pregnancy, and Reid wasn't perverted enough to develop a physical interest in a Mobile Suit. He wasn't like those people from his previous life who could even physically engage with an exhaust pipe.
Fortunately, Nein's teasing was usually brief. After Reid lightly tapped her head with his tablet, she huffily transmitted several sets of Mobile Suit data to him and said:
"After all, it's you who will be piloting me, so take a look at these proposals and pick one."
Seeing that Nein had sent over the blueprints, Reid naturally began examining them seriously.
Soon, Reid had a clear understanding of Nein's design philosophy.
Unlike Tem Ray, who preferred specialized Mobile Suits for specific purposes, Nein adhered to a standard high-speed, heavy-firepower approach.
The classic example of this style was the Tallgeese—a typical "want it all" design, ensuring firepower and armor while maintaining speed.
Basically, if thrust was insufficient, add more thrusters; if firepower was lacking, add more cannons; if armor was inadequate, make it thicker.
This design philosophy often resulted in an all-rounder, but such Mobile Suits were extremely difficult to control and somewhat taxing on the pilot.
Fortunately, these issues weren't too significant for Reid. The existence of AC Gundanium Alloy greatly reduced armor pressure, allowing many Mobile Suits to achieve the defensive strength in Nein's designs without requiring full armor configuration.
As for mobility, the problem was solved by the small Minovsky Flight Device from the F91 and the Psychoframe.
Although upgrading the Psychoframe to the Psycho-Frame posed higher technical challenges than Reid had anticipated and would require some R&D time, the nanotechnology research at the Hoshimiya City Research Institute was progressing steadily with Nein's assistance. It was likely that results would be achieved soon.
As for now, with the Psychoframe combined with the third-generation Psycommu Cockpit improved by Elvira Hill (which has fully integrated the Psycommu System into the cockpit design, no longer occupying additional space as an independent system), the flexibility of Reid's Mobile Suits has generally increased by over twenty percent (primarily in joint mobility and response speed).
Therefore, the Mobile Suit designs provided by Nein this time rarely resemble bulky iron blocks like the Vangrey, instead possessing a certain aesthetic appeal.
However, perhaps because Nein is a complete original character from Super Robot Wars, her Mobile Suit designs feel extremely familiar.
For example, the first one—no matter how Reid looks at it, it's practically a Lipps-Dra.
Of course, this Mobile Suit only resembles it in appearance; the technologies used are all within Reid's possession.
Despite already having a small Minovsky Flight Device, this Mobile Suit was designed on a large scale because its armaments are somewhat outrageous.
First, this Mobile Suit lacks anything resembling hands.
The right arm is a Positron Blaster that uses VSBR technology to increase particle density, with the arm and barrel combined measuring over ten meters in length.
This was specifically designed by Nein to counter the Lightwave Shield Generators of the CE Universe, and it targets those powered by Micro Fusion Reactors from the AC Universe.
Naturally, compressing this thing to ten meters is already absurd, so don't expect the condensed positron beam to be capable of rapid fire.
To be precise, a full-power shot requires about half a second to charge, and after firing, it takes at least half a minute to recharge for a second shot of equivalent power. Its selling point is the opposite of the Buster Beam Rifle, specializing in high-power, single-target destruction.
As for the left arm, below the joint lies a massive Assault Shield System.
This Shield has independent Phase Shift Armor, intended to defend against high-power physical attacks and also for ramming enemies.
However, this Assault Shield System can open from the middle, deploying a physical blade about seven meters long, and it can also release Plasma to form a Plasma Blade (not the Beam Blade of the AC Universe, as Plasma cannot be deployed underwater; it is an enlarged version of the Union Flag's Plasma Sword, deployable even in MA Mode). Judging by the parameters, it's quite exaggerated.
The remaining armaments consist of a chest-mounted 60mm rapid-fire machine cannon and two multi-purpose ten-tube missile launchers on the flight pack, which are relatively standard compared to the armaments on the arms.
Of course, this Mobile Suit also has special systems. Aside from the Lambda Driver, Nein also added an I-Field to this unit.
With so many armaments, relying solely on the small Minovsky Flight Device to ensure high cruising speed is impossible. Thus, this Mobile Suit is equipped with high-output thrusters on its legs and flight pack.
Moreover, it can transform into MA Mode similar to the Zeta Gundam, with one of the exaggerated armaments mounted underneath the fuselage and the other relocated to the top, while the missile bays shift to the rear.
This design clearly encourages the pilot to deploy the blade from the head in MA Mode for ramming attacks.
Reid's first reaction upon seeing this Mobile Suit was whether the frame could support such outrageous armaments. Then, after reviewing the theoretical data provided by Nein, he conceded—utilizing technology from the Behemoth, it allocates part of the Lambda Driver's power to protect the frame.
No wonder this Mobile Suit was equipped with an I-Field - with it active, Reid couldn't use the Lambda Driver to manipulate Mirage Colloid and bend Beam attacks.
Therefore, Reid decided to skip this unit and check the next one.
Then Reid fell silent again. This one... was the Gemini-O, right?
Just from its appearance, it was clear this unit couldn't match the Lipps-Dra in speed, but this was mainly due to different design priorities.
It naturally featured a miniature Minovsky Flight Device, Psycoframe, Psycommu Cockpit, and Lambda Driver.
However, this Mobile Suit had two main distinctive features.
The first was the two Destroyer Beam Cannons mounted on its back, identical to those on the Hermes Zero. No lengthy explanation was needed - the Hermes Zero's numerous combat records had already demonstrated how devastating these cannons were.
Though, with two of them installed simultaneously, even the AC Universe's Micro Fusion Reactor couldn't handle such outrageous energy consumption. (These are cannons, not Destroyer Beam Rifles, so don't confuse them with the Wing Zero's weapons).
To address this, the cannons utilized charging modules that pre-stored one shot each when not in use, ensuring the Mobile Suit could fire two volleys immediately upon deployment.
Then came the lengthy recharge period - it took at least three minutes before the next shot could be fired.
The second distinctive feature was the mechanical structure that extended left and right, which served not only as a heat dissipation system but also as a large-scale Mirage Colloid disperser.
Additionally, its back mounted four large Funnels utilizing the Dragoons System.
This large Mirage Colloid disperser was designed to apply the Phantom Particle Magnetic Field Technology (this technology wasn't from the Forbidden Gundam but was independently developed by the New Misurugi Kingdom. After all, bending Beams was Reid's basic operation, and with sufficient data collected, they naturally understood how to constrain Mirage Colloid to bend Beams).
With this technology, the unit didn't need any I-Field.
When the Phantom Particle Magnetic Field was deployed, it created a 360-degree Beam distortion field without blind spots. Only continuous particle impact could disperse it. This was specifically developed to counter VSBR Positron Blasters.
Against this Phantom Particle Magnetic Field, sustained high-energy particle impact weapons like the Destroyer Rifle worked best.
Moreover, even without activating the Phantom Particle Magnetic Field Technology, this large Mirage Colloid disperser combined with the Lambda Driver would allow Reid to perform all sorts of tricks.
So even when facing sustained high-energy particle weapons like the Destroyer Rifle, Reid had ways to counter them.
As for the unit's other armaments, they were relatively standard: two high-heat physical blades at the waist, and two Beam Boomerangs on the shoulders.
Crucially, this Mobile Suit had hands and could normally equip Shields or other weapons, offering much better armament flexibility than the Lipps-Dra.
Of course, speed was inevitably this unit's weakness. While not exactly turtle-slow, its straight-line sprint speed couldn't even keep up with the Delta Plus - in terms of speed, it could only compete with the Mystic Lightning.
Reid was actually quite satisfied with this firepower-focused Gemini-O. The only issue was that most of its weapons couldn't be used underwater, essentially rendering it disabled in aquatic environments.
Reid thought this unit would be best paired with a GN Drive. Elvira Hill had already conducted compatibility experiments between Mirage Colloid and GN Particles.
Mirage Colloid has no relation to baryon decay, therefore it does not trigger annihilation reactions with GN Particles—the two can coexist harmoniously.
This compatibility doesn't extend to Minovsky Particles and GN Particles, however. When the density of these two particle types increases, it leads to explosions.
Consequently, Nein proposed harnessing the annihilation reaction between conflicting particles, combined with Mirage Colloid containment, to create either an Annihilation Engine or an Annihilation Cannon.
But quantum computer simulations revealed that even Gundarium Alloy from the AC Universe couldn't withstand such reactions. Magnetic confinement was also unfeasible, since these particles inherently generate two distinct magnetic fields. Attempting to envelop and control them with a stronger magnetic field would turn the field itself into a superweapon, rendering further research into annihilation reactions pointless.
Thus, Reid skipped over this Mobile Suit and moved on to the third design.
Upon seeing this unit, Reid finally breathed a sigh of relief—it didn't resemble any Super Robot Wars mecha.
This Mobile Suit bore some resemblance to the AGE Gundam, featuring an overall design that prioritized enhanced short-range agility over heavy armor.
Common systems need no elaboration. This unit lacked exaggerated high-power weaponry, instead carrying numerous funnel weapons.
The I-shaped devices on both shoulders formed a detachable Magnetic Funnel Shield System. Though composed of only four components, this shield could match the defensive capability of the Mercury Gundam's ten-stage Electromagnetic Shield.
The right hand was equipped with a VSBR-type high-energy Beam Rifle. Based on its displayed parameters, Reid felt it performed comparably to the Archangel's 225cm twin high-energy Beam Cannon [Gottfried Mk-71].
The only difference was the shorter effective range of the VSBR high-energy Beam Rifle compared to the [Gottfried Mk-71], essentially making it a CE Universe version of a Magnum.
While this firearm's penetration and destructive power fell short of the earlier VSBR Positron Blaster, its capability for rapid-fire made it far more practical in Reid's assessment.
The left hand carried a large Beam Sword Shield System capable of generating CE Beam Shields in sword form for both offensive slicing and defensive protection, creating an integrated attack-defense mechanism.
Mounted on the back were two Heavy Ion Funnels similar to those on the Delta Gundam Kai. The legs contained storage bays housing ten small funnels each (with output equivalent to the Strike Dagger's Beam Rifle).
Finally, two Electromagnetic Cannons mounted at the waist provided supplemental solid ammunition attacks.
Reid considered this Mobile Suit specially optimized for Newtype funnel weapons, realizing its terrifying multi-directional firepower potential only in space.
Therefore, Reid concluded this unit required a GN Drive to achieve its complete form, as only this would enable atmospheric operation of its numerous small funnels.
The subsequent thirty-plus designs failed to leave as strong an impression as the first three.
Ultimately overwhelmed by choices, Reid massaged his acupuncture points and remarked, "Nein, there are too many designs. Couldn't you pre-filter a few of your favorite Mobile Suits first?"
Nein deliberately put on an adorable act at this moment, blinking her dewy large eyes as she stared at Reid and said:
"Reid, I originally wanted to do the same. But I learned a saying here: for adults, you can say 'I want it all.'
Besides, I'm a girl. Isn't it normal for girls to have more clothes?"
Reid nearly choked on his own saliva upon hearing this, thinking: You, Nein, treat Mobile Suits as clothes? Weren't you just saying that the Mobile Suit is your body?
But upon careful consideration, for Nein, possessing a Mobile Suit really is like wearing clothes, because she's a formidable individual capable of switching Mobile Suits autonomously.
However, no family could possibly provide Nein with so many Mobile Suits.
It's important to note that these Mobile Suits are extremely complex in design, and ordinary pilots simply can't operate them without the assistance of a powerful artificial intelligence like Nein.
And there's only one Nein. According to the setting, she can manage at most two Mobile Suits simultaneously. Moreover, these two Mobile Suits can't be too far apart, or she can only assist the one where her main body resides.
Building a bunch of Mobile Suits that no one can operate would be a pure waste, and my G-Coins can't withstand such consumption.