"What a half-hearted answer."
Lacus pretended to be angry upon hearing this, pouting as she spoke.
Seeing her playful and adorable expression, Felix smiled.
"Everything I said is true."
"Mm." Lacus nodded with a smile. "I'll take it as the truth then!"
"Weren't you returning? Why did you come back?"
Changing the subject, Felix asked Lacus.
Lacus set aside her teasing demeanor, her expression turning serious as she replied.
"We were originally preparing to leave, but we received a sudden notification telling us to follow your descent to Victoria Spaceport."
"I see."
Understanding now, Felix smiled slightly in response.
Looking at Lacus, Felix turned sideways and invited her.
"In that case, please rest at the base for another day or two. When it's time to leave, I'll notify you."
"Mm."
Nodding slightly, Lacus made a sound of agreement, stepping past Felix and heading inside. Felix turned and followed behind Lacus as they entered the base.
A day later, Lorentz Military Base welcomed a new commander.
Looking at this comrade who was about to take over his duties, Felix felt relieved that it wasn't Creuset. If that guy were to take over his work, he would genuinely be uneasy.
He worried that the forces of Lorentz Military Base would be deliberately sacrificed under Creuset's schemes, leading to a sharp decline in the base's strength and ultimately making it unsustainable.
All his hard work would go to waste.
"Captain Rogers, I leave Lorentz Base in your hands now."
Felix smiled as he spoke to Rogers.
Rogers nodded slightly, making a sound of agreement before replying.
"Leave it to me!"
"By the way, this is the combat plan I drafted for the attack on Endymion Base. I hope it will be of some help to you."
Felix handed the storage device to him. Rogers reached out, took it, carefully placed it in his pocket, and nodded solemnly.
"I'll review and consider your plan."
After speaking, Rogers saluted Felix.
Felix raised his hand and returned the salute.
Early the next morning, Felix returned to the Alighieri via shuttle, while Lacus and the others boarded a shuttle aircraft capable of atmospheric entry and ascended into the sky.
On the bridge of the Alighieri, Felix gave orders to Aric from his seat.
"In the upcoming maneuver, the Alighieri will take the front, the Balzac on the left, and the Maxim on the right. Protect the shuttle aircraft carrying Miss Lacus and the others at all costs.
Do not allow even the slightest danger to approach them."
Aric noted each command, saluted, and replied with a serious expression and a loud voice.
"Yes!"
After this acknowledgment, Aric turned to face forward, opened communications, and relayed Felix's arrangements to the Balzac and the Maxim.
Once everything was completed, Aric turned to face Felix.
"Captain, your orders have been relayed."
"Mm." Felix nodded slightly and informed Aric, "Once I lead the team in the low Earth orbit drop, you will command the warship to withdraw from the vicinity of low Earth orbit to avoid being surrounded by the Earth Alliance Forces here.
At the same time, to ensure your safety, I am leaving the Mobile Suit Team led by Doulens behind to protect you in case of danger."
"Yes."
Aric saluted and replied.
Hearing his response, Felix fell silent and sat in his chair, quietly waiting for time to pass.
Low Earth Orbit
"Captain, we have reached low Earth orbit above Victoria Spaceport."
Aric reported to Felix.
Standing up and nodding to Aric, Felix patted his shoulder without a word and headed out of the bridge.
Watching Felix leave, Aric turned forward, his gaze resolute, and issued the command in a clear, loud voice.
"Operation begin!"
With those words spoken, the drop operation officially commenced.
The launch bay doors of the Alighieri opened, and the prepared Mobile Suit Pilots sortied in their MS from the warship.
After the others, Felix arrived at the hangar and entered the cockpit of the Dawn.
Piloting the Dawn, he charged out of the warship.
Above Low Earth Orbit
The Mobile Suit Team led by Felix and the one led by Heine gathered together. Under Felix's command, they distributed themselves using drop shuttle aircraft.
Doulens, meanwhile, led his Mobile Suit Team to bring over the drop pods carried by the transport ship. Once everything was ready, Felix and the others followed the drop shuttle aircraft as they descended toward Earth.
"Return!"
Seeing that the troops had begun their drop, Aric ordered the return.
Victoria Spaceport, near Lake Victoria, Africa
A shuttle aircraft was parked on the tarmac, surrounded by twelve MS, with the white MS at the forefront being the most striking.
"Captain Griffith, long time no see!"
Doug greeted the arriving Felix with a warm, smiling face. Seeing Doug after so long, Felix smiled and nodded.
"It really has been a long time."
After saying this, Felix turned his gaze toward the shuttle aircraft and continued, "We'll have plenty of time to chat later. Right now, we have other matters to attend to."
"Mm."
Doug nodded in agreement.
Walking side by side with Felix, they approached the shuttle aircraft. Just as they arrived, the shuttle's hatch opened, and Lacus stepped out first.
Wearing a gentle, healing smile, she waved to everyone below the steps.
As she waved, Lacus descended the staircase.
"Miss Lacus, welcome."
Doug stepped forward, his expression warm and enthusiastic, expressing his welcome to Lacus. Looking at Doug, Lacus smiled and nodded.
"Captain Doug, you're too kind."
"Not at all! Not at all! It's only proper."
Doug chuckled in response to Lacus.
After speaking, Doug stepped aside, extended his hand in a gesture of invitation, and continued to Lacus.
"Miss Lacus, you must be tired and hungry after your long journey. We've prepared a sumptuous meal and arranged accommodations for you. Please follow me!"
"Captain Doug, you're being too courteous. You're making me feel rather embarrassed."
Feeling the warmth in Doug's words, Lacus smiled faintly with some bashfulness.
Doug simply smiled in response without saying anything further.
Lacus also fell silent, then turned to look at Felix and asked with a smile.
"Captain Griffith, would you like to join us for a meal?"
Felix shook his head, declining the invitation.
"No, I have matters to discuss with Captain Doug and won't be able to accept your invitation."
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