A massive, specially designed shuttle from the Moon to Earth was slowly making its descent toward the planet.
Atmospheric friction ground against the shuttle's belly, creating flames that scorched its outer layers.
Through the windows, the view of the world outside was obscured by an intense, flickering orange filter.
"Landing posture normal. Flight path normal..."
Feeling the tremors vibrating through the hull and checking the data on the instrument panel, the shuttle captain exhaled in relief.
"Weather satellite forecast confirms wind direction is favorable..."
The co-pilot glanced at the dials before finding a comfortable position to lean back in his chair. "Landing on Earth is always such a pain—having to account for wind direction, wind speed, and all that."
"Cut the chatter. Even the MS in the cargo hold has to worry about the wind just as much as we do once it's flying, doesn't it?" the communications officer sitting nearby added with a chuckle.
"That's different. I heard the MS in the back is equipped with brand-new technology..."
Drawn in by the topic, the co-pilot's interest spiked. He opened up like a chatterbox, tossing out snippets of information he had gathered from various back-channels.
"Alright, that's enough."
Seeing the conversation steer toward dangerous territory, the captain quickly cut him off. "The contents of that cargo hold are a Federation secret. Unless you want to be invited for tea by the Bureau of Investigation, keep your mouth shut."
The name "Federation Bureau of Investigation" carried significant weight. While most people previously had only a vague understanding of the department, the crew members transporting this new MS had witnessed firsthand how even a titan like Anaheim Electronics had been stripped of a layer of skin by the Bureau's recent audits.
In the cargo bay, the subject of the crew's hushed conversation—the massive mobile suit, Penelope—lay fixed in a reclining position.
Lane Aime, the pilot of the Penelope, sat in a nearby chair. He stared at the machine, which was so enormous that despite the bright lighting in the bay, it cast a vast, looming shadow over the interior.
Feeling his body being captured by gravity's pull, Lane felt a sudden sense of daze. For some reason, he found himself flashing back to a conversation he once had with Kenneth Sleg.
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It was the eve of departure. Kenneth and Lane stood in the hangar of Anaheim Electronics' 1st Division, watching the Penelope being loaded into the shuttle.
"Flying on Earth is a troublesome matter; you must contend not only with gravity but also with the wind."
Lane remembered Kenneth sighing at that moment. "The reason the Penelope and its onboard Minovsky Flight System were developed was to enable free and unrestricted flight within Earth's environment."
"Lane, the higher-ups currently place great importance on the results of the Penelope project. This is not just pressure; it is also a form of motivation."
Kenneth reached out and patted Lane on the shoulder. "The machine you pilot is currently the Federation's most advanced. Correspondingly, the leadership expects the Penelope to produce definitive results against Mafty."
"Head to the Kimberley Unit first. I have already made the arrangements."
As he spoke, Kenneth turned and left the hangar. "I still have a few documents to handle. I will rendezvous with you in a few days."
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As Lane traveled aboard the shuttle, descending alongside the Penelope.
In the hangar of the Nahel Argama, Roz Links was scrolling through the combat data of the Sinanju on his tablet.
The thermal short knives on the soles and elbows were indeed very practical for Roz, but should he swap them for beam short knives next time?
Should he add leg blades to the Sinanju similar to those on the Justice?
Question after question popped into Roz's mind.
"Captain, aren't you going to rest yet?"
Graham Aker's voice rang out from behind Roz.
"You've been rotating through the hangar for quite a while now."
Roz turned around, but the sight before him made his expression turn somewhat strange.
"Graham, why... are you wearing a mask?"
Roz sighed, slapping a hand against his forehead. "Are you planning some kind of performance art?"
There was a black mask on Graham's face, possessing a distinctly Japanese style.
Although he really wanted to complain about Graham—an American—being so obsessed with Japanese concepts like loyalty and righteousness, when he thought about the complex mix of individuals aboard the Nahel Argama, Graham actually seemed somewhat pure by comparison.
"This is a form of psychological suggestion for myself."
Facing Roz's current attitude, Graham didn't feel offended; he simply explained his reason for wearing the mask very seriously.
"The Nitro system on the Delta Gundam Kai is indeed powerful. It allows me to briefly cross my own boundaries and touch the world where you reside, Captain."
Precisely because he had officially used the Nitro system, Graham knew roughly how strong Roz was. That mental pressure, like a "Wall of Sighs," was enough to suffocate any Newtype enemy.
And when he had first sensed Roz's psycic fluctuations, he too had experienced the suffocation brought by such overwhelming pressure.
"But great power, if not wielded by a will that uses it correctly, will only invite one disaster after another."
Graham described his experience using the Nitro system: "The Nitro system is strong, but after using it, I can clearly feel my emotions becoming volatile and irritable."
Knowing the power Roz possessed—yet seeing that he hadn't become arrogant or used that power to do as he pleased—Graham couldn't help but marvel at Roz's strength in that regard.
He had already seen too many individuals corrupted by the acquisition of power or authority.
"To me, this is a trial to obtain strength."
Graham looked at the calluses on his hand, earned from piloting MS, and suddenly clenched his fist tight.
"Until I reach a state of being one in heart and mind with the Delta Gundam Kai, and completely master the power and side effects of the Nitro system, I will not take off this mask."
"I can't help you with things like mental cultivation; I'm more likely to just throw a punch at the face of someone who won't listen or makes my blood pressure spike."
Hearing Graham's words, Roz thought for a moment and then shrugged somewhat helplessly.
When he heard Graham speak, the first thing that came to Roz's mind was the "Bright Correction Slap" that once slapped Flay awake in SEED.
Surely it wouldn't come to a point where Graham suddenly went berserk because of the Nitro system, forcing him to use a "Bright Correction Slap," right?
While Roz was still lost in these stray thoughts, Graham had already returned to the cockpit of the Delta Kai.
Just then, Christina, wearing a white lab coat and having just been adjusting data for the Banshee Norn nearby, suddenly ran up to Roz.
Her expression was no longer its usual calm; instead, her brow was slightly furrowed as she handed a tablet playing a video to Roz. "Roz, Mafty... is making a public speech on a live internet broadcast."
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