Alex left the Zala mansion after spending some time there, and while he thought he seemed to have forgotten to talk about something, Alex just left the thought as if it were important he wouldn't forget. Since it's not important, it can be discussed at a later time, as he can still visit the plants openly before taking action against them, which would not generally happen.
Alex went around the colony for a day and returned from the plants in the civilian shuttle. Finally, after a week of journey, they reached Orb. Alex spent two more days verifying all the modifications done for the engine and thrusters of the Archangel class battleship and sent the blueprints personally to the Ashford headquarters, as he had asked James to bring the Blitz down to earth secretly, which he plans to use to try and save Nicol and Tolle as long as he can do it without exposing himself to them.
After a few days
March 23 C.E 71
Alex had already returned to Orb by this time and had been watching Orb's news about the Archangel's and ZAFT battle near the Orb waters knowing that Archangel will still be brought into Orb, Alex also went to talk to orb about MS natural OS cooperation while also saying it would make the OS more perfect with Kira and him working on it as he also made a OS for natural pilot for Aegis although it was fine tuned for Mu high reflexes.
Alex was permitted by Uzumi Nara Athha, considering the recent joint ventures with the Ashford family, and also for the fact that Alex did have some experience with the latest MS and their OS. The next day early in the morning the Strike and the Aegis were being taken to the Orb's secret factory for data extraction when Alex reached there he was surprised to find that Frey was piloting the Aegis when asked about why she was the one who was piloting the Aegis Frey said that Mu was using excuses that as an active officer of the EA he shouldn't be in contact with Orb's secret military forces. As for Frey, although she secretly piloted the Aegis, she hadn't actively applied to join the Archangel crew or the EA; she only secretly boarded the Aegis on that day, as she was worried about her father.
Frey said that she would also be leaving the Archangel her in Orb as her father will be taking her away since ZAFT doesn't about her being a pilot and no records of her battle in the Aegis remain Frey's father asked Murrue to remove any of Frey records of staying in the Archangel, while also saying that she left the Archangel along the others during the 8th fleet battle. Murrue Ramius, who was kind at heart, also felt this was good for Frey. She also hoped she could do the same for the other kids, but because of their situation as active soldiers, all she could do was have Orb arrange a meeting for them with their parents.
Alex also met with Kira and Erica Simmons in the factory when Cagalli came over after a little talk, which was all about Cagalli's anger at her father and how she got smacked. They went to see the M1 Astrays starting the drill at which Cagalli mocked how slow the three girls, Mayura, Asagi and Juri were and how they would be shot down when they face an enemy in their current situation when the Erica finally stopped their arguments and told Kira how they need his and Alex help to modify the OS for the M1 Astrays to be usable by a regular natural. Alex couldn't help but say, " Are these three the princess's three musketeers like in the old novel?"
Cagalli, who was called a princess, shot up like a cat whose tail got stepped on and said she could take care of herself and would not need anyone to take care of her. For which Alex asked if she was saying that because she is worried that the girls might die because of her, to which Cagalli said nothing and left quickly.
Alex also decided to have three more MSTV-00(Mobile Suit Type Variable) prototypes without E Carbon Alloys or any special weapons but using the PS armor while also having the added battery packs on shoulder along with the new OS he is developing with Kira and have James trade these three prototypes with Orb as deal to help them use the mass driver for their Ashford groups specific use for a certain period near the completion of the Archangel class battleships to avoid others from finding about the ships and also to see if the 3 girls can survive with better MS he also decided to have James install a Laminated shield like the Freedom and Justice which the ZAFT are making.
And also for the weapons to throw in the Beam Gatling gun, Beam Launcher, which is three times as powerful as an ordinary Beam Rifle, and finally the Beam machine guns, which Alex, Eric, and Steve don't plan to test. He can ask James to add to the deal to receive the performance data of these weapons when used in a battle against MS for the first few times. Orb shouldn't refuse, as it can get the design data of the weapons and the new type of variable frames for their future development. As for Alex's Rapid Fire Beam rifle, although it fires faster, it's not a beam machine gun. Compared to the beam machine gun, its power is higher while maintaining the same power as a normal beam rifle; it provides for rapid fire, but it can never reach the high rate of fire of the machine gun. As for the Gatling gun it power also decreases again, but it provides an even more absurd rate of fire and coverage. Only the beam Launcher which is a hybrid between a Beam rifle and Beam cannon can be considered a better weapon for the prototype but it doesn't fit into the style of any Alex, Eric and Steve so they can only have Orb test it first as they won't be mass producing the MS before the end of Orb war so they can use they data from the Orb's battle to decide which weapon to use with the mass produced models for best performance.
Of course, the mass production model won't have a laminated shield; they will just use the normal anti-beam coated shields. Forget mass production models; even Steve's shield is just an E carbon alloy shield with anti-beam coating.
As Alex left the factory, he sent the details of his plan to James and also asked him to send these first as soon as possible, as for themselves, it's fine to delay, as Alex and others have practiced a lot and can get used to the variable MS more quickly than the girls.
James thought about it and decided it was for the best, and also told Alex that three frames will be ready by April 10th. As for the weapons, they will be ready even earlier, as they were in development long ago, as Alex had made blueprints for the weapons earlier, with the hope of the team having different weapons for all situations, and for the Laminated shield, it is even easier to make.
After know that the MS will be delivered by 10th Alex felt better as by then they just be finishing the OS he can have Kira help adjust the OS to the Machines after the M1 Astrays are tested and the girls can also use these machines early after they confirm the M1's OS is up to the required standards as for how to get the MS allocated to the girls it's easier as long as Alex puts in a little word with Erica and Cagalli it will go very smoothly.
So the following days went by as Alex and Kira regularly worked at the factory. While this was happening, Athrun's team also infiltrated Orb to confirm whether or not the Archangel had left Orb. Also, because of Alex's intervention, Athrun's team now consists of two more, namely Rusty and Miguel, who are currently not dead. During these days, Alex also met with Natarle and told her not to learn badly from Murrue and to use a space suit when in combat in a space battleship later if she fights in space again, as it might save her life if the bridge even suffers damage, but not to the point of killing them. Because if they don't wear a space suit and if the bridge is damaged and they get sucked into space, they will die 100%, but with a space suit, they will at least have 1% chance. Cagalli also came around daily to talk with Kira while also getting used to the new OS, along with the girls, although she might not be allowed to pilot the MS anytime soon.
Author notes: Another chapter will be uploaded in a few hours.