After ending his communication with Patrick Zala, the Chairman of the National Defense Committee and ZAFT, Creuset laughed maniacally to himself for a moment for no apparent reason. Then, he put his mask back on, pressed the call button on his side of the desk, and issued an instruction in a composed voice.
"Have Athrun Zala of the Red Uniforms come see me."
Following a call from a crew member of the Vesalius, Athrun Zala's voice was soon heard at the door.
"Reporting, Athrun Zala, here as ordered!"
"Come in!"
"Yes, sir."
The automatic door opened, and Athrun Zala, clad in his Red Uniform, strode into the room with a powerful gait and saluted Captain Creuset.
Creuset returned the salute from his seat, then his tone relaxed.
"Have a seat, Athrun."
Before Athrun could even sit down at the desk, Creuset steered the conversation in an even more casual direction.
"No need to be so tense. I just finished communicating with your father, Chairman Zala. I've asked you here because I need your help with something."
"Oh? What is it, may I ask?"
The mention of his father made Athrun even more nervous. He had just taken his seat but was already asking eagerly.
"Regarding the 'Heliopolis Collapse' incident, we will need to face a hearing before the Supreme Council after we return to Plant. We will also be discussing the matter of the Earth Alliance's and Celestial Being's mobile suits. Athrun, you've engaged both sides. If possible, I'd like you to attend the hearing with me."
Athrun had no objection to Captain Creuset's 'reasonable' request. The Supreme Council was hardly a lion's den to him; in a way, it felt more like going home.
"If you feel it's necessary, Captain Creuset, I have no problem with it..."
"That's wonderful. On a related note, what are your thoughts on the 'Newtype' that Celestial Being's leader claims to be, and the pilot of the Strike? The fluidity with which both of them operate their mobile suits makes them seem more like Coordinators."
Faced with Creuset's 'probing questions,' the honest Athrun hesitated for a moment before choosing to confess.
"Kira Yamato—the pilot of the Strike Gundam—is indeed a Coordinator. He's an old friend of mine from kindergarten back on Copernicus. He's always been an indecisive, good-natured person. I don't know how he ended up as the Strike's pilot. As for the pilot of the 'Purple Beetle,' honestly, I don't think he was lying. And when I fought him, there was a strange sense of pressure. Under that pressure, for a time, I even felt like I was another me piloting the Aegis Gundam."
Hearing this unexpected information, Creuset understood the reason for some of Athrun's strange behavior earlier. However, before commenting on it, Creuset decided to first address the practical matter at hand—communicating about their joint attendance at the Supreme Council hearing.
"So you felt it too, Athrun. It seems it wasn't just my imagination. However, at the Supreme Council, unless the council members ask, could I ask you not to bring this topic up proactively? This is also Chairman Zala's wish. Judging from the results of our actual engagements, we in ZAFT are already falling behind in mobile suit technology. The narrative that the pilot is a Natural, or that the Earth Alliance has a mass-producible mobile suit OS that Naturals can use, is more conducive to spurring the development of our new mobile suits."
Since Captain Creuset was only asking him not to bring it up unless asked, and had even invoked his father's name, Athrun—an indecisive and honest person himself—gave an affirmative reply after a brief hesitation.
"I understand, Captain Creuset."
"Thank you very much. You've been a great help."
Having settled the matter of the Supreme Council hearing, and before fanning the flames—or to put it more positively, before ensuring his subordinate's combat effectiveness would not be affected by off-battlefield factors—Creuset brought up a 'crowd-pleasing' topic to lighten the atmosphere.
"Speaking of which, I heard you and Lady Lacus are engaged. But Athrun, you've been training in ZAFT since last year. You'll finally have a chance to go on a date with her when you get back, won't you?"
Although he found it a bit strange that Captain Creuset would suddenly bring this up, and Celestial Being had indeed said some bad things about the Captain, Athrun did not resist or avoid the topic. He felt a certain closeness to Captain Creuset, who had long taken care of him and was, in some ways, even more approachable than his own father.
"Yes, that's right. We do have such plans. I was preparing to use my leave to visit the Clyne family."
"You'll have to prepare well for that. In your opinion, Athrun, what kind of person is Lady Lacus?"
Faced with Creuset's 'enthusiasm,' Athrun seemed a little shy.
"Lacus is innocent, kind, and a little air-headed... ah, and of course, she's also very beautiful."
"Hoh, I see. So it is to protect people like her that we in ZAFT must fight with all our might. Therefore, we absolutely cannot let the Earth Alliance get their hands on the G-Series mobile suits. Otherwise, this war will become even more difficult to end."
After smoothly transitioning the topic, Creuset began to explain the future plans to Athrun.
"Chairman Zala feels the same way. So, although I feel sorry for you all, you and the machines you've captured are necessary to counter the Archangel or Celestial Being. After we return to our homeland, complete repairs, and replenish our forces, the Creuset Team will intercept the Archangel or Celestial Being as soon as we get the latest intelligence. We absolutely cannot allow the Earth Alliance to possess their own mobile suits. However, since the Strike Gundam's pilot is an old friend of yours, perhaps you should sit out the subsequent operations, Athrun. It would also be a good choice to leave one Gundam here in our country as a research sample."
Creuset's persuasion tactics were old-fashioned, but they were clearly very effective on Athrun.
"No, Captain Creuset, I will participate in the operations as well. The Archangel and Celestial Being are both powerful enemies. How can I let everyone on the Creuset Team bear the risk because of my personal reasons?"
Seeing Athrun take the bait, Creuset's tone was utterly sincere.
"But it's one thing to face Celestial Being. What will you do about your old friend on the Archangel, Athrun?"
"That guy must have been deceived by the Naturals. If we meet on the battlefield again, I'm sure I can convince him."
Creuset naturally didn't point out the flaw in Athrun's words, merely continuing to 'simply' hypothesize.
"But what if he still refuses? And in fact, Miguel has already been sacrificed because of him."
"In that case, I will take him down with my own hands. I will not hesitate again!"
Having achieved all his objectives, Creuset didn't say anything more on the matter. After discussing some other military affairs, he dismissed Athrun.