Chapter 365 - 366: Inori: Would We Really Get That Lucky?

Chapter 365: Chapter 366: Inori: Would We Really Get That Lucky?

[New character?]

[Looks like this is ZAFT.]

[He talks so fast.]

[STEM. Guy.]

[Feels like this is what Coordinators are normally like?]

"Whoa, this time it’s a complete design package."

"A small transformable MS, codename Villkiss... a performance-use MS that can transform into a hover-bike form..."

"No practical combat value."

Although it was his own computer, everyone at the research institute actually knew about this mysterious scholar. The other side did not seem to care very much either.

The other party would occasionally send over designs from their side.

Copying things wholesale was not very practical, but some of the other party’s technology really did contain ingenious ideas.

So the others would come over to watch too.

"But that motorcycle is seriously cool."

"Even if it has no practical use, it really is cool!"

"It looks amazing..."

"After the war ends, researching performance toys like this might be pretty nice..."

"What about this variable fighter? That one seems to have combat value?"

"No, no, no. That isn’t the point. The point is here: the next-generation inertial control system, and this ’shoui’ clasp configuration for space travel."

Gundams had very high specs, but when it came to mobility and precise control over movement, the MUV world was still a little better.

Technology borrowed from elsewhere could not be used directly in this world, but with a few modifications, it could still be adapted.

While the others were still discussing it, Heinlein was already typing out a reply.

Naturally, he could not talk about work.

But put another way, as long as it was not about work, they could discuss anything.

The colleagues beside him were quite curious about that. "Come to think of it, who exactly is this ’Dr. Lacia’?"

"Who knows? Judging by the name, probably a woman? Maybe even somebody important."

After all, this was a ZAFT research institute, cut off from contact with the outside world.

Thinking about it from that angle, the other party was very likely somewhere around here—at the very least, on this PLANT colony.

From that alone, the person was at least someone from PLANT.

And beyond that, the other party seemed to know ZAFT’s internal situation as well.

In other words, this person was very likely part of ZAFT.

"But a 360-degree panoramic cockpit really is nice."

"Full visibility is awesome, okay!"

"Feels like there’s still time to retrofit one right now!"

Technology advanced rapidly in the Cosmic Era, but machines like the later Strike Freedom and Infinite Justice had not been developed yet.

Still, replacing a cockpit with the movie-era 360-degree panoramic cockpit was feasible. Cockpit redesign was entirely a question of concept, not technology.

"A 360-degree panoramic bridge?"

At that point, the shot card finally ran out of time, and the scene returned to the Archangel.

Inori had just finished explaining her plan for further adjustments to the bridge.

"Yes. We can redesign this into a 360-degree panoramic bridge."

The Archangel’s bridge was ridiculous, but there was no denying that it looked good. The feeling of looking outside from the bridge was excellent.

So the key point of the Archangel’s bridge design was not really about "safety" or anything like that, but about looking "cool."

"In space warfare, there is no true up, down, left, or right. The Archangel’s bridge is positioned on one side of the ship, and the lack of visibility beneath it creates a major vulnerability..."

The Archangel was good, but it was not that good.

When operating on Earth, the Archangel was nearly perfect.

But in space, the Archangel’s "underside" could be called an enormous weakness.

Not only was defense lacking there, visibility was lacking as well.

"Putting the bridge in such a dangerous position is meant to give the commander the best possible view and real-time awareness of the battle while preventing enemy interference. But at times like this, that missing field of view can also cause the commander to make major misjudgments..."

Many space warships were not designed around concepts like up, down, left, and right at all. But the Archangel was an assault landing ship meant to operate across sea, land, air, and space, so some compromises had been unavoidable.

"It does sound good, but can we really do it?" Murrue had an engineering background herself, so naturally she understood the practical difficulties involved.

"No problem."

Inori gave her a thumbs-up.

"How soon can the Archangel recover its combat capability?" Badgiruel asked.

"If you authorize me, immediately."

[Inori: It’s only a tiny bit of damage.]

[Inori: Just 1 HP and a vulnerability debuff. As long as I take no damage, there’s no problem at all!]

[Can’t you see even the Archangel itself is speechless?]

[Still, I feel like we should keep our guard up around Inori.]

[Inori’s being sneaky. ZAFT was just discussing 360-degree panoramic cockpits, and now she’s making a 360-degree panoramic bridge here. Tomorrow we’ll find out that mysterious "Dr. Lacia" is Inori herself.]

[Boss, nice catch. I didn’t even react to it just now.]

[They’re practically spelling it out.]

[It makes sense to keep your guard up around Inori.]

Making the audience feel a little suspicious was also part of Inori’s strategy.

Otherwise, if she appeared too powerful, some viewers would start thinking: if everything can be left to Inori, couldn’t they just clear the whole story by relying on her?

Of course they could.

But... then there would be no Popularity!

Popularity was the most important thing.

So giving them a plausible reason to bench her was the best option.

That way, when Murrue refused, the audience would not find it absurd. Instead, they would feel that keeping their guard up around Inori made sense.

It gave the audience the illusion that "the Demon King’s conspiracy had failed."

But that was exactly the effect Inori wanted.

This was what you might call An Actor Prepares.

And for the members of the Archangel, fighting on their own from time to time was necessary too.

Inori was not their nanny.

Everyone on the Archangel still needed to be tempered through experience.

"Are there any other methods?"

"Mm. I’ve put together a repair plan. But our top priority should be contacting ZAFT first," Inori said.

"Eh?!" ×n.

The members of the Archangel were all stunned when they heard Inori suggest contacting ZAFT.

"In the earlier impact, the Archangel suffered major damage. We can no longer continue treating the wounded aboard the ship. They need help."

Hearing Inori say that, everyone finally remembered that the refugees aboard the ship were probably in very bad shape right now.

"You mean hand the refugees over to ZAFT?!" Murrue was shocked.

"The refugees are from the neutral nation of Orb. They have nothing to do with either belligerent, so ZAFT can absolutely provide them with humanitarian assistance," Inori said.

"...What if they refuse?" Murrue asked.

"Would we really get that lucky?" Inori tilted her head.

The people aboard the Archangel were completely confused, but the audience understood instantly...