Kira was dragged away by Miriallia with a look of "bliss" on his face, but given his Super Coordinator physique, Miriallia probably couldn't do much to him anyway.
However, Reid had no ti to concern himself with the daily activities of this young couple. As he had told Lacus earlier, Reid needed to go et Serenity MacGrave first.
Soon, Reid found Serenity MacGrave in the dedicated hangar for the Stargazer Gundam.
At that mont, Serenity was holding a tablet directly connected to the Mobile Suit, swiping through sothing—likely checking the unit's paraters.
Reid walked up beside her, looked up at the Stargazer Gundam, and deliberately asked,
"So, this is the Stargazer?"
Serenity glanced up at Reid, noticing he wasn't looking at her but at the Mobile Suit in front of them. Like a mother proudly showing off her child, she said with pride,
"Yes, this is humanity's first step toward the stars. Observe first, then arrive. It's a Mobile Suit aid at the stars, hence the na Stargazer.
With it, people will be able to move rapidly within the solar system in the future, and human colonization could spread throughout the entire solar system."
Hearing this, Reid imdiately smiled and said,
"Just the solar system? I heard the Luminous Pursuer Propulsion System you developed has already achieved its design goal, theoretically capable of infinite acceleration."
Serenity nodded but showed a hint of concern as she said,
"Yes, theoretically.
Dr. Reid, you should be well aware that even if the Luminous Pursuer Propulsion System can accelerate indefinitely, the pilot and the Mobile Suit itself will beco limiting factors.
Even with unmanned operation, internal components will inevitably wear out during continuous travel. With humanity's current material science, large-scale travel beyond the solar system is impossible.
Unless..."
When Serenity said "unless," she kept her eyes fixed on Reid.
Seeing this, Reid thought to himself that she couldn't possibly expect him to solve this problem, could she? Wasn't that overestimating him a bit too much?
After all, in non-super robot universes, the fastest ans of travel currently was still the 00 Qan[T]'s Quantum Teleportation. The speed of light was nothing—over fifty years, it had traveled across countless galaxies, making a round trip between Earth and the ELS howorld.
However, the 00 Qan[T]'s Quantum Teleportation couldn't strictly be called movent anymore, so it wasn't a valid reference.
Next, there was the Victory Two Gundam produced in UC 0153. The Minovsky Drive [Wings of Light] equipped on this unit could theoretically reach 80% of the speed of light, but in reality, this Mobile Suit had never accelerated to such speeds.
If we're talking about the true record holder for speed, it would have to be the F99 Record Breaker produced in UC 0136. This unit used the previous generation's Minovsky Drive [Wings of Light] from the V Gundam and actually completed a test journey from Earth to Jupiter in seven days. Converted, its average speed reached 30% of the speed of light.
But the Minovsky Drive required a sufficiently powerful I-Field to protect the Mobile Suit to accelerate it to such speeds. With the technology Reid currently had, unless the pilot continuously used the Lambda Driver in conjunction with the I-Field to protect the unit, or directly employed the Twin Drive System's Trans-AM to stabilize it with the GN Field, it would be impossible to withstand the G-forces generated by such high speeds.
So Reid said with unusual pragmatism at this mont,
"Don't look at . I can't accelerate the Mobile Suit to light speed right now either. To be precise, I could make the Mobile Suit withstand 30% of light speed for a short ti, but reaching that speed in one or two minutes has no practical value. Besides, humans simply can't react fast enough."
Upon hearing this, Selene's eyes imdiately lit up, because Reid indeed had a solution to the problem of the Mobile Suit being unable to withstand excessively high speeds.
It must be understood that despite the Stargazer Gundam's impressive speed limit, in practical application, it couldn't even achieve 30% of light speed. If Reid hadn't already provided the G-force protection solution for the [Lightwave Thruster], and if DSSD hadn't simply copied the relevant theories, the Stargazer Gundam wouldn't even be capable of reaching Mars with a human onboard within a month.
The main reason for this situation was that research on force field-related technology in the CE Universe wasn't particularly advanced. Things like the Photon Wave Barrier could only defend against direct damage and couldn't help the Mobile Suit withstand the G-forces generated during high-speed space travel when turning or evading was required.
In actual space travel, it's impossible to have a straight line to the destination. Encountering asteroid clusters or passing by large asteroids is commonplace. It's impossible to destroy all of these obstacles, so if you don't want the ship or Mobile Suit to crash directly into an asteroid, the only option is to turn or evade.
However, whether turning or evading, G-forces will be generated. With the current material strength of the Mobile Suit, once a certain speed is reached, it would inevitably be twisted into a wreck on the spot.
In Selene's view, the answer to solving this problem lay with Reid.
Selene had already grasped the key to accelerating the Mobile Suit beyond the material's endurance limit: force fields. So she said straightforwardly,
"It's the I-Field, isn't it? That should be the solution to increasing the G-force endurance limit of the Mobile Suit's materials when material breakthroughs can't be achieved in the short term.
And the person who knows the most about the I-Field is you, Dr. Reid Isaac."
Reid wasn't surprised that Selene thought of using the I-Field to counteract G-forces. The researchers in the CE Universe were all exceptional; Coordinators, with their intelligence adjustnts, had the potential of an Einstein, and that was no joke.
Of course, Reid couldn't reveal now that his side's research on using the I-Field to counteract G-forces wasn't particularly deep.
So, Reid decisively changed the subject, saying,
"Dr. Selene, I must correct you on one point. My academic qualifications only go as far as a bachelor's degree. I don't even have a master's degree, let alone a doctorate, so calling 'Doctor' is actually incorrect."
In Selene's eyes, Reid's deliberate change of topic at this mont ant he didn't want to continue discussing the issue of using the I-Field to counteract G-forces.
After a brief thought, Selene ntally filled in the reasons why Reid might not want to talk about this.
The biggest application market for using the I-Field to counteract G-forces was Mobile Suits. This technology would inevitably be used for military purposes.
It was perfectly normal for Reid not to want to discuss military-confidential technology with her, especially since she hadn't joined the New Misurugi Kingdom.
However, Selene's determination to fully complete the [Starlight Transmitter] planetary propulsion system was greater than Reid imagined. She wanted to live to see humanity freely traverse the solar system, treating travel between planets as casually as international tourism.
Thus, Selene ignored Reid's quip about her lacking a doctoral degree and not being a real doctor, asking with a serious expression:
"Mr. Reid, does the promise you made to earlier in the New Misurugi Kingdom still stand?"
Upon hearing this, Reid imdiately smiled and replied with equal seriousness:
"Of course it does. However, Dr. Serene, you must think carefully. Once you join, you'll be boarding a pirate ship with no way off. You'll be working for for life, entrusting your entire future to ."
As he spoke, Reid also sent a system recruitnt notification.
To be honest, Reid wasn't confident the recruitnt would succeed at this mont.
But the research institute had far too many black technologies.
If the recruitnt failed, he would still bring Serenity MacGrave's team back to his country, but he would need to carefully consider what information to share with her afterward.
However, Selene proved easier to handle than Reid had anticipated. Upon hearing the system recruitnt notification in her mind, she exclaid with great surprise:
"Huh? Is this the Newtype telepathic ability? It really can speak inside the mind—how incredible.
But what do you an by 'entrusting your entire future to ' and 'life binding'? Anyone who doesn't know better would think you're proposing.
Mr. Reid, although I agree to join your side, you should watch your words when speaking to young won in the future."
Once Selene voiced her agreent to join, the system announced the recruitnt as successful. Clearly, she had unwittingly sold herself under a misunderstanding.
But this was good news for Reid, and Selene's loyalty wasn't low either—starting at 77.
Reid quickly apologized, as he truly had no intention of adding her to his harem.
After apologizing, Reid naturally moved on to the main topic, stating directly:
"Alright, since you've agreed to join , tally how many people from your team will co and prepare to return with to the New Misurugi Kingdom tomorrow."
Hearing this, Selene asked with so surprise:
"Tomorrow? So soon?"
Reid nodded, replying with certainty:
"Exactly tomorrow. You must understand, Earth is still at war, and I cannot be away from my country for too long.
Moreover, now that you've joined , the DSSD Colony Satellite is no longer safe. This place is a mixed bag, and the Earth Alliance will soon learn that I've recruited you."
Reid spoke the truth, and Selene knew well that staying on the DSSD Colony Satellite was no longer safe. However, she looked at the Stargazer before her with a pained expression and timidly asked:
"Then... can we take this child with us?"
Reid shook his head directly, answering bluntly:
"No, this Stargazer Gundam belongs to DSSD.
The New Misurugi Kingdom is only one of DSSD's shareholders. Unless all shareholders agree, we cannot legally take this Mobile Suit.
And right now, the Earth Alliance Three Nations would never agree to let take it. You can't expect to openly steal it, can you?
This ti, we can only take all the construction data for the Stargazer Gundam, as that was originally ant to be shared with shareholders. Copying a set for myself is within the rules."
Selene didn't want to force DSSD either, so she didn't press the matter further. Instead, she prepared to first discuss with her team and then submit her resignation to the HR departnt.
Reid's insistence on leaving tomorrow was to give DSSD ti to process the procedures.
Regarding the matter of poaching Selene's team, Reid followed proper procedures, giving DSSD plenty of face.
If DSSD didn't respect him in return and refused to release the personnel quickly, Reid wouldn't hold back. For those who didn't know better, whether individuals or organizations, Reid would make sure they lost both face and substance.
Fortunately, DSSD was quite sensible. Seeing that Reid only wanted the data and personnel, without taking any Mobile Suit equipnt, they promptly released them.
However, for Reid, this day was particularly difficult.
After parting ways with Selene, Reid was sward by a group of white-haired, elderly doctors, each old enough to be his grandfather.
These doctors insisted on dragging Reid to see their projects, claiming they hoped he could offer so suggestions.
According to his Newtype Sense, so genuinely wanted Reid to provide feedback on their projects, as most had hit bottlenecks, and the researchers hoped Reid's comnts might spark inspiration.
Of course, more of them simply wanted to secure funding for their projects, hoping that Reid, as a major shareholder, would offer greater financial support after seeing their work.
Faced with these elderly individuals who might sprain or fracture with a little force, Reid had no choice but to comply, letting them drag him around for tours.
But truth be told, after this round of visits, Reid did co across a few interesting projects.
For example, one experintal team was researching how to improve the limb flexibility of Mobile Suits, making them as agile as humans.
To this end, they had created a large hand, mimicking human skeletal and muscular structures.
Reid admitted that his first thought upon seeing this hand was whether they were planning to build an EVA.
So Reid imdiately decided to invest so money in this lab. Although traditional wisdom held that a Mobile Suit with flesh would never be a good weapon,
a flesh-based Mobile Suit combined with a Psycho-Fra, full-body Lambda Driver Psycho-Wires—it seed like they could piece together a budget version of an EVA. Reid was quite intrigued. It was just a small amount of money; if it failed, he wouldn't be too heartbroken.
In any case, after the tour, the day ca to an end.
However, that night, upon returning to the Gran Chaos, Reid still had to face two "troublemakers."
Lacus and Flay—hoping they would pretend to get along after a day of touring together was clearly wishful thinking.
Sure enough, that night, the two of them stirred up trouble.
Normally, since Reid and Lacus hadn't seen each other for a long ti, they should have spent the evening being affectionate.
But Flay, wearing eye-catching white stockings and a nurse outfit, showed up just a little earlier than Lacus.
Clearly, Flay was trying to cut in. At the very least, when Lacus arrived and saw Flay dressed like this in the room, she'd be annoyed.
Faced with this situation, Reid wouldn't simply push Flay away and let her et Lacus outside the door.
Because if he did, no matter what they said outside, Reid would have to placate Lacus himself.
So Reid simply let Flay wait to the side until Lacus arrived.
This way, when Lacus entered and saw Flay sitting there, she likely wouldn't explode imdiately, giving Reid so buffer ti to explain.
But Reid didn't want to explain much. Making these two get along was actually quite simple.
So, Reid planned to let them experience the "four great bonds of life" from the internet in a state of complete openness.
Once they experienced it, the relationship between the two would naturally ease up.
After all, with Reid's current physical condition enhanced by Dragon Gene Enhancent, handling a "seductress" and a "little temptress"—both with a hint of the supernatural—was a piece of cake.
Truth be told, given Lacus' upbringing, getting her to play this wild was still a challenge.
But Flay had no such reservations—she had already served Reid together with Ange before.
Although Flay was also a bit reluctant to do it with Lacus, seeing that Lacus was clearly more resistant than she was, Flay decided she absolutely had to lend a hand.
Of course, in the end, the two of them ended up utterly defeated in their collaboration, while Reid spent a wonderful night with one in each arm.
(End of Chapter)
User Comments
0 comments from readers