Chapter 23: Shall We Screw Over the Earth Alliance? 

Patrick had essentially laid out the main topic of this meeting. However, as the party seeking assistance, proactively stating one's demands was unwise, whether in politics or business.

Fortunately, Reid had no intention of screwing over PLANT—at least not while Siegel remained in power. Reid still wanted to maintain friendly relations with PLANT.

Thus, Reid took the initiative to respond:

"Chairman Patrick, I'm afraid the New Misurugi Republic cannot fulfill this request of yours."

Upon hearing this, Patrick's temper visibly flared again. This wasn't acceptable, that wasn't acceptable, and now they were predicting PLANT would lose the war. Why didn't the New Misurugi Republic just surrender to the Earth Alliance outright?

But this time, Reid anticipated Patrick's anger. Before the chairman could erupt, Reid cut off his impending outburst:

"Chairman Patrick, don't be hasty. At least hear my explanation before getting angry."

Seeing Patrick's face turn an apoplectic shade of purple as he struggled to contain his rage, Reid decided not to provoke him further and quickly continued:

"I developed the OS for the Union Flag myself, so I know its flaws all too well. Let me be clear—this thing was rushed to completion. I guarantee that selling this OS to the Earth Alliance won't enhance their combat capabilities. On the contrary, it will lead them down the wrong research path and further delay their development of MS-compatible OS. I even specifically named it 'Union Flag' to make it more marketable to the Earth Alliance in the future."

This explanation noticeably improved Patrick's mood, but he wasn't someone easily fooled. He immediately challenged:

"Commander Reid, that doesn't add up. Princess Angelise single-handedly captured one of our ZAFT's Laurasia-class battleships using a Union Flag. That hardly seems like an immature system."

Reid nodded in agreement with Patrick's point and elaborated:

"I'm not saying the system is immature—I would never gamble with Ange's life. The current OS for the Union Flag is fully functional in both MA and MS modes. However, its transformation mechanics are terrifyingly difficult to master. Frankly, even Coordinators would struggle with this transformation system."

"A Union Flag that can't transform would be lucky to achieve 30% of its true combat potential. Against a GINN, it might not even be as cost-effective as a Moebius."

Reid wasn't joking. A non-transforming Union Flag would be outperformed by conventional fighters in MA mode, while its spindly limbs in MS mode would offer little advantage against GINNs. In space combat, it genuinely wouldn't be as cost-effective as the Moebius—though in atmospheric battles, it could fight Dinns to a standstill while offering pilots much higher survival rates.

Moreover, while the OS provided for the Union Flag was the same system Naturals could use in the Gundam 00 universe, it would offer limited assistance in developing OS for subsequent G-Series MS. The technologies weren't compatible. Additionally, this OS had an extremely steep learning curve, making it difficult for average Earth Alliance fighter pilots to transition.

When Reid said this, Patrick frowned. He had always believed that Coordinators were superior to Naturals in every aspect, but now Reid was claiming that the OS system he developed might not be suitable for Coordinators when it came to transformation, while Princess Angelise, a Natural, could handle it effortlessly.

Patrick inwardly doubted Reid's words, while Siegel caught a subtle detail in Reid's earlier statement—he had referred to Princess Angelise as "Angie." Wasn't that a bit too intimate? It seemed there was some history between these two.

Reid had no idea Siegel was already speculating about his relationship with Angie. Seeing Patrick's skeptical expression, he decided to fan the flames and said bluntly,

"If Chairman Patrick doesn't believe me, I can let your guard pilot the Union Flag and experience it firsthand. Of course, if he damages my Mobile Suit, PLANT will have to compensate me."

Patrick thought this was a great idea. Money was nothing compared to a new MS—it was a win either way. Plus, it was a perfect opportunity for his people to test the New Misurugi Republic's new machine.

So, the meeting was paused, and both groups headed to the spaceport.

Reid wasn't joking. He handed his Union Flag over to Patrick's guard for a test flight and even gave him detailed instructions on the transformation mechanics.

Meanwhile, Reid deliberately took out a captured GINN and piloted it right in front of Siegel and Patrick, acting as a rescue unit.

Seeing Reid pilot the GINN, Patrick grew genuinely anxious and immediately turned to Angie, who was accompanying them, and asked,

"Princess Angelise, have you already modified the GINN's OS system? How can Reid Isaac pilot it?"

Angie didn't understand why Patrick was so agitated and looked at him strangely before replying,

"No, we haven't touched those two GINNs since they were captured. And is it really that strange to pilot a GINN? Noin and I can do it too. If you don't believe me, there's another GINN here—have your other guard check its systems. I'll have Noin pilot it out as well."

Hearing this, Siegel naturally didn't hesitate to offer his own guard. If the princess's guard was going out, it would be too shameful for two grown men to fear being ambushed by a girl like Angie.

But the results of the test left Patrick both pleased and troubled. The good news was that the New Misurugi Republic truly hadn't developed a Natural-compatible OS for the GINN. The bad news was that the princess's guard effortlessly piloted the GINN out, making Patrick briefly suspect she was a Coordinator hiding on Earth.

Unfortunately, Reid, Angie, and Noin were all Naturals. No matter how much Patrick disliked it, he had to admit that the GINN's system wasn't impossible for all Naturals to operate—there were at least three exceptions here.

As for the Union Flag test flight, it went exactly as Reid predicted. Patrick's guard could maneuver it smoothly in both MA and MS modes—except during transformation.

The first attempt to shift from MS to MA resulted in mistimed thruster control, sending the machine into a chaotic backflip on the spot.

After painstakingly taking a full minute to gradually transform into MA mode, the reverse transformation only completed halfway, causing the attitude control system to malfunction again—this time sending the machine spinning sideways, nearly crashing into the Colony Satellite.

Fortunately, Reid used the GINN to promptly shut down the Union Flag's systems via a backdoor he had left, then pulled the mobile suit back with the GINN—otherwise, lives would have been lost.

However, after the pilot was returned to the port by Reid and climbed out of the Union Flag's cockpit, he collapsed immediately. His nearly scrambled brains hadn't recovered yet, leaving him unable to utter a single word for quite some time.

With such an outcome staring him in the face, Patrick had nothing left to say either. Muttering "disgrace" under his breath, he ignored the guard and followed Reid and the others back to the meeting room.

Since it was confirmed that Reid's OS made operating the transformation system even more difficult than piloting a GINN, Siegel and Patrick quickly relented, agreeing to work with Reid to scam the Earth Alliance.

At the same time, Reid proposed a cooperation plan with PLANT—the New Misurugi Republic was willing to engage in a food trade with PLANT, though it required a little game of tacit understanding between them.

The general process was this: Reid would use subsequent negotiations with the Earth Alliance to purchase food from Earth, then deliberately leak the transport route to PLANT. ZAFT could then swoop in and seize it. As long as Reid didn't send his own escorts, PLANT could deal with the Earth Alliance's convoy however they pleased.

Of course, after the food was stolen, PLANT would also have to find an ally or ship a batch of precision parts to a forward base—only for Reid to then send his own forces to raid it.

For Reid's side of the "robbery," both parties needed to maintain the charade, exchanging a few perfunctory gunshots to make it look convincing. This way, the trade would be completed, and Reid could also justify himself to the Earth Alliance.

Moreover, Reid outright stated the reason for this arrangement—it made it easier for either side to back out if needed. If one party betrayed the other, the losses would be minimal. The New Misurugi Republic would, at worst, lose a batch of food, while PLANT would only forfeit some high-precision components.

Still, Reid expressed that the New Misurugi Republic was willing to provide a portion of the food upfront as a gesture of goodwill. However, PLANT would need to cooperate in staging a performance to help him swindle a hefty sum of military funds and supplies from the Earth Alliance.

Faced with the temptation of food—something Siegel and Patrick, who were losing hair daily trying to secure rations for the frontlines—couldn't possibly refuse, the two sides verbally drafted an agreement and hashed out numerous details for their little act. Of course, no written or recorded evidence was left behind.

That same day, Siegel departed the New Misurugi Republic with a ship full of food, while Patrick had to endure his pain and fury to play along with Reid's scheme—ready to deceive the Earth Alliance delegation arriving the next day.

(End of Chapter)