Time flew by, and the two individuals inside SDF-1 gradually lost track of it.
When Lin Mingmei woke up from her sleep, she found He Ming seemed to be preparing something.
Lin Mingmei blinked curiously, pulled open her sleeping bag, and with a light push of her right foot, she gracefully floated up from the sleeping bag.
During this time, from the moment Lin Mingmei first saw He Ming after waking from her injured coma, her impression of He Ming was constantly refreshed, moving from unfamiliarity to familiarity, then to being cared for meticulously by He Ming, and witnessing his powerful survival skills.
It was precisely because of He Ming’s presence that Lin Mingmei was able to survive on this dark “isolated island.”
Under He Ming’s careful attention, the weakness from her injury gradually faded from Lin Mingmei, and as she once again felt the vitality bursting forth from within, Lin Mingmei also gradually became more active.
The powerful survival skills He Ming possessed were simply not something an ordinary civilian should have.
Initially, Lin Mingmei, due to her injury and weakness, did not think in that direction, but after she adapted to this current dark, yet far more leisurely and comfortable life than her busy past, countless questions and doubts continuously emerged from the depths of Lin Mingmei’s heart.
“He Ming, what are you doing?”
“Hmm. Preparing to leave this place.”
He Ming packed some clothes and other items that might be useful and set them aside.
“Leave?”
Lin Mingmei didn't react at first, but soon her eyes lit up.
“You, you mean we can leave here now?”
He Ming nodded.
“It should be about time. Previously, it might have been due to the damage sustained in battle; MACROSS could only gradually clear the ruins and successively restart the many modules and areas that were damaged during the battle. So, by my estimation, it should be our turn for this area we are in now.”
He Ming naturally would not reveal the true reason.
As someone from another dimension of Earth, and familiar with the historical trajectory of this world, He Ming could almost certainly predict MACROSS’s next move.
“Really? That’s wonderful!”
Lin Mingmei clapped her hands happily.
If they weren’t currently in a zero-gravity environment, Lin Mingmei, if not for her injuries, would probably be spinning around to express how happy she was.
“Hmm.”
He Ming smiled and continued to sort through the items he had collected during this period.
No matter what happened next, He Ming had to be prepared for all kinds of situations.
On the good side, these preparations would naturally not be needed.
As for the bad side, He Ming’s gaze unconsciously drifted to the distant wreckage of the damaged VF-1.
Although this VF-1 was damaged, He Ming could foresee that MACROSS’s investigators would find the clues they wanted from this airframe’s wreckage.
【Dynamic Event Update! Mission Objective: Find a way to become a member of the Unified Army, protect and assist SDF-1 in breaking through the Gerati encirclement and returning to Earth.】
“Is this also preparing for a rainy day?”
Hearing that ethereal and cold voice once again, He Ming couldn’t help but sigh.
While he was thinking, a warm, gentle presence drifted close.
“What are you thinking about, He Ming?”
Lin Mingmei seemed to be very close.
He Ming’s mind almost simultaneously conjured the image of Lin Mingmei’s eyes, full of inquisitive light.
“Thinking about what happens after we get out.”
In this regard, He Ming had nothing to hide.
“Things after we get out, huh!”
Lin Mingmei extended a finger, tapped her chin, and then smiled.
“After I get out, I’ll probably continue with my concert arrangements under my cousin’s guidance!”
Speaking of her cousin, Lin Mingmei couldn’t help but show a hint of sadness.
“I wonder how my cousin is doing?”
“He should be fine.”
He Ming casually replied.
As Lin Mingmei’s cousin, that guy’s vitality seemed very strong.
“Really? That’s great.”
Lin Mingmei said happily.
Immediately after, Lin Mingmei secretly linked her arm with He Ming’s right arm.
“Oh, right. After you get out, will you join the Unified Army?”
“Hmm?”
He Ming couldn't help but glance at Lin Mingmei.
This girl seemed very sure that he would become a member of the Unified Army.
“Look! Your survival skills are so impressive! You can even pilot that fighter jet to fight aliens, and you even saved me during the battle. Someone so amazing probably isn’t an ordinary person, right?”
Lin Mingmei couldn’t help but smile at the end of her sentence, a hint of pride seemingly flickering in her eyes.
“If I were to say that before you boarded this MACROSS, you were a cadet from some military academy, would that be a correct answer?”
He Ming was stunned, but then he turned his face away, not letting Lin Mingmei see his expression.
He secretly thought to himself.
“How did this girl guess the truth so quickly?”
Such a smart Lin Mingmei was not the Lin Mingmei in He Ming’s memory!
“What? Did I guess correctly?”
Seeing He Ming turn his face away, Lin Mingmei’s eyes sparkled with surprise.
Perhaps, at this moment, Lin Mingmei had already gotten the answer she wanted.
However, He Ming did not respond to the question.
But He Ming was also destined to face Lin Mingmei’s subsequent advance.
The warm, gentle presence continuously drew closer.
The soft touch from his arm made He Ming’s eyebrows twitch wildly.
This girl, why is she pressing so hard!
He Ming tried to break free, but found that Lin Mingmei was holding his arm tightly.
“He Ming, are you really a cadet from some military academy?”
When He Ming turned his head, he saw Lin Mingmei’s cunning eyes.
“You…”
The presence continued to draw closer.
Their figures also slowly rotated in this zero-gravity environment.
Until,
A roar came from afar.
The area that had not been illuminated by light for a long time was once again blessed with light.
At the same time, a burst of noise and chaotic footsteps followed closely.
“Wait. Someone’s coming!”
He Ming was startled awake from the warm and captivating presence and gently pushed Lin Mingmei away.
The girl’s face was so flushed, like a ripe red apple.
“You still haven’t answered my question!!”
He Ming’s eyes flickered for a moment, and he finally sighed, nodding silently.
Seeing this, Lin Mingmei’s eyes became very bright.
The warm presence surged again.
Only this time, this presence was gently tapping He Ming’s ear.
“From now on, just call me by my name, He Ming.”
After saying that, Lin Mingmei, before He Ming could react, gently tapped He Ming’s cheek, as light as a dragonfly touching water.
The approaching footsteps from afar grew louder, and amidst the noise, someone could be faintly heard calling Lin Mingmei’s name.
The two felt a force gently pulling them, guiding them down towards the ground below.
At this moment, above them was the dark area where they had lived together for some time.
Below them was the area once again blessed by light, bustling with human voices, and revisited by civilization.
“It’s a promise! We’ll meet again after we get out!”
“Hmm.”
The moment the flashlights engulfed Lin Mingmei, He Ming was also stopped by several men in suits.
After showing He Ming their identification, they extended an expected invitation.
“Sir, please come with us!”
He Ming nodded, turned his head to glance at Lin Mingmei, who was surrounded by reporters and a crowd who had rushed over upon hearing the news, and then followed the investigators to board the vehicle heading to the central area of MACROSS.
At the same time, a commotion also broke out in the hospital.
“Captain Shelyayev. Your body has not yet recovered enough to move! Please return to your bed and rest properly!”
The nurse, who had chased him all the way out of the ward, anxiously blocked Shelyayev’s path.
“Get out of the way! I have something to do now!”
Shelyayev gasped for breath and said firmly.
However, both sides knew that the other would not back down easily.
“Captain Shelyayev! If you wish to go out, please submit an application to the doctor and await a response!”
The nurse gritted her teeth, still blocking Shelyayev’s path.
Despite Shelyayev’s tall stature, the petite nurse was not intimidated by him.
Shelyayev frowned, at a loss for a moment.
“Let him go, beautiful lady.”
Just then, a familiar voice sounded, making both sides breathe a sigh of relief.
“Roy! How did you get here?!”
Shelyayev looked at his suddenly appearing friend in surprise.
Roy laughed heartily, raised his right hand and waved it, then looked at Shelyayev’s brightening eyes.
“The outing application has been approved! And, you have a mission. Can your body still handle it?”
Upon hearing this, Shelyayev grimaced, raised his hand, intending to pat his chest in assurance, but unexpectedly pulled his wound, causing him to contort in pain and gasp for air.
“No, no problem!!”
Shelyayev said through gritted teeth.
This little pain?
What does it count for?
Men of the Yevich family are never cowards!
Roy shrugged his shoulders and looked at the nurse.
“The application has been approved. Does this big guy need anything prepared for his outing?”
The nurse nodded repeatedly, gave a warning, and then decisively turned to prepare for Shelyayev’s outing.
It seemed that Shelyayev would not have an easy time on this trip.
As a long-time friend, Roy knew that Shelyayev wouldn't care about that either.
Looking out the window, Roy watched the big guy being carefully escorted into the car by the nurses, teased him for a bit, and then put on a businesslike expression.
“The investigation over there is almost complete. As a civilian, unauthorized piloting of a Unified Army’s new fighter jet and participating in combat already violates the Unified Army’s secrecy regulations and other relevant rules.”
Shelyayev’s mouth moved, but he said nothing.
Just as Roy understood him, he also understood Roy.
He knew that the guy sitting across from him, who had just mocked him, definitely had more to say.
Seeing that Shelyayev didn’t eagerly jump out, Roy seemed a little surprised.
“Cough. However, given that the young man continued to pilot the VF-1 to provide strong support to the Second Defense Force even when the aircraft malfunctioned, and considering various factors including his subsequent action of saving Lin Mingmei, MACROSS has decided to drop the charges against He Ming for violating secrecy regulations and has issued a wartime conscription order to He Ming.”
After Roy finished speaking, the calm-faced Shelyayev slowly exhaled.
“This is a happy ending, isn’t it?”
Roy glanced at the guy slumped in his seat.
“Didn’t you intend this from the beginning?”
“Who knows! I haven’t even met the guy who secretly took my fighter jet.”
Shelyayev grinned, putting on a rogue expression of “I’m not, I don’t understand, I don’t know.”
Roy was already used to this.
“That young man hasn’t been taken to the captain’s presence yet! Instead, he’s been taken to a place. And that place, you know it.”
“Oh? Where is it?”
Shelyayev seemed to sense something.
“Alexei Kurakin’s laboratory.”
“Ah?”
Shelyayev was stunned.
“Kurakin?!”
“Wait! Does the captain want that guy to…”
Roy nodded, then sighed.
“Currently, the VF-1 readiness rate on SDF-1 is very tight. So, even if a wartime conscription order can be issued, there probably won’t be any spare VF-1s to assign.”
“Therefore, the captain set his sights on Kurakin?”
Shelyayev laughed, glancing at Roy as he spoke.
“If Kurakin’s SV51 really becomes your teammate, what would you think?”
SV51.
This is a name from a long time ago, yet not so long ago.
A year ago, in the battle that took place over that small island, Roy participated as a member of the Unified Army.
And the SV51, in that battle, was the variable fighter piloted by Roy’s enemy, belonging to the anti-Unified Army’s new variable fighter.
“SV51 is just SV51. The one inside is not D.D. Ivanov, but our new teammate.”
“Hey! That’s a pretty good way of putting it.”