Gundam 00: Rise of China

A land where five forces intertwine

"Boom!"

At night, a huge fiery cloud rose into the sky in the heart of the capital region of Azadistan.

Not far from the site of the explosion is the official residence of the Queen, which was established after the country restored its monarchy.

Naturally, faced with an explosion at such close range, she had been deeply concerned about the future of the nation ever since she was elected queen.

And how could Marina, who couldn't sleep at all, not see the Queen running around the Earth trying to get help?

Marina stood inside the huge floor-to-ceiling window of the official residence, her eyes gleaming as she watched the flames rising from the explosion.

Having just returned from abroad, she found it difficult to describe her current feelings in words, especially given that Marina herself had also been attacked overseas.

Perhaps it was sadness, or perhaps she felt that she, as queen, was a joke.

"Your Highness Marina, what are you doing standing here at a time like this?"

"It's too dangerous! What if there are dangerous individuals hiding outside?"

Marina was watching the towering flames outside, the echoes of the explosions still lingering in her ears.

Her attendant, who was also her first lady-in-waiting, Celine, wearing glasses, pushed open the door and rushed in.

Her face revealed a calm and intelligent female official. She did not show any regard for hierarchy because of Queen Marina's status, and even addressed her as Princess or Your Highness in ordinary times.

Upon reaching Marina's side, Celine reached out her hand, as if to grab her and quickly leave the floor-to-ceiling window, which looked unsafe even from the outside.

Marina was pulled so hard she almost fell. Her long, pure black hair fluttered in the air, and her gentle yet slightly heroic face remained expressionless.

Like a doll, Marina was taken by Celine to what she called a safe place.

Sitting in the chair, Marina's eyes were unfocused and staring blankly in some unknown direction.

"Your Highness."

Seeing this, Celine, who was about to utter the words of accusation, couldn't bring herself to say them. As a woman herself, Celine could understand Marina's predicament.

Due to historical and geographical reasons, Azadistan has not participated in the construction of solar power systems in the past.

Furthermore, due to the shift in the world's mainstream energy system, the country's former pillar industries have become mere supporting industries overnight and are no longer valued.

Although it absorbed neighboring Kurdistan, in reality, for the current country, territorial expansion is not a good thing but rather a bad thing.

When the men couldn't handle it, they hastily put forward a woman as queen and then dumped all the responsibility on Marina's shoulders.

Celine's fists clenched involuntarily. Even with her intelligence, she couldn't fathom the future of this hopelessly rotten country.

So what can this girl do?

Watching the young girl before him, bearing the title of queen, tirelessly travel the country, trying time and again to change it.

And then what happened?

It's still the same; nothing has changed. People in China are always fighting, endlessly arguing over trivial matters, and it will never stop.

"Let's ask the People's Revolutionary Party for help."

Suddenly, while Celine was still lost in her own thoughts, Marina, who was sitting quietly, spoke up.

"The People's Revolutionary Alliance? Not the Union? Not the AEU?"

Startled from her thoughts, Celine knew that Marina's most frequent destination was the AEU, which was closest to their home country.

The country's solar energy system is also the easiest to cover all areas of the country, and Union is the next option.

After all, throughout history, the Union has had countless connections with the land beneath their feet.

As for the People's Revolutionary Alliance...

It's not that there's no contact or friendship, but the people here always have a very conflicted feeling towards that country.

In the distant past, our ancestors—

"Yes, it's the People's Revolutionary Alliance."

Marina may appear fragile, like a doll that could break at the slightest touch, but she possesses a strength that is beyond the comprehension of ordinary people.

She stood up, showing no trace of the sorrowful look she had taken by the French windows not long ago, and resolutely spoke with renewed determination.

"Is it because of the People's Revolutionary Party's live-streamed press conference?"

Celine, who was quick-witted, seemed to have figured out why Marina wanted to find the Revolutionary Alliance.

I remember when the Celestial Being organization first appeared, my queen had a strange fondness for that organization.

Marina never mentioned the Celestial Organization again until after the Taliban incident, and only after the Tianzhu incident of the People's Revolutionary Alliance.

The Celestial Being organization has become so infamous that Marina no longer pays any attention to news about them.

On the contrary, the People's Revolutionary Alliance, which had never been on the list of countries requesting assistance before, quietly appeared in the documents on the desk.

Marina also began to pay more attention to the changes in that country.

"Yes."

When Celine asked, Marina answered without hesitation.

The current People's Revolutionary Alliance is the best in the entire world, both in terms of military strength and economy.

Moreover, considering what that country is doing in Taliban, compared to the AEU, which is obsessed with its own interests, and the Union, which harbors resentment.

Isn't it obvious who to choose?

"I advise you not to think too highly of everything."

It was like a bucket of cold water being poured over her head. Celine truly didn't see herself as a lady-in-waiting, nor did she truly see Marina as a queen.

Celine, who was standing there with her arms crossed, spoke up.

"You know the situation in China. You once tried to ask the AEU for help, and now you're turning around and trying to curry favor with the People's Revolutionary Alliance."

"Given our country's location, do you think the AEU will remain indifferent?"

"Once the influence of the People's Revolutionary Alliance spreads here, not to mention the AEU, even the Union will probably take action."

"In my personal opinion, if the Union extends its reach here, the AEU's reaction will be smaller than if the People's Revolutionary Alliance extends its reach here."

"After all, the Union is separated from us by the People's Revolutionary Alliance and the AEU. Even if the Union has any ideas, it will be constrained by objective reality."

"We can't make any big moves, but the People's Revolutionary Alliance is different. It's too close to us, and too close to the AEU."

O

At this point, Celine gave Marina a little time to think before continuing.

"There's another thing you need to understand: the military exercises in Moraria now appear to be a trap set by the AEU specifically for the Celestial Being organization."

"But the Celestial Organization turned around and went to the Human Revolutionary Alliance, where it suffered a crushing defeat."

"AEU's plan backfired, and they gained nothing but lost so much money for nothing."

"Will AEU just let this go so easily?"

"The AEU, holding their breath and not knowing where to vent, surely they won't do anything in today's highly competitive world?"

"Even if it's just to prove they're still one of the three great powers, they'll definitely follow suit if we make a move!"

"I know."

Taking a deep breath, Marina firmly stated that her decision would not change.

The People's Revolutionary Alliance defeated the Celestial Beings Organization and announced its next steps to strengthen its military and its national strategy for the future.

These past few days have become the hottest topic of discussion across the entire globe, and it is undoubtedly number one.

With one side criticizing and the other praising, not only AEU, but even Union's status has been greatly impacted.

With the balance of power shifting, the AEU, lacking the strong foundation of the Union, will inevitably have to create new big news to prove that it is still a major force on par with the other two.

So the AEU, which has historically ignored its own country's requests for assistance, may now turn its attention here.

Revitalizing one's reputation through domestic actions is the most cost-effective approach.

Celestial Being has already demonstrated the combat power of eight Gundams, although one has been lost.

However, judging from their combat capabilities against the Human Revolutionary Alliance, deploying seven Gundams at once would be an unbearable burden for the AEU.

Unless the AEU directly mobilizes its entire army, which is clearly unrealistic...

"Have you thought it through?"

Realizing that Marina had actually considered everything, Celine hesitated for a moment before finally asking again.

"I've made up my mind."

"In the past, we in Azadistan have fallen to this state because we did not make a firm choice."

"So, as we face a new century, we in Azadistan cannot afford to miss any new opportunities."

"AEU has never been a reliable entity, and Union is not much better than AEU."

Ultimately, the two countries are fundamentally the same.

"Only the People's Revolutionary Alliance, only this country, has the confidence to stand independently against the whole world."

"At this juncture of transition, Azadistan is the first country to choose the future of the People's Revolutionary Union."

o

As Marina lowered her head, she seemed to feel the immense pressure on her shoulders caused by her choice.

After pausing for a moment, Marina looked up again and spoke earnestly.

"There's an old saying in the United Nations People's Revolutionary Party: 'A thousand pieces of gold can buy a horse's bones.' We in Azadistan are far from being reduced to that level."

"Therefore, the People's Revolutionary Alliance will definitely give us the best economic treatment and military assistance."

"In this way, the deadlock in our country might be broken, and the people will have a direction to move forward!"

"All right."

Celine, who had never taken Marina seriously, was moved as she gazed at the light in Marina's eyes for a long time.

The other party's unwavering determination shows that they have fully considered what kind of criticism they will face in the future.

But she was still prepared to sacrifice herself for the country, even in the worst-case scenario.

Celine simply couldn't bring herself to refuse.

Turning around, Celine was prepared for the first time to devote herself wholeheartedly to Marina's strategy, even as a woman, to become a lady-in-waiting.

Her family wields considerable influence in this region, however...

With her hand on the doorknob, Celine asked a new question.

"The Celestial Organization might also come and cause trouble, which would mean that five forces would be intertwined on the land beneath our feet."

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