An advanced guide for experienced modelers, from building blocks to hand-building Gundams

"In short, she can't break through the restraints right now, so you're safe now." Durandal pointed to the button on Zhen's bedside. "But if anything unexpected happens, remember to press the button next to your bed."

The door of the infirmary was closed, leaving only the sounds of two breaths mixed with the sound of running instruments echoing in the room.

Zhen subconsciously glanced at the bed in the room, and the figure of a girl who was tied up with a belt and had a mask on her face for oxygen supply appeared in Zhen's eyes.

Looking at the girl in front of him who was getting weaker and weaker, his expression was really complicated, and I didn't know what she was thinking.

However, Durandal, who had just left the infirmary, did not go far. At this moment, he was checking the real physical data on the tablet.

After seeing the numbers he wanted to see most, Durandal smiled.

"'Awakened' huh...Seriously."

……

After the Orb evacuation, the only areas where Orb still existed in public were a few colonized satellites in the universe. Apart from the "Pillars of Heaven" who had announced their separation from Orb early on, the most active one at present was Mendel, which was controlled by the Seran family.

The Seran family, after learning about the "Orb Great Evacuation" operation, wholeheartedly supported the faction that joined the Earth Army. Their goal was to take back the territory on Earth that Orb was forced to evacuate, and to put pressure on Cagalli and obtain the formal right to rule Orb through marriage. It can be said that they did not hide their ambitions.

Unfortunately, because of that great retreat, the connection between Orb and the Earth Union was cut off, and the Seran family is now having trouble operating.

But with the request sent by the Minerva to the Aurora Society, the Seran family saw the opportunity to act.

"So... Father, do you mean to send a letter to the Earth Army when the ZAFT battleship enters the port for repairs and supplies?" In a luxurious manor on the colonial satellite Mendel, Yuna Roma Seran was talking to her father.

"Indeed, this is a good opportunity for us to contact the Earth Army as a gesture of goodwill and reclaim Orb's homeland." Sailan's father nodded, stating his thoughts seriously. "Once that ZAFT warship arrives, with our forces, we can easily stop them in the harbor before the Earth Army arrives."

The simulated sunlight passed through the floor-to-ceiling windows and hit the smooth Mediterranean hairstyle of Sailan's father. The flickering light made Sailan squint his eyes subconsciously.

"But if we do that... what about the reputation of Orb as a neutral country..." After hearing his father's words, Sailan asked, took two steps forward, and changed his position to avoid being blinded by the light reflected from his father's head.

"There's no such thing as a neutral country anymore." Hearing Sailan's question, his father snorted coldly, "You either join the Earth Army or join ZAFT. There's no other choice. Mendel's position is too close to the Earth Army, yet too far from ZAFT."

"Anyway, while we're taking back our homeland, we can also put pressure on Cagalli to marry you. That way, justice and the law will be on our side, and Orb will be ours." Sailan's father curled his lips. "Without the old lion Uzummi, what else can that young and inexperienced Cagalli do?"

"...I understand. Everything will be up to you, father." After thinking for a moment, Sailan lowered his head slightly towards his father.

As one of the few neutral countries today, Orb's commodity turnover is more prosperous than before. After all, some Earth Union products are needed by the plant, and some plant products are also needed by the Earth Union.

The Dawn Society, which has a strong commercial nature, has branches in all of Orb's colonies. Although it usually accepts orders from Orb, sometimes the Dawn Society accepts orders from the Earth Union or Plant.

You have to make money, so don't shiver.

At this time, the plan of the Seran family was undoubtedly to achieve their own plan by destroying the reputation of Orb as a neutral country.

But will things really go so smoothly?

……

Apparently considering the limited protection of the cargo ship, Lux used a shuttle to send these children brought back from Earth and the "blind mentor" they called to the New Agama.

As the pure white unicorn was placed in the fixed frame, Ross opened the cockpit and floated into the hangar.

Young boys and girls who had never been to space were playing and fighting in the zero-gravity cage, and one unlucky guy even lost control and kept spinning in the air.

It seemed that compared to the "incomplete" narrator and the gray-looking Assault who hadn't yet activated his PS armor, the pure white and dreamy unicorn attracted the children's attention more. Ross had already felt many children looking at the unicorn along the way.

"'Blind Mentor,' right? I heard about it from Lux and the others." Seeing the only adult figure among these children, Ross floated close to it and extended his hand. "I hope you can adapt to the weightlessness of the universe. It will take some time to return to a gravity environment."

"Yes, it's me." Despite being in space, the blind mentor reached out and grasped Ross's hand with unwavering precision, as if his sight hadn't vanished. "Roz Links, I've heard your name from Lux, too."

"I think... you and I are similar beings." The blind mentor smiled, as if sensing something from Ross.

"Are you also a New Type?" Hearing the blind mentor's words and sensing the man's brain waves, Ross frowned. "Have the New Types exploded recently?"

"I can sense a rage burning within you... but I don't know where it's directed." The blind mentor, not paying attention to Ross's words, turned and "looked" in the direction of the unicorn. "I can also sense a close connection between you and that mobile suit."

"...What do you want to say?" Rhodes stared at the blind mentor, as if trying to analyze something from him.

Unfortunately, the blind mentor still looked calm.

"We still have some time, enough time to communicate, but before that..." the blind mentor handed Ross a portable hard drive and said, "There's something I want to give you."

"I think you can definitely make good use of this power."

----split line----

PS: This is the second update from yesterday. If nothing unexpected happens, there will be an update for today later.

Last night, Hedgehog Cat marked my account as risky while typing on my phone and refused to let me type anymore. I finished at around 2:00 a.m. and couldn't hold it any longer.

Volume 144: Chapter Mayu: Calling someone mentally retarded is against the law!

After the New Argama and the cargo ship arrived at Industrial 7 safely, Ross took the hard drive given by the blind mentor to Erica for analysis.

"'Glorious Thruster'... is some kind of solar sail technology." Erica rubbed her forehead after reviewing the information on the external hard drive. "And the organization that possesses this technology... if I remember correctly, it's a dedicated organization dedicated to outer space exploration, having existed since the 'Pioneering Age.' So why did it end up in the hands of the blind mentor?"

"...I don't know either. When I got this hard drive, he told me to 'use this power for good.'" After glancing at the file on the screen, Ross had a rough idea of what this technology was. "But I kind of understand what this thing is used for."

Although Ross's expression at this moment was like that of a passing pink robber, he did understand the function of this thing.

"I think this thing can be installed on the New Agama..."

"No matter how you think about it, this thing won't be able to perform to its full potential in combat if installed on a battleship," Erica interrupted Ross's suggestion. "Besides, this technology was originally tested on mobile suits. Who knows how long it would take to adapt it for battleships..."

Although installing this solar sail technology on warships is indeed the most correct approach, since the blind instructors said "make good use of this power", it is definitely not just about installing it on the warships.

What's more, there are only a few warships in Orb now. Even if all of them are equipped with Glorious Thrusters, they cannot improve their combat effectiveness much when facing the "Fleet Sea" of the Earth Army and ZAFT.

However, if this technology is to be utilized quickly, a highly maneuverable combat machine is needed. The Assault and M1 Heresy are not suitable. Although the Jegan has strong expandability, its combat effectiveness will inevitably decrease when using a highly maneuverable form.

Not everyone can, like Ross, withstand the G-forces that exceed the limitations of their machine and achieve the speed of a highly maneuverable form under normal circumstances.

"...I have some ideas. I'll look for the MS designer at Lux's place later." At this time, Erica turned over a machine with large wings, and raised her head as if she had caught some inspiration.

"Lacus's MS designer... a variation of Freedom and Justice?" Ross glanced at the image of freedom on Erica's computer and raised an eyebrow.

"No, it's just freedom." Erica fumbled with her computer, and the free design Lux had shared with her a while ago appeared on it. "The Radiance Bearer requires a large wingspan to maximize its capabilities, and the Backpack of Justice can't provide that."

"By the way, why don't you help with the design as well?" Erica said, looking at Ross. "After all, it would be a waste if this talent wasn't used."

……

The Minerva secretly entered the exclusive dock of the Aurora Society on the colonial satellite Mendel, at least that was the case on the surface.

At this time, Zhen did not leave the battleship, but returned to the dormitory, picked up the communicator that he had not used for a long time since he came to Earth, and dialed a number.

"Hi, long time no see, brother."

Mayu's familiar voice sounded in the communicator, and it was like returning to a safe nest, and I relaxed.

"Well, long time no see, Mayu." He took a deep breath, and his tone was really calm, as if to maintain his image in front of his sister.

Although the relationship between this pair of siblings who depend on each other is very good, knowing Mayu's devilish personality, if she reveals any weakness, she might end up socially dead the next time they meet.

"Eh? Why are you acting so pretentious again? Give me back my embarrassing brother!" Mayu's slightly coquettish voice in the communication made Zhen laugh subconsciously.

"But, this isn't the long-distance number you used at the plant... He's back in Orb, right?" A second later, Mayu noticed the difference and her tone brightened. "Where are you? I'm booking a flight now."

"...Mendel, probably two or three days." After much deliberation, Zhen confessed his itinerary to Mayu. "After making some emergency repairs and purchasing some supplies, we'll return to the plant."

"Ah...how come it's so fast?" Although Mayu said this, she bought the shuttle ticket to the colonial satellite Mendel without hesitation.

Mayu, who has completely adapted to her prosthetic limbs and has passed the rejection period, is now able to lead a normal life. She even uses her color-changing LED hair to charm a group of young boys at school who have not seen much of the world.

The difference from before may be that you need to take inhibitors for life.

"Probably tomorrow afternoon... By the way, you've been at the plant for so long, have you found a girlfriend yet?" Mayu's eyes shone slightly, but she didn't hold the communicator in her hand. Instead, she picked up a bag and started packing. "I remember the salary at the plant was pretty high. No one's interested in you?"

"What are you thinking about..." Speaking of this topic, Zhen sighed.

But thinking back to Stella, who had just woken up from a coma, forced herself to talk to him for a few words despite her weak body, and then fell into a coma again, his expression was really complicated.

"Speaking of which, I've actually been having some issues lately." Shin thought for a moment before speaking. "Not long ago, I told someone I'd protect her, and then I found her sitting in her pilot's suit inside the Earth Army mobile suit I defeated."

"She's dying now. I have two ways to save her... but both methods will come at a great cost." Having said this, Zhen raised his head and looked at the photo of himself and Mayu on the table. "I'm a little unsure now... What do you want me to do?"

There was a moment of silence in the communicator, and Shinya waited patiently.

"The person you are talking about... is she a woman?" After a long time, Mayu asked tentatively in the communicator.

"...Yeah." Although Shin only responded with a single note, it made Mayu breathe a sigh of relief.

"I was scared to death. You just said something so cheesy and said you couldn't find a girlfriend. I almost searched for Nan Tong's treatment method." Mayu breathed a sigh of relief, and her hands, which had stopped, started moving again.

"Because she seems to have some mental illness...so her words are a little harsh." Zhen explained awkwardly.

"Calling someone retarded is illegal!" Mayu said angrily over the comms. "But... you said you'd protect her, right? I don't remember you being the type to go back on your word."

"For my future sister-in-law... No, it should be that if I do nothing, nothing will change. Yeah, that's right." Mayu coughed twice. "Anyway, just go for it. I'll always support you. After all, we're both at the bottom of the valley, and things can't get any worse than they are now."

There was a sound of metal knocking on metal coming from the communicator beside her ear. It was Mayu knocking on her prosthetic limb.

These crisp sounds were like huge hammers being swung, hitting Zhen's heart. Thinking back to the past, suppressed emotions spread in the room.

"If it really doesn't work, just give up and come back." Mayu's tone softened. "My prosthetic limbs are working now, and I can go back to work... Mr. Rhodes didn't set a repayment date, so it's just a little harder."

"everything will get better."

……

When Zhen walked out of the dormitory, he found Lei with gauze wrapped on his head, leaning against the wall next to the dormitory door.

"Have you finished the call?" Lei lowered his head and glanced calmly at the silent Zhen.

Zhen nodded and subconsciously wanted to leave here.

"If we're going to take action, it's best to do it while the Minerva is still in Mendel, Zhen." Lei's sudden words made Zhen break out in a cold sweat. "I've checked, and the dormitories on both sides are empty. The Minerva's dormitories, with the exception of a few sections, have pretty average soundproofing."

After all, if others knew about the topic about Stella that Mayu and I had just discussed, it would probably be labeled as "treason".

Although Zhen has always thought of himself as a "mercenary", everything is for the sake of making money, and his loyalty to the plant is not very high, but this crime has been put on his head, and given the current situation, big problems are bound to arise.

"Anyway, do you want to send her away?" Lei asked Zhen directly.

"If I don't send her away... she'll die before we even get back to the plant, and then continue to be dissected and sliced... going through the same things she went through in the first half of her life, like a guinea pig." Zhen gritted his teeth and said in self-deprecation, "I clearly said I would protect her before... I can't just stand by and watch her die. I can't do that."

His left hand was in his pocket, tightly gripping his bank card, while his right hand clenched and unclenched, struggling internally.

"...You will come back, right?" But Lei was still talking at this time, as if he was completely unaware that he had been to the gates of hell.

"……Um."

Although it was a very pale promise, Lei raised his head and looked into Zhen's eyes seriously.

"I understand. When it's time to take action, come to me." Lei said this to everyone's surprise.

"After all... no matter what kind of life it is, as long as there is a chance, it will want to live."

Lei patted Zhen's shoulder, who was still in a daze, with a very calm expression.

----split line----

PS: Today's update

Damn it, my family has been driving me crazy all day. We agreed to find a job after the New Year, but now they’re pushing me. I can’t take it anymore.

Volume 145: Chapter : Dawn

As time arrived at night in Orb standard time, darkness enveloped the residential area of the colony satellite Mendel.

In a luxurious manor, Sailan and his son were talking in a study.

"ZAFT's warships are already docked at the Dawn Society's dock." Sailan said to his father, sitting on a chair. "What's next? Should we prepare to notify the Earth Army?"

"Yeah, that's right. Let's get ready to contact them before we get into trouble." Selan's father, sitting behind his desk, pushed up his glasses and couldn't help but smile as he imagined the upcoming plan and Orb that would soon fall into his hands. "After all, the thought of the sweetness of power makes one impatient."

On this "quiet" night, a secret communication was made from the Sailan family.

On the other side, the news of the ZAFT battleship entering Mendel was also sent to Cagalli's office.

At this time, the administrative center of Industrial No. 7 was still brightly lit and working overtime.

After Cagalli and Lacus signed a treaty and organized a joint organization called "Compass", she not only had to carry out economic recovery in Orb, but also had to allocate various support materials for the organization, which increased her workload a lot.

Although she doesn't know whether this can stop the war and allow Orb to return to Earth, Cagalli is willing to try.

Cagalli had just taken a sip of coffee, using the bitter taste to clear her mind a little, when a folder was placed on her desk.

"What is this..." Thinking it was another document that needed to be signed, Cagalli picked up the pen at hand and opened the folder.

There wasn't much in the folder, just a piece of paper, but when Cagalli saw what was on that piece of paper, her eyes widened.