Gundam, Gravity Elegy

Leo's voice was very low, as if he were trying not to wake up some terrible monster.

As the sound gradually subsided, the sergeant felt himself struggling to breathe.

A question he dared not think about suddenly surfaced in his mind:

"...So, what exactly will 'Pegasus's' forearms be?"

Author's message

…………

Moore is really rich.

Chapter 42: The African Front

"So, what will the so-called Pegasus-class assault landing ship look like? This should be the Federation's first warship designed for MS operations, right?"

"I don't think we should be thinking about this so early. The first ship isn't even finished yet."

"But if the first ship is called the 'White Fortress,' shouldn't it be called the 'Fortress-class' or the 'White Fortress-class'?"

Such sounds echoed in the lounge of the Passenger Bird.

Although General Gao Yun's method of making empty promises was not particularly clever, the promises themselves were of high quality.

Putting aside the fact that this kind of warship itself symbolizes a large mobile base, it is incomparable to a modified transport aircraft like the HMS Journey Bird.

If, as General Gao Yun said, they are indeed assigned a landing ship for their use, then that would signify far more than just that.

"According to the V Operation plan, a 'Strike Ship' with full MS capabilities and firepower will carry approximately 9 to 12 MS. Based on this configuration, we'll probably be promoted soon!"

Kuvatro seemed to have been completely overwhelmed by the news, and started gesturing wildly, wriggling like a super-gluten man, almost stretching his body out.

"But Captain, have you considered what rank you would need to command an assault landing ship?"

"do not know."

"...I knew it."

Faced with Kuvatro's unthinking 'selected answer', Gao Ren almost lost his composure.

If you were to say this captain is reliable, then yes, he has never let us down in crucial moments, and he's not some inflexible conservative either.

It can be said that the Lion Dance Team's ability to operate so freely is largely due to his delegation of authority.

However, his usual behavior was hard to describe; his unreliability made people question whether his military rank and intelligence experience were merely for show.

"Seriously, according to the V Operation Plan, the warships carrying mobile suits will be equipped with supporting fighters and transport aircraft to extend their combat radius. Even without considering the bridge personnel, just the officers leading the combat departments should at least be junior officers, which means the captain himself must be a field officer..."

"However, there are precedents for commanding above one's rank. My senior colleague commanded a brigade as a major."

Within the Earth Federation, a brigade-level combat force should at least be commanded by a colonel, but that man who looked somewhat crazy was different.

Michael Colmarta – since the Battle of Rouen, he seems to have caught the eye of the higher-ups.

Although there was no substantial promotion in rank, once supplies and personnel were in place, the 44th Mixed Battalion, which was originally planned to be mainly infantry-based guerrilla warfare, was suddenly promoted to a mixed brigade mainly using mobile suits and equipped with land-based warships as its base. It is now the spearhead force of the European Army.

"Also, the highest rank of our Federation's 'exiles' is still 'Second Lieutenant'..."

"That 'Zeon Force' can't be lumped together at all. Besides, the cases you mentioned are all isolated incidents with special circumstances."

As Kuvatro's examples became increasingly outrageous, Gao Ren couldn't help but roll his eyes.

"You can't expect a warship captain to suddenly encounter an accident, with all the senior officers on board killed or wounded, leaving you, the 'captain,' to lead a ship full of new recruits."

"Then all I have to do is become a school officer!"

"Things like that aren't that simple..."

"So it's up to you now."

"I……"

Looking at Kuvatro's serious expression, Gao Ren suddenly felt something stuck in his throat.

To be honest, although he knew that Kuvatro was joking at least 80 percent of the time, Gao Ren felt that sometimes violence might not be such a bad thing when he was with him.

Fortunately, he didn't need to lift a finger...

"Wait, what do you take Ah Ren for?"

At that moment, that fair arm reached out, and the strength of the Russian warriors pushed that shameless guy away.

The woman with the silver hair sat down next to him naturally, and boldly put her arm around his shoulder, displaying a distinctly Eastern European style.

"Sister Shirley..."

"If you ask me, even if it's about commanding warships, it should be our Ren who does it. You, as captain, have never done the work of a commander."

"No, hey!"

I almost forgot that Shirley wasn't a reliable person at heart.

Facing that overwhelming, radiant spirit, Gao Ren had no other thoughts besides feeling mentally exhausted:

Is it possible that even dreams should be guided by logic?

"Ok?"

When faced with those two questioning gazes, Gao Ren almost fainted.

In that silent exchange, the girl who hadn't uttered a word since the beginning silently raised her hand:

"I think what the lieutenant meant was to be down-to-earth, right?"

Amidst an awkward yet relaxed commotion, the jet-black migratory bird soaring in the sky detached from its white nest and flew south along its predetermined trajectory.

The map clearly marks the vast landmass located in the western part of the Eastern Hemisphere, and its name is Africa.

…………

'Boom dong dong'

Inside the Camelot's office, a polite knock sounded.

Then, a blonde woman—supply officer Rachel Milstein—walked into the office.

"General, the Journey Bird has been fully resupplyed, and the Lion Squad has already departed."

"Well, I see it."

Without paying much attention to the perfectly competent and trusted blonde, John Gowan simply put his hands behind his back and stared intently at the strategic map in front of him.

silence……

In the silence, Rachel was unsure of what to do.

As a junior officer, she could only remain where she was until the general spoke again:

“Look, Lieutenant Milstein, our Federation has now recaptured almost half of Europe and is now facing off against the once invincible Zeon ground forces.”

"It's all thanks to you generals..."

"But do you really think this is a good thing?"

Just as the lieutenant was about to blurt out the compliments she had honed in the workplace, the question echoing in her ears made her eyes widen.

When the lieutenant looked up, he was greeted by a strategic map.

"Now, both the African Army and the European Army have deployed their main forces to the Arab region. What do you think this means?"

"...meaning that the Federation should be able to easily take over the Arab world."

“That’s right, it’s inevitable, but it’s a serious strategic waste. According to General Rebil’s strategic plan, Odessa needs to cut off its external connections. In this situation, it’s most important for each side to do its job. With the European Army alone able to reclaim land including the Turkish region, the African Army should be continuing to advance south.”

As the map zooms in, several red dots are marked:

"According to information from the intelligence department, the Zeon forces in Africa are also stationed at several important resource points. We must do everything we can to stop these space parasites from continuing to seize resources belonging to the Federation... but the commander there doesn't think so."

At this point, Gao Yun's eyes narrowed:

"That guy—Jamitov Hyman!"

Chapter 43: A Show of Force?

12: 30 PM

At midday, the sun, like a red-hot coin, is imprinted on the boundless blue sky.

Heat waves flowed between the dunes, distorting distant scenery into shimmering illusions. Sand grains swirled in the wind, like golden veils brushing across the undulating sea of ​​sand.

Between ancient pyramids, at the edge of the sweltering heat on the horizon, a military base trembles and contorts with the rising temperature.

At Sphinx Base—beneath the camouflage netting, the radar antenna, now useless but still erected, reflected the blinding sunlight, causing the soldiers in the shadows of the watchtower to instinctively cover their eyes.

"The sun is really strong today..."

If that's the case, the soldiers here have certainly complained about it countless times.

However, since they are not gods, they cannot change the weather at any time, nor can they change the duty schedule. To make matters worse, this place was recently used as a battlefield, and the high concentration of Minovsky particles that have not yet completely dissipated has caused equipment such as radar to completely malfunction.

Forced to adopt a primitive form of vigilance, the soldiers could only hope for some harmless 'accident' in the sweltering wind.

Of course, it shouldn't be anything terrible, but it should at least be a job that allows them to reasonably leave their current positions and enjoy an air-conditioned place, right?

'Boom'

Then, just as the soldiers were lost in thought, the roar of the turbines echoing in their ears snapped them back to reality.

"A transport plane...is it a Media?!"

As the dark figure gradually came into view, the previously somewhat lax soldiers finally realized a certain fact:

"This should be reported to the commander—"

But just as the young soldier turned around, a foot suddenly tripped him, causing him to fall to the ground.

"???"

"Sorry, I'll have to take this opportunity."

The soldiers felt a pang of schadenfreude at the words that seemed to smugly express their dismay.

"Yazan, you bastard!!"

…………

'Boom dong dong'

"Excuse me."

Inside the central command office of Sphinx Base, after a short knock, a bald, burly man named Basque Om opened the door.

However, contrary to the expected refreshing coolness brought by human technology, the Basques first felt a heat that was no different from the outside world.

In fact, because of the small size of the rooms, the Basques felt an even more oppressive sense of suffocation than under the sun.

In just a few dozen seconds, the standard khaki federal uniform was already showing signs of being soaked with sweat, but Basque showed no dissatisfaction whatsoever.

He didn't even speak beforehand, but simply stood quietly at the junction of the command post corridor and the room, trying to use this little bit of 'cleverness' to grab a bit of coldness.

finally……

"A calm mind brings coolness, Basque, your mind is too restless."

That stern voice rang out, causing the Basques to involuntarily bow:

“I understand, Your Excellency, but… they have already arrived.”

Looking up, the man saw nothing but shadows as he gazed into the office.

It was noon, but the shadows deep in the corner could only be described as thick.

"Then let's take the 'gift' we prepared."

Then, the slightly sinister-looking man slowly walked out, his thin figure radiating an indescribable sense of oppression.

"Let's go visit—the 'heroes' of the Earth Federation."

…………

"Jamitov Hyman, because he comes from the intelligence service, it is very difficult to investigate his past."

After being led into the reception room, Kuvatro's first words made Gao Ren feel uneasy.