Gundam, Gravity Elegy

"Major! Lieutenant!"

The chaotic noise and cries for help echoed, gradually dissipating into a kind of disorder amidst the distractions, and Jacobius was unable to respond even immediately.

He only removed his helmet after the aircraft had moved beyond the maximum distance of the sensor.

Stifling, hot, even... panicked, when he reached up to touch his forehead, what appeared on his palm were a large number of water droplets.

"So it was just sweating..."

Ironically, he suddenly realized why rumors sometimes go so far as to be completely outrageous.

Because once they acknowledge that this guy is one of them, it's tantamount to trampling all their efforts, their efforts and pride as soldiers and pilots, underfoot.

"monster--"

This thing, it fell freely towards the earth.

"A black monster—"

Chapter 108: Looking Up at the Monster

"Drip drip"

The alarms echoed in every corner of the warship, accompanied by a shaking and tilting that almost made it impossible to stand.

"Right engine stopped!"

"Tsk, hurry up and get it moving again!"

"I'm afraid that's impossible."

Upon hearing Shangguan's seemingly self-evident request, the bridge crew could only display an expression more unsightly than tears:

"According to the electromechanical team's report, the electromagnetic cannon damaged the internal circuitry of the right-side ammunition depot and the particle cannon from within—"

Although Zanzibar's external armor is incredibly thick, enough to withstand a barrage of fire from the current Federation capital ship, the Magellan-class, its internal structure is a completely different story.

As a space battleship with a length and width of no more than 300 meters, it must use most of its interior space to house mobile suits and their equipment, and then it must also have enough space to house J-type anti-ship missiles that are comparable in size to small ships.

In this case, its internal structure is compressed to almost its limit.

"So now we're paying the price for this design?"

Clutching his hair tightly, the acting captain felt like his head was on fire.

"So what exactly are those people in the tech department doing?!"

"But now is not the time to complain."

But soon, that familiar voice calmed him down:

"No matter what complaints or anger there may be, they must be put off until after this battle is over. We, the 'commanders' on the bridge, are the eyes of those compartment crew members, so we must not panic."

Then, a weakened yet resolute face appeared before his eyes:

"Captain, you're awake!"

Major Andrei—even at this moment, the officer acting as captain could still see the redness in his eyes.

But as a true soldier, he still stood tall on the bridge!

"Now listen to my instructions. Transmit the commands to the electromechanical team. While extinguishing the fire, cut off the connection circuit of the mega particle cannon. Then modify the left engine circuit and adjust the thermonuclear jet output to maintain the balance of the warship as much as possible."

One instruction after another was uttered by the captain and then relayed to every corner of the warship by the communicator.

The mobile cruiser Zanzibar—although completely different in classification from the space carrier Gau, thanks to the Zeon's complete lack of understanding of the elements required for flight in a gravity environment, their structures for resisting gravity are virtually identical.

When the large brick flies entirely relying on thermonuclear jet propulsion, damage to its external structure is not enough to affect its overall flight capability.

"Moreover, the auxiliary wing has not been damaged."

As he personally checked the status of this supposedly cutting-edge 'amphibious cruiser' on the control panel, Andrei simply took a deep breath:

"But, just as you said, the manufacturers of the warships... no, including the researchers in the technical department, have been out of touch with the front lines for too long. They have no idea what the front lines really need."

"Captain! Zanzibar has gradually regained its balance!"

"How many troops can we mobilize now?"

"I'm afraid... only Lieutenant Nord is left."

Upon hearing this, Captain Andrei, who was still adjusting to the current situation on the battlefield, simply narrowed his eyes.

"Is there only one person?"

"Yes, Major Malet previously executed a full-scale assault tactic, so everyone else has already penetrated into enemy territory, because they can't make contact due to the particle problem—"

"Is that so..."

Of course, Major Andrei did not want to criticize this tactic.

Although the command of this Zeon special operations force may have been completely decentralized due to various power struggles, its pilots—including Marlene Kahn and Jacobius Nord from North America—are among the elite.

If you have such a force under your command, then committing all your forces directly is the fastest way to achieve results. The military also needs a high-profile victory to stabilize morale.

but……

"I'm afraid this tactic has failed. Once the 'sharp knife' tactic encounters a sharper and stronger 'knife,' it will only be completely crushed."

Thinking of this, Andrei clenched his fist:

"On my orders, Zanzibar, turn around and approach the Zeon ground forces, make contact with friendly land warships as much as possible, and then—issue the retreat order!"

"Well, but Major Malet and his men are still on the ground. If we regroup the troops now, we should be able to—"

"So, who do you think, including Major Sangrim, can handle that guy?"

The officer fell silent at the major's cold words.

He wanted to emphasize his own fighting strength, but all his theories and words were torn apart by the dark figure reflected in Zanzibar's eyes.

'Boom'

The weaponry design is completely unbalanced, yet it keeps adjusting its position.

then……

'boom'

'boom'

The electromagnetic cannon, carried by one hand, spewed forth continuously, and the electromagnetically accelerated projectiles slammed into the ground with unstoppable force.

"Tsk, this guy isn't even attacking us!"

When Malet looked up, he could clearly see the rapidly accelerating shell flashing by.

They leaped through the air and bombarded the battle zone directly in front of the formation.

'Boom'

The thermonuclear engines of those bright yellow warships were torn apart, and the ships, momentarily out of balance, swayed left and right in the impact.

"Damn it, we have to shoot this guy down—"

But before he could utter a sound, a deafening roar forced him to shut up.

"Beep beep beep beep beep"

Amidst the cockpit warning alarm, another dark figure hurtled straight towards them.

Immediately afterwards, the internal database also provided its specific model number—MS-08.

“Ifrit, eh?!”

'boom'

'Bang bang bang bang bang'

The Federal-spec 100mm machine gun in his hand kept firing, and the scattered bullets forced the blue Zaku to dodge and weave.

"Tsk, I need someone to help me hold this guy off—"

Immediately afterwards, whether or not this idea was successfully conveyed, the roar of a hovercraft engine could be heard on the other side.

The Great Demon—also a test unit derived from the YMS-08—has already swung its latest fully heated thermal sword.

"Hmm...white?!"

Ifrit slammed forward, and the rocket engine brought the machine to a rapid stop.

Under the strain, the Flame God quickly raised his shield.

'Sizzle'

The longsword, which was probably even sharper than a saber, almost completely tore the shield apart, and Sherry couldn't help but retreat rapidly.

"Tsk, missed, huh—"

With its foot on the pedal, the white giant demon charged forward as if gliding.

With a few more blows, even the machine gun was unexpectedly sliced ​​off.

"Damn it, don't underestimate him!"

Finally, the sabers were heated up, and the two heat-powered weapons collided directly!

"Good, well done!"

Of course, Marlett, who came from the slums, never liked Marlene—or more accurately, he disliked large families like the Kahn family; he never had anything in common with these people.

But at least for now, this woman has indeed bought him time in the absence of communication.

Now...

There's still a chance—

Amidst the billowing dust, the exhausted machine gun was laid down, and the electric axe in his hand crackled with intense heat.

Immediately afterwards, the 'red eyes' within the steel skull swept towards the land warship directly in front.

"Since that guy is more interested in that battlefield, I'll accept this spoils—"

'boom'

But before he could finish speaking, the electromagnetic cannon attacking from the sky forced him to dodge.

"This guy..."

Directly in front of him, he could clearly see the shimmering scarlet glow.

Even though communication was no longer possible, Malet felt he could sense the thoughts being conveyed by the black mobile suit.

"Don't even think about it—"

He probably meant that...

"Tsk, this guy, I'll see if your strength matches your 'ambition'!"

Author's message

…………

I finished writing it, but on a whim, I wanted to run a map with AI. As a result, I discovered a problem: the map of the Federation Ifrit that I generated myself was automatically identified by AI as a Zeon-type Ifrit or a Zaku.

So it was modified many times; there's a reason it could fool the sensor.

Chapter 109: Malet's Trap

In the Universal Century, after humanity built colonies in space, the population grew increasingly large. With the development of modern warfare concepts, the era of heroes has long been buried in the dust of history.

On large-scale battlefields, with the rise of firearms and the rapid transmission of information,

Not only has winning battles from afar become the norm, but the scenario where a single person or a single unit could change the course of a war has also gradually been lost to history.

Can a single squad change the course of the battle?

Can a single player change the battlefield?

At least for the people living in the Universal Century—especially the soldiers of the Earth Federation—the so-called 'famous generals' and 'combat heroes' were nothing more than things that existed only in ancient legends.

After all, they have always received this kind of education, and even when weapons like mobile suits are put into use, most of their thinking will at most revert to the 'three-three tactics'.

However, what is happening now completely shatters this line of thinking.