Gundam, Gravity Elegy

If these facilities continue to operate and remain intact, Zeon's attempt to conquer Earth is simply wishful thinking.

"Perhaps Zeon felt it had the capability to blow up all those facilities hidden underground or in the mountains?"

Amidst Kuvatrona's almost joking words, Gao Ren's gaze gradually shifted to the next number:

"603..."

What is this number?

Turning the page, the bright red and magnificent military uniform came into view:

"This woman...is she a technical evaluator?"

Author's message

…………

The fat uncle is designed to fly at nearly Mach 1 when fully loaded.

Chapter Sixty-Two: The Burning Bane

Unit 603, commonly known as the 603 Technical Experiment Unit.

The initial number can be largely ignored, since there are many origins of numbering in military organization, and they all have a somewhat confusing meaning. What is important is the designation that follows.

"Technical experiment..."

At first glance, this unit numbered 603 seems to be no different from the Federal Army's G4 unit in terms of its role.

So, there's only one question left:

"What exactly is the purpose of sending a test unit like yours to the front lines?"

Sitting quietly on the bench in the infirmary, Gao Ren asked:

"Could it be that it's for testing something on the front lines, Captain Monica Cadillac?"

Directly opposite him, the woman named Monica, who was bound to the chair, remained silent, her eyes occasionally glancing at the still unconscious girl on the bed.

Alma Stirner seemed to have been in a coma since the conflict last night, and her heavy breathing sounded like she was suffering from oxygen deprivation.

"Don't...don't leave me alone."

Girls of this age, no matter how optimistic and cheerful they may appear on the surface, will still unconsciously reveal their vulnerability due to the pressures of military life.

"Mother……"

"She's fine."

Gao Ren turned his gaze away from the girl and spoke.

"Our doctors have done basic examinations on her, and it's simply a case of excessive shock."

“You said ‘nothing more than’… but she’s never experienced combat before, and she encountered that situation on her very first try. You don’t know her…”

"But wasn't it you Zeon who brought her to this place?"

His gaze was murky yet steady, so intense that even Monica, a member of the "Commander's Guard," felt a sense of suffocation.

"Not to mention, this is the most normal thing you Zeon can do."

Perhaps, for anyone with even a little bit of shame and morality, there's no need for any other actions to embarrass them; simply putting the facts on the table is enough.

"Colonial satellites, poison gas—without a formal Antarctic Treaty, what else can you possibly do?"

She didn't respond further, and although a struggle did appear on her face, as a soldier—especially Monica, who had been selected and officially became a supporter of the Zabi family—she was clearly not so easily overcome.

For her, simply remaining silent and not arguing was the biggest concession she could make.

But it is clear that the technical evaluator from the Commander-in-Chief's Guard has refused further communication.

"So, Lieutenant Oliver May, what is the purpose of your Unit 603 coming to this recently captured frontline base?"

Gao Ren quickly shifted his gaze from the woman, instead focusing on...

"Test the performance data of YMS-08A in the Earth environment, and then transfer it to Squadron 441. In addition, there is the compatibility test of the weapons originally intended for use with MS-07, including the finger cannon. After the weapons are tested, they will be transferred to the Southern Cross Squadron for replacement."

"Lieutenant!"

"There's no point in continuing this stalemate."

Knowing what Monica wanted to say, Oliver gritted his teeth:

"Now that the scrapped test machine and the other machines are in their hands, they will find out about these things sooner or later, so... there is no point in trying to hide them."

At this point, he held his breath and concentrated:

"Our technical unit is here as a logistics support unit. In addition to testing missions, we are also responsible for supplying the front-line troops with basic strategic materials, including mobile suits."

"I see, so our actions were a lucky accident..."

Looking back carefully, apart from the later-arriving Southern Cross, there were only three 'Tiger's' in this base.

One of them belonged to a guy named Lenchev, but after investigation, it was found that his original vehicle had been blown up by Lieutenant Barberley and his men as a Zaku.

What followed were two test aircraft that were almost identical to the Zaku, with exposed power pipes...

"Now that these machines are in your hands, I can even give you the test records and internal information if you need them."

"Lieutenant Mei, you'd better know what you're doing!"

"Of course I know, so I will take responsibility for the consequences."

Meeting Monica's gaze, which seemed to warn but was actually filled with worry, he clenched his fist:

"I want to use the information I have on Zeonic and Zmmad's weapons and mobile suits to exchange for the freedom of our troops."

"Just your unit?"

"Because you won't be staying at this base for long, you don't have enough manpower, and for the same reason, forcibly adding prisoners would be a burden for you."

Oliver began to speak.

Clearly, someone as observant as him would notice some problems:

"At the same time, the value of our troops is limited to those technical data, and we, who have not made any contributions since Loum, have no political value whatsoever."

"So, you want to make a deal?"

Looking at Oliver's serious yet uneasy face, Gao Ren could clearly sense that there was no flaw in the other party's attitude.

In other words, there is no room for lying.

Therefore, the answer seems quite simple:

"No problem."

However, this does not mean that there are no vulnerabilities:

"But, except for her."

Before Oliver could fully relax, he saw the boy turn his gaze to the woman who had fallen silent.

"Captain... she's just a technical evaluator for our 603. She was already on board during the British campaign, evaluating new weapons... In the end, she didn't even participate in the MS development program; she was a complete outsider."

Oliver's words were full of excuses, as if he wanted to completely exonerate Monica from the inhumane behavior within Zeon.

But even with such efforts, the current situation still cannot be explained:

"So, why is this technical evaluator here?"

"she……"

"To avoid ambiguity, let me explain briefly. In the previous battle, you were the one who appeared with 'Tiger.' Considering that, you must be the technician responsible for evaluating 'Tiger Armed Forces,' right?"

Under the astonished gaze of Lieutenant Zeon's technical lieutenant, Gao Ren simply placed his hands on his chin:

"So, what is this 'technical evaluator' from the Zabi family's personal guard evaluating?"

"she……"

Upon hearing this, Oliver seemed to only then notice this detail.

Despite the pain, he couldn't help but look at the woman, only to see her lower her head.

The silence, however, seemed to say a great deal.

"Captain?"

Just as Oliver was about to say something, the communicator on the table suddenly rang.

The monotonous sound was like a whisper from the underworld.

Once connected, the voice coming through is naturally that of a diver:

"Although I didn't want to bother you at this time, the 44th Squadron sent a message that is now heading your way."

"what?"

'boom'

Suddenly, the door to the infirmary was also kicked open, and an anxious face appeared in front of them.

He had been tense, but relaxed when he saw Gao Ren and Kuvatro.

A brief moment of bewilderment allowed his soldier's instincts to take over:

“I…I am Sergeant Raven Sler, from the 44th Regiment…”

But perhaps he used too much force, the moment the words left his mouth, his body couldn't help but fall backward.

"Hey, what's wrong with you?!"

Just as he was about to fall to the ground, Gao Ren caught him:

“I…I brought intelligence about the major.”

The trembling hand reached directly into the pocket and pulled out a stack of photos:

"This...this is something you absolutely must see."

"this is--"

The photo shows a raging fire that is still burning.

The flames burned wildly, covering the forest and encroaching on the city.

At the same time, a picture that was clearly taken from the air caught Gao Ren's attention.

Deep in the forest, the arc of the pit seemed to have been cut into the ground, as if it were a mark left by an indescribable, monstrous creature that had fallen from the sky.

"what is this?"

"Vienna..."

"what?"

"Vienna is about to be burned down!"

Chapter Sixty-Three: Deformed Weapons

"Reporting, Major, according to reconnaissance aircraft, the main force of Zeon is passing through our defense zone."

“Very good. According to General Bruce’s orders, we will move out once they are far away.”

On the screen, the silhouette of the colossal warship appeared clearly, and from their almost upward-looking perspective, the image of that colossal land warship could only be described as terrifying.

Even more, mobile suits stood on the platform on its back:

"Dabd-class...that's what Zeon calls this thing now, right?"

Gazing at the seemingly swaggering steel behemoth, the federal major simply crossed his arms:

"That thing was originally supposed to belong to our Federation Army."

"Huh? Really?"

"Of course, it was a design plan that the army came up with when they had nothing better to do during the military equipment overhaul program. It was originally intended to be equipped with missile launchers, satellite radar and other equipment to serve as a mobile information node and a forward base... Hmph, but no matter how fancy it sounds, it's nothing more than some stuff to scam funding."

At this point, the officer couldn't help but close his eyes:

"Twenty years ago, when I was studying at military academy, I was taught the integrated information and fire tactics that originated in the East, combining high-speed information transmission with networks."

"That was... a tactic proposed by that Eastern country, wasn't it?"

"That's right. When the Earth Federation was first established, the country's military put forward this concept. And when it officially entered the Universal Century, and the land, sea and air forces were unified and called the Earth Army, the tactical system became even more integrated."