Gundam, Gravity Elegy

The secretary was speechless for a moment, while Yuri sighed:

"Kinias is a pure and proud scientist. In such a proud state, he cannot listen to the voices of others, so he has to recognize this fact for himself."

As for what the facts are...

"The principality's technology department is nothing but a piece of garbage in an empty shell..."

Author's message

…………

Zeon's technical departments have little real power, a fact even the minister himself has complained about.

Chapter 66: B Equipment

"So the technology department of the Principality of Zeon is just garbage."

July 2, UC.0079

8: 30 AM

After quickly determining the next course of action, the Federation forces, which had already suppressed the Ruhr base, swiftly began to move.

Their choice was to rob.

After moving a significant portion of the supplies, the remaining individual weapons, including firearms and artillery, were destroyed in a concentrated manner. Then, they managed to pack all four remaining mobile suits belonging to Zeon onto the remaining transport plane.

The Fat Uncle – originally a standard squad-level transport aircraft for Zeon, this thing could only carry three mobile suits.

However, this so-called 'piloting' refers to wartime piloting, and what Uncle Fatty did most often was to send mobile suits to designated battlefields.

What does that mean?

This thing is a mobile suit that can carry three fully armed mobile suits while standing upright, and also has some extra space.

So, the Federation soldiers, displaying their extraordinary ingenuity, dismantled the two Zakus into parts and forcibly stuffed them inside. At the same time, they also hijacked a Dora-class transport plane and crammed a large amount of supplies into it.

Meanwhile, the Zeon soldiers, having lost all ability to resist, could only watch helplessly as the Federation forces looted the base and left, leaving them with only a land-based warship whose bridge and all its equipment had been destroyed.

"Honestly, if a Zeonian who has experienced all of this were to hear you say something like that, I think they would faint on the spot."

"Hmph, so what if she faints?"

In response to Kuvatro's teasing remark, Shirley couldn't help but roll her eyes:

"Anyway, everyone knows that Zeon's technical departments are just empty shells. Whether it's Zeonic, Zmador, or even the slightly less powerful MIP, they all have dedicated testing teams. The 'test products' that end up in the hands of the Zeon military are more or less like discarded products. Moreover, the technical units, including 603, have been completely unproductive since Loom."

She casually placed the document that Lieutenant Oliver from Unit 603 had handed over on the table, and then yawned.

"Aside from the MS's own data, all that can be tested are trivial things like terrain adaptability and durability load. I don't know what they are evaluating. I didn't even see their own constructive suggestions in this data, nor did I see any engine solutions for the YMS-08A that ended up in their hands."

These words sounded contemptuous, but as they were spoken, their true intentions were revealed.

"So, you're still dissatisfied with the 'overheating' issue?"

There's nothing we can do about it.

After Gao Ren pointed out her idea, Shirley immediately flew into a rage:

"If it doesn't overheat, I can find a way to chop up that 'tiger' all of it."

"But aren't you having a hard time dealing with that blue tiger?"

"Who said that? It's not like I can't win. Tsk, if I can fix it, I definitely won't lose to 'Tiger'!"

"So you just brought that thing onto the Passenger Bird, huh...?"

Well, it was like frantically stuffing military equipment into Uncle Fatty's house. Sherry also tried every means to bring in 'Ifrit,' who only had half a body left.

"You know, there aren't any extra maintenance racks on the Migratory Bird, and your thing is giving Ms. Lutz a bit of a headache."

"Then don't criticize me, you yourself brought in a Zeon 'bomber'."

Faced with Gao Ren's explanation, Shirley just muttered softly:

"Besides, there's extra space in the hangar. If the load capacity is really not enough, we can just throw the steel cannon in."

"..."

The moment Shirley finished speaking, an eerie silence filled the entire conference room.

Looking at Shirley's enthusiastic and genuine expression, Gao Ren finally sighed:

"So you're not going to act anymore, huh?"

"That steel cannon is completely useless, and its cosmic performance is even worse..."

"Cough, cough, cough—"

Just before some inexplicable discussion escalated further, Mr. Cuvatro, still remembering that he was a team captain, finally couldn't help but cough:

"Operation V is, after all, a unified reform plan of the Federation Army, and the mobile suits in it each have their own advantages, so at least give it some face, right?"

Without responding further, Shirley simply rubbed the bandage still wrapped around her forehead, then collapsed onto the sofa.

"Garbage processors, garbage tanks."

Seeing that the person was clearly refusing to communicate, Kuvatro was at his wits' end.

What to say?

"Xiao Gao, it's so great to have a normal person like you in the team."

"Do you consider yourself a normal person?"

"..."

Oh no! Meeting that gaze that could only be described as sincere, Kuvatro's lips even twitched involuntarily.

The idea that was clearly conveyed was...

"Feeling guilty—to be honest, I'd rather you could refute me, after all, you are the captain."

"But after all, you were the one who devised the battle plan. Now that things have come to this, even I can't interfere or make up for anything."

In the end, the initially relaxed atmosphere suddenly took a sharp turn for the worse.

Feeling the solemnity and coldness that swept over him, Gao Ren clenched his fists.

Looking at the blond man again, he could clearly see the crimson eyes narrowed to slits behind the sunglasses:

"You should understand that the Ruhr base stores so many parts and supplies, clearly indicating that it exists as a frontline supply point. Our best tactic should be to use 'Fat Uncle' and other supply transport planes disguised as Zeon's supply transport planes to seize the opportunity to act."

"But that would take a lot of time, and many people would die by then. The Federation might not be able to stabilize the front lines, so we must act quickly."

"Very good. When you write the report next time, remember to delete the first sentence and use the second sentence as the reason."

"..."

For a moment, Gao Ren didn't know whether to say that his captain was willing to delegate authority or that he was really lazy.

He watched as the blond man yawned, then casually poked the pointer in his hand onto the electronic screen.

“The G4 force itself was not under the jurisdiction of the European Front, so for strategic reasons, we decided to take the initiative to attack, which is why we are called G4.”

"So, is it okay for Gundam to appear on the front lines?"

Upon hearing this question, Cuvatro couldn't help but laugh:

"Since the Federation chose to release the MS for actual combat, it is not afraid of leaks. Rather, it is more accurate to say that the higher-ups actually want to see this kind of machine appear on Earth."

"So, the real manufacturing plant for Gundam is in space?"

Then, the unexpected question made the captain's smile freeze.

Although Kuvatro did not say anything, his subtle expression revealed all the internal information that should have been kept secret.

"Then I won't stand on ceremony. I hope Ms. Lutz can speed up the modification of that 'flight pedal'. And if I remember correctly, Gundam's armament should include that thing."

"Wait, you mean that one?"

Just then, Shirley, who had been lost in thought, suddenly returned:

"That thing was just a prototype. E-CAP is completely useless because it can't be shrunk down."

"But that's all we can rely on now."

…………

Inside the hangar of the Migratory Bird, maintenance chief Metz Lutz quietly operated the computer. At the same time, the maintenance robotic arm removed an oversized 'cannon' from the wall mount, a weapon that would require two hands even for a mobile suit.

"Equipment B, docking confirmed—"

After confirming that everything was correct, Technician Clyde shouted:

“But Ms. Lutz, won’t this thing really cause the flight pedals to become unbalanced? This ‘long-barreled beam rifle’... as a prototype, hasn’t been tested outside of land environments yet, has it?”

Faced with the question, Ms. Lutz simply spoke calmly:

"No problem."

"really?"

"Yes, this child also thinks that if it were that child... there would be no problem."

Author's message

…………

PS: The complete miniaturization of the ecap was resolved in July.

Chapter Sixty-Seven: The Struggle at the Top

"So, is this all we can do?"

The Fat Uncle-class transport aircraft, the Green Fat Boy, is struggling to draw energy from its nuclear thermal engines through its two 'wings' as it propels itself through the air in a jet-like motion, flying alongside another Dora-class transport aircraft.

Of course, this is not what Zeon calls it, but now that it has fallen into the hands of the Federation, it is the Federation's problem to decide what to call it.

Even after it's delivered to the 44th Squadron, it might get a new name, but that's a matter for the future. The people currently on board this transport plane clearly don't have that in mind.

In the relatively spacious driver's cab, Sofia, as the communications officer, naturally sat in her rightful seat.

Now, perhaps because she doesn't need to concentrate too much as a messenger while traveling, she can focus on the scenery outside the window.

It just so happens that Zeon is expanding rapidly, the Federation's main forces are preparing for a counterattack, and Zeon has not yet had time to establish a good defense system in its newly occupied territories. So no one will come to question a transport plane that clearly belongs to Zeon.

"However, it's not time to completely relax yet."

Just as Sofia's mind wandered off, the words she heard pulled her back to reality:

"The transport plane's signal identifier is still within the Zeon sequence and has not been recorded by the Federation, so we must re-establish communication with the 44th Squadron after we leave the Minovsky particle environment, otherwise we will be shot down."

"Yes, I understand."

After glancing at the woman piloting the transport plane, Sofia couldn't help but look behind her.

Of course, there were other people in the cockpit. The young man named Simon was holding a gun, and the fatigue of the night's running and conflict had covered his face.

But perhaps because he still upheld his military duty, he showed no sign of closing his eyes.

But this wasn't out of caution; when Sofia turned her head, he even waved and greeted her in a friendly manner.

At this moment, the members of Squadron 441 seemed to have completely shed their status as prisoners, and the battle that broke out at night had completely eliminated the barriers that should have existed.

In fact, this not only means that their biggest problem has been eliminated, but more importantly...

"Is there nothing more for us to do after this, Lieutenant?"

"...That's right, what we need to do next is hand over everything we've seized from the Ruhr base to the 44th Battalion...and maybe other units that have merged with the 44th Battalion will also get a share, and then we'll leave it to fate."

"Leave it to fate?"

"Well, after all, our situation and status were determined entirely by their later reports, and now it seems that we are not entirely trusted."

"Why do you say that?"

"If they... no, I should say the boy trusts us, the best option would be to let us stay and repair the Hump, but they don't seem comfortable letting us move around freely."

"Isn't it because without that mobile suit called 'Gundam', we might not be able to deal with an attack that could come at any time?"

"...It's not that you can't think that way, is it?"