Gundam UC Hunting Time

On January 31, UC 0079, the Earth Federation government and the Principality of Zeon signed a wartime agreement, the Antarctic Treaty. Upon returning to Earth, Reibill was immediately promoted from lieutenant general to general and appointed as the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and commander-in-chief of the entire army, officially beginning the work of rebuilding and reviving the Federation Army.

Then, the very next day, February 1st, the Zeon military established the Earth Attack Force, with Garma Zabi, the youngest son of Dejin Zabi, serving as its commander-in-chief. When the news reached Luna 2, the pilots who were assisting the technicians in assembling Zani couldn't help but make fun of it.

"Does the Zeon army really have no usable soldiers? How could they appoint this greenhorn as commander-in-chief?"

"What brat? He's the young master of the Zabi family, okay?"

"No, isn't this just the way the nobility operate? They only care about bloodline, not ability."

"We were actually defeated by a feudal Nazi regime?"

“I think this Genius is definitely doomed.”

Looking at the nearly completed Zani, the pilots were full of fighting spirit.

On February 4, 0079, the vanguard of the Zeon Earth Attack Force secretly departed from Solomon. On February 5, the Earth Federation Forces, having received intelligence, convened a high-level staff meeting to formulate countermeasures.

On February 7, UC 0079, the Zeon Joint Chiefs of Staff launched Operation Megid Flame, officially commencing the invasion of Earth. The Assault Mobile Force began bombarding Earth using mass accelerators from lunar orbit, while simultaneously, the Earth Attack Force's vanguard took advantage of the chaos to land in the Musai.

In response, the Earth Joint Chiefs of Staff issued an attack order—the Federation task force, including the Federation Luna II mobile fleet, was to be deployed immediately to destroy the mass accelerator at the Granada base on the moon!

The alarm immediately blared throughout Luna 2 base, and the long-dormant remaining fleet quickly entered combat status, replenishing supplies and personnel, and forming a mass accelerator attack fleet. Lin Xingyuan also received the order to launch an attack at the same time.

"Lieutenant, your new machine is complete. The operation method is the same as Zani's. The difference is that the performance of the reactor and power transmission system has been improved. Theoretically, this giant is more irritable."

In the hangar, the technician, with mixed feelings, introduced Lin Xingyuan to his new aircraft—the old Zani, which had been converted into a training machine after the last operation, was used for the conversion flight training of Jung and others. The new aircraft was the Zaku II IIC whose cockpit had been cut open. After the technicians worked overtime to repair and modify it, a new, intact cockpit was installed, and a close-in weapon system was mounted on the nose to demonstrate its combat effectiveness. Of course, from the outside, this aircraft was not significantly different from a regular Zaku II.

"We were supposed to modify the paint job, but it's too late now."

The technician said with concern, "Using enemy equipment already raises the issue of friend or foe identification. If there are no paint schemes or clear markings, it is even more likely to be mistakenly shot by friendly forces!"

"It's okay, this will do."

Lin Xingyuan didn't care about that. Compared to the risk of being accidentally shot by friendly forces, this authentic Zeon paint job was more suitable for taking advantage of the chaos.

[Oh, so, besides you, they're all enemy planes, right?]

[This young man lacks martial ethics; he came to deceive and ambush my Zeon army.]

However, in the Battle of Granada, although the Federation Space Force fleet completed its mission, the result was total annihilation, wasn't it?

[Yeah, why send precious MS pilots on this kind of mission?]

The Federation forces didn't know they would be wiped out, and now they're panicking.

Don't die!

【Live! 】

The scrolling bullet comments foreshadowed danger, but Lin Xingyuan was helpless—this was the reality of being a soldier, where one's fate was not entirely in one's own hands. He then looked at Zani, which was not yet fully completed. Time was too tight; otherwise, with six mobile suits operating together, they might have been able to avoid total annihilation.

Forget it, let's figure out how to survive first!

Lin Xingyuan clenched his fist and said to the technician.

"Do me one more favor: remove the power limiter!"

Chapter Twenty: The Battle of Granada

February 9, UC 0079, the Moon —

The battle began immediately after they entered the range of the Mega Particle Cannon.

The Federation Space Force launched the first artillery barrage. As dense beams of light and missiles struck the Zeon forces' mass accelerator defenses, Lin Xingyuan boarded a Columbus-class mobile suit on the second line. The green and black Zaku IIC carried a rocket launcher and held a newly made 180mm cannon. A Swordfish thruster component was temporarily installed on its back. In this way, until it got close enough to be seen, the Zeon forces would treat it as a low-threat Swordfish. As cover, a Swordfish squad would accompany it, which was his original Antares squad.

"It's really an eyesore..."

In the cockpit of the lead Swordfish, Frank, who had been promoted to captain, turned to look at the waiting Zaku, his face showing disgust.

They actually used the enemy's weapon, and that kid was the one piloting it.

"You bastard—"

He opened a private chat and called Lin Xingyuan. Zaku's pink one-eyed creature turned in his direction, and Lin Xingyuan's voice followed.

"What's wrong, Captain?"

Frank gritted his teeth, feeling that Lin Xingyuan's address of "captain" was sarcastic and mocking.

"Stay away from us later, or you'll get us killed."

"...I'll do my best."

Although the mission was clearly to provide cover, Lin Xingyuan didn't say anything harsh this time because he had a strange premonition that Frank probably wouldn't survive the battle.

"Humph!"

This kid didn't provoke me? Frank was a little surprised, but with a major battle looming, he didn't think too much about it. Just then, the sortie coordinator waved his signal light and flew by, and he turned on the squad channel again.

"Antares01, call all forces, prepare for attack! Let's go kick that Zeon's ass!"

The moment the green light came on, the Swordfish's engines spewed out dazzling plumes of flame as it roared out of the Columbus-class aircraft. One after another, Lin Xingyuan was the fifth to sortie, quickly forming up with the vanguard and charging towards the Zeon garrison from the side.

Normally, the Swordfish is much faster than the Zaku, but Lin Xingyuan's Zaku was temporarily equipped with the Swordfish's thruster components, so it didn't fall behind. As the two sides got closer and closer, the barrage of bullets in their field of vision began to roar.

[When facing death calmly, shouldn't PL say something?]

God, kneel before me!

[Will I, today, surely rise above the Asuras?]

[I feel that this PL (partner/partner) is too different from both of these two in terms of personality, and they're not a good match.]

How about we add some background music?

[A Beast of Possibility?]

[Isn't this inappropriate?]

How about 9 PM, Sagittarius?

【Yes, yes, long live the Queen!】

This is the world of Gundam, VF fans, get out!

The lively discussion in the live chat ruined Lin Xingyuan's tense pre-battle mindset. Just as he was feeling speechless, music actually started playing in his ears. Listening closely, he realized it was "SALLY".

I'm not piloting a Nu Gundam.

Although surprised by GM's quirky sense of humor, the rousing background music immediately brought Lin Xingyuan back to focus his attention and concentrate on what was ahead.

The enemy ship's silhouette was rapidly magnifying, while the distance reading was rapidly decreasing.

"Antares01 calling all units, cover barrage is approaching, attack commence!"

Frank issued the order, his voice trembling and utterly lacking in authority. Just as the aircraft responded, a volley of long-range missiles swept past, striking the Zeon fleet and the Zaku forces that came to intercept them, exploding into layers of fireballs that obscured the enemy's vision. But before the fireballs had disappeared and the enemy fleet had even reappeared in sight, Frank issued the attack order.

"Now—"

He launched heavy anti-ship missiles mounted under his wings, and the other Swordfish fighters followed suit.

Oh no! I cast it too early!

Lin Xingyuan's keen observation and Eagle Eye skills allowed him to immediately detect Frank's mistake—that coward had actually violated the battle plan! He dropped the bombs ahead of schedule!!

Although it was only ten seconds, but—

"Too early!"

Antares08, namely Tachibana Kami, also noticed this and immediately sent a message to Hayashi Seigen asking about it.

"Antares07, Lin, what do we do!?"

"Continue the mission!"

"But--"

"Don't die!"

While sending his blessings to his friend, Lin Xingyuan pressed a button, discarding the attached Swordfish thruster components, and urgently corrected his course, continuing forward solely by inertia. Tachibana had no choice but to follow the movements of the group.

A wave of heavy anti-ship missiles hurtled toward the Zeon fleet at high speed, but because of the ten-second lead time, the fleet and mobile suits had time to intercept and defend!

As the defensive barrage swept across the missile's path, explosions erupted one after another in the enemy ranks, with only a few hitting their targets. Immediately afterward, the Zeon mobile suit squads charged aggressively toward the Swordfish, while the turning Swordfish swarm also launched missiles!

Because Lin Xingyuan made an emergency course correction and the Swordfish began to turn around, the two sides increased the distance. In addition, due to the interference of the explosion, when the MS team pilots saw the unfamiliar Zaku flying in the opposite direction, they were inevitably a little confused.

"Zaku?"

Where did it come from?

"Thruster malfunction?"

Confused, the Zeon mobile suits on the scene did not fire immediately. Thus, Lin Xingyuan's Zaku passed them without incident. Taking advantage of this momentary gap, he slammed on the pedal, and the thrusters immediately activated, propelling the mobile suit headfirst into the beam-filled defensive fleet!

It's done!

He's so despicable, but I like him so much.

This tactic of taking advantage of chaos is only effective in the early stages.

Despite the constant threat of being hit by particle cannons fired from his own warships, Lin Xingyuan completely ignored this danger, gambling his life on Luck +3 and Speed. His mech vibrated rapidly, and a stirring background music echoed in his ears as he set up his rocket launcher and aimed at the first Zeon ship that had entered the screen.

"Go eat shit, you militaristic pig!"

Roaring and cursing, he unleashed his pressure, tension, and fear along with the rockets. Almost instantly, two rockets hit the bridge of the Zeon ship in succession. Flames and the bodies of the crew members spewed out from the broken portholes. Meanwhile, Lin Xingyuan's Zaku IIC was already moving to the beat of the background music, rushing towards the second target and firing rockets again!

Two rockets were fired; one grazed the target, while the other missed the bridge and hit the turret directly above the ship.

[What a pity! If it were a nuclear rocket, one shot would have sunk it!]

The Antarctic Treaty was just signed; isn't it inappropriate to use it now?

[PL piloted a Zaku; they could have just blamed it on Zeon afterwards.]

[This is not good. Zeon already knows that the Federation Forces have revived Zakus. Breaking the tacit agreement will only bring the war back to the way it was at the beginning. The Federation Forces don't want to suffer another Colony Fall.]

The debate in the barrage did not affect Lin Xingyuan's focus. He did not expect to sink the enemy ship in one shot. He only needed to create chaos so that the Federation's firepower could be better utilized. If the attack was fast enough, they could complete the operation and withdrawal before the Zeon Army's Grandana Base assault force arrived!

This was the only way he could think of to avoid the complete annihilation of the fleet.

There's still not enough ammunition for rockets. Next time, we should learn from King and hang missile launchers on our legs too!

Keeping this in mind, Lin Xingyuan switched ammunition and sped toward the third enemy ship. He fired his last four rockets, then jettisoned the empty rocket launcher and set up the newly developed 180mm cannon of the Luna 2.

"Die!"

A furious roar, coupled with the pull of the trigger, sent the bridge of an enemy ship exploding! Only then did the Zeon forces realize that there were 'werewolfs' infiltrated their fleet! The nearest warship hastily accelerated, attempting to change course, but it was too late! The Zaku IIC, wielding its 180mm cannon, deftly dodged the belatedly alerted close-in weapon system, its target fixed on the enemy ship's engine room, and unleashed another blast!

Chapter Twenty-One: Killing the Werewolf

Although the 180mm cannon was not as powerful as a rocket launcher, it was superior in its accuracy. Lin Xingyuan fired at every target he encountered, emptying the magazine in one go. Wherever he went, the Zeon army was thrown into chaos.

"Damn it! What's with that Zaku!?"

"Shoot it down!"

"No! It will accidentally hit our warships and mobile suits!"

"asshole--"

"Unidentified mobile suit approaching! It's coming towards us!"

A commotion erupted on the bridge of the garrison flagship. The next second, the silhouette of the aircraft flashed past the porthole, and its single pink eye cast a cold glance, as if releasing a spell called the Aura of Fear, freezing everyone in place, unable to move.

The next moment, feeling humiliated, the fleet commander was filled with rage and roared loudly.

"Shoot it down—!"

As soon as he finished speaking, his car began to shake violently, and the alarm went off.

"The engine room is severely damaged! Thrust has decreased!"

"MS hangar damaged! Fire! Damage control, compartments locked down!"

The crew members, their voices like wails, relayed the warship's situation one after another—the mobile suit had attacked them from behind!

The anti-aircraft guns were spitting fire fiercely, but with such severe shaking and tilting, accurate aiming was impossible! (Just assume they were there, like I said.)

"Send MS team after it! Slaughter it!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than the still unstable ship was hit again, jolting him off his seat!

"Enemy garrison formation observed to be in disarray! Lieutenant Lin's operation has been a success!"

Cheers erupted on the bridge of the Federation flagship, and the commander waved his hand.