Editing KSGU:Volume 2 Chapter 3

In the quiet room, the old pillar clock is rocking away. It’s a wooden pillar clock that seemed to be made in the old centuries.

There is an old-styled wardrobe, an attached mirror, a twin-sized canopy bed; a tea table that can be brought to the balcony, plates that have a red tea teapot and cookies on them, and earthenware that’s reflecting soft light. This seem to be a room prepared for female guests, and the windows and lighting inside the room have a luxurious color base, so one won’t feel sick of looking at them for a long time. The room probably wasn’t used for many years, but it’s kept so tidy that it didn’t give that feeling. As expected of a mansion belonging to the Vist Foundation. Also, a servant just came by and let her enjoy a mini-dinner.

It’s been more than 2 hours since she was brought to such a comfy room where she didn’t feel like she was watched. She has achieved the aim of meeting the person she has to meet and saying what she has to say, but what’s next? Cardeas merely listened silently and didn’t give a clear answer. Zinnerman and Marida’s movements were unknown, but since they know that she made contact with Vist Foundation, they will carry out the deal secretly. They will probably let the mobile suits remain on standby after considering that she’s a hostage.

She hurriedly sat properly and said ‘please enter’. She thought that it was an attendant who came to collect the tea set, but the one standing outside the wooden door was Cardeas Vist. Audrey feels that her skin is tensing up because of the anxiety, and got up to invite the leader of Vist Foundation in.

Cardeas, who said ‘excuse me’ as he entered the room, looked at the table. This is to see whether the guest is unsatisfied with the reception, and Audrey, who went through the same training, understood that. Before coming in, he must have talked to the servants and understood what meals she had. Audrey first spoke up, saying, “It’s nice.” This is an instinctive action she does based on etiquette and dignity, and Cardeas, who’s showing a smile as he said ‘it’s fine as long as it suits your tastes’, didn’t do anything else. He’s like a brave eagle tilting its head slightly, showing a smile that makes people drop their guards.

“Full Frontal. The man hailed as the second coming of the one they call the Red Comet…Char Aznable.”

Having a blurry looking expression, the girl puts her hand on Banagher’s thigh as he sits down on the sofa, and leans her exposed shoulders over. One can see the cleavage from under her shirt, but Banagher doesn’t feel anything special about it. The most he just feels is that he accidentally saw some skin that has spots on them, and feel that it’s not very clean to look at it closely. Banagher takes a gulp of cola from the glass and adjusts his sitting position, “Nothing…much to talk about.” And answers without looking back. “Uwa—wow, that’s so cool!” The girl’s scream matches the high decibels that fill the wide living room, piercing the ears.

It’s rumored that the people in private schools normally behave well, but go ridiculously wild once they get started; from the looks of it, this really is the case. If the owners of this house, Micott’s parents see such a devastating scene, they will definitely roll blank white eyes; but luckily, they’re on a vacation with their young son. That’s why everyone held their breaths and watched Micott from behind when her parents called.

The Minovsky Particles interference today is rather serious, and the communication with their destination was immediately cut off. However, Micott, who calmly states that everything’s fine at home, doesn’t show any signs of being troubled. As everyone saw her stick her tongue out once she put down the phone and accepted everyone’s cheers, one will doubt whether she’s such a frivolous girl who’s already used to do such things. Her father’s a respected factory head, and the girl herself is a carefree person who would enter the technical school without hesitation. From that moment on, Banagher started to view her as a different creature altogether. Takuya, who’s used to the current atmosphere and dancing around foolishly in the family bar with 2, and then 3 girls, looks like one of those irritating things that are gathered in this room.

That’s why he set up an invisible wall and treats himself as a flower wall, but these brains that are intoxicated and relaxed by alcohol don’t seem to understand his intent. Banagher starts to feel that the pressure that’s building up in his heart continues to rise like a storm beating away and the uncomfortable body temperature surrounding him. ''I shouldn’t be here. '' A part of him is prompting him to hurry up and leave, and another part of him is warning him that it’ll be a path of no return if he really leaves. In the end, he’s only left with self-chiding in his heart, wondering why must he curl his tail and run off?

The girl called Asta brings her hand with the bracelet and puts it on Banagher’s thigh. Banagher smells her breath that reeks of pizza and beer, and tells himself that this is daily life. It’s a good thing that he’s famous in a private school. ''Let’s just chit-chat with them at a suitable level, and get along with them while our student lives aren’t lacking; and once we played enough, we’ll be treated as treasure and become members of the thousands of Anaheim Electronics workers. This is the future you fear will be wrecked. ''

He remembers his hometown. The people who took the wrong path all ended up like that. ''Didn’t mum always say this? She wants me to become an adult who understands how great an ordinary life is''—but with these words that continue to surge in his heart, Banagher refuted it. ''Whenever mom teaches me such things, I just feel like something’s ‘missing’. '' It’s like his eyes were being shrouded, and something’s being taken away from me. And today, that blindfold seems to slip. That’s why he immediately saw a world he never saw before for an instant, a world where he didn’t feel ‘out of place’. The determined jade-colored eyes, the unicorn tapestry, and the mobile suit with the unicorn horn.

He started to feel difficulty in breathing. I can’t breathe if I continue to remain here; let’s go back. Where can I go breathe? Where’s your resting place? This voice rang with the deep beats and the girls’ squeals overlap each other “Don’t be so quiet. Talk a bit.” “Ah, do you have a girlfriend?” Amazing, you’re really steady~” “Oi, Asta. His glass’ empty. Pour some out for him.”…

It’s unknown which idiot helped to turn off the music and cause the atmosphere in the living room to be so bad that it can’t be salvaged. Asta starts to cry, and the other girl stares at Banagher with a cold expression before saying, “What’s with this guy…” Other voices then pop out, “Who’s that guy?” “Feels bad.” Banagher sees a few boys looking dangerously at him and lowers his head to look at Asta. He wants to apologize to her, but after seeing that she’s crying like a kid instead of clearing the shattered bottle, he feels that it’s stupid to feel sorry. ''Cry all you want,'' he thought.

“That’s why I say don’t invite the people from the vocational school.”

Just as he thought, the limo-type high class electric car is parked outside the entrance of the mansion. This Vist Foundation limo has leather seats, high-class audio speakers, fridge, and even iced grape wine, and remains near there like a bodyguard after sending him from the ‘Snail’ to the technical school, which makes it look annoying. It’s low gravity, but Banagher feels his mood become heavy as he clicks his tongue before leaving the window.

''The chairman instructed us to ensure your safety.'' As he sat on the limo, two suit-clad men that gives the strong vibe and disciplined hunters wouldn’t accept any other logic. Even if he tell them that they’re irritating and to just send me back, they won’t take action without their owner’s command. Cardeas Vist, that authority of this distinguished adult wraps around me like air. The moment he thought that he couldn’t escape the man’s grasp, Banagher just feels that it was harder to breath and takes 3 steps up the stairs like they’re two steps. The couple that are hugging at the stairs near the roof seem to be grumbling in their hearts that he’s being a spoilsport.

He puffed his mouth as he said that, and then turn his eyes to the artificial sun pillar that’s standing behind it. At the center of the room, the 3km pillar that passes through the clouds enter the darkness midway through and become a shadow blocking the starry sky. Of course, those aren’t real stars, but a starry sky created from the lights on the inner wall on the other side.

The pillars are all set at regular points all over the inner wall, supporting the artificial sun that stretches out long—no, the artificial sun pillar is located in the center axis in a zero-gravity area, and so it should be more correct to say that it’s fastened. The roof of the building is latched onto the base like an annual ring, and each area separated by shrubs, allowing people to do whatever they insist to do. For Micott’s house, a half is used as a swimming pool, while the other half is used as a family garden.

The gang of people who went down the lift probably didn’t expect the leader to personally come out and invite them. Everyone gasps, but Cardeas notices that amongst the 4 people, the bearded man is the only one who recovers faster from the shock as he looks around to grasp the current situation.

It’s 7:04pm. The electronic interference brought about by the Minovsky particles is becoming stronger, and even the physical sensors are having interference. Savoir has been going through countless reset operations while hiding in the cockpit of the <<Geara Zulu>> that’s hidden behind the solar panel.

His body is sweating all over, and his heart is beating faster. He’s cursing his eyes for looking there as he watches the enemy machine approach with his pilot eyes. Savoir reaches for the communication controller. No matter how thick the Minovsky particles, it’s possible to send voices within 20km. He has to report back to the <<Garencieres>> before the enemy detects him, and he has to consider what to do next, whether to fight or run. However, his fingers freeze once he’s about to touch the control.

''Should I take action?'' The fingers that are on the sphere control are stiff. Savoir answers himself, ''no, even if I take down this unit, other enemy units will spot me. This is just telling the enemy that the ‘Sleeves’ are in ambush, and the <<Garencieres>> will be in danger.'' Even if he contacts them, it’ll be meaningless if he can’t escape.

On the retaining deck of the <<Garencieres>>, the <<Kshatriya>> is fastened by the fixates. Marida hears Savoir’s presence from through the thick armor, and at the same time, feels that the cold and shrilling pain of the countless thoughts close in. The psycommu that’s installed on the machine increases the senses’ reaction. However, the chill that enters her pores are different from the signal feedback as they become even clearer, slithering in like countless snakes under the skin, forming a very uneasy feeling.

In that chilling uneasiness, she identifies the body warmth and knows where the fearful Savoir is. Marida takes off the helmet of the suit and expand her senses out. The complicated emotions that are released out and spreads throughout the space colony accepts the emotions that came rushing in from outside. The tightly shut eyes slowly open.

“In other words, you’re not handing us the <<Laplace Box>> itself, but the key to opening it?”

“That’s because we don’t know what’s this <<Laplace Box>>.”

“But the higher-ups of the ‘Sleeves’ recognize the value of the <<Box>> and sent a good assistant like you too.”

“Humans’ hearts change easily, and the public often forgets. It’s true that people who’re like Newtypes do exist, but they can only use that supernatural-like prediction ability as outstanding pilots and got their names recorded in the annals of history. Amongst the definitions Zeon Daikum gave, if we go by the one about ‘understanding each other without mistakes’, they’re the group of people who’re the furthest from that theory. The public, which only wants the outcome, is already sick and tired of this Newtype theory that is only a possibility. The name Newtype is now like taking down a king, and right now, only battle records, movies and novels will mention them. To decent politicians and scholars, this is even a taboo.”

“So you’re going to throw a rock into the still water surface…is this the real reason the Vist Foundation’s handing us the <<Laplace Box>>?”

“That’s true. No matter whether it’s the <<Box>> or the key…the thing you hand us may have a signal beacon, and the chances of you grasping our location isn’t zero.”

Zinnerman narrows his eyes, and behind him, Flaste and company are showing tense expressions. They just got this most important information they never knew of, the contents of the <<Box>>. Cardeas feels that they’re tensing up, and continues cautiously,

“On the other hand, those who only insist on only one of their own narrow ways will never see the contents of the <<Box>>.”

Zinnerman sighed and says, “One thing…?” “Well, for example…” Cardeas strokes his chin and then looks at Zinnerman’s eyes,

It’s definitely not a small matter if there’s a call to this room at this moment. Cardeas remains calm and looks at Gael, who picks up the phone. Gael doesn’t look shaken, but as he hangs up the phone, the face he shows to Cardeas is full of tension. Cardeas excuses himself from Zinnerman and the rest before leaving his seat, and whispers to Gael in the corner of a room.

''But we can’t possibly expect.'' Both of them been in the Federation army before, he could understand what Gael was being anxious about. The way developments went so quickly isn’t something that can be dealt with privately. The Federation will normally drag its fat body, and even operating a vehicle requires complicated procedures. However, if the upper-ups are all in unison, their movements will be faster and carry out such organization with amazing execution. Of course, the higher-ups aren’t just the upper echelon of the group, but also those commanders who intend to become senators once they retire and the supporting senators, the leadership group of people who’re helping the commanders in obtaining military goods.

He remembers his own younger sister who was married to the leadership family of Anaheim Electronics, the Carbine family. She, who is 6 years younger than him, once fearlessly said: Since humanity gave birth to political marriages, women will have the right to play with authority. The ‘higher-ups’ mobilization of the army to prevent the handing over of the <<Box>> definitely involves her somehow.

<nowiki>*</nowiki>ZUN*… A deep sound that could barely be heard echoed far away, and the teacup that’s placed on the table trembles. The floor, walls and even the air shakes with it. This isn’t a tremor focused at one point, but an impact that spreads throughout the colony, causing this <<Magallanica>> to jerk.

If a rifle-type shot can be called a straight punch, the beam machine gun can be considered continuous jabs as they hit the <<ReZEL>> from point blank range. The pink bullets hit the leg to the abdomen, and many charred black bullet holes appear on the Romeo 003’s frame. Even though the reactor isn’t destroyed, the cockpit’s been hit directly, and the pilot’s boiled before he can even react. The <<ReZEL>> that lost its pilot is short-circuited inside, giving off lots of sparks, and becomes some debris that floats in the shoal space region.

He gripped onto the control joystick hard and says this. Even after the One Year War and the two Neo Zeon war, the ‘Sleeves’ are still carrying out terrorist attacks on the Earth’s celestial sphere—the remnants of Neo Zeon. The radar signal on the ally machine disappeared, and before they can realize what’s the meaning behind this, squad leader Ian’s command came through the wireless communicator (Romeo 002 warning all units, watch your surroundings.) Riddhe looks at the all-view 360 degrees styled monitor. There may be other enemies hiding in the surrounding space dust. On hearing the pilots growling at each other through the wireless radio; Mihiro and the other operators practically shouting and hollering, it struck him that Romeo 003 was shot down. It’s just that simple, no dramatic flair, just the reporting of death through the laser signals…

The large cylinder is floating in vacuum, having become the second home of humanity—he has to damage the metal exterior. There’s a sense of morality seeping inside him and the enemy. He doesn’t want to use the colony as a shield, but having considered the difference in numbers on both sides, Savoir can’t think of whether this is a good plan or not. Savoir’s <<Geara Zulu>> flies past the spinning wall, and soon reaches the civilian block. The mobile suits of <<Nahel Argama>> can’t snipe him, and it seem that both of them can only let Savoir’s machine fly further, but the sudden attack of two units cause things to change.

The optical axis of the beam rifle hits Savoir’s unit left leg, breaking off the part below the knee. The cockpit jerks violently, and the all-view monitor is flashing warning messages. The Velcro fasteners that detected the damage increases the suction, but Savoir’s body still leaves the seat as the helmet’s buried in the airbags that were shot out from the console. Savoir lifts his head up, and the airbag’s sucked back in as the all-view monitor shows the <<ReZEL>> unit that’s flying from below. Savoir instinctively fires the beam rifle. Once the beam weapon hits, the victim will not even have the time to feel death. It’s over once he’s hit, and he will be evaporated once he’s hit by the beam rifle. Savoir’s telling himself in his mind, I’m alive, I’m still alive, and continues to fire the trigger. The <<ReZEL>> continues to fly horizontally and dodge the bullets, transforming back into the mobile suit type when meeting with a <<Geara Zulu>> and uses the power of the acceleration to swing the beam saber down.

To any bystander, it looks like a delayed execution, but in fact, that’s not the case. When near the colony, they must try not to use the rifle and trigger the reactor. The pilots of the <<ReZELs>> were just using common sense to close in on the enemy machine to stop it. This tactic is correct, and it uses the unique characteristic of the transformable mobile suit <<ReZEL>>. However, the pilots are all rookies who lack actual combat experience. As they continue to attack in the same patterns, Savoir’s <<Geara Zulu>> floats towards the port, and the civilian ships that are entering and exiting the docking bay are each taking action to evacuate. However, they’re still much clumsier than the agile mobile suits. Several ships collide with each other, and let out sparks as they graze each other. The scattered exterior damage the guiding lights, and even though they’re all gathered, the ships that are entering and leaving in an orderly manner are in chaos, and screams and hollers can be heard from the port management authority.

Savoir hears these voices subconsciously. The all-view monitor is already more than half destroyed, and the ball-shaped cockpit is showing cracks on half the area. However, he still manages to see a transport ship colliding with a small ship. The machine’s spinning, and the images continue to enter his eyes. He sees the gateway of the docking bay getting closer, and the guiding lights are moving from down to up. ''I have to get away from here,'' Savoir thinks. ''I might get civilian ships involved if I stay here, and I might even lose the chance for the <<Garencieres>> to escape. If the port carries out extreme measures and close all the gateways, it’ll be over. '' He has forgotten that the flying shrapnel stabbed into his abdomen, and blood’s filling his helment. Savoir activates the thruster of the <<Geara Zulu>>, and this isn’t something Savoir is doing as a person, but a pilot with morality and duty doing something instinctive.

The <<Geara Zulu>> that lost its limbs waves the tomahawk and roars. To the <<ReZEL>> pilots who haven’t realized that this is already civilized spaceway, Savoir’s actions just look suicidal. It’s because they’re rookies that they immediately use the beam rifles out of fear at that moment.

Inside one of the 4 ships floating there, at the deck of the <<Garencieres>>, Marida senses this sensation from inside the cockpit of the <<Kshatriya>>. It’s the cry of a person before the life vanishes—I’m here. Listen to me, everyone. After such a cry, the shockwave that came over like a burden rocks the air, creating goosebumps in her body and heart. She grips onto the control panel, and that horrifying chill that passes through her body made her tremble. Don’t get swallowed by this, Marida told herself. Don’t empathize with a life that’s gone. I’ll show weaknesses if I do that, and I’ll share the same fate one day.

On the all-view screen, she can see the workers who were preparing to leave the port suddenly stop and look around. The other crew members were also shocked by this slight tremor. (What is it? An explosion…?) Gilboa’s voice came through the wireless communicator. He can feel this shockwave he can’t understand, and Marida’s angry over their slow-wittedness. Why are ‘normal humans’ so casual?

It’s been more than ten minutes since they detected the enemy’s presence, and though they started getting ready before Savoir notified them, it’ll take some time before the <<Garencieres>> can leave. Besides ‘her’, there’s also Zinnerman—her master that she can’t leave behind, which means that there’s a lot less things she can do. “Really…!” After grumbling, Marida lets the mechanical arm of the <<Kshatriya>> give a thumbs up to indicate to the deck personnel that she’s ready to sortie.

While the other ship workers and port workers are all staring in disbelief, Marida puts on the helmet and pulls the visor down. The port doesn’t have zero gravity, but it’s rather inconvenient to move with all the air around. She has to consider the air resistance and increase the thruster burst, but if she just randomly shoots them out, she’ll send the surrounding people flying. She lands on the floor of the port, letting the soles hook grab onto the rails, and then watches the workers frantically leave. She lets the <<Kshatriya>> move forward and chases away the people floating in the air until she can finally use her thrusters safely. Suddenly, she feels a sharp killing intent.

''The enemy’s here.'' Marida sees this instinct that’s transformed into a flash pass by her forehead, leaving behind a tiny vestige of light in her mind. The flash causes the psycommu’s power to increase, shooting out from the cockpit and activating the funnels that are hidden in the <<Kshatriya>> pods. Before Marida even realizes it, three funnel binders fly out from the pods and start moving like they were shot out by her.

She opens her eyes as she said this. The beams shot from the funnels burn through the cockpit of the <<Jegan>> and pierce through the control panel. The bright green machine has a burned hole there, and the <<Jegan>> that can’t move anymore floats out of the port. The funnels immediately return and fight their way through the air that’s flowing out. The anti-fire system activates on detecting air flow outside, and as the large amount of rubber balls that are filled with lots of drying wall foam reach there, the last unit has already left the port. As her consciousness capture the trails of loyal hunting dogs, Marida holds her breath and grabs onto the ball-shaped control panel.

She glides through the heavy air, and the moss-green machine that’s mixed in the night stops suddenly. Marida lets her body and machine feel the friction that’s different from piloting in real life, and lets the <<Kshatriya>> face the pursuers.

The screams downstairs got more intense. “IT CRASHED!” “ISN’T THAT WHERE LUWAN’S HOUSE IS!?” Voices like these echoed. Some of them screamed, “IT’S A WAR! THERE’S FIGHTING OVER THERE!?” That voice make Banagher feel like he was dragged on the shoulder, but he continues to stare at the starry sky. His consciousness was attracted to an object that instantly appeared for a moment in the clouds when the flames of explosion expanded.

Cardeas Vist’s cockiness felt vexing. His expression seemed to say, ''I have everything under control'', but now, there’s a scenario even he couldn’t predict. With this conclusion, Banagher realizes that Audrey, who’s in his hands, is in danger, and an unknown impulse rocks his heart. In the midst of extreme violence that’s full of flashes and noise, Banagher grabs onto the roof’s handrail. The charred stench that’s like soot in the air—the stench created by the beam weapons scatter all around, and this is the first time Banagher smells the stench of the battlefield.

At a passage with a duct, there’s a guard there. He’s not wearing a spacesuit, but the suit is bulging unnaturally underneath, and one can tell that he has a shoulder-arms weapon underneath. The lens rotates, checking the positions of the cameras in the ceiling of the passage, and the ‘doorkin’ enter a standby phase. Based on the situation, he can sometimes wait for up to a day without eating or sleeping, but this time, they only waited for 15 minutes. Once they hear the action command in the wireless radio, the ‘doorkins’ open the hatch of the duct, and the floor above bounced.

The alarm rings as the hatch opens, and it’s too late when the people in the security center realized that there’s something wrong. The floor that’s floating under zero gravity hits the ceiling, and before any sound is even made, the ‘doorkin’ has already moved behind the guard’s back, covering the mouth with his left hands and using knife to stab into the guard’s back. The blade is stabbed in between the ribs, and with a little twist, the air flows into the lungs. The guard’s raised hand is limp, and dies without being able to let out any sound. The ‘doorkin’ tosses the limp corpse aside and starts his actual mission.

They use their masks to hide their faces under the helmet, and the group carry their recoilless carbine rifles and silently move through the zero-gravity passage. They destroy the cameras on the way and reach a junction. The squad leader standing at the side indicates that everyone is to scatter. The members kick the wall down in a skilled manner and raise their carbines before squeezing down the trigger of the cable gun attached at the bottom of the rifle to fire the steel cable. The steel cables that are shot out start to spiral, and the members quickly turn to where they’re heading to. They send one person as the forward and one person to watch the back. Even with guards appearing, they continues to let the cable gun fire at the same speed, firing their carbines once the guards appear in their way, and shooting out 5mm bullets that shattered the guards chest.

A guard who’s moving with 3 comrades finds that there are signs of intruders at a junction. He uses his hand signals to communicate with his comrades, and intend to pincer the intruder from both front and back. His comrades head off to the front, while he heads in the corner to trail the enemy. The enemy hasn’t realized this yet. They should be wearing bulletproof vests, but they can’t possibly move with ten handgun rounds slammed into them. The guard raises his recoilless rifle and waits for his comrades to contact him through radio, but from the corner of his eye, he sees that something’s sliding here on the mobile handle from the wall on the other side.

It’s a Flashbang. As the guard sees that item that’s the size of a lighter arrive, it explodes in front of his eyes, and 2.5 million Candela of light appeared. A loud noise rings in his ears, causing his muscles to numb for the moment. The guard loses his sight and mobility, and he, together with his allies, are like fried fish floating up when they’re cooked. The members of ECOAS point their guns at the guards on the premise of eliminating obstacles, and the muzzles with caps shoot out bullets. The guard is shot through the chest and sent spinning a round before slamming into the wall. Other gunshots can be heard from all around, and during the explosions, noise can be heard throughout. If the <<Magallanica>> can be described as a snail, then ECOAS started its invasion from near the center, and has immediately expanded its territory, getting the outer shell involved as they head down the main body—the central block where the command console and other important facilities are at. They need the data in the central block and technicians to control them. The others are to be treated as people with potential to be obstacles. The people who enter the members’ sight will be shot whether they have weapons or not, and there’s a lot of hot blank magazines and floating blood on the passages.

She doesn’t know. That’s right, the scariest moment is when she doesn’t know what happens. Audrey remembers her childhood. At the deepest part of the large battleship, she will listen to her regent and sit on the throne. Once the battle started, the ship started to rattle, and the adults would definitely say: It’ll soon be over. Please relax, princess. That’s not true. I want to know exactly what’s going on. If I knew, I will be able to respond in turn no matter how young I am, but the adults just don’t want to scare this kid.

Let alone a handgun, it’s not easy to bring in a rifle when it’s so big. It’s definitely not Zinnerman’s group who did this. Audrey tries her best to steady her trembling knees. There’s another organization taking action; they planned to carry out their attack and ambushed this <<Magallanica>>. Most likely, they sensed that the ‘Sleeves’ have made contact with the Vist Foundation, and came to stop the transfer of the <<Laplace Box>>—in that case, it’s easy to guess who the attackers are.

Zinnerman should have realized that this attack wasn’t just targeted at them, but his thinking is hindered by the fact that ‘she’ is in the Foundation’s hands. Cardeas watches him as he’s unable to distinguish between deliberation and coincidence as his expression is just showing that he’s intent on getting her ‘back’. He admits, “That’s true.” and quickly scans around everywhere, remembering where the tables and chairs are.

Cardeas feels some chill, and he exchanges looks with Gael. This is the truly scary part of the Federation when they’re serious; using special forces as thieves in a hit and run operation—‘Hurry up and delete all classified information regarding the <<Box>>.” Cardeas says,

“Scrap the data for the <<UC Plan>>. Let all the Anaheim workers escape in the capsules. You too, hurry up and leave. The enemies are professionals, so try and avoid a meaningless battle…”

He’s worried about ‘her’, but he can only believe that Zinnerman and the rest will save her. Cardeas stretches his arm out at Gael “But, chairman, you alone…” He’s not agreeing with this verbally, but Gael hands over to small handgun in his ankle holster.

Thus, to mobile suit, this ‘cylinder’ colony is way too cramped to fight in. They have to fight with a range of what’s basically a ground battle, use the AMBAC system to fight in mid-air, which is a basic must, and also, they have to handle this unexpected air resistance that is really annoying. Air’s continuing to flow in here as there are artificial currents used for heating near the artificial sun at the center axis, and at the inner wall, there’s air flow caused by the Coriolis’ Effect as the colony spins, causing the winds to interfere with each other and blow.

The mobiles suits of the Nahel Argama enter <<Industrial 7>>, and before they can get used to this environment, they’re caught under enemy bombardment. The first one to lose his life is the 3rd <<Jegan>> unit. The machine becomes a fireball and is pulled by inertia, ending up crashing into the inner wall of the colony and smashed to smithereens. Black smoke flies up from the crash point and is being dragged by the Coriolis Effect, forming a black ring in the spinning inner wall of the colony. They’re unable to scatter inside the narrow space colony, and the pilots of <<ReZEL>> no. 5 and 7 can only cover each other with their backs facing each other as they look around.

They know where the enemy mobile suit is, but what’s scary are the automatic cannons near the clouds—the <<Funnels>>. They’re so small that they can’t be detected easily, and may even slide into their blind spots. The advancement of the psycommu causes the distance control of the <<Funnels>> to be easier, and the movements of the enemy are rather otherworldly too as they haven’t gotten a single hit. This isn’t something that an ordinary pilot can do.

The pilot of unit no. 5 whispered, and the pilot of unit no. 7 retorts back through the radio that’s full of static, “Don’t spout nonsense!” A Newtype can detect the enemy’s ‘presence’ through the armor of a mobile suit, predict their moves and attack; and to the pilots, that’s synonymous with ‘monster’.

In fact, the <<Kshatriya>> is fast, and dodged the moment its enemies were about to fire. However, it’s not an easy battle for Marida at all. The air causes the machine to become heavy, and the movements of the <<Funnels>> becomes slow. She has to consider the safety of the colony and use the <<Funnels>> to surround the enemies and take them down, but the blowing wind is causing trouble for her.

However, she can’t just shoot to restrain. The power of the mega-particles may shoot through the outer wall of the colony if it’s shot recklessly. If she doesn’t shoot at the best moment, the enemy units may also crash into the inner wall of the colony. She has to predict the enemy’s movements and let them crash into the airtight walls or the construction place without anyone around. She doesn’t want to let an enemy machine land in the middle of the colony as it is now.

The laughing children and the young mother pushing the baby pram appears in front of her eyes. Marida shoots the thrusters and continues to flip consecutively as she closes in on the firing lines of the Vulcan guns. She uses the pillar of artificial sun as a shield, lets out three new <<Funnels>> and use the mechanical arms in the pods to take back the <<Funnels>> that have run out of battery. There’s a mechanical arm for each of the four pods, called hidden hands. The main unit itself has a small beam saber and three simple fingers, and the <<Kshatriya>> takes the <<Funnels>> back like a monstrous windmill. The fire of the Vulcan gun lights its moss green surface, and there’s a grazing sound between the machine and the wide air; the 20m tall monster is flying in the night sky of <<Industrial 7>>.

The oxygen masks that are on the roadside are activated, and calls can be heard. “EVERYONE GET ONE EACH!” “MAKE SURE YOUR CHILDREN HAVE ONE, ALL RIGHT!?” The electric cars that are stuck move towards the opposite lanes out of impatience, and accelerate off while ignoring the police. There are air-raid shelters for emergency refuge all over the place, and people can reach them without taking electric cars. However, they are aiming for the underground space below the colony. 150m deep into the outer walls, there are passages for emergency use leading to capsules for escape.

Its shape transforms, and both ‘feet’ land in the gaps between the cars. The surrounding electric cars are sent flying because of the impact. The upright tank again lets out its thrusters, ignoring the shocked residents. It transforms into the mobile suit <<Loto>> and gets past the cars as if it were jumping over stones, breaking the barricade and leaving the construction area. Daguza watches the disorderly evacuation in a disappointed manner, but he immediately pulls down the captain's periscope and uses the green night vision monitor to look for enemies.

A 3rd <<ReZEL>> flies out from the cargo transport entrance in the ‘hill’, and fires of Vulcan guns can be seen blazing in the air. they can’t use powerful beam rifles in the colony, and can only take down the enemy’s cockpit with a beam saber. However, the 4 wings cause them to be unable to do anything. The 3 <<ReZELs>> can only be played around with. Suddenly, a beam comes in from a completely different direction, cutting through the night sky and lighting the artificial sun pillar that’s in darkness. The <<ReZEL>> that got hit has its leg broken the explosion rocks the <<Loto>>. There’s static on the night vision, but Daguza notices that the movements of the 4 wings are a little slow. There’s an opening when it’s going to take back the battery-depleted <<Funnels>>—Daguza presses the firing mechanism on the periscope’s grip.

He puts his face near the conductance bar and watches the aiming scope. Small jet of lights appear in the sky, and the lights that he see in the night screen are becoming bigger. 1, 2…there are 3 <<Funnels>>. Daguza fires the activation switch of the launcher and removes the restrain on the warhead.

The tank-mode <<Loto>> knocks aside the electric cars that are parked on the road shoulders and runs on the road at a top speed of 150km per hour. The <<Funnels>> continue to chase with a speed no less than 300km per hour even with the Coriolis’ effect. The enemy probably won’t shoot from the sky to avoid damage to the colony, and will try to get close, surround and shoot at one point. Daguza puts his finger on the trigger of the rocket launcher and waits for the chance. The <<Loto>> reaches a cross junction, and the vehicle turns 90 degrees.

A <<Funnel>> that got away from the Coriolis effect and are flying 10m away from the ground suddenly stopped. ''Now!'' As they appear from the corner of that large building in front, Daguza squeezes the trigger, and the launcher fires a ‘net’ 10m wide with tremendous backfire. It expands in mid-air, and a <<Funnel>> lands inside the steel wires as it's restrained.

If it’s not touching the wall, the centrifuge force won’t work no matter how low it’s flying. The <<Funnel>> under zero gravity won’t slow down or fall, but the net that caught it affects its trajectory and causes it to crash into a building. Once it touches the building under 1G worth of gravity, the object itself will be captured by the 1G gravity. The <<Funnel>> that touches the building shatters the glass, slams through the wall, and slides down on the tarmac surface for several meters before crashing into the phone booth and stopping.

The <<Funnel>>-type automatic cannon is captured by gravity and doesn’t have the capability to fly. Daguza reloads and waits for the next chance to fire. It’s not a flashy plan, but it’s effective. Once he uses this plan to eliminate the <<Funnels>>, his allies can take down the enemy that doesn’t have it’s trump weapon. Daguza is very delighted that the anti-psycommu tactic works. He feels a resounding sense of a real battle, and that’s something he can’t get for being unable to see actual combat. He’s enjoying the bitter taste of adrenaline.

The <<Funnel>>’s 2m long, but the weight of it isn’t something that can be compared an oil barrel filled with crude oil. The <<Funnel>> that crashes into the ground crushes the electric car on the shoulder, crashes past the barricade and lands on the path. Daguza looks at that twisted piece of metal crush and what seemed like an office lady under it; he's already involved several people in this. He hears the crashing sound and the screams, and hesitates as he’s about to reload a third time.

This is a fatal error that must not be made in a real battle. The <<Funnel>> slides into the blind spot and aims the cannon at the <<Loto>>. Daguza is too late in detecting the mega-particle light.

This explosion that rocks that office area is a lot better than the second time the attack comes at the residential area. The <<ReZEL>> no. 7 that has its leg torn off by a cannon hit from a <<Funnel>> crashes into the school compound of Anaheim Electronics Industrial College. The body itself is a mobile suit 25.8 tonnes heavy, and crashes into the wall in a spiral at a speed of 167m per second. There’s no explosion, but the school compound is completely crushed. The <<ReZEL>>’s buried in the rubble. The pilot is protected by the safety airbags and saved from a concussion, and in his groggy vision, glares at the enemy suit.

It’s not just an enemy’s intent, but also hatred. The thick killing intent is released from the beam shot of the beam rifle, causing the skin underneath the normal suit to have goosebumps. Marida sees the site preparatory block that’s hit directly by the beam and exploded from the inside, and the floor of the large steel structure is covered in flames. Her control movement of the <<Kshatriya>> starts to slow down. If she moves wildly, the enemy’s trajectory will change, causing the inner wall in the trajectory to be wrecked by the beam rifle. She can’t expect the pilot that’s overwhelmed by hatred to control his sanity and shoot patiently, and she has to keep him silent. This anxiety causes the psycommu installation’s effect to increase, and the <<Funnels>> that are activated rush towards <<ReZEL>> no. 7.

Unit 7 is still shooting the beam rifle wildly. The three <<Funnels>> rush there, cutting through the air and closing in on the enemy. At this moment, <<ReZEL>> no. 1 rushes over, causing Marida to have to focus on controlling the <<Kshatriya>> again. She feels that the <<Funnels>> are becoming less reactive and are disturbed by the Coriolis’ effect. That resistance inside her is pressing on her senses, and her mind’s being dragged aside.

As she subconsciously moans, the enemy swings its beam saber over as the Vulcan gun’s fire closes in. The beam that’s shot from the inner wall grazes the <<Kshatriya>>’s armor. Marida’s being agitated by the pressure of three strong antagonistic intent, and now focuses her attacks all over, causing the <<Funnels>> to open fire.

The 3 <<Funnels>> that sweep past the ground shoot out their mega-particle cannons. One shot hits the cockpit in the centre abdomen, one shot hits the mechanical arm with the beam rifle, and <<ReZEL>> no. 7 is down. However, the last hit pierces through the thruster pack from the side, hitting the small reactor core hidden inside.

A nuclear reaction happens inside, and the reactor that provides energy is crushed—a power of a nuclear bomb expands out to the surroundings. The radiation is kept inside the core and the <nowiki><<I-field>></nowiki>, which prevents it from leaking, but with the explosion, the heat waves released ignites all the combustibles, and a supersonic wave becomes a storm that sweeps the interior of the colony. <<ReZEL>> no. 7 becomes a really hot fireball, lighting the night sky of <<Industrial 7>> like a miniature sun.

The concrete parts that are scattered all around the machine are instantly evaporated. The school that’s hit by the impact is crushed and collapsed. The unit itself landed in the school, so most of the heat waves are covered by the Anaheim Electronics compound, but the direct hit causes the houses within a radius of 500m to be wrecked, blowing away the residents that are evacuating. The inner wall itself is also caught in the collapse. The area of the explosion start to blister due to the extreme heat, the heat waves and the impact move through the layers of the colony, reaching the outer wall 50m below, breaking the common linkway, exploding the energy block with the water tank for water vapour explosion, and finally rupturing through the outer wall and entering space. A corner of the <<Industrial 7>> cylinder is caught in a light of explosion.

A flash is released from the residential area, and a large cabbage cloud appears there. The smoke that’s like a cauliflower immediately shrinks back. This isn’t because of air flow, but that a corner of the inner wall has a hole, and the air’s starting to flow out. Marida evades the enemies that are distracted by the explosion and sees that scene. At the center of the residential area, there’s a round black burnt mark about 1km wide in diameter, and there’s still a burning light on the charred surface. The flames quickly disappear with the strong winds, and a large amount of smoke, rubble and human-shaped charred remains are sucked into the round hole. The vastly decreasing pressure creates mist, and it’s hard to tell what’s the situation with the hole, but that hole is definitely not just 100m wide in diameter. The hole that’s opened is way too big, and the armor repair parts on the machine definitely can’t fill it as the rumbling white mist is gradually expanding—

''I actually hit the reactor directly.'' Marida bites her lips hard. The many ‘voices’ that are wrecked by the fires and sucked out into the vacuum echo in the colony, causing the <<Industrial 7>> air that’s normally being sucked in by this thin membrane to roar. The lips that are bitten let out blood that form small blobs of blood that float in front of Marida’s eyes.

“THERE’S A HOLE IN THE COLONY!’ Someone yelled. Banagher, who ran down the emergency staircase alone, sees that scene as he steps out of the entrance. The colony has a hole, and the air around the hole is gradually sucked in. The condensed steam forms mist, and the explosion from before caused the inner wall to collapse and open a hole. This wasn’t just shouted randomly.

The residents of the mansion who are also running out of the house all shout as they scamper away. The mindless lights on the streets light the anxious expressions of their faces. “Don’t panic! Everyone, calm down! Each air-raid shelter is enough to fit everyone inside!” Some police officers’ growls are mixed in, but there aren’t any signs of systematic evacuation. The explosions in the air above continue to ring at times, and the phone booths are showing signs of overcrowding. Banagher heads down the buildings on the side of the street and look down at the site of the explosion far away. The area there has tilted with the inner wall, and the slanted side that’s like a hill that’s bloated doesn’t have any electrical power, only a slightly black land. The burns that are like cigarette ash are scattered, and there is mist swaying around the circle. What should be there—the school compound of Anaheim electronics is all gone. There’s only a pile of black ash covering its building, and there’s no signs of rubble or fire that can be seen at all.

The men who are about to close the limo door are shocked and look around. Banagher kicks the ground and dashes over to that black limo. He passes through the crowd and uses his hand to grab onto the car window that’s about to close. The man sitting in the driver’s seat widens his eyes, and the man sitting in the assistant seat gasps slightly.

Banagher pokes his head into the window of the assistant seat as he says this. These two, who are either guards of the Vist Foundation or watching over him, stare at his face for a few moments and blink a few times in shock. In this situation, they won’t care about some surveillance or guards. Banagher knows that they want to go back to the <<Snail>>. The young man sitting in the driver’s seat gives a completely different expression and growls back softly, “Don’t kid around. Why must we…” But Banagher doesn’t let him finish.

The man in the driver seat looks like he’s at a loss of words as he shuts his mouth. There’s no other way to get to the <<Snail>> beside going with these two people. Banagher knows that this is reckless, but he has no other idea of how to get there. ''I have to do this.'' This impulse continues to echo inside his heart. Banagher grabs tightly onto the door handle on the side to prevent the men from realizing that he’s trembling, and looks at the elderly man in the assistant seat. That man narrows his eyes with hard-to-determine expression, looks over behind Banagher, and points over with his chin, “Those guys too?”

Banagher looks back, and is completely speechless. Takuya and Micott are standing over there, and there’s a group of 7 to 8 people behind them, all who have appeared in the party. These people all look at Banagher with pale expressions. Micott says before Banagher can even react, “If you’re going to get to safety, bring us along too.” And steps forward, forcing Banagher to lean onto the limo.

“We don’t know which idiot went crazy and locked it from inside.” Takuya carries Haro and arrives before Micott interrupting, “The people living nearby all went home, but we can’t go back in this situation. Everyone’s locked out. There’s no place to go to either.”

“We don’t know if we can get to the air-raid shelters in other places, and there’s a hole at the school, so we can’t go near there…if we can get into the <<Snail>>…”

What in the world is this? Banagher doesn’t have the strength to meet anyone in the eyes and mutters to himself. It’s been less than 20 minutes since he first witnessed the flames of the battle, but there wasn’t anything before. They’re in an ordinary daily life that nobody can change, but why is it that the lives of many are overturned in just 10 minutes? The daily life that made him so ‘disjointed’, and the sturdy walls that surround them are all so weak.

Snow dances about in the sky, and this snow is coming from the colony, glowing as they enter the darkness. Of course, these things aren’t real snow, but the sand, rubble and burnt remains of the plants or electric cars that are flowing out of the hole. They’re giving off light by reflecting the sunlight, forming debris in the shoal space region and disappearing into the darkness. That scene seems to look like the colony’s shooting out snow.

It’s been past 30 minutes since the battle started. Even though he entered the battle zone <<Industrial 7>> together with the <<Nahel Argama>>, the Ian squad, including Riddhe, hasn’t seen any signs of enemies. They just know from the unconfirmed broadcast that half of their comrades were shot down, but they have no idea about what happened to the Norm’s squad inside the colony or how many enemies there are. Time passes just like that, and even the reliable laser communicator can’t receive intel due to the wall of the colony. Right now, what Riddhe and the rest, and the <<Nahel Argama>> can only do is to listen to the messy communications and decipher what’s going on through the interrupted information.

(The enemy’s equipped with psycommu! We’re being picked off!)

Half of Norm’s squad is wrecked. Riddhe remembers the voices of the wireless communicator, and checks where the allied machines are around the colony. Including his own unit, there are four <<ReZELs>> and 2 <<Jegans>> flying around, matching the relative velocity of the colony and starting at the large cylinder that has become a battlefield. If he were in a different group, he may be part of the group being watched; he may be fighting against the enemy’s machine with the psycommu, and then poked holes all over the place by the <<Funnels>>, just like the machines that are blown up and scattered inside the inner walls of the colony.

Riddhe looks at this ‘Wheel’ that takes up one-quarter of the colony and the head that looks like a ‘Snail’. He remembers the name of the ‘Snail’ is called <<Magallanica>> and looks at the command module that’s on the enlarged monitor, which is about the equivalent of a snail’s head. He sees the front end of the command console room that’s not moving, and there’s a white object the size of a thumb. That’s the pure white ship body of the <<Nahel Argama>>

(We have a war here! As a Federation ship, this ship has the authority to carry out counter-terrorist measures!)

Another voice suddenly enters this conversation. Alberto—the associate Anaheim sent to ride on this ship. Riddhe remembers this man’s face as he yapped about the <<Laplace's Box>> in the captain’s room that will make anyone unhappy, and can’t help but blurt, “That fatso. Why so arrogant at such a time…” Once he said that, a roar came from the other side of the wireless radio (Did, did you hear that!?), and the awkward voice of the operator on the other side can be heard, (Yes, I hear you.)

The main thrusters exhaust behind the ship start to tremble slightly, and the <<Nahel Argama>> start to move forward slowly. The <<Magallanica>> opens its gateway and prepares to let the ship enter. From this move, it seems that Alberto’s command was really effective. Ridhe sees that the wireless channel has been switched to the port master of the <<Magallanica>> instructing the ship. Riddhe looks forward, and can’t close his mouth for several seconds.

He says he’s just a subordinate, but why is it that a guy who only introduces himself as an associate of Anaheim can cause the subordinates of the large shareholder Vist Foundation to collapse just by saying his name? He finds that this is weird. Riddhe stares at the <<Nahel Argama>>, and his heart suddenly jumps by a sudden impact. Squad leader Ian, who unknowingly approached in his <<ReZEL>>, knocked into Riddhe’s machine and taps on the calf of the machine’s left leg.

At the gravity zone right in the center of what looks like a snail’s shell, the spacegate of the <<Magallanica>>, which itself is at least 300m in diameter, opens slowly as it bends down both sides of the solar panel. The large body of the <<Nahel Argama>> moves in. Riddhe slides through the partition from the right side, and activates the brake thrusters to restrict his movements in front of the second gate. The first gate closes, and the area is starting to be filled with oxygen. As the digital indicator of the pressure gauge is rising, the <<Nahel Argama>> opens the back launcher, and a launch appears on the catapult.

It’s rather scary riding on the cargo lift at the airtight wall and moving 3,000m in the air. The lift that’s used for moving doesn’t have a wall or a ceiling, and the limo can be said to be fixed on a metal block, moving up to the slanted surface of the airtight wall. Of course, the higher the height, the closer the fires of the battlefield in the air. The fires and the mobile suit thruster jets that pass through the clouds are blinking, causing the defenseless limo to be lit up. Whatever that happens in the next ten minutes will be left to the heavens.

The doors leading from the colony to the ‘Snail’ are all over the artificial sun, and there’re 6 of them. Each of them are airtight walls that are 15m wide. The limo reaches one of them, and Banagher immediately leaps out of the limo. They’re near the axis of the colony, so this place is completely free of gravity, and if he doesn’t mess up how he kicks the ground, he won’t find it hard to move around. He has to move for another 50m before he gets to the door, but Banagher finds a shortcut after taking a few steps.

The main body that looks a lot finer than the 4 wings shoots out the thruster jet lights and adjusts its position. Banagher looks up to see the situation, and feels that he’s having goosebumps. He can predict what’s going to happen next—or rather, the ‘killing intent’-like thing the <<Jegan>> in front of him is releasing cause him to feel this. In other words, he knows that the mobile suit is about to fire.

“Oi, are you guys alive…?” Right beside the partition that’s full of cinders, Takuya comes out from the under the shadows of the passage wall and pokes his head out.

Banagher really wants to get over, but he can’t just leave Micott alone. “Don’t move, Micott doesn’t look fine at the moment.” He kicks the ceiling that’s covered with cinders and floats over to the melted lift. Micott’s back profile looks like it will float from the door to the outside, and that will be very dangerous. “Micott!” Just when he shouted out, another flash appears above the entrance, and the explosion pushes Banagher’s body back and surrounds him.

The <<Jegan>> has been firing continuous beam shots, and the diagonally-flying beams can be seen between the clouds as the pilot flies horizontally. The mobile suit with 4 wings agilely flip sideways to dodge those beam shots, flying and closing the distance with the <<Jegan>>. As both of them meet each other, the pink beam scatter, and the <<Jegan>>’s sliced in half at the waist. Swwosh, this sound of air being sliced echoes through the colony. Banagher knows that it used a beam saber, but he doesn’t understand when it was drawn or when it was sliced at all. The movements were too fast. The <<Jegan>> that’s sliced in half at the waist gives off sparks and disappears on the other side of the clouds. If one looks closely, he’ll notice that the beam saber in that machine’s hand is sliced as well.

Then, the sound of the impact that rocked the door echoes in the air. Banagher holds down Micott, who’s floating to the lift, and looks up to see the airtight wall where the metal giant with 4 large wings is at. The 4-winged machine sticks to the door that’s 50m diagonally above on the left side, right at the door for ship-use, and the hidden arms within its wings open up. The 4 mechanical side arms latch onto the gap in the look and stick itself on the wall like insects. This humanoid-giant pulls out its beam saber and stabs it into the gap.

Takuya seemed to have lost it too as he slams on the partition, and Haro’s eyes are flashing as it floats about in the air blankly. “I DON’T WANT, I DON’T WANT THIS! I HATE THIS!!” Banagher feels that Micott, who’s screaming and clinging onto him, is somewhat annoying at this point, and looks around. There’re no other exits besides the partition and the access point. ''Since the men from the Foundation who’re holding onto the card key are gone, there’s no other way to advance, is there? What should we do? Even if we retreat back to the inner wall, the lift’s wrecked.''

At the same time, the Vulcan guns on the head of the machine are shooting at the 4-winged hanging on the airtight wall. The 4-winged machine stops trying to cut the door and attacks the transformable mobile suit. Both of them clash their sabers in the midst of the clouds, giving off light. Using this time, Banagher looks at the partition that has a huge hole. He’s cautious as he doesn’t know if there are any more machines coming in front behind, but there doesn’t seem to be too many presences. The area on the other side of the crumbled partition is empty, and further on in the partition inside, there’s another hole. This is an emergency means the transformable mobile suit did to enter the colony, using its beam weapons to destroy all the particles. There’s still some red-hot light on the sides of the hole, giving off hot air that seem to be able to burn the lungs. The hole is 15m in diameter, so Banagher doesn’t find it hard to move through the partition without touching the crumbled parts.

“That means a Federation’s ship is at the ‘Snail’, right? If you can get to the dock, they’ll protect you. Head over with Micott.” If they move down through where the transformable mobile suit went, they will naturally reach the dock. He can’t get both of them involved.

Banagher can’t help but close his eyes, and as he opens his eyes again, the muzzle is gone. The bearded man kicks the floor and looks over at the other men running out of the lift. It’s a man who’s seemingly hurt and a blond man who’s lending his shoulder for shoulder. ''Are they the subordinates of this bearded man?'' As Banagher wonders, the blond man’s fierce gaze captures him, and the hand holding onto the wireless speaker points it at him without hesitation. ''He’ll definitely fire this time!'' Banagher leans his back at the wall, but at this moment…

The bearded man’s interrupting words causes the blond man to put down his gun. He looks like he just recovered as he looks at the bearded man, and carries his injured comrade. The bearded man follows him and grabs the mobile handrail. The men leave the lift without looking back, and soon turn at a corner and disappear. “HAVEN’T WE MADE CONTACT WITH MARIDA YET!?” An angry roar rings as it’s becoming faint in the midst of the deep rumbling sounds due to the explosions.

''I can’t get to the residential area.'' As he thinks about this, his mind start to start moving, and the body that’s frozen in fear starts to move slowly. Banagher grabs onto his trembling hands and floats about blankly in zero gravity.

Right now, the only place that poison hasn’t spread to is the cargo deck. The multi-surface monitor display show the <<Nahel Argama>> from many angles. Cardeas continues to spray hemostatic on his shoulder as he looks at the bridge construct that looks like a horse’s head, adjusting the wireless frequency. It’s at least 3km away from her to the cargo deck, but the communication status with the <<Nahel Argama>> is really bad. The camera shows only noise, and Captain Otto Mitas’ voice is rather interrupted in this noise. He can only continue to adjust the release and receiving frequency to ensure this communication frequency he finally manages to check.

Cardeas continues to repeat his words, and Otto continues to answer as per usual. From his voice, Cardeas feel that Otto isn’t a strong-willed captain. He probably accepted this mission without even knowing exactly what the situation is, and is troubled as the situation is getting worse. He’s a typical commander who’s too focused on calming himself down after things happen and seeing things in a short-sighted manner.

Even if the invasion of the special forces of Londo Bell can’t be helped, but if it’s not because of her being in his hands, the ‘Sleeves’ won’t have such a strong reaction. Right now, the situation is such that both parties have become victims out of coincidence. But the current situation now doesn’t allow for him to explain. At this moment, the members of the <<Magallanica>> are either being slaughtered, or the number of victims in the colony continues to increase. It’s not that the mobile suit of the ‘Sleeves’ is running rampant, but that the Federation pilots who aren’t used to actual combat expanded the battlefield and caused this to happen. He can understand this from the words of the commander Otto.

“Captain, I know that this is a correct decision militarily, but this mission includes a high level of political problems. You may have to bear responsibility based on your own decision. I want to speak to the Anaheim employee with you.”

First, accept the enemy’s proposal and standpoint, and then say out threatening words from an observer’s standpoint, and finally, state a request which the other party won’t feel that they’re at a loss; this is just an initial skill in starting negotiations, but it’s enough to bait Otto. Cardeas faces the silent communication panel and asks, “Are you there?”

Banagher feels an explosion in the air, and the construction materials that immediately melt and crumble let out a heavy sound. The dock itself just looks like it got electrocuted as it trembles, and the hot air that blows from time to time causes Banagher to be unable to stand still.

The large amount of shrapnel that’s blown over by the explosive pressure slam into the reinforced steel structure, and the deep sounds of cars colliding can be heard. ''Is there a fire?'' He can see the silhouette of a crane in the slightly crimson red flame, lighting the conveyer belts that are all criss-crossed. However, the lights themselves aren’t enough to illuminate the entire factory. Banagher steps on the metal board that floats beside his feet, grabs onto the steel structure beside him. He still can’t tell whether the entrance has any stray shots, and if he floats around randomly, he will be pancaked by the flying metal scraps due to the explosions.

The chest has a hole the size of a thumb. The blood that seeps out from it is covered with a sooty surface. Banagher accidentally sees the inside of the helmet that’s battered into a blob of blood, and immediately lets go of the hand of the normal suit frantically. The shattered visor let out blood, creating a sound that sound like a plastic bag being stepped on.

There’re no signs of anyone around, and there’s not even a single worker on the four walls. There’s a large handling port gateway on one of the walls, but it’s tightly shut, and the airlocks are also sealed up. Is it a storeroom or a workshop? ''No, this is really an unnatural isolation. It can probably be called a private room.'' Banagher thinks.

This sealed room that’s 30m wide on each side and can be called a cubic room is completely empty—and right in the middle, there’s a construct that’s like a building and him, an anomaly. Banagher looks around with his eyes that are already used to the light, looks at the hole he used to enter, and then turn to look at the construct standing right in the middle of the room. He pass by the metal frames and turns to the front where the lights are gathered. The construct that looks to be about 6 to 7 story tall is hollow inside, and it’s holding some sort of a machine.

This isn’t an air flow caused by a ventilation unit. There’s a hole leading to the outside wall. The air of the ‘Snail’ is gradually moving out, and Banagher has to get a normal suit even if he wants to get to the port or the residential area. He looks at the large sealed room and checks the types of warning. A red light’s lit up, indicating that the firefighting apparatus is there, but there’re no green lights, which indicate where the normal suits are in emergency situations, to be found. The firefighting apparatus should have an OBA but it’s useless when this place is full of vacuum.

He presses the activation switch under the lights button, and a deep buzzing sound echoes throughout the cockpit. The all-view screen isn’t activated yet, but three screens are all lit, and the system starts to scan. The side-monitor display on the left shows all sorts of power output indicators. The speedometer, distance meter are all being shown one by one. Its basic controls are just like a mini-mobile suit, but the output of the power and the indicators are all way higher.

The side-screen on the right shows a communication window, and static’s showing on it. At a corner of the screen, the words ‘Engine Sector 24. Passage 3’. Perhaps it connected automatically as I seemed to have linked up with the communication speakers inside the ‘Snail’. Banagher thinks that he may be able to get information on what’s going on inside the colony, and touches the monitor to try and switch the channel frequency.

It’s a man’s voice, and he heard of it before. Banagher stares at the monitor that’s still full of static that indicates that the area is the ‘Command Console’ and diverts his focus to listen to the voice coming through. (You intended…to make use of the army…but you’re the ones being made use of…huh?) This voice that’s filled with some anger continues on, and Banagher immediately associates it with the arrogant sounding ‘You risked yourself too much.’ he heard a while ago.

(The Federation wants to get the <<Laplace Box>>, and the chance is right in front of them…then…do you think…they’re thinking about the Foundation’s welfare…?)

(That’s why…you’re not thinking enough. If this continues, Neo Zeon will be vanquished, and the Federation will continue its dominion, but what next? Humanity’s enemies are just real aliens then, and the army will lose its value…in this case, Anaheim and the Foundation will wilt.)

It’s just like what any man in a high and mighty position will say. Even though he doesn’t know who Cardeas’ talking to, Banagher understands that his words mean that they’re using war as business—the theory death merchants apply to, and from his tone, it seems that the relationship between the Vist Foundation and Anaheim Electronics is a lot more complicated than what the rumors indicate.

Killing intent can be heard from the noise, and Banagher feels that Cardeas’ holding back his anxious breathing as his enemy is getting anxious while intending to do something. (You’re just being used by Martha, you…) Cardeas groans, and Banagher inadvertently jumps up as the ample killing intent explodes as sounds.

BAM! BAM! The sharp sounds of breaking can be heard. (DON’T LET HIM GET AWAY!) This voice that seem to belong to someone echoes through the wireless speaker. Banagher's stiff hands are grabbing the display monitor as he continues to stare at the noise on the window. Cardeas’ voice has vanished as noise suddenly explodes through the inside of the cockpit.

It’s been 30 minutes since she passed through the forest in the residential area and took the lift out to the Industrial block. During this time, the sounds of battle get more and more intense, and she can even hear explosions inside the colony. However, the explosions just now aren’t just as simple as being straw shots. Audrey opens her tightly closed eyes as she arrives opposite the refinery plants, and looks up. 200m away, the gate’s shooting out fireballs, and as the black smoke scatters, she sees the profile of a mobile suit.

The heavy humanoid-shaped machine has 4 wings. It leaps out of the gate, accelerates and enters the Industrial block. It’s the <<Kshatriya>>. The center axis of the rotating residential area, the Industrial block that passes through the center of the ‘Snail’s shell is very wide, and it has at least 300m of space, but it's still too many obstacles for a flying mobile suit. The <<Kshatriya>> immediately gets tangled by the conveyer belts that block its eye, and in the midst of the dim light, sparks are flying due to contact friction. However, the several-ton machine’s inertia isn’t eliminated so easily. Its moss green body crush the conveyor belts in the air that look like a spider web altogether as it slowly flies through the air of the Industrial block. The monoeye on the head is looking around, and looks over at the inner wall that’s buried by a plant.

The Federation unit uses its beam saber to slash at the <<Kshatriya>>, and at that moment, the 2 binders, or wings, at the back of the <<Kshatriya>> open and draw out the beam sabers hidden inside. The Federation unit that attacks from behind has its beam saber blocked by the particle sabers that are intertwined. Audrey’s eyes see the <<Kshatriya>> block the enemies from both front and back. The flashes light up the Industrial block, and the hidden arms behind slice the enemy behind with a blur. The Federation unit with its shoulders sliced off fall, and the medium blue body collapses into the plants on the inner wall.

The ball bounces back. It flaps its two discs that look like ears, and the optical sensors inside the ball-shaped object flash. “You’re…!” The reason why she’s calling it as a person is because she remembers the tone of the owner who treated it as a friend. This robot used to be a mascot that trended before. ''This thing is called Haro, right?'' Audrey steps off the frame and grabs the Haro floating in the air with both hands.

The ignition continues to echo, and the hot air blows at the ash-riddled hair. In zero gravity, the air won’t weigh differently because of the heat, so there’s no convection. The flames will extinguish once they use up the surrounding oxygen, so the burning shouldn’t remain for long. However, the collapse of the neighboring wall cause the air to flow, and the ‘wind’ will promote the burning and continue to make things worse. The automatic fire extinguishing facility is activated as sprinklers are spurting out water, but this will continue to cause the water to become steam. The flames will only continue to spread throughout the plant, and they won’t be extinguished until they burn off all the oxygen. ''You’ll die if you stay here…''Audrey regurgitates the words the girl said, and suppresses that feeling that she’s going to take a fatal step as she moves towards the finger of the mobile suit that’s as thick as a tree branch.

On the other side of the door that’s slightly ajar, the light of the sunset and his father’s voice came from there. That sunset was as beautiful as rouge, a crimson red sunset that was like fresh blood. Yes, at that time, the Vist’s mansion was still on the ground…Cardeas recalls that under that real sky, when they’re basked under the real sun, his grandfather was sitting at the office in the west block of the building—the healthy and strong Syam Vist will often look outside the window with hesitant looks.

''In that case, I can only do it myself.'' Cardeas pass through the airlock and enter the safety area in front of the gas chamber. In this large and completely sealed space, the unharmed white body of that <<Unicorn>> enters his eyes.

“PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER!”

It doesn’t matter why things ended up like this. Cardeas smiles as he looks at this kin of his who seemed to appear miraculously. Banagher remains silent and looks over with a wary and bothered look. Behind him, flames that are being created by the explosions start to dance and light his profile. It looks like a rouge-colored sunset is shining into the cockpit.

It’s Cardeas Vist. His face that’s covered with ash look rather sick, and there’s blood seeping out from his abdomen due to the breathing. However, the sharp expression on his face never changes. That’s really the owner of the Vist Foundation that has tremendous influence in the financial world, the owner of the ‘Snail’ Audrey wished to see, and the arrogant man who viewed him like a stray dog. And most likely, he’s the reason why this meaningless war began—

The surrounding explosions and tremors that ring stop Cardeas from continuing, Banagher hurriedly covers Cardeas and uses his back to block the storm that’s blown into the cockpit.

“Pull yourself together. We can’t grumble if we’re shot when we ride this.”

“DAD!!” The voice is blocked off by the cockpit that suddenly closes, and the empty echo rings inside it. The machine’s self-defense system detects the heat and the storm of this danger area and closes the door. Right now, there’s no gap in that panel that form the all-view monitor. Banagher, who’s clutching at the cockpit door, looks for Cardeas’ profile on the all-view monitor. From the field of vision of the 20m tall mobile suit, all he can see is a sea of flames, and the gate at the front is half-wrecked. There’s no signs of Cardeas, only countless falling sparks landing on the all-view screen, leaving a few remains of thin light on the hi-definition monitor.

(YOU CAN’T DO THAT, MARIDA!)

He doesn’t spend too much effort listening to the cry from the wireless communicator—the girl’s voice. Riddhe sees the 4-winged enemy unit activate its thrusters and rush in from behind, mentally prepared to be taken down.

At this moment, they just move through the partition of the construction block and are entering the port area. The <<ReZEL>>’s body can’t turn in time to use its 60mm Vulcan guns to suppress. The beam rifle can be used, but there are 3 civilians on the left mechanical arm, causing Riddhe to hesitate.

If he uses the rifle, the enemy unit will use a beam weapon too, and the <<ReZEL>> will be caught in a tough battle. There’s the option of sacrificing the three civilians in his hand and try to resist hard if he’s going to be taken down, but Riddhe doesn’t have the courage to do this immediately, and just when he’s thinking if there’s any other methods, the time used to think becomes a fatal delay as the mobile suit with four wings close in.

The mono-eye on the 4-winged suit flashes, and a beam saber handle is pulled out from the sleeve with the Neo Zeon insignia on it. He’s already about to reach the docking bay. He can at least counterattack once he lets the civilians land on the <<Nahel Argama>>. ''I’ll die.'' This premonition causes Riddhe’s hairs to stand as he screams. He looks at the enemy suit behind him, yells out, and prays that his embarrassing scream isn’t heard by anyone else.

Suddenly, a pulsating feeling happens in the air of the industrial area, and time stops.

There’s a pulse…or rather, a rhythmic force blows by the cockpit, moving through the body from the back. Riddhe feels that his hair and scalp under the helmet is being dragged together by the pulse moving forward. He forgets about the situation and looks at the Industrial block. The machine that stopped beside it, the 4-winged mobile suit looks behind—deep inside the refinery plant that’s being surrounded by fire. The source of the wave is tremble, and its ‘eyes’ seem to be looking at him.

(Banagher…!?)

Riddhe hears the girl’s voice again and looks forward. At a corner of the all-view monitor, the brown-haired girl amongst the 3 civilians that were rescued gets up from the palm of the <<ReZEL>> and looks over at the profile in the refinery plant. Unlike the other two people who’s holding onto the index and middle fingers of the <<ReZEL>>, she uses the thumb to get up. The gust of wind blows her hair and jacket. She looks at the pulse that’s formed in a corner of the industrial area, and though her eyes are wide due to shock, her expression is showing such strength that won’t back down.

''So pretty.'' Riddhe mutters, and with this, he regains his sanity somewhat. He steps on the pedal and moves the control joystick to the left. The <<ReZEL>> that grazes past the airtight wall activates its thrusters, accelerating and twisting its body. The thrust jets shoot out, and the <<ReZEL>> leaves the ground and slides into the partition wall of the dock that has a hole about 10m big.

It pulls its distance from the 4-winged mobile suit and reaches the dark port area which isn’t affected by battle yet. Riddhe takes a slight breath and looks over at the Industrial block through the hole. Deep inside the refinery plant that has become a furnace, there’s a glow that’s different from the flames. It’s like the killing intent hasn’t subside yet as Riddhe has an ominous vibe.

''Something’s about to be awakened.'' This intuition that lacks a clear subject causes him to feel goosebumps.

At first, that thing just looks like it’s just dangling at the half-collapsed partition.

The white armor is kept in the cage like a casket, and the humanoid machine that’s being burned by the flames. Its hands suddenly use strength, and the metal rings restraining the hands start to creak. The gap at the wrists armor lets out a light red glow, appearing like blood vessels. And then, the metal rings that are unable to bear the burden, are pulled up with the fixation, and the giant that slowly gets up clenches its fist.

Its upper body tilts forward and continues to exert strength. The restraints on the arms bounce off, and the light coming out from the gaps in the armor becomes stronger. The light looks like some geometrical pattern of a substrate circuit as it expand throughout the entire body like a pulse, making one feel that the giant’s bones under the white skin—the movable frame that forms the unit is glowing. As the last metal rings on the left and right arms bounce off, the upper body leaves the cage, and the giant’s eyes glows. The metal cables are ripped one by one, and the giant’s body tilts further forward as the metal rings restraining the left knee and ankle are pulled out.

Then, the restrains on the right foot are pulled out, and the giant that regains its freedom leaves its cage as it falls forward. The giant crushes the narrow catwalk as it uses both hands to support itself on the ground. It lifts its head with the horn, and through the crack in the partition, looks outside. Its eyes again lights up through the visor, and it finds another giant on the other side of the fire—<<Kshatriya>>.

“Where did the machine come from…?”

She stops chasing the enemy unit and lands on the burning Industrial block. Marida faces the machine and feels a chill throughout her entire body.

The appearance is based on the traditional design of the Federation army’s units. However, the eyes that are copied from humans are giving off killing intent. Marida feels that this guy is too dangerous, and she has to destroy it first—no matter who the pilot is, she has to eliminate it before it completely awakes. Marida isn’t distracted anymore as she doesn’t bother sensing the other enemies and ‘her’ weak voice as she views this white machine in front of her as an enemy. The psycommu cause the funnels to shoot out, and the units gather together to attack the white mobile suit.

3, 4 lines of mega-particles cross each other, destroying the partition that’s about to collapse. The flames of the explosion expand, and the giant vanish inside the flames without being able to get up. Continuous explosions then occur, and the fireball swallows the cage behind it as the sealed room that contains the giant is reduced to rubble. Marida, who believes that she just made a direct hit, sees two glowing eyes in the flames.

“Wha…!?”

She can’t dodge in time. The white machine glides through the vortex of black smoke, carrying its explosive thrusters that shoot out jet lights as it moves forward. The enemy knocks down the refinery plant and immediately closes in for about 300m. Marida immediately pulls out her beam saber, and the hi-heat particles let out a light stronger than the surrounding flames as the <<Kshatriya>> waves its right arm. But just as the beam blade’s about to touch the enemy unit. A hand grabs onto the <<Kshatriya>>’s right hand. Marida sees a horn rush into her clutches, but the left arm she instinctively raised is being held down from above. The <<Kshatriya>> raises the beam saber and clashes with the white mobile suit.

The white mobile suit hooks its feet onto the ground, and the tightly grounded feet of the white mobile suit let out a glow through the visor. It’s scrumming straight on with the <<Kshatriya>> that’s of the same height but twice as heavy, and the delicate machine lets out a sound of metal rolling. The glow coming from between the gaps of the armor is shining like a pulse as they sway with the hot air. Marida feels that she can’t move her control panel and is terrified. She’s giving the maximum output, but she’s being forced back. The arms that control the large number of binders let out a cry, and the actuators indicate an overload signal.

“The <<Kshatriya>>’s losing in power output…!?”

Impossible. Such a thought became anger. The psycommu installation that senses this activates its mechanical arm. The binders that look like wings reach out its insect leg-like hidden arm, and the front tip shoots out the beam saber as it tries to stab through the white mobile suit. Marida aims for the cockpit at the abdomen, and yet feels an impact from behind and screams.

The main thrusters of the white machine shoot out its lights, pushing itself forward with the <<Kshatriya>>. The frame of the <<Kshatriya>> hits the burning refinery plant and is pressed into the fire by the white mobile suit. Marida’s head enters the safety airbags that eject out from the console. She immediately gets up, but sees that the partition is closing in behind her, and is stunned. It’ll be trouble once she crashes into the partition. In the midst of the tremors, she shouts out in what’s like a scream, “FUNNELS!”

Numerous <<Funnels>> fly out from the cockpit and shoot particle beams at the partition. The two mobile suits that are tussling with each other crash through the melted partition and into the airlock. They immediately break into the airtight area that’s less than 100m wide, and the back is already a partition separating the airtight area from the port. The <<Funnels>> shoot out beams again, and the two machines break through the smoke from the explosion and enter the port.

They knock aside the containers that are parked there and topple the cranes that are used for transport. The <<Kshatriya>>’s being held down by the white mobile suit as it glides in the air. From below, she can see the Federation ship that entered the dock and the countless mobile suits that’s standing on the white ship. However, Marida doesn’t have the mind to care about that. The machine’s unable to move freely due to the wind pressure. Marida wants to use the psycommu to shoot the white machine from behind, but because of a malfunction in the psycommu, the accuracy dropped, and she realizes that she’s being forced back; forced back by the unfathomable arm strength of this white mobile suit, by the killing intent inside the machine, and the burning consciousness of the pilot—

<span style="font-size:250%"><p>'''''(GET OUT OF HERE—!!)'''''</p></span>

The voice of the pilot can be heard through the contact loop. It’s a boy’s voice. Marida’s mind instinctively tells her that she heard of this voice before, and the last partition is already right behind her.

The <<Funnels>> shoot out beams, creating a hole in the partition. The strong gust of wind cover the machine as explosions and howls of wind can be heard. Then, there’s complete silence inside the cockpit. They arrived at vacuum—where space is. The inner wall of the docking bay is gradually further, and the all-view monitor shows a dark space where the moon is floating at. The air pressure on the machine is gone, and Marida controls the thrusters like she’s launching and leaves the white mobile suit.

The <<Kshatriya>> spins once more in the vacuum and gets behind the white mobile suit. The white mobile suit lets out its thrusters and again rushes at her. Marida is amazed by the high mobility as she dodges with the bare minimum movement. She heaves a sigh of relief. Though there’s overwhelming power, its movements are too simply, and the enemy pilot seem to be no different from a rookie.

Also, it seems that the enemy isn’t equipped with armaments. ''I can win this'' Marida dodges the second attack and looks at the trajectory of the white mobile suit, and then at the hole in the colony builder’s docking bay that’s like a snail shell. The Federation’s transformable mobile suits are about to head outside. They’re not hard to deal with, but it won’t be good if they team up with the white mobile suit. Since the Federation ship has docked, she can’t head to the colony builder to look for ‘her’. ''It’s over.'' The bitter feeling rises in her.

''I couldn’t save the princess, and I have to retreat while uncertain of master’s location.'' Marida dodges the white mobile suit that came over, moves above it and gathers her anger and anxiety on the enemy unit in front of her. The pilot’s a rookie, but it knocked her out, and she can’t forgive it,

“I will at least take you down…!”

She doesn’t want to waste time. The <<Kshatriya>> folds its arms, and the binders spread out. She release all the <<Funnels>> she can still use, and 20 <<Funnels>> fly out in a vortex at the white mobile suit.

The chance to surround it will come when it brakes suddenly and turns. The <<Funnels>> scatter and surround the white mobile suit in a ‘sphere array’ as they form a diameter of at least 100m. the cannons gather light from the mega-particle cannons, aiming for the core in the center—

Even as the physical sensors ring, Banagher can’t see anything, and the radar doesn’t detect anything. However, he feels an intense killing intent surrounding him.

The killing intent is gathered all around like sharp needles, and there’s nowhere to dodge. No matter how he moves, he will be hit by the killer needles coming in all directions. Even the <<Unicorn>> that’s so nimble and agile like human limbs can’t escape this cage of killing intent.

''I’ll be killed. I’ll be killed without even doing anything.'' The still relatively sane parts in his mind is calling out, and his body is trembling with an unknown impulse controlling him. Immediately, (Believe) a voice appears in Banagher’s forehead, appearing as a light flash in front of the eyes.

At the same time, the sound of metal clashing with each other echo in the cockpit, and the all-view monitor that shows the CG space let out a glow. It’s not that the monitor is glowing, but that the components of the cockpit themselves are glowing. There’s a luminescent light glowing from the gaps between the monitor, and it can hardly be called red or green. The display console immediately flashes the words <<NT-D>>, and the fixate equipped on the chair rest moves on its own as it clamps onto Banagher’s head on both left and right side. Everything then began.

The parts forming the shoulders of the <<Unicorn>> break open from the gaps in the armor, and the sliding armor reveal a frame that’s giving off red light. The same phenomenon happens with the legs, knees and thigh. The front armor of the waist and the torso open up as well, causing the <<Unicorn>> to look bigger. The red luminescent glow is becoming stronger, causing the bright patterns decorating the white mobile suit to become clearer.

The wrists are sliding too, and two beam saber handles appear at the back of it, hanging on the shoulders like a decoration. The one change that’s most obvious however is the head. The part that’s like a mask opens, and the visor on the complex eye slide off, causing the <<Unicorn>>’s face to look completely different. The one horn that’s represent the unit splits in half and shows a V-shape, showing a third eye on the part covered by the horn—the main camera. The two cameras that are positioned like human eyes glow, and the unit that has a golden V-shaped horn on its forehead is just like…

[[Image:KSGU2_008.jpg|thumb]]

(Did you say <<Gundam>>?)

This voice can be heard through the exchanging voices in the wireless communicator, causing Audrey to widen her eyes in shock.

She grabs onto the mobile handle and looks up to see the speaker in the ship’s passage. And then “IT’S TRUE!” another voice calls out. Audrey has an impression on this other voice. ''It’s the Federation pilot who sent us here to this ship and flew off.''She remembers the mechanical officer called him Riddhe.

“That unknown unit is changing…no, transforming! It’s becoming a <<Gundam>> right in front of my eyes!”

“Bridge here. I’ve confirmed it. It really looks like a <<Gundam>>-type. It’s fighting against the enemy unit now. It’s really fast. I can’t catch up.”

The voice that echoes next is a lot calmer than Ensign Riddhe. “<<Gundam>>?” “For real…?” The people beside her spoke up. They’re the boy and girl who entered the ship with her—Audrey suddenly remembers that she hasn’t asked them about their names. The mechanical officer who landed on the upper deck in a spacesuit told them to head to the standby room, and they entered the ship without anyone leading them. They went in, asking directions from the crew that’s moving about with killing intent, and move through the passengers. There was no time to ask each other what their names are, and she doesn’t have the chance to ask them why they’re holding onto Banagher’s Haro and why they’re entering the colony builder.

At this moment, they hear a word <<Gundam>>. Audrey looks at the reaction of the boy and girl walking in front of her. The boy lets go of the mobile handrail and gets near the communication console that’s built on the wall. The girl catches the Haro he tosses aside and shouts, “What are you doing?” But the boy operates on the console and switches the images on the monitor.

“I’m looking outside. If the server line’s linked, we should be able to see the image captured by the camera outside the ‘Snail’, right?”

“You’ll get scolded for messing with this.”

“That’s a <<Gundam>>, you know. You heard of it, right? The first mobile suit the Federation army developed. It destroyed more than 100 Zeon mobile suits, and is called the <<White Devil>>…it’s here!”

The boy’s excited voice causes Audrey to look at the 10cm wide screen. The image is showing a pitch black outer space that is only optically corrected, and nothing else. The boy changes the channel, and the rough space image changes as he immediately sees what looks like a beam rifle shot. After that, the white ring that immediately explosions light the profile of the mobile suit in front of it.

The profile is completely humanoid, and the obvious-looking V-shaped blade of the antenna is on the forehead. That’s right. It’s a <<Gundam>>-type mobile suit. “You saw it?” “How would I know?” Audrey hears the conversation between the boy and the girl as she feels goosebumps all over her.

During the One Year War, the <<White Devil>> caused her own country to be in a difficult situation, and after that, mobile suits of the same name were developed, becoming famous in many battles. This is undoubtedly one of them, a new model <<Gundam>> that incorporates current technology. However, Audrey knows that its existence isn’t that simple. This <<Gundam>> that’s wearing the skin of the legendary beast has the secret that rocks the world. As Cardeas said, this machine is the beacon leading to <<Laplace Box>>, or the key. And now, it’s awakening—

“Unicorn…Gundam.”

The grand plan Audrey heard of several hours ago cause her head to heat up as she seem to be daydreaming as she said this name. The boy and the girl turn around to look at her in surprise, but she’s not concerned about trying to hide herself now as she stares at this small screen, her eyes continuing to catch up to that white machine.

The lone horn on the white mobile suit splits aside and becomes a mobile suit in another state. The pilot Marida doesn’t think about why this happens as she accepts this fact in front of her and continues to fight. However, she can only see that shape for an instant.

“It disappeared again…!?”

The beams clash with each other from all directions in three dimensions, creating an explosion that scatters in the vacuum. The enemy mobile suit isn’t there anymore. It vanishes. The white mobile suit has escaped from the sphere array formed by the 20 funnels and moved several kilometers away. The eyes under V-shaped horn flash a dark glow. The entire body lets out a luminescent afterimage, causing the <<Gundam>> to look like it’s giving off a fighting will.

It’s not exactly a joke such that it did a teleport. It just moved away at high speed, but it immediately accelerated and stopped, causing its movements to look like it disappeared. It’s impossible to detect the presence, let alone to try and catch up with the eyes.

“If it’s not a Cyber-Newtype, with that kind of acceleration…!”

''How can the pilot handle this?'' Marida doesn’t notice that she said a taboo word as she just focuses on detecting the enemy’s presence. The funnels that have switched positions shoot out beams at the white mobile suit. The space dust floating around are hit, and there’s a lot of exploding appearing beside the colony builder.

Leaving those white rings behind it, the profile which anyone can tell is a <<Gundam>> rapidly closes in. Marida continues to let her funnels continue shooting as she lets the <<Kshatriya>> face the enemy. The psycommu on the linear seat lets out a buzzing, and a pale light appears on the all-view screen. It’s not the light of the machine, but the unique structure that surrounds the <<Kshatriya>>--the psycommu frame is glowing. The cockpit is glowing just like the enemy in front of the unit, and the rainbow color glow in the cockpit reaches Marida’s eyes.

“Is that guy’s built with psycommu all over it…?”

''If that’s the case.''..she isn’t able to continue thinking. The white mobile suit that dodges the first strike from the funnel pulls out the beam saber on the shoulder and accelerates as it swings the beam saber left and right. The funnels that are hit by the hi-heat particles immediately explode, forming several light rings that light the eternal darkness. ''Is it a coincidence? No, he can see the trajectory of the psycommu.'' Marida pulls the funnels back in front of her machine, hoping that she will hit the incoming enemy as she shoots them all out.

The distance between them is about 2km, and this is already a zero distance range for the mega-particles travelling at subluminal speed. However, the white mobile suit still dodges it. It predicts the timing of the shots and dodges them. The funnels that have run out of battery power don’t have a next shot. Marida evades, and the white mobile suit uses its beam saber to slice off any psycommu in its way as it shoots out the thruster jets on the back and legs. It start to chase the trajectory of the <<Kshatriya>> without hesitation.

[[Image:KSGU2 207.jpg|thumb]]

The pink beam blade swings up from below and hits the binder on the left side. The tip of the binder is melted and snapped together with the mechanical arm, and a huge explosion rocks the inside of the cockpit. Marida seems as she takes the impact that’s so strong that her eyeballs nearly pop out. The fear that’s hidden deep inside her—the profile of the <<Gundam>> causes her to be stricken in fear as she cringes. She’s being hunted down by the white mobile suit swinging its beam saber, she sees the horrifying eyes at close distance, and her body is screaming with fear and despair of death.

Immediately, a flash appears in another area. The flash appears on the other side of the colony, more than 10km away as it lights the ship parked near the docking bay. The large flash continues on in space for quite some time. Marida understands that this is a signal, and her thoughts have somewhat reverted back to normal. She grips onto the ball-shaped control panel again.

''Since the <<Garencieres>> has escaped, there’s no reason for me to continue staying here.'' That cool thinking pulls her mind that’s somewhat swallowed by the enemy back. Marida doddes the third attack of the white mobile suit at close range and presses the trigger of the mega-particle beam guns hidden in her binders.

There are two cannons in each of the 4 binders, and they shoot out beams that are far more powerful than the beams of the funnel. The I-field at the firing point are deflected, causing the shots to scatter like a shotgun and forming a 360 degree bullet screen with the <<Kshatriya>> at the center. The Federation units that are closing in hurriedly evade, and the white mobile suit backs away. Marida immediately steps on the pedal, and the machine immediately leaves the battlefield.

Marida herself is already prepared to be pursued, but the white mobile suit remains there, showing no intention of moving. She checks the damages on the machine, affirms that there are no fatal damages, opens the visor of her helmet and wipes the sweat off her face. The <<Kshatriya>> flies towards the <<Garencieres>> that is off course and checks her remaining funnels.

Including the battle inside the colony, she lost a total of 7 funnels. The direct damage on the machine and the first humiliation she ever felt cause her body and soul to be shaken up. She also couldn’t save ‘her’. ''Has Master returned to the ship safely?'' Marida understands that she can only pray and chooses not to speak up, and suddenly, she has an urge to rip her body that’s breathing casually.

I can’t do anything. But I hope that the white mobile suit’s pilot is a ‘real’ Newtype. If not—

“This is such an ugly battle…sorry, Master.”

The fingers that are still trembling press down the ball-shaped control panel. The <<Kshatriya>> activates the thrusters hidden within its binders and leaves the colony battlefield.

The four wings with thrusters hidden within them let out a white light, causing the moss green machine to vanish into the darkness at a rather fast speed. However, this distance can be caught up if they transform into <<Waveriders>>. Riddhe wanted to immediately pursue them, but the wireless communicator lets out a (that’s enough, don’t pursue it), and the transformation’s stopped.

Is this to show that it has no intent of fighting us, or is it a trap to make us relax? Riddhe couldn’t accept completely that it saved them and mutters, “<<Gundam>>…” the name that he has been hearing from time to time during his childhood. Right now, it brings about a sense of danger that causes the tongue to numb, and makes the sweaty body cold.

He exchanges words with one of them, Alpha squad’s leader, Garrett. Garrett asks in surprise, (Commander…! Your wounds…?) Lieutenant Commander Conroy then asks in shock. It seems that they heard that he is alive, but didn’t expect him to be able to move. In fact, the head nurse wanted him to rest silently, but his mental state right now doesn’t allow him to lie down propely. Daguza doesn’t look over at Garrett who’s trying to close in, and asks emotionlessly, “What’s the situation?”

Though the reporting tone is rather calm, but Conroy’s expression is telling him that he’s one of the injured. The poker face is ineffective on this second-in-command who followed him for many years; Daguza averts his sights and asks Garrett, “What’s the situation with the casualities in the colony?”

(Understood.) Garrett answers and enters the gate. Daguza glances aside and watches him leave. (Will they still attack?) He hears a voice and directs the stare under his helmet aside. Conroy looks back at him with a meaningful stare, and behind him is the space that’s floating with small debris.

The stout profile isn’t an illusion created from the thickness of the spacesuit. It’s the largest obstacle Anaheim sent, Alberto. Daguza stares at his face silently. Alberto nearly flies out into space, and only manages to stop with Conroy grabbing him. He stares at the pure white armor of the mobile suit that’s reflecting the moonlight and looks over, yelling, (WHO THE HELL IN SITTIN IN THERE!) that fat and thick face seems to be bulging.

The voice echoed throughout the narrow bridge of the <<Garencieres>>, bringing the bitterness of defeat into the heart. Marida, who left the cockpit and returned back to the bridge without taking off her suit, sees the face of Lieutenant Angelo Sauper.

''We’re focusing on actual duty and don’t care about appearances at all.'' Zinnerman was only showing such politeness on the surface. At the operator's seat, where it’s impossible to see, Flaste is pointing the middle finger. The <<Geara Zulu>> Gilboa pilot floats outside the window as it moves with the ship, and its mono-eye looks left and right. Gilboa and Marida are exchanging patrol times with each other. But since the enemy has no intention of pursuing, the only problem right now will be the response of <<Palau>> itself. It’s possible to see Gilboa listening closely to the communication channel from the outside.

Including the members who died after getting back to the ship, the crew of the <<Garencieres>> lost 3 members, and they also left ‘her’ alone. This isn’t just a simple mission failure. Marida already feels the gravity of the loss without Angelo adding on, but her master’s still alive. His back profile continues to remain seated on the captain’s seat, and the gruff voice continues to echo throughout the bridge. Marida starts to feel that her nerves are becoming more relaxed as she smells the body odor of cologne and tar. She continues to stare emotionlessly at the roaring Angelo.

(Do you want us to wait around and not do anything…!?) Zinnerman didn’t do anything as he waits silently for a chance to talk back, but another voice was faster, (That’s enough, Lieutenant Angelo.)

Though it’s impossible to see his eyes under the filter, he must be looking over. Everything about him, from the weird appearance of his masked face to the mocking attitude were all overwhelmed by his overbearing existence. The reborn Neo Zeon’s leader, called the ‘Second Coming of Char’, uses his own presence to overwhelm everyone and controls the mood. Marida can’t help but clench her fists and look over at the bewitching red filter.

| Forward to [[KSGU:Volume_3_Illustrations|Volume 3]]