KSGU:Volume 3 Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Part 1
(“…Even though it’s an initial estimation, I’ve already tabulated the accountable damages for you. We can use the work hazard insurance for those who died in the line of work, but it’s harder to determine what to do with the people who died due to other causes.”)
The face that was shown on the screen was of a woman’s, a face that one could hardly believe was over 50 years old. The medium-long blond hair still retained its glow, and the cheeks that were slightly protruding never lost their elasticity. The background was of a dull color that was suited for business, and the lips with lipstick on even look bewitching.
Even so, it was not appropriate to describe this woman as young and lively. This ‘woman’ that appeared was not one a man would recognize as one—or rather, recognize as an ideal ‘woman’ despite her beauty. The reason behind this thinking was because of her eyes. In her wish to become treated as an upper-class lady, the probing eyes were giving off an icy cold magnetism. The greedy expression of the woman who was never satisfied with anything and only hoped to continue take in more was showing an evil tension.
(“Considering how the media would react, it’s more appropriate that we should offer some form of compensation to the victims. My husband will do something with regards to this as well.”)
After saying that, Martha Vist Carbine remained silent, perhaps waiting for the other party to respond. The other displays were showing all sorts of information like ‘insurance claims’, ‘medical fees’ and ‘survivor pension’ as each individual estimated sum scrolled down the displays. The amount of the total fees required to revive the colony was enough to match the budget of a small country in the old centuries, but Martha’s expression was rather calm as if she merely met a small car accident. Right below the numerous displays that were emulated in the air, “That’s really well thought out.” Syam Vist responded while looking similarly calm.
The body that laid down on the bed did not show any signs of moving, and the side of the emotionless face was basked under the light reflected off the displays. The Vist Foundation leader, who had been watching how the world changed ever since the start of the Universal Century and fought through many backdoor wars multiple times before making it till here, never changed his sharp expression even when he was lying down frailly on the bed. The presence he himself gave off never once faded. (“Someone will deal with this, so shut up. Is that what you mean?”) The voice that continued were so cold it felt like they were piercing into his bones.
(“This accident happened in a colony operated by Anaheim Electronics. No matter how we counter, it’s impossible to prevent the stocks from falling, right? I know very well that my role is not to let the voices of blame reach the Foundation.”)
Martha laughed away the leader’s sarcastic remark, narrowed her eyes and showed a suspicious look. The display beside her showed the words ‘A large-scale terrorist attack happened at Industrial 7’, ‘Is it done by the Neo Zeon guerillas?’, ‘The number of dead and missing people has already passed 600’, ‘The Federation space army has already issued warning to the forces guarding each side to remain alert’ and all sorts of such messages continued to appear and disappear. Only the top half silhouette of the news broadcaster or the reference footages of Industrial 7 when it was being built could be seen on the display, and there were no footages of what happened there at all. As for the footages the residents there provided to the media—the Federation units using beam rifles inside the colony and crashing into the residential areas—they could not be seen about 30 minutes ago, whether it was the TV or the Net. Syam shows an expression as if he never saw anything in the first place to avoid Martha’s doubt. “Cardeas did that. I don’t know anything.” He simply answered calmly.
(“You managed to argue back first…”) sighing, Martha can only show wrinkles as her lips give a bitter smile. (“I’m happier than anything to see you being so happy and lively, grandfather. I hope that I can go over to meet you in the near future.”)
“You don’t have to see such a sad old man like me who watched my son and grandson died earlier than me. Those who are still involved in the current world affairs should have something else to do, right?”
(“Please don’t say that. We’re siblings with the same blood, so of course I’m being emotional now that my older brother died. But since I’ve already wedded into the Carbine family, I can’t just dwell in sadness. If any independent action by the Vist Foundation cause Anaheim to be dragged down, how can I possibly meet my husband and my father-in-law? Besides, I’ve already got the approval to take over brother’s duties as the head of the Foundation…”)
After saying that without practically no sincerity, Martha gives a smirk to the display. The matter of succession was not decided through hierarchy, but through the agreement of most of the family members, and there’s something behind the expression. Anaheim Electronics was the family business of the Carbine family she married into, and while keeping this position, she use the muscle power that surpassed her husband to interfere with all sorts of affairs, playing a vital role in linking the Foundation and Anaheim in such a way that they were more than just partners. Syam’s eyebrows can only twitch slightly as he see his granddaughter’s shamelessness in not denying nor admitting that she was involved in this incident.
(“It’s the Vist Foundation’s leader right to know the location of the cryo the boss is in and the view of the ‘Box’, and also a duty. Please take a nap before I go meet you, boss. ”)
After leaving this message, the communication was cute off. The many displays shown in the air disappear, and darkness and silence return back to the space that has nothing but a bed. Soon after, the panel installed on the wall of the dome increase in luminosity until the actual image of the universe was shown inside the room, and Syam’s bed was already surrounded by the clear stars.
The cloud of stairs light up every single corner of the room as if the floor was scattered with silver powder, and the image of outer space showed all corners of the cryo the Foundation’s boss was in. Gael Chan hid himself in the darkness where neither the earth nor the moon could be seen as he saw that bed that was floating there in a lonely manner, sighed and stepped forward. As he lies on the bed that acted as a cryo device, Syam mutters to him ‘just laugh all you want’ as the side of his face that has lots all its glory shows self-mocking wrinkles.
“This is the portrait of the Vist Foundation.”
“I can’t laugh at all. I didn’t fulfill my responsibility in protecting my boss.”
Syam turns his stare at Gael, who’s standing about 3 meters away from him. It’s been half a day since the sudden battle in Industrial 7 and when he learnt about Cardeas Vist’s death. The Foundation’s boss had been through a lifetime that’s far too long for a human, watched too many of his relatives die, and now, it’s impossible to see any sadness in him. He lost his most trusted successor, and watched the Foundation he single-handedly built up move on its own. Right now, he could not even let out a sigh—maybe this was Syam’s current mood. If he could already realize that his own relative were all involved in such series of plots and gradually becoming the next successor, how would he feel—
Gael himself wasn’t as open-minded. He wasn’t able to protect his master, Cardeas, and he did not even fulfill the duty of destroying the “Unicorn”, the final order that was given. Even though he understood that all his paths of entry were already blocked by the Federation’s special forces, the burning hangar deck and the passages being sealed weren’t enough to be excuses. In fact, Cardeas himself dragged his heavily wounded body and managed to reach the “Unicorn” successfully before dying—he was devoured by the flames the moment he left the cockpit, and he was blown into bits the moment he was struck by the incoming shrapnel. The surveillance cameras at the hangar clearly caught the image.
The dire consequences happened in front of him was because of his own negligence. The bald head wrapped in the bandage sank as Gael clenched his burned fist. Just regretting alone can’t change anything, and these are all the results of fate—if it were Cardeas, he would probably say such a thing. Gael had already lots this boss that would comfort him like this. That one and only client of his who can understand him heart to heart; that only man who was worth selling his life to, whether in the army or in the underground society.
“Since it’s Cardeas, I suppose he has already prepared a failsafe such that even if he died, he can protect the secret tightly…someone like Martha will be forceful. She’s different from the men who’re concerned about their pride; she will not have any reservations when carrying out her plots. From the way she could get the approval of the family as the substitute leader in such a short time, I think it’s better to assume that it’s only a matter of time before she finds this place.”
“I’m a man. I won’t just be protective of my own pride, I’ll even swear allegiance for the sake of my own pride.”
At that moment, Gael forgot about being tense in front of the boss. He lifts his face.
“So long as you permit, boss, I’ll be willing to take revenge for Master Cardeas even if I have to sacrifice my life.”
Martha Carbine was staying in the lunar city Von Braun that’s under the protection of Anaheim Electronics. If the Foundation itself was just an organization meant to expand the family’s earnings, then she’ll be described as a really outstanding person who revived and expanded the authority of the Vist Foundation. She, who can even interfere with politics without a problem, detected Syam and Cardeas’ plans for Laplace Box and got the Federation army to attack Industrial 7. Even though the battle that got intense was a result of unforeseen circumstances, the main reason for Cardeas’ death was on Martha. In terms of underground talk, there’s no one else other than her who ‘settled the bill’.
Syam turns his head slightly at a way where one could not even detect, and his face that’s half-buried in the pillow faces over here. Gael gives an unwavering expression as he gets this answer,
“Do you want me to command you to kill my own granddaughter now?”
It was a growl that was full of rage, causing the temperature within Gael to drop. Gael’s stiffened by the other person’s overwhelming presence before he can even reflect on his words, “…I’m really sorry” and lowers his head.
“Very good. Cardeas did get a very good subordinate. Since this is because of what Cardeas did, we can only believe that things will proceed in the positive direction; no matter whether it’s the whereabouts of the Laplace Box or the future of Earth Celestial sphere.”
Syam clasps his hands on the blanket and closes his eyes. Gael has nothing to say and can only bow and answer ‘yes…’, showing a professional expression as he lifts his head to look at the boss.
“About the Box, I’ve already investigated on the details involving the pilot of the “Unicorn”.”
Gael reaches his hand to the floor and operates on the touch-type display that rose up from the floor silently. The holographic display again lights up the space above the bed, showing the photo of a boy’s face.
“Banagher Links, 16 years old, a student studying at Anaheim Electronics. Registered from Side 1 area 3’s ‘Eden’. No special positive or negative data on him, and no records of him taking part in political activities. I don’t understand why he came to the “Magallanica”, but he did meet the leader hours before the battle. As for what happened when both of them met, it’s puzzling…”
Gael gives an overview of what happened yesterday, including the accidental meeting with ‘her’ . How Banagher, who was taken back to Industrial 7 once, managed to enter the “Magallanica” and ride on the “Unicorn”, was a mystery to Gael. However, the pilot login data that was sent to the Command Module “Magallinca” matched Banagher Links information from the records in Industrial 7. The fact that he piloted the “Unicorn” and forced the “Sleeves’” mobile suits to retreat was without a doubt. Also, ther was the fact that he was taken in by a Federation ship—
“To be registered as the pilot of the “Unicorn”, one has to gain the biometric authorization of the leader. In other words, Master Cardeas chose this boy as the pilot and died after that. I can only deduce that, so what happened that time…”
Due to its nature, the records of the “Unicorn’s” pilot could not be easily erased after its logged it. There was a chance to destroy all the system, so Cardeas must have his reason for handing the “Unicorn” to the outsider Banagherr Links. Gael starts to stroke his chin as he looks at what seems to be a boyish instead of a youthful face, but was suddenly startled by a snicker.
Syam lets out the snicker as he watches the face of this boy that’s projected in space. His wrinkled face was smiling. Gael frowns in response, and Syam mutters, “I see. So you don’t know.” and turns to stare at Gael, who in turn inadvertently gulped his own saliva.
“Don’t you understand? He’s the new hope. Cardeas handed the “Unicorn” over to the most suitable person…”
Syam turns his eyes to look at the boy on the display and narrows his eyes as if he’s afraid of light. The boss of the Foundation let out a kind grandfather’s expression, and Gael can only blink hard bewilderedly.
