Gundam: Changing the World Even with a Mass-Produced Unit

Chapter 83: Departure from the Port

"Brother... Char? He's on this colony satellite?"

Sayla, who had just been talking about Char, almost revealed her true identity with her words.

"And he even helped me... helped pull my car out of the mud..."

Amuro thought of the man dressed in an elegant red military uniform, kneeling on the ground without a care for his image, tying the tow cable between Amuro's car and Sayla's.

Char didn't seem to be as narrow-minded as Amuro had imagined.

On the contrary, Amuro felt a concealed gentleness in Char, even toward himself, an enemy soldier.

That gentleness revealed itself faintly, despite the circumstances.

Looking down at his uniform, Amuro pondered.

But Char was still wrapped in an unsettling shell of enigma, much like Sayla had been earlier.

Speaking of which, had Sayla just said something strange?

Amuro turned his gaze to Sayla, whose reaction was beyond his expectations, and then to Bright, whose reaction was far below what he had anticipated. He was momentarily puzzled.

Bright's lack of reaction was due to the fact that he still remembered these matters.

"Is that so... It seems that we won't be able to avoid clashing again when we leave this place," Bright remarked, giving Sayla a reassuring look and responding to Amuro.

"It's fine. With the NT-1, I can definitely take him down... at least, I won't let him harm White Base."

Amuro had initially wanted to say he would defeat Char, but the sadness emanating from Sayla held him back.

Coupled with the slight change in his impression of Char earlier, Amuro eventually softened his words.

Bright, who had intended to pat Amuro's head, reconsidered due to Amuro's recent unpredictable remarks.

Instead, he patted Amuro's shoulder before looking up at the MS hangar.

The hangar was now crowded, though White Base had been designed to carry six mobile suits from the outset.

Currently, five MS were already stationed, with one more—a Zeon MS, the Gelgoog—being assembled.

This meant the hangar was already at full capacity.

Amuro and Sayla, who had been with White Base since its initial launch, couldn't help but feel amazed at the scene.

They had gradually become teammates who could trust one another with their backs, transforming White Base from a fractured group into what it was now.

Among them, Bright, who had taken on the heavy expectations of the crew in place of Amuro, was undoubtedly the most trusted individual.

"What is it? Why are you looking at me like that?" Bright asked.

"No, I was just thinking... as expected of you, Captain Bright," Amuro replied.

Bright tilted his head slightly, unsure of what Amuro meant.

---

Their time at Side 6 was limited.

Orders had already come from the Federation Space Force headquarters to launch an operation.

Even though they knew a Zeon fleet was lying in ambush near the colony, they had no choice but to press on.

Or perhaps, it wasn't entirely a matter of "no choice."

"Cameron, that's enough. It's too dangerous there; you don't need to do this," Mirai said, pushing against Cameron on the bridge.

Cameron had proposed using his private yacht to lead the way for White Base.

This way, at least within Side 6 territory, the Zeon forces might hesitate to attack due to the colony's neutrality.

Upon hearing this, Mirai tried to refuse Cameron's offer.

Her refusal wasn't meant to hurt him but was out of concern for his safety.

Mirai knew well that the man before her had feelings for her.

But when it came to emotions, one-sided affection rarely ended well.

"You're the ones in danger! What if Zeon fires first?" Cameron exclaimed, grasping Mirai's arm in desperation, hoping she would accept his help.

Even though their engagement had been arranged by their parents, Cameron clearly took their relationship seriously.

"No, Cameron, you don't understand. This isn't about our relationship; it's simply too dangerous for you.

I'm a soldier—it's my duty to face such risks, but you're different," Mirai said sincerely, holding Cameron's hands firmly.

Cameron stared into Mirai's eyes in a daze.

The woman before him—no, the soldier—was serious.

Mirai's refusal wasn't due to personal feelings but stemmed from her duty as a soldier to protect civilians.

"Prosecutor Cameron, thank you for your assistance. However, the Zeon forces have already initiated combat within the colony. It seems Side 6's neutrality declaration holds no weight with them," Bright said, stepping forward as he noticed Cameron beginning to understand.

"In any case, someone as upright as you shouldn't die in such a manner," Bright added.

"Upright? Me?"

Cameron was stunned to hear such praise from his "rival in love."

Bright smiled.

"That's the impression I get... Side 6 seemed reluctant to resupply White Base, yet we still managed to secure significant provisions of food and water. Thanks to you, of course."

Cameron's lips moved slightly as he glanced at Mirai, who nodded at him.

"I understand... Mirai, after the war, please give me a proper answer."

Tears welled up in Mirai's eyes.

"Yes, I will."

She stepped back and saluted Cameron.

Cameron, tears glistening in his own eyes, glanced at Mirai one last time before turning sharply and walking out of the bridge.

As Cameron departed and the hatch before White Base slowly opened, Bright walked to his captain's seat.

"White Base, launch."

Bright, now much more composed than before, issued the command.

The ship's rocket engines ignited gently, moving White Base slowly out of the port.

The Zeon fleet was now in sight.

Inside his MS, Bright saw the silhouette of the enemy ships illuminated by the sun from the side.

Two Musai-class ships and one Chivvay-class ship.

The Chivvay-class, originally designed as a battleship for the Principality of Zeon, had been reclassified as a heavy cruiser following the introduction of MS warfare and the Gwazine-class ships.

However, modern upgrades had equipped it with hangars, granting it some MS capabilities.

"Confident, Amuro?" Bright asked.

"To ask me that at this point... Captain Bright, you underestimate me too much," Amuro replied.

The two Gundams stood poised on the launch catapults on either side of the ship.

As White Base left the dock and sunlight streamed into the hangar, the two Gundams were fully revealed before Side 6's television cameras.