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

Chapter 84: Resolving the Battle

The two Gundams stood on the catapults, confronting the enemy forces.

At present, they were still within the airspace of Side 6.

"Listen, under no circumstances should we fire the first shot!"

Even after explaining to Cameron that Zeon likely wouldn't adhere to neutrality regulations anymore, Bright still insisted on this principle.

"Don't worry, Captain,"

Eli responded to Bright while watching a three-unit formation of Rick Dom fly past the anti-air zone of the White Base.

Once they reached a certain distance, the White Base finally accelerated.

"All engines, full thrust! White Base, maximum combat speed! Begin charging the main cannon—once we exit Side 6's airspace, lock onto targets and fire immediately!"

The White Base's rocket engines erupted with searing exhaust flames. The powerful thrust momentarily left one squadron of Rick Doms trailing behind!

"MS team, deploy and stand by at designated positions,"

Eli echoed over the comms, fully understanding Bright's strategy.

The EZ-SR and NT-1 naturally took the lead, serving as the first line of defense for the White Base.

Meanwhile, the Guntank and Guncannon remained stationed on the port and starboard sides, respectively.

The final Gundam, launched from the hangar, stayed within the defensive perimeter, forming a close guard alongside the Guntank and Guncannon.

"Just focus on protecting yourself, Sayla,"

Eli said as the team approached the laser communication network marking the boundary. Everyone's tension mounted.

Buzz!

A beam of light streaked past the port side of the White Base just as they were about to cross the border!

Without a doubt, Zeon had fired the first shot.

In the next instant, artillery fire rained down on the White Base from three directions!

"Main cannon, return fire! Hard port! Simultaneously, deploy missiles with timed detonation!"

Bright's commands echoed through Eli's headset, bringing a smile to his face.

"Amuro!"

"I've been ready for this!"

The thrusters on both Gundams roared to life, emitting bright blue exhaust trails as they charged toward the Chivvay-class and Musai-class ships.

Meanwhile, the Musai-class ship flanking the White Base had already been shot down by a concentrated barrage from the White Base's main cannon, the Guntank, the Guncannon, and the Gundam.

Inside his cockpit, Eli, who hadn't experienced such a battlefield atmosphere in some time, found himself remarkably calm and adaptable.

His hands moved slightly on the control sticks, and the mobile suit responded in perfect sync.

The slight tug on his internal organs from the maneuvering, the vibrations from grenades and missiles exploding nearby—all of it sent adrenaline coursing through Eli's veins.

Turn, descend, reverse thrust, accelerate.

A Rick Dom appeared right before Eli!

Raising his beam rifle, he fired a precise shot, turning it into a fiery explosion in space.

After eliminating one target, Eli twisted his mobile suit around, thrusting the sharp end of his spike shield into the chest armor of another Rick Dom attempting to engage in close combat. The enemy was completely incapacitated.

After finishing these moves, Eli glanced toward Amuro's direction.

To the Zeon soldiers, Eli's performance was already terrifying. However, the true demon wreaking havoc in their formation was Amuro, piloting the NT-1 Gundam!

While Eli had just dealt with two Rick Doms, the NT-1 had already taken down two enemies with its beam rifle at close range.

Facing a flanking attack from three more Rick Doms, Amuro seemed to be showing off. With minimal evasive maneuvers—sometimes just a simple hand movement—he dodged every incoming attack.

The NT-1, a machine so advanced that Christina could only utilize 30% of its potential, fully unleashed its capabilities in Amuro's hands.

"If it's this mobile suit, I can do it!"

Abandoning any thoughts of combat testing, Amuro drew his beam saber with his left hand. Without even turning the mobile suit around, he stabbed through a Rick Dom attacking from behind.

The panoramic cockpit allowed Newtypes to process more information, giving Amuro a tremendous advantage. It felt as though he was truly immersed in space.

A lock-on alert sounded from his mobile suit. Amuro used the leg thrusters to turn the mobile suit sideways, dodging a rocket from a Rick Dom.

Meanwhile, his beam rifle tracked the enemy's movements. Just as the Rick Dom thought it had found an opening and charged with its heat sword, Amuro fired.

Even while in a horizontal position, Amuro had complete confidence in his aim.

However, another Rick Dom closed in for melee combat!

Amuro remained unfazed.

Buzz!

A beam pierced through the underarm of the Rick Dom wielding a heat saber, disabling it.

It was Eli, who had swiftly dealt with his own three Rick Doms and intervened to resolve this crisis.

Moments later, three explosions resounded from the direction of the White Base.

Although Eli's sensors still picked up Sayla's signal, he turned back to check.

What he saw was Sayla, who had just destroyed the last Rick Dom with her beam rifle.

The three Rick Doms that had attempted to flank the White Base and exploit its defensive blind spots never expected the crew stationed onboard to possess such formidable combat skills.

"All... all wiped out?"

The fleet commander, Conchon, was utterly stunned, unable to even form an expression.

"Twelve Rick Doms... wiped out in less than two minutes?"

Unable to believe his eyes, Conchon turned from his captain's chair to seek confirmation from his adjutant.

The adjutant hesitated but ultimately confirmed the outcome.

This fleet had been dispatched under Dozle's orders to eliminate the White Base.

The reason was simple: Char, who had defected to Cecily's side, had repeatedly suffered defeats against this warship, even causing the loss of an entire patrol fleet.

Since Dozle couldn't act directly against Char, he sent Conchon to deal with the White Base as a way to weaken Cecily's forces.

Char, however, sneered at such transparent political maneuvering.

This display of brute force and superficial tactics only highlighted Dozle's inability to emerge victorious in the three-way power struggle for Zeon's leadership.

Sitting before a monitor, Char had, for once, removed his mask in the presence of others. Watching the combat footage captured by Side 6's cameras, he couldn't help but remark to himself:

"The Gundam has grown stronger."

Although it was a different mobile suit, Char couldn't shake the feeling that this new Gundam was piloted by the same person who had consistently crossed paths with him.

Just like how the name "Amuro" felt oddly familiar whenever he heard it mentioned by Federation officers.

"So, the answer has already been revealed to me?"

Under the gaze of a girl beside him, Lalah, Char brushed aside his overgrown bangs, which had begun to irritate his eyes.

"Lalah, I have you to thank for helping me see things clearly."

"Heh, not at all. Colonel, you were already starting to see things clearly before reuniting with me, weren't you?"

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