Vol 3 Chapter 1 (1/2)

Chapter 1

Part 1

(“…Even though it’s an initial esties 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 low, 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 wo and lively This ‘wonize as one—or rather, recognize as an ideal ‘wo was because of her eyes In her wish to becoiving off an icy cold reedy expression of the wo and only hoped to continue take inan evil tension

(“Considering how the media would react, it’s more appropriate that we should offer some for with regards to this as well”)

After saying that, Martha Vist Carbine re 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 et of a small country in the old centuries, but Martha’s expression was rather calht below the numerous displays that were eht out” Sya similarly calm

The body that laid down on the bed did not show any signs of , and the side of the eht 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 throughit till here, never changed his sharp expression even when he was lying down frailly on the bed The presence he hiave 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 hoe counter, it’s iht? 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 nu people has already passed 600’, ‘The Federation space ar each side to rees 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 thebea into the residential areas—they could not be seen about 30 o, whether it was the TV or the Net Sya in the first place to avoid Martha’s doubt “Cardeas did that I don’t know anything” He simply answered calmly

(“You , Martha could only shorinkles as her lips give a bitter s 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 randson died earlier than me Those who are still involved in the current world affairs should have soht?”

(“Please don’t say that We’re siblings with the sa 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 Anaheied down, how can I possibly ot 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 h hierarchy, but through the agree behind the expression Anaheim Electronics was the family business of the Carbine fa 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 Syaranddaughter’s sha 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 e, the communication was cute off The many displays shown in the air disappear, and darkness and silence return back to the space that had nothing but a bed Soon after, the panel installed on the wall of the doe 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 ie 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 thethere in a lonely hed and stepped forward As he lies on the bed that acted as a cryo device, Syah all you want’ as the side of his face that had lost all its glory shows self- wrinkles

“This is the portrait of the Vist Foundation”

“I can’t laugh at all I didn’t fulfillmy boss”

Sya 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 lifeti for a human, watched too many of his relatives die, and now, it’s impossible to see any sadness in him He lost his le-handedly built up h—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 beco the next successor, hoould 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 hied 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 theshrapnel The surveillance cae

The dire consequences happened in front of hience 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 could understand hi his life to, whether in the arround 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 Froet 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 iance for the sake of my own pride”

At thattense in front of the boss He lifts his face

“So long as you pere 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 Anaheianization s, then she’ll be described as a really outstanding person who revived and expanded the authority of the Vist Foundation She, who could even interfere with politics without a probleot the Federation arot intense was a result of unforeseen circumstances, the main reason for Cardeas’ death was on Martha In terround talk, there’s no one else other than her who ‘settled the bill’

Syahtly at a here 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 hter 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 overwhel presence before he could 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 had nothing to say and could 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 frohts up the space above the bed, showing the photo of a boy’s face

“Banagher Links, 16 years old, a student studying at Anaheiistered froative data on hi part in political activities I don’t understand why he caallanica”, but he did meet the leader hours before the battle As for what happened when both of the…”

Gael gives an overviehat happened yesterday, including the accidental her, as taken back to Industrial 7 once, allanica” and ride on the “Unicorn”, was a in data that was sent to the Coher Links information from the records in Industrial 7 The fact that he piloted the “Unicorn” and forced the “Sleeves’” mobile suits to retreat ithout a doubt Also, ther was the fact that he was taken in by a Federation shi+p—

“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 syste 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 s 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 could only blink hard bewilderedly

Part 2

On the display of the notepad-type PC, the designed English alphabets were shown It was a sio formed as a combination of the letters U and C

“The UC plan, the codename of the army reassembly plan that’s affiliated to the Federation fleet, one that the company underwent under extreme security; the “Unicorn” was a shi+p under the project of the same name”

In the di face said as the lamp shone on him Aaron Terzieff was a 32 years old staff e of the armor material section in the development of the RX-0 As the battle broke out in Industrial 7, he tried to escape with the other workers froallanica, but was detained by ECOAS as he was too slow As most of the relevant data of the plan recked, he was viewed as one of the people who knewthe RX-0—

“Unlike the Mobile Suits of the past, this unit’s biggest unit is that it’s fully covered with Psycoframe all over the body The development base was the Anaheio, we have already finished both Test Unit 1 and 2 separately Unit 2 was sent to Earth, and right now, it should be undergoing activation tests in the presence of gravity I was in charge of Unit 1, and about 3 weeks ago, I was ordered by the company to send it to Industrial 7 The notification was an official docu would be over if I only worked for another month…”

“Mr Aaron”

Daguza Mackle interrupted Aaron’s pleading-like voice with an emotionless face as he said, “I’ical side of things Please describe the Psycoet down to the details as much as possible”

“Yes…”

On the other side of the table, Aaron nodded his head in agreeives a look behind to ask for per behind him, Lieutenant Garrett nodded his head Aaron then starts to use his tre Before this, Aaron had reached out for the computer without permission before and had his hand twisted behind his back by Garrett, so this should be just precaution on Aaron’s side Daguza senses that Lieutenant Co his large body in the darkness, and deliberately leans forward to stare at the e on the screen He used the cast-like left arm to slam the table and let out a shrill sound

“Psycoframe Basically put, it’s a unique alloy that has a psycommu functions on it The theory behind it is to shrink the coether with metal particles on the frame”

The ie of the psycommu under the microscope If one stared at it closely, one could find as obviously aps between the hive-shaped metal particles That orderly yetcell than an object

“As you know, the psycommu can receive and amplify the pilot’s brainwaves…or you can call it neural waves, and project the pilot’s consciousness into the movements of the machine The psycommu that’s the main system is linked over to allow the psycoframe to receive the pilot’s neural waves and also the pilot and h-th and production and all sorts of problems in the past, we could only install this system around the cockpit However, the RX-0 in this plan uses psycoframe in all the mobile parts”

Then, the CG ie of the RX-0 appeared on the screen, and above the ht blinking As it was just a simple introductory picture, it was ih Aaron was one of the developers, he could only download thisas he merely prompted Aaron to continue

“Due to the actual assignment of the full-set psycoframe, the pilot’s neural waves can reach the machine’s activation system In other words, the pilot does not need to ‘control’ the mobile suit as the word ihts Of course, all the joints are all net coated so in theory, the reaction speed of the RX-0 is unlimited One can say that the machine’s one with the body…no, ita pilot is, there will be a ti of er to the moment the pilot reacts The RX-0 interface far exceeds the reaction speed of the human body”

“But in that case, the pilot’s body shouldn’t be able to react, right?”

If a iant that was more than 20m tall could iine the outcome if it moved at a speed that far exceeds huht movement will create vibrations of several meters, and no matter how sturdy the machine itself was built, the pilot inside would be all dizzy “That’s right” Aaron hireed with this sentiment

“In order to reduce the large G force that happens when the machine moves, the RX-0 has a Shock Absorber that specializes in reducing the impact, and there’s also the pilot’s suit However, even with these equipment, an ordinary person can’t endure the disco time Also, we have considered the stress the psycommu puts on the brain, and the maximum limit of continual operation is around 5 minutes Thus, the limiter will be activated when the system is set in normal mode, and the NT-D device will only be activated in battle”

The horn on the forehead opened up to show a V-sign, and the shoulders, chest and leg armor slid The psycommu frame hidden underneath appeared, and the thrusters and boosters of the machine that could be said to assure destructive power and mobility bared out This was the real form of the RX-0—if this was really the case, the appearance of the so-called “Unicorn” would be some form of a liradually changed its appearance, Daguza started to feel a chill inside his heart, and whispers, “What’s NT-D?”

“NT-D is the name of the OS that operates the full psycofrae of the exterior in the past, so I don’t really know the specifics However, I hear that NT-D is the shortened form of Newtype-Drive”

The unexpected teruza’s ears as a ripple rose in his heart After giving a uza answered back to Aaron “I see” in a monotonous voice

“After the RX-0 was allanica, it was once modified by someone You should know clearly that the systeht?”

A B5 sized photo was displayed on the table, and Aaron’s expression obviously wavered The are shots on the interface panel in the cockpit when the RX-0 was taken back into the shi+p In the photo, the terminal port showed a red sye of the armor outside, so any questions about the systeuza did not show any wavering in his stare as he questioned,

“Mr Aaron, you better think through this before answering The arnments to civilian enterprises, but military use mobile suit developical Research Departher ups, and youup military resources, you know?”

“Why…!? I’m just…”

“Industrial 7 is a colony registered under Anaheiallanica In fact, the Vist Foundation can be said to be outside of legal means After the final adjustram that wasn’t in the manual installed into it I don’t think you can simply pass this with a I don’t know”

“I really don’t! I only knew of the new progra the updated specs design There were ruram was provided by the Vist Foundation, but I don’t know anything else other than this! Even the activation conditions of the NT-D is an undisclosed classified secret to us who are in charge of hardware”

“Activation conditions?”

“The pilot can’t just remove the RX-0’s limiter at will The NT-D will only activate when certain conditions are allanica…the Laplace Prograra as the machine’s controls aren’t affected, we never questioned too much into such hardware stuff”

“But you should have taken part in the activation tests”

“The activation was still in siram was only installed after the tests!”

Two hands slammed onto the table hard, and Aaron covered his head with his hands as he sprawled down on the table Daguza used his eyes to stop Garrett, anted to pull hi

“Of course I felt that it eird For a manufactured military machine, there’s too allanica, I was forbidden to ilance under the Foundation all day…the weirdest thing was that none of the workers had any relations to the army However, ever since the ith Neo Zeon ended, the ht ns During this time, even if we find it suspicious, the technicians would only close an eye and work on new technology that’s being produced at such a time Besides, the machine that was developed was that famous “Gundam””

““Gundam”?”

Aaron’s depressed eyes looked up as he answered, “That’s our nicknaave a forsaken smile on his face

“The momentits NT-D activated…we could only treat it as if it was deliberately designed to be like that That’s what all the involved personnel called it, the “Unicorn Gundam””

Part 3

“Then, what should we do? Do we use the drugs on him?”

Five minutes later, Conroy asked as they stared at the uza drank the salted coffee, a Navy tradition, and asked back “What do you think?”

“It’ll just be a waste of time for us to continue He probably would not know any more even if we probe in more The Vist Foundation’s secretiveeach depart the”

Daguza did not disagree Aaron, as left in the monitor room, would either just touch the computer that was left in the room deliberately subconsciously or look doith a pale expression It was not that they did not doubt that it was an act on his part, but his testimony were the same as the other developers Besides, they were not professional interrogators Daguza’s feeling the sa without being confident and then the few reetables

They would norations Daguza put down thethat had coffee in it and checked the numbers on the monitor <11:17:32 4/08/0096=””>> 8th April, 1117 in the , about half a day after the battle cased, and it’s been over 6 hours since the ““Nahel Arga the detention facilities inside the shi+p to question the 4 developers held inside the Magallanica, they got suchseveral hours listening to testi to probe their relationshi+p with Laplace Box, it felt like they were led by the blind as well Daguza and the rest of ECOAS were feeling such futility

“Let’s leave aside the UC project for now The reassembly plan of the space forces was already announced in the Mid-terency=”” plan=””> I heard that they’re to complete the unification of all the colonies that were scattered, and the earth orbital forces that are being built up to the level of the main fleets in the past is to hurry and prepare for the 100 year anniversary in UC 0100 4 years later”

The hulking Conroy rested his large body that dwarfed any wrestler on the wall of thehis eyes as he said so The UC plan that was declared to have ended when the RX-0 was finished was planned as part of the space forces reassembly plan—all the members of the plan admitted “I heard of it before That’s a plan that was ht?” Garrett let the chair at the console turn around and said to them

“That plan never had any intent ofnew fleets In other words, it’s just a coather all the forces This is the first time I heard that they developed a new mobile suit”

“It’s not completely impossible There’s also theits self-independence back in UC 0100 They’re gathering the forces at such a time, and there’s the powerful new mobile suit…”

Daguza dragged his voice with half the mind to sho mystified he was, “Is this a PR activity on the military side?” Garrett frowned

“I should say that the Federation government intends to show off The reason why the main forces are stationed at colonies all over the place is to prevent the re What should they do if they want to recall these fleets?”

“Ah…” Conroy’s hint caused Garrett ht to his lips “So the Government intends to eliminate the remnants of Zeon before that? But—”

“It’s not as easy as saying this goal However, the Republic of Zeon’s returning their self-independence over to us is a rare chance to get rid of the name of Zeon The Federation Government intends to use 0100 as the deadline to wipe out all remnants of Zeon, use that to reasses, they can say that they finally ended the nightmare since the One Year War What will be need to pave the ill most likely be the UC plan, the plan to develop the “Gundam” to eliminate Neo Zeon”

It was dangerous to predict and conclude with only a few reports, but if one thought of it this way, a lot of things could be understood In this tiradually reduced, the developy, the reason to search for the limits of the machine even if the people involved have to view the pilot’s life as secondary, and the fact that the appearance of this mobile suit was similar to the “Gundam” Zeon so feared as the “White Devil”—

“Cardeas Vist hid a secret that can topple the Federation inside that machine and intended to hand it over to Neo Zeon…how ironic””

If it really ended up like that, it would just be a slight co salt to the ene bitterly, and looked at each other

“Then, leader, is that mobile suit the Laplace Box?”

“Leaving aside whether we can put an end to this speculation, we do have enough proof here We have a machine that was ready to be raallanica I have no idea which level of the Vist Foundation got involved with this plan, but the Unicorn’s the symbol of the Foundation after all”

The uza finished, the left arm and flank that were numb started to ache, and he did not continueIt seemed that the effect of the painkiller had worn out Conroy see, but Daguza averted his stare and quickly said before Conroy could, “What we can understand is that the weapon was built for Newtypes to pilot”

“The Newtype Theory is the core of Zeon Re that has to be linked with eli why they would gamble on the Federation’s trust in the plan and take a weapon meant for Newtypes”

“Fight fire with fire…you can think of it that way, but I heard that the Newtype research facility was already closed”

“No nore how useful Newtype weapons are, is it? In fact, all the Gundam pilots up till now are…”

“It’s because of this, that the elimination of Newtypes has to be carried out by non-Newtypes This is to crush the rained deeply in people’s hearts”

Conroy and Garrett immediately remained silent as the short silence descended on the narrow uza darnk the coffee that went cold, and said,

“The UC plan, the NT-DNewtype Drive, the psycos we don’t know of It’s the saly related to Laplace Box That “Gundam” really seem fishy”

Getting right down to it, why did it suddenly uza suddenly recalled the appearance of the boy he found in the cockpit Nohat’s his nauza’s mind is somewhat slowed by the use of the painkiller, and at this h the room’s interal phone

The e of this monitor room and the facilities used to detain the prisoners Even the servicemen on this battleshi+p were not permitted inside “What is it?” Conroy picked up the receiver and gave a gruuza could read frohs as he walked towards the door He unlocked the door to this rooencies and pushed the metal door aside