Vol 4 Chapter 2 (1/2)

Chapter 2

Part 1

The “Unicorn”s body that was fastened in the spare hangar was an industrial product whose elegance was said to be distilled, and could be described as an art piece On one hand, it preserved the strokes and the flat surface of a mass product silhouette, while on the other hand, there arh a co out from the forehead showed a remarkable presence of an art piece, and the ranted on the standing giant

“This high mobility state…or the Gundam mode, I should call it? When that is activated, a systeraine it to be activated with the NT-D, and it will reveal some encrypted data in phases”

The 40-year-old technical officer said as he poked his head out of the abdomen Why can’t those who’re so called proficient in technical data talk appropriately to each person’s status? Angelo felt unhappy inside as he reached for the raised platforh the dim and opened cockpit hatch

As the backup poas the only thing activated, the all-view monitor was not activated as it ree everything The display board on the linear seat let out a light indicating standby, flickering a logo that could be read as “La+” Ever since it fell into Neo Zeon’s hands, the “Unicorn” kept refusing all external interference and re La+— the coordinates of the Laplace Box Angelo felt a chill up his spine, and behind him, Full Frontal spoke, “In phases, you say?”

“In other words, the seal will be undone every time the NT-D is activated, and will sho inforistered The first tiet into a standby phase, while the second showed these coordinates, and that’s all Maybe it’ll sho information the next time it’s activated, and to be honest, I don’t know for sure However, it’s more natural to assume that there’s still unrevealed inforram occupies the hard disk”

“You can’t release all the infor this current phase?”

Frontal quipped The tallon the raised platfor off alone in this unpleasant maintenance factory The technical officer did not seem to have slept ated the “Unicorn”, and answered, “We can try” and weakly dropped his shoulders

“It already took this iven If we rando all the data to be erased I’ll try if you’re willing to do this, but I won’t recommend this it’ll be advisable to let it reveal itself according to the process”

“Can’t you reister?”

If we can do that, we can extract the information immediately, and there’ll be no need to control that boy called Banagher The technical officer glanced aside at Angelo who interrupted with an anxious voice, and continued to tidy up the large nu around as he turned his back and answered, “There’ll be a risk too”

“The pilot recognition systeistered pilot activates the NT-D, the Laplace Program will be able to operate in the next phase In this sense, we can say that this process is sort of a stepping stone That’s because a special wave is needed to be detected before the NT-D can be activated”

“So that’s why it’s called the Newtype-Drive system, is it?”

The technical officer gave a ave a response that see So we can only rely on Banagher Links? Angelo only ed to understand this and lost all interest in this entire incident as he took a step back from the “Unicorn”s cockpit The technical officer however continued “Yeah But even so, its design is still rather anored half of his words as he looked over at the wide maintenance factory

The st “Palau”, forest block was called “Calyx” At this place, the “Unicorn” and oing repairs and checks There was a large thick green ars away froa” that was part of the Geara models, and the machine that had the sleeve e ht in front of it was the “Gaza”-type that was theforce of Neo Zeon in the past It was a simple mass-production model that was 10 years old, developed from the remnants of the Old republic, but the machines with a transformable frame was not a poor choice in use, and even at this point, it could be used for scouting or investigations The Sleeve design that was newly ienuity in that they would not realize their weaknesses by using nu described the ht about a sense of unity despite it being a unit of the “Sleeves”

He looked up at the top, and saw the lights of the shi+ps parked above the glassat the ceiling The silhouette that looked to be only the size of a thu “Musaka”-class shi+p The ap forether, under the aps were all covered by the asteroids facing outside, and it was impossible to see the hts of the port froles, but it was hard to observe fro a net function Even though, it was not as concealed as a sturdy fortress If the fissure at this point could be described as an anchorage, the light would be 5km away from this point on the “Calyx” in diameter, while the deepest part would be about 2k at the tip like an umbrella, and the beauty of the scene observed fro shafts could be described as stone pillars, this would be a stalactite cave in space

Ae hole, there were 30+ shi+ps docked, and the workboats and h the dock The randoanization could be seen basically as a patrol squad, and though there were shi+ps that could not be used as fighting strength, they could asseh personnel if they wanted to If we can unravel this thing called the Laplace systeet hold of the “Box”, it’s not io But even so Angelo gritted his teeth as he looked up at the head of the “Unicorn” “I see, we ht have to call it a drive, but its nature is a little intense” Frontal’s tone caused him to hurriedly look forward

“Yes Leaving aside what the people who installed this Laplace Progra machine It can be said that these two kinds of paradoxes were coether Captain, the ‘ht come from this”

“I understand Cardeas Vist sure left the Laplace Box to an unbelievable monster to tend to”

Frontal’s lips under the mask curled as he heard the technical officer’s conclusion I elo did not even have the ti hiet into a still position

“As what I co the entire army and follow the instructions”

“Yes!”

At this elo instinctively staiven instructions were the response to the predicted attack The Federation would co, but also realistically re over the freeze-dried rose He stared at the back of the criure in front of him Frontal put his hand on the cockpit hand and asked the technical officer, “So where’re the current coordinates pointing to?”

Angelo did not hear the reply of the technical officer who slipped into the cockpit That ht be the coordinate data of the “Box”, so there’s no need for h the cockpit, only to be taken aback by Frontal’s retreating figure, and could only make a way

“…I really hope that’s a joke”

Frontal faced the glow of the blinking “La+” and selo could only frown

Part 2

At the same moment, April 12th, 0025, the supply shi+p “Alaska” finished the resupply to the Nahel Argaion as it returned back to the Moon

The “Alaska” was a support shi+p under the Coluth and 110ular, and though its length was not even two-thirds of the escort Clop-class shi+ps, the shi+p space it occupied could take up two container block, and its capacity could be said to be sufficient enough to hold a mobile suit squadron The shi+p finished its h a peaceful time as it was commanded to head back under the jurisdiction of the normal Naval Bureau, but at this point, the situation it was involved in was definitely not peaceful

There were other Clop-classes shi+ps that were escorting it from the moon, and on the way back, the Irish-class sent over fro it frohts It was expected that there would be escorts when supplying, but this for a battle, and it was a special exception to seeforth The fleet command did not explain much about this, so the crew of the “Alaska” could only feel puzzled by it However, there were so was up The fleet command that stated that they found it troublesome to send reinforcements would not just send in escorts on the whie’ they received froama”

The list of the ‘baggage’ included a pilot as ordered to return back from the shi+p and two civilians said to be detained from “Industrial 7” There was also a prisoner said to be involved with the “Sleeves”, but this person was accoence Branch, and her name and details were not revealed to the “Alaska”s crew at all Most likely, the issue was regarding ‘her’—the prisoner in this incident was a girl, this eyewitness report was spread throughout the shi+p through the crew The excessive nuuards was definitely drafted in to escort ‘her’ Thisof the prisoner was the main mission of the “Alaska”, ama” This was the truth

Speaking of which, even if they knew of about this, things would not change If the Intelligence Branch was involved, it would be suicidal to pursue things The creould just treat the rumors as such, and it would be fine if they did not reveal their true thoughts until the end of theon his seat at the center of the bridge as he watched the “Nahel Argaht too The white shi+p frame shown on the main monitor lost its entire portside catapult deck, and even the ventral fin at the tail was collapsed It looked like they needed to be repaired in a factory, but the Senate Council ordered them to carry on their mission, and would not even allow the carried out, but the only thing one could assuether

“I don’t knohat kind of thing they got, but that shi+p sure drew the worst straw there…”

The Captain, who had aas an honest supply shi+p captain while raduated peers fro, had no other feelings about it This was not soanization, whether it was the er around, and he had to face caves he could not avoid I just have to hurry back to the Moon and drop the troublesoht about this, he turned his eyes to the screen, and the alar within the “Alaska”

“We got a fire alar it immediately”

“The incident happened in the second living quarters The area is filled with smoke”

The operator immediately shut off the alarm and reported “What did you say?” The Captain felt hisas he turned his body to the console on the side of the bridge The multi-screen e was covered in white se control board indicated the location of the report—

“Isn’t that the block where the prisoners are held…?”

The second living quarters located inside the shi+p’s gravity block was indicated on the dae board of the “Alaska”s cross-sectional view, and that flickering light was definitely there without a doubt The Captain yelled out before he even thought about the significance, “ACTIVATE THE EMERGENCY STEERING TEAM!”

“PUT OUT THE FIRE EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM, GO ENSURE THE PRISONER’S SAFETY…!”

“A new fire’s reported! In the first container deck”

A second red alar in a corner of container block A fire was detected there after there was a fire detected at the prisoner block The Captain was not suspecting whether it was a bogus report or a coincidence any on…?” He inadvertently mused, but no one answered as the words of the reports and the term emptiness overlapped each other as they went by his mind

Part 3

The doenerated within the walls required an airlock facility for artificial flow Under zero gravity, where temperature difference did not exist, the air would not be able to flow easily, and this caused the danger of a vacuum belt in the shi+p

The sravity block relied on this theory, and it flowed through the shi+p since the artificial airflow could not be stopped easily, causing the white h the entire block They could have sealed off the partition walls once they evacuated successfully, but the creere all ordinary people, was not agile enough, and 1them the basics counteren Breathing Apparatus after detecting this anoence people ere in charge of watching the prisoner

The 2 civilians that were also kept within the “Nahel Arga The 4 Intelligence Branch officers ere sent over toTwo of the in front of the prisoner detention room, while two others went to check on the situation They did not feel that the eneents would be able to sneak into the shi+p, but it was hard to i a coincidence Two Intelligence Officers were dressed in suits and OBAdown the s out their G-17 recoilless automatic pistols All counter that their prisoner was to be kept safe Their guns were pointed at the floor, but their hands were holding onto the safeties of the G-17, and their expressions were already those of a soldier in battle

At thisit harder to ensure their vision If this was a fire that was deliberately started, the only reason they could think of would be misdirection We can’t let the prisoner move around so easily, but it would be too late for us to evacuate The two Intelligence personnel thought, and a person wearing an officer nornored the duo with their handguns raised as he yelled to the, “YOU GUYS, IT’S NOT ENOUGH TO WEAR OBAs!” and handed them three normal suits under his armpits

“Hurry up and put those on Those inside too”

That person did not wait for their responses as he reached his hand to the detention door with an electric door The Intelligence Officers quickly stopped him and said, “We’ll do this” as they stared at this crew ency response crew uns pointed at hins of fear as he roared to the Intelligence Officers with killing intent, “HURRY UP THEN!”

“I’e of fire prevention in this area! It’ll be onaround here! Hurry!”

The Intelligence Officers exchanged glances and started putting their feet into their normal suits One of them continued to remain on watch, while the other put on the hel for less than 30 seconds, both of them entered a password only they knew and opened the electronic lock One of them remained at the door to cover, while the other walked into the detention room

At thisbeside took action as he touched the Intelligence officer walking into the rooency button on the seam of the hel a status light to flicker The Intelligence Officer noticed this anoain, only for the helas

It was an anesthetic gas used to reduce oxygen consu in space Of course, this function would not be activated so easily, and it would require many countless procedures before it would be used normally However, this noras with the press of a button The Intelligence Officer was knocked out in 2, 3 seconds, and the other person who noticed this anoency crew un was even pointed at hience Officer, and reached his hand towards the neck of the opponent who rolled onto the floor

“You bastard…!” The Intelligence Officer groaned as his face relaxed and his body slu Officer and tried to get up, staring right into the prisoner’s eyes as she stood in a corner of the detention room, dumbfounded He poked his head outside to check that there was no one else around, and pulled aside his helmet visor

“Ensign…Riddhe?”

The widened emerald eyes stared at the face deep within the visor “Put this on” Riddhe Marcenas siht along to her

“We’re getting out of here Pull down the visor and follow me”

The prisoner—Mineva Lao Zabi did not say anything unnecessary Her stared stopped on Riddhe, as giving a serious look in his eyes, and received the Officer-use norht the hefty normal suit onto the slender shoulders with the blouse on without taking too much time Both of theh the passage with the canister giving off white smoke

Part 4

They passed through the gravity block and went to the portside container block, also called the first container deck It was unkno as canisters Riddhe set up at which locations and it was a layer of thin h the air lock It was unknohere the s and not less than 30oods and the hanging crane arms from above were all covered with a thin veil It see switched in, but they probably could not turn off the air flow The smoke continued to disperse in fro

“If we don’t knohere the fire’s starting from, can’t we just turn off the air flow?”

“We should knohere the reported area is froht? What do you mean that you can’t detect the heat source!?”

Growls echoed all around as the agitated crew as canister, they would not be able to pick up the location through a heat signature sensor Mineva looked down at the chaos fro, and nearly knocked into Riddhe, who suddenly stopped Riddhe grabbed her hand and pulled her nearly floating body back He leaned near the communication panel and picked up the microphone on the deck

“All hands, prepare for vacuum We’ll noay the air on the container deck Those without normal suits are to evacuate There’s 30 seconds till the hatch is open”

The voice that rang throughout the shi+p’s speakers caused the scattering crew members to stop immediately The next moment, the black wave of fear started to fill the container deck, and they startedat a speed several times that of before

Some leaned towards the lockers with the nor towards the airlock leading to the bridge, leading people in “Who’s the one !?” “Hurry up and confirht for the However, these voices would not be able to calures in nor around, and stepped on the floor of this passage on Riddhe’s prorabbed onto Riddhe by the shoulder as he was using the cable gun, and both of thee of the container block They were headed to a space launch on a launching pad Over there, as the sreen ball-shaped object suddenly appeared from the shadow of the shi+p, and it rolled its way into Mineva’s sights

“Haro…?”

She unwittingly called out, and people dressed in normal suits appeared behind it as they waved over One of them waved over at thes before hiding inside the launch Mineva did see that face that ithout a hel a normal suit It was Micott Bartsch—so in that case, the one waving over at us would be Takuya Irei, is it? Mineva did not have much tiht in front of the

Both of therabbed onto the open hatch on the portside Riddhe slipped into the launch first “Hurry up” a faot into the space launch together hat looked Takuya in a normal suit

This space shuttle had been used by the Federation before the One Year War, and there were 4 laser rocket engines installed on the frath It had a capacity of 10 people excluding the driver At this point, Micott was sitting on the passenger seat, and she was looking tense and pale as she stared at the steering seat She ed onto Haro on her knees Mineva felt a sharp pain at the bottom of her sto seat in front The console lights were already indicated, and Riddhe sat on the seat as he did the checks before take-off

Mineva sat on the co-pilot seat and fastened herself doith the safety belt She felt pressured by this at to escape using this shi+p? This doubt that came way too late spread inside her, but she did not have tirabbed onto the back of the pilot seat “Is the airlock opened enough?” He asked as he stared at Riddhe’s face, who did not stophis hands as he continued the checks and answered

“This kind of space launch can be used as an escape shuttle, so it’s possible for us to access the deck controls froht?”

Riddhe’s voice caused Takuya to bring his helmet-covered head to the concave canopyand checked the container deck filled hite s, but there were no signs of any crew members on the deck “Looks like it’s over” Takuya answered, and Riddhe answered, “Alright, let’s go” and quickly operated on the console The ‘Air’ flickered on the deck wall, and the warning lights on the floor started spinning for a few seconds They could feel the continuous alar away rapidly

The smoke outside theiradually opened The large hatch of the pressure room split aside up and down, and the 4-sided space outside the hatch appeared right in front of the away fro, and it see to escape fro? Mineva tried to think, but cringed due to the sudden impact

A ha twice, thrice as it rocked the shi+p, causing bright sparks to scatter all over the place, and the ere jerking Gunshots Mineva realized this, and Micott screaht!” Riddhe growled Mineva looked outside the , and sao people in noruns at them as they approached the space launch Flares popped out fro sharp impacts to rocked the shuttle

“We’ll cut the countdown I’ue!”

Riddhe spoke so loudly it was not drowned out by the bullets Mineva looked back in front and held her breath The space launch rockets ignited at practically the same time, and the G-force that struck froht of the container deck instantly disappeared from behind, and the vacuum, where neither the Moon or the Earth could be seen, occupied the s

The ular supply shi+p,further and further away The pressure of the acceleration on their organs weakened within several seconds, and Micott’s heaving sound could be heard froht…!” Takuya shouted with a restrained voice, and Haro’s voice rang too “Haro” Mineva too heaved a sigh of relief, but at this moment—

“It’s not over yet There’re still mobile suits in the shi+p”

Riddhe said with a tense voice that never relaxed, and as a result, Mineva continued to look at thethe shi+ps were there, and obviously, this space launch would not be able to beat the in vacuum were a fusion core reactor as the heart, the old space launch would be caught be it immediately

How rasped the situation and was ordered to pursue us—howthis time? Mineva and the other three stared at this 5 inch ht spot the size of a s on the screen with a white trail

The sensors shoo “RGM-89s” closing in quickly onto the space launcher They started their pursuit, and they would be caught up in less than 10 seconds Do you have a plan? Mineva intended to ask this as she glanced at the side of Riddhe’s face, as looking intently as he focused on piloting She suddenly felt the shi+p shaking, and frantically looked in front again

A s the shi+p slightly with a small impact The space debris flew in like bullets, faster than the motion sensors that showed many objects, and this showed that the space launch was ed froh they were h the debris, they could not even slon by one kilometer relatively The debris field of past colonies continued to close in on theh the body and floated back They e rock, and 100m later, the minute debris that were scattered all over the place covered the shi+p like a sandstor sounds that bullied the armor caused the launch to tremor unstably

“Wait, are we really alright?”

“I checked the path If there’s no Minovsky particles scattered, the radar…”

Riddhe answered Micott’s shrieking voice and shat he was about to say He ondering as shi+ning in front, only to find that a ht at thereatly, and the safety belt was pressed down on their shoulder muscles Haro slid out of Micott’s hands and slaht?” “We won’t be able to escape if we just do those cautious things…!” Riddhe answered as he continued to steer He was already losing focus trying to stare at the settings panel The sensors would capture the locations of the debris, and he had to use these to find the most suitable escape route The , all repeating as they formed a 3-dimensional corridor

Thedohile being wary of the debris, but their speed was still very fast Bothover at a speed the launch could not match There’s still a little while until the coation setting panel showed a bar that stated the progress, and looked back at the pursuers’ positions on the sensors, seeing that they were right in front of theht It’s here!” Riddhe then yelled and clenched his sweaty fists

“LET’S GO! GRIT YOUR TEETH!”

At thatthe launch tosound, and everyone was forced down onto the seat The path calculated by the coh the debris, and Mineva and co on a roller coaster as they did not knohich side was up or down As Takuya and Micott screamed out, the launch continued to repeat the complicated maneuvers that tested its liion The sea of debris floated by messily, and the bea starry space, causing the debris that were hit directly to let out lights of explosions

The scattered debris spurted out froe nu carried tortured their ears “It’s just to scare us!” Mineva heard Riddhe’s shout as she looked at the large debris floating over froht sunlight to a colony, and the cracked surface floated in the vacuue the fraght at the mirror

“I’ from the back Get ready”

He stared at the countdown ti panel and shouted, 4, 3, 2…ignitionRiddhe’s fist sla the launch that was headed to the mirror to let out its front exhausts to the maximum The G-force that struck at that moment rendered Mineva breathless