Chapter 169 – Target: Side 3
In the past, Eli had always been able to suppress his hatred for Zeon by relying on his memories of the 21st century.
But now that he knew for certain that the man before him was the executor responsible for everything… even if he understood the man had his reasons, hatred and rage still surged from deep within his heart.
He wanted to eliminate this man on the spot!
In that instant, Eli finally understood why General Revil had entrusted him with the task of contacting Cima.
Without a doubt, this was a test for Eli.
Whether Eli figured it out on his own or not, he had no choice but to face it.
Would he put the Federation and its vast interests first, or would he let his personal feelings take precedence?
General Revil needed that answer.
Because while Cima was important… she wasn't that important.
General Revil was using Eli's treatment of Cima to probe something else—to see how Eli would act when the interests of the Federation clashed with those of the Republic of Zeon in the future, or even if another full-scale war broke out. How would he respond to the Federation… and to Sayla within the Republic of Zeon?
He had been careless.
All this time, he'd grown complacent under General Revil's tolerance, forgetting that the general was far more than just a kindly Santa Claus.
He was a true iron-blooded commander.
Eli's hands were trembling.
Should he draw his blade and strike? Or sheath it and step away?
The rational and emotional choices wrestled in Eli's mind.
"…What are you doing… Captain?!"
Kou Uraki's sudden shout snapped Eli back to his senses.
Turning his head, he saw that the earnest young man was charging toward him at full speed.
Even his left-hand shield had been smashed, and it looked like his left arm had taken serious damage and could no longer function.
"…What am I hesitating for… I'm not even as decisive as Kou Uraki…"
GP04's eyes lit up, and the entire unit suddenly accelerated to high speed.
The Gundam unit facing him wasn't slow to react either—it immediately moved to defend!
As soon as the two mobile suits re-established communication, Eli transmitted the edited message he had prepared.
He had already been forced to stay in the military after failing to retire when he lost control during the crossing. Now he was expected to let the higher-ups decide his future?
No way—he was a transmigrator who'd resolved long ago to change the world!
"Cima Garahau, listen closely—Operation Stardust's objective is to drop a colony satellite on Earth. Tell me the current movements of the Delaz Fleet, right now!"
He was going to smash the Delaz Fleet into scrap!
Wait, Eli?
The moment she received the message from the Gundam before her, Cima immediately recognized the pilot's identity.
Without a doubt, it was that famously notorious Newtype.
If Cima had to name the one Federation soldier she least wanted to meet, this guy would be at the top of the list.
She knew firsthand the pain of having her homeland destroyed.
And she was the culprit who had destroyed his homeland. If he were to kill her here and now, Cima wouldn't even blame him.
Of course, she didn't want that to happen.
"Answer me! Where is the Delaz Fleet now?!"
"Side 3…"
Eli immediately furrowed his brow.
"What does that coordinate mean?"
"It's where Axis is going to deliver a gift to the Delaz Fleet."
Eli took a few deep breaths.
"When this is all over, your fate will be decided by me… You know what that means, don't you?"
As he spoke, Eli projected as much pressure as he could toward Cima.
"You want me to be your dog?!"
Cima's previously shaken spirit suddenly flared up.
"Interpret it however you want. Just report any new intel immediately! If you really are tormented by the ghosts of Iffish Island, if you still dream of what you've done—then stop Zeon's ghosts from dropping another colony satellite!"
Eli loosened his grip and began backing away from the Gundam in front of him.
"When that time comes, I'll consider giving you a place to stay."
He narrowed his eyes, staring at the Gundam.
Forget her intentions—if Cima truly played a part in stopping the satellite drop, then he could tolerate her continued existence… so long as it was out of his sight.
GP04 turned and rushed toward the Marine Gundam entangled with GP01. With a slash of his beam saber, he cut off its right arm and watched the unit retreat.
Eli had noticed—though Cima's fleet had gained the advantage and caught them off guard, they hadn't gone for the kill against his subordinates.
The most heavily damaged unit had also merely lost an arm. That had just been Eli returning the favor.
However, the red Zaku that had appeared alongside Gato had already vanished, clearly having withdrawn successfully.
Eli still cared about him.
"…Sorry, I didn't stop him," Io said proactively.
Right when Eli had taken Gato out, the red Zaku had frozen momentarily.
Io had seized that chance to try and take it out.
But—Gis had been caught off guard at the same time, and Io had no choice but to prioritize rescuing him.
So the red Zaku had gotten away.
"It's fine. The biggest threat's been neutralized…"
Eli frowned, trying to reassure Io, telling him not to dwell on it, and praising him for protecting his teammate well.
"Captain Paolo, please arrange for White Chaser to dock and resupply first."
As he returned to Albion, Eli opened a comm line to White Chaser.
"Eh? That's not what we agreed to. Weren't we supposed to be conducting test operations?"
Because they were already in landing procedures, Nina from ground control had overheard Eli's conversation with Paolo.
She clearly hadn't realized the deeper meaning behind Eli's decision and was simply asking from a testing standpoint.
"Apologies, White Chaser is departing soon. You'll resume testing operations as planned afterward."
Eli was already drafting the report to be submitted to General Revil on his terminal.
He included not just that the Delaz Fleet was at Side 3, but also the meaning behind those coordinates.
Although Eli had concluded that the true goal of Operation Stardust was a colony drop based on his memories, it was his response—as a transmigrator—to General Revil's test.
But "the Delaz Fleet is at Side 3" was concrete intel provided directly by Cima.
Taking both into account, Eli had more or less deduced the Delaz Fleet's objective.
Unless they planned to massacre another colony, the most likely target was one of the two colony satellites maintained by Yashima Heavy Industries at Side 3.
Those colonies weren't originally part of Side 3—they'd belonged to Side 1 before the One Year War, but had been damaged and abandoned due to Zeon's activities.
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