Chapter 151: An Unexpected Gundam
"This..."
As Eli stepped into the hangar, he saw the Gundams undergoing inspection, surrounded by technicians from their respective manufacturers. They stood face to face in their maintenance racks.
The first machine that caught his eye was, of course, the RX-78 GP01 Gundam Prototype Unit 1 (Zephyranthes). The moment Eli saw it, he immediately matched it to the classic image from his memory.
This Gundam, designed with versatility in mind, could be easily reconfigured to operate in any environment.
Eli nodded in satisfaction.
Though Anaheim Electronics—his adversary in every sense—had manufactured this Mobile Suit, from a purely mechanical perspective, it was certainly an impressive machine for any pilot.
Then, Eli turned his attention to the Gundam standing opposite the GP01.
And froze.
Due to the assignment involving a nuclear warhead, he had assumed the delivered Mobile Suits would be GP01 and GP02.
But the expected burly frame, large shoulder-mounted thruster units, and thick, heavy shield were nowhere to be seen.
Instead, standing before him was a Gundam he had no recollection of.
RX-78 GP04 Gundam Prototype Unit 4 (Gerbera)
Perhaps its other name would be more familiar to Eli.
Red Zaku.
Of course, that was just a commonly accepted nickname. Its official designation was something else.
But since this machine had now fallen into his faction's hands, it certainly wouldn't be called that anymore.
Eli stared at the standing Gundam in amazement, filled with mixed emotions.
The biggest shock? "Zeon engineers actually designed a Gundam-style Mobile Suit that looks this traditional?"
Looking at the GP02, he had assumed Zeon engineers were incapable of designing anything resembling a Federation-style machine.
"Hmm, these two seem to have similar roles, don't they?"
Kou, who had walked in alongside Eli, stroked his chin while comparing the two Gundams.
It was evident that both machines emphasized versatility, with thrusters all over their frames hinting at their high mobility.
"You idiot, don't say that out loud."
The rivalry between the two corporations had led to the simultaneous development of two Gundams with overlapping roles.
It was easy to foresee that once field tests began, comparisons between the two would be inevitable.
However, the atmosphere in the hangar felt... off.
The Yashima employees' expectant gazes were understandable. But why were Anaheim's employees also looking at them the same way?
Then, Eli realized why Anaheim's employees were paying attention to them.
Because the three Titan pilots, sporting bruised faces, had just walked in.
"Haha, so this is the Gundam assigned to me?"
Leading the group was Bernard Monsha, gesturing dramatically toward the GP01.
"This one looks way more imposing than the other, huh?"
Monsha deliberately made a scene, clearly aware that Arcadia and Io—the ones who had just beaten them up—were present. However, since he didn't dare provoke them outright in their own base, he resorted to childish gestures instead.
But Bait immediately put a stop to it.
"My apologies, Major!"
At Bait's signal, Monsha—who had been deliberately avoiding eye contact with Eli—immediately straightened up and saluted.
Naturally, Eli was the recipient.
"We are Titans Special Forces under the Earth Federation, Lieutenant Bernard Monsha, reporting in with two squadmates. From today onward, we are under your command, responsible for testing the Gundam Prototype Unit 1."
After all, Titans had yet to gain independent command authority. Though higher-ups had arranged for their participation in the testing program, the official chain of command remained intact.
"Understood… You sure caused a commotion as soon as you arrived."
Eli had already heard from Arcadia about the trouble these three had stirred up.
"We sincerely apologize!"
Bait, the most serious-looking of the trio, immediately stepped forward to apologize.
He knew that while Monsha might behave for now due to rank, he was bound to hold some resentment.
And if this Federation's officially endorsed Newtype picked up on that, their time at this base could become unbearable.
"No, I'll let it slide this time. Just be more mindful of military discipline in the future. I assume Titans has regulations about that, right?"
The three exchanged glances but said nothing. Instead, they awkwardly averted their eyes.
The answer was obvious—military discipline was not exactly a priority in Titans.
Classic Bask Om.
Eli mentally scoffed at the man he had once collaborated with.
Even in the original timeline, Titans quickly became universally despised, largely thanks to Jamitov's lack of military oversight and Bask Om's extreme arrogance and brutality.
"Since that's the case, make sure to follow the rules while you're stationed at this base."
Noticing the other two shifting their gazes toward Monsha, Eli intensified his pressure.
Monsha had no choice but to reluctantly nod in agreement.
"Hmph, I just fought alongside Captain Burning, you know. He even told me about The Immortal 4th Team's exploits. Don't disappoint me."
In the military, personal insults could still be brushed off as grudges between individuals—sometimes even settled with a fistfight.
Like Monsha, who had been beaten up by Arcadia but didn't actually hate him. Instead, his competitive spirit had been ignited.
But once the discussion involved a unit's designation, especially one with an honored history, that was something no proud soldier could ignore.
"Captain Burning? Understood, sir! We will not bring shame to the name!"
Eli waved dismissively and walked back to Arcadia.
After bidding farewell to the others, he left the hangar and headed toward Augusta Research Institute.
Today was Rita's psychological evaluation.
Recently, she had been spending more and more time around Eli, likely because they were both Newtypes.
Just as Eli stepped into the Augusta Research Institute's main building, he immediately felt Rita's joyful emotions reaching out to him.
He didn't even need to open his eyes—just by following the flow of her emotions, he could pinpoint her exact location.
Newtypes sure are fascinating.
"Hard work as always, Dr. Lenore."
Lenore Robin Palust, a military doctor stationed aboard the White Chaser, was now assisting at Augusta Research Institute since the ship was permanently stationed there.
Her primary responsibility was ensuring the mental well-being of the former Newtype test subjects.
Yet, despite all this time, Rita remained the only one still undergoing psychological evaluation.
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[At this point, all original characters have appeared. Unless new settings are introduced, no more will be added.]
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