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

Chapter 58: Char's Assault!

Three days after touring the Pegasus-class ship, Eli's Ground Combat Gundam had its energy pipelines fully installed, with additional thrusters visible across the body.

Although the outer armor and backpack had not yet been attached, the OS was already debugged, and Eli was using a simulator to familiarize himself with operations in space.

To be honest, Eli was feeling a bit dizzy.

Every movement of starlight on the screen indicated a change in the machine's relative position.

This made Eli, accustomed to ground combat, feel slightly disoriented.

"Heh, how amusing. Weren't Newtypes supposed to be born for space adaptation?"

The Grim Reaper's voice, now increasingly clearer, seemed to echo directly in Eli's mind even from outside the cockpit.

Perhaps this indicated Eli's growing Newtype abilities?

Eli shook his head, trying to dispel the slight dizziness from his mind and frowned.

He had fought in space before. When he first arrived in this world and gained its memories, he boarded the Saberfish and even managed to destroy a Zaku through a surprise attack.

At that time, he showed no signs of discomfort in the space environment.

Could it be... that he was now somehow shackled by gravity?

"Eli, do you need some water?"

As Eli pondered, a bottle of water was handed to him as he leaned back in his chair to rest.

"Thank you, Sayla."

Eli unscrewed the cap and took a few gulps.

When he looked up, he noticed Sayla frowning slightly, as if something was troubling her.

"What's wrong, Sayla?"

Eli naturally asked, showing concern for her situation.

Sayla was momentarily stunned before realizing Eli was referring to her furrowed brow.

She raised her hand, gently pressing her temple, and took a few steps back to sit in a nearby chair.

"I don't know. Lately, I've been feeling restless, as if something big is about to happen."

Sayla's current demeanor was entirely different from the strong-willed person Eli first met, making her appear fragile.

But Eli had no intention of offering comfort.

"You said you're feeling restless? Can you be more specific, like sensing danger or the presence of someone familiar nearby?"

Eli pulled his chair closer, looking directly into Sayla's eyes.

"Hmm, it feels like both."

Sayla touched her chest, sensing the feeling more carefully, and realized it was indeed as Eli described.

If she had to describe it, it felt like sneaking a computer game as a child and hearing footsteps in the hallway.

Even without seeing the person, she instinctively felt an ominous premonition that her parent was approaching.

At this time, in this place, having such a premonition could only mean one person—

The infamous Char Aznable! The notorious "loli lover" of the Universal Century, bearer of the worst dying words, and the melancholic nobleman!

Eli's expression immediately grew serious.

"Sayla, stay inside the White Base for the time being. Don't go outside casually."

After instructing Sayla, Eli stood up and headed toward the maintenance personnel working on the Ground Combat Gundam.

However, upon inquiry, he was told that it would take at least one more day to install the outer armor and another day for comprehensive adjustments.

Two days—Char could arrive at any moment.

But how could he communicate this to the higher-ups?

Eli first approached the surveillance personnel at Jaburo.

"Zeon activity? We've spotted a few, and they're just within our artillery range."

The personnel pointed to the surveillance footage showing several Crab Mobile Suits floating in the river.

At first glance, they seemed inconspicuous, but the surveillance team had been observing their disguises all along.

"Is it okay to just leave them there?"

"It's fine. The higher-ups said they're too close to the entrance. Firing at them could expose our position, so we're leaving them be for now," the monitor personnel replied with a carefree laugh.

"But aren't you worried about a large-scale Zeon attack? If they're here..."

"Hahaha, don't worry about it. Zeon has been searching this area for Jaburo's entrance for ages without success. This is routine. Even if they come, our GMs won't go down easily."

The personnel's confidence in the Federation forces was evident.

Eli didn't say much more but instead retraced the path the White Base had used to enter Jaburo.

According to the original storyline, Char had infiltrated Jaburo from this very entrance. His main targets were the White Base and the GM production facility.

After inspecting the area, Eli found no useful information and reluctantly returned to the White Base.

"If worst comes to worst, I'll deploy in the Guncannon."

With this thought, Eli suppressed his frustration and returned to his room to rest.

---

"Level-one battle alert! Level-one battle alert!"

Eli was jolted awake by the blaring alarms, the flashing red lights in his room and the hallway heightening his anxiety.

Was Zeon attacking?

Eli never expected the enemy to arrive during his rest shift.

The thing you fear most always seems to come true.

Eli hastily dressed while sprinting through the corridors. When he reached the hangar, he saw the Guncannon being catapulted out.

Aside from the still-under-repair Ground Gundam, there were no other mobile suits available in the hangar.

"Damn it..."

Eli scanned the area, even considering the idea of using the Core Fighter for combat.

"No, you can't!"

As Eli's gaze lingered on the Core Fighter, Sayla stepped in to block his path.

"This time, it's a large-scale assault. There are many Gaws in the air. Going out in the Core Fighter would be reckless!"

"But there are no other available mobile suits..."

Suddenly, an idea struck Eli like lightning—there was an unused mobile suit nearby, one without a pilot!

"Sayla, I'm heading to the White Mudrock unit!"

"I'm coming with you!"

When Eli jumped into a jeep, Sayla followed him without hesitation. Her determined gaze told Eli there was no persuading her otherwise.

"Fine, hold on tight!"

Eli floored the gas pedal, driving the jeep as if it were a mobile suit.

At the production facility, Eli wasted no time and rushed into the White Mudrock hangar.

His abrupt entry drew everyone's attention, with some even raising their guns at him. But Eli's focus was solely on test pilot Agar.

The two locked eyes, and Agar gave a firm nod.

"The heat dissipation system hasn't been fully calibrated yet. If possible, avoid using low-recoil cannons."

Had Eli not arrived, Agar, already suited up, would have piloted the machine himself.

But now that an official pilot was present, Agar naturally stepped aside to avoid making a rash decision that could harm both himself and the Mudrock.