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

Chapter 69: Combat in Low Earth Orbit

There was no need to distract himself with unnecessary tasks; the mech was already fully operational and on standby.

Gripping the control sticks with both hands, Eli, clad in a full pilot suit for the first time in a while, moved them forward and back a few times while pressing several buttons. As he familiarized himself with the controls, the Gundam in front of the EZ-SR stepped onto the catapult, bending slightly into a crouching position.

"Track is clear, all systems green!"

"Amuro Ray, Gundam, launching!"

After Sayla's announcement came through the channel, Amuro wasted no time and was the first to rush out of the ship via the electromagnetic catapult.

He knew that Eli, who hadn't fought in space for a long time, couldn't handle the same level of pressure as on the ground.

Eli noticed Amuro's concern and smiled warmly, feeling a sense of pride akin to watching a child grow up. Amuro was now taking responsibility on his own. However, it wasn't yet time for him to shoulder everything alone—at least not while Eli was still around.

"EZ-SR, preparing to launch!"

After notifying the ground crew to stay vigilant, Eli maneuvered the mech onto the recharged catapult.

"Eli..."

Just by observing Sayla's expression on the screen, Eli could discern that the incoming enemy was Char.

Even though Sayla had mentally prepared herself, facing this situation still brought her sadness and hesitation—an entirely human reaction.

Eli nodded almost imperceptibly, lowered the light-filtering layer of his helmet, and gave Sayla a thumbs-up through the screen.

"Eli Lee, EZ-SR Gundam, launching!"

Unlike ground launches, the G-forces pressed more intensely against his body in space. But after the initial discomfort, Eli focused his gaze forward. What was once a small patch of stars at the catapult's end now expanded before his eyes, eventually enveloping him completely.

Here, there were no national borders.

In that instant, Eli noticed the most striking object in the vastness of space—Earth.

From this perspective, the territories controlled by the Federation and Zeon were indistinguishable.

"Such a sentimental guy. On a battlefield, people like you are destined to die sooner or later," a playful voice echoed in his ears.

In the emptiness of space, the figure of death seemed even more ethereal, as if it had shed a layer of restraint.

Ignoring her words—whether a curse or a warning—Eli calmed his mind.

By the time the EZ-SR accelerated briefly into the battlefield, Amuro had already taken down two Zaku units.

However, he was now being harassed by a red-painted Zaku, while other Zakus were advancing toward the White Base.

They happened to cross paths with Eli!

One Zaku and two Rick Dom units were on a collision course with Eli.

The Rick Dom was an upgraded space variant of the Dom, previously encountered by Eli and his team as the Black Tri-Stars' custom models on the ground battlefield.

"Wait... that's!"

The Rick Dom pilot initially mistook the approaching machine for a GM. But upon closer inspection, when the silhouette was finally captured on camera, the pilot let out a sharp, panicked cry.

"It's—it's a Gundam!"

The EZ-SR's dual optical sensors lit up as Eli raised his beam rifle and fired.

However, the shot passed between the three machines without hitting its mark.

"Missed, huh? And you're supposed to be a Newtype," the voice in Eli's ear teased mockingly.

"Humans have the right to make mistakes!"

Before the enemy could react, trying to maneuver evasively upon realizing they were within range, Eli fired again!

The first shot had been off because Eli instinctively accounted for how Minovsky particles would scatter in atmospheric conditions, manually adjusting the aim.

In the brief moment during his exchange with the voice, Eli recalibrated his aim based on data from the onboard computer, making a subtle correction with the control stick.

This time, the shot pierced straight through the Zaku's center!

The aftermath was catastrophic—a gaping hole in the Zaku's wreckage briefly crackled with electrical arcs before a "sun" blazed on the orbital battlefield.

It was a nuclear fireball triggered by the reactor's explosion.

"Seriously? A Gundam?!"

The remaining two Rick Doms froze. Any lingering hope they had vanished instantly.

They recalled Char's earlier assertion that the other Gundam aboard White Base was merely a mass-production model, indistinguishable from a GM.

But this was no GM!

From their position, they could see the distant exchange of fire between the Trojan Horse and the Musai-class ship, the imprecise bombardment of cannon-type mobile suits, and the advancing G-Fighter.

The Rick Dom pilots felt suffocated, their standard suits like shackles binding them to this battlefield.

"Close the gap!"

Utilizing the Rick Dom's high mobility, the two machines quickly closed the distance to the EZ-SR.

Eli ignited his thrusters, moving upward while firing his beam rifle to suppress them.

The Rick Dom pilots, seeing this, felt a glimmer of hope.

This new Gundam lacked a shield.

Its bulky shoulder armor and delayed launch timing made them assume it was a cannon-type mobile suit similar to the Guncannon.

In other words—

"Close combat is to our advantage!"

Both Rick Doms drew their thermal swords, their thruster flares intensifying as they surged toward Eli with even greater speed.

"What now? Should we use the EXAM system's power?"

As the two Rick Doms flanked Eli, the voice whispered provocatively in his ear.

Of course, her real intent wasn't to assist Eli but to see if the woman trapped within the EXAM system would be freed—or, more intriguingly, whether the system would spiral out of control with Eli present.

"You're underestimating me!"

Eli shook his head, dismissing her from his thoughts.

These words were directed not only at her but also at the two Rick Doms closing in on him.

The EZ-SR tossed its beam rifle backward.

The thruster on its left shoulder flared, causing the mech to rotate horizontally, forming a cross-like silhouette with the lead Rick Dom.

From the EZ-SR's right arm, an electrified spike extended from its knuckle, flush with its fingers.

Yes, its right forearm was equipped with an electromagnetic knuckle!

The lead Rick Dom, unable to react to the sudden rotation, was met with a devastating punch!

Electric arcs crackled across the arm before slamming heavily into the Rick Dom.