Who is Playing the Love Development Game in Gundam

As He Kui's voice fell, three gray GAT-X models shot out from a nearby Laurasia-class ship closer to the Umbrella of Artemis, still connected by cables.

They had only ten minutes of operational time, which would drop to five minutes in intense combat.

To conserve energy, activating PS armor was avoided whenever possible.

According to the plan, He Kui would be the one to initiate the first strike.

Behind He Kui, his lightning pack lifted to a ninety-degree angle.

The two high-performance sensors on his shoulders began receiving data from the front, adjusting parameters within the machine to account for magnetic fields, radiation, and other environmental factors.

His target was a tiny, needle-sized spot on the Umbrella of Artemis.

"This should work," he murmured.

Though his maximum range was only about a kilometer, he was still hundreds of kilometers away from the target. However, with radar support and data shared by the Laurasia-class, his effective range extended significantly.

Without interference from a neutron jammer, He Kui could just make out the shield generator on the Umbrella of Artemis, which looked freshly repaired.

He didn't need to hit the target; a show of strength was enough to signal they had the capability to break the umbrella's defense at will.

"Don't hit it," Su Lei cautioned.

If he hit the target, this would escalate from a warning to an outright assault—diplomatically problematic despite the wartime status.

"Don't worry."

With the assistance of Haro, He Kui's railgun was aligned, the two-barreled weapon aimed directly at the dimly lit target.

Without further ado, He Kui pulled the trigger.

A brilliant streak of light shot across the star-studded cosmos.

The railgun round, a bright yellow line, shot swiftly toward Artemis.

The fortress's defense system flickered in preparation for this unwelcome guest, but the accelerated projectile moved too fast for the defense system to intercept.

The projectile streaked boldly two or three kilometers above a shield generator.

Simultaneously, three test machines on another Laurasia-class ship unleashed their own displays of force around the fortress.

"How are they pulling off such long-range attacks?"

The bald strategist at the fortress was fuming.

If that shot had landed lower, their shield generator would be out of commission again.

The place had barely recovered from the last assault, and another breach would surely cost him his position. His nerves were understandably frayed.

"We're not sure yet, but it seems to be coming from the L5 border area."

"Coordinators again! Send out the new model MS!"

"Yes, sir!"

While the Eurasian Federation hurriedly prepared their response, the ZAFT Laurasia-class ship had already moved within Artemis's radar range.

"This is Captain Wang Qichun of the Hengyang. We apologize deeply for any disruption caused by our weapon testing."

The short message made the strategist's forehead veins throb.

Though phrased as an apology, it was nothing less than a brazen show of intimidation.

"Strategist, we have images of the enemy's new units," said the radar operator as four machines connected by cables to the Laurasia-class appeared on the main screen.

"Bold move… Deploy the Hyperion! And Canard Pars, get him out there!"

At this level of provocation, a response was inevitable. If they didn't retaliate now, they'd appear weak, and without knowing the enemy's full capability, that was unacceptable.

"ZAFT only won last time with stolen technology. We'll reclaim our honor this time!"

"Yes, sir!"

Fueled by the strategist's words, the Eurasian Federation's morale surged, and their pride, the Hyperion Gundam, launched from the fortress.

Back on He Kui's end, after taking his shot, he calmly monitored the unfolding battle via a camera feed linked to the Nasca-class.

The data collected was secondary; the main objective was not to lose.

They were the ones who initiated the provocation, so losing would affect not just their reputation but also their strategic position. The Eurasian Federation might think of them as an easy target.

"Unidentified unit approaching; it seems to be using shield technology," Su Lei observed from the broadcast within the ship.

"No surprise. The real question is who will run out of energy first."

The two sides appeared evenly matched on-screen, but both were operating under severe energy constraints.

On their side, He Kui doubted the Eurasian Federation possessed nuclear reactor technology. With the shield's energy consumption, it was unlikely their opponent could maintain it for more than three minutes.

And the large beam cannon at the back? The caliber looked comparable to those on capital ships, boasting immense power but likely consuming enormous amounts of energy.

"The Eurasian Federation's pilot is skilled," He Kui admitted.

The three mono-eyed yellow machines flitted around the Gundam, using sub-flight systems to attack with their various weapons.

Meanwhile, the opponent deftly alternated between using the shield on its arm and evasive maneuvers, handling the onslaught with precision.

While the shield had a slow activation speed and couldn't stay up indefinitely, the pilot's quick reflexes allowed them to stretch the shield's uptime by activating it moment by moment.

It was unclear whether this pilot was an enhanced human or a battle-conditioned Coordinator.

"If this keeps up, we'll exhaust our power first."

As He Kui analyzed the situation, Haro's camera followed the Gundam's every move.

"Synchronize firing data and push them toward the coordinates I've entered."

"Ready."

With the neutron jammer activated, Su Lei could only transmit the data through coded positional signals, relaying it to the Laurasia-class ahead.

"Can you hit it?" Su Lei asked softly, watching He Kui as he focused on the target.

"Hopefully. But with the neutron jammer, it won't be as easy as last time."

Following the updated coordinates, two of the pilots worked together to herd the Gundam to the designated point. The third continued to stubbornly engage the Hyperion Gundam, locked in a relentless struggle—unmistakably piloted by none other than Marlet.

"Marlet, you have less than two minutes of operational time remaining. Follow orders, or I'll report this to the Defense Council," He Kui transmitted sternly.

If Marlet ignored him again, he'd have no choice but to deploy Iron Wall. They could save the new unit, but the mission would be a failure.

In that case, He Kui would pin the blame squarely on Marlet. Not shifting blame, just stating facts.

After a brief hesitation, the GAT-X finally relented, cooperating with the others to push the Gundam toward the coordinates.

Suppressing his annoyance at Marlet, He Kui watched as the Gundam entered range, where the neutron jammer's interference was weakest. Taking a deep breath, he used Haro's calculations to track the shield's activation patterns.

Based on the analysis, the pilot would dodge toward a safe area right as they deactivated the shield.

He Kui, like a seasoned hunter, patiently awaited the perfect shot.

The opportunity came swiftly. As the shield generator on the Gundam's back activated, the three GAT-X closed in from all directions, and He Kui squeezed the trigger through the gap in their formation.

A flash streaked through space.

Caught off guard, the opponent barely raised their arm in time to shield the cockpit.

Unfortunately, He Kui's aim this time wasn't as precise, hitting the Gundam's leg instead of the cockpit. Taking advantage, the three GAT-X simultaneously fired their beam rifles at the Gundam.

The opponent quickly activated the arm shield to block the assault.

Thankfully, with one leg down, the mighty Gundam seemed to lose its fighting spirit, retreating toward the fortress with shields fully deployed.

It was a narrow victory.

Yet, de

spite this relief, He Kui was unsatisfied.

His maximum shooting distance was still too short. He'd need to spend more time strategizing with Luna.

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