"Hmm... Where is this...?" Ramba Ral woke from deep sleep, blearily surveying the unfamiliar surroundings, and noticed Crowley Hamon lying beside him. "...Hamon! Hamon!"
"Mmm... Rahl..."Under Ramba Ral's call, Crowley Hamon gradually woke as well, growing tense upon finding herself in an unfamiliar illusionary realm." "...Where are we?"
"We're on a shuttle." Beyond the window beside them was space, with visible wings, combined with the luxurious interior decoration, indicating this was a high-class private shuttle.
"Captain Ral, Miss Hamon, you're awake?" A clear, melodious voice they recognized - turning, they saw Lalah, the girl who accompanied Char, smiling at them from the opposite seat.
"It's you! Where's Char?" Ramba Ral shielded Crowley Hamon behind him as he demanded.
"The Major went to ask the captain some questions. He'll be back soon."
"..."
"Oh? You're awake? Quite unexpected. I thought you'd sleep until we reached our destination." Just then, Char happened to return.
"Char... What exactly are you trying to do?"
"Nothing much. Just inviting you for a relaxing trip to Granada."
"Granada..." Ramba Ral and Crowley Hamon pondered Char's intentions but truly couldn't figure them out. If Kycilia Zabi intended to take action against them, they wouldn't be seeing Char now. If Dozle Zabi wanted to bring them back this way - even if they were forced back without cooperation - this method wouldn't be necessary, and the destination wouldn't be Granada either.
"Trust me, Captain Ral, this will be a very valuable trip."
"...As you wish." Ramba Ral wasn't one to give up easily, but he knew that since Char had the capability to take them right from under Kycilia's Agency's nose, he wouldn't fear them escaping. They were essentially fish in Char's net now, so they might as well enjoy the trip Char had arranged for them. Well, he did call it a trip.
Char knew that with Ramba Ral saying this, it meant he wouldn't try to escape midway, which resolved one of Char's concerns.
Due to the manner of their abduction, Ramba Ral and Char didn't speak to each other for the rest of the journey. In silent tension, the shuttle arrived at Granada, where under Char's lead, they boarded a vehicle.
"This emblem... Anaheim?" Recognizing the emblem on the vehicle, Ramba Ral grew even more surprised. Although Anaheim Company was a civilian corporation, they had supplied weapons to the Federation, making them technically enemies. Why would Char board an Anaheim vehicle?
Had Char betrayed them!?
With such thoughts, Ramba Ral cautiously entered the vehicle, following Char to an unknown destination. They entered the bustling, noisy urban area, then exited the city from Granada's other side, winding through twisting paths until finally arriving at a highly concealed location. The vehicle even descended via elevator for some time.
"This is a military fortress," Crowley Hamon whispered to Ramba Ral.
Though Crowley Hamon was once a bar singer, she possessed both courage and intelligence. Otherwise, she wouldn't have helped Char and Sayla successfully escape from SIDE 3 to Earth years ago. After getting involved with Ramba Ral, she gradually learned many military matters and picked them up quickly. After just one look around, she could tell this place was definitely a military fortress.
"Mhm." Ramba Ral nodded. What Crowley Hamon could see, he naturally could too, but he didn't say much more since they were currently in a vulnerable position.
When the elevator stopped and the vehicle came to a halt, Char said to Ramba Ral and Crowley Hamon, "Please disembark, Captain Ral, Miss Hamon."
"Mhm..."
After getting off, Ramba Ral and Crowley Hamon followed behind Char until they reached Murrue, who was there to greet them.
"Mr. Char Aznable?"
"Miss Murrue Ramius?"
This served as their mutual introduction. Murrue nodded, then looked past Char at Lalah, Ramba Ral, and Crowley Hamon.
"Mr. Char, I remember your relationship with Yang Hui..."
"They can be trusted," Char assured.
"...Restrain them first." The secrets here were too important. Murrue didn't dare be the slightest bit negligent, so until confirmed, she wouldn't allow anyone other than Char to know all the secrets here and leave.
"Miss Ramius?"
"The guest list Yang Hui gave me only had your name on it. You should understand what that means," Murrue said.
"...Can you contact Yang Hui?" Char understood Murrue's approach. If it were him, he might have killed everyone including himself. But Ramba Ral was a crucial piece in his plans, and Lalah was also very important to him—he couldn't abandon either.
"Alright." Murrue nodded, taking out a communicator identical to the one Char had received earlier, right in front of him.
"Hello?" After a brief wait, the call connected. Since it was on speaker, Char could confirm the voice coming through was Yang Hui's. Whether it was fake... Char didn't know, but he believed it was genuine. After all, Yang Hui had asked him to come retrieve something, so there was no reason to put on an act to deceive him.
"Yang Hui, Char is here. He brought guests."
"Who?" Yang Hui asked.
Murrue looked at Char, signaling him to introduce them to Yang Hui.
"It's me, Char."
"Who did you bring?"
"Ramba Ral, Crowley Hamon, and a close associate of mine, a girl named Lalah Sune."
"I see. That's fine."
"Your intelligence network is truly formidable."
Yang Hui's response came almost without hesitation, indicating he already had intelligence on all three individuals and was very familiar with them. Otherwise, he wouldn't have agreed so readily without any time to recall.
"I know all about Zeon's aces, including those close to them."
"...Are you on Earth right now?"
"Mhm, I know what you want to ask. The one teasing you that day was me."
"...Monster." Char wasn't just cursing Yang Hui for being able to toy with him in MS piloting skills, nor merely for Yang Hui's ability to guide the Federation in developing such excellent MS. He was also cursing Yang Hui for achieving such astonishing battle records on the Middle Eastern front with just a few people.
"I'll take that as a compliment. Anything else?"
"Nothing."
"Give the communicator back to Murrue. Let me remind you—she's my lover, so don't get any ideas."
"Of course not!" A flustered Char returned the communicator to Murrue, though his attitude toward her now carried a hint of respect. Char understood Yang Hui well—all the various rumors and scandals circulating outside were false. While Yang Hui wasn't a monogamous man, his standards were absurdly high. Anyone who could become his lover was definitely no ordinary existence.
"Yang Hui, is there anything else?"
"They can access Warehouse 1 and Warehouse 2. The others are off limits."
"Understood."
After the communication ended, Murrue waved for the surrounding guards to withdraw. "Follow me."
Murrue led the way while Char and the others obediently followed behind her until they reached the so-called Warehouse 1. After Murrue completed a series of authentication procedures, the warehouse door opened. She led them into the darkness, and the next moment, lights flashed on, forcing Char and his companions to shield their eyes. Several seconds later, the four lowered their hands, but what they saw left them utterly stunned.
"This is... a Zaku!?"
Indeed, what appeared before Char and the others was a Zaku, yet not quite a Zaku.
"Model number ZGMF-1000, Zaku Warrior. Built with a modular frame, all technologies benchmarked against the Astray. Capable of switching between four basic armed backpacks: Artillery Type, Slash Type, Blitz Type, and Sky-Soaring Type. If needed, specialized armed backpacks can also be designed and developed for replacement.
Over here is the ZGMF-1001, Zaku Phantom. Slightly superior in performance to the Zaku Warrior, intended as a commander-use machine. The horn-shaped antenna on the head enhances communication capabilities. Similarly equipped with universal interfaces capable of using various backpacks."
"Zaku Warrior! Zaku Phantom!" The four exclaimed in astonishment. On one hand, the Zaku Warrior and Zaku Phantom's technology was benchmarked against the Federation's MS, meaning their performance certainly surpassed the current Zaku II. Moreover, the modular framework greatly enhanced the mobile suit's versatility, unlike the current Zaku II which required specialized modifications and adjustments for ground and space use.
On the other hand, the MS prepared for them by Yang Hui were types completely reminiscent of Zeon's style. Didn't this mean... Yang Hui was currently playing both sides between the Federation and Zeon?
"Follow me. There's still Warehouse 2."
Closing their gaping mouths, Char and the other three followed behind Murrue with anticipation. The gifts of the Zaku Warrior and Zaku Phantom were already astonishing enough, and they wondered what the next gift would be—certainly nothing inferior to the Zaku Warrior and Zaku Phantom.
Inside Warehouse 2 were again MS, but completely different from the Zakus—clearly not from the same series at first glance.
"The PMX-000 Messala is a transformable Mobile Suit. Compared to the Zaku Warrior and Zaku Phantom, it has poorer versatility and cost-effectiveness, but superior performance. However, it lacks interchangeable optional armaments. Yang Hui's suggestion is to use Zaku Warriors and Zaku Phantoms as standard configurations for regular pilots, while the Messala can be assigned to ace units. But the final decision on how to choose is up to you."
"...Is this what Yang Hui prepared for me?" Char asked.
"Not just that, there's more." As she spoke, Murrue led the way outside. After Char and the others exited the warehouse, she closed and locked it, then brought them to the Mobile Suit simulation training room.
"What's this?"
"Simulation training pods. Yang Hui also prepared a Mobile Suit Squad for you, and... a warship."
"A warship!?"
"That's right, though it's not completed yet, so I can't show it to you now."
"Hmm... May I try it?" Char pointed to an empty simulation pod nearby while watching Kira and the others undergoing simulation training.
"Certainly."