The members of the Twelfth Independent Technical Division were seated in a separate area. Revil stood on the rostrum and unfolded the operational map on the large screen, beginning to assign tasks to each unit, eventually reaching the Twelfth Independent Technical Division's mission.
"The mission for the Twelfth Independent Technical Division this time will unfold from three directions." As he spoke, three marching routes were marked in a unique gold color on the tactical map. "The first part, consisting of the Luna and the White Base, will assist the main army in launching a frontal assault to crush the enemy's front line. The second part will enter the battlefield from the west, responsible for clearing out bunkers and heavy fire points to open a path for the main force's advance. The third part will enter from the north; a breakthrough will be opened for you by the main force to allow you to penetrate through. Your target is the Odessa Base, striking directly at Mark Be's vital point."
"Yes!"
All members of the Twelfth Independent Technical Division stood and saluted. Yang Hui offered no suggestions regarding Revil's arrangements. Firstly, Revil was already the Federation's most brilliant strategist, and his arrangements were flawless, leaving no room for further suggestions on support.
Secondly, on the surface, the Twelfth Independent Technical Division was Revil's Direct Command Unit. While they had the authority to act independently in other theaters of war, and Yang Hui was qualified to discuss operational plans as an equal with the Commanders-in-Chief of other sectors, they did not have that privilege before Revil. They had to execute Revil's orders.
"Mm. Operation Odessa will officially begin tomorrow at 0600 hours Greenwich Mean Time. Gentlemen, I wish you all a successful completion of your missions. Go and prepare."
"Yes!"
The crowd dispersed. As they were leaving the hall, Revil's Adjutant stopped Yang Hui and invited him to Revil's office for a private discussion.
"Take a look."
Once they arrived in Revil's office, Revil offered no explanation and simply handed Yang Hui an intelligence report for him to read.
"This is...!"
"Mm, you were right. Mark Be is indeed a ruthless man."
"How many people know?"
"Only you and I. The intelligence officer who sent this report has always been in one-way contact with me; even the Intelligence Department doesn't know."
The report showed that, just as Yang Hui had predicted, Mark Be had buried a massive number of nuclear bombs beneath the Odessa Base. Once Odessa fell, he would detonate all of them, taking out 60 percent of the Federation's forces.
The reason Revil hadn't shared this information was for fear of affecting morale. If they all knew nuclear bombs were buried under Odessa, who would dare to launch a full-scale charge?
"So, you have one more secret mission: neutralize the nuclear threat before the main force completely breaches Odessa."
"Understood."
"Also, this is an optional mission; complete it if possible." Saying this, Revil handed another piece of intelligence to Yang Hui.
"Karma Zabi? Mark Be hasn't sent him away yet?" Yang Hui was surprised to see the report stating that Karma Zabi was still acting as a mascot at the Odessa Base.
"Mm. If possible, capture him. Then we will have the leverage to negotiate with the Principality of Zeon."
"...Has Degwin Sodo Zabi contacted you?" Yang Hui asked.
"Mm, he intends to surrender to the Federation."
Yang Hui fell silent. He had just been planning to discuss contacting Degwin Sodo Zabi with Revil, but he hadn't expected Degwin to beat him to it and find Revil first.
"It's not time yet," Yang Hui said.
"Though he is a mascot, he is still the Sovereign of the Principality of Zeon. The documents he signs carry legal weight..."
"Heh, the Antarctic Treaty has legal weight too, but nuclear bombs are still going to be used regardless."
"...What are your thoughts?"
"We can make contact with him, and surrender is fine, but not now." Yang Hui paused before continuing, "We still don't know how many 'mutual destruction' trump cards Gihren Zabi has prepared. Before we figure out what those cards are and neutralize those threats, we cannot let Degwin Sodo Zabi surrender."
"Are you worried Gihren Zabi will act out of desperation?"
"Mm. At the very least, we must wait until we are fully prepared."
"I understand."
"I'll bring Karma Zabi back for you, but don't hand him over to the Council. Creuset isn't ready yet."
"I know what to do. Gopp is also prepared. Once Creuset makes his move, Gopp will retire from the Federal Army and enter the Council."
"Mm. I'll go prepare then. This is going to be a tough battle."
"As if you've ever fought an easy one," Revil chuckled. Since the Twelfth Independent Technical Division first appeared, which of their battles hadn't been a tough one?
"Look who you're talking to," Yang Hui boasted with a wave of his hand as he walked out of the office and returned to the Twelfth Independent Technical Division's garrison.
Because of the buried nuclear bombs at the Odessa Base and the secret mission to capture Karma Zabi, Yang Hui made major adjustments to the composition of the MS units.
The first route would naturally be the Luna and the White Base striking out alone; they would be surrounded by the Federation's conventional main army and didn't need a separate escort squad.
Regarding the MS units, Yang Hui gathered all the Captains and Vice-Captains under his direct command to handle the third route of advance, while everyone else formed the second route to launch the attack from the west.
"Looks like this mission is going to be a difficult one."
Ford Romfellow looked at the old comrades who remained and couldn't help but sigh. He was the only one from the first batch of members who wasn't a Captain or Vice-Captain. Because of his erratic personality and way of doing things, Yang Hui had kept him close. However, he didn't complain; he knew himself well. He knew he wasn't leadership material. Wasn't it better to just follow behind Yang Hui and obey orders to fight?
He wasn't a Captain or Vice-Captain, but his strength was definitely at that level. All the Captains, Vice-Captains, and the meticulously selected Squad 01 were gathered together for a single mission. The difficulty of this task was undoubtedly the highest they had faced since their debut.
"Alright everyone, I'm sure you've guessed the gravity of this mission."
Yang Hui spoke, and everyone tucked away their relaxed expressions, listening seriously and solemnly to Yang Hui's briefing on the upcoming operation.
"In addition to the public mission, we need to execute two secret tasks. These are two intelligence reports; take a look first."
"This is...!"
Upon seeing the intelligence, everyone who remained was shocked.
"Correct. Two secret missions. First, neutralize the nuclear threat before the main force breaches the Zeon defense line. Second, capture Karma Zabi—he must be alive. General Revil told me the second task is optional and to act as we see fit. So, gentlemen... tell me, what does 'acting as we see fit' mean for the Twelfth Independent Technical Division?"
"Ensuring the mission is accomplished!" Everyone grinned upon hearing this, standing up simultaneously to answer with determination.
During the execution of a mission, they wouldn't necessarily follow orders to the letter, doing things however they felt comfortable, but that only applied to the process. Toward the mission objective, they only ever had one attitude: resolute completion!
"Very good. Go and prepare."
"Yes!"
...
At six o'clock the next morning, as the first shot rang out, Operation Odessa was officially declared underway.
"Enemy attack!"
"The Federation has launched their offensive!"
"Block them!"
"Sieg Zeon!"
At the rear, watching the front line engulfed in a hail of bullets, Yang Hui led the strongest squad of the Twelfth Independent Technical Division, standing behind the main army, waiting for news from the front.
"Colonel Yang Hui, the path has been opened. You may proceed!"
"Understood."
The eyes of the Astray Gundams lit up with an eerie green glow, like emissaries of the Death God returning from the underworld. Using hovering maneuvers, they moved rapidly across the ground, as terrifying as ghosts. They broke through the darkness and, greeting the first light of dawn, charged into the battlefield.
"3 o'clock direction, 6 Doms, distance 300."
Six beams pierced through the tragic battlefield, accurately gutting the six Doms and saving the allies who were about to perish.
"7 o'clock direction, 12 Zaku IIs, distance 400... 11 o'clock direction, 9 Tigers, distance 1200..."
As they passed through the path opened by the conventional forces, Travis Kirkland constantly reported the positions of enemy machines. Every second after a report, an attack would land on the target, saving countless allies.
But their speed did not decrease in the slightest; they maintained maximum velocity as they advanced. In the blink of an eye, they left behind untold numbers of dead souls, breaking through the Principality of Zeon's first defense line under the gaze of ghosts who could not rest in peace.
"Speed up. A direct strike on the second defense line."
"Understood!"
Yang Hui, piloting Unit 01, continued to act as the sharpest arrowhead, charging straight toward the second defense line. Any interception along the way was broken through at maximum speed, and soon, the second defense line appeared in their sight.
"Scatter!"
The second defense line had received word from the first and was long prepared for the assault of the Twelfth Independent Technical Division. The moment the two sides saw each other, the defenders of the second line opened fire without hesitation.
However, the rain-like net of fire posed no threat to the Astray Gundam unit. The tight wedge formation scattered like flower petals in the wind, each transforming into a dancing butterfly weaving through the hail of bullets—elegant, noble, and equally deadly.
Boom boom boom boom...
Countless beams crossed the distance between them, landing on the second defense line. Every beam ignited several explosive fireworks.
"Ford! Jung! Yu!"
"Understood!"
Unit 04 and Unit 06 stopped in their tracks, their backpacks unfolding as stabilizer jacks thrust into the ground. Unit 02, Unit 03, and Unit 05 immediately moved in front of Unit 04 and Unit 06. Unit 02 and Unit 03 turned their backs to the second defense line and deployed their backpacks, massive shields blocking the space between them. Unit 05 raised the Dual-linked Beam Gatlings in both hands toward the sky; pink beam bullets sprayed out like tongues of fire. Whether it was parabolic shells or diving fighters and MS, nothing could bypass the curtain of fire from the Beam Gatlings.
"Charging complete!"
"11 o'clock and 1 o'clock directions!"
Unit 02 and Unit 03 immediately folded their backpacks and scattered along with Unit 05. In the next second, blue-white lightning and a flood of pink energy erupted, blasting massive gaps in the positions Travis Kirkland had reported.
"Blog! Fred!"
"Understood!"
The two melee experts, leading several comrades specialized in close combat, charged through the gaps. And then...
It brought to mind a single word: slaughterhouse.