The Principality of Zeon's intelligence circles had been whispering for weeks about "Operation V." Officially, the Federation dismissed such talk as baseless rumors. Unofficially, intercepted signals told another story—one of accelerated research, unusual resource shipments, and hangars sealed behind multiple security checkpoints.
Selene von Zehrtfeld stepped off the colony shuttle into Side 7, her civilian cover intact, her forged identification flawless. At her side was Ishikawa, a quiet, sharp-eyed Zeon intelligence agent posing as a trade inspector. Side 7 looked peaceful, its colony blocks painted in serene shades of white and green. It almost felt detached from the war—almost.
Their mission was simple in outline, but dangerous in execution: locate the source of Operation V, record as much evidence as possible, and leave without leaving a trace.
Inside one of the restricted bays, Selene's concealed optics picked out angular silhouettes under tarps. Unlike Zakus, these machines had a sleeker, more balanced profile—humanoid, but built for speed and precision.
> Ishikawa (quietly): "Five Core Fighter squadrons in final assembly… and those over there—G-Fighters. I've never seen this many concentrated in one place."
Selene: "The Federation's betting on something new. If it's meant to counter the Zaku II, we need to know before it hits the front lines."
Odessa – GED Unit Frontline
Eastern Europe's plains burned under artillery fire. Tanya von Zehrtfeld's GED unit pressed forward through Federation defenses, their Zakus weaving through smoke and shrapnel. Overhead, Core Fighters screamed past in low attack runs, supported by the occasional G-Fighter making surgical strikes.
> Mila: "Captain, I'm hearing chatter about the Feds building new mobile suits."
Tanya: "Rumors. We deal with what's in front of us. Push through—before nightfall."
In the distance, the Black Tri-Stars advanced with their Dom units, cutting through the Federation's line like a blade through paper. Tanya frowned. If the rumors were true, even the Tri-Stars' speed might not be enough against whatever the Federation was building. But for now, it was still just whispers.
---
North America – Zeon Logistics Command
Lelouch von Zehrtfeld scanned the latest battlefield reports from Odessa and the Pacific fronts. Rezen Schneider, leaning against the console beside him, handed over a fresh intercept packet.
> Rezen: "Granada sent this through a secure channel—says Selene's deep in Side 7 on an Operation V lead."
Lelouch: "And here I thought the Federation's focus was on the coastal defenses. If Side 7 is part of this, then whatever they're building could turn the balance."
He didn't show it, but concern flickered in his eyes. He knew Selene could handle herself—but Side 7 was far from safe ground.
---
Side 7 – The Incident
Selene adjusted her camera drone's angle, zooming in on one uncovered machine. Its armor gleamed white, with a blue chest and red trim—an unfinished titan, yet radiating potential lethality.
Then the colony shook.
A Zaku II had breached security, engaging the prototype in live combat. The hangar erupted in fire and shrapnel as the white mobile suit moved with frightening speed. Selene was thrown against a bulkhead, her vision swimming. Smoke and alarms filled the air.
> Ishikawa: "Selene! This place is collapsing—we need to move!"
Her earpiece crackled—then went dead. The last thing she saw was the white machine's beam saber igniting, cutting through the haze.
Whether she escaped, no one knew.
A few hours earlier
The hum of the Musai's life-support system was a low, constant thrum—a deceptively peaceful backdrop to the strategic tension permeating the command ship.
Only hours earlier, Tanya von Zehrtfeld's GED unit had driven deeper into Odessa's defenses. Lelouch, across the Atlantic in North America, had received troubling whispers about Federation prototypes hidden in Side 7—rumors tied to Operation V. Now, far from the dust and fire of Earth, another player prepared to act.
Inside the Musai's stark briefing room, a single holoprojector bathed the table in pale blue light. Morning glare filtered through the armored viewport, painting the bulkheads a muted silver.
Char Aznable stood at the head of the table, crisp Zeon uniform immaculately pressed, red trim marking him apart from the standard green. A secure transmission from Zeon HQ had just confirmed his suspicions—Side 7 was no ordinary colony.
"Attention, officers." His voice was calm, precise. The hologram shifted to display Side 7's cylindrical form, rotating lazily in orbit. "Intelligence indicates high-output energy signatures, irregular construction work, and tightened Federation security. This fits our working profile for Operation V."
The room was silent, every officer present understanding what was implied.
"Our objective," Char continued, "is deep-penetration reconnaissance. We require photographic proof—clear, irrefutable confirmation of any Federation mobile suits. If they are as advanced as suspected, the balance of this war will shift."
He fixed his gaze on Lieutenant Slender. "You'll lead the infiltration team. Two others—Borsalino and Garma—will accompany you. Your Zakus have been fitted with optimized stealth and imaging systems."
> Char: "Avoid unnecessary combat. Engagement is only authorized if discovery is unavoidable."
Garma: "Understood, sir."
Borsalino: "We'll return with proof."
Char let the moment hang. "This is not a glory hunt. It's a test of discipline."
The pilots saluted and departed, leaving Char alone with the rotating hologram. A silent predator studying its prey.
---
The transition from briefing room to bridge was seamless. The Musai drifted on minimum power, cloaked by dense Minovsky interference, a ghost in the void. Beyond the main viewscreen, Side 7 gleamed pristine and unaware.
"Report launch readiness," Char said.
"All craft prepared, sir. Pilots in cockpits. Hangar depressurization complete."
"Begin launch sequence."
The bay doors retracted with a deep hydraulic hiss. One by one, the Zakus' mono-eyes flared crimson in the gloom—Slender first, then Borsalino, then Garma.
"Launch confirmed," the comms officer reported.
Char's gaze followed the three specks as they ghosted toward the colony, using short, controlled bursts to mask their signatures. Soon they melted into the shadows of Side 7's rotating hull, vanishing from sight.
On Earth, the Federation braced against Zeon assaults in Odessa. In North America, Lelouch sifted through coded intercepts. And in Side 7's hidden hangars, Selene von Zehrtfeld moved deeper into restricted zones, unaware that another set of eyes—crimson and unblinking—was drawing ever closer.
The pieces were in motion. The game was just beginning.