Let's reach 100 Powerstones for an extra chapter
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Reika had her long hair coiled up, a practical style for the heat of battle, while her younger sister, Sakura, sported a ponytail, a testament to her youthful energy. The two sisters drank their beverages, their faces flushed from the exertion, and wiped the sweat from their brows with provided towels. Their Gundams were currently undergoing resupply and maintenance, a crucial step in ensuring their continued effectiveness in the field.
The hangar buzzed with activity. Besides the sisters' Gundams, Ryuuichi's Original Gundam Unit 7 Full Armor occupied a prominent space, a symbol of his leadership and technological prowess. Nearby stood Lieutenant Hayato's Thunderbolt Gundam (FA-78 Full Armor, inspired by the Gundam THUNDERBOLT design), a formidable machine in its own right.
Ryuuichi remained in the cockpit of his Gundam, his arms crossed in a gesture of contemplation. His eyes were fixed on the screen, where the current battlefield situation unfolded. Hayato leaned against the railing, a picture of calm anticipation, waiting for the order to deploy.
The screen displayed the Suppression Force's progress. They had successfully penetrated the enemy's camp, but reinforcements had arrived, threatening to turn the tide of the battle. The Sea Wolf Pirates had mobilized over 20 modified spacecraft, nearly 500 MS, and 80 fighter jets, a significant force that could potentially overwhelm the Antares' gains.
Ryuuichi spoke, his voice calm and measured, "The Suppression Force must rely on themselves to suppress the abandoned space transfer station as quickly as possible." His words conveyed the gravity of the situation and the importance of the mission's success.
At that moment, Avina's Gundam Unit 6 returned to the hangar. The cockpit opened, and Avina stepped out, removing her helmet to reveal her short, shoulder-length blue hair. She accepted a beverage offered by a maintenance worker, her throat parched from combat. She rehydrated and used a towel to wipe the sweat from her face, grateful for the temporary respite that would replenish her energy.
The return of Avina's Gundam highlighted the increasing pressure on the MS pilots. Reika and Sakura's Gundams were still undergoing resupply, and now another Gundam had returned for maintenance. The pilots fighting outside faced a growing number of enemies, and the need for reinforcements was becoming increasingly urgent.
Captain Feikesi recognized the critical situation and issued a new order, "Lieutenant Hayato, sortie in your Gundam."
Hayato, upon hearing the order, immediately straightened up, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. He had been eager to join the battle, and now his chance had come.
He moved with practiced efficiency, piloting his Thunderbolt Gundam onto the catapult launchpad. The powerful machine locked into place, ready to be unleashed.
"Lieutenant Hayato, sortie," Captain Feikesi announced, his voice ringing with authority.
With a surge of power, the Thunderbolt Gundam launched into the fray, a symbol of hope for the beleaguered Suppression Force.
Reika, her arms crossed, stood in front of Ryuuichi's cockpit, her expression a mixture of curiosity and concern. Her sister and Avina stood behind her, their eyes fixed on Ryuuichi, seeking answers to their questions.
"Boss, is the Gundam that Lieutenant Hayato is piloting really more powerful than our Gundams?" she asked, her voice tinged with doubt.
Ryuuichi moved the screen panel aside, his gaze sweeping over the three women. He recognized the admiration and desire for knowledge in their eyes.
"It is indeed much more powerful than your Gundams," he confirmed, his tone matter-of-fact. "The Unit 7 that I am currently piloting, if it doesn't carry its heavy full armor weapon backpack, is simply no match for the Thunderbolt in terms of firepower. Now, he is fighting in one Gundam in place of your three Gundams. As long as he doesn't mess up or make a mistake, our current advantage will not be reversed."
Avina voiced her confusion, "Then Boss, why are you developing a new series called the GP series? The Unit 01 you developed, in terms of firepower, doesn't seem much different from the Original Gundam. I just don't understand why you would develop such a Gundam?"
Ryuuichi responded, "The GP01 Gundam Zephyranthes that I developed is not intended to have immense firepower. Its focus is on mobility and flexibility. In terms of mobility and flexibility, no model of the Original Gundam can compare to the GP01 Gundam Zephyranthes."
Sakura asked tentatively, "Boss, will the subsequent models in the GP series you develop also focus on excelling in specific performances?"
Ryuuichi nodded, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Your guess is very accurate."
Hayato's voice crackled over the comms, betraying his elation. "The speed, output, and firepower of this Thunderbolt Gundam truly excite me!" He gripped the control stick, stepped on the pedals, and continuously pressed buttons, shooting down Pirate Group MS one after another. Each volley of beam fire cut through the void, eliminating threats with surgical precision.
Hayato's Gundam dominated the battlefield. His excitement fueled his piloting, each movement precise and devastating. The six-tube missile launcher on the left shoulder of the Thunderbolt Gundam unleashed a payload of destruction. The single missile dispersed into a swarm of smaller missiles, each one homing in on a target with frightening accuracy. Pirate MS and fighter jets were caught in the chaotic crossfire, explosions erupting across the void as the missiles found their marks.
The twin Beam Rifle mounted on the wrists of the Thunderbolt Gundam added to the carnage. Powerful red beams lanced out, piercing through the armor of multiple pirate MS with ease. The beams left trails of superheated plasma in their wake, a testament to the weapon's raw power. The particle cannon on Hayato's shoulder turned spacecraft into burning wrecks with single, precise shots.
Tarou Sayama, watching the battle unfold from his command center, felt a growing sense of dread. The arrival of the Thunderbolt Gundam had shifted the momentum of the battle decisively. Five of his modified spacecraft, eighty MS, and thirty fighter jets had been reduced to scrap in a mere five minutes.
Adding to his woes, a series of unexplained incidents began plaguing the space transfer station itself. Reports of explosions reached him, but no enemy presence could be confirmed. The situation grew increasingly bizarre, fueling his unease.
Just then, a projection video appeared on his command table. The person in the video was the head of the monitoring room, his face etched with concern.
"Leader, please look at this recorded video."
Tarou Sayama watched the footage. In the video, a pirate member on patrol suddenly convulsed violently. Instead of falling to the ground, the pirate tilted at an unnatural 45-degree angle and was then dragged away by some unseen force.
He then watched another recorded video. In this video, another patrolling pirate member's neck twisted 180 degrees with a sickening crack. The pirate's body fell, landing awkwardly on its rear, the entire frame tilted. Like the previous victim, the pirate was then dragged away by an invisible presence.
A chill ran down Tarou Sayama's spine. He realized the implications of what he had just witnessed. The mercenaries hadn't simply disappeared; they were being hunted.
Understanding the gravity of the situation, Tarou Sayama issued a new order, "All units, equip thermal sensors and search every location within the station. Leave no area unchecked."
Time passed, but the search yielded no immediate results. The unseen enemy remained elusive, and the station remained eerily silent.
Soon after, a chilling report arrived. One of the monitoring rooms had lost contact. Tarou Sayama tried to contact the monitoring room himself, but his calls went unanswered.
A grim realization washed over Tarou Sayama. The monitoring room was lost, its occupants likely victims of the unseen enemy. He immediately dispatched several units to investigate.
Suddenly, Tarou Sayama's secret phone vibrated, breaking the tension. He left the command room, seeking a private space. Once alone, he pressed the answer button.
"Mr. Sayama, I hear you've run into big trouble," a voice said from the other end of the line.
"Hmph, don't pretend with me. You sent people to mess with me, didn't you?" Tarou Sayama retorted, his voice laced with suspicion.
"Mr. Sayama, you misunderstand. The mercenary group attacking you has nothing to do with us."
"Heh heh," Tarou Sayama responded with a cold laugh, unconvinced by the explanation.
"Mr. Sayama, whether you believe it or not, we genuinely want to cooperate with you. Do you remember our sincerity?"
Tarou Sayama narrowed his eyes, his mind racing. He recalled the encounter from two years prior, when this mysterious organization had first approached him with a proposal for cooperation. Initially, the terms were favorable, with the organization providing advanced MS in exchange for a 90/10 split of the spoils.
The cooperation between the two sides had been quite fruitful. The organization had supplied increasingly sophisticated MS, but their share of the profits had gradually increased, eventually reaching a 60/40 split.
If their MS were used during a robbery and a split was required, Tarou Sayama could accept it.
However, they had begun demanding a 60/40 split even for goods stolen without the use of their MS.
Tarou Sayama had found this demand unacceptable. How could his many brothers make a living under such conditions?
After all, the organization only supplied MS; they didn't contribute manpower or other resources. He and his Pirate Group bore the brunt of the effort, risking their lives in every robbery. While his Pirate Group consisted of hardened criminals, many of his brothers had families to support. Being a pirate was not just about making a living; it was about providing for their loved ones. Those brothers with families who died needed to be given a settlement fee.
This disagreement had nearly led to a complete falling out. In the end, the mysterious organization had backed down, agreeing that goods acquired without the use of their MS would not be subject to a split.
However, the organization had given him an MS at that time, telling him that if he ever encountered an insurmountable powerful enemy, he could contact them, and they would give him the password for that MS. Then he could pilot that MS to deal with the powerful enemy. This mysterious organization also guaranteed him that the MS they gave him was at least ten years ahead of the current generation's technology.
"Tell me, what are your conditions?" Tarou Sayama asked, his voice hardening.
"There are two conditions. The first condition is that from now on, anything your Sea Wolf Pirates plunder, whether or not our MS are used, you must split it 50/50."
Hearing this condition, Tarou Sayama clenched his fists, his anger rising. Agreeing to this condition would reduce him and his brothers to a band of pirates who were never truly satisfied.
Tarou Sayama took a deep breath, suppressing his anger. "What's the second condition?"
"The second condition is that you must capture a Gundam MS."
"Your organization is very interested in this MS called Gundam, aren't you? Is this MS called Gundam more advanced than the MS you developed? And you want to gain something for nothing, with me doing the work and you reaping the rewards," Tarou Sayama retorted, seizing the opportunity to mock the other party.
"Mr. Sayama, we are not trying to gain something for nothing, but it is undeniable that this MS called Gundam is indeed very advanced. If we obtain the technology of this Gundam MS, we can develop more advanced and stronger MS. We can even supply you with better MS in the future, and then your brothers can pilot stronger MS and plunder more goods. So, we are mutually beneficial."
"Then give me some time to consider," Tarou Sayama said, and without waiting for a response, hung up the phone and returned to the command room.
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