The Zephyranthes swiftly dismembered the Ghost Night, its Beam Saber slicing through the pirate MS with clinical precision, leaving behind a ruined husk of metal and shattered dreams.
Tarou Sayama stared in disbelief at the screen, his world tilting on its axis. The Zephyranthes, an instrument of merciless efficiency, now loomed over him, its Beam Saber poised to deliver the final, fatal blow.
"Hold your fire. I want that MS intact for research," Ryuuichi transmitted to the pilot, his voice calm amidst the echoes of battle.
Tarou watched as the incandescent blade halted mere inches from the Ghost Night's cockpit, the heat searing the air around him. Relief washed over him, so potent it almost brought him to his knees. He had stared into the abyss and been spared, but the humiliation of his utter defeat was a bitter pill to swallow. He raised his hands, observing their trembling. He was alive, yet the pain of his comprehensive loss resonated deeply within him.
Simultaneously, signal flares erupted from the abandoned space transfer station, painting the void with streaks of vibrant color.
Moments later, an announcement reverberated through the station's comms system: "The Antares Mercenary Group hereby declares its occupation of this abandoned space transfer station."
Captain Feikesi's voice followed, amplified and resolute: "Tarou Sayama, leader of the Sea Wolf Pirates, is now in our custody. All remaining pirates are ordered to disarm and surrender immediately. Those who comply will be spared. Those who resist will be eliminated."
The remaining pirates, their will broken, offered no further resistance. One by one, they laid down their arms, submitting to the inevitable.
With the exception of Tarou Sayama, the captured pirates were herded into several repurposed spacecraft, their fate now in the hands of their captors.
Ryuuichi and the other Gundam pilots returned to the Albion, their mission accomplished.
Inside the Albion's hangar, the pilots stood in formation, saluting Ryuuichi as he approached.
Yet, the most striking figure among them was not Ryuuichi himself, but Yue Yangchun, the twelve-year-old pilot of the GP01 Gundam Zephyranthes.
The question of how a child like Yue Yangchun came to pilot a Gundam was a story that unfolded in the preceding weeks.
It began with a returning frigate, its mission concluded, carrying a salvaged airship in tow.
According to the frigate's captain, they had intercepted a distress signal and, in accordance with their standing orders, had rescued the occupants of the beleaguered vessel.
The rescued individuals were revealed to be victims of piracy, tourists en route to various colonies whose spacecraft had been intercepted and hijacked by the Sea Wolf Pirates.
Among them were Haruki Kozuki and his older sister, Shirayuki Kozuki, hailing from the Starfall Dynasty.
The siblings had been traveling with their parents, all of whom had fallen prey to the pirates' ruthless tactics.
The pirates' motive was simple: ransom. Those whose families could afford to pay were released. Those who could not were sold into the grim underworld of organ trafficking or human slavery.
Haruki, his family, and several other captives had seized an opportunity, overwhelming their guards and attempting to escape.
Their bid for freedom was met with brutal force. Many were recaptured or killed outright. Haruki's parents had sacrificed themselves, creating a diversion that allowed their children to flee.
Haruki and Shirayuki, along with a handful of survivors, had managed to board a small airship, desperately hoping to outrun their pursuers. It was their distress signal that the Antares frigate had intercepted.
Initially, the Antares Mercenary Group had intended to contact the respective governments of the rescued tourists and arrange for their repatriation.
However, Haruki had other plans. He implored the mercenaries to eliminate the pirate group responsible for his parents' deaths.
The Antares Mercenary Group, a private entity, did not typically engage in unsolicited, pro bono operations. Moreover, the request came from a child, further diminishing its perceived importance.
Witnessing the mercenaries' indifference, Haruki had taken matters into his own hands. When the mercenaries were distracted, he had infiltrated the cockpit of the newly completed GP01 Gundam Zephyranthes. Without any formal training, he had somehow managed to activate the advanced MS.
Driven by grief and a thirst for vengeance, he had piloted the Gundam out of the base, triggering alarms and sending the facility into a state of high alert.
As he emerged from the base, he had encountered another returning frigate.
The MS units stationed aboard that frigate had immediately launched to intercept him.
During this impromptu trial by fire, Haruki had instinctively grasped the Zephyranthes's capabilities. Despite his lack of experience, he had skillfully evaded and outmaneuvered the intercepting GM MS units.
Soon, a larger contingent of MS units had been scrambled from the base.
However, Haruki had proven to be surprisingly adept, outpacing and evading all pursuers.
Ultimately, it was the Fujimoto sisters, Reika and Sakura, who had managed to corner him. After a prolonged and challenging engagement, the two ace pilots had finally intercepted Haruki and escorted him back to the base.
When Haruki was extracted from the cockpit, many of the assembled mercenaries could scarcely believe that a child was capable of such impressive piloting skills, requiring the combined efforts of two seasoned veterans to subdue him.
Shirayuki, his older sister, had rushed to his side, shielding him from harm and pleading for forgiveness on his behalf.
Reika, known for her bluntness, had remarked, "If apologies were sufficient, laws would be redundant. Had your brother's actions occurred in another jurisdiction, the military would have been authorized to use lethal force. At best, he would face a military tribunal and a death sentence."
"But he's just a child," Shirayuki had protested, clutching her brother tightly.
"Does childhood grant immunity? Does it permit reckless disregard for the safety of others?" Reika countered.
Shirayuki had fallen silent, at a loss for words. Haruki, however, remained defiant, his eyes fixed on his captors with unwavering resolve.
At that moment, Ryuuichi had arrived, having been briefed on the situation.
"Good day, Boss," the mercenaries had greeted him.
Shirayuki had instinctively positioned herself in front of her brother, acting as a human shield.
Ryuuichi had gestured, and two female mercenaries had gently escorted Shirayuki away, despite her protests.
Ryuuichi had then drawn his sidearm and pressed the muzzle against Haruki's forehead.
The child had met his gaze without flinching.
"Kid, you possess remarkable audacity, stealing and piloting my newly developed Gundam."
"I seek only retribution. Once I have avenged my parents, I will return your MS," Haruki had declared.
"Even if I permitted you to abscond with it and venture into enemy territory, do you honestly believe you could single-handedly eradicate your enemies with a pair of Beam Sabers and a head-mounted Vulcan cannon? Your adversaries are not mere kittens. That Gundam, however formidable, would be overwhelmed by a coordinated MS assault. You would merely be throwing your life away, accomplishing nothing," Ryuuichi had countered.
Haruki had been momentarily silenced, his stubborn gaze betraying his continued defiance.
"I offer you two alternatives. The first is death. The second is enlistment within the Antares Mercenary Group, pledging allegiance to me and working under my command," Ryuuichi had stated.
"I accept the second option, provided you guarantee the elimination of the pirate group responsible for my parents' deaths," Haruki had responded.
"You dare impose conditions upon me? Very well. I will entertain your proposition, contingent upon your satisfactory performance. Should you meet my expectations, I will fulfill your request. Do we have an accord?" Ryuuichi had inquired.
"We do," Haruki had replied.
Ryuuichi had reholstered his weapon.
"Commander-in-Chief," Ryuuichi had addressed Kenji.
"Present," Kenji had responded.
"Arrange for qualified personnel to train this young man," Ryuuichi had instructed.
"Understood," Kenji had affirmed.
As Ryuuichi had turned to leave, Shirayuki had voiced her objections: "How can you conscript a child into your ranks?"
"Enlistment within my mercenary group absolves him of the crime of stealing my MS. Otherwise, I will either execute him or allow you, his sister, to decide his fate. What is your preference?" Ryuuichi had retorted.
Shirayuki had fallen silent, unable to make such a decision.
"I extend to you a similar offer. We can arrange for your repatriation to your homeland, or you may remain here, where we will provide you with employment. We do not tolerate idleness," Ryuuichi had stated.
Ultimately, Shirayuki, as the elder sibling, had chosen to remain and care for her brother.
Both siblings had joined the Antares Mercenary Group. Shirayuki had been assigned to logistics, responsible for preparing and delivering meals.
Over time, Haruki's latent talent for MS piloting had become evident. In every engagement, he had returned the Gundam Zephyranthes intact, consistently eliminating all enemy forces.
He had quickly earned a reputation within the mercenary group as a prodigy, a natural-born MS pilot.
Captain Feikesi now stood before Ryuuichi, saluting respectfully.
"Boss, we will be docking inside the abandoned space transfer station's dry dock in fifteen minutes. The Suppression Force has recovered a considerable amount of materiel, which I recommend you inspect personally," Feikesi reported.
"Understood. I will attend to it," Ryuuichi replied.
"Ace pilots, you are dismissed. I suggest you make use of this respite," Ryuuichi concluded.