In the East Asian Federation's Far Eastern Fortress of the CE world - the fortress closest to the Allied Forces headquarters in Alaska.
"I don't want to read any more intelligence from over there."
Ever since Wang Hu last read the intelligence about the C World sent over by Li Chengzhi, he had immediately felt overwhelmed with frustration. Why couldn't he just peacefully remain an emperor over there? Why did he have to stir up so much trouble? There were certain things he simply shouldn't be meddling with.
So when Li Chengzhi approached him with a stern expression, clutching another stack of papers, Wang Hu instinctively wanted to refuse.
"Your dream of visiting your emperor brother to establish a royal harem has been dashed, I see you're quite frustrated about it," Li Chengzhi said teasingly, forcibly shoving the latest documents into Wang Hu's hands while glancing sideways at his friend.
After gaining deeper understanding of the twisted roots of that other world, Li Chengzhi actually supported what Wang Hu wanted to accomplish there with all his heart. If not for being temporarily indispensable here, Li Chengzhi and many other informed individuals would have eagerly thrown themselves into that grand endeavor immediately.
And it wasn't just that many people in the CE world were willing to go over - when Mr. Zhou from the Breaking Ball World learned about the situation in the C World, he immediately expressed willingness to send personnel for support.
"As long as it's not about that matter, it's fine. After all, you're not the one being confined to the dark room," Wang Hu retorted irritably while looking at Li Chengzhi. "Of course you don't need to feel anxious."
Despite verbally protesting, Wang Hu still obediently took the intelligence and began reading. His brow furrowed slightly as he reviewed the information sent by East Asia's undercover agents within PLANT territory. He let out a long sigh.
"What was destined to come has finally arrived. Kira's future fate now depends on the choices he makes," Wang Hu said. "And we must face what we need to face as well."
"Fortunately, this time is different from the past. We are fully prepared..."
"Heh, many people might still be eagerly praying for the Coordinators to make their move."
"Hopefully they've even removed the surrender button."
After quickly scanning through the documents, Wang Hu's response carried profound implications.
Unlike several wars in history, particularly different from that war when East Asia was at its lowest point, East Asia's preparations this time couldn't merely be called sufficient - it was more accurate to describe them as supersaturated overflow.
Thanks to the mutual benefit and cooperation with their East Asian compatriots from the Breaking Ball World, they had directly provided a Heavy Nuclear Reactor. Combined with the local specialty of the Breaking Ball World - the Digital 3D Printer, the very device capable of printing Planetary Engines on the moon - the already rapidly operating production capacity of the East Asian Federation in the CE world immediately received a powerful boost!
The East Asian Federation, already renowned as the world's factory, when this machine roared at full capacity, the Eastern dragon had slowly opened its hunting eyes. The dragon soaring in the sky was extending its sharp claws, ready at any moment to tear apart its enemies.
Just like the preparations made in the military fortress where Wang Hu was stationed - everything was in position, waiting only for the east wind to rise, so the flames consuming the Coordinators could paint the entire blue sky.
Meanwhile, far away in space at the homeland of PLANT, the East Asian Army had initiated battlefield concealment.
Unaware that East Asia had prepared a grand surprise for him, Patrick—formerly Chairman Patrick and now Speaker Patrick—was riding high on his victory over Clyne in the election.
After delivering another triumphant declaration to the public, he announced to all citizens across the Satellite Colonies that the war was nearing its end, and it would undoubtedly conclude with their victory.
Returning to the ZAFT Forces headquarters, Patrick still preferred the office there even after becoming Speaker. Gathering all his advisors, he publicly signed the long-prepared execution order for the campaign codenamed "Throat-Cutting Operation."
"With this battle alone, we will end the prolonged war against the foolish Naturals," Patrick declared solemnly to everyone present. "We will create a truly stable and harmonious new world for all Coordinators."
Gazing at his flamboyant signature on the document, he added, "For the long-cherished aspiration of us Coordinators and the Utopia we have always pursued, I urge you all not to let them down."
"Yes," came the subdued, unanimous promise from the advisors, their faces obscured in the shadows of the dim office as they bowed in unison.
The command swiftly echoed from the office to the various ZAFT Forces battleships that had already been assembled. With Patrick now holding both the position of ZAFT Chairman and Speaker of the PLANT Supreme Council, his will was, from this moment on, fully enforced throughout the entire Coordinator race.
Countless supply vessels completed final provisions for the participating battleships, and one fully equipped ship after another departed from the docks. They set out from PLANT, leaving their original battle lines behind, all advancing toward the same objective. The battleships sliced through the darkness of space, leaving trails of blue exhaust flames in their wake.
The flashing signal lights had never shone brighter than at this moment. This combined fleet, comprising over 70% of ZAFT's current mobile forces and painstakingly built up by Patrick, was packed with Mobile Suits and manned by battle-hardened Coordinator veterans, all brimming with killing intent and sworn to completely conquer the Naturals.
The massive fleet, arrayed as if spanning hundreds of miles, boldly flaunted its dominance over space and advanced openly toward the Allied Forces' Alaska headquarters without any attempt at concealment!
Upon reaching their destination, this unprecedented fleet in Coordinator history did not even pause for rest or respite. Countless green Genes, gray CGUEs, and purple DINNs—along with the most crucial deep green GuAIZs, the latest mass-produced models that had reached a significant scale—all filed orderly into the drop pods suspended beneath the battleships.
At the commander's order, the drop pods plunged rapidly toward the beautiful Earth Sphere. As far as the eye could see, fiery meteors streaked across the sky, caused by the friction between the pods' outer shells and the atmosphere. The spectacle was so grand that even the Leonid meteor shower paled in comparison to the scale orchestrated by the Coordinators!
Roaring, they vowed to bring about the complete annihilation of the Naturals, just as Patrick had declared!
"What?"
If the Allied Forces' Alaska headquarters failed to detect the Coordinators' massive mobilization by now, it would be utterly inexcusable.
As the Coordinators' Drop Pods plunged into the atmosphere, the truth—long concealed by higher-ups—was laid bare.
The Euro Federation troops, currently on rotation guarding the headquarters' perimeter, finally reacted. Faced with the latest intelligence delivered by his subordinates, General Charle—who had narrowly escaped the Artemis Fortress and used connections to seek advancement at the headquarters—froze in disbelief.
At this point, there was no need to rely on space observation posts. Simply by stepping onto the observation deck and looking up, General Charle could see the endless stream of fiery meteors—the Coordinators' offensive—streaking across the cosmos.
"Bastards! Bastards! Bastards!"
Cursing three times in rapid succession, General Charle didn't need to think hard to realize he had been screwed over once again.
Only this time, it wasn't by that East Asian Alliance scoundrel named Wang Hu, but by the Atlantic Federation, painted in black and white.
Drawing on past experience, his instincts kicked in immediately.
"Hurry, mobilize our forces to the headquarters' energy core! And seize control of the Alaska headquarters command center too!"
"But..." The Adjutant hesitated. "According to defense protocols, we're responsible for the outer perimeter. The headquarters itself is guarded by the Atlantic Federation Army."
"Moreover, shouldn't we be requesting reinforcements from the headquarters now?"
"Alaska is, after all, located at the border between the Atlantic Federation and the East Asian Federation."
"If we can hold our positions for a while, reinforcements from both federations will pour in continuously."
"By coordinating with these allied forces, we could trap the invading Coordinators in a pincer movement."
"A pincer movement?" General Charle felt a headache coming on at any mention of the East Asian Alliance.
Unable to contain his fury, he slapped the proposing Adjutant to the ground with a sharp crack.
"You—go do as I said!" Pointing at another Adjutant, General Charle dismissed the defense protocols as worthless nonsense.
Can't you see it?
The Coordinators have deployed such overwhelming force right above our heads.
The Atlantic Federation's earlier claims about the enemy planning to capture the Panama Spaceport were complete lies.
If the Atlantic Federation isn't playing the same game Wang Hu did last time, General Charle swore he'd bash his own head in with a French baguette as penance!
The Artemis Fortress self-destructed, and the Alaska Allied Forces headquarters will surely follow suit!
"No." Pacing anxiously as his Adjutant hurried out, General Charle felt this still wasn't enough. The damned Atlantic Federation Army must have prepared countermeasures too.
The only way now was to find a safer method to preserve his own skin.
His mind had never been sharper. General Charle recalled the Archangel, which had recently arrived in Alaska.
"Quick, come with me to the Archangel!"
Abandoning any pretense of directing counterattacks, he left the troops to fend for themselves. General Charle was ready to uphold tradition.
Yesterday's chapter probably won't be released. I'll post an extra chapter later instead. It's a shame about the dozen or so plotlines I had planned—if I continued with that approach, it would definitely get taken down. Anyway, it's all my own fault, no one else to blame. Thanks to the readers who've stuck with me this far.
(End of chapter)