The salty spray of the open ocean whipped against the hull of the modified LCAC hovercraft as it sliced through the waves, putting distance between them and Axis.
Takeru Shirogane slumped back against the cramped auxiliary pilot's console inside the Gouf Custom's cockpit, his breathing ragged. The adrenaline was finally wearing off, leaving his muscles aching and his uniform soaked in sweat.
"Damn it... that was way too close," Takeru muttered, wiping his brow with the back of a shaking glove.
Up ahead, through the forward viewports of the LCAC and the monoeye sensors of the Gouf, the silhouette of the U.N. recovery fleet loomed on the horizon. Searchlights cut through the overcast sky, sweeping across the dark water to guide them in.
As the hovercraft slid heavily into the cavernous well-deck of the U.N. assault transport, deckhands and engineers rushed forward, securing the vessel with massive pneumatic clamps.
Clank! Hiss!
The hydraulic locks of the Gouf's cockpit hissed open, venting a cloud of warm, oily vapor. Takeru unbuckled his harness and climbed out onto the machine's chest armor, gingerly lowering himself down via the maintenance ladder, wincing as his sore joints protested.
Waiting on the metal gantry was none other than Professor Yuuko Kouzuki, her signature cigarette unlit between her fingers, flanked by a squad of bewildered guards and mechanics.
"Well, well, well," Yuuko drawled, a smirk playing on her lips as she looked up at the towering, blue, single-eyed behemoth. "You managed to sneak into a heavily fortified Zeon base, punch an ace pilot out of his own cockpit, and drag back a machine that defies every conventional aerodynamic and structural law we know about TSFs. I must admit, Shirogane, your survival instincts are almost as impressive as your recklessness."
"Professor..." Takeru groaned, landing unsteadily on the gantry. "Don't call it a TSF. Trust me, operating this thing makes piloting a Type-94 Shiranui feel like driving a luxury car. It doesn't have any neural-link AI assist it's all manual switches, foot pedals, and other stuff!"
Yuuko stepped closer, running a gloved hand appreciatively over the Gouf's battered shoulder armor and the charred stump where its left shield arm used to be.
Inside the mobile engineering bay, the Gouf Custom was immediately swarmed by a team of U.S. and Japanese Imperial engineers, floodlights illuminating every inch of its unorthodox frame.
"No Reactor-Linked Propulsion: Unlike standard G-Elements or conventional TSF jet engines, the power plant hummed with an unfamiliar thermonuclear reactor."
"The Limb Structure: Engineers pointed out the lack of sub-arms, noting how the triple 35mm Gatling gun mounted directly to the right wrist was integrated as a fixed structural weapon rather than a hand-carried assault cannon."
"Armor Composition: The super-hard steel alloy proved remarkably resilient against standard 120mm rounds, though Yuuko noted with intrigue that it lacked carbon-nanotube layering typical of modern tactical surface fighters."
"Fascinating," Yuuko murmured, tapping a datapad against her chin. "It's heavy, clumsy by our standards, and completely lacks maneuverability assist algorithms. Yet, its raw torque and mechanical durability are off the charts. If we can reverse-engineer... it could change the entire war against the BETA."
Takeru crossed his arms, looking up at the silent blue giant. "Just don't ask me to pilot it into a Hive. I barely made it out alive with Norris Packard breathing down my neck."
"Packard?" Yuuko raised an eyebrow. "The Zeon ace you mentioned? Sounds like you made a passionate enemy, Shirogane."
"You have no idea," Takeru muttered, remembering the terrifying pilot
Back on Axis, far across the void, the tension in the command room had long since dissipated into quiet anticipation.
Commander Veriline stood before the main viewport, watching the distant the U.N. recovery fleet slipped away. Jean stood at attention beside her, her shotgun resting comfortably against her shoulder.
"You're remarkably calm about losing one of our finest custom units, Commander," Jean noted, her tone laced with cautious curiosity.
Veriline turned, a mysterious glint in her eyes. "Let them study it, Jean. The gouf custom is an old mobile suit we more powerful and advanced mobile suits waiting to be used. Besides..." She smiled softly, thinking of the brilliant engineer hard at work in the underground labs. "Mister Mark is already putting the finishing touches on something far more powerful for Mr. Packard. Plus they haven't see beam technology yet."