Through special channels, Yang Hui and the others all returned safely to space, arriving at the designated coordinates to rendezvous with the fleet.
"This! How is this possible!?" Billy Katagiri, who had returned to space with Yang Hui, looked at everything before him in disbelief—a fleet of such massive scale, terrifyingly advanced new warships, and various MS he had never seen before.
"How is it? Shocking, isn't it?" Graham nudged Billy Katagiri with his elbow. He had been a bit worried upon learning that Billy had been coerced into joining A-Laws; after all, they had been close friends for years. Thus, since their return to space, Graham had been accompanying Billy, recounting his past experiences to him.
"I am indeed shocked, but... I suppose it was to be expected." Billy Katagiri took off his glasses, wiped them, and put them back on. "Yang Hui has always been five steps ahead. On the way here, I took a brief look at the data for the new Gundams. To deal with A-Laws and the Innovators, such a massive force isn't necessary. This was prepared for Phase Three, wasn't it?"
"As expected of you. That's right, it's for Phase Three." Graham's expression grew exceptionally serious.
"Phase Three... is there any other intelligence?"
"Some. You can take a look first; the situation is dire."
"Ho? For you to say those words, it must be truly terrible." Billy was surprised and then teased Graham. He understood Graham well; as long as it was a battle, he wouldn't shy away from it, let alone speak such negative words before the fight began.
But if he said such things, it meant the situation was truly grim.
"What task did Yang Hui give you?" Graham asked.
"He wants me to delve deep into research regarding Brain Quantum Waves. That guy, does he not know my specialty is mechanics?" Billy Katagiri complained. In a sense, Brain Quantum Waves were a burgeoning field of study—research focused on the brain, belonging to the biological field. This was worlds apart from the physics Billy had always studied.
"Hehe, then I'll leave it to you, partner." Graham patted Billy Katagiri on the shoulder. He understood that Yang Hui intended for Billy to prepare in advance and then focus his research on the ELS.
"...Seeing you smile so happily, it can't be anything good."
"Haha, you really do know me."
"The operation is about to begin, right? What's the target?"
"The Moon. VEDA is hidden within the deep-space mothership, the Celestial Being, which is concealed on the far side of the Moon."
"Going straight for the final battle? That doesn't quite seem like his style."
"Haha, you think so too, right?" Graham laughed. This operation truly overturned Yang Hui's usual habits. "You should have seen our expressions during the meeting when Yang Hui said, 'I'm going to sweep them away.'"
"Haha, I can certainly imagine it."
Just then, an announcement rang out through the ship, interrupting their small talk: "Approaching designated coordinates. All ships, transition to Level 2 Battle Stations. All departments, stand by. Repeat, transition to Level 2 Battle Stations. All departments, stand by."
"I'm off. We'll talk later."
"Yeah, I'm going to the medical ward to look after the Professor and Old Wang."
The two parted ways. Graham hurried to the locker room at top speed to change into his pilot suit, then boarded the Flag Gundam.
"Have you found the Celestial Being yet?" Once Graham was ready, he patched into the Rainbow Ship's wide-frequency communication.
"Not yet, but the coordinates are locked. If it won't show itself, we'll beat it until it does," Yang Hui said grandly.
"True enough."
"Setsuna, how are you feeling?" Yang Hui then checked on Setsuna's condition. In the original timeline, Celestial Being had been on the verge of annihilation, everyone's lives hanging by a thread. Amidst a high concentration of GN Particles, Setsuna had heard everyone's voices through a one-way communication channel and felt their lives fading away. Then, in a sudden burst, he successfully awakened.
But now, Setsuna would not be provided with that same environment.
On one hand, to prepare for the ELS awakening two years later, Yang Hui would not allow excessive casualties; he needed to preserve as much combat power as possible.
On the other hand, in the face of absolute power, Ribbons and his Innovator army stood no chance against the Promis Legion.
"Yang Hui, the Federation regular army has arrived. It's Kati."
The Federation regular army: five White Tiger-class heavy cruisers, twenty-five Begal-class warships, ten Virginia-class transport ships, plus a full complement of MS units—all of them were Xianzhen II, an upgraded and modified version of the original Xianzhen designed by Yang Hui years ago.
"Hm? Kati?" Yang Hui was surprised because he hadn't told Kati about the operation to attack the Celestial Being with a large-scale fleet.
But he quickly relaxed. Because she was Kati, she could guess Yang Hui's thoughts and would never allow herself to be absent again. "Order Kati: the Federation regular fleet is to be positioned at the rear of our fleet, focusing on support and fire assistance. The regular army's MS units are also to focus on fleet escort."
The number of regular troops Kati brought was staggering, but compared to the Promis Legion, they were far behind. Whether it was the number of aces, MS, warships, or overall quality, there was no comparison.
"Understood."
At the same time, Sumeragi established contact with Kati.
"Kujo."
"Kati, Yang Hui's orders: the regular army is to be positioned behind our fleet, responsible for support and fire assistance. MS units are responsible for escorting the fleet..."
"Is he looking down on us?" Kati asked Sumeragi with an unpleasant expression. Even if they were like sisters, and even if this was Yang Hui's instruction, her competitive nature wouldn't let her accept it.
"Kati, now is not the time to be stubborn," Sumeragi said seriously to Kati, her tone bordering on a reprimand.
"...Tell Yang Hui I will comply. But if you lot can't handle it, I will make my own judgment."
As soon as she finished speaking, without waiting for Sumeragi's reply, Kati cut off all communications. Sumeragi blinked in surprise, then shook her head with a wry smile. "Still the same Kati, after all. But... this time, you really won't have a chance to take the stage."
...
Inside the Celestial Being ship hidden on the far side of the Moon, Ribbons watched the massive fleet approaching majestically on the large screen, nearly grinding his silver teeth to bits.
"These fleets... where on earth did they come from!?"
"So many Gundams!"
"Original GN Drives—twenty-five in total. All the others are Quasi-GN Drives... This is simply impossible!"
"Is it that traitor, Regene Regetta?"
The Innovators were gathered together, all wearing expressions of disbelief at the scene before them. Such a massive fleet was something the Celestial Being organization could never have manufactured. Even if the Wang and Halevy families, who had always supported Celestial Being's activities, went bankrupt, they couldn't have achieved this.
Regene Regetta didn't have such capability, and VEDA hadn't detected any clues. These warships and MS seemed to have appeared out of thin air.
"Ribbons."
Horror aside, the enemy was at their door, and they wouldn't just wait for death. The pride of the Innovators wouldn't allow them to surrender either. Thus, countless gazes fixed upon Ribbons.
"Everyone, there is no need to worry at all." Ribbons stood up and walked forward elegantly from the center, step by step. The bright hall dimmed, and on both sides of the aisle, in front and behind, countless screens rose. After programs began to run, they displayed various parameters and control systems.
This was no banquet hall—this was the bridge of the Celestial Being!
Reaching the very front, Ribbons opened his arms to his compatriots and gave a stirring speech: "We are Innovators, an indispensable part of Aeolia Schenberg's plan. Why indispensable? Because we are a superior race. We possess physical abilities and Brain Quantum Waves that humans do not have. So why should we fear mortals? Like ants, no matter how many there are, can they threaten the gods in the clouds?"
The Innovators listened quietly. Such a stirring speech didn't quite touch them. As Ribbons said, they were Innovators; this kind of sugar-coated talk for children wouldn't fool them.
"As Innovators, we possess the most advanced mobile suits, the Celestial Being ship, and VEDA! May I ask everyone, why would you fear failure?"
"..."
The previous part was just painting a dream, meaningless, but the following additions certainly put their hearts at ease. The Gadessas they possessed were definitely the most advanced mobile suits in this world. Based on VEDA's data comparisons, the unknown Gundams that had already made a move were no match for the Gadessa.
With VEDA's assistance and the massive mothership Celestial Being, what did they have to fear?
"Furthermore, among those present, some have had contact with Mr. Myer." As he spoke, Ribbons glanced at Revive Revival, causing him to lower his head in shame and anger. "You know my wariness of him is not without reason. Therefore, I have specifically prepared a small gift for everyone—the ace of Celestial Being, the Trans-Am system."
"Oh! We finally got our hands on it?" The Innovators' eyes lit up. The Trans-Am system was definitely Celestial Being's trump card, a technology Aeolia Schenberg left for Celestial Being but did not give to the Innovators. It could instantly triple a mobile suit's performance, allowing Celestial Being to escape their grasp multiple times. They had coveted it for so long.
"Additionally, a legion of 100,000 clones—a suicide unit. How about that? Do you still need to be afraid?"
"Hehe." The Innovators chuckled. Indeed, there was no need to fear anymore. With a suicide unit of 100,000 clones, no matter how many people the opposition brought, they would all die. And with the Trans-Am system, the enemy's Gundams would be like paper!
"So, everyone, prepare yourselves. Sweep away our final obstacle, bring back the Solar Furnaces, and we... shall be the saviors of this world!"
The Innovators rose one after another and dispersed, heading off to war with full confidence.
"Hehe, well then..." Ribbons turned around and looked at the large screen, staring at the Rainbow Ship in the very center of the fleet, where Yang Hui was. His expression turned twisted. "...Mr. Yang Hui, you will regret your choice."