The confrontation between the White Gundam Pelican Form and the squadron of unknown underwater Mobile Suits, IBIS, quickly escalated in the depths of the Pacific Ocean, near the East Asian waters. This area was a vital trade and logistics route for the Colonians, intentionally chosen by Professor Itsuki for its density and its distance from major military areas.
Chaos on the Surface and in the Depths
At the nearest Colonian military base, located in Japan, the sonar control room was filled with alarms. News of the sudden reappearance of The White Ghost on a new battlefield had spread rapidly, but with confusing details.
"Sonar reports a massive acoustic disturbance in the deep ocean trench, Sector 7! Several large objects are engaged in underwater combat!" yelled a Colonian officer.
"Is it the Sea Ghosts attacking our logistics fleet, Lieutenant?" asked the aircraft carrier commander, his face pale.
"Yes, Sir! But... there's another Mobile Suit there! Its shape... it resembles the famous White Ghost on land and in the air! But this unit is moving underwater at impossible speed, surpassing the capabilities of our aquatic units! They're calling it the 'White Ghost of the Sea'!"
The Colonians had no information about the White Gundam's modification into the Pelican Form. To them, the white unit moving freely underwater, actively hunting other unknown Mobile Suits, was a new manifestation of the same threat—an Earth technological marvel that defied all Colonian logic and engineering. This strategic panic was Itsuki's main goal. They saw it as two groups of enemy Mobile Suits killing each other underwater, which, unfortunately, also disrupted Colonian operations. They did not know that the Mobile Suits they called 'Sea Ghosts' (IBIS) were their own creation.
On the other side, at Augustina's base, the Sunflower Gundam was undergoing maintenance. Augustina could only watch the monitor nervously.
"Zaki, Maki... be careful. The Pelican Form might be strong, but IBIS was designed for that terrain. You are in their territory," Augustina whispered.
The Battle Begins: Fish Hunting
In the dark and cold depths of the Pacific Ocean, the White Gundam Pelican Form glided among the ocean trenches. The light from the cockpit and the Heat Knife blade was the only source of artificial light.
In the cockpit, Zaki and Maki focused on the sonar screen and projected thermal imagery. The IBIS units were incredibly difficult to lock onto because of their superior sonic dampeners. This underwater environment was a challenge they had never faced.
"Zaki, they are too fast in this environment! I can hardly track them with the White Gundam's standard sensors! The water is messing up our scans!" Maki exclaimed, her fingers dancing on the sensor controls.
"We have to rely on more than standard sensors, Maki. We have AIRIS," Zaki countered, his breath controlled. He felt the warmth from the Heat Knife in his left hand. "AIRIS, activate combined sonar tracking mode! Focus on disrupted water current patterns and the thermal signature of their Hydro Turbines!"
AIRIS immediately replied with a calm and rational voice, "Non-organic movement patterns detected. The target units' speed and maneuvers indicate Mobile Suits specifically designed for underwater combat, operating at 90% efficiency. Three units at 2 o'clock, 7 o'clock, and 11 o'clock. Taking an aggressive formation. Calculating interception trajectory."
Zaki nodded. "Alright, let's switch positions and become the predator. Fish Hunting begins!"
Zaki adjusted the White Gundam's controls. He activated the Heat Knife concealed behind the waist armor and transferred it to the White Gundam's left hand. The blade immediately glowed bright red underwater; the heated blade emitted small bubbles and created a sharp visual contrast against its white armor. In his right hand, he kept the fully loaded Torpedo Gun, ready to fire.
"Maki, keep the Thruster Turbines on the shield balanced. We'll use the shield for surprise maneuvers! We're attacking the one at 2 o'clock!"
Zaki lunged forward, steering the White Gundam straight toward the nearest IBIS unit.
IBIS Leader was surprised by the speed and aggression of this new white unit. "What Mobile Suit is that?! It moves like a dolphin! It has Hydro-Propulsion comparable to ours! Protect yourselves! Use the Hydro Beam!"
The two IBIS units immediately activated the Hydro Beam Cannon in their palms, firing blue energy beams that traveled through the water but lost spread and range due to the seawater interference.
Zaki performed a unique evasion maneuver. He quickly rotated his unit, using the Dual Turbine Shield as a water baffle controlled asymmetrically, creating a thrust that allowed him to perform a very agile spin and dash, resembling the movement of a large fish avoiding a net.
"Fire back, Maki! Lead the target by 5 degrees!" Zaki shouted.
The Torpedo Gun in the White Gundam's right hand spewed a barrage of small, rocket-powered torpedoes. The torpedoes sped straight, hitting precisely the sleek, streamlined area of the IBIS unit.
BOOM! BOOM!
The IBIS unit was shaken and slightly unbalanced, its sonic dampening armor scratched by the explosions. Zaki utilized this split-second pause. He closed the distance to IBIS Leader, activating the Hydro Turbine on his back for a final boost.
The White Gundam arrived in an instant. Zaki swung the Heat Knife in his left hand. The red, heat-emitting blade, an ancient technology effective in the sea, tore through the IBIS Leader's armor.
CHIK!
IBIS Leader's left arm, which held the blade claw, was partially severed. The heat from the blade not only damaged the armor but also disrupted the Hydro Turbine's cooling system in the IBIS arm.
"Damn it! A direct hit! Our armor... it can't withstand heat at this range! What are they carrying?!" yelled the IBIS Leader pilot.
IBIS Leader immediately retreated in a panic. the two other IBIS units rushed to protect their leader, firing Torpedoes from their heads. They released a full salvo, intending to destroy the White Gundam with explosive power.
"Zaki, Torpedoes! Full salvo!" Maki yelled.
Zaki once again relied on the shield and AIRIS. AIRIS took over micro-maneuver control, tilting the White Gundam Pelican Form. The shield with its Thruster Turbines spun rapidly, deflecting two incoming Torpedoes, detonating them far from the White Gundam's main armor.
Zaki used the explosion as underwater smoke cover and escaped for a moment, moving into a narrower trench.
"They are strong, Zaki! That unit is purpose-built. It's not a modified Pioneer. They are much faster when boosting and their scanning is incredible," Maki said, still catching her breath. "This is a very unfair fight for us."
"I know. But they didn't think we could adapt this fast," Zaki countered. He saw the IBIS Squad starting to split up, attempting to flank them. "We have to keep the pressure on. We must force them to the surface. There, we'll find out who they really are, and the Pelican Form's advantage underwater will become their loss on the surface!"
Zaki gripped his Torpedo Gun tightly, while his Heat Knife still glowed red. This underwater battle was a very dangerous hunt, and Zaki and Maki, as the 'White Ghost of the Sea', were determined to uncover the identity of the mysterious 'Sea Ghosts', and who was the mastermind behind this scheme to sow discord.
Zaki gave the IBIS Squad no time to regroup. Using the vertical maneuverability advantage provided by the Pelican Form's Hydro Turbine Backpack, Zaki pulled the White Gundam up to a stronger current, then dove sharply down. The movement forced the IBIS Squad, which operated optimally at one depth, to chase him in difficult terrain.
"We lure them into a narrow trench area, Maki! We use the Topography as our weapon!" Zaki commanded.
The IBIS Squad, with the already wounded IBIS Leader, followed. They could not let the White Gundam escape.
"Don't let him get away! Use the Hydro Beam sporadically to force him out of the rock crevices!" IBIS Leader yelled.
The White Gundam, driven by AIRIS, weaved through the giant coral formations. Zaki knew he had to disable one unit to send a message.
Zaki saw an opening. One IBIS, Unit Number 2, was too focused on firing the Hydro Beam in its palm that it ignored the White Gundam's Thruster Turbine position.
"Maki, activate the shield Turbine to maximum on the left side! Push us to the right!" Zaki exclaimed.
The White Gundam turned very sharply. This sudden change of direction brought Zaki's Torpedo Gun face-to-face with IBIS Unit Number 2.
"FIRE!"
Zaki released the remaining Torpedo Gun ammunition in a focused burst fire. The small torpedoes, pre-programmed by AIRIS, hit the shoulder joint of Unit Number 2.
DOR! DOR! DOR!
The impact was tremendous. The shoulder joint of the IBIS Mobile Suit was instantly destroyed, causing IBIS Unit Number 2 to lose control. The unit began to sink slowly into the deeper ocean trench.
"Unit 2! Respond! Unit 2!" IBIS Leader yelled in panic.
AIRIS calculated. "Target unit 2 completely disabled. No fatal damage to the cockpit. Capture probability: 99%."
Zaki and Maki did not waste the opportunity. IBIS Leader and Unit 3, seeing Unit 2 sinking helplessly and the White Gundam ready for the next attack, immediately made a tactical decision.
"Retreat! We must report this! The White Ghost has Hydro-Propulsion capabilities! We are returning to base!" IBIS Leader commanded.
The two remaining IBIS units immediately activated their boosters, vanishing quickly into the deep-sea darkness, leaving the disabled IBIS Unit Number 2 behind.
Rescuing the Enemy and Claiming the Treasure
Zaki and Maki immediately approached the crippled IBIS.
"They fled! They abandoned their Mobile Suit!" Maki exclaimed, surprised.
"That means this IBIS is extremely valuable, and they don't want us to know who they are," Zaki countered. "AIRIS, scan the cockpit. Is the pilot safe?"
"IBIS Unit 2 pilot is safe, suffering minor concussion due to blast pressure. Cockpit capsule is intact," AIRIS reported.
Zaki immediately activated the White Gundam's grappling hook and grabbed the disabled IBIS Mobile Suit. The crippled IBIS unit was very heavy, but the Pelican Form with its Hydro Turbines was able to lift the load.
"We're taking it home, Maki. This is an incredibly valuable technological treasure," Zaki said. "We'll help the pilot, then we'll find out who the mastermind is behind this scheme of sowing discord."
Carefully, the White Gundam Pelican Form swam toward the Kimeza Alliance secret base, dragging the disabled IBIS Mobile Suit behind it. At the same time, the IBIS Leader team returned to Itsuki's secret base with a shocking report.
At the Kimeza Alliance base, Augustina, Airi, and the mechanic team waited anxiously for the White Gundam's arrival.
When the White Gundam emerged from the water, dragging the strange, tense, and incredibly advanced-looking underwater Mobile Suit, Augustina and Airi immediately understood.
"That... that's a new Mobile Suit," Augustina whispered.
Airi, as a scientist, instantly recognized the hallmarks of highly advanced Colonian engineering. She immediately ordered the mechanic team to isolate the IBIS unit and take its pilot to the medical area.
When the unconscious IBIS pilot was brought out, Zaki and Maki realized something surprising: the pilot was a very young Colonian teenager. He looked exhausted and terrified.
"They are using teenagers for secret missions," Zaki muttered, horrified.
"This technology is not made by the Rebels," Airi said, touching the IBIS armor. "This unit has an engineering code very similar to what is used under the Council of Kings, but it is more specialized... more refined. This is a secret Colonian Mobile Suit. Someone inside the Colony is fighting the Council of Kings."
With the discovery of the IBIS Mobile Suit at their base, Zaki, Maki, and the Kimeza Alliance now had two crucial assets: underwater combat technology they could analyze to replicate the Pelican Form, and more importantly, tangible proof that internal resistance was occurring within the Colony.
The Fish Hunting battle not only gave the White Gundam a victory but also brought them into the most secret Colonian intrigues.
To be continued....