Inside the hangar of the Nahel Argama:
A blue-and-white machine, shaped like a sleek high-speed aircraft, was being transported by the elevator to the upper catapult deck's launch bay, awaiting its sortie.
Graham Aker, clad in a matching blue-and-white pilot suit, sat within the cockpit. His hands moved fluidly across the touchscreens, fine-tuning the settings and confirming the machine's status.
"Graham, among all our current units, your Delta Gundam Kai possesses the highest speed," Murrue Ramius's voice crackled over the comms. "The Kimberley Unit has already mobilized. We need you to clear a safe corridor so the ReZEL squad can transport the Sinanju to the drop point."
"Mission accepted. I won't let him down," Graham replied, pulling down his helmet's visor and gripping the Delta's control sticks.
The prospect of piloting a Gundam in actual combat for the first time sent a thrill of excitement through him.
"Graham Aker, Delta Gundam Kai, launching!"
The thrusters erupted with blue flames, trailing brilliant green particles that flooded the hangar.
As the catapult engaged, the Delta Kai blurred past the pulsing indicator lights of the acceleration rail and was flung from the deck. Graham expertly pulled the machine into a steep climb, casting a brief glance at the Nahel Argama as it rapidly shrank in the distance.
"Truly... this is worlds apart from a Flag."
Feeling the raw, overwhelming power of the Delta Kai, Graham couldn't help but let a grin spread across his face.
"Alright, let's go, Delta Kai!"
As Graham slammed the foot pedals down, the Delta Kai's thruster plumes surged, propelling the machine toward the target coordinates at a staggering velocity.
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Eight Gustav Karls were mounted on sub-flight systems, closing in on Oenbelli.
Behind them followed a well-organized mechanized force—tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, long-range artillery, and everything in between.
Even though the existence of Minovsky particles had magnified the importance of Mobile Suits, war was not determined by a few MS alone; the support of various conventional units remained a vital link to victory.
"Three minutes to target zone."
The pilot of a sub-flight system glanced at the map on his console and the highlighted Mafty Army defensive lines. "Gustav units, prepare for deployment."
"Listen up. The nine Gustav Karls will split into three groups and attack simultaneously. Support the ground forces in securing their sectors and tear open a breach for the follow-up units," the company commander's voice rang through the comms.
Since Minovsky particles had not yet been dispersed, long-range communication was still functional, providing significant convenience for the upcoming operation.
After all, nobody relished fighting in an environment where communication was completely dead.
"If you ask me, we've waited too long. Haven't we already scouted their roster?"
As the company commander spoke, the pilot of one Gustav Karl curled his lip and muttered over the squad's private channel.
"Jegan Type-As, Sniper GMs, GM IIs, Guncannons... one Jegan Type-D of unknown origin, and even a Guntank that looks like it was dragged out of a museum. Not a single one of them can stand against our Gustav Karls."
"They barely even have cannons; it's mostly small arms..."
"Quiet down, Golf 8," a squadmate's voice interrupted. "Even a GM II managed to take down a Jegan Type-D recently. What if they have an ace pilot like that among them?"
"There's a high probability that ace is here," another teammate chimed in. "The Florida branch got thrashed, and the news that the pilot was heading to Oenbelli was even covered by our own media."
"Those media vultures... they'll report anything for a headline," Golf 8 snorted in disdain. "They really ought to be lined up and shot."
"We can discuss that after the battle... Enemy fire!"
Just as the three were chatting, the squad leader—Golf 7—spotted incoming shells launched from the Oenbelli defense line and shouted instinctively.
The sub-flight systems, which had been flying in formation, immediately scattered to evade the incoming barrage.
From the trenches and fortifications of the Mafty Army line, soldiers began pouring continuous fire toward the approaching Kimberly forces.
The Guntank, which the Gustav Karl pilot had just mockingly called an "antique," sat firmly in its prepared hull-down position.
The twin 120mm low-recoil cannons on its shoulders roared, sending shell after shell into the advancing Kimberly ground forces.
Simultaneously, the 4-barrel 40mm rocket launchers on its arms filled the sky with a persistent flak curtain aimed at the overhead Gustav Karls.
"Damn it, of all places, the defense is thinnest here..." The Mafty frontline commander grit his teeth as he watched the Kimberly forces close in. "Listen up! Even if you die, you do not let those Federation dogs into Oenbelli!"
"Go to hell, Federation lapdogs!" a young man wearing a red headband shouted, yanking the firing lanyard of a field hobby-cannon.
The pre-aimed barrel let out a thunderous crack. The shell traced a sharp arc and slammed into the Kimberly formation, flipping two infantry fighting vehicles.
But before the crew could even begin reloading, a pinkish-purple beam descended from the heavens. It instantly melted and vaporized the cannon and its crew, eventually detonating the nearby ammunition stack and blowing a massive gap in the trench line.
"Engagement initiated. All units, assault!" the 1st Company commander shouted into his comms, straightening his cap which had been jolted askew by the nearby blast.
"Copy that. Golf Team, dropping..."
Upon receiving the order, the eight sub-flight systems began to pull up, flipping 180 degrees so that the side carrying the Gustav Karls faced the Earth.
"Golf Team, move out!"
The eight Gustav Karls detached from their flight boards, plummeting toward the ground.
The sheer, overwhelming pressure of the massive Gustav Karls—far bulkier than standard suits—descending from the clouds caused the Mafty defense line to stutter for a heartbeat.
Almost immediately, two anti-air turrets hidden within the defense line opened fire on the falling suits.
"With this kind of firepower... piercing a Gustav's armor is going to be a challenge, isn't it?" one pilot noted. A hatch on the Gustav Karl's left arm slid open, and two grenades spiraled out, slamming directly into the anti-air position.
A violent explosion followed; the flak that had been stitching the sky went silent as jagged shards of the turret were sent flying.
The Guntank, which had served as the fire support pivot, was forced to retreat in the face of the drop. Its arm launchers fired frantically at the approaching suits, sparks dancing off the Gustavs' heavy shields. Its massive treads churned the dirt into a frenzy as the pilot threw the machine into a rapid reverse.
The Mafty defense line, which Kimberley's higher-ups had cautioned against, seemed to crumble upon first contact. This led the Gustav Karl pilots to start feeling a trace of contempt for the Mafty organization.
However, as the ground troops crossed the initial trenches and began urban combat, reports of "difficulties in advancing" started filtering in. As the Gustavs touched down, the Federation began using them as mobile cover to push further, widening the breach.
Forced to preserve their limited MS strength, the Mafty Army relied on small arms and guerrilla tactics. Against eight Gustav Karls, they could only use the buildings for cover, firing RPGs in desperate bids to slow the giants.
Unfortunately, unlike the skyscraper-laden metropolises of the interior, Oenbelli's buildings weren't particularly tall.
One Mafty soldier hoisted a rocket launcher and fired a desperate shot at a Gustav; a second later, the entire floor he was standing on was swept away by a pinkish-purple beam.
Looking at the violent explosion that had just consumed the floor where the rocket had been fired, the Gustav Karl pilot opened the comms channel.
"Sector secured."
With this, the first phase of the vanguard's mission was complete. They had torn a gaping hole in the Mafty Army's defensive line and occupied a portion of the town.
Outside Oenbelli, the Kimberley Unit's encirclement began to tighten. The 2nd and 3rd Companies had already mobilized and were making their way toward the city.
While the pilots felt their current strength was enough to sweep through the organization immediately, Kimberley would not allow a reckless charge.
He had to ensure this Mafty Army was utterly annihilated. This victory had to be held firmly in his own hands to guarantee his position wouldn't be usurped.
As for whether this group was the actual Mafty or just a decentralized militia... who cared? As long as they carried the Mafty name, it was enough for the reports.
"All units, begin resupply and—"
Just as the company commander thought they could catch a brief breath, disaster struck.
In the next second, a brilliant yellow beam streaked down from the heavens.
With surgical precision, it struck the head of a Gustav Karl, shredding the machine's primary head sensors into scrap metal.
"That's... a new model? No, is that a machine from the real Mafty?!"
High above the battlefield, cutting through the clouds at a speed that defied conventional radar tracking, a blue-and-white shadow transitioned from its waverider mode back into a humanoid form.
It was the Delta Gundam Kai.
Inside the cockpit, Graham Aker's eyes were sharp, reflecting the glow of the tactical displays. He hadn't just fired a warning shot; he had neutralized the enemy's vision in a single pass.
"The herald of the new era has arrived," Graham muttered, a faint, confident smile playing on his lips as he gripped the controls. "Now, let's see how you 'regular' forces handle a real challenge."
The Delta Kai didn't slow down. Using its superior thrust, it began a high-speed dive toward the remaining Gustav Karls, its long-range beam rifle glowing as it charged for the next shot.
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Inside the purple machine adorned with a command antenna, Hathaway, clad in his pilot suit, was lost in thought.
His decision to provide combat support for this "Mafty Army" had initially been driven by the desire to recruit Char, but more than that, it was an instinctive reaction. His body had simply surged forward the moment he heard the news. Looking back now, he realized he shouldn't have been so reckless; he should have made more detailed preparations.
"Mafty, we're about to enter the combat zone," a somewhat flippant voice crackled over the comms.
"Gawman, don't get careless. This isn't the environment we're used to—this is a battlefield!" Hathaway cautioned the pilot known as Gawman.
"But in the end, it's still about decapitation, right? If we take out all the enemy field commanders, we can force the Kimberley Unit to retreat," Gawman replied, dismissing Hathaway's warning. "It's a shame that even though the Kimberley Unit is slow to react, their base has such solid defenses. We can't take out Kimberley himself..."
"Leaving Kimberley in command is actually more beneficial to our operations," Hathaway said, shaking his head and rejecting Gawman's idea.
"Fine, you're Mafty; you must have your own reasons." Gawman dropped the subject. After all, compared to politics... combat suited him much better.
"Arriving at the battlefield... the fight begins, Mafty."
"Understood. Mafty Navue Erin, Messer, launching!"
High above the battlefield, four machines known as Messers leaped from their transport craft, gliding toward the conflict zone.
Maneuvering his Messer, Hathaway opened fire on a Gustav Karl while still mid-air. A yellow beam accurately melted the head of the Federation suit, triggering a small explosion.
Seeing the blinded Gustav Karl stagger, Hathaway fired two more precise bursts, striking it square in the chest.
By the time Hathaway's purple Messer Commander Type touched down, the target had erupted into a ball of fire.
The violent explosion interfered with the remaining Gustav Karls' targeting sensors.
Seizing the opening, Hathaway released the shield grips of his Messer and reached beneath the machine's "armpit" to draw a beam saber.
The blade plunged into the waist of the nearest Gustav Karl, slicing the massive machine clean in two.
"Hah... hah..."
Executing a high-speed kill immediately after a zero-buffer landing was a maneuver that left even Hathaway breathless.
As the remaining three teammates touched down and joined the fray against the Gustav Karls, Hathaway finally found a moment to survey the broader battlefield.
The morale of the "Mafty Army" had skyrocketed at the sight of the real Mafty and their Messers descending from the heavens. There was a visible shift as the disorganized militia began to push back against the Federation's advance.
The tide seemed to be turning.
However, a heartbeat later, a report over the comms caused Hathaway to frown instinctively.
"Mafty, the situation here isn't looking good."
It was the voice of their sub-flight system pilot. "I'm seeing the Kimberley Unit completing their encirclement. Three more companies are closing in on your position!"
"The resistance from the local Mafty Army isn't enough to hold them... what are our orders?"
Should they evacuate? Retreat as they always did after a hit-and-run decapitation strike?
If they did, what would happen to these people who had gathered here because they believed in Mafty?
Were they to be abandoned?
But if they stayed to protect this area, what could a mere four Messers accomplish against an entire Federation battalion?
Just as Hathaway was caught in this agonizing dilemma—
"Wait... Mafty, something is coming! It's moving incredibly fast—it's almost on top of you!"
Hearing the warning, Hathaway instinctively scanned the horizon. Then, he saw a sight that made his eyes widen in pure shock.
Two blue-and-white Wing Fin Funnels were streaking through the air, trailing brilliant green light particles. They moved with a grace that defied common sense, maneuvering through the Earth's gravity as if it didn't exist, raining down a torrential downpour of beam fire upon two Gustav Karls.
The Gustav Karls, designed for heavy frontal defense, were completely caught off guard by the omnidirectional assault. Their thick shields were useless as the funnels darted behind them, shredding their backpack thrusters and limb joints with surgical precision.
"This light... and these remote weapons..." Hathaway murmured, his heart racing. "Is it a Gundam?!"
High above, the Delta Gundam Kai broke through the smoke of the battlefield, its golden-tinted visor flashing as it locked onto the next line of Federation targets.
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A blue-and-white "aircraft" streaked across the sky, dragging a trail of blue afterburners and leaving behind a shimmering path of green light particles that slowly dissolved into the air.
"So this is... Oenbelli."
Looking down at the small town already engulfed in the flames of war, Graham Aker frowned.
From his vantage point over this Australian settlement, he could see entire blocks where buildings had been leveled, and the staccato roar of gunfire echoed from every corner.
Static... "Graham, can you hear me?"
Roz's voice crackled over the comms.
"Ah, Captain. Loud and clear." Graham adjusted the frequency, sharpening the clarity of Roz's transmission.
"The fighting has already started. I'm heading to the designated extraction point, but there are four MS blocking the path. I need you to clear them out."
At that moment, Roz was gripped onto the grab handle of the small sedan driven by Nagisa, watching the chaotic scenes blur past the window.
"Furthermore, the Kimberley Unit has completed their encirclement. More MS are on the way. And... you don't need to hold back."
"...Understood."
Following Roz's instructions, Graham banked the Delta Kai, turning toward the highlighted sector where four Gustav Karls were relentlessly shelling the town.
Despite countless hours of simulated training, a surge of genuine adrenaline washed over him now that he was finally operating the Delta Kai in a real live-fire environment.
"Hah... Delta Kai, show me your true power."
Graham flexed his hands slightly, his eyes snapping wide.
"Funnels!"
Green flames began to ripple across the frame of the Delta Kai—a phenomenon so striking that even the Gustav Karl squad paused their bombardment, mesmerized by the sight.
With the activation of the n_i_t_r_o System, the two Proto Fin Funnels detached from the machine's back. Trailing blue light and green particles, they tore through the air toward the unsuspecting Federation squad.
"What the hell is that?!"
One of the Gustav Karl pilots stared in disbelief at the remote weapons screaming toward him. "Funnels? In Earth's gravity?!"
Normally, Funnels were useless within the atmosphere. However, within the "cosmic" environment generated by GN Particles, combined with the high-output thrusters of these modified Proto Fin Funnels, they functioned perfectly even under the crushing weight of Earth's gravity.
"I see... so this is your true strength, Delta Kai."
Feeling the mental pressure of the n_i_t_r_o System sharpen his senses, Graham watched as the Funnels' flight paths became extensions of his own will. The machine's movements grew fluid, almost predatory. Graham let out a joyous laugh.
The Proto Fin Funnels carved unpredictable, jagged trajectories through the sky, closing the distance and surrounding two of the Gustav Karls in the blink of an eye.
The blue and white particle beams rained down like a relentless downpour, saturating the Gustav Karls.
Under such high-intensity fire, the Gustav Karls' anti-beam coating was stripped away in an instant. The secondary wave of beams that followed easily melted through the outer armor, puncturing the machines' internal structures.
With just two passes from the funnels, two Gustav Karls were decimated, erupting into massive fireballs.
While the Proto Fin Funnels were in motion, Graham didn't remain idle. The Delta Kai suddenly transformed mid-flight at high speed, its frame shrouded in flickering azure flames as it closed the distance to the remaining two enemies.
Graham raised the Long-Range MEGA Particle Cannon and squeezed the trigger.
A purplish-red Mega Particle beam struck one Gustav Karl with surgical precision.
The anti-beam coating offered virtually zero resistance before the armor dissolved, and the beam plowed through the machine into the torn-up earth beneath its feet.
The resulting explosion was colossal, the shockwave forcing the final Gustav Karl to stumble back two steps as it struggled to maintain balance.
Just as the last pilot managed to stabilize his machine, he looked up to see a suit wreathed in blue flames descending from the sky like a Kamen Rider, delivering a devastating flying kick.
At the base of the Delta Kai's foot, a thermal short blade glowed with a brilliant, searing orange light.
An instant later, the thermal blade punched straight through the Gustav Karl's heavy chest plate, skewering the cockpit within.
With a powerful shove, Graham kicked off the dying machine, sending the impaled Gustav Karl tumbling backward. Using the counter-force within the "pseudo-space" created by the GN Particles, the Delta Kai executed an elegant backflip.
As if performing a mechanical ballet, Graham maneuvered the Delta Kai while inverted in mid-air. With the suit's head pointed toward the Earth, he tilted the frame and fired once more.
The Mega Particle Cannon spat out another purplish-red beam, striking the tumbling Gustav Karl dead center and finishing it off with a final, terminal explosion.
Clang...
The Delta Kai touched down lightly, completing the ambush.
Scanning the perimeter to ensure no stragglers remained, Graham opened his comms.
"Sector secure. Bring in the cargo."
-----------------------------------
At the Kimberley Unit's base, Kimberley, who had been intently monitoring the "Mafty Annihilation Operation," was suddenly hit with a report that nearly made his heart stop.
"What!?"
He glared at the communications officer. "What do you mean a Delta Kai has appeared on the battlefield?"
"And what do you mean there are Funnels operational in Earth's gravity!?"
When he first heard the news, Kimberley thought the officer was playing a sick joke. Under normal scientific parameters, Funnel-type weaponry was physically incapable of functioning within the atmosphere.
At this point in time, the only remote-controlled weaponry capable of atmospheric flight—the Funnel Missiles—remained a strictly classified technology not yet revealed to the public. Even a commander like Kimberley was unaware of their existence.
But as the live feed flickered onto the main screen, showing the Delta Kai wreathed in green flames and trailing green particles, followed by the two Proto Fin Funnels dancing through the air with impossible agility, Kimberley fell into a stunned silence.
It was the silence of a dormant volcano right before an eruption. Finally, he snapped.
"Dammit! What the hell are those bastards at Anaheim Electronics stirring up now!?"
"They spend every waking hour causing trouble, and now they're dropping it right on my head!"
Kimberley gnashed his teeth so hard his jaw ached, and in a fit of rage, he even unholstered his sidearm.
This was the most critical moment of his career. His ability to keep his command depended entirely on the outcome of this battle, and now he was being told that Anaheim—the ultimate corporate meddler—was sabotaging the board.
Had they been hiding atmospheric Funnel technology all this time just to ruin his day?
Consurmed by fury, he barked an order to the guards standing nearby.
"Go! Bring the Anaheim representatives to me right now!"
.......................