What happens when three Chars gather in one place?
The typical answer would be a fight, as humans generally cannot coexist with another version of themselves.
Yet, in this encounter between the "Second Coming of Char," the "Ghost of Char," and the "Vessel of Char's Will," the three "Chars" did not come to blows. Instead, they stood calmly in the warehouse, engaged in conversation.
This left Koren, who had rushed in to back up Char, completely bewildered.
Three of them... was he seeing things? How could there be so many Chars?
"What are you all doing right now..."
"As you can see... Mr. Koren, Commander-in-chief of the Mafty Army."
Looking at the man in the olive-drab uniform, Hathaway called out the identity he had uncovered through his own intelligence channels.
"While speaking with these other two Chars, I am also looking to recruit Damien."
"Even though you used the name of Mafty, the fact that you were able to gather so many like-minded individuals is, in my view, quite remarkable."
Hathaway paused, seemingly lost in thought. "Furthermore, we are extending an invitation to you as well—to the Mafty Army."
By revealing Koren's identity, Hathaway demonstrated the capabilities of the "legitimate" Mafty organization.
He then followed up with words of validation for Koren's actions. This "slap and a sweet" tactic, though old-fashioned, remained effective.
The "Mafty Army" was a mixed bag, consisting of idealists, opportunists, and undoubtedly a few spies. Nevertheless, Hathaway had decided to recruit them.
Whether as pilots or infantry, they could join as external support first, then gradually become formal members of the organization after passing an evaluation. That was Hathaway's plan.
Faced with Hathaway's invitation, Koren fell into silence.
At this moment, a feeling that his "achievements were being seized by another" welled up within him.
"Commander Koren..."
Char saw the emotions swirling inside Koren; or rather, he knew all too well how bitter it felt to have one's own results snatched away.
However, now was not the time for stubbornness. Kimberly's sudden, unexpected raid had already exposed far too many flaws.
"I believe it is an excellent choice for the Mafty Army to join Mafty," Char said, beginning to guide Koren toward the "joining the legitimate Mafty" path of his own plan.
"Why?"
Perhaps because of Char's face, or perhaps his combat prowess, Koren instinctively asked for clarification.
"In this raid by Kimberly, our outer defense lines crumbled instantly under their assault. Even though we used the town of Oenbelli to counterattack, the casualties were devastating." Char shook his head. "We have too few MS, and our pilots lack the necessary skills. Continuing to hold Oenbelli is merely waiting for a slow death."
"No matter how corrupt the Federation may be, their military's operational system is not something a force like the Mafty Army—composed only of light infantry, a handful of MS, and some tanks—can defeat in a war of position."
Roz agreed with Char's assessment and pointed out the shortcomings of the "Mafty Army."
"When facing Federation forces, a hit-and-run guerrilla tactic like the one Mafty employs is the optimal choice."
Aside from a few commanders who were true veterans of various conflicts, most of the Federation military consisted of rookies promoted in recent years.
In this era, where the momentum of the Zeon Remnants had faded and was gradually dissipating, commanders who earned promotions solely through "hypothetical enemies" and "security operations" gave guerrilla factions like Mafty significant room to maneuver.
"Oenbelli has been completely locked down by the Federation. The Mafty Army survived this time by relying on us and... this Full Frontal's team. But what about next time? Or the time after that? What happens when Kimberly's unit is rotated out for another?"
Hathaway extended his hand toward Koren, speaking in an irrefutable tone. "Please make your decision as quickly as possible."
The pumpkin-headed Mafty was right—or rather, all three of these differently-styled "Chars" were right. Koren realized this with painful clarity.
Koren was no mindless follower; his position as commander-in-chief of the "Mafty Army" proved that. But it was precisely because of this that he felt such anguish.
He had poured his heart and soul into this base, and though the enemy had not yet completely destroyed it, he now had to abandon it.
He would have to take this remaining force of over 20,000 men, break them into smaller cells, and continue the resistance against the Federation through guerrilla warfare.
"Dammit..."
Koren looked at the three "Chars" in the room once more and cursed under his breath. Whether it was frustration with Mafty or a curse directed at the Federation, Koren finally made his choice.
He reached out and grasped Hathaway's gloved right hand.
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The Sinanju emitted pale green particles as it led the Delta Gundam Kai into the sky. After rendezvousing with the ReZELs, they began their return flight toward the Nahel Argama.
"That was clearly a perfect opportunity, wasn't it? We could have just captured Char and taken him back..."
Finally, as if unable to hold it in any longer, Graham questioned Roz, "Why did you choose to give up on the capture and opt for an immediate withdrawal instead?"
Clearly, Graham felt a sense of bewilderment regarding Roz's decision to turn a blind eye to such a prime chance to seize Char back in that warehouse.
"Actually, I thought the same thing when I first saw Char at the mall."
Roz had not yet removed his mask or wig. After confirming the security of the communication channel, he spoke in his original voice.
"But on second thought, the request from the Char in the Courtyard was for 'change.' If I had just taken him back right then, it would have gone completely against his original request."
In the communication feed, Roz shook his head and continued explaining his reasoning. "If we want Char to undergo a transformation, the best way is to have him deeply involved in the various events of this world."
A human's shift in ideology is built upon initial education, but more so, it is the result of various lived experiences and the subtle influences of others. These elements interconnect to eventually form personalities that, while similar, are distinctly different.
"In that case, won't this have a negative impact on this world?" Graham asked after thinking for a moment.
"It's not like it can get much worse than it is now anyway."
Roz curled his lip. "The consciousness of the world has also tacitly permitted our and Char's interference in subsequent events... Likely, the Char from the Courtyard pulled some strings."
"In short, as long as we don't blow up the world, it'll be fine."
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Moon, Anaheim Electronics Headquarters.
A man with short, light-purple hair, dressed in a Federation military uniform, skillfully maneuvered his car into the Anaheim parking lot.
Since the project for the Federation's next-generation MS had been officially established, this man had been constantly monitoring its progress.
He felt as though he could walk to the Department of Works 1 where the project was housed even with his eyes closed.
But today, something seemed different.
"What's going on..."
Just as he entered the building, he saw crowds of people rushing through the corridors, the expressions on many of their faces tinged with panic.
"Ah... Colonel Kenneth, you're here."
At that moment, an Anaheim researcher spotted Kenneth and instinctively stopped in his tracks, scratching his head. "Department 1 is already waiting for you in the hangar."
"I see."
Kenneth nodded to the researcher before inquiring, "What's the matter today? Why is everyone so frantic?"
"The company is conducting a self-audit. All project accounts and data must be submitted to headquarters for review," the researcher said, clearly privy to some inside information. "According to the grapevine, it seems that Zeon Remnants have appeared on Earth."
'Zeon Remnants?'
Hearing this term—one that felt both familiar and strangely distant—Kenneth couldn't help but frown.
"Isn't it normal for Zeon Remnants to exist? There are probably still some lurking around Earth right now."
Kenneth waved his hand dismissively, clearly not taking the researcher's words to heart.
"But this time is different."
Just as Kenneth was about to leave, the researcher shook his head.
"The word is that these Zeon Remnants have a modernized Sazabi and a Gundam. Now, everyone is investigating how that Gundam was leaked into the hands of Zeon Remnants."
They didn't suspect for a second that it might be an MS built independently by someone else; instead, their first instinct was to conduct a self-audit. Such was the "prestige" of Anaheim Electronics.
While the reason the researcher gave for all of Anaheim being in an uproar seemed a bit absurd to Kenneth, the chaos didn't affect his work.
He arrived at the hangar where Department 1 was located and looked up at the massive machine currently being fitted with armor.
The Penelope—this was the project Kenneth was responsible for.
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