Simultaneous Time Travel: Gundam? All Teammates are Old Six

Chapter 25: The General's Chessboard and the Madman's Script

[CE71.2.11 - Eighth Fleet flagship "Menelaus", bridge]

The massive Eighth Fleet, like a silent steel forest, hovered quietly in the dark universe. As the battered white hull of the Archangel slowly entered the center of the formation, an invisible pressure enveloped Maru Ramias and the officers behind her.

This is where real soldiers should be; the hierarchy is strict and the discipline is ironclad.

General Halbarton, a renowned veteran of the Earth Alliance, stood with his back to them, gazing at the blue planet outside the porthole. He didn't turn around, but his voice carried clearly throughout the bridge, exuding the composure and authority of a seasoned warrior.

"Lamias, I've read your report three times. To be honest, more than your record of defeating the Kruse team four times, I'm more curious about... that 'civilian collaborator' mentioned repeatedly in the report."

Maru's heart tightened. Natal's back straightened instinctively, while Mu stroked his chin with interest.

Only Ling Yu seemed oblivious to the general's words, curiously observing the profile of a female communications soldier on the flagship's bridge, muttering to himself, "The Eighth Fleet's food is really good..."

The female communications soldier seemed to sense something, and looked back at him with a puzzled expression, her cheeks slightly flushed.

Halbarton finally turned around. He was tall and had sharp, eagle-like eyes that locked onto Ling Yu.

Those eyes seemed to see right through people's hearts, stripping away all pretense.

"Mr. Ling Yu, is that right? A natural person, a student in the Department of Theoretical Physics. You control the hangar with a keyboard, severely damage the Duel Gundam with unbelievable tactics, and even 'predicted' the annihilation of our advance team. I want to know, who exactly are you?"

Faced with the general's overwhelming pressure, Ling Yu merely yawned lazily, pulled an energy bar from his pocket, put it in his mouth, and mumbled, "General, identity isn't important. What's important is that I can help you win. Or rather, make you 'lose' in a perfectly timed way."

"Insolence!" a senior staff officer shouted sternly. "What kind of attitude is this in front of the general?!"

Halbarton raised his hand to stop him, his gaze becoming even more profound: "I'll give you a chance, Mr. Ling Yu. Join the Allied Forces, and I can immediately grant you the rank of captain, providing you with the best resources and platform."

These conditions were undeniably generous. Both Maru and Natal showed expressions of surprise.

However, Ling Yu burst out laughing as if he had heard a joke.

"General, don't misunderstand. I'm not here to look for a job." He slowly tore open the packaging of the energy bar, took a big bite, and said, "I am the private advisor appointed by the late Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Frey Alster. My primary responsibility is to ensure the safety and appreciation of his daughter Frey Alster's 'assets.' The Archangel and the Strike Gundam are currently part of these 'assets.' All my actions are solely responsible to my 'employer.'"

These words plunged the entire bridge into a deathly silence.

Using the logic of a business consultant to respond to military conscription? What's wrong with this guy's brain?

Frey's...assets? Halbarton's brow furrowed as he keenly caught the word. He couldn't grasp its deeper meaning, but this rhetoric perfectly separated Ling Yu from any military system, making him an independent entity that could not be commanded and could only be "employed."

A madman, or rather... a genius disguised as a madman.

[Pre-battle meeting room]

The atmosphere at the atmospheric intrusion operation meeting was so oppressive it was suffocating.

"...Plan B: Three of our Nelson-class battleships will form the vanguard to draw ZAFT's main fire. The Archangel will use its high maneuverability to force its way in through weak points. Our casualties are expected to be around 40%, but we can ensure that the Archangel has an 85% chance of landing successfully."

As soon as a staff officer finished his report, a subdued murmur arose in the conference room. This was a standard, safe, but also incredibly cruel tactic of sacrifice.

Just as Halbarton was about to make a decision, that discordant voice rang out again.

"I object."

Ling Yu crossed his legs and leaned back in his chair, as if he were attending an insignificant afternoon tea party.

"Excuse my bluntness, all of your proposals are rubbish."

"You!" The staff officer who had previously reprimanded him suddenly stood up, furious.

"Quiet." Halbarton's voice was devoid of emotion as he stared at Ling Yu. "Tell me your reasons."

"The reason is simple." Ling Yu looked around, a smile on his face that was incomprehensible to others, a mixture of pity and fanaticism. "Because I've read the script for this breakout battle."

He stood up, walked to the huge star map, and pointed to the blue planet.

"The mission of the Eighth Fleet has never been to cover the Archangel's breakout."

His voice wasn't loud, but it was like a detonated bomb, booming in everyone's eardrums.

"Your mission is to use a magnificent and necessary total annihilation to highlight the tragic fall of the 'Seed of Hope' to Earth. You must use your sacrifice to obtain the most perfect 'passport' for the Archangel to enter Earth."

"Nonsense!"

"This is defeatism! It's undermining morale!"

"Drag him out!"

The officers were utterly enraged. Natal's face was ashen, her fists clenched tightly. Even Mu, usually so nonchalant, had lost his smile.

Only Maryu, watching Ling Yu's retreating figure, recalled the countless miracles he had created. She gritted her teeth and stepped forward: "General! I trust Mr. Ling Yu's judgment!"

The clamor in the arena abruptly ceased after Maru's shout.

Halbarton's gaze swept back and forth between Ling Yu and Maru. He recalled the destruction of the advance team, ZAFT's inexplicable retreat, and this battle report that could only be described as a miracle.

He remained silent for a long time, so long that the air seemed to freeze.

"The meeting is adjourned. Ramias, come with me."

Amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, General Halbarton led Maru into his private office.

The moment the door closed, he handed Maru an encrypted data chip, his voice low and resolute.

"Listen, Maru. I don't know if that young man is a madman or a prophet. But my gut feeling tells me he's closer to the truth of this war than all my advisors combined."

"This contains the highest level of authority I've granted you. If, in the ensuing battle, the situation truly deteriorates to... an irreversible state, as he described."

A flicker of pain and resolve flashed in the general's eyes.

"I command you: the Archangel must survive. You will then have autonomous navigation rights, ignoring all communications and orders from the Combine. Use every means to penetrate the atmosphere. This is my final order, given in my capacity as Commander of the Eighth Fleet, Hals Halbarton."

Maru held the cold chip in her hand, her palms sweating. This wasn't an authorization; it was clearly a will written with the lives of the entire fleet at stake.

When Maru walked out of the office looking dejected, Ling Yu was leaning against the wall outside the door, humming an unknown tune.

Upon seeing Maru, he grinned, revealing a set of white teeth.

"Oh, all done chatting? Don't be nervous, Captain."

He leaned close to Maru's ear and spoke in a flirtatious tone, only the two of them could hear.

"Don't worry, I've already written the script. You just need to be a good actor and deliver your lines correctly at the most crucial moments."

"What... lines?" Maru asked instinctively.

Ling Yu blinked, his smile becoming enigmatic. He lowered his voice, as if sharing a huge secret:

"Archangel, launch!"