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Build Gundams Ch 10
🕑 Added 2025-09-17 14:31:59 +0000 UTCIn the opulent halls of the Fistam Democratic Republic, a sense of unease permeates the air. The giant projection screen flickers with images of destruction, showcasing the raw power of Ancestral Gundam Four and Ancestral Gundam Five. The assembled officials, their faces etched with concern, watch as the battle unfolds, the implications of what they are seeing weighing heavily on their minds.
The scene is one of organized chaos. RX-78-5, Ancestral Gundam Five, a titan of metal and weaponry, unleashes a torrent of fire from its Gatling gun, decimating enemy MS with terrifying efficiency. Gasps ripple through the audience as they witness such overwhelming force. Then comes the RX-78-4 Gundam Unit 4, its MEGA Particle Cannon slicing through battleships as if they were mere paper targets. The display leaves the room in stunned silence, the reality of the situation sinking in.
The lights flicker on, dispelling the darkness, but not the apprehension. The question hangs in the air, unspoken yet palpable: where did these machines come from, and what do they mean for the balance of power?
A congressman, his voice laced with urgency, breaks the silence. "Head, may I ask which Holy Cross Country’s MS these are? Are they from one of the three major powers on Earth?"
Lieutenant General Amdandee, the Head of the Military Intelligence Department, shifts uncomfortably. A slightly overweight man with blonde hair and a perpetually weary expression, he is the bearer of unwelcome news. "No, these are MS owned by a private mercenary group from Iron Ridge, a small, fringe country among the colonies."
A wave of disbelief washes over the room. "Are you kidding me?" The unspoken question hangs in the air, a challenge to the credibility of the intelligence.
Amdandee presses on, his voice steady despite the skepticism. "Initially, I, like everyone here, didn’t believe it. I also thought it was an MS developed by a major power. However, after our Holy Cross Country’s intelligence team analyzed and verified the authenticity of the video, it was confirmed that the MS in the video are real, and the battle is also real. At first, our intelligence team thought a major power was testing their developed MS in a fringe country, but after a long investigation, it was found that these two MS are actually the private property of that private mercenary group."
The Defense Minister, a stern-faced woman with a no-nonsense demeanor, cuts through the murmur. "Lieutenant General, when did the events of this video battle take place?"
"Your Excellency, Defense Minister, the date of this battle video is three months ago from today."
A congressman, his face flushed with indignation, explodes. "Lieutenant General, why did your intelligence department drag this out for so long before presenting it!"
Amdandee sighs inwardly. This was not going to be an easy meeting. "Esteemed Congressman, it’s not that our Military Intelligence Department wanted to drag it out for so long before presenting this matter. Rather, we had to verify the authenticity of the video, and who would have thought that such powerful MS would appear in a private armed force of a fringe country?"
The congressman is about to launch into another tirade, but the Defense Minister raises a hand, silencing him. "Lieutenant General, have you investigated the origin of this private armed force?"
"Your Excellency, Defense Minister, the information we currently have is that this private armed force is called the Antares Mercenary Group, and their armaments come from a similarly named armaments manufacturing company. We currently understand that the Antares Mercenary Group and the Skywing Armaments Manufacturing Company share the same boss."
"Where is that boss from, and what is his name?"
"I apologize, Your Excellency, Defense Minister, we currently only know that the boss’s name is Ryuuichi and that he is from Starfall Dynasty Country. As for his age and appearance, we are currently unable to ascertain."
"Starfall Dynasty Country, surname Stratton…" The President, a bald man with shrewd eyes, strokes his chin thoughtfully. "There aren’t many people with the surname Stratton in Starfall Dynasty Country, but there is a prominent family in Starfall Dynasty Country with the surname Stratton. If I recall correctly, this prominent Stratton family is a major commercial family. They have a company called Stratton’s Armaments Manufacturing Enterprise, don’t they?"
All eyes turn to Amdandee, awaiting his response. "Mr. President, initially, I also considered that possibility and investigated it. However, the intelligence we currently have shows no connection to the Stratton family. If Stratton’s Armaments Manufacturing Enterprise truly had such advanced MS, why wouldn’t they use them to defeat their competitors?"
"Lieutenant General, you have a point. Does your intelligence department have any other information?"
Amdandee nods, relieved to be back on familiar ground. He dims the lights, plunging the hall into darkness once more. The image of the Original Gundam appears on the screen, a stark reminder of the threat they face. "Everyone, the MS in this photo is an earlier model of the two MS we saw before. These MS have a designation called Gundam. We also have new intelligence that they are developing even newer models of Gundam."
"Lieutenant General, a moment, please." The President leans forward, his gaze intense. "Why are they not mass-producing them but instead developing new models?"
"Your Excellency, Mr. President, that is exactly what I am about to explain." Amdandee switches the video, the screen now showing the Original Gundam being struck by live ammunition. The image freezes, the impact area magnified for closer inspection. "Everyone, look closely. Has the armor in the hit area changed?"
A collective gasp fills the room as the officials take in the scene. "As you can see, the area where the Gundam was hit was struck by 135mm live ammunition, yet the entire armor sustained no damage, not even a dent."
The President presses on, his mind racing. "Lieutenant General, this has nothing to do with the mass production issue, does it?"
"No, Mr. President, it is related. Our intelligence department currently analyzes two possibilities. The first possibility is that they are developing new models to gather final combat data, then finalize the design and develop a mass-produced version of the true Gundam model. The second possibility is that they will not mass-produce them. Firstly, the manufacturing of the Gundam’s armor is difficult. Secondly, the internal hardware of the armor is also not easy to manufacture. The purpose of developing stronger models is only to provide them to excellent MS Pilots, such as Ace Pilots, to pilot the Gundam."
"Lieutenant General, in your opinion, which possibility is more likely?"
"Mr. President, in my estimation, the second possibility is more likely."
The congressman, seemingly determined to play devil's advocate, raises his voice again. "Lieutenant General, please explain why you believe the second possibility is more likely. If it were the first possibility, wouldn’t that plunge our Holy Cross Country into an unimaginable crisis?"
Amdandee steels himself, preparing to defend his assessment. "Esteemed Congressman, I believe the second possibility is more likely, primarily from our military’s perspective. Generally speaking, for more common mass-produced MS, the maintenance costs for upkeep and replacing damaged parts are not very high. However, for high-performance MS piloted by elite pilots or custom MS for Ace Pilots, the maintenance costs are significantly higher than for ordinary mass-produced MS. Furthermore, an important point is that they consume more material and human resources. So, if you think about it, if the MS called Gundam are so exceptionally powerful, wouldn’t the financial resources required for their maintenance be even greater?"
The logic is undeniable. Many in the room nod in agreement, the tension easing slightly. As Amdandee points out, the more powerful a machine, the greater the cost. Even if the Gundam could be mass-produced, the question remains: which Holy Cross Country could afford to do so?
The answer, unspoken but understood, is none. The manufacturing and maintenance costs would be crippling.
"Lieutenant General Amdandee, your intelligence department will continue to monitor the Antares Mercenary Group," President Amdandee orders, his voice firm. "Yes, Mr. President."
The meeting draws to a close, but the sense of unease lingers. The Fistam Democratic Republic, like the other nations of the Holy Cross Country, is now aware of the existence of the Antares Mercenary Group and their Gundams. The implications are far-reaching, and the future uncertain.
