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Build Gundams Ch 2
🕑 Added 2025-09-17 14:28:24 +0000 UTCRyuuichi led Hayato toward the manufacturing plant's hangar, Hayato trailing behind with a contemplative expression.
The hangar buzzed with activity. Besides Simmons, the plant manager, and essential staff, several Antares Mercenary Group members stood in crisp black and white uniforms. Kenji, the Mercenary Group leader, stood among them, his older features framed by a beret and shaded by sunglasses.
"Morning, Boss," the collective greeting echoed as Ryuuichi entered.
Ryuuichi offered a nod, his gaze settling on the newly completed RX-78 Gundam. The machine stood as a testament to his vision. The classic white, blue, and red color scheme was present, as were the yellow highlights on the chest vents and V-fin. Its head was angular, with two bright yellow vulcan guns flanking either side of the head. The weapon loadout was complete: a beam rifle, a hyper bazooka slung over its shoulder, a sturdy shield emblazoned, and two beam sabers mounted on its backpack.
"Plant Manager, prep everything. I'm gonna give this MS a spin myself."
A flurry of activity followed Ryuuichi's directive. He changed into a sleek space pilot suit, the fabric conforming snugly to his frame. Entering the RX-78's cockpit, he settled into the seat and initiated the startup sequence. His fingers danced across the manual keyboard, running diagnostic software and system checks.
The Gundam, now armed with a solid-projectile rifle, moved onto the catapult. With a surge of power, the catapult launched the RX-78 out of the factory and into the vast expanse of space.
Ryuuichi guided the Gundam toward the designated testing area, the stars like a canvas around him.
The testing grounds were equipped with specialized moving targets. Some were traditional bullseyes gliding along pre-set tracks, others were heavily armored drones armed with solid-projectile rifles.
With practiced ease, Ryuuichi manipulated the controls. His hands danced across the joysticks, thumbs pressing buttons, feet working the pedals. He weaved through the target range, firing with calculated precision. Each shot was true, the solid-projectile rifle spitting rounds that found their mark with satisfying [CHUNK]. Green liquid splattered from the bullseyes, marking each hit, the drones returning to base.
Then the drones engaged, their weapons flashing. Ryuuichi responded instantly, his feet dancing on the pedals as he executed a series of evasive maneuvers, the Gundam dodging incoming fire with agility. His thumb hovered over the firing button, and he unleashed a volley of counter-fire.
The impacts reverberated through the drones, green liquid marking their armor as they limped back to the factory for repairs.
After a complete round of test firing and evasion, the RX-78, under Ryuuichi's command, remained untouched.
Next came the evasion exercises. Ryuuichi steered the Gundam toward a dense Meteorite Zone, his brow furrowed in concentration. Piloting at full speed, he navigated the treacherous field. Asteroids hurtled past, some the size of buildings, others like pebbles. Ryuuichi's movements were fluid, each adjustment precise. The Gundam danced between the space rocks, its thrusters flaring, leaving a stream of fire.
Inside the factory workshop, the staff monitored Ryuuichi's Gundam operation from their stations. Data streamed across their screens, displaying everything from engine output to weapon accuracy.
"Engine performance is nominal," one technician reported.
"Weapon accuracy at 98.7 percent," another called out.
"Evasion rate is optimal, minimal energy expenditure," a third chimed in.
Kenji, Hayato, and the other Antares Mercenary Group members listened to the reports, their expressions a mix of awe and disbelief.
"Damn," one Mercenary muttered, "not only does the Boss cook up this crazy tech, but he's a freakin' natural piloting it? That's Ace Pilot level skill right there. If word got out about this guy, heads would explode."
Hayato stared at the main screen, his jaw slack. He couldn't believe his best friend had developed such an advanced machine.
If this thing could be mass-produced… he thought. It would flip the whole game on its head.
"Uncle Kenji," Hayato asked, "if my best friend releases this MS, will it cause a stir?"
Kenji nodded, his gaze fixed on the screen. "No doubt about it."
"Can this MS be mass-produced?"
Kenji shook his head, "Probably not easy. I've seen the specs. It's not just the hardware, but the maintenance, too. High-end stuff like this needs constant care."
Simmons spoke up, "You guys have any idea how much the Boss dropped on just building this one MS? Not counting the R&D, of course."
The question hung in the air.
"Five billion credits," Simmons stated flatly, watching their reactions. "And that's just for one. Doesn't even touch the development costs."
The room fell silent, everyone processing the number.
It made sense, they realized. A Mobile Suit that could outperform anything else on the market came with a price tag. Even if mass production was possible, the cost would likely deter most nations from large-scale adoption.
Kenji continued to watch the Gundam's movements, his expression unreadable.
After what felt like hours, Ryuuichi finally piloted the RX-78 back to the factory, touching down smoothly on the landing pad.
At that moment, two frigates approached the factory. The flag on their hulls displayed a design of black wings crossed with a sword—the emblem of the Antares Mercenary Group. Skywing Armaments Manufacturing Company’s emblem, on the other hand, was a pair of white wings and a sword.
The Mercenaries disembarking from the frigates spotted their boss piloting the new Mobile Suit. Curiosity piqued, they hurried over to get a closer look.
"Whoa, check out that ride!" one Mercenary exclaimed.
"Kinda reminds me of the GM MS the Boss made a while back," another observed.
"Ever since the Boss rolled out the GM, we ditched the fighter jets. MS combat is the new standard."
"At first, I thought the Boss was trying to get us killed," one pilot admitted, "but after getting behind the controls of the GM, I gotta say, it's a beast. Not as fast as a jet, but way better in a fight, especially with the targeting system."
"Speaking of which, the OS the Boss developed is straight-up magic. It can pick off incoming missiles like it's nothing. Saved my bacon more than once."
The MS pilots glanced at their usual ride: the RGM-79 GM MS, painted in red and white, wielding a beam spray gun in its right hand and a shield in its left. A beam saber rested above the backpack thruster. The green visor over its sensors gave it a distinctive look.
Simmons approached Ryuuichi as he climbed out of the RX-78's cockpit. "Boss, what should we call this thing?"
Ryuuichi paused, then a smile played on his lips. "Gundam. Designate it RX-78, and we'll call it the Original."
Hayato raised an eyebrow. "Gundam, huh? And you're calling it the Original? Does that mean you're planning on making more?"
Ryuuichi nodded, confirming Hayato's suspicions.
At that moment, a figure approached—a professional-looking blonde woman in a tailored black business suit, her posture radiating competence. Severine, the president of Skywing Armaments Manufacturing Company.
Severine bowed to Ryuuichi. "Boss, I have a report for you."
"Come to my office," Ryuuichi replied.
"Boss, I've got something to report too," Kenji added, falling into step behind Ryuuichi.
Reaching Ryuuichi's office, the scanner by the door beeped, and the door slid open.
Inside, Ryuuichi settled into his executive chair. Severine and Kenji stood side-by-side before the large table.
A small service bot glided into the room, depositing two chairs behind them.
"Have a seat."
They sat.
"I'll take a lemon tea. What about you two?"
"Coffee, black," Kenji requested.
"Black tea for me," Severine added.
The service bot whirred into action, returning moments later with the drinks.
"Who's up first?" Ryuuichi asked.
Severine and Kenji exchanged glances. Kenji stepped forward, handing Ryuuichi a tablet.
Ryuuichi scanned the report on the screen. "Expanding the scale… you're talking about tripling our current size?"
"That's right, Boss. It's the only way we can handle the volume of commissioned orders coming in from various countries," Kenji explained.
Ryuuichi's company was technically within Iron Ridge's sphere of influence, but its location on the fringes meant it bordered several other nations, including colonies of the Starfall Dynasty, Ryuuichi's birthplace.
This was why Maverick and his team had been dispatched to eliminate the pirate group—to safeguard the interests of those nearby colonies.
The Starfall Dynasty had over twenty space colonies scattered throughout the universe.
Iron Ridge, by comparison, was a small, relatively weak nation with only two colonies.
