Mecha: Return of the Pioneers

Chapter 1992 An inescapable fate?

The interior of future Axis.

Char (Neo Zeon) walked with Nanai on the streets that had long been flattened and occupied by buildings without windows or doors, while also observing these buildings that had squeezed the original living space of the residents.

"Colonel, patrols have reported frequent sightings of Earth Federation reconnaissance units within Axis's perimeter in the past few hours. This could be a sign that the Earth Federation is launching an attack."

After putting down the communicator, Nanai informed Char (Neo Zeon) of the message she had received.

"Yes. That's only natural. Regardless of whether the Earth Federation general we're facing is that Reibir, as long as he's not an ordinary person, he'll make a similar choice."

Char (Neo Zeon) nodded slightly, a hint of a smile on his face.

"However, judging from the current situation, the first wave of the Earth Federation Forces' attack will come in a few hours."

Is this the final assault?

Nana asked.

Char (Neo Zeon) shook his head.

“No. Rebil is not the kind of reckless man who would throw his forces into battle before the situation is clear. I’m afraid this is a test.”

"A test? Did the size of our fleet intimidate this old general?"

Nanai blinked and understood what Char (Neo Zeon) meant.

"That's possible. But I don't think a mere hundred warships would have instilled the slightest fear in this old general."

Char (Neo Zeon) pointed to the land beneath his feet, a land called Axis.

“Rebil, the thing that this old general of the Earth Federation Army really fears is this asteroid Axis.”

As he spoke, Char (Neo Zeon)'s smile deepened.

"A mere hundred warships. Compared to the Battle of Loum back then, it's nothing. That battle didn't even frighten Rebil, so why would such a good thing happen now?"

"It seems that a tough battle is about to begin."

Nana's expression grew increasingly solemn.

"Haha! Don't worry. Nana, this was something we could have expected when we decided to return to this timeline."

Char (Neo Zeon) laughed and then pointed to a building not far away that was much taller than the surrounding buildings.

“Come! Nanai, come with me to see Lord Iron Mask! I’m sure he’ll be very interested in General Rebil’s movements.”

The eve of the battle was peaceful, but also oppressive.

Even though everyone's expressions remained calm, and their conversations were as usual—joking and laughing with familiar friends—Hasavi noticed the gradually increasing oppression and palpable heaviness in their eyes.

At this moment, the scene that came into Hathaway's view was so similar to the situation he had personally experienced during the Second Neo Zeon War.

The only difference is that in the timeline he is in now, the Earth Federation forces around him are not as helpless as Londo Bell in the war he experienced, who could only rely on their own strength to fight against the Neo Zeon fleet led by Char Aznable and to stop the asteroids that kept falling towards Earth.

"It will win."

Hasavi, carrying his food, sat down in a corner of the mess hall, watching and listening to the conversations of the crew members around him, constantly saying to himself.

"What are you thinking? Ha, no, Mafti."

Just as Hasavi was about to start eating, a figure as swift as the wind arrived and sat down opposite him.

"A major battle is coming. I need some rest, Quess."

Hasavi didn't need to look up to know who it was. "You finally called me by my name directly, Mafti."

When Quess heard that Hasavi was no longer calling her by her full name, she was immediately delighted.

"What difference does it make, Quess? Since you know you'll be killed by me in the future, why are you still standing in front of me?"

Hasavi glanced at Quess and noticed that there was no fear in Quess's eyes as she had when she learned the truth that he would kill her.

“Aren’t I still alive? Mafty. You said it yourself, that I would be killed by you in the future. But at least I’m still alive on this ship now, aren’t I?”

Quess blinked and said with a smile.

"Moreover, the future you're talking about should be the timeline before Neo Zeon arrived in this spacetime, right?"

She paused, a sly glint in her eyes.

“I’ve confirmed with Captain Brad. This current timeline is not the one we know, but a chaotic timeline formed by the fusion of many different timelines and worlds. Therefore, the history we know will also be changed.”

Upon hearing this, Hasavi silently put down the food in his hand.

"No. That's just a hypothesis. It hasn't been confirmed yet. Quess, you'll stay on the Judgment for the rest of the time."

"No! I can also pilot a mobile suit!"

Quess immediately retorted.

“You are not a member of the Federation Army. You have neither the obligation nor the ability to participate in this war.”

"No! Didn't you also pilot a mobile suit back then without being a soldier? And you even killed my future self during the battle!"

Quess didn't back down at all, and even used the future that Hathaway had told her to counterattack.

"This is not a discussion! It is an order! Quess Palaya! From this moment on, you have no right to enter the hangar. Captain Brad will issue the order personally later!"

Hathaway did not engage with Quess, but instead stood up, turned around, and left.

"You! Mafti! You stop right there!"

Quess wanted to chase after them, but Christina, who had been watching from the sidelines for a while, stopped her.

“Miss Quess, you’d better just follow the arrangements! Otherwise, you’ll probably have to spend the rest of the time in your room.”

Hasavi, who was hurrying out of the canteen, met Amro in the corridor, just after they had made contact with the ground.

"Hey, Mafti. Looks like returning to the Judgment hasn't been pleasant for you!"

"Captain Amuro, please stop teasing me."

Hasavi sighed and shook his head.

"Haha! Don't be so discouraged! Just do what you want!"

Amro's optimism seemed to have infected Hassawi.

However, when he thought about the final outcome of the war in the original timeline, Hassawi's mood became heavy.

Axis and Char both came.

The psycho-frame was also installed on the ZETA Gundam.

Is it possible that Amuro Ray in this timeline cannot escape that fate either?
If that's the case, even if Hathaway snatched Quess back from Neo Zeon first, wouldn't he still be unable to escape the original ending?

(End of this chapter)