Mecha: Return of the Pioneers

Chapter 2044 The Rebels Attack!

Earth Federation (Gundam 00), Sky Pillar Space Station, Tourist Area.

"I didn't expect this place to still be the same as before, Lyle. Have you been running this shop here all these years?"

A handsome man wearing sunglasses walked into a handicraft shop and pointed at a man sitting inside carving small ornaments, making a sarcastic remark.

"Just adding some fun to life! But you, who disappeared for so long, have finally shown up? Neil."

Lyle put down his carving knife, glanced at his brother who had been missing for a long time, then turned around, took out a teacup, and poured him a glass of warm water.

"Is this how you treat your brother, Lyle? Oh, by the way, where's Aeneas?"

Lockon shrugged, took the warm water, glanced at the closing shop door, and casually asked.

"She has a mission! She should be on Ptolemy right now."

Upon hearing this, Lockon looked Lyle up and down, and gradually revealed a smile that only men could understand.

"What? Are you scared?"

"Cough, cough cough!! Neil, what nonsense are you spouting, you bastard? On the contrary, have you even seen Felt?"

Lyle, who was quite frightened by Lockon's words, quickly changed the subject.

Seeing this, Lockon gave a knowing look, then opened his left hand and waved it a few times at Lyle, a flash of light almost blinding Lyle.

"What?! When did this happen?! You didn't even notify me?!"

Lyle was startled and immediately rushed angrily to his older brother.

"Don't get excited! Don't get excited! We'll add more later! I originally wanted to inform everyone, but Felt felt that these are special times and it's not appropriate to be too conspicuous, so..."

"Tsk! So you're saying get on the train first and buy the ticket later?"

"Hey! What right do you have to talk to me like that? Aren't you and Ainyu the same?"

Lyle, who was rendered speechless, waved his hand to indicate that he would accept the situation for the time being, and then his gaze gradually became serious.

"You didn't leave any loose ends, did you?"

“What are you talking about? Just because I’ve been away from here for a long time doesn’t mean I went on vacation, Lyle.”

"You won't mess up the next operation, will you?"

"Alright! At least you're better than a third-rate sculptor like you who's been holed up here doing manual labor for months, but business is slow!"

"Neil, Lockon! Say that again and see what happens?!"

"Haha! Terrifying! So terrifying!!"

Meanwhile, on a train that had departed from a ground-based orbital city and was about to arrive at the space station, several young people dressed in casual clothes, looking no different from the passengers, were following the signs and leaving their rooms to head towards the area where the hatch was located.

However, just as they reached a certain passage, the young man in the lead suddenly raised his hand, signaling his companions not to go any further and to gradually retreat.

Unfortunately, they were already surrounded from both sides, and with a few muffled thuds, the young men struggled and fell to the ground.

Upon seeing the gleam in the eyes of the young men, the figures who quickly surrounded them immediately sent a notification to the command center hidden behind the scenes.

"Command. The target's brainwave activity is extremely high, potentially indicating contact with the rebels! Be alert!"

"Command received! MS units have commenced operations..."

"Boom!!" Before the voice in the earpiece could finish speaking, a violent explosion blasted open the outer wall of the orbital space station, causing the orbital train, which was slowing down and initiating its entry procedure, to shake violently.

"Damn it!! They've already started moving?"

The lead agent cursed, which drew sneers from a boy who was still struggling with the drug.

"Inferior humans!! We, the Innovators, will never yield! Earth, the solar system, and everything else will be ours!! Fear it! Hahahaha..."

"Snapped!"

The laughter stopped abruptly.

The agent shook his hand irritably and gestured to his colleague.

"Once the train arrives at the station, we'll move immediately. Leave the outside situation to the MS unit!"

"Yes!"

In the command center of the Tianzhu Space Station, Sergei looked at the images displayed on the main screen with a serious expression.

"It seems this rebel force is stronger than I imagined. They've silently assembled a fleet, and they didn't hesitate to use it for those few Innovator spies."

"According to credible intelligence, in addition to the masterminds behind those rebels, they also have support from within the Federation."

Commander Jin, the commander of the Tianzhu Space Station Defense Force, who was also an old acquaintance and former superior of Sergei, stood beside him and said in a deep voice.

“Since the Innovator Rebellion began, I have clashed with these rebels more than once. Although our Earth Federation Forces were able to suppress these rebellions in a short period of time in the early stages, they would soon return with better equipment.”

"From the Iron Man and the Thugs to the later machines equipped with the GNT Solar Furnace, and even now, the Glory of the GN Solar Furnace can be seen in the main force of the rebels."

Commander Jin watched with a serious expression as the rebel fleet on the main screen was closing in and launching an attack on the Tianzhu orbital space station, but it was quickly repelled by the well-prepared orbital space fleet and engaged in fierce fighting.

"At first, we thought that Celestial Being had joined the rebels, but later we learned through VEDA's investigation that the GN Drives that the rebels obtained from somewhere were not provided by Celestial Being."

"The Federation spent a lot of effort to find out the origin of the GN Drives in the hands of these rebels, and finally figured out that the masterminds behind these rebels were a group of masked ghosts."

Sergei was naturally very clear about the information that Commander Kim had provided, and this information was leaked to the Earth Federation (Gundam 00) by VEDA in the name of the Federation intelligence team.

"So, the Federal Army and these rebel forces are now evenly matched?"

"Although I feel ashamed, it is the truth."

"Okay, I understand! Then, I'll take charge of the next operation, Commander Jin."

Commander Jin was naturally delighted to hear Sergei's promise.

He patted Sergei on the shoulder and then remarked with emotion.

"After all these years, without you, it feels like a layer of confidence has been lost! Colonel Sergei Smirnov."

"I was just doing what I was supposed to do!"

Sergei nodded.

Then, he turned and left the command center.

Seeing is better than hearing.

He wanted to see for himself what these reformist rebels, who, despite repeated defeats, had managed to rise again and again under the tutelage of the Ghostfaces, were really capable of!
"Let me see what makes you willingly become the lackeys of the Ghost Face Gang!!"

(End of this chapter)