Why would I join the army if I can’t drive a Gundam!

Chapter 179 Preparation before departure
"cheers!"

Amidst cheers that nearly lifted the roof off, seven or eight enormous beer glasses clinked together, white foam gushing out with the violent movement, but the owners of the glasses seemed completely unconcerned.

As the Federation Army's rest and preparation work neared its end, large numbers of Federation Army troops assembled at the Gabro base received orders to depart.

Afterwards, the Federation soldiers and space force sailors who were about to go to the battlefield crowded the bars of the Gabro base. The military police were also unusual in that they did not stalk the Federation soldiers who did all sorts of stupid things after drinking. Many of them even changed into ordinary uniforms and drank with the soldiers who were about to go to war.

Makarius was among these people as well. In fact, not only him, but many commanding officers would mingle among their subordinates at this moment, offering a few toasts or drinking with everyone, as this was a way to boost morale.

However, Makarius did not drink alcohol. Not only did he not drink it himself, but he also forbade Amuro to touch it, and the reason was naturally that it would affect his health.

"I can't control others, but you'd better listen to me, or you know what I can do!"

Like Amuro, Chloe received the same treatment. She was the enhanced human pilot of the Pale Knight, but now she was a guard at a field hospital. Since she knew nothing about field medical care, Markarius assigned her a light GM to be in charge of guarding the field hospital.

After several months of intensive nutrition and exercise, the little girl has grown taller and gained some weight, looking much better than her previous sickly appearance.

Right now, the other side and Amuro are enjoying hot milk and cookies while watching the pilots singing the Armored Soldiers' Song in the distance.

Marcarius, holding a glass of orange juice, was also singing loudly. After all, he was also a former armored soldier. If it weren't for the despicable Zeon people coming up with this crooked idea of ​​mobile suits, he could have driven the Type 61 for his entire life. But now, although he was no longer a tank soldier, Marcarius had never forgotten his past. On the right arm of his uniform, there was still an armored soldier's badge.

Of course, the Federal Armored Forces Academy did not forget Makarius. His photo is now hanging in the center of the honor wall in the academy's auditorium, and below the photo are his battle records.

Of course, it wasn't just the pilots who came from armored corps who sang; after one armored corps song ended, the pilots who came from air force pilot backgrounds also began to sing their own songs.

As their chorus drifted from the bar's entrance to the bar next door, it soon echoed back with a grand chorus from the neighboring bar as well—infantry, navy, and eventually, someone started it, and everyone began singing the Earth Federation's national anthem.

And so it went until late at night before everyone finally left, still feeling a bit unsatisfied. After all, they had work to do the next day and were about to depart, so everyone had to pack all their belongings and write letters to their families so that they wouldn't be unaware of their move. The mailing address for the letters remained in Gabro.

Marcarius walked down the street, surrounded by soldiers from his battle group who were still full of energy. They were arm in arm, some boasting, some singing, creating a lively atmosphere. Only Sera walked alone in a corner, and her back view looked somewhat lonely.

Makarius then stepped forward and stood side by side with the other person.

"What's wrong? You don't seem very interested?"

"It's nothing, I'm just a little tired!"

Sera shook her head, clearly not intending to share her feelings with Makarius.

"Tired? It's okay. Things will be better once we're in space. Then you can carry the wounded all by yourself. How about we assign you a GM too? You can use that thing to save people!"

"How am I supposed to rescue people while piloting a mobile suit?!"

Sera chuckled and then asked in return.

"Pull them behind the mobile suits, like stringing beads, creating a long chain!"

As Makarius spoke, he began to gesture.

Actually, I was thinking about my brother!

After Sera finished laughing, she spoke again.

"I don't understand, Zeon is already in such a state, why, why are they still fighting!"

“I don’t understand either, but a major general I know from North America once said something like, ‘Those in heaven will never understand the suffering of those on earth.’ I think the same applies to the Zabi family!”

"Their eyes have been consumed by endless desires. To achieve their ambitions, they don't care if they destroy the entire Zeon. If anyone is to blame, it's your father for not recognizing people properly back then!"

"Father……"

Sera lowered her head again. The cause of Zeon Deikun's death has always been a mystery. However, many people, especially Kimbalal, have been insisting that the Zabi family assassinated Zeon Deikun, and that he himself was killed by Zabi family assassins. Therefore, Sera also somewhat believes that the Zabi family is the murderer.

"So now, does my brother want to correct my father's mistakes?"

"I guess so, but he's actually a bit mentally unstable. He's impulsive and likes to give up halfway through things. In particular, he likes to keep underage girls as his mothers. You mustn't follow his example!"

Sera was furious again. After all, what Macarius said sounded convincing and didn't seem fake, and she couldn't confirm it with Char. So she could only punch Macarius.

"He's not like that at all!"

"How could it not be? You know, it's all Kycilia's fault. That old woman loved your brother but couldn't have him, so she used some harsh methods on him, leaving him with severe psychological trauma. Now that you have a chance to see her, you can't be soft-hearted. Go up there and slap her across the face!"

"I'm going to tell him all of this!" "Then say whatever you want, he can't beat me anyway!"

Marcarius wasn't worried at all about Char coming back to settle scores with him in a fit of rage. That would only happen if Char had the power to do so. Rather than worrying about that guy coming back to settle scores, he was more concerned about whether Char would send an asteroid to Earth to silence him. Marcarius had always suspected that in another timeline, Char sent an asteroid to Earth because everyone knew about his lolicon tendencies, and that was why he wanted to carry out a plan to destroy humanity.

After all, if the whole universe knew that Char had rescued an underage girl from a brothel and then sought solace in her as a mother, only to have his mother killed because he took her to the battlefield, then Char would naturally have no face to be the leader of Neo Zeon.

"Of course, in reality, he still has a very hard life. After all, he has to grovel before his enemy and even work for him, watching helplessly as his father's hard work is ruined. So, if you have the chance to meet him next time, you should comfort him and, by the way, ask him when he will repay the five chests of gold he owes me!"

"?"

"You have food and drink here, a big house, a big spaceship to fly, and even a monthly salary. Don't all of these cost money?"

"But wasn't this money paid by the federal government?"

"I'm part of the federal government, so this money is practically paid by me!"

"It can't be five chests of gold, can it?"

"Isn't this during wartime, when prices are depreciating?"

Sera's eyes widened in surprise. It was the first time she had ever heard of inflation, specifically the devaluation of gold!
"Go and tell him that!"

"What if he runs away as soon as he sees me?"

"Then what can I do?"

"Then you'll work for me for the rest of your life!"

"Aren't you afraid of dying on the battlefield?"

"Yes, I am scared, but you know what, Sera, when you're on high alert, death won't come looking for you, so you don't need to worry about that!"

"Aren't you worried about us dying on the battlefield?"

"Don't worry, with me here, you just need to be prepared to work for me!"

Marcarius patted the other man's small frame. He was a very fair man. If someone owed money and didn't pay it back, he would make them pay it back with their labor. This way, he could recover the costs and cleanse the deadbeat's soul, letting the other man experience the joy of labor. It was a win-win situation!
Sera, however, didn't retort. Instead, she suddenly stopped, stood on tiptoe, kissed Macarius on the cheek, left a message, and then turned and ran away.

"Klini, you're such a good person!"

Sera naturally knew that Makarius's jokes were just to relieve the knot in her heart. After all, like Char Aznable, she lived behind a mask. Although her days in the Red Dragonflight were fulfilling and happy, making her often think how wonderful it would be to live like that forever, she would occasionally suddenly remember her true identity in the dead of night.

She was not Lieutenant Seramas, nor the head nurse of the Red Dragon Battle Group's field hospital, but rather, Zeon Deikun's daughter, Artesia Deikun. Her identity remained with the Earth Federation, forever hidden from public view.

She didn't know what kind of life she would lead if her true identity were revealed, but she was certain that she would never be as carefree as she was now!
Now, after this conversation with Makarius, at least she wasn't too worried. She was also captivated by Makarius's statement that death wouldn't come looking for her. Perhaps that was why he was the Federation's ace!
As for Makarius, he was naturally happy to be kissed by girls, especially since he had already been kissed by two girls recently. Sure enough, boys who smile a lot are lucky. Someone as handsome, with a stable job and outstanding performance as him is just so popular.

After this final bar revelry, the good days for the Federation troops were over. They were about to set off and would no longer be allowed to touch any alcoholic beverages, and had to maintain peak physical condition at all times.

Similarly, leave was strictly controlled. Most officers and soldiers were no longer even allowed to leave the barracks because they had to go through a phase known as "getting back into the swing of things." The military police could continue to swagger around and arbitrarily check the soldiers' entry and exit permits. If someone couldn't produce one, they would be put in solitary confinement. Moreover, if they missed the departure time for the troops, they would suffer enormous psychological pressure because in the eyes of their comrades, they would become a cowardly deserter.

In addition to the combat troops that have entered operational status, the launch center in Gabro is becoming increasingly busy, launching dozens of warships full of Federation troops every day. At any time, as long as people on the ground look up, they can see the bright smoke trails.

Moreover, at this critical juncture of launch, a minor incident occurred: the Zeon forces deployed an unidentified flying machine to attempt to intercept the taking-off Federation fleet. It was a machine modified from the Crab, equipped with a heavy missile launcher. If it hit, it could cause fatal damage to the Federation warships, just as the Macarius shot down Zanzibar.

Although the Federation forces can afford the losses, the wreckage of the warships, laden with ammunition and fuel, falling to the ground will inevitably affect subsequent launches. As for whether it will cause damage to the Jaburo base, that is naturally unlikely. After all, if simply smashing warships could destroy Jaburo, Zeon would have done so long ago.

However, the Zeon mobile suit's first sortie failed to achieve any results. Due to interference from the air defense forces at the Gabro base, all of the missiles launched by the enemy were intercepted. If the enemy hadn't run away quickly, the mobile suit would probably have been destroyed.

Since then, the Federation forces have strengthened their airspace surveillance, not only increasing the number of fighter jets on patrol but also deploying GM-2 sniper rifles that patrol on their flight ramps. Most importantly, Gop also transferred Apsaras to the area.
Subsequently, when the Zeon mobile suit attempted a second surprise attack, it was unsurprisingly reduced to a dazzling display of fire by the well-prepared air force.

This minor incident did not interfere with the Federation's subsequent launches. On September 6, the Red Dragon Battle Group received orders from the Gabro Command.

Its battle group will take off on spaceships at noon on September 7th to serve as the vanguard for Lieutenant General Tiam's fleet, clearing obstacles ahead, as the latter will be in charge of the largest launch from the Gabro base, with the Federation preparing to launch more than forty warships into space at once.

These forty-odd warships were the final addition to the Tiam fleet. Now, the Federation fleet would be back to its pre-war full strength, and the number might even be greater than before the war.

This also marks the beginning of the Federation's counter-offensive, as the Federation's main fleet on Luna II will set sail at the same time the Tiam fleet takes off. The two sides will regroup after rendezvous and then launch a direct attack on the Zeon army's Solomon Fortress!

Just as Rebil had said to his men, a momentary retreat does not mean giving up; it may be a way to accumulate strength before unleashing a powerful punch at the enemy!
And now, Fort Solomon is about to bear the brunt of this punch!
(End of this chapter)