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

Chapter 293 What do you, a brigadier general, need nuclear weapons for?
"Take a break!"

Makarius lowered his arm, walked towards Sipnas, and extended his hand.

"Welcome to Torrington Base, Colonel!"

"Welcome aboard the Albion, sir!"

Sipnas was not a scheming person, but he was still very respectful to Macarius. After all, the army is a violent institution. As long as you can fight, you will definitely earn the respect of others, especially someone like Macarius, who is the best fighter among the best. Sipnas, who had also fought in the One Year War, knew this all too well. After all, he had personally witnessed the former's heroic figure on the battlefield!

"Then, show me around this ship first!"

"As ordered!"

Then, Shipnaus led Macarius to the ship's elevator, followed by a group of officers and several military reporters. The former were accompanying personnel, while the latter were there to publish their reports in the Federation's internal military newspaper. After all, the commissioning of such a new ship was no small matter.

In fact, reporters snapped several photos just as the entire ship was lined up to salute Makarius.

Afterwards, they took a series of photos of Makarius experiencing the radar station on the bridge and chatting with the radar operator; Makarius inspecting pots and pans in the mess hall and chatting with the cooks; Makarius inspecting the gun positions and chatting with the gunners, and so on.

After filming ended, these guys immediately packed their bags and left, without making any note of Makarius's classic quotes such as the radar must be able to detect the enemy, the cooks' meals must be delicious, and the artillery must be able to fire.

Of course, Markarius's inspection of the entire ship was not just for show. He was not ignorant about warships. After all, military academy education is not for nothing. A good mobile suit officer must also be familiar with the performance parameters of warships. He really knows this stuff!
On the bridge, he carefully learned about the radar's scanning range and error under normal conditions and under particle interference, as well as the performance parameters of the fire control system, the power of the gun group's particle cannon, and the firing error. These things were not just a superficial understanding out of interest, but things he would remember firmly!

Makarius was also interested in the unique laser propulsion technology used by the Albion, as this technology allowed the ship to receive laser beams emitted by external laser emitters and thereby heat the propellant to gain additional acceleration.

However, in general, the use of this technology is quite limited by the environment, and it works better in certain specific areas.

"Unfortunately, we haven't used this feature yet, so we can't give you specific feedback!"

Colonel Shipnath said this.

"It's alright, there will be plenty of opportunities. Since you've said so, it's okay to give me a report later, right?"

"???"

The smile on Shipnath's face vanished instantly.

"Brigadier General, I'm almost retired, do I really need to write these things?"

"It's alright, I'll arrange your delayed retirement. This ship is the lead ship of the new Pegasus class, and your mission is very important. When other new ships enter service, they need to learn from your experience, right?"

"Understood, I will order everyone on the ship to write a report and submit it together!"

Shipnas nodded. As captain, he had unlimited power. Since he couldn't escape, he would take everyone on board with him!

"That's fine then. Alright, we've had enough sightseeing, let's get down to business!"

Makarius wasn't particularly interested in the Albion, as the ship was rather small. Unfortunately, the Federation Army currently had no intention of upgrading the Birmingham, so the Dogoskia-class was a long way off.

However, once the Federation fleet is reorganized in 85, it may be time to consider replacing them with brand new Crap-class and LaCailam-class destroyers.

Alas, in order to win the One Year War, they produced too many ships at once. Those Salamis-class and Magellan-class ships, which were only four or five years old, and some of which had just undergone refits not long ago, could be considered 90% new in some respects!

The thought that he had caused the Federation to be unable to replace its equipment in time made Markarius feel guilty. Why not let Char fly the Peach Blossom and fire another shot at the fleet?
However, the cost was indeed quite high. Just thinking about the other timeline, where the Federation was tormented from 1979 to 1993, which prevented even the Lakaram from being fully upgraded, and the planned 100 ships were reduced to only 20, and even those 20 were forced to be used for 50 or 60 years later, made Makarius feel heartbroken.

"Forget it!"

"What kind of?"

Shipnath was puzzled. When they entered the elevator, this guy seemed perfectly normal. Why did he suddenly start shaking his head?
"Oh, I was talking about the Gundam pilots. I heard the original pilot died in battle?"

"Yes, they died in the attack on the Anaheim factory!"

Shipnath nodded.

"He is a hero, and the Federation will not forget him. However, GP01 does need a new pilot!"

Aren't you going to drive yourself?

"GP01 is boring, I want to switch to GP02!"

As they were speaking, the elevator doors opened, and two tall mobile suits with their dust covers removed appeared in front of Macarius.

The machine on the left is more humanoid in shape, with slender limbs and a narrowing waist. Combined with its bulging chest and thighs, it looks like it has been working out.

This is the first unit of the GP project, codenamed GP01 Gundam. Its original design intention was to make this mobile suit more similar to human movement. It can be said that it has extremely strong high mobility and maneuverability.

"Yes, pure love is a good name!"

Markarius waved to the maintenance crew who saluted him, signaling them to continue working, while he walked to the feet of GP01 and examined it.

"Therefore, we need to find a pilot who is worthy of it!"

"You have someone in mind?"

"Yes, but there are quite a few. We need to think about it carefully!"

After examining GP01, Macarius turned around and looked at the other machine.

Compared to GP01, this GP02, named Acid Berry Gundam, is the other extreme. It has incredibly thick armor and is equipped with movable parts called "FTB" with three large thrusters on its shoulders, which makes its appearance extremely unique.

This mobile suit was designed based on the heavy MS of the old Zeon army and was created as a heavily armored/heavily armed assault mobile suit.

With its unique FTB component, heavy armor and high mobility coexist on one machine. However, considering the main weapon of this machine, it is understandable why the design of this thing is so strange!

One of the main weapons of the Sour Plum is a rocket launcher capable of firing various types of ammunition, including tactical nuclear warheads. This rocket launcher can be housed within a shield that almost completely covers the entire machine. In fact, it could be said that this machine was designed specifically for NBC attacks; the entire machine has undergone thorough heat and impact resistance treatment. The cockpit also features a more impact-resistant spherical structure, and even small components have been extremely simplified. Furthermore, the large shield housing the nuclear rocket launcher also integrates a large cooling system. In high-heat conditions, it can spray stored coolant through four coolant nozzles, forming a protective film around the machine to reduce heat radiation.

"This rocket launcher is fantastic!"

Makarius said this.

"But considering its launch capability, I think it would be better to restrict it!"

Captain Shipnath took off his hat and spoke frankly.

"That's true, but nuclear warheads are something we've used before. There's no need to be so afraid of nuclear weapons. Back when the One Year War first broke out, I was carrying a nuclear warhead and exchanging fire with the Zeon!"

"Colonel, having a gun and not using it is two different things from crippling yourself. Sometimes, we can't rely on the enemy!" "I understand!"

"Don't worry, Colonel. The bigwigs up there are much more cautious than you think. We have weapons more powerful than nuclear bombs!"

However, despite saying that, Makarius really wanted to test the launch effect of the Sourberry, and the Torrington base actually stored the Mk82 nuclear bomb that could be used by the Sourberry!

"Hmm, this is enough to make a movie about Alcatraz!"

A general with a distinguished military record, a group of soldiers who obey the enemy's orders, a lonely island (referring to the Australian continent), and a bunch of NBC weapons.

It seems like all that's missing now is a little music!

After visiting the two Gundams, the Anaheim maintenance team and the Federation maintenance team, who had been waiting for a long time, immediately began the transfer work. After all, both mobile suits needed to be tested, and they couldn't be tested while they were in the spaceship's hangar.

As the two mobile suits were being towed out of the warship's hangar and transported to the base, the instructors and trainees at the Combat Technology Center were watching from a short distance away. When Amuro saw the GP02's unique weapon system, he immediately nodded in satisfaction.

A rocket launcher, that's great! A Gundam, that's great! A rocket launcher plus a Gundam, that's fucking awesome!

But Xia couldn't help but twitch his lips; how could he not see what that thing could fire?

"So, Markarius, you're not telling me that Project GP was actually a prelude to attacking Axis?"

"I can't say for sure, but if I were a high-ranking officer in the Federation Army and we were going to attack Axis, I definitely wouldn't just build one Sourberry! I'd build a whole bunch of nuclear GMs!"

"Are you kidding me? You really think I like using nuclear weapons that much? Even at the start of the war, if you hadn't used them first, I would have. Besides, instead of worrying about that, you should worry about Axis. What if they launch another satellite back into Earth's sphere?"

"That's impossible!"

"Want to make a bet?"

Char didn't say anything, but he still extended his hand.

"Fifty dollars! Plus one order!"

"no problem!"

The two then high-fived as a pledge.

Then, Makarius led the two men into the hangar following the transport wagon.

"Brigadier General, this is Nina Pabdon, the head of Anaheim!"

Sipnas pointed to the woman with hair standing beside him and introduced her to Macarius.

"Nina, this is Brigadier General Makarius Skriny, the Federation Army's top ace!"

"Sir!"

"Hmm, Ms. Nina, did you bring the other set of weapon components for GP02?"

Although the other person was very beautiful, Makarius had no interest in her and asked in a very businesslike manner.

"We brought some, do you want to change them?"

"Hmm, let's switch it. There's nothing interesting about just firing conventional ammunition!"

Makarius was referring to another weapon system of the GP02, namely the MLRS, or Multiple Launch Rocket System.

Of course, the acid berry can still be used to launch nuclear bombs with this weapon system, but Makarius would like to try Anaheim’s new munitions for the MLRS system, namely laser-guided missiles with a range of more than 100 kilometers.

"Understood, we'll get ready right away!"

"Oh, and by the way, how's the GP03 project going?"

Nina was taken aback when she heard this, but then she remembered that this matter was not a secret to Makarius, so she spoke up.

"There seems to be some problem with Project 03; it looks like it needs to be modified!"

"What's wrong?"

Marcarius's brow furrowed instantly.

"Because the project team has reportedly obtained a brand-new alloy material, they want to make some modifications to the GP03 project!"

"Oh, I see. Well, that's alright then. I thought you guys weren't planning on continuing the GP03 project!"

Hearing this, Markarius finally breathed a sigh of relief. Of all the GP projects, what he was most looking forward to was GP03D. If something went wrong with that thing, he would have to take up arms and go to Los Angeles to complain to the Federation's top brass!

Nina was startled by Makarius's sudden change of expression, but fortunately it was only for a moment before Makarius returned to normal.

Then, she prepared to leave to attend to her work, but just as she turned around, she heard Markarius say again...

"By the way, Ms. Nina, I'd like to ask another question. Do you know Anabelcardo?"

"I don't know him!"

Nina's heart skipped a beat, and she immediately turned around and denied it.

"That's alright then. It doesn't matter if I don't recognize him, since I've already taken care of that guy!"

"So, why is that?"

Nina hadn't expected to hear news of Kado again here. Although she and Kado only had a good impression of each other, she couldn't help but turn around and ask him after hearing what Macarius said.

Which would you like to hear? Something more official, or something more personal?

Nina remained silent, simply watching Markarius.

"The official answer is that the guy was involved in the rebellion and was therefore killed, but my personal opinion is that he was too hypocritical and disgusting!"

"Then why are you telling me all this?"

"Because you have a bright future ahead of you! So, don't hold yourself back!"

Makarius then gestured for the other party to leave.
Watching Nina leave, Makarius thought it might be time to transfer one of those "carrot men" over! He absolutely loved seeing bad women fall for him!
(End of this chapter)