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

Chapter 304 has passed inspection and is ready for service!
"Hurry up, roll down, it's my turn to play!"

As soon as Makarius returned to base, before the cockpit door even opened, Amuro, who had already changed into his pilot's uniform, rushed out impatiently.

As the second person after Macarius to know about the transformable Gundam development project, heaven knows how Amuro has endured all these years. He thought about it during the day and cried at night. Even when the MK2 Gundam began to be deployed to the entire army, he did not compete for it. All for this moment!

He had even already decided what kind of paint scheme he wanted for his mecha, and he also wanted to paint a cool unicorn on it.

"Major Amurore, Zeta Gundam Prototype, sortie!"

"?"

"Amuro, wait a minute, we're out of gas!"

Before Markarius could even notify the other party after jumping down, the Z Gundam had already disappeared from his sight once again.

Fortunately, the minor incident of running out of propellant did not affect the testing of the machine. After Amuro was retrieved from space, all the test pilots at the Pezen Center took to the field and immediately began high-intensity extreme testing on the machine.

During this period, the Z Gundam prototype naturally exposed a number of problems, but fortunately none of them were serious. After all, it had already undergone rigorous testing on the Metas. The problems that were exposed were just leftovers from the integration process, and the technical team would deal with them during the first major overhaul.

As for the wear and tear caused to the machine body by high-intensity operation, that is the significance of the experimental machine. Without understanding the limits of the machine body, it is impossible to clarify the combat and technical indicators.

However, the Naval Strategic Research Institute has streamlined the parts required for this Z Gundam as much as possible, making its maintenance efficiency as close as possible to that of the MK2 Gundam.

However, considering the complexity of the deformation mechanism, the extent to which this simplification can be achieved is also very limited. After all, to maintain such a complex mechanical operation, many small parts simply cannot be simplified.

Therefore, the hourly operating cost of the Z Gundam is visibly high, far exceeding that of any mobile suit currently in service with the Federation Forces.

However, its overall operational efficiency justifies such a high cost, and driven by the new Minovsky ultra-small nuclear fusion reactor, it has an exceptionally abundant supply of energy weapons.

Its main weapon is the BOWA·XBR-M-87A2 beam rifle, with an output of 5.7MW. It is powered by an E-Pack and can generate a beam blade at the tip of the rifle to be used as a beam saber. Its effective range is about 8km and its maximum range exceeds 20km. It has power that is distinct from ordinary mobile suits. In WR mode, it can be mounted on the upper part of the mobile suit.

Of course, the above data is just theoretical. For Makarius, the limited shooting distance on the simulator has already exceeded this number. In reality, what limits his killing power is no longer the Newtype ability, but the power of the weapon. Beyond that distance, the power of the particle beam is somewhat insufficient.

In addition to the beam rifle, the side skirt armor of the Z Gundam is equipped with a beam saber with an output of 0.65MW. When it is charging on the base, it can also be used as a beam cannon. However, don't expect it to be a main weapon. This thing is for emergency use. Its main function is still a knife. However, the beam saber in Anaheim has an additional function. It can be thrown and then destroyed by the beam rifle, thereby creating a one-time beam disruption membrane.

However, that thing wasn't part of the original design; it was probably the personal idea of ​​a Z Gundam pilot from another timeline, the super-strong kid Kamille Bidan who beat up Char.

However, Makarius still unceremoniously copied the other party's idea, but he moved this function to the dual anti-materiel grenade launchers mounted on the multi-purpose weapon racks on both sides of the mobile suit's arms. This thing was also his old design, which was first used on the prototype Gundam. The specially made armor-piercing grenades could hit the Zaku with ultra-high tensile steel without making a sound. Now, the standard capacity of the newly redesigned grenade launcher is 4 rounds, which can be increased to 19 rounds through the extended magazine. It can also be replaced with special ammunition such as smoke grenades, armor-piercing rounds, spiral steel whips, and vertical launch infrared chaff rounds. If not used, an additional 60mm Gatling gun, beam weapon system, INCOM unit, and spy UAV can be mounted on the weapon rack.

In fact, the real Z Gundam can also use i-field equipment, which is an i-field grappling hook and a physical anti-ship sword (which can also be used as a beam rifle to fire). It is the kind of thing that can create a shield that can block particle beams. However, the Naval Strategic Research Institute did not intend to design this kind of close combat specialized equipment. The design by Genesis is a model that is installed in a regular shield. However, because the i-field's beam resistance is bidirectional, it is best not to use a beam rifle when using this.

In fact, the beam rifle also has an under-barrel grenade launcher with a four-round magazine, just like a revolver, and it has a quick-release function for easy and fast reloading.

After all, this was a machine designed for Makarius himself, so naturally some improvements had to be made based on the existing situation. In fact, Makarius initially hoped that Buvo Company could develop a new twin-barreled rifle for him, but after research, the design team found that the barrel wear of the twin-barreled rifle was too severe, and it had to be replaced almost every hundred shots. So, his beloved twin-barreled rifle was gone.

The good news is that Buvo Corporation developed an additional beam machine gun for Makarius to satisfy the Federation general's quirks about firepower.

Of course, the Z Gundam also has greater firepower, including the upgraded electromagnetic cannon used by the Full Armor G3 Gundam, as well as the Super MEGA Particle Cannon codenamed FXA-03M2, with an output of 8.3MW, equipped with its own reactor and propulsion device, and can be mounted on the bottom of the flight armor in WR mode.

Moreover, this large-caliber particle cannon can be directly connected to the machine's power system to enhance its power. To put it bluntly, its power has surpassed that of the Salamis-class ship cannons and reached half that of the Magellan-class.

In a separate weapons test, the Salamis, which was used as a target ship, was sunk with a single shot. The technical team that designed this thing could even imagine what it would be like when Makarius drove this thing into the enemy fleet.

In addition to these conventional mobile suit weapons, the Naval Strategic Research Institute also prepared a set of corresponding attack equipment for the Z Gundam's fighter mode, including laser-guided missiles that Char is very familiar with and precision-guided bombs for ground attack. In fact, if Macarius wanted, he could also attach sixteen cluster rocket launchers to the wings of this thing to make it look like those famous attack aircraft from the old Earth era. However, even without using the fighter mode, it can also serve as a shield for flying armor and can be equipped with four armor-piercing missiles to give enemies in close combat a surprise.

After the Z Gundam prototype completed its first major overhaul and inspection, these weapons began to be loaded and tested one by one. In order to ensure that the weapons tests were not known to outsiders (specifically Anaheim), the Naval Strategic Research Institute also suspended the second batch of combat training exercises at the Combat Technology Center and took all the trainees and military police out to act as a space defense line.

The test results were equally perfect. A strong technical team, robust financial support, and equally strong technological reserves are the foundation that Makarius has for the weapons testing program.

Of course, to ensure safety, the first batch of weapon tests were conducted remotely. After all, we've entered the UC era, and Markarius didn't want to see any unlucky souls die from weapons exploding.

After destroying most of the test weapons, the technical development team had accumulated enough data for the next stage of improvement. At this point, the Z Gundam could finally begin testing in Earth's atmosphere.

Thanks to the parameters provided by Markarius using the MK2 Gundam and the flight armor, the Zeta Gundam's atmospheric breakthrough test went extremely smoothly. Amuro, who was in charge of piloting the machine, even found the process so mundane and boring that he started playing the most popular romance drama from the Federation on the radio in the cockpit. The scene was quite comical; the technical team was anxiously watching the sensor parameters to prevent any uncontrollable consequences, but Amuro and Char were having a heated argument about the romantic pairing in the drama.

Dr. Nagano hoped that Macarius would discipline these lazy bums, but instead he found Macarius asking Nagase Hotaru why the couple he liked broke up again in the later part of the story.

"Don't worry, Nagano. If there's a real problem, these guys will take it more seriously than you or I!"

Seeing that Dr. Nagano was clearly not used to the atmosphere here, Timree said with a smile.

"So, Doctor, are you also watching that show?"

"No, I'm past the age of watching these kinds of shows, but I really enjoy watching old movies from Earth's past. When we get back to Earth, let's organize a movie screening together?"

"That's definitely possible!"

What else could Dr. Nagano say? If the big boss was so relaxed, then he had no choice but to join. But I must say, the working atmosphere at the Naval Strategic Research Institute was really good, with good benefits and little overtime. It's just that sometimes the department head's ideas were surprisingly wild!

Of course, not everyone could laugh. For example, on the ground, Hiroshi Uraki never expected that his Gundam would one day have to take on the role of a ground fire control operator, while the one launching the attack was a strange fighter jet at an altitude of 10,000 meters.

In short, the GP01 Gundam sat alone at the live-fire range of the Torrington base, obediently illuminating the target several kilometers away with its laser, until a whistling missile attack blasted the Gallup wreckage, which was being used as a target, into the sky.

Then, when he looked up at the sky again, he saw four Pumpkin Pancakes surrounding a fighter jet like stars around the moon, and then flying towards the airport.

"A transformable mobile suit, I'm so envious!"

Uraki Hiroshi's attention was entirely focused on the pumpkin pie. Now, the thing was in full-speed production to meet the Air Force's needs. The Federal Air Force at Torrington Air Base had also been given a squadron of four for air patrols. After all, this was the location of the Federal Army's only nuclear arsenal on the Australian continent.

Hiroshi Uraki's GP01 was also deployed here, serving as a base guard.

However, he never imagined that the fighter jet that was being protected was actually a mobile suit. After all, when he completed his mission and returned to the base with the support team, the Z Gundam had already entered the temperature-controlled hangar prepared specifically for it.

Shortly after, a special plane from the Gabro base arrived silently. Stepping off the plane were Major General Gao Yun and several other generals from the Federation Army's technical department. They had come to observe the atmospheric testing of the Z Gundam.

In fact, the development of the Z Gundam can be considered to be successfully completed by now. As long as the Z Gundam does not have any major problems, Gao Yun can approve the Federation's procurement plan.

However, in the spirit of showing off to the leaders, the subsequent tests of the Z Gundam still kept the highest combat skill indicators to a minimum. In fact, when the last test was completed and the team returned, Amuro flew his Waverider form over the base, leaving trails of colored smoke.

"I must admit, the targets of Project Z have been achieved very successfully!"

Major General Gao Yun, who hadn't seen Makarius for several months, was now all smiles, his black face revealing only his white teeth.

When he initially approved the funding for the Macarius Z Project, he didn't actually have high expectations. After all, transformable mobile suits are really difficult to develop, and the Federation already knew how challenging they were during the One Year War. So, being able to produce the Pumpkin Pancake and Metas mobile suits was already a good start, and now, with the addition of an All-Terrain Gundam, it's safe to say that the money was well spent.

"We certainly won't let you down!"

"I have faith in you, bro!"

Gao Yun patted Macarius on the shoulder. This "brother" wasn't just a casual greeting. Based on the achievements of the Combat Technology Center during this period, he could hold his head high at the Gabro headquarters and even dare to bang on the table in Gop's office.

"I've already got it sorted out with the General Logistics Department. The Federation Forces will continue to procure Z Gundams to arm the Space Force fleet. Moreover, I estimate that once the project is announced, other branches of the military will also want some!"

"If they need a transformable Gundam that can operate within the atmosphere, they can actually downgrade the Z Gundam a bit, since its purpose is to be usable across all areas of Earth and space!"

"Won't the reduced features affect performance?"

"The general combat skill specifications won't be different; it's just some additional configuration. After all, the atmosphere doesn't need those features. I'll have them come up with a template as soon as they return to side 7!"

"Hmm, very good. Then your combat skills center will have to work a bit harder. Hmm, you'll probably get the new Gundam first, being in a good position to get what you want! Now I understand why you wanted to go to Side 7!"

(End of this chapter)