Gundam: From Piece to Player

However, due to a lack of teamwork in battle, they could only fight individually and were defeated one by one.

In contrast, the Zeon forces also conducted detailed tactical research on the operational and tactical aspects of mobile suits.

The Federation is practically a blank slate in this area... The first batch of MS only rolled off the production line at the end of November. Although there are training battalions, it's already quite good if an average soldier can learn to drive one in a month.

This situation was not unexpected by Tiam.

"The fighter squadrons of the 3rd and 4th Fleets are responsible for releasing beam disruption screens at regular intervals, and proceeding in 'fortress mode' contingency plan."

As Tiam's orders were relayed, the MS forces landed on the mothership's deck, immediately carrying out various anti-aircraft and firefighting missions on the warship.

This combat mode completely abandons the maneuverability unique to mobile suits, but enhances the defensive capabilities of the warship itself, and allows novice pilots to focus on shooting and defensive missions.

When enemy mobile suits attempt to launch anti-ship attacks, the GM squadrons can engage in melee combat, and the Federation also has a numerical advantage over the Zeon forces.

Abaoa's S sector suddenly saw a surge in anti-aircraft spikes.

In addition, there was a cacophony of beams projected by the fighter jets after takeoff.

Through optimized tactical configuration, they barely managed to offset the gap with Zeon in terms of individual combat strength.

This scene naturally caught Gihren's eye as well.

"...As a defeated general of Loom, you have improved quite a bit," Kilian said. "Pass on my orders to release smoke cover for the Sector S fleet. Dolores is to send MS units to launch a full-scale assault on the Federation warships! At all costs, prevent the Federation fleet from landing and strangle them in Sector S."

After Gihren gave the order, the MS forces in Sector S, the forces that had resumed their attack, launched an attack on the fleet in Sector S in an instant. Before they arrived, a large number of physical smoke bombs were launched from the fortress and exploded above the Federation fleet.

Minovsky particles have rendered radar ineffective, and the smoke has reduced visibility to within tens of meters, rendering beam weapons unusable.

The S district of Abawak was shrouded in thick fog.

Undetectable by detectors and invisible to the naked eye, until they were right in front of them—Zeon's mobile suit forces charged into the smoke and engaged in a brutal melee with the Federation's mobile suits.

This will put the pilots to the test of their ability to adapt and react on the spot. Tiam's tactics have become almost useless... Every Zeon MS destroyed will cost 3-5 Federation MS.

In this area, ammunition explosions, warship detonations, and the destruction of mobile suits and warships occurred almost every second. Abaoa's S-zone had become a terrifying meat grinder, devouring the lives of both sides.

Although the Federation fleet continued to advance, each step forward came at a huge cost.

...The meat grinder battle lasted for nearly 20 minutes.

Despite the Zeon mobile suit forces' desperate attempts to halt the Earth Federation's advance, the Earth Federation forces, with their numerical superiority, finally broke through the defenses of Sector S.

The White Base and another ship of the same type have collided with Abaoa, while Zeon is waging a war of attrition against the landing Federation forces, and the battle has reached a stalemate.

Kycilia was undecided about when would be the best time to kill Gihren and take over command.

A message came through the communicator.

Lady Kycilia, I've got the Zeon!

Kycilia stood up and walked towards the command room.

"What's wrong, Kycilia?" Kiran asked.

"It's nothing, elder brother. I have to go to the front lines to oversee the battle. The New Human forces haven't made their move yet. Casval is being a bit too afraid of death."

“Casval is a talented individual, and his judgment is certainly reasonable... However, given the current situation, victory can be achieved even without deploying the Newtype forces.”

"Our army is at a disadvantage now, isn't it? Some of the federal troops have already taken over the fortress, haven't they?"

Kilian smiled sinisterly and raised his watch. "You're wrong. I let them get on board on purpose."

"?"

"You don't know this, do you? The solar illumination system doesn't need to be launched at full power, let alone when it's carrying out a strong attack. The Federation fleet doesn't even move its coordinates much, especially when it's in a landing state. It's no different from a stationary target."

Kilian said to Kycilia as if showing off.

The next moment, the "flashlight" from SIDE3—made in Mahal City—once again illuminated this universe, but it was also a life-taking ray.

The Federation is currently conducting a forced landing operation with its 4th, 5th, and 6th main fleets, consisting of hundreds of warships and thousands of mobile suits.

The Federation mobile suits on top of it melted under the laser beam and were burned to ashes.

Of course, the MS units that were fighting the Federation also lost their lives.

Meanwhile, inside the command ship, Tiam, staring at the bright light shining upon him, had bloodshot eyes and his brain seemed to have entered a state of malfunction.

More than 100 Federation warships, more than 1500 mobile suits, and at least 5 Space Force soldiers were wiped out by this attack. The Federation now has less than 100 warships and 2000 mobile suits left.

This was a premeditated attack; Gihren deliberately waited until they were logging in before launching the strike.

He underestimated Gihren's madness—Tianm's assumption that MAP weapons wouldn't activate during combat was flawed from the start.

Although we still have an advantage in combat power... the enemy's strategic weapons may be able to launch a second time, and the progress of conquering Abaoa Sky Fortress is now essentially reset to zero.

—We will lose.

"How straightforward you are. Tianm, hahaha, I've already severely damaged the main force of the Federation fleet."

Kirian burst into laughter.

Only the man's laughter remained in the command room; everyone's eyes were fixed on the crazed dictator at the command post.

"These are necessary sacrifices for victory, sirs," Kihren said. "The soldiers on our side affected by the irradiation system were all heroic. They took away hundreds of Federation warships and thousands of mobile suits, laying the foundation for our decisive victory. Our motherland will not forget them..."

While Kilian was making outrageous statements in the command center to justify his actions, Kycilia had already quietly left the command post and entered a relatively safe cabin nearby.

She gave instructions to Haman, who was piloting the Zeon.

“Haman, I’ve left the command post. Now, make your move!” Kycilia said. “While neither side is paying attention to you.”

In her plan, after Harman seizes the Zeon, she will use its Mega Particle Cannon to remotely target the Abaoa Air Command... disguised as a Federation warship's cannon attack.

Accidents... are unavoidable for everyone.

At that time, Kycilia will be able to rightfully take over command of the Zeon army.

Chapter 155 Fighting to the Last Moment

"My lord? That's Commander-in-Chief Kilian," Haman asked somewhat timidly.

Because the matter was of great importance, Kycilia had not explained it to her beforehand, for fear that the information would be leaked at the crucial moment.

“He just called for strategic weapons to strike the Federation, and our troops have been killed in the process. We Zeon do not need a commander-in-chief like that.”

"...Lady Kycilia, I cannot do this."

Hmph... Hamman's loyalty is indeed not absolute.

She was a noblewoman, and her father was the king's right-hand man.

Therefore, it is not that one cannot do it alone.

We can't expect her to have the loyalty of a martyr.

This situation was within Kycilia's expectations, and she had already made preparations.

"If you don't do it, you'll be saying goodbye to your sister Serana forever in fifteen seconds."

"what?"

“10…5, 4, 3…”

In just a few seconds, Harman flashed through at least fifteen options and their consequences.

She chose what she considered the optimal solution.

She aimed at the location of the Abaoa air force command post... 20 meters below.

The next moment, although she felt the shock caused by the Zeon's Mega Particle Cannon bombardment, Kycilia quickly received a report from her subordinates.

The command center is still operational.

The attack was ineffective.

"Haman, you deliberately missed? Say goodbye to your sister!"

Just as Kycilia was about to erupt, she heard Harman crying on the communication channel:

"Lady Kycilia, I didn't deliberately miss. There's an I-field set up near the command post, which even the Zeon can't break through."

That damned Kiran Zabi... he's already anticipated my plans.

Has a position I been set up near the command post?

Kycilia was furious—it seems that when it comes to doing big things, you can't rely on others; you have to do it yourself.

She put on the mask of her outboard pilot suit and then took her gun and entered the command center.

Sensing the footsteps, Kirian turned around.

Having gained the upper hand in the battle and immersed in the joy of victory, Kirian, somewhat carried away by his own success, actually got up from his chair and was now standing and giving orders.

"Kycilia, why are you back? Weren't you supposed to be commanding the warship?"

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Without exchanging any pleasantries, Kycilia fired repeatedly at Kiran.

The 1.9-meter-tall man touched his body and saw the blood that had soaked his white gloves. He turned to look at Kycilia in disbelief.

Everyone in the command center looked over and was shocked by what they saw.

This naturally includes Gihren.

He had considered that Kycilia might assassinate him, but he never expected her to use such crude methods... so crude that he was caught off guard.

He also assumed that Kycilia would at least be able to conduct long-range sniping from the outside battlefield... and had also devised a new type of defense.

Feeling his strength being drained, Kirian suddenly understood the foolish actions he had read about in history books when he was young.

—The Honnoji Incident…A rebellion planned and launched by Akechi Mitsuhide on June 21, 1582 (the second day of the sixth month of the tenth year of Tensho) against his lord Oda Nobunaga.

In hindsight, Mitsuhide's actions were foolish and reckless, causing Oda Nobunaga to fall on his path to unifying Japan, and he himself was attacked by Nobunaga's forces.

Kycilia ambushed him during the final battle with Abaoakun, and in the final battle where he achieved his ultimate victory, she confirmed her identity as the murderer... Did she think that by killing him she could take his place?

How foolish! This is humanity... I am a fool myself, foolish enough not to notice Kycilia's foolishness.

"Any last words, elder brother?"

"Ha... Karma won't let you get away with this. He'll definitely take revenge for me."

Blood flowed from Kirian's mouth, making him look like a demon from hell.