Gundam: From Piece to Player

The elders had no choice but to explain this little-known history to Aslan.

The Luna 2 automation system was actually built in four phases. The last three phases were completed by AE, but the first phase of automation was not completed by AE.

It was a little-known small electronics company.

This electronics company was found by the colonial construction contractors at the time.

Since Luna II had not yet been designated for military use by the federal government at the time, it was still regarded as a mining and building materials center for the construction of Side 7.

The functions implemented are mostly in the civilian field—movement (propulsing asteroids), HVAC, electricity, network, and other functions.

After the Federation announced that it would turn this place into the Federation headquarters, AE Corporation, with its strong capabilities, won the subsequent fortress automated defense project contract.

This includes its infrared sensing, laser systems, remote sensing, automatic defense turrets, automatic docks, and more.

A mega-project costing up to $1500 billion.

"Then why not upgrade the first phase of the automation system?" Aslan asked. "Isn't it already being used for military purposes?"

"The first phase of the Automation Federation didn't purchase our services, so we'll just have to make do with this for now," the senior colleague said.

"I see."

Having figured out the whole story, Aslanchi put the matter out of his mind.

If he still has some sense of responsibility to fix things within the scope of AE Company, it is indeed something beyond his capabilities.

After all, his salary was paid by the chairman of Kabain, not the federal government.

What even that senior from AE Company didn't know was that... in 72, the Federation upgraded the first-phase automated system to meet military requirements.

After examining the situation, the AE engineer quoted a price of $245 billion—a staggering five times more than the $5 billion that the federal government could have quoted by hiring a cost consultant.

Using monopolies to blackmail the federal government, even though there is no shortage of corruption within the organization, is still an extremely blatant form of blackmail that is simply too ugly.

At the time, the head of the federal army's procurement, with the intention of saving money for the federal government, blocked the progress of the relevant projects, and AE Company was in no hurry... take it or leave it.

They were certain that the Federation would swallow this loss.

The matter was left unresolved, since the old system was still usable and it wasn't like we couldn't function without it.

No one took it to heart anymore, and then the war broke out.

As with most federal government affairs and reforms, things just dragged on and never came to fruition.

However, this matter was noticed by someone who had been searching for a way to defeat Luna II.

In April 0079, the former project manager in charge of the first phase of the automation system (who had already left the company) and now living in Von Braun was contacted by a female netizen named "Mocha".

The other party quickly explained their purpose.

After hearing the other party's offer of a reward equivalent to $5000 million in digital currency.

This tech guru started spouting nonsense about being a loyal federal citizen and having no conscience.

Having understood his intentions, Mocha increased the reward by 7000 million, appeasing the conscience of this federal citizen.

【Mocha】is naturally Kalmar.

Spending 70 million to buy the backdoor key for the Luna II project was incredibly worthwhile.

He wasn't worried about the other party running away... Sally had already found the other party's address, in case the other party gave him counterfeit goods.

You need to find him in person.

As it turns out, when you spend 70 million to buy something, the other party won't dare to try anything funny.

Before this, Karma directly approached AE to obtain the key to the Luna II automated defense system (the question was actually asked in a more subtle way)... but this time AE was adamant, saying they wouldn't do it no matter how much money they were offered.

AE is indeed a group of profit-driven businessmen, but they still have a lot of business ethics when it comes to such sensitive and large orders.

Perhaps—they knew what Karma wanted to do with that thing.

If they really gave me the key, then even if there is such a "box".

The federal government will also destroy them.

After obtaining the key... Karma quickly had her senior design a virus specifically for it called "Luna," which could bypass the Luna II firewall system.

"General, we've discovered a mass weapon that's accelerating—an asteroid about 15 kilometers in diameter." The staff officers looked horrified.

"is it?"

He said that, but Hua Ken's face had already turned ashen.

If he could, he would prefer that it was a misjudgment on his part.

I never expected that Kalma Zabi would actually dare to use a meteorite to hit Luna 2.

Nine hours after the observation began, WANK finally spotted the incoming meteorite, which was 15 kilometers in diameter. Judging from its trajectory, it had clearly undergone rocket orbit adjustment and acceleration, heading straight for Luna 9.

Is it possible to intercept them using peace messengers?

Waken looked at the nuclear weapons experts.

"Unless a nuclear bomb can be detonated at its core, it is absolutely impossible to intercept."

The expert shook his head and said, "The density and mass of asteroids are incomparable to those of man-made colonies."

Hearing the expert say this, Hua Ken frowned and took a step back: "Would bombing it with nuclear weapons deflect its trajectory?"

The experts looked at each other in dismay. "It's possible that it will deviate from its orbit, but Luna 2 is just too big. If an impact occurs, the consequences... are unimaginable."

As expected of an expert in the use of quality weapons, was this also within Karma Zabi's calculations?

After a moment's thought, Wakham said, "Let those officers and soldiers who were originally going to face a military court stay behind and keep them in key positions. If they survive, their crimes can be pardoned."

"Yes," the staff officer beside him replied.

Then Wachner continued:

"Use as much nuclear arsenal as you can, and activate self-destruct mechanisms for the unused arsenal. Even if there is only a 1% chance, we cannot allow the nuclear arsenal to fall into the hands of Karma Zabi."

"The evacuation operation will be initiated simultaneously... Our fleet will remain at a safe distance and will return to Luna II immediately after the interception or collision is completed."

"Commander Warken, we need to report to General Tiam and Headquarters," a staff officer reminded him.

"Ah."

Hua Ken naturally had no objections; in fact, he hoped that a senior executive at headquarters could make the decision for him.

That way, his own responsibility would be less—he couldn't imagine how much damage and economic loss would be caused to the dock, production machines, and equipment inside Luna 2 if the asteroid had directly collided with it.

Laser communications were automatically transmitted to Jabro and the Tiam fleet on the moon... There was still no response, but time was running out for Wasken to hesitate.

The nuclear weapon was also configured with a dual fuse of impact and remote sensing—aimed at the approaching asteroid.

Combatants and non-combatants also departed from Luna II aboard evacuation ships and warships.

The asteroid was already within sight and within interception range.

On the Magellan-class battleship, Warken issued the launch order.

One by one, peace messengers emerged from the missile silo, their tails blazing as they collided head-on with the incoming asteroid, countless flashes of blue light shimmering across the asteroid's surface.

Nearly 35 peacekeepers exploded in succession.

Peacemakers, capable of effectively destroying human colonies, are utterly powerless when faced with asteroids... Asteroids themselves are extremely dense, and nuclear weapons can only peel off a thin layer of them.

Has the asteroid's orbit shifted?

Hua Ken asked quickly.

"It's shifted!" the experts exclaimed excitedly.

Cheers erupted in the bridge; it seems the Peacekeepers are indeed powerful.

The asteroid was about to fly past Luna 2 when it suddenly lit up with blue light inside before it arrived.

With a massive explosion... the asteroid was shattered into hundreds of pieces, dust and debris.

From a distance, the long potato-shaped Luna II was surrounded by billowing smoke and dust.

Hua Ken suddenly had a bad feeling.

"Order all ships to return to Luna II immediately with me."

Upon approaching, Wakken noticed that the muzzle of Luna II's coastal defense guns was facing in a strange direction.

—Why are you targeting them?

Chapter 160: Fighting with the air

The next moment, the radar alarm system went off.

Damn it, they've been locked on.

"Activate the 'phalanx' system and disperse Minovsky particles!"

Almost simultaneously with Wallace's order, thousands of missile silos on the front of Luna II opened, launching thousands of missiles toward Wallace's fleet.

Before the fleet entered the dense fog of Minosky particles, missiles had already roared in. Warships that activated [Phalanx] pulled out beam disruption screens and released a large number of interceptor missiles... Those warships that were unprepared and had not activated their shields were not so lucky.

They were reduced to dazzling nuclear fireworks in this attack.

Did Luna II betray us?

Meanwhile, Wakney's brain was constantly skipping processes... His military academy training forced him to skip processes he couldn't understand and continue giving commands.

"Once the concentration reaches the baseline value, warships and mobile suit units prepare to attack. The enemy is just outside Luna II."

The enemy should not have entered Luna II yet.

Although the methods by which Kalma Zabi controlled Luna 2 are unknown.

But what if Wakney is Kalma Zabi?

In pursuit of maximum damage, they will certainly seize any opportunity to launch a surprise attack on their own fleet... This is also where Huaken can take advantage of the situation to launch a defensive counterattack.

...However, a full five minutes passed, and nothing happened.

Hua Ken hadn't even seen the enemy yet, and despite his strong will, he was sweating profusely under the immense pressure.

Are we going to lose the Federal Headquarters in our hands?

Despite sensing that he had completely lost the initiative in the battle, Huaken still issued the order: "All MS units, prepare to suppress the Luna II C-sector Command."