Gundam: From Piece to Player

"Are you having an affair?"

“I don’t have a girlfriend yet. I have a little flirtation with Sally, but it doesn’t count as a relationship.”

Kalmar knew this wasn't exactly a secret, so he decided to make it public.

"You're very honest, that's a bonus for you."

"Is there a rating system? Is it out of 100?"

“No, it’s out of 150,” Alice continued. “Big brother, could you define what I shouldn’t tell the Doctor?”

"I can't tell the Doctor about my private conversations with Sally and Oliver, but I can tell him about the rest."

Karma said, "If you do this, one day it will be exposed, and the Doctor's credibility in their eyes will be greatly reduced. In human social relationships, trust comes at a cost, and eavesdropping is tantamount to betrayal."

"I understand." Alice nodded obediently.

"If it's possible, there's something I'd like you to help me with."

"Is there anything I can do to help you with?"

The next day, Karma took Alice into Zeon's national library, and to avoid drawing attention, he wore in-ear headphones.

"I thought you would take me to sneak into a military restricted area or the commander-in-chief's mansion or something."

"Are you a very good hacker?"

"Ordinary firewalls can't stop me."

Even though Alice said that, Kalmar had no interest in taking the risk to go on adventures in those places. The Universal Century library mainly used e-books because the cost of preserving paper books was getting higher and higher.

Is there anything confidential here?

Kalmar started a computer and connected the data cable to the terminal.

"Alice, I need you to copy the relative locations of each of the SIDE1, SIDE2, SIDE4, and SIDE5 colonies with more than 500 million people, along with a map of the area they are located in. This should be available in the tourist brochure category."

"receive."

About five minutes later, Alice replied, "All done. What will I use it for?"

“Develop a battle plan,” Karma replied.

In August 1977, Deep Space purchased new equipment, recruited new personnel, and officially opened for business with the help of its partners. It received a total order from the Zeon military for 50 cockpits. The military required that these 50 cockpits be universal and portable, and that they be compatible with MS-05 and other aircraft models.

Kalmar then proposed the concept of a spherical cockpit, which would completely modularize the exterior of the cockpit into a spherical escape pod, fully integrating the operating system into it, and requiring other MS suppliers to standardize the peripheral interfaces of the next generation of mobile suits.

The proposal also addressed potential logistical problems arising from the current incompatibility of ammunition and parts specifications among various weapons suppliers.

This suggestion quickly caught Dozru's attention, and after relaying it to Kirian, Kirian promptly issued the Commander-in-Chief's order.

It requires all military industrial enterprises to use universal specifications for weapons and parts produced after January 1978, and to achieve more than 60% modular assembly for parts of the next generation of equipment.

Compared to the "Integration and Preparation Plan" hastily proposed after the start of the war in the main timeline due to the exposure of logistical problems, this is different from the previous plan.

Zeon's domestic defense industry had more time to adjust and address this potential threat, and Kalmar's reputation was further enhanced by this forward-thinking proposal.

But that's not enough for Karma... He needs to gain even more attention and keep pushing.

On December 23, 1977, as the company gradually got back on track, on the eve of Christmas, Kalmar, having completed its preparations, made its next move.

"Kalma, you wish to apply to join the Federation Army?"

"Yes."

After Kalma submitted his online application for the selection defense to the Military Oversight Council.

The Federation representative, the garrison military supervisor, looked as incredulous as if he had heard the sun set in the east, and immediately summoned Karma.

“There are no problems with the system and procedures, right? The Federation Space Force recruits elites from various Sides every year, doesn’t it?” Karma said confidently. “I see through the corruption of the Zabi family. The country of Zeon is turning into a giant prison that suffocates me.”

The Federation has established a Colonial Self-Defense Force Military School in each Side, and a Federation Space Force Military Oversight Council.

The military academy graduates were monitored to prevent officers with independent or separatist ideas from infiltrating the colonial self-defense forces. At the same time, the Federation Space Force was responsible for supplying talent to the Federation Space Force. In the era before the Titans rose to prominence, more than half of the Federation Space Force's personnel did indeed come from various sides.

Only in Side 3, a country named after the independence activist Geon Deikun, is it a place where criticizing the federal government is a daily task, and separatists are everywhere.

The purpose of this organization is to waste federal taxpayers' money.

"Did you get the military academy principal's approval for this? This requires going through procedures..." The bald-headed federal military supervisor lacked confidence because he could tell that Karma had obviously come with a mission.

Chapter 17 Diplomatic Events

Kalmar handed over a document bag in an exquisite sheepskin envelope, from which he took out a document bearing Prince Dejin's handwritten signature and the Prime Minister's Office's security mark.

With this, there's no need for Dozru's approval, since Dozru, the military academy's principal, was personally appointed by Dekind.

"I need to apply to my superiors for this; I cannot make a decision on this myself."

The military supervisor wiped away a cold sweat. If Dejin agreed, this would no longer be a personal matter.

This is a diplomatic incident.

Is this a political signal the Zabi family is trying to send, or are there differing opinions within the Zabi family? Either way, it's not something someone of his rank can decide, especially at a time when global tensions are escalating.

"Sir, please report this."

Kalma's move was somewhat risky, but it also coincided with the views of her father, Dejin Zabi, a conservative who was pessimistic about the prospects of the war and wanted to ease tensions.

A few days ago, at a private villa belonging to the Zabi family.

Dejin put down Karma's combat notes.

"I never expected you to have such military talent. It's just that this plan is a bit too cruel, Karma. In your eyes, war will eventually break out, won't it?"

“Yes, Father,” Karma said, “but the timing of the war also means that we are facing a Federation of varying strengths.”

"How is it different?"

"If we start a war now, none of the sides will stand with us. We Zeon will use one side to fight against the entire Earth Sphere."

"Ten years from now, in UC0087, the federal government will continue to collapse due to the ever-increasing population problem. Without reform, it will be a slow death. The reformists will inevitably shake the interests of the conservatives, and the possibility of civil war breaking out in the Federation is extremely high. At that time, we Zeon will issue a formal declaration of independence. The federal government will not have the energy to deal with us. At that time, we can create a fait accompli of independence without sacrificing a single soldier."

“But your brother can’t wait.” Despite his age and the fact that he had been sidelined by Kilian, Deakin was still aware of everything that was happening outside.

“I understand. I’m just using this battle plan to provoke the federal government, to make them accelerate mobilization and preparations. It’s also to calm my brother down so that the timing of the war can be delayed. Even if it can’t be delayed for ten years, it can be delayed for three or four years. We Zeon need strategic composure.”

"But if war breaks out, wouldn't leaking intelligence like this allow the Federation to deploy defenses in these areas earlier?"

"Father, this is just a plan."

Hearing Karma say this, Dejin gripped the scepter in his hand tightly. "Then go, Karma."

The recollection ended, and now, on the very day the application was submitted, Kalma was summoned to the principal's office by Dozru that afternoon.

"Kalma, what are you going to do?"

Unlike before, Dozru gave Karma a strong sense of pressure from the headmaster right from his words.

“Brother, I don’t really want to join the Federation Army.”

As expected, Karma calmly took out Dekin's endorsement, "It's Father's idea. The Federation Army will see this move as a show of weakness on our part to ease the situation."

"Has Father gotten senile? What if the Federal Army really agrees? Wouldn't you become a hostage?"

Karma sighed inwardly. Every time Dozru met his father, it was as if he had met his nemesis. He had grown up under the Prussian-style education system, and even though Dekin was old, Dozru was like an elephant that had been chained since childhood. Dozru still dared not disobey Dekin.

It's rare for someone to utter such a "curse," so it seems they're genuinely worried about Karma's safety.

After coming into this world, besides his father, only Dozru would worry about him.

Karma has only spoken to Gihren a handful of times, while Kycilia's words are always full of rules and lessons. To put it bluntly, these two are biological brothers and sisters. Karma wouldn't have any qualms about killing them.

“If it’s true, then I’ll go. It should lull the Federation forces into a false sense of security,” Karma said.

Dozru hesitated for a second or two, his taut scars revealing that he was considering the feasibility, but he immediately refused, "Kalma, you're joking."

“Third brother, how about this? If they really agree, we can just stage an accident,” Karma said. “Because of my ‘serious injury’ that prevented me from continuing my studies, I transferred to Zeon Institute of Technology.”

“Fine, if the Federation really agrees, you have to drop out of school immediately.” Dozru finally accepted this and reluctantly agreed.

"Reporting to the general, there is an urgent military situation..." The door was knocked on by a series of crisp knocks.

"Come in."

A sharp-looking, serious-looking young Zeon officer with a single ponytail walked into the principal's office. He glanced at Karma for a moment and nodded at her.

Although she had never spoken to him, Karma knew that the man was called Kado. There was no trace of confusion in his eyes; he was now a model elite in the Space Attack Force.

"Hmm." Dozru took the electronic recorder, and after a dozen seconds, his brows furrowed. "To conduct a fleet exercise of this scale over Granada..."

"Brother, I'll be going now."

"Ah."

Kalmar did not linger and took the opportunity to leave.

Too many details prove that the most brutal war is already on its countdown, and the injustices and anger accumulated since the founding of Zeon have sprouted into the withered grass of hatred.

All attempts to stop it would be futile, but Kalmar still wanted to try, driven by the most basic human morality, rather than standing idly by in the face of one of the cruelest atrocities in human history.

Back in the dormitory, Xia Ya, wrapped in a bath towel, had just come out of the bathroom and was gazing at the green plants outside the balcony while using a hairdryer to dry his hair.

Unsurprisingly, he has successfully passed the secret selection and entered the MS Training Brigade, taking another step forward in his revenge plan.

"Kalma, you're back?"

"Ah."

"Your grades seem to have slipped recently, is that alright?"

"Fortunately."

Kalma placed a bag of apples she had brought back from the special supply store on the table.

"A year and a half of study, the military academy courses are intensive, and being number one in academic and sports grades is meaningless. In terms of technical and professional courses, the Geon Institute of Technology in Side 3 is much stronger. Its only advantage is that there are scholarships available and a way to join the military."

Karma put the apple in a basin of water to wash it, and then continued the topic that Char had brought up.

"Judging from your tone, you don't plan to join the army after graduation?"

"Go, but only go back to training after you have troops under your command. I'll go to the weapons research and development department in the meantime. The military is constantly upgrading the performance of mobile soldiers? Domestic universities are now doing all sorts of research on the militarization of mobile engineers. I need to understand the performance of technical weapons."

"That's good. It seems you already have plans for the future."

"Want to come with me?" Karma invited.