Gundam: From Piece to Player

Barney almost clapped his hands raw.

His Excellency Kalmar spoke almost without any unnecessary words. Compared to Commander-in-Chief Killian's emotionally charged speech, his speech was more like a sharp knife, dissecting the black box called "status quo" and revealing the inner blood vessels and nerves to everyone. It was shocking enough that no one could pretend to be an ostrich anymore.

This committee is certainly not suitable for that noble lady named Toto; if she were to hear Lord Kalmar's speech, she would only raise more objections.

"I once discovered the specification differences between different equipment in our country and proposed the Peisen Project. It's not that I'm being modest, but it really did reduce the difficulty of logistics. This is also the work left for you representatives. Each of you should submit at least one proposal based on your position and the problems you have discovered, along with a solution... The committee will verify the significance and feasibility of these proposals one by one."

Karma took out the terminal in her hand and waved it. "You can upload your data here. It has a basic artificial intelligence system that can conduct preliminary reviews, so that you don't submit proposals with major flaws. Please keep it safe. If it is lost, the fee will be deducted directly from your salary."

After obtaining the terminal.

Barney looked at it and found no trademarks or decorative features; it looked more like a prototype after it had left the factory.

The audience then realized that Lord Kalmar was the president of Deep Space Industries—wasn't he also developing more powerful weapons? Thinking of this, Barney admired him even more.

He believed what His Excellency Kalmar said: the existence of the committee in the 101st Division was not a secret.

The committee's launch meeting lasted for two hours. As the time came, the participants left one by one, and Sally went backstage.

Karma was already seated, staring at the laptop screen, her fingers flying across the keyboard.

“That Miss Toto was quite arrogant just now,” Sally suddenly said, leaning close behind Karma.

"They actually dared to set up that kind of projected image for me!"

Upon hearing this, Karma got up and went to chase after Sally.

"No, senior, you seem to be really into your performance. Aren't you enjoying it?"

Sally laughed and dodged around the load-bearing pillars: "Miss Michael Toto's character is great, isn't it? She won't appear in the 101st Division again."

The two chased each other and playfully fought for a while.

The projection technology in the Universal Century is very advanced, capable of magnifying people to a thousand times their original size. Naturally, there are also special spy equipment designed to disguise identities.

While it's impossible to do this right after changing clothes, by using key projections in certain areas and light refraction, one can easily achieve the effects of "disguise" and "change hairstyle".

As long as you don't touch it directly with your hands, people around you won't easily notice anything unusual.

Karma's purpose in putting on this show was, of course, to further refine these individuals selected by AI, and Alice would continue to observe their development.

"Oh no, I'm not playing anymore, I'm not wearing running shoes."

After chasing her for a few laps, Sally gave up trying to escape. She unilaterally declared the game over.

"It's childish to say you don't want to play when you're about to lose."

But Karma wasn't about to let her off so easily. She pulled her into a tight embrace from behind, inhaling the fragrance of her hair with adoration, savoring the beautiful moment.

"Senior, what's wrong?" Sally asked, seemingly noticing his unusual behavior.

“Sally, I’ve made all the arrangements. For me, can you become a real ‘girl’?”

Without saying anything more than confessing her feelings, Sally turned to look at the person behind her. Karma's smile had vanished, replaced by a gloomy expression.

"No problem, is it for surgery? Where and when?"

"This June, I will be visiting Side 6 with the Zeon delegation. I have already contacted a well-trained female doctor there to completely get rid of these unnecessary worries."

After Karma finished speaking, she tried to reach down with the hand that was on Sally's waist, but Sally grabbed it first.

"Senior, please don't touch me like that."

"I'm sorry, I lost my composure."

Karma looked apologetic and released Sally.

"It's alright, it's alright. You seem to be in a bad mood today. Let's go to another colony to relax."

"Not today, I have work to do."

"I'll cancel it for you. Resting is for better work, and there's a long road ahead."

Chapter 24 Tanks and Armored Troops (Part 1)

Despite some unpleasant events, Karma focused on continuing to strengthen the 101st Airborne Division.

If you have enough strength, others won't dare to say anything reckless.

The recruitment process for the 101st Airborne Division is now complete.

吉翁普通的师级舰队编制是9艘姆塞战舰搭载1个MS作战大队（30机），总计3艘帕普亚级补给舰搭载1支通讯、医疗、侦察队，共1000人左右。

As the 101st Airborne Division undertakes more occupation and suppression missions, in addition to the above configuration, it also has 3 infantry regiments, plus auxiliary troops such as armored vehicles, heavy artillery, air defense, and engineers, with a total strength of 6000.

The rest of the units, including the MS units, went smoothly, but the armored units caused quite a stir.

During the training and integration process, it was discovered that the quality of the subordinate armored soldiers was quite worrying; even Kalmar could tell that they were a group of amateurs.

Even in the Universal Century, there is still no substitute for armored forces.

This is almost a necessity, especially for Earth attack forces.

Another day of internal training exercises. Watching the 101st Division's armored battalion (13 units) being defeated by a small squad of mobile suits, Karma couldn't help but glance at Oliver May, who was also watching the battle from the side.

"Oliver, based on your understanding of the current Zeon armored forces, don't we Zeon troops have any senior officers?"

“Armored troops are in a rather awkward position within Zeon’s order of battle,” Oliver said. “Or rather, our selection process is flawed.”

"Awkward?"

"They all failed the MS exam and were transferred to civilian jobs. Becoming an MS pilot is much better than being an armored soldier."

In Zeon, the treatment of piloting mobile suits is also reflected in future expected combat achievements. Those who drive tanks are indeed considered inferior. However, the awkward part is that there are thresholds to getting into battle as a mobile suit pilot.

In the original world line, Zeon deployed a total of 2920 mobile suits during the Loum campaign. This means that there were approximately 3000 people in Zeon with the capability to pilot mobile suits in combat. This is not Zeon's production capacity limit, but rather the limit of the number of elite or higher-level mobile suit pilots.

Reibill even gave a famous speech, "Zeon has no more troops to use"... This does not mean that Zeon's national strength was exhausted, but that it suffered a large number of mobile suit losses, including many members of the training squad.

Within a month of the start of the war, the majority of Zeon mobile suit pilots were lost in the anti-aircraft fire of Federation battleships.

According to the records, attacking a warship seems to be a very simple matter; just get close to the bridge and take it out with one shot.

But that's based on the premise of ACE. Try having an ordinary pilot try to break through the Magellan-class air defense network.

Although Kalmar's upgraded cockpit significantly reduced the difficulty of operation, the military stopped placing orders after 100 were produced.

The reason is that if the Federation were to capture and replicate such a cockpit, the Federation's MS naval tactics would receive a terrifying boost.

Karma finally understood the logic behind this: "No wonder the quality of the armored forces is so low."

"If you are looking for a tank expert, I do know someone who is also a technical officer and has participated in cutting-edge technology experimental projects of the Zeon Military Development Bureau. However, he has been a bit depressed lately, drinking heavily all day and just drifting through life."

"Who?"

Karma thought to herself that she shouldn't keep people in suspense at a time like this.

"Major Dimeguier Songren is now an instructor in the armored division of the military academy."

Karma also remembered this person after hearing this.

He is indeed a talented person; he is the designer and engineer of "Wolf Fighter".

Although this machine itself has many flaws.

Karma also had some ideas about tank units. He believed that tanks, which were still on the historical stage, had battlefield stealth and fire support capabilities that mobile suits could not match, and their cost was also unmatched.

One Zaku is worth the same as 30 Type 61 tanks. In other words, disregarding human lives, exchanging two tank squadrons for one mobile suit is profitable.

"Does Your Excellency intend to personally recruit him?"

“No rush, no rush.” Karma smiled and shook his head. “Let’s issue training requirements to the training school in the name of our army. Ability is secondary; we need to see if they have the determination to get back on their feet and whether they have the potential to become the next ‘Guderian’.”

As war approaches, the armored division of the Zeon Military Academy, in addition to its own teaching tasks, undertakes more of the training requirements of various units... namely, to simulate the resistance that Zeon forces might encounter when attacking colonies, assuming the role of the Federation as the hypothetical enemy.

Although many of his colleagues in the armored division loathed the mission of being used as a target, Major Song Ren thought it was just a routine task, and there was even an allowance to go to nightclubs for drinks, so what was wrong with that?

Anyway, tank and armored soldiers will eventually retire from the battlefield. While they can still make a living as professionals, they should take every day they can. When they finally retire, they can save some money, right?

This site was formerly a Union Army garrison base – simulating a combat environment within the colony.

Song Ren, who had casually thrown on a military jacket with the collar not even turned up properly, sneaked into the exercise command post.

"Commander, the troops are in position."

"Major, today's training troops... you were drinking again this morning?" The chief of the training corps at the training headquarters frowned and gestured for his secretary to hand the electronic file to Song Ren.

Knowing the reason for Song Ren's downfall, the Chief of Staff did not make things too difficult for him.

Song Ren let out a burp and took the training objectives and requirements handed to him by his secretary.

"101st Airborne Division, an unfamiliar unit?"

"This is Lord Karma's direct force. It has grown quite large in less than two months since its establishment. Its equipment and supplies are said to be at the level of an enhanced division."

"It's a core unit, nothing special. Wasn't it the same when Kycilia joined the army?"

“This is quite different. Your military capabilities are far superior to Kycilia’s.”

"...That's quite interesting. I'll go and meet this young master." Song Ren remarked, picked up the military bottle containing the liquor, took a sip, and thought to himself that after today's battle, he'd have something to talk about at the tavern.

As the clock struck 10:00, and the participants moved into their attack positions, Song Ren's five tank training regiments also took their positions and entered their pre-designated positions.

The training regiment was modeled after the Federal Army's organization, consisting of three tank companies with a total of 40 tanks of various types. Each company had 13 tanks along with other vehicles, and each platoon had 4 tanks. The company commander was responsible for command.

"This is the training command post. Are you ready?" the Chief of Staff asked, turning on the radio.

"It's ready." The voice from the 101st Division sounded very young, which surprised the Chief of Training, because he had seen the owner of the voice at the banquet.

That gentleman actually intends to personally command this battle?

Chapter 25 Tanks, Armored Corps (Part 2)

Song Ren had already put on a communication headset and climbed into the twin-gun turret of a Type 61 tank, which is 9 meters long and is currently the mainstay land combat equipment of the Federal Army.

It has been 17 years since it was developed and put into service.

With Zeon's technological capabilities, this old equipment can be completely reverse engineered.

The training exercise was set against the backdrop of an annihilation battle. The 101st Division, as the attacking force, was tasked with suppressing all available manpower within the colony, while Song Ren's Federal Tank Regiment was the obstacle.

Song Ren has played the role of the hypothetical enemy so many times that he is quite skilled at it. This battle is also quite common, as he has not won a single one since the training began.

Leaving aside the MS's top-attack advantage in tank warfare.