Gundam: From Piece to Player

The air was thick with the smell of engine oil. In the center of the arena stood a robotic arm over 5 meters tall, undergoing gripping training... This was the arm of a mobile suit.

Mobile Suit Gundams are still nominally classified as a secret in Zeon, but this kind of information is no longer worth much on the black market and can even pose a risk to oneself. Special police under the Zeon SS will send such people to Colony 66 to serve their sentences for attempting to disrupt public order.

It typically takes 4-5 years for a country to adjust to a state of war, mobilize its citizens, and start a wartime economy. For Zeon, the War of Independence was an inevitable event, the only difference being whether it happened sooner or later.

Since its founding, the Federation's continuous resource embargoes and economic sanctions have caused Side3 to experience a period of migration away from the wetlands, economic depression, and soaring prices.

The hatred of the Zeon people towards the Federation government accumulated like kindling, to the point that Gihren only needed to light one fire to set the entire Earth Sphere ablaze.

Defense industry giants like Zeonnik and Zmad place orders with parts manufacturers across the country, integrating upstream and downstream supply chains and undertaking various types of technological breakthroughs. Zeon's universities, as research institutions, are deeply involved in this process.

"Senior, I'd like to ask you about this."

"You can check page 121 of the Mechanical Engineering textbook."

"Senior, could you take a look at my graduation project?"

A group of college students surrounded the blond-haired young man in the middle, asking him questions. Karma watched quietly from the side, and couldn't help but recall his college days in his previous life. He used to be an engineering student studying mechanical engineering and had participated in Formula One racing.

After dealing with the group of students, the young man discovered that Karma was actually waiting for him.

"I'm sorry, Lord Karma, I'm too busy."

"Oliver, just call me by my name."

"Yes, Your Excellency Kalmar."

This wasn't the first time the two had met.

Kalmar couldn't do anything about him either. Oliver May, the mechanical engineer from the former 603rd Test Squadron, was just an ordinary master's student at the time.

"The learning environment is great. Have you ever thought about taking your academic studies further and pursuing a PhD?"

“It’s better to go to Gianninauka, it’s too tiring.” Oliver waved his hand.

“I’m here to talk to you about that matter,” Karma said, revealing her purpose.

"Wait a moment... let's find a quiet place."

Oliver led Kalma to his private office. "Are you really determined to start a business?"

“Yes,” Karma said. “For MS equipment modification and optimization, we provide the design and make the prototype. As for subsequent mass production, we will cooperate with other equipment factories. Are you interested?”

Starting a business means profit and financial freedom, but it also means huge risks, especially now that the economy in Geon is not doing well.

If it were an ordinary 17-year-old coming to Oliver, Oliver would only find it ridiculous.

But if the person coming to him is the youngest son of the Zabi family, the first family of Zeon, then that's a different story.

Moreover, this gentleman himself has many interesting ideas. The two met online, and Oliver simply thought this online friend was very impressive.

When they met in person, he realized that he might have won a lottery prize worth at least ten million.

"If you were to start a business, what products would you be planning to produce?"

"This is why I've come to see you today."

Karma took out a miniature 3D projector, pressed a button, and a touchable 3D model was projected into the air.

Just like presenting a project proposal, Kalmar conveyed his ideas in about ten minutes.

"Change the MS operating method?"

"Yes, I've thought about it. The existing MS operating system is too complicated... To be precise, the operation is too complicated and there's too much information during intense battles, which takes up a lot of the pilot's energy. There's no point in pursuing micro-management too much."

"You want to change the OS? But I remember the existing cockpit already has pre-input functionality."

“I need to redesign the cockpit, a complete hardware overhaul,” Kalma asked. “If you were to do it, how long would it take you to design it?”

"One month."

"Doesn't sound difficult?" Karma was somewhat surprised.

"Sir, I do have a master's degree in mechanical engineering, so of course I can do it, but that requires all sorts of resources to be in place." Oliver chuckled and countered, "You want to do it now?"

"No, what I mean is that you teach me how to make it, from the initial feasibility analysis, I'll help you solve the parts problem, to the final testing phase. Of course, the compensation won't be small either."

This money was really hard to come by, and Oliver felt a little ashamed.

Teaching and research should not be confused. Many professors in universities mainly do research and their teaching ability is quite average, which leads to students having to learn on their own.

You might as well give me all the resources, and I'll finish it for you in a month.

"Okay, I'll teach you."

Although he gave that answer, Oliver thought to himself that this young master probably hadn't studied engineering courses and would likely give up after a brief encounter.

This can't be rushed.

"Let's begin now, Your Excellency."

"So eager?"

"I need to know what knowledge you possess."

Oliver said tactfully, and Karma understood his meaning: he wanted her to back down.

"Let's begin then."

Karma thought to himself, "Then your plan is going to fail."

Chapter 3 Boys

The inspection has concluded.

To Oliver's surprise, Kalmar handled all the mechanical engineering questions he posed very well.

Have you ever had a private tutor or taken courses taught by university professors?

"Self-taught." Kalma asked, "What level am I at now?"

"That's impressive, you're already at the level of a third-year student at our university."

"Oh."

Kalmar's expression remained unchanged as he thought to himself that this was the change brought about by the times. The difficulty of undergraduate engineering mechanical studies was much higher. Although he had graduated with an engineering degree in his previous life and immediately became an engineer after employment, in this era, he could only become a college student without graduating by relying on self-study.

Why should we learn on our own?

It wasn't that he couldn't make a request, but rather that his elderly father sent him to university after he made one. For Kalmar, all of this was now secondary to gaining military power.

"You're only 17 years old now. In a regular university, you'd be a junior in high school. You can definitely pursue further studies when you get to college," Oliver encouraged, patting him on the shoulder.

Karma wished he had plenty of time, but he no longer did.

"Can you improve your knowledge to the point where you can build this device this summer?"

"If you don't need to rest, that's probably possible. You can connect with me remotely every night. I can't quit this university job right now."

Oliver also described his predicament.

Karma thought to herself that even a master's degree holder doesn't have an easy time surviving, otherwise they wouldn't have to go to the front lines as a technician after the war broke out.

After confirming a few more things with Oliver, Kalma returned to the military academy.

Although the military academy is on summer vacation, some students do not go home.

Or perhaps they have nowhere to go.

With these thoughts in mind, Karma returned to her military academy dormitory with two takeout meals from the university cafeteria. There was also a 'prince' living in her dormitory.

"Kalma, you're back?" A deep, magnetic male voice rang out.

Do you have a cold?

"I overtrained a bit just now."

"I'll be taking online classes for the next few days, so it's not very convenient at home. I brought you some food."

"thank you."

A blond man wearing a vest came down from the top bunk. Kalma had wondered what meaningful things this "Hamlet" would do during the summer vacation, but she never expected him to just lie in bed and sleep.

However, as Karma's gaze fell upon the completely soaked light green camouflage uniform in the laundry tub, she realized that Char had probably gone to the mountain training ground for another training exercise this morning, and might have been exhausted from physical exertion.

"Your parents live in Side 5, Texas, right? With such a long summer vacation, you should at least go back and visit them."

“Going back will only lead to arguments; they are against me joining the army.”

Char Aznable glanced at him with his blue eyes, but Karma pretended not to notice and started eating his takeout.

“I asked Third Brother for you. He said that at the earliest by the end of the year, we will select a group of students from the officer school to intern at the MS Training Brigade, and then select the best candidates.”

Thanks.

"Sounds like they're certain to win?"

"I drove a Type 61 when I was 10 years old, it's a piece of cake."

"You're just bragging," Karma said, though she secretly thought that Char might actually have driven one.

"We'll find out then." Xia Ya changed the subject. "What have you been busy with lately?"

"If I were busy with engineer certification, I would be able to handle the logistics management of ordnance and ammunition more easily when war breaks out."

Karma wasn't telling the truth; he remained wary of his bunkmate, and Char probably sensed this as well.

My childhood memories are still very clear. Our fathers were the closest comrades-in-arms during the founding of the People's Republic of China. They had many gatherings in public places, big and small. Now, they just tacitly haven't made a move on their relationship.

"You're really working hard. Are you trying to prove yourself to your family?"

Char opened his lunchbox and casually provoked him.

"I just want to do things entirely according to my own wishes."

"Then you should work hard, Karma."

Hearing Karma's eloquent reply, Char seemed to lose interest and simply ended the conversation.

For the next ten days or so, Karma accompanied Char to the mountain training ground for running and training in the mornings, studied on her own or went to the Peizeng base to open MS in the afternoons, and attended Oliver's online classes in the evenings.

After purchasing daily necessities at the military academy's store, Karma paid the bill as usual and was about to leave when she heard a commotion.

“I saw what he bought.”

"You're disgusting."