Gundam: From Piece to Player

If Kalmar wanted to stir up emotions like Gihren did, he shouldn't have mentioned the existence of civilians in the colony, or interrupted the soldiers' thoughts at that moment to continue inciting them.

However, Kalmar did not do that; instead, he took note of the 'public opinion' in the audience.

A nation is a fictional entity formed by the imagination and identity of its citizens. However, when a nation develops to a certain size, its "national will" does not represent all its citizens.

For example, this group of people who were going to smash the colony satellites were soldiers whose mission was to massacre 4 million civilians.

This is not a glorious battle. Even if Zeon wins, they will be condemned as war criminals and executioners... Just look at what happened to Sima to understand.

Dozru and Dagannin's space attack forces will not, and dare not, reveal the truth of the matter as openly as Karma did.

Because in that case, even the strongest army would become demoralized and even waver, and the 101st Army was no exception.

But for Karma, this reaction was entirely expected.

As the atmosphere at the speech gradually cooled down.

Soldiers in the audience began to lead the way in asking him questions.

"General Kalmar, please tell us what to do?"

"Yes, please tell us what to do?"

The quick-witted officers and the less quick-witted soldiers, in a state of repeated questioning, turned into a torrent of questions, their voices surging toward Karma, hoping he could provide an answer.

Karma simply pressed the button.

A battle plan was thus projected into the air, and even those not on the flagship were projected onto the large projector inside the ship.

“There is a third way that can achieve the goal of combat without harming civilians—I have prepared the connectors. All we need to do is move the remaining 20 colonies outside the strike range of the SIDE to connect with the strike colony, and civilians can quickly evacuate through the escape routes.”

After hearing the explanation, the soldiers on the other warships and in the audience gradually calmed down.

If the first two methods were instructions from their own country, then this third method was Kalmar's instruction to them... The general always considered all aspects, rather than treating soldiers as expendable resources.

"However, to accomplish all this, I need more than just the cooperation of the engineering teams to relocate hundreds of millions of people in a short period of time... I need the close cooperation of the entire division."

"Now, I want to ask, can I enlist everyone's help?"

"General, please lend us your strength!" He was met with an overwhelming response.

"Long live 101!" Karma continued to cheer.

Accompanied by this peculiar shout, the officers and soldiers below refrained from chanting the slogan that Karma found repulsive.

replaced by.

"Long live Kalma Zabi!"

The will of nearly ten thousand people surged toward him like a tidal wave.

Kalmar thought to himself, "What do I care about the waves after me?" Louis XV once said, "After me, the waves will rise."

Later history proved that Napoleon was that wave.

Perhaps... he too can become that wave.

.

Compared to the 101st Division, Dozru Fleet A departed earlier, after receiving the mission.

It launched from its home port, accelerated by lunar orbit, and saved fleet fuel by using a gravity slingshot, heading straight for SIDE4 located at Lagrange point L5.

Dagannin's B fleet followed closely behind, also heading towards point L5. They slightly adjusted their course and headed straight for SIDE1.

In order to draw the attention of the Federation fleet, they had to launch their attack hours earlier than the 101st Fleet, which was heading to L4 to attack Side 2.

On the flagship of Fleet A, Dozle was looking ahead from the observation deck, with Char beside him.

Char's outstanding performance in the recent military clashes has indeed won Dozle's favor, and Dozle expects Char to achieve brilliant military exploits in the war.

“Char, I’ve seen your file. Your hometown is Loum (SIDE5), right?”

"Yes, General Dozru."

"Have you brought your parents out yet?" Dozru asked. "I received news today that the Federation Army has deployed ground troops, and Loum may also be within the range of nuclear strikes in the future."

Xia paused for a moment, then said, "My parents are both people who love their hometown, and the Texas colony is a tourist colony built in the style of the American West, so it will not be a target or within the scope of our army's operations."

“Is that so? That’s good.” Dozru took a deep breath. “Soldiers are duty-bound to obey, but they can hardly decide their own fate. I also want to quit like Lamba.”

After realizing the nature of the operation, Ramba Lal chose to feign illness. Although Dozru was unhappy, he did not expose him.

“That’s because you bear the destiny of the Space Attack Force,” Xia said.

"You really know the art of speaking."

Dozru looked at the starry sky.

Come on, Federation forces... let's see if you can stop us and protect what you want to protect.

The line connecting Earth and the Moon, Lagrange 1 point, SIDE 5 Rum, Federal Space Force Forward Command.

It is also the departure base for the Federation's 1st and 4th main fleets.

联邦1个主力舰队配置为7-8艘麦哲伦级战列舰、20-25艘萨拉米斯级巡洋舰，并围绕这些主力舰设置的空母、登陆艇、后勤补给舰。

The Federation forces generally believed that their warships' radar, fire control, guns, and missiles were far superior to the Musai-class cruisers produced by Zeon, except for mobility and speed.

Not only in terms of quality, but also in terms of quantity, the two main fleets in Side 5 are equal in number to the total number of Zeon Space Attack Force fleets.

On the lead ship of the Magellan-class battleships, the flagship of the 1st Fleet, the USS Magellan, two members of the CIC center on the bridge are grumbling while on duty.

"It looks like we won't be able to take a holiday this Christmas."

"Exactly, even if there's going to be a war, let us celebrate the holidays at home first. Even Zeon needs to celebrate Christmas."

Chapter 55 A Bloodstained Christmas

Before they could continue complaining...

They heard the sound of the bridge gates opening, and the two immediately lowered their heads and pretended to be working diligently.

The generals then entered the bridge.

"General, as you command."

"Our army has ordered all colonial fleets not to take leave and to conduct patrols during the holidays."

The staff officer's report made Tianm nod.

“目前第2、第3舰队分别停靠在SIDE2、SIDE4的无人殖民地内，在SIDE1真的不派分舰队力量临时防守？”

Collini confirmed the inquiry.

Tiam responded, "The colonial fleet on the homeland of Side 1 can call on our 3rd Fleet for assistance in defense if it encounters the enemy, so it is not advisable to easily divide our forces."

"The original assignment of the 3rd Fleet to SIDE4 was just a precaution, as it would be almost impossible for Zeon to use high-quality weapons for a landing operation at L5."

"Plunging from here would be too slow, giving us ample time to organize at least four lines of defense."

"At L4 site, setting up mass weapons at SIDE2 is much more dangerous. Mass weapons ignited from here can accelerate by orbiting the moon, and our army has almost no interception window."

"I have dispatched Wakham to lead the Second Main Fleet to lie in ambush at Side 2, while the First and Fourth Fleets will serve as defensive and reserve fleets at Loum, the most important strategic point."

"There are indeed gaps in the defense line, but the 5th and 6th main fleets led by Commander-in-Chief Reibill will complete their reorganization around New Year's Day, at which time the defense line of Side 1 can be reinforced."

Tiam's statement was also impeccable to Corini.

In fact, this was the most approved battle plan by the bureaucrats on Earth.

This plan is not entirely based on military considerations.

SIDE1 has the lowest population, industry, and military value, so its defenses were deployed last.

While SIDE4 may not be strategically important, it is actually quite valuable, so the 3rd main fleet was assigned to defend it.

As for Side 2, needless to say, from a military perspective, this is the most crucial point, and if necessary, it will require Wallen to lead the Second Main Fleet to destroy all mass weapons that could potentially threaten Earth.

"What if Zeon really uses nuclear weapons?" Corini asked.

“If they really do that,” Tianm had to admit, “a perfect defense would require luck.”

“Nuclear weapons with warheads have a strong penetration capability, and the Zeon fleet has a clear advantage over the fleets of the various side colonies. If the plan is carried out as scheduled, civilian casualties will probably be unavoidable.”

"All we can do is seek revenge... Once we successfully intercept the high-quality weapon, our main force will advance into Side 3, completely crush Zeon, and eradicate the soil of separatism."

Tiam took his seat at the command post.

At 3:00 AM on Christmas Day, December 25th, Dagannin led Fleet B to stealthily approach the vicinity of Side 1.

Meanwhile, Dozru Zabi, the commander-in-chief of the Space Attack Force, arrived at Side 4 with Fleet A.

Half an hour later, the patrol fleet surrounding SIDE1 was decapitated by a stealthy MS squad that attacked the bridge.

Subsequently, after reconnaissance, it was confirmed that there was no force capable of retaliating in the space.

Dagannin ordered nuclear strikes against 20 of the most densely populated and industrialized cities in Side 1.

The Zaku of the nuclear strike team was seen carrying a 20-meter-long hydrogen bomb component. Each nuclear strike team consisted of three aircraft and one squad.

Then three large missiles were launched into space.

They flew directly towards the head, middle, and tail of the colony and fired simultaneously.

After the warhead hit the colony.

The next moment, three enormous blue fireballs, like Cerberus, tore the colony into three pieces: the front, the middle, and the rear.

A total of 20 cities are experiencing the same nightmare.

The air we depend on for survival was transformed into a deadly shockwave in less than two minutes.

It claimed hundreds of millions of lives in the sleep of Christmas Eve, and about 30% of the population, 90% of the industry, and the industrial population of SIDE1 also evaporated.

The hydrogen bombs have all been confirmed to have hit their targets, and Dagannin believes the attack was quite successful, judging from the wreckage.

The first wave of nuclear strikes was successfully carried out.

The channel was filled with cheers from [ZICK ZEON].

"Lieutenant General, the strike is complete," the captain reported to him through the communication window.

"You've worked hard. Get back to your unit immediately. We're going to support Lieutenant General Dozru."