Gundam: From Piece to Player

Approximately 200 mobile suits, equipped with Dede's flying skateboards, launched a surprise attack on the Federation Air Force using smoke grenades and beam weapons.

Karma and Alice also coordinated defense operations in the air aboard ZUDA, barely managing to withstand the terrifying bombing by the [Air Force].

The battle lasted from 7 a.m. to 3 a.m. the next day. After 20 hours, the battle lines gradually came to a standstill.

Although the Federation had entered the city of the first line of defense, it was unable to take the city in one fell swoop. The forces of both sides were locked in a tug-of-war in the city, fighting for hills, highlands, factories, and high-rise buildings.

The Federation troops, who had taken the mysterious pill, discovered that the Zeon troops had just as much stamina as they did and seemed tireless.

The battle continued into the night before the Federation learned of the situation from some of the captured Zeon prisoners—

The Zeon army dug numerous tunnels connecting the cities along the first line of defense, enabling cities to reinforce each other and even rotate garrisons.

As reconnaissance intelligence increased, reports began to emerge that an underground tunnel network had been dug beneath the highlands, which also served as supply routes. This allowed Zeon's supplies to be delivered safely through the underground tunnels, while the Federation's supply convoys had to play a game of "you bomb, I dodge" with Zeon's artillery.

This news spread quickly within the Union Army, and the morale that had been slightly boosted by the strong air support was dampened by the truth.

Any battle that becomes a siege war consumes astronomical amounts of logistical supplies for the army, not to mention the inability to guarantee logistical routes. The logistics, which was once praised for ensuring that the Federation army could be fed, experienced a shortage of supplies for the first time since the start of the war.

The federal government had to take a day off on the 18th to wait for supplies to arrive.

During this period, Rebil also convened a meeting with the generals of other legions to discuss strategies for defeating the enemy.

"We must blow up the Zeon army's tunnels in order to take down this line of defense in one fell swoop. Otherwise, even if we wear them down for half a year, our logistics will not be able to hold out until then."

Lieutenant General Bruce, the commander of the Eastern Army Group, drew this conclusion.

Rebil nodded steadily, agreeing with the other party's statement.

During wartime, ammunition production capacity is limited no matter how much it is increased; the production speed cannot outpace the ammunition consumption rate.

"Bruce, what do you think we should do?"

Reibill asked, and Bruce, the most experienced Zeon land commander, also brought a solution.

"...Armored engineering units were dispatched to excavate earthworks around the 'gaps' in the first line of urban defense, blast open these interconnected tunnels, and then enter the tunnels to plant explosives, thus rendering these interconnected tunnels unusable."

It's like blowing up all the blood vessels around a cell that transport nutrients, reducing or eliminating nutrient transport, making it easy to take down the first line of defense.

This is indeed feasible, but the cost would be that armored engineering units would have to operate under Zeon's artillery fire.

The engineering corps responsible for this mission will likely suffer heavy casualties.

Chapter 125 End the war before Christmas

Upon hearing this operational plan, the generals of the Western Army Group and the Back Army Group, whose main personnel came from Western Europe and North America, were furious with Bruce's "solution".

Training armored engineering units takes time, and in principle, they shouldn't be used for such risky ventures.

Moreover, this was done on a battlefield amidst the chaos of war.

Even if the Zeon army were to show mercy and not bomb the engineers, they would still need to conduct reconnaissance beforehand to determine the amount of explosives to be used.

If we act too hastily, all we will pay is blood and sacrifice.

"Can we use bunker buster bombs instead?"

Rebil looked at the commander of the Air Force Group, who shook his head after hearing this.

"Commander-in-Chief, it's still a matter of ammunition. Putting aside the destructive effect of bunker buster bombs on tunnels, the first line of defense is simply too long. Even if we use all the bunker buster bombs, I'm afraid the effect will be minimal."

"Use everything you can," Rebil sighed. "It's worth it if it saves us from losing a single soldier."

"Yes."

The plan was thus finalized, and Reibald ordered the Western Army Group, Northern Army Group, and Eastern Army Group to send armored engineering units to carry out the task of demolishing the tunnels.

Meanwhile, the federal engineering corps braved artillery fire to conduct bomb disposal, and Kalmar, upon discovering this, handed the task over to Mark Bay.

Mark Bay directed the Earth Prospectors to clear the tunnels while also using them to intercept and kill the Federation's Earth Tunneling Forces. The two sides engaged in battle around the underground tunnels of Odessa.

Mark Bay, who had a penchant for giving names, nicknamed this conflict the "Mole Wars."

The tug-of-war over the engineering operation lasted for a week, with both sides expending countless engineering explosives. However, the Federation's armored engineering corps was still larger than the Earth's exploration forces.

The tunnels were gradually blocked up.

On the night of November 22, Karma, having determined that the defenses were beyond repair, ordered the Zeon troops stationed on the high ground to withdraw from the first line of defense and move to the second line.

The reason is that the damage to the first line of defense has reached 70%, which is not conducive to the exchange of defense between cities. Without underground tunnels, each city will be divided into isolated islands.

...Moreover, the Federation hasn't even started bombing the more secretive logistics pipelines yet.

After the Zeon army withdrew, the Federation forces were exhausted, and the effects of the "happy pills" had worn off. They no longer had the strength to inspect the newly captured cities.

They couldn't wait to plant the federal flag on the city's landmark buildings.

On November 23, the federal troops rotating in the rear began to celebrate their "interim" victory.

General Reibald, who had not appeared in public for a long time, regained his usual composure and calmness in a news interview.

"General, do you think the Battle of Odessa can be completed before Christmas?" a reporter asked General Rebil.

"I can't say for sure... I'll do it as soon as possible." Rebil's answer made the reporters present laugh.

"What would you like to say to your opponent, Garma Zabi of the Zeon army?"

"No... Our Federation forces are willing to accept the surrender of Zeon soldiers, but I will send the mastermind of the Great Britain Project a fine noose."

Rebil believed that the Zeon army had been compressed into Odessa and the adjacent Crimean region.

This is Zeon's second line of defense, built along a small area north of the Crimean Peninsula. The front is already 100-200 kilometers long. This place is quite difficult to fight, but Rebil believes the situation is under control.

The Zeon army is now completely surrounded in the Crimean Peninsula and a small area to its north. As long as they continue to pour resources into it, the Zeon army, having lost all room to maneuver, will eventually collapse.

He saw no chance that Karma Zabi could turn things around.

Even if the enemy can launch a decapitation strike against him, but cannot decapitate the remaining Federation commanders... the Federation will still ultimately win the war.

This kid is indeed a tough opponent, a formidable enemy; he'll probably never forget him.

If he had been born ten years later, probably no one on Earth could have suppressed him...

But the fact that the other party was born into the Zabi family and was dragged into this doomed war at such a young age is indeed a stroke of luck for the Federation.

-------Divider----------

The Federation was taking a break before the final offensive, while Zeon did not appear panicked.

The rest and rotation were carried out in an orderly manner, and the entire army was quite composed.

Because until the retreat on November 23, what the Federation considered a victory... had not deviated from the plan set by General Kalmar. The first line of defense was originally intended to be abandoned; it was just a matter of how much Federation strength was consumed.

In the hospital in Odessa, Karma, along with his officers and colonels, visited and comforted the wounded soldiers.

Next up was a middle-aged man with a round head and face. He had piloted a Tiger in battle and was wounded by a Federation fighter jet. The man in front of me was almost 40 years old and could be described as having made great contributions.

After Karma pinned the Medal of Courage on the other person, she felt that his face looked somewhat familiar, but she was puzzled when she saw the bed number.

"Lieutenant Mikhail, how are your injuries? When do you think you'll be fully recovered?"

"General, can we still win this battle?"

“Misha, you shouldn’t ask the general such confidential questions.”

The person standing nearby looking after them was also an elderly soldier who looked to be in his forties, with the rank of captain.

"you are?"

"Good day, General. I am Captain Shutana Hardy. My colleague has offended me."

Karma finally recognized them... the Cyclops squad, the ones who stole the NT1 from Side 6.

"It's alright, just focus on recovering. The battle will be over before Christmas."

"Yes."

Karma is also preparing for the final battle; the time is almost up.

On November 28, the Pac-class ship "Peter the Great" was the headquarters of the 4th Army and Eastern Army Group.

Brad felt like a conspicuous figure among a group of officers, despite being a lowly captain.

"Captain Brad, are you aware of the White Base's mission?"

Lieutenant General Bruce scrutinized him, as if he had a problem with his 'youth,' which made Brad feel pressured.

"Yes, General."

"Say it again!"

"On the night of December 1st, the White Base will serve as a fortress assault ship, establishing a bridgehead for the Zeon army's [second line of defense], and also buying time for the Eastern Army Group's large bridge construction." Brad pleaded with a determined look in his eyes, "General, can you provide air support for my ship?"

“Don’t worry, once you ‘land,’ the Air Force will blast out a buffer zone for you,” Bruce said. “The Zeon forces think they can relax because they have the night, which is exactly the weakness we can exploit. We need to show them that the Federation forces are not afraid of night battles!”

"Yes!"

"Aren't you trying to wash away the shame of being defeated by Karma Zabi and Mark Bay? You're being too quiet."

Chapter 126 Upgrade to Type 78

"Yes!"

Brad felt his throat go dry as he shouted, his voice cracking.

With heavy hearts, they left the Land Cruiser and returned to the White Base by helicopter.

As the second line of defense for the Zeon army... it looks just like the famous Bar-Lev Line in history.

The Zeon military used explosives to "dig" a trench 20 meters deep, 100 meters wide, and 30 kilometers long.

It is said that the fortifications were started after the Zeon army conquered Crimea.

According to observations, the second line of defense consisted of at least 20 strongholds, each consisting of a group of 3-4 bunkers surrounded by barbed wire.

The main reason is based on computer calculations. If a strong attack on the second line of defense is successful, the casualties will reach 130 million.

In order to reduce casualties and achieve a more perfect victory, General Bruce came up with a proposal that required the cooperation of the White Base... When this proposal was delivered to General Reibill's desk.

He hesitated for a few minutes, but eventually agreed.

Putting aside the legendary "name" of the White Base, this ship is merely the first Pegasus-class vessel, a mass-produced weapon... The performance of the future second and third ships will only be stronger.

Although Brad came from a prestigious family, his family wasn't powerful enough to make a phone call to Reibell's headquarters to transfer him away from the front lines.