Gundam: Changing the World Even with a Mass-Produced Unit

Chapter 18: Post-Battle Report

"You two really screwed up this time! Both mechs ended up with damaged legs. It's outrageous! Amada Shiro's mech is manageable; a few universal parts will fix it. But Eli, what were you thinking? The entire shock-absorption mechanism on the left leg is destroyed!"

The day after returning to base, Eli and Amada Shiro found themselves facing the wrath of the maintenance team.

Normally composed and responsible, the maintenance team members now stood menacingly with tools in hand, led by their stern-faced foreman, glaring at the two pilots.

For a Mobile Suit (MS), the legs are the most complex part to repair.

Eli and Shiro's hard landing from high altitude had undoubtedly caused significant trouble for the maintenance crew.

"We're sorry!"

Eli didn't even attempt to make excuses. Instead, he immediately grabbed Shiro's arm, bowed deeply alongside him, and presented an entire box of cigarettes with both hands.

These were premium goods he had bought from Captain Nika, a rare commodity in these times of scarce supplies.

And why were supplies suddenly tight?

Because now that the frontlines were stable, the Federal Army's high command was planning the next phase of the war—preparing for a counteroffensive.

To prioritize the European front, where the counterattack would likely begin, supplies to relatively stable regions like Southeast Asia had naturally been reduced.

Eli's gesture softened the maintenance team's anger considerably.

After all, their frustration was more about the increased workload than personal grievances against the pilots.

The tension between mechanics and pilots was a long-standing tradition, a mix of professional banter and genuine camaraderie.

They wouldn't truly expect pilots to prioritize preserving the mech over their own lives in battle.

"Fine, you're smart enough to know the drill. Alright, boys, share the smokes and get to work fixing these mechs!"

The foreman accepted the cigarettes and gave Eli a hard punch on the shoulder as he passed.

Following suit, the other team members each gave Eli a friendly tap on the shoulder before diving into repairs.

In truth, the maintenance team respected and relied on Eli, as they did with all frontline combat personnel.

They immediately began disassembling a ground-type Gundam from Team 06 to swap out the damaged leg with Eli's mech. This way, Eli's machine could regain combat readiness as quickly as possible, while the removed leg could be repaired at leisure.

"I thought we were going to get chewed out!" Shiro remarked, relieved.

Eli's stern expression earlier had convinced him to prepare for a severe scolding, yet the maintenance crew's warm actions surprised him.

"Lieutenant Amada Shiro, maintaining good relations with the maintenance team is a basic skill for an MS pilot," Eli said with a sigh, leaving Shiro feeling somewhat regretful.

"Uh oh, then what about me—"

"Don't worry, Karen already sorted it out for you."

Before Shiro could ask for Eli's help, Eli gestured toward Karen, who was working with the maintenance team. Acting like a big sister to the group, she led the repairs on Shiro's mech.

Noticing the two looking her way, Karen flashed them a victory sign before resuming her work.

"Sergeant Joshua!" Shiro exclaimed, his tone exaggeratedly touched. The tension between him and Karen when they first met had clearly diminished after their recent missions together.

"Alright, let's go," Eli interrupted, grabbing Shiro's collar from behind and stopping him from running over to Karen.

"Go? Go where?" Shiro stumbled and turned to Eli, puzzled.

"You really didn't listen to anything yesterday, did you? We're going to the Southeast Asia theater base. The higher-ups want to question us."

Eli released Shiro's collar, letting him steady himself.

"The higher-ups? Is it Colonel Ethan?" Shiro asked, referring to the commander of their independent mechanized regiment in the Far East.

"No."

"Oh, that's a relief."

"It's General Revil."

Eli's merciless reply made Shiro freeze mid-motion, his hand still on the back of his head in relief.

"What?!!"

---

"…In conclusion, I believe the Zeon-developed Apsalus has the potential to alter the course of the war."

Eli concluded his lengthy report with this judgment. Keeping his expression neutral, he looked up at the main monitor.

On the central screen was the image of an elderly man with a white beard—none other than the renowned General Revil.

Unfortunately, Eli's system lacked the capability to detect emotions through the screen.

"What evidence do you have to support your claim that the Apsalus can change the course of the war?"

This question came from one of the side screens, where General Gopp—nicknamed "Jaburo Mole"—was displayed.

Though originally a pejorative nickname, Eli understood the pivotal role Gopp had played in stabilizing the Federation during Revil's captivity. His insistence on continuing the V Project ensured the Federation had the means to launch a counteroffensive.

While Gopp might lack dazzling battlefield achievements, he was undoubtedly a pillar of the Federation's war effort.

"Yes, sir! Please listen to this audio recording."

Eli played back the recording of Aina threatening them with self-destruction.

"Based on this, I conclude that the Apsalus is capable of carrying the weight of two ground-type Gundams and can still ascend despite being damaged. This suggests it has sufficient payload capacity and energy reserves. Given its size, it could likely be equipped with a MEGA Particle Cannon."

Eli emphasized the threat, though it was not an exaggeration. After all, the Apsalus was designed specifically to assault Jaburo.

His intent was to draw more attention to this issue from the Federation's high command.

In the original timeline, despite the 08th MS Team's discovery of the Apsalus, the upper echelons showed little concern. Only after the Apsalus II demonstrated its ability to destroy Jaburo did they take it seriously.

By highlighting this threat early, Eli hoped to expedite the Federation's response.

However, he hadn't expected his report to stir such a commotion in Jaburo that even Major General John Kowen, responsible for the V Project, had joined the meeting. It seemed the Federation wanted Kowen to assess the credibility of Eli's claims.