Chapter 177 – Declaration of War
In the depths of space, GP02 and GP03 had once again fallen into a grueling battle.
Although Kou Uraki had managed to think quickly and resolve his immediate crisis, the fact that the enemy MS had already broken through the defensive line was undeniable.
Two against twelve—just preserving themselves was already taking every ounce of strength from their heavily outnumbered machines, which lacked the firepower to strike back effectively.
Fortunately, they had endured the most brutal phase. The Albion had successfully launched from port and had drawn both mobile suits into its anti-aircraft defense perimeter, providing supporting fire from the ship's cannons.
At the same time, Monsha and his team charged forward as well, flanking the two Gundams and offering protection.
"GP01... Nina..."
Kou Uraki let out a breath of relief.
He wasn't angry that Monsha was piloting "his" Gundam.
What unsettled him far more was how Nina placed such excessive importance on the Gundam itself, as if she had tied the emotional bond between them to the machine.
His friend, Amuro, had once said: machinery is just machinery.
Choosing to pour your emotions into it was a personal decision—but the machine would never respond to you.
Only people could.
When Amuro spoke those words, the expression on his face made even Kou feel a pang of sadness, as if Amuro had only realized it when it was already too late.
Shaking off these thoughts, and with Monsha's team forming a protective line ahead, Kou now had enough room to maneuver and counterattack.
Not only were they holding back the enemy MS—they were even starting to push back against the Zeon remnants' fleet.
Just as Kou had initially anticipated: once the Zeon remnants witnessed GP03's overwhelming threat to their warships, their will to fight began to crumble. As expected, their fleet was already beginning to turn tail and retreat.
The Albion had no intention of pursuing them, instead choosing to leave that task to other units.
They themselves began preparations to leave port—because, on another front, Eli had just uncovered major intelligence regarding the Delaz Fleet, drawing the attention of the entire Federation high command.
"Chris, we have to go after them."
Inside the cargo dock of the La Vie en Rose, aboard a small freight shuttle, Rita—still held in Christina's arms—spoke softly while watching the departing Albion.
Christina pressed the visor of her standard helmet against Rita's, allowing Rita's words to transmit more clearly.
But, in truth, that gesture was unnecessary.
"Otherwise, we'll both regret it."
Through the transparent visor, Chris saw Rita's lips move only slightly, yet her voice was crystal clear in her ears.
Originally, Chris had planned to immediately return to Earth with Rita. Now, she stared into Rita's eyes in astonishment.
But even if they caught up to the Albion—what could the two of them actually accomplish?
Unless...
Still cradling Rita, Christina slightly turned her head.
Inside the freight shuttle sat a mobile suit originally intended for testing:
NT-X—
Amuro's former machine, now fully overhauled using the latest technology.
——
"What are you doing? You're Zeon too—you should understand! These two colonies are critical for Zeon! With them, the Federation's control over us would be greatly weakened!"
Aboard the Delaz Fleet's Gwadan, inside the command center of the Gwazine-class warship, Delaz sat cross-legged in the fleet commander's chair, fingers interlaced, listening to a transmission from the Republic of Zeon.
It was heartening. Even after signing such a treaty with the Federation, there were still those whose spirit of resistance had not been extinguished.
He would need to reassess his opinion of that daughter of Deikun.
After Operation Stardust, he would have to find a way to distance her from the fallout.
Such thoughts flickered through Delaz's mind as he raised his hand slightly.
"Begin ignition."
Delaz gazed ahead as the newly constructed colony, still in the process of being completed, began to move. Brilliant jets of flame erupted from its rear thrusters, reflected in the horrified eyes of the Republic of Zeon observers!
Delaz bowed his head with a sigh.
Even if Operation Stardust succeeded, even just one new agricultural production colony would be enough to grant the Republic of Zeon greater bargaining power.
Had it not been for the Federation's tight control over every other colony under construction or in transit, Delaz would not have chosen to seize this one.
"Colony has left orbit!"
Outside, the Republic of Zeon fleet was scattering in retreat. Watching the scene unfold, Delaz let out another sigh.
The Delaz Fleet had assembled nearly fifty assorted vessels and close to a hundred mobile suits for this mission.
How many among those ships could even be called true warships was anyone's guess.
During the One Year War, such a force would have been utterly inadequate for a full-scale operation like Operation British—sheer madness to even consider it.
Their success now depended entirely on the Republic of Zeon's even weaker military forces—a situation explicitly written into the terms of the treaty—making this hijacking possible.
With such a meager force, any so-called "autonomy" was little more than a gift begrudgingly granted by the Federation.
True self-governance for the space colonies could only be seized by their own hands.
With that conviction, Delaz rose from his seat.
"Patch me through for a full-sector broadcast."
Delaz was preparing to deliver a statement to the entire Earth Sphere.
Of course, due to technical and logistical limitations, he had no way of knowing how many would actually hear it.
But this declaration had to be made.
"To all soldiers of the Earth Federation and the Principality of Zeon:"
In the meticulously maintained main hall of the Gwadan, standing behind a podium before a camera, Delaz began his address.
"I have never ceased pondering how much sacrifice must be endured by those who fight ceaselessly for the autonomy of space citizens, and by the brave young souls who willingly cast themselves into the flames of war."
"How much more must we pay before space citizens can achieve true self-governance, free from the oppressive control of the Federation?"
Delaz clenched his fist tightly, sweeping his gaze across every soldier assembled in the hall.
"The Federation has betrayed its promises from when humanity first ventured into space, and even the founding principles enshrined in its original constitution!"
As Delaz spoke, the stone monument once seen during the Tears of the Sky incident reappeared on the screen behind him.
"And now, the Federation has gone even further, violating the Antarctic Treaty by redeveloping nuclear-armed mobile suits. In the face of such tyranny, are space citizens expected to passively accept their fate under the Federation's overwhelming military might?"
"Today, all true patriots, all those with burning blood in their veins, have gathered with me! Here and now, I formally declare war once again on the Earth Federation government! If you have not been bewitched by hollow promises of peace, then for the sake of our homeland's honor—listen to the call of your own hearts once more!"
At the end, Delaz raised both arms high.
"Zeon! Forever! (Zick Zeon!)"
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