Chapter Summaries

Xiao Ran and El-Elf assessed the Earth Federation’s factions as Cardias gathered its leaders at Anaheim Company and revealed the M1 Astray. Cardias’s armed lockdown and claim that the unit surpassed the GM left the guests wondering what he was really planning.

• El-Elf explained the Federation’s factions and identified which leaders and groups could be persuaded or infiltrated.
• Xiao Ran said they should identify potential allies without provoking a confrontation, and Cardias began addressing the assembled guests.
• Cardias activated jammers, posted armed guards, and warned that anyone who tried to force entry would be killed; Xiao Ran sent El-Elf and Saki Maski to secure the perimeter.
• Cardias revealed the nearly completed M1 Astray and said it was ready for mass production and surpassed the GM in performance.
• Cardias displayed an image of the M1 Astray’s internal structure as a guest asked about its specifications and advantages.

At an Anaheim Company reception, Xiao Ran presented the M1 Astray to Federation leaders as a low-cost, modular mass-produced mecha that could be quickly repaired and adapted to any battlefield with interchangeable equipment. He left the audience weighing the Astray against the GM and Zaku II, while Cardias and Xiao Ran hoped to turn their interest into a Federation order.

• Cardias introduced Xiao Ran as the M1 Astray’s largest investor and invited him to explain the mecha to the assembled guests.
• Xiao Ran argued that a mass-produced mecha needed low cost, fast production, versatility, and easy repairs, then claimed the M1 Astray met those demands through modular parts and rapid component replacement.
• Xiao Ran described how the M1 Astray’s interchangeable backpacks and equipment let the same mecha serve different military branches and adapt as warfare changed.
• Xiao Ran showcased Flight Pack equipment for atmospheric flight and space use, aquatic assault gear, and the fortress-class G Booster for siege warfare.
• Xiao Ran listed other compatible equipment and declared that the M1 Astray could handle air, space, ground, naval, and positional combat, leaving the guests to consider its advantages over the GM.

Xiao Ran and Cardias presented the M1 Astray and a new Transport Aircraft to Earth Federation and Anaheim stakeholders, describing how the two could transform military deployment. Cardias then announced major changes to Anaheim’s ownership and invited select figures to stay for further discussions, leaving the crowd angry and curious about the other technologies still withheld.

• Xiao Ran presented the M1 Astray as a versatile unit that could serve across military branches, and the seven Anaheim stakeholders began considering the benefits they might gain from its adoption.
• Xiao Ran introduced a Transport Aircraft that could carry twelve MS units between Earth and space, and he and Cardias privately noted that the audience had taken the bait.
• Cardias told the gathering that the M1 Astray and Transport Aircraft were only part of the results of the Bist Family’s cooperation with Alex and invited interested people to remain for more information.
• Cardias announced that Alex would receive forty percent of Bist Family holdings outside Anaheim Company and sixty-five percent of Anaheim Company’s shares, provoking an uproar among the stakeholders.
• Cardias defended the deal by claiming the new equipment would make up for the reduced shares, then said he would discuss other sensitive technologies with several important figures first.

Xiao Ran and Cardias began recruiting the Moderate Faction by revealing the Space Jump Engine and explaining the hidden history behind the Earth Federation. The chapter ended with Xiao Ran urging Bill and Jos to help end the war and return authority to the true Earth Federation.

• Xiao Ran and Cardias chose the Moderate Faction as their first recruiting target and planned to approach Maxi later with promises of power and influence.
• Cardias and Xiao Ran visited Bill and Jos, then showed them information about the Space Jump Engine and invited them to join their cause.
• Bill and Jos questioned Xiao Ran’s motives, so he explained the founding-era bombing, the Original Constitution, and the plan for Newtypes to guide humanity into space.
• Xiao Ran revealed that the Inheritors had preserved the true Earth Federation’s vision and developed the Space Jump Engine and M1 Astray.
• Xiao Ran told Bill and Jos that the war between the Federation and Zeon had to end and that authority should be returned to the Earth Federation.

Xiao Ran recruited Bill, Jos, and Maxi by revealing the Original Constitution and promising access to the Hyperspace Jump Engine’s benefits, while explaining his plan to undermine the current Earth Federation. He and Cardias then presented the engine’s research to the remaining power brokers, securing secret cooperation agreements and building support for the M1 order.

• Xiao Ran pressured Bill and Jos to choose a side, then won their agreement after revealing that Char was Daikun’s son and outlining his plan to use the M1 order and Original Constitution against the Earth Federation.
• After Xiao Ran and Cardias left, Bill and Jos worried about the Rebels’ influence and the hidden strength behind Xiao Ran’s confidence.
• Xiao Ran and Cardias recruited Maxi by appealing to his anger at the Privilege Faction and offering the Commoner Faction half the returns from Exploration Fleets No. 2 and No. 3.
• Xiao Ran and Cardias visited the remaining figures and presented limited Hyperspace Engine research results without asking them to join the Rebels.
• That night, Xiao Ran secured secret cooperation agreements from the remaining power brokers, drawing them into his plan and encouraging support for the M1 purchase.

Xiao Ran strengthened Anaheim Company’s partnerships and prepared for the coming war while Char brought nearly a hundred Zeon pilots to the Moon to join his cause. After meeting their notable leaders and assigning Shin Matsunaga to oversee them, Xiao Ran began having them train on the M1 Astray, just as Main Mission Three was issued.

• Xiao Ran and Cardias secured the approval of seven powerful partners for Anaheim Company’s share changes, strategic agreements, and weapons orders, while keeping the Hyperspace Jump Engine secret.
• Cardias moved his family to the Moon, while El-Elf and Saki Maski stayed on Earth to recruit allies and talents for the anti-war organization.
• Xiao Ran continued expanding Anaheim Company’s production as the war between Zeon and the Earth Federation intensified and November 0079 arrived.
• Char delivered nearly a hundred Zeon pilots to the Moon, including Shin Matsunaga, Ramba Ral, and Cima Garahau, to support Xiao Ran’s plans.
• Xiao Ran placed Shin Matsunaga in charge of the group and arranged for the pilots to familiarize themselves with the M1 Astray.
• Cardias hurried to find Xiao Ran, excited because Main Mission Three had been issued.

Xiao Ran accepted the Earth Federation’s request to deploy Anaheim Company’s M1 Astrays in the Odyssey Operation, using the battle to secure an independent command and build influence. He arrived at Earth with his force, which was formally incorporated into the Federation Army as a special fleet under his command.

• Xiao Ran agreed to join the Odyssey Operation as a mercenary or specially recruited force while retaining command authority and having the Federation cover expenses.
• Cardias showed Xiao Ran the completed customized Astrays and modified Gundams, and confirmed that five Transport Aircraft were ready.
• Xiao Ran ordered the fleet to depart for Earth and told Cardias to preserve Anaheim Company’s operations while he prepared to bring back the Rebel Army’s strongest forces.
• Xiao Ran rendezvoused with White Base, recruited Amuro into the rebels’ camp, and sent Amuro and his father to Anaheim on the Moon for further training.
• Xiao Ran arrived at Earth with five warships, five Transport Aircraft, and more than forty-eight M1 Astrays, and the Earth Federation appointed him a major to jointly command the special fleet.

Xiao Ran brought his special unit to an Earth Federation garrison and heard El-Elf and Saki Maski’s report on their search for Resistance Organizations. With a Zeon attack planned before dawn, he prepared the unit to weaken the Zeon Army while building his reputation in the Federation.

• Xiao Ran descended to Earth with five Transport Aircraft while leaving the squadron’s warships and commanders behind.
• Saki Maski and El-Elf rejoined the group after contacting Resistance Organizations, finding only one small group suitable for cooperation and judging the Federation deeply decayed.
• Xiao Ran told Saki Maski and El-Elf to prioritize their safety and avoid killing Zeon soldiers where possible during the coming attack.
• Xiao Ran reviewed the garrison’s plan, which called for his special unit to break through Zeon defenses and gain fame within the Earth Federation.

Xiao Ran joined the Earth Federation’s Odyssey Operation to build prestige and prepare supporters for his eventual break with the Federation. As the battle against Zeon raged, he received orders to lead the Astray Battalion into combat, where he planned to demonstrate its strength and protect defeated Zeon soldiers.

• The Earth Federation and Zeon began a massive battle before dawn, and Zeon’s stronger forces held back the Federation’s advance.
• Xiao Ran watched the battle from camp while Ozma selected promising rookie participants and invited them to join the legion.
• Xiao Ran received orders to sortie the Astray Battalion, rescue encircled Federation forces, and confront the Black Tri-Stars.
• El-Elf summarized the sortie orders and questioned their confusing wording, while Xiao Ran said the Federation was testing their combat strength.
• Xiao Ran told El-Elf to fight hard while avoiding unnecessary deaths and protecting prisoners, and explained that proving the M1 Astrays’ strength could lead the Federation to procure them.

Xiao Ran led the participants into battle to rescue the retreating Earth Federation forces and demonstrate their overwhelming advantage over Zeon. As he engaged the Zeon MS formation, he identified the Black Tri-Stars as a chance to undermine the Earth Federation and establish his faction.

• Xiao Ran told El-Elf that the participants should display their full strength while prioritizing the newcomers’ safety, then ordered the group to sortie.
• Xiao Ran and the other participants launched from five Transport Aircraft in nearly fifty Astrays and established short-range communications despite Minovsky Particle interference.
• El-Elf and Naluo blocked the Zeon advance and destroyed several machines while Xiao Ran dispatched Ozma, Brera, and Zechs to rescue surrounded Federal Army troops.
• Xiao Ran flew toward the Zeon camp, activated his Innovator state, and attacked the Zeon formation led by three Black Goufs.

Xiao Ran and the Astray Squadron turned the tide at Odyssey, defeating Zeon forces and rescuing surrounded Federation troops. The squadron secured the first strategic objective and began building defenses while El-Elf took command of the captured battlefield.

• Xiao Ran landed the Black Astray and used its weapons to devastate the nearby Zaku IIs as the Astray units descended to support him.
• Xiao Ran evaded the Black Tri-Stars’ Jet Stream Attack, toppled their Doms, and disabled all three machines.
• Xiao Ran ordered part of the squadron to reorganize the Federation troops, protect Zeon prisoners, and secure surrenders before leading the remaining units onward.
• El-Elf stayed behind with Captain Jeffrey and the Bridge Trio, took command, and ordered the Federation troops to reform and treat prisoners humanely.
• Xiao Ran, Ozma, Brera, and nearly fifty MS broke through Zeon lines, rescued the surrounded Federal Army troops, and led them to the first strategic objective, where they began constructing defenses.

After Xiao Ran’s Astray MS Battalion helped the 32nd Armored Division break through Zeon’s defenses, the victory drew the attention of the Earth Federation and General Revil. Xiao Ran’s unit received another urgent deployment order, and the team set out with renewed confidence.

• The regional Command Center received a report that the Astray MS Battalion and 32nd Armored Division had broken through Zeon’s line, destroyed its MS unit, captured over five thousand soldiers, and secured the target high ground.
• The intelligence division supervisor congratulated the 32nd Armored Division, ordered it to hold its position, and sought approval before assigning new orders to the Astray MS Battalion.
• General Revil learned of the victory, praised the unit’s combat potential, and decided to keep sending it where the Federation most needed support.
• General Revil and his adjutant discussed whether the Astray MS or Xiao Ran’s command skills had produced the victory, while the adjutant noted that Xiao Ran’s identity and Anaheim Company’s hidden interests were known only within a separate circle.
• Xiao Ran checked his mission progress and found that the battle had earned him nearly eight thousand Merit Points and Contribution Points but raised completion only to ten percent.
• After a brief rest and an ammunition airdrop, Xiao Ran and his more confident team received orders to reinforce another critical front against a similarly sized or larger enemy force.

Xiao Ran’s M1 Astray unit won a series of decisive battles during the Odyssey Operation, while Char contacted him to arrange support for secretly bringing 50,000 Zeon soldiers into his plans. Xiao Ran agreed to attack their garrisons at the appointed time, but realized the mission might require him to pursue Zeon into space to finish it.

• Xiao Ran’s M1 Astray unit won four battles in one day, destroying two land battleships, capturing a stronghold, and defeating more than two hundred MS.
• El-Elf arranged humane treatment for the many Zeon prisoners, while three newcomers died and the survivors began to worry about their future missions.
• A masked Char approached the Federal Army front and warned Xiao Ran that Zeon had prepared a trap for his unit.
• Char told Xiao Ran he had gathered fewer than fifty thousand soldiers in three divisions and asked him to attack their garrisons at a set time to prevent the Federal Army from attacking them.
• Xiao Ran accepted Char’s plan and urged him to prepare to break with Zeon after the Odyssey Operation, then saw that the mission was only a little over forty percent complete and might require him to go into space.

Xiao Ran divided his forces to attack Zeon targets while he led Skull Squadron into Zeon territory to draw out the elite unit assembled against them. He planned to choose the battlefield, destroy Zeon’s aces, and complete Main Mission Three, but changed course to avoid walking into an enemy trap.

• Xiao Ran and El-Elf ate canned rations, then reviewed coordinates inside Zeon territory and planned several coordinated attacks.
• Xiao Ran assigned El-Elf, Saki Maski, and Nalu to lead small teams, sent Zechs and Glan Glan to support the Federal Army, and took Skull Squadron to hunt Zeon aces.
• Captain Jeffrey pulled the transport squadron away from the front while the MS teams headed for their objectives.
• Xiao Ran led Skull Squadron through Zeon territory with communications restricted, and explained to Alto that they were drawing Zeon’s elite unit away from the other teams.
• Xiao Ran changed the squadron’s route to avoid the enemy’s prepared trap and force an encounter battle on more suitable ground.

Xiao Ran’s six Astrays were ambushed and encircled by a large Zeon force after Luca detected signs of a retreating unit. Zeon aimed to contain them and capture an Astray, while Xiao Ran’s group fought to break through the encirclement.

• Luca detected recent tank and vehicle tracks leading away from the front, and Xiao Ran warned the team that Zeon forces might be nearby.
• Dozens of missiles targeted the six Astrays, but the pilots scattered and Xiao Ran destroyed a row of missiles with a concentrated barrage.
• More than fifty Dom, Zaku II, and Gouf units appeared from several directions, while Luca identified raised jamming towers.
• The six Astrays spread out to avoid concentrating Zeon’s fire, and Xiao Ran attacked the advancing Dom units while they continued forming an encirclement.
• Over a hundred fighter jets and large tank and missile-launcher forces joined the assault as Zeon tried to restrain the Astrays and capture one intact.

Xiao Ran and the other five pilots endured a Zeon Army encirclement while Xiao Ran waited for Ramba Ral's signal, having realized Char planned to use the battle to eliminate Zeon aces loyal to the Zabi family. Char persuaded Karmar Zabi to go accept the six pilots’ surrender, as his hidden plan approached its next stage.

• The Zeon Army pinned Xiao Ran and the other five Astray pilots under overwhelming fire, while Luca and Michel struggled to fight through dust, debris, and elite enemy pilots.
• Xiao Ran recognized Ramba Ral among the encircling Zakus and held back after Ramba signaled him to wait.
• Xiao Ran deduced that Char had arranged the battle to keep Karmar Zabi’s ace pilots occupied and eliminate those who threatened Char’s plans.
• Xiao Ran ordered Alto to stop charging and told the squad that allies were among the Zeon MS, prompting the others to hold their fire and wait for a signal.
• Aboard a Gaw-class Attack Carrier, Char convinced Karmar Zabi to personally accept the six pilots’ surrender.

Char maneuvered Karmar into the battlefield and secretly identified his allies among the encircling Zeon forces before killing Karmar with a surprise strike. The coordinated rebellion let Xiao Ran and Skull Squadron break the encirclement and devastate Zeon’s forces on the ground and in the air.

• Karmar ignored Char’s caution and prepared to sortie, while Char planned to use the landing site as part of his trap against the Zabi family.
• Char and Karmar approached the battlefield, and Char used a communicator to identify thirteen friendly Zeon units to Xiao Ran.
• Char struck Karmar’s orange Zaku II with a High Heat Axe, decapitating the machine and signaling his allies to attack.
• Ramba Ral and the thirteen friendly Zeon pilots attacked their former allies as Skull Squadron launched a counterattack.
• Xiao Ran used Quick Lock to destroy many Dop Fighters and missiles, while Brera and Ozma attacked Zeon units on the ground.
• Brera and Ozma took to the air, and Alto, Luca, and Michel joined them to suppress the remaining Zeon air force.

Char revealed to Karma that he was Casval Rem Deikun and declared his plan to overthrow the Zabi family, then captured Karma and withdrew with Xiao Ran’s forces. Back in Federal Army territory, Xiao Ran ordered the Astray MS Battalion to kill the Gendarmerie sent to arrest him.

• Char told Karma that he was Casval Rem Deikun, blamed the Zabi family for Zeon’s suffering, and vowed to establish New Zeon and take revenge.
• Karma tried to attack Char, but Char shot him in the thigh and had his followers restrain him instead of killing him.
• Xiao Ran, Ozma, and Brera regrouped with Char, then withdrew toward Federal Army lines with Karma and the surviving MS pilots.
• Rumors spread through the Zeon Army that Karma’s recklessness had ruined the ace battalion and endangered the soldiers, damaging morale.
• The Earth Force Gendarmerie arrived with tanks and aircraft to arrest Xiao Ran, and he ordered his forces to leave none alive.
• El-Elf attacked the approaching Gendarmerie with a pistol and grenade as Saki Maski and the Astray MS Battalion joined the assault.

Xiao Ran’s Astray MS Battalion annihilated a Gendarmerie force sent to control them, then defied Federal Army officers who tried to arrest him. By revealing that he had captured Karma Zabi, Xiao Ran turned the confrontation into a public show of strength and won the soldiers’ support.

• Xiao Ran’s Astray MS Battalion killed more than two hundred gendarmes and destroyed their tanks and aircraft after they attacked the camp.
• Ozma questioned whether the slaughter had been too blatant, and Xiao Ran said it would deter others from interfering with the battalion.
• Xiao Ran reviewed Main Mission Three’s 58% completion rate and planned to recruit invited newcomers before completing the mission and returning to Prometheus.
• A group of Federal Army officers arrived to arrest Xiao Ran, but his MS blocked their way.
• Xiao Ran broke the colonel’s wrist, asserted the battalion’s independent authority, and warned the officers that he could report their actions.
• Xiao Ran told El-Elf to report that the battalion had captured Karma Zabi, prompting the surrounding soldiers to chant in support of the Astray MS Battalion.

General Revil learned that Xiao Ran's Astray MS Battalion had captured Karmar Zabi, turning the tide of the Odyssey Operation and protecting Xiao Ran from punishment for killing the military police. After the Federation's victory, several participants returned to Prometheus while Xiao Ran and the others stayed, and Xiao Ran was promoted to colonel as a new announcement spread across Earth and space.

• General Revil learned that the Astray MS Battalion had captured Karmar Zabi and ordered the news publicized while requesting an explanation for the deaths of the military police.
• Xiao Ran led his team back into battle as El-Elf defended the battalion's actions by claiming the armed military police might have included spies.
• The Earth Federation won the Odyssey Operation after Zeon forces withdrew, though both armies suffered heavy losses.
• Captain Jeffrey and the Bridge Trio returned to Prometheus, while Xiao Ran, El-Elf, Naluo, Saki Maski, Zechs, and the others remained behind.
• Xiao Ran recruited new participants into the Burning Legion and was promoted to colonel as the Astray Fleet expanded.
• An announcement spread across Earth and space, disrupting the apparent calm.