Visitor from Another World, Grunt Captain

Eli was not supposed to be here.

To him, the terms Gundam and Universal Century should have been nothing more than settings within a work of science fiction.

Yet, while traveling in Japan and wandering through the Gundam Base, he had been posing for a photo with the Unicorn Gundam statue when it suddenly toppled over, crushing him on the spot.

When he woke up, Eli had become a member of the Federation garrison on Island Iffish, serving as a pilot for a Swordfish.

As for what happened afterward, I believe everyone is already aware.

Having narrowly escaped that hellscape filled with poison gas, Eli was selected as one of the first MS pilots because he had managed to shoot down a Zaku with his Swordfish.

With his East Asian heritage, he was subsequently assigned to this Southeast Asia Front.

"Karen, I heard the captain of the 08th MS Team is already on his way?"

Returning to the maintenance area, Eli parked his Gundam Ground Type in the 06th MS Team's sector and asked Karen.

It is worth noting that in the 08th MS Team's docking bays, aside from the unit Karen had just parked, there were two other Gundam Ground Types covered in camouflage netting, completely intact.

In contrast, over at the 06th MS Team, only the unit Eli piloted was functional; the other two had already had their outer armor stripped away.

This was because Eli's teammates had made a grave error during a mission, resulting in the destruction of two Gundam Ground Types, while the crew members were transferred to a rear hospital due to severe injuries.

Word was that they would be discharged due to their wounds.

This was also the reason why Eli had been operating in coordination with Karen.

"Yeah, apparently he even took out a Zaku with a Ball on his way here. What an incredible guy."

Karen shook the wrench in her hand as she spoke to Eli.

"What about you? Any news on your replacement pilots yet?"

"Don't even mention it. Captain Kojima says things are tight everywhere, and the only reason you guys are even at full strength is because you still have those two extra MS. I don't have a single usable pilot left here."

Eli shook his head slightly.

"Hey, old man! Can you hurry up and piece together a functional Gundam for me already!"

Immediately after, Eli shouted toward the old man drinking alcohol beneath the warehouse.

That was Gidan Nika, the supply company commander for this field base, who also had deep connections with the maintenance crew.

"Didn't I tell you? Those two units of yours are beyond repair; they're only good for stripping parts now."

Nika shook his flask impatiently before downing the rest of the contents.

Eli had already prepared himself for this, so he didn't press the issue further.

He was currently directing the maintenance crew to strip parts from the other two Gundam Ground Types in his team to replace the worn-out components on his own machine.

In these circumstances, pragmatism was the top priority.

"Second Lieutenant Shiro Amada, reporting with the appointment papers for the 08th MS Team!"

Soon, the person Eli was familiar with arrived at the field base.

Shiro Amada, the protagonist of the anime The 08th MS Team, a pure-hearted warrior, and the best beam saber user.

It wasn't that Eli had a particularly good memory, but rather that as he watched Shiro among the crowd, a phantom panel appeared before his eyes, marking Shiro's name and tags.

Perhaps this was what one would call a system.

However, this system only possessed this single function, allowing Eli to confirm who exactly was standing in front of him in reality.

After all, real people were significantly different from their animated counterparts.

As for the system shop or stat-boosting points Eli had been longing for, there were none to be found.

If Eli turned his gaze toward himself, he could see his own name as well.

However, the difference was that there was an additional entry following Eli's name.

"Grunt Captain"

"When piloting mass-produced models, piloting skill increases by 30%, Newtype ability increases by 25%."

Thanks to this, Eli had been able to master a considerable level of MS combat techniques even before the Federation had fully popularized MS usage.

As for the boost to his Newtype ability, it had greatly increased Eli's survival rate on the battlefield.

However, even with the system's bonuses, Eli could not perceive the subtle thoughts of his opponents; even sensing their emotions was extremely difficult.

This went to show that even if Eli truly were a Newtype, he was likely inferior to even the initial version of Char.

"...Lieutenant, Second Lieutenant Eli!"

Kojima's voice reached Eli's ears.

Eli finally snapped out of his thoughts, squeezed through the crowd, stood at attention before Kojima, and saluted.

"Present!"

Kojima picked up a cup and poured himself some water to drink.

"I'm sorry to say that the request for reinforcements for the 06th MS Team still hasn't been approved. But I can't rest easy knowing you're out there fighting alone."

Kojima's concerns were not without reason.

Although Eli was currently the pilot with the highest number of confirmed kills in the Kojima Battalion, a true ace in every sense of the word.

However, operating a single unit still carried a high risk of death, and such an event would have a devastating impact on the morale of the entire force.

"Ensign Amada, I recall that you are also from Side 2, correct?"

Kojima sipped his water as he questioned Shiro Amada.

"Ah, yes, sir..."

Shiro Amada stood at attention to answer, though his gaze involuntarily drifted toward Eli, who stood beside him.

"Also."

That single word stirred a sense of kinship within Shiro Amada's heart.

"I see... That works out well. Then, the 06th MS Team and the 08th MS Team will be organized into a single unit to operate together. As for command... Eli, would you be willing to follow Ensign Amada's orders? Of course, in terms of tactical planning, I ask that Ensign Amada also give significant weight to Ensign Eli's input; he is our ace here, after all."

"No problem!"

Eli and Shiro saluted once more, answering Captain Kojima's order in unison.

And just like that, this special combat formation was established.

"There is a secret Zeon Forces factory located here. I want everyone to locate it and destroy it."

Finally, Captain Kojima reiterated the primary objective for the entire Southeast Asia theater before dismissing the meeting.

"Hey, be careful, Eli. That guy is the Reaper, Sanders."

"Yeah, exactly. I heard that in every team he's been in, he's always the only one who survives."

As the members of the two teams walked back into the crowd, someone whispered to Eli.

Though they called it a whisper, it was loud enough for everyone present to hear clearly.

Eli looked over and saw it was the members of the 07th Team who had thrown the fruit earlier.

Eli smiled.

"Don't worry, I don't believe in that sort of thing. You guys should try having a little more faith in my abilities, how about that?"

Eli waved his hand at them and followed Shiro Amada toward the hangar where the mobile suits were stored.

"Let's get acquainted again. My name is Shiro Amada, I'm from Side 2. I look forward to working with you."

Standing in front of the unit assigned to the 08th Team, Shiro Amada reached out his right hand.

"I'm from Island Iffish. Likewise."

Eli naturally wouldn't make things difficult for Shiro Amada over something like this, and he gripped his hand firmly.

"Island Iffish..."

Shiro Amada remembered when he, also serving as a Federation soldier at the time, entered Island Iffish for a rescue mission, only to discover a living hell.

A look of genuine concern involuntarily appeared on his face.

"I will drive every last one of those Zeon bastards out. Not a single one will be left."

Eli was also recalling the events of that time.

Even though he had only just arrived in this world back then, having inherited the memories of this body, he naturally felt an intense rage over everything Zeon had done on Island Iffish.

Shiro Amada opened his mouth, but he couldn't bring himself to say anything.

He found Eli's declaration strangely familiar.

That was right; not long ago, he had said those very same words himself.

But why was it that now, he couldn't bring himself to echo Eli's sentiment?