Recollection

"Mr. Eli? What's going on?"

Amuro, having just arrived at the mess hall, set his tray down beside Eli and asked in a low voice.

When he and Frau had walked in, there were only two people in the room.

Eli and Sayla.

The two were sitting at separate tables, eating their meals in silence.

Although the two had no prior relationship, it was perfectly normal for them to sit apart while eating.

Yet, Amuro had a gut feeling that something had happened between them.

After all, the atmosphere in the room was far too heavy.

"It's nothing... I just had some thoughts I shouldn't have had."

Eli said, his expression remaining calm.

"Eli, did you sexually harass Sayla?"

"Cough, cough, cough! Amuro, where did you even learn a word like that!"

Eli, who had been maintaining his composure, immediately broke character, choking on the food he had just put in his mouth.

"Isn't that something they teach in school? They don't teach that where you're from? Is Side 2 really that old-fashioned?"

"...That's not it at all. Do I look like that kind of person to you?"

Eli took a sip of water and said to Amuro.

"I feel like I've changed a bit, but my actions haven't caught up to that change yet. I ended up asking a rude question, which is probably why Miss Sayla is angry with me."

Eli's explanation was vague and confusing, but Amuro nodded, looking as if he completely understood.

"I had thoughts like that too, when I first boarded the Gundam."

Amuro was using his own experiences to empathize with Eli's current state.

"Aren't you going to apologize?"

When he wasn't facing Bright, Amuro actually understood a fair amount about social nuances.

At the very least, he understood the principle that one should apologize for making a mistake.

"No, the most awkward part is that even if I want to apologize, I don't know how to bring it up."

Was Eli supposed to run over to Sayla right now and say, "Sorry for bringing up your late father just now"?

If he did that, Sayla might turn hostile on the spot, and it wouldn't be entirely impossible for her to try and flee the White Base.

Thinking of this, Eli took advantage of the moment he tilted his head to drink water to sneak a glance in Sayla's direction.

The moment he looked, he found that Sayla happened to be looking at him as well.

She immediately shot him an annoyed glare, hesitated for a moment, then gave a slight nod before standing up and carrying her tray away.

Seeing Sayla's contradictory behavior, Eli realized that she was likely struggling with the same dilemma.

Namely, how to explain the source of her anger and why she had such a strong reaction to the mention of Deikun.

"Let's just pretend this never happened..."

Eli could only say this.

"What an irresponsible adult."

Amuro watched as Eli downed his water in one gulp, offering his own assessment of the situation.

"The Trojan Horse is moving at a high speed."

M'Quve listened to his subordinate's report, his expression darkening.

If they were in space, even if it were the most advanced warship, it was still just one ship.

Even if it circled behind them, they could rely on the fleet to defend against it.

But on Earth, things were different.

Zeon's land battleships could not compare to the White Base in terms of Mobile Suit capacity or firepower.

Furthermore, the performance of the Mobile Suits carried by the White Base was superior to those equipped by Zeon.

This had resulted in multiple mines within M'Quve's jurisdiction being destroyed by the Trojan Horse, making M'Quve grit his teeth in frustration.

To make matters worse, a large-scale diversionary operation had been launched on the European front, leaving M'Quve unable to spare troops to surround and annihilate the White Base.

"If it comes to this..."

The only person M'Quve could think of who still had the capacity to deal with the White Base was the revenge unit led by Ramba Ral.

"Honestly, if it weren't for the fact that Lady Kycilia is coming to inspect soon..."

M'Quve looked at the schedule, gritted his teeth, and issued orders to his subordinates.

This order was passed down through the ranks, and in the end, it was Ramba Ral who stood watching the three Mobile Suits being unloaded from the transport plane, letting out a sigh of admiration.

"M'Quve, he really is a decent fellow."

Ramba Ral felt that his luck was quite good.

Everywhere he went, the local commanders would do their utmost to assist him.

Even though it had been said just a few days ago that these new-model units had been destroyed by the Federation, M'Quve had somehow managed to procure three more and deliver them into his hands.

Thinking of this, Ramba Ral's gaze dimmed slightly.

He had failed Ginias's trust; when he left, Ginias was still confined within the Apsalus manufacturing workshop. He had heard from others that Ginias's state of mind was no longer right, and that whenever he forgot to take his medication, he would scream Aina's name.

Thinking of the Apsalus and Aina, who had been captured by the Federation, Ramba Ral felt a sharp pang of agony in his heart.

"Once I am promoted, I will certainly help your Sahalin family rise again."

Ramba Ral reached out to stroke the machine in front of him.

It was a burly Mobile Suit, featuring massive legs and a cross-shaped mono-eye track on its head.

"With such high mobility, it will surely be able to..."

Behind Ramba Ral, his wife Hamon watched her husband with eyes full of concern.

If nothing else, her husband was simply too upright.

It was no wonder he had gone from being a powerful figure in the Republic to an outcast on the fringes of the Principality.

She adjusted her veil, walked toward Ramba Ral, and linked her arm through his.

"I dreamt of the past last night."

"Oh? And what was it about?"

Although he was in the middle of taking inventory, Ramba Ral did not wish to dampen his wife's spirits.

"I dreamt of Zeon under Deikun's leadership... I was wondering, if he were leading the Zeon of today, what kind of situation would the Spacenoids be in?"

Hearing his wife's words, Ramba Ral gently took her hand.

"I don't know... To be honest, I've almost forgotten what it was like when the Spacenoids, under Deikun's guidance, were all striving toward a single goal..."

A flicker of wistfulness crossed Ramba Ral's eyes.

Back then, it truly felt as if he were fighting for a noble ideal.

He shook his head, casting such thoughts to the back of his mind.

"No one can say for sure. But for me, the most important thing is to attain a higher rank so that I can protect you amidst this chaotic war."

Ramba Ral stroked Hamon's head and pulled her into his embrace.

"Beyond that, I have no other desires."

Hamon's gaze was buried in the man's chest.

Otherwise, she would have been able to see that her husband's eyes were filled with memories.

If one were to continue carefully probing the meaning behind that look, one might perhaps see two young, tender figures.

"Casval, Artesia..."