The Pre-Battle Meeting

"Without a doubt, Ramba Ral's men will keep pursuing us, but even so, we still have to launch an attack on Odessa."

White Base had just destroyed M'Quve's Mine 86. Now, while spreading a high concentration of Minovsky Particles, it continued onward toward Odessa.

In the briefing room, during the operations meeting, White Base had successfully contacted Jaburo headquarters via coded communications and received direct orders from General Revil.

"Our forces will soon launch an all-out assault on Odessa. Before then, I want White Base to carry out a surprise attack behind enemy lines. The Medea transport fleet is already on its way."

The Federation hadn't resorted to using recruits and child soldiers on the same large scale as Zeon, but every soldier at its disposal was precious.

Especially since they would have to launch a counteroffensive into space afterward. They needed manpower.

Otherwise, even if they managed to build Mobile Suits, they would be nothing but scrap metal sitting in a warehouse.

On the main battlefield at Odessa, most of the Federation's Mobile Suit pilots had only just received the first mass-produced GMs. To be cautious, they had decided to rely on White Fortress, which already had experience regrouping and fighting, to punch a hole in the enemy's defensive line.

"So we need to be prepared to fight on two fronts."

After the old man with the thick white beard ended the call, Bright stepped up to brief the troops and plan their tactics.

With Eli stationed aboard, Bright didn't have to worry about everything himself. When there was no fighting, he could even leave Eli in charge and catch up on some sleep.

That meant Bright was well-rested and ready to face the tough battle ahead.

Even so, the pressure of General Revil's trust and the prospect of casualties among the troops inevitably left him tense.

Revil had a knack for recognizing and using talent. He knew Bright was still very young and might not be able to withstand this kind of pressure.

But he had no other choice.

General Revil's speech, which had inspired the entire Federation to resist—"Zeon has no more soldiers to spare"—was based on fact. Zeon was small to begin with and could hardly control all the territories it had occupied.

That was how White Base had managed to travel all the way from North America to Eastern Europe.

But was the Federation really in any better shape? It was just as short on manpower.

So Revil could only put his faith in Bright.

"Lieutenant Eli, do you have any thoughts?"

After announcing that the attack was mandatory, Bright began asking the operations staff for their opinions.

Eli, Amuro, Kobayashi, Kai, and Ryu.

They were all the pilots aboard the ship, with four Mobile Suits available for deployment.

"Splitting up is out of the question. We don't have enough forces."

Eli put it tactfully.

What he really meant was that Kobayashi and the other two weren't skilled enough pilots to operate independently, while separating Amuro and Eli would only weaken their attack.

"In that case, I recommend a lightning strike. White Base should make straight for Odessa at maximum speed, with the Guncannon and Guntank guarding the ship from either side. Amuro and I will spearhead the attack and tear through the enemy's defenses."

Talking about blitzkrieg on Ukrainian soil gave Eli a strange, hard-to-describe feeling.

Still, Eli walked up to the lectern in the briefing room and drew a line on the screen displaying the terrain map, marking White Base's route.

"What do you think?"

After mapping out his proposed route, Eli turned to Bright for his opinion.

Though they were both lieutenants, Bright outranked Eli.

"The overall plan looks sound, but why go around this canyon?"

Bright drew a new line on the map, starting from Eli's route. Instead of going around the canyon, he proposed charging straight through it.

"The canyon is a little too narrow for White Fortress. And if Zeon has stationed heavy weapons inside, we won't have room to maneuver."

Eli warned Bright gravely. In response, Bright fixed him with a gaze that was gentle, yet impossible to ignore.

"That's why I'm counting on you and Amuro. If that happens, I want the two Gundams to eliminate the threat to White Fortress immediately."

Bright looked at Eli, then at Amuro.

At that moment, Amuro sensed a subtle change in Bright.

Bright still stood by his own ideas when it came to combat, but when it came to more detailed decisions, he chose to trust the Mobile Suit pilots on the front line instead of trying to control every move himself.

There was no doubt about it: Bright trusted Amuro. He trusted Eli, too.

"But..."

Eli, wanting to play it safe, was about to say something to get Bright to reconsider.

But Amuro suddenly stood up from his seat.

"I'll do it. I'll protect White Base!"

He wasn't acting out of stubbornness or trying to prove himself to Bright as he had in the past. This time, he wanted to answer Bright's trust and was willing to do everything he could to succeed.

The difference was so great that even Eli, without any system bonuses, could sense Amuro's resolve.

Seeing the two of them gradually take on the air of the future pillars of Londo Bell, Eli couldn't help smiling.

"Is that so? Then let's do it. We'll punch straight through the heart of Zeon territory!"

Eli flashed a hearty smile and saluted Bright.

"Thank you for taking the lead, Captain."

Bright returned Eli's salute. Kobayashi and the others followed suit, led by Ryu and Amuro.

Later that day, Matilda arrived at White Base with the Medea transport fleet.

Her striking figure and orange-red hair drew the eyes of the male crew members as usual. Even Amuro couldn't help looking.

Frau was jealous. She puffed out her cheeks, trying to draw Amuro's attention back to her.

Eli was in the hangar receiving supplies. When he saw this, he couldn't help laughing, and his gaze drifted toward Matilda as well.

"Pretty, isn't she?"

"She is. So poised and dashing..."

Someone suddenly asked Eli from beside him, and he answered without thinking.

But halfway through his reply, he realized something was wrong.

The voice that had asked him was a girl's.

The supply manifest and pen in Eli's hands visibly trembled.

He turned his head stiffly. Sayla stood there with her arms crossed over her chest, her eyes narrowed as she looked at him with undisguised disdain.