The Odessa Operation Ends

An explosion sounded in the distance.

Eli, who had just pulled his Beam Saber from the Dom's chest, looked in that direction.

It was the sound of a hydrogen bomb exploding.

Of course, only the bomb itself had gone off.

Amuro had already used the Gundam's Beam Saber to cut off its warhead.

The Zeon Forces' desperate, suicidal counterattack had come to an end.

But the war was far from over.

At the distant mining base, several HLVs launched, carrying supplies and personnel into space.

A Zanzibar-class warship had also escaped, carrying M'Quve and a group of high-ranking Zeon officers.

Some of the Zeon Forces' remaining troops would flee to the Southeast Asia Base, hoping to use the Zanzibar there to reach space.

Others would flee to Africa.

Eli stood beside the Dom, put away the Ground Type's Beam Saber, and gazed into the distance, his eyes flickering.

"Hoho, you want to wipe them all out? What a cruel man. And yet, you don't feel much hatred inside. You feel so much sympathy for every person who falls."

"Because I'm a person."

Eli ignored the Grim Reaper lady, who had started acting a little strangely after his comment. He turned his Mobile Suit around and headed toward the White Base.

The White Base was floating above the woods, like an impregnable wall proclaiming the Federation's victory.

From this day onward, the Federation's counteroffensive would begin.

"Grim Reaper, tell me—where did you come from?"

"Are you finally interested in me?"

The Grim Reaper, who had disappeared after Eli ignored her, reappeared before him at his words.

"I don't know. I just woke up and saw you all fighting. Anyone who wanted revenge caught my attention, but every one of them died."

Eli suspected that the Grim Reaper had actually been a Newtype, but for some reason had lost her memories of the past.

After her death, she had become an existence like Lalah Sune.

Anyone who could see her must also have had some Newtype potential.

"You know a lot, don't you? About the pilot of that Assault Guntank and her lover... You know so much. What do you think of this war?"

As the Gundam Ground Type returned in cruise mode, Eli asked the Grim Reaper.

"Heh, where did you hear all that? This war is awful. Seeing beautiful things destroyed would make even me, the Grim Reaper, grieve."

The Grim Reaper's answer didn't move Eli. He just felt like laughing.

Even the Grim Reaper grieved at the sight of beautiful things disappearing...

"Did you come to me because you want to take my soul, too?"

"I don't know. Your presence simply drew me in. I'm only interested in souls twisted by hatred."

That was what the Grim Reaper said, but Eli remembered that she had once tried to change the Assault Guntank pilot's mind, hoping to prevent tragedy.

In the end, though, that pilot had still been consumed by hatred.

"If you stay by my side, you'll be disappointed. I won't let hatred control me. Never."

After bringing all its Mobile Suits aboard, the White Base turned toward the Federation's defensive line.

Just moments ago, they had received a communication from the Big Tray-class land battleship Big Tray.

It was General Revil's flagship.

There was no need to guess why General Revil had summoned them. He presumably wanted to meet the crew of the White Base, which could be said to have played a crucial role in the entire battle.

The Big Tray-class looked tiny beside the White Base, much to General Revil's satisfaction as he stood on the bridge.

It was a pleasure to see such a display from the Pegasus-class, the Federation's newest battleship.

"Have them come straight to the conference room to see me."

General Revil gave the order to one of his subordinates and told him to relay it to the White Base.

Then he left the bridge and headed for the conference room.

He had just received some good news, too.

The Black Tri-Stars had fallen.

Ha! The Revil Faction's warriors had dealt with the shadow that had haunted Revil all his life. That news was enough to get tomorrow's papers rushed to print.

General Revil smoked his pipe, completely ignoring the no-smoking sign on the wall.

This was one of the few times he could relax.

By the time he had finished smoking, all the White Base's junior officers had arrived.

In fact, that meant Bright, Eli, and Amuro.

As soon as the three entered the conference room, they saluted General Revil.

Even on the way there, Amuro had specifically asked Eli about the finer points of saluting.

Amuro really didn't want to think of himself as a soldier, but anyone would feel nervous facing the de facto leader of the Federation Forces.

Seeing this Santa Claus in person, Eli felt an excitement he couldn't put into words.

This was the man who had truly saved the Federation from collapse.

"Have a seat. There's no need to be so stiff. As heroes, you've earned the right to be a little more at ease."

Seeing the pipe in General Revil's hand, Bright and Eli exchanged glances. Then they sat side by side on the sofa opposite him, sitting ramrod straight.

"First, allow me to express the gratitude of all the Federation's soldiers. Without your efforts, our losses would have been far greater."

"I'm hardly worthy of such praise, sir."

Lin Youde, who would later be considered an unpredictable element within the Federation, was now as humble as the most modest student.

"Hahahaha! You don't need to be so stiff around me. I've read your command records. If you weren't so inexperienced, and if you didn't lack the seniority to command respect, I'd want to make you a major."

Revil meant every word.

The White Base was indeed a state-of-the-art warship, but without strong command skills, it would have been difficult to bring it this far, let alone achieve such a great victory.

It was no exaggeration to say that Bright's presence was one of the most important reasons the White Base had made it this far.

And the other reason was...

"Amuro, I'm equally grateful for everything you did to protect the Federation's secrets. You had no choice at the time, but I still want to apologize for dragging you into this war."

Amuro blinked. The old man in front of him didn't feel intimidating at all for a general. He seemed more like a kind grandfather.

Only after Eli nudged Amuro did he react and thank General Revil.

"Lastly, Lieutenant Eli Li, your record is truly astonishing. You're the undisputed ace of our forces. If I had a pilot like you on my ship, I imagine I'd sleep much more soundly. So, would you be willing to join the White Base on its next trip into space and continue fighting?"