Enrollment

Z.A.F.T. had originally been a political organization known as the Zodiac Alliance.

It was founded in C.E. 50 by Siegel Clyne and Patrick Zala.

In C.E. 65, the Zodiac Alliance changed its name to Z.A.F.T.

Three years later, it was reorganized into a military organization equipped with MS.

At the same time, the Z.A.F.T. military was directly commanded by PLANT's Supreme Council and answered to the National Defense Committee, of which Patrick Zala was a member.

Every MS pilot came out of the Z.A.F.T. Military Academy—or rather, every active-duty soldier had to study there for a period of time.

The ten students with the best grades were promoted directly to red uniforms upon graduation.

Of course, aside from MS pilots such as those in red uniforms, the academy also trained warship commanders, mecha mechanics, warship communications officers, warship operators, and all kinds of other military support personnel.

MS Mecha... Maintenance Class Four.

Swish!

The classroom door opened, and the students in uniform rose as one to salute, looking toward the front of the classroom.

A middle-aged man in a teacher's uniform walked to the center of the podium, set his textbook on the desk, and said, "Please take your seats, everyone!"

Swish!

The students sat down together, but their eyes were not on the teacher. Instead, they drifted toward Cruze, who stood by the door in a white uniform. If military academy discipline had not strictly forbidden loud clamor—

These students would have already jumped up in excitement.

There was no other reason: Cruze's reputation was simply too great. He had destroyed dozens of enemy aircraft single-handedly and emerged unscathed. After the battle, he had been awarded the Nebula Medal and promoted to captain in a white uniform.

And now, such a person had actually appeared at the classroom door—and in a mecha maintenance class, no less. It was like a dream.

As for Noer beside Cruze, whose expression was gloomy, they completely ignored him. How could a firefly contend with the bright moon?

"Noel Cassia, come in."

The teacher had naturally noticed the students' strange behavior, but noticing it did no good. Besides, he himself had been startled when he first met Cruze.

"Hm?"

"Who's that?"

"When did he get here?"

Only then did the students notice Noer standing beside Cruze. Looking at his somewhat youthful face, they could not help grumbling inwardly.

Of course, that was only in their hearts. If anyone dared spout nonsense in front of a teacher during class at the military academy, then they truly had a hard head.

Noer walked onto the podium with a gloomy expression. With his back turned, he raised a middle finger at Cruze, using it to vent his emotions.

Cruze's lips twitched slightly when he saw Noer's gesture.

"Introduce yourself," the teacher said, slowly taking two steps back to make room for Noer.

"Hello, everyone. I'm Noel Cassia. Please take care of me!" Noer stood in the center of the podium with his hands behind his back. After speaking, he took a step back and yielded the spot.

"Uh, as you can see, starting today, Noel Cassia will be your classmate."

The teacher was clearly left speechless by Noer's brief, lackluster introduction, though he rather liked that style of introduction.

After all, soldiers were like that—straightforward and direct. This kind of introduction was quite good.

"Noel Cassia, your seat will be the second from the back in the third row on the left. Go over and get ready for class."

Under the students' varying gazes, Noer walked to his assigned seat and sat down.

As for Cruze beside him, he acted as though he had not seen him.

Beep beep!

Just as the teacher was about to continue, a communication alert suddenly sounded from outside the door.

Cruze lowered his head for a glance and accepted the call.

"I'll be right there!"

A moment later, Cruze ended the communication. After giving Noer a deep look, he nodded slightly to the teacher, turned around, and left with two attendants.

"Class begins!"

The teacher glanced at Noer, pressed the projection device, and began explaining while pointing at the displayed schematic of a GINN. "This lesson will mainly cover the first-generation GINN unit. As future mecha maintenance personnel, we must fully master the structure of the unit and its basic operating principles..."

"This is the GINN ZGMF-1017, a general-purpose mass-production MS. It is the first-generation general-purpose mass-production MS currently developed. It is equipped with one MA-M3 heavy slashing sword, two leg-mounted M68 3-tube missile launchers, one M59 Vallus Kai special heavy particle cannon, one MMI-M8A3 76mm heavy assault machine gun, and two M66 missile launchers."

"..."

It had to be said that there were many things no man could resist, but mecha definitely ranked among them, no matter who it was.

Every man had a dream of piloting a mecha, and Noer was no exception.

Especially when watching the video teaching materials, Noer's gaze and attention could not help being drawn in.

A photograph of three people sat on a long black table, and Lenoya Sala was clearly among them.

This was the office of Patrick Zala, one of PLANT's congressional representatives.

Beep~

Whoosh~

"Rau Le Creuset reporting!"

The door opened, and Cruze, dressed in a white uniform, walked in. He saluted Patrick Zala, who sat behind the desk.

Patrick Zala put down the document in his hand, looked up at Cruze, and said, "To prevent another failure like the Battle of Victoria, the Council has decided to deploy Neutron Jammers on Earth to suppress nuclear weapons and nuclear fission energy."

Cruze's eyes narrowed slightly at those words, but he said nothing. He merely stood quietly and waited for what came next.

"Cruze's team will accompany the operation as well," Patrick Zala continued.

"Yes!" Cruze snapped to attention and saluted.

"How is that test subject doing? I heard you sent him to the military academy. What are your thoughts?" Patrick Zala continued.

"I wish to see what kind of surprise Noel Cassia, after his second evolution, can bring us."

Seeing Patrick Zala's calm expression, Cruze continued, "The research data on Noel Cassia has basically been compiled. Rather than let him rot away, it would be better to make him a member of the Z.A.F.T. military. He also has reason to join us!"

"You think highly of him?" Patrick Zala could not help looking at the picture frame beside him.

He knew that Noel Cassia had once traveled to the January Colony aboard Lenoya Sala's shuttle.

"Yes!" Cruze replied directly with a nod.

"Your reason." Patrick Zala looked at Cruze.

"Instinct." Cruze gave an answer Patrick Zala could not understand.

"Instinct?" Patrick Zala did not know what to say for a moment.

"Noel Cassia's parents were both killed by Naturals. Coupled with the tragedy of Junius 7, he hates Naturals more than most Coordinators do!" Cruze explained.

That was also one of the reasons he valued Noel Cassia.

"Do as you see fit." Patrick Zala said this and waved slightly at Cruze.

He accepted the answer, and he also wanted to see what kind of future a Pseudo-Coordinator who had undergone a second evolution could bring.

Cruze saluted, turned around, and left the room.

"I hope you can bring me a surprise, Noel Cassia..."

Patrick Zala murmured as he looked at the file on the desk bearing Noer's portrait.