Gundam: Changing the World Even with a Mass-Produced Unit

Chapter 194: The Blond Man at the Bar

Six months had passed since the second failed Operation British—so the history books would call it.

In a bar on the Baldur Colony of Side 6, a man with mid-length blond hair and dark sunglasses sat alone. A quiet melancholy clung to him, drawing the glances of nearly every woman present.

But he didn't seem to notice. He simply sat at the counter, sipping his drink, his attention focused instead on a nearby table where a few men were murmuring among themselves.

What made the scene almost laughable was the plastic bag by his feet—stuffed with baby supplies, household goods, and groceries. It clashed completely with his aloof, distant image, looking more like the haul of a devoted family man than that of a mysterious loner.

"…And regarding the recent energy crisis, we've invited an expert to help clarify some issues—"

Bars like this one, dimly lit and playing smooth jazz instead of loud club music, naturally attracted married men looking for a quiet break. And the programming on the TV tended to reflect that tone, focusing more on social commentary than entertainment.

"—Due to the Federation government's failure to prevent the Zeon remnants from attacking, the helium-3 storage facility was destroyed. As a result, the Earth Sphere is now forced to implement energy rationing. I assume most of you are already aware of this?"

The so-called expert's opening remarks already had the man tuning out, subtly implying that the Federation's inaction was to blame for the shortage.

Still, this was his first glass of whiskey in half a month—too much of a waste to abandon just because of some irritating broadcast.

With a soft sigh, he leaned further into his melancholy, taking a slow sip and doing his best to tune the TV out as background noise.

"—Moreover, the Federation failed to properly intercept the falling colony satellite. Even with the use of a nuclear warhead, the satellite still broke apart…"

Clearly, he had failed to block it out. The aggravating voice kept drilling into his ears.

"Not only did they fail to protect the lands that we space-dwellers rely on, but the debris field formed near the Moon has severely disrupted trade routes. I believe this is a major factor behind the recent rise in prices."

That much, at least, was true. Prices for baby supplies had definitely gone up compared to last month.

Groceries, on the other hand, had remained relatively stable.

That was thanks to the Zeon Republic's agricultural production satellites, which had just come online. Although the crops grown there sacrificed taste for speed, they'd helped stabilize the food supply for now.

A certain blond woman's face drifted into the man's mind.

Even during their last meeting, he had known—she was someone destined to accomplish great things.

And yet thinking of her only made the guilt in his heart feel heavier.

Why was he still here, lounging about, drinking?

He hated the way the so-called expert kept guiding public opinion toward questioning the Federation's actions. But in the end, he was no different from the others in the bar—quietly thinking it over.

"—However, the Federation has finally responded. General Revil, who had authorized the use of nuclear weapons without approval during the Delaz Rebellion—ultimately resulting in the colony satellite's destruction—has voluntarily stepped down from his position as Commander of the Space Forces…"

The man's hand froze, his glass halfway to his lips. Behind his sunglasses, his azure eyes sharpened, locking onto the expert on-screen.

So this was the Federation's final answer? To make General Revil—the man deemed responsible for the loss of a third of the Space Forces fleet and the formation of the colony debris field—the scapegoat?

General Revil?

The man had been there, had lived through the Delaz Rebellion. He knew the truth.

The expert made it sound as if the nuclear missile had caused the colony satellite to break apart.

But in reality, it was that very missile that shattered the Delaz fleet, securing what should have been a decisive Federation victory.

The real cause of the colony's disintegration… was the solar ray system.

Had the Federation government covered that up?

Even so, how could it possibly fall on Revil to take the blame? No matter how things played out, forcing him to resign was unjustified.

"…General Revil, who spent his life on the battlefield and earned countless honors, ends his career in disgrace. Hardly a fitting conclusion for such a figure."

The man placed his whiskey glass on the bar, then gestured for a refill.

But the price made him wince slightly. Food prices might still be stable for now, but fine old liquor like this? Every glass might soon be the last.

"As for Revil's successor, the High Command has yet to announce a new Space Forces commander. Most believe the position will go to either Admiral Tianem—often considered Revil's heir—or Admiral Green Wyatt, who enjoys the support of the traditional Space Forces faction."

Even those unfamiliar with the Federation military's increasingly convoluted internal politics could follow that logic.

But in Char's opinion, there had to be some kind of behind-the-scenes deal. Otherwise, there was no way Revil would've agreed to step down like this.

"Meanwhile, the Federation Parliament has sent a clear signal against Revil's faction—they've passed a new expansion proposal for the Titans, led by Brigadier Bask, Revil's former subordinate unit."

The Titans again.

The name alone was enough to terrify disobedient children across the colonies these days.

Rumors, suppression, and brute-force tactics—that was the Titans' style.

"And as for the Revil faction, General Jamitov has taken command of Revil's former independent battalion, renaming it the 'Undertaker' unit, famed for its accomplishments during the Delaz Rebellion. The move also hints at upcoming expansion."

At this point, the expert's expression grew grave as he stared directly into the camera.

For a second, the man almost felt like the guy was staring at him.

"While colonies are facing power rationing, the Federation continues to pursue military expansion. Clearly, the living conditions of us space-dwellers are not part of their concerns."

Now that was just plain Zeon rhetoric.

The man rolled his eyes inwardly.

Besides, the so-called expansion wasn't about new ships or mobile suits. It was just reorganization and integration of existing units.

Not surprising, considering the Republic of Riah had bet on both sides during the One Year War.

And right on cue…

"By contrast, AEUG has continued calling on the Earth Federation to pay more attention to the plight of space residents. Unfortunately, their protests have been repeatedly suppressed by the Titans…"

To be fair, the man actually held a reasonably positive view of AEUG.

They didn't just talk—they handed out food.

And the principles they stood for… were ones he could agree with.

As the expert began steering the conversation further toward anti-Federation sentiments, the man lost interest. He downed the last of his whiskey in one gulp and stood to leave.

"Hey, Mr. Quattro! You forgot your things!"

The bartender, already familiar with this regular who stopped by every now and then, called after him.

"Ah, thanks. That stuff's actually pretty important."

Quattro smiled, walked back to retrieve the bag by his seat, and then left the tastefully decorated bar behind.