Mobile Suit Wars: Starting with Gundam OO

Though significant efforts had been made, with a large number of agents deployed to key cities within the Human Reform League's territory, the inevitable still happened—the attacks continued, and now, everyone had become a target.

The attackers were captured quickly, but they held little value. They were low-level operatives, family members of those killed by Celestial Being, and had no knowledge of who their superiors were or which organization they served.

Everyone hated the feeling of waiting, but there was little choice but to continue the wait.

However, thanks to the tireless efforts of the agents, there had been some progress. It was confirmed that there was no third-party nation backing the attacks, and it was also determined that the organization responsible had multiple active bases.

This was why they couldn't act recklessly.

Without third-party support, they couldn't intervene militarily in any country to send a message. With multiple bases, it would be difficult to eliminate the organization all at once. They couldn't just strike blindly; if they failed to wipe them out completely, the enemy would remain like a snake hiding in the grass, ready to strike again.

Huang, based on the intelligence gathered, had estimated the approximate locations of several of the organization's bases. He ordered the Gundams to stand by at the designated locations, ready to eliminate the terrorists as soon as they were located.

Dynames was sent to the mountainous regions of Australia for reconnaissance, Exia buried itself in the desert of the Human Reform League's territory, Virtue arrived at the southern forests of UNION, Seravee was stationed in the northern icy plains, and the last, 00 Gundam, was the only Gundam within the AEU's territory.

Just after arriving, Setsuna noticed a heat signature on 00 Gundam's radar, very close to the predicted attack point.

At the same time, Setsuna received a communication from Wang Liumei, instructing him to assist in apprehending a suspicious person fleeing the explosion site. Although it was suspected that this individual, like the previous captured ones, would turn out to be of little importance, every clue was valuable when there was no other lead.

During the chase, Setsuna, with his combat skills honed on the battlefield as a child soldier, was almost able to capture the suspect. However, the attacker was more cunning and well-prepared—he managed to escape in a bulletproof car right in front of Setsuna.

Just as he was preparing to give chase again, he was blocked by arriving police officers.

Frustrated, Setsuna found that it was no longer a matter of whether he could capture the attacker, but whether he could escape from the police himself. He briefly considered knocking them out and fleeing but was interrupted when a car pulled up beside them. A person got out and voluntarily vouched for Setsuna.

Confused, Setsuna wondered who this person was. Was this a helper sent by Wang Liumei?

Unbeknownst to him, this would be a fateful encounter that would shape the rest of his life, and he would meet someone who would become one of the most important people to him.

---

In a quiet park, the sound of insects and birds chirping filled the air. The bodyguards cleared the surrounding area, leaving only the elegant woman and Setsuna alone.

"Am I interfering too much?" the woman asked, a little worried.

"No," Setsuna replied, his expression neutral.

"Didn't expect to meet someone from the same homeland here. You're also from Azadistan, right?"

"No, I'm from Kyrgyzstan."

"Kyrgyzstan... Ah, sorry... I don't know what to say..." The woman's awkwardness and sadness were evident as she recalled the tense relationship between Azadistan and Kyrgyzstan. However, her good upbringing and the training she had recently undergone allowed her to quickly regain her composure. "I haven't introduced myself. I'm Marina Ismail."

"Karma Makirev," Setsuna introduced himself, of course using a false identity he had prepared.

"You came to this country as a tourist?" Marina asked. She had been trying to develop the economy and energy sector of Azadistan by negotiating with various countries' leaders, seeking assistance to resolve the energy crisis, but had faced constant setbacks. With no one to confide in or relax with, she had helped Setsuna escape the police earlier and brought him here to talk, simply wanting to have a casual chat.

No need for anything elaborate; she just wanted someone to talk to and unwind.

But Setsuna wasn't interested in her small talk. He had no time to chat and wasn't in the mood for it.

"Please... please stay for a bit. Let's talk," she begged.

Though slightly impatient, Setsuna stopped and looked at her, waiting for her to continue.

Marina began speaking about her recent work. As a princess pushed to the forefront by her people, she risked her life by traveling to other countries, asking for help so that her country could escape the energy crisis and provide a better life for its people, even if some people misunderstood or slandered her.

"Diplomacy?" Setsuna asked, sensing the change in the topic.

"Yes, you probably know that Azadistan is divided between reformists and conservatives. The country is in turmoil, and now that oil exports have been banned, the only way to revitalize the economy is through solar power. But after the solar power system is built, the conservative faction strongly opposes it. If we don't stop this internal conflict, things will escalate."

"Celestial Being." Setsuna instinctively said the answer he had already guessed.

"They are a group of fanatics, trying to stop war with violence. War is indeed terrible, but in reality, people have died because of their one-sided military intervention, and countries are facing economic collapse. Do they really think they are gods?"

"If war breaks out, people will die," Setsuna replied calmly.

"What I mean is, their intervention is one-sided violence, with no dialogue, no pursuit of peaceful solutions, just using violence as pressure to control others. It's absurd."

"In the process of dialogue, people are still dying."

"But…"

"Azadistan destroyed Kyrgyzstan," Setsuna said with rising impatience, seeing Marina as a naive young woman who didn't understand the darkness and distortion of reality.

Marina was startled by Setsuna's sharp tone and eyes and asked, "It's been six years since then, and you're still so young… Have you fought before?"

"I'm still fighting."

"…You… You're not from the conservatives, are you? Are you here to kill me?" Marina mistakenly assumed Setsuna's identity, stepping back in fear.

"Killing you won't change anything. The world won't change."

"Karma…"

"No, my codename is Setsuna F. Seiei, a Gundam Meister of Celestial Being."

"Celestial Being…" The answer made Marina even more shocked and unable to accept.

"If the conflict continues, I will go to Azadistan."

With that final declaration, Setsuna turned and walked away. Marina stood frozen, staring after him, until she finally collapsed in disbelief.

"How... How could this be... This isn't even funny…"

(End of Chapter)