Who is Playing the Love Development Game in Gundam

Colombia may not be vast, and although it borders Panama, the focus of defenses concentrated on Panama has left Colombia almost defenseless. But "almost" doesn't mean completely unguarded.

An hour into their flight, alarms blared on the radar.

"Enemy attack," announced the Colonel.

A squadron of three Dagger fighters and three Skygraspers closed in rapidly from behind. Given the relatively slow speed of the Dagger and transport units, the fighters were leading the charge, attempting to disrupt their formation.

However, they were quickly neutralized by two DINN units from the squad, which peeled off and dispatched the six incoming fighters over the Colombian desert.

"Not far now—our next temporary base is ahead. We'll resupply there," the Colonel informed them.

Their MS units couldn't make it to Panama on their current power reserves, so a pit stop was inevitable.

"Understood."

Everyone acknowledged the Colonel's orders and adjusted course according to the coordinates.

After fending off several waves of Skygraspers and Dagger units, the group reached the temporary base. The location was a simple, unremarkable camouflaged bunker in the desert, barely noticeable from the outside.

Since MS and fighters couldn't enter, they parked their units outside under camouflage nets. Meanwhile, two DINN units and a machine from the Serpent Tail took turns on patrol, while the remaining pilots, including He Kui, stayed in their cockpits.

"The main forces are expected in six hours," announced the Colonel. "If any of these fighters get away, they'll reach us much sooner. No one gets through."

"Understood."

He Kui gave the standard response, taking the opportunity to power down his comms and check his wrist communicator. Notifications awaited, all with the same message:

> "Director He, your cellular-level nanomachine prototype project has been approved. Please report to the fourth-floor conference room at the Hailan Design Bureau in May City at 10 a.m. in two days."

He Kui frowned, not entirely thrilled by the sudden call back to duty. Still, he figured things in Panama should be resolved within two days, and hopefully, he'd wrap up quickly here.

"My apologies for earlier," the DINN team leader spoke over the comms when it was He Kui's turn to patrol.

"It's alright," He Kui replied calmly.

"We had orders to detain you, you know."

"I understand." Given the team leader's loyalty to orders, He Kui suspected he was likely part of a special ops unit.

"What's your timetable for the Panama assault?"

"...That's classified. But we'll be moving out again in three hours."

"Three hours… Dawn, then?"

Three hours would put them at Panama by sunrise.

"Do you know your target?"

"No idea." The DINN team leader's curt reply didn't surprise He Kui—it probably meant he was unwilling or unable to share. Based on their route, though, it was likely they were still heading for Panama.

He Kui surmised the president intended to rally resistance forces from Panama, creating a unified front.

As he mulled over this, six streaks of unnatural light flared in the distance.

"More Skygraspers?" asked the DINN team leader, his voice tense.

"No… not quite."

He Kui's radar quickly identified two of the incoming units—two Strike variants identical to his own. The other three were black-painted Dagger units equipped with aerial combat packs. And as the last machine drew close, He Kui's eyes widened. He knew that form well—the orange-colored, sword-equipped Calamity Gundam.

The Calamity's massive frame carried a Strike-type flyer, keeping pace with the others.

"Prepare for combat!" shouted the DINN team leader, ready to engage. But He Kui quickly intervened.

"No need."

"What do you mean?"

"I'll draw them off. You go and alert the others."

Two DINNs and a Red-level He Kui against an elite team like this? It'd be a massacre. Those three high-grade units were either piloted by Naturals with extraordinary skill or Coordinators, each a significant threat.

"I can't let you go alone!"

But as the leader protested, the enemy squadron surged closer, and He Kui made a swift decision, shifting his engines to full power and rocketing toward the incoming machines like an arrow.

The two Strikes moved to intercept him, seemingly unfazed by his headlong approach.

But in a surprising turn, the Calamity, still gripping its two massive swords, leaped from its flyer and cleaved one of the Strike units in three with a single swing.

"..."

The remaining four enemy machines, stunned by the betrayal, immediately distanced themselves from the Calamity.

"This is Edward Harrison, South American Federation MS pilot, First Pacific Fleet, Navy Lieutenant," the Calamity's pilot announced.

"The Ripper!"

The DINN team leader's exclamation carried equal parts awe and dread. This was the man who, in his infamous debut, had sliced a DINN reconnaissance unit in half with a single Vanguard fighter.

He Kui remembered hearing about him from Shi He. Though they were far from friends, respect lingered between soldiers. Verifying Edward's credentials, the DINN team leader pushed any lingering hostility aside.

Meanwhile, He Kui maneuvered through evasive rolls, dodging gunfire from the enemy Dagger's beam rifles. He found himself mildly surprised to see Edward in the flesh. That the Atlantic Federation had assigned him a top-grade machine to hunt South American resistance fighters implied a deep trust—or perhaps the influence of Matthias?

Regardless, He Kui refocused on the battle.

Edward's support helped, but the remaining Dagger units proved a challenge. Their pilots, likely Coordinators or elite Naturals, were pushing the DINNs to their limits. And the lone Strike variant continued its relentless harassment, leaving Edward's Calamity tied up in close-quarters combat against the airborne foes.

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