Build Gundams Ch 24

Inside the GP04 Gerbera's cockpit, Reika Fujimoto, now a Lieutenant in the Antares Mercenary Group, gripped the controls, her focus absolute. The Mobile Suit responded to her commands with an eagerness that bordered on unsettling.

"This reaction is remarkably swift and responsive," Reika thought, her hands dancing across the controls. "And I haven't even pushed the acceleration to its maximum. The sheer speed is almost overwhelming. I haven't engaged the external propellant tanks yet, and already my reactions are struggling to keep pace."

As Reika navigated the GP04 through a rigorous simulated combat scenario, her skill was evident. She deftly evaded a barrage of attacks launched by MD-controlled drones and GM Mobile Suits. The virtual battlefield became a canvas upon which she painted a masterpiece of controlled aggression and calculated maneuvers.

However, even with her honed skills, Reika found herself facing a challenge. Despite successfully evading the simulated attacks, she struggled to achieve consistent hits during her counter-attacks. Nearly half of her attempted strikes missed their targets. The GP04's speed, while an asset, also proved to be a hindrance, demanding an almost superhuman level of precision.

Reika's vision began to blur, a warning sign that her body was approaching its limit. She recognized that her current physical conditioning was simply inadequate to pilot the GP04 effectively. The Mobile Suit demanded more than just skill; it required an extraordinary level of physical resilience.

A voice crackled through the communication channel, interrupting her thoughts. "Lieutenant Reika Fujimoto, are you able to continue the evaluation?" It was Captain Feikesi, his tone professional and devoid of any undue pressure.

Reika knew that this was not the time for bravado. She understood the importance of objective data, and pushing herself beyond her limits would only compromise the integrity of the test. With a hint of reluctance, she made her decision. "Negative, Captain. I am terminating the evaluation and returning to base."

Back in the hangar, Reika removed her helmet, her forehead and face glistening with sweat. She took several deep breaths, her complexion pale and her movements labored. As the cockpit hatch opened, she found her legs unable to support her weight. Two nearby technicians rushed to her aid, providing the necessary support as she exited the Mobile Suit.

A small group of MS pilots had gathered to observe the GP04's performance. Though they had not witnessed the entirety of the simulated battle, they had seen its initial deployment. In a matter of seconds, the Mobile Suit had transformed into a streak of light, a testament to its incredible speed.

"The speed of the new Gundam developed by the boss is astonishing," one pilot commented, his voice filled with a mixture of awe and apprehension.

"Indeed," another pilot agreed. "It simply became a blur before our eyes."

"Lieutenant Reika is one of our most skilled MS pilots," a third pilot added. "If even she struggles to pilot it, what chance do ordinary pilots like us have?"

"Look," a fourth pilot exclaimed, drawing their attention. "Lieutenant Hayato is preparing to test the new Gundam."

"Lieutenant Hayato," another pilot mused. "He is an ace pilot, perhaps even more skilled than Lieutenant Reika. I wonder if he will be able to master that newly developed Gundam."

A dry cough echoed from behind, interrupting their conversation.

The MS pilots turned in unison, snapping to attention and offering a crisp salute.

Captain Feikesi stood before them, his expression stern but not unkind. "Alright, enough with the speculation. It's time to get back to work. We have a mission to prepare for."

"Yes, Captain!" the pilots responded in unison.

With the GP04 resupplied with fresh propellant tanks and boosters, Hayato Takeshi approached the Mobile Suit, his gaze filled with determination. He grabbed the remote control and initiated the deployment sequence.

As the GP04 accelerated, Hayato immediately sensed that its speed far exceeded anything he had previously experienced in a Mobile Suit. The world outside the cockpit blurred as the Gundam surged forward, a testament to its raw power.

In the simulated combat scenario, Hayato initially managed to maintain control of the GP04. He evaded attacks from the MD system-controlled drones and Mobile Suits with a combination of skill and instinct. The Gundam responded to his commands with an almost telepathic responsiveness.

"The speed of this Gundam is simply ridiculous," Hayato thought, his mind racing to process the sensory input. "Even without engaging the external propellant tanks, it's faster than anything I've ever piloted. My Gundam doesn't possess this kind of terrifying speed."

A voice broke through his concentration. "Lieutenant Takeshi, the next phase of the simulated battle is about to commence." It was Captain Feikesi, his tone neutral but firm.

Hayato shifted the GP04 into a combat mode, simultaneously dodging and counter-attacking. The Mobile Suit responded with alacrity, weaving through the virtual battlefield with grace and precision.

In the command room, the monitoring team observed the instruments and the GP04's performance with rapt attention. Data streamed across their screens, painting a picture of a Mobile Suit pushed to its absolute limits.

"Lieutenant Takeshi is executing evasive maneuvers with exceptional skill," one technician reported. "He has achieved complete evasion of all attacks, and his hit rate on counter-attack targets is exceeding 70 percent."

Ryuuichi Kaneshiro, standing in the command room, watched the GP04's performance with a detached demeanor. His expression remained impassive, revealing nothing of his thoughts or emotions.

Captain Feikesi turned to Ryuuichi, seeking guidance. "Boss, should we proceed to the next phase of the evaluation?"

Ryuuichi's response was terse and direct. "Don't ask me. Ask the pilot."

Feikesi relayed the question to Hayato. "Lieutenant Takeshi, are you able to continue to the next phase of the evaluation?"

A moment of silence hung in the air before Hayato's voice crackled over the comms. "I can still continue to the next phase."

Suddenly, dozens of missiles, designed to bounce off surfaces and pursue their targets relentlessly, locked onto the GP04 and rapidly closed the distance.

Hayato reacted instantly, maneuvering the GP04 to evade the incoming barrage. The objective was not to destroy the missiles, but to determine whether the Mobile Suit could successfully shake them off.

Hayato engaged the GP04's maximum acceleration, activating the external propellant tanks and boosters. The Mobile Suit surged forward with incredible force, its speed increasing to more than three times that of the previous tests.

"My chest feels incredibly tight," Hayato gasped, his voice strained. "The acceleration is too intense."

"The missiles have been evaded," a technician announced, his eyes glued to the monitoring instruments. "The GP04 has successfully shaken off the missile lock."

"The missiles have lost their targets and are now drifting aimlessly," another technician added. "Initiate remote control, shut down their engines, and recover them."

Hayato disengaged the external thrusters and reduced the GP04's speed to its original level. He took several deep breaths, attempting to regain his composure.

"A few more seconds at that speed, and I felt like my chest was about to implode," Hayato said, removing his helmet and gasping for air.

For the next phase of the evaluation, Hayato made a difficult decision. He terminated the test and returned to base, recognizing that pushing himself further would only compromise the integrity of the data.

As he stepped out of the cockpit, Hayato leaned against the railing, his body trembling with exhaustion. The GP04's capabilities were undeniable, but they came at a steep price.

After the GP04 was resupplied, the next test pilot, Lieutenant Haruki Kozuki, prepared to take his turn. He approached the Mobile Suit with a mixture of excitement and trepidation, fully aware of the challenges that lay ahead.

Unfortunately, Haruki's experience mirrored that of Hayato. While he managed to evade the initial missile barrage, he found himself unable to continue to the next phase of the evaluation. The sheer physical strain of piloting the GP04 at its maximum capabilities proved to be too much to bear.

Upon returning to base and opening the cockpit, Haruki immediately vomited, expelling the contents of his stomach in a violent and involuntary reaction. The experience had pushed him to his absolute limit.

Subsequently, other Gundam pilots took their turn testing the GP04, but their results were largely the same. They each reached a point where the physical demands of piloting the Mobile Suit exceeded their capabilities.

Ryuuichi left the command room as Haruki completed his test. He knew that further evaluations with the current pool of pilots would not yield any significantly different results. The problem was not with the GP04 itself, but with the human pilots who were attempting to control its immense power.

"It appears that I need to develop a comprehensive training program to enhance their physical fitness," Ryuuichi mused, his mind already racing to find a solution. "Should I employ the Enhanced Human method from the Gundam Universal Century era, or perhaps explore the possibilities of human body modification surgery from other science fiction novels? Or could I rely on pharmacological enhancements to augment their physical abilities?"

As Ryuuichi pondered these options, the head of the command room emerged and approached him. "Boss, if you have a moment, I would like to show you these results." He held out a tablet, displaying a detailed analysis of the GP04's performance data.

Ryuuichi examined the results, noting that the GP04's hardware had performed flawlessly throughout the continuous testing. The issue was not with the Mobile Suit's mechanical capabilities, but with the software that governed its operation. The coordination and continuity of its movements were not as smooth as they could be.

While target acquisition relied heavily on the pilot's skill, the software's programming introduced a slight lag in the hardware's response. This aspect required further refinement and adjustment.

"Hand these results over to the software engineering department," Ryuuichi instructed. "They need to re-arrange the coding and optimize the software for smoother performance."

In recent times, Ryuuichi had delegated many of the more granular adjustments to his trusted employees, allowing him to focus on his primary passion: researching and developing new technologies.

The acquisition of the nuclear fission MS power unit had ignited his imagination, providing him with a wealth of new ideas to explore. While the Minovsky Type Thermonuclear Reactor, as depicted in the Gundam storyline, remained beyond the reach of current technology, Ryuuichi was determined to find a viable alternative.

He had begun to combine his existing super-energy furnace technology with the acquired nuclear fission MS power unit, dissecting the Minovsky Type Thermonuclear Reactor technology and integrating its principles into his own designs.

"If one path is blocked, I will simply find another," Ryuuichi thought, his determination unwavering. "There is always a way to reach the final destination."

With renewed purpose, Ryuuichi headed towards his office, eager to continue his research and development efforts.

As Ryuuichi immersed himself in his work, Kenji Takeshi arrived at his office, seeking to discuss a matter of some urgency.

"Boss," Kenji began, his tone grave. "Recent international news reports indicate a surge in wars and unrest in several countries, leading to a significant influx of refugees. Many of these refugees have nowhere to turn. I believe we should consider selecting some of them to join our ranks."

Ryuuichi looked up from his work, his expression thoughtful. "Are these refugees primarily from nations that have fallen to hostile forces?"

"One nation has already been completely annihilated," Kenji replied, his voice heavy with sorrow. "The refugees refuse to accept imperial citizenship, clinging to their desire for a democratic system. As a result, the empire has expelled all refugees who refuse to pledge allegiance."

Ryuuichi nodded slowly, absorbing the information. "Very well, Commander Takeshi. I entrust this matter to your capable hands. Proceed with the selection process, and ensure that we provide these refugees with a safe haven and an opportunity to rebuild their lives."