"You're all pigs! Look at yourselves!"
In that perpetually dimly lit room, Patrick's temper had never been good since his wife's death. Even if his temper had been tolerable before, seeing what was happening now in the PLANT Capital Satellite would make it difficult for anyone to restrain their anger.
Rising from behind his heavy office desk, his face cast in shadows by the dim lighting against the room's dark tones, he moved like a demon toward his group of trusted subordinates.
"You, you, and you!"
Panting heavily, Patrick—who hadn't had a single peaceful day since taking office—disregarded propriety as he used his thick fingers to jab each of his stiffly standing subordinates in the chest.
His jabs caused sharp pain in their chests, and he continued this until he reached the white-haired beauty Ezalia.
His finger paused mid-air as Patrick fell silent, staring at the prominent headlights right before him.
To jab or not to jab—that was the question.
Jab her, go on and jab her!
The previously jabbed subordinates collectively turned their heads away, as if shouting this in their hearts.
"Chairman Patrick."
Ezalia spoke up then, essentially giving the leader of the Sara Faction standing before her some face.
She took full responsibility upon herself.
"Regarding the invasion by the East Asia Forces, I will submit a formal written self-criticism after this incident concludes."
"Simultaneously, I will readjust the military strength of the Homeland Defense Forces. I guarantee that similar incidents will not happen again after this event."
"As for the enemy East Asian troops that have penetrated into the satellite interior, rest assured, I have already mobilized appropriate forces."
"I believe the situation will be quickly contained."
"Hmm." The stiff finger suspended in mid-air was withdrawn naturally, forming a fist that Patrick brought to his lips as he cleared his throat lightly.
Looking at Ezalia—the socially adept and most crucial backbone of his faction within the PLANT satellite cluster—Patrick turned around, prepared to climb down the ladder she had provided.
What else could he do anyway?
He had already scolded them, physically confronted them—was he going to fire them all?
"Very good, all of you should learn from Chairwoman Ezalia."
Spouting some meaningless pleasantries, Patrick prepared to return to his seat.
He also brought up his son to save some face.
"At this critical moment, Athrun has also performed excellently. He didn't just focus on immediate concerns—he also considered the situation outside the satellite."
"This is something you should all learn from. Consider this incident a lesson for everyone."
"But there won't be a next time. This must never happen again."
"Otherwise, how will we face the tens of millions of Coordinator compatriots in our homeland!"
"They've entrusted PLANT's future to our hands—we have the obligation and responsibility to be worthy of their trust."
"Worthy of the Military Emblem on our caps, I'm here to wind everyone up."
"If the situation cannot be quickly resolved and worsens further..."
"Starting from me, every one of us will resign from our positions!"
"Yes, yes."
While everyone nodded in agreement on the surface, no one truly knew what they were thinking inside.
And so, the matter that had occurred in Patrick's office came to a temporary conclusion.
But then—
Bang!
The dim, gloomy office door was pushed open from outside. The same sweat-drenched attendant who had appeared multiple times today stood before Patrick's murderous gaze.
He couldn't speak—truly couldn't utter a word.
The attendant at the door swallowed dryly, terrified that Chairman Patrick's next words would be to have him dragged away and executed.
There was no other reason—Patrick's eyes held that unmistakable, unconcealed look of wanting to kill someone!
"What is it?" The words squeezed through gritted teeth felt icy cold.
Patrick's temples throbbed incessantly. He hoped the attendant brought good news, not the absolute worst kind.
Though judging by appearances, it certainly wasn't good news!
"The Training ZINN is charging toward the Military Headquarters!"
Having mentally prepared himself to be dragged off and executed the next second, the attendant spoke with the resolve of one ready to die for a cause.
Whoosh.
Before Patrick, who had just issued his stern warning, could even speak, all the senior officers present immediately turned their attention to the Chairman.
Resigning, Chairman?
Or does this not count, with the next one being the final straw?
"Damn those wicked East Asian Alliance people!"
Thud!
His fists slammed heavily onto the thick oak desk. Patrick lowered his head, the corners of his eyes nearly tearing apart.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
One GINN after another was destroyed.
Though the performance of the Training ZINN was somewhat lacking, Wang Hu, fighting alone against a thousand, skillfully compensated for its shortcomings.
Following Lelouch's latest plan, Wang Hu single-handedly broke through the ZAFT Forces' satellite garrison troops hastily deployed to block him.
Behind him lay a long trail of wrecked MS GINN units, clearly visible from above.
The Training ZINN's advance route was a straight line heading directly toward the ZAFT Military Headquarters!
Click, click, click.
The Training ZINN pulled the trigger, the gun emitting the sound of an empty magazine.
"The enemy is out of ammunition!"
Overjoyed, the Coordinator soldiers, who had been nearly terrified out of their wits by Wang Hu, almost wept with relief.
Only heaven knew what they had endured today!
Now, seeing the living god of death run out of bullets, and glancing at the GINN wreckage behind him—symbolizing both fallen comrades and enemy achievements—
"Charge! Kill him!"
Even the meekest have their limits; even clay and wooden Buddhas compete for three sticks of incense.
These unfortunate souls, who had lost count of how many waves they were, were the Coordinator soldiers terrified by the slaughter.
Mustering their courage with thoughts of redemption, they cautiously advanced.
"Without rifles, without artillery, the enemy makes them for us."
"Every one of us is a sharpshooter, every bullet takes out a foe."
Wang Hu remained completely unfazed, even humming a tune in his cockpit with casual interest.
Watching the Coordinator soldiers charging forward with no semblance of intimidation, Wang Hu tilted his body and executed a ground roll.
By the time he straightened up, he was already holding a new heavy machine gun.
Don't ask—it was scavenged from a destroyed enemy GINN on the battlefield.
It was precisely this skill of improvising with available resources that allowed Wang Hu to fight his way to the ZAFT Military Headquarters with ample weapons and ammunition.
"Boom, boom, boom!"
Precise bursts of fire interspersed with short, controlled sprays sent all the opportunistic Coordinator soldiers to their graves.
Just like their comrades who had already met their end before them.
With that, the path between Wang Hu and the ZAFT Military Headquarters now appeared completely clear.
Barring any unexpected interference, the citizens of the PLANT satellite cluster's capital were about to witness a spectacular and unforgettable scene.
After all, the ZAFT Military Headquarters was shaped like a towering pillar.
If it were severed at the waist—
The mythical Mount Buzhou and a certain skyscraper would serve as fitting references!
"Thud, thud, thud."
As he strode forward, the sheer weight of his mobile suit exuded an overwhelming, terrifying presence.
Combined with the Training ZINN's crimson mono-eye and the wreckage of GINNs left in its wake—symbols of destruction—it was a sight to behold.
Even the demons emerging from hell in myths and legends would pale in comparison.
The oppressive aura born of his remarkable achievements weighed heavily on many.
Whether inside the military headquarters or among the Coordinators watching from nearby, some with weaker mental fortitude could no longer endure the stifling tension.
"Can anyone stop him?"
"God, I beg you, send someone to stop him!"
"Bastard! Have all of ZAFT's elites been wiped out? Why can't we hold him back?"
Pleading and panicking, the Coordinators displayed a range of reactions.
Some slapped their thighs in frustration, others screamed and shouted.
Some hugged their heads and wept, while others collapsed to the ground, paralyzed.
Without exception, they all wore expressions of utter despair, unable to comprehend or accept the situation.
After all, every television station in the PLANT satellite cluster had previously broadcast reports of ZAFT Forces attacking here one day, advancing there the next.
Today, ZAFT achieved a glorious victory; tomorrow, an even more brilliant triumph!
Even in the Alaska battle, which left countless households in the satellite cluster mourning, the media emphasized how ZAFT had paid a heavy price to deal a severe blow to the Allied Forces!
It was all lies—every bit of it!
Muttering in a daze, the Coordinator citizens stared at the Training ZINN nearing the walls of the ZAFT Military Headquarters.
Only then did these poor souls realize the stark contrast between reality and the propaganda fed to them through their screens.
"Wang Hu!"
Rage-filled shouts erupted just as Wang Hu was about to test the structural integrity of the ZAFT Military Headquarters—
In a rather unconventional manner, to see if the Coordinators had cut corners during construction.
But the unwelcome interference he had hoped to avoid rudely made its appearance!
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"
A relentless volley of beams shot over from a distance, threatening to disrupt Wang Hu's impromptu structural test.
Perhaps by the time Wang Hu finished testing, he would already be riddled with beam holes.
"Hmm?"
Hearing the radar alarm beeping inside the cockpit, Wang Hu glanced at the beam flying toward him on the display screen.
Naturally not wanting to perish together with the enemy's military headquarters, Wang Hu made the Training ZINN take a few steps back with a small hop.
"What's this?"
Curiosity gleaming in his eyes, Wang Hu watched the rapidly approaching golden-coated Qilin.
"Weapon Application Test Type Qilin Custom? Or perhaps a prototype for the Freedom and Justice, that Qilin used as a verification unit?"
Wang Hu recognized the approaching Mobile Suit, this machine that differed significantly from the standard Qilin model.
Just what exactly was it!
According to available data, this unit was modified from the ZGMF-600 Qilin to test the weapons equipped on the ZGMF-X09A Justice Gundam and ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam.
Its most distinctive external feature was the large sub-flight system mounted on its back.
This also served as the prototype for the Fatum-00 used by the Justice Gundam (Fatum meaning fate).
It was equipped with the same two MA-4B Type High-Energy Beam Cannons and four GAU5 Type Machine Guns as the Justice Gundam's Fatum-00.
The sub-flight system initially contained three thrusters, but this was later increased to six due to insufficient thrust.
The machine possessed overwhelming firepower - in addition to the weapons mounted on the sub-flight system.
The unit's right arm was equipped with an MA-M20 Type Beam Rifle, while the waist carried two MMI-M15 Electromagnetic Cannons and two MA-M01 Type Beam Sabers.
The head was fitted with an MM1-GAU2 Type 76mm Close-In Defense Machine Gun.
As a Mobile Suit manufactured by ZAFT Forces, this unit was the first to adopt PS Armor for its frame armor.
Since this unit's development plan was born before the Neutron Jammer Canceller emerged.
The power system initially used an old-style backpack, meaning the unit could only operate for up to 5 minutes when using both PS Armor and beam weapons simultaneously.
To extend operational time, technicians added an auxiliary backpack inside the sub-flight system, increasing activity time to about 10 minutes.
Later, Coordinator technicians ultimately equipped the unit with a nuclear reactor, making the auxiliary backpack unnecessary.
Thus, technicians added two M9M9 Type Rotary Turret Machine Guns in the freed-up space.
In summary, you wouldn't be wrong to consider this machine as something hybridized from both the Freedom and Justice units.
"Is that Yzak?"
Having dodged the opponent's attack, Wang Hu quite mischievously employed circling tactics around cover.
Having initially restricted the opponent's firepower output in this manner, Wang Hu blinked as he guessed the identity of the pilot in the opposing machine.
"It's me! Wang Hu, today this place will be your burial ground!"
(End of Chapter)