Chapter 40: The Führer’s Guard Is the Best in the World!

Eugen was no fool either. Anyone who could rise to the position of garrison commander was far from incompetent, so he quickly understood what Makarios intended to do.

Originally, the plan was for the Federation troops to travel by vehicle, using armored riot control vehicles equipped with water cannons and loudspeakers to clear the crowd along the way, escorting the delegation out. Considering the terrible traffic conditions, only the best drivers would be deployed.

But now, the plan had changed.

“Our wheeled armored vehicles are no different from those of the Zeon Army. So, all we need to do is repaint them with Zeon insignia and change into the uniforms of the Führer Guard. That will be much safer than using Federation standard-issue equipment outright.”

“I understand. But I’m curious—why insist on the Führer Guard uniforms? Wouldn’t the Defense Army’s uniforms suffice?”

“Commander, if you were an ordinary Zeon citizen, which would you fear more—the Defense Army or the Führer Guard?”

A few officers burst out laughing, clearly knowing which one Zeon people feared more.

“Then for this operation, you don’t have to—”

“Commander, please let us take part!”

“Why? You should know this is a high-risk mission. If you’re just looking to add to your service record, I can—”

“That has nothing to do with it. This plan was mine, so it’s only right I take responsibility!”

Makarios wasn’t seeking glory; he mainly wanted to pose as a Zeon secret police officer and get to rough up some Zeon citizens—that was his real motivation for volunteering.

“Fine, you’ll be my driver.”

“Huh?”

The officers were stunned and swarmed around Eugen, trying to dissuade him.

“If a sixteen-year-old cadet isn’t afraid, why should a forty-seven-year-old man like me be?”

One by one, the officers also insisted on joining.

“Scram, all of you, get out of here. Oh, Yodel and Herman, you two stay!”

Eugen suddenly seemed to remember something and singled out the two officers.

“They have a heavier Zeon accent. What about you, Cadet Kleene?”

“I think I can manage.”

Makarios tried to imitate the Zeon accent from memory.

“Good. At least it’ll fool the civilians.”

Eugen nodded and quickly issued his orders.

In less than half an hour, the rescue convoy’s paint and the necessary uniforms were ready. To enhance the disguise, Commander Eugen even prepared a bunch of ID holders emblazoned with “SS.” Of course, the documents inside were just their own IDs hurriedly passed off, as there was no time to forge anything proper.

“Sir, how did you get these?”

“Don’t ask me. It’s an order from the Space Army Headquarters. I’m just following it.”

Makarios nodded, realizing there must be a mastermind within the Space Army HQ as well.

“By the way, if we get stopped, remember to be ruthless!”

“Why? Boss, didn’t you say there would be women and children there?”

“Then target the adults, especially the big, strong guys. Those are the tough ones. Besides, does Kilian’s secret police need a reason to hit someone?”

The Red Dragon squad didn’t expect their leader to get so fully into character so quickly. But with no time left to rehearse properly, they settled for practicing the Führer Guard’s mannerisms face-to-face inside the vehicles.

Because the delegation was large, Eugen dispatched ten armored vehicles at once, accompanied by nearly a full platoon of Federation soldiers. This was inevitable; although they were Zeon garrison troops, very few soldiers could speak with a Zeon accent. They searched the entire garrison, even the cooks, to muster enough men.

The lead vehicle was naturally driven by Makarios. He had aced the armored vehicle operations course at the academy. Among the dozens of Federation vehicles, once he’d read the manual, he could handle them with ease. Aside from lacking experience, his skills rivaled those of veteran instructors who’d been driving for decades.

The convoy swiftly boarded the Columbus transport ship at the Guardian garrison and set off for Zim City. By now, the colony satellite was under martial law. Zeon officials knew the marching crowd was difficult to control, so the Defense Army had sealed off roads leading to their area and set up checkpoints on other major routes.

The Federation convoy was naturally stopped by one of these checkpoints shortly after leaving the spaceport.

“Don’t panic. Watch me!”

Commander Eugen, sitting in the passenger seat, was about to reassure Makarios when he saw him jump out of the vehicle, clad in Führer Guard uniform, sprinting, leaping, and striking.

The Defense Army second lieutenant manning the checkpoint was sent sprawling by a flying kick from Makarios.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing, stopping our vehicle?”

Not content with just knocking him down, Makarios grabbed the lieutenant’s collar, slapped him across the face, then arrogantly shouted at the surrounding disgruntled Defense Army soldiers.

“What are you all looking at? Planning to go decompress or something?”

The soldiers lowered their heads, while the beaten officer couldn’t bring himself to confront the damn secret police. He cursed inside but obediently waved them through.

Before leaving, he made sure to ask Makarios’s name, intending to settle the score once he rose in power.

“My name is Annabell Cardo. Remember it!”

Of course, not all Defense Army personnel were as bold as this officer. At the second checkpoint, the soldiers saw the driver’s Führer Guard uniform from a distance and immediately opened the way.

“Those mutts, spit!”

Watching the convoy disappear, the Defense Army soldiers and officers spat behind their backs, unable to stand those secret police bastards either.

Still, the convoy eventually stopped less than three blocks from the delegation because the streets ahead were packed with Zeon civilians. Perhaps emboldened by the crowd, even seeing secret police didn’t make them give way.

“Sir, should we intervene?”

“No. I placed something in the cabin. Bring it out and hang it on the front of the vehicle!”

Commander Eugen shook his head. They were still far from the delegation. Getting out now to disperse the crowd? Not a chance.

A few soldiers quickly found what Eugen had mentioned: a large half-length portrait of Kilian.

“Yes, that’s it. Hang it up! Then we move forward!”