Chapter 48: Mutiny? No, This Is an Uprising!

"What is wrong with Lord Garma?"

Because of what happened at noon, the cafeteria television did not broadcast regular news programs that evening, but instead played a concert by a certain pop singer who was immensely popular among space residents.

This made the oppressive atmosphere among the cadets dissipate quite a bit. Moreover, tonight's dishes were exceptionally lavish, so people even shared some laughter while eating. Only Garma sat quietly in his seat, his chopsticks stabbing repeatedly at his pork chop until it was nearly shredded, yet he made no move to actually eat it.

This made the members of his personal guard sitting nearby rather nervous. Seeing that everyone else had already finished multiple plates of food while Garma hadn't taken a single bite, the captain of the guard finally spoke up cautiously.

"Um... Lord Garma, is the food not to your liking?"

"Ah? What? What are you saying?"

Interrupted from his deep contemplation, Garma snapped back to reality, only to realize that he had reduced his pork chop to a pulp.

"No, not at all! I just prefer eating it this way!"

"Well, the food has gone cold. Shall I get you a fresh, hot portion?"

"No, no, no! I happen to like it cold!"

With that, Garma picked up his plate, mashed all the food together, and then shoved it into his mouth. After wolfing it down rapidly, he drained his soup and drink in one continuous breath, then wiped his mouth.

"Alright, I'm full. I'm heading back first!"

Leaving his bewildered guards behind, Garma returned to his dormitory.

At that moment, Char's words were still echoing repeatedly in his mind, possessing a hypnotic magic that left Garma entirely incapable of focusing on anything else.

"Launch a surprise attack on the Federation garrison!"

If it had been earlier, had anyone else dared to utter such words, Garma certainly would have dismissed them as a madman. After all, everyone lived inside the same space colony, running into each other constantly; each other's strength was well understood. The entire student body of Zeon put together numbered barely a thousand, whereas the Federation garrison forces boasted a strength of tens of thousands, not to mention the resident fleet stationed at the port. Daring to launch a surprise attack on them was sheer suicide.

But right now, the main combat forces of the Federation military had sortied en masse, leaving fewer than three thousand logistics personnel in the camp. Most importantly, their entire resident fleet had already set sail and departed for Zum City. Although the disparity in numbers between the two sides still looked vast, the quality was incomparable. If the tactics were properly executed, then in this eighteenth year of his life, he would achieve unparalleled and monumental glory!

Ultimately, when Char finished his post-meal workout and returned to his room to wash up, Garma made his decision.

"Char!"

"What is it, Garma?"

"I need your help!"

Garma took a deep breath, stepped forward, and looked intently at Char, who was draped in nothing but a bath towel.

"I've decided. I'll take your advice. We're going to launch a surprise attack on the Federation garrison!"

"Is that so?"

Char's expression remained completely unchanged, yet a trace of imperceptible joy crept into his voice.

He's finally taken the bait, the little master of the Zabi family!

"Yes, but..."

Noticing Garma's inner conflict and hesitation, Char immediately pressed on.

"As someone who may one day become the leader of the Zabi family and rule over Zeon, are you actually feeling afraid of something like this?"

"No, how could I be afraid? I am a man of the Zabi family! I'm just worried about whether we can actually pull it off!"

Garma clenched his fists and then opened his palms; this was his first time encountering such a situation, which naturally made him hesitate.

"It's fine. You are the shining top student of the military academy! Under your command, it will surely succeed!"

The eyes beneath Char's sunglasses gleamed with light, his tone carrying a magical quality that gradually erased Garma's unease.

"You saw the television broadcast at noon, didn't you? The Federation tanks are running amok in Zum City. As a man of the Zabi family, you aren't going to just sit by and do nothing, right?"

"Yes, you're right! At a time like this, I must act like my brother Dozle—I must be a competent soldier of Zeon!"

Garma straightened his chest and spoke loudly.

However, his tone softened shortly afterward.

"However... I haven't prepared anything at all!"

"Don't worry, Garma."

Char turned around and walked toward his desk. Out of Garma's line of sight, an expression of intensely gratifying joy—like that of a man whose deep vengeance had finally been fulfilled—bloomed across his face. But the moment he picked up the flexible data pad from the desk, that smile vanished entirely.

"I have already prepared the plan!"

Char activated the data pad, displaying an electronic holographic map that outlined the general layout of the Federation garrison. It also explicitly marked the key targets and sequence of assaults, even detailing precisely where the attacking force should apply suppressing fire and where they should launch their breakthrough charges.

"You—when did you make this? Having this is simply amazing!"

Garma was first startled, then overjoyed. He never imagined why Char, a fellow cadet, would suddenly produce this the exact moment he made up his mind. At that moment, he felt nothing but profound relief for having such a considerate and capable teammate.

"Right, there are still two things we need to do," Char said, handing the data pad over to Garma.

"To prevent outside reinforcements, we must also sabotage the space port docks. Furthermore, there is the most important matter of all: Principal Dozle!"

"What about Brother Dozle?"

"The Principal will never approve of our operation. Therefore, we must find a way to place him under control!"

"This... let's not rush into that!"

Garma was, after all, still a younger brother; the thought of going against his stern elder brother made his heart skip a beat with guilt.

"Let's gather our personnel first!"

Thus, shortly afterward, the academy's public address system chimed to life.

Under the pretext of holding an intramural sports meet, Garma summoned all the fourth-year cadet squad leaders. Then, draped in his signature cape, he announced his plan to everyone.

"Awesome! That's exactly how it should be done!"

"Lord Garma, we will follow you to the death!"

The cadets were at an age brimming with hot-blooded bellicosity; upon hearing the plan, not a single one felt fear. Instead, they actively vied to enlist in the vanguard.

However, a few more rational voices expressed their concerns.

"If we launch a mutiny like this, what happens if Principal Dozle holds us accountable afterward?"

"A mutiny? Who told you this is a mutiny?" Garma declared loudly.

"This is an uprising! It is the first shot fired in Zeon's resistance against Federation oppression! This is the dawn uprising that will bring hope and light to the people of Zeon!"

"That's right! Failure is called a mutiny, but success is called an uprising!"

With that, the cadets looked toward Garma in unison and shouted with one voice:

"Lord Garma, please give the order!"