Chapter 50: The First Shot!

"Everyone!"

Once everything was properly packed and organized, Garma delivered his first pre-battle speech inside the garage.

"Today, we stand here to launch an uprising on behalf of the people of Zum City, who are suffering from the Federation's brutal suppression. This uprising will surely be recorded in history. The Federation might use this directly as an excuse to declare war on Zeon, but before that, I want you all to remember why we came to this academy!"

"We came here to protect the Spacenoids. Today, we will engage in a real battle, so some of us may be injured, or even die. But even so, it is a price we are willing to pay. Therefore, my friends, lend me your strength!"

"Salute!"

At the intentionally lowered command of the on-duty cadet, the Zeon cadets simultaneously raised their right hands in a salute to Garma. Shortly after, organized into their respective squads, they quickly boarded the armored vehicles. Ahead of them, the vanguard unit led by Char had already rolled out of the garage.

At the same time, inside Dozle's office, the Lieutenant General—draped in a thick bathrobe and wearing cotton slippers—was working overtime at his office computer.

On his monitor were the schematic diagrams and data of the YMS-03 Prototype Zaku. As the officer in charge of the mobile suit project, Dozle had to keep a constant eye on its progress. Fortunately, the project had been running quite smoothly lately, which inevitably lifted his spirits.

Then, his communication terminal rang. The guard on duty outside reported that a cadet wished to speak with him at this late hour.

"Zenamia? Ranked eighth?"

Dozle checked the cadet's file and discovered she was quite a pretty young girl, which left him slightly troubled.

"If a student has troubles, shouldn't they go see a counselor? But since she's coming to me, it must be out of trust in me as the commandant!"

Even so, he decided to let her into his office.

"At this hour, I'd normally be fast asleep!"

With flowing blonde hair and wearing a crisp, immaculate uniform, Zenamia raised her hand in a salute and then apologized to Dozle.

"Never mind, it's fine. So, let's talk. What is your trouble? Is it money? Or a man? Or perhaps boring coursework? I know the academy's subjects might be a bit difficult for female cadets, but we are constantly making improvements regarding that..."

Dozle rambled on, looking very much like a responsible teacher. Unfortunately, the female cadet standing across from him shook her head.

"No, sir, I have no troubles. I came here simply to borrow some of your time!"

"Borrow my time?"

Dozle was utterly bewildered. He had briefly wondered if the cadet might harbor some admiration for him, but taking one look at his own appearance and the age gap between them, he quickly dismissed the thought as wishful thinking.

Just as he was completely confused, the ground suddenly began to tremble.

"What is going on?"

As a career military officer, the Lieutenant General didn't even need to look out the window; just feeling the vibrations told him that a convoy of armored vehicles was driving past. What shocked him, however, was how a convoy could have sorted out without any orders from him.

"I am sorry, sir, please remain in your seat! Right now, the entire third-year graduating class of the military academy has mobilized to execute an attack on the Federation Forces base!"

Dozle turned away from the window and saw Zenamia pointing a handgun right at him.

At that moment, the shouts of the guards echoed from outside the door.

"Sir, the cadets have mutinied! They've commandeered all the combat vehicles!"

Startled by the sudden banging on the door, Zenamia turned her head for a split second. Taking advantage of the distraction, Dozle lunged forward with a swiftness that belied his massive frame, disarmed her with a single hand, and lifted her right up into the air.

"Dammit! Who instigated this? Who?!"

"It... it was Mr. Garma!"

Trembling violently in the grip of the man whose intimidating aura made him look like a monstrous beast ready to devour her, Zenamia stammered out the answer.

"Garma?"

"Garma!"

Upon hearing his younger brother's name, the previously enraged Dozle seemed to have all his strength instantly drained from him, and he slumped heavily onto the floor right where he stood.

He never imagined that the younger brother he cherished so dearly would possess such audacity and nerve. Yet, at this stage, any words to stop him could no longer cross his lips.

"Sir? Sir? Mr. Dozle?"

Looking at the Lieutenant General collapsed against her, Zenamia had no idea what to do, so she could only wrap her arms tightly around his waist, trying to snap him back to his senses.

"Red Dragon One, Red Dragon One, this is Ranger. An armored convoy has departed from the Zeon Officer Academy!"

"They're finally moving?"

Macarius, who had been waiting inside a makeshift tank revetment in the wilderness for a day and a half, sat up and pressed the button on his throat mic.

"Ranger, this is Red Dragon One. Maintain surveillance!"

After finishing his exchange with the forward scout, Macarius switched his channel to the command headquarters frequency.

"Calling Wolf's Nest, this is Red Dragon One. Enemy mechanized forces are advancing toward Wolf's Nest. Please prepare for combat immediately, over!"

"Red Dragon One, say again!"

The Federation officer on duty in the camp still couldn't quite believe the Zeon forces would actually have the nerve to attack them, and repeatedly asked Macarius for confirmation.

"The enemy is about to drop artillery shells right on your thick skulls!"

"Understood!"

Hearing Macarius's impatient tone, the duty officer finally sounded the combat alarm.

Following that, the Federation soldiers—who had maintained a state of combat readiness—jumped out of their beds, dashed out of the barracks, and sprinted toward their battle stations.

The camp also instituted a blackout, extinguishing the majority of its lights. Even the blaring alarm sirens were abruptly silenced. Now, the only sounds echoing through the military base were the hurried footsteps of the Federation infantry.

In the command center situated at the center of the base, although some officers were still struggling to properly put on their uniforms, the majority had already arrived at their posts. Right now, the movements of the Zeon cadet convoy were being synchronized and fed into the command center via high-altitude drones.

"The enemy has deployed roughly a battalion of mechanized infantry, along with a mortar battalion. They've practically emptied the entire military academy's inventory!"

A staff officer quickly compiled the intelligence data and reported it.

"I see it!"

With both the commander and deputy commander away in Zum City, the heavy responsibility of command fell upon the shoulders of the Chief of Staff, Lieutenant Colonel Yodel. At that moment, the staff officer felt profoundly grateful that he had heeded Macarius's advice; otherwise, they would have been caught in a completely passive position.

"Sir, Red Dragon One requests permission to fire!"

"Let him—no, I'll do it myself!"

Yodel picked up the radio and spoke.

"Clinique, we must not fire the first shot. But I demand that once they fire their first shot, they won't even have the chance to fire a second! Do you understand? The authority is in your hands; forget about headquarters and play it your own way!"

"Understood, sir!"

Looking at the densely packed cluster of moving red dots on the electronic display before him, Macarius suddenly chuckled.

"Yudin, sing a song!"

"Huh? What do you want to hear?"

The driver was puzzled, but still intended to comply.

"Sing—actually, I'll sing it myself!"

Macarius adjusted his headset, switched his communication channel to the public frequency, and softly began to hum a familiar tune.

"This place is so warm!"

"Yet the road awaits our footprints!"

"With dust like stardust clinging to our boots!"