Who is Playing the Love Development Game in Gundam

Waking up from the shared bed, He Kui gazed out at District 1 of May City. Recently, his asteroid base had been relocated outside May City for easier access, and with the research team nearly ready, he would soon be reporting in.

"Why are you up so early?" Su Lei murmured as she held him, her smooth skin brushing against him, sparking a familiar warmth.

"I have to head back, but I need to work on the ground adaptation for the Ginn units before that," he replied, shifting his gaze to his virtual display:

[Su Lei Affection Level: 172]

[Shi He Hanif Affection Level: 186]

[Shared Affection Bonus: +3 +2]

[Zeta Gundam (12,258/50,000)]

[Research: Cellular Repair Nanobots (21,365/50,000)]

[Research: Field Modulation (16,523/20,000)]

[Research: Intermediate Quantum Communications (9,065/30,000)]

Field modulation was nearing completion, a technique he planned to share. While ZAFT had downplayed his contributions to the Odin Cannon to keep Blue Cosmos from targeting him, he couldn't ignore the possibility that "The Family" might still be aware.

This technology had numerous applications beyond combat, enhancing MS energy efficiency, boosting energy yield, and increasing radar range. After running successful tests on his base's small nuclear reactors, he confirmed a 20% increase in output and a 15% rise in energy efficiency. This development could accelerate PLANT's MS production speed, especially with South America's raw material resources.

Finishing breakfast and saying goodbye to Shi He and Su Lei, He Kui moved to the hangar, where four Ginn units stood imposing and ready.

"He Kui!"

"Horace, you're here early," he greeted, surprised.

"I never left last night," Horace chuckled. As the company's backbone and general manager, Horace practically lived on the asteroid, which was just as comfortable as PLANT's facilities.

"Any progress on the modifications?"

"With the air-cushion drive you designed, it's handling much better on rough terrain. While it doesn't match the mobility of a BuCUE, it outperforms the Dagger and standard Ginn units in ground operations," Horace noted, then looked at He Kui with a bemused grin. "How do you come up with so many ideas?"

"I guess that's what being a genius is," He Kui joked.

"Impressive," Horace rolled his eyes at his friend's smug expression.

The air-cushion drive was inspired by the Maganac units in Mobile Suit Gundam Wing. It enabled the Ginn units to hover, significantly improving their agility in desert environments, though most modern MS, including the ZAKU, had flight capabilities, making it less useful beyond specialized settings.

"We need to recalibrate the system parameters," He Kui said, stepping over to the main computer terminal linked to the mobile suits.

While He Kui was hard at work on adjustments, in District 1 of March City, dawn's peace shattered with a thunderous explosion.

"What's going on?" Inside the security office of the mayor's residence, the guards scrambled.

"Initial reports indicate the explosion occurred in the mansion's central hall. The automatic blast doors have deployed," a uniformed soldier reported.

"Deploy the rescue team and protect…" Before he could finish, the guard post outside the mayor's residence exploded, and a nondescript van barreled through the gates.

"Our actions will ensure that Blue Cosmos is forever remembered! Make these damned Coordinators tremble before our might!" shouted their leader, his fervor contagious as his team rushed into the mansion, fully aware this was a suicide mission.

"Begin the assault!" the leader commanded.

With the mansion breached, chaos ensued. Meanwhile, He Kui, who had just finished adjusting the Ginn units, received an urgent call from Erin.

"He Kui! Where are you?"

"I'm at the asteroid base. What happened?"

"Blue Cosmos just attacked Jule's residence in March City."

"Is Councilor Jule safe?"

"He and his wife managed to reach the emergency shelter shortly after the explosion, but… most of the mansion's staff were killed, with only three survivors. Some of his files were stolen."

"Which files?"

"On the new warships."

"Wasn't that data stored in the most secure database?"

"They came well-prepared and managed to breach the mansion's archives. But all six intruders were killed in the end. We're currently questioning the survivors."

"Understood. I'll stay on alert."

As He Kui ended the call, he couldn't shake his unease. Blue Cosmos had launched an assault so soon after ZAFT's last sweep for spies, somehow gathering a new team capable of striking this deep into PLANT's territory. Weren't they afraid of provoking a severe retaliation? And why were there no survivors left to pass on the intel?

Unable to find answers, he headed to a secluded shop within the Junk Guild.

"He Kui~"

Full of energy as ever, Setona appeared, her pink backpack making her look like she was off on a school trip.

"Setona, are you ready?"

He Kui handed her a miniaturized Owl drone, streamlined and more adorable than the standard model—a handy perk from his recent upgrades.

"All set~" she chirped, delighted with her new gadget.

"You heard about the news, right?" Mathias, who had joined them, looked at He Kui seriously.

"Yes, I just got the details," He Kui replied, his expression hardening.

"But do you think it's really that simple?"

"Good question," Mathias responded with a sly smile, revealing a caged… mouse, looking innocently up at them.

"This is… from 'The Family'?"

"Kind of—a modified cyber-mouse," Mathias explained, holding up the mechanical creature.

He Kui stared at it in disbelief. "So, you think—"

"The last piece of data was transmitted via this 'mouse' before the attackers met their end. We'll uncover the whole story soon," Mathias said, his tone carrying a new gravity.

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