Chapter 175
Kou Uraki could only grit his teeth and force himself to endure the discomfort as he climbed into the cockpit of the GP03.
Soon, they would be faced with an awkward problem—neither of the two Gundams had any proper weapons.
GP02 did indeed have a massive rocket launcher mounted on its back.
However, that launcher wasn't a standard weapon—it was specifically designed for nuclear warheads, and obviously couldn't be used in the upcoming battle.
Meanwhile, GP03 was facing a different kind of dilemma.
GP03's full designation was RX-78 GP03D Gundam Prototype Unit 3 (Dendrobium).
But "Dendrobium" didn't refer to the mobile suit Kou Uraki was currently piloting—it referred to its combined form with the "Orchis," a massive weapons platform system.
The unit Kou was piloting at this moment was officially designated as RX-78 GP03S Gundam Prototype Unit 3 (Stamen).
While the Stamen's standalone performance was still top-tier and met all the requirements of the GP Project,
its armaments had all been integrated into the Orchis—the weapons platform—so the suit itself hadn't been equipped with weapons during maintenance.
Both units now only had one shield and one beam saber each.
Even so, they had to head out!
As they launched from the port of the La Vie en Rose, the flashes of an ongoing firefight between the patrol fleet and enemy vessels were already visible in the distance.
Thanks to the shoulder-mounted modules equipped with three large thrusters, GP02 could unleash high-speed movement despite its bulky frame!
GP03's movable wing thruster system also allowed Kou to execute sharp-angle maneuvers similar to those he performed with GP01FB.
However, Arcadia signaled for Kou not to follow her into battle but to head toward the port area—where the Orchis, the weapon platform for the Stamen, should be in the process of being loaded onto the Albion.
Watching GP02 burst forward with its beam saber in hand, shield raised, charging straight toward the Zeon MS units that had broken through the defensive line, Kou didn't hesitate—he immediately made for the Albion.
"Nina! Lucette! Is the weapons platform ready yet?!"
The moment he entered comms range, Kou contacted the Albion.
"Sorry, Kou, it's not calibrated yet… You should transfer to the GP01 instead—"
Nina wasn't lying. The weapon platform system hadn't been tested yet, and neither the ammunition nor the propellant had been loaded.
The Albion didn't have the maintenance facilities for the Orchis system—missile pods even had to be hand-loaded one by one by the ground crew.
"No, it's fine, Ensign Uraki. Just dock the Stamen—we'll have you armed in no time!"
Before Nina could finish, Lucette cut her off, shoving her aside.
"The Orchis's MEGA Particle Cannon and I-Field Generator can be detached and powered directly by the Stamen. Deploy in that configuration!"
"Lucette! That's not part of the design parameters! Just because it's technically possible doesn't mean it's safe—you'll be putting Kou in danger!"
Nina immediately shouted in protest.
"It's fine, Nina. Lucette, I'm counting on you—please prep the equipment."
Kou interrupted Nina and addressed Lucette instead.
He had made up his mind.
Switching to the GP01 would give him better handling in the immediate battle,
but that would only mean adding another high-performance mobile suit to the field, which wouldn't be enough to stop the remnants from breaking through.
However, with the Orchis's MEGA Particle Cannon, the GP03 would gain anti-ship firepower—
something that would pose a true threat in the eyes of the Zeon remnants, and might just make them retreat.
Nina couldn't read what Kou was thinking.
Clutching her right hand to her chest, she stared in disbelief at the incoming GP03 on the monitor.
Then, gritting her teeth, she turned and left.
Kou had no idea what was going through the mind of this woman who had grown so close to him in such a short time, and instead urged Lucette—who was now under the GP01, watching Nina run off—to begin the equipment swap.
GP03's modular design allowed the equipment swap to proceed rapidly.
The unit never entered the hangar; it simply waited tethered by steel cables beside the Orchis platform for the upgrade.
Strictly speaking, the parts weren't even "mounted" onto GP03—just plugged into its power systems, drawing energy directly from the GP03's reactor.
Frankly, it was terrifying.
Lucette repeatedly warned that the MEGA Particle Cannon couldn't be fired while the I-Field Generator was active, highlighting the severe limitations of this makeshift configuration.
Even so, the fact that GP03 could operate an I-Field Generator designed for a Mobile Armor truly shocked Kou.
It just didn't feel like something any mobile suit of this era should be capable of—not with that kind of reactor output.
Once Lucette finished her instructions, Kou immediately launched.
"Hey! Hold up! We'll escort you!"
Bait said over the comms.
Only now did the Titans trio return to the Albion from the La Vie en Rose.
Seeing that they were still in their regular uniforms, Kou paused for a second.
"I'm heading out first. I'll be providing sniper support from the Albion's vicinity. Catch up as soon as you can."
Despite being just an Ensign, Kou's tone was firm and left no room for discussion.
Without waiting for a reply from the trio, he stepped on the pedals. GP03, now resembling a medieval knight with a lance and shield, charged into battle.
Kou immediately set course for Arcadia's position.
There were scattered explosions in that area.
Though bulky, GP02's shield was massive enough to block most of the Zeon remnants' weaponry.
And with its high-thrust capability, Arcadia was using the beam saber to strike down enemy units mid-charge with deadly efficiency.
At the same time, it was clear the Zeon remnants had begun to surround GP02, slowly closing off its mobility.
After confirming the battle situation, Kou stabilized GP03's aim.
The distance between GP03 and the battlefield was well beyond the effective range of normal mobile suit weapons—
but Kou was no longer using ordinary weapons.
The MEGA Particle Cannon now equipped on GP03 was Mobile Armor-class!
What's more, to support the cannon, GP03 featured extremely advanced targeting and sighting systems.
With both combined, even a thoroughbred OLD TYPE like Kou could make a proper shot.
A thick beam of light swept across the rear flank of GP02, obliterating the Zeon units behind it and eliminating the threat.
"Not bad, Kou!"
Arcadia shouted as she stomped down on her pedals, propelling her unit forward.
Her beam saber flared with brighter light as she swung it horizontally, slicing two Zeon MS in half at the waist!
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