Day by day, time trickled away. Finally, the Nahel Argama completed its extensive refit, and the day of departure arrived.
However, the modification dock where the ship was berthed played host to two very special guests today.
"A Prototype Argama... no, according to the registration info, this ship is officially the Nahel Argama..."
A man with curly brown hair, wearing a loose deep-blue suit, stood a short distance away, scrutinizing the vessel. "An aggressive design. With this silhouette and firepower configuration, she's meant to be either a flagship or the tip of a spear meant to shatter enemy lines."
"But no matter how much one praises the excellence of the ship, it cannot hide the fact that the person who built it is terrible at naming things."
At that moment, the Courtyard's "retired old man" Char—dressed in a light brown suit and looking as if he might start wrestling with the man beside him on the ground at any second—was watching Roz walk over from the ship. "See? I told you, Amuro. He looks just like you."
Staring at Roz, who looked like his own twin brother save for the hair color, Amuro fell silent.
He knew clearly that Roz was not him. Roz didn't belong to his timeline; he was an independent individual with his own life and thoughts.
But since he wasn't "Amuro" yet looked exactly like him—with the only difference being hair color—Amuro honestly began to wonder if his irresponsible parents had hidden the fact that he had a twin.
Wait... if this "Roz" looked like him? And Char's plan?!
Amuro's eyes widened instinctively as he turned to Char.
"Exactly. I proposed this plan based precisely on his appearance and personality." Char adjusted his sunglasses, neither confirming nor denying Amuro's suspicion. "Unlike you, who are always busy with combat and training rookies, a retired man like me has plenty of time to study this young man's data."
"Just that brief encounter last time... such powerful spiritual energy captivated me," Char sighed, recalling their first meeting. "It's proven that he doesn't need any more polishing. He's developed a philosophy and set of values that suit him perfectly. He's ground away the rough stone on his surface to reveal the beautiful jade within."
"...So, you came up with this rotten idea?" Amuro narrowed his eyes. "Having an Amuro play Char? Aren't you afraid of plunging that world into chaos?"
"For you, for me, for Hathaway, or for anyone else—how much worse can a Federation already rotted to this core actually get?"
Char was indifferent to Amuro's interrogation. Perhaps he was simply looking forward to Roz replicating what he had once done in that world. "I believe in this young man. He has a unique talent—the ability to stir everything into a mess, set it all on fire, and then let the world spark with new life from the ashes."
"Char, you bastard..." Amuro frowned.
If Amuro represented the stability of striving to keep the world from falling into upheaval, guiding it toward the right path through various means, then Char was the radical.
He leaned toward "destruction before construction," using the influence of external factors to guide the world toward a new future.
It just so happened that Roz's way of doing things was perfectly to Char's taste.
"Instead of standing here grumbling at me, why don't you talk to Roz? See if there's anything you want to say to those people you knew so well?"
Char watched Roz as he approached. "After all, in my memory, there were still a few people you knew who were alive back then."
Hearing Char's words, Amuro's eyes widened instinctively.
"...Beltorchika?"
At that moment, having traded his usual casual wear for the blue-and-white military uniform from the same series as Murrue and the others, Roz came to a halt before the two men.
"Char, what brings you here today?"
Looking at these two men who looked like they might start wrestling on the pier at any second, Roz paused. "Also, it's a pleasure to meet you, Senior Amuro."
"It's not exactly the first time we've met. Char had me hack into one of your simulation sessions a while back."
Amuro made no effort to hide the fact that he was the pilot of the Hi-ν that had pinned Roz to the ground and thrashed him back in the Courtyard.
"Ah, that Hi-ν Gundam. It left quite an impression on me."
The moment Amuro mentioned the Hi-ν that had suppressed him, Roz remembered. "So, you're looking for me because..."
"Mainly because your refitted warship is about to set sail. We just came by to take a look... and to have you pass along a few words."
As if struck by an amusing thought, Char rubbed his chin, the corners of his mouth curling upward.
"I don't have much to send along, but Amuro, surely you have something to say."
"...Please give my regards to Captain Bright, as well as to Beltorchika and her child."
Recalling how that timeline was inextricably linked to his own, Amuro spoke quietly.
"Oh, and Roz—remember, when you greet the people Amuro mentioned, make sure to change back into your own clothes. Don't use the Char disguise."
As if imagining something hilarious, Char laughed.
"Char!"
At that moment, Amuro suddenly realized Char's true motive for bringing him here.
"Roz, be careful. Otherwise, you might find yourself with a child out of nowhere."
Facing Amuro's hostile glare, Char laughed heartily, completely unbothered.
"...Huh?"
Hearing Char's words, Roz froze for a moment, instinctively turning to look in Murrue's direction.
But he quickly realized that Char wasn't referring to his partner Murrue, but to Amuro's Beltorchika.
"Char... you really are a wicked fellow."
"I'll take that as a compliment. But aren't you having plenty of fun yourself?"
Char waved off Roz's sharp critique. "Besides, Amuro is also looking forward to you meeting them, isn't he?"
-----------------------------------
Due to the massive addition of armaments and equipment, the original bridge crew alone could no longer operate the Nahel Argama at full capacity.
Consequently, a "Second Bridge" had been added below the main one for the CIC team responsible for controlling the ship's fire support.
"It feels almost like being back on the Archangel," Natarle remarked, looking at the two sets of stairs installed near Murrue's captain's seat and the completely enclosed "lower deck" that displayed the outside environment via a wrap-around screen.
Meanwhile, back on the bridge, Roz was in conversation with Big Haro.
"So, what exactly did you learn in that advanced training?" Roz asked, his mind inadvertently flashing back to the scene of her getting her "head" knocked by Large Haro [the superior].
"Besides the standard mission logging and resource management, I've enhanced things like short-term prediction and optimization of the ship's OS."
For some reason, Roz felt as if Big Haro looked completely burnt out. "Also, per the supervisor's instructions, I obtained a very powerful module! I never imagined such a thing existed—as long as the ship has a structure capable of transforming into a giant MS, I can operate the ship in its MS state for combat! Plus, I can use the internal artificial gravity devices to ensure the crew's activities aren't affected!"
A giant MS transformed from a warship? Is there really someone out there with such radical designs...?
"But if we truly wanted that functionality, the hull of the Nahel Argama isn't suited for such a refit. It would be better to build a new ship from scratch."
Roz had actually anticipated the need for multiple vessels; after all, fleet operations were the standard in any Gundam setting, and there was only so much a lone ship could accomplish.
'In that case, perhaps the new ship should be put on the agenda?'
"The time has come, Roz."
Murrue's voice interrupted Roz's thoughts about future ship-building.
"Are you ready to set sail, Captain?" Murrue sat in the captain's chair. Everyone was at their stations, waiting for Roz's command.
Technically speaking, Roz was the owner of this vessel, so the order to depart had to come from him.
"Yes. If the supplies and personnel are all confirmed, then let's head out, Murrue."
Roz didn't waste any words. He knew Murrue understood the Nahel Argama even better than he did; if she was suggesting departure, they were ready.
"Understood. Nahel Argama, weighing anchor!" Murrue nodded and looked toward the front of the ship.
As the helmsman, Miho Nishizumi, pushed the throttles forward, the thrusters at the rear of the Nahel Argama began to erupt with blue flames mixed with green particles, propelling the ship out of the modification dock.
Simultaneously, the dock's pre-programmed celebration triggered, sending a massive display of fireworks bursting from the piers on both sides of the ship.
"Jump-hole activation complete!"
Following Big Haro's announcement, a shimmering blue wormhole appeared ahead of the Nahel Argama, and the ship plunged into it without hesitation.
Standing on the pier, Amuro and Char silently watched the departure.
"They've deployed..." Amuro reached out to catch a drifting green particle, but it simply passed through his palm and vanished into the space.
"Yes. I hope everything goes smoothly," Char sighed. "After all, the 'me' from that point in time is an absolute nightmare of a fellow."
"I hope they succeed too, but before that, you and I still have some unfinished business."
Suddenly, Amuro grabbed Char by the collar. "You bastard, do you enjoy throwing the world into chaos?"
"Throwing it into chaos? I'm clearly providing the world with a new way to solve its problems!" Char was not to be outdone. In this setting where his junior wasn't present, he dropped his dignified facade and grabbed Amuro's collar in return.
"Besides, I believe in him. He has the ability to turn everything around!"
Then again, did a guy like Char ever truly care about "dignity" anyway?
"If you weren't so radical, none of this mess would have happened!"
"But if we don't radically excise the diseased tissue, the human race in that world will only slowly rot away!"
"Char!"
"Amuro!"
In the now-empty modification dock, Char and Amuro engaged in a practiced scuffle, the two of them rolling around on the ground.
-----------------------------------
UC 0105, Florida, North America.
A male figure arrived in front of an abandoned house that looked like a haunted residence. After scanning the surroundings and ensuring no one was tailing him, he stepped inside the derelict building with a sense of practiced ease.
Reaching the second floor of this "temporary camp," the man let out a slight sigh of relief and shed the coat he had obtained from a local relief distribution point.
In North America, there was no shortage of homeless people driven to the streets by various bankruptcies. Naturally, there were distribution centers dealing with surplus stock or near-expired food. Clearly, the man before us felt absolutely no psychological burden regarding scavenging resources from such a place.
However, despite the availability of free supplies, these transients had to remain vigilant against a specialized unit known as the Hunter. One lapse in focus could lead to being apprehended and forcibly deported to the space colonies.
In this era, residing on Earth was, after all, a symbol of status.
"UC 0105... I have no clue why I ended up here."
The man removed his knit cap, revealing blonde hair. His blue eyes drifted toward a bundle hidden nearby. Tucked inside were the carefully preserved, flamboyant red garments, along with that iconic helmet and mask.
"In any case, I must first confirm Artesia's status. I can no longer use the name Char..."
Though he had only been in this era for three days, Char naturally refused to remain a mere vagrant in the American territories. To grasp the current state of this world, he needed to secure a new identity.
'Well then, first, I'll start by learning about that organization that's been gaining heat lately—the one called Mafty.'
...................