Chapter 160: Coup I
Tolle snapped his fingers cheerfully. "As expected, it's always easier talking to smart people—and you sure know how to give a straightforward yes."
He handed Treize a spatial compression wristband, used his longevity modification on both of them, and taught him how to use the wristband. Then, winking at Lady Une, he said,
"All right, I'll take you two out now. That should put Lady Une's mind at ease, don't you think?"
Saying that, Tolle brought Treize and Lady Une back to their office and handed the Tallgeese II Kai over to Treize.
He told him that this MS had been thoroughly disguised—unless someone completely dismantled it, they would never discover anything unusual. Of course, if anyone did try to forcefully take it apart, it would trigger an on-the-spot, nuke-level self-destruction.
Then Tolle instructed Treize to proceed with his original plan. If he ran into any formidable enemies, he could call Tolle for assistance.
Of course, Tolle would still mainly attack targets belonging to the Earth Unified Federation. It was even possible he'd end up attacking the same location alongside other Gundams.
Treize also provided him with a large number of damaged and scrapped mobile suits and parts, which Tolle converted into materials for constructing the Seraphim.
Inside the Seraphim, he built a three-dimensional projection studio—something he planned to use later, during their trip to the Macross, for Lynn Minmay's "music tactic."
A few days later, after Treize had finalized his plan, Lady Une reported to him.
"Lord Treize, I've gathered all OZ high-ranking personnel at the New Edwards Base. The fake intel has already been spread. I also made sure it was done cleverly—with frequent exposure."
Treize nodded with satisfaction.
"With you and me both attending, that intel can't be considered a complete lie."
"You're not planning to use yourself as bait, are you? All personnel arrangements are complete. I don't think we need to add more manpower, do we?"
"Compared to Zechs and Noin? You're using them in a rather wasteful way, aren't you?"
"That's because the number of OZ troops stationed at the Noin Base is relatively small. That area is very likely to become a battlefield."
"Hmm. Still, this way, people can throw themselves into the tide of history without hesitation. History… I wonder how it will change. Whether I can alter it depends on which way the tide flows."
Tolle, lounging lazily nearby, already knew exactly how history would unfold—but it wasn't convenient to say. Anyway, it didn't matter how this world's plot changed; in the end, global peace would still be achieved.
Reclining like an old movie star, Tolle yawned and asked,
"So, need me for anything? Should I raid a Federation base amid the chaos—or head over to New Edwards and play some undercover games with those five Gundams?"
The thoroughly brainwashed Treize replied helplessly,
"You're our master. Shouldn't you be the one giving us orders? Asking us such questions feels like lowering your own status."
"Haha, it's just that I'm not really good at strategy or command. I'm way worse than you two. Why else would I value you and Lady Une so much?
You're my military and chief of staff—these matters are your department. I'll just handle the muscle-flexing part."
"Oh dear, what kind of master have I ended up with? What a situation…
Fine then—for the sake of your public image, go play with those five Gundams. Leave the rest to OZ's troops. They're more than capable of handling the Federation and unifying the world."
Tolle gave an innocent shrug, waved his hand, and strolled out.
But inwardly, he gave Nami countless thumbs-ups. After all, she hadn't altered their personalities or ways of thinking—just their deep-rooted loyalty targets. That way, they'd never suspect they'd been brainwashed. Now that was the perfect way to do it.
"All right, I'll go join the five Gundams and put on a little show. I'll leave you two lovebirds to your private talk."
Meanwhile, the pilots of the five Gundams had also received the false intel that all OZ higher-ups were gathered at New Edwards Base.
They immediately regrouped and advanced toward the base, determined to wipe out the OZ leadership in one strike.
During the meeting, Marshal Noventa delivered a speech announcing the end of the age of bloodshed and the beginning of disarmament. At that moment, the New Edwards Base came under attack from four Gundams.
Heero, upon reaching the base, piloted the Wing Gundam in MA form and performed a stunt landing—crashing straight into the ground, transforming mid-slide into MS mode.
One shot from the Buster Rifle obliterated a squad of Leos, and he then drew his beam saber, charging into the enemy ranks.
Deathscythe Gundam joined in from another direction, its beam scythe cleaving through several Leos in one swing. Then, lining up a distant row of enemy suits, it launched its shield boomerang, destroying several more.
However, the Federation forces held a crushing numerical advantage—their Leos outnumbered the two Gundams by at least a hundred to one.
As the fight dragged on, Wing Gundam and Deathscythe began to lose ground under the relentless barrage of rifle fire, forced steadily into retreat.
Inside the conference hall, watching the footage of the two Gundams' assault, Treize leaned toward Lady Une and said quietly,
"Lady Une, the actors are all in position. Time for us to raise the curtain."
Lady Une discreetly opened her communicator, first cutting off all external communications from the New Edwards Base.
Then she issued the attack order to Zechs and the others—Operation Dawn was underway.
At the same time, OZ's Dawn Operation units launched assaults on every major Federation base around the world.
Under the overwhelming numbers of OZ's mobile suits, those bases quickly fell and came under OZ control.
As the battle outside raged, with explosions from mobile suits shaking the conference hall, Treize stepped up to the podium and said to Marshal Noventa,
"Marshal, you should evacuate now. If, after this incident, you still wish to pursue peace negotiations with the colonies, you must all the more cherish your life."
Persuaded, Marshal Noventa and several other officials headed toward the hangar to board an OZ shuttle and escape.
But when the hardliner General Septum tried to join them, Treize—intending to make him a scapegoat—called out to stop him.
"General Septum, please come this way."
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