On the plains of Neo-Veridia, the setting sun illuminated the remnants of the epic battle that had just concluded. The Lavender Gundam, severely damaged but still intact, was carefully airlifted by the White Gundam. Inside the protected cockpit, Tasya had fallen asleep from exhaustion, but her hand still tightly gripped the hand of Maki Kimeza, who was accompanying her.
Augustina (Sunflower Gundam) and Feres (Ibis Custom) had finished their task of clearing out the remaining Mars Colonial Bishop and Pioneer forces. They now flew in a tight formation, escorting the White Gundam back to the Kimeza Alliance's secret base.
Augustina (Via the calm comm link): "Good work, Feres. Zero civilian casualties, and minimal enemy casualties. The White Ghost showed mercy, even though its rage was momentarily uncontrolled."
Feres (While monitoring the radar screen): "You're right, Sis. But Maki's attack just now... it was terrifying. It's almost like the White Gundam has two souls: the calm Zaki and the stormy Maki. And Tasya... she was the real hero today."
Augustina smiled, "Yes. Her sacrifice was a major blow to the Mars narrative. They attacked to destroy; we fight to protect."
Below, Prince Felisio Nova and his loyal maid-servant, Yukina Asfort, had been secured by neutral local Colonial forces. They were found in the wreckage of the heavily damaged Royalty Gundam, Felisio unconscious from Maki's punch, while Yukina appeared calm, but her eyes were filled with shock.
"We will not demand detention," a Colonial security officer told Augustina over the radio. "But this Mars Prince has caused a political disaster. We will hand him over to the Colonial Council. Please ask the White Ghost to leave the area immediately, for your security."
"We understand. The Earth Alliance will withdraw," Augustina replied.
As the White Gundam flew away, followed by the Sunflower and Ibis Custom, hundreds of Neo-Veridia citizens began pouring out of their hiding places. They saw the returning units not as war machines, but as bringers of peace.
The White Ghost: Neo-Veridia's New Symbol
The shift in public sentiment in Neo-Veridia happened with lightning speed.
For a long time, the White Ghost was considered a myth or, at worst, an Earth rebel trying to destabilize the Colonies. However, the incident that day changed everything.
The reckless King of Mars attacked Neo-Veridia, attacking their civilians, solely to provoke the White Gundam. And the White Gundam came. It did not attack the city, but instead fought the threat, protected the infrastructure, and defeated the Royalty Gundam without killing its pilot.
"The White Ghost saved us! Mars attacked us, Colonial citizens, and the White Ghost, who they call the 'Ghost of Earth,' protected us!" exclaimed an old merchant.
"Look! He saved the pilot of that purple unit. He's not a devil! He's a savior!" chimed in a young woman.
Before long, the White Gundam and its comrades—including the damaged Lavender Gundam, now called the 'White Bird' because of its color and agility—began to be regarded as a Symbol of Conflict Balance. If the Colonies were fragmented and attacking each other, the White Ghost was the only entity that stood to protect the people, regardless of their background.
Local news media quickly broadcasted footage of the battle. One of the most viral recordings was when the White Gundam landed, its hatch opened, and a slender pilot (Maki) descended, immediately running to save the other pilot in the Lavender Gundam's cockpit.
Colonial reporters managed to approach the Lavender Gundam before it was airlifted. Their cameras recorded the crucial moment when Maki lifted the limp body of Tasya Lowe.
Breaking News: Colonial reporters successfully identified the pilot of the heroic 'Lavender' unit. The pilot is... Tasya Lowe, a Neo-Veridia Technology school student! The pilot who was thought to be missing is alive and fighting alongside the White Ghost!
The news shook the world.
The Itsuki and Nova Families' Reaction
Thousands of kilometers away, deep underwater, in an isolated secret base, Armen Itsuki sat in a dark operations room. The screen in front of him displayed repeated footage of the battle. His tense and expressionless face now showed a deep frown of annoyance.
"That unit's capabilities..." Armen whispered, ignoring the destruction of the Royalty Gundam. "The abnormal synchronization level. Especially when the purple unit went down. That sudden performance boost... it surpasses any data I've ever seen. That's not like a normal human pilot."
He called a technician. "Analyze the emotional data that might have been channeled into that Mobile Suit. I need details on the energy spike in those light blue eyes."
Dr. Lena, standing behind Armen, stared at the screen with empty eyes. She saw the breaking news about Tasya Lowe.
"Tasya... that's Tasya..." Dr. Lena whispered, her hand covering her mouth. Tears began to flow down her face.
She was no longer the cold, white-coated scientist; she was a mother who saw her daughter, whom she believed to be dead, now alive, fighting, and saved by the unit she hated, the White Gundam.
"Armen," Dr. Lena's voice trembled. "My daughter is alive. She... she's fighting. She's using that new Queen unit, the one we built for her."
Armen Itsuki turned, his cold eyes fixed on Dr. Lena. "Your daughter is no longer Tasya Lowe, Lena. She is a traitor. She chose the White Ghost; she chose our enemy. And worse..."
Armen pointed to the footage of the damaged Lavender Gundam. "She and the White Ghost group have modified my created QUEEN Unit, turning it into a superior unit. That unit created a Beam Chakram with an energy output that shouldn't be controllable. It's a design that is smarter than my own."
"She's alive, Armen! That's what matters!" Dr. Lena stepped forward, her hands pleading. "I have to go. I have to talk to her. She might be lost, but she's still—"
"No, Lena," Armen cut in with a deadly voice. "She is a pawn. A pawn now in the hands of the enemy. We will let the White Ghost take care of her. And we will use her. Tasya has proven that the Beam Chakram is an effective weapon. We will incorporate this data into the Tortoise Gundam. We will create a unit capable of totally destroying the White Gundam."
Dr. Lena recoiled, enveloped by devastation and despair. "You... you only see her as combat data? She's my daughter!"
"No. She is an unexpected variable in the equation," Armen said coldly. "Focus, Lena. We have lost the advantage. The King of Mars has been humiliated. We must be smarter. We will let the Colonies tear each other apart. And when they are weak, we will launch the final attack."
Dr. Lena stared at Armen, her disappointment and hatred for the man's ambition running deep. She felt alienated. Her daughter was alive, but she was forbidden to see her.
In the Mars space colony, in the grand palace, King Grisel Nova, Felisio's father, threw a ceramic vase to the floor, its fragments scattering.
"Disgraceful! Absolutely disgraceful!" Grisel Nova roared. "My stupid son! Attacking Neo-Veridia without permission! And worse, being utterly defeated by the White Ghost!"
Grisel Nova received an urgent call from the Colonial Kings' Council. On the holographic screen, the faces of other kings and colonial dignitaries appeared, all looking angry and disappointed.
"Grisel! Your actions are unforgivable!" King Jupiter shouted, his voice boiling. "You have violated the Colonial Non-Aggression Pact. You attacked our civilians!"
"It was only to draw out the White Ghost! That unit is a threat to all of us!" Grisel defended himself, though his voice was not as firm as usual.
"But our citizens now see the White Ghost as a protector, not a threat!" Queen Saturn exclaimed. "You created that Symbol of Hope, Grisel! Your attack caused thousands of Colonial citizens in Neo-Veridia to side with the White Ghost, and indirectly, with the native people of Earth!"
The debate was fierce. The Colonial Kings' Council decision was: King Grisel Nova was charged with violating the treaty and must pay a huge compensation to the Colonial Council. Felisio Nova was placed under house arrest.
This scandal was a blessing for the Kimeza Alliance. The internal conflict among the Colonial Kings made them lose focus on the real threat.
The Dark Resistance's Movement
News of the Neo-Veridia battle and the appearance of the White Gundam also reached Ans Silvet, who was actually Klaus Kimeza, husband of Airi Kimeza and leader of the Dark Resistance—a group of Colonial technicians and soldiers who disagreed with the Kings' policies.
Klaus, in his hidden base, watched the replay of the White Gundam.
"That unit... that design... it's Airi's White Bird creation," Klaus whispered, his sharp eyes showing deep longing. He recognized every curve of the design, the unique energy pattern, and even the way the unit moved—all were hallmarks of his wife's work.
Ans Silvet smiled, "So, Airi is in Neo-Veridia. She is not dead. She is with the White Gundam."
The Dark Resistance Intelligence Unit, which had connections to several Earth rebel groups including Augustina, reported, "Yes, Mr. Ans. And data indicates the White Gundam is piloted by a pair of twins, Zaki and Maki Kimeza. We suspect they are Airi's relatives."
Klaus clenched his fist. After years of separation, he had finally found a real clue to the whereabouts of his wife and family.
"Prepare our combat units. Move four Gamma units and two Bishop units to Neo-Veridia," Klaus ordered.
"Mr. Ans, that will jeopardize our position! We will be labeled as enemies if we go there because it's a neutral zone!"
"I don't care," Klaus said with a firm voice. "I have to meet the people involved there. I have to make sure they will join us. And the White Gundam... it is the key to ending this war."
"What mission should we take, Mr. Ans?"
"The primary mission is Rendezvous and Contact. Find the White Gundam. Do not attack. We will only come as reinforcements. The White Ghost has just made a major enemy, and it will need an unexpected ally."
The movement of the Dark Resistance had begun. Klaus Kimeza, disguised as Ans Silvet, was now moving his forces toward the place he believed would reunite him with his wife, Airi.
White Bird, The New Hope
At the Kimeza Alliance base, Tasya lay in the recovery room, Maki by her side. Maki did not leave Tasya for a second.
Maki (Holding Tasya's hand): "I will never forgive you for doing that stupid thing, Tasy. But thank you. You're our hero."
Tasya (Smiling weakly): "I was just returning the favor. And I won't do anything stupid again... unless it involves protecting you."
Zaki and AIRIS entered. Zaki was carrying a box of drinks.
Zaki put the drinks on the table: "Good news. The doctor says you only have severe bruises and neural exhaustion. And the bad news... we have a big problem."
AIRIS collected the data: "Battle footage analysis shows that the White Gundam under Maki's emotional control released unnatural energy. It was a risky synchronization, but it resulted in combat performance that exceeded safety limits. The unit is being called the White Bird of Neo-Veridia by the civilians. It has become a symbol of protection for them."
Maki smiled broadly: "White Bird? Sounds like they're starting to recognize us by our combat codename. I like that."
Zaki sign. "The problem isn't the nickname, Maki. The problem is the impact. The world is in an uproar. The King of Mars is humiliated. Armen Itsuki must be planning something because the news media is broadcasting all our battles and he must have seen them from his hiding place. And the worst part is... Tasya, the news about you has reached all the media."
Tasya was silent. "My school friends and maybe my mother must be half-dead with shock, right?"
Zaki then sat next to Tasya. "Well. I also hope Armen Itsuki knows that the QUEEN unit he gave you is now far superior to his. He will definitely come for you, Tasya, or for the Lavender Gundam."
Tasya's determination hardened: "I won't run. I will fight. I owe you, and the Alliance."
Maki held Tasya's hand tightly. "We will protect you, Tasy. Now we are a team. But we need a new strategy. We can't keep fighting like this."
Zaki nodded: "That's right. We won today, but we lost the initiative. Augustina, Feres, and Mom are currently meeting to develop new tactics. We need more than just the White Gundam."
In the meeting room, Airi Kimeza, Augustina, and Feres looked at the data of the damaged Lavender Gundam.
Airi looked at her tablet: "This unit... it's truly amazing. Tasya utilized her Neuro Link with extreme genius. That Beam Chakram was a brilliant idea."
Augustina agreed. "But now Mars is angry, and Armen Itsuki will probably know his unit is with us. We've become an easy target."
Feres then gave a report on each combat unit. "I've upgraded my Ibis Custom. Augustina's Sunflower Gundam is ready. The Lavender Gundam can be repaired. But the White Gundam..."
Airi smiled faintly. "The White Gundam has shown the potential for destruction, but it comes at a high price. Maki's uncontrolled emotions nearly dragged the AIRIS system and Zaki, who was connected, into the impact too. We must control that potential, or it will destroy them later."
Airi looked at the strategic map. "We must take the initiative, not just react. We must move. We must show the other Colonials that we are the alternative, not just rebels."
"We will make the White Bird fly higher," Airi said. "We will speed up parts production, and we will use this Neo-Veridia incident as our stage. We will become the hope sought by Colonials tired of this war."
The Kimeza Alliance's grand plan to capitalize on the White Bird of Neo-Veridia status had just begun, but a far greater and more unexpected threat—Airi's husband, Klaus Kimeza—was already on a collision course with them.
To be continued…