Two days had passed since the fierce battle over Neo-Verdia, yet its echoes still resonated in every corner of the colony. Even in the school environment, which should have been a place of calm, the atmosphere had drastically changed. News reports, which repeatedly aired footage of Tasya Lowe being rescued from the destroyed Lavender Gundam, had crowned her a local hero. Tasya, who had fully recovered from her injuries and nerve exhaustion thanks to secret treatment from the Kimeza Alliance medical team, was now surrounded by curious and admiring students.
She sat on a cafeteria bench, her hand holding a glass of milk trembling slightly from nervousness. Around her, dozens of faces stared expectantly. "Tasya! Tell us again! What was it like when you saved the White Bird from the ballistic trajectory?" asked one student. Another chimed in, "Who is the pilot of the White Bird? Is he really the benevolent 'Earth Ghost'?"
Tasya only offered a faint smile, one that held a great secret and an unspoken vow of loyalty. "I don't know his name. He wore a closed helmet when he rescued me," Tasya answered in a low, sincere voice, "I only know he is a very brave person, one who believes Neo-Verdia is worth protecting. He is not a Ghost; he is Hope, and I just happened to be his friend on the battlefield." Tasya restrained herself from revealing that Zaki and Maki were inside the White Gundam's cockpit, that the 'White Bird' was not a mysterious person, but her best friends. The burden of the secret was heavy, but far lighter than the burden of betrayal she once felt. She knew that keeping their identities secret was the only way to repay their kindness and atone for her past.
In a quieter corner of the cafeteria, Zaki, Maki, Aurora, and AIRIS (in her android form) watched Tasya. They were the only ones who knew the truth, and seeing Tasya admired, no longer suspected, provided an indescribable warmth.
"Look at Tasya," whispered Aurora, her eyes tearing up. "She has now become a symbol of strength for them. From a lost girl, she's become a hero. I am so proud of her."
Maki, clutching Zaki's arm tightly, smiled broadly. "I knew she would be a hero," she said, full of emotion. "She has paid the price, and now she is reclaiming her life. I'm glad she's on our side, by my side."
Zaki nodded, his eyes showing deep respect. "Her sacrifice changed everything, Maki. Not just for us, but for the entire Colony and the Earth inhabitants. Felisio tried to make the White Ghost look evil, but instead, Tasya proved that the White Ghost is a protector. Now, we have moral legitimacy in the eyes of the people of Neo-Verdia."
AIRIS, in her usual monotone, added, "Tasya Lowe's popularity among students is 92%. White Gundam's popularity in Neo-Verdia is 87%. Augustina's moral strategy succeeded perfectly. However, at the same time, this increases the risk for both of you."
Maki immediately turned to AIRIS. "Why does the risk increase, Airis?"
"Because now the Colonial Kings may no longer be able to ignore you," AIRIS replied. "You are no longer just small rebels. You are Symbols. And symbols must be crushed before they inspire a larger revolution."
In a distant and cold place, the threat AIRIS mentioned began to take shape.
In the Jupiter Colony, in a giant meeting room with a holographic circular table, the Colonial Kings gathered. The atmosphere was extremely tense. Their faces, usually filled with arrogance and power, now showed fear and frustration. The King of Mars, Grisel Nova, was absent—he was forced to attend the meeting via an encrypted hologram channel due to the charges the Council had levied against him.
"This is chaos, Grisel!" shouted King Jupiter Solva, a silver-bearded man with a sharp gaze, hitting the holographic table. "Your son, Felisio, has messed up the entire political order we upheld! Now, Colonial citizens in Neo-Verdia, who are supposed to be obedient, are starting to question our legitimacy. They look down on us because of your actions!"
"I was just trying to destroy that Earth Rebel! The White Ghost! That unit created by Klaus and Airi Kimeza, those traitors!" retorted King Grisel Nova, his face flushed with shame and anger.
"And you managed to turn them into heroes! A 'White Bird of Neo-Verdia'!" interrupted King Saturn Stevan, a man with a strong, militaristic aura. "We don't have time to blame each other, Grisel. Our problems are now twofold! We have two main enemies: the Earth Rebels in Neo-Verdia—who now have popular support—and the Dark Resistance!"
The echo of the name 'Dark Resistance' and its leader, Ans Silvet, brought silence to the meeting room for a moment. Ans Silvet, who was a pseudonym used by Klaus Kimeza, which the kings did not know, not only led a group of dissenters. The latest intelligence information stated that the Dark Resistance possessed the Grai Gundam, a legendary unit sealed for its unparalleled destructive power potential, as well as the foundation of Project Grai itself—a highly dangerous bio-energy technology blueprint.
"The Dark Resistance is moving fast," King Solva continued, crossing his arms. "They have managed to mobilize many disillusioned Colonial citizens and are now openly allied with the remnants of the Earth forces. That Grai Gundam unit is an existential threat to us. If Klaus Kimeza uses it, we are all finished."
"So, what is your plan, wise Kings?" King Grisel Nova sneered, full of bitterness. "Sending more Grai units that aren't even effective against the White Ghost?"
His sarcasm referred to the failure of previous Grai units from Mars and Mercury to overcome the White Gundam's speed and synchronization, a fact most painful for the two most arrogant colonies.
King Stevan of Saturn glared at Grisel. "We will not repeat your mistake, Grisel. We will separate these threats and face them with our best units."
King Stevan stood up, his posture showing cold determination. "I, King Saturn Stevan, will dispatch the Arancia Gundam, piloted by my daughter, Princess Agnes, along with our elite Eagle squadron. Their mission is to crush the Earth rebellion movement in Neo-Verdia and extinguish the name of the White Bird. We will turn Neo-Verdia into a Red Zone—a place where all sympathy for Earth will be severely punished."
A representative from Jupiter, Prince Wiliam Solva, known for his military leadership, spoke. "My father and I have decided. To face the Dark Resistance threat, we need a unit with unparalleled synchronization. I will launch the Nova Alpha Gundam, and my sister, Princess Olive Solva, will pilot the Nova Beta Gundam. Our twin units, built with the highest Neuro-Resonance technology, will confront the Grai Gundam. We must stop Ans Silvet before he fully activates the sealed unit."
The other Kings nodded in agreement. The plan was set: Saturn would focus on the Earth Rebels in Neo-Verdia, turning the area into a Red Zone, while Jupiter would focus on the Dark Resistance. This was the most aggressive military response ever issued by the Colonial Council.
However, amidst all the decisiveness, King Mars Grisel Nova and King Mercury Sirius, who were known for their dirty rivalry, exchanged conspiratorial glances via hologram. They were both the most wounded in pride over the failure of their Grai units against the White Ghost, and they both harbored the deepest resentment towards Klaus and Airi Kimeza.
After the official King's Council meeting ended with the horrifying 'Red Zone' declaration, King Grisel Nova immediately activated a highly encrypted private communication channel with King Sirius.
"Did you see it, Sirius?" Grisel's voice hissed with anger. "Those Kings are just trying to protect themselves. They don't truly understand the danger of the White Ghost. That unit punched my son's cockpit and destroyed my flagship! We must destroy them with absolute power!"
King Sirius, whose face was shrouded in shadow due to his reclusive and cunning nature, replied in a whispering yet sharp voice. "I saw it, Grisel. The failure of our Grai units was because their foundation was still too 'human'. The White Ghost, piloted by that mysterious person, is driven by pure emotion—anger, friendship—not just combat data."
"Then what is your plan? Your unit, Romeo Blu, also failed when tested against the White Ghost," Grisel mocked.
King Sirius chuckled, a cold and sinister laugh. "We won't repeat that project. We will switch to the most forbidden and sealed research path. You know what I mean, Grisel. The Devil Project."
Grisel held his breath. The Devil Project was the code for developing a Grai unit incorporated with dark biomechanical technology, aiming to create a Mobile Suit with Neuro Link power that not only exceeded human limits but also drew the essence of the most destructive mental forces: hatred and madness. The project was sealed because it was considered too dangerous, even for the Colonial Kings.
"Are you sure, Sirius? That will violate all Inter-Colony Geneva Conventions," asked Grisel, though there was an undeniable tone of interest in his voice.
"We won't use it to fight them. We will use it to destroy the White Ghost. And when the White Ghost is destroyed, we will blame the Earth Rebels as the violators. We will create a Grai unit that not only has power but also an appearance like a devil. Something that will make the pilot of the White Ghost tremble with fear inside their cockpit."
"A Devil Grai Unit," Grisel mumbled, a cunning smile appearing on his face. "I like it. Proceed. Mars will provide all the dark resources we have. While Saturn and Jupiter are busy playing heroes with their units, we will create the true trump card. We will kill the White Ghost, reclaim all our glory, and rule the King's Council."
With this secret agreement, the threat looming over the Kimeza Alliance now became deeper and darker.
Back at school, although the political world was in chaos, Zaki, Maki, and their friends tried to maintain the illusion of a normal life. Zaki and Maki sat under a large tree in the schoolyard, letting Aurora sleep on Zaki's lap.
"This feels strange, Zaki," Maki whispered, looking at Tasya who was still surrounded. "This world... we saved them, but they only see us as ghosts or a bird. They don't know that the White Bird is us, people who just want to live a normal life."
Zaki touched his sister's hair. "We can't ask them to understand, Maki. They can only see what they allow themselves to see. They need a symbol. And as long as we can continue to protect it, we will be that symbol."
"But King Saturn and King Jupiter are starting to move," Maki said, her eyes dimming. "Maybe we will fight Grai project units that are stronger and greater than us."
Suddenly, Tasya walked towards them, having extricated herself from the crowd with a forced smile.
"I'm tired of being a hero," she said, sitting next to Maki. "I'd rather be a silly girl who loves eating ice cream with the two of you."
Maki hugged Tasya tightly. "I know, Tasy. But our heroes don't have a choice."
"I heard about the Colonial plan," Tasya said, her voice serious. "I secretly overheard a conversation between some Mars-descended students who are still loyalists. They were talking about the Mars colonial government's frustration over the attack two days ago."
Zaki closed his eyes. "They move fast. They won't let us rest. We must anticipate a sudden attack."
AIRIS, who had been sitting quietly next to him, suddenly raised her head, as if receiving data from a distance. "Zaki, Maki. Alliance intelligence data analysis is just complete. All colonial military signals are pointing to Neo-Verdia. And there's something worse. A very strong signal... and many of them."
Maki grasped Tasya and Zaki's hands. "So, we will fight in this city again, Airis?"
Zaki looked up at the peaceful sky of Neo-Verdia, where clouds moved slowly. Beneath the calm, a storm was already brewing. "No. We will no longer be in the middle of Neo-Verdia city," he said, his voice calm yet full of authority. "We are the White Bird. We are Hope. We will be the last line of defense. We will be the Resistance Zone for Neo Verdia and fight them far from the city."
Maki and Tasya looked at each other, nodded, and strengthened their hearts. The world had targeted them. The Kings had made their war plans. They, three young pilots united by fate and a Gundam, must now face the greatest military power in the Colonies. The war had begun, and there was no turning back. The Kings' declaration of a 'Red Zone' had changed the game.
To be continued….