Chapter 141: Jim – So?
Gato's speech was not cut off.
However, everyone within Earth's sphere who could receive the transmission had lost interest in his repetitive rhetoric. Instead, they focused entirely on analyzing the image of the severed stone tablet.
Though the inscription contained only two simple sentences, the implications were shocking.
The oppressive Federation that ruled over the space colonies today had once been founded on such lofty ideals.
Soon, a revelation spread like wildfire—at the Federation's inception, its original capital, Laplace, had been established in geostationary orbit above Earth. But then, a terrorist attack destroyed it, killing Prime Minister Ricardo Marcenas along with all pro-Marcenas (left-wing) national representatives of the Earth Federation, key government officials, and the surrounding security forces stationed in the space complex. None survived.
The truth, unknown to the world, was that the very mastermind behind the attack was George Marcenas himself. Exploiting the ensuing chaos, he manipulated public opinion under the guise of counterterrorism, successfully framing the separatists as the culprits. With this fabricated justification, he annihilated the so-called "separatists" and solidified his political power.
And those separatists? The vast majority of them were space colonists.
Given this history, it was inevitable that anti-Federation sentiment across space would surge dramatically. This was precisely what Gato had hoped for. If an outdated constitution alone could bring down the Federation, then space colonists would no longer need to sacrifice their lives for independence.
What Gato sought was the public exposure of both the Laplace Constitution and Lord Dozle's declaration. He wanted the people of space to understand that the current Federation was nothing more than a group of deceitful usurpers, and that breaking away from such a corrupt government was a just cause!
For now, however, Eli had to focus on the immediate task at hand.
A direct order from Jaburo had been transmitted to the White Chaser. Instead of reprimanding them for their unauthorized launch—which had delayed several civilian flights—the Federation now demanded their cooperation with Tsukuyomi II's forces in liberating the mass driver facility.
Eli acknowledged the order.
Others might have seen this as the Federation's knee-jerk retaliation, but Eli, knowing the original location of the stone tablet and the intricate ties between Anaheim, the Federation, and the powerful Marcenas family, understood the real motive behind the Federation's move.
They were trying to silence Gato—eliminating him to ensure their political dealings remained undisrupted.
Eli couldn't grasp the entire picture, but it was clear that Anaheim and the Federation had struck some kind of deal. Otherwise, the stone tablet would never have fallen into Gato's hands, nor would the Marcenas family have allowed its public disclosure.
Politicians… utterly repulsive. They always believed they could manipulate the world with their wealth and power.
If he ever gained such authority, he swore he wouldn't waste it on self-indulgence.
The White Chaser sped toward the lunar sphere, where it rendezvoused with three warships already stationed on the Moon's surface.
"Ah, the White Base."
Sitting in the captain's chair, Paolo gazed at the warship with nostalgic eyes.
However, his fingers soon ran along the armrest of his seat.
That ship now belonged to his student. As a mentor, he couldn't afford to let Bright look down on him.
"Captain Paolo!"
The communication link opened, and Bright's face lit up with surprise.
"I was wondering if it was you when I saw a Pegasus-class ship. This is—"
Paolo didn't say a word. Instead, he silently examined Bright through the screen.
"Not bad. You look like a real captain now."
Paolo gave a warm smile but quickly returned to his serious demeanor.
"No time for chit-chat. Send me the mission details."
"Yes, sir! And also—perfect timing. I've got an MS here with no pilot."
Bright chuckled.
"Mind lending me your squad leader?"
"What kind of MS? My unit just finished maintenance."
Eli, who had been performing a pressure seal check on his machine in the hangar, interjected.
"A Gundam."
"I'm on my way."
…
As the fleet regrouped, the Federation responded to Gato's speech.
But contrary to many expectations, they neither confirmed nor denied the authenticity of the so-called Laplace Constitution. Instead, they made three key announcements:
First, Dozle Zabi, the man responsible for humanity's greatest war crime—dropping a colony on Earth and endangering both Earth's and space's inhabitants—had been taken to the execution grounds. His death would be broadcast live.
Second, the Federation Congress had approved the Colony Reconstruction Plan, set to begin in September of U.C. 0081.
Third, they introduced the concept of "Newtypes" within the Federation. They highlighted prominent figures such as Major Eli Lee, a Federation hero and a victim of Zeon's atrocities, and Captain Amuro Ray, the "White Shooting Star" who turned the tide of despair. Additionally, they showcased numerous space colonists and individuals recognized as Newtypes who now held positions within the Federation government.
Yes, "Newtypes" as defined by the Federation.
Unlike Deikun's claim that only space colonists could evolve into Newtypes, the Federation presented a different narrative. Based on examinations of two Newtype pilots and extensive research, they defined Newtypes as humans who had adapted to space exploration—those with heightened brainwave activity that allowed them to communicate across vast distances.
The inhabitants of the Federation's space colonies were not pioneers of space; they merely had a larger population base, resulting in more frequent occurrences of Newtypes.
Thus, the Federation openly invited all individuals with Newtype potential to register with their local government and contribute to humanity's progress.
The tone of this statement was a stark contrast to past Federation declarations. Gone was their usual arrogance.
"…This should be enough, right, General Revil?"
"Hmph. I'll let this slide for now. As for 'Grave,' I'll handle him myself. No objections?"
"Of course not… Revil, at the very least, we both want the Federation to endure."
"…I hope that's really the case, Ronan."
After ending the call, General Revil leaned back in his chair.
Even he hadn't foreseen this turn of events, yet Eli had immediately responded by heading to space.
Was it a keen political instinct? Or perhaps a Newtype's intuition?
Revil didn't dwell on the question. Instead, he turned his attention to "Grave."
A subordinate within his faction, Grave had been secretly collaborating with the Federation Congress, even establishing a rogue war crimes unit during the One Year War to eliminate those who opposed Revil's ideology.
It was due to Grave's reckless actions that the Sydney incident had nearly played into the hands of the Zeon remnants.
Revil had noticed the issue, but by then, the Congress's plans were already too far along to stop.
Or rather, it was Ronan Marcenas' plan all along—using the publication of the Laplace Constitution to provoke Zeon remnants, thereby justifying an expansion of the Titans' authority and influence.
At their level of politics, secrecy was no longer about deceiving opponents—it was about maneuvering, countering, and striking first. Deception was merely a tool in the early stages.
Revil had quickly recognized the fatal flaw in Marcenas' scheme.
This move had dramatically weakened the Federation's legitimacy. The Laplace Constitution was now a rallying cry for all anti-Federation forces, including factions within the Federation military itself.
No matter how the Federation tried to spin it, people would believe what they wanted to believe.
And yet, as Ronan had pointed out, Revil did not want the Federation to collapse.
Thus, Revil had immediately contacted Ronan, and after a brief negotiation, they reached an agreement—Ronan conceded certain political interests in exchange for Revil ensuring the military would maintain stability.
Yes, this was the state of the Earth Federation now—a government whose army no longer obeyed its orders, and a military that could not yet sever its dependence on Congress's budget.
As a result, Revil took control of the Federation's official response.
This meant that Eli would now shoulder an even greater burden.
However, in return, the Augusta Institute's report had been swiftly approved, with Congress offering no resistance.
Since the Federation now sought to portray itself as embracing Newtypes, the affairs of Augusta Institute had to be discarded.
After completing his work, Revil rubbed his temples and leaned back in his chair to rest.
If Congress continued down this path… was this Federation even worth preserving?
"A Federation of my own making might not be a bad idea."
For a brief moment, the thought crossed Revil's mind.
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