003. The reactor, Colonial Defence, Investigations

March 19, 2990, Diboll, Federated Suns, Edgeward Combat Theatre, Draconis March

++ Experimental Activation of Prototype Ultracompact Fusion Reactor successful. Reward provided. 5000 research points awarded! Good work Host! ++

It had been a week of uninterrupted power generation. 

The design was two metres tall, much larger than the standard Fusion reactor. The entire design running at minimal power and then cycling in and out as necessary to stress test the entire system. To prove it could handle, constant and variable power flows. 

The stress tests had been successful, and he was here now, in front of the reactor. Running hot, the capacitors and sensors it was connected to monitored the power output. With approximately the same level of power as 200 rated fusion engine at maximum power, the design was an unmitigated success! 

Already, there were those interested in purchasing it. Already, they were here, making noises about using it for civilian purposes.

Already, his message would be spreading throughout the realm, to fertile ears.

How did he know this? Because his research points had expanded like crazy, 5,192 points in the last week. His research papers were being read, his writings were being read. More in a week than he had in a year!

It was empirical evidence that he had succeeded, that his message was indeed spreading wildly. 

So much so, that he had enough points to purchase the Tallgeese. 

It's little icon and the small datasheet at its side flashing in his vision. That in turn then proceeded to light up. The tonnage, the armour, the basic backstory, all of it expanded dramatically. 

So much so, in fact, that he was standing here now… eyes wide at what was before his eyes.

His greatest success, met with the sheer incomprehensibility of his next move. As a pilot, he hadn't exactly been there on the manufacturing lines for the Zakus and the Gelgoogs. Had not been the ones trying to set everything in motion.

Had not understood just how important it was to have orbital infrastructure if he wanted to build his Mobile Suits. Just the Tallgeese alone was demonstrating his… lacking ability.

For instance, Gundanium. Required to build the Tallgeese, as any other material would break under the strain that it was put under. The inner frame of the machine was made of the stuff. And while the armour may be made of titanium alloy, that didn't change the fact that it would never function without the most hideously bullshit of materials.

Gundanium Alloy.

The description read as so: 

Gundanium is created through the most advanced refining, fusing, and deoxidising techniques, which are only possible in space. The complex formula was first called GND, short for Genetic on Universal Neutrally Different Alloy. Later, the suffix "-nium" was added to distinguish that alloy from other similar alloys that were being developed on Earth. Gundanium was still superior to the competition because of its zero-G creative process.

While it's called an "alloy", Gundanium contains many non-ferrous metals and non-analysed matter, meaning it is not a true metal. It is created in high-temperature plasma that can only form in zero-G. The compound is adjusted in nano-units, a process so precise that it can only be done in gravitationally stable Lagrange Points. The annealing process, which strengthens the alloy, is performed by electromagnetic waves from the sun. It is even rumoured that the nuclei of the atoms themselves are modified within the Gundanium alloy. 

While many similar alloys were developed, no other compound is as immutable as Gundanium. The refinement process causes the alloy to become electrically neutral, making it ideal for use with Beam type weapons, and as armour, the material is almost entirely resistant to change. However, the extremely high cost of production makes it impractical for military use.

Some intelligence indicates that OZ scientists experimented with using Gundanium alloy in MS creation. The very existence of Gundanium was kept secret, perhaps because it was a possible secret weapon for OZ. The five scientists who left the Tallgeese project took with them the knowledge of Gundanium, allowing them to create the Gundams that would later be the bane of OZ. 

The creation of the Gundams took decades of work behind closed doors, due in part to the slow process of manufacturing Gundanium. This is evidence of just how long a process, Operation Meter was, with the Gundams being created before their eventual pilots were even born.

This was brought to you by the Mobile Suit Gundam Wing Technical Manual; ISBN: 1931514992

In short, the entire process was insanity. The earth-bound processes were useless as well, since he didn't have them. Developed in parallel and used nowhere in the design, of course he didn't have them now. Either he would create the Gundanium himself, or the Tallgeese would never be built.

And yet, it was glorious, a machine designed for Spacenoids. To be created in space, to be used in space, to protect space. 

Was there a more perfect machine? 

He took back everything he said about it being a boondoggle.

It was perfect.

Too bad, he needed a colony to even dream of building it. 

But the Leo? That design had lit up automatically, and he couldn't help but smile. The design… as well as all of its weapons were also unlocked. Nothing was new to him due to his materials research. He could even start the process of establishing a factory on-planet right now, even. 

The perfect machine for him… except for.

Ah, the computer system. Dammit all, he needed to unlock that, since none of the computers he had worked with so far in this life… even worked the same as Mobile Suit computers. While both were big and bulky, the processes behind them were different indeed.

Less importantly, he didn't have the research for beam sabres. Which made sense, of course. They operated under different principles than Minovsky Particle Beam Weapons. Wing Beam Weapons, however… were uniquely bullshit.

Beam weapons are the most advanced weapons used by Mobile Suits. While beam weapons can be built for ordinary MS, they are especially powerful when made from Gundanium. The complex alloy allows charged particles to reach temperatures that would incinerate ordinary metals. The Buster Rifle, which Wing Gundam carries, charges all particles in a 150 metre radius, creating a maelstrom of hot plasma. The gun's convergence ring concentrates the energy into a single devastating beam capable of destroying a battleship in a single blast.

The Beam Sabres (including the Scythe and Glaive) use the same principle as long range beam weapons, only instead of projecting beams of charged energy, they contain the beam in a continuous arc, even underwater. The ionisation field surrounding the beam causes any matter it hits to become super-charged, effectively ripping it apart.

There is no armour capable of defending against beam weapons. The Gundanium alloy used in the Gundams' armour and the Planet Defensors of the Mercurius and Virgos is highly heat-resistant and virtually immune to corrosion, but it's still not immune to beam attacks. It does, however, create an "anti-field" that repels beam attacks to some degree, reducing the damage delivered, but not stopping it outright.

This was brought to you by the Mobile Suit Gundam Wing Technical Manual; ISBN: 1931514992

Insane, crazy… and importantly, not something he needed. Not something he should waste his research points on, for he did not need weapons. Contolism was an idea of peace, for was it not Zeon Zum Deikun that said "O people of space! Now is the time to awaken! To realise your latent potential! We are at the dawn of a transformation of mankind. A true enlightenment of the human race. And we may finally be poised, ready to transcend what has always been thought the impossible- infinite space, and time itself. This is no idle dream. To live in a new universe, man must transcend the psychological limitations of his old environment!"

Mankind would develop, evolve… peace. The beam weapons were useless to him.

And yet… did not Zeon himself create the Colonial Guard in response to the threats of the Federation? 

He took in a deep breath.

How did he reconcile that? That Contolism was about the evolution of mankind into higher beings, transcending human flesh so that they might live in a utopia of their own making. Peace for all. 

Contrasted with the reality of Zeon himself creating a guard force with weapons? 

Contolism was an ideology, representing a dream for a better future for all. Could he sully that with… weapons? After what he had done?

After what he had participated in? 

Some weapons. Some weapons, all for self-defence. They were to defend Zeon. 

Until they had committed the worst atrocities in human history with those same self-defence weapons. Could he argue the same, now? Could he trust these hands of his with such a noble purpose?

Yet, here, before they had transcended their mortal flesh, they would need to defend themselves. For they were still mortal, still vulnerable… still human. 

Perhaps that was the key.

Defence. To stay in their systems, never being the aggressor.

Never, would they fire the first shot. It would be a self-defence force and nothing else. Perhaps… perhaps that would be enough to keep his followers… his students safe. And to prevent his mind, his soul, condemning him for following the path of the Zabis. Would it be enough? 

Or was this a step down the road that led to Operation British? 

He did not know… but he must decide, for his own moral quandaries could not lead to the deaths of his students. The noble defence of Contolism, the brutal reality of war. Both were one and the same. How did he justify this to himself? 

The word of Zeon would spread, mankind would ascend into the realm of thought, and if he had to make decisions he hated… was deeply uncomfortable with?

Huu would accept that. For he did not matter, this hellscape of a reality would be uplifted, regardless of the cost to himself. Whether he was sane at the end was another matter. But… he had been brought here for a reason, his sanity was but a small cost to pay for the spread of Contolism and the uplift of mankind. This was his redemption after all, he had decided that at 8 years of age... and he had never wavered.

"Brother Huu," the voice came from behind him, her husky voice interrupting his train of thought. His death-spiral of indecision.

Turning around, he saw the face of Henriette Beaulieu. Instead of her usual smile, however, there was a great deal of worry on her expression. 

"Henriette, what is with this Brother nonsense? We aren't a cult! We are a gathering of those who share the same dream. Of reaching for the stars to achieve universal peace. Once we transcend our human flesh, we will become something entirely new. Contolism is just a sharing of ideals, values, principles. We are not a religion." Huu repeated himself again, Henriette for her part ignored his words, as so many of his followers did.

If he didn't know better, he would, indeed, say that they were a cult… but they weren't. They didn't fit the definition at all!

"Brother Huu, you must get into cover. You are in danger out here in the open. Many would seek to kill you, to deny your mind to the galaxy, to cut short your rise, here, now. We have prepared a defensive structure to keep you safe while you build your message-" She was cut off as he raised a hand.

"No. Never. Contolism is not an idea that is based on a single human being. Contolism is the natural growth of the human spirit, the human race. An understanding that we must go higher if we are to ever raise ourselves as human beings. There cannot be a single failure point, yes? There, cannot be a single failure point, a single thread to cut. The tale of Zeon must never be repeated! I've said this, many times, I do not understand why you refuse to accept it." Huu bulldozed over her. How many times now had he said the ideas of Contolism had to be spread by every member of the ideology? He was merely the deliverer of a message, he was not a prophet, not some kind of miracle worker. 

If anything, he was a failure. How could, he, Huu Mitsugu, as a Shosa or rather, a Lieutenant Commander of the Zeon Space Attack force by the time of A Baoa Qu. Dare to even claim that he was a prophet of Contolism? After what he had done? The deaths he had caused, the sheer betrayal of the ideals he claimed himself a believer of? A simple Ensign might be able to say they were following orders, but himself? 

No. 

He was not worthy of being considered as a prophet. He was simply the messenger, these around him, they were the prophets, for they were infinitely more worthy of spreading the message than he was. The repentant was not the preacher.

Yet, they would not understand, would not listen. Of all the problems with his students of the words of their lord and saviour, Zeon, this was the greatest of them all. 

"Henriette," he continued, hand on her shoulder, the other holding her hand, "you… you and all those of our small group are the leaders. You are the firebrands that spread the light to the further reaches of the stars. I have passed the message of Contolism to you from the lips of Zeon Zum Deikun. This is all that I am worthy of, I cannot be your prophet, I cannot be your focus. For if there is a single leader, and that leader dies. The dream will fade. This must never happen, do you understand? Never." Her eyes were wide, staring back into his. The brown, almost black, of his iris' were reflected in the clear windows of her soul, surrounded by their green ring. In them, he found a burning fire. 

Yes. This was why he had spoken to her and those of her like. For in them burned an inner fire that would prevent a Zabi from rising up, taking Contolism and corrupting it into a disgusting morass as he had with Zeon's dream, the Republic of Zeon into the Principality of Zeon. 

How he hated that name now, but never as much as he hated himself for following blindly, deeper and deeper into corruption. It had been obvious from the start, the name changing from Colonial Defence Force to Zeon Space Attack Force. How had he not realised?

They would learn to stand on their own feet, and spread the fire far and wide. For like a farmer scattering their seeds across a field, they accept some may be eaten by birds and feral beasts… but those that remained would grow strong and bear fruit. To never repeat his mistakes.

"Yes Brother! I understand, the dream will never die. I promise you this, the dream will never die!" Her fervent desire and conviction had Huu Theburge nodding. 

Yes, with those like her, the dream would indeed never die. Should he leave this plane as Zeon had, he could trust those like Henriette to carry on the torch. To never let it go out due to a Zabi.

Turning away from Henriette, he slowly walked back to the command bunker.

Time to get some writing done, he needed to get the basic designs for the Leo out so that they could begin a prototype. These basic designs would also serve as research point vacuums to give him what he needed for the computers that ran the Leos. Publishing them now... the scientific journals should accept his submissions now, no? How else was he getting eyes on his work in such large numbers? Hmmm, the computers would need to be finished soon, they were crucial to Mobile Suit operations. The basic AI that allowed the user to program pre-set actions into it to be used in operations. Learning over time even. The control interfaces… hell, the computers themselves needed to be built from the ground up. 

All of this would require work, his fingers did not ache. For he was a keyboard warrior by this point in his journey, writing challenges did not scare him anymore! 

What did scare him was the lack of time. Henriette was not wrong, there would be people trying to kill him for this strategic advantage he had provided to the Federated Suns. He was not stupid, they would install them on planets to provide power. Power was energy, and energy was the main driver of human civilisation.

This would allow them to grow their populations, their industry… and likely lead to further and greater war. 

Yet, the Contolist in him did not quiver in fear at this. For this increased industry meant they could build the colonies even faster. With the Leo after the research and production had been started? He would be able to begin the process even faster. This was the risk he had to take. For in doing this, he would earn the funds to take the third major step of his dream, to build a colony. Perhaps that was his answer, he was willing to do anything for Zeon... even build the industry necessary for war. He had said he was repentant... was he truly? The reincarnator had to ask himself, was he truly repentant if he was willing to do this?

And to make matters worse, deep in his soul, Huu wanted to once again stride forth inside a colony. To once again step foot on his homeland. 

To go back, if for but a second, to how it had been. No matter the cost.

He truly was a monster, wasn't he?

+Break+

March 30, 2990, Diboll, Federated Suns, Edgeward Combat Theatre, Draconis March

Agent Morrison and her senior agents were sat around a table with Lieutenants Theburge, Blek, and Wildenburg. It always amused her how the Department of Military Intelligence maintained a clear rank hierarchy, while the Ministry of Information Intelligence and Operations… did not. Another indication that while they performed largely the same roles, if in different parts of the galaxy, they were still so different. 

"We've been speaking with our analysts and this is the report they've put together. I've combined it with the report that DMI has compiled. Ranked the scenarios of what kind of situation we're dealing with. From least likely to most likely." Once introductions were out of the way, she got started with the reason they were actually here. Out of habit, sucking in the saliva that was pooling on the right side of her mouth. 

"The kid's crazy?" Wildenburg asked before being jabbed in the side with a harsh reminder of the consequences of insubordination by Theburge.

"That is ranked of middling possibility, actually. No, let's get started from the least likely." 

A file was opened up in front of them, from the black hole that was her folder on Huu Theburge. She seriously had files on dukes that were smaller than this. Files on Archdukes that had less sub-files. This one was labelled 'Reincarnator'. 

"Reincarnation is a pre-spaceflight genre popular in mass media before being revived in the 2800s in the Combine and subsequently the Suns in the 2950s. It depicts an individual dying and moving to another, often lower tech or less developed universe as an infant, proceeding to revolutionise technology and society."

The room didn't speak, yet the silence was just as damning as a series of condemnations.

A cough from one of her agents on the side. Irina Ulyanova, descended from refugees from the Confederation. Highly pragmatic if one were willing to stereotype her based on culture, and yet filled with whimsy.

"This was ruled out because while Huu Theburge does fit the prerequisite of great social and technological change as a result of their actions. He does not have a harem. No great combat capabilities either. Unlikely to be a reincarnation." Her voice was tinged with mild disappointment, as if the idea of him not being a reincarnation was the biggest issue.

"That's your prerequisite for ruling that out? Not that it's impossible, or something reasonable… but he doesn't have a harem? That describes nearly everyone in the Federated Suns, what kind of criteria are you even looking at here?" Wildenburg glared at them.

"In defence of agent Ulyanova, with the existence of Hyper-Space, we cannot rule out the supernatural force of soul incarnation, but as it has never panned out. Nor have we ever identified the physical presence of a soul, theology aside. We can safely ignore this as a concern… even if it may be true. It is not as if we have ever met one to confirm the criteria for identification, after all. Anyway, next! Insanity."

Lieutenant Theburge grimaced minutely. 

As one who had been read… partially, into her files, Morrison knew that Theburge was the mother of the subject in question. One who had doted on him immensely, which likely had a part to play in why this was so rushed. With everyone rushing to get the groundwork handled now… before someone tried to kill or kidnap him. They hadn't had much time with just how short notice... all of this was.

"This one we ruled out. At no point have we been able to identify in the subject's history that he was ever not in control of his actions. While a legal definition and not a medical one, we can also rule out most medical ailments without deeper analysis. Our medical tech on-site has not been able to pick up induced insanity from neurological, bacterial, or viral vectors. Inherent genetic screening has not picked up any predispositions to hallucinations or insanity. We are as clear as we can be… with the technology we have." Morrison passed this one over with a dismissive flick. The sheer amount of experimentation they had done with the blood samples they received… unless there was Star League super-genetic-sequencers, they were pretty much clear on this one. The others nodding in response, it had been the first to be considered, the first to be dismissed.

"Next is that this is a fictional reality of some kind that Theburge is writing down. This is of middling possibility. Perhaps he's a bit of a genius… but he's also actually bringing the technology into existence through research, experimentation, and further research. He's dedicated enough to plan it out… but this focus on a singular goal as of the age of 8? That doesn't fit well with the idea of this being a grand fictional story. the ideas and themes are too mature for a child of eight, genius or not. But, again, still a possibility. It's too structured to not be based in some kind of reality."

"What do you mean too mature? Kids can watch war movies too, you know!" Wildenburg interjected.

Morrison shook her head, "mature as in requiring higher levels of cognitive thought such as evaluation, analysis and creation. These are typically not present in the mind of a child on a consistent basis until their teens. When their brains have developed. This has been known since the 2000s, with Bloom's Taxonomy as an example. Genius or not, basic biology is the limiting factor here." 

He didn't even have the respect to look chastened. 

The others remained quiet. They were here for the last theory, the most likely theory. The middling ones were out of the way… now… well, the worst possible scenario of the lot.

"Finally, the most likely theory judged by our analysts and DMI's own analysis team on Diboll. Setting it up, the year is 2825, a unit bearing insignia associated with the SLDR 331st Royal Battlemech Division, confirmed to have left on Aleksandr Kerensky's Exodus, attacked 4 Combine Worlds along the edge of their space. Starting from Svelvik and ending at Richmond. They were never seen again. Using SLDF tactics, they defeated every Combine unit before leaving. Their path, if it had continued. Would have taken them around the rim of known human space… into the Federated Suns. Many believed them to be the forerunners of Kerensky's exodus returning. But nothing of the sort has transpired in the 170 years since."

The room nodded.

All knew about this, the entire Inner Sphere knew about this. Of the Minnesota Tribe, here to save the Inner Sphere from itself.

The story, a whispered rumour, passed through the mouths of Combine citizens to the rest of the sphere. A desperate hope… that things may get better. That they would be liberated. Their hopes were never realised. 

Irina took over from here, her voice filled with excitement.

"In our scenario, one of these unknowns, centuries later, comes across a five year old boy and regales him stories and videos. With myths and legends of the Principality of Zeon and the Earth Federation. Of the genocidal war they waged. Traumatising him for three entire years in the process." Theburge's (the mother) face tightened… and if Morrison could see her hands, they were likely clenched as well.

"But the boy is a genius, and after three years, decides that he will remake that failed society. Kerensky's failed society. This comes in the forms of him documenting everything he saw and heard. Preparing to solve the issues that led to the failure in the first place. The trauma manifests itself with him working from first principles to build up to this 'Zeonic' society with technology and social change in the form of a cult." Her voice a near whisper now, the Russian descended agent leaned over the table like an old god, delivering a terrible prophecy.

"The images he's drawn, from the age of 8, the writings, descriptions, everything has remained consistent. The same images, symbols, architecture, individuals, small craft. All of it is consistent from the very first illustrations to what he's doing now. The same writing, the same principles of Contolism, as he's named his cult. Or more likely, it's not his cult, but the Cult of this Zeon Zum Deikun, passed onto him by this unknown individual, or possibly group of individuals. The 331st fleeing after their religious leader was killed and their ideas perverted. The information we have, the story… all of it remains consistent no matter how we look at Theburge's work." 

Theburge, the female one, not the cult one, spoke up. "I can confirm that, when he was 5, we did spend 6 months on the world of Niles. I was running operations at the time, and he was often left with other children in a kindergarten. There was… ample opportunity for this to have happened."

"In short, we had someone from this unknown SLDF group arrive into the Inner Sphere, carrying with them tales and recordings of the society that Kerensky's exodus had built. We have the basic outline of their designs, that Theburge is currently in the process of trying to recreate from scratch, as well as an understanding of how their history has progressed since they left the Inner Sphere." Ivana finished, eyes sparkling.

"Now I ask if this is a problem. The writings are not pleasant. Dropping colonies onto planets to wipe out 1/3rd of their populations. Wiping out entire civilian populations to obtain those colonies. It is like the Reunification War all over again. There is a total lack of hesitancy. They have moved into space, and have developed Battlemechs for space-combat, eschewing ASFs altogether. We are in a completely unknown… and dangerous situation. We must ask ourselves… what should we do now that we are in possession of this information?" For the first time, Blek spoke up. A small, stocky man, Morrison didn't discount him. Anyone with that much black on their record was dangerous. 

"First Prince Peter spent his time trying to build up the Aerospace forces. Perhaps it's time we revisited that idea?"

"We need more dropships, if they drop a metal cylinder 10 kilometres long and two wide, there's nothing we have that could disintegrate that before it hit a planet."

"Listening posts, catch them before they arrive in the Suns!"

The suggestions shot out of the room, Morrison recording them as they arrived.

They needed to pass these through the HPGs back to New Avalon as soon as possible. The possibility was too real… and the consequences if they were caught unprepared would be horrific.

Especially this Federation and Zeon. It was a replay of the Reunification War all over again. Had Kerensky's Exodus forgotten the lessons of the Inner Sphere? 

Would they repeat this again with the Combine and Commonwealth, treating them as the Suns had treated the Taurians? 

There were thousands of 'Mobile Suits' in the Theburge's paintings and illustrations, all of them space capable… for one system. Just what kind of army would they arrive in the Inner Sphere with after 170 years to prepare?

A people with the arrogance of the Terran Hegemony, with the strength of the SLDF. 

It was too horrifying to contemplate.

"If this is such a bombshell, why the hell did he just hand this all over?" Wildenburg finally spoke up. 

"Maybe he is trying to prepare us for the Earth Federation's eventual return? They've even named themselves after Terra's original name, after all. There can be only goal with a name like that."

The room fell to a pondering silence.

It was all too possible they all concluded independently of one another.

And, well... he had spent the last several years of his life writing about it and posting it. It wasn't like he wasn't trying to get the message out there.