Upon arriving at the command room and arranging for battlefield cleanup and aftermath matters, Yang Hui immediately contacted Argreus, who was stationed at Lost Loulan.
"It's been a while, Lieutenant General. I'm truly ashamed that such a situation occurred under my watch. I feel too embarrassed to face you and the old Commander."
"What exactly happened? I remember that five years ago, we specifically equipped the Big Ring base with the most advanced radar and enemy detection systems. The VEGAN's Parasol System should have been completely neutralized. Why did this still happen? And what has the intelligence department been doing? Why didn't they detect this in advance?" Yang Hui asked sternly.
With the Parasol System neutralized, VEGAN should no longer have the ability to move undetected. Moreover, the intelligence department should have been able to foresee VEGAN's large-scale attack. Why was the Big Ring base still destroyed as in the original plot?
"We're still investigating. So far, we've only recovered the footage from that time. VEGAN's large fortress suddenly appeared near the Big Ring base. It's highly likely that the enemy's Parasol System has been upgraded. As for the intelligence department..." Argreus pulled up a file, "...we just received a report from them. Three days before the Big Ring base was destroyed, all our agents embedded in VEGAN lost contact. It's highly probable that they've been..."
"Investigate! If there was a mass disappearance of agents three days ago, why wasn't it reported? Investigate the intelligence department!"
"Understood. I'll arrange for an investigation immediately."
"Where do we need reinforcements now? The Middle East or North Africa?"
Having chosen to return to the front lines, Yang Hui and his two companions naturally had to head to the most dangerous and critical battlefields.
"Lieutenant General, both the Middle East and North Africa have completely fallen. The Federal Army won't be able to muster enough forces to retake them in the short term. With the Big Ring base destroyed, we've lost control of Earth's orbit. Therefore, the three of you need to head to Lost Loulan to join the Celestial Being unit. I have a major plan to execute," Argreus explained.
"Understood. We'll set off immediately for Lost Loulan."
Yang Hui knew that now was not the best time to launch a counteroffensive. Even if they could retake the fallen regions in the Middle East and North Africa, without control of Earth's orbit, VEGAN could continuously deploy troops from space. Thus, regaining control of the Earth-Moon orbit was the top priority.
"By the way, Lieutenant General, the old Commander has also come out of retirement. He's heading to Lost Loulan from Olivernoz with a new Gundam and the Diva."
"A new Gundam? That old man..." Yang Hui chuckled and shook his head, silently cursing Flit for being so stubborn. If he couldn't let go, why did he retire in the first place?
Moreover...
Yang Hui knew that the new Gundam was the Gundam AGE-3, and its pilot wasn't Flit but his grandson, Kio Asuno, the son of Asemu. Flit, now old and possibly unable to fulfill his savior ambitions, had passed his dreams onto his grandson.
"Understood. Tell Flit to watch his age."
"Uh... understood." Argreus smiled. After all these years, many things had changed, but the Lieutenant General remained as amusing as ever.
"By the way," Yang Hui continued, "three years ago, I set up a contingency plan. It might be useful to you now."
With that, Yang Hui sent a top-secret document to Argreus, who was first shocked and then overjoyed upon reading it.
"This document is extremely timely, Lieutenant General. With this, the final gap in my plan has been filled."
"Good. I'm glad it's useful. We'll set off immediately and should arrive by tomorrow afternoon."
"Understood. Safe travels to the three of you."
After the communication ended, Yang Hui, not one to delay, immediately had the base commander arrange a transport ship to take them to Lost Loulan.
"Lieutenant General, what about the trainees?" the base commander asked cautiously.
He wasn't worried about these young nobles being left unattended. According to Federal Army regulations, they were already considered soldiers. If their training wasn't complete, they would continue with basic training and then join the regular ranks upon completion.
Of course, if their parents had other plans for them, the higher-ups would issue special orders, and he would simply follow those orders to send them off. That wasn't his concern.
The reason he asked this already-answered question was that he was reluctant to see Yang Hui and his companions leave. After five years of working together at the Levi Base, even though he was the commander, he had to follow their orders. But who wouldn't be happy to have a strict, upright superior who also taught him so much?
"Follow the military regulations. Do what needs to be done. Tell their parents that even though they haven't graduated yet, they've been under my command. If they think they can take them back for a cushy life and rapid promotions, they can forget it!" Yang Hui scolded irritably.
"Yes, sir!"
The base commander knew that the orders from the General Headquarters were not to be disobeyed. At the same time, he didn't know if Yang Hui and his companions would ever return to the Levi Base, so he treated this order as the final one he would follow from them.
"Good. You've done well. Keep striving. Your future isn't limited to this," Yang Hui patted his shoulder in praise before leaving.
"Lieutenant General Yang Hui! Lieutenant General Graham! Lieutenant General Yurin! May fortune favor you in battle!"
Yang Hui didn't look back, simply waving his hand as he left. This wasn't a final farewell. The people he valued would fight alongside him and his companions for a lifetime. This couldn't be the end!
Work for me for a lifetime! <(￣︶￣)>
...
After bidding farewell to everyone at the Levi Base, the three boarded a dedicated transport ship to Lost Loulan. The Levi Base wasn't far from Lost Loulan, and the VEGAN forces that had invaded Levi City likely constituted 80% of the enemy forces in the entire theater. With such a significant loss, VEGAN wouldn't be able to cause trouble in this region again. Thus, the journey was peaceful, and they arrived at Lost Loulan on schedule.
"Lieutenant General Yang Hui! Lieutenant General Graham! Lieutenant General Yurin!"
Upon their arrival at Lost Loulan, Argreus, along with high-ranking officers, came to greet them. In the current Federal Army, only Yang Hui and his companions could receive such an honor.
"How's the situation?" Yang Hui and his companions returned the salute and immediately asked.
"The battles in all theaters have ended. The good news is that, except for the Middle East and North Africa, all other theaters have repelled VEGAN. The bad news is that, except for Levi, all theaters have suffered heavy losses, and some may not withstand another attack," Argreus briefed Yang Hui.
"Then let's draw VEGAN's full attention to us."
"That's what I was planning. Originally, it was a risky plan, but with the three of you here, it's now foolproof."
"We'll do our best. Instruct the maintenance team to keep our mobile suits in optimal condition."
"Already done. Please follow me."
Argreus led Yang Hui and his companions to the command center for a detailed report. Although Yang Hui had mentally prepared himself, seeing the maps and specific data still left him shocked.
In his previous life, the anime he watched only covered the battles at Olivernoz and the desert skirmish with the Phantom Three. He had little knowledge of the rest. Now, seeing the scale of VEGAN's operations, he silently cursed their ruthlessness and inhumanity.
"Hmm? Something's off..."
After carefully comparing the data, Yang Hui noticed something unusual. In some theaters, although they had been occupied, civilian casualties were almost nonexistent. In others, even though the enemy had been repelled, the first attack had targeted the city center, resulting in heavy civilian casualties.
The same army couldn't possibly have such drastically different operational patterns. Therefore...
"Lieutenant General, you've noticed it too? I suspect that this large-scale invasion was carried out by two separate VEGAN units," Argreus said.
"That's likely the case," Yang Hui nodded in agreement, also thinking of someone he had always held in high regard. According to the plot, this person was undoubtedly one of them.
"It seems the influence from back then still lingers. That kid's doing well," Yang Hui thought with satisfaction.
Next, Argreus took Yang Hui, his companions, and the senior officers to the war room, where he detailed his battle plan. The room erupted in murmurs, with many initially opposing the plan. However, with Yang Hui's support, they eventually set aside their objections.
They acknowledged that Argreus's strategic objective was absolutely correct, but the plan was too risky. A single misstep could destroy the Federal Army's last chance for a counterattack.
But with Yang Hui and his companions backing the plan, the threats and uncertainties would be minimized.
Argreus, having learned from Flit, not only excelled in overall strategy but also issued precise commands down to each squad. Every unit gathered at Lost Loulan was treated as a finely tuned gear, placed in the perfect position to ensure the plan's flawless execution.
After the other senior officers left, Argreus took Yang Hui and his companions to his temporary office, the only place secure from all forms of eavesdropping and surveillance.
"I've already contacted her. Soon, VEGAN should know the location of Lost Loulan," Argreus said.
"Good. Her identity can be gradually restored. Inform Flit first, so he doesn't mistake her for a traitor."
"I've already informed the old Commander about her identity and the plan. I'm sure he'll handle it properly."
"By the way, who's the current captain of the Diva?" Yang Hui asked.
"It's Admiral Enas's granddaughter. She was somewhat thrust into the role, but I'm sure the Admiral's granddaughter will handle it well."
"Understood. I'll go see those brats and check how they've been treating my old unit."
Hearing this, Argreus smiled confidently. "They're still excellent. I guarantee you'll be satisfied."
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