Yet even amidst overwhelming difficulties, once a goal was set, the East Asian Army's dictionary contained no such word as "impossible."
Moreover, the East Asian Army was not fighting alone. In countless unseen corners, countless comrades were making silent sacrifices in the shadows.
Let us not forget - when it came to understanding human psychology, the East Asian Federation could outpace the entire world by eight hundred lengths.
And so...
With the East Asian Army knocking at their doors, Uzumi, who had vanished for three days, finally appeared at the so-called Orb Ministry of Defense.
Clad in his signature crimson robe, he seemed to have regained the imposing presence of the Orb Lion on the surface.
Yet even as he appeared at the Defense Ministry, attempting to boost morale and further ignite the fighting spirit of the Self-Defense Forces...
"Representative Uzumi, the first offshore defensive line has been breached."
The first military report that greeted him was far from encouraging.
In less than 30 minutes since the battle began, without even deploying heavy equipment, the identification codes of several heavy linear cannon units deployed by Orb's Defense Ministry in coastal beach areas had vanished from the tactical command platform.
"I understand."
Expressionless, Uzumi stared at the large screen in the command center and responded calmly.
The breach of the first defensive line didn't surprise him. Before the war, Orb's military advisors had already prepared him for this.
Given Orb's island terrain, there simply wasn't enough open ground for tank units to maneuver effectively. They could only be used as mobile artillery platforms, positioned along coastal highways or hidden behind sand dunes for ambushes.
Such usage essentially treated tanks as expendable resources, making their loss inevitable.
If there was any dissatisfaction, it was only that they couldn't even hold out for 30 minutes.
Thirty minutes! In normal times, what could you accomplish in thirty minutes? You couldn't even finish one episode of a TV series.
And all those numerous tanks were already gone?
He didn't want to think about it - the more he thought, the angrier he became.
Uzumi had originally believed he wouldn't get angry, but as random thoughts flooded his mind, he clenched his fists and suddenly asked, "What about the Orb Defense Fleet offshore?"
This was another area the military advisors had emphasized before the war, and potentially the key to turning the tide.
According to the advisors' recommendations, the defense fleet had put to sea two days earlier.
Their purpose was to serve as hidden daggers, constantly threatening the East Asian Expeditionary Fleet.
On one hand, this would tie down portions of the East Asian Expeditionary Fleet's forces.
After all, if they were stationed in Orb's ports, even a fool would know they'd be sending lambs to the slaughter.
Conversely, by patrolling the open ocean and preparing for surprise attacks, they could play a much more significant role.
If the Orb Defense Fleet got lucky and managed to trade ship for ship, they might severely damage the East Asia Fleet and potentially change the course of the battle on the main island!
"Please wait a moment, Representative Uzumi."
Hearing the supreme commander's question from behind, a communications officer immediately made several calls through the communication channel.
"My deepest apologies. The defense fleet has gone radio silent and is not responding to the Defense Ministry's calls."
After several unsuccessful attempts to establish contact, the communications officer turned to report.
"Hmm."
Uzumi's mood improved slightly. Unable to locate his own fleet, his expression softened.
At this moment, the inability to establish contact was the best possible outcome - successful contact would have been undesirable.
"Our defense fleet is well-trained. We await news of their victory."
Adopting an expression of calm command, Uzumi conveyed his absolute confidence in victory to his subordinates.
"Yes."
Regardless of what the officers present were actually thinking, they remained respectfully deferential for now.
They even mirrored his expression of complete confidence.
But in places unknown to them - or perhaps known to these officers, just concealed from Uzumi -
such as at Orb's coastal first line of defense.
Contrary to Uzumi's subconscious assumption that Orb's Self-Defense Force heavy tank units had fought bloody battles, offering at minimum some resistance,
with the defense line only being breached due to overwhelming enemy forces...
The reality was quite different.
The East Asian Army's MS units, riding amphibious landing craft, deliberately raced toward several key points of Orb's frontline defense units.
Upon arrival, the Rem mobile suits of the MS unit fired their weapons into the air.
The opposing Orb defense tank units similarly fired into the air.
Theoretically enemy forces, both sides collaborated to create the illusion of intense artillery exchange,
giving the false impression of fierce combat!
"My deepest apologies, but this is the limit of what we can do."
"Orb is still our homeland after all. If your forces expect our personnel to attack former allies,"
"I must respectfully decline."
The commander of the tank unit at this position watched with complex emotions as East Asian Army forces landed from his position and began setting foot on Orb soil.
Maintaining his dignity as best he could, he made a request to the commanding officer of the arriving East Asian forces.
"No problem. The East Asian Army will not force compatriots to fight each other."
"That's not our way. The East Asian Army fights for the happiness of all mankind."
Meeting the anxious expression of the Orb tank commander, the East Asian MS unit commander stepped forward and patted his shoulder, readily agreeing.
"Thank you very much."
Overjoyed at receiving the answer he wanted, the Orb tank commander immediately bowed at a perfect ninety-degree angle.
The East Asian MS commander smiled without speaking. Though their meeting appeared harmonious,
once they parted ways, the East Asian commander arranged for follow-up landing personnel to maintain vigilance over these defecting units.
If necessary, they were authorized to take decisive measures without requesting higher approval.
For history had taught him that while honesty and goodwill are necessary,
some heartless scoundrels might still commit shocking acts.
You'd think those who surrendered would accept their fate, but they often engaged in treacherous, petty behavior.
Ultimately driven to feed the fish in icy waters, these scoundrels got what they deserved.
Yet it was our army's kind-hearted soldiers who suffered the frustration!
Similar encounters were unfolding in multiple locations seized by the East Asian Army, with some Orb unit commanders making identical requests to the one mentioned earlier.
However, in any large organization, there are always clear-sighted individuals who recognize the prevailing circumstances.
Naturally, the East Asian Army welcomed such talents with open arms.
They allowed these defectors to disguise themselves as retreating troops to disrupt Orb's rear defensive lines, then followed closely behind to press the attack.
The progress made by the East Asian Army at these locations was remarkably encouraging.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!" Intense explosions reverberated through the air.
Despite the favorable progress, within a short time several East Asian Army units had nearly reached the outskirts of Orb's main urban area.
It's worth remembering that even a dilapidated ship has some nails left - Orb certainly had its share of loyalists.
Suddenly, obstacles appeared before them - in forests, along cliffs, and other locations that could barely be considered defensive positions.
Orb's armed forces revealed their MS Heretics - mobile suits that had stolen technological achievements from the Allied Forces' G Project, featuring Gundam-like appearances and overall similarities to Gundams.
These units attempted to block the East Asian Army's advance here, demonstrating their loyalty to Orb and their own combat prowess.
"Hmm?"
Since Orb's communications were completely compromised by the East Asian Army, the sudden appearance of Orb's MS Heretics blocking their path only elicited a light murmur of surprise from the psychologically prepared East Asian forces.
Even if the East Asian Army hadn't been aware beforehand, it wouldn't have made much difference anyway.
Shields up!
The Rems quickly counteracted, positioning themselves behind shields capable of blocking enemy beam attacks.
Leveraging their absolute numerical superiority and performance that was undoubtedly superior to their opponents, the East Asian Army's Rems engaged in combat.
Like soldiers against soldiers, commanders against commanders.
In the first encounter, the Orb's much-vaunted Heretics immediately found themselves at a disadvantage.
How could it be otherwise?
Tempered by the Alaska campaign, the East Asian Alliance had developed numerous insights into mobile suit combat tactics.
These lessons had been thoroughly disseminated throughout their forces without reservation. Compared to their previous engagements with Coordinators, the East Asian forces had reached new heights of capability.
Did you think the East Asian Army still relied on outdated formation advances?
Please, don't judge the Rems by old standards just because you see them raising their shields.
In locations invisible to Orb's Heretic pilots, inconspicuous Dragonfly-type drones perched on the Rems' shoulders quietly took to the air.
Meanwhile, on the rear sides of the Rems' leg armor, compact military unmanned combat spiders attached to the surface activated their systems.
"What is this?"
Already overwhelmed by the frontal assault from the East Asian Rems, Orb pilots only became aware of the threat when the Dragonfly unmanned aerial vehicles began skimming along the treetops, closing in on the Heretics.
But by then, it was too late. The small Dragonfly-type drones attached themselves to the external observation cameras on the Orb Heretics' heads.
"Zzt."
A faint spark flashed - precisely calibrated with no wasted destructive power.
The Dragonfly drone's attack had destroyed the Orb Heretic's external observation cameras.
One can easily imagine the fate awaiting an Orb Heretic that had been blinded in this manner.
On a battlefield filled with chaotic artillery fire, being unable to see anything would subject the internal pilot to unprecedented pressure.
Just imagine the scenario:
The communication channels filled with the shouts of comrades engaged in fierce combat, the mind conjuring images of countless beams flying chaotically through the battle space.
And yourself?
The screen was filled with static, leaving them waiting for death without even knowing when it would come.
Such a scene was truly worse than keeping their eyes open to see the outside, only to be suddenly vaporized by a beam.
Even if they died in confusion, at least they wouldn't have to endure such immense psychological torment.
Fortunately, the current battlefield was on Orb's main island, within Earth's gravity well.
Soon, some Gundam pilots who had figured it out followed their survival instincts and opened their cockpits to escape.
When they finally stood on solid ground, barely daring to breathe, temporarily free from the threat of death—
These soldiers, who had effectively ended their battle prematurely, immediately revealed complex expressions on their faces.
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