That night, at the Kimeza residence hidden on the outskirts of Neo-Veridia—a simple, perfectly camouflaged Earth-style house—the atmosphere was calm.
Zaki Kimeza sat at his study desk, working on boring school assignments about the Colonian economic system. Although his mind was preoccupied with the battle calculations that had just taken place, he forced himself to maintain a normal routine. In the public eye, he was just a serious, quiet Earth student.
In the living room, Maki Kimeza sat next to her mother, Airi Kimeza. Maki was helping Airi with a very abnormal task.
"Okay, Mom, the Beam Saber data is downloaded. Zaki's movement feedback shows a force multiplier of 2.5. Did AIRIS record any overload on the left shoulder joint when Big Brother Zaki threw the saber?" Maki asked, her intelligent eyes quickly scanning the holographic data projected from the worn laptop.
Airi sighed, her slender fingers touching the data projection with full focus. "AIRIS recorded a slight stress on the joint, Maki. You must revise the Vulcan fire and saber throwing patterns to reduce that stress. We have to keep the White Gundam in prime condition. It is the only one..."
Their life over the past 15 years was a complicated anomaly. They lived as a normal family; Airi worked as a freelance technician (in reality, she supplied secret parts to a hidden rebel network), and her children went to school. However, what set them apart was the existence of the secret base inside the mountains, built by Airi and a few surviving technicians and soldiers from the Earth Federation, and the strongest Mobile Suit on the planet.
The next day at school, rumors about the White Mobile Suit were the main topic of conversation.
"I heard it's a secret Colonian unit! A new Hunter type, specialized for anti-terrorist operations on Earth!" whispered one Colonian student.
"No way! I heard from my aunt, it's a Rebel Mobile Suit from the 'Earth Ghost' faction! They're just pretending to help us so we trust them!" argued another.
Zaki walked past the gossiping crowd without a care. He simply took out his study books, his face expressionless.
Maki, on the other hand, sat at her desk flipping through the latest Colonian Mobile Suit magazine. She was too busy admiring the stiff Pioneer images to listen to the gossip.
Suddenly, a soft shadow covered her desk.
"Zaki?"
Aurora Anveil stood there. Her long indigo hair fell loose, and her pink eyes looked slightly worried.
"Can we talk for a minute?"
Zaki lifted his head. "What?" he answered briefly.
Aurora leaned in slightly. "About the incident two days ago... that white Mobile Suit. What do you think it is?"
Zaki returned to reading his book. "Maybe a new Colonian unit. They must have developed something after 15 years without rivals," Zaki answered casually, voicing the safest narrative.
Aurora shook her head slowly. "No, it's not Colonian. Its movements... they were too fluid. I've seen all the Colonian Mobile Suit data. They are rigid, too focused on defense. That unit, it danced. And its weapon, that Beam Saber... I've never seen a weapon that powerful. Current Colony units only use Heat Sabers."
Zaki almost flinched. This Colonian girl was much more observant than he expected, and most alarmingly, she was getting close to the truth. Zaki opened his mouth to deny it, but an interruption came just in time.
"Aurora! Come on! We have to hurry to the canteen before the strawberry parfait runs out!"
Two Colonian female students, Aurora's classmates, called her.
"I have to go, Zaki. But we must talk again about that Mobile Suit," Aurora said, giving an innocent yet mysterious smile before rushing off.
Maki, who had been pretending not to listen, immediately nudged Zaki. "What's going on? What did you two talk about? The White Mobile Suit, right?"
Zaki only remained silent, staring at Aurora's receding back. He felt a strange bad premonition.
School dismissal time arrived. Zaki and Maki walked toward the gate, preparing to return to their secret routine. However, they saw Aurora waiting.
"Zaki! Maki! Want to hang out with me? There's a new cafe in the market sector. My treat!" Aurora exclaimed cheerfully, as if she had forgotten her anxiety about the Mobile Suit that morning.
Zaki reflexively intended to refuse. "We have to go home..."
"Of course we do!" Maki quickly cut him off, her eyes sparkling. "A new cafe? Do they have a special parfait?"
Zaki could only snort in annoyance and follow his sister. At the crowded cafe, they sat down. Aurora ordered a sweet-scented tea. Zaki ordered a cold Iced Coffee Milk, and Maki, as expected, a Parfait topped with strawberries and cream.
Their conversation flowed lightly, but Aurora constantly tried to creep into personal territory.
"I want to know more about you two, Zaki and Maki. You are very unique; you're Earth natives, but you don't seem afraid of the Colonians..."
Zaki prepared the answer he had rehearsed: we are just trying to adapt.
However, Maki interrupted. "We're just trying to make friends! Right, Big Brother Zaki? We accepted your offer, Aurora. We're friends now!"
Maki, with her open personality, had accepted Aurora. Zaki couldn't retract his sister's words without making the situation more suspicious. He just nodded stiffly, staring at his iced coffee milk.
At the same time, in the Colonian War Command base hidden far beyond Neo-Veridia, the atmosphere was very different.
Professor Armen Itsuki, who had caused a stir at the generals' meeting last night, now stood in a giant Mobile Suit hangar. Before him, a new dark blue and black Mobile Suit stood tall.
"Generals," Professor Armen's voice echoed in the hangar. "The presence of that mysterious Mobile Suit has accelerated our plans. This unit is the Colony's answer to the lost Kimeza technology."
He pointed proudly at the Mobile Suit.
"This is the Bishop."
The Bishop was a close-combat specialist Mobile Suit unit. Its frame looked sleeker, designed for brutal speed.
Professor Armen elaborated on its specifications:
Close-Combat Weapons: Equipped with two enhanced Heat Sabers, capable of easily cutting through old Pioneer steel.
Burst Weapons: Two hidden Grenade Missile launchers in each arm, perfect for clearing the combat area.
Engine Power: The Bishop's engine generator is twice as powerful as the current Pioneer Mobile Suit, allowing for high movement flexibility.
Flexibility: The joint frame is highly flexible and can carry other handheld weapons, including Colonian machine guns, shotguns, and bazookas.
"We will test the Bishop now," Professor Armen commanded.
A Colonian test pilot immediately entered the cockpit. The Bishop was launched. In a combat simulation against Pioneer targets, the Bishop moved like a predator. Its movements were fast and deadly. Its two Heat Sabers flashed, cutting targets with precision and power. The dual engine generated thrust that made it look like the fastest Colony Mobile Suit ever seen.
The Colonian generals applauded.
"Magnificent, Professor Itsuki!" exclaimed the High General. "This unit... this is a bridge to change! With the Bishop, we will cement our dominance on Earth, and be ready to face the threat of that 'White Ghost'!"
Professor Armen smiled with satisfaction. He had created a new monster. The Bishop unit would soon be mass-produced, marking a drastic evolution in the Colonian forces.
At the cafe, Maki enjoyed her last bite of parfait, while Aurora gently watched the seemingly uneasy Zaki.
Their world, which had been separated by a secret, had just been united by an innocent hang out. Meanwhile, behind the curtains of power, a new threat created by Aurora's own uncle was now ready to menace the White Gundam.
To be continued....