章 7: Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Unknown

(P.O.V.) Reinhard

"Ow! It feels like my head was crushed." I instinctively reached up to rub my forehead, only to find my fingers brushing against the cool, hard surface of a helmet. Confusion wrapped around me like a thick fog as I blinked my eyes open, struggling to make sense of my surroundings. I was inside a cockpit, with panels illuminated by blinking lights. Panic squeezed my chest, making each breath feel heavy. What had happened? How did I end up here? My last memory flickered in and out like a faulty lightbulb: I had passed out during the final test. Dread settled in my stomach like a cold stone. Without thinking, I began pressing buttons, adrenaline flooding my system as the Alpha powered up.

"Haru, are you there?" My voice came out shaky and quiet, filled with desperation. The hope that the forced shutdown hadn't caused any lasting damage felt fragile against the growing tide of fear. Moments dragged on like hours before static crackled through the comms, clarity inching closer.

[S…SI…Sir, I can hear you.]

A wave of relief washed over me, warm like sunlight after a storm. If Haru had sustained damage, it would have been catastrophic. He was crucial for managing the GN Drive version Fafnir, my lifeline against GN particle overuse—like a thirsty man finding an oasis after days in the desert. Sighing heavily, I scanned the last activity report on the main panel; the weight of uncertainty pressed down on me like a leaden cloak. "Haru, I need you to run diagnostics on the Alpha and establish communications with base camp." My voice trembled. Everything looked operational, but the doubt gnawed at me.

[Understood, sir. I've started diagnostics, but establishing contact with the base may be impossible.]

"Impossible?" The word lodged in my throat, bitter as ash. Had the communication system been damaged during the test? That couldn't be right. I was close enough to the base; they should have been able to override the cockpit if the Alpha powered down. A sinking feeling coiled tightly in my stomach. "What do you mean impossible?" Anxiety seeped into my tone, revealing my calm facade.

[Sir, I think it would be best to turn on the main monitor so you can see what I mean. I can't explain it well with words.]

A cold shiver of dread coursed through my veins as I switched on the main monitor. The screen flickered to life, showing the Celestial Being logo before transforming into an image that hit me like a physical blow.

Space.

I was in space! Panic surged through my bloodstream, a wave of disbelief crashing over me. How was that possible? The Alpha could perform atmospheric entry, but had it really left Earth? No, that didn't make sense. My mind raced like a wild stallion, filled with theories and questions. "Haru, any theories?" I asked, my heart pounding and my eyes glued to the monitor, desperate for clarity.

[Sir, I believe the Alpha performed an accidental quantum teleportation.]

Quantum teleportation should be impossible. I had immersed myself in Aeolia's theories while developing the Tau and Fafnir, especially about quantum teleportation. It allowed objects to bypass traditional distances using GN particles, but the idea had remained purely speculative. Yet, here I was. The realization hit me hard: achieving this phenomenon relied entirely on time-space control by saturating a plane with highly purified GN particles. The Fafnir shouldn't have been capable of this; it only produced unpurified particles, lacking the necessary TD blanket. I remembered Fafnir's erratic reactions during the Trans-Am test, and my heart raced at the implications. "Unless the Lite Trans-Am provoked the Fafnir into temporarily producing perpetual energy and creating purified GN particles." Awe and dread wrestled within me.

The Lite Trans-Am was a prototype derived from Aeolia's original Trans-Am system, modified to work with the GN Drive version Fafnir. While the original system forced the GN Drive to release a high density of GN particles, the Lite Trans-Am operated differently. Since the Fafnir couldn't generate an unlimited supply of GN particles, it couldn't simply offload its reserves. Instead, the Lite Trans-Am compelled the Fafnir to compress GN particles, significantly increasing their density and dispersal through the drive, nearly matching the performance of two Gundams equipped with true GN Drives. As these realizations whirled in my mind, opportunities and regrets collided, trapping me in a storm of uncertainty.

A fragile idea sparked within me—what if, during the attempt to compress the GN particles, the GN Drive had inadvertently achieved a highly purified state? Since I was stationary and floating during the test, the Fafnir might have continued compressing until it initiated a reaction that caused the Fafnir to temporarily create perpetual energy, saturating the Alpha with GN particles and triggering quantum teleportation. "Why did I ever think using an untested modified system was a good idea? I should have performed more tests," I sighed, frustration and regret swirling within me like a tempest, leaving me feeling vulnerable and exposed.

[Sir, I've completed diagnostics, and everything seems operational. The Fafnir's particle reserves are full. You've been unconscious for at least twenty-four hours.]

Twenty-four hours! My heart sank. If this had occurred after I successfully completed all the tests, I could have had a good night's sleep. Instead, I was adrift in the desolate void of space. "Haru, can the Alpha detect any signals?" I asked, grasping at the hope that the Alpha could latch onto signals from Earth's orbiting satellites—my lifeline back home.

[Sir, the Alpha is detecting some kind of signal, but I can't identify it.]

Better than nothing, I thought, even as anxiety gnawed at me like a ravenous beast. "Just give me the coordinates," I instructed firmly, forcing calm into my voice. Suddenly, a blue dot blinked onto the main monitor, showing its distance beneath it. A rush of adrenaline surged through me as I accelerated toward the waypoint, trailing green and white particles behind me. The vastness of space enveloped me, and for a brief moment, its stark beauty captivated me.

[Fast Forward]

Honestly, flying through space felt much easier than soaring through an atmosphere. The lack of gravity made maneuvering the Alpha almost effortless. I had to modify the OS on the move, crafting a profile to counter weightlessness, yet that minor challenge did little to dampen my rising confidence. Aeolia's hope that humanity wouldn't carry the seeds of conflict into space echoed in my mind, resonating deeply. In this moment, I felt the weight of that vision like never before, optimistic about what lay ahead.

Focusing on the main monitor, I spotted a silver dot growing larger in the distance, igniting my curiosity. I decided to accelerate, exhilaration coursing through me as I crested Mach 1—easier than I had during the test. As I approached, disbelief washed over me like cold water, my mouth dropping open in astonishment. "Is that a space station?"

(Picture)

The station's structure featured a large disc-like section, possibly a solar sail or communication array, painted in striking shades of blue and white. Attached to this disc was a complex array of cylindrical and ring-like components, indicating various modules for habitation, operations, or docking. But the station bore distressing signs of abandonment, its decay evident and unsettling.

As I studied the station—far too advanced for current technology—two conclusions struck me with clarity. First, aliens were real. Even Aeolia believed in their existence; he had mentioned that Celestial Being was preparing humanity for dialogue with other races. Second, I had not only traversed space but time, thrusting myself into the future. A chill ran down my spine as I considered the implications. How could I save Celestial Being from its inevitable destruction if I didn't even know whether it had already occurred?

Determined to find answers, I resolved to enter the space station, searching for any scraps of information. I found what appeared to be a hangar and stepped inside, gasping at the overwhelming debris scattered on the floor, including what looked like a destroyed spaceship. The wreckage told a grim story, settling heavily upon me—a battle had taken place here. This space station hadn't fallen into disrepair recently; the remnants spoke of chaos from long ago.

Using the main monitor, I searched for a pathway deeper within the station. As a gate loomed closer, my heart raced with anticipation. When it slid open, it revealed a vast corridor wide enough for the earlier sighting of the spaceship. I steeled my resolve and chose to proceed cautiously.

Exiting the tunnel, I stepped into a haunting wasteland devoid of life, marked by crumbling, forsaken buildings. "This isn't an ordinary space station; it likely functioned as a space habitat—most likely a research facility." A ripple of urgency surged through me. I needed to locate a terminal for confirmation. Glancing at the monitor, I noted that the waypoint I had instructed Haru to find remained active, indicating that the habitat wasn't generating it; rather, something within was.

Following the signal, I glided toward its source, spotting a massive structure. I landed the Gundam nearby, quickly checking my pistol as a mix of apprehension and determination quickened my heartbeat. "Haru, I'm going to check out the building. Activate the optical camouflage and contact me immediately if anyone approaches."

[Sir, I must caution you that what you intend to do is incredibly reckless.]

"I know, but we don't have a choice. We need information," I replied, gathering my resolve as I stood at the entrance, ready to step into the unknown.

As I walked through the entrance, I kept checking for dangers, moving slowly with my pistol raised to my chest. I had Haru share the location of the signal detected by Alpha on my HUD and noticed that I was getting close.

Inside, I couldn't help but be amazed at how advanced the facility looked. In the center stood a giant pillar with walkways branching off of it. Around the doors were statues that enhanced the décor. I tried to read the plaque at the base of the statues for information, but only found their names.

Looking at my HUD, I saw the signal coming from deeper in the building. Noticing the lack of visibility further ahead, I touched a part of my helmet to turn on a light attached to it before proceeding. Along the way, I saw "G.A.R.M R&D" written on the wall, leading me to conclude it was some type of research and development company, although I couldn't discern its specific focus.

Eventually, I located the signal leading me to a metal door with a plaque marking it as the "BL4+ Human Gene Manipulation Lab." Reading the plaque made me consider whether humans had advanced to the point where we could manipulate our own genetics. That possibility intrigued me; while I hadn't shown much interest in genetics during university, the idea of eradicating genetic diseases caught my attention.

When I tried to open the door, it surprised me by opening on its own. "Automatic doors? Uh… neat. I need to calm down; I'm too tense," I said before stepping inside and freezing in shock.

Inside, I found a pool filled with a strange liquid surrounded by advanced metal pods. Monitors above the pods displayed what looked like heartbeats, lines of code I couldn't understand, and what appeared to be X-rays. Walkways surrounded the room and stretched across the center of the pool.

Taking a moment to observe the pods, a thought crossed my mind. Had human experimentation been legalized? If so, how had they managed the potential backlash? Even in my time, when news of human experimentation broke, the responsible parties were swiftly jailed.

Deciding to search for more information, I followed the signal until I reached a room filled with shelves holding jars containing deformed fetuses. A frown settled on my face as I searched for any valuable information but only found damaged reports that were too worn to read completely. However, I managed to decipher that they were attempting to create something called an "Ultimate Coordinator," though I had no idea what that meant. After reading, I pressed on, moving closer to the signal.

At the end of the walkway, I saw a doorway with a plaque saying "Dr. Ulen Hibiki." Entering the room revealed an advanced computer in the center. I approached the computer and tried to turn it on, but the screen flashed, requesting a password. I grabbed my PDA, which was connected to the Alpha, allowing me to send a signal to Haru if I was separated. An idea formed. "Haru, can you use the PDA to hack the computer, bypassing the security and granting me access?" I asked over the integrated radio in my helmet.

[Yes, sir, but depending on the security level, it might take some time.]

"Do it." I watched as the screen began twitching, and a progress bar appeared, gradually filling up. While Haru hacked the computer, I sighed and searched the room. Suddenly, I noticed the waypoint in my HUD pointing at a wall. Confused, I went to inspect the wall and discovered something unusual. Applying pressure with my hand, I heard a click and realized it concealed a safe. It had no visible opening mechanism, and I thought it might be unlocked through the computer. Deciding to leave it for later, I continued examining the room.

Eventually, I spotted a photograph on the ground of a woman holding two babies, her face expressing love. Turning it over, I read the names written on the back: "Kira, Cagalli." Deciding to take the picture with me, I slipped it into one of my suit's pockets.

The names seemed to belong to the babies, but who was this woman? What was this picture doing here? Was she a scientist's wife, or was she a scientist herself? Were the children results of genetic manipulation? I wondered, feeling a twinge of concern. While I continued to look around, I found only more destroyed reports that didn't tell me anything new when I heard Haru call out.

[Sir, I have finished bypassing the security measures and now have complete access to the system.]

Returning to the computer, I began searching for information about the time period I found myself in and the facility's objectives.

Despite the computer being dormant for some time, it had still kept track of the date. The current year displayed was 69 C.E. or Cosmic Era, the new calendar adopted after the Third World War, also known as the Reconstruction War, which reshaped the world and gave rise to new global powers. The most significant were the Atlantic Federation, comprised of the USA, Canada, Great Britain, Iceland, and Ireland; the Eurasian Federation, encompassing Russia and most mainland European countries; and the Republic of East Asia, including Japan, China, South Korea, North Korea, Mongolia, and Taiwan. Minor power blocks included the United States of South America, the African Community, the South African Union, the Kingdom of Scandinavia, the Equatorial Union, the Oceania Union, and finally, the Orb Union, comprising the Solomon Islands.

After the war, humanity refocused on expanding into space, resuming construction of a fourth-generation ISS named Yggdrasil.

In the year 10 C.E., plans began for constructing space colonies, alongside a city on the moon called Copernicus. Later that year, the Atlantic Federation announced the creation of the FSF, or Federal Space Force—not wanting to be outdone, the Eurasian Federation and the Republic of East Asia announced their own space forces.

Key events followed: the completion of Yggdrasil in 11 C.E., the finish of Copernicus, and the Federal Aeronautics and Space Administration (FASA) announcing its Jupiter exploration project.

In 15 C.E., the Tsiolkovsky, a spaceship designed by George Glenn, was completed, and the Jupiter exploration project commenced. However, after departing Earth aboard the Tsiolkovsky, George Glenn revealed that his genes had been altered as a fetus, proclaiming himself the first Coordinator before releasing genetic engineering techniques to the global network. This announcement threw the world into chaos, with religious organizations declaring Coordinator technology heretical, while human supremacists labeled the Coordinator an abomination.

I paused in shock, wondering if Glenn truly didn't grasp the consequences of his actions. He couldn't have been that naive, could he? With growing urgency, I skimmed through the rest of the information.

Subsequently, the UN convened a conference in Italy, banning genetic modification, although this didn't halt the creation of Coordinators. In 17 C.E., rumors erupted about Blue Cosmos attacking a Chicago hospital known for creating Coordinators, killing all staff and patients before igniting the building in flames. Over the next few years, major powers began constructing mass drivers—electromagnetic catapults designed to launch spacecraft with people and materials into space.

I found it intriguing that in 22 C.E., the Tsiolkovsky reached Jupiter and discovered proof of alien life—a fossil resembling a winged whale labeled as Evidence 01—again throwing the world into turmoil.

In 30 C.E., the ban on creating Coordinators was lifted, leading to the first Coordinator boom and the mass construction of space colonies, including the one where I currently was—Mendel, located on Lagrange 4. I now knew my location.

In 35 C.E., the Atlantic Federation's Ptolemaeus lunar base project was exposed, resulting in condemnation for bringing weapons into space. Shortly after, they unveiled their first Mobile Armors, resembling mobile suits but larger and non-humanoid in appearance. Reading the basic information, I felt a mixture of intrigue and disbelief. I had never considered building something like that when developing the Alpha. Did they not think of creating mobile suits? Curious, I noted that the Tsiolkovsky had carried a sort of exoskeleton similar to the Gundam, but they were considerably inferior. If they had improved that technology, perhaps they could have developed mobile suits—maybe they would in the future.

In 38 C.E., the Zodiac Research Colony located in Lagrange 5 was expanded, and similar colonies were constructed. George Glenn, detained after returning from Jupiter but released in 31 C.E., joined researchers studying Evidence 01 at Zodiac. He created a colony shaped like an hourglass, funded by the Atlantic Federation, Eurasian Federation, and the Republic of East Asia, aimed at using the colonies for research and production.

In 40 C.E., the first generation of Coordinators, created in secrecy, reached maturity and began to surface among Naturals across various fields, from science to art. This led to growing anti-Coordinator sentiment, with several dissident groups uniting due to their shared hatred.

In 41 C.E., tensions escalated when second-generation Coordinators born from first-generation Coordinators inherited their parents' abilities, triggering further controversy.

In 44 C.E., the first tech space colonies in Lagrange 5 were completed, collectively known as PLANT, as they were intended to serve as large-scale production sites.

Over the following years, numerous key events occurred: the number of Coordinators surpassed ten million, investments in PLANT increased, and anti-Coordinator organizations engaged in acts of terrorism against the PLANT. George Glenn was assassinated by a young Natural resentful of not being born a Coordinator. Furthermore, the Type S influenza, which had ravaged the world during the Reconstruction, mutated into a new strain, Type S2 influenza, rendering previous vaccines useless. This led to mass deaths among Naturals, notably sparing Coordinators, fueling rumors that they created it as vengeance for Glenn's death. This prompted religious authorities to declare the Type S2 influenza outbreak divine punishment for creating Coordinators, raising anti-Coordinator sentiment to an all-time high. A year later, the UN enacted the Turin Protocol, which banned genetic modification on Earth.

Afterward, the information dwindled to fragments before abruptly cutting off in 55 C.E. I concluded that the Mendel colony must have faced an attack that year or that this facility had been abandoned since then.

Sitting down on a nearby bench, I held my head in frustration. I'd hoped to find information about Celestial Being, but I discovered nothing. This could mean two things: they had either not started conducting armed interventions and were hiding or all information about Celestial Being had been erased after their defeat. I wanted to scream in anger and frustration, especially at not finding anything about Aeolia. The fact that the Reconstruction War ended in 2100 A.D. was puzzling because I had joined Celestial Being, and the entire world wasn't at war. Sure, there were a few scattered conflicts, but nothing that could be labeled as World War 3. This meant I hadn't performed an accidental quantum teleportation to the future; I had instead jumped to a parallel timeline with a divergent history. "Seriously, what kind of science fiction crap is this… FUCK!!" I jumped to my feet and kicked a nearby desk, flipping it over as my anger boiled over.

What was I supposed to do now? Even if I activated the Lite Trans-Am and repeated everything I did during the test, there was no guarantee I'd return to my timeline. For all I knew, I could end up in the middle of a black hole. And what about Veda's prediction concerning the destruction of Celestial Being? How could I possibly save them? I felt incredibly frustrated by my powerlessness in this situation.

[Sir, I suggest you calm down; your heart rate is too high.]

Hearing Haru's voice, I bit my lip until I drew blood, then took deep breaths. He was right; I needed to calm down. I was all alone without any support. While the Alpha could operate without needing to refuel, it still required rest to recharge. Based on my readings, something would soon happen that would ignite a war. The fuse had already been lit; it was only a matter of time before it exploded. "Haru, there's a hidden safe in the wall without a physical opening mechanism. Can you see if it can be opened digitally?"

[Yes, sir.]

A moment later, I heard a click from the safe. I went to discover what the signal the Alpha had picked up led to. When I opened the safe, I found a file labeled Ultimate coordinator and some sort of armored hard drive.

[Sir, I believe that is a black box responsible for transmitting the signal.]

Could this black box hold crucial information about the project at Mendel? "How did no one detect the signal? It's been over ten years since the Mendel colony was attacked. Don't tell me they just abandoned the entire colony, or did they just abandon this facility?" I asked, baffled by its current state.

[Sir, I believe I understand. While you were exploring the facility, I detected a high level of X-ray radiation in the atmosphere within the colony. It seems there was a viral outbreak some time ago, leading someone to sterilize the colony with large amounts of X-ray radiation.]

A viral outbreak?! I realized how lucky I was that my suit could completely isolate me from the outside environment.

I looked at the file and the black box before taking them with me, deciding I had seen enough. I needed to head back to the Alpha and plan my next steps.