As mentioned before, Yang Hui despises two types of people: deserters and traitors, closely followed by self-righteous individual heroes.
On the battlefield, while a commander's orders may not always be entirely correct and require the frontline troops' judgment, this is completely different from foolish personal heroism.
For instance, if Flit had obediently followed Graham's orders and retreated with Woolf, the three of them would have faced no danger at all. However, due to his impulsiveness, he nearly got Woolf killed and almost endangered Graham and himself.
War has never been a solo hero's game; even Yang Hui and Graham wouldn't dare claim that with the right mobile suits, they could change the tide of a large battle, let alone Flit.
At this moment, Flit was still frozen in place, not having recovered from Yang Hui's reprimand. Emily and Dique were worried but didn't know what to say to Flit.
If everyone was safe, Emily would definitely complain that Yang Hui was being too harsh. But this time, with Woolf nearly losing his life, her grievances remained unspoken.
"Flit..."
Emily gathered her words and approached, intending to comfort Flit, but he pushed her away and ran out of the Hangar in tears.
"Flit! Wait for us!"
Emily and Dique naturally followed, while Graham and Woolf shook their heads in disapproval.
"See, I told you, the kid should just focus on going to school instead of piloting MS," Woolf said, exasperated.
"I agree with that," Graham nodded, acknowledging Woolf's point. They fought desperately on the battlefield so that children like Flit could have a peaceful and happy living environment.
"However, Yang Hui must have his reasons for letting him pilot the Gundam AGE-1, and you felt it too, right? Flit's growth."
Woolf fell silent. To be fair, Flit was born to be a pilot; his talent was terrifying. Just a few days of training allowed him to suppress ace pilots, and he was only 14 years old.
"Really, we must have owed you in our past lives," Woolf sighed. Under Yang Hui and Graham's insistence, he could only continue to play the babysitter. Some things that Yang Hui and Graham had just reprimanded Flit for were not convenient for them to say, so he had to go.
"Although Flit is at fault, your words were too harsh, weren't they?" Vargas complained to Yang Hui. He knew Flit well; despite appearing positive and strong all the time, he understood that Flit's heart was actually very fragile. The Gundam was his only support, and becoming a savior was his reason for existence.
"If I don't speak harshly, he won't learn his lesson, Vargas. You're not a child anymore; you should know this."
"But he is still a child."
"War won't go easy on him just because he's a child."
"Well..." Vargas couldn't argue against that.
War has always been merciless; the elderly, women, and children are not spared because of their identities. There is no justice or evil in war, only killing and being killed.
"Don't worry, Vargas, Flit won't be easily defeated."
"I hope so."
...
Woolf eventually found Flit in the viewing corridor of the ship, where Emily and Dique were comforting him.
"Flit, fighting is too dangerous. Why don't you just... give up?"
"Yeah, isn't Yang Hui and the others there?"
"But... if I don't fight... if I don't pilot the Gundam... what is the meaning of my existence?" Flit said, confused.
He was impulsive but also very smart. After being reprimanded by Yang Hui, he understood what mistake he had made, but he truly couldn't suppress that urge to eliminate the UE.
"If you don't know, then go find out. Whether it's through fighting or living a normal life, go search for your own meaning of existence and then carry it out."
"Mr. Woolf."
"I don't know why Yang Hui would agree to let a kid like you go to the battlefield, but that doesn't give you an excuse to act recklessly. War and fighting are never a place for children to play."
"I didn't! I just... my mom... she was killed by the UE... I just..."
"Sigh." Looking at Flit crying with his head down, Woolf felt he really wasn't suited to be a babysitter. "I don't care about your past; the UE won't care either. Once you step onto the battlefield, you are a soldier."
"Then... Mr. Woolf, why do you fight?"
"We? Are you asking about me, Graham, and Yang Hui?"
"Yes."
"I don't know about Yang Hui; to be honest, I'm also curious why a rich kid like him is interested in fighting. But as for Graham, he and I are the same kind of people. Fighting can be addictive. Once you've experienced that thrill, peaceful daily life becomes dull. We seem to be born to fight; we can only fight, and that is our meaning of existence," Woolf explained.
"But... isn't fighting very dangerous? And it also brings more sacrifices..." Emily retorted, somewhat fearfully.
"Awareness and acceptance come from the beginning. Rather than dying aimlessly in a peaceful life, it's better to die gloriously on the battlefield. As for sacrifices... if we don't fight, will the UE stop? If we don't fight, what will you do?" Woolf asked Emily.
"Well... but Flit doesn't need to..."
"No!" Flit interrupted Emily. "Mr. Woolf is right; the UE won't stop, so we have to fight. If we don't fight, how can we become saviors? How can we defeat the UE?"
"Flit..." Emily looked at Flit with a complex expression, unwilling to see him fall into crisis, yet wanting to support him in achieving his ideals. For a moment, she didn't know what to say.
"So, Flit, since you've chosen to fight, then go fight, and in that fight, see clearly what your own meaning of existence is."
"Yes!" Flit's face finally regained a smile. Woolf was right; if he couldn't see the meaning of existence, then he should go find it. Once he found it, he would stick to it. So he wouldn't give up; he would continue to pilot the Gundam and keep fighting the UE.
"Um... Mr. Woolf!"
"What is it?" Woolf turned to look at Flit as he was leaving.
"About the previous battle... I'm sorry!" Flit bowed to apologize to Woolf.
"Uh? Ah, don't worry too much about that; it was my own decision, so you can't take all the blame."
"But..."
"If you want me to forgive you, then grow up quickly and take down more enemies," Woolf waved his hand and left.
"...Yes!"
...
On the other side, after arranging the repairs and maintenance of the four MS and inputting new data into the AGE System, Yang Hui and Graham found Grudick in the captain's room.
"I've received the intelligence; the truth about the UE is gradually becoming clear," Grudick said with a smile. After so many years of the Federation being clueless about the UE, it finally revealed a glimpse of the iceberg. His plan could be said to have succeeded halfway.
"A technology that cannot be detected by radar and optical sensors, an invisible umbrella? The UE's technology is indeed far ahead of the Federation," Yang Hui said helplessly. As for why the UE's technological level was so high, Yang Hui certainly knew, but even knowing where it came from didn't mean they could obtain it now. Using C-class Dawn Gundam and Samurai Gundam to deal with Sid was tantamount to seeking death.
"Can you find a way to counter it?"
"Do you have some misunderstanding about my profession?" Yang Hui said gloomily. Even without technology, he could potentially figure out the principles of a concealment system from some fragments and devise countermeasures. But asking Yang Hui to create something out of nothing was impossible.
"Is that so? But it's not a big problem. Once our objective is completed, you'll have the chance to obtain the other side's technology," Grudick said, though somewhat regretfully, it didn't matter. As long as the plan could succeed, technology was a minor issue.
"Have you found the target?"
"Yes, although it took a lot of effort, I found it." With that, Grudick turned off the lights in the captain's room and projected a massive space fortress. "The space fortress Anbat, the UE's military stronghold, ten days' journey from Colony Minzli to Mars."
"How did you get this information?" Yang Hui asked.
"I analyzed the patterns of the UE's appearances. According to my analysis, the UE has been lurking in the abandoned space fortress Anbat that the Federation has given up on."
"You've really worked hard," Yang Hui sighed. To reach this conclusion through analysis required an overwhelming amount of data, and Grudick managed to analyze the UE's hiding place alone. It was a testament to both his ability and his obsession.
Moreover, Yang Hui understood Grudick well; even if it was just analysis and calculation, he wouldn't take such risks without over ninety percent certainty. This was his only chance; if he was wrong, there wouldn't be a second opportunity.
"As long as we can expose the truth about the UE, everything will be worth it."
"Alright, let's do it this way. I'll contact home and have them send the items directly to Minzli."
"Thank you for your hard work."
Yang Hui waved his hand and left with Graham. Grudick looked at the photo of his wife and child, rarely showing a sad, worried, yet warm smile.
"Soon, very soon, I will be able to avenge you."
...
Yang Hui and Graham did not rest and went straight back to the Hangar. Graham needed to keep an eye on the repair status of the Samurai Gundam and prepare for the next training session. Yang Hui naturally continued to adjust the AGE System, striving to equip the Dawn Gundam and Samurai Gundam before reaching Fardin. After arriving at Fardin, there would be a major battle with the UE, and Dique would make another appearance.
It might not be appropriate to kill him directly in front of everyone, but if he piloted the Jidas again, then he shouldn't blame Yang Hui for being ruthless. This time, he couldn't let him escape again.
(End of Chapter)