Chapter 116: Ramba Ral's Ambition (Not Really)
Char was heading toward the Gwazine-class battleship Assam.
Casually, he tossed aside his last weapon—a spent rocket launcher.
He then reached up to touch his mask, hesitating for a moment before ultimately deciding not to remove it.
Char quickened his pace.
After disembarking from the Zeong, he had immediately carried the unconscious Lalah to find a safer place for her.
During his escape, he encountered Zenna Zabi.
Dozle's wife was fleeing under M'Quve's guidance, carrying their daughter, Mineva Zabi.
When M'Quve, clutching a porcelain urn, noticed Char, he initially intended to ignore him.
Unfortunately for M'Quve, Zenna and Char had been classmates at the military academy and shared a good rapport.
Because of this, Zenna called out to Char, asking him to entrust Lalah to her care while he went to locate the last two leaders of the Zabi family and bring them to safety.
What Zenna didn't notice, however, was the lingering attention Char gave to Mineva.
Ultimately, Char nodded and handed the still-unconscious Lalah over to Zenna's attendant.
After placing a gentle kiss on Lalah's forehead, he turned and headed toward the command room.
Now, Char had returned alone to the Assam, a fact that spoke volumes.
"So… Lady Kycilia and Lord Gihren are both dead?"
M'Quve's face twisted with sorrow as he polished the porcelain urn he'd carefully set down.
He took a deep breath, and when he opened his eyes again, a clear resolve shone within them.
"We cannot allow Lord Dozle's bloodline—the Zabi family's legacy—to fall into Federation hands. The Assam must set sail immediately."
The crew, moved by M'Quve's determination, nodded in silent agreement.
All except for Char.
With his Newtype senses, Char could see straight through M'Quve's facade and into his ambition.
This man wasn't driven by loyalty—he sought Zenna's trust, aiming to manipulate her and seize power under the guise of safeguarding the Zabi heir.
But Char had other priorities.
He made his way to where Lalah rested.
Given the wartime conditions, a thorough examination wasn't possible, but her prolonged unconsciousness was troubling.
"Lalah… please, wake up."
Standing by her bedside, Char finally removed his mask, revealing his blue eyes—ones that no one was meant to see.
He gently placed Lalah's hand against his face, feeling its lingering warmth and finding some measure of comfort.
"Colonel Char, Colonel M'Quve requests your presence on the bridge."
A soldier's voice broke the moment.
Char released Lalah's hand, slipping the mask back on before turning around.
"Understood," he replied coldly, leaving the room and closing the door behind him.
---
"Colonel Char, thank you for coming. The Assam is ready to depart, but breaking through the blockade as we are will be difficult," M'Quve said pointedly.
He needed bait—something significant enough to draw the Federation's attention. And nothing was more valuable than a top ace.
Char stared at him wordlessly. Behind the mask, M'Quve couldn't read a thing.
"I see. Understood," Char replied, then turned and walked away.
---
What happened next remains unclear to the Federation. All they know is that the battle logs recorded the downing of another ace, and the Assam vanished, its course unknown.
Initially, the Federation planned to press its advantage and march directly on Side 3, crushing Zeon for good.
But General Revil issued an unexpected order: all Federation forces were to regroup and rest at the A Baoa Qu sector.
This puzzling command left many bewildered—until a declaration from Zeon's homeland revealed Revil's true intent.
A sudden internal shift within Zeon changed everything.
Multiple Zeon fleets swiftly seized control of key military bases, stabilizing the nation almost overnight. Even the capital defense forces of Zum City defected, their Mobile Suits aiding what was no mere rebellion—but a full-scale uprising.
The Zabi family's personal guard was overrun, and with that, the last vestiges of their control crumbled.
The twist? The prime minister of the Principality of Zeon—who had been negotiating peace with the Federation's interim prime minister in Granada—was stripped of all legitimate authority before the treaty could even be signed.
He was left staring in disbelief at the document in front of him, as was his Federation counterpart.
---
Back on Zeon soil, as the dust of the rebellion settled, the leader of the uprising finally stepped into the spotlight.
"Ramba Ral… he actually pulled it off."
Eli sat in front of the television, watching the live broadcast in stunned silence. Ramba Ral stood tall, dressed in the uniform of the old Zeon Republic.
When Ral had left that day, Eli had dared to hope. But seeing it now, seeing him actually succeed—it was hard to believe.
What Eli didn't know was that, unlike in the original timeline where Gihren had only brought a third of his forces to defend A Baoa Qu, this time he'd taken nearly two-thirds. The overwhelming strength of the Federation had forced his hand.
This left Zeon's mainland forces dangerously thin, a vulnerability Ramba Ral and the so-called "Degwin Faction" had been quick to exploit.
Of course, how many of these "Degwin loyalists" were truly genuine was anyone's guess.
---
"…The Zabi family's reign of terror has been overthrown by those who carry on Degwin's will. Effective immediately, all war-related taxes are abolished! And for the safety of our citizens, I, Ramba Ral, will personally negotiate with the Federation to end this war—while ensuring Zeon's independence remains non-negotiable!"
Revealing one's negotiation bottom line in a public broadcast was undoubtedly reckless.
But in these turbulent times, Ral had no choice. Stability had to come first.
Zeon couldn't survive another upheaval.