Editing KSGU:Volume 10 Chapter 3 (section)

===Part 28===

The white machine not even the size of a dot positioned itself next to the revolving residential block with a weapons pod. Otto got up from the captain seat, and before he could talk, “What are you doing, Banagher!?” Zimmerman hollered. The bridge was slow to react, and the mood instantly got tense.

''“The ship should have some of the “Unicorn” spare parts. Please deploy them all. I’m going to set a psycofield barrier around the “Magallanica”.’’’

The answer was beyond expectations, leaving Zimmerman and Liam wide mouthed. They were waiting for ECOAS to retrieve Mineva, and the "Nahel Argama” slowly pulled its distance from the “Magallanica”. Riddhe and the others were drifting at least 10km away. Even then, there was no guarantee that they could escape the direct hit from the colony laser, and it was too reckless to stay before the “Magallanica” and take it on. The talk about the barrier and such were beyond Otto’s understanding as he turned to a dumbfounded Aaron. ''Is is possible?’’ before he could ask, “That’s too reckless!” Aaron yelled as he kicked off the floor, closing in on the “Unicorn Gundam” shown on the expanded footage.

“It has the power to interfere with mass, but the characteristics of the psycofield remains unknown. Nobody can guarantee that it can work as a barrier to block the laser.”

“Yeah. Don’t do this stupid things, Banagher. It’s completely different from the “Garencieres”!”

Zimmerman roared. Otto had no disagreement as he watched the white machine with bated breath. After a short pause, ''“It’s a possibility because it’s unknown.”’’ Banagher answered, the strange calmness causing goosebumps.

‘“The psycofield can move a planet. Nobody can guarantee that it can’t block a laser, right?”’’

“That’s preposterous! And if there’s really such a large psycofield, the “Unicorn” at the core will…”

Aaron was suddenly silent, and Zimmerman shot him a bloody glare, “What?” Aaron lowered his head, “I don’t know.” He answered, sounding a little furious.

“But the two mobile suits at the center of the “Axis Shock” never came back, including their pilots…”

Zimmerman’s mouth remained agape, his massive body taking two steps back. It appeared the psycoframe had the characteristic of absorbing a human’s will and turning it into energy—its complete activation would require the machine and pilot at its core. ''He’s using him existence as the price?’’ Otto could not imagine this as he looked up at the ”Unicorn Gundam” standing still in space. ''“There’s no time, please proceed, Captain Otto.”’’ Banagher’s voice had everyone looking towards Otto, who could not retract his tense mouth. The chair handles were creaking, for he was grabbing firmly onto them.

''“We know that the “Laplace Box”…the original Universal Century Charter was made out of humanity’s goodwill. Everyone has the right to know this, so we have a need to tell them. This relic of the old era belongs to all the living humans now.”’’

To let all Newtypes adapted to space participate in the government─everyone knew the truth hidden in the “Box” after Mineva spoke of it, but Banagher’s explanation seemed a little different. “Goodwill, relic…” Otto muttered as he glanced towards the “Magallanica” outside the window with his naked eyes. Liam, Zimmerman, Aaron and the others remained silent, staring at the massive ship that was “Laplace Box” itself.
 
‘“Maybe things won’t change, but as long as it’s a momentary light, as long as we connect the light of possibilities—”’’

“Don’t be ridiculous!”

A sudden shriek cast aside the silence in the bridge. A girl was standing at the entrance of the airlock, and when Otto recalled the name Micott, the girl kicked off the wall next to the door, and passed by behind him.

“Hey, Micott!” Takuya Irei sounded sceptical as he too entered the bridge with the mascot robot Haro in hands. Micott didn’t look back as she nudged aside the surprised Mihiro, tapping at the panel. “You can’t just barge…” Liam intended to stop Micott, but the latter did not stop as she picked up the spare headset, mic to her mouth. “What relic, what possibilities!” The eruption voice stopped both Takuya and Liam.

“So what if you don’t have these? It’s a world of mistakes, a world with erased possibilities, but isn’t it good enough if everyone can continue to live!?”

‘Micott…’

“You’re really stupid to risk your life for this…come back, Banagher. I had enough of people dying. We can do anything as long as we’re still alive…”

The voice gradually broke into a whimper, and Micott lay prone. Takuya slowly approached her, put his hands on her shoulders, and the floating Haro flapped its two metallic ear discs, “Come back, Banagher. Come back, Banagher.” Otto turned his eyes outside.

What Micott said might be most correct. They were merely going with the flow, and drifted all the way here. They did not start with the objective to open the “Box”. The result was borne, and it was not the result they hoped for, but they were certain that the “Laplace Box” really existed, and what it was. If Captain Bright was around, it might be possible for them to use this information to ensure the safety of the crew. It was most important that everyone was to live—Otto knew that well, very well, but why could he not say it? Did he want to give up? The rhetorical answer was swirling in his heart, and he remained silent, unable to speak up. ''“Micott”’’ Banagher’s voice rang in the wireless.

‘I never understood anything about my father. And I lived together with my mother, but I never understood anything about her. I just didn’t understand anything. I felt out of place. Right now though, I know. My parents gave birth to me, they raised me, for my sake.”’’

The “Unicorn Gundam” in the footage twitched its head as a calm voice continued. The human-looking eyes seemed to be glowing, staring at Micott. “Banagher…” Micott’s hoarse voice echoed in the bridge.

''“I feel relieved to know that. I’ve accepted who I am. This relieves me. I’ve accepted the current me, and have started to think of the meaning of this future. The people who started the Universal Century 100 years ago didn’t just abandon people in space. They sent humanity as a prayer, doing what they could do. If everyone can understand…”

Micott wanted to say something, but she could not, and could only stare at the “Unicorn Gundam” with damp eyes as her last bit of defiance. Takuya lifted her floating body from behind, and they left the panel. Otto saw those two as he heard a call, “Captain…” he turned aside, and exchanged looks with Liam, who was prompting him.

There was no time. The colony laser might be fired in the next second. The “Rewloola” was within firing range. They should lit the light of possibilities, to convey the kindness—he closed his eyes, pondering, and when he opened his eyes, he made up his mind as he looked forward.

“Send all the “Unicorn” spare parts onto the catapult and fire them all. Once done, reverse at maximum speed, and break away from the “Magallanica”.”

''I’ll probably regret this till death.’’ Otto made up his mind as he gave the order, and reclined into the captain’s seat. Nobody opposed, and there was only silence before Liam repeated the command, followed by Mihiro and the others conveying it to everyone.

Micott herself was the only one standing dumbfounded, giving Otto a look of disbelief. ''Why?’’ She scanned Otto, Zimmerman, Aaron and Liam, but none of them could answer her. She had nowhere to look to. The adults in the room regretted the past, but they were unwilling to excuse themselves at this point. Her legs went limp, and she looked towards the ”Unicorn Gundam” once again.

“Seriously, men all like so conceited…!”

The criticism rang throughout the bridge, not just directed at Banagher, but also to all on deck. ''You’re completely correct.’’ Otto quietly noted.