In the unfathomable depths of the Pacific Ocean, nestled within the pitch-black Mariana Trench, lay the concealed research headquarters of the Armen Group. Led by the brilliant yet burdened Professor Itsuki, the base was no mere bunker; it was a colossal underwater station protected by layers of ultra-thick steel and the crushing force of the abyssal water column. This immense pressure served as a natural, impenetrable shield, yet within the high-tech facility, the quiet calm felt like a deceptive lull, occasionally punctuated by the faint, ominous pings of distant Colonian sonar patrols.
Professor Itsuki, a man whose hair had greyed not merely with age but under the weight of secrets and decades of technological warfare, stood in the main command room. Flanked by his highly competent chief technician, Dr. Lena Lowe, and a handful of core staff, the atmosphere crackled with tension. Itsuki had just received chilling confirmation: their IBIS Unit, the advanced submersible Mobile Suit he had counted on to strengthen their hold against the Colonies, was now in enemy hands—the hands of the mysterious Earth Rebels operating the elusive White Gundam. Even worse, data indicated that a prototype Grai Gundam had been stolen by his former colleague, Klaus Kimeza.
Dr. Lena stared at the sonar monitor, her face etched with profound worry. "Professor Itsuki, we have no time!" she urged, her voice straining against the silence of the sealed room. "We've lost the IBIS and critical data. The Colonies will hunt us to the bottom of the ocean to find a scapegoat for the theft of the Grai, especially after showcasing their Royalty Gundam!"
Itsuki walked over to a massive tank wall, touching the glass where Mobile Suit models floated in pressurized fluid. He shook his head firmly. "Not the Colonies, Lena. We cannot rely on them, and we cannot fear them. They are merely imitators and bullies. We must create units that surpass the White Gundam, the Royalty Gundam, and even the unit piloted by Klaus. We do not fight for the Colonies or the old Federation. We fight for balance."
He turned toward a complex diagram on the main screen that merged three crucial elements: the core engine data from Project Grai, the Hydro-Propulsion technology from the lost IBIS, and a newly perfected Neural Link system. "We will combine the foundational power of the Grai with the superior maneuverability of the IBIS," he explained. "We call it Project Queen."
The project yielded two sister units designed for absolute synergy. The first, the Tortoise Gundam, materialized with a muscular, defensive design dominated by white and deep blue accents. It looked like an immovable object. "The Tortoise will be the shield," Itsuki said. "This requires a calm, tactical pilot. Lena, you must pilot this unit. Only you can manage its complex energy balance while monitoring the Queen's movements."
Lena paused, gazing at the formidable machine. She was a scientist, not a soldier, but for the sake of her daughter's future, she knew this was the only path. "Very well," she said, donning the bespoke white and blue pilot suit. "I won't let us be defeated."
Itsuki then gestured toward the second twin: the Queen Unit. It was a sleek, intimidating machine, predominantly white with striking purple accents, engineered for extreme speed and precision. "The Queen is our spear," Itsuki noted. "It requires the fastest reflexes—someone who can read every enemy move instantaneously through a perfect Neural Link. I know the best pilot."
"Who?" Lena asked, tightening her gloves.
"Your daughter, Lena. Tasya Lowe."
The color drained from Lena's face. She stepped back, shaking her head vehemently. "No! Not Tasya! I will find another pilot—professional defectors like Wars Stinger or Aya Rose! I won't risk her!" Tears welled in her eyes as she clenched her hands. "The Queen uses a system that connects the pilot's brain directly to the suit. One energy feedback could cripple or kill her! She's just a teenager, she's still at Neo-Verdia School! She has a life there, a friend named Maki... she has a future!"
Itsuki grasped her shoulders, his gaze unwavering. "Precisely because she is my friend's daughter, I know she has the necessary resolve. The Neural Link has been perfected; the risk is reduced. We need her instinct to counterbalance the White Ghost and defeat the Royalty Gundam."
Lena closed her eyes, torn between maternal instinct and the weight of the world. "Alright," she choked out. "Get her from school. But I will monitor her Neural Link every second from the Tortoise cockpit. If there is the slightest feedback, she is out. Do you understand?"
Far above the abyss, in the sunlit cafeteria of Neo-Verdia School, Tasya Lowe was enjoying lunch with her best friend, Maki Kimeza. The school felt like a sanctuary of normalcy amidst the brewing galactic conflict. Tasya, with her black hair tied in a high ponytail, was animatedly describing their gym class. "I'm serious, Maki! Coach Park nearly collapsed while I was running. I didn't even feel tired."
Maki offered a small, distracted smile. Ever since a recent school trip incident, she felt as if the world was watching her. Her eyes drifted toward the television screen in the corner, which was broadcasting a bombastic Colonian news report on the Royalty Gundam's dazzling debut. "Look at that, Maki," Tasya pointed. "Gold and black. It's terrifying, but seriously cool."
Maki felt a cold knot in her stomach. As the pilot known as the White Ghost, she knew the horror beneath that golden facade. "They really want to dominate everything, don't they?"
Tasya's eyes narrowed as she studied the footage of the Royalty Gundam's drone-like weapon systems. "It's not just about dominating; they're desperate," Tasya analyzed, her voice taking on a tactical edge. "Those funnels are incredibly fast. If I were the Royalty pilot, I'd wait for the White Ghost to show up and use a long-range barrage. Speed might not be enough against an attack from all directions."
Maki stared at her friend in surprise. Tasya's military intuition was startlingly sharp. "How do you know so much about this, Tasya?"
Tasya shrugged with a broad smile. "My mom works in tech. She has cool simulator games at home. I love the agile units—I take down everything before they touch me. And I've heard her mention an 'IBIS Project' once or twice."
Maki nodded, her heart racing at the mention of the unit they had recently crippled. Before she could respond, a serious voice crackled over the school intercom: "Tasya Lowe, please report to the principal's office. There is an urgent family emergency."
Tasya frowned, grabbing her bag. "An emergency? My mom rarely contacts me at school. I'll text you later, Maki!"
At the school's back gate, a non-descript black car waited. When Tasya arrived, Lena hugged her with a fierce, trembling emotion. "Your father is fine," Lena whispered, "but there's a top-secret work situation. I need to take you with me."
On the drive to a discreet landing site, Lena offered a carefully crafted explanation. "There's a new unit, Tasya. A Gundam. I need someone with the best reflexes to test its system. Just for a few days."
Hearing the word "Gundam," Tasya's fear vanished, replaced by sheer excitement. "A Gundam? Awesome! I'm ready, Mom. We'll show that Royalty unit what real speed looks like."
Hours later, they breached the waters of the Mariana Trench. When Tasya laid eyes on the colossal facility and the sleek, purple-accented Queen Unit, she fell silent. "Is this... real?" she whispered.
"This is the Queen," Itsuki greeted them. "Designed for you. It responds only to instinct, not caution."
Lena immediately suited up and climbed into the Tortoise Gundam, activating the monitoring panels for the sister unit. "Tasya, listen to me," Lena's voice came over the comms, now focused and professional. "I am monitoring you every second. If you feel any pressure or a headache, tell me immediately."
Tasya entered the Queen's cockpit. As the Neural Link activated, she felt an overwhelming sensation—the machine became an extension of her own body. The power of the Grai engine and the IBIS propulsion sang through her nerves. "Queen system, online," she said, her voice steady and intensely concentrated.
From the Tortoise, Lena watched the stable brain waveforms. "Her connection is perfect," she whispered to Itsuki. "She has the instinct."
Itsuki sighed in relief as the two machines prepared for launch. "Then it is time to move. We have the Queen and the Tortoise. It is time to restore the balance." In the dark abyss, the twin suits ignited their engines, carrying a new hope—and a new, deeply personal complication—into the heart of the war.
To Be Continue....