[MINI-NOVEL] SF91 CH.04 FRIENDLY

[ F71B G-cannon Magna ]

Head Height: 143.m
Base Weight: 8.8t
Full Weight: 22.4t
Armor Materials: Gundarium alloy ceramic composite
Generator Output: 3,580kW
Thruster Propulsion: 28,680kg x 1, 22,270kg x 1, 5100kg x 1, 16,790kg x 2
Apogee Motors: 58
Armaments: beam cannon x 2, double beam gun x 2, beam saber x 2, beam rifle x 1

　"Layla, these people aren't enemies. Lower your gun," the voice came from a middle-aged man standing behind Layla.
　"I am this girl's father. We used to be soldiers of the former Neo Zeon, but now we live quietly as junk dealers in this remote shoal zone. Please, rest assured."
　"Junk dealers, you say?"
　Both Tokio and Kevin felt overwhelming relief. In the midst of their perturbation due to the presence of Dark Tiger's squad, if the place they had just stumbled upon had been the Oldsmobile hideout, it would have been the worst possible outcome. Including the Geara Doga that was still operational, all the old mobile suits there were more or less scrap than weapons.
　"I have been listening to the communication between my daughter and you all, and I am curious about something. Is there a man named Karl among your crew?"
　"T-the old man... He's our commander!" blurted Kevin. Layla couldn't help but laugh at his flustered state, effectively dissipating the tension hanging in the air.
　The residential area of the "hidden village," an apt description for the Island Type 1 space colony, was inhabited by just over a hundred people. All of them were ex-Neo Zeon soldiers and their families who lived during Char's Rebellion. They were now living secluded lives, having forgotten their days of battle.
　Char's Rebellion was already a 30-year-old event. Those young soldiers who were active on the frontlines were now in their 30s, and the children of that generation were now the ones running this hidden village. Layla Ogil, who had warned the Blaywood piloting the Geara Doga, was also a second-generation ex-Neo Zeon soldier.
　21-year-old Tokio Randall knew about "Char's Rebellion" only from history textbooks and the videos shown at the mobile suit pilot training institute. Moreover, mobile suits had undergone major changes during these 30 years.
　Tokio and Kevin belonged to a generation where small mobile suits were commonplace.
　Two months since the secret operational test of the "SFP" had started, it was a rare moment of rest for the Blaywood crew. Because of the past friendship between ex-Neo-Zeon mobile suit pilot commander Spitz and Layla's father, Adel O'Neil, the colony residents treated the Blaywood crew warmly.
　In particular, Kevin found himself deeply attracted to Layla, who also seemed to enjoy his cheerful personality. Secretly, Kevin invited Layla to the Blaywood mobile suit deck.
　"This is the new mobile suit that Anaheim Electronics is proud of. It's pretty shiny compared to those old Neo-Zeon models, isn't it?"
　"But it's rather small," Layla noted. She had grown accustomed to piloting mobile suitrs since she was a child, but she wasn't aware of the existence of the latest miniaturized mobile suits.
　"Mobile suits have been miniaturized as per SNRI's proposal after Char's Rebellion. But, its performance and firepower far exceed the previous larger mobile suits."
　Layla, who had been scanning the three mobile suits in the deck, suddenly stopped in front of the RGM-111.
　"I think I like this blue and white mobile suit. The red one looks lame and the one marked with '91' on its shoulder seems too pompous for my taste."
　"Really!" Kevin exclaimed, jumping in excitement. He was thrilled that Layla complimented his beloved machine, and also seemed to criticize the existence of RXF-91, and Tokio, to whom Kevin always felt inferior.
　"Do you really think so... After all, we at Anaheim Electronics were the first to create the small MS. SNRI's mobile suits are no good, isn't it? And this F91 knockoff mobile suit is even more--"
　Kevin let slip a little of his true feelings.
　"I'd like to ride this mobile suit. Can you please open the cockpit hatch?"
　"Oh no, if Ice Doll finds out... Well, whatever."
　At the same time, on the bridge, Tokio, Iris, and Karl Spitz were in discussion.
　"We have ample supplies, but we can't leave this colony!"
　"We only lost one machine to a red mobile suit squad. If they had reinforcements, we would be no match for them."
　"That's not true..."
　"What are you saying? Who was the one who couldn't shake off the enemy's pursuit without resorting to drastic measures?"
　"That's harsh..."
　"The junk in this colony is useless."
　Karl sighed deeply.
　"So, after all, it's impossible for everyone to escape... Wait! We could use that. Ensign Randall, you've trained on small fighters at the academy, right?"
　"The FF-4 Toriares, yes."
　"I have something to show you. Bring Chief Engineer Eisner here immediately!"
　The FF-4 Toriares was a small liaison aircraft that became the prototype for the Core Fighter. However, the Federation's mobile suit pilot training manual was based on the RX-78 Gundam, so this small aircraft's training was included.
　Meanwhile, Layla had settled into the cockpit of the RGM-111.
　"Wow, it's surprisingly spacious inside compared to how it looks from the outside. Hey, what's this mobile suit called?"
　"Its model number is RGM-111, but it's commonly known as the 'Hardygun'."
　"Hardygun, huh? Sounds powerful."
　Just then, an emergency alarm, shattering the quietude, blared through the ship.
　One of the bridge monitors shouted.
　"A red mobile suit squad is approaching the harbor block. Five in total."
　"So, they've finally come. Ensign Randall, it's time to sortie!"
　"Who is that! The manual catapult release mechanism on the mobile suit deck is--"
　Suddenly, the RGM-111 burst forth from the Blaywood's launch catapult.
　Karl and Randall, along with the mechanics, hurried towards the deck.
　Kevin stood dumbfounded beneath the deck.
　"Kevin, what happened?"
　"Layla, Layla took off in the Hardygun."
　"What?! Were you fooling around on a date on the MS deck, Kevin?"
　On the mobile suit deck, the RXF-91 was being serviced and the F71B equipped with experimental options were left behind.
　"The Hardygun has the F-Project's fire control codes integrated. If the machine gets stolen and the codes deciphered... that would be the end of this SFP."
　Ice Doll looked distraught. "Iris, I'll teach you that human lives are more important than mobile suits!"
　Kevin jumped into the cockpit of the F71B.
　"Commander, I'm borrowing the G-Cannon Magna. Ensign Randall, I'll take care of this myself. So, please stand by with the RXF-91!"
　Kevin's F71B also took off.
　Surrounding the harbor block were a single reconnaissance Ebirhu-S and two assault De'nan-Gei - a three-unit formation. The number reported by the Blaywood's bridge was an overestimate due to mistaking dummy balloons.
　"Layla, are you okay?"
　It was Kevin in the F71B. But whether it was due to being in the middle of maintenance, but the twin beam cannon mounted on the right shoulder wouldn't fire.
　"What's happening?!"
　The reconnaissance Ebiru-S circled behind the F71B. The spear mounted on its right hand pierced through the abdomen of the F71B.
　A flash ran through the belly of the F71B, followed by a minor explosion.
　"Damn it!"
　In front of the RXF91's cockpit hatch, Tokio bit his lip.