Chapter 8

(P.O.V. Reinhard)

C.E. 69, December

Orb Union, Onogoro Island, Morgenröte Headquarters, Reinhard's Personal Laboratory/Hangar

Looking at the monitors streaming information from the Alpha Gundam, which stood motionless in its dock, made me want to hit my head against the wall in frustration. It had been a month since I agreed to Uzumi's conditions. After that, I traveled aboard the Horizon to Earth and eventually made my way to Orb. I spent just a day in the capital, which was enough time to acclimate—even though I'd been thrust into an alternate timeline. Things hadn't changed too much; sure, everything was more advanced, but at the end of the day, cars still had four wheels, and Karens still existed. It was a bit disheartening that so much remained the same.

Upon leaving the capital, I, along with the Alpha Gundam—which was being transported in a giant container to keep its existence a secret—was taken to Onogoro, a volcanic island housing the headquarters of Orb's military and national defense, as well as Morgenröte.

When we arrived, Uzumi introduced me to the generals leading each division of the national defense force. They were fiercely loyal to him. When he stated his intention to establish a new task force codenamed the Gjallarhorn Squadron, designed for clandestine operations and to report directly to him, I expected some dissent from the generals over his disregard for the chain of command. To my surprise, each of them agreed with him, displaying an astonishing level of loyalty and respect for Uzumi.

Once introductions were done, we proceeded to the Morgenröte headquarters, where I was introduced to Koto Sahaku, head of one of Orb's five royal families and the leader of the company. Unfortunately, this meeting didn't go as smoothly as the previous one. Koto was furious when Uzumi revealed that I was the new Chief Engineer—someone granted complete autonomy and limitless funding for my projects. His angry outburst prompted Uzumi to ask me to step outside for a moment. I had no idea what transpired during those five minutes, but when I was called back in, Koto was trembling as if he had just escaped a close call. Uzumi calmly stated that someone would show me to my lab soon, and it was that day I learned why he was known as the Lion of Orb.

Once inside the lab, I was led to a warehouse nestled among several others and instructed to configure the security with a retina scan and fingerprint. The man handling the scans informed me that I was the only one with access to my Lab/Hangar, and that the container had already been moved inside.

Stepping into the warehouse, I was struck by the vast space and the array of impressive machines surrounding me. It took me a while to familiarize myself with what each device did. After unloading the Alpha from the container, I began running tests on its systems.

After countless trials, I had to confront a hard truth: the Fafnir had become capable of semi-perpetually generating GN particles. I discovered that when the Lite Trans-Am activated, the Fafnir resonated with an unknown force, triggering a reaction in the GN Drive that purified GN particles beyond theoretical limits. These purified particles affected the Dragon Heart, allowing the Solar Furnace—the core of the GN Drive—to generate GN particles semi-perpetually. However, the existing GN condensers weren't designed to handle such a large volume, leading to an astonishing 70% waste of the generated particles. I would need to design new GN condensers and distribute them throughout the frame to maximize storage, because while the GN Drive could generate an unlimited quantity of particles, it would be useless if I couldn't utilize them effectively.

I still hadn't activated the Lite Trans-Am because I was honestly unsure how the Alpha would react, but I will eventually attempt to perform another test of the lite trans am when I sure it safe. But for now, it would remain a last resort—something to rely on in a crisis.

I hadn't even begun creating the operating system (OS) yet, since Uzumi's informants indicated that the development of the G-Weapons wouldn't start until January. Without basic information on their capabilities, I couldn't kick off the OS development.

Later today, the princess was scheduled to visit the national defense force to begin her training under me. This should provide a good distraction at least. I'd already requested the construction of a test course similar to the one I trained on; I hoped she would enjoy the surprises as much as I had.

"Haru, bring up Project Hawkeye on the main monitor and give me a status report on its feasibility," I said, grabbing a cup of forgotten coffee from the table and gulping it down in one go. Ah, caffeine—the nectar that lets humans work until they crash. As the report appeared on the screen, I was reminded of the unlimited funds at my disposal, a perfect opportunity to maximize their potential.

The monitor revealed a Gundam frame similar to the Alpha's, but this one was specifically designed for medium to long-range combat, unlike the all-rounder nature of the Alpha. I had incorporated an array of sensors to ensure it could consistently track enemy and ally units, with options to fit railguns and beam cannons as the pilot desired. Additionally, I created a new targeting system capable of locking onto a maximum of fifteen enemies at once, guaranteeing a 100% hit rate, along with various other enhancements that would make Bjorn scream in excitement.

As I reviewed the designs and specs, I still hadn't settled on a name for this future Gundam I intended to build—hell, I hadn't even started constructing another GN Drive Fafnir that would be used to power the new Gundam. But there was no rush; I had time to contemplate it. For now, I should focus on preparing for the princess's arrival. After all, humility doesn't teach itself. Ah, the things I do for the next generation.

(P.O.V. Cagalli Yula Athha)

C.E. 69, December

Orb Union, Onogoro Island, National Defense Headquarters, Training Ground

I was not having a good day.

Why did my father think I needed more military training? I had already learned everything the best instructors could teach me. My focus should be on learning from him how to rule Orb, not on redundant combat drills. But no, Father insisted that I resume my training under a new instructor without even bothering to explain what I would be learning. I had mastered everything from close-quarters combat to marksmanship; it felt like a complete waste of time.

The fact that I was forced to wait at the entrance of the training ground only added to my frustration. The instructor had yet to arrive, and I was about to leave when I spotted a man approaching. He was wearing a white t-shirt, military cargo pants, and a pair of heavy-duty boots.

Could this be the new instructor? He looked pretty young—how old could he be? What could someone so young possibly teach? He looked like a pretty boy who had never fought a day in his life. My irritation spiked further; I struggled to understand why my father thought this man was fit to train me.

As he approached, a smile spread across his face. He stopped right in front of me, looking me over before shaking his head dismissively. That simple gesture infuriated me, and I felt my teeth clench.

"Greetings, Princess. I am Captain Reinhard Durandal, and I have been tasked to train you," he said, performing a mock bow.

"Don't call me princess!" I yelled sharply, irritation boiling over. I despised being called that. "And why the hell are you late? Don't you know it's rude to keep someone waiting?"

He hummed thoughtfully, scratching the back of his head casually. "My apologies, Princess. I got lost on the road of life." What did he mean by that? "During my walk, something more important came up, and I had to stop to give it my full attention."

Wait—did he just imply that I wasn't important? How dare he! He was ordered to be my instructor, a direct order from the highest authority in Orb. What could possibly be more important than that?

"I already told you to stop calling me princess!" I yelled again, frustration boiling over as I seized his shirt. "And do you think this is a game? Take this seriously!"

In an instant, everything shifted. The world spun as I found myself flat on my back, staring up at the sky. How had I ended up here? As I gathered my thoughts, I saw Reinhard standing over me, casting a shadow. The look on his face—a complete lack of emotion—sent a shiver down my spine. The only thought running through my mind was that I was about to die.

"Oh, my dear princess, taking this seriously is the last thing both of us want!" he exclaimed in a measured tone. "You see, while it's true your father ordered me to train you, he gave no restrictions, which means I have complete authority over your training. While I originally wanted to put you through the same training regime I went through, I decided that would be cruel. After all, I can't simply beat you to near death every time we spar."

Wait—near death?!

"So, I decided to make a simplified version, removing any parts that were too dangerous. You know, things like running through a minefield while soldiers take potshots at you or fighting against ten trained soldiers with one of your eyes blindfolded and one of your arms tied behind your back." What kind of insane monster trained this man?

"And for the reason I keep calling you princess, well, that's rather simple. It's because you are one! I know for a fact that you've never killed anyone; you lack the presence of a true soldier—the killing intent honed after countless battles. Right now, you are a spoiled princess playing soldier, and until I acknowledge you as a true soldier, I will keep calling you princess. But don't worry…" He suddenly replaced his emotionless visage with a sweet smile. "I promised your father that I would make you into a true soldier, and I am a man of my word. Understood?"

The only thing I could do was nod, still shaken by the overwhelming presence he had shown earlier.

"Good. Now get up, princess. I want you to run around the field until I tell you to stop."

Before I could protest, I was already on my feet, running across the field as the reality of my situation sank in. My only thought was about the kind of demon my father had ordered to teach me.

(P.O.V. Reinhard Durandal)

C.E. 69, December

Orb Union, Onogoro Island, National Defense Headquarters, Training Ground

I decided to arrive late to see how Cagalli would react. Uzumi had told me she was hot-headed, and sure enough, he was right. Her posture was a mess; honestly, if I wanted to, I could easily toss her aside with one hand while sipping my coffee with the other.

When she grabbed my shirt, she completely let her guard down, thinking she was safe. I seized that moment to give her a wake-up call by tossing her to the ground before she could react and releasing some of my killing intent. The tears welling in her eyes told me I might have gone too far, so I eased up a bit.

As I watched her run around the field, I couldn't help but notice how poor her form was. She clearly had talent, but it seemed like she didn't practice enough to master her techniques. It looked like she only trained when her former instructors were around. Just the thought of all the mistakes I'd have to correct made me sigh in resignation.

Then, I sensed someone nearby. Someone was watching me. I couldn't recall when I had put Cagalli on the ground, but I felt a spike of killing intent directed at me before it disappeared.

"I know you're there; come out!" I called out, raising my voice slightly. I stared into the trees lining the training ground, but initially, no one stepped forward. Suddenly, a familiar figure emerged from the shadows.

"So, it was you, Leonid. Let me guess—Uzumi wanted you to oversee the princess's training?" I asked, wanting to confirm whether he had indeed been sent.

Leonid, sitting on the bench behind me, frowned, clearly unhappy about something. "No, Lord Uzumi didn't think it was necessary. I decided I wanted to observe Lady Cagalli and make sure she didn't get hurt."

I raised an eyebrow. "Is that so? You think she's in danger with me?"

Leonid crossed his arms, his scowl deepening. "It's not that. I just don't want to see the princess overwhelmed by someone who clearly enjoys intimidating others."

"Enjoys intimidating?" I scoffed. If he thought I scared Cagalli for fun, he was mistaken. "Kisaka, you're a soldier, right?" I questioned, watching him nod. "So you should know what happens to an overconfident recruit who thinks they're the best soldier in the army just because they've had a little training."

I watched Cagalli continue to run in terrible form, my frustration growing.

"When they step onto the battlefield, they're often the first to die," he said, his tone serious. He was right—overconfidence is one of the biggest mistakes a soldier can make.

"Exactly. Now tell me, have you ever seen the princess practice outside of her instructor's sessions?"

He shook his head, and I sighed. "Just as I thought. She knows the techniques she needs to use, but she hasn't practiced enough to perform them effectively. If she finds herself in actual combat, she'll likely die before even getting a chance to shoot. And then there's her attitude: she's stubborn, hot-headed, and rebellious. Those are some of the worst traits a soldier can have, and she has all of them."

I leaned back slightly, allowing my words to sink in. "I have to teach her everything from the ground up while instilling discipline, a level head, and humility in her. Even if she isn't meant to be a soldier, if she's to succeed her father as the leader of Orb, she'll be eaten alive by her family's political enemies if she goes into future battles with her current mindset."

Leonid's frown deepened, and he opened his mouth to speak but then hesitated. I sensed his internal struggle; he didn't want to agree with me but couldn't deny the truth of my words.

"Let's just hope she's willing to learn," he finally said, his voice softer.

I nodded, watching as Cagalli continued running. "She will learn whether she likes it or not."

Leonid stayed seated, and I could tell he wanted to say something but was unsure how. "Just say what you want to say!" I urged.

Leonid looked at me with a complicated expression that showed distrust. "I don't trust you, Reinhard. I mean no offense when I say this but you're a wildcard. What's stopping you from betraying Orb one day?"

I wasn't surprised he felt that way, especially since we had only met a month ago. His concerns were understandable but misguided. I owed Uzumi—and by extension, Orb—a lot for granting me asylum and generous conditions. Honestly, the thought of betraying Orb didn't even cross my mind; my head was filled with other worries: What had happened after I disappeared? Would Celestial Being be destroyed as VEDA predicted? Would our plans succeed?

"You don't need to worry about me betraying Orb. I owe Uzumi and this country too much for that. I won't betray anyone unless I'm betrayed first," I said, giving Leonid a serious look.

(Timeskip)

Checking the time on my PDA, I realized it had been an hour since Cagalli started running. I whistled to grab her attention and signaled for her to stop. When she finally understood, she collapsed onto her butt, breathing heavily. Seeing her exhausted, I couldn't help but scoff. If she'd used the correct form while running, she wouldn't be this wiped out.

"We're done for today, Princess," I said, handing her a bottle of water and watching her take a long drink.

"But all I did was run around the field! You didn't teach me anything!" she protested, confusion and irritation mixing in her voice, despite her efforts to hide it.

"Correct. I didn't teach you anything today for two reasons. First, you've already been taught pretty much everything you need to know. Second, I wanted to see if you could effectively use what you've learned." I could tell she still didn't understand why I had her run for so long. "Tell me, Princess, why do you think I had you run for so long?"

She paused, trying to think of a reason. "To improve my stamina?"

I shook my head. "No. Despite what you might believe, your stamina has already been built to a level where you could fight for extended periods. Your former instructor didn't skip training your body, at least." I pointed out that she had run for an hour straight without stopping; her level of stamina was already equal to that of a trained recruit. "No, the reason I had you run for so long was to help you discover your mistakes."

"My mistakes? What are you talking about?" Cagalli asked, still confused. How many more hints did I need to give her?

"Dumbass, don't you realize your form is garbage? You're wasting energy when you run, and your posture is terrible. Right now, I could take you down in ten different ways," I said, raising my voice to emphasize my point and startling her.

"You're like a sword built in a rush. On the outside, you look fine, but inside you're hollow. You've been trained by professionals and know all the theories and combat techniques, but you haven't practiced enough to execute them properly." My frustration bubbled over. When Mad Dog trained me, he used to punch me when I didn't use the correct form or technique, pushing me to improve so I wouldn't get hit again. But I couldn't use that same method with the princess. "I will have to start training you from the very beginning and teach you everything all over again. Do you understand, Princess?"

Seeing her nod while looking at the ground made me realize that I had probably traumatized her earlier. "Don't tell me you're scared of me, Princess."

I noticed her hands gripping tightly in anger when I called her "Princess" again, and I realized she wasn't traumatized; she was just so pissed off that she couldn't look me in the eye. I couldn't help but laugh. "And here I thought I had traumatized you when I released some of my killing intent earlier. Looks like you're just a stubborn one, which might be a problem. Tell me, Princess, do you want to succeed your father?" I asked, genuinely curious about her aspirations.

Cagalli looked me straight in the eye, biting her lip. "Of course, I do!" she exclaimed, frustration lacing her words. "I love Orb, and I want to ensure that I can live up to my father's expectations! But how am I supposed to do that if he doesn't even teach me what I need to know?" So, in essence, she wanted to make her father proud.

"And do you think the current you can become a suitable leader for Orb?" I asked. "Let's be real: you're stubborn and hardheaded. The current you would be devoured the moment you step into the political arena. So do you know what you have to do?" She shook her head. Seriously, the fact that I was lecturing a fourteen-year-old on how to become a politician was absurd. "You need to change and learn to control yourself. I'm not saying you have to completely change who you are, but you need to develop the ability to maintain a level head in any situation. Never lose your cool, even if you find yourself facing impossible odds. These qualities will help you weather any storm, and that is the purpose of our training, alongside rebuilding the shaky foundation of combat you've built. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

Cagalli remained silent, pondering my words. "Yes, I believe I do," she said, her gaze firm and determined. "Reinhard, I know I don't have the authority to give you an order, but please continue teaching me." Well, would you look at that? She was beginning to act somewhat humbly. It was too early to tell if it would stick, but I would find a way to make it stick.

"Don't worry, Princess. I will ensure that by the time you finish your training, not a single politician will catch you by surprise." I said, smiling as I ruffled her hair. She panicked and quickly swatted my hand away.

"Now go take a shower; you stink. I need to head back to my lab." I started walking away when I heard her call out to me.

"Wait! What do you mean you have to go back to your lab? Aren't you a captain? Why do you need a lab?" she asked, confusion evident in her voice. Wait, did her father not tell her anything about me?

"While I am a captain of a special task force under direct command of your father, I was also given the job as one of the Chief Engineers at Morgenröte. If you want to know more, ask your father." I watched as her eyes widened before I resumed walking away, hearing her yell.

"WHAT THE HELL!" I laughed at her reaction and wondered if I should throw her into the training course I had requested to be built.