Silence is Golden ★ Gilded Surfaces ★ Silver and Gold
Silver Leaf ★ Gold Leaf ★ Fool's Gold

Gundam W Endless Waltz Book One Chapter 8

This is an excerpt I translated from New Mobile Suit Report Gundam W Endless Waltz (Magazine Novels Special) by Katsuyuki Sumizawa. The novel was released on April 9, 1997. Please keep in mind that I am not an expert in translating, therefore some areas may be lacking.

8

At sixteen hours on December 24th, in Colony Standard Time, the view outside the window is wrapped in silence, with no movement in the city of X18999. Trowa was inside a private room in a building. There was one window, one bed, and one desk. The toilet and bath were also attached to the private room. It is probably a higher quality room for a soldier, below the officer rank. Even during the height of "0Z", junior special soldiers had to share a room with another person.

Now, Trowa had infiltrated the military of the X18999 Colony under the name "Ralph Kurt." The forged name and background were those of a comrade he had acted alongside before becoming a mechanic for 《Gundam Heavy Arms》.
A few months ago, Trowa had reunited with Ralph. Ralph had joined the remnants of White Fang and was obsessed with capturing the Gundam. He believed that if he obtained the Gundam, he could dominate the Earth Sphere.
A meticulous plan was devised, and Ralph approached Trowa. However, during the course of that plan, Ralph clashed with the leader of the White Fang and left the remnants. Ultimately, the plan ended in failure, and the remnants of the White Fang were eradicated. Such an incident occurred a few months ago.
(He is probably living a normal life now...)
There should be no way to trace back to this alias. Being a former soldier of the White Fang made it easy to enlist.
(But this is too easy...)
Was there such a shortage of soldiers, or...
Trowa tried on the provided military uniform.
(The Barton Foundation... such significant financial power.)

(I see, so they were only hiding in the shadows, fattening their own pockets) thought Trowa.
Splendid military uniforms were prepared. The Barton Foundation skillfully adapted to the situation, amssing wealth by joing the Alliance when there was a coalition in space, joining "OZ" when "OZ" existed, and to White Fang when White Fang was around.
In that regard, it was completely different from the Winner family, who also possessed immense financial power but consistently maintained an anti-war stance without ever changing their attitude.
According to Trowa's investigation, the representative of the Barton Foundation was no longer a member of the Barton family, but was the chairman of their investment company who held the position. It was recorded that Dekim Barton, who was the representative back in AC 188, died during the conflict at the X18999 Colony, with a part of his body and personal belongings discovered.
(According to the records...)
There was a reason why Trowa was smirking like he was. Although he had never met him, Trowa knew that Dekim Barton had been alive until at least that day a year ago. That day was April 7th of AC 195.

Twenty years after the assassination of leader Heero Yuy, on the same day, the operation was launched. 《Gundam Earth Drop Operation》, known to ordinary soldiers as "Operation Meteor", was devised by none other than Dekim---- but it greatly differed from the actual operation details.
Perhaps Dekim had faked his own death, was manipulating the Barton Foundation from the shadows, and continuing to work behind the scenes in various wars.
(However, it seems he will be making himself known this time...)
The mission Trowa had imposed on himself was a single one. To kill Dekim Barton. That was all.
(After all, he should be a dead man... it wouldn't be a crime.)
However, Trowa himself was also a man supposed to be dead. Of course, that was just on the record.
(No, now I am Ralph, not Trowa...)
He thought such strange things, while reaffirming who he was.

"Special Officer Ralph, it's time to assemble."
Trowa, who had been gazing out the window, was called by the guards. When he heard the term "special officer", Trowa felt an uncomfortable premonition that was different from any he had ever felt before. There has only been one organization in history that used military ranks as titles.
"The assembly point is the underground MS hangar... hurry up."
"Understood..." Trowa responded quietly.
However, contrary to his calm expression, his unease intensified. Dekim's thoughts had become unfathomable.
(What is that man thinking...)
"Well, it's fine... I'll know soon enough."
Trowa left the room and headed for the Mobile Suit hangar.

It seemed the underground section was the most modern and well-equipped location in the X18999 Colony. There was a world of difference compared to the skyrise buildings on the ground that had been stalled during construction. With the thickness of the walls and the structual durability, here, Mobile Suit battles were quite possible.

Trowa understood as he progressed deeper inside. Indeed, everything from the entrance to the size of the elevator was designed to fit a Mobile Suit. And for the first time, Trowa saw the new type of Mobile Suits that Dekim and the others used as their main force.
Five 《Serpents》 stood lined up against the wall of the vast MS warehouse.
Trowa looked up at them, (So these are their hand of cards...)
He saw they're the latest models, but he didn't find their level of perfection comparable to Gundams. However, the five units here had a slightly different meaning from what Mariemaia referred to as "Christmas presents."
Unknown to Trowa, there were actually over five hundred Serpents. As an MS unit, it is a large armored unit rarely seen in history. In the past, the number of Mobile Suits required by the Romefeller Foundation to ravage the Sanq Kingdom was around two hundred units, including Virgos and Leos, one can understand how massive the Serpent unit is.
Trowa lined up alongside the other soldiers. As he was lining up, he thought to himself,
(If it's just this much, I might be able to manage...)

With just five Mobile Suits there's nothing they can do. They're too weak to invoke a revolution or war, let alone commit acts of terrorism. The only exception was a Gundam.
(No, in the end, a Gundam alone couldn't do anything...)
A question rose in Trowa's mind. The current situation here was no different from that of the past war era. He couldn't help but wonder what the war from a year ago had been all about.
The soldiers, including Trowa, dressed in new military uniforms, were lined up in front of the Serpent standing before them. Surrounding them, the remaining four Serpents stood against the wall. They awaited with tense expressions. The leader of this gathering was about to appear, and finally, the moment arrived.
A thin old man wrapped in a black cloak slowly stood before them.
(As expected...)
It was undoubtedly Dekim Barton.

Dekim stepped onto the stage.
"Gentlemen... at last, the time has come to stand up for His Excellency, the late Lord Treize..."
Trowa was startled hearing that one last word during the address. He peered around at the people nearby.
(For Treize's sake...)
Most of the soldiers here were the remnants of "OZ" or part of the Treize Faction, it seemed.
Dekim lowered his head deeply to the soldiers, revealing his poor condition.
"I wish to express my deep gratitude to all of you who have beared the unbearable and persevered through hard times over the past year..."
Although no soldiers broke into tears upon hearing those words, there were a few overwhelmed with emotion. Dekim raised his cunning face and spoke in a calm, low tone.
"From today onward, you will advance upon the path of glory together with Lady Mariemaia, who inherits His Excellency, Treize's will... The awakening of a new humanity must be realized by us, the soldiers of Mariemaia, and become a symbol of hope for the people..."
Trowa couldn't understand. Why would Mariemaia carry on Treize's will? Why would so many intelligent soldiers of "OZ" follow a seven-year-old girl? He couldn't comprehend it at all.

"Before that..."
Dekim said, glaring at the lined-up soldiers.
"We must consider the disposal of undesirable elements..."
Trowa was startled.
(Had he already been noticed...?)
The soldiers' ranks split left and right in unison. Trowa found himself at the forefront. He took a step back, but he had already missed the chance to escape.
Dekim slowly raised his handgun and shouted, "Trowa Barton, step forward!"
"Tch..."
He never expected to be called by that name. It seemed he had seen through everything. Dekim took aim and pulled the trigger. The gun barrel spewed fire.
However, Trowa swiftly leapt into the air, dodging the bullet. With that, he elegantly performed a mid-air spin and landed on the stage where Dekim was.

Although he trained in the circus, it was a vivid performance that only he could pull off. Even Dekim was taken aback by his speed. Taking advantage of that brief opening, Trowa slipped his hand around his waist and drew his handgun. And in the blink of an eye, he aimed the gun at Dekim. However, before he could even pull the trigger, there was a soldier pointing something shiny right at Trowa's nose.
(So fast...)
It was unbelievable. There was a man whose speed surpassed his own... The shining object was a familiar Blue Dragon sword. Trowa felt even more disbelief with the reality in front of him.
"... Hold it," said the man who thrust the Blue Dragon sword at him.
That quiet, cold voice was also familiar. Without thinking, the name escaped from Trowa's lips.
"... Wufei."
That man, Chang Wufei, looked down at Trowa with eyes that were as quiet and cold as his voice.

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