The Eternal was bidding its final farewells to the Archangel and White Tiger. The war had ended, and not only would the ships of the Three Ships Alliance go their separate ways—so too would the people.
For instance, neither the Freedom Gundam nor the Justice Gundam would be departing with the Eternal. Kira did not belong to PLANT, and Orb was his homeland. Naturally, he wouldn't follow the Eternal, nor would the Freedom Gundam be returned. He still needed that power—he had promised Yang Hui that if Orb ever strayed onto the same path as Blue Cosmos or the Zala Faction, he would wield the Freedom Gundam's strength to stand against it.
Athrun wouldn't be returning either. Patrick Zala was his father, and all members of the Zala Faction had been arrested and charged. Though Athrun wasn't part of the faction, he bore the Zala name—a sensitive identity that would undoubtedly stir unrest if he went back. So he chose to accompany Yang Hui and the others to Orb. As for his mother, Lenore Zala, Yang Hui assured Athrun she would be safely brought to Orb for their reunion.
Nicol and Dearka would return to PLANT—their families were there and hadn't been implicated, so they had no reason not to. However, their future paths diverged. Dearka still intended to rejoin the ZAFT Forces. After all he had witnessed and experienced, he had come to understand his role as a soldier differently, but he still wished to fight for his nation.
Nicol, on the other hand, planned to retire. With the war over and peace at hand, he felt someone unsuited for combat like himself had no place in ZAFT. After leaving the military, he aimed to fulfill his long-held dream of becoming a musician.
Others also considered retiring—Miriallia and Sai, for example. The former wanted to travel the world, while the latter planned to return home and take over the family business.
Then there were Andrew Waltfeld and Aisha Tyler, a couple weary of battle, who intended to retire and live in seclusion—naturally, in Orb. Their experiences had taught them that the conflict between Naturals and Coordinators wouldn't vanish so easily. Peace was temporary; war could erupt again at any moment, especially since Blue Cosmos hadn't been completely eradicated, the Atlantic Federation still existed, and remnants of the Zala Faction lingered.
Another reason was their fondness for Earth's gravity after their long deployment in North Africa. Few nations on Earth welcomed Coordinators, but Orb—with its neutrality, powerful military, and familiar faces—was the ideal choice.
Of course, most would remain in the military. They were soldiers, after all, with no other skills beyond warfare.
"Father will likely serve as acting chairman of the interim Supreme Council. Once everything is settled, I'll come to Orb to find you," Lacus said to Yang Hui.
"Oh? Don't you want to be the first female chairman?" Yang Hui teased with a smile.
Siegel Clyne would undoubtedly step down. His advancing age left him with little energy for state affairs, and after the betrayal and persecution by his old friend, he was exhausted. Like many of the older generation, it was time for him to retire.
At the same time, although he and Patrick Zala held opposing political views—even to the point of life-and-death conflict—the fact that they had once been close friends remained unchanged. Patrick Zala's radical measures had sparked discontent among the populace, so Siegel Clyne naturally became the target of public disapproval.
As a member of the Three Ships Alliance that sought to end the war, Lacus not only avoided being tainted by the Clyne name but saw her reputation soar to unprecedented heights. With her abilities, methods, and the support of both the people and the Clyne faction, becoming the Chairwoman of PLANT's Supreme Council would be effortless for her.
Unfortunately, Lacus had no such ambitions. Were it not for the war, she would have been content to remain a songstress, bringing melodies of peace to all.
Now, however, Lacus's aspirations had shifted slightly—from singing for everyone to becoming one man's personal songstress.
"Do you really wish for it?"
"Uh..." Lacus's counterquestion caught Yang Hui off guard. He knew that if he said yes, she would return to PLANT and take over Siegel Clyne's duties, no matter how reluctant she might be. That would be the greatest support she could offer him. But...
Gazing at Lacus's lovely, earnest face, Yang Hui couldn't resist gently cupping her cheeks and leaning down to kiss her.
"Woo~!"
They weren't alone—key members of the Three Ships Alliance surrounded them. Sumeragi, Wang Liu Mei, Murrue, and Natarle Badgiruel exchanged knowing smiles. They had anticipated this moment, especially Sumeragi and Wang Liu Mei, who had recognized Lacus's love for Yang Hui even before he did. Neither Murrue nor Natarle felt jealous—or rather, they had no right to. They were the last to join his heart, and even Sumeragi and Wang Liu Mei, who had formal engagements with him, didn't mind. Naturally, they wouldn't either.
Mu, Andrew Waltfeld, and others whistled teasingly, ribbing Yang Hui for finally accepting Lacus and congratulating him on gaining another fiancée.
However, one person in the crowd stood awkwardly apart.
"Care to share your thoughts?" Dearka nudged Athrun playfully with his elbow.
"Uh... Well... Actually, Lacus and I—"
"Athrun, are you okay?" Nicol's concern was genuine, but in this context, it came across as mockery.
"I'm... fine. Lacus and I never really had anything..."
Fine was an understatement. They had once been engaged, albeit for political reasons, and Athrun had harbored feelings for her. He'd even considered pursuing her seriously, but their respective duties had never allowed the opportunity.
Now, with their engagement dissolved, his would-be bride was kissing another man—right in front of him! Only someone like Athrun could suppress the urge to lash out.
Before long, the couple parted. Tears glistened in Lacus's eyes—Yang Hui had finally accepted her, and his kiss was his answer to her question. He didn't want her to become PLANT's first female chairwoman. She knew him well; if it had been her own wish to take the position, he wouldn't have forced her to stay by his side. But if she was unwilling, Yang Hui would never demand it. He would never sacrifice his woman's freedom for personal gain.
"Wait for me to come back."
"Yeah, I'll keep the secretary position open for you."
The two most reluctant to part finally said their goodbyes. The others didn't drag it out either—hugging, bumping fists, or high-fiving before returning to their respective ships.
"Well then, everyone, let's meet again once everything is settled."
"Safe travels. See you when fate allows."
"Come visit Orb when you have time—the Commander's treating!"
"Get lost! Why should I pay if you're inviting them!?"
"You're our boss, after all."
"...Fine, then your salaries and bonuses are canceled!"
"Nooo!"
"Hahahaha…"
"Same goes for PLANT—Yang Hui's footing the bill there too!"
"Go to hell! What does PLANT have to do with me!?"
"You married the most beautiful princess of PLANT—shouldn't you show some hospitality?"
"I… You… New orders! No one is allowed to go to PLANT for the rest of their lives! And no one from PLANT is allowed into Orb! No entry permits!"
"Hahahaha…"
...
The Eternal, Archangel, and White Tiger parted ways. Though the war had ended, none of them dared to relax and enjoy a leisurely space voyage. The peace talks would begin soon, and with Orb in ruins, they needed to return immediately to handle reconstruction and diplomatic affairs.
"You did well." Back at Ame No Minashira, Mina actually smiled and praised him. Honestly, she had initially expected Yang Hui's operation to fail—their numbers were too small, and intervening at the peak of the conflict between two major powers was like sticking a hand into a meat grinder, trying to stop its blades with bare flesh.
Yet… not only did they succeed, but they did so brilliantly. All three ships remained intact, and only six M1 Astrays from the MS units were lost. None of their named aces had fallen. It could be called a flawless victory.
"Luck played a part. There were some unexpected twists."
"Just surviving is enough. Orb is a mess right now—it needs you to sort things out."
"We'll rest a bit before heading back to Earth. What's the situation in Orb?"
"The First and Second Fleets successfully took back control of the homeland from the Earth Forces. They've completely withdrawn from our territorial waters. Citizens scattered across the world are starting to return. I have to admit, Yang Hui, your decision was right. Thanks to the timely retreat, the fighting only reached Shima and the Izanami Coast. The cities were barely touched. Many citizens even joked that they just went on an overseas trip."
"That's good."
"However… some who left never came back." Mina handed Yang Hui a list of former Orb elites and high-ranking officials who had completely severed ties, including the Sailan Family and others Yang Hui had threatened.
There were surely more defectors than just those on the list, but Mina wouldn't bother tracking ordinary citizens.
"Should I take care of them?" Mina asked. It was better for these parasites to stay gone, but traitors couldn't be let off easily. The Sahaku Family had always handled Orb's darker affairs—this fell under her jurisdiction.
"No need. From now on, the Sahaku family no longer needs to handle the dirty work. You're the Commander-in-Chief of Orb's Space Fleet, not a leader of assassins," Yang Hui said with a smile.
"...Found a replacement?" Mina didn't believe Yang Hui would be naive enough to abandon the shadows. If he was saying this, someone must have taken over her role.
"Exactly. But his identity is rather sensitive, so let's skip the introductions."
"Oh?" Mina raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Now you've made me even more curious."
"Curiosity kills—you should know that better than anyone."
"...Understood. I'll hand over the network to you."
"Perfect. Focus on building up your fleet. A single White Tiger-class warship won't make a Space Fleet."
"Hmph, we'll see how much you can bargain for."
"Fair enough. Is the shuttle ready?"
"Ready whenever you are."
"Then let's go." Yang Hui stood and headed for the door, pausing at the threshold. He glanced back at Mina. "I've kept my promise from back then."
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