In the ZAFT conference room
Slap!
A crisp sound instantly shattered the silence in the conference room. In the empty space, Patrick Zala mercilessly struck Athrun across the face.
His eyes were filled with disgust and disappointment as he looked at Athrun... as if the person standing before him wasn't his last remaining family member, but rather an incompetent subordinate who could only ruin things.
"The Blitz and Blitz units destroyed, numerous Mobile Suit Force units shot down by ORB... I made you temporary commander to gain experience, and this is how you perform?!"
When he received the battle report earlier and saw the devastating results, his eyes had widened in shock to their absolute limit—so much that they nearly bulged out of their sockets.
Four enhanced G Series units, plus elite Mobile Suit forces gathered from surrounding areas, launching a two-pronged assault against ORB... Such a perfect battle plan, and Athrun had managed to turn it into this disaster?!
Even though this was his own son, he couldn't control his emotions in that moment and had struck him.
Athrun silently accepted the blow. Feeling the stinging pain and burning sensation on his face, he only thought... that the figure of this man before him felt profoundly unfamiliar.
The father he remembered was indeed a strict man... especially after his mother passed away.
But he was never someone who would casually vent his emotions.
In the past, he would have likely given Athrun a stern critique, pointing out all the strategic and execution errors, then waved his hand to dismiss Athrun to reflect on his mistakes.
Never would it have been just a simple, decisive slap.
Seeing his son meekly remaining silent only fueled Patrick's anger further, but he had no justification to strike again. He could only snort lightly and pick up the combat report to continue reviewing it.
However, it wasn't until he reached the latter part of the report that he saw the information about the Freedom and the three Earth Alliance Gundams.
Reading this information, he began to understand how Athrun's battle results had come about... The generational performance gap of Nuclear Powered Machines combined with the Earth Alliance's numerical superiority—facing such dual threats, defeat seemed almost understandable.
Turning back to look at Athrun, who still stood silently awaiting reprimand, Patrick sighed.
He had been too hasty earlier... and somewhat misunderstood the situation. Facing such unexpected circumstances, it was only natural that Athrun and the others would be defeated...
He gritted his teeth, feeling contempt for his own impotent rage moments before.
True, because of the unfavorable battle conditions, ZAFT's overall morale was shaken, and opposing voices against him were growing stronger, making him somewhat impatient.
But was that any reason to vent his anger on his own son?... He knew very well this wasn't something a father should do.
If Athrun's mother's spirit was watching from above, she would certainly be condemning him for being such a worthless father right now.
Patrick let out a long sigh. He wanted to apologize... but whether from the perspective of a father to his son or a superior to his subordinate, his position didn't permit him to lower himself and sincerely admit his mistake to Athrun.
Therefore, he could only clear his throat lightly and change the subject:
"Since Freedom uses nuclear power... we'll simply respond with the same weapon."
Patrick spoke in a serious tone.
"The nuclear powered machine named 'Justice'... I've already had it delivered to your mothership. Next time, instead of repairing Aegis, you can sortie directly with that one."
"I hope you can spread our justice across the battlefield, just as the name of this mobile suit suggests."
Athrun nodded mechanically, routinely accepting his superior's order. Then, as if catching some key words in Patrick's statement, he looked up somewhat confused at his father:
"...What exactly is our justice?"
"Exterminate all Naturals and establish a world where only Coordinators exist."
Patrick answered without a moment's thought, as if this answer had become an absolute truth in his mind.
It required no contemplation to utter.
"Why are you asking this... did Freedom's pilot say something to you?"
Patrick recalled from the battle report that after repelling the Earth Alliance forces, Athrun and Freedom had remained in a standoff for some time without taking any action.
He suspected... it was during that period that Freedom's pilot had said something to shake Athrun's convictions.
Athrun was startled internally and was about to explain when he saw Patrick wave his hand:
"No need to explain... I believe you wouldn't betray ZAFT."
"I'm just saying... don't let those damned Naturals' sweet words deceive you into forgetting your original purpose."
As he spoke this, Patrick's eyes couldn't help but cloud over with ferocity and gloom.
"Athrun, don't forget what kind of people killed your mother... if not for anything else, just to avenge your mother, we absolutely cannot allow such creatures as Naturals to continue existing in this world."
His wife's death had always been a crucial reason for Patrick's firm exterminationist stance.
His philosophy was simple - to make all Naturals pay for the sins of Bloody Valentine with their lives.
Athrun nodded meekly, appearing affirmative on the surface, but his heart couldn't help wavering.
Bloody Valentine... The war had reached this point, and those who originally planned this incident had probably already died in the war, right?
Athrun couldn't help shaking his head. If his mother knew her death would require hundreds, thousands, even tens of thousands of other lives in return, she would never allow such a thing to happen.
"Don't doubt, Athrun. If I discover you trying to obstruct me... even you, I will eliminate without mercy."
Seeing the lack of conviction in Athrun's expression, Patrick immediately added this warning.
By the end, Patrick's eyes had grown utterly cold. It seemed that avenging his deceased wife... had become an obsession more important than family, more important than his own son.
"This meeting ends here, Athrun... I hope next time, you won't disappoint my expectations."
He glanced down at his wristwatch, his tone casual and dismissive. Without waiting for Athrun's response, he turned and slammed the door shut as he left.
Left alone in the conference room, Athrun watched his father's retreating figure and thought of the Mobile Suit named 'Justice' that his father had handed over to him. He couldn't help but murmur quietly to himself,
"Justice... But Father, in this war, does justice truly still lie on our side?"