"It's over..."
Durandal sighed, watching the "Library" crumble into fragments under the attack of the Beam Magnum on the screen.
The cloning technology developed by the "Library" had played a major, undeniable role in the conflict between PLANT and the Earth Alliance.
The "Library's" historical mission should now come to an end; there was no place for this organization in the future Durandal envisioned.
"Garrison forces, sortie immediately. Drive off the remaining Mobile Suits and secure the battleground. If there are any survivors in that detached facility, execute them on sight." Durandal contacted the commander of the agricultural colony's garrison.
"Understood... the units have already been launched." The garrison commander nodded and dispatched the forces that had been ready for some time.
Durandal typed the final character into his analysis document, saving and encrypting it.
He then noticed the comm link was still active, and the commander in the transmission seemed to want to say something but was holding back.
"If you have something to say, just say it." Durandal focused his attention back on the comms, looking at the commander in the image.
"Councilman Durandal... why did you not stop them just now?" The garrison commander thought hard but finally voiced the question weighing on his mind. "While as a soldier, I must obey orders, I still fail to see the tactical advantage in this..."
Listening to the commander's question, Durandal fell silent for a moment. He opened the garrison's profile document and began organizing his words.
"Are you familiar with ZAFT's current clone forces, and that white mobile suit, the Unicorn, that was here just now?"
"I have a general understanding... but are those images in the Unicorn's file not digitally altered with effects?" The garrison commander couldn't help but frown at Durandal's question.
"Those videos are, of course, authentic records, and the light emissions have eyewitness accounts. Didn't you just watch the entire battle?" Durandal nodded. "However, since you know this, the rest is simple."
"The organization that trades cloning technology with ZAFT is called the Library, the same organization that was just destroyed by the Unicorn."
"And it is precisely by ensuring the destruction of this organization, and by ensuring your non-interference in their battle, that I am showing goodwill to the pilot of the Unicorn." Durandal stated his objective in the most concise way possible.
"I have a plan, and I need to bring him to our side."
"Bring him to our side... why? How much can an individual's power change the tide of battle? No matter how strong he is, he would die under ship-mounted heavy artillery bombardment." The garrison commander was confused. "While I don't know why that Library was here, getting their superior cloning technology again would seem like the best choice."
"And? Cloning technology can only maintain the current deadlock, but we are about to enter the next phase of the conflict."
At this point, Durandal sighed. "My goal in showing goodwill is not victory. In this war, there are no winners, neither for PLANT nor the Earth Alliance."
"What I need is the end of the war."
A silence fell over the communication, broken only by the static white noise of the environment.
"...I don't understand."
The garrison commander scratched his head. "What is the connection between the two...?"
"I just checked the files. Your son is in middle school now, I see, and his grades look excellent..." Durandal shook his head. "If we continue to protect the Library, the only result is the continuation of the war, and your son will eventually enter a military academy and fight on the battlefield."
"If we don't end this mutually destructive war first, and if we don't eliminate those who instigate it... the world will continue to slide into the abyss."
Recalling his plan, Durandal rubbed his forehead.
"As for whether the plan I've conceived is truly correct, I don't know either, but it has absorbed all the wisdom of my life up to this point. I am willing to have faith in it, believing it can provide the most suitable answer."
"And in this plan, that Unicorn and its pilot—that existence capable of manifesting such miracles—are indispensable."
At this, Durandal turned off the video looping on the tablet beside him. "People often say that to be half a step ahead is a genius, but to be a full step ahead is a madman... Taking just half a step is already too late. I must take a whole step, regardless of whether the outcome is good or bad."
"If one doesn't think or act, nothing will ever change."
"...I think I understand what you mean, roughly."
The garrison commander scratched his head. "While I don't know what the plan you speak of is, if it is to end the war... then it must be a great plan."
"Thank you, Councilman Durandal, for resolving my confusion. Please continue to command us and utilize our strength."
The garrison commander stood straight and raised his hand in a standard ZAFT salute to Durandal. "Whether as a father or as an adult, be it my child or any other child, I wish for them to live in a peaceful world... be they Coordinator or Natural."
"Thank you for your understanding..." Durandal smiled, looking at the commander. "...I think I was in such a good mood after learning about and talking with that pilot that I subconsciously went on this long-winded tangent."
"Please continue to protect this colony."
"Yes, sir."
The garrison commander ended the communication and redirected his attention to the shattered "Library."
The Unicorn and the two Astray units had no intention of fighting ZAFT and immediately retreated. The GINN units' takeover of the site proceeded smoothly.
"Static... Commander, this is A-Team. We have found several survivors. How should we proceed?" The squad that had entered the "Library" inquired over the comms.
"As per Councilman Durandal's orders, these survivors in the facility are to be executed on sight."
"For the sake of ending the war, open fire!"
-----------------------------------
Compared to Durandal's positive mood, the atmosphere on Roz Links' side was considerably more serious.
The Unicorn had returned to the Nahel Argama, while the Red Astray and Blue Astray returned to Lowe Guele's Re.H.O.M.E.. The two ships were systematically retreating along their pre-planned course.
In the Nahel Argama's conference room, in addition to the ship's crew, both Orb, represented by Cagalli, and the Clyne Faction, represented by Lacus from the Eternal, attended the meeting via video link.
On the shared screen, the conversation between Roz Links and Durandal was being repeatedly played.
"...I'm afraid I cannot accept that approach."
Lacus was the first to speak, a long silence after the audio transcript finished playing.
"Completely suppressing the possibility of human development in other fields, leaving only one predetermined path... the cost of such an authoritarian world, even if it is to halt the war, is too high."
"What is your thought?" Roz Links narrowed his eyes, contemplating the plan Durandal had laid out.
While Roz Links had not expressed a tendency to join Durandal, everyone could see that the conditions Durandal offered were extremely generous. Even if his plan were successfully implemented, Roz Links would receive far better treatment than he currently had.
"...I have always believed that human development should not be restricted." Lacus looked at the screen, though she was actually observing Roz Links, who was rubbing his forehead in the conference room.
Through their previous interactions, Lacus had a general grasp of Roz Links' personality. With the power he possessed, if he truly defected to Durandal... the grim future envisioned in Durandal's plan was bound to occur.
"Whether they are Coordinators or Naturals, due to different environments during their upbringing, conflicts and friction are inevitable. As long as both sides engage in consultation, reconciliation can certainly be achieved."
"But what if reconciliation is impossible? And war breaks out again... I mean war breaking out again after this one ends." Roz Links frowned, listening to Lacus's idea.
Lacus's view was traditional, but this approach had already been proven ineffective by the war between PLANT and the Earth Alliance.
"Therefore, there needs to be a sufficiently powerful third party, preferably an entity recognized by all, to mediate the conflict between the two sides and bring them back to the negotiating table." Lacus stated her plan.
"This is also what we and Orb intend to do."
Compared to Durandal's daring plan, Lacus's plan was remarkably steady. However, without a doubt, Lacus's perspective and plan might hold more appeal for Roz Links.
On the track of history, Lacus had taken half a step past the starting line, and Durandal had taken a full step. They were both watching Roz Links, who stood just behind the starting line, hoping he would join them.
"...It's a very steady approach, but not easy to execute." Roz Links finally spoke after a long silence.
"But it must be done, otherwise nothing can change."
Lacus was slightly relieved upon receiving Roz Links' reply.
Judging by his general tone, Roz Links seemed to favor their side. It would have been better if they could talk face-to-face, but across the screen, Lacus couldn't gauge Roz Links' true feelings underneath his tone and expression.
"In any case... let's leave this matter here for now. We can analyze the specific situation once we return." Roz Links sighed, ending the discussion, but without giving a clear answer. "Lowe's Re.H.O.M.E. is fine, but the Nahel Argama is still inside PLANT territory."
To be honest, Roz Links wasn't sure whether Lacus or Durandal was correct, or who could truly bring about a peaceful future.
Since they had already taken their steps on the track, crossed the starting line, and offered their visions for the future, Roz Links decided he would try as well.
But this time, Roz Links didn't intend to be the genius half a step ahead of the starting line, nor the madman a full step ahead.
He intended to take two steps.
...................