When Shinn woke from his coma, what met his eyes was a ceiling that felt unfamiliar, yet carried a trace of recognition.
"You're awake?" Durandal's voice rang out beside Shinn's ear.
"Rey... Luna..." Shinn's throat was parched, and his body felt completely drained of strength as he struggled to force out those few words.
"They were lucky. Rey's cockpit remained intact; he was only unconscious. He woke up a moment ago and has returned to the quarters." Durandal looked at the tablet in his hand, raising an eyebrow. "As for Luna, she is healthy. Only her machine was damaged."
"Machine damaged... right, and the Minerva? How is the Minerva doing now?" Shinn's tone became more agitated as he grew more lucid.
"Temporary repairs have been made. We are currently heading toward the Orb colony, Darwin," Durandal said, standing up from his stool. "We will conduct brief repairs and resupply there before returning to PLANT."
"I recall your family is also in Orb. You can take this opportunity to go planetside and reunite with them." Durandal patted Shinn on the shoulder and rose to leave the infirmary.
"By the way, though I'm not sure why you were so concerned about that captured Extended girl before... considering you're now in the same infirmary as her, I should clarify things." Durandal paused as if something had just occurred to him. "Because she is no longer receiving certain drugs from the Earth Forces, her body is entering a state of irreversible deterioration. I don't know if she can even hold out until we reach the PLANT homeworld."
"In any case, as she is now, she cannot break through her restraints. You are safe." With that, Durandal pointed to a button by Shinn's bed. "However, if any emergency occurs, remember to press this button by your side."
The door to the infirmary closed. Only the sounds of two people breathing, mixed with the rhythmic hum of medical equipment, echoed in the room. Shinn instinctively scanned the beds in the room. His eyes landed on a young girl secured by restraint straps, her face covered by an oxygen mask.
Looking at the girl who was steadily growing weaker, Shinn's expression turned complex, lost in thought.
Durandal, having just left the medical bay, did not go far. He was currently reviewing Shinn's physical data on his tablet. Upon seeing the specific values he had been hoping for, Durandal smiled.
"You've awakened... Shinn."
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Following the "Orb Great Retreat" operation, the only regions where Orb still maintains an official presence are a few space colonies. Aside from Ame-no-Mihashira, which declared its secession from Orb early on, the most active colony is Mendel, currently under the control of the Seiran family.
Since learning of the Great Retreat, the Seiran family has wholeheartedly supported the faction wishing to join the Earth Alliance. Their goal is to reclaim Orb's mainland territory on Earth and use that leverage to pressure Cagalli. By arranging a political marriage, they intend to seize official rule over Orb; it could be said they make no effort to hide their ambitions.
Unfortunately, because of that retreat operation, the connection between Orb and the Earth Alliance was severed, leaving the Seiran family with little room to maneuver—until now. With the Minerva sending a request to Morgenroete, the Seirans saw their window of opportunity.
"So... Father, you mean to send a signal to the Earth Alliance the moment the ZAFT warship enters the port for repairs and resupply?"
In a luxury estate on the Mendel colony, Yuna Roma Seiran was conversing with his father, Unato.
"Exactly. This is a golden opportunity to contact the Earth Alliance, show our goodwill, and take back Orb's homeland on Earth." Unato nodded, explaining his thoughts with great seriousness. "Once that ZAFT ship is in port, our forces can easily trap them there until the Earth Alliance arrives."
Simulated sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows, hitting the smooth, balding crown of the elder Seiran's head. The shimmering reflection made Yuna instinctively narrow his eyes.
"But if we do this... what about Orb's reputation as a neutral nation?" Yuna asked, shifting his position slightly to avoid being blinded by the glare reflecting off his father's head.
"The concept of a 'neutral nation' no longer exists." Hearing Yuna's doubt, his father gave a cold snort. "One either joins the Earth Alliance or joins ZAFT; there is no other choice. And Mendel's location is too close to the Earth Alliance and too far from ZAFT."
"In short, while we reclaim the mainland, we can also pressure Cagalli into a marriage with you. With that, both moral authority and legal legitimacy will be on our side. Orb will be ours for the taking." At this point, Unato curled his lip in disdain. "Without that old lion Uzumi, what can a hotheaded amateur like Cagalli even do?"
"...I understand. I will follow your arrangements, Father." After a moment's thought, Yuna bowed his head slightly toward his father.
As one of the few remaining neutral entities, Orb's commercial turnover was actually more prosperous than ever. After all, there were Earth Alliance products that PLANT needed, and PLANT products that the Earth Alliance required. Morgenroete, possessing a strong commercial nature, had branches in all of Orb's colonies. While they primarily handled Orb's domestic orders, they never turned down contracts from either the Earth Alliance or ZAFT.
Business is business, and there's no shame in making money.
The Seiran family's plan was undoubtedly to achieve their goals by destroying Orb's reputation for neutrality. But would things really go that smoothly?
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Likely considering the limited protection of the cargo ship, Lacus used a shuttle to transport the children brought back from Earth, as well as the "Blind Priest" they spoke of, to the Nahel Argama.
As the pure white Unicorn was secured onto its rack, Roz opened the cockpit and floated out into the hangar. The young boys and girls, who had never been to space before, were playing and frolicking in the zero-gravity environment. Two unlucky souls had lost control and were spinning continuously in the air.
Compared to the "incomplete" Narrative and the Strike—which appeared dull gray without its PS Armor active—the pristine and dreamlike Unicorn drew the children's eyes far more. Roz had felt many of their gazes fixed on the machine throughout his walk.
"Reverend Malchio, right? I've heard Lacus and the others mention you."
Seeing the only adult figure among the children, Roz floated over and extended his hand. "I hope you can adapt to the zero-gravity of space. It will be some time before we return to a gravity environment."
"Indeed, it is I."
Despite the space environment, Reverend Malchio reached out and accurately grasped Roz's hand, as if his sight had never been lost.
"Roz Links. I have also heard your name from Lacus."
"I think... you and I are similar existences." As if sensing something within Roz, Reverend Malchio smiled.
"You're a Newtype too?" Hearing the mentor's words and sensing the man's brainwaves, Roz frowned. "Is there a sudden outbreak of Newtypes lately?"
"I can feel a flame of rage in your heart... but its specific target is unknown." Ignoring Roz's remark, Reverend Malchio turned his head to "look" toward the Unicorn. "I can also feel the deep bond between you and that MS."
"...What are you trying to say?" Roz stared at Reverend Malchio, trying to parse his intentions. Unfortunately, the mentor's face remained perfectly calm.
"We still have some time, enough for us to exchange thoughts. But before that..." Reverend Malchio handed Roz a portable hard drive. "There is something I wish to give to you all."
"I believe you will be able to make good use of this power."
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