News of the Heliopolis incident quickly spread. The Earth Force publicized the Apocalypse's inexplicable attack on the neutral nation's satellite and the massive casualties it caused. Though this brought the Earth Force no particular benefit, it did no harm either. More importantly, they wanted to seize this opportunity to draw Orb completely to their side—through public opinion, force, and threats.
Furthermore, because the GAT Series had been seized at Heliopolis, the Earth Force dumped all blame for the intelligence leak onto Orb. What they did not know was that Orb, under Asaha's orders, had been involved in the matter from beginning to end.
The Earth Force sought to pressure Orb from every angle, while Orb remained calm and unhurried, fighting for what it should and yielding what it could. Only Asaha knew that the Earth Force was already at the end of its rope, standing at the edge of the abyss. He merely watched coldly as they indulged in their final bout of madness.
On the Moon, after the Apocalypse and the Nadeshiko entered the Moon Base, Xiao Ran issued several orders in succession. First, the Nadeshiko's existing deployment would be rearranged. Aside from units like Summer Flower, which needed to work with the Nadeshiko to be used, all other units were transferred to the second ship, the Destroyer, and exchanged with Katia's team.
However, Koji and Sayaka remained aboard the Nadeshiko.
Second, once the teams had been reassigned, the Nadeshiko and the Apocalypse's fourth ship, the Death, would descend to the Photon Power Research Institute on Earth to assist with the Extermination Mission against the Mechanical Beast Legion. The second ship would head to the Glast Army's occupied territory for a detailed intelligence investigation.
Third, the first ship, the War, would escort Cagalli back to Orb, then remain stationed