Lacus
Just as the Orb Fleet began advancing toward the Global Security Alliance's Combined Fleet, the eyes of nearly everyone in the world turned toward the impending war between Orb and the Combined Fleet. At this moment, no one could say who would win or lose. On one side stood the powerful Combined Fleet with its massive forces; on the other was the now-weakened but still well-founded Orb. More importantly, Orb had Xiao Ran—a man even the Combined Fleet found troublesome and feared.
What the world cared about more was the final outcome of this battle. If Orb won, it would give the countries, factions, and regions that had never truly wanted to join the Global Security Alliance the courage to resist. But if the Combined Fleet won, then the entire Earth would truly become the Alliance's backyard. That was something most people did not want to see.
Meanwhile, beneath the sea far from Orb, the Archangel lay quietly on the ocean floor. Everyone aboard had learned of the situation between Orb and the Combined Fleet through various intelligence reports and sources. Cagalli in particular had learned, two days after leaving Orb, that Xiao Ran had returned to Orb, taken control of all its authority, and arrested the entire Ceran Family along with their followers. Furious, she had shouted "Bastard!" and tried to rush back to Orb to demand why Xiao Ran had arrested the Ceran Family.
However, Cagalli's impulsiveness received no support from anyone aboard the Archangel, including Kira, and she was forcibly kept on the ship.
Cagalli had compromised step by step in Orb for the sake of stability, while Xiao Ran had acted forcefully step by step for the same reason. Their beliefs and ideas differed, so Cagalli could not understand why Xiao Ran had arrested the