During the ceasefire negotiations, neither side showed any intention of signing a written agreement, a tacit understanding between them.
For one thing, they both knew such a document would have no binding force. For another, the moment they reached an agreement, both sides were already prepared to turn on the other at any time...
Shortly after the ceasefire, more than a hundred prisoners were released back to the Proxima Centauri System. Gustav seized the opportunity to launch a massive publicity campaign, making the ceremony welcoming them home as grand as a reception for warriors returning in triumph.
Gustav also publicly proclaimed it a tremendous diplomatic victory, declaring that any power would tremble wherever the invincible fleet of the Twin Stars pointed its weapons.
The propaganda did restore some morale among the troops, who had been unsettled by the sudden ceasefire. It also helped Gustav save a little face after his earlier defeat and the capture of his soldiers.
As a result, some people who did not know the full story took the All Things Unity Society's release of the prisoners as a show of weakness toward the Twin Stars.
The prisoners were naturally overjoyed to return to their units after surviving their ordeal, but when asked about the Solar System, they could answer none of the questions.
"We don't know. Ever since we were captured, they kept us completely cut off from outside information. The only guards around us were automated robots."
"We were probably held somewhere near the wormhole. They had no intention of torturing us. They didn't even conduct a single proper interrogation."
"Abuse? None at all. They actually treated us very well. Even after several failed escape attempts, the punishments were mild. Much friendlier than the prisons back home!"
"Information about where we were held? Hmm... does