The Deified Cruzer

A few days later.

PLANT's diplomatic shuttle, the Ziegler, silently glided toward the L3 sector.

Its hull was painted a low-visibility gray, with all military identification numbers removed. Only the emblem of the PLANT Council was printed along its sides.

Athrun Zala stood before the viewport, watching the ring-shaped structure in the distance slowly grow larger.

Heliopolis, a colonial satellite of the Orb Union.

It was also the destination of their journey—

"Why are we coming here?"

Athrun withdrew his gaze and asked the other two people in the cabin.

He still did not understand why they had come to Orb—

If they were merely seeking allies, there were clearly better options, such as the nations currently being invaded by the Atlantic Federation.

Orb's doctrine was one of absolute neutrality: it would not initiate aggression against other nations, attack other nations, or intervene in other nations' conflicts.

A country like that—would likely be difficult to persuade—

"Heh heh—"

Upon hearing that, Rau Le Creuset could not help but laugh.

"How naive, Athrun."

"If Orb truly wished to maintain that ridiculous neutrality, they would not have agreed to our request for a visit at a time like this."

Creuset sat up slightly straighter and addressed Athrun.

"From the moment the Atlantic Federation declared war on us, Orb no longer had the option of staying out of it. Surely you do not think this war concerns only us and the Earth Alliance?"

Creuset tilted his head and nudged the mask on his face with a finger. "How many Coordinators has Orb taken in? How far has Morgenroete's fundamental research in MS development progressed?

"You should have learned that intelligence from your father, shouldn't you?"

"But that has nothing to do with actively entering the war, does it?"

Athrun was somewhat puzzled. Orb