Council Debate, Enemies Around the Spaceport

PLANT Supreme Council Hall

Siegel, Patrick Zala, and other council members arrived one after another, taking their designated seats. Once everyone was settled, Patrick Zala looked toward the group and took the lead in reporting the results of the operation.

"According to feedback from the forces that attacked Victoria Spaceport, the entire facility has been completely captured."

As the good news reached the ears of the councilors who did not hold concurrent positions in the Ministry of Defense, expressions of joy appeared on every face; such news was truly heartening.

Watching the jubilant crowd, Patrick Zala continued.

"However, according to the report from Griffith Squad, it can be concluded that the current victory is only a preliminary one. To consolidate our gains, we need to send reinforcements to Victoria Spaceport.

We must increase the troop deployment at Victoria Spaceport to ensure we can withstand any counterattack from the Earth Alliance Forces."

At this point, Patrick Zala paused, his fingers manipulating the touchscreen in front of him, and the corresponding reinforcement plan appeared on the central virtual screen.

"This is the reinforcement plan drafted by our Ministry of Defense!"

Having said that, Patrick Zala waited for others to speak.

Scanning the document at a glance, the councilors present reviewed the reinforcement plan.

Chief Justice Louise was the first to speak.

"I approve of the reinforcement plan proposed by the Ministry of Defense."

After she spoke, other members of the Hardline Faction also voiced their support.

Among the Neutral Faction, Commissioner Ted raised his hand to express support, and Chief Administrative Commissioner Olsen followed suit.

After this show of hands, the result of the council's vote was clear: the voices in favor had exceeded two-thirds.

Siegel, who had been in favor of this reinforcement plan from the start, announced the decision.

"In that case, the plan to reinforce Victoria Spaceport is passed. Proceed with troop and logistical preparations according to the Ministry of Defense's plan to reinforce Victoria Spaceport."

With Siegel's final word, the discussion on this matter concluded. Seeing this, Patrick Zala brought up the proposal for military expansion, explaining to everyone that expanding the armed forces was an urgent necessity.

After some discussion, the military expansion proposal was passed by the council.

Following this, the Ouroboros operation plan was brought forward for consideration.

As soon as this proposal appeared, the previous consensus vanished. The debate in the council grew increasingly intense, as the Moderate Faction and the Hardline Faction sitting there found no way to reconcile their views.

A heated war of words erupted in the council.

"This plan proposed by your Ministry of Defense is far too radical and inhumane. If such an operation is carried out, the Earth will fall into an energy crisis, potentially causing the deaths of innocent civilians.

This will only escalate the current war into a situation that is even harder to resolve, which is not conducive to the future development of our PLANT."

Diplomatic Commissioner Eileen looked toward Patrick Zala, Eileen, and the others, firmly opposing the plan and refuting the operation.

Upon hearing Eileen's rebuttal, Eileen repeated the words she had spoken to Yuri earlier, and after finishing, she said with exceptional firmness.

"Eileen, we are at war with the Earth Alliance; in war, we must make trade-offs. If we worry about civilians on Earth, the end result for our PLANT will be even greater losses in troops and casualties.

To be merciful to the enemy is to be cruel to ourselves!"

"Eileen, you don't need to lecture me with these grand principles; I naturally understand what you are saying. But have you considered that besides the enemy, there are also our allied nations and neutral countries on Earth?

These countries are not our enemies; are we to drag them into this as well?"

Eileen looked up, meeting Eileen's gaze, her words firm and her voice sharp as she retorted. After delivering this rebuttal, Eileen took a deep breath to calm her agitation, and though her tone became much steadier, she continued to express her viewpoint firmly.

"The spread of the Neutron Jammer in the Ouroboros operation does indeed suppress the enemy, but it also invisibly increases the number of our potential enemies.

Doing this will make PLANT the target of everyone. For the sake of the future of PLANT, I will not agree to this operation that will infinitely expand the war."

"Expanding the war?"

Seeing Eileen's firm opposition, Eileen let out a cold snort, then shifted her tone, continuing with sarcasm.

"When you are being merciful to them here, have you ever thought that they have no mercy for us! Junius Ten, which was bombarded by nuclear weapons, is still drifting out there. If you cannot see it, I can take you to see it, to let you see what the Earth Alliance has done to us, and to let you see what your mercy can buy you!"

At this moment, Siegel, who had been sitting at the table, saw that the argument between the two had calmed down slightly and, no longer silent, stepped in to mediate.

"Alright! The two of you, stop arguing. You are both council members; what does this kind of bickering look like!"

Having said that, Siegel continued.

"Regarding the three main components of the Ouroboros operation, I approve of the parts concerning the establishment of military bases, the suppression of the Earth Alliance's spaceports, and the Mass Driver Base to blockade the Earth Alliance Forces within Earth.

The portion regarding the spread of the Neutron Jammer is temporarily shelved!"

As these words reached the ears of Patrick Zala and the other members of the Hardline Faction, they fixed their eyes on Siegel. After staring for a few seconds, realizing they could not secure a majority vote in the council, they had no choice but to agree.

The Moderate Faction, led by Siegel, did not oppose the Chairman's suggestion to shelve the plan, but they were deeply worried in their hearts.

They feared that before long, the shelved portion would eventually be approved.

While the council was debating the proposals, Earth

At the ZAFT Temporary Command Post near Lake Victoria in Africa.

"Captain Griffith, the reconnaissance team we sent out has transmitted a message back."

Andrew walked in and looked at Felix.

Looking up at Andrew, Felix asked.

"Captain Waltfeld, what is the news?"

"The Earth Alliance Forces have gathered troops in several cities four to five hundred kilometers away from Victoria Spaceport, and a large number of fighter jets are landing at the airports in these cities."

As he explained, Andrew swiped his fingers across the virtual electronic map, and the corresponding cities lit up under his movements. Looking at these illuminated cities, Felix frowned, his brow furrowed with worry and helplessness.

"The Earth Alliance Forces are acting so quickly!"

He sighed, then continued with a frown.

"And their control over the distance is very precise. They calculated the predicament we are currently facing and deployed their forces in such relatively safe positions.

They are waiting for the right moment to strike at us."

"Indeed!"

Nodding in agreement, Andrew continued.

"But this is nothing unexpected. After all, the Earth Alliance Forces are no bunch of good-for-nothings; they wouldn't deploy their troops where we could easily strike them."