Klein Family's Night Talk

--Clyne Estate, Siegel's Study--

Though the hour was late, Siegel Clyne remained busy, especially after the political bombshell dropped by Luther's "Celestial Being Declaration" and the massive amount of inside information it contained.

In fact, the Plant Supreme Council had held an emergency session following the declaration, and after intense arguing, they had barely managed to reach a preliminary consensus on how to respond.

The follow-up response regarding the public disclosure of Coordinator fertility defects was left to the Chairman of the Supreme Council, Siegel Clyne, to oversee.

The investigation into Rau Le Creuset and the Heliopolis collapse was assigned to the Chairman of the Defense Committee and head of ZAFT, Patrick Zala, with the findings to be submitted to the Supreme Council for review upon completion.

Communication with Orb and potential initial contact with Celestial Being would be handled by Eileen Canaver in coordination with Siegel Clyne.

Meanwhile, the technical and military assessment of Celestial Being was delegated to Yuri Amalfi in cooperation with Patrick Zala.

Simply put, domestic affairs and moderate diplomacy remained under the control of the Clyne Faction.

Military matters and hardline diplomacy remained under the control of the Zala Faction.

As a result, Luther's "Celestial Being Declaration" and the emergence of Celestial Being had effectively exacerbated the already widening ideological rift within the Plant Supreme Council, just as it had in the original timeline.

However, compared to that original timeline, the presence of Luther and Celestial Being had clearly overshadowed the "Earth Alliance High-Performance Mobile Suit," and with Creuset—a key figure of the Zala Faction—mired in scandal, the Zala Faction had failed to gain an advantage in the Supreme Council before the intelligence on Celestial Being could be clarified.

Siegel Clyne pondered how to calmly explain the Coordinator fertility issue to the public, his thoughts beginning to wander.

In truth, the issue of Coordinator fertility defects was hardly a secret within Plant.

After all, marriage control regulations had already been enacted and enforced, and the engagement between his daughter Lacus and Patrick Zala's son, Athrun, had been announced at that time as a model for the public.

Yet, judging by the increasingly obvious ideological divergence, even if the engagement between Lacus and Athrun were fulfilled, it would likely be insufficient to bridge the political divide between himself and Patrick...

Shaking his head to cast aside these personal matters, Siegel returned to the issue of Coordinator fertility and found himself once again lamenting his old friend Patrick.

Even if Plant were to ultimately defeat the Earth Alliance on the battlefield, as long as the hatred between Coordinators and Naturals remained, Coordinators—as a nascent race—lacked the ability to survive in the long term without Naturals as a gene pool. Therefore, peace had to be achieved as soon as possible to leave the next generation a chance to eliminate that hatred and intermarry!

From this perspective, the political philosophy of Celestial Being did indeed have its merits. He wondered how they might successfully make initial contact; after all, the "Creuset Team" had caused such trouble that it had created a massive barrier to communication, and it seemed those children had even clashed with the leader, Luther Deikun...

Just as Siegel's thoughts began to drift, a knock sounded at the study door.

"Father, are you busy?"

"Oh, Lacus. Please, come in."

Hearing the voice of his daughter and political successor, Lacus Clyne, Siegel had nothing to hide or conceal.

His daughter entered, following a pink Haro that rolled into the room, carrying a tray with a steaming pot of black tea and some small pastries.

"You are very thoughtful, Lacus."

"It is nothing, Father. I am unable to help with much else, after all."

As both father and daughter, and political comrades, there was no need for Siegel to awkwardly refute her humility.

After drinking some tea and eating a few pastries, seeing that his daughter had no intention of leaving, Siegel began to converse with her, the first topic naturally being a father's concern for his child.

"According to Creuset's preliminary report, Athrun performed well during this incident and was not injured.

The Creuset Team will return by the end of the month to face investigation. Before you depart as the representative of the memorial delegation for the preliminary survey and preparations at Junius Seven in the debris belt, you two should have some time together.

Now that things have reached this point, if you truly do not get along, the engagement can be annulled. Do not force yourself."

Though it began as a personal matter, it eventually drifted toward politics. Siegel felt a slight pang of regret as he awaited his daughter's response.

"It is fine, Father. Athrun is a good person; in every respect, he is my best choice.

Moreover, precisely because the rift between you and Uncle Patrick is growing more severe, it is all the more necessary to ensure that the engagement between Athrun and me remains a final safety tether. I will get along well with Athrun."

"I see. That is good."

Faced with his daughter's understanding and calm analysis, Siegel was left speechless. After a perfunctory response to Lacus, he fell into a moment of silence before introducing a new topic.

"What do you think of this 'Celestial Being' and Luther Deikun?"

"Aside from the fact that their background is unknown, they seem to be suitable partners.

The stance and views he has displayed, while differing in detail, are on the same path as ours, Father."

Regarding Lacus's overly serious response, Siegel teased his daughter.

"Indeed. It is a pity he has so many people around him; otherwise, he might have been a more suitable match for you than Athrun."

"Father!"

Faced with Siegel's teasing, Lacus finally showed her girlish side. Siegel laughed heartily before "begging for mercy."

"My apologies, my apologies.

However, since you feel the same way, if the opportunity arises, try to make contact. Perhaps it really will be the way out of our current predicament."

Speaking of the Clyne Faction's current predicament of being squeezed from both sides, Siegel's tone naturally deepened again.

"Has there been any new progress from the mentor?"

Faced with his daughter's inquiry, Siegel could only shake his head in response. Seeing his daughter fall silent, Siegel had to force himself to stay upbeat.

"Regardless, for the sake of a beautiful future where Coordinators can live in peace and happiness, we must find a way to light the path ahead.

The night is late, Lacus. You should go to sleep, or it will be bad for your skin."

"You as well, Father. Please rest early and take care of your health."

Faced with her father's forced humor, Lacus, having finished their discussion, did not linger. She gathered the empty teacups and pastries, took the tray, and followed the Haro out of her father's study.