January 28, CE71, around 10:45 standard time.
On the bridge of the Gwameir, Luther and the women of his harem were chatting at leisure while keeping an eye on the battle at Artemis Fortress.
As the balance of power at the front shifted ever further in Celestial Being's favor, two successive reports from the tactical and communications officers brought an end to a battle that had been one-sided ever since the Umbrella of Artemis fell.
"Lady Cima reports that no organized resistance remains at Artemis Fortress. She's moving on to battlefield cleanup."
"We've received a declaration of unconditional surrender from Artemis Fortress, sent by a man identifying himself as its commander, Colonel Gerard Garcia."
Luther exchanged a smile and a nod with the composed Tessa. Then, as usual, Tessa responded in her capacity as fleet commander.
"Reply to Artemis Fortress. In the name of Colonel Teresa Testarossa, commander of the Celestial Being fleet, I accept their unconditional surrender.
"Inform Cima at the front as well. Have her secure the fortress and send someone to meet Haman...
"Ah, never mind the part about Haman. It looks like she's finished over there too."
While Tessa was giving her orders, Cima had already sent people to meet Haman, and Haman had abandoned her pursuit of the Archangel and begun her return.
Watching the Archangel recede and Haman head back, even Tessa found time to tease Luther after directing her subordinates to carry out her orders.
"It seems our dear little Haman isn't very happy. You may have to spend quite a while cheering her up, 'big brother Luther.'"
Before Tessa's words could embarrass Luther, they made someone else who liked calling him "big brother Luther" blush: Aina.
Luther promptly overcame Aina's faint resistance, laced his fingers through hers, and kissed her forehead. Then he answered the serene Tessa and Monica, who looked a little put out by jealousy.
"If Haman needs it, I'll gladly spend as long as it takes cheering her up.
"She isn't my contractor, and she didn't come here with her whole family. She gave up everything for me.
"When I'm all she has, that much is nothing."
At Luther's understated words, Aina clasped Ginias's hand tightly with her free hand. Monica's expression changed too, as though she had remembered her parents and Elwin at Mendel. Tessa offered an apologetic smile, then turned her attention back to commanding the fleet.
Just as the mood in the command area grew subdued, a live communication request arrived from Colonel Gerard Garcia of Artemis Fortress, whose unconditional surrender Celestial Being had accepted.
"We've received a live communication request from Artemis Fortress, sent by a man identifying himself as its commander, Colonel Gerard Garcia."
For Luther, the request came at an opportune moment, so he answered the communications officer himself.
"Put him through."
"Yes, sir."
With Luther's permission, Colonel Gerard Garcia and the others soon appeared on the Gwameir's main bridge screen.
In a reception room at Artemis Fortress headquarters, Colonel Gerard Garcia stood front and center, flanked by his oddly coiffed adjutant and Major Bidaluf. None of the three appeared injured, and all stood at attention facing the screen.
On Luther's side, he stepped forward and leaned against Tessa's captain's chair. Monica and the Sahalin siblings merely looked over from their seats.
When the connection opened, Colonel Gerard Garcia may have been curious about the unusual arrangement on Luther's side—Luther standing while Tessa sat, for example.
But as the defeated party, he began with a dutiful expression of "thanks."
"Thank you for accepting our unconditional surrender. On behalf of Artemis Fortress, I transfer control of the fortress to you."
Luther's answer caught Colonel Gerard Garcia somewhat by surprise.
"On behalf of Celestial Being, I accept your unconditional surrender. But there's no need to transfer control of the fortress."
Hearing Celestial Being reject what he treasured without hesitation, Colonel Gerard Garcia sounded not only surprised but almost as though he had glimpsed a way out.
"Then may I ask why you attacked Artemis Fortress?"
Luther slapped his forehead in a gesture of faintly insulting exasperation, then signaled for Tessa to take over.
"Colonel Gerard Garcia, we made our position clear both in our initial announcement and in the 'ultimatum' we sent you.
"Celestial Being believes the Archangel and those aboard her may have committed war crimes during the Heliopolis collapse. We therefore intend to detain them for investigation and trial.
"Despite knowing our intentions, you sheltered them and directly enabled their escape once again."
From Colonel Gerard Garcia's perspective, Tessa's account might not have turned the truth completely upside down, but it was plainly twisting the facts.
After all, however he looked at it, he could never have obeyed orders from the mysterious Celestial Being before being beaten into submission—orders to hand over the Archangel and everyone aboard her. Celestial Being's commanders undoubtedly knew that too.
But power decided the matter now. With his fate in their hands, Celestial Being had given him a way to survive. Refusing it would be foolish.
"I misjudged your intentions.
"The Archangel and those aboard her have already left Artemis Fortress, however. Is there anything else we can do to assist Celestial Being?"
He had not risen to colonel and been entrusted with command of a fortress for nothing. Both Tessa and Luther were relieved to see how quickly he understood his position.
"For now, please cooperate with us in rescuing personnel.
"Your obstruction of our pursuit also cost us a considerable amount of supplies. We expect compensation.
"Finally, to prevent a recurrence, we will completely destroy the Light Wave Defense Belt. If necessary, we can escort your personnel to the Second Space Domain, around the Moon."
The prospect of Celestial Being destroying the Umbrella of Artemis, on which the fortress depended, was hard for him to accept.
But the balance of power was against him. Besides, much of the Light Wave Defense Belt's equipment had already been damaged in the fierce battle.
And with Plant and the Earth Alliance still at war, the Eurasian Federation could not spare enough resources to repair the Umbrella of Artemis anytime soon, even if ZAFT never attacked.
So although Colonel Gerard Garcia hesitated briefly, his answer was firm.
"I understand. Thank you for your generosity. Please send someone to discuss the details with us."
After Luther and Tessa nodded, Colonel Gerard Garcia saluted them both and ended the call.
"I bet he's thinking, Look at Celestial Being, acting like space pirates."
"We've achieved everything we set out to do. We'll just have to let Artemis Fortress think what it likes."
Long accustomed to Luther's self-deprecating remarks, Tessa answered lightly and prepared to turn to the specifics of the "ransom negotiations."
A report from the flight control officer gave Luther another matter to attend to as well.
"Lady Haman's Newtype-use Bigro Custom has landed in the hangar!"
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