Patrick Zala's little maneuver achieved good results. The councilors as a whole acknowledged the legitimacy of the Creuset Team's presence at Heliopolis and their launch of the Heliopolis infiltration operation.
Under such circumstances, Siegel Clyne could only attempt to raise procedural objections.
"I fully understand the situation. It would seem that the intelligence Celestial Being obtained through unknown means was not exactly wrong, but it was nonetheless one-sided and limited.
"However, the Heliopolis infiltration operation ultimately involved entering the territory of a neutral nation. Shouldn't the Creuset Team have reported to the Supreme Council before taking action?"
With their own authority at stake, the councilors who had just been mourning Rusty Mackenzie all showed varying degrees of agreement with Siegel Clyne's words. Even Jeremy Maxwell was no exception.
Faced with this, Patrick Zala found it difficult to argue head-on and instead presented two reasons.
"Given that Orb's Morgenroete was developing mobile suits for the Earth Alliance, Orb's so-called neutrality was highly questionable.
"Therefore, the Creuset Team's actions should be regarded as an exercise of the frontline's wartime discretionary authority while engaging the Earth Alliance, a belligerent power.
"Furthermore, considering the exceptional performance of the Earth Alliance's prototype new mobile suits, Captain Creuset had clearly acted out of urgent necessity for Plant's sake.
"As for these Earth Alliance prototype mobile suits, Councilor Amalfi will provide an explanation afterward."
Patrick Zala's response to Siegel Clyne's questioning likewise won the approval of most councilors. Only Eileen Canaver, who was responsible for diplomatic affairs, voiced clear opposition.
"Councilor Zala, since the April Fool's Crisis, our diplomatic work has already faced enormous difficulties.
"Besides the South American Federation and the Oceania Union, the United Emirates of Orb is one of the few major neutral nations that has maintained a friendly stance toward us. Yet the