The Beginning of Everything

In this era torn asunder by the flames of war.

Beyond the Earth Alliance and PLANT, who stand as the protagonists of this world, there are many others drifting through the cracks of the conflict.

Such as mercenaries who trade in blood for coin, and junk dealers who scavenge the battlefields for any usable scrap.

"You've really gone and found me an impossible task this time, Erica Simmons."

Inside a room aboard the junk dealer ship Home, a woman in a white lab coat and gold-rimmed glasses chuckled as she spoke to the blonde woman on the screen.

"And your answer, Professor?"

On the screen, Erica Simmons sipped her coffee and asked with a smile.

"Accepted. After all, this benefits us as well, doesn't it?"

The professor in the lab coat took a sip of her own coffee and laughed in agreement. "Besides, the fact that you came to us at all proves you're truly at your wit's end."

Erica Simmons took a silent sip of her coffee, taking the remark as a tacit admission.

It was true, after all.

Ever since learning from Mina that the situation at Heliopolis had been exposed, the Sahaku Family and Morgenroete had indeed been forced into a passive position.

Although Mina could mobilize forces to support Heliopolis, there simply wasn't enough time; by the time the troops arrived from Ame no Mihashira, Heliopolis would likely already be a ruin.

Even if they had the time, the forces of Ame no Mihashira were no match for ZAFT in a head-on confrontation.

To take a step back and consider the worst-case scenario.

Even if Ame no Mihashira managed to help Heliopolis repel the ZAFT assault.

In the end, it would still be Ame no Mihashira that suffered the consequences.

Ame no Mihashira currently kept a low profile, and neither side of the conflict paid them any mind.

Due to Orb's declaration of neutrality, Ame no Mihashira was barely considered a neutral power—a weak, neutral power at that.

In such a situation, if you don't stay tucked away like a tortoise and instead jump out to bark at a faction capable of clashing head-on with the Earth Alliance.

ZAFT, which held absolute dominance in space, would certainly not mind teaching you a lesson.

"Silence implies consent, but I'll say this plainly: don't expect us to engage ZAFT. We know exactly what our limits are."

The professor laid out the worst-case scenario first.

"I understand. Prioritizing our own safety is all that matters."

Erica Simmons expressed her understanding; the junk dealers were just that—scavengers—and possessed almost no combat capability.

"Then it's settled. I'll head over shortly and notify you the moment there's a result."

The professor cut the connection, set down her coffee, and walked out of the room.

"I hope everything goes smoothly. Orb has reached a dead end."

Erica Simmons stared at the darkened screen, a sense of agitation rising in her heart.

Orb had now definitively offended ZAFT; if they were to stand in opposition to the Atlantic Federation as well...

January 21, C.E. 71.

The operation to reinforce the equatorial blockade was launched.

Within ZAFT's Gibraltar Base on Earth, countless MS launched from the base and surged toward the mass driver located in the East Asian Republic.

January 23, C.E. 71.

The GAT-X series MS and new-model warships, codenamed 'G', were secretly rolled out.

January 24, C.E. 71.

Led by Rau Le Creuset, the Le Creuset Elite Team arrived at the asteroid belt near the neutral Orb colony Heliopolis, acting on intelligence.

"Orb is helping the Earth Alliance develop new MS!?"

On the bridge, hearing the intelligence provided by Commander Rau Le Creuset, Athrun and the others couldn't help but show expressions of shock.

On the radar platform in the center of the bridge, a blurry image faintly revealed a massive humanoid machine.

It was no wonder they were so surprised.

Orb's declaration of neutrality back then had caused a massive stir across the world.

After all, Orb was merely a weak island nation; for an island nation to be the first to jump out and issue a declaration of neutrality made it hard for them not to be noticed.

In the days that followed, Orb had indeed upheld that principle of neutrality.

They had not participated in the war between PLANT and the Earth Alliance.

But now...

"Actually, this was only a matter of time. After all, Orb is still on Earth."

Dearka reacted after a moment of surprise and said, "Compared to us monsters drifting in the heavens, they would naturally feel closer to the Earth Alliance, which is part of the same Earth sphere."

"It doesn't matter. Whether they're close to the Earth Alliance or not, once a decision is made, one must bear the consequences."

Yzak, for his part, felt nothing at all.

Because in his eyes, or rather in his mother's eyes, Orb leaning toward the Earth Alliance was only a matter of time.

After all, not just anyone has the qualifications to speak of neutrality.

Le Creuset took in the expressions of the group, though his gaze remained primarily focused on Ino.

"Ino, what is your take on this matter?"

"What?"

Ino, who had been distracted while looking at the blurry photo, hadn't expected Le Creuset to call him out directly and didn't react for a moment.

"What is your take on Orb helping the Earth Alliance develop MS?" Le Creuset repeated.

Listening to Le Creuset's question, Ino quickly gave the answer a ZAFT soldier should give: "There's nothing to take. Regardless of the circumstances, it is already a fact that Orb has chosen to help the Atlantic Federation. Since they are all enemies, we should just seize them and be done with it."

Come to think of it, he seemed to have read somewhere in his past life that this MS development wasn't actually ordered by the Chief of Orb, though he didn't know if it was true or not.

"And you all?"

Le Creuset nodded with a smile, then shifted his gaze to Athrun and the others.

"The same as what Ino said."

Dearka spread his hands.

"Seize them."

Yzak was concise and to the point.

Nicol turned his head to look at Athrun.

"Athrun, what about you?"

Le Creuset also looked over.

Facing everyone's gaze, Athrun pondered for a moment before saying: "Seizing the MS is fine, but the problem is, will our rash actions cause a diplomatic incident?"

Athrun's thinking was relatively comprehensive; after all, Orb was a sovereign power, and taking direct action under these circumstances could lead to troublesome diplomatic aftermath.

"Athrun, that's enough. The other side is already doing this and you're still thinking about diplomacy? By the time you figure out the diplomacy, the opportunity will have long passed." Dearka retorted.

"Diplomacy? Athrun, have you been brainwashed by the Clyne Faction!?"

Yzak was also somewhat unhappy with Athrun's reaction.

In truth, the reason Yzak was unhappy with Athrun was largely due to Athrun's personality.

Even though his own father was a leader of the hardline faction, as his son, Athrun often sided with the Clyne Faction on many issues—

Every time he thought of this, Yzak felt a sense of betrayal by Athrun.

"Yzak!"

Nicol quickly spoke up to defend him: "Athrun isn't wrong; Orb is a sovereign nation after all."

"So what if it's a sovereign nation? Isn't the Atlantic Federation one? Isn't the Eurasian Federation one? This is war! Don't talk to me about sovereign nations in a war! It's sovereign nations we're fighting!"

Yzak retorted directly.

"But Orb is a neutral country."

"A neutral country that helps the Earth Alliance build MS and warships? Why doesn't it help us build them?"

Dearka stood firmly on Yzak's side.

Dearka's words left Nicol at a loss for how to respond.

"Heh, it seems the answer is already quite clear."

Seeing that the argument had reached its peak, Le Creuset stepped in with a smile to settle the matter: "Whether Orb is a sovereign nation or a neutral country, its current actions are no longer enough to support its declaration of neutrality."

At this point, Le Creuset's tone shifted: "Orders!"

Hearing this, Ino and the others instinctively straightened their backs.

"The warship Vesalius and the warship Gamow are to enter Level 1 combat readiness immediately. The operation to seize the new MS will commence in five hours!"

"Yes!"