Patrick Zala

The P.L.A.N.T. colonies were based in the L5 Libra-type colony cluster, with civilian and military outposts established throughout the Earth Sphere.

The P.L.A.N.T. homeland consisted of twelve cities, each with ten Libra-type colonies. (The number of colonies varied over time.)

The institution representing P.L.A.N.T.'s highest authority was called the Supreme Council.

The P.L.A.N.T. Supreme Council had twelve members.

The two most powerful among them were Siegel Clyne, chairman of the P.L.A.N.T. Supreme Council,

and Patrick Zala, chairman of the Ministry of Defense and leader of ZAFT.

Because the two men had differing attitudes toward the war with the Earth Alliance, the Supreme Council split into two factions.

The moderates, led by Siegel Clyne, and the hawks, led by Patrick Zala.

"He didn't die?"

Inside the Ministry of Defense building, Patrick Zala stopped what he was doing and calmly looked at the adjutant reporting to him.

"Yes."

The special forces officer in the red uniform offered no explanation. He simply stood there and nodded.

"Give me the details."

Patrick Zala continued questioning him.

"According to follow-up investigations and reports from our surveillance personnel, at 3:51 p.m. that afternoon, Eno Kamal showed severe signs of poisoning after eating. At 4:05 p.m., he was confirmed to have no vital signs."

The soldier gave a brief summary of the information he had gathered: "However, at 11:20 a.m. the next day, an analysis of Thatch Trillan's conversation indicated that Eno Kamal was no longer in mortal danger, though he had suffered extremely severe aftereffects."

"At 11:50 a.m., our medical personnel examined him under the pretext of providing medical care. They found that although his body was severely exhausted, he was largely out of danger."

"Did you collect and test his blood?"

Patrick Zala grew interested. This was the first time he had encountered someone the poison couldn't kill.

"We sent the blood and other bodily fluids we collected to the laboratory. They found nothing unusual," the officer replied.

Patrick Zala frowned slightly and leaned back in his chair. "So you're saying you failed?"

"Yes. According to the later analysis, the drug was indeed lethal. However, the dose was insufficient, and an unknown neutralizing reaction occurred in his body, so it didn't cause him fatal harm," the officer said, offering his conclusion.

"Neutralizing reaction... Did you test his genes?"

Patrick Zala had never heard such an absurd explanation. But considering the circumstances, he didn't have much reason to blame his subordinate.

After all, he had ordered a secret execution with no trace left behind. A dose large enough to attract attention would have been undesirable.

"We've sent samples to the genetics lab, but they haven't reached a conclusion yet," the officer replied.

"Leave it for now. Notify me when you have results."

Patrick Zala finished speaking and didn't waste any more time on such an insignificant matter. Instead, he picked up the documents on his desk.

If Eno Kamal hadn't been involved with Instructor Natarle, and if he hadn't been the top student at the military academy, Patrick Zala might never have even learned his name.

But the officer below him still hadn't left. He remained standing where he was.

"Is there something else?"

Patrick Zala asked with a frown.

"Yes. According to the latest information, Eno Kamal has abandoned the command track and chosen the Mobile Suit piloting track. He also declared that he'll place in the top ten of the entire academy when he graduates," the officer reported.

"Can you guess his specific reason?"

Patrick Zala's eyes narrowed slightly.

Giving up the top score in the command track to join the Mobile Suit piloting track, then aiming to place in the top ten of the entire academy—that was unusual.

"This is a transcript of a conversation obtained from Chief of Staff Natarle's adjutant."

As he spoke, the officer handed over a document he had prepared earlier.

Patrick Zala opened the document and read it without a word.

A moment later,

Patrick Zala's brows lifted slightly as he read the contents. "That's an interesting reason."

The Earth Alliance's response, a Mobile Suit fighting a thousand enemies alone, and the idea that the future couldn't be judged by the thinking of the present...

He had already heard that the Earth Alliance was preparing to build Mobile Suits of its own, but the project had been shelved because of problems with the Mobile Suit operating system.

Had the Earth Alliance found a new breakthrough?

If so—

"Step up surveillance of the Earth Alliance. Until we've secured absolute victory, they must not be allowed to possess Mobile Suits of their own."

Patrick Zala didn't know exactly what Eno Kamal meant by those words.

But they had certainly served as a reminder. The Earth Alliance, so thoroughly suppressed by Mobile Suits, would undoubtedly strive to build its own.

They had been keeping watch before, but it seemed their surveillance hadn't been strict enough.

"Yes!"

The officer quickly saluted. "And what about Eno Kamal?"

Patrick Zala looked toward a file in the corner of his desk. Inside was a photograph of Eno Kamal's youthful face.

Looking at his stern, almost soldierly expression and young face, Patrick Zala couldn't help thinking of Athrun Zala—and of his own attitude toward him.

"Everything is for the future of the Coordinators—"

Patrick Zala's voice suddenly echoed through the shadowy office.

"Sir?"

The officer looked puzzled.

"Change it to surveillance and observation," Patrick Zala replied.

He didn't know what Eno Kamal's objective was, and he couldn't even be completely sure whether Eno Kamal was truly a spy.

But as long as he didn't enter ZAFT's upper command, Patrick Zala was willing to give him a chance—a chance to prove he wasn't a spy.

"Yes!"

After finishing his report, the officer turned and left the vast, shadowy office.

"The final victory will be ours. It will belong to PLANT!"

Meanwhile,

At the academy, Eno Kamal, unaware that he had just escaped the jaws of death, was feeling Instructor Natarle's malice firsthand.

In less than half a day,

the boast he'd made in Instructor Natarle's office had become known throughout the academy.

If anyone said Instructor Natarle had nothing to do with it, Eno Kamal would gladly write his name backward.

On his way back to the dormitory, Eno Kamal was pointed at by other cadets more than once.

There was no helping it. In a sense, Eno Kamal could be considered something of a celebrity at the academy.

A survivor of Junius.

The top overall student in the command track.

And now he'd added another boast: starting from zero, he'd break into the top ten of the Mobile Suit piloting track in just two months.

He was lucky the Mobile Suit cadets hadn't jumped him and stuffed him in a sack. After all, if he could go from nothing to the top ten in just two months, where would that leave the pride of the other cadets in the same track?

"I think I'm going to stop walking back to the dorm with you."

Thatch couldn't take the way everyone was pointing at them.

He'd been pointed at plenty of times before, but usually with kindness and envy.

But now, everything had been turned upside down?

"Are you the kind of person who cares about people staring?" Eno asked.

"No."

"Then—"

"I'm afraid I'll get beaten up."

"..."