Aftermath 3

Meanwhile, although the Earth Alliance fleet had suffered losses on the same scale, its organizational size and war potential were fundamentally different from ZAFT's.

For a colossal force like the Earth Alliance, such losses might sting, but their impact was far less severe than on the already overstretched ZAFT Forces.

The Earth Alliance leadership sitting safely in the rear had probably already prepared the forces and plans to attack Victoria while directing the invasion of Orb.

This game had been unequal from the very beginning.

"Heh..."

A faint laugh filled with endless mockery slipped out from beneath Rau Le Creuset's mask, sounding especially clear in the silent room.

Utterly foolish. From the start, there had been no need to interfere with the Earth Forces' attack on Orb.

After all, their chances of succeeding had been practically zero.

From the bottom of his heart, Rau Le Creuset ridiculed Patrick Zala, chairman of the Supreme Council, who had been blinded by hatred and lust for power. Unable even to see the true strength Orb had concealed, Patrick had rashly thrown precious troops into this quagmire.

Orb was not merely that tiny island nation. Behind it stood the remnants of the Archangel, the forces of Lacus Clyne's faction, and even unpredictable "variables" like the man who piloted the Unicorn.

Patrick, what kind of arrogance made you think you could conquer it with only a few new machines and numerical superiority?

Now, with ZAFT stretched thin and running itself ragged, it had no way to spare enough strength to defend distant Victoria.

That base would undoubtedly be retaken by the well-prepared Earth Forces.

The strategic advantage so painstakingly gained through the capture of Panama would vanish into thin air because of one idiotic military intervention.

And the operation against Orb would ultimately end in