Meeting at Heavenly Pillar

"Dominion, docking procedures complete. Gravity system connected, airlock opened." A steady male voice sounded over the shipwide broadcast system.

"Archangel, docking confirmed complete." Captain Murrue Ramius's voice followed close behind.

"Kusanagi, all systems normal." Kisaka's voice also came through the communications channel.

Other than those who had to remain aboard for watch duty and maintenance work, everyone else was temporarily permitted to disembark.

It was a necessary chance to relax, and also a formal meeting.

Among the people descending the gangways of the three ships, the most conspicuous group was the pilots.

Char La Flaga walked among them, wearing an Orb Army uniform. His blond hair reflected a faint sheen beneath the corridor lights.

Beside him were several core members of the Dominion: the stern Captain Natarle Badgiruel, followed by Michel and Nicol Amalfi. The two former ZAFT pilots now wore Orb flight suits and surveyed their surroundings with complicated expressions.

Coming down from the Archangel was Jiliang Yamato.

She wore the same Orb Army uniform, her eyes constantly searching the crowd for Char.

Beside her were her friends: Miriallia, Tolle, Sai, and Kuzzey. Their faces held both curiosity and unease at arriving at a space station for the first time.

Descending from the Kusanagi were Lacus Clyne and Cagalli Yula Athha.

Lacus wore an elegant casual outfit, her long pink hair cascading down like a waterfall. A gentle smile always rested on her face, yet thoughts difficult to discern lay hidden deep within those violet eyes.

Cagalli, meanwhile, wore a crisp pantsuit. Her short blond hair was somewhat disheveled, and she frowned as she scrutinized this place managed by House Sahak.

The captains of the three ships—Muruta Azrael, Murrue Ramius, and Kisaka—walked at the front of the group, representing the three forces gathered here. Muruta, the leader of Blue