Chapter Summaries

Chapter Summary: “Bonus Update for Tips: Experiences”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The Freedom Gundam, Strike Gundam, and Skygrasper are brought into the damaged but functioning Archangel hangar.
• Xia Ya changes from his ZAFT pilot suit into an Earth Alliance uniform, while Lacus is placed under the care of female crew members.
• Xia Ya, Jiliang, Major Mu, and Lacus join Captain Murrue, the Archangel’s core crew, and Muruta Azrael on the bridge.
• Muruta explains the truth behind the Alaska disaster: the Earth Alliance high command knew about the Cyclops System and deliberately used their own forces as bait and disposable sacrifices.
• Lacus reacts with sorrow and disbelief, questioning whether such mass murder can truly be called an “operation.”
• Muruta sarcastically explains that the high command viewed the massacre as an efficient way to eliminate unwanted troops, Coordinators, and potential sympathizers.
• The discussion reveals that Muruta himself had been discarded despite his influence, wealth, and former importance within Blue Cosmos.
• Xia Ya concludes that Lord Djibril, LOGOS, and the Earth Alliance’s leadership have become even more extremist than in the original timeline, targeting not only Coordinators but also moderates and internal dissenters.
• Lacus adds that PLANT is also guilty of similar wrongdoing, prompting the crew to ask about Xia Ya’s disappearance and his time in PLANT.
• Xia Ya begins recounting what happened after his presumed death: he was rescued from the island by a sympathetic junk dealer, brought to Reverend Malchio, and secretly transported to PLANT.
• The Klein family, particularly Siegel Clyne and Lacus, protected Xia Ya and arranged elite medical treatment for him until he recovered.

Character Developments

• Xia Ya: His disgust toward the Earth Alliance leadership deepens. He demonstrates strong political insight, recognizing that the massacre signals a broader purge of moderates and “unstable” elements. He also begins openly explaining his past and his connection to PLANT.
• Lacus Clyne: The Alaska revelation strengthens her grief and disillusionment with the political powers on both sides. Her reaction shows her moral opposition to treating human lives as expendable resources.
• Muruta Azrael: He is portrayed as more rational and less fanatical than his original counterpart. Despite his influence and changed views, he has been treated as expendable by the extremists within the Earth Alliance, making him increasingly alienated from Blue Cosmos.
• Captain Murrue and Major Mu: Both respond with shock and anger to the betrayal at Alaska. Their questioning of Xia Ya reflects growing trust but also curiosity about his unexplained survival and time in PLANT.
• Siegel Clyne and the Klein family: Their willingness to shelter and treat Xia Ya establishes them as compassionate figures who actively protected him behind the scenes.

Significant Themes

• Institutional betrayal: The Earth Alliance leadership sacrifices its own soldiers and allies for political and military objectives.
• Extremism and internal purges: The danger has expanded beyond anti-Coordinator hatred; anyone viewed as moderate, unreliable, or politically inconvenient can be eliminated.
• Moral corruption in wartime: The term “operation” is exposed as a euphemism for calculated mass murder.
• Disillusionment with authority: Characters lose faith in the institutions they once served, including the Earth Alliance and PLANT leadership.
• Compassion amid conflict: Reverend Malchio, Siegel, and Lacus represent individuals who protect life and reject the war’s dehumanizing logic.
• Alternate-history escalation: Xia Ya recognizes that this timeline is becoming even more dangerous than the original events, with political factions acting more ruthlessly and unpredictably.

Character Interactions

• Muruta delivers the Alaska briefing to Xia Ya and Lacus, framing the massacre with bitter sarcasm.
• Lacus emotionally challenges the language used to justify the disaster, while Muruta confirms the cynical motives behind it.
• Xia Ya silently analyzes Muruta’s changed position and the implications of his betrayal by the Earth Alliance.
• Major Mu and Captain Murrue question Xia Ya about his relationship with Lacus and his time in PLANT.
• Xia Ya responds by sharing the story of his rescue and recovery, revealing the Klein family’s role in saving him.

Chapter Summary: “Muruta’s Conversation”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xia Ya reveals that ZAFT’s real target in its recent attack was JOSH-A in Alaska, not Panama. The operation had been concealed even from most members of the PLANT Supreme Council, with only a small circle of hardliners led by Patrick Zala aware of it.
• This disclosure highlights the secrecy, manipulation, and political maneuvering taking place within both the Earth Alliance and PLANT.
• Muruta Azrael observes that Patrick Zala’s rise as Supreme Council chairman confirms the growing influence of radical forces on both sides. The destruction of Alaska has shattered the already fragile balance of power and greatly intensified the war.
• Muruta shifts the discussion to the Freedom Gundam, asking about its extraordinary energy output and mobility.
• With Lacus Clyne’s silent approval, Xia Ya reveals that the Gundam is equipped with an N-Jammer Canceller (NJC).
• The revelation shocks the bridge crew because an NJC allows nuclear power to function despite Neutron Jammers. This means ZAFT has secretly developed a nuclear-powered mobile suit and may possess the ability to restore nuclear technology to warfare.
• Muruta remains comparatively calm, suggesting he had already suspected the truth. He concludes that Patrick Zala is willing to disregard treaties and international norms in pursuit of power.
• Muruta informs Xia Ya that the new machine prepared for him cannot yet be delivered because of the current turmoil. However, Xia Ya may make his own arrangements and will receive the machine once he reports his destination.
• Muruta leaves to contact his remaining Earth Alliance forces and assess the political consequences of the JOSH-A disaster.
• After Muruta departs, the bridge falls silent under the weight of the revelations. Mu then approaches Xia Ya, visibly emotional, saying he has many questions but wants to say something important first. The chapter ends before he continues.

Character Developments

• Xia Ya demonstrates composure and political awareness by revealing the Freedom Gundam’s NJC only after receiving Lacus’s approval. His disclosure marks a major escalation in the conflict.
• Lacus Clyne quietly supports Xia Ya’s decision, indicating her trust in him and her willingness to participate in decisions with enormous strategic consequences.
• Muruta Azrael is portrayed as calculating and pragmatic. Rather than reacting emotionally to the NJC revelation, he immediately evaluates its military, political, and commercial implications. He also recognizes Patrick Zala’s radical ambitions.
• Patrick Zala, though absent, becomes a more threatening presence through discussion of his secrecy and willingness to overturn established restrictions.
• Mu shows strong personal concern for Xia Ya. His emotional reaction suggests relief, affection, and frustration after everything Xia Ya has concealed or endured.
• Tolle and the bridge crew represent the ordinary soldiers’ horror at the return of nuclear-powered weaponry and the danger it poses to the balance of power.

Significant Themes

• Escalation and the collapse of restraint: The Alaska disaster and the development of NJC technology signal that treaties, taboos, and strategic limits are breaking down.
• Political deception: Both PLANT and the Earth Alliance are shown to be hiding information and manipulating events from their own people.
• The danger of technological progress: The NJC and nuclear-powered Freedom Gundam represent technology that can radically transform warfare and destabilize the world.
• Extremism and power shifts: Radical leadership on both sides is driving the conflict toward greater destruction.
• Personal relationships amid war: Beneath the political revelations, Mu’s emotional concern for Xia Ya reminds the reader that the conflict affects individuals as deeply as nations.

Important Character Interactions

• Xia Ya and Lacus: They exchange a glance before Xia Ya reveals the NJC, showing mutual trust and coordinated judgment.
• Muruta and Xia Ya: Muruta questions Xia Ya about the Freedom Gundam and offers him access to a new, specially tailored machine, suggesting both professional interest and strategic calculation.
• Muruta and Murrue: Before leaving, Muruta tells Captain Murrue that his adjutant will arrange future contact.
• Mu and Xia Ya: Mu confronts Xia Ya emotionally after Muruta’s departure, signaling an impending personal conversation about Xia Ya’s secrets and recent actions.

Chapter Summary: “Mu: Welcome Back”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Mu warmly welcomes Xia Ya back aboard the ship, embracing him with great relief after his dangerous absence.
• The emotional reunion quickly shifts into an interrogation. Mu demands answers about Xia Ya’s experiences in PLANT, his connection to Director Azrael, and the mysterious, highly advanced mobile suit he piloted.
• However, Mu’s immediate concern is not military or political. In his role as Xia Ya’s “brother,” he asks why Xia Ya returned alongside Lacus Clyne, the Klein family’s famous young songstress.
• Xia Ya is caught completely off guard. He had expected questions about the Freedom Gundam and Azrael but had not realized that everyone had noticed how close he and Lacus had become.
• The bridge crew reacts with amusement and intense curiosity. Tolle and Miliaria openly watch him, Sai and Kuzzey sympathize with his predicament, the crew suppresses laughter, and Murrue observes with gentle amusement. Jiliang’s especially intense stare suggests she is highly invested in the answer.
• Xia Ya mentally reviews his recent interactions with Lacus, wondering whether his behavior—carrying her from the cockpit, helping her out of the Gundam, or exchanging affectionate smiles—revealed their changed relationship.
• The chapter ends as another female voice speaks beside Xia Ya, applying further pressure and implying that the questioning is about to become even more difficult.

Character Developments

• Xia Ya: Shows genuine emotional growth by accepting Mu’s embrace and responding warmly, despite previously finding such familial affection awkward. He is also revealed to be inexperienced and anxious when confronted about his romantic relationship with Lacus.
• Mu: Demonstrates deep affection and relief toward Xia Ya, but quickly adopts a teasing yet authoritative “protective older brother” persona. His observations are perceptive, and he is determined to investigate Xia Ya’s relationship with Lacus.
• Lacus: Though she does not directly appear in the chapter, her bond with Xia Ya is clearly implied to have deepened significantly during their time in PLANT.
• The bridge crew: Their reactions establish that Xia Ya’s relationship with Lacus has become a source of widespread curiosity and amusement. Murrue appears entertained, while Jiliang’s intense attention hints at possible jealousy or personal concern.
• Murrue and Natarle: Murrue reacts warmly and humorously to the situation, whereas Natarle remains detached and uninterested in the personal drama.

Significant Themes

• Familial affection and reunion: The opening emphasizes the emotional importance of Xia Ya’s return and the renewed warmth between him and Mu.
• Private relationships under public scrutiny: Xia Ya’s personal connection with Lacus becomes a matter of communal interest aboard the ship, creating comic tension.
• Emotional intimacy: Xia Ya’s changed behavior toward Lacus suggests that their relationship has moved beyond simple companionship, even if Xia Ya is reluctant or unable to explain it openly.
• Comedy amid wartime danger: Serious military questions are displaced by romantic interrogation, creating a humorous contrast with the chapter’s broader war setting.
• The difficulty of acknowledging emotional change: Xia Ya understands that his relationship with Lacus has changed but struggles to articulate or defend it when confronted.

Character Interactions

• Mu and Xia Ya: Their reunion begins with a powerful, sincere embrace, then turns into a teasing but forceful interrogation.
• Xia Ya and Lacus: Their off-page interactions are recalled through Xia Ya’s memories of mutual care, physical assistance, and affectionate looks, all suggesting growing closeness.
• Xia Ya and the bridge crew: The crew silently pressures him through their reactions, making him feel as though he is facing a battlefield.
• Jiliang and Xia Ya: Her intense gaze adds an additional layer of tension, suggesting that Xia Ya’s closeness with Lacus may matter personally to her.
• Mu and the crew: Mu voices the question everyone else seems eager to hear answered, turning Xia Ya’s private relationship into a public confrontation.

Chapter Summary: “A Love Triangle Showdown”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiliang confronts Xia Ya and demands that he later give a complete, honest account of everything that happened, explicitly warning him not to conceal anything.
• She then turns her attention to Lacus, inviting her to share her own experiences with Xia Ya while he was recovering on PLANT.
• Lacus agrees and says she also wants to hear about Xia Ya’s experiences on Earth and aboard the Archangel.
• Although the two women exchange sweet smiles and appear perfectly cordial, their interaction creates an intense, hostile atmosphere that terrifies the surrounding crew.
• Major Mu and Captain Murrue silently pressure Xia Ya to take responsibility for the situation and mediate between the two women.
• Xia Ya reluctantly approaches Jiliang and Lacus, viewing the coming conversation as an interrogation—or nearly a death sentence.

Character Developments

• Xia Ya recognizes that his special relationships with both Jiliang and Lacus have caused the conflict. Though frightened and reluctant, he accepts that he must confront the situation rather than avoid it.
• Jiliang reveals a possessive, intimidating side beneath her gentle smile. Her insistence on total honesty suggests jealousy and a desire to control the narrative.
• Lacus remains outwardly calm, elegant, and polite, but her willingness to participate in the questioning implies that she is equally invested in Xia Ya and the truth about his past.
• Major Mu and Captain Murrue act as amused observers and reluctant instigators, pushing Xia Ya toward the confrontation while treating it like entertainment.
• Natarle and the crew respond with unusual unease and sympathy, recognizing the emotional danger of the situation.

Significant Themes

• Jealousy and romantic rivalry: The chapter centers on the tension between Jiliang and Lacus as they compete indirectly for Xia Ya’s attention and loyalty.
• Truth and accountability: Xia Ya is forced to confront the consequences of his relationships and disclose his actions honestly.
• Appearance versus reality: The women’s smiles and polite words conceal a fierce emotional standoff, emphasizing the contrast between outward harmony and inner conflict.
• Social pressure and responsibility: Xia Ya cannot escape the consequences of his choices, especially when those around him force him to address the problem.
• Humor amid tension: The dramatic, almost battlefield-like framing turns a personal relationship crisis into a comic “final battle.”

Character Interactions

• Jiliang and Xia Ya: Jiliang exerts direct pressure on Xia Ya, leaving him too intimidated to resist.
• Jiliang and Lacus: Their courteous, sisterly exchange masks an intense rivalry, with both apparently demanding information about Xia Ya’s past.
• Major Mu and Xia Ya: Mu bluntly reminds Xia Ya that he caused the situation and must resolve it.
• Murrue and Xia Ya: Murrue gently urges him forward while privately enjoying the spectacle.
• Crew and Xia Ya: The crew silently watches the confrontation, keeping their distance and sympathizing with him as he walks toward the impending interrogation.

Key events

• Athrun arrives in a tense, chaotic hall with Canard and unexpectedly encounters Commander Ray Yuki, his former academy mentor.
• Yuki reports that the Spenia Operation has apparently failed. Its target was secretly changed from Panama to Alaska Headquarters shortly before deployment.
• Early reports say the entire force may have been wiped out. Athrun is devastated, fearing for his friends Yzak and Dearka, who took part in the mission.
• Yuki then reveals that a newly developed top-secret mobile suit has been stolen. Siegel Clyne and his daughter, Lacus, are alleged to have helped, throwing the Defense Committee into turmoil.
• Overwhelmed by the news, Athrun struggles to regain his composure and piece together what has happened.

Character developments and interactions

• Athrun’s warm reunion with Yuki quickly turns into shock and grief as he learns of the operation’s failure and the accusations against the Clynes. His concern for Yzak and Dearka is especially intense.
• Yuki appears burdened and distressed, carefully delivering increasingly grave information to Athrun.
• Canard initially waits apart from their conversation, but reacts sharply when he hears that Alaska was the operation’s target, suggesting that the news has particular significance for him.

Significant themes

• War’s uncertainty and human cost: A sudden change in mission plans may have led to catastrophic losses.
• Trust and political upheaval: The alleged involvement of Siegel and Lacus Clyne complicates loyalties and signals a crisis within PLANT.
• Shock and denial: Athrun’s emotional response shows how deeply military events threaten his friendships and sense of reality.

Key plot points and events

• Athrun reels from the accusation that Lacus may have assisted with a secret mobile-suit project. He struggles to reconcile the allegation with his image of her as a peaceful, sheltered symbol of hope, but lacks the facts to defend her.
• With answers needed about the Spenia Operation, Yzak and Dearka, and Lacus’s alleged involvement, Athrun resolves to keep moving and learn more.
• Yuki tells Athrun and Canard that Chairman Patrick Zala is waiting in his office. The two head there through the tense Defense Committee headquarters.
• As they pass the Operations Command Room, they overhear urgent arguments about reinforcements, military losses, and the source of important intelligence—evidence of a broader crisis.
• Athrun and Canard reach Patrick’s office and report to his secretary as summoned.

Character developments and interactions

• Athrun is shaken by the possibility that Lacus is involved in treason, yet recognizes that his affection and assumptions cannot substitute for evidence. He shifts from distress toward seeking information and deciding what to do.
• Canard remains controlled and keeps pace with Athrun, appearing accustomed—or at least less visibly affected—by the tense military atmosphere.
• Yuki helps by directing them to Patrick’s office.
• Athrun and Canard act together, but the passage offers no resolution to Athrun’s questions or to the accusations.

Significant themes

• Trust versus evidence: Athrun’s faith in Lacus conflicts with a serious accusation he cannot yet confirm or refute.
• Uncertainty and crisis: Fragmented reports and hurried orders suggest that the military situation is deteriorating.
• The need to act amid confusion: Athrun’s immediate goal is to gather facts before choosing a course of action.

Chapter Summary: “Meeting with His Father”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Athrun and Canard are granted permission by the secretary to enter Chairman Patrick Zala’s office.
• Athrun, overwhelmed by anxiety and desperate for answers about the Spenia Operation, Lacus Clyne, and the Klein family, rushes into the room. Canard follows more calmly.
• The oppressive atmosphere of the chairman’s office immediately silences and intimidates Athrun.
• Inside, Patrick is receiving reports about the Spenia Operation. The Cyclops System was activated beneath the base, apparently in a targeted detonation.
• Patrick urgently asks about Captain Creuset. An aide reports that Creuset sent an emergency signal and is believed to be safe.
• Athrun feels momentarily relieved, hoping that Yzak and Dearka may also have survived since they were serving under Creuset’s command.
• Another aide reports that several council members, including Eileen Canaver, are gathering in the assembly hall and may demand an emergency Supreme Council meeting over the operation’s failure.
• Patrick orders his aides to obtain a precise, objective report on the remaining forces, expressing anger at the vague information provided so far.
• Patrick then asks about Klein. The aide reveals that Klein has escaped through a carefully prepared route and may have received help from an insider.

Character Developments

• Athrun is shown as highly anxious, emotionally overwhelmed, and desperate for the truth. His fear intensifies inside the office, but the news that Creuset is safe gives him a small measure of hope.
• Canard remains composed and restrained in contrast to Athrun’s impulsive urgency, suggesting greater emotional control under pressure.
• Chairman Patrick Zala appears authoritative, impatient, and deeply concerned about the unfolding crisis. His sharp questioning and demand for reliable intelligence reveal both his anger and his need to regain control.
• Captain Creuset is confirmed to be alive, though his exact location remains unknown.
• Klein emerges as an important fugitive who had planned his escape carefully and may have had assistance from within the organization.

Significant Themes

• Uncertainty and the search for truth: Athrun enters seeking answers, but the reports instead reveal confusion, missing personnel, and incomplete information.
• Political and military instability: The failed operation has triggered internal dissent and possible demands for an emergency council meeting.
• Hope amid despair: The report that Creuset survived provides Athrun with a fragile hope that Yzak and Dearka may also be alive.
• Authority versus loss of control: Patrick’s forceful orders contrast with the apparent collapse of reliable communication and command.
• Betrayal and conspiracy: Klein’s escape and possible assistance from an insider suggest deeper internal treachery.

Character Interactions

• The secretary formally admits Athrun and Canard into Patrick’s office.
• Patrick briefly orders them to wait while he handles the military reports.
• Patrick interrogates his aides about Creuset, the remaining forces, the council’s reaction, and Klein’s whereabouts.
• Athrun silently reacts to the reports, especially Creuset’s survival and Klein’s escape, while Canard remains quietly observant.

Key plot points

• Athrun learns that Lacus and her father, Siegel Clyne, have disappeared after ZAFT’s newest mobile suit was stolen. Their escape route is proving difficult for the Defense Committee to trace.
• Chairman Patrick orders the Justice Bureau to arrest Eileen Canaver and other council members with close ties to the Klein family, despite the political risks.
• Patrick accuses Siegel and Lacus of helping an enemy spy steal the mobile suit and leaking details of the Spenia Operation to the Earth Alliance. He presents their disappearance as proof of treason.
• Athrun is stunned by the accusation. He questions whether the evidence is sufficient and wonders how Siegel could have accessed such closely guarded information.
• Patrick’s aide leaves to carry out the order. After his outburst, Patrick slumps back, visibly exhausted—a rare sign of vulnerability to Athrun.

Character developments

• Athrun is thrown into doubt. His trust in Lacus and respect for Siegel clash with Patrick’s certainty, leaving him unable to accept or dismiss the accusations.
• Patrick appears furious and convinced of the Klein family’s guilt, but his exhaustion afterward suggests the political crisis is taking a serious toll.
• The aide shows unease at the order to arrest council members, but ultimately does not challenge Patrick.

Significant themes

• Trust versus evidence: Athrun struggles to reconcile his personal knowledge of Lacus and Siegel with the claims against them.
• Power and political repression: Patrick uses the crisis to target political rivals, ordering arrests before the accusations are tested.
• Treason and uncertainty: The chapter raises the possibility of an insider leak while leaving open whether the Kleins are truly responsible.
• The personal cost of conflict: Patrick’s anger and Athrun’s distress reveal how political and military events fracture family and personal loyalties.

Character interactions

• Patrick dismisses his aide’s hesitation and orders arrests, asserting his authority over the council.
• Patrick’s accusations are directed at the room—and pointedly at Athrun, who is forced to hear his father condemn Lacus and Siegel.
• Athrun remains silent beside Canard, internally challenging Patrick’s conclusions while unable to respond.

Chapter Summary

Plot and key events

Chairman Patrick Zala summons Athrun and Canard to his office and informs them that Lacus Clyne and her father, Chairman Siegel Clyne, have allegedly aided spies and fled. He expects Athrun, as his son and a ZAFT soldier with recent field experience, to understand the seriousness of the situation. Patrick then presents surveillance footage from a PLANT facility, explaining that it was recorded before the theft of the new mobile suit Freedom. The footage shows a ZAFT-uniformed individual, Lacus, and Siegel standing near the massive mobile suit. When the image is enlarged, Athrun clearly recognizes both Lacus and her father.

Character development

Athrun is torn between his military duty and his personal feelings. Although shocked and deeply doubtful of Patrick’s accusations, he initially responds obediently and formally as a soldier. Seeing the surveillance footage intensifies his disbelief, forcing him to confront the possibility that Lacus—whom he associates with peace, kindness, and music—may be connected to espionage and the theft of Freedom. Patrick appears exhausted, stern, and increasingly disappointed by Athrun’s inability to immediately accept the situation. Canard remains disciplined and silent, mirroring Athrun’s military posture.

Character interactions

Patrick directly questions Athrun and expects a soldierly response. Athrun salutes alongside Canard, showing obedience despite his confusion, then cautiously voices his disbelief about Lacus and Siegel. Rather than argue, Patrick responds by providing visual evidence through the surveillance recording. Their interaction reflects the tension between Patrick’s demand for unquestioning military loyalty and Athrun’s emotional need for proof.

Significant themes

The chapter explores duty versus personal loyalty, as Athrun must reconcile his role in ZAFT with his love and trust for Lacus. It also emphasizes the conflict between truth and perception: Athrun cannot easily connect the peaceful Lacus he knows with Patrick’s accusations. Other important themes include political suspicion, the manipulation of evidence, family pressure, and the moral uncertainty created by wartime propaganda and authority.

Chapter Summary: “Patrick’s Evidence”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chairman Patrick presents Athrun with surveillance footage allegedly proving that Lacus Clyne and Chairman Siegel were involved with the theft of the Freedom mobile suit.
• The footage shows an unidentified man in a ZAFT uniform standing near Lacus and Siegel. His face is hidden, making his identity impossible to confirm.
• A second recording shows Lacus wearing a pilot suit and holding hands with the unidentified man as they board Freedom.
• Patrick argues that the visual evidence is conclusive, insisting that it represents the truth despite the lack of proof regarding Lacus and Siegel’s motives or contacts.
• Patrick then reveals intelligence claiming that Freedom appeared in Alaska and supported the Earth Forces during an attack against ZAFT’s Spenia Operation forces.
• This information devastates Athrun, as it suggests that Lacus and the stolen mobile suit directly aided ZAFT’s enemy.
• Despite his emotional collapse and disbelief, Athrun forces himself to remain standing.
• Patrick prepares to issue orders to Athrun and Canard Pars, implying that they will be assigned a mission connected to Lacus, Freedom, and the alleged betrayal.

Character Developments

• Athrun Zala: Athrun is emotionally shattered by the evidence. His faith in Lacus conflicts violently with what appears to be undeniable visual proof. Though he internally insists that Lacus could never betray ZAFT, the footage and report leave him unable to argue or respond. His military discipline allows him to endure the shock physically, even as he nearly collapses.
• Chairman Patrick: Patrick is cold, controlled, and strategically manipulative. He emphasizes the apparent certainty of the evidence while exploiting Athrun’s personal connection to Lacus. His priority is ZAFT’s interests and the war effort rather than Athrun’s emotional well-being.
• Canard Pars: Canard remains outwardly calm but displays unusual caution, suggesting that he anticipated Patrick’s coming order or understands its seriousness.

Significant Themes

• Truth versus perception: The footage appears objective, yet Athrun’s personal knowledge of Lacus makes him question whether the images truly reveal her intentions.
• Manipulation through evidence: Patrick uses carefully selected recordings and battlefield intelligence to shape Athrun’s interpretation of events.
• Loyalty and betrayal: Athrun is torn between loyalty to Lacus and his duty to ZAFT, while Lacus’s apparent cooperation with the enemy threatens to redefine their relationship.
• The cruelty of war: Personal relationships are subordinated to military objectives, and ambiguous actions are treated as evidence of treason.
• Emotional endurance: Athrun’s refusal to collapse reflects the conflict between overwhelming grief and his ingrained sense of duty.

Character Interactions

• Patrick confronts Athrun directly, presenting the evidence and pressing him to accept Lacus’s supposed betrayal.
• Athrun is unable to challenge Patrick verbally because the footage appears to support every accusation.
• Patrick’s interaction with Canard is brief but significant: by calling both men forward, he signals that they will likely be involved in the next stage of the operation.
• Lacus, though absent from the present scene, dominates the interaction through the footage and Athrun’s emotional reaction to it.

• Key events: Patrick orders Athrun and Canard to take ZAFT’s new mobile suits—Athrun the Justice and Canard the Mass-Production Prototype Zaku—and recover the stolen Freedom. He then orders them to eliminate everyone who has been in contact with Freedom. Athrun challenges the order, and Patrick reveals that all three machines are equipped with Neutron Jammer Cancellers (NJCs), making nuclear power usable again.
• Character developments: Athrun is torn between his duty and his personal ties to Lacus, who took Freedom. Patrick’s order horrifies him, especially because it may include Lacus, and the revelation about nuclear-powered suits prompts him to openly confront his father. Canard, usually composed and interested in new machines, is visibly shaken by the NJC revelation.
• Character interactions: Patrick’s cold authority clashes with Athrun’s growing anguish and moral resistance. Athrun questions both the purge order and ZAFT’s return to nuclear power; Patrick ignores the first challenge and answers the second with a blunt declaration that ZAFT needs nuclear power to win.
• Significant themes: The chapter explores the conflict between obedience and conscience, the corrosive demands of wartime ambition, and the return of a destructive power associated with profound loss. The name Justice adds bitter irony to Athrun’s mission and the choices being imposed on him.

Key plot points and events

• Chairman Patrick Zala tells Athrun that ZAFT needs to obtain the nuclear-powered Freedom mobile suit “for victory.” He orders the recovery mission handled quickly and secretly.
• Athrun is shaken by the contradiction: nuclear power killed his mother, and ZAFT has opposed its use, yet his father now wants it for military advantage. Patrick also orders the elimination of everyone connected to Freedom.
• Athrun realizes that Lacus, who piloted Freedom and represents peace to him, is among those targeted. He cannot accept either the accusation against her or the order to kill her.
• A ZAFT councilor arrives to escort Athrun and Canard away. Athrun leaves without answering his father, turning his back on him in silent defiance.

Character developments and interactions

• Athrun moves from stunned disbelief to a quiet refusal. His duty as a ZAFT soldier clashes with his convictions, his grief over his mother, and his attachment to Lacus. He recognizes that Patrick will not be persuaded.
• Patrick Zala treats Athrun as a subordinate, emphasizing mission and victory over their personal relationship. His decision reveals how far he has shifted from the anti-nuclear ideals Athrun associated with him.
• Canard remains silent and composed, but his steady presence gives Athrun a sense that he is not facing the crisis alone.
• Athrun and Patrick’s encounter exposes a deepening divide between father and son; Athrun’s departure becomes a wordless act of rejection.

Significant themes

• Ideals versus military necessity: ZAFT’s pursuit of nuclear power contradicts its stated opposition to it.
• Family and betrayal: Athrun’s image of his father collapses as Patrick’s orders challenge both their bond and their shared history.
• Loyalty and conscience: Athrun is torn between obedience to ZAFT and his moral refusal to target Lacus.
• The human cost of war: The pursuit of strategic advantage threatens to make the conflict more destructive and endanger civilians on both sides.

Key plot points and events

• After leaving Chairman Patrick Zala’s office, Athrun is shaken by orders to eliminate everyone and everything connected to the stolen Freedom Gundam—including Lacus Clyne, who is piloting it.
• He struggles to accept Patrick’s explanation that Siegel Clyne’s actions amount to treason. The revelation that Freedom carries a nuclear engine makes the situation seem even more dangerous, but Athrun cannot understand why his father believes mass destruction is justified for victory.
• Athrun decides he must find Siegel and hear his motives firsthand before he can act. Although his assigned mission is to recover Freedom, discovering the truth becomes his immediate priority.
• In a separate scene, Xia Ya walks through a metal passage, exhausted and mortified after being questioned by the crew about his relationship with Lacus. Lacus’s unexpectedly candid description of their intimate moments left him blushing and wishing he could disappear.

Character developments

• Athrun moves from shock and confusion toward a clear, independent resolve: he will not blindly follow his father’s orders or accept the evidence without understanding it.
• Xia Ya is shown as vulnerable and easily embarrassed, especially when exposed to public teasing about his private relationship.
• Lacus comes across as composed and unexpectedly frank, speaking about intimate matters with the ease of casual conversation.

Significant themes

• Conscience versus duty: Athrun questions whether obedience and military victory can justify sacrificing lives.
• Truth and trust: He refuses to accept official conclusions without hearing Siegel’s explanation.
• War’s personal costs: Political conflict threatens Athrun’s relationships and moral integrity, while even lighthearted crew interactions leave Xia Ya emotionally exposed.

Character interactions

• Patrick’s orders and explanation leave Athrun deeply conflicted, prompting him to seek out Siegel rather than comply immediately.
• A silent councilor escorts Athrun to the factory without asking about the meeting.
• Lacus’s candid account during the crew’s questioning embarrasses Xia Ya, turning a public conversation into an ordeal for him.

Chapter Summary: “A Shocking Revelation”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xia Ya reflects on the dramatic scene that occurred on the bridge, particularly Lacus’s shocking remarks and the intense reactions of Jiliang and Mu.
• He is puzzled by the sudden change in Jiliang and Lacus’s relationship. Although they had nearly fought over their argument about who had kissed first or more often, they quickly become friendly and retreat together for a private conversation.
• Xia Ya suspects that Jiliang and Lacus share an unusually deep emotional bond, possibly stronger than ordinary friendship, though not necessarily romantic because Jiliang is a woman.
• After Jiliang asks Xia Ya to leave so she and Lacus can speak privately, he heads toward his former room aboard the Archangel, hoping to rest and escape the awkwardness.
• In the corridor, Xia Ya unexpectedly encounters Sai. Sai appears embarrassed, conflicted, and regretful.
• Sai mentions that what happened to Flay is “truly regrettable,” leading Xia Ya to assume he is grieving Flay’s transfer from the Archangel.
• Xia Ya reflects on Flay’s situation: she believes he died in the explosion, while he has secretly survived and returned to the Archangel. He worries about her safety and feels pain knowing she still considers him dead.
• Sai then reveals the true shock: his engagement to Flay has been called off. Xia Ya is stunned, and the chapter ends with him unable to process the revelation.

Character Developments

• Xia Ya: Becomes increasingly aware of the complicated emotional relationships around him. He remains deeply concerned about Flay and suffers from the knowledge that she believes him dead. Sai’s revelation leaves him emotionally paralyzed.
• Jiliang: Shows a complicated reaction to Lacus’s remarks, suggesting hidden emotional depth. Her rapid shift from hostility to intimacy with Lacus hints at a strong bond and growing trust.
• Lacus: Despite arguing intensely with Jiliang, she appears capable of quickly reconciling and sharing a private, meaningful conversation with her.
• Sai: Reveals emotional conflict and regret connected to Flay. His canceled engagement suggests major changes in his relationship and potentially a deeper story behind Flay’s transfer.
• Flay: Though absent, she remains central to Xia Ya’s thoughts and emotional concerns. Her belief that Xia Ya is dead creates painful dramatic tension.

Significant Themes

• Misunderstanding and hidden truths: Xia Ya misunderstands Sai’s initial comment, while Sai’s eventual revelation exposes how little Xia Ya knows about Flay’s current circumstances.
• Emotional bonds beyond conventional categories: Jiliang and Lacus’s relationship challenges the distinction between friendship, affection, and romance.
• Survival and loss: Xia Ya’s survival contrasts with Flay’s belief that he died, creating emotional distance despite his physical return.
• Regret and unresolved relationships: Sai’s regret and broken engagement suggest lingering consequences from recent events.
• The burden of secrets: Xia Ya’s hidden survival and Flay’s ignorance of it create tension that may shape future decisions.

Important Character Interactions

• Jiliang and Lacus: Move from near-violent hostility over their kissing dispute to apparent closeness, implying a powerful and complicated connection.
• Jiliang and Xia Ya: Jiliang effectively dismisses Xia Ya from the bridge so she can speak privately with Lacus.
• Xia Ya and Sai: Their chance encounter leads from a brief discussion of Flay to Sai’s shocking disclosure that his engagement to her has ended.
• Xia Ya and Flay: They do not interact directly, but Xia Ya’s thoughts reveal his continuing emotional attachment and concern for her safety.

Chapter Summary: “Sai’s Agitation”

Key plot points and events

• Xia Ya is shocked to learn from Sai that Sai and Flay’s engagement has been called off while Xia Ya was believed to be dead.
• He struggles to understand why a military transfer would have caused such a major change in their relationship and wonders whether Flay or Sai initiated the breakup.
• Sai reveals that Flay accepted her transfer because she wanted to avenge Xia Ya, whom she believed had been killed.
• Sai then bluntly tells Xia Ya that Flay likes him, explaining that her grief and desire for revenge came from being unable to accept Xia Ya’s death.
• Xia Ya is overwhelmed by the revelation, realizing that he may have badly misunderstood Flay’s feelings and the reasons behind her actions.

Character developments

• Xia Ya: His confidence in his understanding of the altered timeline collapses. He becomes confused and shaken as he confronts the possibility that Flay’s feelings for him are much deeper than he ever recognized.
• Sai: His restrained awkwardness gives way to pain, resentment, frustration, and near desperation. He appears to have suffered emotionally from Flay’s feelings for Xia Ya and is determined to force Xia Ya to acknowledge the truth.
• Flay: Though she does not appear directly, her actions are reinterpreted. Her transfer was apparently motivated not by military convenience or protection, but by grief and a desire to avenge Xia Ya.

Significant themes

• Misunderstood emotions: Xia Ya’s assumptions have prevented him from recognizing Flay’s attachment to him.
• Loss of control and uncertainty: The revelation disrupts Xia Ya’s predictions about the future and shows that the altered timeline contains developments he cannot explain.
• Grief and revenge: Flay’s response to Xia Ya’s presumed death demonstrates how deeply she cared for him.
• Unrequited or displaced love: Sai’s anguish suggests that his relationship with Flay was undermined by her feelings for Xia Ya.

Character interactions

• Xia Ya questions Sai about the broken engagement, seeking a rational explanation.
• Sai initially explains the situation indirectly, then becomes increasingly emotional when Xia Ya fails to understand.
• Their confrontation culminates in Sai angrily insisting that Flay’s actions were driven by love for Xia Ya.
• Xia Ya remains stunned and silent, unable to challenge Sai’s interpretation or reconcile it with his previous beliefs.

Chapter Summary: “Bonus Update for Tips: Sai’s Anger”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Sai confronts Xia Ya over his apparent death and unexpected return.
• He reveals that Flay did not seek refuge or distance after Xia Ya’s death; instead, she became consumed by grief and revenge.
• Flay blamed Gates—the pilot she believed had killed Xia Ya—and wanted to kill him herself.
• Sai compares Flay’s breakdown to Jiliang’s earlier descent into despair after believing Xia Ya had died.
• Sai angrily questions what Xia Ya was doing in PLANT while everyone on the Archangel believed he was dead.
• He specifically condemns Xia Ya’s closeness to Lacus Clyne, contrasting Xia Ya’s relationship with Lacus against Flay’s suffering.
• Sai admits that he is grateful Xia Ya is alive but declares that he still cannot forgive him.
• The confrontation is interrupted by an unnamed voice calling out from the corridor.

Character Developments

• Sai: His grief and anger finally overwhelm him. Although relieved that Xia Ya survived, he feels betrayed and resentful, especially because Flay suffered while Xia Ya lived comfortably—or appeared to—alongside Lacus. His physical aggression reflects the depth of his emotional pain.
• Xia Ya: He is forced to confront the consequences of his presumed death and deception. Learning that Flay sought revenge causes intense guilt and self-reproach, while Sai’s accusations make him question his assumptions about Flay’s feelings and his own actions.
• Flay: Though absent from the scene, she is revealed to have been devastated by Xia Ya’s death and transformed by grief into someone determined to pursue revenge.
• Jiliang: Her past collapse serves as a parallel to Flay’s suffering, emphasizing how deeply Xia Ya’s supposed death affected those close to him.
• Lacus: Her relationship with Xia Ya becomes a source of conflict, as Sai views their intimacy as painfully incompatible with Flay’s anguish.

Significant Themes

• Grief and revenge: Flay’s mourning has turned into a dangerous desire for vengeance.
• The consequences of deception: Xia Ya’s false death protected or served certain purposes but caused severe emotional damage to others.
• Guilt and responsibility: Xia Ya is forced to recognize that his choices may have contributed directly to Flay’s psychological collapse.
• Contrasting experiences of war: While Xia Ya was in PLANT with Lacus, those who believed him dead endured fear, despair, and anger.
• Forgiveness and resentment: Sai’s relief at Xia Ya’s survival exists alongside his inability to forgive Xia Ya for the suffering caused by his absence.

Important Character Interactions

• Sai physically pins Xia Ya against a wall and confronts him in an emotionally charged outburst.
• Sai recounts Flay’s grief and desire to avenge Xia Ya, making Xia Ya understand how deeply she cared for him.
• Sai challenges Xia Ya over his relationship with Lacus, accusing him of ignoring the suffering of those who believed he was dead.
• Xia Ya remains largely silent, absorbing Sai’s accusations and experiencing shock, guilt, and emotional pain.
• An approaching voice interrupts the confrontation before Sai and Xia Ya can reach any resolution.

Chapter Summary

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xia Ya is overwhelmed by guilt over Flay’s suffering, believing that his existence, actions, and supposed death contributed to her descent into hatred and possible extremism.
• Although he nearly breaks down, hearing Sai’s account gives Xia Ya clarity. He resolves to find Flay and save her, regardless of where she is, what motivated her choices, or whether her fate follows the original story.
• Warm memories of Flay teasing him by calling him “Master” strengthen his determination. He quietly vows to wait for her—or, more accurately, to go after her and help her.
• Meanwhile, Athrun Zala and Canard leave Chairman Patrick’s office under heavy emotional pressure. They travel to ZAFT’s arsenal district to receive briefings on their assigned mobile suits: the Justice Gundam and the Mass-Production Prototype Zaku.
• The briefing covers the machines’ operating systems, performance, and Nuclear Jammer Canceller (NJC) equipment. Hearing that Justice contains an NJC intensifies Athrun’s inner conflict.
• Canard quickly reviews the materials and leaves to prepare, showing his practical and emotionally detached attitude.
• Athrun cannot bring himself to study the manuals. Instead, he decides to visit a place connected to Lacus Clyne and the Klein family, hoping to uncover information that will resolve his doubts and provide reassurance before beginning his mission preparations.

Character Developments

• Xia Ya/Athrun: Xia Ya transforms guilt and emotional pain into firm resolve. Rather than succumbing to despair, he commits himself to rescuing Flay. As Athrun, he remains troubled by Patrick’s accusations and the implications of the NJC, revealing a deepening crisis of conscience.
• Flay: Though absent, Flay’s character is developed through Xia Ya’s memories and Sai’s revelations. She is portrayed as someone once capable of happiness who may have been consumed by grief and hatred.
• Canard: He remains focused, efficient, and emotionally controlled, concentrating only on the technical information necessary for the mission.
• Sai: His earlier explanation of Flay’s condition becomes the catalyst for Xia Ya’s decision.

Significant Themes

• Guilt and responsibility: Xia Ya struggles with the belief that he caused or enabled Flay’s suffering.
• Redemption through action: Instead of merely regretting the past, Xia Ya chooses to turn his pain into a reason to act.
• Memory and emotional connection: Positive memories of Flay preserve Xia Ya’s image of who she was before hatred overtook her.
• Duty versus conscience: Athrun’s military orders conflict with his personal doubts, particularly concerning Patrick’s claims and the morally troubling NJC technology.
• Hope amid confusion: Both Xia Ya and Athrun seek clarity—Xia Ya through rescuing Flay, and Athrun through revisiting the Klein family’s sphere and confirming the truth for himself.

Character Interactions

• Xia Ya and Flay: Their past master-apprentice relationship is recalled through Flay’s teasing and affectionate interactions with him, emphasizing their emotional bond.
• Xia Ya and Sai: Sai’s account of Flay directly influences Xia Ya, helping him reach his decision.
• Athrun and Canard: They travel and receive the military briefing together, but their contrasting reactions highlight Athrun’s emotional turmoil versus Canard’s detached professionalism.
• Athrun and Chairman Patrick: Though Patrick does not appear in the arsenal sequence, his accusations and orders continue to weigh heavily on Athrun, shaping his uncertainty and next decision.

Chapter Summary: “The Ravaged Residence”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Athrun visits the Klein Residence and is shocked to find it brutally vandalized.
• The military police have supposedly searched the home for evidence of treason, but their actions appear deliberately destructive rather than investigative.
• Furniture, books, artworks, display cases, carpets, and other belongings have been overturned, broken, or scattered throughout the residence.
• The courtyard has suffered the same fate: trees have been snapped, flowers uprooted, and the lawn ruined.
• While surveying the damage, Athrun hears a familiar electronic voice and discovers Lacus’s pink Haro still alive and moving among the wreckage.

Character Development

• Athrun experiences shock, sorrow, confusion, and eventually anger as he confronts the destruction of a place connected to his happiest memories of Lacus and Siegel.
• His reaction reveals his growing disillusionment with the military and with PLANT society. He begins questioning how quickly public admiration and trust can turn into hatred when fear and political pressure take hold.
• Athrun’s anger deepens when he sees that even innocent plants and flowers were destroyed, showing his disgust toward cruelty carried out without purpose or restraint.
• The appearance of Haro gives him a brief moment of surprise and hope amid the devastation.

Significant Themes

• The fragility of trust and public opinion: The Klein family’s years of respect and affection seem to vanish after a single accusation.
• Abuse of power and political persecution: The military’s “search” becomes an act of destruction and intimidation rather than a legitimate investigation.
• Destruction of innocence and beauty: The ruined home, artwork, garden, and flowers symbolize the damage caused by fear, hatred, and political conflict.
• Memory versus reality: Athrun’s warm memories of the elegant, peaceful residence sharply contrast with the wreckage before him.
• A small sign of hope: Haro’s survival suggests that not everything connected to Lacus and the former peaceful order has been destroyed.

Character Interactions

• Athrun does not directly encounter the military police or the Klein family in the chapter, but the soldiers’ actions dominate his thoughts and provoke his condemnation.
• His memories recall his close, affectionate interactions with Lacus, including her music and singing, and with Siegel, who once welcomed Athrun into discussions and family life.
• The discovery of Haro reconnects Athrun to Lacus and provides an emotional link to the past amid the ruined residence.

Chapter Summary: “The Clue Lacus Left Behind”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Athrun becomes suspicious when Lacus’s Haro suddenly stops evading him and responds to his voice.
• He realizes Haro must have been programmed to recognize and react specifically to him.
• Athrun recalls Lacus telling him that the white rose garden at the Klein Residence was the place where she first sang.
• Connecting Haro’s movements, his voice, and the scattered white roses, Athrun concludes that Haro has deliberately guided him toward this meaningful location.
• He infers that Lacus left the Haro as a clue or beacon, anticipating that the military police would search and damage the residence.
• Athrun suspects that Lacus may have left further information—or may even be waiting—at the concert hall associated with her first performance.
• Although he recognizes that the message could be a trap, Athrun rejects Chairman Patrick’s accusations that Lacus betrayed PLANT and chooses to pursue the truth.
• Carrying Haro, Athrun leaves the ruined Klein Residence and drives to the concert hall, determined to find Lacus and uncover what really happened.

Character Developments

• Athrun: Moves from confusion and grief to clarity and determination. His faith in Lacus outweighs his fear of danger, and he chooses independent investigation over obedience to Patrick’s accusations.
• Lacus: Though absent, she is shown to have planned carefully and anticipated Athrun’s actions. Her programming of Haro demonstrates her trust in him and her effort to communicate indirectly.
• Chairman Patrick: His accusations remain an important source of pressure and suspicion, but Athrun increasingly doubts the official version of events.

Significant Themes

• Trust versus authority: Athrun refuses to accept the Chairman’s claims without hearing Lacus’s side.
• Love and personal memory: The white rose garden and concert hall serve as emotional symbols connecting Athrun to Lacus.
• Clues and communication: Lacus uses Haro, Athrun’s voice, and a shared memory to leave a message that only he is likely to understand.
• Truth and determination: Athrun’s desire to discover the truth gives him renewed purpose amid destruction and uncertainty.
• Hope amid ruin: Even though the Klein Residence has been destroyed, Lacus’s carefully preserved clue suggests that her intentions and possible whereabouts can still be found.

Character Interactions

• Athrun interacts directly with Haro, whose response to his voice becomes the central clue.
• His remembered conversation with Lacus reveals the importance of the white rose garden and deepens their emotional connection.
• Athrun’s decision also reflects his conflict with Chairman Patrick, as he chooses personal trust in Lacus over the Chairman’s official accusations.

Chapter Summary: “Waiting for the One Who Was Expected”

Key Plot Points and Events

• Athrun arrives at an abandoned, poorly maintained concert hall called HOWITH...SINGER, carrying the pistol assigned for his mission.
• He feels uneasy because he expects to confront Siegel Clyne, the former chairman accused of treason and of indirectly contributing to the failure of the Spenia Operation.
• Athrun cautiously enters the dark building, navigating broken glass, dust, mold, and decaying doors while trying to remain undetected.
• He discovers a narrow beam of light coming from the auditorium and realizes that someone is waiting inside.
• Through the partially opened soundproof door, Athrun sees a formally dressed man standing alone beneath the stage spotlights. The man appears calm and deliberately positioned there to await Athrun’s arrival.
• The pink Haro suddenly activates, escapes from Athrun’s grasp, and moves openly toward the man onstage, revealing Athrun’s presence and suggesting a connection between Haro, Lacus’s message, and the waiting figure.

Character Developments

• Athrun is shown struggling between duty and apprehension. Although armed for a possible assassination or confrontation, he proceeds carefully and remains alert, demonstrating both fear and determination.
• His hesitation disappears once he realizes that the person he has been searching for is likely inside. His desire for answers—or for the confrontation itself—overcomes his caution.
• The unidentified man, strongly implied to be Siegel Clyne, is portrayed as composed and confident. Rather than hiding, he deliberately waits beneath the spotlights, suggesting that he anticipated Athrun’s arrival.
• Haro behaves unexpectedly and independently, actively guiding the encounter by moving toward the man instead of remaining concealed with Athrun.

Significant Themes

• Expectation and destiny: The chapter repeatedly emphasizes that the man is “waiting for the one who was expected,” framing Athrun’s arrival as part of a carefully arranged meeting.
• Confrontation between duty and personal feeling: Athrun carries a weapon for a politically sanctioned mission but is emotionally drawn toward the person he has come to face.
• Light and darkness: Athrun moves through darkness and decay before finding the brightly illuminated stage, symbolizing the contrast between secrecy, uncertainty, and the revelation he is approaching.
• Decay and abandonment: The ruined concert hall reflects the collapse of old institutions and the lingering consequences of political conflict.
• Guidance and hidden messages: Lacus’s clues—Haro, the white rose, and the abandoned hall—lead Athrun step by step toward the encounter.

Character Interactions

• Athrun has no direct human conversation in the chapter, but his silent observation establishes a tense relationship with the waiting man.
• The man’s calm posture and deliberate waiting create the impression that he has anticipated Athrun and may possess important knowledge.
• Haro acts as the first active intermediary between them, flying across the stage toward the man and forcing the long-awaited meeting to begin.