Lunar Tragedy, Orb Declaration

"What did you say!?"

Siegel Clyne's shuttle had just finished repairs and was preparing for takeoff.

However, before the shuttle could even leave the alley, it received devastating news from the Lunar Sphere.

A bomb terror attack occurred at Copernicus on the moon ("The Tragedy of Copernicus").

The representatives of the Earth Sphere Allied Nations and all the top leaders of the United Nations below the Director-General were killed, with no survivors.

As for the representative from PLANT, Chairman Siegel Clyne, he narrowly escaped death due to a malfunction in his shuttle, causing him to be late.

"What are you going to do?"

Patrick Zala, wearing a purple parliamentary uniform, asked from his office.

"Convene a meeting! Clear our names!" Siegel Clyne replied dejectedly.

Patrick Zala listened to his old friend's answer, looked at the rare fatigue on his face, and sighed before shaking his head and ending the video call.

While this news was good for the warmongering Patrick Zala, this was too good to be true!

If handled improperly, it could lead to...

"Who exactly was it?"

Siegel Clyne looked out at the PLANTs beyond the window, a faint cold glint flashing in his eyes.

He wasn't an idiot; even a three-year-old could see through such an obvious scheme to frame them.

However, the framing didn't chill him to the bone; what truly enraged him was a traitor!

There was a traitor within PLANT!

The timing of the shuttle's damage was too perfect, too perfect to the point of making him tremble!

'A PLANT conspiracy!'

'PLANT must pay for the deaths of the representatives at the lunar conference!'

'Siegel Clyne was very lucky to have arrived late to the lunar conference due to shuttle malfunctions!'

'The conflict between PLANT and Earth!'

'Siegel Clyne, who miraculously survived, makes his first statement: He deeply mourns those who perished in the lunar tragedy, and PLANT will spare no effort to bring the perpetrators of this tragedy to justice!'

'PLANT strategic deployment, gathering...'

'...'

Public opinion was rife with accusations between Earth and PLANT, with each side sticking to their story.

PLANT was relatively calm, but Earth's reaction was the most intense.

Under the intentional guidance of public opinion, countless conspiracy theories from experts emerged.

Why did Siegel's shuttle just happen to break down? And why did it get fixed right after the explosion?

As the speaker of the PLANT National Diet, how could his shuttle possibly break down? And break down so conveniently?

Just as PLANT and Earth were engaged in a war of words, trying to clear their names.

On CE 70.2.7.

A piece of news that shook the world ignited the entire planet.

On the 27th, the Atlantic Federation, as a representative of the Allied Nations, proposed the release of the Alaska Declaration.

It asserted that the terrorist action targeting the lunar conference was the work of PLANT, and that this was a declaration of war by PLANT against Earth, or rather, by PLANT against all Naturals.

It also announced the establishment of the international organization "Earth Alliance" to replace the United Council, which had been on the verge of collapse due to the mass deaths of its leadership during the lunar conference.

Orb, an island nation in the southern Pacific, possessed considerable industrial and military power disproportionate to its small territory and meager natural resources.

Due to its policy of indiscriminate acceptance of Coordinators, it had become the only "paradise for Coordinators" on Earth.

Furthermore, by accepting Coordinators, Orb had developed highly advanced cutting-edge technology far surpassing other nations on Earth, and also possessed its own SEED and the space colony resource satellite Heliopolis.

"Don't they know what this means?"

Uzmī Ula Asaha, the current leader of Orb's United Nations, sat in his office, gazing at the Alaska Declaration projected on the television screen, his mind filled with a thousand thoughts.

"Father!"

The door opened, and a woman with short blonde hair walked in.

Her tone and choice of words were like a man's, if one could overlook her slightly childish yet beautiful and sharp features, and her clear voice.

"Cagalli? Why are you dressed like that again?" Uzmī Ula Asaha looked at his tomboyish daughter, a hint of sadness welling up within him.

If only back then...

"That's not important! What's important is what you plan to do, Father?" Cagalli rushed to Uzmī Ula Asaha's desk, her brown eyes fixed on her father.

Although she was young, it didn't mean she was foolish. Anyone with a brain knew that this declaration was a sign of grave danger.

"Orb! Forever a neutral nation!" Uzmī Ula Asaha looked at Cagalli's determined eyes, feeling a sudden sense of relief.

Even though she's not a boy, she can still inherit our will, can't she?

"Father, what are you planning to do?" Cagalli quietly let out a sigh of relief at his words. She was truly afraid, afraid of Orb getting involved.

The current situation was no longer just tense; it was on the verge of exploding.

Orb, while seemingly powerful, had a small population. It stood no chance against the PLANTs, whose technology surpassed theirs, nor against the Atlantic Federation, whose population and military numbers far exceeded Orb's.

"You'll know tomorrow."

Uzmī Ula Asaha didn't say anything more. He simply gazed out at the blue ocean beyond the window, lost in thought. The world... was in chaos!

February 8th.

Just as nations around the world were joining the Atlantic Federation, the Director-General of the United Nations of Orb addressed the entire world, including the PLANTs, issuing a declaration of neutrality: "From this point forward, regardless of how events unfold, Orb will always adhere to the principles of independence and neutrality! We will forever remain neutral!"

This was also known as the Orb's Neutrality Declaration.

"Neutral? Only two types of people in the world can be neutral!"

However, just as Uzmī Ula Asaha was delivering the declaration of neutrality, inside a certain conference room, a man in golden robes swirled his wine glass and murmured, "Absolute, overwhelming strength, and the worthless act of bullying the weak!"

"Neutrality, what a beautiful word. It's a shame that if such a nation were to remain neutral, I'd lose a lot of my fun?"

It was clear to everyone that from this moment on, the world had truly descended into chaos!

This was merely the beginning.

Time rewinds to February 13th!

July Colony~

"Auntie Lenoya? Isn't Brother Noer ready yet?"

Today was the third day since Noer had left. Anna cautiously approached Lenoya Sala and asked.

"Don't worry, he's recovering very well. You'll be able to see him again soon!" Lenoya Sala put down the documents she was holding and turned to face Anna, who had been looking dejected for days.

Seeing Anna's haggard face, Lenoya Sala couldn't help but embrace her. "How about this? In a few more days, you can come with me to see Noer."

"But... I... I'm afraid to go."

A flicker of spirit appeared in Anna's eyes. However, when she thought of Noer's face, the flutter in her heart turned into terror and unease.

She might never forget the scene of Noer collapsing in the room, crimson blood staining the entire floor.

Every night, she could see Noer's contorted face from the pain.

"It's okay, it wasn't your fault. Besides, Noer told me he doesn't blame you!" Lenoya Sala looked at Anna's expression, feeling a faint ache in her heart.

Although Coordinators were intelligent, it couldn't change the fact that she was still just an eight-year-old child.