October 2, Cosmic Era 73. L4 Space Colony, Armory One.
Artificial light washed over the Space Colony's smooth metal walls, illuminating ZAFT's new Mobile Suit development and maintenance base like a silver fortress suspended among the stars. Cargo-handling machinery worked in orderly rhythm at the docks, while technicians in standard work uniforms moved back and forth. Beneath that apparent calm, however, currents stirred that could tear apart the peace of the entire Earth Sphere. Two years had passed since the signing of the Junius Treaty. Although the fighting between the Earth Alliance and PLANT had temporarily subsided, the seeds of hatred had never stopped growing-the Naturals' fear of Coordinators and the Coordinators' anxiety over their own destiny could erupt at any moment beneath peace's fragile veneer.
The transport carrying Orb's prime minister, Cagalli Yula Athha, quietly docked at a secluded berth in Armory One. She wore a simple ivory suit, trading her battlefield vigor for a politician's composure, but the fatigue she could not hide between her brows betrayed the difficulty of maintaining Orb's neutrality. Beside her walked Athrun Zala, using the alias "Alex Dino." Dressed in a black suit, upright and reserved, he appeared to be the prime minister's private secretary. In truth, his gaze constantly swept their surroundings, his fingertips instinctively hovering near the gun concealed at his waist. With every step, he silently protected the girl etched into his heart.
They had come at the invitation of Gilbert Durandal, chairman of the PLANT Supreme Council, for a confidential meeting closed to the public. Since taking office, Durandal had championed conciliation, advocating the easing of tensions between PLANT and the Earth Alliance. He had even proposed closer cooperation with neutral Orb. Cagalli, struggling to find a balance between the two major powers, could hardly refuse such an overture.