The smoke of battle had yet to fully clear from Orb's homeland. Along the shattered streets, soldiers of the Orb Self-Defense Forces methodically cleared battlefield wreckage while medical personnel moved through the ruins, rescuing surviving civilians. Several Orb Self-Defense Forces aircraft patrolled low overhead, watching for any remaining LOGOS troops. Sunlight pierced the clouds and fell upon Red Mountain, scarred yet still standing, gilding the disaster-stricken city with a tragic golden rim.
On the Archangel's bridge, however, the atmosphere had not relaxed at all. A holographic screen clearly displayed the battlefield situation across Orb, its red markers steadily dwindling as the remaining enemies were eliminated. Mei Hock stood tall before the screen in a white commander's uniform, a lingering sharpness in his expression. Having just finished Orb's ground campaign, he still carried a faint smell of smoke, yet remained utterly composed. Beside him, Captain Murrue Ramius checked the hull damage report, her fingertips moving swiftly across the control panel, her expression focused. Kira Yamato leaned against a console as the Strike Freedom Gundam's energy consumption data flickered before him, his brow slightly furrowed as though considering their next deployment. Athrun Zala stood with his arms folded, his solemn gaze resting on Orb's star chart, clearly weighing the movements of LOGOS's remaining forces. Heine Westenfluss stood on the other side with a faint post-battle smile; the Earth Gundam's weapons had completed their preliminary maintenance and were ready for another sortie. Mu La Flaga leaned beside a viewport, lightly tapping its frame. The Akatsuki Gundam's golden finish flashed through his mind. Following Orb's emergency modifications, the machine had become his most reliable fighting asset.
"The remaining LOGOS troops in Orb's homeland have largely been eliminated. Only a handful of undercover operatives remain. We can leave the follow-up sweeps to the Orb Self-Defense