The morning after our return to Orb began with a familiar, sluggish lethality. Awakening in the now-customary "mega-bed," the four of us—myself, Lemon, Cornelia, and Murrue—struggled against the lingering fatigue of the previous night's "celebration." However, duty is a relentless mistress. I had an appointment with Uzumi and the Orb government, and "five more minutes" wasn't an option for the man who had just effectively won a world war.
We gathered in the dining hall, the air filled with the comforting aroma of breakfast prepared by Lemon and Murrue. Between bites, we mapped out the day.
"I'm heading to the Administration Office," I said, sipping my coffee. "What about you three?"
"I'm coming with you," Lemon said immediately. "I'm not letting you handle those sharks alone. Murrue? Cornelia?"
Cornelia set her fork down with military precision. "I intend to run combat trials with the Rapiecage. Lemon, I'll need to borrow a few 'W' units as sparring partners. Is that acceptable?"
"Sure. Use the mass-produced Gespenst Mk-IIs or the El Ahms," Lemon replied. "We have plenty of those. What about you, Murrue?"
Murrue hesitated for a moment, a small, wry smile tugging at her lips. "I'd love to spend the day exploring the White Star properly, but as someone who was at the heart of the development of the G-Project, I can't exactly sit out the post-war negotiations. I'll go to the city with Axel."
It made sense. Out of everyone here, Murrue Ramius was the most deeply entwined with the technological genesis of this war. Her presence added a layer of legitimacy that Shadow Mirror—a group of "outsiders"—couldn't provide on its own.
"Understood," I said. "And Echidna?"
"Actually," Lemon interjected, "I'd like Echidna to join Cornelia's training. It would be beneficial for both of them. Fighting a Special Type like the Vaisaga will provide Cornelia with the kind of high-intensity data she needs."
Cornelia's eyes sharpened. "The Vaisaga... I've seen what that machine can do. It would be a privilege to test myself against it. But is it wise to leave you without your primary guard?"
Lemon giggled. "Cornelia, look at who I'm standing next to. With Axel around, there isn't a terrorist or Blue Cosmos cell on this planet that poses a threat to us. I think we'll be fine."
Cornelia conceded the point with a chuckle, likely recalling the display of superhuman agility I'd shown when we first met back in her world.
"Then it's settled," Lemon said, standing up. "Let's get to work. We're in the home stretch now—let's not get sloppy."
The conference room in the Orb Administration Office was crowded. As I entered with Lemon and Murrue, I was met by a sea of familiar faces: Uzumi, Kisaka, Cagalli, Lacus, Waltfeld, Mu, Natarle, Kira, and Athrun. But it was the man standing near the head of the table who caught my eye.
He was an older man with a tanned, bald head and distinctive orange-tinted sunglasses. Unato Ema Seiran, the head of the Seiran family and the father of the insufferable Yuuna.
Unato stepped forward as I approached, extending a hand. "A pleasure to finally meet you, Captain Axel Almer. I must apologize for my son's... earlier indiscretions."
"Don't worry about it," I replied, shaking his hand. "We've received plenty of cooperation from your house since then. Let's call it even."
I noted the weight behind his gaze. Unlike his bumbling son, Unato had the presence of a man who survived decades of high-stakes politics. You don't lead one of the Five Great Houses of Orb by being a fool.
"I appreciate your magnanimity," Unato said, gesturing toward the table. "Representative Uzumi?"
"Yes," Uzumi said, nodding as we all took our seats. "Let us begin the preliminary discussions for the peace summit."
Across the table, Mu gave me a lazy wave and a wink, which I returned with a slight nod.
"Before we dive into the details," Uzumi began, "I want to clarify the roles of those present. Representing the interests of the Alliance—or at least the factions willing to talk—we have Lord Unato, and Natarle Badgiruel, who still holds her commission. For the PLANTs, we have Lacus Clyne and Andrew Waltfeld. Please remember: this is a foundation. We are here to iron out the terms that will be presented to the world."
I was slightly surprised to see Natarle sitting on the Alliance side, but it fit her character. Her sense of duty was her compass; she would represent her people even if she despised the leadership that had led them to ruin.
"Axel," Uzumi said, turning to me. "I believe Shadow Mirror has a list of requirements?"
I stood up, pulling a data slate from my jacket. "Our demands are as follows."
I laid them out, one by one, watching the expressions around the room shift from curiosity to shock.
Armament Quotas: Both the Alliance and PLANT will have their standing armies (MS, MA, and warships) capped based on population, GDP, and economic stability.
Reparations: Both sides will pay reparations to Shadow Mirror and Orb in the form of technology, capital, and raw resources.
War Crimes: Muruta Azrael and Patrick Zara will be tried as war criminals by a joint Shadow Mirror-Orb tribunal.
Borders: Current occupation lines will be recognized as permanent borders. If a territory is unmanageable, border adjustments may be negotiated.
PLANT Sovereignty: All prior "management fees" and tariff favors for the PLANT Sponsor Nations are declared fulfilled. No further colonial taxation will be permitted.
Inspections: Both sides must accept unconditional, unlimited inspections by Shadow Mirror and Orb observers.
NJC Ban: Military use of Neutron Jammer Cancellers is strictly prohibited for the Alliance and PLANT.
Mirage Colloid Ban: Military use of Mirage Colloid technology is strictly prohibited for the Alliance and PLANT.
Observer Bases (Earth): Shadow Mirror and Orb will maintain permanent observer bases at key military installations in the Atlantic Federation, Eurasia, and East Asia.
Observer Bases (Space): ZAFT will provide a military satellite to serve as the Shadow Mirror-Orb headquarters in orbital space.
Neutral Moon: The Moon is declared neutral territory. Shadow Mirror/Orb will hold two primary bases; the Alliance and PLANT will be permitted one small outpost each.
Compliance: These terms must be ratified and enacted by December 31, C.E. 71.
"That is all," I said, resuming my seat.
The room was deathly silent.
The terms were essentially a "Pax Shadow Mirror." They mirrored the Junius Treaty from the original timeline but were heavily weighted in our favor. By banning the Alliance and PLANT from using NJCs and Mirage Colloid—while notably leaving Orb and Shadow Mirror exempt—we were effectively ensuring that we remained the dominant military powers of the Earth sphere.
Furthermore, by giving the PLANTs favorable terms on borders and taxes (Points 4 and 5), I was aiming to stabilize Eileen Canaver's government. If she could show the people a win, it would prevent the radicalization that allowed Gilbert Durandal to rise to power in the original Destiny timeline.
"This is... quite the list," someone whispered from the Orb delegation.
I looked at Unato Seiran. He was glaring at me, his face a mask of controlled fury. As a man with ties to the Atlantic Federation's military-industrial complex (and likely Logos), these terms were a death sentence for his hidden interests. Lacus and Waltfeld, conversely, looked thoughtful. The terms were harsh, but for a PLANT that had been staring at total annihilation, they were a lifeline.
"Shadow Mirror considers these the minimum requirements for a stable peace," I said firmly. "Orb was attacked without provocation. The world was nearly ended by a genetic grudge match. This is the price of that failure."
Uzumi nodded slowly. He didn't look entirely comfortable with the scope of our authority, but he knew the alternative: a world where Shadow Mirror simply took what it wanted by force.
"I cannot speak for Chairperson Canaver with finality," Lacus said, her voice clear and resonant, "but personally, I find these conditions to be a necessary, if bitter, medicine for our world."
With Lacus's endorsement, the air seemed to leave the opposition's sails. Even Unato couldn't easily argue against the "Songstress of the PLANTs."
"Very well," Uzumi said. "We shall use Axel's proposal as the framework for the summit. However..."
Lacus raised a hand, her eyes locked onto mine. "Regarding Point 3. You wish to try Azrael and Zara in Orb. What, specifically, would their punishment be?"
The charisma of the "Songstress" was no joke. Even in a simple suit, she commanded the room.
I leaned back, considering. Personally? I wanted them both dead. A genocidal maniac who wanted to purge Coordinators and a supremacist who wanted to burn the Earth. Leaving them alive was a risk. But I knew the politics of this world. Executing them would turn them into martyrs for their respective extremist wings.
"Life imprisonment," I said. "Under strict supervision. But we have to be careful about where they are held."
If we kept Azrael in Alliance territory, he'd be broken out within a week. The same went for Zara in the PLANTs. A neutral country? They'd buckle under the first sign of diplomatic pressure.
"If no suitable location can be found on Earth or in the Colonies," I added, "we can house them on the White Star. My 'W' units make excellent, impartial jailers."
The idea of the two most powerful men in the world being locked away on an alien fortress guarded by unfeeling androids seemed to settle the matter. No one—not even Unato—dared to object.
The blueprint for the new world had been drawn. Now, all that remained was to see if the world was strong enough to survive the peace.
Pilot Data: Axel Almer
Level: 38 | Kills: 374
Stats: Melee: 262 | Ranged: 282 | Skill: 272 | Defense: 272 | Evade: 302 | Hit: 322
Spirit Commands: Accel (4), Effort (8), Focus (16), Direct Hit (30), Zeal (32), Love (48)
Abilities: T-LINK System Lv.10, Attacker, Gunfight Lv.9, Infight Lv.9, Morale Limit Break, Geass (Grey), SP Boost.
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