Beneath the solid ice layer, several submarines sailed tightly in formation. In the most ornate conference room of one submarine, two high-ranking Atlantic Federation officials sat side by side, each facing a mechanical-laden box.
"About time, isn't it? Shall we begin?"
"Mm."
Both retrieved identical small keys from around their necks, inserting them into the keyholes before them.
"May this sacrifice bring the war to an early end."
"For the sake of a pure blue world. Three, two, one."
The keys turned simultaneously. Nothing happened at the scene, but thousands of miles away in Alaska...
...
The Archangel led the surviving allied fleet through the breach torn open by Gundam Virtue without pause. Gundam Exia, Gundam Cherudim, and Gundam Virtue guarded the fleet's perimeter while Dawn Gundam and Freedom Gundam took up the rear, vigilant against potential pursuers.
Though combat hadn't ceased entirely after Yang Hui confirmed Kira's announcement, its intensity had diminished significantly. The ZAFT Forces' offensive momentum slowed, with increasing numbers of enemy units retreating through the breached Great Gate.
The Earth Forces ignored all else, desperately following the breakout fleet to escape the chaos.
"Almost there... just a bit more—"
"Beep beep beep—"
Before Murrue could finish, an urgent report came in.
"Intense energy radiation detected within Alaska Base! The Cyclops System has activated!"
"Full power ahead! Evacuate immediately!"
A microwave storm of terrifying power swept across everything. Machinery, human bodies, structures—all vanished in an instant, reduced to dust under extreme heat before fusing into charred remains. Violent flames shot skyward as a brilliant mushroom cloud blossomed overhead.
"No! How could—" The hesitant ZAFT commander stared in shock. His indecision about ordering a full retreat had cost his forces dearly. Without Yang Hui's intervention, ZAFT would have lost over 70% of its forces here. Now it was only 50%—had he acted decisively, casualties might have been limited to 20%.
"We've been outplayed by the Naturals," Creuset lamented with feigned grief for the heavy losses, though inwardly furious. Yang Hui's unexpected appearance had undermined his plans.
"Incoming transmission from Carpentaria Base!"
"What now?"
"Orb... Orb has launched an attack on the Oceania Federation's occupied territories! Torres Strait has fallen, Port Moresby and Gulf of Papua are lost! Orb forces are advancing into Papua New Guinea!"
"What?!"
"What in the world is happening?"
Even Creuset's composure shattered. He'd never anticipated Orb would enter the conflict proactively, seizing Port Moresby, Gulf of Papua and Torres Strait—the only return route for their expeditionary force!
If Orb truly held these positions, only two retreat options remained: either pass through the East Asian Republic's territorial waters back to Carpentaria Base, or take the long Arctic detour to Gibraltar Base.
Neither of these two paths was easy to traverse, let alone for their current battered forces—plagued by numerous wounded and severe shortages of supplies.
They urgently needed to clarify what had happened at the Carpentaria Base.
"The message states that when we engaged in battle, the Orb fleet left their territorial waters and moved toward Papua New Guinea, advancing in four separate routes. One group established a defensive line in the Torres Strait, another halted operations at the Osprey Reef, a third directly occupied Port Moresby, and the main force landed in the Gulf of Papua."
"What about the forces at Carpentaria Base? Did they just stand by and watch?" Creuset demanded.
"No, the garrison forces at Carpentaria Base mobilized as well. But the enemy's defensive line was too tight, and Orb deployed their MS units. Our forces were outmatched and had no choice but to retreat back to Carpentaria Base."
"Tch, utterly useless!" Creuset cursed. The garrison forces at Carpentaria Base weren't insignificant in number, yet Orb—a nation of limited scale—shouldn't have had such a large military. The fact that they were blocked by a mere small fleet indicated that the enemy had already set up a flawless defensive line before engagement. It also meant they only noticed the enemy's movements when they were already at their doorstep. What else could that be but sheer incompetence!?
"What should we do now?" the acting commander asked Creuset. Originally, Creuset was the overall commander of this operation, but since he needed to pilot an MS in battle, temporary command had been delegated.
"...Has the battle there concluded?" Creuset inquired.
"No concrete updates yet."
"...Retrieve all MS units. The fleet will submerge and return to the Gibraltar Base via the Arctic Ocean."
"But—"
"This is our only viable path. The East Asian Republic won't let us pass through." Creuset was equally frustrated. Though it seemed like there were two options, in reality, only one remained—returning to Gibraltar Base via the Arctic Ocean.
"Understood."
Creuset had been in high spirits earlier, but now his mood had soured completely. Returning to his quarters, he removed his mask and slumped exhaustively into a chair.
"You're truly a formidable opponent. I didn't expect you to strike so swiftly and ambitiously! But... heh, the 'gift' I've prepared for the world isn't so easily countered. Yang Hui, let's see how this plays out."
...
Under the leadership of the Archangel, a significant portion of the allied fleet had survived. However, once they were out of danger, the forces dispersed. The Eurasian Federation troops returned to their homeland, while some of the abandoned Atlantic Federation soldiers also departed—still refusing to believe they had been discarded as pawns, they sought ways to return home.
Had it not been for the Archangel and MS like the Dawn Gundam rescuing them, they might have opened fire on the spot.
The Archangel took in the few who had completely lost faith in their superiors and anchored near a small island. They needed to decide their next course of action and, more importantly, to meet Kira and Yang Hui.
"Yang Hui!"
At the sight of him, Murrue and Natarle Badgiruel could no longer hold back. Uncaring of the others present, they threw themselves into his arms, weeping.
"Why... Why did it have to come to this..."
Murrue and Natarle Badgiruel felt utterly disillusioned with the Atlantic Federation's higher-ups. While they had previously found excuses to justify past actions, this betrayal and abandonment shattered the last vestiges of trust they held.
The military uniforms they once wore with pride now felt like needles against their skin, piercing their hearts with every moment.
"It's alright now. It's all over," Yang Hui whispered as he gently embraced Murrue and Natarle, offering comfort. He had long warned them about the Atlantic Federation's untrustworthy leadership—how they were nothing but scoundrels—yet they hadn't believed him. Now, faced with the harsh reality and the collapse of their faith, even Yang Hui struggled to console them.
"Yang Hui..."
"Come with me to Orb."
"...Okay."
After Murrue and Natarle agreed, Yang Hui turned to Mu and the others.
"Join us. Come to Orb. The Atlantic Federation has no place for you anymore."
"..." The group clenched their teeth, heads bowed. They knew returning to the Atlantic Federation was impossible. Even as discarded pawns, they were still soldiers—and they had violated orders by retreating from the battlefield without authorization. That alone was grounds for court-martial.
The sharper ones among them had already realized: in the Atlantic Federation's records, they were likely marked as dead. The higher-ups would never allow the truth to surface. Returning would only mean execution.
Orb was undoubtedly the best alternative. The neutral nation's peace was alluring, and with Yang Hui leading its military, they wouldn't be treated as expendable tools like the Atlantic Federation's leadership had done.
But... aside from Miriallia, Sai, and Katz, the others, like Murrue and Natarle, had once seen their uniforms as symbols of faith. Even shattered, that belief didn't vanish entirely. The idea of becoming traitors was hard to swallow.
When no immediate answers came, Yang Hui didn't press them. Instead, he turned his gaze toward another direction—where the Freedom Gundam stood, and Kira, clad in a ZAFT pilot suit, approached.
"Yang Hui, everyone..."
"Welcome back, Kira."
"Yeah... Thank you, Yang Hui. I got your gift—though I can't say I like it."
"Kira... It really is you!"
Even face-to-face, Murrue and the others struggled to believe Kira was alive.
"Long time no see, Captain, Lieutenant, Major... everyone." He offered them a warm smile.
"Kira!" Snapping out of their shock, they rushed to surround him, their joy at the reunion momentarily overshadowing their grief and anger. Flay threw herself into his arms, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Flay... I'm back."
"Waaah! Don't you ever do that again! You scared me to death! Waaah...!"
Kira had come to understand many things—including the twisted nature of his and Flay's feelings. He knew now, even if only faintly, that he loved her. This reunion made it impossible to ignore any longer. Yang Hui was right—a man had to take responsibility. Whether Flay's love for him remained distorted didn't matter. Even if it was, he would help her untangle it.
"You punk!"
"Why are you here?"
"You...you're really...not a ghost, are you?"
"No, I'm not." Kira responded to everyone, moving through the crowd until he stood before Sai. His expression was initially complicated but soon cleared.
"Sai, I'm sorry..."
"You bastard!" Sai punched Kira, tears glistening in his eyes. "But you're alive...that's what matters!"
"Yeah, sorry for worrying you." Kira wasn't angry—instead, he smiled warmly, knowing Sai's concern was genuine. Compared to the complicated relationship between the three of them, Sai cared more about Kira's safety.
"Did you go to ZAFT?" Mu asked.
"Yes, but I'm not with ZAFT—nor the Earth Forces."
"Huh?"
"I understand." Murrue and Natarle stepped away from Yang Hui's embrace. There was much they needed to discuss with Kira. As for his claim of belonging to neither side, no one questioned it—after all, they were in the same position now.
"What about that Mobile Suit? What should we do?" Murrue asked. Since Kira had returned and reunited with them, they would likely be working together for the time being.
"If you're asking about maintenance and supplies, it's not needed yet. That unit is equipped with a Neutron Jammer Canceller."
"A Neutron Jammer Canceller? So...it's nuclear-powered!"
"If you intend to extract its data, I'll refuse and leave immediately. If you try to take it by force, I'll protect it—even if it means fighting you."
"Kira..."
"You..."
Murrue and the others stared at Kira in disbelief—not because of his words, but because of the unwavering resolve in his eyes. They had never seen such determination from him before.
"That includes you, Yang Hui."
"Pfft—HAHAHA!" Sensing Kira's hostility, Yang Hui and Lyle burst into laughter. Even Setsuna and Tieria, who usually wore icy expressions, couldn't help but smirk.
(End of Chapter)