"So the war ends here?"
"Left hanging unresolved just like this?"
Reappearing in everyone's sight, Creuset's Red Mantis self-destruction had failed to eliminate Wang Hu.
While those around were secretly marveling at how the East Asian Army had developed yet another remarkable weapon, they didn't realize that Wang Hu inside the Nu Gundam was tapping on the control panel, thinking about how to reignite the war.
Lacus's strategy was something he hadn't anticipated - that she could find a way to survive from what seemed like an inevitable dead end.
It truly felt like she had played him for a fool.
How could he possibly accept this? How could he let Lacus reverse the situation like this?
After all, victory had been delivered right to the East Asian Army's doorstep.
Just one more step forward and PLANT would be completely overrun. After that, at this stage in the CE world,
there would be no remaining force that could hinder the East Asian Federation's march toward global unification.
However, including Wang Hu himself, all East Asian soldiers on the battlefield, no matter how much they hoped for the war to resume so they could take advantage of the situation to overrun PLANT, were bound by their duty to obey orders. After the high command issued the ceasefire order,
without proper justification and before the enemy fired the first shot,
not a single one dared to cross the line. Things like insubordination or military acting independently
were absolutely impossible in the East Asian Army.
This was the downside of being a righteous army - even when counterattacking had brought them to besieging the enemy capital,
once strict military orders were issued, the massive army would pack up and withdraw.
"Is Patrick dead?"
Almost simultaneously during this period, many East Asian soldiers cursed and expressed their hopes.
But the already deceased Patrick was destined not to fulfill their wishes, not to provide that gunshot that would allow the East Asian Army to attack again.
"You actually managed to do it?"
Wang Hu had shut down the GRASS System, so C.C., who was affected by this system,
also got up from the floor of Genesis's central control room.
She seemed to be in decent mental state, even able to pose questions to Lacus who had just finished her speech.
"Because that's how humans are."
"They want their brothers to do well, but not better than themselves."
"When it comes to their own interests, what is truly impossible?"
"It's quite tragic, isn't it? But this is human nature and the reason why we can never truly unite."
Answering C.C.'s question, despite having just saved PLANT's fate, Lacus showed no joy on her face.
Instead, she sadly lowered her eyelids,
making those around her feel deep heartache, wishing they could go over and comfort the tearful girl in their arms.
"Hehehe, that's indeed very human behavior."
Though she hadn't been in this world long, in her own world she had seen and heard too many things.
C.C. nodded slightly to show her understanding.
For those at the pinnacle of power in the human world, only their own interests truly mattered.
As for something like the hatred over one billion deaths from the Neutron Jammer?
What was that supposed to be?
What's there to mourn about the lives of mere cattle?
After all, the actual death toll hasn't been officially disclosed yet. To prevent public outcry afterward,
and to avoid stirring rebellious sentiments among the lower-class cattle,
they can simply dismiss it as fake news and refuse to acknowledge it.
They've already managed to divide gender into double digits, creating all sorts of saints that defy human nature.
They can turn black into white and make the public believe it.
When it comes to controlling their populace, the relevant nations outside the East Asian Alliance have their own unique expertise.
For instance, by creating other media distractions, the governed masses will quickly forget the pain brought by the Neutron Jammers,
turning instead to chase new hotspots and engage in endless, fervent debates.
Then, with some slight manipulation, the public will soon abandon the old hotspot and pursue a new one.
This cycle repeats, endless and unbroken.
Reality has proven that such tactics are far from fictitious. Many once nationally sensational news stories,
over time, eventually fade from memory.
Only when those with vested interests wish to exploit them are they dragged back into the public eye,
reawakening the world's memory of these events.
"How pitiful, the human collective."
Rising and walking to the console screen, C.C. gazed at the battlefield that moments ago was filled with raging warfare but now lay silent and still.
She let out a deeply contemplative sigh.
"And then? Do you really think the East Asian Federation will just let it go?"
Turning her head, C.C. posed another question.
"They won't so easily relinquish a victory already within their grasp."
"I know."
Lowering her eyelids, Lacus didn't deny that the East Asian Federation would willingly surrender a victory they had nearly secured.
"But under current pressures, they will ultimately grant our Coordinator brethren some time."
"Later, we can stir public opinion, using this ceasefire to attack the power structures of various nations."
"Even employing tactics to split the Atlantic Federation—those are matters for the future."
"Actually, this works better for you and for PLANT, doesn't it?"
Hearing this, C.C.'s smile brightened. Not being foolish, she had guessed Lacus's subsequent plans.
History had shown that PLANT's strength alone could, at best, hold off the Atlantic Federation single-handedly.
When facing the disunited Allied Forces, their mutual hindrance created the illusion
of the ZAFT Forces' invincible, grand victories at the war's outset.
But if a pillar of strength emerged within the Allied Forces, or if the dragon opened its eyes and ceased pretending to sleep,
PLANT would be utterly incapable of resistance.
Therefore, it's necessary to divide the Naturals and undermine the already fragile alliance of the Allied Forces.
No doubt, the woman before her, Lacus, would spare no effort to incite various conflicts within the Earth Sphere,
ensuring the East Asian Federation's attention isn't confined solely to space but also heavily focused on dynamics within the Gravity Well.
Indirectly, even if reluctantly, PLANT's long-term strategy must inevitably involve playing the role of a troublemaker.
"Miss Lacus wishes for us to accept your peace negotiations, but to demonstrate sincerity, shouldn't you first hand over the weapon of mass destruction in your possession—Genesis?"
Just when Lacus and her companions thought the overall situation was settled, believing the remaining matters would merely involve leveraging advantages at the negotiation table—utilizing the various representatives' personal agendas, whether through alliances or rivalries, to collectively counter the East Asian Federation's aggressiveness—a earth-shattering voice erupted, suspending everyone's hearts in tension.
"Without a doubt, ZAFT bears undeniable responsibility for the outbreak of this war. Therefore, all mid-to-high-ranking officers from top to bottom must face trial in court."
"Furthermore, to prevent the recurrence of war, and considering that warmongers remain hidden within PLANT itself, the East Asian Army has the right to station troops in the Satellite Colonies to assist and supervise your efforts in identifying those who oppose peace negotiations—the malignant elements."
"Oh, and we have received reliable intelligence indicating that the Library, a notorious terrorist organization from past eras that trafficked in war, is currently operating within ZAFT Forces. This must be thoroughly eradicated."
"Additionally, during our previous operations, some of our soldiers went missing on missions. We request that you hand them over as well."
"And let me add—"
Wang Hu emulated Lacus's approach by delivering a wide-area broadcast to all soldiers on the battlefield.
Piece by piece, Wang Hu tossed out one demand after another, each deliberately provoking the psychological limits of the Coordinator soldiers on the battlefield. His goal was to incite them to fire the first shot.
"Surrender Genesis? Station troops in PLANT? Eliminate the Library? Hand over missing soldiers? And all those—"
Blinking, Lacus understood perfectly well why Wang Hu was putting on such a show. However, the immediate priority wasn't to outright reject all his demands but to find a way to gloss over them. Suddenly, she turned her gaze toward C.C. behind her.
This soldier he referred to must be her!
Then she would start by breaking through on this point, arguing that Wang Hu's demand was unreasonable, and then proceed to refute each one sequentially, striving for a favorable turning point.
With a bewildered expression, C.C. pointed a slender finger at herself, her face a mix of confusion and strangeness.
Did she possess such great charm?
After all, she had previously tricked them and fled to Lacus's side to watch the drama unfold. Could it be that Wang Hu still held such a lingering attachment to her?
Was he naively assuming that she had been taken hostage by Lacus and her group?
"Stop joking around!"
A roar echoed in the ears of soldiers from both armies. If not for Dearka restraining him, Yzak would have attacked Wang Hu the moment he appeared, disregarding the ceasefire and the risk of reigniting the war.
He had been suppressing his emotions all along, but upon hearing Wang Hu's baseless, provocative remarks, the white-haired pilot violently broke free from his friend Dearka's grasp and raised his gun from the cockpit of his modified Qilin.
"Yes, just like that. This is exactly what we need."
At that moment, countless East Asian soldiers watched with bated breath, their excited hearts nearly leaping from their throats. Every East Asian soldier stared intently at Yzak's finger, poised to pull the trigger.
If even the slightest beam had appeared from the opponent's gun barrel, you'd have seen it.
The East Asian Army soldiers, boiling with suppressed anger, would have made sure to rearrange these ZAFT Forces in eighteen different ways.
Otherwise, they'd have gladly smashed their heads against a block of tofu.
"Yzak, don't!"
Seeing the impulsive and reckless Yzak, Dearka immediately shouted in alarm.
"Don't fall for it, and don't open fire!"
"That's exactly what he wants you to do!Turning a deaf ear, Yzak paid no attention to Dearka's persuasion from behind. Caught up in the heat of the moment, he really pulled the trigger.
Wang Hu was delighted to see this. He had already prepared himself to take a direct hit from Yzak.
To make the reason for reigniting the war more justified, Wang Hu had even planned to manually deactivate the PS Armor at the very moment the beam was about to strike him.
However, with his hand hovering over the button to deactivate the PS Armor, Wang Hu ultimately couldn't bring himself to press it.
Because, just before Yzak's attack beam could leave the barrel, a red figure stepped in front of Yzak.
Drawing his swords, a dual-blade style flashed, and a disarmed mobile suit floated in space.
It turned out to be Athrun, who had been missing. He had returned at the critical moment and personally disarmed his comrade completely.
"What a pity."
Wang Hu showed an expression of deep regret, and at the same time, more East Asian Army soldiers felt their hearts break.
"But it doesn't matter."
Having been disappointed so many times today, Wang Hu had grown accustomed to it. He looked up toward the direction of Genesis.
"I've laid out so many conditions—I refuse to believe there aren't a few hot-blooded individuals in the ZAFT Forces. Moreover, Lacus, would you dare to agree to all of them?"
"If you refuse to comply, as long as General Zheng behind me cooperates, finding trouble won't be difficult at all!"
Thus, with Yzak nearly unable to restrain himself from firing the first shot, Lacus didn't dare to delay any further, fearing that more reckless soldiers might lose their temper.
And cause unnecessary complications. The pink diva, with a calm smile, quickly appeared on the public communication channel and said to Wang Hu:
"Colonel Wang Hu, is this Miss C.C. the missing soldier you mentioned?"
"However, according to her, Miss C.C. is not an active-duty soldier of the East Asian Army. Moreover, due to my previous interactions with her—"
"As comrades on the path to peace, she has voluntarily decided to assist me and become my ally."
"C.C.?"
Under everyone's gaze, Wang Hu appeared completely unfazed.
"False. Under your coercion, she would naturally say that to protect herself."
"It would be strange if she didn't say that. Lacus, now that I've seen C.C., I'm even more certain that the conditions I proposed are necessary."
"Hand over Genesis first, disarm all ZAFT Forces, and allow us to enter PLANT."
"Don't make me repeat these conditions again!"
"Hmm?"
Even with Lacus's temperament, she felt a flicker of annoyance as she watched Wang Hu's unreasonable and obstinate behavior.
Can't you understand what people are saying?
I already told you earlier that C.C. is voluntarily helping me!
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