Nearly a month has passed since the Gryps Conflict, also known as the "Miracle of the Aurora."
During this month, with Cagalli acting as a mediator, the Earth Alliance and ZAFT signed a temporary ceasefire agreement at the Orb colonial satellite, Mendel.
Subsequently, by cross-referencing and consolidating three sets of intelligence—the data sent by Plant's Durandal before his death, the intelligence gathered by Orb, and the testimony of Halberton from the Earth Alliance's 8th Fleet—it was confirmed that the three factions of Blue Cosmos, Logos, and Librarian Works were the instigators of the war and were anti-human in nature.
The three parties signing the ceasefire knew full well that these were merely scapegoats—found to temporarily soothe the tensions between Coordinators and Naturals and to prevent the conflicts, which had been suppressed by the Unicorn's "Miracle of the Aurora," from intensifying again. However, because these groups had indeed lit the fuse of the war, everyone found it much easier to deal with them.
Under the heavy propaganda of neutral media contacted by Orb, both Plant and the Earth Alliance launched a vigorous hunt for these three factions.
Aside from Librarian Works, of which only the wreckage of their headquarters was found, a large number of Blue Cosmos and Logos bases and members were discovered, destroyed, and killed on the spot.
During this period, a vast amount of data and footage regarding the "Intelligent AI Combat Modules" and "Extended Humans" promoted by Blue Cosmos were discovered, and these two technologies were subsequently destroyed.
As for the cloning technology provided to Durandal by Librarian Works, considering its potential medical benefits, an exception was made: both sides would seal part of it, while sharing the cloning technology related to organ replacement.
Lacus, who founded the organization known as "Terminal," received recognition from both sides. Plant and the Earth Alliance provided extensive support to prevent a recurrence of situations like Blue Cosmos and Logos.
After the Earth Alliance, Plant, and Orb jointly signed the Terminal Support Agreement, Lacus delivered a speech regarding a peace initiative between Naturals and Coordinators at the wreckage of Junius 7.
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Night fell on the bridge of the Nahel Argama.
"Are you still looking?"
The bridge doors slid open, and Murrue entered, carrying two cups of coffee.
In the dim light of the bridge, Badgiruel sat at the CIC station, her eyes fixed on the monitors as she continuously adjusted parameters, searching for something.
"I won't give up until I find him."
An exhausted Badgiruel leaned back against her chair, looking as if the air had been let out of her.
"But you need to rest," Murrue said, handing one of the cups to Badgiruel. "If he could see you, he wouldn't want you to neglect your health like this."
"Yeah... if he were still here..." Badgiruel took the coffee. "He'd probably give me a lecture and tell me to stop looking."
"But I can't accept it. I don't believe he's dead." Badgiruel's voice grew somber. "If he's alive, I want to see him. If he's dead, I want to find his body."
Seeing her so despondent, Murrue shook her head.
"I don't want to believe he's dead either." She leaned against the CIC console, looking out the viewport at the pitch-black spaceport. "He vanished, and for some reason, the Blue Haro has entered a complete shutdown state... I think there has to be a connection there."
"But right now, everyone thinks Roz is dead. It feels like we're the only two left looking for him," Badgiruel sighed helplessly. "Anyway, have you heard anything new lately?"
"Just the usual—the massive cleanup operations against Blue Cosmos and Logos... nothing about the aurora, the wings, or the Unicorn." Murrue shared the intelligence she had gathered. "However, it's said that since Lacus placed the Peace Declaration Memorial at the wreckage of Junius 7 last week... strong electrical currents have been observed nearby."
"Those currents are becoming more apparent as time passes. Apparently, to prevent Blue Cosmos remnants from hiding there, the Alliance is forming a joint fleet to search the area. They start assembling in a few days."
As Murrue's voice trailed off, the bridge fell back into silence, filled only by the white noise of the instruments and the clicking of Badgiruel's keyboard.
"The Nahel Argama won't be part of that fleet, but the former crew of the Archangel will be assigned to a new Archangel-class ship provided by the Earth Alliance to Terminal for the investigation." Murrue paused, considering her words. "I want the Nahel Argama to sortie independently to find Roz, alongside the Haros."
Badgiruel rhythmically pressed the button to cycle through communication channels. The only sound in the quiet bridge was the clicking of that single key.
Finally, a communication ID appeared on the screen—one she knew by heart. Badgiruel froze slightly.
It was the Unicorn's dedicated channel, the one Roz used most frequently. She used to hear him say the strangest things on this frequency every day.
But for a month now, this channel had been as silent as the grave.
After staring at the unresponsive channel for a long time, Badgiruel sighed. It was the same every night; she had been listening to this static for a month, and nothing had happened. Tonight would be no different.
Just as she was about to switch channels again—
"Bzzzt... I believe that between Naturals and Coordinators..."
Suddenly, Lacus's voice broke through the channel that was supposed to be dead silent.
The unexpected sound jolted both of them.
"The Peace Initiative Declaration?"
Badgiruel's fingers flew across the keyboard as she traced the source of the transmission. "Why is this playing on Roz's channel?"
Keep in mind, this was Roz's private channel; the number of people who even knew it existed was incredibly small.
"Where are the transmission coordinates?"
Hearing this news, Murrue's eyes widened. She spun around to stare at the data on the CIC console.
"...Relaying through a signal station... it's the wreckage of Junius 7?!"
As she identified the source of the transmission, Badgiruel's eyes widened as well.
While the two stood there in shock, Lacus's speech on the comms quickly came to an end. Then, a string of numbers was sent through the channel.
"It's coordinates. This location..."
Looking at the numbers that had just appeared and the channel which had begun replaying Lacus's "Peace Declaration," Badgiruel instinctively frowned.
"...The Junius 7 wreckage. If these coordinates are right, it's the very center of the debris—the area most tightly encased by those strange electrical currents."
Upon seeing the coordinates, Murrue instinctively opened a star map. After comparing them, her brow furrowed.
The bridge fell into silence once more, but the atmosphere was no longer one of helpless oppression; instead, it felt like the split second before the first light of dawn.
"Even if it's a dragon's lair, we have to break in."
Murrue raised her head and looked at Badgiruel. "We're going to bring him back."
At that moment, the exhaustion in Badgiruel's eyes vanished completely, as if she had been restored to her former self.
"I'll go gather the crew."
Without needing another word, the two hurriedly saved the coordinates and walked out of the bridge.
The oppressive clouds had finally been parted just a fraction, and through that small opening, a few faint rays of sunlight were cast down.
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Early the next morning, the Nahel Argama became bustling with life once again.
Former crew members of the Archangel, a portion of the Haros who had just received their physical bodies, and Mu, who had brought a squad along after joining Orb's Murasame squadron... everyone connected to Roz had returned to the Nahel Argama, working tirelessly.
The loading of MS units and supplies, the filling of ammunition... every task proceeded in an orderly fashion.
"Last night, Badgiruel and I heard Miss Lacus's 'Peace Declaration' on Roz's private communication channel."
Standing before the crowd, Natarle Badgiruel recounted the events of the previous night. She pulled a USB drive containing the coordinates from her pocket. "Furthermore, we received a set of coordinates located within the Junius 7 wreckage—specifically the area codenamed the 'Thunderbolt Sector,' which a joint fleet is currently preparing to explore."
"This is an operation we decided on independently. We don't know for sure if Roz will be there... it's possible this will all end up being for nothing."
Murrue looked at the people before her and, alongside Badgiruel, gave a deep, solemn bow. "Thank you all so much for your help."
"Captain, there's no need for that."
At that moment, Marvin stepped forward, his movements slightly stiff as he controlled his body. "Everyone here is alive because of Big Brother Roz."
This stiffness was a lingering side effect of the operation to destroy that massive structure at Gryps. Although the Blue Haro had handled the bulk of the decryption calculations, Marvin had still processed a portion of it. The massive data stream had caused his brain to bypass its cooling limits, maintaining a high temperature. While it didn't leave him permanently impaired, it resulted in a tremor-like side effect when controlling his motor functions.
"As long as you say the word, everyone will come back to help you."
"Exactly, this is a matter of duty."
Noticing the somewhat heavy atmosphere, Mu stepped out from the crowd to lighten the mood. "Besides, that guy has been missing for so long—doesn't he know people are at home waiting for that bastard? Just watch us drag him back and deliver him straight to your rooms."
"Mr. Roz... he once saved my broken life."
As Shinn spoke, he instinctively squeezed Stellar's hand, completely failing to notice Lunamaria standing right behind him, her eyes narrowing slightly.
"I also want to do something for him."
"I'm sorry, I don't know what else to say..."
Murrue listened to her comrades, who had reassembled here simply because she and Badgiruel said they were "going to find Roz." "Once again, thank you all very much."
Soon, as the final supplies were loaded onto the Nahel Argama, the ship smoothly departed from the spaceport under the direction of the Orb military.
The thrusters erupted with intense flames as the ship accelerated rapidly toward the Junius 7 wreckage zone.
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Junius 7—the most sorrowful memory of the Plants, the target once detonated by Blue Cosmos using nuclear missiles.
In the recent "Miracle of the Aurora" battle, it had reappeared as an image coalesced from aurora light, successfully blocking a direct blast from the Gryps colony laser.
After Lacus sealed her "Peace Declaration" recording into a stone monument and cast it into Junius 7, the area had changed. A massive amount of inexplicably appearing lightning had transformed Junius 7 into what people now called the "Thunderbolt Sector."
And the changes did not stop there.
"Flowers?"
Looking at the scene before her, even Murrue, who had already reviewed the intelligence reports, couldn't help but freeze in shock.
Amidst the violent lightning, for some unknown reason, the bodies that once drifted through Junius 7 had all vanished. In their place, multi-colored flowers were blooming across the shattered wreckage of the colony and the remnants of human architecture.
Near the debris adorned with blooming flowers, rainbows even appeared. This sight, which completely defied common sense, left everyone dazed.
"We're approaching the coordinates..." Miriallia wiped a bead of sweat from her forehead as she monitored the various interference readings on the CIC. "The local interference... it's incredibly strong."
As if detecting the approaching Nahel Argama, a thick bolt of lightning suddenly formed and struck the ship, accompanied by Miriallia's exclamation. Simultaneously, a steel structure floating nearby was swept up by the lightning and hurled toward the Nahel Argama.
"No damage to the hull yet, but it's hard to say if we can keep taking these currents and impacts," Sai muttered, checking the status of the area hit by the lightning while frowning.
"In other words, we just have to avoid getting hit, right?" Arnold, the helmsman, stared at the marked coordinates and the lightning barrier blocking the way. "Hold on tight! Don't get thrown out of your seats!"
Unless absolutely necessary, no one wanted to open fire within the ruins of Junius 7. Facing the metallic structures propelled by the lightning, Arnold was confident he could pilot the Nahel Argama through the chaos.
The Nahel Argama's thrusters roared with thick flames as the warship charged into the dense lightning at high speed.
As if drawn to the ship, steel structures of various sizes came crashing toward them. Under Arnold's expert hands, the Nahel Argama performed a barrel roll, dodging the incoming metal. The structures continued forward on their original trajectory like unguided missiles.
But clearly, it wasn't going to be that simple.
A massive section of Junius 7's central axis came hurtling toward the ship at extreme speed. Facing the satellite axis that was now locked onto them like a runaway truck, even Arnold felt his scalp go numb.
"Fire the Lohengrin!"
Murrue did not hesitate. She ordered the use of the positron cannons to destroy the incoming axis. She knew that now was not the time for sentimentality; if they didn't deal with this massive debris, the Nahel Argama might be smashed to pieces.
Badgiruel pressed the fire button. Eight positron cannons deployed across the Nahel Argama. After a split-second charge, they fired into the central axis.
Eight red-and-white beams struck the target. The extreme heat melted the axis's armor, and the violent energy dissipated throughout its interior.
Finally, with a massive explosion, the axis shattered into a cloud of fragments. The force of the blast was so great that it ignored the Nahel Argama's "gravity," sending shards flying in every direction.
Passing through the debris, the coordinates were right ahead. It was surrounded by lightning and steel structures, but everyone's spirits soared when they saw a faint light appearing within.
It was the emerald Aurora.
"Magnify the image!"
Following Murrue's urgent command, the gap where the green aurora appeared was rapidly zoomed in.
Everyone saw it: a wing formed of aurora light, like a phoenix waiting to be reborn from the flames.
Suddenly, from behind Murrue, a low hum of white noise signaled a machine starting up, drawing everyone's attention.
"Cub?"
Looking at the Blue Haro whose eyes were blinking before finally returning to their steady, glowing state, Murrue was surprised. "What happened? You've been offline this whole time."
The Blue Haro did not answer the question directly. Instead, it spoke a single sentence.
"Roz... is right there, within the lightning..."
The Blue Haro's voice sounded incredibly exhausted, but it acted as a shot of adrenaline for the crew.
"Go... bring him back..."
-----------------------------------
Looking at those wings formed of aurora light, encased within the raging lightning.
"The lightning density and amount of debris in this area are far higher than before. The warship's profile and gravitational pull are too large... it seems we'll have to use MS units after all."
Watching the electrical web—now denser than ever—and the metallic wreckage shifting continuously within it, Murrue instinctively clenched her fists.
"In that case... Marvin?"
Facing such a high-intensity long-distance dash, Murrue naturally thought of Marvin, who had previously piloted the Narrative Gundam through the Earth Alliance's defensive lines.
"No, I can no longer pilot an MS," Marvin's voice came through the comms. "During that operation to destroy Gryps, my brain was nearly fried. Right now, even controlling my own body is a struggle."
"Perhaps this is what they call retirement."
There was a hint of helplessness in Marvin's tone as he spoke.
"But if that's the case..."
Hearing Marvin's words, Badgiruel's brow furrowed instinctively.
"Then Captain Murrue and Captain Badgiruel should pilot the Narrative together."
In the comms, Marvin shook his head and offered his solution. "The maintenance crew and I modified it into a two-seater for you. You shouldn't have any trouble operating it together."
"Besides, I know you both want to see Big Brother Roz as soon as possible."
Marvin's words left both Murrue and Badgiruel in silence.
They did indeed want to see Roz again—they were desperate to be by his side this very second—but they would never allow their personal desires to lead to an irreversible disaster.
"Don't worry, Captain."
At that moment, Arnold gave Murrue and Badgiruel a thumbs-up.
"The Nahel Argama will be fine. We've got things covered here."
"I'll lead the squad to clear the path for you."
Mu's voice rang out in the communication channel. He had suited up early and was already sitting in the cockpit of the Strike. "You just focus on piloting the suit, getting through the lightning web, and closing in on Roz."
"...Thank you."
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Inside the cockpit of the Narrative Gundam, although Marvin had upgraded it to an all-view panoramic monitor, the conversion to a two-seater made the space feel somewhat cramped due to the suit's original dimensions.
Since they hadn't expected to be the ones piloting, Murrue and Badgiruel had to wear pilot suits that didn't quite fit properly. The constriction across their chests made their breathing feel slightly shallow and hurried.
However, these were minor obstacles to be overcome; at the very least, they didn't care in the slightest.
As the elevator moved, the Narrative Gundam, armed with its beam rifle and shield, was slowly moved onto the catapult deck.
"Captain Murrue, Captain Badgiruel, this is CIC, Miriallia."
In the panoramic cockpit, Miriallia's communication window popped up. "The MS units have already sorted. They are currently destroying the steel debris that could pose a threat."
"Your primary objective is to break through the interception web formed by the lightning."
Miriallia explained the upcoming operation as a schematic diagram appeared beside her.
"If Cub is telling the truth, then Roz and the Unicorn are right behind that lightning."
"You two... you must succeed."
"Yes... we will definitely bring him back."
Murrue took a deep breath and flicked down her helmet visor.
"I'll be in charge of attacking any approaching debris," Badgiruel said, her hands gripping the control sticks as she stared at the screens. "The flight maneuvers are in your hands, Murrue."
Lifted by the elevator, the Narrative Gundam finally arrived at the catapult deck.
Outside, the Nahel Argama's anti-air batteries had already opened fire, and the MS units were busy destroying the drifting wreckage ahead.
"Murrue Ramius. Natarle Badgiruel."
Murrue gripped the controls and shoved the throttle forward. "Narrative Gundam, launching!"
As the pedals were depressed, the Narrative's backpack thrusters erupted with thick flames, propelling the mobile suit toward the terrifying web of lightning.
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Violent bolts of lightning continued to form and drift through the void.
Although the Nahel Argama and the MS units were constantly clearing away the metallic wreckage that could turn into "missiles," the alarms inside the Narrative Gundam's cockpit never stopped blaring.
Murrue operated the suit with a touch of stiffness, dodging the arcs of lightning that lashed out at them.
Meanwhile, Badgiruel, while staying vigilant for any incoming debris, noticed something that Murrue—who was entirely focused on piloting—had missed.
"Murrue... the suit's interface, it seems to be turning red?"
Watching the screens transition from their original blue-and-white state to a gradual crimson stain, Badgiruel's eyes widened slightly.
"Bzzzt... That's the NT-D, the sign of the Newtype Destroyer system activating," Marvin's voice came through the light static of the comms. "But you two shouldn't be able to trigger the NT-D... so, is it a resonance between the Psycho-Frame?"
"The suit... it's becoming more responsive."
At that moment, Murrue felt her control over the machine become significantly smoother.
"The Psycho-Frame is reading your brainwaves and fine-tuning the suit," Marvin continued over the channel. "You're very close to the target coordinates now. Charge through in one go!"
The Narrative Gundam dipped slightly, evading the final surge of high-energy current, and finally broke through to the interior of the lightning web.
There was no lightning here, nor any wreckage. There was only the Aurora filling the entire space, and the Unicorn, enveloped within a pair of wings formed from that same brilliant light.
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Watching the scene before them, both Murrue and Badgiruel instinctively let out a sigh of relief.
The Narrative slowed down, gradually approaching the Unicorn, which floated amidst the aurora as if in a deep slumber.
"Steady... steady..."
Ignoring the sweat seeping from her forehead, Murrue gritted her teeth and carefully maneuvered the Narrative Gundam, reaching out toward the Unicorn.
As the Narrative's fingers made contact with the Unicorn's left arm, Murrue instinctively tried to take hold. However, with a slip of the fingers, the Unicorn drifted a short distance away.
"Don't rush... try again."
Badgiruel watched the drifting Unicorn and slightly adjusted the suit's parameters.
"I know..."
Murrue took a deep breath to steady her emotions. The Narrative once again slowly approached the Unicorn. Compared to the previous attempt, the Narrative drew much closer this time; Murrue manipulated the suit to firmly grasp the Unicorn's arm with both hands.
"...Success."
Seeing this, and hearing Murrue gasping for air, Badgiruel took over control of the machine. The two suits slowly drew together. Once they reached a sufficient distance, Badgiruel opened the cockpit.
"Let's go."
Unbuckling her seatbelt, Badgiruel squeezed from the back seat to the front and reached out to the sweat-drenched Murrue.
"Let's bring him back."
"Yeah... you're right."
After taking a moment to recover, Murrue grabbed Badgiruel's hand and drifted out of the cockpit with her. "This time, we absolutely won't let go."
Now, they faced only one problem—how to open the cockpit. Badgiruel instinctively looked for the emergency release lever that Roz usually installed on his suits, but as her palm felt along the surface, her eyes widened in shock.
"It's not here... how can that be?"
Badgiruel checked the Unicorn's crystal-clear outer armor in disbelief. "Why does the Unicorn have no emergency release?!"
"How is that possible?!" Murrue was also startled by Badgiruel's words.
Just as they were at a loss, the Narrative, which had been glowing with the red light of its Psycho-Frame, saw its radiance gradually stained by an aurora-like green.
Pshhh...
The Unicorn's cockpit opened before their eyes, revealing the interior.
"Roz!"
Accompanied by the cries of Murrue and Badgiruel, everyone watching through the cameras mounted on their helmets saw the state of the Unicorn's cockpit.
It was an ocean of crystals. They were like a warm blanket, enveloping the sleeping Roz, but also like terrifying thorns—a small portion of the crystals had pierced into Roz's body, fusing with him and creating patterns that looked like circuit boards.
"These crystals... we have to get him out."
Looking at the green crystals, Badgiruel drifted into the Unicorn's cockpit with Murrue. But the moment they touched them, the crystals—which had seemed sharp and indestructible—suddenly shattered.
At the same time, the aurora wings enveloping the Unicorn exploded. A massive amount of aurora light spread through Junius 7, and the previously violent electrical currents vanished under the aurora's advance.
The Unicorn's cockpit abruptly closed, and the translucent armor on the exterior began to retract. Pure white fragments appeared from nowhere in this sector of space, merging back with the Unicorn until the suit returned to its original snow-white form.
While Murrue and Badgiruel were still processing the confusion, the sleeping Roz's eyes began to flutter.
"Murrue... Natarle..."
Opening his eyes slightly and seeing the two figures before him, Roz called their names in a slightly raspy voice.
"Is... is it all over?"
"Roz..."
Looking at him, Murrue finally couldn't hold back. She reached out and pulled him into a tight embrace. "It's all over. We're here."
"This time, we're definitely not letting go." Badgiruel took Roz's hand; even through the pilot suit, she could feel how weak his body was.
"Let's go back." Murrue looked up at the weakened Roz. "Let's go home."
"Yeah... home."
Roz looked at Murrue and Badgiruel, his pupils slightly dilated as if he were looking through them toward a certain direction. A place that had long since been destroyed—a place he could never return to.
As if responding to their thoughts, the Unicorn slightly raised its head. The Narrative, despite having no one at the controls, released its grip.
Under the gaze of everyone, the Unicorn began to move toward the Nahel Argama, its magnificent aurora leaving a brilliant trail behind. The unmanned Narrative Gundam followed behind the Unicorn like a bird flying in formation.
"Time to go home."
.......
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