"This isn't like you, Lowe." Yang Hui said in surprise. Lowe wasn't new to witnessing the cruelty of war—he'd always cheerfully pursued his passions regardless. How could one deadly battle shake him like this?
"Yeah? I don't feel like myself either." Lowe gave a self-deprecating chuckle.
"Heh, just focus on being yourself, Lowe. You're living the kind of life many people envy." Yang Hui patted Lowe's shoulder reassuringly.
Yang Hui meant it. Lowe was an optimist. Though just a junk dealer aiming to be the best in his trade, he faced every obstacle with a smile and overcame them all, steadfastly walking his own path. That kind of life truly was enviable.
"By the way, there's something I think you should know."
"What is it?"
"That Mobile Suit's pilot... the Strike, was it?"
"What about its pilot?"
"When I found it, the Phase Shift Armor was still active. It only deactivated after I rescued the pilot. It... protected its pilot well." Lowe mused. Unlike most people—even Yang Hui—Lowe didn't view MS as mere machines or weapons, but as genuine companions.
Many might consider their Mobile Suits important partners, like how Setsuna saw Gundams as his goal, but none matched Lowe's fundamental difference—he treated MS as living beings from the bottom of his heart.
To Lowe, if you believed in your MS, it would inevitably respond in kind.
This was something only Lowe could achieve.
"And the pilot?"
"After the rescue, we took him to a small cabin on the island. A blind man received him there. By now, he's probably been sent to PLANT for treatment."
"Is that so? Good."
Yang Hui was glad Kira had been saved as in the original story, though he felt some regret. With Malchio already departed, he'd missed his chance to visit and assess the man's true nature.
"That old fox couldn't have known someone was investigating him and used this chance to flee, could he?" The thought occurred to Yang Hui. Otherwise, why such perfect timing—leaving just as he prepared to act?
"Alright, since you've recovered that Mobile Suit, it's in your hands now. It's an excellent machine." Lowe patted Yang Hui's shoulder.
"Don't worry, we'll restore it to like-new condition."
"Good. We'll be going now."
"Oh, Lowe..."
"Something else?"
"If you and I became enemies, what would you do?" Yang Hui asked with an ambiguous smile.
"What do you think? I'd beat the crap out of you, of course!"
"Hahaha! We'll see who beats who!"
They parted with laughter, but both knew in their hearts... a battle between them was likely inevitable.
After Lowe left, Yang Hui sought out Erica Simmons.
"How's the Dawn's repairs?"
"Completed. The Gundam Exia, Gundam Cherudim and Gundam Virtue are also fully maintained."
"Good. Then we depart."
"Are you sure you don't want to take anyone else?" Erica Simmons asked worriedly. Although established under the pretense of civilian use, the Atlantic Federation would never leave it unguarded—they would certainly deploy defensive forces.
Moreover, the ZAFT Forces who had obtained intelligence would undoubtedly send troops to sabotage it. If Yang Hui and the others engaged in combat, they would face attacks from both sides.
Only four people going was far too dangerous!
"No need. The ZAFT Forces have already assembled and are preparing for a large-scale operation. The Earth Forces will also be on guard against ZAFT's movements. Even if there are troops stationed, they won't be numerous. The four of us are enough."
"Alright, if you say so, I won't try to dissuade you further."
"Mm. I'll leave things here in your hands, Director Simmons. Intensify the MS pilot training—we're truly running out of time."
"Understood."
After settling all matters, Yang Hui changed into his pilot suit and headed to the secret hangar, where he found Setsuna, Lyle, and Tieria already waiting for him.
"You're too slow!" Tieria scolded.
"You're just too early," Yang Hui replied with a shrug and a smile before they each boarded their units.
"All units, this mission's objective is to seize the Mass Driver. Whether it's ZAFT Forces or Earth Forces, drive them all out. Preserve the Mass Driver's integrity as much as possible," Yang Hui ordered while booting up the system.
"What about third-party intruders?" Setsuna asked.
"If they don't act, ignore them. If they do... mark them as enemies."
"Understood." x3
Yang Hui and his team were seasoned veterans, unlike Athrun's naivety. Anyone standing in their way was an enemy—once judged as such, sentiment wouldn't cloud their judgment. Elimination was the only option.
"Path cleared. Dawn, you are cleared for launch," Erica Simmons' voice came through the comms.
"Understood. Dawn, launching."
The Dawn Gundam's thrusters flared brightly as it shot out of the hangar through the overhead exit.
"Next, Exia. Path cleared, you are cleared for launch."
"Understood. Exia, launching."
...
The four Gundams launched one after another, advancing toward the Mass Driver's location. The sortie of Yang Hui, the supreme commander of the entire military, was no trivial matter. Everyone in the Defense Ministry watched as the four Gundams departed. The lower-ranking soldiers, unaware of the details, didn't know what new operation the Defense Ministry had planned but offered their blessings to Yang Hui and the others before returning to their intense training.
Meanwhile, the officers and non-commissioned officers who knew more clenched their fists tightly, filled with shame and guilt. Military operations for Orb should have been their responsibility, but their inadequacies forced the supreme commander to take such risks.
"Alright, everyone, focus on your tasks," Sumeragi and Erica Simmons said simultaneously in different locations to their subordinates. "If you're dissatisfied, train harder. We may not be of help now, but that doesn't mean we'll never contribute."
"Yes!" xN
What even Yang Hui hadn't anticipated was that this simple mission coincidentally ignited the entire army's morale and motivation.
...
The construction site of the massive floating platform was located in the center of the Pacific Ocean, within the Atlantic Federation's territory near the ZAFT Forces' border. It wouldn't take long to spot it from Orb.
"Whoa~ That's quite the scale." Lyle marveled as he observed the unfinished floating platform through the monitor.
"It's a mobile spaceport prepared by the Atlantic Federation, meant for building a Mass Driver. Of course it's huge," Tieria retorted.
"I know, but I'm just amazed they actually dared to attempt this. Building a mobile spaceport at sea—how much manpower and resources would that take?"
"Which is exactly why we're taking it. This way, Orb will have a second spaceport."
"Wouldn't that just make other nations even more wary of us?" Setsuna asked.
"Which is why we can't openly claim ownership—at least not yet. For now, it remains a civilian facility with no ties to Orb," Yang Hui explained.
Seizing this massive floating platform and slapping Orb's label on it outright would only hasten Orb's downfall. Until Orb could stand firmly on its own, this place couldn't be publicly declared as belonging to Orb.
Yang Hui's plan was to take advantage of the conflict between the Atlantic Federation and ZAFT Forces. Under the pretext of humanitarian intervention, they would launch a military strike, eliminating both sides while deploying Orb personnel and troops to occupy the floating platform.
This way, they could hold leverage over both the Atlantic Federation and ZAFT Forces, preventing them from pointing fingers at Orb. Not only would they clear Orb's name, but they'd also gain a mobile territory—what wasn't to like?
Though this territory couldn't be openly acknowledged, it would still be under Orb's control. Officially, it would be declared as a civilian organization. After all, the Junk Guild was already on the floating platform—they could serve as the perfect cover. And when it came to deals, Yang Hui was the most familiar.
Yang Hui wasn't after the spaceport itself—what he truly wanted was the platform's vast area and its capacity to house a large population.
The Alaska Offensive was about to begin, followed by the Battle of Panama, and then... the Atlantic Federation would turn its sights on Orb.
To protect its citizens, Orb would inevitably issue evacuation orders in advance. But where would Orb's people go? They'd scatter, of course. While this would inevitably lead to population loss, it was a necessary sacrifice for everyone's safety.
Beyond ordinary civilians, there were those who couldn't be allowed to leave—like the technicians from Dawn Company, as well as elites from the political, military, and business sectors. These were people Orb absolutely couldn't afford to lose. So where would they go?
Though Orb still had Ame No Minashira, it was merely a space fortress. How many people could it hold? And how many would even be willing to live in space?
That was why this massive floating platform was the perfect solution. From the moment Orb's homeland fell to its eventual rebirth, Yang Hui's goal was to use these people to transform the floating platform into Orb's second territory.
"Yang Hui, the Earth Forces and ZAFT Forces have started fighting."
"Then let's begin. Same old catchphrase?" Yang Hui teased.
"Sure, it's been a while. Let's do it!"
"Then... Mission start. Celestial Beginning armed intervention!"
"Roger, Gundam Exia, commencing target elimination."
"Yahoo! Now this feels right! Gundam Cherudim, initiating sniper protocol!"
"That's Lockon's line... whatever. Gundam Virtue, beginning bombardment."
"Ras—oh right, no Gundam Rasiel anymore. Dawn, commencing armed intervention!"
A different world, not quite the same team, yet familiar lines and the same burning passion.
Indeed, they were Celestial Being—would always be Celestial Being. Their purpose was to meet violence with violence, using force to sever the world's distortions and carve out a new future.