At Ame No Minashira, it was an exhilarating moment as the first Qilin-class warship was launched, marking its maiden voyage.
Mina sat confidently in the captain's seat of the Qilin-class vessel, her legs crossed elegantly. Yet, the slight tremble in her body and the fire burning in her eyes betrayed her inner turmoil.
"Power systems activated, transmission lines normal, engines—"
"Radar systems clear, path unobstructed, no anomalies detected—"
"Weapon systems online—"
"All systems operational, departure procedures complete. Lord Rondo, awaiting your orders."
"Very well." Hearing the all-clear reports, Mina rose from her seat and raised her hand decisively, her gaze fixed on the starry expanse ahead. "First Fleet flagship, Qilin, set sail!"
"Understood!"
The engines roared to life as the massive black-and-gold vessel glided smoothly out of Ame No Minashira's port. Its sleek, elegant lines and regal black-and-gold color scheme exuded nobility and authority, while countless menacing gun ports gleamed ominously across its hull, sending chills down the spine.
"Departure procedures… complete. All systems nominal!"
"Excellent. Order the First Space Fleet to rendezvous. Adjust course—destination, Boaz Fortress!"
"Understood!"
Trailing blazing exhaust flames, the Qilin joined the First Fleet waiting in the designated sector. Thus, the Orb Union's First Space Fleet was officially formed—comprising one Qilin-class carrier (the Qilin), four White Tiger-class main battleships (White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, Azure Dragon, and Black Tortoise), and sixteen Unicorn-Class frigates. With only 21 vessels in total, the fleet's numbers fell short compared to both ZAFT and the Earth Forces.
Yet in terms of quality, it far surpassed both major factions. The sixteen Unicorn-Class frigates alone outclassed their counterparts—the Laurasia-class, Nelson-class, and Drake-class ships. The White Tiger demonstrated performance exceeding even the Archangel-class, surpassing all known warships at the time. As for the Qilin-class, its superiority went without saying.
It was clear just how formidable Yang Hui had made Orb's space fleet.
As the commander-in-chief of the space forces, Mina felt her chest swell with pride. This was the Orb of her dreams—a nation wielding absolute power, standing atop the world, forcing all others to consider its stance before making any decisions.
This position was also the fulfillment of her lifelong ambition. Finally, she had stepped out of the shadows and into the light, showcasing her brilliance for all to see.
Today marked the day PLANT would hand over Boaz Fortress to Orb. Unsurprisingly, the announcement had sparked massive backlash within PLANT, both among civilians and the military, nearly triggering mutinies and riots that could have toppled the Clyne faction for "selling out their nation."
It was Lacus who stepped forward, delivering multiple speeches and even visiting disgruntled Colonies and military units in person to vouch for the Supreme Council's decision. Leveraging her influence among the people and the armed forces, she managed to quell the rising discontent.
However, this only quelled the discontent without fully gaining public and military acceptance. Thus, the Clyne Faction's political career was effectively over. Though not directly overthrown, their defeat in the next Supreme Council representative election was inevitable.
To prevent the Zala Faction from returning to power and reigniting war, efforts intensified—not only in arresting remaining Zala loyalists but also in strengthening ties with neutral factions and smaller groups. The goal wasn't to make them embrace Clyne's ideals but to ensure they upheld the principle of peace.
Among them, one figure stood out to Siegel Clyne. Though not a member of the Clyne Faction and holding differing views, Siegel saw in him a resemblance to Yang Hui—neither provoking war nor fearing its arrival.
As the Clyne Faction waned, Siegel Clyne began grooming him as the next Supreme Council Chairman, helping him build his own faction and cultivate public prestige.
"Chairman Durandal, Orb has contacted us. They will arrive in this sector within an hour."
Dressed in a black-and-white robe with pale purple accents on his forearms and shoulders, adorned with red embellishments at the chest and hem, Gilbert Durandal stood with his wavy black hair cascading over his shoulders. His handsome, slightly delicate features were softened by a perpetually warm smile that drew people in effortlessly.
Indeed, Siegel Clyne's chosen successor was none other than Gilbert Durandal.
"Very well. Let's ensure everything is prepared—we must not appear discourteous before our guests," Durandal instructed gently, his gaze still fixed through the window upon Boaz Fortress ahead. A quiet sigh escaped him. "After decades guarding PLANT's borders, even you cannot escape fate's grasp. How... pitiful and lamentable."
An hour later, the Orb fleet arrived in their sector. As optical imaging revealed the fleet's composition, the PLANT and ZAFT personnel handling the exchange were left speechless, stunned by what they saw.
"This is—!" Durandal's pupils contracted sharply as he stared at the screen, his mind reeling.
Everyone had assumed the White Tiger, which shone brilliantly during the Second Battle of Jachin Due, was Orb's most formidable warship—its performance surpassing even the Archangel, making it worthy of leading a space fleet.
Yet now, Orb's fleet not only boasted four White Tiger-class vessels but also sixteen exceptional escort ships. The true centerpiece, however, was the Qilin-class at the fleet's heart. Its unconcealed weapon ports radiated terrifying firepower, while four distinct catapult decks suggested an astounding MS capacity—capable of deploying waves of mobile suits instantly to seize the battlefield's advantage.
"Orb has built a monster... Yang Hui, what a fearsome opponent. It seems ZAFT must also..." Durandal murmured, his thoughts churning as he studied the Qilin.
"Incoming transmission from the Orb fleet!"
"Hm?" The report snapped Durandal from his contemplation. "Put it through."
"Yes, sir!"
The screen flickered to life, revealing the striking figure of Mina, poised and commanding before Durandal.
"Commander Mina Rondo Sahaku of the Orb Space Forces, here to take over the Boaz Fortress."
"Pleasure to meet you, Lady Sahaku." Upon first seeing Mina, Durandal immediately judged her to be another formidable presence. "Our garrison forces have completely withdrawn from Boaz Fortress, awaiting your takeover."
"Excellent. We will immediately dispatch personnel to inspect Boaz Fortress. Once confirmed, we will formally assume its defense operations."
"Understood."
The abrupt termination of communications only reinforced Durandal's initial assessment.
"What kind of nation is this Orb? How can it produce so many troublesome figures?" Durandal maintained his composed facade while inwardly cursing the heavens' unfairness. That tiny Orb had already spawned Yang Hui, a monster by any measure. He was also well-informed about Sumeragi and Wang Liu Mei—both forces not to be underestimated. Privately, he referred to Yang Hui, Sumeragi, and Wang Liu Mei as Orb's Iron Triangle: one overseeing the big picture, one commanding the military, and one managing governance, making Orb as stable as a mountain.
And now, here was Mina, another formidable figure, making Orb seem increasingly mysterious and terrifying.
"If my plans are to succeed, then Orb..."
...
About an hour later, Orb Space Forces personnel had thoroughly inspected Boaz Fortress. No dangers were found, and it was confirmed that ZAFT had not secretly sabotaged the interior to leave Orb with a useless fortress. The facility could resume operations as soon as personnel were in place.
"Aside from the dismantled production lines and deleted database files, everything is in order."
"Good. Assemble at the first port to assist the main fleet in docking."
"Roger."
Meanwhile, Mina contacted the ZAFT fleet, informing them that Boaz Fortress had been inspected and was ready for handover. She requested their representatives to sign the transfer agreement at the fortress.
Soon, in Boaz Fortress's main conference room, Mina and Durandal sat across from each other with their respective teams to finalize the agreement. Once both parties signed, Boaz Fortress officially belonged to Orb.
"Congratulations." After signing, Durandal extended his hand to Mina.
Mina glanced down at it, then at Durandal's composed expression, before lightly shaking his hand and quickly withdrawing hers.
"Boaz Fortress has guarded PLANT's gateway for decades. I hope you treat it well," Durandal said.
"That is no longer your concern."
"Very well. Since Boaz Fortress remains within PLANT territory, may I ask when you plan to relocate it?"
"Once we have full operational control."
"My apologies for the intrusion. We shall take our leave now. Until Boaz Fortress fully departs our borders, our fleet will remain stationed around it. I hope you understand."
"That's acceptable."
Durandal departed, having hoped to gather useful intelligence or foster some rapport. Unfortunately, Mina was a woman of few words, clearly unwilling to engage with him beyond necessity.
This only deepened Durandal's unease. He resolved to intensify Orb intelligence-gathering efforts upon his return.
On the other side, Mina watched Durandal's retreating figure with a deep gaze. She had also recognized that Durandal was no ordinary man. During their meeting, Mina had subtly exerted her presence to pressure him, yet he remained composed from start to finish, showing no fluctuation in emotion—maintaining a calm and dignified demeanor that few could achieve.
"This man... is a fox. He requires close attention," Mina concluded, sending this information back to Earth, straight into Yang Hui's hands.
"Sir, Boaz Fortress has been fully secured. All systems are operational with no anomalies."
"Excellent. Have the First Fleet escort Boaz Fortress to Sector A52."
"Understood!" xN
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