"Big Brother Wang Hu, you're back."
Don't misunderstand - this enthusiastic greeting didn't come from Kira.
Though it certainly sounded like something Kira would do these days.
Wang Hu had just returned from a meeting aboard the flagship of the East Asian expeditionary fleet to Orb. The moment he stepped onto the Archangel, that sickeningly sweet voice greeted him.
Since Wang Hu's battleship was still at the L4 East Asia Satellite Group in space,
the Archangel served as their temporary base. Thus, a certain girl had successfully caught her target on this ship.
"Cagalli?"
Wang Hu looked surprised at the girl appearing before him and exchanged glances with Li Chengzhi beside him.
Both found it strange that in such tense circumstances, this girl could still run around freely.
Even coming aboard the East Asian Army's fleet?
"Is your father really not worried we might take you hostage?"
Taking off his military cap, Wang Hu asked jokingly.
At the same time, Wang Hu noticed with some envy how naturally Li Chengzhi handed his cap to Natarle Badgiruel.
And how naturally Natarle accepted Li Chengzhi's cap.
"Hmm."
Witnessing this, Wang Hu immediately felt displeased. He looked around, wishing someone would take his cap too.
Kira? Wang Hu shook his head - that wouldn't be appropriate, mainly because he was male.
Murrue? Wang Hu thought that would be perfect, but she showed no intention of taking his cap.
"Big Brother Wang Hu, let me take your cap."
Just then, Cagalli rushed over in a flash. Surprisingly, the girl seemed particularly perceptive today.
She even spoke sweet words:
"You're the East Asian Army fighting for all humanity's happiness. Anyone else in the world might take me hostage,"
"but your East Asian forces would absolutely never do that."
"Well now."
Wang Hu chuckled. Everyone present - Murrue, Mu, Kira and others - couldn't help but look at Cagalli with newfound respect.
This was truly like a thousand-year-old iron tree blooming. Could it be that tomorrow the Coordinator's Light of Peace would descend from heaven?
Was this Cagalli before them perhaps an imposter?
Just listen - could these possibly be words spoken by that blockhead?
"Hey hey hey, what are you all looking at me like that for!"
Probably realizing her behavior was very un-Cagalli-like, the girl stamped her foot and shouted at everyone.
Seeing the girl's flustered and angry expression now, everyone felt this was only natural rather than getting upset.
"That's more like the Cagalli we know."
Mu, the playboy, spoke for the snickering crowd, voicing their thoughts.
"You! Lieutenant Colonel Mu!"
Blushing furiously at his words, Cagalli went up and kicked Mu.
Seeing this scene, everyone found it even more amusing. Thus, despite the tense situation outside, the Archangel was filled with joyful atmosphere.
After laughing for a while, everyone simultaneously put away their smiles and turned their attention to the returned Wang Hu and his companion.
Despite the fun and games, no one had forgotten serious matters.
In fact, regarding why Cagalli had come - none of them were fools, everyone had their own understanding.
"Cagalli, what is your father's decision exactly?"
Since Uzumi's decision hadn't been publicly announced yet, Wang Hu had to ask.
"My father—"
Faced with this question, Cagalli hesitated, unsure whether she should speak.
"Adhering unwaveringly to Orb's principles, as the world is being divided into two poles, Orb needs to set an example."
With just one glance at the girl's expression, Wang Hu guessed what the Orb Lion's response would be.
Even though the situation had changed, it seemed the Lion's decision remained the same as in the original timeline!
"How did you know?"
Hearing Wang Hu's words, Cagalli almost thought he could predict the future.
Otherwise, why did he speak as if he had witnessed it firsthand, no different from being there in person?
But Cagalli was also certain that Wang Hu couldn't possibly have been in that office.
"Does the East Asian Alliance have a mole in Orb?"
After eliminating all other possibilities, the impossible must be the truth.
Cagalli's face turned deathly pale—the people in that office were Orb's highest leadership.
Had even they secretly defected to the East Asian Alliance?
Should she blame her father Uzumi for his failures, or was the East Asian Alliance simply too powerful?
Father, oh father, the people around you have betrayed you.
How can you possibly contend against the East Asian Alliance!
"Cagalli."
Seeing Cagalli pale and swaying as if about to faint, Murrue immediately stepped forward to support the girl.
"Wang Hu, does the East Asian Alliance really have spies among Orb's leadership?"
With a flickering gaze, Mu showed great interest in this question.
"No, not that I know of. At least, I'm not aware of any. For more details, you'll have to ask Li Chengzhi."
"As for how I knew, the East Asian Army has specialized strategists who deduced it."
Pointing to his silent friend beside him, Wang Hu looked at Cagalli and offered this excuse.
Of course, he couldn't tell them the truth.
"Is that so?"
Quickly shifting targets, Mu clearly intended to get to the bottom of this.
"Perhaps there are."
Smiling faintly, Li Chengzhi maintained his enigmatic demeanor.
"Tch."
Waving his hand dismissively, Mu couldn't press further. Turning his head, he looked at Wang Hu and Cagalli.
"What will you do?"
Having reached this point in the conversation, Cagalli returned to her original purpose for coming here.
"We will attack."
Without evasion or diplomatic language, Wang Hu gave a direct, definitive answer.
"How can you do this?"
Cagalli completely collapsed into Murrue's arms.
"Isn't there any other way? Must you attack Orb?"
Fully displaying a vulnerable young girl's demeanor, Cagalli persisted with desperate questions.
"Y-yes, Brother Wang Hu."
Following Cagalli's lead, and ignoring Flay's attempts to stop him, Kira also stepped forward.
After all, Orb was his hometown, where his parents still lived.
If the East Asian Army truly attacked Orb, both emotionally and practically, he didn't know what he should do.
Join the East Asian Army in attacking Orb?
Or stand by and do nothing?
But he was currently part of the East Asian Army!
"That's right, Brother Wang Hu."
Seeing Kira speak up, Sai and the others quickly joined in—they were also from Orb, after all.
"Impossible."
Facing so many pleas, Wang Hu shook his head and reminded them:
"Don't forget the threat from ZAFT Forces in space. If we don't return to space quickly, the existing Allied Forces there won't be able to hold off the enemy."
"Do we really have to wait until ZAFT drops bombs on our heads before we regret it?"
"At that point, we would truly bear historical responsibility that would be difficult to repay in our entire lifetimes, just as the Atlantic Federation said."
"So rather than trying to persuade our East Asian Army leadership to abandon the attack on Orb,"
"It would be better to persuade Orb's Representative Asuha."
"From what I know, the latest condition proposed by the Bureau of Barbarian Affairs is to use Orb's Mass Driver under the guise of leasing."
"And as long as Orb agrees, any conditions can be negotiated."
"Ah?"
Learning about the East Asian Army's latest policy, even Kira and the others couldn't find words to argue.
After all, based on their understanding, facing the threat of ZAFT Forces against the Earth Sphere,
the East Asian Army still hadn't given up on dialogue and negotiations, attempting to resolve disputes through peaceful means and avoid igniting war.
From any perspective, this was already quite righteous.
Moreover, with ZAFT's threat in space becoming increasingly imminent,
if Orb within the Earth Sphere were to collapse, they wouldn't fare well either.
Cooperation benefits both sides - what reason is there to refuse!
"Well then, Cagalli, what about Representative Asuha?"
Kira and the others turned to ask Cagalli, hoping to see if they could find an opening through Representative Asuha.
After all, Cagalli was his daughter - if she could go back and influence him,
couldn't they achieve a happy ending for everyone?
"Impossible."
With a bitter smile, Cagalli lowered her head, then recounted what had happened in that office.
"Neutrality - such a convenient card to play whenever it suits them."
Wang Hu sneered at Uzumi's words, though they seemed reasonable on the surface.
"Don't speak about my father like that."
Hearing the disparagement in Wang Hu's words about her father, Cagalli became displeased.
Hadn't she come here making concessions precisely to strive for Orb's peace?
If that didn't work, she could certainly stand her ground.
At this moment, the flaws in Cagalli's character were fully exposed.
"The desire to protect your own citizens is understandable, but having agreed to cooperate with the Allied Forces in developing Mobile Suits,"
"means the end of neutrality. You want to enjoy the benefits without taking responsibility?"
"And while constantly claiming to protect citizens, what did Orb do for PLANT"
"during the Heliopolis incident and afterward?"
Wang Hu spread his hands in a highly sarcastic gesture.
"Apparently nothing - just let time pass, allowing the public to gradually forget over time."
"What, does Representative Asuha think ZAFT can't be bullied, but our East Asian Alliance and Allied Forces can?"
"No, that's not it."
Cagalli shook her head, wanting to explain for her father, but in the face of facts, all her words felt hollow.
"Also, I've said many things before - I don't want to repeat them."
"I want to ask you, after Representative Asuha made the decision to refuse, did he begin preparing to evacuate citizens?"
Wang Hu was quite curious about this question. In his memory, the Atlantic Federation had announced the attack time.
Though it was rather short, from the announcement to the actual attack beginning,
there should have been enough time for Orb to organize and systematically evacuate citizens.
However, the actual situation was that when the Atlantic Federation launched its attack, the major cities of Orb were still in chaos.
Was it due to the Orb government's insufficient organizational capabilities?
Yet the defensive fortifications along the coastal areas were at least decently constructed.
In that case, one couldn't blame Wang Hu for thinking a bit cynically—could it be that Uzumi was doing it intentionally, attempting to use his own citizens as hostages?
To delay and hinder the advance of the Atlantic Federation Army?
Of course, thinking optimistically, it might indeed be due to the Orb government's limited capabilities.
"I... I don't know. I left in too much of a hurry."
Flustered by the question, Cagalli was at a complete loss.
"Colonel Wang Hu's question raises a unique point."
Suddenly, a man's voice interjected. Through some unknown means, Unato, who had been chasing after Cagalli, had actually managed to board the Archangel.
Glancing at Cagalli sitting on the floor, a glint flashed in Unato's eyes.
He then bent slightly at the waist and extended his hand toward Wang Hu from a distance.
"I am Unato, the head of the Seiran family in Orb."
"Regarding the matters of Orb and the East Asian Alliance's proposal, I have repeatedly advised Representative Asuha. Unfortunately, the representative remains obstinate and is currently unwilling to listen to other opinions."
"But rest assured, once I return, I will once again persuade Representative Asuha."
"For the sake of Orb and its people, this peaceful and beautiful nation should not be plunged into war."
"If one truly holds Orb in their heart, ideals should not outweigh the people."
"Unato of the Seiran family?"
Looking at the newcomer, Wang Hu recognized who he was.
Wasn't he the father of that purple-haired guy who nearly seized Orb's real power through schemes during the Second War?
"How did he get in?" Wang Hu turned to Li Chengzhi and asked.
"Approved by higher-ups." Li Chengzhi glanced at his communicator and replied in a low voice.
"To increase pressure on Asuha."
"Wang Hu!"
Seeing the uninvited guest on the Archangel, Cagalli felt increasingly desperate.
Unato's arrival once again proved that undercurrents were already surging within Orb!
"Give me some time. I can do it. I can change my father's mind."
"Believe in me, please believe in me, okay?"
Cagalli suddenly jumped up, grabbing Wang Hu's hand and pleading desperately.
"Brother Wang Hu."
Others, seeing this, also pleaded on her behalf. Instinctively, they felt closer to Cagalli than to the newcomer.
"Alright."
Nodding, Wang Hu gave a final deadline and watched as Cagalli hurried away without a moment's delay.
He then turned and made an invitation.
"Representative Unato, for those who cooperate with the East Asian Alliance, we of the East Asian Alliance welcome them."
(End of Chapter)