One month had passed since the festivities at the White Star. Today, the Archangel cut through the silent darkness of the debris belt, carrying the Orb delegation and our own small group—Lemon, Cornelia, Murrue, and myself. We had returned to the place where so much had begun: the site of the Junius Treaty signing.
"It feels like a lifetime ago," I murmured, watching the flickering monitors in the Shadow Mirror waiting room.
From the escape from Heliopolis to the narrow brush with the "Umbrella" of Artemis, and finally our desperate resupply in this very graveyard—only six months had passed in real-time. Yet, the sheer density of events made it feel as though we had lived through an entire era of storm and fire.
"Is that Junius Seven?" Lemon asked, standing beside me. Her eyes were fixed on the shattered remains of the colony. "Are they really holding a peace summit in a ruin like that?"
To her eyes, it was nothing but a floating mausoleum. It was hard to blame her skepticism.
"The advance teams from Orb have done enough patchwork to make it functional," I explained. "The venue itself is supposedly in perfect condition. A pocket of civilization in the middle of a graveyard."
I had been the one to suggest Junius Seven for the signing, though I couldn't quite remember how the original history handled it. Did they call it the Junius Treaty because it was signed here, or simply because it was the site of the tragedy that started it all? Regardless, the symbolism was too potent to ignore.
"But why here, of all places? It's hardly the most hospitable environment."
"The war started because Blue Cosmos dropped a nuke on this colony," I said softly. "Of course, that was just the spark. The tension had been building for years—the Earth Alliance's exploitation of the PLANTs had reached a breaking point. Holding the ceremony here forces everyone to look at what that hatred actually accomplished. It makes the 'end' feel real."
Lemon sighed, a small smile tugging at her lips. "I see. You're more of a romantic than you let on, Axel."
"A romantic? Me?"
"Axel, we're beginning our docking sequence with Junius Seven," Murrue called out, her voice crackling over the internal comms from the bridge.
The Archangel was currently under Natarle's command, while Murrue and the rest of us were officially 'guests.' It was a strange role reversal, one that still felt slightly surreal whenever I saw Natarle in the captain's chair.
"Understood. Is everyone ready?" I asked.
"We're all set," Murrue replied. "Since our formal wear is tucked away in your spatial storage, we don't exactly have luggage to worry about."
"This will be the private waiting room for the Shadow Mirror delegation," an Orb official explained, gesturing to a sleek, refurbished suite. "The dressing room is adjacent. If you require assistance with your attire, please let us know immediately. The ceremony begins in four hours. Also, please be aware that the international media has arrived in force to document the event. Exercise caution if you step out."
I thanked him and watched him depart. I looked around the room, then at my companions.
"Four hours of waiting in a graveyard," I noted. "We can't exactly go sightseeing, and the press will devour us if we wander into the halls."
It was an inevitable consequence of our actions. Shadow Mirror was no longer a ghost story; after the Battle of Orb, the Mendel encounter, and the nightmare at Jachin Due, we were a global phenomenon. Uzumi's speech before the invasion of Orb had been broadcasted repeatedly across the globe. We were the "Otherworlders" who had tilted the scales of fate.
In a way, we were the ultimate trend. Of course, most civilians were probably disappointed to find that 'aliens' looked exactly like humans. They were likely expecting something more monstrous—like the Einst.
"You look like you're dreading the spotlight," Murrue teased, noticing my sour expression.
"I just don't like being a curiosity," I grumbled.
"Well, you did agree to invite the press and public to the White Star soon," she reminded me.
"Yeah. Staying a 'mysterious armed group' forever is a bad PR move."
A private military force that could single-handedly dismantle the combined might of ZAFT and the Alliance was a terrifying prospect. It was better to be seen as Orb's sovereign ally—a legitimate entity—rather than a rogue wildcard. Uzumi's advice had been sound: transparency, or at least the illusion of it, was our best shield.
"In that case, we should probably start getting ready," Cornelia said, glancing toward the dressing room. "I'd rather not rush the final touches."
I nodded and accessed my spatial warehouse. I pulled out three bags containing their tailored suits, accessories, and cosmetics, handing them over.
"We'll go change, then," Murrue said, pausing at the door with a playful glint in her eyes. "Unless… you'd rather we stay and change right here in front of you, Axel?"
"Very funny. Go on, get moving," I replied with a dry chuckle, ushering them toward the door.
I watched them disappear into the next room and let out a long sigh. Murrue had become increasingly bold with her teasing lately. I suspected Lemon's influence. If I actually took her up on that offer, four hours wouldn't be nearly enough time to make it to the ceremony. I decided not to dwell on why that was the case.
"Women take forever to dress, or so the saying goes," I muttered to the empty room. "Might as well get started myself."
I pulled my own charcoal-grey formal suit from the warehouse and began to change.
(It should be noted for the record that it took the ladies exactly one hour and fifteen minutes to finish their preparations.)
"Members of Shadow Mirror, it is time. Are you prepared?" a voice called from the hall.
The four of us stood up. The women were a sight to behold—clad in chic, professional suits that walked the fine line between high-powered executives and elite commanders. They radiated an aura of effortless authority.
"We're ready," I called back.
"Then please, follow me to the assembly hall."
The moment of truth had arrived. The Junius Treaty was about to be signed, and with it, the official end of the war. As I followed the guide, memories of the battles we'd fought since arriving in this world flickered through my mind like a montage of steel and fire.
The doors to the grand hall swung open.
"And now," Uzumi's voice boomed, carrying over the hushed whispers of the crowd, "let us welcome the representatives of Shadow Mirror, whose tireless efforts have been instrumental in bringing this conflict to a close."
We stepped into the light.
Immediately, the world turned white. Flash, flash, flash. The sheer volume of strobe lights from the assembled global media was staggering. It felt like standing in the heart of a supernova.
"Are those the 'Otherworlders'?"
"Who spread the rumor that they didn't look human?"
"I heard they're a tiny elite unit, but look at that presence..."
"Wait, look at the woman in the middle! I know that face. She was part of the Morgenroete PS Armor development team!"
"Really? Get a confirmation on that, now! If we scoop the connection between Shadow Mirror and the Archangel's tech, we'll own the morning cycle!"
The reporters were whispering, but my enhanced senses caught every word. The PS Armor team, huh? I looked at Murrue. I suppose someone with her striking beauty and presence would have been used as a face for the project at some point. She looked every bit the 'Iron Goddess' in her formal attire.
We reached the stage. Three figures were already seated there: Uzumi Nara Athha for Orb; Joseph Copeland, President of the Atlantic Federation, representing the Alliance; and Eileen Canaver, Supreme Council Chairwoman for the PLANTs. The heads of the three great powers of the Earth Sphere. If a group like Blue Cosmos decided to pull a stunt right now, the world would plunge into absolute chaos.
"I present to you," Uzumi said, handing me the microphone, "Axel Almar, leader of Shadow Mirror."
I hated public speaking. But there was no backing out now.
"I am Axel Almar," I began, my voice steady despite my internal reluctance. "Many of you have heard Representative Uzumi's words. It is true—Shadow Mirror hails from a parallel world. An alternate version of Earth. We will provide more details on that in the coming days. For now, I will simply say this: we are honored to have assisted Orb in ending a war that has lasted nearly two years. War yields nothing but sorrow. It is a cliché, but I believe the people of this world have felt that truth more deeply than most. Shadow Mirror remains committed to ensuring such a senseless tragedy never repeats itself."
I handed the mic back to Uzumi and took my seat. My heart was thumping, but I kept my face a mask of professional calm. Behind me stood Lemon, Cornelia, and Murrue—a phalanx of silent power. While the Alliance and PLANTs had only their leaders on stage, our full presence was a calculated display of our current standing in the global hierarchy.
"We shall now announce the terms of the armistice," Uzumi continued.
As he read the articles of the Junius Treaty, the room grew increasingly restless. The murmurs from the press turned into a low roar of realization. The treaty didn't just end the war; it framed Orb and Shadow Mirror as the definitive victors and the new arbiters of peace.
"And finally," Uzumi declared, his voice cutting through the noise, "all aforementioned conditions shall be observed and upheld under the authority of Shadow Mirror and the Orb Union, effective December 31, C.E. 71."
That was the killing blow. Under the authority of Shadow Mirror and Orb. The room exploded into a cacophony of questions and frantic typing. Until that moment, our dominance had been an unspoken reality. Now, it was a matter of international law. We had officially declared ourselves the winners of the war.
"Are there any objections from the signatory parties?" Uzumi asked.
President Copeland and Chairwoman Canaver both offered solemn, silent nods of agreement. They had no choice. The document was placed before them—already bearing my signature and Uzumi's.
One by one, they signed.
I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. The rumors about the Seirans plotting something had kept me on edge, but it seemed Uzumi had either neutralized the threat or they had lost their nerve in the face of our combined might.
The madness was over. On paper and in spirit, the war was done.
The four of us—myself, Uzumi, Copeland, and Canaver—stood and exchanged copies of the treaty before shaking hands. The flashbulbs returned, a blinding blizzard of white light.
Uzumi raised his hand, silencing the hall one last time.
"By the power vested in this treaty, I hereby declare the Jachin Due War... concluded!"
Status Update: Axel Almar
Level: 38 (PP: 615)
Stats: Melee: 262 | Ranged: 282 | Skill: 272 | Defense: 272 | Evade: 302 | Hit: 322
SP: 462
Ace Bonus: SP Boost
Abilities: Psychodriver Lvl 10, Attacker, Morale Limit Break, Geass (Inactive)
Total Kills: 374
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