• Author / Uploaded
• sean

• Categories
• Naturaleza

Citation preview

SPECIAL PREQUEL Several months after Endless Waltz—The Prequel until the tears freeze. This month is a SPECIAL EDITION! What happened to them before the MC era?! NEW MOBILE WAR REPORT GUNDAM W —FROZEN TEARDROP—

SPECIAL PREQUEL Interlude of the Heart —Preventer 5— (Part.01) Written by Katsuyuki Sumizawa Character Illustrations by Sakura Asagi Mechanical Design by Hajime Katoki Original Planning by Hajime Yatate & Yoshiyuki Tomino Cooperation by Bandai Hobby Division

AC-196 DECEMBER 26 A gunshot rang out out of nowhere. Dekim Barton was shot in the back of the head and collapsed to the ground. Standing behind him was an adjutant. “I’ve executed the rebel. I express my apologies for betraying His Excellency, Treize.” he said pensively as he saluted. “Mariemaia, hold on!” Relena Darlian cried out as she embraced the small body of the young girl who collapsed. “I was mistaken. I’m sorry.” she apologized earnestly while wincing from the pain of being shot in the chest. A happy yet weak smile filled her face. The sound of a music box could be heard somewhere. With her consciousness fading, Mariemaia knew it sound was wrapped in kindness like a lullaby. “That music box… it was such a gentle song. I feel as though I can hear my mother’s voice…” The one who had the music box was a wounded Heero Yuy. “I’ll relieve you of your pain.” “Heero!” Relena called out in disbelief the name of the pilot of the Wing Gundam Zero who was shot down not long ago. He held a music box that played “Endless Waltz” in one hand and in the other, a pistol, his finger placed over the trigger. “I thank you,” Mariemaia said, peacefully closing her eyes. Heero set his sights on Mariemaia. The rhythm of the music box slowly started to cease. A sad and tender melody of Endless Waltz. The tune ceased completely. As if that were the absolute signal, Heero pulled the trigger without hesitation. “…!!”

It was a shocking scene. However, Mariemaia was safe. There weren’t any bullets in Heero’s gun. “I’ve killed Mariemaia.” He said quietly. “I… I will never kill anyone ever again.” he continued, slowly lowering the gun in his hand. Although the man completed his mission, he was at a loss for words. “I don’t have to anymore…” Just as he said that, the mask of a soldier was cast aside and the lone young man collapsed to the floor. Relena caught him just in time. “Heero!” she said, pulling him in close to her chest. The young boy covered in wounds closed his eyes, a sense of relief coming over his face. He slept with an innocent face, something that hadn’t been show to anyone until now. Lady Une carried out Mariemaia with one of the soldiers. “There’s still hope for her! Take her to the doctor!” Relena picked up the music box that had fallen out of the sleeping Heero’s hand. “Finally it’s over.” she said, stroking his hair gently. A tear fell from her eye and dropped onto the music box. AC-197 JANUARY Peace has returned to the people. Mariemaia is said to have been taken in by Lady Une and is quietly spending her days. And from this point on in history, weapons called mobile suits, including the Gundams, were never seen again. “Well, it’s good-bye for real, buddy.” Duo said with a satisfied look on his face. He gripped the Gundam’s self-destruction switch in his hand. He felt for this battle, the Gundam was no longer necessary. Trowa and Quatre felt the same. The three nodded their heads and pressed the switches on the self-destruct device. The Gundam Deathscythe Hell, Gundam Heavyarms Kai and Gundam Sandrock Kai exploded one after another. “I’ve once again become nameless.” Trowa mumbled while watching the rising smoke. Quatre negated that right away. “Trowa sounds fine to me. Why not keep it?” “Names are things other people give ya. There’s no point wasting time worrying about it.” Duo said to Trowa and Quatre giving them a thumbs up. “What’s important is having a place we can call home. Right?” “Yeah, you’re right…” There’s circus tent where Catherine is waiting in a colony. There, as expected I’ll probably be called Trowa Barton. There will be a name.

“If I go back, maybe Catherine wouldn’t mind if I call her ‘sis’.” Trowa pondered. If Quatre returns to space again as the heir of the Winner Family, there’ll be various jobs left behind. “I have to welcome all the Maguanac’s home from Venus before that, huh?” he thought, not being fond of being head of the Winner Family. “Maybe I’ll run away from home again…” he pondered. Duo made a carefree living as a junker, living his life with just enough. Still, he didn’t throw away his thoughts of he’d like to do something to make someone happy some day. “Maybe I should give being a jack of all trades a try… I might make a buck or two.” The three of them, each with their own beliefs, returned to outer space. ****** “The era that went mad has ended, Nataku.” Standing in the old village of the Long Clan on Earth, WuFei pressed the self-destruct switch. “May you rest in peace.” he said, reminded of a smiling Meiran. She could spend her time quietly now. The Altron Gundam disappeared in a flash. WuFei stayed staring at it for some time. “Now, where do I go from here?” As he thought this, Sally Po was standing behind him. “Hey, WuFei.” WuFei looked back over his shoulder. “It seems Noin and Zechs have disappeared somewhere. So, what do you say? Wanna come and work with me?” “Do you mean work as a Preventer?” “Why not?” he replied after grunting slightly. AC-197 FEBRUARY A spacecraft was heading toward Mars. On it were Noin and Zechs. “Are you sure? The terraforming project hasn’t even officially started yet.” Since the fall of the resource satellite MO VII in the southern hemisphere of Mars twenty years ago, an atmosphere close to that of Earth seemed to have formed due to the multiplication of Europan algae. However, one still cannot go without a helmet as it’s only possible to live in the paraterraforming domes. An immigration plan and urban planning haven’t been implemented yet, and while there was a government body in name but not reality, it was all so delayed comparisons to space colony construction couldn’t be helped. The fact of the matter is, Mars currently was not a place for which mankind could live. “Relena’s been working on it, and it won’t be easy.”

Zechs thought about his sister pursuing her ideals. “That’s why a dead person would be perfect for the job. Noin, are you sure …” You don’t have to come along with me—the usual phrase he’d try stringing together. But, Noin put her index finger on his lips, “Zechs, please don’t make me repeat myself, again.” She whispered. Zechs was silent. The truth was Noin had complicated feelings. Her father, Nove Neuenheim, was the original driving force for the Mars Terraforming Project. She disliked her father who was a utilitarian—giving profits a priority—and had a history of fleeing to Earth. There was only a bitter recollection on Mars. Still, there was no hesitation in doing this with her beloved Zechs. They agreed they’d return home. After all, they still had a mission as Preventers. They simply couldn’t let Nove Neuenheim do as he pleased with Mars. That was the thought process from the Earth’s side. Meanwhile, Zechs was bothered by the existence of the Gundam Epyon that had been hidden on Mars. The unit was entrusted to Zechs’ old friend, Major Elev Onegel. Although he didn’t consider the worst case scenario and dispose of it, but he thought it should have been blown up like the other Gundam pilots. The two didn’t need words anymore. If these strong feelings of two people exist, then perhaps it may be paradise on the new grounds of Mars despite its severity. No, it has to be. AC-197 APRIL 7 That day, the Earth was very quiet. The peacekeeping by the Preventers seemed to be going smoothly. Particularly, here in Northern Europe, the Sanc Kingdom nothing at all happened. And so, it was natural to assume that Relena’s 19th birthday party would end peacefully as well. “Everyone, thank you all for coming here today.” said Relena. She was wearing a trim, white dress as she politely addressed the nearly two hundred men and women gathered in the banquet hall. Considering it’s a birthday party for former World Nation head Queen Relena, it was quite modest and simple. Heero was nowhere to be found. Neither was her brother Milliardo. Although she invited those closest to her, she also invited politicians who would sooner or later become her political opponents as well as military personnel of the former Alliance Forces. Also in attendance were her friends from the Saint Gabriel Institute, the mother who raised her, Marlene Darlian, someone who understands total pacifism: Dorothy Catalonia, the head of the Preventers Lady Une, and Mariemaia who was recovering from her wounds in a wheelchair. Each of their faces were filled with calm relief. They seemed to believe that a lasting peace would likely continue on.

The gentle sunlight of spring coming from the window wrapped them in its warmth. Just then, an armed group of twenty camouflaged men burst through the door. All of them held machine guns and had sunglasses and scarves concealing their faces. Several women in the room let out screams upon seeing them. The men standing behind these women moved in front of them. Some even tried resisting. However, one of the militants raised his submachine gun overhead, and fired it at the extravagant chandelier on the ceiling. When the countless shards of glass rained down on the people, the noisy assembly hall turned silent. The goal of the armed group became clear only through this behavior. “Who are you people?!”Relena said without hesitation. There wasn’t anyone among them who answered the question. Keeping silent was an eloquent declaration of their intentions. If they had no intention to respond with any kind of discussion, A man wearing sunglasses with long blonde hair who appeared to be the groups leader calmly stared at Relena. “…” Relena had a hunch that the man’s face resembled her brother Milliardo. Of course she understood at once that it’s another person entirely given the atmosphere created. However, she didn’t notice that was intentional. It was several hours later that the Executive Office of the President in Brussels was notified of the armed groups statement. “We, the ‘Epyon de Telos,’ have occupied the Sanc Kingdom castle. Our demands are as follows: the release of our imprisoned comrades, the official acknowledgement of Secret Clause 203, Part 51* and the immediate breakup of the said governing agency and the budget from AC-196 to AC-197 for that government agency as ransom. If these demands are not met within 72 hours, we will detonate a nuclear warhead left behind by the Alliance Forces. That is all!” ****** Secret Clause 203, Part 51 referred to the details surrounding the formation of a special agency to prevent war and their activities recorded therein. In other words, the agency was none other than Preventer. Of course, the budget expenses for this secret intelligence are carried out in absolute secrecy.By disclosing that to the public, dissolving the organization and informing the populace is the same as losing methods of peacekeeping for the future. And to pay the ransom simply could not be done. It was an impossible demand.The executives at the President’s office decided to firmly reject this and gave a special order to Preventer “Retrieve the nuclear warhead and rescue the hostages.” A resulting investigation determined that the nuclear weapon in question was genuine. It was a narrow area nuclear explosive device used for cut mining on the resource satellites at the asteroid belts between Mars and Jupiter. The bomb has very little residual radioactivity. Even though it can be used in confined spaces, there’s no doubt that the Sanc Kingdom would be leveled in an instant. “I never thought it’d be something left behind by the Alliance Forces. I wonder if this is intentional political propaganda. “ “Indeed.” WuFei said upon hearing Sally Po’s report. He was usually calm. “’Manten kakai’ {瞞天過海}, huh? Seems like their target is something different.” “What do you mean?”

“Deceive heaven and cross the ocean.” “So you’re saying…?” WuFei gave a tiresome reply. “Their goal is to buy more time. They ask unreasonable demands from our side and while we’re running around like a chicken with its head cut off, they’re likely intending to carry out their real objective.” “Take over the Earth Sphere, huh?” Around this time, WuFei was flying around the L-4 colony sector on another mission. Sally, on the other hand, was orbiting the moon. They were the only two Preventer agents who could freely move as their director, Lady Une, was currently being taken hostage. “Although they’re calling themselves the ‘Epyon de Telos’, they must be terrorists in disguise. We don’t have to release their comrades, give ourselves up or prepare the money for that matter.” “Still, the fact is an armed group has taken 200 hostages and barricaded themselves in the castle.” “If we forget about the hostages, I can go finish this right now…” “No! That’s not acceptable!” “So shall we join forces with them and take over the world?” WuFei joked with a serious face. “Yeah, real funny… There must be another way?” “Force our way in.” WuFei said with clear eyes. Sally couldn’t think of any other way. “As I thought, we’d have no choice…” “Can you call for backup?” “I’m organizing a strike team.” Sally was calculating in her head the number of people she could possibly call on. “How many do you need? I can get 1000 people together within 48 hours.” “By then the Sanc Kingdom will be a mushroom cloud.” “Then I’ll get 500 in 24 hours!” “We hardly need that many to take over a castle.” WuFei said, a steadfast look on his face. “Five, including myself, will be enough.” As one would expect, Sally replied in shock, “Five?! Only Five people?!” “We don’t have much time. I’ll tell you where to find them.” When he said this, Sally finally realized the five people he meant. “Because it’s a fairly large area to cover, I’ll help you too.”

“Right. I’ll meet with them personally and ask for their help.” “Otherwise they won’t move either.” ****** Several hours later, Sally paid a visit to Duo Maxwell by herself, as indicated by Wufei. The place she was told was a Junk shop in the L-2 colony cluster. “He’s not here…” the young woman named Hilde Schbeiker responded, somewhat pensively. She looked down as she continued, “He wandered off, as usual. He won’t be back for a while.” Sally couldn’t find the words to respond to her. As for being in a position to ask someone to cooperate with Preventer, she felt it was the worst, cowardly and irresponsible thing to ask but, it had to be done. “The boy you like left a gaping hole in your heart.” She couldn’t help but think. In the end, she left, having been told nothing. However, she headed to another location after hearing about it from Wufei. “If he’s not there, another possibility is a place where you can see the moon.” Viewing the lunar surface from a colony is a very merciless world of death. Is it because the God of Death has a fondness for such scenery? The place Sally headed for was the outer wall near the space port. There, Duo sat isolated staring at the huge surface of the moon in his astro suit. His tiny figure carried his lonely shadow, something she often noticed on the Peacemillion. “Hey! Long time no see!” she heard him say blankly. After three months, the two met again. “I have a job for you, Mr. Jack of All Trades.” “Heh, not if it’s going to be a pain.” Duo replied, uninterested as he continued gazing at the moon. A smile filled Sally’s face replied in alluring voice, “You’ll like the reward.” She understood. The meddler that was Duo just wanted the “reward” to be an excuse. ****** On the top floor of the Winner trading company on an L-4 colony, Quatre Raberba Winner was plowing through work as company president at his desk. His eyes passing over the first quarter sanction documents as he approved them. Such simple work was nothing but a pain for him. Although Quatre was savoir-faire for everything, when it came to managing a company, he crashed into a seemingly insurmountable wall. Maybe it was a fatal lacking as a son and heir to the Winner Family. “If someone can act as an agent, then I don’t have to be here, right?” Which would mean he “didn’t do anything and left it to a subordinate”. So, Quatre didn’t like giving up that easily and was making an effort to the best of his abilities to finish the work. Without a knock, the door to his office opened. “Could you close the door?”

A breeze came in from outside and hurled the papers on the desk into the air. “It’s taken me three days just to read these files!” Quatre said, his voice rising unusually. “Got a lot of work?” said Wufei, closing the door. “W-Wufei!” Quatre rejoiced as he shot up from his seat at their unexpected reunion. Wufei folded his arms and looked outside. “Something troublesome happened. I was going to ask for your help.” “Something troublesome…?” The view from the top wasn’t bad. “I won’t force you. And, I have no time for persuasion.” “You need me?!” Wufei returned his gaze to Quatre. “You more than anyone…” he said. “I’ll go! I’ll do anything!” Quatre replied immediately. “I was just thinking this isn’t me.” When a secretary appeared with the latest approval documents, the two were no where to be found, the documents left in an avalanche on his desk. ****** The Circus had come to an L-5 colony, something he was fortunate to notice earlier. According to Wufei’s intel, it appeared to be in an L-3 colony. They nearly headed from L-4 to the furthest place, wasting time. With the latest intel in hand, Quatre and Wufei paid Trowa a visit. “All right… let’s go.” Trowa said following the meeting with them. Nevertheless, he didn’t waver. “Wait, Trowa! It’s almost time for your act!” Catherine Bloom called out to stop them. Wufei greeted her, “Thank you for that unpalatable soup.” If it were the old Wufei, such a thing minght not have been said. But, in front of Trowa he was someone else. More than a year ago on Peacemillion, Wufei was told, “At the very least, give her some sort of greeting. It’s easy to hurt a woman’s feelings.” With that in mind, it may seem something like unpleasant towards Trowa but it wasn’t. Cathering, had a keen sense for such sentiments. “Hey! If anything happens to Trowa I’ll feed you that soup again!” Wufei laughed. “Is she self-conscious over that tasteless soup?” Standing between them, Quatre looked at his wristwatch.

“Let’s hurry. Only 50 hours to their deadline.” “You’re right…” “Are you sure about this?” Wufei asked Trowa again. “Don’t worry.” Catherine was always letting him go. “She’s just my guardian.” ****** Relena’s birthday on April 8th ended without hardly anything happening. The former Gundam pilots spent it moving to Earth. Some were calling it, to an extent, a third “Operation Meteor.” Although they had come and gone between the colonies and Earth numerous times, it was their third time descending all together. The first was already well known and the second was during the battle at Brussels… AC-197 APRIL 9 Sally and Duo were on a small shuttle descending to Earth. Neither one of them could find Heero anywhere. Prior to their entry into the atmosphere, they reported to Quatre on the matter. “Oh, Heero wouldn’t sit still at a time like this… Don’t worry, he’ll show up for sure. Meanwhile, please hurry to the rendez-vous point.” he replied smiling. Sally believed in Quatre’s assessment of the situation. “Seems we better do like he says, huh?” Duo said from the seat next to her. Although he had a dissatisfied look on his face, he understood all too well. “He has a soft spot for her… But, even though he’s desperately searching, it’s really just more hassle than it’s worth.” Sally gave a sarcastic laugh at Duo’s innocence. “True, but despite his pointless work but, he’ll calculate his hourly wages exactly and only ask for that.” {this line is so not correct} “Right, right.” Duo’s cheerfulness was a relief during the difficult struggle they were in. It was strange and hopeful, somehow brimming with courage. ****** Eight hours remained until the time limit was up. On an extravagant passenger boat floating in the Sanc Kingdom bay, a room of the ship had been converted into a primary operations control room for the Preventers. From the deck, they were able to do a complete sweep of the Sanc Kingdom castle in one go. In the bay was another passenger boat and many civilian boats anchored about. “If this mission fails, it won’t be just those guys in the castle, but they people in the bay too.” “Quite the serious mission…” Wufei and Quatre could do nothing but endure the pressure. Trowa was investigating the outskirts of the castle.

“While we may get fairly deep inside, we don’t know where they’re keeping the two hundred hostages…” “Video cameras installed everywhere with very few blind spots and twenty armed soldiers keeping watch.” Trowa reported to Quatre upon his return. “Thank you, Trowa.” During the hour by hour changes in the situation, Quatre gathered information as best he could and worked out a hostage rescue operation. “I suppose rushing in with tanks and mortars is out of the question.” Trowa suggested, typical of his gaudy combat strongpoints. “We’ll prioritize human life in this mission–there will be no casualties. Of course, we won’t let them use the nuke either.” ****** The hostages were separated into four rooms of 50 people each and secured. Two men with machine guns were put in charge of each of the rooms. Their presence warning them that ‘any sudden movements means and they’ll be shot instantly.’ Apart from those people, specific individuals were taken to the nuclear bomb shelter in the basement. Relena Darlian and Marlene Darlian, the mother who raised her. Rounding out the three was Pargan, their long-serving butler. Pargan believed in ‘duty until death’ to protect Relena and Marlene. “Please trust in my skills…” He believed he could stick close to the two men guarding them, take their weapons and lead Relena and Marlene from there. “Even though I may be old, I’m not quite that rusty.” “You won’t, pagan. I will not allow any rash actions on our end otherwise it will cause trouble for everyone.” “But.” The group finally arrived at the underground shelter. Waiting for them there was the long blond haired leader. It was the man Relena noticed looked like Milliardo in the beginning. “Welcome, Relena Peacecraft.” the man said removing his sunglasses and mask. A distinct nose, thin lips and blue eyes. It was all just like Milliardo. “Master Milliardo!” Pargan muttered, unable to hide his surprise. “What do you think? I look just like your brother, right?” “What do you plan to do? Who are you?” Relena inquired in a calm voice. Laughing to himself, he replied, “Please excuse me. My name is Dixneuf Neuenheim.” “…” “I am a someone who is attempting to bring perfect peace to the Earth Sphere and Mars.” “And what in the world would you use us for?” “I’d like you to activate a certain program.” Dixneuf produced a small, old-type computer before Relena.

“The password is PEACECRAFT X 2 HEERO YUY.” On the monitor was an image of a Norwegian Forest Cat. The cat gave a soft meow. “Sam…” Pargan muttered, horrified with what he saw. * * * The VTOL that Sally and Duo were on touched down on the passenger boat. “Heero still isn’t here?” Duo asked, looking at the members who greeted them on the deck. “No, he just arrived.” Quatre answered with a smile. The sea suddenly swelled and a red unit rose to the surface. “T-that’s! It can’t be!” Duo was shocked. “OZ-08MMS Cancer?” Trowa politely responded with the units name. The hatch opened from the top part of the Cancer and Heero appeared. He was wearing a Preventer unicorn though they didn’t know where he got it from. “…” His cheeks were soaked from the waves splash. “Am I late?” he asked, wiping off the wet spots with the back of his right hand. It was as though he didn’t want them to see his real face. “No, there’s still time. We’re glad you came, Heero.” Quatre replied immediately. “Hey! Is this some kind of joke?!” Duo protested, pointing with his finger at the Cancer. “According to records, it’s a machine that shouldn’t exist.” Sally laughed albeit bewildered. “Hey, hey. Don’t go yanking my chain, Ms. Preventer. What good is it if we let that sorta thing loose?!” “Quit yelling” Wufei said, folding his arms and turning away from Duo. “He probably gathered the parts from the wreckage that sunk to the bottom of the ocean and assembled it himself.” “Whatever the case, you better control it perfectly. Christ.” There was no end to Duo’s quibbles. “You’re just like a spoiled brat who’s had his toys taken away, Duo.” “Ah, my bad. But still!” Heero fired the wire gun, the point of the magnet burhsing past Duo’s face as it fastened to the body of the VTOL craft behind him. Duo fell silent without a thought. As the wire wound up, Heero effortlessly glided down to the deck. His astounding physical abilities hand’t changed a bit.

“The bastard…” When it comes to shutting Duo up, there was no one other than Duo. Ignoring Duo who was grinding his teeth next to him, he looked straight at Quatre.” “Fill me in on the situation.” he said in his cool, cold voice. To be continued… WILL HEERO AND THE OTHERS RESCUE RELENA SAFELY?! I haven’t the slightest idea. No. 51 of confidential information 203? What?Notation: *機密事項二〇三の51号を公表し

Frozen Teardrop, Prologue Gundam Wing Frozen Teardrop

***

Prologue File MC-0022 Next Winter

I chased after Master Chang. Though terraforming the Borealis Sea was complete, the temperature was still minus twenty celsius. The extreme cold froze everything and a white storm raged outside. It wasn't really a blizzard because it wasn't really snow blowing but rather like the particles of the air itself had frozen, like small hailstones like diamond dust hurtling through space. Even now, as the hovercraft "Voyage" bounced wildly over the frozen ocean, that white dust beat the windows and all but obscured the view.

"Lieutenant Commander Kathy, we are five kilometers from the Preventer base, but it will take two more hours to arrive," announced Captain Tale Hicktory, who was steering the Voyage, with a grumble. Beside him, Ship Captain Masakazu Sakai stood glaring at the charts projected by the holographic monitors. Below the charts were the weather maps, changing occasionally. Judging from his slumped shoulders, the captain was irritated with the changes.

"We will arrive five minutes behind schedule. I never imagined the North Pole would ever be so tempestuous."

"Roger. My apologies for your trouble."

My own voice probably sounded like I was just muttering to myself. My lips quivered and my molars refused to unclench enough to let me speak properly, that's how cold it was. But this place had once hit ninety below zero, so I couldn't really complain. We had to hurry.

"We have to hurry."

We had to smother the ember smoldering on this planet immediately.

I am Lieutenant Commander Cathy Po. I belong to the prevetners, the secret information department reporting directly to the

President of the United Earth Nations. Preventers, alias "The Extinguishers," was a special agency charged with the duty of maintaining peace on Earth and to eradicate weapons. The microchip memory file I had was sent to me by the President herself, Dorothy Catolonia. I already knew that chip would be the start of Operation Mythos. I immediately sent that announcement to the North Pole Preventers base, but Master Chang instructed me to bring three files downloaded from the old base from the history band of the United Earth Nations catalogues.

"You are a member of Preventers, and as such, must see those files yourself. Review them before your arrival," spoken in my commanding officer's typical cold voice. What use could that data from the last century possibly be? I spitefully thought, it was just so much meaningless data.

Those three filed were dated from the summer of AC 195, Fall of AC 195, and Spring of AC 196. The language, the archivist, the location at which the files were saved, even the method in which they were saved all differed. The various relations and connections between them were few at best. In fact, the only thing the files did seem to have in common was the key phrase "Gundam Pilot." The brilliant pilots who flew the Gundam mobile suits made of Gundanium.

In the public history banks, their personal information was conspicuously absent, not even the Gundam names were recorded. They were referred to by an (inorganic) formal number starting with [XXXG] and after that, they were sent to Earth where their legacy has been passed on by word of mouth.

No, it wouldn't be strange to call all that 'sealed history'; that public account left the impression of being unrelated to what actually happened.

In AC 195 , the people of Earth's war had reached its most bitterly extreme point. The first file was written in the summer of that year. It was written in German and not so much as a journal or a biography, but the contents was more like a letter or a short essay. At the beginning, there was a quote from an old Austrian poet named Rainer Maria Rilke's poem called "Autumn." It was strange that a poem entitled "Autumn" should head a letter written in the summer. It was more strange that the final two lines of the poem had been written, and then been crossed out and that harbored some kind of deep meaning. What kind of meaning, I could not say, but I did know for a fact that the Gundam pilot named Milliardo Peacecraft had been active during the same period. I could also surmise that that file had been written by Treize Khushrenada. It read as follows:

AC 195

The leaves are falling Falling Like your distant self Like the heavenly paradise is withering Even as they deny it, the leaves fall And every night by Earth's gravity From the glittering starlight To the silent darkness they fall.

We lose everything These hands, too Just look around you Everything and anything falls

But there exists with untold kindness one who can catch the fall

R.M. Rilke "Autumn" AD 1902 [This is my attempt at translating the Japanese. The actual poem in German, English translation of the German is much shorter that what is written in FT]

This is my lifelong (eternal) friend Milliardo Peacecraft

We exists in a time of desolate darkness. In the long history of man, no other period could ever be said to be as isolated, as sad and painful, as this one.

You could say it's like the Earth left alone in the vastness of space, or describe it like a lost child having nowhere to go.

At the end of the last century [era, as in AD versus AC], mankind left the proverbial nest for space. Then, for the first time, we realized that we were alone. The basis for that statement comes from the closest heavenly body to the earth: the moon. It resides hundreds of thousands of kilometers away.

Orbiting between Earth and the moon (lit: in the gravitationally balanced La Grange points between Earth and moon) there is habitable space- the space colonies. THey were at once the new world and the symbol of the new era which we called AC, After Colony. Although nearly two hundred years have passed since, mankind has yet to shake off the dark era [has yet to come out of the dark ages].

Now, power is concentrated in few hands and those hands are engaged in a virtually meaningless power struggle. While they pay lip service to upholding moral law, they embroil their people in war, demanding their poverty and hunger and bloodshed.

I can believe the reason we continue to live in darkness is because we flew the coop before we had wings. Or, from a different perspective, space, with it's absolute existence that completely refuses life, was a (physical or psychological) cause of our torture by immature solitude. [#1]

Either way, for close to one hundred years, man has continued [to wage] war blindly, and the will to go to space has stagnated, time has stagnated. That stagnation has turned into sluggish decline. The current leaders have made big talk of [using] the war to somehow stay that [downward slide].

Tears of grief run endlessly down the people's eyes. Have they already given up? There is no end to the fighting, to the struggling. To be sure, that itself is painfully obvious. If you look back at history.

And in throwing away [any of our] few paths to peace, to the extent that it wouldn't be bombastic to say we do so to main balance in our hearts, the uncommon will become the common and the inert war and chronic impoverished state will continue.

Even as the sun shines radiantly down upon the heads of men, they turn their gaze away from the dazzling brightness and are shut up in the shell of [their] little Earth-- as if they forgot the existence of the sun.

Is it not [therefore] necessary for a revolution? In these dark times, there must appear one who may shine a ray of light upon the

path these men should follow. No matter how small the light, no matter how bloody the action, someone must take the child weary of tears by the hand an lead him to the right path.

That, however, must not be at the hands of the 'winners.'

The rule of the winners but leads to further power struggles and only serves to pull us back into a state of war. Those who will change history...

Must be the defeated.

Sommer T.K.

The word 'summer' was recorded in German and what with bearing the initials believed to stand for Treize Khushrenada-- T.K.-- and the special import placed upon the words 'the defeated,' there is reason to believe this was penned by Khushrenada imself. But... Treize and Milliardo did not have a point of contact at this time ((it's said that they first crossed paths during the Eve Wars)). However much they seem contemporaries, from a historical point of view, it is probably more accurate to contend that it is, in fact, someone else.

The next file, too, was enigmatic. The file wasn't text but rather a video. At the start of the new school term in September AC 195, a boy by the name of 'Duo Maxwell' had transferred to the State Gymnasium on the L-4 colony R09935. He was recorded reading a composition ((or, more accurately, it had the [distinct] feeling of an essay)) on the Earth-Colony relations. As it had been recorded by a camera situated at the very back of the classroom, there was no way the youth's face could be shown clearly, but if that was the real 'Duo Maxwell,' it would mean he was the only gundam pilot we could see in the flesh and blood. [er, wasn't Duo captured by OZ in the TV series and bandied about ALL OVER TV for a very PUBLIC execution? Maybe the meant to compare this video of the speech to the TV appearances of detained Duo?] Mostly, according to the rumors precedent at the time, the pilots were young boys and in order to complete their missions, they often infiltrated schools and the like, and they repeatedly transferred schools. However, if that truly were the case, it seems like it would be impossible to use the name 'Duo.' If you want to coneal your identity, obviously, you would assume a fake name. This is what the video contained:

AC 195 Autumn

"Earth: the planet in our solar system that is miraculously able to support life. With the advent of the colonies, man had abundant resources and with cultivated technology it became possible to possess new land-- space. However, in the end, it cannot surpass Mother Earth. What was the meaning of creating the colonies, then? I've heard the main reason is to give Earth-bound men a more abundant life. I wonder if we didn't need this pseudo-space because we had (impossible) demand for it. There were no predators (menaces to our life support) and so it was safer than the Earth. The development never ceased (lit: knew no bounds) and looked as if it promised eternal existence for the human race. Space allowed for a fresh start. It seemed like a merry time. But it's difficult to believe that the colonies... no, that people could forget the Earth. What did the technology used to develop the colonies give to Earth? The most sought after technology: military power. Destruction was something the human race could not throw away. Even now, the colonies still hold a militaristic disposition. Earth cannot be forgotten.

Earth has great beauty. The animal which possesses great power, whom we call 'man', has come to control the entire planet. [In the greater scheme of things] the existence of an animal is infantessimal. That's after the fact. After all, the things humans think of do not and cannot be changed. It was useless for man to go to space.

Before reality, the ideal is nothing but a dream.

False living space.

False Pacifists.

Space claims more lives.

That is a sadness man cannot forget, and yet he cannot stop fighting. The spilled blood and fallen tears will serve as no more than decoration for a ceremony [i.e. when the victors claim the spoils of war formally, ay]. Sometimes, war is the only way to move forward [#2]. All the (faded) big talk of fighting for the sake of peace were repeated time and again in the past; that was just a load of bullshit. For the sake of peace, the colonies bore arms. Just the same as Earth. Their will power seemed to grow in correlation to the amount of blood which was spilled."

The boy calling himself 'Duo' read up until that point when the teacher silenced him and indicated for him to go to the back [to his seat] in the very back. The report paper the boy was holding was recorded by the camera, and upon closer inspection, I realized there wasn't a single thing written on it. It was completely blank paper. He probably spoke his mind right there just as if he had been reading it. If that's the case, I could imagine how his thinking was critical of the trends of the time but he was so young-- I couldn'T help but admire someone who could, at that age, have such a wide (field of vision). Then, for just a split second, the final page was revealed by a gust of wind, and there I confirmed several lines of a paragraph that appeared to be the conclusion [of his report].

I tried to read that paragraph from the frame on screen, this is what was written:

"Then why does man fight? Perhaps fighting gives our existence significance. Those who fight feel a sense of fulfillment. And it's a fact that those who fight cannot see for their sins."

This is just my personal opinion, but I had the feeling that boy was not 'Duo Maxwell.' Couldn't he perhaps have piloted another gundam? It's unfortunate that there wasn't data to prove or disprove this idea but I was, for some reason, gripped by that thought and it wouldn't let go.

I had a sudden thought as the last file was downloading. That was because I was rather familiar with the person who had saved the file: Sally Po. That was my mother's name. It was AC 196 and my mother had been employed by the United Earth Sphere "Preventers." The details of her work weren't clear, as far as I could tell from the recorded voices, they were talking about security around the time my mother was serving as a guard for Relena Darlian, the vice Foreign Minister. Neither my mother's picture nor her voice were recorded. Nor could we tell who it was who was interviewing Relena Darlian. Either the interviewee was too important or the contents were too top secret, but for whatever reason, there was [almost nothing] but snow for the picture and only the voices could be heard [#3]. We didn't know where it had been recorded and like the other files, the exact date had not been noted. However, I could just barely make out that a rather elderly man was talking to Relena Darlian. In the file, Relena and the elderly man were speaking of "Heero Yuy"-- it was extremely confidential information that Heero Yuy was also a gundam pilot, but we in the Preventers were in the know. He was the boy with the code name of a legendary colony leader. That was the crux of the conversation in this file. As a supplement to this, in AC 196 Spring, it was a time of peace between the colonies and Earth and eight months before the Mariemaia uprising. The recording starts with the elderly man.

AC 196 SPRING

"We have two rather large sicknesses in our hearts. One is the cross-generational urge for revenge. The other is man's tendency to not look at each person individually, but rather to put a label on them"

"......"

"Surely your [note: it's a plural "your"] ideals have successfully, however temporarily, broken the chain of hatred which has extended over several centuries. However, the group advocating ideal pacifism cannot afford to show discord in any opinion."

"......"

"I think you know what that will lead to."

"......"

"I'm talking about him."

"... yes..."

I heard the old man's breath come as if he were laughing.

"He was the best. Exceeded expectations...... no matter what the barrier, he never [knew how to] give up."

"......"

"His name... yes, that was something I thought up."

"You mean Heero Yuy."

"Hm... pretty good for a (lit: bluff), isn't it."

"You've given Heero... I understand he's been given a new mission."

"Can I answer that question with one of my own?"

"... okay."

"Do you really believe you can achieve a perfect peace by throwing away weapons and writing off (lit: seal) the soldiers?"

"As long as the concept of fighting remains in people's hearts, real peace is impossible, isn't it......?"

"Has the human race actually come that far?"

"I think not, and it will be rough going from here as well."

I heard Relena sigh deeply.

"But, essentially, what people must turn their full power towards isn't an opposing enemy, I believe it's a firmly rooted hardship."

"So that's why there are plans for terra-forming on Mars."

"I'll thank you for not laughing. I sincerely believe that."

There was a sound of the old man swaying. It really seemed like he was really laughing.

"That's alright."

I heard the creak of a wooden chair being moved.

"About Heero's mission to destroy the as-yet incomplete colony sized bean canon that was designed for [specifically for the purpose of] destroying Earth... in the shadow of the peace you've constructed, a deterrent [like (lit: named)] Heero Yuy is constantly necessary."

"......"

"In any generation, in any place, that's-"

This file was top secret even among Preventers. If Master Chang had not given me special permission, I wouldn't have been able to see it. At the time, the there was no record of there being a colony sized beam cannon (to be used to fire at the Earth). The boy code named Heero Yuy... his mission was probably to blow up that weapon, I think. When I think about the (contents) of the mission, it seems about the same as what present day Preventers are doing. It's strange the assignment was given to my mother but I suppose that might have been because the then-newly inaugurated organization hadn't actually been up and running. In addition to the voice recording, there was other data attached to the file. There was the Human Hibernation Frozen Capsule blue prints and the user's manual. The plans were signed only with "J" so I didn't know who might have made them. There was an off chance it was possible that it was the old man to whom Relena had been speaking. Of the three files, only that last one seemed to have a significant connection to the files ordered by President Catalonia. But no matter how you slice it, I just didn't think data this old was necessary information for this mission.

"Lieutenant Commander Kathy, my apologies for the delay," said Captain Hicktory as he eased up on the Voyage's thrust[ers]. "We've arrived at the Preventer's Martian North Pole base. We managed to make our ETA."

"Thank you, that's a big help," Said Captain Sakai cordially. The white storm outside had passed. Like a frozen teardrop in the dim sky, Mars' second moon Dimos was shining on the other side of the rainbow colored Aurora Borealis.

Hurriedly, I dashed from the docking back to the base. Master Chang was working here all by himself. I cleared several layers of heavy security and after submitted to a DNA scan, I ran to the Branch Head's quarters. Mars only had one third of the gravity of Earth or the colonies. My stride were unexpectedly long and made for easy running. I opened the final door and there, in a deep navy blue [Chinese style] suit with a mandarin collar, Master Chang stood waiting [for me].

"Well met."

"Master Chang, we've received permission to carry out Operation Mythos. Please awaken the Aurora Princess."

'Sleeping Beauty' was now sealed in the human hibernation frozen capsule. That was when I heard a noise behind me.

"You really look just like your mother."

I turned around in surprise. Standing there was a man in early middle age wearing a priest's smock and a boy with a long braid of hair. The voice belonged to the priest. I turned round on the spot, minding my pistol.

"Who are you?" Tensely, I took aim. The man, however, didn't seem to sense any danger whatsoever. He was unperturbed, even as he looked down the barrel of my gun. I knew these were not your average blokes.

"You're Sally's daughter, aren't you" so saying, the priest and boy passed in front of me. Master Chang [followed after]. The boy glared at me sullenly, revealing his distaste of having a gun trained on him.

"How long you gonna keep me in your sights?" His gaze flashed with fearlessness. "...... you wanna die?"

I might have misheard, but that's what it sounded like he muttered.

"I'm Father Maxwell."

Conversely, the priest never let up on his affable smile. "[I] may run and hide, but I cannot lie... and this [ray of sunshine #4] is my son, Duo."

Instead of an introduction, the boy snorted disparagingly at me. Master Chang remained silent but motioned for me to lower the gun. I reluctantly obeyed. The boy lashed out immediately with his sharp tongue, "That's a load off, might even make it to a ripe old age now."

When I realized that smart-aleck kid's name was 'Duo Maxwell' I thought it had to be a terrible joke.

Whatever possessed his parents to name him after a gundam pilot? I thought.

"By the way, have you brought the three files?" Father Maxwell asked as if to remind me. "To awaken the 'Aurora Princess,' the three songs of the prelude are necessary."

To Be Continued...

***

#1 WOW, that passage was *harrrrd* So, Treize is answering the question "Why do we live in dark times?" Answer 1: we left Earth before we were ready (for whatever reason) Answer 2: living in space isn't the escape it was supposed to be, it just brought us closer to the fact that we will not live forever and that pisses us off. Well, that at least makes sense, as opposed to what I originally put down for that sentence: "in space we were overly familiar with the complete refusal of life's absolute existence but this could also be interpreted as solitude, tormented psychological causes."

#2 literally, Heero says something along the lines of "there is history that can only be spoken of as eras being tied together by war." Which is, now that I type it out, not so bad... but still kind of long.

#3 ARGH, the Japanese says ONLY the VOICES could be heard. Later on, we KNOW Kathy cannot tell who the old man is. So HOW do we know this is Relena? (I mean, yes, it has to be relena, but... NOTHING indicates why we know this but why we DON'T know to whom she is talking... unless that was in the original series.) #4 literally, the Japanese says 目付きが悪い whereas the first part means "look" and the second part means "bad" but I think sarcasm works better than the more direct "bad-looking kid"

Frozen Teardrop, Chapter 1 Gundam Wing Frozen Teardrop

Treize File

Aurora Borealis... it's not produced by the planet itself, but rather by the planets of the solar system. The storm at Mars' North Pole had settled and the stars stretch out overhead. Once, the atmosphere was too thin to make the stars twinkle. Since the terraforming, the atmosphere has become more like Earth's and now, the stars do twinkle. But when the air is dead calm, that's when the Aurora Borealis comes. Before your eyes, a white curtain floats down. The thin, filmy light is like nothing so much as the hem of an angel's or god's cape. And when it flutters, shades of indigo, purple, green and even sometimes red bleed across the sky. That's Aurora Borealis. I'm aware that my description is somewhat cliche but be that as it may, that most excellent curtain of light is like a graceful and solemn circle dance.

Surprisingly, you can see the stars shining through all the fluttering. Tens of thousands of kilometeres to the east, it changes into a curtain of deep green. It looks as though it might be hiding the stairway to heaven, like the stairs are hiding behind the billowing curtain of light. Watching this ever-changing curtain reminds me of the majestic beauty of nature and the mysteries of space. If it's this beautiful from Mars, I can only imagine how much more beautiful it would have been as seen from the North Pole of Earth.

There must be people who object to calling Sleeping Beauty 'Aurora.' The story tellers of old could have easily called her Thalia. But if the name of Operation Mythos was misappropriated from Tchaikovsky's most famous classical ballet, it stands to reason we'd also use 'Aurora.'

"For 'Aurora's Awakening,' there must be a three song prelude," Father said. In Tchaikovsky's ballet, the prologue is in four parts. I thought it might be missing one of those four parts so I decided to listen to it to be sure.

"So, that means..." I said, looking to Father and Master Chang with a displeased look on my face. "The old data files need a password or something and these files are needed to make the capsule work?"

"Exactly," said Master Chang. Not to me, but to the microchip that contained the converted data files that I was holding. That was the only way Master Chang could look at me. As soon as I handed over the chip, he practically snatched it away to scan and check the contents. Master Chang opened up another program and turned on the holographic monitor in front of us; then, he entered the

password. The password was the year and season in which the filed was recorded.

"With this, we can start the defrost systems of the capuse."

I couldn't help myself, it had been bothering me [since Father Maxwell mentioned it and] I had to toss out my how-many-parts-to-theprologue question.

"But doesn't the prelude have four parts?"

"This boy is the fourth part," Master Chang said. He glanced at Father as the data loaded.

"My prelude is equal to any symphony."

I thought Father Maxwell seemed a little suspicious, what with being a priest, yet given to speaking with such bombast.

"The real problem is the condition Aurora will be in once he's out of stasis," Father Maxwell said concernedly.

He might be a little shady, but he was surprisingly likable.

"Successful awakenings from artificial hibernation have an 80% success rate, but I'm seeing some abnormalities in the neuron secretions of the hippocampus. Meaning there is a chance his memories have been wiped out completely."

"The old AC memories?"

"Well, yes."

"Hey, Father Crapswell [#1]," the boy called Duo butted in. "I couldn't give a rat's ass about that, tell me where my partner is."

"That is best left to Doktor T and Professor W."

I had heard both of those names before.

"Do you by any chance mean Snow White and The Warlock?"

"Duh! Who else?!"

"You don't mean this kid is going to pilot..."

"Ah, well... he's been trained to Aurora's level for the sake of the symphony."

So that's why he was named after the Gundam pilot Duo Maxwell. But as I thought about it... this little boy as a piolt... 'hard to believe' would have been putting it mildly.

"Equal? Screw that, I'm loads better [than Aurora is]. You don't know jack, Fat Max [#1]."

"It's my fault he's got such bad language. I raised him by myself after his mother died."

"Unfortunately," said Master Chang in a clipped voice as he glared at the holomonitor, "neither the 'Aurora Princess' and your son are [the best choices] for this mission."

"Well, we can't just leave him like that, now can we."

"......" Master Chang kept silent.

"Father, are you a Preventer, too?"

"No, no. I don't have nearly as much leisure time on my hands as Master Chang," he said with a grin. "Let's just say that we're old friends."

"Zero is the number of times I've ever considered you a friend."

"Hey now, are your or are you not the same guy who looked death in the eyes with me on that lunar base?"

"Hn. I would probably be able to breathe a little easier now if you'd actually bit the dust then."

"Says you, geeze."

I had never seen Master Chang speak so much before. Father Maxwell was probably less of a good friend and more like bad company.

"The three files have been downloaded. All that's left are your files."

"Yup."

Father Maxwell tossed him the chip. Master Chang loaded it into the computer and downloaded the data.

"Are you going to download all that?"

"This is just the bare minimum."

If Duo or myself didn't interviene, those two would soon be going for the jugluar. I wasn't normally one to pose stupid questions, but it was my responsibility to see this operation successfully accomplished. It was therefore in my best interest to go ahead and ask.

"This is probably a silly thing to ask, but this data is also from the AC era, correct?"

"Yes."

"Is AC 130 the earliest history on record?" [Kathy or Duo #2]

"Are you really going to upload all that old data into Aurora?" [Kathy or Duo]

"If Aurora wakes up now, the body will be as good as it was when he was first put into stasis, but it's entirely possible that the mind has 'reset,' leaving it no more advanced that a baby's." [Chang]

"What about checking that data?" [Kathy?]

"Did you want to censor something?" [Chang]

"That authority has been entrusted to President Catalonia." [Kathy]

"Huh, so Dorothy's gotten along pretty well then. I've never met her myself." [Father Maxwell]

And there was my proof that Father Maxwell was not a Preventer- to call the representative of the Earth sphere by her first name was unheard of.

"She's a brilliant broad... if Relena were at the helm, there wouldn't even be any Operation Mythos."

Even if he was a Preventer, there's no way he would ever call his commanding officer a 'broad."

"Say what you will, I'll have a look at Father Maxwell's files all the same."

"Looks like it'll take some time."

"What?"

"It might be better to say you'll experience it rather than read it," Father Maxwell said, twirling a pair of sunglasses. I didn't know what he meant at first, but then I realized those sunglasses were actually the latest of virtual visors. It meant that the files had been recorded in 3D, and the contents of those files was sent straight to your brain as if you had experienced the events as a guest or onlooker.

"Aurora's mind was sophisticated. Can we really recreate it with just those files?"

Master Chang looked unsure.

"It's a risky bet... things might not go according to our expectations."

"So he might betray us, like he did before?"

"I can't deny that that is a possibility."

"It was pure luck this guy got to be Aurora... anyhow, it's a dangerous gamble we'd better make a bet we won't regret."

Father Maxwell gave me a little wink.

"Well, I'm pretty beat after looking at all this."

"Whatever... you're always like that."

"I don't need a Preventer like you to tell me that." [Er, Duo Jr. seems to be a Preventer then?]

I copied Father Maxwell's microchip and checked the file in question. It showed up on the holomonitor as a list of years and names and was separated into several chapters.

"Father, what's this?"

"You could call it a history book, or even a biography. Either way, everything about the past was processed by a special program called 'ZERO' and put onto this chip."

"Why does it start from AC 130?"

"If we gave him memories fo all human history, he'd turn into an omniscient megalomaniac or something. That's why we're only giving him recent history, so he doesn't go bad. What he needs isn't a history of Mars, but a history of After Colony."

I looked at Duo with sudden interest. Either he was bored stiff with our conversation, or in a huff because he was lying on the sofa in the back of the room. He had his back to us and his long brain hung limply all the way to the floor. For some reason, Father Maxwell looked nostalgically at Duo as he said:

"This isn't the tripe printed in history books, it's all the what we knew- the real behind the scenes stuff- that's really important."

"However much ZERO figured out, we can't be sure your own subjectivity hasn't colored the files."

"And why should you be? In any event, I have tried to be as objective as possible."

"That's what I'm afraid of."

"Hey, I'm being modest here... or aren't you Easterners familiar with the concept?"

And they were fighting like a pair of five year olds.

I focused on the files. 'Treize Khushrenada' was the very first heading. Since it was just text, I could read it on the holomonitor. It was, however, completely different from my own image of Treize. This is how Treize is portrayed according to the Preventers:

Treize Khushrenada (AC 171-195) Executive of Romefeller Foundation and unifying Commander in Chief of the secret society named "OZ." As his grandfather was commander in chief of Romefeller, Khushrenada was born into elite society. Moreover, he was extremely charismatic and by his excellent politics, collected many supporters and followers.

All his actions were backed up by his unique philosophy and aesthetic and the Treize & Lady Une Faction showed tremendous confidence in them. He was very aware of the sin of war and took it upon himself to memorize not only the number of casualties, but also the name of each and every person killed in the war.

Following the OZ coup de tat against the Alliance, Treize spoke out against Romefeller policies. That resulted in Treize losing his position for a time and he was put under house arrest for treason. After the death of Duke Dermail, he returned as the Commander in Chief of OZ.

Thereafter, he received the rank of Head of State from the Earth United Nation's Queen Relena and declared full war against Milliardo Peacecraft who was representing the colonial revolutionist group White Fang declared full war.

During the Eve Wars, Khushrenada challenged Peacecraft to a duel aboard Libra. Peacecraft refused and discharged Libra's big guns. As a result, Treize gave the order to commence the largest MS battle in history. The battle grew confused and Treize's final opponent was Gundam pilot 05. The battle was fierce, but ended in defeat for Treize whereupon he forfeit his life. He died at 24.

There aren't supposed to be any errors in that account. But those files of Father Maxwell's were unbefitting the uncommon hero. Surely he was a man of many mysteries. Why did he care about the fallen soldiers? When did he start memorizing the names of the dead and the number of casualties? When was his ideological and philosophical root severed and supplanted with a seed of pessimism? The answers were in those files. I borrowed Father's virtual visors and plugged them into the computer. I put on the visor and the word "ZERO" popped up on screen. The calculated history was input directly into my brain. It was AC 170; it started one year before Treize was born.

AC 170 WINTER

Two lovers stood under the Aurora Borealis: Ein and Angelina. In the most northern part of the North American continent, there was a city called Yellow Knife. The couple stood in a field of snow and admired the beauty of the Aurora Borealis. The gorgeously resplendent curtain of light twinkled on endlessly. Later, even the locals would admit it wasn't often you saw such a marvelous sight (as was seen on that night). To call it the ultimate beauty of solar wind and magnetic fields wouldn't do it justice.

"Earth is beautiful from space... I thought it was the most beautiful thing," murmured a wide-eyed Ein. "But then I came to Earth and actually saw this world and it's fantastic; inundated with beauty."

"Ein..."

"Earth is beautiful... it's so beautiful, and yet..." Ein was troubled. Angelina guessed at his feelings.

"..."

Even though she understood what he wanted to say, she could offer him no words. On this beautiful Earth, ugly war would continue ceaselessly. And they were considering taking the war beyond the Aurora and out into space. Ein pushed his worries aside and smiled. He decided to express his feelings about something else that was beautiful.

"The Aurora is beautiful, but nothing holds a candle to you."

Angelina turned her eyes demurely downward at hearing his brazed admission.

"I'm not that pretty..."

Ein touched his fingers to her jaw and tipped her face to meet his.

"Don't look at me," he said, "look at the Aurora."

"What?"

"I want to see the light reflected in your eyes... nothing else could possibly surpass that in beauty."

They gazed into each other's eyes and then kissed passionately.

Ein Yuy was born in AC 150. He was the nephew of colonial Problem Conference Engine representative Heero Yuy. Heero Yuy placed much confidence in him and by the tender age of 20, Ein had been entrusted with bridging the gap between the colonies and Earth. The current trip Ein was making to Earth was for the sake of promoting peaceful negotiations with the Cinq Kingdom, a medical state, and the Romefeller Foundation.

Angelina was the sole daughter of Romefeller representative Duke Cinquante Khushrenada; she was born in AC 152. Her father doted upon her from a very early age and she lived a life free from want. She often attended ceremonies and parties that promoted relations between the colonies and Earth. No one could have forseen the changes one of those mere parties would bring not only to her, but to all of mankind.

Ein and Angelina met at one of those parties on Earth. They fell in love at first sight and finally, after many a secret meetings, they managed to sneak away to the North Pole. It was unclear whether or not they actually inteded to elope at the time, but Angelina's feelings were unshakeable after sharing the Aurora with Ein.

"No regrets?"

"You're leaving after all?"

"Yes."

"I love you, Ein."

"And I, you, Angelina. But there is work to be done."

"Then I am going to space, too."

Ein shook his head almost imperceptibly. There was no way the great house of Khushrenada would permit their only daughter such an outrageous flight of fancy. Any more than Ein Yuy could part company with his uncle Heero and stay on Earth. In words, it was impossible. Reality was a bitter pill to swallow for both halves of the couple. Nonetheless, they were so distraught over their parting, they considered any and every conceivable method to prevent it, so earnestly did they love one another. In the end, however, Ein was forced to leave Angelina behind and return to space.

People who have known absolute beauty, however, reject living among what they would henceforth consider the polluted masses of humanity and are given to acting irrationally.

The first time Angelina went to space alone happened a month after she had stood in the snowy field watching the Aurora Borealis

with Ein. He was on L-2 colony V08744 and attempting to prevail upon an anti-Allicance resistance group to give up at least military means of resistance. V08744 was, at the time, the most extreme of the anti-Alliance factions. Since it's construction in AC97, it was seething with malcontent and loathing at the squalid living conditions and ceaseless rioting brought on by a long reign of poverty. All that rage was pointed like a spearhead at the United Earth Alliance. Ein, however, had been successful in his persuasion. He had convinced the resistance of Heero Yuy's ideal: create equality for the Earth and the colonies both.

Heero Yuy's was a name destined to go down in the history books, but would it be for his legendary leadership and brilliant political skill or, from another perspective, because of his nephew Ein Yuy's quiet contributions of strengthening intercolonial relations?

After Ein successfully persuaded the resistance group, Angelina unexpectedly appeared before his eyes.

"Ein," she said, suddenly throwing herself into his arms and kissing him for the first time in a month. Eine spared but a thought for the onlookers, then without even considering the danger, embraced his greatest love.

"Angelina."

The couple got married on V087444 at the small Maxwell church. At the end of December AC 170 (by some accounts, it was Christmas day), the star crossed lovers, the most perfectly matched couple in all of space, became husband and wife. Among the attendees was Ein's uncle Heero Yuy, who gave a short speech of congratulations.

"May the future of these two be full of blessings. We the people of the colonies did not leave Earth to start a war, we cam to love and to love one another. We would like you to think that space exists for the sake of love."

There are now no traces of the Maxwell church (which should have stood to commemorate the couple for years to come). In AC 188 a group of anti-Alliance colonists staged a coup de tat. More than 240 people died when the church was burned to the ground. All the world over, the event has been referred to as the Maxwell Church Tragedy. If Heero or Ein had lived, if they had been on L-2, perhaps the tragedy could have been avoided. However, talk of how history could have been different, the would-haves and couldhaves, is just so much wasted breath.

For the time being, though, Ein and Angelina started their life together on the colony. Their life was brimming with happiness. more than ever before, Ein served as Heero's right hand man, working vigorously to deepened intercolonial cooperation. Because of this, however, he and Angelina could not stay in one place long. Instead, they continuously shuttled around from one cheap hotel to the next. As Heero Yuy's tools of persuasion in colonial political activities were purity and integrity, he never once used money from his backers or campaign funds or personal wealth (to support himself).

Also, the Cosmo Arma was hostile towards the colonies and feared Heero Yuy was scheming to unite all the colonies (against earth). They were vascillating over whether or not to result to desperate measures and assassinate Heero Yuy. Likewise, Ein, too, was forced into more secluded political activities.

There was no reason Angelina, daughter of the plutocratic Khushrenada family, should have been satisfied with such a vagabond lifestyle. And yet, she continually asserted that, as long as she was with Ein, she was happy. And that was how she lived her life until the summer of AC 171 when she happened to meet Heero Yuy again.

AC 171 SUMMER

"It has been too long, Uncle Heero," said Angelina, who was pregnant with her first child.

"Hello, Angelina. You've grown even beautiful."

"How nice of you to say that... but your flattery is wasted."

"But Angelina, if you want a smooth birth, Earth is preferable to the colonies," Heero said as he stroked his bushy eyebrows as was his wont.

Angelina was surprised to hear Heero Yuy, visionary of the colonies, spouting hundred year old superstitions about the dangers of giving birth in space.

"There is no need to worry. The medical team from the Cinq Kingdom has already solved that problem. Today, there are no abnormalities of the womb caused by being in space." Families like the Winners were even conducting tests on DNA manipulated test tube babies.

"Of course there aren't. I was merely concerned for the baby's grandfather, Duke Cinquante Khushrenada."

"What about my father?"

"Since you came to space, he seems rather depressed. When he heard about the child, he became terribly worried, or so I gather."

There had been information about peole employed by Khushrenada to bring Angelina back to Earth. It was hardly unusual for an old fashioned man such as Cinquant Khushrenada to fear the old superstitions about giving birth in space. Most people on Earth firmly believed that bearing children in space usually ended in death for both mother and child. That vicious fallacy was intentionally spread in order to prevent further loss of great minds to the space colonies.

"I could sound out Romefeller if you'd like..."

"Uncle, I am afraid I must decline your offer," Angelina said resolutely. "Our child has no connection whatsoever to the rest of the Khushrenadas."

"But Angelina..."

"Heero had spoken out of worry for Angelina, but his words fell on deaf ears.

"Please, uncle, do not worry about us. We will manage somehow." She then changed the subject by asking about something that had been bothering her, "What about you, uncle? Aren't you going to marry? I think it should be your lineage that carries the future of the colonies and the Earth."

"As long as there is someone who can continue my work, that is enough. Just so long as the name Heero Yuy doesn't fade from the history books."

And then, Heero foreshadowed the future:

"If something should happen to me, Ein will continue in my place. And..." he gently touched Angelina's swollen stomach and a tender smile lifted his lips. "I'd be honored if this child might also."

"Of course."

That was the last conversation between Heero Yuy and Angelina Khushrenada.

Meanwhile, Ein was preparing for an interview with the colony's Cosmo Arma Major Septum. Little did Ein know that that meeting was not going to take palce. He received a message flagged as "urgent."

"We've got a problem, Ein."

It was one of Angelina's guards. He said that Angelina had gone out to do some shopping when, from out of nowhere, she was surrounded by several men. They trundled her into a car that had pulled up and took off with her. Ein wasn't as angry at the guard's incompetence as much as he was angry at himself for never warning Angelina to be more careful and avoid going out.

"I'll bet it was them." Immediately, Ein suspected it had been the men Mr. Khushrenada had hired. How could it have been anyone else?It was the only thing that made sense. He never would have guessed they would use force to get Angelina back, but he had been careless to assume the Khushrenada's had come to accept the marriage of Angelina and Ein.

"I'm on my way," said Ein, even though he was at a loss for what to do. The colony's peace and order was managed by the Cosmo Arma and Ein was in no position to go off on a wild goose chase looking for Angelina when he was supposed to be meeting with Lt. Commander Septum. Conversely, the people of Earth would probably spin Ein's life with Angelina as abduction instead of marriage. All was lost. He was vascillating (between going after her or letting her go). Then, re received another message to his cell phone. It said:

Sayonara. When I think about how hard everything has been for you, I know this is the only thing I can do to make it better for you.

Angelina must have secretly sent that desperate email while her handlers weren't looking. It sounded just like her- always worrying about Ein before even giving a thought to herself.

"This isn't over."

Ein was irritated both at the dirty rotten Khushrenada tactics and his own weakness.

"You can't tear us apart that easily."

If he gave up now, he'd lose the most beautiful woman in all of space. Ein got in touch with his contact at the Resistance, Quinze. It was like setting a thief to catch a thief and Ein quickly learned that they were heading to the space port.

"I can still make it!" Ein said and jumped into his car and headed to the spaceport. He found out they were taking off from runway 13, which served as the Alliance's airstrip on that colony. When he arrived at the spaceport, he drive right through the chain link fence and came to a (screeching) halt right on the tarmac.

"ANGELINA!" Ein shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Ein!" said Angelina, seeing his figure from the shuttle window. He knew she couldn't hear, but wild horses couldn't have kept him from screaming. Tears streamed down his face. If only he had wings, he would fly to her side, but... he was only human.

Alliance soldiers had already surrounded Ein.

"Ein, you're causing a scene," said Major Septum as he stepped out from between the soldiers. He had a gun trained on Ein. "This area is under the jurisdiction of the Cosmo Arma. We have to ask that you, not being a member of our personnel, leave the premises."

Ein ignored Septum and walked calmly towards the shuttle.

"STOP!" Septum's voice echoed across runway 13. "If you refuse to follow my orders, I will be forced to shoot you."

But (mere) orders couldn't stop Ein.

"This isn't an idle threat. It would be to your disadvantage to cause anymore trouble." Septum tried conveying his point with words befitting a Major of the Alliance. Ein, however, was not intimidated and Septum pulled the trigger. The bullet hit him in the left shoulder.

"ANGELINA!" He screamed not for the pain of the bullet, but the pain of losing his beloved wife. Septum fired a second shot. That one hit and took a chunk out of his right calf, making it difficult to Ein to continue walking.

"ANGELINA!"

This time, he screamed for the pain also. He tried to keep moving forward, but listed terribly to the side. He collapsed, arms and legs splayed wide, right over the white 13 painted upon the tarmac.

"Ein!" Angelina's eyes burned with the sight of the man she loved lying crumpled on the runway, vivid red blood pooling over the number 13. "Ein Yuy. The man I love."

She wouldn't let herself cry.

I will not forget this. The man I love threw everything away and screamed my name.

Thought Angelina to herself even as she steeled her heart.

"I love you, Ein."

"An... ge... lina..."

Ein kept yelling even as his consciousness grew weak. Septum felt utter hatred; he felt the urge to kill.

There is only death for those who do not obey my orders. Thought Septum as he took aim at Ein's head. But some how, the shuttle

had found space in which to maneuver around them, started its engines, and slowly started moving. The soldiers fell back to the sides of the runway to make space for the shuttle. Septum lingered, but eventually, he was overpowered by the head of the exhaust and stepped back himself. Seconds later, the shuttle left.

Ein was taken into custody by the Peace Preservation Office on charges of unlawful entry into Alliance grounds and acts of treason.

"I will see Angelina again."

That was Ein's only wish. And after weeks of imprisonment, he was released and returned to his political activities (for colonial cooperation). Ein did not cry any more; he would not allow himself.

"I'll break down the wall between the colonies and Earth. Then, I can be with Angelina again. Despite a vacuum and physical distance between us, why should there be any wall between people whose hearts are aligned?" Ein had made up his mind.

However, the two were not to meet again. Indeed, a rather cruel twist of fate was awaiting them.

AC 171 AUTUMN

Three months later, Angelina gave birth to a boy in Luxembourg, Europe. She named him Treize. The name meant "thirteen," perhaps because she indeed could not forget the blood stained runway 13. For Angelina, the memory wasn't distasteful, it was the moment she saw with her own eyes what true love really meant.

Treize had Heero Yuy's bushy eyebrows, but his eyes were the spitting image of Ein. Whenever she looked at Treize's face, hear heart was transported to space. His birth certificate bore the name "Treize Khushrenada" and there was no mention of his father.

Since before Treize could remember, Angelina and influential Romefeller member Dermail Catalonia's son Hundert had been married. A magnificent ceremony had been held. With an age different grater than twenty years, it stood to reason that there was no [romantic] love between the two. But Angelina was in no state to refuse a political union and accepted the proposition.

Her father, Count Cinquant, was aging. He was of the mind that his daughter's previous penchant for flight and impetuous behaviour were gone. He thought the Khushrenada family welfare was now well taken care of with Angelina in a stable marriage and raising the Khushrenada heir.

That sense of security perhaps sent him to an early grave. The following year, in the early spring of AC 172, Romefeller representative Count Cinquant Khushrenada passed away. The future of the Foundation and the Khushrenada family fortune was left to the new born Treize. Until he came of age, Dermail Catalonia assumed the leadership of Romefeller. Catalonia lacked Khushrenada's leadership and charisma and for several years, the Foundation was without a driving force.

Angelina, at the time, did not give up on life. She had found a purpose for her political marriage: instill the values of Ein in their son. That, she felt, would atone for her previous impudence.

Meanwhile, in space, Heero Yuy presented the "Total Colonial Unification Declaration." The people of space thought this would bring the colonies equality with Earth. Angelina, too, danced for joy when she heard the proclamation. There was great rejoicing at the taking of the first steps towards realizing a truly unified state of being. However, Earth was very cunning and seemed to believe this would only serve to facilitate further exploitation of the colonies. Proof of this was in the expansion of the Alliance's military

bases in space and a sizable increase in the Alliance military maintenance expenses that were shouldered by the colonists. Furthermore, raising tariffs on intercolony exports was decided mainly on Earth's side and the colonies were pulled into one disadvantageous treaty after another. The people of the colonies thought of complaining, but they had no way of competing with Earth's Alliance military. Diplomacy without power wasn't just a castle in the air, it was down right wicked.

"All this is happening because your grandfather wouldn't let me and your father alone," Angelina said to little Treize. "If they want reform, they must take into account both the wishes of space and the ideas of Earth.

"That's something only you can do. That is the mission you must complete."

Hundert wasn't concerned to hear Angelina talking so, he simply smiled gently. It's unknown whether he didn't take her talk seriously or if he still respected Angelina's opinions at the time. He was generous and had no qualms if his beloved wife couldn't bring herself to love him back. He was also generous to Treize despite the child being of a different father and Hundert was affectionate towards him. Although fellow aristocrats called him a people pleaser and insensitive behind his back, Hundert paid them no mind. He had the last laugh when, two years later, Angelina gave birth to his child, a baby boy.

#1 Okay, literal Japanese is this: Crap Father or Shit Father. It is a general insult meaning, obviously, "crappy." I thought "Father Crapswell" was rather brilliant on my part. And, just to keep it fun, Fat Max (I used that in my rough translation because writing out Father Maxwell was just too tedious).

#2 Just my guesses at who is speaking. There are no names listed for most of that section, so my guesses are based on both what is being said and how polite it is. I figure Kathy is going to be most polite given her status and femaleness (lulz for Japanese) and Father Maxwell and Duo are very casual.

AC 173 SPRING

Angelina and Fundelt gave birth to a baby boy. They named him Van Khushrenada. He was two years younger than Treize. He had Angelina’s features and everyone thought he was girl. He really was as beautiful as an angel come to Earth. Right down to his eyebrows (so unlike Treize’s own bushy ones). As he possessed both Khushrenada and Catalonia genes, Van was also more appropriate for both assuming the leadership of Romefeller when the time came and inheriting the family title. Hundert kept that little fact a secret from Angelina and Treize. Instead, he showered them with gratuitous affection so as to maintain their good graces. Naturally, the Foundation was pleased with the birth of Van and thought of it as a second coming for Cinquant. Years later, Treize himself would share the same opinion and bequeathed both the Khushrenada fortune and the Romefeller representative position to Van. He resolved himself to a life of military service. Young as Treize was, he was innocently happy at the birth of his charming little brother.

Around the same time, in space, Heero Yuy announced the colonies independence, to be secured by nonviolence and demilitarization. Needless to say, this was the formal Declaration of Space. This was the catalyst of Cinq Kingdom’s decision to choose total pacifism and it would also be the source of Queen Relena’s One World Declaration several years later. Angelina watched Heero Yuy’s address live with Treize and the new born Van. Her face, however, was steeped in worry and there were even tears in her eyes. How could tears, which were not supposed to exist for her anymore, be ready to spill down her face? On the monitor, she could see Ein standing beside Heero Yuy . The aftereffects of having been shot had left him walking with a cane and carrying himself in a painful looking posture. Nonetheless, he wasn’t participating from behind the scenes anymore, he

was taking action on stage. The sight filled Angelina with great pride. But when she saw among Heero’s attendants the one-time anti-Alliance resistance leader Quinze and the wealthy Dekim Barton, who was rumored to have split colonial wealth in half, an unspeakable uneasiness encroached upon Angelina’s heart like a dark shadow. The very Independence Proclamation itself was in extreme danger. The proclamation was essentially a complete rejection of the Alliance. Of course, it was welcomed with open arms by the colonies but for Heero and Ein, it was the equivalent of taking on the Alliance with their bare hands. “They’re going to be killed…”

Personally, Cosmo Arma General Septum hated Ein Yuy, but Heero Yuy was standing in a dangerous place himself. At that pace, the colonies were going to be robbed of their rights. Bearing that in mind, a sniper from the forerunner of the secret agency OZ, the Alliance’s “Specials”, surely could have been employed to take out Heero Yuy. The Specials were members of the Alliance headquarters, and there weren’t any members of the Alliance forces in space with the authority to give the order. In the end, that ‘request’ was paid for from the space army’s budget and the Cosmo Arma would accomplish that task. The man who received Septum’s request was Odin Lowe. Note his name, as he will be discussed in more detail later.

AC 175 April 05

Four year old Treize distinctly remembered the events of this day. This is probably his earliest memory. Angelina had taken Treize and Van on a trip to the northern peninsula of Scandinavia. Hundert did not accompany them. Angelina was hoping to show her two sons the Aurora Borealis. There plans were to see the beautiful fjords by ship, then go by Norway Sea to Greenland where they could see the Aurora Borealis from a snowy field. However, the day before, there was a blizzard. In April, there are a lot of ice floes that float down from the Arctic Sea. Because of the storm, the enormous white floes were crashing into each other terribly. Some of them stayed afloat; some of them sunk below the surface. The rought white sea water looked like a battle field of grappling ice soldiers. The front edges were sharp and pointing and whenever two floes crashed into each other, they were each left looking even more knife-like. Treize remembered watching that scene from the ship and being strangely affected. That battle had no principles and no point. There was neither justice nor evil, neither friend nor foe. It was just an out and out exercise in futility. Rationally speaking, that scene could simply be put down to Mother Nature. Treize, however, saw that battle as a thing of beauty.

The storm blew over early the next morning and it was a brilliantly clear day. This was the time that Angelina first heard of the assassination of Heero Yuy. The three of them watched in astonishment as, on the TV monitor, the legendary revolutionary was shot and breathed his last on live TV. Angelina was at a loss for words. And, at the same time, a terrorist group blew up the venue and Ein Yuy was assumed dead. Angelina remained silent. We don’t know if she was thinking ‘It can’t be…’ or ‘It’s just as I feared: they’ve been killed.’ But she did not scream or fall to pieces. “History has started to get out of gear. This world is wrong,” Angelina said as she stroked her children’s cheeks. At their mother’s insistence, the two boys, Treize and Van, left their cabin and went to watch the ice floes. What they saw there was something they could never forget for as long as they lived. The corners of the ice floes, finely gouged and sharp and transparent, had blue sea water frozen inside that sparkled with the sunlight spilling over the horizon. Silver and gold and all the colors of the rainbow flashed from the floes floating like jewels in the water. It was pure beauty, appearing after a meaningless battle with it’s perfectly sublime beauty. “It’s pretty, isn’t it, Treize?”

“Yes.” “Boys, you should remember this view… it might come in handy sometime,” said Angelina quietly from behind her sons. “Mother…” “Ein, I love you.” Angelina’s lips met little Treize’s. But it was not a mother kissing her son. She saw Ein’s face on Treize and gave him a lover’s kiss. For the first time in his life, Treize shed tears. He understood just how much pain his mother was experiencing. Young Van surely must have seen them, but he would never speak of it. Perhaps he didn’t remember it. But it’s not hard to imagine he felt something (even if only) deep in his heart. Treize Khushrenada did not cry again. He had, like his father and mother before him, refused to let himself do so.

The world is changing. The Earth is falling The paradise of space is withering.

This Treize wrote some twenty years later [AC 195], quoting Rilke's poem "Autumn" in a composition. And before, in AC 187 also, he created an enduring complimentary piece. Perhaps he was thinking to connect that view of the ice floes to "Autumn" or to his own piece. Speaking of the floes, the day following the assassination, Angelina returned to Lunxemburg without seeing the Aurora Borealis as planned. Thereafter, she took to wearing mourning black, shutting herself in her rooms and never taking another trip. From then on, Treize and Van didn't encounter much in the way of emotion [stimulation]. Indeed, they didn't seem to register the magesty of nature or the mysteries of space.

By any estimate, April 7, AC 175 was a fateful day for Angelina, Treize, and Van. Of course, it went without saying that it would eventually end up changing the lot of every man, woman, and child on Earth. On that fateful day, however, they also happened to see a stunningly beautiful view from the ship. For Treize, at least, there could be little doubt that the sight had left him changed. The following composition was written in German and perhaps serves as a character reference for one Treize Khushrenada's sensibilities. It could be thought of as both a character study and a character reference for Treize Khushrenada:

"Dazzling Light"

I saw a point of light from across the dark I ran towards the light Nothing but mere running Running like on possessed And I kept running It was just like coming out of a tunnel I burst into a world of dazzling light It was a world brimming with contentment

Is this what I was looking for? Something that I sought?

No, it was not I searched not for repose I did not ask for this heart

I looked behind me I passed by myself There was the dark exit of the tunnel

I was not looking for results

We needed more progress

So it is What I sought It was in that black darkness There was a meaning to my continued running

So I asked myself

Why? Why continue to run?

AC 187 Sommer TK.

AC 176 AUTUMN

The assassination of Heero Yuy left an ugly scar, especially for the people most hoping for peace. The Alliance's Corsica weaponry development base [factory] in the Mediterranean was in the process of manufacturing human-shaped mechanical weaponry called 'mobile suits.' The suits were developed by five brilliant scientist-cum-technicians sent by the colonies. However, in the wake of Heero Yuy's assassination, the five scientists ceased all cooperation and fled. As a result, OZ's chief engineer Seis Clark and chief consulting engineer Tsubarov Bilmon took over the mobile suit project and reworked it into a low-cost, mass production plan. In August of that year, the first ground-battle use mobile suit prototypes, named LEO, rolled out and by the middle of October, battleworthy suits were being sent out. At the same time, Tsubarov had improved the Trago's mid-range support and indirect offense systems and had them [Tragos] being mass produced by the end of the year. Likewise, Seis modified the ground-based LEO plans to construct a suit capable of flight and those started coming off the assembly line in April of the next year. It would not be an exaggeration to say all the prototypes from the first wave of what is known as the early days of mobile suits were completed during this time. This, in turn, lead the Cinq Kingdom on the Scandinavian peninsula, which was a medical state, to turn away from that military course and instead acted upon the peaceful ideas upon which the kingdom was founded. Moreover, in space, colony L5A00206 and elsewhere responded to Alliance military meddling within the colonies by announcing their intent to rebel and drawing up serious plans of opposition. Seizing the opportunity, the military uprisings Heero and Ein had been repressing started to erupt all across the colonies. Of course, a better description might be 'unhooked play.' In respoinse, the Alliance took more and more control of military affairs often in the name of keeping the peace. Under those conditions, hatred bred more hatred until it seemed like an iron curtain had fallen and that only portended useless war. Incidentally, this L-5A00206 colony was the location for the [first] mobile suit battle in history, but as it only tangentially relates to the heading of this chapter [note: the files are actually entitled "ZERO" but all the data Kathy Po is reviewing is concerning Treize, so the "chapter heading" should probably be inferred to be Treize],

discussion of it shall be postponed.

It was written earlier in this account that a man who has seen absolute beauty starts to regret a life among the filth mirred masses of humanity and is at times given to rash behavior bordering on the insane. The same could be said for the beauteous word "peace." Those who have once tasted peace, even for the shortest of times, are gripped by feelings of uneasiness as soon as it is taken away from them. And as they scream out for its return, they become fighters hungry for blood and unmindful slaughtering fellow men in the name of regaining it. This has been observed time and again throughout the history of mankind.

Angelina Khushrenada also started acting strangely about this time. Since Ein's death, she lost her will to live and seemed to shut herself off from the world. Often, she could not sleep for nights on end. She cried even when she was not sad, and the subtleties of emotion faded from her beautiful face. Her words and actions became incoherent as did her increasing eccentricities. At times, she even stripped away her mourning clothes and took to going about her room in the nude.

To Treize, his beautiful, elegant, deeply refined mother was being eaten alive by a consumption. Surely it must have been difficult for Treize to watch her decline and he, powerless to help, and yet, not a single tear did he shed. Neither did he complain about Angelina's behavior.

"I am happy only that she is here," he said and no more was he doted upon by his mother. Likewise, Van took his cues from Treize's actions. Long ago, Angelina had told Van to do exactly that. For the boys, who were just five and three years old, their behavior was commendable.

The Khushrenada house was virtually deserted. This was because Hundert, who was supposed to be the head of the house, spent as little time as possible within it. He said he was extremely busy managing the Foundation, but both Treize and Van knew it for the evasion it was: he wanted to get away from Angelina. Perhaps if Hundert had devoted the time to nursing his [literally says "beloved", keeping with the until-now theme of the older man pleased at his trophy wife, but hereafter we see his trophy has lost it's luster in his estimation] wife, the sickness in her heart might not have gotten any worse.

Angelina was hospitalized in the royal Hospital in the Cinq Kingdom in an effort to improve her mental and emotional stability. Hundert explained to Treize that he chose Cinq because of its cutting edge facilities and practices, but in reality, he chose an out-ofcountry hospital in an effort to preserve face. Nevertheless, Treize and Van did not let the distance keep them from visiting her often, unlike Hundert who visited the hospital just once. That alone was enough to see there was no love between the married couple.

Hundert accompanied the boys to the Royal Hospital, but he opted to remain in the car. The lobby was thronging with people. Hundert would later find out that it was because the heir to the Peacecraft throne had been born. The prince was apparently named Milliard Peacecraft. Treize Khushrendada and Milliardo Peacecraft. Those two would later go on to form the OZ Specials and eventually, would be the instigators of total war between Earth and space. But of course, no one could predict then what fate had in store for them.

AC 180 APRIL 08

Four years had passed. Angelina still had not been discharged from the hospital. Treize was nine and Van was seven. As youngsters, both boys had excellent [academic] records and had the charisma to be the leaders of their classes. The main difference beteween them being Van's naturally weak body where as Treize did fencing and horseback riding and was an all-around sportsman. Each holiday [day off], the pair of them made a point of visiting their mother in the hospital. Onece, they had been

walking down the quiet hospital halls and just before they entered their mother's room, Van had asked Treize a question that had been on his mind for quite sometime.

"Treize, do you love mother?"

Treize had no intention of evading his little brother's naive question, but neither could he manage an answer.

"Do you?"

"Of course I love her."

"Is that so... well, I suppose that's plenty, isn't it?" Treize said with a gentle smile. Van thought there was a hint of sadness to his brother's lips. Van did not ask that question ever again.

They entered the room and Angelina was staring absent-mindedly out the window. As usualy, her eyes were void of any vitality; there was such despair in her life that it almost seemed as if she could not breath. The two of them told her about the events at school that had transpired that day and about their pet cat. Their topics were just trifles, but both of them- and most especially Vanreported them in earnest. As ever, Angelina mere nodded but whenever her eyes happened to meet Treize's, she never failed to say: "The world is yours. You will command space and Earth both." Treize was naturally not the type of child to honestly believe their words. Van, however, was different. He swallowed his mother's words hook-line-and-sinker and he believed his brother had been appointed with the task of bringing peace to space and Earth.

King Peacecraft's declaration of [his country's] total pacifism coincided with the birth of [his daughter] Princess Relena. A brief review of Cinq history demonstrates that the Scandinavian kingdom could not end any geopolitical dispute. Plainly stated, the word 'peace' was the most distant metaphor. Poor in natural resources and possessing only a very modest army, Cinq was oft pulled into disputes with its neighbors and the pitiable kingdom was subjected to big European nations' selfish desires. There was a time when they [Cinq] morphed into a great military state and started aggressions with other countries. That was an opportunity for armies the world over to attack Cinq, merciless and with out consideration, and turn the kingdom to dust. The people, nay, the country as a whole, was completely impoverished and yet, vast reparations were being demanded. It was King Peacecraft himself who met those repayments with determined resolution. He had, until then, poured the nation's military budget into the advancement of the medical field and in so doing, created the best medical facilities in the world. Moreover, the education system was changed to support the one in three citizens who intended to become doctors or nurses. The country became a top level contributor to the development of medical equipment and a sharp decrease in war casualties were among the achievements of King Peacecraft. In just a few short years, the reparations had been repaid in full. Afterwards, they had the cream of the crop of doctors and they were dispatched to areas where disputes had taken place and offered medial services free of charge. In so doing, they managed to divest their country of its former image as a military nuisance and they earned the trust of the world. Soon, other countries stopped trying to assault Cinq. It was as if the country itself had become a hospital. Any army that attacked a hospital would doubtlessly be criticized and no one was rash enough to start a dispute with Cinq- there was no meaning in doing so. Since that successful campaign, Cinq had, over time, developed a loud, strong national voice and didn't regret [using that voice] in an effort to eradicate war on Earth. Medical exports to the colonies also flourished and it was the medical staff of Cinq which solved the problem of giving birth in space. Later, Heero Yuy and King Peacecraft would have several meetings, but their connection did encounter come complications. However, with Heero Yuy's assassination in AC 175, Peacecraft lost a fellow advocate for peace and became the lone proponent of pacifism. He temporarily stopped peaceful activities in space and instead pushed for making peace on Earth. Few were the countries that approved of his actions, but he insisted on following that course. Additionally, that brought about his declaration of non-military, nonviolent, anti-war Total Pacifism. That this would bring about the Cinq kingdom's greatest tragedy was something eleven year old

Prince Milliard and new born Princess Relena could not possibly have known. Twelve months after the announcement, General Daigo Onegal of the United Earth Allicance attacked Cinq, believeing the expansion of peaceful principles was dangerous. Cinq was utterly destroyed. King Peacecraft died in the battle and the two children's whereabouts were unknown. It was AC 182. [AC 182, Zechs would have been 12 based on the what was just said at the end of the paragraph, meaning he would have been born in AC 170... and that is just a blatant error on the author's part as Sumizawa mentioned the birth of Miliardo in a previous section in AC 176 AUTUMN when Angelina was first moved to the hospital in Cinq]

AC 183 WINTER

Treize's mother Angelina moved to a different hospital before the fall of Cinq. It is believed that Hundert made preparations for this after having received insider information from the Alliance. However, rather than a hospital in the dispute riddled Earth Union, she was taken to a colony in the L-1 cluster that specialized in medicine. L-1 was chosen most probably in an effort to keep Treize and Van- upon whom either or even both the Khushrenada and Romefeller Foundation pinned their hopes for the future- from seeing their ill mother.

According to Treize, it was not too difficult to get along with his stepfather, Hundert. The man was sympathetic when their mother wasn't around and continued to treat Treize well. Hundert's behavior was not as much a product of having developed kindred feelings from living together [with the children] but more a matter of his guilty conscious forcing him to act to make up for the years of neglect he had shown his family. Note, that a man who could survive [vicious] nobility should also possess a conscious to spur him to atone for his sins is truly a man of the highest echelons. Then, there was Van who loved and respected Treize. The boy seemed to have appointed himself the task of assisting his elder brother, the future commander-in-chief of Romefeller. However, as Treize grew from boy into adolescent, he had absolutely no interest in the Foundation or with the royal political fields and rejected his promised post at Romefeller. Instead, he enrolled in the United Earth Alliance military school. He was only twelve. He had done so most likely due to his disgust with the nobility's predisposition to exclusionary behavior and he decided to [eschew all that to] become a military man. One could easily also imagine that Treize felt some connection to the Heero Yuy and the Cinq kingdom in their final days and he understood that however sublime pacifism may be, those without power are easily crushed. Either way, in those sorrow filled eyes, he seemed to have discovered the value of his own life.

Treize was at the top of his classes in military school also. His teacher was a a Romefeller Colonel, rumored to be something of an odd fellow, named Chilia Catalonia. He was the youngest son of acting Romefeller representative Duke Dermail and Hundert Khushrenada's several-years-removed younger brother [WTF, Van's birth was all trumped up because VAN was supposed to FINALLY provide a blood connection between Romefeller and Khushrenada.] Chilia had a two year old daughter named Dorothy and she frequently played at the school. This little girl was distantly related to Treize, extremely bright, and possessed a striking smile.

The things she said often got a laugh out of the people around her, "When I grow up, I want to be Mr. Treize's wife!" She said that not because she wanted to make Treize laugh, but because she honestly believed it. She seemed to honestly wish Treize could have really been her brother and for his part, Treize doted upon her as if she truly were his little sister. Chilia also treated Treize as a brilliant student rather than just the nephew he actually was and paid him particular attention. Specifically, he was passionate about teaching Treize how to handle the latest mobile suits, battle tactics, and the theory of war tactics. The prevailing thought at the time was that mobile suits sat inactive in the battle field like a white elephant. Up until then, there had been no proof of the machines functioning effectively. Naturally, Treize seemed to agree that mobile suits had [relatively] little value as a weapon of warcraft. He was, however, prepared to make the acquaintance of someone who would blow that idea to pieces. That occurred when Professor Chilia took him on a field trip to the Alliance base in Corsica. Standing there quite unattended was the as-yet-uncompleted mobile suit Tall Geese.

Treize's first impression of the Tall Geese was not very favorable. First, there was the color. It had been painted camouflage as if to assert that it was indeed a military weapon. It looked like the Headless Horseman of old North American legend what with the head being held in the suit's own arms. And what were they thinking to name it "Tall Geese"? [Though] he could not imagine calling the suit something like "The Reaper" or "Miracle Maker." Of the scientists who developed the suit, one man, still on the base, was working as a technical advisor. Treize approached the extremely lackadaisical looking man wearing the Hawaiian shirt and sunglasses. The man was snoozing in a beach chair.

"My name is Trize Khushrenada. I have a question for the technical advisor."

The man in the sunglasses looked like he had no intention of answering as he made a show of presenting his back to Treize and loudly scratching his buttocks.

"I believe the machine would not work effectively on the battlefield."

While it was highly mobile, the armor was heavy enough to render it remarkably difficult to maneuver. It was not suitable for midrange support or breaking through enemy forces on the front line. Those areas were better left for the Aries with it's improved mobility or a heavily armored Leo, and the Tragos offered sufficient indirect support.

"That's my humble opinion, but what is the technical advisor's opinion?"

The man- Howard, the technical advisor- snorted, but answered the question, albeit without bothering to look at Treize.

"That's what you would think if you put a mobile suit in a [damn] corps or a division." Treize failed to understand. How would t be used if not in a corps or a division?

"That machine, the Tall Geese, is meant to take on a thousand assailants at once, and to do it alone. Originally, mobile suits were supposed to be used to that effect." Finally, Treize understood the practical uses intended for the machine. In all the history of warfare, it is generally said that he who had the superior numbers almost certainly has victory. Even against the elite, if the enemy had greater firepower, they could crush the opposition and gain victory with little fighting. This was believed to be the best of plans. Nevertheless, the developers of the Tall Geese turned that conventional wisdom on its head and designed a mobile suit contrary to the accepted ideal. but... at best, the suit had just a single use and that did not seem very effective.

"Sounds exactly like the hero of a fairy tale," Treize thought skeptically.

A war machine that could decide the battle with a single shot. A mobile fortress.

Even if such a thing truly existed in full working order, that there was not a pilot alive capable of manning it.

"Perhaps if I were the pilot.." Here, Treize's line of thought performed a complete 180 degree turn, "it would not be impossible."

Treize did not quit that line of thinking. It was at once characteristic of him and something the average man could not easily do. "What he battlefield needs is not a mass of less-than-perfect fighters, merely a single hero." Doubtlessly, that would lead to a

reduction of fatalities and meaningless sacrifice. "This just might be the perfect weapon..."

"I have a request."

"Hm?" Howard asked Treize to repeat what he had murmured.

"I have a request for you," Treize said; his eyes sparkled. "Know that, in time, it will be I who pilots the Tall Geese."

"Oh?"

"But that camouflage needs to go. Isn't there a color more befitting this hero?"

"That's just what I thought... any ideas?"

"Something elegant."

"..."

"Paint it an elegant color."

Howard later painted the Tall Geese pristine white. However, it ended up being piloted by the man nicknamed the Lightning Count [note: literally, his nickname is actually the Flashing Count]: Zechs Merquis. It was twelve years later when Treize saw the Tall Geese next, General Zechs Merquise having brought it to Luxembourg. At the time, Treize gave his impressions as if it was the first time he were seeing it.

"So that is the Tall Geese... I see it is not just another machine... there is nothing Zechs cannot handle."

Of course, Treize had not truly forgotten the Tall Geese. The problem lay in Lady Une. She had not fully understood all there was to know about OZ. To the unlearned Lady Une, Treize merely chose to not reveal his true self. Treize's habit of hiding his true intentions was acquired back when he was a cadet at the academy. It's possible the only one to whom he ever truly revealed himself to was Dorothy Catalonia. To everyone else, it was his custom to maintain some level of distance.

Treize did not consider, at the time, that mobile suits would be fighting or strategically used solo in battle. In later years, however, Treize worked on developing and producing mobile suits for practical battle and, under the OZ organization, the mobile suit unit called the "Specials" was created. Additionally, during the coup de tat Operation Day Break, it was Treize who developed the strategy whereby the United Earth Alliance's authority was usurped in a matter of days. That was considered his greatest achievement and if he hadn't, the very existence of mobile suit weaponry would have been in jeopard. Tall Geese II and Tall Geese III were planned and completed in succession. Further, the plan ideas Howard spoke of reappeared in history's strongest mobile suit: the Gundm Epyon. It was none other than Treize who unleashed it upon the world.

MC-022 Next Winter

Suddenly, the warning buzzer went off. Surprised, I took off the virtual visor and lifted my head. The buzzer went off because Master Chang had started to run some equipment. Under the light of the [spinning] beacon that urged caution, a section of the wall in the back slid sideways. A gust of chilly air swept through the room and from that white void, the cryogenic capsule conveyed itself into

the room. The light could be described as "solemn" or "sublime." It looked like a frozen teardrop. The fog started to thicken, but the capsule was revealed in its entirety. The outer capsule measured more than three meters in length and it was decorated beautifully as an angel with its wings wrapped around Sleeping Beauty, Princess Aurora. Aurora's face was that of a beautiful girl. The face was familiar, I thought, but I couldn't quite recall who the angel reminded me of.

"Awaken Princess Aurora," said Master Chang as he touched the control panel. With a beep, the beautiful, protective wings opened magnificently. The fog dissipated in the warm air of the room and I noticed within [the] Princess Aurora [outer capsule], there was another vessel made of transparent materials. Countless numbers of water droplets covered it; they reflected the light from the beacon and the light in the room, [refracting it and sending it] shooting out a myriad of colors. It shone like the light of the Aurora Borealis. As did the water streaming off the capsule.

"Commence defrosting."

In Aurora's arms laid the true cryogenic capsule and it looked as if the princess held it within an eternally loving embrace.

"Now, all we do is wait..." Father Maxwell tapped my shoulder with relief. More droplets collected on the viewing window f the inner capsule that Princess Aurora held in her gentle arms. Before long, we were able to see the face of the person who had been frozen inside.

"Is it done already?" Duo asked from behind us. "That was pretty fast."

"Not, it's not done yet. Weren't you sleeping?"

"You were so boring, I couldn't even sleep."

"Settle down."

But without the virtual visor, I was torn between the Aurora Princess and the files on the holomonitor, looking at them in turns. I had the same feelings of boredom as Duo.

The person inside the capsule, it was a boy. He had the same name as a legendary colonial leader: Heero Yuy.

That boy was given that code name and he had continued the fight as a gundam pilot.

To Be Continued... Frozen Teardrop, Chapter 2 part 1 Gundam Wing Frozen Teardrop

Treize File 2

Through the viewing window of the frozen capsule [cryogenic chamber] I could clearly confirm the boy's face and was at something of a loss. I had seen him before somewhere. Suddenly, I realized were. He bore a remarkable resemblance to the boy going by the

name "Duo Maxwell" from the 'AC 195 Autumn' file Master Chang had me prepare. Perhaps he didn't just look like him, on the contrary, in all liklihood, it was the very same boy. To avoid any confusion, I knew I had to confirm with Master Chang.

"I heard Princess Aurora was Heero Yuy (but)..."

"It's Heero Yuy."

"But in the video [feed] I saw just now..."

"It's (not unthinkable) that you'd get confused," said Father Maxwell with knitted brows. "When this guy transferred to the Colony Gymnasium, he [took it upon himself to] use my name."

[Curiouser and curiouser].

"By 'this guy' you mean Heero Yuy?"

That would mean...

"Father, you're Duo Maxwell? The Gundam pilot?"

"Yup. Didn't I tell you?... By the way, so was Master Chang."

"Keep your big trap shut."

"No [way]!"

"A long time ago, he used to boldly introduce himself like this: My name is Chang Wufei."

I stared wide eyed [and slack jawed], too stunned to speak. Three of the Gundam pilots from the sealed records from the Earth Sphere were standing right here, right now. I was trying to make sense of the sight before me. The boy in the capsule whom we were trying to waken was Heero Yuy. The strangely affable middle aged priest was Duo Maxwell. His saucy kid with the braid was also Duo Maxwell. And my forever grumpy superior, head of the Preventers Mars branch Master Chang, was Chang Wufei.

"Master Chang, why didn't you tell me?"

"It wasn't necessary," he said. His sour expression just got all the more sour. "I would have let you know if and when the time came."

"Even so..."

"By the way," Father Maxwell said [again], bringing his face close and whispering, "he spoke just like that when he was an ankle biter, too."

I desperately [tried to] withstand this mind-blowing news. Even now, using that (cold/distant) manner of speaking was [all well and good] but that he should have been the same in his youth, he must have seemed overbearing. [basically, Kathy seems to be wondering what it must have been like working with Wufei when he was a kid- with an attitude problem] What kind of connection did

my mother, Sally, have with Master Chang when she was working with him at the Preventers? I couldn't even imagine. Anyway, a young Master Chang probably makes an appearance in the these files. There was a glimpse of the current Earth Sphere president Dorothy T. Catalonia, a.k.a. Neo-Titanium Girl, at two years old.

"Lt. Cathy, have you finished (your examination of) those files?"

"No, not yet."

"Hurry up... you know too little. At this rate, we'll have to take you off the team," Master Chang pointed out (rightly). For the sake of executing Operation Mythos, I needed to know at least as much as the Aurora Princess [was going to]. I hurried to put on the virtual visor and continued viewing the files. Just a few seconds of watching history as a bystander was [more than] enough. The [data] (movie) that loaded after 'ZERO' appeared on the screen was from AC 185, two years after where the first file left off. Treize Khushrenada would be 14 years old.

AC 185 AUTUMN

Treize had a marvelous (school) record at military school. Strategic and tactical theory, as well as battle and combat techniques that would put mobile suits on the front lines, were mastered by Treize to the extent that he surpassed even Brigadier General Chilia ((he was promoted from Colonel the previous year)) when he [Chilia] was an instructor. In just two and a half years, he complete the entire course of study offered by the Alliance and he received top marks on the instructor qualification exam, garnering him teaching credentials. Brigadier General Chilia entrusted Treize with [managing] the newly established OZ training school situated at the Lake Victoria base in the heart of Africa. (However) this wasn't a demotion. In Europe, the old war veterans in the Alliance still threw their weight around as if they owned the place, so an instructor barely 14 years of age would only beget hostility. It is thought that Chilia predicted that result. Treize was assigned the first teaching post [available/offered] at Lake Victoria and there, he successfully demonstrated his brilliance. Selected students were taught the high skills and knowledge necessary to carry OZ's future. Their grades were [more than a cut] above the rest [of the students'] and they ranked among the highest echelons of the inteligentista class. Of course, their military resourcefulness couldn't be inferred from their academic [prowess] (power) or marks, but thereafter, if you look at the number of students [cadets] taught by Treize that went on to become excellent mobile suit pilots in the OZ Specials, it is clear that Treize was an excellent instructor. However, his elder contemporaries regarded Treize with suspicion; after all, what could the young and practically inexperienced Treize possibly know about war? People said that being brilliant was all well and good, but would it [translate in the ability to] kill people? They sneered that even if he mastered tabletop drills with excellent performances, it did not mean he passes the muster. That was blatantly obvious. You cannot evaluate a thing if one does not have actual results. Particularly in the military discipline which had a strict hierarchy where there was abhorance towards young officers that borders on jealousy. Consequently, Brigadier General Chilia Catalonia was the only one who could evaluate Treize at that point in time.

"Treize is a war genius," said five year old Dorothy.

"In the battle field, he is beautifully elegant. It seems almost like a dance- a waltz perhaps- and he goes on to gracefully defeat his foes."

That was the norm for all of Treize's evaluations.

"Really?" said Dorothy with stars in her eyes.

"Yes, really."

"Wonderful! I want to see Mr. Treize fighting."

"No, Dorothy... the battlefield is no place for a chil."

"But... isn't Mr. Treize still a child?"

"Yes, but [that's different]." Chilia was hard pressed to answer. Around that time, Dorothy started making remarks that cut to the chase and had [developed] a characteristic [habit] of giving people a hard time.

"Dorothy, you really like Treize, don't you?"

"Yes! Very much! But you must keep it a secret from grandpa. It shall be our little secret," she said with her typical charming smile.

At Lake Victoria, Treize was testing his trademark mobile suits with drills in efficient deployment used in actual battle.

A mobile suit's characteristic was it's mobile performance and efficiency. At the time, however, the Alliance only made use of them as backing for foot soldiers and defense of their stationary bases.

Let us now look back at the history of those mobile weapons made in man's image which we call mobile suits.

Originally, a mobile suit was a manned apparatus intended to perform large scale construction work on space stations and for colony construction. They were excellent machines due to their interchangeable tools that allowed just one mobile suit to perform almost any construction task. It was the Anti-Alliance resistance, not the Alliance, who thought of converting the useful suits for use in the battlefield. The Alliance had oppressive weaponry that the Resistance had no hope of duplicating on a military level, so instead they were rather successful fighting [back] with the mobile suits' interchangeable drills, wrenches, and hammers. From then on, the man-shaped machines were called mobile suits and the Alliance, Especially the OZ technical officers, embarked on earnest development of them.

It was AC 175 when the project came to a halt when the five technicians responsible for the development of the Tall Geese fled. However, Chief Engineer Seis Clark picked up where they left off and finished the base construction of the Tall Geese and successfully developed the Leo for mass production. At the same time, he also developed the Aries, a suit modified for flight and succeeded the Tall Geese's mobility. It is safe to say that this arrangement of abilities and care towards the mobile suits called for a particularly unique talent. Seis youngest brother Trant had [a] unique attachment, a tenacity, for the "ZERO" system on board the Wing 0 gundam in AC 195. Apparently, "unique" runs in the veins of all technicians. Meanwhile, Engineer Tsubarov was excited by the "gun tower" and armaments of the Tall Geese and he developed the Tragos.

At the beginning of production, it was best to give each of the three types of mobile suits their own division.

[Despite their producing mobile suits,] the Alliance executives of the day thought nothing of how to practically employ the suits. They could not deviate from the previous century's military ideal of land-sea-air weaponry; each division and each unit to which mobile suits were assigned only ever served in the capacity of providing assistance. For this reason, people were inclined to look at mobile suits as useless things. Providing maintenance and defense on the front as their primary function did not in the least reflect what Seis, Tsubarov and the other developers intended for the suits in the least. However, the thoughts and ideas of the aging Alliance

executives were resolutely unchanging and [the Alliance stagnated] (they had entered a time of stalled thought). As such, a kind of estrangement between the planned intent and the actual outcome began to occur.

Still, the "heavy equipment" Leo was used in multiple ways. The Tragos, which was used for indirect bombardment support, was only recognized as a moveable battery or portable gun. In reality, [the Tragos' ease of movement made it difficult for immobile enemies to land a hit.] Ergo, these highly mobile tanks were ipso facto better. Hence, the Tragos went to the front lines to see how they would fare as a tank would.

Obviously, [they only needed a single test to know it was as dangerous as a nest of angry hornets.] The new mobile suit Aries was incorporated into the airborne troops and were almost entirely devoted to diversionary tactics. Using them in the airborne troops time honored surprise attacks [was difficult] because the Aries' vast size made them stand out [terribly.]

Treize came to the conclusion that all of these uses were wrong. If one was to make tactical, strategic use of mobile suits, then he thought it was best to group Leos and Aries and Tragos in the same corps. This lead to the establishment of the so-called Mobile Suit Corps.

The first [stage] of combat was sending the Aries for reconnaissance and analysis, and surprise attacks. They would unsettle the enemy's front line. The second [stage] of combat was giving the Aries' data to the Tragos and have them lay down protective fire for the Leos, which were the main [attacking] force, to charge. The third [stage] of battle was to focus all fire power upon the enemy's main forces and to keep firing until the enemy was surrounded. Doing so would ensure victory. This was the basic combat system for the newly designed MS Corps.

It is generally known that Napoleon Bonaparte, the hero of the Revolution, composed his cavalry of three types of fighters: light horsemen, heavy horsemen, and dragoons. With that strategy, he successfully overran several European countries. Similarly, the mad dictator Adolph Hitler established a tank corps modified to have improved mobility as an armored division that proved so effective, it made the very Earth quake. It could be interpreted that Treize [borrowed] these various methods and applied them to the MS Corps, but in that age, there was absolutely no one who put stock in that notion. It should be assumed that Treize devised the mixed corps by himself. Further, this strategy would allow a single MS Corps to have all three abilities possessed b the Tall Geese. A mixed corps was the obvious choice. There was no question that Treize hit upon that idea after seeing the Tall Geese at the Corsica base. However, for a mobile suit to survive a battle against the Tall Geese would have been difficult because of the Tall Geese's extreme efficiency. To demonstrate the full extent of its performance would require vast amounts of space.

Of course, there was the open sea, the planes of Malaysia, and the Sahara desert that could provide virtually unlimited open spaces, but with all the terrorism and revolts, most of the world was embroiled in some kind of local dispute. War, naval battles, decisive battles, they had all become the antiquated ideal of a long since passed era. Needless to say, disputes continued with organizations outside the countries after the Cold War had continued unbroken ever since the second half of the twentieth century and brought the Alliance elite's mentality to a standstill. [I have no idea :DDD] The real problem was that there hadn't been absolute war since that time. In other words, in modern war where the idea that 'war' was an extension of a 'duel' was wholly refuted; rather than put importance upon hardware like new weaponry, a theory was established whereby software that use of a portable system was just as essential [as the hardware]. The reason Treize was called a genius was due to his having taken the dissimilar concept of war from the old days and successfully meshing it with the modern systematic theory [Didn't they just tell us that Hitler and Bonaparte, who we are lead to believe are from before the 'modern systematic theory', used diversification in their ranks to win battles?] And the incident that proved that occurred early the following year.

AC 186 WINTER

There was a revolt in the city of Mogadishu which lied in the eastern part of the African continent. The Earth Sphere Alliance had, at the time, trouble with European disputes and hence could not spare a single unit of its main forces - its land and air forces that is - to go (immediately) to Mogadishu. There was only their fleet of battleships in the Indian Ocean, but a blockade was the best they could do and that would not suffice to gain control of the rebellion's military power in the city. However, if they did not intervene, then it would allow the rebels to cede from the union as an independent entity and form a provisional government.

The leaders of the Alliance Unification Headquarters held an urgent meeting and worried over [how to] handle the situation.

"If it's Lake Victoria, we can head out immediately," Brigadier General Chilia Catalonia started. "The Specials with their state-of-theart mobile suits are at the base there."

"Don't be stupid. What can those children do?" Commander Venti voiced his opposition; he was the supreme commander of the ground forces.

"Children?" Said the boy who had been sent to the meeting to observe as proxy for Duke Dermail of the Romefeller foundation. "Commander Venti, did you just say those children are powerless?"

"I didn't mean you, Master Van Khushrenada."

"Of course," Van just nodded. At the time, he was only 13 years old. However, the people around him acknowledged his superiority as the next representative of the Romefeller Foundation and it was said his statements were both clear [i.e. to the point] and apt and razor sharp.

"Those whom you call 'children' [here] are called 'soldiers' on the battlefield. That is obvious even if you look at the condition of the European Anti-Alliance forces."

"That may be..."

"And isn't it the reason the Alliance land forces cannot move, because of those 'soldiers' you call 'children' are being held up [by the rebels]?"

Commander Venti kept his mouth shut. Anything else he might say would expose his incompetence.

"But Master Van, there are only trainees at Lake Victoria and all of them have absolutely no experience in actual battle," Venti admonished Van and Chilia with that polite objection. "This [situation in Mogadishu] will not be taken care of with mere play," Venit added without thinking.

Van chuckled and said, "I take it that by 'play' you mean 'sports'? In the later part of the Anno Dominae history, the war historian Krefeld wrote in The Changes of War that war is not an extension of the government or politics, but rather more closely a kind of sport."

Like Treize, Van also was well versed in the history of war and theoretical strategy.

"Of course, you may protest me, but if you are in agreement with Krefeld, then you have no grounds for objection." He looked at

Venti who was coughing and looking for all the world as if he had no intention of addressing Van again; he [Van] turned his attention to Noventa.

"No soldier starts his career with actual war experience by default..... General Noventa, even you must have had a first battle," said Van. He was pushing for his esteemed brother to be permitted to take his very first campaign. "By sending the Specials to Mogadishu, the potential of the mobile suit corps be ascertained and I believe we could not hope for a more appropriate venue for doing so."

"I second Mr. Van's opinion. He is my most excellent pupil and if it's Special Commander Treize Khushrenada, he will surely accomplish the task."

"If you say so, then we shall permit the OZ Specials to attack (sally)... however,"

Van interrupted Noventa, "There is no need to fear, myself and uncle Chilia shall assume full responsibility."

From then on, Van was not merely an observe, he became one of the main speakers at the Alliance Unity Military meetings.

"Fine, let's see what (this corps of toys) can do," Venti said sarcastically.

"Let us then show you what these 'toys' can do," said Van as he looked fearlessly at a general decades older than himself as if he could pierce him through with just his eyes. He was a child prodigy who could be described in speech, knoweldge, and manner as being diabolical. They immediately gave Treize at Lake Victoria the order to attack.

"Affirmative," Treize said with this face full of confidnece. Chilia's worried face appeared on the monitor and he spoke his heart, "Treize, be carefull."

"I am not educating my students to over do it. We shall obtain victory by taking the proper action."

"For the time being, I've told the Alliance Marina to prepare for [your potential] request for assistance."

"Please inform them that that will not be necessary... we can manage everything on our own."

"Brother," Van stepped up to the monitor, "The dignitaries here have (ridiculed) the mobile suit corps as being a corps of toys."

"Really? That's hitting a little below the belt."

"Please show them what kind of results are typical of your corps."

"Van Khushrenada, we'll put up a good fight [in order to] live up to your (high)expectations."

"I won't wish you luck, you are certain to win."

Treize nodded slightly with a smile playing about his lips.

At once, Treize selected five cadets: Zechs Merquis ((10)), Lucretia Noin ((10)), Izumi Tarnoff ((14)), Solac Delbruck ((12)), and Elv

Honneger ((13)). Each of them had only just barely cleared [the double digits in age] but they were at the top of their classes and had excellent performances during their mobile suit battle simulations.

According to the records, Treize Khushrenada and Zechs Merquise's first sortie was in AC 191 ((JAP point rebel control)). That, however, was not the truth. The reason [for this] will become clear in due time, but now is not that time.

Treize pulled up a map of Mogadishu on the monitor and explained the operation as he used a simulator to show the corps' moves.

"Today with the setting sun at 1800 hours, we will carry out the operation. Cadet Zechs and I will take Aries. Cadets Lucretia and Izumi will provide ((indirect backup)) backup in the Tragos. Once we announce the exact position, focus all your fire power on that point."

"Full power... if we do that, there's a chance Professor Treize and Zechs will be hit," Cadet Izumi smartly mentioned the possibility of being unable to evade [the first].

"We won't be hit," stated Cadet Zechs firmly. "We'll dodge. Don't worry about us, just [pump the lead]."

"Roger. I shall give no quarter."

It was Lucretia who was first to consent. Treize smiled and continued the explanation.

"Cadets Solac and Elv will break through the enemy front line in Leos, concentrate your fire on the enemy's head quarter's main forces. We'll be your back up so you needn't worry [who's got your back]."

"Yes, Sir!" acknowledged the dauntless, resolute pair with youthful energy.

"[Now,] the rebels have been notified of the time of our attack. This is for the sake of keeping civilians from being involved in the battle. Also, you shall not attack any one who is nonresistant, even if they are a rebel. Furthermore, since we are using mobile suits, I do not permit [any] bloodshed in the name of self defense! You will keep thse things in mind."

Then, the youthful general Treize encourage the young pilots off to a good start by saying, "This operation will be decided in an instant! [There is not a single element of defeat among us.] We will show them the true power of this corps of 'toys'."

Twilight, Mogadishu. The city had been turned into a fortress. The rebel soldiers who had taken control of the city thought of nothing but strict caution [against the coming attack]. The light of several searchlights lit up the dark night left and right and (sensed/gathered) anything that came near, and they had installed heavy machine guns to shoot down and destroy.

The OZ [aircraft carrier (lit: flight transport boat)] flew over the cit, maintaining an altitude high enough to ensure their thrusters weren't heard. There were two white Aries in the hangar. At the time, Treize had had all the Specials machines a standard white. He would, in later battles, unfailingly have all the machines white. White Leos, white Tragos ((transferred to Noin)) and so on, [he had a ] unique peculiarity for the color white. That continued until he at last boarded the Tall Geese II. Again, in AC 196, the Mariemaia army, proclaiming itself the successor charged with carrying out Treize's final wishes, also had its main forces ainted white: the mobile suit Serpent: white snake. It's rather hard to imagine that a mobile suit should be white. The color just stood out far too much. It was like hanging a target upon our neck and shouting "I'm over here!" to the enemy. Some thought he was bringing back the spirit of chivalry. Others commented that it [the white] revealed his excessive confidence. Treize never clearly explained the reason for

the white. Perhaps it was that the image of those icebergs had been seared into his mind.

"Let's go, Zechs......"

"Yes, sir......"

The two of them were already in the cockpits of their Aries. Then, Cadet Izumi, who was running (indirect support) contacted them.

"Professor Treize, aren't you going to sprinkle some anti-rader chaff?"

"There's no need... we will challenge them to a fair and square fight."

"Fair and square?" Zechs thought deeply (skeptically) about that.

"Is that what fighting is supposed to be?"

"A solider must not hesitated...... the first step must always be taken with composure."

The batch at the back of the aircraft carrier opened. Treize's suit slid out and descended freely without firing the burners.

"That is the path of glory!"

Zechs' suit followed after Treize's.

"That's also a path covered in blood!"

The white Aries fell from the sky. Treize's and Zechs' courses [regarding the nature of warfare] had already begun to differ b this time. Their mobile suits were falling on the same path, but their minds were going in opposite directions (literally: vectors). As they listened to the wind screaming by, both of them checked the whole of Mogadishu as it approached before their eyes.

Years later, Zechs Merquise would return to Mogadishu for another surprise attack. AC 195 after the collapse of the Alliance following Operation Day Break, the remnants of the Alliance holed up in a fortress in Mogadishu. It was the OZ 33rd independent corps on the Somalia front that beat them. Zechs was one of the soldiers in the Somalia Corps and it was there that he [first] saw the Tall Geese.

The two freefalling Aries were detected by the enemy's control room.

"We've picked up two objects falling! They're directly above the city, altitude 10,000 meters!"

No one could imagine that a bomb had been dropped. However, as soon as they opened anti-aircraft fire, the freefalling stars made an about-face with a terrible thundering roar. The Aries fired up the jet burners and they simultaneously shot out, one to the left and one to the right. The anti-aircraft guns had no hope of following. Treize's suit followed the outer perimeter of the city and destroyed one enemy base after the other [er, probably means he destroyed gun towers but literally, says "base"]. Inside, Zechs suit flew above the heart of the city, confirmed [the location of] the enemy's headquarters and chief bunker and relayed the information to Lucretia and Izumi. At about the same time, countless long distance shells were fired (lit: launched) from the white Tragos. The firing

was precise. Neither Zechs' nor Treize's suits suffered any hits. But then, the senses of both were superhuman, they immediately sensed incoming fire and, needless to say, quickly avoided it. After all, that was what the sixth sense was for (lit: that 'sense' was something like a sixth sense.) The explosive noise, the howling wind, a moment of stillness, the staleness of the air, the shaking of the Earth, the rustling of the trees; all of this they felt; the evasion and the battle took place simultaneously. In the tension of the battlefield, man's five sense are sharpened (lit: finely honed/whetted). And that held all the more true for youthful boys [like the Specials]. What Treize called "hesitation" became "cowardice" and ultimately, danger would be unavoidable.

Placing himself between life and death, and when he ascertained the exact target, that ingle point lit up with a highly precise hit.

The fire from the white Tragos exploded around the city and everything was enveloped in dust and smoke. The two Leos had broken through the city walls and entered the heart of the city. The acme of confusion befell the resistance's forces. Even as they tried to return fire, nearly all their weapons had been broken. The Leos Solac and Elv were piloting arrived at the central headquarters without much effort and with almost no resistance [from the rebels]. For the [unarmed (lit: flesh and blood)] people, the appearane of these giant white godlike weapons was only associated with fear. When the Tragos, which had been running clean up, came hovering into the city, the resistance raised the white flag. The battle had been decided in (that) exact instant.

A communications officer entered the conference room at the Alliance Unification Headquarters. He said there was a notice of the militar situation in Mogadishu. Lieutenant Commander Venti looked at his watch; his expression said See, those toys couldn't handle it.

"Just as I expected, the mobile suit unit alone could not handle the situation. You'll be requesting reinforcements, I suppose?"

"Negative, we have accomplished the mission to capture Mogadishu. The mission is all over. Damage to allies: zero! Enemy casualties: zero! Civilian casualties: zero! The entire rebel army has surrendered.

"Wha-!?" Venit stood without thinking. As if such a ridiculous thing is even possible, he seemed to want to say.

"What about the mobile suit unit's fighting power?" General Noventa calmly said.

"I estimate there were roughly 60 mobile suits at least to have brought us this gain- were there that many mobile suits at Lake Victoria?"

With a satisfied smile, Van said, "According to Professor Treize Khushrenada's report, it appears he had a small unit of just 6 mobile suits. Ergo, there were naturally six 'children' piloting those suits."

"But... every one of them had, up until that point, no experience in actual battle," Brigadier General Chilia said with satisfaction.

Treize and Zechs got out of their respective Aries and stood on Mogadishu soil.

A breeze blew in from the Indian Ocean; it carried a hint of winter despite being so close to the equator. The sun was peeking over the horizon.

"Dawn..."

"Yes."

"Do you suppose we should welcome it?"

"If [this is] the start of [a new chapter in the book of] warfare," Zechs said as he looked up at the white machine, "then I cannot welcome it,"

The other pilots got out of their Leos and Tragos.

"Hm... [Now that I'm thinking about the cadets,] we just might have won a touch too thoroughly."

"Hm. [Not you (lit: you are different)], Zechs," said Treize, looking intently at Zechs.

"You are my friend, Milliardo."

Zechs shuddered. Four years ago, he had assumed a new identity and swore revenge upon the Alliance [er, but isn't OZ part of the Alliance right now?] He had thought no one had noticed. That he was Prince Milliardo Peacecraft of the fallen Cinq Kingdom.

"And how long have you known?"

"Last year, when you came to Lake Victoria."

"How? (lit: Why?)"

"How indeed...... perhaps it was because you were so young to have the tears frozen, [forbidden from appearing upon] your young features."

It was true that Zechs had not shed a tear in the four years since The Event.

"What about you, are you cut from the same cloth, Professor Treize? (lit: are you the same)"

He did not answer the question. Treize could not sympathize with revenge.

"No, if anything..." he looked at the four approaching cadets, "my [feelings (lit: heart)] is probably closer to poor Lucretia Noin's," he said.

"Lucretia...."

All the other cadets were smiling with pride over their victory; there were tears only in Lucretia's eyes. Perplexed, Zechs asked, "What happened? Did you get hurt?"

"No, it's not that."

"You were just worried about Professor Treize and Zechs, they're fine! Shouldn't you be relieved?" the always cheerful Solac chimed in, half teasing.

"It's not that either, I..." Lucretia wiped way her tears and said with resolute pride in her voice, "I hate war."

Afterwards, Mogadishu was an important base connecting Eurasia and Africa. They erected a mighty fortress and set up an enormous laser canon crowned with Noventa's name, the Noventa Canon. In the eyes of the upper echelons of the Alliance, who did not want to concede the OZ Specials achievements, their attitude- which bordered on harassment- came to light.

Nevertheless, the Specials' , with their so-called "toy soldiers," first foray had effected revolution in the Alliance command system including regulations regarding mobile suit usage, and all logistical support and communications.

You might say it was too successful. It is understod that what Treize and Zechs had called the "[beginning of a new chapter in the book] of warfare" was related to this success.

AC 186 SPRING

Following the capture of Mogadishu, naturally the higher ups in the Alliance set a course for the mobile suits that primarily employed them as a means to protect (lit: guarantee the lives of) the soldiers on the front lines. However, behind enemy lines at the resistance, they, too, jumped at the mobile suits and in the space of a few months, mobile suits could be seen at battlefields the world over. And as the demand for mobile suits grew by leaps and bounds, Romefeller amassed a fortune. Romefeller controlled and ran the "Ocean of Storms," the Marius Plant. The cutting-edge factory made various new weapons and small-scale fusion reactors possible. Of course, the Leo, Aries, and Tragos mobile suits were also manufactured there. While the mobile suit battle went on, the Marius Plant continuously churned out mobile suits. Even so, the orders didn't cease, but rather steadily increased. Moreover, production of new model mobile suits was sped up. The Marina (lit: Marina, meaning some kind of naval force) wanted a mobile suit designed for underwater battle, the Pisces, and the space forces wanted the Leo II, aka Chimera, to be quickly produced in order to guard convoys [commodity troopships? big ships carrying goods.]

By the calculations, the Alliance mobile suits should have been finished even if the factor hadn't operated until then. However, there was a traitor in the Alliance [there was someone within the Alliance who was sympathetic to the rebels/out right traitor] who sold vast quantities of mobile suits [to the rebels] on the black market. Also, acts of piracy occurred frequently where a ship carrying several hundred mobile suits would be attacked by a single Chimera and the entire shipment [would fall into the hands of the rebels]. Because of that, there was still a shortage of mobile suits despite the Marius Plant running 24/7/365. The Lunar plant was expanded in area and scale to increase production.

At the time, it was likely Earth's economy was [wholly] centered on the manufacturing of mobile suits and Romefeller certainly amassed an astounding fortune. Within the foundation, the Khushrenada brothers were conferred high value for their distinguishing services. Especially the younger Van, who, for the sake of improving the lunar plant's production efficiency, implemented automatization, shorter work hours, and a large increase in personnel shifts, all to increase profits.

Becuse of this, Van Khushrenada was only [at the tender age of] 13 when he was elevated into the heart of the foundation.

In the 'subtly' named rank of deputy director to the acting representative [Dermail], Van put the foundation's overwhelming financial power on the back burner and increased their political friends. He removed those who were unable to look beyond the old foundation style;and he purged the old customs and vested interests of the nobility. He also denounced dirty politics and corruption.

Around this time, Hundert- head of the Khushrenada household at the time- had already retired, but the nobility which had suffered hardships because of Van['s policies] came often to petition him. "We were friends, once, weren't we?" They would say. Van,

however, paid no heed whatsoever to what Hundert had to say; his words were entirely without meaning to him. As for Hundelt, he also bore no affection for the condescending nobility. Nonetheless, the petitioners continued to come, Hundert became troublesome about every last little thing; and he took everything from Van and Treize and escaped to a medical colony in the L-1 cluster. [I'm not sure if Hundelt takes everything from the Khushrenada boys for the Khushrenadas take everything from Hundelt BUT since the actual sentence is not in passive voice, I'm guessing it's Hundelt who takes it all] There, there was a special facility for the aged; also his wife Angelina was receiving treatment [at the same hospital] in a different section, but (the man called) Hundert did not once go to see her.

[END PART 1] Frozen Teardrop, Chapter 2 part 2

Van Khushrenada effected similar reforms in the Alliance Headquarters as he had in the Foundation. He removed the old soldiers who were often ridiculed for being steeped in senility. For the surpeme commander of the Alliance, he installed Kyrie atalonia as a general; and for the OZ Specials, in battle he awarded them the privilege of independent action at any time [and for any reason] Kyrie who held the post of commander in chief of the Specials but essentially, it is thought that Treize Khushrenada fulfilled that capacity.

If you think of this as "pure potential" instead of "harvesting fruit to green to be picked" then this was the only time where Van Khushrenada could have made all those decisive reforms. Van distributed the wealth of the foundation very nearly equally and this made for more powerful cooperation within Romefeller. However, Treize's enrollment in OZ was special. Vast operating capital was given to OZ from the Foundation. They [OZ] were undoubtedly the ones who could use the mobile suits with profitable results and no one could complain about the economic benefits [made possible by the use of mobile suits].

During those six months, Van's reforms stayed on track for the most part. Of course, some [opposed the change and] said [Van was taking] it too fast. By this time, however, the Khushrenada family had vast power within the Romefeller Foundation. There was a thorough-going system whereby objectioners immediately found themselves in a minority faction and regardless of [social] standing, if it was someone spoke out against Romefeller, they ultimately either received a sinecure or were driven out of the Foundation.

Why did Van continue this out and out reform? At the time, no one understood the deeper meaning.

Similarly, Treize completed his own system[atic reforms within OZ]. With the mobile suits now joining the fighting, the Alliance's overwhelming military power was quite firm. Treize's suggestion of tactical level mobile suit use permeated [OZ and/or the Alliance] and nearly all disputed and internal conflicts were concluded with much the same results as his first battle [that is to say 'decisive' and 'total']. However, the Rebellion was also establishing a mobile suit corps and when facing other mobile suits, it was increasingly difficult [to fight] with the diverse tactics. Treize would, in those situations, devise a new strategy and give new instructions without regard for the Alliance staff officers. From the [new] data collected he would knit his [new/revised] plan (lit: tactics). Naturally, as the instructor at Lake Victoria, he taught his cadets these new tactics and effective strategies. Furthermore, that practical application was put into actual practice in mock battle and Treize drilled the cadets to think on their own [about strategy, presumably...] And through continual drilling, they accumulated valuable experience equal to that of real battle. It was certain he was raising excellent soldiers.

Take action as you deem appropriate. For future soldiers.

This was the slogan Treize delivered without exception. In the future, Zechs Merquise and future Lake Victoria instructor Lucretia Noin learned the drills at this time. Those words were comprised the most helpful phrases [they learned].

That point would become a huge difference between the Alliance mobile suit corps and the OZ Specials.

AC 186 SUMMER

Essentially, tactics and strategy are not [set in stone (lit: common sense, standard practice)]; it was vital to gather, mull over, and sublimate (to the self) knowledge garnered from the history of war, military theory, battlefield analysis and the like and see if all that could be put into actual practice. That was what Treize advocated in class. As such, even with mobile suit warfare being mainstream, the principle [theory and rules] of past battle actions [must be understood in order to] continue drafting new tactical plans, he added.

A good example of this was the Ocean of Storms War, also known as the First Lunar War: a huge war fought between mobile suits.

The laborers at the Marius Plant had been the ones to start the war. Despite Van's reforms that shortened work hours, living for extended periods of time on the moon lead to great (lit: the epitome of) dissatisfaction. For a human, [living on the moon with its] one sixth of Earth's gravity can be pleasant for the first several days. However, after about a month, the stress builds up and sleep and rest lose all meaning. [Although] the factory head and plant manager lived with those same conditions, they did not sympathize with the laborers' horrible working conditions and did not [even] discuss it with the laborers. Antagonism between the management and laborers became violent and eventually, an accident at the fusion reactor lead to a strike and that became a demonstration [against management]. At that time, if the management had made the effort to bridge the gap between them and the laborers, the [whole thing] may not have escalated. However, the bumbling management requested Alliance forces stationed at the Silent Sea on the moon to take control of the situation. The Alliance, for the purpose of currying favor with the Romefeller Foundation, was quick to send three Chimera ((Leo II)) and they suppressed the laborers demonstration with military force. This only enraged the laborers who then took ten of the new model Chimera ((Leo III)) and attacked the Alliance's Chimeras, which were summarily defeated.

There were leaps and bounds of technical innovation. The newly manufactured Chimera that the laborers piloted were more excellent than those the Alliance soldiers had. Of course, that the laborers piloted a greater number of machines than the soldiers was also a predominant cause their success. There was also a repertoire the laborers had with their tools [the mobile suits] borne of a daily use that even the professional soldiers couldn't match. As a result, the laborers came to occupy the Marius Plant and all the soldiers and management were turned out. One resistance group after another began to arrive at the Marius Plant. Especially from colonies L-1 and L-2, which were closest to the moon. The smoldering remains of the anti-Alliance [#3] highjacked shuttles and assembled [on the moon] by the dozens. They didn't need weapons; even if they arrived empty handed, they could get brand new Chimera at the plant. The plant could roll out ten mobile suits a week so it took two months for them to prepare enough suits to equal the forces of the Alliance. The problem wasn't the machines but the pilots; however, there were already some fifty terrorists and anti-Alliance soldiers and it wasn't more than a few days before there were some one hundred pilots for one hundred Chimera and the corps was completed.

The lunar space forces at the Silent Sea base were indignant about the rebellion.

"This is no laughing matter," said the commander, General Million Liddell-Hart. He was the supreme commander of the lunar space forces. "The moon will fall into the rebel's hands."

He immediately sounded out Brigadier General Kyrie at the Alliance Unification Headquarters for permission to mount a full attack

with the Alliance space forces. The extent of the firepower at the lunar base consisted of the following: 40 space-worthy Chimera, 20 space fighters; 10 lunar-surface worthy Tragos (Tragos II); a Sagittarius, a battleship so huge it should have been called a mobile fortress; and its sister shop the Centaurus. General Million believed that even if he faced an opposing force of 100 Chimera at Marius Plant, with those two behemoth battleships, he would gain an easy victory. Those battleships were not capable of flight. Honestly, they were not (battleships), nor were they even (boats). They were more like giant tanks that moved like caterpillars. It was their navigation of the lunar oceans (which were actually "seas" of sand and rock that had accumulated in craters) that made General Million refer to them, almost entirely out of his own personal tastes, as "battleships." Nonetheless, with its twenty-five triple barrel 260 mm gun towers; two 1300 mm beam canons; one hundred double barrel machine guns; and a total length exceeding three hundred meters, the Sagittarius and Centaurus truly were imposingly majestic to see. It is said the firepower was along the lines of fifty Chimera and fifty Tragos. Sagittarius and Centaurus could both face one hundred mobile suits [easily].

"Just looking at the numbers, it's plain that we will win!" That is what General Million planned Liddell-Hart believed, he was the last of the great [dreadnought blockade advocates #1] of the late AC era [oh, so would seem to imply that AC ended pretty damn quick after the original run of GW. Also: AC is definitely after the Common Era and we were almost 200 years into AC history at the start of GW. At the start of Frozen Teardrop, we're in MC-022. Which makes ME wonder why the hell Sumizawa is using all these references to Napoleon and Hitler and scores of historical military figures. Not just to explain military theory, but for character names (e.g. there was some English military dude in the late 18th century named Liddell-Hart and that's where I the hyphenated spelling of the name. I guess it's "accurate" but honestly, who the fuck knows? I mean, is this recycling/borrowing just supposed to reinforce that history repeats itself?]

At the same time, General Million planned the construction of space fighters-- battleships equipped to both navigate space and attack [there]-- in an effort to help piracy from increasing. Until that time, while there had been space convoys (troop ships) a space battleship had not existed. That was due to the fact that both the Alliance and OZ decided it [i.e. the space battleship] was no necessary. It was only natural to think that and up until that point in history, there had never once been a [military] (lit: naval) engagement where space served as the battlefield. Both space [worthy] battleships and fleets of space worthy craft were things relegated to [science] fiction-- a dream within a dream. Nevertheless, General Million was effecting a plan to make that dream a reality. To draw up the plans for the construction of space fighters, he asked Mike Howard, resident technician instructor [instructor of technology?]. The name of the vessel had already been decided: Peacemillion. Superficially, the name was intended to provoke a feeling of peace for all mankind, but the name rather had the impression of General Million trying to sell himself first and foremost. In fact, ensuing large battleships of this type were thereafter referred to as being in the "Peacemillion" class. However, it was AC 195 when the [original] Peacemillion was completed, six years after [the Lunar Wars]. Howard, who was in charge of the [blueprints], was very particular bout the propulsion engine and delay after delay in the plans was caused by slow progress in achieving the kinds of power (lit: ability) necessary to carry the ship beyond the solar system. General Million didn't live to see the completion of the ship which bore his name. The Peacemillion would go on to be piloted [used] by Milliardo Peacecraft and Howard; and even later, as a supply and preparation aircraft carrier for the mobile suits used by the gundam pilots.

At the Alliance Unification Headquarters on Earth, they were desperate for finding some way to quell General Million's youthful vigor. Of course, the Marius Plant's being occupied by its laborers and rebels was something they wanted to take care of immediately. However, the problem like in General Million's personally. He was famous for advocating the use of big guns [this is the same expression as appears before at note #1], [he would] probably use the giant beam canon on the lunar battleships, blow the whole plant to kingdom come, and drive out the enemy Chimera. Even in the [good old days], it was clear he was thinking of (opening) war on the moon.

"That," Van was the first to speak from among all the fresh faced generals, "from a strategic point of view will not lead to victory," he cooly judged. "Our primary goal is to recapture the Marius Plant. If the plant is destoryed, by enemy or ally, it will be a failure on our

part."

"Mr. Van, if we had Romefeller's power [influence/money], surely we could [simply] rebuild a plant or three," said Lieutenant General Venti who was sitting [across] (lit: confronting/holding his own) from Van as per usual.

"The Foundation's budget cannot afford the luxury of being entrusted in the incompetent hand of military personnel."

"Then is there another effective means to work out this problem?"

"We shall have the Specials head directly to the site. I wish General Liddell-Hart would refrain from opening hostilities until they arrive."

"In that time, the enemy's power will just grow [stronger]," said General Noventa aptly after considering the situation. The Chimera's would increase at a rate of 10 per week. For Treize to leave Lake Victoria and arrive at the moon and prepare for battle, it would take at least seven days. The enemy would be in possession of 110 brand new (new model) Chimera. They would be overwhenlmed by the [sheer] size [of the rebel force]/

"[If we wait for the Speciats, t]he war we could win [now] will become impossible to win [then].

"......" Van said nothing. It was classified Romefeller information, but [actually,] there was an important resources deposit at the Marius Plant. At one time, the place where the Marius Plant was located was called the Marius ill of the Ocean of Storms and there was a pit, through which a lava tunnel passed, called "Marius Hills Hall". There, the neo-titanium (or luna titanium) was extracted [mined/(lit: gathered)] for use in nearly all mobile suits' armor and drive parts. And though they had yet to successfully refine the compund metal, the wholly new "gundanium" alloy was near completion. ((With the gundanium alloy complete, mobile suits would become a more perfect weapon.)) Van looked to General Kyrie, supreme commander.

Please, protect the plant somehow. Van implored with his eyes.

General Kyrie slowly nodded.

"Allow the Alliance forces at the lunar base to (sally) [attack] under the command of General Million Liddell-Hart."

"What?!" Van made as if to stand; he looked at Kyrie who spoke the following words with control:

"However, using the Sagittarius and Centaurus are prohibited."

"General, Liddell-Hart will be lost without them!" the usually courteous Noventa even raised his voice at [Kyrie's pronouncement].

"Without the Sagittarius and Centaurus, they'll be fighting with nothing but mobile suits!"

"Just the numbers show that the enemy [will have or already has] superior numbers!"

"It's the same as ordering them to their deaths!"

"Mr. Van just said our goal is to recapture the Marius Plant, or have you forgotten?" General Kyrie said with a sharp glare. "If we

permit the use of the giant battleships and beam canons, the plant will clearly suffer heavy damage."

"Then we prohibit the use of the beam canons only. We are not the one who will die on the battlefield, the solders will," said Noventa. It was only natural to think of [sparing] his subordinates.

That was one of his merits; the reason he garnered respect from the officers under his command.

"Hm," for a moment General Kyrie's resolve wavered at the proposed compromise. He also was a man with more humanity beyond [what the average] cool-headed military man possessed. "In that case, it might be worth considering."

"Just a moment!" Van couldn't help but stand up. "You must also consider General Liddell-Hart's explosively dangerous disposition!"

It was then that Alliance tactics aide Lieutenant Colonel Septum stepped into the fray. He had, several months prior, gone into service on Earth and was [now] seated in the end seat as an Alliance Unity Headquarters assigned advisor. Normally, this as not a position from which one could speak.

"Mr. Van, if you think tactically about this-- sending out the Centaurus and Sagittarius-- I predict the enemy will not easily leave the plant. In other words, we'd come to a deadlock and likely end up fighting a war of attrition."

"A war of attrition?" Van, too, stumbled over the word. If he stalled for time, Treize and the Specials may arrive on time. "Very well, but they cannot use the beam cannons. That is nonnegotiable," Van compromised.

As a result of the meeting, a declaration of full war was made; General Million at the lunar base was given the order to attack wit the full force of the Alliance's space unit.

However, that sort of compromise and middle ground was strategically and tactically unbelievable. It was the same as saying: it's okay to take weapons with you, but don't use them. As long as Kyrie and Van held these strong positions, even General Million would not attack rashly-- but that likewise was a war of attrition. Furthermore, there is no doubt that to reinforce (back up) the goal, action, and strategy of the mission, it was clearly labeled with the name "Operation Recapture Marius Plant." Speaking from a strategic point of view, it was not strictly necessary to take out the enemy. Bloodshed was not the end-all be-all of war. Buying time with political means like negotiations was supposedly a possibility. Compromises and concessions were not just rhetoric held in a conference room, but for the soldiers in the battlefield, they were the utmost form of trouble [annoyance].

Kyrie and Van's decision then could be called their fatal mistake. However, with six months of promoting reform, these two were suffering chronic fatigue. There was no one to blame for that [but themselves].

When General Million received the orders and read that last line, he was so enraged that he nearly smashed the monitor.

Please mind both beam cannons of both the Sagittarius and Centaurus must not be used.

Million ground his teeth and his eyes were bloodshot.

"Don't use the beam cannons?! What madness is that Earth bunch on about! Don't screw [with me]!" He hadn't the first intention of obeying the order.

Made a decision on the battlefield, I'll fire them if it's necessary. That much ought to be obvious!

He thought [to himself].

An aide worried about General Million and attempted to soothe him.

"But, General... this is an order from Headquarters."

"All units, deploy for battle! Send the mobile suit unit and the Sagittarius and Centaurus!" he ordered promptly. At the same time at Lake Victoria, Treize Khushrenada was also requested to make a sortie. Treize was perhaps the sole level-headed person on the Alliance's side. Treize seemed to address the full moon which was visible from his window; "For this sortie, we must be as prepared as possible."

I will die. Send out the corpses. Enemy and ally alike.

"Fighting in space is something wholly different from fighting on Earth."

The newly deployed cutting-edge suits were (even more) improved space-worthy Leo 'Chimeras', a.k.a. 'Gryph (Leo IV)' ((German for Griffon)). Treize left Earth at dawn on the following morning in a large troopship and brought with him twenty five Gryphs and twnety four excellent cadets. Naturally, among these twenty four cadets were the same [soldiers] who had fought at Mogadishu: Zechs, Lurectia, Izumi, Solak, and Elv. For this mission, each of them had been assigned three or four cadets to command. Treize let them (do) as he had done [e.g. let the cadets lead]. Ultimately, whether or not they had battle experience would prove to be a major difference. That could also be thought of as the responsibility of those who fought for the future soldiers.

At Marius Plant, a thin, middle aged woman by the name of Artemis Sedici held command. It was Artemis Sedici's son who, during the White Fang uprising of AC 195, was a general serving as a front line commander. Her name, the same as the goddess of the moon's, is thought to be a nickname. Despite being in her 30's, she was a knockout and in a plant full of men, she had [something of a] magnetic personality. To her credit, she demonstrated superb leadership [skills] owning to her clarity of mind. She was certainly worthy of the name Artemis.

"We have received data showing that the Alliance space forces are on the move. We shall present a united front and show them the meaning of the revolution in space."

As a strategist and knowledgeable commander both, she possessed intuition and a calmness like that of the pale moon.

"We have the power of 100 Chimera! We'll make eight units of ten suits. We'll make four flying squadrons out of our best mobile suits, surround the Marius Plant in a double square formation and form the perfect defense."

This battle formation positioned units of ten mobile suits in two square which in turn formed an eight point star. Nested within the center of that star were four units of five mobile suits that would form single square and provide the pivotal defense. This formation was called the [layered square formation (lit: multiplex square formation) and was the most effective defense formation as it allowed for returning enemy fire from any direction. Foot soldiers from Napoleon's time also used a similar formation. If you thought of a mobile suit as a foot soldier, this was the best formation even from a tactical point of view.

In response to that, the Alliance forces made a V-shaped formation called the "Crane's Wing Pattern" and at the tip of both the left and right wings were the highly mobile space fighters in groups of ten. In the middle [of the wings] were units of twenty Chimeratheir main fighting force- and in the apex [of the V] were both the Sagittarius and the Centaurus withch were accompanied [on the outside edge] by Tragos, five to either side. This could be considered classic, but this was the natural result when Treize's tactics were applied to a large corps. For the mobile suit corps, which placed greater importance on the individual ease of movement and mobility, it was an ideal formation. On a tactical level, both formations were equal, but as far as war potential, the Alliance had a significantly better formation. A basic breakdown of the firepower on the battlefield yields 100:170. 100 rebel mobile suits to 170 Alliance mobile suits. If it did become a war of attrition, there was no doubt that the Alliance would come out on top. With the Sagittarius and Centaurus at the center, there was no way [for the rebels] to break through. If Million maintained the formation and proceeded to slowly [and with caution], there was a possibility of victory without needing to use their main guns: the giant beam cannons.

However--

A small smile pulled at Artemis' lips.

"So, you've arrived..." she said, at the time being fully aware of the Alliance's order for Million to not use the beam cannons. [That was information which] she had learned that from an informant at the Alliance [this is potentially interesting because Treize told Mogadishu about his forthcoming attack while it seems that Kyrie and Van did not inform the Marius Plant about their impending attack. Was it because Kyrie and Van assumed all the civilians had left?]

"They really aren't going to shoot [the beam cannon]?" asked an aide standing off to the side.

"What would you do?"

"If it was an order, then I would not fire."

Artemis scoffed, "One would think... if it were a normal commander [at the helm over there], they'd have plenty of firepower to win." Her words were soft but the light in her eyes was sharp. "But they're going to fire."

"Why?"

"......" Artemis stared straight ahead, glaring at the encroaching huge corps of enemy troops.

"How do you know?"

"Because Million Liddell-Hart is not an ordinary commander."

General Liddell-Hart sat in the commander's chair on the first bridge of the Sagittarius and waited for the instant when the enemy would be within their beam cannon's firing range.

"...... this is no joke. How am I supposed to just sit here and watch the enemy's numbers snowball out of control?" In his mind, the idea that the rebels could increase their forces by ten Chimera per week was as distasteful as a growing infestation of rats or cockroaches. He imagined their members grew even as he sat there [waiting to attack]. However, with all their battle preparations,

the plant was not operating and [the rebels] had not made a single mobile suit, let alone ten.

"Don't use the big guns? Bah!"

Then, the operator announced loudly, "Main cannon charged!"

"Target locked on!"

"Confirmation from Centaurus; all preparations for firing the beam cannon are complete!"

"Sagittarius preparations to fire the beam cannon are complete!"

"No fooling around."

"The ancient Greek historian Thucydides specified three factors for starting war; they are: fear, profit, and honor. In General Million's mind, all three of these elements were all [present and accounted for]. The fear of the enemy endlessly increasing its numbers. The profit of completely overwhelming [the rebels] without any Alliance losses. The honor of gaining a reputation as the general who was victorious in a [historic] battle.

"There isn't anyone alive stupid enough to let a chance like this slip through his finger!" Million shouted.

"That man in an idiot," Artemis said sharply.

"Sagittarius, Centaurus, fire the cannons!"

"All Chimera, open the square!"

Both commanders gave their orders at the same time. The giant twin [?!] beam cannons on the Sagittarius and Centaurus sent out four perfectly straight beams of light (lit: luminous flux) towards Marius Plant. However, the one hundred Chimeras were faster and as one, they seceded from Marius Plant. On the moon, a single leap would be six time more powerful than the same leap performed on the Earth. With speed that could only be described as 'instantly,' they Chimera corps leapt into the sky, spread out left and right and withdrew backwards. The Sagittarius' and Centaurus' aim was true. The Marius Plant disappeared without a trace. Several Chimera's retreat was ruined when they got caught in the explosion and suffered light damage.

"What did I tell you? They'd shoot." Artemis had boarded the lead Chimera and jumped for joy that all her suits had moved as per their design. "All Chimera units, please proceed to phase two of our plan." The formation of the second stage was the same as their original formation: a multiplex defense in the shape of an eight point star. The difference was that, now, there was ten times the distance between each until and it wasn't the Marius Plant in the center of the star but the Alliance space troops. The rebels defensive formation changed into one that would besiege and annihilate.

At first, those on the first bridge on the Sagittarius couldn't grasp [the gravity] of the situation for the dazzling light [of the cannon fire]. General Million rose from the command chair and demanded, "STATUS!" with a shout. He wanted to confirm his victory as soon as possible. The report, however, was anything but sweet.

"All fire made a direct hit! But damage to enemy mobile suits is-"

"What is it?"

"I can't get a reading on losses to the rebels!"

"What?! (lit: stupid!)"

If General Kyrie had been there, he likely would have reproached Million by declaring him a 'flaming idiot.' If Van knew, he would brand the whole mission as a complete failure.

In effect, the space forces of the Alliance were, for all intents and purposes, at a standstill. It could also be considered fatal. First, ten space fighters in the left wing had been shot down. They had faced twenty new model Chimeras which has more than twice the power. Next, twenty Alliance Chimeras (their main fighting mobile suit) had, in the face of forty enemy suits, had fallen victim to [their own] poor battle [skills]. Just as the majority of people are right handed, the left wing was an easier target than the right. The defeated Chimera escaped to the right, to the right, in front of the Sagittarius and Centaurus only to cut off those two ships. At that stage, the Alliance had lost its mobility.

"Get the hell out of my way!" General million could not help but shout. "You'll get crushed!"

The Saggitarious and Centaurus were said to be equal to one hundred mobile suits, but with the enemy spread out as they were, the Alliance couldn't lay a finger on the rebels. The most terrible thing was seeing such a huge [machine] suffer such a disaster against [mere] mobile suits. Its sister ship, the Centaurus, was hounded by over fifty enemy Chimera that concentrated their attack on its (power parts) and succeeded in blowing those up. It could no longer move. Million watched the spectacle with horror. It was as though they were being [knocked down] by a hoard of mice.

"This- this can't be."

After the umpteenth explosion on the Centaurus, the Sagittarius started evacuation procedures. In a fight against mobile suits, those lunar battleships were far too large. Perhaps for a fight between battleships, there was tactical application for [General Million's] Big Gun Theory [see #1 below].

"...... disgusting mobile suits!" That was all General Million could utter throug his clenched teeth. Then, a report came in. It said that, currently, ten Alliance space fighters from the farthest point away were under attack. Million responded immediately, orienting themselves in the direction of the fierce battle and ordering the main cannons to fire.

"It will take three hundred seconds for the beams to recharge."

"If we're within range, shell them!"

"They are too far way."

Their premature retreat had invited this situation

"Do whatever it takes, just don't let them get away with this!"

Nevertheless, the Alliance fought bravely. The right wing fought for dear life, they went out destroying [the enemy] prepared to stab each other [if it came to that]. Thee battlefield at the Sea of Storms showed [all] signs of having become a war of attrition, yet the number of rebel Chimeras undeniably decreased. The balance of power then stood at a ratio of 80 to 75. 80 rebels to 75 Alliance. However, that is counting the Sagittarius as fifty mobile suits. In physical numbers, it was 80:25. The Alliance was at an overwhelming disadvantage. Things, however, were about to go from bad to worse. A number of soldiers were lead by Artemis to bodily infiltrate the Sagittarius at the first bridge. THey were maneuvering to destroy it from the inside. That was a favorite ploy of the Resistance more than the Anti-Alliance. Artemis and her entourage immediately began pumping the ceiling full of lead. Even ifff you wereN't million, if you were on that bridge, you surely would have been cowering [for the onslaught].

"Put your hands up," Artemis said with a bewitching smile on her lips. "Anyone who tries anything funny will be shot dead, unsparingly," she said with light flashing in her eyes.

The battle at the Sea of Storms lulled and silence returned. Twenty four hours had passed during the hostilities and the moon had orbited once around the earth [er, that's not possible BUT that's what they said!].

Million Liddell-Hart surrendered; the mobile suits corps retreated, sans commander, to their base at the Silent Sea and the Sagittarius fell into the hands of the Anti-Alliance. The nearly wasted [destroyed] Centaurus was put to use as a holding cell for prisoners of war. It was a pitiful end for the famously stately space battleships.

Once, strategy trailblazer Carl von Clausewitz proposed in [his book] "On War" that the essence of war- which was an expansion of a duel- lie in part along political and diplomatic lines [#4]. To bring about victory, the victor must demand the desired order from the world. If they can [commit (lit: promise)] to stable and permanent public order, then the fighting could be decidedly stopped. This had been how all wars heretofore had been concluded. It was easy for both sides to lay own arms and sit down at the table of peace if they had both suffered much bloodshed, but fail to reach that point and the fighting can only continue. The Anti-Alliance and laborers both hoped for freedom and liberation, but there was a temperature different between them. The laborers felt there was no further need to fight, but the Anti-Alliance and Resistance said they ought to thoroughly clean up any remaining Alliance troops. Discussion continued without reaching a conclusion. As soon as it became a political argument, Commander Artemis became silent. A soldier to the core, as a strategist, she only had an interst in military operations. If she had said [ordered] "peace negotiations" or "do-or-die resistance" they would have come to a conclusion, but in the end, she [chose to say] nothing. This discrepancy among the two groups indicated good fortune for the Alliance, particularly for Treize Khushrenada, who was heading for the lunar base.

Two days later, the troopship loaded with twenty five Gryphs that Treize and his men were aboard had arrived at an L-1 colony cluster broadcast station. Martial law was in effect there and the commercial shuttles were practically empty. However, people taking refuge from other lunar plants were the one exception. Nearly everyone had been evacuated from the Marius Plant over several days. At this time, just four people disembarked from the shuttle. Treize didn't look at those four people so much as study them. There was a family of three consisting of two parents [escorting] a quiet boy of about six years old. The fourth was a man in a deep hat carrying an unseemly viola case. Treize didn't take note of the group and had no reason to do so but that was the [same] man who murdered his grand uncle Heero Yuy and his father Ein Yuy; it was Odin Lowe. Currently, he was not working for OZ. For several years, he had been working as a free special agent. As such, he was aware of neither Treize's nor the Special's existence. Odin's trajectory would have him walk right by Treize. It felt as if his [Odin's] eyes were looking in his [Treize's] direction. Their eyes met for just a second. But they made no move to make any further inquiry ((his head was full [of how to get control of the] situation on the moon...)). That was all he could think about.

That man looks like Heero and Ein... nay, it couldn't be, thought Odin. That thought occupied his conscious to the extent that he failed to notice the little boy crouched at his feet.

"Whoa!" Odin tripped over the boy and [he lost is balance (lit: his preparedness was destroyed)]. The boy didn't fall over, but thinking he may have caused him pain, Odin apologized.

"Sorry for that, are you hurt?"

"......"

The boy was silent.

"-chan!" said the boy's mother as she came up [to them].

"Oh, I'm terribly sorry."

"No trouble..." Odin said, taking off his hat and making a small bow; he headed off.

"Are you okay? Does anything hurt?" She [he?] lightly brushed his leg as if it were dirty.

"You dropped this," he said. It was a pamphlet advertising for help wanted at a lunar plant.

"Thank you, but we don't need that."

"Oh."

"Well, we won't be going to the moon anymore."

"......"

"Well, let's get going."

"Okay......"

It was a trifling of a scene (It was an absurd, silly, easy scene). The exchange between mother and son reminded Treize of himself.

I haven't seen mother in a while...

Angelina was currently hospitalized in the medical section of the L-1 colony cluster.

But it doesn't look like I will be able to take the time to go see her.

WIth that thought, Treize sighed with deep emotion.

MC-022 NEXT WINTER

I shuddered then took off the virtual visor and stare at the viewing window of the (frozen capsule). The "Aurora Princess" was almost

awake. Code name: Heero Yuy. I had just seen that very same face, it was the face of that little boy.

"Defrosting complete," Master Chang said and pushed the button to open the capsule.

"Finally!" Duo said even as he hopped around and looked sharply at the capsule with extreme interest. Then, in a quiet voice, said "I'm depending on you, partner (lit: senpai #2)."

Father was grinning his usual face-splitting grin and approached the capsule with was gushing vapor.

"Hey, Heero."

The boy called Heero Yuy opened his clear eyes. They were the same eyes as the little boy.

"You're the same as ever," Father said nostalgically, never losing his smile.

"Heero answered unsociably in a low voice, "You, too, Duo."

His was an extremely cold voice.

To Be Continued...

***

#1 Ugh, LITERALLY this phrase is "encyclopedia big guns advocate" but WTF is that supposed to mean? Google it and some personal website told me it's an actual phrase that means you're a believer in using big guns to fight war but I could get that much with the 'big guns advocate' part, what the hell was the 'encyclopedia' part for? So Japanese wiki tells me it was a common naval tactic used in WWI and I wikied in English to find that the Allied powers used big ass battleships (dreadnoughts) to surround/blockade the Central powers. And dreadnoughts had really big guns.

#2 I'll bet everyone knows 'senpai' but just in case you don't... we don't really have this social construct in America (do we?). Senpai is a kind of title used when talking to someone in a higher station than you. So if you're a freshman, you could call a sophomore, junior or senior student a "senpai" because they have more school-experience than you. Same goes for people you'd work with at a company or people in your extracurricular activities. Usually, the person with the lower social standing refers to the person of higher social standing by a title (I've observed this trend among siblings, also) and the person of higher social standing usually just refers to the person of lower social standing by their name (first or last, avec or sans honorary suffix depending on the relationship)

#3 "...smoldering remains of the Anti-Alliance" is all I can make of that sentence. It might mean the Anti-Alliance is smoldering in anger over the injustices suffered at the hands of the alliance, or it might mean the anti-alliance is getting their collective ass kicked by the Alliance.

#4 Carl von Clauswitz. That bit is loosely translated, but the Wikipedia article I read on the guy confirms that's the *bare* bones of it. Also fun, it seems like Liddell-Hart (the actual British military guy) took Clauswitz ideas to the extreme and detriment of his troops... as shown in FT, also. Does that make Frozen Teardrop a historical fiction kind of book?

Frozen Teardrop, Chapter 3, part 1 Gundam Wing Frozen Teardrop

Treize File 3

Heero Yuy had no intention of looking at me whatsoever, instead he got out of the frozen capsule and stood up [beside it]. Normally, it would take a whole day before you could stand up after being brought out of stasis. He had an unbelievably strong body. In the freezing air, he wiped the frost from his eyelashes and his breath came out in white puffs as he spoke. “(Tell me) what’s the status of the situation……” “Before I do that, there’s something I need to confirm [with you],” said Master Chang as he stood before Heero. He slowly punctuated his words; it sounded like he was confirming (his) will. “You had once said-“ “……” “’I won’t kill anymore.’” “…I remember.” “And that feeling has not changed, has it?”

Heero was quiet for a long time. …Not kill anymore? I find it hard to believe that those words were spoken by a Gundam pilot. That’s my candid impression. If that’s the case, how can we carry out Operation Mythos? Honestly, I was starting to wonder if we ought to have [bothered] waking him. I think there’s simply no pace on the battlefield for a soldier who will not kill. Duo couldn’t stand the long silence and interrupted with an ‘Oy, oy!’ “Hey, Fat Max, this ain’t what we talked about.” “Cut it out, Duo,” Father Maxwell reproved without losing his smile. “Hey, Duo……” Heero said as he turned to face the two Duo Maxwells. However, he only addressed the priestly one. “Who’s that noisy waste of space?” “What!” Before the young Duo could explode with anger, the priest grabbed the boy by the braid and said, “He’s my son.” It looked to me like the priest’s smile was [now] embarrassed. “Your son…. then there’s no help for it.”

“Ha ha ha, I guess not.” The priest was laughing but he immediately seemed to pick up on a deeper meaning to Heero’s words. 
“Hey, what’s that supposed to mean?” You didn’t need hear it twice to realize he probably meant the “good for nothing” part was hereditary. It seemed like the father and son pair weren’t the only ones possessing caustic irony. Heero jerked his head in my direction and spoke. “And she’s a mini-Sally?” “I beg your pardon!” I would not tolerate being referred to as ‘mini.’ IT seemed as though this boy Heero Yuy was planning on making every one present into an enemy. Just as I was about to [bive him a piece of my mind,] Master Chang [stopped my retort] and put a hand on my shoulder and gave me a look that read ‘calm down.’ “…… Master.” “There’s something you [still] have to do…… until you finish that, whatever he says isn’t wrong.” That might be right. (And) when you thought of how he checked all the data in the files in the same amount of time I’(d had [and had yet to finish] it was clear that Hero was far much more better than I. (To the extent that I wanted to express my dissatisfaction). I still hadn’t read [all about] their pasts and only has a vague understanding of the history. As I wondered how Heero would answer Wufei’s question ‘Will you not kill anyone?’ I put on the virtual visors. The past came flooding through my consciousness. The Hero Yuy there was still just six years old. As for me, I could tell you it was much (better) for my metal health to be where I was.

AC 186 SUMMER

At the L-1 colony cluster space port, Treize Khushreanada was grasping for strategies and tactic for the moon. The difference between a victory or defeat was most likely mobile power. It would be down to the ability of the commanders leading each corps to gain control of that mobility.

Gravity one sixth of that on Earth.

The overly thin atmosphere.

The vast and boundless lunar oceans.

If this was the battlefield, then a suit with even more mobility than the nearly perfect Leo III (Chimera) would be necessary. The new (type) mobile space fighter ‘Greif’ (Leo IV). The OZ Specials were astonished at the near perfection of the suit. Overlooking the production costs, they far exceeded the mass production (level), certainly it was not an exaggeration to say that it was a compilation of [all the previous] Leos’ special specifications. When Seis Clark, the head engineer in charge of the (manufacture design/plans) saw the ‘Greif’ he flew into a burning rage. “Isn’t this just the Tall Geese?” What had been the point of lowering production costs he surely wondered. “No, I absolutely cannot let this fly.” He was so resentful that he resigned as OZ’s head engineer in charge of the mobile suit print production. [He didn’t quit] because they where painted white, the characteristic color of the OZ Specials. In addition to having the Leo’s heavy artillery and the

Aries’ high flight speeds, there were two beam sabers stores on the shoulders for use in close-quarters combat and. like the Aries, it was equipped with high output burners. Also, there was a canon equal to the Tragos’ mid-range one set in the right shoulder and a disc shaped shield as standard equipment. By installing mid-range canons in both shoulders, the suits offence could be stronger; rifle, beam rifle, and more could be interchanged and it would be possible to stand out prominently on the front line. This [kind of] efficiency allowed the Greif to keep up in any kind of battle situation. “If you were going to do all that, you’d have been better off just mass producing Tall Geeses from the start!” Seis Clark took pride in having successfully mass producing the Leo. Having the very foundation of that pride overthrow was the equivalent of negate his entire existence. If he was angry, it was for his jealousy. However… The Greif was, in Treize’s mind, both a throwback to the Tall Geese and their chance to win this war. It was down to a question of pilots. The moon’s surrounds were quite nearly a vacuum. Compared to fighting on earth, the senses were different. Treize taught [his cadets the importance of] the different kinds of ‘intuition: sensing the subtle distances between oneself and the enemy; understand unique ‘air’ of the battlefield; having the strength of mind to heighted one’s concentration even while under extreme stress. In order to obtain that, it was crucial to eradicate all hesitation in battle. That had been accomplished on Earth, but in space, the story was somewhat different. As a matter of course, depth perception, the sense of touch, and concentration all dropped. The difference in gravity and atmospheric density changed the senses into something wholly different. Where as the enemy – the AntiAlliance- by dint of having lived for an extended period of time on the moon surely had developed space senses. Of course the Greif was loaded with the latest enemy-searching equipment but the battlefield wasn’t quite slack enough to mean that alone would be enough to fight [well in space:. The most pressing issue for the Specials was to rid themselves of their sense of Earth’s gravity as soon as possible and acclimate to the change in gravity. General Million’s causing the Marius Plant to vanish was an enormous strategic gaffe, yet tactically, it was greatly helpful. He had eliminated the worry over the enemy’s [ability to use the plant to create more mobile suites and thereby the] ability to increase their power. At that juncture, they had the leisure of choosing their options: attack or defend. (You could say) they received a grace period in which they could consider which option to pursue. For the young soldiers of the Specials, who had been pushing themselves on this expedition [to the moon], they recovered from two days worth of pains caused by space travel and could rest up @for the coming battle].

Treize set the date for their lunar landing to be three days away. “For the next three days, [I want] every one of you to develop your space senses,” Treize ordered. “What will we do if the rebel army attacks the lunar base in the next three days?” asked cadet Izumi. 
“Then [I suppose] you should be prepared to scramble.” In typical Treize fashion, his views were a foreshadowing of the tides of war [to come]. “We land on the moon in three days, that has not changes……” Treize looked at the doubtful faces of his cadets and supplements, “Men, with the Marius Plant blown up, this war has already been lost…… and our goal is not to control the rebels, nor should you worry about rescuing the lunar base.” No one had any questions. What, then, were they supposed to do? Why, then, were they going to fight? They had already learned the answer to those questions. “Take action as you deem appropriate.”

“For the future soldiers!”

This was their absolute consciousness. 
Treize added, “I pray for your successful training (lit: discipline). Dismissed.”

At this point, the full forces of the Cosmo Arma at the lunar base consisted of the following: 50 main force mobile suit, Chimera (Leo II); 5 Tragos (model II for lunar battle); 5 space fighters. Against this, the Anti-Alliance had the giant lunar battleship Sagittarius and to this, their fire power included no less than 80 new Chimera (Leo III). Even with Treize and the Specials joining in with 25 Greifs (Leo IV), empirically, the ratio (of military power) stood at 50 against 80. If the Anti-Alliance’s Sagittarius [was counted as being] 50 mobile suits, the Cosmo Arma was at an overwhelming disadvantage of 50:30.

Suppose the Anti-Alliance army did attack the lunar base before Treize's arrival, they most surely would have won. Anyone would think it was an honor to be the one who conquered the moon. The soldiers in the resistance movement were particularly strong in promoting doing just that kind of thinking. The laborers, on the other hand, were skeptical and were weak-kneed.

That was a topic of much daily discussion, in the briefing room aboard the Sagittarius, which was anchored in the Ocean of Storms, the debate continued between the soldiers and the laborers. 
“We ought to negotiate for peace.” “We ought to nit the Silent Sea!” “No objections!” “There’s no doubt we would win!”

Said the soldiers in strong tones. “And then?” Commander Artemis, who normally did not partake in the discussion, asked. “After winning, what do you plan to do?” “Obviously, we’re going to…” For a moment, the soldiers couldn’t finish the statement. Actually, nothing had been decided. “Our determination—we’ll make the Alliance acknowledge space’s independence!” 
“With just a Sagittarius and some Chimera (lit: with marksmen and boys)?” “That’s plenty!” The young soldiers took to their feet. Now, they were just retorting. “This is plenty of fighting power to drive the Alliance out of every colony.” “If you bluff,” said Artemis with a deep sigh. 
“Bluff?”

“You are familiar with poker? The card game?” “We’re not talking about cards! We’re talking about war!”

“Yes, this is war, so……” “Miss Artemis, please finish what you were saying. Tell us what we should do from here on out.” The laborers wished from the bottom of their hearts that the front line commander would be their guide. Artemis, however, spread her hands wide as she shrugged and all she said was “Well…..” Someone from the resistance spoke up, “According to information from an ally, it looks like the OZ Specials have already arrived in the area of the L-1 colony……” The briefing room [exploded] in an uproar. They couldn’t maintain their isolation on the moon. The Specials had arrived for reinforcements and that meant there was the distinct possibility the Alliance would send more reinforcements from Earth. They needed the first ticket out of there. If they couldn’t decide, the Chimera ammunition, the soldiers’ rations, even purifying the very air they were breathing would become endangered. The Sagittarius was brimming with people being controlled by their impatience.

Treize had expected that situation. That was why he would land on the moon in three days [and not immediately]. It was a mere two days until their arrival, yet the battleship Sagittarius did not move. That alone was a basis [for planning as Treize had], but it became more than sufficient proof. The enemy was not united. That was how Treize interpreted it. Even if he were somehow wrong in that interpretation, and the Anti-Alliance opened hostiles first, Treize had relayed that they would immediately surrender to the Cosmo Arma base at the Silent Sea. If the base was taken over by the Anti-Alliance, then Treize could use the Anti-Alliance people at the base as a way to make a starting point to being cooperation between the space colonies. There was also the possibility they could declare their independence from the Alliance. [As he thought about his second option] and the increased difficulties became readily apparent. The colonies close to the moon, L-1 and L-2, would first get armed then compete a protective/defensive line to the lunar base and the war of independence against the earth-based Alliance would unfold and there was no doubt that ultimately, they would be forced into a besieged war at the lunar base. It was a big gamble. It couldn’t be said for sure if Treize had foreseen events to that extent, but he thought of almost the same thing. If that weren’t Treize’s predictions, if there wasn’t any meaning to controlling the lunar base, even an average commander could make that decision. In fact, Artemis objected to controlling the base and the laborers also, who had spent much time on the moon, had no proof that taking over the base would put freedom in their hands. If it was possible, the laborers should have been trying to get off the moon. And all the more so with the OZ Specials en route. They could only imagine what kind of abilities the new Grifs the Specials were piloting had, but as far as mobile suit development went, due to their similar experiences, the laborers knew better than most what tremendous innovations could occur in a matter of months.

There was a large lounge at the L-1 colony cluster spaceport; there was a restaurant where one could enjoy a light meal while gazing at the beauty of space from the windows. Luretia and Zechs were seated by the window and drinking coffee. “Space is beautifu, isn’t it Zechs…..” Even from there, one could see the summer constellations. “In that galaxy, there’s the Milk Dipper, it’s [part of the constellation] Sagittarius…… you can see it more clearly [here] than you can from Earth.” It made the innocent girl’s face glow. “There’s believed to be a black hose in the center of a star in Sagittarius…… Everything – even light- gets swallowed by the darkness…… but, there isn’t really anything there, right?” “……” Zechs didn’t know what Lucretia was trying to say. “In a world without light, there is nothing…… or [at least] I should say nothing can be seen.”

Lucretia didn’t reply to that, she just sighed, elbows on the table and looking to the side [out the window]. “You can’t see what’s really important with your eyes,” she kept looking out the window. Zechs took up hos stone cold coffee and said, “Lucretia…… you know a lot about the stars.” So saying, he swallowed the last of his cold coffee. Putting down the cup, he turned to face her head on. 
“Yes… I want to know all about the stars. Like you, Zechs, The Star Prince [Little Prince]. I want to know all about you, too,” she said looking at his eyes. 
“The Star Prince, hmm.” A masochistic smile played on Zechs’ slips. On a very small planet, there lived a lonely prince and a single rose bloom. Zechs’ knew of Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s novel. “Tell me about it.” “Really, *you* can’t see wah’t really important with your eyes, Zechs Merquise.” “You’re a strange one, Lucretia Noin.”

Many suppose it was around this time that Lucretia Noin fell in love with Zechs Merquise. However, there were doubts as to whether she knew his real identity. It was also estimated that their deeply nuanced conversation was [due to] Lucretia’s unique intuition in action.

Away from those seats, at the bar, was another couple [talking] over a dry martini and a gin tonic. The man was Odin Lowe and the woman was Aoi Clark, mother of the six-year old boy code-named Heero Yuy. “Head Engineer Seis is looking well.” “He’s left OZ also, seems like he’s going to be the Alliance’s advising engineer…… seems like he wasn’t very keen on the Greif’s development.” “So that’s why he’s doing surveillance on the mission?” “Well, that’s……” “You only ever looked like an average mom and son.” Now, she was Seis’ wife, but in reality, that was not certain. That was because she was a secret agent working for OZ. “I remember colony hopping with you …… those were the days.” “Isn’t it about time for you to retire?” “And the kid is already six, to.” “He’s looking well, that’s what’s important.”

“You feel a little responsible, don’t you.” “I was against it,” Odin finished his gin tonic. “I wanted to have your child that is,” muttered Aoi as she shook her glass and make the olive roll around. “But if you’re always doing OZ, what about the boy?” “I know, but it’s hard……” she sighed deeply. “Anyway, you were the one to leak Alliance information to Artemis, right?” “Wasn’t it your husband who was ignoring the laborers?” “That was Tsubarov…… he [Seis?] was off that project nearly from the start.” “Oh, really.”

Tsubarov who would later go on to develop a most abominable pilot-les weapon, was licking the would of demotion and fell victim to a deep mistrust of his fellow man. Since the demotion, he had probably spent the ensuing ten years using the feelings of jealousy and revenge he harbored to design the mobile dolls. It could even be described as a terrible obsession. The bartender stood before them and asked if they wanted another drink. “Another one of these,” Aoi ordered before turning back to Odin. “Why did you become a free agent?” Or haven’t you gotten over *that* yet?” “Don’t.” “That’s it, isn’t it.” “That happened more than a decade ago.” “Breaking up with me, it was because of that.” “……” “But it wasn’t an OZ order, it was Septum from the Cosmo Arma—“ “Same difference,” Odin said, cutting her off. “I was a big fucking idiot and it was still me that changed the course of history for the worse.” Their fresh gin and tonic and martini arrived then. “Enjoy,” said the bartender before he retreated to the rear of the bar. “The client this time is someone from the colonies, right?” “Butt out, that’s business between me and them.”

“Isn’t that a little strange?” Aoi slammed down her entire martini. “The Marius Plant revolt and sending Artemis, the timing is too good.” Aoi was drunk. But the drink served to sharpen her [already] keen senses. “Of course, the whole point was to destroy Marius Hills Hall.” The revelation made her martini-eyes eyes flash. “Everybody knew Million would use that canon.” 
“The colony technicians have succeeded in smelting that new alloy,” Odin uttered as he looked at the foam dissipating in his gin tonic. “I couldn’t let that fall into OZ or the Alliance’s hands.” Aoi smiled, fascinated. “You aren’t saying that they are planning to make a gundanium mobile suit, are you?” Their conversation didn’t progress past that point. Aoi had spoken half joking but [in truth] the colony scientists really were attempting to construct a mobile suit—a Gundam—from the gundanium alloy. And it was ironic that it would be their son who would pilot one of them.

These three days

The Anti0Alliance soldiers had devoted themselves to maneuver drills. They had the Specials beat when it came to experience in lunar battle as well as with their formidable numbers: eighty Chimera and the Sagittarius. These, in Commander Artemis’ head thought up her battle formation for certain victory. Experience on the battle field was valuable, but it was not strictly necessary. The enemy was not (limited to) attacking with identical battle tactics. The enemy was not expected to fight with the same weapons. The Anti Alliance soldiers, however, assumed an air of superiority that bordered on blind faith. “Whatever they attack us with, it will be their pilots’ first time [in those suits] and they won’t be familiar with the battlefield! By comparison, we’re all experienced Chimera pilots! There’s no doubt we have the advantage!”

It seemed both the soldiers and the laborers shared this opinion. In the previous battle, they had gone from 100 down to 80 Chimera but in making the battle formation, a change from an eight-point to a six-point star was of negligible difference. Though they had unwavering faith in their twenty search and destroy Chimera piloted by ace pilots, the six commanders at the head of six units that contained ten mobile suits a piece were a little uneasy. Artemis believed that as long as they couldn’t wipe out that small measure of worry, it wouldn’t be possible to win. As their opponent was Treize Khushreanada leading the Specials, there was no mistaking that leadership was the most important point [for the Anti Alliance to consider]. Also, she assumed Treize would open hostilities with a surprise attack that played up the characteristic of the highly mobile Greif and that would lead to a breakdown in the command system whereby they would [have to ] move according to their own judgment which would then destroy their star formation. The danger of complete decimation grew higher. The Anti-Alliance, however, was a medley of soldiers and laborers and so their (consciousness) and purpose were dissimilar. It would be almost impossible to lead [them]. Artemis chose sic of the twenty search and destroy ace pilots and entrusted them with the command of six units. They, the search and destroy team, were primarily good at taking solitary action: so to lead a corps of nine others was no small burden they were expected to bear. Nonetheless, Artemis was adamant in her volition [to have them lead the corps]. At the very least, if they failed to gain a victory in the lunar battle, it was self evident that any further strategies wouldn’t [stand a chance].

Three days later, the OZ Specials arrived at the Silent Sea Cosmos Arma base where they joined with the Alliance but did not make any immediate moves.

There was no surprise attack. Artemis was relieved. If Treize was considering doing as General Million had and approaching the lunar battle as a full scale war, then she could counter with the same formation as before. To fight on the moon, being comfortable with the one-sixth gravity was a prerequisite. Thinking (backward) from that, it was quite understandable to choose full on war over a surprise attack. In that case, the six selected ace pilots would return to their original search and destroy corps and they could take

on the enemy with the protective double star formation. Artemis believed that selection was the most strategic means.

She was rather conscious of Treize. Simply put, she was *too* conscious of him. That made her feel close to [being in a] command potion from which victory could be gained merely at the effective employment soldiers who were practically laymen. At some point, it evolved into a rivalry. However, that was not truly the case. As she had done with General Million Artemis studied her opponent’s character and defensive tendencies before the battle as per usual. Familiarity with one’s enemy saves you one hundred battles. That was a saying she kept close to her heart. Meanwhile Treize shoed no interest in the opposing commander and likely didn’t even know Artemis’ name. And the difference between these two worthy of mention was [their confidence in the face of this query]: Do I trust my troops? Artemis was dead set in thinking of soldiers as pieces on a chess board or shogi board where as Treize respected each soldier as a person and had come to believe in entrusting everything to their volition to fight. At the time, Van Khushrenada was paying a visit to the medical facilities in the L-1 colony cluster. The official reason was to make a plan of action concerning the continuing spread of a new virus on the L-2 colony which was situated between L-1 and the moon. With the death rate over 40% and the infection rate similarly high, it was a very dangerous virus. Civilians called it the “colony cold.” If a vaccine wasn’t made and distributed immediately, it would become a crisis. Brilliant medical staff from the former Cinq kingdom had defected to the health care facilities on the L-1 colony. “Now, we can only depend upon them.” Van promised to provide funds and implored them to put a priority upon [making] the lifesaving vaccine. One doctor commented, “On the one hand, you Romefeller people are turning a profit on making murder weapons and on the other, you sued that money to save lives.” That certainly was a contradiction. “[Spare me the irony.] We want to help the people in space. Please help.” The medical staff accepted from a humanitarian point of view. They completed the vaccine and immediately distributed it to the L-2 colony cluster.

Incidentally, around this time a six-year old Duo Maxwell appeared on V08744 in the L-2 colony cluster and met a boy named Solo. Solo had contracted this new virus and Duo had stolen the vaccination from a medical facility. He gave it to Solo, but apparently he had been too late and Solo died not long after. Duo should have also been exposed to the virus, but he did not fall ill. After Solo’s death, Duo assumed the name ‘Duo’ with the intent that he and Solo would always be remembered. Van went to visit Angelina. This was the primary reason he had gone into space. He had wanted to see his beloved other’s face. “You’re looking well.” “Thanks to Cinq……” Angelina was now thirty four years old. Her (former) beauty had not faded but her voice was withered and it was as weak as it was sad to hear. “The air here seems to agree with me.” Further, with the lengthy hospitalization had robbed her legs of their strength and her ability to walk on her own or even to stand up. “Is that right?” “Lately, you haven’t been dropping in on your way home from school.” 
“Pardon?”


If you weren’t paying close attention, everything seemed normal; however, it seemed that Angelina was convinced that she was still at the Cinq National hospital. “Excuse me……” “The stars are so pretty……” Her eyes were vacant. Directly across from the window as another wing of the hospital and space stretched out beyond the transparent roof (there). “But night is so long……” Van wiped the corners of his eyes covertly so as not to draw Angelina’s attention. Van couldn’t help but shed a few tears at seeing his beloved mother like that. “How is Treize?” “Yes, now he is heading to the moon.” “Is that so……” 
Van thought of his brother. Treize would never cry at times like these. He had a strong will and determination. “He’s the hero who will unite Earth and space.” 
“That’s right.” 
“And that time will be as (elegant) as an (ice floe).” “Ha ha ha, no need to state the obvious.” 
Two days had passed since Treize had joined the Cosmo Arma; they made their first sortie from the Silent Sea base. The Specials soldiers had not yet gotten accustomed to the moon’s gravity. Nevertheless, Treize ordered them to attack. 
“We’ve acquired more than sufficient senses…… believe in our victory.” “Yes, sir!” The soldiers believe in their victory, or rather, they believed in Treize. They advanced calmly. For certain they weren’t in anything remotely resembling a formation. Treize’s why Greif stood at the head and the remaining troops followed behind. Being the flagship, Treize’s Greif had a blue crest affixed to its head. There after, white and blue would become his (symbolic) colors—they were somehow reminiscent of the color of ice floes. The next line of suits was the five Tragos II which were followed by three Chimera each. Behind the Chimera were five companies of five Greifs each all marching in file. They advanced exactly as an infantry of tanks form last century would and as slowly as if they possessed only as much mobility. When she saw that sight, Artemis’ first impression was Could our opponent be freighted of us? The real question was whether or not to destroy all forty five machines instantly using the Sagittarius’ giant beam canon. The one difficulty lie in the distance. [A shot from] the beam canon would travel in a straight line. [If the target was too far away] it would be difficult to hit even on level ground and near impossible on the moon with the acute [curvature (lit: slope)] of the ground. Unlike battle on Earth, [the moon] should be thought of as spherical rather than level. [The moon had] the surface area [equivalent to that of] Africa and Australia combined. Its diameter was one quarter that of Earth’s. That was how small the moon was. 
“Aha……” said Artemis as she understood Treize’s intent. She predicted his plan (of attack) was to use a slow advance to make her fire the canon then attack while she waited the lengthy requisite amount of time needed for the canon to recharge. “But I’m not going to bite.”

Treize made the forward-most line of Tragos halt. They were still in a position from which they could not see their opponents. “Well, it’s almost time to open hostilities,” he said comfortably. He had an elegant nuance that seemed on par with a man about to enjoy a cup of afternoon tea. Characteristically, at that time, not a single soldier among the Specials was nervous. Zechs spoke to the four men under his command about the Greif’s high performance. Lucretia admired the beauty of Earth as seen from the moon. Izumi expounded upon the brilliance of the attack plan Treize had drafted. Solac cheerily told [everyone] how to survive the battlefield. Elv was in a unit of four suits [note: he only got four suits to command because Treize's at the head] and under direct control of Treize. Elv ordered his three subordinates to consider it their job to protect Treize at all costs. Everyone was calm. They had already been defeated. With all the soldiers [operating under that assumption], they were freed from nerves and understood precisely what they ought to do. They showed not even the lead indication of hesitancy even as they stood before the heavy fire power of the enemy’s Chimeras and a Sagittarius. 
Both camps stood unmoving, facing each other over the long distance. Both sides’ formations were complete but neither showed any inclination to move. Suddenly, five space fighters came flying in. The last of the Cosmo Arma’s forces were putting in an appearance, too. However, those fighters cut low across the area stretching between the two camps and flew off without making any attack. It all occurred in a moment. The Anti Alliance Chimeras just stood at the ready and neatiehr intercepted for fired [at the enemy]. It was exactly as if their flight had drawn a centerline down a sports field. From the bridge of the Sagittarius, Artemis couldn’t understand the fighters’ incomprehensible crossing. 
“What was that for?” 
“Was that supposed to denote the opening of the battle?” an aide muttered that unlikelihood. “It couldn’t be that.” 
But Treize then ordered the Tragos to attack as if he had been waiting [for the fighters]. From that distance, they couldn’t possibly reach the enemy Chimera. “Finally!” Artemis gave an easy smile. Before, during the capture of Mogadishu, Treize’s battle plan was to first send Aries suits to start the confusion, then let the Tragos attack from mid-distance support. Now, there was nothing in the way of military gains but his actions seemed far too similar. “Even if it’s not effective, [his] actions have a touch of jinx and that has the benefit of elevating [their] fighting spirit.” Considering Treize’s noble birth, [his actions] could easily be taken as a chivalrous courtesy prior to the start of battle. The act of the fighters drawing a centerline could also be interpreted as [being like] the rules for a sport or duel. The Tragos second round of fire also failed completely to reach [their targets]. “Generic [?!] pointless firing,” the aide sneered. “Shall we return fire?” “Yes……” Treize should have already been aware of Artemis’ formation. “They know what we’re doing.” If they fired, [Treize] could read their moves. “That’s interesting,” she smiled with fascination. In chess, the pawns were the first to move. He was aiming to make a gamti (this is a standard move in chess. It’s a ove where in sacrificing a pawn, a profitable opening is gained.) “Forward Chimera units 01, 02, 03 move forward! Flyin squadrons Alpha and Bravo, fall in behind the third unit!”

The front half of the formation, forty chimera, moved out. The front line of five Tragos they were facing retreaded as one. “#Enemy front line retreating!” Announced an operator. “Ha! They’re afraid of us!” As the aide’s laugh filled her ears, Artemis could not conceal a touch of unease. Something’s off.

With that thought, the Sagittarius and remaining troops moved out in the usual way and their formation returned to its original shape. “What about firing the beam canon?” “We’re not at 20% destruction rate.” The enemy continued to retreat further and further. Aremis thought it was suspicious that the man known as Treize Khushrenada would be this passive in battle, “]Beam] projected effectiveness has dropped to 15%.” The Anti Alliance’s vanguard of Chimera until 01 and the following Alpha and Bravo units continued to advance. The Sagittarius (desperately) worked to get into the lead. 
“Enemy movement?” “The five Tragos are still retreating.” Artemis [let out a surprised puff of air,] “Did you say five Tragos?” They had overlooked something very big. “Where did Treize’s white suit go?” “…… we cannot confirm,” the aide said with a faint smile. “[He is nobility afterall] wouldn’t he have fled to the rear, behind all the troops.” “I don’t speak ‘stupid’.” Treize was not that much of a coward. “It’s a trap!” Thirty of the advancing Chimera had already reached the centerline. “All troops halt! All troops halt!” The explosion occurred just as the command was given. Artemis couldn’t immediately understand what happened. The explosives had occurred when the Chimera had stepped on landmines. “Land mines?” “When in the world did they…?”STARTED USING PINK/ORANGE HERE Under the circumstances, anyone would be restless.

It was then. Artemis realized. When the five fighters had cut between both camps, anti-MS land mines had been set. They were spray style or maybe space mines ((magnetically or sonically activated, [and both] of them were suitable for use on the moon)). Thick billows of smoke impeded their vision.

We [literally] walked right into this. Artemis bit her lip in vexation. However--

"All units, return to the Sagittarius! Spread out 30 degrees to the right! Their main fire power ought to come from the side."

Nevertheless, reading the only way next to calmness was only to be expected. As long as there was a mine field between them, the enemy could not attack them from the front. However, with the growing smoke screen, the danger increased. The wind-less moon ensured it would not quickly be blown away.

"Get the beam canon ready to fire on my order!"

If er chance the Greifs flew past the mine field and came in from the front, then she could use the beam canon to annihilate them in one fell swoop. "Flying squadron, maintain the inner formation!" And then she carefully gave orders to the bridge operator on the Sagittarius in no uncertain terms: "Take plenty of precaution with the enemy's movements! As soon as you notice a change on the radar or heat detectors, notify me immediately!" Artemis had until then been standing as she directed the troops when she heard this: "Damage report."

"20 Chimera unable to fight." There was no time to regroups. The six-point star using sixty Chimeras could only turn into a five-point star with fifty Chimeras. Despite the loss, they still had twice the firepower the enemy had.

"The problem is will they come from the right or from the left?" [That was] the direction from which their main fire power the Greifs would come attacking. In that situation, it was difficult to predict if the twenty five suits would divide into two arms. If the enemy attacked from both sides with some ten-odd suits [to each arm], each of them would be attacked.

"Left," she first predicted. As their revious battle had proven, the left side was easier to attack depending on the formation. "It might be the right." She didn't want to be outwitted. That was Artemis' sense. As a front line commander, it was difficult to decide on one of the choices presented. This was exactly one of those times. "Several heat readings in the front!" It seemed unthinkable. "Fire the beam canon!" Artemis ordered reflexively. The Sagittarius fired the huge bean canon. However, [the target turned out to be] shells the five Tragos had fired. THey had aimed at far off heaps of scrap and played their trump card far too early. The tiny hesitation lead to a huge mistake. While she was vacillating between left and right there had been a change from the front-- a direction from which she assumed nothing would happen-- and reacted with her gut instinct.

I failed.

Artemis who had both depth of preparation and astuteness, deemed herself a failure. This could not be called incompetence; however, a mistake is a mistake.

What's done is done.

She thought but took immediate action. This served as proof that she was no mediocre commander.

"Widen the perimeter of the heat detectors!" It was clear as day that the enemy would attack now that they had fired their canon. The problem was where would they come from. The right? The left? If the enemy mobile suits were standing on the ground, it would be difficult to detect them with radar. There was interference from the jagged craters. (However,) they would use the heat field detectors. Temperatures at the lunar surface exceeded 100 degrees celsius but were fairly uniform. Unlike the Earth, mobile suits were identified by the points of low temperature emitted from the cooled cockpits and places where there were several clusters of points of high fusion thermal energy. Artemis shuddered when she confirmed those [2] responses on the central monitor.

"How stupid..."

The enemy's reading showed just twenty machines at the opposing front line. There were probably five Tragos and fifteen Chimera. The smoke started clearing and the field of vision widened.

"Where are the Greifs?"

Thinking of all the mobility the Greif had and she could predict they would make a big detour. Yet however superior the Greif's mobility might be, it was inconceivable that they should leave the moon let alone the Sea of Storms.

"Above?!"

Overhead, the Greif would be outside the range of the [Artemis'] enemy detection [devices]. They could be air-born in space at speeds of greater than 2.4 Km/second. That was the maximum speed that could be attained on the moon. If they continued at that speed, they would be pulled into Earth's gravitational field. For all that the Greif was the newest, best mobile suit, once it was spaceborn, it was difficult to believe it possessed the (surprising) propulsion to return again to solid ground.

"The craters' shadows......" That was conceivable. There was an infinite number of craters on the moon. That 外緑部 could be called a wall tens of meters high and there was no reason it couldn't also be at the Sea of Storms. However, it was not possible to check each and every one for enemies. What's more, the battle would be over by the time the Sagittarius' huge canon recharged. It was time for Treize to come attack. This was the time that Treize and twenty five Greifs would come attacking-- it felt like an endless instant. Artemis' sixth sense kicked in.

"They're coming!" And her intuition did not miss the mark. Even so, she didn't simply give orders. "But where are they coming from?"

"[Enemy suits] have been detected, they are approaching at high speed from the rear."

"Behind us?!" She turned around without conscious thought. [Treize's move] had far and away exceeded Artemis' prediction. The Specials' Greif troops, as lead by Treize, had made a circuit of the moon, starting at their front lines and going all the way around to attack from right behind them. The concept of the battlefield had until [that moment] always been thought of [exclusively] in two dimensions. Air force strategies or submarine strategies thought in three dimensions, but the moon was a globe and it's area was fine and in the history of war tactics and strategies there had been not one example of the moon being treated as a three dimensional battlefield (lit: object).

"No......" Artemis was struck dumb by that daring [move]. However, she wasn't just any commander. Even as she was hit by her unpreparedness, she didn't stop moving.

"All troops, assemble with the zero-six unit," and at the same time, "Turn the canon 180 degrees!" Order after order came. The energy charge [for the canon] however was not done. "Timing this will decide (lit: separate) the fight......" A bad feeling ran through the back of Artemis' mind.

We might loose this one.

"All units, attack! Target: enemy Sagittarius!"

Treize issued the command. Twenty five Greifs concentrated their fire on the 06 Chimera unit that stood with their backs to them. The limit of firepower at that battlefield was at a ration of 25:10. In an instant, the 06 unit received an annihilating blow.

"Main battery, change angle to 120 degrees."

"Unit 06 is taking a beating!"

"130 seconds until the canon is recharged."

Artemis took in the operators' reports one after the other and in hear heart lamented.

More than two minutes to go......

She wanted time.

"Get the Sagittarius away from the front! Prepare to fire the canon as soon as it is fully charged!"

"Firing wile moving will cost us accuracy!"

"Forget about accuracy! Just fire it!" Under these (dumpling) conditions, that beam would hit the enemy regardless of its aim and cause massive damage. Then they would break through to return to the front, turn, and recoup their losses in the counter attack; that was the only counter attack she could think of.

"Just hold on [a little longer], boys." On Artemis' orders, twenty Chimera of the 04 and 05 units covering the Sagittarius back only stood at a ratio of 20:25 against the Specials' firepower. However, the Greifs were spewing fire with their midrange guns and before the units arrived, they sustained damage. Seconds later, the flying squadrons with the ace pilots-- [units] Charlie and Delta-- arrived. The twenty five Greifs were relatively unharmed but the ace pilots in the Chimeras were not easy to shoot down. The valiant Chimeras forced the Greifs to retreat little by little. However, Zechs' unit and Solak's unit took the lead (and supported them from there). Both units' Greifs were equipped with beam sabers for use in close-quarters combat. Characteristically, the Greif could respond in close-quarter or mobile battle but it lacked the (decision power to knock out the enemy). Against the Chimera which, despite its characteristic armor ideal for protection and the destructive power of its arms, had poor aim and was ill suited for battle at close range. Zechs decided the fight was here. He threw away his rifle which had run out of ammo, grabbed hold of the saber with both hands and holding it above his head, began to attack.

"Don't worry about your back! Just keep moving forward and attack!"

"Yes, sir!" Solak was excited by what he saw, "Hey, Zechs! Wait for us!"

"Come on!"

Hearing his men's (reliable) answer, he [Solak, who you will recall is one of the cadets leading a unit of MS] also threw aside his midrange gun ((never mind he still had ammunition left)) and took up both of his sabers to join in the battle. Considering the abilities of the Greif and Chimera, it would have been enormously effective to fight one-on-one. In that war of attrition, however, not one person on the field considered it. The situation was tense. Both sides were putting out everything they had.

"Go! Keep pushing them!"

"Don't retreat! This is the line between life and death!"

The effect of close-quarters battle with Zechs' unit was that the Charlie and Delta units were retreating. Here, a path opened up that lead straight to the Sagittarius.

"Come!"

It was Treize's suit that came flying in.

"Professor Treize!" Elv's unit of four (desperately came in) to fortify [their teacher's] flanks. Elv's suit became as a shield for Treize and served to protect him from fire from the Sagittarius. The other three followed suit and, likewise, served as defense [for Treize].

"Be on guard! We will protect Professor Treize!"

Elv's unit's earnestness was probably also loyalty to the man himself. Essentially, however, the Specials did not act with such emotion.

Move as you see fit! For the future soldiers!

Elv's unit understood what they had to do. What Treize was going to do; that their protection and support were integral in this mission.

"We the Specials shall endure!"

"Main canon (has been) charged!" The operator yelled. "(We ill) fire the canon!"

"If you could just hang on for ten more seconds," muttered Artemis.

In the face of the giant oncoming beam, Treize's Greif leveled its gun in a flash and opened fire without hesitation. It was an excellent shot; a direct hit on the giant beam canon.

"This is Treize Khushrenada. I am confirming the destruction of the enemy's main firepower." He heard the soldiers'' cheers. In a cool voice, Treize said, "My good students have done me a kindness."

With that single hit, the Sagittarius was silenced. The explosion of the beam canon [caused] the stored energy to connect with the main engine and shut it down. It would take [well over ten] minutes for the Sagittarius to get back online and retreat using [back up generator] power. The blackout from the power outage caused a panic on the bridge. Yet Artemis had a smile playing about her lips.

"Hmm, looks like we got a little carried away......" That embarrassed smile was true to her old self.

Treize's suit and Elv's unit backed away from the Sagittarius immediately. They had taken too much enemy fire and had to cool off their armor. As soon as they had vacated the spot, Lucretia and Izumi's units went up to the Sagittarius and took out one (main

battery) after another.

"We are protecting Earth's light."

"Lucretia, this fight-- we won, right?"

"Yes, but we must not be careless, Izumi." In no time, the battle turned into a melee where one could not tell friend from foe. Into the battlefield, with all its confusion, rushed the Alpha and Bravo flying squadrons. Following them were the 02 and 03 Chimera units. And that brought together the entire forces from both camps. The (confused battle) was even further purred on.

As the ALpha and Bravo units made to attack Treize and Elv's unit, they were confronted by Zechs's and Solak's units. Wen units 02 and 03 attacked Lucretia's and Izumi's units, Treize and Elv's units came to their aid, firing even as they maintained their distance [presumably to continue to allow their suits to cool off]. As the remains of units 04 and 05 went round to help, Zechs's and Solak's units spearheaded them with bullet fire. It was at that stage of the game that both Zechs and Solak alone skillfully wielded their beam sabers against the Alpha and Bravo units and overwhelmed them with difficult close-quarters combat. Supple defense strategies and the attack spreading out like waves. The Specials managed both at the same time. Or more precisely, they changed offense and defense (at the same time). That was just how fast they could deal with [battle]. Under those circumstances, despite the number of fighters being roughly the same, the Specials in their Greifs operated like a well-oiled machine and were [all the more] superior for it. The Anti Alliance Chimera units, from an organizational point of view, had the two abilities of the flying squadron skilled at trench warfare and the mobile units specializing in mid-range [operations], but those advantages were all locked up and in a state of being able to move nary a hand. They could neither take the winning hit nor give it. (Before they realized it) fatigue and (sighs of defeat) were making the Chimera units' movements sluggish. Elsewhere, the Sagittarius connected to a reserve power source; the (submotor) started and once again managed to start its retreat.

There came a moment when her [probably Artemis, but not 100% sure ] concentration was broken. To promptly rush in attacking was battlefield theory. Naturally, it had been Treize's side that had done just that. The silent pressure of the twenty five Greifs made the remaining thirty Chimeras retreat.

The point when the ever retreating Sagittarius reached the field of land mines was when the Anti Alliance was decidedly defeated. With a big explosion, the land mines blew up and an (approach?) was made. Before them were the Cosmo Arma's five Tragos and fifteen Chimera standing at attention and behind them were the twenty five Greifs; they were sandwiched between the enemy.

"Well done..... a complete defeat." And with self-depreciations, she accepted Treize Khushreanada's advice to surrender.

The war was over.

[End of part 1] Frozen Teardrop, Chapter 3, part 2

For the Anti-Alliance there could be no comparison to their prevous battle: why did they lose by such a big difference? The first [reason] was thought to be Commander Artemis' consciousness. In her overestimation of Treize, her cause for anxiety increased and one thing lead to another before the battle and she changed the position of the leaders leading the units. Then, just before they started, she changed it back. That kind of experimentation weakened the soldiers motivation and lead to [a kind of] numbness to the functionality of the final formation. More over, the beam canon that was supposed to provide them with the winning blow was

[wasted] in the first stages of the fight. Repeating General Million Liddle-hart's folly caused mental factors. Secondly, [her loss might be put down to] the difference in ability between the Chimera and Greif. The New Chimera ((Leo IV)) lad more than sufficient speed and attack power for lunar battle. In comparing the space battle Leo II ((Chimera))'s abilities, there was no doubt [the new Chimera was better]. However, the pilots had relied too much upon the better quality of their suits. As a result, the Anti Alliance had something like blind faith in the ethos that he who had the most experience would [always] be the victor. In their overconfidence, they afforded Treize an opportunity to take advantage [of them?]. At midrange, the Greif's ammo there was an unusually high hit rate for ones that lacked decisive power. Whereas the Chimera had not fully demonstrated its mobility or destructive power, the Greifs may as well have been considered unharmed [by enemy fire] nor did they fall into a state of weakened fighting ability. Third, Treize's plan to circuit the moon was clever (without attaching over importance to his idea). The factors mentioned above alone are thought to be why Treize won. However, for the new OZ Specials' soldiers, that plan was unmistakably fodder for their excessive peace of mind. It was only natural that the soldiers held Treize in special regard as the commander who lead them to victory. It is no exaggeration to say that the young Treize Khushreanada's charismatic existence in OZ was decided after this (most recent) battle.

Treize left the post war clean up to the Cosmo Arma and made a triumphant return to the L-1 colony cluster spaceport. Van was the one to go and greet him. The second reason he had gone to space was to be the very first to see his esteemed brother.

"That was a perfect victory."

"We didn't win, Van Khushrenada," Treize said quietly with the face of a military man.

"Ah, yes......"

With the destruction of the Marius Plant, Van himself had called the war a loss. This battle had been to the very last one for the sake of the future soldiers-- nothing more and nothing less.

"Be that as i may, I'm happy that you returned unharmed."

"What is unharmed?... (lit: There is no reason I am unharmed)." I regret that (brilliant) lives were lost."

"I had heard that there were no casualties among our OZ soldiers......"

[Treize] thought of General Million Liddle-hart. But he had been released from being a prisoner of war and had completely lost his nerve (lit: confidence) and would spend the rest of his life as an ex-serviceman. Treize pressed his eyelids and said, "Among the enemies I meant."

"But that's......"

"I've dirtied my students' hand with blood...... think how they must feel."

He had done something inexcusable; he continued speaking such deeply sorrowful words.

When Treize was alone with Van, he returned to his usual self.

"Did you visit Mother?"

"Yes... I think I'll go again today."

"Well, let's go together."

"Treize, Mother is....." He wanted to tell him that she had taken a turn for the worse.

Treize, however, asked, "How is Hundert?"

"Why would I go to see him? That asshole could do us all a favor by hurrying up and dying already."

"But he's your father. If you don't see him while you can, you'll regret it later."

Van realized that Treize had never met his real father, Ein Yu, and so he ended his verbal abuse [of Hundert].

"Let's pay him a visit, too."

"If you insist."

In the medical section, Hundert greeted his two callers with a smile, "I've heard a lot about you boys! I'm so proud! There could no higher honor for the house of Khushrenada, Duke Dermail has been exceedingly pleased!" Hundert was hale and happy. It was unbecoming of one in a hospital. That was all Van could discern.

"It's a great honor for Treize to have you speak so [highly of him]," said Van with apparent ernest. "We are merely doing what needs to be done for the Earth. It has no bearing on the Khushrenada family or the Romefeller Foundation."

"Of course, that was also what I was congratulating you on."

"Well, we must be going."

"Why don't you stay and talk for a while? We haven't seen each other in ages."

"No, we have work to do."

The pair of [brothers] made a hasty departure.

On the way to Angelina's room, Treize spoke to Van.

"Don't over do it, Van."

"I'm not."

"You don't have to take care of me."

"I'm doing no such thing," Van was in an unusually bad mood.

That man is just fine and dandy but Mother is in so much worse shape. Thought Van but he did not voice it. He changed the subject. "Treize, I've received intelligence that colonial scientists have developed a mobile suit made of gundanium."

"Oh."

"They intend to resis to the bitter end."

"There's nothing we an do to stop them. There's no mistake that we Earth people have hunted them down."

"We've sent an agent to investigate, but if we could just get the blueprints that would be insurmountable proof we could use to denounce them."

"More importantly, we'd best hurry up on the working condition reformation for lunar factories."

"I'm already working on that. There are lviing quarters especially for the laborers on L-1 and L-1 and we have arranged two shuttles a day to transport them to the factory...... of course we've introduced [shifts scheduled only every other day]."

"You've done well."

"That will make the maintenance costs of the lunar factor more expensive. We'll have to squeeze out more military funds from each country."

"Van Khushrenada, for what do you supposed the Alliance is maintaining an army?"

"I just told you: they're making gundanium mobile suits."

"......" Treize made no reply. Why did Van move this arms race forward with such powerful intent? He [Van] seemed to understand his brother's silence.

"Treize, we must be strong. We must be strong and continue to win." If they did not, a tragedy like that of Heero Yuy and the Cinq kingdom would befall them. Sad existences like that of their poor mother must never again come to pass. Space and Earth must be united. For that to happen, military power was necessary. There was no other mans of obtaining everlasting peace. Van's psychology consistently involved such contradictions. That was for the Romefeller Foundation and, perhaps, for his mother who seemed to speak for the colonies (lit: space) volition. By developing new weapons and [gaining control[ of significant financial means, he could assist the counter measures being taken against the growing viral epidemic in the colonies gratis. He would help the laborers with their weak position [get better treatment] but he also made the cunning governments [provide a better] military budget.

When they arrived at Angelina's room, Van shouted:

"What are you doing?!"

It was an extremely ordinary scene for a hospital. Angelina sat nude from the waiste up; a young male nurse was merely sponge bathing her chest. Thirteen-year-old Van, however, would not stand for it.

"Wait!" Treize made to stop [his brother, but Van had closed his hand into a fist and punched the man.

"Wh- What?!"

"I should be asking you that, what are you doing to my mother?!"

"Calm down, Van!" Treize also spoke in anger. "I'm sorry. I'll explain things to my brother (later)," and he bowed deeply to the young nurse. "There is no excuse for his behavior." He apologized courteously and from his heart. AFter the nurse left, Van vented his anger.

"There was no reason for you to apologize [lit: lower your head]. That creep was leering as he [rubbed his hands all over our mother] (lit: touched our mother)." The leer was probably more just a smile meant to make the patient relax.

"Even if that was the case, there was no need to resort to fisticuffs."

"But!" Big tears dripped onto the floor. This was the first and last time Van, who normally was courteous and did not reveal emotions showed such extreme anger. "Looking at Mother with such lasciviousness..." his voice shook so much, he couldn't say anything more. He was extremely vexed. How much could a son love his mother? As far as Van was concerned, there is no question that he abhorred even her husband Hundert having feelings of a sexual nature for his beautiful mother Angelina.

"That man is very kind," Angelina said with her eyes vacant.

"Mother......" Van looked up with tears still in his eyes. As she fixed her gown (lit: boobs!), she spoke resolutely, "Welcome, Treize." Her voice. so unlike it had been, was cool and clear.

"Yes, mother."

"Take control of the Earth and of space. You were born (with the lineage) to do so."

"......" Treize didn't say anything nor did he intend to. There was no mistaking Van's happiness at their mother's apparent return to her old self.

"Of course, mother! (Big brother) Treize is just the hero to pu an end to war starting now."

Angelina, however, had eyes only for Treize; she gave no indication she had heard Van.

"You are connected to the vision [that is to say, the ideals] of Heero Yuy and Ein."

Treize though of his poor younger brother, "Mother, please look at Van- not at me...... he loves you more than anyone else."

"...... van?" The sparkle suddenly left Angelina's eyes, they were once again empty. How did Van feel then? There was no question that he loved their mother more than Treize did. Yet for as long as he could remember, no kind of sympathy was permitted. He knew he was not loved yet he continued to love [her]. ALl he could do was contrive to love her. This is all speculation but it must have been painful.

To those in charge of the facilities, Van conveyed his with to have his mother's care givers be limited to female staff only. WHen asked [we was told that] essentially female staff were [already] supposed to be [taking care of her], but now that the lunar war was over, [they couldn't guarantee Angelina female-only nurses because of] staff shortages due to providing care for the wounded.

"I do not want to hear excuses. The fact remains that my mother has suffered [a great insult] (lit: dishonorable misfortune)."

In his heart of hearts, the person in charge mutter [to himself]:

Quit fucking around you stupid brat.

It was easy for a thirteen-year-old in a position of authority to make enemies.

"Ah, also, this is the solatium [er, this is a fancy word for what basically seems like severance pay/bonus for quitting] for the man I hit. He could probably play around for a decade on that, I think." Van held out a credit key. "Please see to it that he resigns his post."

"What crazy kind of...?"

"If you don't agree, I can arrange a solatium for you also."

Actually, he looked at him with hateful eyes.

"Oh, so this is retirement money...... shall I pass it on?" The man reluctantly obeyed. In light of his mother's situation, longing and envy of his older brother, loathing of his father, hatred of the Foundation and Alliance, and contempt for the colonies [and the feelings associated with all those things] probably lead Van to seek that particular form of childish "light revenge". But for that [revenge] he would end up paying a hefty price.

At the L-1 colony space port, two secret agents were on the job. They had both been assigned separate missions by different organizations. One of the agents was Odin Lowe who was being employed by the Barton Foundation of the Colonies. The other agent was a woman from OZ named Aoi Clark who had been requested by Van of the Romefeller Foundation. Odin was tasked with rescuing Artemis' captured Anti Alliance soldiers and freeing them. Aoi had been instructed to infiltrate an underground organization and obtain the plans for the "Gundam" mobile suit made of gundanium alloy. And there was someone else operating on a completeyl difference vector (lit: says "vector"). That was the head engineer who successfully developed the mass production of the Leos: Seis Clark. He was accompanying his six year old step son who would later be cone named "Heero Yuy." The two of them were simply walking down a dome-shaped hall at the spaceport. There were no other people around.

"Mr. Clark, where are we going?"

"Seis sighed deeply and came to a stop. "You still won't call me dad?"

"no."

"Why not?"

"Because you belong to mom, not to me......"

"Well, I may be your stepfather, but I'm no sure I like being treated like a thing."

"But Mr. Clark, you have something really good......." He puffed up his little face in a display of his displeasure, "I'm the only one who doesn't have anything."

"Me... I have something good...?"

"Yes..."

"Would you tell me just what that is?"

"Leo."

Seis sobbed, his knees suddenly buckled and he fell down in tears right there [in the hall].

"Do you have any idea what it means to hear [someone] say that?" He said and tightly, tightly hugged his stepson. "Thank you... you're such a good boy... thank you." His endless flow of tears wetted the child's shoulder. The little boy didn't understand the meaning of Seis' tears.

MC-0022 NEXT WINTER

I suddenly lifted my face. Master Chang touched the keyboard and some kind of image appeared on the big holographic monitor. I removed the virtual visor and, upon closer inspection, saw that i was a topographical map of Mars.

"--is how the situation stands at present"

Heero Yuy listened without speaking [how does she KNOW he wasn't speaking when she JUST took off the visors?!?!]. It seems they started explaining Operation Mythos.

"However, the problem is" he touched the keyboard again and the image changed, "is whether you can kill this woman?" On the large holomonitor, several images of a beautiful, young woman appeared.

Pictures of her smiling. Pictures of her glaring. Pictures of her clowning around with animals. Pictures of her looking gallant [or "manly" if you like!]. Pictures of her looking elegant.

There were not, however, pictures of her looking sad.

"This--" Heero asked in his unchangingly cold voice, "Is Dorlian? Or Peacecraft?"

Duo, who was getting annoyed, showed, "Duh! It's Peacecraft! Relena Peacecraft!"

Yes......

The young woman's face being projected onto the honomonitor was our-- the Preventers-- greatest enemy: Relena Peacecraft. Heero Yuy asked Father Maxwell, who was standing to his side, "Is this a mission?"

Father answered with unusual earnestness; quietly and almost like a mutter he said, "... it's a mission." That was the only time I felt the Father was biting out the words as if they were somehow painful [to say]. When Heero heard that answer, he let out a single breath like a sigh and spoke in his cold voice.

"Mission accepted." He turned to face my superior and me and in a low tone, spoke his resolve:

"I will kill Relena Peacecraft."

To Be Continued... Frozen Teardrop, Chapter 4, part 1 Gundam Wing Frozen Teardrop

Treize File 4

How often do you suppose Heero Yuy used the words "mission accepted"? Honestly, I couldn't grasp ho weighty (list: sad and heavy) the phrase was. The Gundam pilots had a strong image of [being fighters who: didn't take orders but fought of their own will; they didn't belong to any (so-called) organizations. Yet they chose to use worlds like "duty" and "operation." There probably wasn't supposed to be a single rantionally minded person among terrorists. Maybe they had some kind of madness, or they did it just because it was an order, or within the majority of terrorists there existed damning 'evil' because if there wasn't something to their perception of sin, they couldn't carry out their missions. [more literally: Maybe there was some kind of madness or maybe it was just because it was an order or perhaps it's due to the damaging "evil" that exists in the vast majority [of people]... maybe that's why if there wasn't a "shift in the consciousness of sin" action couldn't be taken.] That could be understood plainly without (insisting upon) carrying out humanitarian faith or logic of superhuman justice. It's rather different from an "escape from sin" mindset. If I had to choose, I'd say it's closer to "penance for sinning." Upon realizing the weakness of your own heart, it would be necessary to be prepared to overcome [that weakness]. You didn't have to be right here right now to understand how rational Heero Yuy was. When he said "I will never kill again," that he should assign himself the murder of Relena Peacecraft as a "mission" was a completely (non?!)contradictory action. Or maybe that very contradiction speaks most vividly about the depth of his consideration of [his] humanity and the pain [of his grieved heart. That was the extent to which he had killed his own emotion (lit: heart). Consequently, those who demand that [strength of humanity] are undoubtedly us [i.e. the Preventers / mankind in general]. I welcomed the last stage of those Treize Khushrenada files. Since coming to understand this person, being able to (physically) experience (those events from multiple points of view) could not have been more valuable to me. I would have to thank Father Maxwell for bringing it to me. I realized that for Treize Khushrenada and the Heero Yuy who was here with us that (their action principle / their theory) had similar (points of departure [i.e. beginnings?]). Looking at it from a wider perspective, most of the legendary brave (men) used to violently shake up the AC era plunged into the vicissitudes of fate from this time. [We] turned (lit: made) those men, with their pure and innocent hearts ,into the madness of the battlefield.

AC-186 AUTUMN

In the L-1 colony cluster, there was a prison under the jurisdiction of the Cosmo Arma's Peace Preservation Police. It was that place in which, 15 years previous, Ein Yuy had been detained for unlawful entry and treasonous acts. Currently, Artemis Sedicci and some few dozen Anti Alliance soldiers were imprisoned for similar crimes. The Barton Foundation had requested Odin Lowe to rescue Artemis and he was nearly finished with that mission. The quality of his skill were certainly the artisan skills. Odin disguised himself as a prison guard and infiltrated the prison and after successfully setting bombs all over the place, he cut the main power. A power outage-- especially in space-- was directly connected to death. Previously, at the lunar battle, the Sagittarius had fallen into that situation and just like that time, the [detention block] erupted in a panic. Following on the heels of that panic the bombs went off. Nearly everyone imagined it was a large scale attack by the Anti Alliance side. However, in reality, it was Odin Lowe acting alone and the (presumed) army did not exist. Just before [all that] a single shuttle had approached the spaceport, but the space traffic controller (judged) it as a civilian ship that was supposed to pass by L-1. Immediately after the blackout, the emergency generators went online to restore power, but there was not a single sign of the shuttle anywhere in the vicinity. Normally, that shuttle would have to have been accounted for. The space traffic controller, however, felt assured that there were no threats and let the incident slide. That shuttle was, in fact, arranged for by Odin to use as an escape shuttle. Flying (lit: operating) the shuttle was Quinze who was both part of the Anti Alliance Resistance and a revolutionary fighter from the colonies themselves. He landed the shuttle below the prison block where he and his shuttle wouldn't appear on enemy radars. By the time the bombs had gone off, Artemis and several other detainees had already boarded the shuttle. The touchy part was the timing of the getaway. Odin had set a large bomb at the top of the prison block. When it went off, there would be another power outage.

"Now, Quinze!" Odin shouted.

"Roger..."

The civilain shuttle left the prison block. Odin remained behind (in the prison block) and when the residual head faded, he made his escaote.

Meanwhile...

The oversize transport ship being run by Cadets Zechs Merquise and Elv Honegger left the spaceport. 25 Greifs were to be stationed at the soon-to-be-completed flying fortress "Bulge." Honestly, there was no need for the two ace pilots such as those men to be given [such a menial task as] shipping. However, it was one of the basic principles (lit: policies) of Treize's educating:

For those who cannot protect their own machines, they have no right to pilot one (or have it protected for them)

Meaning each pilot was responsible for his own suit's preparation, inspection, transport and so on.This time was a special, one-time only situation for the two of them. Zechs and Elv had strongly desired to [make the delivery]. Once the Greifs were at the fortress, they would then fall under the jurisdiction (lit: registration) of the Cosmo Arma and the cadets of the Specials would have to procure different mobile suits. For Zechs and Elv, they had a deep regard for the Greifs. They had made their request to Treize out of a desire to make the final farewell special. Thinking back on their recently finished heroic battle was all they could do to bear the boringess of navigating space.

"That was a really close call," Elv had, at the time of the battle, charge alone before Treize to protect him. "If professor Treize had been hit, we probably wouldn't be doing this now." Even at Lake Victoria, Zechs and Elv had not been in the same room at the same time without anyone else present (lit: left alone together. BUT that has overtones of *something* that are not present in the raw text). Although they were aware of each other, they only ever exchanged greetings and not much more. In the isolation of space, this was the first time the pair of them had exchanged words without another person present. And there was both a particular meaning and a

touch of destiny. Or maybe it was intentional.

"If you had not protected Treize then, I believe I would have killed you," Zechs said coldly.

"Same here, Zechs. You're an asshole (lit: enemy), just so you know [I chose "asshole" because they are military brats and starting a pissing contest, how better to get a rile out of someone?]"

"When did you find out?"

"The attack at Mogadishu."

"Treize also knows what I really am."

"You're bad at hiding it." Elv looked Zechs in the eye and continued speaking, "Those blue eyes, they're characteristic of Cinq royalty...... that and your bold, daring fighting style speaks of the Peacecraft bloodline."

Zechs gave a masochistic smile, "My grandmother's blood perhaps...... seems as though she used to be called the 'Lighting Queen'."

"My dad hated the Cinq Kingdom from the bottom of his heart, he was [absolutely] disgusted by it."

"Brigadier General Daigo Honegger...... have you already reported to your father?"

"Are you joking? I would never sell out a war buddy." Elv kept looking at him sharply. "That and before we were soldiers, we were both Treizes students......"

"But I'll still get my revenge (lit: haven't thrown away feelings of revenge)."

"Do what you want. What your father did was unforgivable. But I've never felt the need to apologize to you."

"Like father like son (lit: chain of hatred)." The two young cadets both sighed deeply at the same time.

"When will it all end (lit: when will the day when it is all over come)?"

"I'm more concerned about when you'll take [back] the Peacecraft name to do that."

"Meaning?"

"The Peacecraft family makes peace...... won't they do anything at all in order to stop war?"

"For example?"

"For the sake of breaking the chain, they could sotp time."

"Hn...... that is one day that will probably never come." The two of them could not yet see the space fortress Bulge.

It had been Seis Clark-- the engineer entrusted with manufacturing the whole of OZ's weaponry-- who had done the initial basic design of the space fortress Bulge. In AC 175, however, MS production switched from the Tall Geese to the mass produced Leos and when Seis was made director of that whole program, he reluctantly handed the reigns of the Bulge development over to his replacement. And to add insult to injury (lit: another unwilling thing), the mobile suits designated to be/provide the Bulge's main fire power were suits that ignored his design ideas.

In a hotel room at the spaceport, Seis was raging at his wife and son.

"Tell me what the merits were of that lunar war!" From their standpoint, neither Aoi nor her young son could fin any words for Seis. "I made the Leo! I made the Bulge!" Bu just imagining what he must have been feeling, they understood his uncontrollable wrath so much it hurt.

"But isn't the Greif similar to what you made?"

"No! Absolutely not! There's no way I'd ever make such an expensive thing! I disapprove! I completely disapprove!"

"But......"

"Shut up!"

When she tried to speak, her words just made Seis all the more angry and the more he spoke, the more he berated himself.

"Mr. Clark......" the little boy was holding a toy Leo in his hand. WHen Seis sw it, he lost his temper [completely].

"Ch!" He took the toy from the small fist and threw it against the wall. "Don't let the kid have that! Are you trying to make a fool of me?!"

"Don't get upset over that toy."

"I didn't make toys!"

The little boy hunched down and collected the broken fragments [of the toy:. The toy probably wasn't the only thing that was broken.

"......"

"Hn. 'Mr. Clark'! Is that how much you refuse to see me as your father?"

"......" he didn't say anything. He was gathering the toy pieces as best he could.

"That's it. Get out, both of you!"

"Honey....."

"You should go to your real father! He's still alive, isn't he?"

"Please calm down, [don't talk like that] in front of [The Child] (lit: Please calm down, there's a child here)."

"Excuse me, but that isn't my child [note: "my child" is in Japanese special quotes, I'm guessing that's what English might use italics for for emphasis]." That was the last he vented, then strode away into the next room. [Aoi's] son didn't cry.

"Is it broken?"

"No, it's okay......"

"I'll get you another one."

"I don't need it." He had collected all the broken pieces.

This is the only thing that's mine.

Without speaking of what was in his heart, he asked about his mother, "Mother, do you love that man?"

"Of course I do, as much as you do [note could be "as much as I love you"]," she said with her ear pressed to the closed door of the room into which Seis had run. Despite his youth, even he knew she had said one thing and done another.

"......"

Later, the pitiable boy came across an unfamiliar little girl.

"Are you lost? [note: she says "Oniichan" which is literally "big brother" but commonly used to address someone you don't know who is not old enough to be your father's age (in which case you might say "ojisan" which is literally "uncle") or your grandfather's age (in which case you might say "ojiisan" which is literally "grandfather".)]," she asked him.

Are you lost?

He was asked [that] repeatedly and [now] he had to answer.

"I......" he spoke slightly of his lot as a child who had never been loved by anyone, "... have been lost since the day I was born."

Seis opened a long distance line to the Barton Foundation on the L-3 colony cluster. That was the range limit for real-time conversation at the time.

"Please put Mr. Dekim on the line." He called for the Barton Foundation representative. The businessman that appeared on the monitor had a smile on his insolently polite face.

"Head Engineer Seis, thanks to you, the operation was a success."

"That's good," Seis continued to speak in monotones. "Then I think it's about time for my wish to come to fruition."

"Ask for anything."

"I did a little work on that shuttle."

"I've received a report from Quinze."

"A large OZ transport is headed to the Bulge."

"Yes."

"[Shoot it] out of the sky!"

Dekim relayed the orders to Quinze.

"Steal those Greifs before they reach the Bulge." [Dekim's] accomplice Seis' wish had just taken on a different shape.

"A civilian shuttle approached the large transport ship. Zechs and Elv were on from the rear.

"Zechs, an S.O.S"

"Is it engine trouble?"

"No, a space-jacking." On the monitor was Artemis' grinning face.

"This is Artemis Sedici." Both of them looked at her with horror. "How have you boys been?" She elegantly held a gun to the back of Quinze's head, smiling. "You already know what we want, yes? Will you abandon this poor pilot?"

"Ridiculous......" True, that was just (a scene from) the resistance's penny theatre, yet Zechs and Elv, a just and moral men, could not ignore the situation (lit: leave it as it was). Artemis also predicted they would not act impetuously. The two men realized they had been had when the civilian shuttle had drawn quite near the transport and from the lower hangar, Leo III "Chimeras" came out with their bazookas [aimed at the transport]. That had been Seis Clark's doing. At the time, the average transport was not equipped with a self destruct [system:. It was the same for mobile suits.

"Hm...... the vicious circle continues (lit: chain of hate)," Zechs said with a self depreciating sneer. Elv muttered philosophically, "As long as man lives, he will hate......"

"Do you want to resist?"

"Knock it off. You're supposed to have ambition...... I won't let you throw your life away like that."

"But......" A scheming smile played on Elv's lips, [and it] pressed Zechs' buttons.

The twenty-five Greifs that were on the large transport abruptly disappeared along with the two cadets Zechs Merquise and Elv Honegger. They never made it to the space fortress Bulge. On the Alliance's public record, it was recorded that these two died. Ultimately--. [literally, this is a whole phrase that translates wonkily into this: Speaking from a final conclusion--] The cadets were just

as lost as the twenty five newest, best mobile suits. Principle members of the anti-alliance, Artemis and her men, were lost. On top of that, the Lunar Marius Plant had been obliterated. Hence, considering these three points the First Lunar War: Ocean of Storms War was an unmitigated loss for the unted Earth Sphere Alliance. To prove [that it was such a disaster], Van Khushrenada decided it was a disgrace to his brother's sterling record and chose to strike it from his profile (lit: war history). In fact, it wouldn't be until two years later in AC 188 that Treize [and the Specials] would again appear in the records. Of all the battles fought in space, history shows the Cosmo Arma as being (entirely) [undefeated]. To this end, Major Septum cheerfully cooperated in falsifying records and the following month he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander, then Colonel the following year and each year after that his titles (promotions) continued to rise. You could say he was unusually successful in life, but following the collapse of General Liddle-hart's system, most of the great deeds were up for grabs (lit: merely snatched up). Some called Septum [Mr.] Incompetent, but he was a genius at rewriting history. Here, too, he showed the same brilliance in his work performance. But Van Khushrenada, of course, looked to Treize's judgement.

"Shall the Cosmo Arma clean up after the Marius Plant defeat? They seem to have pride enough for that."

"I have no objections, Van Khushrenada. But first, have you received permission from the honorable General Catalonia?"

"You mean the missing cadets?"

"Zechs and Elv."

"No [I haven't received permission], you needn't take it to heart so."

"I can't do that. They're both my students. I must find them [at any cost] (more lit: even if it costs me my life)."

"If you say so, shall I contact uncle Chilia?" Van reluctantly agreed and made a [serious] entreaty, "Please make sure to return by the opening ceremony for the Bulge. And please...... don't work yourself too hard...... If something were to happen (to you), it would break Mother's heart."

"Alright, Van......"

The following day, Treize formed a special investigative force consisting of the cream of the crop from his students and lead them on a search for Zechs and Elv.

AC-196 OCTOBER 26

When the United Earth Sphere alliance was inaugurated in AC 133, its purpose was to avoid disputes among the nations of Earth. However, the countries of Asia, the Middle East, South America, and Africa had, in preparation for the Norther Hemisphere and in particular Europe and America, to take the initiative, refused to support the Alliance. As a result, the disputes worsened and people hoped for peace escaped the fighting by fleeing to the colonies.

Looking at this from a different angle, during the AC period, the vast majority of people so hoped for peace that it lead to an antinomy of war [trying to abstain from it]. However, in hindsight, in the history of man maintaining the social order of "peace" has not been universally [accepted: but rather a man-made [ideal: borne from difficult circumstances and forced upon ourselves. [It is] rather like a demandingly difficult tightly rope walk and it is an extremely fragile thing that could collapse at the slightest opposition or fissure.

You could say it rather closely resembled the "fragile, man-made" colonies.

The first thing Heero Yuy did was take the colonies' wish for "demilitarized pacifism" and begin calling it "war-wearism," which some thing was likely [more in the spirit of] (lit: an attitude of) "do whatever it takes to stay out of war." No matter how much one desires to live in a peacefully stable world, as long as (these kinds of) "fear," "profit," and "honor" exist, one cannot escape the [possibility] of war befalling his country. For the sake of avoiding that, it is necessary to be more scrupulously prepared, to have strong willed leaders among us (lit: not lacking in existence), strength of numbers of soldiers and an inexhaustible (lit: indispensable) supply of arms, [near limitless (lit: vast)] resources and vast funding cannot be forgotten. The Bulge construction, a moveable fortress that existed at the edge of the areas of the L-1 and L-2 colonies (which bookended the moon), resulted in [being] a large [financial burden] (lit: debt) to the borne by the citizen of space. "Bulge" meant protuberant or swollen. From the Earth it could be "protruding fortress," but from space it could me an "unnecessary burden;" which it is [truly] meant to be is unclear. Since the Cosmo Arma commenced construction in AC 174, to its completion twenty six years later if fall AC 186, the citizens of the colonies footed the bill entirely. Basically this ruined the colonies finances and hid the funds (lit: budget) wasted on military projects. However, in doing so [making colonists' foot the bill, that is], it cannot be refuted that it served only to make the colonists embrace something like a deepseated abhorrence of the United Earth Sphere Alliance. L-2 colony VO8744 especially took heavy financial damage; suffered from hunger and poverty; and like the soon-to-arrive Duo Maxwell,m any youths-- that is to say soldiers-- resulted in an increase in army numbers.

Seis Clark had been invited to the opening celebration being held in honor of the completion of the Bulge; he probably still had something left in his heart of hearts. Not as a guest of honor of course, but as one of the affiliates who rendered [the project] a distinguishing service. Other leading figures from colonies close [as in friendly] to the Alliance also participated in much the same capacity. Seis did not change [clothes] but remained in the anteroom usually used by regular officers; he showed no signs of heading to the ceremony. Aoi talked as she put on her full dress uniform [or dress or whatever], "You really won't go to the ceremony?"

"Don't worry about me......" He was then in a thoroughly depressed state.

"Alright...... let's go." Aoi took her son's hand, he was wearing an uncomfortable (lit: tight) three piece suit, and left for the ceremony.

It was as she was standing before the doors to the reception room when Aoi noticed her son was holding the Leo he had taped back together all by himself.

"You should have left that back in the room."

"It's standing in for Mr. Clark."

A sad smile touched her face when she heard that. "Okay, then, this can be my stand in," she said and handed him a blue origami crane. "I don't really want to go either. I'll be waiting here."

"Okay......"

She knew her husband Seis was sleeping with the enemy. And she well knew that she was in n o position to criticize. It was rather more like she sympathized [with him:. Aoi had already finished the mission (lit: request) Van had given her, she just hadn't yet passed him the information. She hesitated whenever she saw her son with his ubiquitous Leo toy.

Compared to me, that child

She [felt] crushed beneath the weight of her son's laudability Time passed leaving her more or less unable to hand [him] over [NOTE: she couldn't give him up for the sake of continuing to be a spy]. As an OZ agent, it was a shortcoming.

This is the last time [atlernatively: I'll quit when this is done].

She had heard that Van Khushrenada was in the reception room on the fortress.

I was probably the one to run him (lit: that person) down. I have to help Seis [through] his suffering. This is my mission starting now.

She made up her mind to [give up spying] and thought she, Seis and her son could all start a normal (lit: ordinary) life together. Inside the blue origami crane that she had given her son was a microchip containing a copy of the data for the plans to make a Gundanium ZERO mobile suit.

There were two things that stood out about Seis's career as an engineer. There was the Bulge space fortress that stood strong for some ten years; and there was the twenty plus years of being the man who made Leos with only minor changes and probably ought to have been praised for it more often. It is obvious that the genius who hit upon the (unusual) mad specs that brought us the Tall Geese and Gundam should have their achievement applauded; (there is no mistaking) that those super-machines which stood the test of time and the completion of that technology was undoubtedly meritous. But his evaluation ends at the (single/sole) engineer level, not as one who stands the test of time as an important person historically speaking. Still, it is believed that is [exactly] the praise that Seis desired. Time, however, looking him over. It was later engineers who made a more accurate assessment of Seis' technological skill and understood the height of his good deeds. The intelligentsia who think of the origins of political economics couldn't help but ignore [Seis' accomplishments on account of their being done in such a specific field. However, Seis wanted [to be counted among the] intellectual class, and especially he wanted status and fame from the Romefeller Foundation. He wanted people to notice him more. His envious/covetous feelings ultimately resulted in the lessening of his worth. Later, in AC 195 Seis' stepson would descend upon the Earth in a Gundam under the code names "Heero Yuy" and "Red One." On several fronts, that was an active period for Leos.

The Leo was the most famous, the king of all mobile suits.

That was common knowledge not only among soldiers but civilians also. It may be a bit of a stretch, but the boy took the actions he took for the sake of revealing the Leos true power, however challenging, there was no distortion.

General Chilie Catalonia of the United Earth SPhere Alliance stood upon the podium at the (completion) celebration and expounded upon the ways in which the space fortress Bulge was necessary for the colonies.

"Looking back through history and we see peace for the colonies has long been at the expense (lit: sacrifice) of maintaining Earth's peace. That (little star's) futile power struggle has had a large impact on the lives of all. At the recent war on the moon-- you surely all recall that event-- that battle also was just a convenience for the Earth [alternative: that was was done at Earth's leisure.]." Scheming people begin by speaking the truth. "And now, this moving fortress Bulge has been built to become the sole military force in space. In doing this, the lunar watch has also been flawless. We no longer need to submit to the expectations of the Earth."

Chilia's speech had been drafted by Van Khushrenada. The following words demonstrated his political prowess, "I truly know how inexcusable it is to request the colonies to [provide funds to cover the construction costs]. But please try to understand. It is you who are the proprietors of this fortress." In truth, he was merely pushing his own agenda but with this cunning (theory [turn of phrase fits better, I think]), the 'misfortunate and weak' had been changed into the 'fortunate pacifists.'

"We the United Earth Sphere Alliance will not simply borrow space (lit: rent a room). Of course, the fortress supplies and maintenance fees will be covered by foundations from all across the globe. Please rest assured." This was also the most effective method to foster (lit: sponsor) [a sense of easiness] and appease the naive people of the colonies. "After Colony 186, there will be peace in space. I, Chilie Catalonia, hereby resign my marshalship to join the ranks and do announce that war is over." Chilia's demotion from marshal to general was purely nominal and most likely done because [he wanted to] take responsibility for their huge defeat in the Sea of Storms war. For certain, the war was b no means over and [he] was still supreme (lit: unifying) commander for the Alliance. Nevertheless, a large majority of people believed the sweet lies of "peaceful space" and wound up agreeing to pay the fortress' construction costs in much the same way nine years later in AC 195, Special Commander [this is another 特佐 as mentioned above] Lady Une of OZ successfully armed the colonies while extolling [the virtues] of peace. (Certainly) it was as Duo Maxwell said at the time: There's a lot of good natured [people] in Space.

In the midst of that space--

Dorothy listened to her father. She was six years old and she was bored. Beside her stood Van Kushrenada.

"Mr. Van, where is Mr. Treize?"

"Hm..." Van asked the SP in sunglasses [note this says SP, which leads ME to believe this is Special Police or another kind of protection agency given their location to such powerful political figures. In chapter 5, SP is used again but in what seems to be applied to a completely different job.], "Where is my brother?"

"He has not yet returned."

"Geeze, I'm bored," she said and puffed out her cheeks with displeasure.

"So am I."

"I'm going exploring," she said and all but swam through the waves of people in the hall [reception hall].

"Don't get lost," he said. With his [pointed look] (lit: with his eyes), Van ordered half the SP to follow the uninhibited Dorothy. He blew out a breath of air and thought of his brother who was still combing space. "Unlike Dorothy...... you should just let those good-fornothing cadets stay lost." The results of the Earth investigation revealed that Elv Honegger was the son of Brigadier General Honegger of the North European Arma. The boy Zechs Merquise' name and family registry were fictitious. He discovered such a person did not exist anywhere upon the Earth.

It's dangerous to let them close to Treize......

He wished they wouldn't be found.

Treize doesn't need them.

He earnestly believed that. (Before Van,) the son of Aoi and Seis appeared. He was still carrying his taped up Leo under his arm. Van was (just) a little interested in the toy.

"That's a Leo?"

"Early model Mach I...... it's Seis' representative."

"The coloring isn't very good, huh."

"I don't like the white ones."

That was something Van didn't particularly want to hear. He changed the subject. "Did you need me for something?"

"......" The [child] holding the Leo didn't immediately start speaking.

"You're the son of Head Engineer Seis Clark, aren't you?" Even after being asked that question, the boy didn't even nod. He wanted to say something else.

"You're welcome here, whatever you were thinking, you can give me your honest opinion."

"Is the war really over?"

Van thought [the boy: had read his mind. He returned a question with a smile frozen upon his face, "What do you think?"

"I think it isn't over."

"Why is that? You mean you don't want peace?"

"I want peace...... but I don't think it will happen."

After a masochistic chuckle, Van asked another question from a different angle. "Do you want to fight?"

"......I don't want to fight."

"Is that so...... Well that's why the war's over."

"But just running away isn't any good." This was still a conversation between a six year old and a thirteen year old. Van thought it was cuter to have a conversation wit the six year old Dorothy.

"I see, that's right. Your opinions have been very helpful." Van held out his left hand for a handshake. "I'll use that as my guideline from here on out. Thank you."

"......" The six year old boy held out his left hand to take Van's still-extended one. With a very few exceptions in the Boy Scouts [and similar institutions], the left handed handshake was not very common. There wasn't a particularly deep meaning for the kids, it was

[along the lines of] [what is done] before a duel or 'Adieu' (('the final goodbye' in French)) situations but at the same time something of a prank. That was how you could interpret that scene. (However), conversely, their left handed handshake could possibly be seen as symbolic. It's not necessary to think over much about that here. What is important is that a blue origami crane was left in Van's hand.

"What's this?"

"My mother's representative."

Van raised the crane to his ear and shook it, confirming that there was something inside.

"Give my regards to Miss Aoi," he whispered to Aoi's son's back. At the same time, Dorothy returned. She and the boy bumped into the boy and he dropped the toy Leo on the floor.

"Be careful."

The boy who would later assume the name "Heero Yuy" picked up his step father's stand in and said, "You, too." It was a minute thing. THe two subjects of that incident likely don't even remember it. It was AC 195 at the reconstructed Cinq Kingdom that the two next met.

Several hours later, Chilie and Van were in the command room aboard the Bulge fortress conduction a meeting with Earth Sphere Alliance Unity Head Quarter's leaders.

"Why is it that we must pay the maintenance fees for the Bulge?" Asked General Venti who was dripping dissatisfaction. Van immediately answered, "If we have the people of the colonies pay any more, the Bulge truly will become theirs."

"No, the problem is the increase in military budget support from each country. With the Bulge complete, the only fear is Earth (lit: excepting the Earth OR possibly outside the Earth, why then is this still necessary?"

"Please look at this." Van loaded the microchip from the blue origami crane into the computer, it was displayed on the monitor. "This is a blueprint for a mobile suit made of Gundanium."

On that trial ZERO machine---

--was recorded.

"The colonies are going to mass produce these and put up a resistance."

"Are they serious? I find this unexpected and difficult to believe."

General Noventa asked, "Gentlemen, can you think of no reasons [for this to be true]? I can think of more than sufficient reasons myself." The assassination of the leader Heero Yuy, the manipulation of export tariff (percentages), the maintenance fees for the Cosmo Arma, (and) then the squeezing out of building expenses for the space fortress, and their extended psychological oppression

by the controlling class. The Earth was so arrogant that the colonies had (untold/uncountable) reasons for starting an uprising.

"We would probably require some fift mobile suits or more to counter these [new/Gundanium] mobile suits...... if the colonies did complete a mass production system, our Cosmo Arma would have to ready some fifty times the firepower. For the sake of maintaining Earth's peace, a large increase in the military budge is inevitable (lit: can't be helped)."

Commander Septim waited until the right time before shouting, "Our second Cosmo Arma would like reinforcements." This man was now [attempting] building a military base in the L-3 colony cluster. "If we just stop inter-colony cooperation......"

"Is it not possible to manufacture a Gundanium mobile suit using our own technology?"

"What would it cost and how much time would it take?"

"You see, gentlemen, our [most] pressing need is to increase the military budget." All the generals became restless. Even the war experts received a jolt. The heads of Earth's nations would acquiesce to an increase in military spending. If space were established as the (imaginary/virtual) enemy, it was their job (lit: duty to Earth) [to create] an (excessive)-- to the point of saturation-- military power. Anyhow, Young Van with his animonious connection to both [Earth and space], had the abilities to bridge the gap between the inconsistencies (lit: on different vectors) into equilibrium. He would extend a helping had to the weak while providing unease and fear among the strong. To the aged, he would show a nightmarish future and for the young he would free them from the spell o f the past. If whatever general on the monitor--

'If we prepare military funds here, conversely that would lead to all out war with the colonies?' How would that question be answer if it were asked? The real problem was not the mass production of mobile suits made of Gundanium (which are called Gundams). Not only did the colonies lack the resources and factory power for mass production, there also existed no pilots to fly the suits. With regards to the plans for the "Wing ZERO," Quatre Raberba Winner took nine years to complete it as he hadn't so much as even made parts for the machine before. The surprising thing about the plans was even though there were absolutely no pilots who could handle it, that wasn't necessarily viewed as a problem. When Van realized this, he had no qualms of consciousness about manipulating the information. Also, there is no uncertainty that [doing so] would surely benefit the Romefeller Foundation. The thirteen year old genius turned the blue origami crane into a paper airplane and tried to make it fly. It was no hindrance [to him?] when the boy was dubbed (lit: described) as unscrupulous.

It was characteristic of the AC period but the young boys and (young) girls that could also be called youth generation (lit: stratem) would, later in history, also be seen elsewhere in (standing) in important positions. Relena Peacecraft became 'Queen' sovereign of the World Nation at fifteen years old and Dorothy Catalonia was the same age when she assumed the command of the revolutionary White Fang army. Still younger were the Gundam pilots and others when they entered the battlefield. What was surprising was Mariemaya Khushrenada proclaiming war against the Earth sphere as a mere seven years of age. When thinking about reasons why these things happen, it should probably be put down to the generations apathy- a generational fault. That was just like the relative/comparative themes that were almost characteristically seen in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries (of the previous age). With the heightened medical facilities and abundant foodstuffs the average life expectancy of man increased and as the class of leaders in political, economic, thought, and artistic fields aged, it was common to see them not hand the reigns over the the next generation. Thus the would-be inheritors of the next generation [learned] to put up with (lit: bear) the chronic oppression and became unable to try new experiments or take reformative action. Ergo to their own children, this generation handed almost precociously the education [worthy of the] gifted while they themselves were released from the obligations of going without. Those elderly leaders began to feel (even) their own limits and when they thought to (entrust) their position [to others], there were none among the irresponsible next generation to [take over]. As a result, the only option left was to entrust the [next] next

generation's prodigious youth [with the proverbial keys to the kingdom, see #1 below]. More than seniority [based leadership schemes], if ability took precedence, the ignorant would not [come to] stand on the [world] stage. It was that what invited those circumstances [it was that ability system that lead to youths leading the world. However, [with this] particular addition, there was no reason to think of the situation as unusual [yet Van was given a lot of flak by higher ups and others for being only 13 and in power?!]. On the contrary, the real problem was probably that seniority and experience (value)-- parts not all that related to ability-were made the object of evaluation. The blue paper air plane fell upon the table. Dorothy was hiding there. The [so-called] 'fate' that time brought [also], to various people, suddenly presented a turning point (on occasion). This was that time.

"Open fire!" Artemis ordered. She stopped the large transport ship that had (proceeded) come from the L-2 colony cluster at a distance from which she could observe the (space fortress) Bulge and [sent] the twenty-five Greifs into a sortie. The suits were no longer white. There was no ideological meaning [to the new color, but] they were painted jet black, practical for space and that wouldn't stick out. There after they were called Black Schwarz Greif ((Jet Black Leo IV)).

"The Bulge is the target!" Suddenly the curtain dropped away [from Artemis'] surprise attack on the Bulge. The twenty-five Schwarz Greif Artemis was leading peeled away in bands of three and commenced their various firing. The Bulge was being attacked from every direction. She was good at formations. The eight Chimera (Leo III)) sent to intercept [the Greifs] were instantly surrounded and every single one of them was defeated. The fortress defenses-- 280 mm triple gun turrets in the outer wall and double barrel guns-- had been set up without any blind spots but they could not land a hit on the Schwarz Greif because of their high speed movements. (On the contrary), several of the midrange guns hit several of the gun towers which created a blind spot and a safe zone for the surprise attack unit.

In a matter of minutes, the Bulge [suffered] severe damage. Though it was protected by the solid titanium outer wall, the (insides) received violent shocks (lit: vibrations), and smoke from fires that were caused by the blasting had spread to the outer halls. The just-deployed soldiers were far from fighting back; they couldn't even get a handle on the fires. Most citizens were civilians and they were just [running] hither and thither in an absolute panic. The biggest factor in that poor response was conceited Alliance leaders who didn't predict [account for] surprise attacks. As an example to prove this, the commander was holed up in the command room, which was a blunder in that he had yet to arrive at his post. That unpreparedness in the chain of command left the soldiers unsure of what they should do and left [the Bulge] entirely dependent upon the defense system and completely without any tactical action being taken. At that time, Van Khushrenada, General Chilie Catalonia and his daughter Dorothy were in the command room. Despite being told to wait outside by her father, Dorothy had hidden [in the command room] out of curiosity. The three of them got [trapped] in the command room when a direct hit to the outer wall caused the automatic defense system to start. Nevertheless, Chilie was an able general. He opened a communication line, encouraged his soldiers, had them take positions just as they'd done in drills and made them defend [the Bulge] such that they could not infiltrate the enemy's insides [see #2]

"Carry my orders out without exception! Don't worry, the Bulge won't lose (lit: fall) that easily!" Dorothy looked upon her father's back with profound admiration.

The problem was all the civilians [on board] the fortress. The soldiers had their hands full carrying out Chilie's orders and couldn't lead [the civilians] to the refuge shelter. In the completely closed down reception room, Aoi searched for her son. The every-day lighting was out and under the red light of the emergency beacons she continued her desperate search. [Her son] wasn't in the reception room.

"[He must be] outside this room." Having come to that [conclusion], she suddenly tore up the skirt of her dress (revealing) up to her thighs. With bewitching eyes, she spoke to the man in sunglasses standing beside her, "Excuse me....." As she spoke, the SP guard tipped his head and she delivered a hard round-house kick to the back of his head. His sunglasses fell to the rug. Then, from his

breast [pocket/shoulder holster] she took his pistol and [started to] fire away at the safety lock on the door. To an outsider looking in, it just looked like she had gone crazy. The heavy door moved slightly when worked by hand. For her, she had extreme arm strength, but the door would not open. Other SP [began to] surround her.

"What are you doing! We could do that in a jiffy if---"

"Hurry! It's not safe here!"

"Wha?"

"Get everyone to the shelter! Hurry! Help me!" The SP were thus overwhelmed by what Aoi was screaming and made to help her open the heavy door. Of course her words were an ad lib spoken in the heat of the moment (lit: in an emergency). She wasn't thinking of helping all those in the room [with her]. She could only think of how to find her son.

Just before that, Seis Clark flew out of the officer's room and even as the smoke wafting down the hall surprised him he snapped his mouth shut and rushed to the reception room in the mid-levels [of the fortress]. He was worried for his wife and son. It was shameful that he was not with them at such a time.

This is no time to mope!

Since he had been the one to design [the Bulge], he arrived at the corridor for the mid-levels without consulting map. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it was Seis alone who could move freely and at his own will through the fortress.

"Only me." As he (strenuously) ran full out through the vision-imparing smoke, Seis was screaming before he knew it, "Only I can help my wife and son!"

Before hi, a solider in a spacesuit appeared, riding on an ele-auto-- a two wheel electric motorbike that can operate at high speeds even in zero gravity.

"Head Engineer Seis!"

"Do I know you? (lit: Do you know me?)"

"Yes. Please get on!" He held out another space suit [to Seis].

"I don't need that!"

"You're trying to get to the reception room, yes?"

"...y-yes!"

"Allow me to take you there. However, there may be an air lead along the way! So! [Put on the suit.]"

"Al-alright!" Seis put on the proffered spacesuit.

"Sorry."

Then, from far away, the heard the sound of an explosion. (Even so), they could feel the enemy closing in.

"Honestly, what is the commander doing? Why don't they use the Bulge's guns?" Seis complained as he finished changing and took the rear seat on the ele-auto.

"Could I ask you to navigate?"

"Of course, just hurry!"

They set off at a break neck speed. The soldier at the handle[s of the bike] in reality didn't exist on any Alliance register [roster?]. That [particular] man was an agent for the Anti-Alliance and had been posing as a solider [since the start of the confusion caused by the attack] when he had stolen a Cosmo Arma space suit. He was [actually] Odin Lowe. His mission was to cause a disturbance from the inside of the fortress but that was, at present, totally unnecessary and so he chose to "follow his emotion." That [emotion] was to save the son that connected him to his one-time lover by blood. In other words, his goal and actions were identical to Seis'. The ele-auto ran through a thick curtain of smoke. But usual corridors had their bulkheads closed.

"On the other side of that bulkhead is a mobile suit hangar."

"Roger." WIthout decelerating, Odin pulled the pin on a hand grenade and as he turned a wide turn on the ele-auto, he threw the grenade at the on-coming bulkhead. A path to the hangar opened owning to the explosion.

"You're crazy!"

"Not as crazy as your wife."

"Do you know my wife?"

"Hold on tight!" Odin [punched] the ele-auto forward once more and flew into the mobile suit hangar.

"If you keep going straight 30 degrees to the upper right there is a vent for the fortress' [central] air circulation [system]. That's also a direct connection to the (overheating and cooling) [system] for the Bulge canon's main engine, but it's possible to pass through now." As the Sagittarius didn't have the vents, it took [quite] some time for an energy charge. "From there, we can get right to the mid-levels (in one fell swoop)."

Finally the heavy door of the reception room opened a couple dozen centimeters. The slender Aoi forcibly squeezed herself through and escaped to the outer hall. The corridor of the long mid-leve had no yet been cut off by the bulkheads. She kicked off her high heels and ran. Her swift movements were a product of her training as an OZ agent but she'd already had high physical capability to begin with.

On the ele-auto, Odin and eis passed through the mobile suit hangar and ran full tilt through the vents. At the [same] time, an enemy mobile suit broke into the hangar. Seis looked behind and just barely hung on. He knew the suit just by it's silhouette.

"Th-that's Greif, isn't it......" The Schwarz Gref destroyed one immobile Chimera after another. The [Chimera's] fusion reactor exploding caused more suits to explode. The whole of the hangar changed into an ocean of fire. Frozen Teardrop, Chapter 4, part 2

Aoi heard the nearby explosion and it set each muscle into overdrive and she ran with terrible speed. As predicted, the bulkheads began closing one after the other to shut out smoke from the fire. She was like a hurdler and flew over the rising walls and slid/dove under the walls that came whistling down [in attempts] to cut off the path; and she did so whole barely losing any speed. Her beloved son, however, was not easily found. even Aoi began to show signs of fatigue. [Just] when she thought she'd reached her body's limit at the next bulkhead, she caught a small shadow in the next corridor. [She knew] beyond any doubt that it ws her won son for whom she had been searching. He was pulling at his Leo, which had been caught in the bulkhead, with all his might. As Aoi made to call to her son there was a violent explosion. For a second, she ws hit with despair. At the same time, a column of bright red flames passed by. A mere handful of seconds prior, the ele-auto saved her son. Aoi watched [the scene] as if in slow motion. It was Odin and Seis riding the ele-auto. Her beloved son had been rescued by his two fathers. She smiled with relieved joy and the iron [of the rescue] made her laugh from the [bottom of her] heart.

I'm so happy..... but I'm sorry... Plese forgive me [all of you].... I can't be with you any more..... Good..... bye

And Aoi was thrown out into the dark vacuum of space.

The image of Aoi smiling as she disappeared into the flames [I know, she just got sucked out into space. Also: can things flame in space?] was burned into their eyes.

"Aoi, I'm sorry."

Seis left his son in Odin's care, "Look after him for a bit......"

"Oi, wait.... this is nuts!" Seis, the one time head engineer turned family man, got off the ele-auto, kicked the wall of the vent-now nearly gravity-free-- and disappeared into the still-exploding hangar. Odin spoke up to the child [Seis had] left behind, "The air's gotten thinner. Are you alright?" The boy heard and gave a small nod; but in his eyes, the fragments of his broken toy showed (lit: could be seen).

I've lost my Thing. Nothing.... I don't have anything.

Thought the young boy.

Odin picked up [his son] and ran the ele-auto to the refuge shelter.

Seething with [thoughts of] revenge, Seis clambered into a Chimera in the hangar and, demonstrating his own knowledge of mobile

suits was not lacking, challenged the hateful Greifs to hand-tohand combat. Three more enemy suits joined and it was an extremely fierce/heroic battle. Yet however new and powerful [his Chimer as], it still remained a Leo. This was a (fighting style) only Seis had.

"Not you assholes!"

With all apologies to his beloved wife, he exploded one suit by amputating the suit's energy generator on its back. "Not the Greifs!"

To shame the arrogance of another suit, [Seis] destroyed it while [simultaneously] breaking its head-mounted camera and ripping out the auto-balance circuits under the left arm.

"You won't get my son!"

The last suit he fought for the future of the stepson who had always thought of him [Seis].

"I won't be beat!!"

With all his might, Seis thrust his beam saber through the Schwarz Greif's chest. He had, however, just missed the cockpit for which he'd been aiming. That final Schwarz Greif fired its mid-range canons just then. Seis' Chimera blew up and the Greif also was swallowed in the explosion and [both were] lost. The blast was of such a large scale that the whole Bulge listed [to one side].

Artemis had received a report that the three suit unit that had preceded [her] and successfully [broke into] the inside [of the Bulge] had been destroyed by a single Chimera.

"That's...... impossible." She thought there had been a (stunningly) brilliant pilot manning [that Chimera]. Perhaps it was the OZ Specials---

"Treize Khushrenada....." If she attacked carelessly, she would get burned.

She considered rearranging her troops and gave the order to assemble at the position [located in a] blind spot [relative to the] bombardment [coming] from the fortress. "All suits, convene at H point!" That's when it happened. Treize appeared on her (communication monitor).

"This is Treize Khushrenada of the United Earth Sphere Alliance OZ Specials."

"Where are you?"

"Right behind you."

[Artemis] turned around in horror. There, a unit of white Chimeras had spread out around Schwarz Greif, encircling them.

"Again?!" She rather hated [how] Treize took her from behind. This was the second time her pride had been hurt [by him]. She immediately issued orders to all suits.

"All suits, change in attack target! the [new] targets are the white Leos! Concentrate fire on the enemy leader." The Schwarz Greif concentrated their mid-range canons on Treiz's suit at once.

"You don't wish to duel? Then I am obliged to....." Treize opened a different line and connected to the bulge. "Space fortress Bulge, please respond." The [people in] the command room had waited with bated breath for Treize [to contact them].

"Mr. Treize!"

"Brother......"

On the monitor, Treize's face looked unusually elegant [same word could also be read as "manly"].

"Your Excellency Mr. Catalonia, please cancel the automatic defense system and fire the Barge's canon."

"Wh-what?"

"And, if you so desire, please have my dear younger brother Van push the button." The designated person [button-pusher Van] could not hide his bewilderment.

"Brother, what do you mean?"

"It must be you, Van......"

As Treize['s suit] dodged the Schwarz Greif gunfire, he slowly fell back. "The enemy suits will follow me...... set the Bulge's cross hairs on me......" By the special properties of the Bulge canons, the greater the distance [Treize could "earn"] the greater the number of enemy suits that would be hit. However, it was almost certain that Treize, [situated as he was] in the middle could not evade [the Bulge canons].

"If you're the one to fire, I am satisfied [could also be read as happy]......"

"I can't, i can't do that," Van refused. "There's no way I could!"

"Look at the big picture Van...... by losing [one man], you can save the Bulge fortress." Van was well aware that in order to break through this disadvantageous tide of war, Treize had to be sacrificed.

"You would sacrifice Supreme Commander General Catalonia, dearest Miss Dorothy, even yourself, just for my sake, yes?"

Admirable resolve, Treize..... but This, somehow or other [will save you]......

Chilie's and Dorothy's feeling were as mixed as Van's. This, Treize's life risking proposal, spoke of his [failure] to find Zechs and Elv. Treize had given in to those two with their strong desire to be the ones to [make the final] delivery of [all twenty five] Greifs, and [he] gave them special permission to do so. In doing so, Treize [inadvertently] created the cause of this surprise attack on the Bulge and he was [now] thinking he would take responsibility [for having done that].

"Hurry up and make a decision! If this keeps up, I'll die for nothing!"

"I understand!" Tears welled up [in Van's eyes] and his voice shook as he shouted, "Bulge canons, prepare to fire! The target is the OZ Specials Commander's suit!"

That's my brother! (lit: Attaboy!)

"All Chimeras spread out! Fall back (lit: leave the front)! That's a direct order!" Treize's lone suit was surrounded by some twenty Schwarz Greif and he withdrew [further] back.

Get them, Van Khushrenada. The future of the Earth rests upon your shoulders.

With a smile, his last thought murmured through his heart:

Take care of Mother.

For the sake of setting the angle/degree of the Bulge's main canons, the sights had been designed to be set up by controlling the propulsion burners. It was Artemis who had inferred that at once.

"Don't tell me you're going to shoot [him]? With the Bulge canon?!" It was hard to believe they would sacrifice Treize. She didn't believe the United Alliance Army had layers thick enough that they could throw away such a brilliant man [like Treize] as though he were a pawn. Yet all the elements spread out before her eyes substantiated her prediction. "How long until the Bulge canon is charged?!" Here Artemis hesitated. She had never before doubted her intution, but this one time was different. The challenge to a duel had also given her a jolt. There was also her being unable to fully accept that Treize, whom she had fought inside the Bulge, had appeared behind her. She had even been nicknamed the Precision Machine, [but] Artemis' clear mind was starting to warp [thanks to] Treize's [ability] to take action beyond what she could predict [#3]. It would later be criticized but it was her hesitation right then-- a huge tactics mistake-- that cast doubt upon her abilities as a commander.

The Bulge's sights were set. Van did not hesitate this time. The words of the kid with the taped-up Leo ran through the back of his mind.

You can't just run away.

Van had said he would make that his policy from then on.

"You won't his [my] brother! He will definitely dodge! Phanes [#4], Mother will surely protect him!"

"Target, lock on!"

Now, Artemis made up her mind, "All suits, fall back! The Bulge canon is coming!" The timing of this order, however, could not have been worse. The (movements of the) Schwarz Greif, which were firing away, stopped for a few seconds.

"Fire the Bulge canon!" Van pushed the launch button (lit: switch). In that moment, Lucretia's, Izumi's, Solac's suits flew to Treize's side at top speed and (left) [with him in tow] from exposure [to] the Bulge canon [er, the literal word is "exposure" or "irradiation" and "angle" or "edge" but since this is a beam weapon, I'm guessing it's just a more technical way to say "line of fire"] Twenty Schwarz Greif were destroyed in an instant, swallowed by [the canon's] almighty beam.

"Idiot......" Artemis muttered. "I really am an idiot......" All that was left [of the Schwarz Greif] was two mobile suits, including her own.

"Commander Artemis......"

The surviving aide awaited orders.

"Evacuate! Evacuate! This is a total defeat, no?!" The two Schwarz Black flew off in complete humiliation.

The three Chimeras had taken some damage from the Bulge canon but confirmed that Treize's suit was unharmed [#5]

"Good...... nothing is more important that your safety," Solac heaved a sigh of relief.

"After losing Zechs and Elv, I'd become a livig corpse if we lost Professor Treize," Lucretia spoke, half crying.

"You guys have committed a serious breach of military rule...... getting away from the front line was supposed to have been a direct order from the commander," Treize's words were unusually harsh.

"I forced the other two to do it. Please only remove myself [from the ranks]," said Izumi Tarnoff. as he leaned out of his half broken suit.

"Wrong! I was 'acting on my own thoughts'!"

"I, for the sake of later soldiers, accepted Cadet Izumi's suggestion! I'm guilty of the same [crime as he is]."

"All three of you will [be retrained] from the lowest level drills at Lake Victoria! However, I express my respect for your bravery! And," Treize [then] spoke with a kind smile, "I'm sorry...... thank you." In the control room on the space fortress Bulge, Van and the Catalonias were thrilled (lit: happy from their hearts) that Treize survived.

"That was elegant, Mr. Treize...... it truly was as if you danced a waltz."

"Van Khushrenada, I don't suppose we could allow this to remain in the Alliance's history?"

"No...... by dint of that surprise attack occurring, the abilities of the strongest mobile space fortress (the Bulge) will come into question (lit: be doubted)."

"Then it's going to be---"

"Stricken from the records."

Yet perhaps---

It is thought that in Van's heart of hearts, the real reason was that he didn't want to leave a record of him trying to hill his [much] respected brother with his own hand---

"I give thanks to Phanes [see #4] and to Mother......"

Effectively, they had won but the accumulation of various chances that day caused/started a chain of events that could be described as destiny. What if that young boy had not been holding his toy Leo? If Seis Clark couldn't destroy those Greifs, would Artemis have been so jolted? If the Catalonias hadn't been there; if Treize had been late in arriving; if Izumi (and the others) had obeyed the order [to say away]...... It was a victory with an untold number of chances; in reflection, it was a victory like a chilling, break-out-in-a-sweat tightrope walk.

I can't believe how lucky we are. I never want to feel this way again. We must [eradicate] the colonies' will to resist us.

Van resolved strongly.

Yet [he] had stolen twnety lives in a single instant and despite being enemy [soldiers], it cast a deep, dark shadow on the thirteen year old's heart. He became even more cool (or realistic) than before.

AC-187 SUMMER

Almost one year passed---

Zechs Merquise's and Elv Honegger's whereabouts were still unknown. Odin Lowe and his son had, since [the battle of the Bulge (lit: since that day)] been roaming just the two of them. Although they were really father and son by blood, that was the only knowledge Odin did not impart upon his son. He did teach him everything [else] he knew; tactics, and the art of survival. [The boy] took after Aoi in his body's physical capabilities. His clear mind he owned to Seis' (influence). And from Odin, he inherited a particular skill.

"Who are we going to kill here?" The two of the had gone to the medical facilities on the L-1 colony cluster.

"Don't butt in like a snot-nosed kid when Dad's working [#6]."

"Dad? I don't have a father (lit: parents)."

"We're acting like father and son...... that's our agreement. [That is] if you want to eat." Odin had the boy help with the work, also. It was easier to get around with a kid that it was t go it alone.

"...... understand."

I can die anytime.

That may have been a good attitude [for that line of work], but it didn't put food in your stomach. The little boy believed he 'didn't have anything,' but he did have his 'life.' Even though his head desperately wished for death, his body demanded life. For him to keep living, other lives had to be sacrificed. There wasn't any difference between eating meat, eating vegetables, or eating lives. The longer he lived, the filthier he became. It wasn't possible for mankind t live life beautifully. [He] didn't want to hear any lofty ideas. The problem was in his heart. That kind of thinking, peculiar to terrorists, was what Odin taught his son [#7].

Siblings Treize and Van had (likewise) gone to the medical facilities. For the sake of taking their father Hundert Khushrenada's body [#8]. The cause of Hundert's death was the "colony cold." It was a new strain that didn't respond to the most recent vaccine.

"This man was, from the very beginning, a soulless shell [devoid] of a soul...... death has done nothing to [add] value [to him]," said Van coldly. "If this was retribution for his treatment of Mother, it's too late."

"Don't speak ill of the dead......"

"That you won't talk means you must feel the same way, Sir (lit: honorable older brother)." He had become "Sir" instead of "Treize." Treize didn't say anything. That change in Van's personality was his own fault, so strongly did he feel about what he'd done that day.

"Shall we see Mother?"

"There was a rebellion at a near-by colony. I thought I'd visit after taking care of that."

"As usual, [you're] being indisposed of conveniently...... how about [finally[] stepping on the stage of history [for real]?"

"[The way it is now] suits me better."

Now, Treize was no longer Lake Victoria's exclusive educator. Currently, he was also called to officer training school all over, teaching young soldiers how to make use of mobile suits and operation/manipulation techniques. And when there was a coup de tat or dispute or disturbance in the area [he was in], he was roped into the front lines by military request. Throughout history, small scale rebellions have been controlled [ALT: History is largely comprised of the control of small scale rebellions.] In hindsight, Treize's fight starting from his first campaign to capture Mogadishu could probably be described as that. He executed the missions assigned to him dispassionately. He championed no particular ideal, nor did he feel any doubt in fighting. The sortie this time was no different. The Resistance had attacked a Cosmo Arma base with five Tragos. Treize drove his borrowed Leo and confronted the unit of Tragos (which were responsible for the coup de tat). It was somewhat unfortunate that they were not white [the Tragos or the Leos?]

At that time, the majority of the terrorist organizations on the colonies were (aiming) for Van Khushrenada's assassination.

They could not allow the young Romefeller leader who had set up space as [Earth's] imaginary enemy to continue as he had been. Also, Van's intolerable behavior towards the colonies had been on the rise recently and that was deserving of assassination. [Van had] completely blocked inter-colony contact ((including the transfer of personnel and supplied)), the inspection of all resources was being strengthened; it was exactly as though the United Earth Sphere and the [space] colonies had resurrected the feudal [system] relationship between crown and colony. At one time, Van had even used high-handed techniques to push reform through the upper echelons in the Alliance. Here, also, that out and out matter was being demonstrated. The one difference was that it was the Romefeller Foundation alone which profited. [It was] the oppressive rule of a tyrant [or autocrat or despot or absolute monarch, take your pick]. Disposing of the sovereign was the first step in destroying that system.

That was the job for which Odin had been requested. Odin, however, was skeptical. Would anything change by assassinating Van Khushrenada? There was no question that the assassination of (the leader) Heero Yuy had [lead to] a big change (in time/history). ONce the gears of history were out of whack, they would not easily be righted. What history needed was a major overhaul, to be dismantled and put back together one gear at a time. In order to do that, the flow of history needed to be stopped temporarily

(but)......

(One day/ lit: This day) [Odin had] received information from [a staff member (lit: a responsible party)] at the medical facilities that Van would be visiting his mother's room

"That kid, he's made enemies all over the place......" Odin said as he removed a dismantled sniper rifel from a violin case. He was [standing?] on a roof from which he commanded a view of [Angelina Khushrenada's] hospital room. The only time Romefeller Foundation's [precious leader] was alone and without his extremely tight security detail was when he visited that hospital room.

"I secured the escape route."

The son performed his role as trust worthy partner. Then, a young make nurse entered Angelina's room and Odin took note.

"That's funny......"

Angelina smiled nostalgically, "My, it has been quite a long time......"

"Yes......"

"Have you been assigned to me again?"

"No...... today, I'm just changing the flower vases." [There was] a beautiful, richly colored bouquet of flowers arranged in a large vase [in her room].

"My, they're just like the Aurora Borealis, aren't they......" The memory of the Aurora Borealis as seen in her youth remained with her. "Are they from Treize?"

"Yes...... oh, no, they're from Van."

"Van? I have no recollection [of a Van]...... who do you suppose that is?" The young nurse didn't reply and (hurried from) the room in silence.

"The nurses for Angelina Khushrenada were supposed to be all female......" Odin pondered the information from [his] informant.

"Could he have been employed by a different organization? [meaning: another assassin]" asked his now seven year old partner.

"There's been an influx in the second oldest profession."

"I'll try tailing him."

"Don't overdo it."

"I'll try."

Van appeared at the medical facilities with a large bouquet of white lilies. Pure white that recalled to mind the image of those ice

floes was something Van would love to the end of his days. As would Treize. For the time being, Van was [just] waiting for his brother [to arrive]. Speaking of Treize, he was putting down some dispute or other and [Van] knew (lit: thought) he would hurry [to the hospital] once it was taken care of. But no matter how long he waited, it seemed Treize was not coming. Even when he contacted the troops, he was told [his brother was] 'in the midst of battle.'

"Oh well...... I just wish Sir Treize were here, then I could see Mother's beautiful side." He decided to visit his mother alone. "Have you been well, Mother?"

Odin waited for his chance to snipe. If Van didn't take one more step towards the window, he wouldn't hit his mark. And he found himself posing the same question to himself yet again:

If I do kill this kid, would it really change the world?

"Treize, you're here...... look at these flowers...... aren't they beautiful? Someone named Van sent them," said Angelina, looking at the flower-filled vase as she [rested against] her pillow. "You should say thank yo to him also, yes?"

"Sir Treize isn't here." Van went to replace the flowers in the vase with the ones he was holding [well, it ultimately doesn't matter much BUT it sounds as if the white lilies already there were NOT from Van]. "Besides, these flowers......"

Suddenly, there was an explosion. The window shattered; blood, bits of flesh, and flowers went flying through the room.

"Chi! Someone beat me to the punch......" As odin was putting the sniper rifle away in the violin case, he noticed his communicator was vibrating (for his attention). It ws his son.

"...... sorry, I missed." His voice wavered audibly (lit: clearly).

"I'm on the way!"

On the outside spiral stairs that lead from the room downstairs, there was a young assassin [standing? crouching?] stiff even as he held his pistol at the ready. Odin stroked his head even as he spoke, "That guy went so far as to kill (lit: bury) the mother, too...... but that probably wasn't necessary." It was exactly like looking at himself from so long ago.

"If I had just [shot him] sooner...... then the mother wouldn't have died." The boy was (just) feigning a cold voice.

"Don't worry about it," said Odin as he took the smoking gun from the little boy. "It's like this for everyone the first time...... it gets easier after the second time."

"We'll get the contingency fee, right?"

"Yeah......"

On the (downstairs) landing, the young male nurse lie dead with the top of his head blown off. That was the first man the boy had killed.

I told you to take it easy......

I wanted to let you go (lit: throw away/abadon you) before [this happened] God, I can't do this [lit: It's just as I feared I can't do this] I'm sorry, Aoi......

With those thoughts, Odin and his son escaped from the medical facility. Treize heard of Angelina's and Van's deaths after he had completed driving back and [securing the] surrender of all members of the rebel army. That battle had been won by sheer pressure of numbers and there were zero casualties. That had been his battle style ever since he had begun fighting. In fact, Treize had yet to send [even] and enemy to death.

"Is that...... true......?"

He grieved over his brother's death more than his mother's. Treize esteemed Van's genius as the one who would usher in the next era; he even expected it. And he more than anyone else, noticed how admirably Van had continued to love that mother of theirs.

The story as told by those responsible for peace and order said that the male nurse was not part of an underground organization. He [the nurse] however couldn't stand Vans recent oppression of the colonies and that reawakened [his anger] over being punched; he approached some terrorists and they (volunteered) to take part in his revenge.

"So that's it then......" Treize felt regret. He shed tears of regret; it was all his fault. Van's intensification of colonial confinement started when he [Van] had been ordered to fire the Bulge canon. He had invited tragedy in my never getting his own hands dirty. Until then, he had never cried, no matter how painful or miserable things had been. But this time, he sobbed. Too steep was the price he paid:

Angelina Yuy Van Khushrenada

He vowed to never forget their names. Also, he decided (in his heart) to not hesitate to get blood on his own hands.

Should doing so cause 'time' to stop, should it mean retrogression, I will accept it!

From then on until AC 193 when he was inaugurated as commander of OZT Treize utterly refused to step upon the [world/politcal] stage, instead operating in an education capacity. Treize also, for the eight years between [losing Van and Angelina] and losing to Chang Wufei, remembered the names of [each and every] irreplaceable person sacrificed for his sake [note: it's written such that it sounds like Treize is the one who is taking lives, and he is even if it's not done by his hand, it would be done by his order] No, it wasn't as superficial as [merely] remembering. They [the names] were carved into his heart; it was similar to sankhara [#9] practiced in Buddhism.

During this time, Treize likely lost faith in himself. While it could be surmised that it was around this time that [Treize] [began to feel] that it was better to be a failure with beautiful, self-effacing glory than to be a miserable victor with nothing but control by suppression, he did not once speak of his true intentions until the very end [of his life]. But in any case---

There's no doubting Treize's "sense of atonement" was extremely strong at this time. Ergo, it is believed that he wouldn't resort to simple suicide or allow himself to die in battle by taking recklessly rash actions. Essentially, by dint of not being Treize, Van had probably brought true peace to that crazy world. While bearing the weighty cross of atonement ever since, he (probably) prepared himself for taking the Earth and space in his hands as Angelina-- the mother he should have loved -- always said he would.

MC-0022 NEXT WINTER

I took off the virtual visor. That was the end of the Treize files. The next files were Zechs Merquise and [or? #10] Milliardo Peacecraft but before [starting those] I remembered the original poem Treize wrote in the summer of AC 187 and loaded it. The title was "Dazzling Light."

I saw a point of light from across the dark I ran towards the light Nothing but mere running Running like on possessed And I kept running It was just like coming out of a tunnel I burst into a world of dazzling light It was a world brimming with contentment

Is this what I was looking for? Something that I sought?

No, it was not I searched not for repose I did not ask for this heart

I looked behind me I passed by myself There was the dark exit of the tunnel

I was not looking for results

We needed more progress

So it is What I sought It was in that black darkness There was a meaning to my continued running

So I asked myself

Why? Why continue to run?

AC 187 Sommer TK.

The (contents) were very deep, but I wasn't in a position to state my impressions. Just then, the emergency signal (re)sounded.

"This is Doktor T...... North Pole base respond."

Hurriedly, I picked up the line. "This is the North Pole base, go ahead Doktor T." With the sandstorm on Mars, the connection was rather bad. The man that appeared on the holomonitor had peculiar long fringe that kept his slender, student-like face from showing [note: dumb dumb dumb, if you can't SEE it, how come it is DESCRIBED?]

"Tell Master Chang...... that the "Prometheus" was taken by young Miss Winner."

"That's ridiculous!" Master Chang shouted from behind me. "That's [an unbelievable] snafu even for an asshole [#11] like you."

"I'm so sorry!" A silver haired gentleman who seemed [more like a] youth with his blue eyes and charm, cut across the screen. "Of course there's no way I ever would have thought Katrine would go so far! It's all my fault (lit: bad judgement)."

"Looks like that's about right," Master Chang said coldly. The scholar with the bangs spoke in an equally cold tine, "It just means the young lady is more excellent that we are...... from here on out, don't blame this poor guy." His voice was cold but his message was amiable. "I've just ordered 'Nanashi' to pursuit...... can I ask you to intercept?"

"That'll mean we have to kill Professor W's little sister."

"That's unfortunate, we're probably the ones at fault."

"Looks like it's time to hit the road, eh," said Duo Maxwell and he flicked his braid over his shoulder. "Let's go, sir......" [#12]

"Where's my Snow White?" asked Heero Yuy from behind.

"With his Warlock," Father Maxwell answered for his son. As it was a state of emergency, I made to stand up so I could make the necessary preparations.

"You're on standby here......" Father Maxwell pushed me back into my chair.

"But!"

"You haven't finished watching the files, have you?" He asked with a gentle smile while giving my shoulder a couple pats.

"Next are Zechs' files, the same [ones] that were used in that Relena Peacecraft's awakening from (hibernation)......"

"Relena Peacecraft?"

"It was a lot of trouble to hack them [hack them in order to GET them]." His face showed childish pride. "The princess we knew was a little better [than the one you're familiar with."

"But she's changed......"

"The cause is believed to be awakening her with only these files." Father Maxwell spoke with a mischievious grin. "How 'bout it? Got your curiosity piqued?" [#13]

To Be Continued.....

***NOTES*** of the COPIOUS variety

#1 What the latter part of this little passage is trying to say is that basically, the leaders at the cusp of the 20-21 centuries (let's call them Gen 1) refused to step down to let their kids (let's call them Gen 2) take up the reigns and apparently actively worked to suppress Gen 2 from taking power. So when Gen 2 started squeezing out kids (let's call them Gen 3), Gen 2 decided to give them all the advantages they themselves didn't have. Gen 1 then finally comes to realize that they will not live forever but through their own oppression of Gen 2, there were no suitable leaders IN Gen 2 to take over, so Gen 1 had no choice but to hand responsibility for the world over to Gen 3... right.]

#2 Right, so the *commander* committed a blunder by not being at his post, which is *not* the command room. I get that. But WHO is the freaking commander? Is it wrong to assume it would be Van or Chilie? Because Chilie handles everything swimmingly despite being locked into the *command* room. Also: if Chilie has the Bulge soldiers moving to defend the Bulge, why does it say he asks them to PREVENT themselves from infiltrating the ENEMY'S insides? Shouldn't it say the soldiers worked to prevent the enemy from penetrating the BULGE'S insides? Granted, the enemy is twenty five mobile suits, so I guess it would be weird to infiltrate just ONE mobile suit, but it sure seems to make more sense to me to either prevent the enemy from penetrating YOUR stronghold or for you to penetrate the ENEMY'S stronghold.

#3 - Artemis gets beaten by Treize because he is able to "take action beyond what she could predict." That idea of predicting outcomes and stuff comes into play (kind of significantly) in the next chapter, but with different characters.

#4 - Hey, whut? The text literally says "god of space, mother will protect him" meaning either the god of space OR mother (or, hell, anybody will do in a pinch) will protect him. So I googled god of space and turns out, according to wikipedia's sketchy info, that Phanes created the cosmos... and that's a pretty God like thing to do, yes? However, this was mentioned not on the Phanes page but the Chronos page under the Orphic cosmology section. Phanes was born from the silvery egg Chronos made.

#5 - Literally, it says Treize was unharmed, but obviously, he must have sustained SOME damage after having twenty five Greif's hauling away on him >.