Crossing Orb: Newtype Commander

Char sat alone in the command center, staring at the now-darkened screen.

"VEDA, analyze Siegel Klein's conversation patterns. What is his psychological state?"

VEDA was silent for two seconds.

"Based on micro-expression analysis and voice emotion recognition, Senator Siegel is currently under moderate stress. He is concerned about the situation in PLANT, feels powerless against Sara's expansion, but is positive about cooperating with Ob. He has shown significant emotional fluctuations regarding your proposed 'asylum commitment'—which indicates that his greatest concern is his daughter's safety."

Char nodded.

"Continue to monitor political developments regarding PLANT. Notify me immediately if there are any warning signs regarding Siegel's situation."

"Instruction recorded."

Char stood up and walked to the star map on the wall. His gaze fell on the location of PLANT—those colonies located at the Earth-Moon Lagrange point, which appeared as just a few tiny dots on the star map.

"Thirteen years old..." he murmured.

Lacus Clyne. In the original timeline, she was a "songstress," a "symbol of peace," and one of the most important women in Kira Yamato's life. But now, she is only thirteen years old, still a little girl who soothes hearts with her songs.

"If that day ever comes," Char said to the star map, "I will keep my promise."

Late at night, Char returned to Athha's mansion.

Kagari was already asleep, her eleven-year-old sister curled up in bed, clutching the seashell necklace he had given her. Uzumi's study light was still on.

Char knocked on the door.

"Come in."

He pushed open the door and went in. Uzumi was sitting behind his desk, a document spread out in front of him. Seeing his adopted son enter, he took off his glasses and rubbed his temples.

"Still up so late?"

"I just finished an important call," Char said, sitting down opposite Uzumi. "With Siegfried Klein."

Uzumi's expression remained unchanged, but his eyes sharpened.

"The moderate leader of PLANT?"

"Yes. We reached a secret agreement—the Kleinists and Orb would support each other if necessary."

Uzmi remained silent for a moment.

"Do you know what this means?" he asked. "What will the Earth Federation think if it becomes known that Orb and PLANT have secret political connections?"

"I know," Char said, "but if we don't do this, we'll never have another chance once Sara takes complete control. At that point, PLANT will become a war machine, and Orb will be caught between the Earth Federation and PLANT, under pressure from both sides."

Uzumi looked at his adopted son, his deep brown eyes filled with complex emotions.

"Your idea is becoming increasingly risky."

"But we're heading in the right direction," Xia said. "When you get to the end of the narrow road, you'll find a smooth road."

Uzmi shook his head and smiled.

"You're always so confident."

"It's not confidence, it's belief," Char said. "I believe in Orb's ideals, I believe in the possibility of peace. As long as this belief remains, the path will never be broken."

Uzumi stood up and walked to the window. Outside, the city of Orb was bathed in nighttime light, with countless lights twinkling in the darkness.

"Siegel Klein is a good man," he said. "I met him at an international conference more than a decade ago. Back then, he was already working for peace. And after all these years, he's still doing the same thing."

"But his strength is waning," Xia said. "Sara's radicals are swallowing up his positions."

"So you're going to back him up?"

"Orb will be the backbone of all peace-loving forces," Char said. "Isn't this the path we, as a neutral nation, have chosen?"

Uzumi turned around and looked at Char.

"You did the right thing," he said. "Keep going."

A few days later, Char accidentally opened a recording of Lacus Clyne's concert in his office at Dawn Corporation.

It was a small performance at PLANT a few months ago. The stage wasn't big, and there were only a few hundred audience members, but when the thirteen-year-old girl began to sing, the entire venue seemed to be enveloped by a strange power.

Her voice was clear and gentle, like a mountain stream or a spring breeze. The lyrics are a traditional PLANT folk song, telling a story about "returning home"—a traveler longs for his hometown under a distant starry sky, and eventually finds his way home under the guidance of starlight.

After listening to the song, Xia remained silent for a long time.

"VEDA," he said, "is analyzing this recording."

"Analysis... data on sound wave frequency, harmonic components, and heart rate changes of the audience (extracted from publicly available videos) shows that Lux Klein's singing has a special psychological effect. Her vocal frequencies resonate with the alpha wave frequencies of the human brain, inducing a state of relaxation and empathy."

"Is it innate?"

"Partly innate, partly trained. But one thing is certain: her abilities are on a completely different level from ordinary singers. She may... possess some kind of special talent from birth."

Char thought of the Newtypes of the Universal Century (UC). In the UC era, the Newtypes' telepathic abilities sometimes manifested through art forms—music, painting, poetry. Did Lacus Clyne possess similar potential? In the SEED world, there was no concept of "Newtypes," but who could guarantee that this awakening wouldn't manifest in another form?

"VEDA," he said, "marked Lux ​​Klein as a 'key person of interest'."

"Instruction recorded. Reason?"

"Because she may be the most precious peace ambassador in the world," Xia said. "And we need to protect everyone who is willing to work for peace."

January 31, CE68, the last day of January.

Char stood on the observation deck of the Dawn Society, holding the recorder of the encrypted communication terminal in his hand. It contained a summary of his conversation with Higel, as well as the "protocol" consisting of only two paragraphs.

As dawn breaks on the horizon, a new day is about to begin.

"VEDA," he said, "how long do you think Siegel Klein can hold out?"

"Based on current data analysis, Senator Siegel's influence on the PLANT Supreme Council is declining at a rate of three percent per month. At this rate, by mid-CE69, he will have lost enough votes to block Sarah's key proposal."

"Before that, we must make all the necessary preparations."

"agree."

Char took a deep breath and put the encrypted terminal into his pocket.

"Inform Mina Sahak that I need to discuss the Space Force's further expansion plans with her. Inform Erica Simmons that the construction progress of the Izumo-class needs to be accelerated. Inform Ron Mitchell that the Griffin Squadron's training intensity should be increased by another level."

"All notifications have been sent."

Char raised his head and looked up at the starry sky.

The direction of PLANT was no longer visible in the morning light. But he knew that in some colony in that direction, a thirteen-year-old girl was comforting people with her songs, and a weary politician was making a final effort for peace.

They are not alone.

Because Orb is becoming their support.