Crossing Orb: Newtype Commander

December 31, CE58, Lunar New Year's Eve.

Char stood on the highest observation deck of the Dawn Society, overlooking the entire city of Orb. Fireworks burst in the night sky, their colorful lights reflecting on his face.

Erica Simmons stood beside him. The two had been corresponding for eight years, and this was their first time meeting face-to-face.

"So, you are 'X'." Erica looked at the thirteen-year-old boy, her tone complex, "the one who wrote me technical discussion letters for eight years."

"Yes," Xia said. "Thank you for not giving up on those 'absurd' ideas."

"You're only thirteen." Erica took a deep breath. "Do you know that the theories you proposed in your letter—Minovsky particles, thermonuclear reactors, beam weapons—if presented in public, any scientist would say you're crazy."

"But you didn't."

"Because I checked your formulas. They're correct." Erica looked at him. "Who exactly are you?"

"A man who wants to change the world." Char turned his head and looked at the distant starry sky. "Erica, I need your help for the next ten years. I want to establish a completely new technological system in Orb—from energy to materials, from propulsion to weapons. These technologies will far surpass this era."

"and then?"

"Then, when war breaks out—which it will inevitably break out—Orb will have the power to protect itself."

Erica remained silent for a long time.

Do you have any plans?

"Yes." Xia took a document from his pocket and handed it to her. "This is a technology roadmap for the next ten years. The first priority is energy—without clean, efficient, and sustainable energy, everything else is just empty talk."

Erica took the document and glanced through it briefly. Her pupils gradually dilated.

"This...this is impossible. These technologies..."

"Anything is possible," Char said. "As long as you believe me."

Another round of fireworks bursts in the night sky.

Erica closed the file and took a deep breath.

"Okay. I'll do it with you."

Char smiled and looked up at the starry sky once more.

In his mind, countless technical documents were slowly being unlocked—Minovsky physics, GN particle theory, VEDA system architecture, MS design blueprints… Each document was a piece of a puzzle, and he would use these pieces to piece together a completely new future.

But he has ten years to prepare before that.

Ten years later, in CE68.

War is coming. Returning home and assuming office (CE58)

Asgard Residence

The Asha family mansion is located on a high point in Orb City. It is a building that blends traditional Japanese style with modern design. The mansion is not large, but it has an elegant layout. Several cherry trees are planted in the courtyard, and at this moment, in late autumn, fallen leaves cover the paths.

As Char entered the mansion, a blonde little girl ran from the end of the corridor.

"Brother! Brother's back!"

That was Kagari Yura Asha, Uzumi's only daughter, who had just turned three this year. She was wearing a pale yellow dress, her golden hair was tied into two small braids, and her round little face was filled with an innocent and radiant smile.

Char crouched down and caught the little Cagalli who lunged at him.

"Cagali, you've grown so much." He picked up his sister, a rare gentle smile appearing on his lips.

"Did your brother bring Cagalli a present?" the little girl asked expectantly, blinking her big amber eyes.

"I brought it." Xia took out a small seashell pendant from his pocket—it was found on a small island in the South Pacific, and he polished it himself to make a simple necklace. "My brother found it on a very, very far beach."

"So beautiful!" Cagalli happily put on the necklace and twirled around in the hallway. "Cagali will wear it forever!"

Uzumi stood aside, watching this scene with eyes full of tenderness.

"She misses you very much," Uzumi said. "Although her knowledge of you is limited to videos, she nods every time I ask her, 'Do you miss your brother?'"

"Me too, Father." Char put Cagalli down and looked at Uzumi. "I miss home every day."

Late at night, after Cagalli had gone to sleep, Char and Uzumi sat in the study of the mansion.

The study was small, but it had a rich collection of books. On the wall hung a calligraphy scroll that read "初心忘るべからず" (Don't forget your original intention), written by Uzumi's father, and it was the Asuka family motto.

Uzumi poured two cups of tea and handed one to Char.

"Tell me," Uzumi said, leaning back in his chair. "What have you seen in these past eight years?"

Xia took the teacup, but didn't drink it. Instead, he pondered for a moment.

"I have seen how hatred breeds, how war brews, and how good people struggle to survive in chaos," he said. "I have also seen hope—in Scandinavia, Coordinators and Naturals can live together in peace; in refugee camps in Africa, people of different races help each other; and in PLANT, people like Siegel Klein are still working for peace."

"So where do you think the problem lies?"

"The problem is that the soil of peace is too fragile, and the seeds of hatred are too easy to take root." Char's voice was calm yet heavy. "Blue cosmos incites the fear of natural men, and Patrick Sara incites the pride of regulators. These two emotions—fear and pride—are the easiest things to manipulate. When they are ignited, reason disappears."

Uzmi listened in silence.

"I saw a ten-year-old Coordinator girl beaten to death." Char's voice trembled slightly. "I held her and felt her life slowly slipping away. At that moment, I understood—we can't expect hatred to disappear on its own, nor can we expect everyone to be rational. Some people choose hatred, so we must choose to protect them."

"So what are you going to do?"

"Make Orb stronger." Char raised his head, looking directly into Uzumi's eyes. "Not for invasion, but for protection. Not to make others submit, but to make them dare not easily offend us. Orb's ideals are not wrong, but ideals need power as a backing. Ideals without the protection of power are just empty words."

Uzmi remained silent for a long time.

"Do you know what this means?" he finally said. "If you go down this path, you'll face many enemies. Nations will see you as a threat, Sara will see you as an obstacle. Even within Ob, there will be people who oppose you."

"I know," Xia said, "but I'm ready."

Uzumi looked at the boy, a resolute flame burning in his deep red eyes. He knew that this child no longer needed his protection.

"Okay." Uzumi nodded. "Then let's walk this path together."

United Obu Headquarters

On December 1, CE58, the United Chiefs of the Obu Federation held an inauguration ceremony for the representative chiefs.

Orb's political system differs from that of other countries on Earth. It is a united chief state composed of multiple clans, with the supreme leader called the "Representative Chief," who is jointly elected by the five major families—Asuka, Sahak, Makabe, Kisaragi, and Kazama.

Uzmi Nara Askha officially assumed the position of representative leader on this day.

This was the pinnacle of his life, and also the beginning of his responsibility. Orb was at a historical crossroads—the relationship between the Earth Federation and PLANT was increasingly tense, and the shadow of war loomed over the entire world. Taking office as the representative leader at this moment meant that he had to make a choice for the fate of this nation.

The inauguration ceremony was held in the parliament hall in downtown Obu.

The hall was simply decorated but dignified, with the Orb flag hanging in the center of the stage. Representatives of the five major families, high-ranking officials of the Orb Defense Force, the technical director of the Dawn Society, and guests from all walks of life gathered together.

Char sat in the first row of the audience. He was dressed in Orb's traditional formal attire—a dark blue haori and hakama, with the Athha family crest pinned to his chest. The thirteen-year-old boy stood out conspicuously among a group of adults.

Cagalli sat beside him; the three-year-old girl clearly didn't understand the importance of the occasion, looking around curiously. Char gently took her hand, signaling her to be quiet.

"Brother, is Dad going to say something?" Cagalli asked softly.

"It'll be soon," Xia said softly. "We need to listen carefully."

Uzmi stepped onto the podium.

He was dressed in the formal attire of a high-ranking official—a white robe with a dark blue sash and a badge representing the leader on his chest. He stood tall and straight, his face serious, his gaze sweeping across the room, and the entire hall fell silent.

"Fellow citizens of Orb, distinguished guests," Uzumi's voice was steady and powerful, "Today, I stand here with a profound sense of responsibility."

"The United Chiefs of Orb is a nation composed of people. We do not ask about origins, races, or bloodlines—anyone who agrees with Orb's ideals and is willing to work with Orb to safeguard peace is our compatriot."

Applause erupted from the audience.

"But we are living in a dangerous time," Uzumi's voice grew heavy. "The rift between Earth and PLANT is widening, hatred and prejudice are spreading. How will Orb find its place in this vortex?"

He paused for a moment, his gaze sweeping across the entire room.

"My answer is—Aub must go its own way. Not to invade other countries, not to be invaded by other countries, and not to intervene in the conflicts of other countries. This is not escapism, but a choice. We choose to solve problems peacefully, we choose not to be driven by hatred, and we choose to be a lighthouse in the storm."

"However, ideals alone are not enough. Peace needs strength to safeguard it, and neutrality needs power to guarantee it. Therefore, I announce that Orb will launch an unprecedented national plan to lay a solid foundation for our future."

Uzmi picked up a remote control from the podium and pressed a button.

On the giant screen behind him, a stunning CG animation appeared—a colossal building rose from the sea at the equator, reaching the sky and connecting Earth with the space station.

"This is the future of Orb—the Orbital Elevator Project."

The entire audience erupted in uproar.

The orbital elevator—a mega-project that exists in theory but has never been actually attempted to build. Its core idea is to construct a super-tall building on the equator, using the centrifugal force of the Earth's rotation to transport goods and people from the ground to outer space, without the enormous costs and risks associated with rocket launches.

If completed, Orb will have the ability to independently access space, no longer relying on the space technology of other countries. This is a strategic project capable of changing the fate of a nation.

"The construction period for the orbital elevator is expected to be ten years," Uzumi continued. "It will bring unprecedented economic and technological benefits to Orb. More importantly, it will make Orb a truly independent nation capable of entering space—not relying on the charity of others, but on its own strength."

Some people in the audience began to whisper among themselves.

"Ten years? Isn't that too optimistic?"

"How much funding will this require? Can Orb's finances support it?"

"What about the technology? Do we have the relevant technological reserves?"

Uzumi ignored the comments and continued, "The orbital elevator is not Orb's project alone. I call on scientists, engineers, and technicians from all over the world to join this project. Whether you are a Natural or a Coordinator, no matter which country you come from, as long as you agree with the ideals of peace, Orb welcomes you."

"This is our gift to the future of humanity—a bridge connecting the Earth and the universe."

Char sat in the audience, his eyes glued to the design drawings of the rail elevator on the screen.

The orbital elevator in the anime adopts a traditional "cable-type" design scheme—carbon nanotube cables, electromagnetic climbers, counterweight space stations... These are all known technological frameworks in the SEED world. Although magnificent, they are not beyond the capabilities of this era.

But just as Uzumi was explaining the design details, Char suddenly felt a strong shock in his mind.

It was an indescribable feeling—like a long-closed gate suddenly being opened, and a flood of information pouring into his consciousness.

he saw...