Crossing Orb: Newtype Commander

The golden machine's thrusters sprang to full power, transforming it into a golden meteor as it hurtled towards the vanguard. Char's hands gripped the control sticks firmly, his crimson eyes fixed on the six GINNs ahead. His Newtype abilities were fully activated at that moment—he could sense the location of each GINN, the trajectory of every shell, and the emotions of every pilot.

"Char Langlad Athha, take your battle position."

The beam rifle was raised, and orange beams fired in rapid succession. The first shot pierced the cockpit of the foremost GINN, the second hit the thruster of the second GINN, and the third grazed the shoulder armor of the third GINN. All three GINNs were rendered combat incapacitated within three seconds, and the explosions erupted silently in the vacuum.

The remaining three GINNs attempted to retreat in a dispersed manner, but the Golden Frame was faster than them. Char pushed the control stick, and the Golden Frame traced a golden arc in the vacuum, passing between the three GINNs. Beam rifle fires in rapid succession, precisely striking the joints or thrusters of each machine. Not fatal attacks, but paralysis.

"Advance team, the golden machine has eliminated the threat. Repair the damage immediately and continue to converge on the Archangel."

"Received...received." The captain of the USS Montgomery's voice was hoarse. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

The golden machine turned and flew towards the Archangel. But on the return journey, Char saw a familiar figure—the Aegis Gundam. It hadn't participated in the attack on the Archangel, but instead hovered silently in the shadows of the debris field, its green eye sensors fixed on the battlefield.

Char's pupils contracted slightly. Aslan Zala—he was observing, he was waiting, he was hesitating.

"Athrun Zala," Char said calmly, pressing the communication button, "what are you waiting for?"

There was a moment of silence on the communicator, then Aslan's voice came through, tinged with bitterness: "I'm waiting for an answer."

"What's the answer?"

"Why would Kira protect those Naturals? They discriminate against Coordinators, persecute Coordinators, and massacre our fellow citizens with nuclear weapons. Why would he protect them?"

Char was silent for a moment. "Because he saw something you couldn't."

"What?"

"They are also human beings. They are people with names, families, and dreams, just like your fellow countrymen in PLANT."

Silence fell again on the communicator. Then, Aslan's voice rang out, trembling slightly: "Commander-in-Chief Asuka, you don't understand the true nature of Naturals."

"I know them better than you do," Xia said calmly. "Because I have seen their good and their evil. Good and evil are not determined by race, but by the human heart."

Athrun did not answer. The Aegis Gundam's thrusters ignited, and the mobile suit slowly retreated, disappearing into the shadows of the debris field.

Char stared at the departing red mobile suit, a complex emotion flickering in his deep crimson eyes. Athrun Zala—he wasn't a bad person, just a boy blinded by hatred. Like Kira, he needed time to see the truth.

"Commander-in-Chief Ashar, Gold Machine, please return to base," Natal's voice came through the communicator.

"receive."

Bridge of the Archangel.

The battle had been going on for nearly an hour. Both the Golden GINN and the Strike GINN had used up most of their ammunition, but the Kruze team's offensive showed no signs of abating. Twelve of the twenty GINNs had been shot down, but the remaining eight continued their tenacious attack. Of the four G-series units, Duel and Storm were damaged, while Thunder and Aegis had barely participated in the battle.

"Captain, the advance force has entered the rendezvous area!" Natal's voice came from the fire control console. "The 'Montgomery' and 'Post' are approaching and are expected to join the formation in five minutes."

Maru breathed a sigh of relief. "Notify the Golden Machine and the Strike Force to cover the advance team as they enter the main formation. Do not linger in battle; prepare to withdraw."

"yes!"

The Golden Machine and the Strike streaked across the starry sky, providing cover for the two damaged Nelson-class battleships as they approached the Archangel. Eight GINNs attempted to pursue, but were repelled by the Golden Machine's beam rifles. Duel and Storm tried to flank them, but the Strike's wing-shaped aerial combat backpack provided enough maneuverability to counter their attacks.

"Kira, the advance force has formed up," Char's voice came through the communicator. "Prepare to withdraw."

"clear."

The Strike Gundam's thrusters ignited, propelling the machine toward the Archangel. The golden Gundam followed closely behind, its beam rifle always aimed at the pursuers.

Bridge of the USS Wesalis.

Kruze stood before the holographic screen, his eyes behind the mask fixed on the receding green dots. The Archangel, Montgomery, and Post—the three warships were sailing at full speed toward the moon, already beyond the optimal pursuit range.

"Captain, should we continue the pursuit?" the adjutant's voice came from behind.

"Let's not pursue anymore." Kruze turned around. "We've already suffered enough losses. Twelve GINNs have been shot down, Duel and Storm have been damaged, and Thunder and Aegis have been practically useless. Continuing to pursue will only increase unnecessary losses."

"But—Archangel—"

"Next time," Kruse interrupted him, a slight smile playing on his lips behind his mask, "they won't be so lucky next time."

He walked to the captain's chair, sat down, and leaned back. "Order all teams to retreat. Return to base and replenish ammunition and fuel."

"yes!"

Kruze closed his eyes. The image of that golden machine on the battlefield flashed through his mind—Char Langlad Ashar, the Crimson Comet. That person was like a light on the battlefield, illuminating all the dark corners. But he knew that light eventually fades.

"Char Langlad Ashar," he whispered, "I look forward to it. I look forward to the day you despair."

Bridge of the Archangel.

After the battle, the atmosphere on the bridge relaxed considerably. Thor leaned back in his chair and let out a long sigh; Milia put down her camera and rubbed her aching shoulders; Sai adjusted his glasses, a slight smile playing on his lips. But Char remained unmoved. He stood by the porthole, staring at the starry sky outside, a heavy, unyielding gloom hanging over his deep red eyes.

"Commander-in-Chief Asuka, what are you thinking about?" Maru's voice came from behind.

Char didn't turn around. "I'm wondering how long this war will last."

Maru walked over to him and stood beside him at the porthole. "Do you think it will take a long time?"

"A long time," Xia's voice was calm. "Maybe three years, maybe five, maybe ten. As long as the hatred remains, the war will not end."

Maru was silent for a moment. "Then what do we do? Continue fighting?"

"Fighting is necessary." Char turned to look into her eyes, "but not for victory, but for peace. To give those who want to end the war a chance to speak."

A moment of silence fell over the bridge. Then, a soft voice came from a corner of the bridge.

"General Asha is right."

All eyes turned to the voice. Lux Clyne stood at the entrance to the bridge, holding a pink Haro in her arms, her eyes gleaming with a calm, resolute light.

"War doesn't end with hatred," she said softly but clearly. "It ends with understanding. If we can understand each other, hatred will dissipate."

Char looked at her, a glint of light flashing in his deep red eyes. "Miss Lux, do you have a way to make the people on the ship understand each other?"

Lux was silent for a moment, then nodded. "Yes."

She walked to the broadcast console on the bridge and slid her finger across the control panel. A pink Haro jumped out of her arms and floated in the air, a smiling emoji appearing on the screen.

"Passengers aboard the Archangel, this is Lacus Clyne." Her voice resounded throughout the ship via the internal broadcast system. "I know there are Naturals among you, and Coordinators among you. I know there are soldiers among you, and civilians among you. I know there are PLANT members among you, and Earthlings among you. But at this moment, we are all on the same ship. We are all on the same ship, sailing towards the same destination."

Her voice was as soft as a stream.

"The following song is dedicated to you. It is dedicated to all those who have lost their homes in war, to all those who have lost their loved ones in war, and to all those who still believe in peace in war."

She closed her eyes and began to hum softly. There were no lyrics, only the melody, flowing like water.

The melody of "Proof of Water" echoed throughout the ship.

Inside the hangar, Kira sat in the cockpit of the Strike Gundam, his fingers loosening their grip on the control stick. His amber eyes were fixed on the speakers on the ceiling, a slight smile playing on his lips. He remembered the ruins of Heliopolis, the mother and child floating in the vacuum, and Athrun's silhouette against the debris field.

"Miss Lux," he said softly, "your singing... truly has a healing power."

Inside the medical bay, the wounded listened quietly. Some shed tears, some closed their eyes, and some gripped the hands of those around them. The soldiers wounded in battle, the civilians who lost loved ones in the ruins, the children trembling with fear—they found a brief moment of peace in Lux's song.

In the corridor, Shihe leaned against the bulkhead, her eyes fixed on the speakers on the ceiling. She was a Coordinator, a soldier of ZAFT, and should be irreconcilably opposed to everyone on this ship. But at this moment, with this song playing, she forgot the war, forgot the hatred, forgot who she was. She was simply someone listening to a song, someone moved by the music.

On the bridge, Maru leaned back in her chair, the ceiling light reflected in her brown eyes. Natal stood before the fire control console, her fingers unfurling from the touchscreen, her eyes fixed on the floor. Mu leaned against the first officer's seat, eyes closed, a slight smile playing on his lips. Thor hugged his knees, burying his head in his arms. Miriam held her camera, looking at Lacus's face through the viewfinder, her finger on the shutter button, but she didn't press it. She didn't want to interrupt this moment.

Char stood by the porthole, his crimson eyes fixed on the starry sky outside. Lacus's song echoed in his consciousness, seeping into every corner like water. His Newtype abilities allowed him to "sense" the emotions of everyone on board—the sadness, fear, confusion, and that faint, yet still present, hope.

"Lux," he thought to himself, "maybe you really can change the world. Not with force, but with your song."

At the edge of the Junius 7 wreckage area, a ZAFT reconnaissance ship cruised through the debris field. On the bridge, a young Coordinator officer stared at the full-band communications receiver, his brow slightly furrowed.

"Sir, we've intercepted an unidentified signal. It's a song—it sounds like Lux Klein's 'Proof of Water'."

Lux Clyne? She's still alive?

"Uncertain. The signal originated from a Combine warship—the Archangel. She might be on that ship."

The officer paused for a moment. "Pass this message on to PLANT. The Klein faction will be interested."

"Yes."

Outside the window, the wreckage of Junius 7 slowly rotated in the starry sky, like the skeleton of a giant. In that resting place of the dead, Lux's song was spreading through radio waves to every corner of the universe. Not as a weapon, but as hope.

On February 17, CE71, the Archangel rendezvoused with the advance force of the Eighth Fleet and successfully broke through. The pursuit by Kreuzer's team temporarily ceased, but everyone knew that this was only the calm before the storm.

Lacus Clyne sang "Proof of Water" over the ship's intercom. Her song soothed over eight hundred weary hearts and gave many more the belief that the war would eventually end and peace would come.

At least at this moment, on this ship, and in everyone's hearts, hope has not been extinguished.