The galaxy remained in a state of fragile balance, the scars of recent conflicts still fresh across both Earth and the space colonies. Amid this tense and precarious environment, a new series of events began to unfold in the island nation of Orb—one of the few remaining territories to proclaim neutrality in a world increasingly divided. The arrival of the warship Minerva would mark a new turning point.
The Minerva Arrives in Orb
After participating in intense battles across multiple regions, ZAFT’s flagship, the Minerva, received permission to dock at Orb’s harbors. This event was more than a mere technical stop or an operational rest—it was a politically symbolic gesture: a military vessel from a Coordinated power setting foot on neutral ground. Aboard the Minerva were key figures, including the young commander Talia Gladys, the skilled pilot Shinn Asuka—himself a native of Orb—and Athrun Zala, a veteran of the previous war, operating under the alias Alex Dino.
The population of Orb, though accustomed to diplomatic tensions, watched the landing closely. For many, ZAFT’s presence on their soil was a cause for concern. For others, it was an opportunity to observe the Coordinators’ stance up close. Meanwhile, the crew of the Minerva was granted short leave to rest on land, offering them a brief respite from accumulated tensions.
Cagalli Yula Athha: The Burden of Leadership
At the heart of Orb’s capital, Cagalli Yula Athha—young leader and heir to the pacifist legacy of her father, Uzumi Nara Athha—was faced with a series of state dilemmas. The presence of ZAFT on national soil stirred public unease and deepened fissures within her own cabinet. Militarist voices and advocates for an alliance with the Earth Alliance were gaining strength. Behind closed doors, high-ranking officials and corporate interests conspired to steer Orb toward a new course—one increasingly aligned with Earth-based powers.
During the Minerva’s stay, Cagalli accessed classified documents and intercepted communications. What she discovered was deeply alarming: advanced plans were underway to sign a military cooperation treaty with the Earth Alliance, effectively abandoning the neutrality that Orb had defended with blood in past conflicts. Moreover, these plans included the production and deployment of new mobile suits, funded and overseen by foreign powers.
This revelation deeply shook the young Athha. On one hand, she bore the responsibility of protecting her nation; on the other, she knew that submitting to hawkish policies could lead to yet another devastating war. Isolated within her own government and pressured from all sides, Cagalli realized that time was running out for her to take a firm stand.
Athrun Zala: Between the Past and the Future
While Cagalli struggled with the sovereignty crisis in Orb, Athrun Zala—former elite soldier and key figure in the previous war—was experiencing his own inner conflict. Though sent as an observer by the PLANT Supreme Council, his mission was far more complex: to evaluate the situation on Earth and offer a critical perspective to ZAFT’s chairman, Gilbert Dullindal.
During his stay in Orb, Athrun witnessed Cagalli’s emotional state as well as the mounting political friction. His connection to the Athha heir was more than professional; they shared a deep personal history, forged in battlefields and political corridors. Seeing her ensnared in webs of intrigue affected him profoundly.
At this crossroads, Athrun made a decisive choice. Realizing the urgency of the moment—and perhaps the need to act beyond the chaos of Earth—he resolved to return to the PLANT colonies to meet with Gilbert Dullindal personally. His goal: to understand firsthand the intentions of ZAFT’s leader and determine whether the Coordinators were once again marching toward war, or if a just new order could still be built.
The decision was not made lightly. Returning to PLANT meant facing his own ghosts: the legacy of his father, Patrick Zala, whose extremist views left behind deep wounds; the shadow of former comrades; and the weight of past decisions that still haunted him.
Gilbert Dullindal and the Chessboard of Power
Looming in the background of these events was the increasingly influential figure of Gilbert Dullindal. As current chairman of the PLANT Supreme Council, Dullindal had earned a reputation for strategic brilliance, a moderate tone, and a keen ability to read political currents. Many saw him as a reformist leader; others viewed him as a calculating master pulling strings behind a well-mannered façade.
Athrun’s return to PLANT also carried political symbolism: someone with moral legitimacy and experience on both sides of the conflict was seeking to understand—and perhaps question—the direction Dullindal was taking. The conversation between them, soon to occur, would have consequences resonating far beyond ZAFT’s borders.
Tension in Orb: A Calm Before the Storm
Meanwhile, in Orb, the Minerva remained on standby. Though its crew enjoyed a brief break, the atmosphere was anything but relaxed. Political maneuvers intensified, and rumors of pending agreements with the Earth Alliance became increasingly persistent. The fact that a ZAFT ship was docked in Orb while its leaders negotiated with Earth powers did not go unnoticed.
Amid this environment, Shinn Asuka—the prodigy pilot of the Minerva and native son of Orb—began showing signs of internal conflict. Though loyal to ZAFT, his emotional bond with his homeland created contradictions that began to surface. For him, as for many others, the concept of loyalty was beginning to fracture in the face of present-day complexities.
The arrival of the Minerva in Orb was more than a logistical event. It represented the intersection of multiple political, personal, and ideological forces. In the quiet decisions of leaders like Cagalli Yula Athha and Athrun Zala, the fate of an entire era was being written.
Cagalli faced the collapse of the ideals her father had defended to his death. Athrun, for his part, was heading toward a renewed confrontation with ideas of power, control, and freedom. And Orb, ever proud of its independence, stood on the brink of being dragged—once again—into the heart of a galactic conflict that seemed never-ending.
History would remember these days not for their battles, but for the silent decisions made amid the noise of power. Decisions that, though far from the battlefield, would determine the course of the war to come.