She sat in a simple wooden chair in the middle of the well lit room. The only other people in the room were the seven commissioners, facing her and sat in comfortable chairs on a raised platform.

"State your name, rank, and affiliation," said the Chair of the Commission, a balding older man.

"Ann Une, formerly a colonel of the Organization of the Zodiac." She looked straight ahead as she spoke, carefully keeping her expression neutral.

"You have been charged with War Crimes, and Crimes against Humanity. How do you plead?"

"Guilty."

The silence felt heavy, and she wondered if her answer had surprised the panel.

"Colonel Une, can you describe what your role in the Oz organization was?"

"I was one of two officers who reported directly to Colonel Khushrenada. I served as his personal assistant, assassin, and representative." She remained calm as she spoke. "I had the authority to order troops and access to the Mobile Suits. The only one who could countermand my orders was Colonel Khushrenada himself."

"Do you have any regrets?" This voice was soft, and Une wondered if the woman did not hope the answer was a simple "yes."

She raised her chin slightly. "The ideals of Oz under Treize Khushrenada were noble and worthy ideals. However, the methods we used to try to reach those goals were less so, and I regret each death, whether caused by myself directly or indirectly."

"Lady Une," began a man who sounded far too young to be on the Commission, but she knew he was not the youngest, "I'm sure you've heard the rumors. Were you competent to make decisions, and are you competent to stand trial now?"

Despite her attempt to maintain a neutral expression, her lips quirked in distaste. "I fully realize that for my actions, there are many who believe, rightly so, that I deserve to go through Hell. However true that may be, I have put forth an effort to avoid these rumors of which you speak. I was competent then, and I am so now." She was quiet for a moment, "There are moments I wish I could take the easy out those rumors offer me, but I acted in full mental capacity."

The young man pressed, "Mis...excuse me, Colonel Khushrenada did not manipulate you in anyway?"

Une smiled slightly before recovering her mask. "Treize Khushrenada shared his dream with me, and I believed in it, and shared it. I was willing to do whatever it took to make it come true, to sacrifice whatever it required. In that much, he did influence me. I admired him, his devotion and grace, but he in no way exerted undue influence over me."

The silence that followed her answer stretched on, until the Chairman asked, "Are there any other questions for Colonel Une?" After a moment, he continued, "Colonel Une, do you have anything else you'd like to say?"

"Not until after the Commission has passed its verdict, no."

"Very well. As you know, for the sake of transparency, these proceedings are being broadcast live. Therefore, rather than asking you to wait outside, I would ask that you remain seated as we confer."

She nodded, having already been aware of this, but figuring such was for the cameras.

The first voice to break the silence was that of Minister Darlian. "I am one of those who was hurt by Colonel Une directly. In front of me, she threw the bomb which caused my father's death, and then tried to kill me. I can sympathize with those who demand justice in the form of her own death. However, I have also seen first hand the efforts that she has made toward peace and her commitment for a lasting peace. I greatly disagree with the means employed, not just by her but by others of rank within various factions of the war. However, I do believe that her commitment to peace is real. I vote, and encourage you do the same, that we issue a full pardon without condition."

Une was not surprised by the speech. After all, she'd volunteered to allow the young woman to kill her herself if she so chose, and the fact that Une was alive to be tried was evidence of Relena's perspective.

The next voice, however, did surprise her. An older gentleman spoke. "I agree. Were we to sentence Colonel Une to death, that would provide a sense of vengeance to those she's hurt. We would not, however, be safer, nor would her death move us closer to peace."

He sighed. "Besides, we must remember that war was, in fact, eminent. Even if Colonel Khushrenada or Oz had never existed, the war between the Colonies and the Alliance would have happened. They tried to show the failure and futility of war, and there is no question that escalation and manipulation were the wrong way to go about doing so, but they were trying to work in a world we had created. Therefore, I cast my vote with Minister Darlian."

After that, Une did not fully hear the words of the others. That the old man understood shocked her, and, in a different situation, she would have expressed her gratitude. Instead, she sat silently as they continued to discuss her fate.

Eventually, their leader said, "Colonel Ann Une, please stand."

She did so.

"The Peace and Reconciliation Commission of the Earth Sphere United Nation and the Colonies pardons you of all your crimes. You are a free woman."