Last Resistance to Peace
Chapter 1: March A.C. 204
by Scarlet Eve
A/N: I'm calling this an alternate timeline - or if you want, I mixed up elements of the original series and wrote something. I really only did it to make Relena more badass than she already is. Enjoy!
Alternate Timeline, A.C. 204
March
The country of the Sanc Kingdom sat perched on the edge of the North Sea, overlooking deep blue waters. Rocky cliffs jut out from the sea, where resilient vegetation clung to life in the cracks of the cliffs. Sprawling forests and fields stretched on dotted by small towns and a few bustling cities. The country's capital, Newport City, blended in the landscape, bumping up against the cliffs of the sea, a forest, and fading out into a field where livestock grazed. Though boasting a population of a few million people, Newport City was unobtrusive, the citizens ensuring that their impact on the Earth would be minimal.
This was the view from Queen Relena Peacecraft's office inside the Sanc Kingdom Assembly building. She stood at the large window, staring out over the scene. It was still early spring so the view was dull, but once the trees, bushes, and flowers began to bloom, the country would be covered in a wash of bright colors.
Relena would do almost anything for some bright colors.
She had just left an assembly meeting to discuss the recent activities of the Romefeller Foundation. They wanted the Sanc Kingdom, meaning Relena, to join the Foundation. Previously, she had only known it as a group of politicians, aristocratic families, and the few who still retained royalty status, such as herself. They were seen as doing a lot of charity work, throwing lavish parties, and networking, which was why Relena couldn't understand why they wanted her to join so badly.
Normally, she would just politely say no, but this time, there were some serious undertones of a militaristic attack on the country if she didn't say yes. She hadn't even known that Romefeller possessed any type of military power.
The Assembly had met to discuss these threats, but no consensus was reached, and Relena couldn't seem to make up her own mind. She feared her country being attacked, but was desperately clinging to the idea of a pacifist nation, as her family had maintained for centuries.
But times were changing, and weapons were getting larger. It ached Relena's heart to know that in a secret hangar, hiding in the forest near her family home, was a sizable mobile suit army, capable of protecting the country long enough for the citizens to evacuate. It went against her family's ideals, but she loathed the thought of her people being slaughtered more than losing status as a pacifist nation.
"I hope you'll forgive me, father," Relena said, her eyes shifting towards the area of Newport City where her family was buried. Encased in a marble tomb were the remains of many generations of Peacecrafts. Relena could only hope that she would live long enough to right her wrongs and deserve to be buried there as well.
A knock at the door of her office pulled Relena from her depressing thoughts. She turned.
"Come in."
The door opened, revealing her one of closest confidants, Major Sally Po. Sally stepped in the room, wearing the lavender uniform of a Sanq Kingdom officer. Her brown hair fell over her shoulders in a double twist, her eyes nearly matching the color of the uniform. However, Sally's usual calm was gone, and she looked frantic.
"Your Majesty, there's a problem!" Sally cried while crossing the room in several long strides. Relena's heart lurched in her chest.
"What?"
"Just come with me." Sally grabbed Relena's hand and pulled her along behind. Quite out of the ordinary, but Relena and Sally had been close since childhood, so the Queen let it slide. Sally pulled Relena from her office, and only let go once they started a brisk pace down the hall. "The Romefeller Foundation is making an announcement."
"It's not about Sanc, is it?" Relena asked.
"I don't think so, but it's going to affect us, and most likely, the decision of whether or not the country joins Romefeller." Relena cringed. On the next floor down, Sally led Relena down to the control room for the the Sanc Kingdom Military in the lower level of the palace. Several technicians and a few assembly people already inside the room. On the largest screen, the face of Duke Dermail Catalonia, the head of Romefeller, was speaking.
Romefeller wishes to bring the Earth into a new age, where every country works together for the greater good. No longer will borders cause war, anger, and resentment. Together, we can build a better future for our children, and their children. That's why I want to introduce a new branch of the Romefeller Foundation - the Organization of the Zodiac, OZ. With Chief Commander Treize Kushrenada at the helm, OZ will help countries sort out their differences, so that we can all live together peacefully on this planet.
Relena's mouth dropped open.
"Treize?"
Sally glanced at Relena. "You know him?"
"Yes - I've known their family by proxy for years. Milliardo went to the same military academy as Treize, and they became friends," Relena explained. A few others in the room were staring at her now. "Why would he do this?"
"What do you mean, your Majesty?" one of the assemblymen asked. Relena looked at him.
"Duke Dermail is lying," Relena said. "Romefeller is going to try and take the world by force." A few people gasped.
On the screen, Duke Dermail stepped aside, clapping, while a young, handsome man stepped up to the podium. His light brown hair was elegantly slicked back, and his face was peaceful and smiling. Relena narrowed her eyes.
Thank you for that introduction, Duke Dermail. I am Treize Kushrenada, Chief Commander of OZ, and Chief Representative of Romefeller. I'm am pleased to be heading the operation of OZ, to help bring a more peaceful life to all the citizens of Earth. We Earthlings deserve so much more than endless wars between countries, fighting over resources and land. I know that together, we can calm these battles and find a better way to work together.
Relena turned away. She couldn't listen anymore - everything Duke Dermail and Treize said set off alarm bells in her mind, screaming lies, lies, lies. Relena left the command room and stepped into the hallway. She pressed a hand to her forehead and closed her eyes.
"Are you alright, your Majesty?" Sally asked, suddenly at her side once more.
"I'm fine. I just don't trust Romefeller," Relena said.
"I don't think any of us do," Sally replied. Relena shook her head.
"I should return to my suite."
"Of course."
"Shall I accompany you, your Majesty?" Standing in the doorway was Lieutenant Lucrezia Noin, "unofficially" the long-time sweetheart of Relena's elder brother, Milliardo Peacecraft. She had also been at the same military academy as her brother and Treize. They were still legends at that particular school, having become fast friends, caused trouble, and graduated in the first, second, and third spots of their class. Relena had heard the stories enough times that she could recite them herself.
"Of course." Relena said goodbye to Sally and left the control room with Noin at her side.
A.C. 204
March
Inside a mobile suit hangar, deep underground, the sounds of welding, machinery moving parts, power tools, and shouts of workers filled the air. All manner of skilled workers, wearing orange or yellow coveralls and white hard hats, were spread throughout the hangar, working on the grandest and most dangerous weapons the world has seen - the Gundams.
Five glorious mobile suits stood in a row, half completed. More and more gundanium alloy arrived at the factory on a daily basis, one of the key components to these magnificent weapons. And soon, they would be completed.
And soon, the plan would progress onto the next phase.
Chief Commander Treize Kushrenada of OZ watched the activity from a catwalk, high above the floor of the hangar. From his vantage point, he could see the five scientists responsible for drawing the plans for the Gundams. Each scientist had two guards flanking them, ensuring no one tried to commit suicide or involve themselves in some "accident." They had not come willingly when ordered to, and Treize was not hesitant to use force.
Footsteps clanked on the metal catwalk. Treize didn't bother to see who it was - he already knew.
"Colonel Une," Treize said by way of greeting, his eyes still on the Gundam that would be called Wing.
"Sir." The footsteps halted. Treize glanced at the woman now standing at his side. She was saluting him.
"You only need to salute when something has gone horribly wrong," Treize said, flashing her a charming smile before shifting his gaze back to the Gundams.
"Sir?" Colonel Une hesitated. When Treize said nothing, she lowered her hand to her side and stepped up to the railing. "Each Gundam is approximately ninety percent complete," she said. "Barring unforeseen problems, the Gundams should be complete in a matter of weeks."
"That's excellent news," Treize said, a peaceful smile gracing his face. "And the pilots?"
"The training is going… well. Some are more willful than the others, but they'll be ready to begin piloting when the Gundams are complete," Une said.
"Have you been able to determine which pilot will use which Gundam?"
"Yes, sir. They are-" Treize cut her off.
"Let it be a surprise. I have my own guesses," Treize said. Une stared at him, mouth slightly agape for a moment, but nodded.
"Of course."
Treize finally turned to face the young Colonel. Her red uniform was pristine, as always, and her brown hair was braided and curled against the back of her head, in her usual style. The minimal frames of her glasses reflected back small glints of light.
"This will be our greatest triumph," Treize said. "With the help of the Gundams, we will usher in a new era for the Romefeller Foundation."
-SE