Chapter 3.

No Longer Attainable

It was 0415hrs, and the silence was cold between the three of them. The commander's office was a standard military design. There were two wooden chairs in front of a medium size dark mahogany desk which had the minimum fixtures and accessories to complete one's job. The wall was almost bare except for qualifications, awards, and a large framed print out of Sky' and Stars with the ESUN crest above it behind the desk. The only extravagance in the room was the star embedded windows. There were three large one-way reflective windows on each side of the office. In the center of the middle windows stained a grotesque deep red, green and gold steamed rose. But it wasn't the detailing of the windows which made them extravagant, the windows were of enhanced fiber glass explosive proof technology. Tested with a blast canon constructed for a Gundam, the windows simply absorbed any blast that befall it. The entire office was encased in this technology, making this room one of the safest places on the planet.

They just received the briefing they were alerted to yesterday at Handles under the fiery celebratory sky, the night where a peaceful life seemed attainable. That no longer seemed like the case for Wu Fei Chang anymore.

Sally stood abruptly, joining Wu Fei who was already on his feet, her military heels clunking on the hardwood floor. "Colonel Une, What the -"

"This is cowardice!" He spat venomously.

"Preventer Officer 2Lt Chang, due to the nature of the situation I'll let that outburst go-"

"This is horse crap Colonel Une and you know it! How could you agree to this?"

Now Lady Une was standing, unable to control her own irritation. Lady Une kept her revised look from the war of Endless Waltz, dark brown hair long and straight, and she opted for laser eye surgery over glasses. Her European descent shown through the beautiful structure of her face, but her eyes, those cold blue eyes have never changed. "This wasn't my decision to make, we must agree with ESUN as we are a party of the State" She turned to Sally "And it would be best for you not to question me, Captain Po."

Sally cast her eyes humbly "My apologies Colonel. I just never believed that the ESUN would be in favour of the summons to appear, much less the investigation to begin with."

"So, the ESUN decided to sell me out, even after everything I've done for the earth sphere?" Wu Fei could feel his anger vibrating through his body, he thought for sure the investigation would be thrown out on the account of his final act during the second war, where he traded sides and lead the rebels to fight against Dekim Barton.

"The process is simple, you appear in front of the tribunal, they tell you what you are accused of, you plead not guilty, then the circus show is over." Lady Une sat down in her black ergonomic chair, regaining her composure.

The circus is what Lady Une called the protest of the Earth Alliance Supremacy (EAS), and the Neo Oz Extremist (NOz Extremist). Three years ago, an insurgence of civilians of earth rose up in protest against ESUN's support of the colonies, protesting that the Earth governments sustainability efforts are in grand favouritism towards the colonies, leaving its own people to fend for itself. This group is known as the EAS, and 2 years ago, after their thorough investigation, the EAS have been calling for the criminalization of any prominent military personal who was actively involved with the second attempt of operation meteor. Due to the mass pardon in AC 196, all military personnel who was present were pardoned for any involvement in the first war, giving them a clean slate. However, the war of Endless Waltz was fair game. Since Milliardo Zechs Marquise Peacecraft fled earth, defaulting on his tribunal in AC 196, they demanded for the indictment and tribunal for the ex White Fang rebel leader.

Their main targets: Milliardo Zechs Marquise Peacecraft, Mardimia Kushernanda, Trowa Barton, and Wu Fei Chang. It did not take long for the extremist group NOz Extremist to ban wagon the protest, for they believed that any cause that's against the colonies or a colonist is a cause worth fighting for.

At first, their voices started out small with no weight, but history has proven that the more hateful that voice gets, the louder it becomes, and soon citizens of earth had a 'noble' cause to stand behind, and the voice of the EAS became defining. Given Wu Fei involvement in the second war, there was enough evidence to fall within the Earth Sphere Criminal Court (ESCC) jurisdiction. Making Wu Fei the first on the chopping block to have a summons to appear before the ESCC.

"Colonel Une, there must be an alternative, the ESUN is letting a good soldier burn for a war that they helped create." Sally protested.

"There are no alternatives, just the summons, and to be clear it is not as if what they are accusing 2Lt Chang of, is not indeed, true. It's just their actions are very dramati -"

"True?!" Sally's voice went up an octave "They are accusing him of conspiracy and attempt to complicity of genocide, there is nothing true about it!"

"Then what would you call the rebirth of Operation Meteor?" Lady's Une voice went down an octave.

Sally stepped in front of Wu Fei facing Lady Une head on, like how a mother bear charges in front of a predator to protect her young. "We all know that the person who should go on trail for those crimes is you Colonel!"

Lady Une jumped to her feet, slamming her hands on the table and leaned forward "One more insubordinate word out of you Preventer Officer Captain Po, and you'll be facing a little court case of your own!"

"Enough!" He stepped in front of Sally, body tense and eyes fuming. The sound of the two women bickering was scraping at his nerves and the show of Sally jumping to his defense was cutting into his pride. He painstakingly realised that Colonel Une only gave him one decision to make, walk out of this building or be cuffed and dragged.

Less than 24 hours earlier he was starting to enjoy what a life of peace could look like. He had a unit that respected him, laughed with him, and even to some degree, befriended him. There was even a possibility that the one he had an interest in, shared similar feelings. He knew that when he was taken into custody, the publicity of his involvement in the war would be painted as a terrorist of earth for the rest of his life. And he knew in this moment, that the peaceful life he saw for himself was over.

"Let's get this over and done with" He growled out the words bitterly, ignoring Sally sound of exasperation. If he had any freedom as a man left, he would afford himself at least the illusion of calling the shots.

The one end of Lady Une's red lips twitched "Then let me not keep you." She tapped a small black cylinder device in her ear that came to life with a green LED light. "We are ready". She tapped it again and the light went red.

The tension between the three of them was so thick that it became visibly difficult for Sally to breathe calmly. She agitatedly moved towards the window with the large rose and slouched on the frame. "How long is this tribunal going to take Colonel Une? I need my good men on the ground fighting terrorist, not defending their own tail." Wu Fei silently commended Sally for her attempt at being more reserved with her anger. He knew the woman well, if she freely acted on her emotions, she would end up with a court martial.

"Have ever long it takes" Wu Fei looked back at Lady Une and realised she was saying that statement to him. He shifted his wait defensively; this situation already didn't feel right with his intuition. The door suddenly opened and two ESUN Military Police officers walked towards Wu Fei.

"Colonel Une, we are here to take the accused Preventer Officer 2Lt Chang into cus-"

"Understood." Lady Une cut in.

One of the ESCC officers reached for Wu Fei's arm only to have Wu Fei jerk away and step in his face, eyes fierce, "touch my arm and I'll break yours." The officer took a slight step back but maintained his glare.

"You heard the 2Lt" Sally appeared to the man's side with a stare more intimidating. The soldier gave in "Ma'am" and stepped away.

"I just have to appear for the trail and plead not guilty right?" Wu Fei turned his attention towards Lady Une, who now had a deepening crease between her brows. "that's it, and then the circus show is over?" the words came out sharp.

Lady Une reset her face to a blank slate and ever so slightly visibly rolled her tongue over the top of her teeth, like a hesitant snake.

"And then the circus show is over."