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PHASE 001
The Obsigno Republic
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A casual observer taking a stroll by the picturesque campus of the De Celtigar University in what had once been the politically independent United States of South America would hardly have thought that on this particular day in the year seventy of the Cosmic Era, the beginnings of a revolution against the occupying Atlantic Federation were taking hold within its hallowed halls. Nevertheless, there was no other word for it and even those most willing to disparage the ability of the former United States of South America to overcome the vicelike grip of the Atlantic Federation with its rather formidable military strength would have been forced to admit that as well.
"Ladies and Gentleman, I believe I have said enough." Marius Haberi, a former politician that had become increasingly significant in the former USSA as a figure ardently opposed to the rule of the Atlantic Federation was a commanding orator on his worst days, and as his earlier speech on the ample justifications behind the cause of fighting for their nation had shown, this was certainly not one of his 'worst days' by any means. "This day does not belong to me, but the one who has done the most for the cause of independence, has brought to us the clearest vision of the only way peace can be achieved in these turbulent days, she who singularly represents all that we had stood for and all that we stand for even now in the midst of adversity: I present to you, Miss Lydia De Celtigar!"
As a young woman with dark hair, dressed in a gown befitting the princess of the most fanciful story, stepped up to the ornate podium hung with the banners and insignia of a country that was no more, the entire audience fell silent. If one had thought the respectful attention given to Marius Haberi was something formidable, they would certainly have lacked the words to describe the absolute lack of sound as the woman – she looked young enough that most would hesitate on whether to call her a child – took her place behind the podium, with a guarded and deliberate smile.
Marius Haberi smiled inwardly, knowing almost for a certainty the reason behind that stunned and sudden silence. It wasn't that his reputed political skill had apparently given way to madness or at least blatant stupidity as he suddenly presented a completely unexpected factor into the resistance movement that had been simmering quietly since the Atlantic Federation annexed the USSA in Cosmic Era sixty-five. To the contrary, this was probably the best move anyone could have planned for him in the endless sortie of intelligence, cunning, and the occasional application of rather underhanded tactics that was politics in any nation, even a fallen one. Lydia De Celtigar had been the symbol of all their more admirable ideas and beliefs since the fall of the USSA to the Atlantic Federation, to the many still longing for the better days of their once-proud nation, Lydia de Celtigar was a veritable saint and leader, all in one. Or rather, she would have been, if it hadn't been for the widely accepted view that she had been assassinated at some point in the chaos that had followed the annexation and the rise of the resistance movement she had been quite prominent in.
Then the initial shock of the moment passed, and there were idle whispers between some members of their audience, and although there was no physical way for Marius Haberi to listen in from his place behind the podium, there on the stage with other figures of importance, he could well imagine the gist of them. That they had really thought her dead was one thing people by nature got over quickly when they had living, breathing proof. They'd be right in saying she's aged remarkably well considering the difficulty of her circumstances in the last four years since the annexation. Well, some people do surprise in such small ways. Truly enough, she looked extraordinarily young, even for a girl who was barely of age, but when the one in question had written the work that, without question, revolutionized the theories of political science as a teen, age was truly without meaning.
"Ladies and Gentlemen…" Lydia De Celtigar did not show any outward signs of noticing the whispers that were, without a doubt, centered on her. A graceful hand rose in a careful gesture as her even-toned voice filled the room, carrying with it a note that at once suggested strength that she could promise them as well as a sense of empathy to all who took a moment to listen. "I realize my appearance today might be somewhat unexpected. I know well that many would have thought it impossible and it is certainly by the will of many who hold true power in the world of the Cosmic Era that I die for political expediency."
She still has much to learn, or rather the ones tasked with the writing such an important address should realize the significance of what they're doing and do their utmost to match her intellect. This was something that brought a slight frown to his usually near expressionless face, though the shift was so slight as to be nearly imperceptible. Nothing to be done about that at this point. He allowed his mind to wander slightly, as he knew to the letter what was going to be said. Others, however, so far as he could tell, did not allow themselves that wandering of thoughts. Everyone in the first and second rows, at least, seemed to be enraptured. I suspect the shock had something to do with it.
"The ideas I first presented in the Addendum still hold true. What our nation ought to have by right, as any other 'nation' in the Cosmic Era remains no matter what amalgamation of rogue states decides to the contrary. Autonomy and self determination, if what is now the Earth Alliance had only conceded these things to the PLANTs there would be no war… As it is, we must and we will fight for these things. The United States of South America is no more, and we could do nothing about it at the time, and conceivably… I grant that it will be years before our nation can regain what it once had." This was said with a sort of sincerity and depth of emotion that even Marius Haberi himself would have been hard-pressed to match.
And this is where we'll drop the bomb, if one would forgive the colloquialism. Now, Marius Haberi's features moved slightly yet again, the corners of his mouth turning slightly upwards into a knowing smile. Political expediency is part of the rules of our game after all, and it's hardly going to work if a nation that had withheld itself from the arms race that had consumed the earlier days of this era tries to fight off a world power that provides the military backbone of the Earth Alliance. So, for now, I and those of like mind propose something else entirely.
"I wrote once when I yet knew nothing about how far one must go in sacrificing the ideal for what can conceivably be achieved if they are to serve as a truly worthy leader… I might presume too much in assuming that role, but if the will of the people is that I may, than I shall. Whatever the case, I advocate that all of you who retain hope for the former United States of South America take it upon yourselves to support and legitimize a unified alliance of the resistance movements that fight under the banner of that concept." As she lead up to what would be most crucial in her statement, Lydia De Celtigar's voice rose to what would be an awe-inspiring crescendo at its completion. "With the Red Eterna resistance at the helm, they will fight for our independence. Let us do our part in coming together to recognize their cause as our own and step forward to form a new Republic from the territory we can realistically expect to retain. Because we have witnessed the entirety of the tragedy that is world politics in the Cosmic Era, unite with me to form the Obsigno Republic!"
Yet again, Lydia De Celtigar was greeted with an astounded silence, one in which the tension was on a razor's edge. In truth, for all his political instinct and how far it had taken him from a defector escaping out of the Atlantic Federation of much earlier days to the more or less acknowledged driving force behind the political and intellectual resistance centering itself on the haven of Vista de La Mar, the only city and region of the former USSA the Atlantic Federation had never been able to overthrow, in the northern reaches of their former territories, Marius Haberi did not know his plan would be received. All these self-proclaimed members of our 'intellegencia' would do well to recognize what is the reasonable truth. This is the only way, to those who have witnessed. At least, it went without saying that everyone in their audience knew the significance of their chosen name, bastardized as the Latin was.
A single pair of hands started it, by making a simple clapping sounds that was much more than the proverbial dropping of a pin that would have sufficed to make all the gathered individuals take notice. The one who had taken the initiative stood, continuing to applaud. The volume of the sounds rose and crashed through the hearing of all those gathered, the breaking of a wave. Lydia De Celtigar, who had momentarily looked nervous – or as close to it as her extraordinary amount of control could have allowed even in such a crucial moment. Knowing that the first round of his game was as good as won, Marius Haberi allowed himself to smile as his hands moved idly together and apart again for the sake of convention. Lydia De Celtigar and her advocacy were given a standing ovation by the political and intellectual power remaining in the former United States of South America. Or should I say, the future Obsigno Republic?
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"No way in hell this is what I think it is." Kyo Yoshino, eighth-ranked student in the graduating class at the ZAFT's Military Academy had very little trouble with Contemporary History and the underlying study of geography, but he reserved the right to be vocal about his displeasure when the already rigorous course was made more complicated by the pettiest things. "Damn the Atlantic Federation and its grasping hands to hell and damn the 'inner conflict' that changes all the fucking borders of every single country in the region anyway!"
Every student in the class had just been sent a rather hefty digital file on the latest updates regarding certain rather troublesome countries on the Earth's surface, something that would inevitably make the impending final examination that much more difficult. It wasn't as if Kyo and his roommate, fellow 'Red' student Rusty Mackenzie had much to worry about when it came to their scores and class rank, with graduation to follow so soon after, but it was simply universal: teenage students make it a habit to complain. About everything.
"Looks like the Atlantic Federation's continuing to botch the 'clean' acquisition of South America they claimed." Rusty Mackenzie groaned as he noticed that an essay on the most recent developments there was demanded by their instructor, never mind that more 'significant' events were likely to occur in the rather unstable region before the due date came around. "The various resistance movements united, for once."
"The ones with nothing but pretty words and the terrorists?" Kyo Yoshino whistled in appreciation at even the thought of it. "That was something I didn't expect for another ten years at least."
"Stop trying to act like the political scientist you're not." Rusty retorted, but he nodded. "Right, those are the ones. They have a new name, apparently. 'The Obsigno Republic declares its independence.'" He read the last sentence outloud. "Oye, Kyo, I think it's worse than you thought, at this rate there's going to be another War of America del Sur."
"Here's to hoping it breaks out after we graduate." Kyo Yoshino declared.
"I lost my bet with Shiho though." Rusty mused as he closed off the update file and moved on to other work. "She mentioned that this would happen yesterday in passing because her journalist brother told her while both Dearka and I thought it had an icicle's chance in hell of actually happening."
"Wonderful. Listen to Miss Actually-Cares-About-the-News next time, now that you've learned you're lesson." Kyo laughed then, though whether it was about his display of devastating wit was anyone's guess. Giving the computer screen a passing glance over his roommate's shoulder, he immediately recognized it for what it was. "Orestor's class? The 'scientific ethics' research paper?"
"Obviously…" Rusty responded absently, most of his attention focused on the task before him as his fingers moved quickly over the keyboard. "It's not so bad, all bullshit, but not so bad. Though it's not as if future soldiers like us have much concern for the ethics of the more passive sciences at this point."
"Speak for yourself." He really did take offense at the 'not so bad' part of the statement. "I drew the short end for sure this time. Some ridiculous DNA analysis that bored even the few researchers willing to do it in the first place before long, on some Earthbound university." With an obviously mocking tone, he quoted: "Researchers at the De Celtigar university set out to isolate samples of DNA from noteworth individuals in Project Galatea. The research progressed for approximately three months-"
His roommate had the good sense to cut him off while it was still physically possible. (Kyo Yoshino in the midst of a full-blown rant was no one's friend.) "Just do it, Yoshino, it's not as if your rank's going to slip in the last month and a half of Academy time. You're not going to be demoted to Green-status if you fail." Rusty pondered the numbers, grade point averages, projected scores of students ranked just below the reds… All the relevant calculations in his mind in mere moments, as Coordinators were able. "Well, I don't know, it's actually possible."
"A comforting thought." Still, Kyo Yoshino was in no hurry to get to work on an assignment regarding a topic he quite frankly had no interest in.
Life awaits, after all. Or death, as the case could well be for those who fight for ZAFT. Well, the cause of Coordinators everywhere won't be won by our studying ethics in obscure sciences… He much preferred thinking on other things, like exactly why he had not yet received word on what he would actually be assigned to do for the military arm of the PLANTs upon his graduation.
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A day after the first round was won for the future of the Obsigno Republic, the key players were immersed fully in the second. Wars for independence didn't win themselves, after all, and not a one of them was naïve enough to think that the Atlantic Federation would acquiesce to their wishes if they just asked 'pretty please'. The declaration of their collective intent to band together as the fully autonomous Obsigno Republic had been publicized through the proper channels already – all the major news networks, in PLANT and the Earth Alliance - that they might expect retaliation soon enough.
Preparations for that eventuality had, of course, already been going on for quite some time. Marius Haberi was nothing if not capable of preparing for the worst case scenario as best as was physically possible in everything he set himself to planning. The United States of South America, or rather all its territories excepting that which was directly surrounding Vista de La Mar on its northern side, facing the Pacific Ocean, just beneath its former Central American holdings, had been so easily lost to the Atlantic Federation because of a nationwide lack of preparation for the possibility of violent conflict with another world power. Marius Haberi was one who learned well from his history, after all – especially when what had to be done was that obvious.
"Viktor, how are you?" Marius Haberi allowed his default lack of real facial expression shift slightly into the almost-smile that was appropriate to the exchanging of cursory pleasantries with someone he'd done business with for so long. "I see Balerion Industries is doing quite well for itself despite the rather subjugated state of its native country." It was almost a thinly-veiled l insult, but not quite.
"Free market capitalism is not inclined toward recognizing the constraints imposed by external political happenings." Viktor Balerion had the good grace to laugh and take it for a joke. "We're not in the habit of producing anything that is meant to have an impact on war efforst for either side – not officially, anyhow. You know this well, Marius." He was almost double Marius Haberi's age, and thus it didn't seem quite so out of place for the corporate executive to speak with such a patronizing tone.
It didn't exactly sit well with him, for there were times when Marius did have a passing fondness for his pride, but this encounter was strictly for negotiations of a business-like sort. Much as he was while engaged in the arena of politics, Marius was possessed of a remarkable degree of self-control. He allowed himself a congenial chuckle, albeit one that was barely loud enough to be heard, at the rather less than amusing statement from the business magnate. Under-the-table as these arrangements had been from the moment discussions began, this was high-stakes for both of them.
"How goes the work I arranged for? The first installment has already been wired as per your instructions." When they say big business tends to have an overly intimate knowledge of questionable accounting practices, they tend to be right. Marius allowed himself a pause before he added. "May I say again how much of a pleasure it is doing business with Balerion Industries?"
"I'm sure it is." Balerion's lined face was set in a look of rather profound amusement, but the glint in his eyes was that of steel. "Well, you knew the design phase was already complete, and production is continuing ahead of schedule. The facilities we sponsored at the De Celtigar University are putting together the first two dozen Orion HUNTER suits as we speak and the FLIGHT Manticore components will be shipped to our Vista de La Mar facilities for assembly within a week." His expression was then one of satisfication at an ongoing job well done. "Though I'm sure you already knew that."
"You're absolutely correct in assuming so." Marius told him, moving to stand by the wide windows of Balerion's twentieth-floor office as he gazed out over the deceptive tranquility of Vista de La Mar. It doesn't look the part of a revolutionary stronghold – not that it's technically a revolution when the oppressors were never able to enter in the first place. "I expect the first wave of OMNI retaliation is only being delayed momentarily by the fact that, for us to be so daring, the strength of our military force is a dangerous unknown. Is there any way that the Orions can be ready for battle as soon as tomorrow?"
Normally it'd be insanity to try sending out a fighting force against a known military power when the backbone of said fighting force was meant to be a relatively untested model of mobile suits (even if the now-ubiquitous Ginn on the ZAFT side consistently wiped out the greater numbers of the Earth Alliance armies), but preparations for this step had been ongoing ever since he first arranged to meet with the leaders of the various resistance militias almost three years ago. Those among their numbers who were already skilled in the piloting of stolen mobile armors had long since been given instruction on the usage of the Orions, and with the determination of a beleagured peoples on their side combined with long experience in the usage of 'creative' guerilla tactics against the rather predictable OMNI force would give them as decent a chance as any group in similar circumstances ever had, historically. After all, predictions at the start of the Earth Alliance war against the PLANTs had favored a quick victory for the EA, and look where that was going… Absolutely nowhere, and if anything, the outnumbered ZAFT with their mobile suits was still wreaking havoc against the Earth Alliance in all things. The only time they came out the better in any encounter with the PLANTs was Bloody Valentine – and it goes without saying why that doesn't count.
"Dear Marius, how naïve you are about the way I work!" There was that rather superior tone of amusement again, on Viktor Balerion's part. "Considering how much we of Balerion Industries benefit from this arrangement, it's the least we can do to ensure that it's already as good as done."
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"It looks suspiciously like a Ginn." Li-Hong Chang remarked after pondering the allegedly new mobile suit that had been specially constructed for the army of the new Obsigno Republic. "I mean, one can't get too creative with the basic idea of a human-shaped sort of mobile suit… But it really does look an awful lot like a Ginn."
"Red Eterna boy, as we're all fighting under your name, I'd say you have relatively little to complain about." Petyr Gibraltar, once a leader of the Bloody Sunrise resistance group (considered terrorists by the Atlantic Federation, but that was not surprising, given the circumstances), said before letting out an appreciative whistle. "The OMNI bastards won't have a chance when they strike, expecting us in nothing but some hijacked mobile armor."
"True enough." Was all Stephanos Talson, acknowledged head of the former Red Eterna militia and now a pilot for Red Eterna, army of the Obsigno Republic (unofficial as it was until they made the Atlantic Federation to acknowledge them by force).
"By god, he talks." Petyr Gibraltar laughed suddenly, a rather gruff and almost grating sound. "Who'd have thought? We of the other groups called on to fight for this grand cause had been lead to believe he was a statue."
Exactly two dozen individuals, once members of ragtag militias and terrorist groups fighting since the Atlantic Federation's initial occupation of the former USSA, stood in the hanger as they had their first encounter with the Orion HUNTER suits that they would be piloting the first time the opposing armies took it upon themselves to respond to the Obsigno Republic's declaration of independence. One could imagine that would come soon enough, as the Earth Alliance, through the Atlantic Federation, still claimed dominion over the entirety of the Americas as they had since the beginning of the year Cosmic Era sixty-five. Nations in the grandiose bloc known as the Earth Alliance did not take well to any sort of resistance, whether it came from the Coordinator-run PLANTs or other Earthbound powers who disagreed with them.
Marius Haberi himself had requested that they each arrive in the new uniforms of the official Red Eterna when word came that the Orions were ready for a test drive, and all of them had obliged, more or less. None of the younger ones had fastened up the red jackets to the stiff collars, Petyr and Stephanos included, while half of them were certainly not wearing any of the other uniform components, opting for what each of them were more accustomed to. It made for a rather motley image, but then, it really didn't matter how they chose to dress when only skill on the battlefield would determine whether any of them were worth any respect. For now, it was enough to make them equal in each others' eyes to depend on the fact that each of them were dangerous criminals in the eyes of the hated Atlantic Federation, to varying degrees, and the fact that they were considered the elites of their respective original groups.
"Don't be antagonistic, Petyr darling." Alyxa Serhane said quietly, in her deceptively sweet voice, punctuating the request with light laughter the sound of wind chimes, for fear of using cliché to describe it. "After all, we're here to fight on the same side. Talson is well known in all our circles for his abilities – he doesn't need to talk."
"Are we or aren't we here for a test drive?" Li-Hong said, giving Petyr a rather unpleasant look for disparaging the one who was originally his respected leader in the milita Red Eterna. "Think you can back your impertinent words in a real-life spar?"
"Li." Stephanos Talson was, on whole, much like a rock when it came to his facial expression – it was one that never, at any point, betrayed any emotion in the least, except a perpetual quietly smoldering anger at everything and nothing. "That's enough, we're not here to mess around."
This was a sentiment hastily reaffirmed by the rather harried-looking representative of Balerion Industries that had earlier on tried to explain all the specifics of the Orions to an obviously unappreciative audience that had been more interested in just staring at suits, understanding perfectly that whatever the specific model numbers or whatnot – these were instruments of war and destruction. "God, no, you've all run simulations many times over. If you must have a pissing contest, do so in those simulations, please. We have no time to fix these if you screw them up right now."
"One would have thought a scientist who probably had a world-class education could be more eloquent." Alyxa whispered to him as she stepped close to her comrade, putting an arm around his shoulders. "But he's right, Petyr, it does no one any good to be fighting amongst ourselves when the first waves of OMNI's attack will come any day now."
"Alright then, I'll behave." Petyr laughed then, turning back to the others who he would be fighting besides as comrades-in-arms, ignoring the fact that most of them, the older ones especially, looked with disdain at his and Alyxa's rather… open displays of affection, being that it was admittedly unimportant in a time when war was the issue of greatest importance. "What are we waiting for then? We came for a test drive, and even if we're not authorized to have at each other, it doesn't mean we can't make sure these function as the piloting simulations do."
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A/N: A very minor (or not) I-changed-canon point: I assume the existence of ground-based mobile armor in the hands of OMNI. I realize such a thing doesn't exist, but I also think it's rather illogical that ZAFT was rolling out ZuOOTs and then Ginns continually while the mobile armor seemed to be limited to aircraft, in keeping with the fact that the OMNI and ZAFT seemed to be in an almost-stalemate. What does a ground-based mobile armor look like? Er… If you've ever played Starcraft, sorta like a cross between a Goliath and a ZuOOT, only a little bit flimsier than the latter. (My mecha-incompetent imagination at work.) It's not very special by any means, but preferable to sending in foot soldiers or even a tank against a bunch of mobile suits. At least, to my knowledge, ground based mobile armor doesn't exist in the canonical gundam seed universe.
Once again, please find it in your heart to review. I really do like to know what people think.