It has been ten years since the war between the PLANTS and Earth ended with the success of Operation Spitbreak and invasion of North America. With its last spaceport in the hands of ZAFT, the Eurasian federation withdrew from the conflict, listening to the words of isolationists who had long argued against a war with ZAFT. A triumphant Patrick Zala declared final victory of North America and the Atlantic Federation in late CE 71. Eurasian troops withdrew from the frontlines and Admiral Halburton returned to Earth before being forced into a humiliating retirement.
In the years after the war, the nations of North America became part of Zala's empire of New America. Aprilius Auxilium, Zala's new capital, became a ZAFT showplace. His personal architects built a monument to his empire in the form of the largest buildings in human history, the new supreme council chambers.
With the close of the 70's, Zala was finally able to put a civilized face on his regime. However, news was still tightly controlled.
The 80's opened with the war against Blue Cosmos still raging. No longer a loose confederation of terrorists, the organization had grown into a well organized guerilla army, still led by the 45-year-old Murata Azrael. Zala desperately needed to conclude a formal peace with the Alliance to bring the conflict to an end.
Hope for changed arrived with the appointment of a new Alliance Prime Minister. Zala believed that under Cagalli Yula Attha, a proponent of cooperation, a deal could finally be struck. And so, in CE 81, the PLANTS finally opened their borders. For the first time, they welcomed tourists from Earth.
It is now June. The world press has been invited to Aprilius Auxilium for the celebration of the tenth anniversary of Operation Spitbreak. There are rumors that Prime Minister Attha will attend for a ZAFT-Alliance summit to discuss joining forces against Blue Cosmos. An Alliance with the Earth would make ZAFT invincible.
But there are other rumors, ones which could destroy Zala. There are rumors of atrocities that occurred to the war. However, they are seldom spoken of. In Zala's empire, all television and radio broadcasts are controlled by the powerful Ministry of Information.
In the new ZAFT, no one dares to ask awkward questions.
