Phase 5: Haunting Revelations

Meeting room (Small), Main Building, ZAFT Headquarters, City of Aprilius One, PLANTs, 4 February CE 71, 1110 hrs

Surprised to hear that her father got secrets that she never knew, Flay was determined to find out.

"Councilwoman Joule, what do you mean my father kept secrets from me?" Flay asks.

"Let me fully explain what your father really did, Miss Allster. To start off, George Allster is involved in funding terrorist attacks against the PLANTs and ZAFT forces." Ezalia says.

This revelation shocked Flay, as she thought her father wouldn't do such evil things. Though aware of her father expresses disdain about Coordinators to her, Flay thought he wouldn't terror attacks against Coordinators.

"I know this is hard for you to understand, but your father is not a good person you used to look up to," Ezalia says. "Next, ZAFT Intelligence found out that your father is involved in Blue Cosmos' operations aboard to turn young kids into future mobile suit pilots for the EA forces." .

Flay's eyes widened as she suddenly remembered that her father sent her to be trained with a mobile suit simulator taught by Blue Cosmos leaning EA officers. This worries her as she thinks that the Supreme Council may execute her instead, upon knowing that she has undergone mobile suit training.

"Also, these young kids have to undergo medical procedures by force that will enhance their capabilities to pilot mobile suits in the future." Ezalia informs Flay before taking out a photo from the envelope. "As you can see in this photo, one of the medical procedures involves kids from age 16 to be injected with some kind of drug named — Gamma Glipheptin. Hence, those who had taken the drug became known as Extended."

As Flay looks at the photo, she sees the Extended resemble worn out drug addicts she saw in her home city when she was younger. However, it horrified Flay further to hear her father would be involved in partaking of shady activities. She remembers her father denounced the abuse of drugs and vowed to eradicate this issue in her country. Now, Flay sees her father is a spineless hypocrite who lied to his own benefit. "Why did my father do all these things…" Flay cries as she couldn't digest what Ezalia just told her.

"He does not want you to find out the truth, Miss Allster. The moment you find out the truth, you will oppose his plans and he will not hesitate to silence you." Ezalia answers.

"Now, there's one more important part you need to know. Your father is friends with the leader of the Blue Cosmos organization, Muruta Azrael. He and Mr Azrael have come up with a military project that concerns the entire Supreme Council," Ezalia takes a deep breath before continuing.

"These two men are involved in a military project that creates another type of mobile suit called Gundam. It is called the 'G project'. So far, it developed five gundams on Orb's colony of Heliopolis and there are plans to use the Extended to pilot these gundams. Luckily, the Le Creuset's team successfully steals four of them before the EA forces can deploy them." Ezalia explains to Flay why ZAFT had to invade Heliopolis.

"All this time, I thought about how my father's actions were in the best interest of me and Naturals. I didn't know he's such an evil man," Flay sobs as she lowers her head in shame.

"Indeed, your father is an evil man. But…" Ezalia comments. "I would like to clarify some background details about you on behalf of the Supreme Council. Do you mind if I ask you these questions, Miss Allster?"

It's at this moment Flay felt trapped. After Ezalia exposes her father's evil deeds, which makes her mentally weaker currently, now Ezalia is using this opportunity to exploit her for more information about her past. Flay thinks she should just end the meeting with Ezalia and try to escape from this room rather than answering Ezalia's questions.

'No… No… There should be another way. I can't let Councilwoman Joule find out about my past.' Flay thought while avoiding looking at Ezalia. However, she realizes it is too late for her to defy Ezalia. Since she herself is in the Coordinators' homeworld, it is impossible for her to return to her home without the permission of the Supreme Council. Her only solution is to cooperate with them and stay out of trouble.

"Miss Allster, are you ready for me to ask you questions?" Ezalia asks Flay again. Flay reluctantly nods, and Ezalia takes out a piece of paper from the envelope regarding Flay's personal information.

"Alright then, have you undergone mobile suit training before?" Ezalia quizzes as she looks at Flay sharply. Fearing that Ezalia may tell the Supreme Council to treat her as an enemy, Flay counters her question by asking her this question — "Will you treat me as an enemy if I were to answer the question honestly, Councilwoman Joule?"

"It depends. If you answer to me truthfully, I can try my best to vouch for you," Ezalia replies. "However, if you try to lie to me, I would rather see you executed by firing squad." .

Though Flay was reluctant to talk about her mobile suit training in the past, she knows it is not wise to lie to Ezalia since the Councilwoman is her only support to convince the Supreme Council to grant her freedom. With a heavy heart, Flay decides the best course of action is to tell Ezalia the truth.

"Alright Councilwoman Joule, I have undergone mobile suit training when I was 10 years old. However, I haven't gone through the medical procedures you described earlier," Flay informs Ezalia.

"Were you supposed to undergo the same medical procedures upon hitting 16 next year?" Ezalia queries Flay. However, Flay shakes her head and tells her why she hasn't undergone the medical procedure yet — "My father didn't tell me the reason, Councilwoman Joule. From what I know, my father sent me to Heliopolis to study Aeronautical Engineering and once I graduated, he told me he planned to enlist me in the EA forces as a mobile suit pilot." .

"Hmmm, it seems your father was smart enough to hide the information on medical procedures from you, Miss Allster. Based on the information ZAFT Intelligence gathered so far, we found a memo that there is a plan to convert you into an Extended by force once you finish your college education at Heliopolis Technical College." Ezalia takes out another piece of paper from the envelope and passes it to Flay.

As Flay looks at the paper, she feels sickened as the paper stated that her father allows Blue Cosmos to turn her into an Extended by whatever means necessary once she finished schooling. Saddened to see her father is using her for his own self-centered goals, Flay feels depressed and cries uncontrollably.

Seeing Flay was crying heavily after revealing about her father's misdeeds, Ezalia gives a packet of tissue for her to wipe off her tears. "Alright, I will stop asking you further questions about you and your father. Now, I need to discuss with you something important," Ezalia says.

"Chairman Clyne and Councilman Zala would like to see you and have a quick chat. Since they are having a meeting with Commander Le Creuset at the moment, they will most likely to meet you in a few days' time," Ezalia informs Flay that other Supreme Council members would like to see her soon.

"Hence, they will probably ask you the same questions that I had asked you today. We will assign a ZAFT officer from the Vesalius to you as a defense officer to assist you during the meeting with the Supreme Council members. He will meet you later when you head back to the Vesalius later." Ezalia informs Flay.

"Before we conclude this meeting, Miss Allster. I want you to answer truthfully during the upcoming meeting with Chairman Clyne and Councilman Zala. I will be there to monitor your behavior, so don't be dumb enough to conspire against us," Ezalia issues a stern warning to Flay.

"With nothing further ado, please pass me back the paper you are holding, Miss Allster. After that, a ZAFT soldier will escort you down to the reception area to meet up with Commander Le Creuset." Ezalia says as she asks Flay to return the paper to her.

Upon putting back all the photos and paper documents back into the envelope, Ezalia stood up and say a few words to Flay before leaving the room, "I am thankful to have a meeting with you, Miss Allster. I hope you can repent for your father's sins and be a better person than your father. I will see you again during the meeting with Chairman Clyne and Councilman Zala." Ezalia says with a hint of encouragement for Flay as she parts way with her.

As Ezalia exits the room, Flay wonders why Ezalia would suddenly encourage her to repent for her father's mistakes. Usually, Ezalia is famous for being a ruthless Coordinator when interrogating Naturals that have links to Blue Cosmos. But today, she witness Ezalia show her good side by encouraging Flay to do the right thing. Hence, Flay wants to find out why.

Soon, two Green ZAFT soldiers enter the room to escort Flay back to the reception area. "Follow us, miss. We will bring you back to the reception area," the Green ZAFT soldier orders Flay to follow him. Flay nods and follows him as they escort her back to the reception area to meet with Commander Le Creuset.

Conference Room, Main Building, ZAFT Headquarters, City of Aprilius One, PLANTs, 4 February CE 71, 1130 hrs

Meanwhile, in a conference room…

"Thank you for the explanation of why you conducted a military operation to steal the five gundams on the colony of Heliopolis, Commander." Siegel Clyne thanks Le Creuset for his explanation. "However, you have conducted it without approval from the Supreme Council, and it is unacceptable. Orb's Heliopolis colony got destroyed in the process and the Orb Government had launched a diplomatic complaint against us." .

"We don't have a choice, Chairman Clyne. If those gundams get shipped out before we intercept them, the EA forces will have a new weapon to their advantage." Le Creuset argues back. "We are lucky enough to steal four out of five gundams, which means we have the advantage in winning the war against the EA forces." .

Commander Le Creuset's reason moved Patrick Zala as he understands why it is necessary to steal the gundams on the Heliopolis colony. Hence, he speaks up in defence of Le Creuset's actions. "Chairman Clyne, we should be thankful for Commander Le Creuset's actions to steal the five gundams on Heliopolis," Patrick defends the masked ZAFT Commander.

Seeing how the head of ZAFT forces siding with Le Creuset, Siegel sighs in defeat as he reluctantly accepts the ZAFT Commander's reason. "Alright, I shall excuse Commander Le Creuset this time round, but this kind of incident shouldn't happen again," Siegel warns.

"Moving on. Based on your after action report, one of your men picked up a young Natural lady named Flay Allster, is that correct?" Siegel asks Le Creuset. "That's correct Chairman Clyne. Ensign Joule captured her by witnessing the military operation. Right now, she is in another room of this building being interrogated by Councilwoman Joule." Le Creuset replies.

"I see. We may have to meet her soon since we have some questions for her as well. Hence,…" Before Siegel could finish his statement, a Green ZAFT soldier enters the room to announce that Ezalia has arrived. "Sir, Councilwoman Joule has finished meeting with the captured Natural and she's here to give a report on the outcome of the meeting," The Green ZAFT soldier reports.

"Alright, let her in. We need to find out what Councilwoman Joule uncovers so far." Siegel orders him to allow Ezalia to enter the conference room. "Yes sir," The Green ZAFT soldier acknowledges and salutes Siegel before opening the door.

"Chairman Clyne, I'm here to report about the findings after interrogating Miss Allster." Ezalia reports. "We want to hear what you know. First, please find a place to settle down before you tell us everything." Siegel directs Ezalia to find a place first. Ezalia nods and she heads down to a nearby table to place the envelope on it before speaking.

"Alright Chairman Clyne and Councilman Zala. From what I spoke with Miss Allster earlier, she is unaware of her father's misdeeds, but she's no ordinary college student." Ezalia begins.

"Based on her testimony, Miss Allster was speechless and in a state of shock when I told her about her father's crimes." Ezalia pauses for a moment.

"However, she admitted that she had received mobile suit trainings that are sponsored by Blue Cosmos when she was ten." Ezalia explains.

This revelation surprises Siegel and Patrick as both of them thought Flay was just an ordinary harmless Natural. Now, they are worried about what if Flay was supposed to become a pilot for the EA forces? "Councilwoman Joule, how did Miss Allster receive mobile pilot suit training when she was just a kid in the past?" Siegel asks.

"According to Ms Allster, her father sent her to programs that make her undergo both military and mobile suit pilot training when she was ten." Ezalia replies. "In fact, ZAFT Intelligence intercepted a memo stating that George Allster permits Blue Cosmos to force Miss Allster to become an Extended pilot once she finishes her college education." .

"What the…" Siegel was speechless by what he heard. "What do you mean Ms Allster was supposed to become an Extended pilot for the EA forces?" Siegel puzzled upon hearing Extended.

"Miss Allster was supposed to undergo medical procedures that involve injection of unsafe drugs to her upon hitting 16. If she goes through with it, the harmful effects of the unsafe drugs will harm her." Ezalia takes out the piece of a paper document before ordering one of the ZAFT soldiers to pass it to Siegel.

As Siegel looks at the piece of a paper document with Patrick, Ezalia warns them — "Once she finishes her college education, Blue Cosmos would drag her to force her to be an Extended pilot. Hence, we cannot let her leave the PLANTs until the war ends." .

"If that is the case, it's better we execute her sooner by sentencing Miss Allster to death in a court martial case asap. No point keeping her safe when she poses a high security risk to us." Patrick recommends sentencing Flay to death immediately.

Everyone in the room, except for Commander Le Creuset, alarmed by what Patrick just said. Even though Yzak dislikes Naturals, he feels it is wrong to see a helpless Flay die at the hands of ZAFT Coordinators. He can only hope that someone can stand up for her and give her a chance to clear her name to avoid being executed by ZAFT forces.

To be continued…

End of Phase 5

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