The voice of the people expresses the mind of the people, and that mind is made up for it by those who understand the manipulation of public opinion. It is they who pull the wires which control the public mind and contrive new ways to guide the world.
-E. Bernays, 20th century propagandist.
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Wufei sneered down from the one-way glass window at the small crowd of protesters, who slowly circled the lawn in front of the ESUN administration building, their movements lethargic in the autumn cold. "Peace by Any Means? What does a bunch of low-energy crybabies know about what it takes to achieve peace?"
"If you think the placards are lame, wait till you hear their chants." Sally strode into their shared little office, put two steamy mugs of fresh brew on their communal desk, and threw herself into the cracked old pleather couch with a sigh. "I can't believe we fought a war so brats like them can skip classes at college."
Wufei's face darkened a shade as he recalled his own bookish naivety as a youth. Sally saw his expression and scoffed, "Those aren't little kids down there you know, some of them are almost thirty and haven't done an honest day's work in their whole lives."
"I know where empty idealism can lead." Wufei murmured and squinted at the smattering of cardigan-clad protesters who, having grown tired of marching in a circle, settled down on the grass to eat packed lunches. "Great, we'll have to clean up the trash after their picnic too...hey what's a news van doing here?"
Sally sprang up from the couch to join her partner at the window as the vehicle swerved up to the curb. The protesters also scrambled back into a loose marching circle, held up their signs and resumed their chants. Pieces of lunch wrap and juice boxes discarded in haste littered the lawn.
Sally pressed her forehead against the cold glass. "Typical. Half the world nations are caught between separatist and unionist street brawls, yet this little racket is what they want to print!"
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"We are coming to you live in front of the Earth Sphere United Nations administrative building in Brussels, as you can see, thousands of people have assembled here to protest the brutal acts of the Preventer agent, which resulted in the death of an unarmed civilian yesterday." The reporter shouted into his handheld mic, gesturing wildly to the noisy crowd behind him. "Well let's hear it from their own words." He turned to point the mic at a placard.
Wait, did he say THOUSANDS? Une stared at her hand-held unit in disbelief, and ran to her window. She saw the roughly seventy protesters march below, and looked back at the screen in her hand still displaying the live newsfeed. And did he say UNARMED?!
The footage transitioned to a shot of the march, the tight camera angle obscured the size of the crowd. The chants were a little disorganized, but helpful subtitles scrolled across the bottom of the screen. [STONE COLD BUTCHER GO AWAY! PSYCHO KILLER MUST REPAY!]
The dirty bastards, Une rubbed her temples, "I knew we should've invested in a PR specialist."
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"Miss Darlian, you have to publicly distance yourself from this agent. My phone line is blowing up with calls demanding accountability for his violent actions!" State Minister Yacovitch was sweating in her beige pantsuit, for a woman of technically higher rank, she was nervous giving orders to Relena Darlian.
"Agent Yuy has displayed the utmost restraint and the minimum use of force in this incident," Relena tried to keep her voice level, "he also neutralized a chemical attack and saved the lives of forty three people, including my own."
"The press doesn't care about that, they're out for blood and the optics are terrible! That face of his in the photos, it's like he's a soulless machine-"
"MINISTER!" Relena hissed out, surprising herself. "We can't throw our colleague to the wolves because of 'bad optics' or whatever else counts for politics these days." She was livid, this conniving woman she looked up to in the past few years had now completely lost her respect.
Yacovitch wiped her upper lip with an already damp handkerchief and looked at Relena with resignation. "Politics is ALL optics Miss Darlian."
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Heero ruminated over the most recent intel dump from Trowa as he trailed behind Relena. They headed for the Preventers HQ, which was three floors down and across a skywalk. Une called for a face to face, this was getting bigger than a petty PR headache for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Every major news outlet was pushing the same narrative, a cold-blooded Preventers agent had killed an unarmed civilian, who was in the independence movement and a peaceful protester. Heero was familiar with misinformation campaigns, but the current media was supposed to be decentralized...at least he thought it was. Other than himself and Relena, thirty two reporters, six cameramen, and three guards were in the press hall yesterday, how was it none of them came forth with the truth? Why was the supposed daughter of that terrorist given so much screen time? The people behind this had to be powerful enough to dictate the message, and remain hidden while controlling it. But why? To discredit Relena? The Preventers?
Not enough data and far too much noise. He'll have to wait for a chance to rub brains with Trowa, the soft-spoken man understood his thought process, asked only intelligent questions, and wouldn't be a distraction to him like Relena's presence. He peered at the back of her head, and calculated not for the first time the logistics of disappearing the both of them. The hardest part, he always knew, would be convincing her to come with him.
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"I misjudged the situation in Moldova, we should not have withheld the information about the chemical attack from the public." Une addressed the two of them, "Several regional governments have asked us to withdraw our agents. Our reputation as peacekeepers is at risk, I'm afraid your official assignment ends here, Heero."
Relena could not believe that Lady Une of all people would dismiss him like that, but Heero put out a staying hand. "I don't actually work for you, so by all means, assign another agent to the Vice Foreign Minister." He nodded toward Relena, "I'm of more use out of the public eye anyway."
So Lady Une was doing this to protect Heero, Relena sat back, "The sooner he disappears from the limelight, the less questions will be raised about him."
"We're too late for that." Trowa appeared in the door, his eyes found Heero's, "Your identity was blown."
Heero shot up from his seat and growled, "By who?"
"It appeared three minutes ago in every publication almost simultaneously, I wasn't able to trace the source."
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"Holy shit."
Hilde looked up from her breakfast, Duo was staring at his morning newsfeed with comically wide eyes, he was so focused that the toaster made him jump. She smiled and shook her head, "What's got you all worked up?"
"You remember that horrid photo of Heero from yesterday's papers?" Duo handed her his tablet.
[Face of a Killer - Gundam Pilot Revealed!]
She frowned and swiped to the next article.
[Dead Men Tell No Tales of Gundam 01]
"What are these people smoking?" She scrolled further.
[The Killers Among Us: Gundam Pilots]
Hilde's heart sank, "Oh Duo...they're really gunning for him."
Duo shook his head, "No, they're coming after all of us."
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Relena pursed her lips, was it a good idea to attend this month's parliamentary meeting? She always made a point to sit in on them, it helped her keep a pulse on relations between member states, though sometimes it was hard to tell genuine animosity from petty personal feuds of the MPs. She was preoccupied by Heero's situation, and sitting in a car for three hours made her more antsy. The ESUN Parliament, due to convoluted bureaucratic reasons and the clash of European egos, was held in Luxembourg as opposed to Brussels. Agent Creveld accompanied her on the drive this morning, he's been on her detail before.
"Please, call me Simeon," the older man had warmly shaken her hand when they were first introduced, "it's an honour to serve Your Majesty."
He used to be one of Zechs' men, he sheepishly explained later. "People join the Preventers for all kinds of reasons, I came here because this is the closest thing to serving my country." He was from the former Sanc Kingdom.
"Here we are." Simeon opened the car door. Relena snapped back to the present, and mentally steadied herself to listen to the MPs bicker till sundown.
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He could sense a subdued excitement today in the crowd below, like the tremor in a horse's hindquarters before a race, it set him on edge. Over the years, Heero sat through many a dry parliament sessions. Perched in his favourite alcove and hidden by the cast shadow of the arch, it was the perfect sniper's nest. He had full view of the theater floor, as well as the balcony where non member-state officials such as Relena sat.
"Ladies and gentlemen, members of our esteemed institution. It has come to my attention that certain recent developments have engendered some mistrust toward the administration. I think it prudent to properly address your concerns here." The President announced from his position at the front of the assembly hall, his words streamed into the earpieces of representatives, translated to a multitude of languages in real time, "Many of you here represent nations who are deeply suspicious of international intelligence agencies as secretive as the Preventers."
Relena perked up from her notes, this was not on the agenda file she received for today, the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. From the balcony, she scanned the assembly floor, and saw approving nods from some, while others wore looks of confusion and curiosity.
"I, too, have my doubts about an ex-OZ military commander controlling our security forces. Yet with the increasing threat of separatist uprisings around the globe, a force for good is needed to maintain our unity. Can we entrust this monumental task to an organization that does not answer to the parliament?" The President opened his hands in a grand gesture, "How can they be held accountable to the people when they have free reign to hire any psychopath they wish?"
"Boo"s rose up from all around the assembly, the President nodded and continued when they quieted down. "Isn't it time for us to call forth brave soldiers from every nation, who are not tainted by the dangerous ideologies of the Preventers, but are ordinary men and women like you and I who just want peace?"
Assenting voices echoed around the large chamber, the President went on eagerly, "I hereby put forward a directive for the formation of a new Earth Sphere United Nations Peacekeeping Army! All in favour vote AYE!"
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"Simeon call the car! We're heading back to Brussels, immediately." Relena struggled through the heavy doors of the assembly theatre and rushed down the marbled hall to the exit, though Simeon had left the officers lounge after seeing the commotions on their closed circuit tv, he had to run to keep pace with her.
"It takes at least five minutes for our driver to clear the garage!" He tried to grab a hold of her, but she was already out the front gate, "Wait! Miss Relena!"
A horde of journalists waited on the one hundred steps that led up to the parliament building. It wouldn't surprise her if it was the President himself who tipped them off about the new directive. They swarmed toward her like a mutant multi-celled organism, instantly surrounding her with their bodies and equipment.
Simeon burst through the threshold seconds after Relena, and swore at what he saw.
"Vice Foreign Minister! Is it true that you have a private relationship with the Gundam pilots?" One if the press-pass holders shouted at her.
"What's your response to the allegations of fraternization with pilot 01?!"
"What?" Relena was trying to break through the crowd by pushing forward down the steps, Simeon had rounded to the bottom of the stairs, and was shoving people aside to get to his charge.
"Miss Darlian! How do you justify your involvement with war criminals?"
Was the press trying to make her angry? Her father had faced ridiculous questions in his time, but this was all ad hominem.
She finally pushed past the last of the clamouring crowd and reached Simeon, the two of them raced down the steps as a black van rolled up to meet them, its rear sliding door already open. The driver-side window was down, an Asian man with jet black hair and a Preventers jacket called out, "Get in!"
It was Heero's voice, but the man's features were far more mongoloid. "Who are you?" She heard Simeon ask, and blinked. She grabbed her bodyguard and lunged into the idling vehicle. As soon as they were inside, the van revved out of the parliamentary grounds and onto the open streets of the northern quarter of Luxembourg, Relena squeezed her eyes shut and fought the urge to hurl from the motion sickness.
"Where's our driver?" Simeon yelled towards the front as he hurriedly slid the door closed. The two passengers rearranged themselves in the cab so that Relena was strapped into the seat directly behind the driver.
"The press vehicles blocked the south exit of the garage, his car couldn't make it out in time to get you away from that ambush." Heero glanced back into the cab, Relena caught the slightest glint of cosmetic tape at his temple, which pulled the corner of his eye up and out.
"...Agent Yuy?" Simeon stared at him openly.
Relena allowed herself a brief smile, yes, this was a much more convincing disguise than her brother's mask. She returned to the problem at hand, "A proposal like that had to be deliberated and vetted by the judicial committee, the President has been planning this for a while, with considerable backing from the judicial branch, too."
"It's possible he's just taking advantage of a bad situation, but more likely he's part of a bigger conspiracy." Heero kept his eyes on the road, only allowing himself quick glances through the rear view mirror. "Either way this is a power-grab." He retrieved a mobile from the cargo pocket on his thigh, and threw it at her over his shoulder. "All communication from now on goes through that secure unit. Only call Une, me or the others."
She caught it with both her hands and regarded the hefty little device, and knew that he was only referring to the other pilots, and the handful of reliable allies from the Peacemillion crew. "Trust gets you killed." He once said to her, "And love gets you hurt," she replied stubbornly, "but that's not gonna stop me." They were just kids back then, battle-weary yet full of idealism.
"Miss Relena, are they trying to start another war?" Simeon's gaze held fear and excitement, his soldierly senses were waking up.
"Someone is stoking division amongst the member states," she sucked on her lip and thought out loud, "but war is not the endgame. By the looks of it, the goal is a new Alliance."
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"I've recalled all field agents, except those engaged in covert ops." Une addressed the Preventers core-staff assembled in the bullpen, ten trainees, two instructors, twelve intel officers, two clerks, and several field agents who were between assignments. She always ran a lean ship, the budget for the Preventers was not extravagant.
"Our top priority now is to get our people home before the decommission order comes down the pike, we won't leave any man stranded out there." She paused to look at each member of her team, when she saw not fear, but only alertness, she continued, "When we get the order, be prepared to go Code Grey."
All these years she had insisted that the Preventers was not a military organization, but at this moment Une was seized by old sentiment, she clicked her heel and saluted. "It's been an honour to serve with you."
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Heero dropped them off in an underground parking lot on the outskirts of Brussels, they switched cars, and Simeon drove Relena back to her office at the ESUN admin building.
Before she climbed into the second car, Heero took hold of her wrist, "Be careful, we don't know who's involved." His eyes and brows strained against his disguise, "Creveld is a good agent, but he can't protect you officially if the Preventers are deposed."
"They can't draft an army in one day, and parliament is still in session for another 5 hours." She rubbed his outstretched arm reassuringly, "I'll find out what I can about who opposed the directive, they may be valuable allies."
"Don't count on it, get in, grab what you need, get out."
The ESUN building had its usual air of quiet efficiency as she made her way across the vast high-ceiling lobby. It was amazing how a world-changing event can take place, yet everything still looked absolutely serene. The elevator ride was oppressively silent, Simeon wordlessly placed himself between her and the door. He didn't say anything but Relena could tell he wasn't impressed by her rash behaviour at the parliament building.
The atmosphere in the office of Foreign Affaires was icy. Clerks and administrators avoided eye contact with her as she walked through the cubicles, her private office was at the far end, beside the office of the State Minister.
"Hey Relena?" Yacovitch poked her head out from her office, "Can I see you in here for a minute?"
"I need to upload the reports on my desk console, be right with you." Relena motioned to open her own office door.
"Right now, Miss Darlian."
"...Alright." Relena followed the older woman with a frown.
Simeon hovered outside, nodded to the agent assigned to the State Minister. "Owen was it?" Simeon extended his hand.
"Yes sir." Owen shook his hand, bright eyed and solemn, "Class of 203."
Simeon grinned, they sent a rookie to guard the old bat, she probably wasn't even in any danger and Une was merely fulfilling a technicality.
"The boys are gonna grab a drink at the old watering hole after this shift, you wanna join us sir?"Owen tapped his belt buckle twice. Urgent updates, coded.
"I haven't been in ages, what're they serving these days?" What's the situation?
"Bar's fully stocked...though I highly recommend their home brew, only takes two pints to get the big lads wasted." Shit, they'd been decommissioned, so much for getting paid this week.
"No thanks, I'll stick to a nice bottle of the dark stuff." Simeon clapped the younger agent amicably on the shoulder, this day just keeps getting more interesting.
"I'm worried about you, Relena." The State Minister leant over the desk, a mask of concern, "You're dragging your reputation through the mud for these Preventer guys, and for what?"
Relena bristled, did this woman really believe she would fall for such obvious gaslighting?
"I've worked in government all my life, trust me, a few bodyguards are not worth your career." Yacovitch carried on, "Besides, I hear President Davos was successful at commissioning the ESUN army, soon we won't need the Preventers anymore."
She was either incredibly naive, or a mere cog in the wheel, and Relena didn't believe in naive politicians. "I'm afraid I've grown rather attached to my details over the years, they're more friends than employees."
"You should be careful who you call friends, Relena." Yacovitch's condescending maternal air made Relena recoil, the ESUN bureaucracy attracted the worst narcissists, always posturing dominance hidden behind advice. "Especially with your connection to that genocidal brother."
Where did that come from? "Minister, why dredge up a dead man's folly?" Milliardo was presumed diseased on the official records.
"I'm just watching out for you, my dear, there are rumours about him hiding in some remote colony, alive and well, fomenting his next little rebellion."
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Tbc...