Gundam Wing: Journey to a New Battlefield

by operation meteor

The war is won, yet he cannot find peace. When a mission gone wrong throws Heero into another world, how will he survive? And how will he react when he is confronted with his greatest challenge yet? For love can be trickier than any battlefield foe...

31. Chapter 31

Author's notes: Hey, sorry this took so long, hope you've all been well! Well, we're almost at the end here. Hard to believe, huh? I guess the second to last chapter of the fic should get a little bigger of a note, but… yeah, I've got nothing.

Only one song for this chapter, "Kamiki Festival" from Okami.

Enjoy!

Episode Thirty-One: The Treaty of Junius Seven

November 30th, C.E. 71

"So what's this place called again?" asked Murrue.

"Cagalli said it was Ryoshima Beach Park," Heero replied, glancing at the GPS imbedded in the convertible's dashboard, "We're almost there."

He looked over at Murrue and saw her smiling at him, her long brown hair flowing freely in the early evening breeze. "Great! I can't wait to meet up with the others. This has been a long time in coming."

Heero gave her a small smile in return. It was a sentiment he was in full agreement with.

For the first month since the end of the Second Battle of Jachin Due the surviving members of the Three Ships Alliance had stayed at the Orb colonies of Eden and Elysium at L3, repairing their ships and waiting to see what would happen next. For their part, the Earth forces had completely pulled back to the Moon, pausing only to pick up escape pods and pilots that were drifting in crippled machines. Likewise, ZAFT had kept its forces at home, running search and rescue operations but making no moves to attack.

The first week had been the tensest, with both Heero and Murrue fearing that some fanatic on one side or the other might be in a position to send their forces back in for another round. However, it eventually became clear that cooler heads had prevailed, and the ceasefire continued to hold. Eventually Provisional Chairwoman Canaver had reached out to both the Earth Alliance and Orb, designating a small patch of space controlled by none of the major factions as a possible meeting ground for preliminary negotiations. Each group had sent a representative along with a single warship, and Heero had known that all sides were ready to leap back into action the moment something went wrong. Fortunately the first round of talks went smoothly, and a timetable was set for future negotiations aimed at hammering out an official peace treaty.

Settling on future talks had led to a great easing of tension at L3, but no one had been able to really celebrate quite yet. Between continuing repairs for damaged ships and mobile suits, treating the wounded, and finding new homes for defectors who had survived the battle and wished to stay on permanently in Orb, everyone had had their hands full.

After about a month and a half had passed the leaders of the Three Ships Alliance finally felt comfortable in turning their attention towards other matters. Most importantly was the rebuilding that needed to be done in the Orb homeland and resettling the refugees. Earth Alliance forces had already been withdrawn and it was deemed safe to bring both refugees and senior members of the Orb government-in-exile back to the main island. Although so much work remained to be done, it was also decided by the leadership of the Three Ships Alliance that a little time could finally be set aside for a much deserved celebration. Shore leaves had been arranged, with most of the rank and file free to party in the Eden and Elysium colonies, but Lacus and Cagalli had decided to set up something special for the senior members, and that had started with bringing the Archangel down to the Orb home island of Yalafath.

They'd been set up in apartments in the capital city of Olofat, though this was only a temporary arrangement. While the residences weren't high profile, Heero was still uncomfortable residing in the Orb seat of power given the reputation he'd carved out for himself in this war and the attention it would undoubtedly draw to himself and Murrue, and he had every intention of finding a different location for the two of them as soon as possible. Murrue had shared his concerns, and they hadn't been the only ones; Waltfeld and Lacus had already begun speaking of getting a more secluded and permanent residence set up in the near future, one that would be able to accommodate both a large amount of people and some of the very sophisticated technology and weaponry they planned on hiding from the Cosmic Era's great powers. They would also take steps to conceal their true identities in order to avoid possible retaliation from members of Blue Cosmos or the remnants of the Zala faction.

With the combined resources of Cagalli, Lacus, and Erica, fading into the shadows along with our weapons will be relatively simple, he thought, It'll just take a little time to make the proper arrangements.

Heero shook his head. That was a concern for later. Tonight the only thing that was on the agenda was relaxing and finally celebrating the triumph of their small faction against nigh-impossible odds.

"Something on your mind?" Murrue asked.

Heero gave her a small smile and shook his head again. "Nothing important."

She looked as lovely as ever, but there was something special about what she wore tonight. The white blouse and blue jeans were the exact same ones she had bought when they had first come to this country… and had gone on their first date. Over that she wore a simple light blue jacket, unzipped to reveal the sparkling blue gem of the necklace he had bought her so long ago back in North Africa lying against the blouse. For his part, Heero was also wearing the same outfit that he'd had on during that first date; a simple red and black shirt, khaki pants, black shoes and a belt.

The memories of that incredible outing all those months ago caused his smile to grow a little as he turned the black corvette into the parking lot for Ryoshima Beach Park. It was a very simple but scenic place, with the parking lot overlooking the smooth sandy beaches and the ocean waves as they shimmered in the setting sun. Looking around as he selected a parking spot, he saw that several other vehicles were already here.

"Looks like we're the last ones to show up," he said as he parked the car.

Murrue smiled. "I know. Actually, Cagalli and Lacus requested that I delay you a bit, so that's why we're late."

The Gundam pilot couldn't help but smirk as he remembered Murrue's 'delay'. "So that's why you pulled me into the bedroom out of the blue like that."

Murrue laughed and winked at him. "Well, not entirely."

"So why did they want us to show up last?" he asked as they got out of the car.

"Because," she replied as she looped her arm through his, "you're the guest of honor at this little party."

Heero shook his head as they walked over to the concrete stairs that led down to the waterfront. "I appreciate the thought, but…"

Murrue brought her finger to his lips. "Don't finish that, Heero. Yes, our battle was a team effort, and I know you're not the type to seek personal glory, but it wasn't our force as a whole that ultimately destroyed GENESIS; it was you! The Eternal's group may have eliminated the mirror and the larger threat to the world, but you were the one that destroyed the weapon itself and ultimately made this chance for peace possible. Even if GENESIS had only destroyed D.C. it would've been more than enough to ensure that the war continued, and both sides would only redouble their efforts to annihilate each other. You stopped that from happening, Heero. You saved eight million civilians in the Atlantic Federation capital… and by extension, the rest of the world."

Heero had to smile at her praise. "Saving the world… I seem to be getting into a habit of that."

Murrue laughed. "It certainly doesn't hurt to have that on a résumé."

She pulled him onward. "Come on, Heero. Our friends are waiting for us."

He nodded, and together they headed towards the top of the stairs. From that perch the Gundam pilot could see everyone else gathered down on the sands below. Several collapsible tables had been set up, along with folding chairs, a grill, and some coolers. Tiki torches surrounded the area, and arrayed in a second, wider circle were several poles from which were hung paper lanterns. In the center of the area a fire pit was set up, and a comfortable blaze was dancing in the setting sun.

Their friends were all milling about, caught up in idle conversation. It was strange to see them all in casual attire after spending so many months with all of them in military uniforms and flight suits, ready for battle at a moment's notice. For Heero it was a nice change of pace. They weren't here to plan for battle; they were here to relax.

As Heero and Murrue came down the steps the Valkyrie was the first to notice them. Shemei waved at the two of them, smiling as she informed the others. "Hey, look who finally decided to show up!"

Murrue laughed as she pulled Heero down to the beach. "You know, Cagalli and Lacus did ask that we show up a little late. I believe they wanted time to prepare things for Heero."

"Yes," said the songstress as she approached with Kira right behind her, "We felt it was appropriate."

"So, Heero," Cagalli chimed in, smiling, "What do you think?"

What did he think? For Heero, something like this was a very new experience. There hadn't been any parties of any kind, or at least none that he'd attended, at the end of the Eve Wars. Reconstruction and securing the peace had been on everyone's minds, and he'd only been in his old world a little more than a month after the end of the war before he'd wound up in the Cosmic Era.

He looked around at everyone that had gathered there today. It was a very diverse crowd, with many people that, months ago, Heero never suspected he'd be celebrating with like this. There was Bristow, the Valkyrie, and her three subordinates. Shemei's parents were in attendance as well. Kira and Lacus of course were there. Waltfeld and Aisha were there, along with DaCosta. There was Cagalli, Athrun, Erica, Kisaka, and Asagi. Dearka, Miriallia, and Sai were there. There was Natarle and La Flaga. Then there was Flay and Yzak, a surprising couple if ever there was one. And of course, there was Murrue, still holding his arm and smiling at him along with the rest of the group.

In the end all the Gundam pilot could do was bow his head in gratitude. "You didn't have to do this for me… but, thank you."

"Don't mention it," said Bristow, his arm around Shemei, "If anyone deserves to be the guest of honor at a little party like this, it's you. Consider it the least we could do after all you've done to get us here."

"He's right," said Waltfeld, smirking, "I never would've imagined after fighting you in North Africa that we'd wind up on the same side, but here we are, and after a much bigger battle to boot. None of us would be here today if it weren't for you, Heero."

"I actually feel kind of bad for your old world," said Aisha, smiling, "They lost one hell of a soldier when you came over here."

Heero shook his head, smirking. "Don't worry about it. There's four more where I came from. I'm sure they'll get by."

La Flaga chuckled. "I keep forgetting about that. It might just be a good thing that you were the only one that came over here, Heero. You pulled off some crazy stunts just by yourself. Four more of you… I don't think our world could survive that."

"At the very least, it wouldn't be the same at the end," Natarle chimed in, smiling at Heero, "Not that it is now."

"You know," said Dearka, "I still find it hard to believe that you're from another world."

"It does take a bit of a leap of faith," Miriallia chimed in, "but after everything I've seen you do with Wing Zero, I'm willing to believe it."

"So am I," said Flay, smiling at him, "I couldn't believe my eyes when you boarded the Dominion and saved us from Azrael. I don't think anyone else could've done that, especially not without Wing Zero. Thank you, Heero."

The Gundam pilot nodded. "Don't mention it."

Waltfeld grinned. "All right, then. I know you didn't come out here for gratitude and praise, even if you've more than earned them, Heero. There's food on the tables, more on the grill, and drinks in the coolers. Let's dig in, people!"

"After you, Heero," said Murrue, nudging him towards the buffet that had been assembled.

It was quite the spread. Freshly grilled fish, beef, and chicken simmered on the table. Surrounding them were platters of fruit and vegetables, along with sauces and condiments. Chips and salsa were also available, and rounding out the food were two dessert plates of brownies and white cake. In the coolers was an assortment of beverages, including juices, sodas, water bottles, and alcohol. Dishing up, Heero waited for Murrue before the two of them took their seats at a nearby table.

"This looks wonderful!" said Murrue.

Heero nodded, inhaling deeply and savoring the smell. "Yes it does."

"Do you mind if we join you?"

Heero and Murrue looked up to see Akila and Soran Rehema. The Gundam pilot and the Archangel's Captain nodded, and the Valkyrie's parents took their seats at the table.

"You're not going to join your daughter?" asked Murrue.

Akila smiled and shook her head. "We've spent plenty of time with her, and I know she wants to be with Eric and her girls right now."

"We love our girl," said Soran, "but we know when to give her some space."

Murrue smiled. "You're wise parents. I can see how Shemei grew up to be the kind of woman she is."

Soran chuckled. "You give us far too much credit, Miss Ramius. Shemei's a very independent girl; there was only so much we could do to guide her before she found the path she wanted."

"You still gave her a good start," said Heero, "and helped her be in a position to start down that path. I'm sure she feels the same way."

Akila smiled. "Thank you, Heero. I think that's all any parent can ask."

The Valkyrie's mother then became serious. "Speaking of family… you have none in our world, don't you, Heero?"

The Gundam pilot shook his head. "No, but it's all right. I have Murrue and my friends that I've made here. That's more than enough for me. Besides, I didn't have any family in my old world anyway, or at least not in the normal sense of the word."

Odin Lowe was the closest thing he'd had to a father, but while the man had given him guidance and looked after him in the early years of his life Heero knew that it was far from a conventional family setup. Lowe had trained Heero to fight, kill, and survive at an age when normal kids were just starting school, and had brought him into the dark world of assassination and insurrection. While Heero was grateful to the man for giving him the foundation that had proven so vital to making it through his war he would still be hard pressed to call the man family.

"I see," Akila replied softly.

She looked at her husband, and Heero felt that there was some unspoken agreement going on between the two of them.

Akila looked back at Heero and smiled. "Well, that's something we'll have to fix then, won't we?"

Heero looked between her and Murrue in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"It's something we've both been thinking about for a while now," said Soran.

"I'm sorry," Murrue chimed in, "but I'm lost as well. What are you two talking about?"

"You made quite an impression when you rescued us from Charon Prison, Heero," said Akila, "At the time we were both grateful to you for getting us out of there and reuniting us with our daughter, but after the initial shock wore off another one took its place."

"And what's that?" asked Heero.

"Just how young you are," Akila replied solemnly, "Far too young to be able to accomplish all that you have without having prior experience. My husband and I are not fools, Heero; it didn't take us long to realize that you were once a child soldier. The normal childhood so many others have taken for granted, you were denied, and that, I believe, was far too high a price to pay to gain the skills you have now."

"We recognize that it is far too late to recover that which you lost long ago," said Soran, "and we both believe that you have made your peace with the past, judging by the strength you carry and how you have moved forward in your life. However, there is something we would still like to do for you."

"And that is?" asked Heero.

Akila smiled at him. "Heero… we'd like to be your godparents."

The Gundam pilot's eyes widened; that was definitely unexpected.

Murrue looked almost as surprised as Heero was. "Are you serious?"

Soran nodded. "Very."

"But... why?" asked Heero, struggling for words, "I fought against your daughter three times on the battlefield, and once more after the raid on the capital. We faced each other in life or death combat…"

"We're well aware of that," said Soran, "and had you killed her this offer would not be on the table… but you didn't, and so it is."

"Shemei never once held it against you that the two of you fought against each other in this war," said Akila, "Far from it; she greatly admires you… and has great sympathy for you. She met you long before Soran and I did, after all, and it was quite easy for her to surmise that you've had a dark and troubled past."

Heero felt Murrue grab his hand. "What would this involve?" she asked.

Akila gave them a reassuring smile. "Nothing life altering, I promise you that. We know that you and Heero are living together, Miss Ramius, and we have no intention of coming between that. He may be 16, but he is as much a man as any other, if not a great deal more than most. We simply wish to offer our support and guidance should he desire it."

"Of course, this is just an offer," said Soran, "We have no intention of forcing the issue should you be uncomfortable with it. The choice is yours, Heero."

He felt Murrue squeeze his hand, and as he turned to her she smiled. "Well, Heero? It's your decision, and I won't try to influence you one way or the other. This is completely up to you."

The Gundam pilot closed his eyes for a moment in thought. When he opened them he turned to the Valkyrie's parents and nodded. "I accept. Thank you."

Akila and Soran smiled. "I'm glad," said the Valkyrie's mother, "Please, Heero, if you need anything at all, do not hesitate to come to us. The same goes for you, Miss Ramius… or may I call you Murrue?"

Murrue nodded and smiled. "Of course, Miss Rehema."

"Excellent," said Soran, "Now, let's all dig in before the food gets cold."

As they all started to eat Heero was struck by the subtle shift in the atmosphere at the table. Now it was more than just friends sharing a meal; it was more like a family dinner, something that was an entirely new thing for him.

Another thing I'm sure I'll get used to, he thought, glancing over at Murrue, It's been one new experience after another since coming to this world, and I don't regret a second of it.

All around him the others were indulging in their meals and idle small-talk with those they shared tables with. The sun continued to set out on the horizon, and as the sky got darker the light of the torches and lanterns became more prominent. It was a very relaxing environment, and for Heero it was a much better fit than a louder, more rambunctious get-together would have been.

Eventually he and Murrue finished their meals, and they weren't the only ones. Looking around, Heero saw some of the others had already gotten up and had tossed their paper plates into nearby trash bins and were now just standing around, going off into small groups to converse and enjoy the evening. As he and Murrue threw away their plates Heero wondered what they would do now, only to see Lacus approaching them.

"Did you two enjoy the meal?" she asked.

Heero nodded. "It was very good. Thank you."

"Yes," said Murrue, "it was quite lovely."

Lacus smiled. "I'm glad. This isn't all that's in store for the evening; Cagalli set up something special for us, so please stick around."

Heero looked around, but he didn't see anything else aside from their little gathering, the incoming waves, and the setting sun. "What else is going on?"

"Oh, you'll see soon enough," said Lacus, winking at him, "In the meantime, there's something I've been meaning to talk to you about."

"And that is?" asked Heero.

"The training you gave Kira back on Elysium," she replied, "At the time I… I was upset with you, especially in how you ambushed him at the beginning. However, looking back on it, I believe it was for the best. Kira told me he didn't think he would've survived the battle were it not for you. So… thank you, Heero."

Heero nodded. "You're welcome, Lacus."

Lacus smiled. "Of course, if you have any future plans regarding training Kira, I do insist that you discuss it with me first. I won't take kindly to more shocks like the one at the dojo."

Heero gave her a small smile. "I'll do what I can. For now, though, I think Kira's right about where he needs to be."

Her smile grew a little at that. "I'm glad to hear that."

She looked off to the side, and following her gaze Heero saw Kira, Athrun, and Cagalli waving at her. "We'll talk more later. For now, please don't go anywhere; there's a nice little show coming up shortly."

As she walked off Heero felt Murrue squeeze his hand. "Did you mean that? About Kira being where he needs to be for now?"

Heero nodded. "He was able to eliminate Creuset, and this time it was without hesitation. That's enough for now."

"It is rather strange," said Murrue, "Kira and Creuset… if what that maniac said is true, then those two were both produced by the research at L4, and yet they couldn't have turned out more differently. I'm not just referring to Creuset being a failed clone and Kira supposedly being the peak of the experiments, though I have no doubt that played a part in it all."

"I know what you mean," said Heero, "but still… if their positions were reversed, it's entirely possible that Kira could've turned out the same way Creuset did."

Murrue nodded. "I suppose so. Still… was all this really predestined? Kira and Creuset… did the two of them really have no other choice but to fight to the death?"

Heero shook his head. "There's always another choice. Creuset was weak, and I don't mean because of his condition. His time may have been less than ours, but he still had some, and he could've made it count. He was smart enough to manipulate the Cosmic Era's two strongest nations into facing off in the battle of Armageddon. Imagine what he could've accomplished had he turned his intelligence towards more constructive pursuits. Instead he gave in to despair and nihilism."

"Yes," said Murrue softly, "Eventually we are all confronted with the doom of our mortality. Creuset knew that his would come much sooner, but rather than accept it and make the most of the time he had left he let it drive him into the abyss, and he could not rest until he had dragged everyone else down with him."

"Well said," Heero replied, "but that abyss was his undoing. He had fallen so far into the black hole that he could only see the darkest aspects of humanity; he lost sight of the light. Optimism, bravery, wisdom, love… all that and more, they were completely beyond him. As long as humans don't lose sight of those aspects and emotions they can keep moving forward."

Murrue smiled. "It's not enough to just have them in sight; they have to act on them. After all… a very wise young man once told me that the best way to live a good life is to act on your emotions."

Heero smiled too. "It seems he passed those words on to the right person."

Murrue leaned over and kissed him. "You got that right."

They turned back to the ocean for a bit before Heero spoke again. "Murrue, there's something I've been meaning to tell you."

She turned to him. "What is it, Heero?"

"When I destroyed GENESIS," he said, "For just a moment, a second after the explosion… I saw the portal. The one that first brought me here."

Her eyes widened in shock. "Are you serious?"

Heero nodded. "For a split second I was afraid… but not of the explosion. I was afraid of that portal… afraid that the ZERO System would take over the Gundam and send me through it like it did when I destroyed the Barge reactor."

Murrue took a deep breath, and it was easy for Heero to understand why; what he was implying would've devastated her almost as much as his potential death.

"But you didn't go through," she said after a moment, "You're still here, after all; Wing Zero didn't take you back to your old world. I'm grateful for that, but… why?"

Heero gave her a small smile. "In that same moment, when my fear was at its greatest, I also realized something; I was being given a choice. Last time, when I destroyed the Barge reactor, I was lost in my old world. I didn't feel like I had a place there, and Wing Zero recognized that. This time was different, though; the Cosmic Era, your world, is exactly where I want to be. So for me, the choice that Wing Zero offered… well, it wasn't really a choice at all. After all you and I have been through together, I think you know full well what I thought in that moment."

Murrue returned his smile and leaned in to kiss him again. "Yes, I do. Still… thank you, Heero. For staying here… for staying with me."

Heero shook his head. "You don't have to thank me for that, Murrue. I swore that I would move forward together with you, and I don't intend to change that."

The two of them looked back out over the ocean. The last rays of sunlight were rapidly fading, and more than a few stars were already visible. A pleasantly cool breeze was blowing in, and the two lovers were content to just stand there for now and gaze out at the sea.

Heero's eyes narrowed slightly as he spotted an outline on the horizon. "Is that a freighter?"

Murrue leaned forward, following his gaze. "I think so. It looks like it's closer to shore than it should be though; the closest harbor is a ways to the south, so the ship should be further out in the sea lanes right now."

"I should've guessed you'd spot it so soon," said a familiar voice from behind them.

Turning around, Heero and Murrue saw Cagalli standing there smiling at the two of them.

"Don't worry about it," she continued, "It's supposed to be over here; a little arrangement I made with the Orb Merchant Marine."

Heero nodded in understanding. "Part of the show Lacus mentioned earlier, I take it?"

Cagalli nodded. "Keep your eyes on it, Heero; things are going to get fun in a few minutes!"

"Hey!" called Waltfeld, "Everyone get over here real quick!"

Turning towards the Desert Tiger, they saw him over by one of the tables. In his hand he held a bottle of sake, and looking past him Heero saw that Waltfeld had poured cups for everyone on the table.

"Hurry up!" he said, smiling and waving the bottle, "Everyone needs to get their cups before the show starts!"

As they all gathered around the table Waltfeld continued. "Before anyone asks, I'm not going to have us do a single toast. Rather, when the show starts you can raise your cups and do whatever toast you want. We may have all fought together as a group, but I know the each of us had personal reasons too, so I think we should reflect that. Now hurry up and grab your drinks!"

After they got their drinks the crowd dispersed into smaller groups again, with everyone looking out at the ocean. It was a rather interesting situation for Heero; he had no idea what to toast. Peace would've been good, though cliché. Love might've been appropriate for him and Murrue, but the Gundam pilot still felt that there was something more fitting for the occasion and for the two of them.

After a few moments of thought he was able to settle on something that he felt was appropriate for their little celebration. He just hopped Murrue would agree with him.

Murrue smiled at him. "Ready?"

Heero nodded. "I think so."

She then pointed out at the freighter they had spotted earlier. "Look!"

Start "Kamiki Festival"

From the top decks of the ship there were a series of flashes, and then in the sky overhead a string of crimson fireworks bloomed overhead. The distant rumbles of their detonations echoed across the water, and another salvo, this one of golden shells, quickly followed.

More mortars took to the sky, with every color of the rainbow soon bursting into brilliant light above the ship. As the show got underway Heero turned to Murrue and raised his cup.

"To our future," he said.

Murrue smiled and nodded, raising her cup meet his. "To our future."

The sake was warm and full-flavored as it went down Heero's throat, and he was glad he hadn't consumed any alcohol earlier; it had quite a kick. Still, it was very good, and he made a mental note to ask Waltfeld where he'd gotten it so he could acquire some for him and Murrue to drink on special occasions.

"Ah," Murrue sighed as she squeezed Heero's hand, "Good food, good drink, beautiful fireworks, and I get it all with you… not a bad way to celebrate our newfound peace."

Heero nodded as a series of green and blue pyrotechnic flowers bloomed out over the water. "Our newfound peace… and our newfound life."

A new wave of fiery purple and pink blossoms lit up the horizon as Murrue spoke. "Do you think the people of this world learned the same lessons as those of your old one, Heero? You said that Treize and Zechs set up that final battle to ultimately kill mankind's taste for war, to make them finally embrace true peace. I know that was hardly the intention of Creuset or his pawns in this war, but still… the sheer ferocity and stakes of that battle must've had some broader impact on mankind, right? Could it have at least made them realize just how close they came to annihilation and make them work harder to establish a lasting peace?"

Yellow and white bursts of light illuminated the night sky as Heero replied. "It's possible. However, the tensions that drove mankind in this conflict were different than those in my old war. We'll just have to wait and see, Murrue."

Murrue nodded. "With Cagalli now ruling Orb and having a key role in the peace process, along with Councilor Canaver leading the PLANTs, I believe there's a chance. The Alliance lost both Azrael and the entire High Command, so the forces that pushed hardest for war on that side are gone. With them and Zala's faction out of the way, this world may finally be ready to move forward."

"It will take time," said Heero as a series of blue and green shells burst out over the ocean, "The losses for both sides were great, so lingering resentment and suspicion would be natural. However, the opportunity is here for all involved to break with past hatreds and build a new future. At the very least they can codify an end to this war. The will is there for that, and quite possibly more."

Murrue smiled and leaned into him. "I'll take that for now."

Heero nodded, and the two of them looked out over the water as the fireworks show continued. The future offered no guarantees; whether the peace they had fought so hard for would last and for how long, they could not say. That wasn't something either of them would worry about for now though. For now it was enough that they had made it this far, that they had survived to the end of a war that had nearly wiped out humanity.

What the long run will bring, we'll just have to wait and see, he thought, a contented smile on his face, but right now things look as bright as those fireworks over the sea, and I'll gladly take that.

End "Kamiki Festival"

December 31st, C.E. 71

Stepping back after knocking on the apartment door, Murrue waited patiently next to Heero for its occupants to answer. The two of them were dressed in the standard Morgenroete attire, fitting their new cover identities. A few moments later the door opened and she was greeted by a familiar face.

"Hey, glad you two could make it!" said Shemei, smiling at the two of them, "Come on in!"

Murrue nodded, and the two of them entered the apartment. As the door closed behind them the Valkyrie grabbed the bags the two of them had been carrying.

"Thanks for bringing these over," she said, "I realized I'd forgotten to grab them while I was at the store. I owe you two!"

Heero shook his head. "Don't worry about. It was no trouble."

Murrue smiled. "It wouldn't be much of a New Year's Eve party without the champagne and sweets, would it?"

Shemei laughed. "Got that right. Thanks Murrue."

"Anytime," she replied.

Together she and Heero went into the living room where some of the other guests were already gathered. It was a smaller crowd than the beach party a month ago; the senior members of the Three Ships Alliance had several parties going on this time. Murrue and Heero had been unsure of their own plans for New Year's Eve when they had gotten a call from Shemei, and they had happily accepted her invitation. In addition to the Valkyrie and Eric Bristow, the only others that were in attendance here this evening were Shemei's subordinates, Erica Simmons, Natarle and La Flaga, and Flay and Yzak. Adaline, Lan, and Priscilla were helping Shemei and Eric in the kitchen, while the others were already in the living room. The Valkyrie's parents were not in attendance; they had decided to give their daughter a night with her friends.

I didn't mind stopping by the store to grab those items for the party, she thought, but I have to admit it still feels weird using my new identity in public. 'Maria Bernes' is a good cover name, but I still have to work at making sure I remember to use it when others outside our group are around.

It had been a few weeks since they'd gotten their fake identities set up, and Heero'd spent a good deal of time coaching Murrue so they could maintain their cover. Murrue had been impressed, though not surprised, at how easily Heero had adapted to the circumstances of living 'underground', and his experience in his old war was really showing now. Thanks to her boyfriend's help she hadn't slipped up once in public, though it was still awkward for her.

It'll pass in time, she thought, and eventually I'll get used to calling him 'Mark Lowe' in public as much as I do to calling myself 'Maria Bernes'. Perhaps someday the need for these identities will pass, but for now they're necessary for our safety. After all, Azrael and Patrick Zala may be dead, but plenty of their followers survive, and after what we did they'd certainly take a shot at us if they could find us.

"Hello Murrue, Heero," said Erica as the two of them entered the living room, "It's good to see you again."

Murrue smiled at her. "Likewise. Where's little Ryuta?"

"I dropped him off at Miss Clyne's," the engineer replied, "Reverend Malchio was attending their party and brought the kids from the orphanage with him, and I thought it'd be good for Ryuta to be with some people his own age. Besides, given where our conversations tend to go nowadays I thought it best that I come alone."

Murrue and Heero had been quite surprised to learn that Erica had a six year old son. The father had tragically died in a car accident while the boy had been just a year old, but Erica had only redoubled her efforts to raise her son while continuing her work for Morgenroete and Orb. Prior to the Alliance invasion she had sent the boy to live with relatives in the Eden colony, and they had only returned to the Orb mainland two weeks ago.

"That was wise," said Heero as he and Murrue joined Erica at a folding table and chairs that had been set up earlier, "Someone his age shouldn't be exposed to the grim realities of this world. Let him keep his innocence a while longer."

Murrue held Heero's hand as they sat down; she knew all too well that the young man was speaking from personal experience.

The others caught it as well, with Erica nodding sagely. "My thoughts exactly, Heero."

"Do we really have to bring up that kind of stuff tonight, though?" asked La Flaga, "I mean, come on, it's New Years Eve! I thought we all came here to kick back and relax."

"There will be plenty of that, Endymion," said Bristow as he poked his head out of the kitchen, "but we've also got some serious items to go over as well."

"The night's young," Natarle chimed in, "so we've got plenty of time for business and recreation."

"Besides," said Yzak, "from what Bristow said earlier some of this stuff sounds pretty important, so it's better to at least get a preliminary briefing on it."

"Still," said Flay as she kissed his cheek, "it had better not take up all our time; New Year's Eve isn't supposed to be all work and no play."

"Don't worry about that, little lady," said Shemei as she and the others came out of the kitchen carrying food, drink, and utensils, "We won't take too long with it."

Flay folded her arms. "I thought I asked you not to call me that."

"I know," Shemei replied, winking as she set out some plates, "but you make it too much fun."

"Better give up, Flay," said Lan, "You're not going to win this one."

"When our Commander finds a source of amusement she goes at it full tilt," Adaline chimed in.

"Besides," said Priscilla, "You are the youngest one here, Flay. At least she's not calling you 'Flay-Chan' or something like that."

Flay sighed and smiled. "True. I guess I can put up with it… for now."

"Look at it this way," said Bristow as they all sat down, "It means Shemei likes you, Flay."

"Of course I do," said Shemei, grinning, "She bit Azrael's hand and then shot him in the shoulder! Hard not to like someone who does that!"

Now Flay was looking down in embarrassment. "I… thanks."

"Anytime," the Valkyrie replied, "All right, let's dish up!"

It was a pretty simple spread, but it still looked good to Murrue. The main course was burgers and hot dogs, with sides of chips, fruit, and vegetables. There was a small chocolate cake, a pumpkin pie, and sugar cookies for dessert, while for drinks there were a few different kinds of sodas; the champagne Murrue and Heero had brought would be saved for later.

"Well," said Erica as they all began to dig in, "I suppose I should start with some good news; the renovations of the estate are almost complete."

Murrue's eyes widened. "So soon? With all that work I thought it'd be much longer, not to mention the need to keep the full extent of the modifications secret."

Erica smiled. "You'd be surprised what my work crews can accomplish in a short amount of time, Murrue. By the time move-in-day comes it'll be far more than just a big house on the shoreline."

"So I take it the underground work is going well," said Bristow.

Erica nodded. "Both the bunker and hangar will be fully operational soon enough. We've already got the perimeter sensors set up, and most of the structural reinforcements are already complete. If anyone figures out who lives there and tries to attack they'll be in for several nasty surprises, especially once we get the mobile suits moved in."

"Excellent," said Heero, "I look forward to seeing the completed work."

Murrue smiled. "I've always wanted to live by the ocean. I never thought I'd be doing so in a mansion, let alone one that will have some of the deadliest weapons in the world right beneath it."

"Among other things," said Shemei, "Erica, how goes the armory work?"

"We're almost done with that as well," said Erica, "and don't worry; you'll all be given a full tour so you'll know where everything is, and if any guests come by they won't have a clue about any of the bells and whistles unless you tell them."

"So we get our own little high class fortress," said Lan, grinning, "Pretty damn sweet if you ask me!"

"I'll say," said Adaline, "Wish we'd had that kind of setup back when we were on the run in the PLANTs."

"Won't such an estate draw attention though?" asked Priscilla.

"Not really," La Flaga chimed in, "You're forgetting that Orb's a country with a powerful aristocracy; nobles build mansions just to show off. Our seaside estate will actually be quite modest compared to some of the monstrosities the blue bloods build."

"No kidding," said Natarle, shaking her head, "Just look at the Seirans' shoreline residence. Could they possibly be any more ostentatious?"

"If you'd met them like we have you wouldn't be surprised," said Murrue, "The way they acted at Elysium after the battle… they have no sense of shame."

"They're not that different from some of the Romefeller hierarchs back in my old war," said Heero, "Some things never change. In this case it works to our advantage."

"Quite true," said Erica.

Things quieted down for a bit as everyone worked on some of the food they had taken. After a few minutes Murrue spoke. "Have you spoken to Cagalli at all regarding the treaty developments?"

Erica shook her head. "No. However, I do believe Bristow and Waltfeld have. Am I correct?"

Bristow nodded. "She's kept us as up to date as possible. At the rate things are going it looks like something final will be worked out and ready to sign in a few more months."

"Good," said Natarle, "Ever since the ceasefire the world has been in a state of limbo. It'll be nice to have the certainty of an actual peace treaty."

"Bristow," said Heero, "Do you have any information on the contents of the treaty?"

The Wolf of the Far East nodded. "Yeah… and one of the line items in it is you, Heero."

Silence fell over the table. After a moment Murrue was the first to speak up. "Are… are you serious?"

Bristow sighed. "I'm afraid so."

"Give me the details," said Heero, and Murrue saw his eyes narrow, "What do they want from me?"

"Well," Bristow replied, "it's actually not you specifically, Heero. From what I understand, Wing Zero has been a considerable topic regarding the treaty."

Heero nodded. "That's not too surprising, actually. Between Alaska, Avalon, and GENESIS Wing Zero has established itself as a weapon of mass destruction."

"So what is it?" asked Murrue nervously, "What have the negotiations been concerning Wing Zero?"

"Possession," said Bristow, "Officially Wing Zero belongs to no government. However it's no secret that Heero fought with the Orb forces ever since the Earth Alliance invaded the country. One of the clauses that will be in the treaty is that no nation may possess Wing Zero or create any machines that replicate its capabilities."

"Pretty straightforward," said Erica, "and also easy to work around."

"Yes," said Heero, "It won't be too hard to keep Wing Zero off the grid. Covertly transporting our Gundams was something the others and I got pretty good at during our old war."

Bristow nodded. "I wasn't too worried about that bit either. However… there is another bit that may prove to be more challenging."

"And that is?" asked Murrue.

"Both the Alliance and ZAFT," said Bristow, "are pushing for Wing Zero to be destroyed. Cagalli's fighting it by claiming that Wing Zero makes for a good deterrent in case either power wishes to restart the conflict. It's a good argument, but both super powers have been on the receiving end of its power and can make an equally strong case regarding its status as a weapon of mass destruction.

"Damn," Shemei growled, "I don't know how we're going to get around this one. Cagalli knows that Orb's power only gets her so far at the negotiating table; she's outclassed by the Alliance and ZAFT."

"There's got to be something we can do!" said Yzak, "Cagalli's claim is completely true; Wing Zero could very well make the difference in preventing another war!"

"We can't destroy it," said Flay, "We just can't!"

"What the hell are we gonna do?" said Lan, "I mean, what if the Alliance or ZAFT are willing to restart the war over this?"

"You'd better not be saying that we actually destroy it!" Adaline replied, "We need it if something goes wrong!"

"If the Alliance and ZAFT are pushing for its destruction then something's already gone wrong!" cried Priscilla.

The others all began speaking at once and the atmosphere took on a rather chaotic and frantic tone. Murrue couldn't blame them; she knew that they were in a very tricky dilemma.

She looked over at Heero…

… and was surprised to actually see a small smile on his face.

"Zechs…" she heard him say, "It looks like I'll be borrowing a move from your playbook…"

"Heero?" said Murrue, her eyes widening.

The Gundam pilot looked at her and nodded. At the same time he reached over and gently grabbed her hand. "Don't worry, Murrue. I thought something like this might come up."

She saw her boyfriend turn to the rest of the table. He took a breath, and when he spoke Murrue was surprised at the force behind it.

"Enough."

A stunned silence fell over the table, with everyone turning towards Heero.

"As I said earlier," he continued, "this isn't too surprising. I suspected that the peace process would involve me and my machine one way or another. Since it will still take a few more months for all sides to work out a final document that gives us plenty of time to prepare our response… and I already have one in mind."

He turned to Erica. "Do you remember what I told you about the Tallgeese?"

Erica nodded, though her expression was one of confusion. "That it's the forerunner of Wing Zero… but what does that have to do with this?"

"How long would it take you to build one?" asked Heero, "Not the Tallgeese Kai; the original Tallgeese."

Murrue saw Erica's eyes narrow in thought. "Not long at all. With all the reconstruction work that's already been done we already have some of our production facilities back up and running. We'd have no trouble producing another machine well before the treaty is finalized, especially since we still have plenty of spare parts in storage for the Tallgeese Kai that can easily be used in the construction of the original model."

"Could you do it in secret?" asked Heero, "With only your most trusted colleagues doing the work?"

Erica nodded. "Yes, that wouldn't be too hard. However, I fail to see what recreating the original Tallgeese will accomplish."

"It'll serve as the core," said Heero, "and then you can modify the exterior accordingly."

Orb's best engineer slowly smiled in dawning comprehension. "Yes… they're close to the same size, and without an extremely close examination no one would know the difference!"

"And considering it would be about to blow up, no one would want to get close enough to perform that examination in the first place," said Heero.

"A dummy!" said Murrue, grinning as she figured out what Heero and Erica were getting at, "You'll make a dummy and blow it up to satisfy the Alliance and ZAFT, just like Zechs did when OZ and Romefeller demanded he destroy the Wing Gundam when he was rebuilding it!"

Bristow smiled. "Brilliant. Erica, how long would it take you to work something like that up?"

"A few weeks," the engineer replied, "It'll be the first project of the New Year, and we'll have it done well before the treaty is finalized!"

Shemei sighed with relief. "That's good. I really thought we were in trouble there for a second."

"We'll have to read Cagalli and the others in on the plan," said Natarle, "It'll take careful preparation to pull this off."

"I'll contact her about this in the morning," said Bristow, "However, the question then becomes whether or not she'll be able to sell this to the Alliance and ZAFT. She's been making a hard effort to fight the destruction of Wing Zero; a sudden turnaround would be suspicious."

"She can do it," said La Flaga, smirking, "Give our little princess some credit, Wolf; she can sell this once she knows the plan. Kisaka's been working with her for Orb's part of the negotiations too, so he can help her out."

"Yes," said Heero, "Together I'm sure they'll be able to convince the Alliance and ZAFT, especially since they'll be telling them something that they very much want to hear."

"Well," said Murrue, "I'm glad we manage to find a way over that hurdle. Bristow, do you have any other information regarding the treaty negotiations?"

Bristow shook his head. "Nothing specific. I know other major topics of discussion have been numbers for the armed forces after the treaty along with the applications of nuclear power, but nothing concrete's been hammered out yet. As soon as I get another update I'll let you all know."

Erica smiled. "Well, now that that crisis has been averted, I do have some good news."

"What's that?" asked Yzak.

"Our reconstruction efforts regarding the Kaguya mass driver and spaceport are actually proceeding ahead of schedule," Erica replied, "As you know that was one of our top priorities after the ceasefire; Orb needs to reestablish its own link to outer space and not be reliant on the mass drivers of the Earth Alliance or ZAFT. Luckily for us the Earth Alliance had actually begun rebuilding efforts during their occupation, though they didn't make too much progress due to resources being diverted for the war effort and the project becoming redundant after they took Lake Victoria. We've been working off of the foundation that they left us, and I'm pleased to report that Kaguya will be fully restored and operational by the end of April."

Murrue smiled. "That's wonderful! Excellent work, Erica!"

Heero nodded. "Indeed. It'll be nice to have a secure route to outer space outside of the special boosters you designed for the Archangel."

"And it will do a lot of good for Orb's economy," said Natarle.

"What about the rest of the infrastructure work?" asked Adaline, "How's that coming along?"

"Quite well," said Erica, "Though we still have quite some ways to go."

"Is the Earth Alliance paying reparations to help with the rebuilding?" asked Priscilla.

"They'd better," Lan grumbled, "They're the ones that invaded after all."

Bristow sighed. "I'm afraid that's a mixed bag. Reparations are on the table, but… well, I wouldn't expect too much from the Alliance."

"Why not?" asked Flay, "Lan's right; they invaded Orb, and it was without provocation. They should be held responsible for all the damage they did!"

"That'd be all well and good," Bristow replied, "if the damage was, strictly speaking, entirely their doing."

Murrue nodded, immediately understanding what Bristow was getting at. "Lord Uzumi's last act. Destroying the mass driver and the military-related industrial facilities… that technically was his doing."

"That's bullshit!" cried Shemei, "He did that only to deny them to the Alliance, which would've used them only to further their genocide campaign!"

"Something I'm sure Cagalli has stressed in the negotiations," said Heero grimly, "Unfortunately the technicality of Lord Uzumi's actions combined with the remaining military power of the Earth Alliance means she can only demand so much before she jeopardizes her position and her country."

"Damn it," Natarle hissed, "Cheapskate bastards…"

La Flaga shook his head. "No kidding."

"I wasn't expecting too much from the Alliance to begin with," said Erica, "They have very little when it comes to a sense of shame. Lady Cagalli may be able to extract some small measures of recompense, but the bulk of the reconstruction costs will be on us. We'll just have to accept that and move on."

"The PLANTs have actually shown a little more dignity," said Bristow, "They're offering reparations for the destruction of Heliopolis. It's nowhere near the full value of the colony, but it's something."

"I don't think it'd be right to ask for full value in any case," said Murrue, looking down, "Yes, ZAFT did attack the colony, but that was because it was building weapons for the Earth Alliance. It doesn't excuse the destruction of Heliopolis, but it's certainly more understandable than the Bloody Valentine."

She felt Heero give her hand a squeeze. "That was also the result of a deal between Orb and the Alliance," he said, "One that undermined Orb's official stance of neutrality. Even if you fought in the battle that ultimately destroyed the colony you're not responsible for the fate of Heliopolis, Murrue."

Murrue smiled at him. "Thank you, Heero."

"Any other developments on that front?" asked Priscilla.

Bristow shook his head. "I suspect we'll know more a week or so from now. That's really everything I've got for now."

"It's enough," said Shemei, smiling, "We got more than enough information to make some plans going forward."

"If everything serious is out of the way," asked Lan, "then can we dig back in? The food's getting cold!"

"And it's New Year's Eve," said Priscilla, "I think we've had enough business talk for the evening. We should be relaxing for the rest of it."

Murrue nodded. "I couldn't agree more. It was good to go over all of that, but now it's time to kick back and enjoy the evening."

"I'll drink to that," said Erica.

Things settled back down as everyone returned their focus to their meals. One by one they began to finish, and eventually Shemei and Bristow worked on clearing the table.

"We'll break out the champagne and the glasses when the countdown gets close," said the Valkyrie, "In the meantime, feel free to make yourselves at home."

Murrue and Heero settled down on the couch, where they were soon joined by Erica.

"Well," said the engineer, "that was a very good dinner. Rather enlightening, too. That was a very clever scheme you came up with to meet the demands of the Alliance and the PLANTs, Heero."

Murrue saw her boyfriend shrug. "As Murrue pointed out, I'm just using the same ploy Zechs did in my last war."

Erica smiled. "Ah, yes, the mysterious 'Zechs Merquise'. Beyond the fact that he was your greatest rival in your old world, you haven't really told us anything about him, Heero."

The Gundam pilot shook his head. "There was never a need."

Erica nodded. "Of course. Still, you can't blame me for my curiosity."

Murrue smiled. "It certainly is hard to resist. I remember back in North Africa when Heero told me about his old war. It was incredibly fascinating, and I can't help but wonder what the people involved in that conflict would've made of ours."

"That really depends on whose perspective you're looking for," said Heero, causing both women to look at him, "Plenty would've been disgusted by the Earth Alliance and ZAFT, but there were those that could very easily have embraced the same hatred that they did. Quinz stands out the most, I think."

Murrue's eyes narrowed in thought. "He was Zechs' second in command when he assumed the leadership of the colonial rebel group White Fang, right? The one that wanted to crash the Libra into Earth?"

Heero nodded. "The decision to drop Libra on Earth may have been endorsed by both Zechs and Quinz, but I think Quinz was far more enthusiastic about it. Given his long history with the colonial independence movement it makes sense; he had a considerable amount of time for his hatred to grow. If the original Heero Yuy hadn't been assassinated… well, things would've been very different."

Erica's eyes widened. "Original Heero Yuy?"

"It's a long story," said Murrue, "Suffice to say he was a prominent leader in the colonial independence movement of Heero's world, and he was murdered years before Heero or any of his fellow Gundam pilots were even born."

"Even so," said Heero, "the impact of his loss was profound. It was our era's equivalent of the J.F.K. or M.L.K. assassinations. Up to that point Quinz had been a loyal follower of his, but the murder turned him from a political activist into a rebel and terrorist. Quinz idolized the original Heero Yuy, but the path he chose in the aftermath of his death was the exact opposite of his martyr's ideals."

Murrue looked down in thought. "It's not too hard to draw comparisons between him and Patrick Zala, is it?"

Heero nodded. "Both men are perfect examples of just how far people can go in the name of revenge. Had the Bloody Valentine Tragedy never occurred, or if Lenore Zala simply hadn't been on Junius Seven when it was attacked, Patrick Zala may not have lost his way, and the war could've gone quite differently."

"It makes you wonder," said Erica softly, "if something similar happened to Azrael in the past. Was he just a petty and hateful man, or was something else driving his blood lust?"

"I suppose we'll never know," said Murrue, "Regardless, it wouldn't excuse his actions, nor do the losses suffered by Quinz or Zala justify what they did afterwards."

"Agreed," said Heero, "but it is still important to consider. At the very least, Quinz and Zala show that the death of a single person can drive someone to do horrific things. Tragedy can very easily turn a powerful love into a burning hatred."

Murrue nodded, and she could not help but shiver. If anything happened to Heero, how far would she go to avenge him? It was a question she did not have an answer for, and she could only hope that she would never have to find out the hard way.

We protected each other in this war, she thought, and survived against impossible odds. All I can do is continue to defend him with that same devotion, just as he's dedicated himself to me.

She felt Heero squeeze her hand, and when she looked over at him he gave her a small, encouraging smile, and she had a feeling he knew where her thoughts had gone. It was enough to bring her back to where they were now, and to restore her confidence.

No matter what happens, she thought as she looked at her boyfriend, no matter what challenges life throws our way, we'll face it together, just like we did this war. We will survive, and we will move forward together!

….

Leaning back on the couch, his arm around Murrue, Heero gave a small smile as he saw Shemei and Eric come out with a bottle of champagne and glasses.

"It's almost time, people!" said the Valkyrie as she and her lover set the glasses out and popped open the bottle.

Looking over at the TV, the Gundam pilot saw that his onetime rival was correct; there was just a few minutes left until midnight.

The atmosphere of the party had relaxed considerably since their earlier conversation. Heero and Murrue had mixed and mingled with the other guests, talking mostly about settling down in Orb and what everyone else was up to. Things were going well for all; their cover identities were established, they all had secure sources of income, and they were still able to keep in touch with friends and loved ones. It was a taste of the peaceful life for Heero, and he hoped it would continue for as long as possible.

On the TV screen was a picture of Olofat's downtown commercial district. The tallest buildings had been rigged with fireworks, and crowds were gathered in the streets below, ready for the approaching countdown.

I've never really taken the time to enjoy New Year's Eve before, he mused as he and Murrue stood up and went over to get their glasses, I'd never seen the point in the past; it was just one year passing and another beginning as far as I was concerned. Even after the end of my old war, I didn't really celebrate it, even though the others invited me to parties. I wasn't really comfortable with it, didn't know what to do, and so I kept away, focusing on cleanup in the aftermath of the war. Now, though… I can take the time to properly appreciate it.

Maybe it was because he was with the woman he loved, or maybe because he was finally accepting that there was a place for him beyond the battlefield. It could've been just the relaxing nature of the party for all he knew. Regardless, he was seeing it in a new light now. It was more than just the ending of one year and the start of another; it was a chance for a new beginning, all the more so for a young man who had mere months ago emerged triumphant from the Battle of Armageddon.

As they grabbed their glasses, full nearly to the rim with champagne, and took their places with the rest of the group around the TV, the Gundam pilot took a moment to reflect on what had brought him to this point.

It was a lot to take in. On the one hand it felt like yesterday that he had destroyed the Barge reactor and had wound up in this world, but on the other it almost felt like a lifetime ago. In the course of a year he had gone from one world to another, had jumped from a freshly won piece right into a brand new war, had played an instrumental role in bringing the conflict to an end…

…and had fallen in love with the most amazing woman he'd ever met.

Turning to Murrue, he gave her a small smile as the final countdown began on the screen. Out of everything that had happened this past year… no, in his whole life, meeting her had been by far the most important.

She had changed everything for him.

And he knew that the two of them were only just getting started.

Murrue smiled at him, and Heero knew that he'd been caught staring at her. "Something on your mind, dear?"

Heero chuckled. "Just thinking that it's been one hell of a year."

Murrue gave a small laugh. "I can't argue with that. I hope the next will be a little quieter."

Heero nodded. "Agreed."

They turned towards the screen, raising their glasses as the last few seconds wound down.

A great cry went out from the group as it reached zero.

"Happy New Year!"

Heero and Murrue clinked their glasses before drinking the champagne, and the TV lit up as the fireworks display began. As Heero swallowed his he was taken off guard when Murrue suddenly leaned in to kiss him, though it only took him a moment to return it.

As their lips parted Murrue smiled at him again. "New Year's kiss, Heero. You didn't know about that?"

Heero smirked. "Well, now I do. Happy New Year, Murrue."

Murrue moved in and kissed him again.

"Happy New Year, Heero," she said softly.

February 20th, C.E. 72

A crisp breeze moved through the long light brown hair of Provisional Supreme Council Chairwoman Eileen Canaver as she stood on the upper deck of the Orb Union Kuraomikami-class destroyer Yukikaze. The vessel was one of the few Orb Navy surface ships that had survived the war, and while the country's reconstruction program included rebuilding its fleet replacement warships would still be some time in coming. Looking out over the railing, the current leader of the PLANTs saw the object of today's gathering standing on the shore of the nearby island.

Whether on the battlefield or off, she mused, Wing Zero certainly makes for an imposing sight.

Eileen had been relieved at Lady Cagalli's eventually acquiescence to the demands that Wing Zero be destroyed. Personally she was actually fine with the mobile suit's continued existence and agreed with Orb's Chief Representative that the machine made for a valuable deterrent against future acts of aggression by either the Earth Alliance or ZAFT. However, the Provisional Chairwoman's hand had been forced by other members of her government who saw Wing Zero's raw firepower as an unacceptable threat to the PLANTs.

Turning to her right, she saw her opposite from the Atlantic Federation smiling as he looked upon the soon to be destroyed mobile suit. President Alexander Copeland, a Caucasian male in his late fifties, had pushed quite hard for the destruction of Wing Zero as part of the peace process, and Eileen had to wonder just how much of that had been motivated by spite and revenge.

Admiral Sutherland was a friend of his, she thought, and Copeland's son was a Captain in the Earth Alliance space forces... and he served on one of the carriers that Wing Zero destroyed in the final battle.

"Is everyone ready?" said a female voice, taking Eileen out her thoughts.

Turning around, the Chairwoman nodded as she looked at Lady Cagalli, who was dressed in full Orb military regalia. "Yes, Madam Representative. Although I'm surprised that Wing Zero's pilot is not in attendance here today."

Lady Cagalli shook her head. "Heero entrusted the final destruction of Wing Zero to me and saw no need to personally attend today's event."

"Yes, yes," President Copeland said, waving his hand in dismissal, "Could we get on with this? The final ratification of the treaty cannot proceed without it."

Eileen had to resist a smirk. While Lady Cagalli had ultimately agreed to the destruction of Wing Zero, it had come with a condition that she had refused to compromise on; no one from either the Alliance or the PLANTs would be allowed to inspect the mobile suit. It was a condition that Eileen had fully supported her on, despite criticism from officers in ZAFT and some of the members of the Provisional Supreme Council. That condition was a considerable reason for the irritation of the President; he'd been desperately looking for a chance to acquire the secrets of Wing Zero for his government, even if that meant risking the chance that the PLANTs could have that same access. Eileen and Lady Cagalli had both been adamant in their position that neither of the super powers should have access to that kind of knowledge, and President Copeland had been forced to settle for just the machine's destruction

I do not trust my own military with the secrets of such a mobile suit, she thought, and certainly not that of the Earth Alliance. It was fortunate that we were eventually able to make President Copeland agree to this, though it certainly wasn't without a fight.

She saw Lady Cagalli turn to one of the officers standing behind her. "Colonel Kisaka? The detonator, please."

The soldier nodded and handed her a grey cylindrical device. Orb's Chief Representative stepped forward, her eyes fixed on the mobile suit out in the distance. Eileen saw that the assembled media that had been brought along for the show were splitting their attention between Lady Cagalli and Wing Zero, and she wondered if they were expecting a speech from the former; Eileen didn't really think Lady Cagalli was the type to give one unless it was absolutely necessary.

The young ruler did speak, though it was only briefly. "In order to bring about the transition into an era of peace, in accordance with our negotiations I hereby destroy Wing Zero. I ask only that everyone here bear witness to this so that we may move forward with the ratification of our treaty."

Then she opened one end of the cylinder and pressed the single red button inside. A brilliant red-white light came from Wing Zero, followed by a deafening blast. The ensuing fireball engulfed the beach, and the shockwave rushed out across the water. Eileen shielded her eyes and braced herself against the railing; the blast was more powerful than she had expected.

"There," she heard Lady Cagalli say as the blast subsided, "I trust you're satisfied, Chairwoman Canaver, President Copeland."

Opening her eyes, Eileen watched as the smoke dispersed. All around the beach there were bits of blackened, twisted metal, but hardly anything was recognizable as belonging to Wing Zero. The demolition had been thorough, and in accordance with their prior agreement Orb would handle the collection and disposal of the remaining debris.

Eileen nodded. "I am, Madam Representative. As soon as we return to shore I will inform the Provisional Supreme Council of what has transpired here today, and we will be able to move towards final treaty ratification."

"Yes," said President Copeland, a smug smile on his face, "With Wing Zero gone the final obstacle to true peace has been removed. I look forward to the final conference and the treaty signing."

Looking out at the smoldering wreckage, Eileen lowered her head in a silent tribute. Whatever the thoughts of the Council, ZAFT, or the Earth Alliance, the fact remained that Wing Zero and its pilot had been instrumental in bringing the war to an end. President Copeland might not respect that, but she certainly did.

I thank you, Heero Yuy, she thought, for your part in ending this war and securing our peace. I do not know what the Atlantic Federation history books will say about you and your machine in this war, but I will do my part to make sure that the PLANTs do not vilify you for future generations. You stopped us from committing an act of unspeakable evil. For that you will have our respect, and our gratitude.

….

Standing with her guests from the Atlantic Federation and the PLANTs out on the tarmac of Olofat International Airport, Cagalli smiled as the two leaders prepared to depart.

"Once again," she said, "I thank you both for coming here today. I hope that this will allow us all to move forward with the final treaty ratification."

Chairwoman Canaver nodded and returned her smile. "I've already contacted the Provisional Supreme Council about the earlier events, and they are satisfied with the results. They will voice no objections to the coming ratification."

"And I can assure you the same acquiescence with the Senate back in D.C.," said Copeland briskly, "Come March 10th we shall have a smooth signing ceremony."

"That's all we can ask for," said Cagalli.

Copeland looked eager to get on his plane, but Canaver seemed more relaxed. "I must thank you for your hospitality, Lady Cagalli. Even with the damage Orb suffered during the invasion you have provided us with top notch accommodations."

"Fortunately most of the damage was to military infrastructure," Cagalli replied, "Most of our civilian infrastructure in the homeland remained intact, so providing accommodations were not a problem."

"Pardon me if I don't partake in the pleasantries," said Copeland, looking out the window at Air Force One, "but I must cut this short; I still have urgent matters of state to attend to."

Cagalli held back a scowl; the Atlantic Federation president had been curt and irritable throughout his short stay in her country, and as far as she was concerned she could not get rid of him soon enough. Still, growing up as the daughter of nobility had taught her the importance of being a good host for any guest even if they didn't deserve her hospitality.

"Of course," she replied, "We'll see you at the signing, President Copeland."

The President nodded at the other two leaders before departing with his entourage.

Satisfied that he was out of earshot Cagalli turned to Chairwoman Canaver and gave her a wry smile. "Would it be too much to ask for him to send his VP to the treaty signing?"

The head of the PLANTs chuckled. "Trust me, you don't want that. I know Copeland's a nuisance, but Cheney's even worse."

Cagalli grimaced. "I'll take your word for it."

Canaver held out her hand. "I should be going as well; still some things to take care of on the flight back to Carpentaria and the shuttle ride home. Thank you again, Lady Cagalli. I look forward to seeing you again at the ceremony."

Cagalli smiled and shook her hand. "You're welcome, Chairwoman Canaver. Have a safe flight back to Carpentaria. I'll see you at the treaty signing."

Watching until the leader of the PLANTs was out of sight, Cagalli then turned to Colonel Kisaka and breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm glad that's over. Did I do alright?"

Kisaka nodded and smiled. "Your father would be proud, Lady Cagalli. I'm sure Heero appreciates your efforts today as well."

"That reminds me," said Cagalli, digging into her pocket for her phone, "I got to give him the good news."

She found his number and called him. Wing Zero's pilot's answer was immediate and straight to the point.

"Did they buy it?"

Cagalli's smile became mischievous. "Completely. You're in the clear, Heero."

"Roger that," he replied, "and thanks."

….

Leaning back in his chair, President Copeland smiled as Air Force One rapidly ascended, leaving the island nation of Orb behind. He had witnessed the destruction of one of the greatest threats to his country's power, and he considered that to be a very productive day's work.

One of his aides walked over to him. "Mister President, you have a call on the Black Line."

Copeland's smile turned into a scowl. The Black Line was a secure hotline that only two people in the entire Earth Sphere could call him on… and since one of them was now dead, Copeland knew exactly who was calling him.

He stood up. "I'll take it in my office. While I'm doing so I am not to be disturbed by anyone, is that clear?"

The aide nodded. "Of course, Mister President."

He made his way to his office on the jet and closed the door behind him. Taking a seat at his desk, he pulled open one of the drawers and hit a button on a small black console. On the monitor in front of him a familiar face appeared with a cool smile on his face.

"I take it things went well, Mister President?"

Copeland nodded. "Quite so, Lord Djibril."

The head of the secretive Logos group, the powerful military-industrial complex and the true rulers of the Atlantic Federation and the broader Earth Alliance, held himself with much the same confidence and malice that the late Muruta Azrael had. At first glance he seemed like a man that never lost his composure, but Copeland knew it was a front; Lord Djibril was as temperamental as Azrael, prone to angry outbursts once plans began to fail and tides turned against him. His silver-blue hair and eyes only seemed to emphasize his latent cruelty, though it was quite at odds with the garish, bright yellow suit he wore.

With Azrael dead, President Copeland had expected Lord Djibril to appoint a successor to serve as Blue Cosmos' full time leader, but he had been blindsided by Lord Djibril simply assuming the role himself in addition to his lofty perch at the peak of Logos. In the end, Copeland knew it didn't really matter if it was Djibril or a subordinate he spoke to; either way he was nothing more than puppet dangling on their strings.

Djibril's smile grew. "Excellent. A small measure of vengeance for Azrael. A pity the pilot didn't show himself at the demolition; it would've been a great chance to eliminate him."

Copeland shook his head. "All our intelligence assets have failed to turn up any trace of Heero Yuy or any of his associates for several months now; they've dropped completely off the grid."

Djibril shook his head. "No matter. With Wing Zero destroyed the traitors have lost their most powerful weapon; they won't be able to interfere with our future plans."

"What of the Archangel?" asked Copeland, "It's dropped out of sight along with her former crew. The same goes for the Dominion; our intelligence agencies have completely lost track of it since the ceasefire."

"Inconsequential," Djibril replied imperiously, "Without Wing Zero the Archangel is now nothing more than the battleship that fled Heliopolis a year ago. I have no doubt that Orb's keeping it in secret to serve as a safeguard, and the same goes for the Dominion, but it doesn't matter; their power will be nothing before the forces that we will eventually bring to bear in the next war."

"I hope this 'next war' isn't any time soon," said Copeland sourly, "Our resources and manpower took a beating in the last one. The economy's plunged thanks to all the resources we threw into the last military buildup and people are hardly lining up to replenish the ranks. More to the point, the provisions of the coming treaty will limit the size of our forces."

"The official forces, you mean," Djibril sneered, "Come now, Mister President; you know full well our plans for getting around such quaint limitations, and I'm sure the beasts up in orbit have similar ideas."

"Of course," said Copeland, "but still, even replenishing our ranks to the point that we hit the treaty limits will take quite some time, and that's not counting building up the Black Fleet. Our casualties were catastrophic at Jachin Due, our nuclear arsenal was wiped out, and our conventional weaponry was decimated. This is not something we can just bounce back from overnight, and the people will riot if we force a war economy upon them again so soon!"

"Relax, Mister President," Djibril replied, "We won't be implementing such measures in the immediate future. We'll take our time to shore up the economy and develop new weapons. As for the people, you know how easy it was to rile up the base in support of our last crusade. Playing on their prejudices is really a simple matter, especially those in the heartland. Present them with an external threat, wave the flag of freedom and patriotism, and throw a few religious bits in there for good measure to rally the faithful, and you'll have your core constituency howling for blood. All that will then be needed is a spark and the inferno of the next war will be lit."

"It's not that easy," Copeland shot back, bristling, "Yes, our party base was eager for war against the Coordinators last time and will eventually be up for another go at it, but they're actually not the majority of our population. We need to be able to guarantee large support for our efforts and marginalize the moderates."

Djibril scowled in irritation. "Who do you think you're talking to, Copeland? Who was it that crafted the ad campaign in the primary and general election that won you your first term? Who erased the evidence that several of your closest allies were members of or affiliated with Blue Cosmos? Who do you think it was that dug up scandals against your electoral rivals and fabricated others when none surfaced? Who arranged for the 'accident' that incapacitated your greatest foe in the general election? Who orchestrated the propaganda campaign that brought the people firmly behind our war effort and ensured a steady supply of fresh recruits? Who worked behind the scenes to bring the full industrial might of first the Atlantic Federation and then the entire Earth Alliance into a full scale war economy and built up the largest force the world has ever seen? You would do well not to underestimate the power of Logos and Blue Cosmos, Copeland; you only hold the Oval Office because of us, and we're the only reason that you retain your grip on power despite our nation suffering a catastrophic defeat and being forced to sue for peace with the abominations and traitors!"

Djibril's eyes narrowed in a cold glare. "You're a valuable figurehead, Copeland, but do not think for a moment that you are indispensable to us. It would be all too easy for us to knock you from your perch, whether it be in the party primary for the next election or by arranging for an unfortunate 'accident' to befall you. Your party is full of equally useful pawns, and your vice president could quite easily fill your place in our plans should the need arise. Remember your place, Mister President, or you will find yourself removed from it in short order. Do I make myself clear?"

Copeland nodded, hoping his sweat wasn't showing on Djibril's monitor. "Quite so, Lord Djibril."

The head of Logos and Blue Cosmos smiled. "Glad to hear it, Mister President. As luck would have it for you, I do not intend to renew the crusade against the Coordinators this year. Considering that you're already into the early stages of your party primaries to secure the nomination I would think renewed hostilities so soon after Jachin Due would be ill advised as a political matter."

Copeland breathed a sigh of relief, but he knew that this was not the end of his problems. "Thank you, Lord Djibril. I trust Logos will continue to provide me with the appropriate backing, then? Primaries are always about turning out the rabid party base, after all, and no small segment of that electorate is displeased with us ending the war at essentially a draw."

Djibril shook his head. "Pay the fools no heed, Mister President. I assure you your campaign is in good hands with us, as it was in your first election. While their zeal for victory is admirable, and I can certainly sympathize with them, I'm also a pragmatist. As you yourself pointed out we cannot afford to resume hostilities with the losses we've taken, even with Wing Zero now out of the picture. It would be the height of idiocy to plunge back into a war that we cannot guarantee our total victory in. Trust me when I say that your negotiations with the mongrels in outer space and the race traitors of Orb will pose no obstacle to your victory in the primary; Logos will make sure of that."

Copeland nodded and allowed himself a satisfied smile. "Once that hurdle is cleared the only step remaining will be the general election, and we've already made sure that the moderates are fractured and disorganized. Campaigning against them will be child's play."

Djibril smirked. "Indeed, especially since so many of their most prominent potential candidates had 'unfortunate accidents' during the last year. Their highest profile campaign contributors have likewise been neutralized one way or another. You will have your second term, Mister President. I suggest you use it wisely."

"What about the Eurasian Federation?" asked Copeland, "The CPK's been removed from most positions of authority since the ceasefire; our biggest partners in Moscow no longer have the influence that they did during the war."

"We'll bring them around in due time," Djibril replied, "We still hold the stronger military and thus have the greater influence in the broader Earth Alliance. The Republic of East Asia is in even less position to act against our influence thanks to the losses ZAFT inflicted upon them. They may not have quite the same grasp of the Coordinator Problem that we do, but we can still pull them into our next war when the time comes. For now they'll all be focused on rebuilding, and that suits our purpose just fine for the moment; we do want their economies to recover so that they'll be useful assets in the next conflict, after all."

"What about their mass production of mobile suits?" asked Copeland, "They may not be able to field as powerful a force as we can, but now that mobile suit technology is widespread their armies will be stronger for it, and they could use that to fight our influence in the broader Alliance."

"It won't be a serious problem," said Djibril smugly, "Our mobile suit technology is more advanced than theirs, after all. Neither Moscow nor Taipei can match us in military might and they both know it. Even if they don't share our passion regarding the Coordinator Problem, Logos has enough pull in both those nations to at least force them into supporting us in future endeavors. Besides, with an appropriate spark to ignite the conflict we could even bring them along willingly."

Copeland fidgeted nervously. "What sort of spark?"

"One that will enrage the world," Djibril replied, "One that the people of Earth will immediately trace back to the Coordinators and will be impossible for the freaks at L5 to deny. There are numerous potential scenarios, Mister President. We need only wait for the right opportunity."

"As long as we're able to finish what is started this time," said Copeland, "The end to this war was hardly an ideal scenario."

"Well, 'live and learn', as they say," said Djibril, smiling, "We may not have achieved our victory in this war, but we can apply our experiences from it to the next conflict. One of those, I believe, is the lesson of leaving third parties alone for too long, especially nations like Orb. Your behind-the-scenes deals with them regarding Project G and other matters gave them too much influence and allowed them to continue to build up their own power while not having to fight the true enemy."

Copeland scowled. "If I recall correctly, I had approval from both you and Azrael to go through with those deals. More to the point, they eventually paid off; were we not able to bring our own mass production mobile suits into the war?"

"Yes," said Djibril, "but so was Orb, and it made them much tougher to deal with when we delivered our ultimatum to them. While our forces had been fighting ZAFT Orb had used that time to integrate their own mobile suits into their armed forces thanks to having access to the data from the Heliopolis collaboration, not to mention the data that apparently Heero Yuy provided them to supplement their capabilities. We should've brought them into our tent from the beginning of the war; there is no room for neutrality when our enemies are unholy abominations."

"How will we do that for the next conflict?" asked Copeland, "With Uzumi's daughter leading the country I can hardly see it coming our way on policy regarding the Coordinators any time soon. If anything she's more likely to not only uphold her father's official stance but act against us when we launch our next crusade."

Djibril shook his head. "Cagalli is not as powerful as you think she is. Yes, she does rule the Orb Union and the other noble houses are currently standing behind her with regards to the treaty negotiations and reconstruction, but in the future her position will not be so secure. Most of the nobility and officials in positions of power that truly believed in Uzumi's ideals died with him; the new leadership crop of the Orb Union is much more malleable, Cagalli being the exception. In fact, one of the houses even shares our understanding of the Coordinator Problem and tried to help us with it in the war."

"You refer to House Seiran?" asked Copeland, "Aren't they at risk of discovery due to their actions at Elysium?"

"Hardly," Djibril replied, "They've managed to cover their tracks, and with everything else that's happened no one's been able to launch a real investigation into what really happened at the Battle of Elysium. The other noble houses may not see things quite the same way as the Seirans, but once we begin to exert pressure we'll be able to bring them around to our side. Cagalli will be isolated and rendered little more than a puppet ruler with due time. Eventually the Seiran House will be able to officially usurp Uzumi's daughter as the true rulers of Orb, and they will be quite willing to follow our national policy regarding the Coordinators and broader affairs."

Copeland nodded. "If you say so, Lord Djibril."

Djibril chuckled. "I most certainly do. Once our military forces have been rebuilt it will be all too easy to exert the required pressure on the Orb nobles and make them turn against Cagalli. After all, their country has already suffered the ravages of one war; they will see the wisdom in siding with us to avoid the destruction of another. With the Orb Union's rebuilt military on our side it will be much easier to destroy the Coordinators and cement our rule over the Earth Sphere."

"At the very least," said Copeland, "Orb would be a useful staging area to mount an attack on Carpentaria from. Knocking that base out of the war quickly would reduce ZAFT's terrestrial possessions to just Gibraltar."

"Yes," said Djibril, his eyes narrowing, "although such actions would not be necessary had you prevented them from regaining any of their former terrestrial bases in the treaty negotiations."

"Some compromises, while unfortunate, had to be made," Copeland replied, "Gibraltar and Carpentaria are the only terrestrial holdings ZAFT will have in the future. I should think that beats them holding Kaoshiung, Lake Victoria, and all the other territory they took during the war."

"Irrelevant since we reclaimed that territory after the Orb invasion," Djibril sneered, "I understand the need for pragmatism in matters like this, but it would've been better had you been able to limit them to either a single base, or even better none at all. Was that really too much to ask?"

"It was the only agreement that we could come to that would allow the treaty process to move forward," Copeland shot back, "If you would've preferred our depleted forces to take a crack at a united Orb Union and ZAFT then by all means order me to renege on that provision. Even without Wing Zero now they would still be more than enough to match us, and just because he no longer has his machine does not mean that Heero Yuy isn't a threat."

Djibril shook his head. "You push your luck, Copeland. You're fortunate that the rest of the Logos executives believe in the importance of using this treaty to bide time and rebuild our forces, otherwise your VP would be sitting in your chair tomorrow. Also, you are mistaken in your analysis of Heero Yuy; without Wing Zero he's just another mobile suit pilot, and the only machines Orb can give him are the M1 or the Taurus. Those hardly put him on the same level of menace as his old machine did."

"Indeed," Copeland replied dryly, "Is there anything else, Lord Djibril?"

Djibril glared at him. "Just keep following our script, Mister President."

Copeland thought that was the end of it, but Djibril apparently had something more to say. "Oh, and one more thing; in a few months I will not be the only one who might call you on this line. Azrael's legacy has recovered remarkably and has grown to the point that I can begin giving him greater responsibilities."

Copeland nodded. "The 'Phantom Commander'. I don't suppose he has an actual name I can use in conversation, does he?"

"Yes," Djibril replied, "You will address him as Colonel Nazara."

Copeland chuckled. "Nazara. Old Turkish for 'the one who observes'. Even in death Azrael is full of surprises."

Djibril raised an eyebrow. "I didn't realize you were fluent in that language, Mister President."

Copeland smirked. "Even a puppet king can have secrets, Lord Djibril. You would do well to remember that."

Djibril scowled. "Perhaps, but if those secrets cause the puppet king's head to grow too large then they will be his undoing. Take heed, Copeland; Colonel Nazara will soon be the right hand of both Blue Cosmos and Logos, the executor of my will. You would do well to remember that."

"Are we done here?" said Copeland. The constant threats were just getting irritating now.

Djibril nodded, his brow furrowed in contempt. "Yes, we are. Farewell, Mister President."

Copeland sighed with relief as the head of Logos disappeared from the monitor. That had gone on far too long for his liking.

There was a time when Presidents were not beholden to men like him, he mused, when this office was more than just a rubber stamp for plutocrats and puppeteers. It would be nice to have real power, but it's only thanks to the backing of Logos that I was able to get what status and influence I now possess.

Reaching down into the lowest drawer of the desk, he pulled out a bottle of bourbon and a glass. After that conversation and everything else that had happened today he was of the firm opinion that a stiff drink was in order. As he poured his drink the only question that occupied his mind was what to toast.

He chuckled as he raised his glass, the answer coming to him. "To the destruction of Wing Zero," he said to himself, "and the defanging of the Demon Lord of Avalon. Enjoy irrelevancy and obscurity, Heero Yuy."

….

March 10th, C.E. 72

Leaning back on the couch in one of the mansion's larger rooms, his right arm around Murrue, Heero watched the unfolding ceremony on the big flat screen TV on the far wall. Today was the day that they had all been waiting for, and everyone in the room had been focused on the proceedings for the past hour.

There were times when we feared that things might not reach this point, he thought, I'm glad we were proven wrong.

Heero and Murrue had settled into the new seaside estate at the beginning of February along with the rest of its new occupants. Those included Aisha and Waltfeld, Shemei and Eric, Akila and Soran, Flay and Yzak, and Natarle and La Flaga. In addition to the rooms for the couples there were plenty of extra accommodations for guests, and Heero was still taken aback by the fact that for all its luxury such a home was still considered modest when compared to the grandiose estates constructed by the Orb Union's aristocracy and plutocrats.

All of the mansion's residents were in the living room now, along with a few guests. These included the Valkyrie's subordinates and Erica Simmons. Kira and Lacus were residing at Reverend Malchio's orphanage, and Heero wondered if they were watching the ceremony today too. Meanwhile, some of their other friends were at the ceremony itself.

Heero could already see three of them on the screen. Cagalli had the podium at the moment and was in the midst of giving a speech. Behind her he could see Athrun acting in his new role as 'Alex Dino', Cagalli's bodyguard. Standing with him was Kisaka in full Orb military regalia in contrast to the simple suit and shades that Athrun wore. Off screen were Miriallia and Dearka, the former covering the ceremony in her role as an independent journalist while the later acted as her escort. Heero knew that it was normally extremely difficult, if not outright impossible, for a journalist unaffiliated with a major network to get access to such a high profile event, but fortunately Miriallia's connection with Cagalli had made it easy to get her and Dearka in.

The ceremony was taking place on a ship hovering over the remains of Junius Seven, and the ruined colony would also be giving its name to the treaty that was soon to be signed. For all the symbolism in such a location, Heero had his reservations. Such a venue for treaty ratification was full of risks. Mechanical failure, debris or micrometeorite impact, an attack by terrorists or renegades… those were just a few of the potential worst case scenarios. The Gundam pilot would've been much more at ease had the venue been on a colony, Earth, the Moon, or even just on a ship in open space; the ruined colony and the Debris Belt were very low on his list of secure locations. Still, this was what the three principal nations had agreed to, and Heero knew that he had no say in the matter.

"Hard to believe it's really happening," said Murrue softly, "We fought so hard for this…"

Heero nodded. "We did, indeed."

"Do they have to go on with the speeches?" asked Shemei, "I know this is a big deal and all, but I'll be feeling a lot better once that ink's on the dotted line."

Eric smirked. "I think we all will, dear. Still, politicians have their habits, and speechmaking is one of them. We'll just have to bear with it a little while longer."

"Still," said Lan, folding her arms, "they could pick up the pace a bit. I mean, come on, how long do they have to go on like this?"

"Got to put on a good show for the cameras," said Adaline wryly, "Get some good quotes for history and all."

"At least Cagalli's not being a patronizing two-faced douchbag like the Atlantic Federation President," Priscilla chimed in, "You can at least tell that she's being sincere."

Heero couldn't argue with that sentiment. President Copeland had been the first of the assembled leaders to speak, and while his words had been sophisticated and fitting of a statesmen his tone had left much to be desired. A common observer would not have picked up on it, but for people as insightful and alert as the Gundam pilot and his allies it had been all too easy to pick out the President's arrogance and contempt. He'd put up a good front, but Heero knew that he was hardly giving these proceedings the genuine dignity and honor that they were due. His respect was superficial, and Heero could sense a much darker undercurrent running beneath the surface.

His mind was elsewhere, he mused, but where? On a day that should be of remembrance for those lost and devotion to future peace he looks like a man with an eye to something else. A different agenda than what all are supposed to be subscribing to today… but what is it?

Both Chairwoman Canaver and Cagalli had been much more honest with their remarks. They spoke of a newborn understanding in the world, a new sense of cooperation and trust that would bring all forward into a new era. Their dedication to honoring those that had been lost to reach this point was quite genuine, as was their commitment to both upholding the new peace and to spreading the ideals that underlined it. It was a subtle but marked contrast to the Atlantic Federation President's performance, and it was why both women were among the very few politicians that Heero truly respected.

"It's a good thing Canaver is representing the PLANTs today," said Yzak, "I don't know what one of the other Councilors would say here, let alone what her successor will do."

"Successor?" asked Flay, "Canaver just assumed power a few months ago, so isn't that a long ways off?"

Eric shook his head. "Unfortunately no. Councilor Canaver only took power through a coup, and she's well aware that her support won't last much longer before the legitimacy of her government is called into question. That's why she intends to step down from her position as Provisional Chairwoman and call for new elections once the treaty signing is complete. It won't just be for the head position either; all Council seats will be up for grabs."

"Does she plan on running for the top office?" asked Soran.

"No," said Eric, "In fact, in order to prove her sincerity to the people, that she does not intend to become a dictator, she intends to leave the council entirely after the elections. She'll take a position in the local government of the September City colonies."

"I'm sure she'll do a lot of good there," said Akila, "but I think the Supreme Council could use her more."

"We tried to talk her into keeping her position as September City's representative on the Council," said Waltfeld, "but she wouldn't hear of it. I think being on the Council with the likes of Patrick Zala for the war period really drained her, and since the coup her old friendships and alliances have become increasingly frayed."

"It may suit our purposes to have her on the Council," said Aisha, "but it wouldn't do her any good. After the past few years I think she needs to get away from the politics of the capitol for awhile."

"Who are the top contenders to replace her as head of the Council?" asked Murrue.

"It's actually a pretty wide open field right now," said Eric, his eyes narrowing in thought, "Typically sitting or former members of the Supreme Council are the ones that win the race for the top spot, and several of them have been jockeying for position for some time now. However, legally speaking the range of those that can run for the executive position is quite large, and there are several factors in play here that are shaking things up considerably."

"What do you mean?" asked Heero.

"Well," Eric continued, "for starters the political coalitions that existed during the war have been slowly breaking down since the Jachin Due ceasefire. In the middle of the conflict your political position in the PLANTs was more or less summed up by your attitudes towards our ultimate objective in the fighting; convince the Earth Alliance to sue for peace at a position of rough parity, conquer most of Earth and subjugate them… or wipe them out. As you know, those of the latter two opinions comprised Patrick Zala's radical faction."

"There are remnants of Zala's faction, of course," said Waltfeld, "but their ideology has been completely discredited; they have no chance of regaining any measure of popular support. However, without a mad dictator to rally themselves against the groups that made up the moderate faction have begun splintering."

"So the old dynamic of radical vs. moderate no longer applies to PLANT politics," Heero summarized, "How do the new dynamics break down?"

"New positions are still forming and being consolidated," Eric replied, "For domestic policy the economy is the top issue right now; Zala's massive military buildups drained vast amounts of resources from the civilian sectors, and the heavy casualties also means that the PLANTs now have a labor shortage. Even downsizing and consolidating the armed forces to comply with the new treaty guidelines won't completely alleviate that problem; that's how bad the carnage was, especially in the final stages of the war."

"So whoever can make the most appealing promises about economic restoration will have a leg up in the elections," said Murrue.

"It certainly won't hurt their chances," said Waltfeld, "Some other issues that are popping up include new protections for minorities, reworking the governmental power system to prevent the rise of another Patrick Zala, and new judicial powers to balance out the role of the Supreme Council and the executive."

"That last one would be huge," said Shemei, "Once Zala's faction gained the majority on the Council and he got the head office our courts weren't strong enough to push back against his new measures and actions."

"Our judiciary's always been geared more towards regular crime rather than acting as a branch to balance out the other parts of the government," said Eric, "One of the flaws of our system. It'd be great to get some amendments in there to strengthen the power of the courts, but to do that would require both popular referendums and willingness on the part of the new Supreme Council to enact reforms that would cede some of their strength to the judiciary, and I'm not sure that they'd be willing to do that."

"If those are the domestic issues," said Adaline, "then what about foreign policy? Given what we all just went through I imagine issues regarding foreign relations and security would be weighing pretty heavily on the minds of the electorate."

"You're not wrong there," said Eric, "The three powers may be signing a peace treaty today, but trust between them is still pretty damn low right now. Once of the big things will be trying to guarantee security of the homeland while staying within the bounds of the treaty. That's a pretty fine line to walk, and I'm not sure if any of the potential candidates can pull it off."

"They can always lie their assess off," Lan quipped, "That seems to work pretty well for politicians most of the time."

"It'll have to be a good lie," said Priscilla, "After the propaganda campaign Zala used to win the last elections and to cement public opinion behind his rule the people are going to be much more skeptical about who they put into office, especially when it comes to the head of the Supreme Council. At least, I hope they'll be skeptical…"

"Don't we all," said Aisha wryly.

"I think they will be," said Eric, "and that actually plays into another factor that's shaking up the electoral field; the people are much more suspicious of what they consider to be 'the political establishment'. In the PLANTs that's really code for anyone associated with the Supreme Council, and that kind of sentiment means that candidates from other sectors actually have a chance to make their case and fight for the top spot."

"I imagine there's a whole slew of them trying to play the populist hero right about now," said Murrue, "Everyone wants to be the 'anti-establishment candidate', even when they're part of the power structure themselves."

"Anyone in particular standing out?" asked Heero.

Eric lowered his head in thought for a moment before replying. "Just one… and I think he's got a decent shot at the Chairmanship. If nothing else, he'll definitely make the race an interesting one."

"Who is it?" asked Yzak.

"He's a bit of a dark horse candidate right now," said Eric, "To be honest, when my sources first told me he was making a play for the executive office I had a hard time believing it. However, after taking another look at him, he doesn't seem like such an outside shot now. Still, he definitely came out of left field."

"Why's that?" asked Flay, "Just what kind of man is he?"

"Something of a Renaissance Man, for lack of a better description," said Eric, "His name is Gilbert Durandal."

Waltfeld's good eye narrowed. "Durandal… I've heard that name before. Isn't he the head of Aprilius One's local governing council?"

"Among other things," said Eric, smirking, "Politics is only the latest thing he's decided to try his hand at… and he's actually pretty good at it."

"What's his résumé?" asked Shemei.

"He actually got his start as a doctor," said Eric, "More specifically, a geneticist. Graduated top of his class from the University of Aprilius One with a full doctorate in genetics and is well versed in both theoretical and practical aspects of the field. He wrote his graduating thesis when he was only nineteen, and from what I understand it was quite a hit. He spent quite a lot of time working in the field, doing both theoretical work and pharmaceutical research aimed at developing medications for certain hereditary conditions and diseases. I heard he also worked for a time with genetic modification on the embryonic level; something to do with making improvements to the next generation of Coordinators, I think. There was also word that he was trying to map specific genes with human tendencies and working to develop a predictive model of human behavior and aptitude based on their genes, but I don't think that one ever went anywhere."

"Quite the list of accomplishments," said Soran.

"That's just the tip of the iceberg," Eric continued, "This guy's done a lot of government work too, and some of it is classified. Not sure if it had military applications, but from what my sources told me it had some pretty serious protections. "

"So how does someone like that end up in politics?" asked Akila.

"That's the kicker," said Eric, shaking his head, "I honestly don't know."

Erica's eyes narrowed. "You seriously mean that you have nothing on that? No recorded speeches or online posts of any kind? No articles or op-ed pieces? No indicators of any sort for a run-up to entering the political arena?"

"Zip, zilch, nada," Eric replied, "One minute he's running clinical trials on some new medication, the next he's announcing a run for the Aprilius One local council, and the head office to boot."

"I'm surprised he was able to win the election," said Priscilla, "Even local council races can get pricy. They're not something you can afford to run on a doctor's salary, and he wouldn't have had the same fundraising connections as other candidates in the field."

"Not the same connections," said Eric, "but he did have some. He kept close ties with senior faculty at the university, and they were able to swing some key donors his way. Combine that with his charisma and intelligence and he actually wiped the floor with the competition. I actually watched the debates for that race, and from what I remember he ran circles around the establishment candidates. Had a point and counterpoint ready for every single argument and attack they threw at him."

"So how did he govern?" asked Adaline, "Whose side was he on?"

"Non-aligned, actually," Eric replied, "and he's handled his position pretty well so far."

Lan's eyes narrowed. 'You mean this guy managed to win an executive office in the capital without aligning himself with either Clyne or Zala's faction?"

Eric nodded. "It stands out, I know. Really, though, by the time the divide between Clyne and Zala really began to show it was after the Bloody Valentine Tragedy, and by then Durandal was secure in his position. As for governing, he was a competent and skilled administrator. Things ran pretty smoothly in Aprilius One on his watch, and he managed to keep friction on the local council to a minimum. At the same time he's held his position as head of the colony's council, though, he's also continued work on the side in his role as a geneticist."

"I'm amazed he could find the time for that," said Murrue, "I would imagine being the head of a colony would be incredibly demanding, especially when it's Aprilius One."

"So he had no stance on government's position regarding the war or Naturals?" asked Heero.

"If he had a position he kept it private," said Eric, "He never made any claims like the radicals did about the superiority of Coordinators over Naturals and never called for escalation of the conflict to the point of subjugating or exterminating them. That being said, he also didn't speak out when the Zala regime began rounding up Naturals still living in the PLANTs, and he didn't support or oppose the purge of Siegel Clyne and his followers."

"He sounds like a real enigma," said Shemei, "Hard to really get a feel for a politician like that."

"I take it that's why you didn't try to approach him when you were running Clyne's network," said Waltfeld.

"And it's why I won't approach him to extend the one we've got now," Eric replied, "He's too much of an unknown quantity. That being said, I don't think he would've taken too kindly to our subversion and rebellion during the war."

"Why's that?" asked Aisha.

"He's been very careful with his public statements," said Eric, "but the vibe I've gotten from him is one of a man who's pretty uptight when it comes to the rule of law and obedience to higher authority. Any sort of unlawfulness or rebellion, even on moral grounds like ours, would not go over well with him."

"So we can't count him as an ally going forward, then," said Murrue.

Eric shook his head. "Not unless the circumstances were so extraordinary that he'd have no choice but to go outside the established system for help. That being said, I think he'd at least be a little more willing to accept our aid than President Copeland would. He doesn't appear to hold any grudges from the war, which may make him a little more reasonable."

"We should still keep an eye on him," said Heero, "As you said, he's an unknown quantity. The fact that he's making a play for the office of Supreme Council Chairman indicates he has an agenda, one that can only be accomplished by becoming the head of the PLANTs. We have no idea what that agenda is, so he will bear careful watching."

Waltfeld nodded. "Agreed."

"Hey," said Aisha, pointing at the TV, "It looks like they're finally wrapping up the speeches."

Turning towards the screen, Heero and the others saw Cagalli, Copeland, and Canaver moving over to a table set up by one of the ship's observation windows. On the table were three separate copies of the Treaty of Junius Seven. Each leader would sign all three copies and then take one apiece to bring back to their respective nations. Sitting beside the table was a large black marble marker, a memorial to both the victims of the Bloody Valentine Tragedy and those of the larger war, and it would be lowered onto the surface of the ruined colony at the end of the ceremony. Outside the window in the background was the vast lower section of the colony, a very grim backdrop to the proceedings.

A young raven-haired woman was speaking as the three leaders began signing the documents. "Ladies and gentleman, we've finally reached that point we've all been waiting for. With the signing of these three treaty copies, the conflict that has since been labeled the Bloody Valentine War will officially be concluded."

"About time," muttered Lan.

"No kidding," said Yzak.

"This is nothing," said Flay, "Before he sent me to Heliopolis my dad took me to some conferences and fundraisers in D.C., and some of those old windbags spoke for hours."

"Nice to see that sort of thing is cross-cultural, at least," said Waltfeld, "I attended my share of government functions back in the PLANTs too, and I thought those things would never end. The only thing that kept me awake was Aisha pinching me."

The Tiger's lover winked. "Well, you did insist that I keep you from falling asleep during the proceedings. Professional appearances and all, right?"

Waltfeld smirked. "Well, looking back, I think I would've rather snoozed through those."

"I wouldn't mind snoozing through this," La Flaga quipped, nodding at the screen.

Natarle playfully nudged him with her elbow. "Pay attention, it's important."

Tuning out the banter, Heero focused on the journalist on the TV screen as she began outlining the central points of the treaty.

"Per this treaty," she said, "All national boundaries on Earth are restored to their prewar status. The Earth Alliance has already withdrawn its occupation forces from the Orb Union, and will be doing the same with regards to the United States of South America and the rest of the territory they conquered during the war. The only territories ZAFT will be permitted to possess on Earth with be the bases at Carpentaria and Gibraltar."

Giving the Earth Alliance the overwhelming advantage on the planet itself, Heero thought, though since the PLANTs are a space-based nation that was hardly going to be a sticking point in the negotiations.

"Also," the reporter continued, "the Orb Union is forbidden from transferring any military technology, weapon shipments, or martial aid of any kind to either the Earth Alliance or ZAFT. In addition to this, nuclear technology is strictly prohibited from military use, and all N-Jammers and N-Jammer Cancellers are to be destroyed. The only exceptions are the Cancellers being used in civilian nuclear power plants until the Jammers impacting those areas are excavated, removed, and dismantled. Also, the use of Mirage Colloid cloaking technology is prohibited."

Those provisions had been more or less anticipated by Heero, though he had to wonder if any of the signatory nations would ultimately abide by them. After all, the Three Ships Alliance had already hidden away their armaments, including those that violated the treaty, and while it had been for the noble purpose of being prepared to stop either power in the event of a future war Heero knew that there were those in the countries that were signing this treaty that were far less scrupulous.

"In addition to this," said the reporter, "per the plan outlined by Foreign Minister Lindemann of the Kingdom of Scandinavia, strict limitations will be placed on the size of the armed forces maintained by the Earth Alliance and ZAFT. These armaments limitations are proportional to national resources such as population and economic output."

This one might be trouble, Heero thought, A provision like that puts the PLANTs at a substantial military disadvantage, at least in terms of numbers. Now that both sides have mobile suits ZAFT will have to work even harder to develop new technologies in order to retain its potency as a deterrent force while at the same time staying within the bounds of the treaty. Of course, nothing will be stopping the Earth governments from pouring resources into their own military research and development programs. This could actually result in a new arms race… and there's no guarantee that either side won't run black programs for developing weapons and technology that violate the terms of the treaty.

"Finally," said the reporter, "per the treaty, the mobile suit known as Wing Zero will be destroyed. As was reported last month the machine was self-destructed on one of the islands of the Orb Union, and the event was witnessed by the leaders of the treaty signatory nations as well as the international media. In addition to its destruction, recreation of Wing Zero or the development of any mobile suit meant to replicate its capabilities is prohibited."

"Looks like our ruse is still holding," said Murrue.

Heero nodded. "Hopefully we'll never have to show them just how badly we duped them."

Back on the screen the camera had turned to the crowd gathered on board the ship. Everyone was applauding as the treaty signing concluded. The three assembled leaders were shaking hands while a multitude of white flashes from the assembled cameras captured the moment.

"It's finally over," said Shemei.

Eric nodded. "Yes, and it couldn't come soon enough."

"Too many people died for us to reach this point," said Waltfeld grimly, "The world better not fuck this up."

"Agreed," said Aisha.

"After what almost happened at Jachin Due," said Adaline, "they've at least got a strong incentive to work to uphold the peace."

"I sure hope so," said Priscilla, "One Battle of Armageddon was enough for me, thank you."

"I'll second that," Erica chimed in.

Heero was wholeheartedly with them in their hopes, but he had to wonder what would really happen moving forward. The Second Battle of Jachin Due had surpassed all others in the history of the Cosmic Era with the stakes involved; a conflagration with the fate of the world hanging in the balance. Having come to the brink of complete annihilation one might hope that mankind had learned a valuable lesson from such a conflict and would completely devote itself to preventing something like that from happening again.

But will they?, he thought, The world once called the First World War 'The War to End All Wars', but not only were they proven wrong, its sequel turned out to be magnitudes worse. From the end of the Second World War arose the Cold War and a multitude of proxy conflicts. After the fall of the Berlin Wall the world believed a new age had dawned, but mankind continued to fight amongst itself. Every time humanity claims to have learned a lesson the pendulum seems to swing back in the other direction.

He wanted to believe that this world could break the cycle, just as his old world had appeared to have done at the end of his old war. The parallels were there: titanic battles, stakes beyond measure, and losses beyond the count of grief. It was all too easy to hope for a similar result, a similar learning experience.

But I'm a Gundam pilot, he mused darkly, Since when does my kind get to take the easy road?

The fundamental truth was that this world, for all its similarities, was ultimately not his old world. More to the point, this had not been his old war. The roots of the conflict had been different. The ideologies, the politics, the factions, the people, the hatreds… all those and more meant that he could not use the peace won in his last war as a potential model for what could come here.

But if that was the case…

…then did that mean that the Cosmic Era was still trapped in the vicious cycle that his old world had fought so hard to break?

Were the tragedies and atrocities that they had just endured doomed to repeat themselves in due time?

War, peace, and revolution…

…does the waltz continue?

For now, the war was over. Peace would have its chance.

And if it failed…

…then the spark of revolution would ignite the inferno of the next war.

He turned to Murrue and saw her smiling at the TV. As she looked at him he forced a small smile for her. Heero wouldn't tell her what he was really thinking, at least not today. For all their concerns, the others did still believe in the new peace that had been officially brought into being today. He would give himself a few more days to get his thoughts in order before broaching his musings with Murrue, and he would at least give her today to enjoy the completion of the ceremony and what it represented.

"What's on your mind, Heero?" she asked.

Heero shook his head. "I'm just mulling a few things over. I'll tell you later when I get it all sorted out. I promise."

The concern was clear in her eyes, but to her credit Murrue's smile never faltered. "All right, Heero. I trust you. Whenever you're ready, just let me know."

Heero nodded. "I will, and thank you."

Murrue leaned over and kissed him. "Anytime, Heero."

….

March 17th, C.E. 72

"He's at it again, huh?"

Murrue jumped slightly at the unexpected female voice. Turning around, she saw Shemei coming out to join her on the front terrace of the seaside estate.

"Sorry about that," said the Valkyrie as she came up and joined Murrue by the railing, "I didn't mean to scare you like that.

Murrue shook her head and smiled as a cool evening breeze blew through the women's hair. "It's all right. I was just lost in thought."

Shemei smiled as she nodded out towards the shore. "You mean lost in him."

Murrue blushed slightly as she followed the Valkyrie's gaze. "Yes, I suppose I do."

Standing out on the beach, staring out at the waves and the darkening sky as night rolled in, was Heero. They'd just eaten dinner a little bit ago, and when the Gundam pilot had excused himself he'd once again gone down to the waterfront, just as he had been doing since the treaty signing a week ago. He would stay down there for about an hour or so each evening, and when Murrue had asked him about it that first night he told her that he was still thinking about whatever it was that had been on his mind during the signing… and he still hadn't told her what exactly that was yet either.

Shemei smirked. "Gotta love our men; we sure did fall for contemplative fellows. Eric's been like that lately too. Ever since the treaty signing it feels like there's been something at the back of his mind. He said he'd tell me eventually, and I trust him, but I got to admit it's starting to bug me a little now."

Murrue nodded. "Me too. I have faith in Heero, but… this has gone on long enough to worry me."

"Which means it's been too long," said Shemei, "So get out there and do something about it."

Murrue's eyes widened. "Excuse me?"

Shemei smiled. "You heard me. You said it's been long enough that you're worried, which means it time to confront Heero about it. He's had a week to think whatever's on his mind over, and if it's bothering you like this then that means it's about time to get him to spill the beans."

Murrue looked out towards her boyfriend. "Perhaps, but… he promised me he'd tell me about it."

"I know," Shemei replied, "so have him tell you ahead of schedule. Trust me, it'll be good for both of you. You get to find out what's nagging at the back of his head, and he'll be able to do something better with his time after this than come out here by himself and watch water."

Murrue had to smile at the way the Valkyrie had summed things up. "Well, when you put it like that… I suppose it's overdue."

Shemei chuckled and gave Murrue a playful shove towards the stairs. "You bet it is. Go down there and get him to come clean."

"What about you?" asked Murrue.

Shemei shrugged. "My part here's done. Now I'm gonna go pester Eric until he gives up and lets me know what's eating him. Who knows? Maybe it'll be the same thing that's bugging Heero."

Murrue nodded. "Let me know how it goes."

"You got it," said Shemei, "and same goes for you. Have fun!"

Watching the Valkyrie head back into the house, Murrue then turned her attention back to the stairs and descended down to the beach. Walking along the soft sand, she quickly approached her boyfriend, and when he saw her coming she gave him what she hoped was an encouraging smile.

"Enjoying the view?" she asked as she came up next to him.

Heero nodded as he glanced back out at the sea. "It's very relaxing. Helps calm the mind."

"I thought your mind was always calm," she teased him.

The Gundam pilot smirked. "No one's perfect… especially me."

"And I never asked you to be perfect," she replied, leaning in to kiss him, "Just to be you."

"I know," said Heero as their lips parted.

The two of them were quiet for a moment before Murrue spoke again. "Heero… it's been a week since the treaty ceremony, and every night since then you've been coming out here. You promised to tell me what was on your mind eventually, I know, but… it's been long enough. Please, talk to me, Heero. I'm worried."

Much to her relief she saw Heero nod. "I know. I meant to tell you sooner, but I wanted to be sure of things before I did. This has gone on longer than I meant it to. I'm sorry, Murrue."

Murrue smiled at him and brought her hand to his cheek. "As long as you tell me now, Heero, I'm more than willing to forgive you."

Heero gave her a small smile in return. "Thank you."

"Anytime," she said, "So, what's bothering you, Heero?"

The Gundam pilot closed his eyes for a moment before replying. "I've been thinking about the treaty, Murrue. The provisions, their implications, and what was left out… and I don't like it."

"Why not?" she asked nervously, "I mean, for one thing it bans nuclear technology in the realm of the military. That's got to count for something. It also returned the conquered territories and imposed limits on the armed forces of the two main powers. Perhaps it's not perfect, but is it not enough?"

"There's a lot that the treaty got right, Murrue," said Heero, "I'm with you on the nuclear military technology ban and the return of territories taken by force during the conflict. I think the provision regarding military technology transfer through Orb to the other powers was also a good touch, along with the ban on the Mirage Colloid cloaking technology. Since we worked our way around the provision regarding Wing Zero I don't have an issue with that either. All that being said, after careful consideration… I have my doubts about its ultimate ability to hold up."

"So what am I missing?" Murrue asked, "Please, tell me, Heero. What do you see that I don't?"

"I guess the first place to start would be the limitations on the armed forces put in place by the treaty," said Heero, "It's not a bad thing in theory, but in practice the ways the limitations are imposed here heavily favor the Earth Alliance. Even then this might not be such a problem were the technology gap between the Alliance and ZAFT the same as what it was early on in the war. However, that gap has been all but closed."

Murrue nodded in understanding. "The Earth Alliance was finally able to develop its own mass production mobile suits. They no longer had to rely on overwhelming numbers of mobile armors and warships to have a chance at victory on the battlefield. Since the armed forces limitations imposed by the treaty are determined by factors like economic output and population the Earth Alliance gets to keep its numerical advantage while at the same time having mobile suits that can engage ZAFT's on an even footing."

"Yes," said Heero, "although ZAFT's GuAIZ is a more effective combatant than the Alliance's Strike-Dagger or Buster-Dagger, it is also more expensive to produce, and a skilled pilot of either Alliance machine can still compensate for the difference in strength in a one-on-one fight. Since mobile suits typically work in squadrons much like fighters or mobile armors did, the Alliance won't have to rely on greater pilot skill; they can simply combine their advantage in numbers with their new mobile suits."

"Perhaps," Murrue replied, "but just because the treaty favors the Earth Alliance in terms of force size doesn't necessarily mean it's doomed to failure. A new war between both sides, even if their forces have abided by the treaty limitations on numbers, would still be a tossup. The Alliance's victory would not be guaranteed, and a win for either side would still come at an incredible cost. Wouldn't that sort of scenario still serve as a deterrent of sorts?"

"Were it the only area of concern with regards to the treaty, possibly," said Heero, his eyes narrowing, "However… there are other aspects of it that bother me."

"Such as what?" asked Murrue.

Heero was quiet for a moment, and when he spoke again his tone was grim. "After the fall of the Third Reich in 1945 the Allied powers abolished the Nazi Party and declared it illegal, a status and ruling that the succeeding German governments upheld. It didn't stop other political parties with suspiciously similar platforms from forming later on, but it did send a clear signal that the beast that unleashed the European theater of the Second World War would not be tolerated in the country that had given birth to it. Parties that modeled themselves in a similar vein were relegated to the fringe and prevented from holding serious governmental power."

"That's common knowledge for anyone with a passing interest in that part of history," said Murrue, puzzled at where the conversation had gone, "What does that have to do with our current situation?"

"In the Treaty of Junius Seven," said Heero, "there were no provisions regarding Blue Cosmos, its affiliated organizations, or Patrick Zala's radical faction in the PLANTs. No steps have been taken to abolish or dismantle any of those political entities. Their ideology may have been discredited in the eyes of the general public, and in the PLANTs at least, according to Bristow, it would appear that Zala's allies and supporters have more or less splintered; the hardcore believers seem to have fallen from grace and are sulking in the shadows. However, in the case of the Earth Alliance the factions that played such an important role in fueling the hatred and ultimate genocide campaign remain at large, and there is nothing to stop someone in the PLANTs from reforming Patrick Zala's faction. The heads have been cut off the respective snakes, but the bodies remain… and these snakes may well prove to actually be hydras."

Murrue shuddered. "So in other words, the seeds of our war remain, and there's nothing stopping them from growing to the point that a new conflict arises."

Heero nodded. "There's no international body powerful enough to dismantle and enforce the abolition of groups like Blue Cosmos within the territory of their own nations. That means the onus falls upon the nations that they reside in, and given the apparent power that Blue Cosmos enjoys within the Atlantic Federation the likelihood of a domestic move against them is minimal. At least in the Eurasian Federation the CPK was deposed shortly after Jachin Due, and no similar organizations hold positions of power within the Republic of East Asia. However, as far as we know Blue Cosmos and their backers are still firmly entrenched within the Atlantic Federation."

"And I've doubt they've had a change of heart about their feelings towards Coordinators," said Murrue grimly.

"Yes," Heero replied, "Creuset may be dead, but the fact is that manipulations from him would not really be necessary to kick off a new war. Murrue… I think the only reason the Atlantic Federation went along with the peace treaty was to buy time. With the state of their armed forces right now whatever leadership of Blue Cosmos that took over after Azrael's death recognized that they could not accomplish their goals with the way things currently stand. They'll use this lull in the fighting to rebuild and rearm. When they feel the time is right they'll come back for another round."

Murrue sighed as the full weight of Heero's words sank in. "So this isn't peace then, is it? It's just a temporary reprieve."

Heero nodded, and Murrue could see the regret in his eyes. "It is. I'm sorry, Murrue. I want to be wrong, I really do, but…"

Murrue shook her head and forced a smile for him. "It's all right, Heero. I know you've taken a lot of time to think this over. If this is the conclusion that you've come to, then I'll support you however I can as we go forward. I may not like it, but I understand your reasoning, and it makes sense. It's the truth, and we can't turn away from it just because it's unpleasant. We have to face it head on and deal with it together when the time comes."

Heero gave her a small smile in return. "Thank you, Murrue."

Her smile became genuine as she leaned in to kiss him. "You're welcome, Heero."

The two of them looked out at the ocean for a moment before Murrue spoke again. "Well, if the Earth Alliance is going to start prepping for the next war it will only be a matter of time before the PLANTs takes note of it and move to counter. We'll have an arms race on our hands before we know it, and even if both sides publicly stay within the bounds of the treaty there's still a lot of room for technological innovation and the development of new weapons. Of course, we'd be fools to believe that they wouldn't try to develop weapons and technologies banned by the treaty behind the scenes. How do we respond?"

"By upgrading our forces," Heero replied, "I've already got a few ideas in mind, and with the help of Simmons and Bristow I think we can accomplish a great deal without any of the major powers detecting what we're up to. Morgenroete's resources combined with Bristow's network of contacts in the PLANTs will give us the edge we need… and that's not counting my ace in the whole."

"What's that?" asked Murrue, "Besides Wing Zero, of course."

The Gundam pilot smirked. "Something that Simmons only got a taste of before now."

….

March 20th, C.E. 72

Rising from her chair, Erica smiled as her four friends walked into her office. "Heero, Murrue, Shemei, Eric. It's good to see you all."

"Are you sure it's ok referring to us by our real names here?" asked Heero.

Erica nodded. "Don't worry; the moment you entered the building I switched the security cameras and audio sensors for this office onto a prerecorded loop. My computer is likewise secured; I can store information on it that can't be accessed from the main network. We're off the grid now; what we discuss here will never leave this room."

"I'm impressed," said Murrue, "You've done a good job altering the security system to suit our needs."

"It wasn't that hard," said Erica, "I have full access to all Morgenroete systems and facilities, and the staff is loyal to our cause. Please, have a seat. Since Heero asked for this meeting I'm assuming it's more than just a social visit."

As the group sat down Erica saw Heero's eyes narrow. "I'll be blunt, Miss Simmons. We need to begin the process of upgrading the forces we've hidden away."

Erica was taken aback. "So soon? I thought you'd want to give the treaty a little more time before making such an effort. I understand that you're used to war, Heero, and that for someone like you adjusting to peace can be a difficult transition. Shouldn't you give this peace a little more of a chance?"

"This isn't true peace," said Eric, "It's merely a prolonged ceasefire."

"That's a rather grim analysis, Bristow," Erica replied, "Are you really so sure of this?"

"We are," Shemei answered for him, "It's something we've talked over quite a bit. Blue Cosmos remains at large and in power behind the scenes of the Earth Alliance, and with Eileen Canaver's government leaving power the PLANTs will become an unknown quantity."

"All the more so once Durandal assumes the Chairmanship," said Eric.

"You're certain that he will win the election?" asked Erica.

The Wolf of the Far East nodded. "My contacts have kept me apprised of his campaign progress. The polls are tight, but he's got an edge, and I'm sure it'll only grow the closer election day gets."

"We've actually been able to grow our network of informants and contacts within the PLANTs and ZAFT since the fall of the radical faction," said Heero, "but it's doubtful that Durandal and his inner circle would be amenable to an approach from us."

"Blue Cosmos will want to rebuild the armed forces and prepare them for full scale war," said Murrue, "Such an effort will not go unnoticed for long, and ZAFT will be forced to respond. Both superpowers are going to get into an arms race, Erica. We can't afford complacency if we want to have a chance at stopping them from committing the same atrocities that took place in the last war."

Erica sighed. "I suppose you're right. Morgenroete's resources are still focused on reconstruction and restoring Orb's armed forces, but I can still divert whatever we need to upgrade our own forces. Of course, first we're going to have to conduct some serious R&D before we can do any physical work."

Eric smiled. "I should be able to give you a leg up with that. The PLANTs have reformed their weapons development organizations into a new group called the Integrated Design Bureau, and a lot of my old contacts from the Asimov Design Bureau have been included in it. They're even using a similar system setup as the old firm, and thanks to our network I've already worked my way inside it. It's not total access, but there's still a lot of data we can get our hands on. I'll be able to feed you ZAFT military development secrets to use in your work here."

"That will certainly come in handy," Erica replied.

"And I can give you an edge over both the Earth Alliance and ZAFT," said Heero, pulling a flash drive from his pocket and passing it over to Erica.

She looked at the black drive with curiosity. "What is it?"

"Something our enemies would've killed for in the last war," said Murrue, smiling.

Erica smirked as she inserted the drive into her computer. "Is that so?"

Her eyes widened in shock as several images and specifications began appearing on her screen. "This is… oh, wow."

I knew Heero was holding back, she thought as she browsed the content of the drive, on his first visit to Orb, when he gave me that data. I always wondered what he had kept to himself in addition to Wing Zero's data, but… I never imagined it would be anything like this.

"Pretty sweet, eh?" said Shemei, smirking, "Heero gave us a little peek before we came over here."

"You don't say…" said Erica absently; she was almost completely absorbed with the data.

"What we can build with that," said Eric, gesturing to the drive, "combined with the data my contacts can get us from ZAFT's weapons labs, will put anything our enemies can field to shame."

Erica nodded. "Indeed. I'll need some time to go over all this, and I'll need Heero's help. You do have firsthand knowledge of the machines and weapons that are in here, after all."

The Gundam pilot nodded. "Of course. I'd like Murrue to come as well; some of the technology in there can be applied to upgrade the Archangel as well."

Murrue smiled. "I'd definitely like to be present so I know what we'll be doing to my ship, not to mention the mobile suits that it will be carrying. It's not that I don't trust you, Erica; quite the contrary. Just call it a Captain's prerogative."

"Of course," Erica replied, "and I think there's a lot of potential with this technology for both mobile suits and warships."

Heero stood up, and the others followed his lead. "We'll give you some time to familiarize yourself with the material. Once you're ready to start drawing up schematics let us know. I've actually got a few things I want to try with Wing Zero, but I'll wait until you've studied the data in there."

"And I'll set up a secure connection between your computer and mine so I can start funneling you data from our contacts in the PLANTs," said Eric, "I've already got my hands on some juicy bits of information that I think you'll want to see."

"By the way," Shemei chimed in, "there's a little something in there that'd I'd like to replace the Judgment with. You'll know it when you see it."

"So you're still planning on destroying that machine?" asked Erica.

Shemei nodded. "I've kept it intact up until now just as a precaution, but now that I know we're going to be upgrading our arsenal and building new mobile suits I can finally make plans to destroy it. I know it's a good machine, but I just get too many bad vibes from it. I don't like being reminded of Patrick Zala holding my parents hostage every time I fly."

Erica nodded. "I understand. Once we get your new mobile suit beyond the drawing board I'll help with the demolition."

Shemei smiled. "Thanks Erica."

"You're welcome," she replied, "Anything else?"

"I think that's it," said Murrue, "We'll show ourselves out; I know you're dying to go over all that data Heero just gave you."

Erica smiled. "You know me too well. Thanks for bringing this over. I'll see you all again soon."

As the four of them left the office Erica turned her attention back to the monitor, her smile still on her face. What Heero had just given her was almost beyond compare. Within a simple flash drive lay mobile suit designs, weapons schematics, and blue prints that the Earth Alliance, ZAFT, and the regular Orb military couldn't begin to imagine. Image after image flashed across the screen, sending Erica into a mobile suit designer's Nirvana.

"Beautiful…" she whispered to herself.

I'm going to have some fun with this…

….

April 10th, C.E. 72

In both appearance and personality, Gilbert Durandal didn't fit the typical mold of a politician. The phrase 'tall, dark, and handsome' certainly applied, and in his early thirties he was the youngest individual ever elected to serve as the leader of the PLANTs. Long black hair framed a very calm and collected face with light skin and sharp brown eyes. His attire as the new Supreme Council Chairman was high-class but not garishly so, consisting of a white, black, red, and purple jacket over a white tunic and pants. His demeanor was composed and focused but at the same time friendly and inviting. He was not a man consumed by the petty ambitions and squabbles of many other politicians. He was a charismatic and cunning visionary, and those traits had served him well in the general election.

Durandal had ultimately won the Chairmanship by a comfortable ten percent margin over his main opponent. Patrick Zala's death and the subsequent removal of his affiliated Councilors and officers from power in the PLANTs and ZAFT was a first for L5's history, and many had wondered at how the transition between a provisional government to an elected administration would take place. There had been concerns of disruption and of a potential change of heart in the Provisional Chairwoman, but Eileen Canaver had honored her pledge to step down, and much to Durandal's relief she had actually spent her time not consumed with peace negotiations and civil administration to ensuring that whatever candidates won the election would be able to form a new government swiftly.

A rare woman you are, Canaver, he mused, and an even rarer politician. To have seized power by coup yet voluntarily relinquish it… you are a modern Cincinnatus.

While he was grateful to her for working to ensure a smooth transfer of power, Durandal was also relieved that she had not only refrained from running for the head of the Council but also had not campaigned for her old position as the representative of September City. She had been the center of Siegel Clyne's faction within the PLANTs since his death and his daughter's current exile, and to have her remain as a powerful figure within the central government would've brought on complications for his long-term goals.

You brought us to the brink of ruin, Patrick Zala, he thought, and yet, your bitter legacy has proven quite valuable to me. By contrasting myself with your ideals and your regime it was all too easy to present myself as one who could bring true peace and stability to the PLANTs. As for the Clyne Faction, it's to my benefit that they no longer hold positions of central authority in the PLANTs. Their ideals, while admirable, would inevitably clash with what must be done to ensure mankind's survival moving forward. I am not merely the chief executive of L5; with this new power I can begin to position myself as the steward of humanity's future.

Above all else, it was the shadow of Rau Le Creuset that hung over him, that would dog him moving forward. His old friend had shown the destructive power of people with great potential and talent but without understanding of their rightful purpose. The deceased, masked Field Marshall had turned himself into the embodiment of chaos and carnage, and in his madness he had brought the world to the edge of annihilation. No matter what the cost, Durandal knew that people like him could not be allowed to rise again. Men like Patrick Zala and Muruta Azrael were but symptoms of a larger sickness, a disease spread and nurtured by deranged puppeteers like Rau.

That disease was chaos. Chaos fed by doubt and emotion, by human impulse, and above all by a failure to truly understand one's unique place in the world. Everyone had a purpose, a constructive role that they could play as part of a larger whole, but they could only reach it if they had the proper guidance. Without that guidance they were as sheep without a shepherd, vulnerable to the wolves of confusion and mistrust, of uncertainty and fear.

But that would all change in due time.

Taking power in the PLANTs was just the first step in Durandal's larger plan. Now he could truly begin to put the wheels in motion, to lay the building blocks needed to turn his vision into reality.

Durandal smiled as he surveyed his new office from behind his new desk. Today, as he had said in his inauguration speech, truly did mark the beginning of a new era. Slowly but surely his people, and those of the greater Earth Sphere, would come to realize that he had not been making a typical political speech. Eventually they would understand his sincerity, and when the time was right he would be able to enlighten them as to his true designs, his means to give them a future free of uncertainty and doubt.

A future free from the horrors of mankind's bloody history.

A future free of war itself.

There was a chime from the intercom on his desk. Pressing the button on the console, the new Chairman leaned forward. "What is it, Miss Anastasia?"

"You asked for a reminder when it was twenty minutes until the joint session of the Supreme Council and the Defense Council," his young aide replied, "We have now reached that point."

Durandal nodded. "Of course. Thank you. Is there anything else?"

"A joint message just came in from Director Sokolov of the Integrated Design Bureau and Defense Council Chairman Irons," she replied, "They wish to schedule a meeting with you to discuss new armaments in order to advance the armed forces while keeping them within the realm of the new treaty."

"I thought I'd be hearing from them soon," he said, "Please find some room in my schedule tomorrow to arrange such an appointment. I will not be upset if you must move other matters to accommodate this."

"Understood, Mister Chairman," she said, "and good luck with the joint session."

"Thank you, Miss Anastasia," he replied.

Making sure the microphone was turned off, he allowed himself another smile before standing up. Today began the great work of statesmanship, the long march that would eventually transform the PLANTs into the vanguard of mankind's future.

"Into the vanguard," he said softly, "of our destiny."

….

May 15th, C.E. 72

"Am I allowed to open my eyes yet, Heero?" asked Murrue.

"Almost," she heard her boyfriend reply, "Just a little longer."

Murrue smiled. "Whatever this surprise of yours is, it'd better be a good one."

From the tone of his voice as he replied Murrue could tell that Heero had that small smile on his face. "Trust me, it is."

In the time since the meeting with Erica at the Morgenroete facility Murrue and her boyfriend had kept busy. Between follow up meetings with Orb's best engineer to go over new designs to intelligence briefings with Eric and Waltfeld the couple had had plenty of things to keep themselves occupied. It was about two and a half weeks ago though that Murrue had noted a shift in things. Heero would periodically get into private conversations with the Wolf and the Tiger, and whenever she'd asked him about what they had discussed the Gundam pilot had just given her that small smile of his and told her that it was something special, and that he'd be able to show her eventually. Apparently today was that 'eventually', and Murrue was very much looking forward to what her boyfriend had in store for her.

They were currently at the seaside estate that they now called home, and the two of them were seated on the couch in the living room. Heero had only asked her to close her eyes a minute or two ago, and from what background noise Murrue had been able to make out it sounded like someone had just come in through the front door. The sound of footsteps grew progressively louder, but Murrue could not make out from sound alone how many people were approaching.

"You weren't followed?" she heard Heero ask.

"No," the voice of Eric replied, "All the credentials and paperwork we set up for her paid off, and we got her out without incident. As far as the Atlantic Federation's concerned, she just vanished into thin air."

She?, thought Murrue, her heartbeat increasing, It can't be…

"And her knowledge of this place?" asked Heero.

"She consented to being blindfolded on the drive here," she heard the voice of Shemei reply, "If she has a change of heart she won't be able to reveal us to the Alliance. Honestly though, I don't think that's going to be an issue."

Now her heart was pounding like a jackhammer. The way they were talking… did she dare to get her hopes up?

"Heero…" she said softly, almost afraid that to speak any louder would ruin everything, that it would reveal this to only be a cruel dream.

But the sensation of Heero squeezing her hand was encouragingly very real, as was the sound of his voice. "You can open your eyes now, Murrue."

She did just that, and they swiftly widened in utter shock.

I never thought… I never dared to dream…

…that I would see you again.

Standing in front of her was a woman who appeared to be in her mid-forties. She was a little on the short side, about as tall as Heero, and was dressed in simple attire; jeans, a grey blouse, and a brown leather jacket. Her brown hair was tied into a braided tail, but Murrue knew that were it let loose it would fall in a brilliant chocolate curtain almost to the woman's waist. She was very much in shape despite her middle age. The gentle light skin of her face was perfectly accentuated by her warm, dark green eyes.

"You…" Murrue said softly, doing all she could to keep her voice from cracking, "Is it… really…"

The woman nodded and gave her a loving smile. "Yes, it is… my dear daughter."

Murrue was on her feet in an instant and practically flew across the floor before taking her mother into a fierce embrace.

"Mother!" she cried as she held her tightly, "I…I didn't… I never thought I'd…"

"It's alright, Murrue," said Katherine Ramius softly, holding her daughter close, "I'm here now. I'll always be here."

Murrue couldn't reply; it was all she could do to keep herself from crying tears of joy. Her mother seemed to sense this and did nothing but continue to hold her daughter.

When they eventually parted Murrue looked over at Heero. On his face was a small smile and a look of simple satisfaction.

Murrue went over to her boyfriend. "Heero," she said as she kissed him, "thank you."

The Gundam pilot nodded as their lips parted, his smile growing just a bit. "You're welcome, Murrue. I had a lot of help, though; Eric and Waltfeld did much of the heavy lifting."

Murrue turned to Eric and Shemei.

"Waltfeld and I managed to work out her extraction," said Eric, "We worked up the credentials she'd need to get off the grid, and Shemei met her with me at the airport."

Murrue nodded. "Thank you… all of you."

Shemei smiled. "Hey, that's what friends are for, right?"

"When Heero asked me to help him pull this off," said Eric, "I wasn't about to refuse. After what he did for Shemei when we raided Aprilius One this was the least we could do to repay him."

"And you, Murrue," said Shemei, "Without the Archangel covering the withdrawal there's no way we would've made it out of there alive."

"You've made some very good friends, Murrue," said Katherine, "I don't know what hardships you've endured since Alaska, but I'm glad to see that you were in good company."

"Didn't you get my message?" asked Murrue, "I… I know father was the one that replied to it, but…"

Katherine shook her head. "He stopped me from seeing it or getting a reply of my own to you. I'm sorry, Murrue. I don't know what exactly he wrote for you, but… well, after the arguments he and I had, I'm sure it wasn't good."

"Did you two… divorce?" asked Murrue.

Katherine nodded, and Murrue was stunned to see the fury in her normally warm and gentle eyes. "I may not have been able to read your message, but I knew that you would not have done what you did without a damn good reason. Your father didn't care; all he saw you as was a traitor and a criminal. That bastard would've preferred you'd died at Alaska! After I learned that there was no way I could stay with him."

Murrue bowed her head. "I'm sorry. I never meant to put either of you through that."

Katherine shook her head. "Murrue, don't apologize. I never once blamed you for this. This was your father's doing, and his alone."

"Do you know what's become of him?" Murrue asked nervously.

"He's still in the military," she replied, "Beyond that I don't know, nor do I care. How he can still serve the government that's been trying to kill his only child is beyond me. He was dead to me the moment he turned his back on you!"

Murrue nodded, still feeling guilty despite her mother's words. "I see."

"Are you all right with this?" asked Heero, "You've left your homeland behind; there's no going back to the Atlantic Federation now that you've fallen in with us."

"Heero's right, mother," said Murrue grimly, "My actions at Alaska made me a traitor, and the fact that I'm with Heero makes it even worse in their eyes. You joining us here means that they'll consider you to be aiding a fugitive. ZAFT's not exactly friendly towards us either, and even though Orb's neutral we've still had to take measures to conceal our true identities and protect ourselves. I know we've got a nice setup here, but with that comes a considerable amount of caution in our daily lives now. We'll be looking over our shoulders for quite some time."

"I'm aware of that," her mother replied firmly, "The ride over here gave me an idea of the sort of care you're taking these days. Murrue, I want you to know that I'm willing to do whatever it takes to remain here in Orb. I couldn't be there for you when you needed me most in the war, so I want to make it up to you. At the very least I do not plan on abandoning you like your father did!"

Murrue smiled. "Thank you, mother."

Katherine nodded. "That being said, both you and Heero owe me an explanation. I've been completely in the dark since Alaska. I want to know exactly what happened there and since, and hold nothing back."

Murrue turned to Heero, and she saw him nod. She then looked back at her mother and nodded.

"All right," said Murrue, "but you might want to sit down first, mother. This is… well, it's going to take a while."

….

Sitting on the couch with the woman he loved, Heero's hand never once left Murrue's as he let her take the lead in telling her mother what the two of them had been through since Operation Spitbreak. The Gundam pilot offered his input only when Murrue asked for it; this was her mother they were speaking to, and he felt it was appropriate that Murrue be the one to explain what the two of them had done and why.

All the while he never took his eyes off of Katherine Ramius. He studied her intently, using her body language and facial expressions to gauge just what she really thought of what her daughter was telling her. Her conclusions and what she decided to do once they were finished here would be crucial for Murrue, and Heero wanted to be prepared for whatever was coming. To her credit Murrue's mother was remarkably calm as her daughter spoke to her. There were times when she reacted with shock and surprise at key events, but given all that Heero and Murrue had been through together he certainly couldn't blame Katherine for her reactions.

When they finally got to the end he saw Katherine's eyes close in thought. Heero and Murrue waited patiently for her to speak. They had done their part; what happened next was entirely in her hands.

Katherine's eyes finally opened, and Heero saw a deep sorrow within them. "You went through so much… both of you. How… how did you ever survive?"

Heero saw Murrue smile. "I'll admit it wasn't easy. There were times when I thought I'd be crushed under it all. All the battles, the loss, the growing stakes… I thought for sure it would overwhelm me eventually. It didn't, though… because of an incredible young man that shared all those struggles with me."

Heero looked at Murrue's mother and nodded. "It's the same for me. For all my experience and skill, I never would've made it through all of that were it not for Murrue. Your daughter is the most amazing woman I've ever met. Her compassion and courage helped me get through this war… and discover something I never thought I'd ever experience for myself."

Katherine smiled at them. "You two… you really do love each other, don't you?"

They both nodded.

"After all we've been through together," said Murrue, "there's no one else I could ever feel this way about, mother. My feelings will never change; that I can promise you."

"That goes for me as well," said Heero, firmly meeting Katherine's gaze, "As long as I draw breath, I will never abandon Murrue. I can understand if you have misgivings, Miss Ramius, but regardless of your feelings about this it won't change anything between Murrue and I. While I would certainly like your approval and acceptance, whether I have them or not will not impact my feelings for her. We've come too far and have been through far too much to let anything pull us apart now."

Murrue nodded, and Heero could see a bit of an edge come to her gaze. "Heero's right, mother. I want you to welcome him, but… no matter what you say, I will never leave him."

Katherine stood up and went to them. Heero tensed for just a moment but allowed himself to relax when she took the two of them into her arms.

"You fools," she said softly as she held them, "I would never think of trying to drive you two apart! I am not my ex-husband; my heart could never become as cold as his has. After all you two have been through, you have earned the right to be together! No other couple has fought so hard for their love as you have!"

Glancing over at Murrue, Heero saw her visibly relax. "Mother… thank you."

Her mother let them go and smiled at them. "You're a grown woman, Murrue. It's not up to me to dictate where your heart lies. As for Heero, he's as mature as any man after all he's been through with you… and a good deal more than most, I'd say. Whatever you two decide to do going forward, know that I support you completely."

Heero bowed his head. "Thank you, Miss Ramius."

Murrue's mother shook her head. "Please, Heero, just call me Katherine."

"Very well," Heero replied.

"So," said Murrue, "what's next for you, mother? I mean, you're welcome to stay here with us, but…"

"I'm not the type to just sit back and do nothing, am I?" Katherine finished for her, "You know me very well, Murrue. I'll find employment in due time. With all the friends you have in this country I'm sure you'll be able to help me out."

Murrue nodded. "Yes, I'm sure we can help you find something."

"I'll stay here just until I get myself back on my feet," Katherine continued, "Eventually I'll find my own residence in this country."

"Are you sure?" asked Heero.

Katherine smiled. "You needn't worry, Heero. Yes, I'm glad to see my daughter again and I plan on spending time with both of you in the future, but I also know that a mother needs to give her girl some space. You're already sharing this estate with a few people from what I understand, and while I know there's room for one more I want to give you two some room for each other."

Murrue smiled. "Thank you, mother."

"Of course," Katherine replied, "Now, since I'll be staying here for a little while, why don't the two of you give me the grand tour? After that perhaps we can grab some dinner; I can't be the only one who's a little hungry after all that, can I?"

Heero turned to Murrue, and the two of them shared a small smile.

"Well, Heero," said Murrue, "Shall we?"

The two of them stood up, and as they began showing Murrue's mother around the Gundam pilot felt like a weight was lifted from his shoulders. It had been bad enough that Murrue's father had turned his back on her when she had so desperately needed any kind of support she could find, and he was greatly relieved that her mother had not done the same.

That's one small victory for us, he thought, and one I'll gladly take.

….

June 22nd, C.E. 72

From her seat near the back of the room Lacus smiled as she watched the children play. Kira and Reverend Malchio had left the orphanage to pick up supplies and had left her in charge for the day. The pink-haired songstress had had an easy time keeping the peace between the kids, and the few arguments that had broken out had been quickly defused.

She glanced out the window. The afternoon sun was still high in the sky, and she knew it would still be a while before Kira and the Reverend would return. She hoped that it wouldn't take them too long though; she was looking forward to another evening walk around the island with Kira.

"Hey," said one of the older children, a thirteen year old boy named Maurice, "what's that noise coming from outside?"

Perking up, Lacus realized that it was the steady thrumming of an airplane engine. Looking for the source, she eventually found a small white aircraft going towards the nearby shore. The orphanage maintained a similar vehicle, but this one looked too small to be Kira and Reverend Malchio's craft.

She stood up and went towards the door, smoothing a wrinkle in her plain white dress as she did so. "Maurice, please keep an eye on the others, ok? I'll be back in a few minutes."

"Ok, Lacus," the boy replied.

As she left the orphanage and went down towards the beach Lacus mused that someone in her position might normally show a bit more caution. After all, even though they were at peace there were still plenty of people in both the Earth Alliance and ZAFT that doubtlessly held animosity for her. However, she was unconcerned. She was no expert, but from what she had seen the seaplane did not appear to be a military craft.

Reaching the end of the path and leaving the tree line, Lacus smiled as she saw none other than Heero Yuy exiting the small white seaplane. She was impressed with how expertly he had set the craft down so close to shore; he'd barely gotten his feet wet as he left the plane.

"Heero!" she said as she came over to greet him, "This is a pleasant surprise! I apologize, but Kira and Reverend Malchio are out right now, and they won't be back until later. Where's Murrue?"

Heero shook his head. "Back at the estate, and she sends her regards. It's alright that Kira's out; you're the one I wanted to see, actually."

Lacus was puzzled. "Really? Why is that?"

"Because I think you would understand this better than Kira," he said, "Or at least, I think you would be quicker to accept it."

Now Lacus was concerned. "Heero, what are you talking about? What is going on?"

The Gundam pilot looked out at the ocean for a moment before turning back to her. "You watched the treaty signing three months ago, right?"

Lacus nodded. "Yes. What about it, Heero?"

"What did you think?" he asked, "The treaty and its provisions; what was your opinion of them?"

"I felt it was a good way to end the war and safeguard against future atrocities," Lacus replied, "No nukes, no Mirage Colloid, limitations on armed forces, banning of military technology transfers and collaborations between nations, restored territories… perhaps it was not perfect, but I felt it laid a solid foundation for the new peace."

Heero sighed. "I see… so you didn't notice what I did."

Lacus' eyes narrowed. "What is it, Heero? It is apparent that you and I have different thoughts on the treaty and what it means for the future. Please, give me your insights. I want to understand your feelings on this matter."

Heero nodded. "All right… but you're not going to like it."

Lacus calmly listened as Heero described the faults that he had found with the treaty and how another war could very well be on the horizon. It was hard to take it in, especially after she and Kira had spent the past few months believing that humanity had truly turned a corner, that the risk of another great war between the Earth Alliance and ZAFT was very low. However, she knew that Heero wouldn't have come to the grim conclusions that he had without very good reasons.

Eventually he finished, and she knew that he was waiting for a response, but she didn't have one right away. With all that he had just told her, Lacus felt like her worldview post-treaty had been flipped on its head. While she certainly appreciated his blunt honesty, it did have the unfortunate side-effect knocking her completely off balance.

When she finally answered she could not keep the desperation from her voice. "Is… is this really what you believe, Heero?"

The Gundam pilot nodded grimly. "I really wish it were otherwise, Lacus… but yes, it is."

"But why?" she asked, "I don't understand! Your world was able to break the cycle at the end of your old war, and from what you've told us the final battle of this war surpassed that of your prior conflict. If that great conflagration in your past war was able to bring people to their senses then why couldn't ours do the same for the Cosmic Era?"

"Because for all the parallels this world and my old one have," Heero replied, "that does not change the fact that this is not my old world. More importantly, the roots of the Bloody Valentine War are considerably different than those of the Eve Wars. There was no Natural/Coordinator divide, Lacus, and the factions that so readily embraced it are still out there. As long as they remain and have the will and the means to act on their hatreds, do you really believe that the Cosmic Era will know true peace?"

Lacus sighed and shook her head. "No… I don't. Patrick Zala's hatred was deep and powerful, and it inspired a host of rabid followers. As for Blue Cosmos… well, that organization existed well before Muruta Azrael came to power. Their dark crusade will not end until my kind is wiped out or their organization is destroyed and its remnants cast into the furthest of the fringe."

Heero nodded. "My thoughts exactly. The future may not be set in stone, Lacus, but with enough experience and insight one can at least spot a likely outcome. This isn't peace, Lacus; it's just a lull in the storm."

Lacus closed her eyes. Her mind flashed back to her father's death on Aprilius One. He had died believing that she and the Clyne Faction would carry on his work and bring peace to the Earth Sphere. Now, mere months after the treaty signing that should've been a tribute to the sacrifice of him and so many others, here she was learning that it would merely be a quick stop for humanity to catch its breath before once again plunging headlong into the inferno of modern warfare.

"What was it all for?" she said softly, unsure if she was talking to Heero or herself, "All the people that lost their lives, who died to give us this chance for a new future… was it just to fulfill one step of what you called the 'endless waltz', Heero?"

"No," he replied, and she was struck by how strong and firm his voice was, "our struggle was not in vain, nor was it just to continue the cycle the world has been stuck in for so long. We saved the Cosmic Era from complete annihilation, and with that we've given mankind a chance to move forward. Are there those that wish to restart the conflict? Yes. Do they have the means to eventually do so? Yes. None of that matters."

"How can it not matter?" she asked, "If they ultimately plunge this world into another war then I would consider that to be a damning indictment on mankind's ability to learn from its mistakes."

Heero shook his head. "It's not mankind as a whole that errs here. To think that will ultimately lead down Creuset's nihilistic path. It is only a fraction of humanity that clings to the hatreds of the last war. They may have the power to eventually renew the conflict, but if we prepare ourselves then we can be ready when the time comes. I don't know if we can actually stop them from sparking a new war, but I do know that we can bring whatever they start to an end. Remember, Lacus; we challenged the full might of the Earth Alliance and ZAFT to battle and managed to triumph against the largest armadas and deadliest weapons in the history of the Cosmic Era. We have experience and capabilities that neither power can match. If we ready ourselves, we can do so again."

Lacus had to smile. It was easy to see why Murrue placed so much faith in him. His strength of will was very inspiring.

"In that case," she said, "how may I be of service to your efforts, Heero?"

"We need your resources," said Heero, "I know you're funding this orphanage and other charities, but I also know that they money going to them is just a small fraction of your real wealth. Bristow was able to get your financial assets out of L5 before the government could freeze your accounts during the last war, and if we combine those with the resources that Simmons is directing to us through Morgenroete we would have a considerable war chest. Considering that the power of our potential adversaries I would say that every possible bit of aid we can get will help."

Lacus nodded. "That would be simple enough. I can work with Bristow and Waltfeld to make the proper arrangements. They helped direct and manage my resources during the last conflict, after all."

"Feel free to handle it how you see fit," Heero replied, "Also, just knowing that you're backing us will bring a considerable boost in morale to the people who are part of our efforts. It's not something we'll broadly advertise, of course, but those working with us will know of your support. You were instrumental in the last war at rallying people behind us, Lacus, and should another conflict break out I know that you could do the same again."

"I would be honored to play such a role if it proves necessary," said Lacus.

Heero nodded. "Thank you. The new organization we're forming is called Terminal. Bristow and Waltfeld will give you an initial briefing. From then on it's up to you how active you are in it. While things stay calm you can limit yourself to helping with the financing if you like, but when things heat up again you'll most likely need to play a more involved role. Ultimately, though, it's your decision."

"And what of Kira?" asked Lacus, "I know that the Freedom was fully repaired quite some time ago, and I'm assuming if a new conflict breaks out you will want him to join your efforts."

"Yes," Heero replied, "but it will be his decision. We have enough trained pilots on our side that we can always have one of them utilize the Freedom if necessary. However, I won't deny that I'd prefer Kira to be the one at its controls. He was its sole pilot during the last war, after all, so his familiarity with it is a huge asset."

"I'll speak to him about it," said Lacus, "He'll be reluctant, I'm sure, but I do believe that he would ultimately choose to pilot it again if it meant preventing atrocities like those we saw in the last war."

"Thank you," he said, "and… I'm sorry about this. If I felt things might turn out otherwise I wouldn't ask this of either of you. The war was hard on both of you, and you endured great hardships to help bring it to an end."

Lacus nodded, her smile never faltering. "Yes, we did, but we were willing to endure them for the sake of our friends and the world. Should the need arise, we will do so again, Heero."

"I'm grateful for that," said Heero, "If you have any questions you know how to reach me. I should get going."

"Must you leave so soon?" she asked, "I'm sure Kira and Reverend Malchio would like to see you… though with the latter it would be figurative, of course."

It was a desperate bit of humor to try to lighten the mood, and while it wasn't Lacus' strong suit she did see Heero give a small smirk. "I'm sure they would, but I'm afraid I do need to get back. Murrue's mother wanted to cook for us tonight, and I promised that I would be there for dinner."

Lacus nodded. "I see. Then I won't keep you from them. Thank you very much for stopping by today, Heero. I hope to see you again soon."

"Farewell, Lacus," said Heero.

As the Gundam pilot returned to the seaplane Lacus reflected on how fortunate it was that Heero had come over while Kira and Reverend Malchio were out. Heero had been right; Lacus realized that she had indeed been quicker to accept what Heero had come to tell her than Kira would've been.

We were both scarred by the war, she thought, but between the two of us I would say that Kira definitely had it worse. I may have lost my father, but at least I was never forced to take a life. Kira never had that luxury and I know it still torments him. It's why he was determined to fight without killing once he obtained the Freedom. A return to the battlefield… for Kira that will not be easy to stomach, even with the advanced capabilities that a mobile suit like the Freedom provides him.

She resolved to tell him later this evening when they were out of earshot of the children. It would be difficult, but Lacus knew that it was necessary. Putting things off would only make it worse, especially since Heero would no doubt be expecting Kira to be ready if a new war broke out.

The engine of the seaplane roared to life, and Lacus waved as Heero began to move the plane for takeoff. Through the aircraft's window she saw the Gundam pilot nod at her, and she saw his lips move as well. It may have been impossible to hear what he was saying, but her keen eyesight allowed her to read his lips and discern two words.

"I'm sorry."

Lacus shook her head and smiled, hoping that Heero could see her.

"It's ok," she replied, "We'll be ready. When the time comes, we will fight alongside you once again, Heero Yuy."

When the time comes…

…we will save this world again!

….

"What's the matter, Heero?" asked Murrue.

They'd just finished dinner a little while ago and now she and her boyfriend were out on the front terrace of the estate overlooking the beach as dusk turned to night. The Gundam pilot had been quieter than normal since he'd returned from his visit with Lacus and something was clearly bothering him, but it was only now that they were alone that Murrue felt comfortable asking him about it.

Looking out over the ocean, the young man was silent for a moment before he responded. "Murrue… did I do the right thing?"

She was puzzled at his reply. "What do you mean?"

"I mean dragging Kira and Lacus into our efforts to prepare for the next war," he said, "They've both been living peacefully with the Reverend at the orphanage and were happy with that quiet life. Then I went and told them that the peace we all fought so hard for wouldn't hold and that we're already gearing up for another fight. After all they went through in the last war and how badly they both wanted just to get away from it all, did I have the right to pull them back in?"

Murrue shook her head and put her hand on his. "Heero, the way you're talking about it makes it sound like you forced them to join our efforts. We both know that's not the case. This isn't like Heliopolis when Kira was faced with the choice of piloting the Strike or letting his friends die. You explained the situation to Lacus and let her decide if she and Kira were going to be a part of Terminal or not."

"Join our organization and be ready to stop the Alliance or ZAFT when they go back on the warpath," said Heero bitterly, "or keep your quiet life in the Marshall Islands and watch the conflict play out across the Earth Sphere while your friends try to stop it. Some choice I gave them."

Murrue squeezed his hand. "You're wrong about that, Heero. It's actually a big choice. After what we all went through in the last war both Kira and Lacus should realize that we would not hold it against them if they wanted to stay out of the next one. The same goes for everyone who's decided to join Terminal so far; you and I made it abundantly clear that if they preferred to keep to their own lives rather than play a part in our efforts that it was their decision to make, and that we would respect their choices either way."

Heero looked down for a moment before turning to face her. "What about your choice, Murrue? After what you went through in the war I know you're hardly eager to get involved in another one. Sometimes I feel like I'm forcing you into this."

Murrue shook her head. "Believe me, Heero, I never once felt like you forced me into this. Was I upset with the conclusions you had come to about the treaty and the prospects for a lasting peace? Yes. Did I deny your conclusions? No, and that's because I trust you, Heero! I made my choice because I believe in you, Heero. I know how badly war has scarred you, so I understand that this was hardly an easy decision for you to make. If you're willing to return to the battlefield once again to protect this world then so am I. Trust me, Heero, I have no regrets about this, nor do I hold you accountable for it. This was my choice, Heero, and I'd make it again in a heartbeat!"

"Murrue…" he said, his eyes widening slightly.

She smiled and kissed him. "We're in this together, Heero. No matter what happens, whatever trials we have to face, I'm with you every step of the way. Never forget that."

The Gundam pilot gave her a small smile. "Thank you, Murrue."

"You'd do the same for me, Heero," she replied.

The two of them looked out over the ocean for a moment before Murrue spoke again. "So… how long do you think we have before the next turn of the endless waltz?"

"Hard to say," Heero replied, his brow furrowing in thought, "The major powers are still focused on economic recovery as their top priority, which will continue to buy us some breathing room. The combination of the treaty limitations and the sheer drain on resources from the last war will serve to keep the forces of both the Alliance and ZAFT at a more modest level when compared to Azrael's armada and Zala's Grand Fleet. I'm sure both sides will do all they can to circumvent those limitations, but even then they simply do not have the means to field the great fleets that clashed at Jachin Due. While monitoring arms developments in both sides will be important for us, I believe that our real concern should be keeping an eye out for circumstances that could be used as a pretext to kick off a new war. At the very least I'm sure that Blue Cosmos will be looking for the opportunity."

"Perhaps," said Murrue, "but they won't want to make their move until they can be reasonably certain of success. As the forces of both sides stand right now they can't have that level of surety, and they probably won't for quite some time."

Heero nodded. "You're right. However, we can't really put a solid timeframe on something like that. For the potential aggressor it really comes down to looking for a perfect storm, an ideal event or chain of events for launching a war at a point in time when their forces are sufficiently built up and prepared to fight. If I had to put a minimum on it… I'd say a year or two from now they'll move from rearming and upgrading to looking for an excuse to start a fight."

"So soon…" said Murrue softly, "Do you really think that the Earth Alliance or ZAFT would move so quickly?"

"I'm sorry," said Heero, "but I just can't say for sure. There are just too many variables that could come into play. We'll just need to monitor events as they develop and prepare our forces so that we'll be ready when the time comes."

"Who'll make the first move?" asked Murrue.

"If I had to place a bet," said Heero, "I'd say the Earth Alliance."

"You sound pretty confident about that," said Murrue.

Heero nodded. "With Blue Cosmos still unchecked inside their government they'll have the stronger will to start a conflict. Patrick Zala's radical faction may not have been legally outlawed, but it was at least disgraced, and according to Bristow its survivors are in no positions of major power within the civilian government or the armed forces. As far as we know, though, the power structure of Blue Cosmos within the Atlantic Federation remains intact. Yes, Azrael is dead, along with the High Command, but the President, the Vice-President, and the Cabinet remain unchanged, and you can be sure that they're firmly in the pockets of Blue Cosmos. There's no way that Azrael could've gotten as far as he did if his pawns were only in the military."

Murrue sighed. "You're right. An army or a fleet you can at least destroy on the battlefield. A corrupt government, on the other hand… that's much harder to defeat, at least in the manner that we're used to fighting."

"Yeah," said Heero, "I honestly have no idea where we would start with something like that."

"How about by stopping them from trying to repeat the Bloody Valentine Tragedy?" said Murrue, smiling.

The Gundam pilot gave her a small smile in return. "That sounds like a good place to start to me."

Together the two of them looked out at the darkening sky as the first stars of the night glimmered overhead. The tasks that they had decided to undertake weighed heavily on Murrue's mind, but it was a burden that she knew she did not bear alone.

As long as Heero's by my side, she thought as she held his hand, I can endure anything.

….

September 1st, A.C. 198

His arms folded and a satisfied smile on his face, the former Tallgeese scientist Mike Howard chuckled as he looked out the observation window of the light cruiser he'd once loaned to Zechs for his campaign against Romefeller's Mobile Dolls. With his bright Hawaiian shirt, light blue shorts, and wraparound shades the old man looked more like a retiree back from a day on a Florida beach rather than a brilliant mobile suit engineer and the current head of the salvage organization known as the Sweeper Group.

"I've still got it," he said as he looked at his handiwork floating out among the stars, "Sometimes I impress even myself."

"Is it ready?" asked a female voice from behind him.

Howard turned around and nodded. "Just about. We're putting the finishing touches on her now; give it another day or two. After that it's just a matter of moving her into position and bringing her up to full power."

Lady Une nodded. The Director of the peacekeeping organization Preventers for the past two years now, the twenty-one year old beauty had changed little in physical appearance since the end of the Eve Wars. Her brown hair was worn freely now, and she had ditched her old glasses for good. Rather than dress in a business suit-dress or other formal attire she wore an outfit that was remarkably similar to those used by Preventer field operatives, with their trademark jacket, black pants, and an olive drab shirt and tie underneath. Her brown eyes were sharp but not nearly as hard as they had been during her tenure as Treize's ruthless right-hand woman.

"You've done well, Howard," she said as she looked past him out the viewport, "I appreciate your work on this project, along with you discretion. Your crew has been tight lipped and professional."

Howard shrugged. "Well, it was the least we could do for you, especially considering the nature of this gig. Besides, I was the one that gave Heero the information about the Barge reactor's decaying orbit, so in a sense it's my fault he left our world. The least I could do was help put you guys go after him."

Lady Une shook her head. "Another world… I'm still having trouble believing that."

"It's what the data from the portal while it was open supported," Howard replied, "though I gotta admit I really can't blame you for feeling that way."

"Too bad it only remained stable for a few days before collapsing," said Lady Une, "If your ship hadn't been nearby when the incident originally took place we may not have gotten the data that we did and would be unable to try to retrieve Heero."

"Well, I can assure you that my part of the operation will go smoothly," said Howard, smiling, "My boys will see to that. How are things on your end?"

"Mister Treize's last mobile suit is ready, as is Zechs," she said, "We're still finishing up modifications and upgrades for the machine Noin will use in the operation, but they won't take too much longer. After that it all comes down to the other four Gundam pilots."

"That shouldn't be a problem," said Howard, "I know all their machines are ready to go; they all came to me for help with the upgrades, and if nothing else I pride myself on quality work."

Lady Une nodded. "I don't doubt that their Gundams are prepared. It's a matter of the pilots themselves. I know they all want to find Heero, but the fact remains that they all have obligations in this world as well. I've pressed them to make the appropriate preparations, but I believe it will still be a few weeks until we can commence the operation."

Howard shrugged. "That's fine with me. It's only been two years; what's a few more weeks? Getting flung into another world's not enough to take down Heero. He can hold out a little longer."

"You're very confident of that," said Lady Une, raising an eyebrow.

Howard smirked. "And you're not? Come on, Director. We both know what he can do."

"I'm not disparaging his abilities," Lady Une replied, "but it's been over two years, Howard. Who can say what kind of world he wound up in? Knowing the kind of luck Gundam pilots seem to have it wouldn't surprise me if he landed right in the middle of a war."

"In which case he'd be even better prepared to survive," Howard countered, "Don't forget that the battlefield above all is the domain of a Gundam pilot. That's their natural habitat, and they're the apex predators. If Heero found himself in the middle of a war in whatever world he wound up in then I feel pretty sorry for whatever poor saps had the misfortune of sharing a battlefield with him."

Lady Une smirked. "I suppose you have a point there."

"So," said Howard, "about when were you thinking of getting this show on the road?"

"Probably around the end of this month or the beginning of the next," said Lady Une, "I think everyone will be ready to go by then."

Howard smiled. "Sounds good to me. Just give us a heads up so we can get everything set up right."

Lady Une nodded. "Will do."

As she left the room Howard turned back towards the window, his smile still on his face. After over two long years they were just about ready to help out their old friend, and he could finally repay his debt.

"You saved the world twice, Heero," he said, "Libra and the falling Barge reactor… we owe you big time for that, and I always settle my debts."

Preview for next time!

It's been two years since the Second Battle of Jachin Due. The covert organization Terminal is fully operational and has taken up the mantle of the former Three Ships Alliance. With tensions rising between the Earth Alliance and ZAFT Heero, Murrue, and their friends have stepped up their activities in preparation for a possible conflict. Embarking on a mission to observe field tests of a new ZAFT warship and its prototype mobile suits, little does Heero know that he's flying into the beginning of a chain of events that will kick off the Cosmic Era's next global conflict. Next time, on the final episode of "Gundam Wing: Journey to a New Battlefield", White Reflection.

"Focus. Control. Conviction. Resolve. A true ace lacks none of these attributes. Nothing can deter you from the task at hand except your own fears. This is your sky."

Ace Combat Five: The Unsung War

Author's notes: Holy crap, we're almost at the end here! Seriously, next chapter's the last for Part One, then we're rushing right into Part Two, Gundam Wing: Destiny's Call. Yup, that's the name of the sequel. Like it? Great! Don't? Too bad, not changing it. Look, I'll seriously try to have something more profound to say at the end of the last chapter, but right now… yeah, I've got nothing. Well, not quite. Thanks a lot for your continued support, and I'll see you all again soon in Part One's final episode!