Last Resistance to Peace
Chapter 4

by Scarlet Eve

A.C. 204
Mid-April

Minister Edward Darlian, Relena's chief adviser, sat across from her at a small table inside her office. He had been a great friend of her father's before his death, which was why Relena asked Darlian to be her adviser when she was crowned as Queen. With his knowledge and experience, he was a valuable member of Relena's staff. Not to mention, his wife Mareen had given Relena a lot of motherly advice through the years.

It was still early, and Relena had not yet consumed her usual amount of tea. Thankfully, Darlian didn't need her input at the moment. He was reviewing a proposed budget for the second half of the year, taking into account predictions of weather problems, and with some adjustments of the country's security policy.

Relena sipped her earl gray tea, trying to keep her nagging thoughts at bay. She had been unsettled since her birthday - Milliardo had disappeared, Treize had crashed the party, and Relena had the displeasure of meeting Colonel Une. She couldn't help feeling that something strange was going on. After the party, Relena had not bothered to discuss the evening with her brother. She just hoped that the following year, her brother would let her skip her annual birthday party. She didn't think she could tolerate another one.

The door to Relena's office opened, and Sally stepped inside. Relena glanced at her and gave her a small smile. "Good morning, Sally."

"Morning Miss Relena. Minister Darlian," Sally said, crossing the room. She placed a hand on top of the small vid-phone at one side of the table. "You have a call."

"Who is it?"

"Colonel Une." Relena frowned.

"What business could I possibly have with her?" Relena asked. Sally pressed her lips into a fine line.

"I'm going to let her tell you," Sally said. She pressed a few buttons on the vid-phone to transfer the call to Relena's office. Colonel Une's face appeared on the screen. She looked annoyed.

"Your highness," she said, her voice monotone.

"Good morning, Colonel. What can I do for you?" Relena asked, attempting her best "cheery" voice.

"I have some rather disturbing information to discuss with you," Une said. "It seems someone from your country took it upon himself to sneak onto one of our bases on the night of your birthday. Some information was stolen, and several of our men were injured and knocked out."

Relena's stomach clenched into a knot. She could feel Darlian and Sally's eyes on her.

"And who was it?" Relena asked, already knowing the answer.

"Your brother, Prince Milliardo," Une said, her expression becoming more severe. "I'm afraid this is a terrible breach, and Chief Commander Treize has considered taking action against your brother."

"Do you have proof?" Relena asked. Out of the view of the vid-phone, her hands bunched around her skirt, wrinkling the fabric under the pressure.

The image on the screen changed to security footage. A man sulked along the side of a building, with long hair that trailed out from underneath a white mask, shaped vaguely like a bird. Relena's stomach sank.

Une's face reappeared. "As you can see, it was most certainly your brother."

"What does Treize want?" Relena asked.

"Due to the nature of Chief Commander Treize's relationship with yourself and your brother, he's willing to make a compromise. He would accept Milliardo's imprisonment in the Sanc Kingdom," Une said. Relena, Sally, and Darlian all cried out in anger.

"I can't throw him in prison!" Relena cried out. Une shrugged.

"The other option is retaliation by force," Une said. "For a country that advocates pacifism, I'm sure that would be a devastating blow." Relena growled low in her throat and clenched her hands tighter.

"Give me a moment," Relena managed to say. Une nodded, and Relena pressed the mute button. She looked up at Sally.

"What do I do?" she asked. Sally shifted her weight and crossed her arms over her stomach.

"The more favorable option is to put Milliardo in jail. We cannot afford at this time to take an attack from Romefeller… or OZ." Sally shook her head. "It will look bad, no matter what. But at least if he is in prison here, we will know that he's being treated properly and has the right amount of security."

Relena glanced to Darlian. He gave her a sad smile. "I'm afraid I have to agree with Major Sally," he said.

Relena un-muted the vid-phone, and Une's face appeared once more. "I will put Milliardo in a cell here in the Sanc Kingdom," Relena said. A wicked smile crossed Une's lips.

"Very well. I shall inform Chief Commander Treize." Une cut the call without another word. Relena turned off her own vid-phone and dropped her chin into her chest.

Why, Milliardo? Why did you have to go and do that?

A.C. 204
Mid-April

Milliardo watched the large file transfer to a server that only he and one other person had access to. He had scanned the plans and build information of the super-charged mobile suits, and he began to feel a thrill of excitement. Noin, who perched on his desk, frowned and crossed her arms over her chest.

"How do you know this guy?" Noin asked.

"I don't think you want to know," Milliardo said.

"Let me guess - during one of your outings as Zechs Marquise?" she asked, her voice thick with sarcasm. Milliardo grinned.

"Maybe."

"Is he as crazy as those scientists?" Noin asked. Milliardo chuckled. The scientists, five men who developed weapons and features for mobile suits, along with other projects, disappeared mysteriously two years prior. Milliardo had been in contact with them, trying to find the best mobile suits to protect the Sanc Kingdom. But they'd disappeared, and Milliardo had been forced to find someone else.

"Maybe. I think you have to be a little nuts to work with mobile suits," Milliardo said. "They are just giant killing machines."

Milliardo's vid-phone began to chime. He answered the call, and his contact's face appeared.

"Hello, Howard," Milliardo said. The older man, balding with his eyes hidden behind sunglasses, smiled and waved to Milliardo through the screen.

"Hey there, Zechs! I just wanted to let you know that the files have finished transferring, so I'll take a look. I'm sure I can whip something up for you," he said.

"That's great. Thank you, Howard."

"Sure thing! See ya," he said. The call ended. Noin still looked upset.

"I have to protect my sister and this country, Noin," Milliardo said. "There aren't any others I trust to do the job."

"I know," Noin sighed.

The door burst open and four armed Sanc Kingdom soldiers marched inside. Milliardo jumped up from his chair, and Noin slid from the desk. Relena and Sally entered the room behind the soldiers.

"What's going on, Relena?" Milliardo asked. His sister looked both sad and angry.

"Milliardo Peacecraft, you're under arrest," Relena said, barely able to meet his eyes.

Noin shrieked, "For what?" Relena cast Noin a look that silenced the other woman.

"Trespassing on military property. Theft of confidential information," Relena said. "Lying to your sister."

That one stung. Milliardo dropped his head, but he was trying to hide a smile. This was no surprise. His work had been clumsy. But he had accomplished what he'd intended. If he needed to wait out some time in a cell, he would go without complaint.

"You can't do this, Relena!" Noin cried out. Sally stepped forward, a hand out towards Noin.

"Watch yourself, Lieutenant," she barked. Noin winced and shrunk into herself.

"It's alright, Noin," Milliardo said. "I'll come quietly." He held his hands together in front of him, and one of the soldiers slapped a pair of restraints over his wrists. As he passed by Relena, Milliardo glanced up at her. She had a tear in one eye that she was trying not to shed. She wiped it quickly away and stepped aside, to allow her soldiers to take him away.

-SE