The implication was crystal clear—the commencement of military exercises marked the deadline. If they failed to provide an answer within this timeframe, those "exercises" might cease being mere drills.
For PLANT and the Eurasian Federation, the situation was manageable—one in space, the other separated from Orb by vast distances. Even if war reignited, they wouldn't be immediately affected.
But the Atlantic Federation was a different story. Should conflict break out, Orb's fleet could strike Alaska at a moment's notice. While the Atlantic Federation's terrestrial forces weren't intimidated by Orb, internal divisions remained unresolved, leaving them vulnerable.
With that, today's session concluded. Delegates dispersed to their hotels, knowing that despite ongoing negotiations, today's developments demanded urgent reports to their respective nations. Regardless of the outcome, this conference would reshape the world's political landscape—preparations had to begin now.
...
"That brat really has the audacity to demand the moon!" Siegel Clyne massaged his temples in frustration after reviewing the delegation's report.
"Father, what's wrong?" Lacus asked gently.
"See for yourself—the fine man you've chosen." Siegel handed her the PAD, his tone dripping with exasperation.
"Heh, this is Yang Hui's style, alright." Lacus chuckled after reading the message. Yang Hui was never one to accept losses. Many believed Orb's fall had dealt him a severe blow, unaware it was all part of his grand design—a setup for precisely this moment.
Without Orb's "defeat," without Earth Forces and ZAFT resorting to nuclear weapons—how else could he make such outrageous demands?
"But this time, he'll be disappointed. We can't possibly agree to his terms." Siegel sighed. Were it personal wealth, he'd gladly hand over the entire Clyne family fortune as his daughter's dowry and his own retirement fund.
Yet Boaz Fortress was one of ZAFT's critical military strongholds, a frontline bastion against Earth Forces. Surrendering it to Orb was unthinkable—even if he personally consented, neither the Supreme Council nor ZAFT's military and citizens would ever approve.
"Actually... I find it acceptable," Lacus told Siegel.
"..." Facepalming, Siegel dismissed it as lovesick folly. He half-expected Lacus would gift-wrap all of PLANT if Yang Hui asked.
This time, however, he misjudged her—at least partially.
"Father, while Boaz is important to ZAFT, it's not irreplaceable. PLANT has the capability to construct another asteroid fortress without difficulty. But if we cling to Boaz at the cost of forging ties—or even peace—with Orb, that would be the true loss."
Siegel considered her words. Orb's demonstrated power was formidable, and PLANT's current instability made further wars—against any adversary—ill-advised. Trading a fortress for peace might just be worth it.
However... such reasoning alone might suffice to convince the representatives of the Supreme Council, but it would be too flimsy to persuade the military and the general populace.
At the same time, PLANT's resources and funds might not be sufficient. Let's not forget that PLANT still owes Orb a Heliopolis colony, along with a compensation list painful to even glance at.
"So we need to focus our efforts on negotiating the compensation in terms of materials and funds," Lacus said after listening to Siegel Clyne's concerns. "I understand Yang Hui and his people. Their primary target has always been the Boaz Fortress—they aren't overly concerned about resource reparations. I'm certain their bottom line is only a quarter of what they're demanding. So, let the delegates negotiate boldly without worry."
"Hmm? Is that possible? Orb is currently rebuilding from scratch, and it seems they're planning large-scale military expansion. The resources they need are no small amount."
"Father, you know it, I know it, and Yang Hui certainly knows it too. PLANT can't possibly agree to such terms—doing so would destabilize our nation. He wouldn't make unreasonable demands that we can't accept. So, the Boaz Fortress and the resources must be prioritized—one as the main goal, the other as secondary. The main target is non-negotiable, while the secondary one has much more room for flexibility. Based on my calculations, a quarter of their requested resources would fall within PLANT's acceptable range."
Lacus wasn't a professional politician—she merely possessed exceptional aptitude, potential, and tact. But after assisting Siegel Clyne with PLANT's internal affairs during this period, she had gained some insight into the nation's situation and could roughly estimate PLANT's limits.
Siegel Clyne fell silent. Everything Lacus said was correct and difficult to refute, but...
"Are you doing this... solely for PLANT's sake?"
"Father, you're overthinking it."
"Am I?"
"Yes."
The seriousness and maturity vanished from her expression as her large, sparkling eyes blinked innocently, radiating adorable cluelessness.
"Sigh..." Siegel Clyne facepalmed. Did she really need to act and deny it when it was just the two of them here? "Another issue—how do we address ZAFT and the public's opposition?"
Lacus had provided Siegel Clyne with arguments to persuade the Supreme Council, but even if the Council was convinced, it would mean nothing if ZAFT and the citizens refused to accept it. Forcing such a decision through would shatter their trust in the Supreme Council, and every member would likely be ousted.
Siegel Clyne didn't care about power, but he feared the hidden Zala Faction might seize the opportunity to stir trouble and ruin the favorable situation.
"Leave it to me, Father. I'll handle this issue."
Once Lacus made such a promise, Siegel Clyne wouldn't press further. She rarely committed to anything, but when she did, she was confident in delivering.
...
Meanwhile, the Atlantic Federation's delegates had relayed the situation back to their homeland. The leadership was divided into several factions. While all of them angrily denounced Orb's exorbitant demands, beyond the cursing, they were busy scheming against one another—accusing the delegates' factions of being too weak, even hurling accusations of treason and collusion with the enemy.
Some clamored to destroy Orb's First Fleet and declare war outright, arguing that if they could defeat it once, they could do so again.
Such rhetoric was immediately attacked by the pacifist faction, who hurled labels like "warmongers," "anti-social," "anti-human," and "world-destroyers" at the war advocates—anything remotely fitting was used to discredit them.
The debate raged late into the night without resolution. The war faction, though vocal, lacked the nerve to act, while the negotiation faction found the harsh terms too humiliating to accept.
In the end, the assembly disbanded, and the leaders of the major factions gathered in a private chamber to initiate a remote video conference. Since none could persuade the others, they turned to the one person whose vote could decide the matter.
"Accept Orb's terms."
"But... this would leave the Atlantic Federation completely exposed to Orb. If they decide to strike, we'd have no early warning or defenses."
"Orb won't attack us—at least not now. We need to buy time. Once the research bears fruit, Orb can be crushed in an instant."
"But... that research has been ongoing for decades with no progress. Could it be..."
"No."
"Understood."
Thus, the Atlantic Federation made its decision—to accept Orb's conditions, though not unconditionally. As Wang Liu Mei had suggested, the exact resource amounts were still negotiable.
Meanwhile, the Eurasian Federation mirrored its master's stance, initially refusing and boasting that war wouldn't reach them, given their distance. But upon learning their patron had conceded, they reluctantly followed suit.
With the major decisions settled, the rest was straightforward. After three days of haggling, the three powers finalized the resource quotas. As Lacus had predicted, Orb didn't exploit PLANT too harshly, settling for a quarter of the maximum demand. The Atlantic Federation, having ceded Midway and Hawaii, paid half of Orb's initial demand—Orb, though dominant, lacked the capacity to destroy the Federation outright. The Eurasian Federation, however, was bled dry, managing only a five percent reduction after much pleading.
In summary, the peace talks left Orb immensely enriched: it gained the Boaz Fortress, territory in Indonesia, expanded territorial waters stretching to Midway and Hawaii, and vast resources—truly an overnight fortune.
The resources alone would more than suffice to rebuild Dawn Company and Kaguya, establish three full Space Fleets, add two naval fleets, and raise three new MS Squadrons.
With the spoils secured, the real work began. According to Yang Hui's calculations, at full production capacity, Orb could realize all planned military expansions within a year. By then, it would possess the strength to stand at the pinnacle of the world.
At the same time, a press conference was held to announce the complete victory of these negotiations to the world. People's reactions varied—those from Orb were naturally thrilled, as if they could already see their nation's rise to power. Citizens of the Atlantic Federation and the Eurasian Federation, however, were filled with grief and fury, cursing their governments' incompetence. Thanks to Lacus's prior efforts, PLANT's response was less extreme, though feelings of frustration and resentment undoubtedly lingered. As for other factions, most adopted an indifferent stance, given that their losses were minimal.
However, after representatives from other nations returned to their respective countries, the delegate from the United States of South America quietly stayed behind, requesting a private meeting with Yang Hui.
"Congratulations on Orb's overwhelming victory, Your Excellency Yang Hui," the delegate offered. This triumph wasn't just on the battlefield—the negotiation results were the true testament to Orb's strength. With the gains Orb had secured, any perceptive observer could see that its rise was now unstoppable.
"Thank you, Your Excellency Anafe. But since you haven't returned home and sought me out in secret, I assume this isn't just to congratulate Orb?"
"Indeed, Your Excellency Yang Hui. Our nation seeks Orb's assistance."