Chapter 37: SEED – Judgment
The Strike Gundam raised its beam rifle, aiming it at the Aegis Gundam. Then Kira Yamato opened the comm channel and asked,
"Athrun Zala?"
"Yeah, it's me—Kira Yamato."
"Open your hatch."
Both the Strike Gundam and the Aegis Gundam opened their cockpits.
Kira Yamato turned to Lacus Clyne and said,
"Go on—talk to him. Athrun Zala can't see you. Let him know it's you."
"Oh, so that's how it is."
Lacus Clyne waved to the figure in the opposite cockpit.
"Hello, Athrun. It's been a long time."
Athrun Zala smiled and confirmed,
"Confirmed."
"Then take her with you. And also—this lady here, Liza Kalman."
Liza Kalman spoke expressionlessly,
"Athrun Zala, do you still remember me? Liza Kalman, a fellow graduate from ZAFT's Red Coat elite."
"Yeah, I remember—you were that blonde girl who was always one rank below me."
Liza Kalman ground her teeth.
"Athrun Zala, you remember this—my name is Liza Kalman, not 'that blonde girl.' Hmph."
Athrun Zala shook his head helplessly, unfastened his harness, and stepped out of the cockpit.
Kira Yamato gently pushed Lacus Clyne outward, sending her drifting toward Athrun Zala.
When Athrun Zala saw Lacus Clyne's space suit bulging at the stomach, his expression showed obvious shock.
At that moment, Tolle Koenig really wanted to blurt out in front of them:
"Athrun, your wife's been knocked up by Kira!"
Liza Kalman didn't ask for Kira Yamato's help—she pushed off forcefully and floated to the Aegis Gundam's cockpit on her own.
Lacus Clyne said to Kira Yamato,
"Thank you for taking care of me, Kira Yamato."
Then she looked at Athrun Zala. "Athrun, thank you as well."
Athrun Zala glanced at Lacus Clyne, then at Kira Yamato.
"Kira, come with us. You have no reason to stay with the Earth Alliance, do you?"
Kira Yamato lowered his head in sorrow.
"Athrun, I don't want to fight you either.
But there are people on this ship I want to protect—my friends are here."
Athrun Zala held his gaze for a moment, then lowered his own in sadness.
"Kira… then there's no helping it.
Next time we meet in battle, I will attack you."
Kira Yamato's face twisted with pain.
"Athrun… then I'll attack you too."
Kira closed his cockpit hatch, and the Strike Gundam slowly drifted away from the Aegis Gundam.
On the Archangel, the radar operator reported,
"Enemy Nazca-class warship launching mobile suits—Nazca-class engines are powering up."
Rau Le Creuset launched in his CGUE from the Nazca-class vessel.
At the same time, Mu La Flaga couldn't wait—he launched in his Moebius Zero from the Archangel.
Just as the fight was about to resume, Lacus Clyne's voice came over the Aegis Gundam's comm.
"Captain Rau Le Creuset, please stop.
Do you intend to turn the memorial site represented by my Memorial Relief Organization into a battlefield?
I will never allow such a thing. Immediately cease all combat operations.
Can't you hear me?"
Rau Le Creuset, helpless, had no choice but to comply—he halted and returned to the Nazca-class ship with the Aegis Gundam.
Kira Yamato also breathed a sigh of relief and returned to the Archangel alongside Mu La Flaga.
Meanwhile, Tolle Koenig said to Nami,
"Nami, integrate the neo DG cells near Lacus Clyne into the Aegis Gundam.
Then let them self-replicate and assimilate that Nazca-class ship too.
Same as last time—assimilate the crew for infiltration, including Rau Le Creuset.
Hahaha, Rau Le Creuset—you slipped away last time, but this time I've got you.
Your warship, your mobile suits, and even the Providence Gundam will all be mine. Hahaha!"
"Understood, Master," Nami replied.
"Oh yeah~ work time again. Work, work.
Master's warship count: +1!"
Tolle Koenig could only shake his head, feeling more and more unable to deal with his Nami.
Still, he felt he had struck gold this time. At this rate, wouldn't he eventually become the ultimate mastermind behind both SEED and Destiny?
Heh heh heh—just imagining it was thrilling. He'd definitely have to try it someday. There was real potential here.
By then, every powerful mobile suit in the SEED world would be part of his private collection.
When Kira Yamato returned to the Archangel, Natarle Badgiruel decided to put him on trial.
A small military tribunal was convened aboard the ship, with Murrue Ramius serving as the presiding judge—also acting as both prosecutor and prosecution attorney.
Naturally, Mu La Flaga became Kira Yamato's defense attorney.
Natarle Badgiruel stated her charge,
"The accused is completely unaware of how much his actions endangered the safety of this warship."
Mu La Flaga countered,
"That's just speculation—there's no concrete evidence.
I request this statement be stricken from the record."
Murrue Ramius, striking a Commander Ikari–style pose, said, "Request granted."
Mu La Flaga continued his defense with book in hand,
"Now, in this case… taking civilians as hostages violates Article 4 of the Junius Treaty."
Natarle Badgiruel responded sternly,
"In this instance, we acted in accordance with Special Provision C under wartime measures, handling the matter appropriately."
"Eh?" Mu flipped through the military law book in confusion.
"Special Provision C? Since when does that exist?
Ah—but it was precisely because the hostages were released that the Nazca-class warship withdrew, allowing us to escape danger."
Natarle shot back,
"That's only looking at the outcome."
Murrue Ramius, tired of their back-and-forth, turned directly to Kira Yamato.
"Kira Yamato, do you have anything to say for yourself? Why did you act on your own like that?"
Kira replied,
"It wasn't because she was a hostage that I saved her."
Mu La Flaga, beaming, said,
"Exactly—he'd only do that for his girlfriend."
Kira glared at Mu with open irritation.
Natarle Badgiruel slammed to her feet,
"Objection!"
Outside, eavesdropping, Tolle Koenig gave Mu a big thumbs-up and thought,
[Mu, you're a real talent—perfect prediction.]
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