Part Thirty-five;
*Symbolic War Tactics*

         Paato Seruteifuaiv;
         *Shouchou-teki na sensou no shudan*

Is there peace in you who’s left on your journey
   The silver stardust covers you as you sleep
   Lost and cast aside, that day you were shining
   If you believe in where you are, the sky will open for you
         tabi ni deta kimi ni wa yasuragi ga aru no kai
            giniro no hoshikuzu tsutsumarete nemure yo
            mayoi suteta ano hi no kimi wa kagayaiteita yo
            yukue kitto shinjiteireba sora wa hirogatteyuku

The stars shine down with an eternal light
   Like they’re always covering her
   The moon shines down upon the eternal desert
   Sending guidance
         hoshi yo terase yo eien no hikari de
            ano ko o tsutsumu you ni zutto
            tsuki yo terase yo eien no sabaku o
            michibiteokure yo

The sun rises until the earth scorches
   In the cloudless sky, the heart burns
   Shaking in the Gobi, inside of a heat haze, I’m searching for you
   Close your eyes, listen with your heart, the voice is barely audible
         taiyoo ga nobotte daichi made kogashite
            kumo no nai sora de wa kokoro made yaketsuku
            gobi ni yureru kagerou no naka kimi o sagashiteru
            hitomi tojite mimi o sumaseba koe ga kikoete kisouna

I want to let you seize the dream with your hands
   Like you can wrap up tomorrow
   I want to hold you more closely and kiss you
   Endlessly waiting until the day we meet
         yume o sono te ni tsukamasete agetai
            ashita o tsutsumu you ni motto
            dakishimetakute kuchizuke o shitakute
            aeru hi o machiwabi
 

                      [##]
 

What would you think... if you saw the way things were now...? Wufei stared out the window as he thought this, stared and stared at the field of stars that reflected into mini universes within his eyes. Sometimes I wonder what might have been...

                      [##]

Zechs walked in and sat in the commander's chair. " What's the situation? " he asked crisply, militarily. After all, he was never more comfortable than as a soldier.

                      [##]

Nara dropped out of the cockpit and landed firmly on her feet on the scaffolding below it, bending her knees to absorb the impact. Straightening back up, she wiped at her sweaty forehead with the back of her wrist and tossed her hair off her shoulder. Making a face, she grabbed a lock of the indigo mess and made a mental note to cut it.

Several months had passed since she'd first met Treize Kush Renada face to face. In that time she'd healed almost completely from her wounds and been trained in Mobile Suit combat. Everything Treize knew she now knew as well. She felt lighthearted, almost, now that she had a purpose. Who knew working with your worst enemy would have so much gratification?

Entering the library, she found Treize at his desk, eyeing military reports from Outer Space. She peered over his shoulder at the computer screen.

" White Fang won the Libra? " she asked, requesting confirmation of what appeared before her eyes.

He made an affirmative noise. " I believe it's time to return to the stage, " he said at length. " Do you think you are ready? "

" I don't have a choice in the matter. "

" I just gave you one. "

She smiled without humor, relenting, " Yes, Treize, I'm ready. All I need is a haircut. "

Trieze got to his feet and placed a hand on her shoulder. " You'll need more than that to enter my world, Nara. I've had an Oz Uniform delivered. I left it in your quarters. Tomorrow we return to the Romafellor Foundation and relieve Rilina Peacecraft of her position. We'll have them consider you my replacement Zechs, hm? It's always nice to have a pacifist at my side. "

                      [##]

Quinze turned from the console and addressed him formally. " All systems sabotaged by the fleeing officers are back online, sir. We're currently working on powering up the main weapon. "

" How long until it's online and ready to fire? " Zechs inquired.

The officer behind Quinze answered readily, " Approximately 118 000 seconds, sir. "

                      [##]

Lady Une's fist clenched tightly. It had been several months of torment for the General. Dealing with Tsubarov was no easy thing. Dealing with Tsubarov on top of losing the Gundam Pilots, the doctors, Private Hilde, the Gundams, the new suits, supplies... it had been one problem on top of another. Now she had to deal with losing Libra to the White Fang.

" Dammit! " She whirled around and addressed the meeting behind her. " Can anyone tell me just when Oz became so incompetent? Where are the Vai-eight and the Aquarius? Where are the Gundams? What the hell is going on here?! I want some damn good ideas on how to get everything we've lost back and fast. "

Her demands were met with much shifting of eyes and uncomfortable sounds.

That clenched fist smacked the tabletop and rattled the meeting. " I want you all to go out and find me what I want -- NOW!! "

                      [##]

" Good, " Zechs leaned back and narrowed his eyes contemplatively at the cerulean planet in his sights. " If in three days the Colonies are not free, Earth will pay the price. "

                      [##]

Nara turned from the mirror as Treize entered. He looked her over appreciatively, admiring his choice. A blue, white, and gold Oz Uniform fit her closely -- her exact size -- while a deep navy cape hung off her left shoulder. She had her newly cut hair clipped on top of her head, and hidden beneath the standard cap.

" You changed your hair, why? "

" You never know when somebody from my home might recognize me. Besides, I thought it looked more professional. " Nara approached him, frowning as the new leather boots creaked when she moved. She bent one knee back and forth, working the stiffness out. " That better fix itself before we get there. "

" Keep at it and it should. Shall we? " He opened the door for her.

" Arigatou, Your Excellency. "

                      [##]

Thirty-two hours. In just over thirty-two hours he would be the most powerful force in the Earth Sphere. He wouldn't let that go to waste. A four-hour window to allow for unforeseen setbacks, and Epyon at his side. Nothing was going to stop him.

                      [##]

Tsubarov entered the room as the officers left it, and closed the door when it was just him and Lady Une. " Rousing speech, my dear Lady, " he commented, just the slightest sardonic tone woven into the words.

Lady Une stood with her palms flat on the table and her head down, supporting her full weight on those two hands that had let all her responsibility slip through their fingers. Quietly she requested, " Get out, Tsubarov. "

" Your tactics are all wrong. We need to attack what's close to the Gundams, and the renegade Private Shriebecker. We've determined that the pilot who murdered Barton was Zero-four; attack the Arabic nation and the Maginak. Bring Shriebecker's mother here; the woman is a traitor as well, but it would be good to use her. Attack the very colonies if need be. " The detest in Tsubarov's voice was now more than apparent. " Before we can focus all our force on White Fang, this problem must be dealt with by any means possible. "

Still, Lady Une did not raise her head. " His Excellency would not approve. "

" His Excellency, " sneered Tsubarov. " Treize is no longer a factor in this. As far as I'm concerned, his ideals and his rejection of the Mobile Dolls made him just as much a traitor as the rest of them. You can't deny progress. "

Lady Une's head snapped up at that. But she froze immediately as the pistol Tsubarov held registered in her mind. Her lips parted slightly.

" Too bad, Lady... " Tsubarov trailed off, his voice now dangerously low. " It seems you've become just another victim of the treachery out here in Outer Space. I'll make sure those responsible pay for your death. " He fired.

                      [##]

An officer to Zechs' left suddenly reported. " We have a communication incoming from Earth. It's Rilinajo'ou. " He turned to face the commander. " Should I accept or decline, sir? "

" Accept, let's see what she has to say, " Zechs said, leaning forward and lacing his hands beneath his chin.

                      [##]

" Yes, alright. I understand. Please have her put on the next shuttle to Earth and taken to Luxumburg. Thank you. " Treize set down the phone, a troubled look on his face. Lifting his head, he took note of Nara's curious expression. " An attempt has been made to assassinate my associate in Outer Space. I had her controlling our presence in the colonies. "

" Who made the attempt? "

" It would appear the Gundam Pilots are being blamed. "

Nara looked out the window, her voice calm as she said, " Masaka. "

Treize nodded, looking out his own window at the clouds as they moved past, sliced in two by the tapered wings of the airplane. " You're correct, Nara. Proving that to the rest of the world, however, will be another matter. "

" People are foolish, " Nara commented, observing the clouds rush past her window in a flurry of whites and pale grays as the plane descended.

Treize smiled at her, bemused. " Why do you say that? "

" I speak from experience. "

                      [##]

When Rilina's face appeared on the screen, Zechs' breath caught momentarily in his throat. She looked... exactly the way a Peacecraft should. The firmly held jaw, the flashing eyes, the regal bearing. Everything Zechs didn't have. Which was why he was here.

                      [##]

Nara preceded Treize out of the airplane. Immediately falling into the role Treize had laid out for her, she kept her head high and didn't make eye contact with anyone. At the bottom of the stair she stopped, turned, snapped her heels together and saluted. As Treize descended, his blue eyes locked with her brown ones, transmitting his approval. She was doing well, and would continue to do so. He hadn't expected anything different. He broke eye contact and walked past her. She fell in step behind him, and they headed for the main building housing the Romafellor Foundation.

The attendants who had run out to greet the plane watched them go.

One of them said to the other, " That was Treize Kush Renada... but... who... "

The other shrugged his indifference. " Saa na. "

[Saa na = something like 'who knows']

Treize and Nara were met at the doors by a number of the elders, as well as Duke Dermail himself, and his granddaughter, Dorothy Katalonia. The two groups stood on either side of the large foyer.

" The current circumstances have called for my return, " Treize stated placidly. " The condition of the colonies, the uprising of White Fang... all of it. It's time I once again entered the stage. "

The elders looked around themselves, until Dermail finally conceded. " I suppose you're right. Our attempts at peace through Rilina Peacecraft have been less than favourable. Earth has been allied by her words, but the Colonies continue to be in chaos. "

In the midst of all this, Dorothy narrowed her eyes at Nara. Who is that...?

One of the elders beat her to voicing this question. " We will certainly welcome you back, Treize. It seems that you have taken someone new under your wing. May we request an introduction before we meet with Queen Rilina and discuss matters? "

Dorothy frowned even more when Treize let a smile break his demeanor for a brief moment. " Of course. Gentlemen, " he looked at Dorothy, " Lady, this is Special Lieutenant Nara Sorou. I took the liberty of registering her in the Oz database when I took her in. She will prove to be an invaluable asset in the future, I guarantee. "

" What do you mean by that? "

" That will be revealed in due time. And speaking of time, we don't have much of it. With that in mind, I would like Lieutenant Sorou and I to meet with Rilinajo'ousama in private, please. " Without waiting for an answer, Treize headed down the corridor towards Rilina's quarters.

Nara fell in step behind him once again, but paused when Dorothy grasped on to her arm. The blonde girl hissed in her ear, " I don't like you. "

Nara showed no reaction, she merely released her arm from the other girl's hold and continued on her way. Catching up with Treize, she murmured, " It seems I'm not welcome by everyone. "

Treize stopped at the door that once led to his quarters, and soon would again. Putting his gloved hand on the polished doorknob, he chuckled quietly. " It's all a part of the plan. "

                      [##]

" Good day, Rilinajo'ousama, " Zechs greeted monotonously.

" Milliardo, " she replied, calling him by his Peacecraft name. " Please, stop this foolishness. What are you gaining by attacking the Earth? "

" You wouldn't understand, " he said sternly, " for there to be peace, all of Oz and the Alliance must withdraw from the Earth. I have made my demands, it's time they were met. "

" You're only repeating history, Milliardo, it's just one military power replacing another, over and over again. How is the White Fang any different from Oz? Demilitarizing the Colonies is the only way to peace. " Rilina pleaded.

" Rilina, " Zechs cut her off sternly. " You can only fight soldiers with soldiers. There is no room for peace in this world as it currently stands. Someday you will see that.

" Since you are here, and finished stating your point, " he silenced her protest with a glare. " Deliver a message to Chikyuu for me, dear sister; The Earth has three days time to withdraw all occupation from the Colonies. If they have not complied with out wishes by then, we will fire Libra's primary weapon upon the planet. " He nodded at the officer to break the connection.

Rilina gasped. " Millia-- "

Zechs continued to stare at the blank screen after she was gone. This is the only way...

                      [##]

Rilina stood at her desk, tear-filled eyes staring at the screen where Zechs had been. " Three days... sonna... "

" He had a point, " Treize stated, coming further into the room. Rilina looked at him in shock, so absorbed in her argument, she hadn't even noticed him and Nara enter. Treize approached her and turned off the computer. " Soldiers must fight soldiers. You would do the world better good apart from this place.

" Return to your kingdom, Rilina Peacecraft. I am hereby relieving you of your position as Oz Representative. "

Rilina nodded solemnly.

                      [##]

Endlessly waiting until the day we meet
         aeru hi o machiwabi

**

[Hey look! A whole chapter without the pilots! Oo that's... odd... Next chapter! What are our beloved pilots up to? Where did they escape to? What's Treize got up his sleeve, besides planning on starting the war with Zechs? Is Dorothy gonna attack Nara in some jealous rage or something? How will it all end?! Find out, (well, except maybe that last question) in the next chapter!]

[Written by Inseiko, 2001]
         [Song: "Eien no Hikari" [Eternal Light] by Seki Tomokazu from Fushigi Yuugi
             Lyrics taken from The Memorial Hall of Translations with permission from the translator, Mina-P]

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