Editing KSGU:Volume 10 Chapter 3 (section)

===Part 27===

“Colony laser…!?”

The voice inadvertently leaked out, bouncing off the tall ceiling. Mineva went limp as she drifted in zero gravity. ''“This intel is correct.”’’ She heard Zimmerman’s voice.

‘‘“Ensign Riddhe informed us of it. ECOAS is currently headed towards you. Please evacuate from there immediately. The “Magallanica” will definitely be hit given its size.”’’

The voice over the wireless was extremely clear. There was a powerful comms facility at the bow of the “Magallanica”, next to the command block, capable of broadcasting to the entire Earth Celestial Sphere. Codes had been inputted into the various satellites, and signals were starting to show, the progress shown at this point was close to 60%. If the system started when the “Magallanica” moved, there’s probably about 30 minutes until all the satellites were remotely controlled. The comms with the “Nahel Argama” indicated that the military wireless comms were hijacked, yet the worst news was heard. Mineva drifted away from the panel, her eyes looking around the room the size of a small concert hall.

There was a round stage in the middle of the dome, a podium of the same make as the Prime Minister Residence “Laplace”. The sight of the podium being lit by spotlights resembled a concert stage, but seats were not placed around her, just many monitors and control panels with flashing lights, along with dome cameras placed at intervals. Right when the system was activated, this place would become a studio linking to the entire world. This place would become a real fortress exerting control over thousands of satellites, over all the broadcast waves, to be conveyed to 12 billion people.
 
if they lose this place, they would lose the chance to shout out to the entire world. The thoughts entrusted into this “Laplace Box”, along with the thoughts of those who lived a hundred years waiting to entrust it; it would all be for naught. Mineva looked up at the lit podium, holding firmly the headphones as she hissed, “When’s ECOAS expected to arrive?” Zimmerman answered, “They left the revolving residential block. Another 5 minutes at most.”

“Please wait…another 30 minutes. Once the system is activated, we can reveal the Truth of the “Box” to the entire world. If we inform the media under the Federation’s control, it will overwhelm them. Just a minute more ─”

‘‘“We don’t have the time. Please move away, and head to the stern.”’’

“We need to collect the stone tablet. The original Universal Century is still in the cryo. We can’t lose it..”

''“Princess, the colony laser might have been fired at this point.”’’

The affirmative tone cut her off, and she could not refute. Her numb body shook as she drifted in zero gravity again. ''“It’s over.”’’ Zimmerman’s heavy voice rang again.

''“I think you know very well, Princess. Marida allowed us the chance to know about this. For her sake, we can’t lose your life, Princess.”’’

“Zimmerman…”

‘‘“As long as we live, there will always be a next time. Please…”’’

Zimmerman eked a voice of bitterness that was obvious even over the wireless. No matter how he tried, the situation was beyond his grasp, and he had no time to accept this illogical turn of events. His voice was so heavy, for he was well acquainted with defeat, and the excuse to escape mercilessly rang through his heart and soul. ''The next chance will never come. You know that best, do you not?’’ The rebuttal melted in Mineva’s mouth as she stared blankly at the monitors depicting the inside and outside of the ship. One of the surveillance cameras showed a tank mode “Loto” heading straight forth.

It probably was Conroy and the others who were headed towards her. They did not know when the colony laser would be fired, but they were risking their lives to save her. It was not the first time this would happen, for Mineva herself had experienced this countless times. The soldiers of Zeron willingly became pawns to allow her to escape, to survive. After witnessing every sacrifice, Mineva knew her life did not belong to herself. She had to survive even if she had to grovel, for it was her duty as part of the Zabi bloodline. The life of Mineva Lao Zabi was filled with such reasons to convince herself, to ease the tragedies of having to run away all this time.

Perhaps her life as Audrey Burne was the first time she escaped from the cage that was her heart. “Tell me when you need me.” What Banagher said was also what she wanted to tell herself. She did not need to be the heir to the Zabis, but to be herself. “à mon seul désir”. This was once in the hands of the person known as Audrey..

And then, she would lose everything. She had to protect the life that did not belong to her. The days of returning to her soul prison loomed. ''It is over.’’ Mineva muttered in her heart as she looked at the podium that seemed very distant. ''“Right, Audrey, get away from there.”’’ A familiar voice rang through the wireless.
 
‘‘“I’ll protect the “Laplace Box”. I’ll do it!”’’

Mineva’s eyes looked back at the panel, up at the monitors. A phosphorus light glided by in an instant, and Mineva stared at all the external footage. The “Unicorn Gundam” passed the bow of the “Magallanica”, went towards the revolving residential block, and blared its thrusters as it slowed down. The white humanoid drifted in space, devoid of weapons and shield as it floated next to the “Magallanica”.

“Banagher……”

Its eyes cast aside the despair that once was, giving off a faint light. The humanoid encompassed in phosphorus resembled Banagher himself, and Mineva sensed uneasiness from nowhere.