Editing KSGU:Volume 7 Chapter 1 (section)

===Part 4===

“…I have no intention of undermining Londo Bell’s independence. However, though you are an external organization, the fact still remains that you belong to the Federation’s space fleet, right? You have to listen to the order of the Senate chairman.”

Martha spoke as if she was a customer complaining about faulty goods. Her face, which was abnormally bewitching for her age, brought an overly intense flavor to the otherwise bland Captain’s room of the “Ra Cailum”. Bright Noa glanced aside to look at his impatient-looking First Officer Meran, “I have no objections to this order.” and showed a steeled face as he answered.

“The only thing about my personal doubt is regarding why is it that you, a civilian, had to be the one telling me this.”

“Did the Senate Council affirm this with you?”

“Yes. I’ve received notifications to assist the Vist Foundation’s request as much as possible.”

“Then, you have to follow orders. Londo Bell’s a flower without fruit amidst the tired forces in the chaos after the war. Your responsibility should be over once the space army’s reassembled. It should be your responsibility as the commander, Captain Bright, to assign new positions for your subordinates.”

“Oh.”

“If you’re willing to give assistance, I’ll naturally pay you back. Currently, I’ll use this battleship as a test ship for the UC plan, since the backup machines “Jestas” are gathered here as well….as for what kind of future this will bring upon Londo Bell, I suppose you’ll understand.”

Martha continued to sit comfortably on the reception sofa as she raised her foot triumphantly again. “Do you understand?” Bright showed no emotion on his face as he tossed this question to Meran, who answered, “I don’t.” Once he heard his First Officer’s confident reply, Bright felt a sense of satisfaction as he looked at Martha, whose hands on the armrests tensed up as she showed some hastiness in her eyes.

“…You’re really an old fox. I heard from others that you’re a blockhead who doesn’t understand about the affairs of the world. I suppose those useless subordinates of mine were completely fooled.”

Bright had no intention of denying or admitting this. Martha stared at this tight-lipped man for several seconds before sighing, and said, “Anyway, please listen to our side’s instructions.” before turning away immediately.

“Let me tell you this beforehand, it’s useless to hope for Chairman Ronan’s authority. Things were settled without you knowing, Captain.”

''I don’t have to answer you regarding what you don’t know.'' She conveyed this message silently, frowned, gave a chilling glance, and turned her body, dressed in a violet suit around as she left the Captain’s room. Bright immediately relaxed the strength in his shoulders, and Meran realized the sigh he kept within for a long time.

“Good grief…that devil’s just like how she’s described.”

“But she’s anxious. That “Gundam” pilot has been keeping quiet whenever he was asked about information regarding the “Box”.”

''Banagher Links, was it?'' Bright recalled the face of the boy who was ostensibly the “Gundam” pilot, and released his uniform collar. “What do we do?” Meran asked a meaningful question.

“It seems that her words about Chairman Ronan being controlled aren’t just a bluff. If the news about the Dakar incident and the “Box” are revealed, the Senate Council that had been assisting the Vist Foundation all this time won’t be able to stand up. The financial world is better than the political world in terms of manipulating the media.”

“If things may end up causing a scandal that involves the entire army, the aides supporting the Senate Council can only shut up…is this what you mean?”

“Yes. The Dakar Incident gave the Foundation an unexpected excuse. It doesn’t seem like that mobile suit, the “Banshee” was calibrated, but they brought it along too.”

He got up from the sofa and switched the monitor panel behind the office table to the external surveillance. At this point, the “Ra Cailum” was docked 20km away offshore from Dakar, and one could still see the trails of dust remaining on the horizon. After two days of confirmation, the number of definite casualties had risen to more than 40,000, and this number continued to increase bit by bit even at this point. The shadows flying about the city were most probably the firefighters and the media. it was said that the relief squads had already deployed helicopters equipped with heat sensors from all over the world, just to find survivors buried under the rubble.

The same situation goes for the inside of the ship, as there was no time to rest. After confirming the casualties, sending in relief aid and doing all sorts of assistance, everyone realized that two days of work had just passed by. However, these seemed to have nothing to do with Martha. It was fine if it was just letting a mobile suit dock with the active squad, but she insisted that the ship was to follow her orders, and Bright gave an absolutely correct answer, saying that “The law never specified that we can move a government’s properly for private purposes”. She came to the Captain’s room to voice her misgivings, leading to the commotion from before. Since Ronan was exercising his authority as the vice-chairman of the Senate, Martha overruled this by using her authority as the Senate chairman, and he ended up being involved in this childish fight over power he inadvertently got involved in. At the rate this situation continued, perhaps one side would probably use the name of the prime minister?

“The Foundation and the Settlement Issues Council is having a tug-of-war with the Senate Council as the stage…what is that “Laplace Box”, for them to go to this extent?”

All the abnormalities started from that point. “I don’t know.” Bright rubbed his eyes and said as he turned to Meran.

“It seemed that the “Nahel Argama” was chasing the “Box” before the job got handed to us, but…”

“We can’t make contact with them? If they can testify against the ploys by the Foundation and the Senate Council, we may be able to turn the wills of those supporting the Council.”

“That’s a little difficult. The “Nahel Argama” is controlled directly by the Senate Council, and they’re banned from contacting their original regiment. If we resist the order, the command of Londo Bell may be moved by the Senate Council. It’s frustrating, but the fact remains that the space army wants Londo bell dissolved.”

It was just like what Martha pointed out. Londo Bell was a flower without fruit in the organization called the military, fatigued by the internal conflicts after the war—this temporary squad that was built to prevent Neo Zeon from rising again suddenly had a very heavy outsider flair. At this point, when the space army realignment plan was ready, many aides felt endangered by the massive discretionary power Londo Bell was granted.  If there was a slight misstep, they would definitely use this chance to raise a large purge. “Besides, it’s not interesting to have the Foundation and the Council fight it out themselves.” Bright continued and sat back on the chair. He clasped his hands and continued to let his thumbs touch as he asked himself, ''What shall I do?''

“…Looks like we can only work on our own?”

''The answer was already out. Well, I‘ve been living this kind of life all this while.'' Bright closed his eyes, let out a soft sigh, “Meran”, and lifted his determined face.

“Contact the ''Luio Chamber of Commerce. Don’t use the basic wireless in the ship; send a private mail to them.”

“The Luio Chamber of Commerce, as in the company based in New Hong Kong…?”

“That’s considered a top-notch company on earth, but it does deal with all sorts of business behind the scenes. There’s someone we can contact. Send the message to the media relations branch, and mark the recipient as “Hayato Kobayashi of the Audhumla”.”

Meran frowned for a short moment, but answered, “I’ll prepare the document” and stamped his heels together; however, he showed a relieved look on his face because there was a decision made. ''First, we will have to obtain the correct information, or we won’t be able to think of a plan to escape this ugly political battle. There’s no option of bowing to authority here.'' Bright, lost in his thoughts, absent-mindedly stepped into a little ditch—and once Meran left the room, he slumped into his chair and put his eyes upon a deceased’s portrait.

“Don’t you dare laugh!”

Commander Amuro Ray’s photo did not say anything as it showed what looked like a wry smile back at him.