Time passes.

More than a month has passed since the impact of the Uneus.

Aslan, who had just received an urgent message from PLANT, finally returned to his homeland after several years of absence and stood in front of the door of the Ministry of Defense again after arranging everything for DDSD.

Aslan, wearing brown sunglasses, stood silently at the door of the Ministry of Defense for a moment with a suitcase in his left hand, and finally stepped through the door again, just as he had been a red-clad elite at ZAFT a few years ago.

What Aslan didn't expect was that there were already people waiting here behind the gates of the Ministry of Defense, waiting for his arrival.

"Aslan. Long time no see! Nigel Amalfi, who was a former short-haired boy with long hair and a long ponytail tied up behind his head, and Nicol Amalfi, who is also a close friend, is greeting Aslan who has returned to PLANT with the same smiling face as ever.

"Nigaul?!" Aslan couldn't help but be stunned when he saw Nigaul appear in the Ministry of Defense. Immediately coming back to his senses, he saw that Nigaul was wearing a white military uniform of ZAFT. "Nigaul, you're back at ZAFT?"

Although Aslan has been in DDSD for several years, he has also maintained correspondence with Nigaul. He knew that Nigaul, who loved music, was not the kind of belligerent man. The reason why he joined the army in the first place was because of the tragedy of Junius 7 and the call to defend his homeland. Therefore, after the war, Nigaul also retired with Aslan.

It's just that how could Nigaul, who should have been a pianist, join ZAFT again, and change into a white coat and become the captain?

Nigel, who had expected this, smiled lightly and said calmly, "Aslan. This is my personal wish. It's nothing to do with anyone else. So, don't worry! ”

"Really?" Aslan frowned, eventually giving up on the idea of asking Nigaul to return to the ZAFT.

"Yes." Nigaul nodded, then turned sideways, raised his hand towards the Ministry of Defense, and said, "Come." The Speaker is already waiting for you. ”

Under Nigaul's reminder, Aslan finally remembered why he was called back to PLANT in DDSD.

"Speaker, why the hell did Speaker Dilandall call me back?" Walking down the aisle, Aslan asked the question softly.

Nigaul lowered his eyes and thought about it, then shook his head, indicating that he didn't know either.

"I don't know."

But then, after a quick glance of Nigaul's eyes swept around, as if after confirming the situation around him, he lowered his voice and said:

"It's just my personal speculation. Junius Impact, you should know, right? I heard Yitzhak say that you were there at the time. ”

Aslan nodded, and motioned with his eyes for Nigaul to continue.

"As a result of the impact of Junius, the Earth has been surrounded by an aurora-like optical phenomenon. Although this has not had any impact on human space activities, due to the mysterious nature of optical phenomena, neutral camps such as Union, PLANT, and Orb have been trying to unravel the mystery. ”

Listening to Nigaul's words, Aslan was puzzled. Although before that, he had witnessed the whole process of the impact of Junius up close. "What does this mean?"

Nigaul nodded. Continue to keep your voice down.

"Not long ago, aurora-like phenomena on Earth showed signs of decline. This has made the countries that remain in low-Earth orbit to conduct research nervous. According to some accounts, it seems that the more powerful countries are already in the stage of breakthrough. ”

"Recession?" Aslan was keenly aware of the key. If his guess was correct, perhaps the reason why Dilandal called him back had already been revealed.

Next, Nigaul stopped talking, and Aslan didn't ask any further. The two of them tacitly assumed a businesslike appearance, and walked through the corridor one after the other, standing in front of Speaker Dilandal's office.

As the door opened, Aslan also saw the slight changes in the interior of the office, but there was a faint familiar furnishings.

"Captain Nigaul, thank you for your hard work. The conversation may take a while, so please take a break! ”

Dilandal stood up from his chair and nodded to Nigaul.

"Yes. Then, Speaker, I'll come back to Aslan Sarah later. Nigaul saluted Dirandal in a tall posture and then simply turned and left the Speaker's office.

After Nigaul left, Dilandal stepped forward, walked around the desk, came to Aslan, and enthusiastically stretched out his right hand and said, "Long time no see!" Aslan Sarah. The last time we saw each other was after the First World War! ”

Aslan glanced at Dirandal's outstretched right hand and held it together. "Long time no see! Your Excellency the Speaker. ”

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Durandal beckoned Aslan to sit down. Immediately afterward, Dilandal did not create too much of a topic on his weak friendship with Aslan, but instead spread the topic out in a straightforward manner.

"Aslan, can I call you that?" Dilandal's opening remarks were so.

Aslan nodded, indicating no objection.

After getting Aslan's permission, a friendly smile appeared on the corner of Dilandah's mouth.

"Aslan, I'm sorry. Originally, I knew that you had no intention of fighting on the battlefield, and devoted the rest of your life to the great cause of exploring the universe wholeheartedly. There is no doubt that this is a great and magnificent ideal. ”

Dilandal's smile faded into a solemn one.

"However, the situation is now faintly beyond my grasp. So, after weighing it up again, I can only call you back. ”

"Situation?" Aslan pondered for a moment, and immediately remembered the news that Nigaul had just revealed to him.

Looking at Aslan, who was lost in thought, Dirandal had no doubt about him. In his opinion, DDSD, which has countless ties with various countries, will naturally have its own intelligence channels. What's more, the next thing he has to say is more related to DDSD.

"Yes. Situation. Dilandal raised his hand and pressed a button on the table, and a picture was projected onto the huge wall behind the desk. As soon as he saw that picture, Aslan immediately blurted out a name.

"Junius Impact!!"

"Yes. Junius Impact. Aslan. The reason I had to call you back from DDSD is because of it. Dirandal nodded, and said everything he knew with a serious expression.

"I'm sure you should have noticed something when you were DDSD. Now the "shock" that surrounds the earth has gradually faded. Neither the Union, nor neutral countries such as Orb, nor PLANT were caught off guard by the decline of the "shock". Since the onset of the shock, the vast majority of countries in a position to do so have begun to investigate this mysterious phenomenon. ”

Before he could speak, Durandal was interrupted by Aslan.

"Presumably PLANT already has a direction for a breakthrough?"

Dilandar smiled and shook his head helplessly, "How is it possible? No matter how much our country studies the impact today, it will not be able to debunk this veil of mystery in just one month. After all, it was the "power of God". ”

"Gods?" This is the eighth time Aslan has heard this title. Before his return, DDSD, a technology organization at the forefront of scientific research, had privately described the aurora-like phenomenon left behind by the Uneuus impact.

"Yes. God. Dilandal pressed the button on the desktop again, switching to a different moment.

Aslan looked closely and found that it was the video of the events that had taken place on the Junius 7 at that time. Judging by the footage on the screen, it should have been a few minutes before the impact of Junius.

"I can't explain from any scientific point of view other than the gods that hundreds of thousands of tons, or even nearly 100 tons, of the wreckage can be pushed out of the Earth's gravitational circle with a single force, and the wreckage of Junius 7 that broke into two pieces and flew towards the depths of the void."

Speaking of this, Dilandal seemed to smile a little frustratedly.

If this cannot be called a "god", then what else can be called a god in this world? ”

Aslan, shocked by the frustration shown by Dirandal, couldn't believe his eyes. Although he did not have much contact with Durandal, his impression of Durandal was that he was an excellent man who was able to maintain his sanity and calmness no matter what the situation was.

However, today's unbearable performance shocked Aslan.

"Huh." Dylandal smiled unabashedly, quickly collected his emotions and admitted his faux pas. "It's rude. Aslan. ”

Aslan shook his head, indicating that he didn't care.

"So, Speaker. What do you want me to do? To collect the power left behind by the gods? ”

Dilandar shook his head, looked up into Aslan's eyes, and said in a deep voice:

"Aslan Sarah. If you had divine power, how would you use it? ”

"Huh?"

"Didn't expect that?" Dirandal, who was still a little depressed, seemed to have changed to another person, becoming calm and rational, and even faintly seemed to be a demon seducing mortals.

"Aslan. Not only you, but I didn't expect it either. Before the impact of Junius, the world had remained relatively peaceful after the battle of Yakin-Duwey. But underneath the scenes, there are many dangers. Perhaps, on that day, the war will break out again. ”

Dirandal's gaze was clear and sincere, as if it wanted to penetrate Aslan's heart.

"Aslan, as a witness to the impact of Junius, you should know what kind of existence that force is. In the aftermath of the shock, the world, the vast majority of countries on the planet, reduced the intensity of the military conflict and began to seek the truth about the impact of Junius. ”

"Maybe you don't believe it. But the reality is that, because of the Uneuus Impact, even the Coalition, which is extremely hostile to our PLANT, has invited us to work together on the Uneuus Impact many times. What does this mean? Aslan, you know what? ”

Dilandal's words pierced Aslan's heart like a sharp needle, causing him to subconsciously say the words he thought of at the moment.

"Peace?!"

"And so peace has come?"

"Huh." Dirandal smiled. "Perhaps."

But then, Dilandal's words changed.

"What if the mysterious phenomenon left on Earth by the impact of Junius disappears?"

Aslan was stunned by this question, and Aslan, who was completely brought into the rhythm, subconsciously pondered the answer to this question. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration flashed across Aslan's mind. "That's to find Junius 7 flying into the void."

Looking at Aslan, who suddenly realized, Dilandar secretly showed a look of satisfaction.

"Yes. PLANT has made an agreement with the United and the neutral camp led by Orb. In a few days, humanity will assemble a combined fleet to catch up with the Junius 7 as it flies into the Void, and decipher the mysterious phenomena that still exist on it. ”

"Aslan Sarah. Would you like to join this mission? With ZAFT, no, even as a citizen of PLANT. ”

After a pause, Durandal added.

"In order not to let the power of the "gods" fall into the hands of the enemy. ”