2023-09-10: Cage (Epilogue): The End Of Gundam
- Cutscene: Cage (Epilogue): The End of Gundam
- Cast: Monaghan Bakharov, Mineva Lao Zabi, Rajan Zahi, Wong Lee, Melanie Hue Carbine, Kenanji Avery
- Where: Magallanica, Zum City, Anaheim City, Benerit Group HQ
- Date: 0097 UC 09-10
- Summary: The end of a Narrative. For as much as these stories rhyme, some things do come to an end.
"What were you thinking? Contacting the Sleeves to intervene at Metis. 'Encouraging' them to utilize a mobile armor like that one. You should have well understood the escalation would have far reaching consequences." Mineva spoke with a steady, but harsh tone to the man on screen, as she sat within the heart of Magallanica.
"Nothing slips by you. The gift that Syam Vist gave you has already served you well, hasn't it, your Highness?" Replied the Republic of Zeon's Minister of Foreign Affairs within his own office, in his immaculate grey business suit, and perfectly coiffed and slicked back hair as he spoke in his own neutral, businesslike kind of way. "But you think too highly of my prophetic capabilities. The chaos at Denver Colony was never what I intended." And yet, does he say what he intended? Certainly not, "Now with the destruction of the General Revil and the disappearance of so much Psycho-frame material, the eyes of the Federation are squarely upon Magallanica, thanks to your own efforts to control the narrative. Do not think me ungrateful, now Side 3 will be shielded from any reprisal."
He did smile at that moment, "Ever have I attempted to avoid the outbreak of open conflict, and now with Singularity One, Two, and the Gaia Gear Alpha in our airspace - the Federation will be hesitant to allow things to deteriorate into open aggression."
"So all of this political maneuvering has been to prevent a war?" Mineva asked evenly, her expression thoroughly unimpressed. Monaghan Bakharov in turn, raised his arms and began to bow to her, "I do so swear, ever do I remain your loyal servant, High-"
"Very well." Mineva said shortly as she cut him off mid-sentence, as the feed showing her face disappeared. Utterly unwilling to entertain his display of false loyalty after what just happened at Denver.
The man on the other side of the feed raised his shoulders, as if in a shrug. His office thoroughly sparse with expected political decor, the only truly personal touch, a portrait of his father, Darcia. "I'm certain she isn't the type to sit idly by. Make sure you keep an eye on the Three Ships Alliance. ... And Cathedra as well for that matter, given their dealings with them. It might just be that letting them do as they please, that they solve several problems for us." His secretary in the room adjusted her glasses and asked after the moment, "Shall we contact Doctor Kafim as well?"
There was a momentary pause, and then-
"No. Let others take the bait." Leaning against his desk he crossed up a leg and lit up a cigarette with an expert flick of a lighter, "Ah, to wed such a reckless woman. She has my sympathies." He said as he took a puff and blew a smoke ring, "We have similar problems in our own 'little family' after all."
His eyes raised, in that moment... thinking perhaps of the wayward Zoltan Akkanen.
-=-=-
"You have placed us in a difficult position, Highness." Rajan Zahi stated after a moment, "By all accounts, it was a member of the Three Ships Alliance, Renalle Kan Zeitun, who was responsible for the incident."
On the other end of the line, Mineva tried her best to respond to it, but she too understood how delicate a situation this was. "And it was a member of the Earth Federation Forces who placed her in that position before that - and the maneuvering of the Sleeves that set that up to occur - and Anaheim Electronics for their Psycho-frame experiments to begin with."
Rajan Zahi rubbed the bridge of his nose, "All the same, such nuance will be lost on the Assembly. They want someone to blame, and the easiest target will be you and yours. Their actions may make it difficult to honor our arrangements with you."
Mineva's fingertips tapped the console for a time, then closing her eyes, she allowed a quiet sigh, "Then let us discuss how we might allay their fears. If they wish for somewhere to place the blame, then let us offer them a target we can all agree upon."
"And what target might that be, Highness?"
Not the Sleeves, nor the Earth Federation Forces, nor Anaheim Electronics. Not truly. The common, unifying factor. The temptation of an edge in conflict and war. Mineva thought upon it for a time, then spoke her conclusion.
"Unchecked Psycho-Frame research."
-=-=-
A meeting between Anaheim Executives always tends to be a who's who of the rich and powerful. Wong Lee was hardly an exception, a Senior Executive now, he'd earned his way to the top through his political maneuvering during Gryps that allowed Anaheim to seize considerable political power with the AEUG.
Right now he was speaking to the other executives over a haze of cigar smoke in their board room on the moon.
"The scandal will affect our earnings share for a time but it remains no true threat to our bottom line. We've already made arrangements with Majority Leader Copeland that will set back the Benerit Group's investigation for years with the Assembly oversight they've suggested-"
He's interrupted as the boardroom doors suddenly burst open, uniformed men in helmets and wielding assault rifles rushing in to secure the room and encircle the table. And last of all was a portly man who raised a hand, "Hey Wong! Long time! Looks like you haven't aged a day since last I saw you!" Melanie Hue Carbine gave Wong Lee a look, as the other man growled, "Avery." Kenanji flashed him a grin, "That's Commander Kenanji Avery of the Dominicus Corps to you."
Melanie Hue Carbine rose from his seat, having to brace himself upon the table as all the other executives looked to him to assert control, "What is the MEANING of this? We've cooperated with your investigation to the fullest extent of the law-" Avery blithely replied to Anaheim's CEO and his indignation, causing his protests to die, "By stonewalling us, miring us in legal red tape and oversight with your friends in the NIA. I know! The thing is, that all came to an end today. The Assembly had a closed door session on the matter of Denver Colony, and a wild vote-a-rama surrounding our statutory suggestions. Funny how fast things move when folks are scared."
Reaching into a pocket of his uniform, he pulled out some papers, "This is one of their resolutions." As he tossed it across the table to Wong. "Which hasn't yet gone public. Effectively immediately, Anaheim Electronics is to become a subsidiary of the Benerit Group, and all assets related to Psycommu or Psycho-frame manufacturing now belong to Grassley Defense systems. This government mandated acquisition is to be overseen by Cathedra, including all executive and management communications in order to ensure compliance. ... I've attached a copy of our security plan."
As Wong read it over while he talked his hand slammed the table in disbelief, "This is absurd!" And Avery just sounded jovial, "I know! Isn't it? Absurd." And all of a sudden that affable demeanor just faded into something more serious, "Like sealing away twenty eight kids' souls in Psycho-frame just to see what happens. Then covering it up." Which escalated into a deadly calm, "Well what happens is they blew up the Federation Flagship, with a Psycho-Field. What happens is they tried to do much worse than that to the Earth. And what happens is you terrified some of the most powerful people in the Federation with a vision of what our future could look like enough for them to all get together and do something about it."
Stepping up to Wong Lee, he raised a hand to pat his cheek in condescension, "Which means you, and everything you've built? Belong to us." Meeting his eyes, he lowered his voice, and said quietly to the face of Wong Lee's silent outrage, "Been looking forward to this day ever since you decided to take the legacy of Gundam your own, and spit in the eye of aging Witch Hunters like me."
Lowering his hand away from his face, there was something tired in his words, the exhaustion of an old soldier and the weight he carried, but also... triumphant.
"Now? It ends."