shiningboxofjustice | PSL Post - Athrun Zala and Asuna Yuuki

[After the Second Bloody Valentine War, the Republic of East Asia's military lie in ruins. It was in a vulnerable position, especially being sandwiched in between the Eurasian Federation and the Atlantic Federation, who might try to coerce them into helping them lick their wounds.

To that end, the Republic of East Asia petitioned the power blocs that either remained neutral or sided with PLANT, as well as PLANT and the Orb Union, for assistance, and Cagalli accepted their petition without any delay. If they were going to build a world of peace, Orb would need to improve its ties with other power blocs.

Athrun was chosen as the military leader of the Orb relief delegation. After meeting with the Republic's political and military leaders, he finds himself stationed at the old American military base in Okinawa. He's expected to work with the wing of mobile suit pilots stationed there...though for now, mobile suits are few and far between, with only one Windam, three Daggers, and even only a handful of Strike Daggers remaining.

As this is Athrun we're talking about, he's out and about among the pilots. He wants to actually get to know them on a personal level.]

[The Windam's pilot is the local ace. She's a Natural, of course, but she started piloting between the last conflict, and became known for her skill in melee combat. The Mobile Suit is customized, not only with white and dark red ace colors, but with a Striker Pack that includes a large beam sword and extra mobility thrusters. In the last war, Asuna Yuuki made a small name herself as the Lightning Flash, a young ace who defied Federation expectations.]

[Of course, she was also largely stationed in the Republic of East Asia itself. Right now, she's outside her Windam, looking up at it while a few repairs are being run on it, arms akimbo.]

[That assistance from Orb is supposed to be here, but she's distracted by her suit at the moment.]

Hello?

[It was only a matter of time before Athrun explored the hangar. And the first thing he encountered was a girl, no older than he, watching a mobile suit as repairs were being made.]

Your machine, I presume?

[Asuna turned, her head tilting to the side, as she looked at Athrun. It took her a second -- and then she realized this was Athrun Zala, one of the famed aces of the war, the son of the late Patrick Zala. Her mouth opens and closes; the starstruckness lasts very briefly, before she nods.]

Right--yes. This is my Windam. The Windam Fleuret, they're calling it.

[Then she adds, more hesitantly:]

You're, ah. I... didn't realize Orb would send someone so famous, when we asked.

[Athrun waits for her to finish. He had been expecting a certain amount of that kind of reaction when he was assigned to this.]

The five ruling families wanted to emphasize Orb's commitment to building a peaceful world. Chief Representative Athha felt the best way to do that would be to send a war hero in charge of the aid package.

[One of the few circumstances in which Athrun will ever refer to himself as a hero in any capacity.]

Windam Fleuret, eh? I had been told there was an ace at this base, but I wasn't necessarily expecting a custom unit.

[And it wasn't his first time seeing one, either. Briefly, the image of a different custom Windam appeared before Athrun's mind's eye before he forcibly shut it out.]

It's not a real custom unit, to be honest. They used the Jet Striker Pack, but reduced the wing span some, and added the beam sword... but it's otherwise a normal Windam.

[She's underselling herself. It's a strategy she took to doing; people liked to talk about how the Lightning Flash was just as good as a Coordinator. Proof that Naturals could match them, some of them said.]

It makes sense. What do you think of our base? I know it's... not much, to be honest.

[Athrun doesn't comment on that. He does, however, notice what she's doing. It sounds like an ace custom to him, too.]

It still serves its purpose, especially for a base set up so long ago. The adjustment to mobile suits looks to have been made quite smoothly. And it's Okinawa, so atmosphere and morale are easy to handle.

We had to get used to it quickly, over the last two wars. I didn't fight in the first, but by the second...

[She nods. Of course, those wars were against PLANT. It's a little awkward; she clams up briefly, there, before she looks at him.]

Our biggest problem is manpower, as you can see.

[Athrun nods. At least he knows why Asuna trailed off there.]

I expected as much. From what I recall, Chairman Durandal took a page out of Captain Sutherland's book in the assault on Heaven's Base.

[The tone of Athrun's voice does not sound at all content. He hated LOGOS as much as anybody for all of the lives they sacrificed, but sacrificing lives even further just to take them out...]

Anyway, that's why I'm here. With us around, not even the Atlantic Federation will make a move in the western Pacific.

That's a mercy. I've heard they've made noises already. Though...

[She looks down and shakes her head.]

Some people in the Republic agree with them, Admiral Zala. [Oh yes, she's using ranks. He may not be in the same army, but he does outrank her. Or would if they were.] That could be a problem. It's... complicated, by that.

I know.

[Athrun's briefing had been thorough. In addition, he spent his entire time flying to Okinawa browsing relevant files. He had hoped that most of them would have learned their lesson from Heaven's Base, but some people are just slow learners.]

Our hope is to sway public opinion in Orb's direction. We may not be perfect, but I think that the world needs an example of a society in which Naturals and Coordinators can live in harmony with each other. And until the Atlantic Federation changes its position on Coordinators, they can't be trusted to lead -- yet again.

[She nods. It's a nice idea; she doesn't know if people will believe it, but... if anyone can show them, it's the people who stopped two of these wars.]

I agree with that. Hopefully we'll show them. Of course... we have to start small, I suppose.

[She looks up at her Windam.]

Where do we start?

[That gets a look from Athrun. With the purpose or the machine?]

Start on what? Because I can see two things.

Getting our military forces up to shape. The rest... well, that's what it takes, right? Showing that Orb is here to help.

Ah, yes. Then I'd say that, for the first step, how about you give me your name? You have mine, but you have yet to introduce yourself to me.

Ah--ah, sorry!

[She looks embarrassed and laughs. She's not always a serious girl, it seems.]

Lieutenant Commander Asuna Yuuki, at your service.

No problem. And it's nice to meet you, Asuna. It's good to see a pilot who wants to talk about these sorts of things -- most of the others here have been too intimidated by me to talk for long.

Well... you are famous. I can't say I blame them.

Sure, but it's not the best for getting anything done. That sort of thing is always more trouble than it's worth.

[He's remembering his time spent aboard the Minerva now.

We haven't seen many of the really famous aces out here. I think that's a lot of it.

That would make sense. I still hope it'll clear up quickly, though. Like I said, it doesn't help when it comes to getting things done.

I can imagine.

[There's a small smile there, before she nods.]

What else would you change?

I'm hoping we can provide more opportunities for Naturals and Coordinators to work alongside one another. We need to show both sides that the opposite side is just as human as they are, and interaction is the best way we have of doing that.

[A thoughtful look crosses Asuna's face, while she looks up at the Windam Fleuret. She nods, then, and looks sideways at him.]

I'll do the best I can to help there, Admiral. I'd... like to see people change their minds.

[Even if part of her reputation is built on being a Natural who was an ace pilot.]

Thank you. I appreciate it. That goal is something which will require all of the help we can get. Changing people's minds may take time, but it's still worth it if it takes fifty years or five years to do.

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