Forever Zero : Chapter VI Update

Garret was greated with great fanfare upon his return to Earth, bringing victory and the promise of a renewed peace. His efforts were stopped short during the Arikale Treaty summit, however, when he was cut down by an assassin's bullet. Garret's murder, in the midst of his opening remarks, was broadcast across the entire Earth Sphere, sending a shock through millions of witnesses. In no time, a culprit came forward. Elements of the Mars colony government took credit for the attack, claiming it was warning to the ESUA for challenging their independence.

Lead by the radical Mars Independence Coalition, the Free Mars Confederacy has expressed its frustration with the ESUA's abuses in space. For years, the Earth has relied on Mars as a source of natural resources, especially for the manufacture of military equipment. Now, claiming that they will no longer allow themselves to be taken advantage of by outsiders, the Martian colonists have unveiled a secret army that is poised to challenge the battered UAAF. Composed of Xedearan drones, mecha, and clone soldiers, this high-tech force has been a startling surprise for the Earth. Just how the Martians acquired their technology is uncertain, as is how they managed to create so many war machines in mere months. Comparing themselves to the downtrodden space colonists of the Eve War, the Confederacy has, in the spirit of the Artemis Revolution, declared war on the rest of the Earth Sphere.

Now, citizens across the solar system are faced with a difficult decision. For many, the recent acts of the UAAF in suppressing the Arikales have left a bitter taste. Though they were the agressors, those soldiers were fighting for the equality of all people within the ESUA. However, despite the Martian attempt to make their bid for independence appear just, the Confederacy is also guilty of heinous acts. With the lines of war clearly drawn, it is up to each individual to choose a side. This choice, however, seems less like following the nobler path, and more like selecting the lesser of two evils.

Earth Sphere United Alliance - Chaos Beneath the Calm

The ESUA has attempted to put on the best possible face following the Martian declaration. Publically, it has not yet acknowledged that it and the Free Mars Confederacy are at war, referring to the matter as an "incident" that requires military attention. The government has tried its best to gloss over the truth, and keep the people under its juristiction calm. Of course, this is all a facade.

In actual fact, the ESUA is in complete turmoil. Members of the ruling council are fighting with UAAF officers over decisions and authority. Often, one hand has no idea what the other is up to, and this has lead to rampant mistrust between the elected and military officials. UAAF General Redburn has attempted to ease this tension by working in direct correspondance with Paige Holden, Minister of Foriegn Affairs. Yet, while he has been very open about many matters, others, such as the arrest of Intelligence Minister Allard, have gone unmentioned. It is clear that there is another agenda at work within the UAAF. Given the Earth Sphere's history of military corruption, this does not bode well.

Despite these problems, the ESUA is doing its best to respond to the Martian threat. Given the size of the Confederacy's army, the conflict to come will make the Arikale uprising look like a skirmish. Factor in the damage that the UAAF has suffered from the rebellion, along with the losses it is still feeling from the Xedearan Invasion, and a very grim picture is left. On top of all this, there are still rampant problems in the Xedearan Control Zones, where frustrated alien residents continue to protest their treatment. Though the Earth's rulers are confident that peace will finally return once the Mars situation is resolved, many people aren't holding their breath. It's more likely that, if the ESUA survives, it will be standing on the brink of total collapse.

Free Mars Confederacy - Freedom at Any Cost

Since the Swarm's appearence in AC 235 devestated much of the Earth, the planet has depended on outside resources to fuel both its industrial and military machine. As the mineral-rich MO asteroid stations began to dry up, Mars, Earth's closest planetary neighbor, was groomed as their replacement. The vast, unexplored frontier opened up a bountiful harvest of raw materials, and the growing ESUA was ready to take advantage of every bit of it. Unfortunately, it forgot about the people, and the lessons of the past.

A full generation of Mars colonists have watched the bounty of their land serve the interests of an outsiders. In return, all the ESUA had provided them with inept colonial overseers and petty wannabe-nobles who have abused their authority. Having come to Mars to escape such conditions, they first replied by claiming independence during the Xedearan Invasion. Now they solidify their position with a declaration of war.

The Mars settlers are a proud people, and are whole-heartedly behind challenging the ESUA and its military machine. They no longer see themselves as colonists, but the people of a growing world nation. The sentiment is not limited to long-time residents and their families, but also to the hundreds of thousands of refugees that have flooded in since the Xedearan Invasion. The result is a massive powerbase for the Mars Independence Coalition, which effectively orchestrates the course of the Confederacy's joint council. Acting as the spokesperson for this political party is none other than former Union Blade Anton Lucitonis, or at least a man who claims to be him. Desmond Crane, infamous supporter of Heimdal, has made the same declaration.

Mars' massive Xedearan forces form the backbone of their military efforts. With the help of alien technology, the Confederacy has manufactured an army that grows with each passing day. This undertaking has not been without problems, however. While its mecha and drone forces are staggering, Mars still does not have the fleet resources to take them anywhere off-planet. The Confederacy's armada consists primarily of older merchant transport vessels, freighters, and salvaged UAAF battleships. This means that most battles will be fought on the ground. In an effort to spare Mars great damage, and to press their point, the Confederacy is toying with the idea of taking the fight to Earth. No matter what happens, the end result will be the same; another bloody and unforgiving chapter in human history.

Daowynt Colony Cluster - Caught in the Middle

The Mars declaration has stirred up a hornet's nest of activity on these normally peaceful colonies. For refusing to help the Confederacy, Artur Daowynt's fiefdom has been labeled an enemy of Mars, a somewhat hypocritical gesture on the surface. In reality, this was a calculated move by Lucitonis, who has his eyes on the destructive Tumbler Bolt tactical warheads that Daowynt refuses to give up. The Martian military believes that, if it can get control of these weapons, it can use them to force a compromise with the Earth, or at least do a lot of damage to the UAAF.

The plot is not lost on Daowynt, who's of two minds about the conflict, even if he doesn't realize it himself. On the surface, he is shocked by Mars' anger, especially when he was one of the few rulers to recognize their independence. He will not allow the Confederacy to intimidate him, however, and has called together his militia, Syrian Guard, and a number of Templar orders to defend his holdings. Subconsciously, old Artur is experiencing a nervous excitement. An armed conflict like this gives him the chance to show the Earth Sphere that he is not an armchair general of toy soldiers. It is unlikely, though, that he would allow such feelings to cloud his judgement once things get into full swing. His forces are bracing for a siege, knowing that cannot count on the ESUA for help as they face this technologically superior enemy.

Arikale Colony - Divided We Stand

Following Ananais' surrender, the entire colony power structure was thrown into disorder. Many of the Arikale holdings have fallen under direct control of the ESUA, which has been slow to act on its victory. Though the Earth government has confiscated the massive Fatima Isle industrial complex, it has held back on other Arikale holdings. Not wanting to make an enemy of the population, or to repeat the mistakes they made with Mars, the ESUA council has given the colony conditional state status. Unfortunately, the Arikales don't know what to do with it. For the most part, they are allowed to rule themselves, though under the guidance of a military overseer. Efforts are being made to slowly integrate the Arikales into Earth society, but the colony's atmosphere is still more like that of a Xedearan Control Zone than an ESUA state.

These conditions have prompted some of the Arikale colony residents, especially former soldiers, to strike out on their own. Ananais Arikale has become weak and melancoly, withdrawing from the public eye since the treaty summit. There are rumblings that a second rebellion, possibly lead by Savat or Seon Arikale, may arrise to drive out the ESUA. However, given the deep splintering of the Arikale assets, along with the divided views over the colony leadership, this seems unlikely. Still, if they were able to get their act together, the Arikales, or at least their former military force, could tip the scale for either side of the ESUA-Martian war.

The Cult of the Iris - Scripting the Scene

The Cult of the Iris continues to work on the sidelines of the entire Earth Sphere political scheme, manipulating events to their liking. The organization is secretly responsible for the current ESUA-Martian conflict. For starters, the Mars Independence Coalition is merely a front for its agents to provoke the planet's leaders. In addition, they are the source of the Xedearan technology that the Confederacy now enjoys, providing it through their Swarm masters. The rationale for these actions remains unknown, even to many members of the cult. However, all of their actions come with similar order: to observe and record all of the reactionary data from their different projects.

Though the cult began as a shadowy player in events, their role is gradually being uncovered. Driven by revenge against the Iris members, Heather and Nathan Carver have uncovered evidence of one of the group's long-time projects: the gathering of human genetic material from donors across the Earth Sphere. Originally believing that this harvested DNA was to facilitate the creation of psilver "simulated human" agents, the Carvers now believe that it is tied to a more intricate plan. Meanwhile, industrialist Julia Valeheart has stumbled upon another Iris plot, having discovered that the core of the London Corporation's famed I-field motion system is really a dormant psilver creature. Given the wide use of I-field mobile suit drives, this revelation paves the way for a number of potentially horrific scenarios.

The cult also has has its hands full with a growing number of adversaries who are out to sabotage both them and their Swarm masters. Agents of Fenris and Heimdal continue to investigate the possible ties between the Iris members and the Earth Sphere governments. Even those oblivious to the cult's involvement are still convinced that the Swarm has had some hand in shaping the current state of affairs. Many search, seeking evidence, trying to draw the connections that will unveil the truth. Others, such as corporate CEO Evan Cross and former Blade Colby Stockton, look down more aggressive roads, searching for a means to destroy the psilver menace. Accenting the chaos has been the sudden appearence of weapons which the cult has designated the "new Animus." They are the latest incarnations of powerful machines from the past: the Mobile Suit Gundam.

AC 260. The Earth Sphere has once again fallen into war. But, it is not a clash of righteous ideals or humane principles. It is far worse.

It is a war that someone wants.

Artwork by Local Network CG; Map by Nathan