As soon as Mercurio made his way into the de-pressurization chamber he found the surviving pilots waiting for his arrival. Among the cheers he saw Donna rush up to him for an embrace. At her observation he agreed, "I did have a promise to live up to." In the next moment he endured her light slap when she gave her condition for their relationship. He took her into a mutual embrace and agreed, "Of course." He didn't have any plans of risking to part with her when he allowed this moment to occur and it showed when he went along with her requests.

The captain of the sniper squadron observed the wreckage outside when he commented, "Well none of us exactly won a war out there. But it seems like we'll at least have homes to return to."
Cao was alongside him when she agreed, "I'm just happy that we'll finally get to return to Earth. Now the pain can finally end."
"So you have an idea of where you're headed Private?"
Cao nodded when she answered, "I will have things to answer for. But it will give me a chance to search for peace when I arrive. There is a temple in my home of Vietnam that will do everything it can to offer soldiers like us a chance to move on to peaceful lives."
Oleg heard the offer but turned it down, "Sounds great and all. But I have a family to return to. With any luck I'll be able to return and I won't have to kill any more people for their survival."
Cao accepted this when she elaborated, "If it is a time that will bring you a chance to find peace I hope for all the best for you Private."
Oleg turned around when he reminded her, "Same to you. Make sure Tano gets a chance to follow you, he might need it more than any of us." Cao was curious at the request but kept the thoughts to herself when Oleg had a smile for the request.

One of the operators overheard the status of the crew below when she commented, "It seems to be going all great for our guys down there sir. We've got some talk of resignations though."
Norma didn't show any sign of regret to the idea when she agreed, "We may as well accept them. The Coalition is no more and it's going to be our duty to make sure this new world of ours is ready to move forward." The Admiral prepared her next two orders when she commanded, "Send a relay to Earth. Tell them that our mission has been accomplished and we will be returning to orbit." She turned to the nearest operator for her next order, "Prepare a course for Earth. We'll give everyone the means of transportation they need to prepare for their journey home."
The flight operator mapped a course from their location and found the next available route to Earth when he confirmed, "Roger Admiral. Preparing course." The fleet made its adjustments and found the location of Earth within their next three week voyage to the home planet. The preparations were quickly made and the surviving men and women of the station battle were on their way home.

The three week jump passed and what remained of the Coalition fleet had returned to the area above Earth it had begun its journey. Norma turned to her Vice Admiral when she ordered, "You'll have to escort our men who wish to return to Mars."
"The Earth Sphere Parliament will have to negotiate terms with you I take it?"
Norma nodded when she confirmed, "If they are correct I'm now the highest ranking official to represent the Coalition. It's time for us to put away these days of conflict and hope we can say we've redeemed ourselves somehow."
Her Vice Admiral saluted to the command when he parted, "The Foresight will be ready to make the jump once refuelling is complete sir. We hope to see you lead our men again one day."
Norma saluted back, "Maybe in the aftermath of what happens from these resolutions. I shall await the day it can happen." "All destinations have been set. Prepare to your stations aboard the Foresight in a jump to Mars."

Within the bays of the departing ships Mercurio saw Milou preparing to ship off with his cousin's body as they prepared for their trip to Mars. He embraced him in a farewell for this moment, "It's been good to know you Milou. I hope one day we might be able to meet again under more peaceful circumstances."
Dana saw the parting and commented to the others, "One day we all might meet together for another reason. But it sounds like this is the point where we're about to hang up our guns and try embracing a normal life."
Dana overheard the number of partings taking place in the docking bay and commented, "We'll all be planetside at least. Or at least Milou will be able to give his sis a proper burial on her planet."
Oleg agreed to their fortune, "The colonies are going to be another thing entirely of course. Some of them will have explaining to do and some of them will need a lot of recovery before they have a chance to live a normal life."
Dana turned to the others when she asked, "We'll have to live for the sake of the fallen now. Is there anyone you guys are looking forward to seeing?"
Gawel shrugged the idea when he agreed, "I think I worked out a few decades of my lifespan but if it was able to end this war at least I can call myself a hero among others."
Mercurio answered her question as well when he held Donna's hand, "Yeah. I think I've accomplished my mission for this war. I think my mother will be pleased to see me return. Of course I'll have to also ask for the blessing of Lord Lindemann."

The Executor Rising descended to the area near Quebec City and the civilian population awaited them with great enthusiasm. Malcolm looked outside and saw the Coalition battleship outside the city walls and knew the mission's success had been confirmed. He turned to the Parliament announcing, "I believe we have now seen Admiral Miles live up to her promise. The Sol Invictus has been destroyed." At this news the parliament began to make their way outside when they saw the troops making their return home.
Relena was the silent one among them when she sent her hope out to the arriving crew, "Mercurio..."

The troops of the Executor Rising made their way to the podium where Relena gave her promise to humanity of the Sol Invictus's destruction. It was on this spot where Norma Miles felt the responsibility of her people and prepared to use it for the final act of ceasefire. She signed the parchment presented by Malcolm and announced to the crowd, "It is now official. Let it be known to the entire scope of the human race that the war between the Falson Coalition and the Earth Sphere United Nations has finally after an 11 year war come to an end. We were all of us misguided to varying levels but we hope now to learn from these mistakes. We have permitted the blind loyalty of our causes to lose sight of what has long permitted humankind to separate itself from any other species. I hope now that with the assistance of what we build going forward we will regain focus of that vision."

Oleg and Dana watched the speech while the other Rogue Wing were behind them. Zachariah was next to Nasir when he observed, "It sounds like we don't have much worry for another war to break out. You think?"
Dana agreed, "If she wanted a takeover she would have the perfect opportunity. Looks like not everyone in the military wants to grab for power."
Nasir was lightly melancholic when he agreed, "Yeah. I guess all conflicts do eventually come to an end. We might have actually found the end to this crazy ride after all."
Among the remaining Coalition soldiers who viewed their former superior's speech they gave a solemn salute as they took her words to heart. Cao was next to Tano when she asked, "Lieutenant. From what I heard you haven't had anywhere else to go now that the war is over. Would you at least consider following me to my home country?"

Relena and Mercurio were outside one of the nearby balconies when they observed Norma's speech when Relena congratulated, “You’ve done it Mercurio. You’ve done the greatest service any soldier could have offered. You’ve brought back a hope of peace so long gone.”
Mercurio looked out to the skies before them when he asked, “I guess I have never thought it would happen. Do you think dad ever expected me to be a direct emulation of him?”
Relena grasped his hand when she assured him, “He always believed you were meant for greatness. That one day you’d show everyone you were his son. When that day came, you wouldn’t need either of us to show you how.” For the both of them the mention brought a flashback of Mercurio’s youth. A young six year old Mercurio rushing across the front yard of his mansion to his father coming home. Heero lifted him in the air with a sweeping embrace as they entered the mansion. Mercurio ran to the edge of a nearby window before he saluted in the best way a child could. Both his mother and father saw his salute and recognized his honor. It was the plush Wing Zero Custom he had played with earlier in the day. The one that both his mother and father had won in the early days of their engagement. Already at this age a piece of family history.
“And you’ve shown it.” Heero entered. “You were forced into a war we never thought would happen. We always wondered if you could live through it.”
Mercurio turned to face his father when he smiled, “I guess I don’t have to prove myself now do I?”
Heero reached out with his left hand while he kept his right holstered for safety. He patted his son on the shoulder when he answered, “You couldn’t make me any more proud.”
Mercurio turned to Relena when he asked, “You’re okay with that right mom?”
Relena closed her eyes when she sighed answering, “The men in my family are just destined to follow a sense of duty it seems. I’m only happy it doesn’t make us all miserable.”
Mercurio agreed with her warning when he answered, "I may have to rely on that duty again one day. If war is to ever erupt again I don't want something of this scale to ever happen again."
"And I promise you'll have our support." Heero reminded him.
Helena entered her way to the balcony when she announced, “Mom, the photographer’s here.”
Mercurio was the first to ask, “The photographer?”
His other sister was clearly confident in his return when she answered, “We had to get ready for your return trip Mercurio. It’s about time we had our new family portrait don’t you think?”
Mercurio agreed to the request when he got ready, “I guess now’s as good a time as ever.” Mercurio stood to the left side of his father when the five prepared waited for their moment to be captured.
Once the photo was taken Helena and Selena made their way to the crowd below to meet the survivors. Mercurio requested to his parents, "Mom, dad, there's someone I'd like to formally introduce."
Relena was curious when she asked, "You would?"
Mercurio guided them both when he began explaining, "You might have at least heard of her but probably not exactly met her face to face yet." He found the doorway Donna was waiting nearby when he introduced, "Over the course of this war I looked for support from others and from some it became stronger than others. I'd like to introduce you both to Donna Lindemann."

Milou agreed. "Yeah, adjusting to a normal life will never be easy. I'll be working for the Martian government when I return."
Donna thought about how she loves Milou as well. "Will you be coming back?" She asked.
"Because I'm an ambassador I think I'll eventually return." He assured her.
Donna gave one final kiss to Milou. "I just wanted you to know that I still love you as well." She told him. "What are you going to do with the Aquarius?"
Milou thought about it. "I'll take it back to Mars." He said, thinking. "It's my dad's old friend anyway."
The Martian parted ways with those returning to Earth. He got what he had in the shuttle and took a seat. He had one last look at Donna from the window. "I'll return someday." He promised.

Instead of Lord Lindemann waiting there was a man in OZ uniform with a letter to give to Donna. One he passed it on he disappeared. Donna opened the letter to read.

To my children,

If you are reading this then I died but with my heart content. I was never able to see true peace in my life and now you can live it for me.

The concept of pacifism appealed to me once when I joined the Treize Faction and were forced to flee to what used to be the Sanc Kingdom. Then the Eve Wars came which I also fought against and I joined the Mariemeia rebellion. I met your mother after the rebellion.

Under my will the oldest surviving sibling should inherit the noble title and role as the patriarch of the Lindemann family along with my small industries. I will also entrust Milou Peacecraft or Mercurio Yuy with my daughter.

Live the peace I was never able to,

Lord Till Lindemann

Donna was shedding tears while reading it. Although she lost her family, there was Mercurio with her.

Quatre thought about how everyone was forced into the war. He felt that he should give an apology for choosing her to become a pilot. "Donna, I'm sorry for making you a Gundam pilot if it was against what you wanted." He said apologetically.
"Actually I'm glad now." She replied. "I was able to help end the war and found two men after me."
Quatre gave a laugh. "That is true." He responded.

Tano noticed Cao's offer to accompany her. "I guess I can." He replied. "I got nowhere to go anyway." He thought that living a year as a Buddhist monk won't do much harm.

Donna overheard the entire Yuy family conversation from the door. She thought about the family she never had but quickly forgot it with a blush when Mercurio was going to introduce her. "H-hello Mr. and Mrs. Yuy." She introduced herself hastily.

The two cousins parted when Milou made his way aboard the Foresight and with a hopeful final note when Milou gave his promise to them. "If I meet Uncle Milliardo one day, hopefully it will be with understanding for what we both wanted to achieve." He promised himself as he saw Milou leave.

The sudden revelation of Lord Lindemann's passing was every bit a surprise to Mercurio as it was to anyone else. Worst of all it appeared she was the remaining heir to the Lindemann estate. As she let her grief become known, Mercurio stood by her side and assured, "I promise this will be the last grievance you will have to pay."

Heero gave his hand in greeting when he introduced, "Donna. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Relena was the next to greet herself when she offered, "Mercurio has told us about what you've gone through. Please try to remember that if you ever need support we'll be here for you."
"I'd say that's a good start." When Relena turned to notice Heero's comment there was a slight giggle between them as they noticed a similar spark between the two that hadn't been seen years ago. The four turned to outside the balcony as they watched the speech from various Parliament members offer their own contributions. For even a city that had endured as many hardships, the signs of an era without conflict were about to pass into humanity's next era. In that moment all were assured that this future was soon for them to experience.

Epilogue

For every time of war, there one day comes a period of peace. How long the peace endures is dependent on the generations of individuals who seek to keep that peace. The year is After Colony 226 and the events have come full circle...

Mercurio was in a locker room when he considered the status of the world by now. The Earth Sphere United Nations and Falson Coalition have dissolved. Together they formed a new governing body. The Union of Sol Dominions. OZ is still here to keep the Union in check in case anything bad happens, but they have the power to stop us if we let OZ become what it once was. Whoever Kecker and Goslin were working with, I know that their influence has at least been halted for now. The devastation they inflicted will not happen again. It is no longer a question of hoping, but knowing that we will be there to prevent the forces of destruction from rising again.

Dana was in an OZ leader's uniform when she overlooked the status of her report. By comparison at least, we've been thrown back into the good old days. It's all back to just plain old bickering leaders who want to have their turn at taking power where the vacuums are still located. Small fries such as them are going to see why the big decision makers of yesterday are the ones who determine where they go next.
Gawel entered her office when he presented a report, "We've got a full report on the activity on Luna sir. Secondary Representative Wright is now leading a splinter force of upper class citizens trying to get independence. Of course that is just the basic nutshell situation."
Dana looked up and smirked, "Sounds like an assignment. Better rally the others to get ready for their duty."

Oleg had returned to Lithuania when he was lifting his young nephew and greeting his family members with the reparations from the war. Not all of us are strong willed enough to continue fighting for a cause regardless of how worthwhile it is. We all have families we want to return to, some living and gone. But wherever we meet them again is worth the long struggle. It may not be contributing to the good fight, but there are many of us such as myself wish to simply reunite with what we have long hoped to see survive.

Cao was leading a meditation session on the temple grounds when she contemplated her thoughts with the others. And they are not wrong. All have earned a moment's peace, especially the misguided. Those who have lost the most while serving a righteous cause are those who deserve to be honored for what they have given. Even they however can understand that in their contributions to the ever turning cycle that they may be demanded great efforts they did not wish to revisit. But when they are asked of such things, me and others have shown that we will give what must be given to undo that injustice.

Zachariah, Nasir, Cinzia, Patrick and Keijo were observing the graves of the fallen multitudes when Zachariah gave thoughts different from prayers to the moment. Even after the most demanding wars in history it's possible for us to return with those we hold dearest to us. Even when such calamities strike that take away everything we wanted to protect, we have a duty to see their sacrifices were worth paying. If there is an afterlife the righteous meet again in, then at least we will be able to pass on with the knowledge we did something to truly move the human race forward.

The words from the Yuy family reminded Donna that although her family is gone there are people that will support her. “Thank you.” She replied in joy. As they listened to the speeches she remembered what was kept for them. The only surviving Lindemann got out a bottle of red wine with two glasses. “Mercurio, this is meant for us.” She said to him while unscrewing the cork and pouring it. “For peace.”

***

McNeil looked over the Scottish sunset, attempting to paint the dusk seen from a Scottish port. He held his brush, to get the grasp of proportions before returning to brush golden hues into the canvas. Although I agree that war is a certainly unpleasant feeling, it ironically pushes us to improve. Mobile Suits are no exceptions with how the Golem was made around the last weeks of the war. Technology is first exploited by the military before it can go to civilians. Sergeant Schebecker turned out to have been meeting her husband at L1 to survive the Sol Invictus and promised to take proper care of the Golem. I'm just happy that the war ended and my next works from now on are made of acrylics paints instead of Gundanium alloy.

Tano, in monk garments and a shaved head joined the chanting of sutras. I struggled to know what justice was all this time, ever since I was exposed to it at a young age. Is the one that topples corruption? Is it the one that determines the law? I found the answer last year. Justice has to be the one where a child can sleep undisturbed.

Quatre brought Katherine along to watch a circus performance. It was something he didn't watch for a decade or two. The clown of the troupe is someone he vividly remembers as an ally of old. We failed at maintaining the peace but the younger pilots have brought it back. Peace is fragile as glass but it can be rebuilt and refined to replace it if broken.

Milou placed a bouquet of flowers at Naina’s grave. The terraformation of Mars will continue but with great delay. I didn’t expect taking Naina’s job to be as easy since she was the most capable out of both of us. Mum and dad knew that she died for the cause but deep down they regretted how the war was brought on us siblings. My dad took a special interest at the Aquarius, calling it his old friend Treize Khushrenada, the man that the AI system was apparently based on. Donna, I hope I can return to Earth.

Donna watched over the balcony of her residence. After the war she quit being a Gundam pilot to work with the assets left behind by her father. There was knock on the door with a young man entering. "Lady Lindemann, the prototype Trabant shuttle will be ready for testing next morning." He informed. "If the Trabant technology from the Gundam Sandesgeist works we will be able to change the norm of travel between Earth and Mars from weeks to less than a week!"
Donna gave a nod. "Thank you Sugita." She thanked her assistant. "You can go home now." She saw the man give a bow before leaving. With nobody else in her residence she had a solitary shower. I was a stranger to a fantasy called peace. I lived in a collapsing world. I was only there for a year. I returned to it last year. She donned red bath robes after she was done and made her way to the basement. There was the hopefully final resting place of her Sandesgeist. I lived in a twisted world for the next years. My father was fuelled with vengeance while being a log for Kecker’s furnace, neglecting me. I thought my would be like that until I marry someone richer. She walked back to her room after she finished, now decorated with new photographs in frames. There was the old wedding photograph of her parents, then the one taken at the Executor Rising where she had both Mercurio and Milou at her sides and another one between her and the former, taken after the Yuy family finished their photo. She was hesistant at first but his sisters were too strong to argue against. She had a look at them. I began to wake up thanks to Instructor W, or Quatre as he insists now. I also met Captain Dana, Naina, Milou and Mercurio on the way. They showed me that they also wanted peace. The Gundam became my blade to fight. She had a look at her OZ commander’s uniform now kept in a glass case. I found out my father took mother’s death as hard. He was desperate to cling onto the ideals he used to follow. I was able to bond with him and entrusted his hopes on us as he died peacefully. Donna looked at the stars from the balcony. It looked clear as the peace she envisioned. After the war I was going to disband OZ for good but Captain Dana talked me out of it. I instead passed on leadership to her. Mercurio is also part of them but he fights for the peace that truly represents freedom, not a one manipulated from the dark.

Also thank you for watching over me everyone...

Whatever their choice is in this new period, I'm just glad that we had something to return to. Whatever the mission will be, whatever comes next, I'll have to be ready for it. As will the human race be on mutual terms to reach that goal.
Mercurio entered the shuttle bay when he was prepared and saw Heero waiting for him. "Good to see you're prepared for the mission Captain."
"It's a pleasure to return to duty sir." As they both saluted Heero was the first to smile before his son did so in return in the sheer warmth of the moment built for them both. The eye contact broke after a while when Mercurio turned to his squad ordering, "Let's move out. We've got a colony to defend."
"Yes sir!" His squad agreed enthusiastically.

The OZ and USD shuttles made their way towards the edge of Luna where Wright's rebelling forces stood in waiting over the civilian population. Norma was at the head of the forces when she observed the positions of the enemy mobile suits when she was asked by a junior strategist, "This is one situation we will have to cooperate in. How long will it be before we have a conflict if we're in the right direction or not?"
Norma continued to observe the battle map when she answered, "I hope not for a long time. But that should be the first issue in the question of cooperation. And as long as we remain prepared for such a day we at least won't have to pay a sizeable price like we did with Lagrange 2."
One of the operators agreed with his superior, "Then we'll have to make sure that our work today goes with our best effort. Even if it takes a long time to accomplish."
Norma smiled when she observed the battle about to begin, "I wouldn't worry. We'll have a significant amount of assistance for this one."

Regardless of how much we may want peace we have to be willing to maintain it. Those of us who learned the hard way will not have to pay again. And those of us who understand that will now prepare to uphold it. Now... I can fly forward. I can take up these wings and remind myself... "... I'm not alone!"
With that flight call Mercurio's new Gundam flew forth from the shuttle with its buster rifle blazing in its bird mode. The first two squads of Wright mobile suits were wiped out with the shots and began to make a desperate defense as they moved in closer. It was to their unfortunate discovery that the bird mode was only one form before the Risen Wing entered its bipedal form. The Gundam that stood out among the other opposing mobile suits as the monument of mobile suit leadership. With the targets in sight, Mercurio saw the nearest target for his Gundam. He brought the buster rifle to full power, targeted the defiers of peace and fired...

The End