A Different Type of Front

Tensions Arise

"Barbarians you say? No, your empire did not just measly step on a simple imp, you poked a stick on a fucking titan of war. Such negligence will lead to your doom"

-Yuri Fedorov to Remille

November 28, 2261.
Things were not going well for the UNSA. The Black Lotus had appeared to be much bigger than they thought, and much older. This led to them having to further strengthen their presence on Aavacaria from 200,000 personnel to 250,000. It also did not help when there was a breakout in Alaves Maximum Security Prison, caused by the Black Lotus. One of Zagrev's servants had to intervene to prevent them from spilling over into nearby villages and cities. 

The UNSA ramped up their efforts to stamp out the Black Lotus. They had to hire mercenaries since the council thought that their forces were threating and felt like an occupying force. They gave more political power to the UNCAC and UNSCO.

But to add salt to the wound, Artheit was also having more problems. There was a breakdown in relations with Marley. Apparently, a coup d'etat had occured, replacing Willy Tybur with a military general. The UNSA had to pull out the titan shifters and Willy Tybur's family, giving them asylum in Eldia. This did not go well with the locals, but most of them were pacified before any major event could happen.

Hizuru is on the verge on mobilization and the Mid-East alliance declared neutrality. Marley was now a military dictatorship. The UNSA tried to decrease hostile relations, but a Marleyan warship fired on a frigate on Eldian waters. The Marleyan ship was destroyed, but this made UN Artheit Command move to DEFCON 2. Eldia also prepared to mobilize for war.

The options on the table for the UNAC were to either:
Invade Marley
Sanction Marley
Host an uprising or rebellion
Attempt to decrease hostilities
Retaliate with a strike or bombing

The first was definitely frowned upon. The third was predicted to be unsuccessful, the fourth thought to be futile, and the last one to be too much aggressive. The second option was most viable, as most of the council was in favor of it. On November 12, 2261, the council voted to sanction Marley for its aggressiveness. Hizuru and the Mid-East complied, but this led to Marleyan military exercises to increase near Eldian waters and its border with the Mid-East. The UNSA council voted to increase their military presence in the Atrios Solar System.

The situation on Astrelia was different, although much more intriguing. Local humans on Astrelia were somewhat adapting to their situation. The adults, with their immortality no longer in effect, had panicked. Some did succumb to their old age, but it turned out that they would still live for some 10-20 more years. The UNSA discovered where the children who had disappeared had been hidden, and promptly put them out of cryo stasis. They were put into rehab and eventual education.  Veteran parasites went into extensive rehab and therapy due to underlying mental health conditions. The 9's? The UNSA had a troublesome experience with the lot. They were highly aggressive and barely cooperated. All plantations were in the lands of Japan on Astrelia.

Squad 13? They had therapy sessions 3 times a week, with the rest of their time for recreational activities. The UN Rehabilitation Initiative brought in entertainment and games to put the parasites' minds off of their worrisome thoughts.
Incidentally, this led to the squads developing rivalries on a popular game.

There was also the very complicated concept of using giant mechs in battle. The UNSA needed to decide on what to do with the Franxx. Their options were to either scrap them, integrate them into the military, or leave them be. They tested the capabilities of Franxx, and to see if they could withstand normal combat. The first test was to see if they were pilotable in space, which they sort of were. Next, with the permission of Dr. Franxx, they tested to see if they could withstand missiles or railgun cannons. They did not, and needed heavy repairs.