[Dean_the_Young]

Originally Posted by Aquaman OS

Ep 42. Cagalli says "try to negotiate a ceasefire with Zaft" AS SOON AS SHE TAKES COMMAND. We then cut to a Zaft commander saying "This annoying nation should just let us take it already" And outright refuse even after their target has already escaped until Talia takes over. Then of course in 48 Durandal is annoyed that Orb is refusing the Destiny Plan and his aides comment that if only Kira hasn't shown up and Orb had been more devastated during that battle they would have had no choice but to give in which suggests that Durandal had also ordered his personal troops to cause damage to Orb so it wouldn't be able to resist the DP. It isn't until Talia takes command (who isn't under Durandal's thumb) that Zaft withdraws, even though Djbril had already left.

And none of that has anything to do with the Destiny Plan, really. In fact, Orb doesn't even know that most of those went on, so they don't actually serve as justifications for Orb's actions in anything except a post-partem sense.

Of course Durandal is annoyed that Orb is refusing the Destiny Plan and is mobilizing; it's his dream. And iff Orb had been more devestated it would have capitulated. But that doesn't imply that Durandal ordered explicit infrastructure damage (nothing in the series or side material showed, mentioned, or implied it, making it entirely an outside insinuation created by you), and the fact that Durandal's most trusted officer takes command from the made-to-hate officer and pulls back from Orb after Djirbil's exit is pretty contrary to your argument that Durandal was out to conquer Orb using Djirbil as an excuse.

Also at no point had Orb decided to attack Durandal prior Requiem being fired. They were prepared for it (as they didn't trust him) but at no point does anybody say "we will attack Durandal" before than.

They were already mobilizing to head into space. Durandal announces Destiny Plan, Orb and Lacus faction denounce it, and after only one other country rejects it they begin moving their forces into space. That's before the superweapons came public, and well before one was turned towards Orb.

You are paying more attention to Astray and interviews than the actual show itself. The evidence is there. I've pointed it out several times but you keep ignoring it.

Actually, you haven't. You keep creating new unsupported accusations and iffy logic, and I'm not sure you even understand what the issue is. The issue, from the start, wasn't whether Durandal was going to force everyone he couldn't get to voluntarily to join to join.

It was whether the Destiny Plan would actually work, and if it was a dystopian police state for all time, ala 1984. The anime didn't say it wouldn't work. It didn't say it was miserable. Lacus argues that there not everyone would be content, and that it wasn't worth the trade of freedom. All the side material and interview said was that it does work, it isn't a miserable oppressive existence, and that the unsatisfied can leave. None of that contradicts the anime, where the reason for opposing the plan was just that it required the freedom tradeoff which Lacus and co. found unacceptable.


So, yeah. You keep pointing out that Durandal was going to use every means he could to convince and make everyone join. That's pretty much a one man argument. (Or woman, as the case may be.)