Orb Union

Orb Union
The Orb Union (also known as the United Emirates of Orb) is a small Pacific island nation, located to the east of New Guinea, which is neutral in the war between the Earth Alliance and ZAFT. Orb's government consists of both an elected legislature and an aristocracy of five noble families (most notably the Athha, Sahaku, and Seiran families), and has a mixed population of both Naturals and Coordinators. Though small, Orb is both wealthy and militarily powerful, and the local Morgenroete, Inc. is one of the world's top producers of advanced weaponry. Orb also has, unusually for its small size, a considerable presence in space, including the space colony Heliopolis, the space fortress Ame-no-Mihashira ("Pillar of Heaven"), and at least two powerful Izumo-class battleships. At the start of the Bloody Valentine War, the chief representative of Orb's government was Uzumi Nara Athha, who declared the nation's neutrality in the conflict.

Unfortunately, the Earth Alliance did not respect that neutrality, and conquered Orb in CE 71, resulting in the death of Representative Athha and many high ranked politicians. Orb's remaining forces, including the Izumo-class battleship Kusanagi and the defecting Earth Alliance assault ship Archangel, escaped to space under the command of his daughter Cagalli Yula Athha, and joined forces with the stolen ZAFT warship Eternal to form what would become known as the Three Ship Alliance, which would play a critical role during the end of the war.

In the Second Bloody Valentine War, the Seiran noble family manages to usurp the Parliament and violate Orb's neutrality with predictions of a repeat of the Atlantic Federation's attack on the Union. As a result, Orb enters Earth Alliance. However, some Orb soldiers remain loyal to the Athha family, including Captain Todaka of the 2nd Defense Fleet. Despite his personal sentiment, Todaka was promoted to Colonel and chosen to lead the Orb expiditionary fleet in the nation's first active support of the Alliance. This effort ended in a disaster at Crete, when the flagship Takemikazuchi and most of the other ships present were sunk. Colonel Todaka ordered the Takemikazuchi abandoned and remained behind to go down with his ship. After the Battle of Crete, many of the surviving members of the Orb expidetionary fleet joined the crew of the Archangel, including Todaka's second in command Amagi, who became the Archangel ' s new executive officer.

After Gilbert Dullindal's speech about LOGOS and the attack on Heaven's Base, Lord Djibril fled to Orb where he met with the Seirans. Because of this ZAFT attacked the country but thanks to the Archangel's intervention, Djibril escaped. ZAFT forces decided to withdraw, as there was no longer any reason to attack Orb. During the battle the Seirans and many Orb politicians were killed, giving Cagalli the chance to regain her position as the leader of the Orb Union. Afterwards Orb, together with the Kingdom of Scandinavia, resists Dullindal's Destiny Plan and thus becomes thes target of the now ZAFT controlled Requiem. However after Requiem is destroyed and Dullindal killed Orb makes peace with PLANT.