Mobile Suit Gundam SEED

11 months have passed since the Earth Alliance and ZAFT (Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty) entered into war. In L5, on the resource satellite Heliopolis of the neutral nation Orb… On this colony, Industrial College student Kira Yamato, as usual, heads for the lab where he accidentally gets involved in a Gundam extortion plan by the invading ZAFT forces.

Within the flames, Athrun steals the last Gundam, MS Aegis, and escapes. Kira and Murrue also get onto Strike Gundam and barely escape as the factory explodes. But ZAFT’s MS GINN was waiting for them!

Rau, piloting MS CGUE, attacks Kira. Just then Archangel appears in front of them. Strike Gundam’s cannon fired at Rau opens a large hole into the colony. Everyone is stunned by its power. Seeing that the odds are against him, Rau breaks away from the battle.

From the airspace of the destroyed Heliopolis, Kira returns to the Archangel with a life boat. Fray is discovered on board the life boat. Archangel decides to head for the allied military satellite Artemis to seek help.

The 4 stolen Gundams loom in front of the launched Strike Gundam. The ZAFT forces decided to throw all Gundams into the attack. Kira and Athrun face each other again.

Barely fleeing its pursuing ZAFT forces, Archangel takes refuge in the military satellite “Artemis.” However, the crew is met with the muzzles of the supposedly allied soldiers.

Using ZAFT’s attack, the Archangel was able to escape the fortress Artemis, however, lack of supplies has become an increasingly urgent problem. Mu comes up with a plan and directs the ship to the Debris Belt to forage supplies from wrecked ships.

The passenger of the escape pod rescued in the Debris Belt was a girl and a small robot – Lacus Clyne and Haro. Lacus is the daughter of the current PLANT Supreme Council Chairman, Siegel Clyne.

Finally the long-awaited rescue comes. There is brief moment of calm in the Archangel. They are to join the advance escort ship Montgomery, Bernard and Law. Fray’s father, Vice Foreign Minister of the Atlantic Federation George Allster, is aboard on Montgomery.

The Archangel was able to stop the attack from ZAFT ship Vesalius by using Lacus Clyne as hostage, but the shock was most detrimental, witnessing an entire fleet destroyed before the crew’s eyes.

As promised, Kira returns to the Archangel. A hearing is held but the issue handing over Lacus to ZAFT without permission is disregarded through the good offices of Murrue.

The Archangel finally rendezvous with the Earth Alliance’s 8th Fleet. Lost in busyness, as if to be reluctant to part from it, Kira does maintenance on Strike Gundam when Murrue comes and thanks him for all his hard work so far.

On the Earth’s orbit, a fierce battle has started between the Alliance’s 8th Fleet and the ZAFT forces. Although the Earth Alliance was superior in numbers, Rau Le Creuset’s troops, with GINNs and all 4 Gundams, destroy the Alliance’s craft one after another.

Upon atmospheric re-entry, to save Strike Gundam after the battle with Duel Gundam, the Archangel was diverted off course and have ended up in Africa, which is ZAFT territory.

The Archangel landed on the desert in North Africa. Without any time to relax, they are attacked by the ZAFT forces at night. They are the elite ground squad led by Andrew Waltfeld, also known as the “Desert Tiger.”

With the help from the “Desert Dawn” guerillas, Strike Gundam was able to repulse the attacking force of the BuCUEs led by Waltfeld. After daybreak, other members of Desert Dawn guerillas join the Archangel.

Waltfeld, the “Desert Tiger,” attacks Tassil, the town where the rebels reside. Missiles fired from the BuCUEs engulf the town in flames. However, Waltfeld’s men gave the citizens a warning before the attack, so there were no casualties.

Kira and Cagalli go to the city of Banadiya, where the ZAFT base is located, to buy food and supplies for the camp. The two accidently meet the “Desert Tiger” Andrew Waltfeld when they are eating lunch and are baffled over his overly friendly manner.

In a PLANT, Athrun has a day off after a long time and drives to Lacus’ mansion for a visit. Clyne’s estate is located at an exclusive residential area in PLANT, and the two happily enjoy chatting.

Yzak and Dearka, who were in the Gibraltar Base, join forces with the Lesseps. Towards the battle against the Archangel, “Desert Tiger” Waltfeld accepts the reinforcement thinking more force the better.

Strike Gundam and the Archangel, defeating Waltfeld after a fierce fight, take course towards Alaska. Cagalli of the “Desert Dawn” insists that she is needed on the ship and invites herself to come aboard the Archangel.

Athrun, Nicole, and Rau join. The Le Creuset Team is finally gathered all together after a long time. Since Rau cannot go out to fight because of the preparations for Operation Spit Break, he appoints Athrun as leader of the Archangel pursuit team.

Cagalli’s damaged Sky Grasper shoots down the transport plane that was carrying Aegis Gundam and crash-land on a small deserted island. She encounters Athrun, who was on the transport plane, on the beach.

In Orb waters, the Archangel and the 4 Gundams of Zala Team engage in a fierce battle. Near the Orb’s territorial boundaries, the Archangel is gradually cornered by the Zala Team with its superb combination attacks.