Cosmic Era 72.
The war between the Earth and the PLANTs that lasted one and a half years...
...finally came to an end following the battle at Jachin Due.
The two sides drew up a peace treaty...
...amid the ruins of Junius Seven, a place of unprecedented tragedy.
The treaty outlined the intentions of both sides to gain...
...a greater understanding of the other, and promised every effort to maintain peace.
As such, the world was on a path back to stability.
However! Too much power will lead to another conflict!
No, Princess. Power is necessary because there will always be conflict.
Junius Seven has accelerated by an additional two percent.
It remains on a collision course with Earth, zero, zero, five.
Why can't you realize...
...that for us Coordinators, the path of Patrick Zala...
...was the one and only correct path!
However, as a result of the terrorist act to drop Junius Seven...
...later to be known as the "Break the World" incident...
...the world once again fell into a confused state of war.
In an attempt to stop the object from falling...
...ZAFT's state-of-the-art battleship Minerva descended to Earth.
While there, it would receive new orders at Carpentaria.
Further to those orders, the Minerva was now on its way...
...to the Persian Gulf to support the attack on Suez.
Condition Red order given. Condition Red order given.
Pilots, standby in your machines.
There are so many of them!
- Run! - Run!
If you wanna hit me, go right ahead!
But I did nothing wrong!
The people there were helped by what I did!
War is not some game to play the hero!
Stop making decisions to suit yourself!
If you have the power, show you have the responsibility to handle that power!
This demonstration has resulted in casualties surpassing one thousand people.
The Equatorial Union Government...
In response to the President of the Atlantic Federation's comments on the 18th...
...Chairman Gadouard of the South African Community...
Further, Supreme Council Chairman...
Day after day...
...Gilbert Durandal reiterated that...
...we're stuck with all this gloomy news.
...the PLANTs are only...
Intense fighting continues in Western Eurasia.
Can't they report on some news that will lift our spirits, for a change?
You mean, like the white dolphin at the aquarium gave birth to a baby dolphin?
No, I guess it doesn't have to be that cheerful.
But this is a little strange.
What ever happened to the battle against the PLANTs?
All the news we're getting is about turmoil within the Alliance.
And at the PLANTs, this seems to be what it's been like there for some time now.
In this quiet night
I'm waiting for you
Forgetting the past
Your smile has faded away
Now that a little time has gone by
Memories become precious
Where the stars fall
I'm always wishing
To hear your laughter
Even though we're so far apart now
We will meet again, won't we?
To all you courageous ZAFT Forces soldiers.
We will continue doing what we can to bring you peace...
...but in the meantime, please be very careful!
They all seem to be well and having fun.
This situation. Is it all right to leave it as is?
Well, if we could do something about it, we'd love to.
But if we act carelessly, we'll be giving away our location.
That wouldn't be good, would it?
Especially for the Kingdom of Scandinavia, who has given us refuge.
No. It wouldn't be good.
But we can't hide like this forever.
I, for one, need to do something about Orb.
But we can't move now. We know too little about what's going on.
You're right.
Sure, the drop of Junius Seven caused tremendous damage to Earth...
...but ever since that incident, the PLANTs have acted in good faith.
The Allied Nations are the idiots, for going to war with whatever excuse they can give.
Yeah.
Blue Cosmos is behind it, right?
Well, yeah.
But Chairman Durandal did not retaliate foolishly to that unbelievable first attack.
He calmed down everyone, from the citizens to the council...
...and only fought a defensive battle, keeping losses to a minimum.
He is not a bad person by any stretch of the imagination... given just those facts.
I think Chairman Durandal is, in fact, a very good leader.
Or rather... I thought he was.
Until I learned about the attempt on Lacus' life and this incident.
Athrun decided to go to the PLANTs because he thought the same.
Then who tried to kill Lacus?
And now that I see this, I'm having trouble believing this person.
This Durandal fellow.
Kira.
He's tricking everyone.
You could say that that's what politics is all about.
I can't imagine he doesn't know about this.
What in the world is the Chairman thinking?
But looking at the situation in Western Eurasia...
...I can't help but root for ZAFT to crush the Earth Forces.
But you're still against that, aren't you?
Yes.
If Athrun comes back, I'm sure we'll find out what's going on with the PLANTs.
I wonder what he's doing now.
I've located a guide beacon from the Mahamul Base.
Lock on to the beacon. Prepare to dock.
Locking on to beacon. Commencing docking procedure.
Attention CPU Biochemistry Maintenance Team B.
The work on replacing ZAKU's brainstem cooling system has been moved to 15:00.
I changed the sensor bandwidth like you requested. Check it out.
Commander Zala!
I envy those guys at Headquarters.
It's been ages since Lacus Clyne's last live concert, after all.
I wish I could've seen it in person!
But she's changed her singing style, don't you think?
Oh, yeah.
I've often thought how nice it would be if she'd sing in the style she does now.
It makes her seem younger. She's cuter now, don't you think?
And don't you love the awesome outfits she wears now?
Totally! You can tell that she's got some pretty big boobs!
I'm gonna get my hands on a poster of her in that outfit...
Where's the Savior's maintenance log?
Oh, ah... right here!
Thank you.
He's her fiancé. He's so lucky.
What do you say I pull out two or three of Savior's cables?
I can hear you two.
Everything you said earlier, too.
S-S-Sorry, sir.
Nav-com online. Contact, Merit five.
LHMBB zero one Minerva.
Continue your approach.
Roger control BB zero one.
Docking complete. All hands, commence inspection and checking procedures.
When you've finished, remain on board and wait for further orders.
Commander Zala, please report to the bridge.
What are you doing staring at him? If you have something to say to him, say it.
You're acting like a little kid.
I'm the Minerva's captain, Talia Gladys.
Deputy captain of the ship, Arthur Trine.
Special Forces, Athrun Zala.
Athrun... Zala?
Yes, sir.
Of the Le Creuset Team?
Oh, excuse me. I'm Joachim Ruddle, commander of the Mahamul Base.
Welcome, after your long journey.
Thank you.
Can I offer you some coffee? There's not much here, as you can see...
...but we do get some damn good coffee beans.
Sure. Thank you very much.
Well, I can understand how you feel, Shinn.
He returns all of a sudden, and now you are expected to accept him as FAITH...
...and your superior?
And, he's hit you twice now.
But the fact is, he's a FAITH member.
We've gotta accept that. He certainly has the ability, so he deserves the status.
I know that! Will you shut up, Luna?
It's hard to believe you know it, with that attitude!
Whatever. Just be quiet. It has nothing to do with you, Luna.
Things appear quite severe here too.
Yes. With their battle power at Suez, we can't afford to go in carelessly.
If we want to conquer the area...
...our best chance is to descend from orbit like we did in the last war.
But for some reason the Council won't approve the plan.
I guess it can't be done...
...since it's been made public that we have no intention of taking over new territory.
I do support the Supreme Council...
...and the Chairman's position of trying not to unnecessarily cause war disasters...
But it's frustrating that they do as they please just because we can't be aggressive.
What do you mean by that?
Are you saying there's something other than Suez?
One would assume that the Earth Forces would use Suez...
...as a base to go on an all out attack to crush us here at Mahamul.
Then continue on past the Mediterranean Sea to destroy our Gibraltar Base.
But right now, they are unable to do that.
Why? The reason is right here.
The western region of Eurasia.
Yes.
Now that the Indian Ocean and Gibraltar are both territories controlled by us...
...keeping the area from here to Suez stable would be a priority for the Earth Forces.
Otherwise, Suez would stand alone.
Therefore, with the Gulnahan power plant at its core...
...they've focused on somehow maintaining this line to Suez...
...and stopping any resistance activities in Eurasia.
They've done so by forcibly establishing a bridgehead.
Well, as a result, resistance forces in this area...
...have been exposed to attacks from central Eurasia.
Results have been dismal, since they're stopped in their tracks...
...long before making it to the south.
So a different way of looking at it is, if we can wipe them out here...
...we'll cut their line to Suez, support the resistance forces...
...and indirectly deliver a blow to the Earth Forces.
Is that right?
Yes. That sums it up. But the enemy knows that too.
So obviously they won't make it easy for us to attack.
The only way we can approach them is from this ravine.
But naturally they've also realized that and have placed a positron cannon here...
...along with a monstrous mobile armor fully equipped with reflectors.
We made an attempt to destroy it, but the results were regrettable.
Like the one before!
However, if we add the battle power of the Minerva, perhaps this time...
I see. Unless we go through here...
...there's no easy way for us to get to Gibraltar. Right?
Yes. That's what it would mean.
So we're here to clear a path.
I wonder what sly fox thought up this plan.
Never mind. As long as we're told that's our job, then it's our job.
We'll discuss the date and the timing of our plan later.
Certain preparations must be made in the meantime.
We'd like nothing more than to make that so-called path with the Minerva.
What? Then Shinn hasn't said a word to Commander Zala since then?
Well, no. He's like, "give me a break".
Shinn can be so immature sometimes.
You're right. I hate to say it, but even I see him that way.
Well, I'm sure things will work out over time. Shinn will have to compromise.
You're right. Commander Zala's a lot more grown up, and he's so cool!
Huh? But he's only one year older than me, isn't he?
What are you doing here alone?
Nothing, really.
Should you be here yourself?
I'm sure FAITH members are busy with all kinds of things.
Should you be slacking off in a place like this?
You have a way of saying things that get on people's nerves.
Are you that upset about me coming back?
And me hitting you?
No. I'm not really upset.
But you won't find anyone feeling happy about being hit. Isn't that obvious?
Besides, why does someone who served as an escort for Miss Athha of Orb...
...have to suddenly appear, claiming to be from FAITH, and my superior?
I can't be expected to agree to it and immediately take orders.
What you're doing doesn't even make sense!
I guess you're right. I'll accept your comments.
From your perspective, I can understand how what I do doesn't make sense.
So are you saying that's the reason?
That's why you can't follow my orders, because you don't like the way I do things?
Is that it?
Well... no...
Are you saying that you're always right, and whatever you don't like...
...or can't agree to, is a mistake?
I didn't say that!
Then how do you explain that battle on the Indian Ocean?
Do you still believe that you were right?
Yes!
You said that you lost your family on Onogoro island, in Orb.
I said they were killed. By the Athhas.
Yeah. If you want to think so, then go ahead.
So that's when you came up with this idea?
You thought to yourself, "If only I had the power. If only I could get the power."
Why are you saying this?!
Anyone who's cried because of their lack of power would think the same thing.
Likely.
But the moment you get that power...
...you become the one causing others to cry.
Never forget that.
We'll be going to battle again soon.
If you forget that while you're out there...
...and use that power for the sake of your own logic and self-righteousness...
...you'll be nothing but a destroyer.
But that's not what you are, are you?
We're here on a mission for the military. We're not here to pick a fight.
I know that much!
Then that's fine.
As long as you don't forget that, you'll be a very skilled pilot.
But if you do forget, you're nothing but a fool!
Standing in the way are the Lohengrin Gate...
...and the enemy mobile armor.
Observing the overall picture, perhaps this is the most minor of situations.
However, even here, people and their dreams live on.
How does Shinn react to the pleas of a desperate young girl?
Next, on Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny, "Attack the Lohengrin!"
Dash through that dark maze, Core Splendor!