It's now C.E. 73 and three of ZAFT's newest mobile suits are stolen. During the highjacking, Cagalli, now Orb's head of state, and Athrun, now her bodyguard, are meeting with ZAFT's new head honcho.

Shinn continues to battle the three stolen suits. In the midst of battle, the three machines work to escape from Armory-1 and rendevous with their ship, Earth's "Girtty Lue", which is under the command of the mysterious Neo Roanoake.

After the Minerva launches from Armory-1, the battle against the Girty Lue ends, for the time being. However, Girty Lue launches another attack preventing the crew from having much time to regroup.

During the battle with the Girty Lue, Athrun helps the Minerva out of a bind with his strategizing.

As Junius-7 plummets towards the Earth, the Minerva team-up with the Joule team to try and destroy it.

The battle on Junius-7 instifies, as the Gaia, Chaos & Abyss make the Joule team's attempt at the destroying the falling colony much more difficult.

As a last ditch effort, the Mireva uses is Tanhäuser to break up the remaining chunk of Junius-7. Unfortunatey, several of the pieces fall to Earth destroying several of Earth's cities. The battle-damaged Minerva makes its way to Orb to re-supply and to drop Cagalli off.

The Minerva arrives at Orb. While the crew enjoys some downtime. Cagalli learns some unsettling information about the future of Orb. While Athrun decides to return to PLANT once more and meet with Dullindal.

Eager for retaliation, the Atlantic Federation declares war on ZAFT (who they blame for the Junius-7 drop). In defense of the oncoming nuclear onslaught, ZAFT unleashes its newest weapon, the Neutron Stampeder, against the Atlantic Federation forces.

As Athrun meets with Dullindal, the Dullindal-endorsed psedo-Lacus, Meer Campbell, rallies the citizens of the PLANT's look away from war and look towards peace. Later, Dullindal offers Athrun a chance to pilot one of ZAFT's newest mobile suits, the ZGMF-X23S Saviour.

Orb decides to ally itself with the Atlantic Federation, much to Cagalli's dismay. While about the PLANT's, Athrun recieves some help making his decision from some old comrades.

After departing Orb, the Minerva is thrown into battle against an Atlantic Federation fleet. Due to their new alliance with the Federation, Orb quickly sets up a baracade of ships preventing the Minerva from retreat back to the safety of Orb territory.

As the Minerva's crew congratulates Shinn on his job well done, Kira is forced to take the Freedom out into battle once again to take out the assassins that are after Lacus.

Kira, Lacus, and the remaining Archangel crew embark on their old vessel and depart, but not before Kira rescues Cagalli from her wedding to Yuna.

Athrun, now a member of the super elite ZAFT task force FAITH, returns to the Minerva. Once aboard, he delivers the Minerva's new mission to Talia.

The Minerva engages Neo and the 3 stolen Mobile Suits in a battle over the Indian Ocean.

The Minerva lands at ZAFT's Muhamal base and gets details on their next assignment. Later, Athrun has a "heart-to-heart" conversation with Shinn.

The Minerva must destroy a fixed positron cannon emplacement to break through to Gibraltar. Though hesitant at first after meeting Shinn, they are helped by a young resistance fighter named Coniel, who provides data of a secret tunnel that will lead near the positron cannon. The Minerva and the other ZAFT forces draw out the Earth Alliance mobile suits and mobile armor while Shinn heads through the tunnel and destroys the cannon.

Shinn narrates flashbacks covering the events that have transpired in Gundam SEED and SEED Destiny. He also sheds some light on how he got to the PLANT's after his tragic loss in Orb.

After a misunderstanding between Athrun, Lunamaria and Meer, Shinn takes advantage of his shore leave by exploring the countryside. On his travels he stumbles across Stellar dancing on a cliff, she then accidentally falls into the sea. Shinn dives in after her. While waiting to be rescued, Shinn and Stellar share some bonding time.

An EA fleet led by Orb forces heads towards to Black Sea to deal a critical blow to ZAFT. However, a third party is waiting in the wings to stop the battle.

Cagalli's attempts to stop the Orb fleet fails and a battle between the Minerva, Orb/EA fleet and the Archangel breaks out.

With Milliaria's help, Athrun is able to meet up with Kira and Cagalli to discuss recent events.

With Milliaria's help, Athrun is able to meet up with Kira and Cagalli to discuss recent events.

Shinn rushes an injured Stella aboard the Minerva. Once aboard, he learns startling information about Stella. Elsewhere, Lacus decides to go to PLANT and scope the situation out.