Recaps

After Alaska’s destruction reshaped the balance of power in the Earth Alliance and ZAFT, Xiao Ran returned to Orb with Genesis data and helped secure a new Orb space fleet under his command. As the Archangel arrived in Orb, his missions were completed and the system offered new rewards and a dangerous Ultimate Mission.

• Alaska’s destruction weakened the Atlantic Federation, while Siegel Klein’s death and the survivors’ testimony strengthened the Klein Faction and raised Lacus Klein’s standing among ZAFT soldiers.
• Three days after the battle, Xiao Ran returned to Orb with Genesis information and told Representative Asaha that the weapon remained under construction and should stay secret for now.
• Representative Asaha proposed that Xiao Ran command the Archangel and a new Orb Space Fleet, and Xiao Ran accepted; the next day Orb promoted him to brigadier general.
• A week later, Xiao Ran watched the Archangel reach Orb under escort as the system declared Main Mission Three and the Dearka and Nicol recruitment mission complete, awarding him Merit Points and an Aegis Gundam.
• The system gave Xiao Ran an Ultimate Mission Card requiring him to destroy Genesis and eliminate the Earth Alliance’s nuclear-equipped fleet, and it offered possible extraction missions for Mwu Lamias, Nataru Bargyll, and Kira Yamato.

Xiao Ran finished his mission in the Gundam SEED world, repaired and inspected the upgraded Aegis Gundam, and organized Orb's Third Fleet before returning to Prometheus. He arrived with the Black Astray and Aegis Gundam as Prometheus began his evaluation and final settlement.

• Xiao Ran learned that he had received the Aegis Gundam as an exclusive unit and gained an Ultimate Mission Card that let him return to the world later.
• Xiao Ran inspected the extensively upgraded Aegis Gundam at Akatsuki Works, but left before its final testing could begin.
• Xiao Ran welcomed Mwu, Mu, Bargyll, and Kira back to Orb and appointed Mwu, Mu, and Bargyll to lead the Third Fleet with him.
• Xiao Ran explained his plan to unite forces against the coming conflict between ZAFT and Earth Force, and the group approved it.
• Xiao Ran established the Third Fleet, delegated its duties to Kisaka and Bargyll, and left Orb after arranging messages for his allies.
• Xiao Ran returned to Prometheus, where a system notification began his mission evaluation and final settlement.

After completing the Newbie Mission World, Xiao Ran received his settlement, earned new titles and exclusive units, and chose rewards that raised his authority and granted him a component and plugin. He learned how Prometheus was organized and prepared to open his treasure chests.

• Prometheus settled Xiao Ran’s missions, deducted his attribute-enhancement debt, and awarded him Merit Points, the Best Newcomer and Liar’s Guide titles, and Black Astray and Aegis Gundam as exclusive units.
• Prometheus raised Xiao Ran’s authority to Sergeant and gave him an S-rank final evaluation with four reward choices.
• Xiao Ran chose ten Attribute Points, an authority increase, a random D-rank component, and a random D-rank plugin, receiving Fragile Energy Shield and Speed Burst.
• Prometheus transmitted information about its zones, Xiao Ran’s living space, and the mission systems for official participants.
• Xiao Ran checked his Storage Slot and headed to a large door to open his treasure chests.

Xiao Ran opened treasure chests and obtained a Scout skill, Coordinator Gene Modification Serum, and Tactical Composite Weapon System. He tried to equip the weapon system on the Aegis Gundam but learned that doing so would prevent it from transforming unless its back was modified.

• Xiao Ran shaped rooms in his private space to resemble his former home, then opened a Silver Treasure Chest and learned the Scout skill.
• Xiao Ran opened two Golden Treasure Chests and obtained Coordinator Gene Modification Serum and a Tactical Composite Weapon System.
• Xiao Ran considered which of his machines should receive the weapon system and decided the Aegis Gundam was the better option.
• Xiao Ran used the hangar console to try equipping the weapon system on the Aegis Gundam, but an alert warned that it would lose its ability to transform without modifications.

Xiao Ran explored Prometheus and visited Old Luo Mecha Repair to modify his unit. Luo recognized Xiao Ran as the Best Newcomer and explained that equipment fitted to units in a Newbie Mission World could be brought back without paying extra Merit Points, leaving Xiao Ran to regret not taking more gear.

• Xiao Ran emerged into Prometheus and surveyed its unusual sky, crowded marketplace, and diverse Participants.
• Xiao Ran approached a modification stall and learned from its owner that he was a former Participant who had become a Prometheus resident.
• Xiao Ran identified the stall owner as Old Luo and sent him the Aegis Gundam, Tactical Composite Weapon System, Complete Energy Deflection Armor, and energy shield to inspect.
• Luo recognized Xiao Ran as the Best Newcomer and identified the unit and components as valuable C+ class equipment.
• Luo explained that items fitted to units in a Newbie Mission World remained Xiao Ran's, while later mission modifications required Merit Points to preserve.
• Xiao Ran realized he could have equipped the Black Astray and Aegis Gundam with more available weapons and components before leaving the Newbie Mission World.

Xiao Ran paid Luo to modify the Aegis Gundam and learned more about Prometheus while shopping for supplies. He left the Trading Zone with new equipment and headed to the Enhancement Room.

• Xiao Ran used his Ultimate Mission Card to realize he could return to his Newbie Mission world, while Luo redesigned the Aegis Gundam with its components.
• Luo quoted four thousand Merit Points for the Aegis Gundam modifications, which Xiao Ran paid; Luo said the work would be finished in seven days.
• After Xiao Ran left, Luo accepted a second participant’s B-class mecha modification job for twenty thousand points, with a fourteen-day deadline.
• Xiao Ran bought a Newbie Guide at the System Store and learned about technicians, Gene Adjustment Serum, and the Special Mission that followed three missions.
• Xiao Ran bought a flying, bulletproof pilot suit, a medical robot set, three C-class Energy Replenishers, and two C-class Universal Ammo Replenishers, then headed to the Enhancement Room.

Xiao Ran spent most of his Merit Points enhancing his attributes and piloting skills, then trained and prepared Lightning Aegis for his second mission. The mission began with him entering Super Dimension Fortress Frontier, a world that alarmed him because he expected to face swarms of missiles.

• Xiao Ran raised his attributes, upgraded his piloting skill to C-Class, learned Assault Type Piloting Specialization, and improved Quick Lock.
• Xiao Ran used his remaining free attribute points, decorated his home, and spent the next month training and learning combat and gun skills.
• Xiao Ran installed attachments on Aegis Gundam, renamed it Lightning Aegis, and prepared supplies and weapons for the mission.
• Xiao Ran selected Lightning Aegis as his sole unit and learned that his second Mission World was Super Dimension Fortress Frontier.
• Xiao Ran panicked at the prospect of entering a world where missiles could pursue him, then the countdown ended and he entered the mission.

Xiao Ran arrived in the Super Dimension Fortress Frontier world among dozens of participants and learned that they could choose between the Galaxy Fleet and the Unified Army. He refused both factions, obtained Star Map coordinates from the 21st Fleet, and left for the 25th Fleet, aiming to prevent the catastrophic final battle.

• Xiao Ran emerged from a FOLD Jump Channel aboard the Lightning Aegis and saw a vast Immigrant Fleet surrounded by warships and Variable Fighters.
• Around fifty other participants arrived in assorted space-capable mecha, and the 21st Fleet Defense Force asked them to follow the fleet and wait for transport.
• Xiao Ran recognized the fleet and a passing civilian Shuttlecraft, then refused to choose between the Galaxy Fleet and the Unified Army faction.
• Xiao Ran requested confirmed Star Map coordinates from the 21st Fleet Command Center and received the 25th Fleet as an available FOLD Jump destination.
• Xiao Ran warned the 21st Fleet about factions within the Investigation Team, then jumped toward the 25th Fleet while the other participants joined the Galaxy Faction.

Xiao Ran emerged from a FOLD Jump near Fleet 25 and fought off the bugs attacking the fleet, using the battle to practice combat in MA Form. After destroying a red leader bug, he withdrew toward the fleet as reinforcements arrived and offered to take over.

• Xiao Ran ejected and detonated the Lightning Aegis's one-use FOLD Engine to draw incoming missiles away from a stunned VF-171 pilot, then destroyed the remaining missiles with the mecha's Vulcan Cannons.
• Xiao Ran identified himself to the scout pilot and engaged three yellow bugs and a red leader bug, destroying one yellow bug with beam and Gatling fire.
• Xiao Ran pursued and destroyed another yellow bug, then traded attacks with the faster red leader bug to gain experience in high-speed MA Form combat.
• When dozens of bugs and missiles appeared behind him, Xiao Ran accelerated through the crossfire, rammed the red leader bug with his shield, and cut it in two with his greatsword.
• Xiao Ran retreated toward Fleet 25 as arriving Variable Fighter pilots praised his performance and offered to take over the battle.

Xiao Ran joined the 25th Fleet Defense Army after helping the Variable Fighters retreat from a devastating bug attack. He used Lightning Aegis to clear their escape route, but discovered that Quick Lock could attack-lock only four enemies at once.

• Xiao Ran warned the Variable Fighter formation to spread out, but the bugs' counterattack destroyed more than half its fighters.
• Xiao Ran fought at the edge of the battlefield, destroyed two yellow bugs, and urged the 25th Fleet Command Center to order the remaining fighters to retreat.
• Xiao Ran assessed the Fleet, Unified Defense Army, and S.M.S factions, then chose to join the 25th Fleet Defense Army.
• Xiao Ran used Quick Lock with Lightning Aegis's four weapons to destroy locked bugs and open a route for the retreating fighters.

Xiao Ran fought the bugs attacking Fleet 25, then entered the main island to pursue a red leader bug. He killed it beside Alto Saotome and Lanka Lee and prepared to face three more bugs as Ozma Lee arrived.

• Xiao Ran helped the Unified Army defend Fleet 25, using Lightning Aegis to attack bugs amid heavy losses.
• Xiao Ran activated the Power Shot Module and fired a devastating Scylla cannon blast that destroyed a red leader bug but drained much of his energy.
• Ozma Lee contacted Xiao Ran and offered to escort him to the main island, but Xiao Ran stayed behind to support the fighters.
• After two red bugs broke through toward the main island, Xiao Ran followed them inside and found Alto Saotome fighting one near Lanka Lee.
• Xiao Ran killed the red leader bug with Lightning Aegis's greatsword as Ozma arrived, then locked onto three approaching bugs and opened fire.

After defeating the Bugs, Xiao Ran met with the President of the 25th Fleet and began investigating a conspiracy linked to the Galaxy Fleet and Investigation Team 117. He identified Leon Mishima as a suspected traitor and secured the President’s support, ending with plans to surveil two Galaxy Fleet arrivals that night.

• Xiao Ran learned that the Bugs had withdrawn after he killed the last attackers, received a mission to investigate a hidden enemy, and was summoned to the Presidential Palace.
• Leon Mishima introduced himself as Xiao Ran’s investigation aide and warned him not to cause trouble; Xiao Ran recognized him as a future traitor and met the President.
• Xiao Ran told the President that clues connected Investigation Team 117, the Vajra, human modification, and a Galaxy Fleet conspiracy.
• Xiao Ran accused Leon Mishima of conspiring with the Galaxy Fleet and warned that the President was being watched.
• The President agreed to assign Xiao Ran loyal investigators, grant him authority over the inquiry and access to S.M.S., and let him begin surveillance of two Galaxy Fleet members that night.

After Fleet 25’s attack, Xiao Ran used his temporary authority to investigate Sheryl and Grace at their hotel. He secured permission to inspect their rooms and secretly warned Catherine that Grace must never be allowed to connect to Fleet 25’s network.

• President Glass temporarily promoted Xiao Ran to major and assigned Billy, Moses, and armed soldiers to assist his investigation.
• Xiao Ran’s team secured the hotel guests and confronted Sheryl, Catherine, and Grace outside their adjoining rooms.
• Xiao Ran persuaded Sheryl to allow an inspection, and Moses entered Sheryl’s room while Sheryl supervised.
• Grace offered to let the investigators inspect her room, and Xiao Ran arranged for a woman to conduct the search.
• Xiao Ran secretly warned Catherine that Grace was a bio-modified human who could expose Fleet 25’s secrets if she accessed its network, and Catherine acknowledged the warning.

Xiao Ran used the investigation as a pretext to meet Sheryl and Grey, then secretly planted a listening device and ordered surveillance as he pursued a conspiracy within Fleet 25. He sought evidence to identify the traitors and determine which version of events his world followed.

• Moses searched Sheryl and Grey's suites and found no suspicious items, while Xiao Ran thanked them for cooperating and left with his assistants.
• Xiao Ran told Catherine that his investigation covered everyone connected to the newcomers, and she decided to ask President Glass about him.
• After leaving, Xiao Ran confirmed that Moses had planted a listening device in Sheryl's room and discussed Grey's unusual earring and the need to investigate patiently.
• Xiao Ran ordered surveillance on Sheryl and Leon Shima, asked for records on Investigation Team 117's survivors, and said Catherine was likely deceived.
• Xiao Ran requested footage of Sheryl's concert to help determine whether events followed the TV or movie version of the story.

Xiao Ran confirmed he was in the TV version of the world and began investigating Saotome Alto and Lanka Lee while arranging support for his personal mecha. At the hospital, he encountered Ozma Lee with Lanka.

• Xiao Ran watched Sheryl's concert recording, confirmed the world followed the TV version, and ordered Billy to monitor and protect Lanka Lee.
• Xiao Ran asked Moses to identify the long-haired youth in the recording and arranged to move his mecha to S.M.S while inviting LAI to discuss researching it.
• Moses identified the youth as Saotome Alto, and Xiao Ran went with Moses and Billy to Bishin Academy to meet him.
• Xiao Ran joined Catherine and Alto on their trip to the hospital, where Alto was examined after his contact with Vajra.
• Xiao Ran spotted Ozma Lee speaking with Lanka Lee in the hospital lobby and introduced himself to them.

Xiao Ran met Ozma and Lanka at the examination center, where Lanka thanked Alto for saving her. Xiao Ran recruited Ozma and S.M.S to assist his investigation, then revealed that Lanka was under surveillance and told Ozma to take her to S.M.S.

• Xiao Ran explained that footage of his battle had made him popular in the military, and Lanka thanked him for saving her.
• Lanka met Alto, thanked him for rescuing her, and learned his name while Ozma and Xiao Ran joined them.
• Ozma accepted his temporary assignment under Xiao Ran, who explained that the investigation concerned the Vajra, traitors, spies, and threats to the 25th Fleet.
• Xiao Ran told Ozma that Lanka had been under surveillance, prompting Ozma to demand answers and agree to take her to S.M.S.
• Xiao Ran said he would bring Alto to S.M.S later, then asked Ozma whether he was a sister complex.

Xiao Ran prepared S.M.S to draw out the Vajra hiding beneath the main island, hoping to uncover why Lanka had been monitored and raise his mission completion rate. He left S.M.S ready to sortie and ordered Sheryl brought to a garden-like area while a team guarded it.

• Xiao Ran told Alto that Sheryl’s missing earring was important and gave him time to decide whether to learn the truth, then sent Billy with him to retrieve it.
• Xiao Ran saw Main Mission 1’s completion rate had reached fifty percent and suspected that Leon Mishima and Grace counted as hidden enemies.
• Xiao Ran and Moses flew the Lightning Aegis to the S.M.S hangar, where Ozma and the combat personnel welcomed them.
• Xiao Ran ordered S.M.S to prepare for an immediate sortie and lure out the Vajra hiding beneath the main island.
• Xiao Ran ordered Ozma to disable the surveillance devices, sent Moses to bring Sheryl to the garden after they were disabled, and told Captain Grey to guard the area from space.

Xiao Ran arranged for Sheryl and Lanka to sing while S.M.S launched an operation, and their song unexpectedly boosted his attributes. As the alarms sounded and Ozma spotted Vajra, Xiao Ran received new missions to eliminate the enemies and destabilizing factors within the 25th Fleet.

• Ozma prepared to launch and questioned whether the newcomer could be trusted, while Xiao Ran persuaded Sheryl and Lanka to sing and arranged for them to be protected.
• Xiao Ran boarded a heavy-equipped VF-25A, joined the S.M.S pilots in space, and ordered the operation to begin once the targets were confirmed.
• Sheryl and Lanka sang in the garden as the pilots took their positions, and Xiao Ran felt their song raise all his attributes by ten percent.
• An alarm sounded, Ozma shouted that Vajra had appeared, and Xiao Ran received a completed Main Mission 1 reward and new missions to eliminate appearing enemies and destabilizing factors within the 25th Fleet.

Xiao Ran used the VF-25’s Quick Lock skill to destroy three Minion-class Bugs and helped Ozma and Grahn kill the Boss-class Bug. The battle ended with Michel taking the last Minion-class Bug Xiao Ran had hoped to claim.

• Xiao Ran ordered Ozma to hold back and directed the squad to intercept the five Bugs drawn toward Sheryl and Lanka.
• Xiao Ran launched three Quick Lock salvos, firing all 120 Micro Missiles at the four Minion-class Bugs and destroying three of them.
• Michel shot and destroyed the surviving Minion-class Bug before Xiao Ran could reach it, costing Xiao Ran the points for the kill.
• Xiao Ran used Spirit Burst to rush the Boss-class Bug, evaded its attacks, and joined Ozma and Grahn in striking it with energy-charged daggers.
• Xiao Ran grabbed the Boss-class Bug’s head and destroyed it with his gatling gun, receiving two notifications.

After Xiao Ran defeated the bugs, he explained that Lanka and Sheryl’s singing, their dormant bloodline powers, and Sheryl’s heirloom earrings had drawn the attackers to the fleet. Sheryl recognized Mao and Sarah as her ancestors, and Xiao Ran prepared to tell everyone their story.

• Xiao Ran used Quick Lock and a Missile Launcher to defeat the bugs, earning the admiration of S.M.S and the Unified Army.
• Xiao Ran joined Captain Jeffrey, Skull Squadron, Sheryl, Lanka, and the others in the lounge and explained why the bugs had appeared.
• Xiao Ran told the group that Lanka’s singing had attracted the bugs and that Lanka and Sheryl’s dormant powers had reacted through Sheryl’s heirloom earrings.
• Xiao Ran revealed that Sheryl’s family was connected to Mao and Sarah, who had saved Earth more than fifty years earlier.
• Sheryl asked whether Mao was her grandmother and Sarah her grandmother’s older sister, and Xiao Ran confirmed it before offering to tell the full story.

Xiao Ran explained Celestial Being’s investigation into the Vajra, the Galaxy Fleet, and the survivors of Investigation Team 117, revealing Lanka’s past and her lost brother’s possible survival. He ended by identifying Leon Mishima as the person monitoring Lanka and working closely with Grace.

• Xiao Ran described how Celestial Being formed after the attack on Investigation Team 117 and explained its findings about the Vajra, space crystals, and the Galaxy Fleet’s cyborg network.
• Xiao Ran told Sheryl that she was a descendant of Mao Nome, that her parents had been killed because of her heritage and earrings, and that Grace was also tied to Fleet 117.
• Xiao Ran connected Lanka’s singing to the Vajra, and Ozma revealed that Lanka had survived the Investigation Team 117 attack and that he was not her biological brother.
• Xiao Ran revealed that Lanka’s biological brother survived, lost his memories, became a cyborg, and now served as a Galaxy Fleet Defense Unified Army major under Grace.
• Xiao Ran told Ozma that Leon Mishima had monitored Lanka and the Great President, approached Catherine for his own purposes, and secretly exchanged intelligence with Grace.

Xiao Ran outlined his suspicions about Grace, the Vajra, and Lanka, then assigned S.M.S. to investigate while asking Sheryl to help awaken Lanka’s power. After the meeting, Xiao Ran found Sheryl waiting alone beneath a streetlamp.

• Xiao Ran told Captain Jeffrey and the others that Grace might be trying to control the Vajra through Lanka and Sheryl, and that the 25th Fleet’s route could lead Grace to her goal.
• Xiao Ran asked S.M.S. to examine Lanka, monitor Leon Mishima, and investigate him through Ozma, while urging Sheryl to use her singing to awaken Lanka’s power.
• Sheryl refused to join the investigation but agreed not to tell Grace what had been discussed, and the others promised to keep the meeting confidential.
• Alto joined S.M.S. and was assigned to Michel for training, while Xiao Ran asked Luca to tell LAI that he would discuss Lightning Aegis with them.
• That night, Xiao Ran saw Sheryl waiting beneath a streetlamp and asked why she had not gone home.

Xiao Ran and Sheryl spent the evening eating, shopping, and growing closer, and he gave her ruby earrings before walking her back to her hotel. After she left, Xiao Ran questioned whether he was selfishly treating the seventeen-year-old Sheryl as a mission target, but decided to go through with his plan to bring her to Prometheus.

• Sheryl and Xiao Ran wandered the district together, sharing food and holding hands as Xiao Ran decided to improve her favorability before the mission ended.
• Xiao Ran bought Sheryl heart-shaped ruby earrings and gave them to her while they sat together.
• Sheryl kissed Xiao Ran on the cheek, and they walked hand in hand to her hotel.
• Xiao Ran embraced Sheryl and hinted that he wanted to return her gift before she went inside.
• After Sheryl left, Xiao Ran questioned his motives and whether Prometheus was right for her, then resolved not to second-guess his decision.

Xiao Ran accepted LAI’s invitation to tour its headquarters, where Luca Angelo asked to study Xiao Ran’s advanced machine. Xiao Ran agreed to lend it to LAI in exchange for conditions he had yet to name.

• Moses told Xiao Ran that LAI had invited him to visit and that the Presidential Palace wanted him as a military judge for the Miss MACROSS competition.
• Xiao Ran ordered Moses and Billy to have Lanka enter the competition so she could gain confidence singing publicly and so he could observe Leon Mishima’s reaction.
• Xiao Ran put Sheryl’s earring on the necklace she had given him and wore it around his neck.
• Xiao Ran and Moses visited LAI headquarters, where Luca Angelo showed Xiao Ran the company’s departments and products.
• Luca Angelo asked to borrow Xiao Ran’s machine for research, and Xiao Ran agreed on the condition that LAI accept several requests.

Xiao Ran arranged for LAI Company to research the Lightning Aegis while preserving it and sharing copies of the research data with him. He later met Sheryl for dinner and a stroll, and the two continued their warm, ambiguous closeness.

• Xiao Ran secured Angelo's promise that LAI would keep the Lightning Aegis intact, copy its research findings for him, and return the technical materials he lent them.
• Xiao Ran asked LAI to investigate replacing the Lightning Aegis's power source, improving its thrusters, and adding Micro Missile launchers without impairing its transformation.
• Angelo offered Xiao Ran a customized VF-25 and other hospitality, and Xiao Ran accepted a specially made card as a token of gratitude.
• Xiao Ran delivered the Lightning Aegis to LAI and permitted them to access its main computer, while forbidding alterations and combat tests.
• Xiao Ran met Sheryl for dinner, then strolled with her as they chatted and held hands.