Chapter Summaries

Xiao Ran speculated that the Librarians might be using participants’ cells to create Photocopy Persons and manipulate powerful figures, though he reasoned that Prometheus would likely have intervened if the danger were real. After Dearka reported the damaged Gundams and injured pilots, Xiao Ran ordered the crew to prepare for another battle and told Mwu that his earlier preparations would soon be ready.

• Xiao Ran considered how participants might have supplied the Librarians with cells and data, enabling them to create operatives or make deals with people like Azrael.
• Dearka contacted the ship and reported that Mu was injured and Kira was unresponsive, while Strike Gundam was badly damaged and Freedom Gundam was motionless.
• Xiao Ran asked Sheryl to use her power and ordered the four Gundams to return for maintenance and resupply in preparation for another fight.
• Mwu arranged emergency treatment and faster supplies as Lacus, Cagalli, and Athrun left the bridge to check on Kira.
• Xiao Ran asked Mwu about his earlier preparations, and Mwu said the Technicians from Akatsuki Works had nearly finished them.

After Kira returned to the Eternal in despair, Xiao Ran went to help him face his guilt over Flay’s capture and Mu’s injury. Xiao Ran reminded Kira of the people he had saved and the difference he could still make, leaving Kira to reconsider whether he was merely a tool.

• Kira left the Freedom Gundam in a daze, while the injured Mu was carried from his cockpit to the medical staff.
• Sheryl set up and tested the makeshift stage aboard the Archangel as Miriallia reported that Kira had shut himself in his room.
• Xiao Ran flew to the Eternal, where Athrun led him to Kira’s room; Lacus and Cagalli waited outside as Xiao Ran entered alone.
• Xiao Ran found Kira drifting in the dark and pulled him onto the bed, prompting Kira to explain that Cruze had taken Flay and that Mu had been injured protecting him.
• Kira called himself useless and a tool, blaming himself for the people who had suffered or died around him.
• Xiao Ran challenged Kira’s despair by reminding him of the people he had saved and the hope his abilities offered for Orb and an end to the war.

Xiao Ran helped Kira recover from his dazed state and left Lacus to comfort him, while Cagalli and Athrun acknowledged their feelings for each other. Hours later, the Earth Force fleet returned, and Bargyll’s ships prepared to face its forces as Xiao Ran was tasked with stopping the enemy’s special units.

• Xiao Ran promised Kira that he would rescue Flay, then asked Lacus to comfort him while Athrun kept Cagalli outside.
• Xiao Ran teased Cagalli about Athrun’s feelings, and Athrun pulled her into his arms and kissed her.
• Xiao Ran returned to the Archangel, but hours later the Earth Force fleet led by the Second Archangel appeared and the ships launched from port.
• Bargyll learned that the enemy had deployed forty-eight mobile suits, including several Gundams and unknown units, and ordered her ships to avoid engaging the special units directly.
• Bargyll ordered suppressive fire and dispersal warheads, then told her crew to ask General Xiao to stop the enemy’s special units.

The Earth Force ambushed the Dawn with stealthy scatter-warhead missiles, then pressed its damaged hull with mobile suits. As Xiao Ran’s fleet withdrew from L4 under cover, the Orb forces began retreating while he remained engaged with the Hyperion Gundam and Misty Rage.

• Bargyll detected missiles approaching the Dawn and ordered an evasive maneuver, but their scatter warheads breached the ship and damaged its starboard systems.
• A Calamity Gundam and several Daggers attacked the damaged Dawn, but the ship turned its intact underside toward them and Black Hawk’s drones destroyed the advancing mobile suits.
• Bargyll and the other commanders concluded that Earth Force had anticipated their movements, and Lacus and Kisaka urged the fleet to abandon L4 and report the trap.
• Xiao Ran appeared on the warships’ screens and ordered Black Hawk to cover the retreat while Mwu prepared Sheryl’s operation.
• Bargyll ordered the salvage crews and Tail of the Serpent to leave, assigned the Kusanagi and Archangel to cover the withdrawal, and directed the fleet to retreat behind L4 as the Eternal shielded the Dawn.

The Archangel, Dawn, and their allies retreated toward L4 while Sheryl’s song fueled a surge in their combat strength. Graham, Luo, and the other pilots overwhelmed the Earth Force units, leaving the Second Archangel’s remaining support ships destroyed and the battle still underway.

• The Dawn, Archangel, Eternal, and Kusanagi turned toward L4 as M1 Astrays and drones covered their retreat from pursuing Earth Force mobile suits.
• Sheryl began singing, and the allied pilots fought with increased power as Graham and Luo grew more coordinated in battle.
• Graham used Black Astray’s GN Shields and Destiny-00 Backpack to destroy Hyperion Gundam’s arms and backpack, while Luo cut down the dark-blue Forbidden Gundam.
• Kira and Athrun wrecked the Forbidden and Raider Gundams, while the allied mecha joined forces to attack the remaining Earth Force units.
• Lightning Aegis destroyed Misty Rage Gundam and Hyperion Gundam, while MK-II Gundam’s beam attack pierced and destroyed two warships behind Second Archangel.
• Mwu watched the allied forces dominate the battle and felt Sheryl’s song fill her with strength.

Sheryl’s singing amazed the people aboard the Archangel, and Xiao Ran discussed humanity’s evolution and the dangers of space. He then outlined the fleet’s urgent shortages as the Dawn underwent repairs.

• Mwu, Lacus, and the others discussed the power of Sheryl’s singing and the unusual abilities appearing among humanity.
• Xiao Ran argued that humanity needed peace and military strength to survive the dangers of space, while Andrew questioned how much Xiao Ran knew.
• Xiao Ran warned the group about encountering people with extraordinary abilities and recalled the powerful bald man Kira had fought at Heliopolis.
• Xiao Ran said the Dawn would need two to three days of repairs and told the group to conceal their tracks while monitoring Earth Force and ZAFT.
• Xiao Ran reported shortages of ammunition, repair materials, wiring, and medical supplies, and said the Lightning Aegis’s Gatling guns and its drones had no ammunition.

The Archangel’s crew discussed their supply shortage and the danger of delaying while the Earth Force prepared its assault. Xiao Ran gave Lacus advanced technology and urged her to build Orb’s future military strength carefully after the war.

• Athrun explained to Cagalli why the Scrap Merchant Guild’s promised supplies might arrive too late, while Xiao Ran offered to find a safe route for its ships.
• Mwu asked Andrew to prepare supply lists for the Archangel and Eternal, and Xiao Ran checked on reconnaissance arrangements.
• Xiao Ran took Lacus aside and asked her what she thought about power before giving her data on advanced mobile suits, energy systems, weapons, drones, and GN-BITs.
• Xiao Ran told Lacus to prepare Orb’s defenses and train capable pilots, but warned her not to entrust the technology to Cagalli.
• Xiao Ran explained the risks of the two Solar Furnace designs and advised Lacus to make two complete furnaces for Kira and Athrun to use under safe conditions.

Xiao Ran and his allies discovered that Earth Force was clearing debris to trap their fleet inside the Debris Belt, forcing them to consider abandoning the damaged Dawn. Lacus deduced that the enemy commander might be a copy of Bargyll, and Xiao Ran ordered the fleet to retreat immediately.

• Xiao Ran escorted Luo's salvage ship out of the Debris Belt so it could obtain supplies, agreeing to meet again in three days.
• Xiao Ran's team spotted four Daggers clearing debris along a route toward the hidden warships, and Graham warned that Earth Force might be sealing the fleet inside the Debris Belt.
• Xiao Ran returned to the Archangel and learned that Earth Force was blocking escape routes while the Dawn remained unfit for long-distance travel.
• Bargyll, Andrew, and Kisaka urged the fleet to abandon the Dawn and withdraw, while Xiao Ran questioned whether an assault on the enemy flagship could succeed.
• Lacus proposed that the enemy knew the fleet so well because it knew itself, leading Bargyll and Mwu to recall the examinations and interrogations Earth Force had conducted in Alaska.
• Bargyll judged that an attack would meet a prepared trap, so Xiao Ran ordered the fleet to abandon the Dawn and retreat immediately.

Xiao Ran stayed behind aboard the Dawn to draw the Earth Force away while the Archangel, Kusanagi, and Eternal escaped with Sheryl and the others. After launching the Black Hawk and preparing its equipment, he reached the Dawn's bridge and used Scrap Dealer as the countdown approached.

• Xiao Ran rejected Mwu's plea to leave with the others and explained that only he could pilot the Black Hawk at full speed.
• Xiao Ran told the fleet to escape without fighting the Earth Force and planned to detonate the Dawn to draw the enemy after them.
• Xiao Ran launched from the Archangel with thirteen drones, returned to the Dawn, and ordered Haro to patrol and attack hostile targets.
• Xiao Ran replaced the Black Hawk's heavy armor backpack with a new one and hurried to the Dawn's bridge as the agreed time neared.
• Xiao Ran reached the main control console and activated his Scrap Dealer skill.

Xiao Ran spent 80,000 Merit Points to recover a lightly damaged Izumo-class Warship, then escaped the Archangel before it exploded. He joined the battle in Black Hawk and began fighting the Earth Force Dagger units.

• Xiao Ran decided to recover the Archangel and tested its weapons while waiting for enemies to arrive.
• Xiao Ran used the Archangel's cannons to draw enemy units toward the battlefield, while Haro reported that over thirty Daggers were approaching.
• Xiao Ran recovered a lightly damaged Izumo-class Warship, but learned the Archangel would explode in sixty seconds.
• Xiao Ran escaped the Archangel in Black Hawk just before it exploded, then flew toward the incoming Daggers.
• Xiao Ran attacked the Daggers with Black Hawk, dodging their fire and destroying several units.

Xiao Ran defeated the Earth Force Daggers, recovered the damaged Dawn, and later reunited with the Three Ship Alliance as both sides prepared for a decisive battle. After the Earth Force destroyed Boaz Fortress with nuclear weapons and advanced toward PLANT, Kira urged the alliance to sortie against the nuclear missiles and Genesis Fortress.

• Xiao Ran and his drones destroyed seven Daggers and drove the remaining Earth Force units into retreat.
• Xiao Ran recovered the Dawn as a repairable Izumo-class Warship and examined a Calamity War God Sword component recovered from the Misty Rage Gundam.
• Xiao Ran returned to the Archangel, and the Three Ship Alliance later received supplies from the Recovery House and the Scrap Merchant Guild.
• The Scrap Merchant Guild reported that the Earth Force had destroyed Boaz Fortress with a nuclear strike and was advancing toward PLANT.
• Kira called on the Three Ship Alliance to sortie, shoot down every Earth Force nuclear missile, and destroy ZAFT's Genesis Fortress.

Xiao Ran and his allies set out to stop the Earth Force’s nuclear missiles and ZAFT’s Genesis while trying to preserve their limited forces. Near PLANT, Kira and Athrun raced toward the nuclear missile fleet as missiles were launched at the homeland.

• Mu warned Kira that sending the M1 Astrays into the battle could cost Orb its last remaining forces, and Kira resolved to go after the nuclear missiles himself.
• Lacus urged Xiao Ran to lead an effort to stop both the nuclear strikes and Genesis, and Xiao Ran agreed while insisting they wait for the right opportunity and let pilots volunteer.
• Xiao Ran ordered preparations, and the Archangel, Eternal, and Kusanagi headed toward PLANT while the other ships and some M1 Astrays went toward Earth.
• The Eternal’s crew detected an Earth Force fleet deploying MAs near PLANT, and Andrew launched Freedom and Justice with their Meteor units to intercept it.
• Lightning Aegis and Black Hawk followed Freedom and Justice, while the remaining mobile suits launched and the M1 Astrays stayed near the ships.
• The Earth Force MA Unit began dropping bombs toward PLANT, and Lacus watched missiles race toward the homeland as ZAFT units fought Earth Force Gundams.

Athrun, Kira, Xiao Ran, and their allies destroyed the nuclear missiles aimed at PLANT, then Xiao Ran continued attacking the Earth Force pilots and fleet. Kira followed the others into battle but resolved to oppose Xiao Ran’s ideals, while Xiao Ran saw the enemy as a source of Merit Points.

• Athrun and Kira activated the Multi-lock System as their Meteor-equipped Gundams attacked the nuclear missiles, while Lightning Aegis and Black Hawk launched GN-BITs and missiles.
• The four mobile suits destroyed the nuclear missiles in a chain of explosions near PLANT, relieving ZAFT and PLANT while shocking the Earth Force.
• Xiao Ran and Lightning Aegis attacked the retreating MA formation, and Xiao Ran rejected Kira’s plea to spare pilots who could no longer fight.
• Athrun agreed with Xiao Ran and urged Kira to remember that war required sacrifice, while Justice Gundam advanced toward the front lines.
• Kira followed Athrun in Freedom Gundam but resolved to prove Xiao Ran wrong through his actions.
• Xiao Ran charged toward the Earth Force fleet, viewing its ships and pilots as Merit Points.

Xiao Ran destroyed most of the Peace Creator MA Unit before Genesis appeared and fired on the advancing Earth Force fleet. The devastating blast left the Earth Force in ruins, while Bargyll took command of the survivors and ordered a retreat.

• Xiao Ran and the Black Hawk destroyed more than two hundred Peace Creator MAs in ten minutes as the rest scattered and fled.
• Xiao Ran spotted Genesis behind Fort Yavin, warned the units to withdraw, and saw the Earth Force fleet charge toward the fortress instead.
• Lacus warned the Earth Force over the international channel, but Nalu flew the MK-II Gundam to the Eternal and used GN Particles to disrupt its communications.
• Patrick Sala ordered Genesis to fire, and its beam destroyed most of the Earth Force fleet in seconds.
• Azrael panicked and demanded that nuclear missiles be launched, while Bargyll ignored him, assumed command, and ordered the surviving warships and MS Units to retreat.

After Genesis devastated the Earth Force fleet, Xiao Ran withdrew with the Archangel, Eternal, and Kusanagi. He explained why he had allowed the attack to proceed, then revealed that Genesis’s next shot would target the Moon Base and that his forces would attack Genesis during its mirror adjustment.

• Genesis’s attack stunned ZAFT and shattered the Earth Force’s morale, and Xiao Ran ordered his forces to withdraw as ZAFT drove the retreating enemy back.
• The Archangel, Eternal, and Kusanagi escaped under mobile suit escort, and the pilots began maintenance after returning to their ships.
• Bargyll slapped Xiao Ran and accused him of blocking the Eternal’s communications and letting Earth Force soldiers die when they could have been saved.
• Xiao Ran explained that the destroyed Earth Force fleet carried nuclear weapons and argued that Blue Cosmos would continue attacking PLANT unless the Earth Force was brought to a genuine military stalemate with ZAFT.
• Xiao Ran said he planned to destroy Genesis himself and would attack while it adjusted its mirrors after firing at the Moon Base.
• Bargyll realized that Genesis’s second shot would target the Moon Base.

Kira blamed himself for Xiao Ran’s hardening, but Lacus explained why Xiao Ran believed weakening the Earth Force was necessary to protect civilians and end the war. After Genesis destroyed the Earth Force’s reinforcement fleet and lunar base, Kira accepted Xiao Ran’s choice while resolving to stop the war in his own way and help his teacher return to how he was before.

• Kira confessed to Lacus that he felt responsible for Xiao Ran’s transformation because he had climbed into the Strike Gundam.
• Lacus explained that Xiao Ran opposed the Earth Force’s attacks on civilians and aimed to weaken its military advantage so ZAFT and the Earth Force could restrain one another.
• Lacus reassured Kira that PLANT’s growing calls to end the war could prevent ZAFT from continuing the conflict if the Earth Force stopped fighting.
• Athrun told Kira and Lacus that Genesis had destroyed the Earth Force’s reinforcement fleet and lunar base in a second attack.
• Kira accepted that Xiao Ran had made the right choice, but vowed to end the war through his own beliefs and help Xiao Ran return to how he was before.

Xiao Ran led his forces through the renewed Earth Force–ZAFT battle to destroy Genesis, ordering them to target Genesis and any nuclear weapons while retaliating against anyone who attacked them. When the Archangel detected forces heading toward PLANT, Kira and Athrun pursued them, and Xiao Ran took Cagalli with him.

• Xiao Ran sent the three warships and their mobile suits toward the battlefield after Genesis launched its second attack, which had devastated much of the Earth Force reinforcement fleet.
• Xiao Ran launched in the Lightning Aegis and ordered his forces to target Genesis and any nuclear weapons, while the Archangel, Eternal, and Kusanagi watched for threats near PLANT.
• Xiao Ran and his allies broke into the battle, but Earth Force and ZAFT units attacked them, forcing the formation to scatter and several pilots to fight back.
• Graham, Luo, and Murrue Ramius charged toward Genesis, while Kira and Athrun used their Multi-lock Systems to disable enemy units and Xiao Ran destroyed targets for Merit Points.
• The Archangel reported that an Archangel-class ship and other warships were heading toward PLANT, so Kira and Athrun departed to pursue them.
• Kira asked Xiao Ran to look after Cagalli, and Xiao Ran flew toward the Crimson Strike and told her to follow him.

Xiao Ran protected Cagalli and her three M1 Astray guards while advancing toward Genesis, then rushed to intercept the final eight nuclear missiles. With Sheryl beginning her song, he unleashed Lightning Aegis and Black Hawk’s full barrage, turning the battlefield into a field of explosions.

• Xiao Ran escorted Cagalli and three M1 Astray pilots toward Genesis, protecting them with Lightning Aegis and six drones.
• Mwu warned Xiao Ran that eight nuclear missiles had evaded interception and that the other Gundam teams were occupied or unreachable.
• Xiao Ran activated Hand Speed Burst and charged toward the missiles as Cagalli and the three M1 Astrays followed.
• Xiao Ran told Mwu to have Sheryl begin, then locked onto the remaining missiles and unleashed Lightning Aegis’s weapons and Black Hawk’s missiles.
• Lightning Aegis and Black Hawk destroyed enemies and struck two groups of nuclear missiles, filling the battlefield with explosions.

Sheryl’s song calmed the battlefield, giving the Eternal and Kusanagi an opening to attack Genesis while the Archangel went after the Second Archangel. Xiao Ran chose to intercept the Second Archangel, and the chapter ended with the Lightning Aegis slipping through its barrage and reaching the bridge.

• Sheryl sang over the international communications channel, calming both Earth Force and ZAFT as Lacus recognized the power in her voice.
• Lacus and Andrew ordered an attack on Genesis, while the Archangel diverted to intercept the Second Archangel and prevent a nuclear strike on PLANT.
• Xiao Ran left Cagalli with drones for protection and headed for the Second Archangel; Cagalli disobeyed him and followed Kira and Athrun with the three M1 Astrays.
• The Archangel and Second Archangel began a warship-only duel, and Xiao Ran noticed their nearly identical combat styles before charging the Second Archangel.
• Bargyll ordered turrets and anti-air missiles to attack the Lightning Aegis, but Xiao Ran used Spirit Burst to weave through the barrage and reach the Second Archangel’s bridge.

Xiao Ran was forced to kill the Bargyll aboard Second Archangel after she pleaded for him to end her life, then salvaged the damaged warship and a Calamity Gundam. He left for Genesis after ordering Athrun and Cagalli to head there.

• Xiao Ran saw Bargyll and Flay on Second Archangel's bridge and diverted his attack from the ship to its Gottfried cannon.
• Bargyll aboard Archangel told Xiao Ran that the other Bargyll wanted to die on the battlefield and urged him to stop interfering.
• Azrael attacked Bargyll, and Xiao Ran finally fired into Second Archangel's bridge, killing her as she thanked him.
• Xiao Ran used Scrap Dealer to recycle Second Archangel, receiving the damaged warship and a badly damaged Calamity Gundam.
• Xiao Ran ordered Athrun and Cagalli to head to Genesis, then piloted Lightning Aegis toward it.