Chapter Summaries

Xiao Ran returned to Orb and seized authority, arresting the Ceran family and their allies while canceling Orb’s alliance agreements and declaring the Earth Force an enemy. As he announced his orders, an attack disrupted the ceremony, and a guard was gravely injured protecting him.

• Bargyll ordered the venue secured as Xiao Ran appeared, and Orb soldiers saluted him while Yula Ceran and the major general were subdued.
• Xiao Ran invoked Orb’s constitution to take control, removed Cagalli Asaha as Prime Minister, and ordered the arrest of the Ceran father and son and their accomplices.
• Xiao Ran canceled Orb’s Global Security Alliance agreements, declared the Earth Force an enemy, and ordered its delegation arrested.
• Unknown MS appeared as Earth Force personnel broke free and a sniper fired; guards shielded Xiao Ran, and a bullet severed another guard’s arm.
• Harvey and Sman fought off the attackers, and Xiao Ran ordered the injured guard rushed to treatment.

Xiao Ran returned to Orb, crushed a United assassination attempt, and declared Orb would begin sanctioning the United. As he headed to reorganize Orb’s government and military, he explained that the United was unlikely to risk attacking while already fighting ZAFT.

• Xiao Ran ordered the ceremony’s guests moved to safety and confronted the restrained United delegation, accusing them of abducting and targeting him.
• Harvey returned with the captured sniper, and Xiao Ran shot him dead before ordering the remaining delegates imprisoned and interrogated.
• Xiao Ran put Orb on full combat readiness, ordered the transport carrying the attacking MS sunk, and announced sanctions against the United.
• Orb’s officials and soldiers rallied behind Xiao Ran as news of his return spread, and civilians took to the streets to celebrate him.
• In a guarded car, Xiao Ran dismissed Bargyll’s concerns about killing the sniper and provoking the United, then appointed her his deputy to help purge and reorganize Orb.

Xiao Ran took charge of Orb, assigned its leaders urgent tasks, and planned to strengthen its military after reviewing recent battle losses. He left Mayu Asuka in a test-pilot role for now and sent Harvey toward D.S.S.D. to protect the organization and obtain information about the Stargazer Gundam and its technology.

• Xiao Ran learned that Harvey and the other participants had received a mission to protect him until Orb's transfer of power was complete, then assigned Orb's core members tasks to prepare the press conference, secure the military, and stabilize the country.
• Bargyll reported that Orb had lost seven Murasames and pilots in the battle against five Alliance participants; Xiao Ran ordered support for the fallen pilots' families and checked on the injured guard.
• Xiao Ran chose Mu to pilot the Savior Gundam and ordered Bargyll to search Orb for promising pilots and begin forming an Ace Unit.
• Bargyll recommended Mayu Asuka, but Xiao Ran kept her at Akatsuki Works as a test pilot unless she chose to join the Ace Unit herself.
• Xiao Ran ordered Harvey to travel to D.S.S.D. once Eshe and Sman's machines were repaired, protect the organization, and gather its technology and machine data, including information on the Stargazer Gundam.

After consolidating control of Orb, Xiao Ran handled urgent political and military matters and received a visit from Mina Lund, who warned him against endangering Orb. Mina's motives remained unclear as the chapter ended.

• Xiao Ran attended the reception, which became a welcome banquet, while representatives from neutral nations and PLANT hoped to cooperate with Orb.
• Bargyll briefed Xiao Ran on diplomatic meeting requests, arrests of the Ceran Family, military mobilization, and government vacancies.
• Xiao Ran ordered new appointments, combat preparations, refugee relief, a press conference, and a move to the Ceran Family estate.
• Mina Lund visited Xiao Ran and accused him of using Orb's great families as stepping stones to seize power.
• Xiao Ran defended his actions and asked why Mina had come, and she warned him not to lead Orb into danger.

Xiao Ran defended his plans for Orb to Mina and shared what he knew about the Librarians and their Photocopy Persons. As Orb’s new leader, he then rejected the Earth Force’s demand to join its alliance while receiving delegations from other powers.

• Mina warned Xiao Ran that his actions could draw the Earth Force and PLANT into conflict with Orb, then asked him for information about the Librarians after Luo directed her to him.
• Xiao Ran explained the Librarians’ global reach, advanced technology, and Photocopy Person Corps, and said he planned to investigate and eventually eliminate them.
• Mina said she would arrange her own investigation, but objected to Xiao Ran’s methods and left.
• Xiao Ran met delegations from various factions, welcomed those willing to support Orb’s neutrality, and proposed sending personnel to help defend D.S.S.D.
• Xiao Ran told PLANT that Orb would cooperate but not ally with it, and rejected the Atlantic Federation’s renewed demand to join the Global Security Alliance unless the Earth Force formally apologized.
• The Eurasian Federation sought to preserve its relationship with Orb, while the East Asian Federation secretly offered Orb its support.

Orb rejected the Global Security Alliance’s demands and prepared for war as an Earth Force fleet approached, while Xiao Ran sought Participants in Orb and coordinated the defense. The chapter ended with Bargyll reporting that Athrun had returned in a ZAFT mobile suit and that Prince Agnes wished to meet Xiao Ran.

• Orb declared the Earth Force hostile, arrested its personnel, and refused to join the Global Security Alliance.
• The Global Security Alliance demanded Orb submit, and the Earth Force sent a Combined Fleet toward Orb.
• Xiao Ran answered with an ultimatum of his own and ordered Eshe’s group of four to locate hidden Participants in Orb within one day.
• Mu took over the new Savior Gundam, and Wede Rabi Nadaga took possession of the Strike Gundam as Orb prepared its fleet and defenses.
• Xiao Ran gave Durandal an indirect opening to send ZAFT aid without forming an alliance with Orb.
• Bargyll told Xiao Ran that Athrun had returned in a ZAFT mobile suit and that Prince Agnes wanted to meet him.

Xiao Ran persuaded Agnes that Orb needed strength to uphold its ideals of peace, and Agnes chose to join the fleet heading to the front lines. Athrun arrived at Xiao Ran's office in a ZAFT uniform, and Xiao Ran began explaining what had happened to Orb while he was away.

• Agnes asked Xiao Ran to let him accompany the fleet to the front lines, and Xiao Ran accepted after warning him of the danger.
• Agnes questioned why Xiao Ran had chosen to confront the Earth Alliance, and Xiao Ran explained that Orb needed strength to resist coercion and preserve peace.
• Bargyll brought Athrun into Xiao Ran's office, and Xiao Ran welcomed him back.
• Athrun asked Xiao Ran about his return, Cagalli, and Orb's war with the Alliance, and Xiao Ran promised to explain.
• Xiao Ran introduced Athrun to Agnes and recounted what had happened, including the Alliance's kidnapping and brainwashing of him.

Xiao Ran told Athrun that Orb was about to face war with the Alliance and allowed him to fight under his former identity as Alex Dino, while keeping his ZAFT affiliation out of Orb’s fleet. As Athrun went to receive a suitable mobile suit, Eshe reported that fifteen or sixteen participants were now connected with Orb.

• Xiao Ran told Athrun that the Alliance was approaching Orb, but said Athrun could not fight as a ZAFT officer without making Orb appear allied with PLANT.
• Xiao Ran said Athrun could instead fight as Alex Dino, then sent Bargyll to arrange Mu’s unit for him and have the Dawn Gundam delivered to Mu.
• After Athrun and Bargyll left, Agnes departed, and Xiao Ran considered Orb’s next moves before Eshe reported that she had contacted fifteen or sixteen participants in Orb’s sphere of influence.
• Eshe explained that most of the participants had switched to Orb because they expected it to win, and Xiao Ran joked about the number of clever people and gamblers.
• Athrun changed into an Orb Army uniform and went with Bargyll to the Second Archangel, where he was stunned by a mobile suit almost identical to his Savior Gundam.

Athrun discovered the upgraded Savior Gundam and a transformed Justice Gundam in Orb, then joined Mu and Bargyll as Erica revealed a golden mobile suit prepared for Cagalli and the late Lord Asaha’s final message. The chapter ended with Erica explaining that another machine and the authority to take control of Orb in a crisis had been prepared for the mysterious returning man.

• Mu explained that the Earth Force had modified the Savior Gundam Athrun had seen, and Athrun adjusted its operating system for his use.
• Athrun discovered that the Justice Gundam had also been extensively transformed, though Mu did not know how it had been changed.
• Bargyll led Athrun and Mu to Erica, who took them to a sealed chamber beneath Akatsuki Works.
• Erica opened the chamber and revealed a golden mobile suit prepared for Cagalli along with Lord Asaha’s recorded last words.
• Erica explained that Lord Asaha and Orb’s leaders had also prepared another machine and the authority for the returning man to take control of Orb during a crisis.

Xiao Ran learned that Orb had prepared the Dawn Gundam for Cagalli and the Midnight Gundam for him, and he supplied his combat data so Akatsuki Works could tune the Midnight Gundam. The Second Archangel led Orb’s fleet toward an expected battle with the Global Security Alliance, while Symonds began emergency adjustments to the new unit.

• Bargyll returned to the Second Archangel with Mu and Athrun, bringing the Dawn Gundam and a similar silver unit that Xiao Ran later learned was the Midnight Gundam.
• Erica Symonds explained that the Dawn Gundam was designed for Cagalli, while the higher-speed, higher-firepower Midnight Gundam had been built specifically for Xiao Ran.
• Xiao Ran copied his Justice Gundam’s operational records for Symonds and agreed to complete the Midnight Gundam’s OS himself.
• The Second Archangel led Orb’s fleet out of Orb in an arrowhead formation, with contact with the Global Security Alliance expected in roughly twelve hours.
• Symonds told Xiao Ran that emergency adjustments to the Midnight Gundam would take about four hours.

As Orb and the Combined Fleet prepared to clash, Lacus considered Xiao Ran’s reasons for taking control of Orb and concluded that he intended to win a decisive battle to strengthen his rule. Kira chose to take the Archangel to the battlefield with Cagalli, while Lacus planned to return to Zoe and make preparations.

• Cagalli demanded that the Archangel return to Orb, but the crew kept her aboard as Orb remained united under Xiao Ran’s rule and prepared to fight the Combined Fleet.
• Lacus reasoned that Xiao Ran had waited for Cagalli to leave because her impulsiveness could obstruct his plans, and that he intended to use victory to raise Orb’s morale and secure better terms.
• Kira told Lacus that Cagalli was again urging Mwu and the bridge crew to return to Orb and stop Xiao Ran from entering the war.
• Lacus advised Kira to follow his own judgment and said returning to Orb would not let Cagalli influence its decisions.
• Kira proposed taking the Archangel to the battlefield instead of returning to Orb, and Mwu agreed after Kira and Lacus supported Cagalli’s choice.
• Lacus considered returning to Zoe to prepare, while Mwu recognized that the Archangel could become Xiao Ran’s enemy if Kira and Cagalli obstructed him.

Xiao Ran prepared Orb’s smaller fleet for an approaching battle against the much larger Global Security Alliance Combined Fleet, then launched Midnight Gundam to begin a harassment operation. He and Savior Gundam X11 flew out toward the enemy fleet.

• Orb’s fleet rested as it sailed toward the Combined Fleet, and Xiao Ran was summoned to the Second Archangel’s bridge when enemy ships appeared on reconnaissance screens.
• An Orb officer warned that the enemy outnumbered them by more than three to one and proposed using elite pilots for flanking harassment instead of a frontal battle.
• Xiao Ran ordered the hangar to prepare for sortie and tasked Orb officers with selecting capable pilots to join the operation.
• Xiao Ran chose Midnight Gundam over Justice Gundam to test the new machine, while Mu, Athrun, Agnes, Orro, Sting, Eshe, and other pilots prepared to launch.
• Xiao Ran launched Midnight Gundam from the Second Archangel, and Savior Gundam X11 took off alongside him.

Xiao Ran led Orb’s MS force to confront the Combined Fleet and discovered that the Earth Force had deployed several powerful new Gundam units. He challenged the opposing pilots directly, leaving both forces poised for battle.

• Xiao Ran ordered the Orb MS force to scout and harass the Combined Fleet, then led more than thirty units toward its formation.
• Xiao Ran identified the five improved G Series units, the surviving Unknown Unit and AGE-1, and three upgraded Forbidden, Raider, and Calamity Gundams among the enemy forces.
• Xiao Ran used his Scout Skill to assess several enemy units, finding four B-class machines and warning Mu, Athrun, Agnes, and the other pilots to stay alert and follow his command.
• Kira boarded the Freedom Gundam, Andrew the Tiger boarded his yellow Murasame, and Cagalli watched the confrontation from the Crimson Strike aboard the Archangel.
• A cloaked black-and-gold unit observed Xiao Ran while Cruze and Luo waited aboard a yellow warship near Earth’s gravitational boundary with several other machines.
• Xiao Ran stopped the Midnight Gundam between the opposing forces, singled out the Crimson Forbidden, Golden Raider, and Azure Calamity, and taunted their pilots.

Xiao Ran provoked the Combined Fleet’s three new units to test their pilots, then fought Crimson Forbidden while assessing its defenses. When Golden Scavenger and Azure Calamity attacked together, Midnight Gundam reflected Azure Calamity’s beams back at Golden Scavenger, leaving the battle poised to continue.

• Cagalli and Kira reacted with surprise to Midnight Gundam’s provocative gesture, unaware that Xiao Ran was piloting it.
• Xiao Ran changed his plan after seeing the Combined Fleet’s superior forces and used the challenge to determine whether its three new pilots were truly B-class.
• Crimson Forbidden charged Midnight Gundam with its scythe, but Xiao Ran dodged, struck its head, and tested its Beam Directional Armor with beam attacks.
• Azure Calamity fired four beams at Midnight Gundam as Golden Scavenger transformed and hurled Meteors toward it.
• Midnight Gundam used its Yasakani no Magatama Armor to absorb and reflect Azure Calamity’s beams, sending four matching beams toward Golden Scavenger.

Xiao Ran’s Midnight Gundam overwhelmed the three opposing Gundams and the surrounding Earth Force units, then countered a coordinated pincer attack with strikes in three directions. The clash left Crimson Forbidden crippled, Raider Gundam’s attack destroyed, and a large MA sunk into the sea.

• Midnight Gundam reflected Azure Calamity’s beams, destroying Golden Scavenger’s Meteors before Crimson Forbidden shielded Raider Gundam from the remaining shots.
• Kira recognized Xiao Ran as his teacher, and Xiao Ran ordered his allies to wear down the enemy forces while avoiding prolonged engagements.
• Midnight Gundam attacked the three Gundams as Crimson Forbidden, Golden Scavenger, and Azure Calamity coordinated their assault, while Windams and a large MA joined the fight.
• Xiao Ran used Midnight Gundam’s Beam Saber to pierce Crimson Forbidden’s cockpit vent, then fired its backpack cannons to destroy Raider Gundam’s incoming shells.
• Midnight Gundam fired its chest Energy Cannon through the large MA, causing it to explode and crash into the sea.

Xiao Ran’s forces defeated Crimson Forbidden and inflicted heavy losses on the Earth Force Combined Fleet before withdrawing as enemy reinforcements arrived. Cagalli blamed Xiao Ran for leading Orb’s military, but Kira explained that they had chosen different ways to protect Orb and that she would have been confined if she had stayed behind.

• Xiao Ran used Crimson Forbidden as a shield against Azure Calamity’s Fire Snake attack while Sting drove Golden Scavenger away with Chaos Gundam.
• Xiao Ran struck Crimson Forbidden with Midnight Gundam, pierced its cockpit, and sent the disabled machine falling toward the sea.
• Athrun’s unit harried the Combined Fleet while Orro and Chaos Gundam destroyed underwater forces and several warships.
• As Earth Force reinforcements gathered and Orb’s machines took damage, Xiao Ran ordered his forces to retreat, and Orb’s fleet turned away to avoid a direct clash.
• Cagalli watched the retreat from Archangel, condemned Xiao Ran, and Kira told her that she and Xiao Ran had chosen different methods to defend Orb.

Cagalli decided to meet Xiao Ran and explain her belief that Orb must avoid another war, while Kira agreed to accompany her. Xiao Ran returned to the Second Archangel with the captured Crimson Forbidden, and Symonds began assessing the battle damage and Midnight Gundam’s shortcomings.

• Lacus urged Cagalli to confront Xiao Ran and hear his reasons, arguing that Orb’s concessions had weakened it and that it might eventually have to fight to preserve its sovereignty.
• Cagalli reflected on her choices, her gratitude and guilt toward Xiao Ran, and her fear of facing him before resolving to meet him and tell him Orb must not endure another defeat.
• Kira agreed to go with Cagalli, and Freedom Gundam and Crimson Strike launched from the Archangel toward Orb’s fleet.
• Xiao Ran returned to the Second Archangel with Midnight Gundam and the captured Crimson Forbidden, whose cockpit he had precisely disabled.
• Symonds inspected Crimson Forbidden, learned it had a nuclear reactor, and told Xiao Ran she had reviewed Midnight Gundam’s combat data and identified shortcomings.

Xiao Ran reviewed the Midnight Gundam’s limitations with Symonds and decided he would not pilot it in future battles. Symonds recommended Mayu Asuka and Bari Ho as pilots for Orb’s available mecha, leaving Xiao Ran to consider whether the young Mayu was ready for combat.

• Xiao Ran and Symonds examined the Midnight Gundam’s weaknesses in energy supply, armor, skeleton, and combat output.
• Xiao Ran suggested possible improvements, including using the backpack to supply nuclear power and adding shields against ballistic attacks.
• Xiao Ran told Symonds he would not pilot the Midnight Gundam again and said Orb needed qualified pilots for its available mecha.
• Symonds recommended Mayu Asuka and Bari Ho, describing Mayu’s strong training results and Bari Ho as the strongest pilot among the Astray units.
• Xiao Ran questioned whether Mayu was ready to pilot a mecha in battle, and Symonds explained that Mayu had joined the Orb Army to help protect him and her brother.

Xiao Ran prepared Orb’s forces for another engagement after their first strike badly damaged the Combined Fleet, then led the Justice Gundam into battle against a large Earth Force sortie. The fighting began as Orb’s pilots intercepted the enemy while Freedom Gundam and Strike Rouge approached.

• Xiao Ran approved Symonds’s recommendations of Mayu and Bari Ho for the Midnight Gundam and Crimson Forbidden, and ordered them to report aboard the Second Archangel for evaluation.
• Xiao Ran received a report that Orb had destroyed nine enemy warships and twenty-seven MS with no fatalities, then ordered the fleet to continue harassing the Combined Fleet while avoiding direct engagement.
• A captain reported that Freedom Gundam and Crimson Strike were approaching as more than fifty Earth Force MS sortied, and Xiao Ran ordered Orb’s units to launch.
• Xiao Ran launched in the Justice Gundam and assigned Athrun command of the other pilots, directing the Murasame Unit to target the Earth Force’s mass-produced mecha.
• Orb’s MS met the Combined Fleet’s formation, with the Eshe Squad and participants engaging enemy aces while the Savior, Dawn, Chaos, and Abyss Gundams intercepted other opposing machines.

Xiao Ran activated Justice Gundam’s Twin Drive system and overwhelmed the Combined Fleet’s attack with its GN Particles, speed, and remote weapons. As the battle continued, Justice Gundam pressed the Golden Scavenger while GN Dragoons tore through the Windam formation.

• Xiao Ran ordered Haros to activate Justice Gundam’s Twin Drive system, flooding the battlefield and Orb’s fleet with green GN Particles.
• The Combined Fleet’s machines charged Justice Gundam, and Xiao Ran used his heightened perception to evade their attacks and counter with GN Dragoons.
• Justice Gundam raced toward the Crimson Aegis and Golden Scavenger while Savior Gundam and Dawn Gundam intercepted the fleeing machines.
• Xiao Ran’s GN Dragoons attacked the Windam formation as Justice Gundam pursued the Golden Scavenger with its beam sword and Sword-type BITs.
• The Golden Scavenger tried to evade and shoot down the Sword-type BITs, but Xiao Ran guided them around its attacks and slashed its armor from several directions.