Chapter Summaries

After his victory at Jachin Due, Akira returned to April City for a debriefing and decoration ceremony, where news of ZAFT’s capture of Gibraltar revealed his role in the operation. He received ZAFT’s highest honor and authority to form an independent flotilla, leaving him courted by both major political factions and under Rau Le Creuset’s scrutiny.

• Akira returned to April City, gave a detailed account of the Battle of Jachin Due, and was scheduled to receive a decoration.
• Akira reunited with his family, then received an encrypted call from Rau Le Creuset, who probed his views on the war and peace.
• Before Akira’s ceremony began, the vice-chairman announced that ZAFT had captured Gibraltar with help from the covert force Akira had deployed during Operation Uranus.
• The vice-chairman awarded Akira the Nebula Medal and authorized him to establish the autonomous Silver Wing Independent Flotilla.
• Zala faction officers and a Clyne faction councilor courted Akira after the ceremony, while Akira recognized the political dangers surrounding his new honors and authority.

During his month-long leave, Akira Hawke prepared for the next phase of the war by securing secret cooperation with the East Asian Republic and building ties with Lacus Clyne and Siegel Clyne. As fighting erupted around Suez and Alamein, his leave ended with the Earth Alliance’s G Project and a widening conflict looming.

• Akira gave Li Bing intelligence about the Earth Alliance’s G Project in Orb and asked the East Asian Republic to provide him with a new identity and support when needed.
• The East Asian Republic confirmed the intelligence’s value, began secret contact with Orb, and agreed in principle to meet Akira’s future needs.
• Akira visited Lacus Clyne, discussed the war and prospects for peace with her, and grew closer to her.
• Lacus arranged a secret meeting between Akira and Siegel Clyne, who welcomed Akira’s efforts to preserve the seeds of peace and strengthen the Clyne Faction’s connection with him.
• Reports of the Suez Campaign and Battle of Alamein arrived as Akira’s leave ended, and he prepared to return to military duty with new alliances and a fallback plan.

Akira led the Silver Wing flotilla to victories at Endymion and Nova before secretly traveling to Heliopolis under the identity Lin Ming. There, he warned East Asian Republic intelligence about Orb’s G Project and proposed exploiting the coming conflict, while preparing to infiltrate Morgenroete.

• Akira used a stealth route and a strike on Coordinate Delta to help the Silver Wing flotilla capture the Gate of Endymion.
• Akira led a rear assault that damaged Nova’s life-support system, allowing ZAFT to capture the fortress.
• Akira handed command of the Silver Wing flotilla to Heine Westenfluss, then traveled secretly to Heliopolis as Lin Ming and asked Heine to prioritize recruiting Shiho Hahnenfuss, Lunamaria Hawke, Meirin Hawke, and Li Bing.
• Akira told Carrier Pigeon that Orb’s G Project could make Heliopolis a target and advised the East Asian Republic to prepare its forces and plan for a possible retreat from Kaohsiung.
• Akira proposed that the East Asian Republic use the coming chaos to gain influence in Heliopolis and secure Morgenroete’s research, then arranged to maintain contact through dead drops while preparing to infiltrate Morgenroete.

Using the alias Lin Ming, Akira studied at Heliopolis, befriended Kira Yamato, and secretly mapped entrances to Morgenroete’s underground factory. After rescuing Murrue Ramius, he began a relationship with her that complicated his nightly reconnaissance as he prepared for the coming attack.

• Akira attended the Heliopolis Institute of Technology as Lin Ming and drew Flay Allster’s interest while declining her invitation.
• Akira encouraged Kira Yamato’s technical talent and secretly searched for entrances to Morgenroete’s underground factory.
• Akira rescued Murrue Ramius from drunken men outside a bar and took her to his apartment when she could not get home alone.
• Murrue and Akira began meeting almost every night, and she sometimes shared fragments of information about her work at Morgenroete.
• Akira adjusted his reconnaissance plans and continued preparing for the coming attack as the G Project neared completion.

Mei Hock infiltrated Morgenroete’s secret factory, copied intelligence on Orb’s mobile suits, and silenced Flay Allster after she discovered him. He arranged his return to PLANT, left messages for Flay and Murrue, and departed Heliopolis with Heine Westenfluss.

• Mei used his ACCORD abilities and covert equipment to enter Morgenroete’s hidden workshop and copy the designs and technical data for Orb’s mobile suits.
• When Flay Allster caught Mei leaving the classroom, he drugged and abducted her, then coerced her into silence and kept her under his control.
• Mei sent the stolen intelligence to the East Asia faction and arranged for Heine Westenfluss to extract him to PLANT on New Year’s Day.
• Mei left Flay a USB drive containing a message and promised compensation, then left a letter for Murrue saying he would return for her.
• Mei met Heine at the secret passage, boarded a Ginn, and left Heliopolis aboard the Silver Wing for PLANT.

Akira returned to PLANT with intelligence from Heliopolis, gaining Patrick Zala’s recognition and strengthening his ties with Lacus Clyne. After receiving a new GuAIZ, a Nazca-class flagship, and a crew of trusted allies, he prepared to lead a rescue mission to Junius Seven when Lacus’s spacecraft disappeared near Earth Alliance forces.

• Akira submitted intelligence on the Earth Alliance’s G Series Gundams to ZAFT headquarters and gave Lacus Clyne a more complete version, then grew closer to her during their meetings in the Clyne estate’s garden.
• Patrick Zala praised Akira’s reconnaissance work and assigned him an upgraded commander-use GuAIZ, recognizing him as an elite officer.
• Akira gathered Li Bing, Shiho, Luna, and Meyrin under his command, received a Nazca-class battleship named Silver Wing, and spent his leave with them.
• Akira received word that Lacus’s spacecraft had vanished near Junius Seven after encountering Earth Alliance forces, and Chairman Siegel Clyne authorized a rescue mission.
• Akira ordered the Silver Wing crew to prepare for departure, sent the women to the flagship, and set out to collect his GuAIZ before leading the rescue.

Akira Hawke secretly searched the Junius Seven debris field for Lacus while evading detection, then used Kira Yamato’s rescue of a stranded civilian to board the Archangel. He entered the ship with plans to find Lacus’s lifepod and gather intelligence as the conflict around Junius Seven intensified.

• Akira ordered the Silver Wing and its escort ships to approach Junius Seven under radio silence, then learned from Rau Le Creuset that the Archangel was being pursued and the East Asian Republic had taken control of Heliopolis.
• Akira reached the search area, launched his reconnaissance GuAIZ, and found the Archangel and the wreckage of Lacus’s spacecraft, where his scanner detected a faint life sign near the escape-pod area.
• As Akira searched the wreckage, Murrue Ramius sent the Strike Gundam and an engineering craft to collect ice, and Kira Yamato destroyed a ZAFT reconnaissance Ginn before finding a PLANT escape pod.
• Akira fired a distress flare, and Kira left the escape pod temporarily to rescue him, mistaking the disguised ZAFT officer for a civilian survivor.
• Kira retrieved the escape pod and brought Akira aboard the Strike Gundam toward the Archangel, while Akira secretly gathered information about the Gundam and prepared for his next moves.

Mei Hock, the ZAFT commander known as the Silver Wing Angel, reunited with Kira aboard the Archangel and rescued Lacus from her escape pod. After warning that Rau’s forces were attacking the Eighth Fleet’s vanguard, Mei helped the crew plan a hostage negotiation, then was summoned to discuss the mission with Murrue.

• Mei emerged from the Strike Gundam’s cockpit, and Mu recognized him as the Silver Wing Angel while Kira greeted him as his senior.
• Mei opened the escape pod, revealing Lacus and her Haro, and persuaded the Archangel’s officers not to detain them as enemies.
• Mei told Murrue that Rau’s forces were pursuing the Eighth Fleet’s vanguard, and communications confirmed that the vanguard was under attack and suffering losses.
• Mei proposed using himself and Lacus as leverage to make Rau halt his assault, and Murrue approved the plan with Natarle’s precautions.
• Mei and Lacus were placed under guard in a small lounge, where they shared a private affectionate moment before Murrue summoned Mei to discuss the mission.

Akira met privately with Murrue aboard the Archangel, reassured her that his feelings were genuine, and confirmed the hostage exchange plan. After comforting Flay and returning to Lacus, he fell asleep to her song while Murrue, Mu La Flaga, and Natasha agreed to proceed cautiously with the exchange.

• Murrue confronted Akira about his ZAFT identity and her fear that he had used her for intelligence, but accepted his reassurance that his feelings were real.
• Akira and Murrue confirmed that the hostage exchange would wait until the Archangel met the Vanguard Team and neared the Eighth Fleet's main force.
• Akira encountered Flay, told her that Rau Le Creuset threatened the Vanguard Team and her father, and left her believing he had risked himself to protect them.
• Akira returned to Lacus and told her about the exchange plan, then fell asleep while she sang to him.
• Murrue persuaded Mu La Flaga and Natasha to follow Akira's proposal while monitoring Akira and Lacus and preparing security measures.

Akira and Lacus escaped the Archangel during a hostage exchange after Kira impulsively helped them, but Rau attacked as Kira hesitated over Athrun’s invitation. After Kira and Mu drove Rau off, Akira and Lacus left for PLANT, with Flay taken along; Akira ended the chapter preparing to contact his Silver Wing squad and monitor the Archangel.

• Akira told Mu and Natarle that soldiers should judge their orders and avoid needless killing, while Kira overheard and resolved to protect people rather than fight for a faction.
• Kira, unaware of the planned hostage exchange, began rescuing Akira and Lacus; when Flay discovered them, Akira knocked her unconscious and brought her along.
• Kira launched the Strike Gundam with Akira, Lacus, and Flay, then reached the ZAFT fleet, where Athrun met them in the Aegis and took Akira and Lacus aboard.
• Athrun urged Kira to return to PLANT, but Rau attacked during Kira’s hesitation; Akira urged Kira to fight, and Kira and Mu damaged Rau’s CGUE until Lacus ordered Rau to withdraw.
• Akira settled Flay aboard the ZAFT warship, spoke privately with Rau, and prepared to return to PLANT with Lacus while Athrun, Yzak, Dearka, and Nicol were present.
• Akira prepared to contact his Silver Wing squad with their rendezvous coordinates and instructions to monitor the Archangel and Rau’s forces.

Akira Hawke brought the Silver Wing Fleet to the Eighth Fleet’s battle against Creuset’s forces, while the Archangel prepared to descend to Earth and Kira fought to protect the Washington. As Earth’s gravity pulled the Strike, Duel, and Buster downward, Akira stopped Yzak from firing on an escape pod by stomping the Duel and descending with it toward Earth.

• Creuset continued his plan and ordered his fleet to accelerate toward the Eighth Fleet, while Akira reunited with the Silver Wing Fleet and ordered it to join the battle.
• Halberton put the Eighth Fleet on combat alert, and Murrue argued with Badgiruel over whether the Archangel should stay and defend it.
• The Silver Wing Fleet and Creuset’s forces attacked the Eighth Fleet, and Akira shot down multiple Mobius units while Kira joined the battle in the Strike Gundam.
• Murrue ordered the Archangel to begin its Earth descent and sent Kira to cover the Washington; Kira fought Yzak’s Duel and Dearka’s Buster as the Eighth Fleet suffered heavy losses.
• Earth’s gravity pulled the Strike, Duel, and Buster into descent, and Murrue redirected the Archangel to retrieve Kira.
• When Yzak aimed at an escape pod, Akira stopped him by stomping the Duel Gundam and began descending to Earth with it, instructing the Silver Wing Fleet to meet him near Carpentaria Base.

The Archangel crash-landed in ZAFT-controlled African desert, where Andrew Waltfeld’s forces attacked and Kira struggled to defend the damaged warship in the sand. At the base, Mei Hock met Cagalli, arranged for Aisha to protect Lacus, challenged Yzak to think beyond combat, and prepared to approach Andrew about joining his cause.

• The Archangel and the Duel, Buster, and GuAIZ endured a dangerous atmospheric descent, while Kira awoke aboard the Archangel in better condition than before.
• Andrew Waltfeld sent BuCUEs to probe the crash-landed Archangel, and Kira sortied in the Strike but became bogged down and took fire in the desert sand.
• Mei, Yzak, and Dearka reached the ZAFT base, where Mei encountered Cagalli and Tolle at the market before arranging for Aisha to join Lacus in PLANT.
• Mei reprimanded Yzak for pursuing the Strike recklessly and urged him to consider how the war should end, leaving Yzak and Dearka reflecting on his words.
• Mei ordered desert adaptations for the GuAIZ, then saw Andrew’s battered patrol return and resolved to recruit him to his cause.

Akira Hawke persuaded Andrew Waltfeld to wager that Andrew would join his ranks if the Archangel escaped, while Andrew agreed to consider sending Aisha to protect Lacus. Andrew destroyed Desert Dawn’s supplies without harming anyone, then ambushed the Archangel at Tarbeidia, but Dearka’s missed shot opened an escape route and the Archangel broke through.

• Akira asked Andrew to let Aisha protect Lacus in PLANT and proposed that Andrew join his ranks if the Archangel escaped; Andrew accepted the wager, and Aisha agreed to go after the Archangel matter was settled.
• Andrew raided Desert Dawn’s stronghold, destroyed its supplies without injuring anyone, and ordered his forces to prepare an ambush at the Old Town of Tarbeidia.
• Murrue allied the Archangel with Desert Dawn and began escorting its refugees toward the Red Sea Port as Andrew’s forces joined up with Yzak and Dearka.
• Andrew’s forces trapped the Archangel in Tarbeidia, but Kira dodged Dearka’s shot, which struck a building pillar and opened a route through the rubble.
• Kira disabled several ZAFT mobile suits while Murrue led the Archangel through the gap; Andrew ordered a retreat, and the Archangel continued toward the Red Sea Port with the refugee convoy.

The Archangel fought Andrew Waltfeld’s forces in a sandstorm at the Suez Canal, and Kira awakened his SEED Factor as he nearly destroyed the LaGOWE. Mei Hock stopped Kira’s final strike, secured Andrew’s retreat, and watched the Archangel enter the Red Sea before setting out to prepare for Lacus’s arrival and the coming conflict.

• Murrue ordered the Archangel to make for the Suez Canal while Kira defended it from Andrew’s LaGOWE and the attacking BuCUEs.
• Andrew launched a full assault, and the Lesseps and BuCUEs concentrated fire on the Archangel as the LaGOWE damaged Kira’s Strike.
• After the Archangel suffered heavy damage and its defenses neared their limits, Kira awakened his SEED Factor and maneuvered behind the LaGOWE to attack its weak point.
• Mei Hock arrived in his GuAIZ and blocked Kira’s Beam Saber, saving Andrew and Aisha from the fatal strike.
• Mei Hock urged Kira to stop fighting, and Andrew ordered his forces to retreat after promising not to attack the Archangel again.
• Mu retrieved Kira, the Archangel entered the Red Sea, and Mei Hock headed for the ZAFT-controlled Spaceport to prepare for Lacus’s arrival and the coming showdown.

Akira returned to PLANT, earned Patrick Zala’s trust, and learned that the Archangel had escaped into Orb. Expecting it to clash with Athrun’s squad near the Mozambique Channel, Akira traveled there in the GuAIZ to prevent Nicol’s death and waited in hiding for the battle.

• Akira returned the GuAIZ to the Silver Wing, reported to Patrick Zala, and received orders to go to Victoria Base for the Battle of Alaska preparations.
• Akira learned that the Archangel had entered Orb and decided to use its coming clash with Athrun’s squad to protect Nicol and approach Yuri Amalfi without arousing Zala’s suspicions.
• Akira sent Heine Westenfluss, Shiho Hahnenfuss, and Lunamaria Hawke to patrol the shipping lanes while the Silver Wing headed to Victoria Base.
• At Victoria Base, Akira predicted that Athrun’s squad would meet the Archangel near the Mozambique Channel around April 15 and requisitioned a stealth support aircraft for the GuAIZ.
• Akira flew to the Mozambique Channel on April 13, concealed the GuAIZ near an island, and began monitoring Orb’s border while waiting for the Archangel and Athrun’s squad.

Mei Hock saved Nicol from dying in the battle between the Archangel and Athrun’s squad, then rushed him from Victoria Base to PLANT for advanced surgery. As Nicol entered the operating room at PLANT Central Hospital, his worried father Yuri Amalfi arrived.

• Akira watched Athrun’s squad attack the Archangel while Kira fought Athrun, and the battle left the ZAFT machines badly damaged.
• Nicol activated the Blitz’s Mirage Colloid to save Athrun, but Kira’s Anti-Ship Sword severed the Blitz’s arm and gravely wounded him.
• Akira arrived in the GuAIZ, blocked Kira’s sword, rescued Nicol, and ordered Athrun’s squad to cover their withdrawal.
• Akira took Nicol to Victoria Base for emergency treatment, then flew with him aboard the Silver Wing to PLANT for further care.
• Nicol was taken into surgery at PLANT Central Hospital, where Yuri Amalfi arrived in alarm.

After Nicol was critically wounded, Yuri Amalfi thanked Akira Hawke for saving his son and gave him the nuclear-powered Justicar Gundam, originally developed for Nicol. Akira launched for Earth in the new Gundam to join ZAFT’s preparations for the Battle of Alaska, determined to change the war’s outcome.

• Akira told Yuri Amalfi that Nicol was stable after surgery began, and Yuri vowed to keep his son off the battlefield.
• Yuri revealed the Justicar Gundam he had commissioned for Nicol and offered it to Akira as thanks for saving him.
• Akira inspected the Justicar Gundam and studied its specifications, weapons, and systems before accepting it.
• Yuri reported that Nicol’s operation was going smoothly and ordered Akira to head to Earth for the Battle of Alaska.
• Akira boarded the Justicar Gundam, ordered the Silver Wing to support ZAFT from Earth orbit, and departed for Earth.
• Akira entered Earth’s atmosphere in the Justicar Gundam, determined to change the course of the war.

Akira returned to ZAFT command in the Justicar Gundam, directed the campaign against Alaska, and earned the loyalty of soldiers by protecting civilians and prisoners. As ZAFT encircled Alaska Base, he warned that the Cyclops System was a trap and prepared to infiltrate the base before the main assault.

• Akira avoided interfering with Kira Yamato's shuttle, then landed at ZAFT's North African headquarters and received temporary command of the Alaska theater.
• Akira ordered coordinated attacks on Alliance supply lines and defenses, forbade harm to civilians, and required surrendering prisoners to be treated well.
• Akira used the Justicar Gundam to rescue ZAFT units across the front, defeat Earth Forces machines, and spare a surrendered Strike pilot.
• Akira told Major Li Bing that the Cyclops System lay beneath Alaska Base and urged the East Asian Republic to prepare to expose it and break from the Atlantic Federation.
• By April 16, ZAFT had seized Alaska's outer positions and fuel depots, while Akira ordered the main force to stay outside the base and planned an underground infiltration.

Akira infiltrated Alaska Base with the Silver Wing Special Forces, uncovered the Cyclops System, and exposed the Atlantic Federation’s plan to destroy the base and everyone in it. The forces evacuated before the explosion, while Kira arrived too late and then learned that the Archangel had gone to Orb.

• Akira ordered ZAFT to slow its attack after learning the Atlantic Federation had abandoned its allies, then led an infiltration team into Alaska Base.
• Akira and his operatives reached the Cyclops System Control Room and photographed the weapon and its countdown; Mu La Flaga arrived and confronted Rau Le Creuset, who escaped.
• Akira broadcast evidence of the Cyclops System and ordered ZAFT to withdraw, while Mu warned the Archangel and Murrue ordered it to evacuate toward Orb.
• Akira asked Murrue to rescue the abandoned Atlantic Federation survivors, and the Archangel took them aboard before leaving the danger zone.
• Kira reached the evacuated battlefield as the Cyclops System destroyed Alaska Base, then received a message that the Archangel was in Orb and flew there.
• Atlantic Federation generals activated the Cyclops System to erase evidence, while Akira watched the explosion and ZAFT, the Archangel, and the other surviving forces withdrew safely.

After the Atlantic Federation’s Alaska plot was exposed, the East Asian Republic withdrew from the Earth Alliance and began negotiations with PLANT, while the Federation retaliated against the dependent Eurasian Federation. Kira reunited with the Archangel in Orb as Akira prepared for the PLANT–East Asian talks and tightened Victoria Port’s defenses.

• The Atlantic Federation’s generals watched the East Asian Republic withdraw from the Earth Alliance and condemn their betrayal, while East Asian forces took control of former Alliance bases.
• PLANT returned Kaohsiung Spaceport to the East Asian Republic and sent a diplomatic delegation; Akira agreed to support the negotiations and organize Victoria Port’s defenses.
• The Atlantic Federation remotely disabled Eurasian military equipment, then attacked the defenseless Eurasian Federation after abandoning plans to invade the prepared East Asian Republic.
• Kira Yamato arrived in Orb in the Freedom Gundam and reunited with Mu La Flaga, who told him that the Archangel and its rescued troops were safe and that Eurasia was under attack.
• Akira ordered the PLANT delegation to pursue nonaggression and trade treaties with the East Asian Republic and told Victoria Port to monitor the Atlantic Federation.