Episodes

The Orb Union space colony, Heliopolis, is attacked by ZAFT, despite its neutrality since the beginning of the Bloody Valentine War. Kira Yamato accidentally sees the Earth Alliance's new prototype mobile suits, which have been secretly constructed at the Heliopolis Morgenroete factory. He encounters his childhood friend, Athrun Zala, now a ZAFT soldier as one of the attackers. || 11 months have passed since the Earth Alliance and ZAFT (Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty) entered into war. In L5, on the resource satellite Heliopolis of the neutral nation Orb… On this colony, Industrial College student Kira Yamato, as usual, heads for the lab where he accidentally gets involved in a Gundam extortion plan by the invading ZAFT forces. Source: crunchyroll

ZAFT is able to steal four of the five G Project prototype mobile suits, leaving only the GAT-X105 Strike. With Murrue Ramius unable to pilot it effectively, Kira pilots the Strike and defends Heliopolis against the invading ZAFT forces to protect his friends. Ensign Natarle Badgiruel takes command of the new mobile assault ship Archangel with the surviving crew members. || Within the flames, Athrun steals the last Gundam, MS Aegis, and escapes. Kira and Murrue also get onto Strike Gundam and barely escape as the factory explodes. But ZAFT’s MS GINN was waiting for them! Source: crunchyroll

Lt. Murrue Ramius takes over as captain of the Archangel and Kira and his friends are detained for seeing top secret military weapons. Rau Le Creuset is determined to capture the Strike after seeing how well it moved and sends out mobile suits to retrieve it. Disobeying orders, Athrun also dispatches so he could confirm if Kira is the one piloting the Strike, but when he finds his answer, Heliopolis crumbles as it sustains too much damage. || Rau, piloting MS CGUE, attacks Kira. Just then Archangel appears in front of them. Strike Gundam’s cannon fired at Rau opens a large hole into the colony. Everyone is stunned by its power. Seeing that the odds are against him, Rau breaks away from the battle. Source: crunchyroll

Kira discovers a malfunctioning lifeboat and brings it aboard the Archangel. Everyone is surprised to find Flay Allster as one of the rescued civilians. The Archangel decides to head for the Eurasian Federation military satellite Artemis to seek help. Rau Le Creuset follows and plans an attack on the Archangel. Kira decides to continue piloting the Strike and his friends volunteer to become members of the Archangel crew as his support. || From the airspace of the destroyed Heliopolis, Kira returns to the Archangel with a life boat. Fray is discovered on board the life boat. Archangel decides to head for the allied military satellite Artemis to seek help. Source: crunchyroll

Mu La Flaga and Kira launch a counteroffensive against the ZAFT ship Vesalius. The Strike's Phase Shift Armor runs out of power in the middle of the battle and Athrun uses this moment to grab the Strike so he can take Kira with him, but Kira frees himself with Mu's help. || The 4 stolen Gundams loom in front of the launched Strike Gundam. The ZAFT forces decided to throw all Gundams into the attack. Kira and Athrun face each other again. Source: crunchyroll

The Archangel and its crew are held captive by the Artemis forces. Nicol Amalfi in his GAT-X207 Blitz attacks Artemis, using its Mirage Colloid armor to remain effectively invisible and destroys the Umbrella of Artemis, which protects the asteroid fortress. During the attack, the Archangel is able to escape. || Barely fleeing its pursuing ZAFT forces, Archangel takes refuge in the military satellite “Artemis.” However, the crew is met with the muzzles of the supposedly allied soldiers. Source: crunchyroll

The Archangel forages for water in the Debris Belt. They are shocked to find themselves in the ruins of Junius Seven, so the crew decides to hold a memorial. As they are excavating ice found around the ruin, a ZAFT mobile suit attacks, but Kira dispatches him. Kira finds a floating lifepod and takes it aboard. || Using ZAFT’s attack, the Archangel was able to escape the fortress Artemis, however, lack of supplies has become an increasingly urgent problem. Mu comes up with a plan and directs the ship to the Debris Belt to forage supplies from wrecked ships. Source: crunchyroll

Lacus Clyne, the daughter of PLANT Supreme Council Chairman Siegel Clyne, is found within the lifepod. Her presence causes tension within the crew, but when the crew receives a message from the 8th Fleet that they are being searched and rescued, they are overjoyed. || The passenger of the escape pod rescued in the Debris Belt was a girl and a small robot – Lacus Clyne and Haro. Lacus is the daughter of the current PLANT Supreme Council Chairman, Siegel Clyne. Source: crunchyroll

The Archangel is to meet with the 8th fleet but is attacked by the Le Creuset Team. Flay witnesses the death of her father when Kira fails to protect the escort ships. In desperation, the Archangel reveals Lacus is on board the ship, causing the attackers to withdraw. || Finally the long-awaited rescue comes. There is brief moment of calm in the Archangel. They are to join the advance escort ship Montgomery, Bernard and Law. Fray’s father, Vice Foreign Minister of the Atlantic Federation George Allster, is aboard on Montgomery. Source: crunchyroll

With everything that has happened, Kira becomes depressed. He is comforted by Lacus, who is strolling around the ship without permission. Kira returns Lacus to Athrun against orders, but refuses Athrun's invitation to change sides. || The Archangel was able to stop the attack from ZAFT ship Vesalius by using Lacus Clyne as hostage, but the shock was most detrimental, witnessing an entire fleet destroyed before the crew’s eyes. Source: crunchyroll

Le Creuset launches an attack on the Archangel. Kira's desire to protect his friends awakens an unknown almost berserker ability. He single handily defeats the attacking Blitz, GAT-X103 Buster, and GAT-X102 Duel. || As promised, Kira returns to the Archangel. A hearing is held but the issue handing over Lacus to ZAFT without permission is disregarded through the good offices of Murrue. Source: crunchyroll

Kira and his friends are given permission to leave the Archangel, but after overcoming the initial shock of her father's death, Flay decides to enlist in the Earth Alliance Forces, prompting Sai Argyle, Kuzzey Buskirk, Miriallia Haw, and Tolle Koenig to do the same. Kira stays on board the as well to continue protecting his friends. Duel Gundam is upgraded with an Assault Shroud. || The Archangel finally rendezvous with the Earth Alliance’s 8th Fleet. Lost in busyness, as if to be reluctant to part from it, Kira does maintenance on Strike Gundam when Murrue comes and thanks him for all his hard work so far. Source: crunchyroll

Le Creuset attacks once again as the Archangel and the 8th Fleet approaches Earth. The Archangel is able to descend to Earth, but not without the loss of the entire 8th Fleet. Yzak Joule, the pilot of the Duel, vents his frustration by destroying a spacecraft carrying Heliopolis refugees that Kira had rescued previously. || On the Earth’s orbit, a fierce battle has started between the Alliance’s 8th Fleet and the ZAFT forces. Although the Earth Alliance was superior in numbers, Rau Le Creuset’s troops, with GINNs and all 4 Gundams, destroy the Alliance’s craft one after another. Source: crunchyroll

Rau Le Creuset reflects on the events that took place in episodes one to thirteen and the Coordinator's history starting from the birth of the First Coordinator, George Glenn (NOTE: This episode is omitted in the HD Remastered version, making The Respective Solitudes episode 14). || About half the episode consists of new scenes expanding into the creation of Coordinators, the origin of the hate between Naturals and Coordinators, the issues that escalated into the Bloody Valentine attack and the subsequent deployment of Neutron Jammers (or N-Jammers) and war, as well as some technical babble regarding the five mobile suits developed by the Earth Alliance. The rest of the episode consists mostly of old scenes (recap). The old scenes and new scenes are intertwined throughout the episode.

The Archangel is attacked by multiple TMF/A-802 BuCUE units. Kira hastily takes off and fights the ZAFT forces, but he is unfamiliar with the desert environment. His ability to adapt amazes ZAFT's commander Andrew Waltfeld. When the Strike is about to run out of power, a resistance group comes to his aid and lures the remaining BuCUE units into an explosive trap. || The Archangel landed on the desert in North Africa. Without any time to relax, they are attacked by the ZAFT forces at night. They are the elite ground squad led by Andrew Waltfeld, also known as the “Desert Tiger.” Source: crunchyroll

Murrue Ramius thanks the resistance group for their help and agrees to be allies. The resistance group introduces themselves as the Desert Dawn who are fighting Andrew and the Lesseps. Kira once again meets with Cagalli Yula Athha, the mysterious young woman he first encountered at Heliopolis' Morgenroete factory, who is now part of Desert Dawn. Meanwhile, Andrew attacks the Desert Dawn's hometown, but evacuates the town first. || With the help from the “Desert Dawn” guerillas, Strike Gundam was able to repulse the attacking force of the BuCUEs led by Waltfeld. After daybreak, other members of Desert Dawn guerillas join the Archangel. Source: crunchyroll

Though the Desert Tiger has spared the lives of civilians, Desert Dawn members brashly challenge the ZAFT forces, because of the devastation they caused. The attack ends in failure, but most are saved by Kira in the Strike. || Waltfeld, the “Desert Tiger,” attacks Tassil, the town where the rebels reside. Missiles fired from the BuCUEs engulf the town in flames. However, Waltfeld’s men gave the citizens a warning before the attack, so there were no casualties. Source: crunchyroll

Kira and Cagalli are sent into a nearby ZAFT controlled city to gather supplies with Natarle and the Desert Dawn. The two teenagers get caught in an attack by the Blue Cosmos, and when Kira saves a man who happens to be Andrew Waltfeld, they are invited to the ZAFT base. There, Andrew reveals that he knows Kira is the pilot of the Strike and a Coordinator, but lets them leave safely. || Kira and Cagalli go to the city of Banadiya, where the ZAFT base is located, to buy food and supplies for the camp. The two accidently meet the “Desert Tiger” Andrew Waltfeld when they are eating lunch and are baffled over his overly friendly manner. Source: crunchyroll

Athrun and Nicol are given the day off; Athrun spends the day with Lacus and they talk about Kira. The PLANT Supreme Council debates on whether the attack codenamed "Operation Spitbreak" should be executed. || In a PLANT, Athrun has a day off after a long time and drives to Lacus’ mansion for a visit. Clyne’s estate is located at an exclusive residential area in PLANT, and the two happily enjoy chatting. Source: crunchyroll

A battle between the Lesseps and the Desert Dawn commences. Kira and the Desert Tiger fight a battle where they realize the pain of having an enemy who is not an abstraction. With the Strike's power almost depleted, Kira has no choice but to destroy Andrew's TMF/A-803 LaGOWE or die himself. || Yzak and Dearka, who were in the Gibraltar Base, join forces with the Lesseps. Towards the battle against the Archangel, “Desert Tiger” Waltfeld accepts the reinforcement thinking more force the better. Source: crunchyroll

The Archangel crew crosses the Red Sea to head towards the neutral Orb Union with Cagalli and Ledonir Kisaka on board. With the previous battle weighing heavily on him, Kira talks to Cagalli about his reasons for fighting, making Flay jealous. They are attacked by ZAFT air and underwater type mobile suits, but Kira and Mu manage to take them out. || Strike Gundam and the Archangel, defeating Waltfeld after a fierce fight, take course towards Alaska. Cagalli of the “Desert Dawn” insists that she is needed on the ship and invites herself to come aboard the Archangel. Source: crunchyroll

A battle with ZAFT submarine forces led by Commander Marco Morassim prevents Kira from fighting alongside Mu and Cagalli in their FX-550 Skygraspers. Cagalli's Skygrasper sustains damage and is forced to turn back, but she encounters Athrun's transport plane; her Skygrasper is shot down, but not before shooting down his transport plane, forcing Athrun in his Aegis to eject from the transport plane. By chance, they are both stranded on the same deserted island. || Athrun, Nicole, and Rau join. The Le Creuset Team is finally gathered all together after a long time. Since Rau cannot go out to fight because of the preparations for Operation Spit Break, he appoints Athrun as leader of the Archangel pursuit team. Source: crunchyroll

Cagalli is surprised to find Athrun on the same deserted island. She attacks him, but she is overpowered and captured. When everything settles down, the two discuss the war and the reason why they are fighting. At sunrise, they are rescued by their respective comrades. || Cagalli’s damaged Sky Grasper shoots down the transport plane that was carrying Aegis Gundam and crash-land on a small deserted island. She encounters Athrun, who was on the transport plane, on the beach. Source: crunchyroll

The Archangel is attacked by the Zala Team which consists of the Le Creuset Team members. They take heavy damage, but when they enter the waters of the neutral nation of Orb, ZAFT is chased away and is told that the Archangel has been chased away. The Zala Team sneaks into Orb with the belief that Orb's official statement is false. || In Orb waters, the Archangel and the 4 Gundams of Zala Team engage in a fierce battle. Near the Orb’s territorial boundaries, the Archangel is gradually cornered by the Zala Team with its superb combination attacks. Source: crunchyroll

A recap of the first 25 episodes. Narrated by Tony Sampson, Miguel Aiman's voice actor (in the Japanese version it is narrated by Takanori Nishikawa, Miguel's Japanese voice actor) (NOTE: omitted in the HD Remastered version, making Endless Rondo episode 25). || 2.23

Senior Engineer Erica Simmons of Morgenroete reviews the Strike's combat logs and theorizes that Kira might be superior than any other Coordinator and speculates on the "SEED factor" theory. She shows Kira the mobile suits that Orb is developing and asks him to develop a mobile suit operating system that can be used by Naturals. || Inside the Orb’s dock, technicians work on repairs to the Archangel damaged by the battle. Morgenroete Incorporated’s engineer Erica Simmons, who is also responsible for the development of M1 Astray, analyzes the data submitted by the Archangel. Source: crunchyroll

Kira and his friends are given the chance to meet with their parents who have taken refuge in Orb. Kira refuses to go, but his parents meet with Uzumi Nara Athha who hints there is a deeper connection between Kira and Cagalli. Kira instead completes the operating system for the Orb Union's MBF-M1 Astrays. When Kira's mechanical bird flies off, Kira finds himself standing face to face with Athrun. They part ways pretending not to know each other, but not without saying kind words about each other. || Through the good offices of Murrue, the student crew are able to meet with their parents within the Orb headquarters. Parents and children are reunited after a long time and they check each other’s safety, rejoicing in their happiness. Source: crunchyroll

The Archangel, without Cagalli and Ledonir on board, leaves Orb territory for Alaska. The Zala Team, who is patiently waiting, engages them in a battle. Kira grounds the Duel, Buster, and Blitz with the help of Mu and Tolle, who is now the second Skygrasper pilot. As Kira and Athrun fight, Nicol intervenes, but he steps into Kira's fatal attack. || The Archangel’s repair and replenishment are completed and it prepares to leave Orb. Meanwhile, Athrun’s Zala Team is outside the Orb territorial waters, waiting for the Archangel to sail out. Source: crunchyroll

The Zala Team make another effort to destroy the Archangel and the Strike. Dearka in the Buster is shot down by Mu and surrenders. Tolle attempts to aid Kira, but he is killed by Athrun. The grief Kira and Athrun suffer over their friends' death is enough for them to try to kill each other. || Kira strikes down Zala Team’s Blitz Gundam. Murdoch and the other engineering crew congratulate him. He clenches his fist while listening to their praise. Source: crunchyroll

The crew of the Archangel grieve for the apparent deaths of Kira and Tolle. Cagalli searches the wreckage for Kira but instead finds Athrun and confronts him for killing Kira. || Contact is lost with Strike Gundam and 2nd unit Sky Grasper, and the Archangel is in chaos. Moreover, the ZAFT’s pursuit is closing in on the severely damaged Archangel. Source: crunchyroll

The Archangel finally arrives in Alaska. A grief-stricken Miriallia attacks Dearka, now a prisoner on board the Archangel, but ends up saving his life when Flay tries to shoot him. Kira awakes and finds himself in the care of Lacus. || Many were lost but the Archangel finally arrives at the Earth Alliance headquarters in Alaska (JOSH-A). But the crew is not allowed to disembark and is ordered to remain on standby. Source: crunchyroll

The crew of the Archangel find themselves questioned for their actions regarding their escape from Heliopolis, the fall of the 8th Fleet, and entrusting the Strike to Kira Yamato. Meanwhile, Lacus comforts Kira, who questions his right to live, especially after trying to kill Athrun. || The assault by Miriaria and Flay towards the prisoner Dearka became a big problem in the Archangel. Natarle talks to Murrue about the importance of following military regulations and questions Murrue’s lack of control in handling prisoners and guns. Source: crunchyroll

Flay, Mu, and Natarle are to be transferred off the Archangel. Mu suspects that something is not quite right as the Alaskan JOSH-A base is evacuated. Flay is captured by Rau Le Creuset. Lacus and her father entrust Kira with the ZGMF-X10A Freedom, equipped with Neutron Jammer Canceller technology. || The crew, who has supported the Archangel all this time, is upset to hear that the three are due to transfer. As if to make matters worse, orders are given that the Archangel will no longer belong to the 8th Fleet but now serve as part of Alaska’s defense forces. Source: crunchyroll

Operation Spitbreak is initiated, with both ZAFT and the Earth Alliance believing they have outsmarted the other. The Archangel is left behind to be destroyed in a calculated plan that would decimate everyone on the battlefield, until Kira arrives to save them. || In Alaska, the Archangel is in a fierce battle with the ZAFT forces. The MS troops loom and surge forward. The main force of the Alliance were sent to the Panama defense so obviously they are facing a challenge. Source: crunchyroll

Lacus, now denounced a traitor to the PLANTs for handing the Freedom over to an unknown pilot, confronts Athrun and challenges him to decide what he truly is fighting for. Athrun is ordered to pilot the ZGMF-X09A Justice to seek and destroy the Freedom. || The report of Operation Spit Break’s failure sends the ZAFT National Defense Committee in chaos. At the same time, Patrick Zala learns that the latest MS Freedom Gundam, which was secretly developed by ZAFT, was stolen. Source: crunchyroll

Kira and the Archangel make their way to Orb, where Lord Uzumi welcomes them and asks that they decide for themselves why they are fighting. The Panama mass driver is destroyed by ZAFT in retaliation for the blow they took at Alaska. Meanwhile, Erica Simmons presents a reconstructed Strike for the Archangel crew's use. || Heavily impaired, the Archangel barely escapes the self-destructed Alaska base. It heads for Orb in order to repair the damage and arrives at Onogoro Island. Cagalli, confirming that Kira is indeed alive, jumps on him with tears in her eyes. She tells him about how she found Athrun. Source: crunchyroll

To get a hold of Orb's mass driver, the Earth Alliance demands Orb to concede with them or be attacked for siding with ZAFT. Murrue decides the Archangel will support Orb and its crew members are discharged if they no longer wish to fight. Muruta Azrael, leader of Blue Cosmos, attacks Orb with three new mobile suits, the Forbidden, Raider, and Calamity. When Kira starts to have trouble with them, Athrun in the Justice arrives to help. || With the fall of the Alliance’s Panama Base, the Earth Alliance loses the mass driver and the path out to space. Scheming begins how to claim the remaining mass driver on Earth. Source: crunchyroll

Athrun in the Justice assists Kira fight against the Forbidden, Raider, and Calamity. As the fight continues, the three Earth Alliance pilots argue with one another, but they are interrupted when they are struck by intense pain. The Earth Alliance are forced to retreat and regroup. The two friends reunite and Athrun must make a decision regarding whether he should continue obeying his father's orders or fight for what he believes in. || Kira and Freedom Gundam engage with the Earth Alliance’s latest three Gundam units, Calamity, Forbidden, and Raider Gundam. Justice Gundam, piloted by Athrun, emerges before Kira. Source: crunchyroll

The Earth Alliance attacks again, but the results are the same as the previous battle. The Archangel and the Orb ship Kusanagi launch into space, while the leaders of Orb stay behind. They explode Orb's mass driver and armaments factories, sacrificing their own lives in the process. || Orb requests peace talks time and time again, but Azrael of the Alliance turns a deaf ear. The Earth Alliance has already decided to control Orb by force. Source: crunchyroll

Cagalli, though grief striken with her father's death, confronts Kira with a mysterious photograph given to her by Lord Uzumi, of a woman with two infants and Kira and Cagalli's names written on the back. On a PLANT, Lacus is still on the run for treason, but broadcasts messages to counter PLANT Supreme Council Chairman Patrick Zala's propaganda. She soon discovers that her father has been assassinated by Patrick Zala. || Kusanagi and the Archangel launch into space. Kusanagi’s docking is completed and they take course to the abandoned colonies in the L4 cluster to refill their water and supplies. Source: crunchyroll

Athrun returns to the PLANTs on a shuttle to speak to his father, but he is arrested. Lacus and (the presumed killed in action) Andrew Waltfeld join forces, stealing the ZAFT support ship Eternal and rescuing Athrun. They join forces with the Archangel and the Kusanagi thus forming the Three Ships Alliance. || Athrun leaves for PLANT to see his father, the PLANT Supreme Council Chairman Patrick Zala, and ask his true intention in fighting this war. Kira volunteers to escort Athrun’s shuttle with Freedom Gundam. Source: crunchyroll

The newly-formed Three Ships Alliance take shelter at the abandoned Mendel colony. Unfortunately, they are tracked down by both ZAFT and Earth Alliance forces. Rau Le Creuset commands the ZAFT fleet and Captain Natarle Badgiruel, commands the Earth Alliance assault ship Dominion. Dominion takes the initiative and attacks with the mission of capturing either the Freedom or Justice. || At the Alliance’s Ptolemaeus lunar base, Archangel-class 2nd battleship Dominion flies in orbit and performs a combat simulation. In the captain’s seat, sits Lieutenant Natarle Badgiruel. Source: crunchyroll

The Dominion retreats so their pilots can get their medicine. Mu and Dearka enter the Mendel colony to confront Rau and Yzak. Kira comes to their aid and he and Mu are shocked to discover Rau has a few secrets to reveal. || The Dominion attacks to destroy the Archangel. The Alliance’s three Gundams are overwhelmed by Kira and Athrun’s combination attacks that are perfectly in tune with each other. Source: crunchyroll

Kira and Mu face terrifying revelations in an encounter with Rau. Dearka and Yzak have their own meeting where they question what they are truly fighting against. Meanwhile, the Dominion and the Earth Alliance once again attacks. Rau returns to his ship and sends Flay back to the Earth Forces. || Kira and Mu chase after Rau inside an abandoned building. The building was the Mendel colony’s generic research laboratory. Rau, Mu, and Kira engage in a gunfight. Source: crunchyroll

Flay, who was held captive by Rau, is rescued by the Dominion despite Kira's desperate attempts to steal her lifepod. She gives Muruta Azrael the disk she was given by Rau which contains the specs on the Freedom and Justice and the Neutron Jammer Canceller technology. || The battle resumes between the Archangel and the Dominion. Rau launches Vesalius and weave its way through the two battleships, saying to target the Eternal. Source: crunchyroll

Equipped with Neutron Jammer Cancellers, the Earth Alliance forces launch an all-out attack on the PLANTs. The Boaz military asteroid is destroyed by nuclear weapons with Earth Alliance's next target being the PLANTs. The Freedom and Justice arrive at the battlefield in time to destroy all the nuclear warheads. In retaliation, Patrick Zala orders to fire the GENESIS. || With Flay’s disk, the Earth Alliance now acquired the technology of the N-Jammer Canceller. Cunningly manipulated by Azrael, the nuclear missiles are shipped up into space. Source: crunchyroll

The GENESIS, a huge gamma-ray laser wipes out a large portion of Earth Alliance's forces. The Earth Alliance forces are forced to withdraw temporarily to regroup. During the intermission, each of the couples on board the Archangel, Kusanagi, and Eternal prays of each others safety in the upcoming battle. || The gamma-ray of GENESIS destroys the front line of the Alliance fleet in the blink of an eye. It was ZAFT’s trump card, hidden all along by Mirage Colloid. It could take aim and easily be fired at Earth. Source: crunchyroll

GENESIS' second attack cripples the Earth Alliance's reinforcements and destroys their Ptolemaeus lunar base. The Three Ships Alliance save the PLANTs from the second wave of nukes. Mu fights Rau in the ZGMF-X13A Providence while Kira and Athrun fight the Forbidden, Raider, and Calamity. On the Dominion, Natarle becomes fed up with Muruta and orders the crew to escape. Muruta fires at the Archangel , but Mu sacrifices himself to protect them. In revenge, the Archangel fires and destroys the Dominion. || The second ray of GENESIS destroys the Earth Alliance lunar base. The next target might be Earth. The Alliance regroup the devastated fleet, and launch the Peacemaker divisions once again. Source: crunchyroll