The Minerva crew find an Earth Alliance fleet waiting for them outside Orb's territorial waters, leaving them no choice but to somehow break through the enemy lines. While Rey and Lunamaria guard the ship, Shinn fights an aerial battle against the Earth Alliance mobile suits, but the tide turns against them as the enemy deploys a huge mobile armor whose positron deflector shield can withstand even the Minerva's Tannhauser cannon.

Meanwhile, Athrun has finally decided to rejoin ZAFT. Chairman Dullindal makes him a member of the elite special forces organization known as FAITH, and Athrun departs for Earth in the Saviour Gundam.