In the middle of the Pacific Ocean, the Archangel is attacked by all four of ZAFT's Gundams, and the ship sustains severe damage from their ongoing assault. During the battle, the ship enters the territorial waters of the neutral Orb Union, and an Orb naval fleet sets out to intercept the intruders.

With the Archangel in a state of dire emergency, Cagalli at last reveals her true identity as the daughter of one of Orb's leaders. Thanks to her help, the ship is able to establish contact with the Orb forces, who drive off the enemy Gundams and escort the battered Archangel to a safe harbor.

The damaged Archangel has at last found safe haven at one of the islands which make up the Orb Union. While the ship undergoes repair at Onogoro Island, Kira is called upon to assist the engineers of Morgenroete, Inc. - the civilian company which manufactured the Alliance's Gundams at Heliopolis, and is now developing new mobile suits for Orb.

One of Morgenroete's engineers analyzes the Strike Gundam's combat data, reviewing Kira's previous adventures. Meanwhile, Athrun, Yzak, Dearka, and Nicol have come ashore at Onogoro Island to search for the Archangel.

Kira's friends are joyfully reunited with their parents, who all made it safely back to the Orb homeland following the destruction of Heliopolis. Flay, who has no parents to welcome her, wanders the Archangel and finds that Kira has also chosen to remain aboard the ship rather than meeting with his family. Taking Kira's friendliness for pity, she erupts with fury.

 Nearby, Athrun and his companions are searching for evidence of the Archangel's presence. Kira's robot pet Birdy flies out of the Morgenroete facility to greet its creator Athrun, followed by Kira himself. Athrun returns the robot, and then the estranged friends once again part ways.