 It is Cosmic Era 73. The very young "cease fire treaty" between PLANT and the Earth Alliance is threatened when three of ZAFT s newest mobile suits were stolen from one of their military bases. Shinn Asuka, a former ORB refugee, and the crew of the newly commissioned capital ship, Minerva, battle valiantly to retrieve them but to no avail. Their attention was diverted when news that the remnants of Junius 7 has come out of it s orbit and is on a direct course for Earth. Even though they were able to avert the total inhalation of the planet, they were not able to stop Junius 7 from falling. Enraged of what has occurred, the Earth Alliance and it s new ally, ORB, once again declares war on PLANT. The world s only hope lies in the hands of Shinn and the crew of Minerva. But they may discover that they might not be alone as the legendary Freedom and the battleship, Archangel, once again rises from the depths of deceit and corruption to take up arms. But are the friend or foe?