 In a flash of the blinding light brought forth by exploding hatred and burning anger, the old friends Kira and Athrun are reunited amidst the chaos of conflict. But this reunion is one of fear and confusion, not happiness, as each appears to the other as not friend, but foe. Before either can consider the situation or implications, Kira is forced by Earth Alliance agent Murrue Ramius into the cockpit of the Strike Gundam, one of the secret weapons that Athrun and his ZAFT strike force are after. Forced into combat not as a soldier but a helpless passenger, he can only watch as his home is transformed into a battlefield, and his class mates are threatened by the conflagration. But somewhere within young Kira s heart lies a secret known to no one else that can either save his friends and Helipolis, or further the war that dooms them all...