Gundam Reborn

The Harsh Reality (Chapter 2)

ZAFT is able to steal four of the five G Project prototype mobile suits, leaving only the Custom Made Fenice. With Murrue Ramius unable to pilot it effectively, Ryouko pilots the Fenice and defends Heliopolis against the invading ZAFT forces to protect her friends. Ensign Natarle Badgiruel takes command of the new mobile assault ship Archangel with the surviving crew members.

Lt. Murrue Ramius takes over as captain of the Archangel and Ryouko and her friends are detained for seeing top secret military weapons while the crew of the Archangel learn that Ryouko is a coordinator. Rau Le Creuset is determined to capture the Fenice after seeing how well it moved and sends out mobile suits to retrieve it. Disobeying orders, Alicia also dispatches so she could confirm if Ryouko is the one piloting the Fenice, but when she finds her answer, Heliopolis crumbles as it sustains too much damage.

Ryouko discovers a malfunctioning lifeboat and brings it aboard the Archangel. Everyone is surprised to find Reiji 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. Ryouko decides to continue piloting the fenice and her friends volunteer to become members of the Archangel crew as her support.

Meijin kawaguchi and Ryouko launch a counteroffensive against the ZAFT ship Vesalius. The Fenice's Phase Shift Armor runs out of power in the middle of the battle and Alicia uses this moment to grab the Fenice so she can take Ryouko with her, but Ryouko frees herself with Meijin's help.

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.

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 Ryouko dispatches her. Ryouko finds a floating lifepod and takes it aboard.

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 Archangel's escort to meet with the 8th fleet is attacked by the Le Creuset Team. Reiji witnesses the death of his father when Ryouko fails to protect the escort ships. In desperation, the Archangel reveals Lacus is on board the ship, causing the attackers to withdraw.

With everything that has happened, Ryouko becomes depressed. She is comforted by Lacus, who is strolling around the ship without permission. Ryouko returns Lacus to Alicia against orders, but refuses Alicia's invitation to change sides.