In the peaceful Heliopolis colony, a covert weapons research facility called Morgenroete creates the powerful Archangel battleship and five cutting-edge Gundams for the Earth Alliance Force. However, the genetically enhanced rebel faction ZAFT, led by Coordinators, raids Heliopolis and seizes four Gundam prototypes. Amidst the chaos, Kira Yamato, a Coordinator raised by Naturals, stumbles upon the Gundam Strike and pilots it to defend his Natural companions. As he battles his childhood friend Athrun Zala, now a ZAFT ace pilot, Kira realizes that more than friendship hangs in the balance—it's the fate of an entire race that rests on the outcome of their conflict.