The year is 74 of the Cosmic Era and after enduring a brutal civil war between earthbound Naturals and space-dwelling Coordinators, the conflict finally ends. Unfortunately, Kira Yamato encounters a significant setback, forcing him to pilot the Strike Freedom Gundam and lead the crew of the Archangel on a perilous mission to destroy the Requiem - a formidable super-weapon designed to annihilate most human life in the universe. Kira's closest ally and rival Athrun Zala fights alongside him, but his former subordinate Shinn Asuka - who pilots the powerful Destiny Gundam - has branded Athrun a traitor, believing him to be an obstacle to a peaceful future for the universe. As the galaxy hangs in the balance, life-or-death mobile suit battles rage on, and it becomes clearer than ever that humans are incapable of understanding one another. The long, drawn-out war is finally coming to a close.