ZAFT command decided to overlook Shinn's and Rey's wrongdoing, thanks to their previous accomplishments.

"I'm sorry for the trouble. It won't happen again. I appreciate all of your help." Shinn said.

"It's quite alright, Shinn." Riesz said.

"Looks like some people in high command got what I was doing…" Shinn said. "Guess yours isn't the only version of what's right, huh Athrun?"

"That may be true, Shinn. It means different things to different people." Cheetah said.

"Yeah, your fight against that icy Gundam was proof of that. However…" Shinn started.

Shinn believes the incident has proven him right in the eyes of others, making him even more arrogant towards Athrun.

Soon afterwards, they receive reports of a giant Earth Alliance Mobile Suit, the Destroy Gundam, sowing destruction on Berlin. Berlin, a city sympathetic to ZAFT, is being taught a lesson. Piloting the overwhelmingly powerful Destroy Gundam is Stella, who had been returned to Neo.

"I'll destroy...all the scary things… If I don't...they'll kill us. I-I don't want to die… I'm scared…" Stella muttered before she let out a scream.

Neo, obedient to Blue Cosmos, had been unable to keep his promise to Shinn.

The Minerva raced to Berlin to stop the Destroy Gundam. Shinn could not have known what a terrible fate lay waiting for him there.

"Why? Why do you want to kill so much!?" Shinn asked as he headed off.

"The situation is even more chaotic than I thought. Now, the Freedom is battling the enemy forces." Talia said.

"Not just the Freedom. I see the Frost Gundam and Queen Bee Gundam. David and Sectonia are here too." Belladonna said.

"What? Why?" Shinn asked.

"I'd rather not speculate. Don't mistake your enemy. Command is counting on you." Talia said.

Shinn, Cheetah and Belladonna cleared through the enemy squadrons before they managed to rendezvous with Kira and the others.

"Ishihara!" Cheetah said.

"Cheetah, Belladonna! You came just in time!" David said.

"Don't try anything funny. I'll shoot you in the back if I have to!" Shinn said.

"Yeah, yeah, we get the picture. Let's just take this thing down already." Sectonia said.

The six pilots joined forces to combat the Destroy Gundam with all of their might.

"Damn… This thing is like a brick wall." David said.

"Are you ignoring me?" Sting asked. "There's more to strength than Mobile Suit performance! I'm taking you out!"

"You again? Just go away!" Sectonia said as she charged at Sting.

"I have to let go of my fear. Otherwise, I'll…" the Destroy Gundam's pilot said.'

"Wait… Cheetah. That voice… Could that be…" Belladonna asked.

"No doubt about it. That is Stella!" Cheetah said.

"Stella? But how?!" Shinn asked.

"I get worked over every single time… Today it's your turn to go down in flames!" Sting declared.

"I don't think so!" Sectonia said as she deployed little bee mechs from her Suit that charged at Sting before she sliced through him with her laser sword.

"How can someone like you beat me? Damn, this is no good. I'm out!" Sting said as he retreated.

"Stop, all of you! Stella is on board!" Neo said.

"You son of a…" David said.

"David, you and Cheetah need to keep Stella at bay. I'll take care of him!" Belladonna said as she charged.

"Don't let me die… I'm afraid… I don't want to die!" Stella said.

"Oh… It's you. Well, I guess one catgirl is as good as another." Neo said.

"Cut the crap! Why are you making Stella fight? You promised Shinn you'd keep her out of the battlefield!" Belladonna said.

"Oh come off. You'd do the same for someone you cared for, would you?" Neo asked.

"...You're right. For my Dark Majesty, I would've done anything." Belladonna said.

"But now he's gone, isn't he? What purpose do you have in your life now?" Neo asked.

"I once asked myself that same question. I was considering killing myself. But Cheetah… She convinced me to change my mind. It was like...a huge weight was lifted off of me. Like I could live again. The times we shared since then were beyond anything I could imagine. Performing in the Olympics in Tokyo… I have never felt so free and happy in my whole life." Belladonna said as she shed a tear for a brief moment. "And then there's Riesz. Despite everything I have done to her, she accepted me readily. Although, it did take some time."

"I see. You have been blessed with such devoted comrades." Neo said.

"But that's why… That's why… I won't let you have your way with Stella any longer!" Belladonna said as she charged at Neo and sliced through his Suit.

"What is…!? Gaaahh! S-Stella…" Neo said as he falls unconscious.

"No… This can be… Neo, not you…! Neo…! NEO!" Stella screamed as she continues to fire rapidly.

"Stella! Please stop this! Stella!" Shinn called out.

"Shinn, wait!" Cheetah said going after him.

"Let me go, Barbara! That pilot is…!" Shinn said.

"We know, Shinn! Don't worry. She's not going to die. We won't let her!" Cheetah said.

"Just please...don't kill her!" Shinn said.

The six of them fought against the Destroy Gundam, attempting to minimize the strain on Stella.

"Please… Please, just stop! I don't want to die!" Stella said. "I… I can't die! I'm scared…"

Shinn was avoiding the blasts as he got closer.

"Stella! It's okay, Stella!" Shinn said. "You're not going to die! I'm here, Stella! I'll protect you!"

"That voice...Shinn…!" Stella said.

"Stella…" Shinn said.

"Shinn…! You really came for me, Shinn!" Stella said before she spotted the others behind him and started having a breakdown again. She was about to fire a large beam before Cheetah got in front.

"Look out, Shinn!" Cheetah said charging at Stella.

"Barbara!" Shinn called out as Cheetah pierced through the Destroy Gundam, wrecking the Wildcat Gundam in the process as Stella came out of the cockpit through the back, causing the Destroy Gundam to explode to nothing. "Stella! Barbara!" he called out in fear.

"Ugh… Ow… Shinn…?" Stella asked weakly.

"Oh good… She's still alive." Shinn said.

Cheetah's maneuver brought down the Destroy Gundam, rescuing Stella in the process. Shinn tried to save her, but she was already falling into a coma due to the strain on the Destroy Gundam. Due to the wounds suffered during Stella's excavation, the Wildcat Gundam was destroyed, and the Brave Adventurers took Cheetah and Stella to the Archangel to receive medical attention.

Meanwhile, Murrue encountered Belladonna with Neo, whom Belladonna had shot down. However, when they saw Neo without his mask, they were struck speechless. It was the face of Mu La Flaga, Murrue's supposedly dead lover who was said to have died in Jachin Due.

As rescuers picked their way through the shattered battlefield, Durandal broadcast a speech to the entire world. It was a denunciation of Logos, the military-industrial complex behind Blue Cosmos. They were merchants of death, creating wars to profit from them.

"They are a true enemy of everyone who yearns for peace! In my heart, I pray for a world of peace, where there will never be another war." Durandal said. "Logos would deny us that dream! They are the true enemies of humanity! I shall not rest until they are destroyed!"

As Durandal's words echoed throughout the world, Shinn could only watch as the Brave Adventurers took away Stella and Cheetah, the two that were closest to him. Perceiving this as a sort of kidnapping, Shinn swore to hunt them down and destroy them all. Disgusted by the fact that Shinn would act so callously towards those Cheetah had a deep regard for, Zamazenta convinced the rest of Reformed Society to leave ZAFT on their Dark Cruiser.