Orb
Regarded from the incident of the stolen mobile suit in ZAFT Military Base, Cagali held an official meeting with the PLANT Supreme Council at the Orb Administration Office. After they greeted each other, each of them took a seat. Athrun began explaining the incident while Kira's team brought the evidence in a glass box and put it on the centre of the table. The video footages showing the culprit who stole the Chronos.
"This is?"
"It appears to be some kind of chemical liquid which contains toxic substances and it is very corrosive."
"What is that?"
"The culprit appeared to be an alien which we called HO."
"An alien! Are you joking?"
"We also would thought that too but it's the fact."
"What does it want?"
"We don't know yet but please look at this."
The screen showing the moment ZAFT guard was knocked out. HO shape-shifted into the guard and ran toward the hangar.
"What?"
"It can shape-shifted."
"Yes, apparently HO not only capable of copying someone appearance, it can also copy the guard memory which it gained some of our knowledge."
"Are we all here a human?"
"It's al-right."
"Yeah, a blood test shall determine whether you are a human or not."
A blood test was carried out and apparently no sign of abnormal detected. After that, an image of a black mobile suit was displayed.
"As you are all aware, this is the mobile suit that took the aliens which we called Xenomorph."
"It's fast and the pilot must be an expert."
"Yes, it's true but please look behind it."
The screen displayed a cone which emitting the orange reddish light at the back the mobile suit.
"What's that?"
"We do not know yet but the fact is that the light is the one we believe to cause the jamming in our communication during the battle.
"Which organisation does it belong to?"
"Not even Morgenroete has that design."
"We will now called this unit Phantom."
"Phantom really? Is there any better name?"
"We called this unit Phantom because it's black in colour and moves very fast which later vanished into thin air the moment Chronos and Xenomorph retreated."
"Is it a friendly unit or foe?"
"We also don't know but the fact that it saves some of ZAFT pilots from being an easy target to the enemies. It's is enough to declared it as a friendly unit."
Mars, Ptolemy
"E-sensor beeped as it detected an approaching heat signal.
"E-sensor detecting something. It's Flag. It's Setsuna. He's back." said Feldt in joy.
"Thank goodness." said Sumeragi in relieved.
After the Flag docked, Setsuna went out of the cockpit after Lan greeted him.
"Good job, Setsuna." said Lan.
"Ah!" said Setsuna as he went toward the bridge.
"Man, still the same as ever. But thanks to him, I got the data on the blue and red gundam type mobile suit." added Lan.
Bridge
"How's the mission, Setsuna?" asked Sumeragi.
"I managed to force the Xenomorph to retreated but apparently ZAFT forces suffered too much casualties." explained Setsuna.
"Xenomorph?" wondered Sumeragi.
"Tieria, please." said Setsuna after he contacted Tieria.
"Roger." said Tieria as he displayed the images of the aliens.
"They are scary." said the frightened Mirallia.
"Based on the information I have gathered during the meeting in Orb, we can only detect the imposter by using a blood test." explained Tieria.
"I also heard that ZAFT new warship, Pluto will be heading toward the abandon Space Colony Athena." said Lockon after his image displayed on the screen.
"I got it. Well done, everyone. Continue on gathering more information about the PLANT and Orb status." said Sumeragi.
"Roger." said Tieria and Lockon before they cut off their communication.
Near Athena
As Pluto arrived near the abandon colony, it stopped after that.
"We're here, Commander." said Malik Yardbirds.
"Good job, everyone." said Kira.
"So this is Athena." said Athrun.
"Mobile suit pilots, please guard the ship. Athrun and I will investigate the colony. Let's go, Athrun." added Kira.
"Ah! Let's go" said Athrun.
"Commander, please be careful." said Arthur.
"I will, thank you." said Kira.
After Freedom and Justice were deployed, Kira and Athrun went inside Athena while Shinn and the others waited in Pluto.
Later
A huge explosion occurred at Athena blowing way everything around it including Pluto. The colony was blown into fragments.
"Freedom and Justice...signal..." said Meyrin as she started crying and couldn't finished her sentences.
"What is it, Meyrin?" asked Lunamaria.
"Onee-chan, their signal...lost." said the crying Meyrin which shocked the entire crews.
"That's impossible!" screamed Shinn as his tears started to flow down while his fist punched the ship's wall.
"Shinn, calm down." said Lunamaria.
"All pilots, deploy and begin the rescue operation." shouted Arthur.
"Roger!" said the pilots before they deployed.
They went to search around the shattered colony and they finally found both Strike Freedom and Infinite Justice which were badly damaged. They them inside Pluto but much to their surprised the cockpits were gone and there were no sign of the pilots anywhere.
"They're gone." said the cried Meyrin.
"How are we going to tell Lady Lacus and Lady Cagali about this?" asked Arthur.
"Yeah, they must be very sad." said Lunamaria.
"Anyone got any ideas?" asked Arthur.
Their sensor began beeping as something went pass by them. They analysed and recognised it as Phantom. Shinn without wasting any time went into his Destiny and flew to confronted the mysterious black mobile suit.