Kira Yamato

Infobox animanga character
name = Kira Yamato
series = Mobile Suit Gundam SEED / DESTINY


caption = Kira Yamato in "Gundam SEED"
first = "Gundam SEED" episode 1
last = "Gundam SEED Destiny" "Final Plus" episode
creator =
voiced by = Sōichirō Hoshi (Japanese)
Matt Hill (English)
alias =
age = 16 [GS] cite web |url=http://www.gundamofficial.com/worlds/ce/seed/characters/chara_kira.html |title=Kira Yamato "Gundam SEED" profile |accessdate=2007-06-09 |publisher=GundamOfficial ]
18 [GSD] cite web |url=http://www.gundamofficial.com/worlds/ce/destiny/characters/chara_kira.html |title=Kira Yamato "Gundam SEED Destiny" profile |accessdate=2007-06-09 |publisher=GundamOfficial ]
born = May 18cite web |url=http://www.gundamofficial.com/worlds/ce/seed/characters/chara_kira.html |title=Kira Yamato "Gundam SEED" profile |accessdate=2007-06-09 |publisher=GundamOfficial ]
death =
nationality = Orb Union [GS/GSD]
relatives = Caridad Yamato (adoptive mother/aunt)cite web |url=http://www.gundamofficial.com/worlds/ce/background/timeline.html |title=Cosmic Era timeline (C.E. 55) |accessdate=2007-04-14 |publisher=GundamOfficial ]
Haruma Yamato (adoptive father/uncle)
Ulen Hibiki (father, deceased)
Via Hibiki (mother, deceased)
Cagalli Yula Athha (twin sister)
paux1 name = Genetic type
paux1 = Ulitimate Coordinator
divider = yes
aux1 name = Allegiance
aux1 = OMNI Enforcer [GS]
Three Ships Alliance [GS]
Orb Union [GSD]
Terminal [GSD]
ZAFT [GSDSE]
aux2 name = Rank
aux2 = Ensign (EAF) [GS]
Ensign (Orb) [GSD]
Admiral (Orb) [GSD]
White uniform (ZAFT) [GSDSE]
aux4 name = Mobile weapons
aux4 = GAT-X105 Strike [GS]
ZGMF-X10A Freedom [GS/GSD]
MBF-02 Strike Rouge [GSD]
ZGMF-X20A Strike Freedom [GSD]

nihongo|Kira Yamato|キラ・ヤマト|Kira Yamato is a fictional character in the "Gundam" universe. He is the main protagonist of the anime series "Mobile Suit Gundam SEED" and an important character in "Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny".

Kira is a first-generation Coordinator. At the beginning of "Gundam SEED", Kira lived on the neutral space colony Heliopolis to avoid the war. An expert in computer science, he assisted with research and development at the Heliopolis technical collegecite web |url=http://www.gundamofficial.com/worlds/ce/seed/characters/chara_flay.html |title=Flay Allster profile |accessdate=2007-06-09 |publisher=GundamOfficial ] he attended. In both "Gundam SEED" and "Gundam SEED Destiny", his friendship with Athrun Zala formed one of the main themes of the story.

Gundam SEED

Crossfire at Heliopolis

During the Bloody Valentine War, Kira lives on the neutral colony of Heliopolis where he attends a college with his friends Sai Argyle, Kuzzey Buskirk, Miriallia Haw, and Tolle Koenig. Kira is also attracted to Sai's fiancée, Flay Allster. Kira owns a robotic pet bird, Birdy (Torii in the Japanese version), which was given to him three years earlier by his childhood best friend, Athrun Zala, who built it.

In episode 1 of "Gundam SEED", Heiliopolis is attacked by ZAFT forces. During the evacuation of civilians, Kira is separated from his friends and follows a mysterious female stranger, who he later pushes into an evacuation "shelter".

Kira eventually finds two prototype mobile suits, the GAT-X105 Strike and the GAT-X303 Aegis, and a battle taking place between Earth Alliance soldiers and the ZAFT special forces team in the factory. While Kira helps an Earth Alliance officer, Murrue Ramius, he recognizes one of the ZAFT soldiers as his old friend, Athrun. The two friends are stunned by each other's presence. Murrue attempts to shoot Athrun, but he captures the Aegis and escapes, while Murrue and Kira board the Strike.

Outside the factory, Athrun informs ZGMF-1017 GINN pilot Miguel Aiman, that the Strike is being piloted by an Earth Alliance soldier. Athrun takes his machine back to his ship and Miguel attempts to capture the Strike. Murrue is no match for Miguel, and seeing that his friends Sai, Kuzzey, Miriallia, and Tolle, are endangered by this battle, Kira takes control of the Strike and fights back, forcing Miguel to retreat.

After the battle, Murrue tells Kira and his friends that they have to stick with her because they have stumbled upon an Earth Alliance military secret. They are then attacked by Rau Le Creuset. Using the Strike's Launcher pack, Kira forces Rau to flee. They are soon joined by Mu La Flaga, Natarle Badgiruel, and several other Earth Alliance survivors of the raid on Heliopolis.

Kira initially refuses to pilot the Strike again, but Mu, who acts as somewhat of a mentor in the series, tells Kira that he is the only one capable of piloting it and that if he has the power to make a difference, he should.

During a later battle with ZAFT forces, Kira kills Miguel and the colony of Heliopolis collapses. Kira retrieves a damaged lifeboat from the debris; among the survivors onboard is Flay.

On the "Archangel"

After becoming the pilot of the Strike, Kira often confronts his friend Athrun Zala, a ZAFT soldier. While Athrun fights to protect his nation, Kira who hates war, wants to protect his friends who are onboard the "Archangel".

When Kira confronts Athrun for the first time after the destruction of Heliopolis, Athrun tries to get him to join ZAFT. He tells Kira that his mother was killed in the Bloody Valentine Incident and that was what drove him to join ZAFT. This affects Kira, but he refuses to join ZAFT, because he has people to protect on the "Archangel", and escapes when Mu La Flaga intervenes.

At Artemis, Kira is claimed a traitor to Coordinators by Eurasian Federation Admiral Gerard Garcia, who was attempting to steal the "Archangel" and the Strike from the Atlantic Federation. However, Kira had locked the Strike's operation system on the advice of Mu, so they needed him to unlock it. Garcia even promised protection in Eurasia. After the "Archangel" with the Strike onboard escapes Artemis, Kira lies down on his bed and says "traitor" to himself while crying.

A twist of fate lands PLANT pop idol Lacus Clyne — who is Athrun's fiancee — onboard the "Archangel". Natarle Badgiruel uses her as a shield to stave off ZAFT forces after they destroy an Earth Alliance fleet, killing Vice Foreign Minister George Allster in the process. Before withdrawing, Athrun asks Kira if it is his idea of justice to fight with cowards who would use innocent civilians as hostages, and vows to rescue Lacus.

Kira later frees Lacus and with the help of Sai and Miriallia returns her to Athrun. Again, Athrun asks Kira to join ZAFT but Kira refuses, saying that he has friends on the "Archangel" he must protect. Athrun tells Kira that the next time they meet in battle, he would not hesitate to kill him; Kira returns the sentiment. Lacus is saddened because she is leaving Kira, realizing that he had similar sentiments against war, yet has the strength to fight. Kira is later court-martialed by the "Archangel"'s senior staff, but all charges were dropped against Kira due to him being a civilian.

When Flay, witnesses her father's killing by ZAFT, she berates Kira for not saving her father, even though he promised to and accuses him of not fighting his best because his opponents are fellow Coordinators. This accusation traumatizes Kira emotionally. Flay later apologizes, faking affection for him to make him kill all the Coordinators on her behalf. Her misplaced sentiment makes her believe that Kira will fight harder for her. Kira's fighting becomes more violent as shown when he enters SEED mode for the first time and damages the GAT-X102 Duel, giving its pilot Yzak Joule a scar across his face.

Later, when the "Archangel" rendezvous with the Earth Alliance's 8th Fleet, Flay, followed by Kira's other friends volunteer to enlist. This causes Kira to decide to officially become an Earth Alliance soldier as well. Soon after, during a battle that results in the destruction of the 8th fleet, a fleeing shuttle of survivors from Heliopolis accidentally crosses in the middle of his fight with Yzak, who has sworn revenge against Kira. Yzak shoots down the shuttle, thinking it contains retreating Earth Alliance soldiers, while Kira fails to protect it.

This event had a traumatic effect on Kira. One of the shuttle's passengers was a little girl named Elle, who gave him an origami flower as a token of her appreciation for his protection in earlier battles. When Flay brings him back the flower, Kira breaks down and cries. Flay comforts and kisses him and eventually the two of them have sex. They later grow apart as Kira becomes obsessed with protecting the ship, to the point that Kira began bunking in the Strike.

Enter the Desert Tiger: Andrew Waltfeld encounters Kira Yamato

After the "Archangel" lands in North Africa, they are attacked by a ZAFT squadron lead by the Desert Tiger, Andrew Waltfeld. Due to Kira being inexperienced in combat in the desert, he could not pilot the Strike properly. He managed to again, reprogram the Strike's operating system to adapt to the environment. This causes Andrew to believe that the pilot is a Coordinator. With the Desert Dawn intervening, the ZAFT forces retreat.

Kira then is reunited with Cagalli Yula Athha, the girl he helped escape from Heliopolis. Cagalli has been worried about him and is shocked to see him piloting a mobile suit.

After a squadron of ZAFT's TMF/A-802 BuCUEs under the command of Andrew destroy the town of Tassil, Cagalli and other members of the Desert Dawn recklessly chase after them. Several resistance fighters, including Cagalli's friend Ahmed El Fasi, are killed, though Kira arrives in time to save Cagalli. After the battle, Kira argues with Cagalli, which ends with Kira slapping her across the face.

Later, the two of them are sent to gather supplies. As Kira and Cagalli sit down for lunch, they meet a (poorly but effectively) disguised Andrew Waltfeld. Blue Cosmos terrorists attack, targeting Andrew. In the confusion, Kira saves Andrew from being shot in the back. Andrew thanks Kira, and he sheds the disguise, Cagalli realizes who he really is.

Andrew's girlfriend Aisha takes Cagalli to get cleaned up and then brings her back in an elegant dress. She and Kira squabble, which the adults find amusing. When Cagalli confronts Andrew, he pulls out a gun and asks Kira if a war will end when all of your enemies are destroyed. Andrew says he does not know why Kira is fighting his own kind, but as long as Kira pilots the Strike, they are enemies. He then puts the gun away stating that his home is not a battlefield and that Kira had saved him. Because of that, he lets Kira and Cagalli leave.

Because they know each other, Kira and Andrew find it difficult to fight in the next battle, where Andrew pilots the new TMF/A-803 LaGOWE to face Kira personally. Kira asks Andrew to stop because the battle is over, but Andrew is determined to keep fighting until one of them is dead. Kira activates his SEED abilities and destroys the LaGOWE that Andrew is piloting. Kira cries after the LaGOWE explodes because he did not want to kill Andrew.

Flight over the Indian Ocean: The winds of change

While traveling on the Indian Ocean, Kira remembers his final battle with Andrew, the death of Flay's father, and the destroyed civilian shuttle and begins to cry. Cagalli hugs him and tells him everything will be okay, and finds herself holding his hand. She tells him not to get the wrong idea, as she simply wants him not to cry anymore.

She asks why he is with the Earth Alliance when he is a Coordinator. He recalls being asked that many times. She asks about what Coordinators can do, and Kira tells her that their abilities come from studying and training, not just by virtue of birth. Flay hears their voices, and leads Kira away, obviously jealous of Cagalli.

Later, when the "Archangel" is undergoing repairs at Orb, Kira ends his relationship with Flay. It is unclear whether he realized she was manipulating him or not. He also meets Athrun face to face, who is spying to see if the "Archangel" is in Orb. Although Athrun knows Kira is the Strike pilot, he does not reveal this to the others in his ZAFT team.

Kira helped Orb create an OS for Naturals to pilot mobile suits based on the Strike's combat data. This gives the Orb M1 Astrays superiority over the latter Earth Alliance Strike Daggers.

Before he leaves Orb with the "Archangel", Cagalli shows Kira that his parents are watching him depart. Kira asks Cagalli to apologize to them for him, explaining he cannot see them right now, especially when he might say things that he may regret. Kira tells her to be safe and thanks her. As he turns to go inside the "Archangel", Cagalli embraces him and tells him not to die and to come back to see her again, which Kira promises.

Kira and Athrun: A tragic duel

While en route to the Earth Alliance Alaskan base JOSH-A, the "Archangel" is attacked by Athrun and his comrades. During the initial skirmish, Kira damages all of ZAFT's opposing mobile suits. However, Kira accidentally kills Nicol Amalfi, a close friend of Athrun's and pilot of the GAT-X207 Blitz, when Nicol tries to protect Athrun. Athrun realizes that Nicol's death could have been prevented by killing Kira, and he vows to do so the next time they meet. In their next battle, Kira's friend Tolle Koenig is killed when Athrun destroys the FX-550 Skygrasper he was piloting. Kira and Athrun (both activated their SEED abilities) try to kill each other to avenge their dead friends, and Kira winds up seriously injured when Athrun attaches the Aegis to the Strike and bails out before the Aegis self-destructs.

Acquiring a new mobile suit: The ZGMF-X10A Freedom

Although believed dead, Kira ends up in the PLANTs in the mansion of Lacus Clyne. The anime does not explain how he ends up in Reverend Malchio's garden, but makes it clear that Malchio had brought him to the Clynes. The "Gundam SEED" mangaClarifyme|date=March 2008 shows Kira stagger to Malchio's before collapsing. In "Gundam SEED Astray", he is pulled from the wreckage of the Strike by Junk Guild member Lowe Guele, who turns Kira over to Reverend Malchio, a friend of the Clyne family (Kira thanks Guele when "ReHOME" delivers supplies for the Three Ships Alliance later in the war).

During this time, Lacus and Kira grow closer to each other. Lacus tells Kira that he is safe and that he can stay as long as he wants to. However, he overhears a message to Lacus' father Siegel Clyne, from Council member Eileen Canaver that PLANT chairman Patrick Zala lied about ZAFT's newest major operation and that the bulk of ZAFT forces are actually on their way to crush JOSH-A in Alaska, the main base of the Earth Alliance military and where the "Archangel" is currently stationed. Kira decides to leave PLANT and save his friends onboard the "Archangel". Lacus helps Kira enter a ZAFT base and gives him the ZGMF-X10A Freedom, then kisses his cheek. Kira then returns to Earth in his new mobile suit.

During the Battle of JOSH-A, Murrue warns Kira about the underground Cyclops system and Kira alerts both ZAFT and Earth Alliance soldiers of the impending danger. Yzak Joule refuses to believe him and attacks Kira with the Duel. Even though Yzak killed Elle and the other refugees, Kira refrains from killing him in return. Instead, he disables the Duel and saves Yzak from the Cyclops blast, keeping with his vow to limit casualties for any and all sides on the battlefield. He even saved a damaged GINN but the pilot died later.

After the Battle of JOSH-A, the "Archangel" defects to Orb. In Orb, Cagalli tearfully welcomes Kira with an embrace that tackles him to the ground, Cagalli calls him an idiot while beating him and admitting she feared he was dead. Kira comforts Cagalli by reminding her that he kept his promise to return.

Later, Athrun decides that Kira is not his enemy. Using the ZGMF-X09A Justice, Athrun aids the "Archangel" during the Earth Alliance's invasion of Orb. After staving off the Earth Alliance, Athrun and Kira call a truce to discuss the situation. They acknowledge that Nicol and Tolle did not deserve to die, and that they had wanted to kill each other despite being best friends, in order to avenge the deaths of their comrades. Kira asserts something that was previously noted by Lacus about what they should be fighting for. Kira asks Athrun to join Orb, so they can eventually put an end to the war.

The Earth Alliance attacks Orb again. Uzumi Nara Athha sacrifices his life in order to prevent the Earth Alliance from getting their hands on their main target: Orb's mass driver. Before that happens, however, he gives Cagalli a photograph of her and Kira when they were infants and tells her that although she is leaving her father she will not be alone, for she will be with her brother. When Cagalli shows Kira the photo after the "Archangel" and the "Kusanagi" ascend into space, he is shocked, especially since the woman holding them is not Caridad Yamato, the only mother he has known.

Rise of Three Ships Alliance and the Mendel Colony conspiracy

Eventually the "Archangel", the "Kusanagi", and the Clyne Faction's stolen ZAFT ship "Eternal" (which is commanded by Kira's former adversary Andrew Waltfeld no less), form the Three Ships Alliance, supported by Kira's stolen Freedom and Athrun's Justice mobile suits. In the "Astray" manga, this group receives assistance from the Junk Guild, and the prototype "Archangel" tender ship turned Junk Guild vessel "ReHOME" serves as a tender ship for the Three Ships Alliance.

During the Battle of Mendel, Kira learns from Rau Le Creuset that Caridad and Haruma Yamato are not his biological parents. His true parents were Ulen and Via Hibiki, geneticists who are both deceased. He also learns that he is the Ultimate Coordinator; his fetus was artificially developed outside his mother's womb, and all his genetic enhancements are exactly as they were intended to be. He is the only fetus to be successfully developed using the apparatus. Kira also learns that Cagalli is indeed his twin sister, who was born naturally and not genetically altered.

After this, Kira is shocked when he learns that Flay, whom he had believed was transferred from the "Archangel" along with Natarle Badgiruel before the Battle of JOSH-A, was in a nearby lifepod. In the lifepod, Flay says she has something that will end the war. Upon hearing Kira's voice again, Flay weeps with joy, since she thought he was dead.

Unfortunately, Kira fails to retrieve her lifepod because the Freedom is beheaded by the GAT-X252 Forbidden and GAT-X370 Raider after Kira recklessly tries to get to Flay before everyone else does. Flay winds up onboard the "Dominion" instead. As Forbidden and Raider pilots Shani Andras and Clotho Buer continue their assault on Kira, he is saved by Athrun and Dearka Elsman.

After making it back to the Eternal, Kira looks at Lacus, ends up seeing Flay instead and passes out. When he wakes up from this blackout, again he looks at Lacus and he imagines seeing Flay naked, an obvious flashback. Just as Cagalli is about to ask Kira about the photo of the two of them when they were babies, Athrun takes her outside, leaving Kira and Lacus alone together. Kira tells Lacus he vowed not to cry, and she tells him he can cry when he feels like it. Kira cries himself to sleep in Lacus' lap.

Battle at Jachin Due: A day of destiny

Kira, Lacus, Athrun, Cagalli and the Three Ships Alliance help in ending the Bloody Valentine War. Just before the final battle, Lacus helps Kira come to terms with his true origins and admits her love for him by giving him the ring that belonged to her mother. Kira responds with a thanks for her support and kisses her on the cheek.

In the final battle at Jachin Due, Kira fights both ZAFT and the Earth Alliance, assisting in the destruction of the Earth Alliance's Peacemaker Nuclear Taskforce's motherships. Kira later battles Rau Le Creuset, who now pilots the ZGMF-X13A Providence. While fighting Le Creuset, Kira again hears Flay cry out from an escape vessel and backs out of the fight in an attempt to rescue her. Instead of going after Kira, Le Creuset attacks the escape vessel. Kira stops Le Creuset's first attack and sees Flay, who has tears in her eyes and a smile on her face. While Kira is distracted, one of Rau's DRAGOONs fires from above and destroys the vessel, killing Flay. Kira cries out in anguish, realizing Flay's death could have been prevented if he had not lost focus on Le Creuset. Flay's spirit briefly appears to thank and apologize to Kira. She also assures Kira that her true feelings will protect him.

Enraged over Flay's death, Kira activates his SEED mode and stops Le Creuset from destroying the "Eternal" and "Kusanagi". Though the Freedom is heavily damaged in the renewed fight, he mortally wounds Le Creuset and the Providence is destroyed by the sabotaged ZAFT superweapon GENESIS. While Kira drifts aimlessly in space outside of the Freedom, it is revealed that he was wearing the ring Lacus gave him as a pendant on a necklace. He is later rescued by Cagalli and Athrun.

The "Astray X" manga features the mercenary Canard Pars, the only "failed" Ultimate Coordinator prototype known to have survived. Canard, consumed by an intense inferiority complex and hatred towards Kira, constantly thought fruitlessly searches for him with the intention to defeat him and become the true Ultimate Coordinator; however, during the course of the story he abandons that goal and finally comes to terms with himself. Although Kira and Canard crossed each other during a walk on the Orb beaches, the latter chose to pass him by without addressing him and it is unknown whether Kira is aware of Canard’s existence.

Gundam SEED Destiny

Kira has been living on a secluded island (one of the Marshall Islands) in Orb territory since the end of the war. He and Lacus have spent the last two years after the war assisting Reverend Malchio and Kira's adoptive mother with his orphanage. The Junius Seven Colony Drop Incident, which triggers the Second Bloody Valentine War forces the group to move in with Murrue Ramius and Andrew Waltfeld at their shared mansion in Orb. As the events escalate, the mansion is destroyed by an unknown force of Coordinators trying to assassinate Lacus. The attempt on Lacus's life forces Kira to once again pilot the Freedom and participate in combat in order to protect his loved one, despite her reluctance in his taking up arms again. He still abides by his policy to limit casualties, by disabling the opposing mobile suits in SEED mode, though the pilots then self-destruct their machines briefly shocking him.

Kira and Lacus return to the "Archangel" as Orb joined the Earth Alliance, forcing them to take up secretive residence in the Kingdom of Scandinavia. Before leaving Orb, Kira kidnaps Cagalli from her arranged marriage to Yuna Roma Seiran, despite Cagalli's initial objections. He also helps Cagalli realize her mistake in letting Orb side with the Earth Alliance and helps her come to terms with her errors in judgement, despite her good intentions.

Return to the battlefield

After a period of being part of the "Archangel" crew, Lacus decides to go into space to investigate what is going on, although Kira initially objects as he would not be able to watch over her, she assures him she will be careful and holds him to reassure him. Lacus, Andrew, and the shuttle they have stolen are nearly shot down, but Kira protects them.

Kira continues to fight in the rebuilt ZGMF-X10A Freedom. His first sortie with the "Archangel" is in the Dardanelles, trying to stop the OMNI/Orb offensive against the ZAFT battleship "Minerva". He destroys the "Minerva"s main "Tannhäuser" cannon, causing severe damage to the ship, Kira then disarms several mobile suits on both sides of the skirmish.

Kira is blamed for causing the death of ZGMF-X2000 GOUF Ignited pilot Heine Westenfluss by the hands of ZGMF-X88S Gaia pilot Stella Loussier (both were trying to attack Kira and Heine got in Stella's way).

Kira, accompanied by Cagalli and Miriallia Haw, secretly meet with Athrun in Crete, where they are spied on by Lunamaria Hawke. Athrun says they will not end the war by their methods and Cagalli must return to Orb if she wants Orb to leave the Earth Alliance. Kira tells Athrun that he distrusts ZAFT's leader, Gilbert Durandal, since Lacus was targeted by a special ops team of Coordinators using newly designed ZAFT Mobile Suits. Though Athrun returned to ZAFT, both sides were affected by the other's words.

Kira intervenes again in the Earth Forces/Orb battle with the "Minerva" in Crete, where he saved the Minerva from a possible finishing blow, but was still regarded as the enemy.Kira was confronted by Athrun in the ZGMF-X23S Saviour, who believed Kira and Cagalli to be in the wrong as their actions as they seemed to only create confusion and unnecessary deaths. Due to the situation around them, primarily his distraught twin sister, Kira declares that if Athrun thinks that the "Archangel"'s presence in trying to stop the battle is pointless and that Cagalli is to blame for Orb's path, then that makes Athrun his enemy. Kira easily defeats Athrun this time, and dismantles the Saviour, taking care not to injure Athrun.

Freedom's last battle

Kira and the "Archangel" soon go to Berlin to fight against the monstrous GFAS-X1 Destroy, and are eventually joined by the "Minerva", along with Shinn Asuka's Impulse. Kira kills Stella Loussier, the pilot of the Destroy. This saves the lives of many, including Shinn, Shinn who was in love with Stella and after her death plans to destroy Kira in revenge.

Soon after, PLANT Chairman Gilbert Durandal orders the destruction of the "Archangel" and the Freedom during the mission code-named "Operation: Angel Down". The "Minerva" participates reluctantly, but Shinn Asuka is eager for revenge.

Freedom is attacked by Shinn and his ZGMF-X56S Impulse, who has prepared for this battle. Taking advantage of Kira's unwillingness to kill and Impulse's ability to replace damaged parts on-the-fly, Shinn defeats Kira. Kira shuts down Freedom's nuclear reactor before losing consciousness and is retrieved from the ocean by Cagalli in the MBF-02 Strike Rouge.

ZGMF-X20A Strike Freedom

Soon after, Athrun Zala and Meyrin Hawke defect from ZAFT after being framed by Rey Za Burrel and Gilbert Durandal. While they recover from being shot down.

Lacus and her ship Eternal come under attack by newer ZAFT's Zaku and Gouf squadrons after investigating the remnants of the space colony Mendel for clues about Chairman Durandal's plans. Kira rushes into space in Cagalli's Strike Rouge mounted on booster rockets, but the Strike Rouge is seriously damaged very quickly from the numerous attacks it took from Eternal's pursuers.

Andrew Waltfeld provides cover in a ZGMF-X88S Gaia and tells Kira to go into the "Eternal" to pick up his new unit. On the "Eternal", Kira and Lacus are reunited and she presents Kira with the newly constructed ZGMF-X20A Strike Freedom albeit with some hesitation. He uses his new mobile suit to disable the attacking forces within two minutes.

Kira then returns to Earth with the Strike Freedom to help Cagalli defend Orb, which is under ZAFT attack because Yuna Roma Seiran and his father Unato had provided refuge for the Logos leader Lord Djibril. Lacus Clyne flies down in the ZGMF-X19A Infinite Justice to deliver it to Athrun Zala.

econd Battle of Orb

Shinn in the Destiny tries to defeat Cagalli's ORB-01 Akatsuki, when Kira arrives to defend her. While Cagalli withdraws to deal with the political situation, Kira and Shinn battle until the other has to withdraw back to the "Minerva".

Kira then disables many of the ZAFT mobile suits invading Orb. Shinn relaunches accompanied by Rey in the Legend. They double-team Kira until Athrun arrives in Infinite Justice, after which Kira faces off against Rey's Legend, while Athrun engages Shinn in melee combat.

After the ZAFT forces withdraw, Athrun loses consciousness. Kira, in Strike Freedom, catches the Infinite Justice in mid-air, preventing him from crashing. Back aboard the "Archangel", Kira removes Athrun's helmet and flight suit, revealing that Athrun's wounds have re-opened and are bleeding profusely. Kira then orders a stretcher to bring Athrun to the "Archangel"'s sick bay, where he recovers, tended to by Meyrin.

Return to space

Lord Djibril escapes into space during the battle. ZAFT forces withdraw from Orb and the "Minerva" is sent to reinforce the ZAFT Lunar Team's attempt to destroy the Earth Alliance's Lunar-Based Laser Cannon, "Requiem" which has fired and destroyed some of the PLANTs.

During that time, Kira is promoted to Admiral and appointed as the Commander of the Orb Space Fleet. The "Archangel" is also officially commissioned into the Orb Military Fleet and assigned as Kira's flagship. "Archangel" is ordered to the lunar city of Copernicus to gather intelligence on Durandal's operations. Cagalli stays in Orb to coordinate the recovery and lead the country.

The "Archangel" returns to space and docks at Copernicus City. Kira, Lacus, Athrun, and Meyrin attempt to gather intelligence under the guise of a shopping trip. There, they receive Meer Campbell's red Haro containing a message from Meer saying she is afraid of being killed. Athrun and Meyrin suspect it is a trap, but Lacus insists on meeting Meer.

It is a trap. Sarah, Meer's bodyguard, has organized a team of assassins to kill Lacus. Athrun, Kira, and Meyrin fight them off, protecting Lacus and Meer. Athrun requests backup from the Archangel which sends Mu La Flaga (Neo Roanoke) to aid them in the ORB-01 Akatsuki. After his arrival, the badly injured Sarah, makes a final attempt to kill Lacus, but Meer is hit instead, trying to protect Lacus at the last second.

Shortly after Meer's funeral, Durandal announces his "Destiny Plan" to the world and his vow to eliminate anybody who does not follow him. Orb, the Kingdom of Scandinavia, and the Atlantic Federation all denounces Durandal's plan. Orb orders their space fleet to stop Durandal from accomplishing the "Destiny Plan" and prevent the destruction of Orb.

Battle of Messiah: Assault on REQUIEM

In the final battle, Kira orders Athrun and the "Archangel" to disable the Requiem directly, while the Strike Freedom confronts Rey's ZGMF-X666S Legend. Kira tries to persuade Rey to stop fighting and supporting Durandal before disabling the Legend. After that, the Strike Freedom attacks the space fortress, Messiah, leading to its eventual destruction.

Kira then exits the Strike Freedom and searches for Gilbert Durandal in the command center of Messiah. While they are talking and pointing guns at each other the captain of the Minerva, Talia Gladys, Durandal's lover, and Rey Za Burrel, who has been Gilbert's most dedicated follower, also arrive and draw pistols. Rey shoots Durandal, he had been enlightened by Kira's words and dreams of a future, which would have been suppressed by Durandal's Destiny Plan. Before Kira leaves the Messiah, Talia Gladys asks Kira to tell Murrue Ramius, her "Archangel" counterpart, that she has a son and she wishes Murrue to meet him someday. Kira agrees and leaves the Messiah in Strike Freedom before it falls onto the moon surface and explodes. Talia and Rey stay with Durandal.

Aftermath

Afterwards, at the ravished Orb memorial previously visited by Shinn and Kira in episode 8, Athrun introduces Kira to Shinn as the pilot of Freedom. Shinn is stunned by the identity of the pilot whom he tried to defeat numerous times, and previously met before without that knowledge. Kira asks Shinn to make peace with him and asks Shinn to join him and Athrun in the fight for humanity's peace. A crying Shinn agrees.

In the ending credits of " IV", Kira is wearing a white ZAFT uniform reserved for important military officials. When Kira and Lacus saw each other in the PLANTs they immediately rushed towards one another and hugged each other, surprising most of the people present.

Fighting and piloting skills

While lacking any true form of military training, Kira's fighting prowess has developed much as the series progresses. In the original "Gundam SEED" series, Kira is shown to be inexperienced with handguns, preferring not to use them. During a Blue Cosmos assassination attempt on Andrew Waltfeld, Kira chooses to throw the gun rather than shoot someone. He even has to be reminded by Mu to remove the safety on his gun in episode 44 while in pursuit of Rau on Mendel station. He is shown as a skilled unarmed fighter, however, and is extremely effective with his mobile suit's artillery. Furthermore, in the glossary of the PS2 game Never Ending Tomorrow, his rapid advancement in piloting skills is described to have been caused by Rau le Creuset's revelation of his being born out of an artificial womb.

In "Gundam Seed Destiny", his handgun skills improve dramatically as seen in the second assassination attempt on Lacus Clyne.

His implied status as a person with high spatial awareness ability also has an impact on his fighting abilities.

In Super Robot Wars Alpha 3

Kira is one of the "Gundam SEED" characters who appears in the "Super Robot Wars Alpha" finale - "Super Robot Wars Alpha 3: To the edge of the galaxy". While his stats are boosted once he goes into SEED mode at 140 morale, compared to Newtype ace pilots like Kamille Bidan and Judau Ashta, who normally have superior skills, he has higher aiming and dodging ability in his SEED mode, though only coming close to Amuro Ray's. This trait is evened out once the Newtypes undergo the Newtype flash.

Birdy

Birdy, known as Torii in the Japanese version, is a robotic pet bird owned by Kira. Birdy is voiced by Naomi Shindou in the Japanese anime and Tabitha St. Germain in the English dub.

About three years prior to CE 71, Birdy, a robotic pet bird, was created by Athrun Zala for Kira, a childhood friend of his.cite web |url=http://www.gundamofficial.com/worlds/ce/seed/characters/chara_birdy.html |title=Birdy "Gundam SEED" profile |accessdate=2007-06-09 |publisher=GundamOfficial ]

The first time Birdy is seen in the series, it is with Kira at the college he attends in "Gundam SEED". He is accompanying Kira, but Birdy leaves later on for an unknown reason. When the "Archangel" is undergoing repairs at Orb, Birdy is the reason Kira runs into Athrun face to face, who is spying to see if the "Archangel" is in Orb.

In "Gundam SEED Destiny", Birdy is portrayed as a figure who alerts Kira & Athrun's presence to each other as seen in the ending of Episode 51. In Episode 46 of Gundam SEED Destiny, Birdy is the reason why Athrun spotted Sarah hiding in the tress when he flew by and distracts Sarah which alerts Athrun of her presence.

Birdy is shown throughout the series, in various episodes, and is a symbol of Kira and Athrun's friendship.

References