As the Minerva makes its way through the Indian Ocean, it draws the attention of an old enemy, Neo Lorrnoke of the elite Phantom Pain taskforce. Neo calls in support from the nearby Earth Alliance forces and launches an aerial assault on the Minerva. But while Shinn and Athrun battle the enemy in the air, the Minerva and its submarine escort come under attack from the water as well.

Shinn is drawn away from the battlefield and discovers the construction site of an Earth Alliance frontline base. He is outraged to realize that the Earth Alliance forces are using the local civilians for forced labor and begins wiping out the enemy soldiers in a destructive rampage.