The Descending Sword

The Descending Sword
The Descending Sword (舞い降りる剣, Mai Oriru Tsurugi)
Episode Data
Episode	Mobile Suit Gundam SEED: #35
Script	Chiaki Morosawa Hiroyuki Yoshino
Airing
Runtime	23:53
Japanese	2003-06-07
English	2004-12-18
← Previous	Seen and Unseen
Next →	In the Name of Justice

The Descending Sword is Phase-35 (Phase-33 in the HD Remaster) of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED. It first aired in Japan on June 7, 2003 and in the United States on December 18, 2004. The Remaster episode aired in Japan in 2011.

Summary

Operation Spitbreak is initiated, with both ZAFT and the Earth Alliance believing they have outsmarted the other. The Archangel is left behind to be destroyed in a calculated plan that would decimate everyone on the battlefield, until Kira arrives to save them.

Notes & Trivia

• Though the organization would not be introduced until the next series and later notes would later place him in this organization, this episode would technically be the first appearance of FAITH through Ray Yuki's first appearance.

Appearances

• Categorized
• Overview

Characters

Earth Alliance

• Murrue Ramius
• Jackie Tonomura
• Dalida Lolaha Chandra II
• Arnold Neumann
• Kuzzey Buskirk
• Unidentified Linear Gun Tank Commander - (First Appearance; Decease)
• Mu La Flaga
• Romero Pal
• Sai Argyle
• Miriallia Haw
• Flay Allster
• William Sutherland
• Natarle Badgiruel
• Kojiro Murdoch
• Unidentified Atlantic Federation Rear Admiral - (First Appearance)

ZAFT

• Athrun Zala
• Yzak Joule
• Rau Le Creuset
• Unidentified Vosgulov-class Captain (Le Creuset Team)
• Unidentified GINN Pilot (JOSH-A) - (First Appearance; Decease)
• Ray Yuki - (First Appearance)

Orb Union

• Elle - (Flashback(s) Only)

Clyne Faction

• Lacus Clyne - (In Flashback(s))
• Kira Yamato

Characters

Name	Timestamp	Notes
Lacus Clyne	00:02	In Flashback(s)
Kira Yamato	00:03
Athrun Zala	01:03
Murrue Ramius	03:22
Dalida Lolaha Chandra II	03:27
Jackie Tonomura	03:27
Kuzzey Buskirk	03:33
Arnold Neumann	03:33
Unidentified Linear Gun Tank Commander	03:50	First Appearance; Decease
Yzak Joule	04:12
Mu La Flaga	04:32
Romero Pal	04:52
Sai Argyle	05:13
Miriallia Haw	05:18
Rau Le Creuset	05:37
Flay Allster	05:48
William Sutherland	07:03
Natarle Badgiruel	07:25
Kojiro Murdoch	09:16
Elle	17:34	Flashback(s) Only
Unidentified Atlantic Federation Rear Admiral	18:24
Unidentified Vosgulov-class Captain (Le Creuset Team)	19:10
Unidentified GINN Pilot (JOSH-A)	19:39	First Appearance; Decease
Ray Yuki	21:35	First Appearance
Tad Elsman	21:51

• Categorized
• Overview

Mobile Weapons

Earth Alliance

• GAT-X105+AQM/E-X01 Aile Strike Gundam - (Flashback(s) Only)

ZAFT

• ZGMF-1017 GINN
• AMF-101 DINN
• UMF-4A GOOhN
• UMF-5 ZnO
• TFA-2 ZuOOT
• TMF/A-802 BuCUE
• GAT-X102 Duel Gundam
• ZGMF-515 CGUE
• ZGMF/TAR-X1 GINN Tactical Air Reconnaissance Type - (HD Remaster Only)

Others

• ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam

Ships & Vehicles

Earth Alliance

• Linear Gun Tank
• Self-Propelled Linear Howitzer
• Bulldog
• F-7D Spearhead
• Arkansas-class - (First Appearance)
• Archangel-class
  • "Archangel"
• EA Elecar
• Cargo Truck (EA)
• Des Moines-class
  • "Oleg" - (First Appearance; Destroyed)
• Attack Submarine
• FX-550 Skygrasper
  • FX-550+AQM/E-X03 Launcher Grasper
• Escape Shuttle - (Flashback(s) Only)

ZAFT

• Space Shuttle (ZAFT) - (Flashback(s) Only)
• Guul
• Vosgulov-class

Mechanics

Name	Timestamp	Notes
ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam	00:01
ZGMF-1017 GINN	00:44
Space Shuttle (ZAFT)	00:58	Flashback(s) Only
Linear Gun Tank	02:36
Self-Propelled Linear Howitzer	02:36
AMF-101 DINN	02:37
Guul	02:37
Bulldog	02:40
F-7D Spearhead	02:47
Vosgulov-class	03:09
Arkansas-class	03:10	First Appearance
UMF-4A GOOhN	03:14
UMF-5 ZnO	03:17
Archangel-class	03:22
TFA-2 ZuOOT	03:47
TMF/A-802 BuCUE	03:56
GAT-X102 Duel Gundam	04:10
EA Elecar	04:30
Cargo Truck (EA)	04:40
Des Moines-class	04:45
Attack Submarine	05:34
ZGMF-515 CGUE	06:20
FX-550+AQM/E-X03 Launcher Grasper	13:16
FX-550 Skygrasper	14:07
ZGMF/TAR-X1 GINN Tactical Air Reconnaissance Type	15:00	HD Remaster Only
Escape Shuttle	17:35	Flashback(s) Only
GAT-X105+AQM/E-X01 Aile Strike Gundam	17:35	Flashback(s) Only

• Categorized
• Overview

Organizations

• PLANT
  • ZAFT
    • Le Creuset Team
    • FAITH - (First Appearance)
• Clyne Faction
• Earth Alliance
  • OMNI Enforcer
    • Archangel Corps
    • 11th Air Defense Corps - (First Mentioned; Destroyed)
    • 14th Tank Corps - (First Appearance; Destroyed)
  • Atlantic Federation
  • Eurasian Federation - (Mentioned Only)
• Blue Cosmos
• Orb Union - (Flashback(s) Only)

Organizations

Name	Timestamp	Notes
Zodiac Alliance of Freedom Treaty	00:01
PLANT	00:01
Clyne Faction	00:02
OMNI Enforcer	02:36
Earth Alliance	02:36
Atlantic Federation	03:17
Archangel Corps	03:22
Le Creuset Team	04:10
Eurasian Federation	05:35	Mentioned only
11th Air Defense Corps	06:13	First Mentioned; Destroyed
Blue Cosmos	07:03
14th Tank Corps	11:23	First Appearance: Destroyed
Orb Union	17:34	Flashback(s) Only
FAITH	21:35	First Appearance

• Categorized
• Overview

Locations

• Earth Sphere (Cosmic Era)
  • PLANT Colonies
    • Aprilius One
      • PLANT Supreme Council Building
  • Earth (Cosmic Era)
    • JOSH-A - (Destroyed)
    • Panama Base - (Mentioned Only)
    • Carpentaria Base - (Mentioned Only)

Locations

Name	Timestamp	Notes
Aprilius One	00:01
Earth Sphere (Cosmic Era)	00:01
PLANT Colonies	00:01
Earth	00:58
JOSH-A	02:36	Destroyed
Panama Base	08:24	Mentioned only
PLANT Supreme Council Building	21:23
Carpentaria Base	21:30	Mentioned only

• Categorized
• Overview

Conflicts/Events

• First Alliance-PLANT War
  • Theft of the Freedom Gundam - (In Flashback(s))
  • Operation Spitbreak - (Conclusion)
  • Battle of Orbit - (Flashback(s) Only)

Conflicts/Events

Name	Timestamp	Notes
Theft of the Freedom Gundam	00:01	In Flashback(s)
First Alliance-PLANT War	00:01
Operation Spitbreak	02:36	Conclusion
Battle of Orbit	17:35	Flashback(s) Only

• Categorized
• Overview

Technologies & Weapons

• Space Colony (Cosmic Era)
• Phase Shift armor
• "Pillbox" Anti-Air Turret
• Laminated Armor
• Assault Shroud
• Elecar (Cosmic Era)
• Cyclops System
• Surface-to-air Missile Launcher Emplacement
• Striker Packs
• Multi Lock-on System - (First Appearance)

Technologies & Weapons

Name	Timestamp	Notes
Space Colony (Cosmic Era)	00:01
Phase Shift armor	00:23
"Pillbox" Anti-Air Turret	02:36
Laminated Armor	03:24
Assault Shroud	04:10
Elecar	04:30
Cyclops System	10:05
Surface-to-air Missile Launcher Emplacement	11:28
Striker Packs	13:16
Multi Lock-on System	16:18	First Appearance

• Categorized
• Overview

Items & Miscellanea

• ZAFT Uniform
• OMNI Enforcer Uniform
• Rau Le Creuset's Mask

Items & Miscellanea

Name	Timestamp
ZAFT Uniform	00:03
OMNI Enforcer Uniform	03:17
Rau Le Creuset's Mask	05:37

• Categorized
• Overview

Terminology

• Gundam (Cosmic Era)
• Coordinator
  • Ultimate Coordinator
• Natural
• SEED factor

Terminology

Name	Timestamp
Gundam	00:01
Coordinator	00:02
Ultimate Coordinator	00:03
Natural	03:22
SEED factor	16:12

• Categorized
• Listings

Music

• Believe - (OP)
• Meteor - (BMG)
• Distance - (ED; HD Remaster Only)

Music

Title	Timestamp	Notes
Believe (OP)	01:08
Meteor (BGM)	15:34
Distance	22:04	ED; HD Remaster Only

Quotes

“	"I didn't choose to become a hero, but...!"	”
—Mu La Flaga before leaving JOSH-A and returning to the Archangel, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, The Descending Sword

“	"Ground crew unit! Some nut in an aircraft is trying to land on board! Take shelter!"	”
—Murrue Ramius unknowingly referring to Mu La Flaga during the latter's emergency landing on the Archangel, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, The Descending Sword

“	"H-How can you call this a plan? Because this is a war... because we're soldiers... so if we're told to, we must throw away our lives?"	”
—Miriallia Haw after learning about the Cyclops System, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, The Descending Sword

“	Murrue: "Note that I, Murrue Ramius, Captain of the Archangel made this decision, and therefore no other crew member is in any way responsible!" Mu: "Don't put so much pressure on yourself." Murrue: "This ship will now abandon this battleground and retreat! Send a message to all other Alliance ships, to follow us! Engine, full speed!"	”
—Murrue Ramius and Mu La Flaga, after having been told about the Atlantic Federations plan, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, The Descending Sword

“	"ZAFT! Earth Alliance! I call upon both Forces! Any moment now, the Cyclops System will activate and the Alaska base will self-destruct! I ask both Forces cease battle at once and retreat from this area!"	”
—Kira Yamato, warning ZAFT and Earth Alliance Forces about the Cyclops System, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, The Descending Sword

“	"For the preservation of our blue and pure world."	”
—William Sutherland quoting the Blue Cosmos catchphrase, Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, The Descending Sword