Attack on Heliopolis

The Attack on Heliopolis (ヘリオポリス襲撃, Herioporisu Shūgeki) was a ZAFT military operation launched in Cosmic Era 71 against the neutral space colony of Heliopolis. The attack’s objective was to steal the Earth Alliance’s five advanced G Project mobile suits that were being developed secretly at the colony. The operation, which opened Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, resulted in the destruction of Heliopolis and marked the beginning of the First Alliance-PLANT War for many of the series’ protagonists.

Prelude

Heliopolis was a neutral space colony operated by the Orb Union, but it secretly hosted the Earth Alliance’s G Project, a programme to develop five advanced mobile suits: the GAT-X105 Strike Gundam, GAT-X102 Duel Gundam, GAT-X103 Buster Gundam, GAT-X207 Blitz Gundam, and GAT-X303 Aegis Gundam. These mobile suits were designed to match or exceed ZAFT’s mobile suit technology.

ZAFT intelligence discovered the G Project’s existence and location, prompting Rau Le Creuset to plan an operation to capture the mobile suits before they could be deployed against ZAFT forces. The attack was authorised despite Heliopolis’s official neutrality, reflecting the escalating tensions between the Earth Alliance and ZAFT.

The Attack

ZAFT forces, led by Rau Le Creuset and including elite pilots Athrun Zala, Yzak Joule, Dearka Elsman, and Nicol Amalfi, launched a surprise assault on Heliopolis. The operation began with ZAFT mobile suits infiltrating the colony and engaging Earth Alliance security forces.

The ZAFT pilots successfully captured four of the five G Project mobile suits: the Duel, Buster, Blitz, and Aegis Gundams. However, the Strike Gundam remained in Earth Alliance hands, and the attack triggered a series of events that would shape the course of the war.

Kira Yamato’s involvement

During the attack, Kira Yamato, a Coordinator student living on Heliopolis, became involved in the conflict when he discovered his friend Athrun Zala was part of the attacking ZAFT force. Despite his desire to remain neutral, Kira was forced to pilot the Strike Gundam to protect his friends and civilians, marking his first experience in mobile suit combat.

Kira’s involvement in the battle was significant, as his exceptional piloting skills, despite his lack of combat experience, allowed him to hold his own against ZAFT’s elite pilots. His encounter with Athrun during the battle was particularly poignant, as the two friends found themselves on opposite sides of the conflict.

Destruction of Heliopolis

The intense combat during the attack caused severe damage to Heliopolis’s structure. As ZAFT forces withdrew with the captured mobile suits, the colony’s structural integrity was compromised, leading to its destruction. The colony’s destruction resulted in the loss of many civilian lives and forced the evacuation of survivors, including Kira and his friends who joined the Earth Alliance vessel Archangel.

The destruction of Heliopolis, a neutral colony, demonstrated the brutal nature of the conflict and the willingness of both sides to violate neutrality when it served their strategic interests. The attack marked a significant escalation in the First Alliance-PLANT War.

Aftermath

The Attack on Heliopolis had profound consequences:

• ZAFT success – ZAFT successfully captured four of the five G Project mobile suits, providing them with advanced technology and significantly enhancing their military capabilities
• Strike Gundam – The Strike Gundam remained with the Earth Alliance, eventually becoming Kira Yamato’s primary mobile suit throughout much of the war
• Archangel’s journey – The survivors of Heliopolis, including Kira, joined the Earth Alliance vessel Archangel, which became a key player in the conflict
• Escalation – The attack marked the opening of major hostilities in the First Alliance-PLANT War
• Friendship tested – The battle placed Kira and Athrun on opposite sides, setting the stage for their conflicted relationship throughout the series

Significance

The Attack on Heliopolis served as the opening event of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, establishing the series’ central conflict and introducing its main characters. The battle demonstrated the destructive power of mobile suits and the human cost of war, themes that would be explored throughout the series.

The attack also highlighted the complex political situation of the Cosmic Era, where neutrality could be violated when strategic interests were at stake. Heliopolis’s destruction served as a warning about the consequences of getting involved in the conflict, even indirectly.

Appearances

• Mobile Suit Gundam SEED

See also

• First Alliance-PLANT War
• Heliopolis
• Rau Le Creuset
• Kira Yamato
• Athrun Zala

External links

• Attack on Heliopolis on the Gundam Wiki