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Episode 11
Author’s Note: Konpei Island is the name given to Solomon by the Federation after the One Year War. They are used interchangeably
Cima Garahau’s fleet meets up with Delaz’s while the colony continues to move toward Luna. Delaz orders his ships to re-supply Cima and imagines the panic at Jaburo right now. On the Moon, the Lunarian political leaders hold a conference with Federation representatives on what to do about the incoming colony drop. The AXIS fleet shall be allowed to stay on Luna for awhile so long as they stay neutral and the Federation guarantees that they will catch up with the Colony, ignite its propellant, forcing it away from the moon. Gato meets with the AXIS fleet’s leader who says he wishes to help but needs to appear neutral. Gato thanks him and asks if he’ll take the remaining men when the battle is over. AXIS agrees and also gives Gato a gift, the massive mobile armor, AMX-001 Neue Ziel (German for ‘New Goals’ for the trivia minded). Gato says it looks like the spirit of Zeon took form.
The Albion begins to dock at Anaheim’s massive ship, La Vie En Rose while Keith tells Kou that they’ll finally get more shore leave. Kou doesn’t appear to care and says that Nina is against him piloting it. After La Vie En Rose’s massive ‘arms’ lock the Albion in place, Synapse comments to Nina on how the La Vie En Rose is a great test base for GP03. Keith asks Kou what the GP03 is like but all Kou knows is that it is called a ‘space stronghold defense unit’ and he’ll be the one to fly it. They enter the bridge and meet Commander Nakato, the Federation commander on the La Vie En Rose. Commander Nakato doesn’t seem impressed by the fact that Kou was the Gundam pilot and only allows shore access to Synapse, Kou and Nina. Moreover, he override’s Admiral Kowen’s orders for the Albion to attack Delaz Fleet and gives them their new mission to protect the La Vie En Rose.
The Delaz fleet continues along with the colony while Delaz laughs at the Federation’s response to the threat. Kou, Nina and Synapse enter the La Vie En Rose and see commander Nakato again. They also see Nina’s old friend, Lucette Audevie, who is in charge of the GP03's development. Nina doesn’t appear happy to see Lucette and Kou notices it. Lucette tells Kou that he’ll make a good pilot for the GP03 but Nakato says that it is temporarily suspended. Lucette says that the GP03 is complete and just needs real world data. Nakato turns his nose up and says he is only following orders. Later, in a café, Lucette brings a cup of coffee to Nina and asks if she can borrow Kou as the test pilot for the GP03. Nina flat out refuses and Lucette tells her not to get upset about it. Nina says it is too late to join the battle anyway and Lucette asks if Nina’s losing the GP01 pushed her over the edge. The Federation catches up to the Delaz Fleet and prepare to barrage when they come under fire from the Neue Ziel. Gato bids them a pleasant trip to hell and blows up 5 Salamis class cruisers.
Kou steps out of the shower in his room on the La Vie En Rose. He puts a robe on and while he’s cursing Nakato, Lucette enters. She apologizes but asks him to listen. She opens her computer and shows him all the data on the GP03 that Nakato hasn’t classified. She suggests that he take the GP03 before she can find someone else to. He says it would be against orders but she says he’d be defending the Federation and leaves. On the way out, she finds Nina at Kou’s door; she tells Nina that Kou agreed to do it. Nina asks Kou why he must go that far. Kou says that Gato and his people continue and then shuts the door on Nina.
On the moon, the old Anaheim chief, Mr. O’Sullivan gets a message from Cima. The colony is already in Lunar orbit and the Feddie fleet is helpless against Gato. O’Sullivan hits a switch, making 3 turrets emerge near Von Braun. They all fire lasers at the colony, igniting its propellant and the Federation fleet spots this then realizes that the colony will leave lunar orbit and be drawn in by Earth’s gravity. The entire Earth Federation fleet realizes they’ve been had. Lucette tells Kou that the Zeons are recreating Operation British and in 38 hours, it will hit the Earth. Kou asks why they would make the bluff and realizes it was to run out the Fleet’s propellant. On cue yet again, the Federation fleet ships complain about being low or out of propellant.
Lucette leads Kou into the hanger with the GP03. Nakato catches wind of it and authorizes his men to shoot Kou after giving Synapse a dirty look. Synapse pulls out a radio. Kou marvels at the shiny new Gundam before him as Nakato and his men burst in. Nakato tells Kou to get away from the Gundam now and he’ll overlook it. Kou asks Nakato if he really is blind and jumps for the Gundam. Nakato fires and Lucette jumps in the way then she crashes into the Gundam and Kou catches her and puts her down. Nakato says that for hijacking a Mobile Suit and using a civilian as a shield, they’d usually court martial him but Nakato will just do it right now. He points his gun at Kou but a hail of machine gun fire stops him. Nakato finds himself pinned down by Adel, Monsha, Bate, Paserov and Chap. Monsha tells Nakato he runs some quick and dirty trials and Synapse comes in from behind Nakato and points a pistol at his head. Nakato drops his gun and Nina comes in and sees Lucette. Nina takes Lucette from Kou’s arms and Kou runs and yells for a doctor. Lucette asks Nina to take care of GP03 and that she understands why Nina is against using GP03. Nina asks if she knew about her relationship with Kou. Lucette says she knows about her relationship from 3 years ago with Anavel Gato and she doesn’t want him and Kou to destroy each other. Lucette asks Nina to take care of the GP03 again and dies in her arms. Gato continues pounding the Federation fleet as the Albion leaves La Vie En Rose. In the hangar, Mora asks how they can call it a mobile suit. Gato picks up the signal of a new enemy and speeding toward him is Kou, riding a rather fierce mount, the GP03's mobile armor form, Dendrobium Orchis.
Paul Jr’s Thoughts:
The way several Federation officers have been acting, you almost want to agree with Zeon. They didn’t seem to care that the colony was about to hit Luna. Nakato didn’t seem to care when they found it changed course for Earth. Then allowing the AXIS fleet to stick around so long as they aren’t naughty is a little hopeful. Either way, Kou is their best hope toward stopping Gato and might be their only chance to stop the Earthbound colony.
