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Episode 5
A group of Mousais does their best to hold off the Federation’s attack while they recover Anavel Gato and the Gundam from the HLV. Dra Cs flies ahead of Gato while the Mousais launch a barrage on the Salamises, destroying them. It is now October 31st and the Albion with support from Admiral Kowen combs the shoal zone. Kou sits in the GP01 with Nina. As Mora floats by, she says that the two of them have gotten rather friendly. Nina tells Kou that adjusting the balancer will not do much. Kou says the GP01 is great without the new parts and says he can’t wait for it to be upgraded to Full Vernian on Luna. Nina playfully calls him a hothead and says that a GM is more maneuverable in space right now. He moves the throttle forward and she puts her hand on his and tells him to be gentler before showing him the ‘proper’ way to do it. He tries to adjust the balancer and she tells him not to mess with it. He holds up a piece of paper and says he did the calculations too. She tells him he should take Burning’s GM out for training with Keith. He says that he’ll use any spare time he has working on the Gundam. Nina says “poor Keith” and tells Kou his calculations are all wrong.
In space, Keith zips around in his GM Cannon II, looking for Monsha’s GM. Kou looks at his computer and then bites it when Monsha rams into his mobile suit. Monsha continues ramming Keith’s suit while telling him that he needs to feel in all directions rather than stare at his computer. Keith spots 2 unidentified ships from the Earth’s shadow. Monsha says those are the Federation ships and asks if he thinks they were elephants. Burning spits at the idea that only 2 ships have come to support them. Synapse says that Admiral Kowen is the only one they can count on.
On Gato’s Mousai, the captain apologizes for having to take the long way and then asks how the GP02 handles. Gato says it is very good for something made by a feddie. They detect a fleet behind them. The fleet happens to belong to Cima Garahau, a female Zeon soldier who reluctantly joined forces with Delaz. Gato’s ship orders her to move her Zanzibar, Lil Marleen, off its collision course with Gato’s Mousai. Cima opens a channel and insincerely apologizes and says it is too late to change course. The Mousai barely avoids getting rear ended by the Zanzibar and she speeds off laughing. Gato docks at a colony merged with an asteroid which is serving as Delaz’s base. Outside, there is a Gwazine class cruiser docked. Gato walks into a room where Delaz sits on a throne with a stone bust of Gihren Zabi on the top. Delaz congratulates Gato and Gato says they had a rough encounter on the way. Delaz asks if he means Cima’s fleet and Cima walks up to the two of them. Delaz gets a call and has it patched through. The Albion’s current course could compromise the secrecy of Delaz’s base. Gato volunteers to fight but Cima insist she go as an apology to Gato. Cima dismisses herself and leaves. Gato asks Delaz how he could allow such a person into their reborn Zeon. He says that despite her skill, she can only make the world worse. Delaz asks Gato if he remembers the battle at A Baoa Qu. Gato says he will never forget the day that Delaz saved his life. Delaz insists that he didn’t save Gato’s life, only that Gato was reborn then to resurrect Zeon. Delaz goes on to say that Gato’s heart is charged with righteousness and that he shouldn’t concern himself with trifling matters. He says that for Operation Stardust to succeed, they will need both Gato’s Gundam and as much manpower as possible. Gato addresses Delaz but Delaz tells him to look at the big picture. Gato addresses him again and tells Delaz that his doubt is gone. They get word that Cima left with only one ship. Delaz laughs and asks if their transmission is ready and tells Gato to come along with him.
In the Albion’s shower, Mora asks if it is a little cold. Mora tells Nina to cut Kou a little slack but then jumps because Nina turned the shower up. Nina tells her she said it was cold. Mora says she meant Uraki. Mora says that Kou has redone the calculations 4 times today and Nina says 5 actually. Mora asks her to give him the data. Nina says he would just take off in the GP01 if she did. Nina goes on to say that it would still be less maneuverable than a GM and that its useless until they get to Luna and replace the core fighter. Mora asks what Nina likes more: Kou or the Gundam. Nina says the Gundam and that once it is fully equipped, it’ll be even more incredible. Mora tells her that Kou is a rare find. Most other men will be on her like hungry wolves but Kou is polite. When Mora looks away, Nina turns the water hotter again.
Kou sits outside the shower, waiting for Nina. When he hears a door open, he assumes it is Nina but sees it is Keith coming out of the mens room. In the mess hall, Mora looks around for Kou. She doesn’t see him but we hear somebody ask for no carrots so we can assume it is him. Mora flags him and Keith over to her table with Nina. Kou pulls out a long piece of paper and shows Nina where he made the mistake before. Nina pretends to be disinterested and reminds him that she is eating now. He offers her his carrots and as she refuses, Monsha arrives and sits next to Nina. Monsha leans over to Nina and she asks where his friends are. He says that they’re on standby because the ship is still on combat alert. Nina takes a carrot off Kou’s tray and tells Monsha she is glad to hear he is keeping busy. Monsha says that since the GP01 is getting fully tuned, he believes he should be the pilot. Monsha says that if Kou pilots it, he’ll wreck it. Kou protests and Monsha asks if he has any space experience. Kou hands Monsha the long piece of paper and tells him to check if it is wrong. Nina says that it might be safer for Monsha to be the pilot. Monsha lights up and asks Nina for a date once they get to Luna. Nina tells him to back off and Kou asks if Nina is saying what she really believes. Nina says she has had enough of Kou’s arrogance and that Monsha has more skill and experience than him. Kou drops his tray and asks if she didn’t accept him as the Gundam’s pilot over anyone else already. She says she wouldn’t have if she knew he was so pigheaded. Mora and Keith look at Nina with a degree of shock and disgust while Kou runs off. An alarm goes off and the operator says that an enemy ship has been sighted.
Cima’s Zanzibar has arrived on the scene and she is anxious to see some Feddies panic. Her Gelgoog marines launch and she orders the Zanzibar to fire on the Albion. The Salamises return fire and Albion’s pilots begin to launch. Bate, Adel, Monsha and Keith launch. Monsha says it will be 3 on 5 against the Gelgoogs because Keith doesn’t count. The Albion gets a message of what they think is from Jaburo but turns out to be Aguille Delaz. Delaz says that the armistice that ended the One Year War was a lie because it was signed by traitors. Uraki requests permission to launch in the Gundam but Burning tells him to take the GM. Adel tells Keith that if he stays calm and keeps the Gelgoogs from breaking through, they win. Keith brings up his scope and him and Adel fire on the Gelgoogs. Monsha begins to chase a Gelgoog as Delaz says he will never forget the men and women who have lost their lives for Zeon’s cause. Cima wonders why her Gelgoogs haven’t broken through yet and prepares to go out in her own Gelgoog. Kou goes up to Burning’s GM and a mechanic tells him that the pedals may be a little stiff. Kou looks back at the Gundam and then jumps for it. Nina tries to hand him a disc but he pushes it away. Kou leaves as Delaz continues.
He shows the GP02 armed with the nuclear warhead and shows the solar system what the Federation has been building. We see a bit of an Easter Egg here, future Titans captain, Bask Om, is seen on Kowen’s ship, watching the broadcast. He still wore those moronic sunglasses then too. Monsha chases a Gelgoog but moves when Cima fires on him in her custom Gelgoog. Keith shoots her shield away and she says ‘Panic fire won’t work’. Keith does his best but panics as Cima and 2 Gelgoogs attack him. Kou makes it to the catapult as Cima comes down on the ships. She takes out one Salamis with a shot directly to the bridge. Kou launches and as he fires, one Gelgoog pilot sees that his balancer is messed up. While he mocks its clumsiness, a beam courtesy of Kou pierces his cockpit. Cima attacks Kou and Delaz asks what gave rise to the Zeon’s war of independence. Cima shoots off the Gundam’s arm and hits it in the side of the head. Burning smashes his cast and Cima shoots Kou in the leg. Nina recoils as Kou gets hit and wishes she had stopped him before. Kou shoots back at Cima, angering her even more. Cima gets the order to pull back but peppers the Gundam with the Gelgoog’s wrist cannon. Kou gets hurt inside the cockpit as Burning rushes to aid him in the GM. Burning shoots a Gelgoog down and Cima retreats. Monsha sees that his opponent is retreating and Burning orders him not to give chase. Delaz says that there will be no more Zeons who run from their duty as Burning tries to talk to Kou. Burning tells Uraki to eject but Kou insists on bringing the GP01 back for Nina. Nina races to the hangar and cries over Kou and her Gundam in the elevator. Mora orders the other mechanics to set up the nets for Kou’s landing. Kou continues babbling about Nina while Burning yells at him to correct his course. Kou’s first point of contact breaks off the Gundam’s leg. It stumbles through the first net and falls on the second one. Mora opens the hatch, sending Kou’s delirious body shooting out. Nina shakes Kou and apologizes to him. Delaz concludes his speech by declaring war on the Federation one last time and promising to ignore the false peace created by the armistice. Like any good Zeonic leader, he finishes off his speech with Zeon’s holy words, “Sieg Zeon!”
Paul Jr’s Thoughts:
I really hate to say it but Monsha probably should’ve taken the Gundam out. It would seem that the Albion failed their mission horribly because now the entire Earth sphere knows that they violated their own treaty. Delaz also drops a bombshell by declaring war on the Federation. I also liked that we got to see Bask Om in his early days. Though the GP01 is going to be repaired at Luna, Kou’s pride seems to be taking greater punishment each episode. That was really shocking to see how badly Cima trashed the Gundam, even after Gato had some trouble. Speaking of Cima, Delaz says that everyone in this new Zeon is loyal yet very few seem to trust Cima. Who knows how that can affect them?
