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Episode 8
The Albion heads toward Solomon to the Federation’s naval review. It appears that this is merely an attempt to ‘flex’ their military might toward the Delaz Fleet. As Captain Synapse explains the situation to the bridge, Nina piques in and says that there is no way the Delaz Fleet will be intimidated by it, especially Anavel Gato. Bate leads a team of GMs toward the IFF signal the Albion picked up and sees that it is the battleship Birmingham, with Inspector General, Admiral Green Wyatt onboard. Wyatt asks which ship the GM s belongs to and is told the Albion. Wyatt says that it’s a stubborn little ship. Burning continues training with Kou and Keith. As Burning locks onto Keith from behind, Kou flies in for the rescue. Burning tries to evade but is in Kou’s sight as Kou delivers the would-be killing shot. Keith celebrates and Burning offers to buy Kou a beer when they get back. Kou insists that it was the Full Vernian’s doing and Burning reminds him that it was Kou’s piloting that utilized it. Burning pops his ears and wonders if he is too old to pilot when Keith tells him there is a big black object ahead of them. Burning looks up to see 2 colonies being moved. He tells Keith that the Federation is moving damaged colonies from Side 1 over to Side 3 as the second phase of the ‘Colony Reclamation Plan’.
After Burning and the Ensigns dock, Nina greets Kou and they do an extended handshake. He thanks her for touching up the predictor on ‘their’ Gundam. He asks her to stop treating him like a little brother and she says she will when he finally eats his carrots. As he exits, she sighs and puts her hands on her heart. In the infirmary, Burning gets an MRI and there is nothing wrong with him. The doctor suggests vitamin supplements and Burning politely declines. The doctor asks why he comes now when he wouldn’t come near the infirmary while his leg was broken. The doctor tells him that his smart mouth is as healthy as ever and dismisses him. As Burning goes to exit, Synapse enters and asks Burning if there is anything wrong. Burning says it was only a checkup and Synapse says he’s only there to get alcohol. The doctor points out the line to where Synapse can drink and Synapse invites Burning for a drink. Burning accepts. Kou sits in front of a plate of carrots and wonders how anyone is supposed to eat them. He decides he is a man and can handle it. He raises one to his mouth when Keith walks in, startling him and resulting in a mess. Keith hands Kou photos of Nina that he jacked from Monsha’s cockpit. Kou blushes and plays mature as he calls Monsha a letch for taking them. Keith reminds him that he has a personal cupid named Gundam and it isn’t firing any arrows.
In Synapse’s quarters, he and Burning enjoy a drink while he inquires about the Ensigns. Burning says that they are becoming steady pilots. Burning says that Kou has a lot going for him, especially Nina, who seems to help in his professional and private life. Synapse says they should reevaluate their personnel system and they laugh. Synapse asks Burning if he has a wife back on Earth and Burning says yes. Synapse suggests he take some leave after the operation but Burning protests. Burning stands up and says that he and his wife have been separated for quite some time. Burning says that if the battle with Delaz is his last one as a pilot, he wants to do it with no regrets. Synapse agrees and says they should get some sleep before they rendezvous with their supply ship. Burning thanks him for the drink and leaves.
Two Dra C’s link up with a group of Delaz Fleet ships. As their mobile suits are being readied, Gato says to another Zeon that it brings back memories. The pilot, Karius, says that he’s worried about Cima because they almost landed on her fleet by mistake. Gato says that he thought Cima wasn’t assigned to this mission. On the Lil Marleen, Cima’s crewman asks if she believes the Feds will show up. Cima is positive they will show but wonders if they are on the level or setting them up. The Birmingham arrives where it is supposed to meet the Lil Marleen. Admiral Wyatt is asked if he thinks it is a setup but Wyatt tells the man to go make tea. Kou checks out several books from the Albion’s library, one of which happens to be “The secret to a Woman’s Body”. The Albion links up with the Columbus class ship, Edge. An Edge crewman brings aboard a huge bag of mail and is swarmed by eager members of the Albion. Nina gets a box and Monsha looks ready to approach her when Keith enters, being chased by Mora who demands where the pictures of Nina went. Kou enters, carrying his books and Keith pleads with Kou to save him from Mora. Mora grabs Kou by the collar and demands the photos. Kou says he shredded them but Mora says he is lying. Nina tells Mora to put it down as she looks at the books Kou dropped. The ABCs of Women, On Spacenoid Females and The Secrets of a Woman’s body are the titles Kou has chosen. Mora puts him down as he blushes. Burning storms over and tells Keith and Kou to get laid on their own time, not while on an operation. He decks Keith and slaps Kou. As Kou stares at an angry Burning, an alert goes off and Burning forewarns them of the sermon to come. As Nina leaves, from between her boxes floats a letter addressed to Burning.
Burning’s team launches and Bate’s team goes on standby. On the Birmingham, Wyatt and his crew joke about whether or not Cima will be a tough negotiator. Wyatt says that ladies love to receive gifts and they laugh until they receive an emergency dispatch from the Albion. Wyatt is rather pissed off that the Albion is interfering. Cima’s crew panics to see the Birmingham change course. A shot from the Birmingham takes out an escort Mousai and Cima realizes that Wyatt is giving her a chance to escape. She wonders if he is handsome. Cima and her Gelgoogs launch to fight Burning’s team. Keith focuses on his target while constantly telling himself not to waste ammo. Burning jukes out two Gelgoogs and destroys one while they fly past him. Kou continually evades Cima’s shots and she asks if he is a grasshopper. Burning flies into the wrecked Mousai and ambushes the pursuing Gelgoog. Burning notices a briefcase handcuffed to a dead Zeon and goes to investigate. Cima receives the order to pull back and begins to but sees that Burning’s GM isn’t moving. As Burning recovers the briefcase, he returns to his cockpit to find Cima’s Gelgoog right in front of him. He cuts the barrel of her gun away and she falls back while firing. She is told that the Lil Marleen is at maximum retrieval range. She ditches her propellant tanks and flees with the surviving Gelgoogs.
Burning pants in his cockpit when Kou and Keith arrive to help him. Kou asks if he is alright and Burning says they got a round in him but he’ll be fine. Synapse hears that Burning scored the only kills and contacts him to congratulate him. Burning says he has an interesting surprise for Synapse and holds up the briefcase. Synapse tells him to take it easy on the Ensigns when they get back onboard. Kou apologizes for delaying the launch but Burning says he heard the story from Mora. Burning is shocked to find out that Kou didn’t keep at least 1 picture of Nina. Burning tells Keith and Kou that they can stand on their own now and fought those Gelgoogs on better than equal terms. As they reminisce about how far they’ve come since Australia, something appears to be wrong in the place where Burning’s GM was shot. Burning says he’ll have a look at the briefcase and the machine troubles appear to worsen. Burning’s document lays out Operation Stardust right in front of them. As Burning is about to reveal Delaz’s objective, an explosion occurs where he was shot. A second explosion kills Burning and sends the GM flying. Kou tries to go help Burning but before he can catch up with the GM, it explodes, and in a white puff, the GM is incinerated by the reactor’s explosion.
Back on the Albion, Monsha bawls his eyes out while Chap comforts him. Nina hands Synapse the letter for Burning from before, which is from his wife. Captain Synapse uses the authority vested in him to inform Sylvia Burning that Lieutenant South Burning died in defense of the battleship Birmingham. He also adds that Alpha A Bate and Kou Uraki have been promoted one rank.
Paul Jr’s Thoughts:
Burning just died probably the crappiest death in all of the UC. You could see it coming a mile away and he didn’t go out very ceremonially. On another note, the Birmingham had plans to meet with Cima and Admiral Wyatt was angry that the Albion attacked her. It would seem that not only was Gato right about her, the Federation seems ready to accept her. Now that they have a clue to where Operation Stardust will occur, will they have any chance to stop it?
