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Episode 9
Author’s Note: Konpei Island is the name given to Solomon by the Federation after the One Year War. They are used interchangeably
It is now November 10th of UC 0083, the asteroid; AXIS is on the move toward the Earth sphere. Inside, 3 Zeon’s argue over whether or not to support Delaz. Looking out a window, a young Haman Karn says ‘ideals’ with disgust and asks how many years must they wait on the cold asteroid. The AXIS advance fleet receives a message from Delaz, thanking them for the support in operation stardust. Then, as the Earth comes into view, Delaz sends another message, welcoming back to the Earth sphere. In Konpei Island, of the Solomon Sea, the Albion hunts down scattered Zeons who are moving to join with Gato. Kou and Keith surround a Zaku and score their third kill that day. In the shoal zone, halfway from Earth to Konpei Island, the Delaz Fleet is advancing. Operation Stardust is will be executed in 70 hours. Delaz tells a soldier that they’re betting it all on Stardust and should it fail, they’ll take a considerable loss to their ability to fight. He says that an arrow can only be fired once and if worse comes to worst, he’ll cancel the operation.
On a Mousai, Karius looks for Gato in the hangar. Gato is in his quarters, staring out into the Solomon sea when Karius finds him. Karius asks if something is wrong. Gato says he is just remembering all the allies he lost to the sea. Karius says he is the only one left who has fought directly at Gato’s side. Gato asks Karius if they are doing the right thing in coming back and standing on the sacrifices of others. Karius says that is the destiny of any commander and the sea is still ravaged and the waves will take time to settle. Gato agrees and says he will charge straight through the sea. Karius says that is what he was waiting to hear and informs Gato that they will launch in 20 minutes.
The Albion spots a Zaku and Bate launches after it while complaining that he didn’t get a chance to eat. Adel’s resupply is behind schedule and Synapse tells the crew to expedite everyone’s resupply because the Naval Review is in one hour. Kou floats out of the Gundam drenched in sweat. A mechanic hands him a drink and he says the sea is like hell. Mora hears Keith asleep in the GM Cannon and the other mechanics yell to him to open the hatch. Mora orders the GM Cannon to be manually opened while Kou laughs at Keith. Nina comes up to Kou with a towel and tries to wipe him down. He blocks her and apologizes and says he smells bad. Nina starts going on a rant about how the entire ship smells worse every day. Kou asks her to drop it and she apologizes. Kou apologizes for being on edge. While Kou and Nina laugh, Monsha snaps a pen over the fingers of a Zeon prisoner. He throws the Zeon to the ground and Kou and Nina run over to him. Monsha says he is pumping the man for info and steps on his presumably broken hand. Kou asks him to stop and Monsha says to hell with the treaty. The Zeon says that Gato will revive the nightmare of Solomon.
The Federation Navy begins the Naval Review outside Solomon. With the Birmingham in the center, Salamis, Magellan and Pegasus class ships fall into formation. Admiral Wyatt is told that their precautions couldn’t be better and they’ve already taken out 34 Zeons with few losses on their side. Wyatt dons his hat and transfers to the Birmingham. The Delaz Fleet launches their mobile suits and Gato asks why they haven’t launched a signal flare to begin the operation. Captain Graddle protests because the operation relies on surprise. Gato says that if he fails, God was never on his side and orders Graddle to fire it. Graddle complies and the Zeons bask in the light. Gato thanks Graddle and orders the advance. The Albion spots the flare but Monsha, Uraki and Keith are launched and ordered to link up with Bate to fight in the Russell Patrol sector.
Admiral Wyatt begins his speech with remembering the One Year War as the worst year in human history. He says that the Naval Review will be the sign of stability in the Earth Sphere. As Wyatt continues, Gato turns off his radio and asks how they can let the Federation talk such trash. He remembers A Baoa Qu and says it is a blasphemy against the men who died at Solomon. Karius calms him and Gato says his goal is to mow down the walking dead of the Federation. Gato orders all mobile suits save 2 Rick Doms to begin the diversion. A Dra C attacks Kou and attempts to stab the Gundam. Kou raises his arm and reveals that he has juttes (miniature beam sabers in the wrists, used for parrying) and cuts the Dra C with his free hand. Wyatt is informed that Delaz’s target is definitely the Naval Review and he says Delaz is as good as dead. He turns to portside and salutes a ship awaiting review.
The Zeons begin their attack on a defense satellite for Konpei Island as the diversion. The Saberfish defense force is no match for the Zeon mobile suits and is soon wiped out. Before any Zeon can celebrate, a score of GM Commands come to challenge them. The Albion is nearby and is ordered to assist against what they believe is Delaz’s main force. Gato and his escort Doms make their way through the debris of the Battle of Solomon. Karius says it seems like the sea is weeping but Gato says it is welcoming them. Gato says he can hear the voices and we see destroyed ships and mobile suits all over, climaxed with a dead pilot still in his cockpit.
The Albion’s mobile suits engage the Zeons at the defense satellite and Adel can tell that they are facing pros. Keith asks what to do if Gato shows up. Gato tells Karius to retreat but Karius insists on staying with Gato because it is still dangerous. Gato asks Karius how many times he storied from that area hidden from Federation eyes. Though he is hidden from Feddie eyes, he isn’t hidden from the automatic sentry satellite that spots him and opens fire. The sentry takes out one Rick Dom before Karius silences it. Captain Synapse catches the last transmission of the sentry and a collective “oh shit” falls over the entire Federation as they realize they’ve been infiltrated by Gato and the GP02. Adel tells Uraki to go because the Full Vernian is the only thing with a chance to catch up to Gato. Keith follows Kou and they race toward Solomon. Gato and Karius encounter another sentry but Gato ends it with a stomp. A group of GMs attack Gato and Karius as well. Gato cuts one and Karius tells Gato to go on ahead. Kou blasts ahead of Keith as Gato readies the nuke. Gato charges through a line of Salamis class ships and aims his nuke. He locks onto the Birmingham and announces to Solomon that he has returned. He fires and engulfs the Federation Naval Review in the white light of a nuclear bomb. Kou stops short, blinded by the light
Paul Jr’s Thoughts:
This episode was pretty freaking cool. It was kind of nice to see the smug Federation gets slapped in the face by their own nuke (finally). It goes to show the spirit of Zeon that seems to never die. Another interesting thing was the cameo of Haman and the Axis fleet. They don’t seem to like Delaz but have no choice but to temporarily ally with him. The events of this episode are really starting to pay respect to Zeta as you can see why the Titans would seem like a good idea. If nobody minds me asking, is there anything left of the Federation space force? Will Kou and Gato get their long awaited rematch?
