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Episode 26 - don't say anything
The Kingdom of Estard is celebrating the victory over the New Federation and the halt on air raids. The Freeden crew is being treated as VIPs for their role in the victory. Most of the crew is in a dining hall, wondering why Jamil, Garrod, Wits and Roybea are still having talks with the Estard government. Someone says war is man’s greatest passion. Sam believes that mechanics is and Doctor Techs says medicine isn’t bad either. Tonya says they’re all wrong and puffs her chest out. She says that is what all men have passion for. Sarah scolds her and she apologizes while Sam and the helmsman gawk. Tifa senses that Tonya is only acting happy to forget that Ennil left.
As for Ennil, she is heading back to Saints Island. In a meeting room in Estard, General Lee is arguing with another politician over to fight or make peace with the New Federation. Jamil, Garrod, Wits and Roybea are present as well with Prince Willis. Lee asks Willis to make a decision but he can’t decide. Roybea says he is bored and leaves. The meeting adjourns and soon the pro-peace politician is asking Roybea to convince Prince Willis to make peace. Roybea says he doesn’t like Lee but doesn’t like this politician either and leaves. Jamil approaches the close associate and asks if the country even has a future. The close associate says it all depends on Willis.
Still in the meeting room, Willis asks Garrod how it was like to live on the North American continent. General Lee enters the hangar where the Freeden is docked. He orders his men to continue working. Sam thanks Lee for the supplies and labor and Lee suggests improving the Freeden. Sam is excited but realizes he needs Jamil’s permission. Wits enters and says he’ll take Lee’s offer to upgrade the Airmaster. Sam jumps at the idea and Lee again offers parts and labor. Lee compares Wits to himself at a young age, hot headed, straight forward and ill tempered. All three of them find it funny and laugh in unison.
At their hotel, Tifa enters the lobby to look for Garrod. Doctor Techs says the talks are still going on. In a garden, Garrod tells Willis how it is to be a mobile suit pilot. Willis says he is jealous and Garrod is surprised. Garrod says ruling a great country must be better but Willis says there is nobody he can really trust. Willis says he is not in power and only can say yes or no. Garrod says he is always treated like a kid on the Freeden. Willis says Garrod is interesting but Garrod thinks he is only normal. The close associate calls for Willis and Willis asks to see Garrod again before he takes off. Tifa stands on her balcony, looking out when Tonya approaches her. She asks if Tifa is waiting for Garrod. Tifa says no but Tonya tells her she is bad at lying. She tells Tifa they have the same “I’m lonely” aura about them. Tifa asks if she misses Ennil and Tonya just looks away.
The New Federation has been active since then and they plan to initiate operation Sacrifice. Gastar and Estard are rival countries although they are allied. Northernbell is the bridge between them. The New Federation plans to take over Northernbell and offer a peace treaty to one of the two countries. In the hangar where the Freeden is docked, Wits shows off his new Airmaster Burst. Though the whole group is impressed, they are troubled that now they may ‘owe one’ to Estard. Wits says that Lee isn’t some kind of miser and says he understands why Lee stands up to the New Federation. Roybea leaves with a disgusted look as Tifa enters and warns them something bad will happen.
Tifa obviously predicted the New Federation attack on Northernbell. Daughtress' pour into the country and easily hammer the disorganized mob of Pylons that Northernbell called an army. In the base’s hangar, the Frosts are wondering if their new pilot, Demar Graif and his Correl mobile suit can beat the Double X. Demar is busy spray painting it and after covering a logo, he marvels at his white mobile suit. Gastar and Estard send their mobile suits as reinforcements. Lee is disappointed to find out the Freeden cannot move yet. Wits steps forward and volunteers to go. He says he wants to thank Lee and test his new Airmaster. Garrod and Wits soon move out to aid Northernbell. On the Freeden’s bridge, Sarah worries about Roybea since he hasn’t come back yet. Tonya says he is probably loitering around.
Prince Willis gets the news that Garrod and Wits volunteered to help their forces. As a group of Pylons gets smacked around by Valiants and Daughtress’, Garrod and Wits ride to their rescue. Wits downs 2 Valiants while still in bird mode. Shagia and Olba fly over with a carrier and point the Double X to Demar. Demar demands a 1 on 1 fight with the Double X and says the Double X is white and pretty. Garrod takes out 2 Daughtress' and then notices Shagia’s Virsago. Shagia pretends to lose and flee. After luring him to a square, the Correl makes its attack.
A quick move splits the side of the Double X. The Correl dances about and then cuts off the Double X’s left arm. Garrod returns a shot with his beam rifle but that is easily dodged. Demar jumps behind Garrod and runs the beam knife into the Double X’s thruster. Wits is having better luck as he takes down 3 Gadeels. Olba engages him and asks Shagia to hurry. The Double X gets body checked and falls to the ground. Garrod fires another inaccurate shot before getting kicked off its feet again. Garrod takes several slashes dangerously close to the cockpit and then a kick to the back.
As some Pylons are getting wasted by the New Federation forces, Roybea is in a bar, watching it on TV. As the Correl dances around again, Garrod says he needs to fire at the cockpit and only has one shot left. By the time Garrod can aim, the Correl is already standing on the barrel of the beam rifle. The Correl kicks the Double X in the head and then dives for a cockpit stab. Garrod blocks him with the beam rifle, causing it to explode. The Correl flies back and appears immobilized. Garrod seizes this chance to perforate his foe with Vulcan cannons. Garrod breathes a sigh of relief as the Correl explodes. Shagia tells Olba they need to fall back. Before Wits can pursue, the New Federation flag has been raised on Northernbell’s capitol building.
The reinforcements were too late as Northernbell unconditionally surrenders. On a ship carrying them back to Estard, Garrod asks what more they could’ve done. Wits fights off tears and tells him not to say anything. In the bar, Roybea notices the piano player and they begin to gaze at each other.
Paul Jr’s Thoughts:
It was nice to see the Freeden crew developing relationships with the people of Estard, even if the high spirits were short lived. Wits received a new Gundam and handled the flying types very easily. The New Federation’s plan appears to have worked, what will this mean for Gastar and Estard? What can anyone do about the situation? And what is with Roybea and that piano player?
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