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Episode 34 - I can see the moon!
Having lost their place to return to, Garrod and Paula stay at Rescue Station 1107. Paula wonders how to get into Cloud Nine. Garrod says that it would be possible with the Satellite Cannon. Paula reminds him that the moon is opposite Earth and the microwave won’t reach them. Garrod locates the Colony Laser on their map and Paula calls it the Devil’s weapon. We see a brief clip of what the laser striking Earth might do. Garrod scoffs at the colony people’s ability to com e up with terrible things and Paula reminds him that the Satellite Cannon was made for destroying colonies. Garrod points out something on the map and asks if they can use it. Paula asks him what he is talking about but he appears to have made up his mind.
On Cloud Nine, Tifa squats over some flowers when Lancelow approaches her. He tells her he is about to receive a decoration for wiping out Satelicon. She asks if he fought well. He says no, the government is only awarding a newtype to increase morale. Tifa asks if Lancelow got to see Garrod. He tells her yes, in fact, Garrod will not return to Earth without her. Lancelow says that had he met Tifa and Garrod earlier, he might’ve been like Jamil but apologizes and says that is just an excuse from a helpless person. Tifa tells him it isn’t too late and that the future is something to be created. Nichola enters and tells Lancelow that Zidel is waiting. Lancelow says he isn’t comfortable around Zidel anymore and invites Nichola and Tifa to accompany him.
Cameras go wild in Zidel’s hall as he puts a medal on Lancelow’s ACP. Zidel brings them to a greenhouse where they have tea. Zidel asks Lancelow what happened to the Gundam. Lancelow says he doesn’t know for sure but is pretty certain it got engulfed in the explosion. Zidel tells Tifa that now there is nobody left to rescue her and her future is in his hands. Tifa says the future is nobody’s property. He asks where her strength came from and suggests the fact that she is a newtype. She says she never considered herself to be a newtype. He says that with all respect, since she is from Earth, she isn’t a newtype, even though she has the ability, she is a mutant. Nichola protests and Zidel becomes angry and insists his definition of newtype is the right one. Tifa stands up and says there is an existence with great power inside Zidel. She revises her thought and says she feels it in everyone. Soon, she will feel the source of everything. She has a thought about the satellite system and says ‘Dome!’ before fainting.
Tifa is soon in a bed and Zidel in his office. He tells his attendant to bring Tifa along to Operation Daria in hopes to break her spirit a little more. Nichola and Lancelow worry that Zidel will eventually have Tifa killed. Nichola says he regrets bringing her to space and would gladly bring her back if he could. Lancelow tells Nichola that they still have hope for the Gundam is still alive. Zidel has a TV broadcast of finally commencing Operation Daria and going to war. The civilians watching don’t seem to mind and appear happy for a chance to return to Earth.
In their rescue station, Garrod and Paula prepare to move out. Garrod asks if she is sure Tifa will be with them. Paula tells him she picked up the Cloud Nine propaganda broadcast. They synchronize their watches and move out. The Colony Laser has 20 minutes and 10 seconds until it reaches its destination and all suits are ordered into the safety zone. On Lancelow’s ship, one officer seems optimistic about their superiority in technology. Lancelow asks him what will happen if the war drags on. Lancelow reminds him they’ve put everything into Operation Daria wonders if something could happen. The officer says they’ve destroyed Satelicon and asks who else could hinder the operation. Lancelow says the officer is right but looks at the camera and smirks.
Garrod flies around the Earth, only far enough to see the Moon. Paula makes her way and insincerely expresses her delight to be the one in the laser’s line of fire. The Colony Laser is said to be working fine when they pick up an unidentified suit in the Colony Laser’s arc. Garrod and Paula count down the microwave’s path to the Double X. Garrod fires a shot slightly above the Colony Laser, taking out several solar panels. Zidel orders a SITREP and damage to the colony laser is less than 0.1%. Zidel’s ship receives a message. It goes a little like ‘Give Tifa back to us. If you do not honor our request, we shall destroy the Colony Laser -Ghost of Satelicon, Paula Sys and Blazing Mobile Suit Pilot, Garrod Ran.” Tifa giggles and Zidel asks if that is her friend. Zidel says that they will not bow to threats and the Satellite Cannon can’t be fired repeatedly anyway.
Before Zidel can finish his sentence, another shot grazes the Colony Laser. Paula complements Garrod’s aim. Without much of a choice, Zidel agrees to return Tifa. Tifa is shuttled over to the G Falcon and Paula tells the armed guards that they shouldn’t shoot, lest they want to anger Garrod. Zidel orders a group to go after the Gundam while Paula apologizes to Tifa for the tight fit in the G Falcon. Paula informs Garrod that his love has returned. Garrod says it is time to clean up. A third shot from the Satellite Cannon hits the Colony Laser directly, turning it into space junk. Garrod says ‘too bad I’m a liar’. Paula fights back tears as she wonders if everyone from Satelicon saw that Garrod did it. Tifa and Garrod both leave their respective cockpits and hold each other with Earth as the backdrop, making for the sweetest moment the series has seen. =]
Back at Cloud Nine, Nichola asks Lancelow if they’ve found Garrod. Lancelow says that the army is in disarray now that Operation Daria failed. He says Jamil’s ‘kids’ did a terrible thing but their recklessness changed the course of history. Nichola asks if they’ll ever see the kids again. Lancelow says he is sure they will. The Double X and G Falcon form up and Garrod asks if they can really reenter like that. Paula says that according to the specs, yes. They are smiles and sunshine as the sun peers over the Earth. A few beams barrel toward the G Falcon, crushing their high spirits as apparently the New Federation hadn’t forgotten about them. Shagia and Olba Frost emerge with their new Virsago Chest Break and Ashtaron Hermit Crab Gundams, followed by a New Federation fleet. Garrod and the Frosts face off as they welcome him back to Earth.
Paul Jr’s Thoughts:
First of all, this episode quickly became one of the best in the series, in my opinion. Garrod and Paula stopped the Space Revolution’s advance and got Tifa back. So much, however, for the happy return to Earth as the Frosts and New Federation are determined to end it. So Garrod and co again appear to be out of luck. Left with another cliffhanger, we can only wait to see what happens next.
