Episode 29: The Two on the Soleil

Review by Chris Guanche

July 22, 2002

Sochie and Joseph travel across the countryside in the FLAT and Kapool to catch up with the Willgem. Joseph asks Sochie if she is worried about Kihel, and she says that she is. He says that the woman who escaped from the Soleil was said to be Dianna, which means that Kihel is still on the ship. Sochie thinks to herself that Joseph doesn't understand because he didn't see the horror of the nuclear bomb exploding. On the Soleil, Phil interrogates Dianna and she insists she is Kihel. He threatens to kill her, and she says that doing that would only kill a stuntwoman. Phil leaves in anger and tells Pou to find Dianna. He says that he will build his own empire and make Pou his queen. As the Willgem travels across the land, Guin addresses the Moonrace crew and thanks them for their help. He says he hopes they will work to make life better for themselves and the people of Earth. Michael worries about the Moonrace's plan to go to Manuipich and wonders if any of them are helping Dianna Counter. Fran rides a motorcycle into a forest and finds Loran and the Turn A. As she washes her face in a pond, she is shocked to see leeches everywhere. She follows Loran to the Turn A and finds a monkey sitting in the cockpit. She tells Loran that Sochie and Joseph are trying to catch up with the Willgem. Loran thinks that Joseph is mean, but Fran says he has his gentle moments. Loran wonders what to do about his nuclear bombs and suddenly remembers that the Willgem is going to Manuipich. He starts up the Turn A and carries Fran with him to catch up to the ship. The Willgem lands near a harbor and is followed by Harry's SUMO and Kihel's shuttle. She knows Guin wants to go into space to negotiate with Agrippa. She wants to stop him because she thinks his ambition could prolong the war. Michael comes out in a WaD to meet her, and she introduces herself as Dianna and says she wants to speak to Guin. On the Soleil, Dianna sits in a jail cell and asks to speak to Miran. Her request is denied, and she wonders how she will get to the Moon now. Guin gets into a WaD to go out and meet Kihel. Horace calls him and says that a Luziana warship is pledging its assonance in case the Moonrace tries anything.

Guin asks Kihel why she has come, and she tells him that if he uses Zacktraeger she will kill him. He refuses, and she tells him not to judge her by his primitive standards. He sarcastically notes that the advanced Moonrace likes to fight and questions how advanced they really are. All arguments end when Pou's SUMO and two Muttowoooos show up. Pou demands that Harry hand Kihel over, but he refuses. When Pou calls Kihel just a 'woman', Guin realizes that it is Kihel and not Dianna. Yanny grabs Kihel and puts her in the WaD's arm to protect her. The Muttowoooos transform into mobile suits and attack Harry with their beam sword/rifles. Harry keeps the Muttowoooos at bay, and he is helped by Joseph, Sochie and Miashei. As Kihel is carried back to the ship, she tells Guin again not to go into space. The WaD arrives at the ship, and he leaves her there. He asks if they can fly away, and Horace says even if they take off they will be a target. Pou lands near the ship and aims her gun at Kihel. Yanny grabs a pistol and says he will kill Kihel if Pou comes any closer. Pou wonders why Kihel isn't scared and remembers Dianna addressing the soldiers before coming to Earth. She sees that when she came to Earth she was loyal to Dianna. She then remembers Phil's promise and realizes that if she is queen it doesn't matter if Dianna dies. Loran shows up in the Turn A and lands on the Willgem. He asks how the Royal Guard could threaten Dianna, and Harry tells him that Pou isn't part of the Royal Guard. The Willgem begins to activate its mega beam cannon, and Loran jumps off the ship. The cannon fires and destroys one of the Muttowoooowooos. Pou sees that she has been beaten and escapes. Later, Ladderum tells Michael he should trust their Moonrace crew more. Loran sits with Kihel and tells her that if he has to he will go to the Soleil with Harry to rescue Kihel. On the Soleil, a guard opens the door to Dianna's cell and tells her that Miran is waiting for her. She asks why he is doing this, and he says he thinks she is the real queen and wants her to come back. Dianna thanks him and leaves the cell.

As the Willgem continues toward its destination of Manuipich, it looks as if everyone is starting to come together again. Almost all the main characters are on the Willgem now, so it looks like they will all go into space. The whole Dianna/Kihel switching is starting to get annoying now that they are claiming to be each other again. Guin figures out that Kihel is pretending to be Dianna, but he seems to go along with her ruse. Probably because she's more valuable as a potential hostage in negotiations if he uses her as Dianna. Pou's betrayal becomes apparent to her, but she gives in to Phil's promises of power. However, it appears that not everyone on the Soleil approves of his usurpation. As the story continues with this arc, we'll have to see what happens next.

Overall Rating: