Review by Chris

February 14, 2003

The White Ark approaches the area of Angel Halo with lots of junk tied to it to make it seem as if it is hauling spare parts. An Imperial Rig Shokew squad led by Kisharl Baguad and Karinga Voegel stops the ship and begins an inspection. Kisharl thinks that the ship looks like a pirate ship with all the stuff it is carrying. He and Karinga go into the ship's cockpit and find everyone there. A disguised pregnant Marbet explains that they are survivors of Pippiniden's fleet who are transporting captured enemy mobile suits and other supplies. Karinga asks Marbet when her baby will be born, and Marbet quickly lies and says one month. Kisharl asks Karinga if she likes children, and she says that she would like to be a mother some day. He says that after the war is over he'd like to have a child with her. Everyone congratulates Karinga on the proposal, and the two pilots leave. Marbet removes the bundle that makes her looks pregnant, and Shakti thinks that she really is pregnant. Uso asks if that's true, and Marbet says she doesn't know. The Imperial Rig Shokews escort the White Ark to the old colony Blue 3. There, everyone sees followers of Maria like the ones from Underhook. However, these 'psychickers' have been brainwashed because they will become the power source for Angel Halo. Kisharl and Karinga say goodbye to them and kiss each other as they leave. Nearby, Maria tells Kagatie and Mutterma that she can feel Shakti's presence nearby. She says that Shakti is more powerful than she is and that they will need to use her for Angel Halo to reach its full potential. Maria wants to use Angel Halo to spread waves of peace over Earth and space to make everyone forget about war. Kagatie sends out men to find Shakti. Uso and Shakti are caught planting bombs on Blue 3's exterior by Kisharl, and Uso knocks Shakti away. He jumps onto Kisharl's beam rifle and asks him not to shoot. As Kisharl and Karinga move in closer, Odelo attacks with his Gunblastor. Kisharl is caught in a net when he attacks a decoy, and Uso launches in the V2 Gundam. He grabs the Imperial Rig Shokew from behind and forces Kisharl to escape. The White Ark fires adhesive gum, and when an explosion is set off nearby, Kisharl gets stuck to the V2 Gundam.

On the Amalthea, Karinga explains the situation to Fuala and says she wants to avenge Kisharl. Fuala agrees to help Karinga because she wants to test out her new Gengaozo mobile suit. On the White Ark, Tomache pilots the captured Imperial Rig Shokew as part of the ruse to infiltrate Angel Halo. Shakti goes down to see Kisharl and says she wants his help. She tells him she is Maria's daughter and wants him to take her to Angel Halo. He doesn't really believe her, but she says she knows Maria wants to use Angel Halo for something good and that she wants to help. Kisharl says he can't do anything while handcuffed, so Shakti releases him. He takes her to the cockpit and threatens everyone with a gun. He demands that Tomache return his Imperial Rig Shokew and says he'll shoot Shakti if anyone moves. Kisharl and Shakti take off in the Imperial Rig Shokew, and Uso, Tomache and Odelo chase them. As Kisharl is chased from the rear, at his front he spots Karinga's Imperial Rig Shokew squad and Fuala's Gengaozo. Karinga wonders if Kisharl is still alive, and Fuala tells her that the League Militaire often captures Zanscare equipment to try to trick them. Karinga is disgusted that they would use her mobile suit, so she attacks. Kisharl deploys his metal whip to protect himself from Karinga's attacks. He tries to contact her, but the density of Minovsky particles is too thick for him to reach her. Uso tries to get Karinga to attack him, but Fuala sneaks up behind him and fires her beam launcher at him. As the fighting continues, Kisharl ejects Shakti into space so that she can get away. Karinga attacks once more, and she and Kisharl drive their beam sabers into each other's cockpits. Kisharl flies over to Karinga and finds her mortally wounded. He asks her about their child, and she tells him to raise the child well. Kisharl says he wants to get married now and that they should imagine Angel Halo as their wedding cake. Karinga dies, and the two are blown away when the Imperial Rig Shokews explode. Fuala grabs Shakti and takes her back to the Amalthea. Tassilo wants her to be the Empire's symbol, and she agrees to help him.

We learn more about Angel Halo this episode, and we also get to see some more tragedy, Tomino style. In a manner somewhat like Romeo & Juliet, here two lovers have to die due to a misunderstanding. However, at least Romeo didn't slice up Juliet with a beam saber. Kisharl and Karinga are another example of how Zanscare pilots are human too, much like Mathis Walker was. Here we learn that Angel Halo is a psycommu weapon that uses thousands of brainwashed people for its power. Maria says it will spread waves of peace, but somehow I doubt that is really the case. Also, Shakti manages to get herself captured again. When will she learn that she can't reason with the Zanscare?

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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