Review by Chris

November 6, 2002

In Dakar, a parade is held in honor of Mineva. Mondo, Roux and Beecha watch the parade from nearby. Elsewhere, Judau and Elle have a look at all the mobile suits defending the city. Judau decides he will attack at night and rescue Leina from the party that will be held. He tells Elle that he wants her to take Leina to another colony once he rescues her. He wants to see the war through to the end, but he doesn't want Leina to be near him. After having lunch, he takes off in the Neo Core Fighter with the Core Base. Ple wants to with him, and Elle slaps her and tells her she can't. As the party begins, Glemy escorts Leina to the main hall and tells her she will become well known in the Neo Zeon high society. Haman introduces Mineva as the leader of Neo Zeon to the applause of Federation officials. Leina has a strange feeling and can sense that the Federation officials are all liars. Elsewhere, the Gundam Team approaches Dakar from the sea. Ple is angry about not going with Judau, so she fires the Mega Rider's mega particle cannon against Mondo's orders. The blast hits near the party, ruining the element of surprise. Haman assures everyone that everyone will be all right, and she leaves matters in Glemy's hands. Judau flies into the city and lands in the middle of the street. Elsewhere, the rest of the Gundam Team is engaged with attacking Zssas, Galluss-J's and Dowadges. Several soldiers find Judau and ask what he is doing, so he pretends to be a spy and says a mobile suit is landing nearby. When they leave he approaches the mansion, which is surrounded by a large fence. Roux flies overhead in the Zeta Gundam, and Judau signals her. She attacks a Dowadge flying on a Base Jabber, and it crashes on the fence. In the party, Leina senses Judau nearby and tells Glemy she doesn't feel well. He tells her to return to her room, and she runs off to find Judau.

Judau sneaks into the mansion and finds Haman waiting for him with a gun. She tells him that the Federation officials at the party are all corrupt and have polluted the Earth while she lived in Axis. He says it's no excuse for what she is doing now. She tells him that as a Newtype he relies on his instincts and emotions too much and that it will kill him. She says she believed in him in the beginning, but he betrayed her in the end like the others. She shoots him in the arm, and Leina runs up the stairs and joins him. He tells her to leave, but she refuses. Haman says she hates Leina for being so close to Judau, and she shoots at the floor. When a mobile suit crashes and temporarily knocks out the lights, Judau rushes Haman and tries to get the gun. They struggle, and she knocks him away and fires. Leina jumps in front of him and takes the bullet. Judau becomes very angry, and Haman and the Gundam Team feel intense pressure coming from him. The pressure overwhelms Haman and sends her running away in tears. Judau and Leina try to leave the mansion and find the Federation officials arguing with the Neo Zeon soldiers about leaving. Leina tells the soldiers that Glemy wanted her to go back to the Sadalahn. She then tells the Federation officials that they should go back to the party if they don't want to be labeled traitors. They leave the mansion and are chased by Glemy. Several soldiers surround the Neo Core Fighter, but they run away when Karaba's Audhumla shows up and launches several GM III's. Judau takes off and is attacked by a Dowadge, so he sends out the signal for Iino to bring him the Core Top. Glemy attacks Roux and Iino with his Bawoo, and Roux destroys his Base Jabber and attacks him with a beam saber. Judau sees how injured Leina is and detaches the Neo Core Fighter to find a doctor. A Dowadge attacks him and damages one of the engines, causing Judau to crash in the ocean far from Dakar.

The Gundam Team finally arrives in Dakar, and we're left with a cliffhanger ending. Above all, Judau is still devoted to rescuing Leina. It would have probably gone more smoothly if Ple hadn't ruined it by destroying the element of surprise. Her attachment to Judau causes him way too much trouble. Judau has another confrontation with Haman, and we get to see some of her thoughts and motives. Though she is right about how corrupt the Federation is, Judau rightly questions if what she is doing herself is right. We definitely see that Haman has romantic feelings for Judau, and some of the anger she displays is probably the result of her unresolved feelings over Char. The confrontation ends with Judau releasing such intense pressure that it sends Haman running away crying. Not even Char or Kamille were able to do something like that. Since Karaba's Audhumla shows up, I wonder if it means we'll be getting a cameo appearance by Hayato. We'll see when the two-parter continues.

Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

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