Review by Chris

June 20, 2000

The briefcase from the Neo Zeon cruiser Endra reaches its destination. A colony official named Damar opens the briefcase and finds gold inside. An employee of his named Chimatter finds a note inside saying that the Endra wants to dock inside Shangri-La. Damar agrees to let the Endra dock, but Chimatter objects because the Argama is also at the port. Chimatter goes to the Argama to warn Bright about the Endra. Bright wonders what he can do, and Chimatter offers to help. As the Endra enters port, Chimatter has the Argama towed into the colony. The Endra's commander Mashymre Cello is on a mission from Haman Karn to get the colonies to support the Neo Zeon. Elsewhere, Judau, Beecha, Iino and Mondo walk through a rural area so that they can get into port to steal the Zeta Gundam and sell it. Judau stops when Leina shows up with his friend Elle Vianno. Leina tells Judau that he shouldn't steal other people's things, and he says he has to do that to make money. She says that she can work, but Judau says she should get an education so that she doesn't have to be like him. They stop arguing when they see the Argama fly overhead. Judau gets into his Petite and uses a grappling hook to latch onto the Argama. On the Endra, Mashymre and his first officer Gottn Goh examine the new mobile suit Galluss-J. Mashymre sniffs his rose and remembers meeting with Haman Karn. She had told him that he was one of the best soldiers in training, and she gave him the rose. Mashymre decides to take the Galluss-J into battle despite Gottn's objections. A mechanic tells Mashymre to wait because the Galluss-J doesn't have a hatch, but Mashymre launches anyway. Chimatter spots the Petite dangling from the Argama and warns Bright. Bright sees Judau on the security cameras but decides that he can't do any harm by himself. However, he thinks of Amuro Ray, Kamille and Judau stealing Gundams and becomes anxious. Judau explores the ship and finds Shinta, Qum and Haro in the kitchen. They help him hide when a crewman wanders in for a snack.

Judau asks Shinta and Qum why they helped him, and they say it's because they think he's a nice guy. They also tell him that Yazan is one of the Titans. Astonaige comes into the kitchen and spots Judau. As Judau escapes, Shinta and Qum hold back Astonaige to prevent him from chasing Judau. Mashymre attacks the Argama and threatens to slice the bridge apart unless they surrender unconditionally. Judau climbs the ship and places some explosives on the Gallusss-J's leg. As Mashymre is about to slice into the bridge, the explosives detonate and knock him off the ship. Fa launches in the Methuss, and Bright agrees to let Judau go out in the Zeta Gundam. Astonaige objects because the Zeta Gundam is still being repaired, but he tells Judau how to launch. Mashymre is about to kill Fa, but Judau jumps in and saves her. As Mashymre babbles about his rose, Judau and Fa escape. Mashymre attacks again and pulls out his beam saber. Judau doesn't have enough power for his beam saber, so he transforms into Waverider mode and escapes. Mashymre chases Judau and follows him to a junkyard. As he is about to attack, Judau escapes again with the Waverider. Fa carries everyone in the hand of the Methuss to follow the battle. Eventually, Judau and Mashymre begin fighting by throwing junk at each other. Mashymre knocks Judau down and is about to slice into the Zeta Gundam, but Judau beheads the Gallusss-J. Mashymre escapes, and Judau returns the Zeta Gundam. Bright congratulates Judau for fighting off Mashymre, and Torres asks Judau why he didn't take the Zeta Gundam. Judau says that today he helped them fight the enemy, but he intends to return and steal the Zeta Gundam. After Judau leaves, Bright has the Argama buried in a pile of junk to hide from the Neo Zeon.

The mysterious package from the last episode turns out to be a bribe from the Neo Zeon. They're certainly not wasting any time in their power play now that the Titans are out of the way. As usual, the Federation doesn't seem to be doing anything about it. We're introduced in this episode to Neo Zeon officer Mashymre Cello, and he seems rather odd to say the least. He seems to almost worship the rose given to him by Haman. In another series he could probably be a serious villain, but here he comes across rather like a fool. A Titans pilot would have sliced the Argama's bridge apart without hesitation. Judau again steals the Zeta Gundam to fight an enemy, much like the last episode. Hopefully that won't happen too much. As a pilot, he doesn't seem to have the natural abilities that Amuro and Kamille showed when they were rookies. He'll probably improve as the new war continues.

Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

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