Iron-Blooded Orphans Ep. 17: Kudelia’s Decision

The TV news reports that sporadic terrorist incidents are occurring in the colonies. The news of Navona’s death spurs many factions of union workers to take violent action, such as seizing Spinner Rodi worker suits to use in combat. Some workers seize shuttles armed with missiles to attack the elites at Dort 3. The Tekkadan group hides in an alley, where Atra asks Kudelia if she’s ok. The union workers are shocked to see the Arianrhod fleet spread out in front of them, so they try to fire their missiles, but nothing works. The Spinner Rodi pilots suddenly discover that they have no fuel, despite their gauges saying otherwise, and their rifles won’t fire. This makes the union workers easy targets for the Gjallarhorn mobile suit forces. Gaelio thinks this is nothing more than a massacre because the union workers are being provoked to attack and then wiped out in the name of peace. Gaelio knows this is how the Regulatory Bureau operates, so he doesn’t want to take part in such a corrupt action. With the elevator to the Space Port still closed, Orga thinks about their next move. The news reports that there have been terrorist bombings in Dort 1, 4 and 5, but the protestors in space are being attacked by Gjallarhorn. Mikazuki sees the battle footage on the news and thinks that the union workers are being tortured to death rather than fighting in combat. Eugene and Shino want to help the union workers, but Orga refuses because they have to get Kudelia to Earth. However, she says she can’t go to Earth like this now that she sees people are being oppressed everywhere. She thinks that if she can’t stand up for these people, no one will listen to her. Holding Fumitan’s necklace, she vows to never run away again. Orga asks for Mikazuki’s opinion, and Mikazuki answers that he’ll do what Orga decides, but he doesn’t want to keep seeing the union workers lose like this. Orga relents and decides to follow Kudelia’s decision. The news reporter continues her live broadcast, but her producer is ordered to stop the show because it makes the colonies look bad. The producer sees the Tekkadan group run by and chases after them. He asks to interview Kudelia because he feels the reporting so far has been too one-sided. Orga says they don’t have time, but Kudelia agrees to the interview so she can spread her message. Biscuit whispers to Orga that TV news crews have their own launches and special lines for news feeds. Orga calls the Isaribi and gives new orders to Merribit. He then calls Naze and apologizes that they’re going to make a big bang on their way to Earth at Kudelia’s request. Because of the incident being so huge now, Naze says they can’t help because they’re too well known as Teiwaz. Lafter and Azee see Akihiro off before he launches in the newly remodeled Gusion Rebake. Dante tries to pilot the Gundam Barbatos to deliver it to Mikazuki, but it proves too much for him to handle with the Alaya-Vijnana limiter turned off. Mikazuki puts on a normal suit and uses a small thruster unit to fly through space. In the news, Kudelia asks the crew to tell her more about the workers. Mikazuki rendezvous with Nadi, who has brought the Gundam Barbatos and Kutan.

Mikazuki aides the Spinner Rodi pilots by taking down several Graze Standard Types. Now that he’s involved, Gaelio knows that he and Ein can’t pass up this chance. The news launch takes off to head for the rendezvous point, which Mikazuki taking down more Grazes. He then comes under attack from Gaelio’s high speed Gundam Kimaris and Ein’s Schwalbe Graze. McGillis sees that Gaelio has brought out the Bauduin family’s ancient mobile suit. Ein spots the launch and chases after it, but he’s blocked by the arrival of the Isaribi. Kudelia asks the news crew to wait until she’s ready. Shino launches in the Ryusei-Go and attacks Ein, who is upset to see Crank’s machine painted in a vulgar color. Mikazuki is unable to hit Gaelio and takes a lance blow to close the distance between them. Mikazuki recognizes his voice and dismissively calls him Gali-Gali. Gaelio shoots out slash disks from his shoulders and pushes Mikazuki away. Nobliss is surprised to hear that he has a call from Kudelia. Gaelio tries to attack with his lance again, but he’s deflected by the Gusion Rebake’s shield. Akihiro fires off a few rounds and gives his rifle to Mikazuki, who shoots at Gaelio. Ein fights Shino and pulls away when he sees Gaelio is in danger. Kudelia comes to Isaribi‘s bridge and sees they have received a quantum encrypted message from Nobliss. Akihiro tosses his axe at Gaelio, but Ein gets in front of Gaelio and takes the blow. With the Arianrhod fleet arriving, Gaelio pulls back. Mikazuki, Akihiro and Shino land on the Isaribi and see the massive fleet blocking their path to Earth. Kudelia begins her broadcast tells everyone about what is happening on the Dort colonies. Nobliss thinks that Kudelia has guts to try and use him and believes she could grow into something bigger.