Iron-Blooded Orphans Ep. 22: Not Yet Home

Carta’s men retrieve her damaged Graze Ritter and escape. On the island, Orga cries out in anguish over Biscuit’s death. The Tekkadan crew departs the island on a tanker ship, and a large number gather around Biscuit’s body bag and cry. Shino says they’ll all go back to Mars with Biscuit, but Mikazuki notes that they have to finish their job first. McGillis is informed that Tekkadan escaped, and he’s surprised to learn that Carta survived the battle. Iznario visits Henri at her mansion, where she complains that things aren’t going according to the plan, which is that he helps her become prime minister of Arbrau. Iznario explains that Carta’s actions were unnecessary and that he’d become her guardian so that the Issue family could keep its position in the Seven Stars. Henri worries that Makanai will show up in two weeks for the election, but Iznario assures her that won’t happen. Iznario thinks about how he spent so much time planning for this, including being Carta’s guardian and marrying McGillis into the Bauduin family. Carta yells at Corlis on his ship about her shame and gives orders to pursue Tekkadan. She doesn’t want to follow orders not to pursue until Corlis explains that they’re directly from Iznario. McGillis meets with Gaelio and asks about Ein, who is still seriously injured and on life support. Gaelio wants to let Ein take up his revenge, but not by giving up being human. McGillis mentioned that giving up humanity is what ended the Calamity War. He explains that Gjallarhorn’s predecessor created the Alaya-Vijnana System and put it into the 72 Gundam Frames. But that system is now a hated relic of the war. McGillis mentions the news that Carta failed and allowed Tekkadan to escape with Kudelia and Makanai. Gaelio can’t believe that Gjallarhorn is losing on its home turf, and McGillis says there must be an inside informant, which shows how corrupt the organization is. Gaelio wonders if Ein is closest to the spirit of what Gjallarhorn once was. McGillis takes Gaelio to a room with a mobile suit that still uses the Alaya-Vijnana System.

On the cargo ship, Takaki, Yamagi and Ride eat and start arguing with each other until Nadi tells them to stop. He asks Merribit about Orga, and she explains that she brought him food, but he wouldn’t say anything. Atra drops a tray and mentions how she promised Biscuit’s sisters that she’d take care of him. Merribit wonders what she should do, and Nadi suggests leaving Orga alone because nothing will cheer him up. Shino calls the Isaribi and gives Eugene the news about Biscuit’s death. Eugene asks what Orga is saying, and Shino answers that he hasn’t shown himself since the battle. Makanai has tea with Kudelia and wonders if Tekkadan will lose their will to fight over Biscuit’s death. Kudelia vows that even if they quit, she’ll make sure Makanai reaches his destination in Edmonton. Because Gjallarhorn will be laying traps for them, Kudelia has decided that they should divert to Anchorage and take a Teiwaz-owned train through Alaska and into Canada. Because the route travels through the wilderness, they wouldn’t have to worry about Ahab reactors interfering with cities and attracting attention. Kudelia mentions that there’s a powerful MP in Anchorage named Lasker Alesi, and she wants Makanai to ask for his help with the train transfer, but also to lobby for them in Edmonton until their arrival. Makanai comments that between himself, McMurdo and Montag that Kudelia knows how to boss men around and will become a good leader. Merribit asks Lafter and Azee for advice about the children, and Lafter mentions that they’re not much older and don’t have anything they can preach. Merribit goes to Orga’s room and decides not to knock on the door. She passes Mikazuki and tells him he should leave Orga alone. Orga thinks about his last conversation with Biscuit an his death, wondering what he was trying to say at the end. Mikazuki walks in and says that everyone is waiting for them. Orga blames himself because Biscuit was going to quit over his reckless plans. Mikazuki asks what he should do next because he can’t stop. He grabs Orga by the collar and asks where their destination is and how many people he has to kill to get there. Orga pushes Mikazuki away and vows that he’ll take them all there because there’s no way for them to turn back. The next morning, Orga addresses the crew on deck and tells them that even though Biscuit died, they still have a job to finish. Gjallarhorn wants them dead, so he vows that now they’ll go on the offensive and crush anyone in their way. Orga wants to avenge the deaths of all their comrades, but Merribit objects. Mikazuki says it’s a kill or be killed fight, and Nadi tells her that the kids won’t listen to her. Later, the cargo ship arrives in Anchorage and the train transfer is successfully completed.