Iron-Blooded Orphans Ep. 48: Promise

Zack and the other Tekkadan quitters find that the base has been surrounded by Gjallarhorn and that they can’t leave. Gjallarhorn uses the media to spread the lie that they have requested Tekkadan’s surrender and heard nothing, so they will attack at noon tomorrow. Gaelio wonders what McGillis will do. McGillis tells Mikazuki that this makes things easier, because if they win now, everything will be over. Mikazuki says he’ll do whatever Orga tells him to, and McGillis asks Mikazuki what he wants to do. Mikazuki answers that what Orga wants to do is what he wants to do. At a senior staff meeting, Chad reports that all their communication with the outside world has been cut off. Dante wonders if they should attack first, but Eugene notes that Gjallarhorn’s forces are much larger than theirs. Orga thinks they can win by running away and blowing up the base to make it appear everyone died. Nadi remembers that there are transmission cables under the base from the Calamity War, and if the tunnels are still there, they could follow them all the way to Chryse. After the meeting ends, Dante comments that Orga is acting like his old self again. Orga tells the news to McGillis, and McGillis comments that the Tekkadan he knows would fight without hesitation. Eugene and Nadi radio Orga with news that they found the tunnel, but it’s full of debris that needs to be cleared out. Nadi also reports that the cables work, so on the other side they could use a terminal to contact the outside world. Orga wants to contact Makanai now, and McGillis says that a few of them might be able to penetrate enemy lines. He says he plans to do so himself, which would focus all eyes on him. Orga asks if McGillis would do that for them, and McGillis responds he’s just carrying out his plan, and it has nothing to do with him whether they use the distraction or not. He also says that Tekkadan staying where it is will lure Rustal in closer. Orga calls Chad and tells him to get a car ready. Chad, Merribit and Kudelia try to convince Atra that she can’t stay at the base. Kudelia reminds Atra that she promised Mikazuki that she would protect her and the baby. McGillis asks Mikazuki to join him and comments that he thinks Mikazuki’s way of fighting is beautiful, but he doesn’t know how to use that power. He says that he was wrong because Mikazuki’s brightness has no ideals, and Mikazuki tells him he talks too much. After McGillis leaves, Orga comments that they missed their chance to become King of Mars, so they’ll have to find another place. Orga asks to borrow Mikazuki’s gun and recalls when they first met. Mikazuki hands over the gun and tells Orga that he’d better bring it back, which Orga promises to do.

Kudelia and Atra kiss Mikazuki goodbye, and the group prepares to leave. McGillis launches in the Gundam Bael, and Iok reminds his men to take no provocative action because Martian media are watching. Iok takes off in his Reginlaze to meet McGillis head on and dumps his weapons. He warns his men to do nothing because he intends to save them after they’ve saved his life. McGillis attacks and stabs the cockpit, just barely missing Iok. Since McGillis made the first move, Iok calls for the attack to begin, and multiple Graze Schilds and Mobile Workers move in to fight. McGillis easily dispatches his attackers and moves around the battlefield. Zack joins Hush and Dane in the tunnel to help dig out the dirt. Eugene is informed that Orga’s truck has snuck past Gjallarhorn. At the Admoss Company, Cucubita hugs Kudelia and mentions that Gjallarhorn is going to attack tomorrow due to Tekkadan’s silence, which is news to Orga. Rustal is impressed that McGillis made a move before they were ready, and he asks Nobliss to keep the local media under control. Gaelio asks if it’s ok to let McGillis run free, and Rustal says that he’s sure McGillis will come to them eventually. Orga tells everyone that Gjallarhorn won’t let them surrender and intends to kill everyone in Tekkadan. He makes the call to Earth and begs Makanai to help them. Makanai agrees to help if they can get to Earth and mentions that someone is worried about them: his assistant Takaki. Takaki comes onto the call and thanks Orga for everything, saying he wants to repay them. Chad notes that they can’t get to Earth because Gjallarhorn is watching the Isaribi, and Cucubita mentions that they received an email from Azee. With McMurdo’s approval, she offers to smuggle them anywhere if they can get to the Teiwaz office on Mars. A message from Eco adds that they have to live on for the sakes of Naze, Amida, Lafter and everyone else. Orga is happy at the news and tells everyone that the road has opened up for them to follow. He wants to let everyone back at the base know that they have a plan. Orga says goodbye to Atra, who is staying behind with Kudelia. Orga says that Tekkadan would never have existed if Kudelia hadn’t hired them to take her to Earth. Kudelia reflects on how arrogant she was, and Orga hopes that she can make her dream come true. Outside, men in suits spot Orga’s group and open fire. Orga uses his body to shield Ride and is hit with multiple bullets. Chad is hit in the arm, and Orga manages to kill an attacker before they flee. With a pool of blood forming underneath him, Orga stands up and says it’s his job as boss to protect the members of Tekkadan. He takes several steps forward and urges everyone to keep moving before he collapses and dies.