By Happa supervises as Bellri’s G-Self and Kerbes’ Recksnow apply coating to the Megafauna‘s hull for repairs. Inside, Aida and Noredo tie Raraiya up to a chair so that she can’t slip out of her normal suit. Aida wants to stop the actions of the Salamandra, which is now under the command of Klim. Gusion continues his rapid descent toward Earth and plans to land in New Ark. Wilmit rides a Crown and is surprised when several Mack Knife mobile suits take off from the Crown, commanded by Luin. Gusion comes near the Salamandra and Gavial and narrowly dodges their attacks. Luin’s Mack Knives land on the Garanden, and he vows to the crew that he will wipe away the shame of his past defeats. He spots Manny and tells her that she seems to be adjusting to her job. He then leaves with Barara for a briefing, and Manny wonders why he’s doing what he’s doing. On the Salamandra, Klim berates his men for not being able to shoot down a glider. He then introduces Mick to the crew, and she declares that the Tower will belong to Ameria once they complete their mission. She comments to Klim that it’s different from being on a pirate ship, and he responds that pilots can be manipulated with flattery. Gusion reaches New Ark and ejects from the glider, parachuting down to the flagship Rattle-Python where Zucchini is giving his speech. Zucchini criticizes Gusion for being late, and Gusion explains that he was investigating the facts from spy reports. Zucchini points out that using the Tower to defeat Gondwan was Gusion’s idea, but Gusion counters that the Salamandra shouldn’t have been launched without his clearance. Gusion wants the attack canceled for now, but Zucchini insists that it’s too late for that. Jugan is briefed on the situation and meets with Cumpa, telling him that their forces will easily dispatch the Amerian fleet. Wilmit rides the Crown and wonders if Bellri has also come up to space. Zucchini thinks about Gusion’s intelligence and the new plan to take Gell hostage after he arrives at Sankt Porto. The fleet then launches under the command of Gusion on the Rattle-Python.
Gusion tells the ship’s captain that he wants to take the steepest possible ascent angle to Sankt Porto for the purpose of dividing the Capital Army. On the Megafauna, Bellri tells Aida that she can’t reach the Salamandra on her own, while Raraiya breaks free from the ropes binding her. A Wuxia team launches from the Space Garanden, followed by Luin’s Mack Knives. Klim’s Space Jahannams launch from the Salamandra, followed by Mick’s Hecate. Minovsky particle jamming begins, and the Capital Army forces attack. Kerbes and Luan try to stop Aida from launching in the G-Arcane, while the G-Self is fitted with its space backpack. Klim destroys a Catsith and Wuxia and asks Mick about the status of the units that launched from the Garanden. Luin grabs onto Kerbes’ Recksnow to use it as a shield while Barara sends light signals offering not to attack if the Megafauna sends over the G-Self and Raraiya. Bellri comes under fire from the Mack Knife‘s finger beam cannons, and Luin fires a wire for direct communication. He offers to return Kerbes if Bellri surrenders and hands over Raraiya. Bellri meets Luin in open space and struggles with him physically, which allows Kerbes to escape. Aida fires from the ship’s deck to keep Barara away, and Bellri gives chase to Barara, using a projection from the G-Self to distract her and allow Aida to land a hit. Noredo asks Kerbes about the demand for Raraiya, and Kerbes explains that it’s why the ship isn’t being attacked. Bellri grabs onto the Mack Knife in mid-transformation and rips off one of its legs, forcing Luin to fall back. Klim and Mick discuss the battle, and he thinks the Garanden was disorganized because it was their first battle. Jugan thinks that the Mask team needs better teamwork, but Cumpa notes that this is the result of Jugan insisting on a two-front deployment. Elsewhere, the Rattle-Python and its escort of four Crocodile ships break away from Earth and continue their ascent to Sankt Porto. Donyell discusses the situation with the pilots, and Bellri thinks any military force going to a holy place like Sankt Porto will be cursed.
All the factions are still heading for Sankt Porto, but the status quo doesn’t really change much here. Klim has been given the battleship Salamandra as his own command, and his guys are just a little too itchy with their trigger fingers since they almost kill their top boss. We also meet Klim’s father, Amerian President Zucchini Nichini, who joins the ranks of so many Tomino characters with bizarre names like Marvel Frozen and Shot Weapon. Zucchini impulsively launches the space fleet, but Gusion manages to reclaim control of the situation. Now it looks like the Amerians are shifting strategy from Cahill’s plan to occupy the Tower to now taking Gell hostage at Sankt Porto. Luin upgrades to a new mobile suit, but it doesn’t seem to do him much good so far. I’m about as unclear about his motives as Manny is, and I still wonder if his mask is exerting some sort of Cyber Newtype control over him. With everyone in space now, hopefully things will clear up once the parties reach Sankt Porto. I know people like Bellri who believe in SU-Cordism think Sankt Porto is a holy place, but it’s hard to reckon that he can live in an era of high technology and long-term space colonization while still talking about claptrap like “curses.” He’s not the only one, though, so I guess this is a quirk of the Regild world.
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