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Gundam Wing Ep. 26: The Eternal Flame of the Shooting Star

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Summary

The Romefeller Foundation initiates Operation Nova to use its newly produced Virgo mobile dolls to eliminate OZ’s Treize Faction. OZ forces around the world fight back with their manned Aries mobile suits, which are no match for the advanced weaponry of the Virgos. OZ soldiers have split off in support of Treize due to his denouncing of mobile dolls and subsequent imprisonment by Romefeller. Dermail speaks with Tubarov and damns Treize for creating this obstacle to his plans. He tells Tubarov that they need to increase the speed of mobile dolls production, which Tubarov assures him won’t be a problem. Tubarov also reports that he’s captured Wing Zero and some Gundam pilots, but Dermail tells him to dispose of the Gundam because it might be a symbol for the rebels. Tubarov thinks things will only get worse by confining Treize, so the best solution is quickly eliminating all opposition. Wing Zero is brought down to the Lunar Base, along with the Mercurius and the remains of the Vayeate. Quatre escapes from the guards when he sees the Vayeate and blames himself for what he did to Trowa. One of the guards then smacks Heero with the butt of his machine gun and says that they have permission from Tubarov to execute them. OZ soldiers from the Treize Faction surround them and fire warning shots at the guards. An OZ officer named Trant Clark studies Wing Zero and reports to Tubarov that its cockpit system penetrates the pilot’s brain waves and increases his combat abilities. He adds that it allows their test pilot to react as quickly as the mobile dolls, but Tubarov dismisses this completely and reminds Trant that his orders are to destroy the Gundam. Trant objects and says the system could be used by OZ mobile suits, but Tubarov counters that their goal is to eradicate Gundams, not rely on their systems. Trant decides to carry out Tubarov’s orders after getting data on pilots who can already fight the mobile dolls. Doktor S tests Quatre’s brain waves to determine if they’ve been affected by Wing Zero’s cockpit, but he comes out in the clear. Doctor J explains to Heero that OZ has split in two and that Duo and Wufei escaped during the confusion. Heero asks about Trowa, but Doctor J answers that he’s probably dead. Quatre asks them to search for Trowa because he’s convinced that Trowa lives. The engineers explain that Wing Zero affects the pilot’s brain waves to increase performance, but as a result of its mind-warping side effects, Quatre turned on the colonies instead of OZ. Doctor J says that the Gundam pilots are perfect in many ways, but not mentally.

Heero asks Quatre what he thinks about Wing Zero, and Quatre says he was focusing on the twin buster rifle, not the cockpit system. Quatre asks Heero if he’s going to fight and Heero says they can’t leave Wing Zero in enemy hands. Quatre wonders who their enemies are now, and Heero explains that whoever attacks him and who he tries to defeat are his enemies. OZ soldiers loyal to Romefeller attack and close in on the Treize Faction hideout. Trant announces over the radio that he can’t offer to release them, but he wants to negotiate. He tells Doctor J to hand over the Gundam pilots because he wants combat data on Wing Zero. Trant says he can’t help the engineers because Romefeller adamantly wants them dead. Heero jumps into Wing Zero’s cockpit with several monitoring devices attached to his head. He begins to eliminate targets in a battle simulation, and the resulting data shows that he’s more skilled than the mobile dolls. Quatre thinks to himself that Wing Zero and its combat system are a mistake. Heero thinks to himself that his enemies are the people after his life, and Wing Zero suddenly becomes active. A Virgo tries to attack, but Heero destroys it with his beam saber. He then opens fire on the other Virgos with his machine cannons. Heero declares that people who toy with his life – the Gundam engineers – are also his enemies. Doctor J and Professor G comment that Wing Zero warps people’s minds, and that space doesn’t need them or OZ. A soldier wants to call Tubarov for backup, but Trant counters that they can’t reveal their blunders. Quatre offers to stop Heero’s attack and jumps into the cockpit of the Mercurius. Heero continues his rampage through the Lunar Base and destroys more Virgos. Quatre approaches Heero and tells him that Wing Zero causes its pilot to lose control. Quatre says he doesn’t want to lose anything else that’s important to him, and Heero answers that if Quatre has become an enemy, he’ll kill him. Heero rushes in to attack, but Quatre blocks with the planet defensers. Quatre threatens to use the self-detonation device if Heero doesn’t stop. Heero says that space needs the Gundams, but Quatre says they aren’t needed in space. Heero then falls out of the cockpit and has a vision of Relena. The damaged Mercurius is knocked back, but Quatre ejects and walks over to check on Heero. He picks up Heero and says they should go to Earth. After they leave the Mercurius’ self-detonation device goes off, creating a huge explosion. Quatre uses the distraction to escape with Heero on a shuttle. Doctor J comments that they’ve survived again and wonder if Wing Zero is needed for the future.

Commentary

A few things have changed since the last episode. First, Romefeller initiates Operation Nova to take out the Treize Faction, which is slowing down their plans of uniting the world. The internal split in OZ is apparent at the Lunar Base, where you’ve got firefights between the two forces. The episode also explains Wing Zero’s cockpit system, which serves to explain Quatre’s brief lapse with lunacy. OZ soldier Trant thinks the system could benefit Romefeller, but Tubarov is so obsessed with his mobile dolls that he can’t see it. Still, Trant is determined to prove his point and get combat data from a Gundam pilot. Unfortunately, that doesn’t work out so well since Heero begins rampaging under the system’s influence. We have some role reversal as Quatre brings Heero back to reality. With the space colonies having rejected the Gundam pilots, the arc comes to an end and takes the story back to Earth.

Original Review: January 31, 2001

Overall Rating
3.5/5

Gundam Wing Info

Director(s):
Masashi Ikeda
Shinji Takamatsu

Writer(s):
Katsuyuki Sumisawa
Akemi Omode
Toshifumi Kawase
Masashi Ikeda
Katsuhiko Chiba

Mechanical Designer(s):
Kunio Okawara
Hajime Katoki
Junya Ishigaki

Character Designer:
Shukou Murase

Musical Composer:
Ko Otani

Format:
49 episodes

Airdates:
Japan 04.07.1995 – 03.29.1996
U.S. 03.06.2000 – 05.11.2000

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