Gundam X Ep. 31: Fly, Garrod!

After the Space Shuttle leaves the Earth’s atmosphere, Nicola asks Tiffa what she thinks about seeing space for the first time. She ignores him, but he tells her that the colonies will welcome her. In Europe, Bloodman holds a meeting with his senior staff over the launch of the shuttle. No one knows what to make of it, and Bloodman is disappointed that the launch occurred before his announcement. He declares a state of emergency and orders all forces across the world to halt all operations and await further orders. At the Newtype Labs, the Balients continue their assault on the damaged Freeden. Shagia faces off against the GX Divider and figures that the pilot must be Jamil. Suddenly, the order to retreat arrives from Bloodman’s office. Olba is disappointed that they couldn’t destroy the Freeden, but Shagia is satisfied with at least having destroyed the Newtype Labs. Also, he’s curious to know what caused Bloodman to issue his orders. After the battle, Rococo and Nine repair the hull just enough to allow the ship to move. Sara reports to Jamil that the flash of light originated from an Old U.N.E. base, and he orders her to take the ship there once repairs are complete. At the Old U.N.E. base, Garrod sits on the ground near the Double X and stares at the spot where the shuttle launched from. In space, Nicola tells Tiffa that he’s been studying her and understands that people have always tried to use her. He tells her that the people of the colonies understand Newtypes, and she tells him she will return to Garrod. The Freeden arrives at the Old U.N.E. base where Garrod is still catatonic. Witz tries to literally knock some sense into him, but Techs shows Garrod the fire-damaged portrait that Tiffa drew. When he sees the portrait he immediately breaks out in tears. Nearby, Ennil approaches the Freeden‘s position in her Jenice Custom. Witz tells Garrod that instead of crying he should get into space. Roabea asks how they would do that, and Shingo explains that neither the Freeden nor the Gundams can leave the atmosphere. Jamil thinks there is a way because he believes the New U.N.E. is planning to go to space. Ennil fires a Vulture flare and comes aboard to tell the crew some news. She says that the S.R.A. forces have taken over the New U.N.E.’s Space Base #8, which has a mass driver to launch into space. She heard about a plot to kidnap Tiffa, but she was too late to deliver the news. Jamil has the Freeden change course for Space Base #8. Garrod finds Ennil in the lounge and asks her why she’s helping him. She tells him that she lived recklessly until she met him and was amazed by his optimism in a dark world. She wanted him, but he already had Tiffa. She tells him she hated him for that, but many things have happened since then. Jamil thinks about his last battle 15 years ago with Lancerow Darwell’s Febral and wonders if his old opponent is still alive. The next morning, the Freeden approaches Space Base #8.

In Europe, an officer reports to Bloodman and the senior staff that they’ve lost contact with the 8th base. The senior staff panic because the first spaceship of the new Bartok class is under construction there. Bloodman asks what forces they have in that area, and the staff suggests sending Kazov’s 36th regiment. As the Bandaal heads for Space Base #8, Shagia explains to Olba that their mission is to stop S.R.A. spies from heading into space. At Space Base #8, Jamil tries to convince the S.R.A. commander, Nerar Gamou, to let Garrod come with them to space. Gamou insists that he cannot let anyone from Earth come up to the colonies. Jamil notices several Balients stored nearby and assumes they’ll be taken to space to study the New U.N.E.’s technology. He suggests that taking the Double X would be a better idea since it is the New U.N.E.’s latest model. As the Double X is loaded onto the Bartok, Gamou tells Garrod to board the ship. Garrod answers that he wants to say goodbye to his friends, but the New U.N.E. suddenly attacks. Kazov orders the Frost brothers and the Balient forces to stop the S.R.A. Olba spots the Freeden docked at the base, and Shagia vows that they’ll finally destroy it this time. Garrod tries to run towards the Freeden, but Roabea stops him and reminds him that he has to go to space. The S.R.A. deploys its Octape mobile suits to fight the Balients in the air. Jamil launches in the GX Divider, followed by Witz in the Airmaster Burst and Roabea in the Leopard Destroy. Witz notices that the Octapes pack powerful weaponry, and Roabea comments that he wouldn’t want to fight them. In the air, the Frost brothers destroy the attacking Octapes. Jamil and Ennil attempt to attack the Bandaal and come under fire from several Balients. Kazov has the Bandaal fire its twin particle beam cannon at the hangar. As the hangar explodes, the Bartok emerges from the flames and begins speeding along the mass driver. Kazov orders the cannons to be fired again at the Bartok. As the cannons charge, Sara tells Jamil that she’s going to ram the Freeden into the Bandaal. The ship comes under heavy attack as it charges towards the Bandaal. Just as the Bandaal is about to fire, the Freeden rams into it. As both ships explode, the Freeden‘s crew safely escapes in several jeeps. The Bartok clears the mass driver and heads for space. Elsewhere, Tiffa’s shuttle approaches the space colony Cloud 9 and prepares to dock.