Gundam Ep. 40: Lalah’s Dilemma

The White Base returns to Confeito and Bright is surprised that repair crews are coming to the ship. He can’t believe that Amuro’s skills have advanced so far and wonders what has changed. He remembers Matilda saying that Amuro was a psychic, but he doesn’t think Amuro is anything like that. After the White Base docks at Confeito, Dr. Mosk Han comes aboard the ship to provide a field upgrade to the Gundam. Bright explains to Amuro that Mosk has developed a magnetic coating system to cover the Gundam’s joints and prevent it from overheating. With the magnetic coating, it’ll be able to move faster and keep up with Amuro’s movements. At Granada, Kycilia receives the report from Char that Challia was killed in combat due to his inexperience. Kycilia wonders about Gihren’s plan, and a soldier explains that they still have Granada, A Baoa Qu and the Solar Ray. At Side 3, Zeon soldiers forcefully evacuate the 1.5 million residents of the Mahal colony, which is being converted into the Solar Ray. Degwin tells Gihren that he’s incompetent for trying to evacuate more than a million people in such a short time. Gihren points to a battle map and explains that they need to use to Solar Ray to guard Zeon’s final defense line. Gihren comments that they’ve reduced the population and must control it with a superior race so that mankind can find everlasting peace. Degwin comments that Gihren is like Adolf Hitler, who had the same ideas back on Earth. Gihren says the Earth Federation’s weakness is democracy, and he’ll show what he can do as Hitler’s tail. Gihren decides he will travel to A Baoa Qu and direct the battle from there. On the Zanzibar, several EFF ships are detected nearby. Char sends Lalah out into her first battle and tells the Rick Dom pilots not to treat her in a special manner. The Zanzibar fires missiles as cover, and Lalah attacks the ships and begins to destroy them. The Rick Dom pilots don’t see a need to be in front of Lalah, so they pull behind her and leave the Elmeth exposed. Char leaves Mulligan in command and launches in his Gelgoog to join Lalah. As the EFF ships shoot at Lalah, her Rick Dom escorts fall back and leave her to do the fighting.

Char arrives at the frontline and sees that Lalah is fighting alone. He motions for Rick Dom pilot Buttsham to move forward, but Buttsham doesn’t feel there’s a need to so long as Lalah is fighting. Lalah rushes in to destroy the last battleship, and Char tells her not to make rash moves. After she destroys it, he congratulates her for her good work. At Confeito, the EFF begins deploying their fleets to continue Operation Star One and attack the remaining strongholds of the Zeon. The White Base is assigned as the vanguard of the 13th Autonomous Corps, but it isn’t ready to launch yet. Mosk tells Amuro to trust in his theory, and Amuro thanks him for his work. He wishes Amuro good luck in the coming battle and asks him to personally deliver the Gundam’s new combat data. The White Base launches and heads out to rendezvous with the rest of the fleet. Amuro tests out some of the movements of the Gundam and finds them greatly improved. Sayla asks him how he’s doing and tells him to be careful. Char asks Buttsham why he didn’t support Lalah, and Buttsham answers that he can’t compare to a Newtype pilot who could be better than Char. Amuro tests some of the Gundam’s movements, and Sayla tells him he needs to believe in himself since he’s a Newtype. Char reports to Kycilia’s ship Gwaran and gives a progress report on the Elmeth. She’s impressed and tells him to continue close supervision of Lalah. As the White Base is about to join the fleet, Amuro feels a calling as he practices in space. Several ships come under attack, and Amuro heads to the scene. He feels Lalah calling out to him and is attacked by the Elmeth’s bits. Char attacks Amuro, and Lalah asks him to leave because the Gundam is dangerous. She tries to shoot at Amuro, but Char keeps getting in the way. Char notices that the Gundam is moving in a totally different manner from before. During the battle, Amuro manages to blow the Gelgoog’s left arm off. Lalah asks him again to retreat, but he tells her not to worry. Lalah mentally tells Amuro that he’s evil for attacking Char. Char and Lalah retreat, having destroyed four battleships. Char later realizes that Amuro is the cause of Lalah’s headaches.