Gundam Ep. 42: Space Fortress: A Baoa Qu

On the Gwaran, Kycilia receives a report that the Solar Ray has been fired and that the Great Degwin was detected in the area where the beam impacted. On the White Base, Fraw breaks through the confusion of the radio waves and receives the order to attack the Zeon. At A Baoa Qu, Gihren gives a speech to the soldiers and tells them that the Solar Ray has destroyed half of the EFF’s entire fleet, which leaves them pitifully weak. He declares that it’s time to stand up for the future and rallies his men together with cries of “Sieg Zeon!” On the White Base, Bright considers what the loss of half the fleet means. Amuro believes with his Newtype intuition that they can still win despite the loss of half the fleet. He tells Fraw not to give up and sees Hayato talking to her when he leaves. In the elevator, Kai asks him if what he said was true, and Sayla explains that he said it to keep everyone from abandoning ship. The fleet approaches A Baoa Qu, and the Public ships fire massive quantities of missiles at the space fortress and the Gattle bombers. GMs and Balls are deployed to fight the Zakus, Rick Doms and Gelgoogs. In the confusion of battle, many ships on both sides are destroyed. While directing the battle, Gihren is informed that the Gwaran has arrived at A Baoa Qu. He’s suspicious because the amount of ships arriving doesn’t match what Kycilia had promised to bring. Char and Kycilia board a shuttle to transfer to A Baoa Qu, and he laments that there are no Gelgoogs left for him to use. Kycilia tells him he can use the new Zeong, which is 80 percent complete. She explains that he should be able to use it because it has the same psycommu system as the Elmeth. Char concludes that it must be similar to the Braw-Bro, but he’s concerned that it’s only 80 percent finished. Kycilia arrives at the control room, and Gihren criticizes the Elmeth’s inability to destroy a single Gundam. She says that they need to use the Zeong and a Newtype, and Gihren comments that she’s obsessed with Char. She asks Gihren where the Great Degwin is stationed, and he doesn’t seemed saddened to tell her that it was destroyed by the Solar Ray and that their father is nowhere to be seen. As more and more ships and suits are destroyed, Gihren wonders if his forces are overwhelming the EFF.

Char asks about the Zeong and is told that it’s 100 percent operational. He notices it has no legs, but a technician explains they are just for decoration and make no difference. He says that the Zeong is made for Newtypes, but he can’t guarantee its success. Kycilia is informed that a new EFF fleet has entered the battlefield, and she tells Char to lead the 34th Mobile Suit Corps to destroy them. Char then launches in the Zeong, followed by a group of Rick Doms and Zakus. They attack the EFF fleet and destroy many ships. The White Base maneuvers quickly so that Char doesn’t destroy it. Char searches the battle and wonders where the Gundam is. He spots it and starts shooting at Amuro. Amuro avoids his attacks and says he needs to get to A Baoa Qu because his real enemy is in there. Inside A Baoa Qu, Kycilia asks Gihren why he killed their father with the Solar Ray, and Gihren answers that it wasn’t the right time to start peace negotiations. Kycilia pulls a gun out and shoots Gihren in the head. She explains to the shocked soldiers that even Gihren can’t get away with assassinating his own father. She then issues orders for Char to move to a new location to intercept incoming EFF mobile suits. Outside, Kai and Hayato destroy Zakus and Rick Doms as they approach A Baoa Qu. Sayla destroys a Gelgoog and sees that the suit lives up to its reputation. Bright orders her to stay close to the ship. Twanning informs Kycilia that GMs have landed on the surface of A Baoa Qu, and another officer reports that Char can’t get close to the Gundam. Kycilia asks why the Rick Dom and Gelgoog pilots are fighting so badly, and Twanning explains that the pilots are students, but all are very patriotic. She wishes that Gihren had come to appreciate Newtypes much earlier. Char searches the battlefield and finds Amuro again. He attacks, and Amuro uses a Zaku as a shield from the Zeong’s blasts. He pulls out his beam rifle and starts firing, but Char dodges. Amuro comes under attack from the opposite direction thanks to the Zeong’s wire-guided hands. Realizing that Amuro has the advantage, Char wonders if he really is a Newtype himself.