∀ Gundam Ep. 19: Sochie’s War

Work continues on the excavation of the spaceship, but the Militia workers are unhappy that Moonrace defectors are working inside the ship. A man yells at Guin and says the Militia should operate the ship instead of the Moonrace civilians, and Guin asks him if he has the technical knowledge to run the ship. The man storms off in anger, and work continues. Later, Guin rides in a car with Ladderum and a Moonrace engineer named Horace. They discuss the principles behind jet engines and drive out to where a Gallop hovercraft has been excavated. Horace examines the nanoskin covering the Gallop and notes that it is also regenerating the Turn A‘s mustache. Loran and Dianna clean up the Gallop, and Guin tells Loran that he will be the captain of it. Later, Loran is shocked to see Dianna doing laundry by hand and using the Turn A as a clothes line. He says she shouldn’t do it, but she thinks it is fun. Loran wonders if it’s right for him to have a hovercraft that might incite Dianna Counter to fight. Dianna says that since he hates wars he’s the perfect person to captain the ship. She also says that Kihel is displaying her talent and that she did the right thing during her speech. Ladderum thinks of naming the hovercraft a “heavy box,” but Dianna recommends Gallop. Horace unscrews the Turn A’s head to examine the nanoskin on it. He thinks that the Turn A is a Gundam type, which according to mythology is an enemy of the Moonrace. On the Soleil, Kihel asks Harry who disagrees with her policies. He says Agrippa is a threat and vows to stay by her side as always. Impatient Phil and Pou want to fight, but he says they need orders to destroy things. Dianna prepares to leave the Gallop, but Loran is worried because of Teteth’s failed assassination attempt. As Dianna assures him she’ll be OK, a Kapool jumps out of the trees and recklessly lands next to them. Sochie gets out of the cockpit and says she has a question for Loran.

Sochie asks Loran why he accepted the Gallop, and he says everyone has responsibilities in war. She says it isn’t right and that the Gallop should go to frontline soldiers like her. She says that all Loran does is chase Kihel around all day. She asks Dianna to have Guin reconsider giving Loran the Gallop, and Dianna says Loran should have it. She says that she is the one always chasing Loran around so that she can see him operate the Turn A. Dianna leaves, and Sochie decides that the Gallop will be the new base for her Kapool and loads it onto the hatch. As the Gallop travels through the desert, Loran and Horace examine the instruction manual. Nearby, Pou’s Wodom squad spots the Gallop, and she decides to attack since the Turn A seems to be out of action. Sochie spots the Wodoms, and Loran tells Ladderum to stop the Gallop. Sochie runs to her Kapool to fight, but Loran tells her it is too dangerous against a Wodom. He then tells Horace to get the Turn A’s head ready because Wodoms are about to attack. As the Gallop changes directions, Sochie jumps out and heads for the Wodoms. Loran gets into the headless Turn A and runs alongside the Gallop. As Pou is about to shoot the Turn A, Sochie jumps out in front of her and starts firing missiles. The Turn A’s head flies out of the Gallop, and Loran jumps in the air to catch it and screw it back on. Another Wodom attacks Sochie, and Pou moves in closer to Loran. Ladderum tells Loran his shield and beam rifle are ready, but he has no time to grab them. The Gallop begins firing its cannons, and one of the turrets is destroyed. Loran pulls out his beam saber to slice into Pou’s Wodom, but she ejects the head. He instead slices into the feet and runs away. He slices off half of the Wodom that is attacking Sochie, and Pou retreats and cries over yet another failure. Afterwards, Loran and Sochie are told that two men working the gun turret were killed. Sochie feels she is to blame because of her recklessness.