Zeta Gundam Ep. 43: Haman’s Victory

Gryps 2 creeps closer to being in firing range of Granada on the Moon. Melanie dispatches an envoy to the Argama to figure out how to save Granada. In the rec room, Katz tells Kamille that Bright wants to see him on the bridge. Katz wonders what’s up with Kamille and is told by Apolly that there was an incident with an enemy Cyber Newtype. On the bridge, Kamille reads their written orders from Melanie, which are to make contact with Haman and ask her to destroy Gryps 2. Katz points out that the Axis Zeon are the AEUG’s enemy, but Quattro notes that they don’t know that for sure yet. Kamille asks Quattro if he supports the operation, and he answers that it’s worth a try. Katz continues to object, but Henken cuts him off and reminds him that it’s not his decision. Bright tells the envoy that they will carry out the orders. Later, Bright encounters Kamille in a corridor and they hear Emma yelling at Katz and Fa about their disagreement with the next mission. Katz doesn’t trust Axis to not betray them and shoot them in the back. Bright walks in and tells Katz and Fa that they’re confined to the brig for the remainder of the operation. Katz grumbles that the AEUG is like the army of the old days and dodges when Bright attempts to slap him. Emma notes that they’re not the only ones against the operation, and Bright counters that if they make a big fuss it’ll impact crew morale. Kamille volunteers to travel to the Gwadan, but Emma asks why when he’s also against the operation. He answers that an order is an order, but he also finds the operation interesting. Emma tells herself that Kamille seems to have settled down, unlike Fa and Katz. A crewman tells Shinta and Qum to get out of the brig, but they insist on staying with Fa. Kamille launches in the Zeta Gundam while carrying a white flag. Haman is informed of Kamille’s approach and orders her men to activate the guide beacons so he can land. Kamille lands on the catapult and is met by armed soldiers who take him to Haman. She tells Kamille that there was no need for him to come here, as she’ll come to the Argama to hear their request. Kamille is surprised that she agreed, and Haman answers that she’ll return respect with respect. After Kamille leaves, a soldier asks if this is wise and Haman explains that she wants to see the inside of the Argama. She laughs that she never expected Char to make a move like this. Kamille returns to the Argama in the Zeta Gundam, followed by a Gaza-C and Haman’s new Qubeley. Haman buzzes the bridge and Quattro is surprised that they’ve completed the Qubeley. After landing on the launch catapult, Haman and her guards are taken to meet with Bright, Quattro, Kamille and Emma. Haman comments that she doesn’t think her meetings with Quattro are a mere coincidence and asks if the AEUG is willing to accept the revival of the Zabi family. Bright answers that they do accept that, and Quattro asks Haman what she would do if they didn’t. Haman answers that she’d launch an all-out nuclear attack on Earth, and Quattro shows her the letter from Melanie. The letter agrees to let Haman have Side 3, and Quattro asks her to destroy Gryps 2. Haman responds that Quattro doesn’t know how to make a request, so he takes off his sunglasses and bows formally to ask her nicely to destroy the colony laser. Haman agrees and leaves, and Quattro comments that he can live with that if it’ll get things done. Bright announces that they’ll coordinate movements with Haman and launch a feint operation against the Titans. On the Dogosse Giar, Bask is informed of the approach of two suspected AEUG ships. As the Radish and Argama approach the airspace of Gryps 2, Kamille unlocks the cell and gives Fa, Katz, Shinta and Qum normal suits. Katz insists that they won’t fight, and Kamille mentions that he’s leaving the door unlocked in case there’s an emergency.

Katz asks Fa if she wants to go and says he won’t leave without Bright’s permission. Apolly launches in this Rick Dias, followed by Emma in the Gundam Mk-II and Kamille in the Zeta Gundam. Bright tells Quattro that the Gwadan and raises the possibility that if Haman betrays them, they’ll get destroyed too. Quattro asks for permission to launch, but Bright wants him to stay behind. Apolly reminds the Rick Dias team that their goal isn’t to fight, but simply to lure enemies away as far as possible. Emma orders Kamille and the Rick Dias team to join her for the first wave, while the Nemo team is to spread out for the second wave attack. Haman sees that Bask is playing into the AEUG’s hands and calls him incompetent. She then calls the Dogosse Giar and offers to provide rear support, which Bask accepts. The Alexandria is the ship closest to the Gwadan, so Bask wants Gady to keep an eye on Haman. The Gwadan moves behind Gryps 2 and falls off of the Alexandria’s sensors, and Haman orders her men to target one of the nuclear pulse engines so that Gryps 2 doesn’t become totally inoperative. Emma takes on a Hi-Zack and is attacked from behind by a Marasai, but Kamille destroys it. He then takes out a Hi-Zack and is attacked by a Barzam. Fa senses Kamille and leaves the brig and heads to the bridge to ask if Kamile is okay. She overheard them talking about not having any available pilots and asks for permission to launch. Quattro knows that Fa is sensing Kamille, so Bright officially releases her from confinement and allows her to sortie. Torres tells Katz he’d better go too since he almost volunteered to pilot a suit himself. The Rick Dias team destroys three Hi-Zacks while Kamille struggles to deal with another Hi-Zack and the Barzam. He kicks the Hi-Zack away, and both it and the Barzam are blasted by Katz’s Nemo and Fa’s Methuss. Haman orders the Gwadan to open fire, and Quattro wonders if she’s biding her time to limit losses. Kamille provides backup for Fa and wonders when the Gwadan is going to make its move. The Gwadan fires its cannons at Gryps 2, and Bask orders all mobile suits to fall back and chase the Gwadan. An officer reminds him that they need to defend Gryps 2, and a furious Bask punches him in the face. Once the Gwadan is out of the Titans’ firing range, Haman decides her story will be that they were aiming for the Argama and accidentally hit Gryps 2. Torres informs Bright that Gryps 2’s firing line has shifted, and Bright orders their forces to retreat. Quattro visits the Gwadan and bows before Mineva, thanking her for her assistance. Mineva declares that soon the Zabis will be revived, and Haman boasts that the AEUG now belongs to Axis and will work toward reviving the Zabis. Back on the Argama, Bright tells Quattro that he’s glad they didn’t engage the Gwadan in combat, but Quattro notes that they don’t know what could happen in the future. Bright orders Torres to scan the Gwadan and get as much info on the ship as possible, especially its turrets. Kamille approaches Quattro in the garden room, but Emma signals for him to leave Quattro alone.