Chapter.04 The Night Before Atmospheric Entry

The Neo Zeon fleet gathering outside of Axis started their operation maneuvers. The flagship was Haman’s battleship, the Sadalahn. Following it was Glemy’s cruiser, the Endra with their new captain Rakan Dakaran and then the Mindra with Chara and Gottn on board.

The Argama, which was just about to launch a surprise attack, turned its attention towards the enemy’s fleet formation. Rather than destroying Axis with its high mega particle cannon, it was forced to retreat from the sector to protect its own ships. Their only real accomplishment is that they recovered Judau and the others.

When Judau arrived back on the Argama, he was immediately thrown into one of the private quarters. Bright chastised him for going out on his own, telling him he won’t be leaving until he’s allowed. Judau didn’t argue with what he said. The entire crew was so busy with their work they forgot he was even around. Elle and the others were also busy with their work, and they didn’t even bring him any food. He spends the entire day floating around the room, trying to work out a plan to rescue his sister.

The Argama once again made contact with the La Vie en Rose in a sector about halfway between the Moon and Earth. Madchar had new orders for them. He tells Bright that they’ve received word that Haman’s forces are about to descend to Earth and that they’re planning to take over directly. Madchar puts a disc into a computer, which displays Haman’s forces anticipated course as they left Axis. They all pointed to Earthfall.

Madchar says that they’re to finish Haman’s ship before then. Bright asks if they want her ship sunk, and Madchar tells him, yes, to use the main guns. Bright says that it’s as reckless a plan as ever to which Madchar reminds him that he has a Gundam team on board. Bright was confused as he had never heard that name before. Madchar explains that the Argama now has four Gundams: The Gundam Mk-II & Zeta Gundam (which received 24/7 repairs) along with the Double Zeta and Hyaku-Shiki.

Bright was envious of Madchar’s optimism. But, Madchar explains that if they fail to shoot down Haman’s ship before it reaches the atmosphere, they’ll be forced to go down to Earth to pursue her. Bright asks whether the Argama is to go down to Earth and Madchar says they’ll be working with Karaba to destroy the Neo Zeon.

Confused, Bright asks how the Argama will make it back since it lacks the ability to leave the atmosphere. Madchar explains that once the mission is over, the mobile suits will be loaded onto a shuttle, and they’ll be given a new battleship they’re building at Granada to replace it.

Bright scoffs at the prospect, saying no one understands the attachment captains have to their ship. Madchar brushes it off, saying he’ll have to take that up with Staff HQ and that he’s just there to deliver the orders. Bright didn’t feel like talking anymore.

The Argama was crowded with people installing the ballute system, a system that cushions ships that lack atmospheric entry. Emary was outside with the entire crew from the La Vie en Rose attaching a huge ballute system to the stern. On the mobile suit deck, Astonaige and other mechanics were attaching ballutes to the backs of mobile suits as well as chest verniers and leg hover units.

The Double Zeta and Hyaku-Shiki were the only suits equipped with ballutes. The Zeta Gundam was able to enter the atmosphere in wave rider mode, so only maintenance was performed on it. The Gundam Mk-II had the support of the Flying Armor, so it too was ready to go.

Bright had no intention of sending the Gundam team out in the upcoming battle. Combat near the atmosphere was too harsh, even for seasoned pilots. If they opened their ballutes too soon, they’d lose their mobility and fall prey to enemy suits. But, the gravity well would undoubtedly try to draw mobile suits in, so the outcome of the battle would determine the timing of their opening.

He wanted to end the battle by using only the Argama’s main gun, thus avoiding sending the ship down to Earth. Bright set off to do a patrol of the ship. He saw Beecha and Mondo on the pre-deck overlooking the mobile suit deck. They were dressed in work clothes and munching on a burger. They ask whether they’re really going down to Earth, to which Bright says that somehow they are.

Shinta and Qum came out, pushing a food cart, and yelled at Beecha and Mondo for slacking off. They tell Bright they don’t see any reason to fight. Bright asks whether or not protecting the planet is reason enough, but Beecha says that they’re Spacenoids. Bright says that he’s no different, yet it was the Earth that gave birth to us, so don’t they all have a duty to protect it?

Beecha frowned at the word duty. Mondo says that even Judau is working hard so he can save Leina, but they don’t have anything like that. Bright tells them that if they want to survive, they have to fight. There’s no turning back. Beecha mutters to Mondo that they could always escape to the La Vie en Rose. Bright tells them that while they could abandon the Argama, they couldn’t abandon their friends before floating away. Beecha clicked his tongue. Bright was right.

Elpeo Ple sat in a linear seat with a receiver attached to her head. Her eyes were closed, yet her eyelids twitched as if she were having a spasm. The galaxy surrounded her. She could hear a voice. It told her that her enemy is the Gundam. She answered slowly, her eyes still closed, yet she was conscious. She asked, “Gundam?” to which the voice says confirms, saying it’s the enemy that she should beat.

The voice belonged to Glemy. He continued, telling her that the Gundam pilot was Judau Ashita. Ple started to sweat, and she began fighting back, choking out that Judau is her big brother. Glemy denied this, saying he’s her enemy. Ple choked out an affirmation before Glemy tells her to wake up. At the sound of his voice, she slowly opened her eyes. She was still half asleep, and her consciousness was wandering.

A Gundam Mk-II charged directly at her. Her face recoiled in fear as the suit slipped through her body and disappeared. It was only a three-dimensional image, but she couldn’t tell the difference. The Wave Rider came next, transforming into the Zeta and firing off its beam rifle at her. Then it too disappeared. Ple’s mouth dropped open, and she uttered a moan, clutching her hands in her lap. Another object crossed her path: the Double Zeta.

As it rushed towards her, its arms were spread wide in a menacing fashion. Ple screams. The Double Zeta fires its high mega cannon from its forehead, its beam piercing Ple’s body. She screams and slides down from the linear seat, collapsing into space. Leina, who was floating by outside in the corridor nearby, heard Ple’s screams get louder and louder. There was a hatch in the direction of the voice. She put her ear to the hatch and looked inside. It was a control room.

Inside, Glemy and Magany were looking at a monitor in the center of the room. It showed Ple lying in the middle of space. Magany says that it’s not safe to subject Ple to anymore, that they’ve instilled enough hatred of Judau in her, but whether it’s effective or not won’t be known until she’s seen in action. They decide to revive her. Magany asks whether or not she should be resting, to which Glemy says that they don’t know when the Argama will catch up to them, they have to be ready for anything.

Just then, Leina tumbles into the room. Glemy asks her what’s wrong, and she lies about getting lost. He accuses her of skipping another lesson and calls her a bad girl. His tone, though, was much gentler than it was just moments ago. Onboard the Endra, Leina was taking private lessons in piano, classical dance as well as languages. Captain Rakan and the other crew laughed at her, yet they let her do as she pleased, so it didn’t offend Glemy.

Leina tells him that she’s taking a break. Glemy tells her that she’ll be making her debut in social circles when they land on Earth. The hatch behind Glemy had closed, so she had no idea what became of Ple.

The La Vie en Rose detaches from the Argama, having finished attaching the ballute. As the ship pulled away, it signaled good luck. In the captain’s quarters, the acting captain Emary was with Milly, watching the Argama. Emary suddenly spoke. She gushes to Milly about how she loved to watch the stars shine when she was little, but now she hates them. It was among a starry sky that she met him and among a starry sky that she said goodbye to him. Milly asks if the person she was referring to was Captain Bright.

Emary is shocked, asking her how she knew. She said that everyone on board does. Emary breaks down and cries. Milly tells her that she shouldn’t fall in love with someone married. The words pierced her heart. Milly says it’s against military regs. She says that it hasn’t developed into love just yet, but Bright did hug her. Milly is surprised and says that he has two kids, to which Emary says that she’d be happy to take them in and raise them herself.

Much to the disgust of Milly, Emary goes full-on poet. She tells Milly that she’s still a bud and that love is sweet nectar and that when flowers open, butterflies and bees will come… a woman cannot refuse a gentleman. Milly is shocked by what she has to say, saying it’s disrespectful to women and that they’re in the space age. Emary concurs, saying that outer space is infinitely large and that she’s sure that her thoughts will be able to withstand Minovsky particle interference and reach Captain Bright’s heart. She can die among the starry sky, wrapped in its arching radiance.

Milly tells her that she’s confident that when she dies, her soul will be able to fly back to Captain Bright unhindered by the beams of high mega particle cannon. Emary is delighted to hear this, looking up at the sky and weeping just a little bit more.