Chapter.06 A Burning Earth

Judau fires the Zeta Gundam’s vulcans in rapid succession to keep Yazan’s Geze in check, but he didn’t have time to shake off the two on either side of him. Yazan charged at him, evading him with ease. Just then, a beam flew in front of Yazan’s unit. He was unsure of what to do. He gawks at the new model approaching them as he’d never seen the Double Zeta before. He orders Mashmyre and Gemon to take the Zeta and use it as the shield and then to charge the new model.

As Yazan was positioning himself behind the Zeta, Juda lets out a yell and stomps on the booster pedal. The Zeta went backward, crashing into Yazan. The shock was enough to throw off both of the Geze latched onto his arms. Roux yells for Judau to get clear. She aimed the Double Zeta’s hyper saber at Mashmyre’s unit and brought it down, but he dodged just in time.

Yazan shouts for them to pull back but didn’t notice that Gemon had already made a run for it. Roux makes contact with the Zeta, asking why there were three Geze. He sarcastically tells her like he’d know, he was just as confused.

Glemy had been watching the scenario unfold from afar and now stood before the three Geze with his beam rifle at the ready. He asks who they are and who they’re affiliated with. Mashmyre responds that he’s a knight of Neo Zeon and in the particular suit he’s in for a reason before introducing himself as the captain of the Endra. He didn’t know that he was written off as killed in action and relieved of his duties as captain long ago.

Glemy was surprised. Meanwhile, the Quebeley had been forgotten by both sides. Ple was sitting in the linear seat, gazing through the open cockpit hatch at the blue and white Earth, her eyes empty. It slowly descended towards Earth.

The Argama had finally reached combat airspace, and they almost had the enemy fleet within range of the main gun. Kiethron informed Bright that Haman’s ship should be in the center of their formation. Bright was doubtful and cautious and told them it could be a dummy and to get as close as they could. Just then, Caesaer shouts out that dozens of enemy mobile suits were incoming. Bright orders anti-aircraft fire and to send out the Hyaku-Shiki and Mk-II. He asks whether the Zeta and Double Zeta have returned yet.

The enemy seemed to be divided into two groups, one to drop the troops and one to protect them. Getting close wouldn’t be easy. There was a bit of a commotion on the catapult deck of the Argama. Beecha was refusing to go out in the Hyaku-Shiki. After Judau left for Axis, his friends on the Argama were assigned a mobile suit simulation, and with a hell of a lot of cramming, they were able to get to the point where they could pilot them. The mobile suits they were assigned to were a reflection of their performance and aptitude.

Elle and Iino were assigned to the Mk-II and Beecha and Mondo to the Hyaku-Shiki. If the Double Zeta had to launch in three parts, the pilots not in charge of either of the suits would team up with Judau. For the first sortie, Elle and Iino rode parts to meet up with Judau at Axis. It was then the rumors started that it wasn’t just Judau who had Newtype qualities. But, that was the Argama: even the tiniest rumor was something to hope for in the face of adversity.

Beecha doesn’t believe it’s time to fight, but Astonaige is trying to convince him otherwise. Beecha doesn’t understand why kids have to clean up a war started by adults, and Elle is pissed, asking him why he can’t just say he’s fighting to save Leina. Elle says that he should just say he’s scared if he’s scared. She says she’s heading out, and she’d rather die than leave her friends behind as she races towards the Mk-II.

Just then, Astonaige jumps off the floor towards the Hyaku-Shiki. Beecha is confused, asking him what he’s trying to do. Astonaige says that he’s gone out with the Zeta enough times and that he can probably handle the suit better than a novice. He tricks Beecha into heading out into battle.

The enemy’s main forces consisted of Zssa mobile suits for heavy bombing. They were approaching the Argama. The Hyaku-Shiki and Mk-II launch from the ship. Keithron announces that the enemy fleet will be in range of the high mega particle cannon in about three minutes. Bright orders them to concentrate fire below the horizon and to let the Hyaku-Shiki and Mk-II know to avoid the line of fire. He pondered telling the Zeta and Double Zeta but was unable to since there was heavy Minovsky particle dispersal.

Judau flew toward the Neo Zeon fleet, still intent on saving Leina. The swarm of battleships dotted the panoramic monitor. He doesn’t know which is the Endra, though. Roux tells him that the Argama is under attack, and Judau tells her to get back to the ship and that he’ll handle the rest here. He races forward, much to Roux’s surprise. Just then, the three Geze were back for another fight.

Yazan takes on the Double Zeta, using its hulking size to his advantage. As Roux pulls out the hyper saber to attack, Yazan grabs onto the arm with both hands. A voice calls to Mashmyre and Gemon, and Roux is shocked to learn that it’s Glemy Toto. Roux manages to break free and flees the scene, wondering why the hell Glemy was back. Glemy’s inaction angers Mashmyre, but he says that he’ll handle it himself and blasts off towards the Double Zeta, saying he’ll take down the suit and bid farewell to his youth.

As the three Geze were amused at Glemy’s actions, they wonder what the hell they’re doing there, Yazan said he was promised money. Mashmyre says they need to protect Haman’s ship. Haman’s ship, meanwhile, did a 180 about turn and was prepared to enter the atmosphere. Chara was confused as to why they were entering the atmosphere tail first. Gottn explains that there’s a ballute in the stern, and it doesn’t make sense unless they descend that way. The tension on the bridge was amplified as there was only 1 minute until reentry.

The Hyaku-Shiki and Mk-II were struggling against the Zssa squadron. But, Beecha and Elle were fighting their first battle so it was understandable. The Double Zeta then returns and Roux orders the suits to pull back as it fired a series of shots from its double cannon. A corner of the Zssa squadron collapsed immediately. The Argama, now out of danger, was prepared to fire its high mega particle cannon.

Keithron tells Bright that there’s a 90% probability that they’ve targeted Haman’s ship. As the ship was about to fire, they were at their limit. They, too, had to enter the atmosphere. Bright orders them not to give up until the last second.

Glemy realized he had moved too far out on his own and was now forced to retreat. He tried searching for the Double Zeta, but all he saw were the flashes of battle. He smiled to himself. He transforms into flight mode and descended towards the atmosphere.

Haman’s ship enters the atmosphere, and Bright curses that they’re too late and the fight will be taken to Earth. The three Geze, meanwhile, realize they’re too close to the atmosphere and are forced to retreat to a nearby ship. In this case, it just happened to be the Mindra. Gottn heard the familiar voice of Mashmyre and shuddered, thinking he might be wandering the Earth Sphere as a ghost. Chara is undeterred, though, saying he’s more stubborn than she thought. With all three safely onboard, Yazan’s obsession with taking down the Gundam now shifts to Earth.

Judau was getting impatient. The Endra was right in front of him, but he was unable to get any closer since he was under fire. Just then, he notices the Quebeley descending to Earth. Both of its wings had already turned red from the friction. Just then, he hears someone crying. It’s Ple. He realizes he can’t abandon her and jets off to save her. As the Endra deploys its ballute and descends, Leina thinks of her brother.

The battle near the atmosphere was over, and the remaining Zssa jettisoned their missile pods and entered the atmosphere in mobile armor mode. The Hyaku-Shiki deployed its ballute, followed by the Mk-II, Double Zeta, and Argama to their rear.

Judau positioned the wave rider next to the falling Quebeley before forcing its way underneath it. The Quebeley landed on the wave rider’s back with a thud in a belly-down position. The hatch of the suit had automatically closed due to a safety mechanism. Ple was still crying. Judau contacts her and tells her he’s trying to help but can’t do anything with the wings still on the Quebeley. He yells for her to detach them, but she says they don’t work like that.

Screaming, she launches the funnels and blows them off, stabilizing the wave rider’s descent. Judau tells her she did a good job and that she should hold still on the craft, or she’ll get blown up. Judau struggled with the controls as the ground beneath him appeared to be burning red from the heat of friction. When they broke through the thick clouds, there was a blue ocean and a land of brown and green.