Ensign Kou Uraki has experienced the ordeal of real combat.
He has faced the man who stole Gundam Unit 2.
Anavel Gato.
The Zeon ace pilot who struck fear in the hearts of Federation soldiers.
A shudder that chills the fingers and dries the throat.
And the departing souls of friends.
With Uraki looking on, Unit 2 vanished into the morning mist.
Uraki's first battle is stained with disgrace.
There's no winner of this fight as I collapse, now exhausted.
I look up to the stars above...
...and don't even have the strength to cry.
I don't need, don't need yesterday anymore.
I don't need dreams that have crumbled away.
I just wanna keep on running!
Just chasing the thrill that's shooting through my heart!
Feelings that you just can't describe with words...
...are enough to ignite even a frozen heart!
Burning with shining blue fire.
Fire that'll spread until it covers all the stars in the sky.
Love is such a lonely battle.
But is it one that will consume the world in flames.
INTO BATTLE, ALBION!
This is Captain Synapse of the Albion.
Ensign Kou Uraki, sir!
I had no excuse to take Unit 1 without permission...
What's your impression of the prototype?
Huh? Uh...
The power and maneuverability make it an excellent mobile suit, sir.
I see. Good work. Get some rest.
Aye, sir!
Captain, we have a message coming in from Jabrow.
Route it to the main monitor.
... and give #13 priority! Tell them I said so!
Forgive the wait, Captain. How go the repairs to the Albion?
Ah, Admiral Kowen. It'll take another 7 or 8 hours, sir.
I see.
Anything on the spy sats?
No, there's no new intelligence.
The real question is whether we made things worse...
... by preventing their escape into space.
You mean... You think they may use the nuke on Jabrow?
Commanders have to assume the worst possible scenario.
We can't pretend the Antarctic Treaty will save us from our own warhead.
In any case, I want you to take charge of the recovery...
... of the nuke and the stolen prototype.
Get the Albion repaired ASAP!
We'll do our best, sir.
Captain Synapse...
The war is over. But that one bomb can kill millions more people.
That weapon must not be used.
We'll have to reset the regulator in the secondary jumper, or else...
Nina!
Good job, Ensign.
I'm sorry, Nina. I didn't keep my promise to get Unit 2 back.
I've brought Unit 1 back.
Thank you for everything!
He's pretty forthright for a soldier.
You're right.
To all Albion crew members.
As of today, this ship is charged with the recovery...
... of prototype unit 2 and the stolen nuclear warhead.
As soon as we have a lead on where the enemy escaped to...
... we'll go onto active operational status.
All personnel, prepare to move out.
Nina, you're a civilian. You'd better leave the ship.
I can ask the company about that later.
Right now, checking out Unit 1 comes first.
Hi! Hey, why so glum?
It's nothing.
Hold on, Kou.
Cheer up!
I hear they sent us some more suits and veteran pilots to help.
You fought really well!
The guy you fought yesterday was Gato!
The Nightmare of Solomon from the One Year War!
Just fighting him and coming back alive is a real accomplishment!
Only because the lieutenant saved me.
You were on your way to visit him, right?
Christ, it's hot out! It's the middle of winter, for God's sake!
This is the southern hemisphere, Lieutenant.
Orders are orders, Monsha, ol' buddy.
Hell, I finally get some leave and they pull me off it for this!
I was right in the middle of a date!
So you keep telling us.
Marie isn't gonna wait for me, God dammit!
'Scuse me, ladies!
Any of you free tonight?!
The guy's hopeless.
- Isn't he ever gonna learn? - Hey! What's the big idea?!
Is this right?
Check it out! There it is!
That's the one I'm getting!
They still haven't chosen you, have they?
You, down there!
The Gundam is being serviced right now!
Keep away from it, please!
Like a rose in fullest bloom...
C- Can I help you...
Lieutenant j.g. Bernard Monsha, my dear!
I was just stationed here today.
And what might your name be?
Nina Purpleton. You're pilots, aren't you?
I suppose you came to see Unit 1.
Ah, but I have eyes for none but you!
Lieutenant Monsha, if you have no business here, then please get down.
You're interfering with my work.
I like your personality! You're my ideal woman!
Nina!
Be careful! That guy just felt up all of my girls!
He's a total pervert!
Wh- Why, you Amazon! You get in my way and you'll be sorry!
No, YOU will!
Hold on. We're gonna be working together from now on.
Let's skip the fights.
By the way, is there a Lieutenant j.g. Burning on this base?
Junior grade? We've got a full Lieutenant Burning in the med tent.
Something happened to him?!
He was hospitalized after being injured this morning.
Okay, next!
Lieutenant, are you sure you're not hurt bad?
Oh, forget it. Those stupid doctors are just overreacting.
This is...
...hardly what I'd call a real injury.
Lieutenant, since the Albion got those new suits and pilots...
...does that mean they won't be needing us anymore?
Hm... I'd guess it does.
Then we won't have to fight anymore.
Lieutenant Burning!
- Lieutenant! - Lieutenant!
You guys!
We heard someone got you, so we checked the morgue in the basement.
You jerks! I can't believe you're all still alive!
We're the immortal 04th team, right?
We won't get killed that easy.
A get-well gift.
Oh, of course! Those reserves they called in are you guys!
They transferred us in for this mission.
Thanks to that, I lost my leave!
Still, I can't believe that new suit was stolen so easily.
And I hear someone took Unit 1 to go after it...
...and they still couldn't stop it from getting away!
Well, guess the pilot was a real screw up.
Guess so.
It was my team who went after Unit 2. As leader, it's my responsibility.
Insert foot in mouth...
These are Ensigns Keith and Uraki from my team.
You two go collect Allen's personal effects.
- Aye, aye! - Excuse us!
Those two are still green, aren't they?
A couple of ensigns fresh out of the Academy, huh?
Nah, those two may have a lot of potential.
Especially considering the guy they fought yesterday...
...was the Nightmare of Solomon.
The Nightmare of Solomon?
He's still alive?
I don't believe it, Lieutenant.
Those two kids went up against that Zeek bastard, Gato?
Well, I'll do this part, okay?
He always needs time to get over things...
Ensign Uraki, entering, sir!
If I... If I had just...!
If I'd just been a little better...!
Damn it all! Damn it all! Damn it all...
Good job, Commander!
It looks like everyone at Kimbareid is looking forward to your arrival!
How long till we reach Africa?
About a week, sir.
I see...
I never expected we'd need to use that thing.
Kou! Are you serious?!
C'mon, Kou, why are you volunteering for the recovery mission?!
Because I can't just sit here with my thumb up my ass!
So you're going to purposely risk your life again?!
Well, if it isn't the ensign.
Hold it. I heard you tangled with the Nightmare of Solomon.
I'm in a hurry, sir. Excuse me.
Got no time for me, huh?
I get it. Must be busy since you fought with Gato.
Or maybe you didn't, and just hid till he got away. Huh, kid?
I was saved because of Lieutenant Burning and Nina!
If I was on my own, I'd probably be dead now.
That's not true!
It was your own skill, Ensign Uraki.
N- Nina...
This is the data from when you were piloting Unit 1.
You tapped its potential far beyond...
...what would be expected from your first time operating it.
Have faith in yourself, Ensign Uraki.
You came to just...?
Yes. I brought this to show you.
So, you're an amateur pilot but a professional with the ladies, huh?
Lieutenant!
Nina, showing us that stuff doesn't prove a thing.
Unit 1 's pilot is gonna be one of us.
There's no way they're gonna give it to this rookie pilot!
After all, he let Unit 2 get away, didn't he?
Hey, lay off him.
He's one of Lieutenant Burning's men, remember?
Yeah, but he's still a crappy pilot.
But don't worry, I'll take good care of Unit 1 and Nina.
The kid here can run home...
...and have his mama diaper him to go beddy-bye!
Lieutenant Monsha!
A pilot with an ounce of real skill...
...wouldn't guess at someone else's before seeing it!
Ensign Uraki may even be a better pilot than you are.
Interesting joke... Well, wanna find out for sure?
Huh?
If Ensign Uraki manages to beat me in a fight...
...I'll recommend him to be the Gundam's pilot.
However! If I win the fight...
...then he never shows his face in front of us again!
What do you say?!
I accept! Let me try!
All right, it's settled, then.
Kou, it's impossible! He's a veteran pilot!
Keith... This is my only chance!
I want to get Unit 2 back, no matter what!
Kou...
I'll crush you with no effort in front of Nina...
Yes, this is the bridge.
This is Lt. Monsha. We think we've sighted the enemy.
We're gonna check it out. Oh, and we're taking the Gundam, too.
Huh?! Hey, wait!
You listening? The rules are simple.
First guy to get a paint round on the other guy's suit wins.
I'll signal when you start.
You two ready to go?
I'm ready when you are.
Okay, here we go!
Drive carefully and fast! Go faster!
I am driving fast, Lieutenant!
If we rock too much, your wounds'll open!
Damn it, if we don't hurry, it's all over! Now move it!
A GM custom mass-production type...
Remarkable for being totally unremarkable.
Too slow!
Shit!
You just gonna run from me, Ensign?!
Dammit, Monsha! Watch it!
Heh! Sorry, guys!
Not bad, Lieutenant.
That prototype moves faster than I thought.
All right!
Follow me, Rookie!
All right! Just what I was waiting for!
The lieutenant's playing it a little reckless, isn't he?
Typical. I'm more interested in seeing how well the ensign does.
Ensign Uraki...
Where is he?
What the...?!
Above me?!
Shit!
Nimble bastard!
I have to win!
Damn!
Gotcha!
I win!
Damn it!
Wh- Where is he?!
Where'd he go?!
What the...?!
It... It's impossible! I lost...?!
I did it... I did it!
What are you doing?!
Keith told me everything. How could you do this?!
L- Lieutenant...
Just get back to the base!
I'll take care of the rest. You read me?!
- Yes, sir. - Right...
One week, solitary confinement. Understood?
Yes, sir.
Later, pal.
One week for you, too. Understood?
Yeah.
Kou...
So, Nina and Orville want to remain on the ship?
- Yes, sir. - Yes, sir.
Understood. I'll contact the captain from here.
The rest of the staff should stay there at the base.
Whatever happens, just be careful out there.
Yes, sir. And thank you.
Are you all right, Lieutenant?
Yeah. I'm not hurt that badly, sir.
I'm sorry about what happened.
Looks like your men may be hard for me to control.
I have a proposal.
Sir?
I'd like you to be this ship's company commander.
You... You want me, sir?
Yes. You'd have total authority for all mobile suit-related matters.
Keep a tight rein on things.
Can I assign a rookie pilot to Unit 1, too?
That's all up to you.
Thank you, Captain!
This ship is to set course for Africa immediately!
All hands, prepare for launch!
NEXT EPISODE
The Albion wanders, searching for the lost Unit 2.
It is now in the distant land of Africa.
The shimmering waves of heat over the burning land...
...only heighten the crew's unease.
The pilots' quarrels begin to take their toll on Uraki.
As frustration breeds discord aboard the ship...
...the ghosts of Zeon reawaken.
Will their rage destroy the Albion?
ATTACK AND RETREAT ON THE BURNING SAND