And now for Episodes 41 thru 45! But first, LightningCount, I wanted to thank you for your comments and insights into the Druggie trio and their role in the series. I still think they're cartoonish, but after reading your analysis of them, I'm starting to look at them in a little different light - not so much as characters, but more as symptoms of the chaos and the deep corruption in the Earth Forces, and how far certain elements (Azrael) are willing to go to ensure victory and get what they want... and even set themselves up for the -next- war.
So here we go!
Hey, a 4th opening credits now. Murrue Ramius's bouncing boobie silhouette is back! There's also some spoilers in the new opening... some big "omg" stuff but I kinda wish I hadn't been spoiled.
Orb's Kusanagi ship is really neat! I love the modular design, plug-and-play mecha and hardware have always been very appealing to me. I'm also amused to learn that the Archangel is based on the Kusanagi - not the other way around, as one might expect. I'm also pleased to see the smart, sexy Erica Simmons aboard.
Cagalli is still lost in grief over losing her father, and learning that Kira is her brother. Kira and Athrun visit her to comfort her, and Kira is shocked to learn that Cagalli is his sister. They wonder about the photo Uzumi gave Cagalli. Are they twins? They look about the same age in the photo. They wonder who the woman in the photo is holding them. Cagalli says she's confused about who she is now, and Kira tells her it doesn't matter - Lord Uzumi is still her father.
Just an aside on this topic, more of an impression and feeling I get from the Archangel crew and some of the allies they've made along the way, particularly Cagalli. Sure, we know now that she's Kira's sister, but even well before now, I feel like this group is very much a family. It's a theme I've enjoyed seeing in various incarnations of Gundam, going all the way back to the crew of White Base, and I'm glad to see it here in Seed.
The captains and important people from both ships, including Athrun, have a meeting about their next move. They set sail for the L4 colonies, which were damaged and abandoned shortly after the war started. However, Athrun tells them that there are still some functioning colonies there, with reports of a "suspicious group" operating there some time ago. ZAFT investigated but didn't find anyone. Who is this "suspicious group"? We'll find out soon enough...
Mu La Flaga questions Athrun's commitment to Orb, wondering if he'll have a problem going against ZAFT forces. Athrun says he's still confused about what is right and wrong, about everything he's seen and done until he came to Orb. The only thing he's clear on is the world he wants to create is the same as Orb wants to create. They're only 2 ships strong, but they have a lot of faith in their cause. Athrun brings up Lacus Clyne - his former betrothed and now hunted as a "traitor" by his father, that she and others like her in the PLANTs feel the same they do.
On the PLANTs, Lacus is running a resistance movement, with pirate broadcasts of a message of peace and speaking out against the war. Zala continues to pound his podium look a good dicator, branding her a traitor and spewing the anti-Natural rhetoric, always playing on the public's fear of another Bloody Valentine. Lacus (and we the audience) now learn that Orb's Kaguya spaceport was destroyed, but the Earth Forces also invaded and retook Victoria spaceport and its mass driver. Meanwhile, Zala's troops continue their hunt for her and her father, and in a brief, tragic scene, they find Siegel Clyne's hideout and assassinate him. Things are moving so fast, everywhere now, and feels out of control. At least the Archangel and Orb people are getting a brief respite, but it won't last.
Le Creuset and Yzak have been recalled home. Yzak has a problem believing Lacus is a traitor. Le Creuset tells him to not let his thoughts get tangled in the confusion of war, to remember what he's fighting against. I still have to wonder what Le Creuset's really up to. On the one hand, he seems to have a grudge against Zala and is working behind the scenes against him. On the other, he's happily going along with Zala's intensive war effort and war drum beating, supporting him fully. As for Yzak, he's so confused right now, still lost in his anger and desire for revenge, but we're starting to see hints of clear thinking and skepticism on his part now.
Muruta Azrael and the Druggie Gundam pilots arrive at the newly retaken Victoria spaceport, under the supervision of Captain Sutherland, the Blue Cosmos backstabbing officer who helped orchestrate the disaster in Alaska. Sutherland is impressed with the Strike Daggers' performance, and says Azrael's forces could have taken Orb if it weren't for the appearance of the two new Gundams, Freedom and Strike. Azrael feels disappointed that the Calamity, Raider and Forbidden Gundams were unable to take Orb, and he's now going into space, with the intention of trying to get his hands on the Freedom and Justice. He suspects that with their power, they must be nuclear powered.
Though this is a theme that continues for several episodes, it just now occured to me as I write this that the appearance of the Justice and Freedom Gundams not only marks a "game changing" event in favor of the Three Ships Alliance, but illustrates just how desperate the Earth Forces and ZAFT are now. Both sides are rallying their forces in space, preparing for what may be the final, decisive battle of the war, and both sides are also devoting at least some resources to try to capture these two Gundams. ZAFT wants them back (I guess their compact nuclear reactors aren't quite ready for mass production yet), and Azrael and the Earth Forces wants them as well. We also learn that Azrael is the Director of the National Defense Industry Association - sounds like a conglomeration of weapons manufacturers/death peddlers. Azrael and Sutherland the Druggies, saying that they must "keep the beasts with the fangs on a leash or in a cage," but then adds, "I'll see what I can do to get rid of them." Azrael plans to get as much use out of the Druggies as he can, but ultimately, he doesn't care if they die - as long as he gets his hands on the Freedom and Justice. They and the Druggies and their Gundams board a shutle and take off for the Earth Forces' Lunar base.
Rau Le Creuset, Yzak, Flay Allster and other ZAFT personnel are also taking a shuttle back into space. Flay looks nervous and scared - and she's still wearing a ZAFT uniform. Le Creuset tells her that as long as she's with him, he will protect her. She hears the similiarity to her father's voice again. What the heck is going on with that?! As I saw this scene, trying to figure out what's going on, I had a lot of wild theories, one of them being that Flay is perhaps a long-lost sister of... Athrun's? And maybe he intends to use her as a hostage/negotiating chip against Zala? With so many plot twists and shocking surprises in this series so far, it wouldn't surprise me.
Athrun asks for Kira's help in getting a shuttle to go the PLANTs to have a serious talk with his father. Kira helps make the arrangements. Athrun soon leaves in a small 1-person shuttle (that reminds me of the Housenka from Zeta), telling Dearka that if he doesn't make it back, he wants Dearka to pilot the Justice. Cagalli is upset and doesn't want Athrun to go - I think she's got a little crush on him, particularly since finding out her other would-be romantic interest is her brother.
Kira takes off in the Freedom to escort Athrun.
At the Earth Forces' Lunar base, we see the Dominion, a dark-colored (*cough* Titans colors *cough*) sister ship to the Archangel. Its captain is.... dunh dunh DUNH! The newly-promoted Lieutenant Commander Natarle Badgiruel!
For the end of Episode 41, I forgot to mention this on the last episode review block - the latest closing credits animation and song are really nice. I like seeing virtually the whole cast and all the Gundams (though mostly trashed) in this. The great mix of the visuals and the song give the whole piece a very bittersweet, melancholy feel.
Things are heating up back on the PLANTs as well. One of Patrick Zala's supporters on the council, Ezalia Joule, is spouting a new wave of propaganda. She says Lacus Clyne's desire for peace is geniune, but she's being manipulated and used by the Naturals to betray her own people, and they they have to capture Lacus to "save her." Perhaps they have their own version of 1984's "Room 101," ready to torture and brainwash Lacus into loving Big Brother... before they put a bullet in her head. *shudders* Judging by what happened to her father, I think they'll skip the torture room and just go right to the bullets.
Le Creuset, sporting civvies and Quattro-esque sunglasses, picks up a data storage device from a contact in a bar on one of the PLANTs. (I always have to say "one of the PLANTs because so far in this series I've never seen any individual PLANTs or colonies given names besides Heliopolis and Menden, so I have no idea exactly "where" the scenes on a PLANT takes place.) He gets back to his office, popping pills and looking at the data he picked up. And Flay seems to be his aide/secretary now. (I've just about given up asking what's going on with him and her at this point, I'll just have to wait and see what happens.
) The data contains information on the Earth Forces' 3 new Gundams - and seems to indicate that they have N-Jammer Cancellers like the Justice and Freedom. I assume this information came from Azrael, since he's the one who gave Le Creuset the info on how to sneak into JOSH-A and possibly about the Cyclops System there.
Patrick Zala is having a discussion with someone off-camera, clearly dismayed at learning the Freedom Gundam has ended up in Orb's ahnds, and that he hasn't heard anything from "that fool" Athrun. He knows the Earth Forces are gathering at their Lunar base, and Zala wants to crush them completely there. And the person he's talking to off-screen is revealed to be... dunh dunh DUNH! Andy Waltfeld! OMG HE'S ALIVE!!! We don't see his face, but we hear his voice, and see the picture of Aisha on his desk, so it's definitely him. Now -that's- the way to drop a surprise character return-from-the-dead on the viewers!
Yzak is checking out Le Creuset's new MS, a not-too-shabby looking model called GuAIZ. The mechanic working on it comments that with this model becoming more common, they'll wipe out the Naturals in space in no time. Yzak walks away, disgusted by this comment. C'mon, Yzak, you're getting there... *prods Yzak onto the right path*
Lacus is at one of her hideouts/bases, getting a report from her right-hand-man, DaCosta. He says Ezalia Joule's performance has left the citizens at a loss, and the news of Siegel Clyne's assassination hasn't been made public yet. Lacus says it's time for them to go.
Athrun's shuttle and Freedom are almost at the defensive network of ZAFT's asteroid space fortress Jachin Due. Kira says he'll wait there for Athrun to return, but Athrun tells him to go back to the ships. Kira tells Athrun he can't die - that neither of them can die, not yet. I love this little exchange - it shows clearly that they're in this together now, all the way, despite the hard road they've both taken separately to get to this point. Athrun then approaches Jachin Due and announces himself.
In his office, Patrick Zala is looking at an intelligence data file on something called "Genesis," and says, "Damned Naturals." I take it the Earth Forces have developed a space-based weapon of mass destruction. He's then informed of Athrun arriving in an Earth Forces shuttle and being taken in custody. Zala orders him brought to his office at once. Athrun confronts his father on his eye-for-an-eye policy, wanting to know when the war will end. Zala is furious - all he wants from his son is to obey orders and not ask questions, telling Athrun that the war will end when every last Natural is exterminated. All Zala wants to know is what happened to the Freedom and Justice. Athrun refuses to answer, trying to keep their "talk" on the point of the war. Zala pulls a gun on his own son, threatening to have him arrested as a traitor. Athrun remembers Uzumi telling him about Zala's having taken over the PLANTs and his genocidal plans for Naturals. I guess Athrun didn't want to believe it, and needed to hear it from his own father. In rage, Athrun tries to attack Zala but is shot in the shoulder. Zala orders his guards to take Athrun away for questioning, and authorizes the use of torture. Against his own son. What a monster, not only capable of genocide, but violence against his own son. What a monster! He's not only capable of genocide against complete strangers, but violence against his own son. And thus, the folly of giving someone power and the false notion of "moral authority" (i.e. government leadership) is displayed right here, in this angry and violent exchange between father and son.
Athrun is dragged off in handcuffs to a waiting prisoner paddy wagon when he makes a last-second attack on the guards and manages to flee, and receives surprising help from DaCosta. We now learn the name of Lacus' resistance group: the Clyne Faction. During all of this drama, there's been a lot of emphasis on the "stone amulet of Haumea" that Cagalli gave Athrun to "protect him from danger." Guess it's been working (more or less).
Meanwhile, at the Jachin Due military spaceport, a brand-new ZAFT warship is being prepared for launch. Its captain: Andy Waltfeld! He is indeed very much alive, with a nasty scar over his left eye now. However, his crew is surprised when they're suddenly overpowered by members of the Clyne Faction - which includes Waltfeld himself! Lacus arrives and joins him on the bridge of the new ship, called Eternal. Waltfeld's alive! And he's working for the good guys now! This is sooooo freakin' awesome!
They blast their way out of the dock and make their getaway. Le Creuset's Vesalius, also docked there, is unable to pursue, since the Eternal is a very high-speed ship. He decides to leave it up to the Jachin Due defense line to try to capture or sink the renegade ship.
50 ZAFT mobile suits move to attack the Eternal, which doesn't have any MS's on board - it was designed to be used exclusively for the Justice and Freedom Gundams. Lacus broadcasts a plea for them to let Eternal leave, and to ask themselves what they should be fighting against. They attack anyway, and Eternal puts up a pretty good defense (it looks like ZAFT built Eternal's capabilities in response to the Archangel), but it's getting overwhelmed. However, Kira shows up with the Freedom and saves their bacon with some good anti-missile shooting and its rainbow-colored beam spam of not-death. Kira is surprised to see Lacus aboard - and shocked to see Andy Waltfeld is still alive.
Meanwhile, the Archangel and Kusanagi have arrived at the space colony Mendel at L4, and later the Eternal arrives as well. Waltfeld and Murrue meet face to face - former rivals now turned allies. Kira says Waltfeld has a legitimate reason to kill him (the death of Aisha). His reply confuses me, though: "We're in a war. Everyone has a reason, and yet no one does." Huh? Did he miss all the -killing- going on? I thought the whole endless eye-for-an-eye warfare was one of the central points of the series.
In an amusing and heart-warming moment, Cagalli tells Athrun (whose arm is in a sling after being shot), "You're always getting hurt." His reply? "Your amulet saved me." Awwww!
Cagalli is also impressed that Lacus escaped with the Eternal. Lacus has really changed so much, probably one of the most surprising character developments in this whole series - from cute and ditzy pop idol singer to a heroic resistance leader with clear moral convictions and the guts to back them up! Cagalli also asks and comments about he and Kira's relationships to Lacus. Athrun says he's no longer engaged to her because he was a fool. Cagalli says Kira is being a fool, too - I guess she sees that Kira and Lacus may become a couple? I've been wondering that myself, thinking it could happen, but then again, I could be wrong. Lacus also tearfully tells Kira that her father is dead.
The Earth Forces continue to gather at their Lunar base, preparing for a major space battle. Natarle is trying to break in her crew on the Dominion, but their performance in simulation drills seems lousy so far. A higher-up officer comes aboard with Azrael, tells Natarle that Azrael will be staying aboard as an observer of their 3 Gundams and their pilots. Azrael is his usual slimy snake self, making cracks about the captain of the Dominion being a young and beautiful woman, and learning that she was first officer aboard the Archangel. He tells her this is good, because they're going to go sink it. Natarle is shocked. I'm not. *grumbles about stupid opening credits spoilers...*
Aboard the Vesalius, Le Creuset, Yzak and Flay are in a meeting about the situation with Lacus, Waltfeld and the Clyne Faction, and the Eternal's flight to the L4 colony group. Le Creuset is surprised that Waltfeld would switch sides like this, and it sounds like quite a few other members of ZAFT are defecting as well. He tells Yzak that Athrun is now his enemy. Yzak says he'll shoot down any traitor. (No, no, no, Yzak! You were going the right way a bit earlier, don't back up now!) And why is Flay there? She's a Natural... is she even a prisoner anymore? I guess Le Creuset doesn't even remotely consider her a threat. But she's standing there watching this important meeting... what is Le Creuset up to with her?
Back in his office, Le Creuset tells Flay that he wants to bring this war to an end. "I have the key," he says, showing her a data disc. "But if the key stays here... then that final door will never open. I would love to somehow open that door." Okay okay, answer some questions about this mysterious guy and his plans already! He's obviously baiting Flay with this "key" thing and showing her this disc - she has the run of his office when he's gone, doing secretary/aide stuff these days.
The head honchos of the Clyne Faction/Three Ships Alliance have a meeting to discuss plans and objectives, with Lacus commenting on how through all of human history, there have always been people who feel as they do about war, and that they must try to make a world where war isn't needed. Cagalli notices that Athrun isn't present and goes to find him. Athrun feels powerless, after facing and trying to talk to his father, then getting shot by him. Cagalli tells Athrun not to give up on his father. Athrun hugs (and surprises) Cagalli, who blushes and stammers a lot.
I also have to take a moment to vehemently disagree with Cagalli here. It's one thing to have a difference of opinion with your father on matters of peace-keeping policy. It's another when your father is a foaming-at-the-mouth genocidal bigot who's shot you. When the violence line is crossed, any hope for or semblance of a loving familiar relationship is gone. I'm sorry, but if Patrick Zala were -my- father, he would no longer be in my life. Period.
On the Dominion, Natarle is looking at the personnel files for the Druggies, Clotho, Orga and Shani. She sees that they have "enhancement implants" and are "biological CPUs" for the Gundams, with their personal information deleted. Clotho is stage 3, Orga is stage 2, and Shani is stage 4 in the implants. Since Shani seems to be the most psycho and unstable one, I'm assuming that a higher stage of implants means less self-control. "All three are treated not as pilots, but as equipment." Well, Azrael seemed to make remarks about "getting rid of them."
Azrael comes onto the Dominion bridge, asking when they're arriving at L4. Natarle says she's unsure they have grounds for being there, but Azrael says his intel sources are grounds enough. Natarle says they can't trust information they receive from PLANT sources. Azrael coldly reminds her that her job is to command the ship and follow her orders from higher ups. She's been ordered to obey his orders. Natarle is clearly not happy with this arrangement.
Seriously, Natarle... seeing what's happening around you, the slimy creeps like Azrael you're ordered to kowtow to, and knowing what you know about your superior officers and the betrayal they pulled on your fellow soldiers at JOSH-A, you still wear that uniform and follow their orders? Sigh... I really, really hate nationalistic, militaristic brainwashing...
The Dominion arrives at L4 ahead of Le Creuset's group of 3 Nazca class ships, who have come in pursuit of the Eternal. Azrael tells Natarle that she can sink the Archangel if she wishes, but their main objective is to capture the Freedom and Justice Gundams. She orders Dominion to fire on the Mendel colony's harbor section. Archangel launches to intercept, and Murrue and crew are shocked to see it's another Archangel class ship, and that Natarle is the captain. Natarle calls Murrue, telling her that the Archangel is listed as a rebel ship and is ordered to surrender or be fired upon. She also says she knows what happened at Alaska, but Murrue will have to discuss it with the EA brass, and she'll try to help her if she can. (Oh, come ON, Natarle, you really think you can "work things out" with people like that?) Murrue refuses, saying it's about more than what happened Alaska, that they question what's happened to the Earth Forces as a whole and will not go back. Go Murrue! Murrue and crew are also shocked to learn that Azrael, leader of Blue Cosmos, is aboard the Dominion. Azrael says that if problems could be solved by talking, there would be no conflict, and he orders the Druggies' Gundams to launch.
Thus begins a big battle, and one of the most fantastic pieces of music I've heard so far in this series. The Archangel and Dominion start battling, their Gundams mixing it up as well. The Kusanagi launches to aid the Archangel, but is snagged up in some kind of cable. One of the Astrays tries to cut it free.
Le Creuset's ship squadron arrives in the area and sees the battle already raging. He decides to have his ships wait and see what develops, while he and Yzak sneak into Mendel Colony to gather information. "If all goes well we could bring a number of matters to a close." Hmm... earlier some of the Three Ships Alliance people were talking about a disaster that happened that caused Mendel Colony to be a bio-hazard, though still functioning enough to serve as a base. Bio-hazard... Le Creuset's mystery illness... I wonder if there's a connection? We'll find out soon...
Natarle sets up a very clever weapons fire and "minefield" missile trap for the Archangel, and scores some damage on it, despite Kira trying to defend it with the Freedom. Natarle confirms that Azrael wants to capture the Freedom, so she tells him to put the Calamity and Raider on it, and they and the Dominion start trying to put the hurt on Kira's Freedom. Clotho in his Raider does try to make an effort to disable and capture the Freedom, but Orga in the Calamity pilot is having another anger management 'sode and fires his chest BFG at it. However, Athrun has a seed-burst moment and flies in, stopping the beam with Justice's shield (and it's a VERY good shield!) and manages to force the power of the BFG beam back into the Calamity's chest, disabling the weapon! That was pretty spectacular.
Meanwhile, Le Creuset and Yzak launch from the Vesalius, while Flay sits in Le Creuset's office, looking at the data disc he seemed to be baiting her with. The instant Le Creuset launches, Mu seneses him with a "Newtype flash" (they even used that familiar old sound effect!
). Mu's Strike Gundam and Dearka's Buster Gundam fly into the colony to intercept Yzak's Duel Gundam and Le Creuset's GuAIZ. The interior of Mendel Colony is disturbing... lots of dark red dust and clouds. I wonder what happened here? Mu and Dearka intercept Le Creuset and Yzak and begin a dogfight. Yzak is surprised to find himself fighting the Buster, believing it to be piloted by a Natural.
The Gundams out in space continue their crazy dogfighting, with Shani in the Forbidden pilot going nuts, firing recklessly and putting his teammates in danger. Again. The M1 Astray finally manages to cut the Kusanagi loose from the cables holding it and it moves to help the Archangel, which is still fighting and slugging it out with the Dominion. Dominion has also deployed Strike Daggers, which fight against the Astrays, but with the Druggies' Gundams' batteries running low and Kusanagi back in the fight, the Dominion is at a disadvantage and Natarle orders a retreat. Kira theorizes that the EA Gundam pilots are not Naturals.
Yzak is shocked to hear the voice of his old teammate Dearka transmitted from the Buster as they fight. The Archangel can't contact Buster and Strike, so Kira goes into the colony after them. Yzak sees the Freedom approaching, realizing it's Kira piloting it, and gets ready to attack, but Dearka intervenes. Dearka tells Kira to let him handle it, with Kira warning him not to let happen what happened between he and Athrun. Dearka and Yzak land their Gundams and get out to talk face to face. Yzak pulls his gun on him, calling him an enemy. (Yzak, Yzak, Yzak... come on, kid, put down the gun and -think-, you're so close...!) Dearka says he didn't choose to become Yzak's enemy, but he can't follow the orders of people whose sole purpose is killing off every last Natural. It would seem Miri's kindness and saving his life (even after she tried to kill him) has had a positive effect on Dearka.
Yzak learns that Athrun has also defected along with Waltfeld and joined the Clyne Faction as well. Dearka also explains that Kira Yamato, the former Strike pilot and now Freedom pilot, also a Coordinator and has been friends with Athrun since childhood. Dearka may not be as devoted to the Three Ships Alliance's cause as Kira and Athrun, but after what he's seen at Alaska, Panama and Orb, there's no way he's going back to ZAFT. Yzak thinks he's being deceived, but Dearka says he wonders which of them is the one really being deceived. If he has a choice, he'd rather not fight against Yzak. He boards the Buster and takes off.
Elsewhere in the colony, Mu is fighting Le Creuset, who says "I guess in the end, a child cannot win against his father." This line throws me for a loop, initially, but all will be explained soon. (Okay, maybe not all. But a few things, at least. More to come!) Le Creuset badly damages the Strike and injures Mu. He's about to move in for the kill when Kira swoops down in the Freedom and blasts and slices up the GuAIZ. Le Creuset jumps out and starts running off somewhere, but Mu gets out of his cockpit too, and they shoot their pistols at each other. "What do you say we put an end to all of this today?" Le Creuset calls out as he enters into a nearby building, Mu following close behind. Kira lands and gets out to pursue them on foot.
Inside the building, Le Creuset taunts Mu, asking if he knows what the building is. Mu doesn't know, and Le Creuset says it's a crime not to know. Kira and Mu call out to each other, and so Le Creuset learns that Kira is still alive. He invites them to come to "where it all began," and where he claims Kira was born. The building is the "BL4+ Humangene Manipulation Lab," which contains a lot of still-functioning equipment, tanks with fetuses, etc. Kira and Mu chase Le Creuset through the lab building, exchanging gunfire, Mu taking a hit in the shoulder. Le Creuset says he's not going to kill them, because he wants them to learn everything. He tosses a big surprise at Kira's feet - the same photo of him and Cagalli as twin babies with their supposed mother. He also tosses a book full of other pictures, including a picture Mu as a young boy with his father! "Aren't you curious about where the endless human desires are headed? About the story of the fools who pursued a crazed dream based on their belief of progress? After all, you're a son of all this, too," he tells Mu.
Le Creuset reveals a lot the history of himself, Mu and Kira. The head researcher at this genetic manipulation lab was Dr. Ulen Hibiki, who invented an artificial womb system here. The only successful birth that resulted from the artificial womb was Kira, who (I'm assuming, as it hasn't been stated yet) is the genetic son of Dr. Hibiki and another woman we see in the flashbacks/story (unnamed as yet, I assume Hibiki's wife and possibly a fellow scientist? We also see her pregnant, presumably with Cagalli). The reason for the artificial womb was Hibki's desire to create the Ultimate Coordinator - a perfect human with no flaws, born exactly as designed. When George Glenn gave the Coordinator idea and technology to humanity, it sparked a genetic manipulation craze on the part of expectign parents, wanting specific traits for their unborn children. However, the variable of the mother's womb caused many children to not turn out as "designed," so Hibiki wanted to remove this variable with the artificial womb. The mother (Hibiki's wife?), pregnant with child (Cagalli?) began to object to this whole idea. Hibiki thought that, because humans always want improved and better things, creating the Ultimate Coordinator will bring greater happiness.
Le Creuset asks what's really improved? Nothing, he says, because humans continue to be envious of each other, hate each other, and kill each other. He thinks everyone should just kill each other until they're satisfied. Mu asks what gives him the right to make that determination. Le Creuset claims he alone has the right to pass judgment on all of humanity. It sounds to me as if Le Creuset wants to eliminate the entire human race, Natural and Coordinator alike!
Le Creuset thought the twins had died - he mentions the emergence of Blue Cosmos and their reacting violently to the existence of Coordinators, and that aside from Dr. Hibiki, Kira was their biggest target at the time. I have a theory that Blue Cosmos found Hibiki's lab at Mendel Colony and gassed the colony with bio-weapons, but somehow the twins were smuggled to safety and given to adoptive parents. I could be wrong though...
He also drops the other big bombshell: he is a clone of Mu La Flaga's father, Al Da Flaga! I'm vague on the details of this, apparently Al Da Flaga was a rich guy, who fathered Mu with his wife, but I'm guessing he also hired Hibiki to make an illegal clone of himself. Young Rau and young Mu met once when they were children, but it looks like Al Da Flaga had a major falling out with his wife, went nuts and burned down their mansion? I'm still very confused on the Mu/Rau thing. But, Rau Le Creuset turned out to be a defective clone, hence the mystery illness and the pills.
Mu doesn't want to believe that Rau is a clone of his father. Rau says, "The final door is about to open. I will open it! And this world will come to an end! This world of endless ambition will end!" I still want to know what this "door" is, I suspect it's some sort of weapon of mass destruction that will destroy the entire human race, but I really don't have a clue. They exchange more gunfire, and Rau's mask gets blown off - Mu recognizes his face as the same as his father's. Mu tells them there's nothing they can do to stop the "door opening," and he runs off.
Aboard the Dominion, Natarle isn't wanting to make a move yet, since they're outnumbered by both the Three Ships Alliance and the 3 ZAFT Nazca-class ships. Azrael pushes her buttons though, comparing a military battle to the business world - nothing ventured, nothing gained, and that she should take the risk. Dominion launches its Gundams, the Druggie pilots resigning themselves to kill or be killed - either by the enemy or being "punished" with the withdrawl of their drug. The Dominion follows the Gundams back into the colony area. The Three Ships launch to face them.
Kira helps injured Mu get back to their Gundams. Kira has Freedom haul the damaged Strike, and with the Buster, they exit the colony. Yzak uses the Duel to haul Le Creuset's GuAIZ back to the Vesalius, but finds the cockpit empty when he returns. Le Creuset has already rushed to his office, where Flay is waiting. He's having violent spasms as he tries to take his pills as Flay watches with shock. Oh, and he keeps spare masks in his desk.
He then orders the ship's captain to have all ships launch their MSs and enter the fray. He can't allow the Earth Forces to get their hands on Freedom & Justice, and he'll be going out as well in a CGUE. He tells Flay he wants her to assist him. "This is my final gamble on whether or not the door will open."
The Gundams fight and fight and fight, with the assistance of a lot of familiar stock footage. The Nazca class ships are approaching the battle. Mu is in Archangel's sickbay now, getting his injuries treated. On the Vesalius, Flay is in a normal suit and put inside an EVA/escape pod looking vehicle. Rau's instructions to her: "I'm very tired, so please deliver this key to the final door for me. If that key makes it into the hands of the Earth Forces, the war will end." He then contacts the Dominion, announcing he'd like to return a captive before they begin battle.
Flay looks so sad and helpless - she's just a pawn being dragged along by these turbulent events now. It's like she has no control over her life whatsoever anymore. I truly want to feel sorry for her now, but there's a tiny part of me that still hates her for what she did earlier in the series.
Just a couple of miscellaneous notes/comments:
I've realized that ZAFT's Laurasia-class ships are vaguely Musai-ish. Not much, but definitely vaguely similar the more I look at it.
Why does it say "DIECI" on the red V-fin base on the Freedom's forehead? I ran a Google translation search, and it says "dieci" is Spanish for "sixteen."
My review of the big finale, Episodes 46 thru 50, coming soon!
As for Waltfeld's statement, it makes sense to me. It connects to his earlier question of do wars end when everyone is dead, or is there some other answer. He's saying here that, sure, there are reasons to fight, but if those reasons to fight only prolong the war and make things worse, those aren't really reasons. If he kills Kira out of revenge, what good will that do anyone?
Yzak is no longer blinded by his arrogance, and he has lost his absolute trust of the leadership now that Zala has seized power. Plus, he naturally balks at the idea of Lacus being an enemy of the people. If Zala's regime sees lcaus Clyne as their opponent, then what does that say about them in turn? 