hontou ni sou omou?

Lunamaria Hawke: The battle of Orb didn’t going well even after Rey joined the fray against Freedom as Justice reappeared and neutralised Destiny and Legend’s initial advantage. I was scrambled to intercept the Saylan shuttle which probably carried Djibril but I failed to shoot to it down, allowing it to escape into space. Damn, now I’m a liability to Shinn in combat and it seems I can’t shoot straight. Later, Cagalli-san’s broadcast is hijacked by that hussy but is then counter hijacked by the real Lacus Clyne. What’s going on?

Zyl: Well, it’s been established since fairly early in the series that Lunamaria isn’t the best marksman in the whole world but after what Rey told her, I think this latest failure must have been pretty depressing for her. Not sure if she was trying to disable the shuttle and force it to land or just plain-ole-vanilla shoot and destroy. [Edit: Just saw the Hiro sub. Both Gladys and Cagalli gave permission to shoot down the shuttle - basically stop it from escaping into space at all costs.]

The return of Athrun. Has Shinn or Rey told anyone that Athrun was piloting Justice? There’s no indication that Lunamaria was told since she would probably want to know if Meyrin had survived too. Now that Athrun has found some certainty, he’s finally able to go into SEED mode and slice off Destiny’s hand in a duel, much to Shinn’s surprise. Gloat gloat gloat. The thing about Justice swooning into a faint as well was a bit too much though… don’t these powerful mobile suits, the apex of technology, have an auto-pilot kick-in?

From the surprise of Captain Gladys at the appearance of the One True Lacus, I’m guessing that Lunamaria did not tell her about the real/fake Lacus part of the Kira/Athrun conversation in GSD 24. Or that she dismissed it as mere unsubstantiated hearsay. I wonder if Lunamaria is going to tell someone about this? Will Rey try to stop her or discredit her or make her doubt herself?

I feel a bit sorry for Meyrin who has been reduced to helpless bystander and nurse-maid to Athrun. She also doesn’t seem to have been able to strike up a conversation with Kira or Lacus though she has talked to Mireille. Well, at least she’s alright. I think her hair will stay in this style, which is good, since I think there is some symbolism to these things. E.g. when Natarle’s cap (representing her obedience to authority in contrast to the perpetually capless Murrue) was knocked off in GS49, I thought to myself, “Ah, she’s going to rebel against Azrael.” So the long hair look represents Meyrin’s decision not to believe in ZAFT or the Chairman but instead in Athrun.

The Replacement Bridge Bunny. I’ve been meaning to comment on this since GSD 38 but kept forgetting. Abby Windsor (such an English name!) looks cute enough but her voice is much more business-like and less cuddly than Meyrin’s. The top prize for Bridge Bunny Launch Sequence Speaking *must*, however, go to Lacus for her “X-2-OH-A, Strike Freedom, hashin dozo!” in GSD 39. Passion, power, determination, sweetness and righteousness all wrapped up in one.

Another random observation. Kira puts his arm around Lacus’ shoulder as he escorts her to Cagalli’s broadcast. This is much tamer than how Athrun casually put his arm around Meyrin’s waist after her first attempt to get closer to him by accidentally-on-purpose falling against him in GSD 19. Athrun still the ladies’ man afterall.

Lots of people are rightly looking forward to a Lacus vs Meer singing and dancing shakedown a la PLANT Survivor Idol. But I think Lacus’ level is much higher and since she’s the omnipotent terrorist princess (TM - abq at lolitron), her only worthy opponent is the Conspiracy Theorist for World Peace Chairman Gilbert Dullindal.