#captain henken

[wow-cool-robot]

Episode 11: Entering the Atmosphere

thought my extremely legal video had decided 11 episodes in to switch over to the instrumental op, but i just had vlc on the wrong audio track

who's this asshole

in the secular world?? is this guy a monk?

is jupiter like a weird cult zone? is that what the deal was with the guy who was the newtype amuro fought before lalah?

i can't tell if they're playing wingman for him or just think he's a growing boy

kamille, be nice to fa

why's bright the captain? like, i get why he defected, but is walking up and saying you want to join enough to become captain? emma was on house arrest for like 6 episodes!

please just assume from here on out every comment on a scene where quattro and bright are seen together is preceded by a lmao

so it isn't the og haro. makes a lot of sense, haro was on the white base when it blew iirc

so bright did end up with mirai!

fa, do you really not know why kamille would be upset about mentioning families being taken hostage? oh wait, you don't. idk how, but someone should probably let her know

jerid you are one million times more confident than you should ever be about anything

kacricorn has a lover on earth. rip

glad bright has faith in mirai

quattro, i think bright might be onto you, and you repay this by saying you know about his kids?

henken very quickly saying goodbye after seeing fa walk in is alright, but it would be better if i really cared about fa

the jupiter cultist not sending out the mobile suits will hopefully prove to be a fatal mistake

this new atmospheric entry addon is very goofy looking

ok nevermind the lmao, bright trusting quattro to save his family is actually really good. he's really stepping out, and we'll see if quattro reciprocates

bright, you should have drawn the map to begin with!

fa: i hear your parents died kamille: hey, what the fuck kind of way of starting a conversation is that?

i feel bad for them, but like. come on, this is not a particularly compelling relationship

this backing track smells like rock and roll part 2, but fuck gary glitter so whatever

yeah fa, he's leaving! what did you think being a pilot meant!

ok, maybe this guy isn't all talk. i feel like he's going to be here a while

emma no! you aren't the main character, i don't see this working out for you!

oooh, it transforms. i like the color shift there lasting as long as it did

new guy retreats :(

fa! stop going into military only zones!

was worried emma would be fridged, but she made it

bright slapping people is just part of who he is i guess

yeah, rip kacricon, you died for nothing

jerid you should have gone with him

this show had better give me a better idea of the big picture soon, i have no clue what's going on there, and the argama isn't nearly imperiled enough for me to not care about that stuff. the white base was on the run the entire time, so i was focused on that. the argama doesn't have that

[midnightactual]

That Kamille's leading denial immediately invoked Char—and the One Year War by association—had produced a silent chuff from Yoruichi which complicated her smile by admittedly only a degree. She found it interesting that he'd chosen 'against someone like the Red Comet', rather than 'with something like the White Devil'. Well, it wasn't a bad thing—being confrontational was generally recommendable during wartime.

Still, the man's mention when he himself was under that ridiculous disguise somewhere else on the ship seemed more than coincidental. It certainly formed an impression in her mind, especially given Kamille had already been compared to Amuro in the reports she'd read from Henken—and Char. That Bright had also been picked up and become the new captain of the Argama just before her arrival... Some things simply stretched credulity as coincidences!

At any rate, she had gone on to say what she said, observing his reactions before offering that he tag along. Between Kamille's assessment of the GM Sniper II's ranged capabilities, and his sputtering at the weapons complement, she had all the proof she personally needed to agree with those earlier reports. He took in and understood a lot more than he let on with self-deprecating remarks like what followed.

"Don't sell yourself so short," she lightly chided, already starting to approach the mobile suit, "But it certainly is!" A little laugh followed. "I can't claim any credit for what's inside it, though. That'd be the doing of our good friends we just left behind." She referred, of course, to Anaheim Electronics. "I only decided the performance envelope. My wife did most of the work bringing my demands and their parts and ideas together."

Her left arm rose, an outstretched pointer finger gesturing variously. "Structurally, it has more Gundarium Alpha around vital areas than the original, but not that much. I'd love to get my hands on some of the Gamma that Quattro's guys have on those Rick Diases over there, but that's not in the cards." She said his name in a way that sounded faintly amused. "Besides that, it has four additional verniers, increasing max acceleration from 1.67 G to 2.51 G—almost four times that of a Zaku II Commander Type." She sounded vaguely amused about that fact too.

The figure was rather brutal to contemplate, easily eclipsing the Gundam Mk-II's 1.50 G acceleration as well. There had been units with higher thrust and acceleration, but not many. "There were some reinforcements to the frame to accommodate that kind of stress, of course, both sustained and burst."

As she'd talked, she'd led Kamille onto the gantry elevator and taken the two of them up to the cockpit level, where she advanced to the hatch and opened it up. Inside was a perfectly modern-looking panoramic monitor/linear seat cockpit, rather than an older-style one with flat screens. Leaning against the hatch such that Kamille could easily see inside too, she gestured around. "This is nothing special anymore, but it was the real upgrade. There were some other things too, like improving the sensor range to just over 11,000 meters, so it's fairly comparable to the Mk-II."

Overall, this GM Sniper II Custom was nothing revolutionary; it was simply old-school design taken to its limits with some modern features—a muscle car of a mobile suit.

During the days when his only involvement with Gundams was as a hobby, he studied all the predecessors even before he got a glimpse of the mobile suit developed by his own parents. He considered the strengths and weaknesses, the pros and cons- not considering its production and marketability aspect. So, he wouldn't deny that a mobile suit from the One Year War aboard the Argama was quite the surprise.

Just from a single glance, as well as intuition, however, he had a hunch that the old technology before him was more than it presented itself to be. Why else would it still be in commission? Let alone used in missions? In a war where resources were limited as they were, this was more than a welcome addition. Parts for her GM Sniper II were easier to obtain and repair. Compared to the complexities Kamille proposed in his design for the Zeta Gundam, he forgot the important intricacies of the older prototypes.

"Hey, don't jump to conclusions," Kamille rebutted. "Seeing this actually feels like I'm fighting a war with or against someone like the Red Comet." Again, the mixed feelings when it came to comparisons between him and Amuro resurfaced. This was probably why Quattro felt compelled to be a mentor for him, something that didn't really sit well with Kamille.

Still, speaking of the Red Comet, he couldn't help but be intrigued of the connection between her and the Lieutenant. He had seen times of them talking, as if they knew each other even before they became a part of the Argama. He didn't like that his intuitions were making him hyper-aware; giving him the unnecessary desire to know everything and everyone around him. Oftentimes, this was why he had more of an urge to push everyone away as an act of defiance to his very nature.

"I don't doubt it at all. Just from its long range capabilities, I'd say it's a force to be reckoned with more than the Gundam from the One Year War," he stated, narrowing his eyebrows at the weaponry that he didn't remember the GM Sniper II having. "What the- The weapons... Are they actually...?" He didn't even finish his question, as he was confused and curious, but mostly confused.

He waved his hand in a dismissive manner. He used to love amateur mobile suit creations with fervor and passion, but being in this war- He just wanted it to end more than anything, like anyone else. "I just have some know-how through my parents," he said. "But I admit, I am curious. This is a customized mobile suit, right? Ideas you came up with yourself?"

[jakka-ningen]

This is my second post in the "jakka-ningen reads Zeta Define" series, covering volume 2. I have a lot more to say this volume, as there are lots of divergences from the anime from this point out.

Right from the beginning of volume 2, we have Char showing off in the Gundam Mk-II. Bright is impressed with his ability to adapt to a new suit right away, to which one of the bridge crew responds...

Guy: He's just the showy sort, that Red-- (realizes what he's saying, to whom) re, re...

Bright: ...?

"Quattro" is a master of disguise, truly.

While convincing Bright to captain the Argama, he just takes more and more stabs at trying to figure out the secrets of Quattro Bajeena, and the crew is like, "iono, it's a mystery."

Fa's parents apparently work for the colony construction company. This is a little interesting, because that was the cover Amuro's dad was using while working on the Gundam.

Henken: Hey, Bright is real curious about you.

Char: Yeah, he knows me. I'll figure out something or other to do about it.

Henken: See that you do. I'll leave it to you, then!

...Does literally everyone know? I figured everyone kind of knew, and were just humoring Char, but it seems that Char himself is aware that everyone knows. I thought Char believed that he was being Very Sneaky. The idea that everyone knows behind his back is immensely funnier. But, oh well.

Char: [...], Kamille-kun.

Kamille: Why not just call me by my full name? You've already researched me and found out who my parents are, I'm sure.

Roberto: As expected from a Newtype, what good intuition!

Kamille: Don't call me that, either!

We get some cuteness from angry Kamille here after all. I was wondering if his personality would be completely docile now. I'm pleased. You still have to punch Char in the face later, so keep up being angry, kid!

After telling Fa that he can't find out about her parents’ whereabouts or well-being because the security of their workplace is too tough to crack, Char asks Kamille if he wants to know about his parents.

"I'm fine without knowing. Parents like those can end up however they end up..." Kamille's discomfort with his parents survived, anyhow.

Awkward flirting is awkward here with Reccoa and "Quattro."

Char: Kamille seems like the type to get nervous easily. Could you keep an eye on him?

Reccoa: Sure. But, you know, it's been half a year since we met. You should keep an eye on me, too, Taii.

Char: *flicks her forehead*

Reccoa: Geez!

You might just want to give up on him right now, Reccoa, lol.

This Reccoa is such a good big sister to Kamille. I can't imagine this Reccoa going off with Scirocco later. This Reccoa seems cool. I'm gonna feel doubly betrayed when she switches sides.

Char, alone, thinking: I took down six battleships at Loum, but couldn't sink the White Base. Its crew were also said to just be a bunch of conscripts. ... It's only natural that Bright Noa is suspicious of the Red Comet.

What I really want, and what no adaptation will give me, is Char actually considering the fact that he was fighting children the whole time lol. This is as close as we've gotten to that.

Me, browsing Twitter all month last month: Why are so many people shipping Char and Bright?? What in the text even supports that??

Zeta Define: Yo.

After all, they get riveting dialogue, like...

Char: Yes, Bright. I am a CHAR.

Bright: Wat.

(That's not how it went. lol)

Char: Did my sister tell you anything?

Bright: She said you're a demon child (literal).

(Context: it's a phrase that means "a child not resembling their parents")

I forget how that line was officially translated. I think they went with "disgrace."

Char: (in uncharacteristically fancy Japanese, probably because he's literally thinking about when he was a political bouya) She may be my own sister, but that's difficult to hear. (Back to normal Japanese) But it's true that the person I was back then was someone she could think about that way.

Without being able to ignore the question of whether Degwin Zabi had assassinated our father before, under the pretense of acting accordance with my father's ideals, establishing a dictatorship, there was no way I could have forgiven the Zabi family.

However, when I encountered the White Base and Gundam, I was forced to change my plans.

After the war, thanks to remaining away from the Earth Sphere for a bit, I was able to clear my head and reassess myself. I realized how petty I had been up to that point.

Bright: So what is it you're trying to do now?

Char: The Zabi family, which, rather than being destroyed, is being bound by an armistice agreement, and the Earth Federation, who were forced into war by the Zabi family... Between that Federation and all Spacenoids, a feeling of distrust has been born.

The actual situation and the goals of the AEUG are exactly as you discussed with [Blex]. (In other words, he's assuring Bright that the AEUG isn't a cover operation for his personal agenda.)

I want to act on behalf of the Spacenoids, who have come to be despised, not in order to gain power or set up a dictatorship, but in service of my father's ideals, realizing political autonomy for all Spacenoids.

Bright: Are those your true feelings on the matter?

Char: If they weren't, I wouldn't be talking to you like this. *DRAMATICALLY REMOVES SUNGLASSES* (lol)

As the rival who formerly caused the White Base so much distress, I believe I understand your competence better than anyone else. Right now I'm not fighting for my personal grudges, but for all Spacenoids. It's my hope that we can both throw away our differences in the past and fully cooperate.

Bright: I'll believe in you, based on those words.

Char: *surprised Pikachu face*

Char: If you agree that easily, I'm the one who will have a hard time believing you.

At this point, Bright is like, "It's not like we didn't have our own circumstances behind the scenes of the OYW. ... Hearing you talk like this reminds me of how hard-headed I was back then."

Somewhere, Amuro gets a sudden chill down his spine.

"Char probably rethought his whole life while at Axis" is one of the conclusions I had come to, but which wasn't spelled out anywhere. The manga seems to agree with me.

Meanwhile, at the docking bay, Astionage calls out Kamille as having stolen his dad's files on the Gundam for his own reading pleasure (explaining how he was able to pilot it), and he denies it, flustered.

Kamille, why are you denying it? You didn't want them calling you "Newtype" in the last chapter. Just tell them you had prior knowledge; they don't care if you stole from your dad, lol.

AAAAAH! So cute!! They're taking about specs and how they feel about the handling of the various suits, and we get this scene:

Char: <something or other about the Mk-II>

Kamille: In that way, as well, you're saying the Rick Dias is the better machine?

Char: You're actually pretty proud of the Mk-II, aren't you? You said that you hate your parents, but really, you respect them in your own way.

Kamille: (uncomfortable) That's not really what I meant...

Char: It's not a bad thing, to be proud of your parents. You should be more honest about your feelings.

Kamille: 😕

Honestly, there's a lot more "time" felt between Kamille coming aboard the Argama and when his parents are held captive. He's already being treated as a member of the crew. He's accepted that position emotionally, as well. The adults treat him as a peer. It's a very different vibe from the anime.

Char: <discussing tactics> ...But I only ever faced one pilot who could pull that off.

Kamille: Did you defeat him?

Char: If I had been shot down by him wouldn't be alive. However, I wasn't able to win against him.

[...]

Kamille: I don't even believe there *was* such a pilot.

Char: There are many unimaginable things in this world that actually exist.

(lol)

[...]

Char: Do you think you can utilize 100% of the Mk-II's capabilities?

Kamille: Quattro-taii, I'm not... I'm not even a pilot, so...

Char: Oh... That's right...

(He forgot.)

Although I said that it felt like more time had passed aboard the Argama, it feels just as fast as it did in the anime on the Titans' side. Kamille's parents are called in by Bask. He tells them that Kamille is the AEUG's hostage, which, regardless of the actual facts, considering he's a minor, is kind of true. It's not not true.

Freaking, his mom is like, "sorry our son caused all that trouble the other day." His dad seems concerned about getting in trouble, himself. What are your priorities here?? Are you just going to defer to Bask because he's your superior without considering what's going on with your kid?? Franklin and Hilda Bidan might not be able to do a lot directly to help their son, but I feel like they should be doing something. Aaaaaaah

Aaaaah, I hate it. I hate it here. I agree with Kamille. About them in general. 🙃

Bask is being pretty clever here. He's telling Kamille's parents that Bright, who had been working with the AEUG all along in secret, stole their son as a hostage. The AEUG's goal in this scenario would be to try and get the Bidans, who designed the Mk-II, to supply them with information on how to develop and manufacture more Mk-II units.

After this discussion with the Bidans, Bask calls up Jamitov, and they discuss how they had lured the AEUG over by leaking information on the Mk-II tests. They intended to sortie against them and then follow them back to their warship. However, they seem to have underestimated the ability of Reccoa & co's sabotage, as well as the pilots' skill.

Still, the fact that they got the AEUG to show up and instigate a fight inside a "civilian" colony is enough to use as propaganda against the AEUG as terrorists. (Remember that Green Oasis is still crawling with civilians, which is why the citizens hated the Titans to begin with, for overrunning a civilian colony with dangerous test sites.)

(Around that time, on Earth, at an airport)

Mirai, to her children: Here you go! These are your tickets!

Hathaway: Mom, our names are wrong on these.

Mirai: Quiet down now. It's fine.

Hathaway: We can't go back to our old house anymore?

Mirai: That's right... I had a really bad feeling about it, so...

MIRAI YASHIMA: STEALTH NEWTYPE

Mirai gets the actually useful powers. Amuro gets OP beastmode, but only when he's paying attention to what's around him, Char gets tactical genius and the ability to sense hostility, Sayla gets a headache whenever her brother is nearby, and Mirai can sense her husband in space and tell when danger is on the horizon.

I know which one I'd choose, as a non-combatant, lol.

We're back on the Argama, and I think Kitazume must have really liked when both Amuro and Kamille had those moments of yelling at people to use their own words instead of someone else's, lol.

"Quattro" is like, "Reccoa, thanks for looking after Kamille, he's calmed down a lot! Could you also convince him of something for me?"

So, Reccoa goes to see Kamille, who's trying to do something requiring security clearance he doesn't have, and is like, "well, if your status aboard the Argama was a little higher, you'd have access to that." Kamille asks what she means, and she says that he could, for instance, become a pilot for them.

Kamille: That's crazy!

Reccoa: You can keep a secret, right?

Kamille: Y-- yeah...

Reccoa: Quattro-taii said that, "Kamille has such a good intuition for piloting mobile suits that he could even become a pilot who surpasses Amuro Ray."

Kamille: He must've been joking. He didn't say anything like that to me directly.

Reccoa: He seems not to have told you because you need to grow a bit first. I'm also hopeful that I can see your actual performance with my own eyes.

Kamille: 😳

Reccoa: You seem to have piloted the Mk-II on Green Noa 1 to protect Bright-taisa, but were you really satisfied (just piloting to that extent)?

Kamille: Huh?

Reccoa: Even while we're sitting here, there are people out there being targeted by the Titans. Just because those people aren't in front of you right now, can you say that you don't feel anything for them?

Kamille: Well, I've never even tried thinking about it from that angle...

Reccoa: Kamille! You have the strength to protect others the way you protected Bright-taisa! I wouldn't say this to someone who doesn't have that sort of ability.

This is so manipulative. Kamille is going to be so pissed at both Reccoa and "Quattro" if he finds out about it.

This is an interesting potential method for the manga to rile up the protagonist, who started off a lot more docile in the beginning. I also think it's a different take on Char, who, for all of his manipulativeness in First, felt like a straightforward guy in the Zeta anime.

It's funny that he's going this far to convince a teenager, but Kamille is a strong Newtype, so... Anyway, a bunch of adults manipulating a kid like this is a very direct way to criticize our "good guys."

We're back with the Titans, and... I really don't care about them. I'm sorry. Jerid gets told off by Raira Raira. It goes about the same way it did in the anime, as far as I can tell while skimming.

As an aside, I fully realize that Raira’s name has a different, standard romanization. I just don't care. Tomino named a character "Raira Raira," and I will never recover. All I can think of is this song, every time: YOUTUBE LINK, BECAUSE THE RIGHTSHOLDERS HAVE DECIDED NOT TO LET ME EMBED THE VIDEO LIKE A REASONABLE PERSON. ANYWAY, THE BLUE HEARTS ARE GREAT AND YOU SHOULD LISTEN TO THEM.

Reccoa and Char discuss their mental manipulation of a 17 year old kid.

Reccoa: I don't mind going on dangerous infiltration missions, but I don't like the idea of swaying the heart of an innocent boy, dragging him into a war.

Char: We can't let Titans do whatever they want to the Earth. You should be aware that we can't afford to lose. Don't cling to to your personal feelings on the matter, Reccoa.

Reccoa: Yes sir...

Well, Reccoa feels bad about it. Char is a pragmatist. But, based on an earlier discussion between them, it's obvious Reccoa is doing this for him, not for the AEUG.

There's an incoming fleet of enemy MS immediately after this scene. Char stops Blex in the middle of giving sortie orders, and Blex is like, "sure, you're good at war; let's hear your opinion," to which Char is like, "let's send the kid (who still hasn't agreed to be a pilot) out to fight them." Everyone else is like, "what the hell, man, that's one hell of an interview process," to which Char responds, "It's to see if he really is a Newtype."

Char. WTH. If he's not...?

I know you know he is, but. Seriously.

Bright: I agree with Quattro.

DO YOU NOW!?

Bright: I sense something in Kamille that points to Amuro Ray.

...Bright... Your judgment is both good and terrible...

While the adults are fighting, Kamille barges in and tells them to stop arguing.

Kamille: I've never thought that I might be a Newtype. But I can't forgive the Titans. I'm not saying I'm capable of piloting it well, but please lend me the Mk-II!

Compared to Amuro, whose line was something like, "I'm not saying I'm capable of it, but I'll do it," while spitefully looking at 19 year-old Bright, Kamille is very shounen protagonist here. I think the parallel in lines is intentional.

Still, I prefer "repeatedly steals the Gundam; insists he isn't interested in the politics of war; just kind of fell into his position as pilot" Kamille. As a former terrible kid, I love terrible kids, lol.

Either way, my opinion isn’t important. What’s important is that older brother Char looks proud. (lol)

There's a minor kerfuffle where the bridge crew is like, "this kid won't fit into an adult size normal suit. We can't, in good faith, send him out without one." (I imagine Char is wondering, "why not; I did that all the time when I was only a little older...")

It turns out, Reccoa has a suit that "a certain person" ordered for her, but she was mistakenly sent a men's suit, made for her height, instead of a woman's one.

Kamille is momentarily... jealous? of whoever "a certain person" is, but Reccoa bulldozes past that point and warns him that the enemy won't go easy on him because he's a kid. Kamille is like, "I'm no longer a child!" (I suppose we all feel that way at 17...)

Reccoa tells him to come back safely with her suit, which is cute. She may be trying to charm a kid using femininity, but I can't actually hate her.

We go over to the Titans again, and I'm gonna go off-topic for a hot moment here and talk about the Zeta anime, because this dialogue between Jerid and Raira Raira has reminded me of something.

Raira is set up as a member of the regular EFSF (as opposed to Titans), and, at least in the TV version, as she died, she talked about the difference between Oldtypes and Newtypes. She described the antipathy felt by Oldtypes towards Newtypes as being a subconscious and automatic response to realizing that your way of thinking is outdated.

This is interesting specifically because she was in a position where she was mentoring Jerid the whole time. "There's a difference between compensating and coping." She was someone who was portrayed as flexible in her thinking, which a trait Tomino generally reserved for Spacenoids, meanwhile having most Earthnoids be more rigid and likely to play things safe.

So for her to think this, to my mind, sets apart Newtypes on another level even from Spacenoids in general, in terms of their way of thinking (not just their space psychic powers). And (if I'm allowed to think metatextually about Tomino's goals as a writer) also might be a warning to progressively-minded adults that the future really does belong to the next generation.

...I really can't tell if I'm analyzing Gundam from a neutral(ish) perspective or just making things up that agree with my own sensibilities sometimes. It may just be that Tomino is good at writing lines that get people thinking, but don't commit to actually explaining anything.

...But anyway, that long aside is over. Let's get back to summarizing this manga! (lol)

Things are looking bad for the Mont Blanc, which, if you recall, gets blown up during a fight much later in the plot of the anime. The captain erases the main databanks in the ship's computers so the enemy won't get specs on their suits if they're captured. He has the crew evacuate and starts a countdown to self-destruct the ship. As he’s doing this, Raira manages to infiltrate the bridge and holds them at gunpoint.

The Mont Blanc captain gets in a good line against Raira here: "Without even knowing the true nature of the Titans, dogs like you who wag their tails obediently could never understand (the value of the AEUG)!"

As an adult, hearing that kind of thing makes me think they have both swallowed propoganda, however. Maybe I'm too jaded for shounen stories, in general, actually, lol.

Kamille shows up with his own gun and holds up Raira. For her part, Raira is surprised the AEUG would go so far as to employ children. As she throws away her gun, Kamille is distracted by the fact that her normal suit is from the EFSF and not Titans, and she takes advantage of his momentary confusion to kick the gun out of his hands.

While Kamille is sent floating around by his inertia in zero-gravity, Raira retreats, saying, "Kid! Next time we meet, you'd better shoot me quickly without hesitating!"

Kamille thinks, "She could have shot me then. What's she doing letting me go!?"

Meanwhile, Raira's inner dialogue: "Shooting a kid would leave a bad taste in my mouth."

Anyway, the crew of the Mont Blanc continues evacuating. Char grabs Kamille and they're probably headed back into MS fights.

After regrouping, Raira and Jerid have a chat, where instead of Jerid being like, "I must kill that teenager and avenge my pride," we get "I must recapture the Mk-II and avenge my pride," which is slightly less unsavory, lol.

As they get back to the battle, Char's like, "Kamille, you deliberately disobeyed me," and Kamille is like, "I have no memory of joining the military. Or are you going to hold a civilian to military standards?"

You should really have a long chat with Amuro when we get to that part of the plot, Kamille, lol.

I like that anime Kamille was like, "I don't care about this war, Titans, the AEUG, or any of that! Char Aznable can suck it; our situations with our parents are totally different; I just wanted a normal, loving family!" And he was sort of half-willingly made a pilot because what else is he good at and where else is he gonna go? And then got slapped around for not following military protocol.

Meanwhile, manga Kamille is smiling, being like, "golly gee willikers, you're not going to hold me to military regulations, are you, Lt. Quattro?" (lol)

We move over to the Titans' side, where Raira Raira is taking a shower, with that little face syphon thing protecting her from inhaling water. I'm guessing it also supplies oxygen when the water is sucked out of the shower.

As the fanservice continues, we get her inner monologue on the unfair tactics used by the Titans. She specifically notes that war necessitates a divorce from morals to some extent, and that soldiers just do what the "erai-san-tachi" tell them to do. (That's like, "bigwigs," but the phrasing here in Japanese is odd. It makes it obvious that she doesn't respect them, or that she thinks they're full of themselves.)

Apparently Raira joined the EFSF specifically because she couldn't forgive Zeon for the OYW. We don't get to see Earthnoids who are upset about that very often in the anime, which I feel is a bit of an oversight. After all, from the average Earthling's perspective, there was vague unrest in space, then suddenly colonies started falling out of the sky. I'd be pretty upset, too.

Jerid comes in, and he and Raira have the same discussion they did in the anime, where Jerid asks for mentoring and says he wants to be in charge of Titans one day. The only difference here seems to be that Raira trusts him not to turn around enough to take off her robe and go about getting dressed with him in the room. That, and she also brings up the fact that they've most likely been fighting the toughest members of the AEUG. ("That red MS is definitely their ace.") Jerid has done well just to stay alive, by that reasoning.

Blex, Bright, Char, and the Mont Blanc's captain (whose name I have forgotten, lol) sit around discussing whether Kamille is a Newtype. Despite the kid not actually engaging in combat, the Mont Blanc captain thinks he qualifies because he knew to go rescue the MB's crew from Raira.

Honestly, this makes me think that any number of coincidences could stand as proof of psychic space powers to these people.

While they move on to discussing tactics, Kamille is in his room considering his own mortality and whether or not he could shoot another living person. Fa walks in, and apparently she's decided to take the Fraw Bow approach to wartime fashion by grabbing an oversized uniform and turning it into a dress.

Fa: Why didn't you tell me you were going out to fight?! I was worried for you!!

Kamille: Do I have to tell you every time I do anything?

Fa: You're not even a soldier! There's no reason for you to be in a MS fight! You're going out of your way to endanger yourself...!

Kamille: Did you forget what they did to you at their headquarters?!

Fa: !!

Kamille joined the AEUG to protect Fa's honor. That's... This is a very different Kamille Bidan, lol.

Of course, he immediately says, "even if it wasn't you and Capt. Bright," but I'm not sure I believe him. If he really is that easily moved to help others, then this truly isn't even close to the same character.

Manga Kamille is very much a "hero" type. Comparatively, anime Kamille had to come around to hating the Titans enough to want to keep fighting them. He was very human, and he was very much a kid.

He learned about their punitive measures against Fa's family, he witnessed a failed colony drop, he learned about the Colony 30 incident, he saw them firsthand try to gas a colony, he saw what they did to Jaburo, to Hong Kong, to Four, to Rosammy... He went through a lot, and each incremental step convinced him a little more that he had to keep fighting. It also ate away at him, that there's not much he could do other than fight.

I love Kamille. I'm worried that the version in this manga will be less fully realized in favor of focusing on the adults.

Anyway, we move on to a scene where two said adults, Bright and Char, discuss Kamille, Newtypes, and the disappearance of Amuro Ray.

Bright: Why are you so particular about recruiting Kamille, Quattro-taii?

Char: Because I can feel the limits of my own abilities.

Bright: Limits... You mean, as a Newtype?

Char: I don't mind if you think of it in that sense. To be honest, with the way Amuro Ray was fighting at the end of the OYW, there wasn't much I could do against him. If the Titans were to have a powerful Newtype like Amuro Ray amongst them...

Bright: That's why you're trying to convince Kamille.

Char: That's right. For the AEUG, which has less overall battle strength than the Titans, to win, we need pilots with strong Newtype abilities... (Note that this might not be plural, but... I think he might already be thinking of convincing Amuro later.)

Bright: Still, the Federation military is outwardly denying the existence of Newtypes. So, hopefully your fears are unfounded.

Char: I hope so, but... I've also received intelligence that there's been ongoing research in artificially creating Newtypes (within the Federation).

Bright: I didn't know anything about that.

Char: Since they've gone to the trouble to hide the existence of the Newtype, Amuro Ray, we can't assume they're actually denying the existence of Newtypes (internally within the organization). As the former commander of the White Base, do you know anything about what happened to Amuro after that, Bright-taisa?

Bright: I wasn't made aware of anything. If only we were able to get Amuro to join the AEUG...

Char: Gaining his cooperation after he finds out I've joined is another matter entirely, though.

Bright: Is there some issue between you and Amuro (which would get in the way of that?)

Char: Well, I mean...

BRIGHT! Just because you're inexplicably cool with him, why are you assuming any other WB member would feel the same?? Especially Amuro, even if you don't consider the situation with Lalah.

Bright: Was there something between you two, other than what happened on the battleground?

So, my knowledge of kanji is quite poor, and I often have to look words up. I just. Let me stress the importance of using multiple dictionaries. Not only do you get more accurate results, you also get more hilarious results.

The word Bright uses, asking if there's "something" between Char and Amuro... Google thinks this is a good guess at what it could mean...

それは、それは、ごちそうさまでした。

(Thank you for the feast.)

...Anyway, even the English word has an innocuous meaning, so let's set that aside for now (lol).

Char: That's a personal matter.

Yes, especially depending on which reading of that word we're using here.

Bright makes a suspicious face. Char's like, "I'm saying we can't count on his involvement." Bright says that there is one thing he's aware of, and the scene cuts out to the Titans' side of the plot.

Kakricorn has Emma hold the elevator for him. They discuss an upcoming deployment, which Kakricorn is excited about. "I'll finally be able to bury that eyesore, Bright."

Emma asks him why he's acting like this, and Kakricorn replies that it's normal to be fired up during an all-out war. Emma insists that they're not past the point where the two sides could talk things out.

Kakricorn: Someone like you, recommended to this unit by the upper branches, could never understand how I feel.

Emma: What do you mean?

Kakricorn: I'm being made to take the blame for the theft of the Mk-II. There's nothing left for me after that. If I don't prove myself during this operation, I may even be demoted from Titans. That's why, no matter what I'm ordered to do, I'll prove that I can do it.

These kinds of worries didn't make sense to me as a child. "Why not get another job, then?" But in specializations like military work, or in civilian sectors where everyone knows everyone else, reputation is more important than ability.

...This is the second time I've sympathized with Kakricorn while reading this manga. Am I going to end up being a Kakricorn fan??

Franklin Bidan shows up, demanding to know why he's being forcibly taken aboard the Alexandria. He asks to speak with Bask immediately, but is told that Bask will inform him of the details later.

Overhearing this, Emma asks Kakricorn about what's going on. Kakricorn informs her about Franklin's status as an MS engineer and that he's the father of the "brat who stole the Mk-II."

A grunt reports to Bask that Kamille's dad is aboard the Alexandria and his mom is on the Sichuan. Emma, noticing that Bask is nearby, anyway, decides to ask him for a heart-to-heart.

Emma: There are those amongst the Titans who misunderstand the way we should be doing things. We've been exercising excessive authority since the other day. I thought I might ask you if you could to stop them directly (from continuing in this way).

Bask: You're the one who's got the wrong idea about the Titans, Emma-chuui. Titans is an organization where anything is permitted as long as it doesn't go against direct orders. That's why we've been given certain privileges (within the EFF).

Bask asks if this is about Kakricorn, and Emma reluctantly admits that yes, it is. Bask defends Kakricorn's actions, stating that Kakricorn saw through Bright's lack of loyalty. "If he'd just killed him, the AEUG wouldn't have gotten him!!"

Bask declares that "In order to save something much larger, sometimes smaller sacrifices are necessary," and states that they're trying to protect none other than the Earth itself. Emma is forced to agree to this, as Bask's underling. But she's definitely not happy about it.

Meanwhile, the Titans say they're protecting the Earth, the AEUG say they're protecting the Earth... One means "the government/citizens" and the other means "the planet," I suppose.

This adaptation actually hasn't gotten into the whole "the AEUG think everyone should emigrate to space" thing, though. So far we've only heard about their objectives with regards to protecting the rights of current Spacenoids.

Onboard the Bosnia, Jamaican explains their next mission, and Jerid suggests Raira be in charge of the MS squadron. When asked why he thinks so, as she's not Titans, Jerid points out that she's more qualified than him by far.

Later, one of her peers from the normal EFSF asks her how she managed to get "that greenhorn" (Jerid) under her thumb, and she responds with what I think is a double-entendre. (lol)

The volume ends with Paptimus Scirocco, of all people, looking out over the Earth Sphere.

Scirocco: It's been five years since I was in the Earth Sphere. The Earth is as breathtaking as ever, but something seems to have changed since before I departed, hasn't it?

I wrote significantly more about volume 2, but there were also significantly more changes. Having learned that Char is meant to be the protagonist, I understand why we have a much more straightforward Kamille. However, I still prefer my terrible boy from the anime, lol.

I'll get to volume 3 at some point~ I have to go buy it first, lol. I read the first two volumes in a single week, but I'm not sure I'll keep up that pace going forward.

[pulseofthestars]

Abatina, ivy, peony

abatina :   is there anything in life your muse has changed their mind about over time   (  due to becoming more educated on the topic ,   certain experiences  ,   etc . ) ,  or that they   would   change their mind about under certain circumstances ?

Now this might seem inconsequential for people not familiar with Kamille but after meeting a certain someone he cared deeply for Kamille changed his thoughts on his name. Originally Kamille hated his name due to it sounding like a girl's name to others (Just one reason he would over compensate in terms of masculinity by doing things like amateur mobile suit construction and practicing martial arts along with his temper) but after meeting Four he gradually came to like his name after learning her own story. I've hinted a bit at Four and her connection to Kamille in previous posts but I can always do a more detailed post if anyone's really curious. Kamille also has gradually learned to stop seeking revenge for wrongs, realizing that the mindset of looking for vengeance only perpetuates the cycle of violence and bloodshed that has plagued mankind for generations, learning to keep his anger in check and moving past grudges and vendettas.

ivy :   what are your muse’s views on marriage ? do they believe it is something strictly for love ,   or an institution rooted in business   &   social benefits ? do they desire or have they desired to be married ?

Hmm, largely depends on the verse but for main verse Kamille and verses related to like Fate and Berserk he sees it on an individual basis. Like he can see marriages being done for love and genuine affection while others are more for benefits and as a business transaction (He's still not entirely sure which way his parents went with their own marriage originally). As for a desire, after going through Zeta and being Kamille "All but one of my potential love interests is dead" Bidan you might be surprised to learn that he actually still wouldn't mind getting married to the right person one day. Of course he still has to deal with PTSD from the events of Zeta but he definitely wouldn't be against tying the knot someday.

peony :   what would a   ‘  happy life  ’   look like in your muse’s eyes ?

A happy life for Kamille.... In a realistic sense it'd probably be having the chance to spend time with his remaining friends and comrades from Gryps in a time of peace, where instead of having to worry about the next Titan attack or how to get momentum for the AEUG the biggest worry would be figuring out what to have for dinner for everyone. An ideal sense though... a happy life would be one where the people he lost weren't lost, lieutenant Emma still being there to lecture him but to also give words of reassurance when needed, Apolly and Roberto ribbing him but still having his back when needed. Captain Henken being the literally tallest dork trying to get the nerve to ask Emma out on a date. Rosamia is able to have fun and not fear that the sky was falling. The Argama crew, including Captain Bright and Lieutenant Quattro are discussing peaceful times instead of having strategy meetings for the next battle. And both Fa and Four are by his side, smiles clear along with his mother, taking steps to a better life away from that man. That would be a happy life, one of peace and war nothing but a distant memory... But it's just a dream, even if peace comes, too few of the comrades he had are alive to see it come.

"Yeah.... Besides... I'm not sure if I even deserve a happy life to begin with."

... Kamille...

[black-duo-maxwell-0085]

...in which I start a re-watch of Zeta Gundam (the series) about halfway through it...

Man, I am so freaking glad I am watching this shit dubbed.  Not that the dub is especially great or anything--I find a lot of the performances to be painfully wooden, which makes me sad since I always want to give the dub the benefit of the doubt--but I just...like the experience of watching a show like this in English a bit more.

The action at the midway point of the series is constant, and the need to showcase the potential toys/models that the suits represent feels a bit distracting at this point...but since this is what was driving the engine of the creative character studies, one supposes you gotta let that shit slide a li’l bit at least.

I’m at the part of the series that situates the majority of the action on the moon, and where we get to see the cast low-key start interacting with one another in new and different ways.  Not gonna lie: I’m kinda here for the awkwardness between Captain Henken and Emma.  The tension between Kamille and Katz is fascinating to me...but I feel that it’s one of the most disappointingly underdeveloped parts of the show.  Tomino and them love to have Kamille stay getting the shit kicked out of himself by anybody in authority, and his relationships with the various women in the Anti-Earth Union Group (AEUG) run a whole gamut from kinda-toxic fixation to healthy pseudo-siblings; but I think the show would have been infinitely better if he had had a male friend character that he could just...be cool with.  Like, you need that shit sometimes.  But instead, the li’l scrub just tries to have somebody that he can boss around.  It’s pretty messed up (but maybe that’s the point?).

The show is really good...but I think it’s better if you actually *try* and ‘read too much into it’.  The subtext is where the strength is (especially since the suit fight choreography is...not...great...).

^^Well...and then you do get righteous-ass shit like this every now and again, though!

I got in like three eps. today while I was folding clothes.  Thank gawd it’s holiday break at the University: I’ma have a lot of time to catch up on my anime watching!

[kiran-freak]

@planetaryoratorio

Charles Beams

Renton's adopted father. With passionate character, "dark" person in various aspects. He was one of Adlock's subordinates, and 10 years ago he was participating in the Necrosis operation. Currently, he is on loan to a private military company sterling solution service.

Voice: Joseph Ogasugi (Rubbing, Jurou)

<Main appearing work> "Mobile Suit Z Gundam" (Narration / Henken), "Kinjidai's Boys' Case Book" (Kenzo Okabe)

Ray · Beams (Ray Norton)

Renton's foster mother. Looks tough, but very loving. I married Charles nine years ago and greeted Renton as an adopted child. Like Charles, pilot, he is currently on loan to Stirling Solutions Service.

Information life covering the Earth · Scub Coral and the crisis of the world caused by the battle of humanity - - Summer of Love. It was Adolock Thurston that saved the world from the crisis. Adlock becomes to be praised as a hero. But the only thing that knows the truth was a handful of people who fought at the front line.

And the time of ten years passed.

Adolock's left-over son Renton was adopted by Mr. Beams and lived in a regional city Belfort. At the age of 14, a turning point of destiny comes to Renton who was sending the day when he was tired. And Renton who jumps out of the house. From there, Renton experiences encounters and parting with various people.

One person Renton met was Captain Facilities Guard Holland Novak. Renton, who was living in a facility guard led by Holland at one time, eventually jumped out of it in a short amount of time.

Another one Renton met was a girl with a minority religion Vodalak. In order to rescue her dead, Renton struggles around the worry of the Reunited Beams.

Encounter with people and parting makes you realize what is important to Renton. Why did you run away from home? Why am I running this way now?

[azuzugundamu]

[deamonsdancealone]

[relenawarcraft]

Day 20 - Favorite couple 

Emma Sheen and Captain Henken were just... a million kinds of adorable. Really, if you don't love them as a couple there's something wrong with you.

[brightnoa]

cute captains eating cake

[pulseofthestars]

����

Kamille stepped along a moonlit beach, having been walking for what felt like an eternity when he spotted a familiar red head further down. Hurrying his steps he hardly noticed the wind slowly picking up or the ocean waves subtly growing fiercer as he did. Once he got closer he called out to her though she didn't seem to acknowledge him, looking straight ahead at the ocean, ".... Kamille. Do you think that we're ready for the future?" Theo questioned as the blue haired pilot turned Master blinked, "I mean... we've pulled together through the Singularities and I'm sure we can take on future threats too." ".... Is that so...? But can you be so certain... A F T E R Y O U L E T E V E R Y O N E Y O U C A R E A B O U T D I E?" The distortion her voice took at the question caught him off guard as he froze. "... Huh?"

As Theo turned her head Kamille's eyes widened and he paled as instead of Theo's face it was lieutenant Emma's, backing up, only to bump into someone. Turning his irises and pupils shrank to see Rosamia, "Some of us even being killed by your own hands." She spoke as Kamille's breath began to pick up and he turned back to Emma who now had the large frame of Captain Henken standing next to him. To his right stood his parents, Hilda looking fearful and Franklin looking spiteful. And, emerging from the ocean, was Four who looked at Kamille with a mixture of emotions as Kamille was hyperventilating, "That isn't your world or your battle Kamille. Come join us, before you get that girl killed too." Her voice echoed in his head as he slumped to his knees, gripping his head tightly as the figures loomed, distorting and eyes gleaming.

"Join us... Join us.... Join us..... JOIN US... JOIN US JOIN US JOIN US JOIN US JOINUSJOINUSJOINUSJOINUSJOINUSJOINUS- S U R R E N D E R Y O U R S O U L T O M E." The hellish voices chanted until another voice overcame them as the ocean roared and swallowed him, chains seemingly rising infinitely from the abyssal depths as a familiar face, a man he had fought right before he ended up in the world he was in now, Paptimus Scirocco, appeared next to him, eyes leering and a wide grin on his face.

Kamille shot up screaming, the light fixture above him cracking as a side effect of his Newtype presence flaring with his emotions. He looked around in a blind panic before recognizing the area as his room, still breathing fast. After a moment he gripped his head, drawing his knees up, ".... hurts...." He muttered, gripping his head tightly. "How much more... can I keep going....?"

@x-ame-x-damnee-x

[deamonsdancealone]

[deamonsdancealone]

[deamonsdancealone]