Char Returns

Synopsis
White Base is heading toward a Federation dock in Belfast, Ireland, to repair damage done in the Battle of Odessa. Amuro is practicing his docking maneuvers along the way, and Bright is irritated that he can't pull them off more quickly. Marker responds that since the Core Fighter is actually Gundam's escape capsule, getting it out is faster and easier than getting it in. Kai is excited because when they get to Ireland, the crew will be granted some shore leave. Amuro, however, is more sober, reminding Kai that they are seriously in the military now and have to be ready for any future orders they're given. Kai does not like to hear this.

Elsewhere in a nearby house, a girl is washing dishes in the kitchen when she hears a low rumble. She runs outside to see what it is and witnesses White Base pass over her house. Immediately, she runs to an upstairs window and begins to snap pictures as the base descends to its dock. She types a report, fills a balloon with helium, attaches her data, and then floats it out the window toward the harbor. This girl is Miharu Ratokie, no. 109, in Zeon's pay as a spy.

The balloon passes over a sensor in the harbor. Deep beneath the waters, a submerged Zeon ship recieves a copy of her message, and they decide to pass it on to their commander. As his fleet prowls the waters, he is informed of her message. The commander of the underwater fleet is none other than Char Aznable. He views copies of the pictures Miharu took, which aren't very good, and decides to take the Sea Lance to make contact with the unit in the dock's area, commanded by a soldier named Boone. Char says that if White Base is actually docked in the area, then he wants to see it for himself. As he buzzes along the surface of the water, he muses on his fortunate luck.

Elsewhere, a reconnisance plane carrying General Revil flies over the dock to view the damage to White Base. He wishes he could give the crew more time off, but under the circumstances cannot. His plane lands, and he proceeds to a meeting room to address the crew. He thanks them for their efforts up to that point and then tells them that when they're done with repairs they'll head to Jaburo, in South America. Fraw Bow asks what will happen to those who haven't joined the military or who wish to back out, and is informed that they'll be put into the stockade for a year. Under normal circumstaces, it would be for life, and it's because they've had access to top secret weapons and information. Revil then goes on to mention that because of Gundam, Zeon has ramped up its production of mobile suits. He says that they are now testing something called mobile armor in an effort to match or exceed the Gundam's power and that their attacks will only get stronger from now on.

Down on the dock, the crew of White Base is taking their shore leave. Unbeknownst to them, Boone's fleet, just beneath the water in the harbor, has launched a couple of Goggs in an effort to take out White Base before Char gets there. Meanwhile, Miharu runs into Kai with a basket of sweets and asks him to buy something. He refuses, but says he thinks she's cute. She then asks Amuro, who also refuses. Fraw Bow falls into step beside him and expresses her concern over who would take care of the three children should she formally join the military. Nearby, the kids have gotten into mischief and Kai is yelling at them. They run off.

Underwater, the Goggs approach the harbor but realize it's full of mines. They shoot a substance that disables them, but the sudden deactivation of a whole swath of mines gets the attention of the Federation HQ, who realize that something's up and go on full alert. Boone fires some missiles, which the Fed HQ detects and responds to in kind. On the bridge of White Base, Hayato asks what they should do. The only MS able to sortie is the Gundam, which Amuro says he'll use, although Bright informs Fraw that he won't be able to use his beam rifle.

The Feds try and stave off the oncoming Goggs. They are unsuccessful, and the Goggs finally surface. They begin to wreak havoc on the area around the Federation base, eventually hoping to hit the dock that White Base is stationed at. The Feds make a valiant effort to attack the Goggs with standard artillery, but have little success. Amuro sees the explosions off in the distance and launches the Gundam, equipped with the Hyper Hammer. Elsewhere, Gen. Revil is watching the battle from an upstairs window at Fed HQ, despite the pleading of his aide to get to a safer place. He tells the aide to call for more defense and is told the Guntank has already been requested.

On White Base, the technicians are preparing the G-Bull for launch. Sayla is going over her options: launch with the G-Bull now, or wait and fight with both the Gundam and G-Fighter. Sayla opts for the second choice. Up on the bridge, Bright orders the launching of the Guntank just as the Zeon forces reach the town and close in on the dock. Elsewhere, Amuro is engaged in a fight with one of the Goggs. To his surprise, the Vulcans are having no effect, so he throws the hammer. It seems to work at first, but then the Gogg catches it on the second throw and pulls it away.

Down in the town, Miharu is watching the skirmish and taking pictures. She turns to run and is almost hit by a car being driven by Kai Shiden. He is surprised to see her, and tells her to get out of town, as it's gotten dangerous. Meanwhile, Amuro is really rueing the fact that his beam rifle is disabled. It is then that he remembers the G-Parts. He has Fraw Bow prepare the G-Bull's parts as he returns to the dock. Shots rain down around the dock as the G-Bull is launched. However, Amuro has the Gundam's B-parts standing by, just in case.

One of the Goggs rampaging through the town notices the G-Bull and opens fire. The G-Bull is relatively undamaged and continues to charge. The Gogg swings at it with a clawed hand but just misses it as Amuro throws the G-Bull into reverse. The Gogg grabs the ground with one clawed hand and propels itself forward in a lunge, but Amuro fires the cannons on the G-Bull, piercing it through with a fat laser beam. It explodes, much to the horror of the other Gogg, which proceeds to dive back into the harbor. The B-Parts are launched and Sayla is told to cover Gundam with the G-Fighter. The parts dock, and Sayla drops the Gundam into battle. The Gundam drops into the harbor and descends, looking for the other Gogg. The Gogg comes up from behind, taking Amuro by surprise and piercing the Gundam's head with its claws before flying off into the darkness. Amuro turns around only to find two torpedoes shooting toward him, which he just manages to dodge. Suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere, the Gogg slams back into the Gundam, grabbing onto its head with its clawed hands again. As it digs its claws deeper into the Gundam's head, it begins to damage the Gundam's cameras. Amuro is desperate, but realizes at that moment that the Gogg's pink mono-eye is actually its main camera, and he drives his beam saber into it. Without its sight, the Gogg can't see where Amuro is and he is able to use his other beam saber to chop into its waist and slice it in half. It explodes.

Sayla witnesses the explosion from the G-Fighter but isn't sure if it's the Gundam or the Gogg. On White Base's bridge, nobody's sure, either, so Fraw tries to hail Amuro on the radio. From his vantage point, Revil can tell that the Gundam was the victor, because if the enemy had won, the attack would've started again. From the G-Fighter, Sayla detects an object travelling underwater and transmits an image. At that moment, to everyone's surprise and relief, Amuro contacts Fraw on the radio and says he's returning. The Gundam climbs out of the harbor and onto the dock. Unseen, Miharu watches from behind the rubble of a wall.

Boone's ship surfaces as Char approaches in the Sea Lance. He deftly lands it and comes aboard. Once inside, Char and Boone review video data from the Goggs and confirm that White Base is indeed docked in the port. However, Boone tells Char that both Goggs were destroyed by the Gundam. Char isn't surprised. He brings up a schematic of the Gundam and declares that the mobile suit has wounded his pride, which is serious business. From then on, it becomes Char's goal to destroy the Gundam and restore his honor.

Important Events

 * Suits/Armors Introduced: Gogg
 * Ships Introduced: Mad Angler, Jukon, Sea Lance
 * Characters Introduced: Miharu Ratokie, Flanagan Boone
 * This epsiode marks Char Aznable's return to the series after a hiatus of 14 episodes.