Destroy Gundam

Destroy Gundam! (ガンダム大地に立つ!! Gandamu Daichi ni Tatsu!!) is the 2nd episode of Mobile Suit Gundam. It first aired on April 14, 1979 in Japan and on July 24, 2001 in North America. This episode was written by Kenichi Matsuzaki.

Summary

Captain Paolo Cassis of White Base is firing on the enemy but Ryu, a cadet, tries to get him out of the turret. Char's missiles strike and the blast fills the Captain with shrapnel.

On the Musai, Slender makes it back to Char. Char finds his report about the mobile suit hard to believe, but decides to report of Admiral Dozle anyway.

Fraw is helping evacuees (specifically three orphan children) on White Base, when Sayla calls her to help with the Captain. Bright walks in on the situation and gives a damage report. All the engineers and soldiers have been killed and they only have ten battle-ready personnel. A woman nearby, Mirai, has piloted ships before and offers to pilot White Base.

Back on the Musai, Char is speaking with Dozle Zabi: Admiral of Zeon's space fleet and member of the ruling Zabi Family. Dozle is quite unhappy about Char not showing up for a celebration of his own victories. Char tells him how he's been sidetracked with the discovery of the Federation's V Project. Dozle is pleased and agrees to Char's request for more supplies.

Bright and the Captain finally contact Amuro and finds that he's simply a kid. Bright is angry over this and is ready to remove him, but the Captain points out that they have no one else to replace him. Sayla, Ryu, and Frau search for more survivors, when a young man named Kai runs towards the ship alone. He'd left everyone behind so he could run in and save his own hide. Sayla and Frau drive off to look for others.

Meanwhile, Char and a few pilots have been floating towards the colony in their space suits. They give a signal and the Musai fires, creating several holes which they use to get inside. While others on White Base see this attack, Bright grudgingly sends Gundam out at the Captain's orders to destroy the spare parts before Zeon gets a hold of them.

Fraw begins to reminisce as she looks for survivors, while Sayla comes across Char. She holds him at gunpoint, and Char is taken aback when he sees something familiar about Sayla. Char removes his mask and kicks the gun out of her hand. Amuro comes across them and Char runs off. He lifts up Sayla as she looks at Char, wondering if it was her brother.

Amuro destroys the spare parts, but when the hangar holding White Base opens up, Char manages to get in. The Captain shouts for them to close all the hatches and give a gun to everyone who can hold one. Char flies through the hangar with his jetpack, taking pictures, but the camera it destroyed by the gunfire. He makes it out with the others. Amuro tries to fire at Char, but Gundam cannot get a lock on such small targets.

White Base prepares for battle, Mirai, Sayla, and Hayato getting accompanied to their new positions. Char comes out in his special Zaku and fights Amuro. Char gets the upper hand for a moment, but Ryu manages to distract him with the Core Fighter. His gives Amuro enough time to destroy Slender's Zaku. Char watches and is in awe at the mobile suit's power. A frightened and defeated Char retreats back to his Musai. Amuro returns to White Base and gains respect from Bright, although all he can openly do is reprimand him.

Important Events:

• Characters Introduced: Ryu Jose, Sayla Mass, Mirai Yashima, Kai Shiden, Dozle Zabi, Captain Paolo Cassis, The Orphans</br>
• Mecha Introduced: Zaku II Commander Type
• Amuro fights Char for the first time.
• Sayla and Char meet for the first time.
• Mirai, Hayato, Sayla, and Ryu perform in their new positions for the first time.