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Escape From Luna II (ルナツー脱出作戦 Runa Tsū Dasshutsu Sakusen) is the 4th episode of Mobile Suit Gundam. It first aired on April 28, 1979 in Japan and on July 26, 2001 in North America. This episode was written by Masaru Yamamoto.

Synopsis[]

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Wakkein announces the impounding of the White Base.

The SCV-70 White Base has finally made it to the Luna II asteroid base, but Luna II refuses to let them stay. As Luna II is a military stronghold in high alert, they refuse to take them in for the added risk, despite Bright Noa's explanations about their pursuit by Char Aznable's Musai-class light cruiser. The head of the base, Commandant Wakkein comes out and reads the officer's report of the situation. He states that he cannot take civilians at this time, and that all the civilians will be taken to Earth. He then picks out all civilians and military officers that participated in their battles with Zeon: Bright Noa, Mirai Yashima, Ryu Jose, Sayla Mass, Kai Shiden, Hayato Kobayashi and Amuro Ray. Soldiers draw their weapons on the group. Wakkein tells Bright that those civilians and cadets who gained control of top secret military technology will face court martial, while the White Base will be impounded and the RX-78-2 Gundam secured. Captain Paolo Cassius is taken off to receive medical help. Bright tries to warn Wakkein that Gundam should not be deactivated with the Musai not far behind them, but Wakkein dismisses his concern, believing that no one with the experience that Char has would attempt to attack the heavily fortified Luna II with a light cruiser.

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Char approaches Luna II.

Under Luna II, the Char's Musai is waiting, unable to be detected by the station's radar thanks to the density of Minovsky particles. After a brief conversation with Dren, where Char notes that a military strategist would never expect a Musai to attack the Luna II. Char recalls encountering Sayla in Side 7, and wonders if she is his sister, Artesia, before announces that they would infiltrate the base in normal suits to capture or, failing that, destroy Gundam and the White Base.

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Amuro and the others in their cell.

On Luna II, the crew of the white Base has been locked up in cells. When their food is brought to them, Bright tries to tell the guards of the impending Zeon attack, but they won't listen to him. As he warned, Char and a group of soldiers float through space in their suits, killing some guards and finally finding a way in. When they make it to the hangar, Char realizes that there is an infrared security system, so they will have to be very careful in their mission.

In their cell, Amuro explains to the others how Gundam is a self learning machine, and therefore gets better as it fights more, clarifying that it allows even someone of his meagre piloting skills to combat the likes of Char. Suddenly, an explosion occurs, disabling the centrifugal gravity and disabling the main power. More explosions rock Luna II as Wakkein watches, wondering how they could have made it in. He orders for his forces to deploy his Magellan-class warship.

With the power out, the locking mechanism to the cells goes out as well. Amuro and the others leave their cells and reunite, and the group escapes towards the White Base. In the hangar, the Magellan is leaving, but White Base and the evacuees are still left behind. Fraw Bow asks two soldiers why they are not evacuating the White Base, but they say they've not gotten orders from the commandant. Kikka Kobayashi distracts the soldiers long enough for Amuro and Bright to knock them out.

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The Magellan is hit by an explosion.

The Magellan has almost made it out of Luna II, when a large number of charges set by Char around the area causes it to crash, lodging it in the tunnel, and blocking the way for the White Base. As Wakkein exists the Magellan he sees activity in the White Base and attempts to stop its crew at gunpoint. Bright and Mirai try to talk him down, but it is Captain Paolo who finally ends the stand-off. He tells Wakkein that the White Base crew are the only ones equipped to handle it, and he will take full responsibility.

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Gundam launches.

As the Gundam and the FF-X7 Core Fighter, Char comes in with his MS-06S Zaku II Commander Type, flanked by Matthew and Fix on the two MS-06 Zaku II that they had received from the supply ship. Gundam makes its way around the Magellan. Char takes out his heat hawk and they fight in melee combat, with Ryu managing to distract the other Zakus in the Core Fighter. On the White Base, Wakkein finally relents to destroying the Magellan so they can escape, and provides permission to do so. Outside, using the beam saber, Amuro is able to take out a Zaku that comes up behind him as he fights Char. The Magellan is destroyed via a large cannon on the White Base, hitting its thermonuclear reactor with the blast destroying the second Zaku and almost hitting the Musai. Char throws his heat hawk at Amuro, as he flees back to the Musai.

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Captain Paolo's funeral.

Bright informs Captain Paolo that they have been victorious, but finds that the Captain has succumbed to his wounds and died. As the White Base heads closer to Earth, a funeral is held for him, and, after Bright makes a promise to make it safely to Earth, the Captain's remains are jettisoned into space. As the casket floats off, Amuro wonders where his father is.

Important Events[]

  • Characters Introduced: Wakkein, Matthew, Fix
  • Deceased: Paolo Cassius, Matthew, Fix
  • Ships Introduced: Magellan
  • Due to Paolo's death, Bright is now the official commander of the White Base.

Staff[]

  • Script: Yu Yamamoto
  • Unit Director: Shinya Sadamitsu
  • Animation Director: Kazuo Tomizawa
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