Mobile Suit Gundam AGE 12

I was busy during the weekend and forgot about Gundam AGE, so here is the late post for episode 12. In this week's show, Grodek and the Diva try to leave Minsry but they run into a Federation task force led by Strahler.

What are you people afraid of? That puny pistol shouldn't even be able to scratch the paint off the ship's armor.

Lights, explosions, but no damage? Disappointing.

Summary:
Grodek and the group return to the Diva and they immediately get the ship ready for launch because the appearance of Strahler. However, the Diva barely makes it out of the dock before being confronted by three Federation warships commanded by Strahler. Strahler tells Grodek and the Diva to surrender, but Grodek refuses to comply. Adams try to explain to Grodek's plan to Strahler, but Strahler states that his job is to apprehend Grodek. Strahler gets his ships to fire some blinding missiles to get some of his mobile suits really close to the Diva, but Flit had already launched in the Gundam and forces the Federation mobile suits back which allows Woolf and Largan to launch. Strahler has launched all of the mobile suits under his command, but Ract and his four warships show up to turn the numbers game in Grodek's favor.

Looks like someone finally got a weapons upgrade.

NewType... I mean SEED... I mean Innovator... no it's X-Rounder mode activate!!!!

As Grodek and Strahler's forces are stuck in a standoff, Strahler's forces are attacked from behind by two UE warships and a dozen mobile suits. Ract advises Grodek to use the opportunity to escape, but Grodek sends the Diva's mobile suits to attack the UE. During the battle, Flit suddenly gets the sixth sense/premonition ability that Yurin had used. The Diva also charges in with its main cannons and Strahler's ship has to get out of the way. The Federation ships and the Diva then combine their firepower to force the UE task force into retreat. After the battle, Strahler decides to let Grodek go this time as thanks for helping out during the battle. Later in the Diva, Flit tells Grodek about his move-reading ability, and Grodek states that certain people can use the "X region" of their brains to gain abilities above a normal person, and these people are known as "X-rounders".

See, isn't it more fun to fight together than fight against each other?

Noooo! Please don't make me babysit that little hellish brat!!! It'd be a fate worse than death!

Back in Minsry, Decil and Yark are in Alzack's mansion to take Yurin away. Decil has sensed that Yurin is a X-rounder and warns Yurin against resisting them.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The contest of strategies between Grodek and Strahler was a bit long and neither side made any mind-blowing moves, but at least the moves were somewhat effective. Thanks to a timely UE attack, Grodek and allies managed to get past the Federation forces without getting into a bloody battle with the Feds. It's not too surprising since AGE is kid-friendly and thus will not have the good guys start a costly battle with Strahler who is not really evil (despite the laugh at the intermission). The ending with the salute of mutual respect and Strahler choosing to let Grodek continue on his personal mission fits in line with whole theme.

The battle with the UE was somewhat interesting. Firstly, Flit showed some NewType... I mean X-rounder powers of his own, which was totally predictable but the fact that it happened is a notable occasion. Without the powers, Flit is just a proficient but not especially-skilled pilot, and the key to battlefield dominance in many Gundam series is superhuman psychic powers and superior mobile suits. Secondly, it looks like Largan's Genoace finally got a weapon that works on UE mobile suits. It was about time that happened. Lastly, while Largan got an effective weapon, the main cannons of the Diva and Federation warships didn't really seem to scratch the UE warships. I guess all the warships have invisible shielding, since Sunrise usually loves to animate explosions.

Now that the Diva and friends got past the Feds, they begin their mission against the UE hideout for real. The next two or even three episodes will probably be all out battles, and that's what Gundam is usually good at. While the Diva managed to continue on its mission, Yark and Decil and have gotten their friends on Yurin. Will this lead to Flit eventually having to fight Yurin in battle?