The convoy departs from Harare at dawn and the Gundam Solomon is loaded onto one of the train cars. The train leaves the city towards Harare, and as it departs the city, the sunrise can be seen. Illmari asks Manfred:
Illmari: What do you think about Julieta?
Manfred: Did she ask you to ask me that?
Illmari: No, I'm just curious.
Manfred: Why do you say that?
Illmari: I want to know if you still see her as someone you must fight against.
Manfred: I don't see her as an opponent, but I hope I don't have to hurt her when the time comes.
Sephora joins the conversation and asks:
Sephora: Don't tell me you also like Julieta.
Manfred: What are you talking about?
Sephora: We know you like us, but I can't believe you're not satisfied with just us.
Manfred blushes and says:
Manfred: It's not that, but...
Sephora: But?
Illmari: Sephora, let Manfred finish speaking.
Manfred: I don't think I could hurt a friend.
Illmari: So you consider Julieta your friend?
Manfred: It's complicated. We shouldn't be friends with them. But after spending time with her and Richtoffen, you start to grow fond of them.
Illmari: Remember, they aren't Gjallarhorn, they're just elements of Gjallarhorn. And I don't think you'll have to confront them, but if it comes to that, I believe you'll make the right decision.
Manfred: Let's hope so.
Illmari: I know it will be so.
Illmari approaches Manfred and nestles her head on his shoulder. Sephora goes to his other side and curls up on his lap. Manfred puts his arm around Illmari and uses his other hand to stroke Sephora's head.
Julieta is sitting with Richtoffen in front of her. Julieta is pensive, remembering the battle of Chryse where she confronted the Gundam Barbatos Lupus Rex. She sees the cockpit hatch fall off and sees a young man covered in blood inside.
Julieta murmurs:
Julieta: The boy in the Gundam...
Richtoffen observes her and says:
Richtoffen: Are you thinking about Manfred?
Julieta: No.
Richtoffen: Who were you thinking about?
Julieta: The devil from Tekkadan.
Richtoffen: The Tekkadan pilot who made you famous?
Julieta: Yes, I never came to understand why he fought. He fought a senseless battle.
Richtoffen: Did you want to understand him?
Julieta: I wanted to understand why he fought.
Richtoffen: And did you succeed?
Julieta: That boy, I don't know. At first I thought those children were demons, but then I understood they were more human than any of us. They fought to live as humans.
Richtoffen: A bit late to understand them, don't you think?
Julieta: Yes it is, that's why being tolerant of all kinds of people is everything to achieve the Gjallarhorn that Rustal envisions.
Richtoffen: You know Manfred would strangle you if he heard this.
Julieta: What do you mean?
Richtoffen: The Monterrey incident, the support for jihadists in Persia. Examples of Gjallarhorn's tolerance.
Julieta: Do you genuinely believe Rustal would do something like that?
Richtoffen: I don't know, you tell me. Who gives the orders in Gjallarhorn?
Julieta: Rustal. But he did it for the good of the blocs. You know Richtoffen, you could face a court-martial for insubordination.
Richtoffen: Getting you to think isn't insubordination. Tell me, why do you want to understand Manfred so much?
Julieta: If you understand your enemy's objectives, you'll know their limits.
Richtoffen: Who told you that? Rustal?
Julieta: It was Gaelio.
Richtoffen: I don't think that's the only reason you want to understand Manfred now. He's not your enemy.
Julieta: Not yet, but he's dangerous because of his way of fighting. Rustal believes it would be good to have him in Gjallarhorn's ranks.
Richtoffen: We both know that's not why you want to understand him.
Richtoffen gets up from the table.
Julieta: Where are you going?
Richtoffen: To smoke.
Richtoffen takes out a pack of cigarettes and taps it to settle the tobacco. Julieta also gets up from the table.
Richtoffen: Want one?
Julieta: No, I'm going to see Manfred.
Richtoffen smiles and says:
Richtoffen: Seems you never get tired of talking to him. Do you like Manfred?
Julieta: I don't like him, but I need to understand him.
Richtoffen: Well, if you say so, go ahead.
Julieta smiles and replies:
Julieta: Since when do you tell me what I can do?
Richtoffen: I'm not stopping you.
Julieta leaves the car and goes to Manfred's car. When she arrives, she finds him resting with Illmari and Sephora. Julieta approaches Manfred and says:
Julieta: Manfred, can we talk?
Manfred: About what?
Julieta: The mission.
Manfred: What about it, we already know who our targets are and what needs to be done.
Julieta: No, I want to get to the point. Why do you always expect the worst-case scenario?
Manfred: To be better prepared and not lose any pilots from my company.
Julieta: But why do you underestimate Gjallarhorn's capabilities, don't you think that's a bit pessimistic?
Manfred: It is, but you always have to expect the worst. Because I don't doubt the pirates bribed some official to escape or get information about the operation.
Julieta: Still, I believe the probability of corrupt officers in this unit is low.
The train speeds along when it is hit by ammunition from a grenade launcher. There is a loud boom.
Julieta: Shit, we've been ambushed!
Manfred: You were saying?
Julieta: What are you talking about Manfred?
Manfred: Someone tipped off the pirates about the convoy.
Six pirate Mobile Suits approach the train - four green Rodis, one blue Graze, and one modified black Reginlaze. Julieta looks out the window and says:
Julieta: Manfred, Illmari, get to your Mobile Suits!
Manfred: Sephora, take care of Julieta.
Sephora cocks her pistol and says:
Sephora: Understood.
The train stops and the Mobile Suits begin exiting the train. Four Mobile Suits from the corporation and two from Gjallarhorn emerge. The Gjallarhorn and company Mobile Suits begin defending the train as pirate reinforcements arrive - three green Rodi Mobile Suits to be exact - while Illmari dispatches one with her axe.
Manfred approaches the three green Mobile Suits. He cuts the leg off the first green Mobile Suit that makes physical contact, then blocks the axe of the second Mobile Suit using the Zweihander, and stabs the shoulder of the third using the Zweihander. After this, the first green Mobile Suit is on the ground, the second retreats, and the third has a disabled arm.
Manfred attacks the knee of the second, destroying its leg. He draws his knife and blocks the attack of the third. Then he uses the Zweihander to strike a blow that destroys the green Rodi's left arm. Manfred then kicks the green Rodi and deals it a blow to the knee with the Zweihander that renders the Mobile Suit inoperable.
After this, Manfred begins to approach the blue Mobile Suit when the Reginlaze gets in his way. Illmari tries to flank the black Reginlaze, but it deals her a blow that cuts off her right arm. Manfred says:
Manfred: Illmari, fall back, I'll take care of this!
Illmari: Understood.
Manfred tries to deal a vertical blow, but the Reginlaze blocks it with its crossed maces. The Reginlaze leaps back and begins consecutively attacking Manfred. Manfred limits himself to blocking the attacks, until two green Gjallarhorn Reginlaze decide to help Manfred. Manfred decides to retreat. The modified Reginlaze blocks the attacks from the green Reginlaze. It leaps back again and the girl inside the black Reginlaze says:
Girl: Two easy prey for me.
A Gjallarhorn pilot replies:
Pilot: I don't think so, brat.
The girl smiles, her blue eyes filled with determination. Cecil hears that familiar voice over the intercom, disconnects his device and says:
Cecil: It can't be, it's Haruna.
Cecil reconnects the intercom and says:
Cecil: Guys, get out of there!
Pilot: Don't worry Commander, we'll take care of that Mobile Suit.
Manfred tells his pilots:
Manfred: Gentlemen, fall back and defend the train cars, I'll handle this Reginlaze.
Jean Paul: But we'd be leaving you alone.
Manfred: It's an order, not a suggestion.
Jean Paul: Understood, sir.
The company's Rodis fall back to the train car, while Manfred decides to attack the blue Graze. The Graze puts up a fight, but eventually loses ground against Manfred's technique. Manfred destroys the blue Graze's defensive stance and deals it a blow with the Zweihander that cuts off an arm. While this happens, Haruna fights the Gjallarhorn Reginlaze, tearing off the arm of one with her mace, then dealing a blow to the cockpit. The Mobile Suit falls inert to the ground.
The remaining Mobile Suit decides to attack Haruna with its axe, but she reacts by hitting its arm, making it drop the axe. Then she uses her other mace to strike the Mobile Suit's cockpit. When she finishes off the two Mobile Suits, Haruna realizes the blue Graze is in trouble and screams:
Haruna: Saburo!
Haruna charges at Manfred and hits him with her mace. Manfred tries to dodge the attack, but Haruna rips off a shoulder armor with the blow.
Manfred: Son of a bitch!
Haruna: I'm a girl.
Manfred: Okay, daughter of a bitch then.
Manfred picks up the Zweihander and says:
Manfred: I have a job to do.
Haruna: So do I.
Both Mobile Suits approach at full speed until their weapons clash. Haruna attacks with her maces and Manfred can barely block them until Richtoffen attacks her from behind.
Richtoffen: Sorry I'm late.
Haruna begins blocking blows from both Mobile Suits without issue.
Manfred: How the fuck can this chick be so fast?
Richtoffen: I don't know, just keep trying to hit her.
Haruna realizes Saburo is being surrounded by Gjallarhorn Reginlaze so she goes to help him.
Haruna: You bastards got lucky.
Haruna moves away from Manfred and Richtoffen and destroys some of the Reginlaze that were trying to surround Saburo. Haruna destroys some of the Reginlaze by striking at their arms and cockpits. After destroying several Gjallarhorn Mobile Suits in the area, Haruna rescues Saburo's Graze. Both Mobile Suits escape from the scene and vanish into the jungle.
Richtoffen: I was just warming up.
Manfred: Damn, dude.
Julieta calls Manfred and Richtoffen on the intercom:
Julieta: Good work guys, return to the train.
Once back in the train car, Julieta and Manfred talk.
Julieta: Seems the black Reginlaze gave you trouble.
Manfred: Her reaction times were faster than usual. I need to improve my fighting style. But what I didn't want to happen still happened.
Julieta: You mean the ambush?
Manfred: Yes.
Julieta: Maybe they got lucky.
Manfred: I don't think so, the attack was big. The pirates knew we were headed for Harare. Only someone in an important position at Gjallarhorn knew about the convoy.
Julieta: You think a high-ranking official leaked the information?
Manfred: Yes.
Julieta: Well, the best we can do from now on is train. Starting when we reach Harare, you're going to train with me. You can't rely just on your implant. Plus the use of long-range weapons wouldn't hurt you.
Manfred smiles and says:
Manfred: That sounds like you want to spend time with me.
Julieta: Don't misinterpret my words, the safety of my men depends on how well each member of the team can fight. And you're part of the team.
The Gjallarhorn troops line up the surviving pirate pilots. And Cecil says to them:
Cecil: Okay gentlemen, I'll be direct with you. If you answer my questions, you'll live another day. If not, you'll end up with a bullet in the skull.
Pirate 1: Fuck you.
Cecil pulls out his gun and shoots him in the head. The body collapses like a sack of potatoes.
Cecil: Anyone else want to play at being a legend? Who were the pilots of the blue Graze and black Reginlaze?
Pirate 2 responds in a frightened tone:
Pirate 2: They were mercenaries, that's all I know. The bosses in Harare sent us with them to wipe out the convoy.
Cecil: Who provided you the contact for the mercenaries?
Pirate 2: We don't know, I swear.
Cecil points his gun at the pirate's forehead and asks:
Cecil: What were the mercenaries' names?
Pirate 2: I don't know.
Cecil: Don't make me do this.
A pirate says very listlessly:
Pirate 3: Their names were Saburo and Haruna.
Cecil goes to that pirate and asks him:
Cecil: Where were they headed?
Pirate 3: They're going to our base of operations in Harare. That's all I know.
Cecil points his gun at the pirate's forehead and says:
Cecil: If you want to get out of this alive, you'll have to be more specific.
Pirate 3: Our boss is hiding in Millennium Tower.
Cecil: Perfect, take them away guys and get rid of that body.
The Gjallarhorn soldiers take the prisoners away, and three soldiers dig a trench where they bury the body.
The train starts moving again and Julieta is in Manfred's car talking with him and Sephora.
Julieta: I noticed you didn't react to the summary execution of the prisoner.
Manfred: You want to write him an obituary?
Julieta: No, I'm just surprised you reacted with some disgust.
Manfred: People are born and die every day.
Julieta: But have you at least seen someone murdered before your own eyes?
Manfred: Yes I have.
Julieta: When did you witness it?
Manfred: Over a year ago.
Julieta: Who died?
Manfred: Someone very important to me.
Julieta: But who was it?
Manfred: That's a very personal question.
Julieta: Manfred, I want to understand you better, tell me who you saw die.
Sephora: He already told you it's a very personal question.
Manfred: And tell me, have you ever seen someone die?
Julieta gets a melancholic look.
Manfred: Yes or no?
Julieta: Yes, at the Battle of Chryse. A boy was piloting the Gundam Barbatos.
Manfred: Did you kill him?
Julieta: He died before I could, I saw him spend his last moments piloting
his Gundam.
Manfred: Why didn't you help him?
Julieta looks up.
Julieta: I don't know.
Illmari is listening to the conversation at the door of the train car and decides to enter.
Manfred: Illmari, how are you?
Illmari: I'm better, they were just superficial wounds.
Manfred: That's good.
Illmari: Tell me Julieta, did you think about what I told you the other day?
Julieta: Yes.
Illmari: And what do you think?
Julieta: I have to go, I think it's best to leave you alone.
Julieta leaves the train car and goes to Richtoffen.
Richtoffen: How did it go with Manfred?
Julieta: Fine.
Richtoffen: Manfred got you thinking, didn't he?
Julieta: Yes, he made me rethink many things.
Richtoffen: What else did you talk about?
Julieta: Once we get to Harare, I'm going to train him. I saw you had problems with the black Reginlaze.
Richtoffen: The black Reginlaze had superhuman reaction times.
Julieta: Richtoffen, what do you do when you regret something?
Richtoffen: I try not to make the same mistake again.
Julieta smiles slightly and says:
Julieta: I see, Richtoffen, could you please step out of the train car for a moment? I need to talk to Rustal.
Richtoffen: Okay.
Richtoffen leaves the car and Julieta calls Rustal.
Rustal: Juris, how is the convoy's progress?
Julieta: We were ambushed, we only lost two pilots. The enemy forces retreated.
Rustal: Why did they ambush you?
Julieta: We believe information about the convoy was given to the Kalk clan by someone who knew about the operation. We think it was a corrupt officer.
Rustal: Very well, what about Mr. Horikoshi? Were there advances in his cooperation?
Julieta: Truthfully, he became more cooperative after we attacked and dissolved the first pirate clan.
Rustal: Seems I'm hearing good news. Keep up the good work, Juris.
Juris: I will, sir.
The call ends. Meanwhile, Cecil is looking at Haruna's photo. He gets up from his desk and leaves his train car. He goes to the car where Manfred is. Manfred is sleeping with Sephora and Illmari. Cecil watches him sleep and decides to wake him up. He stands in front of him and says:
Cecil: Manfred, can we talk?
Manfred replies sleepily:
Manfred: I can't, tell you later.
Cecil: Manfred, this is urgent.
Cecil turns on a flashlight and points it at Manfred's face. Manfred frowns and opens his eyes. He wakes up and says:
Manfred: Cecil, is it even something important?
Cecil: Yes it is, it's about someone important to me.
Manfred: Someone important, you mean your wife and daughter?
Cecil: Come with me.
Manfred: Okay, but I need answers.
Manfred and Cecil go to his train car. Cecil checks there are no microphones in the car. After finishing inspecting the car, Cecil says:
Cecil: We're safe.
Manfred: Why the fuck are you paranoid?
Cecil: Manfred, I need to ask you a favor.
Manfred: Another favor? What's it about this time?
Cecil shows Manfred the photo of Haruna. Manfred grabs Haruna's photo and says:
Manfred: You want me to kill this girl or marry her? What do you want me to do with this girl, Cecil?
Cecil: I want you not to kill her.
Manfred: Cecil, if you want my help, I need you to be specific. Why don't you want me to kill someone I haven't seen and never will see in my life?
Cecil: Because she's like family to me.
Manfred: She's a lover or something?
Cecil: She's like a daughter to me.
Manfred: But you already have a daughter.
Cecil: That doesn't matter, anyway, you already met her. To be more precise, you met her today.
Manfred: I really don't understand you, Cecil. What's the chick's name, by the way?
Cecil: Her name is Haruna, she's the pilot of the black Reginlaze.
Manfred: I see, I'll see what I can do. What I don't get is why you care about a girl who isn't your daughter.
Cecil: When the time comes, I'll explain it to you.
Cecil shakes Manfred's hand and says:
Cecil: Thank you very much, Manfred.
Manfred: You're welcome, Cecil.
Manfred leaves Cecil's train car. And Cecil decides to light a cigarette. He smokes it, the cigarette finishes and Cecil crushes the butt in the ashtray.
Cecil: Don't worry Haruna, I'll get you out of this trouble.