Things have finally calmed down, giving White Base ample opportunity to drop off the evacuees. However, Bright points out that they can't drop the elderly civilians in Zeon territory. This doesn't bode well for most of the evacuees.
Meanwhile, Garma looks over the that data his forces has amassed about the Gundam. He is amazed of the mobile suit's capabilities and realized that it is superior to anything Zeon has come up with. Garma and Char plan to attack before Gundam can regroup.
As White Base recovers from the battle, Sayla, Ryu, and Hayato run into the bridge, shouting that the older evacuees have begun a standoff, and have taken some of the children hostage. Fraw has offered herself hostage so she could watch over the children. Unfortunately, Amuro can't focus on this, as he must implement their latest plan. He runs to the hangar and jumps into the Core Fighter, which he plans to fly over Zeon lines to Federation territory using added boost from White Base's catapults.
Garma and Char see White Base bringing up its bow to allow for the necessary trajectory, and Char realizes what they are trying to do. As Amuro launches, Char and Dren launch in the Komusai to intercept him.
White Base's crew tries to peacefully talk with the disgruntled evacuees. Mirai informs Bright that there is an emergency: All communications with the Core Fighter have been lost, and Char is a minute away from intercepting him.
On board the Core Fighter, Amuro has lost consciousness. White Base fires missiles to spook the Komusai away, but Char easily sees through the ruse, realizing that they are aimlessly firing them. Amuro finally regains consciousness just as Char begins firing on him. But Amuro realizes that it's the Komusai, which is designed as a re-entry capsule and not with air combat in mind. He easily outmaneuvers Char, and begins firing on him. Char dives out of range after some direct hits, but Dopp Fighters have made it to the scene. Amuro, who can't take them all on, is called back.
Bright punches Kai for making a remark that their plan didn't work and threatens to literally throw him out of the ship if he shows that attitude again. After Amuro returns, Zeon fighters make it in range of the ship's defenses. Amuro's Core Fighter is immediately transferred directly into Gundam, which Amuro must use in aerial battle. The Komusai drops Char's Zaku, and Char begins free-falling just as Gundam is. Just as the two battle, the evacuees storm the bridge and beg Bright to let them off of White Base. Bright refuses and causing the frustrated evacuees sit and refuse to move until they are freed.
Amuro takes a powerful hit, and is called back. White Base gives him sufficient missile coverage to escape, and Char touches down on ground, where Garma contacts him. They have discovered the fact that the mobile suit is divided in three parts, the center being a normal fighter, and take this to mean that Gundam is actually one choice amongst an array of different combinations for different situations. Char wonders how it could be possible to fight such a weapon.
Amuro walks on the bridge to find the evacuees sitting there. They tell everyone that they're not selfish, but just want to finally walk the earth once more. Bright wants them to wait until they make it to Federation territory, but the evacuees don't know if they'll make it that far alive, pleading for Bright to find a safe place and drop them off soon as possible. Amuro, listening to this, snaps, and shouts that he is fighting for them, and that they make him want to quit before Mirai takes him away.
