Treize Khushrenada, who's been living in the shadows, finally steps onto center stage. After a series of brilliant maneuvers, he's able to put an end to talks of disarmament and peace talks with the Space Colonies and focus on what he considers to be the correct destiny for all of Earth -- all-out war with the inhabitants of space. Even more impressive, he's able to manipulate the Gundam Boys so that they do the dirty work for him. Lemme 'splain.

After members of the Alliance discuss the possibility of contacting the Space Colonies with peaceful intentions, the Gundams are lured to attack the meeting. Since Treize leaked the information about the meeting to the Gundams, he's ready to step up and make the Alliance leaders an irresistible offer -- a safe escape in his private shuttle. Every general in the upper levels of the Alliance, who also happen to be pacifists, board the shuttle. Treize keeps one man, General Septem, off the shuttle and has him board another shuttle with Treize and super assassin (and major babe) Lady Une. Heero Yuy destroys the first shuttle, killing the entirety of Treize's political opposition. Then he has Gen. Septem release a statement that the Space Colonies have willfully attacked and killed the leadership of the Alliance. Lady Une tosses the general out of the plane and THEN shoots him. Mama Mia, this is one tough chick!

The end result of all this tumult, is, of course, Treize's guaranteed rise to the top of the newly out-of-the-closet OZ military force. No longer a cover for OZ and its secret plans, the Specials can be dissolved and melted into OZ, which in effect now rules the Earth. Smart man.

Oops, sorry. My bad.

The Gundam Boys, meanwhile, meet for the first time but it's not a date they'll celebrate in the future. Wufei arrives as the other four dudes have laid waste to the Alliance. He tells them that they've been pawns in Treize's elaborate game. Distraught, they realize that they've just lost the best chance for peace they could have hoped for. Their terrorists attacks had worked but now that door is permanently closed. A brutal war lays ahead, exactly what Mr. Khushrenada wanted. And don't forget about Zechs, who reveals himself to be a Borg by telling his enemy that "resistance is futile." I knew I didn't like that guy.

--Ross Brooks, who fantasizes about a catfight between Lady Une and Lucrezia Noin. Meow.

Past Gundam Wing Reviews

49: Final Victors
48: Take Off Into Confusion
47: Collision in Space
46: Milliardo's Decision
45: Signs of the Final Battle
44: Go Forth, Gundam Team
43: Target: Earth
42: Battleship Libra
41: Crossfire at Barge
40: A New Leader
39: Trowa Returns to the Battlefield
38: Relena Becomes Queen
37: Zero vs. Epyon
36: The Collapse of the Sanc Kingdom

6: Party Night
5: Relena's Secret
4: The Victorian Nightmare
3: Five Gundams Confirmed
2: Deathscythe
1: The Shooting Star She Saw

Gundam Wing, The Lonely Battlefield - anime - 6.28.

Talking Star Trek - tv - 6.28.

Hitchhiker's Guide to the Movies - movies - 6.28.

The Week in Comics - comics - 6.28.