MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM IRON-BLOODED ORPHANS-Episode 31: SILENT WAR

Episode 31 link here

GUNDAM IRON-BLOODED ORPHANS-Episode 31: SILENT WAR

 Summary of previous episode, Tekkadan is caught between a possible war between SAU and Arbrau due to political move by Rustel of Gjallahorn Seven Stars.

Balfourd Plain is where the forces of SAU and Arbrau has gathered, and a strange accident spark the war between the two forces. A SAU recognizance plane crashed due to radio interference from Mobile Suit Ahab reactors. SAU didn't expect war to escalate to the point Mobile Suit is being deployed.

SAU consist of inexperience defense force and Gjallahorn garrison, reinforced by troops of Outer Earth Orbit Regulatory Fleet.

Arbrau consist of inexperienced defense force and Tekkadan soldiers, plus Mr. Galan's Mobile Suit team. The war is one of attrition, small battles going on across the field for the past two weeks.

Tekkadan youths were forced to man Mobile Suit, with Takaki as the group leader. As many as 12 casualties suffered by Tekkadan youth soldiers.

Looks like he lost a tooth

Tekkadan youth soldiers fought furiously to avenge their member's death. McGillis is in a bind on this situation as he's on the SAU side. He was hoping to solve the battle early by overwhelming the Arbrau defense, but Arbrau's Tekkadan soldier fought on bravely and the battle got into stalemate.

Because Arbrau's Mr Makanai is still in coma, SAU's effort to settle the dispute through diplomatic means is shut down by unknown group. Gjallahorn in stationed in Arbrau is also unable to move. The war is going to a strange stalemate. The Arbrau's side employ excellent guerilla tactic and avoid large-scale battle, impressing McGillis. Arbrau's military leadership is using Tekkadan's youth soldiers like puppets. More Takkedan's youth soldier became victim when Arbrau's soldiers disobey retreat order and the youth soldiers got hit by enemy fire when covering for those soldiers. McGillis conclude that someone is using the unclear reason of the war to create a perfect stalemate.

Tekkadan youth soldiers of Earth branch mourn the death of their comrades. Mr. Galan come and pretend to give a good farewell speech for the deceased soldiers.

The best idol pretender goes to -

The youths are all tired and hungry from the long fight, and starting to lose their morale. Takaki came in and tell them to hang on, giving words from Mr. Galan and Mr. Radice which is full of holes. Aston help out Takaki by saying they should just eat and rest as much as possible to get the battle over with. Takaki then have a slow talk with Aston, and he too show his discontent of the battle.
There is a sudden order for deployment of Tekkadan soldier and the message carrier addressed Mr. Galan as a boss/captain, getting on Takaki's nerve.

The scene goes to Gjallahorn's main fleet and masked guy can be seen fine tuning his Gundam, while chatting with the busybody Julieta. The bearded "gentleman" is revealed to be Rustal's genius tactician that is trusted wholly. Rustal and Iok in their office berates McGillis. The battle between SAU and Arbrau has become the first battle between economic blocs after the Calamity Wars.

Takaki lead the battle, confused. Aston console him that the battle will see its end. Piloting Mobile Suit, Aston charge straight into a SAU blockade. Takaki commanded the Mobile Workers. Tekkadan still failed to get any contact on Earth. Orga place his confidence in the personnel he selected for Earth branch Akihiro trains his body and Lafter watch and comment about him. The new recruits on Isarigi, bound for Earth begin to feel bored with the long travel. The newbie with brown blond hair trained with Mobile Suit simulator and fine tuned the Mobile Suit he's piloting. He also trained his body, so Mikazuki told him to rest, which he don't get why. Then Tekkadan vice leader tell them to rest before war because there will be no rest when war starts, repeating their leader Orga.

Fuka visits the hospital to find Chad in treatment. The nurse saw Fuka and said Earth's treatment takes longer time but the wound is healed better. The nurse's answer seems weird. Fuka finds the situation difficult to comprehend.

The scene change to battlefield with Arbrau and SAU facing off in the forest, lead by Takaki. The Arbrau's Mobile Worker squad is ambushed by the Mobile Suit and Gundam unit of SAU. The Tekkadan members who heard of the news quickly get ready to back them up with Mobile Suit. However, before they can move, Mr Galan flew off in his Mobile Suit and got into the battlefield. He then proceed to pound the head of SAU's Gjallahorn Gundam in a close-combat battle with a two-pointed pile bunker. This garner great respect from Tekkadan members, especially Aston.

Mr Galan seduced the kids into serving him by saying that the war is ending and they would achieve it soon by sticking to his orders. Takaki starts questioning his purpose.

The scene shifts to Tekkadan members on Earth orbit civilian spaceport trying to get entry into Earth's atmostphere. They are denied access to Arbrau's entry from space.

Mr Galan made contact with Radice and discuss about the Tekkadan kids on orbit and on ground. He's especially focused on Aston.
The Tekkadan kids that survived the battle go to sleep that night, and Aston have a talk with Takaki. They discussed their worries with each other, and Aston state that their worries may stem out of their battle away from their boss for the first time. Aston agreed that he as human debris should only fight without regards to who give their orders, but Takaki got angry and reprimanded Aston. Takaki mentioned that they should fight for what they think is right, not following orders blindly. He believes that by following Mr Galan's order, they can win the war early and return back earlier so that there will be lesser casualties.

McGillis chose to pilot a higher-ranked Mobile Suit and go into the frontline himself to defeat the Arbrau's side. Mr Galan's recon squad caught wind of it and informed Mr Galan. He decide to pilot Geirail and his subordinates pilot Scharfrichters, and get the Tekkadan to become scapegoats in their battle by promising that this battle will be their last one. Episode end with the Mobile Suits mobilize for battle.

End of episode 31.

Thank you GundamInfo, Sunrise, and GunPla for the anime.