By After the battle, Eiji asks Rohan and David if they’re ok. Elizabeth cautions David not to overdo things since he’s new to piloting. Rohan’s hands stop shaking, and when Arthur jokes about him being scared, David gets upset. Elizabeth asks Eiji why the Gradosians retreated, but he doesn’t know. Anna runs outside and calls Elizabeth and Eiji to come in. Simone reports that she heard a message from someone trying to call the American base. With the jamming gone, Eiji concludes that the Grados flagship might have already left to attack Earth. On the shuttle, Gale’s men scan the incoming Earth ship and conclude it can enter Mars’ atmosphere. Karla calls the shuttle, and Gale instructs her to conduct reconnaissance. Arthur adjusts the radio and receives an incoming message from the American spaceship Astrohawk II. Lt. Roger answers and starts hitting on Elizabeth, which she doesn’t find amusing at all. Lt. Cmdr. Danny Carks takes over and asks why there’s no response from either the American or Soviet bases. Elizabeth explains that both bases were nuked as a result of extraterrestrial interference. Eiji tells Elizabeth to warn the Americans because the Gradosians probably stopped the attack to investigate the Earth ship. Elizabeth relays the warning, but Danny dismisses it and asks her to go on with her report. She explains that only a few students from the Cosmic Culture Club are left, plus Eiji. Arthur is excited about going home, and David notices that Eiji is gone. Eiji gets into Layzner and takes off. In space, Karla’s Dimarges and Dtols pick up the Astrohawk II on radar. The ship’s crew dismisses Elizabeth’s story, but Danny decides to go down in a space shuttle and investigate the disaster himself. Arthur notices that David and Rohan are gone and worries about them being confused as enemies with their SPTs. Elizabeth asks Roger to send a message to Earth about the Gradosians heading there to attack, but he ignores her. Danny takes off in a space shuttle and picks up the enemy SPTs. Eiji reaches space and asks Elizabeth to warn the Americans about the incoming Gradosians. Arthur thinks it’ll be ok since they’re professional soldiers, but Simone notes the soldiers on Mars stood no chance against the Gradosians. Karla orders Dtol pilots Ash and Derro to break off for the space shuttle while the remaining units surround the ship from all angles to get data. The Baybull and Buldy reach space, while the Dtols buzz the space shuttle. Layzner arrives and opens fire on the Dtols.
The Dtols return fire, and one of them lands on the space shuttle to fire from. David and Rohan arrive as backup, and Derro tells Ash they should rejoin their main group. Danny calls the ship and orders his men to stay alert. The crew debate whether they should fire on Karla’s group, which is standing still. Dtol pilot Dal wants to take care of the ship, but Karla reminds him that their mission is data gathering. Dal violates orders and grazes the Astrohawk II, which fires missiles and weak lasers in response. Karla orders Dal to fall back, but he ignores her and takes a missile to the cockpit after Eiji speeds by him. Gale calls Karla and orders her to retreat, which she does begrudgingly. Eiji tells David and Rohan not to go out too far, and he comes under fire from the ship. The three try to explain that they’re allies, but Eiji decides it’s better to just fall back. Roger calls Danny, who reports that only a crater remains of the American base. Danny lands the space shuttle outside the observation base and tells Elizabeth that he can’t believe what he’s seen. Elizabeth explains that Eiji is on their side and fought to defend them. After the others return, Danny pulls a gun on Eiji to take him prisoner. He says that an American fleet is on its way to investigate. Danny wants help binding Eiji with tape, but everyone refuses to do so. Danny threatens to shoot Eiji, and Eiji asks if all Earth people are savage like him and solve problems with violence. Danny slaps Eiji and knocks him down, blaming him for the attacks. David and the others stand between Eiji and Danny, and David proclaims that Eiji is their comrade. Danny thinks they’re all crazy and reluctantly agrees to a truce. Danny wants everyone to join him on the space shuttle, but Eiji thinks that’s dangerous. Danny boasts that they destroyed a Dtol, but Eiji explains that the Gradosians were just gathering data and will attack with full force next time. Danny presses them to come with him, but Eiji insists that it’s too dangerous. Arthur pleads with everyone to get on the shuttle, but they all decide to stay behind. Arthur falls to his knees and cries about the shuttle leaving. Danny takes off and wonders what’s wrong with everyone.
Everyone’s hopes are understandably raised by the arrival of the American ship Astrohawk II, but it’s too early to celebrate. The ship’s crew is arrogant and dismissive of the Gradosian threats, and these fools have no idea what they’re in for. Yeah, they manage to get a lucky shot that destroys a Dtol, but their weapons are otherwise completely useless against an SPT. Danny just charges into the situation and tries to arrest Eiji without even understanding what’s going on. You could say it’s a cliche depiction of an American soldier, but there’s truth that rings to it. What’s most surprising is that David is the first one to stand with Eiji and defend him, saying that he’s their comrade. If this same situation had happened a few episodes ago, he would’ve happily been on Danny’s side. Instead, everyone agrees with Eiji, although Arthur is left whining about wanting to go home. The hope of rescue will be dashed pretty soon once the Gradosians return to attack in force.
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