Gato flies back to the Garden of Thorns, a secret Zeon colony base in the Shoal Zone, to present the GP02 to Delaz. However, a chance encounter with Zeon commander Cima Garahau rankles him when their ships almost collide. Upon delivering the GP02, Delaz makes an Earth Sphere-wide declaration of war, explaining that the GP02 and its nuclear weapon is proof of the Earth Federation's military buildup. Meanwhile, aboard the Albion, Nina tries to get closer to a dense Kou when the alert sounds. Kou and the rest of the Albion's mobile suit pilots engage the Zeon intruders. However, Nina's warning about the GP-01's poor mobility in space without the so-called Full Vernian (Full Burnern) backpack proves true as Kou crashlands in the Albion under heavy damage.

The Albion arrives at Von Braun City on the Moon to have the GP01 upgraded to Full Vernian (Full Burnern) while the crew goes on shore leave. A snide comment from Monsha at a bar prompts Kou to wander around the city where he is beaten up by some thugs. A one-armed man named Kelley Layzner rescues him and brings him to a junkyard where he lives with his lover. Kou learns of Kelley's origins as a Zeon pilot and helps him fix a Val Walo mobile armor that has been hidden for years. He returns to the Albion and begins testing the Full Vernian-equipped GP01. Elsewhere in the city, Cima blackmails Anaheim boss Gilbert O'Sullivan with a colony drop if he talks to the Federation about her. She also tells Kelley to get the Val Walo ready for action.