spoiler
Haruka finds Imber’s file on herself with a lot of pictures and she doesn’t even think it’s a bit creepy. In fact, she’s charmed by it and even thanks him!
Joseph collapses and ends up in the hospital. When Haruka and Yukiho visit him, he tells them that he hopes things are going well back at command. But, when the cat’s away………. Anyway, Saku, as Vice Director, is in charge and I don’t think that’s going to be a good thing. But even with the Director out of commission, things really haven’t changed and the routine is normal.
The maintenance team is working on Imber but it looks as if someone has sabotaged the Maintenance Eye, for when they use it, Imber goes crazy. He activates on his own and because of his size and strength, the city is experiencing what is thought to be earthquakes. When command sees what is happening with Imber, Azusa looks at Saku, who only shrugs. I am thinking of him as well and wonder if he’s up to another of his tricks.
While Iori blames Haruka for perhaps messing up something with Imber, the maintenance team takes charge to discover what has happened and how to fix it. I think Ami would have been helpful, but she is currently being interviewed by Yayoi – in her penguin suit – for her radio show. And with each quake, Ami seems to have her hands full with a panicked Yayoi.
Imber is really out of control and the maintenance team can’t get anywhere near him. Iori decides to stop him with Nebula, but she forgot all about her broken arm, so that isn’t going to work. Imber begins to move on all fours and the maintenance team tries to tie him down. That doesn’t work but Imber does fall and stops moving for the moment. Azusa orders them to assess the damage and evacuate whatever staff is around the hangars that don’t need to be there. The cowardly Saku also leaves command under the premise of checking in with HQ, but they all know he’s running away.
If Imber starts to move again and manages to get to the surface in his current state, the damage would be extensive. They can only hope he remains idle and I wonder why someone doesn’t use this opportunity to remove the Eye. Azusa is still under the impression that Imber is acting on his own. Ritsuko comes up with an idea and it’s a funny one!
All the girls get to play dress up! First the maintenance team dresses up as sexy maids and asks “Master” Imber to behave himself. I’m not sure this is going to work but command announces that the “Maid Unit” has come into contact with Imber and they are now entering “Operation Persuasion”. If this was so serious, it would be comical. Especially when it’s noted that Imber’s “sensor” is reacting to the Maid Unit! But wait, there’s more!
The “Race Queen Unit” appears next, followed by the “Bunny Girl Unit” and I am suddenly having a fit of the giggles! A sexy nurse comes out and I am wondering where the cat girls are. Imber sure has a perverted nature! Next, it’s Haruka’s turn – as a sexy angel – but she’s just too embarrassed. Ritsuko tries to persuade her and explains that while Imber is distracted, her girls can get into his cockpit to remove the Eye. While Haruka still hesitates, Iori shows up in her roach costume, asking why she has to dress that way. As she argues with Ritsuko, Imber is watching and activates again. They think Iori annoyed him. I guess they should have made her a sexy bug!
Since Imber is on the move again, the team misses the change to gain access to the cockpit and the plan falls apart. The girls run from Imber, but Iori trips and falls. Haruka goes back for her, but Imber doesn’t recognize her and is about to squash them. Azusa arrives just in time to save them. Imber keeps moving, trying to make his way out of the hangar. He smashes through the first partition and will soon reach the catapult to the surface.
There’s no time to evacuate the civilians above and just then that slimy Saku returns and says that they have to destroy Imber! HQ has given Saku Imber’s self-destruct code. Saku tells them that destroying Imber won’t affect the core and the higher ups are satisfied with that fact, but no one else in the room is. Saku is about to enter the code when Ritsuko stops him by saying that if they can do something about the Eye, Imber will stop moving on his own. However, at that same moment, Imber breaks through the next partition. Saku says that they are out of time and enters the code.
Haruka yells for him to stop, but he ignores her and begins to activate the self-destruct. Before he can complete it, Saku is knocked to the floor by Joseph coming up out of a trap door. Everyone, except perhaps Saku, is so happy to see him! He compliments the girls on their cute outfits and says that there is no need to make Imber self-destruct. They can destroy the base instead! Of course everyone gasps!
Preparations are made and as Imber breaks through another partition, as explosion is set off. The people above ground feel another earthquake as Imber plunges to a lower level where Nebula is waiting for him. And here I thought Iori couldn’t do anything with her broken arm. While Nebula grabs Imber, a girl swings down on a rope and manages to open Imber’s hatch. Ritsuko orders the ultrasonic breaker readied and Nebula maneuvers Imber into position until they finally have a clear shot. The Eye is destroyed and Imber shuts down. Success! But with that, any evidence they might have had is gone.
Once again, slimy Saku exits command with only Azusa noticing. Iori did her job a little too well and re-broke her broken arm. Later, the command team praises the chief for his excellent solution to the Imber problem. He tells them that he had collapsed due to a gallstone and that is how he had come up with the ultrasonic waves idea to remove the Eye. So, in the end Saku had apparently nothing to do with this incident, but now they know they have a spy on their hands, unless of course Saku is lying.
Haruka is in Imber’s cockpit and inserts her key. It seems all the files from Imber’s incident are gone and they aren’t sure how. But Haruka sees another of Imber’s files and opens it to find a video of Chihaya from her days as Imber’s pilot. Haruka wonders why he’s kept it all this time. Haruka seems a little sad and a little hurt, and perhaps even a little jealous. She removes her key, but the maintenance crew hasn’t finished running their tests yet and Ritsuko asks Haruka if something happened. But Haruka just bites her key.
