When shu say "What Gai would do at time like this" what comes to my head was "What lellouch would do at time like this"
, I mean with that variant of void there would be vast possibility, and they are going to rebel anyway, I did see some similarities.
I see Yahiro will become a more like strategic guy for me, he create Void rank system which I realized, It's shown a the first OP.
As for President Council stuff, I think being the leader is not always must have a power or even have good strategy, but able to choose what best for his/her people, and I think Arisa has that parameter. So there is no point for Shu to be the leader now.
Overall interesting EP 8/10.