Quote:
Originally Posted by Vallen Chaos Valiant
Marina obtained two sources of help in recent episodes; UN aid in setting up receptors for space elevator energy, and military help from the Union. Unfortunately, neither aid was without cost.
The UN was only helping because of the as yet unknown motive of Celestial Being.
The Union was only helping because they want to catch a Gundam.
Ironically, had Graham not attacked Lockon, and instead chased after Ali with his other two squad members, Ali might have been captured, interrogated , and the civil war stopped. The ironic thing is, Graham can't actually allow Marina's nation to be overthrown on his watch either, as that would have political consequences.
Had Graham only focused on saving Marina's nation, many people's lives would have been spared and the war cut short. Had Graham only focused on capturing Lockon, having both his Wingmen by his side, he could have obtained a Gundam. But by trying to do BOTH, Graham failed to succeed in either.
(Not his fault though; He was given TWO primary objectives. That never works well. The Union should have told him which objective is more important, instead of telling him to do both in the same time.)
In politics, nothing is ever free. And the less you have to trade, the more you have to pay. |
You make a number of good points, but I might point a few counter-points, if you will.
1)Ali only fired once Lockon had already fired, and the GN particle effect was already in effect at that point. (Graham's electronics start fizzing out before Lockon fires, and Lockon only
stops distributing GN particles at the end of their match in order to put them into his weapons.) Regardless of whether Graham went or not, there would have at least been some jamming for Ali to flee in his Custom suit. Whether fighting Lockon made it worse or he would have caught Ali is arguable (as is whether Lockon wouldn't have been able to snipe Graham's wingmates before a one-on-one with Graham). My point? Dedicating one way or another wouldn't have been a guarantee.
Don't quite see how Graham could have prevented the Kurdish massacre, though. He went straight back to the capital as soon as he learned of the coup attempt in order to secure it, which was the Union's stated agreement. He was still patrolling the skies while Setsuna came to the Kurdish fight.
2.) I think it may have been applied that Graham's super-primary objective was to take the Gundam (and you have to admit, it was
right there), but that he felt obligated to protect the capital instead. My sub basically translates his standoff with Lockon into "I was
finally able to find a gundam. But regrettably, I am still a human being" and then he flies off and recalls his wingmen.
If that's accurate, it could imply that he did have orders to primarily get the Gundam, but his moral compass wouldn't (1) let the person who started the attack escape unpursued, and (2) let him violate the treaty agreement.
(Just so you know, I agree with what you were largely saying, but meh, I'm bored.)
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