Episode
                  17: Betrayed By Home, Faraway 
                  Airing Date
                  2000-03-28
               
            The Space Colonies, although constantly mentioned and fought over, 
            have remained in the distance throughout the first sixteen episodes 
            of "Gundam Wing." Mostly this was due to the fact that 99% of the 
            action has taken place on Earth but you've got to admit, as a 
            political unit (or units) the Colonies haven't said or done much to 
            even come close to exerting the kind of political power that either 
            OZ or the Alliance has. Perhaps this is due to the fact that, as Duo 
            Maxwell says, people from space are kind of laid-back. Maybe it's 
            the lack of a gravitational force. Who knows? What's clear is that 
            while political maneuvers are an everyday event on terra firma, in 
            the vacuum of space the overall attitude is more lassez faire, if 
            you know what I mean. OZ, being the clever, sadistic military force 
            that they are, finally makes a move which takes advantage of the 
            Space Colonies naivete AND proves to drive a wedge between the 
            Colonies and their lone fighting force, the five Gundams. Pull up a 
            chair and we'll discuss. 
            Having already neutered the fighting power of the Gundams by 
            threatening to destroy the Colonies, OZ now sends in a softer, more 
            kinder Lady Une to pave the way for total acquiescence. Lady Une 
            skillfully paints the Gundams as fighting against the Colonies best 
            wishes and, within moments, has convinced the governing boards of 
            the five colonies that OZ is their true friend. Now some viewers 
            might find this hard to swallow but, believe it or not, I bought the 
            whole scenario hook, line and sinker. 
            Unfortunately, people are easily lead. Those in a position of power 
            (even if it's a hollow power) are often the most gullible. And don't 
            discount the allure of a pretty face. These young leaders don't 
            stand a chance against the attractive logic of Lady Une and they're 
            putty in her bloody hands. OZ instantly sends its newest weapon, 
            Mobile Dolls, into action to clear the space mines which were 
            originally intended to protect the five Colonies from the Alliance. 
            Smart, huh? 

                  The 50th Annual N'Sync Reunion Tour. 
            Meanwhile back on Earth, Quatre and Duo jointly realize that this is 
            their time for action. Hoping to send a signal to the other three 
            Gundam pilots, they attack an OZ base in Singapore. The plan works 
            and all five boys reunite. Quatre self-destructs his Sandrock to 
            hasten their escape to outer space. Strangely, his Gundam seems to 
            gain sentience when it allows Quatre to leave moments before it 
            explodes. I have no idea how this is possible. 
            Finally, the five scientists who created the Gundams are captured by 
            Lady Une and, in a dazzling display, cripple her OZ space force to 
            protect the returning Gundam pilots. It's a cool surprise and nice 
            to know that these geniuses weren't outfoxed by a foxy young 
            upstart. Now that the action's moved to space, things should get 
            interesting fast. We wonder how long it'll take Relena Peacecraft to 
            appear. Someone's got to remind Heero to take his daily vitamins, 
            right? 

            --Ross Brooks wonders what Trowa's hair will look like in zero 
            gravity.