Outlaw Star 1.04

When the Hot Ice Melts

Ice Hilda leads Gene, Jim, and Melfina into the asteroid. It is there that they finds the XGP15A-II, the ship that was made with "the pirates brains and the Space Forces technology". Hilda has the means to activate the ship. Melfina turns out to be the key to navigation. The pirates arrive before they have the ship ready to depart.

Hilda returns to the Horus to deal with the pirates. The others continue to get the XGP15A-II ready for departure with some help from the ship's primary computer, Gilliam II. The pirates want the ship and put up a fight. Things aren't looking good for the heroes. The fight gets interrupted by the MacDougall brothers. They are there to destroy the XGP15A-II and anyone who gets in their way. Gene recognizes the MacDougall ship as the one that attacked his family on the day his father was killed. 

The MacDougall brothers fire a heavy rocket at the asteroid which pushes it, the Horus, and the Pirates in toward Farfallas, the star they are orbiting. The Macdougall brothers leave, believing their work to be done. The XGP is the only ship that is capable of achieving escape velocity. Hilda tries to reach the XGP but she is stopped twice by the pirates who are trying to do the same.

The XGP escapes in the end. Hilda sacrifices herself while preventing the pirates from getting any closer to the XGP. Hilda and the pirates are destroyed. Gene decides to rename the XGP the Outlaw Star.

Thoughts

This is the ending of Act I. Hilda is gone. Gene, Jim, and Melfina are aboard the Outlaw Star. I don't recall very much about where the story goes from here. I do know that they will cross paths with Aisha Clanclan again. She will become part of the crew of the Outlaw Star. It is almost certain that the MacDoughall brothers will be back but I don't recall that part of the story. There is also one more character who is in the opening credits, a sword-wielding woman, who has yet to make her first appearance. 

This episode opens with the narrator talking about grappler arms that were mounted on space ships.

I'm still enjoying the re-watch. Its not quite as good as Cowboy Bebop but it is fun ride.