As much as I like to move on to other topics, not a hell of a lot happened that was worth commenting on. Annoying kids signing *again* (children's choir is one of the most hated musical styles, I am no exception), Louise going Veda connection such a short part, A-LAWS are morons, and the coup was over and done with nothing to talk about until next time.

That leaves us to bullshit over technology and as flawed as it is, the continuity.

Quote Originally Posted by Buffalobiian
[I]Firstly, at what rate does the GN drive generate GN particles? At a higher, equal, or lower rate than usual consumption? If it's higher or equal to usual consumption, I failed to see why suits were forced into lowered-performance mode which greatly endangers the suit. It would be wise for the option to be available as to lower performance for faster recharge or simply not recharge to maintain normal performance.

If rate of particle generation is lower than rate of usage, then normally, Gundams would have an operational time limit which, if one exists, I'm not aware of. As seen from the fight with the PMC first season, you wear out the pilot, not the suit.

I can only really think of 1 counter argument for this, and it's that the lowered performance isn't simply because particles ran out, but also mechanical overheating etc.

regenerate -> self-regenerate -> self propagate -> particles must exist to do so.
Fact 1: There is no operational time limit on normal operation, or if it exists, it is over 24 or 36 or how ever many hours that desert battle was.
Fact 2: Trans-Am forces the solar furnaces into a low power mode.

From Eifman's discussion about topological defects, the solar furnaces (the true GN drives) in terms of cosmology are possibly recreating the strange forms of matter and phase transitions that existed immediately after the Big Bang. Why Jupiter makes this possible is probably totally made up. Or they're extradimensional doorways, who the hell cares.

Since they used to use the term "solar furnaces" as I am now, it is probably something akin to a fusion reactor. The only difference is, when you run Trans-Am, they become low output, like a white-dwarf instead of a regular star. Perhaps the GN particles are the byproduct, rather than the energy source. This would explain why the solar furnaces don't need to ever be refilled. Fake-GN drives run off GN particles, which is why they need to be refilled and why Nena's weapons caused the strange radiation that mutilated Louise. They mentioned that Gundams equipped with the solar furnaces don't cause the same effects.

Basically, my previous idea involved the concept that a certain level of GN particles must remain in the Drive for it to self-regenerate enough particles AND operate. Fake-GN drives would not have needed reserves, however much it would be, and hence could use to to safely land, escape etc. They didn't have to worry about self recharge, as they use external sources anyway. We've never seen real GN drives refilling each other, so given if they can't, self recharge would take highest priority, even over battle performance.
Here's where you are a little bit incorrect. In both this season and last season, the true solar furnaces are used to charge the Ptolemy. Every so often, a Gundam would have to go back up (usually Tieria volunteered because he hated Earth) and charge the batteries. Sumeragi mentions it multiple times in season 1. In season two, connecting the solar furnaces to the Ptolemy allows it to run it's own version of Trans-Am.

The solar furnaces are surely equipped for transfer between themselves or to other things, but as I speculated above, perhaps the GN particles are the byproduct rather than the power source.