Exosquad - Season 2 - Eps 11: The First Step
A replacement pilot, Yuri Stavrogan, preys on Kaz's hotshot tendencies, which results in his disobeying some of J.T.'s orders and causing tension between all three. The ExoFleet begins an assault on Mercury, and Yuri and Kaz make a point of trying to defeat Thrax, who is considered the best Neo pilot. The ExoFleet takes a Neo base on Mercury, but the Neo Commander Glycon launches a counterattack to draw in the ExoFleet e-frames so that Thrax and the Neo frames can attack the ExoFleet ships. The counterattack is foiled on the ground, but the Neo e-frames are able to attack the ExoFleet task force. Kaz, grounded by Marsh for disobeying orders, goes out to fight. He eventually finds himself in a dogfight with Thrax, and he loses when he gets blinded by the sun. Thinking that there has been enough destruction, Thrax chooses to spare his life.
About Exosquad

Title: Exosquad
First Air Date: 1993-09-18
Last Air Date: 1994-05-01
Status: Canceled
Rating: 5.9/10 (from 16 votes)
Language: EN
Seasons: 2
Total Episodes: 52
Network: Syndication
Genres: Animation, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure
Production Companies: Unknown
Synopsis
Sometime in the 22nd century, humans have fully terraformed and colonized Venus and Mars. The Neosapiens, an artificially engineered race created to be slaves for the Terrans, have turned against their masters and formed the Neosapien Order/Empire/Commonwealth. Under the rule of the calculating Governor General Phaeton, the Neosapiens have launched an invasion of Earth and Venus. The ExoFleet, the Homeworlds' space navy (in particular, Able Squad, a group of Exo-Frame pilots led by Lieutenant J.T. Marsh), fight against the invasion in an interplanetary war to protect the Terrans.
Cast

Robby Benson
Squad Leader Lt. J.T. Marsh / Jonas Simbacca (voice)

Michael Donovan
Wolf Bronski (voice)

Teryl Rothery
Lt. Maggie Weston (voice)

Lisa Ann Beley
Lt. Nara Burns (voice)

Michael Benyaer
Pilot 1C Kaz Takagi / Praetorius (voice)

Janyse Jaud
Sgt. Rita Torres (voice)

Garry Chalk
Marsala / Shiva / Charles McKenna (voice)

John Payne
Alec DeLeon / Sean Napier (voice)

Wally Marsh
Admiral Winfield (voice)

Richard Newman
Governor General Phaeton / Captain Marcus (voice)