Original subtitles

Imperial Japanese Navy Operational Flagship Heavy Cruiser • Mogami

XO, I think I may have a plan.

We'll have the 2nd Squadron, currently standing by, enter Mano Bay,

in order to temporarily secure the escape route.

That would put the 2nd Squadron directly in the line of enemy fire.

It'd turn into a shootout.

Luckily, modern battleships are equipped with anti-Laser-Class systems and heavy-duty armor,

along with automated communication via data link.

They won't go down without a real fight.

If we don't do something,

the fleet moving in to retrieve Whiskey will be completely exposed.

If I'm right, this is a chance to kill two birds with one stone

by saving a lot of soldiers,

along with humanity's greatest hope, the 00-Unit.

Imperial Japanese Navy Combined Fleet 2nd Squadron Flagship • Shinano

And those are the details of the plan.

Abe-kun, you're free to raise some real hell.

Yes, sir! Consider it done!

Aboard • CIC Commanding Officer Abe Tomohiko

This is Kouzuki, with the UN Forces.

I consider it an honor to have been selected for this duty, ma'am.

You'll need to hold out for at least twenty minutes

in order to allow for the unit to withdraw.

I realize this is asking a lot, but...

XO, it's nothing of the sort.

The thought of getting to open up directly on these bastards

is a reward in and of itself.

They once said that aerial warfare had made vessels like this obsolete,

and now we'll be blasting away at the Laser-Class who made aircraft obsolete?

What could be better?

As soon as we've confirmed the unit is aboard,

Plan G will shift into Phase 3, so commence your withdrawal at that point.

Understood, ma'am.

One other thing, XO...

Yes?

Thank you so much.

As a Japanese citizen and a father,

I feel the need to offer you my gratitude.

When the new weapon opened fire, that was nothing less than the light of hope itself!

The Empire... no, humanity does have a future.

When I saw the hive collapsed and smoking, I felt sure of that for the first time.

I swear that we will ensure that the main computer is successfully retrieved!

Escape

Fall back to Old Minagawa. Where's our fire support?

Damn it, my ammo...

We can't keep falling back!

Where the hell is that artillery?!

Commander, I think we're...

23rd Armored Division has been wiped out.

Stop! Somebody help!

I'll kill the damn BETA myself!

We gotta go!

Sadogashima Mano Bay

20km Out from Mano Bay

Our Combined Fleet 2nd Squadron will now enter Mano Bay.

Our objective is to eradicate the BETA,

and support the Imperial and UN Forces in their withdrawal!

Now entering Mano Bay. All crew to battle stations.

I repeat, now entering Mano Bay...

Course is set for 0-4-5.

All ships advance at full speed! Prepare to attack!

I want B-Flight and C-Flight moving out in one minute.

Your job will be securing Shirogane's escape route to Mano Bay.

Roger that.

I want close to radio silence once you're in motion. Low-power comms only.

Roger.

Roger...

Sorry, guys. Go on ahead without me.

Don't be dumb! We're going to make sure you've got a way out, Takeru.

We'll make sure to clear a path!

Is the package you're carrying heavy?

You could say that.

Mitsurugi, you're watching Shirogane's back.

Make sure he gets where he's going.

Understood. Godspeed, everyone.

It's almost time...

B-Flight and C-Flight, prepare to move out!

Roger!

Maintain the defensive line through Old Kanemaru-Takeda-Miyakawa.

999th Penal Battalion

You can move, yes? Then get up.

And retreat!

I survived... again.

Valkyrie Mom to Valkyries. Plan G is now in Phase 2.

I repeat, we are moving into Phase 2.

B-Flight,

move out!

C-Flight, move out!

Our job is making sure Shirogane's unit has a path out of here!

I don't want a single BETA left alive!

Roger!

Shirogane, completing Phase 2 means you and the 00-Unit touching down on the Mogami.

Get it done.

Right. Take care of the Susano-O, ma'am.

I plan to keep trying for as long as I can.

It'd be a real shame to have to abandon this thing.

Kashiwagi, Mitsurugi, get ready to take off.

Roger!

You make sure to look after Shirogane, Mitsurugi.

Indeed. Please, be sure to protect the captain and the Susano-O.

Change of plans, Kashiwagi. I want you escorting Shirogane, too.

Hayase and the others ran into the enemy over by Old Kokubunji.

It's looking like there were a lot more of them underground than we anticipated.

I want you to go with them, just in case.

Captain, I think it'd be wiser to have at least one unit remain with the Susano-O.

On what grounds?

Two-person elements are the foundation of all TSF tactical organization.

Without at least a single escort, the Susano-O will not only be defenseless,

but should you need to escape, you'd be isolated, unable to form an element.

Sounds like all the more reason to have Kashiwagi watch Shirogane's back with you.

Recovering the main computer of the XG-70 aboard Shirogane's TSF

is the highest priority of Operation 21st.

Which means that, as much as possible,

he needs to avoid combat and prioritize getting out of here safely.

And that means it's up to you and Kashiwagi to form an element and do all the fighting.

Mitsurugi, for someone with the kind of resolve you have,

giving up your life to protect something might be simple.

But a defensive mission means that the safety of your target is the baseline for success.

You haven't done the job properly unless you also keep yourself alive.

Sacrificing yourself to save others is noble, don't get me wrong,

but it's the kind of trick you can only do once.

If you're gonna die, then you need to consider the timing,

and make sure that you do it when you're going to get the biggest return.

You're like a unsheathed sword, Mitsurugi.

You should learn from Kashiwagi's example and relax a little.

Uh, that's weird,

I always thought I took everything super-seriously?

You get what I'm saying?

Kashiwagi, Mitsurugi, you're escorting Shirogane.

Roger.

Valkyrie Mom to Valkyrie-11. Take off immediately.

Valkyrie-11, copy that.

Captain...

Godspeed.

We're gonna head out early, Captain.

We'll be waiting on the Mogami.

Just make sure you get there. Now, go!

Roger!

Lasers incoming!

Twenty-seventh armor plate is damaged. Put those fires out!

Auxiliary battery took a hit! But it can still fire!

Sixty percent of the starboard engine armor is at the danger threshold!

We're not through yet! Keep firing!

Get the fire extinguisher, now!

Get those fires out!

We've got a message from the Mogami!

The main computer has been recovered, and is en route!

Finally!

All right, let's pour every last thing we have into this fight, people!

Heavy metal cloud density is too high! Radar is down!

Use the data link for sighting! Have all our guns ready!

Fire!

Nineteen BETA have appeared at one o'clock!

Should we go around?

No time! We're going through them!

Roger.

This is Valkyrie-7. Bandits are in range. Engaging offensively.

This is HQ, copy that. Hit-and-run tactics only.

Outta the damn way!

Takeru-chan?

Sumika?!

Takeru, something's strange!

The BETA...

What is this?

The BETA... stopped?

What's going on?

Commander! The BETA have stopped moving.

Their attack has stopped, too!

What?!

XO, I've got access to the program.

Excellent work! How's it look?

I've managed to secure control authority.

Currently waiting for the autopilot and self-destruct programs to boot up.

It cut out again!

XO! A battalion-sized BETA herd has appeared in Area S!

They're headed... for where the XG-07 crashed!

XO! The BETA forces that were engaging the 2nd Squadron in Area SW...

They're moving south!

XO, the software has frozen and isn't responding.

What the hell is going on?

There are BETA in Area S that are headed your way!

We're out of time!

Cancel that attempt on the auto-pilot,

and focus on prepping to blow the Susano-O.

Roger!

The BETA in the vicinity of Mano Bay are heading south for some reason, too.

If that route gets cut off,

the only way out will be to try and fly straight to the mainland!

Shirogane, why aren't you going faster?!

More and more BETA keep appearing along the route!

There's been a sudden surge in BETA activity all across the island.

And the BETA near Mano Bay are moving southward.

You need to move fast before those Laser-Class pin you down!

Hang on... The enemies in Area S are headed for the Susano-O!

Isumi's moved onto prepping it for detonation.

But with numbers like these...

Laser Fire Warning

Laser-Class?!

Damn it! Too many of them!

The auto-evade's...

Cancel auto-evasion mode! Give me manual control!

Takeru! Don't over-extend!

I don't think we've got time to take it easy, you guys.

Kashiwagi... you...

You were hit?

Hey, don't worry about me! Besides, the 2nd Squadron's still under fire!

Hurry!

Kashiwagi, what're you doing?!

Her unit's damaged...

Shirogane, Mitsurugi...

Hate to do this, but you've gotta go on ahead.

What the hell are you saying? If you're that badly damaged—

Takeru, I'm heading back.

Focus on your escape.

No, Mitsurugi! You have to protect him!

Where the hell do you think you're going, damn it?!

I'm going to back the captain up.

What?!

Even if I went with you guys,

I wouldn't make it to the Mogami with my TSF in this shape.

Not with my propellant leaking. I'd just be in the way.

Kashiwagi, I'll carry you in my unit!

The mission takes priority, Mitsurugi!

I've got seniority, and that's an order!

Your job is protecting Shirogane, remember?

But...

You saw before, right?

How that hive crumbled when the Susano-O Mark II shot at it.

What the XO said

about the number of people dying in combat being cut down to less than 1/100th...

I think that, once the kinks get worked out of the Susano-O Mark II, she might be right.

And Shirogane's carrying its main computer. Humanity's best hope!

Our job is to get it safely out of this combat zone.

When rescuing someone who's in danger puts the mission as a whole at risk...

Then you leave them behind.

Am I right, Shirogane?

Kashiwagi!

If it's a success, though, and the Susano-O gets officially adopted...

Maybe my little brothers won't have to fight.

Meiya, we're maintaining our course.

If you go back for Kashiwagi, you won't be able to reach the Mogami, either.

Takeru...

That's our Shirogane! He gets it.

Kashiwagi... Please, look after the captain.

Got it!

Mitsurugi, you said yourself the captain should have backup. No more arguing.

Kashiwagi...

What's up?

You must return to us.

I still haven't learned how to relax from you in the way I need to.

Sure thing! I'll see you later.

I think I'm gonna need to learn from that resolve you have, Mitsurugi.

The BETA in Area SW are still headed southward.

Whiskey's collective losses are at 55%.

The 2nd Squadron are moving south along Mano Bay in order to prevent the BETA advance.

Echo's losses are at 65%. They can't hold out much longer!

Another 7,000 meters and the BETA in Area S will reach the A-02 crash site!

Isumi, the BETA are seven kilometers away from you.

You need to pick up the pace.

The self-destruct program won't boot up...

How's the squad doing?

Thanks to the 2nd Squadron's intervention,

Shirogane and the others should be able to make it out of the danger zone.

Then that's why they started heading south.

Kashiwagi's jump unit took a hit, though.

That girl... and right after I gave her some credit.

She's prepping your unit as we speak.

When it's time to clear out, it'll be the two of you in it.

Wait, she came back?

Wasn't that the plan all along?

Just hurry up with that detonation.

Roger that.

Ready to clear out when you are, Captain!

What the hell are you doing back here?! And why didn't you say something sooner?!

We're supposed to be on limited comms.

You're authorized for low-power transmissions!

I guess it slipped my mind?

I'm gonna rake you over the coals once we get back!

Looking forward to it, ma'am!

Damn it, Kashiwagi...

Maybe I'm just a poor judge of character.

Bastard!

Meiya!

You mustn't stop! Keep going!

Now, Miki-san!

Right! Firing!

What the—

Takeru, in front!

What took you guys so long? We were getting tired of waiting!

Lieutenant Hayase!

Tama!

Get a move on, Takeru!

Mikoto?

Your escape route's been secured.

Sakaki, Ayamine, lead the way!

Roger!

Chatting can wait.

Follow us!

Roger!

What happened to Kashiwagi?

She went back to support the captain.

The captain...

Usuki!

Her orders are to escort Shirogane.

Right.

Good! We'll wait for Miki to clear out, and then we'll be right behind her!

Roger!

Roger...

Don't think about conserving ammo! Fire everything we've got!

We'll be at the beach if we can clear this last stretch.

Just gotta maintain altitude.

This is Valkyrie-11. We're nearly at the coast.

Valkyrie Mom, copy that. Maintain trajectory...

What now?!

BETA have appeared on the southern tip of Mano Bay!

In the escape route!

These numbers... It's a brigade-sized herd!

Shirogane, stop, now!

But we're almost there!

A brigade-sized BETA herd is in your direct path!

All units, full deceleration!

Decelerate?

Get back, damn it!

Damage report!

Valkyrie-8 and Valkyrie-13 are hit!

It's light. We can still move.

I've got a code 991!

BETA confirmed in the vicinity of the XG-70!

It's a brigade... no, this may be a corps-sized herd!

This is madness... just how many BETA were there inside the Sadogashima Hive?!

A delay right before they were in the clear...

Valkyrie Mom to Valkyries! The BETA numbers are only increasing!

Damn it!

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.