Early 21st century. Robot technology undergoes massive development.
By mid-century, Japan leads the world
in robot knowledge and application.
From domestic uses to weaponry,
Japan dominates the world market.
As the technology is extended to the human body
the mood of the international community
turns againtst use of humanoids.
Just as with nuclear power and biotechnology before,
U.N regulations are proposed
to limit robot technology.
Japan fiercely resists this limitation
but the will of the U.N. is unshakeable.
Japan takes the extreme step of withdrawing from the U.N.
And begins a new policy of national isolation.
Japan uses it high technology to withdraw from world affairs.
10 years go by.
The resulting information blackout
turns Japan into a total enigma.
For an entire decade,
no foreigner penetrates the veil.
This is disrupting my entire holiday.
Now that your family has alredy left Washington for Denver.
Don't the Japanese
understand it's Christmas?
Dragging us miles out here...
At least the British, French and Russians are here, too.
"S.W.O.R.D."
The R.A.C.E.
Final stand-by. We go in on my mark.
Dumb gig. Dumb time of year.
Just some Christmas party, right...
Do the job quick
and you'll home for Mom's Turkey.
Each of the wolrd's nations has debated the issue of human evolution
and come to the exact same conclusion.
Thus we can say that this result
represents a true and just future for humanity.
If we at Daiwa Heavy Industries have your endorsement,
I'd appreciate a round of applause.
Didn't think so...
The primary target is Saito of Daiwa Heavy Industries.
We're working on a tip-off. It might be a trap.
Keep zour eyes open.
I said we didn't need 'em. Why so many robots?
No idea. Ask the chief...
They're the latest Daiwa models.
Latest or not,
I don't trust them.
S.W.O.R.D.?
Darn you, Maria...
Get out of my way!
Darn.
Dispose of all the bodies.
What the heck's going on?
What's SWORD doing here?
Answer me. Don't you know who I am?
For God's sake, I demand to know.
Leon!
"VEXILLE"
"SWORD HQ, Los Angeles"
It's a flagrant violation of international treaties.
Wich ones?
They ingnored just about every one.
Which part is metallic?
Well, it's bio-metal.
So this was his only robotic part?
I hope that's the case.
But during the raid we confirmed his bio-signature.
It might've been added later.
Is that even possible?
Not with our technology.
If Japan is manufacturing androids of this level...
It would pose a threat equal to nuclear power.
This mean Saito's an android?
In any case,
there's nothing comparable in the US, legit or otherwise.
It'll take forever to reverse-engineer.
This reminds me of San Pedro last month.
Zak...
Despite all the people living in this city.
We only talk to people with this badge or to our darn computers.
It's not the city's fault.
It's the age we live in.
Anything from Irene?
Not a word.
Sorry...
Hear anything about San Pedro from Leon?
Really...
Was the tip-off for this misson from San Pedro?
Correct.
Not that it's a secret any more.
"Port of San Pedro"
Why the need for us to guard this?
That's the latest Japanese weapon system.
But any enemy would have 'em, too.
The battlefield is Japan's showroom after all.
It's not right that everyone treats Japan special.
Some day, they'll get what they deserve.
Cease pursuit and withdraw.
You've got to be kidding.
I repeat, caese pursuit immediately.
This is our turf.
Zak!
Be careful.
SWORD...
December...23rd...Mt. Filar...
Beware...of a meeting.
Maria...
Leon trusted the fugitive completely.
I mean,
even now I can't belive it was an android.
Function-wise?
You couldn't tell it wasn't human.
Might it have been?
There was absolutely no bio-signature.
But those eyes...
Autospy results?
They sent the android back to Japan
after political pressure.
In the end...
they hardly laid a finger on it.
Really...
Maria...
Japan. Completely off our screens for an entire decade.
But we ignore its
recent suspicious activity at our peril.
We still don't know
the purpose of the meeting at Mt. Filar.
But a State Dept. Order says the politician we detained there
must be returned to his duties.
There's also strong pressure from Japan to return Saito's limb.
As for the results of the autospy,
it's composed of undetecable bio-metal.
Judging from bio-signature analysis,
we strongly suspect Saito is an android.
Android production is a grave violation of international treaties.
Nonetheless, the White House is urging caution.
Any action that
might harm good relations with Japan, is forbidden.
But Japan is up to something.
Henceforth we at SWORD will be on our own.
No matter what happens,
you can forget about goverment protection.
We are to face this threat to international society
and neutralize it by our own means.
Our mission this time:
to infiltrate Fortress Japan.
Japan has been veiled in mystery for 10 yers.
The time has come to unmask it.
These images are of Tokyo 10 yers ago.
As you know, no-one has been there since its seclusion.
Its most powerful corporation, Daiwa Heavy Industries,
has dominated the economy for the past yers of isolation.
Daiwa dictates Japan's politics and controls all aspects of life.
We also guess that it's behind the policy of national isolation.
Japan's high-tech seclusion is made possible
by an electro-magnetic network named R.A.C.E.
It relies on 270 sea-based antennas covering the entire archipelago.
As you know, it filters out all waves and light reaching Japan
and scrambles outbound signals
to create a total barrie to all transmissions
rendering even satellite surveillance worthless.
Your mission is to penetrate the electromagnetic field
then transmit a reverse beacon to unscramble the diffusion barrier.
If successful,
this will facilitate direct satellite surveillance.
The beacon transmission from Tokyo
must last at least 3 minutes for the satellite to align.
One problem is your entry route.
All waters and airspace
are guarded by a warning system on a technological par with R.A.C.E.
Not even a micro-recon craft, much less a person,
can get through.
After you send the beacon transmission
the infiltration team will press further into Japan
to gain as much information as possible about Daiwa Industries.
72 hours later you'll meet at a predetermined extraction point.
Commander Leon Fayden
has volunteered to lead this dangerous mission.
10 years ago he was dispatched to Japan
leading an anti-terrorist task unit helping Japanese security.
They suddenly shut the borders
but he was there until forcefully repatriated.
Why didn't you tell me?
I didn't want you to worry.
Not about volunteering...
the fact that you were in Japan.
I never had a chance to.
Is that the only reason?
Yes, it is.
Didn't want you involved...
Bring up the deck monitor!
This vessel is not damaged or under attack.
A nearby US cargo ship just exploded.
We are investigating the cause.
Just in case, let's go to emergency status.
Freight inspections all complete.
Safely past border security.
We'll lose radio contact shortly.
3 minutes to analysis completion.
Receiving beacon transmission.
Please guys, just 3 minutes...
Analysis is in progress...
1 minute passed.
2 minutes, 30 seconds passed.
10 seconds to completion.
9,8,7...
What is it?
Signal's lost, sir.
-Find out why. -Analysis not possible.
Scan again.
System alert...
Vexille, this way.
Zak!
In an entire decade,
you are our first foreign guests.
We've quite a welcome for you.
On my signal, rush for the water.
I won't go by myself.
You're the only one with a back-up transmitter.
We'll join you later.
Leon...
Don't worry, Miss.
I'm alone. Nothing to be afraid of.
Maria changed your clothes, not me.
Maria?
Don't go outside!
Leon...
Do exactly as I say.
Maria...
Don't you dare go out again They're still looking for you.
Sorry, Maria. It was my fault.
I never thought SWORD would turn up.
So much food...
What about my colleagues?
-Go cool this. -Sure.
What about Leon and the others?
What happened to Leon Fayden?
His whereabouts unknown.
We're still looking.
This is real.
It's really rare, y'know...
You slept for 2 days.
Get some food in you.
It was you who sent the messenger to America?
One more question.
Where are we?
Thie used to be known as Tokyo.
Tokyo...
Captain, a second transmission.
Are you certain?
Certain, sir. From the back-up transmitter.
It's still coming in.
We're counting on you this time...
Never used chopsticks before, Miss?
Tasty?
That's like magic.
Where did you hide it?
Saito's heading this way.
Most impressive...
On second thoughts, not. 5 guys for 1 girl?
That's kinda pathetic.
Where's the SWORD women?
Any chick would run
from a tacky tie like that.
The boss goes soft on you
but I don't have his problem.
I don't know what you're planning
but whatever you do it's just a matter of time.
I'll see you at headquarters.
He's right.
It's just a matter of time.
Daiwa's serious about finding you.
What is it?
This place is so full of life.
I've never seen anywhere like it.
It makes me nostalgic somehow...
Bad news.
Come here...
Get in there.
Analysis completion...
Captain, 3 minutes completed.
Okay, let's run the analysis.
Run the feeds from satellites JC17 & JD15.
Running analysis.
Analysis is in progress.
Nothing there...
No mountains...no rivers...
No human habitation...
What's going on in Tokyo? Get it up there.
That's all that's left of Tokyo?
Daiwa Heavy Industries...
We've got
Lt. Commander Vexille Serra's bio-signature in Tokyo.
Satellite JD14 is scanning for her now.
Any other survivors?
None confirmed.
Captain, look at this.
Put it up on screen.
The red dor is her.
She's being pursued?
JD14 is tracking her.
-Captain? -What is it?
The bio-signature map... it's unfiltered, sir.
Her bio-signature is the only one down there.
How can that be?
They aren't human?
Scan the entire country!
Maria.
What's this?
Let's wait to see if we're being followed.
They say everything outside the city's a wasteland.
Daiwa escaped to their island fortress.
Come here.
That's Daiwa out to sea.
It's their fault no people are left.
The Japanese race is extinct.
But you guys...
We're not human any more.
Not human...
Just fragments of humanity.
Fragments?
Fragments that will soon be gone.
You saw it, right? The final step between man and machine.
No red blood left in our veins.