Shin...
Are you flying even now
in that sad blue sky?
Wings of the Desert
heading 2 o'clock from southern division point 3B.
Formation of anti-government forces moving northward.
This is Shin Kazama, zero-zero section.
Repeat, this is Shin Kazama, zero-zero section.
There are four of them.
Wait for backup.
These are my prey. Nobody touches them.
That's the first one.
Area 88 Double-Echo,
this is Shin Kazama of zero-zero section.
I shot down three. The remaining one broke away.
All together that's $60,000.
Over and out. Returning to base.
Is there really a Japanese person here?
Shinjou!
So that's Area 88...
This is a no-photography zone!
For one bill, you can take one shot.
You're another one with oddball interests, huh?
Wanting to go all the way to the ends of the earth.
I go to photograph things that only exist at the ends of the earth.
What's that you say? Double-Echo, what does that mean?
Wild, as always.
Get me down there fast!
Clear out!
Don't show off! Hurry up and fly!
We're stuck behind you!
Hey you! My luggage!
They left.
Hey!
Only the blazing sun and the dry desert wind to greet me, huh?
No, that's wrong.
If you change this, it'll work better.
Hey!
Water...
Got any water?
Water...
Saved my life!
They said somebody from the media was coming sometime soon.
That you?
I guess so.
Kim, show him to headquarters, okay?
I don't want to! Why do I have to take him?
Because I'll discount the labor for this installation.
Guess I've got no choice.
Thanks, old man!
Who's that old guy?
Old McCoy?
He's an all-purpose merchant.
He'll get you anything from tissues to fighter planes.
That is, assuming you've got money.
Seems awfully kind then, considering.
Telling me to show you to headquarters?
Probably an investment for the future. The market here is tapering off.
As for your room, I'll have someone show you to it later.
I'm Saki Vashtar, the base commander.
S.O. News special correspondent Makoto Shinjou, it's a pleasure.
Nice camera. A Nikon? Could you show it to me for a second?
Sure...
Look at that, it sure is heavy.
What are you doing?!
We'll destroy this film you took without permission.
That's a harsh thing to do.
If you can't obey the rules here, you'll be leaving.
Cut me some slack. I saved up a lot of money just to come here.
I'm saying it for your sake.
This is a hot combat zone with a personnel loss rate of over twenty percent.
So that's what's tapering off.
Besides, the military's PR division chose on their own to give you clearance.
It wasn't my decision.
Since I'm already unpopular, I'll ask this too.
There's a Japanese pilot here, right?
I don't need to answer that.
They're back!
Thanks for the permission!
Leave my things here for me! Thanks a bunch!
What, he thinks I'm just gonna hand this over?
Welcome back, Shin.
Briefing after dinner.
They said everyone's to attend.
$60,000, Shin! Amazing!
Buy us a drink once in a while!
You're Shin Kazama, aren't you?
I finally get to meet you.
I heard rumors about you.
That a single Japanese person is in the Kingdom of Aslan's hot combat zone.
Battlefield photographer, huh?
Makoto Shinjou, it's a pleasure.
Hey, we're both Japanese, so let's be pals.
Why'd you come all the way out to a place like this?
I came to take a picture that only I can take.
Take good pictures then,
on the battlefield where we risk our lives.
Shin Kazama!
What are you, a Japanese person, risking your life for?
Our names are written with the same character. Mine is Makoto and yours is Shin.
Seems just a difference in pronunciation makes a person walk a very different path in life.
I won't get bored here.
Give me a lift too!
Ow, ow, ow...
Crawling with tanks.
They're jumpin' at the bait out there. Time to make some money!
I'm goin' out once more!
Old McCoy!
Yeah? Old McCoy!
Yeah?
Got any alcohol?
Sure do.
I have brandy or industrial-use.
You know the answer!
Brandy!
That stings!
I had shards dancin' around in my helmet!
Greg! You're good to go!
Right! I'm gone!
He's going already?
They make money when they can.
This is routine for them.
Look, the next ones are coming.
Don't get shot down!
Be sure you come back!
He's gonna take off like that?
That's insane!
Oh no!
Call the emergency squad!
Move, move! You're in the way!
I hate hyena bastards like you!
Is it fun watching from the side when people risk their lives doing something?
It is fun.
What'd you say?
People's life and death being at stake
is exactly what makes the pictures good, isn't it?
If you're not careful, you're not gonna live long.
I can't die until I get a shot of his dead face.
You're gonna get run over and killed first.
Shin Kazama!
What are you, a Japanese person, risking your life for?
For what...
Ryoko...
I will get back to Japan.
They're here.
Mercenaries,
I'll explain the details of tonight's operation.
The target of the assault is southern division point 2C.
The surface-to-air missile base.
The hedgehog from Hell?!
The Kingdom of Aslan air force
will commence an operation tomorrow afternoon.
In order to keep their casualties to a minimum,
it's necessary to hit this base.
You'll depart three hours from now.
You're telling us to fly right into the devil's mouth?
Even just sneaking past the vicinity,
missiles come down like rain!
Saki, I'm out.
Hey.
Refusing an order costs $5,000.
$5,000 is cheap if it can buy my life.
I'm out too.
Anybody else?
The repairs on my Harrier...
I'll allow no exceptions.
You pay $5,000.
That's...
It's your bedtime, little boy!
Drink your mama's breast milk!
That will be all.
Shin, why didn't you go on this assault?
You want to save up the $1.5 million quickly, right?
Sure, the missile base is scary,
but with your skills you could make any amount of money!
Bang! You're dead.
Being here, it looks like I'll be able to take it right away,
the one you're hoping for.
There are lots of other subjects here too though.
Seven enemy aircraft approaching.
Send Shin and Mickey up!
Yes, Sir.
Shin, you understood, right?
A base emptied of most of its aircraft is attractive bait.
There's always some prey that comes for that bait.
Plus, it's worth more than fixed targets like missile launchers.
Shin, I sided with the right guy!
Shin, Mickey,
the enemy is five minutes away and headed toward us.
Don't let them drop their bombs.
We're askin' for a special bonus!
Mickey, we'll hit the enemy before they roll in.
Okay!
Three minutes till the MiGs reach the Area.
You'll encounter them shortly.
Yahoo!
They're coming!
I'll get the lead MiG.
Then I'll take the noisiest one.
Mickey, I'll follow the two headed for the base.
I'll come right away when I finish here.
Two MiGs have begun climbing.
Reaching bombing altitude.
Anti-aircraft guns, cease fire!
Shin!
Wait till he passes over and take the next opportunity.
Damn!
This is Shin. I took down the last one!
They did it!
Good.
Hey!
I heard from Shin.
You've got real guts.
So that's your job?
Yeah...
If your firing button were a camera shutter,
you'd be certain to get a Pulitzer Prize.
If your camera shutter were an autocannon firing button,
I might have been shot down.
Seems just a difference in pronunciation
makes a person walk a very different path in life.
This was a tiring day!
A scorching sun, a dry wind.
The shapes of numerous planes taking off from a runway where dust swirls.
But only one damaged pair of white wings returns.
His name is Boris.
People call him the Angel of Death.
Nobody knows the feelings that pass through his heart.
This is Area 88.
The desert sun and winds guide lonely souls here.
The Setting Sun as Grave Marker
Burned through by the sun
I look at stars in the lonely night sky
The faintly-heard melody
I'm so nostalgic for it that I can't remember it
The warmth I turned my back on
Dance in the battlefield
I shut my eyes
Play in a brief moment's dream
Gentleness isn't needed here
The moon illuminates the darkness