I am an Abriel.
An Abriel does not cry.
If I was not an Abriel...
I'm very sorry, Captain. I should have gone with him.
It is not your fault. It was his own decision.
But...
Do not worry. It is his own fault that he was caught.
And it is my fault for abandoning him.
Are you planning to abandon him?
Come back.
Captain, please, let me fulfill my duty.
I have no intention of taking my men with me. I will go alone.
I'm going to bet on the chance that they will avoid battle.
What they need is a motive. They bungled, and they know it.
But just because they bungled, they cannot bravely admit their mistake.
That's how people are, Captain.
If I go and become the motive, they will admit their mistake and return the boy.
Please let me take that chance!
Be quiet!
Do not say you will go without me.
I have said that you are not responsible.
Be quiet...
Samson Borgh Tiersal Tieruss!
Captain, the Merkutr is hailing us. It is Commander Gabourht.
Your Highness, I am aware of the current situation.
We can assemble a landing force with a maximum of 50 people.
Using a boat from our fleet, we land near an area where His Excellency is being held,
and rush the facility. I believe this is the best method.
How confident are you of success?
The probability of succeeding is around 8 to 21 percent.
If it fails, what will happen to the landing force?
All of them will be unable to return.
Put all of your effort into boarding the immigrants smoothly.
Is that your order?
That is correct.
Roger.
Who is the next feudal representative?
Oh, it is someone named Taumasauhu.
Contact him immediately.
We will have a simple recognition ceremony.
Right now, we are going to forget about him.
Can YOU forget him, Your Highness?
BATTLE FLAG OF THE STARS II
EPISODE 7: Garhars.
What have you done?!
I don't want to go to a hell.
You don't take Alkaik in the first place, right?
That would go against the teachings of God. Do you have a problem with that?
Then you have no reason to be attached to this planet.
Even if it's impossible to get on the current flight, you can move anywhere you want when there is another opportunity.
And you can have so many children that you'll have problems naming them all.
Ah, I didn't see that option.
Give me a break...
We can't forget the taste of Alkaik, so we are clinging to this damp planet.
I am an Abriel.
An Abriel does not cry.
If I was not an Abriel...
Very well.
Once I become the official Prime Minister, I will give you an immigration permit immediately.
So please, do not be stubborn, and return this young master.
No.
A man cannot take back something he has already said.
And there wouldn't be any planets that would accept me in the first place.
Even so, haven't you heard? The Abh have absolutely no intention of leaving the women.
What will come out of killing the young master?
It's probably not going to be very funny.
So, let's give up.
I will contact them saying that we've changed our minds. You don't mind, right?
No!
Why?!
You better not be thinking of really "rehearsing" before you go to Hell in the next world.
I sure don't want to.
There's no such thing as a Hell that God created.
But the Abh's Hell probably does exist.
It's understandable for them to make something like that.
No.
Ah, geez!
Anyway, I'm going to halt the battle.
Nothing's going to come out of this if we continue fighting.
I will not allow that, either.
Now that it has come to this, we will use force.
We have to cooperate, and prevent the women from being carried away.
I don't intend to use force!
If you want to do that, do it with just your group.
But watch your back.
Now I have a reason to make this coward a hostage.
If you stop the battle, I'll kill him.
And I shall spread the word that you killed him.
Then you can enjoy the imitation hell, Dokfu.
There's no reason for me to be held accountable for that false charge.
There are a lot of people who will testify the truth.
You will be the only one who goes to hell through the imitation hell.
That is, if it really exists.
I'll be waiting for you in the real hell.
While waiting to hear if the Abh will listen to you explanation or not.
That's not fair!
If you do not fear death, you can do it, too.
You're a... coward... too.
Angusson...
If you are truly brave...
Then you will accept the consequences of your actions.
Oh? I'm impressed with you, coward.
You talking like that to me.
But...
I hate impertinent guys way more than cowards.
I've had enough!
I'm not going to commit suicide because of your foolish stubbornness.
Hey! Let go of the young master!
How long are you guys going to stick with this guy?!
There's no going back now.
You're only a no-balls fool.
Ah, geez!
Supreme Commander...
All 21 ships of the 1st Hunter Fleet have passed through the Robnasr gate.
Distance to the enemy fleet is approximately 2100 cedlairh.
The enemy is heading straight for us...
...but it will take them about 24 hours to reach us.
And by that time, 11 more ships should be joining us.
You may have already figured this out,
but even if the enemy attacks us, do not strike back.
Yes, I know, Supreme Commander.
We will stay on the enemy's anticipated course until we make contact. Collect information as usual.
And when the battle begins, we shall run away.
Not "run away", we will "retreat" immediately. That is our fleet's mission.
It is amusing to poke fun of a slow snapping turtle.
I am glad. It seems she is enjoying this mission.
If Her Excellency is in a good mood, that means there are no problems occurring.
Fleet discovered.
I believe it is a friend.
Two Kutr-class ships, one Ses-class, and one Rogrh-class ship.
What are they doing?
They should have been given the order to retreat already.
Who is the captain?
Guessing from the fact that the fleet is mostly composed of transport ships,
I believe a Feudal Lord Proxy or a Magistrate is the one in charge.
So who is it?
The Feudal Lord Proxy is...
It is Her Highness, Viscountess Parhynr.
I think I have encountered that princess about ten times now.
And in one of those encounters, I should not have seen her.
This is the second time I should not have seen her...
It must be fate.
Cut it out. Contact Her Highness.
Deca-Commander Abriel, what are you trying to do? The enemy fleet is coming through this route.
They will arrive here for sure. Evacuate immediately.
Not yet, Grand Duchess.
"Not yet"?
Could you please explain why?
So, Deca-Commander Abriel, in other words, it is like this...
This surface world is filled with prisoners, and you must immigrate all those prisoners.
before the temporary retreat order.
And since you are kind, you are complying with their wish.
It is not only prisoners. The prison guards as well.
Even so, we are talking about the people on the surface world.
Are you not overly concerned about the surface world, Deca-Commander Abriel?
Perhaps.
But I have already made a promise.
I see. Promises are important.
But from the story you stated earlier, it is definite that the enemy will attack during the boarding process.
What are you going to do?
Until everyone boards, I request for you to maintain this territory.
The ones who she is expecting to maintain this place... could it be... us?
Do not say something so stupid.
If I do that, my ships will get damaged.
But if you do not, my vassals will die, Grand Duchess.
I do not think that will happen.
Because this territory was, until recently, owned by the United Mankind.
And the ones who are coming are from the United Mankind.
And please do not forget...
If I protect this territory, a number of my men will die.
In order to protect your vassals, ones who should pay for their crimes...
Is there a reason why I should devote the lives of my men for them?
I do not want to say this, but I will tell you the truth.
If we fight, we are going to lose.
Looking at the difference in power, we will definitely lose unless a miracle were to occur.
It would not be strange if we are annihilated.
Will you please provide us with a miracle, Deca-Commander Abriel?
No, I am not asking for you to win the battle.
I just need time.
That is a mean thing to say.
You want me to force my ships and men to enter a hopeless battle?
Unfortunately, I cannot order you to. I can only give you a recommendation.
Leave this territory immediately! Is that understood?
I will not leave. The vassals are afraid of being left behind, Grand Duchess.
I do not want to say this either, but...
I am also afraid.
That people will think Spoor Aronn Sekpatr Retpahnyr, Grand Duchess of Penaich, entered a meaningless battle only to get her men killed. That is a great disgrace.
It is not meaningless.
You say that it is not a meaningless battle because you need to keep a promise.
My promise is not involved in this.
Then what is?
The Empire's dignity.
I beg of you, as the Feudal Lord Proxy. Protect the Robnasr Earldom until everyone goes onboard.
You stubborn little girl...
Her Excellency is being very blunt.
I hope no one heard that.
May I ask one thing?
If we did not approach this territory, what did you intend to do?
You are moving on the route the enemy is on, correct?
If you, the Grand Duchess, did not come here, then the enemy fleet would not have passed through here, either.
Correct.
But what would you do if I refuse your request?
There is no other option except hide on the surface world.
Hide on the surface world? How?
We will evacuate the transportships and destroyer, which cannot land, to your fleet.
The assault transport ship would land on the surface world, and conceal itself under the ocean.
I would place as many personnel as possible in the assault transport, and I will also board it.
That is a dangerous gamble.
After they arrive, is there even a chance that they will not investigate the surface world?
If you get attacked, you would not have a chance in a Ses-class.
If we fight, being lucky or not will not matter.
Correct.
And this is truly an unlucky event.
Very well, Your Highness.
I will accept your request.
Please hold on, Supreme Commander!
You should understand the situation very well. Going into a meaningless battle...
Under one condition.
I will not show off and do something like defend this place until the very end.
I have no desire to protect this territory until the last ship in my fleet is destroyed.
We will retreat when it is relevant.
What I can only give Your Highness is a small amount of time. Is that okay?
That is more than enough, Grand Duchess.
I give you a million thanks. I would like for you to place my destroyer under your command.
I will have to refuse that, Your Highness. It will become a burden.
Do not worry about that, and please concentrate on your work.
Roger. Thank you.
Why did you comply to that reckless demand?
Who do you think I am? I am the paragon of the Feudal Lords!
Grand Duchess Retpahnyr.
I cannot refuse the request of a Feudal Lord.
Even if that one is just a proxy.
But it will trouble us if you do not conduct yourself like the 1st Fleet's Supreme Commander.
I am behaving like one.
Protecting the Empire's dignity is an important duty of the Star Forces as well.
Even so, there are limits.
You are endangering this fleet to soothe the persecution complex of a small amount of vassals.
I do not know if it is a persecution complex or not, but...
I do understand what you are trying to say.
It is really an effective harassment method.
So that request was meant to harass us?
I am sure she did not do it intentionally.
Perhaps.
It is an Abriel's instinct. They can see what sort of situation a Spoor would hate to be in, so she forced me into this situation.
It seems that a persecution complex is not just a privilege of vassals.
Oh, it seems we have completed the information link with the Basrogrh...
Supreme Commander, it seems the Deputy Feudal Lord Prioxy was captured in an uprising on the surface world.
Who is the Deputy Feudal Lord Proxy?
It is His Excellency, Earl Hyde.
Oh? How unfortunate.
Why did Her Highness not mention this?
Perhaps she felt it was something that did not merit mention...
So she did not tell us.
Will he return?
Yes, do not worry.
But with our fleet, we could organize a large scale landing force.
I believe we can assist in the rescue.
And thin our already small force? No.
I cannot allow my men to join an unfamiliar ground battle.
True.
If we think about the accommodations, it might be difficult.
Also, Earl Hyde is an Abh peerage.
How regrettable. We can only wish for his safety now.
I am disappointed, too. I only met him once, but I liked him.
Since he made an Abriel wear those clothes.
Although I do not feel like crying over him like Her Highness.
Crying?
An Abriel does not cry. Do you know why?
No.
The Emperor must be fair.
At least, that is what the Emperor must make the retainers think.
If the Emperor cries over someone, the Emperor must cry over each individual retainer.
But no one can do that.
You cannot shed tears for one that you have never met, one whose name you do not even know.
So an Abriel that may succeed as the Emperor will not cry for anyone.
I see.
The Emperor can send us to an dangerous place with a single finger.
And if one feels that the Emperor is biased, it would not be very pleasant.
That is correct. But we Spoor can see through all of it.
An Abriel does cry sometimes.
And Her Highness was crying like a young girl.
It did not seem that way to me.
There is no need to worry, Chief of Staff.
That is normal.
If I cannot see a young Abriel's tears, I do not have the right to the title of Grand Duchess Retpahnyr.
Commander, you are not thinking of endangering the lives of your soldiers over sympathy, are you?
Sympathy? To an Abriel? Me?!
If I hear that nonsense ayain,
I will feed your tongue to my cute birds.
Grab on!
Try your best. You do not want die here, right?
To the remaining people left. Please board a boat.
We can complete the preparations immediately.
No one can get on this ship anymore.
I repeat. We cannot lift off like this.
To the remaining people left. Please board a boat.
We can complete the preparations immediately.
-- Damn it. We can complete the preparations immediately.
-- Let's step back for now. We can complete the preparations immediately.
Sis, are we really going to be saved?
What are you babbling about at a time like this?
Listen, Angusson's group is going to get here soon.
If you want to become their toy, stay here.
Sis...
I don't want to. Listen, think with that empty head of yours. Will you choose those beasts or the Abh?
Farewell, Angusson, Dokfu!
All preparations complete. Please begin the accommodation process.
Borghses, once the surface stabilizes, you have permission to lift off.
We will have the Borghses head straight for the ROW camp mentioned in the latest report.
The Kutr-class transport ships are full, and no one can get on anymore.
Roger that.
Trekses, which is preparing for transfer in orbit, and this ship, the Dahkses, are in the same state.
We will have Borghses and Laohpokutr go through the Robnasr gate beforehand.
What about us?
Dahkses and Trekses will form a small fleet with the Basrogrh, and escape from this territory.
Roger that.
This is horrible.
Yes.
In order to get on a ship that travels from star-to-star,
they use a raft that can barely stay afloat.
But it seems we can significantly cut down on the time needed.
We might make it in time.
Can you hail the feudal representative?
Yes, please wait.
This is the Feudal Lord Proxy.
How is the surface world doing?
It has calmed down, compared to before... but we are still battling from time to time.
It is still unconfirmed, but there seems to be infighting occurring among the prisoners.
Only the men are left. Why do you not tell them that?
And tell them to return the port.
That is a good idea. Honestly, I do not expect it to have much of an effect, but I will do as you have instructed.
Also, do you have any, information concerning the whereabouts of the Deputy Proxy?
Unfortunately, no... If something comes up, I will notify you immediately.
Please do.
I asked something unnecessary.
And... um...
What is it?
If something happens to His Excellency...
Will there be some sort of punishment applied to us?
That will not happen. Since it is not your responsibility.
Thank you very much. Until next time.
I hope you are not thinking of something strange, Your Highness.
Something strange?
If you try leave this ship, Your Hughness, we will stop you, even it mean getting a little rough.
Do not be concerned about that. I am not that foolish.
I do not know where he is in the first place...
I am relieved.
Can you forget him, Your Highness?
That was the first time she called me "Your Highness".
I will be going now.
Jinto...
Are you alive?
Jinto...
The enemy shows no indication of commencing a defensive mine attack!
Chief of Staff, you know what to do, right?
The enemy fleet has begun advancing!
I like people who are punctual.
Inform all ships to prepare for a mine attack battle.
Send out a signal of defiance.
The enemy fleet is coming through the Robnasr Gate!
We didn't make it in time...
Jinto...
EPISODE 8: The Thing to Protect.