Because evil exists, no living thing can ever be made pure.
And so, my son, even you must be prepared...
Stop!
Calm down, dammit! You little...!
Yes, that's perfect.
Okay, let's have you lean to the left this time.
Smile now... A little more...
That's it!
That's the way, nice and cheerful. A real hero for all the kiddies.
Shirotsugh! Shirotsugh! Shirotsugh!
You're kidding!
To everyone in the kingdom, good morning!
I'm coming to you from the Space Force headquarters in Naghatsumih.
An area which has known its share of history.
This port city is famous for being the core city for Umon.
It was here that his Highness the King lived as a child...
...and this neighborhood is famous for its ties to the royal family.
The Space Force headquarters are...
Welcome back, General. When did you get in?
Last night's train.
I see. And the administration's decision?
No comment!
You call it a space "warship." Will it actually carry weaponry?
No comment! I can only say that...
...it will be capable of carrying such devices.
Can't you look happier? Like a professional astronaut?
Lt. Colonel! Lt. Colonel!
He's been promoted. It's colonel, now.
Colonel then. Smile a bit...smile...
Got it. Thank you.
We're about ready to go.
Cheer up. See you.
Now Colonel, be sure to stress your purpose as a space hero.
Purpose?
Well, you know. The whole meaning of the space program.
Why so many people have died for it so far...
...and why we have to go on despite all that.
Just think of something, okay?
Look over here, Mr. Hero. Hey, you!
Have you heard?
They say 30,000 people could have a warm place to live in...
...if the Space Force's budget were cut by half.
Well now, any thoughts on the arms race?
How about on war?
You deny the corruption problems within the Miguren corporation?
You don't know anything, do you?
Uh, we're about to start! Hey!
Vice-Minister Nerredon of the Republic today harshly criticized...
...the space warship program of the kingdom of Honneamise...
...calling the entire proJect "a threat to world peace. "
Ah, good work this morning.
The new photographs have arrived, sir.
The space hero?
He must be broiling in that outfit.
It's almost winter there. The northern hemisphere's seasons are reversed.
Ah, I see...
Lt. Colonel Lhadatt Shirotsugh.
Doesn't look too bright.
Weapons division is urging we seize the spaceship.
An absurd request. Incompetents...
They'll have to wait.
Stealing a distant nation's rocket...
It isn't that simple.
These things take time to set up.
The Office of Security is taking steps to obstruct their progress.
Assasination... not terribly subtle, is it?
But terribly effective, sir.
"Sin is everywhere."
God said this, looking down at the world.
The sins of man will immerse the world. We...
Shirotsugh!
Bring in the wash before it gets dark.
Okay? I'll see you later.
Nice outfit. Somebody buy it for you?
Where's the toilet?
Manna, bring us some towels, would you?
Thank you.
Thanks.
Manna, did you bring the wash in like I asked you to?
No one came while I was out, did they?
Oh, and if you see Uncle Dori...
...be sure and thank him for the winter clothes.
Even besides that, he's done so much for us already.
"You cannot live without your daily bread."
"Truth changes to lies when it leaves your lips."
"Virtue changes to evil when it leaves your hands."
"What you see as good may not be good as God sees it."
"What can any of you do but pray?"
" Prayer is a small thing, but it is everything."
"There is nothing more noble than prayer."
"There is nothing more humble..."
Oh, good morning, Shirotsugh.
It looks like nice weather today.
About last night...
Forgive me. I couldn't... I was... Please forgive me.
You didn't do anything.
Because I couldn't!
Forgive me. I don't know what came over me.
Hitting a wonderful person like you...
I didn't mean to. You aren't hurt, are you?
What? NO! That's not...
No, I know you'll forgive me...
...but I'll never be able to forgive myself.
Believe me, I'm sorry.
Hey, isn't that Shirotsugh over there?
That idiot. And wearing the peacock suit, too!
Yo!
Hi!
Ohh...you idiot! Why'd you have to wear that thing?
Don't you know you're a celebrity around here?
Dress uniform's the thing to wear for sending you off to your posts.
So where'd you disappear to for three whole days?
Were you with a girl or something?
Well...
Why, you little...!
Tchallichammi! Majaho!
You are hereby dispatched to the Guria Observatory.
Move out!
Salute!
Drop us a line when you get into space. We'll be easy to find.
And don't make any more work for us.
At ease!
It's gonna be lonely around here with all you guys leaving.
Well, Darigan's in charge of launch control training.
He and I'll be leaving for the launch site the day after tomorrow.
Nekkerout might still be around.
Hell, Kharock's already gone to the launch site with the old men.
You got some mail. Think you'll ever get a chance to read it?
Dunno. Ol' Baldy just won't give me a break.
Looks like I keep training right up 'til the end.
- How much? - Three gaku.
Say, Matti... Suppose that life was a story.
Come again?
No, if you were to think about it like that.
Well, have you ever wondered if... If maybe you aren't a good guy?
That you're one of the bad guys, instead?
I guess... Only... Only, that applies to everyone.
The people around us now, our parents, everyone.
You see, I think I'm here only because...
...there's some sort of need for me to be here.
Take this hardware stand.
It's here only because it serves a purpose for someone.
I don't think there're any totally useless things in the world.
How could something like that exist?
Someone recognizes this guy's necessity, so he's here.
If the need for him were to disappear, then so would he.
That's what I think, anyway. Does it help?
Yeah, it does. Thanks.
Run for it!
Help!
What's with that old bag? Is she a radical?
Like I know?!
That made me hungry...
Split up!
Wait for me Matti! Wait!
Get away from me, you idiot!
I'm the one getting shot at!
Like I said, get away from me!
Dead end!
What the...! What's going on here?!
You two okay?
Hey, look at this! It's that space guy, Lhadatt!
Hi...
We'd better not go back today.
Yeah. If she ambushes us again, we're dead for sure.
Okay, until you hear something definite...
...just lose yourself at that girl's house. See you!
HELP!
You okay? Are you hurt?
Over here!
You all right?
Yeah, fine.
Civilization did not create war. War created civilization.
Who said that?
I did. The human race broke free of the hell of primitive times...
...and marched through 100,000 years to reach this point.
And what of the present? Have we really advanced at all?
When I was young, I wanted to be a historian.
Why didn't you?
A war started, so I became a soldier instead.
I fought desperately to defend my country from that foreign invasion.
But I realized then that without...
...some higher purpose to follow, we were doomed to...
...repeat our murderous past as we have since ancient times.
It was quite a blow.
I hadn't become a soldier, you see.
I was still only studying history.
History is a game which doesn't end until you've lost everything.
Perhaps we're not as different from the monkeys as we like to think.
Will we repeat our old mistakes? Do we have any choice in the matter?
The most important thing you can do is to be aware of your situation.
To ask yourself"What should I do? What shouldn't I do?"
The only eyes you can trust are the ones on top of your own nose.
Look through them now! What do they show you?
A girl's butt.
You'd miss a forest for the trees.
Hello, Manna. You're alone?
Riqunni...must be working.
Well, could you give her a message for me?
I'll be going away for a while. I won't be able to visit.
Manna, would you like me to bring something back for you?
A star.
I can't.
The stars are really really far away...
Tough one... I'm going where there's nothing at all.
Out there?
Yeah, it's out there... Here, there, and everywhere.
Oh, Shirotsugh!
I've gotta go.
Come back soon.
Magazine, sir?
Uh, Colonel, sir... May I have your autograph?
Name?
Maashi Treen, sir.
Thank you, sir.
Oh, and fasten your seatbelt.
Wine tasting... very refined, sir.
The plan is finally in motion.
Really?
We'll be using our forces stationed in Rimada.
Jets as well?
A battlefield test for our latest weapons.
Excellent.
Rimadan military trains are moving north.
Next report'll be at noon.
So, they're moving.
They're probably flying their new jets in, too.
They are. We aren't the only ones who want to see how well they work.
With a little luck, we might even see them do an in-air refueling.
Hello everyone. This is astronaut Shirotsugh Lhadatt.
I am currently in orbit, flying 200 ren above our world.
Um... Uhh...
"What I see now..."
Oh, I can't do this.
Umm, "What I see now, looking down at our world is..."
Tanks!
Look again. They're fakes.
Fakes?
"They're fakes, they're fakes. They're alljust fakes..."
Whoa!
"And here comes the biggest fake of all!"
So, I'm gonna be launched in this thing, huh?
You can sound a little happier about it.
Yo, Shiro!
One totally safe third stage. A real bargain if you want it!
Slowly... Slowly... Okay, hold it!
Like that! Like that! Got it!
Good morning, sir.
Hello-everyone-this-is-astronaut- Shirotsugh-Lhadatt. I-am...
Say it properly!
Oh, like anyone actually listens to microwave broadcasts!
Okay, push!
It's finished!
This is astronaut Shirotsugh Lhadatt.
I am currently in orbit, flying 200 ren above our world...
Can't sleep, huh?
About this time tomorrow, you'll have flown straight into history.
And the rest of the guys who helped you get there...
...will be stuck sitting in a pile of sea shells.
Oh? What does that mean?
What do you think it means?
A long time ago, a stone age tribe used to dump their garbage here.
It's funny. This modern rocket of ours...
...is standing in a prehistoric trash heap!
Well, I'll bet those stone age guys never thought...
...their garbage dump would be used to launch a spaceship.
What do you think they'll be finding here in 10,000 years?
A truly historic pile of steel frames and concrete...
...mixed in with somebody else's leftovers.
Yeah, this Majaho over at Guria observatory.
Get me the General!
- What is it? - How are things going?
We're crawling with Central Intelligence guys on this end.
They keep asking if you've changed the launch time by even one maal.
Right, I understand! All right... Don't worry.
Just hang up!
The red one? No, the yellow?
That one.
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.
Launch day is finally here.
Good morning, sir!
Where's the launch commander?
- In the control bunker... - The schedule controller?
- Sleeping, sir. - Then wake him!
We've been working round the clock for four days, sir.
Everyone's exhausted!
I'm moving the launch time up two maal.
Impossible! We need at least half a day to complete preparations!
There are signs that the Ministry of Intelligence...
...is going to intentionally leak the launch time early.
I'm afraid we might be attacked tonight.
But, how? We can't take out anything from the schedule!
We'll shorten the engineering check.
Cut 124 pages from the six books.
We won't tell the observatory until the last possible moment.
Have Shirotsugh take a shower.
Just a minute, sir! That's going too far.
It's dangerous! General! I'm against this!
It's okay. I'll go.
It'll be a lot more dangerous if the enemy shows up here.
You're not going to let anyone stop us now, are you?
This operation's objective is the capture of the launch facilities.
Do not lose sight of this in the raid.
You will be refueling once, from the air fortress, over Rimada.
Empty your pockets on this one!
Luck be with us!
Hurry up with the fuel!
Check on the third stage and its connections!
Scratch that! They're about to load in the fuel!
Hey. Let's go.
Begin liquid oxygen onload.
Would all stations please report in and confirm status?
Message in from Rimada.
"Formation has made contact with air fortress. "
Yeah, I know it. We've tangled in that sector before.
Gotcha... Roger. Moving out.
Domurhot, phone call from the launch site for you.
We're launching early.
Start getting the satellite tracking systems ready.
And keep it quiet!
How much more?
I'm finishing up now. Yeah, that's got it.
Good, we're on schedule.
Launch personnel report to control bunker.
All other personnel, please move to your regular positions.
Check completed.
Activating pressurization pumps.
Activated.
Tank #1 internal pressure, nominal.
Fuel, nominal.
Voltage, nominal.
Oil pressure, nominal.
Main support inclination nominal to spec.
Did we get the weather report from the airship yet?
Warrant Officer Tenz Kovikh.
Frontier guard, Tayan observation company.
Please pass along withdrawal orders to all personnel.
We're evacuating this area.
What are you talking about? We're about to launch now.
It's too late.
I'm sorry, sir.
This place is about to become a battlefield.
The occupation forces have crossed the river.
What?!
Our border patrols are under attack.
Damn it all!
What was that? I couldn't hear you.
The launch is scrubbed. They're attacking sooner than we thought.
What are you talking about? We're just going to run away?
They WANTthis thing! They're not gonna shoot at it!
They might if we try to launch!
Enough! We're pulling you out of there.
We have to do this. I hate it as much as you do.
And I really thought we could do it this time...
We may as well get out while we can.
This foolish thing... It's not worth risking your lives for.
Just give it up!
Wait a minute here. I don't believe this!
What do you mean, "foolish?"
If we stop here, then what are we? Even bigger fools!
You're just going to throw it all away?
Everything we've been able to accomplish?
Don't say everything we've done here is stupid.
It's wonderful!
Wonderful enough to get us into the history books!
I'll still do it.
Even if I die, I want to at least try to launch!
Anyone who wants out can go!
I WILL do this!
I am god damned READY to do this!!
All sections, talk to me!
Voltage, check.
Oil pressure, check.
Pumps, standing by.
Fuel, check!
Platform is conditionally "go" for launch.
Let's give it a try.
Return to countdown!
ALL RIGHT!
Mount 'em up!
I guess the crew will share their ship's fate.
Move out!
Dispatch from Magitsu.
We are now 0 -2 from target.
Look sharp people! Enemy fighters right above us!
Pump restart is good. No problems.
We're in primary launch stages.
Engineer Corps ETA:
Delay of five - two.
Stabilizing gyro. Give me a reading.
Inertial guidance system reads as follows:
North - 2.8 degrees, 3-6 minutes mark 3-0, 3-2 seconds.
Internal pressure, rising.
Counting four-zero-two to launch!
I can see smoke from the shooting.
Spaceship systems are now running autonomous.
Counting three-seven-three to launch!
Closing main oxygen escape valve.
Counting one-zero-two to launch.
Confirm power supplies are charged and ready.
Starting water flow to launch platform!
Eight-zero to launch. We're in final stages.
Everyone take your positions!
- Counting six-zero to launch! - I know! I know!
Engine ignition in twenty...
Nineteen...
Eighteen...
Seventeen...
Sixteen...
Fifteen...
Fourteen...
Thirteen...
Twelve...
Eleven...
Ten...
Nine...
Eight...
Seven...
Six...
Five...
Four...
Three...
Two...
One...
It's exploded!
So far, so good. Let's do it!
4000, 4500, 5000, 5500, 6000...
First stage has successfully detached.
Third stage burn has begun.
12000, 12500, 13000, 13500... Burn complete!
This is Guria observatory.
It's confirmed. It's achieved orbital velocity.
He's in orbit!
WE'VE DONE IT!!!
City lights... I wonder where they are...?
They really do look like stars...
Is anybody down there listening to this broadcast?
This is mankind's first astronaut.
The human race has just taken...
...its first step into the world of the stars.
Like the oceans and the mountains before...
...space too was once just God's domain.
As it becomes a familiar place for us, it'll probably end up...
...as bad as everywhere else we've meddled.
We've spoiled the land, we've fouled the air.
Yet we still seek new places to live...
...and so now we journey out to space.
There's probably no limit to how far we can spread.
Please... Whoever's listening to me...
How you do it doesn't matter, just please...
Give some thanks for mankind's arrival here.
Please, show us mercy and forgive us.
Don't let the way ahead be one of darkness.
As we stumble down the path our sinful history...
...let there always be one shining star to show the way.
Please, listen to God's teachings.