Embedded Journalist
It all began with this picture.
The UN and insurgent groups worked together...
...to unfurl this flag over the battlefield.
When this picture was circulated around the world,
...everyone was certain that it would awaken a desire for peace.
That flag, through which could be seen the Kufura, their goddess of peace,
...became the one and only flag of Uddiyana that day.
But this civil war wasn't such a simple thing.
Right before the cease-fire signing ceremony,
...that flag, the symbol of peace, was stolen.
The plan of the UN to use the power of that flag, which carried in it the prayers of the Kufura,
...to drag the insurgents to the negotiation table, was on the brink of failure.
Needless to say, they couldn't make this known to the public.
All because of one little flag...
SDC. A top-secret unit formed for the express purpose of retrieving that flag.
These were the people who were going to risk their lives for a flag.
And to document the mission from beginning to end, they called in Shirasu,
...who had taken the flag picture that had set the whole thing in motion.
What are they trying to get Shirasu to photograph THIS time?
Shirasu, what are you trying to get on film?
On that day, Shirasu's finger wasn't able to press the shutter to take any pictures...
...of the squad members as they returned out of the gunsmoke-filled haze.
Rain...
Shirasu, it's me.
It's almost noon. Is something the matter? Are you feeling all right?
Yes, I'm fine. I'll be right there.
Oh. Well, the briefing starts in 10 minutes, okay?
Right, then...
As I've explained, Metazone Temple is located in roughly the center of Mirbala Canyon,
...and is situated at an altitude of 2800 meters above sea level.
As was made clear by the fact that they continued to resist during the civil war to the very end,
...the steep landscape that surrounds it makes it into a veritable natural fortress.
The volume of chatter in the last 24 hours...
...shows an increase of 160% over previous levels.
Also, we have confirmation that three cargo choppers made an approach...
...carrying what we believe are LD1 containers via sling.
"Slinging" something is when a helicopter carries something suspended underneath it.
Since the temple is like a sandbar in the middle of the ravine,
...I suppose they have to rely on transport by helicopter.
The increase in resupplying, as well as comm traffic,
...both coincide with the theft of the flag.
The flag had an IC tag imbedded in it, just in case.
Based on the location of where the IC tag stopped transmitting,
...it's clear that whoever stole it headed in this direction.
Subasci Operations Command has concluded that Metazone Temple was their final destination.
As such, we will going to rapid-response level 4 as of today.
That's all for today.
It looks like the rain will let up soon.
I see that you take landscape pictures, too, Miss Shirasu.
Oh. Um, that's right...
I was just thinking that it would be nice if today went on being quiet and dull.
Hey, stop kidding around.
It's risky to have your face shown?
What do you think?!
When did you turn into the sensible, cautious type?
So, how did it go?
Look, I'll talk after you turn that thing off.
The reason I got in touch with this old informant after so long...
...was to have him put out feelers to set up a meeting with Nyucient Ru Pou XXIII.
As the Buddha incarnate, he's the absolute leader of the Gelut sect,
...this country's most powerful religious authority.
In the circles I run in, it's common knowledge that it's entirely up to him...
...whether the cease-fire becomes a reality or falls apart.
Of course, I knew that meeting with him wouldn't be easy.
Are you kidding me? That's a whole year's income you're asking me for.
That's what it'll cost. Pay me half of half of that, and I'll start making calls.
But if you...
Did you record what I said just now?
Yeah. If I don't get some leverage on you, you might back out on me.
You're a real piece of work, you know that?
The Metazone Temple ruins, which the insurgents are using as their stronghold,
...is an "overhang" style temple that is common in this region.
The only conceivable approach is a HAVWC parachute drop.
Most people think that parachute drops are completely subject to chance,
...but in reality, you have almost complete control over the direction of your descent.
The problem is, there's nothing as dangerous as parachuting into enemy territory.
Because you're just drifting in the sky, exposed and with nowhere to hide.
From their gunners' point of view, it's like shooting fish in a barrel.
If we didn't have to get the flag back, it'd be simple.
Fire off some rockets, and BOOM! Just blow the whole place straight to hell.
We're gonna get that flag back.
You guys are willing to risking your lives to go take back the flag...
I guess the big bucks did the trick.
My informant introduced me to the leader of an insurgent group...
...that used to be allied with the Gelut sect.
I secured a promise from him to get me an interview with Ru Pou.
Do you mind if I sit here?
Sure.
Ah, your photographs. May I see?
Sure, go ahead.
Oh, this one is beautiful. Wolves.
I see that you are more of a photographer than a journalist.
When I was about your age, a terrible war broke out in my country.
People who called themselves journalists showed up and clicked away, taking pictures.
They didn't care how much we were suffering,
...they simply ignored us and went on taking their pictures.
And then, just as suddenly, they went home.
We thought they were insensitive, rude people.
But you, you are different. You really love taking pictures, don't you?
Me! It's me!
This is a good picture! You and I, we are both smiling!
A large quantity of materiel has been shipped in over the past few days.
The question now is, how heavily are they armed?
Depending on that situation, a parachute drop might involve enormous risks.
We don't have enough intel...
We'll send in a reconnaissance UAV.
They still aren't aware of what we're up to here.
Lt. Ichiyanagi, you will fly the reconnaissance drone.
Roger.
You'll need to reach the target point before nightfall.
You depart at 1300 hours. We'll provide you with the details later.
Commander.
Yes, what is it?
Please, let me go with them.
You want me to let you go?
The Gelut sect is the religious authority that has ruled this country for the past thousand years.
But when people hear that name, the first thing that leaps to many a mind...
...is its other past, one that is veiled in legend.
The form of its other past, that of an assassin cult...
...which ran rampant in the shadows of history.
Even the great Kublai Khan was said to have feared the Gelut assassin cult.
No one knows if it's true or not,
...but it's said that the fanatical believers were made to offer up their newborn children,
...whose earliest memories would be of the intensive training they received.
Horangrumi, tahonfu. Irunho?
In my broken local language, I asked what his thoughts were on the cease-fire agreement.
But Pou's lips remained firmly sealed, and he didn't utter a single word in reply.
For the first time in my life, I was afraid of the subject I was interviewing.
And so, unable to accomplish anything, my brief interview time came to an end.
We will set out in ten minutes, as planned.
Please, let me go with them.
You want me to let you go?
As I said yesterday, I can't do that.
This may just be a reconnaissance mission, but I can't guarantee your safety.
I can't put you in danger for no good reason.
I understand that it might be dangerous, but please, let me go with them!
I feel like I saw a side of you yesterday that I wasn't supposed to see.
I got scared... I thought that you all were scary.
But I'm positive that I was wrong.
I want to see for myself and understand...
...what it is that you're risking your lives for.
And I want to record it for posterity.
I want you to understand that keeping you safe will put them in danger.
I've been given the authority to document all aspects of this operation.
Lieutenant, let's let her go.
When my country was torn apart by conflict, we felt the eyes watching us.
We knew that someone was watching. That someone knew what was happening.
It keeps us going even now.
It is all right. I will vouch for Miss Shirasu's safety.
Lieutenant...
But that is only if she can hold it in and not have to pee until we return to base.
I guess I'll go tidy up the back seat, then.
Thank you!
The Commander isn't the hard-ass that you think she is.
People in positions of authority aren't like us.
We can get away with thinking only of ourselves.
Put this on. Just as a precaution.
Body armor?
Here.
Heavy!
Okay, let's get a picture of you!
Come on now, that's MY job...
Thank you, Lt. Beroqui.
Cabin camera check.
Check, okay.
Forward camera check.
Check, okay.
- Call SC101, request takeoff. - SC101, Control Base.
Takeoff approved.
I'm taking us up.
Got it.
In the end, I didn't get anything out of Ru Pou at all.
This was the high point of my day.
We are on station at Mirbala Gorge at 300. Now beginning low pass.
Roger.
Sixty seconds to Predator separation point.
Three, two, one, go.
Speed, 120 knots. Predator control is nominal.
CB to SC101, we are receiving Predator data feed.
Predator has acquired target.
Switch over to FLIR mode as planned.
Roger.
Target confirmed ahead.
Radar waves detected at 11 o'clock. It's an anti-aircraft cannon!
Shirasu!
Shit! They've got another dead ahead!
Lieutenant!
My left shoulder is hit...
Please take the controls... I can't move my left hand.
We have to stitch that closed and stop the bleeding.
There's no time.
I'll do it!
You'll have to stitch it shut. Can you do that?
We learned how in a course at the IFJ, so...
I think so.
The bullet missed the bone,
...but the wound it gouged out was several centimeters long.
Anyway, an average person would have passed out long ago from an injury like that.
Regret that she pushed aside while she was frantically trying to cope with the situation...
...came flooding out like water spilling over a dam the instant they returned to base.
Please, let me go with them.
You want me to let you go?
As I said yesterday, I can't do that.
I want you to understand that keeping you safe will put them in danger.
Lieutenant, let's let her go.
It is all right. I will vouch for Miss Shirasu's safety.
Thank you for putting down your camera to render assistance.
I won't put you in that situation again.
I'll have the footage that the helicopter's cameras recorded ready in 20 minutes.
I'm sorry.
If you're gonna apologize, don't try to take the picture in the first place.
You're a combat photographer, aren't you? Just take it.
Right!
For the first time, Shirasu took a picture of a frontline soldier...
...looking directly into the camera.
Just one time, just one is enough.
I want to see a beautiful light.
No matter long the night that comes,
...even if darkness should fall,
...if I know that light will shine down on everything,
...I don't need anything else.
"Please don't let me be swallowed up by sadness."
"Please let me have some purpose in my stride."
We just need to wish a little harder for it,
...wish for a light to erase the shadows that have come upon us.
Every time I lose my way, I'm pierced by the pain...
...of losing a little bit of myself.
And every time I set out again,
...I realize and relish that I have the strength to crush the darkness underfoot,
...and I'm able to wait for the stars once again.
Presented by Gray_Phantom #Gray_Phantom @ rizon
Next Time 0 0 4 Night of the New Moon
On the night of the new moon, the goddess Kufura...
...offers up her prayers and her own life for the light to come.
On this same dark night an emergency mission soars into the sky with its fangs hidden.