Let's just leave aside what happened last week.
Since we were told of suspicious events on the Moon,
we're on patrol there.
But such uneventful routine work...
There are good things and bad things about this.
The first star! I found it!
Now listen, Ryoko.
It doesn't matter how,
but I want you to find the first star that shines insides yourself.
What's that?
Something that you can say you're the best at.
Something at which you can shine brighter than anyone else.
A person with that inside will have a life filled with happiness.
The first star inside myself...
Hello!
Stupid dream.
Darn.
First Star! First Star!
First Stars everywhere!
First... Star...
A First Star is excellent.
Oh yeah, it rules.
...service!
...for waiting!
What do you say? Why don't you give this contest a shot?
What is all of this?
This!
Posters.
That's not what I mean!
A girl.
The girl who becomes the First Star gets to debut as an idol!
Hear that? An idol!
Really?
Where did this come from?
Without my permission, out of the blue?!
It's for the sake of everyone's future.
While they are currently entangled in war,
the crew of Nadesico are everyday young people.
I felt they should start preparations toward a career
they could hope for after the war with Jupiter ends.
This is one of those plans.
Jobs for after the war?
Yes! We are not fighting for the sake of fighting.
Instead, peace, hope, and the first star of happiness
are the things which we are fighting to win!
I see.
"Happiness won't come walking toward you.
That's why you need to walk toward it."
There is that old saying. I see.
Well in that case, I'm all for it!
Yes!
Yes, yes! Just wonderful! Maybe I should even try myself?
Why don't we then have the First Star be the captain as well?
No, never mind. You are the captain, after all.
I see!
Idol stars become mayor or police chief for a day all the time.
A "Captain for a Day" sounds just fine.
Yes, it makes it all the more like an idol contest!
So, all those girls that want to become idol stars
after the war with Jupiter,
don't hesitate to apply!
The first star will become captain of the Nadesico for a day!
This has been an urgent message from the Captain!
A new captain!
A captain, a kanchou!
A kanchou? You mean a spy?
What? Has she cracked another pun?
Hardly anyone uses that expression any more.
Does anyone even remember that "kanchou"
is an old-fashioned way to describe a spy in Japanese?
But now you've learned something new!
Who are you talking to?
Bye!
So, so, Ryoko, what will you do as a stunt?
A song? Some trick?
I'm not doing either.
Why, why? You get to be an idol star.
Come on, let's do it.
It's a chance for you to become an idol!
Not interested in the least.
Oh, okay...
Jeez, we won't be able to go as the Gekigangar team without you.
after the fighting is over?
What are you going to do?
Ms. Howmei, would you inspect my soup?
Ever thought about it?
Not bad.
Wha, what the hell is this?!
Wondering about someone?!
And how may Ms. Howmei end up?
You jerks!
Oh, don't you crave delicious food?
Three meals a day just isn't enough, is it?
And what a selection on the menu
You keep on eating and keep on eating
But it's still varied, and you still starve
Howmei and the Howmei Girls!
So, time to get to work and keep busy, oh boy!
Hey, let me in too!
What's all the noise?
Are the kids here getting excited too?
Oh no, it's spilling out! Are the kids here getting excited too?
Got me a spot!
But there are no more dishes to wash.
Guess it's all done.
What about outfits?
even for a short while.
Yes, you've passed the first selection process.
Oh, so close, but not this time. Yes, you're fine...
SO! How is it coming along, Prospector?
Make sure that our new captain just oozes teen idol-ness.
I fully understand! Really!
Since the recent confidential information leak,
the number of crewmembers leaving the ship has increased greatly.
As a company, we would love to boost the ship's image at low cost.
I came up with this project, so I'm counting on you.
From toddlers to senior citizens and beyond,
we need a super idol that captures all their hearts!
A happy Nadesico with a new captain! Happy, happy, right?!
Even the top brass in the military have...
Why is that ad agencies are so preoccupied with their clients?
Excuse me.
It seems that some misinformation is going around.
This isn't a contest for a new captain, is it?
I must take care of all the applicants here.
Wouldn't it be a good idea to make a clarification immediately?
Clarification?
Everyone is starting to think they'll be the new captain,
instead of being captain for a day.
There's no cause for alarm on that account.
Your appearance! Your kindness! Your glowing smile!
Without question, you'll be the one chosen in the end.
Yurika Misumaru!
Ladies and Gentlemen!
And now Nadesico's "First Star: You are the Next Captain of Tomorrow!"
Our lineup starts up a pilot with cute glasses, Hikaru Amano!
Hikaru sings for us "V is for Victory, Gekigangar V,"
the opening theme to "Hot Blooded Robot: Gekigangar V!"
Gan gan, ga gan, gan ga gan, high in the sky as I look up
Gan gan, ga gan, gan ga gan, the V shining bright
It's Gekigangar V
We'll also be following the contestant's popularity polls.
With me is former heavyweight champion playboy, Akatsuki Nagare.
Entrusting the future to the strength of three
Watch me, my friend, for here I go
Let faith in righteousness burn in your soul
For the sake of protecting the Earth we love
Actually, I trained as a nurse before becoming a voice actress,
so I thought I'd do a nutritional IV injection.
IV means intravenous, right?
That's right.
Are you certified?
Okay, let's have your arm now.
Oh, no, a needle is not something you lick, dear.
Idle talk, idle talk,
Idle be next on stage.
...gan gan ga gan, go forth
V is for Victory, Gekigangar V
Next, Ms. Minato with her swimsuit competition trial!
White monk!
First star, I found it.
It goes boing, boing, boing...
It looks pretty hopeless for lzumi.
Who's in the lead, Mr. Akatsuki?
Let me see...
Let's go to our next contestant.
I'm going to inject you.
But there's no needle, because it's too dangerous, okay?
Wow, votes for Megumi are coming in fast! Who's next?
Oh, aren't those the Howmei Girls?
It looks like they might be strong contenders, Mr. Uribatake.
They might just pull off an upset, Mr. Akatsuki.
Don't you crave delicious food?
You know, this is great. Everyone's shining so bright.
They're not at all like the cold Jovians,
who only think about fighting all the time.
But it's still varied, and you still starve
Thanks for waiting! We now present our star of stars,
entry number 1578, Ms. Yurika Misumaru!
We don't even have 1500 people!
The lily blossoming in space.
Shining with lovely radiance,
here's everyone's charming first star.
Let's have her sing for us!
My search has been long, looking for emotions like these
Out of the blue, you opened the door to my heart
With radiance that outshines any jewels
Pure feelings must have been asleep inside me all this time
When you chase after your dreams, smiles and tears
I know that I will experience them time and again
L! O! V! E! Lovely Yurika!
But sometimes I want to feel the wind, just being myself
Let me feel the sun and the squalls, all up front
I want to start off tomorrow being myself more
I want to find a future that's nobody else's, but all my own
You're warm as well.
Being myself? For me?
Bridge!
I want to find a future that's mine
Thank you, thank you.
Come on now!
I know this is sudden, but I'd like to sing.
Holding forbidden feelings within
Thoughts of you fill my heart
But the anguish and frustration is enough to bring me to tears
Those eyes with which you look upon her
I'm certain that they will never falter
But just for a moment, just for a short moment, please look at me
She's going to stand out.
If I were to meet you sooner than anyone else
Would I have been able to love you just as I long to do?
One more time, one more time
If I was born to meet you again
Something that can't be picked up by Nadesico's sensors.
Please let me be your very own
Your number one
Wow! I never thought Ruri could pull off something like this.
What is it with the smoke?
I think Omoikane is playing favorites here.
One more time, one more time
If I was born to meet you again
Please let me be your very own
Your number one
You did it, Ruri!
I never would have imagined.
Thank you, sorry for interrupting.
Well, now this upsets everything! Right, Mr. Uribatake?!
You're frothing at the mike.
You did a great job, Ruri!
Guess it was nothing.
They're not at all like the cold Jovians,
who only think about fighting all the time.
So, what am I supposed to do?
A missile?
People?!
What the hell is this?
Damn!
An explosion in space ahead of the ship.
Ryoko's Aestivalis is already deployed.
Damn, how could we have completely missed it?
Ryoko...
What the hell is with these guys?!
Missiles with people onboard?
It looks like the enemy has been conducting
experiments with long distance boson jumping.
They can warp in without support, then explode.
If this system works out, it will become a great threat to us.
Wow, we've just had her go through her patent explanation routine
while dressed elegantly in her swimwear attire.
The glamour of a mature lady?
So that's how you do it, Ms. Inez!
Hey, wait a minute. I have to get going!
I'm supposed to be out there!
Incoming!
Ryoko, why did you take off alone without telling anyone?
Get out of my way!
Fighting's the only thing I can do right!
Another one.
What's wrong with that?! That's just your first star!
You're shining right now. What's wrong with that?
Everything, of course!
They were humans too.
In the end, all I do is kill people.
Three remaining units have arrived in the combat area.
Ryoko...
But take that away from me and I have nothing left.
After all I've been through, to find out this is my first star?
If that's all I have,
then nothing will be lost when I'm gone!
Don't say that!
If you were gone...
If Ryoko was ever taken away from me, I'd be sad!
I'm sure everyone else would be sad as well!
Same goes for me!
Me too!
Same here.
That's why you can't say that!
What's wrong with being good at this?
Humanoid fighter craft ahead. They've increased to four.
Should we alter our mission?
No, we will continue on.
All of you must make it back with the data.
This is only a test run.
Don't push it, boys.
Roger!
If you asked me why I fight, I could only say
that it's because I don't know of a good alternative to follow.
But I do not think that justifies this.
These chairs were much too small, right, Mr. Akatsuki?
Seems like we're stuck.
Fighting is the only thing I can do right now as well!
For now, at least.
I'm sure you'll find something else, someday.
All units spread out!
Operations, request retrieval, Sir.
Okay, just hold tight.
Don't you dare come back!
I'll find it. Maybe I can't stop to do that now, but...
Are you all right, Ryoko?
Knock it off, you fool.
I can manage on my own just fine!
No, you can't. You've been beaten up pretty badly.
You think so?
Looks like it. Let me help you.
Hey, thanks.
It's too bad.
You should have participated in the Nadesico idol contest as well.
The expression on your face right now is golden.
You're... You're out of your mind!
What did you do that for?!
There goes Akito again.
Maybe I was able to find my first star.
Tenkawa, beyond the range of the energy feed,
becomes the first star.
What was that?!
Fellow crewmembers of the Nadesico,
the wait is over. We will now announce the results!
Okay! Forgive us, as only the top contestants are listed.
Wow! Ruri Hoshino is racing up the charts, just as predicted!
Just look at those vote totals climb!
How much longer until the results come back from the Nadesico?
Yes, well, it should be any minute now.
I just hope that the next captain will be a young, cute,
and ditzy idol that will get the crew's attention off of the leak.
Setting aside the question of being a ditz,
that Yurika Misumaru is just too homely, and looks as if
she might affiliate herself with the pacifist movement.
Why don't we figure out a new slogan while we wait?
How about a poster where the captain
has her index fingers together like this, reading,
"Naughty kids that won't fight will get it from Captain Enema!"
Ikeda, out, now!
What?
How about, "Love, Love Battle Girl"?
"Nadesico: Do You Remonstrate Love"?
"I love you, so protect me."
How about "Oh my", or "Hey".
Isn't Ruri just wonderful?
Isn't Ruri so dreamy?
With the winner Ruri Hoshino abstaining for personal reasons,
the award went to the winner of a "rock, paper, scissors" match.
Emerging as the winner, Yurika Misumaru will continue as captain.
That's all.
What?!
Please let me be your very own, your number one...
Or so they say.
Let me do some explaining in the time we have left.
The runaway hit anime show on board the Nadesico, Gekigangar 3,
is a television cartoon made about one hundred years ago.
The people who were banished to Jupiter had copies of this show,
allowing them to become infatuated with it.
But since the preservation of the tapes was incomplete,
some episodes have been lost, only to be known in legend.
Oops, I'll explain the rest about this next time.
The next episode of Martian Successor Nadesico is:
"Run Silent, Run Deep"
Everyone listen in for more explanations!