I still feel terrible for what I did, but let's not dwell on that.
Well, it's not as if I'm the only one that embarrassed herself.
We tried to forget about the war for a short while,
but Mr. Enemy is just so intense.
I wonder if we've all become adults who only know how to fight?
You get to burning.
Go forward being yourself, being proud.
The days you spent wrapped up in a dream...
...are a piece of your drapes.
Oops.
Dreams!
Captain, I won't have you singing moronic songs!
We are currently involved in an operation!
We might be here as the rear guard, but it's like we were left out in the cold.
I don't blame them, with a crew like this.
But listen, everyone!
Our time for slacking off won't last much longer!
The tide of war will soon change drastically!
We will rid the Earth of the Jovian Lizards and their Chulips!
And next, we'll invade Mars, where the Nadesico will...
Abnormal increase in boson particle readings...
...from rear hangar.
This just in from the front.
One large enemy battleship that just emerged from the Chulip...
...is now heading directly toward the Nadesico.
Boson reaction increase now originating in tip of the Y Unit.
We have the hostile in our sensors' scopes.
What's the extent of the damage?
Rear hangar and Y Unit block three have been devastated.
But this is strange.
There is remarkably little damage, considering...
What the hell's going on?
What were all those explosions?
If it wasn't for the distortion blocks, we would all be dead.
Distortion blocks?
Thank you for asking!
I thought this might happen,
so I designed a system where distortion fields compartmentalize...
all blast damage occurring inside the ship.
I thought this might happen, so...
I've been wanting to say this line for so long!
Hey! You're supposed to be hard at work repairing the Y unit!
Ruri, status of enemy vessel.
Distance, 42 kilometers. Coming into visual range soon.
What will you do, Captain?
Let's run for it.
Ms. Minato, all ahead full at maximum elevation, please.
No problem, but we'll shoot up into space if we do that.
That's just fine.
Okay.
Boson reaction increasing again.
This time, just below the bridge.
Engines full!
Nadesico, maximum ascent!
Enemy ship is increasing speed and following close behind.
Persistent jerk!
Why are we running?! Let's turn about and hit him back!
And we'd go ka-boom, thanks to their new weapon.
Ryoko wants to be in the midst of a touchy-feely love explosion...
Ka-boom!
Thank you very much.
Come back here, you damn jerks!
I said come back here, can't you hear me?!
Ms. Inez, have you been able to determine the explosion's source?
I'll be right there, so don't go anywhere!
I'll explain it to you clearly, concisely, and compassionately!
I found fragments of explosives in the gutted blocks that were hit.
The substance was nearly identical to the warhead explosives...
used inside Jovian projectile shells,
so it's probably safe to assume they are one and the same.
It was a bomb? Then it wasn't an attack from outside?
All of you here probably remember the large robots that...
...the Jovian forces have started deploying.
Now observe closely!
Equipped with an on board phase transition engine, each robot is a formidable weapon...
...in and of itself, but that is not the reason why it poses such a terrible threat!
The most threatening part is that it can execute boson jumping without the aid of a Chulip.
So if a robot can teleport without the aid of a Chulip...
They should also be able to send out explosives, missiles, whatever.
Exactly!
The abnormal influx of boson particles prior to the explosion...
...is probably the same as with the increases in boson particles...
...observed when the enemy's Chulip or robots conduct a boson jump.
In other words, the enemy was teleporting explosives directly inside the Nadesico.
Then, the distortion field...
Won't be able to defend against it.
There are practically no effective defense measures against this.
I don't know what the accuracy of their gunnery is,
but if the bridge or the engine room were to suffer a direct hit,
then we'd probably be finished.
Boson cannon...
Boson cannon?
Oh, I just thought this needs a name of its own!
My boss is really into photography. Boss owns Canon.
It's just like Earthlings to run away so easily!
They don't have any balls.
It appears they have become scared of our leap cannon.
You underestimate them.
The captain's quick thinking prevented us from hitting them with the leap cannon's third shot.
That captain's abilities deserve our respect.
Aren't you giving them too much credit?
Even still, remember the old saying.
When hunting a rabbit, a lion must enter a tiger's den!
Make sure to have the Denjin prepared for launch just in case!
Aye, aye.
No way out?
No, there is a way out.
If the enemy could, they would have blown us apart by this time.
The boson cannon still has shortcomings.
I see, its range!
Correct!
Since the enemy attacked while it was approaching us,
the boson cannon must not be able to strike at long range.
I see.
Considering the range at which the enemy fired the first and second rounds...
...into the Nadesico, their range is less than one hundred kilometers!
Should we go after them in the Aesti?
Well, chances are we'd get blown apart before we got close.
Since they also have a distortion field, the gravity blast cannon isn't the answer.
There IS no way out.
The hell you say, longhair!
Okay, everyone. Let's be quiet now.
We have the situation relatively well-assessed now.
So, let's listen to what the Captain has to say.
Are you by chance planning to suddenly start snoring,
and do a joke about falling asleep?
Well?
Yurika Misumaru?
Don't be ridiculous. How could I ever think something like that?
She was thinking about it.
Well, why don't we have a short break for a while.
Please make a suggestion if you think of something useful.
Why are you sighing like that?
It's not as if we've lost yet.
No, it's not about that.
We were out in the ocean, so Ms. Howmei was going to teach me...
...how to fish after the fighting was over.
That's too bad. This is still a sea, but it's the sea of stars.
There are no fish on Mars,
so I was looking forward to fishing.
Fishing?
Akito! What did you just say, Akito?!
That's it. That's it! Why didn't I think of it before?!
Great job, Akito! Can you repeat what you just said?
About Ms. Howmei and I?
No, not that part.
F-Fishing?
Yeah! That's just it!
Fishing!
Hurry!
Reconfigure all the Aestivalis into their zero gravity frames!
Chief, are we going to set all the missiles to timed detonation?
The Captain said to do it. The princess' orders!
Yes, but...
Just do as you're told and finish it!
O-Okay!
What's with the spears?
Another one of Mr. Uribatake's toys.
He says that it can neutralize a field for an instant.
So, I can do a Passion Slash?
You fool.
Come on, get it all to them!
It's their important meal before they go on the move.
We have to make sure they eat right.
None of them deserve to have to eat C rations.
Yes, ma'am!
Hurry, we have get these lunches out to the catapult deck...
...before all the pilots take off.
Oh, I'll go, ma'am.
I want to go too.
I want to take the one for Mr. Akatsuki!
I'll take the one for Akito!
I... Isn't that not such a good idea?
No problem! I'm not going to take a back seat to the Captain!
I... I'd like the one for Ryoko.
This might be the last meal.
Aestivalis units are all ready to go.
All missiles have been reset. Ready to be fired any moment!
I've turned off all the fires in the galley. Is that fine, then?
All unnecessary power consumption on the ship has been deactivated.
Preparations for the operation are all complete. Standing by.
Then, please shut down the phase transition engine.
Engines, shutting down.
With the engine shut down, the enemy won't be able to track us.
But if worse comes to worse, we will be vulnerable to attack...
...without the field protecting us.
Do you think we can win?
I have faith in them.
We are up against human beings, right?
I'm going to put my faith in them.
Our sensors have lost track of the enemy vessel!
What?
The ship has disappeared off the electronic, infrared, gravitron wave, and other sensors!
Going as far as to shutting down all active sensors, to lurk in silence for us to come.
Impressive.
But that means they are practically naked...
...with their space-time contortion buffer lowered. Why?
No defense is effective against the leap cannon!
We are in far more danger than he is.
Sir?
With all our systems running, we broadcast all sorts of signals,
making us clearly visible to passive sensors.
We'll be in a whole lot of trouble unless we watch ourselves.
Cease any further acceleration! We will observe the situation for a while.
The enemy has ceased all acceleration.
Moving at a rate roughly equal to that of ours.
I fully expected them to close in without hesitation.
Seems that they are playing it safe as well.
Ejecting starboard ballast.
Changing heading five degrees to port. Pitch minus two degrees.
All systems responding normally.
Captain, it's dangerous to go without using your seatbelt.
Well, please say those things... ahead of time!
I'm impressed at your idea of using the pressurized air,
normally used as underwater ballast, for space maneuvering.
It looks like all the Aestivalis units are ready to launch.
Please have them deployed immediately!
Manual launching. You got that?
Roger.
I just don't like doing this.
Hey, put in some more feeling, damn it!
Aye!
This is so dorky.
Hey! Keep your distance!
My, what a peculiar way to take off.
It's your turn now!
Okay, okay...
Good luck, Akito.
Hey, are you sure about this?
Floating around this way will be silly if they shoot at us.
Yes, don't worry!
Those people are human beings just like us.
This will work out!
Right, right...
"Akito, Akito," right?
Prepare gravity wave cannon!
Enemy gravity blast passing by above.
Scary...
No responses coming back from the path of the gravity wave cannon.
I suppose they were smart enough to at least change heading.
Just can't figure them out.
They don't have enough firepower for a surprise attack, so then what?
Feels strange to just wait here.
Thou desperate pilot, now at once...
Free float in space...
Less filling diet cola float...
No change in the enemy vessel's heading and speed.
Release all missiles in the direction of the enemy's path.
Captain, you didn't have to launch all our missiles.
After all, missiles are not cheap pieces of equipment.
You need to scatter a lot of bait if you want to catch a big one.
Oh, please!
We're up against humans, not fish!
Yes, they are humans, aren't they?
That's why they can be counted on to think and react accordingly.
Okay, it's about time for us to return to our original course.
Ms. Minato.
Yes?
Please change our heading.
Aye, aye.
Enemy vessel has come in contact with missile field.
It's time to detonate all the missiles, right?
Not yet!
Why? Isn't this your strategy?
If we fire a gravity blast now, all the missiles will detonate.
It's pointless.
It will all be repelled off their distortion field.
What's your plan, Captain?
Fishing is all about patience.
Damn Earthlings, how dare they mock us!
Where is the point of origin of these missiles?!
No single point of origin can be established, sir!
Calm down.
This vessel can withstand punishment like this with ease!
Estimate enemy position from the dispersion pattern of the missiles!
Probable position of the enemy calculated!
Right! Change heading to estimated position!
Wait!
This is a trap. Do not change heading.
I am well aware of the trap!
They may be waiting for us with a screen of missiles shielding them,
but we know their position now.
Do you expect him to be in the same position still?
If we go chasing after him now,
we would jump straight into the enemy's swarm of missiles.
Should the enemy fire their gravity wave cannon,
all the missiles would detonate,
and even our space-time contortion buffer would be overwhelmed.
Then where is the enemy?
He'll be back!
First strike scores the most! Current heading, all ahead full!
Enemy has not changed heading.
Passing by the missile screen and accelerating.
I guess we misjudged.
What will we do, Captain?
Since our plan of luring him into the missile screen has failed,
we should raise our...
You don't have to be worried.
Akito and the others will handle this just fine.
Man, this had better work, damn it.
I don't want to find myself all alone when I charge at the enemy!
Sprinkle your feed, watch the fish swarm about.
Dump in that hook with the bait at the end.
Spend the day with the line in the water...
...and be rewarded with a huge catch!
Alright!
All Aestivalis, follow me!
Here we go!
This is Akatsuki, come in, Nadesico!
We landed the big one!
Repeat, landed the big one!
Charge!
Bring the phase transition engine back online!
Distortion field, maximum strength!
Establish gravitron wave beam link to all Aestivalis!
Just leave it to me!
Aye.
Five enemy humanoid fighters closing in rapidly!
Approaching from directly above and directly below!
Bogey on scope! Enemy vessel dead ahead. Heading directly at us!
What?!
He's good.
The enemy's aim was to draw us into range of their humanoid fighters.
Ready all systems for intercept!
For a person who didn't want to fight against fellow humans,
you certainly came up with a breathtaking tactic.
I won't let the Nadesico lose a battle until this war is over.
And...
This is the only place Akito has to come home to.
Akito again. What do you see in a wimpy boy like him?
Akito is always trying his best!
Watching Akito push himself as best as he can in everything...
...makes me feel that I can try harder in what I'm doing.
All units, maintain maximum field strength.
Our target is the point where the boson emission is the strongest.
Got it?!
Roger!
Enemy units have attached to the space-time contortion field.
Losing control of contortion field. Collapse is imminent!
Captain!
Calm down!
Let the arthropodal fighters handle intercepting the enemy.
Locked on to enemy vessel position!
Aim leap gun at enemy vessel.
Boson readings. So that's it!
Hostile craft has breached the buffer!
Keep it away from the leap cannon!
Saburota!
Let me borrow the Denjin!
Got it!
Wait a second! Increased boson readings!
All units disperse!
Roger!
Come on! Now you have the Denjin to deal with!
Big ain't beautiful, you bastard!
This time it's Riku Gangar?
Clumsy Goliath...
Whoa!
Righteousness always prevails!
Not that easily!
That mecha design screams that its rear is the weak point.
Well, geez. Seriously?
All units, fall back at maximum speed!
Forgive me, Captain. Emergency leap!
Saburota!
That hot shot, he leaped to save the ship.
Captain! It's the executive officer!
What?!
I am currently adrift inside the life pod.
I would be most grateful if you could retrieve me.
Let's go get him.
Aye!
Our dear executive officer certainly is a handful.
The enemy vessel is withdrawing from the combat area while laying down covering fire.
We have not suffered any losses. All Aestivalis units are well.
Chart a course to Earth once we have retrieved the Aestivalis wing.
Keep an eye on the enemy, please.
Captain, dispatch from the enemy vessel.
I pay my respects to the bold and courageous leadership of your vessel.
I'm taken aback to learn a dashing man of action such as yourself...
...is in the dastardly United Earth Federation.
We shall lock horns on the field of battle again sometime.
Captain of the Kannazuki, Genpachiro Akiyama.
End quote.
What?!
What's this about a dashing man of action?!
I'm a cute and adorable little girl!
Say, let me talk about my older brother. This was...
I'm missing my underwear, my brassier.
I think it was back when I was in junior high school.
My brother had an accident on his way back from Mars to the Moon.
My brother had an accident when he was six, in front of the guests.
Hope you had diapers on hand.
So, father suddenly started expecting a whole lot out of me.
It sure became uncomfortable fast.
The next episode of Martian Successor Nadesico:
"The 'Meadows' We Once Ran Across!"
The U that comes before V and W! Preview.
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