The fool...
JUST KEEP ON TRYING, KEEP ON FLYING.
I WILL BE THE LIGHT.
If we think of the dawn as one beginning...
If we think of right now as the time to come...
It's a cloud age symphony together with you...
...off in the direction the light is shining...
...beyond the sea of clouds.
Oh, can I encounter a moment...
...that is just like magic?
in exchange for a cold night,
...the two of us flap our wings...
...and grasp hold of eternity at our journey's end.
Calculate Alex.
Claus, could you get me a wrench?
Thanks, Claus.
Found 'em, Lavie!
Mind if I help?
Mullin?
But you're a musket soldier. Do you know anything about being a mechanic?
I may not look it, but I've got knowledge and skill, you know.
I'm way more dependable than those mechanics--
Check!
I just heard something good!
A mechanic, huh? I had no idea. You should've told us sooner!
Great, I think I've finally got myself somebody to push around this time!
W-Wait a minute!
I'm really just a musket soldier! I'm no good with machines at all!
Lavie!
Help me, Lavie!
For starters, we need to do something about that uniform.
Yep, that's right! A mechanic's gotta look the part.
W-What are you doing?!
I saved you that one time, right?! You gotta--
Leave her outta this.
Talk about your grade-A conscripts!
Mullin, you're hereby inducted into the Silvana's mechanic squad.
Wha--?
He doesn't seem all that happy, does he?
If you're happy, start laughing!
Hey, that's great news! You found a new job, Mullin!
Oh, that reminds me. The XO wants to see you.
Sophia wants to see us?
An eight-hour endurance race?
So the Silvana is heading for Horizon Cave?
You know about Horizon Cave?
There isn't a single Vanship pilot who hasn't heard of it.
The Cave Eight is a race that we all want to challenge once.
A race?
Yeah, but this one is a little strange.
You use Vanships that are provided on-site.
You tune up these wrecked Vanships on the spot to make them airworthy.
And the ship that's flown the most at midnight wins!
Anyway, you fly for eight hours straight!
It doesn't just challenge the skill of the pilot, but the mechanic's, too,
...and the teamwork element makes it really interesting!
Are you interested in flying in the race?
Can we?
Yes, if you're interested.
But with just us two... We'll have to put together a team.
I'll assign Godwin and the men to you.
Are you sure?
Then we'll have a shot at winning, Claus!
Yeah, let's do it, Lavie!
You'll be on the team, too, Al!
Really?
Really, really!
Really, really?
To tell you the truth, I'm really happy about this because...
...I'd given up on the race after we decided to stay here.
Thanks, Sophia.
Okay, we'd better get ready for the race!
I'll help, too!
You bet!
Claus, why do you think it's impossible?
Here, people fly Vanships to fight.
It's not just the Silvana.
The time will come when we will need the help of you Vanship pilots...
...to take back true freedom here in the skies.
I'm sure it will.
Captain, be careful. We'll take good care of the Silvana.
Right now, I can't think about anything but the race...
Please forgive the delay.
I just received a report from the control tower.
A party just came in from the Kill-em-All Silvana.
Kill-em-AII?
Er, this should prove to be the most enjoyable evening...
...we've seen in some time, don't you agree, Duke Nowles?
Well, no matter.
The cast is now assembled. The curtain is about to go up on this little farce.
The final curtain leading to destruction.
It's a big hourglass!
It sure is.
C'mon, hop to it!
- Coming! - Coming!
Thank you for waiting!
The aircraft lottery for the 255th running of the Horizon Cave...
...eight-hour endurance race will now begin!
All pilots, please gather around!
Win us a good one!
- It's not the ship, it's the pilot! - We'd better go, too, Claus.
- Says you! - Yeah.
- It all depends on the mechanic! - Tatiana.
I know.
Blue #6! The team of Daim Gadga from Ogrin has selected aircraft Blue #6!
And now, Black #10!
Next, the team of Claus and Lavie from Norkia!
What's wrong, Claus?
You draw for us, Al.
Are you sure?
C'mon, let's go!
Okay!
Get up there and draw us the best one there is!
Well, now! We have ourselves a cute little Vanship pilot here, folks!
Lavie! Claus!
Do you think she'll fly?
It's worse than I heard. What a piece of junk.
They say there's only a handful of ships each year that finish the race.
I'm itchin' to get to it! Let's get to it, you bums!
Things are gonna be hectic.
We have to get this wreck airworthy in three hours.
Okay! Let's do it, Claus!
Yeah!
All right, I'm glad to see that enthusiasm!
They're proving worthy of my check.
Check...
Claus, did you see--
This isn't what we were hoping for, but we're on the job, Commander Wisla, so rest easy.
This is Mullin. He's a brand-new recruit.
I'm Mullin Shetland, scouted from the Claimh Solais!
I look forward to serving with you!
Good to meet you.
Wow, they're both babes...
There's nothing as terrifying as a female Vanship pilot.
You'll see their true colors soon enough.
I'll stay with Alvis during the race.
She never wants to be away from those two.
Please make sure your eyes are accustomed to the darkness.
It will happen at twelve midnight exactly.
I'll leave the children to you.
Yes, sir.
Captain! These kids are nothing but a nuisance!
I simply can't fly with amateurs.
That navigator is so weak that she had a redout in the battle the other day.
I thought this wasn't a game.
Is that what you meant?
Yep, that's it.
What's gotten you so worked up?
Is Tatiana Wisla such a poor pilot?
Captain?!
Oh, man... Maybe we should start digging some graves.
I feel sorry for her.
It's us you should feel sorry for.
We're the ones she's gonna take it out on later.
Really? But she's so cute!
You can't judge people by looks alone.
Take Ethan over there, for example.
You can't let it get to you.
Yeah, I know...
Why is she so mad all the time?
It's gonna take so much work to get these things flying...
...that it'd be faster to combine them into one plane.
Yeah, with the airframe this warped, the wings are gonna be loose,
...and the control stick's gonna be sluggish.
This baby's a tougher customer than I thought she'd be.
Careful, now!
Thank you.
All done!
We did it!
Lavie! Claus! This is amazing!
You're a fine mechanic, too, Al.
Really?
Really.
- Really really! - Really really!
Welcome, sir.
We can brag to Hurricane Hawk that we flew in this race!
If we're gonna brag, we'll have to brag to Pig-bird and Nosehair, too!
If we manage to complete a course we've never seen with an airship we've never flown,
...I guess that means our skill as pilots has come a long way.
Maybe that means we'd be able to get near the Grand Stream again...
What was that? I can't hear you!
I said, let's give the race our best shot!
Yeah, let's give it our best!
Let's get going, too!
Okay, Claus!
We'll see you later, Al!
We'll be back!
See you later!
She's certainly in a good mood.
She went out there to prove herself.
Lavie's going to be a first-rate mechanic. You have my word on that.
I think so, too.
I suppose you're right.
Dad... I'm flying in the Horizon Cave!
Lavie, you can do it!
Claus, go for it!
You can do it, Claus!
Okay, rookie, this is your job.
My job?
You listening? Sit right there, and don't move.
You can only move when it's time for your toilet break.
What's in here?
You don't need to worry about that.
All I can say is that it will help out Commander Wisla.
Leave everything to me, then!
Talk about simpleminded...
Huh?
I'm just happy that we finally got somebody lower than me on the totem pole!
Due to the race, security for the main facility is even tighter than we anticipated.
This is your target point.
I believe we should proceed with our initial plan.
I'll leave you to it, Tatiana.
If there are any changes, I'll adapt soon enough.
What about the auction?
There has been no change in its starting time of 1800 hours.
Three, two, one...
All this operation needs is precision.
Don't forget that.
Okay.
Hello there, Immelmann.
I've missed you, Immelmann.
What's the big idea, jumping my Claus like that?!
Oh, you're that girl who had the redout.
Lord Dio, perhaps you should introduce yourself first.
Oh, you're right. Good afternoon.
I'm Dio Eraclea. He's Luciola.
Friends of yours?
Oh, come on now. You've been shot down twice by me.
Don't you remember?
Bang!
You're Guild!
- What?! They're Guild?! - What?! They're Guild?!
Freeze, you two!
What's the matter with you? All I did was stop by to say hello.
Why did you come here? If it's Al you're after, you'll never get her!
I couldn't care less about that.
Flying in this race with you will prove far more enjoyable.
Since you're going to be in it, Immelmann, I suppose I'll go all-out, as well.
My name isn't Immelmann!
If I say it's Immelmann, it's always going to be Immelmann.
Let's do it this way, then. If I win, you will tell me your name.
Doesn't it usually go, "If I lose"?
Oh, I couldn't possibly lose. Let's go, Luciola.
Yes, sir.
Oh, that reminds me. You were in that red one, weren't you?
Mind your own business when you're flying, and don't interfere.
Do we continue with the operation?
This changes nothing.
The last guy in the world we wanted to see just picked a fight.
Yeah...
What the heck did that jerk come here for?
Was that wise? They are our enemies.
But I was so happy. I'm glad I came along with Delphine.
What will your sister say when she learns of this?
To handle her, we just need to lay it on thick with the gratitude.
My sister Delphine is a woman who loves to be told...
...how wonderful she is.
What's the Commander thinking?! Her engine isn't even warmed up yet!
Meeting that Guild kid really must've pushed her buttons.
She's such a baby...
What's the matter?
Is it the engine?
But it was running perfectly right up until now!
The Vanship broke...
C'mon, hang in there...
Have you got air in your Claudia tube?
I made sure I purged it!
Got enough play in your throttle cable?
It's fine!
Stay calm, Lavie.
It'll be okay. I know she'll start.
How's our Claudia look, Lavie?
It's good and stable this time!
Let's go!
Geez, this thing is such a sleepyhead!
Sleepyhead! You can do it, Sleepyhead!
You can do it!
Damn it, Mullin! Stay put!
We need to get a feel for this Vanship before we do anything crazy.
I know.
We'll never be able to finish a convoluted course like this if we don't get a feel for it.
Tatiana, our objective here isn't to win.
Bang!
I'm in the lead here!
She's such an easy person to read.
I'd say that tune-up worked out pretty well!
She's not shimmying at all. The engine sounds good, too!
You have my skills to thank for that!
I think we'll be able to hang in there for eight hours!
We're almost at the target point. Decelerate.
I want to calculate the timing.
Tatiana, the mission!
We can still do it on the second lap!
Making him eat my dust comes first!
Tatiana?!
Approaching target point.
Target point passed.
Any sign of Immelmann yet?
Unfortunately not.
Let's go greet him, then, shall we?
Tatiana's aircraft just flew by!
First lap time, 12 minutes, zero-five!
The Commander's totally forgotten about her objective...
Claus...
I've been waiting for you.
Let's have some fun, Immelmann!
Do you mind if I sit next to you?
Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you for coming here today.
I am Giancarlo, Horizon Cave's administrator.
We have goods here again tonight which I am sure will catch your eye.
I do hope you will stay and enjoy tonight's proceedings until the very last item.
And now, the first item up for bid.
Could that sword be a Radcliffe?
I am sure that many of you are familiar with this crest.
This is an ornamental sword created by Radcliffe, that most famous of craftsmen,
...who left this world so young in life.
I believe this is a suitable masterpiece with which to open tonight's proceedings.
I ask that bidding starts at 600,000 claudia.
650,000!
670,000!
700,000 claudia!
750,000!
Immelmann Turn!
I did it!
What did you think of that turn just now, Luciola?
Yes, sir. It traced a most graceful line in the air.
Okay, next up is a Scissors!
The next item up for bid is this Fairburn necklace.
- Nothing seems to strike your fancy. - Bidding will start at 120,000 claudia.
You haven't shown the least bit of interest since they began.
Perhaps there is something in particular that you're looking for?
You don't seem very interested in the auction, yourself.
I have already found what I am after.
All that remains now is to acquire it.
Closing in on target point! Decelerate, Tatiana!
Tatiana!
Understood...
Cutting speed by 20%!
That bastard flew right above me...!
Three, two, one...
Point acquisition failure.
Not bad, Immelmann.
Exile!
I am sure that you have heard of it at least once, ladies and gentlemen.
They say its very existence is the equal of the power of the gods.
That to possess it is tantamount to possessing the world.
And yet, it is said that not a single person has yet seen its true form.
But for you select few, the Giancarlo Foundation...
...has finally prepared for you tonight's "ultimate item,"
...said to contain within it the gateway to Exile.
Lavie, you okay back there?
I'm fine!
Stop treating me like I'm some invalid, okay?
Bidding will start at five million claudia.
Ten million claudia.
Ten million?!
Nighttime is fast approaching.
You are near, yet so far away.
What do you admire?
Who do you care for?
Words catch in my throat at the sight...
...of people risking their lives...
...and of diaphanous beauty.
If you are going to travel the skies,
...I want to become your wings.
One day, I promise that I will have...
...supple wings that will never snap...
...no matter how strong the wind may be.
Lavie...
Wha--?
Thank you. I know I can't do it without you.
No matter what anybody else says, you're my navigator, Lavie.
Claus, the thing is, I...
There was something I wanted to tell you once the race was over.
Like what?
Well, I...
Next on Last Exile, episode 10. "Swindle."
It's a promise, Lavie.
Yeah, a promise...