Keep it coming! Keep it coming! Keep it coming!
Listen up!
We're setting a hulking 200 thousand tons afloat in the ocean!
I expect an even more delicate touch than usual!
Then, we'll commence with the regular physical maintenance.
Okay.
I'm going to begin now.
Your right shoulder is higher by about 2mm.
You're supposed to use your arms evenly. Did you forget that?
It might be because I've been tapping out e-mails.
That reminds me,
I saw a report that said there was a recent increase in correspondence.
Let me guess. A boyfriend?
A friend.
What?
Someone who... helped me out...
A real...
...friend.
Hey brother ready for this fight?
It's go for broke, live or die
ichi kabachu gonna live or die.
To those days of being scared and just coping, bye bye bye
obi e tearu sukosu take no kimini bye, bye, bye.
Don't stop! Plowing through bullets falling thick and fast
Don't Stop! kimi shiki e ru tangan kake wake
Get up! Brilliantly nail that 2-step
Get Up! asaya kare kimero 2-step
Shut Up! Stow that whining and try, try, try
Shut Up! maki moto nan kumimeru shimai konna try, try, try.
Right now, even if everyone and anyone and everything and anything...
i mata remo karemo waremo koremo
Look away and make a break for it
mewo somu kemi kena shite ne
You alone, I'll never abandon
yusu temo shinai kimi temi wai
Let's go, One more chance! Let's change this darn scene
Let's go, One more Chance! kae tearo kono scene
Right now, tens of thousands of times if need be
mana retse na makai demo
It's just about showing that I can overcome
nori koete miseru dake
Overcoming even those tears and that pain
shono nami namo sono mitsa mimo koeteru
Going on to that next, as yet unseen stage
daro mino tsuki no sutejie
That's right, as many times as it takes, one more try!!
sousa naben date one more try!
Let's go, One more chance! Show them that spirit
Let's go, One more Chance! mushi tereo sono spirit
Right now, tens of thousands of times if need be
mana retse na makai demo
I can just crawl my way there
haitsu kubate i kari
We believe, right?!
shin ji ten da ro?!
That pain will someday become strength that's there for someone
moi tami wai tsuka tawa e kai yasu yosari
That's right, we can make it happen, one more try!
sou saka te genzo one more try!
We're not gonna walk away!
Tom Thumb Races Through the Oil Field
The Battle to Blockade the Gibraltar I"
Qwenthur.
We're coming up on our mission window.
Your cell phone will have to keep for a while.
So? What're we expected to do this time, Miss Frolaytia?
Sleeping together, massages, sharing a bath...
I'll do anything...
The target of this operation is an Object,
presumed to belong to the Intelligence Confederation,
which is providing support to terrorists.
It's a monstrosity equipped with three power reactors
and its codename is the Tri-Core.
Three?! A super-heavy class?!
But... "presumed"?
Given the activity it's engaged in, it's concealing its affiliation.
It seems our target Object has the ability to drill for oil, you see.
It drills all over off the western coast of Africa,
never-you-mind whether it's international or territorial waters.
And then it brings that oil into the Mediterranean Sea
to distribute it to terrorist organizations.
Why oil? Wars are primarily conducted by Objects now...
The terrorists who take delivery
sell that oil through back channels to countries that support terrorism.
Objects may not require it, but the base zones that maintain them
still use vast quantities of crude oil.
So, there you have it.
Your orders from on high
are to preemptively stop this crude oil thief
at Gibraltar, the entrance to the Mediterranean,
and swiftly recover the crude oil.
That is all.
"That is all"?!
Recover?!
Aren't we, like, being asked
to do something way harder than busting it up?
Could this be because
our genius set all kinds of inordinate expectations?
You could say that.
So, as your on-site CO, who knows that you're far from geniuses,
I'll give you somewhat more realizable orders.
I don't care if you blow it up along with the stolen crude oil,
so just stop the Object from making it through the strait.
That is all.
Even that is more than plenty unreasonable, though...
Yeah, that's right! It's the taxpayers who cover our wages, right?
Even if we go the extra mile, the money won't change. Boo! Boo!
Are you picking a fight with your CO, Havia?
If you are, come at me already.
Please! Knock it off.
If you should stomp on my crotch with that slender leg of yours,
it'd get me fired up.
Fail.
Even with how high she raised her leg for me,
I couldn't get a glimpse of the mystical land.
For all your talk, you've got a sanguine attitude about this, Havia.
No, I don't.
But this is about the only way I can cope.
Admirable resolve, Havia.
In other words, that means you'll do it, right?
Currently,
there's a Goal Tape stretched across the whole of the Gibraltar.
Basically, a net with mines rigged at regular intervals.
With it, they're supposedly going to prevent the steel giant from entering.
Well, it's pretty much a flashy band-aid
that's a waste of taxpayer money.
And so, it looks like that's why we got our orders
to throw the Princess's Object at it head-on,
while you two go at it from behind.
It's going to be a hard fight.
The stray bullets alone could kill us a hundred times over.
Then come home alive, safe and sound.
If you do, I'll do you the favor of stomping on you...
Oh. So. Gently.
Yay!
Wait. Where do you get off setting up for my death six ways to Sunday?!
That, on its own, is great!
It's great, but... That's not the issue here!
Whoa, wait...
You're kidding, right?
Right off the bat, we're in the spotlight, front and center!
Our mission is to blockade the strait.
It's a given that you two would come to the middle of the strait, right?
Hey, you know that medal?
That wasn't an advance on the double promotion you get after death, was it?
Hell if I know.
We're back...
...battlefield, you asshole.
Come on, we're not here to have fun.
Quickly put your things in the lockers and get to your posts.
It looks like the brass are watching this operation with some interest,
so if you screw this up, there'll be consequences.
Yes, ma'am...
Even if there are consequences, I doubt things could get any worse.
You said it.
It appears the two in question
have arrived at their posts in Gibraltar on schedule.
So, they made it in time.
Yes, if the intel we got a hold of is accurate, it won't be long.
Let me know when there's movement.
Yes, sir.
Watching with interest, huh?
Come to think of it,
the explosives we're being issued went from C-4 to Hand Axe, didn't it?
The stuff that costs more per gram than platinum?
Like a drop of hot water in a bucket.
Either way, it won't even leave a scratch on the armor of an Object.
Not only that, but our opponent's a monstrosity.
Let's be real here. Do you think this'll work out somehow?
It's easy for them to expect us
to work another fortuitous miracle like last time, but...
Yeah, but well, things might work out better than we think.
What?
Because, I mean, the Princess's Object is in good condition this time.
It's a whole different story from Alaska,
where we went up against the Object, just us in the flesh-and-blood.
You think that's what it comes down to?
That's probably about what it comes down to.
Look at that.
They might've been throw together in a hurry,
but we've got roughly 30 base zones that can do Object maintenance.
They've done a solid job of preparing, so that even if we lose one or two,
we'll be able to keep the Princess's Object operational.
The way they tell it, all we have to do for this mission
is stand behind they Princess and help out a bit here and there,
so naturally, that'll up our chances of going home alive, too.
That makes sense! I guess that means we'll be all right!
Wha?!
What the hell was that?! Faulty construction?!
This one better be all right!
You idiot! Snap out of it!
It got attacked by the Object, of course!
I swear!
Already?! What the hell kind of timing is that?!
Come on. Come on. Come on! Come on!
What gives?! That thing is huge!
How're they moving it?! That sprawled out old hag!
Beats me!
Air cushions and water jets and fighting spirit...
It's probably a combination of all sorts of things!
Damn it! What are we, target practice?!
What's going on with the Goal Tape?!
We knew it, didn't we?
That there was no way that thing was going to be effective...
Damn tax thieves!
They could've at least let us have faith in the band-aid!
You're free to have faith in it.
But when you've been betrayed, you pay for it with your life!
Damn it!
In the end, when it comes to a battle between Objects,
the punch line is that we'll get blown up just for hanging around nearby!
No, hold on.
Or rather, why isn't the Princess's Object returning fire to begin with?
What? Don't tell me you hadn't heard?
What's with that disturbing opener?!
The Princess is at a naval station type base zone on land
getting outfitted with floats for combat at sea.
Huh?!
Which is why,
you were summoned here until the unpunctual Cinderella gets deployed.
You two, the only ones who can put up a fight even without an Object.
Get real!
Don't they have us mixed up with transforming heroes
who wear head-to-toe spandex?!
This is no joke!
Since it's come to this, hurry up and raise the white flag!
Let's get aggressive and finish this!
That'll be impossible this time.
Why?!
The white flag is an option only when you can cede the territory and retreat.
This time, we've marked out our territory by blocking the enemy's path,
so even if we raised the white flag, it won't change the fact
that the enemy will continue to destroy the base zones.
And with regards to this particular operation,
I have not been given the radio code to raise the white flag.
In other words,
we are literally to defend this place with our lives.
Wha...
So, come on!
Go stop it like your life depends on it!
That's why I issued those stupid-expensive explosives to you!
Like hell we can do this!
Damn it! I'm so dead!
We were being way too optimistic.
I'm never going to a battlefield with Objects again!
At this rate, even if we don't get bombarded, it's so heavy...
I'm going to die, easy!
I'm done for... I-I'm sinking!
Mind if I ditch the explosives?!
You plan to throw away our 1% chance and make it zero?!
It was zero to begin with.
Is it me or is that fat old hag headed this way?!
She plans to leisurely pick at the leftovers and break through.
Do something!
If the blockade is breached and the oil is delivered,
there's another Object that's grounded due to lack of maintenance
that'll be coming as reinforcement.
Do you want to get tossed into a Mediterranean
that's even more hellish than it is now?!
It's plenty hellish now.
Damn it! Can we swim and get away?!
It's no use.
From here, even a doped up Technopic athlete couldn't get away!
Then tell me, you budding scholar!
What the hell can we do to survive?!
Left or right, we can't evade it by swimming.
Hurry up!
In that case...
All right!
Hey, you!
Both of you, take these!
Put them on and dive!
Even that giant shouldn't extend too far into the water.
Looks like we managed...
A shark fin keel?!
Damn it! What the hell?!
The Goal Tape!
So it dragged it along on its shark fin keel?!
What kind of trigger do they have?!
Magnetic? Water pressure?! Acoustic?!
Damn it! At this rate, it's my life that's going to cross the goal line!
Don't tell me...
He plans to go ahead and board the decelerated Object?!
Ugh! Damn it! I'm all sticky and gross!
Dive and we'll be safe, my ass!
We totally almost died down there!
I believe what you asked for was, "What can we do to survive?"
Or rather, do you suppose Miss Frolaytia is all right?
Hell if I know.
But I have a feeling she's got the Devil's own luck,
so she's probably floating out there somewhere.
Besides, she's got huge floats on her chest.
Let's go.
Okay.
Speaking of huge...
Yeah, the scale of this thing is seriously no joke.
This Tri-Core...
Yeah. Seriously.
On top of which...
This guy has the functionality to drill for oil, too, right?
Yup.
And once it's dug it up, it stores it in these tanks for delivery.
I swear, it's like some pesky pizza joint.
I'll rig some here, just in case, too, but...
Do you really think we can sink this guy with these?
In Alaska, we were able to use the maintenance schedule in our favor
and blow it up from the inside, but...
Come to think of it,
I wonder where this guy plans to get its maintenance done.
Hey, look.
A giant warehouse?
I see! The Tri-Core is an Object
with a whole maintenance base built right into it.
That makes sense.
Something only a super-large-scale craft could pull off.
No, not that!
The enemy troops!
In addition to maintenance equipment,
this guy even comes equipped with a set of infantry with machine guns!
We're pulling out!
Hold on a second!
We're hiding between tanks of oil, right?!
That's the only reason we haven't been hit harder.
If they'd gotten down to business,
we'd be bargain-basement mincemeat already!
Want to head for the maintenance hangar over there?
Like in Alaska? But when's this guy getting its maintenance?
Then find a weakness!
After everything we went through,
it'd be sad if we boarded them for nothing!
Look at the data and think!
Damn it!
But the reception here is so bad...
Hurry up, man. We don't even know how many we're up against.
Bastard!
We're moving!
If we get surrounded, we're finished!
We'll leave as many presents behind as we can
and get the hell out of here!
So, have you found a good point?
Under these circumstances?! Don't be unreasonable!
Well, thinking conventionally, its biggest weakness is this, though.
I guess that's still what it comes down to.
Well, given a craft of this scale,
once we hit this, it'll probably sink under its own weight...
Just a matter of the effectiveness of the Hand Axe we have on hand.
Damn it!
They got more people to search for us!
If we stick around here any longer,
we'll get our brains blown out by normal soldiers
and it'll be double promotion time!
Hold on a second.
Time's up!
Don't make me rush a guy. It's creepy!
There they are!
Let's go!
Princess!
Cover! Take cover!
So, the Princess is the cavalry... This is so not cool.
Hey, this is bad.
This is totally bad.
If we stay here,
we're going to get caught in an artillery war between Objects
with nothing to protect us!
Annihilating enemy Object.
This is bad.
This is really...
...bad!
Damn it! I guess Objects are still the stars on the battlefield!
They didn't give a damn about us!
No, the Princess probably doesn't realize we're here to begin with!
Then, what do we do?
We'll let the Princess know we're here
and have her switch to lasers as her main weapons.
Compared to physical rounds that blow apart the armor,
it should be a huge improvement.
This is Qwenthur! Please respond!
Baby Magnum! ...is Qwenthur!
We're on the deck of the Tri-Core right now.
Temporarily switch armaments for us until we can escape.
WL3B2!
I repeat. Switch armament-- ...WL3B--
Amazing. He boarded the Tri-Core.
Cover fire?
Let's see... WL3B...1?
Killer Squall?
B1 is the anti-personnel laser,
but he must have something in mind.
Roger, Qwenthur.
All right, now's our chance to do what...
How is this safe?!
This is trickier than a gunfight with the enemy troops!
This is wrong! Not B1! What I requested was B2!
Princess!
I wonder if it helped them like it was supposed to.
If I knew this, instead of getting all fancy leaving presents and stuff,
I would've had us blow this joint!
Damn it! I'll be damned if I die to friendly fire!
I've had it. There's no way we can keep up with combat like that.
Hey, hurry up and detonate those things!
After the hard work we put in risking our lives,
it'd be way sad if we've got nothing to show for it.
Okay, partner!
This is the fruit of our labor, from the two of us!
It... didn't sink.
Damn it all!
That Object bastard's still alive and kicking anyway!
What do we have to do to sink that thing?!
I do this all the time, putting myself at last.
itsudatte sou da jibun no koto atoma washi de
Thinking that as long as everyone else is happy everything's okay.
minna ga waratte yorokobu nara sore de jinda te
This isn’t anyone’s fault—things are just happening as they should
dareno sei demo nakute korega atari mai date
That's what i would i always tell myself
sou ikika sete i tanda
I'm not wrong to think this way, I'm not. That's what i always thought.
machi ga tenai machi ga tenai to omotteta noni
doushite konna kizudarake nandarou
But then why have I ended up so bruised and battered?
kimi dake wa nogasazu ni kidzuitetanda ne
You were the only one who noticed, not letting a single detail slip by
oshikoroshitekita kono chiisa na koe o
This tiny voice I’d been keeping subdued all this time
itsu kara darou soba ni itai to omottanda
When was it that I starting feeling I wanted to be by your side?
motsureta kokoro yasashiku hodoku you ni
It feels like my tangled heart is being gently unraveled
sashidasareta sono te no nukumori ni
When I brushed the warmth of that hand you extended to me
fureta toki ni kidzuitanda
It all became clear:
mou hitori janainda te
I’m not alone anymore.
Tom Thumb Races Through the Oil Field
The Battle to Blockade the Gibraltar II"