Fifteen Years Later
Okinawa
May 22nd Year 2048
Ohta Koichiro, Deceased December 19th, 2033
I'm off, dear.
No, Coach.
Commander Ohta.
Principal Kashihara.
Okinawa Girls' Space Pilot High School New Annex
Even though we were classmates...
I'm an old woman, 10 years your senior.
Space is a strange place.
So, you're going out into space again?
Yes.
I wouldn't have expected someone like you to volunteer for this mission...
You're the hero of the Battle of the Absolute Defence Line.
I was only able to fight because of Noriko, Kashihara-san.
She's the one who truly protected the Earth.
Coach!
Are you really leaving today?
Yes. Unfortunately, I won't be back for quite a while.
No, Coach!
Um, we all made this for you.
Please, take it with you into space, for good luck.
Thank you, it means a lot to me.
Coach, this is for Auntie Noriko, from my mother.
All right.
Coach, we'll wait for you, no matter how many years it takes!
So please, be sure to come back!
I'll be waiting as well.
Thank you.
Final Episode
<At the End of Eternity
...>
Hawaii
No damage in this region
First Orbital Ropeway Base
Staff, Project Carneades
We've been expecting you. This way, please.
This rope way is bound directly...
for Orbital Space Station Three, Meridian Star.
Due to changes in pressure...
you may experience a ringing in the ears. Please take precautions.
Australia
Looks like that area hasn't been restored yet.
We're putting everything we have into the construction of the Black Hole Bomb.
We just don't have anything to spare.
I see... Even after 15 years.
Since there was a 60-second ultra-gravitational collapse in Jupiter 2's orbit...
we've counted our blessings...
to have only suffered a fluctuation in the Earth's axis and the loss of 3 planets.
I suppose so.
This time, the plan is to consume the space monsters' entire home territory...
together with the core of the galaxy.
Does mankind have the right to do something like that?
To kill the galaxy?
If we don't, it's mankind who'd die.
If that's our fate, then shouldn't we just lie down and accept it?
I feel it would be better for us to do nothing.
That would be tantamount to suicide.
Would suicide be a good ending?
I don't know.
Neither do I, to be honest.
But history will come to judge us.
All we do now is to survive at any cost.
Buster Machine #3 (Black Hole Bomb)
That's what I'm going in.
To join Noriko out in space...
Same Day, Centre of the Galaxy, Sagittarius A*
Galactic Core Assault Fleet
Flagship Eltreum
You asked for me?
Right.
After scrapping the plan to evacuate the Earth...
and switching to a counter-attack against the space monsters...
Project Carneades now waits only upon the arrival of the main force.
Your Gunbuster is what's made all of this possible.
We expect to rendezvous with the main force in the next 12 hours.
Eh? Has it already been completed?
Yes, and only 0.001% behind schedule.
So 15 years have already passed us by on Earth...
Is someone going to be in Buster Machine #3?
Yes. The plan back when we left was for it to be manned.
Hmm, I wonder who could be at the helm?
Roche canceller active. All systems green.
Degeneracy generator pressure rising.
Ether wave value, corrected to plus 3.
Subspace sonar active and good to go.
Passing through gravitational radius in 5 seconds.
Vanishing motor, ready to engage.
Commence warp.
Project Carneades General Command Centre
No abnormalities detected in subspace entry.
No problems detected with space curve turnover.
Begin degeneracy radar search.
Route trajectory, all clear.
Gravitational and ether waves, all normal.
It's a success.
Project Commander
So far, at least.
Chief Tactician
We did what we could.
Our fate is in God's hands now.
Hmm... I suppose so.
All we can do now is pray...
and hope for a miracle.
Gravitational quake detected off of the ship's stern, at 4 o'clock.
Magnitude 7.7.
Something is coming out of warp.
This is the Black Hole Bomb?
The Buster Machine #3?
Has mankind's technology evolved so far as...
to have built something so massive?
The core of the galaxy is quite a place... Everything's so white.
Finally... I finally get to see her again.
Welcome aboard the Eltreum.
Noriko...
Noriko!
I'm so glad. I never thought I'd see you again!
Y... Yes.
This brings back memories.
I can't believe that it's already been 15 years.
Oh, right, it's only been 6 months for you.
How silly, I guess we tend to grow melancholic as we age.
Oh, no, Onee... No, Commander Ohta.
It's all right, just stick to my old name.
That makes me happier.
Oh yes, Takami-san wanted me to give this to you.
What?
Takaya Noriko-sama
It's from Kimiko!
"Noriko, are you doing well?"
"I still look back fondly on our high school days together."
"My daughter Takami, who was only 3 the last time you were here, is about to turn 18."
"I may not be able to see you again before my time is up..."
"but please, at least try to come back while my daughter's still alive."
"We'll be waiting for you. Take care."
"Takaya Noriko-san, from your best friend, Akai Kimiko."
"P.S. I've included a picture of my daughter."
"Come back soon, Auntie Noriko!"
Kimiko...
Takami-chan...
90 minutes before operation commencement
In 90 minutes we'll enter the final phase of Project Carneades.
Buster Machine #3's core, the planet Jupiter...
will begin secondary degeneration.
1st to 10th fleets
Implosion will commence in 56 minutes, 32 seconds.
11th to 20th fleets.
During this time we must protect the bomb with our lives.
21st to 36th fleets
At the same moment that the third-stage degeneration takes place...
the entire fleet will simultaneously perform a long-range warp...
into the Orion Arm to escape the battle.
Silver Sizzler (Mass Production Model Gunbuster)
Then the operation will be completed.
Finally, the extinction or survival of mankind itself depends on the outcome of this battle.
We must triumph, at all costs. That's all!
All ships to battle stations.
Open all cannon ports.
Silver Sizzler, Black Sizzler...
and White Sizzler, begin launch procedures immediately.
Ohta-san!
Yes?
You always get what I want, don't you?
Here.
Besides Coach, the Buster Machine is yours, too.
Jung...
I've got a lot more to say, but it can wait until tomorrow.
See ya.
Time schedule, begin countdown timer.
56 minutes, 10 seconds until implosion.
Message from Patrol Vessel #107, the Axion.
"Enemy fleet spotted."
"Approximately 6 billion in the area."
"They're closing in from all directions, moving at 12% light speed."
"68 minutes, 20 seconds until contact."
They're here.
Come if you dare!
We'll show you what mankind can do when backed into a corner.
55 minutes until implosion.
Papa...
The war that began with your ship will soon be over. Don't worry.
After that, I'll go back to see you, Takami-chan.
Noriko, I'll be in Buster Machine #2.
Onee-sama?
Jung handed it over to me...
since this will be the end...
32 minutes until implosion
All squadrons launched.
All ships, ready for combat.
What's the enemy's status?
Their numbers have increased to over 8 billion.
They're enveloping the entire region.
43 minutes until contact.
Executive Officer, do you believe in God?
No, not me, sir.
I see... Well, I do.
Take a look. At this close distance...
they shouldn't be able to warp any closer.
We'll beat them by 12 minutes.
That's what I'd call a miracle.
A miracle...
That's a word God created for us, just for this moment.
Captain!
Gravitational quake in area 573D! The enemy fleet is warping out!
That's impossible!
Unbelievable...
They can warp over such short distances?
Captain! They're trying to physically ram the Black Hole Bomb!
What?! A kamikaze attack?
So they've noticed the Black Hole Bomb!
Stop them!
We can't let them get any closer!
No good! The super-Exelion class can't hold them back!
How can this be?
30 seconds to first enemy wave!
Raise barriers to maximum!
The first wave has made contact with the barrier.
Please hold out...
No way!
They self-destructed!
There are too many of them.
Noriko, let's separate!
Roger!
Second and third waves, incoming!
Barrier breached! Damage unknown!
Fleets 6, 7 and 8 have all been destroyed.
They've broken through the antimatter minefield!
22 minutes until implosion.
That bomb must be protected, no matter what it takes!
Just 22 minutes more!
Major damage: 1,700 ships
Minor damage: 4,500 ships
Missing: 22,800 units
"Buster Machine #1
Operational
Buster Machine #2 ... Operational
Buster Machine #3 ... Operational
3 minutes until implosion
How many ships do we have left?
Our ship and 2,562 others.
I see... We've held out well.
60 seconds until third-stage degeneration.
Activate all slave units.
40 units to Schwarzschild radius.
The enemy is remaining silent.
With all that damage, it's still operational.
It's truly...
A miracle.
You've all done a fine job.
Thank you.
30 seconds until implosion.
20 seconds until implosion.
All ships prepare anti-electromagnetism and anti-light wave defence.
10 seconds until implosion.
8, 7...
6...
5, 4...
3...
2...
1.
What's the matter?
No good, only 98% of the slave generators are activating.
This can't be happening!
There's not enough mass.
Unless we trigger a chain reaction in the core, the implosion process can't begin.
We've failed.
How can this be?
Is this the end result of mankind's last desperate gamble?
Is there no God or Buddha?
The heavens have just forsaken us.
The miracle... didn't happen.
No!
A miracle will happen! I'll make it happen!
Takaya-kun! What are you doing?
The Buster Machine also has a large-scale degeneracy generator!
If I use that and make it explode...
No! I cannot allow a manned unit to act as a fuse!
Wait for us to send in an unmanned ship!
The enemy will have reached here and destroyed it by then!
Takaya-kun...
Onee-sama?
Commander Ohta, you too?
This way, there will be two degeneracy generators.
Noriko, as long as we have one, we can make it back to Earth.
Onee-sama...
Let's return to Earth together.
Yes!
No time! We'll go in transformed.
Roger!
We're relying on you...
Is that Jupiter?
Yes, it's been compressed to 1/30,000th of its normal size.
8 minutes until arrival of enemy fleet
All squadrons recovered.
And the enemy?
They've remained silent since the 14th wave.
No signs of warp detected.
It looks like their next wave will number over 12 billion.
Hmm... So they're intending a mass attack to wipe us out.
Surface temperature, 1,600 degrees. External pressure, 15,600 tpm.
All right, we can still withstand it.
I'm going with you.
Jung?!
No! Go back!
Black Sizzler won't be able to withstand the pressure from Jupiter!
I don't care.
Jung...
Don't misunderstand us, Jung.
We're not marching to our deaths.
This isn't suicide.
But... but from a place like this...
it could take you decades, or centuries, even...
to get back.
We won't be able to live in the same time again!
I know.
Then!
But, it means everyone else can live in the same time.
I don't want Takami-chan to ever have to feel the way I did.
I want to bring this to an end.
Jung...
if you live, tomorrow will always come.
Please, tell Kimiko that I'll be sure to come back.
See you later, Jung.
Right...
I won't say goodbye.
I'll be back.
Take care.
Noriko, Kazumi...
When you return, I'll greet you with a nice, big, "Welcome back."
Forgive me.
20 units to the central core.
Communication after this point will be impossible.
Gunbuster reaching maximum pressure.
Please, hang in there, Gunbuster!
Everything including the Buster Beam and Buster Collider...
is now inoperable.
It's so quiet...
The only living beings around here are the two of us.
I'm sorry you got dragged into this, Onee-sama...
It's all right, as long as I'm with you.
Jupiter Core Slave Generator
Let's do it!
Onee-sama, entrust me with your life!
I'm sorry. Forgive me, Gunbuster!
Power off.
Generator #1, maximum output.
Commence degeneration.
Gravitational degeneration detected. It's Gunbuster.
Now... 0... 2... Exceeding limit!
Noriko!
Eject!
Reactivation confirmed.
Degeneracy chain reaction confirmed.
Third-stage degeneration has begun.
All ships, retreat.
Go to long-range warp as planned.
Roger. All ships, prepare to warp.
All ships, prepare to warp.
Noriko, Kazumi, make sure to come back alive... I mean it...
Sorry, Kimiko! I'll never see you again!
"May Mama see Auntie Noriko again! - Takami"
What's wrong, Mama?
Huh?
Nothing. I just thought, maybe...
I heard Noriko calling out...
Twelve Thousand Years Later
Sol System
Year
July 6th
12,000 years have passed...
It's the Earth, Noriko.
I can't tell where Okinawa is any more.
And what about the people?
I don't see any lights.
Has mankind perished after all?
This is where Okinawa used to be...
WELCOME BACK
Onee-sama!
Yes...
We're home, at last!
Thank you, Gunbuster.
Goodbye...
The End
Thank you for watching our release of "Aim For The Top!" We hope you have enjoyed this classic anime as much as we enjoyed bringing it!