July 11th, 2001
USSR Territory, Milkovsky District, Kamchatka.
Why? Why today of all days?
Where's our fire support?
At this rate we'll be wiped out!
It's not coming! It's just too chaotic.
Nobody's seen any Laser Class yet.
Air support should be possible.
What is command doing?
They're here!
Help me!
Is this the end?
All units, weapons free.
Let's show these lower life forms their place.
Roger.
Captain!
Have you ever heard the legend of the Thunder God Perun?
The Slavic one?
The Thunder God has appeared before us!
Have all remaining forces form up and we'll begin a counterattack.
Yes sir.
August 4th, 2001
We will be docking in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky in approximately 30 minutes.
Prepare to disembark.
So this is the Soviet's biggest military base in the far east?
It's in pretty good shape for something on the front lines.
What's that mountain? It's huge.
Avachinsky, I think it's called.
I can't believe they dragged us all the way out from the sunny Caribbean to Kamchatka.
We don't have a choice.
It's part of our job as test pilots to get data in all kinds of environmental conditions.
That's not it. I'm not worried about something as minor as that.
Minor?
If it's so cold outside how am I going to get to see Princess Yui in her bathing suit?
An idiot. He's a genuine idiot.
I want to go back to the Caribbean!
Then go! Start swimming!
What's wrong, Yuuya?
Nothing.
An enemy attack?
Not by the looks of it.
That's a... Cheburashka?
No, an Aligatori?
One of them's in trouble!
He needs to bail-out!
He didn't?
Looks like he couldn't.
The frame must've gotten bent in melee combat or something.
It happens a lot.
Can you feel it, Yuuya?
This is how the air feels on the battlefield.
The Far East Front Lines
UN Far North Naval Theatre 6th Army
Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky Base
Forward! Forward!
Careful with that thing!
Going well?
Hey there. How about you?
I don't have much to unpack.
Not that.
Princess Yui.
You haven't really talked to her since that night you spent on the island, have you?
What are you talking about, moron?
Cryska, no, Ensign Barchenowa was there, too.
From the sound of it, you got pretty close to one of the Scarlet Twins while you were at it.
Enough already.
The Soviet Areas were off-limits, I told you!
The so-called "Iron Curtain", huh?
Too bad.
Not really. I'm not here to make friends.
Well, don't get all stiff because it's your first real fighting test.
I'm not!
Now now.
That's what I'm talking about when I say "stiff".
Shut up.
Don't tell me to shut up.
The goal of these international joint exercises
is to test how well the Type 94 and Active Eagle respond in real combat.
And we'll also be testing a new prototype weapon delivered from Japan.
Lt. Takamura will explain.
As part of our evaluations, we'll also be testing the Prototype Type 99 EM Radiation Cannon.
Furthermore, the Shiranui Type 2 will be the one testing it.
Tests are being done with the Shiranui and Shiranui Type 1c in Japan,
but of course, this will be the first test with the Shiranui Type 2.
Unexpected problems may occur during the test,
Sure, it's a new railgun, but it's still a long-range support weapon.
and you'll need to be able to respond accordingly.
It's my first test in the Type 94 Second,
and they won't let me fight up close?
Ensign Bridges.
W-What?
No... I'm sorry I scared you.
And?
Do you want to go see the new weapon you'll be testing?
I thought it'd be better for you to see it for yourself.
I'd like to explain some more things, too.
Yeah, I'd like to if I could, I guess.
I see... I'm glad.
What are they doing?
No, nothing.
This is...
A next-generation TSF weapon.
The Prototype Type 99 EM Radiation Cannon.
I guarantee you it packs enough stopping power.
I've worked on its development, if only for a short while.
I believe it... but this worries me a little.
Worries you?
I'm sure it's powerful, but you're giving up a lot of maneuverability to use it.
I bet it would wreck your aerodynamics and center of gravity.
It feels to me like it doesn't work with the design principles of the 94 Second.
What's wrong?
Well...
I'll admit it doesn't work with the design concepts.
But we're backed into a corner here.
By the way, well...
I'm sorry.
I had the wrong idea about you.
The wrong idea?
I thought you might be sulking because
you had to deal with something like this during your first extra fight?
But you easily pointed out the flaw with the design concept at a glance,
so I can see I was mistaken.
No, I...
Actually, there was a bit of a dispute before these exercises were scheduled.
As lead developer, I cannot allow combat trials at this point!
I know.
But the decision was made by UN Command.
The Japanese Government has agreed to the combat trials in the U.S.S.R.
The Japanese Government?
Lt. Takamura, think about this realistically.
It looks like there's some kind of international bargain going on here.
There's almost no chance the trials will be called off.
Which means there's only one thing for us to do.
Make sure the people we send there come back alive.
That's right.
And not lose a single one of them.
We'll do everything we can for that.
Just focus on that.
A dispute?
No, don't worry about it.
More importantly, I have a request.
A request?
This is a war zone.
If you think it's slowing you down, feel free to discard the weapon.
But if you do, make sure you activate the self-destruct switch inside it.
I see. So this is a military secret you don't want the other nations getting.
For now.
But some day it will probably be standard equipment worldwide.
Once the technology is proven, weapons and TSFs get budgets and get mass-produced.
Well, that's true.
But you can't do that with talented Eishi.
So I don't want to lose either the Shiranui Type 2...
Or you, its lead test pilot.
Don't forget that.
Y-Yeah.
Eight minutes.
That's how long the average soldier lasts in their first battle.
The eight minutes of death?
I've heard of it.
We learn it in the US Military too.
But that includes the first battles in Europe and Asia,
which were fought in first-generation TSFs.
Lately...
I...
I lost a lot of friends in those eight minutes.
So I don't...
I know.
No matter how much practice I've had in the US military,
it's true that I've never had any combat experience.
So I won't underestimate real combat. I won't doubt the data.
And so I promise you.
I'll bring your beloved 94 Second back without a scratch.
I promise.
This EM cannon too.
Honestly, I was little upset.
This thing's gonna wreck my combat test.
But after talking with you I don't care about that anymore.
I see.
Lt. Takamura, Lt. Ibrahim is waiting for you in Conference Room 3.
Oh no.
I was supposed to have a meeting with the base officers.
You should get going.
S-Sorry.
Lieutenant!
Thank you.
I'm glad I got to see it up close.
It helped.
I see. I'm glad to hear that.
I don't like this place.
What? Something wrong?
Just a bit ago...
Excuse me.
I thought the PX was around here somewhere.
Do you know what a PX is?
What's so funny?
Do zavtra.
Hey!
Well, to the locals we're just a nuisance.
But that doesn't give them an excuse not to work with us.
Not sharing information.
Not keeping us in the loop.
Not treating us properly.
None of those are good things.
You're more harsh than usual.
I suppose given the history between the U.S.S.R. and Sweden, it's understandable.
I'm just telling the truth.
But I'm guessing there's not enough manpower, not enough supplies, not enough everything.
I can see how they wouldn't want to talk to somebody
who came from the safety of the rear lines.
And now Tarisa's acting sympathetic, huh?
Don't make fun of me.
I'm just saying I know how it feels on the front lines.
Yeah, true.
Anyway, we'll be fine, but I wonder if Yuuya will be okay.
I hope he doesn't end up on the wrong end of something bad.
You're worried about him, aren't you?
Do you have a crush?
Crap.
Our barracks is supposed to be around here somewhere.
Come to think of it, it felt like this when I was following Inia too.
This is her...
You can't even apologize?
You think you're on a sightseeing tour here?
Hey, she's got a cute face.
Let me take a better look.
Or do you not want to talk to dirty people like us?
Cryska...
It's fine. It's fine, Inia.
Are you listening to us?
I...
I am a test pilot with the 331st Special Experimental Development Squad
of the Soviet Central Strategic Research Corps.
Ensign Cryska Barchenowa.
Right, right. An elite from the capital.
So what of it?
We're supposed to be comrades, fighting for the motherland. Why?
Comrades?
Shut the hell up.
The motherland?
Don't make me laugh.
What do you mean?
We're both soldiers in the Soviet-
No.
You're a Russian.
What the hell is a "Soviet" anyway?
It's not even the name of a country.
We know that it was almost all Russians who escaped to Alaska.
Georgians and Kazakhs like us are treated like garbage!
We're the ones dying out here, while you guys are slacking off on the rear lines!
Cryska?
Cryska!
Cryska?
What's her problem?
Did she get scared and piss her pants?
Your TSF is that purple Terminator in hangar 48 right?
It's...
You get that fancy machine and you're not even fighting?
Cryska! Cryska!
Stop it! Stop it!
This little kid is a brat.
Want to strip her and tie her to the fence like usual?
Then let's head to hangar 8 like usual.
The guys there are always hungry.
Wait.
If we're gonna let them have these two, we should enjoy them first.
You enjoy it too, don't you?
Okay, I'll take the little one.
No!
Come on, get over here.
Cryska!
Stop it, please...
That girl, Inia, is...
This little kid's probably useless on the battlefield.
No!
Inia is...
What's wrong?
She's not useless.
Let's have some fun, girl.
Stop it! Cryska! Cryska!
"Cryska! Cryska!"
Stop it!
Yuuya Bridges...
What's your problem?
You think you're a big hero or something?
Are you okay?
Cryska...
I'm fine.
Please take care of Inia.
Why is Cryska just letting this happen?
Hey, brats.
What mechanic squad are you assigned to?
What?
The hell?
Can't you see this?
A wing mark?
These are Eishi?
They're all kids!
I think I saw you in the port.
You one of the cowards from Alaska?
Damn it.
Sorry, mister.
This isn't like the safe bases at the rear.
You can scream but the MPs won't come.
You're going to pay for hurting my buddy.
What are you doing?
Tasha?
That means...
I don't know why you think you have time to be playing with our guests.
The welcome party is over.
Return to your posts and check on your TSF's maintenance status.
U-Understood Commander.
Let's go.
Um...
Thank you, Commander.
You save-
Know your place here.
Understood?
What the hell?
Okay, stop.
We'll start placing the sonic sensors.
What's wrong?
I don't like this.
Where'd those annoying birds go?
Yeah, it's strangely quiet.
This is an analysis of an image captured by a warning satellite early this morning.
Pay close attention to Evensk Hive SSW Group F and Okhotsk Coast Group K.
This data is 18 hours old.
The Far East Soviet Forces believe that K Group will land on the Okhotsk shore in 6 hours.
Between 24 and 72 hours from now,
a large group of BETA that are currently on the bottom shore will start landing as well.
Given this,
we will be accompanying the Soviet forces whose mission it is to repel the landing,
and performing our first combat trials there.
It's finally time, huh?
I was getting sick of the crappy food here.
It'll be a good way to kill some time.
Will it? I think there are too many of them to let our guard down.
Furthermore, Argos Test flight will be paired
with the aces of the Far East Soviet Army, the Zhar Battalion.
I'll introduce the commander.
Everyone, stand!
That's...
Salute!
I am Commander Fikatsia Latrova, of the Zhar Batallion.
Do whatever you want.
But don't get in our way.
Something's not right here.
I hope it's just my imagination...
Let's go, monsters!
Falling Tears
Next time on Total Eclipse: Falling Tears