Flight members, salute.
At ease.
In that stupid game the UN is playing... our next opponent will be Argos from Japan.
I see.
That's why you're in a good mood.
You can finally avenge yourself for the humilation at Kamchatka.
Don't worry about the world record they won with a ranged-weapon!
All they did was clear the way for the Soviets to do the real work.
Here are our orders from United Front Command:
We are to learn everything there is to know
about Japan's next-generation TSF, so we can be ready, they say.
Since it's an order, we'll have to obey.
But that's less important than working off stress.
So she was embarrassed.
Of course I was!
He wasn't fighting the same way we were! It wasn't fair!
I refuse to accept it.
Yuuya Bridges.
I'll see how good you are.
Pale Blue Flame
A Raptor?
The Infinities?
America's quite capable of developing its own TSFs.
What are you doing here?
We're going to put an end to this waste of time,
and have everyone here remember how important time and money are.
By making them realize how superior American TSFs are whether they like it or not.
No way... Is America here to shut down the XFJ project, no, the Prominence Project itself?
I heard that having an Eishi who hates Japan was causing the project serious problems.
Wouldn't shutting it down be better for the Empire?
I see you've still got a smart mouth.
I guess you've forgotten all the trouble that got you in!
Sorry.
Alaska's just too cold.
Forget about me.
Keep at it.
This is stupid.
You've had enough?
See you around, then.
Sorry for interrupting your date.
Sharon.
Date?
What does she mean?
She's imagining things. Don't worry about it.
No, I mean what is a "date"?
Oh, well...
When a man and a woman...
Cryska! Yuuya!
Inia!
I'm so glad... I was worried you wouldn't make it back in time.
I went all kinds of places today.
Jeez, do you know how worried Cryska was about yo-
Hey, Yuuya.
Are you going to go away?
Who is it who lets us drink every day?
It's Project Chief Lowell!
Good work today, soldiers of the Empire!
Tell us, Chief! Go on!
Thanks to you, the 94 Second's second unit is coming together splendidly.
And it's all thanks to the amazing skills of the Imperial Mechanics!
Imperial Mechanics are the best in the world!
Let me rest for a little.
The Japanese are pretty loud when they party.
Can I make something for you?
Hmm, something refreshing.
Why not a scorpion?
With no lime.
Yeah, the thing with citrus fruits...
Are you gonna tell us you can taste the pesticides on them again?
Sharon! Leon!
What are you doing?
What are you here for?
The 65th Combat Training Batallion?
You're with the Infinities now?
That's a big promotion.
It's been a year or so, hasn't it?
You look well.
Yeah.
I never thought I'd see you here.
It's a small world.
That's right.
I never thought I'd see you two out here in the middle of nowhere.
"Two", huh?
You met Yuuya too, huh?
Yeah. He's still an asshole.
Nah, he's changed a lot since he came to the Yukon.
Like how?
He's getting along well with the Development Team,
and he's a lot easier to deal with.
That's wonderful...
His new love changed him, didn't it?
Are you okay?
Love?
He was just with her. She was a very elegant woman.
Oh, Princess Yui?
I guess most people would see her that way.
She's not as straight-laced as you might think.
She's obviously obsessed with him, but she doesn't seem to know it.
She's always freaking out when she doesn't think anybody's looking.
That's surprising.
She felt kind of hard to approach, like Yuuya used to be.
Well, her country's always expected its soldiers to be pretty stiff.
Lt. Takamura's pushing herself pretty hard to live up to that.
Takamura?
She's half-Japanese?
And she was an Ensign.
No, she's pure Japanese.
A Japanese with silver hair?
That's really rare, isn't it?
Silver hair?
Elegant.
Hard to approach.
Silver hair?
Seriously? Again?
You sure you don't mean Ensign Barchenowa?
What?
So she's one of the Scarlet Twins everyone's talking about.
How did you know about her?
Oh, did you forget already?
Do you think America would send in its soldiers without doing the research?
Oh, you're right.
Anyway, Yuuya's not with anybody right now.
Then this Takamura's in love with him and he doesn't like her?
I figured she'd be interested in that.
Lt. Takamura is in charge of the XFJ plan.
But she doesn't have a lot of experience managing things.
And so yeah, Yuuya's gotten over his whole hate-the-Japanese thing,
and now he's in love with his new TSF.
Yuuya actually likes Japan?
Unbelievable, right?
It wasn't too long ago somebody from China asked him what he was,
and he said "Japanese-American" without a second thought.
Leon Kuze.
A Japanese-American like me.
He's really changed, hasn't he?
Yeah. He's finally...
So what?
Leon.
No matter how much he changes, I haven't forgotten what he did,
and I haven't forgiven him.
Stop acting like it's over.
Sorry. I'm a little drunk.
The most important thing to watch out for is the Jian 10's close-range fighting capabilities.
Their primary weapon at close range is the Type 77 CIWS.
It's a weapon unique to the United Front of China.
It's quite different in shape than Japan's Type 74.
The biggest difference is the center of gravity.
The top-heavy shape of the Type 77 appilies an additional centrifugal force
to make up for the relative lack of strike power that a small TSF has.
Thus, the standard method is to defeat the enemy with the first strike.
That explains why they usually strike and then pull back.
Along with the rest of the Eurasian nations,
I see.
If it was possible for Japan to use the Type 77s,
the United Front of China is fighting to take back its homeland.
its strike power would rise and it would save money on research costs.
Since they are primarily intended to take out hives,
it's only natural that their main TSF
would be intended for short-ranged combat in groups.
Hmm... So ideas like that are why the UN is making us participate in Blue Flag.
That's all for the TSF's capabilities.
Now tell me what you think, based on what you've seen and heard.
Standard theory would call for staying mobile
and firing from range as opposed to getting close, but...
It's a trap.
They're making them follow standard theory,
and then that hurricane of a woman starts jumping between them and ripping them apart.
Clever.
We should start with her, definitely.
Got a plan?
It's simple.
We do the opposite of what they did.
Pretend to play along, and then beat them at their own game.
Yuuya!
Challenge that woman to a duel.
That moron will agree to it, I'm sure.
And then you beat her.
The rest of us will take out the other wimpy ones.
Let me just check: are you going to use that plan?
We'll think about it. It can be a backup.
What do you mean "backup"?
Lt. Dahl, exercises between the USSR's Idar Flight
and the Slechtvalk Flight of the EU's Benelux Army will begin soon.
Alright, everyone to the viewing room.
You're not going to watch, Tarisa?
I'm going to the bathroom.
Idar's going to win.
No point in going to see it.
This exercise is not a mere test of our respective capabilities.
It is a demonstration of my Polnoe Zatmeniya plan.
I order you in the name of the Motherland.
Show the whole world that submission to us is the only way for humanity to survive.
Roger.
Test flights, begin.
It's going alone.
The other three aren't moving.
They're going to sacrifice that one TSF to learn our capabilities?
Let's show them then. Surround and destroy them.
Let's send Ivan home crying!
Roger.
I feel a lot better.
There they go.
I know it's just CG generated by JIVES but it still makes me sick.
So how many are down now?
That's the fourth.
The exercise is over.
What do you mean?
It hasn't been 10 minutes.
The Scarlet Twins wiped them out.
And with nothing more than a Motor Blade.
Alone?
A whole flight of F-16s, and the F-16s are faster?
And in a melee fight in less than 10 minutes?
This will be fun.
If I'm going to perfect the Shiranui, I'll need strong opponents.
Come on, let's get back to the briefing.
You can show them up in this afternoon's exercises.
Of course! Right, Yuuya?
Yeah.
So those are the Scarlet Twins everyone's talking about?
Pretty impressive.
You sure?
If you don't let them get close they can't hurt you.
You're not really interested, are you?
Were you so busy thinking about this afternoon's match that you weren't paying attention?
Say what you like.
That joint US-Japan TSF?
They're going to be using their second one without giving the pilot any time to train.
They won't be working as well as an element, though.
They're prioritizing the development schedule above everything else, huh?
I don't know if that's a smart idea or not.
But the bookies here have Argos as the dark horse.
Then what about us?
We're so sure to win they aren't taking bets.
There was between a .2-.3 drop in reaction speed and firing accuracy.
Was there a problem with the TSF?
None found at the moment.
Hurry with the inspection.
Yes sir.
Listen, the basic movement data is copied from number 1.
It'll move very different from how it feels.
Sorry, but you'll just have to get used to it during the fight.
Leave it to me.
Doing the impossible is part of a test pilot's job.
Argos 1, launching.
Ensign Bridges.
I'm counting on you.
Roger.
Bao Feng 1 to all flight members.
You know the drill, right?
Let's pay them back for Kamchatka.
Roger!
I'm glad to have another melee fight.
That feeling I almost mastered back there...
I'm going to test it here.
Both Test Flights have arrived at the start points.
On time.
Begin the exercise!
So there was no problem with the machine, then?
Which means...
Yes, the next thing to do is look for problems with synchronization.
That's...
Yuuya!
You have permission to use the Adjustment Tanks.
Doctor, find what's causing this as soon as possible.
Yes sir.
Damn it!
Yuuya!
These tiny little differences are annoying me!
Where are you looking?
Why you...
They're just screwing with us!
No, Argos 1!
You're letting the decoys move you around too much!
The enemy is functioning far better as a team,
but I'm not sure I understand what's happening.
It's like the Bao Feng Flight has no intention of finishing the battle.
This is a pain!
The Japanese TSFs don't handle like anything else!
They're just playing with us.
One of ours is just slowing us down, at this rate we're doomed.
Who's just slowing us down?
We'll have to go with the backup plan.
This is supposed to be a real fight.
A duel doesn't make sense.
They won't agree to it.
No, they're trying to draw me out.
We'll do what Tarisa suggested.
We'll beat them on their own gruond.
That's him. Argos 1.
He's finally come out, huh?
Everyone split up, and don't let the weaker ones interfere.
Roger!
Here I come, Yuuya Bridges!
What?
How stupid.
I knew it.
That's just what I wanted.
Wonderful... you're wonderful!
She's hitting hard!
Take this!
Is that all you've got?
Don't disappoint me!
This strength.
It's not just her blade.
Combined Tension!
She's using all the carbonic actuators in her TSF like a whip!
Bridges!
Damn it!
What is she doing?
She keeps pushing me back.
So why doesn't she finish me?
Is she playing with me?
No, she's not.
I see.
So that's it.
Thanks, Lt. Cui.
I guess you're ready.
Then I'll end it here, Yuuya Bridges!
What?
Sorry, Lieutenant!
No you don't!
I can turn my blade around faster.
He was losing the whole time, I'm amazed he managed to come back.
The bookies are going to lose a fortune.
Yuuya won, didn't he?
It was just like I said, wasn't it?
It's a shame we didn't take out the other 3, but a win is a win.
They all withdrew when their leader went down.
It was like they let us win, wasn't it?
It may be they're not interested in who wins, or in Blue Flag at all.
I know I felt it there.
Have I finally mastered that feeling?
Ensign Bridges.
Lieutenant?
That was a splendid strike.
You brought the Shiranui 2 to its full potential.
Thank you.
I wanted to tell you that.
No, I was stupid.
I thought that the Japanese blades were defective, with a bad center of gravity.
But in that last battle I realized that its center of gravity was perfect for multiple strikes.
To be honest, I'm amazed.
Whatever Japanese engineer designed that was a genius.
Hey, Lieutenant.
I have a request for you.
For me?
Yeah. You're the only one I can ask.
I'm the only one-
There's Yuuya!
Lt. Cui!
Hey, wai-
Yuuya Bridges!
You can fall in love with me if you want.
Well, Doctor?
It's inexplicable.
Synchronization error is within acceptable parameters.
And their vital data is fine as well.
Which means...
Whenever I think about you, I can't concentrate.
It's going to start affecting my mission.
And before it does I need to find out why!
Dark Recollection
Next time on Total Eclipse:
Dark Recollection