An express train will be passing momentarily on track #1.
Please stand behind the white line.
T minus 20 minutes.
This is the 6th SRB ignition and separation test,
...as well as the firing test of the SR-7 main booster's first stage.
Terminal countdown operations are proceeding smoothly.
ACS flight slew test completed!
Radio and electrical systems show all green.
I think you all know this, but summer jobs are strictly prohibited.
Yes, ma'am!
Yukari!
We're on our way to Shibuya.
-We're gonna buy new swimsuits. -Wanna come?
Count me in!
I want something with a ton of frills!
So anyway, you should have seen the look on that horndog's face when l...
H-Headmistress!
Nerisu Girls' Academy Regulations Section 3, Clause 17!
"Students are to proceed down stairs and hallways in an orderly fashion"!
Clause 1!
"Maintaining proper etiquette is paramount"!
Have a good summer, Headmistress!
Yukari Morita.
Ma'am?
What was this about a "horndog"?
I-It was from a television drama, ma'am.
That's that first-year whiz-kid, Akane Miura.
She's the headmistress' pride and joy. They're always together.
Refrain from chit-chat in the halls!
Miss Miura. Let's go.
Yes, ma'am.
That's good. There doesn't seem to be any wind.
I wonder if it's the wind that causes your rockets to explode, Director Nasuda.
What is this, the sixth? I wish you'd pull off a successful launch, already.
When working out the kinks of any new technology, failures are part of the process.
I'd rather that you took a long-term view of these things.
Civic groups and tabloid TV shows are going to start to notice soon.
This waste of taxpayer money.
We're launching a communications satellite...
...that will provide modern educational resources to all 700 of the Solomon Islands.
I'd call that a fine example of international cooperation, wouldn't you?
Anyone would get angry if five of the things blew up.
Besides, why all this obsession with manned spaceflight?
And why all the way down here in the Solomons?
Acting Manager.
That was our official position. Here is our real goal.
Satellites are incredibly expensive, yet 100% of them are discarded.
What would happen if the SSA, the Solomon Space Association,
...were to achieve manned space flight?
To keep those expensive satellites running for years,
...our people would go up and maintain them.
This is a feat that not even NASA or the Russians do!
This would be our niche.
He who controls space controls the world.
Director Nasuda.
I came here today to deliver this message from METI.
I'd like you to think of this as an ultimatum.
The latest weather report for the launch pad.
Everything looks good.
Kinoshita says he bets 500 Solomon dollars on a successful launch.
LS-7-6 Betting Pool
That's the Launch Director for you. He'd never bet on a failure.
That's terrible, Satsuki! You're putting down $1,000 on a failure?
Why are you complaining? If it works, you and Kinoshita will split the pool.
The way you sound so certain is a bit irritating...
You built this rocket, didn't you? Have a little more confidence in it.
All this responsibility is killing me...
Until my LS-7 booster works, our manned space program is on hold...
If this one fails, we might get driven out of paradise.
Driven out of paradise? You mean the project might get cancelled?
Exactly.
You're kidding!
If that happens, you won't be an astronaut anymore, Yasukawa!
I don't really mind, Mukai.
Their "glorious astronaut" sweet talk got me down here from Chitose's JASDF base.
But the rockets I need for the job blow to pieces in each and every test.
Satsuki's tortures get worse day by day, too.
I've had all I can take.
It's not torture. It's training.
Then what was that the other day, Satsuki? You hit me with 20 g's in the centrifuge.
T-Twenty g's?
I saw that look on your face.
You were up in the control room, grinning away.
Nobody can top the dynamic visual acuity of you JASDF pilots.
That's not the point, and you know it!
Next time, let's shoot for 25 g's!
Flight program rate resetting completed.
Security Chief, perform final launch pad check.
Launch Site Guard Group here. Launch pad is clear.
Now evacuating!
Hear me, everyone!
Today is the day the Japanese will show us their fireworks!
Let's enjoy the show!
T minus 100 seconds. Turbopump monitor, check.
He said "T minus 100"!
I know! Don't sweat the small stuff!
This is the life!
Twenty-five. Twenty-four. Twenty-three.
Twenty-two. Twenty-one.
T minus 18 seconds. Flight mode, on.
All systems ready.
-Five. Four. Three. -Main engine start.
Two.
One.
Ignition!
We have SRB ignition. Liftoff.
Launch site, clear.
One minute to SRB burnout.
Sixteen. Seventeen. Eighteen.
Nineteen. Twenty.
Go, go, firework!
It worked!
That was a pretty one!
No signal from rocket telemeter.
That much is obvious.
Morita
I'm home...
You have one new message. 6:53 PM.
Hello? Yukari? Sorry, I won't be able to make it home today.
The convention is next week, remember? We're really swamped here.
I tried calling your cell earlier, but didn't get through.
Where were you girls goofing around?
Don't do anything I wouldn't do.
Come to think of it, you're heading down to the Solomons tomorrow, right?
Personally, I don't see what the point is after all this time.
But if that's what it takes to give you some peace, I suppose I'm okay with it.
Be careful while you're down there.
Whose fault do you think it is that I need to go there in the first place?
Akushio Island...
Back at Honiara, they said there were lots of Japanese people on this island.
First things first... I guess I should start by asking at the police station.
Huh? Oh, um... Sorry.
Let's see... I should hit Main Street after passing through the market.
This map is impossible to understand.
Miss!
You come here from Japan?
Yes! That's right!
Japanese people all make happy by my food!
Miss, you should have something to eat, too!
Japanese people eat at your restaurant?
Yes! I no tell you lie! Come inside!
-You know, you're close! -H-Hey, wait! I'm not...
Oh, you're Japanese? We get lots of people from the base here.
Base?
Yes, rocket base! It on the far side of the mountains!
It all Japanese people over there!
How can I get there? Train? Bus?
Conference Room
Ladies and gentlemen.
The LS-7 booster, which blew itself to pieces in the sky yesterday,
...was the Solomon Space Association's passport to carry humanity into space.
However, due to the failure of this last test, our sponsors at METI have expressed...
...their intention of closing the Solomon Space Base by year's end,
...and completely divesting themselves from our manned spaceflight project.
This is my ticket back to Chitose!
Don't be so quick to give up, Yasukawa!
Year's end is still six months away.
We just need to perfect manned space flight by then.
Yes, but can we work out the LS-7's bugs by then?
To meet man-rating requirements to carry human passengers,
...we need a reliability factor of 99.99%.
We won't be using the LS-7.
We will use the LS-5. It has less thrust, but it has a proven track record.
But that's crazy!
We designed the LS-7 because the LS-5 didn't have enough thrust!
If we shave off as much weight as we can, it will be doable.
We'll remove all redundant systems we can spare,
...and we'll reduce the breaking load index down to 1.05.
Will we be able to achieve 99.99% doing that?
As long as the first stage doesn't explode, that should get us into space.
Well, if those are your orders, we'll do it, but...
All those experiments were for nothing?
- Satsuki. - Yes?
How much weight can you shave off of Yasukawa?
Well, let me think... He's tall, and has a sturdy build.
If we take him down to skin and bones, I'd say 55 kilos at best.
-Get him down to 40. -I'll see what I can do.
Now, about our upcoming schedule...
Yasukawa just ran away.
Yes, what?
Yasukawa just tore out of here in an LAV.
What?!
Halt!
Get me Kurosu!
Geez, people, start up a taxi service...
Unbelievable...
I can't take another step...
Come on, Arisa...
I'm in another country, and she's still texting me...
Why am I getting three bars?!
All right! A car!
Damn psychos, treating me like I'm some lab rat...
Wha-?
You little moron! Don't play in the middle of the road!
He's Japanese!
I'm sorry! Please, give me a lift into town!
Get out of the way! I'm in a hurry!
Don't mind me...
Hey! What do you think you're doing?!
This is the last place a girl should be left wandering on her own. Give me a lift.
You dumbass!
Crap, they're after me already?
Put on your seatbelt, it's gonna get bumpy!
-Um... -Yeah?
We're going into town, right?
To Chitose.
I'm going back to Chitose.
What's this guy's problem?
Yasukawa! Stop the car!
If you stop now, nothing bad will happen to you!
You can't fool me!
Would you please focus on the road?!
If you don't stop by the count of five, I'll open fire with this rocket cannon!
One!
Two!
Hey, kid!
Three!
Wave out the window so they can see you!
No way! They said something about a rocket cannon!
If you don't wanna get shot, do it!
Four!
Please don't shoot!
Hey! You see the kid?! Try and shoot, I dare you!
They shot... They actually shot.
I guess they're not messing around because we're so close to town.
Crap!
Let me out!
First you want a lift, now you want out! Make up your mind!
He went offroad into the mountains...
We have a good idea where he's headed. Find somewhere to set down.
We've only had one customer today...
There will be days like that.
Even at sea, some day are calm, other day are stormy.
Mr. Chou!
Aiya! Mr. Yasukawa!
I need you to hide me until nightfall! Please!
Hey, that's right! Is your room upstairs empty?
Miss?!
Aiya! You work fast, Mr. Yasukawa!
You have deal.
Feel free to use this room.
Thanks, Mr. Chou.
Also, would it be better to leave by boat from Cape Kurep instead of the harbor?
I understand. Take it easy here until night.
Also, if anybody from the base comes...
I understand! I say nothing!
Miss, enjoy yourself!
Huh?
Girls today, you no waste time!
I have no idea what's going on anymore...
You're still here? Feel free to go.
-Your name is Yasukawa, right? -Yeah.
I'd like an explanation! I got shot at, so I deserve that much.
Well, basically... Working conditions at my job had deteriorated,
...so I tendered my resignation, but they didn't accept it.
That doesn't make any sense.
Yeah, I guess it wouldn't.
What's your story, anyway? Why come out here to the ass end of nowhere?
Have you seen this man before?
It was taken 17 years ago, so he'd look older now.
Sorry, never seen him before.
I see...
Who is he?
My father.
He's your dad?
That picture was taken on my parents' honeymoon.
Apparently, they were at a hotel on Guadalcanal.
The first night of the honeymoon, he stepped out,
...saying that he wanted to look at the moon.
He never came back.
That's the strangest thing I've ever heard.
So, you came down here to look for your dad?
When I talked to the police in Honiara,
...they said that there were lots of Japanese on this island.
Ah. They must have meant the base.
There's about 600 Japanese working there, but it was only built eight years ago.
Anyway, it's the not knowing that kills me!
Did he die in an accident? Did he get tired of my mom and leave her?
I don't want him to just be missing, I want some closure!
Mr. Yasukawa, I bring you guests.
Guests?
K-Kurosu!
Director! Satsuki!
Mr. Chou! You sold me out!
People from base are valuable customers! We must all get along.
That is most important thing!
W-Why, you!
Just give it up, Yasukawa.
Bastard!
Come on, you've endured three years of training!
You can't back out now! Isn't that right, Director?
Director?
And you are?
Don't even think it! Leave her out of this!
She came from Japan to find her father, so...
W-What was in?
Yasukawa!
Now, now, Yasukawa, pull yourself together.
C'mon, on your feet.
What is it with you people?!
Rocket cannons, pistols, injections! It's like a bad movie!
I could've been killed!
Plus, you better treat Yasukawa right!
You're a spunky little thing, aren't you?
Um, we've decided to send Yasukawa back to Chitose.
Isn't that right, Satsuki?
Why, yes...
Incidentally, Satsuki, how much would you guess this girl weighs?
Her weight? About 38 kilos, I'd say.
Thirty-eight kilos! And her measurements?
Height, 153 cm.
From top to bottom, 80 cm, 54 cm, 82 cm.
She's in excellent health.
That's exactly right!
You were right!
Satsuki, this will work!
As I understand it, you're looking for your father.
But the Solomons are a big place. You'll never be able to find him all by yourself.
With that in mind, perhaps you would allow us to help you with your search?
Really?
We have connections with the local police.
Locating him would probably be a simple matter.
In exchange, I would like you to do a little job for us.
Job? What do you want me to do?
Oh, you'd just need to sit in front of an instrument panel.
Respond when a transmission comes in, press a few buttons, that sort of thing.
It's a job so simple, even a monkey could do it.
Well, if that's all...
That settles it!
Oh, I haven't introduced myself. I'm Nasuda of the Solomon Space Association.
And your name is?
Morita. Yukari Morita.
Konna hareta asa wa naze ka... Why does my heart race...
...kokoro ga hazunderu? ...on clear mornings like this?
"Kyou wa hayaku deyou" nante ne... I muttured, "I'll leave early today"...
...maegami naoshi tsubuyaita. ...as I straightened up my bangs.
Nani kite yukou? What should I wear?
Moshikashitara kyou, Who knows, I might meet...
...suteki na hito deau ka mo yo. ...my Prince Charming today.
Ashita-yuki no basu ni notte... I'll hop aboard the bus for tomorrow...
...dekakete yuku yo. ...and head out for the day.
I will go, go.
Kinou to onaji kyou wa nai. Today is never the same as yesterday.
Hon no sukoshi chigau keshiki... Let's team up with the wind...
...kaze to isshou ni mitsukeyou. ...and find that little change of scenery.
Next Time
A-Astronaut?
Next Time
All right, Yukari, let's go.
Next Time
Explain it to me! I want to understand!
Next Time
Next time on Rocket Girls, "Assembly".