I am terribly sorry.
I had him almost completely cornered, but...
Um...
There were no errors in the actual operation.
The internal disturbance...
...was due to a breach of rules within the prison.
I want a thorough investigation and proper disposal of those involved.
And where is the Arcadia headed?
Yes, sir.
It appears they are headed towards the Sol system.
Does that mean Herlock also noticed...
...that the Earth has disappeared?
BATTLEFIELD THE TOMBSTONE PLANET
Hmph, I don't understand it at all.
What's with these guys? They're the worst!
Over there's the...
Nobody can get close to Herlock now.
This ship and Herlock...
It's time for the two to converse.
Converse with the ship?
What do you think?
It's true that the Earth was a forsaken planet.
But what did Noo want with Earth...
- Two weeks ago -
Space Development Station
This is the footage from two weeks ago.
After this, they vanished with the research ship Fata Morgana.
That ship appeared a few hours before the Earth's disappearance.
The ship of the space archeological research team...
...that perished in an accident 5 years ago...
...while studying the 9th Ulysses system AKA the Hourglass Nebula.
It was floating in the El Aramein cruising area...
...and we retrieved and held on to it...
Who are they?
Most likely aliens from outside human-controlled areas.
They must have snuck in, taking over the research team corpses.
In other words, intruders?
What are you planning to do with them?
When one encounters unknown enemies, the best plan...
...is to capture them and investigate their true natures.
It is especially significant if they possess a strong weapon...
...that we study it and make that technology ours.
I see!
Apparently, they have a weapon that can make...
...the entire Earth disappear in an instant.
However, the next best plan...
Enemy sighted!
After it made one trip around the solar system...
...the Fata Morgana has returned to Pluto!
They chose a fitting place for corpses.
Anything from the observatory?
Nothing since all communication was lost 12 hours ago.
I see.
That reminds me... You were born on Pluto.
Pluto Observatory Graveyard
Back when I was still on Earth...
...your father was the observatory's chief.
I don't remember much about my father.
He was a fine man.
He gave everything he had for the future of mankind.
Earth's rotten government was jealous of that...
What are the other solar system governments doing?
Every country is ignoring our cease-fire order...
...and the civil wars in each area are getting even fiercer.
How foolish.
Once wars occur, they are not very easily extinguished.
Without a stronger power's intervention, that is...
Noo...
O Noo...
It was you? It was you, right?
N-No, it wasn't me!
I-I won't be fooled!
O Noo...
Noo...
- It was you, right? - N-No!
I...
O Noo...
Noo...
Pluto Observatory Control Center
Is this all?
Y-Y-Yes...
They're just plain outlaws.
Perhaps we were better off killing him back then?
But we could not completely comprehend him then.
We Noo cannot give true terror to beings we cannot comprehend.
Don't you think that's a bit boring?
We now know that this man is not of the planet we care about.
He is merely a man that cannot escape...
...from the illusion of this friend that has died.
Earthlings are nothing but lower-class organisms...
...that don't know the truth about the darkness.
My, my, we have some tasty bait coming our way...
I will take that.
It looks like it will be worth some attention...
This is amazing!
Yeah, it really is amazing.
This is exactly like the Fluorite's controls, missie!
Of course it is.
I designed the Fluorite's control panel with this ship in mind.
Hey, boy.
I'm not a boy.
I'm Tadashi Daiba!
I'm sorry, Daiba.
Are you used to this ship yet?
The ship aside, what's with all those guys?
They're all just playing as they wish.
As space pirates, I thought they'd be...
You thought they'd be more disciplined.
Maybe there are rules made in steel...
That's not what I mean.
They're just like pathetic drunkards the way they are!
They're no different from those in the rubbish heaps.
Is that a bad thing?
You're such a child.
Are you irritated since you don't have your own place?
So you take it out on those around you?
I'm not...
I don't hate that kind of naivety.
It's heartwarming you could say.
Oh, no.
That makes me sound like an old lady!
Don't make fun of me!
Captain!
What is Noo's ship doing?
Right.
This is the warp footage we intercepted from Panopticon.
Show us what you've got, Chief llita.
35,000 space km till destination X on Pluto.
Entering combat zone soon!
All ships, stand by to take off for battle.
Standby for takeoff complete!
Port side ships 1, 2, and 3, take off.
Starboard side ships 4, 5, and 6, take off.
Hey.
Um...
Huh?
Must've been just me...
Come over here...
Calling all ships. This fleet has entered combat zone.
Remain in current formation until the attack order.
This is ship 1, roger!
Ship 2, roger!
Ship 3, roger!
Ship 4, roger!
Ship 5, roger!
Ship 6, roger on all requests!
Come over here...
Come...
You must obey our commands.
Y-Yes...
We will enter range very soon.
But the enemy's hidden behind the moon Charon...
...so we can't see it.
Hey, what's wrong? You look rather pale.
N-No, nothing's wrong.
I'm fine...
Possibility that there were some sort of mental wave attacks?
Electromagnetic and gravitational fields both clear.
I can't think of any attack that the crew would be affected by.
Inform all ships to prepare to fire main cannons.
As soon as we enter firing range, all ships will fire simultaneously.
B-But the target's just hidden behind the moon, Chief...
Did you not hear my order?
R-Roger!
I'll inform all ships!
Weren't you going to merely capture the target?
As we don't know how the enemy will attack...
...I decided such a plan was too dangerous.
Therefore, I will go with the next best plan.
And that is?
Annihilating the enemy by attacking first.
We won't give them a chance to use their unknown weapon.
But one of our observatories is there...
What of it?
The Pluto Observatory...
...is a monument to humankind stepping into outer space.
It is like a footprint of humanity's dreams.
And your father's grave lies there...
What you mention are both relics of the past.
Just like the Earth that they did away with.
They hold no meaning for us, as ones living in the present.
I-llita!
20 seconds until we are in range!
Captain.
10 seconds!
5, 4, 3, 2, 1...
All ships, fire main cannons!
It's over now.
I wonder if they have reinforcements or not.
Even if they do, showing them how we do things...
...will surely intimidate them.
Energy signal detected! Magnifying it on the monitor!
Impossible.
I-I-It's just like a living organism...
What's wrong?
Hey!
I couldn't help it...
It was really scary...
What are you doing? Call security!
R-Right!
You too?
What?
Captain...
You too, right?
What are you talking about?
What happened?
I-It's a cannon attack from ship 1!
What?
- You too? - It's not me!
Help me!
The other ships have opened fire, too!
Hmph.
You too?
What is going on?
What kinda magic did they use?
In any case, that ship...
...despite the heavy fire, is still up and standing.
In about 3 hours...
...the Arcadia will reach the realm of the Sol system.
In 3 hours, we're gonna encounter that enemy, too?
Daiba.
Daiba...
You said you wanted to avenge your father's death.
Do you still feel that way even now?
Yeah.
I see.
Then I swear to you.
That I will make sure you get to avenge your father's death.
Next Time
You should just sit there and watch...
...as the comrades you believe in betray you one after another.
A GENTLE SMILE ON THE SKULL OF MEMORY