Imperial Calendar Year 956 Month of Keefu, Day 13
Jinto!
Jinto! Jinto!
Jinto!
In the distant future...
...humanity will have created thousands of star nations in space.
The power of the Empire was unmatched in human history...
...as it began to expand its borders further and further.
In the Imperial Calendar Year 955...
...the Humankind Empire Abh launched Operation Phantom Flame...
...with the goal of dividing the territories controlled...
...by the United Mankind in half.
The United Mankind mounted an attack in the Aptic System...
...but the Empire's Star Forces destroyed them.
As such, Operation Phantom Flame was a great success.
In the next year, 956...
...the Star Forces put a new plan into action...
...with the aim of capturing any remaining territories.
Its codename was ''Operation Hunter.''
The Star Forces were charging through enemy territory...
...as though they were hunters crossing great, uninhabited plains.
Banner of the Stars II
Operation Hunter
The space-time bubbles...
The Sukakau Operation Hunter Flagship of the 4th Fleet
...are now within firing range!
The enemy has launched...
...smaller space-time bubbles!
Probably space-time mines!
Launch our mines as a counterattack.
Month of Roswik, Day Seven.
The other day, we added another star system to the Empire.
As our fleet sweeps everything in its path...
...we have apprehended yet another retreating enemy fleet.
But this is hardly a battle.
More like a game, appropriate to the name of this operation.
Yes, a hunt.
From a military perspective...
...we were clearly on the verge of a great success.
But we have internal problems with the management of the fleet.
Though we don't like to admit it, our family has a nickname...
...''Spectacular Insanity.''
My brother, the chief of staff, is living up to that reputation...
...by continually influencing...
...and infecting the minds of other chiefs...
...who should be supporting their supreme commander.
Or perhaps, having common sense like me...
...is a type of weakness.
That's just too ordinary.
How was your bath?
I don't really care whether or not you choose to take a bath...
...in the middle of an ongoing battle.
But at least dry your hair before you come up to the bridge.
All right. I'll be more careful.
So, what's the situation?
Foregone conclusion.
Our forces were victorious.
We still have to confirm how many ships we lost...
...but the numbers are minimal.
Of course, that's the result of having a good commander in charge.
If you want to think that, I'm not going to stop you.
Nor will I blame you...
...for leaving the bridge in the middle of a battle...
...nor about you sitting there feeling smug for no reason.
But what I would like you to tell me, Nereis...
...is how much longer you intend to advance so aggressively.
It's a good thing.
Contributing to the expansion of the Empire is a great honor.
Yes, I suppose the expansion has exceeded expectations.
However, it has its pros and cons.
That's very true.
We're starting to run out of administrators and ambassadors.
The supreme commander, worrying his little head over such matters.
It's enough to make me cry.
But there are more important things to be taken care of here.
Nefee...
...I take the position of commander-in-chief very seriously.
In making my decisions...
...I always consider both...
...the future of the fleet and the honor of our family very carefully.
It's the honor of the family...
...that worries me most.
Especially for us.
The Fourth Fleet...
Isn't it led by an Admiral Bebaus, the man you love?
Not really.
The Admiral Bebaus that I knew vanished long ago.
Besides, he wasn't an admiral at the time.
At last, after a whole year, the secret is out.
Would Your Highness tell me what there is to gain...
...by delving into my past like this?
Are you sure you know what you're saying, Chief of Staff?
Dalmav Planetary System
Are you sure you know what you're saying, Chief of Staff?
If I wanted to delve into your past...
...I have more reliable methods at my disposal.
I knew it.
The Sankau Operation Hunter Flagship of the General Fleet
I knew it.
Surely your interest in my private life...
...is just a way for you to relieve your boredom, Your Highness.
That's quite brutal of you to say.
By the way...
...don't you think that his fleet is advancing too far, too quickly?
The fleet of Admiral Bebaus? The man I don't love?
Yes, his fleet.
They sure seem to be moving fast.
But I don't think we need to be particularly worried.
Even if they are surrounded by the enemy...
...we have enough backup to go and rescue them.
If the enemy does surround them, that would be an opportunity...
...for us to wipe them out.
There's a scary side to you.
You're willing to use the admiral you once loved as bait?
Please don't put it like that.
You make it sound like my plan is based on claiming revenge.
Of course, the advances being made by Nereis...
...weren't part of your plan.
There're no strategically important systems where they're headed.
But then surely we should have...
...the same concerns for the Eighth Fleet.
This is only my assumption...
...but probably the commander of the Eighth Fleet is decent...
...and has the ability to make decisions based on the situation.
Are you saying that Nereis isn't all there?
As for making Admiral Bebaus the supreme commander...
...have you forgotten that I was against it?
No, I haven't forgotten.
But don't you think it would be better to stop his advance?
If you're asking for my opinion, I'm afraid I'm against it.
The situation isn't serious enough yet.
Even if it's led by a commander that you think...
...isn't all there?
I don't understand.
It depends on your point of view.
After all, I am the chief of staff...
...for the entire fleet of Operation Hunter.
I see.
So, you've already looked at that.
Yes.
If the forces belonging to his Fourth Fleet...
...are attacked by say, the remnants of an enemy fleet...
...there is an eighty-nine percent chance that the losses...
...to Operation Hunter will be minimal overall.
Are you suggesting that the advance of the Fourth Fleet...
...should be encouraged?
Fine, then.
I won't order them to stop.
However...
...we should be prepared to rescue them if necessary.
Organize as many spare ships into squadrons immediately.
Understood.
Who should command it?
If there's going to be a battle over these advancing forces...
...then that region will become the key to Operation Hunter.
In which case...
...I think we should let Admiral Trife take command.
Daisiele!
The Suurubilsh Operation Hunter Flagship of the 21st Fleet
He'll surely charge fiercely for us.
Immediately assign Admiral Trife to the appropriate star system...
...so he can start amassing his forces for this task.
The Lashkau Operation Hunter Flagship of the First Fleet
...so he can start amassing his forces for this task.
Also...
...issue orders to Beneej...
...requesting that her fleet provide a defense backup to the ships...
...advancing with the Fourth Fleet.
I am so bored.
Roger.
Your name's Diaho, right?
Doesn't it worry you?
About what Count Hyde is up to right now?
Saying goodbye to the cats, Duhiel?
How did you know I was here?
In fact, you are here, my son.
Don't be so contemptuous of your father.
I'd never do such a thing.
All right, then.
Isn't that cat...
...the one Lafiel gave to Count Hyde?
Yes, his name's Diaho.
It doesn't impress me too much.
Even though it was born in our house...
...we're only taking care of Diaho for Count Hyde.
Don't get too attached.
We wouldn't want to be accused of stealing someone else's cat.
That's not my intention.
It's just that...
...he's been with Lafiel, my older sister.
He was with her? So what?
Well, um...
You can't seem to put it in words.
I'd say you're worried about something.
You couldn't talk about it with anyone...
...so you came here to talk to a cat that can't talk.
Moreover, with a cat that was close to Lafiel.
That's not it.
You and Lafiel react the same way when I hit the nail on the head.
You have a tough soul.
No.
It's just that...
...I was just wondering what Lafiel is doing now...
...and I felt drawn to speak to Diaho. That's all.
You're just like your sister.
You're both terrible liars.
I'm not lying!
Give up and tell me.
I'm not...
...like my sister.
So, that's what you're worried about.
Tell me.
Why are you so worried about being different from her?
Father!
Imperial Capital Lakfakalle
When she was my age...
...Lafiel was already training to be a pilot.
But...
Clyuve Royal Palace
...I've only just joined the academy.
So you're worried that you might be falling behind?
Yes.
I know I was born after her...
...but she even started at the academy sooner than me.
You shouldn't worry about it.
That child was a special case.
I was your age when I started at the academy.
But...
What's that?
Not happy being like your father?
There's something to be said about being regular royalty.
You and Lafiel are two different people.
If both my children grew up to be the same...
...it'd be no fun for me as a parent.
My precious boy.
But I'm no match for my sister.
Not only are we different, she's just so much better.
You're wrong about that...
...my hope of Abriel.
Maybe I spent too much time playing with her instead of with you.
Much as I enjoyed watching her grow up...
...our Princess didn't enjoy her childhood as she should have.
She wanted to grow up far too quickly.
I sometimes regret letting her do that.
When the time came to raise you, I was more serious about it.
But I wanted to grow up sooner as well!
At least you admit you're not all grown up yet, my child.
You're not even a grown-up yet...
...so stop being so self-critical.
Whether or not your family will be proud of you...
...depends on what you do now.
Yes, but...
But what?
No...
Nothing important.
I'll do my best to make you proud of me.
You just do that.
I'm glad we had this chat.
We won't have such opportunity from now on.
You're exaggerating.
Even while I'm at the academy...
...we'll both be in Lakfakalle.
Have you forgotten that your father has resumed active duty?
And it looks like my services will be required very soon.
Are you going to the battlefield?
Why? You look surprised?
You think your father can sit at home doing nothing...
...while his two children head out to battle?
No, I don't.
Well, that's the situation.
Take all the time you want to say goodbye to the cats tonight.
You'll be too busy for that with the banquet and packing and all.
Father...
...am I not in the shadow of my older sister Lafiel?
Ten seconds until we pass through the Lobnas Gate.
Assault Vessel Basroil Operation Hunter 4th Fleet
Eight...seven...six...five...
...four...three...two...
...one!
Passing through!
The Basroil has passed through the gate!
Confirm our position.
Roger.
Identifying signals ahead.
The Darkses is through.
The Melkutel is through.
The Calmkutel is through.
All ships have passed through.
We'll use the stabilizers and head to the second planet.
Shut down the main engine!
Enter inertia navigation mode!
Shutting down the main engine.
This is the Darkses.
All ships establish links with the Basroil for data.
Melkutel here.
We're receiving the codes to link up now.
This is the Calmkutel.
Confirming linkup.
Inputting now.
Linking data.
All ships. Linkup complete.
Lobnas Planetary System
Transmit our route data to the second planet in Lobnas.
Roger.
I'm the territorial ambassador again?
That's not a bad thing.
I'm only territorial deputy ambassador.
As the Aptic Empire's deputy representative...
...I'm always getting the lame titles.
If you really want...
...maybe we could swap positions.
Don't say that, knowing that you can't do it.
For us, being in the Star Forces...
...means we have to fulfill our duty to the Empire.
But...
...every time we capture something...
...we're assigned to positions like territorial ambassador...
...and it doesn't seem like we're of any use to the Empire at all.
It's not that there are many assault vessels to spare in the Star Forces.
But I guess they have more of that than the people who can...
...serve as ambassadors.
But since when does an ambassador...
...have to come from a royal family or the nobility?
Admiral Bebaus...
...seems to have some strange ideas affecting his decisions.
What can I say?
We won by chance.
You could say that it's impossible for us to lose now.
If we defeat a planetary system...
...and put it under our authority...
...then we also have to be able to manage it.
Isn't that what you told me?
We're running out of ambassadors and administrators.
All right. All right.
I've got just the person for the job.
Supplement to the memoirs...
...Month of Roswik, Day 7...
...in the Lobnas System...
So, she's going to be territorial ambassador again.
And she didn't complain.
Our captain's finally grown up!
She's not happy at all.
You don't seem too impressed...
...Territorial Ambassador.
Whatever gives you that idea?
Just sensed it.
It's not that I don't like the appointment.
It's just that...
...I don't feel like doing it.
I see.
I don't understand what the difference is between...
...''I don't like it'' and ''I don't feel like doing it.''
Who knows?
I wouldn't bother thinking too much about it.
For the safety of my well-being.
You two!
Have your secret little chats where your subject can't hear you.
Oops. Please excuse us.
But doesn't this whole situation feel a little odd?
You mean the transport ships?
Yeah.
I can see assault vessels guarding transport ships in battle...
...but never escorting them on a routine delivery.
It's not good to be fussy.
I didn't say I didn't like doing it.
This is my duty after all.
And how do you feel about it?
Me?
I never really enjoyed being in the middle of battle.
I suppose.
Goodbye, Lafiel...
Captain!
There's an electromagnetic wave emanating from the planet below.
Hostile attack?
It's coming straight at us!
Uh, now there's another one!
I can't see the stars anymore.
The wind has stopped blowing.
But, Lafiel...
I can always see your face.
I can always hear your voice.
But, Lafiel...
I will always be with you.
My heart will always be with you.
When my body is gone...
...my soul will leave the ground.
It will reach for you in the stars.
I will always, always...
...reach for the stars.
So...
...I'm sorry...
...Lafiel.
Goodbye, Lafiel.
shiite ieba inochi to onaji It is the same as life itself
kakegaenai hito to wakaru One who is irreplaceable to me
soredemo otagai Even so
kizukanai furi shite We pretend we don't notice
misetakunai namidatsu kokoro The tormented souls that we hide
kami wo hitotsu yusuri Shaking off my hair
nomikonda I love you I hold back my ''I love you''
Farewell, my love
kizuita toki wa When I realize it
It's time to go
wakare no toki It's time to part ways
Farewell, my love
kizuita toki wa When I realize it
It's time to go
wakare no toki It's time to part ways
Farewell, my love
yukinasai konomama Go now, as you are
It's time to go
itoshii hito My love
toki wa yurusudesho Time will forgive us
mata aeru hi wo And may we meet again
The prisoners in the Eastern Sector have gathered up arms.
You can't trust men!
My duty is to protect the women!
I see.
You won't know until you try.
By strength, by popularity, and by the grace of God.
Prepare for impact!
Next Episode... Planet of Exile